Hepcidin destabilizes atherosclerotic plaque via overactivating macrophages after erythrophagocytosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore a direct and causal relationship between vascular hepcidin and atherosclerotic plaque stability. METHODS AND RESULTS: Accelerated atherosclerotic lesions were established by perivascular collar placement in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice. Adenoviral overexpression of hepcidin in the carotid artery during plaque formation enhanced intraplaque macrophage infiltration and suppressed the contents of collagen and vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas hepcidin shRNA treatment exerts opposite effects. The overexpression or knockdown of hepcidin did not affect plaque lipid deposition but increased or decreased oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels within intraplaque macrophages. In cultured macrophages, ox-LDL not only increased reactive oxygen species formation, inflammatory cytokine production, and apoptosis but also upregulated hepcidin expression. However, hepcidin did not exaggerate the ox-LDL-induced activation of macrophages until an onset of erythrophagocytosis. Whereas hepcidin was critical for the upregulation of L-ferritin and H-ferritin in both ox-LDL-treated erythrophagocytosed macrophages and atherosclerotic plaques, the adding of iron chelators suppressed the intracellular lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species formation, inflammatory cytokine expression, and apoptosis in erythrophagocytosed macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Hepcidin promotes plaque destabilization partly by exaggerating inflammatory cytokine release, intracellular lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the macrophages with iron retention.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the prostate: a case report and review of the literature.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor of uncertain cellular origin. We reported the case of a 21-year-old man with ASPS presenting itself as a markedly vascular tumor of the prostate. Immunohistochemistry showed positive nuclear staining for TFE3, positive cytoplasm staining for MyoD1 and neuron-specific enolase, and negative for S100, CK, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, myogenin and PSA. A dual-color, break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay identified the presence of a TFE3 gene fusion in the tumor cells. RT-PCR was performed to confirm the ASPSCR1 (ASPL)/TFE3 fusion transcript product in the tumor tissue. The patient suffered bone metastases 8 months after surgery and died of cachexia 14 months later. ASPS of the prostate should be discussed in terms of differential diagnosis from clinicopathological characteristics, immunophenotypes, and molecular genetic features.

High-performance SERS substrate based on hybrid structure of graphene oxide/AgNPs/Cu film@pyramid Si.

We present a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles/copper film covered silicon pyramid arrays (GO/AgNPs/PCu@Si) by a low-cost and simple method. The GO/AgNPs/PCu@Si substrate presents high sensitivity, good homogeneity and well stability with R6G molecules as a probe. The detected concentration of Rhodamine 6 G (R6G) is as low as 10-15 M. These sensitive SERS behaviors are also confirmed in theory via a commercial COMSOL software, the electric field enhancement is not only formed between the AgNPs, but also formed between the AgNPs and Cu film. And the GO/AgNPs/PCu@Si substrates also present good property on practical application for the detection of methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV). This work may offer a novel and practical method to facilitate the SERS applications in areas of medicine, food safety and biotechnology.

Transfect bone marrow stromal cells with pcDNA3.1-VEGF to construct tissue engineered bone in defect repair.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that nano-hydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan (n-Ha/CMCS) displayed excellent mechanical properties, good degradation rates and exceptional biocompatibility, with negligible toxicity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the same composite with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- transfected bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in a rabbit radial defect model. METHODS: The nano-hydroxyapatite was produced through co-precipitation. The n-HA/CMCS scaffold was produced by particle filtration and lyophilization followed by genipin crosslinking. Total RNA from rabbit bone was reverse-transcribed to synthesize VEGF165-pcDNA3.1 that was transfected into the BMSCs. The composite was implanted into a rabbit radial defect model, and the osteogenic activity examined by gross morphology, X-ray examination and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS: The microstructure and mechanical property of the n-HA/CMCS scaffold resembled natural cancellous bone. Compared with glutaric dialdehyde crosslinked scaffolds, the genipin crosslinked scaffold was less toxic, and displayed a higher capacity to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. Spontaneous fluorescence of the composite permitted visualization of the composite-bone interface and the adhesion behavior of cells on the scaffold under laser scanning confocal microscopy. The scaffold with VEGF-transfected BMSCs bridged the bony defect and promoted healing, with most of the implanted material being replaced by natural bone over time with little residual implant. Using X-ray, we noted obvious callus formation and recanalization of the bone marrow cavity. Furthermore, HE stained sections showed new cortical bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: The n-HA/CMCS scaffold composite with VEGF-trasnfected BMSCs is biocompatible, nontoxic, promotes the infiltration and formation of the microcirculation, and stimulates bone defect repair. Furthermore, the degradation rate of the composite matched that of growing bone. Overall, this composite material is potentially useful for bone defect repair.