GLIS3 expression in the thyroid gland in relation to TSH signaling and regulation of gene expression.

Loss of GLI-Similar 3 (GLIS3) function in mice and humans causes congenital hypothyroidism (CH). In this study, we demonstrate that GLIS3 protein is first detectable at E15.5 of murine thyroid development, a time at which GLIS3 target genes, such as Slc5a5 (Nis), become expressed. This, together with observations showing that ubiquitous Glis3KO mice do not display major changes in prenatal thyroid gland morphology, indicated that CH in Glis3KO mice is due to dyshormonogenesis rather than thyroid dysgenesis. Analysis of GLIS3 in postnatal thyroid suggested a link between GLIS3 protein expression and blood TSH levels. This was supported by data showing that treatment with TSH, cAMP, or adenylyl cyclase activators or expression of constitutively active PKA enhanced GLIS3 protein stability and transcriptional activity, indicating that GLIS3 activity is regulated at least in part by TSH/TSHR-mediated activation of PKA. The TSH-dependent increase in GLIS3 transcriptional activity would be critical for the induction of GLIS3 target gene expression, including several thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthetic genes, in thyroid follicular cells of mice fed a low iodine diet (LID) when blood TSH levels are highly elevated. Like TH biosynthetic genes, the expression of cell cycle genes is suppressed in ubiquitous Glis3KO mice fed a LID; however, in thyroid-specific Glis3 knockout mice, the expression of cell cycle genes was not repressed, in contrast to TH biosynthetic genes. This indicated that the inhibition of cell cycle genes in ubiquitous Glis3KO mice is dependent on changes in gene expression in GLIS3 target tissues other than the thyroid.

Loss of nephric augmenter of liver regeneration facilitates acute kidney injury via ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis, characterized by lipid accumulation in intracellular compartments, is related to acute kidney injury (AKI), but the mechanism remains obscure. In our previous study, the protective effect of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on AKI was not fully clarified. In this study, we established an AKI mouse model by knocking out proximal tubule-specific ALR and an AKI cell model by inducing hypoxia, as well as enrolled AKI patients, to investigate the effects of ALR on ferroptosis and the progression of AKI. We found that ALR knockout aggravated ferroptosis and increased ROS accumulation and mitochondrial damage, whereas ALR overexpression attenuated ferroptosis through clearance of ROS and maintenance of mitochondrial morphology. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that ALR could directly bind to long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase 4 (ACSL4) and further inhibit the expression of ACSL4 by interacting with certain regions. By resolution liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadruple mass spectrometry, we found that ALR could reduce the contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid. In addition, we showed that ALR binds to ACSL4 and attenuates oxylipin accumulation, exerting a protective effect against ferroptosis in AKI. Therefore, targeting renal ALR can attenuate ferroptosis and can offer a promising strategy for the treatment of AKI.

Maintaining the thyroid gland in mutant thyroglobulin-induced hypothyroidism requires thyroid cell proliferation that must continue in adulthood.

Congenital hypothyroidism with biallelic thyroglobulin (Tg protein, encoded by the TG gene) mutation is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) storage disease. Many patients (and animal models) grow an enlarged thyroid (goiter), yet some do not. In adulthood, hypothyroid TGcog/cog mice (bearing a Tg-L2263P mutation) exhibit a large goiter, whereas adult WIC rats bearing the TGrdw/rdw mutation (Tg-G2298R) exhibit a hypoplastic thyroid. Homozygous TG mutation has been linked to thyroid cell death, and cytotoxicity of the Tg-G2298R protein was previously thought to explain the lack of goiter in WIC-TGrdw/rdw rats. However, recent studies revealed that TGcog/cog mice also exhibit widespread ER stress-mediated thyrocyte death, yet under continuous feedback stimulation, thyroid cells proliferate in excess of their demise. Here, to examine the relative proteotoxicity of the Tg-G2298R protein, we have used CRISPR-CRISPR-associated protein 9 technology to generate homozygous TGrdw/rdw knock-in mice in a strain background identical to that of TGcog/cog mice. TGrdw/rdw mice exhibit similar phenotypes of defective Tg protein folding, thyroid histological abnormalities, hypothyroidism, and growth retardation. TGrdw/rdw mice do not show evidence of greater ER stress response or stress-mediated cell death than TGcog/cog mice, and both mouse models exhibit sustained thyrocyte proliferation, with comparable goiter growth. In contrast, in WIC-TGrdw/rdw rats, as a function of aging, the thyrocyte proliferation rate declines precipitously. We conclude that the mutant Tg-G2298R protein is not intrinsically more proteotoxic than Tg-L2263P; rather, aging-dependent difference in maintenance of cell proliferation is the limiting factor, which accounts for the absence of goiter in adult WIC-TGrdw/rdw rats.

Risk of waning humoral responses after inactivated or subunit recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with chronic diseases: Findings from a prospective observational study in China.

Heterogeneity of antibody responses has been reported in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination recipients with underlying diseases. We investigated the impact of the presence of comorbidities on the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with chronic disease (PWCD) and assessed the effect of the number of comorbidities on the humoral response to vaccination. In this study, neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD-IgG) were monitored following a full-course vaccination. In total, 1400 PWCD (82.7%, inactivated vaccines; 17.3%, subunit recombinant vaccine) and 245 healthy controls (65.7% inactivated vaccines, 34.3% subunit recombinant vaccine) vaccinated with inactivated or subunit recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, were included. The seroconversion and antibody levels of the NAbs and RBD-IgG were different in the PWCD group compared with those in the control group. Chronic hepatitis B (odds ratio [OR]: 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.93), cancer (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.42-0.99), and diabetes (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28-0.89) were associated with lower seroconversion of NAbs. Chronic kidney disease (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11-0.76), cancer (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.23-0.62), and diabetes (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.20-0.69) were associated with lower seroconversion of RBD-IgG. Only the presence of autoimmune disease showed significantly lower NAbs and RBD-IgG titers. Patients with most types of chronic diseases showed similar responses to the controls, but humoral responses were still significantly associated with the presence of ≥2 coexisting diseases. Our study suggested that humoral responses following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are impaired in patients with certain chronic diseases.

TRPC6 inhibits renal tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis through regulating zinc influx and alleviates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Canonical transient receptor potential-6 (TRPC6) has been reported to be involved in cell damage after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in target organs. While the effect and of TRPC6 on pyroptosis in renal I/R injury remain unclear. In our study, we first established the renal I/R mouse model and oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD/R) cell model, and investigated the impacts of TRPC6 on the pyroptosis-related proteins using CCK-8, western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence probes. Besides, we also explored the mechanism of TRPC6 in pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells through A20 knockdown or overexpression and zinc chloride (ZnCl2 ) or a zinc ion chelator (TPEN) treatment. Our results indicated that I/R injury could cause downregulation of TRPC6 both in vivo and in vitro. In the I/R injury murine model, TRPC6 inhibition exacerbated tissue damage and upregulated NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1ß, which could be alleviated by the administration of ZnCl2 . In the OGD/R cell model, inhibitor of TRPC6 (SAR7334) reduced zinc ion influx, aggravated cell death and upregulated pyroptosis-related protein. The pyroptosis phenotype also could be alleviated by ZnCl2 and intensified by TPEN. Overexpression of A20 reduced the expression of pyroptosis-related protein, increased cell viability in the sh-TRPC6 and TPEN-treated OGD/R cell models, while A20 deficiency impaired the protective effect of zinc ion. Therefore, our results indicate that TRPC6 could promote zinc ion influx in renal tubular epithelial cells, thereby upregulating intracellular A20, inhibiting the activation of inflammasome NLRP3, and ultimately attenuating renal I/R injury.

Motor-sparing peripatellar plexus block provides noninferior block duration and complete block area of the peripatellar region compared with femoral nerve block: a randomized, controlled, noninferiority study.

BACKGROUND: Developing adequate regional anaesthesia for knee surgeries without affecting lower limb mobilization is crucial to perioperative analgesia. However, reports in this regard are limited. We proposed a technique for ultrasound-guided peripatellar plexus (PP) block. Compared with the femoral nerve (FN) block, we hypothesized that this technique would provide a noninferior block duration and a complete cutaneous sensory block in the peripatellar region without affecting lower limb mobilization. An investigation was conducted to verify our hypothesis in cadavers and volunteers. METHODS: The study was designed in two parts. First, eight cadaveric lower limbs were dissected to verify the feasibility of PP block after methylene blue injection under ultrasound. Second, using a noninferiority study design, 50 healthy volunteers were randomized to receive either a PP block (PP group) or an FN block (FN group). The primary outcome was the duration of peripatellar cutaneous sensory block, with the prespecified noninferiority margin of -3.08 h; the secondary outcome was the area of peripatellar cutaneous sensory block; in addition, the number of complete anaesthesias of the incision line for total knee arthroplasty and the Bromage score 30 min after block were recorded. RESULTS: The PP was successfully dyed, whereas the FN and saphenous nerve were unstained in all cadaveric limbs. The mean difference of the block duration between the two groups was - 1.24 (95% CI, -2.81 - 0.33) h, and the lower boundary of the two-sided 95% CI was higher than the prespecified noninferiority margin (Pnoninferiority = 0.023), confirming the noninferiority of our technique over FN block. The cutaneous sensory loss covered the entire peripatellar region in the PP group. PP block achieved complete anaesthesia of the incision line used for total knee arthroplasty and a Bromage score of 0 in 25 volunteers, which differed significantly from that of volunteers who underwent FN block. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided PP block is a feasible technique. Compared with FN block, PP block provides noninferior block duration and complete blocking of the peripatellar region without affecting lower limb mobilization. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (registration no. ChiCTR2000041547, registration date 28/12/2020).

Study on Clinical Application of Different Ultrasound-Guided Planar Techniques in Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Objective. The objective is to explore the clinical application value of ultrasound long- and short-axis planar technology in real-time guided puncture in minimally invasive percutaneous nephrology. Methods. The clinical data of 80 patients undergoing real-time ultrasound-guided minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy from September 2018 to October 2019 were analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups with different ultrasound-guided puncture techniques, long-axis in-plane technique and short-axis out-of-plane technique. Results. Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomies under real-time ultrasound guidance were successfully completed in both groups of patients. The success rate of the first puncture in the short-axis out-of-plane group was significantly higher than that in the long-axis in-plane group, and the differences were statistically significant (P <.05); the total puncture time in the short-axis out-of-plane group was significantly less than the long-axis in-plane group, and the differences were statistical significance (P <.05); there was no significant difference in the single-stage stone removal rate, total percutaneous renal channels, total hospital stay, and rate of complications by the Clavien classification between the 2 groups (P > .05). Conclusion. Ultrasound long-axis and short-axis planar technologies can achieve good clinical application results in real-time guided puncture to establish percutaneous renal channels during minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Compared with the long-axis in-plane technique, the short-axis out-of-plane technique can shorten the puncture time and improve the success rate of the first puncture.

Noncanonical thyroid hormone signaling mediates cardiometabolic effects in vivo.

Thyroid hormone (TH) and TH receptors (TRs) α and ß act by binding to TH response elements (TREs) in regulatory regions of target genes. This nuclear signaling is established as the canonical or type 1 pathway for TH action. Nevertheless, TRs also rapidly activate intracellular second-messenger signaling pathways independently of gene expression (noncanonical or type 3 TR signaling). To test the physiological relevance of noncanonical TR signaling, we generated knockin mice with a mutation in the TR DNA-binding domain that abrogates binding to DNA and leads to complete loss of canonical TH action. We show that several important physiological TH effects are preserved despite the disruption of DNA binding of TRα and TRß, most notably heart rate, body temperature, blood glucose, and triglyceride concentration, all of which were regulated by noncanonical TR signaling. Additionally, we confirm that TRE-binding-defective TRß leads to disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis with resistance to TH, while mutation of TRα causes a severe delay in skeletal development, thus demonstrating tissue- and TR isoform-specific canonical signaling. These findings provide in vivo evidence that noncanonical TR signaling exerts physiologically important cardiometabolic effects that are distinct from canonical actions. These data challenge the current paradigm that in vivo physiological TH action is mediated exclusively via regulation of gene transcription at the nuclear level.

Augmenter of liver regeneration protects the kidney from ischaemia-reperfusion injury in ferroptosis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and severe clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains the major cause of AKI in the clinic. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death (PCD) that is characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Compelling evidence has shown that renal tubular cell death involves ferroptosis, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is a widely distributed multifunctional protein that is expressed in many tissues. Our previous study demonstrated that ALR possesses an anti-oxidant function. However, the modulatory mechanism of ALR remains unclear and warrants further investigation. Here, to elucidate the role of ALR in ferroptosis, ALR expression was inhibited using short hairpin RNA lentivirals (shRNA) in vitro model of I/R-induced AKI. The results suggest that the level of ferroptosis is increased, particularly in the shRNA/ALR group, accompanied by increased ROS and mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, inhibition of system xc- with erastin aggravates ferroptosis, particularly silencing of the expression of ALR. Unexpectedly, we demonstrate a novel signalling pathway of ferroptosis. In summary, we show for the first time that silencing ALR aggravates ferroptosis in an in vitro model of I/R. Notably, we show that I/R induced kidney ferroptosis is mediated by ALR, which is linked to the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase (GSH-GPx) system.

Antiapoptosis effect of ZiShen prescription to increase learning and memory abilities of compound Alzheimer's disease model rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment. In previous studies, the activities of extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs to treat brain function disorders caused by AD have already been reported. ZiShen prescription was a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescription reformed for AD disease based on the basic theory of TCM. To explore the effect of ZiShen (kidney-reinforcing) prescription on the learning and memory abilities, we made compound AD model rats by injecting d-galactose and ibotenic acid into the abdominal cavity to damage both sides of the nucleus basalis of Meynert with ibotenic acid. The trisected Y-maze was used to test the learning and memory abilities of AD model rats before and after treatment by ZiShen prescription and Piracetam. To investigate the mechanism of ZiShen prescription, the expressions of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2/Bax) in the cortex and hippocampus of compound AD model rats were detected in the cortex and hippocampus. The results show that, comparing with Piracetam, a clinical medicine to promote the thinking and memory for AD patients, ZiShen prescription significantly increased the learning and memory abilities of the compound AD model rats. After the treatment of ZiShen prescription, the expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated, along with a downregulation of Bax in the cortex and hippocampus of compound AD model rats. And the results indicated that the clinical benefits of ZiShen prescription were slightly better than Piracetam. Still, further well-designed studies are required to ensure the clinical effect of ZiShen.

Overexpression of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) mitigates the effect of H2O2-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in renal tubule epithelial cells.

Ischemia/reperfusion is a major cause of acute kidney injury and can induce apoptosis in renal epithelial tubule (HK-2) cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a major contributor to apoptosis in acute kidney injury. We previously reported that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) functions as an anti-apoptotic factor in H2O2-treated HK-2 cells although the precise mechanism underlying this action remains unclear. In the present study, we investigate the role of ALR in H2O2-induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis. We overexpressed ALR and established a H2O2-induced ER stress model in HK-2 cells. Overexpression of ALR reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and the rate of apoptosis in H2O2-treated HK-2 cells. Using confocal microscopy and western blot, we observed that ALR colocalized with the ER and mitochondria compartment. Moreover, ALR suppressed ER stress by maintaining the morphology of the ER and reducing the levels of the ER-related proteins, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phospho-protein kinase-like ER kinase (p-PERK), phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α) and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) significantly (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, ALR promoted Bcl-2 expression and suppressed Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 expression significantly during ER-stress induced apoptosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ALR attenuated calcium release from the ER, and transfer to mitochondria, under ER stress. To conclude, ALR alleviates H2O2-induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis in HK-2 cells by suppressing ER stress response and by maintaining calcium homeostasis. Consequently, ALR may protect renal tubule epithelial cells from ischemia/reperfusion induced acute kidney injury.

Augmenter of liver regeneration promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Mitochondria are the center of energy metabolism in the cell and the preferential target of various toxicants and ischemic injury. Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury triggers proximal tubule injury and the mitochondria are believed to be the primary subcellular target of I/R injury. The promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) is critical for the prevention I/R injury. The results of our previous study showed that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) has anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant functions. However, the modulatory mechanism of ALR remains unclear and warrants further investigation. To gain further insight into the role of ALR in MB, human kidney (HK)-2 cells were treated with lentiviruses carrying ALR short interfering RNA (siRNA) and a model of hypoxia reoxygenation (H/R) injury in vitro was created. We observed that knockdown of ALR promoted apoptosis of renal tubular cells and aggravated mitochondrial injury, as evidenced by the decrease in the mitochondrial respiratory proteins adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase subunit ß, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) beta subcomplex 8. Meanwhile, the production of reactive oxygen species was increased and ATP levels were decreased significantly in HK-2 cells, as compared with the siRNA/control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the mitochondrial DNA copy number and membrane potential were markedly decreased. Furthermore, critical transcriptional regulators of MB (i.e., peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha, mitochondrial transcription factor A, sirtuin-1, and nuclear respiratory factor-1) were depleted in the siRNA/ALR group. Taken together, these findings unveil essential roles of ALR in the inhibition of renal tubular cell apoptosis and attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction by promoting MB in AKI.

Generation of functional thyroid from embryonic stem cells.

The primary function of the thyroid gland is to metabolize iodide by synthesizing thyroid hormones, which are critical regulators of growth, development and metabolism in almost all tissues. So far, research on thyroid morphogenesis has been missing an efficient stem-cell model system that allows for the in vitro recapitulation of the molecular and morphogenic events regulating thyroid follicular-cell differentiation and subsequent assembly into functional thyroid follicles. Here we report that a transient overexpression of the transcription factors NKX2-1 and PAX8 is sufficient to direct mouse embryonic stem-cell differentiation into thyroid follicular cells that organize into three-dimensional follicular structures when treated with thyrotropin. These in vitro-derived follicles showed appreciable iodide organification activity. Importantly, when grafted in vivo into athyroid mice, these follicles rescued thyroid hormone plasma levels and promoted subsequent symptomatic recovery. Thus, mouse embryonic stem cells can be induced to differentiate into thyroid follicular cells in vitro and generate functional thyroid tissue.

Augmenter of liver regeneration regulates autophagy in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury via the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Autophagy may have protective effects in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a widely distributed multifunctional protein that is originally identified as a hepatic growth factor, may participate in the process of autophagy. To investigate the role of ALR in autophagy, ALR expression is knocked-down in human kidney 2 (HK-2) cells with short hairpin RNA lentivirals. Then, the level of autophagy is measured in the shRNA/ALR group and the shRNA/control group in an in vitro model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). The results indicate that the level of autophagy in two groups increase, accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species production, especially in the shRNA/ALR group. The AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway is hyperactive in the shRNA/ALR group. Inhibition of autophagy with the AMPK inhibitor compound C induce apoptosis, especially in the shRNA/ALR group. These findings collectively indicate that ALR negatively regulates the autophagy process through an association with the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Autophagy inhibit apoptosis and play a protective role under conditions of oxidative stress.

Screen detection of ductal carcinoma in situ and subsequent incidence of invasive interval breast cancers: a retrospective population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The value of screen detection and treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a matter of controversy. At present, the extent to which the diagnosis and treatment of DCIS could prevent the occurrence of invasive breast cancer in the future is not clear. We sought to estimate the association between detection of DCIS at screening and invasive interval cancers subsequent to the relevant screen. METHODS: We obtained aggregate data for screen-detected cancers from 84 local screening units within 11 regional Quality Assurance Reference Centres in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme. Data for DCIS diagnoses were obtained for women aged 50-64 years who were invited to and attended mammographic breast screening from April 1, 2003, to March 31, 2007 (4 screening years). Patient-level data for interval cancer arising in the 36 months after each of these were analysed by Poisson regression with invasive interval cancer screen detection rate as the outcome variable; DCIS detection frequencies were fitted first as a continuous and then as a categorical variable. We repeated this analysis after adjustment with both small size and high-grade invasive screen-detected cancers. FINDINGS: We analysed data for 5,243,658 women and on interval cancers occurring in the 36 months after the relevant screen. The average frequency of DCIS detected at screening was 1·60 per 1000 women screened (median 1·50 [unit range 0·54-3·56] [corrected to] per 1000 women). There was a significant negative association of screen-detected DCIS cases with the rate of invasive interval cancers (Poisson regression coefficient -0·084 [95% CI -0·13 to -0·03]; p=0·002). 90% of units had a DCIS detection frequency within the range of 1·00 to 2·22 per 1000 women; in these units, for every three screen-detected cases of DCIS, there was one fewer invasive interval cancer in the next 3 years. This association remained after adjustment for numbers of small screen-detected invasive cancers and for numbers of grade 3 invasive screen-detected cancers. INTERPRETATION: The association between screen-detected DCIS and subsequent invasive interval cancers suggests that detection and treatment of DCIS is worthwhile in prevention of future invasive disease. FUNDING: UK Department of Health Policy Research Programme and NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.

Augmenter of liver regeneration plays a protective role against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in renal proximal tubule cells.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in cellular destruction. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is an anti-apoptotic factor that is expressed in all mammalian cells and functions as an anti-oxidant by stimulating the expression of a secretory isoform of clusterin and inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Previous work from our group showed that ALR expression is upregulated in acute kidney injury (AKI) rats, and recombinant human ALR reduces tubular injury. In the present study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing of ALR to examine its role in H2O2 induced mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. Knockdown of ALR increased ROS levels, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the release of mitochondrial proteins and the rate of apoptosis in response to H2O2. In addition, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased in siRNA/ALR groups treated with H2O2. These data confirm the protective role of ALR against oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial injury and suggest a potential mechanism underlying the protective role of ALR in AKI.

Augmenter of liver regeneration inhibits TGF-ß1-induced renal tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via suppressing TßR II expression in vitro.

Tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the progression of renal tubular interstitial fibrosis (TIF), which subsequently leads to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and eventually, end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We propose that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a member of the newly discovered ALR/Erv1 protein family shown to ameliorate hepatic fibrosis, plays a similar protective role in renal tubular cells and has potential as a new treatment option for CKD. Here, we showed that recombinant human ALR (rhALR) inhibits EMT in renal tubular cells by antagonizing activation of the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) signaling pathway. Further investigation revealed that rhALR suppresses the expression of TGF-ß receptor type II (TßR II) and significantly alleviates TGF-ß1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). No apparent adverse effects were observed upon the addition of rhALR alone to cells. These findings collectively suggest that ALR plays a role in inhibiting progression of renal tubular EMT, supporting its potential utility as an effective antifibrotic strategy to reverse TIF in CKD.

A comparison of supracostal and infracostal access approaches in treating renal and upper ureteral stones using MPCNL with the aid of a patented system.

BACKGROUND: There are still disagreements on which is a better approach to choose to establish percutaneous tract for percutaneous nephrolitotomy (PCNL), between supracostal and infracostal approaches. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety, efficacy and practicability of minimally invasive PCNL (MPCNL) with the aid of a patented system either through supracostal or through infracostal access. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out for 83 patients with renal or upper ureteral stones. Under the guidance of B ultrasound or C-arm, these patients were treated by MPCNL through either 12th rib infracostal (Group 1, 43 cases) or supracostal (Group 2, 40 cases) access approach. These 2 groups were compared for total number of percutaneous tracts, average time in establishing a given percutaneous tract, the number of percutaneous tract used for each case, the average stone clearance time, the clearance rate of all stones by one surgery, and the amount of bleeding using a single percutaneous tract. RESULTS: There was a significantly smaller total number of percutaneous tracts needed, a smaller number of cases that needed two percutaneous tracts to clear stones completely, a shorter average time in establishing a percutaneous tract, and a smaller average amount of bleeding in infracostal access group. At the same time, there were a significantly larger number of cases in which stones were cleared completely using a single percutaneous tract and a higher renal stone clearance rate by one surgery. CONCLUSION: There were several advantages of infracostal access. These included accuracy in establishing a percutaneous tract, safety, quickness, convenience and flexibility in moving the patented sheath, and higher renal and upper ureteral stone clearance rate by one surgery.

Thyrotrophin receptor signaling dependence of Braf-induced thyroid tumor initiation in mice.

Mutations of BRAF are found in ∼45% of papillary thyroid cancers and are enriched in tumors with more aggressive properties. We developed mice with a thyroid-specific knock-in of oncogenic Braf (LSL-Braf(V600E)/TPO-Cre) to explore the role of endogenous expression of this oncoprotein on tumor initiation and progression. In contrast to other Braf-induced mouse models of tumorigenesis (i.e., melanomas and lung), in which knock-in of Braf(V600E) induces mostly benign lesions, Braf-expressing thyrocytes become transformed and progress to invasive carcinomas with a very short latency, a process that is dampened by treatment with an allosteric MEK inhibitor. These mice also become profoundly hypothyroid due to deregulation of genes involved in thyroid hormone biosynthesis and consequently have high TSH levels. To determine whether TSH signaling cooperates with oncogenic Braf in this process, we first crossed LSL-Braf(V600E)/TPO-Cre with TshR knockout mice. Although oncogenic Braf was appropriately activated in thyroid follicular cells of these mice, they had a lower mitotic index and were not transformed. Thyroid-specific deletion of the Gsα gene in LSL-Braf(V600E)/TPO-Cre/Gnas-E1(fl/fl) mice also resulted in an attenuated cancer phenotype, indicating that the cooperation of TshR with oncogenic Braf is mediated in part by cAMP signaling. Once tumors were established in mice with wild-type TshR, suppression of TSH did not revert the phenotype. These data demonstrate the key role of TSH signaling in Braf-induced papillary thyroid cancer initiation and provide experimental support for recent observations in humans pointing to a strong association between TSH levels and thyroid cancer incidence.