[Progress in molecular mechanism of hepatolenticular degeneration induced by ATP7B gene mutation].

Hepatolenticular degeneration, also named Wilson disease, is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that characterized by copper metabolism disorder. WD mainly caused by the dysfunction of mutant ATP7B variants. This review summaries the mechanisms that different mutations affect the function of ATP7B, including inducing the mislocalization of mutant proteins, affecting the interactions between proteins or domains, regulating catalytic activity of ATP7B, and modifying the splicing of ATP7B gene. Further more, the genotype-phenotype correlation of a few mutations has been reviewed. Several mutations, such as p.R778L, are considered to be associated with more serious clinical symptoms, and the differences in environmental, diet, and lifestyle habits may also have effects on the susceptibility or the onset age of the patients. The research of the pathogenesis and clinical characterization of ATP7B gene mutations in the molecular level helps to deepen the understanding of WD, and suggests that personalized treatments should be used in future clinical practice.

Seroprevalence and genotype of Chlamydia in pet parrots in China.

Parrots are one of the most popular pet birds in China, and can harbour Chlamydia which has significance for human and animal health. We investigated, by indirect haemagglutination assay, the seroprevalence of Chlamydia infection in four species of parrots, namely budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria) that were collected from Weifang and Beijing cities, North China and explored the association between potential risk factors and chlamydial seropositivity. We further determined the genotype of Chlamydia in 21 fresh faecal samples based on the ompA sequence by reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships. Of the 311 parrots examined, 35·37% (95% confidence interval 30·06-40·68) were seropositive, and species, gender, age, season and geographical location were identified as risk factors. Two PCR-positive samples represented Chlamydia psittaci genotype A. The occurrence of C. psittaci genotype A in the droppings of two pet parrots in China suggests potential environmental contamination with Chlamydiaceae and may raise a public health concern.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with aplastic anemia.

The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of fully matched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants in children with severe aplastic anemia in China. A total of twenty patients with severe aplastic anemia were enrolled in our study. Thirteen cases underwent transplantation with fully human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-primed bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from matching sibling donors. One patient received fully HLA-matched bone marrow from an unrelated donor. Six patients received fully HLA-matched G-CSF-primed PBSCs from unrelated donors. The conditioning regimen included fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis was conducted with cyclosporin A and short-course methotrexate. The median follow-up duration was 3.08 years (range, 0.83-8.41years). The median time of neutrophil recovery (>0.5 x 10(9)/L) was 14 days (range, 10-20 days), and the median time of platelet recovery (>20 x 10(9)/L) was 19 days (range, 14-31 days). The survival rate at the cutoff point of follow-up was 95.0% (19/20). Initial engraftment rate was 95% (19/20). Late graft failure (graft failures occurring 1 year or longer after transplantation) was observed in one patient. Only one patient developed Grade I acute graft-versus-host disease. Two cases suffered from Epstein- Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and remitted after treatment with rituximab. One patient was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2.5 years after transplantation. Our study indicated that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective and safe treatment for children with severe aplastic anemia in China.

Genetic analysis of grain shape and weight after cutting rice husk.

Grain shape and weight are the most important components of rice yield and are controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). In this study, a double-haploid population, derived from the cross of japonica CJ06 and indica TN1, was used to analyze QTLs for grain shape and weight under two conditions: normal growth with unbroken husk and removing partial husk after flowering. Correlation analysis revealed that these traits, except grain weight, had a connection between the two conditions. Twenty-nine QTLs for grain shape and weight were detected on chromosomes 1 to 3; 6; 8 to 10; and 12, with the likelihood of odds value ranging from 2.38 to 5.36, including 10 different intervals. Some intervals were specifically detected after removing partial husk. The results contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of grain filling and growth regulation, and provide us some assistance for improving grain plumpness in rice breeding.

Identification and bioinformatic analysis of a putative calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK6) from Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii is recognized as an opportunistic human pathogen with a worldwide distribution. Development of effective vaccines is considered the only ideal way to control T. gondii infection. However, only one live vaccine is commercially available for use in sheep and goats. Therefore, the identification of more effective antigenic proteins is very important. In this study, we identified a novel putative calcium-dependent protein kinase of T. gondii, TgCDPK6, and further analyzed its potential antigenicity using a bioinformatic approach. The physical and chemical characteristics, transmembrane domain, epitopes, advanced structure, and functional sites of TgCDPK6 were predicted by multiple bioinformatic approaches. Twenty-six post-translational modification sites were identified in the protein. The secondary structure showed that 58.35% amino acids of TgCDPK6 are exposed to the solvent interface, and the high hydrophilic domains were distributed in amino acid positions 21-59, 68-81, 156-205, 245-271, 280-294, 297-324, 334-356, 367-393, 474-498, and 543-553. The advanced structure of TgCDPK6 was developed by a homology modeling method and was validated by PROCHECK, which showed that most amino acid residues were in the most favored regions. Using these analyses, 10 potential epitopes were predicted. The results indicated that TgCDPK6 could be a vaccine candidate antigen against T. gondii.

Sequence variation in the Toxoplasma gondii eIF4A gene among strains from different hosts and geographical locations.

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of animals, including humans. The T. gondii eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) protein is expressed in the tachyzoite, but its expression is markedly downregulated in the bradyzoite, and it is therefore considered to be associated with tachyzoite virulence. The present study examined sequence variation in the eIF4A gene among nine strains of different genotypes from different hosts and geographical localities using polymerase chain reaction amplification, sequence analysis, and phylogenetic reconstruction by Bayesian inference. The complete genomic sequence of the eIF4A gene was 3156 bp in length in the strain TgCgCaI, 3153 bp in the strain MAS, 3152 bp in the strain TgPNY, and 3154 bp in the other six strains. Sequence analysis identified 29 (0-0.8%) variable nucleotide positions among all strains, with 16 of these variations located in the coding region, while the other 12 were distributed between the two introns. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these eIF4A sequences were not effective molecular markers for intra-species phylogenetic analysis and differential identification of T. gondii strains from different hosts and geographical locations. This study demonstrated the existence of low sequence variation in the eIF4A gene, suggesting that T. gondii eIF4A may represent a suitable candidate vaccine against toxoplasmosis.

Characterization of the Toxoplasma gondii hsp60 gene sequences from different hosts and geographical locations.

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful parasites, with the ability to invade all warm-blooded animals, including humans. T. gondii heat shock protein 60 (TgHSP60) plays an important role in intracellular survival and in the differentiation of the parasite, and is also recognized as being associated with its virulence. In the present study, we examined sequence variation in the hsp60 coding region among five T. gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical regions, which were compared with the corresponding sequences of strains ME49, 76K, and GT1 available in the ToxoDB databases. The length of the T. gondii hsp60 sequence was 1728 bp for all strains, and the A+T content ranged from 41.96 to 42.13%. The sequence alignment of the 8 T. gondii strains identified 20 variable positions (0-1.44%) and showed 1.16% overall sequence variation, suggesting a relatively considerable sequence diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of hsp60 sequences using Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony differentiated the two major clonal lineage types into their respective clusters, and thus separated atypical strains from classical genotypes. The results of the present study suggested that the coding region of the hsp60 gene may represent a novel genetic marker for intraspecies phylogenetic analyses of T. gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein 38 gene: sequence variation among isolates from different hosts and geographical locations.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is able to infect almost all mammalian species, and may lead to toxoplasmosis of the host. In the present study, we examined sequence variation in rhoptry protein 38 (ROP38) genes among T. gondii isolates collected from different hosts and geographical regions. The complete ROP38 gene from 13 T. gondii isolates was amplified and sequenced. The results of sequence alignments showed that the lengths of the entire ROP38 gene ranged from 2646 to 2650 bp, with a sequence variation of 0.2-1.1%, among the 13 T. gondii isolates. This result indicated low sequence variation in the ROP38 gene. Phylogenetic analysis of ROP38 sequences using Bayesian inference showed that the clustering of the 13 T. gondii isolates was not consistent with their respective genotypes. This result indicates that the ROP38 gene is not a suitable genetic marker for population genetic studies of different T. gondii genotypes from different hosts and geographical locations, but may represent a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis, and hence worthy of further research.

Characterization of Trichuris trichiura from humans and T. suis from pigs in China using internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA.

Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis parasitize (at the adult stage) the caeca of humans and pigs, respectively, causing trichuriasis. Despite these parasites being of human and animal health significance, causing considerable socio-economic losses globally, little is known of the molecular characteristics of T. trichiura and T. suis from China. In the present study, the entire first and second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1 and ITS-2) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of T. trichiura and T. suis from China were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the representative amplicons were cloned and sequenced, and sequence variation in the ITS rDNA was examined. The ITS rDNA sequences for the T. trichiura and T. suis samples were 1222-1267 bp and 1339-1353 bp in length, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that the ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNAs of both whipworms were 600-627 bp and 655-661 bp, 154 bp, and 468-486 bp and 530-538 bp in size, respectively. Sequence variation in ITS rDNA within and among T. trichiura and T. suis was examined. Excluding nucleotide variations in the simple sequence repeats, the intra-species sequence variation in the ITS-1 was 0.2-1.7% within T. trichiura, and 0-1.5% within T. suis. For ITS-2 rDNA, the intra-species sequence variation was 0-1.3% within T. trichiura and 0.2-1.7% within T. suis. The inter-species sequence differences between the two whipworms were 60.7-65.3% for ITS-1 and 59.3-61.5% for ITS-2. These results demonstrated that the ITS rDNA sequences provide additional genetic markers for the characterization and differentiation of the two whipworms. These data should be useful for studying the epidemiology and population genetics of T. trichiura and T. suis, as well as for the diagnosis of trichuriasis in humans and pigs.

Comparative characterization of microRNA profiles of different genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii.

The present study compared the miRNA expression profiles of five Toxoplasma gondii strains, namely RH (Type I, ToxoDB10), TgXD (Type I, ToxoDB10), PRU (Type II, ToxoDB1), QHO (Type II, ToxoDB1) and TgC7 (ToxoDB9), by Solexa deep sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and real-time quantitative PCR. A total of 7, 15, 10, 12 and 10 miRNAs were found from RH, TgXD, PRU, QHO and TgC7 strains, respectively. Thirteen miRNAs were shared by three genotypes, with only one miRNA shared by all of the 5 strains and others shared by 2 or more strains. A large number of targets ranging from 1 to 185 were identified for commonly shared miRNAs and strain-specific miRNAs with complete or nearly complete complementarity. Functional prediction showed that these targets were mostly focused on catalytic activity (191 targets) and binding activity (183 targets). Nonetheless, the majority of targets and most of the miRNAs are related to the virulence or invasion proteins of different strains of T. gondii, including ROP and MIC, as well as some other proteins, such as AMA1, GRA and RHO. The present study characterized comparatively the miRNA profiles of 3 different genotypes of T. gondii, identified genotype-shared miRNAs and strain-specific miRNAs.

Common polymorphism near the MC4R gene is associated with type 2 diabetes: data from a meta-analysis of 123,373 individuals.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Genome-wide association studies have shown that variants near the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) (rs17782313 and rs12970134) are associated with risk of obesity in Europeans. As obesity is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, many studies have investigated the association between polymorphisms near the MC4R gene and type 2 diabetes risk across different ethnic populations, with inconsistent results. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association of variants near MC4R with type 2 diabetes risk. METHODS: Published literature from PubMed and Embase was retrieved. All studies that evaluated the association of at least one of the two MC4R polymorphism(s) with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Pooled ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using the fixed-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies (comprising 34,195 cases and 89,178 controls) of the rs17782313 polymorphism (or its proxy rs12970134) were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the rs17782313 polymorphism was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes risk among the overall study population (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07, 1.13, p = 2.83 × 10(-12) [Z test], I(2) = 9.1%, p = 0.345 [heterogeneity]). The association remained significant even after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03, 1.09, p = 2.14 × 10(-5) [Z test], I(2) = 4.9%, p = 0.397 [heterogeneity]). Further sensitivity analysis confirmed the statistically significant association of rs17782313 polymorphism with type 2 diabetes, and no publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The present meta-analysis confirmed the significant association of the rs17782313 polymorphism near the MC4R gene with type 2 diabetes risk, which was independent of BMI.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in dairy cows in subtropical southern China.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related protozoan parasites which cause lowered production and increased abortion in dairy cows. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infection in dairy cows in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), subtropical southern China. In total, 875 serum samples were collected from the tail veins of dairy cows in 6 main dairy cow-rearing districts of 4 administrative cities in GZAR. The samples were surveyed for T. gondii antibody using the Indirect Haemagglutination Test (IHA), and 365 of the serum samples were examined for N. caninum antibody by indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in dairy cows was 13·71% (120/875), and the average seroprevalence of N. caninum was 15·07% (55/365). There were significant differences in the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection between different districts (P = 0·002, χ 2 = 9·261). The highest prevalences of T. gondii and N. caninum were found in cows older than 8 years and those that had completed 5-6 pregnancies. Five cows (1·37%) presented antibodies against both T. gondii and N. caninum, and dairy cows with both T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies had higher abortion rates. The present results indicate widespread exposure of dairy cows to T. gondii and N. caninum in GZAR, subtropical southern China.

Genetic variation among Clonorchis sinensis isolates from different geographic regions in China revealed by sequence analyses of four mitochondrial genes.

The present study examined sequence variation in four mitochondrial (mt) genes, namely cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 (cox1) and 2 (cox2), and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 and 2 (nad1 and nad2) among Clonorchis sinensis isolates from different endemic regions in China, and their phylogenetic relationships with other zoonotic trematodes were reconstructed. A portion of the cox1 and cox2 genes (pcox1 and pcox2), and nad1 and nad2 genes (pnad1 and pnad2) were amplified separately from individual liver flukes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the amplicons were subjected to sequencing from both directions. The intra-specific sequence variations within C. sinensis were 0-1.6% for pcox1, 0-1.4% for pcox2, 0-0.9% for pnad1 and 0-1.0% for pnad2. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined sequences of pcox1, pcox2, pnad1 and pnad2 revealed that all the C. sinensis isolates grouped together and were closely related to Opisthorchis felineus. These findings revealed the existence of intra-specific variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences among C. sinensis isolates from different geographic regions, and demonstrated that mtDNA sequences provide reliable genetic markers for phylogenetic studies of zoonotic trematodes.

Modulation of mouse macrophage proteome induced by Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vivo.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which can invade and multiply within the macrophages of humans and most warm-blooded animals. Macrophages are important effector cells for the control and killing of intracellular T. gondii, and they may also serve as long-term host cells for the replication and survival of the parasite. In the present study, we explored the proteomic profile of macrophages of the specific pathogen-free Kunming mice at 24 h after infection with tachyzoites of the virulent T. gondii RH strain using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (TOF)/TOF tandem mass spectrometry. Totally, 60 differentially expressed protein spots were identified. Among them, 52 spots corresponded to 38 proteins matching to proteins of the mouse, including actin, enolase, calumenin, vimentin, plastin 2, annexin A1, cathepsin S, arginase-1, arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase, and aminoacylase-1. Functional prediction using Gene Ontology database showed that these proteins were mainly involved in metabolism, structure, protein fate, and immune responses. The findings provided an insight into the interactive relationship between T. gondii and the host macrophages, and will shed new lights on the understanding of molecular mechanisms of T. gondii pathogenesis.

Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pigs in subtropical southern China.

Enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a severe disease of pigs, causing significant economic losses to the pig industry worldwide, including the tropical and subtropical regions. In order to obtain the baseline prevalence of M. hyopneumoniae in pigs from intensive farms in southern China, double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect M. hyoneumoniae antibodies in 460 pig serum samples collected from 12 administrative cities in China's southern Guangdong province. According to the proportions of the infected animals, among the 12 intensive farms, only two of them showed no infection of M. hyoneumoniae and the seroprevalence ranged from 0% to 90%, with an averaged prevalence of 45.7%. The highest prevalence was found in breeding boars (68.8%), followed by sows (54.5%). These data showed that the infection of pigs with M. hyopneumoniae is severe, and boars might be more important carriers and transfers of M. hyoneumoniae than sows. Integrated strategies and measures should be taken to control the infection of pigs with M. hyopneumoniae in southern China.

[The history and influence of Losheng Sanatorium in Taiwan area].

Losheng Sanatorium, as a prophylactic-therapeutic institution for isolation, treatment, rehabilitation and social control of leprosy patients, was established by the Japanese colonial government in Taiwan in 1930. Losheng Sanatorium effectively carried out the compulsory isolation of leprosy patients, under the assistance of the public medical system with the help of police and the Bao-Jia management in the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan. Losheng sanatorium imported DDS, a therapeutic drug for leprosy, popularised an outpatient treatment model of leprosy, and developed mobile medical services after the Second World War. Losheng detected and treated leprosy patients successfully through the support of special skin clinics in public hospitals and missionary hospitals after Multi-drug Therapy was introduced in Taiwan in 1984. The Department of Health, Executive Yuan of the Taiwan area in commenced administration of Losheng Sanatorium in 1999 transformed it into a community-based general hospital. Losheng sanatorium adopted different control strategies in different historical periods based on the requirements of health, epidemic prevention systems and leprology developments to achieve its goals of leprosy control. The Sanatorium provides an example to understand and further study epidemical control and public health practice in the Taiwan area.

Toxoplasma gondii microneme protein 8 (MIC8) is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.

Microneme protein 8 (MIC8) is considered a new essential invasion factor in Toxoplasma gondii. In the present study, a deoxyribonucleic acid vaccine expressing MIC8 of T. gondii was constructed and the immune response it induced in Kunming mice was evaluated. The gene sequence encoding MIC8 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX I, and the pVAX-MIC8 expression plasmid was constructed, and the plasmid diluted with PBS to 100 mg/100 microl was injected into the Kunming mice muscularly. Levels of IgG antibody, gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 were detected. The mice were challenged with tachyzoites of the virulent T. gondii RH strain at the 14th day after the last immunization to observe the survival time. The high level of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IgG antibody indicated that mice vaccinated with recombinant pVAX-MIC8 plasmid could elicit strong cellular and humoral immune responses and showed a significantly increased survival time (10.3 +/- 0.9 days) compared with control mice which died within 5 days of challenge infection. These data demonstrate that the T. gondii MIC8 is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.

[From relief to life, the last memory of leprosy sanatorium: investigation and patient interview in Wukang sanatorium].

Zhejiang Wukang sanatorium evolved from Hangchow C. M.S. Hospital, which was founded in 1887. It is the leprosy prevention and treatment center of Zhejiang Province after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Most of the leprosy patients (convalescents)in sanatoriums entered the hospital successively in 1960s. Due to the limitation of dapsone monotherapy and the poor living conditions, the convalescents need to receive long-term isolation treatment and engage in collective production. After the implementation of Reform and Opening-up policy, the leprosy patients' health care has been greatly improved. The leprosy prevention and treatment course has been gradually reduced; the widespread knowledge of leprosy gradually freed leprosy patients from the dilemma of being stigmatized. In the post-leprosy era, Wukang sanatorium changed from the original focus on disease treatment to strengthening the psychological construction of patients. Its function changed from isolation and prevention to rest and pension, and the status of leprosy patients changed from "patients" to "convalescents" . These changes reflect the humanistic care and guidance of destigmatization in the process of leprosy isolation and epidemic prevention from prevention to treatment to the aged.

[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated with cerebral venous thrombosis in 14 children].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and management of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) complicated with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Methods: The clinical data of 14 ALL children complicated with CVT who were admitted to Department of Pediatrics of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and underwent chemotherapy from January 2011 to October 2019 were collected retrospectively. The clinical manifestations, coagulation function, imaging findings, treatment plan and prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results: CVT was diagnosed in 14 (2.8%, 14/505) cases, with a median age of 10 (3-14) years at onset, 11 cases occurred in the stage of induction remission, and the acute onsets were mainly characterized by convulsions (9 cases), consciousness disorders (6 cases) and headache (4 cases). Coagulation function test showed that, before the CVT, antithrombin Ⅲ activity was lower than 60% in 8 cases, D-dimer elevated on the day of onset in 8 cases. Arteriovenous angiography showed filling defects in single (9 cases) or multiple (5 cases) venous sinuses. The most common site of venous sinus enlargement was superior sagittal sinus (10 cases). Secondary cerebral hemorrhage was found in 5 cases. Anticoagulation therapy included combination of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin in 9 cases, sequential application of LMWH and warfarin in 2 cases, and LMWH alone in 3 cases. Patients accepted further asparaginase and no CVT recurrence or progression was found. Conclusions: The secondary coagulation dysfunction during induction remission chemotherapy is the major risk factor for CVT in ALL, which needs active monitoring and early prevention. Arteriovenous angiography can diagnose accurately, and the prognosis of anticoagulant therapy with LMWH and warfarin is optimistic.

The suppression of ox-LDL-induced inflammatory response and apoptosis of HUVEC by lncRNA XIAT knockdown via regulating miR-30c-5p/PTEN axis.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) could cause dysfunction of HUVEC, thus leading to atherosclerosis development, which is a common inflammatory vascular disease. Long noncoding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) has been reported to be implicated in atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism by which this lncRNA participates in the progression of atherosclerosis is poorly defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HUVEC challenged by ox-LDL were used as a cellular model of atherosclerosis. Cell viability, apoptosis, LDH release, and inflammatory cytokines secretion were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, and ELISA assays. The expression levels of XIST, microRNA (miR)-30c-5p, and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) were measured by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot. The target interaction between XIST and miR-30c-5p or miR-30c-5p and PTEN was validated by the Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Treatment of ox-LDL induced cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines release in HUVEC. XIST expression was enhanced in HUVEC treated by ox-LDL, and its knockdown decreased cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in ox-LDL-treated cells. MiR-30c-5p was a target of XIST and its overexpression suppressed cell apoptosis and inflammatory response induced by ox-LDL, which was weakened by the introduction of XIST. PTEN was a target of miR-30c-5p, and its interference led to great inhibition of cell apoptosis and inflammatory response induced by ox-LDL in HUVEC, while this effect was attenuated by miR-30c-5p deficiency or XIST overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: XIST knockdown suppresses inflammatory response and apoptosis of HUVEC stimulated by ox-LDL by increasing miR-30c-5p and decreasing PTEN.