Prostaglandin E2 suppresses human group 2 innate lymphoid cell function

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Expression of neurotensin and its receptors in pituitary adenomas

The neurotensin (NT) produced in the hypothalamus and in pituitary gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs participates in neuroendocrine regulation. Recently, the involvement of this peptide in normal and neoplastic cell proliferation has been postulated. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of NT and its receptors (NTR1, 2 and 3) in a series of 50 pituitary adenomas [11 growth hormone (GH)-, eight prolactin (PRL)-, four adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)- and 27 nonfunctioning adenomas]. NT mRNA expression was significantly higher in functioning compared to nonfunctioning adenomas and with normal pituitary. Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas showed lower expression of NT mRNA than normal pituitary. In the immunohistochemical study of functioning adenomas, NT was colocalised with GH, PRL and ACTH secreting cells. In nonfunctioning adenomas, the NT immunoreactivity intensity was variable among the samples. NTR3 mRNA expression was observed in all examined samples and was higher in the adenomas, both functioning and nonfunctioning, compared to normal pituitary. By contrast, NTR1 and NTR2 mRNA were not detected in either pituitary adenomas or normal tissue. The higher expression of NTR3, as well as the expression of NT by tumoural corticotrophs, lactotrophs and somatotrophs, which are cells types that do not express this peptide in the normal pituitary, suggests that NT autocrine and/or paracrine stimulation mediated by NTR3 may be a mechanism associated with the tumourigenesis of functioning adenomas.     

胰岛素抵抗小鼠肠道菌群与FGF21的相关性研究

目的研究糖耐量正常人粪菌液移植(fecal bacteria transplantation,FMT)对胰岛素抵抗(insulin resistance,IR)小鼠肠道菌群的影响及其与成纤维细胞生长因子21(fibroblast growth factor 21,FGF21)的相关性,探究肠道菌群影响IR的可能机制。方法采用高脂饮食建立IR模型,筛选30只建模成功的小鼠随机分成3组:IR组、IR+二甲双胍(Met)组、IR+粪菌液移植(FMT)组,及空白对照(Control)组,每组10只。给药8周,记录第8周小鼠的体质量、空腹血糖;采用RT-qPCR检测粪样中靶标菌的数量,肝脏、结肠、回肠中FGF21及其受体mRNA表达水平。结果①与Control组比较,IR组小鼠体质量和空腹血糖升高,肝脏、结肠和回肠中FGF21/β-Klotho/FGFR1/FGFR4 mRNA表达降低,粪样中Bacteroides、B.sartorii降低,P.distasonis、M.schaedleri、R.gnavus升高,Met、FMT干预后上述指标均逆转。②FGF21的表达与FBG、P.distasonis、M.schaedleri、R.gnavus呈负相关,与Bacteroides、B.sartorii呈正相关。结论FMT可增加FGF21的表达量和调节肠道菌群,且二者密切相关,可能是FMT改善胰岛素抵抗的重要机制之一。     

Detection of GSK-3β activation index in pediatric chronic tonsillitis is an indicator for chronic recurrent inflammation

Purpose

Chronic tonsillitis (TC) is among the most common bacterial diseases in pediatric otolaryngology. We aimed to evaluate the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) in a cohort of children with chronic tonsillitis (TC), and the correlation between GSK-3β activity index and inflammatory profiles of TC.

Ginger extract modulates Pb-induced hepatic oxidative stress and expression of antioxidant gene transcripts in rat liver

Context: Spices and herbs are recognized sources of natural antioxidants that can protect from oxidative stress, thus play an important role in chemoprevention of liver diseases. Ginger is used worldwide primarily as a spicy condiment.

Objective: This study evaluated the ability of ginger extract (GE) to ameliorate oxidative-hepatic toxicity induced by lead acetate (PbAc) in rats.

Materials and methods: Five groups of animals were used: group I kept as control; groups II, IV, and V received PbAc (1?ppm in drinking water daily for 6 weeks, and kept for an additional 2 weeks without PbAc exposure); group III treated orally with GE (350?mg/kg body weight, 4?d per week) for 6 weeks; group IV (protective) received GE for 2 weeks before and simultaneously with PbAc; and group V (treatment) received GE for 2 weeks after PbAc exposure.

Results: GC-MS analysis of GE revealed its content of gingerol (7.09%), quercetin (3.20%), dl-limonene (0.96%), and zingiberene (0.18%). Treatment of PbAc-treated rats with GE has no effect on hepatic Pb concentrations. However, it maintained serum aspartate aminotransferase level, increased hepatic glutathione (157%), glutathione S-transferase (GST) (228%), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (138%) and catalase (CAT) (112%) levels, and reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (80%). Co-treatment of PbAc group with GE upregulated mRNA expression of antioxidant genes: GST-α1 (1.4-fold), GPx1 (1.8-fold), and CAT (8-fold), while post-treatment with GE upregulated only mRNA expression of GPx1 (1.5-fold).

Conclusion: GE has an antioxidant protective efficacy against PbAc-induced hepatotoxicity, which appears more effective than its therapeutic application. However, the changes in antioxidant gene expression were not reflected at the protein level.     

过表达microRNA-29a上调锌脂蛋白91对大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞凋亡的影响

目的  建立高感染效率、稳定过表达microRNA-29a（miR-29a）的大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞（PC12）,探索miR-29a对PC12细胞凋亡的影响。方法  将miR-29a前体表达载体、空白对照载体进行慢病毒包装,用病毒上清感染PC12并进行抗性筛选。实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测miR-29a的表达,流式细胞术检测miR-29a稳定过表达组、空质粒对照组以及未感染组PC12细胞的凋亡情况,利用TargetScan 6.0数据库预测miR-29a的关键靶点,RT-qPCR以及Western blot检测预测的miR-29a下游靶基因mRNA以及蛋白表达的变化。结果  经抗性筛选后获得稳定表达miR-29a的PC12细胞系,荧光显微镜下观察各组PC12细胞的感染效率均达80%以上,miR-29a过表达组凋亡率为（5.1±0.92）%,空质粒对照组为（1.832±0.26）%,未感染组为（1.667±0.185）%,miR-29a过表达促进PC12细胞凋亡（P <0.01）,空质粒对照组与未感染组细胞凋亡率比较,差异无统计学意义;RT-qPCR检测miR-29a过表达时锌指蛋白91（ZFP91）的表达量升高,miR-29a过表达组ZFP91 mRNA的表达量是空质粒对照组的1.835倍（P =0.000）,空质粒对照组与未感染组ZFP91 mRNA的表达量比较差异无统计学意义;Western blot检测的ZFP91蛋白表达量与空质粒对照组比较也升高。结论  在PC12中miR-29a过表达促进PC12细胞凋亡,过表达miR-29a也促进ZFP91表达,其机制仍待进一步阐明。