Effects of ambient particulate matter on vascular tissue: a review

ABSTRACT

Fine and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM) are major constituents of urban air pollution and recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This review examined the effects of PM exposure on vascular tissue. Specific mechanisms by which PM affects the vasculature include inflammation, oxidative stress, actions on vascular tone and vasomotor responses, as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation. Further, there appears to be a greater PM exposure effect on susceptible individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.     

针灸联合西药对中重度间歇性过敏性鼻炎患者T淋巴细胞亚群、IL-4、IL-10、VACM-1水平的影响

目的观察针灸联合西药对中重度间歇性过敏性鼻炎患者血清T淋巴细胞亚群、炎性因子及血管细胞黏附分子-1(VACM-1)的影响。方法将120例中重度间歇性过敏性鼻炎患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组60例。对照组予丙酸氟替卡松鼻喷雾剂、盐酸氮卓斯汀片治疗,治疗组在对照组治疗措施的基础上加用针灸疗法。两组疗程均为28天,观察临床疗效,比较中医证候积分、血清T淋巴细胞亚群、炎性因子[白介素-4(IL-4)、白介素-10(IL-10)]及VACM-1水平的变化情况。结果①治疗组、对照组总有效率分别为95.0%、81.7%,治疗组临床疗效优于对照组(P0.05)。②治疗前与疗程结束后7天组内比较,两组中医证候(鼻塞不通、鼻痒难耐、鼻流清涕、喷嚏频作)较治疗前改善(P0.05);组间疗程结束后7天比较,治疗组中医证候改善情况优于对照组(P0.05)。③治疗前与疗程结束后7天组内比较,两组血清CD3~+、CD4~+水平和CD4~+/CD8~+较治疗前升高(P0.05),血清CD8~+、IL-4、IL-10、VCAM-1水平较治疗前降低(P0.05);组间疗程结束后7天比较,上述指标差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论针灸联合西医治疗中重度间歇性过敏性鼻炎疗效满意,可有效缓解患者的临床症状,改善机体免疫状态,减轻炎症反应。     

通窍活血汤含药脑脊液对OGD/R损伤大鼠BMECs的保护作用

目的:探讨通窍活血汤含药脑脊液对氧糖剥夺/复糖复氧(OGD/R)损伤大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞(BMECs)的保护作用及潜在机制。方法:通过酶消化法提取原代BMECs,并将细胞随机分为6组,分别为正常组,OGD/R组,通窍活血汤(TQHXT)组(20%),尼莫地平(NMDP)组(10μmol·L~(-1)),卡博替尼(BMS)组(1μmol·L~(-1))和合用药组。除正常组外,其余各组细胞在氧糖剥夺2 h后迅速复糖复氧24 h进行OGD/R造模并分组给药。采用细胞免疫荧光染色法鉴定BMECs,观察OGD/R损伤大鼠BMECs的形态学和超微结构改变并检测细胞跨膜电阻(TEER)值变化。用试剂盒检测细胞内一氧化氮(NO)水平、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性、活性氧(ROS)荧光强度和组织型纤溶酶原激活因子(tPA)含量。采用流式细胞术检测细胞内钙离子浓度及细胞凋亡,观察血管新生标记因子CD34的表达,用蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测细胞中紧密连接蛋白(ZO-1),血管内皮生长因子(VEGF),黏着斑激酶(FAK)和桩蛋白(Paxillin)蛋白的表达情况。结果:与正常组比较,OGD/R组细胞皱缩、变圆,细胞TEER值和细胞中ZO-1蛋白表达显著降低,细胞中NO,LDH及ROS水平显著升高,tPA含量显著降低,细胞中钙离子浓度和细胞凋亡显著增加,细胞中CD34有所表达,VEGF,FAK和Paxillin蛋白表达显著升高(P0. 01);与OGD/R组比较,TQHXT组细胞损伤明显改善,细胞TEER值和细胞中ZO-1蛋白表达显著升高,细胞中NO,LDH及ROS含量显著降低,tPA含量显著升高,细胞中钙离子浓度和细胞凋亡显著减少,细胞中CD34表达增加,VEGF,FAK和Paxillin蛋白表达显著升高(P0. 05,P0. 01)。结论:通窍活血汤含药脑脊液对OGD/R损伤大鼠BMECs具有保护作用,该保护作用可能是通过VEGF/VEGF受体2(R2)/FAK/Paxillin信号通路促进血管生成来发挥作用。     

B cell and B cell-related pathways for novel cancer treatments

B cells are recognized as the main effector cells of humoral immunity which suppress tumor progression by secreting immunoglobulins, promoting T cell response, and killing cancer cells directly. Given these properties, their anti-tumor immune response in the tumor micro-environment (TME) is of great interest. Although T cell-related immune responses have become a therapeutic target with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, not all patients benefit from these treatments. B cell and B cell-related pathways (CCL19, −21/CCR7 axis and CXCL13/CXCR5 axis) play key roles in activating immune response through humoral immunity and local immune activation via tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation. However they have some protumorigenic works in the TME. Thus, a better understanding of B cell and B cell-related pathways is necessary to develop effective cancer control. In this review, we summarize recent evidences regarding the roles of B cell and B cell-related pathways in the TME and immune response and discuss their potential roles for novel cancer treatment strategies.     

基于蛋白质组学分析色胺酮抑制小鼠乳腺癌的作用机制

目的:采用非标记定量(Label-free)蛋白质组学技术研究色胺酮抗小鼠体内乳腺癌的作用机制。方法:采用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术检测色胺酮抗小鼠乳腺癌的表达蛋白,选择Ionoptics nano UPLC C18色谱柱(0.075 mm×250 mm,1.6μm),流动相0.1%甲酸水溶液-0.1%甲酸乙腈溶液梯度洗脱,正离子模式,扫描范围m/z 100～1 700,使用MaxQuant 1.6.5.0进行数据库检索。采用Label-free高分辨质谱的蛋白质组学技术筛选4T1乳腺癌小鼠模型组与色胺酮(100 mg·kg~(-1))口服给药组之间的差异表达蛋白,进行色胺酮抗乳腺癌的蛋白质组学研究。结果:共鉴定出3 997个蛋白质,其中有2 911个蛋白可定量。模型组与色胺酮组共750个差异表达蛋白,其中286个蛋白上调,464个蛋白下调。基因本体分析表明,这些差异表达蛋白主要参与增殖、细胞迁移、凋亡、免疫、血管生成和炎症调节等生物学过程。京都基因与基因组百科全书通路分析进一步表明,这些蛋白主要集中于T细胞受体,B细胞受体,Toll样受体,核转录因子-κB(NF-κB),Ras蛋白,白细胞介素-17,肿瘤坏死因子,磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K-Akt)和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)等信号通路。结论:与色胺酮抗4T1乳腺癌作用密切相关的差异表达蛋白包括上调蛋白白细胞分化抗原14(CD14),前列腺素G/H合酶2(PTGS2),泛素蛋白连接酶E3和下调蛋白CD44,70 kDa热休克蛋白1A(HSPA1A),巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF),NF-κB,核糖体蛋白S6激酶α-4(RPS6KA4)和高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1),提示色胺酮主要通过调节肿瘤炎症微环境来达到抑制小鼠乳腺癌的作用。     

Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and tumor infiltrating-cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundThe innovation of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a promising shift in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, response to ICB has varied largely due to the high tumor heterogeneity and complex tumor microenvironment (TME). The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network also plays an important role in tumor occurrence and progression, but its relation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) remains largely unexplored in HCC. The overriding objective of our study was thus to construct a prognosis-related risk model and to further evaluate the relationship between ceRNA networks and TICs.MethodsDifferentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed RNAs. Lasso and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to construct risk models, which were assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC) and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves. Then, a single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was adopted to dissect the TICs in HCC samples. Nomograms were constructed and calibration curves were used to verify the discrimination and accuracy of the nomograms. Finally, integration analysis was performed to validate the correlation of ceRNA and TICs.ResultsIn the study, 7 differentially expressed RNAs [5 messenger RNA s (mRNAs) and 2 micro RNAs (miRNAs)] were incorporated to construct a ceRNA risk model. The AUC of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 0.784, 0.685, and 0.691 respectively. Likewise, 7 types TICs were in the TICs signature model and the AUC of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 0.706, 0.731, and 0.721 respectively. The integration analysis showed that 7 pairs of mRNA-TICs and 1 pair of miRNA-TICs had a close relation (all correlation coefficients >0.2, P<0.001).ConclusionsThrough constructing two risk models based on ceRNA network and TICs, we identified the hub RNAs and key TICs in the progression and prognosis of HCC, and further explored the relationship between ceRNA and TME. Importantly, targeting these hub RNAs may facilitate the remodeling of the TME and be a potential therapeutic alternative to enhancing the response to ICB, thus improving the prognosis of HCC patients.     

Vitiligo surgery: A journey from tissues via cells to the stems!

Depigmented patches in vitiligo, a common dermatosis, cause a great psychological distress to the patients. Hence, apart from halting the disease process, the strategies to impart normal skin colour to these white patches carry an important role in the management of vitiligo. Surgical procedures are often required for stable vitiligo lesions not responding to medical therapies. It involves “shuffling” of melanocytes from the pigmented skin to the depigmented areas. During the last fifty years, the vitiligo surgery has evolved from tissue transplantation via cellular transplantation to reach a stage where the use of stem cells or immunomodulatory cells is contemplating. We would like to depict this wonderful journey of vitiligo surgery through this viewpoint.     

多囊卵巢综合征患者血清外泌体中miR-184的表达水平及其对卵巢颗粒细胞增殖的影响

目的研究多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者血清外泌体中miR-184的表达水平及其对卵巢细胞颗粒增殖的影响。方法回顾性选取2018年2月至2020年4月期间盘锦辽油宝石花医院收治的60例PCOS患者作为PCOS组,另纳入同期30名健康成年女性作为对照组,提取2组受试者血清外泌体。应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)法检测2组受试者血清外泌体中及人卵巢颗粒细胞KGN和人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80中的miR-184的相对表达。转染miR-184抑制剂的KGN细胞设为miR-184抑制剂组,转染抑制剂对照物的KGN细胞设为对照组,不做任何处理的KGN细胞设为空白组。应用MTT法检测各组KGN细胞的增殖情况,应用平板克隆实验检测各组KGN细胞的克隆形成率。结果PCOS患者血清外泌体中和KGN细胞中的miR-184的相对表达量为4.23±0.49、5.81±0.73,显著高于对照组(1.32±0.21)和IOSE80组细胞(1.19±0.15),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。miR-184抑制剂组KGN细胞在24、48、72、96 h的吸光度值分别为0.20±0.05、0.22±0.07、0.26±0.08、0.29±0.07,均显著低于阴性对照组(0.31±0.09、0.52±0.11、0.78±0.12、0.96±0.18)和空白对照组(0.31±0.08、0.53±0.10、0.77±0.14、0.94±0.18),克隆形成率(26.78±5.98)%显著低于阴性对照组[(45.98±4.12)%]和空白对照组[(43.56±4.34)%],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论PCOS患者血清外泌体和人卵巢颗粒细胞KGN中miR-184呈现高表达,PCOS的发病可能与miR-184促进卵巢颗粒细胞增殖有关。     

Synthetic MRI is not yet ready for morphologic and functional assessment of patellar cartilage at 1.5 Tesla

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare morphologic assessment and relaxometry of patellar hyaline cartilage between conventional sequences (fast spin-echo [FSE] T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping) and synthetic T2 short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) and T2 maps at 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodThe MRI examinations of the knee obtained at 1.5 T in 49 consecutive patients were retrospectively studied. There were 21 men and 28 women with a mean age of 45 ± 17.7 (SD) years (range: 18–88 years). Conventional and synthetic acquisitions were performed, including T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping sequences. Two radiologists independently compared patellar cartilage T2-relaxation time on conventional T2-mapping and synthetic T2-mapping images. A third radiologist evaluated the patellar cartilage morphology on conventional and synthetic T2-weighted images. The presence of artifacts was also assessed. Interobserver agreement for quantitative variables was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsIn vitro, conventional and synthetic T2 maps yielded similar mean T2 values 58.5 ± 2.3 (SD) ms and 58.8 ± 2.6 (SD) ms, respectively (P = 0.414) and 6% lower than the expected experimental values (P = 0.038). Synthetic images allowed for a 15% reduction in examination time compared to conventional images. On conventional sequences, patellar chondropathy was identified in 35 patients (35/49; 71%) with a mean chondropathy grade of 4.8 ± 4.8 (SD). On synthetic images, 28 patients (28/49; 57%) were diagnosed with patellar chondropathy, with a significant 14% difference (P = 0.009) and lower chondropathy scores (3.7 ± 4.9 [SD]) compared to conventional images. Motion artifacts were more frequently observed on synthetic images (18%) than on conventional ones (6%). The interobserver agreement was excellent for both conventional and synthetic T2 maps (ICC > 0.83). Mean cartilage T2 values were significantly greater on synthetic images (36.2 ± 3.8 [SD] ms; range: 29-46 ms) relative to conventional T2 maps (31.8 ± 4.1 [SD] ms; range: 26-49 ms) (P < 0.0001).ConclusionDespite a decrease in examination duration, synthetic images convey lower diagnostic performance for chondropathy, greater prevalence of motion artifacts, and an overestimation of T2 values compared to conventional MRI sequences.