Fibroblast growth factor 2 decreases bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis and inhibits fibroblast collagen production and myofibroblast differentiation

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Mice lacking FGF2 have increased mortality and impaired epithelial recovery after bleomycin exposure, supporting a protective or reparative function following lung injury. To determine whether FGF2 overexpression reduces bleomycin‐induced injury, we developed an inducible genetic system to express FGF2 in type II pneumocytes. Double‐transgenic (DTG) mice with doxycycline‐inducible overexpression of human FGF2 (SPC‐rtTA;TRE‐hFGF2) or single‐transgenic controls were administered intratracheal bleomycin and fed doxycycline chow, starting at either day 0 or day 7. In addition, wild‐type mice received intratracheal or intravenous recombinant FGF2, starting at the time of bleomycin treatment. Compared to controls, doxycycline‐induced DTG mice had decreased pulmonary fibrosis 21 days after bleomycin, as assessed by gene expression and histology. This beneficial effect was seen when FGF2 overexpression was induced at day 0 or day 7 after bleomycin. FGF2 overexpression did not alter epithelial gene expression, bronchoalveolar lavage cellularity or total protein. In vitro studies using primary mouse and human lung fibroblasts showed that FGF2 strongly inhibited baseline and TGFβ1‐induced expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), collagen, and connective tissue growth factor. While FGF2 did not suppress phosphorylation of Smad2 or Smad‐dependent gene expression, FGF2 inhibited TGFβ1‐induced stress fiber formation and serum response factor‐dependent gene expression. FGF2 inhibition of stress fiber formation and αSMA requires FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and downstream MEK/ERK, but not AKT signaling. In summary, overexpression of FGF2 protects against bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and reverses TGFβ1‐induced collagen and αSMA expression and stress fiber formation in lung fibroblasts in vitro, without affecting either inflammation or epithelial gene expression. Our results suggest that in the lung, FGF2 is antifibrotic in part through decreased collagen expression and fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The pentose phosphate pathway and pyruvate carboxylation after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

The neonatal brain is vulnerable to oxidative stress, and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) may be of particular importance to limit the injury. Furthermore, in the neonatal brain, neurons depend on de novo synthesis of neurotransmitters via pyruvate carboxylase (PC) in astrocytes to increase neurotransmitter pools. In the adult brain, PPP activity increases in response to various injuries while pyruvate carboxylation is reduced after ischemia. However, little is known about the response of these pathways after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). To this end, 7-day-old rats were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia. Animals were injected with [1,2-¹³C]glucose during the recovery phase and extracts of cerebral hemispheres ipsi- and contralateral to the operation were analyzed using ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After HI, glucose levels were increased and there was evidence of mitochondrial hypometabolism in both hemispheres. Moreover, metabolism via PPP was reduced bilaterally. Ipsilateral glucose metabolism via PC was reduced, but PC activity was relatively preserved compared with glucose metabolism via pyruvate dehydrogenase. The observed reduction in PPP activity after HI may contribute to the increased susceptibility of the neonatal brain to oxidative stress.     

血管紧张素原基因5’端启动子区A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压的相关性

目的:分析血管紧张素原基因启动子区A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压的相关性。方法:实验于2005-08/2006-01在北京华大实验室完成。选取对象均为生活在内蒙古乌拉特后旗的蒙古族牧民,三代血亲内无其他民族。采用基因测序技术对内蒙古蒙古族人群中107例原发性高血压患者和108例正常对照者进行A-20C和A-6G基因分型,观察高血压组和正常对照组不同基因型的分布和等位基因频率的差异。结果:①两组受试者在性别、年龄及吸烟、饮酒、体质量指数和临床化验检查指标有较好的匹配(P均>0.05)。②两组血管紧张素原基因A-20C位点AA,AC,CC基因型频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.51,0.29,0.20;正常对照组分别为0.49,0.28,0.23,χ2=0.395,P=0.529)。A,C等位基因频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.65,0.35;正常对照组分别为0.63,0.37,χ2=0.015,P=0.904)。③两组血管紧张素原基因A-6G位点AA,AG,GG基因型频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.50,0.33,0.17;正常对照组分别为0.55,0.34,0.11,χ2=1.924,P=0.165)。A,G等位基因频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.66,0.34;正常对照组分别为0.72,0.28,χ2=1.728,P=0.189)。④高血压组协同存在血管紧张素原基因A-20C基因型CC时,血管紧张素原基因A-6G基因型GG频率稍高于正常对照组,但差异无显著性意义(χ2=2.395,P=0.122,OR=7.52,95%CI0.014～1.250),高血压组G等位基因明显高于正常对照组(分别为0.37,0.22,χ2=4.658,P=0.034),携带该等位基因的蒙古族人群发生原发性高血压的相对危险度升高(OR=2.80,95%CI1.087～7.271)。结论:血管紧张素原基因A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压相关,并可能具有协同作用。     

低血糖指数膳食改善超重老年糖尿病患者氧化应激水平

目的:观察低血糖指数的膳食对2型糖尿病患者氧化应激状态的影响。方法:2004-10/11在上海市静安区二个社区卫生服务中心招募受试者,经医生明确诊断为2型糖尿病、病程超过6个月,体质量指数≥24kg/m2的老年糖尿病志愿者43名,受试者对试验知情同意。采用随机交叉试验随机分配至低血糖指数饮食组和高血糖指数饮食组,每种膳食分别连续使用4周,间隔洗脱期4周,比较试验前后患者超氧化物歧化酶、脂质过氧化产物丙二醛和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶含量的变化。结果:受试者依从性好,除1人因试验期间发现肿瘤而退出试验,42名志愿者按设计要求完成试验。膳食干预后低血糖指数饮食组和高血糖指数饮食组的超氧化物歧化酶活力分别升高了15.68%和21.33%,丙二醛水平分别下降23.94%和21.55%,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力分别升高了15.74%和17.09%;干预后低血糖指数饮食组丙二醛下降水平与高血糖指数饮食组比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05),而超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性两组间差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。结论:在控制总能量的基础上给予平衡膳食能够改善其氧化应激水平,采用低血糖指数食物有助于氧化应激水平的改善。     

机械力学对体外骨髓间充质干细胞的影响

目的:分析力学刺激体外骨髓间充质干细胞所产生增殖分化等生物学效应的影响及其力化学信号转导途径。资料来源:因特网上检索PubMed数据库中2000-01/2006-06期间有关力学刺激对骨髓干细胞作用效应进展的英文文章,检索词“stem cel1,marrow mesenchymal stem cells,mechanical stimulation,stress”,同时检索CNKI中国知网医学文献数据库2000-01/2006-06期间的相关文章,检索词为“干细胞、骨髓间充质干细胞、机械刺激、应力”。资料选择:对资料进行筛选,选取相关文章查找全文。纳入标准:①骨髓间充质干细胞相关生物学特性。②体外细胞加载的应力分类及相应力学装置的特点。③应力对细胞影响的研究。④能获取文章的全文。排除标准:①较陈旧的文献。②重复研究。资料提炼:共收集关于86篇体外骨髓干细胞及力学干预的相关文献。其中30篇符合纳入标准。资料综合:①骨髓干细胞具有高度增殖及多向分化能力,可通过体外培养、干预作为细胞组织工程的理想种子细胞。②力学刺激是体外调节细胞生物学效应的重要途径,其中力学分类有:流体切应力、静止压应力、张应力、离心力以及单个细胞的吸吮力等,介绍各种力以及相应的力学装置的特点。③骨髓干细胞加载各种应力干预后产生的生物学效应,以及细胞应力学刺激的机制、信号转导途径。结论:力学刺激可影响骨髓间充质干细胞生物学特性,在适当的力学刺激条件下,促进细胞的增殖与分化,为骨组织工程提供新的技术手段,同时也为临床应用牵拉成骨的骨再生过程提供理论依据。     

经皮椎体注入骨水泥治疗老年脊椎骨质疏松压缩性骨折

目的:观察经皮椎体内注入骨水泥(聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯)治疗脊椎骨质疏松压缩性骨折的疗效。方法:自2005-06/2006-06吉林大学中日联谊医院骨科及大庆龙南医院骨科对35例40个椎体的骨质疏松压缩性骨折患者使用经皮椎体内注射骨水泥,行椎体成形术。成形材料:美国KYPHON公司生产的骨水泥,生产准许号:(GB/T19001-2000和YY/T0287-1996)。结果:35例患者均参加随访6个月。术后均未出现骨水泥外漏、脊髓或马尾神经损伤等并发症。35例患者中5例出现穿刺部位局部疼痛,服用镇痛药物后均缓解。疼痛完全消失25例,占71.4%;明显缓解8例,占22.6%;轻度缓解2例,占6.0%;无缓解0例。15例患者在术后72h内均能下床活动。术后未再发生压缩性骨折及疼痛。结论:经皮椎体注入骨水泥可以有效改善椎体骨质疏松压缩性骨折患者疼痛症状,随访6个月未出现充填剂不良性宿主反应,临床疗效较好。     

Antibody seronegative human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III)- infected patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or related disorders

The human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is the primary cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and related disorders (ARC). Prior studies have reported that nearly all symptomatic patients with AIDS or ARC manifest antibody to HTLV-III. This observation has engendered efforts to screen for HTLV-III, especially prior to blood donation, with assays for antibody to HTLV-III. We report the first two cases, one with AIDS and one with ARC, that are HTLV-III virus positive but antibody negative. Accurate diagnosis of HTLV-III infection in some cases may require direct virus culture or tests for antigen. In addition, lack of HTLV-III antibody may indicate an atypical clinical course of AIDS.     

CD34 expression is regulated reciprocally with adhesion molecules in vascular endothelial cells in vitro

Freshly cultured vascular endothelial cells express the CD34 antigen in a diffuse cell surface pattern with some concentration on microvilli. Expression is downregulated with proliferation in continuous culture and undetectable after nine population doublings but can be maintained by restraining cell proliferation and promoting cell contact. Expression of CD34 at the antigen and mRNA levels on early passage cells is rapidly downregulated by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) under conditions in which these ligands upregulate the adhesion molecules: endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). This reciprocal pattern of expression and the topographic distribution of CD34 molecules on the lumenal interdigitated microprocesses of adjacent endothelial cells in vivo suggest that CD34 might have a negative modulating role on adhesion functions of endothelia.     

The biochemical and clinical consequences of 2'-deoxycoformycin in refractory lymphoproliferative malignancy

A deficiency of adenosine deaminase, an enzyme important in purine nucleoside catabolism, is associated with a severe combined immunodeficiency disease in children. Inhibition of this enzyme in vitro and in vivo results in an impairment in lymphoblast proliferation. We have investigated the pharmacologic inhibition of this enzyme by 2'-deoxycoformycin in 15 patients with hematologic malignancies. Biochemical consequences of the administration of this agent were closely monitored in erythrocytes, nucleated peripheral blood and bone marrow cells, serum, and urine. A marked rise in erythrocyte dATP was accompanied by a depletion of ATP in those patients exhibiting toxicity. Most patients excreted large amounts of deoxyadenosine but not adenosine in the urine. Serum deoxyadenosine rose in patients demonstrating a marked decrease in cell mass. The biochemical disturbances and clinical toxicity, including hepatic, renal, and conjunctival abnormalities, were usually reversible. Central nervous system toxicity, which potentially was the most serious consequence, was associated with high erythrocyte dATP/ATP ratios and high levels of cerebrospinal fluid deoxyadenosine. In patients with lymphoma and leukemia, objective responses were observed but were short- lived. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia receiving weekly low doses of the drug demonstrated minimal toxicity and some efficacy. The chemotherapeutic potential o 2'-deoxycoformycin, as either a single agent or in combination with Ara-A, merits further exploration.