Microarray expression profile of circular RNAs and mRNAs in children with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical Rheumatology - Recently, it was reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play the crucial role in many physiological and biological processes and can be used as biomarkers. However, the...     

Campylobacter jejuni DNA-binding protein from starved cells in Guillain–Barré syndrome patients

Campylobacter jejuni enteritis is frequently associated with an axonal form of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) and C. jejuni DNA-binding protein from starved cells (C-Dps) induces paranodal myelin detachment and axonal degeneration through binding with sulfatide in vivo. Here we investigated the invasion of C-Dps into hosts with C. jejuni-related GBS. Our analyses of patient sera found that both C-Dps and anti-C-Dps antibodies were most commonly detected in sera from C. jejuni-related GBS patients (5/27, 14.8% and 15/24, 62.5%; respectively). These findings suggest that C-Dps invades the host and may potentially contribute to the peripheral nerve damage in C. jejuni-related GBS.     

Synthesis of new chalcone derivatives bearing 2,4-thiazolidinedione and benzoic acid moieties as potential anti-bacterial agents

A series of chalcone derivatives bearing the 2,4-thiazolidinedione and benzoic acid moieties (8a-s) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their anti-bacterial activity. Among the tested compounds, the most effective were 8a, 8h, 8k, 8n and 8q with MIC value in the range of 0.5-4 μg/mL against six Gram-positive bacteria (including multidrug-resistant clinical isolates). None of the compounds exhibited any activity against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 1356 and E. coli 1682 at 64 μg/mL.     

Silver nanoparticles induce oxidative cell damage in human liver cells through inhibition of reduced glutathione and induction of mitochondria-involved apoptosis

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which have well-known antimicrobial properties, are extensively used in various medical and general applications. Despite the widespread use of AgNPs, relatively few studies have been undertaken to determine the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs exposure. This study investigates possible molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs. Here, we show that AgNPs-induced cytotoxicity was higher compared than that observed when AgNO₃ was used as a silver ion source. AgNPs induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and suppression of reduced glutathione (GSH) in human Chang liver cells. ROS generated by AgNPs resulted in damage to various cellular components, DNA breaks, lipid membrane peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. Upon AgNPs exposure, cell viability decreased due to apoptosis, as demonstrated by the formation of apoptotic bodies, sub-G₁ hypodiploid cells, and DNA fragmentation. AgNPs induced a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway via modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expressions, resulting in the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m). Loss of Δψ_m was followed by cytochrome c release from the mitochondria, resulting in the activation of caspases 9 and 3. The apoptotic effect of AgNPs was exerted via the activation of c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and was abrogated by the JNK-specific inhibitor, SP600125 and siRNA targeting JNK. In summary, the results suggest that AgNPs cause cytotoxicity by oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and damage to cellular components.     

In vitro-in vivo study of CoQ10-loaded lipid nanoparticles in comparison with nanocrystals

The present work described the effect of CoQ10 dissolution characteristics in nanocrystals and lipid nanoparticles (LNs) on its oral absorption in rats. Nanocrystals and LNs were prepared by melt-high pressure homogenization and sucrose monolaurate was used as a stabilizer in all formulations. Witepsol(?)W35 and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) were selected as lipid additives to form LN(CoQ10+W35) and LN(CoQ10+MCT), respectively. From the results obtained, the particle size of CoQ10 nanocrystals was 285 nm, while it was reduced to 150 nm by mixture with an equal amount of lipid additives due to their lower melting points. In vitro dissolution results indicated that the drug release from two LNs was delayed compared with that from nanocrystals, and LN(CoQ10+W35) exhibited the highest drug release over 4h. Finally, in vivo evaluation demonstrated that the oral absorption of CoQ10 was markedly increased by using nanocrystals and LNs compared with a coarse suspension. A good relationship was found between the in vitro dissolution and in vivo evaluation. The enhanced oral absorption of CoQ10 by nanocrystals and LNs was due to improved dissolution. In conclusion, Witepsol(?)W35 was shown to be a better lipid additive for the preparation of LNs to increase the oral absorption of CoQ10.     

血管内皮生成因子165诱导血管形成中镁离子作用的研究

目的探讨血管内皮生成因子165（VEGF165）对人脐带静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）内游离镁离子浓度（[Mg^2＋];）的调节机制及镁离子（Mg^2＋）与血管形成的相关性。方法采用荧光指示剂mag-fura-2,运用PTi阳离子测定系统动态测HUVEC内的[Mg^2＋];。新鲜脐带内灌注胶原酶消化,获得内皮细胞,用含20％胎牛血清的M199液进行培养,当细胞外Mg^2＋浓度分别为0、1和2mmol/L时,观察VEGF。65促进HUVEC血管形成的能力。结果VEGF。65诱导的[Mg^2＋]i增加与细胞外Mg^2＋浓度无关。在细胞外无Mg^2＋时,VEGF165能剂量依赖性地增加[Mg^2＋]i。VEGF165诱导的[Mg^2＋];增加与细胞外Na^＋浓度和细胞内Ca^2＋浓度无关。经VEGF的受体亚型2（KDR）阻断剂SU1498预处理,能明显阻断VEGF165诱导的[Mg^2＋]i增加。当细胞外Mg^2＋为0mmol/L时,HUVEC血管形成作用受到明显抑制,VEGF165也不刺激血管形成。当细胞外Mg^2＋为1或2mmol/L时,HUVEC能形成血管,两组间差异无统计学意义,VEGF165则可促进HUVEC形成血管,两组间差异无统计学意义。当细胞外Mg^2＋为1或2mmol/L时,KDR阻断剂SU1498明显抑制VEGF165促进HUVEC血管形成的作用。结论VEGF165通过KDR信号传递途径使细胞内的Mg^2＋库释放Mg^2＋,从而增加HUVEC的[Mg^2＋]i,并对促进血管形成起重要作用。     

Hematopoietic growth factors pass through the blood-brain barrier in intact rats

We have previously demonstrated that receptors for hematopoietic growth factors, stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) are expressed in the neurons and the neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of the adult rat brain, and that systemic administration of SCF and G-CSF in the first week after induction of cortical brain ischemia (3 h–7 days post-ischemia) significantly improves functional outcome, augments NPC proliferation, and reduces infarct volume in rats. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether SCF and G-CSF pass through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in intact rats. The growth factors were labeled with iodine (I¹²⁵), a radioactive compound. I¹²⁵-SCF and I¹²⁵-G-CSF were intravenously administered and the concentrations of I¹²⁵-SCF and I¹²⁵-G-CSF in the blood plasma and the brain were determined at 10, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. We observed that both SCF and G-CSF were slowly and continuously transported from the blood stream to the brain in the same rate. In addition, both immunofluorescent staining and Western blots showed that receptors for SCF and G-CSF were expressed in the capillaries of the adult rat brain, suggesting that SCF and G-CSF entry to the brain may be mediated via receptor-mediated transport, one of the endogenous transports in the BBB. These data indicate that both SCF and G-CSF were able to pass through the BBB in intact animals. This observation will help in further exploring the physiological role of peripheral SCF and G-CSF in the brain and therapeutic possibility to chronic stroke.