色素上皮源性因子对缺血-再灌注视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用

目的:研究色素上皮源性因子(pigment epithelium derived factor,PEDF)对高眼压诱导的大鼠视网膜缺血-再灌注后视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用.方法:经眼角膜进行前房平衡盐水(BSS)灌注,维持眼内压110 mmHg,以阻止视网膜正常血液灌注.60 min后取出灌注针头,恢复视网膜正常血流,从而建立大鼠视网膜缺血-再灌注模型.实验分为正常非缺血组和视网膜缺血-再灌注组,后者又分为生理盐水注射对照组和PEDF注射实验组,再灌注模型建立后立即向实验组大鼠玻璃体腔内注射0.2 g/L PEDF 2 μL.实验对照组用同样方法注射等量生理盐水.分别于注射后2 d和7 d进行眼球摘除,对视网膜进行光学显微镜形态学观察和Fas原位杂交免疫学分析,探讨PEDF对缺血-再灌注视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用.结果:缺血-再灌注2 d时生理盐水注射组和PEDF注射组视网膜神经节细胞明显少于正常对照组(P＜0.01)和(P＜0.05),PEDF注射组视网膜神经节细胞数较生理盐水注射组明显较多,相比有显著性差异(P＜0.05);视网膜神经节细胞计数再灌注7 d后结果与2 d时类似.再灌注2 d生理盐水注射组Fas阳性染色细胞比PEDF注射组明显较多(P＜0.05),生理盐水组比PEDF注射组阳性细胞百分率明显较高(P＜O.01);再灌注7 d时两组Fas阳性细胞计数无明显差异.结论:视网膜缺血-再灌注后即刻行玻璃体腔内PEDF注射可以改善视网膜神经节细胞的损伤并有一定保护作用.     

Injury and nucleotides induce phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor: MMP and HB-EGF dependent pathway

The early events that occur rapidly after injury trigger signal cascades that are essential for proper wound closure of corneal epithelial cells. We hypothesize that injury releases ATP, which stimulates purinergic receptors and elicits the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine residues and subsequent cell migration by a MMP and HB-EGF dependent pathway. We demonstrated that the inhibition of purinergic receptors with the antagonist, Reactive Blue 2, abrogated the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK. Pre-incubation of cells with the EGFR kinase inhibitor, AG1478, and subsequent stimulation by injury or ATP resulted in a decrease in phosphorylation of EGFR and migration. Furthermore, downregulation of EGFR by siRNA, inhibited the EGF-induced intracellular Ca(2+) wave. However, the response to injury and ATP was retained indicating the presence of two signaling pathways. Inhibition with either CRM197 or TIMP-3 decreased injury and nucleotide-induced phosphorylation of both EGFR and ERK. Incubation in the presence of a functional blocking antibody to HB-EGF also resulted in a decrease in the phosphorylation of EGFR. In addition, cell migration was inhibited by CRM197 and rescued when cells were incubated with HB-EGF. We showed that injury-induced phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues and found that a similar pattern of phosphorylation was induced by trinucleotides. These studies indicate that injury-induced purinergic receptor activation leads to phosphorylation of EGFR, ERK and migration.     

Aerosol‐based airway epithelial cell delivery improves airway regeneration and repair

Aerosol‐based cell therapy has emerged as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for treating lung diseases. The goal of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of aerosol‐based airway epithelial cell (AEC) delivery in the setting of acute lung injury induced by tracheal brushing in rabbit. Twenty‐four hours following injury, exogenous rabbit AECs were labelled with bromodeoxyuridine and aerosolized using the MicroSprayer® Aerosolizer into the injured airway. Histopathological assessments of the injury in the trachea and lungs were quantitatively scored (1 and 5 days after cell delivery). The aerosol‐based AEC delivery appeared to be a safe procedure, as cellular rejection and complications in the liver and spleen were not detected. Airway injury initiated by tracheal brushing resulted in disruption of the tracheal epithelium as well as morphological damage in the lungs that is consistent with acute lung injury. Lung injury scores were reduced following 5 days after AEC delivery (AEC‐treated, 0.25  ±  0.06 vs. untreated, 0.53  ±  0.05, P  <  0.01), and rapid clearance of haemorrhage, proteinaceous debris and hyaline membranes occurred. In the trachea, AEC delivery led to an upsurge in epithelium regeneration and repair. Re‐epithelialization was significantly increased 5 days after treatment (AEC‐treated, 91.07  ±  2.37% vs. untreated, 62.99  ±  7.39%, P  <  0.01). Our results indicate that AEC delivery helps in the regeneration and repair of the respiratory airway, including the lungs, following acute insults. These findings suggest that aerosol‐based AEC delivery can be a valuable tool for future therapy to treat acute lung injury. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The protective role of tacrine and donepezil in the retina of acetylcholinesterase knockout mice

AIM:To determine the effect of different concentrations of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors tacrine and donepezil on retinal protection in AChE^+/- mice (AChE knockout mice) of various ages.METHODS:Cultured ARPE-19 cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at concentrations of 0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 μmol/L and protein levels were measured using Western blot. Intraperitoneal injections of tacrine and donepezil (0.1 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL) were respectively given to AChE^+/- mice aged 2mo and 4mo and wild-type S129 mice for 7d; phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was administered to the control group. The mice were sacrificed after 30d by in vitro cardiac perfusion and retinal samples were taken. AChE-deficient mice were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using specific genotyping protocols obtained from the Jackson Laboratory website. H&E staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot were performed to observe AChE protein expression changes in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell layer.RESULTS:Different concentrations of H2O2 induced AChE expression during RPE cell apoptosis. AChE^+/- mice retina were thinner than those in wild-type mice (P<0.05); the retinal structure was still intact at 2mo but became thinner with increasing age (P<0.05); furthermore, AChE^+/- mice developed more slowly than wild-type mice (P<0.05). Increased concentrations of tacrine and donepezil did not significantly improve the protection of the retina function and morphology (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:In vivo, tacrine and donepezil can inhibit the expression of AChE; the decrease of AChE expression in the retina is beneficial for the development of the retina.     

“Pinopodes” and Implantation

Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders -     

The Structure of Mineralized Collagen Fibrils

A new model for the structure of mineralized bone collagen is presented which is compatible with neutron diffraction, electronmicroscopic, crosslinking, and composition-density data. Mineralized collagen fibrils are comprised of azimuthally oriented, flexible molecules laterally arranged on a superlattice. Four nearest neighbors are longitudinally staggered by 67 nm and two neighbors by 2* 67 nm. In early stages of mineralization the molecules are parallel to the fibril axis with an average interaxis distance of 1.8 nm. In later stages they become flexed away from the fibril axis by an anisotropic lateral compression of molecules to an interaxis distance of 1.3 nm. Three quarters of the mineral in bone is disposed within the fibrils with a symetry and habit reflecting the above organization of the collagen molecules.