Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading irreversible causes of blindness in China. The pathogenesis of AMD is not fully understood at present. Under various stress conditions, cellular senescence is activated, characterized by telomere shortening, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and the release of various senescence-related secretory phenotype factors. Senescence is implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD through multiple pathways, contributing to chronic inflammation and the onset and progression of AMD. Mechanisms such as oxidative stress, lipofuscin, β amyloid protein and the membrane attack complex have become hotspots of study in the pathogenesis of AMD. The cyclic guanosine phosphate - adenosine synthase - interferon stimulating factor synthase-stimulator of interferon gene pathway has emerged as a critical signaling pathway in the early development of AMD, providing direction for further research on AMD. Currently, senolytics, selective agents targeting the induction of senescent cell apoptosis, show significant potential in the treatment of AMD. The integration of new technologies with cellular senescence may offer a novel approach to AMD treatment, and intervening in the AMD treatment through anti-cellular senescence pathways holds promising prospects.
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain in which sudden abnormal discharges of neurons cause transient dysfunction and is a common disorder of the nervous system. Although most patients experience remission of symptoms with medication, about 20 ~ 30% of patients still have poor outcomes with medication and progress to refractory epilepsy. The etiology of epilepsy is complex and the exact pathogenesis is not yet clear. Current research has explored the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis, thus providing a basis for identifying potential therapeutic targets for epilepsy and advancing the precision treatment of epilepsy. p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway is a conserved class of kinases involved in many physiological/pathological processes by regulating intracellular gene expression levels, cell division, differentiation and apoptosis in response to various extracellular stimuli in order to mediate intracellular signalling cascades. The p38 MAPK signalling pathway is one of the subfamilies of MAPK that mediates inflammatory responses, apoptosis, tissue edema and other biological processes involved in the development of central nervous system diseases. The p38 MAPK signalling pathway is now reviewed for its involvement in the development of epilepsy through unused pathways, in order to identify new potential targets for epilepsy treatment and provide clinical precision.
Objective To explore the effects of Aspergillus fumigatus（A. fumigatus） spores on airway inflammation and responsiveness in asthmatic rats.Methods Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups（n=35 in each group），then Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅱ were subdivided into a normal control group（n=5），an asthma group（n=10），a spores-treated control group（n=10），and a spores-treated asthma group（n=10）.The rats were sensitized to ovalbumin（OVA） and challenged with aerosol OVA to establish the asthma model.The effects of A. fumigatus spores on asthmatic rats before and after OVA aerosol challenging were investigated in Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅱ，respectively.The parameters associated with bronchial epithelial damage were observed by total protein concentration in BALF measured by BCA method.Total and differential cell counts in BALF were also counted.The airway resistance and airway responsiveness were calculated by transpulmonary pressure and gas flow rate.Results In Group Ⅰ，the total protein in BALF in the asthma group treated with A. fumigatus spores before OVA challenging（Group CA） was increased remarkably compared to the asthma group（Group A1）[（1.125±0.254）μg/mL vs（0.825±0.173）μg/mL，Plt;0.01].The nonspecific airway resistances induced by different concentration of acetylcholine in Group CA ［（0.997±0.196）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1，（1.123±0.142）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1，（1.130±0.197）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1］were increased significantly compared to Group A1 [（0.655±0.089）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1，（0.687±0.048）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1，（0.821±0.043）cm H2O?mL-1?s-1]（all Plt;0.05）.In Group Ⅱ，however，the above parameters in the asthma group treated with A. fumigatus spores after OVA challenging（Group AC） were not dramatically increased compared with the asthma group（Group A2）（all Pgt;0.05）.The differences in the total and differential cell counts in BALF in Group CA were not remarkable compared to other subgroups in Group Ⅰ（all Pgt;0.05）.But the BALF neutrophil count in Group AC was increased obviously compared to Group A2 ［（2.488±0.420）×106 vs （0.936±0.459）×106，Plt;0.05］.Conclusion These data indicate that exposure to A. fumigatus spores before challenging causes aggravated epithelial damage and increased airway resistance in an asthma rat model.
The application of gene therapy in ocular diseases is gradually expanding from mono-gene inherited diseases to multigene, multifactorial, common and chronic diseases. This emerging therapeutic approach is still in the early exploratory stage of treating diseases, and the expected benefits and risks remain highly uncertain. In the delivery process of gene therapy drugs, viral vector is currently one of the most mature and widely used vectors. The occurrence of vector-associated immunity will affect the short-term and long-term effects of gene therapy, and even cause permanent and serious damage to visual function. Therefore, gene therapy vector-associated immunity is the focus and challenge for the safety and long-term efficacy of gene therapy. During the perioperative and follow-up of gene therapy, attention should be paid to the monitoring of vector-associated immune inflammation, and appropriate measures should be taken to deal with the corresponding immune response, so as to achieve the best visual benefits for patients.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease affected by environmental factors and genetic variation, which is a major cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. miRNA is a kind of endogenous non-coding RNA, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD, such as oxidative stress, pathological neovascularization and inflammation, by inhibiting or silencing the expression of transcription genes. miRNA has unique advantages in terms of ease synthesis, targeting and additive effect, a large number of experiments have proved the therapeutic potential of miRNA in AMD, which is expected to become a new method for the treatment of AMD in the future. Since the pathogenesis of AMD has not been fully elucidated, it is still necessary to continue to study the pathogenesis of AMD, the biological effects and mechanisms of various miRNA in the occurrence and development of AMD, and observe its therapeutic effects in AMD, so as to provide more effective options for the precise prevention and treatment of AMD.
Drusen is one of the early hallmark changes of AMD. The oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction caused by oxidative phospholipids (OxPLs) in drusen can lead to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death (apoptosis, pyroptosis, etc.) and the formation of choroidal neovascularization, which is the pathogenesis of AMD. Pyroptosis, also known as inflammatory necrosis, is one of the main forms of OxPLs induced cell death. Proinflammatory factors released by pyroptic cells can in turn aggravate the inflammatory reaction, leading to further damage. In order to prevent AMD, inflammatory response and cell death may be reduced by regulating lipid metabolism, reducing OxPLs endocytosis and increasing cholesterol efflux. In-depth understanding effects of OxPLs, inflammation and RPE pyrosis in the pathogenesis of AMD in elucidate the pathogenesis of AMD and to seek new treatment measures has important clinical significance.
Objective To investigate the CT features and anatomic basis of peritoneal and retroperitoneal spread of primary acute duodenal inflammation. Methods Twenty-six cases of peritoneal and retroperitoneal spreading acute duodenum inflammation confirmed by gastroscopy and clinical diagnosis during January 2010 to December 2014 were collected. Then we analyzed the CT manifestations of their inflammatory features, and abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal diffusion rules. Results According to the inflammation location, in the 26 cases, there were 1 case of inflammation in the descending part of duodenum, 1 in the horizontal part of duodenum, 15 in both the descending and horizontal parts of duodenum, 7 in both the horizontal and ascending parts of duodenum, and 2 in all the descending, horizontal and ascending parts of duodenum. According to the peritoneal and retroperitoneal spreading locations of acute duodenum inflammation, there were 20 cases of transverse mesocolon and mesenteric root swelling, 17 cases of enlargement of the head of pancreas, 6 cases of ascending colon and ileocecal swelling, 5 cases of anterior and posterior renal fascia of right kidney and perinephric fascia of right kidney swelling, 3 cases of effusion between the anterior and posterior renal fascia and lateral cone fascia of right kidney, 1 case of transverse mesocolon, mesenteric root, and the right pelvic swelling, and 1 cases of abdominal pelvic effusion. Conclusions Acute duodenum inflammation is mainly located in the descending and horizontal parts of duodenum. Different duodenal segments have different degrees of inflammation, while the horizontal segment is the most obvious. Inflammation involving two segments and above can be combined with ulcers. The inflammation infiltrates through transverse mesocolon, mesenteric root, anterior and posterior renal fascia of the right kidney, and spreads to the abdominal and retroperitoneal space, which causes the ascending colon and ileocecal swelling. The effusion can be observed in retroperitoneal space, anterior and posterior renal fascia and abdominal cavity.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in animal model of benign tracheal stenosis, and explore the mechanism of HDAC2 in development of tracheal stenosis.MethodsEighteen rabbits were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, and an erythromycin group, with 6 rats in each group. The model group and the erythromycin group underwent tracheostomy, the inner wall of trachea was brushed back and forth with a nylon brush for more than 20 times to induce benign tracheal stenosis. From 7 days before surgery to 9 days after surgery, the model group received gavage with saline, the erythromycin group received gavage with low-dose erythromycin in dose of 15 mg·kg–1·d–1, and the control group did not receive any treatment. On the 10th day after operation, all the rabbits were sacrificed and the trachea was cut to measure the tracheal stenosis. RNA and protein were extracted from the granulation tissue in the stenosis and the relative mRNA expressions of HDAC2, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in the granulation tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The relative expression of HDAC2 protein was detected by Western blot.ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the tracheal stenosis in the model group was more obvious [(84.60±1.14)% vs.(27.00±6.44)%], the mRNA and protein expressions of HDAC2 were decreased (0.29±0.07 vs. 1.00±0.00, 0.20±0.02 vs. 0.49±0.04), the mRNA expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 were up-regulated (4.22±0.67 vs. 1.00±0.00, 162.72±23.23 vs.1.00±0.00). Compared with the model group, tracheal stenosis in the erythromycin group was relieved [(64.00±12.25)% vs. (84.60±1.14)%], the mRNA and protein expressions of HDAC2 were increased (0.42±0.14 vs. 0.29±0.07, 0.43±0.01 vs. 0.20±0.02), the mRNA expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 were decreased (0.72±0.24 vs. 4.22±0.67, 130.22±7.93 vs. 162.72±23.23). All the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient between tracheal stenosis and HDAC2 mRNA relative expression was –0.96 (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe down-regulation of HDAC2 expression in model of benign tracheal stenosis is related to the occurrence and development of tracheal stenosis. The low dose of erythromycin may be used to treat benign tracheal stenosis by up-regulating expression of HDAC2 and thus inhibiting the inflammatory disorder during tracheal injury repair.
Vascular endothelial cell(VEC) is a kind of simple squamous epithelium lined on the inner surface of blood vessels. VEC is an important barrier between the blood and tissue and it also plays a key role in regulating inflammation, thrombosis, endothelial cells mediated vasodilatation and endothelial regeneration. These processes should be controlled by a variety of complex mechanism which requires us to find out. With results of the researches in vascular endothelial cell function, the important roles that microRNA in vascular endothelial cell function draws more and more researchers' attention. MicroRNAs control gene expression in post-transcriptional level and affect the function of endothelial cells. This review focuses on the research progress on regulatory mechanism of microRNA to endothelial cell inflammation, thrombosis, vasodilation and endothelium regeneration.
Objective To evaluate the effects of oxidative stress in the airway inflammation and remodeling of high-fat diet induced obese mice with asthma. Methods Sixty female C57 /6J mice were randomly divided into four groups, ie. an asthma group, an obese group, an obese asthma group, and a control group. The mice in the asthma group were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin ( OVA) and fed with normal diets. The mice in the obese group were fed with high-fat diets. The mice in the obese asthma group were sensitized and challenged as the asthma group, and fed as the obese group. The mice in the control group were sensitized and challenged with normal saline and fed with normal diets. After 12 weeks, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were collected for total and differential cell count. IL-6 and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α ( 8-iso-PGF2α) in lung tissue homognate were detected by ELISA. The pathological changes were observed under light microscope by HE staining. Meanwhile the remodeling indices including total bronchial wall area ( WAt) , smooth muscle area ( WAm) , and bronchial basement membrane perimeter ( Pbm) were measured. Results In comparison with the obese group and the asthma group, the leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF, WAt/ Pbm, and IL-6 in lung tissue increased significantly in the obese asthma group ( P lt; 0. 05) . 8-iso-PGF2αin lung tissue increased in sequence of the control group, the obese group, the asthma group, and the obese asthma group significantly. Pearson correlation analysis showed that leukocyte in BALF, WAt/ Pbm, and IL-6 were in positive correlation with 8-iso-PGF2α( r =0. 828, 0. 863, 0. 891, respectively, P lt;0. 01) . Conclusion Oxidative stress is involved in the airway inflammation and remodeling of obese asthma mice with high-fat diets.