Objective To investigate how human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro regulate the miRNA profile of activated peripheral blood CD4+T cells from patient with primary Sj?gren's syndrome (pSS). Methods Peripheral blood CD4+T cells from patient with pSS were sorted and divided into healthy naive group, pSS naive group, pSS activated group, MSC treatment group and MSC (pre-stimulated by IFN-γ) treatment group. CD4+ T cells were counted. MiRNA microarray technology was used to detect the expression profile of CD4+T cells, and the expression of miRNA125b and miRNA155 was verified by real time quantification-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Mean in groups were compared using ANOVA, and multiple comparisons were used with LSD method. Results Both MSCs and IFN-γ-MSCs could inhibit the proliferation of activated CD4+ T cells in a MSC-dependent manner, but there was no significant difference between two groups. Microarray analysis found that the differentially enriched miRNAs in pSS na?ve (vs healthy na?ve), pSS activation (vs pSS na?ve), MSC treatment (vs pSS activation) and pre-IFN-γ MSC treatment (vs pSS activation) were 42 miRNAs, 56 miRNAs, 21 miRNAs and 24 miRNAs, respectively. Furthermore, the expressions of miRNA125b and miRNA155 were verified by RT-PCR and found that miRNA125b relative level in 5 groups was 1.02 ±0.13, 0.80 ±0.11, 0.44 ±0.17, 0.76 ±0.17 and 0.81 ±0.15 (F=18.32, P<0.01), and miRNA155 was 1.5 ±0.8, 3.9 ±1.3, 8.4 ±2.6, 10.1 ±4.2 and 11.2 ±5.0 (F=26.65, P<0.01). Conclusion MSCs can regulate miRNA profile of activated CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of patient with pSS, and partially reverse down-regulated miR-125b in activated CD4+T cells, which may play a regulatory role in inhibiting the activation of CD4+T cells by MSCs.

Objective To investigate the suppressive effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2),hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) whose secretion was promoted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) on the activated peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in primary Sj(o)gren syndrome (pSS) in vitro.Methods Primary cultured umbilical cord MSCs were identified by flow cytometry,and peripheral blood CD4+ T cells were sorted in pSS patients.CD4+ T cells were cultured with CD3,CD28 antibody for 72 h to be the activated(control group);the activated CD4+ T cells were co-cultured with MSCs for 72 h(MSCs group) or MSCs were pre-stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ),then the activated CD4+ T cells were co-cultured with pre-stimulated MSCs for 72 h (pre-stimulated group).The suspension of CD4+ T cells were collected and counted.PGE2,HGF and IDO in the supernatants were detected by ELISA.Mean in groups were compared using ANOVA,and multiple comparisons were used with LSD method.Results The concentrations of PGE2 in the supernataut of the control group,MSCs group and pre-stimulated group were (111 ±4) pg/ml,(2 814±6) pg/ml and (2 716±8) pg/ml (F=167 292.12,P＜0.01) respectively.The concentrations of HGF in the above groups were (597±9) pg/ml,(383±9) pg/ml and (727±12) pg/ml(F=878.61,P＜0.01) respectively.The concentrations of IDO in the above groups were (143±4) pg/ml,(835±5) pg/ml and (588±3) pg/ml (F=21 104.41,P＜0.01) respectively.Compared with the control group,levels of PGE2 significantly increased in the MSCs group and the pre-stimulated group that CD4+ T cells were co-cultured with MSCs (t=509.88,P＜0.01 and t=491.48,P＜0.01),and levels of IDO also significantly increased (t=202.69,P＜0.01 and t=130.39,P＜0.01),while the activation and proliferation of CD4+T cells were inhibited (t=-16.20,P＜0.01 and t=-31.48,P＜0.01).Compared with MSCs group,levels of PGE2 and IDO significantly decreased in pre-stimulated group (t=-18.40,P＜0.01 and t=-72.30,P＜0.01),and levels of HGF significantly increased in pre-stimulated group(t=41.51,P＜0.01),while the activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells were further inhibited (t=-15.28,P＜0.01).Conclusion MSCs can inhibit the activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells in pSS in vitro.The suppressive effect of MSCs may be achieved by promoting secretion of cytokines such as PGE2,HGF and IDO.HGF plays a more important role in the suppressive effect of MSCs pre-stimulated with IFN-γ.Too much PGE2 or IDO propably results in negative feedback regulation of MSCs.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and impairment of renal function in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly population.Methods:A total of 4 988 residents aged ≥45 years undergoing health check-up in Yongshun Health Service Center from January 2016 to December 2021 were enrolled and followed up. According to the quartile of the baseline TyG index, all subjects were divided into Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups. The medical history, physical examination and laboratory test results were documented. Participants were followed up through regular health check-up until March 31, 2023. The outcomes were rapid decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (a loss in eGFR>3 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2 per year) and the new-onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) during the follow-up period. Linear regression model, multivariate logistic regression model, restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression model and ROC curve analysis were used to analyze the association between the TyG index and the impairment of renal function. Results:Among 4 988 residents, 1 396 (28.0%) were males and the age was (59.76±6.28) years. There were 1 247 participants in Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups, respectively. After 56 months of follow-up, the incidence of rapid eGFR decline and new-onset CKD was 21.9% (1 294/4 988) and 4.0% (200/4 988), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that TyG index was correlated positively with rapid eGFR decline and new-onset of CKD ( OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.17-1.52, P<0.001, and OR=1.57, 95%CI:1.19-2.06, P=0.001). Taking group Q1 as a reference, higher levels of TyG index ( Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups) was an independent risk factor for rapid eGFR decline ( P<0.05), which has a dose-response relationship (for trend P=0.002). Compared with the lowest quartile, the adjusted OR of new-onset CKD in the highest quartile was 1.85 ( 95%CI:1.13-3.03, P=0.014). The results of restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression analysis showed a linear association between TyG index and both outcomes (both P>0.05). The area under ROC curve ( AUC) of the TyG index for predicting the two adverse outcomes were 0.536 ( 95%CI: 0.516-0.556, P<0.001) and 0.588 ( 95%CI:0.548-0.627, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion:The elevated levels of TyG index may be used as an independent predictor of rapid eGFR decline and new-onset CKD.

Objective To investigate the effect of dioscin on uric acid(UA)-induced oxidative stress injury of human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2)and its molecular mechanism.Methods HK-2 cells were cultured and divided into four groups:blank group(normal group),model group(uric acid-stimulation modeling),condition control group(UA+DMSO)and dioscin group(UA+dioscin).Oxidative stress injury model was induced by UA in HK-2 cells.Cells viability was detected by CCK-8.ROS level was detected by flow cytometry.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expressions of glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β),nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)at mRNA level,and Western Blot was used to detect the expressions of phosphorylated glycogen synthesis kinase 3β(p-GSK3β),GSK3β,Nrf2 and HO-1 at protein level.Results After stimulation by UA,HK-2 cells viability was obviously decreased,and ROS level was significantly increased(all P＜0.001).When treated with dioscin,HK-2 cells viability was obviously increased,and the ROS level of HK-2 cells was significantly decreased(all P＜0.001).The expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 decreased at the protein and mRNA levels after stimulation with UA.But the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 significantly increased after treated with dioscin(all P＜0.001).Compared with the blank group,the p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratio in the model group decreased significantly at the protein level,but the p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratio increased after treated with dioscin(all P＜0.001).Conclusion Dioscin can alleviate UA-induced oxidative stress injury in HK-2 cells.The mechanism might be that dioscin can promote phosphorylation of GSK3β,and activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the association between plasma uric acid and hypertension and the gender difference in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly population.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing Tongzhou Yongshun Community Health Service Center from June to December 2021, among residents aged 45 years or older selected by cluster sampling method. According to plasma uric acid (UA) level in quartiles, the subjects were divided into 4 groups; and stratified by gender, the subjects were further divided into subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of hypertension, and restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression model was used to analyze the nonlinear association between uric acid and hypertension and the cut-off values of uric acid.Results:A total of 6 229 residents with the age of (63.2±7.3) years were enrolled in the study. In 1 874 male participants (30.1%), 946 participants (50.5%) had hypertension, and the uric acid level was 359 (309, 418)μmol/L; in 4 355 female participants (69.9%), 2 003 participants (46.0%) had hypertension, and the uric acid level was 306 (261, 359)μmol/L. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for factors that were statistically significant in univariate analyses or potentially clinically relevant (including age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, albumin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and cholesterol), uric acid was independently associated with hypertension ( P<0.001), for total participants the risk of hypertension in Q4 group was 1.33 times of that in Q1 group ( OR=1.33,95% CI 1.13-1.56, P=0.001); while for females the risk of hypertension in Q4 group was 1.38 times of that in Q1 group ( OR=1.38,95% CI 1.13-1.68, P=0.002), but no significant association was observed for males ( P>0.05). The results of restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression analysis showed that there was a linear association between uric acid level and hypertension in the total population and males, and the risk of hypertension increased with uric acid level ( P<0.001 for the total population, P=0.016 for male). However, there was a non-linear association in females. When uric acid>307 μmol/L in females, the risk of hypertension increased significantly as the level of uric acid increased ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Uric acid level was independently associated with hypertension in the community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly population, and there was a gender difference in the correlation. The association was nonlinear in females and the cut-off value of uric acid in females was 307 μmol/L.