Mast cells regulate inflammation and immunity.Experimentally induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mast cells-deficient animals and animals treated with mast cells inhibitors demonstrate that mast cells are involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm via several different mechanisms.Mast cells-dependent activation of metalloproteinases and the renin-angiotensin system,contribution to smooth muscle cell apoptosis,and release of proteolytic enzymes are some key examples.Activated mast cells also contribute to neovascularization,inflammation,and atherosclerosis,all hallmarks of abdominal aortic aneurysm.Thus,we may envision that mast cells stabilizing agents,as well as leukotriene receptor antagonists and histamine receptor blockers already in clinical use for treatment of other diseases,could also be tested for their efficacy in treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective To investigate the effects of periostin (Postn) on oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced injury in human artery endothelial cells (HAECs) and its underlying mechanisms.Methods The HAECs were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group,ox-LDL group,Postn siRNA group and negative siRNA group.The mRNA and protein expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR and Westem blot respectively.Cell proliferation was tested by MTT.Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry.NF-κB DNA binding ability was measured by EMSA.Results Compared with control group,the mRNA and protein levels of Postn were increased significantly (P＜0.05);the ability of cell proliferation was reduced (P＜0.05);the cell apoptosis rate was increased (P＜ 0.05);the protein expression levels of VCAM1,ICAM1,E-selectin,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,p65 and p-IκB-α were significantly up-regulated (P＜0.05),and the NF-κB DNA binding ability was markedly increased (P＜ 0.05) in ox-LDL group,which were all reversed in Postn siRNA group.Conclusions Postn siRNA transfection may reduce ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury,which may be related with the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Behcet′s disease is a chronic, multisystemic, inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of mucous membranes, eyes, musculoskeletal, blood vessels, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract.The treatment of Behcet′s disease varies according to the degree of organ involvement, gender and age of the patient, and there is no standard treatment. Behcet′s disease can be divided into vascular type, gastrointestinal type and neural type. Vascular type often leads to high mortality and disability rate.Glucocorticoids, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide are still recommended as first-line treatments for vascular Behcet′s disease.However, with the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, they are an acceptable option for the treatment of refractory vascular Bezier′s disease.This article reviews the current treatment of vascular Behcet′s disease.

Neutrophil elastase(NE),a major protease in the primary granules of neutrophils,is involved in microbicidal activity.NE is an important factor promoting inflammation,has bactericidal effects,and shortens the inflammatory process.NE also regulates tumor growth by promoting metastasis and tumor microenvironment remodeling.However,NE plays a role in killing tumors under certain conditions and promotes other diseases such as pulmonary ventilation dysfunction.Additionally,it plays a complex role in various physiological processes and mediates several diseases.Sivelestat,a specific NE inhibitor,has strong potential for clinical application,particularly in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).This review discusses the pathophysiological processes associated with NE and the potential clinical applications of sivelestat.

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma on reducing insulin resistance in db/db mice by regulating the adenylate activated protein kinase （AMPK）/UNC-51-like kinase 1 （ULK1）/key molecule of autophagy， benzyl chloride 1 （Beclin1） pathway and elucidate the underlying mechanism. MethodSixty 6-week-old male db/db mice were studied. They were randomly divided into the model group， metformin group （0.26 g·kg^-1）， and low-， middle-， and high-dose groups （2.25， 4.5， 9 g·kg^-1） of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma. A blank group of db/m mice of the same age was set， with 12 mice in each group. After eight weeks of continuous intragastric administration， the blank group and model group received distilled water intragastrically once a day. The survival status of the mice was observed， and fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured using a Roche blood glucose device. Fasting serum insulin （FINS） was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay， and the insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR） was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the liver of the mice. The protein expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， autophagy associated protein 5 （Atg5）， and p62 in liver tissue were determined by using Western blot. The protein expression levels of autophagy associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B） and ULK1 in liver tissue were determined using immunofluorescence. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was used to measure mRNA expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， Atg5， ULK1， and p62. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited a significant increase in body mass （P<0.01）. Additionally， the levels of FBG， FINS， and HOMA-IR significantly changed （P<0.01）. The structure of liver cells was disordered. The protein expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， and Atg5 in liver tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the expression level of p62 protein was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins were consistent. Compared with the model group， the body mass of the metformin group and high and medium-dose groups of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. FBG， FINS， and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. After treatment， the liver structure damage in each group was alleviated to varying degrees. The protein expressions of AMPK， Beclin1， Atg5， LC3B， and ULK1 were increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while the protein expression of p62 was decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins were generally consistent. ConclusionThe combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma can effectively improve liver insulin resistance， regulate the AMPK autophagy signaling pathway， alleviate insulin resistance in db/db mice， and effectively prevent the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Dahuang Mudantang in alleviating the intestinal injury in the rat model of acute pancreatitis via the high-mobility group box 1 （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproduct （RAGE）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodOne hundred and twenty SPF-grade Wistar rats received retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct for the modeling of intestinal injury in acute pancreatitis. The rats were randomized into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.5， 7， 14 g·kg^-1， administrated by gavage） Dahuang Mudantang， and octreotide （1×10^-5 g·kg^-1， subcutaneous injection） groups （n=20）. The rats in blank and model groups received equal volume of distilled water by gavage. Drugs were administered 1 h before and every 12 h after modeling， and samples were collected 24 h after modeling. The general status of the rats was observed. The biochemical methods were employed to measure the levels of amylase （AMS） and C-reactive protein （CRP） in the serum. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， and IL-6 in the colon tissue. The morphological changes of pancreatic and colon tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were employed to measure the expression levels of HMGB1， RAGE， inhibitor of NF-κB kinase （IKK）， and NF-κB suppressor protein α（IκBα）in the colon tissue. ResultThe rats in the model group showed poor general survival， writhing response， reduced frequency of defecation， and dry stool. The symptoms of rats in the model group were mitigated in each treatment group， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang showed the most significant effect. Compared with the normal group， the model group had elevated AMS and CRP levels （P<0.05）， which were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， especially that at the high dose （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the modeling elevated that levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05）. Such elevations were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， and the high-dose group and the octreotide group showed better performance （P<0.05）. The modeling caused necrotic， congested， and destructed pancreatic and colonic tissues， which were ameliorated by the drugs， especially high-dose Dahuang Mudantang. Compared with the normal group， the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， Dahuang Mudantang and octreotide down-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang demonstrated the best performance （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a trend consistent with the results of Real-time PCR. ConclusionDahuang Mudantang can improved the general status， reduce inflammation， and alleviate histopathological changes in the pancreatic and colon tissues in the rat model of acute pancreatitis by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway.