Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Objective:To investigate the effects of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on ionizing radiation (IR)-induced liver toxicity based on a zebrafish model and provide a scientific basis for assessing microplastic-radiation exposure hazards to the survival and health of aquatic organisms and humans.Methods:Healthy adult zebrafish aged 4-6 months were grouped (20 fish each group, sex in half) by random number table method in three different ways. The TBBPA exposure concentration screening experiment was divided into 4 groups: control group and TBBPA (3, 30 and 300 μg/L) treatment groups. The experiment of effects of double exposure on liver function was divided into 5 groups: control group, IR (10, 20 or 30 Gy) groups and IR+ TBBPA (60, 300 and 1 500 μg/L) treatment groups. The experiment of effects of TBBPA on hepatic radiation toxicity was divided into 3 groups: control group, IR (20 Gy) group, and IR+ TBBPA (300 μg/L) group. The changes in liver function indexes, oxidative stress markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and liver cell apoptosis were monitored, differential metabolic pathways and metabolites were identified upon untargeted metabolomics assays, and inter-group data were compared by One-way ANOVA test.Results:The activities of ALT and AST in zebrafish liver increased in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to TBBPA, and the differences between 300 μg/L TBBPA group and control group were statistically significant ( t=-2.22, -3.20, P<0.05). IR at a dose of 20 Gy or above induced a significant decline of liver function, and at this radiation dose, combined exposure to 300 μg/L or above TBBPA intensified the liver toxicity (compared with the control group, t=-8.18 to -4.63, P<0.05, compared with IR group, t=-5.22 to -0.30, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the activities of ALT and AST, levels of ROS, MDA and SOD, mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, Cox-2, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9, and cell apoptosis in zebrafish livers of IR and IR+ TBBPA groups increased gradually (compared with the control group, t=-12.29 to -2.88, P<0.05, compared with IR group, t=-4.40 to -2.31, P<0.05). The differences in the content of D-gluconic acid, p-cresol and other metabolites in liver tissues were more and more significant among the three groups, involving multiple KEGG pathways such as biosynthesis, degradation and metabolism. Conclusions:Exposure to 300 μg/L TBBPA can aggravate IR-induced liver toxicity of zebrafish, which involves the mechanism that further elevates the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, as well as radiation-induced liver metabolic disorders.

Objective:To elucidate the change of whole genome expression profile for the effect of melatonin on radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice.Methods:C57BL/6J male mice were administrated with melatonin at 10 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection once a day for five consecutive days before abdominal irradiation with 14 Gy of γ-rays. Small intestines were harvested 3 d after radiation. GO annotation and KEGG pathway of the differential genes involved in small intestine were explored by DNA microarray analysis.Results:Compared with the control group, 584 differential genes were up-regulated and 538 differential genes were down-regulated for administration group pre-irradiation. The overlapping differential genes were selected from the irradiated mice and the administrated mice pre-irradiation. There were 324 up-regulated genes and 246 down-regulated genes unique to the administrated mice pre-irradiation. GO annotation analysis of the differential genes indicated that the top 15 significantly enriched biological processes for the administrated mice pre-irradiation mainly included autophagosome assembly (GO: 0000045), autophagosome organization (GO: 1905037) and regulation of acute inflammatory response (GO: 0002673). The genes ATG12, ATG16L2 and AMBRA1 were involved in autophagosome assembly and autophagosome organization. The genes C3, CPN1, CD55, CFP, CNR1, C1QA, C2 and CREB3L3 were involved in the regulation of acute inflammation response. KEGG pathway analysis of the differential genes involved indicated that the top 15 significantly enriched pathways for the administrated mice pre-irradiation mainly included O-glycan biosynthesis (hsa00512), glycosphingolipid biosynthesis (hsa00603), ECM-receptor interaction (hsa04512) and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (hsa01040). qRT-PCR verification showed that the expressions of ATG12 and ATG16L2 genes involved in autophagy for the administrated mice pre-irradiation increased significantly compared with the irradiated mice ( t=2.40, 4.35, P<0.05). Conclusions:The differential genes related with the biological process of autophagy, acute inflammatory response and the pathway of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis might be involved in the effect of melatonin on radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Objective:To confirm the mechanism of Sedum alfredii extract (SafE) alleviating radiation injury in human small intestinal epithelial cells (HIEC-6). Methods:HIEC-6 cells were divided into 4 groups, including control group (Con), irradiation group (IR), SafE alone group (SafE) and SafE plus irradiation group (SafE+ IR). All of the SafE groups were treated with 0.02 g/ml (W/V) SafE for 24 h. Cell viability (CCK-8 method ) and intracellular ROS levels were investigated at 24 h after 2, 4, and 6 Gy irradiation. Samples were taken at 24 h after 4 Gy irradiation for transcriptome analysis, and the intracellular E3 ubiquitin ligase PRKN expression level was measured. The thickness of endoplasmic reticulum was detected at 24 h after 4 Gy irradiation using fluorescent dye.Results:SafE could maintain cell viability after irradiation ( t=2.94-10.40, P<0.05), and significantly reduced the level of ROS in the irradiated cells ( t=-13.29--4.53, P<0.05). PRKN was preliminarily verified to be the target gene of SafE that maintained PRKN transcript level and endoplasmic reticulum thickness after irradiation (IR group vs. Con group: t=-5.55, 3.27, P<0.05, SafE group vs. SafE+ IR group: P>0.05). Conclusion:SafE is effective in maintaining ER thickness and reducing cellular radiation damage and its target gene PRKN could be regulated by ionizing radiation.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of canagliflozin on intrarenal fat content and oxygenation in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.Methods:Twenty-three newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients were divided into canagliflozin( n=11) and glimepiride control( n=12) groups .Both groups received MRI scanning with Dixon MRI and BOLD MRI sequence to assess patients′ intrarenal fat content, oxygenation level before treatment and 24 weeks after treatment. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood uric acid, blood lipids, blood pressure, weight, and other metabolic index were also tested before and after treatment. Furthermore, the relationship between body mass index(BMI) and intrarenal fat content and the correlation between changes in intrarenal fat content and improvement in renal hypoxia were analyzed. Results:No significant differences were found in baseline age, body weight, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, and serum uric acid between the two groups. There was no significant difference in fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol(CHO), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), and triglycerides(TG) levels in both groups after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. The decrease in body weight, blood uric acid level, and diastolic blood pressure from baseline in the canagliflozin group was greater than those in the control group( P<0.05). Two groups of patients with type 2 diabetes at baseline had no obvious difference in intrarenal fat content, and the patients′ BMI showed no obvious correlation with degree of intrarenal fat accumulation. Canagliflozin treatment for 24 weeks could reduce intrarenal fat content, which was higher than that of control group. The R2 * values of renal cortex and medulla in the canagliflozin group decreased from baseline by 19.22% and 22.63% respectively( P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was seen in the glimepiride control group. The decrease of intrarenal fat content in the canagliflozin group was related to the improvement of renal cortex and medulla oxygenation. Conclusion:Canagliflozin can reduce intrarenal fat accumulation and improve renal cortical hypoxia in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients with normal renal function.

Objective:To investigate the role of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in breast cancer metastasis and its possible mechanism. Methods: A total of 45 cases of primary breast cancer tissues and brain metastatic breast cancer tissues were collected from patients, who underwent mastectomy in Yunnan Cancer Hospital from October 2015 to April 2018, including 30 cases of primary lesions and 15 cases of brain metastasis. qPCR was used to detect the expression of COX-2 in breast cancer tissues and brain metastatic breast cancer tissues. Recombinant viruses with COX-2 over-expression (LV6-COX2) or COX-2 knockdown (LV3-COX2 shRNA1, LV3-COX2 shRNA2) were transfected into human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells; After obtaining the stable expression cell lines, the effect of COX-2 expression on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by CCK-8, and the effects of COX-2 expression on the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by scratch test and Transwell assay, respectively. The mRNAand protein expressions of COX-2 in each group were examined by qPCR and WB, respectively. The effect of COX-2 expression on the expression of EMT-related genes in MDA-MB-231 cells was analyzed by qPCR. Results: The expression of COX-2 in tissues of patients with brain metastases was significantly higher than that in patients with primary breast cancer tissues (P<0.01), and it was correlated with tumor TMN stage in breast cancer patients. MDA-MB-231 cell lines with stable COX-2 over-expression/knockout were successfully constructed. Over-expression of COX-2 promoted the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells (all P<0.01), and significantly increased the expressions of MMP2, MMP1, N-cadherin and vimentin (all P<0.01), but exerted insignificant effect on cell proliferation. The effect of COX-2 silence exerted the opposite effect and promoted cell proliferation (P<0.05). Conclusion: COX-2 is highly expressed in brain metastatic breast cancer tissues, which may promote the migration and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by regulating EMT processes.

Objective To explore the impacts of Danhong injection on physiological and biochemical indicators in malnourished mice at physiological low doses, evaluate its safety, and test the practical value of safety re-evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicinal ( TCM) injections. Methods A total of 32 ICR mice during growth period were selected to set up corn deficient nutrition mice model. Mice were assigned into the normal control group (given 0. 9% saline), Danhong injection at low, medium and high dosages (0. 2, 0. 4 and 0. 6 mL) groups (n=8 in each group);Mice were administered with respective medications intraperitoneally for 7 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken and mice were executed on the 8th day. All 9 kinds of organ or tissue were obtained completely, to measure related physiological and serum biochemical parameters. The safety of Danhong injection was evaluated by using Benefit and Damage Index - General Score ( BDI-GS ) system. Results The Danhong injection showed only slight damages on major organs or tissues, the BDI values were all above 0. 85, and the GS values were all above 9. 0;BDI values for Danhong injection at different dosages were all above 1. 0 for spleen and pancreas, showing better replenishing and healthy effects, and the differences were of statistical significance compared with the normal control group (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Meanwhile, it exerted obviously hypoglycemic effect. Conclusion Danhong injection is of rather low risk under physiological dosages, and therefore is safe to use. The mal-nutrition model combined with the BDI-GS system may be developed as a novel approach for safety re-evaluation of TCM injection in clinic.