The cortexes were obtained from new-born rats and dissociated to single cells by triturating. The cells were cultured in neural stem cell (NSC) culture medium (DMEM supplemented with bFGF, EGF and B27) and formed primary neurospheres after 7 days. Single cells dissociated from neurosphere were cultured in 96-well plates and formed single-cell cloning neurosphere 7 days later. The primary and single-cell cloning neurospheres were both positive for the immunofluorescent staining of nestin and were identified as NSC. It was proved that NSC can be expanded in vitro and provide seed cells for neural tissue engineering.
Animals, Newborn ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex/*cytology ; Culture Media ; Neurons/*cytology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells/*cytology ; Tissue Engineering

AIM: To investigate the effects of propofol on the expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in the hippocampus and the cognitive function in neonatal rats.METHODS: The 7-day-old rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the rats in control (CON) group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 7 d;the rats in single dose of propofol anesthesia (SP) group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline for 6 d and with propofol on the 7th day;the rats in repeated dose of propofol anesthesia (RP) group were intraperitoneally injected with propofol for 7 d.Blood glucose and blood gas analysis were tested in 6 rats of each group.The rats were randomly selected from each group to isolate the hippocampal tissues at 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 30 d after the last injection.The spatial learning and memory functions of the other rats aged 25 d were determined by Morris water maze.The morphological changes of the hippocampus were observed by HE staining and Nissl's staining.The expression of tPA and MMP9 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with group CON, the protein expression of tPA and MMP9 in RP group was significantly decreased at each time point, while no significant decrease was observed in SP group except at the time point of 24 h.Compared with CON group, the mRNA expression of tPA and MMP9 was down-regulated obviously in RP group, which was not significantly down-regulated in SP group.From the 3rd training day of Morris water maze beginning, the escape latency was prolonged, and the space exploration time and the number of crossing the original platform location were reduced in RP group compared with CON group and SP group, while no significant difference was observed between CON group and SP group.Compared with CON group, the number of nerve cells reduced and nerve cells arranged in disorder in the hippocampus in RP group.Moreover, the number of Nissl body decreased significantly and finally developed into neuronal degeneration and necrosis in RP group, and no significant difference between SP group and CON group was observed.CONCLUSION: Repeated dose of propofol anesthesia leads to long-term cognitive dysfunction in neonatal rats, which may be related to the down-regulation of tPA and MMP9 expression and destruction of normal morphology and function of neurons in hippocampus, whereas single dose of propofol anesthesia has no such effects.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and significance of anti-?2-glycoprotein Ⅰ (anti-?2-GPⅠ) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Anti-?2-GPⅠ level was determined in 112 SLE patients, 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 30 patients with Sj?gren′s syndrome (SS) and 40 healthy individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The laboratory and clinical features (thrombosis, fetal loss, etc) were analyzed retrospectively from the clinical database. Results Sensitivities of anti-?2-GPⅠ were 21.4%, 15.0%, 6.7% in SLE, RA and SS, respectively. The specificity of anti-?2-GPⅠ was 88.6% in SLE. Correlations between thrombosis and titers of ACL-IgG/IgM and anti-?2-GPⅠ were statistically significant. No association was found between anti-?2-GPⅠ and other clinical and laboratory features. Conclusion The results indicate that anti-?2-glycoprotein Ⅰ antibodies are common and may play a role in SLE with thrombosis. Combination of ACL and anti-?2-GPⅠ can facilitate the diagnosis of SLE with thrombosis.

Aim To observe the improvement effects of parecoxib on ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats and its influence on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=8):sham operation group (group S), ventricular remodeling model group(group R), low dose of parecoxib group(group P1), middle dose of parecoxib group(group P2), and high dose of parecoxib group(group P3).A myocardial infarction model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch(LAD) of coronary artery in group R, group P1, group P2 and group P3.One day after the operation,the rats were given intraperitoneal injection of 4,8,12 mg·kg-1 parecoxibin Group P1, group P2 and group P3,respectively, for two weeks.The same volume saline was given in group S and group R.Four weeks later, LVSP, LVEDP,+dp/dtmax,-dp/dtmax were monitored.The hearts were harvested to calculate left ventricular hypertrophy index.The pathological change of heart was examined with an optical microscope.The expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) mRNA and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.The expression of PI3K,Akt,P-Akt and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with group S, the cardiac function was decreased, the left ventricular hypertrophy index, the expression levels of ANP,BNP mRNA, caspase-3 were increased, and the expression levels of PI3K, P-Akt were reduced in group R(all P<0.05).Compared with group R, the cardiac function was ameliorated, the left ventricular hypertrophy index were reduced in group P2 and group P3(all P<0.05).The expression levels of ANP,BNP mRNA, Caspase-3 were decreased, and the expression levels of PI3K and P-Akt were increased in group P1,group P2 and group P3(all P<0.05).Conclusions Middle and high doses of parecoxib can mitigate the process of ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarctionand improve the myocardial function, and its underlying mechanism may be related to activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Aim To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 down-regulation in the learning and memory dysfunction induced by propofol treatment in rats.Methods 7-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=18):control group(NS group) and repeated doses of propofol group(RP group) was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline and propofol respectively for consecutive seven days, single dose of propofol group(SP group) were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline first for consecutive six days, and then injected with propofol on 7th day.The blood gas and glucose levels were monitored of six rats randomly selected from each group.Morris water maze was conducted to test the learning and memory functions of the remaining rats.The expression of MMP-9, BDNF and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot, and the hippocampal neuron apoptosis was determinated by TUNEL staining.Results Compared with NS group and SP group, the escape latency in RP group was prolonged significantly, exploration time and the number of crossing the platform in RP group were markedly decreased(P<0.05).The expressions of MMP-9 and mBDNF in RP group declined, but the expression of proBDNF and the ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF in RP group were higher than those in NS group and SP group(P<0.05).Compared with NS group and SP group, the number of apoptotic neurons and the expression of cleaved-caspase-3 in RP group were increased significantly, but the expression of pro-Caspase3 in RP group was reduced(P<0.05).There was no difference between SP group and NS group regarding all the results(P>0.05).Conclusions Repeated exposure to propofol can lead to a decline in long-term learning and memory functions in neonatal rats, which may be related to the down-regulation of MMP-9 expression, proBDNF and mBDNF conversion disorder in hippocampus and the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.However, single exposure to propofol has no significant effect.

Objective: To explore the correalation between change of postoperative cognitive function and injury of the draining veins around meningiomas in superficial middle cerebral vein areas, to discuss the importance and protection method of draining veins around meningiomas in order to guide the microneurosurgery. Methods: From July 2013 to July 2017, the clinical data of 54 patients with superficial middle cerebral vein areas meningiomas(tumor group) in the Central Hospital of Guangdong Nongken were retrospectively analyzed.And 52 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group.The preoperative and postoperative cognitive function and meningiomas peritumoral edema(MPE) were assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA) and CT/MRI. Results: The scores of visuospatial and executive[(3.23±1.27)points], order[(2.52±1.27)points], memory[(2.20±1.14)points], attention[(4.71±0.97)points], language[(2.19±0.74)points], abstract[(1.43±0.63)points], location[(5.83±0.42)points], total[(22.06±0.33)points] in the tumor group were significantly lower than those in the control group[(4.83±0.38)points, (3.0±0.02)points, (3.5±1.04)points, (5.98±0.14)points, (2.54±0.50)points, (1.88±0.38)points, (5.98±0.33)points, (27.83±0.16)points](t=4.504, 6.116, 9.338, 2.782, 4.509, 2.390, 8.670, all P<0.05). According to the injury of the draining veins around meningioma, 54 patients were divided into the two groups, 43 cases in the no-injuried group, 11 cases in the injuried group.There were no statistically significant differences between the no-injuried group and injuried group in all measurements before operation(all P>0.05). Both no-injuried group and injuried group had decline in MoCA and increase in MPE at 5 days after surgery.Both no-injuried group and injuried group had rise in MoCA[(26.35±0.36)points vs.(22.00±0.67)points] and decrease in MPE[(23.95±4.34)cm³ vs (44.64±9.68)cm³] at 30 days after surgery(t=5.944, 2.098, all P<0.05). The MoCA[(22.59±0.31)points vs (26.35±0.36)points] was obviously increased and the MPE[(87.84±12.78)cm³ vs.(23.95±4.34)cm³] was obviously increased in 30 days after operation in no-injuried group(t=7.289, 5.014, all P<0.05), but the injuried group had just the opposite. Conclusion Injury of the draining veins around meningiomas in superficial middle cerebral vein areas can lead to cognitive dysfunction and compromise the quality of postoperative life in patients, every effort should be undertaken to preserve the draining veins around meningioma.

The cortexes were obtained from new-born rats and dissociated to single cells by triturating. The cells were cultured in neural stem cell (NSC) culture medium (DMEM supplemented with bFGF, EGF and B27) and formed primary neurospheres after 7 days. Single cells dissociated from neurosphere were cultured in 96-well plates and formed single-cell cloning neurosphere 7 days later. The primary and single-cell cloning neurospheres were both positive for the immunofluorescent staining of nestin and were identified as NSC. It was proved that NSC can be expanded in vitro and provide seed cells for neural tissue engineering.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Culture Media ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to the dysregulation of host responses during infection. Severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is the primary pathophysiological feature. Despite the classical antibiotic therapies play an important role in sepsis, the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria makes a greater challenge in clinical. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) which consist of small cationic peptides, can be found in most organisms. As a result of their board-spectrum antibacterial activities and immunoregulatory functions, AMPs may have an excellent effect on the treatment of sepsis. In this review, we will discuss the basic role of AMPs in sepsis treatment and their application prospect and the challenges which need to be resolved in order to provide ideas for clinical application of AMPs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of human myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) in the process of neuronal death induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by establishing an in vitro model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) by LPS. METHODS: Healthy C57BL/6J mice at 14-18 days of gestation were selected, and brain cortical tissue was taken from fetal mice. Neurons were stimulated with 0 (control), 1, 5 and 10 g/L of LPS for 24 hours. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected and the death of neurons was observed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β), in order to determine the optimal dose of LPS for establishing an in vitro neuroinflammation model of SAE. The cells were divided into blank control group and LPS group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) was used to discover apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the relevant protein markers activated caspase-3, necroptosis-associated protein neuronal receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and phosphorylated RIPK3 (p-RIPK3). Immunofluorescence chemical staining was used to detect the expressions of p-RIPK3 and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) to evaluate the type of cell death and the degree of neuronal death. Western blotting was used to detect MD2 expression. Immunofluorescence chemical staining was performed to observe the expression and distribution of p-RIPK3 and MD2 in neurons to assess whether MD2 was involved in the inflammatory response promoting neuronal death. In addition, the cells were divided into blank control group, LPS group, and MD2 interfering peptide group (LPS+TC group), and the levels of IL-6, IL-1β and LDH were detected to evaluate whether interfering with MD2 can alleviate LPS induced neuroinflammation. RESULTS: 10 g/L LPS induced notable neuronal death, and the release of LDH in neurons stimulated with this concentration for 24 hours was significantly higher than that in the blank control group (relative release: 1.45±0.04 vs. 1.00±0.00, P < 0.01), indicating apoptosis and necroptosis occurred in neurons, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-1β were remarkable increased [IL-6 (relative level): 1.94±0.04 vs. 1.00±0.00, IL-1β (relative level): 1.53±0.09 vs. 1.00±0.00, both P < 0.01]. Compared with the blank control group, the apoptosis of cells, cleaved-caspase-3 expression, the p-RIPK3/RIPK3 ratio, and p-RIPK3 expression around neurons in the LPS group were significantly increased [cleaved-caspase-3/GAPDH: 1.55±0.10 vs. 1.00±0.00, P < 0.01; p-RIPK3/RIPK3 ratio (relative value): 1.54±0.06 vs. 1.00±0.00, P < 0.05], which suggested that typical apoptosis and necroptosis apoptosis occurred in neurons in the septic environment. Furthermore, MD2 expression was significantly increased in the LPS group compared with the blank control group (MD2/GAPDH: 1.91±0.07 vs. 1.00±0.00, P < 0.01), and MD2 expression around neurons was increased, indicating that LPS-induced MD2 upregulation may play a key role in neuroinflammation and induction of neuronal death in sepsis. In addition, compared with the LPS group, the MD2-interfering peptide could reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-1β [IL-6 (relative level): 1.16±0.08 vs. 1.94±0.04, IL-1β (relative level): 1.15±0.05 vs. 1.75±0.09, both P < 0.01] and decrease LDH release (relative release: 1.09±0.01 vs. 1.44±0.04, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS LPS induced neuronal inflammatory responses via MD2, which ultimately leads to apoptosis and necroptosis. Interfering with MD2 reduces inflammation and inhibits neuronal death.
Mice ; Humans ; Animals ; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy ; Caspase 3 ; Interleukin-6 ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Differentiation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha