Objective To evaluate in vitro effects of propranolol and isoproterenol on proliferation of infantile hemangioma endothelial cells(IHECs)as well as expressions of vascular endothelial growth factors(VEGF and VEGF-2) and human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Methods The second - third passage endothelial cells derived from the proliferative phase of infantile hemangioma were divided into propranolol and isoproterenol groups. The propranolol group was further classified into 5 groups to be treated with propranolol solutions at concentrations of 10, 15, 20 mg/L, EGM-2 medium (blank control group 1), or EGM-2 medium containing 0.16% DMSO (DMSO group), while the isoproterenol group was classified into 4 groups to be treated with isoproterenol solutions at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 mg/L or EGM-2 medium(blank control group 2). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay was performed to evaluate cellular proliferative activity in these propranolol groups at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours separately, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)to measure VEGF, VEGF-2 and bFGF lev els in culture supernatants of IHECs at 24 and 48 hours separately. Results The proliferative activity of IHECs showed no significant differences between 10-, 15- and 20-mg/L propranolol groups at either 24 or 48 hours (H = 1.152, 2.643, respectively, both P > 0.05), or between the blank control group 1, DMSO group, and 10- and 15-mg/L propranolol groups at either 72 or 96 hours, but significantly decreased in the 20-mg/L propranolol group compared with the blank control group 1 at 72 and 96 hours (both P < 0.05). The 24-hour treatments with propranolol or isoproterenol at the above concentrations all affected the expressions of VEGF, VEGF-2 and bFGF to different degrees. At 48 hours, there was a significant decrease in VEGF levels in 15- and 20-mg/L propranolol groups, as well as in VEGF-2 and bFGF levels in 10-, 15- and 20-mg/L propranolol groups compared with the blank control group 1 (all P < 0.05), but a significant increase in VEGF levels in 5-, 10- and 20-mg/L isoproterenol groups compared with the blank control group 2 (all P < 0.05), as well as in VEGF-2 and bFGF levels in the 20-mg/L isoproterenol group compared with the blank control group 2, 5- and 10-mg/L isoproterenol groups (all P < 0.05). Conclusions The treatment with propranolol at certain concentrations for certain durations can suppress the growth of, as well as expressions of VEGF, VEGF-2 and bFGF in, endothelial cells derived from the proliferative phase of infantile hemangioma, whereas that with isoproterenol has opposite effects. The therapeutic mechanism of propranolol in infantile hemangioma may be associated with expressions of β-adrenergic receptors and their downstream signal transduction-related cytokines.

Objective To explore the role of beta-2 adrenergic receptor in the pathogenesis of infantile hemangioma.Methods In vitro cultured infantile hemangioma endothelial cells were divided into propranolol and isoproterenol groups.The propranolol groups were further classified into 5 groups to be treated with propranolol solutions at concentrations of 10,15,20 μg/ml,EGM-2 medium (blank control group 1),and EGM-2 medium containing 0.16％ DMSO (DMSO group) respectively,while the isoproterenol groups were classified into 4 groups to be treated with isoproterenol solutions at concentrations of 5,10,20 μg/ml and EGM-2 medium (blank control group 2) respectively.After 24-and 48-hour treatment,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the expression of beta-2 adrenergic receptor in cell culture supernatants in the above groups.Results After 24-hour treatment,15-μg/ml and 20-μg/ml propranolol groups showed significantly decreased expression of beta-2 adrenergic receptor compared with blank control group 1 and DMSO group (all P ＜ 0.05).After 48-hour treatment,all the propranolol groups showed significantly decreased expression of beta-2 adrenergic receptor compared with the blank control group 1 (all P ＜ 0.05).However,the expression of beta-2 adrenergic receptor was significantly higher in the 10-and 20-μg/ml isoproterenol groups than in the blank control group 2 after 24-hour treatment (all P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the 20-μg/ml isoproterenol group than in the blank control group 2 after 48-hour treatment (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Propranolol can down-regulate the expression of beta-2 adrenergic receptor on the surface of vascular endothelial cells,while isoproterenol can up-regulate its expression.

Objective To report a case of chromomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa and explore the laboratory features of the pathogen. Methods Skin lesion was examined by histopathology and fungus culture. The morphology of the isolate was observed by microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The coenzyme Q system of this isolate was analyzed by HPLC assay. The DNA sequences of LSU rDNA D1/D2 region of this isolate and a standard fungus strain were compared. Results The initial lesion was an erythematous papule that subsequently developed into one or multiple coalescing warty papules or plaques slowly. The bronze-colored spores could were observed in the dermis or macrophages. The isolate grew very slowly, requiring 4 weeks of incubation. Microscopically, no characteristic structures were found on Sabourand′s dextrose agar, while there were vase-like structures, which were referred to as phialides on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and corn meal agar I (CMA-I). The phialides on PDA mostly grew at the top of hypha, but on CMA-I they mostly grew on the side of hypha. The isolate contained coenzyme Q-10, and its DNA sequence of LSU rDNA D1/D2 region completely consistent with those of the standard strain. Conclusion Chromomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa is rare in China. It can be diagnosed by fungus culture and histopathological examination. Coenzyme Q system analysis and DNA sequencing can exclude the interference from different phenotypes.

The fungus Trichophyton schoenleinii (T. schoenleinii) is the causative agent of Trichophytosis and Tinea favosa of the scalp in certain regions of Eurasia and Africa. Human innate immune system plays an important role in combating with various pathogens including fungi. The inflammasome is one of the most critical arms of host innate immunity, which is a protein complex controlling maturation of IL-1β. To clarify whether T. schoenleinii is able to activate the inflammasome, we analyzed human monocytic cell line THP-1 for IL-1β production upon infection with T. schoenleinii strain isolated from Tinea favosa patients, and rapid IL-1β secretion from THP-1 cells was observed. Moreover, applying competitive inhibitors and gene specific silencing with shRNA, we found that T. schoenleinii induced IL-1β secretion, ASC pyroptosome formation as well as caspase-1 activation were all dependent on NLRP3. Cathepsin B activity, ROS production and K⁺ efflux were required for the inflammasome activation by T. schoenleinii. Our data thus reveal that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in host defense against T. schoenleinii, and suggest that manipulating NLRP3 signaling can be a novel approach for control of diseases caused by T. schoenleinii infection.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Enzyme Activation ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Lysosomes ; metabolism ; Mice ; Monocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Trichophyton ; physiology

Objective:To analyze characteristics of and distribution of pathogenic fungi in patients with tinea capitis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2010 to 2018.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 122 tinea capitis patients with positive fungal culture results in Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2010 to 2018, and retrospectively analyzed. Fungal culture was carried out, and lactophenol cotton blue staining was performed for morphological identification of the fungal isolates.Results:Of the 122 patients with tinea capitis, 112 (91.8%) were children, including 70 (62.5%) males and 42 (37.5%) females, and there were 58 (51.79%) preschool children and 37 (33.04%) school-age children; 9 (7.38%) were adults, including 7 females and 2 males; 66 (54.1%) were of Uygur nationality, 46 (37.7%) of Han nationality, 5 (4.1%) of Kazakh nationality, 3 (2.46%) of Hui nationality, 1 (0.82%) of Mongolian nationality, and 1 of unknown nationality. The annual number of cases of tinea capitis was more than 20 from 2011 to 2013, and gradually decreased year by year from 2014 (≤ 13 cases/year) . All the patients were infected with a single fungal strain, and a total of 122 strains were identified, including 46 (37.7%) strains of Microsporum ferrugineum, 44 (36.07%) strains of Microsporum canis, 10 (8.2%) strains of Trichophyton violaceum, 9 (7.38%) strains of Trichophyton schoenleini, 6 (4.91%) strains of Trichophyton tonsurans, 4 (3.28%) strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 3 (2.46%) strains of Trichophyton verrucosum. Microsporum ferrugineum (anthropophilic species) mostly affected patients of Uygur nationality (34 cases, 73.91%) , and Microsporum canis (zoophilic species) mostly affected patients of Han nationality (26 cases, 59.09%) . Conclusion:In the Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2010 to 2018, tinea capitis commonly affected male children of Uygur nationality, and Microsporum ferrugineum and Microsporum canis were the dominant pathogenic species.