Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Lentivirus-modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) has recently been approved for clinical use in pre and early symptomatic children with MLD to increase ARSA activity. Unfortunately, this advanced therapy is not available for most patients with MLD who have progressed to more advanced symptomatic stages at diagnosis. Patients with late-onset juvenile MLD typically present with a slower neurological progression of symptoms and represent a significant burden to the economy and healthcare system, whereas those with early onset infantile MLD die within a few years of symptom onset. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety and benefit of HSCGT in patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD and report preliminary results. The safety profile of HSCGT was favorable in this long-term follow-up over 9 years. The most common adverse events (AEs) within 2 months of HSCGT were related to busulfan conditioning, and all AEs resolved. No HSCGT-related AEs and no evidence of distorted hematopoietic differentiation during long-term follow-up for up to 9.6 years. Importantly, to date, patients have maintained remarkably improved ARSA activity with a stable disease state, including increased Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and decreased magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion score. This long-term follow-up pilot study suggests that HSCGT is safe and provides clinical benefit to patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD.
Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Pilot Projects ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Lentivirus/genetics* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase/metabolism* ; Adolescent

Objective:To discuss the inhibitory effect of chelerythrine(CHE)on the migration,invasion,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,and to clarify the associated mechanism.Methods:The SKOV3 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and 2.5,5.0,10.0,20.0,and 40.0 μmol·L-1 CHE groups.Methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium(MTT)assay was used to detect the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in various groups.The SKOV3 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)group,TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group,and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group.Cell scratch assay was used to detect the migration rates of the cells in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Vimentin proteins in the cells in various groups;immunofluorescence staining method was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in the cells in various groups.Results:The MTT assay results showed that compared with control group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in 5.0,10.0,20.0,and 40.0 μmol·L-1 CHE groups were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The cell scratch assay results showed that compared with control group,the migration rate of the cells in TGF-β1 group was increased(P<0.01);compared with TGF-β1 group,the migration rates of the cells in TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Transwell chamber assay results showed that compared with control group,the numbers of migration and invasion cells in TGF-β1 group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with TGF-β1 group,the numbers of migration and invasion cells in TGF-β1+5 μmo·l L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmo·l L-1 CHE group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in TGF-β1 group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with TGF-β1 group,the expression levels of E-cadherin protein in the cells in TGF-β1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with control group,the fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin in the cells in TGF-β1 group was decreased,and the fluorescence intensity of N-cadherin was increased;compared with TGF-β1 group,the fluorescence intensities of E-cadherin in the cells in TGF-β 1+5 μmol·L-1 CHE group and TGF-β1+10 μmol·L-1 CHE group were significantly increased,and the fluorescence intensities of N-cadherin were decreased.Conclusion:CHE can inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion,and EMT of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.

Objective:To discuss the protective effect of velvet antler peptide(VAP)in the osteoporosis(OP)model rats,and to clarify the possible mechanism.Methods:Sixty 12-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,positive drug group(treated with 1 mg·kg-1·d-1 of alendronate sodium by gavage),low dose of VAP group(treated with 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 VAP),medium dose of VAP group(treated with 200 mg·kg-1·d-1 VAP),and high dose of VAP group(treated with 300 mg·kg-1·d-1 VAP),and there were ten rats in each group.Except for control group,the rats in the other groups were injected with dexamethasone(2 mg·kg-1)to replicate the OP rat model,while the rats in control group were injected with the equivalent volume of saline twice a week for 11 consecutive weeks.Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to detect the bone mineral density(BMD)of femur tissue of the rats in various groups;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the levels of serum calcium(Ca2+),phosphate(P),osteoprotegerin(OPG),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),and osteocalcin(OCN)in serum of the rats in various groups;biochemical method was used to detect the malondialdehyde(MDA)level and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity in serum of the rats in various groups;HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphology of bone tissue of the rats in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1),catalase(CAT),Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),and forkhead box protein O1(FOXO1)proteins in bone tissue of the rats in various groups.Results:Compared with control group,the BMD of femoral tissue of the rats in model group was decreased(P<0.05);compared with model group,the BMD of femur tissue of the rats in positive drug group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with control group,the levels of Ca2+,P,OPG,and SOD activities in serum of the rats in model group were decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of ALP,OCN,and MDA were increased(P<0.05);compared with model group,the level of OPG in serum of the rats in low dose of VAP group was significantly increased(P<0.05),the levels of Ca2+,P,OPG,and activities of SOD in serum of the rats in positive drug group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the levels of ALP,OCN,and MDA in serum of the rats in positive drug group and different doses of VAP groups were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The HE staining results showed that compared with control group,the rats in model group had fewer bone cells and disordered arrangements in the bone tissue,thinner bone trabeculae with large fractures,and an expanded marrow cavity;compared with model group,the rats in positive drug group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group had thicker bone trabeculae arranged more tightly.The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of SIRT1,CAT,RUNX2,and FOXO1 proteins in bone tissue of the rats in model group were decreased(P<0.05);compared with model group,the expression levels of SIRT1,CAT,RUNX2,and FOXO1 proteins in bone tissue of the rats in positive drug group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:VAP has the protective effect against OP in the rats,and its mechanism may be related to mediating the antioxidant stress action through the SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To discuss the protective effect of velvet antler peptide(VAP)on the postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP)model rats,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:A total of 60 twelve-week-old female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,alendronate sodium group(1 mg·kg 1·d-1 alendronate sodium administered via gavage),low dose of VAP group(100 mg·kg·d-1 VAP administered via gavage),medium dose of VAP group(200 mg·kg 1·d-1 VAP administered via gavage),and high dose of VAP group(300 mg·kg1·d-1 VAP administered via gavage),and there were 10 rats in each group.Except for the sham operation group,the rats in the other groups underwent bilateral ovariectomy to establish the PMOP rat models.Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to detect the femur bone mineral density(BMD)of the rats in various groups;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of serum calcium(Ca2+),serum phosphorus(P),bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP),and procollagen type Ⅰ N-terminal propeptide(PINP)of the rats in various groups;Kits were used to detect the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)of the rats in various groups;HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphology of bone tissue of the rats in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K),protein kinase B(AKT),and phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT)proteins in bone tissue of the rats in various groups.Results:Compared with sham operation group,the BMD in femur of the rats in model group was decreased(P＜0.01);compared with model group,the BMD in femur of the rats in alendronate sodium group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group was increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with sham operation group,the levels of Ca2+,P,BALP,PINP,and SOD activity in serum of the rats in model group were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the MDA level was increased(P＜0.01);compared with model group,the level of P in serum of the rats in medium dose of VAP group was increased(P＜0.01),and the levels of Ca2+,P,BALP,PINP and the activities of SOD in serum of the rats in alendronate sodium group and high dose of VAP group were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the level of MDA in serum was decreased(P＜0.05).The HE staining results showed that compared with sham operation group,the bone trabeculae in bone tissue of the rats in model group were thin and fractured,and the medullary cavity was enlarged;compared with model group,the bone trabeculae in bone tissue of the rats in alendronate sodium group,medium dose of VAP group,and high dose of VAP group were thick and tightly arranged,and had more osteocytes.The Western blotting results showed that compared with sham operation group,the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in bone tissue of the rats in model group were decreased(P＜0.01);compared with model group,the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K in bone tissue of rats in different doses of VAP groups were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the ratios of p-AKT/AKT of the rats in alendronate sodium group and high dose of VAP group was increased(P＜0.01).Conclusion:VAP can improve PMOP in the rats,and its mechanisms may be related to the regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the reduction of oxidative stress in bone tissue by VAP.

Objective:To discuss the protective effect of polygonatum odoratum polysaccharide(POP)on the mice with cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury(AKI),and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,POP group,and ferroptosis inducer Erastin combined with POP(Erastin+POP)group,and there were 10 mice in each group.The mice in POP group and Erastin+POP group were given intragastric administration of POP(400 mg·kg-1),and on the 7th day,the mice in model group,POP group,and Erastin+POP group were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin(20 mg·kg-1)to establish the AKI models,the mice in control group were injected with the same volume of normal saline,and the mice in Erastin+POP group were intraperitoneally injected with Erastin(40 mg·kg-1)one day in advance(on the 6th day of the experiment).After 9 d,the mice were killed and the serum and kidney tissue were collected,and the levels of serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH)in kidney tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by kit;HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphology of kidney tissue of the mice in various groups;the expression levels of ferroptosis suppressor protein 1(FSP1),ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1),and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)proteins in kidney tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by immunohistochemistry;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins in kidney tissue of the mice in various groups.Results:Compared with control group,the levels of Scr and BUN of the mice in model group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),the level of MDA in kidney tissue was significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the level of GSH was significantly decreased(P＜0.01);most kidney tubules were dilated,the epithelial cells were swollen,the vacuolar degeneration and epithelial cells fell off,and the protein-like tubules could be seen in the lumen;the expression levels of FSP1,FTH1,GPX4,Nrf2,and HO-1 proteins in kidney tissue were decreased significantly(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with model group,the levels of Scr and BUN of the mice in POP group were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),the level of MDA in kidney tissue was significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the level of GSH was significantly increased(P＜0.01);the dilatation of kidney tubular lumen,epithelial cell swelling,vacuolar degeneration,and epithelial cell exfoliation were decreased;the expression levels of FSP1,FTH1,GPX4,Nrf2,and HO-1 proteins in kidney tissue of the mice in POP group were significantly increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with POP group,the levels of Scr and BUN of the mice in Erastin+POP group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),the level of MDA in kidney tissue was increased(P＜0.05),and the level of GSH was significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the pathological injury of kidney tissue was aggravated obviously;the expression levels of FSP1,FTH1,GPX4,Nrf2,and HO-1 proteins in kidney tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion:POP can reduce the AKI in the mice induced by cisplatin,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibitory effect of POP on the ferroptosis induced by cisplatin.

Objective:To evaluate the possible mediation effect of smoking and healthy diet score on the association between educational level and the risk of lung cancer incidence.Methods:After excluding individuals with missing educational levels and cancer information at baseline, 446?772 participants in the UK Biobank (UKB) prospective cohort study were included. Cox regression models were used to investigate the associations of educational level and smoking and healthy diet score with the incidence of lung cancer. Mediating effect analysis was conducted to analyze the mediating effect of smoking and healthy diet score on the correlation between educational level and lung cancer.Results:During a median follow-up of 7.13 years, 1?994 new- onset lung cancer cases were observed. Per 1 standard deviation (5 years) increase in educational level was associated with a 12% lower risk of lung cancer ( HR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.84-0.92). The corresponding level 1-5 in the International Standard Classification for Education (ISCED) were mapped to UKB self‐report highest qualification to estimate the educational level. A higher rank means a higher educational level. Compared with level ISCED-1, the HR(95% CI) of level ISCED-2, ISCED-3, ISCED-4 and ISCED-5 were respectively 0.83 (0.72-0.94), 0.67 (0.53-0.85), 0.76 (0.65-0.89) and 0.72 (0.64-0.80) for lung cancer. Education years were negatively correlated with smoking, with β coefficients (95% CI) being -0.079 (-0.081- -0.077), but positively correlated with healthy diet score ( β=0.042, 95% CI: 0.039-0.045). Analysis of mediating effect indicated that the association of educational level with lung cancer risk was mediated by smoking and healthy diet score, the proportions of mediating effect were 38.952% (95% CI: 31.802%-51.659%) and 1.784% (95% CI: 0.405%-3.713%), respectively. Conclusion:Smoking and healthy diet score might mediate the effect of educational level on the incidence of lung cancer, indicating that improving the level of education can reduce the risk of lung cancer by changing lifestyles such as smoking and diet.

Objective:To explore how to personalize lung cancer screening programs for prevention in Chinese populations based on individual genetic risk score.Methods:We constructed the lung cancer polygenic genetic risk score (PRS-19) based on the 19 previously published genetic variations, using 100 615 participants with genotyping data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). Using the 5-year absolute risk of lung cancer in a population (55 years old with at least 30-pack-year history of smoking) as reference, the trend of 5-year absolute risk in different genetic risk groups was calculated in smokers and non-smokers, respectively. Distribution curves of 5-year absolute risk were also described to determine the theoretical age or smoking dose when different genetic risk groups reached the reference values. Given the overall findings, the specific start age for lung cancer screening were suggested for different genetic risk groups.Results:The 5-year absolute risk of lung cancer was 0.67% in 55-year-old smokers with 30 packs per year in the CKB. Among smokers, 5-year absolute risk of participants increased as the genetic risk increased. Hence, it was recommended that people at high genetic risk should start screening earlier. For the highest genetic risk populations (the top 1% of PRS), the start age might be changed to 50 years old. If the start age remained at 55-year-old, the smoking dose should be set lowered in high genetic risk populations. For the highest genetic risk populations, they should be included in lung cancer screening regardless of the cumulative smoking exposure. Among nonsmokers, it was also valuable to screen people with high genetic risk, considering the start age of 62 for the highest genetic risk populations and 74 for the lowest genetic risk populations (the bottom 5% of PRS).Conclusions:PRS-19 can be effectively used in developing lung cancer screening program for individualized prevention in China. For smokers with high genetic risk, the recommended starting age and smoking dose could be lowered for lung cancer screening, and non-smokers with high genetic risk could also be included in the screening programs.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a representative disease of children's neurodevelopmental disorders, brings huge pressure and financial burden to families and society. It is of great significance to explore its etiology and pathogenesis. Therefore, we established an ASD Cohort based on the existing China National Birth Cohort (CNBC), which applied parallel design to recruit and follow up families who achieved pregnancy after receiving assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and families with spontaneous conception. The main aims of this study are to compare the incidence of ASD among children born after ART with those born under spontaneous pregnancy, and to evaluate the impact of ART on the neurobehavioral development of offspring. Additionally, with a variety of clinical and behavioral related information collected during pregnancy and at early life of offspring, we are able to investigate the risk factors associated with ASD comprehensively. This article briefly introduces the objectives, contents, preliminary progress, strength and limitations, as well as further prospects of the ASD cohort study, mainly focusing on the overall design and current progress.

Significantly increasing crop yield is a major and worldwide challenge for food supply and security. It is well-known that rice cultivated at Taoyuan in Yunnan of China can produce the highest yield worldwide. Yet, the gene regulatory mechanism underpinning this ultrahigh yield has been a mystery. Here, we systematically collected the transcriptome data for seven key tissues at different developmental stages using rice cultivated both at Taoyuan as the case group and at another regular rice planting place Jinghong as the control group. We identified the top 24 candi-date high-yield genes with their network modules from these well-designed datasets by developing a novel computational systems biology method, i.e., dynamic cross-tissue (DCT) network analysis. We used one of the candidate genes, OsSPL4, whose function was previously unknown, for gene editing experimental validation of the high yield, and confirmed that OsSPL4 significantly affects panicle branching and increases the rice yield. This study, which included extensive field phenotyping, cross-tissue systems biology analyses, and functional validation, uncovered the key genes and gene regulatory networks underpinning the ultrahigh yield of rice. The DCT method could be applied to other plant or animal systems if different phenotypes under various environments with the common genome sequences of the examined sample. DCT can be downloaded from https://github.com/zt-pub/DCT.

Objective: To investigate the possibility and diagnostic efficiency of ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT bone scan after oral administration (PO) by comparing with that of intravenous injection (IV). Methods: Fifty patients (19 males, 31 females; average age: (52.8±11.7) years) with cancer who underwent PET/CT scans after oral and intravenous administration of ¹⁸F-NaF respectively with an interval of 2-7 d from June 2015 to September 2016 were prospectively enrolled. Single-phase ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT was performed 60 min after IV, and dual-phase ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT was performed 60 and 120 min after PO. All PET/CT images were reviewed, lesions were counted, and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) and target/non-target (T/NT) ratios were calculated and compared. Paired t test was used. Results: Forty-one patients (15 males, 26 females; average age: (53.5±10.4) years) who finished all PET/CT scans were enrolled. The images at 120 min after PO was visually similar to the images at 60 min after IV. Three modalities detected the same cases and lesions (35 positive cases: 25 malignant, 8 benign, 2 cases with indefinite diagnosis; 302 lesions: 172 malignant, 108 benign, 22 ambiguous lesions). The SUV_{max-PO60 min} and SUV_{max-PO120 min} were lower than the SUV_{max-IV60 min} in the same lesion (18.22±12.64, 26.60±19.49 vs 28.07±16.34; t values: -12.36 and -3.59, both P<0.05). A total of 194 lesions were included for T/NT ratio analysis. T/NT_{IV60 min}, T/NT_{PO60 min} and T/NT_{PO120 min} were 2.76±1.30, 2.87±1.50, 2.98±1.42, respectively, and T/NT_{PO120 min} was higher than T/NT_{IV60 min} (t=3.18, P<0.05). Conclusion ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT images after PO, especially at 120 min post-PO, has similar diagnostic power of lesion-detection and SUV_max-measurement with IV.