Objective To investigate the expression of humanβ-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in gastric mucosa of Helico-bacter pylori (H. pylori) associated gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and the role of HBD-2 in gastric MALT lymphoma. Methods Forty gastric mucosa specimens from patients with H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma were collected. And 36 gastric mucosa specimens from chronic superficial gastritis without H. pylori infection were included as control group. The expression of HBD-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Results The ex-pression of HBD-2 was significantly higher in H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma than that of control group. (P＜0.01). The expression of HBD-2 was significantly decreased after the eradication of H. pylori (P＜0.01). The expression of HBD-2 was significantly higher in H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma than that of lymphoma cells (P＜0.01). There was no expression of HBD-2 in lymphoma cells. Conclusion HBD-2 is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori associated gastric MALT lymphoma. But whether it has anti-tumor effect is not clear.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on liver transplantation with 50% reduced-size in rat models.Methods:For 40 normal male Brown Norway(BN) and Lewis rats weighing 210-250 g were included respectively to generate the acute rejection models following 50% reduced-size liver transplantation in rats. The recipients were divided into BMMSCs group ( n=20) and normal saline group ( n=20). Healthy male BN rats were used to prepare BMMSCs. Transplanted liver tissues were collected at 0h, 1d, 3d, 7d post the transplantation for further analysis. Pathological changes and the extent of rejection were evaluated under the light microscope. The levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light 3 (LC3) and autophagy regulator Beclin-1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results:Rejection activity indices of the normal saline group at 0d, 3d, 7d after the surgery were (2.33±0.58), (4.00±0.00), (6.33±0.58). The BMMSCs group were (2.10±0.58), (3.73±0.58), (5.67±1.15), which was decreased comparing with normal saline group, difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). On the 1d, 3d, 7d after the transplantation, compared with normal saline group, expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and Beclin-1 in BMMSCs group was increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:It showed that autophagy has an effect on the protection of BMMSCs liver graft of rats.

Objective:To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on fibrotic rats.Methods:110 male SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were selected randomly divided into model group, BMSCs group and HO-1/BMSCs group with 11 rats in each group after intraperitoneal injection of CCl 4, PBS, BMSCs and HO-1/BMSCs were injected respectively. Another 11 rats were selected as control group. After 4 weeks of intervention, tracer experiment was used to detect the location of BMSCs. Rats in each group were executed, and liver function were detected by biochemical analyzer, liver fibrosis indexes were detected by ELISA, liver histopathology were detected by HE and Sirius red staining. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin. Results:The rat fibrosis model was successfully established. Tracer experiment showed that BMSCs were implanted in rat liver after transplantation. Compared with the model group, the liver function and liver fibrosis indexes of BMSCs group and HO-1/BMSCs group were improved, and Ishak score and stage were significantly decreased, and HO-1/BMSCs group was superior to BMSCs group. The expression of E-cadherin in HO-1/BMSCs group (0.92±0.21), (0.84±0.03) were higher than those in BMSCs group [(0.54±0.16), (0.53±0.04)] and model group [(0.49±0.06), (0.11±0.06)] both at protein and mRNA level, while protein and mRNA level of Vimentin (1.21±0.23), (3.82±0.80) were lower than that in BMSCs group [(1.32±0.17), (6.39±0.75)] and model group [(1.41±0.18), (16.94±1.30)]. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:HO-1/BMSCs can improve liver function and liver fibrosis in fibrotic rats more effectively than BMSCs alone. The mechanism was possibly through inhibiting liver epithelial mesenchymal transition.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods Forty male C57BL/J6 mice were divided into normal group,NAFLD group,low dose Tβ4 group and high dose Tβ4 group with 10 mice in each group.NAFLD mice model was established by feeding with high fat and high sugar diet for 16 weeks.The mice in low-dose Tβ4 group and high dose Tβ4 group were intraperitonealy injected with Tβ4 at 0.05 mg · kg-1 · d-1 and 0.20 mg · kg-1 · d-1,respectively,for eight weeks.The liver function indexes and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level were detected;the pathological changes of liver tissue were observed under optical microscope and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) was evaluated.The protein expression levels of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) and nuclear factor κB inhibit protein a (IκBa) at the protein level in liver tissue were measured by Western blotting method.The expression of TNF-α in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.Mean integral absorbance (MIA) was calculated.T test was performed for groups comparison.Results The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),γ-glutamine transferase (GGT) and serum TNF-α levels of high dose Tβ4 group were all lower than those of NAFLD group ((28±17) U/L vs.(76±29) U/L,(61±39) U/L vs.(102±56) U/L,(144.1± 48.2) ng/L vs.(187.3±58.8) ng/L,respectively),and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.52,2.78 and 2.30,all P＜0.05).The NAS of low dose Tβ4 group and high dose Tβ4 group were both lower than that of NAFLD group (3.7±40.4,2.3±0.3 vs.4.6±0.3),and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.69 and 17.14,both P＜0.01).The relative expression level of Tβ4 protein of NAFLD group was lower than that of normal group (0.2±0.1 vs.1.4±0.6),and the difference was statistically significant (t=6.24,P＜0.01).The relative expression levels of Tβ4 and IκBa of high dose Tβ4 group were higher than those of NAFLD group (1.0±0.3,0.5±0.3 vs.0.2±0.1),and the differences were statistically significant (t=8.00 and 3.00,both P＜0.01).The relative expression level of NF-κB p65 in liver tissue of high dose Tβ4 group was lower than that of NAFLD group (0.6±0.3 vs.1.5±0.7),and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.74,P＜0.01).The MIA of high dose Tβ4 group was lower than that of NAFLD group (0.4±0.2 vs.0.7±0.3),and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.63,P＜ 0.01).Conclusion Tβ4 can effectively treat NAFLD probably through inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on T lymphocyte subsets in cirrhotic rats.Methods:A rat model of liver cirrhosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4) in 110 rats. These rats were randomly divided into three groups, model group, BMMSCs group and HO-1/BMMSCs group, and injected with PBS, BMMSCs and HO-1/BMMSCs through dorsal penile vein, respectively. Another 10 rats were selected as control group. All rats were executed four weeks after intervention. Pathological changes in liver tissues were observed with HE and Sirius red staining. Serum albumin (ALB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were detected by biochemical analyzer. Serum hyaluronidase (HA) and collagen type Ⅳ (Ⅳ-C) were detected by ELISA. T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and spleen were detected by flow cytometry. Results:The rat model of cirrhosis was successfully established. Compared with the model group and BMMSCs group, the HO-1/BMMSCs group had significantly lower Ishak score and disease stage ( P<0.05), increased serum ALB level and CD4 + T/CD8 + T cell ratio ( P<0.05), and decreased serum ALT, HA and Ⅳ-C levels and Th17/Treg ratio ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HO-1/BMMSCs could improve liver function and liver fibrosis in cirrhotic rats more effectively than BMMSCs alone. The mechanism was possibly through regulating the immunomodulatory function of T lymphocyte subsets in cirrhotic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of differential expression genes(DEGs) on microarray chips of macrophages exposed to nano-silicon dioxide(SiO_2) dust, and to screen the leading signaling pathway of nano-SiO_2 dust exposure-related diseases. METHODS: The gene chip GSE13005 of RAW264.7 macrophage intervened by nano-SiO_2 dust was obtained from the public gene chip database developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The macrophages in the control group were cultured in complete medium without adding SiO_2 dust, whereas the macrophages in the exposure group were treated with SiO_2 dust with the final concentrations of 5, 20, and 50 mg/L. The gene expression data of macrophages was analyzed by RMA Express 1.2.0 software and R language 3.5.1. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) was used to screen DEGs and perform gene ontology(GO) enrichment analysis on related genes and signaling pathways. RESULTS: A total of 67 DEGs of macrophages were screened after SiO_2 dust treatment, of which 48 genes were up-regulated and 19 genes were down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis results showed that the main functional items of participating DEGs were reaction of amine, regulation of viral genome replication,negative regulation of amino acid transport, ovulation, bronchodilator response, chemokine activity, negative regulation of muscle cell differentiation, response to lack of amino acid, positive regulation of glomerular mesangial cell proliferation, and positive regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. KEGG signaling pathway analysis results suggested that DEGs could function through 7 signaling pathways including nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, glioma, melanoma, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, renal cell carcinoma and salmonella infection. Further functional enrichment revealed that NF-κB signaling pathway changed most significantly after macrophages were exposed to nano-SiO_2 dust. CONCLUSION: Exposure to nano-SiO_2 could induce the abnormal expression of 67 genes in macrophages. The genes that participated in macrophage activation process induced by nano-SiO_2 dust exposure are related to NF kappa B signaling pathway.

Background Macrophages are essential components of the natural immune system. They play a significant role in resisting foreign bodies in the respiratory tract and maintaining the homeostasis of the internal environment of lung tissue. Objective To investigate the mechanism of macrophage pyroptosis induced by silica dust with different particle sizes. Methods The modified murine macrophage cell line, RAW-ASC cells, was cultured and divided into a blank control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS), a nano-SiO₂ group (1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS+100 μg·mL⁻¹ nano-SiO₂), a micro-SiO₂ group (1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS+750 μg·mL⁻¹ micro-SiO₂), and a positive control group [1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS+3 mmol·L⁻¹ adenosine triphosphate (ATP)]. Apart from the blank control group, cells in other groups were pretreated with LPS for 6 h, and then exposed to SiO₂ or ATP for 4 h. According to the molecular target NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), we applied MCC950 (NLRP3 inhibitor) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, ROS scavenger) to macrophages. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability; 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining was used to detect cell proliferation; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kit was used to detect LDH in supernatant; calcein AM/PI fluorescent double-staining was applied to evaluate cell rupture; 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescent probe was used to measure the content of ROS; Western blotting was used to measure the expressions of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Results Compared with the blank group, 100 μg·mL^-1nano-SiO₂ and 750 μg·mL^-1micro-SiO₂ dust exposure reduced the cell viability to 40% and 68% (P<0.05), and the cell proliferation rate to 30% and 33% (P<0.01), respectively; they also induced cell lysis and ROS release, upregulated NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and IL-1β at protein level (P<0.05), and induced macrophage pyroptosis. After intervening with MCC950 (10 μmol·L^-1) and NAC (10 mmol·L^-1), the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and IL-1β decreased (P<0.05), and, specifically, NAC effectively reduced ROS levels (P<0.05). Conclusion Both nano- and micro-SiO₂ dust have cytotoxicity, can upregulate ROS level, activate NLRP3 inflammasome, and promote the release of cytokines, leading to pyroptosis. These results are helpful to reveal the molecular mechanism of macrophage pyroptosis induced by SiO₂ dust.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Specific gut microbiota can identify high-risk populations for colorectal cancer and may slow disease progression by regulating apoptosis， producing intestinal metabolites， and enhancing chemotherapy efficacy （reducing side effects and improving chemotherapy resistance）. Saponins represented by ginsenoside K are found widely in traditional medicines such as Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. After metabolized by gut microbiota， they play a role in preventing and treating colorectal cancer by modulating chronic inflammation， adjusting the composition of gut microbiota， generating microbial metabolites， and participating in immune regulation.

Tumor immune homeostasis is a dynamic equilibrium state in which the body removes abnormal mutated cells in time to prevent tumor development without damaging other normal cells under the surveillance of the immune system. It is an important concept to understand the process of tumor development. Programmed cell death （PCD） is a kind of regulable cell death including various forms such as apoptosis， autophagy， pyroptosis， necrosis， and ferroptosis. It is regarded as an important way for the body to remove abnormal or mutated cells. In recent years， modern research has found that PCD has a bi-directional regulatory effect on carcinogenesis and tumor development. In the early stage of tumor formation， PCD can control tumor development in time by playing a specific immune clearance role， while in the later tumorigenic stage， PCD can promote the growth and development of tumor cells by forming a tumor-specific microenvironment， resulting in carcinogenic effects. Therefore， PCD is regarded as an important way to maintain tumor immune homeostasis. Based on the idea of ''supporting the vital Qi and cultivating the root'' by professors Yu Guiqing and Piao Bingkui， the team proposed the theory of ''regulating Qi and resolving toxins'' and applied it to clinical tumor prevention and treatment. Based on the theory of ''regulating Qi and resolving toxins''， the research summarized the current progress of modern medical research on mechanisms related to PCD to explore the role of PCD in the regulation of tumor immune homeostasis. The article believed that the harmonious state of Qi movement was the basic condition for normal PCD to maintain tumor immune homeostasis， while the disorder of Qi movement and the evolution of tumor toxicity were the core processes of abnormal PCD and disorder of tumor immunity homeostasis， which led to the escape and development of tumor cells. Therefore， under the guidance of ''regulating Qi and removing toxins''， the idea of full-cycle prevention and treatment of tumors was proposed summarily. In the early stage of tumor formation， the method of ''regulating Qi movement and strengthening vital Qi'' was applied to reestablish tumor immune homeostasis and to promote the elimination of abnormal cells. In the late tumorigenic stage， the method of ''resolving toxins and dispelling evils'' was applied to reverse the specific microenvironment of tumors and inhibit the development of tumor cells， with a view to providing new theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of tumors through traditional Chinese medicine.

Tumor immune homeostasis is a dynamic equilibrium state in which the body removes abnormal mutated cells in time to prevent tumor development without damaging other normal cells under the surveillance of the immune system. It is an important concept to understand the process of tumor development. Programmed cell death （PCD） is a kind of regulable cell death including various forms such as apoptosis， autophagy， pyroptosis， necrosis， and ferroptosis. It is regarded as an important way for the body to remove abnormal or mutated cells. In recent years， modern research has found that PCD has a bi-directional regulatory effect on carcinogenesis and tumor development. In the early stage of tumor formation， PCD can control tumor development in time by playing a specific immune clearance role， while in the later tumorigenic stage， PCD can promote the growth and development of tumor cells by forming a tumor-specific microenvironment， resulting in carcinogenic effects. Therefore， PCD is regarded as an important way to maintain tumor immune homeostasis. Based on the idea of ''supporting the vital Qi and cultivating the root'' by professors Yu Guiqing and Piao Bingkui， the team proposed the theory of ''regulating Qi and resolving toxins'' and applied it to clinical tumor prevention and treatment. Based on the theory of ''regulating Qi and resolving toxins''， the research summarized the current progress of modern medical research on mechanisms related to PCD to explore the role of PCD in the regulation of tumor immune homeostasis. The article believed that the harmonious state of Qi movement was the basic condition for normal PCD to maintain tumor immune homeostasis， while the disorder of Qi movement and the evolution of tumor toxicity were the core processes of abnormal PCD and disorder of tumor immunity homeostasis， which led to the escape and development of tumor cells. Therefore， under the guidance of ''regulating Qi and removing toxins''， the idea of full-cycle prevention and treatment of tumors was proposed summarily. In the early stage of tumor formation， the method of ''regulating Qi movement and strengthening vital Qi'' was applied to reestablish tumor immune homeostasis and to promote the elimination of abnormal cells. In the late tumorigenic stage， the method of ''resolving toxins and dispelling evils'' was applied to reverse the specific microenvironment of tumors and inhibit the development of tumor cells， with a view to providing new theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of tumors through traditional Chinese medicine.