Objective:To evaluate regulatory effects of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and human papillomavirus type 2 (HPV2) E2 protein on the differentiation of an immortalized human keratinocyte line HaCaT and a normal human epidermal keratinocyte line NHEK.Methods:In both HaCaT and NHEK cells, HPV2 E2-stably transfected cell lines (HPV2 E2-transfected groups) were established by using the lentivirus transfection method, wide-type FGFR3-overexpressing cells (FGFR3-WT transfected groups) and FGFR3-K650E mutant-overexpressing cells (FGFR3-K650E transfected groups) were constructed by using the plasmid transfection method, and cells transfected with blank vectors served as control groups (blank vector control groups). Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of HPV2 E2, and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of HPV2 E2, FGFR3, and keratinocyte differentiation markers including loricrin, filaggrin, as well as involucrin. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was conducted to observe the spatial localization of HPV2 E2 and FGFR3 in HaCaT cells. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-independent-sample t test for the comparison between two groups, one-way analysis of variance for the comparison among multiple groups, and Dunnett t-test for multiple comparisons. Results:The HPV2 E2-stably transfected cell lines were successfully constructed, and the expression of HPV2 E2 FLAG protein was significantly higher in the HPV2 E2-transfected groups than in the blank vector control groups in both HaCaT and NHEK cells ( t = 13.71, 25.91, respectively, both P < 0.001) ; both FGFR3-WT and FGFR3-K650E were successfully overexpressed in both HaCaT and NHEK cells, and the FGFR3 protein expression was significantly higher in the FGFR3-WT transfected groups and the FGFR3-K650E transfected groups than in the blank vector control groups ( F = 473.90, 579.90, respectively, both P < 0.001). In both HaCaT and NHEK cells, the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers including loricrin, filaggrin, and involucrin was significantly upregulated in the HPV2 E2-transfected groups, the FGFR3-WT transfected groups, and the FGFR3-K650E transfected groups than in the blank vector control groups (all P < 0.05). In the HPV2 E2-stably transfected HaCaT and NHEK cells, the expression of loricrin, filaggrin, and involucrin was significantly down-regulated in the HPV2 E2 + FGFR3-WT transfected groups and the HPV2 E2 + FGFR3-K650E transfected groups than in the HPV2 E2 + blank vector groups (all P < 0.05). Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed the spatial co-localization of HPV2 E2 and FGFR3 in the nuclear membrane and cytoplasm of HaCaT cells. Conclusion:HPV2 E2 and FGFR3 could both induce the differentiation of HaCaT and NHEK cells, while FGFR3 could inhibit HPV2 E2-induced differentiation trend of HaCaT and NHEK cells, which may be related to the cellular spatial co-localization of HPV2 E2 and FGFR3.

OBJECTIVE To screen the potential drug targets and signaling pathways of Acanthopanax senticosus for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease(AD) by bioinformatics and network pharmacology-based approach, and to preliminarily validate its efficacy. METHODS The ingredients of Acanthopanax senticosus were obtained through literature, the ingredients were screened by Swiss ADME, and potential targets were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. AD’s differentially expressed genes were screened from the GSE28146 dataset. The target of Acanthopanax senticosus and AD target were mapped to construct a “drug-ingredients-potential target-disease” network and protein-protein interaction network. The DAVID database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Autodock software was used to verify the molecular docking between key active ingredients and core targets. AD mice model was induced by D-galactose combined with aluminum chloride. Morris water maze test was performed to examine the learning memory ability of each group of mice and to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus of mice. RESULTS Screened to obtain 24 active components and 74 potential targets of Acanthopanax senticosus for the treatment of AD. “Drug-ingredients-potential target-disease” network indicated that quercetin and kaempferol were the main components of Acanthopanax senticosus for the treatment of AD, and the protein-protein interaction network indicated that STAT3, MAPK1 and PIK3CA were the key targets. Obtained 366 GO enrichment entries(P<0.01) and 109 KEGG enrichment pathways(P<0.01). It mainly involved PI3K-AKT, AGE-RAGE, TNF and other pathways. The molecular docking results showed that the main active ingredients of Acanthopanax senticosus were able to bind well to the main targets. The in vivo pharmacological results showed that Acanthopanax senticosus could significantly improve the learning and memory ability of mice, reduce hippocampal tissue damage, and decrease the content of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in hippocampal tissue. CONCLUSION Acanthopanax senticosus may exert anti-AD effects by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and reducing inflammatory damage.

Objective: To analyze the microvessel density (MVD) and lymph node metastasis in the papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with punctate or sheet calcification. Methods: Fifty PTC patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from May 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All of the 50 PTC patients were divided into punctate calcification group (38 cases) and sheet calcification group (12 cases) according to the different features of pathological calcification in microscope examination. For the two groups, the central and peripheral zone MVD and the lymph node metastasis of each PTC nodule were compared. Results: For PTC nodules of punctate calcification group, the mean central and peripheral zone MVD were (51±7)/HP and (64±8)/HP, respectively. For those of sheet calcification group, which were (35±5)/HP and (49±6)/HP, respectively. The mean MVD in both central and peripheral zone of PTC nodules of punctate calcification group were significantly higher than those of the sheet calcification group (t values were 10.183 and 12.406, both P < 0.05). The neck Ⅵ area lymph node metastasis rates of the punctate and sheet calcification groups were 42.1% (16/38) and 8.3% (1/12), respectively. The lymph node metastasis rate of the punctate calcification group was significantly higher than that of the sheet calcification group (χ ² = 4.635, P < 0.05). Conclusion PTC nodules with different type of pathological calcification may have different invasion and metastasis, and PTC with punctate calcification is more likely to undergo local metastasis than PTC with sheet calcification.

Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19