Objective:To investigate the changes of sTim-3,HMGB1 and TGF-β in the brucellosis patients and to analyse the relationship between the changes of these molecules and brucella infection. Methods:28 cases of brucellosis patient untreated and 28 healthy control cases in the age and gender matched with brucellosis cases were collected. The serum levels of sTim-3 and HMGB1 were detected by ELISA,and the levels of Spot forming cells secreting TGF-β were measured by ELISPOT in patients and healthy control group. Results: Compared with healthy controls, sTim-3/HMGB1 expression levels and Spot forming cells secreting TGF-β were significantly increased in the brucellosis patients ( P<0. 01 ) . The changes of Spot forming cells secreting TGF-β were positively correlated with the levels of HMGB1 (P<0. 05). Conclusion:The serum levels of sTim-3/HMGB1 and Spot forming cells of secreting TGF-β from peripheral blood mononuclear cell are significantly increased in the brucellosis patients. Those molecules may be involved in the process of brucella infection and may play a significant role in the immune escape of patients infected with brucella.

Objective To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA F19 (lncRNA F19) on secondary brain injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Methods (1) A total of 96 C57BL/6J male wild-type mice were divided into sham group, sham+control lentivirus group, sham+F19 lentivirus group, TBI group, TBI+control lentivirus group and TBI+F19 lentivirus group according to the random number table. Each group consisted of two subgroups of 1 day and 3 days after TBI, with eight mice per subgroup. The expression and silence efficiency of lncRNA F19 were detected. ( 2 ) A total of 96 C57BL/6J male wild-type mice were divided into sham group, TBI+control lentivirus group and TBI + F19 lentivirus group according to the random number table. Each group consisted of two subgroups of 1 day and 3 days after TBI, with 16 mice per subgroup. The effect of lncRNA F19 on neuronal apoptosis after TBI was recorded. The mice TBI model was established using the controlled cortical damage method (CCI). The lncRNA F19 lentivirus or control lentivirus were administrated by intracerebroventricular injection 5 days before injury. The expressions of lncRNA F19 ( 2 -ΔΔct ) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR ( qRT-PCR ) at 1 day and 3 days after injury. The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), B lymphocyte tumor-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 related protein (Bax) expressions were detected by Western blot. The TUNEL was used to detect apoptosis around the traumatic lesions. Results From the first day after injury, both in the sham operation and TBI groups, the control lentivirus had no effect on the level of lncRAN F19 (P >0. 05). One day after injury, compared with sham +control lentivirus group, the levels of lncRNA F19 in sham + F19 lentivirus group were significantly decreased (0. 07 ± 0. 07:0. 93 ± 0. 17);compared with TBI+control lentivirus group, levels of lncRNA F19 in TBI+F19 lentivirus group were significantly decreased (2. 91 ± 1. 18:0. 52 ± 0. 32) (P<0. 05). There were significantly lower protein levels of TLR4 (0. 51 ± 0. 13:0. 66 ± 0. 15), Bax (0. 45 ± 0. 06:0. 67 ± 0. 16), lower TUNEL-positive neurons ratio [(23. 55 ± 6. 85)％ : (31. 58 ± 7. 52)％], but higher protein levels of Bcl-2 (0. 76 ± 0. 16:0. 47 ± 0. 12) in TBI+F19 lentivirus group compared with the TBI+ control lentivirus group (P <0.05). Three days after injury, compared with sham + control lentivirus group, levels of lncRNA F19 in sham+F19 lentivirus group were significantly decreased (0. 11 ± 0. 09:0. 96 ± 0. 09); compared with TBI+control lentivirus group, levels of lncRNA F19 in TBI+F19 lentivirus group were significantly decreased (0. 54 ± 0. 24:3. 39 ± 0. 90) (P <0. 05). There were significantly lower protein levels of TLR4 (0. 60 ± 0. 20):(0. 85 ± 0. 09)], lower Bax (0. 60 ± 0. 12:0. 88 ±0. 21), lower TUNEL-positive neurons ratio [(29. 10 ± 7. 37)％ :(39. 22 ± 10. 64)％], but higher protein levels of Bcl-2 (0. 66 ± 0. 12:0. 35 ± 0. 16) in TBI+F19 lentivirus group compared with the TBI+control lentivirus group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Inhibition of lncRNA F19 can significantly reduce the TLR4-induced neuronal apoptosis in cortex after TBI in mice and alleviate reduce the secondary brain injury.

Objective To investigate the effect ofolipoprotein E (ApoE) mimetic peptide on neural apoptosis and autophagy and their mechanisms in mice after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods A total of 40 health adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,TBI+normal saline (NS) group,TBI+COG1410 (1 mg) group and TBI+COG1410 (2 mg) group (n=10).The TBI models of moderate mice were constructed by controlled cortex impact (CCI) devices in the later three groups and mice in the sham-operated group were performed bone window operning only.Thirty min after model making,COG1410 treatment was given by intravenous injection of COGl410 via the tail vein at a dose of 1 mg/kg.d or 2 mg/kg.d.Mice in sham-operated group and TBI+NS group were injected with equal sterile NS instead.Neurological functions were tested 3 d after TBI by rolling-bar test and modified neurological severity scale (mNSS).Neural apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL and autophagy protein LC3 expression in the neurons of cortex around the lesion focus was detected by immunofluorescence.Western blotting was employed to detect the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax,Bcl-2 and Caspase-3) and autophagy proteins (Beclin-1,LC3-Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ),and changes of Akt,mTOR,phosphorylated-(p-) Akt,p-mTOR levels.Results As compared with those in the sham-operated group,significantly shortened rotarod latency,significantly increased mNSS scores,significantly increased Bax and Caspase-3 protein expressions,significantly decreased Bcl-2,significantly increased Beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ protein expressions and number of TUNEL postive neurons,and statistically increased p-Akt and p-mTOR levels in the TBI+NS group were noted (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the TBI+NS group,significantly increased rotarod latency,significantly decreased mNSS scores,significantly decreased Bax and Caspase-3 protein expressions,significantly increased Bcl-2,significantly decreased Beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ protein expressions and number of TUNEL postive neurons,and statistically increased p-Akt and p-mTOR levels in the TBI+COG1410 (1 mg) group and TBI+COG 1410 (2 mg) group were noted (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the TBI+COG 1410 (1 mg) group,significantly increased rotarod latency,significantly decreased mNSS scores,significantly decreased Bax and Caspase-3 protein expressions,significantly increased Bcl-2 expression,significantly decreased Beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ protein expressions and number of TUNEL postive neurons,and statistically increased p-Akt and p-mTOR levels in the TBI+COG1410 (2 mg) group were noted (P＜0.05).Conclusion ApoE peptide is effective in reducing the excessive neuronal apoptosis and neurological dysfunctions caused by excessive neuronal autophagy after TBI,which is associated with the modulation of Akt/mTOR related pathway.

Objective To explore the altered expression of circular RNA (circRNA) and mRNA in the mouse cortex in the early phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and possible biological functions of the circRNA in early brain injury (EBI).Methods A total of 18 C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into a sham and a SAH group (n=9).SAH models were prepared by endovascular perforation.Total RNAs of brain samples were extracted to construct the cDNA library 24 h after operation.RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was carried out by HiSeqTM 2500 User Guide and followed by RT-qPCR for confirmation.Reads were aligned to the mouse transcriptome to obtain expression profiles ofcircRNA and mRNA.Bioinformatic study included GO analysis,KEGG pathway analysis and forecast of targeted miRNA of circRNA.Results A total of 26 circRNA (6 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated) and 804 mRNA (396 up-regulated and 408 down-regulated) were significantly changed.These altered mRNA were mainly related to regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity,inflammatory and immune response.Bioinformatics showed that some significantly altered circRNA contained binding sites for many miRNA.The RT-qPCR analysis of 4 randomly selected circRNA (circFoxj3,circSetbp1,circArpp21 and circ2010111 I01Rik) confirmed the accuracy of RNA-seq.Conclusions SAH alters the expression of circRNA in mouse cortex and the differentially expressed circRNA may be involved in regulation of EBI following SAH,promising a potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of SAH.

Objective To investigate the effect ofbiglycan (BGN) on neural apoptosis in mice with early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods SAH models were induced by endovascular perforation in young male C57BL/6J mice.(1) Totally,48 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,SAH 6 h group,SAH 12 h group,SAH 24 h group,SAH 48 h group,and SAH 72 h group (n=8);the BGN protein and mRNA expressions were detected by Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR).(2) Totally,16 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group and SAH 48 h group (n=8);immunofluorescent double staining was conducted to explore the BGN expression in the neurons of brain tissues.(3) Totally,24 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,sham+control lentivirus group,and sham+BGN lentivirus group (n=8);BGN lentiviral vector and control lentivirus were administered intracerebroventricularly 7 d before sham-operation;qRT-PCR was performed to explore the BGN mRNA expression.(4) Totally,48 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,SAH+control lentivirus group,and SAH+BGN lentivirus group (n=16);BGN lentiviral vector and control lentivirus were administered intracerebroventricularly 7 d before SAH;neurological scores were detected by modified Garcia scale and beam balance tests;TUNEL was used to detect the neuronal apoptosis,and Western blotting was performed to explore the expressions of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) and phosphorylated-(p-) NF-κB.Results (1) Mice in the SAH 48 h group had the highest BGN protein and mRNA expressions,which showed statistical differences as compared with the sham-operated group (P＜0.05).(2) A majority of BGN expressions were detected in the neurons 48 h after SAH.(3) The sham+BGN lentivirus group had statistically lower BGN mRNA expression than the sham+control lentivirus group (P＜0.05).(4) As compared with those in the SAH+control lentivirus group,both scores of modified Garcia scale and beam balance tests were significantly higher in SAH+BGN lentivirus group (6.125±1.246 vs.13.000±1.309;1.125±1.126 vs.2.875±0.835),and neural apoptosis ratio and ratio of p-NF-κB/NF-κB were significantly lower in the SAH+BGN lentivirus group (51.950％±11.166％ vs.31.938％±7.705％;1.161±0.156 vs.0.886±0.142,P＜0.05).Conclusion Inhibition of BGN can effectively reduce neuronal apoptosis in mice with EBI after SAH,and attenuate neurological deficits.