Objective:To preliminarily investigate the effect of circIGF2BP3 on autophagy in photoaged dermal fibroblasts.Methods:Human dermal fibroblasts were isolated from circumcised foreskin tissues from 6 children in the Department of Urological Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. An ultraviolet A (UVA) -induced photoaged human dermal fibroblast model (UVA radiation group) was established by repeated UVA radiation at a dose of 10 J/cm 2 for 14 consecutive days, and human dermal fibroblasts receiving no treatment served as control group. The photoaged cell model was verified by β-galactosidase staining, Western blot analysis for determining P21 protein expression, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay for evaluating cell viability. Moreover, Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression of autophagy-related proteins P62, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅰand LC3-Ⅱ in photoaged human dermal fibroblasts, and real-time quantitative RCR (qRT-PCR) to verify the differential expression of circIGF2BP3 between photoaged and normal human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, circIGF2BP3 was biologically annotated. Some cultured primary human dermal fibroblasts were divided into 4 groups: empty vector group transfected with an empty vector, UVA + empty vector group transfected with an empty vector followed by repeated UVA radiation, circIGF2BP3 group transfected with a circIGF2BP3-overexpressing lentiviral vector, UVA + circIGF2BP3 group transfected with a circIGF2BP3-overexpressing lentiviral vector followed by repeated UVA radiation. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of autophagy-related proteins. Statistical analysis was carried out by using t test, one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:Compared with the control group, the UVA radiation group showed significantly increased proportions of β-galactosidase-positive cells (61.33% ± 5.78% vs. 6.37% ± 0.32%, t = 9.49, P < 0.01) and P21 expression (1.25 ± 0.03 vs. 1.00 ± 0.05, t = 4.26, P < 0.05), but significantly decreased cell viability (74.33% ± 3.48% vs. 100%, t = 7.38, P < 0.01). Moreover, the P62 expression and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were significantly higher in the UVA radiation group than in the control group (both P < 0.05). The relative expression of circIGF2BP3 was 0.72 ± 0.04 in the photoaged human dermal fibroblasts, which was significantly lower than that in the normal human dermal fibroblasts (1.00 ± 0.03, t = 5.46, P < 0.01). The P62 expression and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were significantly lower in the circIGF2BP3 group (0.60 ± 0.01, 0.71 ± 0.01, respectively) than in the empty vector group (1.00 ± 0.02, 1.00 ± 0.01, t = 16.25, 2.75, P < 0.01, < 0.05, respectively), and lower in the UVA + circIGF2BP3 group (1.05 ± 0.02, 2.04 ± 0.05, respectively) than in the UVA + empty vector group (1.31 ± 0.02, 2.72 ± 0.14, t = 10.493, 6.472, respectively, both P < 0.01) . Conclusion:circIGF2BP3 can regulate autophagy in UVA-induced photoaged dermal fibroblasts, which provides a new potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Di'ao Xinxuekang(hereinafter referred to as Xinxuekang)combined with Simvastatin on atherosclerosis(AS)mice.Methods Eight C57BL/6J mice were used as control group,and 32 ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into model group,Xinxuekang group(160 mg·kg-1),Simvastatin group(1.3 mg·kg-1)and combined treatment group(Xinxuekang 160 mg·kg-1+Simvastatin 1.3 mg·kg-1),with eight mice in each group.The control group was fed with conventional diet,and the other four groups were fed with high-fat diet.At the same time,each administration group was given intragastric administration according to the above dose,and the volume of intragastric administration was 10 mL·kg-1,once a day for 18 weeks.After administration,the levels of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected.Oil red O staining was used to observe the formation of aortic plaque and liver lipid accumulation in mice.Serum PCSK9 level was detected by ELISA.The mRNA and protein expression levels of LDLR,HNF1α and SREBP2 in liver tissues were detected by qRT-PCR and Western Blot.Results(1)Compared with the control group,the levels of serum TC,TG and LDL-C in the model group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the level of HDL-C was significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The percentage of aortic root plaque area,the percentage of total aortic plaque area and the percentage of liver lipid droplet area were significantly increased(P＜0.01).The mRNA and protein expression levels of LDLR in liver tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the serum PCSK9 level was significantly increased(P＜0.01).The mRNA and protein expression levels of HNF1α and SREBP2 in liver tissues were significantly increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).(2)Compared with the model group,the levels of serum TC,TG and LDL-C in the Xinxuekang group and the combined treatment group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the level of HDL-C was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The level of serum LDL-C in Simvastatin group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The percentage of aortic root plaque area and the percentage of total aortic plaque area in the Xinxuekang group and the combined treatment group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the percentage of liver lipid droplet area in each administration group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The protein expression level of LDLR in liver tissue of mice in Xinxuekang group and combined treatment group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the serum PCSK9 level was significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the mRNA and protein expression levels of HNF1 α and SREBP2 in liver tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).(3)Compared with the Simvastatin group,the serum HDL-C level in the combined treatment group was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The percentage of aortic root plaque area and the percentage of liver lipid droplet area were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The protein expression level of LDLR in liver tissue was significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the serum PCSK9 level was significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The expression levels of HNF1α protein and SREBP2 mRNA in liver tissues were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Xinxuekang may play a synergistic effect on lipid-lowering and anti-AS effects of Simvastatin by inhibiting the expressions of SREBP2 and HNF1α and regulating the PCSK9/LDLR signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the deproteinization process of Isatidis Radix polysaccharides and further explore its immu-nomodulatory activity,and to provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of it.METHODS The optimum conditions of enzymatic deproteinization were optimized by a single factor combined with the Box-Behnken response surface method.The chemical composition and structural characteristics of deproteinized Isatidis Radix polysaccharides were analyzed by UV-visible spectrum,Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy,high-performance gel permeation chromatography,high-performance liquid chromatography and scan-ning electron microscopy.The effects of deproteinized Isatidis Radix Polysaccharide on neutrophils,macrophages,IL-1β and IL-6 in zebrafish were investigated by using a zebrafish immunocompromised model.RESULTS The optimal enzymatic deproteinization process was as follows:trypsin 500 U·mL-1,pH 8.0,enzymatic hydrolysis time 5 h,enzymatic hydrolysis temperature 37℃.The deproteinization rate was(86.39±0.07)%,and the comprehensive score was(91.15±0.37)%.Ultraviolet,infrared spectroscopy scanning and scanning electron microscopy showed that the protein contained in the crude polysaccharide could be removed by enzymat-ic method.The relative molecular weight of the polysaccharides were between 5.82 and 60.26 kDa.The monosaccharide mole compo-sition was mannose ∶ rhamnose ∶ galacturonic acid ∶ glucose ∶ galactose ∶ arabinose=2.17 ∶ 0.96 ∶ 2.90 ∶ 83.25 ∶ 4.88 ∶ 5.84.The results of immune activity evaluation showed that when the concentration of deproteinized Radix Isatidis polysaccharides was 50～300 μg·mL-1,it could significantly increase the density of zebrafish immune cells,increase the number of macrophages,and reduce the content of IL-1β and IL-6 in immunocompromised zebrafish,thus exerting immunomodulatory effects.CONCLUAION The enzy-matic method can effectively remove the proteins contained in the crude polysaccharides of Isatidis Radix,and the deproteinized Isatidis Radix polysaccharides have certain immunomodulatory effects.