OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and mechanism of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase/stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS/STING) pathway in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. METHODS: Male wild-type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups (each n = 10): normal control group, ALI model group, and 5, 50, 500 μg/kg inhibitor pretreatment groups. The ALI model was established by tail vein injection of oleic acid (7 mL/kg), while the normal control group received no intervention. The inhibitor pretreatment groups were intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding doses of cGAS inhibitor RU.521 respectively 1 hour before modeling. At 24 hours post-modeling, blood was collected, and mice were sacrificed. Lung tissue pathological changes were observed under light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and pathological scores were assessed. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, phosphorylated TANK-binding kinase 1 (p-TBK1), phosphorylated interferon regulatory factor 3 (p-IRF3), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe STING and p-NF-κB positive expressions in lung tissue. Serum interferon-β (IFN-β) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the ALI model group exhibited significant focal alveolar thickening, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary capillary congestion, and neutrophil infiltration in the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli, along with markedly increased pathological scores (10.33±0.58 vs. 1.33±0.58, P < 0.05). Protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3, and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue significantly increased [cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 1.24±0.02 vs. 0.56±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 1.27±0.01 vs. 0.55±0.01, p-TBK1 protin (p-TBK1/β-actin): 1.34±0.03 vs. 0.22±0.01, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 1.23±0.02 vs. 0.36±0.01, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 1.30±0.02 vs. 0.53±0.02, all P < 0.05], positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly elevated [STING (A value): 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.30±0.07, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.57±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.03, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also significantly higher (ng/L: 256.02±3.84 vs. 64.15±1.17, P < 0.05). The cGAS inhibitor pretreatment groups showed restored alveolar structural integrity, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased hemorrhage area, along with dose-dependent lower pathological scores as well as the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3 and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue, with significant differences between the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group and ALI model group [pathological score: 2.67±0.58 vs. 10.33±0.58, cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 0.56±0.03 vs. 1.24±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 0.67±0.03 vs. 1.27±0.01, p-TBK1 protein (p-TBK1/β-actin): 0.28±0.01 vs. 1.34±0.03, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 0.32±0.01 vs. 1.23±0.02, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 0.63±0.01 vs. 1.30±0.02, all P < 0.05]. Compared with the ALI model group, positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly reduced in the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group [STING (A value): 0.40±0.01 vs. 0.51±0.03, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.43±0.02 vs. 0.57±0.05, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also markedly reduced (ng/L: 150.03±6.19 vs. 256.02±3.84, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The cGAS/STING pathway is activated in oleic acid-induced ALI, leading to exacerbated inflammatory responses and increased lung damage. RU.521 can inhibit cGAS, thereby down-regulating the expression of pathway proteins and cytokines, and providing protection to lung tissue.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Male ; Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Oleic Acid/adverse effects* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective:To investigate the influence of glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) on prognosis and tumor cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The experimental study and retrospective cohort study were conducted. Based on hepatocellular carcinoma tissue chip, in vitro culture of Huh7 and Hep3B hepatoma cells and LO2 normal hepatic cell, and combined with immunohistochemical staining, cell transfection, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot detection, cell proliferation experiments, cell clone formation experiments and high-throughput transcription histological analysis, the GRP78 expression in hepatoma cells was analyzed. Huh7 and Hep3B hepatoma cells being transfected with the GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses or the negative control shRNA lentivirus were set as the GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentivirus group and the negative control shRNA lentivirus group respectively. Observation indicators: (1) GRP78 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissue and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients; (2) analysis of factors affecting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients; (3) effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the proliferation of hepatoma cells; (4) effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells; (5) effects of HA15 on the proliferation and the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells. Measurement data of the normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison of groups was conducted using the t test or ANOVA. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using repeated ANOVA. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparisons between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. COX proportional hazards regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival time and draw survival curve, and the Log-rank test was used for generative analysis. Results:(1) GRP78 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissue and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: results of immunohistochemical staining of hepatocellular carcinoma tissue chip showed that GRP78 was low-expressed in 53 cases and high-expressed in 37 cases of the 90 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. GRP78 was low-expressed in 84 cases and high-expressed in 6 cases of the 90 paracancerous tissues. There was a significant difference in GRP78 expression between hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues ( P<0.05). (2) Analysis of factors affecting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: all 90 patients were followed up for 5 to 56 months, with a median follow-up time of 49 months. The median overall survival time and median disease progression-free survival time were 56 months and 53 months in the 53 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with GRP78 as low-expressed, versus 32 months and 19 months in the 37 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with GRP78 as high-expressed, respec-tively, showing significant differences ( χ2=17.482, 12.097, P<0.05). Results of univariate analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor pathological grading and GRP78 expression were related factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate and disease progression-free survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients ( hazard ratio=2.317, 2.039, 3.740 and 2.194, 2.177, 2.927, 95% confidence interval as 1.150?4.671, 1.201?3.462, 2.116?6.612 and 1.048?4.593, 1.093?4.336, 1.492?5.742, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that ALT >40 U/L, tumor pathological grading as Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade and GRP78 as high-expressed were independent risk factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate and disease progression-free survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients ( hazard ratio=2.438, 2.245, 3.223 and 3.046, 2.473, 3.307, 95% confidence interval as 1.114?5.334, 1.047?4.814, 1.396?7.440 and 1.337?6.940, 1.141?5.360, 1.399?7.819, P<0.05). (3) Effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the proliferation of hepatoma cells: ①results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78 messenger RNA (mRNA) in Huh7, Hep3B, and LO2 cells were 3.06±0.33, 4.42±0.60 and 1.00±0.02. There were significant differences in GRP78 mRNA expression between Huh7 and LO2 cells or Hep3B and LO2 cells ( t=6.19, 5.42, P<0.05). ②Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78 protein in Huh7, Hep3B, and LO2 cells were 1.65±0.01, 1.77±0.01 and 0.99±0.02. There were significant differences in GRP78 protein expression between Huh7 and LO2 cells or Hep3B and LO2 cells ( t=75.09, 108.10, P<0.05). ③Results of cell proliferation experiments showed that the growth rates in Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 111.51%±0.35%, 144.85%±0.68%, 188.71%±3.62%, 282.51%±5.25% and 190.08%±0.58%, 285.76%±2.69%, 459.51%±4.29%, 597.88%±12.25%, showing signifi-cant differences ( Fgroups=1 360.000, Ftime=668.500, Finteraction=197.600, P<0.05). The growth rates in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 124.47%±0.25%, 153.25%±1.25%, 195.45%±3.19%, 282.51%±10.76% and 179.69%±0.33%, 322.67%±2.46%, 486.27%±5.82%, 622.35%±12.58%, showing significant differences ( Fgroups=1 222.000, Ftime=706.200, Finteraction=179.600, P<0.05). ④Results of the cell clone formation experiments showed that the number of cells in Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells were 125±3 and 435±17, showing a significant difference ( t=17.86, P<0.05). The number of cells in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells were 138±3 and 388±7, showing a significant difference ( t=32.29, P<0.05). (4) Effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells: results of high-throughput transcription histological analysis showed that the relative expression rates of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 were 19%, 334%, 398%, 41% and 49% in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells comparing to the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells. ①Results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.17±0.03, 4.05±0.71, 3.73±0.47, 0.49±0.09, 0.48±0.06, 0.36±0.07 in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.00±0.05, 1.03±0.17, 1.00±0.07, 1.01±0.09, 1.02±0.14, 1.00±0.03 in the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=14.62, 4.17, 5.72, 4.26, 3.49, 8.82, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.11±0.01, 4.28±0.43, 4.19±0.22, 0.44±0.01, 0.25±0.03, 0.68±0.04 in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.01±0.09, 1.02±0.15, 1.00±0.06, 1.01±0.09, 1.01±0.08, 1.15±0.02 in Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.19, 7.14, 13.79, 6.37, 9.42, 9.61, P<0.05). ②Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.45±0.01, 1.98±0.05, 2.31±0.12, 0.75±0.03, 0.69±0.04, 0.82±0.03 in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.01±0.05, 1.03±0.01, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.01, 1.01±0.02, 1.00±0.03 in the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=11.07, 14.56, 11.30, 11.29, 10.55, 11.37, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.61±0.03, 1.98±0.16, 2.55±0.12, 0.85±0.03, 0.78±0.01, 0.54±0.02 in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.00±0.03, 1.05±0.02, 1.05±0.01, 1.05±0.02, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.02 in Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.97, 13.40, 12.35, 11.06, 12.45, 13.78, P<0.05). (5) Effects of HA15 on the proliferation and the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells: results of 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) test of HA15 showed that the IC50 of HA15 for Huh7 and Hep3B cells at 48 hours were 9.98 μmol/L and 13.70 μmol/L. ①Huh7 and Hep3B cells were treated with 9.98 μmol/L and 13.70 μmol/L of HA15. Results of cell proliferation experiments showed that the growth rates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were 112.81%±0.27%, 154.71%±1.45%, 237.66%±16.77%, 294.40%±14.92% in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 133.67%±0.49%, 352.93%±2.31%, 557.17%±4.89%, 662.60%±13.31% in the normal Huh7 cells, showing a significant difference ( Fgroups=766.800, Ftime=518.200, Finteraction=133.300, P<0.05). The growth rates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were 121.27%±2.32%, 203.85%±3.18%, 240.80%±3.02%, 286.50%±7.10% in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 239.14%±1.02%, 362.00%±5.44%, 539.37%±10.80%, 694.79%±17.13% in the normal Hep3B cells, showing a signifi-cant difference ( Fgroups=594.300, Ftime=317.900, Finteraction=78.600, P<0.05). ②Results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.27±0.05, 3.64±0.28, 4.13±0.41, 0.51±0.07, 0.39±0.03, 0.17±0.02 in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 1.02±0.14, 1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.05, 1.01±0.08, 1.01±0.09, 1.03±0.17 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=5.00, 9.25, 7.63, 4.73, 6.82, 5.01, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.28±0.03, 3.49±0.78, 4.31±0.53, 0.38±0.05, 0.36±0.04, 0.24±0.03 in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 1.01±0.11, 1.03±0.18, 1.01±0.08, 1.00±0.06, 1.02±0.15, 1.00±0.06 in the normal Hep3B cells, showing significant differences ( t=6.26, 3.08, 6.21, 7.97, 4.26, 11.08, P<0.05). ③Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.52±0.05, 1.94±0.08, 1.58±0.02, 0.89±0.00, 0.86±0.02, 0.74±0.01 in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 1.02±0.03, 1.00±0.03, 1.02±0.02, 1.04±0.03, 1.00±0.01, 1.01±0.02 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=11.54, 10.28, 11.03, 12.81, 13.67, 10.09, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.57±0.02, 1.67±0.04, 1.41±0.04, 0.82±0.03, 0.70±0.02, 0.74±0.01 in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 1.03±0.01, 0.98±0.03, 1.00±0.03, 1.03±0.03, 1.01±0.01, 1.04±0.01 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.81, 11.54, 12.26, 13.62, 14.23, 10.17, P<0.05). Conclusions:High expression of GRP78 is an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival and disease progression-free survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Inhibiting of GRP78 expression can reduce cell proliferation and the expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA and proteins in hepatoma cells.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of tenofovir combined with polyethylene glycol interferon α2a injection in the treatment of drug resistance patients with chronic hepatitis.Methods Seventy-six patients with drug-resistant chronic hepatitis were divided into control group and treatment group,38 cases in each group.Control group was treated with tenofovir 300 mg,qd,orally.Treatment group was treated with pegylated interferon α2a injection 180 μg on the basis of control group,1 time per week,subcutaneous injection.All patients were treated for 48 weeks.Clinical effect,serum hepatitis B virus deoxyri bonucleic acid (HBV-DNA),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),HBV-DNA negative rate and adverse drug reactions in two group were evaluated.Results After treatment,the total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 86.84％ (33 cases/38 cases) and 65.79％ (25 cases/ 38 cases),the HBV-DNA overcast rates were 73.68％ (28 cases/38 cases) and 50.00％ (19 cases/38 cases),with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The serum HBV DNA in treatment group and control group were (2.98 ± 0.35) and(4.13 ± 0.43) log10 copies · mL-1,ALT were (38.97 ± 8.44) and (58.51 ± 8.15) U · L-1,AST were (39.13 ±4.21) and (50.62 ±6.45) U · L-1,with significant difference (P ＜0.05).There were 3 cases of dizziness,5 cases of gastrointestinal reaction in control group,and were 4 cases of abnormal blood system,3 cases of gastrointestinal tract reaction,3 cases of skin abnormalities in treatment group.The incidence of adverse drug reactions in control group and treatment group were 21.05％ (8 cases/38 cases) and 26.32％ (10 cases/38 cases),with no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The clinial effect of tenofovir combined with polyethylene glycol interferon α2a injection in the treatment of drug resistance patients with chronic hepatitis is better than tenofovir alone,and can reduce the serum HBV-DNA,ALT,AST.

Objective To evaluate the optimal selection of 8-channel NV Array-related coil(NV Array-A)in neonatal head MRI exam-ination.Methods A total of 84 newborn infants were divided into two groups with 42 cases in each group, and they were examined by 8-channel NV Head-A coil and NV Array-A coil respectively.The same scan parameters were used to obtain transversal T 1-weighted, T2-weighted,T2 Flair,diffusion-weighted imaging and sagittal T1 weighted imaging and other images.Compared and analyzed the image quality of the two groups,including image signal to noise ratio,uniform image signal and coil artifacts.Results In the 8-channel NV Head-A coil group,the image signal to noise ratio was 83.3%,the rate of uniform image signal was 33.3%,and the rate of clear image without coil artifacts was 81.0%.The corresponding data in the 8-channel NV Array-A coil group were 97.6%,4.8%,and 100%respectively.Examina-tion with NV Array-A coil could improve the image signal to noise ratio and reduce the rate of uniform image signal and coil artifacts.And there were statistically significant difference in the rate of uniform image signal and coil artifacts between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclu-sion The effect of NV Array-A coil scanning image in neonatal brain MRI is superior to that of NV Head-A coil,and the uniform image sig-nal and coil artifacts can be obviously reduced.NV Array-A coil is more suitable for neonatal brain MRI examination.