Objective To investigate the damage mechanism of typeⅡalveolar epithelial cells (AECⅡ) after hyperoxia exposure by proteomics. Methods The primary AECⅡ of preterm Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normoxia and hyperoxia groups, and cultured in room air (21% O2) or hyperoxia (95% O2) condition, respectively. The cell morphology change was observed under an inverted contrast microscope; the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected by Western Blot to ensure a successful model. Total protein in AECⅡ was collected, and mass spectrometry-based tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics were used to detect the change of protein profile. Proteins with changes greater than 1.5-fold and P < 0.05 were considered differentially expressed, and bioinformatics analysis was performed. According to the proteomic results, AECⅡ were divided into three groups:normoxia group, hyperoxia group and hyperoxia+MW167 group (γ-secretase inhibitor MW167 was added to culture medium 30 minutes before they were placed into the chamber). The cell viability was detected by the cell proliferation and toxicity kit (CCK-8), and the expressions of Hes1, Bax mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results ① The cells in the normoxia group proliferated and prolonged significantly, and the cytoplasmic particulate matter was abundant. In the hyperoxia group, nucleus pyknosis and cytoplasmic particulate matter decreased significantly. Compared with the normoxia group, the expression of caspase-3 in the hyperoxia group was significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (caspase-3/GAPDH: 1.352±0.086 vs. 0.769±0.080, Bcl-2/GAPDH: 0.614±0.060 vs. 1.361±0.078, both P < 0.01).② A total of 162 differentially expressed proteins were identified between normoxia and hyperoxia groups, the proteins up-regulated by hyperoxia were commonly associated with response processes to various stimuli, and located in the extracellular region; the proteins down-regulated by hyperoxia were commonly associated with synthesis of substances, and located in the cellular matrix. KEGG Pathway analyses suggested that metabolism by cytochrome P450, oxidative phosphorylation, and Notch signaling pathway were associated with the mechanism of hyperoxia injury on AECⅡ.③Compared with the normoxia group, the viability of cells in the hyperoxia group was significantly decreased, and the expressions of Hes1 and Bax mRNA were significantly increased [cell viability (A value): 0.060±0.003 vs. 1.058± 0.017, Hes1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 2.235±0.606 vs. 1.144±0.107, Bax mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 2.210±0.240 vs. 1.084±0.096, all P < 0.05]. Compared with the hyperoxia group, the viability of cells in the hyperoxia+MW167 group was significantly increased, and the expressions of Hes1 and Bax mRNA were significantly decreased [cell viability (A value): 0.271±0.025 vs. 0.060±0.003, Hes1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.489±0.046 vs. 2.235±0.606, Bax mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 1.289±0.041 vs. 2.210±0.240, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion The mechanism of hyperoxia injury on AECⅡ may be related to the metabolism by cytochrome P450, oxidative phosphorylation and activation of Notch signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: The data on the differences between sputum autoantibodies (Sp-Abs) and serum autoantibodies (Se-Abs) in reflection of autoimmune responses to lungs is still lacking. METHODS: Ten types of Abs were investigated in matched Se and Sp samples collected from recruited subjects. Correlations between Ab levels and airway inflammatory parameters and measures of pulmonary function were assessed. The network-based and inter-correlated analysis was performed to explore the patterns of Sp- and Se-Ab profiles. RESULTS: Fifty stable asthmatic patients and 24 healthy volunteers were recruited for our study, 15 with mild asthma, 18 with moderate asthma and 17 with severe asthma. The concentrations of Sp-Ab against U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (Sp-anti-U1-SnRNP), Sp-Ab against Smith antigen and Se-Ab against thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) in severe asthmatics and Sp-anti-U1-SnRNP in moderate asthmatics were significantly higher compared to healthy controls and mild asthmatic subjects (P < 0.05). Sp-anti-U1-SnRNP levels were positively correlated with the dose of inhaled corticosteroids, Sp eosinophil counts and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (r = 0.326, P = 0.022; r = 0.356, P = 0.012; r = 0.241, P = 0.025, respectively) and negatively correlated with Sp neutrophil counts (r = −0.308, P = 0.031) with adjustment for age. Spearman's correlation matrix showed multiple inter-correlations among Sp-Abs and Se-Abs (P < 0.05) while only the levels of Ab against DNA topoisomerase and anti-TPO in Se were correlated with those Sp-Ab counterparts (P < 0.05). The network-based analysis defined 2 clusters: clusters 1 and 2 contained 10 Sp-Abs and 10 Se-Abs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study observes that Sp-Abs are more associated with clinical parameters and the severity of disease in asthma compared to Se-Abs. Targeting on Sp-Abs which are the hallmark of the localized autoimmune event might help us better understand the role of autoimmunity in the pathological mechanism of asthma.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asthma ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmunity ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; Eosinophils ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Lung ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide ; Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear ; Sputum

Objective : To explore the mechanism of Wenyang Shengji Ointment (温阳生肌膏, WYSJO) in the treatment of diabetic wounds from the perspective of network pharmacology, and to verify it by animal experiments. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and related literature were used to screen active compounds in WYSJO and their corresponding targets. GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), DrugBank, PharmGkb, and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) databases were employed to identify the targets associated with diabetic wounds. Cytoscape 3.9.0 was used to map the active ingredients in WYSJO, which was the diabetic wound target network. Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING) platform was utilized to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) andGene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed to identify signaling pathways between WYSJO and diabetic wounds. AutoDock 1.5.6 was used for molecular docking of core components in WYSJO to their targets. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into control, model, and WYSJO groups (n = 6). The model and WYSJO groups were used to prepare the model of refractory wounds in diabetes rats. The wound healing was observed on day 0, 5, 9, and 14 after treatment, and the wound tissue morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The expression levels of core genes were detected by quantitative real-timepolymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Result: A total of 76 active compounds in WYSJO, 206 WYSJO drug targets, 3 797 diabetic wound targets, and 167 diabetic wound associated WYSJO targets were screened out through network pharmacology. With the use of WYSJO-diabetic wound target network, core targets of seven active compounds encompassing quercetin, daidzein, kaempferol, rhamnetin, rhamnocitrin, strictosamide, and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) in WYSJO were found. GO enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of diabetes wounds with WYSJO may involve lipopolysaccharide, bacteria-derived molecules, metal ions, foreign stimuli, chemical stress, nutrient level, hypoxia, and oxidative stress in the biological processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of diabetes wounds with WYSJO may involve advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE), p53, interleukin (IL)-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF),hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), apoptosis, lipid, atherosclerosis, etc. The results of animal experiments showed that WYSJO could significantly accelerate the healing process of diabetic wounds (P < 0.05), alleviate inflammatory response, promote the growth of granulation tissues, and down-regulate the expression levels of eight core genes [histone crotonyltransferase p300 (EP300), protoc gene-oncogene c-Jun (JUN), myelocytomatosis (MYC), hypoxia inducible factor 1A (HIF1A), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), specificity protein 1 (SP1), tumor protein p53 (TP53), and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)] predicted by the network pharmacology (P < 0.05). Conclusion The mechanism of WYSJO in treating diabetes wounds may be closely related to AGE-RAGE, p53, HIF-1, and other pathways. This study can provide new ideas for the pharmacological research of WYSJO, and provide a basis for its further transformation and application.