Objective:To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) on modulating the subunit Kir6.2 of adenosine triphosphate sensitive potassium channels via the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (cGMP/PKG) signaling pathway in epileptic rat models. Methods:Sixty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the following six groups (10 rats in each group) by random number table method: control, epileptic, H 2S donor, H 2S donor+epileptic, KT5823 (one inhibitor of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase)+H 2S donor+epileptic, and glibenclamide (one inhibitor of the adenosine triphosphate sensitive potassium channels)+H 2S donor+epileptic groups. Except the control group, SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with plentylenetetrazole to make the kindling models and their behaviours were recorded including the latency period, the grade, and the duration of the first epileptic seizure according to the Racine′s standard. The waveforms of electroencephalogram (EEG) in hippocampus were also recorded during the seizure. The mRNA and protein levels of PKG and Kir6.2 in hippocampus were evaluated by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the hippocampal concentrations of cGMP and phosphorylation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (p-PKG) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Rats in the epileptic group showed Ⅳ-Ⅴ grade of epileptic seizure [4.500 (4.000, 4.875)], short latency period [(10.37±8.21) min] but long duration [(69.50±24.37) s] of seizure. Compared to the epileptic group, rats in the H 2S donor group showed Ⅱ-Ⅲ grade of epileptic seizure ( P=0.004), significantly longer latency period ( P<0.001), and shorter duration of seizure ( P<0.001). Compared to the H 2S donor+epileptic group, rats in the KT5823+H 2S donor+epileptic group showed Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade of epileptic seizures, significantly shorter latency period ( P<0.001), and longer duration of seizure ( P<0.001). The results of EEG showed that the wave patterns in the epileptic group were spike or sharp waves and the amplitudes were largest [(190.570±23.590) μV]. Compared with the epileptic group, amplitudes were reduced ( P<0.001) in the H 2S donor+epileptic group. PKG mRNA and PKG protein were expressed differently among all groups (PKG mRNA: n=5, H=26.714, P<0.001; PKG protein: n=5, F=30.597, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression of both PKG mRNA and PKG protein was decreased (PKG mRNA: 1.000±0.001 vs 0.782±0.064, P=0.023; PKG protein: 0.550±0.037 vs 0.145±0.020, P=0.042) in the epileptic group. Besides, Kir6.2 mRNA and Kir6.2 protein were expressed differently among all groups (Kir6.2 mRNA: n=5, H=27.761, P<0.001; Kir6.2 protein: n=5, F=60.659, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression of both Kir6.2 mRNA and Kir6.2 protein was decreased (Kir6.2 mRNA: 1.000±0.001 vs 0.897±0.033, P=0.004; Kir6.2 protein: 0.384±0.035 vs 0.215±0.016, P=0.024) in the epileptic group. And the concentrations of cGMP and p-PKG were decreased (cGMP: P<0.001; p-PKG: P<0.001) in the epileptic group. The results in the H 2S donor+epileptic group were up-regulated (PKG mRNA: P=0.047; PKG protein: P<0.001; Kir6.2 mRNA: P=0.011; Kir6.2 protein: P<0.001; cGMP: P<0.001; p-PKG: P<0.001) compared with the epileptic group. However, the results in the KT5823+H 2S donor+epileptic group were down-regulated (PKG mRNA: P=0.015; PKG protein: P=0.027; Kir6.2 mRNA: P=0.013; Kir6.2 protein: P=0.017; cGMP: P=0.005; p-PKG: P<0.001) compared with the H 2S donor+epileptic group. Conclusion:A possible mechanism is that H 2S prevents the epileptic seizure from modulating the subunit Kir6.2 of ATP sensitive potassium channels via the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway.

For expression of foreign genes in plant, plant virus vector provides many advantages, such as high expression level, short expression period and wider plant hosts. In the present study, we report the expression of thymosin alpha 1 (Talpha1) in tomato fruits by potato virus X (PVX) vector. Talpha1 gene fragment from plasmid pGEM-T containing Talpha1 gene was cloned into plant virus vector pGR107 and the resulting pGR107-Talpha1 plasmid was confirmed by digestion with Sal I and Cla I. To express the Talpha1 protein, Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 transformed with pGR107-Talpha1 was directly injected into tomato fruits through the fruit stylar apex at different developmental stages. The ELISA results showed that Talpha1 protein was expressed successfully in fruits, and the highest expression level was obtained from 2.5-3 week-old tomato fruits inoculated by bacterium at 1.0 OD600 density.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; genetics ; Fruit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; metabolism ; Potexvirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have protective effects on retina neuronal cells in diabetic rats and to identify the related mechanism involved in this process. METHODS: Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n= 6): normal control group (NC), diabetes mellitus group (DM) and LBP-treatment group (DM+LBP). The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats in DM+LBP group were treated with LBP at the dose of 1 mg/kg by gavage, once a day for 12 weeks. After the treatment, the weight and blood glucose, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells and the protein expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected. RESULTS: The successful rate of diabetic model was 100%. Compared with NC group, the rats of DM group caused weight loss, elevated blood glucose, a marked increase of ROS generation and a significant decrease in the number of RGCs and amacrine cells (P＜0.01), and these effects were diminished or abolished by LBP treatment. Meanwhile, LBP significantly increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION LBP can improve retinal oxidative stress and exert beneficial neuroprotective effects in diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; drug effects ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease with insidious onset and slow progression, mainly characterized by chorea-like symptom, intelligence decline, and psychiatric abnormalities. Cause of the disease is abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeat sequences in the first exon of the Huntington gene (HTT) on chromosome 4. Despite the clear etiology, currently, no effective therapeutic measures to control the disease progress is noted, and symptomatic treatment is still the main treatment in clinical practice. This article provides a brief overview of the current clinical trials, clinical challenges, and future development of HD gene therapy to provide references for subsequent related research.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics and evolution of mild motor symptoms (MMS) in patients with prodromal Parkinson′s disease (pPD).Methods:Based on the pPD cohort screened by Parkinson′s Disease Prodromal Clinical Assessment Scale in Nanjing community from July 2018 to December 2020, the clinical data of 30 patients with pPD who completed the baseline assessment and were followed up for at least 1 year were analyzed. According to the Unified Parkinson Diease Rating Scale Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ) score, the patients were divided into MMS group (UPDRS-Ⅲ score>3) and non-MMS group (NMMS group, UPDRS-Ⅲ score≤3). The differences and evolution characteristics of clinical characteristics between the 2 groups were compared. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the risk factors of motor symptom progression in pPD patients.Results:Among the 30 patients with pPD, 7 of 23 patients in the MMS group were converted to PD at the end of follow-up, 1 of 7 patients in the NMMS group were converted to PD at the end of follow-up. The UPDRS-Ⅲ score [10.00 (7.00, 17.00)], Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) score [25.50 (24.75, 28.00)] and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score [9.00 (5.00, 13.00)] at the end of follow-up of pPD patients were significantly higher than those at baseline [7.00 (4.00, 12.00), 24.00 (22.75, 25.25) and 8.00 (2.00, 11.00)], and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-3.505, P<0.001; Z=-2.956, P=0.003; Z=-2.427, P=0.015).Subgroup analysis showed that UPDRS-Ⅲ score [11.00 (7.00, 18.00)], MoCA score [25.00 (24.00, 27.00)] and HAMA score [ 9.00 (6.00, 15.00)] at the end of follow-up in the MMS group were higher than those at baseline [8.00 (6.00, 12.00), 24.00 (22.00, 25.00) and 9.00 (3.00, 11.00)], and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-2.768, P=0.006; Z=-2.457, P=0.014; Z=-2.250, P=0.024). The Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire score at the end of follow-up in the MMS group (8.96±5.20) was significantly lower than that in the baseline (11.04±4.41), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.441, P=0.023).There was no significant difference in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Rapid Eyes Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK) and Sniffin′ sticks olfactory test score at the end of follow-up in the MMS group. Only UPDRS-Ⅲ score in the NMMS group was increased at the end of follow-up [7.00 (5.00, 8.00)] compared with the baseline [4.00 (1.00, 4.00)], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-2.375, P=0.018). There was no significant difference in MoCA, MMSE, HAMA, HAMD, RBDQ-HK, and Sniffin′ sticks olfactory test score between the NMMS group and the baseline at the end of follow-up. Conclusion:The clinical conversion rate of pPD patients with MMS is high,and screening of this population should be paid attention.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of senile neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) inpatients in south China, especially in Guangdong province, and explore the influencing factors for their medical expenses.Methods:The medical records of 7231 patients with NDDs≥65 years were collected in the electronic health database of our hospital from January 2010 to December 2019, including gender, age, admission ways, chief complaints, length of hospital stays and medical expenses. On the basis of median of the medical expenses (21 345 yuan) of these patients, they were divided into low cost (<21 345 yuan) group and high cost (≥21 345 yuan) group. Univariate Logistic analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were conducted to screen the influencing factors for medical expenses and the independent influencing factors.Results:(1) The main age group of geriatric inpatients with NDDs were 70-79 years (40.96%); the admission source was mainly outpatient (56.70%), and length of hospital stays of a large percent of patients (44.50%) were 8-14 d. (2) From 2010 to 2019, the number of hospitalized geriatric patients with NDDs showed an increasing trend year by year, the overall trend of length of hospital stays was shortened, and the medical expenses showed gradual increase; the causes of hospitalization, percentages of patients caused by infection, abnormal blood pressure and water-electrolyte metabolism disturbances showed decreased trend, percentages of patients caused by heart diseases, cerebrovascular accidents and mental-psychological diseases showed increased trend, and the proportions of patients caused by fracture/trauma/wound injuries were generally stable. The proportion of patients returning home and mortality rate after hospital discharge were declined, and the proportion of patients returning to other medical or community institutions was increased. (3) Living in ICU, length of hospital stays, diabetes, nosocomial infection, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infection, tumble, body mass index, and anticholinergic drugs were independent risk factors influencing the medical expenses ( P<0.05). Conclusions:An aging trend is noted in patients with NDDs; the number of hospitalized patients and medical expenses increase year by year, and the length of hospital stays gradually decreases. In view of the many factors that influence the medical expenses of this disease, it is suggested to develop the corresponding standardized treatment plan for the main influencing factors in clinical practice.

Previous studies suggest that the reduction of SMAD3 (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) has a great impact on tumor development, but its exact pathological function remains unclear. In this study, we found that the protein level of SMAD3 was greatly reduced in human-grade IV glioblastoma tissues, in which LAMP2A (lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A) was significantly up-regulated. LAMP2A is a key rate-limiting protein of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a lysosome pathway of protein degradation that is activated in glioma. We carefully analyzed the amino-acid sequence of SMAD3 and found that it contained a pentapeptide motif biochemically related to KFERQ, which has been proposed to be a targeting sequence for CMA. In vitro, we confirmed that SMAD3 was degraded in either serum-free or KFERQ motif deleted condition, which was regulated by LAMP2A and interacted with HSC70 (heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein). Using isolated lysosomes, amino-acid residues 75 and 128 of SMAD3 were found to be of importance for this process, which affected the CMA pathway in which SMAD3 was involved. Similarly, down-regulating SMAD3 or up-regulating LAMP2A in cultured glioma cells enhanced their proliferation and invasion. Taken together, these results suggest that excessive activation of CMA regulates glioma cell growth by promoting the degradation of SMAD3. Therefore, targeting the SMAD3-LAMP2A-mediated CMA-lysosome pathway may be a promising approach in anti-cancer therapy.