Objective To explore the role of oxidative stress in the epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells and the protective effect of probucol in rat model with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, DN group, probucol treatment group (supplemented 1% probucol dietary). Twentyfour hours urinary protein excretion (UTP) was measured at the 3rd, the 8th and the 12th week respectively. The biochemical indicators including blood glucose (BG), lipids [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC)], low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance rate (Ccr),kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were assessed at the end of the 12th week in all groups. The renal pathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin & eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The protein expression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin was also detected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results Compared with the normal control group,the BG, TC, LDL, Scr, 24 h UTP and MDA level of renal tissue increased significantly and the Ccr reduced in the rats of DN group (all P＜0.01). The pathological scores and the expression of Sp1 and α-SMA in renal tissue were higher in the DN animals than that in the other animals (all P＜0.01), the expression of E-cadherin downregulated significantly in the DN animals (P＜0.01). The MDA level of renal tissue was positively correlated to the expression of α-SMA and Sp1 protein in DN group (r=0.896, P＜0.01; r=0.862, P＜0.01, respectively), and negatively correlated to the expression of E-cadherin protein (r=-0.673, P＜0.01). In the diabetic animals treated with probucol, the Scr, 24 h UTP, pathological scores, MDA content,expression of Sp1 and α-SMA in renal tissue were lower than those in the diabetic animals (all P＜0.01). The Ccr and the expression of E-cadherin upregulated obviously (all P＜0.01). Conclusion Oxidative stress plays an important role in the EMT process of tubular epithelial cells. Probucol can slow down renal disease progression in DN rats through anti-oxidant, downregulating the expression of Sp1 protein and inhibiting the renal tubular EMT.

Objective To explore the role of 4-hydroxynonenal(HNE)in alleviating acute lung injury(ALI)induced by neonatal sepsis by inhibiting the focal death of endothelial cells(ECs).Methods Newborn mice were randomly divided into five groups:(1)Sham operation group(Sham group),(2)sham operation mice receiving HNE treatment group(Sham + HNE group),(3)cecal serosity(CS group),and(4)CS-treated GS-DMD-/-mice group(CS + GSDMD-/-group).The degree of lung injury was evaluated by lung histopathology and lung wet/dry weight ratio.The ECs of mice were isolated and divided into the Ctrl group,LPS + ATP group,LPS + ATP + HNE-L group and LPS + ATP + HNE-H group.Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of HNE and caspase-1 pathway.Results Compared with CS group,the lung tissue scores of CS + HNE group and CS + GSDMD-/-group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the ratio of wet to dry weight of lung tissues was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the CS group,the 72-hour survival rates of mice in the CS + HNE group and CS + GSDMD-/-group were significantly improved(P<0.05).The expressions of GSDMD-N,C-caspase-1,NLRP3,IL-18 and IL-1β in lung ECs of the CS + HNE group and CS + GSDMD-/-group were signifi-cantly lower than those of the CS group(P<005).Compared with the Ctrl cells,LPS + ATP significantly decreased the cell viability(P<0.05)and increased the protein expressions of GSDMD,C-caspase-1,NLRP3,IL-18 and IL-1β(P<0.05),and these effects were also inhibited by HNE.Conclusion HNE can inhibit the focal death of lung ECs cells by inhibiting NLRP3/caspase-1 signal transduction,and improve ALI in septic mice.

Objective To introduce a practical method that can be used to efficiently express,purify and identify Alzheimer's disease (AD) related beta-site app-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in common eukaryotic cells.Methods BACE1 cDNA was fished out from human brain cDNA library and ligated into the pEGFP-c3 expression vector,and then,the recombinant plasmid was transfected into the HEK293 cells.The BACE1 protein was purified with TALON Mental Affinity Resins column.The target protein was identified by Western blotting and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).BACE1 Activity Assay Kit was employed to test the activity of purified BACE1 in vitro.The recombinant BACE1/pEGFP-c3 plasmid and amyloid precusor protein (APP)/pDsRed-Monomer-N1 plasmid were co-transfected to the HEK293 cells and the cleavage activity of BACE1 in the cells was identified by Western blotting.Results The sequencing data of the obtained BACE1 gene were identical with those in GenBank.Activity test showed that the fluorescent values of blank controls,expressed BACE1 and standard BACE1 were 55.013±3.597,1836.629±154.195 (n=3) and 2639.548±207.1901 (n=3),respectively;as compared with the control group,significant differences were noted in both of the two groups (F=78.681,P=0.000);however,there is no significant difference between expressed BACE1 and standard BACE1 groups (P＞0.05).Westem blotting showed the co-transfected BACE1 could cleave APP in HEK293 cells and the CTF-APP band was detectable.Conclusion A practical protocol is established for high expression,purification and identification of BACE1 in HEK293 cells,which is helpful to obtain BACE1,an important molecular target in AD research and treatment.

's acupuncture school in Gansu,represented byand,is of great influence in China.'s acupuncture school originated from(Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor) and(Classic of Questioning),and shaped aroundDynasty andDynasty. Professorhas formed a unique "'s acupuncture" diagnosis and treatment system by inheritance and innovation. He clinically paid attention to basic training,obtainingand keeping spirit,as well as syndrome differentiation,reinforcing and reducing. Also,he took the priority the pressing hand with bilaterally needle manipulation. Besides,he thought important simplicity,innovation and acupoints selecting according to time. We inherited's acupuncture from his family,teachers'techniques,international communication,college and university education and scientific research. In this article we prescribe the development,the inheritance and the protection measures of's acupuncture school in terms of its origination,academic thought,and inheritance research,etc.,so as to provide references for further study and inheritance.

Many human genetic diseases, including Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), are caused by single point mutations. HGPS is a rare disorder that causes premature aging and is usually caused by a de novo point mutation in the LMNA gene. Base editors (BEs) composed of a cytidine deaminase fused to CRISPR/Cas9 nickase are highly efficient at inducing C to T base conversions in a programmable manner and can be used to generate animal disease models with single amino-acid substitutions. Here, we generated the first HGPS monkey model by delivering a BE mRNA and guide RNA (gRNA) targeting the LMNA gene via microinjection into monkey zygotes. Five out of six newborn monkeys carried the mutation specifically at the target site. HGPS monkeys expressed the toxic form of lamin A, progerin, and recapitulated the typical HGPS phenotypes including growth retardation, bone alterations, and vascular abnormalities. Thus, this monkey model genetically and clinically mimics HGPS in humans, demonstrating that the BE system can efficiently and accurately generate patient-specific disease models in non-human primates.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gene Editing ; Humans ; Lamin Type A/metabolism* ; Macaca fascicularis ; Progeria/pathology*