Objective To investigate the expression of neurokinin 3 receptor (NK 3R) in normal pancreas and pancreatic cancer, and to study the localization of this receptor in pancreatic cancer Methods The expression of NK 3R mRNA was investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) in normal pancreas and pancreatic cancer tissues The protein level of NK 3R was investigated by Western blot Immunohistochemistry was used to localize expression site of NK 3R Results NK 3R mRNA was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissue when compared with normal pancreas NK 3R protein was 1 1?0 5 in normal pancreas and 14 6?3 6 in pancreatic cancer, P

Objective To investigate the role of substance P (SP) and its neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) in the pathophysiologic process of Crohn′s disease. Methods In 23 surgical patients of Crohn′s disease and 24 healthy controls, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of NK-1R, Western blot analysis was used to determine NK-1R protein expression levels, and immunohistochemistry was used to localize expression of NK-1R. Results Compared with normal gut NK-1R mRNA and NK-1R protein in Crohn′s disease were overexpressed. In Crohn′s disease moderate to strong intestinal NK-1R immunoreactivity was found in the lamina propria mononuclear cells, lymphoid follicles, and the surface and crypt epithelium, lymphoid follicles, submucosal vessels, smooth muscle and myoenteric plexus neurones. Conclusions In cases of Crohn′s disease, overexpression of NK-1R may disturb neuropeptides loop balance, and may be involved in the pathophysiological change in this disease.

Objective To investigate the distribution of alpha2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG) gene polymorphisms and the relationships of AHSG gene polymorphisms with atherosclerosis as well as serum bone related biochemical mark-era. Methods Blood samples of 344 hospitalized female patients, aged 20 ～ 80 years, were sampled for serum bone alkaline phosphatase, cross-linked N-telopeptide of collagen type Ⅰ, cross-linked C-telopeptide of collagen type Ⅰ , osteoprotegrin and leptin were determined by ELISA. Serum TC,TG and calcium content were detected. Poly-morphism of AHSG gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) of restriction enzyme Sac Ⅰ. BMD (Norland XR-36) of the anteroposterior spine (AP), supine lateral spine (Lat) and femoral neck (FN) were measured. Morphological changes in the aorta and bone of type GG patient were detected by pathological microscopy. IMT were measured by color doppler ultrasound equipment(SEQUOIAS12). Results (1) The genotype frequency of CC, CG, and GG were 59.7%, 25.1% and 15.2% respectively in all elderly female patients. There were significant difference in blood lipids, Ca~(2+) and serum bone relative biochemical markers to different AHSG genotypes. (2)There were significant differences in the BMD of the AP, Lat, FN and IMT and the serum biochemical markers among the CC, CG and GG genotypes. (3)GG-female patients bone tissue pathology section verify the AHSG polymorphism genetic mutation and atherosclerosis, osteoporosis development of the relationship. Conclusion There was close relationship among AHSG polymorphism variation and the incidence of arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis in elderly female.

Objective To investigate the improvement of ischemic hypoxic injury of brain after the transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Methods Rats were randomly (random number) divided into sham operation group,cardiac arrest group and BMSCs treatment group (n =10 in each group).The model of cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxia.One hour after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC),green fluorescent protein labeled BMSCs were transplanted via tail vein injection.At 3 and 7 days after transplantation,frozen sections of hippocampus was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE).The rest of brain tissue was weighed by an electronic balance.Brain water content (％) was calculated as (wet weight-dry weight) / wet weight × 100％.Results ①BMSCs were observed in hippocampus at 3 and 7 days after transplantation under fluorescent microscopy.②Compared with sham operation group and BMSCs treatment group,brain water content in cardiac arrest group was higher (all P ＜ 0.05).HE staining results showed that BMSCs transplantation could lessen hypoxia ischemia damage on brain.Conclusions BMSCs reduced the neurons damage induced by cardiac arrest and promoted neurological function recovery.

Objective To investigate the distribution of alpha2-HS glycoprotein(AHSG) gene polymorphisms and the relationships of AHSG gene polymorphisms with atherosclerosis as well as serum bone related biochemical markers.Methods Blood samples of 344 hospitalized female patients,aged 20～80 years,were sampled for serum bone alkaline phosphatase,cross-linked N-telopeptide of collagen typeⅠ,cross-linked C-telopeptide of collagen type Ⅰ,osteoprotegrin and leptin were determined by ELISA.Serum TC,TG and calcium content were detected.Polymorphism of AHSG gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphisms(PCR-RFLP) of restriction enzyme Sac Ⅰ.BMD(Norland XR-36) of the anteroposterior spine(AP),supine lateral spine(Lat) and femoral neck(FN) were measured.Morphological changes in the aorta and bone of type GG patient were detected by pathological microscopy.IMT were measured by color doppler ultrasound equipment(SEQUOIA512).Results(1) The genotype frequency of CC,CG,and GG were 59.7%,25.1% and 15.2% respectively in all elderly female patients.There were significant difference in blood lipids,Ca2+ and serum bone relative biochemical markers to different AHSG genotypes.(2)There were significant differences in the BMD of the AP,Lat,FN and IMT and the serum biochemical markers among the CC,CG and GG genotypes.(3)GG-female patients bone tissue pathology section verify the AHSG polymorphism genetic mutation and atherosclerosis,osteoporosis development of the relationship.Conclusion There was close relationship among AHSG polymorphism variation and the incidence of arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis in elderly female.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genotype-phenotype correlation of Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFCS) caused by MAP2K1 gene variants. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood sample from a child patient and his parents. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the patient. Suspected variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The patient was a 1-year-8-month old Chinese male who manifested short stature, psychomotor retardation, relative macrocephaly, distinctive facial features, and congenital heart disease. WES test revealed a heterozygous missense c.389A>G (p.Tyr130Cys) variant in the MAP2K1 gene. Sanger sequencing has confirmed the variant as de novo. According to ACMG/AMP guidelines, the variant was classified as pathogenic. CONCLUSION Compared with previously reported CFCS cases due to MAP2K1 variants. The patient showed obvious behavioral problems, good appetite and tricuspid regurgitation, which may to be novel features for CFCS.
China ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; genetics ; Facies ; Failure to Thrive ; genetics ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Variation ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1 ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Whole Exome Sequencing

Objective To explore the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation on receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) and RIP3 in rat brain after cardiac arrest (CA).Methods Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly (random number) divided into sham group (n=8),CA group (n=8) and MSCs group (n=8).Animals were subjected to asphyxial cardiac arrest and followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).In MSCs group or CA group,animals received intravenous injection of 1 × 106 MSCs in 0.5 mL phosphate buffer solution (PBS) or 0.5 mL PBS alone at 1 h after successful resuscitation.Neurological deficit scores (NDS) were assessed at 3 d after CPR.Donor MSCs in brain were detected under a fluorescent microscope.HE staining of brain tissue was performed to observe necrotic neurons.Western blot analysis was performed to measure the levels of RIP1 and RIP3 in brain.Multiple comparisons were made by analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test.Results At 3 d after CPR,MSCs group demonstrated higher NDS than CA group [72.5(71.5,73.2) vs.63.0(62.5,64.1),Z=3.376,P=0.001].DAPI-labeled MSCs were primarily observed in the cerebral cortex.The percentage of necrotic neurons in MSCs group was significantly lower than that in CA group [(29.6±5.9)％ vs.(57.2±6.4)％,t=8.922,P＜0.01].The levels of RIP1 and RIP3 expression in brain in MSCs group were significantly lower than those in CA group [RIP1:0.227(0.193,0.243) vs.0.599(0.535,0.629),Z=3.151,P=0.001;RIP3:0.217(0.203,0.274) vs.0.543(0.533,0.555),Z=3.361,P=0.001].Conclusion MSCs transplantation improves neurological function after CPR from CA in rats likely associated with inhibiting necroptosis.

Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is viewed as the initial step of most cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have indicated that periodontal pathogens, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis, are closely correlated with vascular endothelial homeostasis, but the function of P. gingivalis and the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. To illuminate the effects and elucidate the mechanisms of P. gingivalis on endothelial structural integrity, we developed P. gingivalis infection models in vivo and in vitro. Endothelial cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis were detected. Here, we showed that P. gingivalis can impair endothelial integrity by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing endothelial mesenchymal transformation and apoptosis of endothelial cells, which reduce the cell levels and cause the endothelium to lose its ability to repair itself. A mechanistic analysis showed that TLR antagonist or NF-κB signalling inhibitor can largely rescue the damaged integrity of the endothelium caused by P. gingivalis, suggesting that TLR-NF-κB signalling plays a vital role in vascular endothelial homeostasis destroyed by P. gingivalis. These results suggest a potential intervention method for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Bone regeneration remains a great clinical challenge. Low intensity near-infrared (NIR) light showed strong potential to promote tissue regeneration, offering a promising strategy for bone defect regeneration. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of NIR on bone regeneration remain unclear. We demonstrated that bone regeneration in the rat skull defect model was significantly accelerated with low-intensity NIR stimulation. In vitro studies showed that NIR stimulation could promote the osteoblast differentiation in bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and MC3T3-E1 cells, which was associated with increased ubiquitination of the core circadian clock protein Cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in the nucleus. We found that the reduction of CRY1 induced by NIR light activated the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways, promoting SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation and increasing the expression levels of Runx2 and Osterix. NIR light treatment may act through sodium voltage-gated channel Scn4a, which may be a potential responder of NIR light to accelerate bone regeneration. Together, these findings suggest that low-intensity NIR light may promote in situ bone regeneration in a CRY1-dependent manner, providing a novel, efficient and non-invasive strategy to promote bone regeneration for clinical bone defects.
Animals ; Rats ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Cell Differentiation ; Circadian Clocks ; Cryptochromes/metabolism* ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Osteogenesis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism*