Objective To identify the differential serum proteins in patients with hepatic injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism. Methods Six serum samples were collected from patients with liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism and healthy subjects(control gruop) in endemic arsenism area. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) was performed to separate serum proteins, after silver staining, the differential expression of proteins were analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE map of serum protein patterns of patients and normal control were established successfully. The results showed that there were an average of (824 ± 31 ) spots and (782 ± 42) spots on 2-DE matching of the patients and control groups and the matching rate was 94.9%(782/824). From these two groups 49 differential protein spots were identified, of which over 3 times the difference in the expression of 30 protein spots were singled out and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis was carried out. Ten proteins were identified. Upregulated expression was observed in alpha-2-macroglobulin, B-cell receptor-associated protein, keratin 1,apolipoprotein A-I, and down-regulated expression was observed in haptoglobin, α2-heremans-schimid-glycoprotein,mitogen-activated protein kinase 4, zinc finger protein 323, ZAP-70 and SP40 in the patient group. Conclusions The well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE serum patterns of patients are established and some differentially expressed proteins are characterized. Whether these proteins of differential expression are serum markers for liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism need to be further verified.

The present study was designed to observe the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and inhibitory Smads in kidney of rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN), and explore the possible mechanism of DN. Male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were single injected with streptozocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg body weight) for 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks to induce DN. Blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight and 24-hour urine protein in the control and DN rats were examined; the expressions of BMP-7, Smad6 and Smad7 were detected by using immunohistochemical techniques, Western blot and real-time PCR. The results showed that blood glucose and 24-hour urine protein in DN rats were higher than that in the control rats and kidney weight/body weight was also elevated in DN rats, especially in 16-week STZ-induced rats. The expressions of BMP-7 and Smad6 proteins in DN rats were elevated, while BMP-7 mRNA expression was increased 2 weeks after STZ injection and decreased 16 weeks after STZ injection. The expressions of Smad7 protein and mRNA were elevated in DN rats 2 weeks after STZ injection and decreased 16 weeks after STZ injection. In addition, the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and collagen type I (COL-I) mRNA were increased in DN rats. These results suggest in the early stage of DN, increase in BMP-7 and inhibitory Smad expression may play a role in the feedback regulation and restrain the development of DN.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad6 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)/Smad4 pathway in development of renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSMale Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were divided into 5 groups: group A (normal control), group B [diabetes mellitus (DM) 2 weeks], group C (DM 4 weeks), group D (DM 8 weeks), and group E (DM 16 weeks). Except for the normal control group, other groups were induced DM by single injection of STZ (55 mg/kg) respectively. Blood glucose level, serum creatinine, and 24-hour urine protein were examined. Expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 protein and mRNA in kidney were detected using immunohistochemical technique, Western blot, and real-time PCR. mRNA expressions of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and collagen In in kidney were also detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of blood glucose, serum creatinine, and 24-hour urine protein in rats of group B, C, D, and E were higher than those of the control group. With the progression of renal fibrosis, the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 protein and mRNA in kidney of diabetic rats elevated. In addition, the renal MMP-3 mRNA expression diminished in diabetic rats, while TIMP-1 and collagen III mRNA increased.

CONCLUSIONSIn STZ-induced diabetic rats, the TGF-beta1/Smad4 appears to play an important role in renal fibrosis of DN. The increased expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 might result in the transcriptional regulation of downstream target genes of TGF-beta1/Smad4 pathway, which contributes to the progression of renal fibrosis in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Protein Kinase C ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of airway inflammation and recurrent wheezing induced by recurrent respiratory virus infection after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

METHODSSixty-four female BALB/c mice (aged 6-8 weeks) were randomly divided into four groups: control, RSV, Poly(I:C), and RSV+Poly(I:C) (n=16 each). The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected on the 3rd day after Poly(I:C) administration, and the total cell number and differential counts in BALF were determined. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pulmonary pathological changes. The airway responsiveness was detected. ELISA was used to measure the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in BALF.

RESULTSCompared with the other three groups, the RSV+Poly(I:C) group had significant increases in the total number of inflammatory infiltrating cells in the airway, airway responsiveness, and MMP-9 level in BALF (P<0.05). The RSV+Poly(I:C) group showed more severe pulmonary tissue injuries compared with the control and RSV groups (P<0.01). Compared with the RSV group, the RSV+Poly(I:C) group showed significant reductions in the levels of IL-4 and TIMP-1 in BALF (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSViral re-infection in the late stage of RSV infection may cause an imbalance of MMP-9/TIMP-1 expression and thus contribute to aggravated airway inflammation.

Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Female ; Lung ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Poly I-C ; pharmacology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; complications ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of insulin resistance (IR) on prognosis in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODSIn this prospective study, we enrolled 332 non-diabetic patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome. The patients were divided into three groups by HOMA-IR which calculated by formula: low HOMA-IR group (HOMA-IR < 2), 44 cases; moderate HOMA-IR group (2 ≤ HOMA2-IR < 6), 99 cases; high HOMA-IR group (HOMA ≥ 6) with HOMA index, 179 cases. The in-hospital medical records of patients were compared, and all patients were followed up for one year after discharge.

RESULTSIncidence of hypertension (P = 0.013), dyslipidemia (P < 0.001), faster resting heart rate (P < 0.001) and number of triple vessel coronary artery disease (P = 0.017) in high HOMA-IR group were significantly higher than in low and moderate HOMA-IR group. During follow-up, the major end-point events increased in proportion to IR grade: 64.3% (26/44) in the high HOMA-IR group, 54.7% (52/99) in moderate HOMA-IR group and 41.3% (74/199) in low HOMA-IR group (P = 0.034). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that high sensitivity C reactive protein (OR = 1.012, 95%CI:1.002-1.022, P = 0.022), HOMA-IR (OR = 1.250, 95%CI:1.043-1.497, P = 0.015) , triple vessel coronary artery disease (OR = 5.914, 95%CI:2.947-11.868, P < 0.001) , ischemic changes on ECG (OR = 5.495, 95%CI:2.925-10.324, P < 0.001) and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) (OR = 13.205, 95%CI:5.000-34.661, P < 0.001) were independent risk factor for major end-point events during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased insulin resistance is linked with poor prognosis of non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThere is a growing interest in studying the relationship between intrinsic resistance and biofilms resistance to drugs. However, the relationship still remains unclear in the macroscopic bacterial growth. Our study is to illuminate the change of bacterial drug resistance of gyrA mutant and active efflux pump during the development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) biofilms.

METHODSThe strains of type II topoisomerase gene mutant (gyrA mutant) and multidrug resistance (MDR) efflux pump were clinical isolates and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The process of bacterial biofilms development was observed by scanning electron microscope. Triparental mating experiments were performed to transfer report gene of green fluorescent protein (GFP) into P. aeruginosa biofilms strains and followed by analysis of bacterial survival rate between intrinsic resistance and biofilms resistance.

RESULTSThe fluorescent strains with pGFPuv could develop mature biofilms on Teflon surface. Before a period of 72 hours, the survival rate of biofilms bacteria and intrinsic resistance strains in ciprofloxacin solution was significantly different (P < 0.05). The survival number of intrinsic resistance strains (gyrA mutation and active efflux pump) was illustriously higher than biofilm strain in the initial stage of biofilms development. After 72 hours incubation, there was no clearly difference between mutants and biofilms strains in the survival rate (P > 0.05). The carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and azithromycin could significantly reduce the drug resistance of biofilm strains and efflux pump strains.

CONCLUSIONSIn the development of P. aeruginosa biofilms, the strains of gyrA mutation and MDR efflux could be conferred with new level of drug resistance. When co-cultured mutated strains with biofilm strains, biofilms may play a major role in bacterial resistance. But after 72 hours incubation (a mature biofilms had been developed), there was no clearly difference between the number of mutant strains and biofilm strains.

Biofilms ; drug effects ; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone ; pharmacology ; Ciprofloxacin ; pharmacology ; DNA Gyrase ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; genetics

AIM:To observe the changes of autophagy-related indexes during endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) induced by dithiothreitol (DTT) and its effect on apoptosis in human normal hepatocytes.METHODS:LO2 cells were treated with DTT at 2.0 mmol/L for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h to induce ERS.The expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) , protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) , activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) , C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) , autophagy-related gene 12 (Atg12) , autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot.The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The formation of autophagosomes was observed under transmission electron microscope.After the LO2 cells were pretreated with rapamycin at 400 nmol/L for 1 h and treated with DTT at 2.0mmol/L for 24 h, the effect of rapamycin pretreatment on the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS:After treatment with DTT at 2.0 mmol/L for 6, 12 and 24 h, the mRNA and protein levels of GRP78, PERK, ATF4, CHOP, Atg12, Atg5 and LC3 in the LO2 cells were significantly higher than those in 0 h group (P<0.05).At the same time, the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰwas also increased after DTT treatment (P<0.05).Observation under transmission electron microscope showed that autophagosomes were found in the LO2 cells treated with DTT for 6, 12 and 24 h.After DTT treatment for 6, 12 and 24 h, the apoptosis rate of LO2 cells was significantly higher than that in DTT 0 h group, while the apoptosis induced by DTT was significantly decreased after rapamycin pretreatment (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:ERS induces autophagy and rapamycin pretreatment alleviates the apoptosis of LO2 cells to some extent.

AIM:To investigate the effect of SET7/9 (SET domain containing 7/9) -mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) on protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) signaling pathway, and to explore the mechanisms of arsenic-induced hepatocyte apoptosis.METHODS:Human liver LO2 cells were divided into control group, arsenic poisoning model group, negative transfection group and SET7/9 siRNA transfection group.The apoptosis of the LO2 cells in each group was analyzed by flow cytometry.The protein levels of SET7/9, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) , PERK and p-PERK in the LO2 cells of each group were observed by Western blot.RESULTS:Inhibition of SET7/9 expression reduced the apoptotic rate of arsenic-induced LO2 cells.Arsenic exposure increased the expression of SET7/9 in the LO2 cells.Arsenic exposure increased the protein levels of GRP78 and p-PERK in the LO2 cells, but decreased the protein levels of GRP78 and p-PERK after transfection with SET7/9 siRNA (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Arsenic exposure induces hepatocyte apoptosis by increasing SET7/9 to activate ERS by PERK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the prevalence ofMycoplasma pirum (Mpi) in male HIV infected patients,and to identify the 16S rRNA gene of Mpi.Methods The first void urine of male HIV/AIDS patients in Jiangsu province was collected for Mpi detection.Purified 16S rRNA gene PCR production was sequenced for analysis on its identification,homogeneity and phylogenetic tree.P1 protein sequence of Mpi was analyzed by Vector NTI Advance 11.0 to calculate the coded amino acid sequence.Homogeneity analysis was conducted between the theoretical amino acid sequence of Mpi and other Mycoplasmas.Results The prevalence of Mpi in male HIV/AIDS patients was 21.5％while the Mpi prevalence rates in different age groups were significantly different (x2Mpi=124.63,P＜0.01).The homogeneity of 18 strains of Mpi was higher than 90％.Conclusion The Mpi prevalence seemed much higher than the results from previous detection on HIV/AIDS patients,suggesting that more attention should be paid on AIDS treatment.More bioinformatic research on gene/nucleotide sequence analysis and forecast should be carried out to identify the molecular characteristics of Mpi.