Objective To explore the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in urine and renal vascular damage in children with Henoch Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN).Methods The kidney pathological lesion of 78 biopsy-proven HSPN children was assessed with renal vascular damage, glomerular pathological damage, and tubulointerstitial pathological damage semi-quantitative points. The children were divided into 3 groups (light, medium, and heavy group) according to the renal vascular, glomerular, tubulointerstitial, glomerular and tubulointerstitial total pathological points. Blood and urine vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay;the localized renal VEGF expression and microvessel density were detected by immunohistochemistry assay in the kidneys. Results The semi-quantitative points of glomerular, tubulointerstitial, renal vascular, and glomerular and tubulointerstitial total points in different groups had significant difference (all P＜0.01);the minor renal vascular damage, the higher light microvessel density, blood and kidney concentration of VEGF, and the VEGF excretion in the urine were also lower in different groups, and there were significant differences (all P＜0.01). Glomerular points were positively related with tubular points, vascular points, kidney total score (r=0.596,0.612, and 0.728;P＜0.05, 0.05, and 0.01 respectively). Microvessel density was highly positively related with blood VEGF and renal VEGF, and negatively rela-ted with urine VEGF (r=0.601, 0.696, and -0.639,all P＜0.01). Conclusion The urinary excretion of VEGF leads to the decrease of local kidney VEGF concentration resulting in the renal vascular injury, which may be the important reason for renal vascular damage and pathology chronic progress in HSPN children.

Objective To explore the effect and potential mechanism of suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) knockout on cell viability and apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve injury.Methods The optic nerve transection was used to construct optic nerve injury model of rats,and RGCs were isolated after optic nerve injury.The experimental animals were divided into optic nerve transection injury (ONT) group and sham-operation (Sham) group.The expression of SOCS3 in RGCs was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR in each group.Subsequently,SOCS3 siRNA was transfected into RGCs of Sham group and ONT group,and the experimental were further subdivided into blank control group,negative control group and SOCS3 silence groups.Cell viability was measured by CCK8 and MTr methods.Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry.Furthermore,the mTOR siRNA and SOCS3 siRNA were co-transfected into RGCs,and cell viability and apoptosis were detected.Results The expression of SOCS3 was dramatically increased at 3 days after injury in the ONT group when compared with Sham group (P =0.049),and it showed an increased tendency gradually along with the extension of injury time.Compared with the blank control in the ONT group,SOCS3 silence markedly promoted cell viability [(49.47 ± 7.35) ％ vs.(73.24 ± 8.70) ％],reduced cell growth inhibition [(27.25 ±0.75)％ vs.(10.96 ± 1.07)％] and apoptosis [(23.06 ± 1.43)％ vs.(10.65 ± 1.77)％].The result of Hoechst 33342 staining indicated that SOCS3 silence ameliorated the cell apoptosis induced by ONT.In addition,SOCS3 silence significantly improved pS6 expression at 2 weeks after injury,and mTOR and SOCS3 co-silence reduced cell viability,increased cell growth inhibition and apoptosis compared with SOCS3 silence group after injury.Conclusion SOCS3 silence promotes injury-induced cell viability of RGCs and suppresses injury-induced apoptosis of RGCs via up-regulating mTOR activity in the later period of injury.

Objective To research Henoch-Schonlein purpura purpura (HSP) and renal pathology in children.Methods 31 hospitalized HSP children that with normal urine routine and accepted renal biopsy in our hospital.Results There were different levels of kidney pathological damage in this group of 31 cases,the results of light microscope were from grade Ⅱ to grade Ⅵ The proportion was grade Ⅱ(35.48％,11 of 31),grade Ⅲ (54.83％,17 of 31),and grade Ⅳ,Ⅴ and Ⅵ (each 1 case of 31,3.23％ ).lmmunofluorescence pathology results were showed as following:merely IgA depositional (48.38％,15 of 31 ),IgA + IgG depositional ( 19.36％,6 of 31 ),IgA + IgM depositional ( 19.36％,6of 31 ),IgA + igG + IgM depositional ( 12.90％,4 of 31 ).Microalbuminuria had been founded in 14 cases,and the microalbuminuria level of 10 cases were higher than normal value( 10 of 14,71.43％ ).Conclusions HSP children had renal pathologic dysfunction,even the urine routine were normal,and the detection of urine microalbumin was a significant marker in the early stage.

ObjectiveStudy the relationship among CaSR expression, tubulointerstitial damage,metabolic disturbance of calcium and phosphorus and microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.Methods36 cases of children with primary nephrotic syndrome were divided into hormone-sensitive group and steroid-resistant group.Semi-quantitative scores for tubulointerstitial pathological evaluation of the extent of damage, automatic biochemical analyzer for the determination of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) concentration of renal tubular epithelial CaSR expression and microvessel microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium were determined by immunohistochemical assay.ResultsMore severe the tubulointerstitial damage, lower level of serum Ca and higher level of serum P were observed [(2.26 ± 0.15) mmol/L]in children of the steroid-resistant group and the steroid-sensitive group [(1.90 + 0.12) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.05].CaSR expression (4.63 + 0.78) of renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group was significantly lower than that in the steroid-resistant group (6.56 + 1.22, P ＜ 0.05), but microvascular density was significantly higher in the steroid- sensitive group(2.98 +0.35 vs 2.02 +0.24, P ＜0.05).When the tubulointerstitial damage was mild, CaSR expression (4.15 +0.58) in renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group (4.26 ±0.61) was lower than the steroid-resistant group(3.12 ± 0.33; 3.01 ± 0.21), and microvascular density was higher,but the difference was not significant(P ＞0.05).In the moderate tubulointerstitial damage, CaSR expression in renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group (5.35 ± 0.64) was significantly lower than the resistant group (7.37 +0.81, P ＜0.01), and microvascular density was significantly higher than the resistant group (2.81 ±0.16, 2.02 ±0.14, P ＜0.05).Compared by mild and moderate tubulointerstitial damage in children with the steroid-resistant, CaSR expression (11.46 ± 1.38) in children with severe tubulointerstitial damage was significantly increased, and microvascular density (1.15 ± 0.11) was significantly decreased (all P ＜ 0.01).ConclusionsCaSR expression was increased and microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium was decreased in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.Dut to steroid resistance, the cytotoxic of steroid damaged the renal tubular epithelial cells, the metabolic disturbance of calcium and phosphorus and the damage of blood vessel endothelium finally resulted in severe tubulointerstitial damage.

Objective To investigate the changes in the concentration of myocardin in children with lupus nephritis (LN) under different degree of vessel damage.Methods Forty-nine children diagnosed with LN by routine tissue immunolfuorescence, light microscope, and electron microscope were included, and 30 healthy children were included as control group. The pathological classiifcations were performed according to the ISN/RPS 2003 LN pathological classiifcation criterion. According to the Katafuchi evaluation method, the semi quantitative assessment of glomerular and kidney tubule damage was carried out, and the degree of vascular damage was evaluated at the same time. Double antibody sandwich method was used to detect the concentration of serum myocardin.Results The glomerular and kidney tubules damage in children with LN were signiifcantly aggravated with higher pathological classification (P<0.05). Glomerular damage was positively correlated with renal interstitial damage (r=0.96, P<0.01). The degree of vascular damage was related to the degree of glomerular injury and renal interstitial injury, while it was no related with the results of clinical tests. There were different concentrations of myocardin among mild-, moderate-, severe-vessel damage and control groups (F=378.61,P<0.001), and the concentration of myocardin in moderate- and severe-vessel damage groups were obviously lower than those in control group and mild-vessel damage group (P<0.01) while there was no difference between control group and mild-vessel damage group (P>0.05). According to pathological type, there were signiifcant differences in the concentration of myocardial between control group and different pathological types (F=626.793,P<0.01). FromⅡ,Ⅲ,Ⅲ+Ⅴ,Ⅳ toⅣ+Ⅴ, the concentrations of myocardial were decreased systematically, and there were statistic differences between groups (P all<0.05).Conclusion The concentration of myocardin in children with LN can relfect the renal vascular damage to a certain extent. Elevation of myocardin concentration may be helpful for the repair of vascular damage.

Objective To discuss the role of EB virus (EBV)in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in children through investigating the copies of EBV DNA and expression of EBV genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Methods (1)PBMCs were isolated from 30 patients with SLE and 12 healthy normal controls respectively and DNA was extracted from PBMCs.(2) PBMCs were co-cultured with EBV for 12 days and RNA was extracted from PBMCs.(3)Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(Real-time PCR) was applied to detect the copies of EBV DNA in PBMCs.(4)Reverse transcription PCR was applied to detect expression of EBV genes.Results (1) Compared with the healthy control group [(40.1 ± 11.6) copies/μg],a significant increase of EBV DNA copies was observed in SLE group[(658.6 ± 183.6) copies/μg] (P ＜0.05).The EBV DNA copies in the active SLE group [(785.2 ± 179.2) copies/μg] were significantly higher than those in the non-active SLE group [(586.0 ± 193.1) copies/μg] (P ＜ 0.05).(2)There was no correlation between EBV DNA copies and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (r =0.03,P ＞ 0.05).(3) After PBMCs got co-cultured with EBV,expression of latent EBV genes and lytic genes were both increased in the patients and healthy controls.The latent EBV genes including latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1),LMP2,EBV nuclear antigen 1 and the lytic genes including BCRF1,BLLF1 were all increased significantly in the patients compared with the healthy controls (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There is a significant increase of EBV DNA copies and aberrant expression of EBV genes in SLE patients,which suggests that EBV may contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genes in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 20 children with SLE and 12 healthy human controls.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to detect anti-EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG/IgM antibodies.The culture supernatants of cells from patients with anti-EBV VCA IgG/IgM antibodies were collected,and PBMCs from the patients and controls were co-cultured with the supernatants respectively for 12 days.RNA was extracted from PBMCs before and after the coculture,and reverse transcription-PCR was performed to detect the expression of EBV genes,including LMP1,LMP2,EBNA1,BCRF1,BLLF1 and BILF1 genes.Results LMP1 gene was detected in fresh PBMCs from 10 out of 20 patients and 1 out of 12 controls (P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences were observed between the patients and controls in the detection rate of LMP2 gene (4/20 vs.1/12),EBNA1 gene (13/20 vs.3/12),BCRF1 gene (3/20 vs.1/12) or BLLF1 gene (5/20 vs.2/12) in fresh PBMCs.After co-culture with the supernatants of cells from patients with anti-EBV VCA IgG/IgM antibodies,the expressions of EBV genes in these PBMCs were increased to different degrees,and there was a significant difference in the expressions of EBV latent genes LMP1,LMP2 and EBNA-1 as well as EBV replicative genes BCRF1 and BLLF1 between the patient-derived and control-derived PBMCs (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There is an aberrant expression of EBV genes in children with SLE,and EBV genes may contribute to the development of SLE.

Objective To evaluate the effects and underlying mechanisms of crocin on glutamate-induced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by affecting extracellular calcium influx.Methods Primary rat retinal ganglion cells were isolated and stimulated with glutamate at concentrations of 0.1 mmol/L and 1 mmol/L for 24 h or 48 h,respectively,to establish apoptosis model of RGCs.Afterwards,crocin of different doses (0.1,1.0 and 3.0 μmol/L) was used to treat the glutamate-induced RGCs for 12 h;then cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.The intracellular calcium concentration was determined by FIuo-3/AM fluorescent labeling.Western blot was used to examine the effect of crocin on Ca2+-mediated apoptotic signal molecules calpain and CaMKII.The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 staining and mitochondrial apoptosis-related signaling molecules Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and Bcl-2/Bax were evaluated by Western blot,respectively.Results In comparison with the untreated controls,the cell apoptosis of RGCs exposed to 0.1 mmol/L of glutamate for 24 h did not significantly change (P＞ 0.05).However,apoptosis rate of the cells reached (43.050 ± 2.616) ％ when the stimulation time lasted for 48 h and showed a significant increase (P＜0.01).Treatment with higher-dose glutamate (1 mmol/L) significantly increased apoptosis of RGCs at 24 h (46.450±1.061)％ and 48 h (45.500±3.253)％ compared with the controls (P＜0.01).RGCs were induced by 1 mmol/L of glutamate for 12 h,followed by the treatment with crocin at concentrations of 0.1,1.0 and 3.0 μmol/L,respectively.Each dose of crocin could significantly inhibit cell apoptosis in the dose-dependent manner (P＜0.01).In addition,crocin at 1.0 μmol/L blocked glutamate-induced extracellular calcium influx,inhibited the expression of calcium-dependent proteins Calpainl and CaMK Ⅱ.Moreover,crocin at the dose of 1.0 μmol/L also increased mitochondrial membrane potential,suppressed the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9,and elevated Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Cornclusion Crocin inhibits glutamate-induced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells through suppressing extracellular calcium influx,thereby blocking calcium-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis signaling pathways.

AIM: To study the effect of microcapsulated catechin on vascular endothelial grower factor(VEGF) expression in rats with adriamycin induced-nephrotic syndrome.METHODS: 120 female SD rats were randomly distributed in control group,nephrotic group,dexamethason group,vitamin E group,catechin group and microcapsule group.Rat with nephrotic syndrome were induced by injection of adriblastine(5 mg/kg BW).VEGF concentrations in serum and urine were detected by ELISA assay.VEGF expression in kidney was measured by immunohistochemistry assay.RESULTS: At the end of 4th week and 6th week,VEGF concentration in other groups in kidney,serum and urine were higher than that in control(all P

Objective To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of bone marrow stem cell mobilized by stem cell factor (SCF) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)on renal peritubular capillary, fibrosis and renal function in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats. Methods One hundred and twenty eight healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham group, SCF-G group, UUO group and UUO+SCF-G group. Eight rats of each group were randomly selected and killed on the 5th, 14th, 21st and 28th day. Serum creatinine, CD34 positive cells and factor Ⅷ positive cells in renal interstitium, histopathologic lesion scores of interstitial fibrosis and interstitial pathology in kidney were measured. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in the renal cortex was detected. Results (1) The renal interstitial fibrosis anti the loss of peritubular capillary were observed in UUO group after two weeks. (2) The number of bone marrow stem cells homing to renal interstitium in UUO +SCF-G group was significantly higher than that in UUO and Sham groups (P<0.05). (3) The loss of peritubular capillary in UUO+SCF-G group appeared later than that in UUO group (P<0.05). (4) The interstitial fibrosis and tubule injury was milder in UUO+SCF-G group than that in UUO group (P<0.05). (5) The decrease of VEGF mRNA expression of renal cortex in UUO +SCF-G group was seen later than that in UUO group. VEGF mRNA expression in UUO+SCF-G group was higher than that in UUO group. (6) The increase of TSP-1 mRNA expression of renal cortex in UUO+SCF-G group was seen later than that in UUO group. TSP-1 mRNA expression in UUO+SCF-G group was lower than that in UUO group (P<0.05). (7) In UUO and UUO+SCF-G groups, peritubular capillary index was negatively correlated with serum creatinine, interstitial fibrosis and interstitial lesion scores. VEGF mRNA expression of renal cortex was positively correlated with peritubular capillary index, and TSP-1 mRNA expression of renal cortex was positively correlated with peritubular capillary index. Conclusions (1)The loss of peritubular capillary is found in UUO group, and is correlated with interstitial fibrosis and interstitial lesion. (2) Application of SCF with G-CSF can effectively motivate stem cells to injured renal tissue, contribute to decrease the loss of peritubular capillary, lessen interstitial fibrosis and interstitial lesion, and ameliorate renal function. (3) Application of SCF with G-CSF can up-regulate VEGF mRNA expression and down-regulate TSP-1 mRNA expression, which may contribute to promote the repair of endothelial cells and protect peritubular capillary.