Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a global public health concern characterized by repeated upper airway collapse during sleep. Research indicates that OSA is a risk factor for the development of various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Exosomes, extracellular vesicles released by most cell types, play a key role in intercellular communication by transporting their contents-such as microRNA, messenger RNA, DNA, proteins, and lipids-to target cells. Intermittent hypoxia associated with OSA alters circulating exosomes and promotes a range of cellular structural and functional disturbances involved in the pathogenesis of OSA-related diseases. This review discusses the potential roles of exosomes and exosome-derived molecules in the onset and progression of OSA-associated diseases, explores the possible underlying mechanisms, and highlights novel strategies for developing exosome-based therapies for these conditions.
Humans ; Exosomes/physiology* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/metabolism* ; Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

Metastasis serves as an indicator of malignancy and is a biological characteristic of carcinomas. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis and in the enhancement of tumor cell aggressiveness. Prostaglandin E synthase 3 (p23) is a cochaperone for heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). Our previous study showed that p23 is an HSP90-independent transcription factor in cancer-associated inflammation. The effect and mechanism of action of p23 on lung cancer metastasis are tested in this study. By utilizing cell models in vitro and mouse tail vein metastasis models in vivo, the results provide solid evidence that p23 is critical for promoting lung cancer metastases by regulating downstream CXCL1 expression. Rather than acting independently, p23 forms a complex with RNA-binding motif protein 14 (RBM14) to facilitate EMT progression in lung cancer. Therefore, our study provides evidence for the potential role of the RBM14-p23-CXCL1-EMT axis in the metastasis of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism by which Pulsatilla saponin D (PSD) inhibits invasion and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: The public databases were used to identify the potential targets of PSD and the invasion and metastasis targets of TNBC to obtain the intersection targets between PSD and TNBC. The "PSD-target-disease" interaction network was constructed and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed to obtain the core targets, which were analyzed for KEGG pathway and GO functional enrichment. Molecular docking study of the core targets and PSD was performed, and the therapeutic effect and mechanism of PSD were verified using Transwell assay and Western blotting in cultured TNBC cells. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis identified a total of 285 potential PSD targets and 26 drug-disease intersection core targets. GO analysis yielded 175 entries related to the binding of biomolecules (protein, DNA and RNA), enzyme activities, and regulation of gene transcription. KEGG analysis yielded 46 entries involving pathways in cancer, chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation, microRNAs in cancer, chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, PD-L1 expression and PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer. Molecular docking showed high binding affinities of PSD to MTOR, HDAC2, ABL1, CDK1, TLR4, TERT, PIK3R1, NFE2L2 and PTPN1. In cultured TNBC cells, treatment with PSD significantly inhibited cell invasion and migration and lowered the expressions of MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin and the core proteins p-mTOR, ABL1, TERT, PTPN1, HDAC2, PIK3R1, CDK1, TLR4 as well as NFE2L2 expressionin the cell nuclei. CONCLUSIONS The inhibitory effects of PSD on TNBC invasion and metastasis are mediated by multiple targets and pathways.
Humans ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Pulsatilla/chemistry* ; Female ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects*

Elemene is widely recognized as an effective anti-cancer compound and is routinely administered in Chinese clinical settings for the management of several solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its detailed molecular mechanism has not been adequately demonstrated. In this research, it was demonstrated that elemene effectively curtailed NSCLC growth in the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Mechanistically, employing high-throughput screening techniques and subsequent biochemical validations such as microscale thermophoresis (MST), microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p) was pinpointed as a critical target through which elemene exerts its anti-tumor effects. Interestingly, elemene serves as a binding stabilizer for miR-145-5p, demonstrating a strong binding affinity (dissociation constant (K _D) = 0.39 ± 0.17 μg/mL) and preventing its degradation both in vitro and in vivo, while not interfering with the synthesis of the primary microRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) and precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). The stabilization of miR-145-5p by elemene resulted in an increased level of this miRNA, subsequently suppressing NSCLC progression through the miR-145-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3)/nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. Our findings provide a new perspective on revealing the interaction patterns between clinical anti-tumor drugs and miRNAs.

Objective:Using retrogradely trans-monosynaptic tracing method mediated by rabies virus(RV)to ob-serve presynaptic neuronal distributions of vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VGLUT2)-positive neurons of the med-iodorsal thalamic nucleus(MD)in whole brain.Methods:The helper viruses of RV were injected into the right MD of VGLUT2-ires-Cre mice,and two weeks later RV was injected into the same area.After another one week,perfusion was taken and whole brain scanning was performed to observe the distributions of RV-labeled presynaptic neurons throughout the brain.Results:After RV virus was injected into the MD of VGLUT2-ires-Cre mice,dense presynaptic neurons were observed in the cortex and brainstem.RV labeled neurons were mostly distributed in primary motor cortex(M1),sec-ondary motor cortex(M2),medial prefrontal cortex,orbitofrontal cortex and insular cortex at the cortical level.Tha-lamic retrogradely labeled neurons were mostly found in reticular thalamic nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area,and retrogradely labeled neurons in the brainstem were mainly distributed in lateral parabrachial nucleus,periaqueductal grey matter and dorsal raphe nucleus.Conclusion:The results in the present experiment suggest that VGLUT2-positive neurons within the MD can receive ascending information transmission from the brainstem,or regulation from the reticu-lar nucleus of thalamus.As a higher-order thalamus,MD can also receive descending projections from the cortex,and is involved in a variety of functions.Our results provide morphological basis for the study of the function and the related neural circuit of the MD.

Objective:To observe the projections from tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)positive neurons in locus coerule-us(LC)to tachykinin-1(TAC1)neurons in paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus(PVT),and morphologically determine whether they are involved in transmission and modulation of nociceptive information.Methods:TAC1-ires-Cre mice were hybridized with Rosa26:CAG-LSL-tdTomato(Ai9)mice.And spared nerve injury(SNI)induced neu-ropathic pain model was established with TAC1-ires-Cre::Ai9 mice to observe the colocalization of TAC1 and Fos and the close appositions between TAC1/FOS double-labeled neurons and TH positive axonal terminals.The distribution of the TH positive neurons and FG retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in the LC after Fluorogold(FG)was injec-ted into the PVT.Finally,the coexistences of TH positive neurons and RV labeled neurons in the LC were observed after injection of RV-mediated retrograde tracing system.Results:TAC1 positive neurons were shown with red fluores-cence in TAC1-ires-Cre::Ai9 mice.TAC1/FOS double-labeled neurons were found in the PVT of the SNI model.Some TAC1/FOS double labeled neurons made close appositions with TH positive axonal terminals.FG retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in the LC after FG injected into the PVT,and some of the FG labeled neurons coexisted with TH positive neurons.Using RV retrograde transsynaptic tracing virus,the results showed that presynaptic neurons of TAC1 positive neurons in the PVT were found in the LC,and most of the presynaptic neurons were TH positive neu-rons.Conclusion:TH positive neurons in the LC project to TAC1 positive neurons of the PVT,forming LCTH+-PVTTAC1+neural circuit,which were activated by nociceptive information.It demonstrates that this pathway plays a role in pain transmission or regulation.

Objective To explore the application effect of multimodal MRI in the diagnosis of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods A total of 78 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration treated conservatively were retrospectively selected.The patients underwent sagittal T2WI,axial T2WI sequence and sagittal synthetic MRI scanning and post-processing to generate T1,T2 and proton density(PD)mapping quantitative sequences by GE Signa Pioneer 3.0T MR machine.The T1,T2 and PD values of the anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of L1-L2 to L5-S1 lumbar intervertebral disc were measured.The Pfirrmann grade,visual analogue scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)scale of each intervertebral disc were evaluated.The T1,T2,PD,VAS and ODI of patients with different Pfirrmann grades were compared.Pearson linear analysis was used to analyze the relationship between T1,T2,PD and VAS,ODI.Spearman rank correlation method was used to analyze the relationship between T1,T2,PD and Pfirrmann.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the evaluation value of T1,T2 and PD in Pfirrmann.Results With the increase of Pfirrmann grade,the T1,T2 and PD values of patients decreased,while the VAS score and ODI increased(P<0.05).The T1,T2 and PD values were negatively correlated with VAS score,ODI and Pfirrmann grade(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that T1,T2 and PD values had good evaluation values for Pfirrmann grade(P<0.05).Conclusion Multimodal MRI can effectively evaluate the Pfirrmann grade,pain and lumbar function of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration,which can be used to help determine the diagnosis.

Abstract Mental health education of adolescents has received lots attention,while complex systems in sport are of great significance for promoting mental health of primary and middle school students. By comprehensively analyzing relevant findings, the paper discusses the effects of complex systems in sport on mental health problems of primary and middle school students,especially depression,anxiety,sleep,cognition,and social ability,and explores possible strategies associated with complex systems in sport to promote mental health of primary and middle school students,aiming provide data for effective sports health education among school teachers.

ObjectiveTo observe the apoptosis induced by paeoniflorin （PF） in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells and explore its mechanism. MethodCell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to detect the inhibition rates of H1299， H292 and A549 cells with different concentrations of PF （2.5， 5， 10， 20， 25 µmol·L^-1）， and to screen suitable concentrations of PF and experimental cells. The inhibitory effect of PF on lung cancer cells was detected by clone formation assay. The effect of PF on cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide （PI） double staining. With the right concentration of drugs， levels of apoptosis-associated protein B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved Caspase-3 and Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. At the same time， the molecular expressions of hypoxia inducible factor -1α （HIF-1α） and Hippo signaling pathway were determined. ResultCompared with the blank group， PF significantly inhibited the growth of H1299， H292 and A549 cells of human lung cancer （P<0.01）. PF significantly induced apoptosis in A549 cells （P<0.01）， decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio （P<0.01）， and significantly increased the cleaved Caspase-3 expression （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the blank group， the expression levels of HIF-1α， transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif （TAZ）， large tumor suppressor 1 （LATS1）， Mps one binding 1 （MOB1） and Yes-associated protein （YAP） in A549 cells of the PF treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the expressions of p-LATS1， p-MOB1 and p-YAP were significantly increased （P<0.01）. At the same time， there was no significant effect on the expression levels of phosphorylated mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1 （p-MST1） and MST1， which did not reach a statistical difference. ConclusionAll data demonstrated that PF showed an anti-tumor effect by improving hypoxic conditions and inhibiting the abnormally activated Hippo signaling pathway， thereby inducing and promoting apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM:To explore the roles and associations of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha(HNF4A)and mu-protocadherin(MUCDHL)in the kidney of diabetic mice.METHODS:(1)A cohort of six 12-week-old db/m mice and six db/db mice were selected and maintained on a standard diet until 16 weeks.The protein levels of fibronectin(FN),collagen type III(Col-III),E-cadherin,α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),HNF4A,Snail and MUCDHL in renal tissues were scrutinized using Western blot.Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to observe the distribution and expres-sion of FN,HNF4A and MUCDHL.(2)Mouse renal tubular epithelial cells(mRTEC)were cultured in vitro and catego-rized into groups:normal glucose(NG)group,high glucose(HG)group,overexpression control groups(NG+vector and HG+vector),overexpression groups(NG+OE-MUCDHL,HG+OE-MUCDHL,NG+OE-HNF4A and HG+OE-HNF4A),knockdown control groups(NG+control and HG+control),and knockdown groups(NG+si-MUCDHL,HG+si-MUCDHL,NG+si-HNF4A and HG+si-HNF4A).The relevant protein levels were also detected by Western blot.RESULTS:(1)In db/db group,elevated body weight,blood glucose and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio(UACR)indicated significant re-nal injury.Compared with db/m group,the mice in db/db group exhibited increased expression of FN,Col-III,α-SMA and Snail,and decreased expression of E-cadherin,HNF4A and MUCDHL.MUCDHL was predominantly expressed in the apical membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells,FN in the tubular mesenchyme,and HNF4A in the plasma and nu-cleus of renal tubular cells.(2)In HG group,there was an up-regulation in the expression of fibrosis-related proteins and a down-regulation in the expression of E-cadherin,HNF4A and MUCDHL compared with NG group.Overexpression of MUCDHL led to a decrease in the expression of FN,Col-III,α-SMA and Snail proteins,an increase in the expression of E-cadherin and MUCDHL proteins,and unaltered expression of HNF4A.Knockdown of MUCDHL resulted in a reversal of the aforementioned effects,with HNF4A expression remaining unaltered.Overexpression of HNF4A led to an increased ex-pression of MUCDHL,and the expression changes of the remaining indicators were consistent with the overexpression of MUCDHL.Knockdown of HNF4A reversed the aforementioned effects.MUCDHL may represent a downstream target gene of HNF4A.CONCLUSION:The diminished expression of HNF4A and MUCDHL in the renal tubules of diabetic mice implies their involvement in the progression of renal fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease(DKD).HNF4A may potentially impede the progression of renal fibrosis in DKD by up-regulating the expression of MUCDHL.