Objective To analyze the expression profile of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the lipopolysaecharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of monocyte-derived macrophages.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were derived from healthy donor and induced into macrophages. The macrophages were divided into blank control group and LPS (1 mg/L) stimulated 12 hours group. Culture supernatants and cell pellets were harvested in each group, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assay the production changes of interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the supernatant. The technique of lncRNA microarray was used to test the lncRNA expression profile in LPS-induced inflammation of macrophages and control macrophages. The raw data of lncRNA were pretreated for normalization. Five lncRNA expressions were validated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of NR_028034 in macrophages after LPS-induced inflammation.Results ① The contents of IL-1β (ng/L:562.93±61.17 vs. 59.74±15.68), IL-6 (ng/L: 702.46±92.31 vs. 71.66±18.25) and TNF-α (ng/L: 794.50±63.89 vs. 85.12±22.07) in the LPS group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (allP < 0.01). These results indicated that the inflammatory model of human macrophages was constructed successfully. ② Compared with blank control group, and 1479 lncRNA which have more than 2 folds variation and significant difference (P < 0.05) by statistical analysis was defined as lncRNA with differential expression. Among these lncRNA, LPS group showed 953 up- regulated and 526 down- regulated genes by 2 folds and 49 up- regulated and 35 down- regulated genes by 5 folds. ③ qRT-PCR results were generally consistent with the microarray data. ④ The expression of NR_028034 was increased by (4.41±0.65), (11.56±2.04), (18.58±1.36) folds compared with blank control group at 3, 6, 12 hours after LPS stimulation (allP < 0.01).Conclusions These data show a significantly altered lncRNA expression profile in the LPS-induced inflammation of monocyte-derived macrophages, suggesting that lncRNA may be involved in regulation of macrophages inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the effects of lincRNA-cox2 on the polarization of murine RAW264. 7 macrophages by analyzing the expression of lincRNA-cox2 in RAW264. 7 macrophages of M1 and M2 phenotypes. Methods Murine RAW264. 7 cells were induced by IFN-γand LPS to polarize to M1 phenotype, and were induced by IL-4 to polarize to M2 phenotype. The expression of lincRNA-cox2 in M1 and M2 macrophages were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR ( RT-PCR) . We designed and synthesized siRNA oligo for lincRNA-cox2 and unrelated sequences. Then the siRNA oligo and NC oligo were transfected into RAW264. 7 cells by LipofectmineTM 2000. The transfected RAW264. 7 cells were induced by IFN-γand LPS or by IL-4 to polarize to M1 or M2 macrophages. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) was performed to measure the secretion of IL-10 and IL-12 induced in different conditions. The expression of in-ducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ) , TNF-α, arginase 1 ( Arg-1 ) and found in inflammatory zone 1 (Fizz1) at mRNA level were detected by RT-PCR. The M1 macrophages were transfected with siRNAs to knock down the expression of lincRNA-cox2 for analyzing the biological effects of lincRNA-cox2 on the polar-ization of macrophages. Results The relative expression of lincRNA-cox2 in M1 macrophages was signifi-cantly higher than that in RAW264. 7 cells and M2 macrophages. Compared with the control group, the RAW264. 7 cells transfected with lincRNA-cox2-siRNA showed decreased secretion of IL-12 and inhibited expression of iNOS and TNF-αat mRNA level after IFN-γand LPS induction, but increased secretion of IL-10 and enhanced expression of Arg1 and Fizz1 at mRNA level after IL-4 induction. Transfecting the M1 mac-rophages with lincRNA-cox2-siRNA inhibited the secretion of IL-12, but promoted the secretion of IL-10. Conclusion This study indicated that lincRNA-cox2 was involved in the regulation of macrophage pheno-types by promoting the polarization to M1 macrophages and inhibiting the polarization to M2 macrophages.

Objective To construct a lentiviral vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the gene encoding tryptophan-aspartate containing coat protein ( TACO) and to evaluate its inhibitory effect on the expression of TACO , and to further elucidate its effects on the phagocytosing and intracellular killing of My-cobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) by macrophages and the possible mechanisms.Methods Three shRNA frag-ments targeting TACO gene and a scrambling control shRNA fragments were designed and cloned into the lentivi -ral vector pSicoR .The recombinant lentiviral vectors were identified by sequencing analysis and then packed in 293T cells.Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot assay were performed to evaluate the gene-silencing efficiency of the recombinant lentiviral vectors among RAW 264.7 cells transfected with the concentrated lentivirus .The most effective lentivirus was screened out to transfect the RAW 264.7 cells for 48 hours, followed by infection those cells with M.tb strains.The entry and intracellular survival of M .tb strains in RAW264.7 cells were de-termined by bacterial culture at indicated time points .The colocalization of M .tb and lysosomes was detected by immunofluorescence staining .The cyto-ID autophagy kit was used to detect the cellular autophagy and the auto-phagy-associated protein LC 3 was determined by Western blot assay .Results The recombinant lentiviral vec-tors were successfully constructed and confirmed by sequencing analysis .Decreased expression of TACO in RAW264 .7 cells was detected after transfecting the cells with the lentiviral vector-based shRNA vectors targeting TACO gene for 48 hours.The most effective lentivirus , LV-pSRT1, decreased the expression of TACO by 85.24%and 69.00%at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively.The bacterial loads in LV-pSRT1 trans-fected RAW264.7 cells were significantly decreased at the time point of 0 h after M.tb infection as compared with those in the control lentivirus treated cells (5.50×104 vs 8.1 ×104, P<0.05).Compared with the RAW264 .7 cells transfected with control lentivirus , the survival rate of intracellular M .tb strains in LV-pSRT1 transfected cells was significantly decreased at the time point of 48 h (134.54% vs 213.58%, P<0.05) and 72 h (148.18%vs 262.96%, P<0.05) considering the bacterial load at the time point of 0 h as the standard. The immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that the colocalization of M .tb strains with lysosomes was signifi-cantly enhanced in LV-pSRT1 transfected cells as compared with that in control lentivirus treated cells (75.67%vs 10.66%, P<0.05).Moreover, significantly enhanced autophagy and relative expression of LC 3Ⅱ protein were observed in RAW264.7 cells with TACO gene knockdown (16.20%vs 8.50%, P<0.05;0.51 vs 0.34, P<0.05).Conclusion The lentiviral vector-based shRNA targeting TACO gene could effectively knockdown the expression of TACO protein , decrease the entry and increase the intracellular killing of M .tb strains in mac-rophages.The enhanced intracellular killing of M .tb strains by macrophages was associated with the increased fusion of M.tb-containing phagosome and lysosome .

Objective To investigate the expression of T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory domains (TIGIT) on peripheral CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its significance in order to clarify its role in the development of RA.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 81 patients with RA and 33 healthy controls (HC).Expression of TIGIT on the surface of peripheral blood leukocytes was detected by flow cytometry.Differences in TIGIT expression between RA and HC groups were comparatively analyzed.Correlations of TIGIT expression on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells with several laboratory indexes were analyzed.All data were statistically analyzed.Results (1) The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD3+ T cells in patients with RA was significantly higher than that in HC (P<0.01).Moreover, the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of TIGIT on CD3+ T cells was significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with that in HC (P<0.01).No significant difference in the expression of TIGIT on B cells, monocytes or neutrophils was observed between RA and HC groups.(2) The percentages of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with those in HC (P<0.01).Moreover, the MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with those in HC (P<0.01).(3) The percentages of both TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells and TIGIT-expressing CD8+ T cells in patients with RA were positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (rs=0.355, P<0.01;rs=0.277, P=0.013).(4) The percentages of both TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells and TIGIT-expressing CD8+ T cells in patients with RA were positively correlated with rheumatoid factor (RF) (rs=0.265, P=0.017;rs=0.366, P<0.01).The MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T cells was positively correlated with RF in RA group (rs=0.226, P=0.043).The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells was positively correlated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody in patients with RA who were positive for anti-CCP antibody (rs=0.324, P=0.012).(5) The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells as well as the MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T cells in patients with RA was positively correlated with Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) (r=0.232, P=0.038;r=0.343, P<0.010).Conclusion The expression of TIGIT on T cells is elevated in patients with RA and correlated with inflammatory markers, antibody production and disease activity.

Objective To analyze the expression profile of circular RNA (circRNA) in LPS-treated murine peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) and to investigate the effects of mmu_circ_0000790 (circ790) on the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in MPMs following LPS stimulation.Methods MPMs were isolated from C57BL/6 male mice and then stimulated with (LPS treatment group) or without (blank control group) 1 mg/L of LPS for 12 hours.Supernatants of cell culture and cell pellets were collected from each group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the changes in the secretion of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatants.Expression profile of circRNA in macrophages from the two groups (n=3) was analyze by circRNA microarray.Some differentially expressed circRNAs were validated by real-time PCR (RT-PCR).Moreover,RT-PCR was also performed to detect the expression of circ790 in MPMs after LPS stimulation.Small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligo specific for circ790 was designed and synthesized.Then the synthesized siRNA oligo and normal control (NC) oligo were transfected into MPMs by LipofectamineTM2000.The transfected MPMs were treated with LPS.ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatants.Arraystar's home-made microRNA target prediction software was used to predict circ790/microRNA.Results The concentrations of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in the LPS treatment group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (P<0.01).These results indicated that the inflammatory model of MPMs was successfully constructed.Statistical differences in 34 differentially expressed circRNAs were found between the two groups (P<0.05).Among them,12 circRNAs were up-regulated and the other 22 circRNAs were down-regulated in the LPS treatment group.RT-PCR results were generally consistent with the microarray data.The expression of circ790 was increased by (1.94±0.15),(3.18±0.13) and (4.21±0.22) folds as compared with that of the blank control group at 3,6 and 12 h after LPS stimulation (P<0.05).After transfecting the MPMs with circ790-siRNA,the secretion of IL-6 was significantly decreased (P<0.05) without notable influence on the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α.circ790 could function as a microRNA sponge to regulate the gene expression.Conclusion These data show a significantly altered circRNA expression profile in the LPS-treated MPMs.circ790 may be involved in the regulation of IL-6 secreted by macrophages.

Objective To detect the serum level of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA ) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients ,and to evaluate its diagnostic value .Methods The expression of serum MALAT1 in 56 hospitalized TB patients , 35 latent TB infection (LTBI) individuals and 40 healthy controls were detected by real-time quantitative PCR .Serum levels of MALAT1 before and 3 ,6 months after anti-TB therapy in 16 TB patients were determined .Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of serum MALAT 1 .The comparison between two groups was performed by Student t-test , and the comparison among three groups was performed with one-way analysis of variance test .Results Serum level of MALAT1 in TB patients was (2 .10 ± 1 .05) ,which was significantly higher than those in LTBI individuals (1 .16 ± 0 .51) and healthy controls (1 .02 ± 0 .44 ,F= 28 .53 ,P< 0 .01) .The MALAT1 level in TB patients with positive sputum smear was significantly higher than that in patients with negative sputum smear (2 .42 ± 1 .03 vs 1 .43 ± 0 .74 ,t= 2 .66 ,P< 0 .01) .Compared with pre-treatment (2 .28 ± 0 .79) ,the serum MALAT 1 levels decreased significantly in 3 months (1 .35 ± 0 .39) and 6 months (1 .05 ± 0 .30) after anti-TB therapy (t= 4 .33 ,6 .05 ;both P< 0 .01) .The area under the curve (AUC) of serum MALAT1 was 0 .821 , with sensitivity and specificity of 0 .732 and 0 .850 , respectively .Conclusion The expression of MALAT1 is up-regulated in TB patients , and could be used as potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of TB .

BACKGROUND: ANXA2 plays a very important role in cancer progression. chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is associated with the invasion, migration, metastasis and poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, we aimed to explore whether CCL18 promotes LUAD invasion through ANXA2, and its role and molecular mechanism in LUAD invasion. METHODS: Western blot was used to detect ANXA2 expression in LUAD tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues, the transfection efficiency of SiANXA2#2 in cells and the role of ANXA2 as an upstream regulator in the AKT/cofilin signaling pathway. In vitro cytological experiments such as chemotaxis experiment and transwell invasion test was used to explore the mechanism of ANXA2 on LUAD metastasis. F-actin polymerization experiment and Western blot were used to detect whether invasion ability alteration of SiANXA2#2 A549 cells are related to F-actin. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues, the protein expression level of ANXA2 in cancer tissues increased (P<0.05). In the chemotaxis experiment and invasion experiment, the chemotaxis and invasion ability induced by CCL18 decreased when ANXA2 knockdowned (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, F-actin polymerization was significantly lower in ANXA2 knockdown group, while phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473 and Thr308 and phosphorylation of Cofilin and LIMK were reduced in ANXA2 knockdown group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ANXA2 knockdown can reduce the invasive effect of CCL18 on LUAD cells by reducing phosphorylation of AKT and downstream pathways.