1.Role of the iNOS/IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced insulin resistance
Meina Jin ; Xueli Zhou ; Haibo Li ; Wei Bai ; Chuxuan Jia ; Li Gao ; Lijue Ren ; Qingyu Chen ; Rui Wang ; Hua Li ; Cuiying Wei
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(2):210-217
Objective :
To pathological changes and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 serine 307(p-IRS1ser 307), phosphorylated protein kinase B serine 473(p-AKTser 473), glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β), and gluconeogenic synthase(GS) proteins were observed in the liver of rats under the condition of chronic intermittent hypoxia-replicated oxygen in control. And to explore the role of iNOS/IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced insulin resistance.
Methods :
Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a control group(NC group) and an experimental group(CIH group), with 20 rats in each group. The NC group was placed in a normoxic environment for 12 weeks, while the CIH group was first subjected to intermittent hypoxia for 8 weeks, and then resumed normoxic rearing until the 12th week. Fasting blood glucose(FBG) and fasting insulin(FINS) were measured at baseline, week 8 and week 12, and liver tissues were taken for pathology and measurement of iNOS, p-IRS1ser 307, p-AKTser 473, GSK3β and GS levels, to compare the differences between groups.
Results:
t baseline, there was no significant difference in liver pathology between the two groups, and the observed indexes were not statistically significant(P>0.05); at 8 weeks, compared with the NC group, liver pathology in the CIH group showed significant disorganization of hepatic blood sinusoids and hepatocyte cords, obvious hepatocyte edema, smaller nuclei, increased lymphocyte infiltration, and a small number of fat vacuoles, significantly higher levels of FBG, FINS, insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR), iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels, and decreased p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05). IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels were increased, p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant(allP<0.05); at 12 weeks, no lymphocyte infiltration was seen in the CIH group compared with that of the NC group and fat vacuoles significantly increased, and there was no improvement in the other pathological damage that had already occurred, and the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein significantly increased. AKTser 473 protein level significantly increased, p-IRS1ser 307 protein and GS protein levels were significantly reduced, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05), and the rest of the observational indexes were not statistically significant. Pearson′s correlation analysis showed that HOMA-IR of CIH group was significantly positively correlated with the levels of iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, and GSK-3β protein at 8 weeks(r=0.874, 0.817,0.872;allP<0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein(r=-0.886,-0.879;allP<0.05).
Conclusion
Chronic intermittent hypoxia can lead to hepatic pathological damage that cannot be reversed even by reoxygenation interventions and may mediate the development of insulin resistance by upregulating the IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway through the upregulation of iNOS mRNA expression.
2.Effects of childhood trauma on resting blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability in patients with depression
Kuaikuai LIU ; Fanfan HUANG ; Lulu YU ; Meina BAI ; Wenting LU ; Bufan LIU ; Tianyu ZHAO ; Ruojia REN ; Yuanyuan GAO ; Haoran ZHANG ; Xueyi WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2025;58(9):681-689
Objective:To explore the effects of childhood trauma on resting blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability in patients with depression.Methods:A cross-sectional study was designed to prospectively collect clinical data on a total of 163 patients with depression, including 47 males and 116 females, aged 18-50 years,with mean[ M( Q1, Q3)] [29.0, (21.0, 37.0)]years, who were either the outpatients or the inpatients in the Mental Health Center of the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2022 to June 2024. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short form (CTQ-SF) was used to assess the experience of abuse and neglect during childhood. According to the CTQ-SF score, the subjects were divided into a trauma group ( n=80) and a non-trauma group ( n=83). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD 17) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms in the participants, respectively. A digital blood pressure monitor and an autonomic nervous system response detector were employed to measure resting blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between childhood trauma and resting blood pressure, heart rate, and HRV. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze factors influencing these parameters. The Bootstrap method was employed to test the potential mediating role of parasympathetic nervous system activity in the relationships between childhood trauma and resting blood pressure, and heart rate. Results:No significant difference was observed in resting heart rate between the trauma and non-trauma groups ( P>0.05). However, the trauma group exhibited higher resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure [(123.3±9.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs(116.9±10.8) mmHg, (80.0±8.6) mmHg vs (77.0±8.0) mmHg; Z=4.08, 2.24, all P<0.05]. HRV indices, including the standard deviation of normal to normal interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), total power (TP), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF), were significantly lower in the trauma group [25.3 (19.4, 30.4) me vs 36.3 (27.4, 49.0) ms, 18.3 (12.9, 27.2) me vs 26.2 (19.0, 38.5) ms, 6.0(5.4, 6.5)ms 2vs 7.0(6.3, 7.4)ms 2,4.4(3.7,5.3)ms 2vs 5.8(4.9,6.3)ms 2, 4.2(3.4, 5.2)ms 2vs 5.2(4.6, 6.1)ms 2, respectively; all P<0.001]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that childhood trauma experiences in patients with depression were positively correlated with resting systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure ( r=0.309, 0.236; P<0.01), childhood trauma was negatively correlated with HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF, HF) ( r=-0.264, -0.274, -0.271, -0.235, -0.279; all P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that childhood trauma was positively correlated with resting-state systolic blood pressure and resting-state diastolic blood pressure ( β=0.305, 0.291; all P<0.001). Childhood trauma was negatively correlated with RMSSD, TP, LF, and HF( β=-0.244, -0.249, -0.233, -0.263; all P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis showed that parasympathetic activity partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and resting systolic blood pressure (effect size 0.04, standard error 0.02, 95% CI=0.01-0.09), accounting for 14.29% (0.04/0.28) of the total effect. Conclusion:Childhood trauma experiences are associated with elevated resting blood pressure and reduced HRV in patients with depression. Decreased parasympathetic activity partially mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and elevated resting systolic blood pressure in these patients.
3.Role of TLR4-MyD88-TRAF6 signaling pathway in reduction of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by trilobatin pretreatment in rats
Yanxiao LI ; Meina GAO ; Yanling DING ; Lei WANG
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;45(8):1002-1006
Objective:To evaluate the role of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) signaling pathway in the reduction of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) by trilobatin pretreatment in rats.Methods:Eighty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S), group CIRI, trilobatin+ CIRI group (group TC) and trilobatin+ CIRI+ AAV-TLR4 group (group TCA). The model of CIRI was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion in anesthetized animals in CIRI, TC and TCA groups. In group TCA, the adeno associated virus was injected into the cortical region to up-regulate the expression of TLR4 at 21 days before developing the model. Trilobatin 15 mg/kg was administered by gavage twice daily for 3 days prior to ischemia in TC and TCA groups. The cognitive function was assessed using the modified Longa score at 24 h of reperfusion. Then the rats were sacrificed and the whole brain tissues were isolated for determination of the cerebral infarct size (by TTC staining), expression of TLR4, MyD88 and TRAF6 (by Western blot), and contents of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and for microscopic examination of the neuronal ultrastructure in ischemic cerebral cortex tissues (with a transmission electron microscope). Results:Compared with group S, the Longa score and percentage of cerebral infarct size were significantly increased, the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and TRAF6 in cerebral cortex tissues of ischemic regions was up-regulated, the contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased ( P<0.05), and the pathological damage to cortical neurons was aggravated in CIRI group. Compared with group CIRI, the Longa score and percentage of cerebral infarct size were significantly decreased, the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and TRAF6 was down-regulated, the contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased in cerebral cortex tissues of ischemic regions ( P<0.05), and the pathological damage to cortical neurons was significantly attenuated in group TC. Compared with group TC, the Longa score and percentage of cerebral infarct size were significantly increased, the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and TRAF6 was up-regulated, the contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased in cerebral cortex tissues of ischemic regions ( P<0.05), and the pathological damage to cortical neurons was aggravated in group TCA. Conclusions:The TLR4-MyD88-TRAF6 signaling pathway is involved in the reduction of cerebral I/R injury by trilobatin pretreatment in rats.
4.Nursing care for 5 patients undergoing heart transplantation following removal of implantable left ventricular assist devices
Yan MA ; Xiangyu WANG ; Meina ZANG ; Conghui GUO ; Haiying XING ; Rong WU ; Qingyin LI
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(8):981-985
This study summarizes the preoperative and intraoperative nursing experience in 5 cases of bridge-to-transplant heart transplantation with left ventricular assist device(LVAD)explant.Key points of nursing include:preoperative care and assessment of LVAD patients,preoperative discussion of the multidisciplinary team,safe transfer of patients to surgical rooms and other preoperative preparation,cardiomyocardial protection and multidisciplinary team cooperation during bridging transplantation,and intra-operative patient safety management.All 5 patients in this group successfully completed the surgery and were discharged.Pressure sores,wound infections,and other postoperative complications have not occurred.Postoperative cardiac function of 5 patients in this group were classified as New York Heart Association class Ⅰ~Ⅱ.The follow-up period for the 5 patients in this group ranged from 6 months to 6 years.The results of the most recent echocardiography follow-up showed that the left ventricular ejection fraction of all patients was all above 65%,with well prognosis.
5.Analysis of a Chinese pedigree with Hereditary coagulation factor Ⅻ deficiency due to compound heterozygous variants of Ⅻ gene
Haixiao XIE ; Huanhuan WANG ; Meina LIU ; Huinan XIA ; Yuan CHEN ; Kaiqi JIA ; Lihong YANG ; Mingshan WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(3):282-285
Objective:To analyze a Chinese pedigree with Hereditary coagulation factor Ⅻ (FⅫ) deficiency duo to variants of F12 gene and explore its molecular pathogenesis. Methods:A patient who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy at the Department of Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in June 2012 was selected as the study subject. Coagulation factor indexes of the proband and her family members (5 individuals from three generations) were determined. All exons, flanking sequences, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of the F12 gene of the proband and her family members were analyzed by direct sequencing. Three bioinformatics software was used to analyze the conservation, pathogenicity and protein model of the variant. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. 2012-17). Results:The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), FⅫ activity (FⅫ: C) and FⅫ antigen (FⅫ: Ag) of the proband was 180.0 s, 1.0% and 2.1%, respectively. DNA sequencing revealed that she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the F12 gene, namely c. 712_713insT (p.Cys238Leufs *73) in exon 8 and c. 1561G>A (p.Glu521Lys) in exon 13. Her mother and younger son were heterozygous for the p. Cys238Leufs*73 variant, while her older son was heterozygous for the p. Glu521Lys variant. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that Cys238 is highly conserved and p. Cys238Leufs*73 is a pathogenic variant, which eventually resulted in a truncated protein. Conclusion:The c. 712_713insT and c. 1561G>A compound heterozygous variants of the F12 gene probably underlay the decreased FⅫ level in this pedigree, among which c. 712_713insT (NM_000505) was unreported previously.
6.Analysis of two cases of hereditary protein C deficiency causing venous thrombosis
Mengzhen WEN ; Yifan LU ; Meina LIU ; Langyi QIN ; Yanhui JIN ; Mingshan WANG ; Lihong YANG
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(3):244-251
Objective:To investigate the molecular pathogenic mechanism of venous thrombosis caused by heterozygous missense mutations in two protein C (PROC) genes through laboratory phenotype analysis, genetic mutation analysis, and in vitro expression experiments.Methods:Two probands presented with venous thromboembolism at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Clinical data and blood samples were collected from the probands and their family members to evaluate the plasma protein C (PC) activity (PC∶A), PC antigen (PC∶Ag) levels, and other relevant coagulation parameters. The anticoagulant capacity was assessed using the thrombin generation test (TGT). The mutation sites of the PROC gene were identified using direct DNA sequencing. Bioinformatics software was used to analyze the conservation and pathogenicity of the mutated gene. PyMOL software was used for the analysis of the protein three-dimensional models and interactions between mutated amino acids. Wild-type and two mutant expression vectors were constructed and HEK293T cells were transiently transfected. Total cellular RNA was extracted from positively transfected cells to investigate the transcriptional levels of the mutant PROC gene. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and cellular immunofluorescence assays were used to investigate the translation levels of the mutant PROC protein.Results:Probands 1 and 2 exhibited PC∶A levels of 35% and 40% and PC∶Ag levels of 44% and 39%, with increasing D-dimer levels to 4.42 mg/L and 0.83 mg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, other coagulation parameters revealed no significant abnormalities. TGT demonstrated impaired anticoagulant function in both proband witnesses and their familial PC carriers. Sequencing analysis revealed heterozygous missense mutations c. 833T>C (p. Leu278Pro) in proband 1 and c. 1330T>C (p. Trp444Arg) in proband 2 within exon 9 of the PROC gene. Conservation analysis revealed that Leu278 and Trp444 were highly conserved across homologous species. Pathogenicity analysis indicated that both p. Leu278Pro and p. Trp444Arg mutations are deleterious. Protein modeling analysis demonstrated that both mutations induce structural alterations in the protein. In vitro expression experiments revealed that compared with the wild-type, both p. Leu278Pro and p. Trp444Arg mutations showed no significant differences in the mRNA expression level of the PC protein. However, both mutations caused significantly lower PC∶Ag content and protein expression levels in the cell culture supernatant compared with the wild-type, whereas higher levels were observed in the cell culture lysate. This indicates the association of both mutations with the secretion function of the PC protein.Conclusion:The heterozygous missense mutations p. Leu278Pro and p. Trp444Arg in exon 9 of the PROC gene in both probands are associated with decreased PC levels.
7.Analysis of a Chinese pedigree with Hereditary coagulation factor Ⅻ deficiency due to compound heterozygous variants of Ⅻ gene.
Haixiao XIE ; Huanhuan WANG ; Meina LIU ; Huinan XIA ; Yuan CHEN ; Kaiqi JIA ; Lihong YANG ; Mingshan WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(3):282-285
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze a Chinese pedigree with Hereditary coagulation factor Ⅻ (FⅫ) deficiency duo to variants of F12 gene and explore its molecular pathogenesis.
METHODS:
A patient who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy at the Department of Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in June 2012 was selected as the study subject. Coagulation factor indexes of the proband and her family members (5 individuals from three generations) were determined. All exons, flanking sequences, 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the F12 gene of the proband and her family members were analyzed by direct sequencing. Three bioinformatics software was used to analyze the conservation, pathogenicity and protein model of the variant. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. 2012-17).
RESULTS:
The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), FⅫ activity (FⅫ:C) and FⅫ antigen (FⅫ:Ag) of the proband was 180.0 s, 1.0% and 2.1%, respectively. DNA sequencing revealed that she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the F12 gene, namely c.712_713insT (p.Cys238Leufs *73) in exon 8 and c.1561G>A (p.Glu521Lys) in exon 13. Her mother and younger son were heterozygous for the p.Cys238Leufs*73 variant, while her older son was heterozygous for the p.Glu521Lys variant. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that Cys238 is highly conserved and p.Cys238Leufs*73 is a pathogenic variant, which eventually resulted in a truncated protein.
CONCLUSION
The c.712_713insT and c.1561G>A compound heterozygous variants of the F12 gene probably underlay the decreased FⅫ level in this pedigree, among which c.712_713insT (NM_000505) was unreported previously.
Adult
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Base Sequence
;
China
;
Factor XII/genetics*
;
Heterozygote
;
Mutation
;
Pedigree
;
Factor XII Deficiency/genetics*
;
East Asian People
8.Molecular pathogenesis of a novel p.Cys467Tyr missense variant underlying Hereditary factor Ⅻ deficiency.
Langyi QIN ; Yanhui JIN ; Yaosheng XIE ; Fengjiao WANG ; Lihong YANG ; Haixiao XIE ; Mingshan WANG ; Meina LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(12):1424-1430
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the molecular mechanism for a family with Hereditary coagulation factor Ⅻ (FⅫ) deficiency.
METHODS:
The proband, a 63-year-old female, was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in August 2024 for lumbar disc herniation. Coagulation tests, including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and FⅫ activity (FⅫ:C), were carried out for the proband and her family members (9 individuals from three generations) using a one-stage clotting assay. The level of FⅫ antigen (FⅫ:Ag) was determined with an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sanger sequencing was conducted to identify potential variants in the F12 gene. Multiple in silico tools were used to predict the conservation, hydrophobicity, and structural impact of the identified variants. Recombinant expression plasmids were constructed and transiently transfected into HEK293T cells. The recombinant FⅫ protein was analyzed using Western blotting (WB) and ELISA. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Ethics No.: KY2022-R193).
RESULTS:
The proband showed a markedly prolonged APTT (160.3 s) and significantly decreased FⅫ:C (2%) and FⅫ:Ag (5%) levels. Analysis of the F12 gene sequence revealed a 46C/T genotype in the promoter region, a heterozygous c.1457G>A (p.Cys467Tyr) missense variant in exon 12, and a heterozygous c.1561G>A (p.Glu502Lys) missense variant in exon 13. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the p.Cys467 is highly conserved across various species, and the p.Cys467Tyr variant may affect local structural stability of the FⅫ protein. The p.Cys467Tyr variant had no effect on the transcription of the F12 gene. However, the variant has significantly decreased the FⅫ:Ag levels and FⅫ protein expression in the cell culture supernatant compared to the wild-type expression vector, while in the cell lysate, it is higher than the wild-type expression vector. In other words, the p.Cys467Tyr variant has probably caused a secretion defect of FⅫ protein.
CONCLUSION
The 46C/T genotype, the heterozygous p.Cys467Tyr missense variant, and the heterozygous p.Glu502Lys missense variant are associated with reduced plasma FⅫ levels in this pedigree. The p.Cys467Tyr variant, which was unreported previously, did not affect the synthesis of FⅫ but may have resulted in a secretion defect.
Humans
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Mutation, Missense
;
Pedigree
;
HEK293 Cells
;
Male
;
Factor XII/genetics*
;
Adult
;
Factor XII Deficiency/genetics*
9.Analysis on the effect of design and application of the management system of IoT smart operation room based on business process reconstruction theory
Yan MA ; Xiangyu WANG ; Meina ZANG ; Haiying XING ; Conghui GUO ; Qingyin LI
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(2):109-115
Objective:To design a management system of internet of things(IoT)smart operation room based on business process reconstruction theory,and explore the application effect of that in improving management effectiveness for operation room.Methods:Aimed at the existing problems of key points in the management for operation room,the process was reconstructed on the basis of the original information system,relevant systems,workflows and standards of operation room of Fuwai Hospital of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.Then,a management system of IoT smart operation room based on business process reconstruction theory was designed.The surgical data of 13159 patients who underwent relevant operation of cardiovascular surgery from January to December 2022 were selected,and they were divided into"before-application"group(6 483 cases)and"after-application"group(6 676 cases)according to the point before and after the system was applied.Some indicators'data,which included scheduling management situation of picking up and dropping off patients by medical auxiliaries,duration of preparing anesthesia,duration of preoperative waiting,interval duration of continuous surgery and usage amount of surgical gowns under same amount of surgery,between two groups were compared.Results:The transportation efficiency of patients who underwent surgery after system was applied was(1.38±0.09)surgeries/h,which was higher than(0.99±0.09)surgeries/h before it was applied,and the difference was statistically significant(t=6.604,P<0.001).The satisfaction score of medical auxiliaries increased from 3.83(3.33,4.5)before application to 4.50(4.33,4.83)after application,and the difference was significant(Z=2.02,P<0.05).The duration of preparing anesthesia and duration of preoperative waiting after the system was applied were respectively(62.04±2.29)and(8.09±2.46)min,both of which were less than those before the system was applied,and the differences of them between two groups were statistically significant(t=2.309,2.280,P<0.05).The usage amount of surgical gowns under same amount of surgery after the system was applied was(4.11±0.57)gowns/surgery,which was less than(5.81±0.29)gowns/surgery before the system was applied,and the difference was statistically significant(t=6.489,P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of the management system of IoT smart operation room based on business process reconstruction theory can provide more safely,high-qualitatively and efficiently medical services for patients,and improve work efficiency and management effectiveness for operation room,and reduce resource consumption and operating cost.
10.Salidroside alleviates PM2.5-induced pulmonary fibrosis through PINK1/Parkin
Ruixi ZHOU ; Wenbo WU ; Limin ZHANG ; Meina WU ; Chen LIU ; Siqi LI ; Xiaohong LI ; Mengxiao LUAN ; Qin WANG ; Li YU ; Yumei LIU ; Wanwei LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(10):1240-1246
Background Existing studies have confirmed that fine particulate matter (PM2.5)is one of the important factors inducing pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is the terminal stage of a major category of lung diseases characterized by the destruction of tissue structure, and eventually leading lung ventilation and ventilation dysfunction. No effective pulmonary fibrosis treatment is available yet. Objective To investigate the protective effect of salidroside on pulmonary fibrosis induced by the exposure of PM2.5 and its molecular mechanism. Methods Seventy 7-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group (intratracheal instillation of normal saline + saline by gavage, n=25), Sal group (intratracheal instillation of normal saline + Sal 60 mg·kg−1 by gavage, n=10), PM2.5 group (intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 5 mg·kg−1 + saline by gavage, n=10), and Sal + PM2.5 group (intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 5 mg·kg−1 +Sal 60 mg·kg−1 by gavage, n=10). The mice were administered by gavage once daily, intratracheal instillation once every 3 d, and every 3 d constituted an experimental cycle. At the end of the 26-30th cycles, 3 mice in the control group and 3 mice in the PM2.5 group were randomly sacrificed, and the lung tissues were collected for Masson staining to verify whether the pulmonary fibrosis model was successfully established. After 30 cycles, the model was successfully constructed. After 1 week of continuous observation, the mice were sacrificed, and the blood and lung tissues of the mice were collected to make lung tissue sections. Assay kits were correspondingly employed to detect oxidative stress indicators such as serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Western blotting was used to detect the expression of fibrosis-related proteins (Collagen-III, α-SMA), mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (MFN1, Drp1), and mitophagy-related proteins (PINK1, Parkin, and LC3). Results Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the PM2.5 group was slowed down (P<0.05), which was alleviated by the Sal intervention (P<0.05). The lung coefficient increased after the PM2.5 exposure (P<0.05), which was alleviated by Sal intervention. Compared with the control group, the PM2.5 group showed severe alveolar structure damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and blue collagen deposition, and significantly increased the lung injury score, collagen volume fraction (CVF), Szapiel score, and Ashcroft score (P<0.05), as well as serum oxidative stress levels (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of Collagen-III, α-SMA, Drp1, PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 II/I were increased (P<0.05), and the expression of MFN1 was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the PM2.5 group, the Sal intervention alleviated lung injury, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition, showing decreased lung injury score, CVF, Szapiel score, and Ashcroft score (P<0.05), and decreased serum oxidative stress levels (P<0.05); the protein expression levels of Collagen-III, α-SMA, PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 II/I were decreased (P<0.05), the expression level of Drp1 was decreased, and the expression level of MFN1 was increased. Conclusion In the process of pulmonary fibrosis induced by PM2.5 exposure in mice, Sal may affect mitochondrial autophagy through PINK1/Parkin pathway and play a protective role. The specific mechanism needs to be further verified.


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