Objective : To explore the correlation between uteroglobulin-related protein 1(UGRP1) and primary hypothyroidism. Methods : Ninety-six patients with primary hypothyroidism were selected, including 66 patients with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies(TPOAb) or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies(ATG) as the antibody-positive group, 30 patients with negative thyroid autoantibodies as the antibody-negative group, and 96 healthy people as the control group. The general clinical data, thyroid-related indicators and serum UGRP1 levels were compared among these three groups. Human thyroid normal cells(NTHY-ORI 3-1) were transfected with plasmids in vitro, thus establishing the control group as well as the UGRP1 group. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect and compare the T4 level in the cell culture supernatant. Results : The differences in thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), TPOAb and ATG among the three groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The serum UGRP1 levels in the antibody-positive(303.97±156.00) pg/ml and antibody-negative groups(352.13±188. 37) pg/ml were higher than those in the control group( 237. 54 ± 137. 20) pg/ml,and the differences between the groups were statistically significant( P = 0. 005). Meanwhile,there was no statistically significant difference between the antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups. Multi-factor Logistic regression analysis showed that UGRP1 was the risk factor for the occurrence of primary hypothyroidism( OR = 1. 004,95% CI: 1. 001-1. 007,P =0. 007). The difference between the control group and UGRP1 group in T4 concentration secreted by human thyroid normal cells was not statistically significant. Conclusion Serum UGRP1 levels increase in patients with primary hypothyroidism,and the high expression of UGRP1 may have no direct relation to the function of thyroid cells secreting T4.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the association between cumulative fasting blood glucose(FBG)and presence of coronary artery calcification(CAC). Methods:A total of 1 113 participants were recruited from the Beijing Community-based Cohort of Atherosclerosis.Anthropometric measurements and laboratory examinations including FBG were performed in 1998,2008-2009 and 2013-2014 respectively,and coronary CT scan was performed in 2013-2014.Participants were classified into 4 groups according to the level of cumulative FBG(10-year weighted cumulative value of at least 2 FBGs):<50.0 mmol/L group(n=495),50.0-55.9 mmol/L group(n=345),56.0-69.9 mmol/L group(n=176),and≥70.0 mmol/L group(n=97).CAC score>0 was defined as presence of CAC.Multivariable logistic regression model was applied to analyze the impact of cumulative FBG exposure on the risk of CAC,and subgroup analyses were conducted according to factors such as sex and age. Results:The mean age of enrolled participants was(59.7±6.4)years,523(47.0%)were male and 478(42.9%)had CAC.The proportion of subjects with CAC increased with the increment of cumulative FBG.Compared with the<50.0 mmol/L group,the multivariable-adjusted OR(95%CI)for CAC in the 50.0-55.9 mmol/L group,56.0-69.9 mmol/L group,and≥70.0 mmol/L group were 1.43(1.04-1.98),1.92(1.24-2.99)and 2.79(1.35-5.77),respectively(Ptrend<0.05).The risk for CAC increased by 34%per 10 mmol/L increase in cumulative FBG,with OR(95%CI)of 1.34(1.12-1.59).There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of CAC presence for each 10 mmol/L increase in cumulative FBG level between the subgroups(all P≥0.05). Conclusions:Elevated cumulative FBG is a risk factor for the prevalence of CAC,indicating the importance of maintaining healthy FBG in preventing the occurrence of CAC.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of renal oxidative stress injuries in rats with high-voltage electric burns and the intervention effects of breviscapine.Methods:This study was an experimental study. One hundred and sixty 8-10-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into sham injury group, electric burn group, saline group, low breviscapine group, middle breviscapine group, and high breviscapine group, with 60 rats in each of the sham injury group and electric burn group, 10 rats in each of the other 4 groups, respectively. The rats in sham injury group and electric burn group were divided into 10 rats at each time point, including post injury hour (PIH) 0 (immediately), 8, 24, 48, and 72, and post injury week (PIW) 1. The rats in sham injury group were not conducted with electrical current to cause sham injury. The rats in the other 5 groups were caused high-voltage electric burns. The rats in sham injury group and electric burn group were not treated after injury. The rats in saline group, low breviscapine group, middle breviscapine group, and high breviscapine group were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mL/kg normal saline or 0.4, 1.6, and 4.0 g/L breviscapine, repeated every 24 h until PIH 72. After the model was successfully made, 14 rats died, including 1, 2, 2, and 1 rat (s) at PIH 24, 48, and 72 and PIW 1 in electric burn group, 4, 1, 2, and 1 rat (s) at PIH 72 in saline group, low breviscapine group, middle breviscapine group, and high breviscapine group, respectively. The kidney tissue collected from rats in the 6 groups was weighed and the kidney/body weight ratio was calculated. The left upper pole tissue of kidney was collected from each 4 rats in sham injury group, and in electric burn group at PIH 8, 24, 48, and 72 and PIW 1, and in saline group, low breviscapine group, middle breviscapine group, and high breviscapine group at PIH 72. The renal tubular and renal interstitial injury was evaluated by a semi-quantitative histological scoring system after hematoxylin-eosin staining. The inferior vena cava blood samples were collected from rats in the 6 groups to measure the serum creatinine levels via sarcosine oxidase method, and serum urea nitrogen levels via urease method. The right renal cortices were collected from rats in the 6 groups to measure the catalase (CAT) activity in the supernatant of renal tissue via molybdic acid method, and the levels of advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) and Klotho protein in the supernatant of renal tissue via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:At PIH 8, 48, and 72 and PIW 1, the kidney/body weight ratios of rats in electric burn group were significantly higher than those in sham injury group (with t values of -0.52, -3.75, -4.05, and -2.25, respectively, P<0.05). At PIH 72, compared with those in electric burn group, saline group, low breviscapine group, and middle breviscapine group, the kidney/body weight ratio of rats in high breviscapine group was significantly decreased (with P values all <0.05). Compared with those in sham injury group, the renal tubular and renal interstitial injury scores of rats in electric burn group at PIH 48 and 72 and PIW 1 were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with those in electric burn group at PIH 8 and 24, the renal tubular and renal interstitial injury score of rats in electric burn group at PIW 1 was significantly increased (with P values all <0.05). At PIH 72, the renal tubular and renal interstitial injury scores of rats in the 5 groups of rats with electric burns were similar ( P>0.05). At PIH 8, 24, 48, and 72 and PIW 1, the levels of serum creatinine and serum urea nitrogen of rats in electric burn group were significantly higher than those in sham injury group (with Z values of -2.00, -2.37, -2.62, -2.67, -3.67, -2.34, -3.11, -3.43, -3.11, and -3.51, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 0, the levels of serum creatinine of rats in electric burn group at PIH 72 and PIW 1 were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 8, the levels of serum creatinine of rats in electric burn group at PIH 72 and PIW 1 were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 24, the level of serum creatinine of rats in electric burn group at PIW 1 was significantly increased ( P<0.05). At PIH 72, the levels of serum creatinine of rats in the 5 groups of rats with electric burns were similar ( P>0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group, the levels of serum urea nitrogen of rats in low breviscapine group, middle breviscapine group, and high breviscapine group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in saline group, the levels of serum urea nitrogen in middle breviscapine group and high breviscapine group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). At PIH 48 and 72 and PIW 1, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group were significantly lower than those in sham injury group (with Z values of -2.22, -2.13, and -3.51, respectively, P<0.05). At PIH 8, 24, 48, and 72 and PIW 1, the levels of AOPP in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group were significantly higher than those in sham injury group (with Z values of -2.00, -3.15, -2.71, -2.04, and -2.33, respectively, P<0.05). At PIH 0-PIW 1, the levels of Klotho protein in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in sham injury group and electric burn group were all similar ( P>0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 0, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIH 72 and PIW 1 and the levels of Klotho protein in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIH 48 and 72 and PIW 1 were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 8, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIH 72 and PIW 1 and the levels of Klotho protein in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIH 48 and 72 and PIW 1 were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 24, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIH 72 and PIW 1 were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in electric burn group at PIH 48, the CAT activity in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in electric burn group at PIW 1 was significantly decreased ( P<0.05). At PIH 72, the levels of Klotho protein in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in the 5 groups of rats with electric burns were similar ( P<0.05). Compared with 14.6 (12.6, 23.6) U/mgprot in electric burn group, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in low breviscapine group (20.5 (18.0, 39.8) U/mgprot), middle breviscapine group (24.9 (14.7, 28.9) U/mgprot), and high breviscapine group (28.0 (21.9, 39.1) U/mgprot) were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with 15.7 (13.7, 25.6) U/mgprot in saline group, the CAT activities in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in middle breviscapine group and high breviscapine group were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with that in low breviscapine group, the CAT activity in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in high breviscapine group was significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with those in electric burn group and saline group, the levels of AOPP in the supernatant of renal tissue of rats in middle breviscapine group and high breviscapine group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:After high-voltage electric burns, oxidative stress injury occur in the kidneys of rats, which is aggravated with time extension. Breviscapine can alleviate oxidative stress injuries in the kidneys of rats with high-voltage electric burns.

Objective·To establish various in vitro screening systems for the discovery of peptide inhibitors targeting the interaction between small ubiquitin-like modifier(SUMO)-activating enzyme subunit 1(SAE1)and subunit 2(SAE2),as well as to evaluate their advantages,disadvantages,and applicability to this research.Methods·The DNA fragments encoding human SAE1 and SAE2 were cloned into vector pET-28a,respectively,to generate protein SAE1 and SAE2.Purified proteins were used to establish screening assays,including isothermal calorimetry(ITC),fluorescence polarization(FP),surface plasmon resonance(SPR)and a fluorescence assay based on the SAE enzyme activity.The inhibitory activity of peptide candidates in different screening systems was examined,and their performance in terms of sensitivity,robustness,throughput and cost was evaluated.Results·The dissociation constant(Kd)of in vitro SAE1 and SAE2 interaction was determined to be 0.96 μmol/L by ITC,and PEPT7 was identified as the most potent peptide.However,the tracer of FP,which was derived from PEPT7,was not up to snuff due to its low affinity with SAE2.In the SPR assay,the Kd value(=1.13 μmol/L)of SAE1 and SAE2 interaction was in line with the results from ITC.The SAE enzyme activity-based screening assay revealed that HP1B,the most effective peptide,inhibited SAE with an half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of 15.72 μmol/L.The affinity of HP1B for SAE1 was determined to be 34.4 μmol/L by SPR.Conclusion·Several common screening systems for protein-protein interation(PPI)inhibitors are established and compared.Among them,ITC does not allow for high-throughput screening and it is difficult to accurately evaluate the low-affinity polypeptides with insignificant binding heat.The feasibility of FP relies heavily on the strong affinity between a tracer peptide and the protein target,making it unsuitable for the screening and optimization of low-affinity peptides.SPR is highly sensitive but the cost is high.The SAE enzyme activity-based assay stands out because it is a combination of high sensitivity,robustness,throughput and acceptable cost.

Humans ; Consanguinity ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ciliary Motility Disorders ; Axonemal Dyneins/genetics*

Objective To investigate the correlation between uterine globulin associated protein 1(UGRP1)and Fas mediated apoptosis pathway in hashimoto thyroiditis(HT).Methods The expression of UGRP1 in thyroid cells of normal people and HT patients was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC).FRTL-5 cells were transfect-ed by plasmids in vitro,and control group,UGRP1 group,Fas group were established respectively.Real-time fluo-rescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the expression of Fas and UGRP1 mRNA in each group.Results UGRP1 expression was positive in thyroid cells of HT patients and negative in that of normal people.There were no significant differences between control group and UGRP1 group in Fas gene ex-pression(1.085 0±0.124 9 vs 1.021 0±0.113 9).Compared with the control group,the expression of UGRP1 gene increased significantly in Fas group(P＜0.000 1,5.807 0±0.323 2 vs 0.752 7±0.076 0).Conclusion The high expression of UGRP1 in HT may be related to apoptosis pathway mediated by Fas.

Objective:To determine the expression of transmembrane protein 45A (TMEM45A) in keloid tissues and fibroblasts, and to evaluate its effect on extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis by keloid-derived fibroblasts (KFs) .Methods:Samples of surgically excised keloid and normal foreskin tissues were collected from the Department of Dermatology and Department of Urology of Yanbian University Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020, and TMEM45A protein expression was determined in keloid tissues and KFs by Western blot analysis. KFs were divided into TMEM45A-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) group and control siRNA group to be transfected with the TMEM45A-specific siRNA and control siRNA respectively. Then, Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of down-regulation of the TMEM45A gene on the expression of myofibroblast marker protein (α-smooth muscle actin) and ECM-related proteins.Results:Compared with normal skin tissues (1.00 ± 0.11) and fibroblasts (1.00 ± 0.20), TMEM45A expression levels significantly decreased in keloid tissues (0.26 ± 0.05) and KFs (0.41 ± 0.09), respectively ( t = 10.76, 4.75, P < 0.001, = 0.009, respectively). The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin, ECM-related type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅲ collagen, and fibronectin were significantly higher in the TMEM45A-specific siRNA group than in the control siRNA group ( t = -5.98, -4.57, -4.90, -7.19, P = 0.004, 0.010, 0.008, 0.002, respectively) . Conclusion:Lowly expressed TMEM45A in keloids may play an important role in the pathogenesis of keloids by promoting ECM synthesis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role and mechanism of circRNA-SR-related CTD associated factor 8 (SCAF8) in regulating endothelial cell pyroptosis in high glucose environment. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and divided into six groups. The normal control group and high glucose control group were cultured in cell culture medium with 5 and 33 mmol/L glucose, respectively. The RNA control group, circRNA-SCAF8 inhibition group, miR-93-5p overexpression group and miR-93-5p inhibition group were added with non-functional siRNA, circRNA-SCAF8 inhibitor, miR-93-5p overexpression molecule and miR-93-5p inhibitor in high glucose environment, respectively. Cell viability and pyroptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide fluorescence double staining. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related factors including apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cysteine aspartic acid specific protease-1 (caspase-1) and Gasdermin D (GSDMD), NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP-3), thioredoxin interacting proteins (TXNIP), IL-18 and IL-1β. The expression of circRNA-SCAF8, miR-93-5p and TXNIP was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to locate circRNA-SCAF8 and miR-93-5p. Dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeted regulatory relationship between miR-93-5p and upstream and downstream molecules. RESULTS: Compared with the RNA control group, the cell survival rate of circRNA-SCAF8 inhibition group and miR-93-5p overexpression group increased (both P<0.01), the pyroptosis decreased (both P<0.01), and the expressions of pyroptosis-related factors such as TXNIP, NLRP-3, caspase-1, GSDMD, ASC, IL-18 and IL-1β were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). The expression of miR-93-5p was significantly increased after inhibition of circRNA-SCAF8 (P<0.01), and the expression of circRNA-SCAF8 tended to decrease after overexpression of miR-93-5p, but with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Dual luciferase assay showed that miR-93-5p downre-gulated circRNA-SCAF8 expression by binding to the 3 ´ UTR region of circRNA-SCAF8, and miR-93-5p downregulated TXNIP expression by binding to the 3 ´ UTR region of TXNIP. FISH showed that circRNA-SCAF8 and miR-93-5p were both located in the cytoplasm and were highly associated in the cells. qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of TXNIP increased or decreased after overexpression or inhibition of miR-93-5p compared with the RNA control group, respectively (both P<0.05), suggesting that miR-93-5p could regulate TXNIP gene expression. CONCLUSIONS CircRNA-SCAF8/miR-93-5p/TXNIP axis is involved in the regulation of pyroptosis in HUVECs under high glucose.
Humans ; Factor VIII ; RNA, Circular ; Endothelial Cells ; Interleukin-18 ; Pyroptosis ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Caspase 1 ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Carrier Proteins/genetics* ; RNA-Binding Proteins

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a congenital, motile ciliopathy with pleiotropic symptoms. Although nearly 50 causative genes have been identified, they only account for approximately 70% of definitive PCD cases. Dynein axonemal heavy chain 10 (DNAH10) encodes a subunit of the inner arm dynein heavy chain in motile cilia and sperm flagella. Based on the common axoneme structure of motile cilia and sperm flagella, DNAH10 variants are likely to cause PCD. Using exome sequencing, we identified a novel DNAH10 homozygous variant (c.589C > T, p.R197W) in a patient with PCD from a consanguineous family. The patient manifested sinusitis, bronchiectasis, situs inversus, and asthenoteratozoospermia. Immunostaining analysis showed the absence of DNAH10 and DNALI1 in the respiratory cilia, and transmission electron microscopy revealed strikingly disordered axoneme 9+2 architecture and inner dynein arm defects in the respiratory cilia and sperm flagella. Subsequently, animal models of Dnah10-knockin mice harboring missense variants and Dnah10-knockout mice recapitulated the phenotypes of PCD, including chronic respiratory infection, male infertility, and hydrocephalus. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report DNAH10 deficiency related to PCD in human and mouse models, which suggests that DNAH10 recessive mutation is causative of PCD.
Humans ; Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Semen/metabolism* ; Dyneins/metabolism* ; Cilia/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Ciliary Motility Disorders/genetics*

β-thalassemia is a single-gene genetic disease caused by β globin gene mutations leading to the fact that red blood cells are unable to form normal adult hemoglobin, and then patients develop hemolytic anemia. Current treatment regimens mainly include allogenetic hematologic stem cell transplantation, symptomatic regular blood transfusions and the use of iron removers to reduce iron load. Some severe patients have quite poor prognoses and deadly consequences if not treated timely. Genetically modified autohematopoietic stem cells can provide a new treatment option for patients with β thalassemia, which may achieve a long-term and stable increase in hemoglobin level through a single dose, making one-time cure β-thalassemia possible. This paper reviews the key elements of clinical trial design for β-thalassemia gene therapy from the aspects of efficacy evaluation endpoints, clinical trial design, enrollment population, and subject monitoring in order to provide a reference for pharma-therapeutic research and development enterprises.