The current study was initiated to evaluate renal nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway activation and macrophage subtype distribution and their clinicopathological significance in a cohort of oxalate-induced acute kidney injury. Methods: Twelve patients with biopsy-proven acute oxalate nephropathy (AON) from January 2016 to October 2022 were retrospectively enrolled, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-matched 24 patients with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) as disease control. Pathological lesions as well as markers of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and macrophage phenotype detected by immunohistochemistry staining were semi-quantitatively analyzed. Results: Oxalate depositions were found in 5% to 20% of tubules with a positive correlation with Sirius Red staining in AON specimens (rp = 0.668, p = 0.02). Disruption of tubular basement membrane and inflammatory cell reaction was more prominent in specimens of AON (both p < 0.05) as compared with ATIN specimens. The expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, and gasdermin D were significantly increased in AON specimens as well (all p < 0.05). Patients with M1/M2 macrophage ratio <1 were found with more chronic tubulointerstitial lesions and presented with lower eGFR at the last follow-up (24.8 ± 10.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. 55.1 ± 21.2 mL/ min/1.73 m2, p = 0.02) in the AON group. Conclusion: The NLRP3 inflammasome pathway was activated in the kidneys of AON patients, and the ratio of M1 and M2 macrophages was associated with chronicity of pathological changes, which needs further exploration.

Objective To explore the effects and possible mechanism of Mongolian medicine Eridun ·Wurile(EW)on neuronal apoptosis in rats with acute spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods The male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group(sham group),SCI group,EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group,EW high-dose group and EW high dose+AG490 group,with 15 rats in each group,and the SCI model of rats was established by Allen's method.EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group and EW high-dose group were given EW suspension at a dosage of 0.32,0.63 and 1.26 g/kg for gavage after surgery,respectively;the EW high-dose+AG490 group was given Janus kinase 2(JAK2)inhibitor AG490(5 mg/kg)by gavage before surgery and EW(1.26 g/kg)by ga-vage after surgery;and the sham and SCI groups were given equal volume of distilled water,twice a day for 2 weeks.The hind limb motor function of each group was assessed by BBB grading score at 1 day,3,7 and 14 days postoperatively;the rats were executed 12 h after the last administration and the spinal cord water content was examined;the histopathological changes were observed by Hematoxy-lin-Eosin(HE)staining in the spinal cord of each group;the apoptosis of spinal neurons was detec-ted by in situ notch end labeling(TUNEL).The expression of Cleaved caspase-3,B-lymphoblas-toma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),phosphorylated(p)-JAK2,and p-signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3(STAT3)proteins in spinal cord were detected by West-ern blot.Results Compared with the sham group,the BBB scores of rats in the SCI group were significantly lower,spinal cord edema and pathological structural damage were severe,the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of Cleaved caspase-3,Bax,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins in the spinal cord were significantly increased,while the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);compared with the SCI group,the BBB scores of EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group and EW high-dose group gradually increased,the pathological injury degree of spinal cord tissue was relieved,and the number of apoptotic cells in spinal cord tissue was reduced,Cleaved caspase-3,Bax,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 protein expressions were gradually down-regulated,while Bcl-2 protein expression was gradually up-regulated(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);compared with EW high-dose group,the expression of P-JAK2,p-STAT3,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3 proteins down-regulated in the spinal cord tissue of EW high dose+AG490 group,and Bcl-2 protein were up-regu-lated,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion EW plays a neu-roprotective role via inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and reducing apoptosis in acute spi-nal cord injury rats.

The paper reports a case of coenzyme Q10 deficiency nephrotic syndrome associated with coenzyme Q2 gene mutation and reviews the literature on this topic. The patient presented with hematuria, proteinuria, and a diminution of vision as clinical manifestations. But the proteinuria was not relieved after sufficient doses of glucocorticoids for over 2 months. The patient′s birth history was unremarkable, and his parents were both healthy and not consanguineous. Whole exome sequencing revealed that the patient had a mutation of coenzyme Q2 gene at c.973A>G(p.T325A) and c.517C>T(p.R173C). Combined with renal biopsy pathology, the patient was diagnosed with hereditary nephropathy and started the supplements of coenzyme Q10 after stopping glucocorticoid treatments immediately. After 5 weeks of therapy, the patient′s 24-h urine protein quantification decreased from 6.01 g to 1.53 g.

Objective To explore the effects and possible mechanism of Mongolian medicine Eridun ·Wurile(EW)on neuronal apoptosis in rats with acute spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods The male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group(sham group),SCI group,EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group,EW high-dose group and EW high dose+AG490 group,with 15 rats in each group,and the SCI model of rats was established by Allen's method.EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group and EW high-dose group were given EW suspension at a dosage of 0.32,0.63 and 1.26 g/kg for gavage after surgery,respectively;the EW high-dose+AG490 group was given Janus kinase 2(JAK2)inhibitor AG490(5 mg/kg)by gavage before surgery and EW(1.26 g/kg)by ga-vage after surgery;and the sham and SCI groups were given equal volume of distilled water,twice a day for 2 weeks.The hind limb motor function of each group was assessed by BBB grading score at 1 day,3,7 and 14 days postoperatively;the rats were executed 12 h after the last administration and the spinal cord water content was examined;the histopathological changes were observed by Hematoxy-lin-Eosin(HE)staining in the spinal cord of each group;the apoptosis of spinal neurons was detec-ted by in situ notch end labeling(TUNEL).The expression of Cleaved caspase-3,B-lymphoblas-toma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),phosphorylated(p)-JAK2,and p-signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3(STAT3)proteins in spinal cord were detected by West-ern blot.Results Compared with the sham group,the BBB scores of rats in the SCI group were significantly lower,spinal cord edema and pathological structural damage were severe,the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of Cleaved caspase-3,Bax,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins in the spinal cord were significantly increased,while the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);compared with the SCI group,the BBB scores of EW low-dose group,EW medium-dose group and EW high-dose group gradually increased,the pathological injury degree of spinal cord tissue was relieved,and the number of apoptotic cells in spinal cord tissue was reduced,Cleaved caspase-3,Bax,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 protein expressions were gradually down-regulated,while Bcl-2 protein expression was gradually up-regulated(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);compared with EW high-dose group,the expression of P-JAK2,p-STAT3,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3 proteins down-regulated in the spinal cord tissue of EW high dose+AG490 group,and Bcl-2 protein were up-regu-lated,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion EW plays a neu-roprotective role via inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and reducing apoptosis in acute spi-nal cord injury rats.