Objective To explore the role of nucleolin 6(NOL6)in the occurrence and development of hypertension and its mechanism of regulating ribosome biogenesis.Methods Differentially expressed genes were screened based on the GEO database(chip GSE212338),and intersection analysis was conducted in combination with genes related to ribosome generation to obtain genes related to ribosome biogenesis in hypertension.The rats were divided into control group and model group(L-NAME group).The hypertensive rat model was induced by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME),and the thickness and pathological changes of the aortic wall in each group were observed by HE staining.The expression of ribosomal RNA(rRNA)in rat aortic tissues was detected by qPCR to reflect ribosome biogenesis,and the protein expression of NOL6 was detected by Western blotting.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured and grouped for treatment(control group,L-NAME group,AngⅡ group,AngⅡ+si-NC group,AngⅡ+si-NOL6 group,and AngⅡ+CX-5461 group).The generation of neocRNA in HUVEC was detected by EU.The protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 in HUVEC were detected by Western blotting and qPCR,respectively.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)and p-eNOS.Results By combining the differential expression analysis of the GEO hypertension dataset GSE212338 and the ribosome biogenesis gene set,six core genes with significantly altered expression in hypertension and related to ribosome biogenesis were identified.The difference in NOL6 was the most significant.Compared with the control group,the aortic wall thickness of rats in the L-NAME group increased significantly.Ribosomal RNA expression was significantly upregulated;the protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 were significantly upregulated,too.Compared with the control group,the generation of neoRNA in the cells of the L-NAME group increased significantly;the levels of NOL6 protein and mRNA,ribosomal RNA and neoRNA in the Ang Ⅱ group were significantly increased compared with the control group but significantly decreased compared with the Ang Ⅱ+si-NC group.Compared with the Ang Ⅱ+si-NOL6 group,the protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 in the AngⅡ+si-NC group and the AngⅡ+CX-5461 group cells were significantly increased.Compared with the AngⅡ+si-NC group,the levels of ribosomal RNA and neoRNA in the AngⅡ+si-NOL6 group and the AngⅡ+CX-5461 group were significantly decreased;the protein expressions of eNOS and p-eNOS were significantly increased.Conclusion NOL6 is associated with abnormal ribosome biogenesis in hypertension.NOL6 can affect the expression of eNOS by regulating ribosome biogenesis,thereby regulating the occurrence and development of hypertension.

Objective:To investigate whether brown adipose tissue-derived exosomes(BAT-exos) could ameliorate endothelial cell injury by activating Pink1-Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy.Methods:Endothelial cell injury was induced with angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) to establish a cellular injury model. Exosomes were isolated from both brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue and characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA), fluorescence labeling, and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-6, and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. Mitochondrial autophagy was assessed by immunofluorescence colocalization, and protein expression levels of Pink1, Parkin, and LC3 Ⅱ/I were determined by Western blot.Results:Ang Ⅱ induced endothelial cell apoptosis, activated inflammatory responses, and suppressed mitophagy, as evidenced by decreased expression of mitophagy-related proteins. Following the successful characterization of BAT-exos, we found that BAT-exos activated mitophagy and alleviated endothelial cell injury, whereas white adipose tissue-derived exosomes(WAT-exos) inhibited mitophagy and exacerbated injury. Mechanistically, BAT-exos targeted the Pink1-Parkin signaling pathway to activate mitophagy.Conclusion:BAT-exos markedly improve endothelial cell injury by activating mitophagy through the Pink1-Parkin pathway, providing new insights and potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.

AIM:To explore the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza(Danshen)-derived exosome-like nanoparti-cles(DDN)in attenuating oxidative damage in endothelial cells through the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(PKB/Akt)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)signaling pathway.METHODS:The DDN were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering.Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the uptake of DDN by human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).The viability,migration and invasion of HUVECs were assessed using CCK8 assay,wound-healing assay and Transwell assay,respec-tively.The HUVECs were induced by angiotensin II(Ang II)for oxidative stress and intervened with DDN or LY294002(a PI3K inhibitor).The levels of reactive oxygen species were determined by flow cytometry,and intracellular nitric oxide(NO)content was measured using a biochemical assay kit.Additionally,the protein levels of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),NOX2,endothelial nitric oxide syntnase(eNOS),p-eNOS,Akt and p-Akt were examined by Western blot.RESULTS:(1)Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis revealed that DDN had good bio-compatibility and stability.(2)According to fluorescence images and flow cytometry results,DDN were strongly taken up by HUVECs.(3)Compared with control group,DDN significantly promoted the viability,migration and invasion of HUVECs,showing a dose-dependent effect.(4)Compared with control group,DDN remarkably increased intracellular NO levels,thereby enhancing endothelial cell vasodilation via activating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.(5)The PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway played a critical role in mitigating oxidative stress and improving cellular function in response to DDN treat-ment.CONCLUSION:The DDN mediate PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway activation to significantly alleviate Ang II-induced oxidative damage in endothelial cells,suggesting a potential vascular protective effect of DDN.

AIM:To explore the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza(Danshen)-derived exosome-like nanoparti-cles(DDN)in attenuating oxidative damage in endothelial cells through the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(PKB/Akt)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)signaling pathway.METHODS:The DDN were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering.Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the uptake of DDN by human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).The viability,migration and invasion of HUVECs were assessed using CCK8 assay,wound-healing assay and Transwell assay,respec-tively.The HUVECs were induced by angiotensin II(Ang II)for oxidative stress and intervened with DDN or LY294002(a PI3K inhibitor).The levels of reactive oxygen species were determined by flow cytometry,and intracellular nitric oxide(NO)content was measured using a biochemical assay kit.Additionally,the protein levels of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),NOX2,endothelial nitric oxide syntnase(eNOS),p-eNOS,Akt and p-Akt were examined by Western blot.RESULTS:(1)Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis revealed that DDN had good bio-compatibility and stability.(2)According to fluorescence images and flow cytometry results,DDN were strongly taken up by HUVECs.(3)Compared with control group,DDN significantly promoted the viability,migration and invasion of HUVECs,showing a dose-dependent effect.(4)Compared with control group,DDN remarkably increased intracellular NO levels,thereby enhancing endothelial cell vasodilation via activating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.(5)The PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway played a critical role in mitigating oxidative stress and improving cellular function in response to DDN treat-ment.CONCLUSION:The DDN mediate PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway activation to significantly alleviate Ang II-induced oxidative damage in endothelial cells,suggesting a potential vascular protective effect of DDN.

Objective To explore the role of nucleolin 6(NOL6)in the occurrence and development of hypertension and its mechanism of regulating ribosome biogenesis.Methods Differentially expressed genes were screened based on the GEO database(chip GSE212338),and intersection analysis was conducted in combination with genes related to ribosome generation to obtain genes related to ribosome biogenesis in hypertension.The rats were divided into control group and model group(L-NAME group).The hypertensive rat model was induced by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME),and the thickness and pathological changes of the aortic wall in each group were observed by HE staining.The expression of ribosomal RNA(rRNA)in rat aortic tissues was detected by qPCR to reflect ribosome biogenesis,and the protein expression of NOL6 was detected by Western blotting.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured and grouped for treatment(control group,L-NAME group,AngⅡ group,AngⅡ+si-NC group,AngⅡ+si-NOL6 group,and AngⅡ+CX-5461 group).The generation of neocRNA in HUVEC was detected by EU.The protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 in HUVEC were detected by Western blotting and qPCR,respectively.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)and p-eNOS.Results By combining the differential expression analysis of the GEO hypertension dataset GSE212338 and the ribosome biogenesis gene set,six core genes with significantly altered expression in hypertension and related to ribosome biogenesis were identified.The difference in NOL6 was the most significant.Compared with the control group,the aortic wall thickness of rats in the L-NAME group increased significantly.Ribosomal RNA expression was significantly upregulated;the protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 were significantly upregulated,too.Compared with the control group,the generation of neoRNA in the cells of the L-NAME group increased significantly;the levels of NOL6 protein and mRNA,ribosomal RNA and neoRNA in the Ang Ⅱ group were significantly increased compared with the control group but significantly decreased compared with the Ang Ⅱ+si-NC group.Compared with the Ang Ⅱ+si-NOL6 group,the protein and mRNA expressions of NOL6 in the AngⅡ+si-NC group and the AngⅡ+CX-5461 group cells were significantly increased.Compared with the AngⅡ+si-NC group,the levels of ribosomal RNA and neoRNA in the AngⅡ+si-NOL6 group and the AngⅡ+CX-5461 group were significantly decreased;the protein expressions of eNOS and p-eNOS were significantly increased.Conclusion NOL6 is associated with abnormal ribosome biogenesis in hypertension.NOL6 can affect the expression of eNOS by regulating ribosome biogenesis,thereby regulating the occurrence and development of hypertension.

Objective:To investigate whether brown adipose tissue-derived exosomes(BAT-exos) could ameliorate endothelial cell injury by activating Pink1-Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy.Methods:Endothelial cell injury was induced with angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) to establish a cellular injury model. Exosomes were isolated from both brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue and characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA), fluorescence labeling, and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-6, and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. Mitochondrial autophagy was assessed by immunofluorescence colocalization, and protein expression levels of Pink1, Parkin, and LC3 Ⅱ/I were determined by Western blot.Results:Ang Ⅱ induced endothelial cell apoptosis, activated inflammatory responses, and suppressed mitophagy, as evidenced by decreased expression of mitophagy-related proteins. Following the successful characterization of BAT-exos, we found that BAT-exos activated mitophagy and alleviated endothelial cell injury, whereas white adipose tissue-derived exosomes(WAT-exos) inhibited mitophagy and exacerbated injury. Mechanistically, BAT-exos targeted the Pink1-Parkin signaling pathway to activate mitophagy.Conclusion:BAT-exos markedly improve endothelial cell injury by activating mitophagy through the Pink1-Parkin pathway, providing new insights and potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.

Activating humoral and cellular immunity in lymph nodes (LNs) of nanoparticle-based vaccines is critical to controlling tumors. However, how the physical properties of nanovaccine carriers orchestrate antigen capture, lymphatic delivery, antigen presentation and immune response in LNs is largely unclear. Here, we manufactured gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the same size but different shapes (cages, rods, and stars), and loaded tumor antigen as nanovaccines to explore their disparate characters on above four areas. Results revealed that star-shaped AuNPs captured and retained more repetitive antigen epitopes. On lymphatic delivery, both rods and star-shaped nanovaccines mainly drain into the LN follicles region while cage-shaped showed stronger paracortex retention. A surprising finding is that the star-shaped nanovaccines elicited potent humoral immunity, which is mediated by CD4⁺ T helper cell and follicle B cell cooperation significantly preventing tumor growth in the prophylactic study. Interestingly, cage-shaped nanovaccines preferentially presented peptide-MHC I complexes to evoke robust CD8⁺ T cell immunity and showed the strongest therapeutic efficacy when combined with the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor in established tumor study. These results highlight the importance of nanoparticle shape on antigen delivery and presentation for immune response in LNs, and our findings support the notion that different design strategies are required for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.

The continuing challenges that limit effectiveness of tumor therapeutic vaccines were high heterogeneity of tumor immunogenicity, low bioactivity of antigens, as well as insufficient lymph nodes (LNs) drainage of antigens and adjuvants. Transportation of in situ neoantigens and adjuvants to LNs may be an effective approach to solve the abovementioned problems. Therefore, an FA-TSL/AuNCs/SV nanoplatform was constructed by integrating simvastatin (SV) adjuvant loaded Au nanocages (AuNCs) as cores (AuNCs/SV) and folic acid modified thermal-sensitive liposomes (FA-TSL) as shells to enhance de novo antitumor immunity. After accumulation in tumor guided by FA, AuNCs mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) induced the release of tumor-derived protein antigens (TDPAs) and the shedding of FA-TSL. Exposed AuNCs/SV soon captured TDPAs to form in situ recombinant vaccine (AuNCs/SV/TDPAs). Subsequently, AuNCs/SV/TDPAs could efficiently transport to draining LNs owing to the hyperthermia induced vasodilation effect and small particle size, achieving co-delivery of antigens and adjuvant for initiation of specific T cell response. In melanoma bearing mice, FA-TSL/AuNCs/SV and laser irradiation effectively ablated primary tumor, against metastatic tumors and induced immunological memory. This approach served a hyperthermia enhanced platform drainage to enable robust personalized cancer vaccination.

Objective To summarize the short-term results of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) at a single center in China.Methods SPK was performed on 12 consecutive patients from Jan.2010 to July 2014.All patients had long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and subsequent renal failure.Bladder drainage (BD) of exocrine secretion was used in the 10 cases and enteric drainage (ED) in 2 patients.The patients were treated with quadruple therapy,which included ATG or anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody induction therapy,prednisone,tacrolimus and mycophenolat-mofetil (MMF).Results The SPK was performed successfully in 10 cases.One patient accepted re-pancreas transplantation due to necrotizing pancreatitis.One patient suffered hemorrhage of bladder,accepted 3 times of embolization therapy and died due to lung infection.Ten patients achieved excellent renal function and euglycemia,and no further insulin treatment was given in 9.5 ± 4.2 days posttransplant.Fasting plasma glucose returned to normal in 14.2 ± 5.1 days.Serum creatinine returned to normal in 10.4 ± 6.5 days.The mean hospital stay was 21.4 ± 7.3 days.One biopsy-proven renal rejection episodes occurred in 14 days postoperation.Main complications included wound infections on the side of pancreatic graft,lymphorrhagia,tacrolimus toxicity and urinary tract infection.Conclusion SPK is an effective therapy of ESRD.Donated graft protection system foundation,refinement and individualized treatment posttransplantion may be the key factors for successful SPK.