Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern to activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling in macrophages, promoting tissue inflammation. However, its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout mice were used to validate STING's pathological role in AMI. Cardiac and liver mtDNA were used to activate macrophages in co-culture systems with cardiomyocytes to assess fibrosis and hypertrophy. Panaxatriol saponin (PTS) was tested for its ability to block mtDNA-driven macrophage activation and subsequent cardiomyocyte damage. STING-PTS binding ability was analyzed. AMI rats received PTS to evaluate its effects on myocardial inflammation and ventricular remodeling. In vivo, macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout reduced myocardial inflammation and injury after AMI. In vitro, mtDNA-activated macrophages induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and hypertrophy through STING signaling. PTS suppressed mtDNA-driven macrophage activation by directly binding STING, thereby blocking inflammatory cascades. In AMI rats, PTS treatment attenuated acute inflammation and reversed ventricular remodeling. These findings establish the mtDNA-STING axis in macrophages as a critical driver of post-AMI inflammation and identify pharmacological STING inhibition with PTS as a promising therapeutic strategy. The study bridges genetic validation with translational applications, highlighting macrophage STING as a novel target for ischemic heart disease management.

Objectives:This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose body mass index(TyG-BMI),the right pericoronary fat attenuation index(RCA-FAI),and prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods:This study included 513 CAD patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and coronary angiography between April 2018 and June 2023.Data collection and parameter calculations were performed for all research variables.The patients were stratified into three groups based on TyG-BMI tertiles:T1 group(TyG-BMI≤207.02,n=171),T2 group(207.02

Objectives:This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose body mass index(TyG-BMI),the right pericoronary fat attenuation index(RCA-FAI),and prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods:This study included 513 CAD patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and coronary angiography between April 2018 and June 2023.Data collection and parameter calculations were performed for all research variables.The patients were stratified into three groups based on TyG-BMI tertiles:T1 group(TyG-BMI≤207.02,n=171),T2 group(207.02

Background Corneal reinnervation of subbasal nerve plexus have been found after small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE).However,there were few reports about corneal reinnervation mode and dynamic changes at the corneal cap in different time points postoperation.Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the corneal reinnervation at the cap margin after SMILE.Methods The clinical data of 32 myopic eyes of 16 patients who received SMILE incision lenticule extraction surgery in Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong Medical College from April 2014 to April 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The following-up was carried in 1 week,1 month,3 months and 6 months after surgery,and in-vivo confocal microscopy was used to acquire images of the central corneal subbasal nerve plexus before and after surgery,with the scan range of 0.4 mm×0.4 mm,from which nerve density and nerve tortuosity were evaluated using Image-Pro Plus imaging analysis software.The overall length of nerve fibers at the central cornea was measured to assess the subbasal nerve density,and the repair of nerve fibers at cap was observed.Results The corneal subbasal nerve density was (19 687.45 ± 1 147.59),(10 500.46 ± 1 056.22),(12 833.40-± 1 047.98),(13 564.04-± 1 173.01) and (14 661.35-±941.92) μm/mm2 in preoperation and postoperative 1 week,1 month,3 months,6 months,respectively,with a significant difference among different time points (F =319.44,P=0.000),and the corneal subbasal nerve densitis in postoperative time points were significantly reduced in comparison with the preoperation,and corneal subbasal nerve densities were gradually increased after surgery as the extending of time,showing significant differences between different time points (all at P＜ 0.01).Abundant corneal subbasal nerve fibers were seen with the near normal morphology after surgery.However,the fragments and disaggregation of nerve fibers were found at the incision of cap margins,and some nerve fibers extended toward the inner cap at the non-incision of cap margins 1 week after surgery.In 3-6 months after SMILE,the continuous extension of nerve fibers was exhibited under the confocal microscope.Conclusions Six months after surgery,less invasive SMILE technique can remain the superficial corneal nerve fibers.Corneal innervation shows a radiate mode from peripheral cornea outside toward inside of the cap.The subbasal never fiber density is gradually increased with the extending of time after SMILE.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) therapy on pulmonary hypertension,and its influence on number and functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in rats.Methods Eight week old Sprague-Dawlay rats were randomized into model group,treatment group and control group (8 rats in each group).The rats in model group and treatment group were treated with single subcutaneous injection of 1％ monocrotaline (50 mg/kg) to induce pulmonary hypertension models,while the control group was treated with phosphate buffered saline.Five days later,the rats in treatment group were administrated with 50 μg/(kg· d) rhG-CSF for 3 days.On day 21,peripheral blood was collected from caudal vein in all groups,and the percentage of EPCs in 100 000 mononuclear cells was evaluated by flow cytometry.Right ventricular systolic pressure was assessed,and the pathological changes of lung tissue and pneumoangiogram were observed by HE staining.Meanwhile,peripheral mononuclear cells collected from caudal vein were separated and cultured in vitro for EPCs.The cell ffunctions as proliferation,adhesion and migration ability were assessed.ANOVA and LSD test were applied as statistical analysis methods.Results (1) The right ventricular systolic pressure of rats in model group was higher than that in the controls [(48.13 ± 2.85) mm Hg vs (27.88 ± 3.04) mm Hg,t=2.016,P＜0.01],the lesion of endothelial cells in pulmonary arteriolar was evident,and the vessel wall was thickened.The pulmonary artery pressure of rats in the treatment group [(30.38 ± 2.83) mm Hg] was lower than that in the model group and close to the level of control group (t=0.376,P＞0.05) with mild pulmonary pathological changes.(2) The percentage off peripheral blood EPCs in mononuclear cells in the model group was decreased as compared to the control group [(0.016±0.007) ％ vs (0.031±0.011) ％,t=2.617,P＜0.01].After administration ofrhG-CSF,the EPCs in treatment group [(0.042±0.013) ％] was increased evidently as compared to the model group (t=4.325,P＜0.01) and the control group (t =1.942,P＜0.05).(3) The proliferation,adhesive and migrated cells of EPCs in model group were 0.49 ± 0.04,(6.93 ± 1.47) cells/HPF and (7.22±1.53) cells/HPF,lower than those in control group [0.68±0.07,(11.05±1.73) cells/HPF and (12.58±2.15) cells/HPF] and treatment group [0.63±0.06,(12.35±1.82) cells/HPF and (12.97±2.84) cells/HPF],the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusions rhG-CSF may be effective in treating pulmonary hypertension through up-regulating the number and function of circulating EPCs in rat model of pulmonary hypertension.