IL-33 and its receptor ST2 play crucial roles in tissue repair and homeostasis. However, their involvement in optic neuropathy due to trauma and glaucoma remains unclear. Here, we report that IL-33 and ST2 were highly expressed in the mouse optic nerve and retina. Deletion of IL-33 or ST2 exacerbated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, retinal thinning, and nerve fiber degeneration following optic nerve (ON) injury. This heightened retinal neurodegeneration correlated with increased neurotoxic astrocytes in Il33^-/- mice. In vitro, rIL-33 mitigated the neurotoxic astrocyte phenotype and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, thereby alleviating the RGC death induced by neurotoxic astrocyte-conditioned medium in retinal explants. Exogenous IL-33 treatment improved RGC survival in Il33^-/- and WT mice after ON injury, but not in ST2^-/- mice. Our findings highlight the role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in modulating reactive astrocyte function and providing neuroprotection for RGCs following ON injury.
Animals ; Interleukin-33/genetics* ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein/genetics* ; Optic Nerve Injuries/pathology* ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology* ; Astrocytes/pathology* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroprotection/physiology*

Objective:To explore the application value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) parameters in glioma classification and glioma microstructure evaluation.Methods:From June 2017 to November 2019, 38 patients with glioma confirmed by surgery and pathology in Haikou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College of Central South University were retrospectively analyzed. According to the pathological results, they were divided into low-grade (WHO Ⅰ-Ⅱ, 15 cases) glioma group and high-grade (WHO Ⅲ-Ⅳ, 23 cases) glioma group. They received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plain scan and DWI scan respectively, and the ADC value and microstructure of different grades of glioma were compared. The correlation between ADC value of glioma and the percentage of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-positive cells, cell density and integrated optical density (IOD) value of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) expression was analyzed.Results:(1) MRI examination showed that the signals of low-grade glioma were more uniform, with no or slight peritumoral edema and space occupying effect, and the enhancement was more non enhanced or slightly enhanced. The signals of high-grade glioma were more heterogeneous due to necrosis and bleeding, and the peritumoral edema and space occupying effect were more obvious, showing uneven obvious enhancement or irregular ring enhancement; (2) The percentage of VEGF positive cells, cell density and the IOD value of AQP1 expression in high-grade glioma were significantly higher than that in low-grade glioma, and the ADC value was lower than that in low-grade glioma (all P<0.05); (3) The ADC value of glioma patients was negatively correlated with the percentage of VEGF-positive cells, cell density, and the IOD value of AQP1 expression ( r=-0.55, -0.65, -0.63, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The ADC value of glioma can indirectly reflect the expression of VEGF, cell density and AQP1 positive expression level, which is helpful for preoperative glioma classification and evaluation of glioma microstructure and biological characteristics.

Objective To explore the regulatory mechanism of gastrin and motilin on sling fibers and clasp fibers of human lower esophageal sphincter.Methods Muscle strips of the sling and clasp fibers from human lower esophageal sphincter and the circular layers of the esophagus and gastric fundus were obtained from patients with subtotal esophagectomy.Through the isolated tissue tension detection technique and pharmacological method,the concentration-response curves of the strips responding to gastrin and motilin were constructed,from which E_(max)s were derived.Results All strips contracted to gastrin and motilin with different rules and different intensity in a concentration-dependent fashion.Sling fibers' E_(max)value(4.91?(0.95 mN/mm~(2))) to gastrin was significantly higher than clasp fibers'(0.72?(0.14 mN/mm~(2))).Otherwise,in response to motilin,both sling fibers and clasp fibers contracted to motilin intensively(3.61?(0.65 mN/mm~(2))and 2.64?(0.33 mN/mm~(2))).Conclusions The sling fibers and clasp fibers have different responses to gastrin and motilin.

ve To assess the efficacy of chemolysis with collagenase injected into epidural space and the effects upon intervertebral disk and nerve roots. Methods Sixty-four healthy new Zealand rabbits of either sex, weighing 2.5-3.0kg were divided into four groups of sixteen each: group A, B, C and D. In group A and B herniation of disk was produced by injecting normal salin 0.1ml into the intervertebral disk after surgical resection of spine and posterior arch of L4_6, while in group C and D no herniation of disk was produced. In group A and C collagenase 300u( in normal saline 0.5ml) was injected into the epidural space at the level of L4-6, and in group B and D normal saline 0.5ml was injected into epidural space as control. Three animals from each group were sacrificed on the 7th, 15th, and 30th day after operation and intervertebral disk and nerve roots at the operation site were removed and fixed for light and electron microscopic examination. Sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was measured before operation and on 1st, 7th, 15th and 30th postoperative day. Results In group A the intervertebral disk was dissolved to some extent. In group B nerve roots were injured to different degree. In group A and C NCV was higher than normal on the 7th and 15th day after operation. Conclusions Collagenase may dissolve the herniated intervertebral disk but does not injure the nerve roots. It may increase NCV.