OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on vascular aging. METHODS: Eighteen male SD rats were randomized into young group, intraperitoneal D-galactose injection-induced aging group, and BYHWD gavage group. The changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV), vascular SA-β-gal activity, and expressions of p16, p21 and SA‑β‑gal of the rats were examined. Serum exosomes were isolated from the rats, and after characterization using NTA and TEM and for surface markers and vascular cell markers, were examined for miR-590-5p expression using qRT-PCR. The M1/M2 macrophage ratio and cytokine levels were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays were carried out to predict the potential target genes of miR-590-5p and validate its targeting relationship with SLC8A3, whose expressions were detected in the vascular tissues of the rats by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the young rats, the aging rats exhibited significantly increased PWV in the abdominal aorta with elevated vascular expressions of p16, p21 and SA-β-gal, which were all reversed by BYHWD treatment. The isolated serum exosomes were positive for CD63, CD81, CD31 and SM-22, and the exosomes from aging rats showed significantly downregulated expression of miR-590-5p, which was upregulated after BYHWD treatment. The aging rat vessels showed an increased M1/M2 macrophage ratio with elevated M1-specific cytokines and reduced M2-specific cytokines, and BYHWD treatment effectively inhibited M1 polarization of the macrophages. Pearson analysis revealed a negative correlation between exosomal miR-590-5p upregulation and the M1/M2 ratio. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that miR-590-5p targets SLC8A3. Western blotting demonstrated increased SLC8A3 expression in aging rat vessels, which was downregulated after BYHWD treatment. CONCLUSIONS BYHWD attenuates vascular aging in rats by modulating macrophage M1 polarization and suppressing vascular inflammation via exosomal miR-590-5p-mediated downregulation of SLC8A3.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Rats ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Aging/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To investigate the impacts of ionizing radiation on protein expression profiles in esophageal tissues of rats using quantitative proteomics, in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and development of radiation-induced esophagitis (RIE).Methods:A total of twenty-four male SD rats were divided by simple randomization into three groups: the control, 25 Gy irradiation, and 35 Gy irradiation groups, and their esophageal tissues were collected at 7 d post-irradiation to extract total protein. Then, changes in the protein expression profiles of the esophageal tissues in irradiated rats were investigated using tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, the expressions of two key proteins, Hp and Ndufs4, were validated using immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results:A comparison with the control group revealed a total of 847 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs; 483 up-regulated and 364 down-regulated) following 25 Gy irradiation and 699 DEPs (443 up-regulated and 256 down-regulated) following 35 Gy irradiation. Different radiation doses led to common 326 up-regulated proteins, which were mainly involved in biological processes and signaling pathways related to immune and inflammatory responses, and 210 down-regulated proteins, which were primarily involved in biological processes and signaling pathways related to energy production and metabolism. Furthermore, a total of 155 proteins were screened using a constructed protein protein interaction(PPI) network. Of these proteins, the up-regulated ones were most associated with three functional pathways, namely innate immune responses, complement and coagulation cascades, and innate immune system, while the down-regulated ones were most associated with energy acquisition via oxidizing organic compounds, oxidative phosphorylation, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and respiratory electron transfer. These functions were enriched with nine complement-related up-regulated and five mitochondria-related down-regulated proteins, respectively. Ionizing radiation significantly up-regulated Hp ( t = 27.94, 10.96, P<0.001) and down-regulated Ndufs4 ( t = 59.27, 54.07, P<0.001), consistent with the protein sequencing result. Conclusions:Ionizing radiation can change the protein expression profiles in the esophageal tissues of rats, and these DEPs are involved in multiple radiobiology-related functional pathways such as immune processes, inflammatory responses, and abnormal energy metabolism. Screening and validation of key proteins are helpful for identifying potential biomarkers of radiation-induced esophagitis.

Objective:To explore the heterogeneity among keloids before and after radiotherapy and identify the changes of key cell subpopulations and their interactions utilizing single cell RNA sequencing technology.Methods:Four patients provided a total of 12 samples, each consisting of keloid tissue before and after radiotherapy and the normal skin tissue adjacent to the untreated keloid. The keloid was divided into left and right sides from the midline, and the left-side keloid was fractionally irradiated with 20 Gy electron beam in total in 4 consecutive days. The right-side keloid was irradiated with 10 Gy in 2 fractions before surgery and 10 Gy in 2 fractions after surgery.Results:A total of 25 573 fibroblasts were analyzed and categorized into nine subgroups (fibroblasts 1-9). The proportion of fibroblast-2 increased after radiotherapy ( t=4.70, P<0.05). The number of classical monocytes and macrophages increased after radiotherapy, but there was no significant difference due to the shorter time of sample taking at 2 d after radiotherapy ( P>0.05). Macrophages (4 723 cells) were further divided into four categories. CellPhoneDB analysis showed that type-3 macrophages interacted significantly more closely with fibroblasts than type-1 and type-2 macrophages. The most prominent signaling pathways for the interactions between type-3 macrophages and major fibroblast subtypes were the collagen signaling pathway and the chemerin signaling pathway. These interactions were more pronounced in the keloid samples after radiotherapy. Conclusions:The interactions between type-3 macrophages and fibroblasts (such as fibroblast-2) may serve as an important point for future studies on radio-sensitization of keloids.

Objective:To investigate radiation-induced somatic mutations and variations and provide theoretical basis for clarifying radiation-induced genetic changes and long-term effects by whole-genome sequencing analysis of the genetic variations of the victim of the " 5.7" 192Ir radiation accident in Nanjing. Methods:Normal back skin tissue, irradiated bone and soft tissues, and peripheral blood were collected from the victim 2 047 days post-irradiation. DNA of these samples was extracted and sequenced with high-throughput genomics and analyzed by bioinformatics method. The genetic variations of between irradiated and normal tissues were compared.Results:Compared with normal back skin tissue, there are large amounts of genetic variations in the irradiated bone and soft tissues and peripheral blood, including base substitution (transition, transversion), small insertion, small deletion, copy number variation (gain, loss) and structure variation (large deletion, large duplication, inversion, intra-chromosomal translocation, inter-chromosomal translocation). There were 10 666 genetic variations in the irradiated bone and soft tissues and 11 233 genetic variations in peripheral blood, where thousands of genes were involved in. These variations occurred in the exons, introns, UTR′3, UTR′5, splicing sites, within 5 kb upstream of transcription initiation site, within 5 kb downstream of transcription termination site, ncRNA and intergenic region. All chromosomes had genetic variations.Conclusions:There were a large number of genetic variations in the irradiated tissues and blood of the victim at 2 047 days after irradiation, which may affect the body function and cause the long-term effects.

Objective:To investigate the effect of ionizing radiation on the ferroptosis of skin cells and the potential therapeutic strategy of ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) on irradiated skin cells.Methods:HaCaT cells were pre-treated with Fer-1 before X-ray irradiation. After irradiation, CCK-8 assay and LDH release assay were used to detect cell viability and cell death, flow cytometry was used to detect the lipid peroxidation levels, crystal violet staining assay was used to detect colony forming ability, and the expressions of ferroptosis related proteins ACSL4 and GPX4 were detected by Western blot.Results:The cell viability of HaCaT cells was significantly decreased ( t=5.63, 8.74, P<0.05) and the release of LDH was significantly increased ( t=3.98, 5.08, 9.27, P<0.05) after different doses of X-ray irradiation. The cell viability was improved ( t=5.79, P<0.05) and the release of LDH was reduced ( t=12.36, 11.96, 18.13, 9.96, P<0.05) after the pre-treatment with Fer-1. The lipid peroxidation levels of HaCaT cells were significantly increased ( t=9.59, P<0.05) and the clonogenic survival ability were reduced ( t=4.26, P<0.05) after 10 Gy X-ray irradiation, while Fer-1 pre-treatment reduced ( t=6.48, 17.04, P<0.05) the increase of lipid peroxidation level induced by X-ray irradiation and also effectively restore ( t=3.96, P<0.05) the clonogenic survival ability. The expressions of ACSL4 and GPX4 were decreased after 10 Gy X-ray irradiation, while they recovered to normal level ( t=5.23, 7.16, 4.78, 8.29, 6.43, P<0.05) after the pre-treatment with Fer-1. Conclusions:Ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 alleviates the progress of radiation-induced skin injury by inhibiting ferroptosis after ionizing radiation at the cellular level, which provides a potential strategy for the protection of radiation injury.

Objective To quantitatively assess the cardiopulmonary exercise function of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and observe the effect of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function, motor function and activities of daily living. Methods From December, 2014 to June, 2016, 34 incomplete SCI patients (ASIA C and D) and 23 healthy controls received cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). SCI pa-tients were randomly divided into conventional rehabilitation group (n=17) and aerobic exercise group (n=17). The aerobic exercise group received aerobic exercise for four weeks. They were assessed with CPET, motor and sensory function, walking index for spinal cord injury II (WISCI II) and spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) before and four weeks after training. Results Oxygen uptake (VO2)peak, anaerobic threshold (AT), metabolic equivalent of energy (METpeak), VO2/heart rate (HR)peak, respiratory exchange rate (RER)peak, minute ventilation (VE)peak, work rate (WR)peak and systolic blood pressure (SBP)peak were lower in the patients than in the controls (t>2.714, P<0.05). VO2peak、AT、METpeak、VO2/HRpeak、WRpeak increased in the aerobic exercise group after training (t>2.431, P<0.05). METpeak and WRpeak improved in the conventional rehabilitation group after training (t>3.282, P<0.01). The scores of motor in ASIA and SCIM improved in both groups after training (t>2.985, P<0.05). Conclusion The cardiopulmonary function decreased in incomplete SCI patients, which could be improved by moderate intensity aerobic exercise.