1.The role of CYP2E1 in trichloroethylene-induced skin sensitization and liver damage in guinea pigs
Lijuan WU ; Xiangrong SONG ; Fengrong LU ; Hongling LI ; Jiaheng HE ; Xiao ZHANG ; Hailan WANG
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):249-256
Objective To investigate the role of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) in trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced skin sensitization and liver damage in guinea pigs, using diallyl sulfide (DAS), a CYP2E1 inhibitor, as an intervention. Methods Specific pathogen-free female guinea pigs were randomly divided into blank control group, solvent control group, positive control (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene) group, TCE-exposure group, and DAS-intervention group. Skin sensitization experiments were conducted using the guinea pig TCE maximal dose-skin sensitization test. Urinary trichloroacetic acid levels were determined following TCE induction and challenge. At 48 hours after the final challenge, serum liver function markers and inflammatory cytokines levels were detected. Histopathological examination on skin and liver tissues was performed, and hepatic CYP2E1 protein expression and oxidative stress indicators were assessed. Results The sensitization rates of guinea pigs were 100.0%, 75.0%, and 33.3% in the positive control, TCE-exposure, and DAS-intervention groups, respectively, while the blank control and solvent control groups were both 0.0%. Compared with the guinea pigs in TCE-exposure group, those in the DAS-intervention group had lower urinary trichloroacetic acid levels at intradermal induction, local induction, first challenge, and 24 hours after the final challenge time point (all P<0.05). Histopathology of guinea pigs showed dermal inflammatory infiltration and basal keratinocyte necrosis in the TCE-exposure group, whereas only mild dermal inflammation was observed in the DAS-intervention group. The guinea pigs in TCE-exposure group exhibited diffuse hepatocellular necrosis, while hepatic damage in the DAS-intervention group was alleviated, characterized by only mild hepatocellular steatosis and hepatocyte swelling around the central vein. The skin sensitization rate of guinea pigs in the TCE-exposure group increased (all P<0.01), the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT )activity, the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) increased (all P<0.05), the relative expression of CYP2E1 protein, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the level of malondialdehyde in liver tissue increased (all P<0.05), while the activity of catalase decreased (P<0.05), compared with the blank control and solvent control groups. The serum ALT activity and the levels of IL-2, IL-17, and TNF-α of guinea pigs in DAS-intervention group reduced (all P<0.05), as well as CYP2E1 protein expression, SOD activity, and malondialdehyde level in liver tissue reduced (all P<0.05), compared with the TCE-exposure group. Conclusion TCE can induce hepatic CYP2E1 expression, thereby promoting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which contributes to skin sensitization and liver damage. DAS alleviates TCE-induced toxic effects on skin and liver by inhibiting CYP2E1 expression.
2.Effects of long-term exposure to new types of light emitting diode sources on neurobehavior of rats
Fengrong LU ; Zhaoyang FENG ; Yihua SHI ; Guoliang LI ; Jiewei ZHENG ; Yuli ZENG ; Xiangrong SONG ; Xiao ZHANG ; Hongling LI ; Lihai ZENG ; Zhiwei XIE ; Jin WU ; Wenliang ZHOU ; Hailan WANG
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(6):614-621
Objective To investigate the effects of long-term exposure to three new types of light emitting diode (LED) sources on the behavior, learning, and memory of rats. Methods A total of 160 specific pathogen-free SD rats were divided into eight groups as followed, trichromatic fluorescent lamps color temperature control group, violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group, blue-chip white LED group, and blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group based on the light sources types, with color temperature of 4 000 K and 6 500 K groups in each group using the 4×2 factorial design. There were 20 rats in each group, with half of the rats were males and half females. Rats were exposed to artificial lighting, and the illumination was set at 750 lx. The rats in each group were exposed to different lighting environments for 12 hours per day for 24 weeks. The open-field and step-down tests were conducted in rats after 24 weeks exposure, followed by sacrifice of rats and measurement of organ coefficients. Differences in body weight, organ coefficients, and neurobehavioral indexes of rats in different groups were compared. Results The spleen coefficient of female rats decreased in blue-chip white LED of 6 500 K color temperature group, and the liver coefficient of male rats decreased in the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED of 4 000 K color temperature, blue-chip full-spectrum white LED of 4 000 K color temperature, and blue-chip full-spectrum white LED of 6 500 K color temperature groups, compared with the same-sex rats in trichromatic fluorescent lamps with same-color temperature control group (all P<0.05). The result of different types of light sources compared in the open-field test showed that the index of total distance and movement speed of female rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group were lower than those in the other three groups, and the time cost to the central area was longer than that in the blue-chip white LED group and the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group (all P<0.05). The total distance and movement speed of male rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group were longer or higher than those in the violet-chip full-spectrum white LED group (all P<0.05). Based on the comparison of color temperature, the time and total distance of male rats in 6 500 K color temperature group were lower than that in the 4 000 K color temperature group (both P<0.05). In the step-down test, both male and female rats in the blue-chip full-spectrum white LED group made more errors compared with other three groups with the same gender (all P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the experimental conditions of this study, the blue-chip full-spectrum white light LED affects behavior, learning and memory of the rats, and trichromatic fluorescent lamp has the lowest effect on neurobehavior. The color temperature also affects behavior of the rats, and high color temperature has higher risk.
3.Sodium alginate coating simultaneously increases the biosafety and immunotherapeutic activity of the cationic mRNA nanovaccine.
Xing DUAN ; Yi ZHANG ; Mengran GUO ; Na FAN ; Kepan CHEN ; Shugang QIN ; Wen XIAO ; Qian ZHENG ; Hai HUANG ; Xiawei WEI ; Yuquan WEI ; Xiangrong SONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(3):942-954
The extraordinary advantages associated with mRNA vaccines, including their high efficiency, relatively low severity of side effects, and ease of manufacture, have enabled them to be a promising immunotherapy approach against various infectious diseases and cancers. Nevertheless, most mRNA delivery carriers have many disadvantages, such as high toxicity, poor biocompatibility, and low efficiency in vivo, which have hindered the widespread use of mRNA vaccines. To further characterize and solve these problems and develop a new type of safe and efficient mRNA delivery carrier, a negatively charged SA@DOTAP-mRNA nanovaccine was prepared in this study by coating DOTAP-mRNA with the natural anionic polymer sodium alginate (SA). Intriguingly, the transfection efficiency of SA@DOTAP-mRNA was significantly higher than that of DOTAP-mRNA, which was not due to the increase in cellular uptake but was associated with changes in the endocytosis pathway and the strong lysosome escape ability of SA@DOTAP-mRNA. In addition, we found that SA significantly increased the expression of LUC-mRNA in mice and achieved certain spleen targeting. Finally, we confirmed that SA@DOTAP-mRNA had a stronger antigen-presenting ability in E. G7-OVA tumor-bearing mice, dramatically inducing the proliferation of OVA-specific CLTs and ameliorating the antitumor effect. Therefore, we firmly believe that the coating strategy applied to cationic liposome/mRNA complexes is of potential research value in the field of mRNA delivery and has promising clinical application prospects.
4.Effects of regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by TYROBP on neuroinflammation and autophagy
Xiangrong XIAO ; Li GONG ; Yunliang ZHU ; Xinyu YANG ; Yanlei HAO ; Ruolin LI
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2023;42(11):1330-1336
Objective:To investigate the effects of TYRO protein tyrosine-binding protein(TYROBP)on neuroinflammation and autophagy via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in a transgenic APP/ PS1 mouse model of AD. Methods:C57BL/6J, TYROBP-/- and APP/ PS1 transgenic male mice aged 15-month-old were randomly divided into 3 group: the C57BL/6J group, the TYROBP-/- group and the APP/ PS1 group, with 19 in each group.The eight-arm maze test and novel object recognition test were conducted to assess the learning and memory ability of mice.The activation of microglia and NLRP3 inflammasomes were assessed by immunofluorescence.The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were measured by real-time PCR, and the protein expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, SQSTM1, LC3B, TYROBP, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT and AKT were assayed by Western blot. Results:Compared with the C57BL/6J group, the learning and memory abilities were significantly decreased(all P<0.05), activated microglia and NLRP3 inflammasomes were increased(all P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were increased(all P<0.05)and the protein expression levels of LC3B-Ⅱ, SQSTM1, TYROBP, p-PI3K, p-AKT were increased(all P<0.05)in the APP/ PS1 group.Compared with C57BL/6J group, the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, LC3B Ⅱ, SQSTM1, p-PI3K and p-AKT were decreased(all P<0.05). Conclusions:TYROBP promotes the inflammatory response and inhibits autophagy possibly by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus participating in the occurrence and development of AD.
5.Tyrobp promotes neuroinflammation in Tourette's syndrome model mice and related mechanisms
Xiangrong XIAO ; Ran SUN ; Xinyu YANG ; Ruolin LI ; Yanlei HAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2022;31(12):1066-1072
Objective:To explore the effects and possible mechanisms of Tyrobp gene on neuroinflammation in Tourette's syndrome mice.Methods:Twenty C57BL/ 6J and Tyrobp knock-out male mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups according to random number table method: WT+ NS group, Tyrobp -/-+ NS group, WT+ IDPN group and Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group. Mice in WT+ IDPN group and Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group were injected with IDPN intraperitoneally at a dose of 150 mg/kg·d, while mice in WT+ NS group and Tyrobp -/-+ NS group were injected with equal volume of normal saline, once a day for 7 days. Then stereotypical behavior of mice were evaluated. Western blot was used to detect the levels of Tyrobp, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR4, Myd88, p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα in the striatum of mice. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the activation of microglia. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 software, and t-test was used for comparison between two groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the means of multiple samples, and LSD test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:The results of behavior assessment showed that there were significant differences in the motor stereotypic behavior and categorical stereotypic behavior score( F=270.9, 379.7, P<0.01), and the scores in WT+ IDPN group were higher than those in Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group (motor stereotypic behavior: (3.23±0.26), (2.13±0.21), t=9.02, P<0.05; categorical stereotypic behavior: (45.80±4.29), (26.60±3.48), t=12.00, P<0.05). Western blot results showed that there were significant differences in the protein expression level of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR4, Myd88, p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα ( F=29.07, 23.09, 39.36, 57.6, 52.55, 15.50, 40.48, all P<0.05), the level of those in WT + IDPN group was higher than those in WT+ NS group( t=8.31, 7.37, 8.13, 11.43, 10.47, 6.05, 9.96, all P<0.05), Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group was higher than Tyrobp -/-+ NS group ( t=3.60, 3.00, 5.84, 4.81, 3.59, 2.26, 4.68, all P<0.05), and WT + IDPN group was higher than Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group ( t=3.97, 3.93, 4.14, 6.40, 7.63, 3.45, 3.03, all P<0.05). Immunofluorescence showed that microglial cells in the striatum region of mice in WT+ IDPN group and Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group were enlarged and microglial cells were activated, and the activation pattern of microglial cells in WT+ IDPN group was more obvious than that in Tyrobp -/-+ IDPN group. Conclusion:Tyrobp may be involved in the pathogenesis of Tourette's syndrome by promoting neuroinflammation mediated by TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
6.The role of microglia in Alzheimer′s disease
Xiangrong XIAO ; Ruolin LI ; Yanlei HAO
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2022;55(5):520-524
At present, many drugs were developed based on the main pathological feature of Alzheimer′s disease (AD): "β-amyloid cascade hypothesis and abnormal tau protein aggregation" as targets, but the efficacy is unsatisfactory. With the progress on the study of pathological mechanism of AD, the role of microglia and their related expression genes, such as TREM2, CD 33, ABCA7 gene and their related signal transduction pathways in the pathological mechanism of AD has been paid more and more attention. The study on AD biomarkers and therapeutic targets based on microglia and their related expression genes has also increased significantly. This review will mainly focus on the pathophysiology of microglia, the mechanism of microglia in AD, the biomarkers related to microglia and the drug treatment of AD.
7.Rehabilitation of Moderate Intermittent Hypoxia on Clinical Related Diseases (review)
Xiao-li LIU ; Xiangrong SHI ; Zheng XIANG ; Huan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2021;27(10):1190-1198
Objective:To systematically review the rehabilitation effects of moderate intermittent hypoxia on clinical related diseases. Methods:Literatures about rehabilitation effects of moderate intermittent hypoxia on clinical related diseases from 2004 to 2021 were searched in PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI and Wanfang databases using a systematic review method. Results:A total of 27 literatures were included, which focused on the effects on neural system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the regulation of metabolic and the improvement of exercise ability. Conclusion:Moderate intermittent hypoxia could improve the cognitive function, alleviate the symptoms of ischemic stroke, accelerate the recovery of spinal cord injury, resist depression and reduce blood pressure; regulate metabolism, improve aerobic capacity, enhance respiratory function and myocardial function. However, more researches are needed to make it clear that the standard on the duration of hypoxia within episodes, the number of hypoxia/reoxygenation cycles (episodes) per session every day, the pattern of presentation, and the cumulative duration of exposure.
8.Development and Validation of a Prognostic NomogramBased on Clinical and CT Features for Adverse OutcomePrediction in Patients with COVID-19
Yingyan ZHENG ; Anling XIAO ; Xiangrong YU ; Yajing ZHAO ; Yiping LU ; Xuanxuan LI ; Nan MEI ; Dejun SHE ; Dongdong WANG ; Daoying GENG ; Bo YIN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2020;21(8):1007-1017
Objective:
The purpose of our study was to investigate the predictive abilities of clinical and computed tomography (CT)features for outcome prediction in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Materials and Methods:
The clinical and CT data of 238 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in our two hospitalswere retrospectively analyzed. One hundred sixty-six patients (103 males; age 43.8 ± 12.3 years) were allocated in thetraining cohort and 72 patients (38 males; age 45.1 ± 15.8 years) from another independent hospital were assigned in thevalidation cohort. The primary composite endpoint was admission to an intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilation, ordeath. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to identify independent predictors. Anomogram was constructed based on the combination of clinical and CT features, and its prognostic performance wasexternally tested in the validation group. The predictive value of the combined model was compared with models built on theclinical and radiological attributes alone.
Results:
Overall, 35 infected patients (21.1%) in the training cohort and 10 patients (13.9%) in the validation cohortexperienced adverse outcomes. Underlying comorbidity (hazard ratio [HR], 3.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67–6.71;p < 0.001), lymphocyte count (HR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.04–0.38; p < 0.001) and crazy-paving sign (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.03–4.48;p = 0.042) were the independent factors. The nomogram displayed a concordance index (C-index) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76–0.88),and its prognostic value was confirmed in the validation cohort with a C-index of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82–0.96). The combinedmodel provided the best performance over the clinical or radiological model (p < 0.050).
Conclusion
Underlying comorbidity, lymphocyte count and crazy-paving sign were independent predictors of adverseoutcomes. The prognostic nomogram based on the combination of clinical and CT features could be a useful tool for predictingadverse outcomes of patients with COVID-19.
9. Effects of γ-aminobutyric acid on feeding changes in rats and its potential mechanism
Qian WANG ; Hui LENG ; Xiao LUAN ; Feifei GUO ; Xiangrong SUN ; Shengli GAO ; Luo XU
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2019;28(11):971-977
Objective:
To investigate whether γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of thalamic undefined (ZI)-nucleus accumbens (NAc) neural pathways on gastric distraction (GD)-sensitive neuronal firing activity and the impact on food intake, the number of times and the frequency in rats.
Methods:
Six rats were randomly selected and the neural pathway between ZI and NAc in rat thalamus was observed by fluorescent gold (FG) retrograde tracing method.Eighty-two rats were randomly selected, and the gastric balloon was placed in gastric cavity, the microelectrode was placed in the NAc, and the stimulating electrode was placed in the ZI. The single-cell discharge recording method was used to observe the effect of electrical stimulation ZI on the excitability of GD-sensitive neurons in rat NAc.Eighteen rats were randomly selected and were divided into three groups according to the random number table. They were NS group, GABA group, GABA + GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline (BIC) group with 6 in each group, and the rat NAc was used to embed the cannula. The method of GABA and BIC was injected to observe the changes of cumulative food intake in rats for 4 h. Eighteen rats were randomly selected and randomly divided into three groups: sham stimulation (SS) group, 50 μA electrical stimulation group, 50 μA electrical stimulation + BIC group with 6 in each group. The 4 h cumulative food intake of rats was observed by electro-stimulation of rat ZI and rat NAc injection of BIC.
Results:
Fluorescent gold retrograde tracking combined with fluorescent immunohistochemical staining showed that there were visible GABA and fluorescent gold double labeled neurons in ZI. Electrical stimulation of ZI, the frequency of GABA-sensitive GD neurons in rat NAc increased significantly (GD-E increase: (78.8±8.4)%, GD-I increase: (89.3±9.2)%,
10.Effects of orexin-A on firing activity of gastric distension-sensitive neurons in the basomedial amygdala and food intake in diet-induced obese rats
Mi WANG ; Xiangrong SUN ; Feifei GUO ; Xiao LUAN ; Luo XU
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2018;27(9):769-776
Objective To investigate the effects of orexin-A on firing activity of gastric distensionsensitive (GD) neurons in the basomedial amygdala (BMA) and food intake in diet-indaced obese rats.Methods Healthy male Wistar rats were selected,and the diet-induced obesity (DIO) rat model and dietinduced resistant (DR) rat model were established by high-fat diet.The effects of orexin-A and an opioid receptor antagonist naloxone on BMA GD neurons were observed by recording the extracellular potentials of single neurons.The effects of orexin-A and naloxone on the food intake of different rats were observed by using BMA catheterization.The mRNA expression and protein expression of orexin-1 receptor (OX-1R) and μ opioid receptor were detected by real-time PCR and Elisa,respectively.Results After microinjection of orexinA into the BMA,the firing frequency of GD-sensitive neurons in the normal rats was significantly increased (GD-E:(78.3±6.9)%,GD-Ⅰ:(55.5±4.7) %,P<0.01),and this effect was completely blocked by OX-1R receptor antagonist SB334867,and naloxone partially blocked the discharge-promoting effect of orexin-A;Compared with the normal rats,the firing frequency of GD-sensitive neurons in the DIO (GD-E:(91.6±7.1) %,GD-Ⅰ:(67.9±8.1) %) and DR(GD-E:(87.9±6.8) %,GD-Ⅰ:(69.2±5.8) %) rats was significantly increased after BMA injection of orexin-A (P<0.05).After administration of orexin-A into the BMA,food intake of the normal rats,DIO rats and DR rats ((2.38±0.34) g,(3.75 ±0.32) g,(4.01 ±0.38) g,respectively) was significantly increased (P<0.01),and the food intake of DR and DIO rats were significantly higher than that of normal rats (P<0.05).After BMA was injected with naloxone,the food intake of rats was inhibited,and the food intake of the DIO rats was significantly lower than that of the DR rats (P<0.05),food intake of the DR rats was significantly lower than that of the normal rats (P<0.05).The results of real-time PCR showed that the mRNA levels of OX-1R in DIO and DR rats were(5.85±0.45)and (6.03±0.42)were higher than that of normal rats,and the difference was significant (P<0.05);and mRNA levels of μ-opioid receptors in DIO and DR rats((4.51±0.42) and (8.31±0.41) times) were higher than those in normal rats (P<0.05).The results of Elisa showed that the protein levels of OX-1R in DIO ((2.98±0.28) ng/μl)and DR rats ((3.05±0.31) ng/μl) were higher than those in normal rats ((1.53±0.31) ng/μl,P<0.05).The content of μ-opioid receptor protein in DR rats ((4.21±0.35) ng/μl) was higher than that of DIO rats ((2.77±0.27) ng/μl),and higher than that of normal rats((1.48±0.32) ng/μ),the difference was significant (P<0.05).Conclusion BMA orexin-A promotes the spontaneous discharge of GD-sensitive neurons and food intake in normal rats,DIO rats and DR rats,μ-opioid receptors may be involved in the regulation of this process.

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