1.Review of Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides: Extraction process, structural features, bioactivities and applications.
Hongyue TIAN ; Lingzhuo AN ; Pengwang WANG ; Xuemin ZHANG ; Wenyuan GAO ; Xia LI
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(1):56-69
Astragalus membranaceus possesses the function of enhancing immunity, protecting the liver, diuretic, anti-aging, anti-stress, anti-hypertensive, and more extensive antibacterial effects. Polysaccharides, one kind of the major active ingredients of A. membranaceus, are considered to be responsible for their versatile use. Now, a systematic summary of research progress and prospects of polysaccharides from A. membranaceus polysaccharides (AMPs) is necessary to facilitate their further study and application. In this review, the optimal extraction methods, structural features, biological activities, and applications of AMPs were emphasized. The structure-activity relationships are also analyzed and elucidated. Solvent, ultrasonic, microwave, enzyme-assisted, ultra-high pressure, and combined methods have been used to extract AMPs. Among them, solvent extraction is the most commonly used method because it is simple and easy to operate, but the efficiency needs to be improved further. The ultra-high pressure method is the most efficient but has a low economic return. AMPs exhibited various bioactivities, including immunomodulation, antitumor, and antidiabete. The structure-activity relationships revealed that different structure configurations, chain conformations, and physical properties would have different bioactivities. However, the new method for purification of certain polysaccharides, detailed structure-activity relationships (SAR), mechanisms of bioactivities, and quality control of AMPs need to be extensively investigated.
2.Overexpression of Ptpn2 inhibits SiO2-mediated inflammatory response in alveolar type II epithelial cells
Mengfei FENG ; Yi WEI ; Xinru SUN ; Jingshuo GONG ; Xuemin GAO ; Hong XU ; Ying ZHU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(4):482-489
Background Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type II (PTPN2) is essential for the regulation of inflammation and immunity, but the specific mechanism of action of Ptpn2 in silicosis is unknown. Objective To investigate the regulatory role of overexpression of Ptpn2 in SiO2-mediated inflammatory response in alveolar type II epithelial cells based on transcriptome sequencing. Methods This study was an in vitro study. A negative control group (vector transferred) and an overexpression of Ptpn2 group of mouse lung epithelial cell line MLE-12 cells were firstly constructed. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed mRNAs, and differentially expressed ncRNAs in the two groups of MLE-12 cells, and then the DEGs were analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Constructed MLE-12 cells and A549 cells were stimulated using SiO2 suspension, and divided into a negative control group (vector transferred), an overexpression of Ptpn2 group, a negative control + SiO2 group, and an overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO2 group, respectively. Protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-2, IL-1β were detected by Western blot. Positive TNF-α expression was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression level of PTPN2 was up-regulated in the overexpressed Ptpn2 group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05). The volcano plot and clustering heat map showed that there were
3.Mechanistic study on low expression of Ace2 gene activated senescence-related signals and promoted the progression of silicotic fibrosis in mice
Yifei BAI ; Zejin LI ; Xuliang AN ; Wenchen CAI ; Xuemin GAO ; Yaqian LI
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(5):344-352
Objective:To observe the effects of low expressed Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( Ace2) gene on senescence related signals of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells in silicotic mice. Methods:In March 2022, 20 8-12W SPF male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and 20 Ace2 gene knockdown mice (Ace2 +/-, C57BL/6 background) were randomly divided into wild-type control group, Ace2 low expression group, wild-type silicosis group, Ace2 low expression silicosis group, with 10 mice in each group. In vitro MLE-12 cells were divided into control group, MLN-4760 (ACE2 inhibitor) group, SiO 2 group and SiO 2+MLN-4760 group. The expression of ACE2, collagen I (Col I), fibronectin 1 (Fn1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), phosphorylation-ataxia telangiectasia-mutated serine/threonine kinase (p-ATM), phosphorylation-ATM Rad3-related kinase (p-ATR), p-p53, p21 and p16 in mice and MLE-12 cells were detected by Western blotting. The expression and location of β-galactosidase were detected by immunofluorescence, β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining were used to detect the senescence of MLE-12 cells. Results:HE and VG staining results showed that typical silicon nodules with collagen deposition were formed in the lung of wild-type silicotic mice and Ace2 low expression silicotic mice. Immunofluorescence staining results showed that β-galactosidase was mainly located in alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells. Western blot results showed that, compared with wild-type silicosis group, the expression of Col I, α-SMA, p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53, p21 and p16 in Ace2 low expression silicosis group were significantly up-regulated by 540.71%、26.58%、336.84%、139.58%、152.78%、120.10% and 994.63% ( P<0.05). In MLE-12 cells, results of western blot showed that compared with SiO 2 group, the expression levels of p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53, p21 and p16 in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group were significantly up-regulated by 168.71%、750.78%、149.51%、554.26% and 254.07% ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with SiO 2 group, β-galactosidase positive cells were strongly up-regulated in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group, and SA-β-Gal staining results showed that compared with SiO 2 group, the number of senescent cells in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group increased by 63.18% ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Low expression of Ace2 gene activated senescence related signals of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells and promoted the progression of silicotic fibrosis in mice.
4.Imaging features of pathological myopic perivascular abnormalities and macular retinoschisis and their correlation with clinical features
Guangqi AN ; Min ZHANG ; Pei LIU ; Chenyu LU ; Wenna GAO ; Xuemin JIN ; Liping DU
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(2):98-105
Objective:To observe and analyze the imaging features of pathologic myopic paravascular abnormalities (PVA) and macular retinoschisis (MRS) and their relationship with clinical features.Methods:A retrospective case series study. A total of 371 eyes of 224 patients with pathological myopia with PVA and/or MRS diagnosed by examination in Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2021 to December 2023 were included in the study. There were 74 eyes in 48 males and 297 eyes in 176 females. Age were 54 (49, 61) years; equivalent spherical lens (SE) was -13.375 (-18.00,-10.00) D. Axial length (AL) was 29.84 (28.27, 31.24) mm. According to the features of ultra-wide-angle sweep source optical coherence tomography, PVA morphology was divided into blood vessels and paravascular microfolds, paravascular retinal cysts, paravascular retinal splits and paravascular lamellar macular holes. MRS was divided into inner layer, outer layer and mixed layer according to splitting level, and grouped accordingly. The presence of dome-shaped macula (DSM), internal and external lamellar macular hole, and full lamellar macular hole (FTMH) were recorded. According to whether PVA combined with MRS or not, the affected eyes were divided into PVA group and PVA combined with MRS group. According to whether MRS involved the fovea, the affected eyes were divided into two groups: MRS not involved the fovea group and MRS involved the fovea group. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare age, SE and AL among different groups. Qualitative data were compared by χ2 test. Results:In 371 eyes, there were 120 eyes in the simple PVA group; in the MRS group, there were 251 eyes, of which 208 eyes were in the PVA combined with MRS group. There were 33, 27, 3, 14, 12, 56, 28, and 7 eyes with or without retinal detachment, choroidal neovascularization, DSM, preretinal membrane, and simple superficial detachment of neuroepithelium in inner lamina, outer lamina, and FTMH, respectively. In 328 eyes with PVA, blood vessels and paravascular microfolds, paravascular retinal cysts, paravascular retinal splits and paravascular lamellar macular holes were 151, 236, 202 and 72 eyes, respectively. There were 142 eyes with single lesion (43.29%, 142/328). There were 186 eyes with 2 or more lesions (56.71%, 186/328). There were 34 eyes in the inner MRS group, 92 eyes in the outer MRS group and 125 eyes in the mixed MRS group, respectively. It involved 155 eyes in the fovea group; 96 eyes in the fovea group were not involved. There were significant differences in the number of PVA eyes between the outer MRS group, the inner MRS group and the mixed MRS group ( χ2=30.614, 28.379; P<0.001). Compared with PVA group, PVA group combined with MRS group was more likely to have two or more PVA lesions, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=30.535, P<0.001). Compared with the inner MRS group and mixed MRS group, the age of the simple PVA group was younger, and the age of the outer MRS group was older, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with the inner MRS group and the outer MRS group, the simple PVA group had short AL, less myopia and better optimal corrected visual acuity (BCVA), while the mixed MRS group had long AL, more myopia and worse BCVA, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with the PVA group and the inner MRS group, the fovea was more involved in the outer MRS group and the mixed MRS group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=3.906, 10.836; P<0.05). Those with MRS involved in fovea were older, AL was longer, myopia was more severe, and BCVA was worse ( P<0.001). DSM-associated splits were less likely to involve macula ( P<0.001). Conclusion:PVA and MRS exhibit a variety of presentations, and their imaging features correlate with clinical features.
5.Association between CHRM1 gene polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility to high myopia in the Han population of Henan province
Fan YANG ; Min ZHANG ; Guangqi AN ; Wenna GAO ; Liping DU ; Xuemin JIN
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(3):194-199
Objective:To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the CHRM1 gene and genetic susceptibility to high myopia (HM) in the Han population of Henan Province. Methods:A retrospective case-control study. From January 2021 to April 2023, 576 HM patients (HM group) and 768 healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited from the Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. All participants were of Han ethnicity from Henan Province. SNP data for the CHRM1 gene in the Northern Han Chinese population were downloaded from the 1000 Genomes Project Online Website, with screening criteria of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium P>0.05 and minor allele frequency> 0.05. Haploview software was used to analyze HapMap genotypes, identifying 5 tagSNP: rs55885673, rs544978, rs56995061, rs1942499, and rs2075748. MassARRAY system was employed for genotyping the 5 tagSNP loci. The SHEsis online software was employed to analyze the distribution differences of genotypes and allele frequencies between the two groups. Linkage disequilibrium coefficient D' was used to evaluate the recombination events between SNP loci, and haplotypes with frequencies exceeding 3% were constructed for statistical analysis. Results:The age of the HM group was significantly lower than that of the control group ( t=18.515, P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed in gender distribution ( χ2=2.869, P=0.087). Compared with the control group, the HM group showed significantly higher frequencies of the C allele [odds ratio ( OR)=1.44, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.09-1.91, Pc=0.045)] and CC genotype ( OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.11-2.02, Pc=0.038) at the rs56995061 locus, and significantly lower frequencies of the T allele ( OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.52-0.91, Pc=0.045) and CT genotype ( OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.49-0.91, Pc=0.045). Additionally, the CT genotype frequency at the rs2075748 locus was significantly lower in the HM group ( OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.53-0.84, Pc=0.002). The haplotype G-T-A-A formed by rs55885673-rs56995061-rs1942499-rs544978 was significantly less frequent in the HM group ( OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.94, P=0.170). Conclusions:The polymorphisms at the SNP loci rs56995061 and rs2075748 in the CHRM1 gene are associated with the genetic susceptibility to high myopia in the Chinese Han population. The G-T-A-A haplotype composed of rs55885673-rs56995061-rs1942499-rs544978 reduces the susceptibility to high myopia.
6.miR-411-3p attenuates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by suppressing alveolar type II epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting SMURF2 regulation
Siyi WANG ; Jiakun DU ; Siyuan SHAN ; Bingbing LI ; Xinyu WANG ; Zhongqiu WEI ; Hong XU ; Xuemin GAO
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(12):1438-1445
Background Pneumoconiosis is the most serious occupational disease in China, among which silicosis accounts for more than 50%. microRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the occurrence process of silicosis fibrosis, but the mechanism of it has not been fully clarified yet. Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which miR-411-3p modulates the ubiquitination degradation of SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (SMURF) 2/Smad7, thereby suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells and counteracting silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Twenty-four 8-week-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, silica group, silica +miR-411-3p agomir-NC group, and silica +miR-411-3p agomir group, with 6 mice in each group. Silicosis model was prepared by a one-time bronchial infusion of silicon dioxide (SiO2) (200 mg·mL-1, 50 μL). In vitro MLE-12 cells were divided into (1) control group and SiO2 group, (2) SiO2+negative control siRNA (siRNA-NC) group and SiO2+Smurf2 gene silencing (si-Smurf2) group, (3) SiO2+solvent (DMSO) group and SiO2+protease inhibitor (MG132) group, (4) mutant sequence plasmid (Mut)+miR-411-3p mimic control (miR-NC) group, Mut+miR-411-3p mimic group, wild sequence plasmid (Wt)+miR-NC group, and Wt+miR-411-3p mimic group, (5) SiO2+miR-NC group and SiO2+miR-411-3p mimic group. The pathological morphology and collagen deposition of lung tissue were observed after staining. Detection of miR-411-3p and proteins was conducted by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot. The binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 protein and Smad7 to ubiquitin (Ub) were detected by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) method. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was adopted to verify the regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2. Results In the SiO2-induced MLE-12 cells, compared to the control group, the SiO2-treated group showed significantly upregulated expressions of N-cadherin (N-Cad), collagen I (CoL I), SMURF2, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3). In contrast, the expressions of E-cadherin (E-Cad), Smad7, and miR-411-3p were significantly downregulated (P<0.05). The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay revealed a regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, in the MLE-12 cells induced by SiO2, the miR-411-3p mimic down-regulated the protein expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3, while up-regulated the protein expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 (P<0.05). The silenced Smurf2 gene inhibited the expressions of N-Cad, CoL I, and p-Smad2/3 proteins, while promoted the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 proteins in the MLE-12 cells (P<0.05). The Co-IP results showed that the binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 was enhanced, and the ubiquitin binding ability of Smad7 was enhanced in the SiO2 group. In the lung tissue of mice, the results of pathological observation with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and sirius red (VG) staining showed that compared with the agomir-NC, the lesion was relieved in the lung tissue of the miR-411-3p agomir group. Meanwhile, the expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3 were significantly down-regulated, while the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion MiR-411-3p alleviates the EMT of alveolar type II epithelial cells and antagonizes silicosis fibrosis progression in mice by inhibiting SMURF2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Smad7.
7.The effect of different particle activities and tumor shrinkage speed on the dosimetric parameters of the target area after 125I particle implantation
Huimin YU ; Jinxin ZHAO ; Jiantao DONG ; Xuemin DI ; Zhen GAO ; Juan WANG ; Hongtao ZHANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(3):272-277
Objective To discuss the effect of different particle activities and tumor shrinkage speed on the dosimetric parameters of the target area at the same prescription dose after 125I particle implantation.Methods A 6cm-sized cube tumor model was outlined by using a computerized three-dimensional treatment planning system(3D-TPS)with a prescription dose(PD)of 100 Gy,and 125I particle activities of 0.4 mCi and 0.8 mCi were selected.Assuming that the tumor shrinks centripetally after seed implantation and that the 125I particles were uniformly and centripetally concentrated without shedding or wandering,the tumor volume shrank at different rates every month after implantation(0,5%,10%,15%,20%,25%,30%,35%,40%,45%and 50%),according to the different activities of 125I particles,the experiments were divided into A1-K1 group(0.4 mCi)and A2-K2 group(0.8 mCi).Based on the 125I particle decay law,the validation program(using TPS simulation of the A1-K1 group and A2-K2 group at postoperative 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 months)obtained the dose received by 90%of the target volume(D90)in the two groups with different 125I particle activities at different postoperative time points,the percentages of the target volume covered by the 100%,150%and 90%prescription dose(V100,V150,V90),and the mean dose(Dmean).By comparing the differences in D90,V100,V150,V90 and Dmean after tumor implantation of 125I particles with different activities,the dosimetric impact of the tumor target area shrinking at a rate of 0~50%after implantation of 125I particles with different activities into tumor tissues was analyzed.Results When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was≤30%,there was no obvious difference in D90 between the 0.4 mCi group and 0.8 mCi group in 1~6 months after surgery.When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was>30%,the D90 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group;when the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was<25%,the V90 of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,and the changes of V90 of the two groups tended to be the same in the 5th~6th month after surgery.When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was ≥30%,the V90 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more significant,the results of V100 were consistent with those of V90.When the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area<35%,V150 of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥35%,V150 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more prominent.When the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area<25%,Dmean of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥25%,Dmean of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more obvious.Conclusion With the same prescription dose,when the tumor target area shrinks at a rate of<30%per month,the activity of 125I particles has little effect on D90,and all V90,V100,V150 and Dmean in the low activity group are higher than those in the high activity group,meanwhile the homogeneity of the target area is relatively good;when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥35%,all D90,V90,V100,V150 and Dmean in the high activity group are higher than those in the low activity group,and the duration of the presence of high-dose area is long.This difference becomes more obvious with the increasing of the monthly shrinkage rate of the target area.
8.The effects and mechanisms of PAD2 inhibitor AFM-30a attenuates pulmonary fibrosis in silicotic mice
Yimeng ZHANG ; Fuyu JIN ; Xuemin GAO ; Hong XU ; Ying ZHU ; Na MAO
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(1):1-13
Objective:To observe the effects of peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) inhibitor AFM-30a on silicotic mice and its possible mechanisms.Methods:In May 2022, 40 SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, AFM-30a group, silicosis model group and AFM-30a treatment group, with 10 mice in each group. Silicosis model group and AFM-30a treatment group were perfused with silicon dioxide (SiO 2) suspension (10 mg/piece, 50 μl), and the other groups were perfused with an equal amount of sodium chloride solution. After 2 weeks, AFM-30a group and AFM-30a treatment group were intraperitoneally injected AFM-30a (20 mg/kg, 100 μl) daily, and mice of other groups were injected with equal amounts of sodium chloride solution for 4 weeks. Mouse RAW264.7 monocytes/macrophages were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group, AFM-30a group (5 μmol/L), SiO 2 group (200 μg/ml), and SiO 2+AFM-30a group (200 μg/ml SiO 2 induction for 12 h, followed by 5 μmol/L AFM-30a treatment for 12 h). As well as blank control group, vimentin (Vim) group (2 μg/ml), citrullinated vimentin (Cit-Vim) group (2 μg/ml), and Cit-Vim+TLR4-C34 group (10 μmol/L TLR4-C34 treatment for 1 h, followed by 2 μg/ml Cit-Vim induction for 24 h). Hematoxylin Eosin (HE) and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological morphology of lung. The lung fieldclarity and lung texture of each group was observed by micro-CT. The number of positive cells was detected by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. The localization and expression levels of PAD2, Cit-Vim, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) signaling proteins were measured by Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting in vitro and in vivo. The experimental data were all presented as Mean±SD. A completely random design of one-way analysis of variance was used among the groups. The pduo comparison was performed using LSD test for homogeneity of variance and Tamhane's test for inconsistency. Results:Compared with the control group, the silicosis model group showed the formation of silicon nodules accompanied by collagen deposition, the silicosis model group showed thickened, and several high-density shadows of varying sizes in the lung field, and the number of TRAP positive cells in silicosis model group were increased significantly, the expression levels of PAD2, Cit-Vim, TLR4 and RANKL signal-related proteins were also significantly increased in silicosis groupmodel ( P<0.05). Compared with the silicosis model group, the AFM-30a treatment group reduced deposition of collagen in lung, and the number of TRAP positive cells was decreased in AFM-30a treatment group. The expression levels of PAD2, Cit-Vim, TLR4 and RANKL signaling related proteins were significantly decreased in AFM-30a treatment group ( P<0.05). In vitro, compared with the blank control group, the number of TRAP positive cells and the expression levels of PAD2, Cit-Vim, TLR4 and RANKL signaling related proteins in the SiO 2 group were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with the SiO 2 group, the number of TRAP positive cells and the expression levels of PAD2, Cit-Vim, TLR4 and RANKL signaling related proteins in the SiO 2+AFM-30a group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the expression levels of TLR4 and RANKL signaling related proteins in the Cit-Vim group were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with the Cit-Vim group, the expression levels of TLR4 and RANKL signaling related proteins in the Cit-Vim+TLR4-C34 group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:PAD2 inhibitor AFM-30a may play an antagonisticrole in silicotic fibrosis in mice by potentialregulating TLR4 and RANKL signaling pathways.
9.Mechanistic study on low expression of Ace2 gene activated senescence-related signals and promoted the progression of silicotic fibrosis in mice
Yifei BAI ; Zejin LI ; Xuliang AN ; Wenchen CAI ; Xuemin GAO ; Yaqian LI
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(5):344-352
Objective:To observe the effects of low expressed Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( Ace2) gene on senescence related signals of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells in silicotic mice. Methods:In March 2022, 20 8-12W SPF male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and 20 Ace2 gene knockdown mice (Ace2 +/-, C57BL/6 background) were randomly divided into wild-type control group, Ace2 low expression group, wild-type silicosis group, Ace2 low expression silicosis group, with 10 mice in each group. In vitro MLE-12 cells were divided into control group, MLN-4760 (ACE2 inhibitor) group, SiO 2 group and SiO 2+MLN-4760 group. The expression of ACE2, collagen I (Col I), fibronectin 1 (Fn1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), phosphorylation-ataxia telangiectasia-mutated serine/threonine kinase (p-ATM), phosphorylation-ATM Rad3-related kinase (p-ATR), p-p53, p21 and p16 in mice and MLE-12 cells were detected by Western blotting. The expression and location of β-galactosidase were detected by immunofluorescence, β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining were used to detect the senescence of MLE-12 cells. Results:HE and VG staining results showed that typical silicon nodules with collagen deposition were formed in the lung of wild-type silicotic mice and Ace2 low expression silicotic mice. Immunofluorescence staining results showed that β-galactosidase was mainly located in alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells. Western blot results showed that, compared with wild-type silicosis group, the expression of Col I, α-SMA, p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53, p21 and p16 in Ace2 low expression silicosis group were significantly up-regulated by 540.71%、26.58%、336.84%、139.58%、152.78%、120.10% and 994.63% ( P<0.05). In MLE-12 cells, results of western blot showed that compared with SiO 2 group, the expression levels of p-ATM, p-ATR, p-p53, p21 and p16 in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group were significantly up-regulated by 168.71%、750.78%、149.51%、554.26% and 254.07% ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with SiO 2 group, β-galactosidase positive cells were strongly up-regulated in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group, and SA-β-Gal staining results showed that compared with SiO 2 group, the number of senescent cells in SiO 2+MLN-4760 group increased by 63.18% ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Low expression of Ace2 gene activated senescence related signals of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells and promoted the progression of silicotic fibrosis in mice.
10.Imaging features of pathological myopic perivascular abnormalities and macular retinoschisis and their correlation with clinical features
Guangqi AN ; Min ZHANG ; Pei LIU ; Chenyu LU ; Wenna GAO ; Xuemin JIN ; Liping DU
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(2):98-105
Objective:To observe and analyze the imaging features of pathologic myopic paravascular abnormalities (PVA) and macular retinoschisis (MRS) and their relationship with clinical features.Methods:A retrospective case series study. A total of 371 eyes of 224 patients with pathological myopia with PVA and/or MRS diagnosed by examination in Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2021 to December 2023 were included in the study. There were 74 eyes in 48 males and 297 eyes in 176 females. Age were 54 (49, 61) years; equivalent spherical lens (SE) was -13.375 (-18.00,-10.00) D. Axial length (AL) was 29.84 (28.27, 31.24) mm. According to the features of ultra-wide-angle sweep source optical coherence tomography, PVA morphology was divided into blood vessels and paravascular microfolds, paravascular retinal cysts, paravascular retinal splits and paravascular lamellar macular holes. MRS was divided into inner layer, outer layer and mixed layer according to splitting level, and grouped accordingly. The presence of dome-shaped macula (DSM), internal and external lamellar macular hole, and full lamellar macular hole (FTMH) were recorded. According to whether PVA combined with MRS or not, the affected eyes were divided into PVA group and PVA combined with MRS group. According to whether MRS involved the fovea, the affected eyes were divided into two groups: MRS not involved the fovea group and MRS involved the fovea group. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare age, SE and AL among different groups. Qualitative data were compared by χ2 test. Results:In 371 eyes, there were 120 eyes in the simple PVA group; in the MRS group, there were 251 eyes, of which 208 eyes were in the PVA combined with MRS group. There were 33, 27, 3, 14, 12, 56, 28, and 7 eyes with or without retinal detachment, choroidal neovascularization, DSM, preretinal membrane, and simple superficial detachment of neuroepithelium in inner lamina, outer lamina, and FTMH, respectively. In 328 eyes with PVA, blood vessels and paravascular microfolds, paravascular retinal cysts, paravascular retinal splits and paravascular lamellar macular holes were 151, 236, 202 and 72 eyes, respectively. There were 142 eyes with single lesion (43.29%, 142/328). There were 186 eyes with 2 or more lesions (56.71%, 186/328). There were 34 eyes in the inner MRS group, 92 eyes in the outer MRS group and 125 eyes in the mixed MRS group, respectively. It involved 155 eyes in the fovea group; 96 eyes in the fovea group were not involved. There were significant differences in the number of PVA eyes between the outer MRS group, the inner MRS group and the mixed MRS group ( χ2=30.614, 28.379; P<0.001). Compared with PVA group, PVA group combined with MRS group was more likely to have two or more PVA lesions, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=30.535, P<0.001). Compared with the inner MRS group and mixed MRS group, the age of the simple PVA group was younger, and the age of the outer MRS group was older, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with the inner MRS group and the outer MRS group, the simple PVA group had short AL, less myopia and better optimal corrected visual acuity (BCVA), while the mixed MRS group had long AL, more myopia and worse BCVA, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with the PVA group and the inner MRS group, the fovea was more involved in the outer MRS group and the mixed MRS group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=3.906, 10.836; P<0.05). Those with MRS involved in fovea were older, AL was longer, myopia was more severe, and BCVA was worse ( P<0.001). DSM-associated splits were less likely to involve macula ( P<0.001). Conclusion:PVA and MRS exhibit a variety of presentations, and their imaging features correlate with clinical features.

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