ObjectiveThis study leverages structural data from antigen-antibody complexes of the influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) protein to investigate the spatial recognition relationship between the antigenic epitopes and antibody paratopes. MethodsStructural data on NA protein antigen-antibody complexes were comprehensively collected from the SAbDab database, and processed to obtain the amino acid sequences and spatial distribution information on antigenic epitopes and corresponding antibody paratopes. Statistical analysis was conducted on the antibody sequences, frequency of use of genes, amino acid preferences, and the lengths of complementarity determining regions (CDR). Epitope hotspots for antibody binding were analyzed, and the spatial structural similarity of antibody paratopes was calculated and subjected to clustering, which allowed for a comprehensively exploration of the spatial recognition relationship between antigenic epitopes and antibodies. The specificity of antibodies targeting different antigenic epitope clusters was further validated through bio-layer interferometry (BLI) experiments. ResultsThe collected data revealed that the antigen-antibody complex structure data of influenza A virus NA protein in SAbDab database were mainly from H3N2, H7N9 and H1N1 subtypes. The hotspot regions of antigen epitopes were primarily located around the catalytic active site. The antibodies used for structural analysis were primarily derived from human and murine sources. Among murine antibodies, the most frequently used V-J gene combination was IGHV1-12*01/IGHJ2*01, while for human antibodies, the most common combination was IGHV1-69*01/IGHJ6*01. There were significant differences in the lengths and usage preferences of heavy chain CDR amino acids between antibodies that bind within the catalytic active site and those that bind to regions outside the catalytic active site. The results revealed that structurally similar antibodies could recognize the same epitopes, indicating a specific spatial recognition between antibody and antigen epitopes. Structural overlap in the binding regions was observed for antibodies with similar paratope structures, and the competitive binding of these antibodies to the epitope was confirmed through BLI experiments. ConclusionThe antigen epitopes of NA protein mainly ditributed around the catalytic active site and its surrounding loops. Spatial complementarity and electrostatic interactions play crucial roles in the recognition and binding of antibodies to antigenic epitopes in the catalytic region. There existed a spatial recognition relationship between antigens and antibodies that was independent of the uniqueness of antibody sequences, which means that antibodies with different sequences could potentially form similar local spatial structures and recognize the same epitopes.

AIM:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at the Taiyang on refractive parameters and the expression of β-catenin and integrin β1 in the ciliary body of mice with form-deprivation myopia(FDM).METHODS:A total of 48 3-week-old healthy C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control(NC), FDM group, sham acupuncture(sham), and electroacupuncture at Taiyang acupoint(Taiyang), with 12 mice in each group. Mice in the FDM, sham, and Taiyang groups, wore translucent custom-made eye masks on the right eye to induce myopia. The Taiyang group received electroacupuncture stimulation at the Taiyang acupoint, while the sham group underwent non-penetrating stimulation with a blunt wooden stick. No intervention was performed on the NC group. Refraction and axial length were measured by infrared autorefractor and optical coherence tomography(OCT)before modeling and at 4 wk after modeling. The expression levels of β-catenin and integrin β1 in the ciliary body of mice at 4 wk after modeling were detected using quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)and Western blotting(WB).RESULTS:After modeling for 4 wk, compared with the NC group, the FDM and sham groups showed significantly decreased refractive power(both P<0.05), elongated axial length(both P<0.05), and increased β-catenin and integrin β1 expression. Compared with the FDM and sham groups, the Taiyang group showed significantly increased refractive power(both P<0.05), shortened axial length(both P<0.05), and decreased β-catenin and integrin β1 expression.CONCLUSION:Electroacupuncture stimulation at the Taiyang acupoint effectively delayed the progression of myopia in FDM mice, and this effect may be partially mediated through modulating the expression of β-catenin and integrin β1 in the ciliary body.

Insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)is a multifunctional growth factor which plays an important role in various physiological and pathological processes of the body by regulating biological behaviors such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Studies have found that abnormal expression of IGF-1 in the retina, sclera and other eye tissues can participate in the occurrence, development and prognosis of various ophthalmic diseases by regulating retinal autophagy flux and angiogenesis, adipogenic differentiation of orbital soft tissues and degradation of scleral extracellular matrix. This paper systematically integrates the expression level changes and mechanism of action of IGF-1 in ophthalmic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy(DR), age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), retinopathy of prematurity(ROP), Graves' ophthalmopathy, myopia, corneal injury and uveal melanoma(UM), and combines the latest clinical and animal experimental evidence to evaluate the bright prospects and potential risks of IGF-1 targeted therapy, in order to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.03.030.].

The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Objective To evaluate the long-term effects of orthokeratology(ortho-k)lenses with different back optical zone diameters(BOZD)on the quality of vision in myopic children.Methods We conducted an exploratory analysis based on a prospective,randomized,double-blind clinical trial,focusing on the parameters related to visual quality.A total of 66 myopic children aged 8 to 12 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to either a 6-mm BOZD ortho-k lens group(the 6 mm group)or a 5-mm BOZD ortho-k lens group(the 5 mm group).The participants were followed up at baseline,and at 1 day,1 week,and 1,3,6,9,and 12 months after lens wearing.Visual quality measurements included uncorrected visual acuity(VA),best corrected VA,contrast sensitivity(CS),high-order aberrations(HOA),modulation transfer function(MTF),Strayer ratio(SR),and visual quality questionnaire.Results A total of 63 children(33 children in the 6 mm group and 30 children in the 5 mm group)completed the study.There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups(P>0.05).There were no significant differences in subjective uncorrected VA or best corrected VA between the two groups at any follow-up visit(P>0.05).After wearing the lenses for 3 months,the CS at high spatial frequency(18 cpd)in the 5 mm group was lower than that in the 6 mm group(P=0.015).However,at 12 months,no significant differences in the CS were found between the two groups(P>0.05).The ocular and corneal total HOA,spherical aberration,and coma aberration in both groups increased after wearing the lenses,and the HOA in the 5 mm group was higher than that in the 6 mm group(all P<0.05).After wearing the lenses for 3 months,the MTF and SR values in the 5 mm group were lower than those in the 6 mm group(P<0.05).At 12 months,there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The vision-quality-related questionnaire scores showed no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion In myopic children,wearing ortho-k lenses with different BOZD results in improved subjective satisfaction,with no difference in subjective visual quality.However,objective visual quality declined in both groups,with a greater impact observed in the 5 mm group.

Objective:The potential mechanism of cortex phellodendri chinsis in the improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through ferroptosis was analyzed based on network pharmacology.Methods:The main active components and their corresponding target proteins were screened by TCMSP database and Herb database, and the UniProt database was used to convert the corresponding target protein names into gene IDs. The targets of RA disease were obtained from GenCards, OMIM, DrugBank and DisGeNET databases. The FerrDb database was used to collect genes for Driver, Suppressors and Markers of ferroptosis. Then, Venny platform was used to obtain the intersection genes of Cortex phellodendri chinsis, RA and ferroptosis, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was used to plot the "active component-target-RA-ferroptosis" network diagram. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology (GO) function, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed using String and DAVID databases. PyMOL, AutoDock Vina software and RCSB PDB database were used for molecular docking between active ingredients and key genes.Results:A total of 11 active components (Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Melianone, Candletoxin A, Phellochin, Palmidin A, Worenine, Hispidone, Kihadalactone A, Niloticin, Stigmasterol) and 34 intersection genes (PTGS2、AR、JUN、PRKCA、TGFB1、EGFR、CDKN1A、MAPK1、RB1、IL6、TP53、HIF1A、HSPA5、HMOX1、CAV1、IFNG、ALOX5、PTEN、NFE2L2、PARP1、PPARA、GSTM1、MTOR、PIK3CA、MDM2、MAPK8、GSK3B、SIRT1、DHODH、EZH2、AKR1C2、AKR1C1、STAT3、MAPK3) were screened. Ten possible targets of Cortex phellodendri chinsis regulating ferroptosis and anti-RA were predicted, including TP53、JUN、STAT3、HIF1A、PTEN、SIRT1、EGFR、MTOR、MAPK3、AR. Ferroptosis pathway is regulated by mediating positive regulation of gene expression, response to drugs, HIF-1, FoxO, ErbB and other signaling pathways, thus combating the occurrence and progression of RA. The docking results showed that there were molecular binding sites between the key genes and their corresponding active components.Conclusion:Cortex phellodendri chinsis may treat RA through ferroptosis effect with multiple components, multiple targets, multiple pathways and mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence determinants and genetic diversity of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica from Wenzhou.A total of 71 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from food and foodborne diarrhea ca-ses in Wenzhou,and their biotypes,serotypes,and drug resistance were analyzed.On the basis of whole genome sequencing,we assessed virulence gene profiles,and performed multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and core gene multilocus sequence typ-ing(cgMLST).A total of 94.4％(67/71)of isolates belonged to biotype 1A,and the highest proportion had serotype lA/O∶5(29.6％,21/71).The sensitivity rates of the isolates to 14 antibiotics exceeded 95.8％.A total of 16 categories and 126 viru-lence genes were identified,with two strains carrying the pYV plasmid and chromosome-related virulence genes.ST3(31.6％,12/38)was the most widespread MLST type,and cgMLST analysis revealed no dense clusters of genotypes except for strains sharing the same ST.In conclusion,pathogenic strains were identified from foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica in Wenzhou and were found to exhibit high genetic polymorphism.Enhanced regulatory supervision is essential to prevent the outbreak of food-borne diseases caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.