Pulpitis is a common infective oral disease in clinical situations. The regulatory mechanisms of immune defense in pulpitis are still being investigated. Osteomodulin (OMD) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan family member distributed in bones and teeth. It is a bioactive protein that promotes osteogenesis and suppresses the apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). In this study, the role of OMD in pulpitis and the OMD-induced regulatory mechanism were investigated. The OMD expression in normal and inflamed human pulp tissues was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Intriguingly, the OMD expression decreased in the inflammatory infiltration area of pulpitis specimens. The cellular experiments demonstrated that recombined human OMD could resist the detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. A conditional Omd knockout mouse model with pulpal inflammation was established. LPS-induced inflammatory impairment significantly increased in conditional Omd knockout mice, whereas OMD administration exhibited a protective effect against pulpitis. Mechanistically, the transcriptome alterations of OMD overexpression showed significant enrichment in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), a vital membrane receptor activating the NF-κB pathway, was significantly downregulated in OMD-overexpressing hDPSCs. Additionally, the interaction between OMD and IL1R1 was verified using co-immunoprecipitation and molecular docking. In vivo, excessive pulpal inflammation in Omd-deficient mice was rescued using an IL1R antagonist. Overall, OMD played a protective role in the inflammatory response via the IL1R1/NF-κB signaling pathway. OMD may optimize the immunomodulatory functions of hDPSCs and can be used for regenerative endodontics.
Pulpitis/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Dental Pulp/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides

To provide guidance for quality control and variety breeding of Gastrodia elata f. glauca cultivated form in Zhaotong, nine agronomic traits of G. elata f. glauca cultivation form were measured and the traits were analyzed using multiple comparison,correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis. The results of multiple comparison and analysis showed that the number of dot ring and the length-width ratio of tuber were no different in G. elata f. glauca cultivation form. The coefficient of variation about the single tuber fresh weigh, ring spacing and belly button diameter was about 20%. The coefficient of variation about the length of the tuber, the width of the tuber, the thickness of the tuber, the length-width ratio of tuber and the number of dot ring was near 10%. The correlation analysis results showed that the single tuber fresh weigh and the length,the width and the thickness of the tuber were extremely significant positive correlated. The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis showed that the length, the width and the thickness of the tuber were the main factors affecting the fresh weight of single tuber,which were the best agronomic traits on high yield of G. elata f. glauca. The length of the tuber,the width of the tuber and the thickness of the tuber, which would be used as indicators of the characteristics of high yield varieties in Zhaotong. The number of dot ring and the length-width ratio of tuber, which would be selected as quality control indicators of the genuine Chinese medicinal materials in Zhaotong.

Objective To evaluate comparability of two different assay system for detecting CRP.Methods Following the profile of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI)document EP9-A2,50 blood samples with anti-coagulant ED-TA-2K were collected from emergency patients at Changhai Hospital.The test result of samples by the i-CHROMA Reader was compared and evaluated with those by Beckman Immage 800.Results The linear regression equation for plasma CRP was:Y=1.076 5X-3.031 5,R2=0.986.The linear regression equation for whole blood CRP was:Y=0.882 6X-1.180 8, R2=0.931 1.For whole blood samples with low HCT (<30.45%).Used correction equation:CRP (after corrected)=CRP (before corrected)/(1-HCT).The regression equation (after corrected)was:Y=1.006 8X-3.612 2,R2=0.950 9.Con-clusion CRP concentration detected by i-CHROMA showed good correlation and comparability compared to laboratory ref-erence system by using plasma samples.Results form whole blood samples with low HCT should be corrected to improve comparability.

Objective To explore the application of optical coherence tomography in vascular tissue engineering culture by dynamic monitoring its changes.Methods Human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells were isolated and culture by tissue block method.After passage culture and cell surface markers evaluation, smooth muscle cells were seeded onto polyglycolic acid scaffold and placed into the bioreactor based on Luo-Ye pump with pulsatile stress for three-dimensional culture.At 1、4、 7 、10、14、17、21 days in culture, the image data was obtained by optical coherence tomography technology.The ability of imaging TEBV via OCT was analyzed combined with histopathological observation.Results As the incubation time extended,OCT clearly showed PGA gradual degradation, decreased composite scaffold thickness and the wall structure from loose to tight.At 21 days in culture, the vessel mimics had smooth surface with extracellular matrix evenly distributed and achieved complete reconstruction in the PGA scaffold.Combining with histopathological staining, the blood vessel mimics were similar to natural blood vessels.OCT measured TEBV thickness compared with histopathological measurement had good correlation (r =0.922,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Optical coherence tomography could clearly image microstructures of tissue engineered blood vessels cultured in three-dimensional culture system based on Luo-Ye pump, delineate the reconstruction of TEBV-like tissue in the bioreactor and provide as a dynamic and convenient monitoring tool in vascular tissue engineering.

Objective:To construct a eukaryotic expression vector of leptin gene,and to transfect it into human placental mesenchy-mal stem cells(HPMSCs)and appraise its expression.Methods:Primers were designed and the leptin gene was obtained by RT-PCR from human adipose tissue.The aimed segments were inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP,plasmid pIRES2-EGFP-LEP was constructed and identified by restricted enzymatic resection,and then transfected it into HPMSCs by liposome.The ex-pression of leptin in the transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting,the multi-differentiation potential of the cells was indentified.Results:The length of specific fragment was 500 bp,the recombinant plasmid pIRES2-EGFP-LEP presented 5.3 kb and 500 bp bands by restriction enzyme digestion.Leptin gene was expressed in transfected HPMSCs and the transfected HPMSCs maintained multi-directional differentiation potential.Conclusion:The eukaryotic expression vector of leptin can be transfected and ex-pressed in HPMSCs.