OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role and mechanism of circRNA-SR-related CTD associated factor 8 (SCAF8) in regulating endothelial cell pyroptosis in high glucose environment. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and divided into six groups. The normal control group and high glucose control group were cultured in cell culture medium with 5 and 33 mmol/L glucose, respectively. The RNA control group, circRNA-SCAF8 inhibition group, miR-93-5p overexpression group and miR-93-5p inhibition group were added with non-functional siRNA, circRNA-SCAF8 inhibitor, miR-93-5p overexpression molecule and miR-93-5p inhibitor in high glucose environment, respectively. Cell viability and pyroptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide fluorescence double staining. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related factors including apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cysteine aspartic acid specific protease-1 (caspase-1) and Gasdermin D (GSDMD), NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP-3), thioredoxin interacting proteins (TXNIP), IL-18 and IL-1β. The expression of circRNA-SCAF8, miR-93-5p and TXNIP was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to locate circRNA-SCAF8 and miR-93-5p. Dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeted regulatory relationship between miR-93-5p and upstream and downstream molecules. RESULTS: Compared with the RNA control group, the cell survival rate of circRNA-SCAF8 inhibition group and miR-93-5p overexpression group increased (both P<0.01), the pyroptosis decreased (both P<0.01), and the expressions of pyroptosis-related factors such as TXNIP, NLRP-3, caspase-1, GSDMD, ASC, IL-18 and IL-1β were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). The expression of miR-93-5p was significantly increased after inhibition of circRNA-SCAF8 (P<0.01), and the expression of circRNA-SCAF8 tended to decrease after overexpression of miR-93-5p, but with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Dual luciferase assay showed that miR-93-5p downre-gulated circRNA-SCAF8 expression by binding to the 3 ´ UTR region of circRNA-SCAF8, and miR-93-5p downregulated TXNIP expression by binding to the 3 ´ UTR region of TXNIP. FISH showed that circRNA-SCAF8 and miR-93-5p were both located in the cytoplasm and were highly associated in the cells. qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of TXNIP increased or decreased after overexpression or inhibition of miR-93-5p compared with the RNA control group, respectively (both P<0.05), suggesting that miR-93-5p could regulate TXNIP gene expression. CONCLUSIONS CircRNA-SCAF8/miR-93-5p/TXNIP axis is involved in the regulation of pyroptosis in HUVECs under high glucose.
Humans ; Factor VIII ; RNA, Circular ; Endothelial Cells ; Interleukin-18 ; Pyroptosis ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Caspase 1 ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Carrier Proteins/genetics* ; RNA-Binding Proteins

Objective:To study the effect of resveratrol (RES) on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced chondrocytes and its pathways of action.Methods:Wistar mammary rat chondrocytes were extracted and divided into 5 groups: control group, IL-1β group, RES+IL-1β group, RES+IL-1β+EX-527 [silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor] group and RES+IL-1β+AS [frame transcription factor O1 (FOXO1) inhibitor] group. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect SIRT1, forkhead FOXO1 and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) mRNA expression. Protein expression of chondrocyte type Ⅱ collagen (Col-Ⅱ) detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression of chondrocyte SIRT1 and p-FOXO1/FOXO1 was measured by Western blot. The expression of chondrocyte inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and two-way comparisons between groups were made using the least significant difference (LSD) method. P< 0.001 was statistically significant. Results:Compared to normal chondrocytes, the mRNA and protein expressions of Col-Ⅱ, SIRT1, FOXO1 and p-FOXO1/FOXO1 in chondrocytes induced by IL-1β was significantly decreased ( P<0.001). The secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α [(24.70±2.84), t=19.24, P<0.001] and IL-6 [(3.35±0.28), t=12.97, P<0.001] was significantly increased, and the mRNA expression of MMP-3 [(2.46± 0.23), t=12.61, P<0.001] was significantly increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of Col-Ⅱ, SIRT1, FOXO1 and p-FOXO1/FOXO1 were significantly increased. The secretion of TNF-α [(12.60±1.05), t=10.14, P<0.001] and IL-6 [(2.00±0.15), t=9.89, P<0.001] was significantly reduced by RES treated IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. mRNA expression of MMP-3 [(1.30±0.14), t=10.460, P<0.001] was decreased. After adding SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527 or FOXO1 inhibitor AS, RES significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expression of Col-Ⅱ, SIRT1, FOXO1 and p-FOXO1/FOXO1 in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes ( P<0.001). The secretion of TNFα and IL-6 was significantly decreased ( P<0.001), and the mRNA expression of MMP-3 was significantly decreased ( P<0.001). Conclusion:RES significantly ameliorates IL-1β-induced cartilage extracellular matrix egradation and inflammatory responses via the SIRT1/FOXO1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of Ploton silver staining and phalloidin-iFlour 488 staining in observation of the morphology of osteocyte dendrites of mice at different developmental stages. METHODS: The humerus and femurs were harvested from mice at 0 (P0), 5 (P5), 15 (P15), 21 (P21), 28 (P28), and 35 days (P35) after birth to prepare cryo-sections and paraffin sections. HE staining of P35 mouse femur sections served as a reference for observing osteocytes in the trabecular bone and cortical bone. The humeral sections at different developmental stages were stained with Ploton silver staining to observe the morphology of osteocytes and canaliculi, and the canalicular lengths in the cortical and trabecular bones of the humerus of the mice in each developmental stage were recorded. The cryo-sections of the humerus from P10 and P15 mice were stained with phalloidin iFlour-488 to observe the morphology of osteocytes and measurement of the length of osteocyte dendrites in the cortical bone. RESULTS: In the trabecular bone of the humerus of P0-P15 mice, Ploton silver staining only visualized the outline of the osteocytes, and the morphology of the canaliculi was poorly defined. In P21 or older mice, Ploton silver staining revealed the morphology of the trabecular bone osteocytes and the canaliculi, which were neatly arranged and whose lengths increased significantly with age (P21 CONCLUSIONS Mouse osteocyte dendrites elongate progressively and their arrangement gradually becomes regular with age. Ploton silver staining can clearly visualize the morphology of the osteocytes and the canaliculi in adult mice but not in mice in early stages of development. Phalloidin iFlour-488 staining for labeling the cytoskeleton can be applied for mouse osteocytes at all developmental stages and allows morphological observation of mouse osteocytes in early developmental stages.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Dendrites ; Mice ; Osteocytes ; Phalloidine ; Silver Staining

To access the efficacy of stents for spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SIDSMA). The study is a prospective single-arm study which has been registered on Clinical Trials (NCT03916965). Clinical data and follow-up information of the SIDSMA patients who received stent implantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University during April 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019 were collected. The patients were recommended to be followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. A total of 34 patients were enrolled. Their mean age was (54±8) years. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom. Patients received (2.1±0.6) stents on the average. Post-operation hospital stay was (2.7±1.6) days, and the patients were followed up for (2.3±1.9) months (CT angiography) and (5.5±1.7) months (clinical visit/phone call). There was no recurrence of abdominal pain. The CT angiography showed complete remodeling and incomplete remodeling took place in 23 and 9 patients (69.7% and 27.3%), respectively. Two patients (6.1%) had mild in-stent stenosis. No stent rupture or migration was reported. This study demonstrated a satisfactory short-term result of stents implantation for SIDSMA, which indicated the endovascular treatment could be the first-line therapy for SIDSMA.
Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome