Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine and the sacroiliac joint， the mechanism of which is closely related to signaling pathways， such as osteoprotegerin （OPG）/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB （RANK）/RANK ligand， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， Wnt/β-catenin （β-catenin）， phosphoinositide 3- kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR）. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of multiple components and targets， and is widely used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases due to its low toxicity， strong specificity， and high efficacy. This review found that monomers and compounds of traditional Chinese medicine can exert anti ankylosing spondylitis effects by intervening in the aforementioned signaling pathways， regulating immune inflammatory responses， and inhibiting biological processes such as bone destruction， ectopic osteogenic differentiation， cell apoptosis， and autophagy.

Interferon regulatory factor 1(IRF-1)is a member of the IRF family.It is the first transcription factor to be identified that could bind to the interferon-stimulated response element(ISRE)on the target gene and displays crucial roles in the interferon-induced signals and pathways.IRF-1,as an important medium,has all of the advantages of full cell cycle regulation,cell death signaling transduction,and reinforcing immune surveillance,which are well documented.Current studies indicate that IRF-1 is of vital importance to the occurrence and evolution of multifarious liver diseases,including but not limited to inhibiting the replication of the hepatitis virus(A/B/C/E),alleviating the progression of liver fibrosis,and aggravating hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(HIRI).The tumor suppression of IRF-1 is related to the clinical characteristics of liver cancer patients,which makes it a potential indicator for predicting the prognosis and recurrence of liver cancer;additionally,the latest studies have revealed other effects of IRF-1 such as protection against alcoholic/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(AFLD/NAFLD),cholangiocarcinoma suppression,and uncommon traits in other liver diseases that had previously received little attention.Intriguingly,several compounds and drugs have featured a protective function in specific liver disease models in which there is significant involvement of the IRF-1 signal.In this paper,we hope to propose a prospective research basis upon which to help decipher translational medicine applications of IRF-1 in liver disease treatment.

Background: Diabetes-induced cardiac fibrosis is one of the main mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. As a common histone methyltransferase, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been implicated in fibrosis progression in multiple organs. However, the mechanism of EZH2 in diabetic myocardial fibrosis has not been clarified. Methods: In the current study, rat and mouse diabetic model were established, the left ventricular function of rat and mouse were evaluated by echocardiography and the fibrosis of rat ventricle was evaluated by Masson staining. Primary rat ventricular fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated with high glucose (HG) in vitro. The expression of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation, EZH2, and myocardial fibrosis proteins were assayed. Results: In STZ-induced diabetic ventricular tissues and HG-induced primary ventricular fibroblasts in vitro, H3K27 trimethylation was increased and the phosphorylation of EZH2 was reduced. Inhibition of EZH2 with GSK126 suppressed the activation, differentiation, and migration of cardiac fibroblasts as well as the overexpression of the fibrotic proteins induced by HG. Mechanical study demonstrated that HG reduced phosphorylation of EZH2 on Thr311 by inactivating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which transcriptionally inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) expression to promote the fibroblasts activation and differentiation. Conclusion Our data revealed an AMPK/EZH2/PPAR-γ signal pathway is involved in HG-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism and the effect of miR-524-5p regulating HEG1 expression on the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells. Methods The expression levels of miR-524-5p and HEG1 mRNA in esophageal cancer cells and normal esophageal epithelial cells were detected by qRT-PCR. KYSE30 cells were divided into miR-524-5p mimic group, miR-524-5p NC group, miR-524-5p mimic+pcDNA3.1 group, and miR-524-5p mimic+pcDNA3.1-HEG1 group. Non-transfected cells were set as the normal control group (group Control). CCK-8 method was applied to detect the proliferation ability of KYSE30 cells. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression of proteins related to EMT, invasion, and migration and the HEG1 protein. Scratch and Transwell assays were applied to detect the migration and invasion abilities of KYSE30 cells. A dual-luciferase reporter gene was used to examine the targeting relationship between miR-524-5p and HEG1. Results miR-524-5p was lowly expressed in four esophageal cancer cell lines, namely, TE-1, KYSE30, KYSE150, and NEC (P < 0.05). KYSE30 cells with the lowest expression level were selected for subsequent experiments. HEG1 mRNA was highly expressed in four esophageal cancer cell lines (P < 0.05). The GEPIA database showed that HEG1 was highly expressed in esophageal cancer tumor tissues (P < 0.05). KYSE30 cells in the miR-524-5p mimic group had lower proliferation ability, colony formation number, mesenchymal marker protein expression, and migration and invasion abilities and upregulated epithelial marker protein E-cadherin level than cells in the miR-524-5p NC group (P < 0.05). The miR-524-5p mimic+pcDNA3.1-HEG1 group significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of overexpression of miR-524-5p on the proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transformation, invasion, and metastasis of KYSE30 cells (P < 0.05). The luciferase activity of cells in the miR-524-5p mimic and WT-HEG1 co-transfection groups was lower than that in the miR-524-5p NC and WT-HEG1 co-transfection groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion miR-524-5p is lowly expressed in EC cells and tissues. The overexpression of miR-524-5p can negatively regulate the expression of HEG1 in esophageal cancer cell line (KYSE30 cells) and reduce the proliferation, EMT process, and invasion and migration abilities of KYSE30 cells.

Objective:To investigate the role of signal lymphocyte activating molecule family member 5 (SLAMF5) in liver transplantation rejection in SD rats.Methods:Forty-five male SD rats without special pathogens, weight 260-300 g, aged 10-12 weeks were included. Among them, forty male SD rats (20 donors and 20 recipients respectively) were established with reference to the " two cuff" method. 15 liver transplantation model rats were randomly divided into 1 week (LT-1W) group, 2 weeks (LT-2W) group and 3 weeks (LT-3W) group, with 5 rats in each group, and 5 normal rats were taken as the normal control group. The expressions of SLAMF5, CD4 and CD8 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The correlations between SLAMF5 expression in the lymphocyte infiltration area and the rejection activity index was analyzed.Results:The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin were significantly higher in LT-1W group, LT-2W group and LT-3W group than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). PCR results showed that the relative expression of SLAMF5 mRNA were (5.44±1.11), (4.69±1.12), (2.18±0.68) respectively, which were increased in LT-1W group, LT-2W group and LT-3W group than those in normal control group (1.01±0.23), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that SLAMF5 and CD4, CD8 positive T cells were mainly distributed in the portal area, hepatic lobule area and around the proliferative bile duct, and there was a certain overlap. Correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the expression of SLAMF5 in the lymphocyte infiltration area and the rejection activity index ( r=0.519, P=0.048). Conclusion:The expression of SLAMF5 is increased after liver transplantation in SD rats, and there is a correlation between SLAMF5 expression and liver transplantation rejection in rats.

V set and Ig domain containing 4 (VSIG4), a co-inhibitory molecule expressed by macrophages, is a B7 family-related protein. It can serve as the second signal of T cell activation and regulate the function of T cells. It has been found that VSIG4 is essential in maintaining immune tolerance. Moreover, VSIG4 can also act as a complement receptor, playing a role in recognizing pathogens, regulating the complement alternative pathway and inhibiting inflammatory response. This review summarized the expression of VSIG4 and its role in the immune system.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction on CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis in rats, and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Sixty male SPF Wistar rats were randomly assigned to six groups: blank control, model, positive control, high, medium or low dose groups of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction ( n =10 per group). The liver fibrosis rat model was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl 4 oil solution. Rats in the blank control and model groups were administered 10 mL/kg normal saline by gavage, rats in the positive control group were administered 50 mg/kg silibinin meglumine by gavage, while rats in high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose groups of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction were administered 12.42 g/kg, 6.21 g/kg and 3.11 g/kg (crude drug/body weight) by gavage, respectively, daily for 8 weeks. Rats was sacrificed after 8 weeks, during which the physiological status of rats in each group was dynamically monitored. Following sacrifice, serum was collected to detect HYP using alkaline hydrolysis colorimetry and the expression levels of AST, ALT, total protein (TP), and Alb using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological morphological changes in the liver were detected by H & E staining and Masson staining, and the mRNA and protein levels of Wnt1, β-Catenin and Cyclin D1 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western Blot. Measurement data were compared across groups using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc LSD- t test. Results Compared with the model group, after silibinin meglumine and Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction intervention, the physiological status of rats was significantly improved; serum levels of HYP, ALT, AST and Glo were significantly decreased, while serum levels of TP, Alb and A/G were significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the positive control group, serum levels of ALT and AST were significantly increased (all P < 0.05), while the levels of TP, Alb and A/G were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05) in low-dose group of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction. H&E staining showed mild portal vein fibrosis with a few fibrous septa and mild steatosis of hepatocytes in the positive control group, obvious portal vein fibrosis with a few fiber septum in the low dose group, a few portal vein fibrosis in the medium dose group, while no obvious abnormality in the high dose group of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction. Masson staining revealed that the therapeutic effect of high dose group of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction on collagen deposition was superior to silibinin meglumine and medium and low dose of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction (all P < 0.05), and was generally equivalent to high dose of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction. Silibinin meglumine and medium and high doses of Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction inhibited more significantly the mRNA and protein expression of Wnt1, β-catenin and Cyclin D1 (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Shugan Heluo Xingpi Decoction shows anti-hepatic fibrosis effect, with a greater effect at higher doses. Regulating Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway may be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The eukaryotic genome is folded into higher-order conformation accompanied with constrained dynamics for coordinated genome functions. However, the molecular machinery underlying these hierarchically organized three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture and dynamics remains poorly understood. Here by combining imaging and sequencing, we studied the role of lamin B1 in chromatin architecture and dynamics. We found that lamin B1 depletion leads to detachment of lamina-associated domains (LADs) from the nuclear periphery accompanied with global chromatin redistribution and decompaction. Consequently, the inter-chromosomal as well as inter-compartment interactions are increased, but the structure of topologically associating domains (TADs) is not affected. Using live-cell genomic loci tracking, we further proved that depletion of lamin B1 leads to increased chromatin dynamics, owing to chromatin decompaction and redistribution toward nucleoplasm. Taken together, our data suggest that lamin B1 and chromatin interactions at the nuclear periphery promote LAD maintenance, chromatin compaction, genomic compartmentalization into chromosome territories and A/B compartments and confine chromatin dynamics, supporting their crucial roles in chromatin higher-order structure and chromatin dynamics.
Chromatin ; Chromosomes ; Genome ; Humans ; Lamin Type B/genetics*

  Objective  To study the demographic and clinical characteristics, correlation of genotype and phenotype and treatment of Blau syndrome to facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment of Blau syndrome.  Methods  Seventy-two patients with Blau syndrome from 11 centers from May 2006 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and their general information, clinical data, laboratory examination and treatment medication were collected.  Results  The distribution of patients with Blau syndrome was uniform in geographical north and south of China, and there was no obvious gender bias. The mean age of onset was (14.30±12.81) months, and the age of diagnosis was (55.18±36.22) months. 35% of patients with Blau syndrome happened before 1 year old, and all patients developed before 5 years old. 87.50% (63/72) had granulomatous arthritis, 65.28% (47/72) had rash, 36.11% (26/72) had ocular involvement, 27.78% (20/72) had fever, and 15.28% (11/72) had pulmonary involvement. Arthritic manifestations of Blau syndrome were most at risk, followed by rash, ocular involvement, and fever.The first 25 months of the disease, the risk of developing a rash was the greatest. The risk of developing arthritis was the greatest between 25 months and 84 months. The main mutations were p.R334Q and p.R334W, and patients with p.R334Q mutation had relatively high incidence of fever (35.71%[5/14] vs. 14.29%[1/7], P=0.43) and ocular involvement (42.86%[6/14]vs. 28.57%[2/7], P=0.51). There was a relatively high incidence of rash (85.71%[6/7] vs. 64.29%[9/14], P=0.59) in patients with the p.R334W mutation. Forty-five patients(62.50%)were treated with a combina-tion of glucocorticoid and methotrexate. Twenty-two patients were treated with tumor necrosis factor antagonist in addition to glucocorticoid and methotrexate.  Conclusions  The risk of different clinical manifestations of Blau syndrome from high to low was arthritis, followed by rash, ocular involvement and fever. The main treatment was glucocorticoid combined with methotrexate, to which biological agents could be added.

Lymphoplasmapheresis(LPE) is a combination of plasma exchange and lymphocyte separation technology. It can not only remove autoimmune antibodies, but also remove the immune active cells producing these antibodies. At the same time, it can inhibit cellular and humoral immune responses, and improve the efficiency and reliability of treatment. This technology is safe, reliable, and easy to operate. In recent years, it has been widely used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases and the suppression of immune rejection after organ transplantation, especially in the treatment of critically ill patients. This paper summarizes the clinical application status of LPE in immune-related diseases at home and abroad, analyzes the problems existing in the clinical promotion of LPE, and makes a prospect of its application value.