Objective:To investigate the role of DNA damage and repair inhibition in the effect of ginkgo biloba on liver injury in patients with coal-burning-borne arsenism.Methods:In March 2017, the investigation was conducted in Jiaole village arsenic poisoning area in Yuzhang Town, Xingren County, Guizhou Province. According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015) and the "Diagnostic Criteria of Occupational Toxic Hepatopathy" (GBZ 59-2010), 52 patients with arsenism were selected as the ginkgo biloba intervention group, and 49 cases of arsenism patients as intervention control group. Ginkgo biloba tablets were given orally for 3 months (1 tablet/time, 3 times/d) according to the commonly used clinical methods, and no other drugs were given to all subjects during the intervention period. The intervention control group was given placebo in the same way as that of ginkgo biloba intervention group. A total of 41 residents who did not burn high arsenic coal 12 km away with no abnormal liver function were selected as normal control group. Physical examinations were performed before the intervention and at the end of the intervention at 3 months. After receiving signed informed consent, morning urine and peripheral venous blood samples were collected to detect urinary arsenic content by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); liver function biochemical indexes [albumin (ALB), albumin/globulin (A/G), cholinesterase (CHE), total bile acid (TBA)] were determined by automatic biochemical analyzer, DNA damage by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, and the expression of miR-145 (repair inhibition index) by qRT-PCR.Results:There were 116 subjects, 41 in normal control group, 39 in ginkgo biloba intervention group and 36 in intervention control group. In ginkgo biloba and intervention and intervention control groups, there was no significant difference in age, gender, smoking habits and drinking compared with normal control group ( P > 0.05). Urinary arsenic content, TBA level, DNA damage degree [comet tail DNA percentage (TailDNA%) and olive tail moment (OTM)] and plasma miR-145 expression level [(38.75 ± 19.09) μg/g Cr, (11.13 ± 1.55) μmol/L, 8.50 ± 0.88, 7.43 ± 0.68, 5.78 ± 0.75, respectively] in ginkgo biloba intervention group patients before intervention were higher than those in normal control group [(11.62 ± 5.33) μg/g Cr, (5.36 ± 0.87) μmol/L, 5.24 ± 0.33, 4.71 ± 0.29, 2.05 ± 0.27, respectively], the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05); the levels of ALB, A/G and CHE were significantly lower than those in normal control group ( P < 0.05). After the intervention of ginkgo biloba, urinary arsenic content, TBA level, DNA damage degree (TailDNA% and OTM) and plasma miR-145 expression level in patients were significantly lower than those before the intervention ( P < 0.05); the levels of ALB, A/G and CHE were significantly higher than those before the intervention ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indexes before and after intervention in the intervention control group ( P > 0.05). The results of correlation analysis between DNA damage degree, miR-145 and liver function indexes after the intervention of ginkgo biloba showed that, DNA damage degree (TailDNA% and OTM) was negatively correlated with the levels of ALB, A/G and CHE ( r = - 0.34, - 0.33, - 0.48, - 0.31, - 0.31, - 0.42, P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the level of TBA ( r = 0.49, 0.48, P < 0.05); miR-145 was negatively correlated with the levels of ALB, A/G and CHE ( r = - 0.26, - 0.23, - 0.38, P < 0.05), which was positively correlated with the level of TBA ( r = 0.32, P < 0.05); and DNA damage degree was positively correlated with the expression of miR-145 ( r = 0.65, 0.52, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Ginkgo biloba tablets can alleviate the liver damage caused by arsenic through coal burning, and the mechanism of this process is related to its inhibition of miR-145 expression and reduction of DNA damage.

Objective:To investigate the role of liver X-activated receptor (LXRα)/sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1c) in arsenic induced lipid metabolism disorders in rats, and to provide a basis for study the mechanism of arsenic induced lipid metabolism disorders.Methods:Twenty-four healthy clean grade Wistar rats, were randomly divided into 4 groups according to body weight (80 - 100 g) by the random number table method, with 6 rats in each group, half male and half female. Rats in control group were given deionized water by gavage. The low, medium and high arsenic dose groups were given 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg·kg -1·d -1 sodium arsenite solution by gavage, respectively. They were exposed to arsenic for 6 days a week for 4 months. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver samples of rats in each group were collected. The hepatic arsenic content was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The mRNA expression levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c in liver tissues were determined by real-time PCR; the protein expression levels of LXRα, SREBP-1c, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and phospho-ACC (pACC) in liver tissues were determined by Western blotting. Results:The hepatic arsenic contents of rats in low, medium and high arsenic dose groups were (61.04 ± 4.98), (62.66 ± 6.71) and (87.86 ± 13.89) μg/g, respectively, which were higher than that in control group [(2.43 ± 0.63) μg/g, P < 0.05], and the hepatic arsenic content of rats in high arsenic dose group was higher than those in low and medium arsenic dose groups ( P < 0.05). The serum TG levels of rats in low, medium and high arsenic dose groups were (0.90 ± 0.17), (1.28 ± 0.24) and (1.82 ± 0.18) mmol/L, respectively, which were higher than that in control group [(0.50 ± 0.12) mmol/L, P < 0.05]; the serum LDL-C levels of rats in low, medium and high arsenic dose groups were (0.54 ± 0.04), (0.63 ± 0.07) and (0.69 ± 0.08) mmol/L, respectively, which were higher than that in control group [(0.27 ± 0.05) mmol/L, P < 0.05]; the serum TC levels of rats in medium and high arsenic dose groups were (1.88 ± 0.23) and (2.10 ± 0.10) mmol/L, respectively, which were higher than that in control group [(1.51 ± 0.14) mmol/L, P < 0.05]; the serum HDL-C levels of rats in medium and high arsenic dose groups were (0.84 ± 0.11) and (0.71 ± 0.14) mmol/L, respectively, which were lower than that in control group [(1.15 ± 0.08) mmol/L, P < 0.05]; and the serum levels of TG and LDL-C in medium and high arsenic dose groups were higher than those in low arsenic dose group ( P < 0.05), and the serum level of TG in high arsenic dose group was higher than that in medium arsenic dose group ( P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of hepatic LXRα of rats in high arsenic dose group was higher than those in control group and low arsenic dose group ( P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in mRNA expression levels of hepatic SREBP-1c of rats between low, medium and high arsenic dose groups and control group ( P > 0.05). The protein expression levels of hepatic LXRα of rats in medium and high arsenic dose groups were higher than that in control group ( P < 0.05), and high arsenic dose group was higher than low arsenic dose group ( P < 0.05); the protein expression levels of hepatic SREBP-1c and ACC of rats in high arsenic dose group were higher than that in control group ( P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between hepatic arsenic content in arsenic-exposed rats and the serum levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, the mRNA expression level of hepatic LXRα, the protein expression levels of hepatic LXRα, SREBP-1c and ACC ( r = 0.84, 0.62, 0.89, 0.55, 0.54, 0.64, 0.70, P < 0.05), and the serum level of HDL-C was negatively correlated with the hepatic arsenic content in arsenic-exposed rats ( r = - 0.75, P < 0.001). Conclusion:Sodium arsenite can increase the serum levels of TG, TC and LDL-C, decrease the serum level of HDL-C and increase the protein expression levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c in liver tissues, suggesting that arsenic induced lipid metabolism disorders in rats may be related to the upstream regulation mechanism of LXRα/SREBP-1c.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected with Delta variant, so as to provide further references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A real-world study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of 166 COVID-19 patients infected with Delta variant at Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University.Results:The study enrolled 5 asymptomatic cases, 123 non-severe cases (mild and moderate type), and 38 severe cases (severe and critical type). Among these patients, 69 (41.6%) were male and 97 (58.4%) were female, with a mean age of 47.0±23.5 years. Thirty-nine cases (23.5%) had received 1 or 2 doses of inactivated vaccine. The incidence of severe COVID-19 cases was 7.7% in 2-doses vaccinated patients, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients. The proportion of severe cases in 2 dose-vaccinated patients was 7.7%, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose vaccinated patients and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients, but the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The most common clinical symptom was fever (134 cases, 83.2%), and 39.1% of cases presented with high-grade fever (≥39 °C); other symptoms were cough, sputum, fatigue, and xerostomia. The proportion of fever in severe cases was significantly higher than that of non-severe cases (97.4% vs. 76.4%, P<0.01). Similarly, the proportion of severe cases with high peak temperature (≥39 ℃) () was also higher than that of non-severe cases (65.8% vs. 30.9%, P<0.01). The median minimal Cycle threshold (Ct) values of viral nucleic acid N gene and ORFlab gene were 20.3 and 21.5, respectively, and the minimum Ct values were 11.9 and 13.5, respectively. Within 48 h of admission, 9.0% of cases presented with decreased white blood cell counts, and 52.4% with decreased lymphocyte counts. The proportions of increased C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin 6, and interleukin 10 were 32.5%, 57.4%, 65.3%, and 35.7%, respectively. The proportions of elevated C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in severe cases were significantly higher than those in non-severe cases ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that older age and higher peak temperature were associated with a higher likelihood of severe cases ( OR>3, 95% CI: 2-7, P<0.01). In terms of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was used in 97.6% of non-severe cases and 100% in severe cases. Other treatments included respiratory and nutritional support, immunotherapy (such as neutralizing antibodies and plasma of recovered patients). The median times from admission to progression to severe cases, of fever clearance, and of nucleic acid conversion were 5 days, 6 days and 19 days, respectively. No deaths were reported within 28 days. Conclusions:The symptoms of Delta variant infection in Guangzhou are characterized by a high proportion of fever, high peak temperature, long duration of fever, high viral load, a long time to nucleic acid conversion, and a high incidence of severe cases. The severe cases exhibit a higher percentage of elderly patients, a longer duration of fever and have a higher fever rate and a higher hyperthermia rate than non-severe cases. Age and hyperthermia are independent risk factors for progression to severe disease. The combination of TCM and Western medicine can control the progression of the disease effectively.

Objective:To understand the relationship between the disease condition of patients with coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning (abbreviated as coal-burning-borne arsenic poisoning) and serum lipid metabolism indicators.Methods:Using a case-control study method, in the coal-burning-borne arsenic poisoning village of Yuzhang Town, Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, 204 patients with arsenic poisoning diagnosed according to the standard of "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015) were included in case group, including 87 males and 117 females, aged(53.37 ± 8.06) years old; and they were divided into mild arsenic poisoning group (71 cases), moderate arsenic poisoning group (59 cases) and severe arsenic poisoning group (74 cases) according to the clinical grading. Another 63 residents were selected into control group in a non-arsenic-exposed village about 12 km away from the diseased village, including 23 males and 40 females, aged (53.78 ± 9.10) years old. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted for each group of people, including basic information such as general demographic characteristics, smoking status, and drinking status; fasting peripheral blood was collected, and an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.Results:There were significant differences of serum TC [(4.94 ± 1.00), (5.00 ± 0.99), (5.27 ± 0.94), (5.57 ± 1.07) mmol/L], TG [(2.17 ± 0.90), (2.25 ± 1.31), (2.66 ± 1.43), (2.78 ± 1.40) mmol/L], LDL-C [(2.51 ± 0.79), (2.74 ± 0.64), (2.97 ± 0.66), (3.15 ± 0.80) mmol/L], and HDL-C levels [(1.57 ± 0.55), (1.42 ± 0.43), (1.36 ± 0.42), (1.30 ± 0.38) mmol/L] in control group, mild, moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups ( F = 5.83, 3.64, 9.72, 4.41, P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Among them, the serum TC level in severe arsenic poisoning group, serum TG and LDL-C levels in moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups were significantly higher than those in control group ( P < 0.05); the serum HDL-C level in moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups were lower than that in control group ( P < 0.05); the serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels in severe arsenic poisoning group were significantly higher than those in mild arsenic poisoning group ( P < 0.05). After linear trend test, serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels all showed an upward trend with the degree of arsenic poisoning ( Ftrend = 15.77, 10.14, 29.15, P < 0.05), and serum HDL-C level showed a downward trend with the degree of arsenic poisoning ( Ftrend = 12.75, P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the abnormal rates of serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels among control group and mild, moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups (χ 2 = 21.16, 16.60, 8.29, P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Among them, the serum TC and TG levels abnormal rates in moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups and serum LDL-C level abnormal rate in severe arsenic poisoning group were higher than those in control group ( P < 0.05), the serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels abnormal rates in severe arsenic poisoning group were higher than those in mild arsenic poisoning group ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of the serum HDL-C level abnormal rate among four groups (χ 2 = 2.11 , P > 0.05). The results of trend chisquare analysis showed that the abnormal rates of serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels presented an increasing trend with the degree of arsenic poisoning (χ 2trend = 19.90, 15.25, 7.63, P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of abnormal serum TC level in patients with severe arsenic poisoning was 2.90 times that in control group [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.90, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.43 - 5.91], and the risk of abnormal serum LDL-C level in patients with severe arsenic poisoning was 2.87 times that in control group ( OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.22 - 6.71). Conclusion:There is a correlation between the disease condition of patients with coal-burning-borne arsenic poisoning and their dyslipidemia.

Objective:To study the anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanism of Sanmiao Pill by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Methods:The rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and medicated group based on weight, 8 rats in each group. The model group and medicated group were treated by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml complete Freund's adjuvant on buttock(s). Rats of medicated group were given Sanmiao Pill solution 0.054 g/ml by gavage, 1 ml/100 g based on weight from the 7th day of experiment for 7 days. And then to score the degree of feet swelling of rats. After 48 hours of the last medication, to collecte the blood samples for metabolic fingerprint analysis. Then analized and processed the non-targeted contour mass spectrometry data (Continuum model) with unsupervised principal component method; identified the maximum metabolic differences between rheumatoid arthritis rats and healthy rats by dimension reduction technic. The differential ions were screened and locked by supervised pattern recognition analysis. Finally, with the help of the automated analysis software database like HMDB, identifiedthe structures and analized the correlated metabolic pathway.Results:Compared with the model group, the swelling degree of the feet (2.01 ± 0.19 ml vs. 2.27 ± 0.30 ml) in medicated group significantly decreased ( P<0.01). The HMDB data shows that the metabolic profiles of rats were mainly distributed in the control group and the model group, which proved that the rheumatoid arthritis rats treated with Sanmiao Pill had a pullback trend, and the overall metabolic level has a healthy state. With this analysis, 20 blood biomarkers related to rheumatoid arthritis were obtained, which involved the metabolic pathways of aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Glycine, Serine and Threonine metabolism, Alanine, Aspartic acid and Glutamic acid metabolism, Linoleic acid metabolism, Arachidonic acid metabolism. Conclusions:Sanmiao Pill has interventional effect on rheumatoid arthritis rats. The mechanism might be related with metabolic enzymes and metabolic pathways such as Alanine, Aspartic acid and Glutamic acid.

Objective:Comparative analysis of diabetes was carried out in coal-burning arsenic poisoning areas and non-arsenic exposed villages of Yuzhang Town, so as to explore the relationship between arsenic exposure and diabetes.Methods:Data of basic information of 594 people who were diagnosed and included in the diabetes management in Central Health Center of Yuzhang Town in Qianxinan Prefecture Guizhou Province in 2018 were collected. According to the "Standards for the Determination and Classification of Endemic Arsenic Poisoning Areas" (WS 277-2007), 11 administrative villages in the town were divided into 5 arsenic poisoning villages and 6 non-arsenic exposure villages. The prevalence (%) was used for statistical description.Results:In 2018, the prevalence of diabetes in Yuzhang Town was 1.74% (594/34 218), 1.38% (243/17 665) for men and 2.12% (351/16 553) for women, the gender difference was statistically significant (χ 2=27.794, P < 0.05). The prevalence of standardized diabetes in arsenic poisoning villages was 3.38%; the prevalence of standardized diabetes in non-arsenic exposure villages was 3.13%. After sex stratification analysis, the non-arsenic exposed villages were used as reference. The OR and 95% CI of diabetic patients in arsenic poisoning villages were 0.65 (0.50-0.81) for males and 1.35 (1.09-1.67) for females. Conclusions:The association between arsenic exposure and diabetes is related to gender. The risk of diabetes mellitus in women is higher than that in men.

Objective: To systematically review the correlation between endemic arsenism and liver injury. Methods: Pertinent studies were identified by searching Pubmed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data databases through November 2018. Studies that reported endemic arsenism and liver injury at home and abroad were collected. All of the Meta-analysis were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software. The odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) were used to compare continuous and dichotomous variables. The I² was used to assess heterogeneity among studies, and the fixed-effects model or the random-effects model was chosen for the quantitative analysis. Subgroup analysis were performed to discuss sources of heterogeneity. The publication bias was evaluated by inverted funnel plot. Results: Totally 16 documents were included, including 7 in English and 9 in Chinese. With liver injury (including the results of hepatomegaly epidemic, abnormal Bultrasound or pathological examination of liver, cirrhosis with definite diagnosis, etc.), different serum liver function and liver fibrosis indicators as the outcome, 7 274 cases, 410-820 cases and 255 cases were included in the arsenic exposure group, and 5 078 cases, 134-327 cases and 164 cases in the control group, respectively. The Meta-analysis showed that arsenic exposure was associated with increased risk of liver injury [OR value and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 2.40 (1.43-4.05), Z=3.30, P < 0.01]. Arsenic exposure had promoted the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) and total bile acid [TBA, SMD and 95%CI were 1.71 (0.18-3.23), 1.73 (0.42-3.03), 0.25 (0.09-0.41) and 0.55 (0.35-0.75), respectively, P < 0.05 or < 0.01], while had suppressed the level of serum albumin [ALB, SMD and 95%CI were-2.37 (-4.01 -- 0.73), P < 0.01]. Among the serum indicators for liver fibrosis, the levels of serum procollagen type Ⅲ (PC-Ⅲ) and collagen type Ⅳ(Ⅳ-C) were significantly increased in arsenic exposed patients [SMD and 95%CI were 0.98 (0.05-1.91), 1.60 (1.38-1.83), respectively, P < 0.05 or < 0.01]. Subgroup analysis showed that arsenic exposure had been stopped or not at the time of study, study design (including cross-sectional study and cohort study) had a significant effect on the association between arsenic exposure and liver injury (χ²=17.17, 11.85, P < 0.01). Conclusions Both drinking water-borne arsenicosis and coal burning-borne arsenicosis can cause high incidence of liver injury. ALP, ALB, γ-GT and TBA can be used as serum biomarkers for arsenic exposure induced liver injury. After blocking of arsenic exposure by adopting comprehensive prevention and control measures such as changing water sources and installation of ventilated stoves, the liver injury of patients could be effectively improved.

Objective To investigate the expression of transcription factor forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (Foxp3),immune factor transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1),and T-lymphocyte activation related factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) in peripheral blood of patients with coal-burning arsenic poisoning,and to analyze the effects of arsenic exposure on immune function.Methods A case-control study was conducted to investigate 149 cases [94 males and 55 females,(50.69 ± 6.14) years old] of arsenic poisoning in Yuzhang coalburning arsenic poisoning area,southwestern Guizhou Province,and the cases were diagnosed based on the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015) and confirmed by clinical review.According to skin damage,the patients were divided into mild arsenic poisoning group (39 cases),moderate arsenic poisoning group (54 cases) and severe arsenic poisoning group (56 cases);and 41 cases [12 males and 29 females,(45.76 ± 7.88) years old] of non-arsenic exposed residents from 12 km of Yuzhang coal-burning area were selected as control group.Morning urine and peripheral blood samples were collected with informed consent.Urine arsenic content was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Urine arsenic was corrected by creatinine (Cr).Detection of regulatory T cell (Treg)-specific transcription factor Foxp3 gene expression in human peripheral blood was done by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,and the levels of Treg-related immune factor TGF-β1 and IL-2 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The urinary arsenic contents [median (quartile):29.13 (19.75-54.50),31.81 (17.52-53.31),30.51 (18.35-45.76) μg/g Cr] in each arsenic poisoning group were higher than that in the control group [21.62 (17.65-28.44) μg/g Cr,P ＜ 0.05].The expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood of each arsenic poisoning group [median (quartile):0.58 (0.17-1.27),0.32 (0.17-0.61),0.33 (0.13-0.62)] were significantly lower than that in the control group [0.87 (0.64-1.50),P ＜ 0.05];compared with mild arsenic poisoning group,the expression of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood of moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups decreased (P ＜ 0.05).The contents of serum TGF-β1 [(13.14 ± 5.19),(12.85 ± 5.51),(12.78 ± 4.95) μg/L] in each arsenic poisoning group were significantly higher than that in the control group [(3.90 ± 1.53) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The levels of IL-2 in serum of each arsenic poisoning group [(9.85 ± 5.38),(11.64 ± 6.40),(12.27 ± 6.19) ng/L] were lower than that in the control group [(34.30 ± 4.84) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05];the serum level of IL-2 in severe arsenic poisoning group was higher than that in mild arsenic poisoning group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Arsenic exposure can cause abnormal changes of Treg-specific transcription factor Foxp3 and related immune factors TGF-β1 and IL-2 in peripheral blood of patients.It is suggested that Treg dysfunction may be related to arsenic poisoning.

Objective To observe the change of T helper 17 (Th17),regulatory T cell (Treg) as a percentage of lymphocytes and the Th17/Treg ratio in peripheral blood of patients with coal-burning-borne arsenic poisoning,and to explore the role of Th17 cells and Treg cells balance in arsenic-induced immune injury.Methods A case-control study was conducted to investigate 149 cases of arsenic poisoning in Yuzhang arsenic poisoning area in the southwestern Gnizhou Province,and the age was (50.69 ± 6.14) years old,including 94 males and 55 females.The diagnosis was based on the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015),and the cases were divided into mild arsenic poisoning group (39 cases),moderate arsenic poisoning group (54 cases) and severe arsenic poisoning group (56 cases);forty--one residents of non-arsenic exposed villages about 12 km away from the diseased area were collected as control group,the age was (45.76 ± 7.88) years old,including 12 males and 29 females.Hair samples and peripheral blood were collected from the subjects.The content of hair arsenic was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).The percentages of Th17 cells and Treg cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry,and changes in the ratio of Th17/Treg in each group were analyzed.Results The hair arsenic contents in control,mild,moderate,and severe arsenic poisoning groups [median (quartile)] were 0.12 (0.08-0.18),0.20 (0.16-0.33),0.25 (0.18-0.41),0.28 (0.21-0.50) μg/g,and the differences were statistically significant between groups (H =52.22,P ＜ 0.01),and the hair arsenic content in each arsenic poisoning group was higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The percentages of Th17 cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes of moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups [(0.42 ± 0.21)％,(0.41 ± 0.23)％] were higher than that of the control group [(0.29 ± 0.16)％,P ＜ 0.05].The percentages of Treg cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mild,moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups [(0.37 ± 0.18)％,(0.31 ± 0.19)％,(0.27 ± 0.18)％] were lower than that of the control group [(0.71 ± 0.20)％,P ＜ 0.05];with respect to the mild arsenic poisoning group,the percentage of Treg cells in severe arsenic poisoning group was reduced (P ＜ 0.05).The ratios of Th17/Treg in mild,moderate and severe arsenic poisoning groups (1.17 ± 0.63,1.56 ± 0.69,1.83 ± 0.85) were higher than that of the control group (0.43 ± 0.22,P ＜ 0.05);compared with mild arsenic poisoning group,the ratio of Th17/Treg in severe arsenic poisoning group was elevated (P ＜ 0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the hair arsenic content was positively correlated with the percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the ratio of Th17/Treg (r =0.323,0.608,P ＜ 0.05),and negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (r =-0.486,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Coal-burning-borne arsenic poisoning can cause the proportion of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients to increase in lymphocytes,and the proportion of Treg cells in lymphocytes to decrease,which in turn changes the balance of Th17/Treg,resulting in weakened immune tolerance and disorder the regulation of inflammatory response,thus participates in the occurrence and development of arsenic-induced immune damage.

Objective To observe the differential expression level of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Treg) in liver of arsenic-exposed rats, explore the regulatory mechanisms on immunological of hepatic injury induced by arsenic, and provide a basis for prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods Thirty-two healthy Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into control,low,medium and high arsenic dose groups by weight,8 rats per group. Rats in control group were given oral gavage of deionized water, while the other groups were given oral gavage doses of 2.00 g/L sodium arsenite(NaAsO2) according to their body weight for 6 days every week, the concentrations were 1.25, 2.50 and 5.00 ml/kg. After 4 months, liver tissue samples of rats were collected, the content of arsenic in liver was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS);the expression of Treg cells in liver was detected by immunohistochemistry; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the levels of interloukin-10 (IL-10),transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), IL-6, IL-17 and IL-2. Results Compared with the control group [28.57 (17.64 - 35.64)μg/g], the content of arsenic in liver in low,medium and high arsenic exposed groups[M(P25-P75):638.30(527.91-802.58),591.64(513.82-723.16),792.55 (695.93 - 1 074.41) μg/g] increased, the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). Compared with low arsenic group, the content of arsenic in liver in high arsenic group increased, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Numerical density on area (NA) of positive Treg cells in medium,high arsenic exposed groups [(2.25 ± 0.50),(4.00 ± 2.16)A/cm2]was higher than that of the control group[(0.60 ± 0.54)A/cm2,P<0.05];NA of positive Treg cells in high arsenic exposed group was higher than that of the low arsenic exposed group[(1.50 ± 0.58) A/cm2, P < 0.05]. The expressions of the IL-10 in low, medium and high arsenic exposed groups [(5.58 ± 1.70), (6.78 ± 1.09),(7.18 ± 0.53)μg/L]were higher than that of the control group[(2.32 ± 0.83) μg/L,P<0.05];compared with low arsenic group, the expression of IL-10 in high arsenic group increased (P < 0.05); compared with control group [(1.46 ± 0.65) μg/L], the expression of TGF-β1 in high arsenic exposed group increased[(9.06 ± 3.60)μg/L, P<0.05];compared with control group [(2.33 ± 0.66)μg/L], the expression of IL-6 in high arsenic exposed group increased [(5.03 ± 1.39) μg/L, P < 0.05], compared with low arsenic exposed group [(2.46 ± 1.71) μg/L], the expressions of IL-6 in high arsenic exposed group increased, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05);the expression of IL-17 among control, low, medium and high arsenic exposed groups[(4.87 ± 1.64),(7.50 ± 2.74), (6.21 ± 1.47),(7.23 ± 2.68)μg/L]were not statistically significant (F = 1.429, P > 0.05); compared with control group [(16.30 ± 3.98) μg/L], the expression of IL-2 in high arsenic exposed group decreased[(9.93 ± 2.65) μg/L, P <0.05]. The content of arsenic in liver was positively correlated with the expression of IL-10, TGF-β1, IL-17, IL-6 (rs=0.696,0.463,0.632,0.502,P<0.05),and negatively correlated with the expression of IL-2(rs=-0.522,P<0.05). Conclusion With increasing of arsenic exposure level, the content of arsenic in liver and the expression of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg have increased,the cytokines are secreted abnormally,liver immunological micro environment is disordered,immune tolerance is formed,and immune clearance is inhibited,which may play an important role in the occur and development of immunological liver damage induced by arsenic in rat.