BACKGROUND:Endothelin has been found to be involved in the breakdown of the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury,and stem cell-derived exosomes can reduce the permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier and repair spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether exosomes produced by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can reduce the permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier by inhibiting endothelin-1 expression,thus repairing spinal cord injury. METHODS:Exosomes were extracted from the cultured supernatant by the hyperspeed centrifugation method.The morphology of exosomes was observed by transmission electron microscope.The expression levels of tsg101 and CD63 were detected by western blot assay.Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,exosome group,and endothelin-1 group(n=20).The modified Allen's method was used to create the rat model of spinal cord injury.In the endothelin-1 group,10 μL(1 μg/mL)endothelin-1 was injected directly into the injured area with a microsyringe.Immediately,1 day,2 days after operation,sham operation group and model group were injected with 200 μL PBS solution through the tail vein;the exosome group and endothelin-1 group were injected with 200 μL exosome(200 μg/mL)solution through the tail vein,respectively.Hind limb motor function scores were performed on days 1,3,7,14 and 21 after spinal cord injury.The blood-spinal cord barrier permeability was observed by Evans blue staining on day 7 after injury.The expression levels of tight junction proteins β-Catenin,ZO-1,Occludin and endothelin-1 in the spinal cord were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score in the exosome group was significantly higher than that in the model group at 3-21 days after injury(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that spinal cord injury was greatly reduced in the exosome group compared with the model group.Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score in the endothelin-1 group was significantly decreased compared with the exosome group(P<0.05).Spinal cord injury was more severe in the endothelin-1 group than that in the exosome group.(2)The expression of endothelin-1 in the model group was significantly increased compared with the sham operation group(P<0.05),and the expression of endothelin-1 in the exosome group was significantly decreased compared with the model group(P<0.05).(3)The blood-spinal cord barrier Evans blue exudate in the exosome group was significantly decreased compared with the model group(P<0.05).The expression levels of the tight junction proteins β-Catenin,Occludin and ZO-1 in the exosome group were increased(P<0.05);the Evans blue exudate in the endothelin-1 group was significantly increased compared with the exosome group(P<0.05).The expression level of tight junction protein was significantly decreased compared with the exosome group(P<0.05).(4)The results show that human umbilical cord mesenchymal cell-derived exosomes protect the permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier by down-regulating the expression of endothelin-1 and play a role in the repair of spinal cord injury.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the progression to end-point events of diabetic kidney disease （DKD）. MethodsA retrospective study among patients with stage Ⅳ DKD admitted to Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 1st， 2016 to September 30th， 2021 was conducted. Data on the patients' general information， clinical indicators including duration of diabetes， duration of proteinuria， history of smoking and drinking， hemoglobin （HGB）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， albumin （ALB）， serum creatinine （Scr）， urea nitrogen （BUN）， uric acid （UA）， cholesterol （TC） ， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， 24-hour urine protein quantification （24h-UTP） and estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）， and TCM syndromes including symptoms， tongue and pulse， and syndrome scores were collected. The patients were divided into exposure group （yang-deficiency group） and non-exposure group （non-yang-deficiency group）. The general information， clinical indicators and incidence rates of end-point events were compared， and the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method， and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to identify independent predictors of end-point events. ResultsA total of 160 patients with stage Ⅳ DKD were included in the study， including 43 cases of yang deficiency syndrome and 117 cases of non-yang deficiency syndrome. Compared to those in the non-yang deficiency group， the waist circumference， BUN and the incidence of end-point events in the yang deficiency group were significantly higher （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with incidence of end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD （r = 0.167， P = 0.035）. Furthermore， 24h-UTP and BUN levels were also positively correlated with end-point events in stage Ⅳ DKD patients （P＜0.01）， while ALB and HGB levels were negatively correlated （P＜0.01）. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that yang deficiency syndrome was associated with an increased risk of end-point events （Log Rank P = 0.011）. Moreover， 24h-UTP levels ≥3500 mg， BUN level ≥8 mmol/L， ALB level ＜30 g and HGB level ＜11 g were all associated with the increase of the risk of end-point events （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was an independent risk factor for patients with stage Ⅳ DKD to progress into end-point events （HR = 2.36， 1.32 to 4.21； P = 0.004）， as well as 24h-UTP ≥ 3500 mg， BUN ≥ 8 mmol/L， HGB＜11 g and ALB＜30 g （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionsFor stage Ⅳ DKD， patients with yang deficiency syndrome are more likely to have end-point events， which is an independent risk factor for the progression into end-point events.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the immunomodulatory and protumorigenic microenviron-ment of colorectal cancer(CRC).However,the effect of ginsenoside Rk3(Rk3)on CRC and gut microbiota remains unclear.Therefore,the purpose of this study is to explore the potential effect of Rk3 on CRC from the perspective of gut microbiota and immune regulation.Our results reveal that treatment with Rk3 significantly suppresses the formation of colon tumors,repairs intestinal barrier damage,and regulates the gut microbiota imbalance caused by CRC,including enrichment of probiotics such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Barnesiella intestinihominis,and clearance of pathogenic Desulfovibrio.Subsequent metabolomics data demonstrate that Rk3 can modulate the metabolism of amino acids and bile acids,particularly by upregulating glutamine,which has the potential to regulate the immune response.Furthermore,we elucidate the regulatory effects of Rk3 on chemokines and inflammatory factors associated with group 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3s)and T helper 17(Th17)signaling pathways,which inhibits the hyperactivation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(JAK-STAT3)signaling pathway.These results indicate that Rk3 modulates gut microbiota,regulates ILC3s immune response,and inhibits the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway to suppress the development of colon tumors.More importantly,the results of fecal microbiota transplantation suggest that the inhibitory effect of Rk3 on colon tumors and its regulation of ILC3 immune responses are mediated by the gut microbiota.In summary,these findings emphasize that Rk3 can be utilized as a regulator of the gut microbiota for the prevention and treatment of CRC.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its clinical significance of monitoring the changes of T lymphocyte subsets dynamicly on 1, 3, 6, 12 month after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSTwenty cases received allo-HSCT in Department of Hematology of General Hospital of Beijing Military Command from January 2013 to January 2014, including 10 males and 10 females with average age of 20.3 years (3-46 years old), among them 4 cases rectived HLA matched transplantation and 16 cases rectived HLA mismatched transplantation. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets including CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD4(+)CD25(high) FOXP3(+) in the peripheral blood were manitored with flow cytometry (FCM) on +1, +3, +6, +12 month after transplantation dynamicly.

RESULTS(1) Follow up to March 2015, the levers of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD4(+) CD25(high) FOXP3(+) showed a different degree of recovery after transplantation for all cases and returned to the lever of pre-transplantation on 12 month basically, and CD8(+) T cells recovered earlier than CD4(+) T cells, while the decrease of CD4(+) T cells lasted more than 1 year; The proportion inversion of CD4(+)/CD8(+) also lasted for more than 1 year;(2) The level of CD4(+) CD25(high) FOXP3(+) in patients with acute GVHD was lower than that in patients without acute GVHD.

CONCLUSIONThe dynamic monitoring of the T lymphocyte subsets, especially CD4(+) CD25(high) FOXP3(+) after transplantation has importent clinical significance, it can forecast the incidence of acute GVHD before symptoms appeared; the dynamic monitoring of the T-lymphocyte subsets also can be used as reference indicator for prediction of GVHD, theraby it can reduce mortality of patients after transplantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:A large number of studies have shown that adult stem cels derived from multiple tissues are available to differentiate towards nucleus pulposus-like celsin vitro. It is unclear whether mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues have the ability to differentiate towards nucleus pulposus-like phenotypes induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1. Up to now, there are few reports on the difference between the differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels. OBJECTIVE:To compare the ability of mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels differentiating into nucleus pulposus-like cels under induction of transforming growth factor-beta 1. METHODS:The groin fat tissue and the coccygeal spine of rats were taken respectively to isolate and culture mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels by mechanical enzyme digestion method. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the expression of CD105, CD90, CD29, CD45, CD44, CD34, and CD24 of both two kinds of stem cels. Mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels were divided into complete induction group (complete induction medium with transforming growth factor-beta 1), incomplete induction group (complete induction medium without transforming growth factor-beta 1) and control group(DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 100 mg/L penicilin/streptomycin), respectively. After 14 days of culture, real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of colagen type II, Aggrecan and SOX-9 in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:CD105, CD90, CD29 expressed positively and CD45, CD44, CD34, CD24 negatively in both two kinds of stem cels. After 14 days of induced differentiation, the expressions of colagen type II, Aggrecan and SOX-9 in the two kinds of cels were significantly higher in the complete induction groups than in the control groups (P < 0.05). Under the induction of transforming growth factor-beta 1, the expression of colagen type II, Aggrecan and SOX-9 in mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues was significantly higher than that in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that both two kinds of mesenchymal stem cels have the ability to differentiate towards nucleus pulposus-like cels induced by transforming growth factor-beta, and mesenchymal stem cels derived from nucleus pulposus tissues may be more suitable as seed cels for nucleus pulposus tissue engineering research.

Objective To investigate the selection of surgery and clinical outcomes of upper cervical injuries.Methods 25 upper cervical injury patients were involved in this retrospective study from November 2011 to June 2014.Including 20 males and 5 females with mean age of 37.1 years old (range,14-55 years old).Individual operation methods were based on the comprehensive evaluation of specific situations including the clinical manifestation,the type of the injuries and the imaging data.HaloVest distraction was applicated before operation.The surgery by anterior approach were performed for 7 patients and posterior approach were performed for 18 patients.Preoperative and postoperative American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade and Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) score were studied to evaluate the nerve functional restoration.Imaging data before and after the operation were contrasted to evaluate the reduction of the fracture,the bone union,the fusion of the bone graft and the condition of the internal fixation.Wilcoxon Singed Rank Test was applied to compare the FIM score between pre-operation and last follow-up.Results 15 patients presented neurological function deficit because of cervical spinal cord compromise.All cases were followed up for 6-35 months (mean 18.2 months),showing good clinical and radiological effects.Solid fusion was obtained in all patients among 3-12 months.The ASIA grade improved by an average of 1.1 (6 months after operation) and 1.2 (12 months after operation).There was significant difference in FIM score between pre-operation and last follow-up.One patient got cerebrospinal fluid leakage.Conservative treatment was implemented with the Trendelenburg position,rehydration fluids and so on.Removal of drainage tube 8 days later when the drainage was less than 30 ml/24 h.No incision infection,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,migration or breakage of internal fixation was observed at the last follow-up.Conclusion The type of upper cervical injuries are complicated,the characteristics of fracture,dislocation and nerve injury in different patients are different.The specific situation should be evaluated comprehensively to make individual operation methods.The success of the operation requires the proficiency of the anatomic basis,the biomechanical characteristics,precise entrance point and direction in operation,appropriate diameter of the screw and suitable depth of the screw road.

This study was aimed to explore the effect and feasibility of reduced conditioning intensity allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the treatment of relapsed ETO positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Fifteen cases of relapsed AML received the reducing conditioning intensity allo-HSCT from January 2011 to January 2013 in Beijing Military Command General Hospital. All patients were high-risk type of relapsed or refractory AML, including 10 males and 5 females, aged from 16 to 48 years old with mean age of 32.5 years. Ten cases are HLA-identical matching and other 5 cases are HLA-haploidentical.donors received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize the peripheral blood stem cell for transplantation. Conditioning regimen was fludarabine combined with busulfex, cytarabine and cyclophosphamide. The preventive donor's peripheral blood stem cell infusion were performed after 3 months of transplantation, and the toxicity, GVHD and disease-free survival were observed in patients after transplantation. The results showed that all patients achieved hematopoietic reconstitution, the average time of neutrophils ≥ 0.5 × 10⁹/L and platelets ≥ 20 × 10⁹/L were 15.5 d and 16.8 d respectively. Implantation was confirmed by the evidence of 100% donor hematopoiesis. Follow-up to June 2014, with a median follow-up duration of 27.5 months (18-54 months), GVHD occurred in 8 cases of all patients, one died of complication, the other 4 cases died of relapse and the other three patients remained in disease-free survival. The disease-free survival rate of 2-year was 66.7%,the longest disease-free survival time was up to 54 months. It is concluded that the reduced conditioning intensity allo-HSCT is the effective and safe method for relapsed AML with ETO-positive, and it may be chosen as a treatment method for relapsed ETO positive AML patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allografts ; Cytarabine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Erythropoietin ; analysis ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of haploidentical allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA), and evaluate the safety of this treatment by retrospective analysis. A total of 21 patients with SAA (13 cases of SAA-I, 8 cases of SAA-II) were treated with haploidentical allo-HSCT. Donors were the relatives of the patients (12 were the parents, 9 were the siblings). The conditioning regimen contained cyclophosphamide, fludarabine and antithymocyte globulin. Methylaminopterin, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporin A were used for preventing graft versus host disease (GVHD). The chimerism rate was monitored periodically after successful graft. The long survival rate, incidence and severity of complication, such as GVHD, infection, and so on were analyzed. The results showed that 15 out of 21 patients were survived for 16 (3-46) months, survival rate was 71.4%. Graft tailure happened in one case who died of mycetes septicemia at 43 days after allo-HSCT. Two patients died of pulmonary infection at 6 days and 10 days respectively after transplantation. Rejection happened in one case at 3 months who died of pulmonary infection at 17 days after the second transplantation with the same donor. Two patients died of IV grade intestinal GVHD at 35 days and 52 days. GVHD occurred in 14 of 21 patients, the accumulative incidence was 66.7%, 5 cases of them were severe. It is concluded that the therapeutic efficacy of haploidentical allo-HSCT is effective for SAA and with slighter complications.
Adolescent ; Allografts ; Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Cyclosporine ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Haploidy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives

This study was purposed to evaluate the curative efficacy of second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) after failure of the first allo-HSCT in aplastic anemia patients, the cause of implant failure after allo-HSCT and clinical data of 10 severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients in the second allo-HSCT were retrospectively analyszed. The second HSCT conditioning programs include: cyclophosphamide (CTX) + fludarabine (FLU)+ anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) combination chemotherapy for 3 cases; CTX + FLU + white busulfan (Bu) + ATG combination chemotherapy for 7 cases. The prevention regimen of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) include cyclosporine (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX). The median count of mononuclear cell infusion was 12.17 (5.99-18.12)×10(8)/kg. The CD34(+) cell count was 5.2 (3.8-10.9)×10(6)/kg. The results showed that 10 evaluable patients achieved hematopoietic reconstitution with absolute neutrophil >0.5×10(9)/L, platelets >20×10(9)/L at 15d (8-21d) and 17d (11-27d) after transplantation. The grade I aGVHD occurred in 2 case, grade II in 1 case, chronic GVHD in 3 cases. Transplant-related deaths occurred in 4 cases. The disease-free survival rate, transplant-related mortality, GVHD after transplantation were 60%, 40% and 50% respectively. It is concluded that the second allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for aplastic anemia after allo-HSCT implant failure.
Allografts ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Cyclosporine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To construct the recombinant yeast expressing PreS2 120-146-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg),and to evaluate the immune effects of whole yeast cells.Methods PreS2 120-146 and HBsAg gene sequence were optimized according to the yeast cell codon preference,and were recombined and cloned into pPIC3.5K yeast expression vector to construct pPIC3.5K/PreS2 120-146 plasmid.After digested and linearized by Bgk Ⅱ restriction enzyme,pPIC3.5K/PreS2 120-146-HBsAg recombinant plasmid was electrotransformed into GS115 strain to screen PreS2 120-146-HBsAg-recombinant Pichiapastoris .The expression of PreS2 120-146-HBsAg was identified by sodium doclecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophogesis (SDS-PAGE),Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)analysis. BALB/c mice were vaccinated by inactivated whole recombinant yeast cells expressing target protein. Specific antibodies to HBsAg were detected by ELISA.Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)response induced by interferon (IFN)-γ was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)when immune spleen cells of mice were stimulated by CTL epitope on HBsAg.Independent sample t test was used. Results Data of PCR detection,restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing analysis showed that recombinant pPIC3.5K/PreS2 120-146-HBsAg plasmid was successfully constructed.SDS-PAGE,Western blot and ELISA verified the expression of PreS2 120-146-HBsAg in the lysate of the recombinant Pichiapastoris induced by methanol.Levels of specific anti-HBsAg IgG antibodies produced by inactivated yeast cells vaccinated mice were comparable to purified HBsAg immunization (t =0.946,P =0.381 ). Analysis of HBsAg-specific CTL responses revealed that the level of IFN-γwas significantly higher when the immune spleen cells of mice were stimulated by CTL epitope peptides on HBsAg (t =2.305 ,P =0.044).Conclusions PreS2 120-146-HBsAg target protein is successfully expressed by construction of recombinant Pichiapastoris . The specific humoral and cellular immune responses are induced by recombinant whole yeast cells vaccinated mice.