Background Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type II (PTPN2) is essential for the regulation of inflammation and immunity, but the specific mechanism of action of Ptpn2 in silicosis is unknown. Objective To investigate the regulatory role of overexpression of Ptpn2 in SiO₂-mediated inflammatory response in alveolar type II epithelial cells based on transcriptome sequencing. Methods This study was an in vitro study. A negative control group (vector transferred) and an overexpression of Ptpn2 group of mouse lung epithelial cell line MLE-12 cells were firstly constructed. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed mRNAs, and differentially expressed ncRNAs in the two groups of MLE-12 cells, and then the DEGs were analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Constructed MLE-12 cells and A549 cells were stimulated using SiO₂ suspension, and divided into a negative control group (vector transferred), an overexpression of Ptpn2 group, a negative control + SiO₂ group, and an overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group, respectively. Protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-2, IL-1β were detected by Western blot. Positive TNF-α expression was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression level of PTPN2 was up-regulated in the overexpressed Ptpn2 group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05). The volcano plot and clustering heat map showed that there were 1122 DEGs, 3681 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 474 differentially expressed ncRNAs in the overexpressed Ptpn2 group compared with the negative control group. The results of GO enrichment showed that, in terms of the biological process, the DEGs were mainly related to the regulation of metal ion transport, extracellular matrix organization, and extracellular structural organization; in terms of cellular composition, the DEGs were mainly related to collagen-containing extracellular matrix, receptor complexes, and basement membranes; in terms of molecular function, the DEGs were mainly related to the extracellular matrix structural constituents, glycosaminoglycan binding, and semaphorin receptor binding. The results of KEGG enrichment showed that the DEGs were closely related to cytokin-cytokine receptor interaction, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. In MLE-12 and A549 cells, the results of Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of TNF-α , IL-17A, IL-2, and IL-1β were up-regulated in the negative control + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05), and the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-2, and IL-1β were down-regulated in the overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control + SiO₂ group (P < 0.05). The immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of TNF-α was increased in the negative control + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control group, and decreased in the overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control + SiO₂ group. Conclusion Overexpression of Ptpn2 inhibits SiO₂-mediated inflammatory response in MLE-12 cells and A549 cells.

Humans ; Histamine ; Receptors, Histamine H2 ; Schizophrenia/drug therapy*

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with a complex etiology. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) infiltration are associated with RA severity. We have reported the deletion of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) reprograms macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype by recovering G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. However, as more GRK2-interacting proteins were discovered, the GRK2 interactome mechanisms in RA have been understudied. Thus, in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, we performed genetic GRK2 deletion using GRK2^f/fLyz2-Cre^+/- mice. Synovial inflammation and M1 polarization were improved in GRK2^f/fLyz2-Cre^+/- mice. Supporting experiments with RNA-seq and dual-luciferase reporter assays identified peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) as a new GRK2-interacting protein. We further confirmed that fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1), which promoted macrophage migration to induce angiogenesis, was inhibited by GRK2-PPARγ signaling. Mechanistically, excess GRK2 membrane recruitment in CIA MDMs reduced the activation of PPARγ ligand-binding domain and enhanced Flt-1 transcription. Furthermore, the treatment of mice with GRK2 activity inhibitor resulted in significantly diminished CIA pathology, Flt-1⁺ macrophages induced-synovial inflammation, and angiogenesis. Altogether, we anticipate to facilitate the elucidation of previously unappreciated details of GRK2-specific intracellular signaling. Targeting GRK2 activity is a viable strategy to inhibit MDMs infiltration, affording a distinct way to control joint inflammation and angiogenesis of RA.

Background The senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells is an important driving factor for the progression of silicotic fibrosis, and the regulatory effects of oxamate on the senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells is still unclear. Objective To explore whether lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate can alleviate silicotic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cellsMethods This study was divided into two parts: in vivo experiments and in vitro experiments. In the first part, forty SPF C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into four groups with 10 in each group: control group, silicosis model group, low-dose oxamate treatment group, and high-dose oxamate treatment group. The silicotic mouse model was established by intratracheal instillation of 50 μL SiO₂ suspension (100 mg·mL⁻¹). The treatment models were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of 100 μL oxamate (225 mmol·L⁻¹ and 1125 mmol·L⁻¹). In the second part, induction of MLE-12 mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells was conducted with SiO₂. The in vitro experimental groups were ① SiO₂ induction groups: control group, 50 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, 100 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, and 200 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, and ② oxamate treatment groups: control group, SiO₂ group (100 μg·mL⁻¹), low-dose oxamate (25 mmol·L⁻¹) treatment group, and high-dose oxamate (50 mmol·L⁻¹) treatment group. Pathological morphology of lung tissues was evaluated after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; deposition of collagen in lung tissues was evaluated after sirius red staining; positive co-expression of prosurfactant protein C (Pro-SPC) and β-galactosidase was detected by immunofluorescence staining; positive expression of β-galactosidase in MLE-12 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The protein expression levels of collagen type I (CoL I), fibronectin1 (FN1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), p-ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21, and p16 were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the protein expression levels of HK2, PKM2, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the silicosis model group and the SiO₂-induced MLE-12 cells (P＜0.05). The in vivo studies showed that, compared with the control group, the silicon nodule area, the collagen deposition area, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells, and the protein expression levels of CoL I, FN1, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the silicosis model group (P＜0.05). Compared with the silicosis model group, the oxamate treatment groups showed significant downregulation of the silicon nodule area, the collagen deposition area, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells, and the the CoL I, FN1, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 protein expression levels, and the high-dose oxamate treatment group showed a higher efficacy on these indicators than the low-dose oxamate treatment group (P＜0.05). The in vitro studies showed that, compared with the control group, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells and the protein expression levels of p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the SiO₂-induced group (P＜0.05). Compared with the SiO₂ group, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells and the LDHA, p-ATR, p21 and p16 protein expression levels were significantly downregulated in the oxamate treatment groups, and the high-dose oxamate treatment group showed a higher efficacy on these indicators than the low-dose oxamate treatment group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate can alleviate silicotic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells.

Objective:To detect gene mutations in a pedigree with dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DDEB) .Methods:A 20-year-old male proband presented with repeated blisters, ulceration, pigmentation, scars on the limbs, and deformation of the nails/toenails after birth. There were 5 patients in the 3-generation family, and they all presented with typical skin lesions. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 14 members of the pedigree (including the 5 patients) and 100 unrelated healthy controls. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in the proband to identify relevant mutation sites, which were then confirmed in the family by Sanger sequencing.Results:Genetic testing indicated that the proband and the other 4 patients all carried a missense mutation (c.7885G>A) in exon 107 of the COL7A1 gene, resulting in the substitution of glycine by arginine at amino acid position 2629 (p.G2629R). The mutation was identified neither in the 9 healthy relatives nor in the 100 unrelated healthy controls. The mutation co-segregated with DDEB in the family, and was not included in databases such as Pubmed, HGMD or ClinVar, suggesting it was a novel missense mutation. The amino acid encoded by this mutation may alter the structure of type Ⅶ collagen, thereby affecting its function.Conclusion:A novel missense mutation was identified in exon 107 of the COL7A1 gene in the family with DDEB, expanding the spectrum of mutations in the COL7A1 gene.

Although immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and achieved remarkable success across many different cancer types, only a subset of patients shows meaningful clinical responses. In particular, advanced prostate cancer exhibits overwhelming de novo resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. This is primarily due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer. Therefore, it is paramount to understand how prostate cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms promote immune evasion and foster an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we review recent findings that reveal the roles of the genetic alterations, androgen receptor signaling, cancer cell plasticity, and oncogenic pathways in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and thereby driving immunotherapy resistance. Based on preclinical and clinical observations, a variety of therapeutic strategies are being developed that may illuminate new paths to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in prostate cancer.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Immunotherapy ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective:To compare the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia on the sleep quality of sleep-deprived mice.Methods:Thirty-two clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=8 each) by the random number table method: control group (C group), sleep deprivation group (SD group), sleep deprivation+ sevoflurane group (SD+ SEV group), and sleep deprivation+ desflurane group (SD+ DES group). In the four groups, EEG-EMG electrodes were implanted for recording EEG and EMG, and sleep deprivation model was developed by the gentle stimulation method with a brush for 12 h (6: 00-18: 00) after 7 days of adaptation. The 6 h after sleep deprivation was divided into 2 time periods: T 1 period (18: 00-20: 00) and T 2 period (20: 00-24: 00). T 1 period In SD group, mice were allowed ad libitum recovery sleep after sleep deprivation. C group and SD group were exposed to 60% oxygen 1.5 L/min. In SD+ DES group and SD+ SEV group, mice were exposed to 6% desflurane and 2.5% sevoflurane, respectively, for 2 h in 60% oxygen 1.5 L/min following sleep deprivation. T 2 period Four groups were allowed ad libitum recovery sleep with the EEG-EMG signal recording. The percentages and number of wakefulness time, rapid eye movement time and non-rapid eye movement time during each time period were calculated using Lunion Data software. Results:Compared with C group, the percentage of non-rapid eye movement time and the percentage of rapid eye movement time were significantly decreased, and the percentage of wakefulness time was increased during 12 h sleep deprivation in SD group, SD+ SEV group and SD+ DES group ( P<0.05). Compared with T 1 period, the percentage of non-rapid eye movement time was significantly increased, and the percentage of wakefulness time and percentage of rapid eye movement time were decreased in T 2 period in SD group ( P<0.05). Compared with SD group, the percentage of non-rapid eye movement time and percentage of rapid eye movement time were significantly decreased, and the percentage of wakefulness time was increased in T 2 period in SD+ SEV group and SD+ DES group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the percentage of non-rapid eye movement, rapid eye movement and wakefulness time in T 2 period between SD+ SEV group and SD+ DES group ( P>0.05). Compared with SD+ SEV group, the number of non-rapid eye movement in T 2 period was significantly reduced in SD+ DES group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The effect of desflurane anesthesia in improving sleep quality is better than sevoflurane anesthesia in sleep-deprived mice.

Objective: To establish an inducible macrophage-specific knockout G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 ( GRK2) gene ( GRK2flox / flox Lyz2-CreERT + ) mice model． Methods: GRK2flox / flox Lyz2-CreERT + mice were constructed based on Cre / LoxP system．The genotypes of GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice were identified by PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis．After the mice were sacrificed by carbon dioxide method，the expression of GRK2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages ( BMDMs) and peritoneal macrophages ( PMs) was detected by Western blot．Immunofluorescence was used to detect GRK2 expression in mouse brain，heart and spleen macrophages．The M1 / M2 ratio in PMs induced by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The results of genotype identification showed that the mice with a band at 355 bp in the length of the flox amplification product and a band at 355 bp in the length of the Cre amplification product were GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice．Western blot results showed that GRK2 expression in BMDMs and PMs of GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice decreased compared with GRK2flox / flox mice(P＜0. 01) ．Immunofluorescence results showed that GRK2 expression decreased in the brain，heart and spleen of GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice compared with GRK2flox / flox mice (P < 0. 01) ．Flow cytometry showed that compared with GRK2flox / flox mice，there was no significant difference in the proportion of CD86 / CD206 in the PMs of GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice．Under PGE2 ( 10 μmol / L) stimulation， the proportion of CD86 / CD206 in GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice PMs increased (P ＜0. 01) ．The proportion of CD86 / CD206 in the PMs of GRK2flox / flox mice was higher than that of GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice(P＜0. 01) . Conclusion In this study，GRK2flox / floxLyz2-CreERT + mice model was successfully constructed，and the mice promoted PGE2-induced polarization of PMs to M2-type macrophages compared with control mice.

Objective:To characterize the histopathological subtypes and their clinicopathological parameters of gender and onset age by common, rare and sparse primary esophageal malignant tumors (PEMT).Methods:A total of 272 437 patients with PEMT were enrolled in this study, and all of the patients were received radical surgery. The clinicopathological information of the patients was obtained from the database established by the State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment from September 1973 to December 2020, which included the clinical treatment, pathological diagnosis and follow-up information of esophagus and gastric cardia cancers. All patients were diagnosed and classified by the criteria of esophageal tumor histopathological diagnosis and classification (2019) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The esophageal tumors, which were not included in the WHO classification, were analyzed separately according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The χ 2 test was performed by the SPSS 25.0 software on count data, and the test standard α=0.05. Results:A total of 32 histopathological types were identified in the enrolled PEMT patients, of which 10 subtypes were not included in the WHO classification. According to the frequency, PEMT were divided into common (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC, accounting for 97.1%), rare (esophageal adenocarcinoma, EAC, accounting for 2.3%) and sparse (mainly esophageal small cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc., accounting for 0.6%). All the common, rare, and sparse types occurred predominantly in male patients, and the gender difference of rare type was most significant (EAC, male∶ female, 2.67∶1), followed with common type (ESCC, male∶ female, 1.78∶1) and sparse type (male∶ female, 1.71∶1). The common type (ESCC) mainly occurred in the middle thoracic segment (65.2%), while the rare type (EAC) mainly occurred in the lower thoracic segment (56.8%). Among the sparse type, malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were both predominantly located in the lower thoracic segment (51.7%, 66.7%), and the others were mainly in the middle thoracic segment.Conclusion:ESCC is the most common type among the 32 histopathological types of PEMT, followed by EAC as the rare type, and esophageal small cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma as the major sparse type, and all of which are mainly occur in male patients. The common type of ESCC mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment, while the rare type of EAC mainly in the lower thoracic segment. The mainly sparse type of malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma predominately occur in the lower thoracic segment, and the remaining sparse types mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment.

Objective:To observe and analyze the macular choroidal thickness and choroidal blood perfusion (CBP) in eyes with idiopathic macular hole (IMH) and their correlation.Methods:A cross-sectional observational clinical study. From March 2019 to October 2021, 60 IMH patients with 60 eyes (IMH group) and 60 healthy volunteers with 60 eyes (control group) who consecutively visited Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among the 60 eyes in the IMH group, 8, 8, 15, and 29 eyes were at stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ, respectively. There was no significant difference in age, spherical equivalent power and axial length between the two groups ( t=1.327, 0.157, 0.542; P>0.05). The average macular choriodal thickness (AMCT) and CBP in different regions of the macular region of the examined eye were measured using a swept-frequency light source optical coherence tomography scanner. According to the zoning method for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the choroid within 6 mm of the fovea was divided into 3 concentric circles with the fovea as the center. They are the central area with a diameter of 1 mm, the inner ring area of 1-3 mm, and the outer ring area of 3-6 mm; the inner ring area and the outer ring area were divided into 4 areas by 2 radiations respectively, including the upper part of the inner superior (IS), the lower part of the inner inferior (Ⅱ ), and the nasal side of the inner nasal (IN), inner temporal (IT), outer superior (OS), outer inferior (OI), outer nasal (ON), outer temporal (OT), a total of 9 regions. The distribution characteristics of AMCT and CBP in different regions were observed. The correlation between AMCT and CBP was analyzed by Pearson correlation; the correlation between AMCT, CBP and IMH stage was analyzed by Spearman correlation. Results:Compared with the eyes of the control group, the AMCT of the affected eyes in the IMH group was significantly thinner in all areas of the macula, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.378, 4.641, 2.888, 3.390, 3.575, 4.870, 4.077, 4.946, 4.578; P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the CBP in the OS and OT regions of the affected eyes in the IMH group was significantly lower, the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.424, 4.516; P<0.05). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between AMCT and CBP in the OT region ( r=0.314, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between AMCT and IMH staging in each region ( r=0.375, 0.374, 0.289, 0.379, 0.441, 0.392, 0.303, 0.341, 0.292; P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between CBP and IMH staging in IN, OI and OT regions ( r=-0.138, -0.016, -0.221; P>0.05); CBP and IMH staging in other regions were significantly negatively correlated ( r=-0.560, -0.390,-0.819, -0.692, -0.329, -0.587; P<0.05). Conclusions:The choroidal thickness in the macular region of the eyes with IMH is significantly thinner than that of the normal subjects; there is choroidal hypoperfusion in local areas. There is a significant positive correlation between local regional AMCT and CBP; IMH stage is higher, the trend of AMCT in each region is thickening, and the CBP in most regions decrease.