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Over the recent years, immunomodulators have opened a new avenue in cancer treatment by virtue of their ability to boost the immune system for neoplastic cell elimination. Improving treatment outcomes by leveraging the interaction of these agents with traditional cancer treatments is the main emphasis of this review. Checkpoint inhibitors, chemokine receptors, and pattern recognition receptors are the immunological targets of their interactive mechanisms. Immunomodulators are generally categorized as inhibitors of checkpoint, cytokines, agonists, or adjuvants. Despite their high efficacy and specificity, modern-day antibody-based therapies face several key limitations such as immunogenicity, insufficient tissue penetration, and restricted oral bioavailability. To address these shortcomings, researchers are crafting small molecules with the potential for oral administration and improved pharmacokinetic properties. These agents can augment antibody therapies for synergistic effects to enhance therapeutic efficacy for different types of cancers. This review explores the synergy between immunomodulators and traditional cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies) as well as newer strategies like adoptive cell therapies (chimeric antigen receptor therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK)). These combinations improve treatment effectiveness in a number of ways: radiotherapy increases tumor antigen presentation and T-cell infiltration, chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death boosts immune responses and targeted therapies lessen immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Despite the potential appeal as adjuvants, immunomodulators also pose challenges in maximizing their efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. In this paper, clinical trials proving the effectiveness of these combined techniques are reviewed, and innovative approaches including next-generation checkpoint inhibitors and delivery systems based on nanoparticles are also highlighted. Overall, this review evaluates the existing impact of immunomodulatory adjuvants and their prospective trends in cancer care. Further development of immunomodulators will pave the way for more accessible and effective therapies, marking a significant step towards personalized oncological interventions.
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Corneal disorders, encompassing injuries, infections, and degenerative diseases, are major contributors to visual impairment globally. Conventional procedures, including corneal transplantation and pharmacological treatments, encounter constraints such as donor shortages, rejection risks, and diminished effectiveness in extreme instances. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as viable therapeutic alternatives owing to their regeneration potential, immunomodulatory characteristics, and capacity to differentiate into corneal cell types. This study examines the therapeutic potential of MSCs in addressing various corneal illnesses through the analysis of preclinical studies, clinical trials, and current breakthroughs. MSCs facilitate corneal wound healing, diminish scarring, and reinstate transparency via processes including paracrine signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, and anti-inflammatory actions. Although early-phase clinical trials indicate the safety and feasibility of MSC-based therapeutics, obstacles persist in optimizing delivery techniques, assuring cell viability, and creating uniform protocols. Additional research is necessary to address these issues and validate MSCs as a feasible clinical alternative. This review aims to summarize the therapeutic applications, challenges, and future prospects of mesenchymal stem cells in corneal treatments, emphasizing their importance as emerging alternatives to traditional therapies.
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The integration of biological therapies, including biologics and biosimilars, into the medical practice has transformed the management of numerous chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and oncological conditions. However, these treatments can pose challenges in oral and maxillofacial surgery due to their potential effects on wound healing, infection risk, and immune responses. This article reviews the most commonly used biological agents and provides safety recommendations for managing patients on biological therapies undergoing oral surgical procedures, such as tooth extractions (including multiple and surgical extractions), implant placement, periodontal and soft tissue surgeries, and the removal of non-cancerous or cancerous growths in the oral cavity. Key considerations include the oral complications associated with biologic treatments, preoperative risk assessment, perioperative timing of biologic administration, and postoperative monitoring to minimize complications. While several professional organizations have issued recommendations on the perioperative management of biological agents, there is currently no specific guidance tailored to dental or oral surgical procedures. This paper aims to explore the existing literature and recommendations regarding the use of biologics in the perioperative period.
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This review aims to explore the current methods and advancements in nail permeation, with a focus on the potential of ultrashort pulse lasers to enhance drug delivery. The treatment of nail diseases, such as onychomycosis, is particularly challenging due to the dense structure of nails, which hinders drug permeation. We reviewed traditional methods that are used to enhance drug penetration; however, these methods are often limited by discomfort, infection risks, and inadequate drug permeability. Laser therapy offers a novel perspective in enhancing transungual drug delivery by creating channels on the nail surface without damaging the nail root or bed, thus improving drug absorption. However, common lasers (such as CO2 lasers) may increase the target temperature beyond the thermal denaturation threshold, thus causing thermal damage to the nail bed and underlying tissues. This can also induce cracks and tissue debris, thus potentially spreading fungal pathogens in cases of onychomycosis. We specifically noted the potential of ultrashort pulsed lasers, which operate in the femtosecond range, to produce high peak power with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissues. These lasers can create micropores on the nail plate via cold ablation, thus making them promising tools for improving the treatment of nail diseases. However, experimental data on this method are limited, and further studies, including histological research, are needed to validate its effectiveness in enhancing local drug permeability. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for advancing nail disease treatments.
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Bone is an important connective tissue involved in the movement and mechanical support of the body. Its homeostasis refers to the equilibrium between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. Hematopoietic progenitor cells are shared by bone and immune cells, and the skeletal system is extensively innervated by an extensive nerve network. The immune, endocrine and nervous systems synthesize and secrete cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters, respectively, which regulate physiological processes involved in bone homeostasis. Hormones such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, testosterone, insulin, thyroxine, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, etc., regulate bone formation and resorption. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin (interleukin (IL)-1,3,4,6,10,17,18,23,27) regulate the function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts as well as the bone microenvironment. The skeleton is innervated by sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory nerve fibers that release neurotransmitters/factors such as serotonin, nerve growth factor, neuropeptide Y, substance P, norepinephrine and acetylcholine, which interact with various cells in the bone. Sclerostin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, prostaglandin E2 and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) are some of the important proteins released by osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts that regulate osteoblastogenesis, osteoclastogenesis and angiogenesis and are also involved in pathological conditions. Further research is needed to establish links between the skeleton and other tissues and to gain additional insights into the etiology of degenerative diseases and the drug development process. The aim of this minireview is therefore to understand the composition of bone and the maintenance of bone homeostasis through three coordinates, namely the endocrine, nervous and immune systems.
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Background: Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is a bioactive compound of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (PNS), which possesses desirable properties in bone fracture healing and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). Whether NGR1 can promote osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) is still unknown. This study aimed to assess the biocompatibility of NGR1 and its impact on DPSCs.
Methods: DPSCs were obtained from human wisdom teeth. Flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation were applied to determine stem cell properties. Then, the cells were treated with NGR1 for 1, 2 and 3 days, and its efficacy was detected by means of a 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Alizarin red staining (ARS), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, quantitative calcium node analysis, western blot and reverse-transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were executed to detect osteogenic differentiation-related proteins and genes. Western blot was also performed to assess the activation levels of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-38 MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (JNK MAPK), and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK MAPK) pathways in DPSCs following treatment with NGR1.
Results: DPSCs were positive for CD105 and CD166, while negative for CD34 and CD45. NGR1 at concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/mL did not exhibit cytotoxicity (p > 0.05), the group of cells receiving 200 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL NGR1 exhibited proliferation inhibition on the second day as well as on the third day (p < 0.05). Compared to the control group (no treatment), the cells treated with 100 μg/mL NGR1 exhibited significantly higher ALP expression and calcium deposition. The 100 μg/mL NGR1 group also showed higher expression of Osterix (OSX), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Collagen Type I (COL-1), and Osteocalcin (OCN) at both protein and gene levels. Western blot analysis revealed that NGR1 activated the MAPK pathway by upregulating p38 and ERK, but not JNK, in DPSCs. When the p38 and ERK signaling pathways were inhibited by SB203580 and U0126, the gene expression levels of OSX, RUNX2, COL-1, and OCN were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), but such alterations were not observed with the inhibition of the JNK pathway.
Conclusion: At the concentration of 100 μg/mL, NGR1 enhances DPSC osteogenic differentiation by regulating the MAPK pathways.
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Background: Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is a promising target for various cancers, including breast cancer. The development of noninvasive techniques for assessing TROP2 expression in tumors holds considerable importance. This study aims to explore the efficacy of machine learning models based on multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using the stretched-exponential model (SEM) for predicting TROP2 expression in breast cancer in nude mouse models.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-two nude mouse breast cancer models were subjected to 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using the freely available software package FireVoxe, we extracted the distribution diffusion coefficient (DDC) and water molecule diffusion heterogeneity index (α) values from SEM, along with histogram parameters of DDC and α maps. TROP2 expression was identified by immunohistochemical staining, with integrated optical density (IOD) quantifying the expression levels. Mice were categorized into high and low TROP2 expression groups based on the median IOD. Key imaging parameters were selected to establish three machine learning models: extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) classifier, logistic regression, and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) classifier. We compared the models using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) on a validation set to determine the superior model. The dataset was split into a training set (28 cases) and a test set (4 cases). The selected model was trained to optimize its performance. We evaluated the models' predictive accuracy in estimating TROP2 expression using AUC, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results: Thirty-eight imaging parameters, including DDC, α value, and 36 histogram parameters, were extracted per sample. Using these, we identified eight key imaging parameters for constructing the machine learning models. The validation set AUC values for the XGBoost, logistic regression, and AdaBoost models were 0.828, 0.639, and 0.728, respectively, with XGBoost demonstrating superior prediction performance. In the training set, XGBoost achieved an AUC of 1, sensitivity of 0.911, specificity of 1, and accuracy of 0.954; each of these values was 1 in the test set. Cross-validation yielded an AUC of 0.689, sensitivity of 0.567, specificity of 0.567, and accuracy of 0.580. The calibration curve's Brier score was 0.044, indicating proximity to the ideal curve. DCA indicated favorable net benefits within a risk threshold range of 20–90%.
Conclusions: Machine learning models based on SEM show promise for predicting TROP2 expression in breast cancer in nude mouse models. Among the models, XGBoost demonstrated outstanding performance, suggesting its potential for clinical applications.
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Background: One of the pharmacological effects of celastrol (Cel) is the amelioration of acute liver injury. In this study, we explored the mechanism of Cel underlying the alleviation of liver injury induced by traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS).
Methods: The THS model was developed from Sprague–Dawley rats through transverse fractures, blood loss and fluid infusion. Then, the THS rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg/kg Cel. The rats were injected in the tail vein with lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) negative control (siNC), siRNA targeting heat shock transcription factor 1 (siHSF1), and siRNA targeting toll-like receptor 9 (siTLR9) 72 hours before the establishment of THS model. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to highlight the pathological alterations in the rat liver tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was utilized to determine the expression levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and total bilirubin (TB). The expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax) were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined to assess the extent of oxidative stress. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88).
Results: Cel was shown to therapeutically alleviate liver injury, decrease ALT and AST levels, and simultaneously downregulate inflammation factors levels (TNF-α, IL-1β), alleviated apoptosis, and decreased oxidative stress in the THS model in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, Cel increased the expression of HSF1 and decreased the expression of TLR9 and MyD88 in the THS model. And silencing HSF1 increased TLR9 and MyD88 expression. Further, the silencing of HSF1 resulted in liver injury, inflammation and apoptosis, which could be reversed by TLR9 silencing.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Cel attenuates THS-induced liver injury by positively regulating HSF1 so as to inhibit the expression of TLR9.
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Background: Periodontitis is an immunoinflammatory disease. Ferroptosis is a type of inflammation-associated cell death. The article aims to investigate the expression, role, and mechanism of the ferroptosis-related gene acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 6 (ACSL6) in periodontitis
Methods: Ferroptosis-related genes were identified using the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. ACSL6 expression was validated using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in patients with periodontitis. Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs) were isolated and characterized. Following treatment, related experiments were performed to evaluate iron levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell viability, ACSL6 expression, and ferroptosis-related proteins in hPDLFs.
Results: In this study, 185 genes were upregulated, and 102 were downregulated in the periodontitis group (p < 0.05). ACSL6, a ferroptosis-related gene, exhibited high expression levels in periodontitis tissues (p < 0.05). Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis-LPS) upregulated ACSL6 (p < 0.05), downregulated ferroptosis-related genes (glutathione peroxidase 4 (p < 0.001) and cystine/glutamate transporter (Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11) (p < 0.01)) and phosphor (p)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (p < 0.05), reduced cell viability (p < 0.001), and elevated iron (p < 0.001) and ROS levels (p < 0.001) in hPDLFs. ACSL6 silencing could counteract the effects of P. gingivalis-LPS (p < 0.01). Furthermore, AMPK inhibitors lessen the effect of ACSL6 silencing (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: The ferroptosis-related gene ACSL6 was highly expressed in periodontitis tissues, and ACSL6 silencing enhanced viability and inhibited ferroptosis in P. gingivalis-LPS-mediated hPDLFs by upregulating the AMPK pathway.
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Background: Calycosin is thought to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory characteristics; however, more research is needed to determine how it impacts retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. This study aims to explore the effects of calycosin on RPE cells under hypoxia.
Methods: Experimental hypoxia was induced by treating RPE cells with cobalt chloride for 2, 4, and 6 h. To investigate the effect of calycosin on RPE cells under hypoxia, RPE cells were treated with calycosin and cobalt chloride (CoCl2). Cells were assessed for viability (Cell Counting Kit-8 assay) and apoptosis (flow cytometry). Inflammatory cytokines (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and genes or proteins related to apoptosis and the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) axis (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot) were measured.
Results: Under hypoxic conditions, RPE cells showed reduced viability but increased levels of inflammation and apoptosis. The NF-κB pathway was activated, and HIF-1α, apoptosis/NF-κB pathway-related proteins (cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP); phosphorylated-p65 (p-p65), p-p65/p65), and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)) were upregulated (p < 0.001). Calycosin weakened the effects of hypoxia on RPE cells (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Calycosin inhibits the HIF-1α/NF-κB axis and protects RPE cells from hypoxia-induced inflammation and apoptosis.
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Background: Miltefosine, an alkylphosphocholine, affects lipid metabolism and cell signaling by interacting with cell membranes. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the effect of miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine (HePC)) on the alterations of the membrane lipid content of human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in respect to the reduction of their membrane fluidity and metastatic potential of the cancer cells.
Methods: To study lateral diffusion in cell membranes, we employed membrane labeling with fusogenic liposomes followed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis. Cell viability was examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; total cholesterol and sphingomyelin were measured using commercially available kits.
Results: Miltefosine inhibited cell growth and increased the total cholesterol in both cell lines (p < 0.05 for HUVEC and p < 0.01 for A549). Sphingomyelin levels were not significantly altered in A549 cells, but in HUVECs HePC caused a decrease in sphingomyelin (p < 0.05). Miltefosine treatment of A549 cells reduced the membrane diffusion coefficient (p < 0.001), which was associated with an increased half-time of fluorescent recovery (p < 0.05) measured by FRAP. These changes reflect a significant reduction in membrane fluidity in the cancer cells. In contrast, miltefosine induced a milder response in HUVECs, attenuating the diffusion coefficient (p < 0.05) but not affecting the half-time of fluorescent recovery. As a result, the reduction in membrane fluidity in HUVECs was less pronounced.
Conclusion: Miltefosine induces a decrease in membrane fluidity of cancer cells, and this effect was related to decreased cell viability and total cholesterol levels. Miltefosine may be an effective antitumor agent and has great potential as an adjuvant therapy in the future.
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Background: Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) play a pivotal role in the unfavorable outcomes of laryngeal tumor proliferation, recurrence, and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. This study aims to explore the expression of CD271 (p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in human laryngocarcinoma Hep2 cells and unravel its potential biological functions as a marker of laryngeal TICs.
Materials and Methods: Immunomagnetic cell sorting was utilized to separate subsets of Hep-2 cells based on high and low expression levels of CD271. Various aspects such as proliferation activity, colony formation ability, cell cycle distribution, and the expression of cancer-related proteins in each subpopulation were evaluated using immunofluorescence, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, soft agar gel assay, flow cytometry, and western blot assay. Furthermore, the tumor-forming potential of the subsets displaying high and low CD271 expression was examined through an in vivo experiment involving nude mice. The proteins associated with the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3)/Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) pathway were detected via western blot assay.
Results: The expression of CD133 was the highest in the CD271 high-expression group, and the expression of CD133 was the lowest in the CD271 low-expression group. Hep2 cells with high CD271 expression exhibited enhanced proliferation capacity, in contrast to those with low CD271 expression which showed reduced proliferation (p < 0.05). The CD271 high-expression group of Hep2 cells demonstrated superior clonogenic ability, a higher proportion in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, and an increased sphere-forming capacity. Moreover, Hep2 cells with high CD271 expression displayed enhanced tumor formation capability in nude mice (p < 0.001). Western blot analysis indicated significantly elevated levels of specific proteins such as OCT4, Nanog Homeobox (NANOG) and p-STAT3/STAT3 in the CD271 high-expression group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01), and the protein levels of low-expression group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: CD271 serves as a marker for TICs in Hep-2 cells, presenting a novel target for further investigation.
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Background: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by germline mutations of human DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. A significant proportion of HNPCC cases are attributed to large genomic rearrangements of MMR genes, but this finding has been less frequently reported in Chinese populations.
Methods: Array-based multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (array-MLPA) was employed in this study to detect genomic rearrangements of 82 probands of Chinese HNPCC families.
Results: According to the results, 18 probands harbored germline genomic deletions of MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) and MutS homolog 2 (MSH2) genes, accounting for approximately 22% (18/82) of the total subjects. Meanwhile, MSH6 gene deletion occurred only in about 2.4% of the probands (2/82). The deletions of MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 genes were confirmed by classic MLPA analysis, with a concordance rate of 95.5% (21/22).
Conclusion: Array-MLPA is a highly efficient and precise method for clinical screening and diagnosis of HNPCC. By using this method, we found that the HNPCC families carry deletions of MLH1 and MSH2 genes, which are the major germline genomic aberrations in the studied probands. Nevertheless, the deletion of the MSH6 gene is considered a rare occurrence in Chinese HNPCC families, according to our researche. Despite that, it is of clinical significance to screen and diagnose the HNPCC at the early phase by detecting the germline genomic large aberrations in MSH2/MLH1 genes.
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Background: Osteoporosis is a common systemic metabolic disease, leading to increased bone fragility and risk of fractures. Research has shown that Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, H+transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, alpha subunit 1 (ATP5A1), a crucial component in ATP production, is inhibited in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced osteoblasts. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory impact of DEX on osteogenic differentiation in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
Methods: Rat BMSCs were treated with varying concentrations of DEX for 14 days, followed by subsequent analyses. The expression levels of calpastatin (CAST), calpain 1 (CAPN1), and ATP5A1 were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analyses. Furthermore, osteogenic marker proteins and ATP activity were evaluated employing Western blotting analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, to determine the regulatory role of DEX on the CAST-CAPN1 axis, overexpression plasmids for CAST (oe-CAST) and CAPN1 (oe-CAPN1) were constructed. Additionally, osteogenic differentiation and ATP activity in BMSCs were analyzed using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, Alizarin Red S staining, and ELISA.
Results: With increasing concentrations of DEX, the expression of the CAST-CAPN1-ATP5A1 axis in BMSCs was significantly altered (p < 0.05). DEX downregulated the levels of osteogenic markers, including Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteopontin (OPN), while reducing ATP activity (p < 0.05). However, oe-CAST partially mitigated the inhibitory effects of DEX on osteogenic differentiation and ATP activity (p < 0.05). In contrast, oe-CAPN1 exacerbated the effects of DEX and reversed the regulatory impact of CAST (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: DEX inhibits osteogenic differentiation and reduces ATP activity in BMSCs by modulating the CAST-CAPN1 axis.
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Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are linked to asthma progression. In this study, we aimed to decipher the functional role of miR-140 and delineate its link to the mechanism behind the progression of asthma.
Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into four groups, designated as control, asthma, Agomir negative control (NC), and Agomir group. In vitro model of asthma using transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-treated 16HBE cells, and cells transfected with glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) overexpression plasmid or Agomir miR-140. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was to test miR-140 abundance. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) of lung tissues for examining their histopathological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were to test inflammatory factors levels and cell apoptosis, respectively. B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), GSK3β, cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX) protein levels were evaluated using Western blotting. GSK3β expression was also detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC). RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assay were to verify the correlation between GSK3β and miR-140.
Results: Both the asthma mice and TGF-β1-treated 16HBE cells exhibited decreased miR-140 level and increased protein expression of GSK3β (p < 0.001). Compared with the asthma mice, overexpression of miR-140 significantly relieved airway inflammation and reduced cell apoptosis (p < 0.001). Targeted relationship existed between GSK3β and miR-140, and the overexpression of miR-140 dramatically repressed the level of GSK3β in asthma group and TGF-β1-treated 16HBE cells (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the suppressive impacts of miR-140 overexpression were hindered by GSK3β upregulation in TGF-β1-treated 16HBE cells (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001).
Conclusions: miR-140 mitigates airway inflammation and represses apoptosis in asthma by targeting and regulating GSK3β.
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Background: Although evidence exists on the potential involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis of several viral infections, the expression levels, and the exact role that hsa_circ_0006459 and hsa_circ_0015962 could play during the Dengue virus (DENV) infection are still unclear. These two circRNAs were identified as possible biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of DENV disease in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Dengue-positive patients. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of hsa_circ_0006459 and hsa_circ_0015962 in DENV-infected patients and compare them with healthy donors (HD) to provide new insights into the biological significance of these two circRNAs' expression.
Methods: We examined the presence and expression levels of hsa_circ_0006459 and hsa_circ_0015962 in PBMC of DENV-patients throughout a period of 28 days after the DENV diagnosis. HD was used as a control group.
Results: Our results show different expression levels and patterns between hsa_circ_0006459 and hsa_circ_0015962, both in DENV patients and HD.
Conclusion: Possible change in the hsa_circ_0006459 expression during DENV infection was observed, mainly at the time of diagnosis, but without a consistent pattern among patients during follow-up. Further studies are needed to clarify their expression levels and function both in Dengue-positive patients and HD.
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Aim: The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3-associated autoinflammatory disease (NLRP3-AID) is a rare and heterogeneous hereditary inflammatory disorder caused by variants in the NLRP3 gene on chromosome 1q44. This condition encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes, including urticarial rash, fever, ocular disorders, hearing loss, and musculoskeletal and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. This study reports the clinical features and newly identified NLRP3 gene variants in two Chinese Han patients with NLRP3-AID presenting with leukoencephalopathy.
Case Presentation: The study includes two adult male patients aged 25 and 24 years. Both patients experienced recurrent fevers with elevated C-reactive protein levels during febrile episodes, which normalized during asymptomatic intervals. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein levels and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of intracranial calcification and white matter damage were observed in both cases. Genetic testing revealed novel heterozygous NLRP3 variants: p.L798M in Patient 1 and p.K829T in Patient 2. Both patients received treatment with adalimumab and canakinumab, resulting in significant clinical improvement.
Results: The clinical and genetic features of two NLRP3-AID patients were characterized. Functional studies demonstrated overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in these patients.
Conclusions: Neurological involvement in NLRP3-AID patients is variable. This study expands the clinical spectrum of CNS damage in NLRP3-AID to include intracranial calcification and leukoencephalopathy. Additionally, two novel NLRP3 variants, L798M and K829T, were identified and associated with the disease.
