Glial and Vascular Cell Regulation of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Diabetes

As a structural barrier, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is located at the interface between the brain parenchyma and blood, and modulates communication between the brain and blood microenvironment to maintain homeostasis. The BBB is composed of endothelial cells, basement membrane, pericytes, and astrocytic end feet. BBB impairment is a distinguishing and pathogenic factor in diabetic encephalopathy. Diabetes causes leakage of the BBB through downregulation of tight junction proteins, resulting in impaired functioning of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, nerve/glial antigen 2-glia, and oligodendrocytes. However, the temporal regulation, mechanisms of molecular and signaling pathways, and consequences of BBB impairment in diabetes are not well understood. Consequently, the efficacy of therapies diabetes targeting BBB leakage still lags behind the requirements. This review summarizes the recent research on the effects of diabetes on BBB composition and the potential roles of glial and vascular cells as therapeutic targets for BBB disruption in diabetic encephalopathy.

Establishment of transgenic mice model with overexpression of neuritin in bone marrow / 实用医学杂志

Objective To establish transgenic mice model with over expression of neuritin in bone mar-row,for the further study on the function of neuritin protein in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. Methods Two pairs of transgenic mice(loxp-stop-loxp-neuritin and lyz-Cre/+)were fed and propagated,the DNA from the mice tails extracted and the genotype of transgenic mice identified by PCR. The wild type mice with B6 were as-signed as the controls,and the immunofluorescence was used to detect the accuracy of the neuritinloxp/+ _lyz -Cre/+. Results The two trensgenetic homozygous mice had the ability to reproduce,and the hybrid offsprings were neuritinloxp/+_lyz-Cre/+,neuritinloxp/-_lyz-Cre/+,neuritinloxp/+_lyz-Cre/-,neuritinloxp/-_lyz-Cre/-. The re-sults were met with the Mendel′s law. The results of immunofluorescence showed that the expression of neuritin of neuritinloxp/+_lyz-Cre/+ mice in bone marrow was significantly higher than the wild type mice(P < 0.05). Con-clusion The PCR method is of high reliability for identification of sub pus genotype and the female neuritinloxp/+mice mating with the male lyz-Cre/+ ones is an effective way for obtaining the neuritinloxp/+_lyz-Cre/+ mice.

Molecular authentication of Sailonggu and its resource distribution in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau / 中国中药杂志

To provide accurate information on geographic distribution of crude drug Sailonggu in the plateau, we identified zokor species (Eospalax spp.) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using molecular methods. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome B (cytb) gene sequences, we then extracted haplotypes from these sequences and reconstructed phylogenetic trees for the haplotypes using both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Based on the trees, the species of each sample were determined. Five hundred and three samples from 35 populations were sequenced and their whole cytb sequences (1140 bp) were obtained. From these sequences 150 haplotypes were detected, in which, 126 were Eospalax baileyi, 20 were E. cansus, and 4 were E. smithi of the 35 populations, 28 were E. baileyi type, 5 were E. cansus type, and the remaining 2 were mixed of E. baileyi + E. cansus (DT2) and E. baileyi + E. smithi (ZN3). The results showed that, the regions around the Qinghai lake and near the upper stream of Yellow River started at Guide could be viewed as the producing area of authentic Sailonggu, and also, the cytb gene is a powerful molecular marker to determine the species of zokors as well as for the authentication of geographic distribution of Sailonggu.

The role of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 in the process of proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, and their effects on proliferation and migration of tumor cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in 20 cases of OSCC tissue, cervical lymph nodes, tongue cancer cell line Tca8113, buccal cancer cell line Bca885, and 10 specimens of normal oral mucosa tissue were examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot. The expression of CXCL12 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. MTT assay was used to evaluate the CXCR4/CXCL12 influence on proliferation of tumor cells. Chemotaxis and migration response to CXCR4 particular ligand-CXCL12 were detected by chemotaxis assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) Expression levels of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in OSCC tissues, Tca8113 and Bca885 cells were 2.31 +/- 1.13, 1.89 +/- 1.20, 1.67 +/- 1.10 and 1.36 +/- 0.15, 1.85 +/- 0.34, 1.97 +/- 0.23, respectively. CXCR4 mRNA and protein couldn't be detected in normal tissues. CXCL12 mRNA level in cervical lymph nodes was 1.14 +/- 0.87, CXCL12 mRNA couldn't be detected in OSCC and normal tissues. 2) In MTT assay, recombinant CXCL12 stimulated proliferation of tumor cells and CXCR4 neutralization by monoclonal antibodies decreased proliferation. 3) The chemotactic migration of OSCC cells could be induced by CXCL12. CXCL12 at a concentration between 30 ng x mL(-1) and 100 ng x mL(-1) induced the chemotactic migration of OSCC cells in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CXCR4/CXCL12 system may promote proliferation and migration of tumor cells, and may play an important role in lymph node metastasis of OSCC.</p>

Three-dimensional finite element study on the change of glossopharyngeum in patient with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome during titrated mandible advancement / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a three-dimensional finite element model of the upper airway and adjacent structure of an obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patient for biomechanical analysis. And to study the influence of glossopharyngeum of an OSAHS patient with three-dimensional finite element model during titrated mandible advancement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DICOM format image information of an OSAHS patient's upper airway was obtained by thin-section CT scanning and digital image processing were utilized to construct a three-dimensional finite element model by Mimics 10.0, Imageware 10.0 and Ansys software. The changes and the law of glossopharyngeum were observed by biomechanics and morphology after loading with titrated mandible advancement.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A three-dimensional finite element model of the adjacent upper airway structure of OSAHS was established successfully. After loading, the transverse diameter of epiglottis tip of glossopharyngeum increased significantly, although the sagittal diameter decreased correspondingly. The principal stress was mainly distributed in anterior wall of the upper airway. The location of principal stress concentration did not change significantly with the increasing of distance. The stress of glossopharyngeum increased during titrated mandible advancement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A more precise three-dimensional finite model of upper airway and adjacent structure of an OSAHS patient is established and improved efficiency by Mimics, Imageware and Ansys software. The glossopharyngeum of finite element model of OSAHS is analyzed by titrated mandible advancement and can effectively show the relationship between mandible advancement and the glossopharyngeum.</p>