Role of complement protein regulatory targets in diabetic retinopathy and its clinical research progress / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The complement system is a protein response system with a precise regulatory mechanism, which has the functions of mediating inflammation, regulating immune response, dissolving cells and clearing immune complexes. Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is a common and severe ocular complication of diabetes and one of the common irreversible blinding eye diseases in ophthalmology, and its pathogenesis is complex, including hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammation and abnormal polyol metabolism pathway. In recent years, there has been more and more evidence that dysregulation and inflammation of immune system are important factors in the pathogenesis of DR, and a variety of complement proteins play an important role in key processes such as inflammation regulation and angiogenesis. Therefore, the central purpose of this review is to discuss the role of the complement system and related regulatory proteins in DR, with the aim of elucidating the close relationship between the complement proteins and the occurrence and development of DR, and providing important references and new ideas for the prevention and treatment of DR. At the same time, the clinical research of complement system-targeted drugs is further elaborated.

Increased Levels of C1q in the Prefrontal Cortex of Adult Offspring after Maternal Immune Activation: Prevention by 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal infection is implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia. The objective of this paper is to study the role of complement protein C1q in the psychosis of adult offspring after maternal immune activation (MIA). In addition, effect of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF: a tropomyosin receptor kinase B [TrkB] agonist) was also examined. METHODS: Western blot analysis of C1q in the brain regions from adult offspring after prenatal poly(I:C) (5.0 mg/kg/day from E12 to E17) exposure was performed. 7,8-DHF or vehicle was given from 4 to 8-weeks old. RESULTS: Expression of C1q in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult offspring from poly(I:C)-treated pregnant mice was significantly higher than that of control group. Early treatment with 7,8-DHF during juvenile and adolescent stages could prevent an increase of C1q in the PFC of adult offspring after MIA. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is likely that increased C1q expression in the frontal cortex may play a role in the behavioral abnormalities of adult offspring after MIA. Furthermore, supplementation with a TrkB agonist such as 7,8-DHF during the prodromal stage may have prophylactic effects on the behavioral abnormalities after MIA.

Expression of mRNA and protein of complement 3 in spinal dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the characteristic changes in the mRNA and protein of complement 3 in spinal dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain,and the role of abnormal activation of complement protein in the mechanism of pain production.Methods Eighty-four healthy male SD rats were divided randomly into seven groups(n=12 for each group):normal control group,sham-operation 1d,3d and 7d groups,and chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve(CCI)1d,3d and 7d groups.The left sciatic nerve was ligated loosely in CCI groups,while it was only exposed but not ligated in rats in sham-operation groups.The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were measured on 1,3 and 7 days after operation,and the mRNA and protein of complement 3 in the dosal horn of the spinal cord were determined respectively by RT-PCR,immunoturbidimetry and immunohistochemistry.Results The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were observed to be lowered in rats one day after the sciatic nerve ligation,and a state of hyperalgesia was found to be persistent up to 7 days after CCI.This symptom was not observed in sham operation group.The expression of mRNA and protein of complement 3 in spinal dorsal horn were increased on 1,3 and 7 days after CCI.Interestingly,a high expression of mRNA of complement 3 was also observed in rats one day after sham-operation.Both mRNA and protein of complement 3 were not obviously elevated in rats of sham operation 3d,7d groups and normal control group.Conclusion The mRNA and protein of complement 3 in spinal dorsal horn are highly up-regulated in rats with neuropathic pain,suggesting that the characteristic dynamic changes in complement may contribute to the establishment and maintenance of hyperalgesia.