The Antinociceptive Effect of Sympathetic Block is Mediated by Transforming Growth Factor β in a Mouse Model of Radiculopathy / 神经科学通报·英文版

Although sympathetic blockade is clinically used to treat pain, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We developed a localized microsympathectomy (mSYMPX), by cutting the grey rami entering the spinal nerves near the rodent lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy model, mSYMPX attenuated pain behaviors via DRG macrophages and the anti-inflammatory actions of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and its receptor TGF-βR1. Here, we examined the role of TGF-β in sympathetic-mediated radiculopathy produced by local inflammation of the DRG (LID). Mice showed mechanical hypersensitivity and transcriptional and protein upregulation of TGF-β1 and TGF-βR1 three days after LID. Microsympathectomy prevented mechanical hypersensitivity and further upregulated Tgfb1 and Tgfbr1. Intrathecal delivery of TGF-β1 rapidly relieved the LID-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, and TGF-βR1 antagonists rapidly unmasked the mechanical hypersensitivity after LID+mSYMPX. In situ hybridization showed that Tgfb1 was largely expressed in DRG macrophages, and Tgfbr1 in neurons. We suggest that TGF-β signaling is a general underlying mechanism of local sympathetic blockade.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of 12 cases of Loeys-Dietz syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the clinical features and spectrum of genetic variants in 12 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), and to explore the correlation between the type of genetic variants and clinical phenotypes.@*METHODS@#Twelve patients suspected for LDS at Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2015 to January 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to genetic testing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The clinical phenotypes of the 12 patients have mainly included cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, craniofacial, skin, ocular and other systemic signs. Four patients (patients 5-1, 5-2, 6, 7) have carried heterozygous missense variants of the TGFBR1 gene, 5 patients (patients 1-1, 1-2, 2, 3, 4) have carried heterozygous variants of the TGFBR2 gene, and 2 patients (patients 8-1, 8-2) had carried heterozygous frameshift variants of the TGFB3 gene. One patient (patient 9) had carried a heterozygous missense variant of the SMAD3 gene. Among these, TGFBR1 c.603T>G (p.1201M) and TGFB3 c.536delA (p.H179FS35) had not been reported previously.@*CONCLUSION@#Variants of the TGFBR1, TGFBR2, SMAD3, TGFB2, TGFB3 and SMAD2 genes are mainly associated with LDS. The severity of the disease phenotype caused by the same variant may vary, whilst the clinical phenotype caused by different variant sites may be specific.

Clinical utility of TGFB1 and its receptors (TGFBR1 and TGFBR2) in thyroid nodules: evaluation based on single nucleotide polymorphisms and mRNA analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: Abnormalities involving the TGFB1 gene and its receptors are common in several types of cancer and often related to tumor progression. We investigated the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the susceptibility to cancer, their impact on its features, as well as the role of mRNA expression of these genes in thyroid malignancy. Materials and methods: We genotyped TGFB1, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2 SNPs in 157 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients and 200 healthy controls. Further, we investigated RNA samples of 47 PTC and 80 benign nodules, searching for differential mRNA expression. Results: SNPs rs1800472 and rs1800469 were associated with characteristics of PTC aggressiveness. Effect predictor software analysis of nonsynonymous SNP rs1800472 indicated increasing protein stability and post-translational changes. TGFB1 mRNA expression was upregulated in PTC and downregulated in benign samples, differentiating malignant from benign nodules (p<0.0001); PTC from goiter (p<0.0001); and PTC from FA (p<0.0001). TGFBR1 mRNA expression was upregulated in goiter and PTC, but downregulated in FA, distinguishing PTC from goiter (p=0.0049); PTC from FA (p<0.0001); and goiter from FA (p=0.0267). On the other hand, TGFBR2 was downregulated in all histological types analyzed and was not able to differentiate thyroid nodules. Conclusion: TGFB1 polymorphism rs1800472 may confer greater activity to TGF-β1 in the tumor microenvironment, favoring PTC aggressiveness. Evaluation of TGFB1 and TGFBR1 mRNA levels may be useful to identify malignancy in thyroid nodules.

Echocardiographic manifestation and analysis of TGFBR1 gene variant in a Chinese patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the genetic basis for a patient with aortic root aneurysm and valve insufficiency.@*METHODS@#The patient was subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES) with a focus on the analysis of genes related to aortic aneurysm and other genetic diseases involving the cardiovascular system. Suspected pathogenic site was validated by Sanger sequencing of the patient and his family members.@*RESULTS@#WES has revealed a heterozygous c.830T>C variant (NM_001130916.3) in the patient, which was not detected among healthy members of his family. SIFT, PolyPhen2 and Mutation Taster predicted the variant to be disease causing, resulting in destruction of the structure and function of the TGFBR1 protein. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, the variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PM1+PM2+PM6+PP3+PP4).@*CONCLUSION@#The c.830T>C variant of the TGFBR1 gene probably underlay the disease in the proband. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of TGFBR1 gene variants in Chinese population.

Evaluating mmp-2 and tgfß-ri expression in circulating tumor cells of pancreatic cancer patients and their correlation with clinical evolution / Avaliação da expressão de mmp-2 e tgfß-ri em células tumorais circulantes de pacientes com câncer de pâncreas e sua correlação com evolução clínica

ABSTRACT Background: Metastasis is common in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and the presence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in circulating tumor cells may suggest worse prognosis. Aim: To correlate the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with a locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic tumor and the protein expression involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CTCs with clinical characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Method: This was a prospective study conducted using peripheral blood samples collected at three different times. CTCs were quantified by the ISET test and analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Proteins involved in EMT (vimentin, TGFß-RI and MMP2) were analyzed in all CTCs. Results: Twenty-one patients were included. Median CTCs detected were 22, 20 and 8 CTCs/8 ml blood at baseline, first and second follow-up, respectively. No statistically significant correlation was found in correlating the number of CTCs and the evaluated clinical characteristics, PFS, or OS. There was no difference in PFS and OS among the EMT markers in the groups with and without markers. Conclusion: CTC analysis was not relevant in this sample for comparing clinical findings, PFS and OS in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, marker analysis in CTCs could be useful for the MMP-2 and/or TGFß-RI expression, as observed by the separate PFS curve.

RESUMO Racional: A metástase é comum no diagnóstico de câncer de pâncreas; presença de marcadores de transição epitélio-mesenquimal nas células tumorais circulantes (CTCs) podem sugerir pior prognóstico. Objetivo: Correlacionar o número de CTCs no sangue periférico de pacientes com tumor de pâncreas localmente avançado ou metastático e expressão de proteínas envolvidas na transição epitélio-mesenquimal (TEM) nas CTCs com características clínicas, sobrevida livre de progressão (SLP) e global (SG). Método: Estudo prospectivo realizado por meio de coletas de sangue periférico em três tempos distintos. As CTCs foram quantificadas pelo sistema ISET e analisadas por imunocitoquímica. Proteínas envolvidas na TEM (vimentina, TGFß-RI e MMP2) foram analisadas em todas as CTCs. Resultados: Foram incluídos 21 pacientes. A mediana de CTCs detectadas foi de 22, 20 e 8 CTCs/8 ml de sangue no baseline, primeiro e segundo seguimentos, respectivamente. Na correlação entre número de CTCs e as características clínicas levantadas, SLP, SG não houve correlação estatisticamente significante. Nos marcadores de TEM não houve diferença de SLP e SG entre os grupos que apresentaram e não apresentaram marcação. Conclusão: As CTCs não se mostraram relevantes na comparação dos achados clínicos, SLP e SG em pacientes com câncer de pâncreas. No entretanto, pode ser que para a análise de marcador seja útil, como observado pelas curvas separadas de expressão de MMP-2 e TGFß-RI nas CTCs.

Effects of centella asiatica granule on the expression of TGF-β and related down-stream signals in rats with early diabetic nephropathy / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of centella asiatica (CA) granule on the expression of transform growth factor-β(TGF-β) and related down-stream signals in rats with early diabetic nephropathy(DN) and to clarify the molecular mechanisms of CA molecular mechanism of on preventing and curing early diabetic kidney disease DN by studying the effects of centella asiatica on TGF-β expression and related down-stream signals.@*METHODS@#Sixty male SD rats were divided into control group(=10) and DN model group(=50). The model rats were made a right nephrectomy. One week later, diabetic nephropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptocozin(30 mg/kg) for three consecutive days. High blood glucose level of Tail vein (fasting glucose ≥ 16.7 mmol/L) and high urinary protein level(total protein level in DN group was more than twice higher than the control group) were measured to confirm early DN in rats. In the sham operation group, the right renal capsule was damaged and the corresponding amount of saline was injected. The model rats were administrated by the means of intragastric administration. The DN model group were divided into DN group, DN+fosinopril group(1.6 mg/kg·d), DN+high CA group(16.8 mg/kg·d), DN+medium CA group(11.2 mg/kg·d) and DN+low CA group(5.6 mg/kg·d), and each group was intragastric administration one time every morning last for 16 weeks. The expressions of mRNA and protein of TGF-β, TβR1, TβR2, Smad2/3, Smad7 and the level of Smad2/3 phosphorylation were detected by using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#The expressions of mRNA and protein of TGF-β, TβR1, TβR2, Smad2/3 and the level of Smad2/3 phosphorylation were significantly increased, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Smad7 were dramatically decreased. The fosinopril and high dosage CA could reverse the effects of DN.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CA plays an important role in preventing and curing DN through regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways.

Osthole decreases collagen I/III contents and their ratio in TGF-β1-overexpressed mouse cardiac fibroblasts through regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to elucidate whether the mechanism by which osthole decreases collagenI/III contents and their ratio is regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in TGF-β1-overexpressed mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). These CFs were cultured and treated with different concentrations of osthole. Our results showed that the TGF-β1 expression in the CFs transfected with that the recombinant expression plasmids pcDNA3.1(+)-TGF-β1 was significantly enhanced. After the CFs were treated with 1.25-5 μg·mL of osthole for 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of collagensIand III were reduced. The collagen I/III ratio was also reduced. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, TβRI, Smad2/3, P-Smad2/3, Smad4, and α-SMA were decreased, whereas the expression level of Smad7 was increased. These effects suggested that osthole could inhibit collagen I and III expression and reduce their ratio via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in TGF-β1 overexpressed CFs. These effects of osthole may play beneficial roles in the prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis.

Osthole decreases collagen I/III contents and their ratio in TGF-β1-overexpressed mouse cardiac fibroblasts through regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to elucidate whether the mechanism by which osthole decreases collagenI/III contents and their ratio is regulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in TGF-β1-overexpressed mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). These CFs were cultured and treated with different concentrations of osthole. Our results showed that the TGF-β1 expression in the CFs transfected with that the recombinant expression plasmids pcDNA3.1(+)-TGF-β1 was significantly enhanced. After the CFs were treated with 1.25-5 μg·mL of osthole for 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of collagensIand III were reduced. The collagen I/III ratio was also reduced. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, TβRI, Smad2/3, P-Smad2/3, Smad4, and α-SMA were decreased, whereas the expression level of Smad7 was increased. These effects suggested that osthole could inhibit collagen I and III expression and reduce their ratio via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in TGF-β1 overexpressed CFs. These effects of osthole may play beneficial roles in the prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis.