ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the expression and underlying network of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MCM3AP-AS1 in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Human articular cartilage samples, OA model rats and IL-1ß-treated C28/I2 cells were used in this study. The expression changes of genes and proteins were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blot assays, respectively. Molecule interactions were validated by dual luciferase and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. H&E staining was used to detect the pathological changes of cartilage. RESULTS: MCM3AP-AS1 was upregulated in OA patients and IL-1ß-induced chondrocytes. Knockdown of MCM3AP-AS1 enhanced autophagy, while alleviated ECM degradation and cartilage injury. Mechanistically, overexpression of SOX4 boosted the transcription of MCM3AP-AS1. Moreover, MCM3AP-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge or epigenetic regulator of miR-149-5p to facilitate Notch1 expression. Functional rescue experiments showed that either inhibition of miR-149-5p nor ectopic expression of Notch1 dramatically weakened the biological impacts of MCM3AP-AS1 silencing. CONCLUSION: These finding demonstrated that SOX4-activated MCM3AP-AS1 aggravated OA progression by modulating autophagy and ECM degradation via targeting miR-149-5p/Notch1 axis. These data supported that inhibition of MCM3AP-AS1 might be a potential treatment strategy of OA.
Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , Osteoarthritis , RNA, Long Noncoding , Acetyltransferases/genetics , Acetyltransferases/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis/physiology , Cell Proliferation , Chondrocytes/metabolism , Humans , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Osteoarthritis/genetics , Osteoarthritis/metabolism , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism , Rats , Receptor, Notch1/genetics , Receptor, Notch1/metabolism , SOXC Transcription Factors/metabolism , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of BCG vaccine on initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis and its controlling effect on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: All 360 volunteers with initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis of positive smear and culture were divided into immunotherapy group (180 cases, also BCG group) and control group (180 cases) at random pair. The patients in BCG group were treated with chemotherapy of a regimen of 2HRZ/2HR and immunotherapy with BCG for 4 months,and the first BCG vaccine was given a month after chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the patients in the control group were treated with chemotherapy of 2HRZ/4HR only. RESULTS: (1) The negative conversion rate of sputum smear in BCG group was 98.3% (177/180), and it was 97.2% (175/180) in control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups both at the ends of 4 and 6 months after treatment (chi2 = 0.1278, P > 0.05). (2) The positive conversion rate of sputum smear in BCG group was 2.3% (4/177), and it was 6.9% (12/175) in control group followed up for 5 years. The successful rate was 96.1% (173/180) in BCG group, and it was significantly higher than that of 90.6% (163/180) in control group (chi2 = 4.4643, P < 0.05). (3) In the 5-year follow up, bacteriologic result was similar to that of X-ray. (4) The occurrence rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was 2.3% (4/177) in BCG group,significantly lower than that of 7.3% (13/178) in the control group (chi2 = 4.9513, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As an adjunct chemotherapy,immunotherapy with BCG vaccine should be helpful for patients with initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis. It would further strengthen the effects of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
