Static Compression Induces ECM Remodeling and Integrin α2ß1 Expression and Signaling in a Rat Tail Caudal Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model.

STUDY DESIGN: A three-level rat tail caudal intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) model was established to study effects of static compression on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and integrin signaling in IVDs during IVDD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of compression force on ECM remodeling and integrin signaling in IVDs during IVDD. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Integrins sense mechanical environment alteration via binding to ECM ligands and trigger intracellular signaling for pathological ECM remodeling during IVDD. However, the role of compression force in ECM remodeling and integrin signaling during IVDD remains elusive. METHODS: Compared with the classical one-level rat tail IVDD model that exerts axial stress on the 8th to 9th caudal vertebral bodies, a three-level model was established by using an Ilizarov-type apparatus to exert stress on the 7th to 10th caudal vertebral bodies in rat tails for four weeks. To exclude side effects from surgical stab injury on manipulated discs, intact coccygeal (Co) disc Co8-9 was analyzed. RESULTS: In three-level IVDD model, significant degeneration of the Co8-9 disc was observed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed elevated mRNA expression of collagen types I, III, and V; matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 3, 9, 13, 14; and decreased mRNA expression of collagen type II in Co8-9 disc. Compression loading altered the expression of integrin α2ß1 (upregulated) and α10ß1 (downregulated) in NP cells, and activated integrin downstream signaling. By contrast, one-level model showed more severe disc degeneration and ECM remodeling. Integrin α1, α2, α11, and ß1 were upregulated, whereas α10 was downregulated. Similar activation of integrin signaling was observed. CONCLUSION: Static compression altered collagen and MMP expression, and promoted ß1 integrin expression and signaling in IVD. Compared with one-level rat tail IVDD model, three-level model showed milder effects on disc degeneration, ECM remodeling, and integrin expression, suggesting one-level model might involve other causes that induce IVDD via mechanisms independent of compression force. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

A novel vaccine p846 encoding Rv3615c, Mtb10.4, and Rv2660c elicits robust immune response and alleviates lung injury induced by Mycobacterium infection.

Development of effective anti-tuberculosis (TB) vaccines is one of the important steps to improve control of TB. Cell-mediated immune response significantly affects the control of M. tuberculosis infection. Thus, vaccines able to elicit strong cellular immune response hold special advantages against TB. In this study, three well-defined mycobacterial antigens (Rv3615c, Mtb10.4 [Rv0228], and Rv2660c) were engineered as a novel triple-antigen fusion DNA vaccine p846. The p846 vaccine consists of a high density of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell epitopes. Intramuscular immunization of p846 induced robust T cells mediated immune response comparable to that of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination but more effective than that of individual antigen vaccination. After mycobacterial challenge, p846 immunization decreased bacterial burden at least 15-fold compared with individual antigen-based vaccination. Notably, the lungs of mice immunized with p846 exhibited fewer inflammatory cell infiltrates and less damage than those of control group mice. Our data demonstrate that the potential of p846 vaccine to protect against TB and the feasibility of this design strategy for further TB vaccine development.

[Assessment method of ecosystem health].

Ecosystem is the basic unit to maintain human environment. Ecosystem function mainly includes two aspects: ecosystem service function and goods function. These two functions are the basis for human living and development. Ecosystem health is the presupposition of ecosystem function. The completeness (structure and function), resilience, stability, and sustainability are the characteristics of ecosystem health. Ecosystem health assessment selects the indicator based on the ecosystem structure and function, including completeness, suitability, and effectiveness of ecosystem. Ecosystem health assessment mainly has two methods: one is indicator species assessment, and the other is structure and function index assessment which includes single index assessment, complex index assessment, and index system assessment which includes natural index system assessment and social-economic-natural index system assessment. In this paper, different assessment methods on ecosystem health are compared, and different health assessment method for different ecosystem types are also expatriated.

[Ecosystem health and environmental management].

Ecosystem health is very relational to environmental management. Ecosystem health is the aim of environmental management. Ecosystem health provides new thoughts and new methods to environmental management. Healthy ecosystem is a fundamental basis to realize regional sustainable development. The succession process of ecosystem health is the preparation to optimize environmental management. At the same time, optimized environmental management provides macro decision-making and social and economic ensurance for ecosystem health. From the view of subject development, this paper deals with the background, theoretical fundament and application process of ecosystem health and also deals with the relationship between ecosystem health assessment and environmental management. The paper puts forward the aim of environmental management: healthy ecosystem-->healthy environment-->healthy foods-->healthy human ecosystem-->healthy social development.