ABSTRACT
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the infectious causes of hypertensive anterior uveitis, which is characterized by recurrent episodes of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and mild anterior uveitis. Despite the potentially vision-threatening complications of this disease, the underlying mechanisms remain largely undefined. We aimed to investigate whether human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, the key cell type that regulates IOP, could support CMV replication, as well as demonstrate the relevant pathological changes in TM. When human TM cells were infected with CMV AD169, immediate early antigens were detected 1 day post-infection (dpi); cytopathic changes including rounding, a ballooned appearance with disorganization, and a decreased number of stress fibers were noted in TM cells. The marked increase in viral DNA accumulation was observed most notably at 5 and 7 dpi, suggesting that the active viral infection in human TM cells could be the key mechanism underlying the elevation of IOP in anterior viral uveitis. Notably, CMV infection enhanced the production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, an upstream molecule that increases the resistance of the outflow pathway in human TM cells. The increase of TGF-ß1 was countervailed by additional treatment with corticosteroids. Our results provide a pathogenic mechanism for IOP elevation in viral anterior uveitis.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral/immunology , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Intraocular Pressure , Trabecular Meshwork/virology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/immunology , Actins/genetics , Actins/immunology , Antigens, Viral/genetics , Collagen Type I/genetics , Collagen Type I/immunology , Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain , Connective Tissue Growth Factor/genetics , Connective Tissue Growth Factor/immunology , Cytomegalovirus/immunology , Cytomegalovirus/pathogenicity , Cytomegalovirus Infections/genetics , Cytomegalovirus Infections/immunology , Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology , Dexamethasone/pharmacology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/virology , Fibronectins/genetics , Fibronectins/immunology , Ganciclovir/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation , Glaucoma/genetics , Glaucoma/immunology , Glaucoma/virology , Humans , Models, Biological , Primary Cell Culture , Signal Transduction , Trabecular Meshwork/drug effects , Trabecular Meshwork/pathology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/antagonists & inhibitors , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics , Uveitis, Anterior/genetics , Uveitis, Anterior/immunology , Uveitis, Anterior/virology , Viral Load/drug effects , Virus Replication/drug effectsABSTRACT
Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been the focus of interest in adsorption, catalysis, and membrane applications due to their superior thermal and chemical stability, tunable microporous channels, and tailorable physical/chemical properties. In this study, ZIF-7 membranes were successfully prepared on macroporous a-alumina substrate by in situ solvothermal method, without the necessity of seeding or surface modification step. Addition of sodium formate during the reaction facilitates continuous well-intergrown crystalline ZIF-7 layer. As-synthesized ZIF-7 membrane was characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and gas permeation test. The H2 permeance through 5 µm ZIF-7 membrane was 1.9 x 10(-7) mol/m2 x s x Pa with ideal selectivity of H2/CO2 = 15.2.
Subject(s)
Imidazoles/chemistry , Membranes, Artificial , Zeolites/chemistry , Formates , Gases , Permeability , Temperature , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
Crack-free Cu3(BTC)2 membranes were successfully prepared by thermal spray seeding and secondary growth method. Thermal spray seeding method, combining thermal seeding and pressurized spraying, uniformly distributed seed solution on the support, anchoring seed crystals tightly on the support. After secondary growth of the seeded support in the autoclave, continuous crack-free membrane was obtained by controlling cooling and drying steps. The gas permeation test was conducted at various temperatures using H2, CO2, CH4 and N2 gases.
