The Correlation between Endotoxin, D-Lactate, and Diamine Oxidase with Endoscopic Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Methods: A total of 149 eligible IBD patients including 82 Crohn disease (CD) and 67 Ulcerative colitis (UC) who had received both endoscopic examination and intestinal barrier function detection in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Endoscopic activity was estimated by the Simple Endoscopic Score (SES-CD) for Crohn's Disease and the ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) for ulcerative colitis. The predictive value and optimal predictive thresholds for those biomarkers were determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: For UC patients, DAO, D-lactate, and ETX showed better correlation with UCEIS than erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and exhibited satisfactory predictive value in predicting remission. Among patients with CD, DAO and ETX not only showed a better correlation than WBC, ESR, and CRP with SES-CD but also capable to identify more severe patients. Conclusion: DAO and ETX could be used to distinguish different endoscopic activity of CD. DAO, D-lactate, and ETX could predict UC endoscopic remission.

DAB2IP down-regulates HSP90AA1 to inhibit the malignant biological behaviors of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that DAB2IP inhibits cancer progression, while HSP90AA1 promotes cancer progression. However, the specific regulatory mechanism of DAB2IP and HSP90AA1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear. Our aim is to investigate the role and mechanism of DAB2IP and HSP90AA1 in the development of CRC. METHODS: We used bioinformation to analyze the interaction between DAB2IP and HSP90AA1 and predict their downstream pathways. Then, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the role of DAB2IP and HSP90AA1 in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer, and flow cytometry was used to explore their effects on apoptosis. RESULTS: Loss of DAB2IP was associated with poor prognosis of CRC. In contrast, elevated expression of HSP90AA1 was associated with the malignant behavior of CRC. The present study demonstrated a negative correlation between DAB2IP and HSP90AA1. Using bioinformatic analysis, we scanned SRP9 which was highly expressed in CRC, as a co-related gene of DAB2IP and HSP90AA1. Mechanistically, DAB2IP promoted apoptosis through HSP90AA1/SRP9/ASK1/JNK signaling axis in CRC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that DAB2IP-based therapy may enhance the anticancer effect of HSP90AA1 inhibitors, and combined targeting of DAB2IP and HSP90AA1 may be a powerful treatment strategy to combat CRC.

Resveratrol pretreatment alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting STIM1-mediated intracellular calcium accumulation.

Previous studies have shown that stromal interaction molecule1 (STIM1)-mediated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) contributes to intracellular Ca2+ accumulation in H9C2 cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on STIM1-mediated intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and subsequent cell death in the context of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57 BL/6 mice were fed with either saline or resveratrol (50 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks) and then subjected to myocardial I/R injury. TTC/Evans Blue staining and TUNEL assay were performed to quantify the infarct size and apoptosis index. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVCs) underwent hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish the in vitro model. To achieve over-expression, NRVCs were transfected with STIM1-adenovirus vector. Apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. Cell viability was measured using MTS assay and cell necrosis was determined by LDH release assay. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy using a Fluo-3AM probe. Resveratrol significantly reduced apoptosis, decreased infarct size, and improved cardiac function in mice subjected to myocardial I/R injury. In NRVCs, resveratrol also downregulated STIM1 expression accompanied by decreased intracellular Ca2+ accumulation elicited by H/R injury. In addition, resveratrol reduced cell apoptosis, upregulated the Bcl-2, decreased Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, the effects of resveratrol on STIM1-mediated intracellular Ca2+ accumulation, apoptotic proteins, and H/R-induced cell injury were exacerbated by STIM1 over-expression and were partly abolished by SOCE inhibitor SKF96365 in NRVCs in vitro. Our findings demonstrate that resveratrol exerts anti-apoptotic activity and improves cardiac functional recovery following myocardial I/R by inhibiting STIM1-induced intracellular Ca2+ accumulation.

Suppression of Stim1 reduced intracellular calcium concentration and attenuated hypoxia/reoxygenation induced apoptosis in H9C2 cells.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1)-mediated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) contributes to intracellular Ca2+ accumulation. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of STIM1 and its downstream molecules Orai1/TRPC1 in the context of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the effect of STIM1 inhibition on Ca2+ accumulation and apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). METHODS: Expression of STIM1/Orai1/TRPC1 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot in mice subjected to MIRI and H9C2 cardiomyocytes subjected to H/R. To knock-down STIM1, H9C2 cardiomyocytes was transfected with Stealth SiRNA. Apoptosis was analyzed by both flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy using Fluo-3/AM probe. Furthermore, the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was assessed by coloading with calcein AM and CoCl2, while ROS generation was evaluated using the dye DCFH-DA in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: Expression of STIM1/Orai1/TRPC1 significantly increased in transcript and translation level after MIRI in vivo and H/R in vitro In H9C2 cardiomyocytes subjected to H/R, intracellular Ca2+ accumulation significantly increased compared with control group, along with enhanced mPTP opening and elevated ROS generation. However, suppression of STIM1 by SiRNA significantly decreased apoptosis and intracellular Ca2+ accumulation induced by H/R in H9C2 cardiomyocytes, accompanied by attenuated mPTP opening and decreased ROS generation. In addition, suppression of STIM1 increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreased Orai1/TRPC1, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. CONCLUSION: Suppression of STIM1 reduced intracellular calcium level and attenuated hypoxia/reoxygenation induced apoptosis in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Our findings provide a new perspective in understanding STIM1-mediated calcium overload in the setting of MIRI.

Association of Soluble Fibrinogen-like Protein 2 with the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between circulating soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 (sFGL2) concentrations and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who underwent first-time angiography for suspected CAD. Methods Serum sFGL2 concentrations were measured in 102 consecutive patients by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) T regulatory cells (Tregs) was determined by flow cytometry and effecter cytokines, including transforming growth factor-ß1 and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were also evaluated by an ELISA. Associations between sFGL2 and Tregs with angiographic indexes of the severity of CAD (i.e., number of diseased vessels and the modified Gensini score) were estimated. Results The sFGL2 levels in patients with angiographically confirmed CAD were significantly lower than those in patients with normal coronary arteries (26.95±8.53 vs. 9.88±5.46 ng/mL, p<0.001). Significant correlations were observed between the serum sFGL2 level and number of diseased vessels (r=-0.860, p<0.001) and modified Gensini score (r=-0.833, p<0.001). Using a multivariate analysis, the serum sFGL2 level was independently associated with the presence and severity of CAD. Conclusion The serum sFGL2 levels are significantly lower in the presence of CAD and correlate with the severity of the disease. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the use of sFGL2 as a biomarker for the detection and extent of CAD.

Methylophiopogonanone A suppresses ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis in mice via activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.

AIM: The dried tuber root of Ophiopogon japonicus has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of myocardial ischemia and thrombosis. In this study we investigated the effects of methylophiopogonanone A (MO-A), a major homoisoflavonoid in Ophiopogon japonicus, on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Mice were pretreated with MO-A (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), po) for 2 weeks and then subjected to transient occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Cardiac function was evaluated, and the infarct size and apoptosis index were assessed. The mechanisms underlying the cardio-protection of MO-A were analyzed in H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). The cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated; apoptotic and relevant signaling proteins were analyzed. NO levels in the culture medium were assessed. RESULTS: In I/R mice, pretreatment with MO-A significantly reduced the infarct size (by 60.7%) and myocardial apoptosis (by 56.8%), and improved cardiac function. In H9C2 cells subjected to H/R, pretreatment with MO-A (10 µmol/L) significantly decreased apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 expression, elevated the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and restored NO production. Furthermore, pretreatment with MO-A markedly increased the activation of PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway in H9C2 cells subjected to H/R, and the protective effects of MO-A were abolished in the presence of the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (100 nmol/L). CONCLUSION: MO-A attenuates I/R-induced myocardial apoptosis in mice via activating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.

[Expression and clinical significance of IL-17 and IL-21 in patients with acute leukemia].

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of peripheral blood Th17 cells, IL-17 and IL-21 in the occurrence and development of acute leukemia. 60 patients with acute leukemia (19 patients with ALL, 41 patients with AML) were divided into non-remission group (group A, n=24), remission group (group B, n=36); 25 healthy volunteers were used as control group (group C). In addition to this, these 60 patients were divided into infection group (n=32) and non-infection group (n=28) on the basis of infection status. The concentration of IL-17 and IL-21 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture supernatant after stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAb were determined with ELISA. The expression of CD4+ IL-17+ cells was determined by flow cytometry. The results showed that (1) the concentrations of IL-17 and IL-21, and proportion of Th17 cells in group A and group B were much lower than those in group C (p<0.05); (2) the expression levels of IL-17 and IL-21, and the proportion of Th17 cells in group A were lower than those in group B (p<0.05); (3) the expression levels of Th17 and IL-17 in infection group were lower than those in non-infection group (p<0.05). It is concluded that Th17 cells may play important roles in the occurrence and development of acute leukemia through secreting IL-17 and IL-21, and their functional level can partially reflect the status of leukemia and can be used to evaluate the risks of infection in patients with leukemia.

[Studies of the association between angiotensinogen gene regulation and cytokines in essential hypertension].

This study is to explore the association between M235T allele polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene and cytokines using essential hypertension probands research method. In hypertensives and controls, polymerase chain reaction combined with restriction endonuclease digestion was used to detect the target genotype variation, and enzyme-lined immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to detect the cytokine concentrations (IL-1, IL-6, TNF). The results showed that in hypertensives AGT gene, TT genotype was 55.88%, MT 35.29% and MM 8.82%. The ratio of T/M allele frequency was 0.735/0.265. In controls AGT gene, TT genotype was 47.46%, MT 42.37% and MM 10.17%. The ratio of T/M allele frequency was 0.686/0.314. AGT gene 235 T allele frequency in hypertensives was slightly higher than those in controls. Furthermore AGT gene 235 TT genotype and T allele frequency in middle and high grade of hypertensives were significantly higher than those in mild grade. In subjects of AGT 235 T allele group, the concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in hypertensives were significantly higher than those in controls. In subjects of AGT gene 235 M allele frequency, the concentrations of IL-1 and IL-6 in hypertensives were no significant than those in controls. No matter in groups more than 60 years old or less than 60 years old, the concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in hypertensives were higher than those in controls. No matter in hypertensives or controls, there were no differences in concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF when comparing groups more than 60 years old with groups less than 60 years old. The study indicated that AGT gene TT genotype and AGT gene 235 T allele frequency may be an important risk factor for hypertension. The high frequency of AGT gene 235 T allele and the high concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in hypertensives may cause hypertension developing. It is also suggested the cytokines may effect the transcription and expression of AGT gene 235 TT genotype in hypertension. The concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF had nothing to do with age no matter hypertensives or controls.