Vitamin D affects the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation is an underlying feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but whether it contributes to chronic inflammation is unclear. We examined the effects of vitamin D on various immune markers to evaluate its contribution to systemic inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, people with prediabetes and control patients without diabetes (n = 9,746). Demographic and clinical variables were evaluated using descriptive statistics and generalized linear regression. A stratified analysis based on total serum vitamin D was also carried out. RESULTS: Neutrophil count was a significant predictor of 1,5-anhydroglucitol and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with prediabetes (1,5-anhydroglucitol: ß = -0.719, P < 0.001 and HbA1c: ß = -0.006, P = 0.002) and patients with diabetes (1,5-anhydroglucitol: ß = 0.207, P = 0.004 and HbA1c: ß = -0.067, P = 0.010). Lymphocyte count was a significant predictor of HbA1c in patients without diabetes (ß = 0.056, P < 0.001) and patients with prediabetes (ß = 0.038, P < 0.001). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was a significant predictor of HbA1c in patients without diabetes (ß = -0.001, P = 0.032). No immune markers differed significantly based on vitamin D level among patients without diabetes (P> 0.05 for all). Among patients with prediabetes, those who were vitamin D-deficient had the highest NLR (P = 0.040). Among patients with diabetes, those who were vitamin D-deficient had the highest neutrophil count (P = 0.001), lowest lymphocyte count (P = 0.016) and highest NLR (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The NLR is strongly influenced by serum vitamin D level. Given the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and elevated NLR among chronic disease patients and the elderly, our results suggest that clinical interpretation of NLR as a predictive marker of type 2 diabetes mellitus-related inflammation should consider vitamin D level, age and pre-existing morbidity.

MiR-135a Suppresses Calcification in Senescent VSMCs by Regulating KLF4/STAT3 Pathway.

Cellular function phenotype is regulated by various microRNAs (miRs), including miR-135a. However, how miR-135a is involved in the calcification in senescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is not clear yet. In the present study, we first identified the significantly altered miRNAs in VSMCs, then performed consecutive passage culture of VSMCs and analyzed the expression of miR- 135a and calcification genes in the senescent phase. Next, the effects of the miR-135a inhibition on calcification and calcification genes were analyzed. The luciferase assay was used to validate the target protein of miR-135a. The western blotting was used to determine the effects of miR-135a on Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 protein (STAT3) expression, as well as the relationship between KLF4 and STAT3. Finally, the quantified cellular calcification was measured to examine the involvement of miR-135a, KLF4 and STAT3 in VSMCs calcification. Our results showed that miR-135a was significantly altered in VSMCs. Cell calcification and calcification genes were greatly altered by miR-135a inhibition. KLF4 was validated as the target RNA of miR-135a. Expression of KLF4 and STAT3 were both significantly decreased by over expressed miR-135a, while the inhibition of miR-135a and KLF4 siRNA both decreased the STAT3 protein levels. Moreover, the inhibition of miR-135a dramatically increased the calcium concentration, but co-treatment with KLF4 or STAT3 siRNA both decreased the calcium concentration. The present study identified miR-135a as a potential osteogenic differentiation suppressor in senescent VSMCs and revealed that KLF4/STAT3 pathway, at least partially, was involved in the mechanism.

[Molecular cloning of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase from Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. and its distribution pattern and bioinformatics analysis].

Triterpenes, which have large application potential in the treatment of cancer, are the main active components of genuine medicinal material Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) is one of the important rate-limiting enzymes in the synthetic pathway of triterpenes. In this study the FPPS full length cDNA of the A. orientale, was cloned via homology-based cloning approach and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full length of the FPPS cDNA was 1 531 bp (accession no. HQ724508), which contained a full 1 032 bp ORF that encoded 343 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence exhibited five conserved motifs, two of which is riched of Asp (DDXXD). The result of real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) showed that FPPS gene was expressed in different organs of A. orientale. The expression increased from October to the first ten-day period of December, and then decreased. The FPPS gene expression was higher in leaves but lower in leafstalk, tuber and root. HPLC analysis of active components 23-acetyl-alismol B of A. orientale. during different periods indicated that its change trend should be consistent with FPPS gene expression. It can be primarily deduced that FPPS gene should be an important control point in the synthetic pathway of Alisma terpenes. This study may facilitate the quality of medicinal plants through gene engineering in the future.

[Cloning and distribution pattern of HMGR gene conserved fragment in Alisma orientale].

OBJECTIVE: To clone and study the distribution pattern of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) gene conserved fragment in Alisma orientale. METHODS: The HMGR conserved fragment in A. orientale was amplified by RT-PCR strategy with the total RNA of young leaves as the template. HMGR mRNA expression in different organs was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR). RESULTS: The conserved fragment was 458 bp (accession NO. HQ913638). NCBI Blast sequence analysis showed the resulting protein had high homology to HMGR with 86.8% similarity to Artemisia annua, 88.2% to Bupleurum chinense, 88.2% to Eucommia ulmoides, and 85.5% to Salvia miltiorrhiza. The result of QRT-PCR showed that the HMGR gene was expressed in different organs (i. e. leaves, petioles, tubers, and roots) which was higher in leaves relative to other tissues. CONCLUSION: The HMGR gene conserved fragment from A. orientale was cloned and its distribution pattern was detected for the first time. This work provides a foundation for exploring the synthetic pathway and bioengineering of Alisma terpenes.