CircMAP3K4 Suppresses H2O2-Induced Human Lens Epithelial Cell Injury by miR-630/ERCC6 Axis in Age-Related Cataract.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) is involved in the pathogenesis of age-related cataract (ARC). Here, this study aimed to explore the function and mechanism of circMAP3K4 in ARC. METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for functional experiments. qRT-PCR and western blotting analyses were used for the expression detection of genes and proteins. Cell proliferation was tested using cell counting kit-8 and EdU. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze cell apoptosis and cell cycle. The oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The target relationship between miR-630 and circMAP3K4 or Excision repair cross-complementing group 6 (ERCC6) was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. RESULTS: CircMAP3K4 was lowly expressed in ARC patients and H2O2-induced HLECs. Functionally, forced expression of circMAP3K4 protected HLECs against H2O2-evoked proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and the promotion of cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, circMAP3K4 acted as a sponge for miR-630 to regulate the expression of its target ERCC6. MiR-630 was highly expressed while ERCC6 was lowly expressed in ARC patients and H2O2-induced HLECs. Up-regulation of miR-630 could reverse the protective effects of circMAP3K4 on HLECs under H2O2 treatment. In addition, inhibition of miR-630 suppressed H2O2-induced HLEC injury, which was abolished by ERCC6 silencing. CONCLUSION: Forced expression of circMAP3K4 protected HLECs against H2O2-evoked apoptotic and oxidative injury via miR-630/ERCC6 axis, suggesting that circMAP3K4 may function as a potential therapeutic target for ARC.

Intranasal delivery of nanomicelle curcumin promotes corneal epithelial wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Corneal nerves are mainly derived from the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal ganglion (TG). Corneal neuropathy contributes to epithelial degenerative changes in diabetic keratopathy. Efficient drug delivery to TG may be beneficial for the treatment of diabetic keratopathy. This article described intranasal delivery of nanomicelle curcumin to correct pathophysiological conditions in TG to promote corneal epithelial/nerve wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. A diabetic mice model with corneal epithelium abrasion was established. Ocular topical and/or intranasal nanomicelle curcumin treatments were performed, and treatment efficacy and mechanisms of action were explored. Results showed that intranasal nanomicelle curcumin treatment promoted corneal epithelial wound healing and recovery of corneal sensation. Enhanced accumulation of reactive oxygen species, reduced free radical scavengers, increased mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines, and decreased mRNA expressions of neurotrophic factors in the cornea and TG neuron were observed in diabetic mice with corneal epithelium abrasions. Intranasal nanomicelle curcumin treatment effectively recovered these pathophysiological conditions, especially that of the TG neuron, and a strengthened recovery was observed with ocular topical combined with intranasal treatment. These findings indicated that intranasal curcumin treatment effectively helped promote diabetic corneal epithelial/nerve wound healing. This novel treatment might be a promising strengthened therapy for diabetic keratopathy.

A combined experimental and theoretical study on vibrational spectra of 2-acetylpyridine.

The molecular geometries, FT-IR and Raman spectra of 2-acetylpyridine were studied using Density functional theory (DFT-B3LYP) with the large basis sets. Theoretical calculations indicate the cis conformer of 2-acetylpyridine is most stable though this conformation was seldom found in the crystal structures of coordinated compounds. Based on the stable conformer, comprehensive assignments of the experimental bands were made. The observed and calculated positions are found to be in good agreement with an average deviation of <4 cm(-1). The assignments provide valuable information for the fingerprint and identification of 2-acetylpyridine.

Ionothermal synthesis, properties and vibrational spectra of zinc (II) complex with nicotinamide.

The zinc (II) complex with nicotinamide, (C6H11N2)[ZnBr3(C6H6N2O)], was prepared under ionothermal condition by using the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([EMIM]Br) as a solvent. At the same time, [EMIM]Br also functions as a structure-directing agent, leading to a framework structure different from those obtained by the conventional methods. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the coordinated compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, and the Zn (II) ion is four-coordinated by one pyridine ring N atom and three bromide anions in a slightly distorted tetrahedron arrangement. The [EMIM](+) cations acting as the extra framework charge balancing species occupy the channels of this asymmetric unit. In the crystal structure, intermolecular NH⋯Br and NH⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form a supramolecular structure. In addition, this compound was further characterized by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopic techniques, and the observed important bands were assigned. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescent properties of solid samples were also studied at room temperature.

Di-µ-acetato-κO,O':O';κO:O,O'-bis-[(acetato-κO,O')bis-(5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')cadmium].

In the binuclear title compound, [Cd(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(4)(C(12)H(7)N(3)O(2))(2)], the Cd(II) cations are linked by carboxyl-ate O atoms into a four-membered Cd(2)O(2) rhombic ring with a Cd⋯ Cd separation of 3.7515 (5) Å. Each Cd(II) atom is seven-coordinated by a bidentate 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (5-NO(2)-phen) ligand and two bidentate acetate anions, one of which also acts as a bridge linking the two Cd atoms. The crystal packing is stabilized by π-π inter-actions between the phen rings of neighboring mol-ecules, with centroid-centroid distances of 3.491 (2) (intra-molecular) and 3.598 (2) Š(inter-molecular).

Aqua-(dicyanamido-κN)(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')(nitrato-κO,O')cobalt(II)-2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-water (2/1/2).

In the title compound, 2[Co(C(2)N(3))(NO(3))(C(14)H(12)N(2))(H(2)O)]·C(14)H(12)N(2)·2H(2)O, the Co(II) ion is coordinated by a bidentate 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen) ligand, a bidentate nitrate anion, a water mol-ecule and a monodentate dicyan-amide group in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. One uncoordinated dmphen mol-ecule is situated on a crystallographic twofold axis and the asymmetric unit is completed by one water mol-ecule. In the crystal, mol-ecules form a one-dimensional framework in the [001] direction through O-H⋯N and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The crystal packing is further stabilized by π-π stacking inter-actions between the dmphen rings of neighboring mol-ecules, with a centroid-centroid separation of 3.5641 (8) Šand a partially overlapped arrangement of parallel dmphen rings with a distance of 3.407 (2) Å.