Advances in the study of exosome-derived miRNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory disease caused by autoantibodies, with high morbidity and mortality. It involves multiple systems, particularly the renal, which can lead to lupus nephritis (LN); its multi-system effects have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Exosomes are vesicles that are secreted during cell activity and carry a variety of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. They are distributed through body fluids for cellular communication. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are nucleic acids that are packaged within the exosome that are taken up and released in response to changes in plasma membrane structure. MiRNAs are potential participants in immune and inflammatory responses, which are transported to target cells and can inhibit gene expression in receptor cells. It has been suggested that exosomal miRNA can regulate the pathogenesis of SLE and, as such, they are of value in diagnosis and treatment. In this paper, we focus on the research progress into exosomal miRNA in SLE and inspire new directions for SLE related research.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Metidiocerus sp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae).

The species Metidiocerus sp. belonging to the subfamily Idiocerinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). Here, we sequenced and annotated the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Metidiocerus sp. This mitogenome was 15,079 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs), and one non-coding region. The nucleotide composition biases toward A and T, which together made up 77.4% of the entirety. All 13 PCGs were initiated by the ATN (ATG, ATT, ATA, and ATC) codon. All PCGs terminate with the stop codons TAA except for COX2, ND4, and ND1 ended with single T. A phylogenetic tree generated by the Bayesian method showed that Metidiocerus sp. is closely related to Idiocerus salicis and Idiocerus herrichii which enriched the mitochondrial genome data of Idiocerinae.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Populicerus confusus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae).

In this study, we firstly reported the complete mitochondrial genome of Populicerus confuses. The complete mitochondrial genome was 16,395 bp in length which overall base composition was 41.43% A, 36.30% T, 11.54% C, and 10.73% G. It consisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes (12S and 16S rRNA), and a control region (D-loop region). The complete mitochondrial genomes of P. confuses and other 9 species were used for phylogenetic analysis using the Bayesian method. The resulting phylogenetic tree confirms that the Populicerus populi is most closely related to P. confuses. The mitogenome provided the valuable evidence on phylogenetic relationship of the Idiocerinae at the molecular level.

Association between carotid plaque and Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies show that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are prone to have a reduced incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Previous studies show the correlation between PD and the lipids serum levels. The PD,s patients are found with a reduced serum level of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); thus, the level of serum uric acid (UA) is closely related to the occurrence and development of PD. Patients with low serum UA levels have a higher chance of developing PD than the ones who do not. However, the relationship between carotid plaques and PD is still unknown. METHODS: Our study was based on 68 patients with PD (known as the PD group) and 81 people without PD (known as the control group). Patients in the PD group were of the same age and gender. Both groups were recorded and analyzed for UA, LDL-C, and carotid plaques or intima-media thickness (IMT). The PD group was then divided into three subgroups: the stable plaque group, the unstable plaque group, and the non-plaque group. RESULTS: In the present study, the PD group showed a significantly lower level of UA and LDL-C than the control group (P<0.01); somehow there were no statistically significant differences in the IMT and plaque incidence between the two groups (P>0.05). There were also no significant differences (P>0.05) in both the LDL-C and UA levels in all subgroups, but there was a close relation in both age and duration of disease to IMT. According to the Hoehn and Yahr staging scale, serum levels of LDL-C were inversely correlated in PD patients, while UA was related to the duration of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that there were no differences in carotid artery arteriosclerosis plaque and IMT, but the PD progress was indeed correlated with IMT. Meanwhile, LDL-C and UA had different priorities in H&Y and disease progression.

[Correlation study of semaphorin 5a with risk of Parkinson's disease in a Chinese Han population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of Semaphorin 5A (SEMA5A) and risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to check two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within SEMA5A in 244 PD patients and 174 healthy control subjects of Chinese Han ancestry. And the results were verified by gene sequencing. RESULTS: The SEMA5A variant genotype (allele) of rs7702187 and rs3798097 had no correlation with the risk of PD in the samples (rs7702187: OR(genotype AT) 0.95, 95% CI 0.61-1.48, OR (genotype AA) = 1.84, 95% CI 0.85-3.99, OR(genotype AT + AA) = 1.21, 95% CI 0.82-1.77, P > 0.05; rs3798097: OR(genotype CT) = 1.06, 95% CI 0.62-1.79, OR(genotype TT) = 0.72, 95% CI 0.10-5.18, OR(genotype CT + T) = 1.01, 95% CI 0.62-1.67, P > 0.05). Comparing with the most common haplotype TC, neither AC haplotype nor TT haplotype showed any correlation with risk of PD (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.84-1.69 for AC haplotype P > 0.05; OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.59-1.70 for TT haplotype, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SEMA5A is not implicated in PD risk in a Chinese Han population.