[M2 macrophage-derived exosomal lncRNA NR_028113.1 promotes macrophage polarization possibly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of M2 macrophage-derived exosomal lncRNA NR_028113.1 on macrophage polarization and its possible mechanism.

METHODS

Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from BALB/c mice were isolated and cultured in vitro. After IL-4 treatment to induce M2 macrophage polarization, exosomes (M2-exo) were extracted from the supernatant of M2 macrophages and identified. The expression of lncRNA in M2-exo was detected by qRT-PCR. BMDMs were co-cultured with M2-exo (100 μg/mL) or PBS for 48 h, and the changes in cellular expression levels of Arg1, YM-1, FIZZ1, iNOS and TNF-α were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The percentage of CD206⁺ cells was analyzed using flow cytometry, and the phosphorylation levels of JAK2/STAT3 proteins were detected using Western blotting. A lncRNA smart silencer was designed to specifically inhibit the expression of lncRNA NR_028113.1 in the M2 macrophages, from which exosomes were extracted and co-cultured with BMDMs for 48 h. The mRNA expression levels of Arg1, YM-1, FIZZ1, iNOS and TNF-α, CD206⁺ cell percentage and the phosphorylation levels of JAK2/STAT3 proteins were detected using qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

LncRNA NR_028113.1 was highly expressed in the exosomes of M2 macrophages (P < 0.05). Co-culture with M2-exo significantly increased mRNA expressions of M2 macrophage marker genes Arg1, YM-1 and FIZZ1 (P < 0.05), lowered the expressions of iNOS and TNF-α (P < 0.05), and increased CD206⁺ cell percentage and JAK2/STAT3 protein phosphorylation level in BMDMs (P < 0.05). After inhibiting the expression of lncRNA NR_028113.1 in M2 macrophages, the extracted M2-exo caused significant down-regulation of the mRNA expressions of Arg1, YM-1 and FIZZ1 and up-regulation of iNOS and TNF-α mRNA (P < 0.05), resulting also in signi-ficantly reduced CD206⁺ cell percentage and lowered phosphorylation levels of JAK2/STAT3 proteins in co-cultured BMDM (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

M2 macrophage-derived exosomal lncRNA NR_028113.1 can significantly promote M2 polarization of macrophages possibly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Measurement of Sequential ϒ Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV with the STAR Experiment

We report on measurements of sequential ϒ suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) through both the dielectron and dimuon decay channels. In the 0%-60% centrality class, the nuclear modification factors (R_{AA}), which quantify the level of yield suppression in heavy-ion collisions compared to p+p collisions, for ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) are 0.40±0.03(stat)±0.03(sys)±0.09(norm) and 0.26±0.08(stat)±0.02(sys)±0.06(norm), respectively, while the upper limit of the ϒ(3S) R_{AA} is 0.17 at a 95% confidence level. This provides experimental evidence that the ϒ(3S) is significantly more suppressed than the ϒ(1S) at RHIC. The level of suppression for ϒ(1S) is comparable to that observed at the much higher collision energy at the Large Hadron Collider. These results point to the creation of a medium at RHIC whose temperature is sufficiently high to strongly suppress excited ϒ states.

Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C_{5}, C_{6}) and factorial cumulants (κ_{5}, κ_{6}) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C_{6}/C_{2} for 0%-40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μ_{B}≤110  MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κ_{n}, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μ_{B}∼750  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μ_{B}∼24  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and higher collision energies.

Increase in skeletal muscle extracellular volume as an under-recognised change detected at cardiac MRI in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

AIM

To explore skeletal muscle change and its correlation with the myocardium in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) with T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 50 HCM patients and 35 healthy controls. The extracellular volume (ECV) of the skeletal muscle and myocardium, the presence and absence of LGE of the myocardium, and cardiac troponin T (cTnT), were assessed. In the HCM group, the elevated ECV_skeletal group was defined as ECV_skeletal >2 standard deviations (SD) above the mean value of the controls. Statistical analyses included Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and linear regression.

RESULTS

ECV_skeletal in the HCM group was higher than in the control group (mean 13.0 versus 10.9%; p<0.001), with 20 (40%) HCM patients having elevated ECV_skeletal (ECV_skeletal ≥13.7%). In the HCM group, ECV_skeletal had a positive linear correlation with global myocardial ECV (r=0.37, p=0.009). In addition, the elevated ECV_skeletal group had a higher cTnT than the non-elevated group (log cTnT, mean 1.55 versus 1.16, p=0.045). Furthermore, segmental myocardial ECV in the elevated ECV_skeletal group was higher than in the non-elevated group, despite the presence or absence of myocardial LGE (median 30.1 versus 27.2%; 26.5 versus 24.6%, both p<0.001) or hypertrophy (median 29.0 versus 26.0%; 26.8 versus 24.8%, both p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In the HCM patients, ECV_skeletal was higher than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, some ECV_skeletal changes had corresponding changes in the cTnT and myocardium.

Association of Circulating Caprylic Acid with Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Cohort

OBJECTIVE

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) can rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier and provide an alternative energy source for the brain. This study aims to determine 1) whether plasma caprylic acid (C8:0) is associated with risk of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among baseline cognitively normal (CN) participants, and incident Alzheimer's Disease (AD) among baseline MCI participants; and 2) whether these associations differ by sex, comorbidity of cardiometabolic diseases, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 alleles, and ADAS-Cog 13.

METHODS

Within the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort, plasma C8:0 was measured at baseline in 618 AD-free participants aged 55 to 91. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs with incident MCI and AD as dependent variables, separately.

RESULTS

The inverse association between circulating C8:0 and risk of incident MCI was of borderline significance. The inverse association between circulating levels of C8:0 and risk of incident MCI was significant among CN participants with ≥1 cardiometabolic diseases [OR (95% CI): 0.75 (0.58-0.98) (P=0.03)], those with one copy of APOE ε4 alleles [OR (95% CI): 0.43 (0.21-0.89) (P=0.02)], female [OR (95% CI): 0.60 (0.38-0.94) (P=0.02)], and ADAS-Cog 13 above the median [OR (95%CI): 0.69 (0.50-0.97)(P=0.03)] after adjusting for all covariates.

CONCLUSION

The inverse associations were present only among subgroups of CN participants, including female individuals, those with one or more cardiometabolic diseases, or one APOE ε4 allele, or higher ADAS-Cog 13 scores. If confirmed, this finding will facilitate precision prevention of MCI, in turn, AD among CN older adults.

Associations of Body-Roundness Index and Sarcopenia with Cardiovascular Disease among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Findings from CHARLS

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia and obesity may contribute to chronic disease. However, little is known about the association between sarcopenia, body roundness index (BRI), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sarcopenia and BRI with CVD in middle-aged and older Chinese population.

DESIGN

Cohort study with an 8-year follow-up.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were derived from 4 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and 6152 participants aged 45 or above were included in the study.

METHODS

Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. CVD was defined as the presence of physician-diagnosed heart disease, diabetes and/or stroke. The associations of BRI and sarcopenia with CVD risk were explored using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 58.3 (8.9) years, and 2936 (47.7%) were males. During the 8 years follow-up, 2385 cases (38.8%) with incident CVD were identified. Longitudinal results demonstrated that compared to neither sarcopenia or high BRI, both sarcopenia and high BRI (HR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.07) were associated with higher risk of CVD. In the subgroup analysis, individuals with both sarcopenia and high BRI were more likely to have new onset stroke (HR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.12, 3.32) and increased risk of multimorbidity (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Coexistence of sarcopenia and high BRI was associated with higher risk of CVD. Early identification and intervention for sarcopenia and BRI not only allows the implementation of therapeutic strategies, but also provides an opportunity to mitigate the risk of developing CVD.

Associations of Pain and Sarcopenia with Successful Aging among Older People in China: Evidence from CHARLS

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia and chronic pain are geriatric syndromes that negatively impact the lives of older people. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship among sarcopenia, pain, and successful aging among older persons participating in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

DESIGN

Cohort study with a 2-year follow-up.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were derived from 2 waves of the CHARLS, and 4280 community-dwelling participants aged ≥ 60 years were included in the study.

METHODS

Sarcopenia status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) criteria. Successful aging was defined following Rowe and Kahn's multidimensional model. Pain was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine the associations.

RESULTS

Longitudinal results demonstrated that compared with no sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia [OR (95%CI): 0.600 (0.304~1.188)] was not significantly associated with successful aging. Pain only was strongly associated with successful aging [0.388 (0.251~0.600)], whereas the association between sarcopenia only and successful aging was weaker [0.509 (0.287~0.905)]. The likelihood of being successful aging was substantially lower in the presence of coexisting sarcopenia and pain [0.268 (0.108~0.759)].

CONCLUSIONS

Both pain and sarcopenia are significant predictors for achieving successful aging among community-dwelling older adults. Early identification of sarcopenia and pain permits the implementation of treatment strategies and presents an opportunity to mitigate the risk of being unsuccessful aging.

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Elliptic flow measurements from two-, four-, and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at sqrt[s_{NN}]=193  GeV, Cu+Au at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and Au+Au spanning the range sqrt[s_{NN}]=11.5-200  GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and trento model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

Utility of trio-based prenatal exome sequencing incorporating splice-site and mitochondrial genome assessment in pregnancies with fetal ultrasound anomalies: prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of trio-based prenatal exome sequencing (pES), incorporating splice-site and mitochondrial genome assessment, in the prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with ultrasound anomalies and normal copy-number variant sequencing (CNV-seq) results.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of 90 ongoing pregnancies with ultrasound anomalies that underwent trio-based pES after receiving normal CNV-seq results, from September 2020 to November 2021, in a single center in China. By using pES with a panel encompassing exome coding and splicing regions as well as mitochondrial genome for fetuses and parents, we identified the underlying genetic causes of fetal anomalies, incidental fetal findings and parental carrier status. Information on pregnancy outcome and the impact of pES findings on parental decision-making was collected.

RESULTS

Of the 90 pregnancies included, 28 (31.1%) received a diagnostic result that could explain the fetal ultrasound anomalies. The highest diagnostic yield was noted for brain abnormalities (3/6 (50.0%)), followed by hydrops (4/9 (44.4%)) and skeletal abnormalities (13/34 (38.2%)). Collectively, 34 variants of 20 genes were detected in the 28 diagnosed cases, with 55.9% (19/34) occurring de novo. Variants of uncertain significance (VUS) associated with fetal phenotypes were detected in six (6.7%) fetuses. Interestingly, fetal (n = 4) and parental (n = 3) incidental findings (IFs) were detected in seven (7.8%) cases. These included two fetuses carrying a de-novo likely pathogenic (LP) variant of the CIC and FBXO11 genes, respectively, associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, and one fetus with a LP variant in a mitochondrial gene. The remaining fetus presented with unilateral renal dysplasia and was incidentally found to carry a pathogenic PKD1 gene variant resulting in adult-onset polycystic kidney, which was later confirmed to be inherited from the mother. In addition, parental heterozygous variants associated with autosomal recessive diseases were detected in three families, including one with additional fetal diagnostic findings. Diagnostic results or fetal IFs contributed to parental decision-making about termination of the pregnancy in 26 families (26/72 (36.1%)), while negative pES results or identification of VUS encouraged 40 families (40/72 (55.6%)) to continue their pregnancy, which ended in a live birth in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Trio-based pES can provide additional genetic information for pregnancies with fetal ultrasound anomalies without a CNV-seq diagnosis. The incidental findings and parental carrier status reported by trio-based pES with splice-site and mitochondrial genome analysis extend its clinical application, but careful genetic counseling is warranted. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[The relationships between functional gastrointestinal diseases and psychological factors, diet and lifestyles: a network analysis]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between common functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms with psychological factors, diet and lifestyles by using the network analysis method which has achieved great success in the field of psychology in recent years. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted in two military units using the cluster sampling method during July 2020, and a total of 1 805 subjects were included. Functional gastrointestinal disease symptoms were evaluated with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). The state, trait anxiety scale and stress response scale were used to evaluate the mental and psychological state by self-evaluation. R was used to build the network and calculate statistical parameters. Results: 1 486 of the 1 805 subjects (82.3%) had experienced functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms within 2 weeks, but most of them were mild. Network analysis shows that there was a strong interaction between digestive system symptoms with different clinical manifestations (Spearman coefficient ranges 0.31-0.56). There was a clear relationship between functional gastrointestinal symptoms and mental and psychological factors (Spearman coefficient ranges 0.16-0.27), but there was no clear interaction with diet, age, education level, body mass index, etc. Functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms were connected with mental and psychological factors through two nodes: stress and indigestion. The stability coefficient of node strength correlation was 0.75, indicating that the network was stable. Conclusions: The current study revealed the network structure and features of functional gastrointestinal diseases symptoms with mental and psychological factors. The key linking nodes provided potential interfering target for controlling functional gastrointestinal symptoms related to mental and psychological factors.

Induced retinal pigment epithelial cells with anti-epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition ability delay retinal degeneration

The hostile microenvironment of the retina in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may trigger epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of grafted retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, thus attenuating the therapeutic outcome. Here, we transformed human dedifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC-RPE) cells into induced RPE (iRPE) cells using a cocktail of four transcription factors (TFs)—CRX, MITF-A, NR2E1, and C-MYC. These critical TFs maintained the epithelial property of iRPE cells by regulating the expression of bmp7, forkhead box f2, lin7a, and pard6b, and conferred resistance to TGF-β-induced EMT in iRPE cells by targeting ppm1a. The iRPE cells with Tet-on system-regulated c-myc expression exhibited EMT resistance and better therapeutic function compared with iPSC-RPE cells in rat AMD model. Our study demonstrates that endowing RPE cells with anti-EMT property avoids the risk of EMT after cells are grafted into the subretinal space, and it may provide a suitable candidate for AMD treatment.

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CRX, MITF-A, NR2E1, and C-MYC transform De-iPSC-RPE cells into iRPE cells

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iRPE cells have resistance to TGF-β-induced EMT

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BMP7, FOXF2, LIN7A, PARD6B, and PPM1A mediate the functions of TFs in iRPE cells

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iRPE cells have better retinal protective function than iPSC-RPE cells

[Randomized controlled clinical trials of a quick screening model for symptomatic bacterascites for guided antibiotic therapy]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of a quick screening model for symptomatic bacterascites for guided antibiotic therapy. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 24 cases of cirrhotic ascites who were newly admitted to Nanchang Ninth Hospital between September 2016 and February 2017. No clear indication for antibiotic treatment was used when the number of polymorphonuclear cells in ascites was <250 cells/mm³. A quick screening model for symptomatic bacterascites was determined by positivity and was randomly divided into the experimental (12 cases) and the control group (12 cases). The experimental group was given antibiotic treatment during the whole process, while the control group did not receive antibiotic treatment. The 10^th day of treatment was the end point of the study. The treatment responses of the two groups were compared. The treatment response results were divided into three categories: complete response, partial response, and no response. The sum of complete and partial response rates was used to determine the response rate. The Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the treatment responses between groups. Results: The baseline conditions of gender, age, screening score, and disease severity were consistent between the two groups (P>0.05). On the 10^th day of treatment, the number of complete responses between the experimental group and the control group was 1 to 0, the number of partial responses was 7 to 2, and the number of non-responses was 4 to 10, Z=-2.467, P=0.014. The response rate was significantly better in the experimental group than in the control group [66.7% (8/12) vs. 16.7% (2/12), P=0.036]. Conclusion: Guided antibiotic therapy is somehow important for the quick screening model for symptomatic bacterascites, and patients with cirrhotic ascites who test positive in this model can benefit from antibiotic therapy.