Expression of recombinant surfactant protein SFTA3 in the human kidney cell line HEK 293T

miRn-3 inhibits cutaneous wound healing by targeting gelsolin in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The microRNA novel-3 (miRn-3) is a 23-nt small endogenous noncoding RNA of unknown function. To enrich our knowledge of the regulatory function of miRn-3 in the process of wound healing, the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus was used as a target model in this study. Gelsolin (AjGSN), a potential target gene of miRn-3, was cloned and characterized, and the interaction between miRn-3 and AjGSN was verified. The function of the miRn-3/AjGSN axis in regulating cutaneous wound healing was explored in the sea cucumber A. japonicus. The results showed that 1) the full-length cDNA of AjGSN was 2935 bp, with a high level of sequence conservation across the echinoderms; 2) miRn-3 could bind to the 3'UTR of AjGSN and negatively regulate the expression of AjGSN; 3) overexpression of miRn-3 and inhibition of the expression of AjGSN suppressed cutaneous wound healing in A. japonicus. In general, all observations of this study suggest that miRn-3 plays an important role in the early process of cutaneous wound healing by negatively targeting AjGSN, and that it may be a potential biomarker in wound healing.

Altered Surfactant Protein Expression in Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

PURPOSE

To investigate the presence and distribution patterns of 6 surfactant proteins in lacrimal drainage tissues of patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction.

METHODS

The presence and distribution of surfactant proteins (SP)-G and SP-H was first assessed in normal cadaveric lacrimal systems. The study was then performed in 10 samples of lacrimal sac and the respective NLDs obtained from patients suffering from primary acquired NLD obstruction who underwent either a dacryocystorhinostomy or a dacryocystectomy. The lacrimal sac samples were further divided into fundus and body, soon after their removal. Immunohistochemical labeling was performed for assessing the presence and distribution of SPs: SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D, SP-G/SFTA2, and SP-H/SFTA3. The results were then scored as positive or negative and the distribution pattern, if any, within the lacrimal sac and NLDs was assessed. Human lung tissues were used as controls.

RESULTS

SP-H was demonstrated in the lining epithelia of the normal lacrimal drainage systems, whereas SP-G was uniformly negative. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed wide variations in the staining patterns of different SPs in different regions of the lacrimal sac and the NLD. SP-D and SP-G revealed uniformly negative immunoreactivity. Variable staining patterns were also noted between the superficial and basal layers of the lining epithelia. However, the goblet cells and intraepithelial mucous glands did not express any of the SPs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a proof of principle for the presence of SP-H and absence of SP-G in the normal lacrimal drainage systems. In cases of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction, there were alterations or loss of SP expression in the lining epithelia of the lacrimal sac and NLDs, reflecting their possible role in the etiopathogenesis of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.In cases of primary-acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the expression of multiple surfactant proteins was either deranged or lost in the lining epithelium of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal ducts.