Effect of ligustrazine nanoparticles on Th1/Th2 balance by TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in rats with postoperative peritoneal adhesion

CpG 684: an effective adjuvant for the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in mice

Aim

This study used CpG 684 as adjuvant of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine to detect a humoral and cellular immune response in mice.

Materials & methods

We used 10 and 20 µg CpG 684 as adjuvants of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine to immunize mice. IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgM binding antibodies were detected in serum by ELISA. The IFN-γ cytokine was detected by ELISPOT.

Results

CpG 684 improved spike-specific IgG and IgM subtype binding antibodies and increased the neutralizing antibody titer against prototype, Delta and Beta strains. CpG 684 also improved cellular immune response.

Conclusion

CpG 684 is an effective adjuvant for inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.

Dissolving microneedle patches-mediated percutaneous delivery of tetramethylpyrazine for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Recently, transdermal treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has received increasing attention due to the advantages of improving patient compliance and avoiding gastrointestinal side effects. However, the stratum corneum (SC) barrier limits the transdermal delivery of most substances. Therefore, we constructed tetramethylpyrazine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches (TMP-DMNPs) and investigated its anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect. The cone-shaped dissolving microneedle patch had complete, neatly arranged needles and great mechanical strength. It could effectively penetrate the stratum corneum when applied to the skin. In vitro transdermal experiment showed that DMNPs could significantly promote the transdermal penetration of TMP compared with TMP-cream. The needles were completely dissolved within 18 min and the applied skin recovered completely within 3 h. The excipients and blank DMNP had good safety and biocompatibility to human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast synovial cells. To compare the therapeutic effects, the animal model was established. The experiments of paw swelling, histopathology and X-ray examination showed that dissolving microneedles significantly alleviated paw condition, reduced the serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, and inhibited synovial tissue damage in AIA rats. These results indicate that the DMNPs we prepared can deliver TMP safely, effectively and conveniently, providing a basis for the percutaneous treatment of RA.

Mechanisms of Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells in Peritoneal Adhesion

A peritoneal adhesion (PA) is a fibrotic tissue connecting the abdominal or visceral organs to the peritoneum. The formation of PAs can induce a variety of clinical diseases. However, there is currently no effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of PAs. Damage to peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) is believed to cause PAs by promoting inflammation, fibrin deposition, and fibrosis formation. In the early stages of PA formation, PMCs undergo mesothelial–mesenchymal transition and have the ability to produce an extracellular matrix. The PMCs may transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and accelerate the formation of PAs. Therefore, the aim of this review was to understand the mechanism of action of PMCs in PAs, and to offer a theoretical foundation for the treatment and prevention of PAs.

miR-146 Relieves Acute Asthma via Decreasing Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Toll-Like Receptor 4 (EGFR/TLR4) and Enhancing Autophagy

There is a close relationship between acute asthma and autophagy. In addition, some studies claim that miR-146 can regulate autophagy and participate in acute asthma. This study further explores the role of miR-146 in acute asthma and underlying mechanism. Twenty BALB/c mice were selected and randomly divided into two groups, the model group and the control group, each with 10 mice. Lung tissues, peripheral blood, alveolar lavage fluid, and primary lymphocytes were separated into miR-146 over expression group (miR-146 mimic), miR-146 low expression group (miR-146 inhibitor), negative control group (NC), blank group, or SBI-0206965 group. Acute asthma was established and the expression levels of miR-146, EGFR, TLR4, LC3, beclin1, and ATG5 in each group was measured. The targeting relationship and correlation between miR-146 and EGFR were also investigated. The expression of IL-4 in model group was increased compared to control arm while the expression of IFN-γ was opposite (P < 0.05). The expressions of miR-146, LC3, beclin1, and the expression of ATG5 were decreased (P < 0.05). The expressions of miR-146 gene and LC3, beclin1, ATG5 mRNA and protein in the miR-146 mimic group were the highest, while the expressions of EGFR and TLR4 were the lowest. The SBI-0206965 group and the miR-146 inhibitor group are opposite to the miR-146 mimic group, the SBI-0206965 group and the miR-146 inhibitor group have significant differences (P < 0.05). miR-146 has a directly targeted EGFR and TLR4, and both showed a negative correlation (rEGFR=−0.397, P = 0.013; rTLR4=−0.402, P = 0.021). During the onset of asthma, miR-146 was abnormally decreased. miR-146 directly targets and negatively regulates EGFR. In addition, miR-146 down-regulates TLR4 gene to increase CD4+ lymphocytes’ aphagocytosis-related markers (LC3, beclin1, ATG5) which further promotes the autophagy process and ultimately alleviates the degree of acute asthma. Its main mechanism is related to the down-regulation of the EGFR/TLR4 through regulated the expression of autophagy. Our study provided a scientific reference for further understanding of acute pathogenesis of asthma.

Natural products of traditional Chinese medicine treat atherosclerosis by regulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a prevalent arteriosclerotic vascular disease that forms a pathological basis for coronary heart disease, stroke, and other diseases. Inflammatory and oxidative stress responses occur throughout the development of AS. Treatment for AS over the past few decades has focused on administering high-intensity statins to reduce blood lipid levels, but these inevitably damage liver and kidney function over the long term. Natural medicines are widely used to prevent and treat AS in China because of their wide range of beneficial effects, low toxicity, and minimal side effects. We searched for relevant literature over the past 5 years in databases such as PubMed using the keywords, “atherosclerosis,” “traditional Chinese medicine,” “natural medicines,” “inflammation,” and “oxidative stress.” We found that the PI3K/AKT, TLR4, JAK/STAT, Nrf2, MAPK, and NF-κB are the most relevant inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in AS. This review summarizes studies of the natural alkaloid, flavonoid, polyphenol, saponin, and quinone pathways through which natural medicines used to treat AS. This study aimed to update and summarize progress in understanding how natural medicines treat AS via inflammatory and oxidative stress-related signaling pathways. We also planned to create an information base for the development of novel drugs for future AS treatment.

Glomerular Expression of S100A8 in Lupus Nephritis: An Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Introduction

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major risk factor of morbidity and mortality. Glomerular injury is associated with different pathogeneses and clinical presentations in LN patients. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood. This study aimed to explore the molecular characteristics and mechanisms of this disease using bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

To characterize glomeruli in LN, microarray datasets GSE113342 and GSE32591 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LN glomeruli and normal glomeruli. Functional enrichment analyses and protein–protein interaction network analyses were then performed. Module analysis was performed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins and Cytoscape software. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to identify the glomerular expression of S100A8 in various International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) class LN patients. The image of each glomerulus was acquired using a digital imaging system, and the green fluorescence intensity was quantified using Image-Pro Plus software.

Results

A total of 13 DEGs, consisting of 12 downregulated genes and one upregulated gene (S100A8), were identified in the microarray datasets. The functions and pathways associated with the DEGs mainly include inflammatory response, innate immune response, neutrophil chemotaxis, leukocyte migration, cell adhesion, cell–cell signaling, and infection. We also found that monocytes and activated natural killer cells were upregulated in both GSE113342 and GSE32591. Glomerular S100A8 staining was significantly enhanced compared to that in the controls, especially in class IV.

Conclusions

The DEGs identified in the present study help us understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of LN. Our results show that glomerular S100A8 expression varies in different pathological types; however, further research is required to confirm the role of S100A8 in LN.

Study on alleviation effect of stachyose on food allergy through TLR2/NF-κB signal pathway in a mouse model

AIMS

To explore the effect on food allergy of stachyose.

MAIN METHODS

The egg allergen ovalbumin (OVA) was used to induce a food allergy model of BALB/c mice, and different doses of stachyose were given in process. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods to detect the levels of IgE, IgG₁, histamine and cytokines. And flow cytometry was used to analyze T_H1/T_H2 balance further. Besides, Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe changes of intestinal morphology. Lastly, Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and western Blot was conducted to explore the possible mechanism.

KEY FINDINGS

Compared with OVA group, serum IgE and IgG₁ levels in the low-dose (1mg/mouse) group and high-dose (5mg/mouse) group of stachyose were significantly reduced (P < 0.05); the level of plasma histamine was also decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and the body temperature were decreased. In all, allergic symptoms were alleviated after stachyose treatment. Furthermore, T_H1/T_H2 balance was improved after stachyose treatment. Lastly, the expression of TLR2 and NF-κB were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both mRNA and protein levels after stachyose treatment.

SIGNIFICANCE

Food allergy was alleviated through improving T_H1/T_H2 balance by activating TLR2/NF-κB signal by stachyose.