Chronological Gene Expression of Human Gingival Fibroblasts with Low Reactive Level Laser (LLL) Irradiation

Introducing Matrix Metalloproteinases as Crucial Targets for Intra-articular Laser Therapy in Patients with Synovial Fluid of Knee Osteoarthritis

Background

Many elder people have knee osteoarthritis (OA). The patients are faced with pain and disability in movement. Given the challenging lifestyle of the patients, finding an efficient therapy approach is necessary. Since low-level laser therapy applies to the treatment of many diseases, it seems it can be a suitable option for the treatment of knee OA. The present study aimed to evaluate the molecular mechanism of laser therapy on knee OA via a protein expression change study.

Methods

The present study examines the gene expression profile of patients with OA in the knee using bioinformatics. The protein expression change profile of synovial fluid of knee OA patients is extracted from the literature and is analyzed based on the rate of expression and interactions between the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The results are compared with the DEPs of similar tissue of the treated knee OA patients (from published documents) after laser therapy.

Results

Apolipoprotein B (APOB) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) were determined as the hub bottlenecks of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of synovial fluid of knee OA patients. MMP2, complement 5, transthyretin, and apolipoprotein A-1 from laser-treated patients were related to the PPI network of knee OA patients. The reduction of Interleukin-6 activity was highlighted as a critical event as a function of laser on the human body.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was noted that the main phenomenon associated with laser therapy-induced improvement in the condition of knee OA patients is the downregulation of MMP2.

Exosomal microRNAs from Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Novel Therapeutic Effect in Wound Healing

BACKGROUND

Wound healing is a complicated biological process that leads to the regeneration of damaged skin tissue. Determining the methods to promote wound healing has become a hot topic in medical cosmetology and tissue repair research. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a group of stem cells with the potential of self-renewal and multi-differentiation. MSCs transplantation has a broad application prospect in wound healing therapy. Many studies have demonstrated that the therapeutic capacity of MSCs is mainly mediated by paracrine actions. Exosomes (EXOs), which are nanosized vesicles carrying a variety of nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, are an important component of paracrine secretion. It has been demonstrated that exosomal microRNAs (EXO-miRNAs) play a key role in the function of exosomes.

METHODS

In this review, we focus on current research on miRNAs from MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-EXO miRNAs) in terms of sorting, releasing and function and their effects on inflammation regulation, epidermal cell function, fibroblast function, and extracellular matrix formation. At last, we discuss the current attempts to improve the treatment of MSC-EXO-miRNAs.

RESULTS

Many studies have demonstrated that MSC-EXO miRNAs play a key role in promoting wound healing. They have been shown to regulate inflammation response, enhance epidermal cell proliferation and migration, stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, and regulate extracellular matrix formation. Besides, there have been a number of strategies developed to promote MSC-EXO and MSC-EXO miRNAs for wound healing treatment.

CONCLUSION

Utilizing the association of exosomes from MSCs with miRNAs may be a promising strategy to promote trauma healing. MSC-EXO miRNAs may provide a new approach to promote wound healing and improve the quality of life for patients with skin injuries.

A network pharmacology approach to identify the mechanisms and molecular targets of curcumin against Alzheimer disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease, which may lead to severe memory loss and other cognitive disorders. However, few effective drugs are available in the clinic at present. Curcumin, a major ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, Curcuma Longa, has various pharmacological activities. Therefore, exploring clinical drugs based on the inhibition of AD pathological features is imperative.

METHODS

First, we utilized the HERB database and Swisstarget Prediction database to get the related targets of curcumin and intersected with the AD targets. The intersection targets were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network and performed gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses. Further, we obtained targets of curcumin against AD-related tau and aβ pathology via the AlzData database. These targets were applied to perform GEO and receiver operating characteristic analyses. Finally, the reliability of the core targets was evaluated using molecular docking technology.

RESULTS

We identified 49 targets of curcumin against AD, and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that the Alzheimer disease pathway (has05010) was significantly enriched. Even more, we obtained 16 targets of curcumin-related Aβ and tau pathology. Among these targets, 8 targets involved the Alzheimer disease pathway and the biological process analyses showed that positive regulation of cytokine production (GO:0001819) was significantly enriched. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that HMOX1, CSF1R, NFKB1, GSK3B, BACE1, AR, or PTGS1 expression was significantly different compared to the control group in the AD patients. Finally, molecular docking studies suggested these genes have a good binding force with curcumin.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we identified curcumin exerted the effect of treating AD by regulating multitargets and multichannels through the method of network pharmacology.

The optical research progress of nanophosphors composed of transition elements in the fourth period of near-infrared windows I and II for deep-tissue theranostics

Research in the field of nano-optics is advancing by leaps and bounds, among which near-infrared (NIR) light optics have attracted much attention. NIR light has a longer wavelength than visible light, such that it can avoid shielding caused by biological tissues. This advantage has driven its importance and practicality in human treatment applications and has attracted significant attention from researchers in academia and industry. In the broad spectrum of infrared light wavelengths, the most noticeable ones are the NIR biological window I of 700-900 nm and window II of 1000-1700 nm. Luminescent materials can effectively cover the NIR biological window with different doping strategies. These doped elements are mostly transition elements with multielectron orbitals. Several nanomaterials based on narrow-spectrum lanthanides have been developed to correspond to biological applications of different wavelengths. However, this review explicitly introduces the absorption and reflection/luminescence interactions between NIR light and biological tissues independently. Unlike the adjustment of the wavelength of the lanthanide series, this review analyzes the NIR optical properties of the fourth-period element ions in transition elements (such as Cr³⁺ and Ni²⁺). These elements have a broadband wavelength of NIR light emission and higher quantum efficiency, corresponding to the absorption and emission spectrum and photobiological absorption of different NIR windows for therapeutic diagnosis. Finally, this review lists and explores other broadband NIR phosphors and has tried to discover the possibility of non-invasive precision medicine in the future.

Roles of MicroRNA-21 in Skin Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21), one of the early mammalian miRNAs identified, has been detected to be upregulated in multiple biological processes. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the potential values of miR-21 in cutaneous damage and skin wound healing, but lack of a review article to summarize the current evidence on this issue. Based on this review, relevant studies demonstrated that miR-21 played an essential role in wound healing by constituting a complex network with its targeted genes (i.e., PTEN, RECK. SPRY1/2, NF-κB, and TIMP3) and the cascaded signaling pathways (i.e., MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin/MMP-7, and TGF-β/Smad7-Smad2/3). The treatment effectiveness developed by miR-21 might be associated with the promotion of the fibroblast differentiation, the improvement of angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, enhancement of the collagen synthesis, and the re-epithelialization of the wound. Currently, miRNA nanocarrier systems have been developed, supporting the feasibility clinical feasibility of such miR-21-based therapy. After further investigations, miR-21 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for wound healing.