Ultrashortwave radiation promotes the recovery of spinal cord injury by inhibiting inflammation via suppression of the MK2/TNF‑α pathway

Revealing Potential Spinal Cord Injury Biomarkers and Immune Cell Infiltration Characteristics in Mice

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, no effective SCI treatment exists. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers and characterize the properties of immune cell infiltration during this pathological event. To eliminate batch effects, we concurrently analyzed two mouse SCI datasets (GSE5296, GSE47681) from the GEO database. First, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using linear models for microarray data (LIMMA) and performed functional enrichment studies on those DEGs. Next, we employed bioinformatics and machine-learning methods to identify and define the characteristic genes of SCI. Finally, we validated them using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. Additionally, this study assessed the inflammatory status of SCI by identifying cell types using CIBERSORT. Furthermore, we investigated the link between key markers and infiltrating immune cells. In total, we identified 561 robust DEGs. We identified Rab20 and Klf6 as SCI-specific biomarkers and demonstrated their significance using qRT-PCR in the mouse model. According to the examination of immune cell infiltration, M0, M1, and M2 macrophages, along with naive CD8, dendritic cell-activated, and CD4 Follicular T cells may have a role in the progression of SCI. Therefore, Rab20 and Klf6 could be accessible targets for diagnosing and treating SCI. Moreover, as previously stated, immune cell infiltration may significantly impact the development and progression of SCI.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Ultra-Short Wave Diathermy on LPS-Induced Rat Lung Injury

We studied the lung-protective effect and mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ultra-short-wave diathermy (USWD) in a rat model of LPS-induced acute lung injury. Histological examination of the lung tissues was performed and the levels of oxidative stress-related factors and inflammatory cytokines were measured. It was shown that the lung injury score, the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), oxidative stress-related factors malondialdehyde and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and inflammatory cytokines were increased after LPS administration, while USWD treatment reduced these parameters. In addition, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase 4 were decreased in rats with LPS-induced acute lung injury, while USWD therapy up-regulated the expression of these enzymes. Thus, USWD could antagonize lung injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats with acute lung injury. USWD can be a promising adjunctive treatment to counter oxidative stress and inflammation and a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of patients with this pathology.