Astragaloside IV - mediated endothelial progenitor cell exosomes promote autophagy and inhibit apoptosis in hyperglycemic damaged endothelial cells via miR-21/PTEN axis

INTRODUCTION

As one of the basic components of Astragalus, Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has a protective effect on endothelial injury caused by diabetes. AS-IV stimulated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to secrete exosomes loaded with miR-21. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AS-IV-mediated EPCs exosomal miR-21 (EPC-exos-miR-21) on high glucose (HG) damaged endothelial cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After the isolation of EPCs derived from fetal umbilical cord blood, exosomes of EPCs were obtained by differential centrifugation. The morphology of exosomes was observed by electron microscopy. The particle size distribution of exosomes was detected by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 33 mM glucose to establish an HG injury model. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to characterize the surface markers of primary EPCs and the apoptosis of HUVECs. The gene and protein expression were detected by qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. A dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeting relationship of miR-21 with PTEN.

RESULTS

HG environment led to time- and dose-dependent inhibition and enhancement of autophagy and apoptosis in HUVECs. AS-IV stimulated EPCs to secrete exosomes loaded with miR-21. Exosomes secreted by EPCs pretreated with AS-IV [EPC-exo(ASIV)] promoted autophagy and inhibited apoptosis in HG-impaired HUVECs. PTEN is a target of miR-21. MiR-21 carried by EPC-exo(ASIV) repressed PTEN expression in HG-impaired HUVECs. In contrast, p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-PI3K, cleaved PARP and PARP levels were upregulated. Compared to the HG group, the expression of autophagy regulatory genes (ATG5, beclin1 and LC3) was enhanced in the EPC-exo(ASIV) group and EPC-exo(ASIV)-miR-21 mimic group. In contrast, apoptosis-positive regulatory genes (Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9) were attenuated. Further overexpression of PTEN reversed the expression of these genes.

CONCLUSIONS

AS-IV-mediated EPC-exos-miR-21 could enhance autophagy and depress apoptosis in HG-damaged endothelial cells via the miR-21/PTEN axis.

[Relationship between both quality and duration of sleep and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly people in Shanghai]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between both quality and duration of sleep and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly people in Shanghai. Method: Baseline data was from the '2017 epidemiological survey in Shanghai community residents aged 35 and above on type 2 diabetes'. Restricted cubic splines were used to draw dose-response curves to show the relationship between PSQI score, sleep duration and type 2 diabetes. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the effects of quality and duration of sleep as well as the interaction, on type 2 diabetes. Results: Results showed that the average PSQI score was (4.09±0.10) points, the proportion of poor sleep quality was 12.55% (95%CI: 10.77-14.58) and the average sleep duration was (7.19±0.03) hours. The relationship between PSQI score and diabetes appeared linear, with the relationship between sleep duration and diabetes as U-shaped. After adjusting for confounders, both poor sleep quality (>7 for PSQI score) and short sleep duration (sleep duration <6 hours) significantly increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, with OR=1.17 (95%CI: 1.06-1.30) and 1.20 (95%CI: 1.01-1.41), respectively. From the interaction analysis, data showed that after adjusting for confounders, both sleep duration <6 hours (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.12-1.52) and ≥8 hours (OR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.04-3.07) with poor sleep quality would increase the risks on diabetes. Conclusion: Both poor sleep quality and short sleep duration were associated with the risk of diabetes, while long sleep duration was only associated with the risk of diabetes when accompanied by poor quality of sleep.

[Diagnostic significance of lymph node core needle biopsy for lymphoproliferative disease: a clinicopathologic study of 1 013 cases]

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of lymphoproliferative disease by lymph node core needle biopsy(CNB)and to evaluate the diagnostic significance of CNB for lymphoproliferative disease. Methods: The annual distribution, entity constitute, clinical finding, gross feature, morphologic change, affiliate study and repeat biopsy diagnosis of 1 013 cases of lymph node CNB diagnosed at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2009 to December 2015 were investigated. Results: (1) Proportion of lymph node CNB in total amount of biopsy specimens increased from 0.2% in 2009 to 0.8% in 2015.(2) The study cohort included 471 lymphomas, 12 atypical lymphoid hyperplasia (ALH), 136 suspected lymphomas, 372 benign lesions, and 22 cases of descriptive diagnoses. The most common types were diffuse large B cell lymphoma and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. (3) Majority of patients were adolescents and children younger than 20 years or the elderly older than 60 years. 53.1% CNB tumor specimen consisted of ≥4 tissue cores and 40.5% were >2 cm in length. (4) 104 CNB cases with previous history of excision biopsy was included 45 carcinomas(no metastatic carcinoma was found), 32 lymphomas for treatment observation.1/14 suspicious lymphomas, 1/1 ALH and 3/22 cases benign lesions were diagnosed as lymphoma by repeat biopsy respectively. (5) 217 CNB cases were diagnosed as lymphoma by subsequent CNB (70), or subsequent excision biopsy (147) including 78.5%(73/93) suspected lymphomas, 5/7 ALH and 32.3%(20/62)benign lesions. Conclusions: Lymph node CNB has certain clinical indications, although limited for the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. Suspected lymphomas and ALH diagnosed by CNB should be followed by repeat tissue biopsy. For the benign lesions by CNB it does not rule out additional biopsy to further investigate the lesion.

Determination of huperzine A in formulated products by reversed-phase-liquid chromatography using diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection

A precise and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with diode-array detection for quantifying huperzine A in formulated products was developed and validated. A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC/MS) procedure was devised to confirm the HPLC method. Huperzine A was dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane, chromatographed on a YMCBasic C18 column, and detected at 308 nm. A gradient mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH = 3.5)--methanol was used. Identification was based on retention time, UV spectra and mass spectra by comparison with a commercial standard. The UV peak areas were used for quantitation of huperzine A content. The correlation coefficient (R2) of the calibration curve was 1 over the range 0.8-11.6 microg/ml. Overall recovery of huperzine A was 103.9% +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SD). Relative standard deviations for intra- and interday precision were < 2%.

Determining the site and nature of DNA mutations with the cloned MutY mismatch repair enzyme

The Escherichia coli MutY gene was cloned into a modified pET-11 plasmid which was then transfected into an E.coli HMS174 host for overproduction of the MutY mismatch repair (MR) enzyme. Approximately 30-50% of the total cellular protein in the transformed HMS174 cells was isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside-induced MutY protein, as estimated from the staining intensity on an SDS-PAGE gel following electrophoresis. The MutY protein was purified to near homogeneity by cellulose phosphate ion-exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration chromatography. The purified MutY protein had enzyme activities which cleaved the A of a G/A mismatch at the 3' end of the first phosphodiester bond and then the 5' end of the second phosphodiester bond of the A. It also cut the A of a C/A mismatch, but to a much lesser extent, and the activity was DNA sequence-dependent. The reliability of the assay in determining the site and nature of a DNA mutation was examined in human tumor DNA samples with known or unknown p53 mutations. In the assay, polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments from normal and mutated p53 genes were mixed, denatured and annealed to generate mismatches of G/A or C/A for cleavage by the MutY MR enzyme. The assay results revealed the site and nature of known G:C<-->T:A mutations. In addition, a previously unknown G:C to T:A mutation, which was misread in the sequencing analysis of a tumor DNA preparation, was identified by this assay.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor. Report of 27 cases]

Twenty-seven patients with carotid body tumors were treated operatively from November, 1962 to February, 1990. Tumor enucleation was performed in 2 patients, resection of the external carotid artery along with the tumor in 12, en bloc resection of carotid bifurcation in 12, and revascularization of the carotid artery in 4. Two patients (7.4%) died. Diagnosing and treating carotid body tumor was described with an emphasis on preoperative training in carotid blood flow obstruction (Matas'test), for reducing the incidence of postoperative cerebral complications. Ultrasonic gray scale visualization, carotid angiography, ultrasonic Doppler's and electroencephalogram (EEG) were used observe compensatory cerebral circulation on the affected side, to predict the outcome of carotid ligation, and to decide on when and how the operation should be done. We suggest that intraoperative EEG monitoring should be used when possible.

Nutritional status of the high esophageal cancer risk population in Linxian, People's Republic of China: effects of vitamin supplementation

Plasma levels of nutrients in 196 individuals were assayed as part of a study of the feasibility of a nutrition intervention trial in Linxian, a county in North Central China with exceptionally high rates of esophageal cancer. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses of samples collected in April 1983 showed low (relative to United States standards) base-line levels for retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta- and alpha-carotene. Repeat sampling in August 1983 revealed significantly increased plasma levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol among those who had in the interim received daily supplementation with multivitamin pills containing the Recommended Dietary Allowance levels of those nutrients but not among those without supplementation. Levels of carotenes, which were not included in the pills, tended to increase regardless of supplementation, consistent with seasonal variations in availability of carotenoid-containing foods. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry analyses showed essentially normal levels of copper and zinc in plasma. Neither was affected by vitamin supplementation (the pills did not contain minerals) nor seasonal variation. The data are generally consistent with prior biochemical surveys in indicating marginal or low status of several nutrients in Linxian and in showing that supplementation with vitamins can effectively raise blood nutrient levels.