Search

OBJECTIVE: Synovial inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA), and β4GalT1 has been reported to be involved in the inflammatory process. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of β4GalT1 in the progression of inflammation and analyze the association between β4GalT1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in human OA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Primary cultured FLS isolated from OA synovial tissues were cultured, and the levels of β4GalT1, TNF-α, MMP-3, p/t-ERK, p/t-JNK, and p/t-P38 were analyzed by Western blotting. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the secretion of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in OA-FLS. Immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the co-localization of β4GalT1 and TNF-α or THY1. RT-PCR was used to detect the transfection efficiency of β4GalT1. RESULTS: The expression of β4GalT1 was increased in OA-FLS. β4GalT1 promoted cell invasion, MMP-3 production, and the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. si-TNF-α attenuated the β4GalT1-enhanced cell invasion and inflammatory factor secretion in OA-FLS. Furthermore, β4GalT1 increased autocrine TNF-α signaling in OA-FLS. β4GalT1 knockdown successfully decreased autocrine TNF-α activity, while β4GalT1 overexpression increased autocrine TNF-α activity in OA-FLS. Moreover, β4GalT1 enhanced the ERK, JNK, and P38 MAPK signaling pathways through the induction of autocrine TNF-α signaling in OA-FLS. CONCLUSIONS: β4GalT1 may promote the inflammatory progression of OA-FLS by enhancing autocrine TNF-α signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd modified BiOBr flower-like microspheres have been synthesised via a facile one-pot ethylene glycol assisted solvothermal process in the presence of reactable ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C16mim]Br). The as prepared samples were characterised by multiple techniques to investigate the structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties. Ionic liquid [C16mim]Br was introduced to improve the dispersity of Pd nanoparticles, so as to construct the tight junctions between Pd nanoparticles and BiOBr. The Pd nanoparticles could distribute uniformly on the surface of BiOBr. The photocatalytic abilities of the as prepared photocatalysts were evaluated using rhodamine B (RhB) and ciprofloxacin as target pollutants. After the introduction of Pd, the photocatalytic activities of Pd/BiOBr composites have been enhanced under visible light irradiation. The 0·5 wt-% Pd/BiOBr possessed the optimal photocatalytic activity, which was about 6·6 times higher than pure BiOBr for the degradation of RhB. The results of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated the enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the introduction of Pd, which improves the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electrons and holes. The trapping experiments of radicals indicated that hole was the main reactive species for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed that the Pd nanoparticles promote charge transfer, and inhibit the recombination probability of the photogenerated electrons and holes, which is beneficial for improving the photocatalytic performance of BiOBr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Pd/BiOCl catalysts have been prepared via a facile ethylene glycol (EG)-assisted solvothermal process in the presence of reactable ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C16mim]Cl). The as prepared products were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transient photocurrent response analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and photoluminescence spectroscopy. During the reaction process, [C16mim]Cl acted not only as Cl source but also as solvent, template and dispersing agent for the fabrication of Pd/BiOCl flower-like microspheres structures. The existence of ionic liquid was beneficial to generate small scale and steady Pd nanoparticles. Moreover, the photocatalytic activities of the Pd/BiOCl composite samples were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B. The effects of structure and morphology made by the introduction of Pd have been studied. A possible mechanism of Pd on the enhancement of visible light performance was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]