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Background and Aims Survivors of acute coronary syndromes face an elevated risk of recurrent atherosclerosis-related vascular events despite advanced medical treatments. The underlying causes remain unclear. This study aims to investigate whether myocardial infarction (MI)-induced trained immunity in monocytes could sustain proatherogenic traits and expedite atherosclerosis. Methods Apolipoprotein-E deficient (ApoE−/−) mice and adoptive bone marrow transfer chimeric mice underwent MI or myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion (IR). A subsequent 12-week high-fat diet (HFD) regimen was implemented to elucidate the mechanism behind monocyte trained immunity. In addition, classical monocytes were analysed by flow cytometry in the blood of enrolled patients. Results In MI and IR mice, blood monocytes and bone marrow-derived macrophages exhibited elevated spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), lysine methyltransferase 5A (KMT5A), and CCHC-type zinc finger nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) expression upon exposure to a HFD or oxidized LDL (oxLDL) stimulation. MI-induced trained immunity was transmissible by transplantation of bone marrow to accelerate atherosclerosis in naive recipients. KMT5A specifically recruited monomethylation of Lys20 of histone H4 (H4K20me) to the gene body of SYK and synergistically transactivated SYK with CNBP. In vivo small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibition of KMT5A or CNBP potentially slowed post-MI atherosclerosis. Sympathetic denervation with 6-hydroxydopamine reduced atherosclerosis and inflammation after MI. Classical monocytes from ST-elevation MI (STEMI) patients with advanced coronary lesions expressed higher SYK and KMT5A gene levels. Conclusions The findings underscore the crucial role of monocyte trained immunity in accelerated atherosclerosis after MI, implying that SYK in blood classical monocytes may serve as a predictive factor for the progression of atherosclerosis in STEMI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive and rapid method had been developed for the simultaneous determination of ochratoxin A (OTA)and zearalenone (ZEN)in corn, wheat and rice by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After extraction with acetonitrile and water (80/20, volume ratio)for 30 min under 30 °C and 200 r/min in a rotary shaker, the cereal samples were purified using Oasis PRiME HLB cartridge. The limits of detection and quantification of the mycotoxins were determined under the optimum HPLC conditions at 3.7 µg/kg and 12.25 µg/kg for ZEN and 0.11 µg/kg and 0.38 µg/kg for OTA, respectively. High correlation coefficients (R² > 0.99) were obtained in the range of 10 µg/kg-2 000 µg/kg for ZEN and 0.2 µg/kg-200 µg/kg for OTA. The average recoveries ranged from 83.0 % to 101.3 % for different concentrations of ZEN and OTA in spiked samples along with good intra-day (3.12 %-7.03 %)and inter-day (3.57 %-9.3 %)precision. The method proposed is suitable for the simultaneous determination of ZEN and OTA and can be performed for the mycotoxin analysis in corn, wheat and rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study wherein the exact solutions for fully three-dimensional electrostatic quantities due to a free charge in a nanoscale tip/base junction, such as the scanning-tunneling microscope, are given for the problem as modeled in the prolate-spheroidal coordinate system. Methods; Results; Discussion.

Background: Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Proprotein convertase subtilisin / Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) degrades hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) to regulate lipid metabolism. It is unclear if PCSK9 plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases.Objective: This study was designed to determine whether PCSK9 is crucial between hyperlipidemia and Alzheimer's disease. The interrelationship between PCSK9 and neuronal apoptosis was explored in PC12 cells in response to treatment with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL).Methods: Cultured PC12 cells were serum-starved and incubated with different concentrations of oxLDL for 24 h. Intracytoplasmic lipid droplets were observed by oil red O staining. Morphological assessment of apoptotic cells was performed using Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry analysis. The expression of mRNA and protein was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses, respectively. Transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) into PC12 cells was conducted using HiperFect Transfection Reagent. Concentrations of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.Results: Intracellular lipid content, the number of apoptotic cells, and PCSK9 expression were increased in PC12 cells after oxLDL treatment. Transfection with PCSK9 siRNA reduced the oxLDL-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells. We further confirmed the involvement of Bcl-2/Bax-Caspase (9, 3) signaling pathway in the regulation of PC12 cells apoptosis.β-Secretase 1, another target gene of PCSK9, was downregulated in PC12 cells in response to oxLDL treatment. Aβ40 and Aβ42 contents were also decreased.Conclusion: PCSK9 promotes oxLDL-induced PC12 cell apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax-Caspase 9/3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] In order to reveal the development mechanism of primitive germ cells(PGCs) and its molecular regulation mechanism, the present experiment was conducted to investigate the relationship between changes and development characteristics of three histone variants viz., macro H2A, H2A.Z and H2A.X in mouse male germ cell. [Method] By taking kidney and genital ridge of C57BL/6j mouse embryos as experimental materials, the distributions ofmacroH2A, H2A.Z and H2A variants in single cell and tissue paraffin section with PGCs were detected during different development stages viz., 11.5dpc, 12.5dpc and 13.5dpc by using immunofluorescence dyeing technique. [ResultjAs for macro H2A variant, it distributed in cytoplasm of 11.5dpc embryo cell mainly, and its expression quantity increased at 12.5dpc stage, while it disappeared in 13.5dpc cell after embryo went into genital ridge. As for H2A.X variant, it distributed in PGCs cytoplasm and nucleus during 11.5dpc and 12.5dpc stages, and presented aggregated distribution in PGCs cytoplasm at 13.5dpc stage. As for H2A.Z variant, it distributed in PGCs cytoplasm and nucleus at 11.5dpc stage, and its expression quantity increased in PGCs nucleus at 12.5dpc and 13.5dpc stages. [Conclusion] With migration , proliferation and differentiation of PGCs, the distribution and expression of three histone H2A variant viz., macroH2A, H2A.Z and H2A.X are changing, that is, the distribution characteristics of H2A variants are related to sex differentiation and cell mitosis stopping of PGCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills(MLST) on posterior limb muscle swelling caused by femoral fracture(SCFF) through network pharmacology and animal experiments. The plasma components of MLST were analyzed by LC-MS, and the target and signal pathway of SCFF were predicted by network pharmacology and verified by molecular docking. SCFF model rats were established through animal experiments, and different doses of MLST were administered to detect the degree of limb swelling. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue, and interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(interleukin-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of relevant signaling pathways was measured by Western blot. Network pharmacological results showed that MLST and SCFF had a total of 153 disease targets, and the key targets were IL-6, TNF, etc., involving mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathway, etc. The binding energies of the main components and key targets were lower than-7.0 kcal·mol~(-1), indicating that the network analysis results were reliable. The results of animal experiments showed that MLST could reduce the swelling degree and pathological damage of the posterior limb muscles of SCFF rats compared with the model group. ELISA results showed that MLST could reduce the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the serum of SCFF rats. Western blot results showed that MLST can reduce the expression of p-AKT, p-PI3K, p-NF-κB, p-p38 MAPK, and p-ERK in SCFF rats. MLST may reduce the content of inflammatory factors in serum by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT and MAPK-related signaling pathway protein and improving posterior limb muscle SCFF in rats.

This study aims to explore the effect of Jingfang Mixture on the protein expression of urticaria in mice and explain the mechanism of Jingfang Mixture in the treatment of urticaria. Twenty-seven male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a Jingfang Mixture group according to body weight. Except for the normal group, mice in the model group and the Jingfang Mixture group were injected with the mixture of ovalbumin and Al(OH)_3 gel for the first immunization, and the second immunization was performed on the 10 th day to induce the urticaria model. Mice in the Jingfang Mixture group started to be administered on the 6 th day after the initial immunization, and was administered continuously for 21 days. The normal group and the model group were replaced with the same amount of purified water. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, an appropriate amount of skin was taken, and label-free quantitative proteomics technology was used to detect the differences in protein expression in skin tissue. The signaling pathways involved in the differential proteins was further analyzed. The results of proteomics indicated that seventy-six proteins were involved in the intervention of Jingfang Mixture on mice with urticaria, and the differential proteins were mainly enriched in biological process(BP), molecular function(MF), and cellular component(CC). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) analysis showed that the signaling pathways regulated by Jingfang Mixture mainly involved carbon metabolism, metabolic pathways, glucagon signaling pathway, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) signaling pathway, purine metabolism, adherens junction, calcium signaling pathway, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential(TRP) channels, which were involved in skin tissue energy metabolism and immune regulation. The findings of this study showed that the protective effect of Jingfang Mixture on mice with urticaria was closely related to the regulation of immune disorders, and the regulatory effect on immune system may be achieved through the regulation of energy metabolism by Jingfang Mixture.

This study aims to clarify the effect of Jingfang Mixture on the treatment of chronic urticarial and its mechanism, and investigate the regulatory effect of chronic urticaria on the metabolic disorder of endogenous metabolites in the blood. The mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, and Jingfang Mixture group, and modeling and administration continued for 21 d. The changes in endogenous small molecules in rat serum were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-Q Exactive-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry(UHPLC-ESI-QE-Orbitrap-MS) metabolomics technology. The change trend of endogenous metabolites in rat serum was analyzed to find potential biomarkers. The results showed that Jingfang Mixture regulate 16 biomarkers, mainly including taurine, glutamate, succinic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid. Metabolic pathway analysis was carried out by MetaboAnalyst, and P<0.01 was taken as the potential key metabolic pathway. Ten metabolic pathways were closely related to the treatment of chronic urticarial by Jingfang Mixture, mainly involved in the glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism, and butyric acid metabolism. Glutamate metabolism and butyric acid metabolism involved more metabolic pathways than others. Therefore, it was speculated that Jingfang Mixture had a balanced regulating effect on the related metabolic pathways which caused the serum disorder in the rats with urticaria, and tended to regulate the metabolic differential to the normal level in the rats with urticaria. This paper provides references for studying the mechanism of Jingfang Mixture from the perspective of endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways in vivo. At the same time, the endogenous substances explored in this paper can be used as important biomarkers for the prevention of urticaria.

Shouhui Tongbian Capsules was used to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism on slow transit constipation model mice induced by loperamide hydrochloride. In the experiment, loperamide hydrochloride-induced ICR mice were used as the model of slow transit constipation. Fifty ICR mice were divided into the blank group, model group and high, medium and low dose groups of Shouhui Tongbian Capsules extract(100, 200 and 400 mg·kg~(-1)). The model group and the administration groups were then modeled using loperamide hydrochloride intragastrically to obtain slow transit constipation. After successful modeling, high, medium and low doses of drugs were given to each drug group by intragastric administration. After 14 days of administration, the first defecation time, 6 h defecation grain number, 6 h defecation wet weight and dry weight, black feces discharged within 6 h and the fecal water content were measured. Intestinal tissues were taken for c-Kit and SCF immunohistochemical sections to detect the expression of c-Kit and SCF in the blank group, model group and high, medium and low dose groups of the medicinal extract of Shouhui Tongbian Capsules. The tissue changes in the intestinal wall of mice were detected by HE staining. At the same time, partial intestinal tissues were taken to test the activity of ATP synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in intestinal tissues of mice. RESULTS:: showed that Shouhui Tongbian Capsules effectively improved the symptoms of slow transit constipation in ICR mice and promoted intestinal movement. Shouhui Tongbian Capsules obviously shortened the time of discharging black stool for the first time, improved the intestinal propulsion rate, increased the water content and amount of feces, and improved the constipation symptoms. Mechanism study revealed that Shouhui Tongbian Capsules increased ATP synthase activity and mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in intestinal tissue, and up-regulated c-Kit/SCF signaling pathway to promote interstitial Cajal cells proliferation, intestinal nerve transmission, intestinal motility and transport capacity.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a lipid regulatory gene involved in cell apoptosis. However, the function and mechanism of PCSK9 in neuronal apoptosis following hyperlipidemia remains to be elucidated. The present study established a hyperlipidemic mouse model by feeding a high‑fat diet (HFD) to 6‑week‑old apoE(‑/‑) mice. Plasma lipid levels, hippocampal lipid accumulation, hippocampal histology, and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis were all monitored for changes. The expression levels of PCSK9, β‑secretase 1 (BACE1), B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax), and caspase‑3 in hippocampal CA3 and CA1 neurons were also measured. Results demonstrated that a HFD increased the lipid accumulation in the CA3 hippocampus and the levels of plasma lipids, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein, and high‑density lipoprotein. In addition, CA3 neurons in the HFD group indicated apparent injuries and increased neuronal apoptosis, which are associated with the expression of Bcl‑2, Bax, and caspase‑3. A HFD also increased the expression levels of PCSK9 and BACE1. BACE1 promotes cleavage of amyloid precursor proteins to generate β‑amyloid peptide (Aβ), which induces neuronal apoptosis. Protein levels of Aβ are associated with the observation of amyloid plaques in the hippocampus of the HFD group. The results suggest that hyperlipidemia regulates neuronal apoptosis by increasing PCSK9 and BACE1 expression. Overall, the current study may elucidate the role of lipid metabolism disorder in AD pathogenesis.

This study investigated the effect of arctigenin (Arc) on the cell activation, cytokines expression, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes. Mouse lymphocytes were prepared from lymph node and treated with Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)/Ionimycin (Ion) and/or Arc. CD69, CD25, cytokines, proliferation and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, at concentrations of less than 1.00 micromol x L(-1), Arc expressed non-obvious cell damage to cultured lymphocytes, however, it could significantly down-regulate the expression of CD69 and CD25, as well as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 on PMA/Ion stimulated lymphocytes. At the same time, Arc could also inhibit the proliferation of PMA/Ion-activated lymphocytes and exhibited lymphocyte G 0/G1 phase cycle arrest. These results suggest that Arc possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects that may be mediated through the regulation of cell activation, cytokines expression and cell proliferation.

Neuronal apoptosis is crucial in neurodegenerative diseases. However, a lower apoptotic rate of nerve cells is detected in the brain compared to that in other organs in neurodegenerative patients or in animal models, suggesting that neuronal apoptosis induced by any type of risk factors is intricately regulated. Human and animal studies demonstrated that a high concentration of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in the brain, which is associated with hyperlipidemia, is one of the key apoptosis inducers in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism underlying the ox-LDL-mediated regulation of neuronal apoptosis has not been fully elucidated. Recently, we investigated proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a striking gene involved in lipid metabolism that exhibits a positive correlation with macrophage and endothelial cell apoptosis induced by ox-LDL. Moreover, PCSK9 may degrade β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the key enzyme cleaving amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate amyloid β peptide (Aβ). Aβ is another key apoptosis inducer in neurodegenerative diseases. Our findings indicated that PCSK9 may be upregulated by the high levels of ox-LDL in the brain associated with hyperlipidemia and promote neuronal apoptosis through the NF-κB-B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/Bax-caspase 9-caspase 3 signaling pathways. Moreover, increased PCSK9 levels may inhibit the APP/Aβ metabolic pathway and reduce Aβ generation by degrading BACE1, thereby decreasing Aβ-induced neuronal apoptosis. The dual regulation mechanism of PCSK9 on apoptosis maintains neuronal apoptosis induced by risk factors at low levels.