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Emerging evidence reveal that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participates in the epigenetic regulation of pathophysiological process. However, the deepgoing role of lncRNAs on meningioma is still unclear. In present study, we investigate the roles of lncRNA LINC00460 in meningeoma tissue and uncover its molecular mechanism. Results revealed that LINC00460 expression level was significantly up-regulated in meningeoma tissues and malignant meningeoma cell lines (IOMM-Lee, CH157-MN). Mechanically, loss-of-function assays showed that LINC00460 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation ability, increased the apoptosis and decreased the proteins (MMP-2, MMP-9, ZEB1) expression. Bioinformatics tools predicted that miR-539 both targeted with the 3'-UTR of LINC00460 and MMP-9 mRNA, which was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and western blot analysis. In summary, our study reveals that LINC00460 promotes MMP-9 expression through targeting miR-539, acting as an oncogenic RNA in the meningeoma malignancy and accelerating the proliferation and metastasis of meningeoma., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Propofol is an intravenous sedative hypnotic agent of which the growth-inhibitory effect has been reported on various cancers. However, the roles of propofol in endometrial cancer (EC) remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of propofol on EC in vitro and in vivo. Different concentrations of propofol were used to treat Ishikawa cells. Colony number, cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were analyzed by colony formation, MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. In addition, the pcDNA3.1-Sox4 and Sox4 siRNA plasmids were transfected into Ishikawa cells to explore the relationship between propofol and Sox4 in EC cell proliferation. Tumor weight in vivo was measured by xenograft tumor model assay. Protein levels of cell cycle-related factors, apoptosis-related factors, matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9), matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were examined by western blot. Results showed that propofol significantly decreased colony numbers, inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in Ishikawa cells. Moreover, propofol reduced the expression of Sox4 in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, propofol significantly suppressed the proportions of Ki67+ cells, but Sox4 overexpression reversed the results. Furthermore, in vivo assay results showed that propofol inhibited tumor growth; however, the inhibitory effect was abolished by Sox4 overexpression. Moreover, propofol inhibited Sox4 expression via inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. Our study demonstrated that propofol inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis by regulation of Sox4 in EC cells. These findings might indicate a novel treatment strategy for EC.

Mechanical ventilation is extensively used to treat patients with lung injury but may result in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The present study investigated the protective effect of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) on VILI. Adult male rats were subjected to sham, ventilation + saline, or ventilation + AAT treatment and lung injuries were evaluated. Peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained to assess systemic and local inflammatory responses, respectively. Mechanical ventilation resulted in lung injury, as evidenced by histological abnormalities as well as elevations in PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio, the wet-to-dry weight ratio, and the BALF level of proteins. The intravenous administration of AAT significantly improved these parameters of lung function, suggesting a protective role of AAT in VILI. Mechanistically, ventilator-induced inflammation was effectively reduced by AAT, as evidenced by decreases in BALF neutrophil counts, BALF cytokines, and serum adhesion factors. In contrast, anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 in BALF was increased in response to AAT. AAT treatment also inhibited the expression of nuclear factor-κB, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 while promoting Bcl-2 expression in ventilator-injured lung tissues. AAT treatment can ameliorate VILI by inhibiting inflammatory mediator production and apoptosis. Impact statement Mechanical ventilation has been commonly used to treat patients with lung injury but may result in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Few effective treatment options are currently available to reduce VILI. Alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) is an inhibitor of serine protease with anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties, suggesting a possible role in attenuating lung injury. The present study demonstrates that AAT inhibits the development of VILI by modulating inflammation- and apoptosis-related protein expression. Therefore, AAT may be a novel therapeutic agent for acute respiratory distress syndrome patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: To explore the effects of calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR) on apoptosis in rat hippocampus during hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)., Methods: After rat hippocampus was isolated, the cultures were subjected to H/R, and meanwhile gadolinium chloride (GdCl3, agonist of CaSR) and NPS 2390 (antagonists of CaSR) were added to reperfusion solution. The number of hippocampal neuron, cell viability and apoptosis rate were determined by inverted microscope, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometer (FCM), respectively. Besides, caspase-3, Bax, cytochrome C (Cyt-c), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2, pERK1/2, P38 and pP38 were analyzed by Western blotting., Results: The hippocampal neuron number and cell viability were significantly decreased during H/R, and were further significantly reduced when co-treatment with CaSR agonist GdCl3. But the effects of GdCl3 were attenuated by NPS-2390. Whereas, apoptosis rate, the expression level of caspase-3, Bax and Cyt-c were all significantly increased under H/R condition, and was further significantly increased by GdCl3, but were reversed by NPS-2390 (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences in expression of ERK1/2, P38 and pP38 among different groups. However, the expression of pERK1/2 was significantly increased during H/R, but was significantly reduced by NPS 2390 (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The results suggest that CaSR might play significant roles in the induction of hippocampus apoptosis in rat during H/R through phosphorylation of ERK1/2.

Apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms of neuronal injury during ischemic-reperfusion (I/R). Mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) is a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial fission protein Drp1. The previous experiments support that mdivi-1 reduce I/R injury in the heart model of rat, but the neuroprotective effect of the mdivi-1 is not yet clearly defined at the cellular levels in brain. In our present study, we estimated a brain model of I/R injury in vitro by subjecting oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation to the cultured rat primary hippocampal cells, which aimed to find the neuroprotective mechanism of mdivi-1. The cell was pretreated with mdivi-1 for 40 minutes and then ischemia for 6 hours followed by reperfusion for 20 hours. The redox state, cell apoptosis, and expression of Drp1, Bcl-2, Bax, and cytochrome C proteins were measured. The data showed that administration of mdivi-1 at the doses of 50 μM significantly reduced oxidative stress, attenuated cell apoptosis, upregulated Bcl-2 expression, and downregulated Drp1, Bax, and cytochrome C expression. The results suggested that mdivi-1 protected brain from OGD reperfusion injury, which through suppressing the ROS initiated mitochondrial pathway., (Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is reported that ischemic penumbra is a dynamic process, in which irreversible necrosis in the center of ischemia propagates to the neighboring tissue over time. Recent research has indicated that mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels (mitoKATP) opener diazoxide plays an important role in cerebral protection; however, the role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in the effect of diazoxide on penumbra and infarct core remains unclear., Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the Sham group, the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, the diazoxide and ischemia-reperfusion (Dzx + I/R) group, the diazoxide and spermine and ischemia-reperfusion (Dzx + Sper + I/R) group, and the spermine and ischemia-reperfusion (Sper + I/R) group. The animals were exposed to 24-hour reperfusion after 2-hour ischemia. Diazoxide and spermine were administrated at 30 minutes or 10 minutes before the beginning of ischemia or reperfusion, respectively. After 24-hour reperfusion, animals were given neurologic performance tests and when overdosed with general anesthesia their brains were excised for infarct volume, apoptosis, and immunohistochemical., Results: Rats in the Dzx + I/R group displayed improved neurologic deficits, decreased infarct volume in cortex but not in subcortex, and apoptosis (evidenced by decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end lebeling-positive percentage and the immunohistochemistry of cytochrome c) in cortex caused by ischemia/reperfusion. Rats in the Dzx + Sper + I/R group displayed worse neurologic deficits, larger infarct volume in cortex but not in subcortex, and more apoptosis both in penumbra and infarct core of cortex than those in the Dzx + I/R group., Conclusions: Results in our study suggested that diazoxide improved neurologic deficits, decreased infarct volume in cortex but not in subcortex, and apoptosis in cortex against ischemia/reperfusion injury is mediated by spermine., (Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) is a derivative of quinazolinone that acts as a selective inhibitor of a mitochondrial fission protein Drp1. A previous study demonstrated that as a selective inhibitor of Drp1, mdivi-1 has a protective effect in an experimental model of heart ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of mdivi-1 on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model. We found that mdivi-1 (1.2mg/kg) significantly reduced cerebral damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion. This neuroprotective effect was dose-dependent. Mdivi-1 treatment blocked apoptotic cell death in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and significantly decreased the expression of Drp1 and Cytochrome C. These results suggest that mdivi-1 exerts neuroprotective effects against nerve injury after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and the underlying mechanism may be through the prevention of Cytochrome C release and suppression of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Previous studies have shown that mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (mdivi-1) protects rat brain from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but the precise mechanisms are unclear. This study aims to elucidate the effect of mdivi-1 on energy metabolism and neuronal apoptosis induced by I/R in vitro. Methods: Cultured hippocampal neurons from Wistar rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control (C), vehicle (V), I/R (I), and I/R plus mdivi-1 (M). Ischemia/reperfusion was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation for 6 h followed by normoxic/normoglycemic reperfusion for 20 h. Neurons in the M group were pretreated with mdivi-1 for 40 min before I/R. Expression levels of the mdiv-1 target dynamin-related protein 1 and apoptosis regulators Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential () was measured by flow cytometry. Intracellular ATP content and the activities of mitochondrial complexes I−IV, Na+-K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase were measured by standard assays. Results: Compared to group I neurons, group M neurons exhibited markedly reduced Drp-1 and Bax expression, higher Bcl-2 expression, , and intracellular ATP, and elevated mitochondrial complex I−IV, Na+-K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities. Conclusion: Inhibition of mitochondrial fission significantly improved mitochondrial function and suppressed apoptotic signaling induced by I/R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuroprotective role of propofol in transient global and focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) animal model has recently been highlighted. However, no studies have conducted to explore the relationship between mitochondrial fission/fusion and I/R injury under the intervention of propofol. Moreover, neuroprotective mechanism of propofol is yet unclear. Culturing primary hippocampal cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD/R) model, as a model of cerebral I/R in vitro. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to test the effect of propofol on cell viability. We examined the effect of propofol on mitochondrial ultrastructure and mitochondrial fission evoked by OGD/R with transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence assay. To investigate possible neuroprotective mechanisms, the authors then examined whether propofol could inhibit calcium-overload, calcineurin (CaN) activation and the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) during the period of OGD/R, as well as the combination of Drp1-ser 637 and fission 1 (Fis1) protein by immunofluorescence assay, ELISA and double-labeling immunofluorescence analysis. Finally, the expression of Drp1-ser 637 and Fis1, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and cytochrome C (Cyt C) were detected by western blot. When added in culture media during OGD period, propofol (0.1μM-50μM) could alleviate neurons injury and protect mitochondrial ultrastructure, meanwhile inhibit mitochondrial fission. Furthermore, the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+, CaN activition and the phosphorylation of Drp1-ser637 were suppressed, as well as the translocation and combination of Drp1-ser 637 and Fis1. The authors also found that the expression of Cyt C, AIF, Drp1-ser637 and Fis1 were down-regulated. Notably, high dose of propofol (100μM-200μM) were confirmed to decrease the survival of neurons based on results of cell viability. Propofol could inhibit mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway evoked by OGD/R in rat hippocampal neurons, which may be via depressing calcium-overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoKATP) play a significant role in protecting cerebral function from ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is related with a decrease in the mitochondrial matrix calcium. However, the effect of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) on diazoxide-induced cerebral protection is still indistinct. The purpose of the present paper is to further observe the relationship between mitoKATP and MCU, and to probe the mechanism. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: the Sham group, the I-R group, the Dzx+I-R group, the Dzx+Sper+I-R group, and the Sper+I-R group. Rats not in the Sham group were exposed to 2-hour ischemia followed by 24-hour reperfusion. Diazoxide and spermine were administrated 30 minutes before ischemia or 10 minutes before reperfusion, respectively. After 24-hour reperfusion, animals were given neurological performance tests, overdosed with general anesthesia, and then their brains were excised for infarct volume, pathological changes, and apoptosis analysis. The beneficial effects of diazoxide (improved neurological deficits, decreased infarct volume, and apoptosis, evidenced by the decreased expression of cytochrome c and Bax) were significantly neutralized by spermine. The results of the present work suggest that diazoxide-induced cerebral protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury is mediated by spermine through apoptotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging global swine virus that has a propensity for interspecies transmission. It was identified in Hong Kong in 2012. Given that neither specific antiviral drugs nor vaccines are available for newly emerging porcine deltacoronavirus, searching for effective antiviral drugs is a high priority. In this study, lithium chloride (LiCl) and diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG), which are host-acting antivirals (HAAs), were tested against PDCoV. We found that LiCl and DG inhibited PDCoV replication in LLC-PK1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antiviral effects of LiCl and DG occurred at the early stage of PDCoV replication, and DG also inhibited virus attachment to the cells. Moreover, both drugs inhibited PDCoV-induced apoptosis in LLC-PK1 cells. This study suggests LiCl and DG as new drugs for the treatment of PDCoV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]