Biochemical and biophysical research communications
-
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Dec 2017
Effects of dexamethasone on purinergic signaling in murine mast cells: Selective suppression of P2X7 receptor expression.
Mast cells express many different purinergic receptors, including ionotropic P2X4 and P2X7, which recognize the accumulation of extracellular ATP released from activated and/or damaged cells. This results in the stimulation of mast cell functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid widely used for the treatment of allergic disease, on purinergic receptor expression in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). ⋯ Functionally, treatment of BMMCs with Dex impaired the P2X7-mediated rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, degranulation, and ethidium uptake, a response relevant to receptor-pore formation. Finally, oral administration of Dex to C57BL/6 mice in vivo resulted in a significant decrease in P2X7 receptor expression in peritoneal mast cells. These results suggest that reduction of P2X7 receptor expression in mast cells might be one of the anti-allergic mechanisms of Dex.
-
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Nov 2017
Gut microbial metabolite TMAO contributes to renal dysfunction in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.
Emerging evidence shows that obesity induces renal injury and is an independent risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), even without diabetes or hyperglycemia. Although multiple metabolic factors have been suggested to account for obesity-associated renal injury, the precious underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Recent study shows that increased trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-generated metabolite, directly contributes to renal interstitial fibrosis and dysfunction. ⋯ These data suggest that HFD-induced obesity leads to elevations in gut microbiota-generated metabolite TMAO in the circulation, which contributes to renal interstitial fibrosis and dysfunction by promoting renal oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings may provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying obesity-associated CKD. Targeting TMAO may be a novel strategy for prevention and treatment of CKD in patients with obesity.
-
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Oct 2017
Gadolinium chloride ameliorates acute lung injury associated with severe acute pancreatitis in rats by regulating CYLD/NF-κB signaling.
The present study was embarked on an investigation of the mechanisms behind the effects of Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) on lung injury associated with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. Rats were randomly distributed into three groups: sham operation group (SO), SAP group and SAP treated with GdCl3 group (SAP + GdCl3). Retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct was adopted to induce SAP. ⋯ The NF-κB activation was obviously inhibited when CYLD expression was markedly up-regulated in AMs of SAP + GdCl3. Negative correlation was analyzed between CYLD and NF-κB in both SAP and SAP + GdCl3. These data demonstrate that GdCl3 ameliorates lung injury secondary to SAP in rats mainly by up-regulating CYLD expression and inhibiting NF-κB activation in AMs, which may play a vital role in lung injury.
-
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Aug 2017
MiR-21 promotes fibrosis and hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis by activating IL-6 expression.
The molecular mechanism underlying the fibrosis of ligamentum flavum(LF) in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis(LSCS) remains unknown. MicroRNAs are reported to play important roles in regulating fibrosis in different organs. The present study aimed to identify fibrosis related miR-21 expression profile and investigate the pathological process of miR-21 in the fibrosis of LF hypertrophy and associated regulatory mechanisms. 15 patients with LSCS underwent surgical treatment were enrolled in this study. ⋯ Of note, miR-21 over-expression increased the expression levels of collagen I and III (P < 0.05). Also, IL-6 expression and secretion in LF cells was elevated after transfection of miR-21 mimic. MiR-21 is a fibrosis-associated miRNA and promotes inflammation in LF tissue by activating IL-6 expression, leading to LF fibrosis and hypertrophy.
-
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Aug 2017
Transgenerational effects of proton beam irradiation on Caenorhabditis elegans germline apoptosis.
When treating cancer using radiation therapy, it is critical to increase patient survival rates and to reduce side effects. In this respect, proton beam radiation treatment performs better than other radiation treatments because of its high target specificity. However, complications still remain after proton beam radiation treatment. ⋯ In this study, we analyzed the transgenerational effects of proton beam irradiation using the model organism Caenorhabditis. elegans. We found that germline apoptosis increased after proton beam irradiation and its effects were sustained transgenerationally. Moreover, we identified that a germline-specific histone methyltransferase component, SET-2, has a critical role in transmitting the transgenerational effect on germline apoptosis to the next generation after proton beam irradiation.