Epidemiological studies have shown that particulate matter 2.5（PM（2.5）） not only increases the incidence of cardiopulmonary illnesses but also relates to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Considering ...Epidemiological studies have shown that particulate matter 2.5（PM（2.5）） not only increases the incidence of cardiopulmonary illnesses but also relates to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Considering that PM（2.5）is highly heterogeneous with regional disparity and seasonal variation, we investigated whether PM（2.5）exposure induced neuronal apoptosis and synaptic injuries in a season-dependent manner. The results indicated that PM（2.5）altered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins（mainly bax and bcl-2）, activated caspase-3 and caused neuronal apoptosis. Additionally, PM（2.5）decreased the levels of synaptic structural protein postsynaptic density（PSD-95） and synaptic functional protein N-methyl-D-aspartate（NMDA） receptor subunit（NR2B） expression. These effects occurred in a season-dependent manner, and PM（2.5）collected from the winter showed the strongest changes. Furthermore, the effect was coupled with the inhibition of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2（p-ERK1/2） and phosphorylated c AMP-response element binding protein（p-CREB）. Based on the findings, we analyzed the correlations between the chemical composition of PM（2.5）samples and the biological effects, and confirmed that winter PM（2.5）played a major role in causing neuronal apoptosis and synaptic injuries among different season samples.展开更多
Sulfur dioxide（SO_2） pollution in the atmospheric environment causes brain inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction.However,there are currently no effective medications targeting the...Sulfur dioxide（SO_2） pollution in the atmospheric environment causes brain inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction.However,there are currently no effective medications targeting the harmful outcomes from chemical inhalation.Endocannabinoids（eCBs） are involved in neuronal protection against inflammation-induced neuronal injury.The 2-arachidonoylglycerol（2-AG）,the most abundant eCBs and a full agonist for cannabinoid receptors（CB1 and CB2）,is also capable of suppressing proinflammatory stimuli and improving microvasculature dysfunction.Here,we indicated that endogenous 2-AG protected against neuroinflammation in response to SO_2 inhalation by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes and attenuating the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-a）,interleukin（IL）-1β,and inducible nitric oxide synthase（iNOS）.In addition,endogenous 2-AG prevented cerebral vasculature dysfunction following SO_2 inhalation by inhibiting endothelin 1（ET-1）,vascular cell adhesion molecule-1（VCAM-1） and intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1） expression,elevating endothelial nitric oxide synthase（eNOS） level,and restoring the imbalance between thromboxane A2（TXA2） and prostaglandin 12（PGI2）.In addition,the action of endogenous 2-AG on the suppression of inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction appeared to be mainly mediated by CB1 and CB2 receptors.Our results provided a mechanistic basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches for protecting brain injuries from SO_2 inhalation.展开更多
Metabolic(dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)affects a third of the population and is a leading cause of liver-related death.Since no effective treatments exist,novel approaches to drug development are ...Metabolic(dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)affects a third of the population and is a leading cause of liver-related death.Since no effective treatments exist,novel approaches to drug development are required.Unfortunately,outdated terminology and definitions of the disease are hampering efforts to develop new drugs and treatments.An international consensus panel has put forth an influential proposal for the disease to be renamed from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)to MAFLD,includ-ing a proposal for how the disease should be diagnosed.As allies with the many stakeholders in MAFLD care―including patients,patients’advocates,clinicians,researchers,nurse and allied health groups,regional societies,and others―we are aware of the negative consequences of the NAFLD term and definition.We share the sense of urgency for change and will act in new ways to achieve our goals.Although there is much work to be done to overcome clinical inertia and reverse worrisome recent trends,the MAFLD initiative provides a firm foundation to build on.It provides a roadmap for moving for-ward toward more efficient care and affordable,sustainable drug and device innovation in MAFLD care.We hope it will bring promising new opportunities for a brighter future for MAFLD care and improve care and outcomes for patients of one of the globe’s largest and costliest public health burdens.From this viewpoint,we have revisited this initiative through the perspectives of drug development and regulatory science.展开更多
Earlier, we reported that ST239 was the15-year predominant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) clone in China. In this study, MRSA strain CN79 belonging to ST239 and isolated from blood was used to deter...Earlier, we reported that ST239 was the15-year predominant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) clone in China. In this study, MRSA strain CN79 belonging to ST239 and isolated from blood was used to determine the whole genome sequence. Comparative genomics analysis was done between MRSA CN79and 25 sequenced S. aureus in the NCBI GenBank database. A total of 2,734 protein-encoding genes were identified in the MRSA CN79 genome, which carries 11antibiotic resistance genes and 65 virulence genes. Two prophages phiCN79A and phiNM3-like were found on the MRSA CN79 genome. MRSA CN79 carries 30 specific genes that are absent from the 25 sequenced S. aureus genomes. Most of them were prophage-related genes.Several antibiotic resistance genes, such as b-lactamase and ABC-type multidrug transport system gene, were located on the genomic island mSab. The antibiotic resistance genes, such as tet(M), ermA1, and blaZ, were also located on different transposons. The virulence genes sea,map, hlb, and sak are located on phiNM3-like prophage and the exotoxin genes are carried on the genomic island mSaa. These results suggest that ST239 MRSA strains are widespread owing to horizontal acquisition of the mobile genetic elements harbored antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in response to environmental selective pressures, such as antibiotics and the human immune system during evolution.展开更多
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.91543203,21377076)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(Nos.20121401110003,20131401110005)the Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China(No.2015-006)
文摘Epidemiological studies have shown that particulate matter 2.5（PM（2.5）） not only increases the incidence of cardiopulmonary illnesses but also relates to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Considering that PM（2.5）is highly heterogeneous with regional disparity and seasonal variation, we investigated whether PM（2.5）exposure induced neuronal apoptosis and synaptic injuries in a season-dependent manner. The results indicated that PM（2.5）altered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins（mainly bax and bcl-2）, activated caspase-3 and caused neuronal apoptosis. Additionally, PM（2.5）decreased the levels of synaptic structural protein postsynaptic density（PSD-95） and synaptic functional protein N-methyl-D-aspartate（NMDA） receptor subunit（NR2B） expression. These effects occurred in a season-dependent manner, and PM（2.5）collected from the winter showed the strongest changes. Furthermore, the effect was coupled with the inhibition of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2（p-ERK1/2） and phosphorylated c AMP-response element binding protein（p-CREB）. Based on the findings, we analyzed the correlations between the chemical composition of PM（2.5）samples and the biological effects, and confirmed that winter PM（2.5）played a major role in causing neuronal apoptosis and synaptic injuries among different season samples.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.91543203,21477070,21377076,21307079)the Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China(No.2015-006)
文摘Sulfur dioxide（SO_2） pollution in the atmospheric environment causes brain inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction.However,there are currently no effective medications targeting the harmful outcomes from chemical inhalation.Endocannabinoids（eCBs） are involved in neuronal protection against inflammation-induced neuronal injury.The 2-arachidonoylglycerol（2-AG）,the most abundant eCBs and a full agonist for cannabinoid receptors（CB1 and CB2）,is also capable of suppressing proinflammatory stimuli and improving microvasculature dysfunction.Here,we indicated that endogenous 2-AG protected against neuroinflammation in response to SO_2 inhalation by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes and attenuating the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-a）,interleukin（IL）-1β,and inducible nitric oxide synthase（iNOS）.In addition,endogenous 2-AG prevented cerebral vasculature dysfunction following SO_2 inhalation by inhibiting endothelin 1（ET-1）,vascular cell adhesion molecule-1（VCAM-1） and intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1） expression,elevating endothelial nitric oxide synthase（eNOS） level,and restoring the imbalance between thromboxane A2（TXA2） and prostaglandin 12（PGI2）.In addition,the action of endogenous 2-AG on the suppression of inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction appeared to be mainly mediated by CB1 and CB2 receptors.Our results provided a mechanistic basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches for protecting brain injuries from SO_2 inhalation.
文摘Metabolic(dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)affects a third of the population and is a leading cause of liver-related death.Since no effective treatments exist,novel approaches to drug development are required.Unfortunately,outdated terminology and definitions of the disease are hampering efforts to develop new drugs and treatments.An international consensus panel has put forth an influential proposal for the disease to be renamed from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)to MAFLD,includ-ing a proposal for how the disease should be diagnosed.As allies with the many stakeholders in MAFLD care―including patients,patients’advocates,clinicians,researchers,nurse and allied health groups,regional societies,and others―we are aware of the negative consequences of the NAFLD term and definition.We share the sense of urgency for change and will act in new ways to achieve our goals.Although there is much work to be done to overcome clinical inertia and reverse worrisome recent trends,the MAFLD initiative provides a firm foundation to build on.It provides a roadmap for moving for-ward toward more efficient care and affordable,sustainable drug and device innovation in MAFLD care.We hope it will bring promising new opportunities for a brighter future for MAFLD care and improve care and outcomes for patients of one of the globe’s largest and costliest public health burdens.From this viewpoint,we have revisited this initiative through the perspectives of drug development and regulatory science.
基金supported,in part,by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(7102130)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(NCET-10-0205)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31100106)Key Projects in the National Science&Technology Pillar Program(2012EP001002)
文摘Earlier, we reported that ST239 was the15-year predominant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) clone in China. In this study, MRSA strain CN79 belonging to ST239 and isolated from blood was used to determine the whole genome sequence. Comparative genomics analysis was done between MRSA CN79and 25 sequenced S. aureus in the NCBI GenBank database. A total of 2,734 protein-encoding genes were identified in the MRSA CN79 genome, which carries 11antibiotic resistance genes and 65 virulence genes. Two prophages phiCN79A and phiNM3-like were found on the MRSA CN79 genome. MRSA CN79 carries 30 specific genes that are absent from the 25 sequenced S. aureus genomes. Most of them were prophage-related genes.Several antibiotic resistance genes, such as b-lactamase and ABC-type multidrug transport system gene, were located on the genomic island mSab. The antibiotic resistance genes, such as tet(M), ermA1, and blaZ, were also located on different transposons. The virulence genes sea,map, hlb, and sak are located on phiNM3-like prophage and the exotoxin genes are carried on the genomic island mSaa. These results suggest that ST239 MRSA strains are widespread owing to horizontal acquisition of the mobile genetic elements harbored antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in response to environmental selective pressures, such as antibiotics and the human immune system during evolution.
