Objective The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint(BL40)on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder(OAB),and investigated the possible mechanisms...Objective The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint(BL40)on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder(OAB),and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture.Methods Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups,comprising a control group,model group,group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40,group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40,group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40,and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong(GB39).Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination,and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation.The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells(MCs)or blocking tibial nerve.Results Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex(M1),periaquaductal gray matter(PAG),and pontine micturition center(PMC).It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC.Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes.Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine,substance P,and histamine in the tissues around BL40.Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats.Conclusion Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve,thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract.展开更多
Wei et al reported a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the small intestine during early acute pancreatitis(AP)and identified activated mast cells and their secretion of CCL5 as pivotal factors drivi...Wei et al reported a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the small intestine during early acute pancreatitis(AP)and identified activated mast cells and their secretion of CCL5 as pivotal factors driving gut barrier dysfunction.By integrating scRNA-seq with in vitro and in vivo functional assays,this study advances our understanding of the cellular and molecular events underlying AP-associated intestinal injury.In this commentary,I highlight the methodological innovations employed in the study,contextualize its findings in the literature,and propose directions for future research.As an avid researcher in single-cell sequen-cing,I approached this letter with a spirit of academic inquiry and welcome any further discussion or corrections that may enhance my understanding.展开更多
BACKGROUND Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a prevalent and varied manifestation of acute pancreatitis(AP).Molecular mechanisms underlying the early intestinal barrier in AP remain poorly understood.AIM To explore th...BACKGROUND Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a prevalent and varied manifestation of acute pancreatitis(AP).Molecular mechanisms underlying the early intestinal barrier in AP remain poorly understood.AIM To explore the biological processes and mechanisms of intestinal injury associated with AP,and to find potential targets for early prevention or treatment of intestinal barrier injury.METHODS This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing of the small intestine,alongside in vitro and in vivo experiments,to examine intestinal barrier function homeostasis during the early stages of AP and explore involved biological processes and potential mechanisms.RESULTS Seventeen major cell types and 33232 cells were identified across all samples,including normal,AP1(4x caerulein injections,animals sacrificed 2 h after the last injection),and AP2(8x caerulein injections,animals sacrificed 4 h after the last injection).An average of 980 genes per cell was found in the normal intestine,compared to 927 in the AP1 intestine and 1382 in the AP2 intestine.B cells,dendritic cells,mast cells(MCs),and monocytes in AP1 and AP2 showed reduced numbers compared to the normal intestine.Enterocytes,brush cells,enteroendocrine cells,and goblet cells maintained numbers similar to the normal intestine,while cytotoxic T cells and natural killer(NK)cells increased.Enterocytes in early AP exhibited elevated programmed cell death and intestinal barrier dysfunction but retained absorption capabilities.Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells showed enhanced pathogen-fighting abilities.Activated MCs,secreted chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 5(CCL5),promoted neutrophil and macrophage infiltration and contributed to barrier dysfunction.CONCLUSION These findings enrich our understanding of biological processes and mechanisms in AP-associated intestinal injury,suggesting that CCL5 from MCs is a potential target for addressing dysfunction.展开更多
Mast cells(MCs)under stress conditions contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),yet their precise mechanisms in IBS remain unclear.AIM To investigate the role of MC-derived thymosinβ4(Tβ4)in st...Mast cells(MCs)under stress conditions contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),yet their precise mechanisms in IBS remain unclear.AIM To investigate the role of MC-derived thymosinβ4(Tβ4)in stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.METHODS The colonic mucus Tβ4 levels in IBS patients were determined and their effects on the epithelial barrier were assessed in vitro and in vivo.Specifically,rats genetically deficient in Tβ4(Tβ4^(-/-))or mice deficient in MCs(Kit^(w-sh/w-sh))were used to observe the effects of reintroducing Tβ4 or wild-type peritoneal MCs(wt-PMCs)into these animals.Additionally,the regulatory mechanism underlying Tβ4 secretion in MCs was investigated.RESULTS We demonstrated that high levels of Tβ4 in IBS mucus and intestinal MCs mediate stress-associated disruptive changes to the epithelial barrier.Moreover,Tβ4 treatment of wild-type or MC-deficient Kit^(w-sh/w-sh)mice caused a reduction in tight junction proteins and the interleukin 22 receptor A1(IL22RA1)/Reg3γcascade,but an increase in myosin light chain kinase.Furthermore,Tβ4^(-/-)rats were resistant to stress,though reintroduction of Tβ4 or wt-PMCs restored stress or corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)-induced barrier disturbance.Consistently,Tβ4 release from MCs was dependent on the CRH receptor 1,but not degranulation.The effect of Tβ4 was accompanied by IL22RA1/Janus kinase 1(JAK1)/signal transducer and activation of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway inhibition,suggesting a mechanism for physical and immune barrier suppression.CONCLUSION Collectively,these results suggest that Tβ4,which is abundant in IBS mucus and the secretome of MCs,plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBS via IL22RA1/JAK1/STAT3 signaling,with potential implications for diagnostic and therapeutic targeting.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mast cell leukemia(MCL),a subtype of systemic mastocytosis(SM),is an extremely rare clinical entity characterized by a very poor prognosis.Chemotherapy,tyrosine kinase inhibitors,and allogeneic hematopoieti...BACKGROUND Mast cell leukemia(MCL),a subtype of systemic mastocytosis(SM),is an extremely rare clinical entity characterized by a very poor prognosis.Chemotherapy,tyrosine kinase inhibitors,and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation are the only treatment options,but they cannot provide the desired outcomes in most cases of MCL.However,other types of SM can be successfully treated.The disease has no specific manifestation,but gastroenterological symptoms are present in most cases.CASE SUMMARY The authors,hereby,report a case of a 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with MCL-the rarest subtype of SM.The patient presented to the gastroenterology clinic with multiple,various,and unspecific gastroenterological symptoms.Concomitance of skin lesions significantly contributed to a relatively prompt diagnosis.The serum tryptase level was extremely high and bone the marrow aspirate showed an infiltration of atypical mast cells.The disease was rapidly progressive and primary refractory to chemotherapy and the patient succumbed to the illness about a month after the initiation of treatment.CONCLUSION Despite its“hematological nature”,MCL,in most cases presents dominantly with unspecific gastroenterological symptoms.Thus,a high disease awareness among physicians other than hematologists is necessary to improve treatment outcomes.Serum tryptase level,due to its non-invasive nature and easy access,may serve as an initial step to estimate the probability of mastocytosis.展开更多
Carnoy′s fluid and neutral buffered formalin(NBF)have been proved to be good fixatives for preservation of mast cells in pig,cattle and sheep except NBF blocked staining of most porcine mast cells,especially thos...Carnoy′s fluid and neutral buffered formalin(NBF)have been proved to be good fixatives for preservation of mast cells in pig,cattle and sheep except NBF blocked staining of most porcine mast cells,especially those located in intestinal mucosa(MMC)and in thymus medulla(TMMC). Both toluidine blue and Alcian blue were the excellent stains generally,but Alcian blue stained more porcine mast cells than did toluidine blue( P <0 01). Staining with toluidine blue of a wide pH range(from 0 1 to 7 0)showed that porcine mast cells were not very pH dependent,but the dye at pH 0 5 seemed to have the strongest affinity for all mast cells in pigs and it was also suitable for bovine and ovine mast cell staining. In the three species,unlike in rodents,the Alcian blue method did not distinguish between mast cells in the intestinal mucosa(MMC)and those in the connective tissue of the intestinal submucosa,tongue and skin(CTMC). Porcine CTMC,but not MMC,fluoresced strongly when stained with berberine sulphate or with a mixture of berberine sulphate and acridine orange. It suggested that porcine CTMC contained heparin proteoglycan.展开更多
To simplify the complicated design process of deployable/retractable structures, a new design process is developed. The process is divided into three phases： the concept design phase, the model phase and the optimiza...To simplify the complicated design process of deployable/retractable structures, a new design process is developed. The process is divided into three phases： the concept design phase, the model phase and the optimization phase. In each phase, different parameter targets have to be fulfilled. According to three phases, a deployable/retractable mast composed of four right triangle prism modules in the longitudinal direction is designed. It can be deployed and folded simultaneously by the linear movements of sleeve-joints. The deployable and retractable movement of the mast is analyzed and key joint forms are designed. Then bar diameters and joint forms are modified based on mast structural mechanics characteristics in the optimization phase. Finally a 1：1 scaled model mast is built to verify the design and the optimization. Analytical results show that the model mast has the advantages of simple locking mechanism, fewer types of joints and bars, so it can be easily manufactured.展开更多
Aim: To investigate the role of fexofenadine, a mast cell blocker, on semen quality in the treatment of infertile men. Methods: The study included 16 Turkish idiopathic infertile men with azoospermia or oligozoospermi...Aim: To investigate the role of fexofenadine, a mast cell blocker, on semen quality in the treatment of infertile men. Methods: The study included 16 Turkish idiopathic infertile men with azoospermia or oligozoospermia who underwent testicular biopsy to examine mast cells containing tryptase. In all patients, a complete medical history, clinical examination, semen analysis and serum hormone assay were carried out. The biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically stained with antihuman tryptase for mast cells. The number of total mast cells per seminiferous tubule was calculated and recorded as mast cell index. The patients were divided into two groups according to their mast cell index: the higher (≥1, n=9) and the lower (<1, n=7) index groups. Fexofenadine was administered orally at a dose of 180 mg/day for 4 to 9 months. Pre-and post-treatment semen parameters, including total motile sperm counts (TMC) were recorded and compared. Spontaneous pregnancies after the treatment were registered. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in TMC between the pre-treatment and post-treatment values in patients with higher and lower mast cell index (P≥0.05). In both groups, nobody had a significant response to the treatment and there was no spontaneous pregnancy after the treatment. Conclusion: Although testicular dysfunction is closely associated with increased number of testicular mast cells, fexofenadine, a mast cell blocker, appears not having any benefit in the treatment of Turkish infertile men with a significant increase in testicular mast cells. (Asian J Androl 2002 Dec; 4: 291-294)展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission(No.21ZR1461000)Shanghai Municipal Health Commission(No.ZY[2021–2023]−0204).
文摘Objective The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint(BL40)on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder(OAB),and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture.Methods Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups,comprising a control group,model group,group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40,group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40,group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40,and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong(GB39).Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination,and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation.The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells(MCs)or blocking tibial nerve.Results Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex(M1),periaquaductal gray matter(PAG),and pontine micturition center(PMC).It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC.Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes.Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine,substance P,and histamine in the tissues around BL40.Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats.Conclusion Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve,thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract.
基金Supported by the Top-level Talents Support Program of Yangzhou University“Lv Yang Jin Feng”Outstanding Doctor of YangzhouNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.BK20240907。
文摘Wei et al reported a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the small intestine during early acute pancreatitis(AP)and identified activated mast cells and their secretion of CCL5 as pivotal factors driving gut barrier dysfunction.By integrating scRNA-seq with in vitro and in vivo functional assays,this study advances our understanding of the cellular and molecular events underlying AP-associated intestinal injury.In this commentary,I highlight the methodological innovations employed in the study,contextualize its findings in the literature,and propose directions for future research.As an avid researcher in single-cell sequen-cing,I approached this letter with a spirit of academic inquiry and welcome any further discussion or corrections that may enhance my understanding.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82300739Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation,No.2023JJ40821Changsha Natural Science Foundation,No.kq2208308.
文摘BACKGROUND Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a prevalent and varied manifestation of acute pancreatitis(AP).Molecular mechanisms underlying the early intestinal barrier in AP remain poorly understood.AIM To explore the biological processes and mechanisms of intestinal injury associated with AP,and to find potential targets for early prevention or treatment of intestinal barrier injury.METHODS This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing of the small intestine,alongside in vitro and in vivo experiments,to examine intestinal barrier function homeostasis during the early stages of AP and explore involved biological processes and potential mechanisms.RESULTS Seventeen major cell types and 33232 cells were identified across all samples,including normal,AP1(4x caerulein injections,animals sacrificed 2 h after the last injection),and AP2(8x caerulein injections,animals sacrificed 4 h after the last injection).An average of 980 genes per cell was found in the normal intestine,compared to 927 in the AP1 intestine and 1382 in the AP2 intestine.B cells,dendritic cells,mast cells(MCs),and monocytes in AP1 and AP2 showed reduced numbers compared to the normal intestine.Enterocytes,brush cells,enteroendocrine cells,and goblet cells maintained numbers similar to the normal intestine,while cytotoxic T cells and natural killer(NK)cells increased.Enterocytes in early AP exhibited elevated programmed cell death and intestinal barrier dysfunction but retained absorption capabilities.Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells showed enhanced pathogen-fighting abilities.Activated MCs,secreted chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 5(CCL5),promoted neutrophil and macrophage infiltration and contributed to barrier dysfunction.CONCLUSION These findings enrich our understanding of biological processes and mechanisms in AP-associated intestinal injury,suggesting that CCL5 from MCs is a potential target for addressing dysfunction.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81270465the Sichuan Science and Technology Program,No.2024NSFSC0631,No.2023JDRC0088,and No.MZGC20240097+4 种基金the Basic Research Cultivation Support Program of Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,No.2682023ZTPY071the Baiqiuen Public Welfare Foundation Program,No.BCF-LX-XH-20221014-12the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu Clinical Research Program,No.CSY-YN-01-2023-012the Yibin Science and Technology Program,No.2021ZYY009the Chengdu Medical Research Project Foundation,No.2022284.
文摘Mast cells(MCs)under stress conditions contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),yet their precise mechanisms in IBS remain unclear.AIM To investigate the role of MC-derived thymosinβ4(Tβ4)in stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.METHODS The colonic mucus Tβ4 levels in IBS patients were determined and their effects on the epithelial barrier were assessed in vitro and in vivo.Specifically,rats genetically deficient in Tβ4(Tβ4^(-/-))or mice deficient in MCs(Kit^(w-sh/w-sh))were used to observe the effects of reintroducing Tβ4 or wild-type peritoneal MCs(wt-PMCs)into these animals.Additionally,the regulatory mechanism underlying Tβ4 secretion in MCs was investigated.RESULTS We demonstrated that high levels of Tβ4 in IBS mucus and intestinal MCs mediate stress-associated disruptive changes to the epithelial barrier.Moreover,Tβ4 treatment of wild-type or MC-deficient Kit^(w-sh/w-sh)mice caused a reduction in tight junction proteins and the interleukin 22 receptor A1(IL22RA1)/Reg3γcascade,but an increase in myosin light chain kinase.Furthermore,Tβ4^(-/-)rats were resistant to stress,though reintroduction of Tβ4 or wt-PMCs restored stress or corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)-induced barrier disturbance.Consistently,Tβ4 release from MCs was dependent on the CRH receptor 1,but not degranulation.The effect of Tβ4 was accompanied by IL22RA1/Janus kinase 1(JAK1)/signal transducer and activation of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway inhibition,suggesting a mechanism for physical and immune barrier suppression.CONCLUSION Collectively,these results suggest that Tβ4,which is abundant in IBS mucus and the secretome of MCs,plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBS via IL22RA1/JAK1/STAT3 signaling,with potential implications for diagnostic and therapeutic targeting.
文摘BACKGROUND Mast cell leukemia(MCL),a subtype of systemic mastocytosis(SM),is an extremely rare clinical entity characterized by a very poor prognosis.Chemotherapy,tyrosine kinase inhibitors,and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation are the only treatment options,but they cannot provide the desired outcomes in most cases of MCL.However,other types of SM can be successfully treated.The disease has no specific manifestation,but gastroenterological symptoms are present in most cases.CASE SUMMARY The authors,hereby,report a case of a 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with MCL-the rarest subtype of SM.The patient presented to the gastroenterology clinic with multiple,various,and unspecific gastroenterological symptoms.Concomitance of skin lesions significantly contributed to a relatively prompt diagnosis.The serum tryptase level was extremely high and bone the marrow aspirate showed an infiltration of atypical mast cells.The disease was rapidly progressive and primary refractory to chemotherapy and the patient succumbed to the illness about a month after the initiation of treatment.CONCLUSION Despite its“hematological nature”,MCL,in most cases presents dominantly with unspecific gastroenterological symptoms.Thus,a high disease awareness among physicians other than hematologists is necessary to improve treatment outcomes.Serum tryptase level,due to its non-invasive nature and easy access,may serve as an initial step to estimate the probability of mastocytosis.
文摘Carnoy′s fluid and neutral buffered formalin(NBF)have been proved to be good fixatives for preservation of mast cells in pig,cattle and sheep except NBF blocked staining of most porcine mast cells,especially those located in intestinal mucosa(MMC)and in thymus medulla(TMMC). Both toluidine blue and Alcian blue were the excellent stains generally,but Alcian blue stained more porcine mast cells than did toluidine blue( P <0 01). Staining with toluidine blue of a wide pH range(from 0 1 to 7 0)showed that porcine mast cells were not very pH dependent,but the dye at pH 0 5 seemed to have the strongest affinity for all mast cells in pigs and it was also suitable for bovine and ovine mast cell staining. In the three species,unlike in rodents,the Alcian blue method did not distinguish between mast cells in the intestinal mucosa(MMC)and those in the connective tissue of the intestinal submucosa,tongue and skin(CTMC). Porcine CTMC,but not MMC,fluoresced strongly when stained with berberine sulphate or with a mixture of berberine sulphate and acridine orange. It suggested that porcine CTMC contained heparin proteoglycan.
文摘To simplify the complicated design process of deployable/retractable structures, a new design process is developed. The process is divided into three phases： the concept design phase, the model phase and the optimization phase. In each phase, different parameter targets have to be fulfilled. According to three phases, a deployable/retractable mast composed of four right triangle prism modules in the longitudinal direction is designed. It can be deployed and folded simultaneously by the linear movements of sleeve-joints. The deployable and retractable movement of the mast is analyzed and key joint forms are designed. Then bar diameters and joint forms are modified based on mast structural mechanics characteristics in the optimization phase. Finally a 1：1 scaled model mast is built to verify the design and the optimization. Analytical results show that the model mast has the advantages of simple locking mechanism, fewer types of joints and bars, so it can be easily manufactured.
文摘Aim: To investigate the role of fexofenadine, a mast cell blocker, on semen quality in the treatment of infertile men. Methods: The study included 16 Turkish idiopathic infertile men with azoospermia or oligozoospermia who underwent testicular biopsy to examine mast cells containing tryptase. In all patients, a complete medical history, clinical examination, semen analysis and serum hormone assay were carried out. The biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically stained with antihuman tryptase for mast cells. The number of total mast cells per seminiferous tubule was calculated and recorded as mast cell index. The patients were divided into two groups according to their mast cell index: the higher (≥1, n=9) and the lower (<1, n=7) index groups. Fexofenadine was administered orally at a dose of 180 mg/day for 4 to 9 months. Pre-and post-treatment semen parameters, including total motile sperm counts (TMC) were recorded and compared. Spontaneous pregnancies after the treatment were registered. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in TMC between the pre-treatment and post-treatment values in patients with higher and lower mast cell index (P≥0.05). In both groups, nobody had a significant response to the treatment and there was no spontaneous pregnancy after the treatment. Conclusion: Although testicular dysfunction is closely associated with increased number of testicular mast cells, fexofenadine, a mast cell blocker, appears not having any benefit in the treatment of Turkish infertile men with a significant increase in testicular mast cells. (Asian J Androl 2002 Dec; 4: 291-294)
