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Inflammation 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST KLOS) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education (KLOBME), School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1), a secreted glycoprotein, is widely expressed in many tissues. It has been recently defined as a novel marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic inflammatory disorder. However, the precise role of CTHRC1 in other chronic inflammatory diseases, like periodontal disease, remains unclear. Read More

J Immunol 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, National Research Center Institute of Immunology of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russia;

Interactions between pattern-recognition receptors shape innate immune responses to pathogens. NOD1 and TLR4 are synergistically interacting receptors playing a pivotal role in the recognition of Gram-negative bacteria. However, mechanisms of their cooperation are poorly understood. Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021 Apr 9:115530. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address:

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious threat to human health. In addition, kidney fibrosis is a key pathogenic intermediate for the progression of CDK. Moreover, excessive activation of fibroblasts is key to the development of kidney fibrosis and this process is difficult to control. Read More

Amino Acids 2021 Apr 11. Epub 2021 Apr 11.

State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.

Glycine is an amino acid with a diverse array of health benefits regarding metabolism, immunity, and development. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that glycine supplementation alters the intestinal microbial composition and improves the intestinal mucosal immunity of weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty-eight weaned piglets divided into 4 groups were fed with a corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2021 Apr 6:114103. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Department of Pharmacy, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Zuojin Pill (ZJP) has been a classic prescription for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in China since ancient times. But its effect on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induced gastric injury (GI) is still uncharted.

Aim Of The Study: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of ZJP on indomethacin (IDO) induced gastric injury. Read More

Am J Chin Med 2021 Apr 7:1-15. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, P. R. China.

saponins (PNS) are the main active ingredients of (Burk) F. H. Chen, which are used as traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and have various clinical effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and cardiovascular protection. Read More

Open Life Sci 2020 23;15(1):971-980. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Department of Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Orthopaedics, Xi'an Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 555 of Youyi East Road, Xi'an 710056, China.

C1q/TNF-related protein 9 (CTRP9), the closest paralog of adiponectin, has been reported to protect against inflammation-related diseases. However, its role in regulating osteoarthritis (OA) has not been fully elucidated. First, a rat model of OA was generated. Read More

Open Life Sci 2020 19;15(1):912-922. Epub 2020 Dec 19.

Department of Gastroenterology, The Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Room 505, Unit 3, Building 1, Yiyuan Community, No. 109, Tuanjie West Rd, 241001, Wuhu, Anhui, China.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease with high morbidity and mortality. The regulation mechanism of miRNA is involved in the production and development of various diseases, but the regulation mechanism of miRNA in AP is still not fully elucidated. The expression of miR-339-3p was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. Read More

Open Life Sci 2020 10;15(1):488-500. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Department of Dermatology, Yancheng First People's Hospital, Jiangsu Province, No.166 yulong west road, Yancheng, Jiangsu, 224001, China.

Background: Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is associated with drug resistance in multiple cancers. We explored the roles of lncRNA p38 inhibited cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma-associated lincRNA (PICSAR) in cisplatin (DDP) resistance of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression of lnc-PICSAR, miR-485-5p and reversionless 3-like (REV3L) mRNA. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 18;11:647312. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are one of the major components of the tumor microenvironment. Evidence has shown differences in the functions and fates of MDSCs in the tumor tissue and the periphery. However, the exact mechanism that regulates MDSC function has not been completely clarified. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 16;22(6). Epub 2021 Mar 16.

State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.

Low temperature stress represents a major threat to the lives of both farmed and wild fish species. However, biological pathways determining the development of cold resistance in fish remain largely unknown. Zebrafish larvae at 96 hpf were exposed to lethal cold stress (10 °C) for different time periods to evaluate the adverse effects at organism, tissue and cell levels. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 24;22(7). Epub 2021 Mar 24.

The Immunopharmacology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, 33014 Tampere, Finland.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is an ion channel mainly studied in sensory neurons where it mediates itch, pain and neurogenic inflammation. Recently, some nonneuronal cells have also been shown to express to support inflammatory responses. To address the role of TRPA1 in skin inflammation, we aimed to investigate expression in keratinocytes. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 1;11(1):7372. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

The Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

CLEC16A is implicated in multiple autoimmune diseases. We generated an inducible whole-body knockout (KO), Clec16a mice to address the role of CLEC16A loss of function. KO mice exhibited loss of adipose tissue and severe weight loss in response to defective autophagic flux and exaggerated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and robust cytokine storm. Read More

J Inflamm Res 2021 23;14:1007-1017. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of General Practice, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.

Background: Clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs) by phagocytes (efferocytosis) suppresses post-apoptotic necrosis and alleviates inflammation. Defective efferocytosis induces diseases that include atherosclerosis and autoimmune diseases. C1q/TNF-related protein 9 (CTRP9), a novel adipokine, has been reported to protect against various cardiovascular disease; however, the effect of CTRP9 on efferocytosis has not been elucidated. Read More

Int J Neurosci 2021 Mar 29:1-12. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.

granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor existing in neutrophils, glial cells and neurons. Increasing researches discovered that G-CSF improved cell survival in neurodegenerative diseases by its anti-inflammatory effect. However, the effect of G-CSF in suppressing inflammation in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 11;11:565676. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Department of Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Junctional adhesion molecule-like protein (JAML), a newly discovered junctional adhesion molecule (JAM), mediates the adhesion and migration processes of various immune cells and endothelial/epithelial cells, ultimately regulating inflammation reaction. However, its role in tumors remains to be determined. The expression of JAML was examined in gastric cancer (GC) and peritumoral tissues from 63 patients. Read More

Transl Neurosci 2021 Jan 17;12(1):114-126. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali City, No. 32 Carlsberg Avenue, Yunnan, 671000, China.

Background: Owing to neurite promoting, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Euxanthone (Eux), the investigation was aimed to probe the neuroprotective efficacy of Eux against traumatic spinal cord injury (t-SCI) in rats and whether Eux can improve neuropathic function in t-SCI.

Method: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized in - Sham, t-SCI, Eux30, and Eux60 (t-SCI + 30 and 60 mg/kg respectively). Animals with compression force-induced t-SCI were subjected to estimation of locomotor functions. Read More

Hepatology 2021 Mar 26. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Background & Aims: Worldwide, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence increases rapidly and becomes a major global health problem. Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) plays a protective role in a cluster of liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis B, and hepatocellular carcinoma. But the function of TIPE2 in NAFLD remained unknown. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2021 Mar 11;10(1):1897295. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, P. R. China.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an effective method for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It remains unclear whether IRE can induce a specific immune response by stimulating macrophages. Here, the associated markers of macrophages were analyzed after exposure to tumor culture supernatant (TSN) of tumor cells treated with electroporation. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 Mar;118(13)

Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710;

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and debilitating condition of synovial joints without any disease-modifying therapies [A. M. Valdes, T. Read More

Cardiovasc Res 2021 Mar 23. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Cardiology.

Aims: Aortic valve calcification is more prevalent in chronic kidney disease accompanied by hypercalcemia. SPARC (Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine)-related modular calcium binding 1 (SMOC1) is a regulator of BMP2 signalling, but the role of SMOC1 in aortic valve calcification under different conditions has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate the roles of SMOC1 in aortic valve calcification under normal and high calcium conditions, focusing on the effects on aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs). Read More

EBioMedicine 2021 Mar 19;66:103290. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China; University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA; Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Medicine Phenome Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China; Lead contact. Electronic address:

Background: Significantly elevated serum and hepatic bile acid (BA) concentrations have been known to occur in patients with liver fibrosis. However, the roles of different BA species in liver fibrogenesis are not fully understood.

Methods: We quantitatively measured blood BA concentrations in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients with liver fibrosis and healthy controls. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2021 May 25;21(5):425. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, P.R. China.

The incidence of diabetic encephalopathy is increasing as the population ages. Evidence suggests that formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) plays a pivotal role in disease progression, but limited research has been carried out in this area. A previous study demonstrated that Kuwanon G (KWG) had significant anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory properties. Read More

Dev Dyn 2021 Mar 21. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

This commentary focuses on the emerging intersection between BMP/TGF-β signaling roles in nervous system function and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease state. Future research is critical to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of this intersection of the cellular processes disrupted in ALS and those influenced by BMP/TGF-β signaling, including synapse structure, neurotransmission, plasticity, and neuroinflammation. Such knowledge promises to inform us of ideal entry points for the targeted modulation of dysfunctional cellular processes in an effort to abrogate ALS pathologies. Read More

Nat Commun 2021 03 19;12(1):1717. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are pathologically activated neutrophils and monocytes with potent immune suppressive activity. These cells play an important role in accelerating tumor progression and undermining the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies. The natural mechanisms limiting MDSC activity are not well understood. Read More

J Agric Food Chem 2021 Mar 18;69(12):3638-3646. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.

Gliadins are the main cause of wheat allergies, and the prevalence of gliadin allergy has increased in many countries. l-Arabinose, a kind of plant-specific five-carbon aldose, possesses beneficial effects on food allergy to gliadins. This study investigated the antiallergic activities and underlying mechanisms of l-arabinose in a wheat gliadin-sensitized mouse model. Read More

Virulence 2021 12;12(1):968-980

Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China.

Thousands of human deaths occur annually due to Japanese encephalitis (JE), caused by Japanese encephalitis virus. During the virus infection of the central nervous system, reactive gliosis, uncontrolled inflammatory response, and neuronal cell death are considered as the characteristic features of JE. To date, no specific treatment has been approved to overcome JE, indicating a need for the development of novel therapies. Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021 May 11;418:115484. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. Electronic address:

The clinical use of cisplatin are limited due to its drug resistance. Thus, it is urgent to find effective combination therapy that sensitizes tumor cells to this drug. The combined chemo-photodynamic therapy could increase anti-tumor efficacy while also reduce the side effects of cisplatin. Read More

Hepatology 2021 Mar 13. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University.

Characterized by hepatocyte steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a complicated process that contributes to end-stage liver disease and, eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced protein 8-like 1 (TIPE1), a new member of the TNF-α-induced protein 8 family, has been explored in immunology and oncology research, but little is known about its role in metabolic diseases. Here, we revealed that hepatocyte-specific deletion of TIPE1 exacerbated diet-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis as well as systemic metabolic disorders during NASH pathogenesis. Read More