Increases of M2a macrophages and fibrosis in aging muscle are influenced by bone marrow aging and negatively regulated by muscle‐derived nitric oxide

Muscle aging is associated with changes in myeloid cell phenotype that may influence age‐related changes in muscle structure. We tested whether preventing age‐related reductions in muscle neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) would obviate age‐related changes in myeloid cells in muscle. Our findings show that muscle aging is associated with elevations of anti‐inflammatory M2a macrophages that can increase muscle fibrosis. Expression of a muscle‐specific nNOS transgene in mice prevented age‐related increases in M2a macrophages. Transgene expression also reduced expression of collagens and decreased muscle fibrosis. The nNOS transgene prevented age‐related increases in arginase‐1 but did not influence TGFβ expression, indicating that the transgene may prevent age‐related muscle fibrosis by inhibiting the arginase‐dependent profibrotic pathway. Although aged satellite cells or fibro‐adipogenic precursor (FAPs) cells also promote fibrosis, transgene expression had no effect on the expression of key signaling molecules that regulate fibrogenic activity of those cells. Finally, we tested whether increases in M2a macrophages and the associated increase in fibrosis were attributable to aging of myeloid lineage cells. Young bone marrow cells (BMCs) were transplanted into young or old mice, and muscles were collected 8 months later. Muscles of young mice receiving young BMCs showed no effect on M2a macrophage number or collagen accumulation compared to age‐matched, nontransplanted controls. However, muscles of old mice receiving young BMCs showed fewer M2a macrophages and less accumulation of collagen. Thus, the age‐related increase in M2a macrophages in aging muscle and the associated muscle fibrosis are determined in part by the age of bone marrow cells.     

Inhibition of bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis by bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells might be mediated by decreasing MMP9, TIMP‐1, INF‐γ and TGF‐β

The study was aimed to investigate the mechanism and administration timing of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in bleomycin (BLM)‐induced pulmonary fibrosis mice. Thirty‐six mice were divided into six groups: control group (saline), model group (intratracheal administration of BLM), day 1, day 3 and day 6 BMSCs treatment groups and hormone group (hydrocortisone after BLM treatment). BMSCs treatment groups received BMSCs at day 1, 3 or 6 following BLM treatment, respectively. Haematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining were conducted to measure lung injury and fibrosis, respectively. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP‐1), γ‐interferon (INF‐γ) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β) were detected in both lung tissue and serum. Histologically, the model group had pronounced lung injury, increased inflammatory cells and collagenous fibres and up‐regulated MMP9, TIMP‐1, INF‐γ and TGF‐β compared with control group. The histological appearance of lung inflammation and fibrosis and elevation of these parameters were inhibited in BMSCs treatment groups, among which, day 3 and day 6 treatment groups had less inflammatory cells and collagenous fibres than day 1 treatment group. BMSCs might suppress lung fibrosis and inflammation through down‐regulating MMP9, TIMP‐1, INF‐γ and TGF‐β. Delayed BMSCs treatment might exhibit a better therapeutic effect. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Highlights are as follows:

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Metallothionein plays a prominent role in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy by sulforaphane via up-regulation of Nrf2

Sulforaphane (SFN) prevents diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 1 diabetes via up-regulation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). However, it has not been addressed whether SFN also prevents DN from type 2 diabetes or which Nrf2 downstream gene(s) play(s) the key role in SFN renal protection. Here we investigated whether Nrf2 is required for SFN protection against type 2 diabetes-induced DN and whether metallothionein (MT) is an Nrf2 downstream antioxidant using Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2-null) mice. In addition, MT knockout mice were used to further verify if MT is indispensable for SFN protection against DN. Diabetes-increased albuminuria, renal fibrosis, and inflammation were significantly prevented by SFN, and Nrf2 and MT expression was increased. However, SFN renal protection was completely lost in Nrf2-null diabetic mice, confirming the pivotal role of Nrf2 in SFN protection from type 2 diabetes-induced DN. Moreover, SFN failed to up-regulate MT in the absence of Nrf2, suggesting that MT is an Nrf2 downstream antioxidant. MT deletion resulted in a partial, but significant attenuation of SFN renal protection from type 2 diabetes, demonstrating a partial requirement for MT for SFN renal protection. Therefore, the present study demonstrates for the first time that as an Nrf2 downstream antioxidant, MT plays an important, though partial, role in mediating SFN renal protection from type 2 diabetes.     

Bacteriocin-mediated competition in cystic fibrosis lung infections

Bacteriocins are toxins produced by bacteria to kill competitors of the same species. Theory and laboratory experiments suggest that bacteriocin production and immunity play a key role in the competitive dynamics of bacterial strains. The extent to which this is the case in natural populations, especially human pathogens, remains to be tested. We examined the role of bacteriocins in competition using Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains infecting lungs of humans with cystic fibrosis (CF). We assessed the ability of different strains to kill each other using phenotypic assays, and sequenced their genomes to determine what bacteriocins (pyocins) they carry. We found that (i) isolates from later infection stages inhibited earlier infecting strains less, but were more inhibited by pyocins produced by earlier infecting strains and carried fewer pyocin types; (ii) this difference between early and late infections appears to be caused by a difference in pyocin diversity between competing genotypes and not by loss of pyocin genes within a lineage over time; (iii) pyocin inhibition does not explain why certain strains outcompete others within lung infections; (iv) strains frequently carry the pyocin-killing gene, but not the immunity gene, suggesting resistance occurs via other unknown mechanisms. Our results show that, in contrast to patterns observed in experimental studies, pyocin production does not appear to have a major influence on strain competition during CF lung infections.     

Lysyl oxidase promotes bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis through modulating inflammation

Enzymes involved in collagen biosynthesis, including lysyl oxidase （LOX）, have been proposed as potential therapeutic targets for idio- pathic pulmonary fibrosis. LOX expression is significantly upregulated in bleomycin （BLM）-induced lung fibrosis, and knockdown of LOX expression or inhibition of LOX activity alleviates the lung fibrosis. Unexpectedly, treatment of the mice with LOX inhibitor at the inflammatory stage, but not the fibrogenic stage, efficiently reduces collagen deposition and normalizes lung architecture. Inhibition of LOX impairs inflammatory ceU infiltration, TGF-β signaling, and myofibroblast accumulation. Furthermore, ectopic expres- sion of LOX sensitizes the fibrosis-resistant Balb/c mice to BLM-induced inflammation and lung fibrosis. These results suggest that LOX is indispensable for the progression of BLM-induced experimental lung fibrosis by aggravating the inflammatory response and subse- quent fibrosis process after lung injury.     

CK-18降解片段M30和MMP-2在慢性乙型肝炎纤维化严重程度预测中的作用

目的:探讨血清细胞角蛋白-18裂解片段M30(CK-18 M30)和基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-2)水平对乙型肝炎e抗原(HBe Ag)阴性慢性乙型肝炎纤维化严重程度预测的作用。方法:选取我院156例HBe Ag阴性的慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者和51例对照组。肝组织病理学分级依据Scheuer标准。常规收集临床资料,ELISA法检测血清CK-18 M30和MMP-2水平。结果:本研究CHB组男性为106人(67.9%),女性为50人(32.1%);对照组男性为33人(63.5%),女性为19人(36.5%),两组间性别、年龄无统计学差异;CHB组CK-18 M30和MMP-2显著高于对照组(P0.001)。CK-18 M30预测是否有显著性肝纤维化的AUC为0.863(P0.001);而MMP-2预测是否有显著性肝纤维化的AUC为0.587,差异无统计学意义(P=0.064)。结论:血清CK-18 M30和MMP-2水平在CHB组显著升高,CK-18 M30可能可预测HBe Ag阴性的慢性乙型肝炎纤维化严重程度,可能具有较好的临床应用前景。     

高糖诱导腹膜间皮细胞发生上皮间质转化中microRNA的异常变化

目的:定腹膜间皮细胞在高糖引起上皮间质转化(Epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)过程中microRNA的表达差异。方法:常规培养PMC细胞,利用高糖培养液刺激诱导腹膜间皮细胞发生EMT,倒置显微镜观察各组细胞形态学变化,实时定量PCR检测EMT标志基因变化,以此确定高糖诱导EMT的发生。利用特异茎环结构的引物合成microRNA的cDNA,实时定量PCR检测重要microRNA的表达变化。结果:高糖培养液培养腹膜间皮细胞48hr后,细胞形态呈梭形改变,同时EMT标记基因E-cadherin表达明显减低(P0.01),Vimentin表达显著升高(P0.01),说明高糖诱导腹膜间皮细胞发生了EMT。利用microRNA特异的茎环结构引物,实时定量PCR检测结果发现高糖刺激后miR-193a的表达明显上调(P0.01);miR-15a和let-7e的表达明显降低(P0.01);miR-16和miR-21的表达无明显变化(P0.05),同时检测发现高糖刺激后miR-193a的表达水平随刺激时间表达升高。结论:异常变化的microRNA可能对高糖诱导的腹膜间皮细胞EMT具有重要调控作用。