Nicotine promotes atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice through α1-nAChR

α1 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α1nAChR) is an important nicotine receptor that is widely distributed in vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells. However, the role of α1nAChR in nicotine-mediated atherosclerosis remains unclear. The administration of nicotine for 12 weeks increased the area of the atherosclerotic lesion, the number of macrophages infiltrating the plaques, and the circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice fed a high-fat diet. Nicotine also increased α1nAChR, calpain-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 expression in the aortic tissue. Silencing of α1nAChR with an adenoassociated virus decreased the atherosclerotic size, lesion macrophage content, and circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and suppressed α1nAChR, calpain-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression in the nicotine group. In vitro, nicotine-induced α1nAChR, calpain-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS) and macrophages (RAW264.7), and enhanced the migration and proliferation of these cells. The silencing of α1nAChR inhibited these effects of nicotine MOVAS and RAW264.7 cells. Thus, we concluded that nicotine promoted the development of atherosclerosis partially by inducing the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages and inducing an inflammatory reaction. The effect of nicotine on atherogenesis may be mediated by α1nAChR-induced activation of the calpain-1/MMP-2/MMP-9 signaling pathway.     

Pravastatin sodium attenuated TREM-1-mediated inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Pravastatin sodium on triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (TREM-1)-mediated inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been poorly investigated. In this study, we isolated PBMCs from the peripheral blood samples of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, treated the cells with pravastatin sodium, and determined a concentration at which more than 90% cells could survive. Then we treated cells with 10?ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide, added with 10, 50, 100?μM of pravastatin sodium combined with or without LR-12, a known TREM-1 inhibitor. The expression of TREM-1 was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The levels of TREM-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant were measured with ELISA. Simultaneously, NF-κB signaling pathway-related protein p-p65 and p-IκBα were detected by Western blot assay. Results demonstrated that pravastatin sodium significantly mitigated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated TREM-1 over-expression at mRNA and protein levels dose-dependently. Elevated IL-6 and TNF-α levels changed synchronously. LR-12 inhibited the TREM-1 over-expression and inflammatory factor production but did not show extra synergistic effect to pravastatin. Lipopolysaccharide induced phospho-p65 and -IκBα over-expression was weakened significantly when cells were treated with pravastatin sodium. In conclusion, pravastatin could inhibit TREM-1-medieted inflammation and NF-κB signaling pathway was involved.     

Unexpected Receptor Functional Mimicry Elucidates Activation of Coronavirus Fusion

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One-step Condensation/copolymerization of VTES and DVB for Self-assembly Bionic Superhydrophobic Surface Coating and Study on Oil-water Separation

Mimicry of nature drives the development of bionic materials.Bionic superhydrophobic materials are a kind of high-efficiency materials to handle oil spills and ...     

Cutting edge: profile of chemokine receptor expression on human plasma cells accounts for their efficient recruitment to target tissues

We systematically examined the repertoire of chemokine receptors expressed by human plasma cells. Fresh bone marrow plasma cells and myeloma cells consistently expressed CXCR4, CXCR6, CCR10, and CCR3. Accordingly, plasma cells responded to their respective ligands in chemotaxis and very late Ag-4-dependent cell adhesion to fibronectin. Immobilized CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)16, a novel transmembrane-type chemokine and CXCR6 ligand, also directly induced adhesion of plasma cells without requiring G(alpha i) signaling or divalent cations. Furthermore, we revealed consistent expression of CXCL12 (CXCR4 ligand), CXCL16 (CXCR6 ligand), and CC chemokine ligand 28 (CCR10 and CCR3 ligand) in tissues enriched with plasma cells including bone marrow, and constitutive expression of CXCL12, CXCL16, and CC chemokine ligand 28 by cultured human bone marrow stromal cells. Collectively, plasma cells are likely to be recruited to bone marrow and other target tissues via CXCR4, CXCR6, CCR10, and CCR3. CXCR6 may also contribute to tissue localization of plasma cells through its direct binding to membrane-anchored CXCL16.     

海蛇乙醇浸出物的营养成分分析

目的分析四种海蛇蛇体乙醇浸出物（ＡＥＢＦＳＳ）的营养成分。方法采用自动氨基酸分析仪,高效液相色谱仪和原子吸收分光光度仪。结果ＡＥＢＦＳＳ含有大量蛋白质和糖类物质;含有１９种氨基酸和１６种矿物元素。结论海蛇浸酒具有药用及营养功效。