CFTR Protects against Mycobacterium abscessus Infection by Fine-Tuning Host Oxidative Defenses

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Development of a new grading system to assess the foster performance of lactating sows

Increasing litter size has created the need for more sophisticated, accurate, and welfare-oriented systems for assessing the foster performance of lactating sows. The estimation of milk yield alone is not sufficient for meeting these requirements. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to develop a grading system for assessing the foster performance of lactating sows that can be easily applied in commercial farm practice. Data were collected in two German conventional farrow-to-feeder farms with a total sample size of 639 sows (4.05 ± 2.86 parities) and 1 728 litters. Besides general performance data, the piglets were weighed individually within the first 24 hours after birth and at the peak of lactation (day 18.22 ± 2.48). Based on these data, we proposed a new score referring to the milk score (MS). This score was compared with the commonly used formula for estimating milk yield (est. MY), which solely involves litter weight gain and litter size. The improvement of the developed MS allowed us to distinguish between the birth and foster performances of the lactating sows through considering cross-fostering, litter size, individual piglet weights, and piglet mortality during lactation. Both scores showed a similar progression across parities. It was found that litter size had a significant impact on the performance of lactating sows. A high est. MY was found to be associated with a significantly higher number of piglets per litter (15.79 ± 2.20), lower weight gain per piglet, and increased piglet mortality during lactation compared with sows with high MS, which showed a smaller litter size (13.51 ± 2.18) (P < 0.05). The focus on smaller litter size indicates a performance limitation, which seems to be related to the average teat number of 13–15 teats per sow. We recommend the consideration of the number of functional teats, because a litter size above it will not result in a sow having higher foster performance. In conclusion, as an extension of the common est. MY calculation, the MS considers cross-fostering as current farm-management practice when dealing with larger litters. Our recommendations emphasise the importance of an MS which indicates smaller litter size, higher piglet weight gain, and lower piglet mortality during lactation; these factors are related to an improvement in animal welfare for sows and piglets. Moreover, the presented MS could be used to develop a management tool for farmers to assess the foster performance of lactating sows, considering individual farm-management practices.     

Interleukin-13 interferes with CFTR and AQP5 expression and localization during human airway epithelial cell differentiation

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a central regulator of Th2-dominated respiratory disorders such as asthma. Lesions of the airway epithelial barrier frequently observed in chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases are repaired through proliferation, migration and differentiation of epithelial cells. Our work is focused on the effects of IL-13 in human cellular models of airway epithelial cell regeneration. We have previously shown that IL-13 altered epithelial cell polarity during mucociliary differentiation of human nasal epithelial cells. In particular, the cytokine inhibited ezrin expression and interfered with its apical localization during epithelial cell differentiation in vitro. Here we show that CFTR expression is enhanced in the presence of the cytokine, that two additional CFTR protein isoforms are expressed in IL-13-treated cells and that part of the protein is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. We further show that aquaporin 5 expression, a water channel localized within the apical membrane of epithelial cells, is completely abolished in the presence of the cytokine. These results show that IL-13 interferes with ion and water channel expression and localization during epithelial regeneration and may thereby influence mucus composition and hydration.     

氯沙坦联合螺内酯对预N-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯诱导高血压模型大鼠肾脏纤维化及心室重塑的影响

摘要 目的：探讨氯沙坦联合螺内酯对预N-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯（N''-nitro-L-arginine-methylesterhydrochloride,L-NAME）诱导高血压模型大鼠肾脏纤维化及心室重塑的影响。方法：选择8周龄Wistar大鼠为研究对象,通过给予0.1 %的L-NAME饮用水诱导高血压模型。将大鼠根据随机数字表法分为三组：对照组,诱导组和联合治疗组。通过超声心动图比较室间隔厚度和左心室后壁厚度。CODATM8无创血压系统监测大鼠心脏功能。通过蛋白印迹分析大鼠肾切片中I型胶原、III型胶原和CTGF的蛋白表达。Masson的三色染色评估肾脏组织胶原含量沉积。通过RT-PCR分析大鼠心脏肥大标志物和转录因子心房利钠肽（Atrial natriuretic peptide,ANP）和脑利钠肽（Brain natriuretic peptide,BNP）的表达。通过免疫组化和免疫比浊法分析大鼠肾小球硬化指数和白蛋白尿。结果：模型组较对照组大鼠室间隔厚度和左心室后壁厚度、MAP和心脏/体重比、I型胶原、III型胶原和CTGF的蛋白表达、ANP和BNP的mRNA表达、肾小球硬化指数和白蛋白尿以及SMA和TGF-β1的蛋白表达均显著增加,FS显著降低（P<0.05）,联合治疗组较模型组室间隔厚度和左心室后壁厚度、MAP和心脏/体重比、I型胶原、III型胶原和CTGF的蛋白表达、ANP和BNP的mRNA表达、肾小球硬化指数和白蛋白尿以及SMA和TGF-β1的蛋白表达均显著降低,FS显著增加（P<0.05）。结论：氯沙坦联合螺内酯可减轻L-NAME诱导的高血压大鼠模型中心脏重塑和肾脏纤维化的发生。     

军事飞行人员非酒精性脂肪肝病患者白细胞计数、C反应蛋白、尿酸与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性研究

摘要 目的：研究军事飞行人员非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）患者白细胞计数（WBC）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、尿酸（UA）与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性。方法：选择2018年7月至2021年12月期间海军青岛特勤疗养中心收治的100例NAFLD军事飞行人员作为NAFLD组,另取同期健康体检者90例作为对照组。检测并对比两组的WBC、CRP、UA、糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗以及肝纤维化相关指标,采用Pearson相关系数分析WBC、CRP、UA与糖脂代谢、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化指标的相关性。结果：NAFLD组的WBC、CRP、UA水平均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。NAFLD组的空腹血糖（FBG）、总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、空腹胰岛素（FINS）、稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）水平均高于对照组,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平低于对照组（P<0.05）。NAFLD组的Ⅲ型前胶原肽（PC-Ⅲ）、层粘连蛋白（LN）、透明质酸（HA）、Ⅳ型胶原（Col-Ⅳ）水平均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示, WBC、CRP、UA与TC、TG、LDL-C、HOMA-IR、PC-Ⅲ、LN、HA、Col-Ⅳ均呈正相关,而与HDL-C呈负相关（P<0.05）; WBC、CRP、UA与FBG、FINS无显著相关性（P>0.05）。结论：军事飞行人员NAFLD患者体内WBC、CRP、UA明显升高,且与糖脂代谢紊乱、胰岛素抵抗和肝纤维化有关。     

炙甘草汤通过抗氧化抑制博莱霉素诱导的小鼠肺纤维化

摘要 目的：探讨炙甘草汤对特发性肺纤维化（Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,IPF）小鼠纤维化相关指标的影响,挖掘炙甘草汤治疗IPF的机制。方法：将60只SPF级ICR小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、吡菲尼酮组和炙甘草汤组,除空白组外,其余组采用气管滴注博莱霉素（5 mg/kg)方法复制IPF小鼠模型,并给予相应的药物治疗。空白组和模型组小鼠灌胃生理盐水,吡菲尼酮组和炙甘草汤组小鼠分别灌胃吡菲尼酮(50 mg/kg)和炙甘草汤（25.4 g/kg）,各组均连续给药4周后取材,记录各组小鼠的死亡情况,计算各组肺系数;观察肺组织切片病理变化;碱水解法检测肺组织羟脯氨酸（HYP）含量;比色法检测肺组织丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性;免疫组化、荧光定量PCR检测α-SMA、COL1A蛋白和mRNA的表达水平。结果：炙甘草汤组小鼠死亡数减少,肺系数显著降低（P＜0.01）,炎性细胞浸润和胶原沉积面积大量减少,肺泡结构逐渐修复,HYP、MDA含量降低（P＜0.01）,SOD活性（P＜0.05）和GSH-Px活性（P＜0.01）显著增强;α-SMA、COL1A蛋白和mRNA表达均降低（P＜0.01）。结论：炙甘草汤通过抑制氧化应激反应,从而抑制成纤维细胞活化,减少细胞质基质沉积,从而减缓IPF疾病进程。     

GSK3β/eEF2K信号通路对小鼠肺纤维化过程的影响*

目的: 探讨糖原合成酶激酶-3(GSK3β)/真核延伸因子激酶2(eEF2K)信号通路对肺纤维化进程的影响,为临床治疗肺纤维化寻找新的思路。方法: 采用一次性气管注射法构建C57BL/6雄性小鼠博莱霉素肺纤维化模型,造模14 d后将动物分成模型组、阴性抑制组与抑制组(n=5),另设空白组不作处理。抑制组使用腹腔注射TDZD-8(4 mg/kg),阴性抑制组腹腔注射二甲基亚砜(DMSO)溶液,28 d后处死采集指标。采用苏木精-伊红染色法检测小鼠肺脏病变情况;试剂盒水解法检测肺组织中羟脯氨酸(Hyp)的含量;采用Western blot法检测肺脏中GSK3β、磷酸化GSK3β(p-GSK3β)、eEF2K、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、基质金属蛋白酶-2前体蛋白(pro-MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)蛋白表达水平,使用免疫组织化学法检测肺脏中MMP-2、胶原蛋白I(Col I)、胶原蛋白Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ)、α-平滑肌蛋白(α-SMA)的表达。结果: 与空白组相比,模型组中GSK3β、p-GSK3β、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、pro-MMP-2、MMP-2、Col I、Col Ⅲ、α-SMA蛋白表达水平升高,eEF2K蛋白表达水平降低(P＜0.05);与模型组相比,抑制组GSK3β、p-GSK3β、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、pro-MMP-2、MMP-2、Col I、Col Ⅲ、α-SMA蛋白表达降低,eEF2K蛋白表达升高(P＜ 0.05)。结论: GSK3β能通过Ser70、Ser392、Ser470这3个位点磷酸化激活eEF2K,增加纤维化指标含量,促进肺纤维化形成,加重肺组织病变。     

Identification of TAF1, HNF4A,and CALM2 as potential therapeutic target genes for liver fibrosis

The molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not clear. The aim of this study is to understand the molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis induced by HCV and to identify potential therapeutic targets for hepatic fibrosis. We analyzed gene expression patterns between high liver fibrosis and low liver fibrosis samples, and identified genes related to liver fibrosis. We identified TAF1, HNF4A, and CALM2 were related to the development of liver fibrosis. HNF4A is important for hepatic fibrogenesis, and upregulation of HNF4A is an ideal choice for treating liver fibrosis. The gene expression of CALM2 is significantly lower in liver fibrosis samples than nonfibrotic samples. TAF1 may serve as a biomarker for liver fibrosis. The results were further validated by an independent data set GSE84044. In summary, our study described changes in the gene expression during the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. The TAF1, HNF4A, and CALM2 may serve as novel targets for the treatment of liver fibrosis.