MiR‐106b inhibition suppresses inflammatory bone destruction of wear debris‐induced periprosthetic osteolysis in rats

Aseptic loosening caused by periprosthetic osteolysis (PPO) is the main reason for the primary artificial joint replacement. Inhibition of inflammatory osteolysis has become the main target of drug therapy for prosthesis loosening. MiR‐106b is a newly discovered miRNA that plays an important role in tumour biology, inflammation and the regulation of bone mass. In this study, we analysed the in vivo effect of miR‐106b on wear debris‐induced PPO. A rat implant loosening model was established. The rats were then administrated a lentivirus‐mediated miR‐106b inhibitor, miR‐106b mimics or an equivalent volume of PBS by tail vein injection. The expression levels of miR‐106b were analysed by real‐time PCR. Morphological changes in the distal femurs were assessed via micro‐CT and histopathological analysis, and cytokine expression levels were examined via immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. The results showed that treatment with the miR‐106b inhibitor markedly suppressed the expression of miR‐106b in distal femur and alleviated titanium particle‐induced osteolysis and bone loss. Moreover, the miR‐106b inhibitor decreased TRAP‐positive cell numbers and suppressed osteoclast formation, in addition to promoting the activity of osteoblasts and increasing bone formation. MiR‐106b inhibition also significantly regulated macrophage polarization and decreased the inflammatory response as compared to the control group. Furthermore, miR‐106b inhibition blocked the activation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT and NF‐κB signalling pathways. Our findings indicated that miR‐106b inhibition suppresses wear particles‐induced osteolysis and bone destruction and thus may serve as a potential therapy for PPO and aseptic loosening.     

微小核糖核酸106b对肝细胞葡萄糖异生的影响及机制*

目的: 探讨微小核糖核酸106b(miR-106b)对肝细胞葡萄糖异生作用及其机制。方法: 正常人L02肝细胞培养于含10%胎牛血清的DMEM中,利用miR-106b模拟物和抑制剂(mimics和antagomiR,分别20 nmol/L)处理L02肝细胞24 h,Western blot法检测蛋白和磷酸化蛋白的表达,定量RT-PCR检测mRNA的表达,葡萄糖试剂盒检测培养液中葡萄糖含量。结果: miR-106b模拟物可明显增加磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)和葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶(G6Pase)的蛋白表达(P均＜0.01)、增加磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶1(PCK1)的mRNA表达(P＜0.01)、降低葡萄糖激酶(GCK)的mRNA表达(P＜0.01)。miR-106b抑制剂可显著降低PEPCK和G6Pase的蛋白表达(P均＜0.01)、降低PCK1的mRNA表达(P＜0.01)、增加GCK的mRNA表达(P＜0.01)。此外,miR-106b模拟物或抑制剂可显著降低或增加信号转导和转录激活子3(STAT3)的蛋白表达(P均＜0.01)。STAT3特异性抑制剂可显著拮抗miR-106b抑制剂对肝细胞葡萄糖异生的抑制作用。结论: miR-106b通过抑制STAT3信号通路而增加肝细胞葡萄糖异生。     

Crystal structure-based exploration of the important role of Arg106 in the RNA-binding domain of human coronavirus OC43 nucleocapsid protein

Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) is a causative agent of the common cold. The nucleocapsid (N) protein, which is a major structural protein of CoVs, binds to the viral RNA genome to form the virion core and results in the formation of the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. We have solved the crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of HCoV-OC43 N protein (N-NTD) (residues 58 to 195) to a resolution of 2.0 Å. The HCoV-OC43 N-NTD is a single domain protein composed of a five-stranded β-sheet core and a long extended loop, similar to that observed in the structures of N-NTDs from other coronaviruses. The positively charged loop of the HCoV-OC43 N-NTD contains a structurally well-conserved positively charged residue, R106. To assess the role of R106 in RNA binding, we undertook a series of site-directed mutagenesis experiments and docking simulations to characterize the interaction between R106 and RNA. The results show that R106 plays an important role in the interaction between the N protein and RNA. In addition, we showed that, in cells transfected with plasmids that encoded the mutant (R106A) N protein and infected with virus, the level of the matrix protein gene was decreased by 7-fold compared to cells that were transfected with the wild-type N protein. This finding suggests that R106, by enhancing binding of the N protein to viral RNA plays a critical role in the viral replication. The results also indicate that the strength of N protein/RNA interactions is critical for HCoV-OC43 replication.     

MicroRNA-106a induces multidrug resistance in gastric cancer by targeting RUNX3

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main barrier to the success of chemotherapy for gastric cancer (GC). miR-106a, which is highly expressed in GC, influences a variety of aspects of GC. However, the function of miR-106a in MDR of GC still remains unclear. In the present study, we found that miR-106a is elevated in MDR cell lines. miR-106a promotes chemo-resistance of GC cells, accelerates ADR efflux, and suppresses drug-induced apoptosis. Finally, we show that runt-related trans factor 3 (RUNX3) is the functional target of miR-106a. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that miR-106a may promote MDR in GC cells by targeting RUNX3.     

血浆miR-106b、miR-146a表达水平与癫痫患儿脑电图参数、Th17细胞和凋亡分子的相关性分析

摘要 目的：分析血浆miR-106b、miR-146a表达特点及其与脑电图参数、辅助性T细胞17（Th17）和凋亡分子的相关性以及诊断癫痫的价值。方法：选择2018年1月至2020年10月我院收治的癫痫患儿75例作为癫痫组,检测受试者血浆miR-106b、miR-146a表达,外周血Th17细胞占比、血清B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-1（Bcl-1）、BCL2-Associated X蛋白（Bax）、Survivin、半胱氨酸天冬酰胺酶（Caspase-3）水平和脑电图参数α、β、 δ、θ波功率。分析miR-106b、miR-146a与Th17细胞占比、Bcl-1、Bax、Survivin、Caspase-3以及α、β、 δ、θ波功率的相关性,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析miR-106b、miR-146a诊断癫痫的价值。结果：癫痫组血浆miR-106b、miR-146a表达、Th17细胞占比、Bax、Caspase-3水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）,α波功率、θ波功率、Bcl-1、Survivin水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）。miR-106b、miR-146a表达与Th17细胞占比、Bax、Caspase-3呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与α波功率、θ波功率、Bcl-1、Survivin呈负相关（P＜0.05）。联合miR-106b和miR-146a诊断癫痫的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.975,高于单独miR-106b和miR-146a诊断的0.884、0.835。结论：癫痫患儿血浆miR-146a、miR-106b表达增高,miR-146a、miR-106b高表达与脑电图异常、Th17细胞功能障碍以及神经细胞凋亡有关,miR-146a、miR-106b有望成为癫痫诊断的新生物学标志物。     

A Mouse Model for Laser-induced Choroidal Neovascularization

The mouse laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model has been a crucial mainstay model for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research. By administering targeted laser injury to the RPE and Bruch’s membrane, the procedure induces angiogenesis, modeling the hallmark pathology observed in neovascular AMD. First developed in non-human primates, the laser-induced CNV model has come to be implemented into many other species, the most recent of which being the mouse. Mouse experiments are advantageously more cost-effective, experiments can be executed on a much faster timeline, and they allow the use of various transgenic models. The miniature size of the mouse eye, however, poses a particular challenge when performing the procedure. Manipulation of the eye to visualize the retina requires practice of fine dexterity skills as well as simultaneous hand-eye-foot coordination to operate the laser. However, once mastered, the model can be applied to study many aspects of neovascular AMD such as molecular mechanisms, the effect of genetic manipulations, and drug treatment effects. The laser-induced CNV model, though useful, is not a perfect model of the disease. The wild-type mouse eye is otherwise healthy, and the chorio-retinal environment does not mimic the pathologic changes in human AMD. Furthermore, injury-induced angiogenesis does not reflect the same pathways as angiogenesis occurring in an age-related and chronic disease state as in AMD.Despite its shortcomings, the laser-induced CNV model is one of the best methods currently available to study the debilitating pathology of neovascular AMD. Its implementation has led to a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of AMD, as well as contributing to the development of many of the AMD therapies currently available.     

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 indicates the differentiation potential of human bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are a mixture of cells differing in differentiation potential including mesenchymal stem cells, and so far no CD antigens were found to be predictable for the differentiation property of each BMSC. Here we attempted to isolate differentiation-associated CD antigens using 100 immortalized human BMSC (ihBMSC) clones. Among 13 CD antigens analyzed, only CD106/Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) showed a clear correlation with the differentiation potential of each clone; CD106-positive ihBMSC clones were less osteogenic and more adipogenic than CD106-negative clones. This association was confirmed in primary BMSCs sorted by CD106, showing that the CD106-positive fraction contained less osteogenic and more adipogenic cells than the CD106-positive fraction. The evaluation of CD106 fraction of BMSC strains in early passages predicted clearly the osteogenic and adipogenic potential after in vitro induction of differentiation, indicating the usefulness of CD106 as a differentiation-predicting marker of BMSC.     

跨膜蛋白TMEM106A诱导肝癌细胞HepG2巨泡样死亡

跨膜蛋白106A (transmembrane protein 106A, TMEM106A)是本中心首先鉴定的与细胞死亡相关的分子。体内外的功能研究证明,TMEM106A在胃癌细胞的高表达能够明显抑制肿瘤细胞的生长,并诱导细胞死亡。本研究利用组织芯片和免疫组化的方法,发现TMEM106A蛋白在癌旁非肿瘤组织中高表达,主要定位在胞质,而在肝癌细胞中低表达或者不表达。进一步的功能研究证明TMEM106A在肝癌细胞系HepG2中高表达能够降低细胞活力、诱导胞质空泡化以及细胞周期阻滞在G2/M期,最终细胞死亡。胞质聚集的空泡表现为单层膜,液泡内基本不含亚细胞器结构以及高电子密度的聚集物。本研究首次证明TMEM106A能够引起巨泡样细胞死亡,其作用机制需要进一步探讨。     

Antioxidant activity related to copper binding of native prion protein

We have developed a method to affinity-purify mouse prion protein (PrP(c)) from mouse brain and cultured cells. PrP(c) from mouse brain bound three copper atoms; PrP(c) from cultured cells bound between one and four copper atoms depending on the availability of copper in the culture medium. Purified PrP(c) exhibited antioxidant activity, as determined by spectrophotometric assay. Incubation of PrP(c) with the neurotoxic peptide, PrP106-126, inactivated the superoxide dismutase-like activity. Culture experiments showed that PrP(c) protects cells against oxidative stress relative to the amount of copper it binds. These results suggest that PrP(c) is a copper-binding protein which can incorporate varying amounts of copper and exhibit protective antioxidant activity.