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Biomedical subjects

Y L Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Y L Huang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

ARID1A Mediates ROS-Induced Osteoclast Activation in TMJ Osteoarthritis.

Excessive osteoclast activation drives rapid subchondral bone destruction, serving as a critical early-stage event precipitating temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA). Although epigenetic remodeling is widely recognized as an important interface between pathological environmental signals and genomic response, the specific epigenetic mechanisms translating TMJ-OA-associated stimulation into pathological osteoclast activation remain to be elucidated. Here, using a mechanically induced TMJ-OA mouse model, we identify aberrant reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation as a critical upstream driver initiating excessive osteoclast activation and subsequent joint deterioration. By integrating transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses, we delineate the chromatin remodeler AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) as an essential oxidative stress sensor within the osteoclast lineage. Mechanistically, ROS accumulation induces ARID1A upregulation and recruitment to the Src enhancer, transcriptionally activating Src and amplifying PI3K-AKT signaling to drive pathological osteoclastogenesis. Conditional knockout of Arid1a in myeloid cells effectively abrogates subchondral bone loss and cartilage destruction in TMJ-OA. Translating these mechanistic insights, we engineered an ROS-responsive, osteoclast-targeting hydrogel for the on-demand delivery of an ARID1A-dependent canonical BRG1/BRM-associated factor complex inhibitor, which successfully alleviates TMJ-OA progression. Our findings establish the epigenetic response to ROS accumulation as a key pathogenic mechanism in TMJ-OA and highlight ARID1A as a promising therapeutic target for early disease intervention.

biomaterial(s)↗

Increased expression of the natural killer cell inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A and CD158b on circulating and lesional T cells in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common inflammatory cutaneous disorder characterized by activated T-cell infiltration. T lymphocytes bearing natural killer cell receptors (NKRs) have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the expression pattern of activating and inhibitory NKRs on T lymphocytes from psoriatic patients and its significance in psoriasis needs further study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pathogenesis of NKR-expressing T cells in psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The immunophenotypic profiles of NKRs, including CD56, CD16 (activating NKRs), CD158a, CD158b, CD94 and NKG2A (inhibitory NKRs), were analysed in peripheral blood T lymphocytes, as well as psoriatic lesional infiltrating T cells, by triple-fluorescence flow cytometry. RESULTS: A significant increase of inhibitory CD8+ CD158b+, CD4 CD8 CD158b+ and CD8+ CD94/NKG2A+ T cells was found in the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis when compared with controls. Tissue-infiltrating T lymphocytes expressing inhibitory receptors CD158b, CD94 and NKG2A were found in psoriatic lesions. There was a significant positive correlation between the increased percentage of circulating CD8+ CD94/NKG2A+ T cells and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we demonstrated increased proportions of particular subsets of inhibitory CD158b+ and/or CD94/NKG2A+ T cells in patients with psoriasis. The elevation of these inhibitory NKR-expressing T cells was correlated with disease severity, which may signify the possibility of chronic antigen-driven stimulation and dysregulated cytokine production in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Adolescent↗

[Effects of antiviral effects of agents and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B.].

BACKGROUND: To analyze the effects of difference antiviral agents and the effects of the treatments on long-term prognosis. METHODS: Retrospective research method was applied. RESULTS: About 40% of the patients were treated with interferon or lamivudine. After the treatment, in lamivudine group, the negative rate of HBV DNA was the highest. In the interferon group, the sero conversion rates of HBeAg/HBeAb were 22.9%. In the antiviral treatment patients, the disease progression and the occurrence of cirrhosis and liver cancer were much lower than those of the control groups. The mortality of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the HBeAg/HBeAb sero converted group was much lower than that of the group without HBeAg/HBeAb sero conversion groups (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The antiviral effects of interferon and lamivudine were better than those of the other drug groups. The antiviral drugs could relieve the disease progression and reduce the mortality of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Antiviral Agents↗

Role of breast tumour kinase in the in vitro differentiation of HaCaT cells.

BACKGROUND: Breast tumour kinase (BRK) is a newly identified non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase from a metastatic breast tumour. Its biological functions are still under extensive investigation. The mouse homologue Sik (Src-related intestinal kinase) has been implicated in mouse keratinocyte differentiation; however, not much is known about the functions of BRK in human cutaneous biology. OBJECTIVES: Using HaCaT cells as an experimental model, to explore the mutual relationships between BRK and differentiation of human keratinocytes. METHODS: Archival paraffin blocks of normal and pathological skin were retrieved for examining the in vivo distribution of BRK. Its expression and subcellular localization were examined via indirect immunofluorescence, and quantitative changes were analysed by Northern and Western blots. The kinase activity of BRK was determined by its autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of exogenous substrate in the in vitro kinase assay. Using a retroviral infection method, we established stably transfected HaCaT cells expressing vector, wild-type BRK or a kinase-defective mutant (K219M). Expression of the differentiation marker keratin 10 (K10) was compared among these cells using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Histochemical examination showed that BRK was expressed exclusively in suprabasal keratinocytes. Its distribution was both cytoplasmic and intranuclear. An enhanced regional suprabasal expression pattern was observed in the confluent areas of cell cultures. The expression of BRK transcript and protein was up-regulated in prolonged confluence culture in a serum-dependent manner. Its kinase activity was activated shortly after the addition of calcium and ionomycin and returned to the basal level within 30 min. Overexpression of wild-type BRK moderately promoted the expression of K10 transcript while the kinase-defective BRK mutant exerted a prominent suppressive effect. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo distribution of BRK and its up-regulation during in vitro differentiation of HaCaT cells, together with the activation of its kinase activity by calcium/ionomycin and its influence on K10 expression, all indicate a role for BRK in the complex process of keratinocyte differentiation.

Blotting, Western↗

Bioaccumulation of nickel from aqueous solutions by genetically engineered Escherichia coli.

This study constructed a genetically engineered Escherichia coli JM109 which simultaneously expressed nickel transport system and metallothionein to remove and recover Ni(2+) from aqueous solution. Bioaccumulation process was rapid and followed linearized Langmuir isotherm. A more than six-fold increase of Ni(2+) binding capacity was obtained by genetically engineered E. coli cells compared with original host E. coli cells. A pH assay showed genetically engineered E. coli cells accumulated Ni(2+) effectively over a broad range of pH (4-10). The presence of 1000 mg/L Na(+) and Ca(2+), or 50mg/L Cd(2+) or Pb(2+) did not have a significant effect on Ni(2+) bioaccumulation, while Mg(2+), Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) posed a severe adverse influence on Ni(2+) uptake by genetically engineered E. coli. Furthermore, genetically engineered E. coli cells did not require extra nutrients for Ni(2+) bioaccumulation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibits outward delayed-rectifier potassium currents in acutely isolated hippocampal neurons.

In the present study, whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to study whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) had a regulatory effect on the potassium-channel currents. The outward delayed-rectifier potassium currents (I(K)) were recorded in acutely isolated hippocampal neurons from 14-day-old rat brains. A local application of VEGF at the concentrations from 50 ng/ml to 200 ng/ml dose-dependently inhibited I(K). Administration of VEGF (100 ng/ml) to the neurons only for seconds could significantly reduce I(K) in 26 of 39 recorded cells. The currents could recover to 82.8+/-3.7% of the control level at 60 s after removing VEGF in the buffer. In the I-V curve analysis, VEGF negatively shifted the I-V curve of I(K); the inhibition was gradually enhanced as the membrane potential increased from -40 mV to 50 mV in 13 cells. Thus, the results reveal that VEGF inhibits I(K) in acute, reversible and voltage-dependent manners. Double staining combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to simultaneously detect the distribution of VEGF receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) in the hippocampal section and isolated neuron. Results showed that flt-1-positive staining, but not flk-1, could be observed on the membrane of the hippocampal neuron in both preparations, suggesting the presence of neuronal membrane VEGF flt-1 receptors in the hippocampus. To investigate if the inhibition by VEGF on I(K) is related to the presence of flt-1 receptors, we further did flt-1-receptor immunostaining for the recorded neurons, which was labeled with Lucifer Yellow during the recording. Among nine recorded cells, five showing the inhibition by VEGF had detectable signals for flt-1 receptors on their membrane, whereas the other four showing no inhibition had no flt-1 receptors either. The results suggest that VEGF can acutely inhibit I(K) in the hippocampal neurons probably related to the presence of membrane flt-1 receptors in the neurons.

Action Potentials↗

A narcotic dose of carbon monoxide induces neuronal haeme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthetase in sheep.

Twelve Romney ewes were exposed to either 1% carbon monoxide (CO) in air (n=6) or room air alone for 120 min and were killed 15 days later for histological and immunohistochemical examination. This dose of CO was narcotic and induced both haeme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthetase in brain neurons, but not in endothelial cells. The mechanism of the induction is not established here, but cellular theories of CO toxicity will need to be re-examined given these results.

Animals↗

Prolonged exposure to one percent carbon monoxide causes a leucoencephalopathy in un-anaesthetised sheep.

A total of 15 Levine-prepared adult un-anaesthetised sheep were exposed to 1% carbon monoxide (CO) in air for between 45 and 150 min. This exposure caused a reversible increase in blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentration and heart rate, and a similarly reversible decrease in electroencephalographic frequency and level of consciousness. sheep were either normotensive or slightly hypertensive. Sheep brains were subsequently examined for histopathological changes at either 5 or 14 days post- exposure. No dead neurons or apoptotic cells were seen, but most sheep given a prolonged exposure to CO had some axonal damage and associated gliosis. This damage was concentrated about necrotic micro-foci in the peri-ventricular white matter. These results suggest that a leucoencephalopathy is a primary consequence of acute and sub-acute CO toxicity.

Animals↗

In vitro effects of metal ions (Fe2+, Mn2+, Pb2+) on sperm motility and lipid peroxidation in human semen.

The effects of divalent manganese ion (Mn2+), ferrous iron (Fe2+), and lead ion (Pb2+) on human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation were examined. Human semen from healthy male volunteers was incubated with 0, 5, 50, or 500 ppm divalent metal ions, and the sperm motility was determined at 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h by microscopy. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in seminal plasma was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography after 8 h of exposure. The results showed that 500 ppm Mn2+ or Pb2+ significantly inhibited sperm motility without an accompanying change in seminal MDA levels. Incubation with Fe2+ significantly inhibited sperm motility at 5 ppm, associated with a marked rise in MDA levels. Our results suggested that Fe2+ may induce lipid peroxidation to inhibit sperm motility. In the case of Mn2+ and Pb2+ there is an absence of seminal lipid peroxidation and the observed inhibition of sperm motility at high concentrations is not biologically or environmentally relevant.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Role of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 in neonatal rat neuronal damage induced by hypoxia-ischemia.

The role of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 in neonatal rat neuronal damage was studied following hypoxia-ischemia. To induce hypoxia-ischemia injury, rats on postnatal day 7 were exposed to 8 % oxygen for 2 h following unilateral common carotid artery ligation. According to brain damage scoring based on Cresyl Violet staining, the neuronal damage time-dependently changed in the ischemic regions following hypoxia-ischemia. Immunohistochemical studies showed that excitatory amino acid transporter 1 expression was mainly observed in the cerebral cortex ipsilateral to common carotid artery ligation and markedly increased at 24 h and 48 h following hypoxia-ischemia. Combined with confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis, double staining showed that excitatory amino acid transporter 1 positive staining appeared in neurons as well as astrocytes after hypoxia-ischemia. Most excitatory amino acid transporter 1 positive staining cells exhibited regular morphological characteristics and only a few were double-stained by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate nick-end labeling. Down-regulation of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 expression by intraventricular administration of specific antisense oligonucleotide exacerbated neuronal damage in hypoxia-ischemia brain. These results suggest that the increase of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 expression may be involved in a pathophysiological process of hypoxia-ischemia brain damage and may reflect a self-compensative mechanism for protecting neurons from further injury.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Water-soluble glycosides from Ruta graveolens.

An EtOH extract of the dried aerial parts of Ruta graveolens was suspended in water and then partitioned with EtOAc. Three new glycosides, 3'-sinapoyl-6-feruloylsucrose (4), methylcnidioside A (5), and methylpicraquassioside A (6), together with four known glycosides, 3',6-disinapoylsucrose (1), cnidioside A (2), rutin, and picraquassioside A (3), were isolated from the water-soluble part. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectra and comparison with literature data.

China↗

Three xanthones and a benzophenone from Garcinia mangostana.

Investigation of the constituents of Garcinia mangostana has led to the isolation of four new compounds: three minor xanthones, garcimangosone A (1), garcimangosone B (2), and garcimangosone C (3), and a benzophenone glucoside, garcimangosone D (4). The structures of these four compounds were established by spectral (NMR and MS) and chemical methods.

Benzophenones↗

Detection of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A using immuno-PCR.

AIMS: An immuno-polymerase chain reaction (immuno-PCR) has been developed for the sensitive detection of antigens, which greatly extends the detection limits of immunoassays. In the current study, the method was applied to the detection of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BTx-A). METHODS AND RESULTS: Anti-BTx-A antibody-DNA conjugates were synthesized using a heterobifunctional cross-linker reagent to covalently link the reporter DNA and the antibodies. The antibody-DNA conjugates with antigens were amplified by PCR, and dose-dependent relationships for each analyte were demonstrated. Detection limits of immuno-PCR for BTx-A (3.33 x 10(-17) mol) exceeded the conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (3.33 x 10(-14) mol) by a 1000-fold enhancement in detection sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Detection of BTx-A antigens by immuno-PCR demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in 100-fold magnitude below the detection limit of ELISA. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It is concluded that the immuno-PCR method could be used to detect a very low level of BTx-A for clinical diagnosis.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Vasorelaxing effect of coumarins from Cnidium monnieri on rabbit corpus cavernosum.

Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the identification of four known coumarins, osthole (1), imperatorin (2), xanthotoxin (3), and isopimpinellin (4), from the ethanolic extract of the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson. In phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted endothelium-intact rabbit corpus cavernosum, all four coumarins exhibited relaxing effect with the IC50 values for compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 determined to be 2.14 +/- 0.73, 0.85 +/- 0.16, 1.24 +/- 0.45, and 18.4 +/- 8.10 microM, respectively. The four compounds were identified by comparison of their physical data (EIMS, 1H- and 13C-NMR) with those from published reports.

Animals↗

Characterization of neutralizing antibodies and identification of neutralizing epitope mimics on the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A.

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BTx-A) is known to inhibit the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junctions and synapses and to cause neuroparalysis and death. In this study, we have identified two monoclonal antibodies, BT57-1 and BT150-3, which protect ICR mice against lethal doses of BTx-A challenge. The neutralizing activities for BT57-1 and BT150-3 were 10(3) and 10(4) times the 50% lethal dose, respectively. Using immunoblotting analysis, BT57-1 was recognized as a light chain and BT150-3 was recognized as a heavy chain of BTx-A. Also, applying the phage display method, we investigated the antibodies' neutralizing B-cell epitopes. These immunopositive phage clones displayed consensus motifs, Asp-Pro-Leu for BT57-1 and Cys-X-Asp-Cys for BT150. The synthetic peptide P4M (KGTFDPLQEPRT) corresponded to the phage-displayed peptide selected by BT57-1 and was able to bind the antibodies specifically. This peptide was also shown by competitive inhibition assay to be able to inhibit phage clone binding to BT57-1. Aspartic acid (D(5)) in P4M was crucial to the binding of P4M to BT57-1, since its binding activity dramatically decreased when it was changed to lysine (K(5)). Finally, immunizing mice with the selected phage clones elicited a specific humoral response against BTx-A. These results suggest that phage-displayed random-peptide libraries are useful in identifying the neutralizing epitopes of monoclonal antibodies. In the future, the identification of the neutralizing epitopes of BTx-A may provide important information for the identification of the BTx-A receptor and the design of a BTx-A vaccine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of B-cell epitope of dengue virus type 1 and its application in diagnosis of patients.

Using a serotype-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) of dengue virus type 1 (DEN-1), 15F3-1, we identified the B-cell epitope of DEN-1 from a random peptide library displayed on phage. Fourteen immunopositive phage clones that bound specifically to MAb 15F3-1 were selected. These phage-borne peptides had a consensus motif of HxYaWb (a = S/T, b = K/H/R) that mimicked the sequence HKYSWK, which corresponded to amino acid residues 111 to 116 of the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of DEN-1. Among the four synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acid residues 110 to 117 of the NS1 of DEN-1, -2, -3, and -4, only one peptide, EHKYSWKS (P14M) of DEN-1, was found to bind to 15F3-1 specifically. Furthermore, P14M was shown to inhibit the binding of phage particles to 15F3-1 in a competitive inhibition assay. Histidine(111) (His(111)) was crucial to the binding of P14M to 15F3-1, since its binding activity dramatically reduced when it changed to leucine(111) (Leu(111)). This epitope-based peptide demonstrated its clinical diagnostic potential when it reacted with a high degree of specificity with serum samples obtained from both DEN-1-infected rabbits and patients. Based on these observations, our DEN-1 epitope-based serologic test could be useful in laboratory viral diagnosis and in understanding the pathogenesis of DEN-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Salicylates inhibit flavivirus replication independently of blocking nuclear factor kappa B activation.

Flaviviruses comprise a positive-sense RNA genome that replicates exclusively in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Whether flaviviruses require an activated nuclear factor(s) to complete their life cycle and trigger apoptosis in infected cells remains elusive. Flavivirus infections quickly activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), and salicylates have been shown to inhibit NF-kappaB activation. In this study, we investigated whether salicylates suppress flavivirus replication and virus-induced apoptosis in cultured cells. In a dose-dependent inhibition, we found salicylates within a range of 1 to 5 mM not only restricted flavivirus replication but also abrogated flavivirus-triggered apoptosis. However, flavivirus replication was not affected by a specific NF-kappaB peptide inhibitor, SN50, and a proteosome inhibitor, lactacystin. Flaviviruses also replicated and triggered apoptosis in cells stably expressing IkappaBalpha-DeltaN, a dominant-negative mutant that antagonizes NF-kappaB activation, as readily as in wild-type BHK-21 cells, suggesting that NF-kappaB activation is not essential for either flavivirus replication or flavivirus-induced apoptosis. Salicylates still diminished flavivirus replication and blocked apoptosis in the same IkappaBalpha-DeltaN cells. This inhibition of flaviviruses by salicylates could be partially reversed by a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, SB203580. Together, these results show that the mechanism by which salicylates suppress flavivirus infection may involve p38 MAP kinase activity but is independent of blocking the NF-kappaB pathway.

Animals↗