Asthma is a mysterious disease with heterogeneity in etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical phenotypes. Although ongoing studies have provided a better understanding of asthma, its natural history, progression, pathogenesis, diversified phenotypes, and even the exact epigenetic linkage between childhood asthma and adult-onset/old age asthma remain elusive in many aspects. Asthma heritability has been

Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and Macrophage-Derived Chemokine (MDC/CCL22) are two key chemokines exerting their biological effect via binding and activating a common receptor CCR4, expressed at the surface of type 2 helper T (Th2) cells. By recruiting Th2 cells in the dermis, CCL17 and CCL22 promote the development of inflammation in atopic skin. The aim of this research was

Follicular helper CD4+ T (TFH) cells are a specialized subset of effector T cells that play a central role in orchestrating adaptive immunity. TFH cells mainly promote germinal center (GC) formation, provide help to B cells for immunoglobulin affinity maturation and class-switch recombination of B cells, and facilitate production of long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells. TFH cells express the

Several inflammation-related factors (IRFs) have been reported to predict organ failure of acute pancreatitis (AP) in previous clinical studies. However, there are a few shortcomings in these models. The aim of this study was to develop a new prediction model based on IRFs that could accurately identify the risk for organ failure in AP. Methods. 100 patients with their clinical information and IRF

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its pathogenesis is closely related with the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). We previously reported a truncated GATA4 protein lacking C-terminus induced by p.S335X mutation in cardiomyocyte from ventricular septal defect (VSD) patients. However, it is still unclear whether

Background. Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver malignancy in pediatrics, but the treatment for this disease is minimal. This study is aimed at exploring the effect of FoxO1 and SREBP-1c on HB and their mechanism. Methods. FoxO1, SREBP-1c, FASN, ACLY, ACC, and MAGL expressions in tissue samples were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. IHC was utilized to measure FASN content. Overexpression and knockdown

The integrity and permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier are important indicators of intestinal health. Impaired intestinal epithelial barrier function and increased intestinal permeability are closely linked to the onset and progression of various intestinal diseases. Sinapic acid (SA) is a phenolic acid that has anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, and antioxidant activities; meanwhile

lncRNAs play important roles in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury. But the mechanism still needs further research. In the present study, we investigate the functional role of the lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a pathway in LPS-induced ALI and tried to confirm its regulatory effect on autophagy. Transcriptomic profile changes were identified by RNA-seq in LPS-treated alveolar type

Tomatidine, which is isolated from green tomato, can ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress in cells and animal experiments and has been shown to improve airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Here, we investigated whether tomatidine can ameliorate acute lung injury in mice. Mice were given tomatidine by intraperitoneal injection for 7 consecutive days, and then, lung injury was induced

Background. Elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the main risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Statins are the drugs of choice for decreasing LDL-C and are used for the prevention and management of ASCVD. Guidelines recommend that subjects with high and very high ASCVD risk should be treated with high-intensity statins or a combination of high-intensity

Background. Abnormal endometrial repair after injury results in the formation of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) and a thin endometrium, which are key causes for implantation failure and infertility. Stem cell transplantation offers a potential alternative for some cases of severe Asherman’s syndrome that cannot be treated with surgery or hormonal therapy. Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Objective. To assess the association between the use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with systemic inflammatory conditions. Methods. Eligible cohort studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to January 2021 were included. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cardiovascular

Background. Statins reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects aside from their lipid-lowering impact. We investigated the effects of statin therapy on the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) or highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), a liver-derived marker of systemic inflammation, among stroke patients. Methods. An online search was performed in Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar

High-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) is a common aspect of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) caused by hypoxia and is the main cause of other symptoms associated with CMS. However, its pathogenesis and the mechanisms of high-altitude acclimation have not been fully elucidated. Exposure to high altitude is associated with elevated inflammatory mediators. In this study, the subjects were recruited and placed

HIV-1 can incite activation of chemokine receptors, inflammatory mediators, and glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. The mechanisms associated with such immune activation can disrupt neuronal and glial functions. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is being observed since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic due to a change in the functional integrity of cells from the central nervous

Objectives. Dendrobium catenatum Lindl. (DH) is a Chinese herbal medicine, which is often used to make tea to improve immunity in China. Rumor has it that DH has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear how DH can prevent cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis (AS). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to study whether DH can prevent AS and the underlying

Background. Heart transplantation (HT) is the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure because it can effectively improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients with heart failure. Artesunate (ART) is an artemisinin derivative, with good water solubility and higher oral bioavailability. The main aim of this study was to determine the role of ART in HT mice. Methods. In animal

Inflammation causes tissue damage and promotes ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), and the infiltration and polarization of macrophages play an important role in regulating inflammation post-MI. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory function of curcumin after MI and studied its relationship with macrophage polarization. In vivo, curcumin not only attenuated ventricular remodeling

Objective. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic disease and develops rapidly into a grave public health problem worldwide. However, what exactly causes the occurrence of COPD remains largely unclear. Here, we are trying to explore whether the high expression of p16 mediated by p300/Sp1 can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through promoting the senescence of endothelial

Background. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have critical regulatory functions in biological and pathological activities during osteosarcoma progression. It is important to elucidate the expression pattern and reveal the underlying mechanisms of the newly identified lncRNAs. Methods. Herein, we screened the differentially expressed lncRNAs in osteosarcoma tumors and cell lines using lncRNA microarray

Objective. To explore the value of the heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate in the early prediction of anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery. Methods. Clinical data from patients with rectal cancer who underwent anterior rectal resection in the Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected and analyzed

It has been considered that glucose fluctuation (GF) plays a role in renal injury and is related to diabetic nephropathy (DN) development. But the mechanism is still unclear. Aerobic glycolysis has become a topical issue in DN in recent years. There is an internal connection between GF, aerobic glycolysis, and DN. Curcumin (Cur) is a principal curcuminoid of turmeric and possesses specific protective

Gut microbiota has attracted widespread attention due to its crucial role in disease pathophysiology, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Metabolites and bacterial components of gut microbiota affect the initiation and progression of T2DM by regulating inflammation, immunity, and metabolism. Short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acid, imidazole propionate, branched-chain amino acids, and lipopolysaccharide

Disrupted endothelial permeability plays a crucial role in the vasculitis pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD), which leads to pathological vascular leak and facilitates inflammatory cell infiltration in vascular lesions; however, the mechanisms involved in the development of endothelial barrier dysfunction during KD vasculitis are still largely unclear. Here, we found that sera from patients with

Introduction. In recent years, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) has been proposed as a new inflammatory marker. We aimed to evaluate the association between GPR and outcomes after cardiac arrest (CA). Methods. A total of 354 consecutive patients with CA were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into three groups according to tertiles of GPR (low, ; middle

The study is aimed at investigating if PUFA supplementation could prevent the effects of a short-term HFD on α7nAChR expression and on the severity of sepsis. Swiss mice were used for the in vivo experiments. For the in vitro experiments, we used a microglia cell line (BV-2) and a hepatoma cell line (Hepa-1c1c7) derived from mice. The animals were either fed standard chow, fed a short-term HFD (60%)

Hypoxia-inducible factor- (HIF-) 1α has been implicated in the ability of cells to adapt to alterations in oxygen levels. Bacterial stimuli can induce HIF1α in immune cells, including those of myeloid origin. We here determined the role of myeloid cell HIF1α in the host response during pneumonia and sepsis caused by the common human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. To this end, we generated mice deficient

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no clear causative event making the disease difficult to diagnose and treat. The pathological hallmarks of AD include amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and widespread neuronal loss. Amyloid-beta has been extensively studied and targeted to develop an effective disease-modifying therapy, but the success rate in clinical practice is

Objective. Peritoneal adhesion (PA) is an abnormal connective tissue that usually occurs between tissues adjacent to damaged organs during processes such as surgery. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Portulaca oleracea (PO) were investigated against postoperative-induced peritoneal adhesion. Methods. Thirty healthy male Wistar rats (, 6-8 weeks) were randomly divided into

Background. Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells that play a vital role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and colonic tissue hemostasis. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nanocurcumin (NC) on the morphometric and immunohistochemical characterization of TCs in the ulcerative colitis (UC) rat model. Methods. Forty rats were randomly divided into control,

Background. B7 family members and ligands have been identified as critical checkpoints in orchestrating the immune response during sepsis. V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a new inhibitory immune checkpoint involved in restraining T cell response. Previous studies demonstrated that VISTA engagement on T cells and myeloid cells could transmit inhibitory signals, resulting in reduced

Vincristine (Vin) is a well-known antitumor agent that frequently evokes neuropathic pain and decreases the quality of life of patients. Polysaccharides (GBP) extracted from Gastrodia elata Blume have been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in vivo; however, the effects of GBP on Vin-induced neuropathic pain remain unknown. The present study is aimed at exploring

Intervertebral disc degenerative disease (IDD) is the most common degenerative spine disease, which leads to chronic low back pain and symptoms in the lower extremities. In this study, we found that RORα, a member of the retinoid-related orphan receptor family, is significantly elevated in nucleus pulposus tissue in IDD patients. The elevation of RORα is associated with increased apoptosis of nucleus

Background and Purpose. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder and the important causes of death among men over the age of 65 years. Interleukin-12p35 (IL12p35) is an inflammatory cytokine that participates in a variety of inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL12p35 in the formation and development of AAA is still unknown. Experimental Approach. Male apolipoprotein

Acute pancreatitis is a common clinical condition with increasing the proinflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Obesity is a negative prognostic factor in acute pancreatitis. Obese patients with acute pancreatitis have a higher systemic inflammatory response rate. Levels of serum resistin, an adipocytokine secreted by fat tissues, increase with obesity. Cerulein, a cholecystokinin

Serum interleukin- (IL-) 27 level has been reported to increase in patients with several autoimmune diseases; however, its significance in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis (AAV) is unknown. In this study, we investigated the associations between serum IL-27, laboratory features, and activity of AAV and evaluate the predictive ability of serum IL-27 level

There is a limited number of clinical studies on interferon (IFN) levels in human brucellosis. The novel group of interferons, type III interferons, which consists of four IFN-λ (lambda) molecules called IFN-λ1 or interleukin-29 (IL-29), IFN-λ2 or IL-28A, IFN-λ3 or IL-28B, and IFN-λ4, is not fully known. This study is one of the first studies of IL-28A and IL-29 levels in brucellosis cases at the end

Paraquat (PQ) can cause multiorgan failure including acute kidney injury (AKI). Our prior study showed that Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP) protected against PQ-induced acute lung injury. However, the role of TOLLIP in PQ-induced AKI remains undefined. This study was aimed at understanding the role and mechanism of TOLLIP in AKI. Six-eight-week-old male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected

Lichen planus is considered a chronic inflammatory disease which affects different sites, such as the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nails. Based on the evidence, a complex cytokine network plays a crucial role in lichen planus pathogenesis. The study was aimed at assessing the serum IL-23 levels in the patients with cutaneous and oral lichen planus compared to healthy controls. Method. The study

Background. Although the relationship between gout and cardiovascular has been well demonstrated, there is little information about the difference between gout with cerebrovascular disease and cardiovascular disease. In this study, the differences between gout with cerebral infarction (gout+CI) and gout with coronary heart disease (gout+CHD) and related factors that affect serum uric acid (sUA) levels

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. It is suggested that, in addition to thyroid gland dysfunction, HT is responsible for impaired secretion from the salivary glands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of symptoms of salivary gland dysfunction. We also assessed the relationship between the levels of selected cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors

Nobiletin, a biologically active substance in the skin of citrus fruits, has been reported to be an effective anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial agent. In this study, we aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of nobiletin on tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) stimulated human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs). Our results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment could decrease the expressions

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The most dangerous life-threatening symptoms of CVD are myocardial infarction and stroke. The causes of CVD are not entirely clear, and new therapeutic targets are still being sought. One of the factors involved in CVD development among vascular damage and oxidative stress is chronic inflammation. It is known that hyaluronic acid

Background. This study is aimed at assessing the subsets of bone marrow macrophages in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and exploring the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of MDS. Methods. Thirty-eight newly diagnosed MDS patients were enrolled in the Department of Hematology of General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from June 2015 to June 2016. Bone marrow monocytes and macrophage

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head (AVNFH) is a disease caused by injury to the blood supply of the femoral head, resulting in a collapse with osteonecrosis and damage to the articular cartilage. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been demonstrated to improve AVNFH owing to its anti-inflammation activity, angiogenesis effect, and tissue regeneration in clinical treatment. However

Background. The biological link between severe periodontitis and cardiovascular disease is well established. Both complex inflammatory diseases are influenced by genetic background. Therefore, the impact of genetic variations of receptors of the innate immune system—(Toll-like receptors (TLRs)) TLR2, TLR4, cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), and the transcription factor nuclear factor-κΒ (NF-κB)—was

Hypertrophic scar (HTS) is a complicated pathological process induced mainly by burns and wounds, with abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts and the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. PAPPA-AS1, a differentially expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the HTS tissues, attracted our interests in its potential role and mechanism in the development and process of HTS. In the present study

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid: AA) uptake in neurons occurs via the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT2), which is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). During chronic neuroinflammation or infection, CNS levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) are increased. Elevated levels of LPS and TNFα have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases

Myopia is a highly prevalent refractive disorder. We investigated the effect of diacerein on monocular form deprivation (MFD) in hamsters as a possible therapeutic intervention. Diacerein is an anthraquinone derivative drug whose active metabolite is rhein. Diacerein or atropine was applied to the MFD hamsters, and their refractive error and axial length were measured after 21 days. The refractive

Purpose. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic and multifactorial autoimmune disease, and its diverse clinical manifestations affect molecular diagnosis and drug benefits. Our study was aimed at defining the SLE subtypes based on blood transcriptome data, analyzing functional patterns, and elucidating drug benefits. Methods. Three data sets were used in this paper that were collected from

Background. In patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the damage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be life-threatening. Mesenchymal stem cells are widely used in clinical research due to their pleiotropic properties. This study is aimed at exploring the effect of BMSCs regulating astrocytes on the BBB after SAH. Methods. The SAH model was established by perforating the blood vessels. BMSCs

Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cytokines have a great impact on the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Cytokines, as key mediators of inflammation and autoimmune processes, play a crucial role in the regulation of MMP expression in different cell types. Parallel, MMPs have an influence on cytokine production. This interaction was not well recognized in psoriatic patients. Our study is aimed at assessing the

Aim. To investigate the clinical significance of procalcitonin (PCT) elevation on hospital admission for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and its association with mortality in oldest old patients (). Methods. The clinical records of 1074 patients with chest high-resolution computed-tomography (HRCT) positive for interstitial pneumonia and symptoms compatible for COVID-19, hospitalized in medical wards

Background. Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after rectal surgery can reduce the adverse effects of AL, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are no accepted indicators or effective scoring systems that can clearly identify patients at risk of anastomotic leakage. Methods. A prospective study with assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of oxidative stress level (CAT,

Background. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the most important promoter of allergic inflammation. However, there are few systematic studies on IgE in age range, genders, disease spectrum, and time regularity. Aim. To screen the common allergens, allergen spectrum, and IgE difference between type 2 inflammatory allergic diseases and other allergic diseases in Weifang, China. Methods. A retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-450a-2-3p in myocardial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation. For this purpose, the expression profile of GSE55296 was extracted from the GEO database, and differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified. Gene ontology analysis of the target genes of mir-450a-2-3p indicated that there was a regulatory relationship

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening late complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Even though its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated, several studies suggested a role for transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) in the onset and progression of the disease. Consequently, the aim of this study

Background and Aims. Recent evidences reveal that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) exacerbates the process of intestinal fibrosis. Tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) is a member of the tumor necrosis family (TNF), which can take part in the development of colonic inflammation and fibrosis by regulating immune response or inflammatory factors. The purpose of this study was to elucidate

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening disease involving multiple organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection. To date, sepsis remains a dominant cause of death among critically ill patients. Pyroptosis is a unique form of programmed cell death mediated by the gasdermin family of proteins and causes lytic cell death and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Although there

Background. Alterations of microcirculation are associated with organ hypoperfusion and high mortality in septic shock. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of unfractionated heparin (UFH) on intestinal microcirculatory perfusion and systemic circulation in a septic shock model. Methods. Twenty-four beagle dogs were randomly allocated into four groups: (a) sham group: healthy controls,