Exosomal miRNAs Differentiate Chronic Total Occlusion from Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Although coronary artery occlusion can have a negative effect on the myocardium, chronic total occlusion (CTO) exhibits different clinical features from those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we identify the differential associations of exosomal miRNAs with CTO and AMI. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma obtained from coronary arteries of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to treat CTO (n = 29) and AMI (n = 24), followed by small RNA sequencing, target gene predictions, and functional enrichment analyses.

Development of Non-Invasive miRNA Markers for Assessing the Quality of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids.

Human retinal organoids (ROs) have emerged as valuable tools for studying retinal development, modeling human retinal diseases, and screening drugs. However, their application is limited primarily due to time-intensive generation, high costs, and low reproducibility. Quality assessment of RO differentiation is crucial for their application in research.

Intravitreal Administration of Retinal Organoids-Derived Exosomes Alleviates Photoreceptor Degeneration in Royal College of Surgeons Rats by Targeting the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway.

Increasing evidence suggests that exosomes are involved in retinal cell degeneration, including their insufficient release; hence, they have become important indicators of retinopathies. The exosomal microRNA (miRNA), in particular, play important roles in regulating ocular and retinal cell functions, including photoreceptor maturation, maintenance, and visual function. Here, we generated retinal organoids (ROs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells that differentiated in a conditioned medium for 60 days, after which exosomes were extracted from ROs (Exo-ROs).

A genome-wide association study on frequent exacerbation of asthma depending on smoking status.

Purpose: Exacerbation of asthma is affected by genetic and environmental factors, but little is known about genetic differences according to smoking status. We evaluated genetic factors associated with asthma exacerbations in smokers and non-smokers, and identified the underlying mechanisms via a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and gene-level analyses according to smoking status.

Methods: A GWAS on the annual frequency of asthma exacerbations was performed in 420 non-smoking and 188 smoking patients with asthma.

Upregulation of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background/aims: Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) is a major regulator of Wnt signaling, which is involved in fibroblast dysfunction. Because its role has not been evaluated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), we examined the clinical implications of ROR2 expression.

Methods: ROR2 mRNA expression was measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in lung tissue-derived fibroblasts from IPF patients (n = 14) and from controls (n = 10).

Relationship of Microbial Profile With Airway Immune Response in Eosinophilic or Neutrophilic Inflammation of Asthmatics.

Purpose: Different characteristics of airway microbiome in asthmatics may lead to differential immune responses, which in turn cause eosinophilic or neutrophilic airway inflammation. However, the relationships among these factors have yet to be fully elucidated.

Methods: Microbes in induced sputum samples were subjected to sequence analysis of 16S rRNA.

Global DNA Methylation Pattern of Fibroblasts in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Our previous transcriptome study of cultured fibroblasts identified 178 genes that were differentially expressed by 8 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) fibroblasts compared with 4 controls. Here, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis to evaluate the relationship of CpG methylation to differential gene expression. Among 485,577 loci, 5850 loci on 2282 genes showed significant differences between the 2 groups (delta-beta >10.

Clinical Implications of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Diagnosis of Asthma and its Subtypes.

For the past three decades, a large number of genetic studies have been performed to examine genetic variants associated with asthma and its subtypes in hopes of gaining better understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease pathology and to identify genetic biomarkers predictive of disease outcomes. Various methods have been used to achieve these objectives, including linkage analysis, candidate gene polymorphism analysis, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS); however, the degree to which genetic variants contribute to asthma pathogenesis has proven to be much less significant than originally expected. Subsequent application of GWAS to well-defined phenotypes, such as occupational asthma and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugexacerbated respiratory diseases, has overcome some of these limitations, although with only partial success.

Association of Genetic Variants of NLRP4 with Exacerbation of Asthma: The Effect of Smoking.

Asthma exacerbation is induced by the interaction of genes and environmental factors such as cigarette smoke. NLRP4 counteracts the activity of the inflammasome, which is responsible for asthma exacerbation. In this study, we analyzed the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of NLRP4 with the annual rate of exacerbation and evaluated the additive effect of smoking in 1454 asthmatics.

Lung Function Trajectory Types in Never-Smoking Adults With Asthma: Clinical Features and Inflammatory Patterns.

Purpose: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease that responds to medications to varying degrees. Cluster analyses have identified several phenotypes and variables related to fixed airway obstruction; however, few longitudinal studies of lung function have been performed on adult asthmatics. We investigated clinical, demographic, and inflammatory factors related to persistent airflow limitation based on lung function trajectories over 1 year.

Prevalence of Respiratory Viral Infections in Korean Adult Asthmatics With Acute Exacerbations: Comparison With Those With Stable State.

Purpose: Viral infections are involved in ~50% of exacerbations among Caucasian adult asthmatics. However, there have been few reports on the causative virus of exacerbations in Korean adult asthmatics. Thus, we compared frequencies and types of viruses between lower respiratory tract illnesses (LRTIs) with exacerbations (exacerbated LRTIs) and those without exacerbations (stable LRTIs) to evaluate contribution of respiratory viruses to exacerbations.

Characteristics of asthmatics with detectable IL-32γ in induced sputum.

Background: Interleukin-32(IL-32)γ is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the development and severity of chronic inflammatory diseases, but its role in asthma is unclear.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of IL-32γ levels in sputum with the severity of asthma.

Methods: IL-32γ levels in the supernatant of induced sputum obtained from 89 patients with stable asthma were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Association of interleukin-25 levels with development of aspirin induced respiratory diseases.

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory diseases (AERD) are caused by ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are characterized by acute bronchospasms and marked infiltration of eosinophils, the latter being attributable to altered synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT) and prostaglandins (PG). Recently, the innate Th2 response is revealed to induce eosinophil infiltration in allergic inflammation, however the role of the innate Th2 response has not been studies in AERD. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between the innate Th2 cytokines including IL-25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-33 and the development of AERD.

Systematic analyses of the ultraviolet radiation resistance-associated gene product (UVRAG) protein interactome by tandem affinity purification.

Ultraviolet radiation resistance-associated gene product (UVRAG) was originally identified as a protein involved in cellular responses to UV irradiation. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that UVRAG plays as an important role in autophagy, a lysosome-dependent catabolic program, as a part of a pro-autophagy PIK3C3/VPS34 lipid kinase complex. Several recent studies have shown that UVRAG is also involved in autophagy-independent cellular functions, such as DNA repair/stability and vesicular trafficking/fusion.

Fluorometric detection of lectin with water-soluble hyperbranched conjugated polymer using mannose mediation.

A water-soluble hyperbranched polymer containing boronic acid groups at the ends of the polymer, which are capable of binding to diol-containing mannose, was syntheized. The hyperbranched polymer was prepared by a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction using the tribromo monomer for the hyperbranched type structure. The water-soluble hyperbranched polymer (HP) exhibited enhanced fluorescence intensity upon exposure to lectin in the presence of mannose compared to other proteins, such as lysozyme and cytochrome c, because mannose plays a key role in binding both lectin and HP resulting in selective sensing toward lectin.

Simultaneous detection and removal of mercury ions in aqueous solution with fluorescent conjugated polymer-based sensor ensemble.

A water-soluble, sulfur-containing fluorescent conjugated polymer exhibits a visible fluorescence color change for detection of mercury in the presence of thymine. A new concept provides the design of a sensor ensemble using a simple combination method. This strategy avoids the need for complicated design and synthesis of a recognition group, eliminating the tedious synthetic efforts for the preparation of a sensor material.

Self-assembly of supramolecualr metallogelator containing 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole/Zn(II) chelate.

A low molar mass organogelator 1 containing 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPB) unit with long alkyl chain was synthesized by the reaction with HPB and octyl isocyanate in THF at room temperature. A new chelate-based organogelator 1-Zn(II) was prepared with the reaction of 1 and zinc(II) acetate in methanol and dichloromethane at mild condition. The gelation ability of organogelator was tested by heating-cooling method in various organic solvents, and the opaque gel was formed from DMF.