Glia-to-Neuron Conversion by CRISPR-CasRx Alleviates Symptoms of Neurological Disease in Mice.

Conversion of glial cells into functional neurons represents a potential therapeutic approach for replenishing neuronal loss associated with neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury. Previous attempts in this area using expression of transcription factors were hindered by the low conversion efficiency and failure of generating desired neuronal types in vivo. Here, we report that downregulation of a single RNA-binding protein, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (Ptbp1), using in vivo viral delivery of a recently developed RNA-targeting CRISPR system CasRx, resulted in the conversion of Müller glia into retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with a high efficiency, leading to the alleviation of disease symptoms associated with RGC loss.

[Effect of bilateral superior cervical sympathetic ganglion occlusion on pathological process of aortic dissection and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of bilateral superior cervical sympathetic ganglion occlusion (SCG) on aortic dissection and its possible mechanism.

Methods: Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with 15 in each:blank control group, sham operation group and SCG group. β-aminopropione (666 mg·kg·d) was given by subcutaneous injection for 4 weeks to establish the aortic dissection model.

[The number and subgroups of lymphocytes in valve tissue of rheumatic heart disease combined with diabetes mellitus].

Objective To investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus on lymphocytes in rheumatic heart valve tissue and its mechanism. Methods Valve tissues of 40 patients undergoing heart valve replacement were collected, including 20 patients in rheumatic heart disease group (without diabetes) and 20 patients in diabetic group (rheumatic heart disease combined with diabetes). In addition, 20 cases of valve tissue from control group were collected.

Reduction of HIP2 expression causes motor function impairment and increased vulnerability to dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson's disease models.

Huntingtin interaction protein 2 (HIP2) is an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and HIP2 mRNA has been implicated as a potential blood biomarker for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it is unclear whether the alteration of HIP2 expression may contribute to the development of PD, and whether the change of HIP2 in blood could reflect its expression in the brain or motor functions in PD patients. In this study, we established a mouse line with HIP2 haploinsufficiency.

Chymase induces profibrotic response via transforming growth factor-beta 1/Smad activation in rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Mast cell-derived chymase is implicated in myocardial fibrosis (MF), but the underlying mechanism of intracellular signaling remains unclear. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) is identified as the most important profibrotic cytokine, and Smad proteins are essential, but not exclusive downstream components of TGF-beta 1 signaling. Moreover, novel evidence indicates that there is a cross talk between Smad and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade.