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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban
July 2019
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.
Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi
June 2019
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuntingtin 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMast 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.
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