Risk factors of in-hospital mortality in patients with pneumocystis pneumonia diagnosed by metagenomics next-generation sequencing.

Objectives: The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) test is useful for rapid and accurate detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with in-hospital mortality in pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) patients with mNGS-assisted diagnosis.

Methods: Our study enrolled 154 patients with mNGS-positive PCP from August 2018 to February 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University respectively.

TGFβ1-Smad Signaling Pathway Participates in Interleukin-33 Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of A549 Cells.

Backgrounds/aims: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been proven to be involved in development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-smad signaling pathway in the interleukin-33 (IL-33) induced EMT.

Methods: The human type II alveolar epithelial cell line, A549, and small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) were cultured and divided into 4 groups including Control, LY-2109761 (TGFβ receptor inhibitor), IL-33 and IL-33+LY-2109761 group.

Calpain 1 regulates TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lung epithelial cells via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Cell proliferation, transformation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are key processes involved in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study investigated the regulatory factors and signaling pathways that mediate EMT in the human type II alveolar epithelial A549 cell line. A549 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium and allocated to the following four groups: blank control group or treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β1 + PD 150606 (a calpain 1 inhibitor), or PD 150606.