MicroRNA-1246 Inhibits NFATc1 Phosphorylation and Regulates T Helper 17 Cell Activation in the Pathogenesis of Severe Alopecia Areata.

Background: We found microRNA (miR)-1246 to be significantly differentially expressed between severe active alopecia areata (AA) patients and healthy individuals.

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of miR-1246 in severe AA.

Methods: Expression of miR-1246, dual-specific tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1c (NFATc1) in peripheral CD4 T cells and in scalp tissues of patients were detected using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays.

Effect of tacrolimus on the expression of Park7 in glomerular podocytes injured by puromycin aminonucleoside.

Objectives: To study the effect of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) on the apoptosis of mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC-5) and the expression of recombinant human Parkinson's disease 7 (Park7) and to study the protective mechanism of tacrolimus (FK506) against MPC-5 injury.

Methods: MPC-5 cells were cultured and then divided into three groups: blank control (control), PAN, and FK506. The cells in the PAN group were added with PAN (with a concentration of 50 mg/L) to establish a model of MPC-5 injury, and those in the FK506 group were added with PAN (with a concentration of 50 mg/L) and FK506 (with a concentration of 5 mg/L).

Effects of tacrolimus on autophagy protein LC3 in puromycin-damaged mouse podocytes.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism through which tacrolimus, often used to treat refractory nephropathy, protects against puromycin-induced podocyte injury.

Methods: An model of puromycin-induced podocyte injury was established by dividing podocytes into three groups: controls, puromycin only (PAN group), and puromycin plus tacrolimus (FK506 group). Podocyte morphology, number, apoptosis rate and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha () expression were compared.

Low-concentration hydrogen peroxide can upregulate keratinocyte intracellular calcium and PAR-2 expression in a human keratinocyte-melanocyte co-culture system.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) may have a biphasic effect on melanin synthesis and melanosome transfer. High HO concentrations are involved in impaired melanosome transfer in vitiligo. However, low HO concentration promotes the beneficial proliferation and migration of melanocytes.

CD2-associated protein participates in podocyte apoptosis via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

CD2-associated protein is one of the most important slit diaphragm proteins in maintaining podocyte integrity and reducing proteinuria. In the last 15 years, progressive researches have shown that CD2AP serves as an adaptor protein, plays essential roles in the podocyte cytoskeletal structure and signaling from the extracellular SD to the intracellular dynamic actin cytoskeleton. CD2AP deficient or transcript abnormality would lead to podocyte failure and proteinuric glomerular diseases.

Imbalance of T-helper 17 and regulatory T cells in patients with alopecia areata.

There is mounting evidence that T helper (Th)17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) play parts in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Hence, levels of these T-cell subsets in patients with alopecia areata (AA) merit investigation. Our goal was to assess Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and scalp lesions of patients with AA, correlating the findings with clinical characteristics.