Role of the PERK-eIF2-CHOP Signaling Pathway in the Effect of Needle Knife Therapy on Knee Joint Chondrocyte Apoptosis.

Needle knife therapy, a form of acupuncture and moxibustion, has been widely used in the clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the mechanism is not clear. Therefore, we studied the mechanisms of action of needle knife intervention on KOA in rabbits, with the PERK-eIF2-CHOP pathway as a starting point, in order to determine the mechanism underlying knee joint chondrocyte apoptosis.

Down-regulation of Helios Expression in Tregs from Patients with Hypertension.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a pivotal role in the pathological development of hypertension. Helios, a transcription factor from the Ikaros family, was recently reported to be a bona fide marker for natural Tregs or activated Tregs with suppression function, however, little has been known about its role in hypertension. This study was aimed to find whether Helios+ Tregs really play a vital role in hypertension.

The conditioned medium of human mesenchymal stromal cells reduces irradiation-induced damage in cardiac fibroblast cells.

Recently, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) treatment has attracted special attention as a new alternative strategy for stimulating regeneration. Irradiation myocardial fibrosis (IMF) is a major complication associated with total body irradiation for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, nuclear accidents, and thoracic radiotherapy for lung cancer, esophageal cancer, proximal gastric cancer, breast cancer, thymoma, and lymphoma. The aim of the present study was to assess the therapeutic paracrine effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) in the cell model of IMF.

Modulatory effects on Drosophila larva hearts: room temperature, acute and chronic cold stress.

Ectothermic animals are susceptible to temperature changes such as cold shock with seasons. To survive through a cold shock or season, ectotherms have developed unique strategies. Our interest is focusing on the modulation of physiological functions during cold shock and prolonged cold exposure in the fruit fly.

Expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore whether the circulating frequency and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are altered in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: The frequency of MDSCs in peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry, and mRNA expression in purified MDSCs was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The suppressive function of MDSCs isolated from different groups was also determined.

Regulatory T cells protect fine particulate matter-induced inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Objective: To investigate the role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells (Tregs) in protecting fine particulate matter (PM-) induced inflammatory responses, and its potential mechanisms.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with graded concentrations (2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 µg/cm(2)) of suspension of fine particles for 24h. For coculture experiment, HUVECs were incubated alone, with CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells (Teff), or with Tregs in the presence of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies for 48 hours, and then were stimulated with or without suspension of fine particles for 24 hours.