BACKGROUND:Liver involvement is a common complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in hospitalized patients. However, the underlying mechanisms involved are not fully understood. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins was conducted on liver tissues from six patients with COVID-19. The 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist Spatial Gene Assay was designed to analyze liver transcriptomics. TCR CDR3 sequences were analyzed in DNA from liver tissues. Liver function indicators were retrospectively studied in 650 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. FINDINGS:SARS-CoV-2 proteins were initially detected in the livers of naturally infected golden (Syrian) hamsters, prompting us to investigate the situation in clinical cases. Thus, we collected liver tissues from patients with abnormal liver biochemical values. Viral S and N proteins were detected in the livers of severe and deceased patients but not in those of moderate patients. We further demonstrated that hepatocytes and erythroid cells in hepatic sinusoids are major cells targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Immune cells, especially T cells, were enriched in surviving severe patients, characterized by enhanced CDR3α clonality and novel CDR3β recombination of the T-cell receptor. In contrast, hepatocyte apoptosis was triggered, and the transcription of albumin (ALB) was obviously impaired in the deceased patients. We then performed a retrospective study including patients with COVID-19. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALB levels at baseline significantly differed in the deceased cohort. However, AST regression did not decrease the risk of death. ALB recovery indicated clinical improvement, and declining or low serum ALB concentrations were associated with death. INTERPRETATION:This study provides clinical evidence for liver infection with SARS-CoV-2, insight into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver, and a potential way to evaluate the risk of death via assessing serum ALB concentration fluctuations in patients with COVID-19. FUNDING:National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2300602), National Natural Science Foundation of China (92369110), National Natural Science Foundation of China (U23A20474), Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (ZD2021CY001), Shanghai Jinshan District Medical and Health Technology Innovation Fund Project (2023-WS-31).

Background & Aims Chronic HBV infection usually causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Comparative investigations of acute and chronic HBV cases would help determine the immune responses crucial for viral clearance. Methods A fast-cleared HBV mouse model was established in Alb-Cre mice via hydrodynamic injection of HBV plasmid, while persistent HBV model mice were generated via recombinant covalently closed circular DNA-adeno-associated virus 8 infection. The single-cell transcriptomes of CD45(+) intrahepatic non-parenchymal cells from these mice were conducted. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to confirm the findings from single-cell transcriptomes. Transwell, coculture, and adoptive transfer experiments were performed to study the generation and functions of macrophages. Results Twenty-four clusters of immune cells were identified. Myeloid cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells, are activated early in HBV fast-cleared mice. Significantly, a cluster of CD3(+) macrophages was found in the viral clearance phase, which was confirmed in liver tissue from five acute patients with HBV. These cells highly expressed CXCL1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and HBsAg-specific T cell receptors. The transwell assay revealed that CD3(+) macrophages originate from macrophages (n = 6). T cells and anti-HBsAg antibodies are indispensable for their differentiation, which was further confirmed in T- and/or B-cell-deficient mice. Interestingly, these CD3(+) macrophages capable of killing peptide-loaded hepatocytes and engulfing IgG-coated beads were persistently detectable in the mouse liver for 10 weeks after HBV clearance. The expression levels of CD5L and Bcl2, two classical antiapoptotic proteins, increased (p <0.001), suggesting that the CD3(+) macrophages are long-term resident populations. Finally, adoptive transfer of CD3(+) macrophages accelerated HBV clearance in mice (n = 5, p <0.01). Conclusions We identified long-term polyfunctional CD3(+) macrophages residing in HBV fast-cleared livers that could help elucidate the immune responses involved in eliminating HBV.

The detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is fundamental for the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, current diagnostic assays that rely on antibodies targeting the conformational "a" determinant of HBsAg are frequently compromised by mutations in this region, leading to undetected immune escape variants. In this study, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody, designated S1705, by immunizing mice with CHO-derived HBsAg. This antibody was identified to recognize a conserved linear epitope located within the internal loop region of the HBsAg particle. Western blot analysis under denaturing conditions confirmed that S1705 robustly detects HBsAg from multiple genotypes (A-D) and common clinical mutants, including the prevalent G145R variant. Moreover, S1705 demonstrated effective utility in applications such as flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Notably, it exhibited superior performance compared to commercial antibodies targeting conformational epitopes in detecting HBsAg escape variants. We conclude that S1705, by targeting a conserved linear epitope, enables broad and reliable detection of both wild-type and mutant HBsAg. Critically, our findings demonstrate that immunodominant antigenic regions exist beyond the conventional boundaries of the 'a' determinant. This antibody thus holds significant promise for enhancing the diagnostic coverage of HBV variants and supporting future antiviral research and clinical monitoring.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively reduces hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, but recent clinical trial results indicate that its efficacy and durability remain unsatisfied, warranting further mechanistic investigation. This study aims to explore the expression patterns and potential sources of residual viral nucleic acids following siRNA treatment in both in vitro and in vivo models, enhancing the understanding of siRNA's antiviral effects. Biochemical methods, combined with immunofluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques, were employed to analyze the antiviral effects of siRNAs targeting the S, X, and C coding regions of HBV at the single-cell level in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cell model and rAAV8-HBV1.3 mouse model. The results indicate that, in both the in vitro and in vivo models, a single dose of siRNA treatment did not significantly reduce the proportion of cells positive for any HBV marker. Residual viral antigen and nucleic acid signals were broadly distributed across individual cells. The antiviral effects of siRNA generally exhibit dose-dependent inhibition of HBV, but vary across different viral markers, potentially due to factors such as target region, engagement, and the viral expression patterns within cells, with a potential inhibition plateau for core particle DNA. Furthermore, the combination of siRNA and the HBV core inhibitor GLS4 further reduced intracellular viral DNA in primary human hepatocytes. These findings obtained from experimental models incorporating in situ detection techniques reveal the expression patterns of residual HBV antigens and nucleic acids under siRNA treatment, deepening the understanding of its antiviral effects, while clinical complexities require further investigation.

Type I interferons (IFN-Is) have key roles in immune defense and treatments for various diseases, including chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. All IFN-Is signal through a shared IFN-I heterodimeric receptor complex comprising IFN-α receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and IFNAR2 subunits, but differences in antiviral and immunomodulatory responses among IFN-I subtypes remain largely unknown. Because the IFN-IFNAR interactions are species-specific, mice exhibit weak responses to human IFN-I. To more fully characterize the actions of human IFN-α and its subtypes in vivo, a gene targeting strategy was employed to generate gene knock-in mice with extracellular-humanized IFNAR1/2 (IFNAR-hEC) in the C57BL/6N strain. IFNAR-hEC mice actively responded to human IFN-I, and endogenous mouse IFN-I signaling remained active in heterozygous mice (IfnarhEC/+). Analyses of IFNAR-hEC mice and isolated cells showed that human IFN-α2 and α14 subtypes exerted differential effect on the activation of JAK-STAT signaling and immune responses. Compared with IFN-α2, IFN-α14 induced greater activation of STAT1/2 and IFN-stimulated genes, synergistically elicited IFN-α and -γ signaling, and induced higher numbers of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Moreover, IFNAR-hEC mice with HBV replication displayed long-term viral suppression upon treatment with the clinically-used PEGylated hIFN-α2. These results indicate that IFNAR-hEC mice may be useful for elucidating antiviral and immunomodulatory functions of human IFN-Is and for conducting preclinical studies. A better understanding of the distinct activities of IFN-α subtypes can provide insights concerning the development of improved IFN-based therapy.

Background/purpose Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by basement membrane disruption, which plays a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a group of proteolytic enzymes, contribute to the degradation of the basement membrane. The specific MMPs secreted by keratinocytes in OLP lesions and relevant regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of MMPs in OLP pathogenesis, focusing on their expression in keratinocytes and regulatory mechanisms. Materials and methods MMP mRNA expression in OLP epithelium was analyzed using RNA sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Mucosa samples from 30 OLP patients and 30 healthy controls were collected to observe the expression and regulation of MMPs in keratinocytes. The involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in MMP regulation was studied using HaCaT cells. Results RNA sequencing analysis revealed upregulation of MMP1 and MMP9 in OLP epithelium. MMP9 expression was predominantly observed in basal keratinocytes of OLP lesions. Elevated levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), a component of the MAPK pathway, were detected in OLP samples and co-localized with MMP9 in keratinocytes. Activation of the JNK pathway in HaCaT cells induced MMP9 expression, implicating JNK signaling in MMP9 regulation. Conclusion Keratinocytes contribute to OLP pathogenesis by secreting MMP9 through JNK pathway activation. This understanding may provide insights into targeted therapeutic interventions for this chronic recurrent disease.

The mechanisms underlying the natural control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have long been an intriguing question. Given the wide physiological range of liver stiffness and the growing attention to the role of mechanical microenvironment in homeostasis and diseases, we investigated how physical matrix cues impact HBV replication. High matrix stiffness significantly inhibited HBV replication and activated YAP in primary hepatocyte culture system, a key molecule in mechanosignaling. YAP activation notably suppressed HBV transcription and antigen expression. Several YAP-induced genes exhibited strong anti-HBV effects. Single-cell analysis of liver tissue from male individuals with active HBV replication revealed a strong significant negative correlation between YAP signature activation and HBV transcript levels. Intraperitoneal administration of YAP small molecule agonist potently controls HBV in male mouse models. These findings unveil a mechanism that involves the mechanical environment of hepatocytes and YAP to clear hepatotropic viral infection in the liver, providing new perspectives for HBV cure studies and antiviral development.

ABSTRACT Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in eliminating viral infection. Conversely, viruses have evolved various strategies to disrupt TLR signaling during chronic infection. In the case of hepatitis B virus (HBV), we previously reported that plasma hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is closely associated with impaired TLR responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, but the reasons remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which HBsAg suppresses TLR4 signaling in monocyte cell lines. The monocyte cell line THP-1 was pretreated with HBsAg, followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of NF-κB, c-JNK, and ERK were examined. We found that HBsAg did not influence the LPS-induced activation of p65, but it disrupted NF-κB promoter activity through the ectopic expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and TAK1, suggesting that HBsAg can block downstream TLR4 signaling. Furthermore, we proved that LPS-induced polyubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and the formation of the TRAF6-TAB2 complex were inhibited in HBsAg-pretreated cells. Interestingly, HBsAg led to a significant upregulation of A20, a ubiquitin-editing enzyme. Correspondingly, downregulation of A20 using siRNA restored LPS-mediated cytokines production, reflecting its crucial role in HBsAg-mediated inhibition of TLR4 signaling. These results demonstrated a novel mechanism by which HBsAg disrupts TLR4 signaling through the upregulation of A20, suggesting that targeting A20 may be a potential strategy to help restore monocyte functions. IMPORTANCE Clearance HBsAg indicates a functional cure of HBV infection, but in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), it is hard to achieve. HBsAg has been found to regulate anti-viral immune responses, such as the activation of TLR. Our previous jobs proved that HBsAg negatively correlates with TLR2/4 activation in monocytes from CHB patients and blocks TLR2 ligand-indcuced IL-12 production in monocytes. However, how TLR4 signaling is affected by HBsAg remains unknown. In this study, we not only observed impaired TLR4 activation after pretreated monocytes with HBsAg but also identified HBsAg-induced A20 play a role in this impairment, which suggests that targeting A20 may be a viable strategy to restore monocyte functions in CHB.

目的 观察理金安肺汤对老年肺小结节的疗效.方法 选取复旦大学附属华东医院中医内科门诊2018年1月～2021年12月收治的老年肺小结节患者180例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为两组,治疗组120例,对照组60例.治疗组给予理金安肺汤治疗,对照组以定期随访胸部CT为主.比较两组结节病灶和中医临床症状评分的变化情况,并进行疗效评价.结果 治疗组肺结节大小总体疗效优于对照组(P＜0.05),其中治疗组孤立实性结节、孤立磨玻璃结节、孤立混合结节患者经治疗后结节大小疗效优于对照组(P＜0.05).治疗组中医临床症状总有效率高于对照组(P＜0.05),其中治疗组孤立实性结节、孤立磨玻璃结节、多发结节患者的中医症状总有效率均高于对照组(P＜0.05).经综合评价,治疗组总有效率高于对照组(P＜0.05).结论 理金安肺汤能够明显改善老年肺小结节患者的临床症状,是一种有效的临床治疗方法.

Background After the eradication of smallpox in China in 1979, vaccination with the vaccinia virus (VACV) Tiantan strain for the general population was stopped in 1980. As the monkeypox virus (MPXV) is rapidly spreading in the world, we would like to investigate whether the individuals with historic VACV Tiantan strain vaccination, even after more than 40 years, could still provide ELISA reactivity and neutralizing protection; and whether the unvaccinated individuals have no antibody reactivity against MPXV at all. Results We established serologic ELISA to measure the serum anti-MPXV titer by using immunodominant MPXV surface proteins, A35R, B6R, A29L, and M1R. A small proportion of individuals (born before 1980) with historic VACV Tiantan strain vaccination exhibited serum ELISA cross-reactivity against these MPXV surface proteins. Consistently, these donors also showed ELISA seropositivity and serum neutralization against VACV Tiantan strain. However, surprisingly, some unvaccinated young adults (born after 1980) also showed potent serum ELISA activity against MPXV proteins, possibly due to their past infection by some self-limiting Orthopoxvirus (OPXV). Conclusions We report the serum ELISA cross-reactivity against MPXV surface protein in a small proportion of individuals both with and without VACV Tiantan strain vaccination history. Combined with our serum neutralization assay against VACV and the recent literature about mice vaccinated with VACV Tiantan strain, our study confirmed the anti-MPXV cross-reactivity and cross-neutralization of smallpox vaccine using VACV Tiantan strain. Therefore, it is necessary to restart the smallpox vaccination program in high risk populations.

目的 探讨中西医结合治疗老年慢性便秘的疗效和安全性,为临床治疗提供参考.方法 选取180 例老年慢性便秘患者为研究对象,根据随机数表法分为中西药结合组、汤药组和西药组.中西药结合组采用口服汤药和乳果糖联合治疗,汤药组采用口服汤药,西药组予以乳果糖治疗.通过比较3 组排便评分、中医证候积分、临床疗效、不良反应及复发情况,来评估治疗效果.结果 治疗4 周后,3 组Bristol评分、生活质量评分、每周排便次数均好于治疗前,并且中西药结合组优于其他2 组(P＜0.05).停药2 周后,3 组均有复发情况,但是中西药结合组复发情况好于其他2 组(P＜0.05).中西药结合组总有效率优于其他2 组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).研究过程中3 组患者均未出现严重药物不良反应.结论 中西医结合治疗老年人慢性便秘效果确切且疗效稳定,可以作为常规的诊疗方案对外推广.

Global temporal quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analysis using long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected primary human hepatocytes uncovered extensive remodeling of the host proteome and transcriptome and revealed cytopathic effects of long-term viral replication. Metabolic-, complement-, cytoskeleton-, mitochondrial-, and oxidation-related pathways were modulated at transcriptional or posttranscriptional levels, which could be partially rescued by early, rather than late, NA therapy and could be relieved by blocking viral antigens with RNAi.

Background: The dysfunctional blood–brain barrier (BBB)–glymphatic system is responsible for triggering intracerebral amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) accumulation and acts as the key link between ischemic stroke and dementia dominated by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, pyroptosis in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is demonstrated as a considerable mechanism causing BBB–glymphatic dysfunctions and Aβ acute accumulation in the brain. Targeting glial pyroptosis to protect BBB–glymphatic functions after cerebral I/R could offer a new viewpoint to prevent Aβ accumulation and poststroke dementia. Yi-Zhi-Fang-Dai formula (YZFDF) is an herbal prescription used to cure dementia with multiple effects of regulating inflammatory responses and protecting the BBB against toxic Aβ-induced damage. Hence, YZFDF potentially possesses neuroprotective effects against cerebral I/R injury and the early pathology of poststroke dementia, which evokes our current study.Objectives: The present study was designed to confirm the potential efficacy of YZFDF against cerebral I/R injury and explore the possible mechanism associated with alleviating Aβ acute accumulation.Methods: The models of cerebral I/R injury in rats were built by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). First, neurological function assessment and cerebral infarct measurement were used for confirming the efficacy of YZFDF on cerebral I/R injury, and the optimal dosage (YZFDF-H) was selected to conduct the experiments, which included Western blotting detections of pyroptosis, Aβ1-42 oligomers, and NeuN, immunofluorescence observations of glial pyroptosis, aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), and Aβ locations, brain water content measurement, SMI 71 (a specific marker for BBB)/AQP-4 immunohistochemistry, and Nissl staining to further evaluate BBB–glymphatic functions and neuronal damage.Results: YZFDF obviously alleviated neurological deficits and cerebral infarct after cerebral I/R in rats. Furthermore, YZFDF could inactivate pyroptosis signaling via inhibiting caspase-1/11 activation and gasdermin D cleavage, ameliorate glial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation, protect against BBB collapse and AQP-4 depolarization, prevent Aβ acute accumulation and Aβ1-42 oligomers formation, and reduce neuronal damage and increase neurons survival after reperfusion.Conclusion: Our study indicated that YZFDF could exert neuroprotective effects on cerebral I/R injury and prevent Aβ acute accumulation in the brain after cerebral I/R associated with inhibiting neuroinflammation-related pyroptosis and BBB–glymphatic dysfunctions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Interferon (IFN)-α, composed of numerous subtypes, plays a crucial role in immune defense. As the most studied subtype, IFN-α2 has been used for treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with advantages of finite treatment duration and sustained virologic response, but its efficacy remains relatively low. This study aimed to screen for IFN-α subtypes with the highest anti-HBV potency and to characterize mechanisms of IFN-α-mediated HBV restriction.APPROACH AND RESULTS:Using cell culture-based HBV infection systems and a human-liver chimeric mouse model, IFN-α subtype-mediated antiviral response and signaling activation were comprehensively analyzed. IFN-α14 was identified as the most effective subtype in suppression of HBV covalently closed circular DNA transcription and HBV e antigen/HBV surface antigen production, with median inhibitory concentration values approximately 100-fold lower than those of the conventional IFN-α2. IFN-α14 alone elicited IFN-α and IFN-γ signaling crosstalk in a manner similar to the combined use of IFN-α2 and IFN-γ, inducing multiple potent antiviral effectors, which synergistically restricted HBV replication. Guanylate binding protein 5, one of the most differentially expressed genes between IFN-α14-treated and IFN-α2-treated liver cells, was identified as an HBV restriction factor. A strong IFN-α-IFN-α receptor subunit 1 interaction determines the anti-HBV activity of IFN-α. The in vivo anti-HBV activity of IFN-α14 and treatment-related transcriptional patterns were further confirmed, and few adverse effects were observed.CONCLUSIONS:A concerted IFN-α and IFN-γ response in liver, which could be efficiently elicited by IFN-α subtype 14, is associated with potent HBV suppression. These data deepen the understanding of the divergent activities of IFN-α subtypes and the mechanism underlying the synergism between IFN-α and IFN-γ signaling, with implications for improved IFN therapy and HBV curative strategies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a major obstacle for a cure of chronic hepatitis B. Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications regulate the transcriptional activity of cccDNA minichromosomes. However, it remains unclear how the epigenetic state of cccDNA affects its stability. APPROACHES AND RESULTS:By using HBV infection cell models and in vitro and in vivo recombinant cccDNA (rcccDNA) and HBVcircle models, the reduction rate of HBV cccDNA and the efficacy of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3A (APOBEC3A)-mediated and CRISPR/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9)-mediated cccDNA targeting were compared between cccDNAs with distinct transcriptional activities. Interferon-α treatment and hepatitis B x protein (HBx) deletion were applied as two strategies for cccDNA repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and micrococcal nuclease assays were performed to determine the epigenetic pattern of cccDNA. HBV cccDNA levels remained stable in nondividing hepatocytes; however, they were significantly reduced during cell division, and the reduction rate was similar between cccDNAs in transcriptionally active and transcriptionally repressed states. Strikingly, HBV rcccDNA without HBx expression exhibited a significantly longer persistence in mice. The cccDNA with low transcriptional activity exhibited an epigenetically inactive pattern and was more difficult to access by APOBEC3A and engineered CRISPR-Cas9. The epigenetic regulator activating cccDNA increased its vulnerability to APOBEC3A. CONCLUSIONS:HBV cccDNA minichromosomes in distinct epigenetic transcriptional states showed a similar reduction rate during cell division but significantly differed in their accessibility and vulnerability to targeted nucleases and antiviral agents. Epigenetic sensitization of cccDNA makes it more susceptible to damage and may potentially contribute to an HBV cure.

New threats posed by the emerging circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 highlight the need to find conserved neutralizing epitopes for therapeutic antibodies and efficient vaccine design. Here, we identified a receptor-binding domain (RBD)-binding antibody, XG014, which potently neutralizes β-coronavirus lineage B (β-CoV-B), including SARS-CoV-2, its circulating variants, SARS-CoV and bat SARSr-CoV WIV1. Interestingly, antibody family members competing with XG014 binding show reduced levels of cross-reactivity and induce antibody-dependent SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein-mediated cell-cell fusion, suggesting a unique mode of recognition by XG014. Structural analyses reveal that XG014 recog-nizes a conserved epitope outside the ACE2 binding site and completely locks RBD in the non-functional “down” conformation, while its family member XG005 directly competes with ACE2 binding and position the RBD “up”. Single administration of XG014 is effective in protection against and therapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. Our findings suggest the potential to develop XG014 as pan-β-CoV-B therapeutics and the importance of the XG014 conserved antigenic epitope for designing broadly protective vaccines against β-CoV-B and newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Neuroinflammation-related amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) accumulation after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) accounts for cerebral I/R injuries and poststroke dementia. Recently, pyroptosis, a proinflammatory cell death, has been identified as a crucial pathological link of cerebral I/R injuries. However, whether pyroptosis acts as a trigger of Aβ accumulation after cerebral I/R has not yet been demonstrated. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) and glymphatic system mediated by aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) on astrocytic endfeet are important pathways for the clearance of Aβ in the brain, and pyroptosis especially occurring in astrocytes after cerebral I/R potentially damages BBB integrity and glymphatic function and thus influences Aβ clearance and brain homeostasis. In present study, the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was used for building models of focal cerebral I/R injuries in rats. Then, we used lipopolysaccharide and glycine as the agonist and inhibitor of pyroptosis, respectively, Western blotting for detections of pyroptosis, AQP-4, and Aβ1-42 oligomers, laser confocal microscopy for observations of pyroptosis and Aβ locations, and immunohistochemical stainings of SMI 71 (a specific marker for BBB integrity)/AQP-4 and Nissl staining for evaluating, respectively, BBB-glymphatic system and neuronal damage. The results showed that pyroptosis obviously promoted the loss of BBB integrity and AQP-4 polarization, brain edema, Aβ accumulation, and the formation of Aβ1-42 oligomers and thus increased neuronal damage after cerebral I/R. However, glycine could inhibit cerebral I/R-induced pyroptosis by alleviating cytomembrane damage and downregulating expression levels of cleaved caspase-11/1, N-terminal gasdermin D, NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing protein 3), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β and markedly abate above pathological changes. Our study revealed that pyroptosis is a considerable factor causing toxic Aβ accumulation, dysfunctional BBB-glymphatic system, and neurological deficits after cerebral I/R, suggesting that targeting pyroptosis is a potential strategy for the prevention of ischemic stroke sequelae including dementia.

《脾胃论》所载"清燥汤"是治疗湿热成痿之名方.结合中医理论和李杲"脾胃内伤,百病由生"的学术思想,文章对"湿热成痿"之病因病机、证候表现、治则治法以及清燥汤方药组成、配伍进行了剖析.温故而知新,后世历代医家运用东垣清燥汤所治病证面广且效佳(如痿证、痹证、燥证、疫病等),对当今一些符合(脾虚)湿热病机的疑难杂病之治疗仍有可鉴之处.

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) accumulation is a detrimental factor in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries accounting for dementia induced by ischemic stroke. In addition to blood brain barrier (BBB), the glymphatic system mediated by aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) on astrocytic endfeet functions as an important pathway for the clearance of Aβ in the brain. Cerebral I/R induced astrocytic pyroptosis potentially causes the AQP-4 polarization loss and dysfunctional BBB-glymphatic system exacerbating the accumulation of Aβ. Furthermore, Aβ toxicity has been identified as a trigger of pyroptosis and BBB damage, suggesting an amplified effect of Aβ accumulation after cerebral I/R. Therefore, based on our previous work, this study was designed to explore the intervention effects of Tongxinluo (TXL) on astrocytic pyroptosis and Aβ accumulation after cerebral I/R in rats. The results showed that TXL intervention obviously alleviated the degree of pyroptosis by downregulating expression levels of cleaved caspase-11/1, N-terminal gasdermin D, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cleaved IL-1β and abated astrocytic pyroptosis after cerebral I/R. Moreover, TXL intervention facilitated to restore AQP-4 polarization and accordingly relieve Aβ accumulation around astrocytes in ischemic cortex and hippocampus as well as the formation of toxic Aβ (Aβ1–42 oligomer). Our study indicated that TXL intervention could exert protective effects on ischemic brain tissues against pyroptotic cell death, inhibit astrocytic pyroptosis, and reduce toxic Aβ accumulation around astrocytes in cerebral I/R injuries. Furthermore, our study provides biological evidence for the potential possibility of preventing and treating poststroke dementia with TXL in clinical practice.

白塞综合征(Beh?et's syndrome,BS)是一种原因不明的多系统受累的血管炎症性疾病[1-4].BS依其主要症状表现,可归属于中医"狐惑病"范畴,狐惑病,始载于东汉·张仲景《金匮要略·百合狐惑阴阳毒病脉证治》篇,主方甘草泻心汤沿用至今[5].1937年,土耳其Hulusi Behcet医师首次报道了一组"眼-口-生殖器三联征"病例,临床上主要表现为复发性口腔溃疡、生殖器溃疡、眼炎及皮肤损害,也可累及心脏、血管、神经系统、消化道、关节、附睾等器官[6].