Bcl11b Regulates IL-17 Through the TGF-β/Smad Pathway in HDM-Induced Asthma

Si Chen,Yuting Han,Hao Chen,Jing Wu,Min Zhang 대한천식알레르기학회 2018 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.10 No.5

Purpose: T helper (Th) 17 cells play a critical role in the development of asthma, but the underlying mechanism of how interleukin (IL)-17 is regulated in allergic airway inflammation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of Bcl11b on Th17 response in asthma. Methods: Blood samples from patients with mild asthma (MA) and severe asthma (SA) were collected. Expression of Bcl11b, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were determined in CD4+ T cells and plasma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Relative mRNA and protein levels of Bcl11b, IL-17A and genes involved in the TGF/Smad signaling pathway were examined by PCR, ELISA and western blot analysis in house dust mite (HDM)-challenged mice. Ectopic expression of Bcl11b in HDM-stimulated primary mouse splenocytes was achieved by nucleofection of Bcl11b expression plasmid. Results: We found significantly decreased Bcl11b but increased IL-17A and TGF-β1 expression in patients with asthma and a strongly negative correlation between Bcl11b and these 2 cytokines in SA patients. Similar expression patterns of Bcl11b, IL-17A and TGF-β1 were also found in mice with HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation. We demonstrated further that Smad2/3 phosphorylation was increased in HDM-challenged mice and that ectopic expression of Bcl11b in HDM-stimulated primary mouse splenocytes reduced Smad2 phosphorylation and IL-17 expression. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a potential effect of Bc111b in controlling IL-17-mediated inflammation in asthma and suggest that Bc111b may be a useful therapeutic target for asthma.

The Emerging Role of Chinese Transnational Corporations as Non-state Actors in Transnational Labour Law: A Case Study of Huayou Cobalt in the Global Cobalt Supply Chain

SI CHEN 서울대학교 사회발전연구소 2021 Journal of Asian Sociology Vol.50 No.1

This article aims to investigate the emerging role of Chinese transnational corporations in navigating labour norms in the context of global economic shifts. Based on a transnational labour law approach, this article conducts a case study on Huayou Cobalt, a transnational cobalt refiner headquartered in China. Since being targeted in a research report by Amnesty International in 2016, Huayou Cobalt has shown a proactive engagement with other actors along the global cobalt supply chain, as well as a rapid update of its social responsibility related corporate policies. By investigating recent regulatory updates made by Huayou Cobalt, this case study demonstrates that normative settling and behavior changes regarding labour regulation have emerged at Huayou Cobalt during the period between 2016 and 2020. Furthermore, this case study suggests that regulatory updates made by Huayou Cobalt could create both challenges and opportunities for developing a responsible global cobalt supply chain.

Associations of Objective Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Frailty in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Mini-review

( Si Chen ),( Tao Chen ),( Shuzo Kumagai ),( Hyuntae Park ) 한국운동생리학회(구 한국운동과학회) 2020 운동과학 Vol.29 No.1

PURPOSE: This review aimed to evaluate the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: An electronic search was undertaken using the MEDLINE® databases from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2019. Titles, abstracts, and full texts of the studies identified by the search were scrutinized by the author to determine eligibility for an inclusion in this review. RESULTS: The search identified 87 relevant articles resulted, of which eight studies from four cohorts met the inclusion requirements. Almost all the studies reported a significantly negative association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and frailty, while only one was a longitudinal study. Significant associations between sedentary time (ST) and higher severity of frailty were observed, however, the findings of associations of sedentary bouts were mixed. IMPLICATION: Higher amounts of ST and lower amounts of MVPA were associated with a higher prevalence of frailty or worse frailty levels. Replacing ST with MVPA may offset the detrimental consequences of ST on frailty. More longitudinal studies and quantitative researches are needed to investigate the association of MVPA and ST bouts with frailty.

A Control Strategy Based on Small Signal Model for Three-Phase to Single-Phase Matrix Converters

Si Chen,Hongjuan Ge,Wenbin Zhang,Song Lu 전력전자학회 2015 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.15 No.6

This paper presents a novel close-loop control scheme based on small signal modeling and weighted composite voltage feedback for a three-phase input and single-phase output Matrix Converter (3-1MC). A small non-polar capacitor is employed as the decoupling unit. The composite voltage weighted by the load voltage and the decoupling unit voltage is used as the feedback value for the voltage controller. Together with the current loop, the dual-loop control is implemented in the 3-1MC. In this paper, the weighted composite voltage expression is derived based on the sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (SPWM) strategy. The switch functions of the 3-1MC are deduced, and the average signal model and small signal model are built. Furthermore, the stability and dynamic performance of the 3-1MC are studied, and simulation and experiment studies are executed. The results show that the control method is effective and feasible. They also show that the design is reasonable and that the operating performance of the 3-1MC is good.

Study on the Evolution and Preliminary Equilibrium of the Delta Deposition

TONG Sichen,Fu Wanbin,Wan Yan 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.9 No.1

The delta deposition pattern is the most important and universal sedimentation type in reservoirs, yet it is still unclear to engineers and researchers concerned about its evolution, adjustment and preliminary equilibrium of the sedimentation. Taken the reservoir named Xi Luodu as a typical case study the whole deposition processes of the delta evolution can be divided into two stages according to the time the delta arrives at the dam site, corresponding to the formation of the wedged shape deposition. Sedimentation in the first stage composes the majority deposits of the reservoir total accumulation volume. Although in the second stage the deposition rate is much slower than the first one it is the period for the reservoir to rebuild its new equilibrium mainly by changing the configuration of its cross-section to regain sufficient sediment carry capacity. The delta profile and the cross-section deformation were both discussed in detail during the two stages. Characteristics of the deposition/erosion along with the sediment delivery ratio were also analyzed throughout the whole processes.

Semi-Rational Screening of Probiotics from the Fecal Flora of Healthy Adults against DSS-Induced Colitis Mice by Enhancing Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Modulating the Gut Microbiota

( Weiwei Wang ),( Wentao Xing ),( Sichen Wei ),( Qiaoying Gao ),( Xinliang Wei ),( Liang Shi ),( Yu Kong ),( Zhenhua Su ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2019 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.29 No.9

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, substantially impacts patients’ health-related quality of life. In this study, an effective strategy for discovering high-efficiency probiotics has been developed. First, in order to survive in the conditions of the stomach and intestine, high bile salt-resistant and strong acid-resistant strains were screened out from the fecal flora of healthy adults. Next, the probiotic candidates were rescreened by examining the induction ability of IL-10 (anti-inflammatory factor) production in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice, and Lactobacillus sakei 07 (L07) was identified and selected as probiotic P. In the end, fourteen bifidobacterium strains isolated from stools of healthy males were examined for their antimicrobial activity. Bifidobacterium bifidum B10 (73.75% inhibition rate) was selected as probiotic B. Moreover, the colonic IL-6 and TNF-α expression of the DSS-induced colitis mice treated with L. sakei 07 (L07) - B. bifidum B10 combination (PB) significantly decreased and the IL-10 expression was up-regulated by PB compared to the DSS group. Furthermore, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria decreased and Firmicutes increased in the DSS group mice, significantly. More interestingly, the intestinal flora biodiversity of DSS colitis mice was increased by PB. Of those, the level of B. bifidum increased significantly. The Bacteriodetes/Firmicutes (B/F) ratio increased, and the concentration of homocysteine and LPS in plasma was down-regulated by PB in the DSS-induced colitis mice. Upon administration of PB, the intestinal permeability of the the DSS-induced colitis mice was decreased by approximately 2.01-fold. This method is expected to be used in high-throughput screening of the probiotics against colitis. In addition, the L. sakei 07 - B. bifidum B10 combination holds potential in UC remission by immunomodulatory and gut microbiota modulation.

Curcumin protects against the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury: involvement of the tight junction protein ZO-1 and TNF-α related mechanism

Shuying Tian,Ruixue Guo,Sichen Wei,Yu Kong,Xinliang Wei,Weiwei Wang,Xiaomeng Shi,Hongyu Jiang 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 2016 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.20 No.2

Present study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin-pretreatment on intestinal I/R injury and on intestinal mucosa barrier. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into: sham, I/R, and curcumin groups (n=10). Animals in curcumin group were pretreated with curcumin by gastric gavage (200 mg/kg) for 2 days before I/R. Small intestine tissues were prepared for Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured. Expression of intestinal TNF-α and tight junction protein (ZO-1) proteins was detected by Western blot and/or immunohistochemistry. Serum DAO level and serum and intestinal TNF-α leves were significantly increased after I/R, and the values were markedly reduced by curcumin pretreatment although still higher than that of sham group (p<0.05 or p<0.001). H&E staining showed the significant injury to intestinal mucosa following I/R, and curcumin pretreatment significantly improved the histological structure of intestinal mucosa. I/R insult also induced significantly down-regulated expression of ZO-1, and the effect was dramatically attenuated by curcumin-pretreatment. Curcumin may protect the intestine from I/R injury through restoration of the epithelial structure, promotion of the recovery of intestinal permeability, as well as enhancement of ZO-1 protein expression, and this effect may be partly attributed to the TNF-α related pathway.

Research on Liquefaction Characteristics of SF6 Substitute Gases

Zhikang Yuan,Youping Tu,Cong Wang,Sichen Qin,Geng Chen 대한전기학회 2018 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.13 No.6

SF₆ has been widely used in high voltage power equipment, such as gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas insulated transmission line (GIL), because of its excellent insulation and arc extinguishing performance. However, SF₆ faces two environmental problems: greenhouse effect and high liquefaction temperature. Therefore, to find the SF₆ substitute gases has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this paper, the liquefaction characteristics of SF₆ substitute gases were studied. Peng–Robinson equation of state with the van der Waals mixing rule (PR-vdW model) was used to calculate the dew point temperature of the binary gas mixtures, with SF₆, C₃F₈, c-C₄F₈, CF₃I or C₄F₇N as the insulating gas and N₂ or CO₂ as the buffer gas. The sequence of the dew point temperatures of the binary gas mixtures under the same pressure and composition ratio was obtained. SF₆/N₂ < SF₆/CO₂ < C₃F₈/N₂ < C₃F₈/CO₂ < CF₃I/N₂ < CF₃I/CO₂ < c-C₄F₈/N₂ < C₄F₇N/N₂ < c-C₄F₈/CO₂ <C₄F₇N/CO₂. SF₆/N₂ gas mixture showed the best temperature adaptability and C₄F₇N/CO₂ gas mixture showed the worst temperature adaptability. Furthermore, the dew point temperatures of the SF₆ substitute gases at different pressures and the upper limits of the insulating gas mole fraction at -30℃, -20℃ and -10℃ were obtained. The results would supply sufficient data support for GIS/GIL operators and researchers.

Research on Liquefaction Characteristics of SF6 Substitute Gases

Yuan, Zhikang,Tu, Youping,Wang, Cong,Qin, Sichen,Chen, Geng The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2018 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.13 No.6

$SF_6$ has been widely used in high voltage power equipment, such as gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas insulated transmission line (GIL), because of its excellent insulation and arc extinguishing performance. However, $SF_6$ faces two environmental problems: greenhouse effect and high liquefaction temperature. Therefore, to find the $SF_6$ substitute gases has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this paper, the liquefaction characteristics of $SF_6$ substitute gases were studied. Peng-Robinson equation of state with the van der Waals mixing rule (PR-vdW model) was used to calculate the dew point temperature of the binary gas mixtures, with $SF_6$, $C_3F_8$, $c-C_4F_8$, $CF_3I$ or $C_4F_7N$ as the insulating gas and $N_2$ or $CO_2$ as the buffer gas. The sequence of the dew point temperatures of the binary gas mixtures under the same pressure and composition ratio was obtained. $SF_6/N_2$ < $SF_6/CO_2$ < $C_3F_8/N_2$ < $C_3F_8/CO_2$ < $CF_3I/N_2$ < $CF_3I/CO_2$ < $c-C_4F_8/N_2$ < $C_4F_7N/N_2$ < $c-C_4F_8/CO_2$ < $C_4F_7N/CO_2$. $SF_6/N_2$ gas mixture showed the best temperature adaptability and $C_4F_7N/CO_2$ gas mixture showed the worst temperature adaptability. Furthermore, the dew point temperatures of the $SF_6$ substitute gases at different pressures and the upper limits of the insulating gas mole fraction at $-30^{\circ}C$, $-20^{\circ}C$ and $-10^{\circ}C$ were obtained. The results would supply sufficient data support for GIS/GIL operators and researchers.

Curcumin protects against the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury: involvement of the tight junction protein ZO-1 and TNF-α related mechanism

Tian, Shuying,Guo, Ruixue,Wei, Sichen,Kong, Yu,Wei, Xinliang,Wang, Weiwei,Shi, Xiaomeng,Jiang, Hongyu The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2016 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.20 No.2

Present study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin-pretreatment on intestinal I/R injury and on intestinal mucosa barrier. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into: sham, I/R, and curcumin groups (n=10). Animals in curcumin group were pretreated with curcumin by gastric gavage (200 mg/kg) for 2 days before I/R. Small intestine tissues were prepared for Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ levels were measured. Expression of intestinal TNF-${\alpha}$ and tight junction protein (ZO-1) proteins was detected by Western blot and/or immunohistochemistry. Serum DAO level and serum and intestinal TNF-${\alpha}$ leves were significantly increased after I/R, and the values were markedly reduced by curcumin pretreatment although still higher than that of sham group (p<0.05 or p<0.001). H&E staining showed the significant injury to intestinal mucosa following I/R, and curcumin pretreatment significantly improved the histological structure of intestinal mucosa. I/R insult also induced significantly down-regulated expression of ZO-1, and the effect was dramatically attenuated by curcumin-pretreatment. Curcumin may protect the intestine from I/R injury through restoration of the epithelial structure, promotion of the recovery of intestinal permeability, as well as enhancement of ZO-1 protein expression, and this effect may be partly attributed to the TNF-${\alpha}$ related pathway.