Beneficial effect of simvastatin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells gap junctions induced by TNF-α

Xiwen Ling,Siyuan Peng,Yaqin Xu,Fujiang Chu 한국통합생물학회 2022 Animal cells and systems Vol.26 No.1

Although simvastatin has been shown to inhibit vascular permeability, which might be amplified via gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC), the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of simvastatin on endothelial cells GJIC. Specifically, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) alone or in combination with simvastatin (5 μM), and their effects on vascular endothelial cell GJIC tested via the scrape loading/dye transfer (SL/DT) assay. Next, we performed immunofluorescence, real-time PCR and western blot assays to analyze expression of Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43 in HUVECs. Results showed that GJIC activity in HUVECs was markedly elevated in HUVECs treated with TNF-α in combination with simvastatin. In addition, simvastatin treatment significantly upregulated expression of Cx37 and Cx40 but downregulated Cx43 mRNAs and proteins. Taken together, these marked changes indicated that simvastatin exerts its regulatory effects on gap junction function by upregulating Cx37 and Cx40 and downregulating Cx43 expression. Abbreviations: TNF-α Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, GJIC Gap junction intercellular communication, Cx37 Connexin 37, Cx40 Connexin 40, Cx43 Connexin 43

Optimal simulation design for weight reduction of periodic titanium alloy space structures

Liang Xuan,Yanhe Zhang,Siyuan Peng,Yongkang Shen 대한기계학회 2023 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.37 No.2

This research investigates the spatial structure of periodic titanium alloys. The response surface optimization method is used to optimize the weight reduction structure of combined model parameters. Under the condition of unidirectional load, the stress and strain results of each model group of a 3D structure with weight reduction rates of 30 %, 50 %, and 70 % are obtained through simulation analysis. Furthermore, the characteristics of the selective laser melting (SLM) forming process are incorporated, and a comparative analysis of the maximum equivalent stress of each group of models under unidirectional load is performed. The optimal structural form and its parameters suitable for multi-directional loads are screened. By using SLM to form the optimal model and carry out a loading test, the ultimate load of the model under different weight reduction rates is obtained to provide a theoretical basis for the next step of 3D printing process research.

Mechanism of Wenshen Xuanbi Decoction in the treatment of osteoarthritis based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

You Hankun,Song Siyuan,Liu Deren,Ren Tongsen,Yin Song Jiang,Wu Peng,Mao Jun 대한약리학회 2024 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.28 No.1

To investigate the mechanism of Wenshen Xuanbi Decoction (WSXB) in treating osteoarthritis (OA) via network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification. The active components and prediction targets of WSXB were obtained from the TCMSP database and Swiss Target Prediction website, respectively. OA-related genes were retrieved from GeneCards and OMIM databases. Protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment analyses were performed, resulting in the construction of the Herb-Component-Target network. In addition, differential genes of OA were obtained from the GEO database to verify the potential mechanism of WSXB in OA treatment. Subsequently, potential active components were subjected to molecular verification with the hub targets. Finally, we selected the most crucial hub targets and pathways for experimental verification in vitro. The active components in the study included quercetin, linolenic acid, methyl linoleate, isobergapten, and beta-sitosterol. AKT1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)- 6, GAPDH, and CTNNB1 were identified as the most crucial hub targets. Molecular docking revealed that the active components and hub targets exhibited strong binding energy. Experimental verification demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF in the WSXB group were lower than those in the KOA group (p < 0.05). WSXB exhibits a chondroprotective effect on OA and delays disease progression. The mechanism is potentially related to the suppression of IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways and the down-regulation of IL-6.

Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveals different metabolic patterns in the livers of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs

Duan, Mengqi,Wang, Zhenmei,Guo, Xinying,Wang, Kejun,Liu, Siyuan,Zhang, Bo,Shang, Peng Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.5

Objective: Tibetan pigs, predominantly originating from the Tibetan Plateau, have been subjected to long-term natural selection in an extreme environment. To characterize the metabolic adaptations to hypoxic conditions, transcriptomic and proteomic expression patterns in the livers of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs were compared. Methods: RNA and protein were extracted from liver tissue of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs (n = 3, each). Differentially expressed genes and proteins were subjected to gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes functional enrichment analyses. Results: In the RNA-Seq and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analyses, a total of 18,791 genes and 3,390 proteins were detected and compared. Of these, 273 and 257 differentially expressed genes and proteins were identified. Evidence from functional enrichment analysis showed that many genes were involved in metabolic processes. The combined transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that small molecular biosynthesis, metabolic processes, and organic hydroxyl compound metabolic processes were the major processes operating differently in the two breeds. The important genes include retinol dehydrogenase 16, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, prenylcysteine oxidase 1, sorbin and SH3 domain containing 2, ENSSSCG00000036224, perilipin 2, ladinin 1, kynurenine aminotransferase 1, and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide novel insight into the high-altitude metabolic adaptation of Tibetan pigs.

Structural noise mitigation for viaduct box girder using acoustic modal contribution analysis

Liu Linya,Jialiang Qin,Yun-Lai Zhou,Rui Xi,Siyuan Peng 국제구조공학회 2019 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.72 No.4

In high-speed railway (HSR) system, the structure-borne noise inside viaduct at low frequency has been extensively investigated for its mitigation as a research hotspot owing to its harm to the nearby residents. This study proposed a novel acoustic optimization method for declining the structure-borne noise in viaduct-like structures by separating the acoustic contribution of each structural component in the measured acoustic field. The structural vibration and related acoustic sourcing, propagation, and radiation characteristics for the viaduct box girder under passing vehicle loading are studied by incorporating Finite Element Method (FEM) with Modal Acoustic Vector (MAV) analysis. Based on the Modal Acoustic Transfer Vector (MATV), the structural vibration mode that contributes maximum to the structure-borne noise shall be hereinafter filtered for the acoustic radiation. With vibration mode shapes, the locations of maximum amplitudes for being ribbed to mitigate the structure-borne noise are then obtained, and the structure-borne noise mitigation performance shall be eventually analyzed regarding to the ribbing conduction. The results demonstrate that the structural vibration and structure-borne noise of the viaduct box girder mainly occupy both in the range within 100 Hz, and the dominant frequency bands both are [31.5, 80] Hz. The peak frequency for the structureborne noise of the viaduct box girder is mainly caused by 16th and 62th vibration modes; these two mode shapes mainly reflect the local vibration of the wing plate and top plate. By introducing web plate at the maximum amplitude of main mode shapes that contribute most to the acoustic modal contribution factors, the acoustic pressure peaks at the field-testing points are hereinafter obviously declined, this implies that the structure-borne noise mitigation performance is relatively promising for the viaduct.