Sputum Transcriptomics Reveals FCN1+ Macrophage Activation in Mild Eosinophilic Asthma Compared to Non-Asthmatic Eosinophilic Bronchitis

Zhan Wenzhi,Luo Wei,Zhang Yulong,Xiang Keheng,Chen Xiaomei,Shen Shuirong,Huang Chuqing,Xu Tingting,Ding Wenbin,Chen Yuehan,Lin Mingtong,Pan Xinghua,Lai Kefang 대한천식알레르기학회 2024 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.16 No.1

Purpose: Eosinophilic asthma (EA) and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) share similar eosinophilic airway inflammation. Unlike EA, EB did not present airway hyperresponsiveness or airflow obstruction. We aimed to compare the mechanism underlying the different manifestations between EA and EB via sputum transcriptomics analysis. Methods: Induced-sputum cells from newly physician-diagnosed EA, EB patients, and healthy controls (HCs) were collected for RNA sequencing. Results: Bulk RNA sequencing was performed using sputum cells from patients with EA (n = 18), EB (n = 15) and HCs (n = 28). Principal component analysis revealed similar gene expression patterns in EA and EB. The most differentially expressed genes in EB compared with HC were also shared by EA, including IL4, IL5 IL13, CLC, CPA3, and DNASE1L3. However, gene set enrichment analysis showed that the signatures regulating macrophage activation were enriched in EA compared to EB. Sputum cells were profiled using single-cell RNA sequencing. FABP4+ macrophages, SPP1+ macrophages, FCN1+ macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, mast cells, and epithelial cells were identified based on gene expression profiling. Analysis of cell-cell communication revealed that interactions between FCN1+ macrophages and other cells were higher in EA than in EB. A wealth of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) interactions between FCN1+ macrophages and other cells have been shown in EA. The gene expression levels of EREG, TGFBI, and VEGFA in FCN1+ macrophages of EA were significantly higher than those of EB. Furthermore, signatures associated with the response to TGF-β, cellular response to VEGF stimulus and developmental cell growth were enriched in FCN1+ macrophages of EA compared to those of EB. Conclusions: FCN1+ macrophage activation associated with airway remodeling processes was upregulated in EA compared to that in EB, which may contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction.

Discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins

Liu, Juan,Xu, Yangrong,Yang, Jingjing,Wang, Wenzhi,Zhang, Jianqiang,Zhang, Renmei,Meng, Qingguo The Korean Society of Ginseng 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.3

Ocotillol-type saponins are one kind of tetracyclic triterpenoids, sharing a tetrahydrofuran ring. Natural ocotillol-type saponins have been discovered in Panax quinquefolius L., Panax japonicus, Hana mina, and Vietnamese ginseng. In recent years, the semisynthesis of 20(S/R)-ocotillol-type saponins has been reported. The biological activities of ocotillol-type saponins include neuroprotective effect, antimyocardial ischemia, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Owing to their chemical structure, pharmacological actions, and the stereoselective activity on antimyocardial ischemia, ocotillol-type saponins are subjected to extensive consideration. In this review, we sum up the discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins.

Discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins

Juan Liu,Yangrong Xu,Jingjing Yang,Wenzhi Wang,Jianqiang Zhang,Renmei Zhang,Qingguo Meng 고려인삼학회 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.3

Ocotillol-type saponins are one kind of tetracyclic triterpenoids, sharing a tetrahydrofuran ring. Natural ocotillol-type saponins have been discovered in Panax quinquefolius L., Panax japonicus, Hana mina, and Vietnamese ginseng. In recent years, the semisynthesis of 20(S/R)-ocotillol-type saponins has been reported. The biological activities of ocotillol-type saponins include neuroprotective effect, antimyocardial ischemia, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Owing to their chemical structure, pharmacological actions, and the stereoselective activity on antimyocardial ischemia, ocotillol-type saponins are subjected to extensive consideration. In this review, we sum up the discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins.

Combination of dispersive solid phase extraction with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the sequential speciation and preconcentration of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples prior to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry determination

Li Yao,Yongqun Zhu,Wenzhi Xu,Hong Wang,Xie Wang,Jianhua Zhang,Haitao Liu,Chaowen Lin 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.72 No.-

In this study, the combination of dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) with dispersive liquid–liquidmicroextraction (DLLME) was proposed as a novel sequential speciation method for Cr determination bygraphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In thefirst step, the selective extraction of Cr(III) byDSPE was achieved using graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles as the adsorbent. The difficulty of separationand collection of GO in analytical performance was solved by the introduction of the syringe nanofilter. Then Cr(VI) was enriched by DLLME using [Omim] [PF6] as the extraction solvent. The experimentalparameters affecting the performance of both preconcentration methods were investigated andoptimized. Under the optimal conditions including the initial pH value of 7, 150 mg GO, 2 min ultrasoundtime, 210 mL elution solvent (first step), secondary pH value of 4, 0.15% (m/v) Aliquat-336, 120 mL of[Omim] [PF6] and 3 min ultrasound time (second step), the linear range of 0.06–5 ng/mL (R > 0.997), thelimits of detection of 0.015 and 0.02 ng/mL were achieved for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. The relativestandard deviations (n = 5) of 0.6 ng/mL Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 3.2% and 4.6%, respectively. Finally, thisnewly developed method was applied for the speciation and determination of Cr species in differentwater samples and satisfactory results were obtained.

Preparation and Self-Healing Behaviors of Poly(acrylic acid)/Cerium Ions Double Network Hydrogels

Hongwei Zhou,Guohe Xu,Jie Li,Shihao Zeng,Xiaolong Zhang,Zhaohui Zheng,Xiaobin Ding,Weixing Chen,Qiguan Wang,Wenzhi Zhang 한국고분자학회 2015 Macromolecular Research Vol.23 No.12

This work aims at developing an approach to poly(acrylic acid)/cerium ions (PAA/cerium ions) double network hydrogels and exploring the self-healing properties of the hydrogels, with expectation to provide some clues for constructing new healable gel actuators and enrich the family of self-healable hydrogels. The hydrogel is covalently crosslinked by a traditional crosslinking agent N,N'-methylene bis-acrylamide to form the first network and further physically crosslinked by the ionic interaction between cerium ions and the carboxyl groups in the hydrogel network. The preparation method and self-healing behaviors of the hydrogels are investigated.

Simultaneous Improvement of Thermal Conductivity and Strength for Commercial A356 Alloy Using Strontium Modification Process

Kang Wang,Wenfang Li,Wenzhi Xu,Shengyu Hou,Shaodong Hu 대한금속·재료학회 2021 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.27 No.11

The Aluminum–Silicon (Al–Si) die-casting alloys, such as the commercial A356 alloy, are expected to be used in heat-sinkand the device with high thermal conductivity due to their high production efficiency of casting process. These fields alsorequired them to possess sound mechanical properties. To meet these demands, the Strontium (Sr) was often utilized tomodify the silicon phase. According to our current work, the secondary dendrite arm spacing of the α-Al grains prominentlywas decreased when 0.05%–0.25% strontium was added. The decrease of the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) lead tothe enhancement of the mechanical strength as well as the improvement of the thermal and electrical conductivity. When theSr dosage was 0.15% in the commercial A356 alloy, the strength and the thermal conductivity of the A356 alloy simultaneouslyreached the maximum value. The improvement of the electrical and thermal conductivity might by contributed by theformation of a good conductor, Al2Si2Srphase, on the Si surface. Further investigations suggested that the improvement ofthermal conductivity was mainly due to the modification effect of Sr on the eutectic Si phase, which enlarged the specificarea between the α-Al/eutectic Si interface. The WDS analysis indicated that the solubility of Si decreased in aluminummatrix by increasing in the Sr dosage. However, the excessive dosage of strontium would result in the coarsening of themodified silicon phase, deteriorating the strength and the thermal and electrical conductivity of the modified A356 alloys.

magnetostratigraphy, 26Al-10Be, Yx02 borehole, tectonic evolution, Daxing Uplift, Beijing Sub-plain

Fubing He,Xiwei Xu,Fang Tian,Zhenhua Liu,Yueze Zhang,Lingyan Bai,Yubin Cui,Kai Wang,Wenzhi Niu,Jingbo Ni,Xiaoyong Liu,Mengmeng Cao 한국지질과학협의회 2024 Geosciences Journal Vol.28 No.2

The buried Daxing Uplift connects the Beijing Sag and Dachang Sag, which is the critical tectonic unit for understanding the structural evolution of the Beijing Sub-plain and its linkages to regional tectonics. This study combines paleomagnetic, 26Al-10Be isochron dates and sedimentary analyses from a new borehole (Yx02) in the northeastern Beijing Sub-plain to shed fresh light on regional tectonic processes and the sedimentary history since the Pliocene. The main findings are as follows: (1) the Daxing Uplift had formed three depositional episodes: alluvial-fan, lacustrine-delta, and alluvial-fan sedimentation since the Cenozoic; (2) The borehole records the Brunhes, Gauss normal chron, and the Matuyama, Gilbert reversed chron in the Daxing Uplift, the corresponding depths are 0–148.9 m, 148.9–315.0 m, 315.0–520.5 m and 520.5–650 m; (3) An important tectonic event started in ~4.3 Ma, disintegrated NE-trending basin and range terrain, reactivated the NW-trending Nankou-Sunhe fault, and formed Shunyi fault in Beijing Sub-plain. Sedimentation occurs exclusively in the Beijing Sag and the northeastern Daxing Uplift during ~4.3–1.77 Ma; (4) During ~1.77–1.07 Ma, a transition from an extension to a strike-slip occurred, and is described not only in a progressively higher increase of the overall deposition rate, but also in a decrease of the relative deposition disparity between sags and uplifts. Since then, the Beijing Sub-plain has been shaped, associated with an overall subsidence depression in the Bohai Bay Basin. This work enhances our understanding of the formation and evolution of the Beijing Sub-plain, the division of tectonic episodes, and the initiation time of the latest tectonic movement in the break-up region, North China Craton, since the Neogene.