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.

Investigation of rotation and shear behaviours of complex steel spherical hinged bearings subject to axial tensile load

Kairong Shi,Wenzhi Pan,Zhengrong Jiang,Junfeng Lv 국제구조공학회 2020 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.73 No.2

Steel spherical hinged bearings have high loading capacity, reliable load transfer, flexible rotation with universal hinge and allowance of large displacement and rotation angle. However, bearings are in complex forced states subject to various load combinations, which lead to the significant influence on integral structural safety. Taking the large-tonnage complex steel spherical hinged bearings of Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as an example, full-scale rotation and shear behaviour tests of the bearings subject to axial tensile load are carried out, and the corresponding finite element simulation analyses are conducted. The results of experiments and finite element simulations are in good agreement with the coincident development tendency of stress and deformation. In addition, the measured rotational moment is less than the calculated moment prescriptive by the code, and the relationship between horizontal displacement and horizontal shear force is linear. Finally, based on these results, the rotation and shear stiffness models of bearings subject to axial tensile load are proposed for the refinement analysis of integral structure.

Immunomodulatory biomaterials for implant-associated infections: from conventional to advanced therapeutic strategies

Dong Jiale,Wang Wenzhi,Zhou Wei,Zhang Siming,Li Meng,Li Ning,Pan Guoqing,Zhang Xianzuo,Bai Jiaxiang,Zhu Chen 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Implant-associated infection (IAI) is increasingly emerging as a serious threat with the massive application of biomaterials. Bacteria attached to the surface of implants are often difficult to remove and exhibit high resistance to bactericides. In the quest for novel antimicrobial strategies, conventional antimicrobial materials often fail to exert their function because they tend to focus on direct bactericidal activity while neglecting the modulation of immune systems. The inflammatory response induced by host immune cells was thought to be a detrimental force impeding wound healing. However, the immune system has recently received increasing attention as a vital player in the host’s defense against infection. Anti-infective strategies based on the modulation of host immune defenses are emerging as a field of interest. This review explains the importance of the immune system in combating infections and describes current advanced immune-enhanced anti-infection strategies. First, the characteristics of traditional/conventional implant biomaterials and the reasons for the difficulty of bacterial clearance in IAI were reviewed. Second, the importance of immune cells in the battle against bacteria is elucidated. Then, we discuss how to design biomaterials that activate the defense function of immune cells to enhance the antimicrobial potential. Based on the key premise of restoring proper host-protective immunity, varying advanced immune-enhanced antimicrobial strategies were discussed. Finally, current issues and perspectives in this field were offered. This review will provide scientific guidance to enhance the development of advanced anti-infective biomaterials.

A new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity

Wang, Long,Wu, Bo,Gao, Junyue,Shi, Kairong,Pan, Wenzhi,He, Zhuoyi,Ruan, Zhijian,Lin, Quanpan 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.68 No.2

Cables are the main load-bearing members of prestressed structure and other tensegrity structures. Based on the static equilibrium principle, a new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity is proposed. Its computational formula is derived and the strategy to solve its implicit formula is introduced as well. In order to improve the reliability and practicality of this method, the influence of the cable flexural rigidity on cable force identification accuracy is also investigated. Through cable force identification experiments, the relationships among certain parameters including jacking force, jacking displacement, initial cable force, and sectional area (flexural rigidity) are studied. The results show that the cable force calculated by the proposed method considering flexural rigidity is in good agreement with the finite element results and experimental results. The proposed method with high computational accuracy and resolution efficiency can avoid the influences of the boundary condition and the length of the cable on calculation accuracy and is proven to be conveniently applied to cable force identification in practice.

A new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity

Long Wang,Bo Wu,Junyue Gao,Kairong Shi,Wenzhi Pan,Zhuoyi He,Zhijian Ruan,Quanpan Lin 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.68 No.2

Cables are the main load-bearing members of prestressed structure and other tensegrity structures. Based on the static equilibrium principle, a new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity is proposed. Its computational formula is derived and the strategy to solve its implicit formula is introduced as well. In order to improve the reliability and practicality of this method, the influence of the cable flexural rigidity on cable force identification accuracy is also investigated. Through cable force identification experiments, the relationships among certain parameters including jacking force, jacking displacement, initial cable force, and sectional area (flexural rigidity) are studied. The results show that the cable force calculated by the proposed method considering flexural rigidity is in good agreement with the finite element results and experimental results. The proposed method with high computational accuracy and resolution efficiency can avoid the influences of the boundary condition and the length of the cable on calculation accuracy and is proven to be conveniently applied to cable force identification in practice.