Impact of cathepsin D activity and C224T polymorphism (rs17571) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: correlations with oxidative and inflammatory markers

Vitamin D promotes autophagy to inhibit LPS-induced lung injury via targeting cathepsin D

Pneumonia is a frequent-occurring event in children death. Vitamin D (VD) can alleviate inflammatory response and it might be a promising adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia. This study intended to uncover the relevant mechanism of VD in pneumonia. For simulating inflammatory condition, BEAS-2B cells were induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and western blot. Inflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress markers were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and corresponding assays. Western blot evaluated the contents of cathepsin D (CTSD), apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. Through real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot, the transfection efficiency of overexpression (OV)-CTSD was detected. Immunofluorescence assay detected light chain 3 (LC3II) level. Through SuperPred database analysis, VD can target CTSD. VD was revealed to suppress viability damage, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and autophagy injury in BEAS-2B cells induced by LPS via targeting CTSD. However, the protective effects exhibited by VD against LPS-induced viability damage, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells were all counteracted by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Collectively, VD alleviated the severity of LPS-induced lung injury by promoting autophagy through targeting CTSD.

Integrated Single Cell Analysis Reveals An Atlas of Tumor Associated Macrophages in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent cancers globally, is closely associated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), including monocyte-derived macrophages and liver-resident Kupffer cells. Understanding TAM heterogeneity at the cellular level is crucial for developing effective HCC prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, we conducted an integrated single-cell analysis of four cohorts (GSE140228, GSE125449, GSE149614 and GSE156625) to elucidate the TAM landscape in HCC. We identified 284 gene markers, termed Panmyeloid markers, that characterize myeloid cells within this context. Our analysis distinguished six clusters of monocyte-derived macrophages (Macro1-Macro6) and four clusters of Kupffer cells (Kupffer1-Kupffer4). Notably, CXCL10 + macrophages and MT1G + Kupffer cells, predominantly located within tumor tissues, exhibited distinct functional characteristics relevant to HCC. We also explored cellular communication between TAMs and T cells, uncovering potential signaling pathways such as the CXCL10/CXCL11-CXCR3 and CXCL12-CXCR4 networks. These findings enhance our understanding of TAMs in HCC and open new avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

The Effect of Teach-Back Combined with King Interactive Standard Mode on the Life of COPD Patients

Background

COPD is a common clinical chronic airway inflammatory disease that occurs mostly in middle-aged and older adults over the age of 40. The incidence of COPD is increasing year by year and the onset of age is gradually becoming younger.

Objective

To observe the effect of teach-back combined with king interaction on the life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

A total of 100 COPD patients admitted to our hospital from Jan 2021 to Jan 2022 were retrospectively selected to be divided into 50 cases in the control group and 50 cases in the observation group according to the nursing methods. The control group was treated with routine nursing intervention, while the observation group was treated with teach-back combined with king interactive standard mode intervention. The differences in Self-Care Ability Assessment Scale (ESCA) score, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, Mental State Assessment Scale (MSSNS) score, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and pulmonary function indexes were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. The success rate and patient compliance of each index in the groups were also recorded.

Results

After 3 months and 6 months of intervention, the total SGRO score and its factor scores of self-care skills, self-care responsibility, self-concept, health knowledge level in them were all higher than those before the intervention, while the total SGRO score and its factor scores of respiratory symptoms, activity limitation, disease influence, and so on were all decreased compared with those before the intervention. The ESCA score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control one after 3 months and 6 months of intervention, while the SGRQ score was significantly lower than that of the control one, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). After 3 months of intervention, the total score of MSSNS and the scores of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other factors in both groups were decreased compared with those before intervention. After 6 months of intervention, the total score of MSSNS and scores of each factor in both groups were decreased compared with those before intervention, and the MSSNS scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After 3 months and 6 months of intervention, 6MWD, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory value in 1 second (FEV1), and FVC/FEV1 in them were all higher than those before intervention, and 6MWD and pulmonary function were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group after 3 and 6 months of intervention, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The ESCA score, SGRQ score, MSSNS score, pulmonary function compliance rate, and compliance rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The use of teach-back combined with king interactive standard mode in COPD patients can improve the patient's self-care ability, reduce psychological negative emotions, and improve the quality of life.

SMAD4 rs10502913 is Significantly Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Chinese Han Population: A Case-Control Study

Background

COPD is a respiratory disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Polymorphism, as a genetic factor, can affect the susceptibility of the disease of COPD. In this study, we assessed the relationship between the polymorphisms of three genes and COPD risk in a Chinese Han population.

Patients and Methods

A total of 376 patients diagnosed with COPD and 284 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between three polymorphisms (SMAD4 rs10502913, IL-4 rs2070874, HSPA1L rs2227956) and COPD susceptibility.

Results

The SMAD4 rs10502913 GG and AG genotype significantly increased COPD risk (adjusted OR = 2.235, 95% CI 1.198–4.104; adjusted OR = 2.218, 95% CI 1.204–4.151, respectively) compared with the AA genotype. In the stratification analyses, the GG genotype significantly increased the risk of COPD in subjects aged 60 and over (adjusted OR = 2.519, 95% CI 1.266–5.015) and with a smoking history of less than 30 years (p=0.009; adjusted OR = 3.751; 95% CI 1.398–10.062). This increased risk was more pronounced in the group of GOLD I and GOLD II (adjusted OR = 3.628, 95% CI 1.022–12.885; adjusted OR = 2.394, 95% CI 1.004–5.710, respectively). In addition, AG genotype was associated with an increased COPD risk in subjects aged 60 and over (adjusted OR = 2.599, 95% CI 1.304–5.176) and in smokers (p=0.021; adjusted OR = 2.269; 95% CI 1.132–4.548). This increased risk was more obvious in the group of GOLD III COPD (p=0.047; adjusted OR = 2.532; 95% CI 1.012–6.336).

Conclusion

Our present study indicated that the genotype GG and AG of SMAD4 rs10502913 are associated with an increased risk of COPD in a Chinese Han population. Further validation studies with large-scale populations are needed to confirm our findings.