GroEL of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced microRNAs accelerate tumor neovascularization by downregulating thrombomodulin expression in endothelial progenitor cells

We found that GroEL in Porphyromonas gingivalis accelerated tumor growth and increased mortality in tumor-bearing mice; GroEL promoted proangiogenic function, which may be the reason for promoting tumor growth. To understand the regulatory mechanisms by which GroEL increases the proangiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), we explored in this study. In EPCs, MTT assay, wound-healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to analyze its activity. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were used to study the protein expression along with next-generation sequencing for miRNA expression. Finally, a murine tumorigenesis animal model was used to confirm the results of in vitro. The results indicated that thrombomodulin (TM) direct interacts with PI3 K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. When the expression of TM is decreased by GroEL stimulation, molecules in the PI3 K/Akt signaling axis are released and activated, resulting in increased migration and tube formation of EPCs. In addition, GroEL inhibits TM mRNA expression by activating miR-1248, miR-1291, and miR-5701. Losing the functions of miR-1248, miR-1291, and miR-5701 can effectively alleviate the GroEL-induced decrease in TM protein levels and inhibit the proangiogenic abilities of EPCs. These results were also confirmed in animal experiments. In conclusion, the intracellular domain of the TM of EPCs plays a negative regulatory role in the proangiogenic capabilities of EPCs, mainly through direct interaction between TM and PI3 K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. The effects of GroEL on tumor growth can be reduced by inhibiting the proangiogenic properties of EPCs through the inhibition of the expression of specific miRNAs.

Porphyromonas gingivalis GroEL exacerbates orthotopic allograft transplantation vasculopathy via impairment of endothelial cell function

Orthotopic allograft transplantation (OAT) is a significant approach to addressing organ failure. However, persistent immune responses to the allograft affect chronic rejection, which induces OAT vasculopathy (OATV) and organ failure. Porphyromonas gingivalis can infiltrate remote organs via the bloodstream, thereby intensifying the severity of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. GroEL, a virulence factor of P. gingivalis promotes pro-inflammatory cytokine production in host cells, which assumes to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Although the aggravation of OATV is attributable to numerous factors, the role of GroEL remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of GroEL on OATV. Aortic grafts extracted from PVG/Seac rats were transplanted into ACI/NKyo rats and in vitro human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) models. The experimental findings revealed that GroEL exacerbates OATV in ACI/NKyo rats by affecting EPC and smooth muscle progenitor cell (SMPC) function and enabling the anomalous accumulation of collagen. In vitro, GroEL spurs endothelial-mesenchymal transition in EPCs, reduces HCAEC tube formation and barrier function by downregulating junction proteins, accelerates HCAEC aging by lowering mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory function, and impedes HCAEC migration by modulating cytoskeleton-associated molecules. This study suggests that P. gingivalis GroEL could potentially augment OATV by impacting vascular progenitor and endothelial cell functions.

[Observation on effect of supplementary treatment by Astragalus injection in treating senile pulmonary tuberculosis patients]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical therapeutic supplementary effect of Astragalus injection (ASI) as anti-tuberculosis agents in treating senile tuberculosis (ST).

METHODS

Seventy-six ST patients were divided according to their hospitalization order into two groups randomly, 39 in the ASI group and 37 in the control group. The anti-tuberculosis regimen applied on all patients were HRE (S)Z for first treated patients and KHZ1321 TH for retreated patients. In the ASI group, ASI was given additionally by adding ASI 20 ml into 500 ml 5% glucose solution for intravenous dripping, once a day. The therapeutic course was 2 months. The changes of focal size, bacteria in sputum, and erythrocyte immune function (EIF) were observed before and after treatment, and the EIF obtained from 30 healthy subjects was taken for control.

RESULTS

EIF in patients of both groups was lower than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.01). Rosette rate of RBC-C3b receptor in both groups was all increased after treatment, the increment was higher in the ASI group than that in the control group significantly (P < 0.01). After 2 months ASI treatment, the effective rate of focal absorption examined by X-ray was 84.6% and the negative conversion rate of bacteria in sputum was 79.4%.

CONCLUSION

ASI has the effect of elevating erythrocyte immunity in senile pulmonary tuberculosis patients, it is able to enhance the therapeutic effect of treatment.