ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats, and explore the intervention effect of edaravone and its possible mechanism.MethodsA total of 120 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal control group (UC group), a chronic intermittent hypoxia group (CIH group), an edaravone intervention group (NE group), and a normal saline group (NS group). The above four groups were also randomly divided into five time subgroups of 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days, respectively, with 6 rats in each time subgroup. The histopathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the expression of CHOP in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method.ResultsHE staining results showed that there was no obvious pathological change in UC group. The epithelial cells of lung tissue in CIH group showed edema, hyperemia, widening of alveolar septum and inflammatory cell infiltration. The pathological injury was more serious with the prolongation of intermittent hypoxia time. There were also pathological changes in NE group, but the degree of lung tissue injury was significantly lower than that in CIH group. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CHOP in CIH group was significantly higher than that in UC group. The expression of CHOP in NE group was higher than that in UC group, but it was still significantly lower than that in CIH group.ConclusionsThe expression of CHOP protein in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxic rats is enhanced and the high expression of CHOP protein plays a certain role in the lung injury of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats complicated with lung injury. Edaravone may protect lung tissue from chronic intermittent hypoxia by inhibiting the expression of CHOP.
Objective To observe the relationship of serum levels of homocysteine (HCY) and chemokine C-C motifligand 2 (CCL2) with cognitive impairment in COPD patients with different degrees of emphysema. Methods Sixty-twoCOPD patients identified according to emphysema phenotype classification and admitted from January 2016 to March 2017 were recruited in the study. There were 37 cases in emphysema 1-2 grade and 25 cases in emphysema 3-4 grade. Simultaneous 30 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination were recruited as control. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale investigation and serum HCY and CCL2 test were completed. Relationship analysis was conducted on serum HCY, CCL2 levels with cognitive impairment in the COPD patients with different degrees of emphysema. Results Compared with the 1-2 grade subgroup, the PaO2 was lower, PaCO2 was higher, the plasma HCY and CCL2 levels increased in the 3-4 grade subgroup with significant differences (all P<0.05). MoCA total score and subscores were relatively low in the COPD group with emphysema than the control group (except visuospatial ability scores in the 1-2 grade subgroup). MoCA scores were statistically lower in the 3-4 grade subgroup than those in the 1-2 grade subgroup (allP<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that HCY and CLL2 levels were negatively correlated with MoCA scores and subscores (P<0.01), and HCY and CLL2 were positively correlated (bothP<0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of HCY and CLL2 for evaluating cognitive impairment was 0.79 and 0.97, respectively. Conclusion In patients with different degrees of emphysema phenotype, serum HCY and CCL2 levels are increased in different degree, and the degree of emphysema is closely related with cognitive dysfunction.