To study the variations of l ipid peroxidation products and copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase(CuZn-SOD) in pathological scars (hypertrophic scars and keloids). Methods The specimens were gained from patients of voluntary contributions from May 2005 to August 2005. The tissues of hypertrophic scar (10 cases, aged 16-35 years, the mean course of disease was 2.2 years), keloid (10 cases, aged 17-32 years, the mean course of disease was 8 months) and normal skin (8 cases, aged 16-34 years) were obtained. The content of malonaldehyde (MDA)and CuZn-SOD activity were detected by spectrophotometric method. The expression of CuZn-SOD was evaluated by immunohistochemistry technique. Results The contents of MDA and CuZn-SOD activity were significantly higher in hypertrophic scars[MDA (1.139 0 ± 0.106 7)nmoL/mg prot, CuZn-SOD (31.65 ± 2.21)U/mg prot, (P lt; 0.05)]and keloids[MDA (1.190 0 ± 0.074 8)nmoL/ mg prot, CuZn-SOD (34.36 ± 5.01)U/mg prot (P lt; 0.05)] than those of normal skin tissues [MDA (0.821 3 ± 0.086 4)nmoL/mg prot, CuZn-SOD (20.60 ± 5.56)U/mg prot]. Immunohistochemical studies indicated that the brown particles were CuZn-SOD positive signals, which mainly located cytoplasm in normal skin tissues, hypertrophic scars as well as keloids epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. CuZn-SOD expression evaluation in hypertrophic scars (4.14 ± 0.90, P lt; 0.05) and keloids epidermal keratinocytes (4.43 ± 0.79, P lt; 0.05) markedly increased when compared with normal skin tissues (2.20 ± 0.45). The expression of CuZn-SODin hypertrophic scars (4.00 ± 0.82, P lt; 0.05) and keloids dermal fibroblasts (4.43 ± 0.53, P lt; 0.05) were significantly higher than that of normal skin tissues (1.60 ± 0.89). There were no differences in the content of MDA, CuZn-SOD activity and expression evaluation between hypertrophic scars and keloids (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion In pathological scars, the contents of MDA and CuZn-SOD activity increase and the expressions of CuZn-SOD are enlarged.
Implant surface modified coating can improve its osteoinductivity, about which simple calcium phosphate coating has been extensively studied. But it has slow osteointegration speed and poor antibacterial property, while other metal ions added, such as nano zinc ion, can compensate for these deficiencies. This paper describes the incorporation form, the effect on physical and chemical properties of the material and the antibacterial property of nano zinc, and summarizes the material's biological property given by calcium ion, zinc ion and inorganic phosphate (Pi), mainly focusing on the influence of these three inorganic ions on osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, protein synthesis and matrix mineralization in order to present the positive function of zinc doped calcium phosphate in the field of bone formation.
In view of the excellent biocompatibility as well as the low cost, nanoscale ZnO shows great potential for drug delivery application. Moreover, The charming character enable nanoscale ZnO some excellent features (e.g. dissolution in acid, ultrasonic permeability, microwave absorbing, hydrophobic/hydrophilic transition). All of that make nanoscale ZnO reasonable choices for smart drug delivery. In the recent decade, more and more studies have focused on controlling the drug release behavior via smart drug delivery systems based on nanoscale ZnO responsive to some certain stimuli. Herein, we review the recent exciting progress on the pH-responsive, ultrasound-responsive, microwave-responsive and UV-responsive nanoscale ZnO-based drug delivery systems. A brief introduction of the drug controlled release behavior and its effect of the drug delivery systems is presented. The biocompatibility of nanoscale ZnO is also discussed. Moreover, its development prospect is looked forward.
Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) were synthesized by gel-sol method and employed as the transdermal aloesin (Alo) carriers. ZnO QDs were surface-functionalized with amino using aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Alo was covalently bonded on the surface of ZnO QDs via N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole to obtain Alo NPs, which were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA). TEM images showed that ZnO QDs were analogously sphere and monodisperse with a reasonably narrow size distribution, of which was around 4 nm. The size of Alo NPs increased to around 8 nm due to the surface modification. The intense bands at around 3 400 cm–1 and 1 200 cm–1 in the FTIR spectrum of Alo NPs from the vibration of -OH indicated the linkage of Alo on the surface of ZnO QDs. The results of TGA analysis showed that the mass ratio of ZnO QDs and Alo were 39.27% and 35.14%, respectively. The penetration of Alo NPs was much higher than raw Alo according to the passive penetration experiments with Franz-type diffusion cells instrument using full-thickness cavy skin, which manifested the improvement of the penetration for Alo delivered by ZnO QDs. The pH-controlled drug release behavior in vitro was investigated. At pH 7.4, only a small amount of Alo (1.45% ± 0.21%) had been released after 2 h. In contrast, as incubation at pH 5.0 of which pH was similar to endosomal environment, Alo was released very fast (87.63% ± 0.46% in 2 h) from Alo NPs, confirming that Alo NPs could response to the pH and realize the intracellular drug release. The inhibitory effect of Alo NPs on tyrosinase was in a dose dependent manner. When the concentration of Alo NPs was 12.5 μg/mL, the inhibition rate was up to 40.32% ± 1.57%. All the results show that the Alo NPs hold a great potential in transdermal tyrosinase inhibition.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of zinc finger protein A20 on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbits.MethodsTwenty-six 3-month-old New Zealand rabbits, 2.0-2.5 kg in weight, were used to establish the model of intervertebral disc degeneration at L3, 4, L4, 5, and L5, 6 by transabdominal needle puncture. At 4 weeks after operation, the 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups after successful modeling, which checked by MRI. The target intervertebral discs of each group were injected with zinc finger protein A20 overexpressed adenovirus (Ov-A20 group), empty carrier adenovirus (NC group), phosphate buffer saline (control group), and shRNA-A20 adenovirus (Sh-A20 group). The biological responses of animals in each group were comprehensive scored before 1 day of injection and after 1, 2, 3, and 6 days of injection. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection, the animals in each group were observed by MRI to obtain the exact T2 relaxation time (T2 signal value). After MRI examination, the animals were killed to take the degenerative intervertebral disc tissue; and the tissue was detected by Alcian blue staining to observed the intervertebral disc degeneration. The expressions of zinc finger protein A20, collagen Ⅱ, and aggrecan were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. The expressions of zinc finger protein A20, nuclear factor κB binding protein [P65, phosphate P65 (P-P65), collagen Ⅱ, aggrecan], inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β)], autophagy-related protein [LC3 (LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ) and P62] were detected by Western blot.ResultsThe comprehensive score of biological response in each group after injection was significantly lower than that before injection (P<0.05). At 6 days after injection, the comprehensive score of biological response in the Sh-A20 group was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among other groups (P>0.05). The detection of MRI showed that the T2 signal value in the Ov-A20 group was the highest at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection (P<0.05), and the T2 signal value in the Sh-A20 group was the lowest at 2 and 4 weeks after injection (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between other groups (P>0.05). Alcian blue staining showed that the expression of aggrecan was the highest in Ov-A20 group and the lowest in Sh-A20 group at 4 weeks (P<0.05); the expression of aggrecan in Ov-A20 group was the highest at 8 weeks (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between other groups (P>0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expressions of zinc finger protein A20, collagen Ⅱ, and aggrecan were the highest in Ov-A20 group and lowest in Sh-A20 group (P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expressions of zinc finger protein A20, collagen Ⅱ, aggrecan, and LC3 (LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ) proteins were the highest in the Ov-A20 group and the lowest in Sh-A20 group (P<0.05), while the expressions of P-P65, TNF-α, IL-1β, and P62 proteins were the lowest in Ov-A20 group and the highest in Sh-A20 group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of p65 protein between groups (P>0.05).ConclusionZinc finger protein A20 can effectively regulate the process of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbits by inhibiting inflammation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the in vivo biological safety of porous zinc oxide (ZnO)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite materials.MethodsThe porous ZnO/HA composite materials and porous HA materials were prepared by the spark plasma sintering technology. First, the materials were characterized, including scanning electron microscopy to observe the material structure, in vitro degradation experiments to detect the degradation rate of the materials, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer to detect the concentration of Zn2+ dissolved out of the composite material degradation. Then the two kinds of material extracts were prepared for acute systemic toxicity test. Fifteen male Kunming mice were randomly divided into groups A, B, and C (n=5) and injected intraperitoneally with normal saline, HA extracts, and ZnO/HA extracts, respectively. The body mass of the mice was recorded before injection and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after injection. The liver and kidney tissues were taken at 72 hours for HE staining to evaluate the safety of the composite material. Finally, the biological safety of the material in vivo was evaluated by implantation experiment. The eighteen male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into HA group and ZnO/HA group (n=9); a bilateral radius defect model (1 cm) was established, and the right forelimbs of the two groups were implanted with porous HA materials and porous ZnO/HA composite materials, respectively; the left untreated as a blank control. The general condition of the animals were observed after operation. The rabbit blood was collected at 1 day before operation and at 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after operation for routine blood test (inflammation-related indicators) and blood biochemistry (liver and kidney function-related indicators). X-ray films were taken at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation to observe the repair of bone defects.ResultsMaterial characterization showed that porous ZnO/HA composite materials had interconnected large and small pore structures with a pore size between 50 and 500 μm, which degraded faster than porous HA materials, and continuously and slowly dissolved Zn2+. The acute systemic toxicity test showed that the mice in each group had no abnormal performance after injection, and the body mass increased (P<0.05). HE staining showed that the cells shape and structure of liver and kidney tissue were normal. Animal implantation experiments showed that all rabbits survived until the experiment was completed; routine blood tests showed inflammation in each group (neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes increased) at 1 day after operation, and all returned to normal at 8 weeks (P>0.05); compared with 1 day before operation, the content of inflammatory cells in the HA group increased at 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks after operation (P<0.05), and the ZnO/HA group increased at 1 day after operation (P<0.05); blood biochemistry showed that the liver and kidney function indexes were in the normal range; X-ray films showed that the ZnO/HA group had better osseointegration than the HA group at 4 weeks after operation.ConclusionThe porous ZnO/HA composite material has good in vivo biological safety and good bone repair ability, which is a potential bone repair material.
Objective To measure the expression level of Myc-interacting zinc finger protein-1 (MIZ1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with severe and non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and its relationship with inflammatory factors. Methods Thirty-six CAP patients from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from April 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled in this study. MIZ1 mRNA level in PBMC were measured by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and interferon-α in the serum of patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of MIZ1 mRNA and inflammatory factors were compared between the severe CAP patients and the non-severe CAP patients. Results Compared with non-severe CAP patients, the MIZ1 mRNA level in the PBMC of severe CAP patients was lower (P<0.05) than non-severe group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the expression level of MIZ1 in PBMC was calculated according to whether CAP was severe or non-severe, and the area under ROC curve was 0.731 (P=0.018). Spearman correlation analysis showed that MIZ1 mRNA was negatively correlated with IL-10 level in the severe CAP patients (Spearman correlation co-efficient was –0.620, P<0.05). Conclusions MIZ1 may indicate the severity of CAP. MIZ1 may affect IL-10 so as to play a role in inflammation regulation.
Objective To investigate the relationship between trace elements in synovial fluid and cartilage and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsPatients with KOA who underwent knee arthrocentesis or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were recruited based on inclusion criteria between June 2021 and December 2021. Synovial fluid samples were obtained during knee arthrocentesis and TKA, and participants were divided into the mild group (grading Ⅰ/Ⅱ) and the severe group (grading Ⅲ/Ⅳ) according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading (K-L grading). Cartilage samples with different degrees of wear were collected during the TKA from the same patient and were divided into mild wear (0-1 point) and severe wear (2-4 points) groups based on the Pelletier score. The contents of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) in synovial fluid and cartilage were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the differences between groups were compared. ResultsA total of 33 synovial fluid samples were collected, including 19 specimens from 14 patients who underwent knee arthrocentesis of mild group, with 5 bilateral sides knee arthrocentesis in them, and 14 specimens from 14 TKA patients of severe group. The patients were significantly younger in the mild group than in the severe group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in gender or body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). Nineteen pairs of cartilage samples with mild and severe wear were collected from severe KOA patients (K-L grading Ⅲ and Ⅳ), including 9 males and 10 females, with an average age of 70.4 years (range, 58-80 years). The body mass index ranged from 21.2 to 30.7 kg/m2, with an average of 25.6 kg/m2. The content of Zn in synovial fluid and cartilage from KOA patients was the highest, followed by Cu, and Mn was the lowest. The Cu content in synovial fluid was significantly higher in the severe group than in the mild group (P<0.05), and in the severe wear group than in the mild wear group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Zn and Mn content between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The Cu content increases with the severity of cartilage wear in patients with KOA.
Objective Investigate zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) and zinc finger protein 36L1 (ZFP36L1) expression in peripheral blood of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 42 individuals with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), 21 with stable COPD, and 18 healthy participants. The levels of ZFP36 and ZFP36L1 proteins and mRNA expressions were evaluated using ELISA and qPCR techniques. Difference in expression levels among the three groups was examined. Spearman analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were carried out for assessment of diagnostic and predictive value of FP36 and ZFP36L1 for COPD and AECOPD. Results Compared with the healthy group, ZFP36L1 protein expression was downregulated in the COPD stable group. ZFP36 protein expression was downregulated in the AECOPD group compared with the COPD stable group. Similar differences were observed in mRNA expression levels. ZFP36 and ZFP36L1 levels were negatively correlated with inflammatory markers. ZFP36 levels were positively correlated with ZFP36L1 and lung function, and negatively correlated with smoking index, modified Medical Research Council score, occurrence of respiratory failure during hospitalization, exacerbation frequency within 3 months, and total hospitalizations. The area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing AECOPD using ZFP36 was 0.980, with sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 90.5%. When combined with FEV1%pred, the AUC improved to 0.985, with sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 100%. For predicting post-discharge exacerbations in AECOPD when combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), sensitivity of ZFP36 alone was 66.7% and specificity was 88.9%. The AUCs for diagnosing COPD using ZFP36, ZFP36L1, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were 0.889, 0.989, and 0.981, respectively. The sensitivities were 61.9%, 90.5%, and 95.2%, and specificities were 100%, 100%, and 94.4%, respectively. Conclusions Peripheral blood ZFP36 has good diagnostic value for AECOPD. Combined with FEV1%pred, it can further increase diagnostic value. As a predictive indicator for frequent exacerbations within 3 months of discharge in COPD patients, its predictive sensitivity and specificity are superior to inflammatory markers such as NLR. ZFP36 exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in AECOPD. Peripheral blood ZFP36L1 has good diagnostic value for COPD.