Conectar
by Naokata Kutsuzawa, Yoko Ito, Shizuko Kagawa, Chinatsu Kohno, Hiroto Takiguchi, Koichiro Asano
Alveolar barrier dysfunction is one of the major pathophysiological changes in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In ALI/ARDS, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) disrupts the barriers of alveolar epithelium and endothelium. Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert anti-inflammatory effects and ameliorate pulmonary edema in ALI/ARDS. However, the involvement of GCs in the restoration of alveolar epithelial barrier dysfunction has not been extensively studied. Here, we elucidated that dexamethasone (Dex) restored TNFα-induced alveolar epithelial barrier dysfunction in vitro using primary rat alveolar epithelial cells isolated from Sprague–Dawley rats. Moreover, Dex promoted the alveolar epithelial cell barrier integrity by initiating GC receptor-mediated signaling via the downregulation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression and the dephosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) 2. Further investigation revealed that Dex enhanced the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), a tight junction-related protein, at intercellular junction sites. These findings suggest that GCs strengthen the integrity of the alveolar epithelial barrier in ALI/ARDS via the GR-MLCK-pMLC2 axis.High myopia is a pressing public health concern due to its increasing prevalence, younger trend and the high risk of blindness, particularly in East Asian countries, including China. The China Alliance of Research in High Myopia (CHARM) is a newly established consortium that includes more than 100 hospitals and institutions participating across the nation, aiming to promote collaboration and data sharing in the field of high myopia screening, classification, diagnosis and therapeutic development.
The CHARM project is an ongoing study, and its initiation is distinguished by its unprecedented scale, encompassing plans to involve over 100 000 Chinese patients. This initiative stands out not only for its extensive scope but also for its innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in diagnosis and treatment decisions. The CHARM project has been carried out using a ‘three-step’ strategy. The first step involves the collection of basic information, refraction, axial length and fundus photographs from participants with high myopia. In the second step, we will collect multimodal imaging data to expand the scope of clinical information, for example, optical coherence tomography and ultra-widefield fundus images. In the final step, genetic testing will be conducted by incorporating patient family histories and blood samples. The majority of data collected by CHARM is in the form of images that will be used to detect and predict the progression of high myopia through the identification and quantification of biomarkers such as fundus tessellation, optic nerve head and vascular parameters.
The study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital (TREC2022-KY045). The establishment of CHARM represents an opportunity to create a collaborative platform for myopia experts and facilitate the dissemination of research findings to the global community through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. These insights can inform clinical decision-making and contribute to the development of new treatment modalities that may benefit patients worldwide.
ChiCTR2300071219.
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