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Xing Zhu,1,* Hao Wang,2,* Longbin Zheng,1 Zhaoyu Zhong,1 Xuesong Li,1 Jing Zhao,3 Jiayuan Kou,1 Yueqing Jiang,1 Xiufeng Zheng,1 Zhongni Liu,1 Hongxia Li,1 Wenwu Cao,4,5 Ye Tian,1,6 You Wang,2 Liming Yang1 1Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 2Materials Physics and Chemistry Department, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 3Blood Transfusion Department, Jining No 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, People’s Republic of China; 4Laboratory of Sono- and Photo-theranostic Technologies, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 5Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; 6Division of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most vital cardiovascular disease, which poses a great threat to human health. Macrophages play an important role in the progression of AS. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a useful therapeutic modality not only in the treatment of cancer but also in the treatment of AS. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of PDT, using mesoporous-silica-coated upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles encapsulating chlorin e6 (UCNPs-Ce6) in the induction of apoptosis in THP-1 macrophages. Here, we investigated the ability of UCNPs-Ce6-mediated PDT to induce THP-1 macrophage apoptosis by facilitating the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulation of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) to depolarize mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Both Bax translocation and the release of cytochrome C were examined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Our results indicated that the levels of ROS were significantly increa

Xuesong Li,1,* Lei Gao,2,* Longbin Zheng,1 Jiayuan Kou,1 Xing Zhu,1 Yueqing Jiang,1 Zhaoyu Zhong,1 Juhua Dan,1 Haobo Xu,3 Yang Yang,3 Hong Li,1 Sa Shi,1 Wenwu Cao,4,5 Yajun Zhao,1 Ye Tian,1,3 Liming Yang1 1Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 2Electron Microscopy Centre, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 3Division of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 4Laboratory of Sono- and Photo-theranostic Technologies, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 5Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: To investigate the sonoactivity of hypericin (HY), together with its sonodynamic effect on THP-1 macrophages and the underlying mechanism.Materials and methods: CCK-8 was used to examine cell viability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to assess the localization of HY in cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) after different treatments. Apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst–propidium iodide and transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse was detected via fluorescence microscopy. Lipoprotein oxidation was determined in malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Western blotting was conducted to determine the translocation of BAX and cytochrome C and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.Results: HY was sublocalized among the nuclei and the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosome in the cytosol of THP-1 macrophages. Under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation, HY significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, greater ROS generation, higher MDA levels, and

Xing Zhu,1,* Hao Wang,2,* Longbin Zheng,1 Zhaoyu Zhong,1 Xuesong Li,1 Jing Zhao,3 Jiayuan Kou,1 Yueqing Jiang,1 Xiufeng Zheng,1 Zhongni Liu,1 Hongxia Li,1 Wenwu Cao,4,5 Ye Tian,1,6 You Wang,2 Liming Yang1 1Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 2Materials Physics and Chemistry Department, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 3Blood Transfusion Department, Jining No 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, People’s Republic of China; 4Laboratory of Sono- and Photo-theranostic Technologies, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 5Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; 6Division of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most vital cardiovascular disease, which poses a great threat to human health. Macrophages play an important role in the progression of AS. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a useful therapeutic modality not only in the treatment of cancer but also in the treatment of AS. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of PDT, using mesoporous-silica-coated upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles encapsulating chlorin e6 (UCNPs-Ce6) in the induction of apoptosis in THP-1 macrophages. Here, we investigated the ability of UCNPs-Ce6-mediated PDT to induce THP-1 macrophage apoptosis by facilitating the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulation of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) to depolarize mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Both Bax translocation and the release of cytochrome C were examined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Our results indicated that the levels of ROS were significantly increa

Xuesong Li,1,* Lei Gao,2,* Longbin Zheng,1 Jiayuan Kou,1 Xing Zhu,1 Yueqing Jiang,1 Zhaoyu Zhong,1 Juhua Dan,1 Haobo Xu,3 Yang Yang,3 Hong Li,1 Sa Shi,1 Wenwu Cao,4,5 Yajun Zhao,1 Ye Tian,1,3 Liming Yang1 1Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 2Electron Microscopy Centre, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 3Division of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 4Laboratory of Sono- and Photo-theranostic Technologies, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China; 5Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: To investigate the sonoactivity of hypericin (HY), together with its sonodynamic effect on THP-1 macrophages and the underlying mechanism.Materials and methods: CCK-8 was used to examine cell viability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to assess the localization of HY in cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) after different treatments. Apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst–propidium iodide and transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse was detected via fluorescence microscopy. Lipoprotein oxidation was determined in malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Western blotting was conducted to determine the translocation of BAX and cytochrome C and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.Results: HY was sublocalized among the nuclei and the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosome in the cytosol of THP-1 macrophages. Under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation, HY significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, greater ROS generation, higher MDA levels, and

Viral advertising is popular for its high viral transmission results online. Its increased impacts on the social media users have been noticed by the author. At the same time, viewers’ negative attitudes toward traditional advertisements become obvious which can be regarded as the phenomenon of advertisement avoidance. It arouses author’s interests to know how the viral advertising reduces the viewers’ negative emotions and its performances in branding online. This paper is going to look into the branding aspects of viral advertising and explore the branding effects from consumers’ perspective in-depth. The literatures on viral advertising, branding in video advertisements and the effectiveness of advertising are reviewed in order to form the knowledge of the nature of viral advertising, branding effects and its effectiveness. Then, in-depth interview as a suitable explorative research method is conducted in this study. Fourteen university students selected as the suitable research sample take part in the interview. Their transcripts are carefully analyzed into different themes. Then, the findings of this study and its discussion are given out. The remarkable finding suggests that branding has great effects on consumers’ attitudes and online behaviors toward the viral advertisements, and in terms of offline behaviors, the product category of the brand influences its persuasive effects on viewers’ purchase intentions. At last, the conclusion is given out followed by the implication, limitations and suggestions for further research.

Viral advertising is popular for its high viral transmission results online. Its increased impacts on the social media users have been noticed by the author. At the same time, viewers’ negative attitudes toward traditional advertisements become obvious which can be regarded as the phenomenon of advertisement avoidance. It arouses author’s interests to know how the viral advertising reduces the viewers’ negative emotions and its performances in branding online. This paper is going to look into the branding aspects of viral advertising and explore the branding effects from consumers’ perspective in-depth. The literatures on viral advertising, branding in video advertisements and the effectiveness of advertising are reviewed in order to form the knowledge of the nature of viral advertising, branding effects and its effectiveness. Then, in-depth interview as a suitable explorative research method is conducted in this study. Fourteen university students selected as the suitable research sample take part in the interview. Their transcripts are carefully analyzed into different themes. Then, the findings of this study and its discussion are given out. The remarkable finding suggests that branding has great effects on consumers’ attitudes and online behaviors toward the viral advertisements, and in terms of offline behaviors, the product category of the brand influences its persuasive effects on viewers’ purchase intentions. At last, the conclusion is given out followed by the implication, limitations and suggestions for further research.

Viral advertising is popular for its high viral transmission results online. Its increased impacts on the social media users have been noticed by the author. At the same time, viewers’ negative attitudes toward traditional advertisements become obvious which can be regarded as the phenomenon of advertisement avoidance. It arouses author’s interests to know how the viral advertising reduces the viewers’ negative emotions and its performances in branding online. This paper is going to look into the branding aspects of viral advertising and explore the branding effects from consumers’ perspective in-depth. The literatures on viral advertising, branding in video advertisements and the effectiveness of advertising are reviewed in order to form the knowledge of the nature of viral advertising, branding effects and its effectiveness. Then, in-depth interview as a suitable explorative research method is conducted in this study. Fourteen university students selected as the suitable research sample take part in the interview. Their transcripts are carefully analyzed into different themes. Then, the findings of this study and its discussion are given out. The remarkable finding suggests that branding has great effects on consumers’ attitudes and online behaviors toward the viral advertisements, and in terms of offline behaviors, the product category of the brand influences its persuasive effects on viewers’ purchase intentions. At last, the conclusion is given out followed by the implication, limitations and suggestions for further research.

Viral advertising is popular for its high viral transmission results online. Its increased impacts on the social media users have been noticed by the author. At the same time, viewers’ negative attitudes toward traditional advertisements become obvious which can be regarded as the phenomenon of advertisement avoidance. It arouses author’s interests to know how the viral advertising reduces the viewers’ negative emotions and its performances in branding online. This paper is going to look into the branding aspects of viral advertising and explore the branding effects from consumers’ perspective in-depth. The literatures on viral advertising, branding in video advertisements and the effectiveness of advertising are reviewed in order to form the knowledge of the nature of viral advertising, branding effects and its effectiveness. Then, in-depth interview as a suitable explorative research method is conducted in this study. Fourteen university students selected as the suitable research sample take part in the interview. Their transcripts are carefully analyzed into different themes. Then, the findings of this study and its discussion are given out. The remarkable finding suggests that branding has great effects on consumers’ attitudes and online behaviors toward the viral advertisements, and in terms of offline behaviors, the product category of the brand influences its persuasive effects on viewers’ purchase intentions. At last, the conclusion is given out followed by the implication, limitations and suggestions for further research.