Involvement of hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx) integration in hepatocarcinogenesis via a recombination of HBx/Alu core sequence/subtelomeric DNA

The significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-based integration in hepatocarcinogenesis is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether the integration of HBV X gene (HBx) is involved in the event. Our finding showed that the integration of HBx fragment (316-462 bp/262-462 bp) was able to transform human immortalized normal liver LO2 cells using a cell model of HBx-integration. We identified that the recombination, HBx/Alu core sequence/subtelomeric DNA, was required for the transformation, which could be detected in 5 out of 44 clinical HBx-positive hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Thus, we conclude that HBx integration is involved in the hepatocarcinogenesis.     

The Canine Papillomavirus and Gamma HPV E7 Proteins Use an Alternative Domain to Bind and Destabilize the Retinoblastoma Protein

The high-risk HPV E6 and E7 proteins cooperate to immortalize primary human cervical cells and the E7 protein can independently transform fibroblasts in vitro, primarily due to its ability to associate with and degrade the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, pRb. The binding of E7 to pRb is mediated by a conserved Leu-X-Cys-X-Glu (LXCXE) motif in the conserved region 2 (CR2) of E7 and this domain is both necessary and sufficient for E7/pRb association. In the current study, we report that the E7 protein of the malignancy-associated canine papillomavirus type 2 encodes an E7 protein that has serine substituted for cysteine in the LXCXE motif. In HPV, this substitution in E7 abrogates pRb binding and degradation. However, despite variation at this critical site, the canine papillomavirus E7 protein still bound and degraded pRb. Even complete deletion of the LXSXE domain of canine E7 failed to interfere with binding to pRb in vitro and in vivo. Rather, the dominant binding site for pRb mapped to the C-terminal domain of canine E7. Finally, while the CR1 and CR2 domains of HPV E7 are sufficient for degradation of pRb, the C-terminal region of canine E7 was also required for pRb degradation. Screening of HPV genome sequences revealed that the LXSXE motif of the canine E7 protein was also present in the gamma HPVs and we demonstrate that the gamma HPV-4 E7 protein also binds pRb in a similar way. It appears, therefore, that the type 2 canine PV and gamma-type HPVs not only share similar properties with respect to tissue specificity and association with immunosuppression, but also the mechanism by which their E7 proteins interact with pRb.     

A Flexible Hingeless Control Surface Inspired by Aquatic Animals

##正## A flexible hingeless control surface model was proposed for motion control of Underwater Vehicles (UVs),which is inspiredby the flexible bending control surfaces of underwater creatures,such as fish and squid.Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) simulation demonstrates that,in comparison with the hinged or rigid control surface,the proposed flexible bendingcontrol surface can suppress the flow separation so as to improve the turning performance.A prototype of the flexible controlsurface was fabricated,in which Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires were selected as the actuators.The elastic energy storageand exchange mechanism was incorporated into the actuation of the control surface to improve the efficiency.Thermal analysisof SMA wires was performed to find proper actuating condition.Open-loop bending experiments were carried out.The resultsshow that the proposed control surface can achieve the maximum bending angle of 104°.Moreover,the power and energyconsumption under different pulse conditions were compared.     

槲皮素对中国地鼠肺成纤维细胞、小鼠骨髓细胞和小鼠睾丸精母细胞染色体影响的初步研究

目的:研究槲皮素对中国地鼠肺成纤维细胞、小鼠骨髓细胞和小鼠睾丸精母细胞染色体的影响.方法:采用80、40、20、10、5μg/mL 5个剂量组的槲皮素在有或无代谢活化条件下处理体外培养的中国地鼠肺成纤维细胞(CHL)3小时后更换新鲜培养液,恢复生长21小时后收获细胞制片.体内试验以10000、5000、2500mg/kg剂量的槲皮素给ICR小鼠灌胃后取股骨骨髓、两侧睾丸进行制片.观察槲皮素对三种哺乳动物细胞染色体的影响.结果:在有或无代谢活化条件下槲皮素在浓度>10μg/mL均能够诱导CHL细胞染色体断裂和交换等,染色体细胞畸变率显著增加(P<0.01);而槲皮素各剂量组未引起小鼠骨髓细胞染色体断片、交换、畸变细胞率显著增加,亦未引起小鼠睾丸精母细胞染色体断片、易位、畸变细胞率、常染色体单价体、性染色体单价体显著增加.结论:在本试验条件下槲皮素对体外哺乳动物细胞显示出明显致突变性,存在潜在的遗传毒性,对体内哺乳动物体细胞及生殖细胞染色体无明显损伤作用.     

高血压患者心电图左心室高电压和左心室肥厚与血压的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压患者常规心电图检测左心室高电压和左心室肥厚与血压的关系.方法:回顾分析我科2009年1月～2009年12月门诊及住院就医的各期原发性高血压患者92例临床资料,并与同期76例健康体检者对比.结果:高血压组心电图对左心室肥厚的检出率为15.22%,明显高于对照组,有统计学差异(x2=19.07,P<0.01);高血压组心电图对左心室高电压的检出率为20.65%,明显高于对照组,有统计学差异(x2=4.23,P<0.05).高血压组左心室肥厚率随着病情的加重逐渐加重,各级之间相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).左心室高电压情况各级之间相比差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.01),但与病情无明显的相关性.结论:心电图监测左心室肥厚和左心室高电压,简便易行,高血压患者应定期复查心电图,发现异常,积极降压等治疗.     

Rad9 Is Required for B Cell Proliferation and Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination

B cell maturation and B cell-mediated antibody response require programmed DNA modifications such as the V(D)J recombination, the immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination, and the somatic hypermutation to generate functional Igs. Many protein factors involved in DNA damage repair have been shown to be critical for the maturation and activation of B cells. Rad9 plays an important role in both DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint control. However, its role in Ig generation has not been reported. In this study, we generated a conditional knock-out mouse line in which Rad9 is deleted specifically in B cells and investigated the function of Rad9 in B cells. The Rad9^−/− B cells isolated from the conditional knock-out mice displayed impaired growth response and enhanced DNA lesions. Impaired Ig production in response to immunization in Rad9^−/− mice was also detected. In addition, the Ig class switch recombination is deficient in Rad9^−/− B cells. Taken together, Rad9 plays dual roles in generating functional antibodies and in maintaining the integrity of the whole genome in B cells.     

Insulin/PI3K signaling protects dentate neurons from oxygen–glucose deprivation in organotypic slice cultures

It is known that ischemia/reperfusion induces neurodegeneration in the hippocampus in a subregion‐dependent manner. This study investigated the mechanism of selective resistance/vulnerability to oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) using mouse organotypic hippocampal cultures. Analysis of propidium iodide uptake showed that OGD‐induced duration‐ and subregion‐dependent neuronal injury. When compared with the CA1–3 subregions, dentate neuronal survival was more sensitive to inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling under basal conditions. Dentate neuronal sensitivity to PI3K/Akt signaling activation was inversely related to its vulnerability to OGD‐induced injury; insulin/insulin‐like growth factor 1 pre‐treatment conferred neuroprotection to dentate neurons via activation of PI3K/Akt signaling. In contrast, CA1 and CA3 neurons were less sensitive to disruptions of endogenous PI3K/Akt signaling and protective effects of insulin/insulin‐like growth factor 1, but more vulnerable to OGD. OGD‐induced injury in CA1 was reduced by inhibition of NMDA receptor or mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling, and was prevented by blocking NMDA receptor in the presence of insulin. The CA2 subregion was distinctive in its response to glutamate, OGD, and insulin, compared with other CA subregions. CA2 neurons were sensitive to the protective effects of insulin against OGD‐induced injury, but more resistant to glutamate. Distinctive distribution of insulin receptor β and basal phospho‐Akt was detected in our slice cultures. Our results suggest a role for insulin signaling in subregional resistance/vulnerability to cerebral ischemia.     

Competitive environments induce shifts in host fidelity

Recent models support the idea of sympatric speciation as a result of the joint effects of disruptive selection and assortative mating. We present experimental data, testing models of speciation through frequency‐dependent selection. We show that under high competition on a mixture of resources/hosts, strains of the Seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, change their host fidelity and evolve a more generalistic behaviour in resource utilization among females. The change in host fidelity did not result in disruptive selection and was not followed by assortative mating. This means that only one of three fundamental prerequisites for sympatric speciation evolved as a result of the frequency‐dependent selection. We conclude that for this process to work, a shift to a novel food resource as a result of selection must also lead to a loss of preference for the original resource such that individuals are only able to use either one of the two.