miR-222 inhibits cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice heart via regulating Wnt/β-catenin-mediated endothelium to mesenchymal transition

miR-222 participates in many cardiovascular diseases, but its effect on cardiac remodeling induced by diabetes is unclear. This study evaluated the functional role of miR-222 in cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to establish a type 1 diabetic mouse model. After 10 weeks of STZ injection, mice were intravenously injected with Ad-miR-222 to induce the overexpression of miR-222. miR-222 overexpression reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function in diabetic mice. Mechanistically, miR-222 inhibited the endothelium to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in diabetic mouse hearts. Mouse heart fibroblasts and endothelial cells were isolated and cultured with high glucose (HG). An miR-222 mimic did not affect HG-induced fibroblast activation and function but did suppress the HG-induced EndMT process. The antagonism of miR-222 by antagomir inhibited HG-induced EndMT. miR-222 regulated the promoter region of β-catenin, thus negatively regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which was confirmed by β-catenin siRNA. Taken together, our results indicated that miR-222 inhibited cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice via negatively regulating Wnt/β-catenin-mediated EndMT.     

Elevated cell-free fetal DNA contributes to placental inflammation and antiangiogenesis via AIM2 and IFI16 during pre-eclampsia

Accumulated evidence has shown that pre-eclampsia (PE) is related to both maternal and utero-placental antiangiogenesis and inflammation. Remarkably, an elevated cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) level has been found in maternal circulation; however, it remains unclear whether this DNA can induce activation of cytosolic DNA sensor signaling pathways and lead to the development of PE. In this study, we found that trophoblast cells constitutively expressed the cytosolic DNA sensors, absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and interferon-inducible protein 16 (IFI16). The cffDNA and pro-inflammatory and antiangiogenic factors were present at higher concentrations in PE compared with the control group and correlated with the severity of PE. DNA stimulation significantly increased the AIM2 and IFI16 levels, consistent with the elevated AIM2 and IFI16 expression in women with PE, and elicited increased production of AIM2-mediated interleukin IL-8 (IL-8), IL-6 and CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and IFI16-mediated sEndoglin, sFlt-1 and CXCL10. Furthermore, enhancement of the inflammatory response was found to be induced by DNA exposure, but DNA exposure did not induce PE-like symptoms in pregnant mice. It is possible that elevated cffDNA could reflect the degree of placental damage and trigger cytosolic DNA sensor activation, which disrupts the immunity balance and, consequently, contributes to inflammatory and antiangiogenic responses. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that circulating cffDNA levels are increased in preeclamptic women and act through AIM2 and IFI16 activation to promote the production of pro-inflammatory and antiangiogenic factors, which correlate with the severity of the disease, and may offer insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of PE.     

Length-weight relationships of four fish species from the Yalong River,China

Parameters of the length-weight relationship (LWR) were estimated for four fish species [Beaufortia szechuanensis (Fang, 1930), Claea dabryi (Sauvage, 1874), Percocypris pingi (Tchang, 1930), and Yunnanilus sichuanensis Ding, 1995] from the Yalong River. Samples were collected seasonally from June 2018 to July 2019, using various fishing gears [set nets (mesh: 1.5 × 2.0 cm), hook, drift gill nets (three mesh sizes: 1.0; 2.0; 3.0 cm) and electro fishing]. Two new maximum standard length were recorded for C. dabryi and P. pingi.     

TRIM59 predicts poor prognosis and promotes pancreatic cancer progression via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR-glycolysis signaling axis

Aberrant expression of the tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59) has been reported to participate in the development and progression of various human cancers. However, its expression pattern and cellular roles in pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unclear. In our study, we found that TRIM59 expression was significantly increased in PC tissues and was positively correlated with several malignant behaviors and poor overall survival of PC patients based on bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry staining. Functionally, small interfering RNA–mediated TRIM59 depletion inhibited cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while TRIM59 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and migration in vitro and drove tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. Mechanically, TRIM59 was found to enhance glycolysis through activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, ultimately contributing to PC progression. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TRIM59 may be a potential predictor for PC and promotes PC progression via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR-glycolysis signaling pathway, which establishes the rationale for targeting the TRIM59-related pathways to treat PC.     

Circular RNAs expression profiles in plasma exosomes from early-stage lung adenocarcinoma and the potential biomarkers

This study aimed to identify differential circular RNA (circRNA) in the plasma exosomes of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) using high-throughput sequencing. First, exosomes were isolated using an exosome isolation kit and confirmed by Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and NanoSight Assay. Subsequently, plasma circRNA expression profiles were screened by high-throughput sequencing and confirmed by fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing. Finally, the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was performed to forecast the potential function of circRNAs. The result of high-throughput sequencing data documented that 182 differentially expressed exosomal circRNAs in all were screened, which included 105 that were upregulated and 78 that were downregulated in LUAD patients plasma compared with controls. The four upregulated circRNAs including circ_0001492, circ_0001346, circ_0000690, and circ_0001439 were identical to the sequencing data by qRT-PCR, and their latent circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions were exhibited. Taken together, our study firstly revealed the altered exosomal circRNA expression from plasma samples in patients with LUAD and supports the need for exploring their potential as biomarkers and the pathological effects of lung cancer.     

Association between shift work and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the association between shift work and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, we searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science from their inception to June 8, 2019. Observational studies examining the relationship between shift work and type 2 diabetes were included. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore whether specific characteristics would affect the relationship. A dose-response relationship was estimated by using generalized least squares trend regression. Finally, twelve cohort studies and nine cross-sectional studies were included (inter-rater agreement, k = 0.96). The result of meta-analysis indicated that shift work was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (relative risk = 1.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–1.14). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that female shift workers have increased risk of type 2 diabetes while male not observed, health care workers showed the highest risk compared with civil servants and manual workers, and night shift and rotating shift were associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Dose-response meta-analysis based on three cohorts among female workers indicated that there might be a positive association between duration of shift work and the risk of type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, shift work is positively associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Among female workers, with the years of exposure to shift work prolonged, the risk of type 2 diabetes might increase accordingly. In the future, more studies are needed to confirm the results of dose-response analysis.     

Backbone and side-chain 1H, 13C, 15N resonance assignments of rat lipocalin2

Lipocalin2 plays an important role in the innate immune system. In this article we report the backbone and side-chain resonance assignments of rat lipocalin2 (rLcn2). These assignments provide a basis for determining the structure and dynamics of rLcn2. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

非水相体系酶催化反应研究进展

非水相酶催化反应是酶催化反应中的一个重要方面。非水相溶剂通常可增加底物溶解度,减少水相中的副反应,加快生物催化的速率和效率,在药物及药物中间体和食品等方面具有较大的应用价值。以下探讨了非水相体系对酶活力及酶促反应速率的影响因素,并阐述酶的化学修饰、固定化及定点突变对酶活力的影响,进一步分析无溶剂系统、反胶束、超临界流体及离子液体的不同溶剂体系对酶反应速率及催化效率的影响。此外,还列举一些非水相酶催化反应的应用实例。     

凹甲陆龟沙门氏菌的分离鉴定及毒力因子基因的PCR检测

从成都动物园因腹泻死亡的凹甲陆龟体内分离到一株病源菌,经选择性分离培养、生化试验、血清型鉴定等,确定该病源菌为D群肠炎沙门氏菌,其抗原结构式为1,9,12∶ g,m∶ -.该菌株对小鼠有较强的致病性,能引起人工感染小鼠大量死亡,且从其体内分离到相同特性的菌株;药物敏感性试验证实该分离菌对头孢曲松、氧氟沙星、卡拉霉素、多粘菌素、复方新诺明、呋喃唑酮等敏感,对链霉素、四环素、氯霉素等耐药;同时根据GenBank中已报道的沙门氏菌毒力因子ivnA和ivnE的基因序列,设计两对特异性引物对该菌进行PCR检测,结果在该菌中成功扩增并检测出ivnA和ivnE基因.本试验尝试了沙门氏菌的PCR检测方法,为该分子诊断技术的全面推广奠定了良好基础,也为今后该疾病的预防、诊断和治疗提供了科学的实验数据.