miRNAs in Newt Lens Regeneration: Specific Control of Proliferation and Evidence for miRNA Networking

Background

Lens regeneration in adult newts occurs via transdifferentiation of the pigment epithelial cells (PECs) of the dorsal iris. The same source of cells from the ventral iris is not able to undergo this process. In an attempt to understand this restriction we have studied in the past expression patterns of miRNAs. Among several miRNAs we have found that mir-148 shows an up-regulation in the ventral iris, while members of the let-7 family showed down-regulation in dorsal iris during dedifferentiation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have performed gain- and loss-of–function experiments of mir-148 and let-7b in an attempt to delineate their function. We find that up-regulation of mir-148 caused significant decrease in the proliferation rates of ventral PECs only, while up-regulation of let-7b affected proliferation of both dorsal and ventral PECs. Neither miRNA was able to affect lens morphogenesis or induction. To further understand how this effect of miRNA up-regulation is mediated we examined global expression of miRNAs after up-regulation of mir148 and let-7b. Interestingly, we identified a novel level of mirRNA regulation, which might indicate that miRNAs are regulated as a network.

Conclusion/Significance

The major conclusion is that different miRNAs can control proliferation in the dorsal or ventral iris possibly by a different mechanism. Of interest is that down-regulation of the let-7 family members has also been documented in other systems undergoing reprogramming, such as in stem cells or oocytes. This might indicate that reprogramming during newt regeneration shares common molecular signatures with reprogramming in stem or germ cells. On the other hand that miRNAs can regulate the levels of other miRNAs is a novel level of regulation, which might provide new insights on their function.     

Importance of TLR2 on hepatic immune and non-immune cells to attenuate the strong inflammatory liver response during Trypanosoma cruzi acute infection

Background

Toll-like receptors (TLR) and cytokines play a central role in the pathogen clearance as well as in pathological processes. Recently, we reported that TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 are differentially modulated in injured livers from BALB/c and C57BL/6 (B6) mice during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in local immune response remain unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we demonstrate that hepatic leukocytes from infected B6 mice produced higher amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines than BALB/c mice, whereas IL10 and TGFβ were only released by hepatic leukocytes from BALB/c. Strikingly, a higher expression of TLR2 and TLR4 was observed in hepatocytes of infected BALB/c mice. However, in infected B6 mice, the strong pro-inflammatory response was associated with a high and sustained expression of TLR9 and iNOS in leukocytes and hepatic tissue respectively. Additionally, co-expression of gp91- and p47-phox NADPH oxidase subunits were detected in liver tissue of infected B6 mice. Notably, the pre-treatment previous to infection with Pam3CSK4, TLR2-agonist, induced a significant reduction of transaminase activity levels and inflammatory foci number in livers of infected B6 mice. Moreover, lower pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased TGFβ levels were detected in purified hepatic leukocytes from TLR2-agonist pre-treated B6 mice.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results describe some of the main injurious signals involved in liver immune response during the T. cruzi acute infection. Additionally we show that the administration of Pam3CSk4, previous to infection, can attenuate the exacerbated inflammatory response of livers in B6 mice. These results could be useful to understand and design novel immune strategies in controlling liver pathologies.     

Effect of Control Strategies on Prevalence,Incidence and Re-infection of Clonorchiasis in Endemic Areas of China

Background

A pilot clonorchiasis control project was implemented to evaluate the efficacies of various chemotherapy strategies on prevalence, incidence and re-infection in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Methods and Findings

Seven intervention groups (14,139 residents, about 2000 in each group) in heavily or moderately endemic areas were subjected to repeated praziquantel administration from 2001 to 2004. In the selective chemotherapy groups, residents were examined for fecal eggs, and those who tested positive were treated with three doses of 25 mg/kg praziquantel at 5-hour-intervals in one day. However, all residents were treated in the mass chemotherapy groups. In heavily endemic areas, two mass treatments of all residents in 2001 and 2003 reduced the prevalence from 69.5% to 18.8%, while four annual mass treatments reduced the prevalence from 48.0% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2004. Selective annual treatments for egg-positive subjects reduced the egg-positive rates from 54.9% in 2001 to 15.0% in 2004 or from 73.2% in 2001 to 12.3% in 2004. Selective treatments every 6 months significantly reduced the prevalence from 59.5% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2004. All of the repeated treatments reduced EPG (eggs per gram of feces) significantly. The annual mass treatment and selective treatment every 6 months produced lower prevalence and re-infection rates and higher egg reduction rate than annual selective treatments did. In the moderate endemic areas, egg positive rates were 24.8% and 29.7% in 2001 but were 1.9% and 1.3% after 2 or 3 selective treatments. The prevalence, incidence, re-infection rates in a moderately endemic area were significantly lower than those of heavy endemic areas.

Conclusions

Repeated mass treatment or selective treatment with praziquantel every 6 to 12 months is highly effective for clonorchiasis control in heavily endemic areas. In contrast, one or two selective treatments with health education is effective in moderately endemic areas.     

降纤酶治疗糖尿病周围神经病变18例临床观察

目的探讨应用蛇毒降纤酶治疗糖尿病性周围神经病变的可行性。方法选择2型糖尿病并糖尿病周围神经病变患者18例,给予降纤酶5u加入生理盐水250ml中静脉滴注,隔日1次,7次为1疗程,共3个疗程。测定治疗前后空腹血糖(FPG)、餐后2h血糖(2HPG)、尿素氮(BUN)、红细胞压积(HCT)、血小板(PLT)等,进行临床症状及体征评分,测定四肢运动及感觉传导速度。结果18例患者凝血酶原时间和活动度均有所下降,无1例有出血倾向;治疗后FPG、2HPG和PL墨较治疗前明显降低;治疗后腓总神经、胫神经：MCV比治疗前增高。结论降纤酶对糖尿病神经病变有一定的治疗作用,但其确切机制有待进一步观察。     

自制起搏电极在心脏电生理实验中的应用研究

本文探索了自制起搏电极在心脏电生理研究中的应用,通过选择适当的材料,分为三部分制作电极：极片部分、起搏器接口部分、焊封与绝缘。最后,将电极缝合于犬的心脏进行起搏。结论是自制起搏电极应用于动物实验进行心脏电生理的研究是可行的。     

鼻咽癌上皮细胞株HNE1差异表达基因的分离与鉴定

为了分离鼻咽癌差异表达基因 ,应用抑制性扣除杂交技术 ,在正向抑制性扣除杂交中 ,以鼻咽癌上皮细胞株HNE1cDNA作为检测子 ,以人胚鼻咽上皮细胞cDNA作为驱赶子 ;在反向抑制性扣除杂交中 ,以人胚鼻咽上皮细胞cDNA作为检测子 ,以鼻咽癌上皮细胞株HNE1cDNA作为驱赶子 ,分别通过抑制性扣除杂交 ,构建了鼻咽癌上皮细胞株HNE1表达下调和表达上调的两个扣除cDNA文库 .从鼻咽癌相关的扣除cDNA文库中随机挑取 1 2 0 0个克隆 ,采用菌落PCR扩增其插入cDNA片段 ,自动点膜制备成cDNA微阵列膜 ,分别用鼻咽癌上皮细胞株HNE1、人胚鼻咽上皮mRNA经逆转录标记cDNA探针 ,分别与cDNA微阵列膜杂交 ,通过杂交信号的自动扫描分析 ,对杂交信号存在 5倍差异的克隆进行测序 ,获得了 1 0个鼻咽癌差异表达基因的cDNA片段 ,其中 3个为新基因序列 ,其GenBank登录号为 :AF5 1 0 1 88、AF5 1 0 1 89和AF5 1 0 1 90 ,7个代表已知基因序列 .采用RT PCR证实S1 0 0A8,CK1 9和RBP1基因在人胚鼻咽上皮中高表达而在鼻咽癌细胞株HNE1中低表达 .这些结果显示上述基因可能是鼻咽癌发生的重要因素     

甘蓝型油菜与芝麻菜体的细胞杂交

为拓宽油菜育种的基因资源库, 改良油菜品种, 以甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)花油3号下胚轴和芝麻菜(Eruca sativa)下胚轴为材料分离制备原生质体; 然后采用PEG-高Ca2+-高pH法进行原生质体融合, 当PEG浓度为35%, 原生质体融合密度为5×105个/mL时, 融合25 min时, 融合率可达18.2%。融合后在培养密度为1×105个/mL时, 以附加1.0 mg/L 2,4-D +0.5 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L NAA+ 200 mg/L肌醇+300 mg/L水解酪蛋白的改良的KM8p为融合体培养基, 以0.1 mol/L 蔗糖+0.2 mol/L葡萄糖+0.2 mol/L甘露醇作渗透稳定剂进行液体浅层培养, 效果较好, 愈伤组织再生率最高为6.8%。将融合体再生的小愈伤组织转移至培养基(B5无机盐+0.087 mol/L蔗糖+0.2 mg/L 2, 4-D+0.5 mg/L NAA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA+ 0.5% Agar, pH 5.8)上增殖培养, 待愈伤组织长至直径为3~5 mm时, 及时将其转至分化培养基(MS无机盐+0.087 mol/L 蔗糖+0.1 mg/L IAA+0.8 mg/L 6-BA+0.8% Agar, pH 5.8)中诱导不定芽再生, 芽分化率为35.7%。当不定芽长为2~3 cm时, 将其切下转入附加0.5 mg/L IBA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA的1/2MS生根培养基中诱导生根, 14 d左右即可形成再生植株, 生根率可达88%。同时, 以紫外线(60 μW/cm2)照射芝麻菜原生质体, 进行不对称融合, 照射2 min的获得了愈伤组织和再生植株, 照射4 min的只获得愈伤组织, 而照射5 min以上的没有获得愈伤组织, 但其愈伤组织再生、增殖及植株再生均不如对称融合。从细胞学鉴定的21块杂种愈伤组织上再生出16株杂种植株。     

甘蓝型油菜BcNA1基因启动子在转基因烟草中对GUS基因表达的调控

通过PCR扩增,从甘蓝型油菜（Brassica