Identification of SRY‐box 30 as an age‐related essential gatekeeper for male germ‐cell meiosis and differentiation

Although important factors governing the meiosis have been reported in the embryonic ovary, meiosis in postnatal testis remains poorly understood. Herein, we first report that SRY‐box 30 (Sox30) is an age‐related and essential regulator of meiosis in the postnatal testis. Sox30‐null mice exhibited uniquely impaired testis, presenting the abnormal arrest of germ‐cell differentiation and irregular Leydig cell proliferation. In aged Sox30‐null mice, the observed testicular impairments were more severe. Furthermore, the germ‐cell arrest occurred at the stage of meiotic zygotene spermatocytes, which is strongly associated with critical regulators of meiosis (such as Cyp26b1, Stra8 and Rec8) and sex differentiation (such as Rspo1, Foxl2, Sox9, Wnt4 and Ctnnb1). Mechanistically, Sox30 can activate Stra8 and Rec8, and inhibit Cyp26b1 and Ctnnb1 by direct binding to their promoters. A different Sox30 domain required for regulating the activity of these gene promoters, providing a “fail‐safe” mechanism for Sox30 to facilitate germ‐cell differentiation. Indeed, retinoic acid levels were reduced owing to increased degradation following the elevation of Cyp26b1 in Sox30‐null testes. Re‐expression of Sox30 in Sox30‐null mice successfully restored germ‐cell meiosis, differentiation and Leydig cell proliferation. Moreover, the restoration of actual fertility appeared to improve over time. Consistently, Rec8 and Stra8 were reactivated, and Cyp26b1 and Ctnnb1 were reinhibited in the restored testes. In summary, Sox30 is necessary, sufficient and age‐associated for germ‐cell meiosis and differentiation in testes by direct regulating critical regulators. This study advances our understanding of the regulation of germ‐cell meiosis and differentiation in the postnatal testis.     

Lymphocyte apoptosis after exhaustive and moderate exercise.

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a process of fundamental importance for regulation of the immune response. Several reasons suggest that apoptosis is involved in exercise-induced alterations of the immune system such as postexercise lymphocytopenia. Healthy volunteers performed two treadmill exercise tests; the first was performed at 80% maximal oxygen uptake until exhaustion (exhaustive exercise) and the second 2 wk later at 60% maximal oxygen uptake with the identical running time (moderate exercise). Blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and 1 h after the test. Lymphocytes were analyzed for apoptotic and necrotic cells by using FITC-labeled annexin V-antibodies and nuclear propidium iodide uptake, respectively. In addition, apoptotic/necrotic cells were measured after a 24-h incubation of lymphocytes in the presence of camptothecin or phytohemagglutinin. Finally, plasma membrane expression of CD95-receptor and CD95-receptor ligand was investigated. Immediately after the exhaustive exercise, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly, whereas it remained unchanged after the moderate exercise. Similar results were obtained after 24-h incubation of lymphocytes in medium alone or in the presence of camptothecin, but not with phytohemagglutinin. We found an upregulation of CD95-receptor expression after both exercise tests. However, only after exhaustive exercise a characteristic shift in CD95 expression profile toward cells with a high receptor density was observed. Expression of the CD95-receptor ligand remained unchanged after both exhaustive and moderate exercise. These results suggest that apoptosis may contribute to the regulation of the immune response after exhaustive exercise. Whether this mechanism can be regarded either as beneficial, i.e., deletion of autoreactive cells, or harmful, i.e., suppression of the immune response, awaits further investigations.     

Anabolia anatolica sp. n., a New Species of Genus Anabolia Stephens (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae) from Southern Anatolia

In the present study a new species of the genus Anabolia, A. anatolica sp. n. from the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia is described and illustrated. The new species is related to A. laevis Zetterstedt, 1840 from northern Europe and is a glacial relict species of Pleistocene origin.     

DYRK1A inhibition suppresses STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling and sensitizes EGFR wild‐type NSCLC cells to AZD9291

DYRK1A is considered a potential cancer therapeutic target, but the role of DYRK1A in NSCLC oncogenesis and treatment requires further investigation. In our study, high DYRK1A expression was observed in tumour samples from patients with lung cancer compared with normal lung tissues, and the high levels of DYRK1A were related to a reduced survival time in patients with lung cancer. Meanwhile, the DYRK1A inhibitor harmine could suppress the proliferation of NSCLC cells compared to that of the control. As DYRK1A suppression might be effective in treating NSCLC, we next explored the possible specific molecular mechanisms that were involved. We showed that DYRK1A suppression by siRNA could suppress the levels of EGFR and Met in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, DYRK1A siRNA could inhibit the expression and nuclear translocation of STAT3. Meanwhile, harmine could also regulate the STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling pathway in human NSCLC cells. AZD9291 is effective to treat NSCLC patients with EGFR‐sensitivity mutation and T790 M resistance mutation, but the clinical efficacy in patients with wild‐type EGFR remains modest. We showed that DYRK1A repression could enhance the anti‐cancer effect of AZD9291 by inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation in EGFR wild‐type NSCLC cells. In addition, harmine could enhance the anti‐NSCLC activity of AZD9291 by modulating STAT3 pathway. Finally, harmine could enhance the anti‐cancer activity of AZD9291 in primary NSCLC cells. Collectively, targeting DYRK1A might be an attractive target for AZD9291 sensitization in EGFR wild‐type NSCLC patients.     

新疆野生油菜胞质雄性不育系1193A对应恢复基因的SSR标记分析

以油菜细胞质雄性不育系1193A和恢复系1193R2为亲本构建F2分离群体,并运用BSA法构建了可育和不育基因池。利用1521对SSR引物进行了多态性分析,结果表明有36对引物在亲本和基因池间都表现多态性,用F2单株验证表明有11对引物与恢复基因连锁,离恢复基因较近的2个标记CB10316和Bn GMS171分布在恢复基因Rf的两侧,遗传距离分别为3.9 c M和5.7 c M,可作为恢复系标记辅助育种的候选标记。     

Integrated Analysis Reveals together miR-182, miR-200c and miR-221 Can Help in the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Research has shown that microRNAs are promising biomarkers that can be used to promote a more accurate diagnosis of cancer. In this study, we developed an integrated multi-step selection process to analyze available high-throughput datasets to obtain information on microRNAs as cancer biomarkers. Applying this approach to the microRNA expression profiles of prostate cancer and the datasets in The Cancer Genome Atlas Data Portal, we identified miRNA-182, miRNA-200c and miRNA-221 as possible biomarkers for prostate cancer. The associations between the expressions of these three microRNAs with clinical parameters as well as their diagnostic capability were studied. Several online databases were used to predict the target genes of these three microRNAs, and the results were confirmed by significant statistical correlations. Comparing with the other 18 types of cancers listed in The Cancer Genome Atlas Data Portal, we found that the combination of both miRNA-182 and miRNA-200c being up-regulated and miRNA-221 being down-regulated only happens in prostate cancer. This provides a unique biological characteristic for prostate cancer that can potentially be used for diagnosis based on tissue testing. In addition, our study also revealed that these three microRNAs are associated with the pathological status of prostate cancer.     

Synthesis of naphthalimide derivatives with potential anticancer activity,their comparative ds- and G-quadruplex-DNA binding studies and related biological activities

Molecular Biology Reports - Two new cytotoxic 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. Their biological activities as cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities and...     

高通量测序分析妊娠期糖尿病对早产儿肠道菌群的影响

目的通过高通量测序技术探究妊娠期糖尿病对早产儿肠道菌群的影响,并对相关功能及代谢通路进行预测。方法选取符合入组条件的早产儿40例,依据孕母是否患有妊娠期糖尿病分为妊娠期糖尿病组(GDM组)和对照组,各20例,于出生后24 h内收集早产儿胎便进行16S rRNA基因测序,对测序结果进行物种分类学分析及生物信息学分析。结果 GDM组显示出更低的物种丰富度及多样性(P=0.048)。两组物种组成存在显著差异(P=0.048),GDM组厚壁菌门与拟杆菌门比值明显升高,机会致病菌相对丰度增加,同时革兰阴性杆菌比例上升。PICRUSt功能预测分析表明,GDM组在碳水化合物转运及代谢、细胞外结构、环境信息处理代谢通路和免疫性疾病代谢通路的功能丰度增高。结论妊娠期糖尿病可导致早产儿肠道微生态平衡被破坏,肠道菌群失调或为母亲患有GDM的早产儿多种疾病发病率增高的原因之一。