Chemotactic activity of pertussis toxin on murine lymphocytes. Its potential role on lymphocyte accumulation in the lung

Abstract The effects of pertussis toxin on lymphocyte migration were studied in vitro. In this study pertussis toxin significantly stimulated lymphocyte migration at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg ml⁻¹ using a microchamber and the leading-front method. Checkerboard analysis demonstrated that pertussis toxin causes directed migration of lymphocytes (chemotaxis). Heat-treatment of pertussis toxin abolished its capacity to cause this migration. When murine lymphocytes were preincubated with different concentrations of pertussis toxin, an inhibition of chemotaxis at the dosages of 0.1 and 1 μg ml⁻¹ was observed. On the other hand, lymphocytes derived from mice treated with pertussis toxin were not inhibited after subsequent exposure to pertussis toxin in vitro. Since lymphocyte accumulation in the lungs of mice treated with pertussis toxin has been well domenstrated, the results of our study could suggest a chemotactic activity of pertussis toxin in determining accumulation of lymphocytes in this organ.     

COI序列:影响动物分类学与生态学的DNA barcode

DNA barcode是一段特殊的、可用于物种鉴定的DNA序列.目前在动物中最常用的DNA barcode是细胞色素C氧化酶1号基因(COI)的部分序列.随着标准数据库的建立,基于COI基因的DNA barcode在动物分类学和生态学中得到了广泛应用.但是,采用COI基因作为DNA barcode所隐含的涉及线粒体的进化历史、遗传特性和物种成种时间的默认前提,并非完全成立,由此引发了许多问题.本文阐述了基于COI基因的DNA barcode对分类学和生态学的影响,目前存在的问题,以及可能的研究方向.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamides derivatives as potent anti-fibrosis agents

Thirty-one 4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamides derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-fibrotic activities by the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced total collagen accumulation and anti-inflammatory activities by the inhibition of LPS-stimulated TNF-α production. Among them, three compounds (10a, 10l and 11g) exhibited potent inhibitory effects on both TGF-β1-induced total collagen accumulation and LPS-stimulated TNF-α production. Furthermore, oral administrations of 10l at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks effectively alleviated lung inflammation and injury, and decreased lung collagen accumulation in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Histopathological evaluation of lung tissue confirmed 10l as a potential, orally active agent for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.     

Timing of glucocorticoid administration determines severity of lipid metabolism and behavioral effects in rats

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a group of steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal glands in circadian cycles, and the dysregulation of GC signaling has been suggested to cause metabolic syndrome. Even though prolonged GC exposure is associated with serious side effects such as metabolic syndrome and central nervous system disorders, the use of GCs in anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies has been continuously rising. Meanwhile, the exact mechanisms by which GCs can influence the lipid metabolism as well as behavior and how they are affected by time remain unknown. In this study, the effects of two different long-term GC dosing regimens on lipid metabolism and behavior were investigated. Male Wistar rats received daily administrations of the GC dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX, 0.5 mg/kg body weight) at either ZT0 (Dex0) or ZT12 (Dex12). After 6 weeks of treatment, DEX-treated rats, especially those treated at ZT0, had higher hepatic lipid accumulation and serum triglyceride levels and less locomotor activity than did control rats. In addition, serum levels of corticosterone, 5-hydroxy tryptamine and norepinephrine were decreased in the Dex0 group but not in the Dex12 group compared to the control group. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the chronic administration of GCs at ZT0 upregulated genes related to glycolysis and lipid synthesis and downregulated genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation in the liver more remarkably than administration at ZT12. Both DEX-treated groups displayed severely altered expression patterns of the core clock genes Bmal1 and Per2 in the liver and in fat. In addition, the expression of glutamate aspartate transporter, glial fibrillary acidic protein and glutamate transporter-1, astrocyte-related genes important for maintaining nervous system functions, was drastically decreased in the hippocampus of DEX-treated rats, especially when DEX was given at ZT0. In conclusion, our findings confirm that the severity of side effects, indicated by altered lipid metabolism and behavioral activity, depends on the timing of GC administration and is associated with the degree of glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction after dosing at disparate time points.     

星星草(Puccinellia tenuiflora)人工草地氮素积累对松嫩盐碱草地植被演替的影响

通过对星星草(Puccinellia tenuiflora)生长不同年数盐碱土壤氮素营养状况的比较,研究氮素积累作用的机理,并探讨其在植被演替中的可能作用.结果表明:在一维生态位空间(土壤氮含量)星星草和羊草(Leymus chinense)之间具有较小的生态位分离值和较大的生态位重叠值,表明羊草对土壤高含氮量具有较强的竞争能力.这些也许是羊草以及其他植物在星星草生长一定年数后能够侵入碱斑土壤的机制.星星草作为盐碱土壤改良和植被恢复的先锋植物,它的生长增强了盐碱草地土壤氮素的矿质化作用和生物固氮强度,并减弱了氮素随地表径流的损失.最终促进了盐碱草地的氮素沉积,达到了适合于其它物种(如羊草)生长的水平,从而使碱斑植被得以恢复.     

不同培养基和三种金属离子对桦褐孔菌培养菌丝体的羊毛甾醇和麦角甾醇积累的影响

Lanosterol and ergosterol are the active principles with potential pharmacological activities in Inonotus obliquus. However, the two sterols are less accumulated in cultured mycelia of the fungus. In this study, different carbon and nitrogen sources and pH levels together with three metal ions were assayed for their effects on accumulation of the two sterols in the fungus. Among the tested media the growth medium consisting of glucose (1.5%), rice powder (0.5%), yeast extract (0.4%), wheat bran (0.1%), KH2PO4 (0.01%) and MgSO4?7H2O (0.05%) with pH level at 6.5 yielded a maximum production of the two sterols, which can further be increased following the treatment of Ag+, Cu2+ and Ca2+. Supplementing Ag+ at concentrations of 0.28 and 0.35?mol partially inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis, leading to an enhanced accumulation of lanosterol, the presence of intermediates of ergosterol biosynthetic pathway and a reduced accumulation of ergosterol in cultured mycelia of I. obliquus.     

Biological response of protists Haematococcus lacustris and Euglena gracilis to conductive polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate

Improving the growth and pigment accumulation of microalgae by electrochemical approaches was considered a novel and promising method. In this research, we investigated the effect of conductive polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) dispersible in water on growth and pigment accumulation of Haematococcus lacustris and Euglena gracilis. The results revealed that effect of PEDOT:PSS was strongly cell-dependent and each cell type has its own peculiar response. For H. lacustris, the cell density in the 50 mg·l⁻¹ treatment group increased by 50·27%, and the astaxanthin yield in the 10 mg·l⁻¹ treatment group increased by 37·08%. However, under the high concentrations of PEDOT:PSS treatment, cell growth was significantly inhibited, and meanwhile, the smaller and more active zoospores were observed, which reflected the changes in cell life cycle and growth mode. Cell growth of E. gracilis in all the PEDOT:PSS treatment groups were notably inhibited. Chlorophyll a content in E. gracilis decreased while chlorophyll b content increased in response to the PEDOT:PSS treatment. The results laid a foundation for further development of electrochemical methods to promote microalgae growth and explore the interactions between conductive polymers and microalgae cells.