南方4种草本植物对铝胁迫生理响应的研究

 不同的植物对铝胁迫的生理响应不同, 因而对铝毒的耐性也不相同。设置5种铝浓度,进行砂培法处理,研究了4种我国南方红壤广泛分布的草本植物——牵牛(Pharbitis nil)、望江南(Cassia occidentlis)、光头稗(Echinochloa colonum)和合萌(Aeschynomene indica)的种子萌发、光合色素、脯氨酸含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖(SS)含量、质膜透性(MP)、过氧化氢酶 (CAT) 活性以及过氧化物酶 (POD)活性的变化。结果表明铝对4种植物的生理特性都有明显的影响。4种植物的种子在10 000 mg·L－1 Al3+处理条件下都不能萌发。2 000 mg·L－1 Al3+处理都不利于4种植物的生长,与对照相比,2 000 mg·L－1 Al3+处理时4种草本植物叶绿素和叶绿素总含量显著降低(p<0.05);MDA含量和MP显著增加(p<0.05);脯氨酸含量极显著增加(p<0.01);POD和CAT活性极显著降低(p<0.01)。中低铝(80和400 mg·L－1)处理时,牵牛和合萌与对照相比,MP和MDA含量降低,POD和CAT活性升高;望江南的反应与牵牛和合萌的反应相反;光头稗在80 mg·L－1 Al3+处理时,与牵牛和合萌的变化一致,在400 mg·L－1 Al3+处理时,则相反。植物在中低铝处理条件下,通过维持较高的POD和CAT活性和脯氨酸、叶绿素含量,较低的MP和MDA含量来增加其对铝的耐性。     

Trends in the Use of Nephron-Sparing Surgery over 7 Years: An Analysis Using the R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Scoring System

Objective

To analyze trends in the use of partial nephrectomy, we evaluated which individual factors of renal nephrometry score (RNS) influenced the operative approach bi-annually from 2008 to 2014.

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective review of renal cell carcinoma treated by surgery in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014. The complexity of renal masses was measured using the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry scoring system with CT or MRI. Group comparison in terms of operation year and surgical type (partial nephrectomy versus radical nephrectomy) was performed. We developed a nomogram to quantitate the likelihood of selecting partial nephrectomy over radical nephrectomy.

Results

A total of 1106 cases (237 in 2008, 225 in 2010, 292 in 2012, and 352 in 2014) were available for the study. Over the study period, the proportion of partial nephrectomies performed increased steadily from 21.5% in 2008 to 66.5% in 2014 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, use of partial nephrectomy increased steadily in all RNS complexity groups (low, moderate, and high) (p < 0.05). In the analysis of individual components of RNS, values of the R and N components increased statistically by year in the partial nephrectomy group (p < 0.05). Average AUC was 0.920.

Conclusions

The proportion of partial nephrectomies performed sharply increased over the study period. Additionally, over the study period, more partial nephrectomies were performed for renal masses of larger size and closer to the collecting system and main renal vessels. A nomogram developed based on this recent data set provides significant predictive value for surgical decision making.     

PEP-1-FK506BP inhibits alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation on the rat model of corneal alkali injury

FK506 binding protein 12 (FK506BP) is a small peptide with a single FK506BP domain that is involved in suppression of immune response and reactive oxygen species. FK506BP has emerged as a potential drug target for several inflammatory diseases. Here, we examined the protective effects of directly applied cell permeable FK506BP (PEP-1-FK506BP) on corneal alkali burn injury (CAI). In the cornea, there was a significant decrease in the number of cells expressing pro-inflammation, apoptotic, and angiogenic factors such as TNF-α, COX-2, and VEGF. Both corneal opacity and corneal neovascularization (CNV) were significantly decreased in the PEP-1-FK506BP treated group. Our results showed that PEP-1-FK506BP can significantly inhibit alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation in rats, possibly by accelerating corneal wound healing and by reducing the production of angiogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that PEP-1-FK506BP may be a potential therapeutic agent for CAI. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(11): 618-623]     

Effect of Molecular Orientation of Donor Polymers on Charge Generation and Photovoltaic Properties in Bulk Heterojunction All‐Polymer Solar Cells

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) utilizing p‐type polymers as electron‐donors and n ‐typepolymers as electron‐acceptors have attracted a great deal of attention, and their efficiencies have been improved considerably. Here, five polymer donors with different molecular orientations are synthesized by random copolymerization of 5‐fluoro‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole with different relative amounts of 2,2′‐bithiophene (2T) and dithieno[3,2‐b;2′,3′‐d]thiophene (DTT). Solar cells are prepared by blending the polymer donors with a naphthalene diimide‐based polymer acceptor (PNDI) or a [6,6]‐phenyl C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) acceptor and their morphologies and crystallinity as well as optoelectronic, charge‐transport and photovoltaic properties are studied. Interestingly, charge generation in the solar cells is found to show higher dependence on the crystal orientation of the donor polymer for the PNDI‐based all‐PSCs than for the conventional PC₇₁BM‐based PSCs. As the population of face‐on‐oriented crystallites of the donor increased in PNDI‐based PSC, the short‐circuit current density (J_SC) and external quantum efficiency of the devices are found to significantly improve. Consequently, device efficiency was enhanced of all‐PSC from 3.11% to 6.01%. The study reveals that producing the same crystal orientation between the polymer donor and acceptor (face‐on/face‐on) is important in all‐PSCs because they provide efficient charge transfer at the donor/acceptor interface.     

PEP-1-PEA-15 protects against toxin-induced neuronal damage in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Background

PEA-15 is abundantly expressed in both neurons and astrocytes throughout the brain. It is a multifunctional protein with the ability to increase cell survival via anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative properties. However, the function of PEA-15 in neuronal diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of PEA-15 on neuronal damage induced by MPP⁺ in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and BV2 microglia cells and in a MPTP-induced PD mouse model using cell-permeable PEP-1-PEA-15.

Methods

PEP-1-PEA-15 was purified using affinity chromatography. Cell viability and DNA fragmentation were examined by MTT assay and TUNEL staining. Dopaminergic neuronal cell death in the animal model was examined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

PEP-1-PEA-15 transduced into the SH-SY5Y and BV2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Transduced PEP-1-PEA-15 protected against MPP⁺-induced toxicity by inhibiting intracellular ROS levels and DNA fragmentation. Further, it enhanced the expression levels of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 while reducing the expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. We found that PEP-1-PEA-15 transduced into the substantia nigra and prevented dopaminergic neuronal cell death in a MPTP-induced PD mouse. Also, we showed the neuroprotective effects in the model by demonstrating that treatment with PEP-1-PEA-15 ameliorated MPTP-induced behavioral dysfunctions and increased dopamine levels in the striatum.

Conclusions

PEP-1-PEA-15 can efficiently transduce into cells and protects against neurotoxin-induced neuronal cell death in vitro and in vivo.

General significance

These results demonstrate the potential for PEP-1-PEA-15 to provide a new strategy for protein therapy treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including PD.     

High‐Performance and Uniform 1 cm2 Polymer Solar Cells with D1‐A‐D2‐A‐Type Random Terpolymers

For the commercial development of organic photovoltaics (OPVs), laboratory‐scale OPV technology must be translated to large area modules. In particular, it is important to develop high‐efficiency polymers that can form thick (>100 nm) bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films over large areas with optimal morphologies for charge generation and transport. Here, D₁‐A‐D₂‐A random terpolymers composed of 2,2′‐bithiophene with various proportions of 5,6‐difluoro‐4,7‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole and 5,6‐difluoro‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole (FBT) are synthesized. It is found that incorporating small proportions of FBT into the polymer not only conserves the high crystallinity and favorable face‐on orientation of the D‐A copolymer FBT‐Th4 but also improves the nanoscale phase separation of the BHJ film. Consequently, the random terpolymer PDT2fBT‐BT10 exhibits a much improved solar cell efficiency of 10.31% when compared to that of the copolymer FBT‐Th4 (8.62%). Moreover, due to this polymer's excellent processability and suppressed overaggregation, OPVs with 1 cm² active area based on 351 nm thick PDT2fBT‐BT10 BHJs exhibit high photovoltaic performance of 9.42%, whereas rapid efficiency decreases arise for FBT‐Th4‐based OPVs for film thicknesses above 300 nm. It is demonstrated that this random terpolymer can be used in large area and thick BHJ OPVs, and guidelines for developing polymers that are suitable for large‐scale printing technologies are presented.     

The non-genomic rapid acidification in peripheral T cells by progesterone depends on intracellular calcium increase and not on Na+/H+-exchange inhibition

Progesterone is an endogenous immunomodulator that is able to suppress T cell activation during pregnancy. An increased intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), acidification, and an inhibition of Na(+)/H(+)-exchange 1 (NHE1) are associated with this progesterone rapid non-genomic response that involves plasma membrane sites. Such acidification, when induced by phytohemagglutinin, is calcium dependent in PKC down-regulated T cells. We investigated the relationship between this rapid response involving the [Ca(2+)](i) increase and various membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs). In addition, we explored whether the induction of acidification in T cells by progesterone is a direct result of the [Ca(2+)](i) increase. The results show that the intracellular calcium elevation caused by progesterone is inhibited by SKF96365, U73122, and 2-APB, but not by pertussis toxin or U73343. The elevation is enhanced by the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor staurosporine and the protein kinase C inhibitors Ro318220 and Go6983. These findings suggest that progesterone does not stimulate the [Ca(2+)](i) increase via the Gi coupled mPR(α). Furthermore, progesterone-induced acidification was found to be dependent on Ca(2+) entry and blocked by the inorganic channel blocker, Ni(2+). However, BAPTA, an intracellular calcium chelator, was found to prevent progesterone-induced acidification but not the inhibition of NHE1. This implies that acidification by progesterone is a direct result of the [Ca(2+)](i) increase and does not directly involve NHE1. Taken together, further investigations are needed to explore whether one or more mPRs or PGRMC1 are involved in bringing about the T cell rapid response that results in the [Ca(2+)](i) increase and inhibition of NHE1.