EPA,not DHA,prevents fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure: potential role of free fatty acid receptor 4

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is half of all HF, but standard HF therapies are ineffective. Diastolic dysfunction, often secondary to interstitial fibrosis, is common in HFpEF. Previously, we found that supra-physiologic levels of ω3-PUFAs produced by 12 weeks of ω3-dietary supplementation prevented fibrosis and contractile dysfunction following pressure overload [transverse aortic constriction (TAC)], a model that resembles aspects of remodeling in HFpEF. This raised several questions regarding ω3-concentration-dependent cardioprotection, the specific role of EPA and DHA, and the relationship between prevention of fibrosis and contractile dysfunction. To achieve more clinically relevant ω3-levels and test individual ω3-PUFAs, we shortened the ω3-diet regimen and used EPA- and DHA-specific diets to examine remodeling following TAC. The shorter diet regimen produced ω3-PUFA levels closer to Western clinics. Further, EPA, but not DHA, prevented fibrosis following TAC. However, neither ω3-PUFA prevented contractile dysfunction, perhaps due to reduced uptake of ω3-PUFA. Interestingly, EPA did not accumulate in cardiac fibroblasts. However, FFA receptor 4, a G protein-coupled receptor for ω3-PUFAs, was sufficient and required to block transforming growth factor β1-fibrotic signaling in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a novel mechanism for EPA. In summary, EPA-mediated prevention of fibrosis could represent a novel therapy for HFpEF.     

Effects of auditory stimuli on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

It is well known that music can have calming effects on humans, other mammals and birds. Reducing environmental stress or enhancing the resistance to certain stressors has been shown to extend lifespan in several organisms. Evidence also suggests that mild temporary stress may also enhance stress resistance and ultimately slow the aging process. This study explored the possibility that music may influence the lifespan of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, possibly by affecting responses to stress. Flies received either background sounds (control), or background sounds supplemented with music (experimental). The experimental group had classical music playing constantly at an average of 20 dB above background sound. The median lifespan of females receiving music was 42 days compared to the median of 45 days without music, but the difference was not significant. For males median lifespans were 42 days with music exposure, and 47 days without music and the difference was significant. These results suggest that exposure to classical music decreased the lifespan of male Drosophila. Both experimental and control populations showed age-dependent increases in mortality, indicating that music affects the normal aging process rather than showing overt toxicity. These results suggest that certain auditory stimuli may be stressful and can be used as insect management.     

Isolation and Characterization of Anti-Inflammatory Sorbicillinoids from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. DM815

Marine derived fungus has gained increasing ground in the discovery of novel lead compounds with potent biological activities including anti-inflammation. Here, we first report the characterization of one new sorbicillinoid ( 1 ) and fourteen known compounds ( 2 – 15 ) from the ethyl acetate (AcOEt) extract of a cultured mangrove derived fungus Penicillium sp. DM815 by UV, IR, HR ESI-Q-TOF MS, and NMR spectra. We then evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of eleven sorbicillinoids ( 1 – 11 ) using cultured macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The results show that compound 9 , and to a lesser degree compound 5 , significantly inhibited the Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced upregulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consistently, compounds 5 and 9 significantly reduced the level of nitric oxide (NO), the product of iNOS, induced by LPS. We further show that these two compounds dose-dependently inhibited LPS-triggered iNOS expression and NO production, but had no effect on proliferation of RAW264.7 cells in the presence of LPS. In conclusion, our study identifies novel and known sorbicillinoids as potent anti-inflammatory agents, holding the promise of developing novel anti-inflammation treatment in the future.     

Acylation of non-specific phospholipase C4 determines its function in plant response to phosphate deficiency

Non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) is involved in plant growth, development and stress responses. To elucidate the mechanism by which NPCs mediate cellular functions, here we show that NPC4 is S-acylated at the C terminus and that acylation determines its plasma membrane (PM) association and function. The acylation of NPC4 was detected using NPC4 isolated from Arabidopsis and reconstituted in vitro. The C-terminal Cys-533 was identified as the S-acylation residue, and the mutation of Cys-533 to Ala-533 in NPC4 (NPC4^C533A) led to the loss of S-acylation and membrane association of NPC4. The knockout of NPC4 impeded the phosphate deficiency-induced decrease of the phosphosphingolipid glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramide (GIPC), but introducing NPC4^C533A to npc4-1 failed to complement this defect, thereby supporting the hypothesis that the non-acylated NPC4^C533A fails to hydrolyze GIPC during phosphate deprivation. Moreover, NPC4^C533A failed to complement the primary root growth in npc4-1 under stress. In addition, NPC4 in Brassica napus was S-acylated and mutation of the S-acylating cysteine residue of BnaC01.NPC4 led to the loss of S-acylation and its membrane association. Together, our results reveal that S-acylation of NPC4 in the C terminus is conserved and required for its membrane association, phosphosphingolipid hydrolysis and function in plant stress responses.     

江永普通野生稻遗传多样性和籼粳基因频率监测分析

以栽培稻的8个籼-粳测验种为对照,采用39对SSR引物检测了江永野生稻居群在1982年、2008年、2017年的遗传多样性,采用38对In Del引物检测了江永野生稻居群在1982年、2008年、2017年的籼-粳基因频率。结果表明:在1982年取样保存在异位圃的40份样本的遗传多样性稍高于2008年、2017年原位保护区样本的遗传多样性;2008年取的样本数虽然比2017年多,但两次取的样本之间遗传多样性几乎没差异。不同年份取的样本之间的遗传分化系数Fst都很小,基因流Nm都较大,分化不明显。通过聚类分析和主坐标分析(PCo A),发现野生稻居群与4份栽培粳稻聚为一类,4份栽培籼稻单独聚成一类,显示江永野生稻与粳稻的血缘近于籼稻;籼-粳基因频率的分析表明,野生稻样本多属粳稻型,少数属偏粳稻型,原位保护区的偏粳稻类型单株数占取样单株总数的比例,2008年比1982年的增加了10.0%,2017年比2008年的增加了1.6%,显示江永野生稻原位保护区生境条件有利野生稻从粳稻型向偏粳稻型变异,随着野生稻产生环境适应性变异,籼型基因频率在提高。     

中国三江源国家公园与韩国智异山国家公园的对比研究

自1967年智异山被认定为韩国首个国家公园以来,韩国以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系建设已历经50余年。这期间韩国在国家公园的建设中积累了大量经验,十分值得我国借鉴。选取我国首个国家公园体制试点——三江源国家公园和韩国首个国家公园——智异山国家公园为研究对象,对二者的管理现状进行了定性分析,并运用基于最优实践的国家公园管理能力评价方法对二者的管理能力进行了定量评价。研究表明:三江源国家公园的管理能力综合得分低于智异山国家公园,在体制建设、保障机制、资源环境管理、社区管理和科普教育五个方面均与智异山国家公园存在一定差距;智异山国家公园在资源本底调查、法制建设、多方参与、环境教育和游憩管理方面的管理能力十分突出,为三江源国家公园管理能力的提升提供了有益借鉴;三江源国家公园在生态补偿和制度约束方面具有比较优势,但在自然资源权属、资源本底调查、社区组织建设和游憩管理方面则亟待提升。在此基础上,针对三江源国家公园建设提出了强化科研支撑、健全多方参与制度、推进全民福利共享三项建议,针对我国国家公园体制建设提出了制定《国家公园法》、设置自然保护地顶层规划两项建议,以期促进三江源国家公园管理能力提升、推动我国国家公园体制建设。     

中国国家公园的边界、分区和土地利用管理——来自自然保护区和风景名胜区的启示

作为生态文明制度改革的具体实现方式和前沿阵地,国家公园体制建设旨在对我国多样化的保护地体系进行重组管理,实现高效合理的国土空间规划、自然资本的保护和全民公益。研究对我国自然保护区和风景名胜区这两类法定保护地的边界和区划的理论基础和实践的技术手段的发展进行梳理,并对我国国家公园体制试点进展进行总结。在此基础上提出,中国国家公园在保护地个体的边界和内部分区上应以实现保护目标为原则,借鉴自然保护区功能分区的基本原则,根据管理目标细化功能分区,借鉴风景名胜区规划实践,注重景观价值,考虑社会经济条件特别是土地权属及土地开发利用可能和方式,进而考虑气候变化和区域长期发展目标等自然和社会经济动态,形成完整的边界和分区理论体系,从而满足全民公益,实现社区经济发展。在区划理论上,一个可行的切入点是考虑空间上生态系统服务功能的差异,根据实现保护目标的管理需求和满足社区生计发展的利用需求,在土地权属和其他限制条件上实现不同组合的生态系统服务功能的空间规划,利用保护地役权来分离土地所有权、使用权和收益权,限制特定土地利用方式,进行利益相关方资源利用管理。     

土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识多样性

生物资源利用相关的传统知识是对生物资源进行识别和利用的传统知识系统。随着现代生物技术的发展, 这类传统知识显示出其在科学、经济、文化乃至粮食安全战略方面的价值。本研究根据《生物多样性相关传统知识分类、调查与编目技术规定(试行)》, 对我国青海省土族聚集区的土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识进行了系统调查与编目, 并借鉴生物多样性测度方法, 创建了传统知识多样性指数计算方法, 对土族生物资源利用相关传统知识多样性进行分析。结果如下: (1)编目现存的土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识词条共424条; (2)土族传统知识的α多样性指数D_TK = 0.67, 表明其传统知识多样性较高; 土族传统知识的β_wtk多样性指数在不同的县域差异较大, 表明其在县域之间存在差异, 在空间上分布不连续、不均匀。本研究利用生物多样性指数验证了传统知识的定量研究方法, 说明传统知识多样性指数不仅可用于定量研究表征区域传统知识的多样性, 揭示不同空间区域内的分布特征, 还可为未来构建传统知识的定量研究体系提供重要的参考依据。     

前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体诱导巨噬细胞极化

外泌体(exosome)是直径约30～150 nm的由细胞分泌的一种具有生物学活性的囊泡。有些来自癌细胞的外泌体可以将巨噬细胞(macrophages,Mφ)极化为M2亚型,但前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体在巨噬细胞极化中的作用仍缺乏研究。本研究采用超滤法提取前列腺癌细胞PC-3M-2B4和PC-3M-IE8条件培养基中的外泌体(PCa-exo)。分别用透射电子显微镜、纳米粒径分析及Western印迹对外泌体形态、颗粒大小和表面的特异性分子标志进行分析鉴定。用PKH67标记外泌体,观察PCa-exo能否被巨噬细胞吸收。免疫荧光分析PCa-exo处理巨噬细胞后,M2型巨噬细胞表面分子标志CD206的表达差异。用q-PCR观察PCa-exo诱导后的巨噬细胞中IL-10、IL-1β等细胞因子的表达。电镜、Western印迹和纳米粒径分析的结果显示,PCa-exo形态多为圆形,直径约为40～150 nm,PCa-exo能被巨噬细胞大量吸收。PCa-exo诱导后,巨噬细胞中CD206荧光表达显著增高,IL-10、IL-1β及IL-12等炎症因子的表达水平与M2/TAM亚型巨噬细胞的表达谱一致。本研究表明,前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体能诱导巨噬细胞极化为M2表型。