Cystine Deprivation Induces Oligodendroglial Death: Rescue by Free Radical Scavengers and by a Diffusible Glial Factor

Abstract: In this study we examined the effect on oligodendroglial survival of exogenous cystine deprivation. Oligodendroglia isolated from mixed glial primary cultures derived from brains of 1-day-old rats, and then grown for 3 days, were markedly dependent on extracellular cystine for survival. The EC₅₀ values for cystine for a 24-h exposure ranged from 2 to 65 µ M . After 6 h of cystine deprivation, the cellular glutathione level decreased to 21 ± 13% of the control. Free radical scavengers (α-tocopherol, ascorbate, idebenone, and N-tert -butyl-α-phenylnitrone) were protective against cystine deprivation but had no effect on the glutathione level. An iron chelator, desferrioxamine mesylate, also was protective. These findings suggest that intracellular hydroxyl radicals are important for this toxicity. In contrast to the observations in 3-day-old cultures, the dependence on exogenous cystine for cell viability was not observed consistently in oligodendroglia cultured for 6 days before the onset of cystine deprivation. Several observations suggested that this loss of cystine dependence was due to a diffusible factor. Sensitivity to the toxicity of cystine deprivation in day 6 cultures increased as the volume of medium was increased from 0.3 to 2 ml. Furthermore, preincubation of cystine-depleted medium with astrocyte cultures eliminated the toxicity of the cystine deprivation. HPLC assay of the conditioned cystine-depleted medium showed no significant change in cystine or cysteine concentration. We conclude that oligodendroglia are highly susceptible to cystine deprivation in day 3 cultures and that this susceptibility is due to the accumulation of intracellular free radicals in the setting of glutathione depletion. The resistance of day 6 oligodendroglial cultures is caused at least in part by a diffusible factor.     

模拟穿透雨减少对锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata)树干液流密度的影响

降水格局变化是全球气候变化的重要特征之一,未来气候变化下,较为频繁和严峻的干旱将威胁地球中纬度部分地区的森林,但森林植被如何响应季节性干旱胁迫及其机制尚不清楚。北亚热带-暖温带过渡区分布着以锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)为优势树种的落叶阔叶林,研究其水分蒸腾代谢过程对干旱的响应是评估气候变化对过渡区天然落叶阔叶林生态系统水碳影响的关键科学问题。在典型的锐齿栎天然林中通过开展模拟穿透雨减少大型野外实验,采用Granier热扩散式探针技术监测锐齿栎树干液流密度的动态变化,研究了不同径级锐齿栎树干液流密度对模拟干旱的响应规律。结果表明:(1)穿透雨减少对树干液流密度的影响呈现季节变异。在7月份,林内穿透雨减少显著降低了锐齿栎的树干液流密度,但生长季后期的10月份林内穿透雨减少反而使锐齿栎树干液流密度显著升高。(2)不同径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在生长季内对干旱有不同的响应,特别是小径级的树干液流密度与其他径级有较多的不同。小径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在5、7月份表现为减雨样地显著小于对照样地,在9、10月份则表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地。中径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在5、10月份表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地,在7月份则表现为减雨样地极显著小于对照样地。大径级的锐齿栎树干液流密度在6、7月份表现为减雨样地显著小于对照样地,在10月份则表现为减雨样地显著大于对照样地。     

Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells on gross motor function measure scores of children with cerebral palsy: a preliminary clinical study

Background aimsPre-clinical evidence indicates that autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) transplantation improves motor function in patients with central nervous system disorders.MethodsAfter providing informed consent, 52 patients with cerebral palsy (CP) who met the study criteria received BM-MSC transplantation. Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 and GMFM-66 scales at baseline (before transplantation) and at 1 month, 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation. The participants completed the trial without visible side effects. The GMFM-66 percentile (motor growth curves) was used as the control index of motor function to exclude the interference of improvement with age.ResultsThe score domains A, B, C and D and the total GMFM-88 and GMFM-66 scores in participants increased at 1 month, 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation compared with the baseline value (P < 0.01). The scores of domain E also increased at 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation, although they were not significantly increased at 1 month post-transplantation. There were significant increases in the GMFM-66 score and the GMFM-66 percentile corresponding to patient age and Gross Motor Function Classification System level after cell transplantation.ConclusionsAutologous BM-MSC transplantation appears to be a feasible, safe and effective therapy for patients with CP. The treatment improved the development of children with CP with regard to motor function.     

In-depth Profiling and Quantification of the Lysine Acetylome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Trapped Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide with limited therapeutic options. Comprehensive investigation of protein posttranslational modifications in HCC is still limited. Lysine acetylation is one of the most common types of posttranslational modification involved in many cellular processes and plays crucial roles in the regulation of cancer. In this study, we analyzed the proteome and K-acetylome in eight pairs of HCC tumors and normal adjacent tissues using a timsTOF Pro instrument. As a result, we identified 9219 K-acetylation sites in 2625 proteins, of which 1003 sites exhibited differential acetylation levels between tumors and normal adjacent tissues. Interestingly, many novel tumor-specific K-acetylation sites were characterized, for example, filamin A (K865), filamin B (K697), and cofilin (K19), suggesting altered activities of these cytoskeleton-modulating molecules, which may contribute to tumor metastasis. In addition, we observed an overall suppression of protein K-acetylation in HCC tumors, especially for enzymes from various metabolic pathways, for example, glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid metabolism. Moreover, the expression of deacetylase sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) was upregulated in HCC tumors, and its role of deacetylation in HCC cells was further explored by examining the impact of SIRT2 overexpression on the proteome and K-acetylome in Huh7 HCC cells. SIRT2 overexpression reduced K-acetylation of proteins involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including energy metabolism. Furthermore, cellular assays showed that overexpression of SIRT2 in HCC cells inhibited both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings provide valuable information to better understand the roles of K-acetylation in HCC and to treat this disease by correcting the aberrant acetylation patterns.     

2′-MeO-RNA Containing Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Primers Can Prevent Template-independent Base Extension on Microarrays

DNA microarrays require tens of thousands of deoxyoligonucleotides to be registered in an addressable fashion through immobilization, so that they have the high-throughput capability of analyzing a large number of samples simultaneously in a minimal volume of each reagent. However, using immobilized DNA molecules on microarrays can impose certain technical problems for some assays. For example, high background noise has been observed in using immobilized oligonucleotide microarrays (DNA chip) for primer extension reactions. This noise may be associated with the reactions of secondary structures formed by the adjacent primers physically constrained on the surface. Single-base extension (SBE) of arrayed primers on a chip has been extensively used in mini-sequencing to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Some primers appeared to be extendable in the absence of any template and thus competed against the base extension directed by the assay target such as genomic DNA. In this article, a method is reported that is capable of reducing template-independent extension by the substitution of a 2′-methoxyribonucleotide in the otherwise oligodeoxyribonucleotide primer. The surrogate compound placed at the 5′-end of the putative secondary structure sequence of a given primer was able to inhibit template-independent extension and to improve data quality of surface-attached primer extension assays.     

Morphological assessment of the Octopus vulgaris species complex evaluated in light of molecular‐based phylogenetic inferences

Cryptic species are common in the ocean, particularly among marine invertebrates such as octopuses. Delineating cryptic species is particularly problematic in octopus taxonomy where the plasticity recorded among taxonomic characters often results in low resolution at the species level. This study investigated the morphological relationships among seven phylogenetic clades (identified using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of the broadly distributed Octopus vulgaris species complex and close relatives. Morphological analyses in this study were successful in delimiting O. sinensis, Brazilian O. vulgaris and O. vulgaris sensu stricto, which was congruent with the molecular findings of this study. Analyses based on male morphology were successful in distinguishing 14 of 15 total pairwise comparisons and proved to be a more reliable indicator of species‐level relationships in comparison with female morphology. The majority of characters with the greatest discriminatory power were male sexual traits. Significant morphological differences were also recorded among sampling localities of conspecifics, with phenotype showing correlation with local environmental data. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that multiple O. vulgaris‐like species are currently being incorrectly treated under a single species name, O. vulgaris. Octopuses being exported globally under the name O. vulgaris are of extremely high fisheries market value and profile. Our findings have potentially significant implications for the naming and conservation of commercially harvested members of this species complex throughout their ranges.     

污水处理厂生物气溶胶抗生素抗性污染特征、来源及潜在风险

污水处理厂是抗生素抗性基因（antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs）和抗生素抗性细菌（antibiotic resistant bacteria,ARB）重要的源和汇,生物气溶胶是ARGs和ARB自污水处理厂向周边环境释放的关键载体。目前缺乏对污水处理厂生物气溶胶抗生素抗性污染特征、来源及潜在风险的系统性总结。本文从采样方法、检测方法、逸散特征、来源、潜在危害和风险评估等方面对污水处理厂抗生素抗性污染研究现状进行综述。惯性采样法和过滤法是常用的污水处理厂抗生素抗性生物气溶胶主要采集方法,而宏基因组测序、组装和分箱为其ARGs组成、可移动性和宿主提供了有效的检测方法,抗多药类、抗杆菌肽类、抗氨基糖苷类、抗四环素类、抗β-内酰胺类、抗磺胺类、抗大环内酯类和抗糖肽类等抗性基因在污水处理厂PM₁₀、PM_2.5和PM_1.0颗粒物中广泛检出。格栅间、生化反应池和污泥处理单元是污水处理厂PM₁₀、PM_2.5和PM_1.0负载ARGs和ARB的主要释放单元。污水处理厂不同粒径生物气溶胶中致病性ARB的存在增加了抗生素治疗的难度,而污水和污泥对ARGs和ARB的释放起到了重要的源的贡献。本文在研究内容、研究技术和控制策略等方面也提出了相关展望,以期为污水厂生物气溶胶抗生素抗性污染的监测和防护提供参考和借鉴。     

H2S作为植物个体间交流的气体信号分子

植物遭受到昆虫取食、创伤及非生物胁迫时,会向环境中释放多种挥发性物质,直接或间接地帮助受胁迫植株抵抗伤害。同时,这些挥发性物质向附近的健康植株传递信息,以应对可能到来的侵害。硫化氢(H2S)作为细胞内气体信号分子提高植物对多种胁迫的抗性已有报道,本论文对H2S是否作为植物个体间传递信息的信号分子进行了研究。结果表明:40%PEG8000处理可以使谷子、白菜、番茄和拟南芥Col-0植株所在环境空气中H2S含量升高;谷子和拟南芥Col-0植株经PEG8000处理后,可以使邻近的非胁迫植株叶片的H2S含量升高和H2S响应基因表达变化,并诱导非胁迫植株气孔关闭;而拟南芥内源H2S产生酶基因LCD和DES1双基因突变体lcd/des1经PEG8000处理,不能引起空气中和邻近植物的H2S含量升高,不能诱导邻近植株气孔关闭。本论文表明,H2S可以作为植物个体间的信息传递分子;即受胁迫植物通过向周围环境中释放H2S,向邻近植株提供胁迫预警信息,可能对种群的生存有重要意义。     

84K杨PagC3H3基因表达模式分析

木质素作为木材的主要组成成分,通常是由3种单体聚合而成,在其生物合成过程中,共有10个酶家族参与负责将苯丙胺酸转化为单体木质素,其中C3H是在对-香豆酰辅酶A（p-coumaroyl CoA）到咖啡酰辅酶A（caffeoyl CoA）的羟基化过程和G/S单体形成中的关键控制酶类,探究PagC3H3基因表达模式,对于进一步了解该基因功能具有重要意义。该研究通过定量PCR对PagC3H3基因的组织特异性表达进行分析;克隆得到了长度为2 035 bp的PagC3H3的启动子序列,预测含有多个顺式作用元件;同时,将获得的PagC3H3的启动子序列构建植物表达载体pBI121-PagC3H3pro：：GUS,进行拟南芥瞬时转化,结果显示PagC3H3基因在84K杨的根、中部茎节和基部茎节中的表达量较高;瞬时转化拟南芥,GUS染色表明：在下胚轴和根中GUS活性较强,由此推测PagC3H3基因在木质素合成过程中发挥作用。     

复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿喘息性支气管炎的效果及对炎性因子的影响

目的:探讨复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿喘息性支气管炎的效果及对炎性因子的影响。方法:选取2015年6月～2018年6月我院收治的喘息性支气管炎患儿300例,采用随机数字表法将患儿分为两组,每组各150例。对照组在常规治疗的基础上给予阿奇霉素注射液治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上联合应用复方丹参注射液治疗。比较两组的临床治疗效果,临床症状缓解时间及住院时间,治疗前后两组血清白介素(Interleukin, IL)-6、IL-8和肿瘤坏死因子-α(Tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α)水平的变化情况及不良反应发生情况和复发率。结果:治疗后,观察组治疗总有效率显著高于对照组(93.33%VS.85.33%, P0.05);观察组喘息缓解时间、咳嗽缓解时间、哮鸣音消失时间、体温恢复时间及住院时间均显著短于对照组(P0.05);两组治疗后血清IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α水平均较治疗前显著下降,且观察组更低(P0.05);两组不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组的复发率显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素可快速缓解喘息性支气管炎患儿的临床症状、体征并缩短住院时间,提高临床治疗效果,且复发率低,安全性较高,这可能与其可显著降低患儿血清IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α水平有关。