The Expression of Connexins and SOX2 Reflects the Plasticity of Glioma Stem-Like Cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant primary brain tumor, with an average survival rate of 15 months. GBM is highly refractory to therapy, and such unresponsiveness is due, primarily, but not exclusively, to the glioma stem-like cells (GSCs). This subpopulation express stem-like cell markers and is responsible for the heterogeneity of GBM, generating multiple differentiated cell phenotypes. However, how GBMs maintain the balance between stem and non-stem populations is still poorly understood. We investigated the GBM ability to interconvert between stem and non-stem states through the evaluation of the expression of specific stem cell markers as well as cell communication proteins. We evaluated the molecular and phenotypic characteristics of GSCs derived from differentiated GBM cell lines by comparing their stem-like cell properties and expression of connexins. We showed that non-GSCs as well as GSCs can undergo successive cycles of gain and loss of stem properties, demonstrating a bidirectional cellular plasticity model that is accompanied by changes on connexins expression. Our findings indicate that the interconversion between non-GSCs and GSCs can be modulated by extracellular factors culminating on differential expression of stem-like cell markers and cell-cell communication proteins. Ultimately, we observed that stem markers are mostly expressed on GBMs rather than on low-grade astrocytomas, suggesting that the presence of GSCs is a feature of high-grade gliomas. Together, our data demonstrate the utmost importance of the understanding of stem cell plasticity properties in a way to a step closer to new strategic approaches to potentially eliminate GSCs and, hopefully, prevent tumor recurrence.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to reduced chronological lifespan and increased apoptosis in yeast

We previously isolated a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant (HsTnII), which displays 40% reduced chronological lifespan as compared to the wild type (WT). In this study, we found HsTnII cultures to be characterized by fragmented and dysfunctional mitochondria, and by increased initiation of apoptosis during chronological aging as compared to WT. Expression of genes encoding subunits of mitochondrial electron transport chain and ATP synthase is significantly downregulated in HsTnII, and as a consequence, HsTnII is not able to respire ethanol. All these data confirm the importance of functional mitochondria and respiration in determining yeast chronological lifespan and apoptosis.     

猕猴桃属美味猕猴桃和毛花猕猴桃种间杂交的胚胎学和胚援救

本文报道美味猕猴桃(Actintdia delictosa cv.Hayward)(6x)和毛花猕猴桃(A.eria-ntha)(2x)杂交当代种子的胚胎学分析和胚援救的结果:1.根据杂交种子外部形态和胚胎发育程度,区分为正常的和败育的两类,其比率接近1:1。正常种子的胚发育分化正常,且含有适量胚乳。败育种子中,除少数不含胚和胚乳外,绝大多数种子的胚发育终止于球形、心形和早子叶阶段,胚体畸形。胚乳处于消失或完全解体。2.在被试8组培养基中,最适合胚萌发和生长的是:MS+IAA0.5ppm+GA_30.5ppm,MS+2ip2ppm+IAA0.5ppm+GA_30.5ppm和 MS+2ip2ppm+GA_30.5ppm。适于实生苗生长的培养基为 MS+GA_30.5ppm 和 MS 培养基。在 MS+BAP2ppm 和 MS+IAA0.5ppm+GA_30.5ppm 培养基上,一些正常种子和少数不正常种子胚的下胚轴直接形成了许多不定芽,从而诱导产生了更多的杂种植株。但是在MS十BAP2ppm+GA_30.5ppm,MS+BAP2ppm+IAA0.5ppm 和 MS+2ip2ppm+GA_30.5ppm培养基上,虽然胚产生了愈伤组织,但都未分化出器官。杂种实生苗根尖细胞近半数的含有近4倍性染色体数(4x=116),约半数为其他倍性。     

甘草水溶物诱导MGC-803细胞凋亡中胞内Ca2+、pH与线粒体△ψm的变化

细胞凋亡时发生染色质凝聚、DNA呈梯状片段化、胞体皱缩、质膜起泡、形成凋亡小体等典型的形态和生化变化,并受凋亡信号系统激活所导致的细胞内一系列酶的活性以及凋亡相关基因表达的变化调控.近年来的研究表明,细胞内Ca2 、pH、线粒体膜电位(△Ψm)等生物物理性状的改变与细胞凋亡信号系统的调控有密切的关系,甚至是决定性的因素.糖皮质激素能非常有效地诱导胸腺细胞发生凋亡,已证实在这典型的凋亡过程中,细胞内Ca2 浓度变化是至为重要的环节,处理细胞早期就可见到细胞内Ca2 的持续升高,然后是DNA片段化.尽管也有文献报道在无Ca2 基质…     

Demographic and clinical variables affecting mid‐ to late‐life trajectories of plasma ceramide and dihydroceramide species

It has been increasingly recognized at the basic science level that perturbations in ceramide metabolism are associated with the development and progression of many age‐related diseases. However, the translation of this work to the clinic has lagged behind. Understanding the factors longitudinally associated with plasma ceramides and dihydroceramides (DHCer) at the population level and how these lipid levels change with age, and by sex, is important for the clinical development of future therapeutics and biomarkers focused on ceramide metabolism. We, therefore, examined factors cross‐sectionally and longitudinally associated with plasma concentrations of ceramides and DHCer among Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants (n = 992; 3960 total samples), aged 55 years and older, with plasma at a mean of 4.1 visits (range 2–6). Quantitative analyses were performed on a high‐performance liquid chromatography‐coupled electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometer. Linear mixed models were used to assess the relationships between plasma ceramide and DHCer species and demographics, diseases, medications, and lifestyle factors. Women had higher plasma concentrations of most ceramide and DHCer species and showed steeper trajectories of age‐related increases compared to men. Ceramides and DHCer were more associated with waist–hip ratio than body mass index. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, prediabetes, and diabetes were associated with ceramides and DHCer, but the relationship showed specificity to the acyl chain length and saturation. These results demonstrate the importance of examining the individual species of ceramides and DHCer, and of establishing whether intra‐individual age‐ and sex‐specific changes occur in synchrony to disease onset and progression.     

Assessment of cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii, and their natural enemies on aphid-resistant and aphid-susceptible wheat varieties in a wheat–cotton relay intercropping system

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), is an important cotton pest in northern China, especially in the seedling stage of cotton. After large scale commercial use of transgenic Bt cotton, cotton aphids became one of the most important cotton pests. A 2‐year study was conducted to evaluate the role of four winter wheat varieties that were resistant or susceptible to wheat aphid, Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Homoptera: Aphididae), in conserving arthropod natural enemies and suppressing cotton aphids in a wheat–cotton relay intercropping system in northern China. The results indicated that wheat–cotton intercropping preserved and augmented natural enemies more than a monoculture of cotton. The density of natural enemies in cotton was significantly different among relay‐intercropping fields with different wheat varieties. The highest density of natural enemies and low cotton aphid populations were found in the treatment of cotton in relay intercropped with the wheat variety Lovrin10, which is susceptible to wheat aphid. The lowest density of predators and parasitoids associated with high cotton aphid populations were found with the wheat variety KOK1679, which is resistant to wheat aphid. The results showed that wheat varieties that are susceptible or moderately resistant to wheat aphid might reduce cotton aphids more effectively than an aphid‐resistant variety in the intercropping system by enhancing predators to suppress cotton aphids during the cotton seedling stage.     

植物凝集素(PHA)对小鼠白细胞及血清乳酸脱氢酶同工酶的影响

本文就 PHA 在不同时间内对小鼠白细胞及血清 LDH,同工酶的影响进行了观察,结果表明,PHA 对小鼠白细胞及血清的 LDH 酶活性有一定的影响,24h,48h,72h 三个不同时间组均与对照组有显著性差异(P<0.01),其中以48h 组酶活性最强,同时淋巴细胞的酶活性明显高于粒细胞;血清同工酶谱也有明显的变化,LDH_(1-4)均低于正常(P<0.01),LDH_5明显增高(P<0.01),同时出现了 LDH_5(?)亚带.