The Role of Kif4A in Doxorubicin-Induced Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells

This study was to investigate the mechanism and role of Kif4A in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer. Using two human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (with wild-type p53) and MDA-MB-231 (with mutant p53), we quantitated the expression levels of kinesin super-family protein 4A (Kif4A) and poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) by Western blot after doxorubicin treatment and examined the apoptosis by flow cytometry after treatment with doxorubicin and PARP-1 inhibitor, 3-Aminobenzamide (3-ABA). Our results showed that doxorubicin treatment could induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, the down-regulation of Kif4A and upregulation of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR). The activity of PARP-1 or PARP-1 activation was significantly elevated by doxorubicin treatment in dose- and time-dependent manners (P < 0.05), while doxorubicin treatment only slightly elevated the level of cleaved fragments of PARP-1 (P > 0.05). We further demonstrated that overexpression of Kif4A could reduce the level of PAR and significantly increase apoptosis. The effect of doxorubicin on apoptosis was more profound in MCF-7 cells compared with MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that the novel role of Kif4A in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells is achieved by inhibiting the activity of PARP-1.     

植物蔗糖非发酵-1相关蛋白激酶家族研究进展

蛋白质磷酸化与去磷酸化过程在细胞的信号转导网络中起关键的作用,是生物体中普遍存在的一种调节机制。植物中的蛋白激酶通过磷酸化和去磷酸化在调节ABA信号传导、能量缺失反应和非生物胁迫反应过程中有着重要的作用。其中,植物蔗糖非发酵-1相关蛋白激酶(sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase,SnRK)是植物蛋白激酶家族中一个重要家族,它们与酵母中的SNF1(sucrose non-fermenting-1,SNF1)和哺乳动物中的AMPK(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK)同源,具有与它们相似和自身独特的功能,根据其氨基酸序列的同源性和表达模式的差异可分为3个亚组:SnRK1、SnRK2和SnRK3。目前,在拟南芥、水稻、豆科植物、高粱以及苔藓植物等基因组中都发现了大量的SnRK蛋白激酶,它们广泛参与了植物的生长发育、病虫害防御、ABA和非生物胁迫等各种信号的应答反应。     

江口萝卜猪FABPs主要家族基因SNPs筛选及生物信息学分析

以江口萝卜猪为试验材料构建DNA池,采用直接测序技术对猪L-FABP、I-FABP、H-FABP、A-FABP基因进行SNPs快速筛查,共检测出7个SNPs,分别为intron1-T1745C、exon2-T125C、exon2-A131C、exon2-C153A、exon2-A65T、exon2-G40A、intron3-C65T。其中intron1-T1745C、intron3-C65T位于内含子上;exon2-T125C、exon2-C153A为同义突变;exon2-A131C、exon2-A65T、exon2-G40A为错义突变,分别使编码氨基酸发生Glu→Ala、Lys→Met、Glu→Lys的改变,对其进行生物信息学分析表明,突变前后的等位基因频率估算,mR NA二级结构预测,蛋白质二级、三级结构预测分析均有差异。     

应用红外相机技术研究秦岭观音山自然保护区内野猪的行为和丰富度

2009年7月,在陕西观音山自然保护区凉风垭小区域（中高海拔）和西沟小区域（低海拔）安装18台红外相机,2009年8月至2013年4月共收集野猪照片1 195张。定义9种野猪行为,分别为站立、走动、跑动、采食、饮水、修饰、发情、拱土、坐着休息,并逐一比对照片中野猪的行为,统计各种行为所占的比例;引入月相对丰富度和时间段相对丰富度两个指数分别研究野猪的年活动规律和日活动规律;利用一个种群估测模型探讨野猪密度的年际变化。结果表明：（1）春季野猪以走动、采食和站立为主,分别占总行为次数的36%、25.6%和17.4%;夏季野猪以走动、站立、采食和跑动为主,分别占总行为次数的35.7%、23.6%、17%和16.5%;秋季野猪以采食、走动和发情为主,分别占总行为次数的50.3%、19.3%和17.8%;冬季野猪以采食、走动和站立为主,分别占总行为次数的53.7%、26.7%和11.9%。（2）野猪在8月、9月和12月活动较为频繁;全年日活动高峰出现在午后14:00-16:00,低谷出现在22:00-04:00,四季显示活动规律不同。（3）2009-2012年野猪密度呈逐年上升趋势。这些研究结果有助于了解野猪的行为活动和种群动态,并采取针对性的措施对野猪进行有效管理。     

PCR检测淋球菌的探讨

多聚酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）具有灵敏度高,特异性强,快速高效的特点,在病原微生物检测领域有广阔的前景。本文对４０８例疑似淋病患者的泌尿生殖道分泌物作了ＰＣＲ检测淋球菌的探索,结果１７０例阳性,占４１．７％,而培养阳性（２１．６％）,ＰＣＲ法显著高于培养法（Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

Knockdown of mediator subunit Med19 suppresses bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration by downregulating Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway

Mediator complex subunit 19 (Med19), a RNA polymerase II‐embedded coactivator, is reported to be involved in bladder cancer (BCa) progression, but its functional contribution to this process is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the effects of Med19 on malignant behaviours of BCa, as well as to elucidate the possible mechanisms. Med19 expression in 15 BCa tissues was significantly higher than adjacent paired normal tissues using real‐time PCR and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining of 167 paraffin‐embedded BCa tissues was performed, and the results showed that high Med19 protein level was positively correlated with clinical stages and histopathological grade. Med19 was knocked down in BCa cells using short‐hairpin RNA. Functional assays showed that knocking‐down of Med19 can suppress cell proliferation and migration in T24, UM‐UC3 cells and 5637 in vitro, and inhibited BCa tumour growth in vivo. TOP/FOPflash reporter assay revealed that Med19 knockdown decreased the activity of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, and the target genes of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway were down‐regulated, including Wnt2, β‐catenin, Cyclin‐D1 and MMP‐9. However, protein levels of Gsk3β and E‐cadherin were elevated. Our data suggest that Med19 expression correlates with aggressive characteristics of BCa and Med19 knockdown suppresses the proliferation and migration of BCa cells through down‐regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, thereby highlighting Med19 as a potential therapeutic target for BCa treatment.     

2018-2019年中国流行性腮腺炎流行特征和病毒基因特征分析

阐明中国(未包括香港、澳门特别行政区和台湾地区,下同)2018-2019年流行性腮腺炎(流腮)流行特征和病毒基因特征。对2018-2019年中国流腮流行病学和病毒学监测数据进行描述流行病学和分子流行病学分析。2018-2019年中国流腮年报告发病率分别为18.65/10万和21.48/10万,15岁以下儿童和青少年是我国流腮的高发人群,分别占总病例数的85.30%和82.56%。流腮的流行具有明显的季节性特征。全国各省、自治区、直辖市份均有流腮病例报告,西部和中部地区发病率高于东部地区。2018-2019年共获得160条腮腺炎病毒(Mumps virus,MuV)SH基因序列,其中150条(93.75%)序列鉴定为F基因型MuV,在我国11个省份检测到;10条(6.25%)序列为G基因型MuV,2019年在广东、湖北和新疆3个省份检测到。和我国既往流行MuV代表株相比,2018-2019年流行的F基因型MuV代表株序列在基因亲缘性关系树上相对集中。现阶段我国流腮的流行病学特征未发生明显改变,仍呈现病毒自然流行模式;F基因型作为优势流行基因型,在我国大部分地区持续流行,但毒株的遗传多态性有所降低,这可能和我国实施1剂次腮腺炎疫苗常规免疫策略有关。G基因型MuV主要在我国局部地区流行,但流行范围在逐渐扩大。建议进一步加强两剂次腮腺炎疫苗接种工作,降低我国腮腺炎易感人群。同时持续性开展MuV流行学和病毒学监测工作,为鉴别病毒的来源,确定病毒传播途径和评估腮腺炎疫苗免疫策略奠定重要的基础。     

LOX-1 deletion and macrophage trafficking in atherosclerosis

Background

Atherosclerosis is associated with macrophage accumulation. LOX-1 has been shown to induce macrophage attachment, and its deletion (LOX-1 knockout, KO) reduces atherosclerosis in LDLr KO mice fed a high cholesterol diet. We examined differences in macrophage trafficking in age-matched wild type, LOX-1 KO, LDLr KO, and LDLr/LOX-1 double KO mice.

Methods

Sections of aortas of mice fed high cholesterol diet were collected at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 19 and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

Results

In the LDLr KO mice aorta, CD68 positivity (macrophage accumulation) increased over time up to 12 weeks, and then the accumulation fell modestly but significantly. The periaortal fat and adventitia showed more CD68 positivity than the media and intima. This pattern was also evident in the non-atherosclerotic areas. Importantly, LOX-1 KO and LDLr–LOX-1 double KO mice showed diminished CD68 positivity in comparison to wild type and LDLR KO mice, respectively. Further, macrophages from LOX-1 KO mice revealed a marked reduction in migration (vs. macrophages from wild type mice) in in vitro migration assay.

Conclusions

LOX-1 deletion translates into reduction in macrophage trafficking in the aorta of LDLr KO mice. Most of the macrophage trafficking appears in the subadventitial regions.