基于PI3K/PTEN/AKT信号途径探讨褪黑素对脊髓损伤大鼠突触可塑性的影响

目的:探讨褪黑素对脊髓损伤大鼠突触可塑性的影响及磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/张力蛋白同源基因/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/PTEN/AKT)信号途径在其中的作用。方法:选择4月龄SPF级雄性SD大鼠48只,将其随机分为对照组(CON)、模型组(SCI)、褪黑素组(MT)和褪黑素受体拮抗剂组(LUZ),每组12只大鼠。对照组大鼠背部切口后缝合,余下各组大鼠使用改良的Allen's法建立T9水平的脊髓损伤模型。模型建立后,褪黑素组及褪黑素受体拮抗剂组每天腹腔注射褪黑素及褪黑素抑制剂,剂量为12.5 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),对照组和模型组每天注射同体积的生理盐水。治疗后第3、7、14、21、28天进行BBB评分,实验结束处死大鼠取胸椎8-10节段脊髓组织,分别采用免疫组化方法测尼氏小体数量及Western Blot检测PTEN、Synapsin、PSD-95、Gap-43、Akt蛋白的表达。结果:与SCI模型大鼠相比,MT给药干预14 d后的SCI大鼠BBB评分及痛觉压力值均明显降低(P0.05),尼氏小体灰度值提高(P 0.05),PTEN、Synapsin、PSD-95、Gap-43、Akt蛋白的表达均显著上调(P 0.05)。结论:MT可能通过激活PI3K/PTEN/Akt信号途径,上调突触可塑性相关蛋白的表达,促进SCI大鼠突触修复。     

Insights into IL‐29: Emerging role in inflammatory autoimmune diseases

Interleukin‐29 (IL‐29) is a newly discovered member of type III interferon. It mediates signal transduction via binding to its receptor complex and activates downstream signalling pathways, and therefore induces the generation of inflammatory components. Recent studies reported that expression of IL‐29 is dysregulated in inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, psoriasis and systemic sclerosis. Furthermore, functional analysis revealed that IL‐29 may involve in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory autoimmune disorders. In this review, we will systematically review the current knowledge about IL‐29. The information collected revealed the regulatory role of IL‐29 and may give important implications for its potential in clinical treatment.     

DYRK1A inhibition suppresses STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling and sensitizes EGFR wild‐type NSCLC cells to AZD9291

DYRK1A is considered a potential cancer therapeutic target, but the role of DYRK1A in NSCLC oncogenesis and treatment requires further investigation. In our study, high DYRK1A expression was observed in tumour samples from patients with lung cancer compared with normal lung tissues, and the high levels of DYRK1A were related to a reduced survival time in patients with lung cancer. Meanwhile, the DYRK1A inhibitor harmine could suppress the proliferation of NSCLC cells compared to that of the control. As DYRK1A suppression might be effective in treating NSCLC, we next explored the possible specific molecular mechanisms that were involved. We showed that DYRK1A suppression by siRNA could suppress the levels of EGFR and Met in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, DYRK1A siRNA could inhibit the expression and nuclear translocation of STAT3. Meanwhile, harmine could also regulate the STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling pathway in human NSCLC cells. AZD9291 is effective to treat NSCLC patients with EGFR‐sensitivity mutation and T790 M resistance mutation, but the clinical efficacy in patients with wild‐type EGFR remains modest. We showed that DYRK1A repression could enhance the anti‐cancer effect of AZD9291 by inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation in EGFR wild‐type NSCLC cells. In addition, harmine could enhance the anti‐NSCLC activity of AZD9291 by modulating STAT3 pathway. Finally, harmine could enhance the anti‐cancer activity of AZD9291 in primary NSCLC cells. Collectively, targeting DYRK1A might be an attractive target for AZD9291 sensitization in EGFR wild‐type NSCLC patients.     

LncRNA‐SULT1C2A regulates Foxo4 in congenital scoliosis by targeting rno‐miR‐466c‐5p through PI3K‐ATK signalling

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is the result of anomalous vertebrae development, but the pathogenesis of CS remains unclear. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in embryo development, but their role in CS remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanisms of a specific lncRNA, SULT1C2A, in somitogenesis in a rat model of vitamin A deficiency (VAD)‐induced CS. Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) indicated that SULT1C2A expression was down‐regulated in VAD group, accompanied by increased expression of rno‐miR‐466c‐5p but decreased expression of Foxo4 and somitogenesis‐related genes such as Pax1, Nkx3‐2 and Sox9 on gestational day (GD) 9. Luciferase reporter and small interfering RNA (siRNA) assays showed that SULT1C2A functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to inhibit rno‐miR‐466c‐5p expression by direct binding, and rno‐miR‐466c‐5p inhibited Foxo4 expression by binding to its 3′ untranslated region (UTR). The spatiotemporal expression of SULT1C2A, rno‐miR‐466c‐5p and Foxo4 axis was dynamically altered on GDs 3, 8, 11, 15 and 21 as detected by qRT‐PCR and northern blot analyses, with parallel changes in Protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and PI3K expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that SULT1C2A enhanced Foxo4 expression by negatively modulating rno‐miR‐466c‐5p expression via the PI3K‐ATK signalling pathway in the rat model of VAD‐CS. Thus, SULT1C2A may be a potential target for treating CS.     

Review of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in freshwater ponds

Aquaculture ponds are simple and unique ecosystems, which are affected intensively by human activities. In this mini-review, we focus our attention on the distribution and community diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in pond water and sediments, as well as the possible ecological mechanisms involved. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of increasing the activity of ammonia-oxidizing organisms in order to improve the water quality in aquaculture ponds. Compared with eutrophic lakes, the significantly higher ammonia concentration in pond water does not lead to significantly higher AOB levels, and the abundance of AOA is too low to quantify accurately. Similar to eutrophic lakes, high abundances of AOA and AOB are present in the surface sediments at the same time, where the oxidation of ammonia is performed mainly by AOB. AOB and AOA exhibit significant seasonal variations in aquaculture ponds, which are affected by the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The dominant AOB species are Nitrosomonas and the Nitrosospira lineage in pond environments. Nitrososphaera or members of the Nitrososphaera-like cluster dominate the AOA species in surface sediments, whereas the Nitrosopumilus cluster dominates the deeper sediments. AOB and AOA can be enriched on artificial substrates suspended in the pond water, thereby potentially improving the water quality.

     

Optimized design of a novel filter brick in denitrification deep-bed filter

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Denitrification deep-bed filter has been widely applied in the field of advanced wastewater treatment, yet its efficient operation is highly dependent on the...     

Cooling Induced Surface Reconstruction during Synthesis of High‐Ni Layered Oxides

Transition metal layered oxides have been the dominant cathodes in lithium‐ion batteries, and among them, high‐Ni ones (LiNi_xMn_yCo_zO₂; x ≥ 0.7) with greatly boosted capacity and reduced cost are of particular interest for large‐scale applications. The high Ni loading, on the other hand, raises the critical issues of surface instability and poor rate performance. The rational design of synthesis leading to layered LiNi_0.7Mn_0.15Co_0.15O₂ with greatly enhanced rate capability is demonstrated, by implementing a quenching process alternative to the general slow cooling. In situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, coupled with surface analysis, is applied to studies of the synthesis process, revealing cooling‐induced surface reconstruction involving Li₂CO₃ accumulation, formation of a Li‐deficient layer and Ni reduction at the particle surface. The reconstruction process occurs predominantly at high temperatures (above 350 °C) and is highly cooling‐rate dependent, implying that surface reconstruction can be suppressed through synthetic control, i.e., quenching to improve the surface stability and rate performance of the synthesized materials. These findings may provide guidance to rational synthesis of high‐Ni cathode materials.