RNAi knockdown of Oryza sativa root meander curling gene led to altered root development and coiling which were mediated by jasmonic acid signalling in rice

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a well-known defence hormone, but its biological function and mechanism in rice root development are less understood. Here, we describe a JA-induced putative receptor-like protein (OsRLK, AAL87185) functioning in root development in rice. RNA in situ hybridization revealed that the gene was expressed largely in roots, and a fusion protein showed its localization on the plasma membrane. The primary roots in RNAi transgenic rice plants meandered and curled more easily than wild-type (WT) roots under JA treatment. Thus, this gene was renamed Oryza sativa root meander curling (OsRMC). The transgenic primary roots were shorter, the number of adventitious roots increased and the number of lateral roots decreased as compared to the WT. As well, the second sheath was reduced in length. Growth of both primary roots and second sheaths was sensitive to JA treatment. No significant change of JA level appeared in the roots between the transgenic rice line and WT. Expression of RSOsPR10, involved in the JA signalling pathway, was induced in transgenic rice. Western blotting revealed OsRMC induced by JA. Our results suggest that OsRMC of the DUF26 subfamily involved in JA signal transduction mediates root development and negatively regulates root curling in rice.     

Involvement of CD147 in overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and enhancement of invasive potential of PMA-differentiated THP-1

Background  

During infection and inflammation, circulating blood monocytes migrate from the intravascular compartments to the extravascular compartments, where they mature into tissue macrophages. The maturation process prepares the cells to actively participate in the inflammatory and immune responses, and many factors have been reported to be involved in the process. We found in our study that CD147 played a very important role in this process.     

食药用菌酸乳制作中深层发酵滤液添加量的比较

利用深层发酵培养基对两种食药用菌（香菇、猴头菌）进行深层发酵培养,然后分别将香菇（猴头菌）发酵滤液、奶粉、无菌水按不同比例配制成相应的复原奶,并接种乳酸菌制成酸乳。同时检测不同比例发酵滤液添加量所制得的酸乳的营养和理化特性,选择出了最佳比例的滤液添加量,即香菇滤液添加量以3份较好,而猴头菌则以4份滤液添加量最佳。     

Small molecules blocking the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus into host cells

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the pathogen of SARS, which caused a global panic in 2003. We describe here the screening of Chinese herbal medicine-based, novel small molecules that bind avidly with the surface spike protein of SARS-CoV and thus can interfere with the entry of the virus to its host cells. We achieved this by using a two-step screening method consisting of frontal affinity chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with a viral infection assay based on a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-luc/SARS pseudotyped virus. Two small molecules, tetra-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (TGG) and luteolin, were identified, whose anti-SARS-CoV activities were confirmed by using a wild-type SARS-CoV infection system. TGG exhibits prominent anti-SARS-CoV activity with a 50% effective concentration of 4.5 microM and a selective index of 240.0. The two-step screening method described here yielded several small molecules that can be used for developing new classes of anti-SARS-CoV drugs and is potentially useful for the high-throughput screening of drugs inhibiting the entry of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and other insidious viruses into their host cells.     

Evaluation of garlic intercropping for enhancing the biological control of Ralstonia solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields

Tobacco bacterial wilt, Ralstonia solanacearum, is an important disease affecting the root and stem. The disease causes extensive damage to flue-cured tobacco all over the word. Field trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Longyan, Fujian Province, China, to evaluate garlic intercropping for enhancing the biological control of R. solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields. The results of the study demonstrate that tobacco bacterial wilt was clearly inhibited by intercropping garlic in 2008 and 2009. The appearance of the disease in intercropped fields was delayed for about 15 days. The total number of R. solanacearum in root system soils was significantly lower in intercropped fields than in monocultured fields in 2008. These numbers were between 138×10⁴ and 161×10⁴ cfu g^–1 dry soil in intercropped fields. The corresponding values in monocultured fields were 357×10⁴ cfu g^–1 dry soil. The monetary value of tobacco leaves was obviously higher in intercropped fields than in monocultured ones. The per cent increase in monetary values in the intercropped fields was between 14 and 34%. Consequently, intercropping tobacco with garlic might be very useful for enhancing biological control of R. solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields.     

Macrophage-Activating Lipopeptide-2 Requires Mal and PI3K for Efficient Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1

Aims

This study is to investigate the mechanisms by which macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) induces heme oxygenase (HO)-1, a cytoprotective enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of heme, in human monocytes.

Methods

Human monocytic THP-1 cells were cultured for transient transfection with plasmids and stimulation with MALP-2 for indicative time intervals. After incubation with MALP-2, cells were collected and disrupted, before being tested for promoter activity using luciferase assay. For analysis of proteins, immunoreactive bands were detected using an enhanced chemiluminescence Western blotting system, and the band intensity was measured by densitometryic analysis. For the detection of co-immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE was performed and the membranes were probed using respective antibodies. To investigate the cellular localization of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), cells underwent immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy, and were analyzed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Results

MALP-2-induced HO-1 expression and promoter activity were abrogated by transfection with dominant negative (DN) plasmids of TLR2 and TLR6, or their neutralizing antibodies. However, inhibition of MyD88 or transfection with the DN-MyD88 was insufficient to attenuate HO-1 expression. In contrast, mutation or silencing of MyD88 adapter-like (Mal) by DN-Mal or siRNA almost completely blocked HO-1 induction. Btk, c-Src and PI3K were also involved in MALP-2-induced HO-1 expression, as revealed by specific inhibitors LFM-A13, PP1 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002, or by transfection with siRNA of c-Src. MALP-2-induced activation of PI3K was attenuated by transfection with DN mutant of Mal, and by pretreatment with LFM-A13 or PP1. Furthermore, MALP-2 stimulated the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nucleus and Nrf2 binding to the ARE site in the HO-1 promoter, which could also be inhibited by pretreatment with a PI3K inhibitor, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002.

Conclusions

These results indicated that MALP-2 required TLR2/6, Btk, Mal and c-Src to activate PI3K, which in turn initiated the activation of Nrf2 for efficient HO-1 induction.     

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of human mouse chimeric anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody in Chinese patients with CD22-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The safety and pharmacokinetics assessment of antibodies targeting CD22 (e.g., epratuzumab) have been established in western Caucasian populations, but there are no reports of the effects in Chinese populations. This dose-escalation study examines the safety, pharmacokinetics and biologic effects of multiple doses of anti-CD22 human-murine chimeric monoclonal antibody SM03 in 21 Chinese patients with CD22-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most of drug-related adverse events (AEs) were mild and reversible. Two patients experienced serious AEs (hemorrhage); one patient had grade 4 neutropenia; one patient had asymptomatic grade III prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Major AEs included fever (71%), prolongation of APTT (42.8%), leukocytopenia (44.4%), alanine transaminase elevation (28.6%), elevated serum creatinine (23.8%) and injection site skin redness (14.3%). Circulating B cells transiently decreased without significant effects on T cells or immunoglobulin levels. Pharmacokinetic data revealed that mean maximum observed SM03 concentration and mean AUC from time zero to infinity increased in a dose-dependent manner up to 360 mg/m² SM03. Mean clearance was similar at doses ≤360 mg/m² and decreased significantly at dose 480 mg/m², supporting saturation of B-cell binding at 360 mg/m². Across all dose levels and histologies, one patient achieved partial response at 480 mg/m² dose; 14 patients had stable disease as best response and four patients progressed. Overall, SM03 was tolerated at doses ranging from 60–480 mg/m² and had potential efficacy in Chinese patients with follicular lymphoma.