Inhibition of BMP signaling in P-Cadherin positive hair progenitor cells leads to trichofolliculoma-like hair follicle neoplasias

Background  

Skin stem cells contribute to all three major lineages of epidermal appendages, i.e., the epidermis, the hair follicle, and the sebaceous gland. In hair follicles, highly proliferative committed progenitor cells, called matrix cells, are located at the base of the follicle in the hair bulb. The differentiation of these early progenitor cells leads to specification of a central hair shaft surrounded by an inner root sheath (IRS) and a companion layer. Multiple signaling molecules, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have been implicated in this process.     

Effect of meniscus replacement fixation technique on restoration of knee contact mechanics and stability

The menisci are important biomechanical components of the knee. We developed and validated a finite element model of meniscal replacement to assess the effect of surgical fixation technique on contact behavior and knee stability. The geometry of femoral and tibial articular cartilage and menisci was segmented from magnetic resonance images of a normal cadaver knee using MIMICS (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). A finite element mesh was generated using HyperWorks (Altair Inc, Santa Ana, CA). A finite element solver (Abaqus v6.9, Simulia, Providence, RI) was used to compute contact area and stresses under axial loading and to assess stability (reaction force generated during anteroposterior translation of the femur). The natural and surgical attachments of the meniscal horns and peripheral rim were simulated using springs. After total meniscectomy, femoral contact area decreased by 26% with a concomitant increase in average contact stresses (36%) and peak contact stresses (33%). Replacing the meniscus without suturing the horns did little to restore femoral contact area. Suturing the horns increased contact area and reduced peak contact stresses. Increasing suture stiffness correlated with increased meniscal contact stresses as a greater proportion of tibiofemoral load was transferred to the meniscus. A small incremental benefit was seen of simulated bone plug fixation over the suture construct with the highest stiffness (50 N/mm). Suturing the rim did little to change contact conditions. The nominal anteroposterior stiffness reduced by 3.1 N/mm after meniscectomy. In contrast to contact area and stress, stiffness of the horn fixation sutures had a smaller effect on anteroposterior stability. On the other hand suturing the rim of the meniscus affected anteroposterior stability to a much larger degree. This model emphasizes the importance of the meniscus in knee biomechanics. Appropriate meniscal replacement fixation techniques are likely to be critical to the clinical success of meniscal replacement. While contact conditions are mainly sensitive to meniscus horn fixation, the stability of the knee under anteroposterior shear loads appeared to be more sensitive to meniscal rim fixation. This model may also be useful in predicting the effect of biomaterial mechanical properties and meniscal replacement shape on knee contact conditions.     

A regulatory circuit that involves HR23B and HDAC6 governs the biological response to HDAC inhibitors

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is an emergent anticancer target, and HR23B is a biomarker for response to HDAC inhibitors. We show here that HR23B has impacts on two documented effects of HDAC inhibitors; HDAC inhibitors cause apoptosis in cells expressing high levels of HR23B, whereas in cells with low level expression, HDAC inhibitor treatment is frequently associated with autophagy. The mechanism responsible involves the interaction of HDAC6 with HR23B, which downregulates HR23B and thereby reduces the level of ubiquitinated substrates targeted to the proteasome, ultimately desensitising cells to apoptosis. Significantly, the ability of HDAC6 to downregulate HR23B occurs independently of its deacetylase activity. An analysis of the HDAC6 interactome identified HSP90 as a key effector of HDAC6 on HR23B levels. Our results define a regulatory mechanism that involves the interplay between HR23B and HDAC6 that influences the biological outcome of HDAC inhibitor treatment.     

Natural selection on floral volatile production in Penstemon digitalis: Highlighting the role of linalool

Natural selection is thought to have shaped the evolution of floral scent; however, unlike other floral characters, we have a rudimentary knowledge of how phenotypic selection acts on scent. We found that floral scent was under stronger selection than corolla traits such as flower size and flower color in weakly scented Penstemon digitalis. Our results suggest that to understand evolution in floral phenotypes, including scent in floral selection, studies are crucial. For P. digitalis, linalool was the direct target of selection in the scent bouquet. Therefore, we determined the enantiomeric configuration of linalool because interacting insects may perceive the enantiomers differentially. We found that P. digitalis produces only (S)-(+)-linalool and, more interestingly, it is also taken up into the nectar. Because the nectar is scented and flavored with (S)-(+)-linalool, it may be an important cue for pollinators visiting P. digitalis flowers.     

反义锁核酸阻断耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌agr群体感应系统

目的:利用反义策略,设计、筛选针对agrA mRNA的反义锁核酸,阻断agr群体感应系统,降低MRSA毒力因子的表达,减小细菌生存压力,为抗耐药菌感染提供一种新策略。方法:应用Primer Premier 5.0和RNA structure 4.5两种软件,设计、筛选2条针对agrA mRNA的反义寡核苷酸序列,对其进行锁核酸修饰,并与透膜肽(KFF)3K共价连接,将这两条反义序列导入细菌体内。体外与MRSA共培养,观察细菌生存情况。实时定量PCR检测其对agrA及agr群体感受系统的效应分子RNAⅢ和下游毒力基因hla的转录水平的影响,Western blot检测其是否能抑制α-溶血素的表达。结果:两条反义锁核酸序列PLNA34和PLNA522在体外均无抗菌活性,但都能不同程度的抑制agrA,RNAⅢ和hla的转录水平;相比较而言,PLNA34的抑制效果更佳,并能明显抑制α-溶血素的分泌表达。结论:agrA可作为抗MRSA感染的新靶点,为新型抗MRSA药物的研发提供了理论基础。     

Can the Neural Basis of Repression Be Studied in the MRI Scanner? New Insights from Two Free Association Paradigms

Background

The psychodynamic theory of repression suggests that experiences which are related to internal conflicts become unconscious. Previous attempts to investigate repression experimentally were based on voluntary, intentional suppression of stimulus material. Unconscious repression of conflict-related material is arguably due to different processes, but has never been studied with neuroimaging methods.

Methods

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in addition with skin conductance recordings during two free association paradigms to identify the neural mechanisms underlying forgetting of freely associated words according to repression theory.

Results

In the first experiment, free association to subsequently forgotten words was accompanied by increases in skin conductance responses (SCRs) and reaction times (RTs), indicating autonomic arousal, and by activation of the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that these associations were repressed because they elicited internal conflicts. To test this idea more directly, we conducted a second experiment in which participants freely associated to conflict-related sentences. Indeed, these associations were more likely to be forgotten than associations to not conflict-related sentences and were accompanied by increases in SCRs and RTs. Furthermore, we observed enhanced activation of the anterior cingulate cortex and deactivation of hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex during association to conflict-related sentences.

Conclusions

These two experiments demonstrate that high autonomic arousal during free association predicts subsequent memory failure, accompanied by increased activation of conflict-related and deactivation of memory-related brain regions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that during repression, explicit memory systems are down-regulated by the anterior cingulate cortex.     

农杆菌介导5种中草药叶片瞬时表达的研究

农杆菌介导的瞬时基因表达因其操作简单、可重复性高和实验成本低而成为研究基因功能、生产活性蛋白的有效方法。该研究以非病毒型(载体Ⅰ)和病毒型二元载体(载体Ⅱ)及两种农杆菌(EHA105、LBA4404)为介导,通过叶片渗透法在5种中草药(甘草、黄芩、黄芪、大黄、板蓝根)叶片中进行报告基因GFP的瞬时表达,并对影响表达的因素进行分析,以明确中药材中适宜瞬时表达技术应用的物种材料。结果显示:(1)农杆菌在5种中草药叶片中的瞬时转化效率受到载体、菌株和植物物种类型的影响。(2)在所选的5种中草药植物中,与无转化载体的菌株相比,当农杆菌重悬液OD_(600)为0.8、叶片侵染5～7 d时,含非病毒型二元载体的EHA105菌株在甘草叶片中荧光强度最高,大黄次之;含病毒型二元载体的LBA4404菌株在黄芩叶片中GFP荧光表达量最高;含不同载体的不同菌液侵染的甘草、黄芪叶片仅有注射孔处检测出荧光或几乎无荧光蛋白表达,即未向四周扩散表达;在板蓝根叶片中检测出弱荧光或无荧光强度。研究表明,甘草和黄芩植物叶片可作为农杆菌介导基因瞬时表达的材料。     

Laminar shear stress modulates the activity of heterologously expressed P2X(4) receptors

P2X(4) receptors are involved in mechanotransduction processes, but it is unknown whether or not P2X(4) receptors form mechanosensitive ion channels. This study questioned, whether laminar shear stress (LSS) can modulate P2X(4) receptor activity. Mouse P2X(4) receptor was cloned and heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. In two-electrode-voltage-clamp experiments the application of ATP (100μM) produced a transient inward current that was decreased by about 50% upon a second ATP application, corresponding to the desensitization behavior of P2X(4) receptors. In P2X(4) expressing oocytes LSS (shear forces of ~5.1dynes/cm(2)) did not produce any effect. However, LSS modulated the response of P2X(4) to ATP. With LSS (~5.1dynes/cm(2)) the desensitization of the current due to the second ATP application was diminished. Ivermectin (IVM), a compound which stabilizes the open state of P2X(4) receptors, mimicked the effect of LSS (~5.1dynes/cm(2)), since there was no additional effect of LSS after pre-incubation with IVM detected. This indicates that LSS like IVM stabilizes the open state of the receptor, although the particular mechanism remains unknown. These data demonstrate that LSS modulates the activity of P2X(4) receptors by eliminating the desensitization of the receptors in response to ATP probably by stabilizing the open state of the channel.