NEAT1 contributes to ox-LDL-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in macrophages through inhibiting miR-128

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have been recognized as significant regulators in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) can induce macrophage inflammation and oxidative stress, that serves important roles in AS. However, the exact function of lncRNA NEAT1 and its possible molecular mechanism in AS remain unclear. Here, we concentrated on the roles and molecular mechanisms of NEAT1 in AS development. In our current study, we observed that NEAT1 was elevated by ox-LDL in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. RAW264.7 cell survival was greatly enhanced, and cell apoptosis was significantly inhibited by LV-shNEAT1 transfection. In addition, knockdown of NEAT1 in RAW264.7 cells repressed CD36 expression and foam cell formation while NEAT1 overexpression shown an opposite process. Moreover, NEAT1 downregulation inhibited inflammation molecules including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Meanwhile, silencing of NEAT1 can also suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with an enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in RAW264.7 cells. MicroRNAs are some short RNAs, and they can regulate multiple biological functions in many diseases including AS. Here, we found that miR-128 expression was remarkably decreased in ox-LDL-incubated RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, miR-128 mimics was able to reverse AS-correlated events induced by overexpression of NEAT1. By using bioinformatics analysis, miR-128 was predicted as a target of NEAT1 and the correlation between them was validated in our study. Taken these together, it was implied that NEAT1 participated in ox-LDL-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in AS development through sponging miR-128.     

Relationship of stigma behaviors and breeding system in three Mazus (Phrymaceae) species with bilobed stigma

Sensitive stigma has been recognized to facilitate outcrossing. We hypothesized that species with different levels of sensitivity might have corresponding differences in components of their breeding system. In this study, three Mazus species with bilobed stigmas were used to test the hypothesis. We explored stigma behaviors of the species in reaction time, recovery time, permanent closing time, and the minimum pollen load causing permanent closure. We investigated floral traits, pollinator type and behavior, pollination intensity, and natural schedule of pollen deposition on stigma. Moreover, we evaluated the mating system of the species by checking seed set after controlled pollination treatments, namely, natural flowers with open pollination, enclosed flowers without pollination, and enclosed flowers with self and outcross hand pollination. Results indicated that stigma of M. pumilus (N. L. Burman) Steenis was not sensitive, whereas stigmas of M. miquelii Makino and M. stachydifolius (Turcz.) Maxim. closed and reopened quickly in response to pollination. Accordingly, hand pollination treatments revealed that seed set of self-spontaneous pollination in M. pumilus was similar to the other treatments. For M. miquelii, outcross pollen resulted in significantly higher seed set than self-pollen.Mazus stachydifolius was self-incompatible. Additionally, the corresponding characteristics in other components of the breeding system for each species were found. Our study indicated that the sensitivity of bilobed stigma might be linked with floral traits and the mating system in a given species. Sensitive stigma should be regarded as an evolutionary mechanism for enhancement of outcrossing.     

云南省2006～2010年非脊灰肠道病毒分子流行病学特征分析

为了解云南省非脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)肠道病毒(NPEV)的基因型分布及分子进化特征,对2006～2010年间从急性迟缓性麻痹(AFP)病例中分离到的105株NPEVs进行VP1区部分核苷酸扩增和序列测定。所获得的云南地方株基因序列与各基因型原型株进行核苷酸与氨基酸同源性比较,并与GenBank中选取的代表株构建基因进化关系树。结果分析显示:105株NPEVs分别属于HEV-A、HEV-B、HEV-C,其中HEV-A 18株(7个血清型)所占比例为17.1%;HEV-B 77株(22个血清型)所占比例为73.3%,表明云南省AFP病例中流行的NPEV还是以HEV-B为主;HEV-C 10株(4个血清型)所占比例为9.5%;没有分离到HEV-D组肠道病毒;基因进化树中各种血清型病毒与对应原型株及代表株聚集一起,除CA2、EV90和EV76外,云南地方株与原型株位于不同分支。相同型别的毒株在5年的流行过程中变异程度亦不同,亲缘关系远近不一,表明这些病毒在云南省存在不同的传播链。     

江西九连山自然保护区昆虫区系分析

据对有较详细分布资料的1312种昆虫的分析,该区的昆虫区组成以东洋界成员为主体计817种,占总数的62．27％,说明本区昆虫属于东洋界范畴,按中国动物区划分析表明,华中,华南,西南三区的昆虫亲缘关系最为密切,阐述了182种昆虫在我国东部地区分布的南北限。     

Association of the CTLA4 Gene with Graves' Disease in the Chinese Han Population

To determine whether genetic heterogeneity exists in patients with Graves'' disease (GD), the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated 4 (CTLA-4) gene, which is implicated a susceptibility gene for GD by considerable genetic and immunological evidence, was used for association analysis in a Chinese Han cohort recruited from various geographic regions. Our association study for the SNPs in the CTLA4 gene in 2640 GD patients and 2204 control subjects confirmed that CTLA4 is the susceptibility gene for GD in the Chinese Han population. Moreover, the logistic regression analysis in the combined Chinese Han cohort revealed that SNP rs231779 (allele frequencies p = 2.81×10⁻⁹, OR = 1.35, and genotype distributions p = 2.75×10⁻⁹, OR = 1.42) is likely the susceptibility variant for GD. Interestingly, the logistic regression analysis revealed that SNP rs35219727 may be the susceptibility variant to GD in the Shandong population; however, SNP, rs231779 in the CTLA4 gene probably independently confers GD susceptibility in the Xuzhou and southern China populations. These data suggest that the susceptibility variants of the CTLA4 gene varied between the different geographic populations with GD.     

GST genotypes and lung cancer susceptibility in Asian populations with indoor air pollution exposures: a meta-analysis

About half of the world's population is exposed to smoke from heating or cooking with coal, wood, or biomass. These exposures, and fumes from cooking oil use, have been associated with increased lung cancer risk. Glutathione S-transferases play an important role in the detoxification of a wide range of human carcinogens in these exposures. Functional polymorphisms have been identified in the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes, which may alter the risk of lung cancer among individuals exposed to coal, wood, and biomass smoke, and cooking oil fumes. We performed a meta-analysis of 6 published studies (912 cases; 1063 controls) from regions in Asia where indoor air pollution makes a substantial contribution to lung cancer risk, and evaluated the association between the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 105Val polymorphisms and lung cancer risk. Using a random effects model, we found that carriers of the GSTM1 null genotype had a borderline significant increased lung cancer risk (odds ratio (OR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95-1.79; p=0.10), which was particularly evident in the summary risk estimate for the four studies carried out in regions of Asia that use coal for heating and cooking (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.25-2.14; p=0.0003). The GSTT1 null genotype was also associated with an increased lung cancer risk (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.17-1.89; p=0.001), but no association was observed for the GSTP1 105Val allele. Previous meta- and pooled-analyses suggest at most a small association between the GSTM1 null genotype and lung cancer risk in populations where the vast majority of lung cancer is attributed to tobacco, and where indoor air pollution from domestic heating and cooking is much less than in developing Asian countries. Our results suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype may be associated with a more substantial risk of lung cancer in populations with coal exposure.