Role of PCK2 in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in neointimal hyperplasia

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is a hallmark of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) in atherosclerosis and restenosis post-balloon angioplasty and stent insertion. Although numerous cytotoxic and cytostatic therapeutics have been developed to reduce NIH, it is improbable that a multifactorial disease can be successfully treated by focusing on a preconceived hypothesis. We, therefore, aimed to identify key molecules involved in NIH via a hypothesis-free approach. We analyzed four datasets ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE28829","term_id":"28829"}}GSE28829, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE43292","term_id":"43292"}}GSE43292, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE100927","term_id":"100927"}}GSE100927, and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE120521","term_id":"120521"}}GSE120521), evaluated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in wire-injured femoral arteries of mice, and determined their association with VSMC proliferation in vitro. Moreover, we performed RNA sequencing on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated human VSMCs (hVSMCs) post-phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) knockdown and investigated pathways associated with PCK2. Finally, we assessed NIH formation in Pck2 knockout (KO) mice by wire injury and identified PCK2 expression in human femoral artery atheroma. Among six DEGs, only PCK2 and RGS1 showed identical expression patterns between wire-injured femoral arteries of mice and gene expression datasets. PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation was attenuated when hVSMCs were transfected with PCK2 siRNA. RNA sequencing of PCK2 siRNA-treated hVSMCs revealed the involvement of the Akt-FoxO-PCK2 pathway in VSMC proliferation via Akt2, Akt3, FoxO1, and FoxO3. Additionally, NIH was attenuated in the wire-injured femoral artery of Pck2-KO mice and PCK2 was expressed in human femoral atheroma. PCK2 regulates VSMC proliferation in response to vascular injury via the Akt-FoxO-PCK2 pathway. Targeting PCK2, a downstream signaling mediator of VSMC proliferation, may be a novel therapeutic approach to modulate VSMC proliferation in atherosclerosis.     

Understanding pathogen–host interplay by expression profiles of lncRNA and mRNA in the liver of Echinococcus multilocularis-infected mice

Almost all Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infections occur in the liver of the intermediate host, causing a lethal zoonotic helminthic disease, alveolar echinococcosis (AE). However, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression profiles of the host and the potential regulatory function of lncRNA during Em infection are poorly understood. In this study, the profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver of mice at different time points after Em infection were explored by microarray. Thirty-one differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) and 68 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were found continuously dysregulated. These DEMs were notably enriched in “antigen processing and presentation”, “Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation” and “Th17 cell differentiation” pathways. The potential predicted function of DELs revealed that most DELs might influence Th17 cell differentiation and TGF-β/Smad pathway of host by trans-regulating SMAD3, STAT1, and early growth response (EGR) genes. At 30 days post-infection (dpi), up-regulated DEMs were enriched in Toll-like and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways, which were validated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and downstream cytokines detection. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and serum levels of the corresponding cytokines confirmed the changes in cell-mediated immunity in host during Em infection that showed Th1 and Th17-type CD4⁺ T-cells were predominant at the early infection stage whereas Th2-type CD4⁺ T-cells were significantly higher at the middle/late stage. Collectively, our study revealed the potential regulatory functions of lncRNAs in modulating host Th cell subsets and provide novel clues in understanding the influence of Em infection on host innate and adaptive immune response.     

同型半胱氨酸在心血管疾病中的免疫调节作用

高同型半胱氨酸血症是动脉粥样硬化的独立危险因子,但是其致病机制尚未完全阐明。本文将从体液免疫、单核巨噬细胞以及T细胞活性等几方面归纳总结同型半胱氨酸在心血管疾病中的免疫调节作用。同型半胱氨酸可以诱导单核细胞和T细胞分泌趋化因子和细胞因子,还可以直接刺激B细胞增殖及IgG分泌。此外,本文还总结了高同型半胱氨酸致炎作用的细胞内机制。同型半胱氨酸可以直接或间接导致氧化应激或者内质网应激,还可以降低一氧化氮的生物活性,影响包括S-腺苷蛋氨酸和S-腺苷同型半胱氨酸的水平,从而导致心血管疾病的发生。     

A novel spliced variant of the type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor with a deletion in the seventh transmembrane domain present in the human pregnant term myometrium and fetal membranes

CRH exerts its actions via activation of specific G protein-coupled receptors, which exist in two types, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2, and arise from different genes with multiple spliced variants. RT-PCR amplification of CRH receptor sequences from human myometrium and fetal membranes yielded cDNAs that encode a novel CRH-R type 1 spliced variant. This variant (CRH-R1d) is present in the human pregnant myometrium at term only, which suggests a physiologically important role at the end of human pregnancy and labor. The amino acid sequence of CRH-R1d is identical to the CRH-R1alpha receptor except that it contains an exon deletion resulting in the absence of 14 amino acids in the predicted seventh transmembrane domain. Binding studies in HEK-293 cells stably expressing the CRH-R1d or CRH-R1alpha receptors revealed that the deletion does not change the binding characteristics of the variant receptor. In contrast, studies on the G protein activation demonstrated that CRH-R1d is not well coupled to the four subtypes of G proteins (G(s), G(i), G(o), G(q)) that CRH-R1alpha can activate. These data suggest that although the deleted segment is not important for CRH binding, it plays a crucial role in CRH receptor signal transduction. Second messenger studies of the variant receptor showed that CRH and CRH-like peptides can stimulate the adenylate cyclase system, with reduced sensitivity and potency by 10-fold compared with the CRH-R1alpha. Furthermore, CRH failed to stimulate inositol trisphosphate production. Coexpression studies between the CRH-R1d or CRH-R1alpha showed that this receptor does not play a role as a dominant negative receptor for CRH.     

High-level cryIVD and cytA gene expression in Bacillus thuringiensis does not require the 20-kilodalton protein, and the coexpressed gene products are synergistic in their toxicity to mosquitoes.

Interactions among the 20-kDa protein gene and the cytA and cryIVD genes located in a 9.4-kb HindIII fragment were studied. A series of plasmids containing a combination of these different genes was constructed by using the Escherichia coli/Bacillus thuringiensis shuttle vector pHT3101. The plasmids were then used to transform an acrystalliferous strain, cryB, derived from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. The results from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analyses suggest that although the 20-kDa protein is required for the efficient CytA protein production in E. coli, it is not required in B. thuringiensis. With or without the truncated 20-kDa protein gene, the CtyA and/or CryIVD proteins are produced and form parasporal inclusions in B. thuringiensis cells. However, more-efficient expression is obtained when a second protein, probably acting as a chaperonin, is present. In addition, the time course studies show that the CytA and CryIVD proteins are coordinately produced. Both the crude B. thuringiensis culture and purified inclusions from each recombinant B. thuringiensis strain are toxic to Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The parasporal inclusions formed in B. thuringiensis cells are mosquitocidal, with CytA synergizing CryIVD toxicity.     

淀山湖基于初级生产力的鲢鳙富营养化控制

于2008年10月—2009年9月,采用黑白瓶测溶氧法对淀山湖湖南区和围隔区初级生产力进行逐月测定,依据测定的湖南区初级生产力估算鲢、鳙渔产潜力及合理放养量,讨论温度、透明度、营养盐、叶绿素a等理化因子与初级生产力的相关性,分析鲢、鳙放养对淀山湖水体营养物质的定量去除效果。结果表明:1)湖南区平均水柱日毛产量(PG)为4.02gO2.m-2,8月最高、1月最低,净产量(PN)为1.99gO2.m-2,年PN/PG=52%;2)0～0.5m水层对水柱初级生产力贡献最大,湖南区占32.3%、围隔区占32.2%;3)初级生产力与透明度、水温呈明显正相关,与其他理化因子相关性不明显;4)淀山湖浮游植物年生产量为28.18×104t,按鲢鳙3:1比例放养,鲢渔产潜力为1621.58t,鳙为1216.18t,鲢合理放养量为16.94t.km-2,鳙合理放养量为6.35t.km-2;5)以淀山湖每年渔产2837.76t计算,可以固定氮、磷分别为85.50t、7.63t,由此可使淀山湖水体中氮、磷含量分别降低0.67和0.06mg.L-1。     

应用固定化里氏木霉糖化玉米秆纤维素的研究

采用多孔聚酯材料固定里氏木霉（TrichodermareeseiRutC30）菌丝细胞,将固定化细胞在生长限制条件下重复分批培养,使纤维酶的合成与玉米秆纤维原料的酶解糖化耦合在一个反应器中同时进行。在30℃、初始pH4.8、摇瓶转速150r／min的条件下,连续重复进行12次分批培养试验。每批玉米秆用量为60g／L,培养周期4．5d,共54d。培养液中含滤纸酶活力平均为0.70IU／ml,还原糖26．41g／L,糖化率达到理论值的89.11％。固定化菌丝形态正常,菌量保持在10g／L左右。在间歇添料条件下,玉米秆原料的总量可提高到120g／L,7d后还原糖浓度达52.81g／L,糖化率为89．20％。利用固定化里氏木霉同时产酶和糖化植物纤维原料,工艺简便、成本低廉、易于连续自动化操作,是一条有效利用可再生纤维素资源的新途径。     

辽宁和江苏两省杂草稻植物性状多样性

辽宁和江苏两省是我国杂草稻(Oryza sativa f. spontanea)发生最为严重的地区之一, 为明确两省杂草稻识别特征和类型, 我们在两省14个市29个样点采集样品, 与当地栽培水稻品种一并在南京种植, 观测了营养生长期和生殖生长期的23个植物性状。结果表明, 两省杂草稻在营养生长期的1月株高、1月和2月分蘖数, 在生殖生长期的果皮色、谷粒长/宽比、百粒重、落粒性、秆硬度、剑叶宽、剑叶长、有效穗数、50%黄熟、50%黄熟–50%抽穗和全黄熟等性状与相应的当地栽培稻存在差异;主成分1和主成分2组成的二维散点图(累计贡献率达43.24%)也显示出两省杂草稻间以及与栽培稻间的差异性。采用欧氏距离对两省杂草稻进行系统聚类可以将杂草稻分为籼型和粳型。其中辽宁省杂草稻全部聚在粳型类群中, 它们又可细分为两类; 江苏省杂草稻既有粳型, 又有籼型, 其中粳型与辽宁省杂草稻聚在粳型类群中, 籼型又可分为3类。这6个类群分别具有如下突出特点: 第1类为强落粒、粒轻、秆矮、早熟、偏粳等; 第2类为无芒、穗多、强休眠、剑叶窄、偏粳等; 第3类为长芒、弱分蘖、穗少、弱落粒、偏粳等; 第4类为硬秆、剑叶宽、迟熟、强休眠、偏籼等; 第5类为红果皮、粒长、软秆、粒重、偏籼等; 第6类为无芒、株高、穗长、剑叶长、偏籼等。上述杂草稻的形态学指标和类型的研究将为两省开展杂草稻危害防治工作提供理论依据。     

抗体库的起源、发展及应用前景

抗体是高等动物特异性免疫应答反应所产生的免疫球蛋白,负责特异抗原的识别和清除。抗体不仅是机体抵抗病原体入侵的强大武器,也是基础科学研究中用于特异性分子识别的专用工具。抗体分子的多样性导致了抗体库概念的产生,让我们认识到每个高等生物个体都是一个天然的抗体库。在后基因组时代,为了适应各种“组学”研究,特别是为了蛋白质组学研究的高通量技术需求,在噬菌体展示技术平台的基础上,构建了各种基因工程抗体库和抗体替代物库。但现在越来越多的其他展示技术如核糖体展示、mRNA展示等体外展示技术也被用于抗体库的研究,而且表现出了相比于噬菌体展示更多的优势。以下根据目前最新发表的有关综述文章和研究论文,对抗体库的起源、发展及应用前景给予粗略的描述,为读者提供最新的参考文献,通过分析目前存在的问题,论述了抗体库技术的应用前景和发展趋势。