入侵杂草一年蓬的化感作用研究

用入侵杂草一年蓬(Erigeron annuus)地上部分的水浸提液对几种经济作物种子进行萌发培养实验,分别测定种子的最终萌发率、根长以及苗高来研究一年蓬是否存在他感作用。结果表明:(1)一年蓬的化感作用是存在的;(2)一年蓬水浸提液在高浓度下对作物种子萌发、根长和苗高均有明显的抑制作用,而在低浓度下则对长梗白菜、番茄的苗高具有促进生长的作用。     

细胞外基质和细胞粘附分子表达与细支气管肺泡癌淋巴结转移的关系

用免疫组化方法检测50例细支气管肺泡癌（BAC）（其中18例伴有淋巴结转移）及其三个亚型粘液型、非粘液型、硬化型中基底膜细胞外基质（ECM）层粘连蛋白（LN）、Ⅳ型胶原（CollⅣ）、纤粘连蛋白（FN）分布和细胞粘附分子A－CAM（又称N－钙粘素）表达情况。结果发现粘液型、非粘液型、硬化型BAC的淋巴结转移率分别为57％（8／14）、32％（7／22）和21％（3／14）。在BAC及BAC各亚型中,三种ECM在基底膜水平的分布状态与淋巴结转移无关（P均＞0.05）、A－CAM在伴或不伴淋巴结转移的BAC原发瘤中的表达率分别为56％（10／18）和53％（17／32）（P＞0.05）。提示BAC三个亚型中粘液型淋巴结转移率有高于其它两亚型的倾向。基底膜ECM（LN、CollⅣ、FN）分布完整与否及细胞粘附分子A－CAM表达高低与BAC淋巴结转移无关。     

PCR筛选阳性克隆方法的改进

ＰＣＲ筛选阳性克隆具有简便、快速的优点,但常发生假阳性错误。用与载体匹配的引物和目的的基因引物组合进行ＰＣＲ,可以消除假阳性,同时可以判断插入目的基因的方向。     

mRNA靶点筛选方法研究进展

mRNA靶点筛选问题是反义核酸领域的一个难题。近年来出现了多种筛选mRNA上可接近位点以确定靶位点的方法,包括mRNA实测分析法和计算机模拟分析两大类。其中mRNA实测分析法又包括多种针对自然折叠mRNA的实验分析技术;即基因walk技术,RNaseH作图技术、寡核苷酸微阵列技术,酶作图法确定二级结构技术,核酶导向型随机RNA库位点筛选技术和随机寡核苷酸库结合逆转录位点筛选技术。这些方法在鉴定RNA可接近位点及反义核酸的设计方面均有重要作用。     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles containing miR-181d protect rats against renal fibrosis by inhibiting KLF6 and the NF-κB signaling pathway

Recent studies have investigated the ability of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in regulating neighboring cells by transferring signaling molecules, such as microRNAs (miRs) in renal fibrosis. EVs released by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) contain miR-181d, which may represent a potential therapy for renal fibrosis. miR-181d has been speculated to regulate Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), which activates the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Luciferase assays were performed to confirm the relationship between miR-181d and KLF6. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in vivo and in vitro were performed to assess the effect of BMSC-derived EVs (BMSC-EVs), which contained miR-181d, on KLF6, NF-κB, and renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were treated with EVs derived from BMSCs followed by evaluation of collagen type IV α1 (Col4α1), Collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as indicators of the extent of renal fibrosis. Renal fibrosis was induced in rats by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) followed by the subsequent analysis of fibrotic markers. BMSC-EVs had higher miR-181d expression. Overexpression of miR-181d correlated with a decrease in KLF6 expression as well as the levels of IκBα phosphorylation, α-SMA, Col4α1, TGF-βR1 and collagen I in HK-2 cells. In vivo, treatment with miR-181d-containing BMSC-derived EVs was able to restrict the progression of fibrosis in UUO-induced rats. Together, BMSC-EVs suppress fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by delivering miR-181d to neighboring cells, where it targets KLF6 and inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway.Subject terms: Cell biology, Biotechnology     

Increased Levels of Monoamine-Derived Potential Neurotoxins in Fetal Rat Brain Exposed to Ethanol

Pregnant SD rats were exposed to ethanol (25 % (v/v) ethanol at 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 g/kg body weight from GD8 to GD20) to assess whether ethanol-derived acetaldehyde could interact with endogenous monoamine to generate tetrahydroisoquinoline or tetrahydro-beta-carboline in the fetuses. The fetal brain concentration of acetaldehyde increased remarkably after ethanol administration (2.6 times, 5.3 times and 7.8 times as compared to saline control in 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg ethanol-treated groups, respectively) detected by HPLC with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatization. Compared to control, ethanol exposure induced the formation of 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (salsolinol, Sal), N-methyl-salsolinol (NMSal) and 1-methyl-6-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-OH-MTHBC) in fetal rat brains. Determined by HPLC with electrochemical detector, the levels of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in whole fetal brain were not remarkably altered by ethanol treatment, while the levels of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in high dose (4.0 g/kg) of ethanol-treated rats were significantly decreased compared to that in the control animals. 4.0 g/kg ethanol administration inhibited the activity of mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (51.3 % as compared to control) and reduced the activity of respiratory chain complex I (61.2 % as compared to control). These results suggested that ethanol-induced alteration of monoamine metabolism and the accumulation of dopamine-derived catechol isoquinolines and 5-hydroxytryptamine-derived tetrahydro-beta-carbolines may play roles in the developmental dysfuction of monoaminergic neuronal systems.     

Macrophage prostaglandin E2 and oxidative responses to endotoxin during immunosuppression associated with anaesthesia and transfusion

The widespread use of blood transfusion in major surgical procedures has led to concern about the immunosuppressive effect of transfusion on patients with underlying malignancy. Transfusion may also suppress the host response to infection. The cellular mechanisms of transfusion-associated immunosuppression may involve macrophage prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in modulating the host response to cancer and infection. We previously observed that the transfusion of blood increased PGE₂ production by unstimulated macrophages. To investigate this PGE₂ associated immunosuppression, we studied the effect of transfusion of rats using a physiological stimulus of macrophage PGE₂ production, bacterial endotoxin. In the same macrophages, we analysed intracellular oxidative activity. Both allogeneic and syngeneic blood transfusion were associated with increased PGE₂ release by macrophages. This stimulation of PGE₂ increased with duration of storage of blood. A similar effect of serum indicated that a humoral factor was involved. Endotoxin (50 ng/ml–500 μg/ml) stimulated PGE₂ production in all transfused subjects. The lowest endotoxin concentration gave proportionately the greatest stimulation. Oxidative activity was down-regulated in macrophages of transfused rats, supporting an immunosuppressive role of PGE₂ within the macrophage. An effect of surgery on the oxidative response was also detected.