LGR5 regulates osteogenic differentiation of human thoracic ligamentum flavum cells by Wnt signalling pathway

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is ectopic ossification of the spinal ligaments. Histologically, the development of TOLF can be described as the process of endochondral ossification. However, the underlying aetiology has not been completely clarified. In this investigation, the gene expression profile associated with leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptors (LGR) and Wnt signalling pathway in the thoracic ligamentum flavum cells (TLFCs) of different ossification stages was analysed via RNA sequencing. We further confirmed the significant differences in the related gene expression profile by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. LGR5 was first identified in primary human TLFCs during osteogenic differentiation. To evaluate the effect of LGR5 on osteogenic differentiation, LGR5 has been knocked down and overexpressed in human TLFCs. We observed that the knockdown of LGR5 inhibited the activity of Wnt signalling and attenuated the potential osteogenic differentiation of TLFCs, while overexpression of LGR5 activated the Wnt signalling pathway and increased osteogenic differentiation. Our results provide important evidence for the potent positive mediatory effects of LGR5 on osteogenesis by enhancing the Wnt signalling pathway in TOLF.     

Quantitative regulation of the thermal stability of enveloped virus vaccines by surface charge engineering to prevent the self-aggregation of attachment glycoproteins

The development of thermostable vaccines can relieve the bottleneck of existing vaccines caused by thermal instability and subsequent poor efficacy, which is one of the predominant reasons for the millions of deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Research into the mechanism of viral thermostability may provide strategies for developing thermostable vaccines. Using Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as model, we identified the negative surface charge of attachment glycoprotein as a novel determinant of viral thermostability. It prevented the temperature-induced aggregation of glycoprotein and subsequent detachment from virion surface. Then structural stability of virion surface was improved and virus could bind to and infect cells efficiently after heat-treatment. Employing the approach of surface charge engineering, thermal stability of NDV and influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines was successfully improved. The increase in the level of vaccine thermal stability was determined by the value-added in the negative surface charge of the attachment glycoprotein. The engineered live and inactivated vaccines could be used efficiently after storage at 37°C for at least 10 and 60 days, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a novel surface-charge-mediated link between HN protein and NDV thermostability, which could be used to design thermal stable NDV and IAV vaccines rationally.     

人类活动影响下新疆生态环境的一些变化

人类活动引起的新疆生态环境变化主要有以下几方面:1.河流流程缩短,河水矿化度和泥沙含量增加;2.湖泊水位下降,湖面缩小或变干,湖水矿化度升高;3.森林破坏,面积缩小;4.草场的产草量降低,牧草质量下降; 5.土壤次生盐渍化、沼泽化和肥力下降;6.土地沙漠化不断扩大。     

转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展

转录因子是一种多功能蛋白,在感知应激信号、应答相应应激基因表达及传导应激信号中起着关键作用。干旱是影响植物生长发育的主要非生物胁迫之一。为了适应干旱环境,植物发展了复杂的分子机制,其中转录因子可同时控制多种途径调控干旱应激,是操纵调控和应激响应途径的有力工具。近年来,越来越多的植物转录因子的功能被阐明,了解转录因子在干旱应激的功能,对植物的工程抗旱有重要的实践意义。综述转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展,以期为今后转录因子的研究和利用提供理论依据,培育具有较强抗旱能力的植物。     

电针诱导心肌缺血大鼠延髓头端腹外侧区nNOS和iNOS差异表达

许多研究表明,延髓头端腹外侧区(rostral ventrolateml medulla,RVLM)的NO/NOS系统参与心血管活动的中枢调节.本实验以结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉前降支法建立急性心肌缺血(acute myocardial ischemia,AMI)动物模型,观察针刺"内关"穴改善AMI大鼠的心功能作用,同时检测大鼠RVLM区神经元型一氧化氮合酶(neuronal nitric oxide synthase,nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)表达的变化,进而探讨针刺治疗AMI的中枢机制.实验观察显示,AMI大鼠心功能各项指标减弱,伴随外周血去甲肾上腺素(norepinephrine,NE)和脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)水平显著升高,同时RVLM区nNOS阳性神经元数和nNOS mRNA表达升高,而iNOS水平则降低.针刺"内关"穴(Pe 6)(每天30 min,连续5天)改善心功能,降低AMI大鼠血清中NE和BNP的水平,同时升高iNOS并降低nNOS在RVLM的表达.以上结果提示,针刺治疗心肌缺血的同时可以调节iNOS/NO和nNOS/NO在RVLM的变化,这可能与针刺通过调节RVLM区的NO含量进而降低交感传出,从而改善AMI大鼠的心功能有关.     

聚乙烯醇生物降解研究进展

聚乙烯醇(PVA)是一种在纺织和化工行业中广泛使用的难降解的高分子聚合物。随着人们对纺织工业清洁生产的关注,如何在退浆工艺中就实现对PVA的生物降解、减少PVA废水的排放,并避免化学退浆过程中高温和氧化造成的棉纤维损伤,是近年来纺织生物技术领域的研究热点。由于PVA降解菌种类不多、培养周期长,PVA降解酶酶活不高、提取不容易等原因,使PVA的生化降解研究还局限在PVA降解菌的筛选、PVA降解酶的酶学性质研究等方面,PVA降解酶还未在纺织工业上得到应用。本文综述了近年来国内外在PVA降解菌筛选、PVA降解酶提取及酶学性质、PVA生化降解机理等方面的研究进展,并讨论了PVA生化降解研究中存在的问题及发展方向。     

湖南产五步蛇蛇毒磷脂酶A_2的热稳定性

本文测定了湖南产五步蛇蛇毒磷脂酶Ａ２在不同温度保温后的酶活性,结果表明此酶具有一定的热稳定性。     

一株抗锰土壤芽胞杆菌的分离鉴定与生物学活性分析

从山东崅屿采集的黄棕壤中分离得到一株具有抗Mn(Ⅱ)和Mn(Ⅱ)氧化双重活性的芽胞杆菌,其最高Mn(Ⅱ)耐受浓度达到130mmol/L,对Mn(Ⅱ)的氧化活性为3.3μmol/(L·d)。通过个体形态与培养特征观测、生理生化反应、G+Cmol%测定和16SrDNA序列比对分析等鉴定,确定该菌株为巨大芽胞杆菌(Bacillus megaterium),命名为MB283。该菌株在添加Mn(Ⅱ)(10mmol/L)条件下比不添加Mn(Ⅱ)表现出相对较快的生长速率。采用高温培养并结合0.01%SDS处理,从MB283菌株筛选到一株发生内生质粒消除的突变株MB287,具有与野生菌株类似的锰耐受活性,且对Mn(Ⅱ)的氧化活性与野生菌株相比无明显改变,表明野生菌株MB283中与锰抗性和锰氧化相关的基因可能是定位于该菌的染色体上。     

多基因SNP位点及多种危险因素与老年汉族冠心病的关联分析

目的:探索老年冠心病多基因遗传易感性基础及相关的危险因素。方法:采用病例-对照研究方法,共入选老年汉族冠心病患者246例,非冠心病患者185例,纳入性别、年龄、吸烟,饮酒,高血压史、糖尿病史、高脂血症史、同型半胱氨酸、氨基末端脑钠肽前体、超敏C反应蛋白、抗凝血酶III、胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白共15种危险因素与冠心病的关联性进行logistic回归分析。同时使用美国Sequenom高通量基因多态性分型技术研究了10种基因11个单核苷酸基因多态性(SNP)位点与冠心病的关联性。结果:15种危险因素中,发现增龄、高血压、抗凝血酶III(ATIII)下降是冠心病主要的危险因素,P<0.05。11个SNPs中3个SNP,血小板糖蛋白GP1BA rs2243093(-5T/C),血管紧张素转化酶ACE rs4332(547C/T)与ATIII rs2227589(893C/T)与老年汉族患者冠心病相关联。rs2243093(-5T/C)突变基因型CC与TT+AT比较,P=0.029(OR=3.41,CI:1.19-9.75);rs4332(547C/T)杂合型TC与CC+TT相比,P=0.003(OR=0.56,CI:0.38-0.82);rs2227589(893C/T),CT+CT与野生基因型CC相比较,P=0.003(OR=1.79,CI:1.22-2.63)。结论:增龄、抗凝血酶III下降、高血压是影响老年冠心病的主要危险因素,血小板、抗凝血系统、肾素-血管紧张素系统三种机制参与了老年冠心病的发生与发展。