The protective effects of C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 compound in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) have been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in various inflammation-related diseases. However, their combined role in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been investigated yet. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of C16 peptide and Ang-1 in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory insult in vitro and in vivo. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells were used as cell culture systems, and an ARDS rodent model was used for in vivo studies. Our results demonstrated that C16 and Ang-1 in combination significantly suppressed inflammatory cell transmigration by 33% in comparison with the vehicle alone, and decreased the lung tissue wet-to-dry lung weight ratio to a maximum of 1.53, compared to 3.55 in the vehicle group in ARDS rats. Moreover, C  +  A treatment reduced the histology injury score to 60% of the vehicle control, enhanced arterial oxygen saturation (SO₂), decreased arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO₂), and increased oxygen partial pressure (PO₂) in ARDS rats, while also improving the survival rate from 47% (7/15) to 80% (12/15) and diminishing fibrosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in lung tissue. Furthermore, when C  +  A therapy was administered 4 h following LPS injection, the treatment showed significant alleviating effects on pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration 24 h postinsult. In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo studies show that C16 and Ang-1 exert protective effects against LPS-induced inflammatory insult. C16 and Ang-1 hold promise as a novel agent against LPS-induced ARDS. Further studies are needed to determine the potential for C16 and Ang-1 in combination in treating inflammatory lung diseases.     

Allotransplantation of adult spinal cord tissues after complete transected spinal cord injury: Long-term survival and functional recovery in canines

Science China Life Sciences - Spinal cord injury (SCI), especially complete transected SCI, leads to loss of cells and extracellular matrix and functional impairments. In a previous study, we...     

Analysis of Evolutionarily Independent Protein-RNA Complexes Yields a Criterion to Evaluate the Relevance of Prebiotic Scenarios

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微流控芯片监测绿色荧光蛋白在枯草芽孢杆菌中的表达

目前主要使用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察绿色荧光蛋白的表达,但需要昂贵的仪器并耗费大量时间。本研究开发了一种新型激光诱导的微流芯片检测系统来监测绿色荧光蛋白在枯草芽孢杆菌中的表达。该系统主要由激光装置、光路系统、微流控芯片、光电倍增管和计算机处理系统等5部分组成。对该系统的测试结果显示,随着诱导强度的增强监测信号峰也随之增强,并且与激光共聚焦显微镜观察的结果一致。利用该芯片系统能够快速准确地筛选和鉴定用绿色荧光蛋白作为标记的细胞克隆,可以替代PCR鉴定方法。但该系统仅仅能够监测表达强度,不能够满足蛋白定位等高水平研究,因此,该系统适合应用于环境的微生物监测、药物筛选和其他无需观察蛋白定位等研究。     

Hepato-specific microRNA-122 facilitates accumulation of newly synthesized miRNA through regulating PRKRA

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a versatile class of non-coding RNAs involved in regulation of various biological processes. miRNA-122 (miR-122) is specifically and abundantly expressed in human liver. In this study, we employed 3'-end biotinylated synthetic miR-122 to identify its targets based on affinity purification. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the affinity purified RNAs demonstrated a specific enrichment of several known miR-122 targets such as CAT-1 (also called SLC7A1), ADAM17 and BCL-w. Using microarray analysis of affinity purified RNAs, we also discovered many candidate target genes of miR-122. Among these candidates, we confirmed that protein kinase, interferon-inducible double-stranded RNA-dependent activator (PRKRA), a Dicer-interacting protein, is a direct target gene of miR-122. miRNA quantitative-RT-PCR results indicated that miR-122 and small interfering RNA against PRKRA may facilitate the accumulation of newly synthesized miRNAs but did not detectably affect endogenous miRNAs levels. Our findings will lead to further understanding of multiple functions of this hepato-specific miRNA. We conclude that miR-122 could repress PRKRA expression and facilitate accumulation of newly synthesized miRNAs.     

A second‐generation genetic linkage map for bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) based on microsatellite markers

Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) is an important aquaculture fish worldwide. Genetic linkage maps for the species were previously reported, but map resolution remained to be improved. In this study, a second‐generation genetic linkage map was constructed for bighead carp through a pseudo‐testcross strategy using interspecific hybrids between bighead carp and silver carp. Of the 754 microsatellites genotyped in two interspecific mapping families (with 77 progenies for each family), 659 markers were assigned to 24 linkage groups, which were equal to the chromosome numbers of the haploid genome. The consensus map spanned 1917.3 cM covering 92.8% of the estimated bighead carp genome with an average marker interval of 2.9 cM. The length of linkage groups ranged from 52.2 to 133.5 cM with an average of 79.9 cM. The number of markers per linkage group varied from 11 to 55 with an average of 27.5 per linkage group. Normality tests on interval distances of the map showed a non‐normal marker distribution; however, significant correlation was found between the length of linkage group and the number of markers below the 0.01 significance level (two‐tailed). The length of the female map was 1.12 times that of the male map, and the average recombination ratio of female to male was 1.10:1. Visual inspection showed that distorted markers gathered in some linkage groups and in certain regions of the male and female maps. This well‐defined genetic linkage map will provide a basic framework for further genome mapping of quantitative traits, comparative mapping and marker‐assisted breeding in bighead carp.     

p300 and p300/cAMP-response element-binding protein-associated factor acetylate the androgen receptor at sites governing hormone-dependent transactivation

The androgen receptor (AR) is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that plays a key role in prostate cancer cellular proliferation by dihydrotestosterone and the induction of secondary sexual characteristics. In this study we demonstrate that the AR can be modified by acetylation in vitro and in vivo. p300 and p300/cAMP-response element-binding protein acetylated the AR at a highly conserved lysine-rich motif carboxyl-terminal to the zinc finger DNA-binding domain. [(14)C]acetate-labeling experiments demonstrated that AR acetylation by p300 in cultured cells requires the same residues identified in vitro. Point mutation of the AR acetylation site (K632A/K633A) abrogated dihydrotestosterone-dependent transactivation of the AR in cultured cells. Mutation of the p300 CH3 region or the p300/cAMP-response element-binding protein histone acetylase domain reduced ligand-dependent AR function. The identification of the AR as a direct target of histone acetyltransferase co-activators has important implications for targeting inhibitors of AR function.     

Ro60 peptides induce antibodies to similar epitopes shared among lupus-related autoantigens

The coexistence of autoantibodies to ribonucleoproteins (RNP) in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus has been attributed to intermolecular determinant spreading among physically associated proteins. Recently, we showed that murine Ab responses to rRo60 or Ro60 peptides were diversified unexpectedly to small nuclear RNP. In this investigation, the mechanisms for this autoantibody diversification were examined. Intramolecular determinant spreading was demonstrated in mice immunized with human or mouse Ro60316-335. Immune sera depleted of anti-peptide Ab immunoprecipitated Ro60-associated mY1 and mY3 RNA and remained reactive to a determinant on Ro60128-285. Absorption with the immunogen depleted the immune sera completely of anti-Golgi complex Ab (inducible only with human Ro60316-335) and anti-La Ab, and reduced substantially Ab to SmD and 70-kDa U1RNP. Mouse rRo60 completely inhibited the immune sera reactivity to La, SmD, and 70-kDa U1RNP. However, La, SmD, and 70-kDa U1RNP preferentially inhibited the antiserum reactivities to these Ags, respectively. Affinity-purified anti-La Ab were reactive with Ro60, La, SmD, and 70-kDa U1RNP. These results provide evidence that a population of the induced autoantibodies recognized determinants shared by these autoantigens. Lack of sequence homology between Ro60316-335 and La, SmD, or 70-kDa U1RNP suggests that these determinants are conformational. Interestingly, similar cross-reactive autoantibodies were found in NZB/NZW F1 sera. Thus, a single molecular mimic may generate Ab to multiple RNP Ags. Furthermore, cross-reactive determinants shared between antigenic systems that are not associated physically (Ro/La RNP and small nuclear RNP) may be important in the generation of autoantibody diversity in systemic lupus erythematosus.