Hispidulin Induces Apoptosis Through Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inhibition of P13k/Akt Signalling Pathway in HepG2 Cancer Cells

Hispidulin is a flavonoid compound which is an active ingredient in a number of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. However, it’s therapeutic activity remains poorly understood. The present study investigated the pro-apoptotic effects and mechanism by which Hispidulin induces apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma cancer (HepG2) cells. The results showed that Hispidulin induced cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cells whereas no toxic reaction was observed in normal human liver cells at indicated concentration. This study also demonstrated that Hispidulin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction, which is characterized by decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and increased release of cytochrome C and activated capase-3. Our results also showed that mitochondrial dysfunction was triggered by Hispidulin-induced excessive ROS generation. Hispidulin also significantly inhibited Akt activation. ROS inhibitor NAC abrogated the inhibitory effect of Hispidulin on P13k/Akt signalling pathway and the proapoptotic effect in HepG2 cells. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Hispidulin induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells and suggested that the pro-apoptotic effect of Hispidulin was mediated through mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of P13k/Akt signalling pathway. Since no toxic effect was observed when normal liver cells were treated with Hispidulin, Hispidulin may have the potential to be used as therapeutic for liver cancer.     

Climate–ecosystem modelling made easy: The Land Sites Platform

Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) provide a state-of-the-art process-based approach to study the complex interplay between vegetation and its physical environment. For example, they help to predict how terrestrial plants interact with climate, soils, disturbance and competition for resources. We argue that there is untapped potential for the use of DGVMs in ecological and ecophysiological research. One fundamental barrier to realize this potential is that many researchers with relevant expertize (ecology, plant physiology, soil science, etc.) lack access to the technical resources or awareness of the research potential of DGVMs. Here we present the Land Sites Platform (LSP): new software that facilitates single-site simulations with the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator, an advanced DGVM coupled with the Community Land Model. The LSP includes a Graphical User Interface and an Application Programming Interface, which improve the user experience and lower the technical thresholds for installing these model architectures and setting up model experiments. The software is distributed via version-controlled containers; researchers and students can run simulations directly on their personal computers or servers, with relatively low hardware requirements, and on different operating systems. Version 1.0 of the LSP supports site-level simulations. We provide input data for 20 established geo-ecological observation sites in Norway and workflows to add generic sites from public global datasets. The LSP makes standard model experiments with default data easily achievable (e.g., for educational or introductory purposes) while retaining flexibility for more advanced scientific uses. We further provide tools to visualize the model input and output, including simple examples to relate predictions to local observations. The LSP improves access to land surface and DGVM modelling as a building block of community cyberinfrastructure that may inspire new avenues for mechanistic ecosystem research across disciplines.     

Role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the prevention of hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn mice

BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) is predominantly characterized by persistent abnormalities in lung structure and arrested lung development, but therapy can be palliative. While promising, the use of BMSC (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell) in the treatment of lung diseases remains controversial. We have assessed the therapeutic effects of BMSC in vitro and in vivo. In vitro co-culturing with injured lung tissue increased the migration-potential of BMSC; and SP-C (surfactant protein-C), a specific marker of AEC2 (type II alveolar epithelial cells), was expressed. Following intraperitoneal injection of BMSC into experimental BPD mice on post-natal day 7, it was found that BMSC can home to the injured lung, express SP-C, improve pulmonary architecture, attenuate pulmonary fibrosis and increase the survival rate of BPD mice. This work supports the notion that BMSC are of therapeutic benefit through the production of soluble factors at bioactive levels that regulate the pathogenesis of inflammation and fibrosis following hyperoxia.     

鸡视网膜母细胞瘤基因1(RB1)多态性与体重性状的相关性

为探讨鸡视网膜母细胞瘤基因1(Retinoblastoma1,RB1)多态性对体重性状的影响,文章以东北农业大学高、低脂双向选择品系肉鸡为实验材料,采用MALDI-TOF-MS、PCR-RFLP方法进行基因多态性检测和个体基因型分析,共获得27个SNP位点的基因型数据。采用滑动窗口法构建单倍型,进而利用单位点和单倍型分别与鸡体重性状进行关联分析。结合单位点和单倍型分析结果,确定了RB1基因上4个显著影响1周龄体重的SNP位点,2个显著影响1、3周龄体重的SNP位点。研究结果表明RB1基因是影响鸡早期体重性状的重要候选基因。     

黄土高原生物结皮对SCS-CN模型初损率的影响

水文模型是水文过程研究的有效工具,初损率(λ)是径流模型SCS-CN模型的参数,对模拟流域水文过程具有重要意义.为了确定生物结皮对λ的影响,提高该模型在黄土高原生物结皮广泛分布的退耕地的预测精度,本研究以陕西省定边县鹰窝山涧流域不同盖度的生物结皮坡面为对象,采用模拟降雨试验,分析土壤潜在最大入渗量(S)与实际入渗量(F...     

Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk and Tumor Burden

Alterations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been associated with the risk of a number of human cancers; however, the relationship between mtDNA copy number in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) has not been investigated. In a case-control study of 196 PCa patients and 196 age-paired healthy controls in a Chinese Han population, the association between mtDNA copy number in PBLs and PCa risk was evaluated. The relative mtDNA copy number was measured using quantitative real-time PCR; samples from three cases and two controls could not be assayed, leaving 193 cases and 194 controls for analysis. PCa patients had significantly higher mtDNA copy numbers than controls (medians 0.91 and 0.82, respectively; P<0.001). Dichotomized at the median value of mtDNA copy number in the controls, high mtDNA copy number was significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa (adjusted odds ratio  = 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.21–2.83). A significant dose-response relationship was observed between mtDNA copy number and risk of PCa in quartile analysis (P_trend = 0.011). Clinicopathological analysis showed that high mtDNA copy numbers in PCa patients were significantly associated with high Gleason score and advanced tumor stage, but not serum prostate-specific antigen level (P = 0.002, 0.012 and 0.544, respectively). These findings of the present study indicate that increased mtDNA copy number in PBLs is significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa and may be a reflection of tumor burden.     

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence of Anoxybacillus flavithermus subsp. yunnanensis type strain (E13T), a strictly thermophilic and organic solvent-tolerant bacterium

Anoxybacillus flavithermus subsp. yunnanensis is the only strictly thermophilic bacterium that is able to tolerate a broad range of toxic solvents at its optimal temperature of 55-60°C. The type strain E13^T was isolated from water-sediment slurries collected from a hot spring. This study presents the draft genome sequence of A. flavithermus subsp. yunnanensis E13^T and its annotation. The 2,838,393bp long genome (67 contigs) contains 3,035 protein-coding genes and 85 RNA genes, including 10 rRNA genes, and no plasmids. The genome information has been used to compare with the genomes from A. flavithermus subsp. flavithermus strains.     

黄河三角洲石油化工区农田土壤-玉米体系PAHs的分布特征及风险评价

为明确黄河三角洲石油开采区表层土壤和玉米中多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量及其污染水平,采集农田土壤和玉米各71个样品,检测农田土壤和玉米各部位中16种PAHs含量,并采用内梅罗指数法和健康风险评价模型评估了农田土壤中多环芳烃的生态健康风险。结果表明,农田土壤、玉米根、茎和叶中多环芳烃的含量分别为256.6-1936、291.4-680.9、324.9-527.9、289.5-2400 μg/kg。农田土壤中多环芳烃以4-6环为主。多环芳烃在玉米根茎叶富集系数大小排序为：叶 > 茎 > 根。玉米不同组织中PAHs浓度与相应农田土壤中PAHs浓度的进行相关分析结果表明,农田土壤中PAHs含量与玉米根、茎中PAHs含量均存在极显著正相关关系,相关系数分别为0.98（P<0.01）、0.98（P<0.01）,表明玉米根和茎的多环芳烃主要来源于农田土壤中,农田土壤中PAHs的含量影响着PAHs在玉米根茎中的积累和分布。玉米叶中PAHs含量与农田土壤中PAHs含量与玉米根、茎中PAHs含量不存在相关关系,表明玉米叶中多环芳烃并非来自土壤中PAHs的迁移,可能来源于大气。内梅罗指数结果表明,农田土壤PAHs达到了中度污染,其中BaA、Pyr和BbF达到了偏重污染;健康风险评价结果表明,农田土壤PAHs对儿童和成人的平均非致癌风险分别为0.44和0.12（均小于1）,表明农田土壤多环芳烃对成人和儿童的非致癌风险是可接受;农田土壤PAHs对儿童和成人的平均致癌风险分别为3.6×10^-5、9.0×10^-6,没有超过致癌风险水平上限（10^-4）,致癌风险尚在可接受范围内。3种暴露途径中,皮肤接触是土壤PAHs的最主要暴露方式,其次是经口摄食,吸入暴露途径甚微,可忽略不计。PAHs对儿童健康的威胁风险要大于成人,所以应尽可能避免儿童直接接触或误食土壤等其他介质的污染物。