A functional polymorphism in interleukin-1α (IL1A) gene is associated with risk of alopecia areata in Chinese populations

Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory hair loss disorder with a major genetic component, which may cause great psychosocial distress for those affected. Studies have shown that interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a very potent inducer of hair loss and a significant human hair growth inhibitor. The 4-bp insertion/deletion (Indel) polymorphism (rs3783553) within the 3′ untranslated regions of IL1A gene has been suggested to be associated with risk of various types of cancers, possibly through regulating expression of IL-1α levels. In the current study, we estimated the susceptibility to AA associated with rs3783553 in two independent case–control panels of Eastern and Southern Chinese populations, totally containing 313 AA cases and 626 healthy controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that the heterozygote and the homozygote 4-bp ins/ins confer a significantly lower risk of AA in both panels and total subjects [odds ratio (OR) = 0.55, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) = 0.41–0.75, P = 6.24 × 10^− 5; OR = 0.47, 95% C.I. = 0.28–0.76, P = 0.001, respectively]. Stratification analysis based on age onset showed that the protective roles of ins/del and ins/ins genotype against developing AA was more obvious in AA patients with early age onset (< 30 years) under dominant model (OR = 0.48, 95% C.I. = 0.29–0.77, P = 0.001). The results of luciferase assay showed that rs3783553 could influence expression of IL-1α in a miR-122 dependant manner. Taken together, our results suggested that the IL1A 4-bp indel polymorphism may be a marker for genetic susceptibility to patchy (mild) AA in Chinese populations, likely through miR-122 mediated regulation.     

围产期克罗米酚处理改变雄性小鼠性取向

由于体内激素水平的变化,围产期和青春期是决定动物大脑发育的关键和敏感时期,而大脑发育是成年动物性取向行为的生物基础。该研究根据这一假说,对实验动物分别于围产期给予药物处理或于青春期予以阉割,并观察其个体成年后的性取向行为。结果显示,围产期克罗米酚(clomiphene citrate)处理9 d(分娩前3天到生育后6天)和14 d(分娩前7天到生育后7天)组,雄性后代的同性取向和雌性化行为明显增多,而正常生长状态下的21日龄雄性后代经阉割后,其性取向无明显改变。即围产期抑制雌激素,可导致雄性小鼠大脑雌性化,产生同性取向,且围产期雌激素对动物雄性化的影响较青春期更为明显。     

树鼩解剖数据的测定与分析

解剖数据是实验动物主要的生物学特性指标。该文对实验室驯养树鼩(7～9月龄)的体尺、骨骼、乳头、肠道及脏器重量与系数等解剖学数据进行了测定与分析。31项解剖数据测量结果显示雌、雄个体间体高、右耳宽、回肠及结肠差异显著(P<0.05),体斜长、胸深、躯干长、左右两前肢长、右后肢长、左右两侧耳长、左耳宽、龙骨长、左右两侧胫长、十二指肠及空肠长等差异极显著(P<0.01)。以体长为因变量,尾长、躯干长、左前肢长、右前肢长、左后肢长及右后肢长等为自变量作逐步回归分析,回归方程为:体长=13.90+尾长×0.16。37项脏器及系数测定结果:雌雄间比较,体重、心、肺、脾、左肾、右肾、膀胱、左海马、右海马、左颌下腺、左甲状腺、右甲状腺重量差异极显著(P<0.01)。小肠、右颌下腺、左肾上腺之间差异显著(P<0.05);心、肺、胃、膀胱、小肠、大肠、脑、右海马、左肾上腺系数雌雄间差异极显著(P<0.01)。右肾、左海马、左颌下腺、右肾上腺、左右两侧甲状腺系数之间达到了显著性水平(P<0.05)。以动物体重为因变量,以主要脏器指标:心脏、肺、肝、脾、左肾、右肾、脑为自变量,作逐步回归分析,回归方程为:体重=62.73+左肾×79.213+心脏×24.09。实验室驯养树鼩不同性别对体尺、脏器及系数、肠道等解剖数据有一定影响,为树鼩实验动物化及人类疾病动物模型研究提供基础数据。     

Characterization of the N-methyltransferase CalM involved in calcimycin biosynthesis by Streptomyces chartreusis NRRL 3882

Calcimycin is a rare divalent cation specific ionophore antibiotic that has many biochemical and pharmaceutical applications. We have recently cloned and sequenced the Streptomyces chartreusis calcimycin biosynthesis gene cluster as well as identified the genes required for the synthesis of the polyketide backbone of calcimycin. Additional modifying or decorating enzymes are required to convert the polyketide backbone into the biologically active calcimycin. Using targeted mutagenesis of Streptomyces we were able to show that calM from the calcimycin biosynthesis gene cluster is required for calcimycin production. Inactivating calM by PCR targeting, caused high level accumulation of N-demethyl calcimycin. CalM in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine converted N-demethyl calcimycin to calcimycin in vitro. The enzyme was determined to have a kinetic parameter of K_m 276 μM, k_cat 1.26 min⁻¹ and k_cat/K_m 76.2 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. These results proved that CalM is a N-methyltransferase that is required for calcimycin biosynthesis, and they set the stage for generating much desired novel calcimycin derivatives by rational genetic and chemical engineering.     

岷江百合类萌发素蛋白基因LrGLP2的克隆及表达特性分析

类萌发素蛋白是植物中普遍存在的一类可溶性糖蛋白,在植物抗逆胁迫中起着重要作用。依据岷江百合编码GLP的EST序列设计引物,采用快速扩增cDNA末端技术,从岷江百合犯ilium regale Wilson）克隆得到一个新的GLＰt基因的全长eDNA序列,命名为LrGLP2。LrGLP2全长cDNA为921bp,含有654bp的开放阅读框,49bp5’非编码区以及218bp3’UTR,编码217个氨基酸的蛋白质。LrGLP2编码蛋白质与已知植物GLPs家族成员间的同源性和聚类分析表明LrGLP2与来源于水稻（Oryza sativa）、节节麦似egilopstauschii）、葡萄（Vitis vinifera）中的GLPs具有较高的相似性。qRT-PCR分析显示,LrGLP2在岷江百合正常生长发育的根中有一定量的表达,而在茎和叶中几乎检测不到表达量。水杨酸、茉莉酸以及H202处理均不同程度抑制LrGLP2的转录水平,但乙烯处理能明显诱导LrGLP2的表达。此外,岷江百合接种尖孢镰刀菌（Fusari—umoxysporumfsp．tiliO后,LrGLP2在接种后2h表达迅速上调,12h表达量急剧上升,至24h表达量达到最大值,之后表达量下降,可见￡rGLP2参与岷江百合对尖孢镰刀菌的防卫反应。     

Inhibition of nephrin activation by c-mip through Csk–Cbp–Fyn axis plays a critical role in Angiotensin II-induced podocyte damage

It has been demonstrated that nephrin inactivation plays a critical role in Angiotensin II (AngII)-induced podocyte damage both in in vitro and in vivo, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Recently, c-maf inducing protein (c-mip) has been identified as a key component in the molecular pathogenesis of acquired podocyte diseases. In this study, the role of c-mip on AngII-induced nephrin inactivation and podocyte damage was explored in a mouse podocyte cell line. AngII stimulation caused podocyte damage, presenting with a time and dose dependent cell apoptosis increment, and obvious reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, both of which was remarkably prevented by knockdown of c-mip (siCmip). In AngII stimulated podocyte, c-mip and Csk expressions increased obviously at protein level, and nephrin phosphorylation decreased while Cbp phosphorylation increased. AngII-induced Csk increment and nephrin inactivation was remarkably inhibited by siCmip treatment. AngII stimulation increased the interaction of c-mip and Csk, as well as Csk and Cbp. Notably, the binding of Csk to active form pY418 decreased while the binding of Csk to inactive form pY530 of Src kinase Fyn increased in AngII-stimulated podocyte. Nevertheless, c-mip knockdown prevented AngII-induced reduction of pY418 and increase of pY530. In addition, AngII stimulation significantly decreased the expression of phosphor-Akt (Ser473) and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, whereas increased the expression of apoptotic proteins caspase-3 and BAD, all of which were prevented by siCmip treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that AngII induced nephrin inactivation and podocyte damage by the novel podocyte protein c-mip through Csk–Cbp–Fyn signaling pathway.     

S100 protein-immunoreactive trigeminal neurons innervating the rat molar tooth pulp

S100-immunoreactivity (ir) was examined in tooth pulp primary neurons of the rat. An immunofluorescence method demonstrated that the molar tooth pulp contained S100-immunoreactive (ir) nerve fibers. In the root pulp, pulp horn and roof of the pulp chamber, S100-ir smooth and varicose fibers ramified and formed subodontoblastic nerve plexuses. All the fibers became varicose at the base of the odontoblastic layer and extended to the odontoblastic layer. Some varicose endings could be traced into the dentin. The trigeminal neurons retrogradely labeled with fluorogold (FG) from the first and second maxillary molar tooth pulps exhibited S100- and parvalbumin-ir. Approximately 60% and 24% of the labeled cells were ir for S100 and parvalbumin, respectively. Virtually all parvalbumin-ir FG-labeled cells showed S100-ir, while 40% of S100-ir ones coexpressed parvalbumin-ir. An immunoelectron microscopic method revealed that all myelinated axons and half of the unmyelinated axons in the root pulp contained S100-ir. In the odontoblastic layer, predentin and dentin, S100-ir neurites lost the Schwann cell ensheathment and made close contact with cell bodies and processes of odontoblasts. The odontoblastic layer also contained parvalbumin-ir neurites. These neurites were devoid of the Schwann cell ensheathment and in close apposition to cell bodies and processes of odontoblasts. S100-ir pulpal axons seemed to be insensitive to repeated neonatal capsaicin treatment. This study suggests that S100-ir tooth pulp primary neurons are mostly myelinated and that S100-ir unmyelinated axons in the root pulp are preterminal segments of myelinated stem axons.     

Zinc Transporter 7 Induced by High Glucose Attenuates Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient and cytoprotectant involved in preventing many types of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-driven fibrosis in vivo. The zinc-transporter family SLC30A (ZnT) is a pivotal factor in the regulation of Zn homeostasis. However, its function in EMT in peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) remains unknown. This study explored the regulation of zinc transporters and the role they play in cell EMT, particularly in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs), surrounding glucose concentrations and the molecular mechanism involved. The effects of high glucose (HG) on zinc transporter gene expression were measured in RPMCs by real-time PCR. We explored ZnT7 (Slc30A7): the effect of ZnT7 over-expression and siRNA-mediated knock-down on HG-induced EMT was investigated as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. Over-expression of ZnT7 resulted in significantly inhibited HG-induced EMT in RPMCs, while inhibition of ZnT7 expression using a considerable siRNA-mediated knock-down of RPMCs increased the levels of EMT. Furthermore, over-expression of ZnT7 is accompanied by down-regulation of TGF-β/Smad pathway, phospho-Smad3,4 expression levels. The finding suggests that the zinc-transporting system in RPMCs is influenced by the exposure to HG. The ZnT7 may account for the inhibition of HG-induced EMT in RPMCs, likely through targeting TGF-β/Smad signaling.