Aquatic models of human ciliary diseases

Cilia are microtubule‐based structures that either transmit information into the cell or move fluid outside of the cell. There are many human diseases that arise from malfunctioning cilia. Although mammalian models provide vital insights into the underlying pathology of these diseases, aquatic organisms such as Xenopus and zebrafish provide valuable tools to help screen and dissect out the underlying causes of these diseases. In this review we focus on recent studies that identify or describe different types of human ciliopathies and outline how aquatic organisms have aided our understanding of these diseases.     

How multisite phosphorylation impacts the conformations of intrinsically disordered proteins

Phosphorylation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can produce changes in structural and dynamical properties and thereby mediate critical biological functions. How phosphorylation effects intrinsically disordered proteins has been studied for an increasing number of IDPs, but a systematic understanding is still lacking. Here, we compare the collapse propensity of four disordered proteins, Ash1, the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase (CTD2’), the cytosolic domain of E-Cadherin, and a fragment of the p130Cas, in unphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms using extensive all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We find all proteins to show V-shape changes in their collapse propensity upon multi-site phosphorylation according to their initial net charge: phosphorylation expands neutral or overall negatively charged IDPs and shrinks positively charged IDPs. However, force fields including those tailored towards and commonly used for IDPs overestimate these changes. We find quantitative agreement of MD results with SAXS and NMR data for Ash1 and CTD2’ only when attenuating protein electrostatic interactions by using a higher salt concentration (e.g. 350 mM), highlighting the overstabilization of salt bridges in current force fields. We show that phosphorylation of IDPs also has a strong impact on the solvation of the protein, a factor that in addition to the actual collapse or expansion of the IDP should be considered when analyzing SAXS data. Compared to the overall mild change in global IDP dimension, the exposure of active sites can change significantly upon phosphorylation, underlining the large susceptibility of IDP ensembles to regulation through post-translational modifications.     

《国家重点保护野生植物名录》调整的必要性、原则和程序

我国是世界上植物多样性最丰富的国家之一, 1999年发布的《国家重点保护野生植物名录》(下称《名录》(第一批))明确了国家重点保护野生植物的范围, 为依法强化保护、规范无序开发利用、提高公众保护意识奠定了基础。20多年来, 我国野生植物多样性保护形势发生了很大变化, 需要对《名录》进行调整。2018年, 国家林业和草原局、农业农村部启动《名录》调整工作, 物种的遴选遵循了5条基本原则和4条补充性原则, 这些原则主要涉及中国珍稀濒危物种, 具有重要经济、文化、科研、生态等价值物种的入选以及部分物种的排除。经国务院批准, 2021年9月7日, 国家林业和草原局、农业农村部发布了调整后的《名录》, 包括真菌类、藻类、苔藓、石松类和蕨类植物、裸子植物和被子植物, 共计约1,101种(455种和40类)野生植物列入其中。本文简要介绍了《名录》调整的必要性、原则和程序及调整后的情况。     

中国野生植物保护管理的政策、法律制度分析和建议

中国是全球生物多样性最丰富的国家之一。最近40年, 中国的植物多样性保护取得了巨大成就, 实施了多项政策和法律, 尤其是《野生植物保护条例》和《国家重点保护野生植物名录》先后颁布, 奠定了中国植物保护的法律和政策框架, 就地保护和迁地保护网络基本形成。但与生态文明建设的要求相比, 野生植物保护依然存在许多不足。本文系统回顾了中国野生植物保护管理的政策和法律制度, 从就地保护、迁地保护、开发利用活动管理三方面分析了其优缺点并提出建议; 重点对修订《野生植物保护条例》进行讨论并提出建议, 包括修订野生植物和人工培植的定义、优化对开发利用活动的管理程序、加强国际法和国内法的衔接、细化优化罚则等。     

应用GeneXpert MTB/RIF对肺外结核的快速检测及评估

目的评估GeneXpert MTB/RIF检测肺外结核分枝杆菌的准确性,并与传统方法进行比较。方法选取2016年6月至2017年6月在本院就诊的144例疑似肺外结核病患者,对所有标本分别进行金胺“O”荧光染色镜检、液体培养及药敏试验、固体培养及比例法体外药敏试验和Xpert法检测。结果收集的144例疑似肺外结核标本中,确诊108例,以胸水、淋巴结活检和脓液感染较多,另36例阴性患者中,10例为非结核分枝杆菌感染。Xpert试验的敏感性为28.73%,特异性为96.00%,其阳性预测值和阴性预测值均高于其他3种检测方法。在阳性检出率方面,Xpert试验高于涂片镜检(χ~2=17.39,P0.05)、低于液体培养(χ~2=8.64,P0.05),而与固体培养之间差异无统计学意义(χ~2=2.56,P0.05)。固体培养、液体培养和Xpert试验3种方法对结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药率检测差异无统计学意义(P0.05),耐药率分别为8.33%、9.68%和11.11%,且Xpert试验方法检测出2株耐多药结核分枝杆菌,平均耗时2.5 h。结论 GeneXpert MTB/RIF可以作为一种筛选及快速检测工具应用于肺外结核的诊断,同时可作为检测MDR-TB的一种指标。     

FcγR基因多态性与牙周炎易感性的Meta分析

目的探讨FcγRⅡa、FcγⅢa和FcγRⅢb的基因多态性与牙周炎发病风险性的相关性。方法通过检索PubMed、Web of Science、中国知网和万方等中英文数据库,纳入2019年10月前所有符合纳入标准的有关FcγRⅡa、FcγⅢa和FcγRⅢb的基因多态性与牙周炎发病风险性的研究,共27项病例对照研究,其中包含2 105个病例和1 115个对照,采用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析,利用优势比(OR)及95%置信区间(CI)评价效应强度。结果 Meta分析结果合并显示FcγRⅡa和FcγRⅢb的基因多态性与牙周炎的发病风险无显著相关性,但FcγⅢa的基因多态性可能增加慢性牙周炎发病风险(V vs. F,OR=1.93,95%CI 1.01～3.69)。根据种群进行亚组分析,FcγRⅡa H131R位点的突变型可能会增加亚洲人群慢性或侵袭性牙周炎的发病风险[慢性牙周炎:R vs. H,OR=1.22,95%CI 1.04～1.42,(HR+RR)vs. HH,OR=1.28,95%CI 1.03～1.59;侵袭性牙周炎:R vs. H,OR=1.60,95%CI 1.01～2.54],但可能会降低高加索人群慢性牙周炎的发病风险[(HR+RR)vs. HH,OR=0.66,95%CI 0.48～0.90]。FcγⅢa F158V位点的突变型可能增加高加索人群慢性牙周炎的发病风险[V vs. F,OR=1.73,95%CI 1.06～2.85,(VV+FV)vs. FF,OR=2.26,95%CI 1.06～4.82]。FcγRⅢb NA1/NA2位点的NA2等位基因可能会降低包含50%高加索人群的混合人群侵袭性牙周炎的发病风险[(NA1NA2+NA2NA2)vs. NA1NA1,OR=0.57,95%CI 0.34～0.94)]。结论 FcγRⅡa、FcγⅢa和FcγRⅢb的基因多态性与牙周炎发病风险性之间的联系可能存在着种族差异,需要更大样本、更高质量的研究来进一步证实。     

冬季增温和减雪对黄土高原典型草原土壤养分和细菌群落组成的影响

冬季增温和积雪变化可改变土壤-微生物系统结构和功能。微生物作为陆地生态系统关键生物因子, 发挥着调控土壤养分循环的重要作用, 并对环境扰动, 特别是冬季气候变化十分敏感。开展半干旱区典型草原土壤养分和微生物特性对冬季气候变化的响应研究, 对预测未来气候变化情景下草地生态过程和功能变化意义重大。该研究以宁夏云雾山国家级自然保护区半干旱草原为研究对象, 于冬季布设增温、减雪、增温减雪互作及对照4种处理, 探究了黄土高原典型草原0-5 cm土层土壤养分、酶活性、土壤细菌群落组成对冬季温度和积雪变化的响应规律。结果表明: (1)冬季增温、减雪及互作均提高了0-5 cm土壤温度, 降低了土壤相对湿度, 但却显著增加了土壤冻融循环次数; (2)与对照相比, 不同处理整体上降低了微生物生物量及其多样性, 降低了土壤β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰基氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性, 增加了土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷及铵态氮含量, 硝态氮含量有所下降; (3)研究区土壤细菌以酸杆菌门、变形菌门、放线菌门、芽单胞菌门为主, 优势菌纲以酸杆菌纲、γ-变形杆菌纲、嗜热油菌纲及σ-变形菌纲为主。冗余分析显示, 速效磷含量对细菌群落构成影响最显著, 对群落变异的解释度为21.3%。总之, 冬季气候变化可通过影响土壤温湿度, 特别是冻融循环进而作用于土壤养分循环、酶活性和土壤细菌多样性变化, 这些结果对丰富和拓展气候变化对草地生态系统影响过程与机制的认识, 准确预测典型草原中长期动态变化具有重要意义。     

受体相互作用蛋白质激酶3通过上调整合素β3促进骨关节炎相关病变

骨关节炎（osteoarthritis,OA）是最常见的慢性致残性关节疾患,目前尚无针对病因的有效治疗手段。程序性坏死在多种疾病中扮演关键角色,受体相互作用蛋白质激酶3（receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, RIP3）是程序性坏死进程的关键调控因子。有研究显示,RIP3在人与鼠骨关节炎退变软骨组织中表达水平显著上调,提示程序性坏死的发生,但RIP3在软骨中的具体病生理角色仍不明确。本研究拟对过表达RIP3前后的软骨细胞转录物组进行测序分析,探索RIP3在骨关节炎进程中发挥作用的具体机制。RNA测序结果显示,RIP3的过表达诱发软骨细胞中244个基因表达上调,277个表达下调。通过进一步构建基因间共表达作用网络,筛选出16个候选靶基因在mRNA水平进行验证,证实RIP3对磷脂酰肌醇3激酶调节亚单位5（phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 5,Pik3r5）、整合素β3（integrin subunit beta 3,Itgb3）及成髓细胞瘤转录因子第2亚型（MYB proto-oncogene like 2,Mybl2）的表达上调作用最为显著。CCK-8以及乳酸脱氢酶活性检测结果表明,利用siRNA沉默Itgb3的表达可显著抑制RIP3诱发的软骨细胞活力下降及程序性坏死,同时也抑制了RIP3对软骨细胞中分解代谢相关基因Mmp1、Mmp13与Il6的表达上调作用,以及其对合成代谢相关基因Acan、Col2a1与Sox9的下调作用。本研究证实,RIP3通过上调软骨细胞中Itgb3的表达诱发软骨细胞坏死与软骨基质代谢紊乱,并最终导致软骨退变,为骨关节炎的临床治疗提供了新靶点,同时进一步明确了程序性坏死的病理生理学意义。     

bFGF Promotes the Proliferation of Rat Peripheral Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through β-Catenin Signaling

bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF) could promote the proliferation of bone marrow and cord blood mesenchymal stem cells. However, the effect of bFGF on the proliferation of peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) needs further research. This study aimed to investigate the role of bFGF on the culture and expansion of PBMSCs in vitro. Firstly, arterial blood was collected from rats abdominal aorta. After mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated with Ficoll separation fluid, MNCs were cultured in the DMEM medium without bFGF (served as control group) or with bFGF (10, 20 ng/mL, served as 10 or 20 ng/mL bFGF group). PBMSCs were obtained by adherent culture method. The third passage of PBMSCs was detected for the MSC surface markers and the effect of bFGF on the cell cycle of PBMSCs using flow cytometry. The effects of bFGF on colony formation, cell growth, and the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E, p21 and β-catenin were evaluated. PBMSCs showed no difference in morphology among the three groups. PBMSC clonies appeared 14 days after cultivation. Compared with the control group, the cell growth confluence of PBMSCs was obviously increased by 40% and 80% in groups treated with 10 ng/mL bFGF or 20 ng/mL bFGF respectively after culture of 21 days (all P<0.05). Compared with the group treated with 10 ng/mL bFGF, the confluence of PBMSCs in 20 ng/mL group was further increased by 28% (P<0.05). Cells of the third passage were positively stained for CD29 and CD90, while were negative for CD45. These results were consistent with the phenotypic characteristics of MSCs. Compared with the control group, the colony number of PBMSCs in the 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL bFGF groups was increased by 51% (P<0.05) and 92% (P<0.05), respectively. Compared with the 10 ng/mL group, the colony number of PBMSCs was further increased in 20 ng/mL group by 14% (P<0.05). The growth curve of PBMSCs showed that after 7 days of culture, the number of PBMSCs in 10 ng/mL bFGF group and 20 ng/mL bFGF group was increased by 41% (P<0.05) and 61% (P<0.05), respectively. Moreover, the cell number had a statistically significant difference between these two groups (P<0.05). Results from flow cytometry cell cycle showed that the numbers of PBMSCs in the G1 phase of experimental groups were significantly decreased as the concentration of bFGF increased when compared with the control group (P<0.05), whereas the number of PBMSCs in the S phase was significantly increased (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence experiments showed that, compared with the control group, bFGF significantly promoted the nuclear translocation and expression of β-catenin in PBMSCs. Compared with the 10 ng/mL group, the PBMSCs in 20 ng/mL bFGF group showed stronger nuclear translocation and expression of β-catenin. Western blot experiments showed that the levels of β-catenin and its target proteins cyclinD1 and cyclinE were significantly increased (all P<0.05), whereas expression of p21 was significantly decreased in PBMSCs in the bFGF groups in a concentration dependent pattern when compared with control group (P<0.05). The study firstly confirms that bFGF promotes the proliferation of PBMSCs by regulating the β-catenin signaling pathway, which may facilitate the aquisition of larger number of PBMSCs for stem cell engineering in vitro.