SAMD9 is a (epi-) genetically regulated anti-inflammatory factor activated in RA patients

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - The immune responses, involved in recognition of cancer-specific antigens, are of particular interest as this may provide major leads towards developing new...     

一株产透明质酸酶的菌株鉴定及酶学性质研究

透明质酸酶可用于药物渗透剂、动物皮革松散及低分子量的透明质酸制备.实验室前期筛选了一株具有较高透明质酸降解能力的菌株,本研究对其进行了 16S rRNA基因和生理生化反应鉴定,鉴定为弗氏柠檬酸杆菌,但弗氏柠檬酸杆菌来源的透明质酸酶的功能还未见报道.因而,以透明质酸为底物研究其酶学性质,结果表明:该酶最适pH值为5.5,在pH值4.0～8.0下处理1 h可以保持60％以上酶活力;最适温度为50℃,在50℃和60℃下处理1h后剩余60％以上的酶活力.该酶和人源透明质酸酶最适pH相似,但其耐热性更高.因此,本研究挖掘到了新颖的透明质酸酶的资源,并为其开发利用提供了参考价值.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations in respiratory complex-I in never-smoker lung cancer patients contribute to lung cancer progression and associated with EGFR gene mutation

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations were reported in different cancers. However, the nature and role of mtDNA mutation in never‐smoker lung cancer patients including patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRAS gene mutation are unknown. In the present study, we sequenced entire mitochondrial genome (16.5 kb) in matched normal and tumors obtained from 30 never‐smoker and 30 current‐smoker lung cancer patients, and determined the mtDNA content. All the patients' samples were sequenced for KRAS (exon 2) and EGFR (exon 19 and 21) gene mutation. The impact of forced overexpression of a respiratory complex‐I gene mutation was evaluated in a lung cancer cell line. We observed significantly higher (P = 0.006) mtDNA mutation in the never‐smokers compared to the current‐smoker lung cancer patients. MtDNA mutation was significantly higher (P = 0.026) in the never‐smoker Asian compared to the current‐smoker Caucasian patients' population. MtDNA mutation was significantly (P = 0.007) associated with EGFR gene mutation in the never‐smoker patients. We also observed a significant increase (P = 0.037) in mtDNA content among the never‐smoker lung cancer patients. The majority of the coding mtDNA mutations targeted respiratory complex‐I and forced overexpression of one of these mutations resulted in increased in vitro proliferation, invasion, and superoxide production in lung cancer cells. We observed a higher prevalence and new relationship between mtDNA alterations among never‐smoker lung cancer patients and EGFR gene mutation. Moreover, a representative mutation produced strong growth effects after forced overexpression in lung cancer cells. Signature mtDNA mutations provide a basis to develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for never‐smoker lung cancer patients. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2451–2460, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

面部激素依赖性皮炎合并真菌感染的危险因素及真菌学研究

糖皮质激素（以下简称激素）依赖性皮炎是由于长期滥用或误用激素外用制剂引起的皮肤慢性炎症,以面部较为常见^[1]。临床上时而遇到激素依赖皮炎并发真菌感染的情况,为了解引发激素依赖皮炎合并真菌感染的危险因素及致病菌情况,现将本科近年诊治的236例激素依赖性皮炎及真菌学检查结果分析如下。     

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone protects retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress through activation of melanocortin 1 receptor–Akt–mTOR signaling

Patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) will develop vision loss in the center of the visual field. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis is an important contributor of AMD. In this study, we explored the pro-survival effect of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on oxidative stressed RPE cells. We found that α-MSH receptor melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) was functionally expressed in primary and transformed RPE cells. RPE cells were response to α-MSH stimulation. α-MSH activated Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Erk1/2 signalings in RPE cells, which were inhibited by MC1R siRNA knockdown. α-MSH protected RPE cells from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis, an effect that was almost abolished when MC1R was depleted by siRNA. α-MSH-mediated S6K1 activation and pro-survival effect against H₂O₂ was inhibited by Akt inhibitors (perifosine, MK-2206 and LY294002). Further, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin, or by mTOR siRNA knockdown, diminished α-MSH’s pro-survival effect in RPE cells. Thus, Akt and its downstream mTOR signaling mediates α-MSH-induced survival in RPE cells. In summary, we have identified a new α-MSH–MC1R physiologic pathway that reduces H₂O₂-induced RPE cell damage, and might minimize the risk of developing AMD.     

Development of Plantlets from Leaf Protoplast Culture in Brassica juncea var. tsatsi

Protoplast of two mustard cultivars: Brassica juncea var. tsatsi cv. “Quxian Jiaoercai” and “Bangbangcai”, were isolated by enzymolysis from leaf grown in vitro. Protoplasts were suspended in liquid medium and semi-solidified medium with 0.35% low melting point agarose which formed a thin layer floating on the surface of the liquid medium. The first division appeared after 48h in the culture. One week after the original culture, a diluted medium with gradual dicrease of mannitol concentrations (6%→4%→zero) was then added to the culture three times respectively at one week's interval. In this culture method cell division and formation of microcalli were achieved. During the liquid culture of protoplasts, shaking at 20 rpm from time to time was beneficial in the formation of cell colonies and microcalli. Cell colonies developed into calli of approx 0.5—1mm in diameter one month after culture. The plating efficiency, which defined as the percentage of microcatli to numbers of protoplasts, was 0.2%—1%. Shoot regeneration occured when leaf protoplast-derived calli of “Quxian Jiaoercai” were transferred onto the modified MS medium supplemented with BAP 2.0mg/L, KT 1.0mg/L and NAA 0.2mg/L, and those of -'Bangbangcai" were transferred onto the modified MS medium supplemented with BAP 2.0mg/L. Individual shoot was rooted on a rooting medium supplemented with NAA 0.2 or 0.4 mg/L.     

检测心肌细胞钾离子通道蛋白活化水平方法的优化

介绍了一种如何合理的利用蛋白质免疫沉淀和蛋白质免疫印迹相结合的方法检测大鼠心肌细胞钾离子通道蛋白Kv1.2和Kv1.5的表达与活化水平.实验结果表明,与单独利用免疫印迹的方法相比较,本实验是对钾离子通道蛋白及其它亚家族的钾通道蛋白磷酸化表达水平检测方法的一种优化,从而获得一套可行、简单、合理的实验方案,同时也提高了检测的准确性,敏感性及特异性.     

Strategies Toward Stable Nonaqueous Alkali Metal–O2 Batteries

Alkali metal–O₂ batteries, by coupling high‐capacity alkali metal anodes with gaseous oxygen, possess extremely high gravimetric energy density that is comparable to gasoline and are potential energy storage technologies beyond lithium–ion batteries. The development of alkali metal–O₂ batteries has achieved great progress in recent years, from materials to prototype devices and on fundamental mechanisms. The stability of alkali metal–O₂ batteries is still poor, however, leading to a huge gap between laboratory research and commercial applications. A series of parasitic reactions result in the instability, which occur during electrochemical discharging and charging. The ubiquitous active oxygen species attack both the organic electrolyte and the carbon cathode, triggering various parasitic reactions. Meanwhile, dendrite growth and volume expansion upon repeated plating/stripping and O₂ crossover severely limit the reversibility of alkali metal anodes. Here, an overview of the strategies against these issues is given to improve the stability of nonaqueous alkali metal–O₂ batteries, which is discussed from three aspects: air cathodes, alkali metal anodes, and aprotic electrolytes. Furthermore, perspectives for future research of stable alkali metal–O₂ batteries are outlined.