Thymol alleviates AGEs-induced podocyte injury by a pleiotropic effect via NF-κB-mediated by RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway

ABSTRACT

Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are those of the most powerful pathogenic factors that related to diabetic complications. In our study, we investigated the beneficial effects of thymol on AGE induced cell injury and apoptosis in human podocytes (HPCs) and attempted to clarify its mechanisms. Our results revealed that stimulation with AGE could significantly activate RhoA/NF-κB pathway. Results showed thymol could markedly suppress inflammatory responses, cell apoptosis and disordered cytoskeleton. Also thymol restored the expression of podocin, restrained migration capacity. Western blot analysis indicated that it could restore the expression of RhoA, ROCK and vimentin, nephrin, podocin and p65 and IκBα phosphorylation. Moreover, si-RhoA also suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ROCK, and vimentin and the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα. In conclusion, thymol inhibits AGE-induced cell injury in HPCs by suppressing the RhoA-NF-κB pathway and may be apromising therapeutic agent.     

Coordinated regulation of anthranilate metabolism and bacterial virulence by the GntR family regulator MpaR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The GntR family regulators are widely distributed in bacteria and play critical roles in metabolic processes and bacterial pathogenicity. In this study, we describe a GntR family protein encoded by PA4132 that we named MpaR (M vfR-mediated P QS and a nthranilate r egulator) for its regulation of Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) production and anthranilate metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The deletion of mpaR increased biofilm formation and reduced pyocyanin production. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of antABC encoding enzymes for the synthesis of catechol from anthranilate, a precursor of the PQS, were most affected by mpaR deletion. Data showed that MpaR directly activates the expression of mvfR, a master regulator of pqs system, and subsequently promotes PQS production. Accordingly, deletion of mpaR activates the expression of antABC genes, and thus, increases catechol production. We also demonstrated that MpaR represses the rhl quorum-sensing (QS) system, which has been shown to control antABC activity. These results suggested that MpaR function is integrated into the QS regulatory network. Moreover, mutation of mpaR promotes bacterial survival in a mouse model of acute pneumonia infection. Collectively, this study identified a novel regulator of pqs system, which coordinately controls anthranilate metabolism and bacterial virulence in P. aeruginosa.     

Requirements for human embryonic stem cells

‘Requirements for Human Embryonic Stem Cells’ is the first set of guidelines on human embryonic stem cells in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, test regulations, instructions for use, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements and transportation requirements for human embryonic stem cells, which is applicable to the quality control for human embryonic stem cells. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 26 February 2019 and was further revised on 30 April 2020. We hope that publication of these guidelines will promote institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human embryonic stem cells for applications.     

The crosstalk between lncRNAs and the Hippo signalling pathway in cancer progression

LncRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of epigenetic modification, cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation, migration and other physiological activities. In particular, considerable studies have shown that the aberrant expression and dysregulation of lncRNAs are widely implicated in cancer initiation and progression by acting as tumour promoters or suppressors. Hippo signalling pathway has attracted researchers’ attention as one of the critical cancer‐related pathways in recent years. Increasing evidences have demonstrated that lncRNAs could interact with Hippo cascade and thereby contribute to acquisition of multiple malignant hallmarks, including proliferation, metastasis, relapse and resistance to anti‐cancer treatment. Specifically, Hippo signalling pathway is reported to modulate or be regulated by widespread lncRNAs. Intriguingly, certain lncRNAs could form a reciprocal feedback loop with Hippo signalling. More speculatively, lncRNAs related to Hippo pathway have been poised to become important putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human cancers. Herein, this review focuses on the crosstalk between lncRNAs and Hippo pathway in carcinogenesis, summarizes the comprehensive role of Hippo‐related lncRNAs in tumour progression and depicts their clinical diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic potentials in tumours.     

强化类球红细菌辅因子NADPH再生以提高法尼醇的产量

法尼醇(Farnesol,FOH)是由焦磷酸异戊烯基(IPP)和焦磷酸二甲基烯丙基(DMAPP)合成的法尼酰基焦磷酸盐(FPP)去焦磷酸化作用生成的。在类球红细菌中IPP和DMAPP是由MEP途径生成,而完整的MEP途径需要消耗大量的辅因子NADPH,增加胞内NADPH的量有可能强化FOH的合成。文中从增加NADPH的生成和降低NADPH的消耗这两个策略出发,分别干扰了编码6-磷酸葡萄糖异构酶基因(pgi)和谷氨酸脱氢酶基因(gdhA)的表达,同时强化了磷酸戊糖途径中6-葡萄糖磷酸脱氢酶基因(zwf)和6-葡萄糖酸磷酸脱氢酶基因(gnd)的表达。实验结果表明,经改造的菌株NADPH含量显著增加,干扰菌株中菌株RSpgii的产量较高,为3.91 mg/g,在过表达的菌株中同时过表达zwf和gnd基因的重组菌株(RSzg)的FOH产量提高到了3.43 mg/g。为了获得FOH产量更高的菌株,以RSpgii为出发菌株,分别与zwf和gnd组合调控,获得的菌株RSzgpi的产量达到了最高量为4.48 mg/g,是出发菌株RS-GY2产率的2.24倍。     

樟树叶片挥发性有机物释放季节动态和日动态变化规律

采用动态顶空采集法和热脱附-气质联用技术,对不同季节和一天内不同时间点樟树叶片释放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)成分含量及其变化规律进行了分析。结果表明:全年樟树叶片释放的VOCs共计78种,其中萜烯类(19种)和烷烃类(18种)化合物种类较多; 32种樟树叶片释放的挥发性成分相对含量在不同季节存在显著差异(P0.05); 3月份释放的VOCs种类最为丰富,萜烯类化合物相对含量最高(43.49%),主要为1-石竹烯、D-柠檬烯和α-蒎烯,其他月份释放的VOCs则以烷烃类和醇类为主;春季,樟树叶片在绝大多数时间点释放VOCs以萜烯类化合物为主,且早上8:00释放的萜烯类化合物相对含量最大。综上结果认为,樟树是营造保健型生态园林的理想树种,其叶片释放的VOCs中富含多种对人体健康有益的萜烯类化合物,春季的早晨是进行森林康养活动的最佳时间。