H-2 antigens,on mast cell membrane,as target antigens for anaphylactic degranulation

When single mast cells were isolated by micromanipulation, specific H-2 antigen-bearing mast cells were degranulated upon incubation with alloimmune sera (DAAD). When specific alloantigens were presented by lymphoid cells only, no degranulation occurred. Only antigen-bearing mast cells were degranulated, irrespectively of the presence of antigen-bearing lymphoid cells. Therefore, in DAAD, anaphylactic alloantibodies can and must recognize specific H-2 antigens on the mast cell membrane and simultaneously deliver the degranulation signal, through an Fc-Fc receptor interaction on the surface of the same mast cell.     

Baclofen and γ-hydroxybutyrate: similar effects on cerebral dopamine neurones

Baclofen (20 mg/kg) caused an increase in the content of homovanillic acid (HVA) and dopamine (DA) in rat brain 2–3 h after drug injection without appreciable changes in the level of other monoamines and their main metabolites. Six and eight hours after baclofen, the content of HVA but not that of DA was reduced. Moreover, baclofen initially (20 min after injection) reduced, but later (105 min post drug) enhanced the accumulation of HVA induced by probenecid. The shortlasting (20 min) initial reduction of HVA elevation in probenecid-pretreated animals as well as the longlasting (6–8 h) decrease of HVA levels in rats injected with baclofen alone are interpreted to be due to a decreased release and metabolism of DA, probably as a consequence of the blockade of impulse flow in mesolimbic and nigro-striatal DA neurones. The increase in HVA and DA seen during the first few hours is thought to result from enhanced DA synthesis similar to that known for γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). This initial rise in HVA due to synthesis stimulation probably masked a reduction of HVA to be expected immediately after baclofen injection. The similarity between baclofen and GHB is stressed by the finding that baclofen counteracted the increase of HVA occuring after chlorpromazine and D-amphetamine but not that induced by the benzoquinolizine derivative, Ro 4-1284.     

Diterpenoids from Micrandropsis scleroxylon

The structure of micrandrol-C from Micrandropsis scleroxylon (Euphorbiaceae) is revised to 2,6-dihydroxy-7-methyl-1-methylthiophenanthrene. This and other micrandrols are probably diterpenes in view of their co-occurrence with micrandrol-D, the hemiketal of 1,2,3,4,9,10-hexahydro-6-hydroxy-4a-hydroxymethyl-1,1,7-trimethy-2-oxophenanthrene.     

Circular RNA AFF4 modulates osteogenic differentiation in BM-MSCs by activating SMAD1/5 pathway through miR-135a-5p/FNDC5/Irisin axis

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), the common progenitor cells of adipocytes and osteoblasts, have been recognized as the key mediator during bone formation. Herein, our study aim to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying circular RNA (circRNA) AFF4 (circ_AFF4)-regulated BM-MSCs osteogenesis. BM-MSCs were characterized by FACS, ARS, and ALP staining. Expression patterns of circ_AFF4, miR-135a-5p, FNDC5/Irisin, SMAD1/5, and osteogenesis markers, including ALP, BMP4, RUNX2, Spp1, and Colla1 were detected by qRT-PCR, western blot, or immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Interactions between circ_AFF4 and miR-135a-5p, FNDC5, and miR-135a-5p were analyzed using web tools including TargetScan, miRanda, and miRDB, and further confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down. Complex formation between Irisin and Integrin αV was verified by Co-immunoprecipitation. To further verify the functional role of circ_AFF4 in vivo during bone formation, we conducted animal experiments harboring circ_AFF4 knockdown, and born samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining. Circ_AFF4 was upregulated upon osteogenic differentiation induction in BM-MSCs, and miR-135a-5p expression declined as differentiation proceeds. Circ_AFF4 knockdown significantly inhibited osteogenesis potential in BM-MSCs. Circ_AFF4 stimulated FNDC5/Irisin expression through complementary binding to its downstream target molecule miR-135a-5p. Irisin formed an intermolecular complex with Integrin αV and activated the SMAD1/5 pathway during osteogenic differentiation. Our work revealed that circ_AFF4, acting as a sponge of miR-135a-5p, triggers the promotion of FNDC5/Irisin via activating the SMAD1/5 pathway to induce osteogenic differentiation in BM-MSCs. These findings gained a deeper insight into the circRNA-miRNA regulatory system in the bone marrow microenvironment and may improve our understanding of bone formation-related diseases at physiological and pathological levels.Subject terms: Stem cells, Diseases     

Structural and ecophysiological adaptations to forest gaps

To survive new microclimatic conditions of a forest gap environment, plant species must physiologically and structurally adjust. A morpho-anatomical, ultrastructural and ecophysiological study was performed at three different times in a forest gap that was created by illegal selective logging. The study followed the early successional Actinostemon verticillatus and the late-successional Metrodorea brevifolia, to elucidate the adaptive strategies of acclimation to gaps. Additionally, Schinus terebinthifolius was included in the study in order to test the plasticity of a pioneer species that grows on forest edges, where this species had higher values of leaf thickness, leaf mass area and succulence. M. brevifolia had succulent leaves, high leaf area and a thin cuticle. A. verticillatus presented the densest leaves and was the only species to show leaf morpho-anatomical plasticity. Ultrastructural and physiological differences were observed only in A. verticillatus and M. brevifolia leaves from the gap: increase in the stroma volume, oil droplets, plastoglobuli, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching. Photosynthetic efficiency showed that the early stages of gap formation are the most critical. Acclimation strategies of A. verticillatus suggest this species invests in the efficiency of photosynthesis by increasing its leaf thickness, leaf mass area and in water content maintenance by increasing the density of its leaves, at the expense of gas exchange, was compensated by a high density of stomata. M. brevifolia compensates for the higher cost of leaves and lower leaf plasticity with ultrastructural changes that are used to adjust the photosynthetic process, which promotes a shorter leaf payback time.     

上海农作物种质资源数据库的设计和构建

随着农作物种质资源数量的不断增加,种质资源交流的日益频繁以及种质资源利用的逐步深入,农作物种质资源数据库的建设对农作物的应用研究和基础性研究至关重要。上海市农业生物基因中心借助于本中心保存的近21万份种质资源的信息,开发了一套上海农作物种质资源数据库,本文主要阐述了该数据库设计和构建的目的、原则和数据库的架构、运行环境以及主要功能模块。上海农作物种质资源数据库采用了B/S结构,平台系统利用多层逻辑架构实现了对农作物种质资源数据信息的收集、存储、查询、统计分析等功能。外部用户通过浏览器即可访问平台系统,浏览查询种质资源信息。内部管理员可使用平台的受限功能,需要认证成功后才可使用后台管理功能,实现对整个平台数据的管理。注册用户还可通过基因资源数据库提交引种申请,管理员结合管理信息系统实现对外供种全流程的网络化,借此可提高工作效率,增加工作流程的透明度。     

Natural variation in the promoter of OsHMA3 contributes to differential grain cadmium accumulation between Indica and Japonica rice

Rice is a major source of cadmium(Cd) intake for Asian people. Indica rice usually accumulates more Cd in shoots and grains than Japonica rice. However, underlying genetic bases for differential Cd accumulation between Indica and Japonica rice are still unknown. In this study, we cloned a quantitative trait locus(QTL) grain Cd concentration on chromosome 7(GCC7) responsible for differential grain Cd accumulation between two rice varieties by performing QTL analysis and map-based cloning. We found that the two GCC7 alleles, GCC7~(PA64s) and GCC7~(93-11), had different promoter activity of OsHMA3,leading to different OsHMA3 expression and different shoot and grain Cd concentrations. By analyzing the distribution of different haplotypes of GCC7 among diverse rice accessions, we discovered that the high and low Cd accumulation alleles, namely GCC7~(93-11) and GCC7~(PA64s), were preferentially distributed in Indica and Japonica rice,respectively. We further showed that the GCC7~(PA64s)allele can be used to replace the GCC7~(93-11) allele in the super cultivar 93-11 to reduce grain Cd concentration without adverse effect on agronomic traits. Our results thus reveal that the QTL GCC7 with sequence variation in the OsHMA3 promoter is an important determinant controlling differential grain Cd accumulation between Indica and Japonica rice.