Effects of simulated microgravity on embryonic stem cells

There have been many studies on the biological effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on differentiated cells or adult stem cells. However, there has been no systematic study on the effects of SMG on embryonic stem (ES) cells. In this study, we investigated various effects (including cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, cell differentiation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, genomic integrity and DNA damage repair) of SMG on mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Mouse ES cells cultured under SMG condition had a significantly reduced total cell number compared with cells cultured under 1 g gravity (1G) condition. However, there was no significant difference in cell cycle distribution between SMG and 1G culture conditions, indicating that cell proliferation was not impaired significantly by SMG and was not a major factor contributing to the total cell number reduction. In contrast, a lower adhesion rate cultured under SMG condition contributed to the lower cell number in SMG. Our results also revealed that SMG alone could not induce DNA damage in mES cells while it could affect the repair of radiation-induced DNA lesions of mES cells. Taken together, mES cells were sensitive to SMG and the major alterations in cellular events were cell number expansion, adhesion rate decrease, increased apoptosis and delayed DNA repair progression, which are distinct from the responses of other types of cells to SMG.     

Rosiglitazone inhibits transforming growth factor-β1 mediated fibrogenesis in ADPKD cyst-lining epithelial cells

Background

Interstitial fibrosis plays an important role in progressive renal dysfunction in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In our previous studies, we confirmed that PPAR-γ agonist, rosiglitazone could protect renal function and prolong the survival of a slowly progressive ADPKD animal model by reducing renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism remains unknown.

Methods

Primary culture epithelial cells pretreated with TGF-β1 were incubated with rosiglitazone. Extracellular matrix proteins were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting. MAPK and Smad2 phosphorylation were measured with western blot. ERK1/2 pathway and P38 pathway were inhibited with the specific inhibitors PD98059 and SB203580. The Smad2 pathway was blocked with the siRNA. To address whether PPAR-γ agonist-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1–induced collagen type I expression was mediated through a PPAR-γ dependent mechanism, genetic and pharmaceutical approaches were used to block the activity of endogenous PPARγ.

Results

TGF-β1-stimulated collagen type I and fibronectin expression of ADPKD cyst-lining epithelia were inhibited by rosiglitazone in a dosage-dependent manner. Smad2, ERK1/2 and P38 pathways were activated in response to TGF-β1; however, TGF-β1 had little effect on JNK pathway. Rosiglitazone suppressed TGF-β1 induced Smad2 activation, while ERK1/2 and P38MAPK signals remained unaffected. Rosiglitazone could also attenuate TGF-β1-stimulated collagen type I and fibronectin expression in primary renal tubular epithelial cells, but had no effect on TGF-β1–induced activation of Smad2, ERK1/2 and P38 pathways. There was no crosstalk between the Smad2 and MAPK pathways in ADPKD cyst-lining epithelial cells. These inhibitory effects of rosiglitazone were reversed by the PPARγ specific antagonist GW9662 and PPARγ siRNA.

Conclusion

ADPKD cyst-lining epithelial cells participate in TGF-β1 mediated fibrogenesis. Rosiglitazone could suppress TGF-β1–induced collagen type I and fibronectin expression in ADPKD cyst-lining epithelia through modulation of the Smad2 pathway. Our study may provide therapeutic basis for clinical applications of rosiglitazone in retarding the progression of ADPKD.     

湖泊水库结构生态动态模型

综述了湖泊水库结构生态动态模型的研究进展及其在湖泊水库环境生态模拟中的应用。结果表明,热力学理论为获取湖泊水库生态系统的特性提供了一条整体性的途径,热力学概念“Ｙｏｎｇ”可将生态学理论（达尔文理论）和热力学理论（最大Ｙｏｎｇ原理）很好地联系起来。引入Ｙｏｎｇ后,许多重要模型参数的目标函数可根据最大Ｙｏｎｇ原理获得,达尔文“达者生存”理论可被定量为一个生态约束条件用于发展湖泊水库结构生态结构模型,从     

细穗玄参的化学成分研究-Ⅱ

从细穗玄参(S crof ella ch inensisM ax im.)全草的正丁醇提取物中分离并鉴定了6个化合物,利用现代波谱技术(M S1、H NM R1、3C NM R、DEPT、HM BC、HM QC)和化学方法进行结构鉴定,分别为6-O-(2″-对羟基反式肉桂酸-α-L-鼠李糖)梓醇(1)、山栀子苷(2)、桃叶珊瑚苷(3)、玉叶金花苷酸(4)、熊果苷(5)、肌氨酸乙酯(6).6个化合物均为首次从该植物中发现.     

Embryological Studies on Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis

Chinese narcissus (Narcissus tazetta var.chinensis Roem) blooms but has no seeds.Embryological studies on the species were conducted to discover the causes of its sterility.Its anther wall is composed of four layers of cells,and its tapetum is of the secretory type.The cytokinesis of microspore mother cells is of the successive type,and the tetrad is tetrahedral.During meiosis of microspore mother cells,some chromosomes lagged,and several micronuclei were found in tetrads.Only 27.7% of the pollen grains contained full cytoplasm,and 1.3% of them germinated in culture medium.No pollen grain,however,could germinate on the stigma.The ovary is trilocular with axile placenta,and the ovules are bitegmic,tenuinucellate,and anatropous.Its embryo sac is of the polygonum type.Most embryo sacs degenerated,and only about 4.5% of the ovules contained a normal embryo sac with an egg cell,two synergids,three antipodal,and a central cell containing two polar nuclei.One reason for the sterility of Chinese narcissus is the abnormality of microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis,in which only a few functional pollen grains and embryo sacs are produced.The other reason is that the pollen grains cannot germinate on the stigma.     

Differential expression of espin isoforms during epithelial morphogenesis, stereociliogenesis and postnatal maturation in the developing inner ear

The espins are a family of multifunctional actin cytoskeletal proteins. They are present in hair cell stereocilia and are the target of mutations that cause deafness and vestibular dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that the different espin isoforms are expressed in complex spatiotemporal patterns during inner ear development. Espin 3 isoforms were prevalent in the epithelium of the otic pit, otocyst and membranous labyrinth as they underwent morphogenesis. This espin was down-regulated ahead of hair cell differentiation and during neuroblast delamination. Espin also accumulated in the epithelium of branchial clefts and pharyngeal pouches and during branching morphogenesis in other embryonic epithelial tissues, suggesting general roles for espins in epithelial morphogenesis. Espin reappeared later in inner ear development in differentiating hair cells. Its levels and compartmentalization to stereocilia increased during the formation and maturation of stereociliary bundles. Late in embryonic development, espin was also present in a tail-like process that emanated from the hair cell base. Increases in the levels of espin 1 and espin 4 isoforms correlated with stereocilium elongation and maturation in the vestibular system and cochlea, respectively. Our results suggest that the different espin isoforms play specific roles in actin cytoskeletal regulation during epithelial morphogenesis and hair cell differentiation.     

虎纹蛙消化道肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶免疫组化研究

研究采用小鼠抗人肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶单克隆抗体AA1,应用ElivisionTM plus免疫组化染色法对虎纹蛙(Rana tigrina rugulosa)消化道组织中类胰蛋白酶阳性肥大细胞存在的可能性进行研究。研究发现单克隆抗体AAl可与中性缓冲福马林液固定的虎纹蛙组织的肥大细胞获得良好的交叉反应,类胰蛋白酶阳性细胞胞浆染成棕黄色,证实虎纹蛙肥大细胞胞浆颗粒中也存在类胰蛋白酶。虎纹蛙组织中AA1免疫染色阳性细胞的分布,与AB/SO和改良甲苯胺兰染色阳性细胞的分布存在较大的差异:虎纹蛙类胰蛋白酶阳性细胞数量很少,且阳性反应比人胃癌间质肥大细胞弱,主要见于黏膜型肥大细胞(MMC)分布区域,如消化道黏膜上皮下方和固有层,少量分布于肠绒毛基底部及食管腺和胃腺周围。而在结缔组织型肥大细胞(CTMC)分布区域,如消化道黏膜下层结缔组织中却未见类胰蛋白酶阳性细胞。AB/SO和改良甲苯胺兰染色阳性细胞数量多,广泛分布于消化道黏膜固有层、黏膜下层、腺体之间、肌间及外膜结缔组织,说明并不是所有的虎纹蛙肥大细胞都含有类胰蛋白酶。很有可能是虎纹蛙MMC中含有类胰蛋白酶,而CTMC中不含类胰蛋白酶。虎纹蛙类胰蛋白酶阳性细胞数量很少,且阳性反应比人胃癌间质肥大细胞弱,说明虎纹蛙肥大细胞胞浆颗粒类胰蛋白酶含量较少,虎纹蛙属于低等脊椎动物,可能与生物进化水平较低有关,有待进一步研究。       

Study of polar metabolites in tobacco from different geographical origins by using capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry

Many metabolites in plant are highly polar and ionic. Their analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry can be problematic. Therefore a capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE–MS) method with charge-driven separation characteristic was developed to investigate polar metabolites in tobacco. To obtain as many features as possible, extraction of polar metabolites was optimized by the design of experiments and evaluated by univariate statistics. Method validation was carried out to evaluate the analytical characteristics including calibration curve, precision, sample stability and extraction reproducibility. The developed method was successfully applied in studying 30 tobacco leaves obtained from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China. A total of 154 polar metabolites were identified based on available database. Multivariate pattern recognition clearly revealed the metabolic differences between the two geographic areas and 43 significantly different metabolites were defined by the non-parametric hypothesis test (Mann–Whitney U test) and false discovery rate. Some key metabolites involved in photosynthesis such as ribulose 1,5-disphosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate, glycine, betaine, GABA and serine were found to be susceptible to environmental conditions. This study shows that the metabolic profiling based on CE–MS can clearly discriminate tobacco leaves of different geographical origins and understand the relationship between plant metabolites and their geographical origins.