Reappraisal of H2S/sulfide concentration in vertebrate blood and its potential significance in ischemic preconditioning and vascular signaling

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is rapidly emerging as a biologically significant signaling molecule. Studies published before 2000 report low or undetectable H(2)S (usually as total sulfide) levels in blood or plasma, whereas recent work has reported sulfide concentrations between 10 and 300 microM, suggesting it acts as a circulating signal. In the first series of experiments, we used a recently developed polarographic sensor to measure the baseline level of endogenous H(2)S gas and turnover of exogenous H(2)S gas in real time in blood from numerous animals, including lamprey, trout, mouse, rat, pig, and cow. We found that, contrary to recent reports, H(2)S gas was essentially undetectable (<100 nM total sulfide) in all animals. Furthermore, exogenous sulfide was rapidly removed from blood, plasma, or 5% bovine serum albumin in vitro and from intact trout in vivo. To determine if blood H(2)S could transiently increase, we measured oxygen-dependent H(2)S production by trout hearts in vitro and in vivo. H(2)S has been shown to mediate ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in mammals. IPC is present in trout and, unlike mammals, the trout myocardium obtains its oxygen from relatively hypoxic systemic venous blood. In vitro, myocardial H(2)S production was inversely related to Po(2), whereas we failed to detect H(2)S in ventral aortic blood from either normoxic or hypoxic fish in vivo. These results provide an autocrine or paracrine mechanism for myocardial coupling of hypoxia to H(2)S in IPC, i.e., oxygen sensing, but they fail to provide any evidence that H(2)S signaling is mediated by the circulation.     

Untargeted metabolomics reveals a mild impact of remote ischemic conditioning on the plasma metabolome and α-hydroxybutyrate as a possible cardioprotective factor and biomarker of tissue ischemia

Introduction

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a maneuver by which short non-lethal ischemic events are applied on distant organs or limbs to reduce ischemia and reperfusion injuries caused by e.g. myocardial infarct. Although intensively investigated, the specific mechanism of this protective phenomenon remains incompletely understood and in particular, knowledge on the role of small metabolites is scarce.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to study perturbations in the plasma metabolome following RIC and gain insight into metabolic changes by the intervention as well as to identify potential novel cardio-protective metabolites.

Methods

Blood plasma samples from ten healthy males were collected prior to and after RIC and tested for bioactivity in a HL-1 based cellular model of ischemia–reperfusion damage. Following this, the plasma was analyzed using untargeted LC-qTOF-MS and regulated metabolites were identified using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Results were finally verified in a second plasma study from the same group of volunteers and by testing a metabolite ester in the HL-1 cell model.

Results

The analysis revealed a moderate impact on the plasma metabolome following RIC. One metabolite, α-hydroxybutyrate (AHB) however, stood out as highly significantly upregulated after RIC. AHB might be a novel and more sensitive plasma-biomarker of transient tissue ischemia than lactate. Importantly, it was also found that a cell permeable AHB precursor protects cardiomyocytes from ischemia–reperfusion damage.

Conclusion

Untargeted metabolomics analysis of plasma following RIC has led to insight into metabolism during RIC and revealed a possible novel metabolite of relevance to ischemic-reperfusion damage.

     

一种温敏复制缺陷T载体的构建及在鸡白痢沙门氏菌基因敲除中的应用

基因敲除是基因功能研究的重要手段,载体是基因敲除的工具和核心。为获得有效的基因敲除载体以快速构建基因突变株及鉴定相应基因的必需性,在已有温敏复制缺陷pIDM1质粒的基础上,于EcoRⅠ和PstⅠ位点间插入串联的XcmⅠ酶切位点接头,构建了pIDM-T质粒;该质粒经XcmⅠ酶切可获得末端突出T的线性化pIDM-T载体。在验证了pIDM-T质粒复制的温敏特性基础上,应用构建的T载体克隆鸡白痢沙门氏菌CVCC527菌株的eno和ybdr两个基因,鉴定获得pIDM-T_eno和pIDM-T_ybdr两个重组质粒;将重组质粒转化527菌株,经IPC(Integration rate per cell)值计算,鉴定eno为必需基因,ybdr为非必需基因。挑取非必需ybdr基因527菌株重组菌(SalΔybdr),经PCR和测序,确认突变菌株重组位点的正确性。pIDM-T载体可快速克隆PCR产物,用于沙门氏菌的基因敲除及必需性鉴定,为沙门氏菌基因功能研究提供了一种有效快速的手段。     

Humoral regulation of heart rate during digestion in pythons (Python molurus and Python regius)

Pythons exhibit a doubling of heart rate when metabolism increases several times during digestion. Pythons, therefore, represent a promising model organism to study autonomic cardiovascular regulation during the postprandial state, and previous studies show that the postprandial tachycardia is governed by a release of vagal tone as well as a pronounced stimulation from nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) factors. Here we show that infusion of plasma from digesting donor pythons elicit a marked tachycardia in fasting snakes, demonstrating that the NANC factor resides in the blood. Injections of the gastrin and cholecystokinin receptor antagonist proglumide had no effect on double-blocked heart rate or blood pressure. Histamine has been recognized as a NANC factor in the early postprandial period in pythons, but the mechanism of its release has not been identified. Mast cells represent the largest repository of histamine in vertebrates, and it has been speculated that mast cells release histamine during digestion. Treatment with the mast cell stabilizer cromolyn significantly reduced postprandial heart rate in pythons compared with an untreated group but did not affect double-blocked heart rate. While this study indicates that histamine induces postprandial tachycardia in pythons, its release during digestion is not stimulated by gastrin or cholecystokinin nor is its release from mast cells a stimulant of postprandial tachycardia.     

三峡水库奉节以东秭归和巫山段消落带植物群落动态特征

基于2008—2012年对三峡水库奉节以东秭归和巫山段消落带固定样地不同海拔区段植物群落的5a定位监测,研究消落带植物群落的物种组成、优势植物、植物生活型和物种多样性的动态变化,结果表明:1)截止2012年,消落带海拔156—172 m区段共经历了4次水库水位涨落。经历首次后(2009年),消落带原生植物由55科147种减少到18科33种,经历4次后(2012年),减少到14科39种。与经历水库水位涨落前(2008年)比较,经历首次后的科数减少了67.3%,种数减少了77.6%;经历4次后的科数减少了74.5%,种数减少了73.5%。在消落带原生植物减少的同时,出现了许多"新"植物。经历首次后出现了49种,经历4次后出现了23种,分别占调查当年样地植物种类总数的59.8%和32.9%。海拔172—175 m区段共经历了2次水库水位涨落,消落带原生植物由40科91种(2008年)减少到了13科20种。与经历水库水位涨落前比较,科数减少了67.5%,种数减少了78.0%。出现"新"植物21种,约占调查当年样地植物种类总数的44.7%。通过对历次调查中消落带植物"消失"和"出现"的数量比较表明,消落带植物对经历首次水库水位涨落的反应最为敏感,此后,虽又经历过几次水库水位涨落,但其变化速率趋于减小。2)不同海拔区段、不同生态适应型植物的"消长"动态和优势种组成不完全相同。海拔156—172 m区段,经历4次水库水位涨落后,在消落带植物群落中占优势的草本植物种为菊科(Compositae)的鬼针草(Bidens pilosa)、禾本科(Gramineae)的狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)、毛马唐(Digitaria chrysoblephara)、狗尾草(Setaria viridis)、莎草科(Cyperaceae)的碎米莎草(Cyperus iria),占优势的灌木树种为漆树科(Anacardiaceae)的盐肤木(Rhus chinensis)和大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)的算盘子(Glochidion puberum);在海拔172—175 m区段,除鬼针草、毛马唐仍为优势种外,还增加了大戟科的湖北算盘子(Glochidion wilsonii),马鞭草科(Verbenaceae)的黄荆(Vitex negundo),葡萄科(Vitaceae)的五叶地锦(Parthenocissus quniquefolia)等树种。3)消落带植物群落的优势生活型为一年生和多年生草本;物种多样性随着水库水位涨落次数的增加总体变化呈减少趋势。4)三峡水库水位周期性涨落导致消落带发生水陆环境交替变化,不同生态适应型植物对变化生境的适应能力有所不同,是消落带植物群落发生变化的主要驱动因素。     

The F-box protein SHORT PRIMARY ROOT modulates primary root meristem activity by targeting SEUSS-LIKE protein for degradation in rice

Root meristem activity is essential for root morphogenesis and adaptation, but the molecular mechanism regulating root meristem activity is not fully understood. Here, we identify an F-box family E3 ubiquitin ligase named SHORT PRIMARY ROOT (SHPR) that regulates primary root (PR) meristem activity and cell proliferation in rice. SHPR loss-of-function mutations impair PR elongation in rice. SHPR is involved in the formation of an SCF complex with the Oryza sativa SKP1-like protein OSK1/20. We show that SHPR interacts with Oryza sativa SEUSS-LIKE (OsSLK) in the nucleus and is required for OsSLK polyubiquitination and degradation by the ubiquitin 26S-proteasome system (UPS). Transgenic plants overexpressing OsSLK display a shorter PR phenotype, which is similar to the SHPR loss-of-function mutants. Genetic analysis suggests that SHPR promotes PR elongation in an OsSLK-dependent manner. Collectively, our study establishes SHPR as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets OsSLK for degradation, and uncovers a protein ubiquitination pathway as a mechanism for modulating root meristem activity in rice.     

Spontaneous incomplete transverse subtrochanteric femoral fracture with cortical thickening possibly secondary to risedronate use: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease characterized by bone weakening and predisposition to fragility (insufficiency) fractures and can have devastating effects on individual life and great financial impact on the economy. Bisphosphonates are used worldwide for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. However, increasing evidence raises concern that bisphosphonates can be associated with atypical fractures. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old Caucasian woman on long-term steroid treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica was admitted with severe and constant pain in the right hip, radiating to the right knee. She had a history of steroid-induced osteoporosis, for which she was started on risedronate four years earlier. She had no history of trauma. Her blood results were unremarkable. Her X-rays confirmed that she had an incomplete right subtrochanteric femoral fracture. A bone scan confirmed the diagnosis and also ruled out any other associated fractures. Our patient successfully underwent internal nail fixation of the fracture. She was reviewed by a rheumatology team, which stopped the risedronate. She was started on treatment with denosumab injection. CONCLUSIONS: Previous case series have reported that long-term bisphosphonate use is associated with atypical fractures of the femur, and certain criteria have been established to help identify such rare fractures. Delayed union or non-union is expected in such fractures following definitive orthopedic treatment because of the long half life of bisphosphonates. In this case report, we try to raise questions related to this important subject, like the duration and safety of bisphosphonate use and the alternative medications used in osteoporosis in this rare condition. We consider this case report not only interesting but also important and unusual because it is about a patient who developed a potentially rare and serious side effect of long-term bisphosphonate use, estimated to affect 2.3 in every 10,000 patients, and who presented with a pelvic X-ray that showed the characteristic features of atypical fractures secondary to risedronate use. In addition, most of the documented cases have been associated with many years of bisphosphonate use whereas our patient had been on risedronate for only four years.     

Analysis of connection networks among miRNAs differentially expressed in early gastric cancer for disclosing some biological features of disease development

This paper first identified differentially expressed miRNAs associated with early gastric cancer and then respectively constructed relevant connection networks among the identified differentially expressed miRNAs that corresponded to early gastric cancer and control tissues. Twenty-three differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, 18 of which were different with the related results on the same data, and they provide great discriminatory power between patients and controls. There are not only conserved unchangeable sub-networks but also different sub-networks between the two connection networks. From the consistency and differences between two connection networks, we disclosed several new biological features that promote early gastric cancer development. This study shows 23 miRNAs that are early gastric cancer-specific and are worthy to do further experimental studies. The revealed biological features for early gastric cancer will provide new insights into improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this disease.