Young intragenic miRNAs are less coexpressed with host genes than old ones: implications of miRNA-host gene coevolution

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression. Intragenic miRNAs account for ～50% of mammalian miRNAs. Classic studies reported that they are usually coexpressed with host genes. Here, using genome-wide miRNA and gene expression profiles from five sample sets, we show that evolutionarily conserved ('old') intragenic miRNAs tend to be coexpressed with host genes, but non-conserved ('young') ones rarely do so. This result is robust: in all sample sets, the coexpression rate of young miRNAs is significantly lower than that of conserved ones even after controlling for abundance. As a result, although young miRNAs dominate in human genome, the majority of intragenic miRNAs that show coexpression with host genes are phylogenetically old ones. For younger miRNAs, extrapolation of their expression profiles from those of their host genes should be treated with caution. We propose a model to explain this phenomenon in which the majority of young miRNAs are unlikely to be coexpressed with host genes; however, for some fraction of young miRNAs coexpression with their host genes, initially imbued by chromatin level effects, is advantageous and these are the ones likely to embed into the system and evolve ever higher levels of coexpression, possibly by evolving piggybacking mechanisms.     

Characterization of a hypertriglyceridemic transgenic miniature pig model expressing human apolipoprotein CIII

Hypertriglyceridemia has recently been considered to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, in which apolipoprotein (Apo)CIII is one of the major contributory factors, as it is strongly correlated with plasma triglyceride levels. Although ApoCIII transgenic mice have been generated as an animal model for the study of hypertriglyceridemia, the features of lipoprotein metabolism in mice differ greatly from those in humans. Because of the great similarity between pigs and humans with respect to lipid metabolism and cardiovascular physiology, we generated transgenic miniature pigs expressing human ApoCIII by the transfection of somatic cells combined with nuclear transfer. The expression of human ApoCIII was detected in the liver and intestine of the transgenic pigs. As compared with nontransgenic controls, transgenic pigs showed significantly increased plasma triglyceride levels (83 ± 36 versus 38 ± 4 mg·dL(-1), P < 0.01) when fed a chow diet. Plasma lipoprotein profiling by FPLC in transgenic animals showed a higher peak in large-particle fractions corresponding to very low-density lipoprotein/chylomicrons when triglyceride content in the fractions was assayed. There was not much difference in cholesterol content in FPLC fractions, although a large low-density lipoprotein peak was identified in both nontransgenic and transgenic animals, resembling that found in humans. Further analysis revealed markedly delayed clearance of plasma triglyceride, accompanied by significantly reduced lipoprotein lipase activity in post-heparin plasma, in transgenic pigs as compared with nontransgenic controls. In summary, we have successfully generated a novel hypertriglyceridemic ApoCIII transgenic miniature pig model that could be of great value for studies on hyperlipidemia in relation to atherosclerotic disorders.     

Analysis on the association between PPARα/γ polymorphisms and lipoprotein(a) in a Chinese Han population

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a low-density lipoprotein-like particle, is recognized as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetic vascular diseases. Our recent studies revealed that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα/δ/γ) gene are involved in the regulation of lipid storage and metabolism. In order to investigate the relationships between the SNPs of PPARα/γ gene and plasma levels of Lp(a), 644 participants were randomly selected from Chinese Han population in the present study. As the results shown, Lp(a) was significantly associated with L162V (rs1800206) in PPARα. Compared with those subjects with widetype (LL), significantly higher Lp(a) concentration was determined in the individuals with mutant (LV + VV) (mean difference: 49.07 mg/l, 95 % CI 23.32–74.82 mg/l, p = 0.0002). Moreover, with generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis, our present results indicated that there was a significant association between plasma Lp(a) level and gene–gene interaction among the polymorphisms rs1800206, rs135539 in PPARα and rs10865710, rs1805192, and rs4684847 in PPARγ. Therefore, our presented study indicated that PPARα/γ polymorphisms should be involved in the regulation of plasma Lp(a) in independently and/or in an interactive manner, suggesting that PPARα/γ gene may influence the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and dyslipidemia by regulating Lp(a) level.     

土壤类型与作物基因型对花生籽实镉积累的影响

以花生主产区的棕壤和潮土为供试土壤,以种植面积最大的白沙1016、花育22和湛油27基因型花生(Arachis hypogaea)为供试作物,采用不添加Cd(对照)和添加Cd(1.5 mg· kg-1)处理进行盆栽试验,研究土壤类型和作物基因型对花生籽实Cd积累的影响.结果表明:两种土壤对照处理的3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量均低于国家食品安全标准,而Cd处理下均高于食品安全标准.同种土壤Cd处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量显著高于对照,不同基因型间表现为湛油27＞白沙1016＞花育22,棕壤花生籽实Cd含量及总量均高于潮土.对照处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd生物富集系数均大于1.0,Cd处理下多小于1.0,表明花生籽实对土壤中Cd的累积能力较强,土壤Cd含量进一步增加时,其生物富集能力降低.     

α-硫辛酸对H9c2细胞在H2O2导致的氧化应激损伤中的保护作用

缺血再灌注产生的氧自由基会导致心肌细胞凋亡. 近年研究发现, α-硫辛酸（α-lipoic acid, LA）具有抗氧化作用, 但LA是否能够对抗心肌细胞凋亡, 保护心脏功能的作用尚未明确. 本研究利用H2O2诱导的心肌细胞H9c2氧化应激模型, 分别用CCK 8方法检测细胞存活率、Hoechst33342染色观察细胞核的形态变化、流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率、real time PCR法检测Bcl 2/Bax基因表达变化, 评价LA是否具有对抗氧化损伤引起的心肌细胞凋亡能力. 结果显示, LA能提高H2O2损伤的H9c2细胞存活率, 降低心肌细胞凋亡, 而且LA通过上调Bcl 2的表达而发挥抑制细胞凋亡的作用. 研究结果证实, LA对氧化应激损伤的心肌细胞具有较好的保护作用. 该研究为LA在临床上用于治疗氧化应激引起的心肌细胞凋亡提供了实验依据.     

不同产地丹参药材HPLC指纹图谱分析及4种菲醌类成分含量的比较

对7个产地丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.)药材进行了HPLC分析并确定了其指纹图谱的共有模式谱,在此基础上比较了7个产地丹参药材中4种菲醌类成分(二氢丹参酮Ⅰ、丹参酮Ⅰ、隐丹参酮和丹参酮ⅡA)的相对含量。结果表明:来源于不同产地的丹参药材的HPLC图谱均有21个峰,其中有8个共有峰;各共有峰的相对保留时间基本相同,RSD值均小于0.086%;但相对峰面积差异明显。以4号峰(二氢丹参酮Ⅰ)为参照峰,初步构建了丹参药材的HPLC指纹图谱的共有模式谱,7个产地丹参药材的HPLC指纹图谱与共有模式谱的相似性良好,相似度值为0.916～0.973。不同产地丹参药材中4种菲醌类成分的相对含量有明显差异,其中,河南产药材中4种菲醌类成分含量均最高,而河北产药材中均最低;此外,不同产地丹参药材中4种成分的组成比例也有明显差异。根据实验结果,建议将丹参药材的HPLC指纹图谱的共有模式谱作为丹参药材质量控制和真伪辨别的标准之一。     

Coaction of spheroid-derived stem-like cells and endothelial progenitor cells promotes development of colon cancer

Although some studies described the characteristics of colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in neovascularization, it is still controversial whether an interaction exists or not between CSCs and EPCs. In the present study, HCT116 and HT29 sphere models, which are known to be the cells enriching CSCs, were established to investigate the roles of this interaction in development and metastasis of colon cancer. Compared with their parental counterparts, spheroid cells demonstrated higher capacity of invasion, higher tumorigenic and metastatic potential. Then the in vitro and in vivo relationship between CSCs and EPCs were studied by using capillary tube formation assay and xenograft models. Our results showed that spheroid cells could promote the proliferation, migration and tube formation of EPCs through secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Meanwhile, the EPCs could increase tumorigenic capacity of spheroid cells through angiogenesis. Furthermore, higher microvessel density was detected in the area enriching cancer stem cells in human colon cancer tissue. Our findings indicate that spheroid cells possess the characteristics of cancer stem cells, and the coaction of CSCs and EPCs may play an important role in the development of colon cancer.     

Synthesis, protonation and electrochemical properties of trinuclear NiFe2 complexes Fe2(CO)6(μ3-S)2[Ni(Ph2PCH2)2NR] (R = n-Bu, Ph) with an internal pendant nitrogen base as a proton relay

Two trinuclear NiFe₂ complexes Fe₂(CO)₆(μ₃-S)₂[Ni(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NR] (R = n-Bu, 1; Ph, 2) containing an internal base were prepared as biomimetic models for the active sites of FeFe and NiFe hydrogenases. Treatment of complex Fe₂(CO)₆(μ₃-S)₂[Ni(Ph₂PCH₂)₂N(n-Bu)] (1) with HOTf gave an N-protonated complex [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ₃-S)₂{Ni(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NH(n-Bu)}][OTf] ([1H][OTf]). The structures of complexes 1, 2 and [1H][OTf] were determined by X-ray crystallography, which shows that the proton held by the N atom of [1H][OTf] lies in an equatorial position. Cyclic voltammograms of complexes 1 and [1H][OTf] were studied and compared with that of Fe₂(CO)₆(μ₃-S)₂[Ni(dppe)].     

麻疯树种油的理化性质及籽粕中元素含量分析及其应用价值初探

麻疯树(Jatropha curcas L. )为大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)麻疯树属(Jatropha L. )植物,果实含油量高,种仁含油量在60%左右,可用于加工提炼优质生物柴油,以替代日益紧缺的石油能源~([1-2]).近年来,由国家科学技术部和联合国开发计划署共同开展的绿色扶贫项目中,麻疯树已经在中国石漠化最为严重的贵州、四川及云南等省区试种成功.麻疯树全株有毒,其种子、树皮、叶、根和乳汁中含有多种化学成分,可作为医药和生物农药资源;其种子加工后残留的油饼中蛋白质含量较高,可作为优质肥料,经脱毒后也可作为饲料~([3]).