Effects of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity and gene flow among the Homidia socia (Collembola: Entomobryidae) populations in the Thousand Island Lake

In the present study, partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of 22 island populations of the springtail Homidia socia in the Thousand Island Lake were sequenced. Across all sequences, 37 haplotypes were identified for the 510‐bp mitochondrial (mt) DNA COI gene. Haplotype 2 was the most common, and was distributed in the most of the 22 island populations. Haplotype diversity ranged from 0.065 to 0.733, and the total genetic diversity was 0.56216. The genetic characteristics of the 22 island populations were analyzed using the fixation index and gene flow, with values of 0.00043–0.94900 and 0.02703–703.72540, respectively. Comparison between (island area and isolations) with population genetic diversity revealed that there were no significant correlations between them, except for a significant correlation between the number of haplotypes and island area. Mantel tests showed that there was no significant correlation between geographic distance and genetic distance among various groups. All the results indicated that there were no obvious relationships between island characteristics and the genetic diversity of the springtails. We consider that the low dispersal capacity of springtails and the island patches surrounded by water in the Thousand Island Lake are the major factors affecting the genetic diversity of H. socia.     

Enhanced Healing of Rat Calvarial Critical Size Defect with Selenium-Doped Lamellar Biocomposites

A 3D porous lamellar selenium-containing nano-hydroxyapatite (SeHAN)/chitosan (CS) biocomposite was synthesized. The selenium-containing hydroxyapatite (HA) grains of 150～200 nm in length and 20～30 nm in width were observed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. A combination of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and SEM indicated that HA particles were uniformly dispersed in chitosan matrix and there was a chemical interaction between chitosan and HA. Then, a standard critical size calvarial bone defect was created in Wistar rats. In group 1, no implant was made in the defect. In groups 2 and 3, HA nanoparticles (HAN)/CS biocomposite and SeHAN/CS biocomposite were implanted into the defect, respectively. After 4 weeks, the histological assessment clearly exhibited no significant changes, only found some living cells anchored in the periphery of the implants. After 8 and 12 weeks, most newly formed osteoid tissue was found in the SeHAN/CS implant group. Additionally, the newly formed osteoid tissue, both at the edge and in the center of implants, was bioactive and neovascularized. Microfocus computerized tomography measurements also confirmed the much better quality of the newly formed bone tissue in SeHAN/CS implant group than that in HAN/CS implant group (p?<?0.01). Collectively, the SeHAN/CS biocomposite, as a bioactive bone grafting substitute, significantly enhanced the repair of bone defect.     

Mechanisms of Metabonomic for a Gateway Drug: Nicotine Priming Enhances Behavioral Response to Cocaine with Modification in Energy Metabolism and Neurotransmitter Level

Nicotine, one of the most commonly used drugs, has become a major concern because tobacco serves as a gateway drug and is linked to illicit drug abuse, such as cocaine and marijuana. However, previous studies mainly focused on certain genes or neurotransmitters which have already been known to participate in drug addiction, lacking endogenous metabolic profiling in a global view. To further explore the mechanism by which nicotine modifies the response to cocaine, we developed two conditioned place preference (CPP) models in mice. In threshold dose model, mice were pretreated with nicotine, followed by cocaine treatment at the dose of 2 mg/kg, a threshold dose of cocaine to induce CPP in mice. In high-dose model, mice were only treated with 20 mg/kg cocaine, which induced a significant CPP. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance based on metabonomics was used to investigate metabolic profiles of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and striatum. We found that nicotine pretreatment dramatically increased CPP induced by 2 mg/kg cocaine, which was similar to 20 mg/kg cocaine-induced CPP. Interestingly, metabolic profiles showed considerable overlap between these two models. These overlapped metabolites mainly included neurotransmitters as well as the molecules participating in energy homeostasis and cellular metabolism. Our results show that the reinforcing effect of nicotine on behavioral response to cocaine may attribute to the modification of some specific metabolites in NAc and striatum, thus creating a favorable metabolic environment for enhancing conditioned rewarding effect of cocaine. Our findings provide an insight into the effect of cigarette smoking on cocaine dependence and the underlying mechanism.     

Prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 3 targets Pax2 for destruction

Rhomboid-7 (rho-7) is a mitochondrial-specific intramembranous protease. The loss-of-function mutation rho-7 results in semi-lethality, while escapers have a reduced lifespan with several neurological disorders [1]. Here we show that general, or CNS-specific expression of rho-7 can rescue the lethality of rho-7. General, or CNS-specific over-expression of rho-7 in otherwise wild-type animals caused semi-lethality, with approximately 50% of the animals escaping this lethality, developing into adults displaying a shortened life span with larval locomotory problem. On a cellular level, over-expression resulted in severe depression of ATP levels and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II mRNA levels, a lowered number of mitochondria in neurons and aggregation of mitochondria in the brain indicating mitochondrial malfunction. Over-expression of rho-7 in developing eye discs resulted in an elevated apoptotic index. In the CNS, elevated levels of rho-7 were accompanied by both isoforms of Opa1-like, a dynamin-like GTPase, a mitochondrial component involved in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and function, including apoptosis. Most, but not all, of rho-7 over-expression phenotypes were suppressed by introducing a heterozygous mutation for Opa1-like. Our results suggest that rho-7 and Opa1-like function in a common molecular pathway affecting mitochondrial function and apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster.     

过表达Lin28a/Lin28b对let-7家族活性的影响

研究在HeLaS3细胞中过表达Lin28a/Lin28b对let-7家族miRNA表达水平和活性的影响。首先,构建Lin28a和Lin28b的表达载体pAAV2neo-Lin28a和pAAV2neo-Lin28b,分别转染HeLaS3细胞并筛选获得Lin28a和Lin28b的稳定表达细胞株HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a和HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b。然后,以pAAV2neo-Gluc-(Fluc)为基本骨架,构建并获得检测let-7家族miRNA活性的8种质粒型载体,并包装为相应的重组腺相关病毒(Recombinant adeno-associated virus,rAAV),作为检测miRNA靶序列介导的转录后抑制活性的传感器,命名为Asensor。在此基础上,以HeLaS3细胞为对照,用Western blot检测HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a和HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b细胞中Lin28a和Lin28b表达水平,用QRT-PCR测定let-7家族各成员表达水平,用Asensor检测let-7家族各成员活性。Western blot结果显示,HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a和HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b均能有效地表达Lin28a和Lin28b蛋白;QRT-PCR检测结果显示,相比于HeLaS3细胞,HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a细胞中let-7家族各成员表达水平都下降(除let-7e外),但不同成员下降幅度存在差异;Asensor检测结果显示,let-7家族所有成员活性水平都下降,但不同成员下降幅度也存在差异,且同一成员活性水平与表达水平及其下降趋势也不一致。相比于HeLaS3细胞,HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b细胞中let-7家族成员的表达和活性水平均明显下降,但表达水平的下降幅度比HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a细胞大,而活性的下降幅度却与之相近。本研究建立了一种检测和比较miRNA靶序列介导的转录后抑制活性的方法,首次研究了过表达Lin28a和Lin28b对细胞中的let-7家族miRNA活性影响,并发现Lin28a和Lin28b对let-7家族miRNA表达水平的影响和对其相应活性的影响不一致性,说明在检测miRNA表达水平的同时检测miRNA活性能更全面揭示miRNA的调节功能,为进一步研究let-7家族的调控机制奠定了基础。     

The PDZ-GEF Gef26 regulates synapse development and function via FasII and Rap1 at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) are essential for small G proteins to activate their downstream signaling pathways, which are involved in morphogenesis, cell adhesion, and migration. Mutants of Gef26, a PDZ-GEF (PDZ domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor) in Drosophila, exhibit strong defects in wings, eyes, and the reproductive and nervous systems. However, the precise roles of Gef26 in development remain unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the role of Gef26 in synaptic development and function. We identified significant decreases in bouton number and branch length at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in Gef26 mutants, and these defects were fully rescued by restoring Gef26 expression, indicating that Gef26 plays an important role in NMJ morphogenesis. In addition to the observed defects in NMJ morphology, electrophysiological analyses revealed functional defects at NMJs, and locomotor deficiency appeared in Gef26 mutant larvae. Furthermore, Gef26 regulated NMJ morphogenesis by regulating the level of synaptic Fasciclin II (FasII), a well-studied cell adhesion molecule that functions in NMJ development and remodeling. Finally, our data demonstrate that Gef26-specific small G protein Rap1 worked downstream of Gef26 to regulate the level of FasII at NMJs, possibly through a βPS integrin-mediated signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings define a novel role of Gef26 in regulating NMJ development and function.     

Anticancer drugs cause release of exosomes with heat shock proteins from human hepatocellular carcinoma cells that elicit effective natural killer cell antitumor responses in vitro

Failure of immune surveillance related to inadequate host antitumor immune responses has been suggested as a possible cause of the high incidence of recurrence and poor overall survival outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma. The stress-induced heat shock proteins (HSPs) are known to act as endogenous "danger signals" that can improve tumor immunogenicity and induce natural killer (NK) cell responses. Exosome is a novel secretory pathway for HSPs. In our experiments, the immune regulatory effect of the HSP-bearing exosomes secreted by human hepatocellular carcinoma cells under stress conditions on NK cells was studied. ELISA results showed that the production of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 was up-regulated in both cell lines in a stress-specific manner. After exposure to hepatocellular carcinoma cell-resistant or sensitive anticancer drugs (hereafter referred to as "resistant" or "sensitive" anticancer drug), the membrane microvesicles were actively released by hepatocellular carcinoma cells, differing in their ability to present HSPs on the cell surface, which were characterized as exosomes. Acting as a decoy, the HSP-bearing exosomes efficiently stimulated NK cell cytotoxicity and granzyme B production, up-regulated the expression of inhibitory receptor CD94, and down-regulated the expression of activating receptors CD69, NKG2D, and NKp44. Notably, resistant anticancer drugs enhanced exosome release and generated more exosome-carried HSPs, which augmented the activation of the cytotoxic response. In summary, our findings demonstrated that exosomes derived from resistant anticancer drug-treated HepG2 cells conferred superior immunogenicity in inducing HSP-specific NK cell responses, which provided a clue for finding an efficient vaccine for hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy.