ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸抗肿瘤新途径——抑制具核梭杆菌黏附宿主细胞

【背景】大量文献报道ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸尤其是二十二碳六烯酸(Docosahexaenoic Acid,DHA)与二十碳五烯酸(Eicosapentaenoic Acid,EPA)具有抗肿瘤作用,但是其抗肿瘤机制还不够完善。【目的】探究ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸、具核梭杆菌以及结直肠癌三者之间的关联。【方法】在检测二十二碳六烯酸、二十碳五烯酸、α-亚麻酸(α-Linolenic Acid,ALA)等ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸对人结直肠腺癌细胞Caco-2、正常结肠上皮细胞NCM460生长影响的基础上,检测DHA等3种多不饱和脂肪酸对具核梭杆菌黏附人体细胞以及Fap2、FadA、RadD等具核梭杆菌毒力关键基因表达的影响。【结果】30μg/mL的DHA、EPA、ALA对Caco-2生长抑制分别为9.09%、4.95%、7.52%,而对NCM460生长抑制达31.15%、25.48%、29.11%,而且相关抑制作用仅具有浓度依赖性而无时间依赖性。经30μg/mL的DHA、EPA、ALA预处理的具核梭杆菌黏附Caco-2细胞的能力分别下降81.04%(P=0)、93.63%(P=0)和68.63%(P=0);而共培养时加入DHA、EPA、ALA对具核梭杆菌黏附Caco-2细胞的能力没有显著影响。同时,30μg/mLDHA处理导致F.nucleatum的Fap2基因显著下降10.22%(P=0.027);30μg/mL EPA处理导致FadA、Fap2基因分别显著下降23.49%(P=0)、15.09%(P=0.003);30μg/mL ALA处理导致FadA基因显著下降26.75%(P=0.012)。【结论】综合上述实验结果以及DHA、EPA、ALA仅能短时间抑制具核梭杆菌生长等文献报道,我们认为,DHA、EPA等ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸并非简单地直接杀伤或抑制肿瘤细胞和F.nucleatum;抑制FadA、Fap2等黏附相关基因表达,降低F.nucleatum黏附宿主细胞能力是其抗肿瘤作用的关键组成部分。ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸等活性物质对F.nucleatum等在结直肠肿瘤发生、发展中发挥重要作用的肠道细菌的影响与机制应深入开展研究。     

Monitoring of trace metals in tissues of Wallago attu (lanchi) from the Indus River as an indicator of environmental pollution

We aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of selected four trace metals (Cd, Ni, Zn and Co) in four tissues (muscles, skin, gills and liver) of a freshwater fish Wallago attu (lanchi) from three different sites (upstream, middle stream and downstream) of the Indus River in Mianwali district of Pakistan. Heavy metal contents in water samples and from different selected tissues of fish were examined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The data were statistically compared to study the effects of the site and fish organs and their interaction on the bioaccumulation pattern of these metals at P < 0.05. In W. attu the level of cadmium ranged from 0.004 to 0.24; nickel 0.003–0.708; cobalt 0.002–0.768 and zinc 47.4–1147.5 μg/g wet weight. The magnitude of metal bioaccumulation in different organs of fish species had the following order gills > liver > skin > muscle. The order of bioaccumulation of these metals was Ni < Zn < Co < Cd. Heavy metal concentrations were increased during the dry season as compared to the wet season. The results of this study indicate that freshwater fish produced and marketed in Mianwali have concentrations below the standards of FEPA/WHO for these toxic metals.     

Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay and GenoType MTBDRplus DNA Probes for Detection of Mutations Associated with Rifampicin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

BackgroundGeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and Genotype MTBDRplus (DRplus) are two World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed probe based molecular drug susceptibility testing (DST) methods for rapid diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis. Both methods target the same 81 bp Rifampicin Resistance Determining Region (RRDR) of bacterial RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) for detection of Rifampicin (RIF) resistance associated mutations using DNA probes. So there is a correspondence of the probes of each other and expected similarity of probe binding.MethodsWe analyzed 92 sputum specimens by Xpert, DRplus and LJ proportion method (LJ-DST). We compared molecular DSTs with gold standard LJ-DST. We wanted to see the agreement level of two molecular methods for detection of RIF resistance associated mutations. The 81bp RRDR region of rpoB gene of discrepant cases between the two molecular methods was sequenced by Sanger sequencing.ResultsThe agreement of Xpert and DRplus with LJ-DST for detection of RIF susceptibility was found to be 93.5% and 92.4%, respectively. We also found 92.4% overall agreement of two molecular methods for the detection of RIF susceptibility. A total of 84 out of 92 samples (91.3%) had agreement on the molecular locus of RRDR mutation by DRplus and Xpert. Sanger sequencing of 81bp RRDR revealed that Xpert probes detected seven of eight discrepant cases correctly and DRplus was erroneous in all the eight cases.ConclusionAlthough the overall concordance with LJ-DST was similar for both Xpert and DRplus assay, Xpert demonstrated more accuracy in the detection of RIF susceptibility for discrepant isolates compared with DRplus. This observation would be helpful for the improvement of probe based detection of drug resistance associated mutations especially rpoB mutation in M. tuberculosis.     

Early-stage iron deficiency alters physiological processes and iron transporter expression,along with photosynthetic and oxidative damage to sorghum

Iron (Fe) starvation in Strategy II plants is a major nutritional problem causing severe visual symptoms and yield reductions. This prompted us to investigate the physiological and molecular consequences of Fe deficiency responses at an early stage in sorghum plants. The Fe-starved sorghum did not show shoot biomass reduction, but the root length, biomass, and chlorophyll synthesis were severely affected. The chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis showed that the quantum yield efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and photosynthesis performance index (Pi_ABS) in young leaves significantly reduced in response to low Fe. Besides, Fe concentration in root and shoot significantly declined in Fe-starved plants relative to Fe-sufficient plants. Accordingly, this Fe reduction in tissues was accompanied by a marked decrease in PS-release in roots. The qPCR experiment showed the downregulation of SbDMAS2 (deoxymugineic acid synthase 2), SbNAS3 (nicotianamine synthase 3), and SbYSL1 (Fe-phytosiderophore transporter yellow stripe 1) in Fe-deprived roots, suggesting that decreased rhizosphere mobilization of Fe(III)-PS contributes to reduced uptake and long-distance transport of Fe. The cis-acting elements of these gene promoters are commonly responsive to abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate, while SbYSL1 additionally responsive to salicylic acid. Further, antioxidant defense either through metabolites or antioxidant enzymes is not efficient in counteracting oxidative damage in Fe-deprived sorghum. These findings may be beneficial for the improvement of sorghum genotypes sensitive to Fe-deficiency through breeding or transgenic approaches.     

Germline Signals Deploy NHR-49 to Modulate Fatty-Acid β-Oxidation and Desaturation in Somatic Tissues of C. elegans

In C. elegans, removal of the germline extends lifespan significantly. We demonstrate that the nuclear hormone receptor, NHR-49, enables the response to this physiological change by increasing the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial β-oxidation and fatty-acid desaturation. The coordinated augmentation of these processes is critical for germline-less animals to maintain their lipid stores and to sustain de novo fat synthesis during adulthood. Following germline ablation, NHR-49 is up-regulated in somatic cells by the conserved longevity determinants DAF-16/FOXO and TCER-1/TCERG1. Accordingly, NHR-49 overexpression in fertile animals extends their lifespan modestly. In fertile adults, nhr-49 expression is DAF-16/FOXO and TCER-1/TCERG1 independent although its depletion causes age-related lipid abnormalities. Our data provide molecular insights into how reproductive stimuli are integrated into global metabolic changes to alter the lifespan of the animal. They suggest that NHR-49 may facilitate the adaptation to loss of reproductive potential through synchronized enhancement of fatty-acid oxidation and desaturation, thus breaking down some fats ordained for reproduction and orchestrating a lipid profile conducive for somatic maintenance and longevity.     

Intrastriatal administration of human immunodeficiency virus-1 glycoprotein 120 reduces glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor levels and causes apoptosis in the substantia nigra

Uninfected neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) degenerate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients through an unknown etiology. The HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) causes apoptotic neuronal cell death in the rodent striatum, but its primary neurotoxic mechanism is still under investigation. Previous studies have shown that gp120 causes neurotoxicity in the rat striatum by reducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Because glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and BDNF are neurotrophic factors crucial for the survival of dopaminergic neurons of the SN, we investigated whether gp120 reduces GDNF and BDNF levels concomitantly to induce apoptosis. Rats received a microinjection of gp120 or vehicle into the striatum and were sacrificed at various time intervals. GDNF but not BDNF immunoreactivity was decreased in the SN by 4 days in gp120-treated rats. In these animals, a significant increase in the number of caspase-3- positive neurons, both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive and -negative, was observed. Analysis of TH immunoreactivity revealed fewer TH-positive neurons and fibers in a medial and lateral portion of cell group A9 of the SN, an area that projects to the striatum, suggesting that gp120 induces retrograde degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons. We propose that dysfunction of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system associated with HIV may be caused by a reduction of neurotrophic factor expression by gp120.     

Effect of Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation on nodulation,nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean (Glycine max) genotypes in gray terrace soil

Soybean plants require high amounts of nitrogen, which are mainly obtained from biological nitrogen fixation. A field experiment was conducted by soybean (Glycine max) genotypes, growing two varieties (Shohag and BARI Soybean6) and two advanced lines (MTD10 and BGM02026) of soybean with or without Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation. Soybean plants of all genotypes inoculated with Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 produced greater nodule numbers, nodule weight, shoot and root biomass, and plant height than non-inoculated plants. Similarly, inoculated plants showed enhanced activity of nitrogenase (NA) enzyme, contributing to higher nitrogen fixation and assimilation, compared to non-inoculated soybean plants in both years. Plants inoculated with Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 also showed higher pod, stover, and seed yield than non-inoculated plants. Therefore, Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 established an effective symbiotic relationship with a range of soybean genotypes and thus increased the nodulation, growth, and yield of soybean grown in gray terrace soils in Bangladesh.