Cholesterol modulates function of connexin 43 gap junction channel via PKC pathway in H9c2 cells

It has been shown that cholesterol modulates activity of protein kinase C (PKC), and PKC phosphorylates connexin 43 (Cx43) to regulate its function, respectively. However, it is not known whether cholesterol modulates function of Cx43 through regulating activity of PKC. In the present study, we demonstrated that cholesterol enrichment reduced the dye transfer ability of Cx43 in cultured H9c2 cells. Western blot analysis indicated that cholesterol enrichment enhanced the phosphorylated state of Cx43. Immunofluorescent images showed that cholesterol enrichment made the Cx43 distribution from condensed to diffused manner in the interface between the cells. In cholesterol enriched cells, PKC antagonists partially restored the dye transfer ability among the cells, downregulated the phosphorylation of Cx43 and redistributed Cx43 from the diffused manner to the condensed manner in the cell interface. In addition, reduction of cholesterol level suppressed PKC activity to phosphorylate Cx43 and restored Cx43 function in PKC agonist-treated cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that cholesterol enrichment upregulated the phosphorylated state of Cx43 at Ser368, while PKC antagonists reversed the effect. Taken together, cholesterol level in the cells plays important roles in regulating Cx43 function through activation of the PKC signaling pathway.     

Short-tandem repeat analysis in seven Chinese regional populations

In the present study, we investigated the application of 13 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D13S317, D7S820, TH01, D16S539, CSFIPO, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX, FGA, D3S1358, D21S11, D18S51 and D5S818) routinely used in forensic analysis, for delineating population relationships among seven human populations representing the two major geographic groups, namely the southern and northern Chinese. The resulting single topology revealed pronounced geographic and population partitioning, consistent with the differences in geographic location, languages and eating habits. These findings suggest that forensic STR loci might be particularly powerful tools in providing the necessary fine resolution for reconstructing recent human evolutionary history.     

人干细胞生长因子Ca2+依赖糖识别结构域缺失突变体的重组表达及生物学活性的初步探讨

本作已有的研究结果证明,完整的人干细胞生长因子(hSCGF)没有种属特异性,即可以作用于小鼠骨髓造血细胞。这一点与在Ca^2 依赖糖识别结构域(CRD)缺失了78个氨基酸残基的截短分子(hSCGFβ)有所不同。本研究从hSCGF全长cDNA中完全删除了CRD结构域编码序列,进一步探讨CRD结构域的生物学功能。由于该突变体序列GC含量较高．因此将该缺失突变体序列克隆在GST融合表达载体中进行融合表达。通过低温(28℃)诱导,表达产物主要以可溶蛋白的形式存在。利用亲和层析纯化CRD结构域完全缺失的hSCGF突变体融合蛋白,通过检测重组突变分子的协同刺激造血活性有无改变来初步探讨CRD结构域在hSCGF分子中的生物学功能。研究结果表明,去掉完整CRD结构域的突变分子仍然具有造血刺激活性。据此推断CRD结构域在hSCGF分子中可能对于受体配体结合起辅助作用。     

Cell proliferation is promoted by compressive stress during early stage of chondrogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs

The presence of an appropriate number of viable cells is prerequisite for successive differentiation during chondrogenesis. Chondrogenic differentiation has been reported to be influenced by mechanical stimuli. This research aimed to study the effects of cyclic compressive stress on cell viability of rat bone marrow‐derived MSCs (BMSCs) during chondrogenesis as well as its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that dynamic compression increased cell quantity and viability remarkably in the early stage of chondrogenesis, during which the expression of Ihh, Cyclin D1, CDK4, and Col2α1 were enhanced significantly. Possible signal pathways implicated in the process were explored in our study. MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK were not found to function in this process while BMP signaling seemed to play an important role in the mechanotransduction during chondrogenic proliferation. In conclusion, dynamic compressive stress could enhance cell viability during chondrogenesis, which might be achieved by activating BMP signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1935–1942, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Perinatal exposure to bisphenol-A impairs learning-memory by concomitant down-regulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors of hippocampus in male offspring mice

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been shown to influence development of the brain and behaviors. The purpose of the present report was to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to BPA on learning/memory and its mechanism of action, especially focusing on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Perinatal maternal exposure to BPA at 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/d significantly extended the escape length to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze, and BPA at 0.5 or 5 mg/kg/d markedly decreased the percentage of time spent in the quadrant where the platform had been during training both in postnatal day (PND) 21 and PND 56 mice. The results of passive avoidance test showed that the error frequency to step down from a platform after received footshock was significantly increased, and the latency of the step-down response onto the grid floor 24 h after received footshock was obviously reduced by exposure to BPA at 5 and 50 mg/kg/d (P < 0.01) in the PND 21 offspring or at 50 mg/kg/d in the PND 56 offspring (P < 0.01). Furthermore, perinatal exposure to BPA significantly inhibited the expressions of NMDAR subunits NR1, NR2A, and 2B in the hippocampus during the development stage, especially in PND 56 mice. The expressions of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in both PND 21 and PND 56 mice were markedly down-regulated by BPA at 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/d. These results indicate that perinatal exposure to BPA affects normal behavioral development in both spatial memory and avoidance memory, and also permanently influences the behavior of offspring in adulthood. The inhibition of expressions of NMDAR subunits and ERβ in hippocampus during postnatal development stage may be involved.     

组胺H3受体激活剂高通量筛选细胞模型的研究

摘 要 目的 建立基于报告基因的组胺H3受体（H3R）激活剂的高通量筛选模型,用此模型对收集到的中草药化合物组分进行筛选,以发现新的组胺H3R激活剂。 方法 将H3R基因质粒（H3R/pCDNA3.1-hygro）与报告基因质粒（3XCRE-LUC）按3：1的比例共转染入HEK293细胞,建立了稳定的H3R配体的报告基因筛选细胞株。激活剂与细胞表面H3R结合后,激活相应的信号通路,调节Forskolin刺激后的报告基因的表达,通过测定荧光素酶报告基因表达水平的变化,评估激活剂影响H3受体的生物活性。 结果 通过对筛选条件,如激活剂孵育时间、Forskolin终浓度、化合物溶剂的选择、溶剂DMSO终浓度等的优化,建立了可靠的筛选方法,并对多种中草药萃取物进行了筛选,找到了两种对H3R有活性的中药组分。结论 建立的细胞模型可以有效的应用于以组胺H3受体为靶点的高通量药物筛选。     

Effective selection and regeneration of transgenic rice plants with mannose as selective agent

A new method for the selection of transgenic rice plants without the use of antibiotics or herbicides has been developed. The phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) gene from Escherichia coli has been cloned and consitutively expressed in japonica rice variety TP 309. The PMI gene was transferred to immature rice embryos by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, which allowed the selection of transgenic plants with mannose as selective agent. The integration and expression of the transgene was confirmed by Southern and northern blot analysis and the activity of PMI indirectly proved with the chlorophenol red assay. The results of genetic analysis showed that the transgenes were segregated in a Mendelian fashion in the T₁ generation. The establishment of this selection system in rice provides an efficient way for producing transgenic plants without using antibiotics or herbicides with a transformation frequency of up to 41%.     

Total HIV/AIDS Expenditures in Dehong Prefecture,Yunnan Province in 2010: The First Systematic Evaluation of Both Health and Non-Health Related HIV/AIDS Expenditures in China

Objective

We assessed HIV/AIDS expenditures in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, one of the highest prevalence regions in China, and describe funding sources and spending for different categories of HIV-related interventions and at-risk populations.

Methods

2010 HIV/AIDS expenditures in Dehong Prefecture were evaluated based on UNAIDS’ National AIDS Spending Assessment methodology.

Results

Nearly 93% of total expenditures for HIV/AIDS was contributed by public sources. Of total expenditures, 52.7% was allocated to treatment and care, 24.5% to program management and administration and 19.8% to prevention. Spending on treatment and care was primarily allocated to the treatment of opportunistic infections. Most (40.4%) prevention spending was concentrated on most-at-risk populations, injection drug users (IDUs), sex workers, and men who have sex with men (MSM), with 5.5% allocated to voluntary counseling and testing. Prevention funding allocated for MSM, partners of people living with HIV and prisoners and other confined populations was low compared to the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS in these populations. Overall, people living with HIV accounted for 57.57% of total expenditures, while most-at-risk populations accounted for only 7.99%.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the applicability of NASA for tracking and assessing HIV expenditure in the context of China, it proved to be a useful tool in understanding national HIV/AIDS response from financial aspect, and to assess the extent to which HIV expenditure matches epidemic patterns. Limited funding for primary prevention and prevention for MSM, prisoners and partners of people living with HIV, signal that resource allocation to these key areas must be strengthened. Comprehensive analyses of regional and national funding strategies are needed to inform more equitable, effective and cost-effective HIV/AIDS resource allocation.