Genetically encoded redox biosensor system for H2O2 measurement in four subcellular compartments in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells

Science China Life Sciences -     

Development of a novel feeding regime for large scale production of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem/stromal cells

Cytotechnology - Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hUC-MSCs) have attracted significant research interests in regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies due to their...     

Human surfactant protein B promoter in transgenic mice: temporal, spatial, and stimulus-responsive regulation

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is a developmentally and hormonally regulated lung protein that is required for normal surfactant function. We generated transgenic mice carrying the human SP-B promoter (-1,039/+431 bp) linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). CAT activity was high in lung and immunoreactive protein localized to alveolar type II and bronchiolar epithelial cells. In addition, thyroid, trachea, and intestine demonstrated CAT activity, and each of these tissues also expressed low levels of SP-B mRNA. Developmental expression of CAT activity and SP-B mRNA in fetal lung were similar and both increased during explant culture. SP-B mRNA but not CAT activity decreased during culture of adult lung, and both were reduced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1). Treatment of adult mice with intratracheal bleomycin caused similar time-dependent decreases in lung SP-B mRNA and CAT activity. These findings indicate that the human SP-B promoter fragment directs tissue- and lung cell-specific transgene expression and contains cis-acting elements involved in regulated expression during development, fetal lung explant culture, and responsiveness to TGF-beta and bleomycin-induced lung injury.     

Ataxia-Telangiectasia Group D Complementing Gene (ATDC) Promotes Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation by Activating NF-κB Pathway

Previous studies suggested Ataxia-telangiectasia group D complementing gene (ATDC) as an oncogene in many types of cancer. However, its expression and biological functions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. Herein, we investigated its expression pattern in 109 cases of human NSCLC samples by immunohistochemistry and found that ATDC was overexpressed in 62 of 109 NSCLC samples (56.88%). ATDC overexpression correlated with histological type (p<0.0001), tumor status (p = 0.0227) and histological differentiation (p = 0.0002). Next, we overexpressed ATDC in normal human bronchial epithelial cell line HBE and depleted its expression in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1299. MTT and colony formation assay showed that ATDC overexpression promoted cell proliferation while its depletion inhibited cell growth. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed that ATDC overexpression decreased the percentage of cells in G1 phase and increased the percentage of cells in S phase, while ATDC siRNA treatment increased the G1 phase percentage and decreased the S phase percentage. Further study revealed that ATDC overexpression could up-regulate cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression in HBE cells while its depletion down-regulated cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression in A549 and H1299 cells. In addition, ATDC overexpression was also associated with an increased proliferation index, cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression in human NSCLC samples. Further experiments demonstrated that ATDC up-regulated cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression independent of wnt/β-catenin or p53 signaling pathway. Interestingly, ATDC overexpression increased NF-κB reporter luciferase activity and p-IκB protein level. Correspondingly, NF-κB inhibitor blocked the effect of ATDC on up-regulation of cyclin D1 and c-Myc. In conclusion, we demonstrated that ATDC could promote lung cancer proliferation through NF-κB induced up-regulation of cyclin D1 and c-Myc.     

凋亡信号调节激酶1对细胞凋亡的调节作用

细胞存活与凋亡之间的平衡是多细胞生物正常发育与稳态的关键。细胞凋亡是受多种因素高度调控的细胞程序性死亡过程。凋亡信号调节激酶 1 (ASK1 )是促分裂原活化蛋白激酶激酶激酶家族的成员之一 ,它分别激活SER1 JNK和MKK3 MKK6 p38途径 ,在细胞因子及应激诱导细胞凋亡过程中起着关键作用。TNF受体和Fas信号转导系统在抗凋亡与促凋亡过程中发挥重要作用 ,其中包括TNF受体Ⅰ相关死亡域蛋白 (TRADD)、Fas相关死亡域蛋白 (FADD)等多种蛋白因子。细胞色素C是线粒体依赖性死亡信号 ,受Bcl 2家族蛋白的调节。反应性氧化合物的氧化激活使硫氧还蛋白 (Trx)氧化 ,并与ASK1分离 ,从而激活ASK1造成细胞凋亡。总之 ,许多促凋亡与抗凋亡因子组成复杂的、相互拮抗的机制。在信号转导的各种不同的关卡上 ,这些因子的平衡作用最终决定细胞的生与死。     

Synthesis and interaction of bovine serum albumin with p‐hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives

Three novel p‐hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (HSOP, HSOX, HSCP) were synthesized from p‐hydroxybenzoic acid and sulfonamides (sulfamonomethoxine sodium, sulfamethoxazole and sulfachloropyridazine sodium) and characterized by elemental analysis, HNMR and MS. Interactions between derivatives and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by fluorescence quenching spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra and time‐resolved fluorescence spectra. Based on fluorescence quenching calculation and Förster's non‐radioactive energy transfer theory, the values of the binding constants, basic thermodynamic parameters and binding distances were obtained. Experimental results indicated that the three derivatives had a strong ability to quench fluorescence from BSA and that the binding reactions of the derivatives with BSA were a static quenching process. Thermodynamic parameters showed that binding reactions were spontaneous and exothermic and hydrogen bond and van der Waals force were predominant intermolecular forces between the derivatives and BSA. Synchronous fluorescence spectra suggested that HSOX and HSCP had little effect on the microenvironment and conformation of BSA in the binding reactions but the microenvironments around tyrosine residues were disturbed and polarity around tyrosine residues increased in the presence of HSOP. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observations on the Ultrastructure of the Root Nodules and Its Endophyte of Elaeagnus mollis Diels

The ultrastructure of the root nodule infecting cell of Elaeagnus mollis Diels and its shapes of the endophyte were observed by light microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The endophyte in the root nodules of Elaeagnus mollis D. has five different developing forms: hyphae, nitrogen fixing vesicles, sporangia, sporangio-spores and bacteroid-like cells. The roles played by the different forms of the endophytes in symbiotic nitrogen fixation arc discussed also.