High glucose concentration induces endothelial cell proliferation by regulating cyclin‐D2‐related miR‐98

Cyclin D2 is involved in the pathology of vascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study investigated the role of cyclin‐D2‐regulated miRNAs in endothelial cell proliferation of T2DM. Results showed that higher glucose concentration (4.5 g/l) significantly promoted the proliferation of rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs), and significantly increased the expression of cyclin D2 and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma 1 (p‐RB1) in RAOECs compared with those under low glucose concentration. The cyclin D2‐3′ untranslated region is targeted by miR‐98, as demonstrated by miRNA analysis software. Western blot also confirmed that cyclin D2 and p‐RB1 expression was regulated by miR‐98. The results indicated that miR‐98 treatment can induce RAOEC apoptosis. The suppression of RAOEC growth by miR‐98 might be related to regulation of Bcl‐2, Bax and Caspase 9 expression. Furthermore, the expression levels of miR‐98 decreased in 4.5 g/l glucose‐treated cells compared with those treated by low glucose concentration. Similarly, the expression of miR‐98 significantly decreased in aortas of established streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rat model compared with that in control rats; but cyclin D2 and p‐RB1 levels remarkably increased in aortas of STZ‐induced diabetic rats compared with those in healthy control rats. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that high glucose concentration induces cyclin D2 up‐regulation and miR‐98 down‐regulation in the RAOECs. By regulating cyclin D2, miR‐98 can inhibit human endothelial cell growth, thereby providing novel therapeutic targets for vascular complication of T2DM.     

The insights of Let‐7 miRNAs in oncogenesis and stem cell potency

The ability of the classic tumour‐suppressive let‐7 family to inhibit carcinogenesis, tumour progression, recurrence and pluripotency of cancer stem cells has generated significant interest in the field of cancer research. Through suppressing and degrading downstream‐targeted mRNAs, let‐7 affected most aspects of cell biology. It is perplexing how let‐7 affects oncogenesis, as the large influx of new miRNAs and other kinds of non‐coding RNAs are continuously defined. In this review, we delineate the complex functions of let‐7 and discuss the future direction of let‐7 research.     

Variation analysis of pathogenic Vibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp. in Changhai mollusc farming waters using real-time PCR assay during 2011–2014

Bacterial disease has caused high mortality of breeding molluscs from 2009 to 2011 in the Changhai area (Dalian, China). Vibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp. have been detected as major pathogenic agents for aquatic animals in this area. In the present study, four virulence genes including vsm, toxR, aprX and carA were targeted to develop a real-time PCR assay for the quantitative detection of Vibrio splendidus, V. parahaemolyticus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. putida, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the assays were verified by experimental samples, and the variation tendencies of pathogenic V. splendidus, V. parahaemolyticus, P. fluorescens and P. putida strains from June to September were also detected in mollusc farming waters during 2011–2014. The concentration of V. splendidus increased from June to July, reduced in August, and then increased again in September. The highest count of V. parahaemolyticus appeared in July, and then dramatically decreased from August to September. Conversely, the counts of P. fluorescens and P. putida remained at lower levels from June to August, and then dramatically peaked in September. All four pathogenic bacteria displayed similar fluctuation tendencies of count variation in each year, and their concentrations were found to have a correlation with the average annual temperature. The variation tendency of pathogenic bacteria with temperature suggested that temperature was one of the most important factors to regulate the bacterial growth in a farming area, which could further provide information for the early warning of disease outbreak by using a convenient real-time PCR assay.     

Genome-wide mapping of copy number variations in commercial hybrid pigs using a high-density SNP genotyping array

Copy number variations (CNVs) are important forms of structural variation in human and animals and can be considered as a major genetic component of phenotypic diversity. Here we used the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip V2 and a DLY [Duroc × (Large White × Landrace)] commercial hybrid population to identify 272 CNVs belonging to 165 CNV regions (CNVRs), of which 66 are new. As CNVRs are specific to origin of population, our DLY-specific data is an important complementary to the existing CNV map in the pig genome. Eight CNVRs were selected for validation by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and the accurate rate was high (87.25%). Gene function analysis suggested that a common CNVR may play an important role in multiple traits, including growth rate and carcass quality.     

不同树龄水曲柳半同胞家系生长性状变异研究

为筛选优质的水曲柳种质资源,以吉林省三岔子林业局国家水曲柳良种基地的16年生水曲柳子代测定林75个半同胞家系为材料,分别在第4、11和16年对其树高、地径（胸径）和材积进行测定。方差分析结果表明,不同变异来源各指标均达极显著差异水平（P<0.01）;各指标表型变异系数变化范围为22.20%~63.30%,家系遗传力变化范围为0.796~0.981;相关性分析结果表明各指标间均呈极显著正相关;以材积为评价指标,按10%入选率对家系进行评价选择,初步筛选8个优良家系,入选的家系材积平均值比总平均值高0.007 m³,遗传增益为36.03%;该研究选出的优良家系可为良种登记提供基础,也可为种子园的改建提供材料。