Histamine synergistically promotes bFGF‐induced angiogenesis by enhancing VEGF production via H1 receptor

Histamine, a major mediator present in mast cells that is released into the extracellular milieu upon degranulation, is well known to possess a wide range of biological activities in several classic physiological and pathological processes. However, whether and how it participates in angiogenesis remains obscure. In the present study, we observed its direct and synergistic action with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an important inducer of angiogenesis, on in vitro angiogenesis models of endothelial cells. Data showed that histamine (0.1, 1, 10 µM) itself was absent of direct effects on the processes of angiogenesis, including the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of endothelial cells. Nevertheless, it could concentration‐dependently enhance bFGF‐induced angiogenesis as well as production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from endothelial cells. The synergistic effect of histamine on VEGF production could be reversed by pretreatments with diphenhydramine (H1‐receptor antagonist), SB203580 (selective p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor) and L ‐NAME (nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor), but not with cimetidine (H2‐receptor antagonist) and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor). Moreover, histamine could augment bFGF‐incuced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, a key factor accounting for the activation and translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) in endothelial cells. These findings indicated that histamine was able to synergistically augment bFGF‐induced angiogenesis, and this action was linked to VEGF production through H1‐receptor and the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p38 MAPK, and IκBα in endothelial cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1009–1019, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells on inhibiting airway remodeling and airway inflammation in chronic asthma

Previous studies proved that bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could improve a variety of immune‐mediated disease by its immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect on airway remodeling and airway inflammation by administrating BMSCs in chronic asthmatic mice. Forty‐eight female BALB/c mice were randomly distributed into PBS group, BMSCs treatment group, BMSCs control group, and asthmatic group. The levels of cytokine and immunoglobulin in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The number of CD4⁺CD25⁺regulatory T cells and morphometric analysis was determined by flow cytometry, hematoxylin‐eosin, immunofluorescence staining, periodic‐acid Schiff, and masson staining, respectively. We found that airway remodeling and airway inflammation were evident in asthmatic mice. Moreover, low level of IL‐12 and high levels of IL‐13, IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgG1, IgE, and IgG2a and the fewer number of CD4⁺CD25⁺regulatory T cells were present in asthmatic group. However, transplantation of BMSCs significantly decreased airway inflammation and airway remodeling and level of IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgE, and OVA‐specific IgG1, but elevated level of IL‐12 and the number of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma (P < 0.05). However, BMSCs did not contribute to lung regeneration and had no significant effect on levels of IL‐10, IFN‐Y, and IL‐13. In our study, BMSCs engraftment prohibited airway inflammation and airway remodeling in chronic asthmatic group. The beneficial effect of BMSCs might involved the modulation imbalance cytokine toward a new balance Th1–Th2 profiles and up‐regulation of protective CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma, but not contribution to lung regeneration. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1595–1605, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microsatellite genetic variation in the Chinese endemic Eucommia ulmoides (Eucommiaceae): implications for conservation

Eucommia ulmoides, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, is endangered as a consequence of long‐term and widespread harvest in the late 20th century. It has been widely cultivated as a source of herbal medicine and for use in the organic chemical industry in China. In this study, eight microsatellite markers were applied to investigate genetic diversity in E. ulmoides. Three hundred individuals from one semi‐wild population and nine cultivated populations across its main production area were collected. A high level of genetic diversity at population levels (H_E = 0.716) was observed. The highly outcrossed mating system, high longevity of E. ulmoides and seed admixture may be responsible for high genetic variation within populations. A genetic bottleneck was observed in one population. Populations were only slightly differentiated from one another (F_ST = 0.063); this was also supported by AMOVA, which revealed that 94.05% of the total variation resided within populations. This is probably attributable to long‐distance gene flow mediated by the exchange of seeds by local farmers. Implications of these results for the conservation of genetic resources of E. ulmoides are discussed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 173 , 775–785.     

Characterization of five CIPK genes expressions in maize under water stress

ABA, H₂O₂ and Ca²⁺ play critical roles as signals in the adaptive responses of plants to water and other stresses. They accumulate in plant cells under water and other stresses and induce changes in stress-related gene expressions. CIPKs, protein kinases associated with a calcineurin B-like calcium sensor, play a role in the regulation of stress gene expression in plants. However, it is still unclear whether ABA and H₂O₂ are key inducers that regulate the changes in CIPK expressions under water stress. In this study, five stress-inducible CIPKs in maize were retrieved from Database. They were designated as ZmCIPK1, 3, 8, 17 and 18, based on their homologies with known CIPK sequences. The expressions of the five ZmCIPKs in maize leaves and roots were analyzed and found to be regulated by PEG, CaCl₂, ABA and H₂O₂ to different extents. Moreover, the effect of ABA and H₂O₂ on the expressions of ZmCIPKs under water stress was in an organ-dependent manner.     

Saving face: the emotional costs of the Asian immigrant family myth

Access to resources through ethnic group membership is often presumed to affect the intensity of ethnic identification. We examine this premise using survey data on three ethnic groups in Mauritius: Creoles, Hindus, and Muslims. Two key findings emerge from our research. First, access to material resources explains only a modest proportion of total variation in ethnic identification within each group. Second, the resources that affect ethnic identification differ significantly across groups. Access to political goods through group membership affects Hindu identification but is unrelated to ethnic identification among Creoles or Muslims. Conversely, access to economic goods affects Creole and Muslim identification but has no effect on Hindu identification. Explaining these group differences leads us beyond a basic means–ends instrumentalist model to identify conditions that likely mediate the relationship between individual interests and collective identification including the divisibility of economic goods relative to political goods in Mauritius.     

Potentilla jiaozishanensis sp. nov. (sect. Leptostylae,Rosaceae) from southwest China

Potentilla jiaozishanensis, a distinct new species of Rosaceae from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is closely related to P. stenophylla var. stenophylla but clearly differs from the latter by its bidentate leaflets, lanceolate epicalyx‐segments that are longer than the sepals, villose ovaries and achenes. Moreover, the pollen grains of P. jiaozishanensis are markedly different from those of P. stenophylla var. stenophylla in size and shape. The newly described species is endemic to the Jiaozishan Mountains, southwest China.     

Nilotinib Induces Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma through AMPK Activation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Nilotinib is an orally available receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia. This study investigated the effect of nilotinib on HCC. Nilotinib did not induce cellular apoptosis. Instead, staining with acridine orange and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 revealed that nilotinib induced autophagy in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HCC cell lines, including PLC5, Huh-7, and Hep3B. Moreover, nilotinib up-regulated the phosphryaltion of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and protein phosphatase PP2A inactivation were detected after nilotinib treatment. Up-regulating PP2A activity suppressed nilotinib-induced AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy, suggesting that PP2A mediates the effect of nilotinib on AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy. Our data indicate that nilotinib-induced AMPK activation is mediated by PP2A, and AMPK activation and subsequent autophagy might be a major mechanism of action of nilotinib. Growth of PLC5 tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice was inhibited by daily oral treatment with nilotinib. Western blot analysis showed both increased phospho-AMPK expression and decreased PP2A activity in vivo. Together, our results reveal that nilotinib induces autophagy, but not apoptosis in HCC, and that the autophagy-inducing activity is associated with PP2A-regulated AMPK phosphorylation.     

PI3K and Notch signal pathways coordinately regulate the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes in asthma

AimsIn the present study, we determined whether Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Notch signal pathways are involved in the expression of cyclinD1, cyclinA and p27kip1 which were key molecules in controlling cell cycling from CD4⁺ T lymphocyte in animal model of asthma.Main methodsOvalbumin (OVA) sensitized murine model of asthma was used to investigate the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin A, and p27kip1 by splenic CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. We further observed the effect of specific inhibitor of PI3K(LY294002) and specific inhibitor of Notch(DAPT) on the proliferation of such CD4⁺ T lymphocytes.Key findingsWe found that the expression of cyclinD1 and cyclinA was upregulated at both protein and mRNA levels in asthma group while p27kip1 was down-regulated. Both LY294002 and DAPT inhibit the proliferation of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, LY294002 and DAPT have additive effect in down-regulation of cyclinD1 and upregulation of p27kip1. An upregulation of cyclinA, although not statistically significant, was also observed.SignificanceThese data suggested that PI3K signal pathway and Notch signal pathway may coordinately regulate the cell proliferation and differentiation processes through up-regulating cyclinD1 and down-regulating p27kip1 of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes.     

A Visit to the Zoos and Aquariums in Japan II

In the year 2013, the authors, who had already visited some Japanese aquariums and zoos in 2012 (Lange & Tai, 2012), revisited several Japanese aquariums and zoos. They were accompanied by two colleagues from Basle Zoo and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who joined the tour.Their goals of the tour were focused on new innovative husbandry methods, on new aquarium buildings and new zoo enclosures as well as on rare Japanese endemic animals, which are never or seldom seen outside of Japan.The perfect new aquariums in Kyoto and Kitami City (Hokkaido), but also the very specialized aquariums like the Kamo Aquarium (for jellyfish) in Yamagata, the Chitose Salmon Aquarium (for salmons), the Otaru Aquarium (for sea mammals) and the Umi Kirara Kujukushima Aquarium (for the fauna of the Kujukushima island National Park) have been destinations for this trip. Besides the aquariums also the Asahiyama Zoo (new enclosures for endemic animals of Hokkaido), Kobe Oji Zoo, Kushiro Zoo (many endemic Hokkaido species), Nagasaki Bio Park, Sapporo Maruyama Zoo (new area for South East Asian animals) and the Sasebo Zoological & Botanical Garden were visited.During this tour it was obvious that neither the colleagues in Japan nor the staff in the zoos outside of Japan know sufficient enough about the conception and the husbandry methods in the different institutions in this part of the world. Therefore it is recommendable to organize such tours often for more people, thus both sides can benefit and learn from each other. This again will influence to help to keep the animals better, to attract more visitors in order to inspire them for the conservation of nature and environment.