Wnt7a,frequently silenced by CpG methylation,inhibits tumor growth and metastasis via suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer

Wnt7a is a member of the Wnt family and has been reported to be involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of many types of human cancer. However, little is known about Wnt7a expression and function in gastric cancer (GC). In the present study, Wnt7a expression in GC tissues and cells was investigated, the correlation between Wnt7a expression and the prognosis was also examined. The effects of Wnt7a on proliferation, invasion, and metastasis were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and hypermethylation of the Wnt7a promoter were both detected. Wnt7a was downregulated in GC and its expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients with GC. Moreover, upregulation of Wnt7a significantly suppressed the growth, invasion, and metastasis abilities of GC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Wnt7a was found to inhibit EMT process of GC cells. In addition, the reducing expression of Wnt7a was due to methylation of 5′-CpG island within the promoter. Furthermore, the tumor suppressor role of Wnt7a is independent of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in GC cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that Wnt7a could be used as a potential diagnostic marker and target for GC management.     

Circ_0002984 induces proliferation,migration and inflammation response of VSMCs induced by ox-LDL through miR‑326-3p/VAMP3 axis in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis can result in multiple cardiovascular diseases. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) have been reported as significant non-coding RNAs in atherosclerosis progression. Dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is involved in atherosclerosis. However, up to now, the effect of circ_0002984 in atherosclerosis is still unknown. Currently, we aimed to investigate the function of circ_0002984 in VSMCs incubated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Firstly, our findings indicated that the expression levels of circ_0002984 were significantly up-regulated in the serum of atherosclerosis patients and ox-LDL-incubated VSMCs. Loss of circ_0002984 suppressed VSMC viability, cell cycle distribution and migration capacity. Then, we carried out ELISA assay to determine TNF-α and IL-6 levels. The data implied that lack of circ_0002984 obviously repressed ox-LDL–stimulated VSMC inflammation. Meanwhile, miR-326-3p, which was predicted as a target of circ_0002984, was obviously down-regulated in VSMCs treated by ox-LDL. Additionally, after overexpression circ_0002984 in VSMCs, a decrease in miR-326-3p was observed. Subsequently, miR-326-3p was demonstrated to target vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 (VAMP3). Therefore, we hypothesized that circ_0002984 could modulate expression of VAMP3 through sponging miR-326-3p. Furthermore, we confirmed that up-regulation of miR-326-3p rescued the circ_0002984 overexpressing-mediated effects on VMSC viability, migration and inflammation. Additionally, miR-326-3p inhibitor-mediated functions on VSMCs were reversed by knockdown of VAMP3. In conclusion, circ_0002984 mediated cell proliferation, migration and inflammation through modulating miR-326-3p and VAMP3 in VSMCs, which suggested that circ_0002984 might hold great promise as a therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.     

基于多重置换扩增技术的RNA病毒基因组扩增方法研究

为了便于新发或罕见病毒性传染病的筛查检测,本研究利用多重置换扩增技术,以负链RNA病毒—发热伴血小板减少综合征病毒和正链RNA病毒—登革病毒为模拟样本探索临床样本中RNA病毒基因组非特异性扩增方法。研究中通过梯度稀释的RNA病毒模拟样本中可能存在的不同丰度的病原体,样本核酸依次加工成单链cDNA、双链cDNA、T4DNA连接酶处理后的双链cDNA以及添加外源辅助RNA后合成并连接的双链cDNA形式,然后进行Phi29DNA聚合酶等温扩增,使用荧光定量PCR方法比较各种方法对RNA病毒核酸扩增的影响。结果显示,对于不同类型的RNA病毒模拟标本,多重置换扩增对于单链及双链cDNA的扩增效果有限,而双链cDNA经DNA连接酶处理后的扩增能达到6×103倍;在cDNA合成过程中加入外源辅助RNA,模拟样本中病毒基因组的扩增可达2×105倍,尤其是对含有低丰度病原体的模拟样本扩增效果的改善更为明显。本研究摸索建立了基于多重置换扩增技术的RNA病毒基因组扩增方法,能够对样本中低丰度RNA病毒基因组实现有效扩增,可满足开展多种病原体筛查检测的需求。     

大兴安岭林区针叶林的生长方程及火灾林木死亡率

本文用随机模拟的方法建立了北方针叶林的生长方程及其受到火灾侵害后的林木死亡率,定量地研究了火灾对这种林分变动的影响．