Brassica rapa Polysaccharides Ameliorate CCl4‐Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice through Inhibiting Inflammatory Apoptotic Response and Oxidative Stress

Brassica rapa L., also called NIUMA, is used empirically in Tibetan medicine for its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiradiation activities. This study explored the hepatoprotective effects of B. rapa polysaccharides (BRPs) on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in mice and the underlying mechanisms. Mice were treated with CCl₄ after the oral administration of BRPs (55, 110 and 220 mg/kg) or bifendate (100 mg/kg) for 7 days. Blood and liver samples of mice were collected for analysis after 24 h. The ALP, ALT and AST levels and the biological activities of SOD, MDA and GSH?Px were measured. Histopathological changes in the liver were determined through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 expression levels were detected by commercial reagent kits. Finally, Western blot analysis was used to check the relative expression levels of caspase‐3, p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3. The BRP pre‐treatment significantly decreased the enzymatic activities of ALT, ALP and AST in the serum, markedly increased the activities of SOD and GSH?Px in the liver and reduced the MDA concentration in the liver. BRPs alleviated hepatocyte injury and markedly inhibited the expression of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6, also downregulating the CCl₄‐induced hepatic tissue expression of caspase‐3. Furthermore, BRPs inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in a dose‐dependent manner in the liver. This study demonstrated that BRPs exert hepatoprotective effect against the CCl₄‐induced liver injury via modulating the apoptotic and inflammatory responses and downregulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, B. rapa could be considered a hepatoprotective medicine.     

獐子岛及邻近海域秋季浮游植物的粒级结构及其影响因素

于2015年10月对獐子岛及邻近海域进行了航次调查,研究了獐子岛及邻近海域浮游植物粒级结构的空间分布特征及其环境影响因素。结果表明,秋季表层总叶绿素a、小型(20μm)、微型(2—20μm)和微微型(0.45—2μm)浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.52—1.25、0.03—0.81、0.33—0.91、0—0.09μg/L,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.76、0.19、0.53、0.03μg/L,对叶绿素a总量的贡献率分别为23.77%、72.26%和3.98%;底层总叶绿素a、小型(20μm)和微型(2—20μm)浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.14—1.5、0.04—1.04、0.08—0.47μg/L,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.46、0.22、0.24μg/L,对叶绿素a总量的贡献率分别为41.46%、58.50%。从垂直分布上来看,总叶绿素a浓度垂直变化为,表层底层;小型浮游植物垂直分布较为均匀;微型浮游植物垂直变化为,表层底层;微微型浮游植物垂直变化为,表层底层,且在表、底层均保持较低水平。秋季表层微型浮游植物(2—20μm)浓度与盐度呈正相关。底层总叶绿素a浓度与磷酸盐浓度呈正相关,小型浮游植物(20μm)浓度与磷酸盐和硅酸盐浓度均表现为正相关,微型浮游植物(2—20μm)浓度与温度呈正相关。统计分析结果表明,温度、盐度、磷酸盐及硅酸盐浓度是影响獐子岛及邻近海域秋季浮游植物粒级结构变动的重要因素。     

智利小植绥螨密度对朱砂叶螨产卵能力的影响

智利小植绥螨是朱砂叶螨的专性捕食者。本研究在室内,研究了智利小植绥螨密度对朱砂叶螨存活及生殖的影响。智利小植绥螨对朱砂叶螨存活干扰结果表明:干扰后24 h各处理朱砂叶螨的死亡率均显著高于对照,且死亡率随干扰密度增大而提高,10头捕食螨/叶碟处理高达76.67%,为对照处理的14.38倍。但是干扰48 h后对叶螨存活影响不大。对朱砂叶螨产卵干扰结果表明:干扰后各时间段朱砂叶螨单雌产卵量均随智利小植绥螨干扰密度的增加而降低。干扰24 h后,除1头捕食螨/叶碟处理与对照差异不显著外,其他各处理均与对照有显著差异。干扰48 h后,10头捕食螨/叶碟处理的叶螨单头产卵量是2.80粒,仅为对照的28.5%。但是干扰96h后,除10头捕食螨/叶碟处理与对照差异显著外,其余各处理与对照均差异不显著。本研究还分析了干扰对96 h内朱砂叶螨单雌总产卵量影响,处理5头/叶碟和10头/叶碟均显著低于对照,并且10头/叶碟显著低于5头/叶碟;1头/叶碟和3头/叶碟与对照相当,但是均显著高于10头/叶碟。结果显示,智利小植绥螨密度对朱砂叶螨有较强的生殖干扰作用,并且捕食螨密度越大,干扰作用越强,后代增殖潜能越小。     

葡萄ISSR-PCR反应体系的建立与优化

采用正交设计L9(34)对影响葡萄ISSR-PCR反应体系的4个因素(dNTP、TaqDNA聚合酶、引物、模板DNA)在3个浓度水平上进行试验,并通过直观分析初步确定其反应体系;在此基础上,通过单因素试验探讨了dNTP、TaqDNA聚合酶、引物、模板DNA、退火温度及循环次数等因素或条件对葡萄ISSR-PCR扩增结果的影响,确定最佳反应水平。最终建立了葡萄ISSR-PCR扩增的最佳反应体系:在25μL的反应体系中,dNTP浓度0.2 mmol/L,TaqDNA聚合酶的用量0.5 U,引物浓度0.4mmol/L,DNA模板用量40 ng。反应程序:94℃预变性5 min;94℃变性1 min,52℃退火1 min,72℃延伸1 min 30 s,40次循环;最后72℃延伸10 min,10℃保存。     

IL-13促进肝星状细胞增殖和胶原蛋白表达

肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cell,HSC)是肝纤维化发展过程中过量细胞外基质的主要来源。该研究首先利用MTT法检测IL-13实验剂量和时间条件下肝星状细胞增殖情况;然后运用RT-PCR技术检测IL-13对人肝星状细胞LX-2细胞系IL-13Rα1、IL-4Rα、TGF-β和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白转录水平的影响;最后通过羟脯氨酸法定量分析各组细胞培养上清液中的胶原蛋白含量。结果发现:IL-13能促进肝星状细胞的增殖;在不改变IL-13Rα1和IL-4Rα转录水平的同时,对TGF-β和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白mRNA的表达以及细胞总胶原蛋白含量的上调作用均呈现出较为明显的剂量和时间依赖性。     

江西瑞昌石灰岩山区退耕还林对土壤有机碳的影响

以江西瑞昌石灰岩山区退耕还林5年的林地为对象,研究了不同退耕还林模式(林苗一体化、药用纯林、多树种混交和竹阔混交)对土壤有机碳含量的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,退耕还林地0～20 cm土层的土壤有机碳、微生物生物量碳和可矿化碳含量分别增加24.4%、29%和18.4%,退耕还林显著提高了土壤有机碳含量,增强了土壤碳储能力;0～10 cm土层的土壤有机碳、微生物生物量碳和可矿化碳含量极显著高于10～20 cm土层,且退耕还林地土层间差异大于对照;4种退耕还林模式中,林苗一体化模式对土壤有机碳的影响较大.     

烟粉虱生物型对浅黄恩蚜小蜂寄主选择及个体发育的影响

为探讨寄生蜂在Q型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci替代B型烟粉虱的过程中是否起作用, 我们在实验室条件(温度27±1℃, 光周期16L∶8D, 相对湿度RH 70%～80%)下, 观察了浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia寄生B型和Q型烟粉虱若虫的行为, 研究了浅黄恩蚜小蜂对B型和Q型烟粉虱若虫的选择性、 烟粉虱生物型对浅黄恩蚜小蜂取食数量及个体发育的影响。结果发现, 浅黄恩蚜小蜂体外检测时间在B型和Q型烟粉虱若虫间差异不显著, 而寄生Q型烟粉虱若虫时的体内检测和产卵时间(190.2±14.6 s）显著高于寄生B型时所用时间(140.0±7.5 s)。在非选择条件下, 浅黄恩蚜小蜂寄生B型烟粉虱若虫的数量(8.1±0.5头)及总产卵量（9.3±0.6粒）显著高于仅提供Q型烟粉虱的寄生数量(6.3±0.5头)及总产卵量(7.0±0.6粒); 而被寄生若虫单头着卵量在处理间差异不显著。在选择性条件下, 该蜂寄生B型烟粉虱若虫量(3.1±0.4头)、总产卵量(3.8±0.5粒)及被寄生若虫单头着卵量(1.2±0.1粒)都显著高于寄生Q型烟粉虱时的情况(1.8±0.3头、1.8±0.4粒、0.7±0.1粒)。被寄生蜂取食的B型与Q型烟粉虱数量间差异不显著, 但对于同一生物型而言, 交配过的雌蜂能够取食更多的烟粉虱若虫。以B型烟粉虱为寄主时, 浅黄恩蚜小蜂雌蜂卵-黑蛹(7.2±0.1 d)、黑蛹-羽化(5.2±0.1 d)的发育时间与以Q型烟粉虱若虫为寄主时的相应发育时间(7.3±0.1 d, 5.6±0.1 d)间无显著性差异。以B型烟粉虱为寄主时寄生蜂的羽化率（73.55%±1.42%）与以Q型烟粉虱为寄主时的羽化率（68.42%±13.01%）间差异不显著。这些结果表明, 虽然浅黄恩蚜小蜂发育时间、 羽化率在烟粉虱2种生物型间无显著差异, 但该小蜂倾向于B型烟粉虱若虫作为寄主, 而且, 以B型烟粉虱若虫为寄主时, 小蜂的产卵量和寄生若虫数量均增加。但田间浅黄恩蚜小蜂的存在是否有助于Q型烟粉虱成为B型和Q型混合种群的优势种群, 还需进一步研究。     

High expression of LASS2 is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer

Homo sapiens longevity assurance homolog 2 of yeast LAG1 (LASS2), is a gene isolated from a human liver complementary DNA library. In this study, we found that LASS2 protein level was positively related to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and LASS2-negative tumors showed significant association with longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in ovarian cancer patients. The heterogeneous expression of LASS2 had been exhibited in diverse ovarian cancer cells. A significantly lower messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level of LASS2 was seen in 3AO cell compared with those in other types of ovarian cancer cells. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein levels of LASS2 in ES-2 and NIH:OVCAR-3 cells were obviously higher. LASS2 overexpression in 3AO cell could promote migration, invasion, and metastasis abilities in vitro and in vivo, while LASS2 knockdown in ES-2 and NIH:OVCAR-3 cells had the opposite effects. The oncogenic capacity of LASS2 in ovarian cancer may be mediated by increased expression of YAP/TAZ. It is indicated that lowering the expression of LASS2 is likely to serve as an unprecedented approach for the treatment of ovarian cancer.     

NKG2D discriminates diverse ligands through selectively mechano‐regulated ligand conformational changes

Stimulatory immune receptor NKG2D binds diverse ligands to elicit differential anti‐tumor and anti‐virus immune responses. Two conflicting degeneracy recognition models based on static crystal structures and in‐solution binding affinities have been considered for almost two decades. Whether and how NKG2D recognizes and discriminates diverse ligands still remain unclear. Using live‐cell‐based single‐molecule biomechanical assay, we characterized the in situ binding kinetics of NKG2D interacting with different ligands in the absence or presence of mechanical force. We found that mechanical force application selectively prolonged NKG2D interaction lifetimes with the ligands MICA and MICB, but not with ULBPs, and that force‐strengthened binding is much more pronounced for MICA than for other ligands. We also integrated steered molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis to reveal force‐induced rotational conformational changes of MICA, involving formation of additional hydrogen bonds on its binding interface with NKG2D, impeding MICA dissociation under force. We further provided a kinetic triggering model to reveal that force‐dependent affinity determines NKG2D ligand discrimination and its downstream NK cell activation. Together, our results demonstrate that NKG2D has a discrimination power to recognize different ligands, which depends on selective mechanical force‐induced ligand conformational changes.     

Negative Regulation of Interferon-induced Transmembrane Protein 3 by SET7-mediated Lysine Monomethylation

Although lysine methylation is classically known to regulate histone function, its role in modulating antiviral restriction factor activity remains uncharacterized. Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) was found monomethylated on its lysine 88 residue (IFITM3-K88me1) to reduce its antiviral activity, mediated by the lysine methyltransferase SET7. Vesicular stomatitis virus and influenza A virus infection increased IFITM3-K88me1 levels by promoting the interaction between IFITM3 and SET7, suggesting that this pathway could be hijacked to support infection; conversely, IFN-α reduced IFITM3-K88me1 levels. These findings may have important implications in the design of therapeutics targeting protein methylation against infectious diseases.