Testosterone & lipid metabolism in rabbits.

Testosterone and lipid metabolism was studied in rabbits. The effect of orchidectomy in rabbits fed normal diets and of testosterone propionate administration to these animals on total cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides of serum, liver, aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta as well as the activity of lipoprotein lipase in the aortic segments and heart was investigated. With a few exceptions, total cholesterol,phospholipids, and triglycerides increased in these tissues in orchidectomized animals and testosterone counteracted this increase. 3 segments of the aorta revealed variations in response to lipids in the orchidectomized animals as well as in the testosterone administered. Lipoprotein lipase activity decreased in the heart and the 3 aortic segments on orchidectomy, and testosterone administration caused increased enzyme activity.     

Kindlin-2 promotes Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of androgen receptor and contributes to breast cancer progression

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling plays important roles in breast cancer progression. We show here that Kindlin-2, a focal adhesion protein, is critically involved in the promotion of AR signaling and breast cancer progression. Kindlin-2 physically associates with AR and Src through its two neighboring domains, namely F1 and F0 domains, resulting in formation of a Kindlin-2-AR-Src supramolecular complex and consequently facilitating Src-mediated AR Tyr-534 phosphorylation and signaling. Depletion of Kindlin-2 was sufficient to suppress Src-mediated AR Tyr-534 phosphorylation and signaling, resulting in diminished breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Re-expression of wild-type Kindlin-2, but not AR-binding-defective or Src-binding-defective mutant forms of Kindlin-2, in Kindlin-2-deficient cells restored AR Tyr-534 phosphorylation, signaling, breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, re-introduction of phosphor-mimic mutant AR-Y534D, but not wild-type AR reversed Kindlin-2 deficiency-induced inhibition of AR signaling and breast cancer progression. Finally, using a genetic knockout strategy, we show that ablation of Kindlin-2 from mammary tumors in mouse significantly reduced AR Tyr-534 phosphorylation, breast tumor progression and metastasis in vivo. Our results suggest a critical role of Kindlin-2 in promoting breast cancer progression and shed light on the molecular mechanism through which it functions in this process.Subject terms: Cell signalling, Breast cancer     

Discovery of novel mRNA demethylase FTO inhibitors against esophageal cancer

A series of 1,2,3-triazole analogues as novel fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) inhibitors were synthesised in this study. Among all 1,2,3-triazoles, compound C6 exhibited the most robust inhibition of FTO with an IC₅₀ value of 780 nM. It displayed the potent antiproliferative activity against KYSE-150, KYSE-270, TE-1, KYSE-510, and EC109 cell lines with IC₅₀ value of 2.17, 1.35, 0.95, 4.15, and 0.83 μM, respectively. In addition, C6 arrested the cell cycle at G2 phase against TE-1 and EC109 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of cellular mechanisms demonstrated that C6 concentration-dependently regulated epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway and PI3K/AKT pathway against TE-1 and EC109 cells. Molecular docking studies that C6 formed important hydrogen-bond interaction with Lys107, Asn110, Tyr108, and Leu109 of FTO. These findings suggested that C6 as a novel FTO inhibitor and orally antitumor agent deserves further investigation to treat esophageal cancer.     

基于高通量测序技术对山羊盲肠细菌多样性的分析

【背景】由于反刍动物特殊的生理结构,以往研究者主要集中对其瘤胃微生物的结构与组成进行了大量研究,严重忽略了盲肠微生物在营养物质消化和肠道健康方面发挥的重要作用。【目的】采用高通量测序技术分析山羊盲肠细菌的多样性及菌群结构。【方法】选用12只10月龄健康母羊,其平均体重为20.70±1.60kg,饲喂20d后,采集每只山羊的盲肠内容物,提取微生物总DNA,用细菌通用引物对细菌16S rRNA基因的高可变区进行PCR扩增,利用Illumina MiSeq平台对扩增子进行高通量测序,并用QIIME等软件对测序序列进行生物信息学分析。【结果】山羊盲肠微生物测序共获得813 496条有效序列与6 883个OTU,并且稀释曲线和Coverage指数反映此次测序结果比较全面的覆盖了山羊盲肠微生物群落。α多样性和β多样性分析表明,山羊个体之间盲肠微生物的多样性存在差异。在门水平,各样品的优势菌门均为厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes);属水平,核心菌群由梭菌属(Clostridium)、瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcus)和6个未分类的细菌组成。PICRUSt基因预测表明,山羊盲肠微生物以代谢功能为主,主要包括:碳水化合物代谢、氨基酸代谢、能量代谢和脂质代谢等。【结论】山羊盲肠与瘤胃细菌的多样性存在显著差异,与粪便微生物组成相似;与单胃动物相比,两者盲肠微生物的组成既有共性,也存在差异。     

吉林省中西部平原区土壤线虫群落生态特征

于 2 0 0 3年 7月和 9月 ,在吉林省中西部平原区进行土壤线虫取样 ,10个采样区 2 8个调查样地 2次共捕获线虫 10 2 2 0只 ,个体密度平均 182 5 0只 /m2 ,分别隶属于线形动物门 2纲 7目 2 0科 32属。真滑刃属、短体属和垫刃属为优势类群 ,是吉林省中西部平原区土壤线虫群落最重要的类群 ,稀有类群个体数量尽管很少 ,但分布的范围并不狭小 ,线虫各类群空间分布的广狭与个体数量的多寡在吉林省中西部平原区并末呈现出明显的一致性。土壤线虫群落垂直分布 ,受人类活动扰动的生境土壤线虫类群数和个体密度表聚性较差 ,土壤线虫向土壤下层移动明显 ;水平分布 ,天然林和受人类活动扰动生境土壤线虫类群数和个体密度差异显著 ;农田土地利用方式对土壤线虫群落特征影响总体是负面的 ,而居民点园地可能增加土壤线虫的类群数和生物多样性。 PPI/MI值对于不同人类活动对土壤生态环境的变化反映更敏感     

间斑寇蛛的生态学观察与实验

报道间斑寇蛛首次在南方大批量人工养殖成功所获得的行为生态学资料:养殖方法、捕食与食谱、活动规律、蜕皮与体色的关系;温度和湿度对间斑寇蛛活动能力、成活率、蜕皮率的影响;温度和食物对其若蛛生长发育的交互影响作用。间斑寇蛛生长发育的适宜温区是20～30℃,RH55%～75%;最适合温度为25℃,RH65%,苍蝇为较理想的食物。结合野外进行了种群密度的调查、初步分析了其种群分布与栖境生物群落的关系。     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles containing miR-181d protect rats against renal fibrosis by inhibiting KLF6 and the NF-κB signaling pathway

Recent studies have investigated the ability of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in regulating neighboring cells by transferring signaling molecules, such as microRNAs (miRs) in renal fibrosis. EVs released by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) contain miR-181d, which may represent a potential therapy for renal fibrosis. miR-181d has been speculated to regulate Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), which activates the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Luciferase assays were performed to confirm the relationship between miR-181d and KLF6. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in vivo and in vitro were performed to assess the effect of BMSC-derived EVs (BMSC-EVs), which contained miR-181d, on KLF6, NF-κB, and renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were treated with EVs derived from BMSCs followed by evaluation of collagen type IV α1 (Col4α1), Collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as indicators of the extent of renal fibrosis. Renal fibrosis was induced in rats by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) followed by the subsequent analysis of fibrotic markers. BMSC-EVs had higher miR-181d expression. Overexpression of miR-181d correlated with a decrease in KLF6 expression as well as the levels of IκBα phosphorylation, α-SMA, Col4α1, TGF-βR1 and collagen I in HK-2 cells. In vivo, treatment with miR-181d-containing BMSC-derived EVs was able to restrict the progression of fibrosis in UUO-induced rats. Together, BMSC-EVs suppress fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by delivering miR-181d to neighboring cells, where it targets KLF6 and inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway.Subject terms: Cell biology, Biotechnology     

细胞外信号调节激酶1/2信号通路在慢性哮喘模型大鼠支气管平滑肌细胞迁移功能变化中的调控作用

本研究旨在探讨细胞外信号调节激酶1／2(extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK1/2)信号通路在慢性哮喘模型大鼠支气管平滑肌细胞(bronchial smooth muscle cells,BSMCs)迁移能力改变中的调控作用。应用卵清蛋白致敏和雾化方法制备大鼠慢性哮喘模型,体外培养大鼠BSMCs,采用免疫荧光细胞化学、Western blot和RT-PCR方法检测ERK1／2信号通路的表达,分别用平面迁移实验和跨膜迁移实验来评价BSMCs的活动和趋向迁移能力,并比较用和不用ERK1／2信号通路干预剂的差异。Western blot结果显示慢性哮喘模型大鼠BSMCs中总ERK1／2(9．13±0．87)较对照组(4．68±0．59)明显增加,磷酸化ERK1／2(p-ERK1/2)占总ERK1／2的比值(0．55±0．05)较对照组(0．48±0．04)显著提高(n=10,P<0．01)。慢性哮喘组ERK1和ERK2 mRNA的表达(1．83±0．24和1．07±0．11)较对照组(0．58±0．14和0．51±0．12)明显增高(n=10,P<0．01)。在平面迁移实验中,慢性哮喘大鼠BSMCs的迁移最远距离是对照组的(2．9±0．1)倍,在ERK1／2激动剂表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor, EGF)刺激下增加到(5．0±0．2)倍,而在30μmol／L PD98059的作用后下降到(1．7±0．2)倍。正常对照大鼠BSMCs平面迁移能力对PD98059的反应较慢性哮喘组弱,仅在100μmol／L PD98059的作用下下降到(0．8±0．1)倍。跨膜迁移实验中,慢性哮喘大鼠BSMCs的跨膜迁移细胞是对照组的(1．9±0．1)倍,在EGF刺激下增加到(3．1±0．2)倍,而在30μmol/L PD98059作用后下降到(1.45±0.2)倍。这些结果表明慢性哮喘模型大鼠BSMCs的迁移能力明显增强,ERK1／2信号通路在该功能变化的调控中可能发挥了重要作用。     

Refolding and purification of interferon-gamma in industry by hydrophobic interaction chromatography

A new technology for renaturation with simultaneous purification of the recombinant human interferon-gamma (rhIFN-gamma) in downstream of biotechnology is presented. The strategies to develop the new technology in industry scale were suggested. Based on chemical equilibrium and molecular interactions, the principle of rhIFN-gamma refolding by HPHIC was described. The kind of stationary and mobile phases were evaluated and found the former to contribute to the rhIFN-gamma refolding more than the latter. The extract containing the rhIFN-gamma in gram scale in 7.0 mol L(-1) guanidine hydrochloride solution of 700 mL was directly pumped into a unit of simultaneous renaturation and purification of proteins (USRPP, 10 x 300 mm i.d.) packed by small particle packings of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and a satisfactory recovery of bioactivity and mass of the rhIFN-gamma was obtained. With flow rate 100 mL min(-1) and a gradient elution by only one step in 4h, the purity and specific bioactivity approach to 95% and 8.7 x 10(7) IU(-1) mg, respectively. To evaluate the goodness of the presented new technology in this study, a usual method with the renaturation by dilution method firstly and then purification with a series of LC in literature was employed to compare with each other. The obtained result in terms of purity, recoveries of mass and bioactivity, cost time as well as expenses, the former is much better than the latter. Comparing the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma in the extract before to that after the renaturation by the USRPP, the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma increased 62-fold.