ARL4C might serve as a prognostic factor and a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer: bioinformatics analyses and biological experiments

The ADP-ribosylation factor-like proteins (ARLs) have been proved to regulate the malignant phenotypes of several cancers. However, the exact role of ARLs in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. In this study, we systematically investigate the expression status, interactive relations, potential pathways, genetic variations and clinical values of ARLs in GC. We find that ARLs are significantly dysregulated in GC and involved in various cancer-related pathways. Subsequently, machine learning models identify ARL4C as one of the two most significant clinical indicators among ARLs for GC. Furthermore, ARL4C silencing remarkably inhibits the growth and metastasis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, enrichment analysis indicates that ARL4C is highly correlated with TGF-β1 signalling. Correspondingly, TGF-β1 treatment dramatically increases ARL4C expression and ARL4C knockdown inhibits the phosphorylation level of Smads, downstream factors of TGF-β1. Meanwhile, the coexpression of ARL4C and TGF-β1 worsens the prognosis of GC patients. Our work comprehensively demonstrates the crucial role of ARLs in the carcinogenesis of GC and the specific mechanisms underlying the GC-promoting effects of TGF-β1. More importantly, we uncover the great promise of ARL4C-targeted therapy in improving the efficacy of TGF-β1 inhibitors for GC patients.     

Lyciumamide A,a dimer of phenolic amide,protects against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity and potential mechanisms in vitro

Journal of Molecular Histology - Currently, the excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is considered to be a crucial mechanism of brain injury. Lycium barbarum A (LyA) is a...     

Loss of longitudinal superiority marks the microarchitecture deterioration of osteoporotic cancellous bones

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Osteoporosis (OP), a skeletal disease making bone mechanically deteriorate and easily fracture, is a global public health issue due to its high...     

集胞藻 PCC 6803中Sll0875蛋白参与调控光系统I活性的生物功能研究

叶绿醌是由1个萘醌环和1个半不饱和植基侧链组成的一类光系统Ⅰ（photosystem Ⅰ,PSⅠ）特有的辅因子。目前,在蓝藻中对其生物合成途径的研究主要集中在萘醌环的形成方面,而对其植基侧链的合成尚缺乏相关报道。本研究通过与近期在拟南芥中发现的1种催化植基单磷酸形成植基二磷酸的激酶（VTE6）进行同源序列比对,在集胞藻 PCC 6803中发现1个与之高度同源的蛋白质Sll0875。研究发现,在Sll0875缺失突变体中,叶绿醌和生育酚的含量缺失,叶绿素的含量降低（P<0.05）,且该突变体在无葡萄糖培养基中生长迟缓。进一步利用叶绿素荧光、P700氧化还原动力学、77K低温荧光光谱和免疫印迹分析等方法分析了该蛋白质的缺失对PSⅠ功能的影响。研究表明,在突变体Δsll0875中, PSⅠ活性下降,PSⅠ亚基含量与野生型相比显著降低（P<0.01）。这一结果表明,叶绿醌的缺失影响了PSⅠ复合物的累积,导致PSⅠ功能受损,从而影响了蓝藻正常的生长和发育。本研究在蓝藻中证实植醇磷酸化途径对叶绿醌合成的重要性,为进一步研究蓝藻中叶绿醌在PSⅠ复合物的合成、组装和稳定等过程中的作用奠定基础。     

Myostatin基因突变激发骨骼肌发育机制研究进展

肌肉生长抑制素基因（myostatin,MSTN）是骨骼肌发育的负调节因子,在不同物种中具有高度保守性。自然突变或通过基因编辑技术对该基因进行操作,均可以获得肌肉异常发达的动物个体。研究表明,MSTN基因突变可以通过多种调控途径影响肌肉发育过程。因此,从成肌细胞增殖、分化、蛋白质合成分解代谢、组蛋白修饰以及巨噬细胞极化等5个方面对MSTN突变促进肌肉发育的机理进行综述,以期为农业动物育种新材料生产及重大恶病质的治疗提供借鉴。     

Blockade of JAK2 signaling produces immunomodulatory effect to preserve pancreatic homeostasis in severe acute pancreatitis

JAK/STAT plays an important role in cytokine signal transduction and it is potentially involved in the proinflammatory response during the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, whether JAK2 activity is upregulated and whether JAK2 inhibition plays a role in the maintenance of pancreatic homeostasis during SAP is incompletely understood. Here we show that JAK2/STAT3 activity is highly elevated in SAP and blockade of JAK2 by AG-490 protects against SAP-induced pancreatic inflammation and injury. Gene expression and ELISA studies showed that JAK2 inhibition altered the cytokine profiles in both the circulation and pancreases. Further analysis revealed that JAK2 inhibition restored the level of cytokines critical for macrophage polarization towards M2 macrophage. Our findings suggest that pharmacological targeting at JAK2/STAT signalling may be an effective choice of therapeutic interventions against SAP.     

中华蜜蜂气味受体基因AcerOR58的序列与时空表达分析

[目的]通过分析中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana气味受体基因AcerOR58编码蛋白的理化性质、结构特征,明确AcerOR58时空表达特性,为该基因后续的功能研究奠定基础.[方法]利用多种生物信息学软件预测分析AcerOR58序列及其编码蛋白的结构特性,采用邻接法构建系统进化树.利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析AcerOR58在不同发育阶段工蜂触角及采集蜂不同组织的表达差异.[结果]AcerOR58基因的开放阅读框(ORF)长1 230 bp,编码409个氨基酸,成熟蛋白分子量为47.147 ku,理论等电点8.46,无信号肽,含有6个跨膜结构且N端位于胞内,31个潜在的磷酸化位点,在第80-405位氨基酸之间存在一个昆虫气味受体家族7tm_6 superfamily保守结构域.AcerOR58与西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera的AmelOR58亲缘关系最近,核苷酸序列一致性高达96.67％,氨基酸序列一致性高达97.31％.AcerOR58在采集蜂(15-25日龄)阶段的表达量较高,且在触角中的表达量极显著高于其他组织(P＜0.01).[结论]AcerOR58具有昆虫气味受体的结构特征,该基因特异性高表达于中华蜜蜂采集蜂触角中,推测其功能与识别外界蜜粉源的花香气味物质有关.     

HCV-specific interleukin-21+CD4+ T cells responses associated with viral control through the modulation of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells function in chronic hepatitis C patients

Interleukin-21 (IL-21)+CD4+ T cells are involved in the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by secreting IL-21. However, the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in the immune response against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in CHC patients and the potential mechanisms. The study subjects included nineteen CHC patients who were grouped by viral load (low, < 10⁶ RNA copies/ml, n = 8; high, > 10⁶ RNA copies/ml, n = 11). The peripheral frequency of HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells was higher in the low viral load group and was negatively correlated with the serum HCV RNA viral load in all CHC patients. Meanwhile, IL-21+ cells accumulated in the liver in the low viral load group. In vitro, IL-21 treatment increased the expression of proliferation markers and cytolytic molecules on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. In summary, these findings suggest that HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells might contribute to HCV control by rescuing HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in CHC patients.