A Novel Zebrafish Xenotransplantation Model for Study of Glioma Stem Cell Invasion

Invasion and metastasis of solid tumors are the major causes of death in cancer patients. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a small fraction of tumor cell population, but play a critical role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The xenograft of tumor cells in immunodeficient mice is one of commonly used in vivo models to study the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. However, this model is time-consuming and labor intensive. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and their transparent embryos are emerging as a promising xenograft tumor model system for studies of tumor invasion. In this study, we established a tumor invasion model by using zebrafish embryo xenografted with human glioblastoma cell line U87 and its derived cancer stem cells (CSCs). We found that CSCs-enriched from U87 cells spreaded via the vessels within zebrafish embryos and such cells displayed an extremely high level of invasiveness which was associated with the up-regulated MMP-9 by CSCs. The invasion of glioma CSCs (GSCs) in zebrafish embryos was markedly inhibited by an MMP-9 inhibitor. Thus, our zebrafish embryo model is considered a cost-effective approach tostudies of the mechanisms underlying the invasion of CSCs and suitable for high-throughput screening of novel anti-tumor invasion/metastasis agents.     

Peripheral Effects of Nesfatin-1 on Glucose Homeostasis

Aims/hypothesis

The actions of peripherally administered nesfatin-1 on glucose homeostasis remain controversial. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanisms by which peripheral nesfatin-1 regulates glucose metabolism.

Methods

The effects of nesfatin-1 on glucose metabolism were examined in mice by continuous infusion of the peptide via osmotic pumps. Changes in AKT phosphorylation and Glut4 were investigated by Western blotting and immnuofluorescent staining. Primary myocytes, adipocytes and hepatocytes were isolated from male mice.

Results

Continuous peripheral infusion of nesfatin-1 altered glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice fed either normal or high fat diet, while central administration of nesfatin-1 demonstrated no effect. Nesfatin-1 increases insulin secretion in vivo, and in vitro in cultured min6 cells. In addition, nesfatin-1 up-regulates the phosphorylation of AKT in pancreas and min6 islet cells. In mice fed normal diet, peripheral nesfatin-1 significantly increased insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver; similar effects were observed in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in mice fed high fat diet. At basal conditions and after insulin stimulation, peripheral nesfatin-1 markedly increased GLUT4 membrane translocation in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in mice fed either diet. In vitro studies showed that nesfatin-1 increased both basal and insulin-stimulated levels of AKT phosphorylation in cells derived from skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver.

Conclusions

Our studies demonstrate that nesfatin-1 alters glucose metabolism by mechanisms which increase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity via altering AKT phosphorylation and GLUT 4 membrane translocation in the skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver.     

Inhibition of mTOR Reduces Anal Carcinogenesis in Transgenic Mouse Model

The molecular mechanism of human anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is unclear, and the accumulating evidence indicate association of ASCC with the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. Here we describe a mouse model with spontaneous anal squamous cell cancer, wherein a combined deletion of Tgfbr1 and Pten in stratified squamous epithelia was induced using inducible K14-Cre. Histopathologic analyses confirmed that 33.3% of the mice showed increased susceptibility to ASCC and precancerous lesions. Biomarker analyses demonstrated that the activation of the Akt pathway in ASCC of the Tgfbr1 and Pten double knockout (2cKO) mouse was similar to that observed in human anal cancer. Chemopreventive experiments using mTOR inhibitor-rapamycin treatment significantly delayed the onset of the ASCC tumors and reduced the tumor burden in 2cKO mice by decreasing the phosphorylation of Akt and S6. This is the first conditional knockout mouse model used for investigating the contributions of viral and cellular factors in anal carcinogenesis without carcinogen-mediated induction, and it would provide a platform for assessing new therapeutic modalities for treating and/or preventing this type of cancer.     

Correction of Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction with Adipose Derived Stem Cells Modified with the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene in a Rodent Diabetic Model

The aim of this study was to determine whether adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene can improve endothelial function, recover the impaired VEGF signaling pathway and enhance smooth muscle contents in a rat diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) model. DED rats were induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg), and then screened by apomorphine (100 µg/kg). Five groups were used (n = 12/group)–Group 1 (G1): intracavernous injection of lentivirus-VEGF; G2: ADSCs injection; G3: VEGF-expressing ADSCs injection; G4: Phosphate buffered saline injection; G1–G4 were DED rats; G5: normal rats. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP) were measured at days 7 and 28 after the injections. The components of the VEGF system, endothelial, smooth muscle, pericytes markers in cavernoursal tissue were assessed. On day 28 after injection, the group with intracavernosum injection of ADSCs expressing VEGF displayed more efficiently and significantly raised ICP and ICP/MAP (p<0.01) than those with ADSCs or lentivirus-VEGF injection. Western blot and immunofluorescent analysis demonstrated that improved erectile function by ADSCs-VEGF was associated with increased expression of endothelial markers (VEGF, VEGF R1, VEGF R2, eNOS, CD31 and vWF), smooth muscle markers (a-actin and smoothelin), and pericyte markers (CD146 and NG2). ADSCs expressing VEGF produced a therapeutic effect and restored erectile function in diabetic rats by enhancing VEGF-stimulated endothelial function and increasing the contents of smooth muscle and pericytes.     

荧光银纳米团簇的生物合成及其在痕量六价铬检测中的应用

【目的】利用季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1合成银纳米团簇并用于痕量Cr(Ⅵ)的检测。【方法】使用经耐银驯化的季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1生物合成荧光银纳米团簇,并对其结构和荧光性能进行了表征,探究Cr(Ⅵ)对银纳米团簇荧光的选择性猝灭作用,建立了银纳米团簇荧光强度与Cr(Ⅵ)浓度的线性关系。同时还考察了体系p H和其他金属离子对Cr(Ⅵ)检测的影响。【结果】Cr(Ⅵ)浓度在一定的范围内(1–80μmol/L)与银纳米团簇荧光强度(F_0–F)/F_0有着良好的线性关系(R~2=0.9821),线性方程为(F_0–F)/F_0=0.0054×C_cr(Ⅵ)+0.1876,检测限为184 nmol/L(信噪比为3)。利用该方法检测实际水样(松花江、马家沟河)中的Cr(Ⅵ),回收率介于97.73%–102.88%之间。【结论】以季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1为还原剂和稳定剂,制备了具有较好荧光性能的水溶性银纳米团簇,基于Cr(Ⅵ)对银纳米团簇荧光的选择性猝灭作用,建立了一种快速且灵敏检测痕量Cr(Ⅵ)的新方法,并成功地应用于松花江、马家沟河水样中Cr(Ⅵ)的测定,在分析检测领域中具有良好的应用前景。     

甘蔗联合固氮的研究进展及应用潜力

在农业生产中,化学氮肥的投入大幅度增加了粮食产量,然而过量或不合理的施肥措施对农业生态环境造成了严重破坏。因此,挖掘植物自身的生物学特性,寻求其他有效的氮素来源,对农业减肥增效至关重要。其中,植物与微生物之间的生物固氮作用,能为宿主提供大量的清洁氮源,在农业生产中发挥着不可替代的作用。本文以甘蔗为代表,综述了植物联合固氮的研究进展和应用潜力,包括联合固氮作用的提出、联合固氮菌的筛选、侵染机制及功能研究,并总结了联合固氮复合菌在甘蔗生产中的应用,以期为作物养分高效的品种改良及推动生物固氮作用在农业生产中的实践提供理论依据和参考。     

紫花针茅根际和体内真菌群落结构及与土壤环境因子的相关性研究

[目的] 探究青藏高原不同地区高寒草原紫花针茅根际和体内真菌群落的组成、多样性等特征,及与土壤环境因子（理化性质和酶活性）间的相互关系。[方法] 从青藏高原不同地区采集紫花针茅样品,应用土壤化学方法分析根际土壤理化性质和酶活性,并采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术,解析根际土壤和体内真菌群落组成和丰度、Alpha多样性和菌群结构,同时分析了紫花针茅根际真菌种群多样性与土壤环境因子的相关性,厘清了影响紫花针茅根际真菌区系的土壤环境因素。[结果] 三个采样地的根际土壤呈中性偏碱,土壤理化性质和酶活性变化各异。高通量测序共得到314801条有效序列和4491个OTUs;XZ样地的紫花针茅真菌多样性和丰富度相对偏低,GS样地最高。在门分类水平上,子囊菌门Ascomycota和担子菌门Basidiomycota是主要内生真菌类群,占总菌群的88.28%。不同采样地区紫花针茅体内真菌群落结构存在明显差异,而根际土壤真菌群落结构差异不大。相关性分析表明,紫花针茅真菌多样性与土壤pH、有效钾、铁、钙、镁、多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶和脱氢酶呈显著（P<0.05）或极显著（P<0.01）正相关,而与海拔、土壤酸性磷酸酶呈极显著负相关。RDA分析发现,紫花针茅根际土壤真菌不同,影响的土壤环境因子也不同。[结论] 青藏高原高寒草地紫花针茅根际和体内栖息着丰富的真菌群落,其组成和多样性受多种土壤环境因子影响,且影响不同真菌群落的主要土壤环境因子也不同。本研究对于有益微生物资源的开发、利用及保护具有重要意义,并为紫花针茅草原保育和合理开发利用提供科学依据。     

Sinomenine hydrochloride enhancement of the inhibitory effects of anti-transferrin receptor antibody-dependent on the COX-2 pathway in human hepatoma cells

Transferrin receptor (TfR) has been used as a target for the antibody-based therapy of cancer due to its higher expression in tumors relative to normal tissues. Great potential has been shown by anti-TfR antibodies combined with chemotherapeutic drugs as a possible cancer therapeutic strategy. In our study, we investigated the anti-tumor effects of anti-TfR monoclonal antibody (mAb) alone or in combination with sinomenine hydrochloride in vitro. Results suggested that anti-TfR mAb or sinomenine hydrochloride could induce apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and affect the cell cycle. A synergistic effect was found in relation to tumor growth inhibition and the induction of apoptosis when anti-TfR mAb and sinomenine hydrochloride were used simultaneously. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF protein in HepG2 cells treated with anti-TfR mAb alone was increased in line with increasing dosage of the agent. In contrast, COX-2 expression was dramatically decreased in HepG2 cells treated with sinomenine hydrochloride alone. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of sinomenine hydrochloride and anti-TfR mAb administered in combination were more prominent than when the agents were administered singly. To sum up, these results showed that the combined use of sinomenine hydrochloride and anti-TfR mAb may exert synergistic inhibitory effects on human hepatoma HepG2 cells in a COX-2-dependent manner. This finding provides new insight into how tumor cells overcome the interference of iron intake to survive and forms the basis of a new therapeutic strategy involving the development of anti-TfR mAb combined with sinomenine hydrochloride for liver cancer.     

An association between − 866G/A polymorphism in the promoter of UCP2 and obesity: A meta-analysis

− 866G/A polymorphism in the promoter of UCP2 gene has been reported to be associated with obesity, but the results remain inconclusive. To assess the relation of UCP2 − 866G/A polymorphism and obesity susceptibility, a meta-analysis was performed. PubMed, ISI, Wanfang database, VIP and CBM were searched to identify relevant studies up to July 31, 2012. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were pooled using fixed or random effect models. Subgroup analysis was performed by ethnicity (categorized as Asian and European). Heterogeneity and publication bias evaluation were performed to validate the credibility. Meta-regression and the ‘leave one out’ sensitive analysis were used to explore the potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. After exclusion of articles that deviated from the HWE in controls, and were the key contributors to between-study heterogeneity, the meta-analysis showed a significant association of the A allele with reduced risk of obesity in overall analysis and in European in the dominant, codominant and additional models. In Asian, no significant association was found between the − 866G/A in UCP2 gene and obesity susceptibility. The meta-analysis suggested that UCP2 − 866G/A polymorphism was associated with obesity. The A allele may be an important protective factor for obesity in European, but not in Asian. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship.