Circular RNA circABCC4 as the ceRNA of miR‐1182 facilitates prostate cancer progression by promoting FOXP4 expression

In recent years, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified to be essential regulators of various human cancers. However, knowledge of the functions of circRNAs in prostate cancer remains very limited. The correlation between circABCC4 and human cancer is largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the biological functions of circABCC4 in prostate cancer progression and illustrate the underlying mechanism. We found that circABCC4 was remarkably up‐regulated in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines and promoted FOXP4 expression by sponging miR‐1182 in prostate cancer cells. CircABCC4 knockdown markedly suppressed prostate cancer cell proliferation, cell‐cycle progression, migration and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, silencing of the circRNA also delayed tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicated that circABCC4 facilitates the malignant behaviour of prostate cancer by promoting FOXP4 expression through sponging of miR‐1182. The circABCC4–miR‐1182‐FOXP4 regulatory loop may be a promising therapeutic target for prostate cancer intervention.     

Histochemical examination of cathepsin K,MMP1 and MMP2 in compressed periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth movement in periostin deficient mice

The purpose of this study was to investigate immunolocalization of collagenolytic enzymes including cathepsin K, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and 2 in the compressed periodontal ligament (PDL) during orthodontic tooth movement using a periostin deficient (Pn-/-) mouse model. Twelve-week-old male mice homozygous for the disrupted periostin gene and their wild type (WT) littermates were used in these experiments. The tooth movement was performed according to Waldo’s method, in which elastic bands of 0.5 mm thickness were inserted between the first and second upper molars of mice under anesthesia. At 1 and 3 days after orthodontic force application, mice were fixed with transcardial perfusion of 4 % paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), and the first molars and peripheral alveolar bones were extracted for histochemical analyses. Compared with WT mice, immunolocalization of cathepsin K, MMP1 and MMP2 was significantly decreased at 1 and 3 days after orthodontic tooth movement in the compressed PDL of Pn-/- mice, although MMP1-reactivity and MMP2-reactivity decreased at different amounts. Very little cathepsin K-immunoreactivity was observed in the assessed regions of Pn-/- mice, both before and after orthodontic force application. Furthermore, Pn-/- mice showed a much wider residual PDL than WT mice. Taken together, we concluded that periostin plays an essential role in the function of collagenolytic enzymes like cathepsin K, MMP1 and MMP2 in the compressed PDL after orthodontic force application.     

Quantitative determination of helicid in rat biosamples by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A simple liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS) method with highly improved sensitivities for the determination of helicid in rat bile, urine, feces and most tissues was developed. The tissues and feces were firstly homogenized mechanically using deionized water as the media. Bile, urine, tissues and feces homogenates were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction with n-butyl alcohol for sample preparation. The subsequent analysis procedures were performed on a Shimadzu LCMS2010A system (electrospray ionization single quadrupole mass analyzer). A Luna C₁₈ column (150 mm × 2.00 mm, 5 μm) was used as the analytical column, while a mixture of acetonitrile and ammonium chloride water solution was used as the mobile phase. The proportions of mobile phase were changed timely according to gradient programs. Chlorinated adducts of molecular ions [M+Cl]^? at m/z 319.00 and 363.05 were used to quantify helicid and bergeninum (internal standard), respectively. The method was validated to be accurate, precise and rugged with good linearity. The proposed method was successfully applied to the preclinical tissue distribution and excretion studies of helicid in rats.     

严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒N蛋白对甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量的影响

目的:研究严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)N蛋白对甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量的影响。方法:检测分析144例SARS患者甘油三脂和总胆固醇含量在发病后的变化;将小鼠随机分组,分别注射生理盐水和SARS-CoV N蛋白,连续给药9 d后检测小鼠血清中甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量的变化。结果:SARS患者的甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量随发病时间有升高变化(P0.05),在发病40 d前后甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量超标的病例数占本时间段内的病例数的比例显著高于其他时间段,而且超标的含量也明显升高。SARS-CoV N蛋白使小鼠体重明显高于对照组(P0.05),甘油三酯含量在39和51 d明显高于对照组(P0.05),总胆固醇含量在21和39 d也明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:SARS-CoV N蛋白可以升高小鼠的甘油三酯和总胆固醇的含量,其升高最为明显的时间段与SARS患者的甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量升高的时间段基本一致。由此推测,SARS-CoV N蛋白可能是促使SARS患者发病后甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量升高的重要原因。     

A novel membrane based process to isolate photosystem-I membrane complex from spinach

The isolation of photosystem-I (PS-I) from spinach has been conducted using ultrafiltration with 300 kDa molecular weight cut-off polyethersulfone membranes. The effects of ultrafiltration operating conditions on PS-I activity were optimized using parameter scanning ultrafiltration. These conditions included solution pH, ionic strength, stirring speed, and permeate flux. The effects of detergent (Triton X-100 and n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside) concentration on time dependent activity of PS-I were also studied using an O₂ electrode. Under optimized conditions, the PS-I purity obtained in the retentate was about 84% and the activity recovery was greater than 94% after ultrafiltration. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of a membrane protein using ultrafiltration alone.     

棉花高频体细胞胚胎发生及再生体系建立

棉花的体细胞胚胎发生率低,限制了转基因棉花的发展。为了扩大可再生棉花的基因型,发展新疆优质棉花的特点,以新疆的主要栽培品种新陆早33为材料,以下胚轴为外植体,使用葡萄糖,麦芽糖作为主要碳源,用Phytagel固化,对不同激素的浓度组合和培养条件进行探索,对棉花胚性愈伤的诱导到体细胞胚胎的发生阶段进行优化,体细胞胚胎成熟以后进行萌发培养可以获得正常的植株。通过试验证明,有利于棉花的愈伤组织生长的激素浓度为KT 0.1 mg/L,2,4-D 0.1 mg/L,下胚轴的中部诱导愈伤形态最好。体细胞胚胎发生阶段以KT,IBA组合,以低盐培养基进行子叶胚的成苗,建立了再生体系。     

Smad2条件基因剔除载体的构建及LoxP位点有效性鉴定

Smads家族是最新发现的TGF－β信号转导途径中一个重要的新基因家族,SMAD2属于受体激活的SMADs。Smad2在某些肿瘤中发生突变,是一种可能的肿瘤抑制基因。Smad2基因完全剔除小鼠在胚胎期E6．5天死亡,为了研究Smad2在成体各组织器官及肿瘤发生中的可能作用,构建了Smad2条件基因剔除载体,将LoxP置于Smad2基因组序列C末端功能域两侧,并在组成型表达Cre重组酶的大肠杆菌中检测了LoxP位点的功能,该载体的构建为进行Smad2组织特异性基因剔除研究了奠定了基础。     

Administration of signalling molecules dictates stem cell homing for in situ regeneration

Ex vivo‐expanded stem cells have long been a cornerstone of biotherapeutics and have attracted increasing attention for treating intractable diseases and improving tissue regeneration. However, using exogenous cellular materials to develop restorative treatments for large numbers of patients has become a major concern for both economic and safety reasons. Advances in cell biological research over the past two decades have expanded the potential for using endogenous stem cells during wound healing processes, and in particular, recent insight into stem cell movement and homing has prompted regenerative research and therapy based on recruiting endogenous cells. Inspired by the natural healing process, artificial administration of specific chemokines as signals systemically or at the injury site, typically using biomaterials as vehicles, is a state‐of‐the‐art strategy that potentiates stem cell homing and recreates an anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory microenvironment to enhance in situ tissue regeneration. However, pharmacologically coaxing endogenous stem cells to act as therapeutics in the field of biomedicine remains in the early stages; its efficacy is limited by the lack of innovative methodologies for chemokine presentation and release. This review describes how to direct the homing of endogenous stem cells via the administration of specific signals, with a particular emphasis on targeted signalling molecules that regulate this homing process, to enhance in situ tissue regeneration. We also provide an outlook on and critical considerations for future investigations to enhance stem cell recruitment and harness the reparative potential of these recruited cells as a clinically relevant cell therapy.