Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is up-regulated by CCL19/CCR7 interaction via PI3K/Akt pathway and is involved in CCL19-driven BMSCs migration

C–C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and its ligands CCL19 contributes to the directional migration of certain cancer cell lines, but its role in the migration of BMSCs remains vague. The aim of this study was to determine the possible interaction between CCL19-induced conditions and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP9) expression in BMSCs. Cell migration using Transwell assay indicated that activation of CCR7 by its specific ligand, exogenous chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19), was associated with a significant linear increase. Western blot and real-time PCR indicated that CCL19/CCR7 significantly upregulated expression of MMP9, which is related to metastasis-associated genes. The CCL19/CCR7 interaction significantly enhanced phosphorylation of Akt, as measured by Western blot. P-Akt and MMP9 protein expression exhibited a time-dependent pattern, and the peak was at 48 h. LY294002 significantly abolished the effects of exogenous CCL19. These results suggest that CCL19/CCR7 contributes to the migration of BMSCs by upregulating MMP9 potentially via the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Ligand‐Assisted Assembly Approach to Synthesize Large‐Pore Ordered Mesoporous Titania with Thermally Stable and Crystalline Framework

A novel ligand‐assisted assembly approach is demonstrated for the synthesis of thermally stable and large‐pore ordered mesoporous titanium dioxide with a highly crystalline framework by using diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene (PEO‐b‐PS) as a template and titanium isopropoxide (TIPO) as a precursor. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy, and N₂‐sorption measurements indicate that the obtained TiO₂ materials possess an ordered primary cubic mesostructure with large, uniform pore diameters of about 16.0 nm, and high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface areas of ～112 m² g^?1, as well as high thermal stability (～700 °C). High resolution TEM and wide‐angle XRD measurements clearly illustrate the high crystallinity of the mesoporous titania with an anatase structure in the pore walls. It is worth mentioning that, in this process, in addition to tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, acetylacetone was employed as a coordination agent to avoid rapid hydrolysis of the titanium precursor. Additionally, stepped evaporation and heating processes were adopted to control the condensation rate and facilitate the assembly of the ordered mesostructure, and ensure the formation of fully polycrystalline anatase titania frameworks without collapse of the mesostructure. By employing the obtained mesoporous and crystallized TiO₂ as the photoanode in a dye‐sensitized solar cell, a high power‐conversion efficiency (5.45%) can be achieved in combination with the N719 dye, which shows that this mesoprous titania is a great potential candidate as a catalyst support for photonic‐conversion applications.     

裳卷蛾变形孢虫SSU rRNA核心序列的克隆与系统发育分析

[目的]利用分子生物学手段探索裳卷蛾变形孢虫的遗传发育地位.[方法]微孢子虫的SSUrRNA序列是构建系统发育进化树的重要工具.试验通过T-A克隆法对裳卷蛾变形孢虫(Vairimorphaceraces)SSU rRNA核心序列进行了克隆,并采用近邻法构建了系统发育进化树.[结果]克隆得到了长为1228bp的核苷酸序列(GenBank EU267796).系统发育分析结果表明:裳卷蛾变形孢虫与分离于小菜蛾(Plutella xylostella)的Vairimorpha sp.Germany(GenBank AF124331)和Vairimorphaimperyecta(GenBank AJ131645)相似性最高,它们在系统发育进化树中与寄主为鳞翅目昆虫的Nosema属聚为一类,与纳卡变形孢虫(Vairimorpha necatrix)为代表的Vairimorpha属为相邻集.[结论]结合其生物学特征,裳卷蛾变形孢虫确实为Vairimorph a属的成员,但根据系统发育分析归入Nosematidae科可能更为合适.     

Ultrafine Co3Se4 Nanoparticles in Nitrogen‐Doped 3D Carbon Matrix for High‐Stable and Long‐Cycle‐Life Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries are a promising high energy output solution for substitution of traditional lithium ion batteries. In recent times research in this field has stepped into the exploration of practical applications. However, their applications are impeded by cycling stability and short life‐span mainly due to the notorious polysulfide shuttle effect. In this work, a multifunctional sulfur host fabricated by grafting highly conductive Co₃Se₄ nanoparticles onto the surface of an N‐doped 3D carbon matrix to inhibit the polysulfide shuttle and improve the sulfur utilization is proposed. By regulating the carbon matrix and the Co₃Se₄ distribution, N‐CN‐750@Co₃Se₄‐0.1 m with abundant polar sites is experimentally and theoretically shown to be a good LiPSs absorbent and a sulfur conversion accelerator. The S/N‐CN‐750@Co₃Se₄‐0.1 m cathode shows excellent sulfur utilization, rate performance, and cyclic durability. A prolonged cycling test of the as‐fabricated S/N‐CN‐750@Co₃Se₄‐0.1 m cathode is carried out at 0.2 C for more than 5 months which delivers a high initial capacity of 1150.3 mAh g^?1 and retains 531.0 mAh g^?1 after 800 cycles with an ultralow capacity reduction of 0.067% per cycle, maintaining Coulombic efficiency of more than 99.3%. The reaction details are characterized and analyzed by ex situ measurements. This work highly emphasizes the potential capabilities of transition‐metal selenides in lithium–sulfur batteries.     

应用FIA型微生物传感器测定谷氨酸含量的研究

目前应用酶或微生物细胞作为分子识别元件构建生物传感器测定谷氨酸含量的研究引起了广泛的兴趣,并陆续有实例报道。在这些报道中人们依据不同的酶催反应选择相应的离子选择性电极,如CO₂电极、NH₄⁺电极等,而测量对象有直接的测定谷氨酸,也有测定谷氨酸单钠的间接测定法。本文选用了可固定大量细胞的固定化细胞柱与流动注入法相结合的测量方法,并根据细胞柱的动力学模型分析动态响应曲线,计算测量结果,提高了测量精度,扩大了测量范围。     

Caloric restriction coupled with radiation decreases metastatic burden in triple negative breast cancer

Purpose: Metastatic breast cancer is devastating and triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) have a higher propensity for metastasis. Improved local control upfront in this aggressive cancer could potentially decrease its propensity toward metastasis. We sought to determine if using caloric restriction (CR) as a systemic therapy, combined with radiation therapy (IR) to the primary tumor, may impact metastatic disease. Methods: An orthotopic mouse model using a highly metastatic, luciferase-tagged TNBC cell line (4T1), was used to generate palpable tumors. Mice were then treated with CR, IR, and a combination of the two. In vivo imaging was performed for metastatic evaluation. Molecular evaluation of the tumors was performed, generating a mechanistic hypothesis for CR, which was then tested with pertinent pathway inhibition in the model. Results: CR significantly increased the time to developing metastases, decreased the overall number and volume of lung metastases, and increased survival. CR decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis and globally downregulated the IGF-1R signaling pathway. Adding an IGF-1R/INSR inhibitor to local IR in vivo accomplished a decrease in metastases similar to CR plus IR, demonstrating the importance of the IGF-1R signaling pathway, and underscoring it as a possible mechanism for CR. Conclusions: CR decreased metastatic burden and therefore may complement cytotoxic therapies being used in the clinical setting for metastatic disease. Downregulation of the IGF-1R pathway, is in part responsible for this response and modulating IGF-1R directly resulted in similar improved progression-free survival. The novel use of CR has the potential to enhance clinical outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer.     

Mapping the four‐horned locus and testing the polled locus in three Chinese sheep breeds

Four‐horned sheep are an ideal animal model for illuminating the genetic basis of horn development. The objective of this study was to locate the genetic region responsible for the four‐horned phenotype and to verify a previously reported polled locus in three Chinese breeds. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 34 two‐horned and 32 four‐horned sheep from three Chinese indigenous breeds: Altay, Mongolian and Sishui Fur sheep. The top two significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the four‐horned phenotype were both located in a region spanning positions 132.6 to 132.7 Mb on sheep chromosome 2. Similar locations for the four‐horned trait were previously identified in Jacob, Navajo‐Churro, Damara and Sishui Fur sheep, suggesting a common genetic component underlying the four‐horned phenotype. The two identified SNPs were both downstream of the metaxin 2 (MTX2) gene and the HOXD gene cluster. For the top SNP—OAR2:g.132619300G>A—the strong associations of the AA and AG genotypes with the four‐horned phenotype and the GG genotype with the two‐horned phenotype indicated the dominant inheritance of the four‐horned trait. No significant SNPs for the polled phenotype were identified in the GWAS analysis, and a PCR analysis for the detection of the 1.8‐kb insertion associated with polled sheep in other breeds failed to verify the association with polledness in the three Chinese breeds. This study supports the hypothesis that two different loci are responsible for horn existence and number. This study contributes to the understanding of the molecular regulation of horn development and enriches the knowledge of qualitative traits in domestic animals.     

Pyrrole and furan oligoglycosides from the starfish Asterina batheri and their inhibitory effect on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Three new pyrrole oligoglycosides, astebatheriosides A–C (1–3), and a new furan oligoglycoside, astebatherioside D (4), were isolated from the starfish Asterina batheri by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 moderately inhibited IL-12 p40 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with IC₅₀ values of 36.4, 31.6, and 22.8 μM, respectively.