Lipoplex size determines lipofection efficiency with or without serum

In order to identify factors affecting cationic Iiposome-mediated gene transfer, the relationships were examined among cationic liposome/DNA complex (lipoplex)-cell interactions, lipoplex size and lipoplex-mediated transfection (lipofection) efficiency. It was found that lipofection efficiency was determined mainly by lipoplex size, but not by the extent of lipoplex-cell interactions including binding, uptake or fusion. In addition, it was found that serum affected mainly lipoplex size, but not lipoplex-cell interactions, which effect was the major reason behind the inhibitory effect of serum on lipofection efficiency. It was concluded that, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size is a major factor determining Iipofection efficiency. Moreover, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size was found to affect lipofection efficiency by controlling the size of the intracellular vesicles containing lipoplexes after internalization, but not by affecting lipoplex-cell interactions. In addition, large lipoplex particles showed, in general, higher lipofection efficiency than small particles. These results imply that, by controlling lipoplex size, an efficient lipid delivery system may be achieved for in vitro and in vivo gene therapy.     

Moderate mechanical stimulation rescues degenerative annulus fibrosus by suppressing caveolin-1 mediated pro-inflammatory signaling pathway

Mechanical loading can induce or antagonize the extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, proliferation, migration, and inflammatory responses of annulus fibrosus cells (AFCs), depending on the loading mode and level. Caveolin-1 (Cav1), the core protein of caveolae, plays an important role in cellular mechanotransduction and inflammatory responses. In the present study, we presented that AFCs demonstrated different behaviors when subjected to cyclic tensile strain (CTS) for 24 h at a magnitude of 0%, 2%, 5% and 12%, respectively. It was found that 5% CTS had positive effects on cell proliferation, migration and anabolism, while 12% CTS had the opposite effects. Besides, cells exposed to interleukin-1β stimulus exhibited an increase expression in inflammatory genes, and the expression of these genes decreased after exposure to moderate mechanical loading with 5% CTS. In addition, 5% CTS decreased the level of Cav1 and integrin β1 and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, the expression of integrin β1 and p-p65 increased in AFCs transfected with Cav1 plasmids. In vivo results revealed that moderate mechanical stimulation could recover the water content and morphology of the discs. In conclusion, moderate mechanical stimulation restrained Cav1-mediated signaling pathway and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects on AFCs. Together with in vivo results, this study expounds the underlying molecular mechanisms on the effect of moderate mechanical stimulation on intervertebral discs (IVDs) and may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IVD degeneration.     

黄芩配伍川贝母后黄芩中主要化学成分含量变化及抗肺炎作用研究

本文旨在探究黄芩川贝母不同比例配伍后对黄芩中主要化学成分含量影响及等比配伍后抗肺炎作用.将黄芩川贝母按3∶0、3∶1、3∶2、3∶3、2∶3、1∶3、0∶3比例配伍后,水提取,高效液相色谱法测定黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素含量.选择健康ICR小鼠36只,随机分为6组,分别为空白组、LPS组、阳性药组、黄芩组、川贝...     

miR-106a-5p调控 PTEN对鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移的抑制作用研究

目的研究miR-106a-5p对鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移的影响。 方法将体外培养的鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2分成对照组（细胞未做任何处理）、Anti-NC组（转染阴性对照抑制剂）、Anti-miR-106a-5p组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂）、后期实验另设Anti-miR-106a-5p-inhibitor+si-NC组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂、siRNA阴性对照）、Anti-miR-106a-5p-inhibitor+si-PTEN组（转染miR-106a-5p抑制剂、PTEN siRNA）,采用Realtime PCR测定miR-106a-5p表达,MTT法检测增殖,Transwell小室检测细胞侵袭和迁移能力变化,用Western blot方法测定vimentin、E-cadherin蛋白表达。在线靶基因预测软件预测miR-106a-5p的靶基因可能为PTEN,双荧光素酶报告系统鉴定miR-106a-5p和PTEN的靶向关系。两组间比较用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与正常鼻咽上皮细胞NP69比较,鼻咽癌细胞CNE-2、HK1、SUNE2中miR-106a-5p水平（1.00±0.11比1.84±0.13、2.19±0.14、2.87±0.25）升高,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。与对照组、Anti-NC组比较,Anti-miR-106a-5p组鼻咽癌细胞miR-106a-5p水平（1.00±0.10、0.99±0.12比0.76±0.08）降低,OD值（0.56±0.05、0.57±0.04比0.32±0.02）,细胞侵袭数[（128.47±11.65）个、（129.84±10.93）个比（85.12±6.75）个],迁移数[（182.51±14.81）个、（180.68±17.64）个比（122.01±11.62）个],vimentin蛋白表达水平（0.84±0.09、0.82±0.07比0.30±0.05）降低,E-cadherin蛋白表达水平（0.29±0.04、0.28±0.05比0.76±0.08）升高,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）。与Anti-miR-106a-inhibitor+si-NC组比较,Anti-miR-106a-inhibitor+si-PTEN组细胞OD值（0.33±0.03比0.52±0.05）、侵袭数[（84.16±5.91）个比（105.79±8.63）个]、迁移数[（118.42±10.25）个比（164.28±12.05）个]、vimentin蛋白表达水平（0.34±0.06比0.68±0.05）均升高,E-cadherin蛋白表达水平（0.72±0.06比0.29±0.05）降低,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）。 结论miR-106a-5p可通过靶向调控PTEN抑制鼻咽癌细胞SUNE2增殖和迁移潜能。     

基于Nextflow构建的宏条形码自动化分析流程EPPS

基于宏条形码技术的物种快速检测有助于生物多样性的评估、预测和保护。本文介绍了常用宏条形码分析的步骤和参数设定方法。我们利用Nextflow搭建了一款宏条形码分析流程EPPS, 可以自动化地运行从原始数据的质量控制到环境多样性的比较。Nextflow软件还拥有流程监控的功能, 可视化输出每个进程所消耗的时间与内存。本文还使用测试数据和已发表数据证明该平台能够有效地分析宏条形码数据并可靠地分析环境生物多样性的相似性。     

Gut microbiota in patients after surgical treatment for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease worldwide that is strongly associated with the gut microbiota. However, little is known regarding the gut microbiota after surgical treatment. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to evaluate differences in gut microbiota among colorectal adenoma patients, CRC patients, CRC postoperative patients and healthy controls by comparing gut microbiota diversity, overall composition and taxonomic signature abundance. The gut microbiota of CRC patients, adenoma patients and healthy controls developed in accordance with the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, with impressive shifts in the gut microbiota before or during the development of CRC. The gut microbiota of postoperative patients and CRC patients differed significantly. Subdividing CRC postoperative patients according to the presence or absence of newly developed adenoma which based on the colonoscopy findings revealed that the gut microbiota of newly developed adenoma patients differed significantly from that of clean intestine patients and was more similar to the gut microbiota of carcinoma patients than to the gut microbiota of healthy controls. The alterations of the gut microbiota between the two groups of postoperative patients corresponded to CRC prognosis. More importantly, we used the different gut microbiota as biomarkers to distinguish postoperative patients with or without newly developed adenoma, achieving an AUC value of 0.72. These insights on the changes in the gut microbiota of CRC patients after surgical treatment may allow the use of the microbiota as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of newly developed adenomas and to help prevent cancer recurrence in postoperative patients.     

Pristimerin Induces Autophagy‐Mediated Cell Death in K562 Cells through the ROS/JNK Signaling Pathway

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a lethal malignancy, and the progress toward long‐term survival has stagnated in recent decades. Pristimerin, a quinone methide triterpenoid isolated from the Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae families, is well‐known to exert potential anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the effects and the mechanisms of action on CML. We found that pristimerin inhibited cell proliferation of K562 CML cells by causing G1 phase arrest. Furthermore, we demonstrated that pristimerin triggered autophagy and apoptosis. Intriguingly, pristimerin‐induced cell death was restored by an autophagy inhibitor, suggesting that autophagy is cross‐linked with pristimerin‐induced apoptosis. Further studies revealed that pristimerin could produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which then induce JNK activation. These findings provide clear evidence that pristimerin might be clinical benefit to patients with CML.     

Thermally Durable Lithium‐Ion Capacitors with High Energy Density from All Hydroxyapatite Nanowire‐Enabled Fire‐Resistant Electrodes and Separators

The reliability and durability of lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs) are severely hindered by the kinetic imbalance between capacitive and Faradaic electrodes. Efficient charge storage in LICs is still a huge challenge, particularly for thick electrodes with high mass loading, fast charge delivery, and harsh working conditions. Here, a unique thermally durable, stable LIC with high energy density from all‐inorganic hydroxyapatite nanowire (HAP NW)‐enabled electrodes and separators is reported. Namely, the LIC device is designed and constructed with the electron/ion dual highly conductive and fire‐resistant composite Li₄Ti₅O₁₂‐based anode and activated carbon‐based cathode, together with a thermal‐tolerant HAP NW separator. Despite the thick‐electrode configuration, the as‐fabricated all HAP NW‐enabled LIC exhibits much enhanced electrochemical kinetics and performance, especially at high current rates and temperatures. Long cycling lifetime and state‐of‐the‐art areal energy density (1.58 mWh cm^?2) at a high mass loading of 30 mg cm^?2 are achieved. Benefiting from the excellent fire resistance of HAP NWs, such an unusual LIC exhibits high thermal durability and can work over a wide range of temperatures from room temperature to 150 °C. Taking full advantage of synergistic configuration design, this work sets the stage for designing advanced LICs beyond the research of active materials.