STAT1 activation regulates proliferation and differentiation of renal progenitors

We have shown previously that activation of STAT1 contributes to the pathogenesis of Wilms tumor. This neoplasm caricatures metanephric development and is believed to originate from embryonic renal mesenchymal progenitors that lose their ability to undergo mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET). Therefore, we hypothesized that STAT1 is also activated and functional during metanephric development. Here we have demonstrated that both STAT1 and STAT3 are activated during normal development of the embryonic kidney. Furthermore, activation of STAT1 stimulated the proliferation of metanephric mesenchymal cells, but it prevented MET and tubulogenesis induced by leukemia inhibitory factor, which preferentially activates STAT3. Consistent with its negative regulation of metanephric mesenchymal differentiation, inhibition of STAT1 activation with protein kinase CK2 inhibitor TBB or RNAi-mediated knockdown of STAT1 promoted differentiation of metanephric progenitors and abolished the effect of cytokine-induced STAT1 activation in these cells. Additionally, a cell-permeable peptide that inhibits STAT1-mediated transactivation by targeting the STAT1 N-domain also blocked cytokine-induced STAT1-dependent proliferation in metanephric progenitors and promoted LIF-induced MET and tubulogenesis. Finally, the STAT1 peptide inhibitor caused the down regulation of survival/anti-apoptotic factors, Mcl-1 and Hsp-27, and induced apoptosis in renal tumor cells with constitutively active STAT1, indicating that STAT1 is required for these cells to survive. These findings show that both metanephric progenitors and renal tumor cells utilize a STAT1-dependent mechanism for growth or survival.     

Synthesis of 2'-beta-C-methyl toyocamycin and sangivamycin analogues as potential HCV inhibitors

Coupling reaction of 2-beta-C-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetra-O-benzoyl-d-ribofuranose with 4-amino-6-bromo-5-cyanopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine, followed by debromination and debenzoylation, gave the 2'-beta-C-methyl toyocamycin in high yield. Based on this result, a series of 2'-beta-C-methyl-4-substituted toyocamycin and sangivamycin analogues were synthesized for biological screening as potential inhibitors of HCV RNA replication.     

Combined Genomics and Experimental Analyses of Respiratory Characteristics of Shewanella putrefaciens W3-18-1

It has previously been shown that the Shewanella putrefaciens W3-18-1 strain produces remarkably high current in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and can form magnetite at 0°C. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we developed a genetic manipulation method by deleting the restriction-modification system genes of the SGI1 (Salmonella genome island 1)-like prophage and analyzed the key genes involved in bacterial respiration. W3-18-1 has less respiratory flexibility than the well-characterized S. oneidensis MR-1 strain, as it possesses fewer cytochrome c genes and lacks the ability to oxidize sulfite or reduce dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and timethylamine oxide (TMAO). W3-18-1 lacks the hydrogen-producing Fe-only hydrogenase, and the hydrogen-oxidizing Ni-Fe hydrogenase genes were split into two separate clusters. Two periplasmic nitrate reductases (NapDAGHB and NapDABC) were functionally redundant in anaerobic growth of W3-18-1 with nitrate as the electron acceptor, though napDABC was not regulated by Crp. Moreover, nitrate respiration started earlier in W3-18-1 than in MR-1 (with NapDAGHB only) under microoxic conditions. These results indicate that Shewanella putrefaciens W3-18-1 is well adapted to habitats with higher oxygen levels. Taken together, the results of this study provide valuable insights into bacterial genome evolution.     

Improvement of the microcirculation in the acute ischemic rat limb during intravenous infusion of drag-reducing polymers

Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) are blood-soluble macromolecules that can increase blood flow and reduce vascular resistance. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of DRPs on microcirculation in rat hind limb during acute femoral artery occlusion. Two groups of 20 male Wistar rats were subjected to either hemodynamic measurement or contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU) imaging during peripheral ischemia. Both groups were further subdivided into a DRP-treated group or a saline-treated group. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was chosen as the test DRP, and rats were injected with either 10 ppm PEO solution or saline through the caudal vein at a constant rate of 5 ml/h for 20 min. Abdominal aortic flow, iliac artery pressure, iliac vein pressure, heart rate, carotid artery pressure and central venous pressure (CVP) were monitored, and vascular resistance was calculated by (iliac artery pressure-iliac vein pressure)/abdominal aortic blood flow. Flow perfusion and capillary volume of skeletal muscle were measured by CEU. During PEO infusion, abdominal aortic blood flow increased (p<0.001) and vascular resistance decreased (p<0.001) compared to rats that received saline during peripheral ischemia. There was no significant change in ischemic skeletal capillary volume (A) with DRP treatment (p>0.05), but red blood cell velocity (β) and capillary blood flow (A×β) increased significantly (p<0.05) during PEO infusion. In addition, A, β and A×β all increased (p<0.05) in the contralateral hind limb muscle. In contrast, PEO had no significant influence on heart rate, mean carotid artery blood pressure or CVP. Intravenous infusion of drag reducing polymers may offer a novel hydrodynamic approach for improving microcirculation during acute peripheral ischemia.     

桂西南喀斯特季节性雨林叶凋落量的时空动态

森林凋落物是森林生态系统极其重要的组成部分, 关系着森林生态系统的物质循环和养分平衡。然而, 有关异质性自然森林生态系统中生物与非生物因子对凋落物凋落量的影响机制还存在较大争议。本文以广西弄岗15 ha森林动态监测样地中设置的90个凋落物收集器所收集的凋落叶为研究对象, 选取2013‒2018年连续6年的凋落叶数据探讨了森林叶凋落量的时空动态, 旨在深入了解该地区森林生态系统的物质循环过程及凋落量的影响因子。结果显示: 2013‒2018年的年均叶凋落量为4,099.44 kg/ha, 标准误为232.34, 变异系数为0.15, 这表明不同年际间叶凋落量存在明显差异; 不同年际间叶凋落量的节律性变化为双峰型、三峰型或多峰型, 说明不同年份的叶凋落量存在明显的节律性差异, 但总体而言高峰期主要出现在每年的春季(3‒4月)和秋季(8‒10月); 生态因子对叶凋落量年际动态存在显著影响, 其累计解释率为69.3%, 其中海拔对叶凋落量的影响最强, 解释率为46.5%; 而生物因子如胸径变异系数、单位面积胸高断面积之和和物种丰富度则对叶凋落量的影响较弱。多年的连续监测表明, 喀斯特季节性雨林不同年际间叶片的凋落量和节律性存在显著差异, 而非生物因子, 如海拔是形成叶凋落量空间变异的主要因素。     

Peptidase allergen Der p 1 initiates apoptosis of epithelial cells independently of tight junction proteolysis

Loss of epithelial cell polarity, which can arise following disruption of tight junctions (TJs), is a precursor to the carefully orchestrated removal of moribund cells from epithelia in apoptosis. Ordinarily, this cycle of events has minimally disruptive effects on the function of the epithelial barrier, but some agents have been identified that induce apoptosis and promote epithelial leakiness. The allergen Der p 1 is a cysteine peptidase that cleaves TJ adhesion proteins and induces apoptosis in epithelial cells. This suggests the possibility that, at least for some inducers of apoptosis, these events might be causally linked. We report here that Der p 1 induces epithelial apoptosis before outright cell detachment and that apoptosis occurs within the same time span as increased paracellular permeability in polarized epithelial monolayers. Whilst TJ-deficient BEAS-2B cells were resistant to Der p 1-induced apoptosis, the cell line 1HAEo-, which was also TJ deficient, was sensitive to Der p 1, providing evidence against TJ proteolysis as a cause of apoptosis. To provide direct evidence, we propagated cells that normally express TJs in low calcium medium that prevented intercellular junction assembly. These cells retained full susceptibility to Der p 1, indicating that Der p 1-induced apoptosis is independent from TJ proteolysis.