Identification of Gli1-interacting proteins during simvastatin-stimulated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Simvastatin has been shown to promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Our study aimed to illuminate the underlying mechanism, with a specific focus on the role of Hedgehog signaling in this process. BMSCs cultured with or without 10⁻⁷ mol/L simvastatin were subjected to evaluation of osteogenic differentiation capacity. Osteogenic markers such as type 1 collagen (COL1) and osteocalcin (OCN), as well as key molecules of Hedgehog signaling molecules, were examined by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry assays were applied to screen for Gli1-interacting proteins. Cyclopamine (Cpn) was used as a Hedgehog signaling inhibitor. Our results indicated that simvastatin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; mineralization of extracellular matrix; mRNA expression of ALP, COL1, and OCN; and expression and nuclear translocation of Gli1. Contrasting effects were observed in Cpn-exposed groups, but were partially rescued by the simvastatin treatment. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses indicated that Gli1-interacting proteins were primarily associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (P = 7.04E⁻⁰⁴), hippo, insulin, and glucagon signaling. Further, hub genes identified by protein-protein interaction network analysis included Gli1-interacting proteins such as Ppp2r1a, Rac1, Etf1, and XPO1/CRM1. In summary, the current study showed that the mechanism by which simvastatin stimulates osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs involves activation of Hedgehog signaling, as indicated by interactions with Gli1 and, most notably, the MAPK signaling pathway.     

Syntheses and radical scavenging activities of resveratrol derivatives

Nine new resveratrol derivatives, having bromo, iodo, and fluoroethyl groups, were designed and synthesized. All compounds having free phenol groups showed good free radical scavenging activity. Among them, 2-bromoresveratrol 19 has a similar free radical scavenging activity to (+)-catechin.     

畜禽粪便堆肥过程中氮素的损失与控制

堆肥是实现畜禽粪便处理及资源化利用的有效途径,然而畜禽粪便堆肥过程中氮素损失较严重,对氮素损失与控制的研究可为有效控制氮素损失提供理论基础和实践参考.本文简述了畜禽粪便堆肥过程中氮素转化及主要损失途径,总结了影响堆肥氮素损失的主要因素(包括堆肥物料初始特性、堆肥环境参数和堆肥工艺条件),并综述了氮素损失控制措施(调节C、N代谢,改变氮素形态,添加NH₃吸附剂和调节通风与控温措施)的研究进展,此外,对未来的研究方向进行了展望.     

对虾病毒病病毒和细菌合并感染的病理特点和诊断价值

应用电镜超薄切片及光学石蜡切片和环氧树脂薄片技术,观察健康对照组、疾病始发组和濒临死亡组的草虾、中国对虾、日本对虾和长毛对虾的肝胰腺和中肠,结果在３组４种对虾中均检测到病毒,只在濒临死亡组的４种对虾中发现病毒与细菌的合并感染。合并感染的病毒有ＭＢＶ、球形病毒和淋巴样细胞核型杆状病毒。细菌以弧菌为主,其病理变化表现为器官和组织的保护层受损、溶解样坏死和凝固样坏死。仅以病毒和细菌合并感染作为养殖对虾病毒病早期诊断的指标是不够的,仅可作为辅助性诊断指标。但合并感染对评估对虾病毒病的预后以指导捕捞,却有一定意义。     

亚热带森林不同植物及器官来源的可溶性有机质输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理

外源有机物的输入可以通过正负激发效应影响土壤有机碳(SOC)的矿化。然而, 当前的研究较少考虑不同植物及器官来源可溶性有机质(DOM)输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理。该研究以武夷山森林土壤为研究对象, 以室内培养的方式向土壤中添加¹³C标记青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、木莲(Manglietia fordiana)和相思(Acacia confusa)这4种植物的根和叶来源DOM, 研究不同植物及器官来源DOM输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理。主要结果: 不同植物及器官来源DOM添加初期加快了SOC的矿化, 呈现正激发效应, 随后转为负激发效应。从整个培养期(90天)的累积激发效应来看, DOM的输入均抑制了SOC的矿化, 使其矿化量减少22%-49%, 其中青冈根DOM输入使SOC的矿化量减少最多, 而由木莲叶DOM输入减少的SOC矿化量最少。DOM输入引起的土壤激发效应强度受不同植物器官影响明显, 具体表现在植物根来源DOM输入所引起的土壤激发效应强度显著高于植物叶来源DOM输入所引起的激发效应强度(相思除外)。DOM的输入总体上提高了土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量、土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶活性、纤维素酶活性以及土壤有效氮含量, 而对微生物群落组成无明显影响。从结构方程模型来看, DOM输入所引起的土壤激发效应主要受土壤微生物对外源碳的利用(¹³C-MBC)、纤维素酶活性以及土壤有效氮含量的影响, 这些因子的变化可解释植物叶来源DOM和根来源DOM添加处理下土壤激发效应变化的68%和86%。该研究结果表明在土壤氮充足的条件下, DOM的输入可以通过提高微生物生物量、土壤酶活性来加快分解所添加的外源有机物, 从而减少了对SOC的分解。因此, 在该研究中“底物优先利用”是土壤激发效应的主要作用机理。     

Mechanistic study of the anti‐cancer effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins in the ApcMin/+ mouse model

Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins (GpS) have been shown to have anti‐cancer activity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we used the Apc^Min/+ colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model to investigate the anti‐cancer effect of GpS and we demonstrated that GpS treatment could significantly reduce the number and size of intestinal polyps in Apc^Min/+ mice. In order to identify the potential targets and mechanisms involved, a comparative proteomics analysis was performed and 40 differentially expressed proteins after GpS treatment were identified. Bioinformatics analyses suggested a majority of these proteins were involved in processes related to cellular redox homeostasis, and predicted Raf‐1 as a potential target of GpS. The upregulation of two proteins known to be involved in redox homeostasis, peroxiredoxin‐1 (Prdx1) and peroxiredoxin‐2 (Prdx2), and the downregulation of Raf‐1 were validated using Western blot analysis. After further investigation of the associated signaling networks, we postulated that the anti‐cancer effect of GpS was mediated through the upregulation of Prdx1 and Prdx2, suppression of Ras, RAF/MEK/ERK/STAT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and modulation of JNK/p38 MAPK signaling. We also examined the potential combinatorial effect of GpS with the chemotherapeutic 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and found that GpS could enhance the anti‐cancer efficacy of 5‐FU, further suppressing the number of polyps in Apc^Min/+ mice. Our findings highlight the potential of GpS as an anti‐cancer agent, the potential mechanisms of its anti‐cancer activities, and its effect as an adjuvant of 5‐FU in the chemotherapy of CRC.     

中国特有种四合木种群遗传多样性的RAPD分析

采用随机扩增多态性 DNA(RAPD)技术检测了西鄂尔多斯高原特有种四合木种群 5个斑块的遗传多样性。2 2个扩增引物产生 1 1 6条带 ,Shannon信息指数和 Nei指数对 RAPD数据的分析表明 :四合木种群存在较高的遗传多样性 ,其中千里山斑块的遗传多样性和多态位点比例较高 ,石嘴山斑块的最低。遗传多样性的 86.5 %存在于斑块内 ,斑块间的遗传变异为 1 3 .5 %。遗传距离与地理距离无直接相关关系。这些结果说明 ,遗传多样性反映了四合木种群基因组 DNA存在较高的变异性 ;同时各斑块间存在一定的基因流 ,四合木各斑块可看成是处于同一种群的半隔离状态 (meta-种群 ) ,对四合木应注意保护遗传多样性丰富的 meta-种群。     

Prediction of Poor Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients Based on MicroRNA-21 Expression: A Meta-Analysis

BackgroundMicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21 or miR-21) may act as a prognostic biomarker of cancer. However, the available evidence is controversial. Therefore, the present meta-analysis summarizes this evidence and evaluates the prognostic role of this gene in breast cancer.MethodsThe meta-analysis was conducted by searching the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Chinese database-China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Data were extracted from studies that investigated the association between miR-21 expression and survival outcomes in breast cancer patients. With respect to survival outcomes, the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of miR-21 were calculated given a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsOur meta-analysis identified a total of 10 studies involving 1,439 cases. Further investigation demonstrated that a high miR-21 expression can predict poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.37—4.81, P = 0.003) and shortened disease-free/recurrence-free survival (DFS/RFS) (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16—1.82, P = 0.001) in breast cancer patients. Moreover, high miR-21 expression was significantly correlated with lowered OS in the Asian group (HR = 5.07, 95% CI: 2.89—8.92, P < 0.001), but not in the Caucasian cohort (HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.99—2.10, P = 0.058). Furthermore, odds ratios (ORs) showed that up-regulated miR-21 levels were associated with multiple clinical characteristics.ConclusionOur results indicated that miR-21 can predict unfavorable prognoses in breast cancer patients, especially in Asians.     

成年大鼠气管插管方法的改良

目的寻找一种较好的成年大鼠气管插管方法;方法对比明视经口气管内插管法与逆行导管引导插管法的成功率及并发症;结果明视经口气管内插管法的成功率为100%,逆行导管引导插管法的成功率为87%。插管后并发症明显低于逆行导管引导插管法。结论明视经口气管内插管法优于逆行导管引导插管法,值得推广应用。