Apocynin attenuates renal fibrosis via inhibition of NOXs-ROS-ERK-myofibroblast accumulation in UUO rats

Background: Oxidative stress has been identified as an important pathogenesis mechanism in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Previous studies have demonstrated increased expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOXs) in response to UUO. We aimed to investigate whether NOXs activation was involved in the development of renal fibrosis in UUO by contribution to oxidative stress and the potential mechanism in the present study.

Methods: Apocynin, a NOXs inhibitor, was initiated immediately by gavage after UUO was performed on Wistar rats and continued until 7 days after UUO. Changes of markers of oxidative stress, renal macrophage infiltration and fibrosis, TGF-β1 expression, NOXs expression and activity, and ERK activation were evaluated.

Results: Apocynin significantly attenuated the activity of NOXs, accompanied with decreased expression of NOX2, NOX4, and oxidative stress markers in the obstructed kidneys of UUO. Additionally, collagen deposition and renal fibrosis induced by UUO were attenuated by apocynin treatment. Furthermore, apocynin treatment significantly attenuated the phosphorylation of ERK, accumulation of myofibroblast and infiltration of macrophage in obstructed kidneys. No significant effect of apocynin on UUO-induced increased TGF-β1 expression could be observed. And there was no significant change of anti-oxidants enzyme activities in the obstructed kidneys of apocynin-treated rats.

Conclusions: These results suggested that apocynin might exert beneficial effects on renal fibrosis by inhibition of NOXs activation and subsequent reduction of oxidative stress, ERK activation, and myofibroblast accumulation in UUO rats. Targeting NOXs may serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of renal fibrosis.     

利用柑橘皮固体发酵生产复合酶菌株的选育

本试验对14个菌株以柑橘皮为主要原料固体发酵生产复合酶的生产性能进行了比较, 发现宇佐美曲霉Aspergillus usaanii具有较好的复合酶产率,为进一步提高该菌株的产酶能力, 我们利用γ-射线辐射对其进行了诱变育种,选育得到一株纤维素酶活提高26%、酸性蛋白酶提高28%、木聚糖酶提高24.5%的突变菌株AU—C33。采用正交试验方法对该菌株的基础培养基进行了优化,结果表明豆粕和尿素含量对各酶活具有极显著影响。以柑橘粉计,当添加23% 豆粕、8%麸皮、3%尿素,水分含量在60%,28℃培养60h后,CMCase、FPA、β-葡萄糖苷酶、酸性蛋白酶和木聚糖酶分别达到了20.8U/g、7.25U/g、74.7U/g、7248.4U/g和3222.6U/g。     

一株耐受低pH、高浓度硒菌株的筛选鉴定及两阶段pH调控高效除硒的研究

通过酸性含硒平板和摇瓶筛选出一株对低pH、高浓度硒有很好耐受性的菌株Y1,通过菌落形态特征分析和26S rDNA测序,鉴定该菌株为Pichia kudriavzevii,多抗性实验结果显示该菌是一株多重耐受性毕赤酵母。通过摇瓶实验研究了温度、接种量、摇床转速、pH对菌株除硒性能的影响,结果显示当温度为25℃,接种量为12%(v/v),摇床转速为250 r/min,pH为3.0时,菌株对硒的去除率最高为58.3%。基于不同pH发酵过程中菌体生物量及富硒量的不同表现:pH 3.0时生物量最高,pH 5.0时富硒量最高,提出两阶段pH调控策略:发酵0 h~14 h将pH控制在3.0,14 h~28 h将pH控制在5.0,最终除硒率可达78.6%,分别比pH恒定在3.0及5.0条件下提高了15.4%和21.7%。     

水曲柳花发育过程中AG、SOC1基因表达的qRT-PCR分析

以水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.)不同时期的雌雄花为材料,应用实时荧光定量PCR技术,分析了18S rRNA、GAPDH、β-actin和TU 4个常用内参基因在水曲柳花中的表达情况。经NormFinder软件分析选择出TU作为内参基因,并对水曲柳中的开花相关基因AG和SOC1在开花不同时期的表达情况进行了分析,结果表明：在水曲柳花发育期间AG、SOC1表达量在雌雄花间存在差异,AG基因在雌花初期表达量最高,之后逐渐降低,到了成熟胚囊时AG表达量又有所增加;而在雄花中AG在减数分裂时最高为1.53。SOC1基因在雌花中的表达量低于雄花。这一研究结果为深入了解水曲柳花发育过程中相关基因的表达提供理论依据。     

棉花苞叶光呼吸和PSII热耗散对土壤水分的响应

在新疆气候生态条件下, 采用膜下滴灌植棉技术, 设置不同滴灌水分处理, 研究了不同滴灌量条件下棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)苞叶和叶片碳同化、光呼吸作用、光系统II (PSII)热耗散作用及其光破坏防御机制的差异, 以揭示滴灌节水条件下棉花苞叶缓解光抑制的机理及与棉花抗旱特性的关系。结果表明: 棉花开花后苞叶及叶片在高温强光下实际光化学效率(Φ_PSII)显著降低, 发生明显的光抑制现象, 但苞叶的光抑制程度较叶片轻; 与正常滴灌量处理相比, 节水滴灌条件下棉花水分亏缺, 叶片净光合速率(P_n)、Φ_PSII、光呼吸(P_r)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)降低, 非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)升高, 叶片光抑制程度加重, 而苞叶P_n、Φ_PSII、P_r、q_P、NPQ变化不大, 与正常滴灌量处理相比, 光抑制程度无显著差异。苞叶光呼吸速率与光合速率的比值(P_r/P_n)显著高于叶片; 滴灌节水条件下棉花适度水分亏缺对苞叶光呼吸及P_r/P_n无显著影响。高温强光下, 棉花节水滴灌对叶片PSII量子产量的转化与分配影响显著, 但对苞叶的影响不显著; 苞叶非调节性能量耗散的量子产量(Y(NPQ))高于叶片, 因此能有效地将PSII的过剩光能以热的形式耗散。综上所述, 与叶片相比, 苞叶对轻度水分亏缺不敏感, 是棉花适应干旱逆境较强的器官, 苞叶光呼吸和热耗散作用对光破坏防御具有重要意义。     

SILICIFIED RHYNCHONELLIFORM BRACHIOPODS FROM THE KUNIUTAN FORMATION (DARRIWILIAN: MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN), GUIYANG, SOUTH CHINA

Abstract: A silicified brachiopod fauna from the Middle Ordovician Kuniutan Formation (lower–middle Darriwilian, i.e. uppermost Arenig to lower Llanvirn) at Wudang, Guiyang, central Guizhou, South China, includes abundant specimens of Yangtzeella, Orthambonites and Leptellina together with common Parisorthis, Saucrorthis, rare Anomalorthis?, Hemipronites?, Leptestia? and, significantly, Aporthophyla; associated are rare trilobites, gastropods, crinoids and nautiloids. The Yangtzeella kueiyangensis‐Orthambonites delicata Association is defined for this shallow‐water, Benthic Assemblage 3, association. This first record of Aporthophyla in South China may indicate a link between South China and the Toquima‐Table Head Province, where the Aporthophyla fauna is more typically developed. However, this association is significantly different from the latter in having three endemic genera, Yangtzeella, Saucrorthis and Parisorthis, rare numbers of Aporthophyla and Anomalorthis?, and the absence of many other typical elements of the Aporthophyla fauna. The occurrence of Orthambonites, Hemipronites? and Leptestia? suggests some relationships between South China and the Baltic Platform during the Mid Ordovician. The various brachiopod associations bearing Aporthophyla may be quite different in nature, composition and diversity, and may possess different background palaeobiogeographical signatures. The assemblages containing Aporthophyla in South China, Qaidam, Malaysia, Australia and possibly Tibet are clearly different biogeographically from those associated with the Toquima‐Table Head and the Celtic provinces. Two new species, Aporthophyla sinensis sp. nov. and Leptellina orientalis sp. nov. are described.     

RANKL from bone marrow adipose lineage cells promotes osteoclast formation and bone loss

Receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) is essential for osteoclast formation and bone remodeling. Nevertheless, the cellular source of RANKL for osteoclastogenesis has not been fully uncovered. Different from peripheral adipose tissue, bone marrow (BM) adipose lineage cells originate from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). Here, we demonstrate that adiponectin promoter‐driven Cre expression (Adipoq^Cre ) can target bone marrow adipose lineage cells. We cross the Adipoq^Cre mice with rankl^fl/fl mice to conditionally delete RANKL from BM adipose lineage cells. Conditional deletion of RANKL increases cancellous bone mass of long bones in mice by reducing the formation of trabecular osteoclasts and inhibiting bone resorption but does not affect cortical bone thickness or resorption of calcified cartilage. Adipoq^Cre; rankl^fl/fl mice exhibit resistance to estrogen deficiency and rosiglitazone (ROS)‐induced trabecular bone loss but show bone loss induced by unloading. BM adipose lineage cells therefore represent an essential source of RANKL for the formation of trabecula osteoclasts and resorption of cancellous bone during remodeling under physiological and pathological conditions. Targeting bone marrow adiposity is a promising way of preventing pathological bone loss.     

湖光岩玛珥湖的浮游植物

本文对广东省湛江市湖光岩玛珥湖的浮游植物进行了周年的调查和分析,结果共检出浮游植物99属260种（包括变种和变型）：春季119种,夏季121种,秋季150种,冬季122种,其中蓝藻门20属43种,占种类数的16.5%;硅藻门20属79种,占种类数的30.4%;绿藻门49属117种,占种类数的45%;甲藻门2属8种,占种类数的3.1%;裸藻门2属2种,占种类数的0.8%;金藻门2属6种,占种类数的2.3%;黄藻门3属4种,占种类数的1.5%;红藻门1属1种,占种类数的0.4%。全年广布种有40种：蓝藻门15种,硅藻门6种,绿藻门14种,甲藻门3种,金藻门和黄藻门各1种。各两季节间的共有种数在57—78种,Jaccard种类相似性指数范围在0.28—0.42。优势种（Y〉0.02）共有29种：春季8种、夏季16种、秋季13种、冬季11种,分别隶属于蓝藻门13种,绿藻门8种,硅藻门8种,其中Chroococcus m inor、M icrocystis flos-aquae、Pleurocapsa fuliginosa、Chlorella vulgaris为全年广布优势种。在春、夏、秋3季以蓝藻的优势种类居多,而在冬季则以硅藻的优势种类居多。细胞丰度在6.3×104—56.1×104ind/L,春季最高,冬季次之,夏季最低。多样性指数平均为4.53,均匀度平均为0.65,其排序都为冬季〉秋季〉夏季〉春季,物种非常丰富。浮游植物群落中存在着os、βm、αm的优势种群,其群落结构具有典型的亚热带特征。从浮游植物吸收N、P的配比分析,P成为全年唯一的营养限制因子,但从N、P的绝对值看,N和P都是全年的营养限制因子。综合分析结果,湖光岩玛珥湖水质营养类型属于亚热带贫营养型。     

不同碳源对白桦愈伤组织生长和三萜积累的影响

在一个继代周期中,培养基中添加10-50 g.L-1的蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖后,白桦愈伤组织的鲜重均上升,浓度为20-30 g.L-1的三种糖,其鲜重积累量均较高.培养基中添加不同浓度葡萄糖和果糖的白桦愈伤组织中三萜物质含量先上升后下降,而添加蔗糖的则呈直线上升.其中,葡萄糖,果糖和蔗糖浓度为30 g.L-1的三萜类物质积累量最高.