Epac‐2 ameliorates spontaneous colitis in Il‐10 −/− mice by protecting the intestinal barrier and suppressing NF‐κB/MAPK signalling

Intestinal barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation interact in the progression of Crohn''s disease (CD). A recent study indicated that Epac‐2 protected the intestinal barrier and had anti‐inflammatory effects. The present study examined the function of Epac‐2 in CD‐like colitis. Interleukin‐10 gene knockout (Il‐10 ^−/−) mice exhibit significant spontaneous enteritis and were used as the CD model. These mice were treated with Epac‐2 agonists (Me‐cAMP) or Epac‐2 antagonists (HJC‐0350) or were fed normally (control), and colitis and intestinal barrier structure and function were compared. A Caco‐2 and RAW 264.7 cell co‐culture system were used to analyse the effects of Epac‐2 on the cross‐talk between intestinal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. Epac‐2 activation significantly ameliorated colitis in mice, which was indicated by reductions in the colitis inflammation score, the expression of inflammatory factors and intestinal permeability. Epac‐2 activation also decreased Caco‐2 cell permeability in an LPS‐induced cell co‐culture system. Epac‐2 activation significantly suppressed nuclear factor (NF)‐κB/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in vivo and in vitro. Epac‐2 may be a therapeutic target for CD based on its anti‐inflammatory functions and protective effects on the intestinal barrier.     

Estimation of a novel method to produce bio-oil from sewage sludge by microwave pyrolysis with the consideration of efficiency and safety

This paper presented a feasible method to produce bio-oil from sewage sludge by microwave pyrolysis. The results showed that oils derived under 400 W obtained an attractive yield (49.8 wt.%) with favorable characteristics such as high calorific value (35.0 MJ/kg), low density (929 kg/m3) and preferable chemical composition (29.5 wt.% of monoaromatics). A model to study the relationship between microwave power and mass balance of product fractions was developed, and the results indicated that the power range of the highest transforming efficiency for organics in sludge into oils was 400-600 W, the subsequent increase of power to the range of 600-800 W favored gases formation at the expense of oils, and increase of power to above 800 W led to the conversion of solids into gases, while oils remained unchanged. The analysis of sulfur and nitrogen compounds in oils showed that bio-oil should be extracted before being used as fuel.     

X射线辐射对仔鼠消化酶活性及胃中Bax和Ghrelin表达的影响

为了探讨X射线辐射对仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性、十二指肠脂肪酶活性及胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin表达的影响,对170只仔鼠用不同辐射剂量（0,4,12,20,28 Gy）X射线进行全身辐射,分别在辐射后1,5,10,20 d用比色法检测仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性和十二指肠中脂肪酶活性的变化,用免疫组织化学方法检测胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达和分布,并用Image-proplus 5.0专业图像分析软件检测Bax蛋白和Ghrelin在胃中的表达强度。结果表明,X射线辐射影响发育期仔鼠胃蛋白酶和十二指肠脂肪酶的活性以及胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达。仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性除在辐射后1 d时高于对照组外,其它辐射后各期均低于对照组,仔鼠十二指肠中脂肪酶活性在辐射后均低于对照组;Bax蛋白主要在仔鼠胃黏膜上皮细胞中表达,其表达水平随辐射剂量的增大而增强;Ghrelin主要在胃内分泌细胞中表达,辐射后其表达水平降低。X射线辐射影响仔鼠消化酶活性,这可能与胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达变化有关。     

安徽省农田水分利用效率时空特征及其与气候因子的关系

生态系统水分利用效率(Water Use Efficiency,WUE)是衡量碳水循环耦合程度的重要指标,估算安徽省农田生态系统的WUE并分析其时空变异规律,探究其影响因素,对该区域农田水资源的科学配置和合理利用有着重要的意义。基于MODIS遥感数据和气象数据,分析安徽省近15年农田WUE的年际、年内时空变化特征以及与气候因子的关系,研究表明:(1) 2000—2014年间安徽省农田WUE的变化范围为1.38—1.66 g C mm~(-1)m~(-2),多年均值为1.54 g C mm~(-1)m~(-2),整体上农田WUE年际呈现增长变化趋势,变化率为0.011 g C mm~(-1)m~(-2);具有较强的空间分异性规律,整体上呈现北高南低趋势,淮河以北各市的农田WUE较高,高于全省多年均值,淮河以南地区的农田WUE则低于全省水平。(2)安徽省农田WUE的年内变化呈现双峰型变化格局,具有明显的季节性差异,表现为春季秋季夏季冬季;以淮河为界,南北各市变化趋势略有不同,淮河以南地区的最大值在4月份,淮河以北则以3月份为最高。(3)安徽省农田WUE动态变化受到气候因子降雨影响的区域占比17.14%;气温影响的区域占比0.73%;降雨和气温综合影响所占0.71%,而农田WUE与气温和降雨影响均不显著的区域占比为81.42%;因此,气候因素中降雨在安徽省农田WUE的变化中起主导作用,由于人为因素的干预,非气候因素对农田WUE变化的影响更大。     

pcsk9 siRNA对oxLDL诱导的THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡的影响

为研究pcsk9基因沉默后对氧化型低密度脂蛋(oxLDL)诱导THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡的影响,用不同浓度oxLDL处理THP-1源性巨噬细胞48 h,Hoechst33258染色检测细胞凋亡,RT-PCR、Western blot分别检测pcsk9 mRNA、NARC-1蛋白的表达.应用Lipofectamine2000转染3对pcsk9 siRNAs进THP-1源性巨噬细胞中,筛选出最有效的siRNA再转染入THP-1源性巨噬细胞,24 h后加入oxLDL处理48 h,Hoechst33258染色观察细胞评价细胞凋亡,流式细胞术计数检测细胞凋亡率.结果发现,75 mg/L oxLDL处理THP-1源性巨噬细胞48 h后,Hoechst33258染色可见大量凋亡细胞.同时RT-PCR、Western blot检测发现,pcsk9 mRNA和NARC-1蛋白质表达量均随oxLDL浓度的增加而增加,75 mg/LoxLDL组增加最明显.不同浓度siRNA转染THP-1源性巨噬细胞后,RT-PCR筛选出3对siRNAs的终浓度为80 nmol/L均可出现明显的沉默效应.选取此浓度在蛋白质水平检测基因抑制情况,筛选出最有效的一对siRNA.将筛选出来的siRNA转染细胞24 h后,再用oxLDL处理48 h,Hoechst33258染色及流式细胞计数结果显示,转染siRNA组凋亡明显被抑制.结果表明,在本研究的浓度范围内,随着oxLDL浓度增加pcsk9的表达随之增加,同时,THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡也明显增加,75 mg/L oxLDL最明显,pcsk9 mRNA和蛋白质的表达也在该浓度最高.提示pcsk9 siRNA能有效抑制pcsk9基因的表达,从而有效抑制由oxLDL诱导的THP-1源性巨噬细胞的凋亡.     

草原生态学研究方法学术讨论会在成都召开

中国植物学会于1981年11月21日至27日在四川省成都市召开了有61名代表参加的草原生态学研究方法学术讨论会。大会收到包括植物群落结构调查研究、第一性生产力测定、第二性生产力测定、光合作用测定、物质与水分循环、热值测定、数学生态等有关内容的研究方法论文和报告34篇。其中有18篇论文在大会上作了报告。在小组讨论中,代表们就第一性生产力测定、水分与物质循环、光合作用测定     

阿魏侧耳多糖的分离纯化与抗肿瘤活性的研究*

从阿魏侧耳 (Pleurotusferulae)子实体中用热水浸提出粗多糖PFW ,将PFW脱蛋白后 ,经DEAE—纤维素柱层析 ,得两种多糖PF1 和PF2 。用光散射和GPC联机测定 :PF1 含有两种组分其重均分子量分别为 7 875× 1 0 5 和 3 2 4 5× 1 0 4 ;PF2 重均分子量为 3 1 87× 1 0 6。用IR和GC分析它们组成和结构 ,结果表明 :PF1 由鼠李糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖和甘露糖组成 ,含有 β 糖苷键和甘露糖苷 ;PF2 由鼠李糖、木糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖和甘露糖组成 ,含有α 糖苷键。给小鼠腹腔注射多糖 ,对移植性肿瘤S 1 80均有一定的抑制作用     

pcsk9 siRNA对oxLDL诱导的THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡的影响

为研究pcsk9基因沉默后对氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxLDL)诱导THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡的影响,用不同浓度oxLDL 处理THP-1源性巨噬细胞48 h,Hoechst33258染色检测细胞凋亡,RT-PCR、Western blot分别检测pcsk9 mRNA、NARC-1蛋白的表达．应用Lipofectamine2000转染3对pcsk9 siRNAs进THP-1源性巨噬细胞中,筛选出最有效的siRNA再转染入THP-1源性巨噬细胞,24 h后加入oxLDL处理 48 h,Hoechst33258染色观察细胞评价细胞凋亡,流式细胞术计数检测细胞凋亡率．结果发现,75 mg/L oxLDL处理THP-1源性巨噬细胞48 h后,Hoechst33258染色可见大量凋亡细胞．同时RT-PCR、Western blot检测发现,pcsk9 mRNA和NARC-1蛋白质表达量均随oxLDL浓度的增加而增加,75 mg/L oxLDL组增加最明显．不同浓度siRNA转染THP-1源性巨噬细胞后,RT-PCR筛选出3对siRNAs的终浓度为80 nmol/L均可出现明显的沉默效应．选取此浓度在蛋白质水平检测基因抑制情况,筛选出最有效的一对siRNA．将筛选出来的siRNA转染细胞24 h后,再用oxLDL处理48 h,Hoechst33258染色及流式细胞计数结果显示,转染siRNA组凋亡明显被抑制．结果表明,在本研究的浓度范围内,随着oxLDL浓度增加pcsk9的表达随之增加,同时,THP-1源性巨噬细胞凋亡也明显增加,75 mg/L oxLDL最明显,pcsk9 mRNA和蛋白质的表达也在该浓度最高．提示pcsk9 siRNA能有效抑制pcsk9基因的表达,从而有效抑制由oxLDL诱导的THP-1源性巨噬细胞的凋亡．     

Ectopic overexpression of porcine DGAT1 increases intramuscular fat content in mouse skeletal muscle

The microsomal enzyme 1, 2-acyl CoA: diacylglyceroltransferase-1 (DGAT1) plays an important role in triglyceride storage in adipose tissue and expresses in skeletal muscle as well. The primary goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of porcine DGAT1 on intramuscular fat (IMF) content of transgenic mice produced by pronuclear microinjection with muscle specific promoter of porcine muscle creatine kinase (MCK). In normal chow-fed diet, 4 month-old male transgenic mice expressed more DGAT1, ACC1, UCP1, and FABP4 mRNAs and proteins in skeletal muscle than control mice by real-time PCR and western blot. No significant changes were detected for ACC2, CD36, ADRP, PPAR gamma and LPL. Triacylglycerol assay and soleus muscle sections showed overexpression of porcine DGAT1 in skeletal muscle increased intramyocellular triglyceride and percent of the total cell surface covered by lipid droplets. Thus, upregulation of porcine DGAT1 in skeletal muscle increases IMF content. The present study may further serve to develop transgenic pigs with higher IMF content and improved meat quality.     

Narrow H3K4me2 is required for chicken PGC formation

The development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergoes epigenetic modifications. The study of histone methylation in regulating PGCs is beneficial to understand the development and differentiation mechanism of germ stem cells. Notably, it provides a theoretical basis for directed induction and mass acquisition in vitro. However, little is known about the regulation of PGC formation by histone methylation. Here, we found the high enrichment of H3K4me2 in the blastoderm, genital ridges, and testis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was performed and the results revealed that genomic H3K4me2 is dynamic in embryonic stem cells, PGCs, and spermatogonial stem cells. This trend was consistent with the H3K4me2 enrichment in the gene promoter region. Additionally, narrow region triggered PGC‐related genes (Bmp4, Wnt5a, and Tcf7l2) and signaling pathways (Wnt and transforming growth factor‐β). After knocking down histone methylase Mll2 in vitro and vivo, the level of H3K4me2 decreased, inhibiting Cvh and Blimp1 expression, then repressing the formation of PGCs. Taken together, our study revealed the whole genome map of H3K4me2 in the formation of PGCs, contributing to improve the epigenetic study in PGC formation and providing materials for bird gene editing and rescue of endangered birds.