Down-regulated LINC00115 inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion via targeting miR-212-5p/FZD5/Wnt/β-catenin axis

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent malignancy in men worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. Therefore, it is urgently required to clarify the underlying mechanisms of prostate cancer. Although the long non-coding RNA LINC00115 was identified as an oncogene in several cancers, the expression and function of LINC00115 in prostate cancer have not been explored. Our results showed that LINC00115 was significantly up-regulated in prostate cancer tissues, which was significantly associated with a poor prognosis for prostate cancer patients. Functional studies showed that knockdown LINC00115 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, LINC00115 served as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) through sponging miR-212-5p to release Frizzled Family Receptor 5 (FZD5) expression. The expression of miR-212-5p was noticeably low in tumour tissues, and FZD5 expression level was down-regulated with the knockdown of LINC00115. Knockdown LINC00115 inhibited the Wnt/β‑catenin signalling pathway by inhibiting the expression of FZD5. Rescue experiments further showed that LINC00115 inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion via targeting miR-212-5p/ FZD5/ Wnt/β-catenin axis. The present study provided clues that LINC00115 may be a promising novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer patients.     

Pushed to the edge: Spatial sorting can slow down invasions

Our ability to understand population spread dynamics is complicated by rapid evolution, which renders simple ecological models insufficient. If dispersal ability evolves, more highly dispersive individuals may arrive at the population edge than less dispersive individuals (spatial sorting), accelerating spread. If individuals at the low-density population edge benefit (escape competition), high dispersers have a selective advantage (spatial selection). These two processes are often described as forming a positive feedback loop; they reinforce each other, leading to faster spread. Although spatial sorting is close to universal, this form of spatial selection is not: low densities can be detrimental for organisms with Allee effects. Here, we present two conceptual models to explore the feedback loops that form between spatial sorting and spatial selection. We show that the presence of an Allee effect can reverse the positive feedback loop between spatial sorting and spatial selection, creating a negative feedback loop that slows population spread.     

Ribosomal protein L22-like1 promotes prostate cancer progression by activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in men. Ribosomal protein L22-like1 (RPL22L1), a component of the ribosomal 60 S subunit, is associated with cancer progression, but the role and potential mechanism of RPL22L1 in PCa remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of RPL22L1 in PCa progression and the mechanisms involved. Bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expression of RPL22L1 was significantly higher in PCa tissues than in normal prostate tissues. The cell function analysis revealed that RPL22L1 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells. The data of xenograft tumour assay suggested that the low expression of RPL22L1 inhibited the growth and invasion of PCa cells in vivo. Mechanistically, the results of Western blot proved that RPL22L1 activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in PCa cells. Additionally, LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K/Akt pathway, was used to block this pathway. The results showed that LY294002 remarkably abrogated the oncogenic effect of RPL22L1 on PCa cell proliferation and invasion. Taken together, our study demonstrated that RPL22L1 is a key gene in PCa progression and promotes PCa cell proliferation and invasion via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, thus potentially providing a new target for PCa therapy.     

外来入侵植物与人工林下层植被结构的关联性

为有效防控外来入侵植物,在广西陆川县人工林区进行植被嵌套样方调查,分析群落物种组成与植被结构和环境因子之间的相关性。Mantel检验表明样方物种组成与样方植被结构的相关性(r=0.208, P=0.002)高于其与环境因子相关性(r=0.084, P=0.051)。MRPP分析表明,有入侵植物阔叶丰花草(Spermacoce alata)、假臭草(Praxelis clematidea)和胜红蓟(Ageratum conyzoides)样方的植被结构与无这3种植物样方的有极显著不同(P 0.01),而有无薇甘菊(Mikainamicrantha)样方的植被结构相似。t检验表明林冠盖度(3.0 m)与这4种植物入侵均无显著相关性(P0.073)。通过增加垂直高度1.5 m以下的植被密度,可以减少阔叶丰花草、假臭草和胜红蓟的入侵,但对抑制薇甘菊入侵无效。因此,植被结构作为过滤器,可能主要作用于植物的种子产生时间、萌发周期和生长习性;以种子方式繁殖的入侵植物能否定植相对更依赖干扰、暴露的裸地;兼具无性和有性繁殖且能攀援和匍匐生长使得薇甘菊能够在不同植被结构的群落中相对随机地定植。     

MicroRNA‐29b‐3p suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma cell migration and invasion via IL32/AKT signalling pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is aggressive accompanied with poor prognosis. We previously isolated the most invasive cells resembling the invasive tumour front by microfluidic technology and explored their differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in our previous work. Here, we verified the miR‐29b‐3p as a guarder that suppressed migration and invasion of OSCC cells and was down‐regulated in the most invasive cells. Besides that, the invasion suppression role of miR‐29b‐3p was achieved through the IL32/AKT pathway. Thus, miR‐29b‐3p and IL32 might serve as therapeutic targets for blocking the progression and improving the outcome of OSCC.     

B-Myb稳定过表达H1299细胞株的构建与分析

B—Myb是Myb家族的成员之一,在细胞周期和癌变过程中具有重要作用。但其在肺癌中的作用及其分子机制仍不清楚。为了研究B—Myb在肺癌中的作用,构建了B-Myb稳定过表达的H1299肺癌细胞株。流式细胞术和MTT检测的结果表明,B—Myb稳定过表达导致G1期细胞减少,S期细胞增加进而促进细胞增殖：克隆形成实验及Transwell的结果表明,B—Myb稳定过表达显著增强H1299细胞的克隆形成、侵袭及迁移能力。定量RT-PCR检测结果表明,B—Myb稳定过表达显著提高了细胞周期基因CCNA1的表达水平;对CD97和MTSS1等细胞运动相关下游基因的表达则无明显影响。该研究成功构建了B-Myb稳定过表达细胞株,发现了B-Myb过表达可促进肺癌细胞的增殖、侵袭迁移及克隆形成能力,为进一步研究奠定了基础。     

三种增温情景对入侵植物空心莲子草形态可塑性的影响

虽然国内外已对克隆植物的表型可塑性开展了大量研究,但是气候变暖对克隆植物,尤其是入侵性克隆植物形态可塑性的影响及其可能的生态学意义研究仍然有限。通过设置白天增温、夜间增温和全天增温3种方式,通过切断或不切断匍匐茎处理,探讨入侵植物空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)形态特征对不同气候变暖情景的响应。研究发现:夜间增温2℃条件下,切断匍匐茎连接显著降低空心莲子草匍匐茎总长度和平均分株长度;白天增温和全天增温2℃对匍匐茎切断和连接组的空心莲子草的匍匐茎总长和平均分株长影响不显著;3种增温方式对空心莲子草的分蘖数均无显著影响。这些结果表明:空心莲子草对增温具有较高的耐受性,并对不同增温方式采取不同的响应策略;夜间增温可能通过光合补偿效应增加其匍匐茎的长度和平均分株长从而促进其水平方向的扩展以占据更加有利的生境,增强其入侵能力;白天和全天增温对整个克隆片段匍匐茎形态几乎无影响。     

PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain,family A,member 1) knockdown promotes migration and invasion of MCF10A breast epithelial cells

PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1) is a multifunctional protein that plays distinct roles in several biological processes including cell death and therefore its altered expression has been identified in different types of cancer. Progressively loss of PHLDA1 was found in primary and metastatic melanoma while its overexpression was reported in intestinal and pancreatic tumors. Previous work from our group showed that negative expression of PHLDA1 protein was a strong predictor of poor prognosis for breast cancer disease. However, the function of PHLDA1 in mammary epithelial cells and the tumorigenic process of the breast is unclear. To dissect PHLDA1 role in human breast epithelial cells, we generated a clone of MCF10A cells with stable knockdown of PHLDA1 and performed functional studies. To achieve reduced PHLDA1 expression we used shRNA plasmid transfection and then changes in cell morphology and biological behavior were assessed. We found that PHLDA1 downregulation induced marked morphological alterations in MCF10A cells, such as changes in cell-to-cell adhesion pattern and cytoskeleton reorganization. Regarding cell behavior, MCF10A cells with reduced expression of PHLDA1 showed higher proliferative rate and migration ability in comparison with control cells. We also found that MCF10A cells with PHLDA1 knockdown acquired invasive properties, as evaluated by transwell Matrigel invasion assay and showed enhanced colony-forming ability and irregular growth in low attachment condition. Altogether, our results indicate that PHLDA1 downregulation in MCF10A cells leads to morphological changes and a more aggressive behavior.     

互花米草入侵影响下闽江河口湿地土壤有效硅的时空变化特征

2016年1—12月,选择闽江河口鳝鱼滩的短叶茳芏湿地、互花米草湿地以及二者的交错带湿地为研究对象,采用定位研究方法探讨了互花米草入侵影响下湿地土壤有效硅含量的时空变化特征。结果表明:互花米草入侵影响下3块湿地土壤有效硅含量随时间推移整体呈波动上升趋势;互花米草入侵显著提高了鳝鱼滩湿地30—60 cm土层土壤有效硅含量(P0.01),与短叶茳芏湿地相比,交错带湿地和互花米草湿地30—60 cm土层土壤有效硅含量分别增加了8.56%和19.97%,逐步线性回归分析表明土温和电导是影响其变化的重要因素(P0.01)。研究互花米草入侵影响下湿地土壤有效硅含量的变化特征,对于揭示湿地生态系统生源要素硅生物地球化学循环过程以及互花米草入侵及其扩张机制具有重要意义。     

Heterogeneic modulation of malignant behavior in human glioma cells in defined and serum-containing media

Summary Malignant features in three glioma cell lines were studied in four defined media of various complexity. The cell lines D37MG, D54MG, and GaMG were able to grow in monolayer culture in all media examined, and as multicellular tumor spheroids in the two most nutrient-rich media. In the defined media, none of the cell lines were able to migrate in a migration assay on poly-D-lysine-coated plastic surfaces. Flow cytometric analysis of the GaMG cell line demonstrated no medium-dependent selection of subclones of glioma cells in spheroids cultured for 30 d. Morphological diversity of spheroids varied according to the supplementation of the media. The capacity of glioma cells to invade cellular rat brain aggregates was intact in the media examined. However, glioma migration was severely inhibited by the lack of specific serum components. This study demonstrates that glioma growth and invasion was heterogenously preserved in the defined media used. Depending on the assay to be used in the study of glioma cell behavior, the degree of medium supplementation has to be considered.