Periosteum-derived podoplanin-expressing stromal cells regulate nascent vascularization during epiphyseal marrow development

Bone marrow development and endochondral bone formation occur simultaneously. During endochondral ossification, periosteal vasculatures and stromal progenitors invade the primary avascular cartilaginous anlage, which induces primitive marrow development. We previously determined that bone marrow podoplanin (PDPN)-expressing stromal cells exist in the perivascular microenvironment and promote megakaryopoiesis and erythropoiesis. In this study, we aimed to examine the involvement of PDPN-expressing stromal cells in postnatal bone marrow generation. Using histological analysis, we observed that periosteum-derived PDPN-expressing stromal cells infiltrated the cartilaginous anlage of the postnatal epiphysis and populated on the primitive vasculature of secondary ossification center. Furthermore, immunophenotyping and cellular characteristic analyses indicated that the PDPN-expressing stromal cells constituted a subpopulation of the skeletal stem cell lineage. In vitro xenovascular model cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and PDPN-expressing skeletal stem cell progenies showed that PDPN-expressing stromal cells maintained vascular integrity via the release of angiogenic factors and vascular basement membrane-related extracellular matrices. We show that in this process, Notch signal activation committed the PDPN-expressing stromal cells into a dominant state with basement membrane-related extracellular matrices, especially type IV collagens. Our findings suggest that the PDPN-expressing stromal cells regulate the integrity of the primitive vasculatures in the epiphyseal nascent marrow. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively examine how PDPN-expressing stromal cells contribute to marrow development and homeostasis.     

Immune competence and spleen size scale with colony status in the naked mole-rat

Naked mole-rats (NM-R; Heterocephalus glaber) live in multi-generational colonies with a social hierarchy, and show low cancer incidence and long life-spans. Here we asked if an immune component might underlie such extreme physiology. The largest lymphoid organ is the spleen, which plays an essential role in responding to immunological insults and may participate in combating cancer and slowing ageing. We investigated the anatomy, molecular composition and function of the NM-R spleen using RNA-sequencing and histological analysis in healthy NM-Rs. Spleen size in healthy NM-Rs showed considerable inter-individual variability, with some animals displaying enlarged spleens. In all healthy NM-Rs, the spleen is a major site of adult haematopoiesis under normal physiological conditions. However, myeloid-to-lymphoid cell ratio is increased and splenic marginal zone showed markedly altered morphology when compared to other rodents. Healthy NM-Rs with enlarged spleens showed potentially better anti-microbial profiles and were much more likely to have a high rank within the colony. We propose that the anatomical plasticity of the spleen might be regulated by social interaction and gives immunological advantage to increase the lifespan of higher-ranked animals.     

海洋微生物铁载体的研究进展

铁是影响初级生产力的主要限制性因子之一,其在海洋环境中的分布具有空间异质性。由于铁在海洋中主要以溶解度较低、易沉降的三价态(Fe³⁺)形式存在,因此溶解铁对海洋生物而言是一种稀缺资源。为了获得生命代谢所需的铁,微生物进化出多种铁摄取的策略来满足需求,其中铁载体(siderophores)是最典型的代表。铁载体作为重要的代谢辅因子,除了铁循环以外,也强烈影响着其他元素的循环。基于铁载体的重要性,深入理解它的合成、转运和调控机制是系统认识海洋铁循环和生命过程的重要环节之一。本文以近20年的研究为重点,总结了铁载体的最新进展,包括其类型、合成/运输系统、获取途径、调控机制以及铁载体的功能与应用,旨在更好地认识铁载体在海洋微生物生态学过程中的作用,加深对海洋铁循环动力学机制的理解。     

Streptomyces genes involved in aerial mycelium formation

Abstract Cloning of genes as suppressors of the aerial mycelium-defective phenotype of Streptomyces griseus HH1 resulting from A-factor-deficiency has led to the identification of several genes, including amfR, amfAlamfB, amfC , and orf1590 . These genes are involved in aerial mycelium formation independent of secondary metabolic function. Among these, AmfR which belongs to the family of response regulators of two-component regulatory systems and AmfA/AmfB similar to ATP-dependent membrane translocators are analogous to the multicomponent phosphorelay and the Spo0K system, respectively, both of which are required for the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis . Involvement of a protein serine/threonine kinase in aerial mycelium formation is also suggested, because the Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) afsK gene encoding a 'eukaryotic'-type protein kinase reverses the aerial mycelium-defective phenotype of strain HH1, independent of secondary metabolic function.     

Substance P binding sites in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the cat

Substance P binding sites in the nucleus tractus solitarius were visualized with receptor autoradiography using Bolton-Hunter [¹²⁵I]substance P. Substance P binding sites were found to have distinct patterns within the cat nucleus tractus solitarius. The majority of substance P binding sites were present in the medial, intermediate and the peripheral rim of the parvocellular subdivisions. Lower amounts of substance P binding sites were present in the commissural, ventrolateral, interstitial and dorsolateral subdivisions. No substance P binding sites were present in the central region of the parvocellular subdivision or the solitary tract. The localization of substance P binding sites in the nucleus tractus solitarius is very similar to the patterns of substance P immunoreactive fibers previously described for this region. Results of this study add further support for a functional role of substance P in synaptic circuits of the nucleus tractus solitarius.     

Metabolic Enzyme Alterations and Astrocyte Dysfunction in a Murine Model of Alexander Disease With Severe Reactive Gliosis

Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In this report, a mouse model of AxD (GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H) was analyzed that contains a heterozygous R236H point mutation in murine Gfap as well as a transgene with a GFAP promoter to overexpress human GFAP. Using label-free quantitative proteomic comparisons of brain tissue from GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H versus wild-type mice confirmed upregulation of the glutathione metabolism pathway and indicated proteins were elevated in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, which had not been reported previously in AxD. Relative protein-level differences were confirmed by a targeted proteomics assay, including proteins related to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Of particular interest was the decreased level of the oligodendrocyte protein, 2-hydroxyacylsphingosine 1-beta-galactosyltransferase (Ugt8), since Ugt8-deficient mice exhibit a phenotype similar to GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice (e.g., tremors, ataxia, hind-limb paralysis). In addition, decreased levels of myelin-associated proteins were found in the GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice, consistent with the role of Ugt8 in myelin synthesis. Fabp7 upregulation in GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice was also selected for further investigation due to its uncharacterized association to AxD, critical function in astrocyte proliferation, and functional ability to inhibit the anti-inflammatory PPAR signaling pathway in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Within Gfap⁺ astrocytes, Fabp7 was markedly increased in the hippocampus, a brain region subjected to extensive pathology and chronic reactive gliosis in GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice. Last, to determine whether the findings in GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice are present in the human condition, AxD patient and control samples were analyzed by Western blot, which indicated that Type I AxD patients have a significant fourfold upregulation of FABP7. However, immunohistochemistry analysis showed that UGT8 accumulates in AxD patient subpial brain regions where abundant amounts of Rosenthal fibers are located, which was not observed in the GFAP^Tg;Gfap^+/R236H mice.     

Utilizing biomass energy for improving summer squash greenhouse productivity during the winter season

The objective of this present research is to use agricultural residues as a source of energy for heating greenhouses during winter seasons and sequestrating soil carbon dioxide through adding biochar to the soil media. To fulfill the objective of the research work, summer squash was transplanted in a constructed greenhouse and heated using an attached biomass-burning system. The performance of the attached biomass-burning system was experimentally studied under different agricultural residues (corn stalks, cotton stalks and okra stalks), heating fluids (water and oil) and air fan operating periods (10, 15 and 20 min/h). Results indicated that the biomass-burning system allowed increasing temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse up to 27.2 and 80 %, respectively. The maximum biomass-burning system efficiency of 81 % was achieved with the use of okra stalks as a source of energy and oil as a heating fluid side by side with adjusting the suction fan operating period at 15 min/h. Adding bio-charcoal to the soil media, enhanced the soil carbon, resulting in a total fresh yield of 3.7 and 2.9 kg/pot with a total number of leaves per plant of 55 and 47 leaves under conditions of with and without charcoal addition, respectively.     

影像设备电路板测试与故障诊断之系统实现

大型医学影像设备是医院中的贵重设备,其中不少进口设备的维护修理的技术难度较高,医院每年花费在医学影像设备上的维护修理费是非常之大。本文从建立国内的维修力量着眼,研讨医学影像设备维修方法。     

猴头菌和金针菇漆酶对不同染料的降解

利用漆酶(laccase)处理染料废水是近年来研究的热点.本研究以猴头菌Hericium erinaceus和金针菇Flammulina filiformis的发酵液为试验材料,通过硫酸铵沉淀、离子交换层析和超滤等方法,对发酵液中的漆酶进行了初步的分离纯化,然后分别研究了两种初提纯漆酶及其与小分子介体组成的漆酶介体系统...