A cross-talk between epithelium and endothelium mediates human alveolar–capillary injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is an acute and rapidly developing pandemic, which leads to a global health crisis. SARS-CoV-2 primarily attacks human alveoli and causes severe lung infection and damage. To better understand the molecular basis of this disease, we sought to characterize the responses of alveolar epithelium and its adjacent microvascular endothelium to viral infection under a co-culture system. SARS-CoV-2 infection caused massive virus replication and dramatic organelles remodeling in alveolar epithelial cells, alone. While, viral infection affected endothelial cells in an indirect manner, which was mediated by infected alveolar epithelium. Proteomics analysis and TEM examinations showed viral infection caused global proteomic modulations and marked ultrastructural changes in both epithelial cells and endothelial cells under the co-culture system. In particular, viral infection elicited global protein changes and structural reorganizations across many sub-cellular compartments in epithelial cells. Among the affected organelles, mitochondrion seems to be a primary target organelle. Besides, according to EM and proteomic results, we identified Daurisoline, a potent autophagy inhibitor, could inhibit virus replication effectively in host cells. Collectively, our study revealed an unrecognized cross-talk between epithelium and endothelium, which contributed to alveolar–capillary injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection. These new findings will expand our understanding of COVID-19 and may also be helpful for targeted drug development.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Viral infection     

LncRNA Bmp1 promotes the healing of intestinal mucosal lesions via the miR-128-3p/PHF6/PI3K/AKT pathway

Intestinal mucosal injuries are directly or indirectly related to many common acute and chronic diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed in many diseases, including intestinal mucosal injury. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and intestinal mucosal injury has not been determined. Here, we investigated the functions and mechanisms of action of lncRNA Bmp1 on damaged intestinal mucosa. We found that Bmp1 was increased in damaged intestinal mucosal tissue and Bmp1 overexpression was able to alleviate intestinal mucosal injury. Bmp1 overexpression was found to influence cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration in IEC-6 or HIEC-6 cells. Moreover, miR-128-3p was downregulated after Bmp1 overexpression, and upregulation of miR-128-3p reversed the effects of Bmp1 overexpression in IEC-6 cells. Phf6 was observed to be a target of miR-128-3p. Furthermore, PHF6 overexpression affected IEC-6 cells by activating PI3K/AKT signaling which was mediated by the miR-128-3p/PHF6 axis. In conclusion, Bmp1 was found to promote the expression of PHF6 through the sponge miR-128-3p, activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to promote cell migration and proliferation.Subject terms: Cell growth, Cell migration     

不同森林群落结构与光能利用率的关系

本文在人工落叶松纯林及人工落叶松与水典柳混交林的林冠观测数据的基础上建立了落叶松松和水曲柳的树冠锥体模型。通过对上述两种森林群落结构的太阳辐射的观测,利用电磁波的吸收,反射和透射理论分别对以上两种森林群落的光能利用率进行了计算。结果表明理论计算值与实测结果基本一致;双层次混交林的光能利用率高于单层纯林的光能利用率。     

大蒜中期染色体内的核糖核蛋白物质

研究了大蒜（Ａｌｌｉｕｍ ｓａｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．）中期染色体的超微结构和ＲＮＰ物质。常规染色表明,大部分染色体内部有低电子密度区,有的染色体中低电子密度区域较大而似孔洞。银染结果也证明了有大小不等的孔洞存在。Ｂｅｒｎｈａｒｄ 染色显示,在染色体周边和染色体内部都有ＲＮＰ分布。用ＮａＯＨ 处理证明了Ｂｅｒｎｈａｒｄ 染色法所显示的深染区确实含有ＲＮＡ。ＲＮＰ量的多少与ＥＤＴＡ 的分化时间呈负相关     

聚苯乙烯纳米塑料-植物蛋白冠的形成与特征

为探究聚苯乙烯纳米塑料-植物蛋白冠的形成过程以及蛋白冠的形成对植物可能造成的影响,本研究选用3种平均粒径为200nm不同表面修饰的聚苯乙烯纳米塑料微球和新几内亚凤仙(Impatiens hawkeri)为对象,将3种聚苯乙烯纳米塑料分别与新几内亚凤仙的叶蛋白提取物进行反应,反应时间分别为2、4、8、16、24、36 h。利用扫描电镜(scanning electron microscopy, SEM)观察其形貌变化,原子力显微镜(atomic force microscopy, AFM)进行表面粗糙度测定,使用纳米粒度和zeta电位分析仪测定水合粒径及zeta电位,液相色谱-串联质谱(liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS)鉴定蛋白冠的蛋白成分。从生物学过程、细胞组分以及分子功能3个方面对蛋白进行分类,研究不同表面修饰的纳米塑料对蛋白的吸附选择,探究聚苯乙烯纳米塑料-植物蛋白冠的形成与特征,预测蛋白冠对植物造成的可能影响。结果表明：随着反应时间增加,纳米塑料的形貌变化越发明显,表现为尺寸和粗糙度的增加和稳定性的增...     

Population genetic structure,parasite infection and somatic condition of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) in the Oder river basin

In Poland, distribution of non-native pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae) is strictly limited to the Oder river basin, where it was introduced in the early 20th century. Recently, several populations have been found in waterbodies adjacent to the Oder, particularly in its lower reaches. In this study, we compare the genetic relatedness of populations in the Oder basin with other European populations using nuclear (microsatellite) and mitochondrial (partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I; cox1) markers. Microsatellite analysis indicated that four populations in the lower Oder form a separate cluster, while one in the middle Oder clustered with Danubian populations, from where probably having been introduced. Microsatellite data suggested that the lower Oder populations differ from other non-native European populations, making it impossible to estimate the source of introduction. Nevertheless, analysis of cox1 indicated that Oder pumpkinseeds belong to the same haplotype as the vast majority of European populations. Parasitological examination confirmed the presence of two North American species, the monogenean Onchocleidus dispar and trematode Posthodiplostomum centrarchi, in the lower Oder, both previously unknown in the region. Fifteen other parasite species were acquired, including glochidia of invasive Sinanodonta woodiana. In the middle Oder, parasite infection was more limited. Fish from the Gryfino Canal, considered one of the most invasive populations in Europe, showed the highest parasite abundance and diversity, and the highest somatic condition and growth rate due to warm water released from the Dolna Odra power plant. Our results highlight significant differences in somatic condition and parasite infection in long-established non-native pumpkinseed populations in the same river system, reflecting mainly environmental conditions.     

The Effect of High-Temperature Stress on the Physiological Indexes,Chloroplast Ultrastructure,and Photosystems of two Herbaceous Peony Cultivars

In this study, two herbaceous peony cultivars with different heat tolerances (‘Fenyunu’ FYN low sensitivity and ‘Qiaoling’ QL high sensitivity) were used as research materials. An integrated view of the factors underlying the decrease in photosynthetic rate under high-temperature (HT) stress was provided by analyzing the biochemical parameters, chloroplast ultrastructure, gas-exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and modulated 820 nm reflection of herbaceous peony leaves. The results showed that hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, malondialdehyde, and electrical conductivity increased significantly, while the photosynthetic pigments content and photosynthetic capacity decreased significantly in QL than in FYN under HT. The contents of soluble sugars and proline increased greatly in FYN than in QL, while the activity of SOD decreased markedly in QL than in FYN after HT. Compared with FYN, the ultrastructure of QL was more seriously disrupted under HT. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis showed that HT changed the shapes of OJIP curve, resulting in the increase of K phase and J phase. The PSII acceptor side was more damaged than the donor side, and the electron transfer was seriously blocked. The energy flow in the process of light energy absorption, capture, and electron transfer were significantly changed after HT stress. Meanwhile, PSI was also significantly inhibited, and the coordination of both photosystems decreased. The variation of these parameters in FYN was less than that in QL. These results suggested that FYN featured a more heat-tolerance ability as evidenced by the good performances on the antioxidant system, osmoregulatory capacity, and the thermostability of membranes and photosystems.

     

Effect of cadmium intoxication on glucose utilization in energy metabolism of muscles

The influence of cadmium intoxication on carbohydrate metabolism in skeletal muscles and liver of the male Wistar rats has been studied. Cadmium was administered as cadmium acetate in a dose of 0.3 mg Cd2+/kg body weight for three months. At the same time the control rats were injected with 0.9% NaCl. The animals were decapitated and samples of their skeletal muscles: the soleus muscle (composed mainly of red slow twitch fibers; ST) the gastrocnemius muscle containing two types of fibers (white fast twitch fibers FTb and red fast twitch fibers, FTa) and the liver were dissected out. In the samples of muscles, liver and serum contents of glycogen, glucose, pyruvate and lactate, as well as activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were measured. Intoxication of rats with cadmium for three months resulted in a reduction of glycolytic enzymes in the serum, ST and FTa muscle fibers and in the liver but did not change the activities of glycolytic enzymes in the FTb muscle fibers. The data obtained for the concentrations of glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscles suggest different mechanisms of cadmium influence on glycogen utilization in these organs.