Study on Antidepressant Effect and Mechanism of Crocin Mediated by the mTOR Signaling Pathway

Neurochemical Research - Crocin is a monomer of Chinese traditional herbs extracted from saffron, relieving depression-like behavior. However, its underlying mechanism of action remains unclear....     

Responses of spring phytoplankton communities to their habitats in the Xiangxi Bay of Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Since the water storage was initiated in 2003, the environment of Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) has changed significantly. Algal blooms and eutrophication have been a frequent occurrence, with serious eutrophication in the tributary bays. To provide some theoretical evidence for the prevention and control of algal blooms, the goal of this study is to elucidate factors that influence algal blooms at different sections of the Xiangxi Bay (XXB). Using field data from the XXB, the responses of phytoplankton communities to their habitats were investigated from March to May, 2010. The results indicated a significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in phytoplankton composition, cellular abundance, and habitats in the spring. Fifty-four genera representing 6 phyla were monitored. Redundancy analysis indicated that the variation in water temperature and relative water column stability (RWCS) contributed greatly to the succession of spring phytoplankton. Due to different physiological adaptabilities and mechanisms of competition among the algae species, significant succession of the community structure had been observed. The predominant species appears to have changed from those adapted to low temperatures and strong mixing (dinoflagellates and diatoms) to those adapted to high temperatures and weak mixing (green algae and cyanobacteria). The lack of silicate resulted in the succession from diatoms to green algae. Due to the influence of the Yangtze River, there is a low potential for algal blooms at lower reaches of the bay because of frequent water exchange. In contrast, the potential is high at middle and upper reaches where the water temperature increases gradually. The hierarchical status of the two sections is significantly different. Precipitation would inhibit algal blooms somewhat, and heavy rainfall would eliminate algal blooms throughout the bay. Phytoplankton are sensitive to their changing habitat in XXB. For a bloom to occur, sufficient nutrients, a lower flow velocity, and appropriate temperature and light conditions are necessary. As an artificial regulating reservoir, proper ecological regulation could not only significantly affect the dynamic conditions of the water body tributaries, but it could also change the transfer characteristics of light and heat, abolishing the algae habitats and thereby inhibiting the water bloom.     

机场草坪植被调控对土壤细菌群落结构与功能的影响

为了探究植被调控对土壤细菌群落结构和功能的影响,对天津滨海国际机场草地植被进行单一草坪植物建植和高强度刈割,在调控后第3年的春、夏、秋季节取调控区土壤样本,利用16S rRNA基因高通量测序和PICRUSt软件,分析了不同植被调控方式下土壤细菌组成、多样性及季节性变化,预测细菌功能特征。结果表明,各样地共有的优势菌门（相对丰度>5%）有变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）和绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）。与对照区相比,刈割调控区土壤放线菌门相对丰度显著增加;单一草坪建植调控区,夏季土壤芽单胞菌门相对丰度显著增加（P<0.05）。刈割调控、高羊茅及黑麦草调控区,土壤细菌门之间相关性较对照分别减弱21.4%、46.4%和67.9%,使细菌网络结构更为简单。夏季和秋季3个调控区土壤细菌群落的Shannon指数和Chao1指数显著高于对照区,而秋季Simpson指数显著低于对照区（P<0.05）。KEGG代谢途径差异分析可知,刈割调控、高羊茅和黑麦草调控区,土壤细菌分别有25、24和23个代谢通路的功能基因丰度显著低于对照区,主要体现在聚糖的生物合成与代谢、细胞运动、细胞生长与死亡、核苷酸代谢等通路上。可见,机场植被调控改变了土壤细菌群落的组成,简化了细菌网络结构,代谢功能也明显下降。     

iTRAQ proteomics analysis reveals that PI3K is highly associated with bupivacaine‐induced neurotoxicity pathways

Bupivacaine, a commonly used local anesthetic, has potential neurotoxicity through diverse signaling pathways. However, the key mechanism of bupivacaine‐induced neurotoxicity remains unclear. Cultured human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated (bupivacaine) or untreated (control) with bupivacaine for 24 h. Compared to the control group, bupivacaine significantly increased cyto‐inhibition, cellular reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, mitochondrial injury, apoptosis (increased TUNEL‐positive cells, cleaved caspase 3, and Bcl‐2/Bax), and activated autophagy (enhanced LC3II/LC3I ratio). To explore changes in protein expression and intercommunication among the pathways involved in bupivacaine‐induced neurotoxicity, an 8‐plex iTRAQ proteomic technique and bioinformatics analysis were performed. Compared to the control group, 241 differentially expressed proteins were identified, of which, 145 were up‐regulated and 96 were down‐regulated. Bioinformatics analysis of the cross‐talk between the significant proteins with altered expression in bupivacaine‐induced neurotoxicity indicated that phosphatidyl‐3‐kinase (PI3K) was the most frequently targeted protein in each of the interactions. We further confirmed these results by determining the downstream targets of the identified signaling pathways (PI3K, Akt, FoxO1, Erk, and JNK). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that PI3K may play a central role in contacting and regulating the signaling pathways that contribute to bupivacaine‐induced neurotoxicity.