Effect of miR-29b-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway on progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of microRNA-29b (miR-29b)-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and its effect on the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats.METHODS: Hepatic liver fibrosis rat model was established, and its HSC were isolated. Normal rat HSC were also obtained and identified in vitro. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of miR-29b, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins and liver fibrosis marker proteins in the acquired cells. Finally, the direct targeting binding of miR-29b to TGF-β1 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay system.RESULTS: With the activation of HSC, the expression of miR-29b gradually decreased (P<0.01), while the expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin gradually increased (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of Smad2/3/4 was significantly increased, and the expression of Smad7 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-29b bound directly to "UCUCUCCGU" in the 3'UTR of TGF-β1, indicating that TGF-β1 was a downstream target gene of miR-29b.CONCLUSION: miR-29b may be involved in the inhibition of HSC activation and migration, thereby inhibiting the process of liver fibrosis. The biological function of miR-29b may be through the direct targeting of TGF-β1, thus regulating and inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.     

舒城县干汊河镇农村集体“三资”管理现状与建议

阐述了舒城县干汊河镇农村集体"三资"管理取得的成效,指出了管理过程中存在的问题,并提出了加强农村集体"三资"管理的建议。     

Minimally modified low-density lipoprotein up-regulates endothelin receptors in mouse mesenteric artery through p38 MAPK pathway

AIMTo investigate whether minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (mmLDL) affects the quantity and activity of endothelin （ET） type A (ET_A) and type B (ET_B) receptors in mouse mesenteric artery by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inflammatory pathway. METHODSThe KM mice were divided into normal saline (NS) group (injection of NS via caudal vein), mmLDL group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein), LDL group (injection of LDL via caudal vein), mmLDL+SB 203580 group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein and intraperitoneal injection of p38 MAPK pathway specific inhibitor SB 203580) and mmLDL+DMSO group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein and intraperitoneal injection of DMSO). Mesenteric artery ring segment vasoconstriction dose-response curves affected by sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) and ET-1 were recorded by the myography system. The mRNA levels of ET_B receptor, ET_A receptor and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by RT-qPCR. The protein levels of ET_B receptor, ET_A receptor, IL-6, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, NF-κB and p-NF-κB were determined by Western blot. The serum concentration of IL-6 was measured by ELISA. RESULTSThe contractile responses of the blood vessel segments to S6c and ET-1 were significantly increased by mmLDL (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of ET_A receptor, ET_B receptor, and IL-6 significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein levels of p-p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB were significantly increased (P<0.01). The serum level of IL-6 was significantly increased (P<0.01). These effects of mmLDL were inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580. CONCLUSION mmLDL increses the serum concentration of IL-6, up-regulates the expression of IL-6, ET_A receptor and ET_B receptor in mouse mesenteric artery, and enhances the vasoconstriction function medi?ated by ET_A and ET_B receptors, which is related to the activation of p38 MAPK inflammatory pathway and downstream NF-κB pathway.     

油料作物油脂合成调控研究进展

植物油脂不仅是人类可食用油的主要来源,也是人类生产生活中重要的可再生原料。本文概述了植物油脂的生物合成途径,从母体效应、QTL、GWAS等多个方面总结了油料作物油脂合成的遗传学研究进展,同时探讨了已知的油脂合成调控相关基因的功能。本文综述了该领域的研究现状,为深入了解油料作物油脂合成调控网络提供了参考,也为油料作物的分子改良和遗传育种提供了理论基础。     

GM1 gangliosidosis in a Japanese domestic cat: a new variant identified in Hokkaido,Japan

A male Japanese domestic cat with retarded growth in Hokkaido, Japan, showed progressive motor dysfunction, such as ataxia starting at 3 months of age and tremors, visual disorder and seizure after 4 months of age. Finally, the cat died of neurological deterioration at 9 months of age. Approximately half of the peripheral blood lymphocytes had multiple abnormal vacuoles. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bisymmetrical hyperintensity in the white matter of the parietal and occipital lobes in the forebrain on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and mild encephalatrophy of the olfactory bulbs and temporal lobes. The activity of lysosomal acid β-galactosidase in leukocytes was negligible, resulting in the biochemical diagnosis of GM1 gangliosidosis. Histologically, swollen neurons characterized by accumulation of pale, slightly granular cytoplasmic materials were observed throughout the central nervous system. Dysmyelination or demyelination and gemistocytic astrocytosis were observed in the white matter. Ultrastructually, membranous cytoplasmic bodies were detected in the lysosomes of neurons. However, genetic analysis did not identify the c.1448G>C mutation, which is the single known mutation of feline GM1 gangliosidosis, suggesting that the cat was affected with a new variant of the feline disease.     

Contrast enhanced ultrasonography of kidney in conscious and anesthetized beagle dogs

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is useful to evaluate tissue perfusion in the kidney. In veterinary medicine, sedation or anesthesia may be required in uncooperative or panting patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the normal kidney perfusion patterns in conscious and anesthetized dogs using CEUS. Eight healthy beagles were used in this study. Scanning was performed in conscious dogs using manual restraint (conscious group), or under general anesthesia using tiletamine-zolazepam and medetomidine (TZM group) or medetomidine (M group). The contrast agent (Sonovue^®) was administered as an IV bolus. The peak intensity (PI), time to peak enhancement from injection (TTP₀) and the time to peak enhancement from the initial rise (TTP_up), upslope, downslope and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed. Compared to the cortical values in the conscious group, TTP₀ was significantly delayed in the TZM group, and upslope, TTP₀ and TTP_up were significantly different in the M group. The AUCs in the TZM and M groups were not different from those in the conscious group. The upslope of renal medullary perfusion was significantly decreased in the TZM and M groups. TTP₀ and TTP_up were also significantly delayed in these groups. The AUC of the medulla was significantly decreased in the M group. Therefore, TZM is useful as an anesthetic protocol when performing CEUS, and the obtained data may serve as reference values in the evaluation of renal perfusion using CEUS in dogs under anesthesia.     

PPARγ mediates effects of diosgenin on proliferation and apoptosis in human glioblastoma U87MG cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of diosgenin (Dio) on the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in human glioblastoma U87MG cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS:Human astrocytes (HA) and U87MG cells were cultured in vitro and treated with Dio (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol/L) and GW9662 (5 μmol/L) for 48 h, and then the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell colony formation assay was used to assess the proliferation potential. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The mRNA expression level of PPARγ was measured by RT-PCR. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of PPARγ, cyclin D1, cyclin E1, Bcl-2 and Bax. RESULTS:Dio had no significant influence on the viabi-lity of HA (P>0.05). However, Dio remarkably reduced the viability of U87MG cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) with IC₅₀ of 24.31 μmol/L. Meanwhile, Dio remarkably diminished colony formation ability (P<0.05), induced G₀/G₁ phase arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis (P<0.05), up-regulated the expression of PPARγ at mRNA and protein levels, increased the protein level of Bax (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and Bcl-2 (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. However, these effects induced by Dio were inhibited by GW9662 (P<0.05), a specific inhibitor of PPARγ. CONCLUSION:Dio may inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human glioblastoma U87MG cells most likely via up-regulating the expression of PPARγ, and then down-regulating the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and Bcl-2, and up-regulating the protein level of Bax.     

EM菌在水产养殖中的应用概述

为了能改善水质、渔业增殖和修复生态环境,EM菌的应用得到了广泛的关注,成为近几年研究的热点。鉴于此,本研究系统梳理了EM菌的定义及来源,综述了国内外近几十年EM菌在水产养殖中的作用效果及其作用机理,阐述了影响EM菌作用效果的因素等;发现EM菌在调控微生物生态结构、降低水环境中有害物质、提高免疫、增重增产等方面有着显著的效果,但EM菌技术的基础理论研究还比较薄弱,且生产技术及应用过程等还存在着不足。因此今后应提高生产技术,建立和提高筛选系统,并开发EM菌在水产养殖研究和应用的新领域,为水产养殖创造更大的经济价值,并为可持续养殖提供可能。