Atorvastatin inhibits IL-1β and IL-18 releases via lowering the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome

AIM: To explore the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome in atorvastatin-induced reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) releases from the THP-1 macrophages. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 μg/L) was used to trigger the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in the THP-1 macrophages. The cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (1, 10 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h, or treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for different time (12 h, 24 h and 48 h). NLRP1 siRNA was transfected into the THP-1 cells. The mRNA expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome was determined by Western blot. The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Atorvastatin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in the THP-1 macrophages in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transfection of NLRP1 siRNA significantly decreased the protein expression of NLRP1 and promoted the suppressive effect of atorvastatin on IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in the THP-1 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin inhibits the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in the macrophages through decreasing NLRP1 inflammasome expression, possibly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis.     

辣椒新品种航椒18号的选育

航椒18号是以051-3-2-2-H-H-H为母本,以035-1-2-2-H-H为父本杂交育成的早中熟羊角型辣椒一代杂种。从定植至青熟果采收55d(天)左右,始花节位为第9~11节。果面皱、果肩宽、有光泽,味香辣;单株结果数20个左右,单果质量50.5g左右;果实粗长羊角形,纵径22.7cm,横径4.2cm,肉厚0.25cm。田间对辣椒病毒病、炭疽病和疫病的抗性强于对照陇椒3号。平均每667m~2产量4200kg,适宜在甘肃、内蒙古、新疆等地及生态环境相似区域保护地栽培。     

基于18S rRNA的鸡组织滴虫病PCR诊断方法的建立

河南某鸡场约4周龄鸡疑似发生鸡组织滴虫病.根据鸡组织滴虫18 S rRNA序列设计引物,提取肝脏、盲肠内客物寄生虫DNA,采用PCR方法检测.结果表明,PCR扩增到与预期大小一致的产物,经测序比对,证实为鸡组织滴虫感染.所建立的PCR方法具有灵敏、特异、快速等优点,不仅能用于鸡组织滴虫病临床诊断,还能用于开展流行病学研...     

F18ac菌毛A亚单位基因的克隆与序列分析

根据已经发表的F18ab菌毛A亚单位(FedA/ab)的基因(fedA/ab)[1],设计一对引物,利用PCR技术从表达F18ac菌毛的大肠杆菌2134P株[2]、8199株[3]、8813株[3]中分别扩增到一段序列,并克隆至pGEM-T载体,获得重组质粒T2134PA、T8199A、T8813A.琼脂糖凝胶电泳、序列测定及分析表明,该3个序列大小均为516bp,与fedA/ab(513bp)具有较高的同源性,分别为96.3%、96.5%、95.9%,推导的Fed/ac氨基酸序列与FedA/ab同源性分别为93.0%、93.6%、92.4%.数据表明该实验所克隆的序列均为F18ac菌毛A亚单位(FedA/ac)的基因(fedA/ac).     

Molecular and biological characterisation of Cryptosporidium in pigs

OBJECTIVE: Genetic and biological characterisation of 12 isolates of Cryptosporidium from pigs and comparing them with Cryptosporidium isolates from humans and cattle. DESIGN: Cryptosporidium isolates from pigs were compared with those obtained from human and cattle using rDNA sequence analysis. The infectivity of two of the porcine isolates was determined in neonatal mice and the clinical history of the infected pigs recorded. RESULTS: Pig-derived isolates of Cryptosporidium exhibited two distinct genotypes; a porcine genotype and a bovine genotype, which is common to cattle and other livestock. The porcine genotype did not produce any infection in neonatal mice whereas the bovine genotype did. CONCLUSION: Two distinct genetically and biologically differing strains of Cryptosporidium appeared to be associated with acute diarrhoea in pigs. Whether Cryptosporidium was a primary or secondary pathogen is unclear but warrants further investigation. As the bovine genotype is known to infect humans, the results suggest that pigs can act as reservoirs of cryptosporidial infections for humans and other live-stock. The zoonotic potential of the pig-adapted genotype is uncertain and requires further study.     

Monitoring of atrazine treatment on soil bacterial,fungal and atrazine-degrading communities by quantitative competitive PCR

We report the development of quantitative competitive (QC) PCR assays for quantifying the 16S, 18S ribosomal and atzC genes in nucleic acids directly extracted from soil. QC-PCR assays were standardised, calibrated and evaluated with an experimental study aiming to evaluate the impact of atrazine application on soil microflora. Comparison of QC-PCR 16S and 18S results with those of soil microbial biomass showed that, following atrazine application, the microbial biomass was not affected and that the amount of 16S rDNA gene representing 'bacteria' increased transitorily, while the amount of 18S rDNA gene representing fungi decreased in soil. In addition, comparison of atzC QC-PCR results with those of atrazine mineralisation revealed that, in response to atrazine treatment, the amount of atzC gene increased transitorily in soil pre-treated with atrazine, suggesting that accelerated atrazine biodegradation in soil could be due to a transient increase in the size of the atrazine mineralising community.     

猪IL-18基因的原核表达及重组蛋白的纯化

以pcDNA3．1-pIL-18为模板，采用PCR技术扩增到了猪白细胞介素18（IL-18）的成熟蛋白基因，通过KpnⅠ＋SacⅠ双酶切及连接反应，构建了pET32c—pIL—18原核表达质粒。经过限制性内切酶分析、PCR鉴定及DNA序列测定证实，重组质粒中的基因片段连接正确。之后，重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3），于37℃、1．0mmol／L IPTG条件下诱导表达。菌体裂解产物经SDS—PAGE分析，在分子质量约为33ku处出现了预期的目的蛋白。用8mol／L脲对表达产物变性，经Ni^2＋NTA柱纯化，透析复性，得到了纯化的IL-18蛋白。Western—blot分析证实，纯化的重组IL-18蛋白具有反应活性。上述研究结果为重组IL-18的应用奠定了基础。     

PET/CT FOLLOWING INTENSITY-MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY FOR PRIMARY LUNG TUMOR IN A DOG

A primary lung tumor in a dog treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy was imaged approximately 6 weeks and 1-year posttreatment with combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography, utilizing the radiotracers 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F-fluorothymidine. These two tracers allowed discrimination of tumor from inflammation, and demonstrated spread of tumor along airways over time after treatment. Fusion of functional imaging with anatomic imaging is a useful tool, particularly in the field of oncology, with the potential for PET markers that delineate tumor from normal or reactive tissue, and potential or actual response to therapy.     

18S rRNA／rDNA序列分析技术在瘤胃原虫分类学研究中的应用

作者指出了反刍动物瘤胃原虫分类学研究中的难点，介绍了原虫分类学中新兴的分子生物学指标(18S rRNA／rDNA序列同源性)，综述了18S rRNA／rDNA序列分析技术在瘤胃原虫分类研究中的应用。     

广西沼泽型水牛IL-18和TNF-α基因的克隆与序列分析

从健康沼泽型水牛静脉无菌采血,分离外周血单核细胞(PBMCs),用刀豆素A(ConA)诱导培养3,8和12 h后,提取细胞总RNA,以Oligo(dT)18为引物合成第一链cDNA,根据牛的白细胞介素18(IL-18)和绵羊的肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)基因序列设计2对特异性引物,通过PCR方法扩增出水牛IL-18和TNF-α基因,将其克隆到pMD18-T载体,测序后进行序列分析。结果试验中所克隆到的IL-18和TNF-α基因序列的开放阅读框(ORF)分别为602 bp和715 bp,与GenBank所登录的水牛IL-18和TNF-α核苷酸序列同源性为99.1%和99.7%,其推导的氨基酸序列同源性分别是99.0%和98.7%。表明成功从水牛外周血中克隆到了水牛IL-18和TNF-α基因。