Effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D gene on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells induced by Ox-LDL

AIM: To investigate the effects of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene on the proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). METHODS: The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N2/XPD was transfected into HUASMCs by liposome. The cells were divided into blank control group, pEGFP-N2 group, pEGFP-N2/XPD group, Ox-LDL group, Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2 group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group. The proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT and EdU assays. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of XPD, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the expression of XPD was increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group (P<0.05). According to the results of MTT and EdU assays, the cell proliferation in pEGFP-N2/XPD group was reduced compared with blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with Ox-LDL group, the cell proliferation in Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the cell proportion of S phase decreased and the G₀/G₁-phase cell proportion increased significantly in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, repectively (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, the protein level of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: XPD inhibits the proliferation of HUASMCs and promotes their apoptosis, and reduces the promoting effect of Ox-LDL on the proliferation of HUVSMCs. XPD may be the target for treatment of atherosclerosis.     

激素对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞乳脂肪合成的调控作用

乳脂肪是高质量的天然脂肪，其可为人类提供营养和能量，在各种膳食脂肪和油类中，是最容易被消化吸收的。乳脂肪是在乳腺中由从头合成或外源摄取的脂肪酸与甘油酯化形成的一种脂类物质，其含量的高低关系着牛奶品质的优劣和乳制品的加工特性。在奶牛的泌乳周期中，乳腺泌乳功能受多种因素影响，其中内分泌腺分泌的多种激素对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞（BMECs）乳脂的合成具有积极的调控作用。综上所述，作者介绍了氢化可的松、催乳素、胰岛素和生长激素4种泌乳相关激素对BMECs乳脂肪合成的调控机理，即从乳脂合成适宜的激素添加量、激素对乳脂球形态的影响方面初步阐释其调控作用，并从乳脂合成的关键酶及转录因子、激素对乳脂合成相关基因表达量方面深入阐释其作用机理，旨在为研究泌乳相关激素对奶牛乳腺内乳脂肪合成的调控机理提供参考。     

Effect of CHOP expression knock-down on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM:To study the effect of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) on the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells. METHODS:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury and healthy controls were detected by qPCR. In vitro, renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells were divided into control group, negative group (transfected with negative control siRNA), si-CHOP group (transfected with CHOP siRNA), and induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of nuclear antigen Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with the healthy controls, the serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury were increased significantly (P<0.05). Transfection with CHOP siRNA significantly decreased the expression of CHOP in the renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05). Knock-down of CHOP expression by siRNA significantly increased the viability of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05), decreased the apoptotic rate (P<0.05), increased the expression of Ki-67 and PCNA (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP were increased in the patients with acute kidney injury. Knock-down of CHOP expression inhibits the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by regulating the expression of proliferation-and apoptosis-related proteins.     

Role of miR-219 and TGFBR2 in pathogenesis of renal fibrosis

AIM:To study the role of microRNA-219 (miR-219) in regulation of transforming growth factor-β receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) in renal fibrosis. METHODS:The renal fibrosis patients (n=70) were selected in this stu-dy, and 20 cases of healthy people were selected as control group. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-219 in the serum of the patients with renal fibrosis and control group, and the expression of miR-219 in NRK49F cells after stimulation with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) was detected. The protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the NRK49F cells transfected with miR-219 mimics after stimulation with AngⅡ was determined by Western blot. The potential target gene TGFBR2 of miR-219 was screened and verified by the method of luciferase reporter gene. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detected the effect of miR-219 mimics on the expression of TGFBR2 at mRNA and protein levels, and the mRNA expression of α-SMA, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I collagen α1 (COL1A1) and COL3A1 in the NRK49F cells was also detected, respectively. The unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) mouse model was established and the expression of miR-219 in the renal tissue was monitored. The morphological change of renal fibrosis was observed in the UUO mice after injection of miR-219, and the mRNA expression levels of COL1A1 and COL3A1 were detected. RESULTS:The expression level of miR-219 in the patients with renal fibrosis was significantly lower than that in control group, and the expression of miR-219 in the UUO mice was decreased significantly (P<0.01). The expression level of miR-219 was significantly decreased in the NRK49F cells after AngⅡ stimulation, and miR-219 mimics inhibited the protein expression of α-SMA(P<0.01). miR-219 mimics had a targeted regulatory effect on TGFBR2 gene, which inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of TGFBR2. miR-219 mimics inhibited the mRNA expression of α-SMA, CTGF, COL1A1 and COL3A1. miR-219 also down-regulated the mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 in the UUO mice and inhibited the process of renal fibrosis. CONCLUSION:miR-219 inhibits the development of renal fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of TGFBR2, which may become a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of renal fibrosis.     

Components of Flower Pigments in Petals of Lily

This paper carried on a preliminary study on pigment composition of lilies of different colors by means of specific color reactions and UV-visible spectra.The results showed that the colors of lilies were usually caused by the combined action of several pigments;yellow and orange lilies mainly contained the flavonoids and carotenoids;pink lilies mainly contained flavonoids and anthocyanins,and white lilies contained small amount of flavonoids.     

Transplantation of human amnion epithelial cells improves learning and memory function in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology rat model

AIM: To observe the treatment effect and its immune regulation of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology rat model. METHODS: The hAECs were isolated from amnion with trypsin digestion, and the phenotype of hAECs was analyzed by flow cytometry. SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham control group, model group, medium group and hAECs group. AD-like pathology rat model was induced by bilateral intraventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). hAECs (5×10⁵) were injected into the hippocampus of the AD-like pathology rats. At 2 weeks after transplantation, the animals were tested by Morris water maze to observe the function of learning and memory. The pathological change of the brain was observed by HE staining. The expression of amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42) and Tau protein and the level of acetylcholine (ACh) in the injury brain were determined by immunohistochemistry. The survival and differentiation of hAECs in the hippocampus were measured by immunofluorescent technique. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The contents of serum cytokines were detected by cytometric bead array. RESULTS: Compared with model group and medium group, hAECs group showed shortened escape latency (P<0.01), increased frequency of going through the platform (P<0.05), reduced loss of hippocampal neurons, decreased expression of Tau protein and Aβ42 in the hippocampus (P<0.05), increased ACh level in the hippocampus (P<0.05), decreased percentages of Th1 and Th17 subsets, increased percentages of Th2 and Treg cells (P<0.05), decreased concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-2 in the serum, and increased concentration of IL-4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: hAECs improve the cognitive learning and memory function and alleviate pathologic damage of hippocampus through immune regulation in AD-like pathology rats.     

铅和（或）镉对体外培养肾细胞的毒性损伤

在培养液中加入不同浓度的Cd（10、20、40μmol／L）、Pb（10、20、40μmol／L）和Pb-Cd联合（分别为5、10、20μmol／L），来探讨铅镉对肾细胞的作用及可能机制。在显微镜下观察细胞形态、测定细胞凋亡率和细胞周期及上清液脂质过氧化指标。结果表明：20μmol／L以上染毒组细胞皱缩、体积变小，表面有细胞碎片，甚至呈泡沫状或树枝状；铅、镉单独和联合染毒组GSH—Px、SOD活性随染毒剂量的增加，呈逐渐下降趋势（P〈0．05）．而MDA含量和凋亡率则呈升高趋势（P〈0．05），并存在剂量和时间效应。镉和铅也能使细胞周期停滞。Pb、Cd联合可加剧细胞损伤。     

蜂王浆对尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠抗氧化能力的影响

探讨蜂王浆对尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠的抗氧化和免疫力的影响.将4T1细胞或其与蜂王浆的混合物通过尾静脉注射入小鼠体内,ELISA法检测蜂王浆对小鼠血清、肝脏和肾脏中与抗氧化能力相关的指标及血清中和免疫力相关细胞因子水平的影响.结果表明,和模型对照组相比,蜂王浆(50、100 mg·mL~(-1))可以显著提高小鼠血清内T-AOC、IFN-α(P0.05)水平,降低IL-4的水平(P0.05);蜂王浆剂量为50 mg·m L~(-1)时,IFN-γ的含量显著增加(P0.05).蜂王浆(100 mg·mL~(-1))显著提高肾脏中T-AOC的水平(P0.05).可见,蜂王浆可以改善尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠的抗氧化能力和免疫力.     

Neuroprotective effect of fasudil combined with bone marrow-derived neural stem cells on mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

AIM: To explore the neuroprotective effect of fasudil combined with bone marrow-derived neural stem cells (BM-NSCs) on the mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice (8~10 weeks old, n=32) were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG_35-55) to establish chronic EAE model. The mice were randomly divided into control (ddH₂O) group, fasudil group, BM-NSCs group, and fasudil+BM-NSCs group. The clinical score and body weight were recorded every other day. The expression of neurotrophic factors was determined by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: In comparison with ddH₂O group, fasudil combined with BM-NSCs delayed onset and ameliorated severity of EAE. The numbers of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and ciliary neurotrophic factor positive cells in fasudil group, BM-NSCs group and fasudil+BM-NSCs group were all increased in various extents. In particularly, the expression of these neurotrophic factors in fasudil+BM-NSCs group was significantly higher than that in the mice treated with fasudil or BM-NSCs alone (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fasudil combined with BM-NSCs promotes the expression of neurotrophic factors and improves microenvironment of central nervous system, thus playing a positive role in neural restoration and regeneration through a synergistic and superimposed effect.     

NaCl胁迫对白蜡种子生理特性的影响

为了给盐碱地造林树种选择提供依据,以采自秦皇岛和保定的白蜡种子为试材,采用不同浓度的NaCl胁迫处理,研究了其萌发过程中发芽率、细胞膜透性、保护酶活性、丙二醛MDA的变化,结果表明:(1)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,两地白蜡种子发芽率均呈现逐渐降低的变化趋势,秦皇岛各处理的白蜡种子发芽率分别比对照降低了8.9%、52.6%、56.3%、61.6%、87.9%、91.1%,而保定的白蜡种子分别比对照降低20.2%、56.2%、68.7%、86.5%、89.9%、100.0%;(2)随着浓度的升高,种子的相对电导值、K+、Na+渗透率升高,种子的SOD酶活性降低,MDA含量增加,NaCl胁迫浓度越高,种子所受到的伤害越深;(3)0.20%浓度的NaCl胁迫对白蜡种子萌发影响不大。对于不同种源的白蜡种子,秦皇岛的白蜡种子抗盐性要优于保定的白蜡种子。