Effect of mutant β-catenin gene on the proliferation of hepatocytes

AIM:The β-catenin is a key molecule in the Wnt signal pathway, which plays a critical role in normal development and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms of the β-catenin on the cell growth control are still not completely defined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the mutant β-catenin may regulate the hepatocyte proliferation. METHODS: The immortalized murine hepatocyte cell line, AML12, was used for this study. A plasmid that contain mutant β-catenin S33Y was transfected into the AML12 cells and a stable cell line AML12S33Y was established. The cell growth property of this cell line and the parental cell were compared by flow cytometry analysis and direct cell count. The cells were also tested for the ability to form soft agar colonies, and the ability to form tumors in the severe immune deficient mice (SCID). RESULTS:1. The mutant β-catenin containing cell line AML12S33Y has higher proliferating index compared with the parental AML12 cells (P<0.01), suggesting that mutant β-catenin promotes cell growth. 2. The mutant β-catenin cells formed small colonies in soft agar after 4 weeks of culture, but did not generate tumor in SCID mice. CONCLUSION:The mutant β-catenin promotes liver cell growth.     

Effect of tea-polyphenols on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in THP-1 cells incubated with VLDL,LDL or ox-LDL

AIM:To investigate the effect of tea-polyphenols (TP) on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA in THP-1 cells (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line). METHODS:THP-1 cells were incubated with the different concentrations of TP, VLDL, LDL or ox-LDL. In the THP-1 cellls, the nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB was detected with immunohistochemistry technique, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression was detected by hybridization in situ, and accumulation of total cholesterol (TC) in cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L TP was determined with oxidase assay. RESULTS:The nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression and TC in THP-1 cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L of TP were lower than those with 0 μg/L of TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O (P＜0.05). The differences of these markers in THP-1 cells incubated with more than 40 μg/L TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O were not statistically significant, compared with TP-C group (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION:TP inhibited the activation of NF-κB, the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA and the foam cell formation in the mono-macrophage.     

Predicting the spatial distribution of ground flora on large domains using a hierarchical Bayesian model

Accomodation of important sources of uncertainty in ecological models is essential to realistically predicting ecological processes. The purpose of this project is to develop a robust methodology for modeling natural processes on a landscape while accounting for the variability in a process by utilizing environmental and spatial random effects. A hierarchical Bayesian framework has allowed the simultaneous integration of these effects. This framework naturally assumes variables to be random and the posterior distribution of the model provides probabilistic information about the process. Two species in the genus Desmodium were used as examples to illustrate the utility of the model in Southeast Missouri, USA. In addition, two validation techniques were applied to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the predictions.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

Effects of angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy on the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas

AIM: To investigate the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas under angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy. METHODS: The brain tumor model was produced in Wistar rats by stereotaxic inoculation of C6 glioma cells (1×10¹² /L). Tumor-bearing rats were treated with carmustine, teniposide and lisplatin (chemotherapy) during angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Then, the survival time of tumor-bearing rats, tumor blood flow, the concentration of drug, volume of gliomas and the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in glioma were examined.RESULTS: The survival time of tumor-bearing rats was significantly longer in chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension group than that of chemotherapy alone. In addition, regional tumor blood flow, the concentration of chemotherapeutic drug and the activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme in transplanted rat gliomas were increased, while the volume of gliomas was decreased in hypertention chemotherapy group compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension has a enhancing effect on chemotherapy for improving the drug delivery to tumor tissue by a increased tumor blood flow and enhancing activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme.     

Restoration of tuber production by exposure to unshaded daylight in Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi shaded during the early tuber formation period

The loss of final tuber weight of Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi by shading during the early tuber formation period (TFP) is overcome by exposure to unshaded daylight thereafter (late TFP). In the present study, the growth parameters that contribute to the dry matter increase (DMI) per day of tubers in the late TFP were examined. DMI of the tuber during the late TFP was determined by that of the whole plant and the ratio of the DMI of the tuber to that of the whole plant during this period. The ratio of the DMI of the tuber to that of the whole plant during the late TFP was significantly correlated with the DMI of the whole plant during the first 14 days of the late TFP. During the late TFP after the exposure to unshaded daylight, DMI of the whole plant correlated with the surface area of the stem (SAS) and net assimilation ratio (NAR), and the SAS correlated with the stem dry weight (DW) and specific stem-surface area (SSA). SSA negatively influenced NAR, but NAR was increased by unshading. During the late TFP after shading, the effect of the decrease of the stem DW due to shading on the DMI of the whole plant was mitigated by the large SAS and high NAR. These results indicate that the growth parameters that contribute to the DMI of tuber during the late TFP after exposure to unshaded daylight are SAS and NAR just after unshading, and SSA during this period.     

猕猴桃果实成熟前补钙对果实含钙量的影响

猕猴桃果实成熟前用喷叶法和喷果法补钙，可显著提高果实中的钙含量。喷叶较喷果效果好。用Ca(NO3)2喷叶，比用CaCl2处理效果好，差异显著。而果实对CaCl2和Ca(NO3)2的吸收选择性差异不显著。经补钙处理的果实采后进行贮藏效果观察发现：用Ca(NO3)2喷叶处理的果实贮藏性较好，用其喷果处理次之；用CaCl2喷果和喷叶处理的果实贮至28天软果率均达到90％。     

不同覆土深度对鸡腿菇子实体产量的影响

本试验研究 11种覆土深度对鸡腿菇子实体产量影响。结果表明 ,不同覆土深度对子实体产量、有效子实体数和幼蕾数均存在显著的影响。覆土越厚 ,幼蕾数越少。当覆土深度在 0 5～ 3cm时 ,子实体产量和有效子实体数随着覆土层的加厚逐渐增加 ,在覆土深度为 3cm时达到最大值 ,覆土深度大于 3cm时 ,则随着覆土层的加厚而逐渐减少。从生产的角度看 ,覆土 3cm是比较适宜的覆土深度 ,此时的子实体产量最高。     

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in IL-1β-stimulated mesangial cells is medicated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway

AIM: To investigate the role of NF-κB/IκB signal pathway in the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in human mesangial cells (HMC). METHODS: The PGE₂ concentration in supernatants of HMC was measured by radioimmunoassay. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blot were used to detect the activity of NF-κB and degradation of IκB. RESULTS: IL-1β significantly upregulated COX-2 expression and PGE₂ production in HMC. Significant up-regulation of NF-κB activation, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit, and degradation of IκB α and IκB β were observed in IL-1β-induced HMC. CONCLUSION: Expression of COX-2 in IL-1β-induced HMC is mediated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway.