Effects of platelet-rich plasma on chondrocyte apoptosis and NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway in rabbits with osteoarthritis

AIM To explore the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on rabbit osteoarthritis and its possible mechanism. METHODS The rabbits with knee osteoarthritis were prepared and then divided into model group, sodium hyaluronate (SH) group and PRP group, and another sham operation group was set up, with 6 rabbits in each group. The gross morphological changes of rabbit cartilage were observed. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathomorphological changes of the cartilage. TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/interleukin-1β （IL-1β） signaling pathway-related molecules was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and the protein levels of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Chondrocytes were isolated and processed according to grouping, and the NLRP3 and IL-1β levels of the cells were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, chondrocyte apoptotic rate, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in model group were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in SH group and PRP group were decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased significantly (P<0.05). In PRP group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax were lower than those in SH group, while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was higher than that in SH group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the expression of NL?RP3 and IL-1β in MCC950 (NLRP3 ihibitor) group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), the expression of NLRP3 in eucalyptol (IL-1β inhibitor) group was not significantly changed (P>0.05), and the expression of IL-1β was significantly reduced (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Platelet-rich plasma promotes the repair of cartilage in osteoarthritis rabbits, which has better effect than SH. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3/IL-1β pathway and the reduction of chondrocyte apoptosis.     

Resveratrol protects cortical neurons in infant rats with bacterial meningitis through miR-223-3p/NLRP3 pathway

AIM To investigate the protective effect of resveratrol (Res) on cortical neurons in rat bacterial meningitis (BM) model. METHODS Group B hemolytic Streptococcus was injected via the posterior cistern to establish a BM model. Resveratrol was administered intranasally and microRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) antagomir was administered by intracerebroventricular injection. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the brain tissue. Loeffler scoring method was used to evaluate the neurobehavioral functions. TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis. The expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The protein levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were determined by Western blot. The expression level of miR-223-3p was detected by RT-qPCR. Online software TargetScan was used to search for the complementary nucleotide sequences between miR-223-3p and NLRP3 mRNA. RESULTS Compared with sham group, the thickness of meninges in BM model was increased, the neurological score was decreased (P<0.05), and the number of TUNEL positive neurons was increased significantly (P<0.05). Astrocytes and microglia were activated, the fluorescence intensity of IL-1β and IL-18 was increased (P<0.05), and the expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18 and miR-223-3p were increased (P<0.05). Compared with BM group, after treatment with resveratrol, the neurological score was increased (P<0.05), the number of TUNEL positive neurons was decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the inflammatory response of astrocytes and microglia was suppressed. The fluorescence intensity of IL-1β and IL-18 was decreased (P<0.05), the protein levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased (P<0.05), and the expression level of miR-223-3p was increased (P<0.05). A nucleotide sequence in the 3'-UTR of NLRP3 mRNA might be targeted by miR-223-3p. In the brain of rat BM model, compared with antagomir control group, the expression of NLRP3 was increased in miR-223-3p antagomir group with resveratrol treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Resveratrol may reduce the inflammatory death of cortical neurons in BM model of infant rats through miR-223-3p/NLRP3 pathway, thus playing a protective role for the neurons.     

Down-regulation of miR-153-3p attenuates H2O2-induced H9C2 cell injury by promoting Nrf2 expression

AIM To study the effect of microRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p) knock-down on oxidative injury of H9C2 cells induced by H₂O₂ and its specific mechanism. METHODS The oxidative stress injury of H9C2 cell model was induced by H₂O₂, and then the cell viability and the expression of miR-153-3p were detected by MTT assay and RT-qPCR, respectively. The effects of miR-153-3p knock-down on the H9C2 cell injury under oxidative stress were studied by RNA interference technology. The targets of miR-153-3p were identified by Western blot and dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS MTT assay showed that the viability of H9C2 cells was decreased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.05). The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression of miR-153-3p was increased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.05). Knock-down of miR-153-3p increased the viability of H9C2 cells under oxidative stress, decreased the cell apoptosis and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2（Nrf2） and antioxidant response element（ARE） activity were increased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.01). TargetScan analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that Nrf2 was one of the potential target genes of miR-153-3p. The results of Western blot further showed that over-expression of miR-153-3p inhibited the expression of Nrf2 (P<0.01), while down-regulation of miR-153-3p increased the expression of Nrf2 (P<0.01). Dual interference with Nrf2 and miR-153-3p significantly reduced H9C2 cell viability， promoted the apoptosis, increased MDA content, and decreased SOD activity in the presence of H₂O₂ (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Inhibition of miR-153-3p expression attenuates the injury of H9C2 cells induced by H₂O₂ through up-regulating Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.     

云南、广西三七黑斑病病原链格孢菌的鉴定

正黑斑病是三七栽培生产中常见的一大病害,叶片受害产生近圆形或不规则水浸状病斑,常导致成株落叶、幼苗生长点及茎秆顶端腐烂枯死。其病原一般认为是链格孢属真菌人参链格Alternaria panax Whetzel~([1,2]),也有相关研究证明黑斑病病原为细链格孢Alternaria tenuis Nees~([3]),后定名为链格孢Alternaria alternata Keissl~([4])。本研究利用ITS序列和histone 3部分编码序列的PCR鉴定,结合形态学鉴定,分析三七主产区黑斑病菌的组成和分布情况及几种病原菌的致病力差异,以期为三七黑斑病防治提供理论依据。     

生物质导热系数测量系统设计

随着不可再生能源的日渐枯竭,生物质能源的研究工作受到越来越多的关注。想要充分了解和利用生物质能源,生物质材料的热物性分析必不可少。其中,导热系数表征就是研究的重点内容之一,设计出可靠便捷的测量系统至关重要。笔者以LabVIEW平台为基础,依靠其强大的测控功能,结合3ω法测量原理及具体的实验步骤,设计出一种固液相样品都适用的导热系数测量系统。实验中测量端的铂丝将产生电信号,经前置放大电路被锁相放大器SR830采集,然后通过GPIB接口卡与PC机通讯。其中,上位机LabVIEW的程控交互界面包括了前期准备、信息记录、数据采集和曲线显示4个部分,为研究人员提供了直观、便捷、高效的实验进程帮助。还从测量对象的性质和实验台搭建过程两个方面,分析了可能存在的误差来源。为了验证该导热系数测量系统的可靠性,对常见的生物质液体,包括存在固液相变化的样品,进行了测量实验。测量值与文献参考值比较显示,系统误差小于5%,说明该测量系统具有较高的可靠性和稳定性。     

宁麦9号与扬麦158株高及其构成因素的遗传解析

宁麦9号与扬麦158是我国长江中下游麦区的主栽品种和骨干亲本,长江中下游麦区近3年来审定品种中80%都是其衍生后代,研究其性状的遗传具重要意义。以宁麦9号与扬麦158为亲本构建的包含282个家系的重组自交系群体为材料,利用Illumina 90k芯片对群体进行基因型分析,建立高密度遗传图谱。连续3个生长季对株高及节间长度、穗长等株高构成因素进行测定,结合遗传图谱对株高及相关性状进行QTL定位,获得14个控制株高及其构成因素的稳定表达位点。通过进一步位置比对,聚焦到6个染色体区段,初步明确了各节间对株高的遗传调控机制。同时,将6个染色体区段中同源性较低的连锁标记转化为适用于高通量筛选的KASP标记,利用101份区域试验材料进行标记效应验证,结果显示聚合Qph-2D与Qph-5A.1两个位点具有较高的选择效率,继续聚合Q2A后,中选材料显著减少,可能降低选择效率;对Q2A与Q5A两个一因多效位点的选择建议以降低株高的等位变异为主;Qd1-5D可作为穗下节间(D1)的选择标记对株高展开优化选择。期望以上结果能为长江中下游麦区的小麦株高遗传改良提供帮助。     

microRNA-124-3p调控H1N1亚型猪流感病毒致小鼠肺损伤的研究

为研究microRNA-124-3p（miR-124-3p）对H1N1亚型猪流感病毒（swine influenza virus，SIV）感染小鼠所致肺损伤的调控作用，本试验构建miR-124-3p腺病毒表达载体，通过小鼠尾部静脉注射法构建miR-124-3p差异表达小鼠模型，试验分3组：过表达组、抑制组和对照组。48 h后，各组小鼠鼻腔接种H1N1亚型SIV，每只10⁵ EID₅₀（50 μL）。连续观察14 d，计算小鼠平均体重变化率、观察病理切片并测定相关炎症因子IL-1β、TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA相对表达量。结果显示，已成功将pre-miR序列及其sponge序列插入腺病毒的穿梭质粒，并将其共转染293A细胞。实时荧光定量PCR检测证实，与对照组相比，过表达组和抑制组小鼠黑色素瘤细胞miR-124-3p表达水平分别极显著升高（P<0.01）和显著降低（P<0.05），表明成功构建腺病毒表达载体。过表达组、抑制组和对照组小鼠体重变化率分别为－5.5%、－12.4%和－8.6%。抑制组和对照组均可见肺泡壁增厚，其间有多量淋巴细胞浸润，部分肺泡内出现纤维蛋白渗出，且抑制组病理变化更为严重，肺泡中还有大量的红细胞浸润；而过表达组仅有少量的淋巴细胞浸润，肺脏组织较正常。与对照组相比，过表达组检测的炎症因子IL-1β、TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA表达水平均显著降低（P<0.05）；抑制组炎症相关炎症因子mRNA表达水平均显著升高（P<0.05）。本试验结果表明，miR-124-3p对H1N1亚型SIV感染小鼠所致的肺脏炎症因子的表达具有抑制作用，同时能减轻肺脏病理损伤。     

黑龙江鱼类开发利用浅析

黑龙江流域地处我国高寒地区,地理环境和鱼类区系组成特殊,形成了许多特有的名贵经济鱼类,为我国的渔业经济发展做出重大贡献。本文简要概述黑龙江流域的鱼类资源、黑龙江省渔业发展现状,以及主要经济鱼类的养殖状况,分析讨论黑龙江鱼类的生物学种质特点,以及目前名优鱼类的市场需求,并针对黑龙江鱼类的开发利用提出了几点建议。     

The importance of dietary HUFA for meagre larvae (Argyrosomus regius; Asso, 1801) and its relation with antioxidant vitamins E and C

Despite the interest of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) as a fast‐growing candidate for Mediterranean aquaculture diversification, there is a lack of information on nutrition along larval development. Importance of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and the antioxidant vitamins E and vitamin C has not been investigated yet in this species. Six diets with two levels of HUFA (0.4% and 3% dw), two of vitamin E (1500 and 3000 mg kg^?1) and two of vitamin C (1800 and 3600 mg kg^?1) were fed to 15 dah meagre larvae. Larval growth in total length and dry body weight was significantly lowest in larvae fed diet 0.4/150/180 and showed few lipid droplets in enterocytes and hepatocytes and lower HUFA contents than the initial larvae. Increase in dietary HUFA up to 3%, significantly improved larval growth and lipid absorption and deposition. Besides, among fish fed 3% HUFA, increase in vitamin E and vitamin C significantly improved body weight, as well as total lipid, 22:6n‐3 and n‐3 fatty acids contents in the larvae. Thus, the results showed that 0.4% dietary HUFA is not enough to cover the essential fatty acid requirements of larval meagre and a high HUFA requirement in weaning diets is foreseen for this species. Besides, the results also pointed out the importance of dietary vitamin E and C to protect these essential fatty acids from oxidation, increase their contents in the larvae and promote growth, suggesting high vitamin E and C requirements in meagre larvae (higher than 1500 and 1800 mg kg^?1 for vitamin E and vitamin C respectively).     

饲料中添加谷氨酰胺前体物对镜鲤肠道消化酶及Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性的影响

为了研究谷氨酰胺前体物对镜鲤(Cyprinus carpio specularis)肠道消化酶及Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性的影响,分别用谷氨酰胺(Gln)、谷氨酸(Glu)、α-酮戊二酸(AKG)、L-鸟氨酸-α-酮戊二酸(OKG)、L-精氨酸-α-酮戊二酸(AAKG)、α-酮戊二酸钠(2Na-AKG)替代基础饲料中的葡萄糖(添加量为1.5%),配制成6种等氮等能试验饲料,以基础饲料为对照,分别投喂松浦镜鲤(平均体重(40.27±3.96)g),饲养8周后测定镜鲤肠道消化酶及Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性。结果显示:Glu组前肠蛋白酶活性显著高于对照组;Gln组、Glu组、OKG组和AAKG组中肠蛋白酶活性均显著高于对照组。2Na-AKG组前肠脂肪酶活性显著高于对照组和OKG组;2Na-AKG组中肠脂肪酶活性显著高于对照组和Gln组。2Na-AKG组前肠淀粉酶活性均显著高于对照组和Gln组。Gln组和Glu组前肠Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性均显著高于对照组;不同处理组中肠Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性均显著低于对照组;Glu组、AKG组和OKG组后肠Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性均显著高于对照组,Gln组、AAKG组和2NaAKG组后肠Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性则均显著低于对照组。研究表明,饲料中添加Gln、Glu、OKG和AAKG可显著提高鱼体肠道的蛋白酶活性,添加2Na-AKG可显著提高鱼体肠道的淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性。