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.     

Role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating HSP70 through ERK1/2 signaling pathway in PC12 cells

AIM:To study the role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and inhibiting apoptosis induced by oxidative stress through extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in the PC12 cells. METHODS:Sodium nitoprusside (SNP) was used to induce oxidative stress injury in the PC12 cells. The cultured PC12 cells were divided into SNP-injured group (incubated with SNP at 0.5 mmol/L for 6, 12, 18 and 24 h), ghrelin pretreatment group (ghrelin at 100 nmol/L was given 30 min before adding SNP); HSP70 inhibitor group (quercetin at 10 μmol/L was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment), ERK inhibitor group (ERK 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment) and control group (added same amount of culture medium only). The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells in SNP-injured group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with SNP-injured group, ghrelin (100 nmol/L) pretreatment significantly inhibited SNP-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells (P<0.05), and significantly up-regulated the protein expression of HSP70 (P<0.05). Time-effect analysis showed that ghrelin had the most significant effect at 18 h after SNP injury. Quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP 70, significantly reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of ghrelin (P<0.05). Ghrelin pretreatment promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 significantly inhibited the effects of ghrelin on up-regulation of HSP70 expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Ghrelin upregulates the expression of HSP70 and inhibits the apoptosis in the PC12 cells induced by oxidative stress by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.     

甲状腺素对猪小肠上皮细胞miR-let-7a基因表达及细胞增殖的影响

miR-let-7a在动物细胞的分化、增殖与凋亡等方面发挥越来越重要的作用。甲状腺激素(TH)作用非常广泛,机体的每个细胞几乎都是TH作用的靶细胞,其可以促进组织分化、生长和成熟。本实验用甲状腺素(T4)浓度分别为(0、0.02、0.03、0.05、0.075、0.1、0.2μmol/L)在体外培养猪的小肠上皮细胞。结果表明:T4处理组的细胞体积形态相对于空白对照组没有明显变化;当T4添加浓度为0.03μmol/L时,细胞的增殖率显著低于其他组(P0.05);当T4浓度为0~0.03μmol/L时,let-7a的表达随着添加剂量的增加而升高,浓度从0.03~0.2μmol/L变化时,let-7a的表达呈现降低趋势,浓度为0.03μmol/L时表达量极显著高于其他组(P0.01)。let-7a的表达量与细胞增殖呈负相关。     

Ultrastructural impairment of islet microvascular endothelial cells in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mice

AIM: To investigate the ultrastructural changes of islet microvascular endothelial cells in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into diabetic group and control group. The expression of insulin and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) in islet microvessels was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The ultrastructural changes of islet β cells and islet microvessels were observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the number of islet β cells, ratio of β cells/α cells, average number of secretory granules in β cells and insulin expression area per islet in diabetic group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Besides, diabetic group had fewer microvessels with lower expression of CD31 (P<0.01). Mitochondria in islet microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes in diabetic group were swelling. The basement membrane of islet microvessels became thicker in diabetic group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Islet microvascular endothelial cells were impaired in type 1 diabetic mice.     

Model construction of rat coronary artery smooth muscle cell endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin

AIM: To investigate the primary culture method for coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and to establish the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) model in CASMCs of SD rats. METHODS: CASMCs were cultured by tissue explant method. The morphological characteristics were observed under optical microscope. The marker proteins of CASMCs, including α-SMA and SM-MHC, were identified by immunofluorescence technique. The protein expression levels of BiP and CHOP, the marker molecules of ERS, were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The spindle-shaped CASMCs climbed out from the edge of coronary artery tissues after 6 d, and formed the typical "hill and valley" growth pattern of CASMCs at 9~10 d. The result of immunofluorescence technique showed that α-SMA and SM-MHC were positively expressed. The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression of BiP and CHOP in TG (1 and 2 μmol/L) treatment groups was increased compared with control group. Compared with control group, the protein expression of BiP and CHOP was significantly increased after 1 μmol/L TG treatment for 24 and 48 h. CONCLUSION: CASMCs can be successfully cultured by tissue explant method. ERS model of CASMCs was established by 1 μmol/L TG treatment for 24 h.     

Vitamin C enhanced myocardial differentiation of dedifferentiated fat cells

AIM: In order to observe the myocardial differentiation capacity of the dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells treated with vitamin C in vitro. METHODS: DFAT cells were dedifferentiated from the mature rat adipocytes with ceiling adherent culture. The DFAT cells of passage 3 were used in the study. Vitamin C and/or neonatal rat heart tissue lysate were added into the culture medium to induce myocardial differentiation for 3 weeks. The cell morphology was observed under microscope. The myocardial-specific markers, such as cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5, were examined by the methods of immunofluorescence, PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Mature rat adipocytes dedifferentiated into fibroblast-like DFAT cells after ceiling adherent culture. The DFAT cells spontaneously differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells under normal culture condition with a low incidence. After treated with neonatal rat heart cell lysate, the DFAT cells became cardiomyocyte-like cells that had bigger size, longer shape and myotubule-structure. The expression of cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5 was remarkably increased at both mRNA and protein levels as compared with the normal cultured DFAT cells. The expression of cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5 was further increased in DFAT cells after treating with vitamin C. No spontaneous beating cell was observed. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C enhances the differentiation of DFAT cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells.     

内毒素对大鼠小肠黏膜组织的影响及多价阳离子A的保护效应

旨在揭示大肠埃希菌内毒素(ET)对大鼠小肠黏膜的结构、绒毛长度、上皮内淋巴细胞(IEL)的数量和分布的影响,并探讨多价阳离子A(CA)对上述指标的保护效应。选用72只140g~150g SPF级SD大鼠随机分为3组,即对照组、ET组和CA保护组,经相应处理后分别在3、4、8、12h采集十二指肠、空肠组织作为检测样本,制备病理组织切片,HE染色并利用图像分析系统进行分析。ET组十二指肠和空肠绒毛长度在3、4、8、12h均显著低于对照组和CA保护组(P0.01),ET组十二指肠、空肠IEL数量在3、4、8、12h均显著低于对照组(P0.01);CA保护组十二指肠和空肠IEL数量在4、8、12h均显著高于ET组(P0.01)。结果显示,ET在不同程度上能够破坏小肠黏膜的正常组织结构,降低小肠绒毛长度,减少IEL的数量,从而影响小肠正常的吸收和免疫功能,而CA则能明显降低ET所导致的毒性作用,发挥其保护效应。     

牛肌肉卫星细胞向胰岛素分泌细胞的诱导转分化研究

肌肉卫星细胞是源自中胚层的肌源干细胞,具有增殖分化融合成肌管并形成肌细胞的能力.在体内条件下,肌肉卫星细胞不可能跨胚层分化为内胚层来源的胰腺细胞.本研究从牛(Bos taurus)胎儿肌肉中分离培养得到肌肉卫星细胞,并在体外条件下将其诱导成胰岛素分泌细胞.在诱导过程中,分析了与胰腺发育相关的胰十二指肠同源基因盒1基因(pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1,PDX1)、神经原素3基因(neurogenin 3,NGN3)、淀粉酶基因(Amylase)和胰岛素基因(Insulin,INS)的动态表达情况.结果表明,PDX1作为决定胰腺分化发育和胰岛功能的主要调节基因,在诱导分化的第2天能够检测到其mRNA的表达,在第3天表达量达到了最大,第4天以后维持在较低水平.NGN3是内分泌细胞形成非常重要的转录因子,是能够将胰岛素分泌到胞外的关键基因,其mRNA在分化诱导的第3天开始表达,第4天达到最高水平,之后逐渐下降.Amylase是胰腺发育中细胞外分泌相关的基因,Amylase mRNA在第6天才开始表达,8d后达到最高.INS mRNA表达量在11～12 d最高,酶联免疫吸附分析(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)发现,诱导形成的胰腺细胞能够正常分泌胰岛素,培养液中胰岛素的浓度在诱导的11～12 d达到最高值.向培养液中添加葡萄糖后,可使细胞的胰岛素分泌量显著提高,说明诱导得到的细胞类似于成体胰岛的功能,其胰岛素分泌受外界葡萄糖浓度的调节.上述结果表明,肌肉卫星细胞可以被诱导转分化为胰岛素分泌细胞,并对培养环境中的葡萄糖刺激做出应答反应.本研究结果为进一步的研究和临床应用提供基础资料.     

豆粕酶解发酵物对仔猪生长性能、血清指标及肠道菌群结构的影响

本试验旨在研究豆粕酶解发酵物对仔猪生长性能、血清指标及肠道菌群结构的影响。选用144头49日龄健康的"杜×长×大"三元杂交育肥仔猪,随机分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复8头猪(公母各占1/2)。阴性对照组饲喂无抗生素添加的基础饲粮,抗生素对照组饲喂基础饲粮+60 g/t吉他霉素,试验组饲喂试验饲粮(基础饲粮中10%豆粕被豆粕酶解发酵物替代)。试验期为42 d。结果表明:1)试验组仔猪的末重、平均日增重、平均日采食量分别比阴性对照组高5.06%、10.07%、5.03%(P0.05),腹泻率比阴性对照组低39.59%(P0.05),与抗生素对照组相比各指标差异均不显著(P0.05)。2)试验组仔猪血清碱性磷酸酶和谷丙转氨酶活性、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均显著高于阴性对照组(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)含量显著低于阴性对照组(P0.05);试验组和抗生素对照组仔猪血清指标差异不显著(P0.05)。3)试验组仔猪盲肠、大肠中乳酸杆菌数量显著高于阴性对照组和抗生素对照组(P0.05),十二指肠中总细菌数显著低于阴性对照组和抗生素对照组(P0.05)。综上,豆粕酶解发酵物能提高仔猪生长性能,增强机体抗氧化能力,利于乳酸杆菌在肠道内形成优势菌群,降低腹泻率,生长性能达到使用抗生素水平。     

Effect Comparison of Adenovirus Vector Transfer into Different Buffalo Cells

Buffalo mammary epithelial cell,cumulus cell and fibroblasts were transfected by adenovirus vectors and compared their transfection efficiency.293 cells were transfected with pBHGloxdelE13cre and pDC316-eGFP by liposome,the virus was collected and titer was detected.Buffalo mammary epithelial cell,cumulus cell and fibroblasts were exposed to different multiplicity of infection (MOI) of adenovirus vectors.After 72 h,the cells were observed with inverted fluorescence microscope,and transfection efficiency was calculated.When the MOI was 25,50,100,200 and 400,the transfection efficiency of fibroblasts were 0.7%,7.0%,9.0%,12.5% and 34.0%,the transfection efficiency of cumulus cells were 42.5%,55.3%,57.4%,76.0% and 80.0%,the transfection efficiency of mammary epithelial cells were 88.7%,100%,100%,100% and 100%.The results showed that the transfection efficiency of mammary epithelial cell was the best,followed by cumulus cell,and fibroblast was poor.