Effects of ZIP14 on biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7404

AIM: To study the expression of zinc transporter ZRT/IRT-like protein 14 (ZIP14) in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, and to investigate the effects of ZIP14 over-expression on the biological behaviors of HCC cells. METHODS: The expression of ZIP14 at mRNA and protein levels in the HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. The lentivirus expression system containing GV365-ZIP14 was constructed, and was used to infect the HCC cell line BEL-7404, which had relatively poor expression of ZIP14. The expression of ZIP14 at mRNA and protein levels in the transfected cells were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Under the conditions of zinc sulfate stimulation at different concentrations, the cell viability, the cell cycle, and the cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by MTT assay, DNA ploid detection, and Transwell assay, respectively. RESULTS: The mRNA expression level and the strong-positive rate of protein expression of ZIP14 in the HCC tissues were significantly lower than those in the adjacent non-tumor liver tissues (P<0.01). The expression of ZIP14 at mRNA and protein levels in the BEL7404 cells was significantly enhanced by infection of GV365-ZIP14 expression lentivirus. Compared with negative control group (transfected with negative control lentivirus), the cell viability, migration and invasion in ZIP14 over-expression group (transfected with GV365-ZIP14 expression lentivirus) were significantly reduced, and the percentage of the cells in G₂/M phase was significantly increased, all of which were more obvious with the elevation of zinc concentration in the culture medium. CONCLUSION: ZIP14 is low expressed in the HCC tissues. The ZIP14 over-expression has inhibitory effects on the viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells, and blocks the cell cycle in G₂/M phase, which might be closely related to the elevation of zinc concentration in cytoplasma of HCC cells due to enchanced zinc transport by ZIP14.     

不同施氮水平下灌浆期高温对水稻贮藏蛋白积累及其合成代谢影响

【目的】 揭示不同施氮水平下灌浆结实期高温对稻米贮藏蛋白积累及其组分的影响,明确不同温氮处理组合下稻米贮藏蛋白合成积累过程与籽粒氮代谢关键酶及相关基因表达间关系。 【方法】 以2个主栽常规晚粳品种（秀水134和秀水09）为材料,利用盆栽土培试验,在水稻穗分化期设低氮（每盆0.5 g尿素）和高氮（每盆2.0 g尿素）2个氮水平,继而通过在水稻灌浆结实期的人工气候箱控温试验,设置高温（日均温度30℃,日最高温和最低温分别为34℃和26℃）和常温（日均温度23℃,日最高温和最低温分别为26℃和20℃）,构成低氮-常温（LN-NT）、低氮-高温（LN-HT）、高氮-常温（HN-NT）、高氮-高温（HN-HT）4个处理组合,并结合水稻籽粒灌浆不同时期取样,探讨氮素穗肥对水稻高温灌浆过程贮藏蛋白积累和主要蛋白组分含量影响及其与籽粒氮代谢关键酶及相关基因表达间关系。 【结果】 氮素穗肥和灌浆期高温均会导致稻米粗蛋白相对含量上升,但在高温处理下单位籽粒中粗蛋白的绝对量却呈降低趋势,以13 kD醇溶蛋白亚基组分在高温处理下的下降幅度最大,从而引起籽粒谷蛋白/醇溶蛋白质比值的上升,其原因主要是由于编码水稻13 kD醇溶蛋白合成基因（Pro13, Pro14和Pro17）在高温处理下的下调表达所致。与之相比,增施氮素穗肥（HN-NT和HN-HT）在引起稻米粗蛋白相对含量提升的同时,单位籽粒中的粗蛋白总量、谷蛋白和醇溶蛋白含量均显著增加,但对贮藏蛋白谷/醇比的影响不明显,且谷蛋白组分中的37 kD酸性亚基和22 kD碱性亚基在不同氮处理水平下的相对比例也基本保持稳定;氮素穗肥可增强灌浆籽粒中的谷氨酰胺合酶（GS）、谷草转氨酶（GOT）和谷丙转氨酶（GPT）活性,但HN-HT处理下的籽粒GS、GOT和GPT活性显著低于HN-NT处理,高温胁迫对水稻灌浆中后期籽粒器官中的氮转运代谢具有抑制作用。此外,在不同氮素水平下,灌浆期高温均可引起稻米整精米率的明显下降和垩白度的显著上升,但HN-HT处理的千粒重、结实率、产量水平、整精米率却高于LN-HT处理,且前者的稻米垩白度显著低于后者,氮素穗肥不足加剧了高温胁迫对千粒重、结实率、整精米率和垩白度等产量和品质性状的负面影响。 【结论】 氮素穗肥对水稻高温灌浆过程贮藏蛋白合成积累起重要调节作用,增施氮素穗肥虽然对水稻籽粒灌浆过程中的谷蛋白和醇溶蛋白质合成具有促进作用,并导致稻米贮藏蛋白相对量与绝对量增加,但对于高温灌浆下13kD醇溶蛋白亚基合成及其组分含量下降具有一定程度的缓解效应,有利于维持贮藏蛋白谷/醇比相对稳定。     

Variation in glomalin in soil profiles and its association with climatic conditions,shelterbelt characteristics,and soil properties in poplar shelterbelts of Northeast China

Glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP)sequesters large amounts of carbon and plays important roles in maintaining terrestrial soil ecosystem functions and ecological restoration;however,little is known about GRSP variation in 1-m soil profiles and its association with stand characteristics,soil properties,and climatic conditions,hindering GRSP-related degraded soil improvement and GRSP evaluation.In this study,we sampled soils from 1-m profiles from poplar(Populus spp.)shelterbelts in Northeast China.GRSP contents were 1.8–2.0 times higher in the upper 40 cm soil layers than at 40–100 cm.GRSP-related soil organic carbon(SOC)sequestration in deeper soil layers was*1.2 times higher than in surface layers.The amounts of GRSP-related nutrients were similar throughout the soil profile.A redundancy analysis showed that in both surface and deeper layers,soil properties(pH,electrical conductivity,water,SOC,and soil nutrients)explained the majority of the GRSP variation(59.5–84.2%);the second-most-important factor in GRSP regulation was climatic conditions(temperature,precipitation,and altitude),while specific shelterbelt characteristics had negligible effects(<5%).Soil depth and climate indirectly affected GRSP features via soil properties,as manifested by structural equation model analysis.Our findings demonstrate that GRSP is important for carbon storage in deep soils,regardless of shelterbelt characteristics.Future glomalin assessments should consider these vertical patterns and possible regulating mechanisms that are related to soil properties and climatic changes.     

PBD和RSM联用优化聚酯型儿茶素A化学合成技术参数

为探明化学合成条件对聚酯型儿茶素A（Theasinensin A,TSA）得率的影响,通过单因素试验和Plackett-Burman Design（PBD）确定TSA化学合成关键因子,然后采用响应面法（Response surface methodology,RSM）,进一步优化TSA化学合成技术参数。结果表明,氯化铜用量、甲醇体积分数、温度对TSA得率的影响差异极显著,主因素效应为甲醇体积分数>氯化铜用量>温度,最优条件为氯化铜用量43%,甲醇体积分数26%,温度15℃,聚酯型儿茶素得率为59.12%,与模型预测值59.34%接近。PBD和RSM联用优化TSA化学合成工艺可行,预测性较好,可为其他种类儿茶素氧化聚合物的高效化学合成提供借鉴和理论依据。     

A pilot study to investigate the measurement of immunoglobulin A in Welsh Cob and Welsh Pony foals’ faeces and their dam’s milk

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine if an ELISA for measurement of IgA in equine serum could be used to measure concentrations of IgA in foal faeces and to determine correlations with concentrations in the milk of the dam.

Methods: Faeces from 20 Welsh Cob and Welsh Pony foals and milk from their dams were collected within 12?hours (Day 0) and at 6 days after parturition (Day 6). On Day 6, faeces could not be collected from 2/20 foals, and milk samples could not be collected from 3/20 mares. An equine IgA ELISA validated for serum and plasma was used to measure concentrations of IgA in all samples in triplicate. The precision of the assay for each sample type was determined using modified CV.

Results: IgA was not detectable in 7/20 Day 0 faecal samples and in 2/18 Day 6 faecal samples. For samples with detectable IgA, the mean modified CV was 10.5 (95% CI?=?6.0–15.0)% for Day 0 faecal samples, and was 6.8 (95% CI?=?4.3–9.4)% for Day 6 faecal samples. Median concentrations of IgA in faeces on Day 0 were lower than concentrations on Day 6 (0.7?mg/g vs. 37?mg/g dry matter; p?=?0.003). Concentrations of IgA in milk and faeces on Day 6 were statistically correlated (r?=?0.59; p?=?0.006).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: The IgA ELISA showed acceptable precision when used to estimate concentrations of IgA in foal faeces during the first week of life, but IgA could not be detected in 37% of meconium samples collected on Day 0. This assay may be useful for investigation of the role of maternal milk IgA in the gastrointestinal tract of neonatal foals, but further assessment of both accuracy and precision of the ELISA is required.     

Serum amyloid A (SAA) mRNA expression in chicken and quails in response to bacterial stress

Monitoring of acute phase proteins such as serum amyloid A at gene expression level may provide quick information about immune status of the host and its susceptibility towards common infections. Present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the mRNA expression of SAA gene in Rhode Island Red chicken (RIR) and Japanese quails using real time PCR analysis in response to inactivated Salmonella gallinarum culture. The results showed that expression of SAA gene was approximately 17–33 folds higher in case of birds administered with bacterial culture when compared to un-inoculated controls and expression was higher and quicker in case of quails than RIR chicken. The SAA genes from chicken and quail were cloned and upon sequence analysis it was observed that deduced amino acid sequence of SAA from chicken and quails were having approximately seven percent variation which might have significance in function of this protein in these species.     

长江下游农区金花菜叶蛋白提取工艺优化及关键参数特征

为改进和优化金花菜(Medicago polymorpha)叶蛋白提取的工艺环节,并提高叶蛋白提取率及提取物纯度等参数指标,本研究选择长江下游农区广泛种植的金花菜为原料,通过设置较为合理科学的料液比、提取温度、加热时间、pH以及提取剂(酸)种类进行叶蛋白提取单因素试验。结果表明:各单因素试验最佳参数分别为料液比1∶3、提取温度70℃、加热时间15 min、pH 4、提取剂(酸)为盐酸。基于清洁安全生产角度,选择了单因素试验中提取指标同样较高的柠檬酸作为提取剂,设置了料液比、pH及提取温度的3因素3水平响应面试验,发现影响叶蛋白提取率的因素依次为pH、提取温度、料液比。得到最佳提取工艺:料液比1∶3、pH 4.1、提取温度72℃,相应的叶蛋白提取率为49.63%,提取物纯度为56.87%。本研究优化的技术工艺及相关参数指标可为农区豆科草类植物多元化利用及叶蛋白工业化生产提供一定的技术支撑和相关借鉴。     

Effects of calpain-2 and autophagy-related protein 5 on hepatocyte apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIMTo investigate the effects of calpain-2 and autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5) on apoptosis of BRL-3A rat normal liver cells during endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) induced by dithiothreitol (DTT). METH?ODS: BRL-3A cells were treated with DTT at 2.0 mmol/L for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h to induce ERS. Real-time cell analysis (RTCA) was used to measure the effect of DTT on BRL-3A cell proliferation. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of calpain-2 and Atg5 was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of calpain-2, Atg5, Atg7, Atg12 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) were determined by Western blot. The interaction between calpain-2 and Atg5 was investigated by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). RESULTSThe proliferation of BRL-3A cells treated with DTT was significantly inhibited. The apoptosis of BRL-3A cells was significantly increased after DTT treatment for 6, 12 and 24 h as compared with 0 h group (P<0.05). The cell cycle was arrested in G₁ phase after DTT treatment (P<0.05). After DTT treatment for 6, 12 and 24 h, the mRNA expression of calpain-2 and Atg5 in the BRL-3A cells was significantly increased as compared with 0 h group (P<0.05). The protein levels of calpain-2, Atg12 and Atg7 in the cells treated with DTT for 6, 12 and 24 h were significantly higher than those in 0 h group, and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I was also significantly higher than that in 0 h group, while Atg5 expression was significantly lower than that in 0 h group (P<0.05). The results of Co-IP found that the anti-calpain-2 antibody precipitated Atg5 protein from the cell lysates, and the anti-Atg5 antibody also precipitated calpain-2 from the cell lysates, which confirmed the interaction between calpain-2 and Atg5. CONCLUSION Calpain-2 may participate in ERS-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by interacting with Atg5.     

Roles of protein phosphatase 4 in down-regulation of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation induced by palmitic acid in human umbilical vein endotheli?al cells

AIMTo investigate the roles of protein phosphatase 4 (PP4) in down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Ser633 phosphorylation induced by palmitic acid (PA). METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with PA at 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L and 200μmol/L for 36 h, or treated with PA at 100 μmol/L for 12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) family inhibitor fostriecin (FST, 20 nmol/L) or okadaic acid (OA, 5 nmol/L) was selected to pretreat the HUVECs for 30 min. Protein phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PP4c) siRNA or protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) siRNA was transfected into the HUVECs. The protein expression levels of of eNOS, PP4c and PP2Ac, as well as the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation, were detected by Western blot. The intracellular nitric oxide (NO) content was measured by DAF-FM DA. RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, the levels of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation were decreased in PA groups in which the HUVECs were treated with 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L and 200 μmol/L PA for 36 h (P<0.05) and 100 μmol/L PA for 24 h, 36 h and 48 h (P<0.05). No significant difference in the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was observed. (2) Compared with control group, both FST and OA pretreatment reversed the reduction of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation (P<0.05) and the decrease in intracellular NO content (P<0.05) induced by PA. No significant difference in the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was observed. (3) Compared with si-Control group, the PP4c protein expression was significantly reduced (P<0.05), while the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation was significantly increased in si-PP4c group (P<0.05). Although the levels of PP2Ac protein expression declined significantly (P<0.05), the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation remained unchanged in si-PP2Ac group. No significant differencein the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was found. CONCLUSION PA significantly reduces the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation and the content of NO in the HUVECs, which may be due to PA inducing the activation of the PP2A family member PP4 rather than PP2A.     

Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.