Regulatory effect of astragaloside IV on SDF-1α/CXCR4 in EPCs

AIM: To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and its mechanism. METHODS: Rat bone marrow-derived EPCs were cultured in vitro. The proliferation, adhesion, migration, apoptosis and tube formation capacity of EPCs treated with AS-IV and AMD3100, a specific blocker of CXCR4, were observed. The effects of AS-IV on the expression of SDF-1α/CXCR4 at mRNA and protein levels and the protein level of p-CXCR4 in the EPCs were determined. RESULTS: AS-IV significantly enhanced the proliferation, adhesion, migration and tube formation abilities of EPCs, reduced the apoptosis of EPCs, and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 and the p-CXCR4 protein level in the EPCs. On the other hand, AMD3100 blocked the up-regulating effect of AS-IV on the mRNA and protein expression of CXCR4 and the p-CXCR4 protein level in the EPCs, but did not affect the effect of AS-IV on the expression of SDF-1α. CONCLUSION: AS-IV might enhance the biological function of EPCs by regulating the expression of SDF-1α/CXCR in EPCs.     

Effect of DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region on hepatic injury induced by homocysteine

AIM: To explore the role of DNA methylation of microRNA-30a-5p(miR-30a-5p) promoter region in hepatic injury. METHODS: Four-week-old normal mice and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) single gene knockout mice were used and divided into normal (CBS^+/+, n=12) group and single gene knockout (CBS^+/-, n=12) group, and the mice were fed with high methionine diet for 8 weeks. HL-7702 hepatic cells were routinely cultured in vitro and divided into control group, homocysteine (Hcy) group and Hcy+5-azacytidne (AZC) group. Serum Hcy, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of ALT and AST in the cells culture medium were determined by the microplate method. Hepatic injury in the mice were observed with HE staining. Cell viability staining was used to measure the viability of hepatocytes. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues and hepatocytes. The correlation between the expression of miR-30a-5p and serum ALT and AST levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. DNA methylation level of miR-30a-5p promoter region in the liver tissues and hepatocytes was detected by nested landing methylation-specific PCR (nMS-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the CBS^+/+ mice, the serum levels of Hcy, ALT and AST in the CBS^+/- mice were significantly increased (P < 0.05). HE staining showed the hepatocyte swelling and nuclear fragmentation and dissolution. The expression level of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues was decreased (P < 0.01). Besides, the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the mice was negatively correlated with serum ALT and AST levels (r²=0.4557, P=0.0003, r²=0.4626, P=0.0003), and the DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01). In the HL-7702 cells, compared with control group,the ALT and AST levels were increased in Hcy group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the cell viability was remarkablely decreased. DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01), which decreased after treated the cells with AZC (P < 0.05), while the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the cells was increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region may play an important role in hepatic injury.     

Sulodexide protects against hyperglycemia-induced retinal vascular injury via suppressing NOX4/NLRP3 pathway

AIM To investigate the effect of sulodexide (SDX) on high glucose-induced damage in retinal microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS (1) High-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin were used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) followed by injection of saline or SDX in C57BL/6J male mice. Retinal microvascular leakage and density, and the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were measured. (2) Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were treated with normal glucose or high glucose with or without SDX, and were further transfected with siRNA to knock down NOX4, or infected by adenovirus to over-express NOX4. The protein levels of ZO-1, VE-cadherin (VE-Cad), NOX4 and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins as well as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected. RESULTS Treatment with SDX increased the protein level of ZO-1, attenuated retinal leakage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and enhanced the density of microvasculature and the number of ganglion cells in diabetic retinas. The protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad were decreased, while the levels of NOX4, NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation were increased in high glucose-treated HRMECs. Silencing of NOX4 inhibited high glucose-induced increases in NLRP3 inflammasome and ROS generation, and decreases in the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Over-expression of NOX4 significantly increased the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation in HRMECs, and reduced the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Treatment with SDX partly reversed NOX4 over-expression-induced changes. CONCLUSION SDX alleviates hyperglycemia-induced retinal microvascular endothelial injury via inhibiting NOX4/ROS/NLRP3 pathways.     

Importance of mitochondrial calcium uniporter in high glucose-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis

AIM: To investigate the role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in high glucose(HG)-induced apoptosis of cardiac myocytes. METHODS: Cardiac myocytes were exposed to normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L glucose+ 19.5 mmol/L mannitol), HG (25 mmol/L glucose), or HG combined with 5 μmol/L spermine for 72 h. Mitochondrial free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_m), MCU at mRNA and protein levels, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m), the levels of ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis were determined. RESULTS: The [Ca²⁺]_m, the mRNA and protein levels of MCU, PDH activity, ATP levels, and Δψ_m were reduced (P<0.05), while ROS content and the protein levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were increased in HG group (P<0.05). Adding 5 μmol/L spermine returned these parameters toward control levels (P<0.05). Moreover, apoptosis was reduced by adding spermine and HG treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HG-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis may be associated with the decreased MCU expression and activity, abnormal mitochondrial Ca²⁺ handling, deviant mitochon-drial respiratory chain, and mitochondrial dysfunction.     

羊角椒新品种寿研梦扬的选育

寿研梦扬是由母本CSVHPM1407001和父本CSVHPF1407002配制而成的羊角椒一代杂种。植株长势旺盛,连续坐果能力强;果实长羊角形,果长25～30 cm,果肩宽3～4 cm;青熟果黄绿色,老熟果红色;外表光亮,商品性好,耐贮运;单果质量100 g左右,辣味浓,宜鲜食;田间对病毒病、炭疽病和疫病的抗性强于对照喜洋洋。保护地栽培鲜椒产量可达12 840 kg·(667 m~2)~(-1)左右。适宜山东、河北等地区早春、秋延保护地种植。     

黑甜糯玉米新品种黑甜糯639的选育

黑甜糯639是以糯玉米自交系HNF为母本,以甜玉米自交系D91为父本配制而成的黑甜糯玉米一代杂种。生育期为91 d(天),株高263 cm,穗位151 cm,雄穗主轴与分枝角度中等,一级分枝18～23个,果穗筒型,籽粒黑紫色,甜糯籽粒比例为1∶3,籽粒可溶性糖含量为12.5%,支链淀粉占总淀粉含量的98.1%,口感佳。高抗丝黑穗病、茎腐病、大斑病,抗穗腐病和矮花叶病,平均每667 m~2鲜穗产量900 kg左右。适宜在山西省鲜食糯玉米主产区种植。     

早熟松散型花椰菜新品种优松58的选育

优松58是以细胞质雄性不育系HZ-28为母本,以自交系HL-94为父本配制而成的早熟松散型花椰菜一代杂种。华北地区秋露地从定植至收获60 d(天)左右。株型半直立,生长势强,叶片椭圆形,深绿色,叶缘多波浪;花球半球形,白色,球面光滑,花梗绿,口感脆嫩、甜,品质优,单球质量1.0 kg左右。常规栽培平均每667 m~2产量2 000 kg以上,可适当密植,田间对霜霉病、黑腐病的抗性强于对照津松62,适合北京、天津、河北、河南、山东、安徽等地秋季露地栽培。     

豇豆新品种之豇618的选育

之豇618是以从四川引进的麻子豇豆为母本,以从辽宁引进的ZH优选株系为父本进行杂交,采用系统选育结合分子标记辅助抗枯萎病鉴定育成的中熟豇豆新品种。植株蔓生,花紫色,主侧蔓均可结荚,平均单株结荚14.4条;商品荚油绿色,条荚顺直,喙绿色,鼠尾少,平均荚长63.7 cm,单荚质量26.6 g,豆荚肉厚,粗纤维含量低,口感糯、微甜,可溶性糖含量为24.0 mg · g~(-1);对日照长短不敏感,中抗枯萎病和病毒病,早期产量与之豇106相当,总产量2 000 kg · (667 m~2)~(-1)左右,适宜在全国各地(除高寒地区外)种植。     

辣椒新品种桂牛5号的选育

桂牛5号是以自交系Ca1-5-1为母本,以自交系Ca1-3-8为父本配制而成的牛角椒一代杂种。中早熟,植株生长势较强,连续坐果能力强;果实长牛角形,果长25～30 cm,果肩宽3.5～4.0 cm,单果质量125 g左右;青熟果黄绿色,老熟果鲜红色,商品性好,微辣,果实干物质含量7.88%,VC含量1?530 mg · kg~(-1),辣椒素含量0.023%,宜鲜食,耐贮运;田间对病毒病、炭疽病、疫病的抗性强于对照黄美龙,露地栽培鲜椒产量3?500 kg · (667 m~2)~(-1)左右,适宜广西、广东等地春、秋露地种植。     

叶用芥菜新品种甬雪5号的选育

甬雪5号是以胞质雄性不育系07-50A为母本,以自交系09-3-1为父本配制而成的晚熟叶用芥菜(雪里蕻)一代杂种。播种至采收约112 d(天)。株型开展,生长势强,叶浅绿色,倒卵形,叶缘浅锯齿,叶裂刻深裂,叶面微皱、有光泽。平均有效蘖数26个,单株质量约1.1 kg,一般每667 m~2产量5?000 kg左右。抗病毒病(TuMV),加工品质优良,适宜在长江流域种植。