Seaweed polysaccharide mitigates intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli through NF-κB pathway suppression in porcine intestinal epithelial cells

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanism of seaweed polysaccharide (SWP) on intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by E. coli in an IPEC-J2 model. A preliminary study was done to screen optimum SWP concentrations by cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and proliferation evaluation. The regular study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of SWP against E. coli challenge via the analysis of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), tight junction proteins, NF-κB signalling pathway, proinflammatory cytokines and the E. coli adhesion and invasion. Our results show that 4 h E. coli challenge down-regulated tight junction proteins expression, decreased TEER, activated NF-κB signalling pathway and increased proinflammatory response, which indicates that the E. coli infection model was well-established. Pre-treatment with 240 μg/ml SWP for 24 h alleviated the 4 h E. coli -induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, as evidenced by the up-regulated expression of Occludin, Claudin-1 and ZO-1 at both mRNA and protein level and the increased TEER of IPEC-J2 cells. Pre-incubation with 240 μg/ml SWP for 24 h inhibited the activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway by 4 h E. coli challenge, including the decreased mRNA expression of TLR-4, MyD88, IκBα, p-65, as well as the reduced ratio of protein expression of p-p65/p65. Also, pre-treatment with 240 μg/ml SWP for 24 h decreased proinflammatory response (IL-6 and TNF-α) induced by 4 h E. coli challenge and decreased the E. coli adhesion and invasion. In conclusion, SWP mitigated intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by E. coli through NF-κB pathway in IPEC-J2 cells and 240 μg/ml SWP exhibited better effect. Our results also provide a fundamental basis for SWP in reducing post-weaning diarrhoea of weaned piglets, especially under E. coli -infected or in-feed antibiotic-free conditions.     

Three SNPs within exons of INHA and ACVR2B genes are significantly associated with litter size in Dazu black goats

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms within INHA and ACVR2B and litter size in Dazu black goats. In total, twenty-two SNPs were genotyped in 190 individuals by SNaPshot and resequencing. The results showed that three SNPs (SNP_1, SNP_12 and SNP_13 in this study) were detected to have significant additive genetic effect on the recorded goat litter size (p < .05). The SNP_1 (NC_030809.1), a non-synonymous substitution of G for T at chr2-g. 28314990 in the exon 2 of INHA gene (NM_001285606.1), resulted in homozygote 2 (HOM2) contributed 0.25 and heterozygote (HET) contributed 0.12 larger litter than homozygote 1 (HOM1). Meanwhile, SNP_12 (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T) and SNP_13 (Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) (NC_030829.1) simultaneously mutated at the first and third position of a triplet AAA (lysine, K) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene (XM_018066623.1) had estimated genetic effects of HOM1 (0.00) and HOM2 (0.03) larger than HET (−0.12). In conclusion, one SNPs (chr2-g. 28314990 T > G) within the exon 2 of INHA and two SNPs (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T and Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) i n the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene were highly recommended as candidate markers of litter size in Dazu black goats. A large-scale association study to assess the impact of these variants on litter size is still necessary.     

低聚半乳糖干预缓解肠道炎症的研究进展

肠道炎症已成为我国社会健康的难题和挑战，其发病率在我国迅速增长。肠道炎症发病原因复杂，目前尚缺乏有效的缓解药物，因此加强肠道炎症有效缓解物质的研发至关重要。低聚半乳糖（galactooligosaccharide，GOS）是一种食疗益生性较优的乳源功能性低聚糖，能够有效促进肠道内益生菌的增殖，改变肠道菌群结构，刺激免疫应答，进而改善肠黏膜屏障功能，缓解肠道炎症。本文综述近年来国内外有关肠道炎症及GOS干预缓解肠道炎症作用的研究进展，并对其应用前景进行展望，为此领域的研究提供科学依据。     

Ethanol extract from Cortex Albiziae attenuates mouse acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride via modulation of NF-κB pathway

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of ethanol extract from Cortex Albiziae on acute liver injury, and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS:Acute liver injury in mice was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 25% carbon tetrachloride (olive oil solubilization). The effective parts of ethanol extract from Cortex Albizziae against acute liver injury were screened. The pathological changes of the liver tissues were examined by pathological sections with HE staining. The activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of the liver tissues were detected, the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were mea-sured by ELISA, and the protein expression levels of NF-κB p65, Bcl-2 and Bax in the liver cells of the mice in each group were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with model group, the serum levels of AST and ALT in low-dose n-butanol phase of ethanol extract from Cortex Albiziae (AB-L, 4 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) group and high-dose n-butanol phase of ethanol extract from Cortex Albiziae (AB-H, 8 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) group were significantly decreased. The necrosis extent and degree of the hepatocytes and infiltration of inflammatory cells were significantly lower than that in model group. Compared with model group, the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in AB-H group and AB-L group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The protein level of NF-κB p65 in the nuclei of mouse liver cells in AB-H group and AB-L group were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the protein expression of Bax was decreased, the protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was increased in AB-L group and AB-H group. CONCLUSION:The n-butanol phase of ethanol extract from Cortex Albiziae may protect the liver by reducing the activation of NF-κB p65, inhibiting the excessive release of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and decreasing hepatocyte apoptosis via regulating Bcl-2 and Bax expression.     

基于“言象意”思想的上海方塔园诗意空间营造研究

探析"言象意"思想与园林意境营造之间的联系,总结出立意、取象与尽意的园林意境空间营造方法。以方塔园为例,分析其在立意、取象与尽意等方面的营造手法,证实基于"言象意"思想的营造手法在诗意空间营造中的可行性与实用性,从中得到对现代诗意空间营造的启示:自然与生态精神的追求,传统文化的提取,现代资源的应用与诗性思维的参与。     

Role of TLR4-TRPC6 in LPS-induced NF-κB P65 expression and nuclear translocation in airway epithelial 16HBE cells

AIM: To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) P65 expression and nuclear translocation in airway epithelial cells (16HBE) for supplementing the mechanism for airway inflammation. METHODS: After stimulating the 16HBE cells with LPS at 1 mg/L for 0, 0.5, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h, the expression of NF-κB P65 at mRNA and protein levels in the 16HBE cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB P65 was detected by immunocytochemical staining method. The effects of TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095 at 5 μmol/L and TRPC6 agonist Hyp9 at 10 μmol/L on LPS (1 mg/L)-induced NF-κB P65 expression and nuclear translocation in the 16HBE cells were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS: LPS increased the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB P65 and nuclear translocation in the 16HBE cells(P<0.05). TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095 reduced the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB P65 and nuclear translocation induced by LPS, while Hyp9 enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB P65 and nuclear translocation induced by LPS in the 16HBE cells(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LPS induces the expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB P65 in the 16HBE cells via TLR4-TRPC6 signaling pathway.     

茶树蛋白激酶基因CsCIPK的克隆与表达特性分析

以茶树品种‘龙井43’作为材料,利用RT-PCR方法,从茶树的cDNA中克隆得到1个编码蛋白激酶的基因,命名为CsCIPK。序列分析表明,CsCIPK开放阅读框长度为1 341 bp,编码446个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量为414234。蛋白功能域预测和多重对比显示,CsCIPK蛋白含有1个保守的N端激酶结构域和1个相对不保守的C端调节结构域,即丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶结构域和NAF结构域。理化性质、亲/疏水性、无序化分析显示,CsCIPK属于疏水性蛋白,理论等电点为7.04,有4段无序化区域,其二级结构分析显示主要由α螺旋、不规则卷曲组成。通过实时荧光定量PCR对‘龙井43’和‘安吉白茶’中的CsCIPK表达特性进行分析。结果显示‘龙井43’中CsCIPK的相对表达量在高温、干旱及盐处理4 h、低温处理24 h时达到最高。‘安吉白茶’中CsCIPK的相对表达量在高温及盐处理4 h、低温及干旱处理1h时达到最高。CsCIPK在‘龙井43’的根中,‘安吉白茶’茎中表达量最高。不同浓度的GA和IBA处理‘龙井43’茶苗,结果显示0.2 mmol·L-1 GA处理后,CsCIPK表达量先升高后下降,6 d时处理组为对照组的62倍;0.6 mmol·L-1 IBA处理后,CsCIPK的表达量在3 d时显著高于对照组;不同浓度GA和IBA处理后,9 d时CsCIPK表达量均显著低于对照。     

基于温度植被干旱指数的曲靖市干旱监测研究

本研究利用MODIS归一化植被指数(NDVI)和地表温度(Ts)产品数据,构建Ts-NDVI特征空间,计算温度植被干旱指数(TVDI),分析评价云南曲靖市2010—2012年的干旱时空分布状况。结果表明,2010年曲靖市遭遇了非常严重的干旱灾害,受灾面积高达研究区总面积的80%以上,基于TVDI指数的旱情动态监测方法适合云南省曲靖干旱监测。本研究建立的温度植被干旱指数模型提高了干旱监测的实用性,在曲靖市干旱监测上具有很好的适应性,可以广泛应用到该地区干旱监测研究中,为曲靖的农业防灾减灾能力和可持续发展提供科学保障。     

天然富含可可碱茶树的研究进展

天然富含可可碱茶树是一类以可可碱为代表性生物碱的稀有茶树种质资源,具有独特的保健功效与挖掘利用价值。从生化成分组成特征、生物代谢途径和可可碱在茶树体内富含的分子机理,对可可茶、红芽茶、秃房茶和厚轴茶4份新近发现的天然富含可可碱茶树进行比较研究与综述。结果发现,可可碱占茶叶干重的质量分数高达2%～6%,咖啡碱则低于0.5%;优势儿茶素单体为没食子酸儿茶素没食子酸酯,而表没食子酸儿茶素没食子酸酯含量较低;咖啡碱合成酶活性位点精氨酸突变为组氨酸使N-甲基转移酶的底物特异性发生变化,从而导致咖啡碱合成酶终止合成咖啡碱并使得可可碱在茶树体内富集。天然富含可可碱茶树资源丰富了茶种的多样性,但开发利用度尚有限,结合当前茶树育种技术的发展状态,对天然富含可可碱茶树种质的繁育与资源挖掘利用进行了展望。