CD36/Src/ERK pathway is involved in process of monocyte differentiation into macrophages

AIM To investigate the role of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) on differentiation of monocytes to macrophages. METHODS Human monocyte THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) at 0, 100 and 200 μg /L. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CD36 (siCD36) was employed to knock down the expression of CD36 in THP-1 cells. The CD36 over-expression (CD36OE) cell line was constructed by transfection with a recombinant lentivirus containing CD36 cDNA. Optical microscopy and crystal violet staining were used to detect the monocyte morphological changes and adhesion ability. The protein expression of CD36 was measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. The mRNA levels of CD36, CD11b and CD80 were detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK） and Src tyrosine kinase were determined by Western blot. RESULTS The cellular adhesiveness of THP-1 cells was elevated in the process of monocytes differentiation, and the expression of CD36 was increased in this process as well (P<0.01). siCD36 was transfected into the THP-1 cells (CD36i group) and the silencing efficiency was approximately 80%. The cell surface area and cellular adhesiveness were significantly decreased in CD36i group compared with scrambled siRNA (NCi) group (P<0.01). The mRNA levels of CD11b and CD80 were decreased in CD36i group compared with NCi group (P<0.01). The cell surface area and cellular adhesiveness were increased in CD36OE group compared with empty vector (vector) group (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of CD11b and CD80 were increased in CD36OE group compared with vector group (P<0.01). The phosphorylation levels of ERK and Src were decreased in CD36i group compared with NCi group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION CD36 promotes the differentiation of human monocyte THP-1 cells to macrophages by increasing the phosphorylation of Src and further activating ERK.     

Panax notoginseng saponins suppress oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced pyroptosis of SH-SY5Y cells

AIM To investigate the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on pyroptosis of SH-SY5Y cells induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). METHODS The OGD/R was conducted to induce ischemia/reperfusion injury in SH-SY5Y cells. The effects of PNS on the viability (detected by CCK-8 assay) and membrane permeability [indicated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and propidium iodide (PI) staining positive cell proportion] of OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells were observed. The protein levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD), GSDMD N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-N), caspase-1 and caspase-4, and the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in the cells were also determined. RESULTS After exposure to OGD/R, the viability of SH-SY5Y cells dramatically decreased (P<0.01), while the LDH leakage, the PI staining positive cell proportion, the protein levels of GSDMD, GSDMD-N, caspase-1 and caspase-4, and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased (P<0.01). However, PNS treatment enhanced the viability of SH-SY5Y cells inhibited by OGD/R (P<0.01), but reduced the leakage of LDH and the percentage of PI staining positive cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, PNS reversed the increases in the protein levels of GSDMD, GSDMD-N, caspase-1 and caspase-4 and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 in OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Treatment with PNS alleviates OGD/R-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells. Its mechanism may be related to inhibition of SH-SY5Y cell pyroptosis induced by OGD/R.     

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.     

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in trimethylamine N-oxide-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-mediated oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. The cells were stained by DCFH-DA, and the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed by phase-contrast microscopy and detected by flow cytometric analysis. The protein levels of phospho-IRE-1α, IRE-1α and GRP78/BiP were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: TMAO exerted no significant effect on the viability of HUVECs. For a long period (>24 h), even a low concentration (10 μmol/L) of TMAO increased the oxidative stress level in the HUVECs (P<0.05). TMAO increased the phosphorylation level of IRE-1α and significantly up-regulated the protein level of GRP78/BiP in HUVECs (P<0.01). Pretreatment with STF-083010, an inhibitor of IRE1α, for 1 h reduced TMAO-induced oxidative stress in HUVECs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in TMAO-induced oxidative stress in HUVECs.     

猪lncRNA TCONS_00791383对骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化的影响

为了探究lncRNA TCONS_00791383对猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖和分化的影响。本研究利用qRT-PCR技术检测出生7 d内大白仔猪6种组织（心、脾、肺、肾、背肌和腿肌）以及猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化前后TCONS_00791383的表达水平；通过设计反义核苷酸（antisense oligonucleotides，ASO）片段在猪骨骼肌卫星细胞中对TCONS_00791383进行敲低，检测敲低TCONS_00791383之后增殖分化标志基因的表达量变化；通过trans （co-expression）对TCONS_00791383进行靶基因预测，使用DAVID对其进行GO富集和KEGG通路分析。结果显示，TCONS_00791383在猪心脏中表达量最高，在脾和肾组织中不表达。在骨骼肌卫星细胞从增殖到分化的过程中，TCONS_00791383的表达量逐渐上升，且在分化后30 h表达量达到最高。在使用ASO片段敲低TCONS_00791383之后，与对照组相比，在分化24 h，增殖标志基因Pax3、Pax7表达量显著或极显著降低（P<0.05，P<0.01），分化标志基因MyoG表达量极显著降低（P<0.01），在分化48 h，增殖标志基因Pax3表达量极显著降低（P<0.01），Pax7表达量显著降低（P<0.05），分化标志基因MyHC表达量显著降低（P<0.05）。预测得到的相关靶基因富集到AMPK、ATP等多个与骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖和分化过程相关的重要信号通路。本研究表明，lncRNA TCONS_00791383可能促进猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖和分化。     

Evaluation of Intestinal Absorption of Dietary Halocynthiaxanthin,a Carotenoid from the Sea Squirt Halocynthia roretzi

Halocynthiaxanthin is an acetylenic carotenoid mainly found in Halocynthia roretzi. To date, several bioactivities of halocynthiaxanthin have been reported, but its mechanism of digestion and absorption in mammals has not been studied yet. In this study, we evaluated the intestinal absorption of halocynthiaxanthin in mice. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction was prepared from the tunicate Halocynthia roretzi. Mice were orally administered the fraction at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. The halocynthiaxanthin levels in the plasma, liver, and small intestine, were quantified using HPLC-PDA, 1, 3, 6, and 9 h after ingestion. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction mainly consisted of the all-trans form and a small amount of cis forms. These three isomers were detected in the plasma of mice 3 h after ingestion. Time-course changes after the ingestion of this fraction were found, with cis isomers being more abundant than the all-trans isomer in the mouse plasma and liver. In the small intestine, however, the all-trans isomer was primarily detected. The possibility that cis isomers might be absorbed rapidly from the small intestine cannot be denied, but our results suggest that dietary all-trans-halocynthiaxanthin might be isomerized to the cis isomer after intestinal absorption.     

3种介导猪NR2F2基因转染PK15细胞方法的比较研究

试验旨在研究3种转染方法对猪肾上皮细胞（PK15）的转染效率，为以PK15细胞为模型研究外源基因的功能提供参考。本研究以PK15细胞为研究对象，用脂质体、电穿孔、慢病毒3种转染方法转染后，在荧光显微镜下观察绿色荧光蛋白的表达，采用实时荧光定量PCR检测EGFP和NR2F2基因的表达情况，采用CCK-8检测细胞存活率，进而比较3种方法的转染效果。结果显示，转染PK15细胞后，电穿孔和慢病毒方法转染效率极显著高于脂质体（P<0.01），但电穿孔方法和慢病毒方法之间差异不显著（P>0.05）；EGFP和NR2F2基因的实时荧光定量PCR结果显示慢病毒方法效果最好，脂质体方法较差，与细胞转染效率基本一致；CCK-8结果显示，电穿孔转染后细胞存活率最低，极显著低于对照组（P<0.01），脂质体方法显著低于对照组（P<0.05），慢病毒方法与对照组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。综合考虑转染效率及细胞活性，本研究认为慢病毒转染方法最适合转染PK15细胞，为今后高效转染PK15细胞提供了理想的方法。     

从江香猪生精上皮周期及睾丸发育的形态学分析

试验旨在探究初情期前后生精上皮周期差异及睾丸发育过程中的形态学变化。通过测定15、30、60和90 d睾丸相关指数，结合睾丸组织形态学特征，判断香猪初情期，划分从江香猪生精上皮周期。结果显示，30 d的睾丸指数较15 d极显著升高（P<0.01），睾丸重、长轴及短轴的增长率分别为298.05%、66.42%和65.45%，60和90 d两个阶段睾丸重增长率相对稳定。形态学观察表明，从江香猪30 d时生精小管出现游离精子，完成第一次生精并进入初情期；与15 d相比，30 d生精小管面积和生精上皮厚度极显著增加（P<0.01），增长率分别为136.12%和40.19%，在60和90 d均处于稳定增长状态。睾丸细胞数统计显示，日龄增加不影响支持细胞（setoli cells，SC）数量（P>0.05），而30 d生殖细胞数（germ cells，GC）较15 d极显著增加（P<0.01）。相关分析结果发现，生殖细胞数量增加与生精小管面积增大、生精上皮厚度变化之间呈明显正相关（r=0.994；0.96）。根据生殖细胞组合形式差异，将初情期前后生精上皮分为3和8个阶段。初情期前生殖细胞以第一次减数分裂前期为主，A、B型精原细胞、SC、初级精母细胞（primary spermatocyte，Ps）、前细线期（preleptotene，PI）、细线期（leptotene，L）等生殖细胞在初情期前后生精上皮中均存在，而圆形精子（round spermatids，R）、延伸精子（elongating spermatid，E）、精子细胞（spermatozoa，S）仅存在于初情期后的生精上皮。本研究结果表明，从江香猪30 d初情，睾丸发育以生殖细胞和生精小管面积的迅速增加为主，该结果对从江香猪早熟性状挖掘、种猪选育及开发利用等有重要的指导意义。