Effect of pidotimod on renal function and inflammatory response in rat IgA nephropathy model

AIM:To explore the effect of pidotimod on the renal function in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) rat model, and to further study whether this effect is related to the inhibition of inflammatory response. METHODS:The SD rats (n=36) were randomly divided into control group, IgAN model group, IgAN with prednisone treatment group and IgAN with pidotimod treatment group, with 9 rats in each group. The IgAN model was induced by consecutive oral administration of bovine gamma globulin (BGG) for 8 weeks followed by injection of BGG through tail vein for 3 d. After the IgAN model was established, the drug was continuously used for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were examined by an automated analyzer. IgA deposition in the renal tissues was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibronectin 1 in the renal tissues were detected by RT-qPCR. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the renal tissues were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS:No significant difference of the body weight was observed in different groups. Compared with control group, the content of urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas those were reversed by pidotimod treatment. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that pidotimod inhibited IgA deposition in the IgAN rats. Pitomod treatment inhibited the mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers TGF-β1 and fibronectin 1, and the mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in the renal tissues of IgAN rats. CONCLUSION:Pidotimod alleviates IgAN progression in rats by inhibition of inflammatory response.     

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.     

Development of colchicine‐induced tetraploid St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) lines

St. Augustinegrass is well suited for lawns and commercial landscapes. While many genotypes are cross‐fertile, all cultivars are propagated vegetatively in sod production. To ensure varietal purity, development of sterile triploid hybrids by crossing tetraploid and diploid genotypes has been successfully used in other warm‐season turfgrasses. Applying this model in St. Augustinegrass would be beneficial to sod producers and turf managers who require purity for certification and uniformity for performance, respectively. This study was conducted to develop colchicine‐induced tetraploid lines of St. Augustinegrass. Seeds of cultivar ‘Raleigh’ were treated with four colchicine concentrations at four exposure times. A non‐treated control was included among the treatments. Seedlings that germinated were screened for genome size changes using flow cytometry. Line DSA 13005 and two progeny lines derived through selfing, DSA 16001 and DSA 16016, were corroborated as tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36) through chromosome counts. These lines will be used in future breeding efforts to attempt development of sterile triploid cultivars of St. Augustinegrass.     

Cf-2/Rcr3pim番茄品系对南方根结线虫的抗性测定

Cf-2/Rcr3~(pim)基因型番茄不仅能够抵御番茄叶霉菌的侵染,而且对马铃薯金线虫的寄生也有一定的抑制效果。为挖掘根结线虫的新抗性资源,本研究采用室内人工接种法测定了Cf-0/Rcr3~(pim)、Cf-2/Rcr3-3和Cf-2/Rcr3~(pim)基因型番茄品系对南方根结线虫的抗感性。抗性评价结果显示,Cf-0/Rcr3~(pim)品系对南方根结线虫表现高感,Cf-2/Rcr3-3品系为中感,而Cf-2/Rcr3~(pim)品系则为感病。与Cf-0/Rcr3~(pim)和Cf-2/Rcr3-3基因型相比,Cf-2/Rcr3~(pim)基因型番茄品系虽然对南方根结线虫侵染的敏感性略低,但是不能阻止线虫在根系上的大量繁殖,不适于根结线虫的防控应用。     

红花双列杂交后代羟基黄色素A含量的遗传效应分析

选用6个羟基红花黄色素A（HSYA）含量差异较大的亲本,采用双列杂交方法配制杂交组合,测定2015年和2016年2年亲本及其后代F₁和F₂红花中的HSYA含量。运用双子叶植物种子数量性状遗传模型和统计分析方法,分析胚、细胞质和母体植株3套遗传体系的基因效应和环境互作效应。结果发现：在HSYA含量的遗传体系中,母体遗传效应影响最大,胚效应次之,细胞质效应影响最小。3套遗传体系均表现出基因主效应大于环境互作效应。机误方差较大,说明HSYA含量还受环境机误或抽样误差的影响。亲本遗传效应分析表明,豫红花1号（P₁）做亲本表现稳定,有利于增加杂交后代HSYA含量,达到提高品质、改良品种的效果。胚显性方差和母体显性方差均达到极显著水平,表明同时存在种子杂种优势和母体杂种优势,而且其主效应基因不受环境影响。综合考虑遗传主效应、胚显性效应和母体显性效应,亲本组合（P₁×P₅）有利于提高后代杂交品种的HSYA含量。该研究结果可为后代材料在杂种优势利用中的亲本选择提供理论支持。     

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.     

栅藻B38营养成分分析及蛋白质营养价值评价

对栅藻B38的营养成分进行了全面分析,结果表明,栅藻藻粉中油脂含量14%,总糖含量13.86%,粗纤维3.52%,灰分4.28%,蛋白质49.0%,为高蛋白质类微藻。栅藻B38中含有23种脂肪酸。栅藻B38中氨基酸总量为852.58 mg/g,必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的47.45%,必需氨基酸指数为85.42%。两种模式的氨基酸比值系数分较接近,均在65以上;待评价物质的氨基酸品质与模式蛋白的贴近度接近1(0.93和0.88)。栅藻B38中共检测出23种矿物质元素,其中钠、钾、钙、镁、铁、铝含量较为丰富。重金属的含量均低于国家食品卫生标准。栅藻B38中维生素B3(106.02 mg/100 g)和维生素E(540.77 mg/100 g)的量较高。综上,栅藻B38的营养较丰富,可以进一步开发利用。     

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。