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.     

MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway mediates alcohol-induced angiogenesis in breast cancer

AIM To investigate the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in ethanol-promoted breast cancer angiogenesis and the underlying mechanism. METH?ODS: A mouse model of transplanted breast tumor with moderate alcohol consumption was established. The correlations between the expression of MCP-1/CCR2 and the expression of angiogenesis markers [platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] in tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, a 3D tumor-endothelial co-culture system was established to observe tumor angiogenesis and the role of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway in alcohol-mediated angiogenesis. The cell migration ability was detected to clarify whether MCP-1/CCR2 enhanced cell mobility to form new vessels. RESULTS MCP-1 and CCR2 were both highly expressed in the breast tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice consuming alcohol, and their expression levels were consistent with the angiogenic markers PECAM-1 and VEGF (P<0.05). The interaction between mouse breast cancer E0771 cells and endothelial cells was observed to promote angiogenesis in the 3D tumor-endothelial co-culture system with or without alcohol stimulation. MCP-1 promoted this kind of tumor angiogenesis, while CCR2 antagonist effectively inhibited the tumor angiogenesis and especially blocked alcohol-induced angiogenesis. Activation of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway enhanced the migration ability of endothelial cells. CONCLUSION The MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway plays an important role in promoting the angiogenesis of breast cancer stimulated by alcohol. The mechanism might be that MCP-1 improves the migration of endothelial cells and then promotes angiogenesis.     

Soil available potassium affected by rice straw incorporation and potassium fertilizer application under a rice–oilseed rape rotation system

Data from 147 field trials were collected to study the influence of straw incorporation on soil potassium (K) under an intensive rice–oilseed rape rotation system, while pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw incorporation on soil K availability. A significant correlation was observed between the soil available K and the relative yield (RRY) and the relative K uptake (RKU) of oilseed rape, with R² values ranging from 0.07 to 0.08 and from 0.10 to 0.11, respectively, when data were fitted to a logarithmic equation model. In approximately 30% of trials, RRY reached 90%, while soil test available K values were below the critical limit, indicating that soil K values at the time of sampling (within 1 week of rice harvest) underestimated the actual soil K supply capacity. The pot experiment results showed that soil available K was affected by straw incorporation and soil type in the fallow period. The NH₄OAc‐K and NaBPh₄‐K concentrations of soils increased at first, and then, plateaued after 28 days. Straw incorporation significantly influenced the critical soil K concentration, which is important for making accurate K fertilizer recommendation. These results suggested that straw K should be seriously considered in making K fertilizer recommendations. Extending the sampling time from 1 to 3 weeks after the harvesting of rice to stabilize the effects of straw incorporation may help achieve a more accurate evaluation of soil available K.     

夏季高温环境下苦瓜种质资源农艺性状的综合评价

[目的]调查统计31份苦瓜种质资源在夏季高温环境下的农艺性状表现并进行耐热性分析评价,旨在建立田间苦瓜种质资源耐热性分析评价的方法和体系及筛选鉴定指标和优良耐热的苦瓜种质资源.[方法]连续两年在福建夏季高温环境下对31份苦瓜种质资源进行大田栽培比较试验,通过调查统计苦瓜的22个主要农艺性状指标,运用相关性分析、主成分分析和逐步回归分析对供试苦瓜种质资源进行综合分析评价.[结果]在高温环境下不同苦瓜供试材料产量差异较大,变异系数为35.48%,第一雌花节位、瓜长、瓜形和瓜瘤形状等果实性状变异系数在9.05%~41.27%,表现出丰富多样性,有利于耐热苦瓜种质资源的筛选.苦瓜产量与单瓜重、叶长呈极显著正相关(P<0.01,下同);单瓜重与瓜肉厚、瓜宽呈极显著正相关;第一雌花节位与植株分枝性呈显著正相关(P<0.05,下同),与主蔓节长呈显著负相关,各农艺性状指标之间反映的存在信息重叠,需要综合分析评价苦瓜种质资源的耐热性.主成分分析将22个农艺性状指标归纳为7个独立的综合指标(累计贡献率达76.654%),前5个主成分可概括为产量因子、瓜形因子、瓜瘤因子、早熟性因子和叶形因子,第六和第七主成分载荷最高的性状指标为种子性状,可概括为种子因子.主成分综合评价和聚类分析表明,表现优于CK的有7份苦瓜种质资源,具有植株分枝性强、主蔓粗壮、叶片大、单瓜重、瓜肉厚等特性.进一步利用逐步回归分析法建立了苦瓜种质资源耐热性评价数学模型F=-5.802+0.004X14+0.113X7+0.169X18+0.095X1+0.039X4+0.025X3+0.059X5+0.073X10-0.115X20+0.103X21+0.045X15,筛选出单瓜重、叶柄长、瓜瘤密度、植株分枝性、叶长、主蔓直径、叶宽、瓜色、种子颜色、种子花纹和瓜肉厚等11个耐热性鉴定指标.[结论]供试的K9、K10、K11、K20、K26、K28和K29等7份苦瓜材料可作为优异的耐热种质资源进行耐热苦瓜品种的选育.建立的数学模型和筛选出的11个鉴定指标可用于田间苦瓜种质资源耐热性的快速鉴定筛选,提高耐热育种效率.     

国内土壤环境污染防治进程及展望

综述以中国2005—2019年土壤污染防治进程的3个阶段为主线,总结土壤污染防治发展过程中管理模式、治理体系、管控要求、机构改革、立法支持等5个方面重要转变,分析国家和地方土壤环境保护标准、法律法规政策和主要土壤污染治理成效。针对国内土壤污染防治未来发展趋势,从完善土壤环境标准及管理制度、建设监测及预警大数据平台、加强土壤生态环境国际合作、持续推进土壤修复技术攻关和先行区经验推广等方面提出建议,以期为生态环境高水平保护和经济社会高质量发展提供参考。     

Does the application of silvicultural management models drive the growth and stem quality of sweet chestnut coppices towards sustainability?

New Forests - The coppice is a very flexible cultural system producing several calibers adapting to the demands of the market. Small-caliber roundwood from sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)...