利用酵母双杂交系统筛选与草莓镶脉病毒移动蛋白P1互作的寄主因子

 构建感染草莓镶脉病毒(SVBV)森林草莓的酵母cDNA文库,利用酵母双杂交系统,筛选出与SVBV P1蛋白互作的15种寄主因子。生物信息学分析发现,这15种寄主因子参与茉莉酸途径、泛素化、光合作用、抗病抗逆、蛋白修饰、蛋白运输和氧化还原等多种生物过程。另外,这些寄主因子还具有其他分子功能,包括氧化还原酶活性、蛋白二硫化物异构酶活性和金属离子结合活性等。本研究初步探讨了P1与寄主因子的互作机理,为揭示SVBV侵染森林草莓以及SVBV在寄主中扩展的分子机制提供理论依据。     

New angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from Coix prolamin and its influence on the gene expression of renin-angiotensin system in vein endothelial cells

Coix seed, which is a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat hypertension for thousands of years. It has been shown that Coix prolamin peptides display high levels of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Hence, we purified the ACE inhibitory peptides from Coix prolamin hydrolysates and evaluated the influence of the most potent peptide on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) genes expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this study, Coix prolamin peptides were sequentially separated by ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC, while the peptide structure was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Next, in silico proteolysis, pharmacophore and molecular docking were further applied to screen and optimize the structure of peptides. Finally, a novel ACE inhibitory peptide VDMF was obtained, in which its influence on the gene expression of RAS signaling pathway in AngⅡ-injury HUVECs was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. VDMF significantly down-regulated ACE, AngII type 1 receptor (AT1R) and ACE2 mRNA expression in comparation with model group, while up-regulating Mas gene expression. Hence, we obtained a novel antihypertensive candidate that was derived from the Coix peptides, which could involve a multi-modulation mechanism that regulates blood pressure.     

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.     

柑橘脉突病毒基因组全长cDNA克隆及其侵染性鉴定

【目的】构建柑橘脉突病毒（citrus vein enation virus,CVEV）侵染性克隆,为从分子水平解析其致病机理打下基础。【方法】利用SMARTer^? RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends)试剂盒对CVEV的5′序列进行RACE,并依据序列分析结果及CVEV分离株VE-1保守序列,设计CVEV基因组全长cDNA扩增引物。以CVEV毒源植株的总RNA为模板,通过EV25-F/EV5983-R引物扩增CVEV基因组全长cDNA。利用In-Fusion重组连接线性化pXT1和CVEV全长cDNA。通过菌液PCR及测序分析鉴定CVEV基因组全长cDNA克隆。通过农杆菌介导的真空浸润接种摩洛哥酸橙（Citrus aurantium）、邓肯葡萄柚（C. paradisi）、尤力克柠檬（C.limon）、枳柚（C. paradisi×Poncirus trifoliata)、Rusk枳橙（P. trifoliata×C. sinensis）、枣阳小叶枳(P. trifoliata),进一步通过RT-PCR检测、症状观察鉴定所构建CVEV全长cDNA克隆的侵染性。【结果】建立了CVEV的基因组全长RT-PCR扩增体系,获得基于双元载体pXT1的CVEV基因组全长cDNA克隆10个。随机选取的6个全长cDNA克隆CVEV1901—CVEV1906的序列一致性为99.35%。其中,CVEV1901基因组全长5 983 nt,由5个开放阅读框、5′端207 nt和3′端198 nt的两个非翻译区、以及ORF2和ORF3之间122 nt的基因间隔区组成。序列分析结果显示,CVEV1901与浙江分离株XZG及四川SM分离株的序列一致性分别为99.98%和99.11%;与西班牙VE-1分离株、美国加州VE701分离株和日本IBK分离株基因组序列一致性在96.89%—98.61%;与同属中豌豆耳突花叶病毒（pea enation mosaic virus）和紫花苜蓿耳突病毒（alfalfa enamovirus）的序列一致性约90%。通过农杆菌介导的真空浸润将CVEV1901接种至6个不同的柑橘品种,接种后120 d的RT-PCR检测结果表明摩洛哥酸橙、邓肯葡萄柚、尤力克柠檬、枳柚、Rusk枳橙和枣阳小叶枳阳性植株/接种植株（阳性率）分别为16/17（94.12%）、12/14（85.71%）、16/21（76.19%）、15/19（78.95%）、13/14（92.86%）和0/18（0）。其中,部分摩洛哥酸橙出现典型CVEV侵染症状,叶片侧脉和支脉产生耳状小突起,叶背有相应的凹陷;部分邓肯葡萄柚和尤力克柠檬出现叶片皱缩现象。【结论】建立了CVEV的基因组全长RT-PCR扩增体系,获得了CVEV基因组全长cDNA侵染性克隆,通过农杆菌介导的真空浸润接种可引起摩洛哥酸橙、邓肯葡萄柚和尤力克柠檬的CVEV侵染症状。     

A case of primary choroidal malignant melanoma in a cat

This report describes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, histological lesions, and prognosis of a primary choroidal malignant melanoma in a 15‐year‐old cat. The animal was presented for unilateral blindness. On ocular examination, a raised pigmented mass protruding from the posterior pole into the vitreous body was observed by diffuse transillumination and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Ocular ultrasound and computer tomography (CT) scan confirmed localization of the tumor to the posterior segment. The diagnosis of primary choroidal melanoma was confirmed by histopathology after enucleation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a feline malignant melanoma with a primary choroidal localization without iris involvement.     

Pulmonary Vein‐to‐Pulmonary Artery Ratio is an Echocardiographic Index of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs with Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

Background

Early recognition of left‐sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) is important because it influences medical therapy, timing of follow‐up, and outcome.

Hypothesis

Pulmonary vein diameter‐to‐pulmonary artery diameter ratio (PV/PA) measured by echocardiography can predict CHF.

Animals

Ninety‐eight client‐owned dogs, 37 controls, and 61 dogs with DMVD.

Methods

Prospective clinical cohort study. History, physical examination and Doppler‐echocardiography were performed. Dogs were classified as International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council class I, II or III. Congestive heart failure was identified in a subset of 56 dogs based on radiographic findings. The PV/PA was measured in bidimensional (2D) and M‐mode by 2 investigators blinded to the radiologists’ conclusions.

Results

Interobserver coefficients of variation for PV/PA acquisition and measurement were <10%. The PV/PA in control dogs was approximately 1 and increased with class of heart failure. The presence of CHF could be best predicted by measuring PV/PA in 2D echocardiography (cut‐off, 1.7; area under the curve, 0.98; CI, 0.97–0.98; P < .001) with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 91%.

Conclusion and clinical importance

The PV/PA is a simple and reproducible echocardiographic variable that increases with class of heart failure and may help discriminate dogs in CHF from asymptomatic dogs with DMVD. Additional studies are required to determine whether PV/PA might provide additional information in the integrated interpretation of Doppler‐echocardiographic indices of left ventricular filling pressures and could be used for rapid assessment of CHF in dogs in a critical care setting.     

翅形态特征在重阳木斑蛾成虫性别鉴定中的应用

为了明确重阳木斑蛾的翅形态特征在其性别鉴定中的作用,探索雌雄难于区分的成虫的数值鉴定方法。采用图像处理与分析技术,通过爱普生扫描仪获取重阳木斑蛾前翅图,利用BugShape v1.0软件提取雌雄成虫翅的轮廓特征,利用tpsDig2软件获取翅脉交叉点位置特征,并利用独立样本t检验和标志点空间普氏叠加和扭曲分析,以明确此类特征在该成虫雌雄鉴定中的作用。结果表明,重阳木斑蛾成虫左右前翅轮廓特征在同一性别中差异不显著。仅利用左前翅数据进行分析时,翅面积、短轴长度、等效圆半径、偏心率、球状性和圆形度在两个性别中存在极显著差异,周长和长轴长度的差异达到显著水平,而紧凑度和叶状性差异不显著。使用左右前翅作为数据集进行分析时,除紧凑度和叶状性差异仍不显著外,其余参数均达到极显著水平。雌雄前翅轮廓特征作为指标来判别性别时正确率为100%,但存在左右翅相互错判现象。翅膀内部翅脉交叉点的空间位置在个体间存在较大差异,主要表现在相对于翅的横向方向变异大。雌雄间的差异主要存在于外缘附近的翅脉交叉点。结论:通过前翅的轮廓特征可以区分重阳木斑蛾雌雄成虫的差异。翅脉交叉点空间位置在雌雄间和个体间存在一定的变异。     

Role of miR-219 and TGFBR2 in pathogenesis of renal fibrosis

AIM:To study the role of microRNA-219 (miR-219) in regulation of transforming growth factor-β receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) in renal fibrosis. METHODS:The renal fibrosis patients (n=70) were selected in this stu-dy, and 20 cases of healthy people were selected as control group. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-219 in the serum of the patients with renal fibrosis and control group, and the expression of miR-219 in NRK49F cells after stimulation with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) was detected. The protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the NRK49F cells transfected with miR-219 mimics after stimulation with AngⅡ was determined by Western blot. The potential target gene TGFBR2 of miR-219 was screened and verified by the method of luciferase reporter gene. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detected the effect of miR-219 mimics on the expression of TGFBR2 at mRNA and protein levels, and the mRNA expression of α-SMA, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I collagen α1 (COL1A1) and COL3A1 in the NRK49F cells was also detected, respectively. The unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) mouse model was established and the expression of miR-219 in the renal tissue was monitored. The morphological change of renal fibrosis was observed in the UUO mice after injection of miR-219, and the mRNA expression levels of COL1A1 and COL3A1 were detected. RESULTS:The expression level of miR-219 in the patients with renal fibrosis was significantly lower than that in control group, and the expression of miR-219 in the UUO mice was decreased significantly (P<0.01). The expression level of miR-219 was significantly decreased in the NRK49F cells after AngⅡ stimulation, and miR-219 mimics inhibited the protein expression of α-SMA(P<0.01). miR-219 mimics had a targeted regulatory effect on TGFBR2 gene, which inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of TGFBR2. miR-219 mimics inhibited the mRNA expression of α-SMA, CTGF, COL1A1 and COL3A1. miR-219 also down-regulated the mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 in the UUO mice and inhibited the process of renal fibrosis. CONCLUSION:miR-219 inhibits the development of renal fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of TGFBR2, which may become a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of renal fibrosis.