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.     

Fusarium solani Upregulated Sesquiterpene Synthase Expression,Sesquiterpene Production and Allelopathic Activity in Piper betle L.

Activators of sesquiterpene synthase (STS) gene expression and sesquiterpene production in Piper betle L. were examined using quantitative real time PCR and gas chromatography mass spectrometry methods, and the allelopathic activity of untreated and Fusarium solani-treated betel extracts was tested on seed germination and on the shoot and root growth of Thai rice variety PSL2 (Oryza sativa cv. Phitsanulok 2) and three dominant paddy weeds (Eclipta prostrata, Echinochloa crus-galli and Chloris barbata). The results demonstrated that F. solani dramatically upregulated STS expression and productions of β-cubebene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene D sesquiterpene when compared with the untreated control, and that betel extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on weeds than on rice. The effects were more clearly detected on seed germination and root growth than on shoot growth, and they were found to be dose-dependent. It is also noted that F. solani-treated extract had stronger effects than the untreated extract. The species most sensitive to the allelopathic effects was C. barbata, germination of which was completely inhibited even at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL untreated extract. With regards to rice, although betel extract at 1.0 mg/mL showed no inhibition on germination, it affected the elongation of rice roots, in addition to those of the tested weeds. The obtained data suggested that F. solani has potential as an activator of sesquiterpene allelochemical production via STS expression, the latter leading to the treated betel extract having a stronger phytotoxic effect. These results were beneficial in the promotion of natural herbicide production using biotechnology.     

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.     

Correlation between progression of atherosclerosis accelerated by emotional stimulation and imbalance of SDF-1/CXCR4 in mice

AIM To observe effects of emotional stimulation on expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1（SDF-1） and CXC chemokine receptor 4 （CXCR4） in plasma, platelets, aortas, hippocampus and bone marrow of apolipoprotein E gene knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice, and to reveal the possible mechanism of the aggravated atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability by emotional stimulation. METHODS Thirty 8-week-old male ApoE^-/- mice were randomly divided into normal control group, high fat group, and emotional stimulation group. Ten 8-week-old inbred C57BL/6J mice served as blank control group. After 12 weeks of intervention, the serum levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 were investigated by ELISA. The protein levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in platelets, aortas, hippocampus and bone marrow were determined by Western blot. The pathological damage of aortas was observed by oil red O staining. RESULTS Compared with blank control group, normal control group and high fat group, the mice subjected to emotional stimulation showed more serious atherosclerosis in aortas detected by oil red O staining, and increased levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in the plasma and aortas were also observed （P<0.05）. The results of Western blot showed that the protein levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in platelets, aortas and hippocampus were increased in the mice subjected emotional stimulation, but the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in the bone marrow was decreased （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION Imbalance of SDF-1/CXCR4 may be the key target by which emotional stimulation accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis.     

基于Zigbee的鸡舍智能测控系统

为了克服有线测控系统接线复杂和抗干扰性差的缺点,开发了一种基于Zigbee无线传感器网络的鸡舍测控系统.该系统由上位PC机、基于CC2430的中心控制节点、传感器节点、传感器模块和执行机构组成.系统采用模糊控制算法实现温度的精确控制;用C语言在IAR Embedded Workbench for MCS-51 Evaluation 环境下开发无线传感器节点程序;基于Visual C++6.0平台开发了上位机控制系统软件.运行实验表明,控制系统工作稳定可靠,满足了鸡舍控制的功能要求.     

Roles of atypical chemokine receptors in progression and metastasis of tumor

Chemokines and their receptors have been implicated mostly in tumor progression and metastasis. Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) comprise a group of 7-transmembrane domain proteins structurally similar to G protein-coupled receptors. However, ACKRs do not induce classical signaling via the typical G protein-mediated pathways. ACKRs efficiently internalize the cognate chemokine ligands and act as scavengers instead. ACJRs are composed of at least 3 members of chemokine receptors:Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC, also known as ACKR1), D6 (also known as ACKR2) and ChemoCentryx chemokine receptor (CCX-CKR, also known as ACKR4). These receptors bind to and/or internalize their chemoattractant ligands without activating signal transduction cascades leading to cell migration. In this review, we summarize the recent progress regarding the roles of ACKRs in the progression and metastasis of tumor.     

基于ZigBee的分布式数据采集系统设计

针对环境监测的特点、融合嵌入式技术和ZigBee,采用单片机+CC2430设计了一种结构简单、性价比高、扩充灵活的分布式数据采集系统。提供了系统总体设计方案,并详细说明其中的硬件与软件设计要点,阐明系统的应用特点和应用前景。     

基于ZigBee的智能农业灌溉系统研究

针对传统农业灌溉中有线网络成本高、布线困难、覆盖范围受限等问题,以AT91SAM9260微处理器为控制核心、CC2530芯片为网络节点,利用超声波水位传感器、STR型土壤水分传感器采集农田水位数据信息,构建ZigBee网络。同时,通过GSM通信模块TC35i,实现了终端节点数据信息反馈及用户控制命令传输的智能农业灌溉系统,为农业的大田灌溉提供了详细的解决方案。     

基于无线通信技术的温控系统的研究与设计

针对西部农业设施需求,以开发一套性能可靠,低成本,构建灵活,易升级的温室测控系统为目标,在借鉴国内外在温室测控系统研究中的成功经验基础上,将无线通信技术应用于温室群的测控系统中,提出了一种新型温室测控系统方案,在此基础完成了其硬件和软件开发。详细阐述了该方案组成及相关传感器电路和控制电路的设计,该设计系统具有性能可靠、成本低、构建灵活、易升级等特点,有良好的推广前景。     

基于WSN的温室环境监测节点设计

设计了一种带扩展板的无线传感器网络监测节点,节点以CC2430为核心,采用ZigBee技术实现无线传感器网络自组网和监测数据的自动汇聚,实现了无线传输、自适应组网、自动发现新加节点和失效节点、传感器类型可扩展、实时密集监测等功能,且具有功耗小、成本低、精度高、稳定性好等优点。