Recent advances in molecular mechanisms of oncosis

Oncosis is another form of cell death, which is different from apoptosis. The review will discuss the recent advances of oncosis on pathological morphology, nuclear biochemical changes and molecular mechanisms.     

Recent advances in molecular mechanisms of cerebral ischemic injury

A complex cascade of molecular events is considerd to be initiated following cerebral is chemia, which include release of excitatory amino acid, calcium dyshomeostasis, free radical injury, increased cytokines, caspase activation and altered gene expression. This review provides an overview of molecular mechanisms involved in postischemic neuronal death and analyses the potential for therapeutic intervention.     

苹果响应轮纹病菌侵染的分子机制研究进展

苹果轮纹病是子囊真菌Botryosphaeria dothidea引起的病害之一,每年造成重大经济损失,全面而深刻理解苹果响应该菌侵染的分子机制有助于采用有效防治措施。综述了苹果轮纹病的病原、侵染循环、抗病机制及防治措施等方面的新进展,侧重阐述与抗(感)病密切相关的基因及蛋白质,为全面理解该病害的抗(感)病机理奠定基础。此外,还讨论了苹果轮纹病菌的生防菌种,为预防性药剂的开发和应用提供依据。     

Resveratrol reverses D-galactose-induced senescence in cardiomyocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of resveratrol on aged cardiomyocytes induced by D-galactose and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Different concentrations of D-galactose (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 g/L) were added into the culture medium for different processing time (0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) to induce cardiomyocyte senescence. Cell senescence was indentified by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. FDG method was used to detect the quantity of β-galactosidase. The establishment of the cardiomyocyte aging model was determined according to the outcome of these detections. After that, different concentrations of resveratrol (2, 10, 50 and 250 μmol/L) were added into the culture medium, and the effect of resveratrol on the aged cardiomyocytes was observed according to the outcome of FDG detection. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the protein level of microtubule-related protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in the cells were measured. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the number of β-galactosidase-positive cells in aging group (10 g/L D-galactose exposure for 48 h) was apparently increased. In aging group, the quantity of β-galactosidase detected by FDG was markedly increased, and the activity of SOD was down-regulated while the content of MDA in the cells was increased. The protein level of LC3 II/LC3 I was down-regulated. No significant change of the cell viability between the 2 groups was observed. Compared with aging group, the quantity of β-galactosidase in resveratrol treatment group (at the concentrations of 10 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L) was decreased. Resveratrol also up-regulated the activity of SOD and decreased the content of MDA in the cells. The protein level of LC3 II/LC3 I was up-regulated by resveratrol. CONCLUSION: Activation of oxidative stress and down-regulation of autophagy exist in D-galactose-induced aged cardiomyocytes. Resveratrol attenuates D-galactose-induced senescence in cardiomyocytes.     

Recent advances in nm-23 gene and hepatocellular carcinoma

nm-23 gene is the first antimetastatic gene which was found to have close relationship with metastasis and prognosis of many malignant carcinoma. This review briefly summarizes the development of nm-23 gene and hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years.     

Recent advances in artrial elastin

The elastin has been investigated since the 1950s, and it has been found that elastin relates to the vascular diseases in recent years. In this review, the elastin gene structure, distribution and its role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases and aging are summarized.     

Potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying COVID-19-induced myocardial injury

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread to 99 countries and regions including China (update on March 9, 2020). Although patients with COVID-19 mainly manifest as pneumonia, some of them have clinical manifestations of myocardial injury. Recent histopathological results showed myocardial injury which is characterized by cardiomyocyte degeneration/necrosis, infiltration of monocytes, lymphocytes and/or neutrophils into the myocardial interstitium, endothelial cell detachment, intimal inflammation and microthrombus formation. These results indicate that the myocardium might be an important attack target of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, investigation of the pathophysiological process of COVID-19-induced myocardial injury is of great significance to reduce the mortality and increase the cure rate of the patients. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of COVID-19-induced myocardial injury involving vasculitis and hypoxemia as well as their underlying potential mechanisms.     

Exercise intervention improves motor symptoms of Parkinson disease and underlying mechanisms

Parkinson disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the world. Many PD treatment programs are designed to manage motor symptoms by drug or surgical intervention (such as deep brain stimulation Although these regimens improve the symptoms of PD or slow the development of the disease, certain side effects remain unsolved during the treartment, and lack of neuroprotective strategies is still the main problem. Exercise or physical exercise can reduce the risk of PD, and significantly improve the movement symptoms of PD or slow down the development of the disease through different neurobiological mechanisms. This article intends to review the progress in improving the movement symptoms of PD and the possible mechanism of exercise intervention for PD.     

Cytogenetics and molecular genetics of patients with disorder of sex deve-lopment

AIM: To explore the cytogenetics and molecular genetics of the patients with disorder of sex deve-lopment. METHODS: Three patients of 46, XX male sex-reversal syndrome and 1 patient of female pseudoherma-phroditism received gene copy number detection of sex-determining region Y gene (SRY), CYP21A2, DSS, DAX1, WNT4, SOX9, NR5A1 by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was also performed to map the genes using the probes from the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone. RESULTS: The single-copied SRY gene was detected by MLPA among the 3 patients of 46, XX male sex-reversal syndrome. FISH analysis revealed that there were double X chromosomes, and SRY gene was translocated to the short arm of one of the X chromosomes. Chromosome analysis of the mother of the female pseudoherma-phroditism patient was 46, XX, whose MLPA analysis showed loss of heterozygosity at CYP21A2-ex03 and amplification at CYP21A1P-ex02. Chromosome analysis of her father was 46, XY, whose MLPA analysis revealed loss of heterozygosity at CYP21A2-ex01 and CYP21A2-ex03,and amplification at CYP21A1P-ex02 and CYP21A1-ex10. CONCLUSION: Sex determination is a process controlled by SRY gene and other genes also participate in. The copy number detection of SRY gene and other genes by MLPA contributes to determine the etiology of the patients with disorder of sex development.     

猕猴桃分子标记、遗传图谱及QTL定位应用研究进展

猕猴桃属植物共有54个种和21个变种,我国是原产地,种质资源极为丰富。由于猕猴桃属植物具有雌雄异株、丰富的倍性变异及实生苗童期较长等特征,使得传统育种工作周期长、效率低。随着现代生物技术发展,开发了较多分子标记应用于猕猴桃研究领域,利用分子标记也构建了一些猕猴桃遗传图谱并进行了部分重要性状的QTL定位,为后续猕猴桃分子辅助育种奠定了基础。综述了猕猴桃遗传连锁图谱构建的基础,归纳了已发表的猕猴桃遗传连锁图谱和定位到的数量性状遗传位点,梳理出当前QTL定位技术在猕猴桃育种中的研究进展,最后提出了猕猴桃分子标记、遗传图谱构建及QTL定位技术在研究和育种应用中存在的问题和展望,以期为猕猴桃分子辅助育种更好的服务于实践奠定基础。     

Change of chemosensitivity and mechanisms of human radioresistance esophageal carcinoma cells before and after induction by radiation

AIM: To investigate the change of chemosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells before and after induction by radiation,and to detect the excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) gene before and after induction,and further to analyze the relationship between ERCC1 expression and chemosensitivity.METHODS: The esophageal carcinoma cell EC9706 was radiated repeatedly by a long-term,intermittent ［60Co］-γ radiation to induce the radioresistance esophageal carcinoma cell EC9706-R.The IC₅₀ and resistant index (RI) of EC9706 and EC9706-R were detected by MTT assay.The expression of ERCC1 was examined by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR.RESULTS: The IC₅₀ of EC9706 and EC9706-R cells to cisplatin were (1.480±0.012) mg/L and (1.836±0.008) mg/L,respectively (P<0.05),and the RI was 1.240±0.015.The tinctorial scores of ERCC1 protein in EC9706 and EC9706-R were 2.838±0.055 and 2.898±0.039 (P>0.05),and the relatively quantities (IDV) of ERCC1 mRNA in EC9706 and EC9706-R cells were 1.168±0.068 and 1.143±0.089 (P>0.05).SP and RT-PCR did not display visible difference in protein level and mRNA level.CONCLUSION: The chemosensitivity of EC9706-R cells to cisplatin is decreased compared with EC9706 cells,but ERCC1 expression does not change with the radioresistance and chemoresistance.     

On the senescence of ovules in cherries

The longevity of ovules in sweet and sour cherries has been studied in vivo, using a fluorescence—microscopic method which enables one to determine the viability of ovules at a very early stage. It was found that ovules which were not fertilized became progressively senescent 4 to 5 days after anthesis, and about a week after flower opening a rather high percentage of the ovules was non-viable.Applied growth regulators usually enhanced senescence of the ovules, especially GA₃. Even those that delayed senescence of the external flower parts, e.g. 2,4-D, benzyladenine and kinetin, accelerated the ageing of ovules in most instances. No substance was found which extended the longevity of ovules in cherries.     

黄瓜果实发育相关性状的分子调控研究进展

黄瓜作为一种世界范围内的重要蔬菜经济作物,其果实的正常发育与产品的品质密切相关。黄瓜果实发育的相关性状主要包括果实大小、果皮颜色、表面刺瘤、果实风味、单性结实能力等。近年来,随着黄瓜基因组全测序的完成及分子生物学的发展,国内外专家对黄瓜果实发育相关性状的分子调控机制进行了深入研究,分别在不同程度上揭示了各类性状的分子调控机制。笔者将针对黄瓜果实正常发育相关的主要性状,阐述其受到的关键基因调控的作用机制。     

Construction of lentiviral vector carrying the Ang-1 gene and its expression in the rMSCs

AIM: To construct lentiviral vector carrying the angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) gene,and make it express Ang-1 in the rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs).METHODS: The cDNA encoding the CDS of Ang-1 gene was obtained from the placenta of the adult Fisher 344 rats with RT-PCR.After digestion with restrication endonuclease,the Ang-1 gene was recombined to construct the transfer plasmid PNL-Ang1-IRES2-EGFP.The three-plasmid system of lentiviral vector was consisted of PNL-Ang1-IRES2-EGFP,the packaging plasmid HELPER,and the envelope plasmid VSVG,which were co-transfected to 293T cells mediated by lipofectamin2000 to produce lentiviral particles.The rMSCs were infected by obtained lentiviral particles.The insertion of Ang-1 gene was detected by PCR,the mRNA expression of Ang-1 in rMSCs was detected with RT-PCR,the protein expression of Ang-1 was observed with immunocytochemistry and Western blotting methods.RESULTS: The result of sequencing showed that the cloned Ang-1 gene was consistent with the sequence reported in GenBank.After digestion with restrication endonuclease,the 1 512 bp fragment of Ang-1 gene and the 10.5 kb vector fragment of PNL-IRES2-EGFP were observed with gel electrophoresis.The insertion of Ang-1 gene in viral genome was confirmed.The EGFP expression was observed with the fluorescent microscope.In infected rMSCs,the mRNA and protein expressions of Ang-1 were confirmed.CONCLUSION: Lentiviral vector carrying Ang-1 gene has been successfully constructed.The infected rMSCs are able to express the Ang-1 mRNA and Ang-1 abundantly.This will facilitate the following exploratory development of Ang-1 gene-modified rMSCs.     

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of electrical remodeling in cardiac ventricle after myocardial infarction

Arrhythmia is common in cardiovascular diseases, especially after myocardial infarction. This article reviews the electrophysiologic changes following myocardial infarction at different phases. Modulations of ion channel function that might contribute to electrical remodeling, such as cellular (autocrine/paracrine) factors and regulators of ion channel gene, are discussed. Unresolved problems in ventricular electrical remodeling after myocardial infarction are also considered.     

Some remarks on recent developments in landscape ecology as a transdisciplinary ecological and geographical science

Condensed version of a lecture at the Seminar on Landscape Ecology: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives in Italy, organized by the Italian Society of Ecology and the Italian Section of IALE — Parma 25th May 1990.     

Association analysis between two SNPs in SNCA and PARK16 genes and Parkinson disease in a Han Chinese population in Liaoning area

AIM: To investigate the genotypic frequency of rs3857059 in SNCA gene and rs16856139 in PARK16 gene for determining the potential genetic risk factors of Parkinson disease (PD) in a Han Chinese population in Liaoning area of China. METHODS: The genomic DNA from 213 PD patients and 214 matched controls was amplified in the multiplex PCR system and subsequently genotyped by digestion with endonuclease Pvu II. Genetic parameter and association studies were carried out with SPSS 13.0 and PLINK 1.07 software. RESULTS: We accurately detected all genotypes in the 2 loci with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. The gene frequency of G allele in the rs3857059 locus was higher in PD group than that in control group with statistical significance (χ²= 7.592,P<0.01, OR=0.677, 95% CI=0.517~0.888). The T allele frequency in the rs16856139 locus was lower in PD group than that in control group and statistical result revealed a significant difference (χ²=11.511, P<0.01, OR=0.390, 95% CI=0.227~0.669). CONCLUSION: The 2 SNPs investigated in SNCA and PARK16 genes are likely to play roles as common risk factors for PD disease in the Han Chinese population.     

Effects of c-myb antisense RNA on the proliferation and collagen Ⅰ gene expression in cultured hepatic stellate cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of c-myb antisense RNA on the proriferation and collagen Ⅰ gene expression in cultured hepatic stellate cells(HSC) in rats.METHODS:The c-myb antisense gene recombinant retroviral vector(pDOR-myb) was constructed, and then was transfected into retroviral package cell line PA 317 by means of N-[1-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy) propyl]-N, N, N-trimethylammonium methyl-sulfate(DOTAP) liposomal transfection reagent. The pseudoviruses produced from the resistant PA317 cells selected with G418 were collected, with which HSCs isolated from rat liver were infected. The cell proliferation was measured by MTT method, c-myb, α₁-Ⅰ collagen mRNA expression and c-myb protein in HSCs were detected with semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western-blot, respectively.RESULTS:HSCs from rats were isolated successfully with the viability >98%. In the pDOR-myb infected HSCs, c-myb expression levels, the cell proliferation, and α₁-Ⅰ collagen mRNA expression were repressed significantly.CONCLUSIONS:c-myb plays a key role in the activation and proliferation of HSC. c-myb antisense RNA can inhibit cell proliferation and α₁-Ⅰ collagen mRNA expression in the infected HSC. These data suggest that inhibition of c-myb gene expression would be a potential way for the treatment of liver fibrosis.