Effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D gene on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells induced by Ox-LDL

AIM: To investigate the effects of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene on the proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). METHODS: The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N2/XPD was transfected into HUASMCs by liposome. The cells were divided into blank control group, pEGFP-N2 group, pEGFP-N2/XPD group, Ox-LDL group, Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2 group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group. The proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT and EdU assays. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of XPD, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the expression of XPD was increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group (P<0.05). According to the results of MTT and EdU assays, the cell proliferation in pEGFP-N2/XPD group was reduced compared with blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with Ox-LDL group, the cell proliferation in Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the cell proportion of S phase decreased and the G₀/G₁-phase cell proportion increased significantly in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, repectively (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, the protein level of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: XPD inhibits the proliferation of HUASMCs and promotes their apoptosis, and reduces the promoting effect of Ox-LDL on the proliferation of HUVSMCs. XPD may be the target for treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on lipophagy in mouse primary hepatocytes

AIM: To evaluate the effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from GYY4137 on lipophagy in mouse primary hepatocytes. METHODS: The C57BL/6 mouse primary hepatocytes isolated and cultured by 2-step in situ perfusion method were divided into 4 groups: the cells in control group were incubated with normal medium; the cells in model group were incubated with 1.2 mmol/L oleic acid (OA) for 48 h; the cells in H₂S group or propargylglycine (PAG) group were incubated with 1.2 mmol/L OA for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 medium which contained 1 mmol/L GYY4137 or 200 μmol/L PAG for 6 h. The cells were collected to conduct immunofluorescence staining of LC3 and photography under fluorescence microscope, phase-contrast microscope or transmission electron microscope. The protein expression of LC3-Ⅰ/Ⅱ in the hepatocytes was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: In contrast with the model group, the fluorescent particles of LC3, the protein expression of LC3, the number of autophagic lysosome and vacuoles in hepatocytes in H₂S group increased. CONCLUSION: In steatosis hepatocytes, exogenous H₂S promotes the lipophagy.     

Advances on studies of miR-21 in vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)are a class of non-coding, endogenous, single-stranded small RNA molecules composed of 19~25 nucleotides. miRNAs are widely involved in the process of human life activities. Recent studies have shown that part of miRNAs regulate the vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis. High expression of miRNA-21 is found to play important roles in the cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell growth and death of vascular endothelial cells. This review will focus on the recent progress related to miRNAs in vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis, providing a new insight in cardiovascular disease prevention, clinical diagnosis, prognosis and target therapeutics.     

番茄绿果与橙果间果实颜色及主要色素含量的遗传研究

对番茄组合绿樱(绿果)×金珠1号(橙果)的6个世代遗传群体(P1、P2、F1、BC1、BC2和F2)进行果色性状、番茄红素含量、叶绿素含量和胡萝卜素含量等的遗传规律分析。结果表明:正反交F1的果色性状无明显差异,而色素含量存在显著差异;说明番茄果色性状受核基因控制,而色素含量遗传除受核基因控制外还可能存在胞质效应。采用多世代联合分析法的分析结果表明,番茄绿果与橙果间的果色性状符合2对加性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX2-A-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为73.42%、78.25%和61.41%,多基因遗传率分别为22.87%、15.35%和34.94%,即果色性状遗传的主基因遗传力较强;叶绿素含量符合1对负向显性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX1-AEND-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为0、1.73%和0.65%,多基因遗传率分别为45.47%、0和37.82%,即主基因遗传力在BC2群体中最高,多基因遗传力在BC1群体中最高;番茄红素含量与胡萝卜素含量均符合2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因(MX2-ADI-AD)遗传模型,其BC1、BC2和F2主基因遗传率分别为75.74%、1.79%、84.26%和61.53%、87.21%、81.05%,多基因遗传率分别为20.32%、74.12%、12.68%和0.68%、0、0,表明番茄红素含量和胡萝卜素含量的主基因遗传力较强。     

Inhibitory effect of AuNPs-Endostar on melanoma lung metastasis in mice

AIM: To observe the influence of gold nanoparticles combined with Endostar (AuNPs-Endostar) on the melanoma lung metastasis of mice and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice (n=24) were selected for constructing the model of spontaneous lung metastasis of melanoma B16-F10 cells. Subsequently, the mice were randomly divided into Endostar group, AuNPs group, AuNPs-Endostar group and model group. After the formation of melanoma, the mice in each group were injected with different drugs through tail vein for 0.1 mL daily. After 9 d, the mice were narcotized for cutting the tumors in situ. After the operation, they were raised for 2 weeks before killed for obtaining the lung tissues to observe the situation of the metastasis. HE staining was utilized for observing the necrosis status of the tumors in situ, while immunostaining was applied for testing the expression of CD31, carbonic anhydrase-IX (CA-IX), vimentin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the tumors. RESULTS: Compared with model group, the pulmonary metastasis in the groups with medical treatment was obviously reduced. In AuNPs-Endostar group, the metastasis inhibition rate was the highest, and the tumor necrosis was also decreased obviously, with the significant reduction of CD31, CA-IX and vimentin expression in the tumors and significant increase in ZO-1 expression. CONCLUSION: Compared with using Endostar or AuNPs alone, the combination of AuNPs with Endostar significantly improves the curative effect of inhibiting the pulmonary metastasis of melanoma in the mice. The mechanism may be related to reducing the tumor angiogenesis, norma-lizing the blood vessels and improving tumor hypoxia, thus inhibiting the tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition, increasing the tight junctions between tumor cells and decreasing the invasiveness.     

Effect of tetrandrine on radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of the radiosensitizing effect of maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine (Tet) on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines CNE1 and CNE2.METHODS: The cells were treated with ma-ximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet (for CNE1 cells at 1.5 μmol/L and for CNE2 cells at 1.8 μmol/L), irradiation at 4 Gy, or combination of irradiation and maximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of γ-H2AX, cleaved caspase-3, p-CDC25C, CDK1, p-CDK1, cyclin B1, ERK and p-ERK were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The expression of γ-H2AX was increased in CNE1 cells and CNE2 cells after combined treatment with irradiation and maximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet. The percentages of CNE1 cells and CNE2 cells at G₂/M phase in irradiation group were (18.09±0.42)% and (18.48±1.32)%, respectively, which were decreased to (15.88±1.04)% and (13.80±0.82)% in combined treatment group, respectively (P<0.05). Combined treatment enhanced the increase in the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 caused by irradiation. The protein levels of p-CDC25C and p-CDK1 were increased in a dose-dependent manner by Tet treatment (P<0.05), while the expression of CDK1 showed no difference among different doses of Tet treatments. The protein levels of p-CDC25C, p-CDK1 and CDK1 showed no difference after the treatment with maximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet. The combined treatment with irradiation and the maximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet decreased the protein levels of p-CDC25C and p-CDK1 (P<0.05), increased the expression of cyclin B1, and had no influence on the expression of CDK1 (P<0.05). The combined treatment resulted in an increase in the protein level of p-ERK1 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The maximum non-cytotoxic doses of Tet enhance the DNA damage and apoptosis in CNE1 cells and CNE2 cells caused by irradiation, and the mechanism might be associated with ending of G₂/M arrest via activation of ERK/CDC25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 pathways.     

Effect of GYY4137 on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary hepatocytes

AIM: To evaluate the effect of GYY4137, a novel hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor, on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary steatosis hepatocytes. METHODS: Oleic acid (OA) was used to induce hepatic steatosis model in vitro. The C57BL/6 mouse primary hepatocytes isolated and cultured by 2-step in situ perfusion were divided into 4 groups:the cells in control group were incubated with normal medium for 54 h; the cells in model group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 for 6 h; the cells in H₂S group or DL-propar-gylglycine (PAG; an inhibitor of cystathione γ-lysase, inhibiting H₂S synthesis) group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 which contained 1 mmol/L GYY4137 or 200 μmol/L PAG for 6 h. The glycerin release and the protein expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the cells were mea-sured. RESULTS: Compared with model group, the glycerin release and the protein expression of phosphorylated HSL (p-HSL) in H₂S group decreased significantly, while those increased significantly in PAG group. CONCLUSION: In steatosis hepatocytes, exogenous H₂S possibly decreases cytosolic lipid decomposition by decreasing the protein level of p-HSL.     

溪荪新品种‘婷蝶’

 ‘婷蝶’是从溪荪（Iris sanguinea Donn ex Horn.）实生后代中选育出的切花新品种。2年生花期株高127 cm,冠幅55 ~ 65 cm,花葶粗壮而整齐,高109 ~ 114 cm,粗0.48 cm。每株丛花葶数25 ~ 30,单葶花朵2 ~ 3朵,花径11 cm。花期5—6月,连续花期22 d左右,在中国北方地区可露地越冬。     

绒毛白蜡新品种‘华雄’

 ‘华雄’是在白蜡属种质资源收集过程中发现并选育出的绒毛白蜡新品种。雄株,干形较直,当年生枝和纸质叶片上下表面均被密毛,耐盐碱性强。     

抗逆樱桃番茄新品种‘红樱1号’

 樱桃番茄新品种‘红樱1号’是以自交系‘SH-0-2-0-1’为母本,‘TC-0-1-3-1’为父本杂交而成的一代杂种。无限生长类型,生长势强。成熟果深红色,椭圆形,单果质量约20 g,耐裂果,品质优。耐热,耐寒,耐旱性强,适应性广,适宜于华南地区春、秋季栽培。