A study on the mechanism of doxorubicin promoting IL-1β and collagen type I secretion in cardiac fibroblasts

AIM To observe the effect of adriamycin/doxorubicin （DOX） on the production of inflammatory cytokines and collagen in cardiac fibroblasts and its mechanism. METHODS Neonatal SD rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated, cultured, and identified by immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies against vimentin observed under a confocal laser-scanning microscope. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the toxicity of DOX on cardiac fibroblasts, and flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis. ELISA was used to detect the release of inflammatory factors in the supernatant of cultured cells. Immunofluorescence labeling assay was used to detected α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） expression and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species （mROS） in the cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome-related proteins in cardiac fibroblasts. RESULTS （1） Compared with the control group, DOX inhibited the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts （P<0.05）, but had no significant effect on apoptosis （P>0.05）. （2） Treatment with DOX promotes the release of proinflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-6 in cardiac fibroblasts （P<0.05）. （3） The expression of α-SMA, collagen type I and transforming growth factor-β in DOX treatment group increased significantly compared with control group （P<0.05）. （4） Compared with the control group, the levels of mROS, cellular NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1 in cardiac fibroblasts increased significantly after DOX treatment. CONCLUSION Doxorubicin promotes cardiac fibroblasts to secrete IL-1β and collagen type I by promoting mROS production and activating NLRP3 inflammasome.     

Protective effect of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 on vascular endothelium in rats with hyperuricemia

AIM To study whether C1q/tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-related protein 3 （CTRP3）protect vascular endothelium in rats with hyperuricemia and its potential mechanisms. METHODS An animal model of hyperuricemia was established by using male SD rats drinking 10% fructose water （n=10）. The rats drinking normal water served as normal controls （n=10）. After 12 weeks, the rats were given a single injection with Ad-CTRP3 or Ad-GFP. The experiment was ended at 14th day after transfection.The serum levels of uric acid and nitric oxide （NO） were evaluated. The serum contents of TNF-α and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by ELISA. HE staining and TUNEL assay were used to assess the morphological changes of intima and apoptosis of endothelial cells in thoracic aorta, respectively. The mRNA levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS）, TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by RT-qPCR. The protein levels of CTRP3 and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the rats with hyperuricemia showed lower CTRP3 and higher TLR4 protein levels in the thoracic aorta （P<0.05）. Hyperuricemic rats had higher serum contents of uric acid, TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.05）. Also, the intima structure disturbance of thoracic aorta, increased apoptotic rate, higher mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-6 as well as lower mRNA levels of eNOS were observed （P<0.05）. By contrast, CTRP3 over-expression decreased TLR4 protein levels, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and obviously improved the morphology and function of thoracic aorta in the rats with hyperuricemia. CONCLUSION CTRP3 protect vascular endothelium in rats with hyperuricemia maybe via down-regulation of TLR4- mediated inflammatory signaling pathway.     

Dihydroartemisinin enhances radiotherapy efficiency in H22 cell tumor-bearing mice by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

AIM To study the effect of dihydroartemisinin （DHA） on the radiotherapy efficiency in hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cell tumor-bearing mice and the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （AKT） signaling pathway in this process. METHODS A model of H22 cell tumor-bearing mice was established. The mice was divided into model group, single radiotherapy group, 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） group, and low-, medium- and high-dose DHA groups. The body weight and tumor volume in each group were measured every other day. At the end of administration, blood was collected from the tail of the mice and the animals were killed by neck removal immediately. The synergistic effect of DHA on radiotherapy was determined, and tumor growth inhibitory rate was calculated. The degree of lymphocyte transformation and natural killer （NK） cell activity were measured by MTT, the serum levels of interleukin-2 （IL-2） and IL-4 were measured by ELISA, and the protein levels of PI3K, AKT and p-AKT were determined by Western blot. RESULTS The H22 cell tumor-bearing mouse model was successfully constructed. Compared with model group, the TGT₃ （tumor growth time to reach 3 times of volume） of single radiotherapy group was remarkably increased （P<0.05）, while tumor weight, lymphocyte transformation degree, NK cell activity, IL-2 and IL-4 levels, PI3K protein level and AKT phosphorylation level were remarkably decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with single radiotherapy group, TGT₃, EF （enhancement factor）, tumor inhibitory rate, lymphocyte transformation degree, NK cell activity, IL-2 level and IL-4 level were increased with the increase in DHA dose （P<0.05）, and the PI3K protein level and AKT phosphorylation level were decreased （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION DHA may enhance the immunity of tumor-bearing mice by inhibiting the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy.     

Curcumin attenuates rat lung ischemia/reperfusion injury by interfering with autophagy

AIM To investigate the role of curcumin （CUR） in lung ischemia/reperfusion （I/R） injury （LIRI） and its relationship with autophagy. METHODS 40 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation （sham） group, I/R group, solvent （DMSO） group, CUR group and CUR+rapamycin （CUR-Rap） group. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline, DMSO, CUR or CUR+Rap before operation. After the rat LIRI model was established, the lung tissues were taken to measure W/D, TLW, IAR, and the contents of SOD and MDA were also measured to indicate the oxidative stress level. Light and electron microscopes were used to observed the morphology and ultrastrucure of lung tissues. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins were determined by Western blot to evaluate autophagy levels. RESULTS Compared with sham group, wet weight/dry weight （W/D）, total lung water （TLW）, injured alveoli rate（IAR） and malondialdehyde （MDA） content in all other groups were increased, superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was decreased, the levels of autophagy were increased （P<0.05）, and lung tissue injury and cell ultrastructural damage were aggravated in CUR group. Compared with DMSO group, W/D, TLW and IAR and MDA content were decreased, SOD activity was decreased, autophagy levels were also decreased （P<0.05）, and lung tissue and cell ultrastructural damage were attenuated. Compared with CUR group, W/D, TLW, IAR and MDA content were increased, SOD activity declined, the autophagy levels were increased （P<0.05）, and damage of lung tissues and cells were more serious in CUR-Rap group. CONCLUSION Curcumin attenuates the lung I/R injury in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of oxidative stress and the inhibition of autophagy.     

PCR-DGGE/TGGE技术在食品微生物分子生态研究中的应用

综述了PCR-DGGE/TGGE技术原理及其在食品及相关生态环境研究中的应用现状与前景。     

基于MODIS和NOAA/AVHRR的荒漠化遥感监测方法

土地荒漠化是中国西部最严重的生态环境问题,荒漠化遥感监测技术是掌握荒漠化发展趋势的重要手段。基于空间分辨率为1 km的NOAA/AVHRR和MODIS遥感数据,首先依据湿润指数法确定了荒漠化范围和气候分区。然后选取出了可以反映不同荒漠化特征,并且能够通过中低分辨率的NOAA/AVHRR和MODIS遥感影像反演出来的5个荒漠化遥感监测指标,通过精度评价分析,确定了最佳指标组合。由于MODIS和NOAA/AVHRR数据的影像特征存在较大差异,针对每一气候分区, 建立了分别适用于MODIS和NOAA/AVHRR数据的两套遥感指标分类体系。通过不同分类方法的比较,确定了最佳分类方法－决策树分类法。通过对中国1995年和2001年的荒漠化动态变化状况进行了分析,结果表明,本文提出的荒漠化遥感监测方法,不仅能够成功地进行大尺度的荒漠化遥感监测,而且能够取得较好的监测效果。     

利用Terra/MODIS数据提取冬小麦面积及精度分析

利用遥感技术提取作物播种面积是农情监测研究中一种实用而可行的方法。以河北省藁城市为研究区域,研究利用多时相Terra/MODIS数据提取2004年冬小麦播种面积的技术方法。在分析MODIS波谱特性与冬小麦生物学特征,并考虑了有关植被指数图像对面积提取精度的影响基础上,选择将MODIS数据的Red、Blue、NIR和ESWIR波段作为基础工作波段。利用4种方法提取了2004年藁城市各乡镇的冬小麦播种面积,并利用2004年各乡镇统计数据及土地利用数据进行了精度评价。结果表明：4种方法提取的冬小麦播种面积总体上都与参考值比较吻合,总体误差和平均误差均小于5%。可见,利用Terra/MODIS数据提取冬小麦播种面积是完全可行的。研究还发现,最佳的MODIS数据是冬小麦抽穗期的Red、Blue、NIR、ESWIR波段图像和冬小麦播种期与抽穗期EVI差值图像的组合。     

全国农机监理信息系统建设初探

农机安全监理担负着我国数以千万计的农业机械及其驾驶员的行政管理任务,相应的法律法规要求采用计算机管理系统来对此进行处理并能够及时地将有关信息传送到全国农机监理信息系统。由于全国统一的农机监理信息系统尚未建立,因此提出了构建全国农机监理信息系统数据库标准,即采用B/S模式进行应用程序开发,通过多种网络连接全国各地农机监理业务计算机,从而实现信息共享与网上办公的解决方案。     

11种观赏地被植物引种栽培和耐荫性试验

根据南京地区气候条件和绿化特点,结合种质资源调查,引种栽培了11种有观赏价值的地被植物;对荫蔽条件下引种材料的扩张能力和覆盖能力进行观察,证实:11种地被植物在75%和90%盖度的林下能正常生长发育,安全越冬、越夏,第2年春季恢复生长良好。采用分光光度法对3种不同处理条件下的11种地被植物叶绿素含量和叶绿素a/b进行测定,经90%遮光处理后,种间耐荫性强弱顺序为:佛甲草、青绿苔草、玉竹黄精、富贵竹、细叶麦冬、吉祥草、长春蔓、扶芳藤、连钱草、凹叶景天、无毛紫露草;75%遮光处理后种间耐荫性强弱顺序为:青绿苔草、玉竹黄精、凹叶景天、佛甲草、细叶麦冬、富贵竹、吉祥草、扶芳藤、长春蔓、连钱草、无毛紫露草。     

西南地区主要类型土壤钾素有效性分析

通过测定西南地区主要类型土壤的基本农化性状、Q/I曲线、固钾率和酸提取钾来研究土壤钾素缓冲容量(PBCK),进而分析土壤钾素的有效性.试验结果表明,PBCK与土壤CEC、固钾率和酸提取均呈极显著正相关,因此可以用PECK来衡量土壤钾素有效性.