Tumour necrosis factor stimulated gene 6 intrinsically regulates PD-L1 expressions in breast cancer cells,leading to modulation of tumour microenvironment

Recent studies have shown that tumour cells express tumour necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 (TSG-6) and its protein, which is known to play a key role in regulating excessive immune responses and proliferation and growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It has not been confirmed whether the inhibition of TSG-6 for tumour cells can suppress tumour cell growth and regulate the activation of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME). TSG-6-specific small interfering RNA was transfected into canine and human breast cancer cells (CIPp, CIPm and BT-20). TSG-6-down-regulated (siTSG-6) cells showed decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Decreased mRNA expressions of NF-κB, STAT3 and Sox2, confirming that TSG-6 is an upper factor governing tumour growth and metastasis. Notably, siTSG-6 cells showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD44 and PD-L1. Direct and indirect co-culture of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) and the siTSG-6 cells showed significant activation in M1 type macrophages and cytotoxic T cells. They also showed a tendency to decrease in the expression of CTLA-4 and increase in the expression of PD-1. In conclusion, this study suggests that the down-regulation of TSG-6 in breast cancer cells could not only suppress tumour growth and metastasis, and but also regulate TME. Since modulation of immune checkpoint proteins occurs in both tumour cells and immune cells, inhibiting TSG-6 and its protein within the TME could be novel therapeutic target for anticancer treatment.     

先锋植物沙棘Ⅲ——生活史分析

就沙棘生态习性,应归属r-型生态对策型。沙棘的生活史具两型性(有性和无性繁殖),是对有限资源权衡利用与分配在生命维持-生长-繁殖-扩散上的不均衡结果,是长期自然选择,进化的结果。固氮与克隆生长有利与扩大了r-型生态对策。雌雄异株的进化,避免了近交衰退和提高了沙棘的适合度。沙棘的花序分化受多种同源异型基因调控,而性别决定则受Y性染色体上性基因连锁决定。沙棘繁殖力很高,但衰老较快,是一种生命期(20年左右)较短的灌木。     

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。     

一种快速鉴别草地贪夜蛾蛹及成虫雌雄的简易方法

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)是新近入侵我国的重大迁飞性害虫。本研究通过比较草地贪夜蛾雌、雄蛹及成虫的外部形态差异,总结出一种快速鉴别草地贪夜蛾蛹及成虫性别的方法。结果表明:草地贪夜蛾雄蛹在第9腹节腹面中央有一纵裂缝,并连接两个半圆形瘤状突起,且纵裂离肛门的距离较近,腹部末端较尖,分节较为明显;雌蛹在第8腹节腹面近前缘有一短纵裂缝,两侧平滑且无突起结构,裂缝离肛门的距离较远,腹部末端钝圆,分节不明显。雄蛾腹部狭长,腹部末端有一圈黄色长毛簇;雌蛾腹部较雄蛾浑圆,腹部末端黄色毛簇较短。经检测,该鉴定方法的准确率高达100%。对草地贪夜蛾蛹及成虫性别的快速鉴定,将有助于改进后期草地贪夜蛾室内饲养方法,并为田间草地贪夜蛾的预测预报提供参考。     

黏虫蛹性别的快速鉴别方法

根据黏虫Mythimna separata(Walker)蛹生殖孔的位置、腹部腹节的外部形态学特征、生殖孔(产卵孔)至排泄孔之间的距离,快速、准确鉴别黏虫蛹性别。雌蛹第8腹节腹面中央的生殖孔与第9腹节的产卵孔连接形成一纵裂缝,裂缝两侧平坦,无突起。生殖孔下端与第9腹节的前缘连接、产卵孔下端与第10腹节的前缘连接,形成2个明显的"人"字纹。雄蛹第8腹节无纵裂缝,在第9腹节腹面中央的生殖孔呈现的纵裂缝连接第10腹节,裂缝两边各有一个半圆形瘤状突起。雌雄蛹排泄孔均在第10腹节腹面,雌蛹产卵孔下端至排泄孔上端之间的距离为(400.85±151.10)μm,雄蛹生殖孔下端至排泄孔上端之间的距离为(178.21±93.59)μm,约为雌蛹相应距离的一半。采用该方法观察的270头羽化蛹的性别鉴别准确率100%。该方法对于快速鉴别黏虫蛹的性别、开展黏虫相关的生物学研究以及预测预报等具有重要的参考价值。