Expression of cathepsin C and tumor necrosis factor-α in human coronary artery and their relationships with coronary heart disease

AIM To explore the possible mechanism of cathepsin C （CTSC） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in coronary heart disease （CHD） by detecting the protein expression of CTSC and TNF-α in human coronary artery tissue. METHODS The coronary artery tissues from 52 cases of CHD and 25 cases of accidental death without any heart disease in the Forensic Judicial Expertise Center of Guizhou Medical University from October 2018 to December 2019 were collected as CHD group and control group, respectively. The coronary artery stenosis and intimal plaque formation were examined by histopathology, the protein expression of CTSC and TNF-α was determined by Western blot, and the intracellular expression of CTSC and TNF-α was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS The results of HE staining showed that the intima of coronary artery in control group was smooth, and no thickening or stenosis was observed. In CHD group, the intima thickened irregularly, atherosclerotic plaques formed, the intima became thinner and the lumen showed eccentric stenosis in varying degrees （P<0.05）. The results of Western blot showed that the expression of CTSC and TNF-α in CHD group was significantly higher than that in control group （P<0.05）. Immunohistochemical staining showed that both CTSC and TNF-α were expressed in the cytoplasm of foam cells, and their positive expression was significantly higher than that in control group （P<0.05）. The results of Pearson moment correlation analysis showed that there was positive correlation between the expression of CTSC and TNF-α in CHD （r²=0.743, P<0.05）. CONCLUSION The up-regulated expression of CTSC in coronary artery tissue may promote the expression of TNF-α and affect the occurrence and development of CHD.     

The Exploitation of Nematode-Responsive Plant Genes in Novel Nematode Control Methods

The molecular interactions between plants and sedentary nematodes are undergoing intense study, not only for reasons of fundamental research but also for the potential benefits to agriculture. The present technology allows the transformation of an increasing number of crop plants, providing new ways to introduce resistance against plant-parasitic nematodes. The ability of sedentary nematodes to induce specialized feeding sites in plant roots is one of the most fascinating aspects of this host–parasite interaction. Molecular approaches have been initiated to identify and characterize plant genes altered in expression after infection by sedentary nematodes. The results obtained indicate that many genes indeed become up-regulated upon nematode infection. Surprisingly, several so-called constitutive promoters that are normally used to achieve high expression in plant cells are completely ‘silenced’ in the feeding sites within days after nematode infection. Generally, there are two options available for the genetic engineering of nematode resistance: the synthesis of anti-nematode proteins or the localized production of a cytotoxic protein that interferes with the development of feeding cells. Nematode-induced promoters are very useful for the production by plants of sufficiently high levels of anti-nematode proteins at feeding sites. Alternatively, interfering with feeding-cell development is somewhat similar to the hypersensitive response evoked by nematodes in a naturally resistant plant. Here, destruction of specific plant cells can be achieved by the localized expression of a cytotoxin such as barnase, a potent ribonuclease. This approach, however, calls for a highly specific ‘non-leaky’ promoter, which is active only in the feeding cells. Another possibility is to use a two-component system, where the leakiness of the promoter in other tissues is counterbalanced by the constitutive expression of a neutralizing gene.     

Synthesis and Anthelmintic Activity of 7-Hydroxy- 5-oxo-5H-thieno[3,2-b]pyran-6-carboxanilides and -6-thiocarboxanilides

7-Hydroxy-5-oxo-5H-thieno[3,2-b]pyran-6-carboxanilides and -6-thio-carboxanilides represent a novel series of anthelmintic compounds, with broad-spectrum activity against important parasitic nematodes in sheep and dogs. In particular, an improved efficacy against Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep over the related 3-carbamoyl-4-hydroxycoumarins has been noted. New synthetic routes to the key intermediate, 7-hydroxythieno[3,2-b]pyran-5-one, have been developed.     

半乳凝素-3在鼠发育中的生物学作用研究进展

半乳凝素-3是在鼠发育过程中产生的重要影响因素之一。半乳凝素-3在鼠骨骼、甲状腺、气管及吞噬细胞等组织细胞中表达水平的高低,可作为鼠发育过程中生理指标正常与否的检测标准。半乳凝素-3还与自身免疫性疾病、癌症等病理学过程的发生发展有着密切的内在联系,呈现“双刃剑”的作用。文章就半乳凝素-3在动物发育中表达的生物学作用进行综述。     

仔猪黄痢K88-K99-987p-F41多价菌毛疫苗的制备及小鼠免疫试验

为了更好地预防仔猪黄痢,选取野生分离菌株HN2001（K88ab）、HN2002（K88ac）、HN2003（K88ad）、HN2004（K99）、HN2005（987p）和HN2006（F41）培养后用低温磁力搅拌法提取菌毛,制成5批多价菌毛混合油乳剂灭活苗。试验结果表明,5批多价灭活疫苗对小鼠的平均保护率达95．0％,为进一步进行本体动物试验提供了有价值的参考资料。     

果蔗芽段和芽片育苗移栽新技术

利用黔糖3号果蔗蔗茎梢部芽段和芽片作种源,经不同调节剂催芽促根、杀菌剂灭菌消毒的复式浸种处理后,进行土壤浅层密植育苗技术试验。结果表明:用蔗茎梢部芽段复式浸种处理育苗移栽的综合农艺性状优于用芽片育苗移栽,其中,又以乙烯利浸种处理的芽段表现较好,出苗时间仅9 d,出苗率达97.5%,分蘖率为246.3%,成茎率为96%,且具有长势旺、抗病强的优势,在同批试验中综合性能最优。     

余甘子果实维生素C动态积累规律研究

为研究不同品种余甘子果实维生素C含量差异和余甘子果实维生素C积累规律,本研究以6个品种余甘子果实为试材,比较不同时期余甘子果实维生素C含量的差异,描绘维生素C积累动态曲线。结果表明,余甘子果实维生素C含量丰富,适宜作为食品加工和保健品的开发利用;其中秋白品种维生素C含量最高,适宜作为加工和遗传育种的原材料;余甘子果实作为加工原材料适宜采收期为10月20日左右;维生素C 的积累分为快速积累阶段,缓慢积累阶段,下降阶段,稳定阶段4个阶段。     

A 13CO2 Enrichment Experiment to Study the Synthesis Pathways of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids of the Haptophyte Tisochrysis lutea

The production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in Tisochrysis lutea was studied using the gradual incorporation of a ¹³C-enriched isotopic marker, ¹³CO₂, for 24 h during the exponential growth of the algae. The ¹³C enrichment of eleven fatty acids was followed to understand the synthetic pathways the most likely to form the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA) in T. lutea. The fatty acids 16:0, 18:1n-9 + 18:3n-3, 18:2n-6, and 22:5n-6 were the most enriched in ¹³C. On the contrary, 18:4n-3 and 18:5n-3 were the least enriched in ¹³C after long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as 20:5n-3 or 22:5n-3. The algae appeared to use different routes in parallel to form its polyunsaturated fatty acids. The use of the PKS pathway was hypothesized for polyunsaturated fatty acids with n-6 configuration (such as 22:5n-6) but might also exist for n-3 PUFA (especially 20:5n-3). With regard to the conventional n-3 PUFA pathway, Δ6 desaturation of 18:3n-3 appeared to be the most limiting step for T. lutea, “stopping” at the synthesis of 18:4n-3 and 18:5n-3. These two fatty acids were hypothesized to not undergo any further reaction of elongation and desaturation after being formed and were therefore considered “end-products”. To circumvent this limiting synthetic route, Tisochrysis lutea seemed to have developed an alternative route via Δ8 desaturation to produce longer chain fatty acids such as 20:5n-3 and 22:5n-3. 22:6n-3 presented a lower enrichment and appeared to be produced by a combination of different pathways: the conventional n-3 PUFA pathway by desaturation of 22:5n-3, the alternative route of ω-3 desaturase using 22:5n-6 as precursor, and possibly the PKS pathway. In this study, PKS synthesis looked particularly effective for producing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The rate of enrichment of these compounds hypothetically synthesized by PKS is remarkably fast, making undetectable the ¹³C incorporation into their precursors. Finally, we identified a protein cluster gathering PKS sequences of proteins that are hypothesized allowing n-3 PUFA synthesis.