Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in trimethylamine N-oxide-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-mediated oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. The cells were stained by DCFH-DA, and the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed by phase-contrast microscopy and detected by flow cytometric analysis. The protein levels of phospho-IRE-1α, IRE-1α and GRP78/BiP were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: TMAO exerted no significant effect on the viability of HUVECs. For a long period (>24 h), even a low concentration (10 μmol/L) of TMAO increased the oxidative stress level in the HUVECs (P<0.05). TMAO increased the phosphorylation level of IRE-1α and significantly up-regulated the protein level of GRP78/BiP in HUVECs (P<0.01). Pretreatment with STF-083010, an inhibitor of IRE1α, for 1 h reduced TMAO-induced oxidative stress in HUVECs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in TMAO-induced oxidative stress in HUVECs.     

氟节胺抑制枇杷嫁接成苗砧木萌蘖相关机理初探

为寻找更长效、无害的化学控蘖剂以减轻田间管理劳动强度,以枇杷(Eriobotrya japonica)嫁接成苗为材料,喷施有效成分浓度为0.050%,0.071%和0.125%的氟节胺,于不同时期取样观察控蘖效果,并尝试探究相关机理。结果表明,氟节胺减少了叶片单位面积光能的吸收量、抑制了光化学转换,但叶片的热耗散量并无明显变化。进一步测定植株氧化还原状态发现,氟节胺能够快速促进细胞内超氧阴离子(O₂^.-)积累并延缓或抑制H₂O₂的转化,从而诱发氧化胁迫。由此可见,氟节胺可能通过抑制叶片光化学转换和热耗散来破坏新生萌蘖的光合性能,进而抑制其萌发生长,而成熟叶片则通过提升自身抗氧化系统活性耐受氟节胺造成的轻度胁迫。在本试验中,各浓度的氟节胺对控制砧木萌蘖有不同程度的效果,其中浓度为0.125%的氟节胺控蘖效果相对最佳,且基本不会对砧木和嫁接成苗造成持续伤害,其作为化学控蘖剂有一定的应用潜力。     

北盘江2种典型增殖放流鱼类突进游速研究

长臀（Cranoglanis bouderius）和白甲鱼（Onychostoma sima）是目前北盘江主要放流鱼类,但这2种鱼的放流效果差异较大。由于鱼类的突进游速在一定程度上影响增殖放流的效果,故试验采用自制测试装置,用递增流速法测试了2种鱼的突进游速。结果显示,白甲鱼的突进游速大于长臀,且2种鱼的突进游速均随体长增加而近似线性增大;而相对突进游速则随着体长的增加而近似线性减小。研究结果可为北盘江鱼类增殖放流和放流效果评估,以及日后北盘江的拦鱼、诱鱼、集鱼船等鱼类资源保护措施的实施提供参考。     

滨麦叶片转录组分析

滨麦（Leymus mollis）是小麦的野生近缘种,具有良好的耐盐抗旱和抗病虫害的能力,是小麦遗传育种的良好资源。为了深入了解和挖掘滨麦的基因信息和优异资源,本研究利用高通量测序技术对生长于滨海沙地的野生滨麦的叶片转录组进行了深度测序并组装,对得到的所有Unigene进行COG、GO和KEGG分类和功能注释,对Na⁺转运相关蛋白基因和氧化胁迫响应基因进行了挖掘,并通过实时荧光定量反转录PCR（qRT-PCR）对随机选取的12个基因的表达模式进行了验证。结果显示,转录组测序共获得112 846条Unigene,其中的59 380条得到功能注释,占总数的52.62%。COG分类结果表明,15 786条Unigene归属于25个类别。GO分类结果表明,20 350条Unigene被注释到三个大类中,其中,属于“生物学过程”的Unigene数量最多,占总数的43.56%。KEGG分析结果表明,18 550条Unigene得到注释,共涉及到128条代谢途径。其中,含Unigene数量最多的类别是“代谢通路”,涉及到的Unigene占总数的27.86%。“植物病原互作”和“植物激素信号转导途径”涉及的Unigene数量也较多,分别为1 367条和861条。对Na⁺转运相关蛋白基因和氧化胁迫响应基因进行挖掘,发现了15条注释为Na⁺/H⁺反向转运蛋白的Unigene和175条响应氧化胁迫的Unigene。随机选取的12个基因的qRT-PCR结果与转录组测序结果基本一致。     

镉诱导麦类作物氧化胁迫及其缓解途径

镉 (Cadmium ,Cd)对植物引起的氧化胁迫是Cd毒害的重要原因之一。综述了Cd诱导麦类作物氧化胁迫效应以及麦类作物对Cd氧化胁迫的相应防御反应 ,如抗氧化酶活性及抗氧化物含量的变化等 ,并介绍了缓解Cd诱导的氧化胁迫的机理和途径。     

空中核爆炸对水稻的损伤及其恢复

在空中核爆炸的情况下,光辐射是损毁水稻的主要因素,光辐射可使三叶期、分蘖期水稻的叶片烧损、株高降低,其损毁程度随着距爆心距离的加大而减弱,叶片受到烧损仍然存活的植株,爆后可迅速恢复生长,叶片数、株高在较短时间内即可达对照水平,分蘖能力也不受影响。收获时大部分受损水稻的穗长、穗粒数、千粒重、平均单株分蘖数、     

Ellagic acid attenuates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury by alleviating autophagy

AIM:To investigate whether ellagic acid (EA) attenuates hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) by down-regulating autophagy. METHODS:In vivo, Sprague-Dawley rats (n=17) were randomly divided into 3 groups:5 rats for sham group, 6 rats for HIE group and 6 rats for HIE+EA pretreatment group. The rats in HIE+EA pretreatment group were treated with EA (10 mg/kg, 10 mL/kg, suspended in corn oil, ig). After 24 h of operation, the rats from each group were sacrificed and their brains were collected. TTC staining and HE staining were used to define the infarct areas and brain structure. The autophagy-related proteins beclin-1, P62, LC3-Ⅱ/-I and Atg5 in the cortex in each group were compared by Western blot. In vitro, PC12 cells were divided into 3 groups:control group, CoCl₂ group and CoCl₂+EA pretreatment group. CoCl₂ at 800 μmol/L was added to the PC12 cells to induce an anoxic environment. The PC12 cells were pretreated with EA at 8 μmol/L and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. The production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) in the cells was detected by flow cytometry with DCFH-DA staining. MDC staining and TMRE staining were applied to reflect the extent of autophagy and the state of apoptosis, respectively. The autophagy-related proteins in PC12 cells were also investigated. RESULTS:In HIE group, 7-day-old rats were given the operations and the their large infarct areas in the hemisphere were observed by TTC staining. HE staining displayed the injured hemispheres which contained few neurons, and exhibited edema status and serious structural damage. EA pretreatment decreased the infarct area and alleviated the damage to hemisphere with more visible neurons, compared with HIE group. Compared with sham group, the levels of autophagy-related proteins Atg5, beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ/-I in the cortex were increased (P<0.01), and P62 protein expression was decreased (P<0.01) in HIE group. Compared with HIE group, the protein expression of Atg5, beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ/-I was decreased (P<0.01) and P62 protein expression was increased in HIE+EA pretreatment group (P<0.01). In vitro, compared with CoCl₂ group, the PC12 cells in CoCl₂+EA pretreatment group showed a lower ROS level. Moreover, the cells in CoCl₂+EA pretreatment group exhibited higher mitochondrial membrane potential than that in CoCl₂ group. MDC staining in CoCl₂ group showed high value of fluorescence and increased number of autophagosomes. EA pretreatment reduced the number of autophagosomes and the extent of autophagy to protect PC12 cells. Furthermore, the protein levels of Atg5, beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ/-I in CoCl₂ group were higher (P<0.01), and the protein expression of P62 was lower (P<0.01) than those in control group. In CoCl₂+EA pretreatment group, the protein levels of Atg5, beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ/-I were decreased (P<0.01) and the protein expression of P62 was increased as compared with CoCl₂ group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:EA pretreatment attenuates autophagy to protect the neurons against HIE injury.     

Salvianolate attenuates oxidative stress injury of human endothelial EA.hy926 cells induced by hydrogen peroxide

AIM: To investigate the effect of salvianolate on oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in human endothelial EA.hy926 cells.METHODS: EA.hy926 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into the following groups:control group, damage group, and anti-damage groups (salvianolate+damage groups). The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. The migration ability of the EA.hy926 cells was detected by Transwell assay. The content of nitric oxide (NO) in the culture supernatant of the EA.hy926 cells was examined. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by ELISA. The apoptosis,mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular superoxide anion content of the EA.hy926 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, NF-κB and p53 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with damage group, the viability of EA.hy926 cells pretreated with salvianolate at different concentrations was significantly increased (P<0.05). The apoptotic rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Savianolate enhanced the migration ability of the cells. The levels of VEGF, NO and mitochondrial transmembrane potential were increased (P<0.05), and the intracellular ROS level was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The protein levels of NF-κB, p53, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly decreased, and the protein level of Bcl-2 was markedly increased(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Savianolate reduces the damage of EA.hy926 cells by hydrogen peroxide exposure, and its mechanism may be related to the blocking of NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Trx-1 over-expression attenuates oxidative stress injury in MPP+ -induced PC12 cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) over-expression on oxidative stress injury in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS:The PC12 cells were damaged by treatment with MPP⁺ at 1, 3 and 5 mmol/L, and the optimal concentration of 3 mmol/L was selected. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The oxidative stress indexes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the cell culture supernatant were detected, and the protein expression of Trx-1 was determined by Western blot. Lentiviral infection with Ad-Trx-1-GFP sequence was used to establish a model of MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells with Trx-1 over-expression. The effects of Trx-1 over-expression on the cell viability, oxidative stress responses and NF-κB signaling pathway were determined by MTT assay, commercial kits and Western blot. The effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of NF-κB signaling pathway, on the viability and oxidative stress of PC12 cells were observed. The NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) was used in MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells with Trx-1 over-expression, and the cell viability and oxidative stress responses were measured. RESULTS:The viability of PC12 cells, SOD activity in the supernatant and protein expression of Trx-1 were decreased, while LDH activity and MDA content in the supernatant were increased significantly by treatment with MPP⁺ at 1, 3 and 5 mmol/L. The effect of MPP⁺ at 3 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L was significantly greater than that at 1 mmol/L (P<0.05), and no significant difference between 3 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L was observed (P>0.05). The inhibitory effect of MPP⁺ on the viability of PC12 cells, and the oxidative stress injury and activation of NF-κB signaling pathway induced by MPP⁺ were significantly attenuated by over-expression of Trx-1. The inhibitory effect of MPP⁺ on the viability of PC12 cells and the oxidative stress injury induced by MPP⁺ were promoted by the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, while the protective effects of Trx-1 over-expression on the MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells were enhanced by the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION:Over-expression of Trx-1 protects MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells from oxidative stress injury by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Role of chlorogenic acid in endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice

AIM: To explore the effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Male db/db mice (n=12) were divided into control group and CGA group, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in CGA group were treated with diet containing 0.02% CGA, while the mice in control group were given normal diet only. The observation period was 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose level, tail blood pressure and the body weight were analyzed each week. At the end of the 12th week, the mice were anesthetized and blood was taken from carotid artery. The plasma levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), catalase (CAT), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) were measured by ELISA. The mouse aortas were isolated, and the superoxide anion and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by DHE and DAF-2 DA staining, respectively. Wire Myograph System was used to detect the vasorelaxation of db/db mouse aorta. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylated endothelial NO synthase (p-eNOS), P22^phox and P47^phox were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Dietary CGA decreased fasting blood glucose and body weight in db/db mice as compared with control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The plasma levels of HO-1, CAT, NQO1 and GPx-1 in CGA group were higher than those in control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Administration of CGA for 12 weeks attenuated superoxide anion level, increased NO level in the mouse endothelium and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation of the db/db mouse aorta. CGA also increased the protein levels of PPARα, Nrf2, p-AMPK and p-eNOS, and decreased P22^phox and P47^phox levels (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Dietary CGA improves db/db mouse endothelium-dependent relaxation. This effect may be related to the increases in the levels of antioxidant molecules PPARα, Nrf2 and p-AMPK, and the up-regulation of antioxidant capacity, thus decreasing the oxidative stress, promoting eNOS phosphorylation, and increasing NO level.