Effect of tanshinone ⅡA on liver lipid deposition and ferroptosis-related protein expression in ApoE-/- mice

AIM To observe the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on liver lipid deposition and ferroptosis-related protein expression in ApoE^-/- mice. METHODS Thirty-two ApoE^-/- mice were randomly divided into model group, high-dose (60 mg/kg) tanshinone ⅡA group, low-dose (30 mg/kg) tanshinone ⅡA group and simvastatin group, and C57BL/6J mice (n=8) were used as normal control group. The mice in normal control group were given the basic feeding, while the others were given high-fat diet. The mice in tanshinone ⅡA groups and simvastatin group were given corresponding drugs. The mice in normal control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with equal volume of saline. Eight weeks later, the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were tested by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The liver tissues were stained with HE and oil red O. The contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissues of the mice were measured by commercially available kits. The liver glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and p53 were detected by immunohistochemical method. The protein and mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related factors GPX4, xCT/SLC7A11, p53 and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) were determined by Wes automatic Western blot quantitative analysis system and RT-qPCR. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C in model group were increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and HDL-C did not change significantly. The fat vacuoles were clearly visible in liver tissue. The content of ROS in liver tissue was increased significantly,and GSH was decreased significantly (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of p53 were increased significantly, and GPX4, xCT/SLC7A11 and FTH1 were decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group, tanshinone ⅡA significantly decreased the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and HDL-C did not change significantly. High-dose and low-dose tanshinoneⅡA also significantly decreased the degree of steatosis, and the size of lipid droplets. The content of ROS in liver tissues was decreased significantly, and GSH was increased significantly (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of GPX4, xCT/SLC7A11 and FTH1 were increased significantly, and p53 were decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tanshinone ⅡA reduces liver lipid deposition and lipid peroxidation damage in ApoE^-/- mice, which may be related to the intervention of ferroptosis-related proteins in the liver cells.     

Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.     

2001-2017年天山中段积雪时空变异研究

【目的】为干旱区提供冰雪资源的合理利用及灾害防治的科学理论不服务信息。【斱法】采取趋势分析法、相关性分析法,开展了2001-2017年积雪年内年际变化特征以及分布变化原因斱面的研究。【结果】①天山中段SCP(积雪覆盖率)年际变化呈"单峰"型曲线,6月到最小值,12月到次年1月达到最大值,从2月开始逐渐下降到最小值;从7月初开始SCP开始逐渐上升到最大值。②天山中段年际SCP呈减少趋势、春季的SCP变化呈略微减少趋势、夏季不秋季SCP变化均呈增加趋势、冬季SCP变化趋势跟全年年际SCP变化趋势基本相似,且均呈减少趋势,最高值为98.6%,最小值出现在2009年为83.2%。③天山中段54.08%区域的SCD(积雪日数)呈减少趋势,其中4.36%区域呈显著减少趋势;45.92%区域的SCD呈增加趋势,其中3.03%区域呈显著增加趋势。④天山中段积雪不LST(地表温度)年际相关性呈负相关性比较明显,负相关占总面积的55.89%,主要分布在高海拔的天山山脉,博格达尔;34.98%区域呈极显著负相关,主要分布在伊犁河谷、天山南北坡地区不阿克苏、库尔勒、博斯腾湖流域周边。【结论】天山中段积雪时空变化丌仅是LST变化的影响,还受人类活劢和海拔高度差异等因素的共同作用。     

重组GSTA3蛋白对福美双诱导的肉鸡TD中抗凋亡基因BAG-3表达的影响

【目的】肉鸡胫骨软骨发育不良（TD）是肉鸡常见的一种骨骼性疾病,研究重组GSTA3蛋白对福美双诱导的TD肉鸡软骨细胞中抗凋亡基因BAG-3表达的影响,为治疗TD提供新的思路和方法。【方法】将120羽1周龄肉雏鸡随机分为6组（编号为A、B、C、D、E、F组）。A、B、C组为基础日粮对照组,D、E、F组为添加福美双日粮诱导TD组。试验饲喂福美双2 d诱发TD,在添加福美双第1、3、5、7天,腿部肌肉注射重组鸡GSTA3蛋白和磷酸盐缓冲液,A组与D组注射（100 μg·kg ^-1）磷酸盐缓冲液;B组与E组注射低剂量（100 μg·kg ^-1）GSTA3;C组与F组注射高剂量（200 μg·kg ^-1）GSTA3。试验历时23 d。添加福美双后1、2、4、6、10和15 d采集胫骨生长板。通过Real-time qPCR检测BAG-3基因的mRNA水平,利用免疫组化来检测BAG-3蛋白表达水平。【结果】Real-time qPCR结果显示,TD损伤修复期内,相比较于基础日粮对照组,福美双对照组肉鸡胫骨生长板中BAG-3 mRNA的表达水平基本都显著上调（P<0.05）;相比较于福美双对照组,E和F组在第2、4、10、15天都有显著差异,且在第10和15天显著低于福美双对照组（P<0.05）,表明与D组相比恢复较快。免疫组化结果表明BAG-3蛋白在肉鸡胫骨软骨细胞的增殖区和前肥大区无表达,只在肥大区细胞质中表达;福美双组与空白对照组相比,BAG-3蛋白表达增加;福美双高低剂量组与未注射蛋白的福美双组相比,重组GSTA3增加了肥大区的蛋白表达水平（第10和15天）。【结论】在福美双诱导肉鸡发生TD的过程中,GSTA3重组蛋白能够通过调控BAG-3表达参与凋亡途径,抑制细胞凋亡。在TD损伤修复期,注射GSTA3后使抗凋亡基因BAG-3蛋白表达增强,从而可参与细胞凋亡来缓解TD损伤,使得肉鸡TD生长板功能较快地恢复正常。     

不同水稻种质中渗透胁迫抗性基因DREB2A的遗传多样性分析

本研究旨在分析转录因子DREB2A基因在不同水稻种质中的遗传多样性,以期为水稻耐渗透胁迫遗传改良提供分子工具。利用单倍型分析、系统进化树、遗传距离和密码子偏好性分析,对85份不同类型水稻种质中DREB2A基因的功能性核苷酸序列变异及遗传多样性进行了研究。共鉴定出55个核苷酸变异位点,其中12个位于编码区,43个位于非编码区;鉴定出12个DREB2A等位基因型,其中来自非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)的3个等位基因型表现大片段变异;根据DREB2A基因的序列变异鉴定出39个单倍型,其中33个为新单倍型;将所有单倍型分为三组（Group I、II和III）,其中非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)中的10个单倍型单独分为一组(Group III);系统进化树、遗传距离和密码子偏好性分析均表明Group III与其他两组具有较大差异。对85份不同类型水稻种质中DREB2A基因的序列分析表明,非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)中的DREB2A等位基因在序列变异、系统进化关系和密码子偏好性方面均明显不同于其他种质材料中的等位基因。     

红花双列杂交后代羟基黄色素A含量的遗传效应分析

选用6个羟基红花黄色素A（HSYA）含量差异较大的亲本,采用双列杂交方法配制杂交组合,测定2015年和2016年2年亲本及其后代F₁和F₂红花中的HSYA含量。运用双子叶植物种子数量性状遗传模型和统计分析方法,分析胚、细胞质和母体植株3套遗传体系的基因效应和环境互作效应。结果发现：在HSYA含量的遗传体系中,母体遗传效应影响最大,胚效应次之,细胞质效应影响最小。3套遗传体系均表现出基因主效应大于环境互作效应。机误方差较大,说明HSYA含量还受环境机误或抽样误差的影响。亲本遗传效应分析表明,豫红花1号（P₁）做亲本表现稳定,有利于增加杂交后代HSYA含量,达到提高品质、改良品种的效果。胚显性方差和母体显性方差均达到极显著水平,表明同时存在种子杂种优势和母体杂种优势,而且其主效应基因不受环境影响。综合考虑遗传主效应、胚显性效应和母体显性效应,亲本组合（P₁×P₅）有利于提高后代杂交品种的HSYA含量。该研究结果可为后代材料在杂种优势利用中的亲本选择提供理论支持。     

一个潜在催化莱鲍迪D苷合成的新型糖基转移酶

尿苷二磷酸糖基转移酶(uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases,UGTs)催化糖基转移反应,与植物次生代谢密切相关。本研究根据甜叶菊(Stevia rebaudiana)转录组数据库,克隆到一个催化莱鲍迪D苷(rebaudioside D,RD)合成的新型糖基转移酶候选基因,对其开展生物信息学分析。结果表明,该基因开放阅读框长1380 bp,编码459个氨基酸,等电点(pI)预测为5.54,理论分子量约49.66 kD,系统发育分析表明该基因与向日葵中的UGT89A2同源,故将其命名为SrUGT89A2。构建pET28a-SrUGT89A2原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌(BL21(DE3))中诱导表达得到重组蛋白,HPLC检测表明粗酶液能催化甜叶菊提取液形成一个新的色谱峰,该峰保留时间与莱鲍迪D苷一致。经进一步纯化UGT89A2蛋白,添加不同甜菊糖苷标准品为催化底物,但未鉴定出该蛋白催化的具体糖苷。该潜在催化甜菊糖RD苷合成的新型糖基转移酶基因SrUGT89A2的发现,为RD苷的生物合成和甜菊糖苷的生物途径研究提供新的理论依据。     

Uterine Expression of WNT7A and β-catenin After Induction of Oestrus in Sheep

WNT7A and β-catenin localisations and roles in regulating periimplantation ovine conceptus development under natural estrous conditions have been elaborated.However,their locations and expression patterns have not been reported under induction of oestrus.The localisation,expression and function of WNT7A and β-catenin in the uterine tissues of the early pregnant and non-pregnant sheep on days 10,12,14,16 and 18 following artificial induction of oestrus were investigated by means of in situ hybridisation,real-time RT-PCR,immuno-histochemistry and western blotting methods.WNT7A and β-catenin mRNA and protein were both restricted to the apical surfaces of the uterine luminal epithelium (LE) and glandular epithelium (GE).In pregnant sheep,protein localisation of WNT7A and β-catenin was observed both in the endometrial LE and GE.Their staining presented on day 10,increased between day 12 and day 16,and decreased on day 18.WNT7A and β-catenin mRNA and protein expression increased initially and then decreased from day 10 to day 18,peaking on day 16,and β-catenin reaching a peak on day 18 in the uterine tissues of pregnant sheep (p0.05).By contrast,no significant changes in WNT7A and β-catenin mRNA and protein expression levels were observed from day 10 to day 18 of the oestrus cycle in the uterine tissues of non-pregnant sheep (p0.05).Additionally,WNT7A and β-catenin mRNA and protein expression levels in the uterine tissues of the early pregnant sheep were significantly higher than those of non-pregnant sheep (p0.05).Treatment of endometrial epithelial cells with WNT7A increased the mRNA expressions of β-catenin,c-myc and Cyclin D1.These results provided an underlying mechanism of periimplantation ovine conceptus development under induction of oestrus.     

Study on HPLC method to determine contents of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B in Schisandra chinensis extraction

The determination method of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B in Schisandra chinensis was improved with the high performance liquid chromagraphy(HPLC).The sample was extracted exceedingly in the critical limit of CO 2 .The retention time of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B was reduced,with methano/water(75:25)as mobile phase.The wavelength for detection was 254 nm. The R2 of standard curve was 0.9998 and the relative standard deviation was 2.31%and 3.17%with the recovery of 96.45%and 97.37%,respectively.The result shows that the rate of veracity of this method is higher and it proves that the determination method of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B in Schisandra chinensis is a feasible method.     

Semi-Synthesis,Cytotoxic Evaluation,and Structure—Activity Relationships of Brefeldin A Derivatives with Antileukemia Activity

Brefeldin A (1), a potent cytotoxic natural macrolactone, was produced by the marine fungus Penicillium sp. (HS-N-29) from the medicinal mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius. Series of its ester derivatives 2–16 were designed and semi-synthesized, and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods. Their cytotoxic activities were evaluated against human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line in vitro, and the preliminary structure–activity relationships revealed that the hydroxy group played an important role. Moreover, the monoester derivatives exhibited stronger cytotoxic activity than the diester derivatives. Among them, brefeldin A 7-O-2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoate (7) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on the proliferation of K562 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.84 µM. Further evaluations indicated that 7 induced cell cycle arrest, stimulated cell apoptosis, inhibited phosphorylation of BCR-ABL, and thereby inactivated its downstream AKT signaling pathway. The expression of downstream signaling molecules in the AKT pathway, including mTOR and p70S6K, was also attenuated after 7-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, molecular modeling of 7 docked into 1 binding site of an ARF1–GDP-GEF complex represented well-tolerance. Taken together, 7 had the potential to be served as an effective antileukemia agent or lead compound for further exploration.