Characterisation of energy-dependent efflux of imazalil and fenarimol in isolates of Penicillium italicum with a low,medium and high degree of resistance to DMI-fungicides

Differential accumulation of [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol by germlings of wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates ofPenicillium italicum was studied at various pH values. At pH 7 and 8 the low-resistant isolate E_300–3 accumulated 22% and 35%, respectively, less imazalil than the wild-type isolate W₅. Imazalil accumulation at pH 5 and 6 was similar. Isolate E_300–3 also accumulated less fenarimol as compared with the wild-type isolate. This difference was much more obvious than for imazalil and was observed at all pH values tested. Differences in accumulation of both imazalil and fenarimol between low (E_300–3), medium (H₁₇) and high resistant (I₃₃) isolates were not observed. These results suggest that decreased accumulation of DMIs is responsible for a low level of resistance only and that additional mechanisms of resistance might operate in isolates with a medium and high degree of resistance. With all isolates fenarimol accumulation was energy-dependent. This was not obvious for imazalil.The wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates had a similar plasma membrane potential as determined with the probe [¹⁴C]tetraphenylphosphonium bromide ([¹⁴C]TPP⁺). Various test compounds, among which ATPase inhibitors, ionophoric antibiotics and calmodulin antagonists, affected the accumulation of [¹⁴C]TPP⁺, [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol. No obvious correlation between the effects of the test compounds on accumulation levels of the fungicides and [¹⁴C]TPP⁺ could be observed. These results indicate that the plasma membrane potential does not mediate the efflux of DMI fungicides byP. italicum.     

Cloning of p15INK4b related gene CCRG and expression analysis in the renal carcinoma

AIM and METHODS:To analysis the factor that involved in renal carcinogenesis, we used the bait gene AK001518 to screen GenBank. To understand the relationship between cell cycle related gene(CCRG) and p15, we did RT-PCR and Northern Blot experiments. Then we examined CCRG expression level in renal carcinogenesis. RESULTS:Gained a function unknown gene CCRG that was 67% a mino acid identical with the gene AK001518 that was regulated by p15. It was shown that the CCRG mRNA was dramatically decreased when p15 gene was over-expressed. CCRG expression level was much higher in tumor tissues and cells than normal tissues and cells. CONCLUSION:The novel gene CCRG expressed highly in the renal carcinoma, which might play a significant role in the renal carcinogenesis.     

Protein expression of cyclin D2 and p16 in proliferation and differentiation of cultured cardiac myocytes

AIM:To investigate the protein expression of cyclin D₂ and p16 in proliferation and differentiation of cultured cardiac myocytes.METHODS:One-day-old Sparague-Dawley rats were used. Cardiac myocytes(CM) were collected by a trypsin-dispersal method and cultured. Cell growth line and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) were used to investigate the proliferation of CM. Ultra-thin sections were made to observe the ultrastructure of CM under transmission electron microscope. The expression of cyclin D₂ and p16 in CM were measured using immunocytochemistry and image analysis.RESULTS:①Results of cell growth line and FACS analysis showed that cultured CM could proliferate in the first 3 cultured days, but the ability decreased quickly, concomitant with differentiation. CM was obseved quiescent in cell cycle three days later. The ultrastructure of CM showed the large amount of myofilaments and mitochondrion. ②The protein expression of cyclin D₂ in 3,4,5 day CM group was 0.89 times(P＜0.05),0.80 times (P＜0.05) and 0.56 times (P＜0.01) of that in 1 day group, respectively. The expression of p16 in CM was increased during the culture process, 2,3,4,5 day group were 1.63 times, 1.72 times, 1.99 times and 2.84 times (P＜0.01) of that in 1 day group, respectively.CONCLUSION:Cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes could proliferate during the first 3 days after incubation, but the ability of proliferation decreased, from the fourth day, concomitant with differentiation. Cyclin D₂ and p16 play the key roles in CM postnatal development. Downregulation of cyclin D₂ and upregulation of p16 may induce CM differentiation.     

Effects of 11, 12-EET and ischemic preconditioning on phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK during ischemia and reperfusion in rat myocardium

AIM: In order to study the relationship between the ERK and p38 MAPK activation and the protection of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11, 12-EET) and ischemia preconditioning (IP), the effects of 11, 12-EET and ischemic preconditioning on phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK during ischemia and reperfusion in rat myocardium were examined. METHODS: The rat heart was subjected to ischemia for 5 min by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion for 5 min (two times) to undergo ischemia preconditioning. The rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control; (2) sham group; (3) ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, in which the rat heart suffered from 60 min ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion; (4) IP plus I/R group; (5) EET plus I/R group, in which 6.28×10^-8 mol/L 11, 12-EET was injected intravenously 20 min before I/R. The heart function was examined, and phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: At 30 min reperfusion, +dp/dt_max, -dp/dt_max and LVDP decreased significantly in I/R group compared with sham group, IP plus I/R group and EET plus I/R group; Phosphorylated ERK1/2 level was higher in I/R group than sham group, but was lower in I/R group than IP plus I/R group and EET plus I/R group; Phosphorylated p38 MAPK level was lower in control, sham, IP plus I/R and EET plus I/R group than I/R group. CONCLUSION: 11,12-EET protects rat heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury, the mechanism may be related to activation of ERK1/2 and inhibition of p38 MAPK.     

Relationship of p21WAF1 gene polymorphisms with protein expression in breast carcinomas

AIM: To investigate the relationship between p21^WAF1gene polymorphisms and protein expression in breast carcinoma. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphisms technique (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemical assay of S-P immunostaining technique were used to study polymorphisms of p21^WAF1 and protein expression respectively on the specimen of paraffin-embedded tissues in 100 cases of breast carcinomas and 40 benign breast diseases as control. RESULTS: Two p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were found in 18% (18/100) of breast carcinomas and 5% (2/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=3.94, P＜0.05). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 50% (50/100) of breast carcinomas and 12.5% (5/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=16.84, P＜0.01). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 100% (18/18) of breast carcinomas with p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms and 39% (32/82) of no p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (χ²=21.95, P＜0.01). The p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were correlated with the protein expression in breast carcinomas (r=0.576, P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms may create the different copies of mRNA and may make relevant protein molecules.     

miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期的表达及其生物信息学分析与靶基因预测

为探究miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期组织表达变化规律及其生物信息学特点,本研究以苏禽3号鸡为试验动物,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测不同生长时期鸡miR-18a-5p的组织表达变化。通过文献和miRBase检索脊椎动物的miR-18a-5p序列,利用Ensembl数据库确定miR-18a-5p在基因组中的位置,根据成熟序列构建系统进化树;使用miRmap、microT、miRanda和TargetScan网站预测miR-18a-5p靶基因,并进行GO和KEGG分析。组织表达分析结果显示,miR-18a-5p序列在鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏和下丘脑中的表达量显著高于除大脑以外的其他组织(P<0.05)。与3日龄雏鸡相比,90日龄鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏、腿肌和下丘脑中miR-18a-5p的表达量均显著上升(P<0.05)。在50种脊椎动物中共发现52条miR-18a-5p序列,几乎所有物种都只有1条成熟序列;基因定位分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p位于1号染色体上的基因间隔区。多序列比对分析表明,不同物种miR-18a-5p的成熟序列同源性较高,物种间较为保守。系统进化树分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p与原鸽、斑胸草雀等其他鸟类聚为一类,这表明miR-18a-5p进化过程中是保守的。靶基因预测和功能分析发现,miR-18a-5p共有121个靶基因。GO分析结果显示,靶基因主要富集到蛋白质泛素化、细胞周期阻滞、白细胞介素-6产生的负调控等功能。KEGG 通路分析表明,靶基因主要富集到细胞周期及Wnt和FoxO信号通路等。多个与肌肉生长及细胞增殖等相关的基因富集到相关通路之上。综上,鸡miR-18a-5p是组织广泛表达的miRNA,其可能通过Wnt及FoxO信号通路调控肌肉生长及细胞增殖分化。本研究为miR-18a-5p功能及调控机制的深入研究提供参考依据。     

Effects of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways in lung tissues of rats with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-infected rat lung tissues and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats (n=40) were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group, model group, Jiedu-Qingfei group and positive control group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in experimental groups were slowly dripped with 1×10⁹ CFU/L MP solution into their nostrils for 4 d. One rat in each group was sacrificed for MP nucleic acid detection at the second day after inoculation, and the other rats were given gavage therapy. The rats in blank control group and model group were intragastrically given the same volume of normal saline, the rats in Jiedu-Qingfei group were given 8 mL/kg Jiedu-Qingfei mixture daily for 4 weeks, and the rats in psoitive control group were given dexmethasone sodium phosphate (0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1). After the experiment, the rats were killed. The serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected for detecting the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-13 and TNF-α by ELISA. The right lung tissues were used for pathological observation and HE staining, while the left lung tissues were used to detect the expression of NF-κB p50, I-κBα and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) at mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The results of MP nucleic acid detection showed that all the rats except blank control group were MP nucleic acid positive, indicating that the rat model of MP infection was successfully established. On the 1st day of the treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in model group and Jiedu-Qingfei group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in mo-del group were significantly higher than those in blank control group and Jiedu-Qingfei group. The levels of IL-12 in the serum and BALF in model group were significantly lower than those in blank control group after MP infection (P<0.05), while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-13 and TNF-α in the serum and BALF of MP-infected rats were increased significantly, while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly lower than those in model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in model group were increased significantly (P<0.01). After treatment, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK were decreased significantly compared with model group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in control group. After treatment, the mRNA expression of I-κBα in Jiedu-Qingfei group was significantly higher than that in model group (P<0.05). The protein levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in the lung tissues of model group were significantly higher than those of blank control group. After treatment, the protein expression of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK was decreased significantly. The protein level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in blank control group, and after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture, the protein expression level of I-κBα was increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Jiedu-Qingfei mixture may attenuate lung tissue inflammation caused by MP through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.     

β-carotene attenuates weaning-induced apoptosis via inhibition of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK signalling pathways in piglet jejunum

Weaning may cause oxidative injury, immune response impairment, apoptosis and other injuries in piglets. Oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can elicit inflammatory responses, and persistent oxidative and ERS also may lead to apoptotic cascades, which is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. β-carotene, a natural carotenoid, has potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the effect of β-carotene on apoptosis in weaned piglets and the detailed molecular mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we found that β-carotene decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in piglet serum. β-carotene could inhibit the mRNA levels of caspase-3 significantly, but had no significant inhibitory effect of the mRNA levels of caspase-9 and caspase-12 in the piglet jejunum. In addition, β-carotene decreased the activation of GRP78, CHOP, and JNK/p38 MAPK and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, β-carotene had a significant influence on the activation of ERS and apoptosis-related signals in TG-induced IPEC-J2. In the present study, β-carotene pre-treatment attenuated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and prevented TG-induced increases in the level of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway activation in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicate that β-carotene may protect weaning-induced apoptosis through inhibiting ERS.     

miR-106b-5p靶向KLF4调控山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化

旨在明确miR-106b-5p对山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化的影响，并确定这种作用是通过靶向KLF4来实现的。本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR （quantitative real-time PCR，qRT-PCR）技术检测miR-106b-5p在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达模式，通过脂质体转染技术将miR-106b-5p mimic和miR-106b-5p inhibitor转入体外培养的山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞，油红O染色法从形态学验证miR-106b-5p对脂肪细胞中脂滴积聚的影响，qRT-PCR检测预测的靶标基因KLF4和脂肪分化标志基因的表达情况，利用双荧光素酶报告系统鉴定miR-106b-5p与KLF4的靶标关系。qRT-PCR结果显示，miR-106b-5p在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞诱导分化第3天时表达量最高。在山羊肌内脂肪细胞中干扰miR-106b-5p后油红O染色显示脂滴聚积减少，过表达miR-106b-5p后脂滴聚积增加。在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞中转染miR-106b-5p inhibitor后PPARγ表达量显著降低（P<0.05），而KLF4表达量极显著升高（P<0.01）；转染miR-106b-5p mimic后LPL和PPARγ表达量极显著升高（P<0.01）。荧光素酶活性试验结果显示，过表达miR-106b-5p可显著抑制KLF4荧光活性。miR-106b-5p通过靶向并负调节KLF4的表达促进山羊肌内脂肪细胞分化。