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Objective: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in improving ischemic stroke., Methods: The Wistar rat model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was prepared by the thread embolism method. The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group. EA was given at bilateral "Hegu" (LI 4) in rats of the EA group. Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was detected with hybridization in situ, and expressions of the angiogenin-1 (Ang-1) and endostatin proteins were detected with the immunohistochemical method., Results: As compared with the normal group, the expressions of VEGF mRNA, Ang-1 protein and endostatin protein significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.05); and when compared with the model group, the EA group showed even more significant increase in expressions of the VEGF mRNA and Ang-1 protein (both P < 0.05), but with an obvious decline in the increase of expression of endostatin protein (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: EA can promote angiogenesis in brain of experimental cerebral ischemic rats after reperfusion probably through up-regulating the expression of angiogenesis factors and down-regulating the expression of anti-angiogenesis factors.

A pig skeletal muscle expressed sequence tag (EST, accession number BM083186) was found to encode amino acid sequences with high homology to human TNNC2. In silico cloning obtained a 843 bp sequence which we named pig fast skeletal troponin C gene (TNNC2). The open reading frame of TNNC2 was between nucleotides 201 - 683, and was confirmed by RT-PCR. The gene encoded a 160 amino acid residue protein and had the highest similarity with human and mouse homologues, with percent identities being 93.6%, 90.5%, respectively. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of mRNA from different normal tissues indicted that the TNNC2 gene was expressed in the skeletal muscle and the levels of expression were higher in the longissimus dorsi of the Duroc pig than in the same tissue of the Lantang pig.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a persistent disease of the lung interstitium for which there is no efficacious pharmacological therapy. Protodioscin, a steroidal saponin, possesses diverse pharmacological properties; however, its function in pulmonary fibrosis is yet to be established. Hence, in this investigation, it was attempted to figure out the anti-pulmonary fibrosis influences of protodioscin and its pharmacological properties related to oxidative stress. Methods: A mouse lung fibrosis model was generated using tracheal injections of bleomycin, followed by intraperitoneal injection of different concentrations of protodioscin, and the levels of oxidative stress and fibrosis were detected in the lungs. Multiple fibroblasts were treated with TGF-β to induce their transition to myofibroblasts. It was attempted to quantify myofibroblast markers' expression levels and reactive oxygen species levels as well as Nrf2 activation after co-incubation of TGF-β with fibroblasts and different concentrations of protodioscin. The influence of protodioscin on the expression and phosphorylation of p62, which is associated with Nrf2 activation, were detected, and p62 related genes were predicted by STRING database. The effects of Nrf2 inhibitor or silencing of the Nrf2, p62 and NBR1 genes, respectively, on the activation of Nrf2 by protodioscin were examined. The associations between p62, NBR1, and Keap1 in the activation of Nrf2 by protodioscin was demonstrated using a co-IP assay. Nrf2 inhibitor were used when protodioscin was treated in mice with pulmonary fibrosis and lung tissue fibrosis and oxidative stress levels were detected. Results: In vivo, protodioscin decreased the levels of fibrosis markers and oxidative stress markers and activated Nrf2 in mice with pulmonary fibrosis, and these effects were inhibited by Nrf2 inhibitor. In vitro, protodioscin decreased the levels of myofibroblast markers and oxidative stress markers during myofibroblast transition and promoted Nrf2 downstream gene expression, with reversal of these effects after Nrf2, p62 and NBR1 genes were silenced or Nrf2 inhibitors were used, respectively. Protodioscin promoted the binding of NBR1 to p62 and Keap1, thereby reducing Keap1-Nrf2 binding. Conclusion: The NBR1-p62-Nrf2 axis is targeted by protodioscin to reduce oxidative stress and inhibit pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis is a common and complex syndrome characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Chinese medicine has been recently found to show good efficacy in treating endometriosis. Our previous results revealed that Maqian fruit essential oil (MQEO) could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs), but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of MQEO's specific effects in EESCs. Methods: We conducted a quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ on EESCs treated with MQEO or DMSO. Then deep analysis was performed based on differentially expressed proteins, including Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and protein interaction analysis. Candidate protein targets were subsequently verified by western blotting. Results: Among 6575 identified proteins, 435 proteins exhibited altered expression levels in MQEO-treated EESCs. Of these proteins, most were distributed in signal transduction as well as immune system and the most significantly altered pathway was complement and coagulation cascades. Moreover, two differentially expressed proteins (Heme oxygenase 1 and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase) were verified and they can be potential biomarkers for endometriosis treatment. Conclusions: Our proteomic analysis revealed distinct protein expression patterns induced by MQEO treatment in EESCs, highlighting the potential of MQEO for endometriosis treatment and biomarker discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are a widely distributed group of small oxidoreductases that play an important role in responding to oxidative stress and maintaining redox homeostasis in living organisms. However, there has been no report on the GRX gene family in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of the CsGRX gene family in tea plants and identified a total of 86 CsGRX genes. Based on phylogenetic and conserved active site analyses, these genes were classified into four categories: CC-type, CPYC-type, CGFS-type, and GRL-type. These subtypes showed distinct characteristics in terms of gene structure, conserved motif, chromosome distribution, subcellular localization, cis-regulatory elements, and expression pattern, indicating functional differences among CsGRX family members. Collinearity analysis showed that the CsGRX family may have undergone member expansion using tandem and segmental duplication along with overwhelmingly strict purifying selection. Protein tertiary structure analysis supported the conserved site-specific binding of CsGRX family members to glutathione. Protein interaction network analysis revealed that CsGRX may interact with glutathione reductase (GR), 2-Cys Peroxiredoxin BAS1, TGA3, and others to participate in the oxidative stress response in tea plants. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses also supported the important role of the CsGRX family in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis. Expression analysis based on RNA-seq revealed differential expression patterns of CsGRX genes under drought, cold stress, and in different tissues, which were further confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis, indicating their broad-spectrum functionality. This study provides a new perspective for further exploring the evolution and molecular functions of specific CsGRX genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages globally. The leaves of the tea plants serve as the raw materials for tea production, making tea tree cultivation widespread as an economically significant tree species. Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) is a key regulator of the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway, playing a significant role in the plant's response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the NPR1-like gene family in tea plants remains elusive. This study aims to systematically analyze the NPR1-like gene family in tea plants. Four CsNPR1-like genes were identified and categorized into three branches based on phylogenetic analysis. Collinearity analysis demonstrated conservation of the NPR1-like gene across different species. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested that CsNPR1-like genes may be involved in various hormonal and stress responses. Protein structure analysis revealed that the CsNPR1-likes exhibited typical ANK and BTB/POZ structural domains. The protein interaction network identified various known and novel NPR1-interacting proteins, including the TGA transcription factor, which was further confirmed in planta. Meta-analysis of transcriptome data indicated that CsNPR1-like genes had spatiotemporal expression patterns and were induced by drought and cold stresses. Additionally, CsNPR1a activates the accumulation of the acidic SA-dependent pathogenic-associated protein PR1 but not the basic chitinase (PR3) in a transient expression assay. This study provides comprehensive information for investigating the NPR1-like gene family in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a grave hazard to human health. Circular RNA (circRNAs) and micro RNA (miRNAs), which are competitive endogenous RNA, have been shown to play a critical role inHCM pathogenicity. However, to a great extent, the biological activities of ceRNA in HCM pathophysiology and prognosis remain to be investigated. Materials and methods: By analyzing the expression files in the Gene Expression Comprehensive (GEO) database, differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in HCM were identified, and the target molecules of circRNAs and miRNAs were predicted. The intersection of the differentially expressed RNA molecules and the expected target was then calculated, and a ceRNA network was subsequently constructed using RNA molecules. Using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, the potential etiology was elucidated. qPCR was used to validate a portion of the hub gene using Angiotensin II to generate a cell hypertrophy model. Results: Three large-scale HCM sample datasets were extracted from the GEO database. After crossing these molecules with their expected targets, the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network had two DEcircRNAs, two DEmiRNAs, and thirty DEmRNAs, compared to normal tissues. Functional enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG demonstrated that many of the HCM pathways and mechanisms were associated with calcium channel release, which is also the primary focus of future research. The qPCR results revealed that circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression levels were different. They may include novel noninvasive indicators for the early screening and prognostic prediction of HCM. Conclusion: In this study, we hypothesized a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulation network that is closely related to the progression and clinical outcomes of HCM and may contain promising biomarkers and treatment targets for HCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Icaritin (ICT) is the main component in the traditional Chinese herb Epimedium, and it has been shown to have anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) effects, but its neuroprotective effects and the pharmacological mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were randomly divided into a model group and an ICT-treated group. Learning and memory abilities were detected by the Morris water maze assay, and the expression of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and β-site APP cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1) was determined by Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Histological changes in CA1 and CA3 were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E staining), and the immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect the expression and localization of Bax and Bcl-2. The results showed that compared with the SAMP8 mice, the ICT-treated SAMP8 mice showed improvements in spatial learning and memory retention. In addition, the number of necrotic cells and the morphological changes in CA1 and CA3 areas were significantly alleviated in the group of ICT-treated SAMP8 mice, and the expression of BACE1, Aβ1-42 levels, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the hippocampus was obviously decreased in the ICT-treated group compared with the control group. The results demonstrated that ICT reduced BACE-1 levels, the contents of Aβ1-42, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, suggesting that ICT might have potential therapeutic benefits by delaying or modifying the progression of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of probucol in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy. C57BL/6 mice were rendered diabetic through Streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection. Mice were treated with probucol (150 mg/kg, gavage administration) or vehicle (DMSO) for 12 weeks. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photography (FP), and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were conducted to evaluate retinal structure and damage. Eyes were collected for histology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, apoptotic cells count, and western blot. After STZ injection, all mice developed hyperglycemia. Compared with the retina of the control group, the retina of diabetic mice showed enhanced arterial reflex and beaded vein dilatation. Besides, reduced inner and middle retinal thickness and significantly fewer nuclei were found in diabetic retina. Moreover, the diabetic retina also presented increased ROS generation and more TUNEL-positive cells. Probucol treatment prevented diabetes-induced lesions. In addition, the treatment also upregulated Nrf2 expression in diabetic retina. It was suggested that probucol attenuated diabetes-induced retinal neuronal degeneration via upregulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway possibly. Probucol may be repurposed for DR management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is still a major problem in obstetrics and gynecology. While GZFLW (Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan) has been originally used for treating gynecological diseases, however, the molecular mechanism that GZFLW acts on endometriosis is not clear. To investigate the molecular mechanism that GZFLW plays role on endometriosis, iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) proteomics and human endometrial stromal cells (Y14) obtained from a patient with endometriosis were used in in vitro study. Our results demonstrated that GZFLW decreased Y14 cells proliferation while increased cells apoptosis. The differential expression protein VPS53 (Vacuolar protein sorting 53 homolog) was predicted by iTRAQ coupled LC-MS/MS and further identified by western blot. Besides, GZFLW induced VPS53 protein level by promoting its stabilization. Our findings highlight a novel role for VPS53 in gynecology and provide a potent therapeutic strategy against endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is among the most common malignancies with a poor 5-year survival rate reaching only 16%. Thus, new effective treatment modalities and drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of this malignancy. In this study, we conducted the first investigation of the effects of Biochanin A on lung cancer and revealed the mechanisms underlying its potential anticancer effects. Biochanin A decreased cell viability in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner and suppressed colony formation in A549 and 95D cells. In addition, Biochanin A induced S phase arrest and apoptosis and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in A549 and 95D cells in a dose-dependent manner. Our results of subcutaneous xenograft models showed that the growth of Biochanin A group was significantly inhibited compared with that of control groups. Finally, P21, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2 were activated in Biochanin A-treated cells and Biochanin A-treated xenografts which also demonstrated that Biochanin A induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells by regulating expression of cell cycle-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins. In conclusion, this study suggests that Biochanin A inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis mainly by regulating cell cycle-related protein expression and activating the Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 pathways, thus suggesting that Biochanin A may be a promising drug to treat lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a complex and heterogeneous pre-malignant inflammatory disease harboring multiple gene mutations. Previous studies have suggested that caspase recruitment domain family member (CARD)10 and CARD11 mutations may exist in endometriosis. In the present study, a collection of endometriotic lesions and paired peripheral blood from 101 patients with ovarian endometriosis were obtained, and the entire coding sequences of the CARD10 and CARD11 genes were sequenced. Evolutionary conservation analysis and online prediction programs were applied to analyze the disease-causing potential of the identified mutations. A total of 4 novel somatic mutations were identified in 4 out of the 101 (4.0%) samples: 2 in-frame deletions in CARD10 (c.785_790delAGGAGA, p.K272_E273delKE; c.785_802delAGGAGAAGGAGAAGGAGA, p.K272_V277delKEPDNV) and 2 heterozygous missense mutations in CARD11 (c.49G>T, p.D17Y; c.160G>C, p.E54Q). The sample with CARD10 p.K272_E273delKE deletion was obtained from a 47-year-old patient who was also diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma, while the CARD10 p.K272_V277delKEPDNV-mutated sample was from a 43-year-old patient exhibiting a decreased blood eosinophil granulocyte ratio (0.3%) and an elevated serum creatine kinase level (314 U/l). The patient with the CARD11 p.D17Y mutation was 38 years old and exhibited an increased level of cancer antigen 125 (45.4 U/ml), while the patient with the CARD11 p.E54Q mutation was 46 years old and exhibited no other gynecological conditions. Evolutionary conservation analysis and online prediction programs suggested that these mutations may be disease-causing. In summary, 4 novel somatic mutations in the CARD10 and CARD11 genes were identified from amongst 101 cases of ovarian endometriosis for the first time, these mutations may serve active roles in the development of ovarian endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a cause of disability. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in traumatic SCI. Transcriptome data under accession no. GSE5296, including 96 chips, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The raw data were normalized and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of up‑ and downregulated DEGs was performed. Additionally, a protein‑protein interaction network was constructed and the expression patterns of different genes were determined. Compared with sham samples, there were 374, 707, 1,322, 1,475, 1,724 and 1,342 DEGs identified at 0.5, 4, 24 and 72 h, and 7 and 28 days post‑injury, respectively. At 24 and 72 h, and 7 days following injury, the upregulated DEGs were markedly enriched in ‘inflammatory response’ and ‘immune process’. Downregulated DEGs were predominantly enriched in neuronal function‑associated pathways and ‘steroid biosynthesis’ process. Protein‑protein interaction network analysis demonstrated similar results. Trend charts further demonstrated that the inflammatory and neuronal functions were altered in a temporal and site‑specific manner. The present study provided an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying traumatic SCI, which may benefit future SCI research and aid in therapy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is still a major public health issue worldwide, and new therapeutics with anti-tumor activity are still urgently needed. Methods: The anti-tumor activity of TH-39, which shows potent anti-proliferative activity against K562 cells with an IC50 of 0.78 μM, was investigated using immunoblot, co-immunoprecipitation, the MTT assay, and flow cytometry. Results: Mechanistically, TH-39 may disrupt the interaction between Hec1 and Nek2 in K562 cells. Moreover, TH-39 inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration- and timedependent manner by influencing the morphology of K562 cells and inducing G0/G1 phase arrest. G0/G1 phase arrest was associated with down-regulation of CDK2-cyclin E complex and CDK4/6-cyclin D complex activities. Furthermore, TH-39 also induced cell apoptosis, which was associated with activation of caspase-3, down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and upregulation of Bax. TH-39 could also decrease mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in K562 cells. The results indicated that TH-39 might induce apoptosis via the ROS-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential therapeutic efficacy of the anti-cancer compound TH-39 in treatment-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is a pattern recognition receptor and plays key roles in inflammatory responses against pathogen infection. Recent evidence suggests that TLR5 is expressed in a wide variety of tumors and exhibits either pro-tumor or anti-tumor activities. In this study, we explored expression of TLR5 in the context of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and evaluated the effects of TLR5 signaling in NSCLC cells. Methods: The lung carcinoma samples were collected from 113 patients diagnosed as NSCLC at Tumor Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine from January 2005 to December 2008. Immunohistochemistry was performed for TLR5 and the protein expression score was quantified using an established scoring system. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in all patients. TLR5 expression levels were correlated with DFS and OS using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Expression and subcellular localization of TLR5 were analyzed in NSCLC cell lines including SPC-A1, A549, H1975, and H1299 cells. Activation of TLR5 signaling pathway by flagellin was characterized by western blotting. Effects of flagellin on NSCLC cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion were analyzed by BrdU incorporation assay, soft agar colony formation assay, wound-healing migration assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. Results: High expression of TLR5 was significantly associated with better prognosis in patients with NSCLC. We further demonstrated that activation of TLR5 by flagellin in NSCLC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Conclusion: TLR5 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MiRNA primarily acts to repress gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through imperfect complementarity of its 5′ region to the “seed site” in the 3′ untranslated region of target mRNAs, with its “3′–supplementary site” and “center site” also playing important roles under certain circumstances. The aim of this study was to test if artificial miRNA mimics (miR-Mimics) that are designed to target the “centered sites” without “seed sites” complementarity are able to repress gene expression as natural miRNAs. Methods: We designed miR-Mimics carrying centered-site matches (CS–miR-Mimics) or seed-site matches (SS–miR-Mimics) and siRNA to two antiapoptotic genes BCL2 and AKT1. We tested the gene targeting of these constructs using real-time RT-PCR and Western blot to quantify mRNA and protein levels of BCL2 and AKT1, respectively, luciferase reporter gene assay to investigate the interaction between miR-Mimics and their target sites, and cell survival assay to study the functional outcomes of the miR-Mimics. Results: We found that CS-miR-Mimic, SS-miR-Mimic and siRNA, all down regulated the mRNA and protein levels of their cognate target BCL2 or AKT1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Luciferase reporter gene assay further confirmed the functional interactions of CS–miR-Mimic, SS-miR-Mimic and siRNA with their target sites. We then observed that the miR-Mimics and siRNAs were all able to induce cell death, as indicated by the reduced survival rate of cells. Conclusions: We have provided evidence for the feasibility of CS–miR-Mimics for post-transcriptional repression of genes, which can be designed to have reduced numbers of seed type off-target sites compared to the number of target sites from an average endogenous seed–site miRNA. CS–miR-Mimics may be a novel approach for miRNA research requiring miRNA gain-of-function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) proteins belong to the subfamily of basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors and play important roles in chloroplast development and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Currently, knowledge about the PIF gene family in Camellia sinensis remains very limited. In this study, seven PIF members were identified in the C. sinensis genome and named based on homology with AtPIF genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. All C. sinensis PIF (CsPIF) proteins have both the conserved active PHYB binding (APB) and bHLH domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CsPIFs were clustered into four groups—PIF1, PIF3, PIF7, and PIF8—and most CsPIFs were clustered in pairs with their corresponding orthologs in Populus tremula. CsPIF members in the same group tended to display uniform or similar exon–intron distribution patterns and motif compositions. CsPIF genes were differentially expressed in C. sinensis with various leaf colors and strongly correlated with the expression of genes involved in the chlorophyll metabolism pathway. Promoter analysis of structural genes related to chlorophyll metabolism found DNA-binding sites of PIFs were abundant in the promoter regions. Protein–protein interaction networks of CsPIFs demonstrated a close association with phytochrome, PIF4, HY5, TOC1, COP1, and PTAC12 proteins. Additionally, subcellular localization and transcriptional activity analysis suggested that CsPIF3b was nuclear localized protein and possessed transcriptional activity. We also found that CsPIF3b could activate the transcription of CsHEMA and CsPOR in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. This work provides comprehensive research of CsPIFs and would be helpful to further promote the regulation mechanism of PIF on chlorophyll metabolism in C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A myriad of stimuli including proinflammatory cytokines, viruses, and chemical and mechanical insults activate a kinase complex composed of IκB kinase β (IKK-β), IKK-α, and IKK-γ/N, leading to changes in NF-κB-dependent gene expression. However, it is not clear how the NF-κB response is tailored to specific cellular insults. Signaling molecule that interacts with mouse pelle-like kinase (SIMPL) is a signaling component required for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-dependent but not interleukin-1-dependent NF-βB activation. Herein we demonstrate that nuclear localization of SIMPL is required for type I TNF receptor-induced NF-κB activity. SIMPL interacts with nuclear p65 in a TNF-α-dependent manner to promote endogenous NF-αB-dependent gene expression. The interaction between SIMPL and p65 enhances p65 transactivation activity. These data support a model in which TNF-α activation of NF-κB dependent-gene expression requires nuclear relocalization of p65 as well as nuclear relocalization of SIMPL, generating a TNF-α-specific induction of gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most monoclonal antibodies against mouse antigens have been derived from rat spleen-mouse myeloma fusions, which are valuable tools for purposes ranging from general laboratory reagents to therapeutic drugs, and yet selecting and expressing them remains a time-consuming and inefficient process. Here, we report a novel approach for the rapid high-throughput selection and expression of recombinant functional rat monoclonal antibodies with different isotypes. Results: We have developed a robust system for generating rat monoclonal antibodies through several processes involving simultaneously immunizing rats with three different antigens expressing in a mixed cell pools, preparing hybridoma cell pools, in vitro screening and subsequent cloning of the rearranged light and heavy chains into a single expression plasmid using a highly efficient assembly method, which can decrease the time and effort required by multiple immunizations and fusions, traditional clonal selection and expression methods. Using this system, we successfully selected several rat monoclonal antibodies with different IgG isotypes specifically targeting the mouse PD-1, LAG-3 or AFP protein from a single fusion. We applied these recombinant anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (32D6) in immunotherapy for therapeutic purposes that produced the expected results. Conclusions: This method can be used to facilitate an increased throughput of the entire process from multiplex immunization to acquisition of functional rat monoclonal antibodies and facilitate their expression and feasibility using a single plasmid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims To investigate the effect of zebularine, a stable inhibitor of DNA methylation, on hepatic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) under liver-specific factors induction in vitro. Main methods BM-MSCs were isolated from the mononuclear cell fraction of rabbit bone marrow samples. The identification of these cells was carried out by immunophenotype analysis. The three hepatic differentiation protocols of BM-MSCs were as follows: liver-specific factors (hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor) without zebularine, liver-specific factors combined with a 24 h zebularine pre-treatment, and liver-specific factors combined with continuous zebularine treatment. BM-MSCs cultured in basic medium without the differentiation stimuli were set as the control. Morphological features, liver-specific gene and protein expression, and functional analyses were assessed to evaluate hepatic differentiation of BM-MSCs. Global DNA methylation status was tested for investigating the underlying mechanism. Key findings Flow cytometry immunophenotyping proved the isolated cells with plastic adherence and a spindle shape were CD29, CD90 positive and CD34, CD45 negative. Albumin (ALB) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA and protein expression, glycogen storage and urea production were significantly higher in the continuous zebularine-treated group than the other groups while the differences between the zebularine-untreated group and 24 h zebularine pre-treated group were not significant. Meanwhile, significant decrease of global DNA methylation was observed in the continuous zebularine-treated group. Significance We conclude that continuous zebularine treatment can improve hepatic differentiation of BM-MSCs under liver-specific factors induction in vitro, and the decrease of global DNA methylation maybe involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxocariasis is an important, neglected zoonosis caused mainly by Toxocara canis . Although our knowledge of helminth molecular biology is improving through completed draft genome projects, there is limited detailed information on the molecular biology of Toxocara species. Here, transcriptomic sequencing of male and female adult T. canis and comparative analyses were conducted. For each sex, two-thirds (66–67%) of quality-filtered reads mapped to the gene set of T. canis , and at least five reads mapped to each of 16,196 (87.1%) of all 18,596 genes, and 321 genes were specifically transcribed in female and 1467 in male T. canis . Genes differentially transcribed between the two sexes were identified, enriched biological processes and pathways linked to these genes established, and molecules associated with reproduction and development predicted. In addition, small RNA pathways involved in reproduction were characterized, but there was no evidence for piwi RNA pathways in adult T. canis . The results of this transcriptomic study should provide a useful basis to support investigations of the reproductive biology of T. canis and related nematodes. 2 2 Note: Transcriptomic data can be accessed in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/geo ) under accession no. GSE75536. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α) plays a crucial role in regulating the mobilization, migration and homing of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs). Electroacupuncture(EA), a modern version of Traditional Chinese Medicine, can improve neurological recovery and angiogenesis in cerebral ischemic area. This study aimed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on the mobilization and migration of bone marrow EPCs and neurological functional recovery in rats model after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and the potentially involved mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats received filament occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 12 h, 1d, 2d, 3d, 7d respectively. Rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group and EA group. After 2 h of the reperfusion, EA was given at the “Baihui” (GV 20)/Siguan (“Hegu” (LI 4)/“Taichong” (LR 3)) acupoints in the EA group. Modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was used to assess the neurological functional recovery. EPCs number and SDF-1α level in bone marrow(BM) and peripheral blood(PB) were detected by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) respectively. An mNSS test showed that EA treatment significantly improved the neurological functional outcome. EPCs number in PB and BM were obviously increased in the EA group. After cerebral ischemia, the SDF-1α level was decreased in BM while it was increased in PB, which implied a gradient of SDF-1α among BM and PB after ischemia. It suggested that the forming of SDF-1α concentration gradient can induce the mobilization and homing of EPCs. Eletroacupuncture as a treatment can accelerate and increase the forming of SDF-1α concentration gradient to further induce the mobilization of EPCs and angiogenesis in ischemic brain and improve the neurological function recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulated glycolysis has been noted in several pathological processes characterized by supporting cell proliferation. Nonetheless, the role of glycolysis reprogramming is not well appreciated in cardiac fibrosis which is accompanied by increased fibroblasts proliferation. In this study, we investigated the cause and consequence of glycolysis reprogramming in cardiac fibrosis, using clinical samples, animal models, and cultured cells. Herein, we report that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) facilitates glycolysis and cardiac fibroblasts proliferation, leading to cardiac fibrosis. The augmentation of glycolysis, an essential event during cardiac fibroblasts proliferation, is dependent on an increased expression of METTL3. A knockdown of METTL3 suppressed glycolysis, and inhibited cardiac fibroblast proliferation and cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, METTL3 epigenetically repressed androgen receptor (AR) expression in an m6A-YTHDF2- dependent manner, by targeting the specific AR m6A site. AR could interact with the glycolysis marker HIF-1α, and down-regulation of AR activates HIF-1α signaling, resulting in enhanced glycolysis and cardiac fibroblast proliferation. In contrast, the overexpression of AR significantly reduced the HIF-1α axis, decreased expression of glycolytic enzymes HK3, inhibited glycolysis, and repressed cardiac fibroblasts proliferation. Notably, increased METTL3 and YTHDF2 levels, decreased AR expression, increased HIF-1α and Postn expression and augmented glycolysis, and increased cardiac fibrosis were detected in human atrial fibrillation heart tissues. Our results found a novel mechanism by which METTL3-catalyzed m6A modification in cardiac fibrosis, wherein it facilitated glycolysis and cardiac fibroblasts proliferation by increasing AR methylation in an m6A-YTHDF2- dependent manner and provided new insights strategies to intervene cardiac fibrosis. [Display omitted] • Augmentation of glycolysis phenotype in cardiac fibrosis, but not oxidative phosphorylation. • AR played a crucial role in cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and glycolysis. • METTL3-enhanced m6A of AR mRNA and subsequent binding of YTHDF2 suppresses AR expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial metabolism plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes and fibrosis. However, the mechanism underlying mitochondrial metabolic function and liver fibrosis remains poorly understood. In this study, we determined whether mitochondrial metabolism mediates liver fibrosis using cells, animal models, and clinical samples to elucidate the potential effects and underlying mechanism of mitochondrial metabolism in liver fibrosis. We report that AlkB Homolog 5 (ALKBH5) decreases mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR), suppresses mitochondrial fission and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and migration and ameliorates liver fibrosis. Enhancement of mitochondrial fission, an essential event during HSC proliferation and migration, is dependent on decreased ALKBH5 expression. Furthermore, we reveal that low ALKBH5 expression is associated with elevated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA levels. Mechanistically, ALKBH5 mediates m6A demethylation in the 3'UTR of Drp1 mRNA and induces its translation in a YTH domain family proteins 1 (YTHDF1)-independent manner. Subsequently, in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced HSC, Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) mediates mitochondrial fission and increases cell proliferation and migration. Decreased Drp1 expression inhibits mitochondrial fission and suppresses HSC proliferation and migration. Notably, human fibrotic liver and heart tissue exhibited enhanced mitochondrial fission; increased YTHDF1, Drp1, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I expression; decreased ALKBH5 expression and increased liver fibrosis. Our results highlight a novel mechanism by which ALKBH5 suppresses mitochondrial fission and HSC proliferation and migration by reducing Drp1 methylation in an m6A-YTHDF1-dependent manner, which may indicate a demethylation-based approach for liver fibrosis diagnosis and therapy. [Display omitted] • Crucial roles of Drp1 in TGF-β1 induced HSC proliferation and migration and mitochondrial fission. • ALKBH5 mediated m6A demethylation in the 3'UTR of Drp1 mRNA and induced its translation. • ALKBH5 loss upregulated Drp1 levels in an m6A-YTHDF1-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have generated a quantitative transcription profile of human bocavirus type 1 (HBoV1) by transfecting a nearly full-length clone in human lung epithelial A549 cells as well as in a replication competent system in 293 cells. The overall transcription profile of HBoV1 is similar to that of two other members of genus Bocavirus, minute virus of canines and bovine parvovirus 1. In particular, a spliced NS1-transcript that was not recognized previously expressed the large non-structural protein NS1 at approximately 100kDa; and the NP1-encoding transcripts were expressed abundantly. In addition, the protein expression profile of human bocavirus type 2 (HBoV2) was examined in parallel by transfection of a nearly full-length clone in A549 cells, which is similar to that of HBoV1. Moreover, our results showed that, unlike human parvovirus B19 infection, expression of the HBoV1 proteins only does not induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of A549 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]