Search

Early brain injury (EBI) is a major cause of mortality from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We aimed to study the pathophysiology of EBI and explore the role of hepcidin, a protein involved in iron homeostatic regulation, and its downstream proteins. One hundred and thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned into groups (n = 24/group): sham, SAH, SAH + hepcidin, SAH + hepcidin-targeting small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), and SAH + scramble siRNA. Three hepcidin-targeting siRNAs and one scramble siRNA for hepcidin were injected 24 h before hemorrhage induction, and hepcidin protein was injected 30 min before induction. The rats were neurologically evaluated at 24 h and euthanized at 72 h. Hepcidin, ferroportin-1, and ceruloplasmin protein expression were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Brain water content, blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage, non-heme tissue iron and Garcia scale were evaluated. Hepcidin expression increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus after experimental SAH (P

Soil structure and microbial communities are sensitive to forest disturbance. However, little is known about the long-term effects of forest thinning on water-stable aggregates (WSA), and the community composition and diversity of soil microorganisms. In this study, we investigated soil chemical properties, WSA, and communities of bacteria and fungi in conventionally managed Chinese fir plantation stands and repeatedly thinned plantation stands with medium and high tree densities 18 years after the thinning treatments. The distribution patterns of WSA fractions were similar in the three thinning treatments. The mass proportion was the highest in the macro-aggregates fraction, followed by the clay + silt fraction, and it was the lowest in the micro-aggregates fraction. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations in different WSA fractions decreased with decreasing aggregate size. The WSA fractions, stability, and aggregate-associated carbon were not significantly different among the three treatments 18 years after the thinning treatments. The total nitrogen concentration of the macro-aggregates fraction was significantly higher in the stands thinned intensively than in the conventionally managed stands. The abundance of minor bacteria and fungi species was different, although no significant differences were observed in the overall bacterial and fungal composition and diversity between the three treatments. Our results indicate that, compared with the conventionally managed stands, soil WSA stability and soil microbial communities in repeatedly thinned Chinese fir stands may recover over one rotation of Chinese fir plantation and that this is accompanied by the recovery of stand growth and soil nutrition.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most common highly malignant primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanism by bioinformatics method and detect potential function of UGP2 of GBM. Gene expression microarray data of GSE4412 and messenger RNA-sequencing data of GBM with samples clinical information were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas database, respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology based on R language. A total of 1000 common DEGs were identified in GBM samples, including 353 upregulated and 647 downregulated genes. Based on the random survival forest model, we identified UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2 (UGP2) (upregulated gene) had a significant effect on GBM prognosis. Functional enrichment showed that UGP2 was enriched in the biological progresses of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, UGP2 expression is aberrantly overexpressed in human glioma and positively correlated with pathologic grade. A loss-of-function study showed that knockdown of UGP2 decreases U251 cell growth, migration, and invasion in vivo and vitro. We proposed the development and progression of human glioma were associated with survival based on bioinformatics analysis. We also found that UGP2 might function as prognostic markers in the pathogenesis of GBM.

Malignant glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumors and is among the deadliest of human cancers. The molecular mechanism for human glioma is poorly understood. Early prognosis of this disease and early treatment are vital. Thus, it is crucial to target the key genes controlling pathogenesis in the early stage of glioma. In this study, differentially expressed genes in human glioma and paired peritumoral tissues were detected by transcriptome microarray analysis. Following gene microarray analysis, the gene expression profile in the differential grade glioma was further validated by bioinformatic analyses, co-expression network construction. Microarray analysis revealed that 1725 genes were differentially expressed and classified into different glioma stage. The analysis revealed 14 genes that were significantly associated with survival with a false discovery rate. Among these genes, macrophage capping protein (CAPG), a member of the actin-regulatory protein, was the key gene in a 20-gene network that modulates cell motility by interacting with the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, the prognostic impact of CAPG was validated by use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry on human glioma tissue. CAPG protein was significantly upregulated in clinical high-grade glioblastoma as compared with normal brain tissues. Overexpression of CAPG levels also predict shorter overall survival of glioma patients. These data demonstrated CAPG protein expression in human glioma was associated with tumorigenesis and may be a biomarker for identification of the pathological grade of glioma.

Malignant glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumors that develop via multiple pathways and gene deregulation. MicroRNAs are involved in human cancer development and progression, and their serum expression profiles of glioma patients may be useful for classifying cancers. However, the profile and molecular mechanism of serum microRNAs for human glioma are poorly understood. Thus, it is crucial to analyze microRNA expression in human glioma serum to identify molecular subclasses and early stage of glioma. In this study, we performed microRNA alteration that contributes to glioma profile via analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA sequencing data and other independent Gene Expression Omnibus microarray data. We identified the glioma-associated novel microRNA as a key regulator of human glioma development and progression. The putative novel miR-1825 was validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and its expression was significantly decreased in the serum of glioma patients compared with healthy controls. Patients with high miR-1825 expression had a longer survival rate. Interestingly, we found that miR-1825 expression levels were dependent on tumor size and pathological grading in glioma patients, but not associated with other factors including age and T classification. MicroRNA–Gene Ontology network indicated that miR-1825 may play an important role in the development of human glioma including apoptosis, cell proliferation, and invasion. In vitro assays of miR-1825 inhibit U87 cell proliferation and invasion and induce apoptosis. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the tumor-suppressive microRNA miR-1825 controls KLF2 expression. Reporter gene analyses revealed that both microRNAs directly targeted the 3′-untranslated region of KLF2 messenger RNA. These data demonstrated that miR-1825 expression in serum of human glioma was associated with tumorigenesis and miR-1825 may be used as a biomarker for identification of the pathological grade of glioma.