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Background: Ki67 has been a key role for the treatment options and prognosis evaluation in some kinds of tumors; however, the spatial expression of Ki67 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been fully-evaluated. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to elucidate the prognosis value of Ki67 spatial expression including in different cell types and at different compartments of tumor in OSCC patients. Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of Ki67 in tumor cells (TCs) and fibroblast like cells (FLCs) at center of tumor (CT) and invasive front (IF) was evaluated in 109 OSCC patients. Then correlations of Ki67 expressions with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by Chi-square test, and survival curves were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier methods. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to assess the diagnostic values of Ki67 expression by the Cox regression model. Results: Ki67 expression in TCs was much higher than in FLCs both at CT and IF compartments, but Ki67 expression in TCs was simultaneously higher at CT than that at IF (P=0.0004), which was converse to Ki67 expression in FLCs (P<0.0001). Additionally, high Ki67 expression in FLCs at IF was significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation (P=0.003), worse depth of invasion (DOI, P=0.027) and worst pattern of invasion (WPOI, P=0.041), but Ki67 expression in TCs had no correlation with clinical parameters no matter at CT or IF. Moreover, patients with higher Ki67 expression in TCs at CT had significantly increased risk for OS (overall survival; HR:1.935, 95% CI: 1.181-4.823, P=0.0395) and DFS (disease-free survival; HR: 2.974, 95% CI:1.189-5.023, P=0.046). On contrary, higher Ki67 expression in FLCs at IF was correlated with better OS (HR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.018-0.846, P=0.0396) and DFS (HR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.018-0.947, P=0.0445). Whereas, Ki67 expression both at TCs in IF and at FLCs in CT had no significant prognostic value for OS and DFS. Furthermore, Cox multivariate analysis revealed that Ki67 expression in FLCs at IF could not be an independent prognostic factor for OSCC patients. Conclusion: These results show that higher Ki67 expression in FLCs at IF indicated better clinical outcomes for OSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This experiment was conducted to study the histological characteristics, age-related thickness changes, and expression of HSPs in the skin of yak. Methods: A total of 20 yaks (10 males and 10 females) were used. Different regions of the normal skin of three different ages (newborn, half-year-old and adult) of yaks were harvested for histological study and thickness measurement. Biopsy samples were taken from the scapula regions of the skin from the same five approximately 1-year-old yaks during the hair cycle (telogen, anagen and catagen). RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry methods using the mRNA and protein levels were used to detect the expression of HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90. RT-PCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression of CGI-58 and KDF1. The IPP6.0 software was used to analyze the immunohistochemistry and measure the thickness of the skin. Results: The general histological structure of hairy yak skin was similar to other domestic mammals. The unique features included prominent cutaneous vascular plexuses, underdeveloped sweat glands, a large number of nasolabial glands in the nasolabial plate, and hair follicle groups composed of one primary follicle and several secondary follicles. The skin, epidermis and dermis thickness did vary significantly between different body regions and different ages. The thickness of the skin, epidermis and dermis increased from newborn to adult in yaks. Yak skin thickness decreased from dorsally to ventrally on the trunk. The skin on the lateral surface was thicker than the skin on the medial surface on the limbs. HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90 showed different expression patterns during the hair cycle using RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry methods. The expression of HSP27 mRNA and protein in the anagen stage was the highest, followed by the catagen stage, and the expression in the telogen stage was the lowest. The expression of HSP70 mRNA and protein in the telogen stage was the highest, followed by the anagen stage, and the expression in the catagen stage was the lowest. The expression of HSP90 mRNA and protein in the anagen stage was the highest, followed by the telogen stage, and the expression in the catagen stage was the lowest. HSPs were mainly expressed in the outer root sheath of hair follicle during the hair cycle, also expressed in epidermis, sebaceous gland and sweat gland in the skin of Yak. The expression of CGI-58 mRNA in the anagen stage was the highest, followed by the catagen stage, and the expression in the telogen stage was the lowest. The expression of KDF1 mRNA in the telogen stage was the highest, followed by the catagen stage, and the expression in the anagen stage was the lowest. Meaning: In this study, we examined and fully described the histology of normal skin in Yak and measured the skin thickness of different ages and different regions in Yak. These data may be useful to better understand and appreciate the adaptability features of yak skin. Our investigation reports the expression patterns of HSPs in yak skin for the first time. The different expression pattern of HSPs during the hair cycle suggests they may play different roles in yak hair follicle biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remorin genes encode plant-specific and plasma-membrane-associated proteins that play important roles in several plant physiological processes and adaptations to environmental adaptations. However, little is known regarding the remorin gene family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a traditional drought-resistant crop that grows in China. In this study, 21 remorin genes in the foxtail millet genome were identified, renamed according to their chromosomal distribution, and classified into four main groups based on their phylogenetic relationships and structural features. Additionally, we found that SiREM gene family expansion was primarily because of whole- genome duplication and segmental duplication events. Evolutionary changes in the remorin family in Poaceae crops were clarified via synteny analyses. Gene expression analyses through RT-PCR and qRT-PCR indicated that SiREM genes influenced millet growth and development, particularly SiREM1, 4, 11, and 12. Concurrently, SiREM genes expression showed inconsistent response to phytohormone treatments and abiotic stresses, suggesting that they are regulated by different signaling pathways. This systematic reanalysis remorin gene family in the foxtail millet provides fundamental information about the biological functions associated with growth, development, and stress tolerance and evolutionary characteristics, thus helping in elucidating the molecular mechanism and improving the agricultural traits of this crop in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Neurotrophin receptor‐interacting MAGE homologue (NRAGE) plays a crucial role in the regulation of bone metabolism. The present study investigated the regulation role of NRAGE on autophagy activation and periodontitis process during experimental periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Six‐week‐old wild‐type (WT) and NRAGE−/− mice were randomly divided into three time points in the periodontitis groups (0, 2, and 4 weeks). Histopathological changes were determined using the tooth mobility, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). Osteoclasts activation and number were investigated using tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, immunohistochemistry, and real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐PCR). The level of autophagy‐related gene expression was measured using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and RT‐PCR. Results: H&E staining and Micro‐CT showed that the destruction of the alveolar bone was considerably more severe in the NRAGE−/− group than the WT group after ligation. Tooth mobility in the NRAGE−/− group was obviously higher than that in the WT group. The activation and number of osteoclasts and the level of autophagy‐related gene expression in NRAGE−/− group were significantly higher than that in WT group. Conclusions: The present study showed that knockout of NRAGE induced autophagy‐related gene expression and accelerated the process of periodontitis disease via increasing the activity and differentiation of osteoclast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An N-acyl homoserine lactonase gene aiiA, transcribed by a strong and constitutive Escherichia coli promoter P lpp (Accession No. EU723847), was transformed into Lysobacter enzymogenes strain OH11, creating strain OH11A. The N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-degradation assay showed that transformant OH11A acquired the ability to degrade AHL molecules produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 and Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Pathogenicity tests showed that while the parental strain OH11 did not reduce P. carotovorum infection, the transformant OH11A caused a strong reduction of Pectobacterium virulence on Chinese cabbage and cactus, whereas strain OH11A did not seem to interfere with the normal growth of this pathogen in cabbages. In antimicrobial activity assays, strain OH11A and OH11 showed similar antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora capsici and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This work provided a new strategy for developing genetically engineered multi-functional L. enzymogenes strains that possessed the ability to biologically control fungal pathogens and reduce bacterial pathogenicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells are heterogeneous, easily develop radioresistance, and recur. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) is a next-generation sequencing method that can delineate diverse gene expression profiles of individual cells and mining their heterogeneous behaviors in response to irradiation. Our aim was using scRNA-seq to describe the difference between parental cells and cells that acquired radioresistance, and to investigate the dynamic changes of the transcriptome of cells in response to FIR. Results: We sequenced ESCC cell lines KYSE180 with and without fractionated irradiation (FIR). A total of 218 scRNA-seq libraries were obtained from 88 cells exposed to 12 Gy (KYSE-180-12 Gy), 89 exposed to 30 Gy (KYSE-180-30 Gy), and 41 parental KYSE-180 cells not exposed to FIR. Dynamic gene expression patterns were determined by comprehensive consideration of genes and pathways. Biological experiments showed that KYSE-180 cells became radioresistant after FIR. PCA analysis of scRNA-seq data showed KYSE-180, KYSE-180-12 Gy and KYSE-180-30 Gy cells were discrete away from each other. Two sub-populations found in KYSE-180-12 Gy and only one remained in KYSE-180-30 Gy. This sub-population genes exposure to FIR through 12 Gy to 30 Gy were relevant to the PI3K-AKT pathway, pathways evading apoptosis, tumor cell migration, metastasis, or invasion pathways, and cell differentiation and proliferation pathways. We validated DEGs, such as CFLAR, LAMA5, ITGA6, ITGB4, and SDC4 genes, in these five pathways as radioresistant genes in bulk cell RNA-seq data from ESCC tissue of a ESCC patient treated with radiotherapy and from KYSE-150 cell lines. Conclusions: Our results delineated the divergent gene expression patterns of individual ESCC cells exposure to FIR, and displayed genes and pathways related to development of radioresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]