To evaluate the protective effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide（GPS） against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin（TCDD）-induced hepatotoxicity in Jian carp,the fish were fed diets containing GPS at doses of 0.1,0....To evaluate the protective effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide（GPS） against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin（TCDD）-induced hepatotoxicity in Jian carp,the fish were fed diets containing GPS at doses of 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 60 days before an intraperitoneal injection of 0.6 μg/kg TCDD at a volume of 0.05 mL/10 g body weight.At 72 hr post-injection,blood and liver samples were taken for biochemical analysis and the fish liver samples were used for the preparation of pathological slices.The results showed that increases in alanine aminotransferase（GPT）,aspartate aminotransferase（GOT）,lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）,and alkaline phosphatase（AKP） in serum induced by TCDD were significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with 1.0 g/kg GPS.Following the 1.0 g/kg GPS pre-treatment,total protein（TP）,albumin（Alb）,catalase（CAT）,glutathione peroxidase（GPx）,total antioxidant capacity（T-AOC） and superoxide dismutase（SOD） activities in liver tissue increased significantly,malondialdehyde（MDA） formation（P ＆lt; 0.05 or P ＆lt; 0.01） was significantly inhibited,and the expression of cytochrome P4501A（CYP1A）,aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2（AHR2） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2（ARNT2） mRNA（P ＆lt; 0.05） was significantly enhanced.Histological observations on fish liver were obtained by preparing paraffin tissue sections via HE staining,and the results showed that histological changes were obviously reduced by 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg GPS.GPS significantly reduced liver tissue damage caused by TCDD.Overall,these results proved the hepatoprotective effect of GPS in protecting against fish liver injury induced by TCDD,and supported the use of GPS（1.0 g/kg） as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent in fish.展开更多
Recent studies have indicated that suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis can considerably improve the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Withaferin A(WFA),a natural compound,exhibits a positive effect o...Recent studies have indicated that suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis can considerably improve the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Withaferin A(WFA),a natural compound,exhibits a positive effect on a number of neurological diseases.However,the effects of WFA on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-mediated signaling pathways to ICH remain unknown.In this study,we investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism for WFA in the regulation of ICH-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis.We established a mouse model of ICH by injection of autologous tail artery blood into the caudate nucleus and an in vitro cell model of hemin-induced ICH.WFA was injected intracerebroventricularly at 0.1,1 or 5μg/kg once daily for 7 days,starting immediately after ICH operation.WFA markedly reduced brain tissue injury and iron deposition and improved neurological function in a dose-dependent manner 7 days after cerebral hemorrhage.Through in vitro experiments,cell viability test showed that WFA protected SH-SY5Y neuronal cells against hemin-induced cell injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in vitro and in vivo showed that WFA markedly decreased the level of malondialdehyde,an oxidative stress marker,and increased the activities of anti-oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase after ICH.Western blot assay,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that WFA activated the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)signaling axis,promoted translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to nucleus,and increased HO-1 expression.Silencing Nrf2 with siRNA completely reversed HO-1 expression,oxidative stress and protective effects of WFA.Furthermore,WFA reduced hemin-induced ferroptosis.However,after treatment with an HO-1 inhibitor,the neuroprotective effects of WFA against hemin-induced ferroptosis were weakened.MTT test results showed that WFA combined with ferrostatin-1 reduced hemin-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell in展开更多
Neurosteroids are synthesized in the nervous system from cholesterol or steroidal precursors imported from peripheral sources. These compounds are important allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors （...Neurosteroids are synthesized in the nervous system from cholesterol or steroidal precursors imported from peripheral sources. These compounds are important allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors （GABAARs）, which play a vital role in pain modulation in the lateral thalamus, a main gate where somatosensory information enters the cerebral cortex. Using high-perfor mance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, we found increased levels of neurosteroids （pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, allopregnanolone, and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone） in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain （28 days after spared nerve injury） in rats.The expression of the translocator protein TSPO, the upstream steroidogenesis rate-limiting enzyme, increased at the same time. In vivo stereotaxic microinjection of neurosteroids or the TSPO activator AC-5216 into the lateral thalamus （AP -3.0 mm, ML 4-3.0 mm, DV 6.0 mm） alleviated the mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain, while the TSPO inhibitor PK 11195 exacerbated it. The analgesic effects of AC-5216 and neurosteroids were sig- nificantly attenuated by the GABAAR antagonist bicuculline. These results suggested that elevated neurosteroids in the lateral thalamus play a protective role in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain.展开更多
Background:Acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)is a common cause of respiratory failure in many critically ill patients.Although inflammasome activation plays an important role in the induction of acute lung inju...Background:Acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)is a common cause of respiratory failure in many critically ill patients.Although inflammasome activation plays an important role in the induction of acute lung injury(ALI)and ARDS,the regulatory mechanism of this process is still unclear.When cells are stimulated by inflammation,the integrity and physiological function of mitochondria play a crucial part in pyroptosis.However,the underlying mechanisms and function of mitochondrial proteins in the process of pyroptosis are largely not yet known.Here,we identified the 18-kDa translocator protein(TSPO),a mitochondrial outer membrane protein,as an important mediator regulating nucleotide-binding domain,leucine-rich repeat,and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome activation in macrophages during ALI.Methods:TSPO gene knockout(KO)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI/ARDS mouse models were employed to investigate the biological role of TSPO in the pathogenesis of ARDS.Murine macrophages were used to further characterize the effect of TSPO on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was preformed through LPS+adenosine triphosphate(ATP)co-stimulation,followed by detection of mitochondrial membrane potential,reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,and cell death to evaluate the potential biological function of TSPO.Comparisons between two groups were performed with a two-sided unpaired t-test.Results:TSPO-KO mice exhibited more severe pulmonary inflammation in response to LPS-induced ALI.TSPO deficiency resulted in enhanced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway,promoting more proinflammatory cytokine production of macrophages in LPS-injured lung tissue,including interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-18,and macrophage inflammatory protein(MIP)-2.Mitochondria in TSPO-KO macrophages tended to depolarize in response to cellular stress.The increased production of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular pattern led to enhanced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and pyroptosis in TSPO-KO ce展开更多
Background T cell immune abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM） has been intensively studied over the past 10 years. Our previous study has suggested that immunization of mice with the peptides ...Background T cell immune abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM） has been intensively studied over the past 10 years. Our previous study has suggested that immunization of mice with the peptides derived from human adenine nucleotide translocator （ANT） result in the production of autoantibodies against the ANT and histopathological changes similar to those in human DCM. The ANT peptides can induce autoimmune cardiomyopathy like DCM in Balb/c mice. In this study we aimed to focus on the molecular mechanism of T cells in the autoimmune cardiomyopathy mouse model by detecting the expression of the two T cell signaling molecules. Methods The ANT peptides were used to cause autoimmune cardiomyopathy in Balb/c mice. Anti-L3T4 or rat anti-mouse IgG was administered to the mice （n=6 in each group） simultaneously immunized with ANT. ELISA analysis was used to detect autoantibodies against the ANT peptides and the percentages of interferon-y and interleukin-4 producing cells among splenic CD4^＋ lymphocytes was determined by using flow cytometry analysis. The expression of CD45 in spleen T cells was determined by immunohistochemistry and the mRNAs of T cell signaling molecules were detected by real-time PCR. Results Treatment of ANT immunized Balb/c mice with anti-CD4 mAb caused a reduction in the gene expression of P561ck and Zap-70 and a lower level of CD45 expression by spleen T cells. Also, a reverse of the Th1/Th2 ratio that results in the reduced production of antibodies against ANT was found in the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies （mAb） group. Whereas irrelevant antibody （rat anti-mouse IgG） did not suppress T cell signaling molecules nor inhibit CD45 expression, and control-antibody mice did not show any significant differences compared with the DCM group. Conclusion The results show that anti-CD4 mAb is a powerful inhibitor of the early initiating events of T cell receptor （TCR） signal transduction in mouse autoimmune dilated cardiomyopathy.展开更多
Background:In many cancer types,aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2(ARNT2)has been found to be associated with tumor cell proliferation and prognosis.However,the role of ARNT2 in clear cell renal cell car...Background:In many cancer types,aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2(ARNT2)has been found to be associated with tumor cell proliferation and prognosis.However,the role of ARNT2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)has not been completely elucidated.In this study,the potential role of ARNT2 in ccRCC development was characterized.Methods:A pan-cancer dataset(TCGA-TARGET-GTEx)was accessed from UCSC Xena Data Browser.ARNT2 expression in normal and tumor samples was compared.Univariate Cox regression was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of ARNT2.Single sample gene set enrichment analysis(ssGSEA)was used to estimate the enrichment of functional pathways and gene signatures.CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE methods evaluated the immune infiltration.The ARNT2 expression was determined in ccRCC tissue and cell lines using RT-qPCR and Western blot.Results:ARNT2 expression was significantly dysregulated in 23 out of 30 cancer types.Pan-cancer data revealed a strong correlation between ARNT2 expression and immune modulators,immune cell infiltration,and genomic alternations.In ccRCC patients,the low-ARNT2 expression group had higher immune infiltration,CD8 T cells,and programmed cell death ligand 1 expression,as well as higher enrichment score of immunotherapeutic predictors than those in the high-ARNT2 expression group.Low-ARNT2 expression group was more responsive to immunotherapy.Moreover,low ARNT2 expression was observed in ccRCC tissue and cell lines.Conclusions:Dysregulated ARNT2 expression is involved in cancer development and the modulation of the immune microenvironment.ARNT2 can be potentially used as a prognostic indicator and an immunotherapeutic indicator for ccRCC.展开更多
Plant evolution, nutritional genomics, and mineral nutrition have been well documented but no studies have focused on the molecular adaptation of crop metabolism to wide variations of mineral ion composition and conce...Plant evolution, nutritional genomics, and mineral nutrition have been well documented but no studies have focused on the molecular adaptation of crop metabolism to wide variations of mineral ion composition and concentration. Diversification of peanut species from primary centers of domestication in South America depended on metabolic adaptation to the mineral ion conditions of the newer habitats. Understanding the diversification molecular biology of peanut metabolic pathways will permit the synthesis of the best mineral ion combinations for doubling CO2 assimilation. Valencia and Virginia cultivars belong to different subspecies of the tetraploid Arachis hypogaea. They were planted in the absence and presence of up to 99 mM (equivalent to 166 moles per hectare) of different mineral ions. Molecular properties of the primary metabolic pathways were studied by Northern analyses using Valencia GDH-synthesized RNAs as probes for Virginia mRNA and GDH-synthesized RNAs. Messenger RNAs are silenced by homologous RNAs synthesized by GDH. Peanut cellulose was analyzed by gravimetry;and fatty acids by HPLC. Complementary DNA probes made from Valencia GDH-synthesized RNAs hybridized perfectly to Virginia mRNAs and GDH-synthesized RNAs. Wide variations in mineral ion compositions and concentrations induced the GDHs of Valencia and Virginia to synthesize RNAs that differentially down-regulated the mRNAs encoding phosphate translocator, granule-bound starch synthase, phosphoglucomutase, glucosyltransferase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, nitrate reductase, and NADH-glutamate synthase so that the percent weights of oil (41.53 ± 8.75) and cellulose (30.29 ± 3.12) were similar in the control and mineral-treated peanuts. Therefore, RNA sequences that defined the molecular adaptation of mRNAs encoding the enzymes of primary metabolism were the same in the varietal types of A. hypogaea, in agreement with genetic data suggesting that tetraploid Arachis evolved relatively recently from the wild diploid ancestral species. Another molecula展开更多
Coordination between the sporophytic tissue and the gametic pollen within anthers is tightly controlled to achieve the optimal pollen fitness. Glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator(GPT) transports glucose-6-phosp...Coordination between the sporophytic tissue and the gametic pollen within anthers is tightly controlled to achieve the optimal pollen fitness. Glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator(GPT) transports glucose-6-phosphate, a key precursor of starch and/or fatty acid biosynthesis, into plastids. Here, we report the functional characterization of Os GPT1 in the rice anther development and pollen fertility. Pollen grains from homozygous osgpt1 mutant plants fail to accumulate starch granules, resulting in pollen sterility. Genetic analyses reveal a sporophytic effect for this mutation. Os GPT1 is highly expressed in the tapetal layer of rice anther. Degeneration of the tapetum, an important process to provide cellular contents to support pollen development, is impeded in osgpt1 plants. In addition, defective intine and exine are observed in the pollen from osgpt1 plants. Expression levels of multiple genes that are important to tapetum degeneration or pollen wall formation are significantly decreased in osgpt1 anthers. Previously, we reported that At GPT1 plays a gametic function in the accumulation of lipid bodies in Arabidopsis pollen. This report highlights a sporophytic role of Os GPT1 in the tapetum degeneration and pollen development. The divergent functions of Os GPT1 and At GPT1 in pollen development might be a result of their independent evolution after monocots and dicots diverged.展开更多
Plastids of nongreen tissues import carbon as a source of biosynthetic pathways and energy, and glucose 6 phosphate is the preferred hexose phosphate taken up by nongreen plastids. A cDNA clone encoding glucose 6 ph...Plastids of nongreen tissues import carbon as a source of biosynthetic pathways and energy, and glucose 6 phosphate is the preferred hexose phosphate taken up by nongreen plastids. A cDNA clone encoding glucose 6 phosphate/phosphate translocator ( GPT ) was isolated from a cDNA library of immature seeds of rice and named as OsGPT . The cDNA has one uninterrupted open reading frame encoding a 42 kDa polypeptide possessing transit peptide consisting of 70 amino acid residues. The OsGPT gene maps on chromosome 8 of rice and is linked to the quantitative trait locus for 1000 grain weight. The expression of OsGPT is mainly restricted to heterotrophic tissues. These results suggest that glucose 6 phosphate imported via GPT can be used for starch biosynthesis in rice nongreen plastids.展开更多
Translocator protein has received attention for its involvement in the pathogenesis of depression. This study assessed the effects of the new translocator protein ligand, YL-IPA08, on alleviating inflammation-induced ...Translocator protein has received attention for its involvement in the pathogenesis of depression. This study assessed the effects of the new translocator protein ligand, YL-IPA08, on alleviating inflammation-induced depression-like behavior in mice and investigated its mechanism of action. Mice were intracerebroventricularly injected with 1, 10, 100 or 1000 ng lipopolysaccharide. The tail-suspension test and the forced swimming test confirmed that 100 ng lipopolysaccharide induced depression-like behavior. A mouse model was then established by intraventricular injection of 100 ng lipopolysaccharide. On days 16-24 after model establishment, mice were intragastrically administered 3 mg/kg YL-IPA08 daily. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine BrdU and NeuN expression in the hippocampus. YL-IPA08 effectively reversed the depression-like behavior of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice, restored body mass, increased the number of BrdU-positive cells, and the number and proportion of BrdU and NeuN double-positive cells. These findings indicate that YL-IPA08 can attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior in mice by promoting the formation of hippocampal neurons.展开更多
In plants, non-green plastids in heterotrophic tissues are sites for starch and fatty acids biosynthesis,which are essential for plant development and reproduction. Distinct from chloroplasts, the metabolites for thes...In plants, non-green plastids in heterotrophic tissues are sites for starch and fatty acids biosynthesis,which are essential for plant development and reproduction. Distinct from chloroplasts, the metabolites for these processes in non-green plastids have to be imported through specific transporters. Glucose 6-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocator 1 is required for the uptake of cytosolic Glucose 6-Phosphate into non-green plastids. In Arabidopsis, GPT1 has been demonstrated to play essential roles in male, female gametophyte and embryo development. However, the roles of GPTs in other species are yet largely unknown. Here, we reported that rice OsGPT1 is indispensable for normal tapetal degeneration and pollen exine formation during anther and pollen development. OsGPT1 is localized in the plastid and distributed in the anther wall layers and late-stage pollen grains. Different from the gametic defects caused by mutation in At GPT1, disruption of OsGPT1 does not affect male and female gamete transmission as well as embryo development. On the contrary, osgpt1 mutant exhibits delayed tapetum degeneration,decreased Ubisch bodies formation and thinner pollen exine, leading to pollen abortion at the mature stage. Furthermore, the expression of several genes involved in tapetal programmed cell death(PCD)and sporopollenin formation is decreased in osgpt1. Our study suggests that OsGPT1 coordinates the development of anther sporophytic tissues and the male gametophyte by integrating carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism in the plastid.展开更多
Neurological abnormalities identified via neuroimaging are common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,it is not yet possible to easily detect these abnormalities using head computed tomography in the early s...Neurological abnormalities identified via neuroimaging are common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,it is not yet possible to easily detect these abnormalities using head computed tomography in the early stages of the disease.In this review,we evaluated the ways in which modern imaging techniques such as positron emission computed tomography,single photon emission tomography,magnetic resonance spectrum imaging,structural magnetic resonance imaging,magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging,magnetic resonance perfusion weighted imaging,magnetic resonance sensitive weighted imaging,and functional magnetic resonance imaging have revealed specific changes not only in brain structure,but also in brain function in Alzheimer’s disease patients.The reviewed literature indicated that decreased fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism in the temporal and parietal lobes of Alzheimer’s disease patients is frequently observed via positron emission computed tomography.Furthermore,patients with Alzheimer’s disease often show a decreased N-acetylaspartic acid/creatine ratio and an increased myoinositol/creatine ratio revealed via magnetic resonance imaging.Atrophy of the entorhinal cortex,hippocampus,and posterior cingulate gyrus can be detected early using structural magnetic resonance imaging.Magnetic resonance sensitive weighted imaging can show small bleeds and abnormal iron metabolism.Task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging can display brain function activity through cerebral blood oxygenation.Resting functional magnetic resonance imaging can display the functional connection between brain neural networks.These are helpful for the differential diagnosis and experimental study of Alzheimer’s disease,and are valuable for exploring the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
Triose phosphate translocator (TPT) is located in the inner membrane of plant chloroplasts. It catalyzes the counter exchange of those phosphate/3-phosphoglycerate and phosphate. To obtain the basic information on the...Triose phosphate translocator (TPT) is located in the inner membrane of plant chloroplasts. It catalyzes the counter exchange of those phosphate/3-phosphoglycerate and phosphate. To obtain the basic information on the structure-function relation, a cDNA encoding the complete precursor of the triose phosphate translocator has been isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by RACE ( rapid amplification of cDNA ends) strategies. The wheat TPT cDNA encodes a precursor protein of 402 amino acid residues with a deduced molecular weight of 43 kD. A putative processing site between Ala-78 and Ala-79 of the precursor protein is suggested by comparison with those of the TPTs from spinach (Spinacia oleracea Mill.) and maize (Zea mays L.). The mature part of wheat TPT consists of 324 amino acid with a molecular weight of 35 kD, which share 89% identity with maize TPT. The amino acids Lys-274 and Arg-275 (mature protein) which is regarded as the substrate-binding site, are both conserved in plant TPTs. The gene expression analysis for leaves, coleoptiles, roots and seeds of wheat showed that the TPT transcript was only detectable in leaves and coleoptiles. No apparent expression signal was detected in the roots and seeds. This indicated that the expression of wheat TPT might be restricted to green tissues.展开更多
The normal development and optimal functioning of the brain requires a vigilant immune surveillance system to detect and remove potential risk factors and prevent infection and tissue damage. Microglia are the residen...The normal development and optimal functioning of the brain requires a vigilant immune surveillance system to detect and remove potential risk factors and prevent infection and tissue damage. Microglia are the resident immune cells and the frontline defenders responsible for the immune response of the brain. Resting microglia possess a ramified morphology with numerous thin processes that continuously sample the environment. In response to inflammatory signals, microglia become activated and transform their morphology into a thick, amoeboid-like shape. Activated microglia proliferate, tolerate to sites of iniurv,展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31202002,31200918)Jiangsu Science and Technology Department(No.BK2012535)the Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(No.2014A08YQ01)
文摘To evaluate the protective effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide（GPS） against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin（TCDD）-induced hepatotoxicity in Jian carp,the fish were fed diets containing GPS at doses of 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 60 days before an intraperitoneal injection of 0.6 μg/kg TCDD at a volume of 0.05 mL/10 g body weight.At 72 hr post-injection,blood and liver samples were taken for biochemical analysis and the fish liver samples were used for the preparation of pathological slices.The results showed that increases in alanine aminotransferase（GPT）,aspartate aminotransferase（GOT）,lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）,and alkaline phosphatase（AKP） in serum induced by TCDD were significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with 1.0 g/kg GPS.Following the 1.0 g/kg GPS pre-treatment,total protein（TP）,albumin（Alb）,catalase（CAT）,glutathione peroxidase（GPx）,total antioxidant capacity（T-AOC） and superoxide dismutase（SOD） activities in liver tissue increased significantly,malondialdehyde（MDA） formation（P ＆lt; 0.05 or P ＆lt; 0.01） was significantly inhibited,and the expression of cytochrome P4501A（CYP1A）,aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2（AHR2） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2（ARNT2） mRNA（P ＆lt; 0.05） was significantly enhanced.Histological observations on fish liver were obtained by preparing paraffin tissue sections via HE staining,and the results showed that histological changes were obviously reduced by 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg GPS.GPS significantly reduced liver tissue damage caused by TCDD.Overall,these results proved the hepatoprotective effect of GPS in protecting against fish liver injury induced by TCDD,and supported the use of GPS（1.0 g/kg） as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent in fish.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,No.2020GXNSFAA259036(to RJL)the Guangxi Science and Technology Project,No.Guike AD17129015(to QHL)+1 种基金Guangxi Research and Innovation Base for Basic and Clinical Application of Nerve Injury and Repair Project,No.Guike ZY21195042(to QHL)the Innovation Projects of Guangxi Graduate Education,Nos.YCSW2021246(to ZXZ),YCSW2021254(to WJX).
文摘Recent studies have indicated that suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis can considerably improve the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Withaferin A(WFA),a natural compound,exhibits a positive effect on a number of neurological diseases.However,the effects of WFA on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-mediated signaling pathways to ICH remain unknown.In this study,we investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism for WFA in the regulation of ICH-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis.We established a mouse model of ICH by injection of autologous tail artery blood into the caudate nucleus and an in vitro cell model of hemin-induced ICH.WFA was injected intracerebroventricularly at 0.1,1 or 5μg/kg once daily for 7 days,starting immediately after ICH operation.WFA markedly reduced brain tissue injury and iron deposition and improved neurological function in a dose-dependent manner 7 days after cerebral hemorrhage.Through in vitro experiments,cell viability test showed that WFA protected SH-SY5Y neuronal cells against hemin-induced cell injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in vitro and in vivo showed that WFA markedly decreased the level of malondialdehyde,an oxidative stress marker,and increased the activities of anti-oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase after ICH.Western blot assay,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that WFA activated the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)signaling axis,promoted translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to nucleus,and increased HO-1 expression.Silencing Nrf2 with siRNA completely reversed HO-1 expression,oxidative stress and protective effects of WFA.Furthermore,WFA reduced hemin-induced ferroptosis.However,after treatment with an HO-1 inhibitor,the neuroprotective effects of WFA against hemin-induced ferroptosis were weakened.MTT test results showed that WFA combined with ferrostatin-1 reduced hemin-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell in
基金supported by grants from the National Basic Research Development Program of China(2013CB531905,2014CB548200,and 2015CB554503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81230023,81221002,31200835,81571067,and 21305005)+1 种基金a Key Project of the Ministry of Education of China(109003)the ‘‘111’’ Project of the Ministry of Education of China(B07001)
文摘Neurosteroids are synthesized in the nervous system from cholesterol or steroidal precursors imported from peripheral sources. These compounds are important allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors （GABAARs）, which play a vital role in pain modulation in the lateral thalamus, a main gate where somatosensory information enters the cerebral cortex. Using high-perfor mance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, we found increased levels of neurosteroids （pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, allopregnanolone, and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone） in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain （28 days after spared nerve injury） in rats.The expression of the translocator protein TSPO, the upstream steroidogenesis rate-limiting enzyme, increased at the same time. In vivo stereotaxic microinjection of neurosteroids or the TSPO activator AC-5216 into the lateral thalamus （AP -3.0 mm, ML 4-3.0 mm, DV 6.0 mm） alleviated the mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain, while the TSPO inhibitor PK 11195 exacerbated it. The analgesic effects of AC-5216 and neurosteroids were sig- nificantly attenuated by the GABAAR antagonist bicuculline. These results suggested that elevated neurosteroids in the lateral thalamus play a protective role in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82071791,32270915,U20A20374,31970843,and 81972886)National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFC3602004)+4 种基金CAMS Initiative for Innovative Medicine(Nos.2021-I2M-1-005,2021-I2M-1-035,2021-I2M-1-053,and 2022-I2M-CoV19-007)Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem Innovation Fund(No.22HHXBSS00028)CAMS Central Public Welfare Scientific Research Institute Basal Research Expenses(No.3332020035)Changzhou Science and Technology Support Plan(No.CE20215008)Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology Fund for Innovative Drugs(No.Z221100007922040)
文摘Background:Acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)is a common cause of respiratory failure in many critically ill patients.Although inflammasome activation plays an important role in the induction of acute lung injury(ALI)and ARDS,the regulatory mechanism of this process is still unclear.When cells are stimulated by inflammation,the integrity and physiological function of mitochondria play a crucial part in pyroptosis.However,the underlying mechanisms and function of mitochondrial proteins in the process of pyroptosis are largely not yet known.Here,we identified the 18-kDa translocator protein(TSPO),a mitochondrial outer membrane protein,as an important mediator regulating nucleotide-binding domain,leucine-rich repeat,and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome activation in macrophages during ALI.Methods:TSPO gene knockout(KO)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI/ARDS mouse models were employed to investigate the biological role of TSPO in the pathogenesis of ARDS.Murine macrophages were used to further characterize the effect of TSPO on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was preformed through LPS+adenosine triphosphate(ATP)co-stimulation,followed by detection of mitochondrial membrane potential,reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,and cell death to evaluate the potential biological function of TSPO.Comparisons between two groups were performed with a two-sided unpaired t-test.Results:TSPO-KO mice exhibited more severe pulmonary inflammation in response to LPS-induced ALI.TSPO deficiency resulted in enhanced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway,promoting more proinflammatory cytokine production of macrophages in LPS-injured lung tissue,including interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-18,and macrophage inflammatory protein(MIP)-2.Mitochondria in TSPO-KO macrophages tended to depolarize in response to cellular stress.The increased production of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular pattern led to enhanced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and pyroptosis in TSPO-KO ce
基金a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30000070)
文摘Background T cell immune abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM） has been intensively studied over the past 10 years. Our previous study has suggested that immunization of mice with the peptides derived from human adenine nucleotide translocator （ANT） result in the production of autoantibodies against the ANT and histopathological changes similar to those in human DCM. The ANT peptides can induce autoimmune cardiomyopathy like DCM in Balb/c mice. In this study we aimed to focus on the molecular mechanism of T cells in the autoimmune cardiomyopathy mouse model by detecting the expression of the two T cell signaling molecules. Methods The ANT peptides were used to cause autoimmune cardiomyopathy in Balb/c mice. Anti-L3T4 or rat anti-mouse IgG was administered to the mice （n=6 in each group） simultaneously immunized with ANT. ELISA analysis was used to detect autoantibodies against the ANT peptides and the percentages of interferon-y and interleukin-4 producing cells among splenic CD4^＋ lymphocytes was determined by using flow cytometry analysis. The expression of CD45 in spleen T cells was determined by immunohistochemistry and the mRNAs of T cell signaling molecules were detected by real-time PCR. Results Treatment of ANT immunized Balb/c mice with anti-CD4 mAb caused a reduction in the gene expression of P561ck and Zap-70 and a lower level of CD45 expression by spleen T cells. Also, a reverse of the Th1/Th2 ratio that results in the reduced production of antibodies against ANT was found in the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies （mAb） group. Whereas irrelevant antibody （rat anti-mouse IgG） did not suppress T cell signaling molecules nor inhibit CD45 expression, and control-antibody mice did not show any significant differences compared with the DCM group. Conclusion The results show that anti-CD4 mAb is a powerful inhibitor of the early initiating events of T cell receptor （TCR） signal transduction in mouse autoimmune dilated cardiomyopathy.
基金funded by the Shenzhen Longhua District Medical and Health Institutions Research Fund(Project No.2022102).
文摘Background:In many cancer types,aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2(ARNT2)has been found to be associated with tumor cell proliferation and prognosis.However,the role of ARNT2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)has not been completely elucidated.In this study,the potential role of ARNT2 in ccRCC development was characterized.Methods:A pan-cancer dataset(TCGA-TARGET-GTEx)was accessed from UCSC Xena Data Browser.ARNT2 expression in normal and tumor samples was compared.Univariate Cox regression was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of ARNT2.Single sample gene set enrichment analysis(ssGSEA)was used to estimate the enrichment of functional pathways and gene signatures.CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE methods evaluated the immune infiltration.The ARNT2 expression was determined in ccRCC tissue and cell lines using RT-qPCR and Western blot.Results:ARNT2 expression was significantly dysregulated in 23 out of 30 cancer types.Pan-cancer data revealed a strong correlation between ARNT2 expression and immune modulators,immune cell infiltration,and genomic alternations.In ccRCC patients,the low-ARNT2 expression group had higher immune infiltration,CD8 T cells,and programmed cell death ligand 1 expression,as well as higher enrichment score of immunotherapeutic predictors than those in the high-ARNT2 expression group.Low-ARNT2 expression group was more responsive to immunotherapy.Moreover,low ARNT2 expression was observed in ccRCC tissue and cell lines.Conclusions:Dysregulated ARNT2 expression is involved in cancer development and the modulation of the immune microenvironment.ARNT2 can be potentially used as a prognostic indicator and an immunotherapeutic indicator for ccRCC.
文摘Plant evolution, nutritional genomics, and mineral nutrition have been well documented but no studies have focused on the molecular adaptation of crop metabolism to wide variations of mineral ion composition and concentration. Diversification of peanut species from primary centers of domestication in South America depended on metabolic adaptation to the mineral ion conditions of the newer habitats. Understanding the diversification molecular biology of peanut metabolic pathways will permit the synthesis of the best mineral ion combinations for doubling CO2 assimilation. Valencia and Virginia cultivars belong to different subspecies of the tetraploid Arachis hypogaea. They were planted in the absence and presence of up to 99 mM (equivalent to 166 moles per hectare) of different mineral ions. Molecular properties of the primary metabolic pathways were studied by Northern analyses using Valencia GDH-synthesized RNAs as probes for Virginia mRNA and GDH-synthesized RNAs. Messenger RNAs are silenced by homologous RNAs synthesized by GDH. Peanut cellulose was analyzed by gravimetry;and fatty acids by HPLC. Complementary DNA probes made from Valencia GDH-synthesized RNAs hybridized perfectly to Virginia mRNAs and GDH-synthesized RNAs. Wide variations in mineral ion compositions and concentrations induced the GDHs of Valencia and Virginia to synthesize RNAs that differentially down-regulated the mRNAs encoding phosphate translocator, granule-bound starch synthase, phosphoglucomutase, glucosyltransferase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, nitrate reductase, and NADH-glutamate synthase so that the percent weights of oil (41.53 ± 8.75) and cellulose (30.29 ± 3.12) were similar in the control and mineral-treated peanuts. Therefore, RNA sequences that defined the molecular adaptation of mRNAs encoding the enzymes of primary metabolism were the same in the varietal types of A. hypogaea, in agreement with genetic data suggesting that tetraploid Arachis evolved relatively recently from the wild diploid ancestral species. Another molecula
基金supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31922005)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LR18C020001)+2 种基金Zhejiang University K.P.Chao’s High Technology Development Foundation (2018RC016)the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by CAST (2018QNRC001)111 Project (B14027) to J.X。
文摘Coordination between the sporophytic tissue and the gametic pollen within anthers is tightly controlled to achieve the optimal pollen fitness. Glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator(GPT) transports glucose-6-phosphate, a key precursor of starch and/or fatty acid biosynthesis, into plastids. Here, we report the functional characterization of Os GPT1 in the rice anther development and pollen fertility. Pollen grains from homozygous osgpt1 mutant plants fail to accumulate starch granules, resulting in pollen sterility. Genetic analyses reveal a sporophytic effect for this mutation. Os GPT1 is highly expressed in the tapetal layer of rice anther. Degeneration of the tapetum, an important process to provide cellular contents to support pollen development, is impeded in osgpt1 plants. In addition, defective intine and exine are observed in the pollen from osgpt1 plants. Expression levels of multiple genes that are important to tapetum degeneration or pollen wall formation are significantly decreased in osgpt1 anthers. Previously, we reported that At GPT1 plays a gametic function in the accumulation of lipid bodies in Arabidopsis pollen. This report highlights a sporophytic role of Os GPT1 in the tapetum degeneration and pollen development. The divergent functions of Os GPT1 and At GPT1 in pollen development might be a result of their independent evolution after monocots and dicots diverged.
文摘Plastids of nongreen tissues import carbon as a source of biosynthetic pathways and energy, and glucose 6 phosphate is the preferred hexose phosphate taken up by nongreen plastids. A cDNA clone encoding glucose 6 phosphate/phosphate translocator ( GPT ) was isolated from a cDNA library of immature seeds of rice and named as OsGPT . The cDNA has one uninterrupted open reading frame encoding a 42 kDa polypeptide possessing transit peptide consisting of 70 amino acid residues. The OsGPT gene maps on chromosome 8 of rice and is linked to the quantitative trait locus for 1000 grain weight. The expression of OsGPT is mainly restricted to heterotrophic tissues. These results suggest that glucose 6 phosphate imported via GPT can be used for starch biosynthesis in rice nongreen plastids.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.8167050047
文摘Translocator protein has received attention for its involvement in the pathogenesis of depression. This study assessed the effects of the new translocator protein ligand, YL-IPA08, on alleviating inflammation-induced depression-like behavior in mice and investigated its mechanism of action. Mice were intracerebroventricularly injected with 1, 10, 100 or 1000 ng lipopolysaccharide. The tail-suspension test and the forced swimming test confirmed that 100 ng lipopolysaccharide induced depression-like behavior. A mouse model was then established by intraventricular injection of 100 ng lipopolysaccharide. On days 16-24 after model establishment, mice were intragastrically administered 3 mg/kg YL-IPA08 daily. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine BrdU and NeuN expression in the hippocampus. YL-IPA08 effectively reversed the depression-like behavior of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice, restored body mass, increased the number of BrdU-positive cells, and the number and proportion of BrdU and NeuN double-positive cells. These findings indicate that YL-IPA08 can attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior in mice by promoting the formation of hippocampal neurons.
基金supported the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U19A2031)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0100903)。
文摘In plants, non-green plastids in heterotrophic tissues are sites for starch and fatty acids biosynthesis,which are essential for plant development and reproduction. Distinct from chloroplasts, the metabolites for these processes in non-green plastids have to be imported through specific transporters. Glucose 6-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocator 1 is required for the uptake of cytosolic Glucose 6-Phosphate into non-green plastids. In Arabidopsis, GPT1 has been demonstrated to play essential roles in male, female gametophyte and embryo development. However, the roles of GPTs in other species are yet largely unknown. Here, we reported that rice OsGPT1 is indispensable for normal tapetal degeneration and pollen exine formation during anther and pollen development. OsGPT1 is localized in the plastid and distributed in the anther wall layers and late-stage pollen grains. Different from the gametic defects caused by mutation in At GPT1, disruption of OsGPT1 does not affect male and female gamete transmission as well as embryo development. On the contrary, osgpt1 mutant exhibits delayed tapetum degeneration,decreased Ubisch bodies formation and thinner pollen exine, leading to pollen abortion at the mature stage. Furthermore, the expression of several genes involved in tapetal programmed cell death(PCD)and sporopollenin formation is decreased in osgpt1. Our study suggests that OsGPT1 coordinates the development of anther sporophytic tissues and the male gametophyte by integrating carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism in the plastid.
基金This work was supported by the Science and Technology Support Plan of Guizhou Province of China,No.QianKeHe-Zhicheng[2020]4Y129(to HB)the Scientific Research Foundation of Guizhou Health Committee of China,No.gzwkj2017-1-022(to HB)the Scientific Research Project of Guizhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of China,No.QZYY-2018-044(to HB).
文摘Neurological abnormalities identified via neuroimaging are common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,it is not yet possible to easily detect these abnormalities using head computed tomography in the early stages of the disease.In this review,we evaluated the ways in which modern imaging techniques such as positron emission computed tomography,single photon emission tomography,magnetic resonance spectrum imaging,structural magnetic resonance imaging,magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging,magnetic resonance perfusion weighted imaging,magnetic resonance sensitive weighted imaging,and functional magnetic resonance imaging have revealed specific changes not only in brain structure,but also in brain function in Alzheimer’s disease patients.The reviewed literature indicated that decreased fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism in the temporal and parietal lobes of Alzheimer’s disease patients is frequently observed via positron emission computed tomography.Furthermore,patients with Alzheimer’s disease often show a decreased N-acetylaspartic acid/creatine ratio and an increased myoinositol/creatine ratio revealed via magnetic resonance imaging.Atrophy of the entorhinal cortex,hippocampus,and posterior cingulate gyrus can be detected early using structural magnetic resonance imaging.Magnetic resonance sensitive weighted imaging can show small bleeds and abnormal iron metabolism.Task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging can display brain function activity through cerebral blood oxygenation.Resting functional magnetic resonance imaging can display the functional connection between brain neural networks.These are helpful for the differential diagnosis and experimental study of Alzheimer’s disease,and are valuable for exploring the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
文摘Triose phosphate translocator (TPT) is located in the inner membrane of plant chloroplasts. It catalyzes the counter exchange of those phosphate/3-phosphoglycerate and phosphate. To obtain the basic information on the structure-function relation, a cDNA encoding the complete precursor of the triose phosphate translocator has been isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by RACE ( rapid amplification of cDNA ends) strategies. The wheat TPT cDNA encodes a precursor protein of 402 amino acid residues with a deduced molecular weight of 43 kD. A putative processing site between Ala-78 and Ala-79 of the precursor protein is suggested by comparison with those of the TPTs from spinach (Spinacia oleracea Mill.) and maize (Zea mays L.). The mature part of wheat TPT consists of 324 amino acid with a molecular weight of 35 kD, which share 89% identity with maize TPT. The amino acids Lys-274 and Arg-275 (mature protein) which is regarded as the substrate-binding site, are both conserved in plant TPTs. The gene expression analysis for leaves, coleoptiles, roots and seeds of wheat showed that the TPT transcript was only detectable in leaves and coleoptiles. No apparent expression signal was detected in the roots and seeds. This indicated that the expression of wheat TPT might be restricted to green tissues.
基金supported by the Bio&Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant(No.2012M3A9C6049935)the DGIST Convergence Science Center Program(15-BD-04)of the Ministry of Science,ICT and Future Planning of Korea
文摘The normal development and optimal functioning of the brain requires a vigilant immune surveillance system to detect and remove potential risk factors and prevent infection and tissue damage. Microglia are the resident immune cells and the frontline defenders responsible for the immune response of the brain. Resting microglia possess a ramified morphology with numerous thin processes that continuously sample the environment. In response to inflammatory signals, microglia become activated and transform their morphology into a thick, amoeboid-like shape. Activated microglia proliferate, tolerate to sites of iniurv,
