1.miR-138 Function and Its Targets on Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells
Chunmei WANG ; Qingzhang LI ; Ye LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2006;0(07):-
miRNA was 20~25 nt endogenous non-coding RNA. miRNAs are encoded small RNAs that hybridize with messenger RNAs, resulting in degradation or translational inhibition of targeted transcripts. In order to investigate the function of miR-138 on mouse mammary epithelial cells, technique for gene silencing-miRNA inhibitor (anti-miRNA) was applied to make miR-138 silence, qRT-PCR was showed valid for inhibitor miR-138. And Western blot, CASY(r)-technology was put in use to study some change of mouse mammary epithelial cells after miR138 inhibitor. It was shown that miR-138 suppresses the exepress of PRL-R(P
2.Development of Taenia Solium Cysticercus and Morphological Observation
Yongjie LIU ; Qingzhang LI ; Yanhong HAO ;
Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases 1997;0(05):-
Objective To systematically study the development and morphological changes of Taenia solium cysticerci in the period from the appearance to maturation. Methods Pigs were orally infected with T.solium eggs. Autopsies were made periodically to get tissue specimens and examine the distribution of cysticerci. Cysticerci were excised, pressed between two microscopic slides for microscopical observation. Sections were also made for histological study. Results Cysticerci distributed mainly in muscles, secondly in brain, liver, lung and kidney. The size of cysticerci was highly variable at different parts or even in the same part of the same host. The early stage cysticercus was observed on the 19th day without suckers and hooklets on the scolex region, and was only found in skeletal muscles. Histological examination revealed that early development of the scolex became obvious. No cysticerci were found in other tissues. At 30 d, the cysticerci possessed hooklets and brood suckers. With a longer duration of infection, the diameter of suckers and length of hooklets both increased. Larger suckers and more folds on scolex appeared 60 d later. Morphologically, cysticerci after 60 d were similar to those found at 60 d. Degenerated cysticerci were found at every stage. Conclusion Cysticerci appear in about 19 days after the pig was infected with eggs of T.solium and the duration needed for maturation is about 60 d.
3.Analysis of genetic diversity in certified Radix Gentianae by RAPD and ISSR
Yanan CAO ; Qingzhang LI ; Yue SUN ; Lu LI ; Dawei WANG ; Jingpeng LI
Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs 1994;0(01):-
Objective To analyze the sibling relationship and genetic diversity of four certified Radix Gentianae (RG) species by RAPD and ISSR methods. It provided molecular biological proof for species identification and breeding of certified RG. Methods PCR reaction systems of RAPD and ISSR were optimized, and the agarose gel electrophoresis results were analyzed into statistic data. Results Ten RAPD primers and four ISSR primers were selected respectively from 100 RAPD primers and 32 ISSR primers. The statistic data were analyzed to construct cluster analysis dendrogram by genetic distance UPGMA method. Conclusion The PCR reaction systems of this experiment gets ideal RAPD and ISSR results that suit to the analysis of certified RG species in genetic diversity and sibling relationship.
4.Relationship between expression of Mycobacteriumtuberculosis Hsp16.3 and apoptosis of infected mouse alveolar macrophages
Qingzhang TUO ; Jiangtao DONG ; Xize TIAN ; Yunxia LIU ; Weijie DONG ; Danxia LIU ; Wei LI ; Fang WU ; Le ZHANG ; Wanjiang ZHANG
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2014;(3):300-305
Objective To study the relationship between the expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis small heat shock protein Hsp16.3 and the apoptosis of infected mouse alveolar macrophages.Methods The laboratory mice were infected with bacterial suspension of the international standard virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strains (H37Rv),Hsp16.3 gene deletion mutants of the international standard virulent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strains(△H37Rv),or sterile saline solution (normal control)by the tail vein. After successful replication of mouse infection model in each group,we cleaved the alveolus of each group of mice and collected lavage fluid to obtain alveolar macrophages of the infected mice at days 1 ,3 ,5 ,7 ,9 ,1 1 ,1 3 and 1 5 .Then the infection status of macrophages was observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy;flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of alveolar macrophages of the infected mice;Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expressions were examined by Western blot.Results The apoptosis rate of Hsp16.3 gene was higher in deletion strain (△H37Rv)group and H37Rv strains (H37Rv)group than in control group.The apoptosis rate of alveolar macrophages in △ H37Rv group gradually increased,peaked at day 7 ,and then gradually decreased.It was significantly higher in H3 7 Rv group than in H3 7 Rv strain group from day 1 to 7 and from day 1 3 to 1 5 (P<0 .0 5 ).Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expressions in the macrophages of△H37Rv group and H37Rv group were higher than those of control group.Caspase-3 expression in the microphages of △H3 7 Rv group and H3 7 Rv group gradually increased from day 1 to 7 and peaked at day 7;it peaked again at day 13 in H37Rv group.However,Caspase-3 expression remained significantly higher in△H37Rv group than in H3 7 Rv group (P<0 .0 5 ).Bcl-2 expression in △H3 7 Rv group did not change much at the early stage of infection (P<0 .0 5 ),but gradually increased after day 9 .Bcl-2 expression in H3 7 Rv group did did not change much from day 1 to 7 (P<0.05),but gradually increased after day 7.However,it remained lower in△H37Rv group than in H37Rv group,especially after 7 days(P<0.05).Conclusion Mycobacterium tuberculosis small heat shock protein Hsp16.3 can inhibit the apoptosis of macrophages during the early and late stages of infection,and this inhibition may be achieved by inhibiting the expression of apoptotic protease Caspase-3 and promoting the expression of Bcl-2 protein.
5.Correlation study between Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system and drug resist-ance of widespread clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Wenjuan LI ; Yin BAO ; Xia WANG ; Feng ZHANG ; Chen LIANG ; Rui ZHUANG ; Chao FAN ; Qingzhang TUO ; Chunjun ZHANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Fang WU ; Jiangdong WU ; Le ZHANG ; Wanjiang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2013;(10):773-779
Objective To explore the correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MTB ) PhoPR two-component system and drug resistance of MTB clinical isolates widespread in Xinjiang region by analyzing the expression of PhoP gene and PhoR gene among different isolates .Methods Total RNA of MTB was extracted from drug-susceptible strains , the strains only resistant to a single first-line anti-TB drugs (INH, RFP, SM and EB) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, respectively.The purity of total RNA was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis .The expressions of PhoP gene and PhoR gene were quantified by using SYBR Green I qRT-PCR and the differences of their gene expression in different isolates were ana-lyzed.Results Compared with the drug-susceptible strains of MTB, the expression of PhoP gene was up-regulated for about 1.48 times in MTB strains resistant to RFP (RFP-MTB) and 2.74 times in MDR strain (P<0.05).Compared with MDR strain, the expressions of PhoP gene in the isolates resistant to INH (IN-HMTB), RFP (RFP-MTB), SM (SM-MTB) and EB (EB-MTB) were down-regulated for 0.70, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.21 times respectively.The expressions of PhoR gene were down-regulated for 0.36, 0.54, 0.35 and 0.19 times, respectively (P<0.05).The expressions of PhoR gene in the isolates of INH-MTB, RFP-MTB, SM-MTB and EB-MTB were up-regulated for 6.33, 4.56, 2.34, 1.85 and 9.06 times, respectively as compared with the drug-susceptible strains (P<0.05).Conclusion Significant differences of PhoR gene and PhoP gene expressions were observed among drug-susceptible strains , INH-MTB, RFP-MTB, SM-MTB, EB-MTB and MDR strains.Therefore, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system is asso-ciated with the drug resistance of MTB strains prevalent in Xinjiang region .
6.Establishment of a candidate reference measurement procedure for the quantification of cyclosporine A,tacrolimus,sirolimus and everolimus in whole blood by ID-LC-MS/MS
Qingzhang ZENG ; Tianjiao ZHANG ; Qichen LONG ; Lizi JIN ; Li ZHANG ; Chuanbao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2022;45(5):472-477
Objectives:To establish a candidate reference measurement procedure based on isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) for cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus measurements in human whole blood.Methods:The isotope labeled cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus were selected as the internal standards. Samples were accurately weighed while protein precipitation and solid phase extraction were selected for the sample preparation. The standard curve method was applied for quantification. The ultra-high liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for analysis. The specificity, matrix effect, detection limit, quantification limit, precision, accuracy, and uncertainty of the method were evaluated.Results:The method showed good selectivity and specificity. No apparent interferences or matrix effects were found in the target analyte measurements. The detection limits and quantification limits of cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, sirolimus and everolimus met clinical requirements. Intra-batch coefficients of variation ( CV) were from 1.4% to 1.8% for CSA, from 1.7% to 2.8% for TAC, from 1.3% to 3.7% for SRL and from 2.3% to 3.2% for EVR, and total CVs were from 1.8% to 2.9% for CSA, from 1.7% to 3.8% for TAC, from 2.6% to 4.7% for SRL and from 3.5% to 4.6% for EVR. The relative recoveries were from 97.9% to 100.3% for CSA, from 98.4% to 103.1% for TAC, from 99.4% to 102.0% for SRL and from 98.3% to 99.4% for EVR, and the relative expanded uncertainties at four concentrations were from 4.2% to 4.4% for CSA, from 1.5% to 2.4% for TAC, from 4.4% to 4.9% for SRL and from 2.2% to 2.7% for EVR. Conclusion:A candidate reference measurement procedure for the cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus in human whole blood was established by ID-LC-MS/MS.
7.Activating Connexin43 gap junctions primes adipose tissue for therapeutic intervention.
Yi ZHU ; Na LI ; Mingyang HUANG ; Xi CHEN ; Yu A AN ; Jianping LI ; Shangang ZHAO ; Jan-Bernd FUNCKE ; Jianhong CAO ; Zhenyan HE ; Qingzhang ZHU ; Zhuzhen ZHANG ; Zhao V WANG ; Lin XU ; Kevin W WILLIAMS ; Chien LI ; Kevin GROVE ; Philipp E SCHERER
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(7):3063-3072
Adipose tissue is a promising target for treating obesity and metabolic diseases. However, pharmacological agents usually fail to effectively engage adipocytes due to their extraordinarily large size and insufficient vascularization, especially in obese subjects. We have previously shown that during cold exposure, connexin43 (Cx43) gap junctions are induced and activated to connect neighboring adipocytes to share limited sympathetic neuronal input amongst multiple cells. We reason the same mechanism may be leveraged to improve the efficacy of various pharmacological agents that target adipose tissue. Using an adipose tissue-specific Cx43 overexpression mouse model, we demonstrate effectiveness in connecting adipocytes to augment metabolic efficacy of the β 3-adrenergic receptor agonist Mirabegron and FGF21. Additionally, combing those molecules with the Cx43 gap junction channel activator danegaptide shows a similar enhanced efficacy. In light of these findings, we propose a model in which connecting adipocytes via Cx43 gap junction channels primes adipose tissue to pharmacological agents designed to engage it. Thus, Cx43 gap junction activators hold great potential for combination with additional agents targeting adipose tissue.