Multiplicity of signals and diversity of signaling pathways exist during the establishment of mycorrhizal associations together with the regulation of symbiosis-specific genes expression.This mechanism of signal recognition and transduction related with development process of the symbiont was reviewed at the molecular level.

Differences in gene expressions were compared by cDNA microarray in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats and normal rats.In diabetic rats,157 genes were down-regulated and 100 genes up-regulated. Some of these genes were related to insulin resistance,glucose and lipid metabolism.

An extremely thermoacidophilic isolate K4-1 was obtained from an acidic hot spring in Teng- chong Rehai, Yunnan province. Morphology, growth characteristics, utilization of carbon compounds, en- ergy sources and 16S rRNA gene sequence of K4-1 were studied. Cells of K4-1 are irregular cocci with monotrichous flagella. The strain grew aerobically in either a lithotrophic or a heterotrophic mode. Growth on elemental sulfur occurred through oxidation of sulfur. It grew optimally at 75?C and pH 3.5. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain K4-1 was shown to belong to genus Sulfolobus, being related to the type strains of genus Sulfolobus (86.6%~94.3% similarity), and being most closely related to strain Sulfolobus tengchongensis RT8-4 (98.9% similarity). The GenBank accession number of strain K4-1 16S rRNA gene sequence is EU729124.

Objective:To investigate the effect of paraformaldehyde fixation on measuring the protein-protein interaction by fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)to resolve the problem of FRET efficiency calculation in excess-movement cells.Methods:The C terminals of TCR ? chain(TRA)and TCR ? chain(TRB)genes,which were ideal for protein-protein interaction research,were fused with ECFP and EYFP gene respectively by fusion PCR and transferred into target cell.A grou Pcells were fixed in paraformaldehyde(0.5%)for 0.5~1h and another left alive,then these cells were subject to ECFP/EYFP FRET calculation with confocal laser scanning microscope.The ECFP/EYFP FRET efficiencies in live and fixed cell were analyzed and compared.Results:There is no significant statistical difference between the ECFP/EYFP FRET efficiencies of live cell and cell fixed with lower paraformaldehyde concentration and shorter incubation time.Conclusion:fixation with low-concentration paraformaldehyde and short-time incubation has no distinct influence on measuring protein-protein interaction,and facilitated the FRET calculation in excess-movement cells.

Objective To investigate the possibility of inducing mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly to differentiate into spermatogonia.Methods To isolate,culture and purify MSCs with adherent method,the growth and proliferation of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were observed,and their immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry;MSCs of the third generation were divided into 2 groups to be induced and cultured,MSCs of the control group were cultured in basal medium,while those of the experimental group with conditional medium.The morphologic and ultrastructure changes of control group and experimental group cells were compared with phase contrast microscopy,electron microscopy(EM)and transmission electron microscope(TEM)respectively ;the spermatogonial cells differentiated were then evaluated by immunohistochemistry stained for CD117and CD49f ;the method of Western-blot was used to test if the cells induced could express CD49f.Results A population of MSCs were isolated from human umbilical Wharton's Jelly;they were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells and could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling;After induction,the shape of MSCs changed greatly from the fibroblast to the round,even familiar to the tadpole;expressed the known molecular markers of spermatogonial cells,such as CD49f,CD117.Conclusion The induced MSCs not only undergo spfermatogonial-cell like morphologic changes,ultramicrostructure mature with increasing cell organs,but also express the spermatogonial cell markers,which show that human umbilical cord derived MSCs are capable of differentiating into spermatogonial cell.

Objective To observe clone ability of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into infertile mouse seminife-rous tubules and the effects of MSCs on reproductive function.Methods Busulfan was used to destroy endogenous spermatogenesis of the recipient mice.To isolate,culture and purify MSCs with adherent method before marked with Brdu and Hoechst 33258 respectively,and then transplanted into the seminiferous tubules by microinjection.The survival of MSCs in recipient testes were evaluated by immunohistochemistry stained for Brdu and Fluorescent microscopy for Hoechst 33258 observation at different times.The diameter of seminiferous tubules was detected with HMIAS-2000 high-definition colored analyzing system for medical pictures.SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results The dosage of Busulfan resulted in 15% death in the mice,the testis of survived mice showed only basilar membrane in seminiferous tubules after 4 weeks.A lot of purified MSCs were obtained at the third generation and transplantation them into mouse seminiferous tubules survive for at least 4 months and appear to migration.The average diameter in experimental groups were higher than those in controls not only on 26 days but also on 120 days(P

Humans ; Siblings ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Genetics

To investigate the effects of gambognic acid (GA) on TRAIL-induced apoptosis of cancer cells, human colon HT-29 cancer cells were treated with GA to promote apoptosis. Inhibition of the cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected with formation of DNA ladders in agarose gel electrophoresis, and activation of caspase activity. The content of cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with flow cytometry. The activities of Caspase-3, -8, -9 were detected using spectrophotometric assay. The levels of c-FLIP, CHOP, DR4 and DR5 in cells were tested by Western blot. Combination of GA (1 µg · mL(-1)) and TRAIL (40 ng · mL(-1)) significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of HT-29 cells over those induced by each agent alone. Percentage of apoptotic cells was increased to 45.5%. GA markedly enhanced the intracellular ROS generation. Expression of CHOP, DR4 and DR5 was up-regulated to 7.38, 5.41, and 4.85 times of the control group, respectively. GA promoted activation of Caspase-3, -8, and -9 by TRAIL (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP was down-regulated to 0.22 ± 0.08 times of the control group. In conclusion, GA sensitizes HT-29 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by promoting ROS-activated ERS pathways, up-regulating of DR4 and DR5, and inhibiting c-FLIP expression.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of catecholamines on human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation.

METHODSCatecholamines (epinephrine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline) were added to the culture media of human preadipocytes. The proliferation of cells, the expression of GPDH and lipid droplet accumulation in cytoplasm were observed and recorded. The functions of alpha and beta receptors were examined with adding alpha and beta receptor blockers.

RESULTSEpinephrine and isoprenaline stimulated human preadipocyte proliferation and inhibited GPDH up-regulation during differentiation. The three types of catecholamines inhibited lipid accumulation in cell differentiation. The beta-adrenoceptors played a key role during the process.

CONCLUSIONHuman preadipocytes responded to catecholamine characteristically. The result would be applicable in the study of drugs for obesity.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Catecholamines ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Epinephrine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; Up-Regulation

Objective To explore the prognosis of endoscopic tissue adhesives injection in treating liver cirrhosis patients with esophageal gastric varices (GOV),and to evaluate the effects of various factors on bleeding after treatment.Methods A total of 157 liver cirrhosis patients with GOV treated by endoscopic tissue adhesives injection with or without ligation therapy were retrospectively analyzed.The basic information,liver function and blood biochemical values of patients at enrollment were investigated.The analysis of bleeding after treatment was conducted by Kaplan-Meier.The survival curves comparison was conducted by Log-rank test.Logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis.The prognosis predictors were evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC).Results Rebleeding happened in 26 of 157 patients.The median rebleeding time was 3.4 months.The results of univariate analysis indicated that there were statistical differences in FIB4 scores (Z=-1.282,P=0.100) and the inner diameter of the right portal vein (Z=-1.812,P=0.035) between bleeding group and no bleeding group.The results of multivariate analysis showed that the inner diameter of the right portal vein was independent prognostic factor of rebleeding (OR =1.733,95％ CI:1.045 to 2.874,P =0.033).Optimal diagnostic threshold was 8.5 mm (AUC=0.724,95 ％CI:0.537 to 0.910),sensitivity and specificity was 77.8％ and 66.6％ respectively.Conclusions The inner diameter of the right portal vein was one of the important factors that affected the efficacy of tissue adhesives injection in preventing bleeding and the prognosis.FIB4 score had certain reference value in predicting recurrence or bleeding after treatment.