Based on the transcriptome data, we cloned the open reading frame of IiHCT gene from Isatis indigotica, and then performed bioinformatic analysis of the sequence. Further, we detected expression pattern in specific organs and hairy roots treated methyl jasmonate( MeJA) by RT-PCR. The IiHCT gene contains a 1 290 bp open reading frame( ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 430 amino acids. The predicted isoelectric point( pI) was 5.7, a calculated molecular weight was about 47.68 kDa. IiHCT was mainly expressed in stem and undetectable in young root, leaf and flower bud. After the treatment of MeJA, the relative expression level of IiHCT increased rapidly. The expression level of IiHCT was the highest at 4 h and maintained two fold to control during 24 h. In this study, cloning of IiHCT laid the foundation for illustrating the biosynthesis mechanism of phenylpropanoids in I. indigotica.
Acyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Isatis ; chemistry ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quinic Acid ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Shikimic Acid ; metabolism

Objective To study the biological characteristics of arsenic resistance cell model chronic arsenic exposure human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (CAsE-hFBMSCs) and discuss the consequence of chronic arsenite exposure to human mesenchymal stem cells (hFBMSCs). Methods hFBMSCs cultivated under general conditions,hFBMSC cell survival rate was detected in 48 hours with arsenite toxicity test under different doses arsenic [0(control),0.25,0.50,1.00,2.00,4.00,8.00,20.00,40.00,80.00,120.00 μmol/L]of the fist 2-generation(P2). According to the test results,1.00 μmol/L sodium arsenite was chosen to stimulate hFBMSCs for 14 weeks as experimental group,simultaneous 0 μmol/L sodium arsenite as the control group. And then,the phenotype was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting,and the cell cycle by flow cytometry. Finally,the cell malignant transformation was detected by soft-agar assay. Results Arsenite low than 10 μmol/L promoted cell proliferation,but inhibited cell proliferation when exceeding 10 μmol/L. Half of the lethal dose (LC_(50)) in experimental and control groups were (89.42±0.64),(52.48±0.71)μmol/L. The difference between two groups was statistically significant(t = 123.89,P < 0.05). The phenotype of CAsE-hFBMSCs was CD29,CD90,CD166 positive and CD34,CD45 negative. The phenotype of CAsE-hFBMSCs was the same as the control. Comparing to control group[(8.44±0.45)%,(9.14μ0.14)%,(82.42±0.60)%],G2/M phage[(17.72±5.47)%]and S phage [(25.34±3.36)%]cell increased,G0/G1 phage[(56.96±8.83)%]cell decreased in P2 CAsE-hFBMSCs. The cell cycle became nearly the same as the control group after adaption. CAsE-hFBMSCs did not show clone formation in soft agar clone formation assay. Conclusion Long last and low level exposure to arsenite does not influence the biologic features of hFBMSCs.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an autoimmune liver disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of liver. Although the etiology of AIH remains obscure, genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of AIH. In the past years, investigators have attempted to uncover the genetic architecture of AIH. Multiple genetic loci have been reported to be associated with AIH, in which human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles were strongly associated with disease onset and clinical manifestations for decades. A recent genome wide association study identified that two loci (SH2B3 and CARD10) increased susceptibility of AIH, in addition to the HLA loci. The genetic study is aiming to help to elucidate the genetic pathogenesis for AIH.

To investigate the effects of 2-(4-methoxycarbonyl-2-tetradecyloxyphenyl)carbamoylbenzoic acid (CX09040) on protecting pancreatic β cells, the β cell dysfunction model mice were induced by injection of alloxan into the caudal vein of ICR mice, and were treated with compound CX09040. Liraglutide was used as the positive control drug. The amount and the size of islets observed in pathological sections were calculated to evaluate the β cell mass; the glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) test was applied to estimate the β cell secretary function; the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was taken to observe the glucose metabolism in mice; the expressions of protein in pancreas were detected by Western blotting. The effects on the target protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were assessed by the PTP1B activities of both recombinant protein and the intracellular enzyme, and by the PTP1B expression in the pancreas of mice, separately. As the results, with the treatment of CX09040 in alloxan-induced β cell dysfunction mice, the islet amount (P<0.05) and size (P<0.05) increased significantly, the changes of serum insulin in GSIS (P<0.01) and the values of acute insulin response (AIR, P<0.01) were enhanced, compared to those in model group; the impaired glucose tolerance was also ameliorated by CX09040 with the decrease of the values of area under curve (AUC, P<0.01). The activation of the signaling pathways related to β cell proliferation was enhanced by increasing the levels of p-Akt/Akt (P<0.01), p-FoxO1/FoxOl (P<0.001) and PDX-1 (P<0.01). The effects of CX09040 on PTP1B were observed by inhibiting the recombinant hPTP1B activity with IC50 value of 2.78x 10(-7) mol.L-1, reducing the intracellular PTP1B activity of 72.8% (P<0.001), suppressing the PTP1B expression (P<0.001) and up-regulating p-IRβ/IRβ (P<0.01) in pancreas of the β cell dysfunction mice, separately. In conclusion, compound CX09040 showed significant protection effects against the dysfunction of β cell of mice by enlarging the pancreatic β cell mass and increasing the glucose-induced insulin secretion; its major mechanism may be the inhibition on target PTP1B and the succedent up-regulation of β cell proliferation.
Alloxan ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; drug effects ; Liraglutide ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Molecular Weight ; Pancreas ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Signal Transduction

Objectives:To analyze the impact of extended myectomy on reducing mitral regurgitation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 480 consecutive HOCM patients who underwent surgical treatment by the same surgeon in our institution from October 2002 to July 2017. The efficacy of extended myectomy for reducing mitral regurgitation and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction were evaluated by echocardiography after surgery. Results:Among the 480 patients, 22 (4.6%) received concomitant mitral repair or replacement because of their intrinsic mitral diseases. In the remaining 458 (95.4%) patients without concomitant mitral valve surgery, 1 (0.2%) died at the 5th day after surgery because of infective shock, and another 4 (0.9%) lost to follow-up, a total of 453 (98.9%) patients underwent echocardiographic follow-up (median follow-up time:6 months [3, 12]). During follow-up, left ventricular out flow tract gradient was significantly decreased from (89.1±30.6) to (12.8±11.6) mmHg (P＜0.001); the number of patients with systolic anterior motion (SAM) of mitral leaflets decreased from 451(98.5%) to 42 (9.3%) (P＜0.001); 297 (64.8%) patients presented with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation before surgery, which decreased to 14 (3.1%) at follow-up (P＜0.001); the multivariate regression analysis showed that patients with residual SAM were significantly associated with a higher incidence of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation during follow-up (odds ratio 30.334, 95% confidence interval:5.619-163.739, P＜0.001). Conclusions:Extended myectomy, combined with dividing the anomalous links between mitral apparatus and septum, and trimming papillary muscles, yields satisfactory outcomes of relieving LVOT obstruction and reducing mitral regurgitation in most of patients with HOCM. Concomitant mitral valve surgery is rarely required unless the patient have intrinsic mitral valve disease.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and multimodal imaging features of eyes with perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC).Methods:A retrospective case study. From February 2014 to November 2020, 7 eyes of 7 patients with PEVAC diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Department of Ophthalmologyof Peking University People's Hospital were included in this study. There were 6 males and 1 female. The age was 60.1±9.1 years. All were monocular. The chief complaints of visual deformation and vision loss were 3 and 1 cases, respectively. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). BCVA examination was performed using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. OCT angiography (OCTA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed in 4 and 2 eyes, respectively. Three eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with local laser photocoagulation. Two eyes were treated with laser photocoagulation alone. The follow-up time was 16.7±19.1 months. During follow-up, relevant examinations were performed with the same equipment and methods as at the initial diagnosis. The multimodal imaging characteristics and treatment response of the affected eyes were observed.Results:The baseline logMAR BCVA was 0.33±0.19 (0.20-0.80). All eyes showed isolated hemangiomatous lesions in the macular fovea with rigid retinal exudation, and 2 adjacent isolated hemangiomatous lesions were observed in 1 eye. FFA and ICGA examination showed that all eyes with macular hemangiomatous lesions showed clear boundary and strong fluorescence in the early stage. No other retinal or choroidal vascular abnormalities were observed. On OCT examination, circular lumen-like structures with strong reflective wall near the fovea were observed in the macular region of all eyes, accompanied by intraretinal cystic lumen. The macular central retinal thickness (CMT) was 326±125 (207-479) μm. In the four eyes examined by OCTA, blood flow signals were observed in the circular lumenoid structures with strong reflective walls adjacent to the fovea. Blood flow signals were observed in the superficial capillary layer (SCP) and deep capillary layer (DCP) of the retina in 3 eyes. SCP showed blood flow signal in 1 eye. In 4 eyes treated with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, there was no significant improvement in the intraretinal capsule space after treatment. Subretinal fluid absorption, retinal cystoid edema persisted, and rigid exudation decreased in 1 eye. CMT decreased and BCVA increased in 5 eyes treated with laser photocoagulation or laser photocoagulation alone. At last follow-up, logMAR BCVA was 0.16±0.06 (0.10-0.20) and CMT was 212±34 (154-252) μm. Compared with baseline, the difference of BCVA was statistically significant ( t=2.661, P=0.037). Conclusions:The fundus of PEVAC patients is characterized by solitary or multiple solitary hemangiomatous lesions in the macular fovea. Round lumenoid structures with strong reflective walls, with or without intraretinal cystic lumen, rigid exudate, and subretinal fluid, in which blood flow signals can be seen in OCT.

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA( miR)-29a-3p on the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells and analyze its related molecular mechanism. Methods The expression level of miR-29a-3p in gastric cancer cells was detected, and the role of miR-29a-3p in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells was evaluated. Western blotting and luciferase analysis showed that miR-29a-3p was directly bound to Serpinhl 3 ' -untranslated region(3' UTR). In addition, the effects of the miR-29a-3p/Serpinhl axis on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells were detected by MTT assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell assay in vitro. Results After transfection, the expression of miR-29a-3p in the miR-29a-3p mimic group was significantly higher than that in the miR-29a-3p negative control and blank group. After transfection, the proliferation of BGC823 cells decreased significantly. Luciferase analysis showed that miR-29a-3p inhibited the expression of Serpinhl by targeting the 3 ' UTR of Serpinhl. In addition, overexpression of miR-29a-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells by targeting Serpinhl. Conclusion MiR-29a-3p can target Serpinhl and regulate the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Scutellariae Radix (SR), the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is used as an antipyretic drug and has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory activity. SR is divided into two specifications, "Ku Qin" (KQ) and "Zi Qin" (ZQ), for use against different symptoms (upper energizer heat or lower portion of the triple energizer), according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, differences in the efficacies of these two specifications have not been determined. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the differences in the anti-inflammatory activities between KQ and ZQ and to explore how their differences are manifested in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. Our results showed that, in RAW264.7 cells (a mouse macrophage cell line derived from ascites), KQ and ZQ displayed anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NOS (iNOS), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in a dose-dependent manner without distinction. In NR8383 cells (a rat alveolar macrophage cell line), KQ and ZQ displayed similar effects on NO, iNOS, and NF-κB as seen in RAW264.7 cells, but KQ showed a higher inhibition rate for NO and iNOS than that shown by ZQ at the same concentration. These results indicated that there were differences in efficacy between KQ and ZQ in treating lung inflammation. Our findings provided an experimental evidence supporting the different uses of KQ and ZQ in clinic, as noted in ancient herbal records.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; immunology ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

The risk of plague epidemics and relapse of various types of plague foci persists in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. For Marmota sibirica plague foci, the animal plague has not been found but antibody has been detected positive. Nowadays, Marmota sibirica has been increasing in population and distribution in China. In bordering countries Mongolia and Russia, the animal plague has been continuously prevalent. For Spermophilus dauricus plague foci, the animal plague has been taken place now and then. Compared to the above foci, the animal plague is most prevalent in Meriones unguiculatus plague foci and frequently spread to humans. Due to higher strain virulence and historical disaster in Marmota sibirica plague foci and Spermophilus dauricus plague foci, plague prevention and control should be strengthened on these foci. In addition to routine surveillance, epidemic dynamics need to be further monitored in these two foci, in order to prevent their relapse and spread to humans.
Animals ; China/epidemiology* ; Epidemics ; Humans ; Plague/prevention & control* ; Prevalence ; Sciuridae ; Yersinia pestis

Objective: To explore the protective effects of anthrahydroquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AH 2 QDS) on the kidneys of paraquat (PQ) poisoned rats via the apelin-APJ pathway. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups: control, PQ, PQ+sivelestat, and PQ+AH 2 QDS. The PQ+sivelestat group served as the positive control group. The model of poisoning was established via intragastric treatment with a 20% PQ pesticide solution at 200 mg/kg. Two hours after poisoning, the PQ+sivelestat group was treated with sivelestat, while the PQ+AH 2 QDS group was given AH 2 QDS. Six rats were selected from each group on the first, third, and seventh days after poisoning and dissected after anesthesia. The PQ content of the kidneys was measured using the sodium disulfite method. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of renal tissues was performed to detect pathological changes. Apelin expression in the renal tissues was detected using immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the following proteins in the kidney tissues: IL-6, TNF-α, apelin-APJ (the apelin-Angiotensin receptor), NF-κB p65, caspase-1, caspase-8, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and the C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In in vitro study, a PQ toxicity model was established using human tubular epithelial cells treated with standard PQ. Twenty-four hours after poisoning, sivelestat and AH 2 QDS were administered. The levels of oxidative stress in human renal tubular epithelial cells were assessed using a reactive oxygen species fluorescence probe. Results: The PQ content in the kidney tissues of the PQ group was higher than that of the PQ+AH 2 QDS group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed extensive hemorrhage and congestion in the renal parenchyma of the PQ group. Vacuolar degeneration of the renal tubule epithelial cells, deposition of crescent-like red staining material in renal follicles, infiltration by a few inflammatory cells, and a small number of cast formation were also observed. However, these pathological changes were less severe in the PQ+sivelestat group and the PQ+AH 2 QDS group (P<0.05). On the third day after poisoning, immunofluorescence assay showed that the level of apelin in the renal tissues was significantly higher in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group than in the PQ group. Western blotting analysis results showed that IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB p65, caspase-1, caspase-8, GRP78, and CHOP protein levels in the PQ group were higher than in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group (P<0.05). The expression of apelin-APJ proteins in the PQ+AH 2 QDS group was higher than in the PQ+sivelestat and PQ groups (P<0.05); this difference was significant on Day 3 and Day 7. The level of oxidative stress in the renal tubular epithelial cells of the PQ+AH 2 QDS group and the PQ+sivelestat group was significantly lower than in the PQ group (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study confirms that AH 2 QDS has a protective effect on PQ-poisoned kidneys and its positive effect is superior to that of sivelestat. The mechanism of the protective effects of AH 2 QDS may be linked to reduction in cellular oxidative stress, PQ content of renal tissue, inflammatory injury, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. AH 2 QDS may play a role in the treatment of PQ poisoning by upregulating the expression of the apelin-APJ.