We studied the function of connexin 43 (Cx43) gene in Xiao Meishan swine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) resulting from overexpression. Cx43 eukaryotic expression vector (pEGFP-Cx43) was constructed and transfected into BMSCs by nucleofector, after detecting the transfection efficiency; the expression of Cx43 was verified by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and western blotting. Furthermore, we detected its cell cycle and apoptosis through flow cytometry. Our results show that pEGFP-Cx43 plasmid was successfully constructed, and green fluorescence in pEGFP-Cx43 transfected BMSCs was highly expressed with 60% transfection efficiency. In transgenic Xiao Meishan swines BMSCs, the expression level of Cx43 mRNA and protein were up-regulated. Meanwhile, the ability of cell proliferation was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly reduced. Taken together, Cx43 overexpression could promote the proliferation of Xiao Meishan swine's BMSCs and markedly reduce their apoptosis, which provides evidence for in vivo research.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Vectors ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Swine ; genetics ; Transfection

[Abstract ] In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology has played an important role in basic and clini-cal application research of Parkinson′s disease ( PD) and acquired significant progress .The neural progenitor /stem cells or dopamine ( DA) neurons which were obtained through iPSCs technique and direct differentiation technique from somatic cells were used for the study of cell therapy in PD , and good results were achieved .The cell models of DA neurons were established from PD patients carrying LRRK2, PAKK2, PINK or SNCA mutations via iPSCs technology , and the mitochondrial function and morphology , oxidative stress,α-synuclein ( SNCA) accumulation , and other aspects were studied on the pathogenesis of PD .This article briefly reviews the latest pro-gress of iPSCs technology in transplantation for treatment of PD and the establishment of cell model of PD disease , and provides refer-ence for further research .

Objective To explore the difference of DNA methylation levels between normal Schwann cells (NSCs) and activated Schwann cells (ASCs) in rats. Methods The adult Wistar rats were received sciatic nerve ligation and fed for 7 days. The ASCs and NSCs were separated from ligated sciatic nerves and brachial plexus respectively. Immunocytochemical staining of S-100 antibody was used to identify the cells. The growth condition of cells was detected by CCK-8 method. Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) was applied to filter the differentially methylated regions in ASCs and NSCs. The distribution of differentially methylated genes related with axonal regeneration in chromosome was analyzed, and Gene ontology(GO)and PATHWAY analysis were also conducted. Results High purity of ASCs and NSCs were obtained successfully, which were both positive for S-100 antibody. In the same culture condition, ASCs showed a faster proliferation than that of NSCs. A total of 177 176 differentially methylated regions were found by MeDIP-Seq. Among them, 1 097 were located in the promoter (≤1 kb), 1 136 in the promoter (1-2 kb) and 567 on the CpG. After functional annotation of differentially methylated genes, 214 differentially methylated genes related with axonal regeneration were found in ASCs and NSCs. Compared with NSCs, 191 genes were up-regulated and 23 genes were down-regulated in ASCs. These genes were located on different chromosomes, most of which on chromosome 12 (22 genes) and the least on chromosomes M (2 genes). GO analysis indicated that the differential methylated genes were involved in axon growth, axon formation, axon elongation and axon guidance. The MAPK, cell adhesion molecules, Ras signaling pathway may be related with the differential methylated genes. Conclusion The methylation levels between ASCs and NSCs are significantly different, which are probably related with axon regeneration.

Objective To confirm the immunomodulatory effect of ursolic acid on normal and immunosuppressive mice caused by cyclophosphamide.Methods We assayed the function of T lymphocyte transformation with MTT test,examined the function of B lymphocyte with hemolysis spectrophotography,determined the function of non-specific immunity with phagocytosis of macrophages,and measured the content changes of Th_(1) cytokine IL-2 and Th_(2) cytokine IL-6 in serum with ELISA.Results Ursolic acid had a suppressant effect on the function of humoral immunity and enhanced cell-mediated immune response at the low dosage but presented opposite effect at the high dosage in normal mice.Ursolic acid significantly improved immune function on immunosuppressive mice caused by cyclophosphamide(P

This study was to explore a better three-dimensional (3-D) culture method of chondrocyte. The interpenetrating network (IPN) gel beads were developed through a photo-cross linking reaction with mixed barium ions and calcium ions at the ratio of 5:5 with the methacrylic alginate (MA), which was a chemically conjugated alginate with methacrylic groups. The second generation of primary cartilage cells was encapsulated in the MA gel beads for three weeks. In the designated timing, HE stain, Alamar blue method and Scanning electron microscopic were used to determine the cartilage cells growth, proliferation and the cell distribution in the scaffolds, respectively. The expression of type II collagen was investigated by an immunohistochemistry assay and the glycosaminoglycan content was quantitatively evaluated with the spectrophotometry of 1, 9 dimethylene blue assay. Compared to the alginate control group, the deposition of glycosaminoglycan was significantly upregulated in IPN-MA gel beads with higher cell proliferation. The secretion of extracellular matrix and proliferation of chondrocyte in methacrylic alginate gel beads were higher than that in Alginate beads. Cells were able to attach, to grow well on the scaffolds under scanning electron microscopy. The result of immunohistochemistry staining of collagen type II was positive, confirming the maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype in methacrylic alginate gel beads. This study shows a great potential for three-dimensional culture of cartilage.
Alginates ; chemistry ; Barium ; chemistry ; Calcium ; chemistry ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Cations ; Cell Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Collagen Type II ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Glycosaminoglycans ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Metals ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of 1, 25-(OH)2D3 on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODSType 2 diabetic mellitus (DM) model rats were established by intraperitoneally injecting with 30 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 8 weeks, 19 male rats were identified as diabetic with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by ultrasound examination, and randomly assigned into three groups: untreated (DM-LVH, n=7), treated with insulin (DM-LVH+INS, n=6), and treated with 1, 25-(OH)2D3 (DM-LVH+VD, n=6). Healthy male rats were used as the controls group (n=6). The fasting blood glucose and the insulin level were determined weekly. The left ventricular mass index, myocardial collagen content, collagen volume fraction, and 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor level were determined by 4 weeks later.

RESULTSIn the DM-LVH model group, the insulin level was significantly decreased compared with the non-diabetic control group (P<0.05), whereas the blood glucose, left ventricular mass index, myocardial collagen content, collagen volume fraction, and 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor expression were significantly increased (all P<0.05). In the DM-LVH+INS and DM-LVH+VD groups, the insulin levels were significantly increased compared with the DM-LVH model group (P<0.05), whereas the other parameters were significantly decreased (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION1, 25-(OH)2D3 could reverse LVH in diabetic rats and that the mechanism may involve stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood glucose via direct up-regulation of 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor expression.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Calcitriol ; therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; prevention & control ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; analysis ; Streptozocin

Background Image clarity during near work is influenced by several factors,such as accommodative lag,pupil size and monochromatic aberrations.Since image clarity during extended reading at near distance has been cited as a possible inducement of myopia in childhood and a possible difference between myopic and emmetropic people throughout life,it is important to examine these factors in myopic and emmetropic myopic juvenile during reading at near distance. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among wavefront aberrations,accommodative response and pupil size in early onset and progressive myopes eyes under the different reading status and explore the possible mechanism of the development of myopia as well. Methods Fiflyseven subjects aged from 12 to 16 years were enrolled and grouped as emmetropes,the onset of myopes and progressive myopes.Reading material were Chinese novels presented by rapid serial visual presentation at a distance of 25 cm. Accommodative response and pupil size were recorded by a Grand Seiko WV-500 autorefractor.The Image J software was used to calculate the pupil diameter.Wavefront aberrations were then measured with a WASCA wavefront analyzer. Results Aberrations and accommodative response showed large inter-subjeet variability.With accommodative stimulus of 4 diopter,the accommodative lag in the early-onset of myopes group and progressive myopes group were ( 1.72 ±0. 53) D and ( 1.74 ±0. 44) D, showing larger value in comparison with ( 0. 96 ±0. 55) D of emmetropes group( t＝4.25 ,t=4.47 ,P<0. 001). However,there were no significant differences in accommodative lag between the early-onset of myopes group and progressive myopes group( t = 0. 18, P>0. 05). The mean value of pupil diameter, total RMS value, high-order RMS value, spherical aberration and coma were all significantly reduced with the stimulus varied from 0 D to 4 D( P<0. 01). However,none of the pupil sizs,total RMS value,high-order RMS value,spherical aberration and coma had significant difference among different refractive groups( P>0. 05). Conclusion The early-onset of myopes and progressive myopes had larger accommodative lag. The lower sensitivity to defocus at near reading distance,inducing the larger accommodative lag and hyperopic defocus may be linked to the developing myopia.

Objective:To describe the expression profiling of microRNAs of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods:We reduced the scope of downregulated microRNAs in patients with non-small lung cancer by high throughput microarray based on quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In this process, the downregulated microRNAs of non-small cell lung cancer tissues can be de-tected and compared with adjacent healthy lung tissues with relatively small samples. Different microRNA expression levels in non-small cell lung cancer and adjacent healthy lung tissues were verified in a large sample by RT-PCR. Results:A total of 20 types of microRNAs were significantly downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer tissues compared with adjacent healthy lung tissues. These microRNAs were listed as follows: hsa-miR-1; hsa-miR-22; hsa-miR-27a; hsa-miR-27b; hsa-miR-125a-5p; hsa-miR-125b;hsa-miR-142-5p;hsa-miR-143;hsa-miR-148a;hsa-miR-148b;hsa-miR-370;hsa-miR-373;hsa-miR-381;hsa-miR-489;hsa-miR-519a;hsa-miR-376c;hsa-miR-206;hsa-miR-380-5p;hsa-miR-223-5p;and hsa-miR-520c-3p. Among these microRNAs, 13 types were down-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer tissues as verified by RTPCR. These 13 types of microRNAs were listed as follows:hsa-miR-125a-5p; hsa-miR-143; hsa-miR-519a; hsa-miR-223-5p; hsa-miR-1; hsa-miR-520c-3p; hsa-miR-489; hsa-miR-27a;hsa-miR-373; hsa-miR-125b; hsa-miR-27b; hsa-miR-142-5p; and hsa-miR-206. Conclusion: In non-small lung cancer tissue, several kinds of microRNAs were significantly downregulated. Changes in microRNA expressions were significantly associated with tumori-genesis, progression, or other cancer cell functions in non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective Using Morris water maze test to evaluate the effects of guanosine and curcumin on cognitive function of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice .Methods 3-month old APPswe/PS1dE9 dtg mice were randomly di-vided into model group , donepezil HCL group , guanosine group , curcumin group , curcumin and guanosine group ( n=12), with age-matched Wild C57BL/6J mice of the same genetic background as normal control group .Medication was giv-en once a day for 1 month.Using Morris water maze to test the spatial learning and memory ability of mice .Results Guanosine and curcumin could improve spatial learning and memory disorders of AD mice , particularly in the group of cur-cumin.Conclusion Guanosine and curcumin improve the cognitive ability of APPswe /PS1dE9 double transgenic mice with early cognitive impairment .