Protein tyrosine kinase genes are the largest family of oncogenes. This is not surprising since protein tyrosine kinases are important components of signal transduction pathways that control cell shapes, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. This review will address the recent progress in understanding the function of Eph receptor and ephrin ligands in normal development and how disregulation of these functions could promote tumorigenesis.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is a key element in the Ganoderma triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway. The catalytic reaction process for CYP450 requires NADPH / NADH for electron transfer. After searching the genome dataset of Ganoderma lucidum, the unique sequence encoding CYP450 and NADPH were discovered, separately. The open reading frames of GLCYP450 and GLNADPH were cloned separately using RT-PCR strategy from G lucidum. The appropriate restriction enzyme cutting sites were introduced at the 5' and 3' ends of gene sequence. The genes of GLCYP450 and GLNADPH were recombined into the yeast expression vector pESC-URA, leading to the formation of the yeast expression plasmid pESC-GLNADPH-GLCYP450. This study provides a foundation for researching Ganoderma triterpene biosynthesis using the approach of synthetic biology.

Objective To investigate the expression of receptor tyrosine kinase EphB2 and its relationship with peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in meningiomas and to explore the possible mechanism of PTBE in meningiomas. Methods A total of 44 meningioma tissue samples from patients undergoing surgery and 14 normal meninges samples as the control were collected for the examination of the immunoreactive EphB2 expression. The expressions of EphB2 in different types of meningiomas were determined by immunohistochemical method. Peritumoral brain edema was assessed on a subjective 5 point(0～4) scale based on the data from preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan. Results ① The expressions of EphB2 in 44 cases of meningiomas were: scale 4 in 7 cases, scale 3.5 in 5 cases, scale 3 in 6 cases, scale 2.5 in 2 cases, scale 2 in 8 cases, scale 1 in 13 cases, scale 0 in 3 cases, mean scale 2.19 . ② No expression of EphB2 was found in 10 out of the 14 normal meninges samples, but minimal (scale 1) expression of EphB2 was found in only 4 cases. ③ Preoperative MRI results showed different levels of PTBE in 33 out of 44 cases. Conclusion There is expression of EphB2 in the cytoplasm in most meningiomas. The expression of EphB2 in meningnioma is positively correlated with peritumoral brain edema, suggesting that EphB2 participates in PTBE of meningiomas.

Polymorphism, Genetic ; Gene Frequency ; China ; Genetics, Population ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics*

Research on medicinal model organism is one of the core technologies to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The research progress of Salvia miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant is summarized in this paper. The genome of S. miltiorrhiza is small and its life cycle is short, as well as this plant can be stably genetically transformed. Because S. miltiorrhiza possesses the important medicinal and economic values, recently the transcriptome and genome of S. miltiorrhiza have been significantly recovered. The research prospect of S. miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant in TCM was discussed, including biosynthesis of active components and their genetic regulation, relationship between quality of TCM and ecological environments, and selective breeding of good quality lines. Furthermore, as medicinal model plant, the construction of mutant library for S. miltiorrhiza, the genome map with high quality, and the functional genome should be investigated. Accompanying modern investigation of life sciences, the platform for medicinal model plant, S. miltiorrhiza, will be promoted to be established. It is important to develop the ethnopharmacology and new drugs around the world.

Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase(HCT) is an key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acid in Lonicera japonica. In this study, eight putative HCT genes were cloned with RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technology based on the analysis of transcriptome in L. japonica. Among them, one was suggested as HCT gene (LjHCT) in L. japonica through analysis of sequence similarity, physical and chemical properties, and domain conservation of the proptein. LjHCT gene containing 1 275 bp encodes a protein with the molecular weight of 47 kDa. These results will provide foundation for exploring the function of LjHCT in Lonicera japonica.

Objective: To analyze the long-term prognosis of re-operation in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) after left sided valve replacement (LSVR) and hence evaluate the optimal timing of mentioned re-operation. Methods: A total of 59 FTR patients who had re-operation after their prior LSVR in our hospital from 1999-01 to 2013-01 were analyzed. The clinical information and post-operative follow-up results were recorded in all patients. Results: There were 5/59 (8.5%) patients died in peri-operative period and the overall post-operative mortality was 11.9% (7/59). The follow-up data of 54 survivors were available for the mean time of 51.1 (21-188) months. There were 19/54 (35.2%) patients suffered from MACE and 30 (55.6%) were beneifted by improved cardiac function. Uni-variable analysis indicated that pre-operative NYHA class IV (P=0.008), pre-operative right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (P=0.037), concomitant left-sided redo-operation (P=0.017) and TVR operation (P=0.002) were associated with all cause mortality of tricuspid re-operation. Multi-variable Cox regression analysis showed that pre-operative RV dysfunction was the only independent risk factor of long term MACE-free accumulating survival rate (HR=3.0, 95% CI 1.11-8.2,P=0.031); while TVR operation (HR=12.8, 95% CI 1.53-107.02,P=0.019) and pre-operative NYHA class IV (HR=5.3, 95% CI 1.20-24.51,P=0.032) were the independent risk factors for long-term mortality in patients after tricuspid re-operation. Conclusion: Patients with compensatory RV function showed better long term prognosis after secondary tricuspid operation. Aggressive re-operation before the occurrence of right ventricular dysfunction could be beneficial for relevant patients.

AIM:To investigate the effect of growth differentiation factor 11 ( GDF11 ) on the expansion of CD8 +memory stem T cells ( Tscm) and to further improve the effect of adoptive immunotherapy.METHODS:Healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation at first.Among the i-solated PBMCs, CD8 +T cells were further purified with MACS microbeads.The CD8 +T cells were then randomly divided into experimental groups and control group.The same volume of different concentrations of GDF11 were added into the ex-perimental groups, and the same volume of PBS solution was added into the control group.Finally, the expansion of Tscm in experimental groups and control group was measured by flow cytometry at several time points.RESULTS:GDF11 sig-nificantly increased the number of Tscm in CD8 +T cells in vitro expansion and also dramatically increased the ratio of Tscm in CD8 +T cells.Furthermore, 400 μg/L GDF11 treatment for 3 weeks was the optimal condition to induce CD8 +Tscm. CONCLUSION:GDF11 effectively increases the number and ratio of Tscm in the CD8 +T cells in cell culture growth, thereby creating a new strategy to further improve the efficiency of adoptive immunotherapy.

Objective To investigate the association between TGFβ1-509 C/T gene polymorphism with primary ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) in Chinese Han population . Methods The blood DNA and clinical data of 88 patients were collected, TGFβ1-509 C/T genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP, 107 healthy individuals were tested as controL Clinical and pathological data of the patients with different genotype were compared. Results No significant difference was found in neither genotype distributions nor allele frequencies between the patients and the control (P > 0. 05). Significant difference was found in uria protien level of the three groups of patients with different genotypes(P <0.05) ,but not in blood pressure, serum urea nitrogen or creatinine, vasculitic damage index, birminghan vasculitis activity score (P > 0. 05 ). Significant difference was found in med-heavier glomerular mesangial proliferation of the three groups ( P < 0.05 ) , but not in lighter glomerular mesangial proliferation, glomerular sclerosis, crescent formation and tubule-interstitial fibrosis and atrophy. Conclusions In Chinese Han population, TGFβ1-509 C/T polymorphism might have no relationship to susceptibility of primary AAV, but might relate to uria protein and med-heavier degree of mesenterium proliferation.

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperthermia and mild hypothermia on permeability of blood-brain barrier(BBB),activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and expression of laminin in rats with severe traumatic brain injury(TBI)so as to explore the mechanism of hyperthermia and mild hypothermia affecting permeability of BBB. Methods A total of 72 healthy adult SpragueDawley rats were randomly divided into four groups,ie,sham operation group(SO group),TBI group,hyperthermia group(HT group)and mild hypothermia group(MH group).The rats were sacrificed at 24hours and the samples of injured brain tissues collected to detect the content of Evans blue(EB),activity of MMP-9 and expression of laminin. Results The content of EB and activity of MMP-9 in HT group were more significantly increased compared with those in TBI group(P<0.05),while the expression of laminin in HT group Was more significantly decreased than that in TBI group(P<0.05).However,the content of EB and activity of MMP-9 in MH group were significantly lower than those in TBI group(P<0.05),while the expression of laminin in MH group was significantly higher than that in TBI group(P<0.05). Conclusions The high activity of MMP-9 can.degrade laminin and increase permeability of BBB after TBI.After TBI,hyperthermia can increase permeability of BBB while mild hypothermia does on the contrary,which may be related to their different roles in changing activity of MMP-9.