1.Gene Regulation by Histone Arginine Modifications
Zhikui CHENG ; Qianping GUO ; Huijian WU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2006;0(11):-
Methylation of histone by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) plays an important role in gene regulation. PRMT1- and PRMT4-catalyzed methyl-arginine is involved in transcription activation, while PRMT5- and PRMT6-catalyzed methyl-arginine is associated with transcription repression. Histone arginine methylation can be dynamically regulated in vivo, and methyl-arginine is demethylated by "arginine demethylase". Here, the most recent progresses in the methylation studies of histone arginine were summarized.
2.Effect of Bu-Shen Yi-Sui Sheng-Xue Method for Medicated Serum of Rats with Aplastic Anemia on Mechanism of Proliferation and Differentiation of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
Chen TIAN ; Xinxue ZHANG ; Fengfeng ZHANG ; Zongjiang ZHAO ; Mingxiu CHENG ; Yingchao WANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Zhikui WU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2014;(5):1090-1096
This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Bu-Shen Y i-Sui Sheng-Xue (BSYSSX) method on pro-liferation and differentiation mechanisms of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The rat models were established by 60Co-γrays and cyclophosphamide. Compound Chinese medicine was gavaged to rats of the normal control group, model group, stanozolol group, Yi-Sui Sheng-Xue (YSSX) group, Wen-Shen Sheng-Xue(WSSX) group and Zi-Shen Sheng-Xue (ZSSX) group. Then, serum of rat was prepared. Rat bone marrow cells were incubated with AA rats serum ac-counted for 20% and the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells colony-forming units (CFU) were counted. The level of GATA-1 and PU.1 mRNA in colony cells were detected with RT-PCR. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the number of bone marrow cells, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-GM, as well as the expres-sion of GATA-1 and PU.1 mRNA in the model group decreased significantly (P< 0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of bone marrow cells, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-GM of each treatment group were significantly in-creased (P< 0.01). CFU-E and BFU-E of the ZSSX group were better than the YSSX group (P < 0.01). CFU-GM of the ZSSX group was better than the YSSX group and the WSSX group. The expression of GATA-1 and PU.1 mR-NA in each treatment group were significantly higher than the model group (P< 0.01). The expression of GATA-1 mRNA in the ZSSX group was better than the YSSZ group and WSSX group (P< 0.05). The expression of PU.1 mR-NA in the ZSSX group was higher than the YSSX group and WSSX group. It was concluded that BSYSSX method may increase the expression of GATA-1 and PU.1 mRNA in order to promote the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells. The ZSSX method was better than the YSSX method and WSSX method.
3.Effect of melatonin on expression and activity of myosin light chain kinase in the artery wall of atherosclerotic rabbits
Huaqing ZHU ; Xiaowen CHENG ; Zhikui JIANG ; Linlin XIAO ; Li ZUO ; Ruolei HU ; Sumei ZHANG ; Qing ZHOU ; Shuyu GUI ; Yuan WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 1986;0(05):-
Aim To study the effect of melatonin on expression and activity of myosin light chain kinase in the artery wall of atherosclerotic rabbits.Methods The rabbit model of atherosclerosis was induced by a high-cholesterol diet.The blood lipid levels were assayed in the serum of each group.MLCK expression was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical method.MLCK activity was measured by ?-32P-ATP incorporation into myosin light chain.Results The atherosclerosis model was established successfully.The levels of lipids decreased after MLT treatment.After fed with cholesterol for twelve weeks,the expression and activity of MLCK in the artery of atherosclerotic rabbits increased markedly,whereas there was no obvious difference in expression of MLCK in the artery of atherosclerotic rabbits fed with cholesterol and melatonin for twelve weeks compared with that of control.Conclusions It was suggest that high expression and activity of MLCK in the artery might be closely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis.Melatonin played an important role in inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis by decreasing the expression and activity of MLCK.
4.Interaction of B-group streptococcal infection and chorioamnionitis in low birth weight infants during late pregnancy
Zhikui LIU ; Yajuan FENG ; Lan CHENG
Journal of Chinese Physician 2023;25(5):734-738
Objective:To investigate the interaction of B-group streptococcal infection and chorioamnionitis (CAM) with late pregnancy and low birth weight infant (LBWI).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 524 postpartum women who underwent regular prenatal examinations and completed delivery at the Taizhou Second People′s Hospital from October 2019 to April 2022. According to their newborn birth weight, they were divided into normal group (466 cases) and LBWI group (58 cases). The age, pregnancy times, birth times, pregnancy body mass index (BMI), cesarean section history, abortion history, anemia during pregnancy, hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, diabetes during pregnancy, vaginitis, B-group streptococcal infection, CAM, premature rupture of membranes, postpartum hemorrhage, puerperal infection, neonatal preterm delivery, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal infection, fetal distress were compared between the two groups. The influencing factors of LBWI were analyzed using logistic regression. The correlation and interaction between B-group streptococcal infection and CAM on LBWI were analyzed.Results:There was a statistically significant difference in age, history of miscarriage, gestational hypertension, vaginitis, B-group streptococcal infection, CAM, premature rupture of membranes, neonatal preterm birth, neonatal infection and fetal distress between the two groups (all P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that gestational hypertension, B-group streptococcal infection, CAM, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, neonatal infection, and fetal distress were risk factors for LBWI (all P<0.05). B-group streptococcal infection, CAM, and LBWI were positively correlated ( r=0.587, 0.604, all P<0.001). The interaction analysis results showed a positive correlation between B-group streptococcal infection, CAM, and LBWI (all P<0.001). Conclusions:B-group streptococcal infection in late pregnancy, CAM, and LBWI are positively correlated, and their coexistence can increase the risk of LBWI.