This study was aimed at preliminarily investigating the molecular biological functions of the PPE65 protein from Myco-bacterium tuberculosis,and providing foundational data for tuberculosis prevention and control.The basic biological properties of the PPE65 gene-encoded protein were predicted with bioinformatics tools.Sequence information for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv3621c gene and PPE65 protein was retrieved from the NCBI database.The Rv3621c gene was amplified through PCR with the H37Rv genome as a template,then cloned into the pET22b(+)expression vector.The recombinant pET22b(+)-PPE65 plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)competent cells for IPTG-induced expression.Solubility analysis,purification,and identification of the recombinant PPE65 protein were performed.BEAS-2B cells were treated with various concentrations of PPE65 protein for 24 h,and cell proliferation was assessed with CCK-8 assays.PPE65 was found to be composed of 413 amino acids and to have a molecular formula of C????H????N???O???S??,a relative molecular mass of 40 679.88,a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.60,an ali-phatic index of 81.94,and an average hydrophilicity value of 0.319,thus indicating a stable hydrophobic protein lacking signal pep-tides or transmembrane domains.Secondary structure analysis revealed 53.03%α-helix(Hh),2.66%β-sheet(Ee),and 44.31%ran-dom coil(Cc).Bioinformatics predictions identified 38 B-cell epitopes and 22 CTL/Th-cell epitopes.The full-length PPE65 gene(1 308 bp)was confirmed through double restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing,thereby validating the correct construction of the pET22b(+)-PPE65 recombinant plasmid.SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein was found in inclusion bodies,and a single band at 43.7 kDa was observed after purification.Western blotting revealed specific binding to mouse-derived His monoclonal antibodies,thereby confirming successful expression of the PPE65 protein.BEAS-2B cells treated with a PPE65 protein concentration gradient(2.5-20 μg/mL)exhibited a dose-dependent increase in cell number.Compared with those in the PBS control group,TGF-β relative expression levels were significantly higher in all treatment groups(t2.5=4.893,P<0.001,t5.0=4.640,P<0.05,t10=7.535,P<0.05,t20=16.44,P<0.000 1).This study elucidated the structural characteristics of the PPE65 protein,successfully obtained the recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,and demonstrated its ability to promote BEAS-2B cell proliferation.The underlying mechanism might involve suppression of TGF-β/S mad signaling pathway activation.These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the role and regulatory mechanisms of PPE65 during M.tuberculosis infection.

This study was aimed at preliminarily investigating the molecular biological functions of the PPE65 protein from Myco-bacterium tuberculosis,and providing foundational data for tuberculosis prevention and control.The basic biological properties of the PPE65 gene-encoded protein were predicted with bioinformatics tools.Sequence information for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv3621c gene and PPE65 protein was retrieved from the NCBI database.The Rv3621c gene was amplified through PCR with the H37Rv genome as a template,then cloned into the pET22b(+)expression vector.The recombinant pET22b(+)-PPE65 plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)competent cells for IPTG-induced expression.Solubility analysis,purification,and identification of the recombinant PPE65 protein were performed.BEAS-2B cells were treated with various concentrations of PPE65 protein for 24 h,and cell proliferation was assessed with CCK-8 assays.PPE65 was found to be composed of 413 amino acids and to have a molecular formula of C????H????N???O???S??,a relative molecular mass of 40 679.88,a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.60,an ali-phatic index of 81.94,and an average hydrophilicity value of 0.319,thus indicating a stable hydrophobic protein lacking signal pep-tides or transmembrane domains.Secondary structure analysis revealed 53.03%α-helix(Hh),2.66%β-sheet(Ee),and 44.31%ran-dom coil(Cc).Bioinformatics predictions identified 38 B-cell epitopes and 22 CTL/Th-cell epitopes.The full-length PPE65 gene(1 308 bp)was confirmed through double restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing,thereby validating the correct construction of the pET22b(+)-PPE65 recombinant plasmid.SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein was found in inclusion bodies,and a single band at 43.7 kDa was observed after purification.Western blotting revealed specific binding to mouse-derived His monoclonal antibodies,thereby confirming successful expression of the PPE65 protein.BEAS-2B cells treated with a PPE65 protein concentration gradient(2.5-20 μg/mL)exhibited a dose-dependent increase in cell number.Compared with those in the PBS control group,TGF-β relative expression levels were significantly higher in all treatment groups(t2.5=4.893,P<0.001,t5.0=4.640,P<0.05,t10=7.535,P<0.05,t20=16.44,P<0.000 1).This study elucidated the structural characteristics of the PPE65 protein,successfully obtained the recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,and demonstrated its ability to promote BEAS-2B cell proliferation.The underlying mechanism might involve suppression of TGF-β/S mad signaling pathway activation.These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the role and regulatory mechanisms of PPE65 during M.tuberculosis infection.

Objective To study the action and mechanism of Sancai Lianmei Particle on cell apoptosis of liver cells in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2DM)combined with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(NAFLD).Methods High fat and sugar + STZ induced diabetic with fatty liver rats used as models,intervention with Sancai Lianmei Particle,intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)to assess insulin resistance,ELISA method to detect the mice serum biochemistry,insulin levels;ELISA method to detect inflammatory factors in liver homogenate;SOD and MDA levels were monitored to assess the degree of oxidative stress;ASK1/JNK/NF-κB mRNA expression in liver tissue was monitored by Real-time PCR;apoptotic-related proteins were detected by Western blot,apoptosis of hepatocytes was assayed by TUNEL;HE staining was conducted to observe the liver tissue.Results Sancai Lianmei Particle can obviously reduce the body weight of T2DM with NAFLD model rats;reduce the levels of GHb,INS,TC,TG,LDL-C,ALT,AST,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,MDA;improve insulin resistance and oxidative stress.HE staining of liver tissue showed that Sancai Lianmei Particle could alleviate the vacuolar degeneration of liver and deposition of lipid droplets.Sancai Lianmei Particle can effectively down-regulate the expressions of ASK1,JNK and NF-κB mRNA in liver tissues of model rats.Western Blot results exhibited that Sancai Lianmei Particle could significantly regulate the expression of apoptotic proteins of Bax,Caspase-3,and Bcl-2 and inhibit the apoptosis of hepatocytes.Conclusion This study proved that Sancai Lianmei Particle can improve hepatic insulin resistance and oxidative stress,slow the progression of NAFLD by regulating liver cell apoptosis based on ROS-ASK1-JNK/NF-κB pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hippocampal REV-ERBα in postoperative cognitive dysfunction in rats.Methods:Thirty-two SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 12-14 weeks, weighing 360-380 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), surgery group (group S), surgery + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (group SD), and surgery + SR9009 group (group SS). Exploratory laparotomy was performed under sevoflurane anesthesia in S, SD and SS groups.Normal saline containing 0.1% DMSO was injected into hippocampal CA1 area at 1 h before laparotomy, with 2 μl on each side in group SD, and REV-ERBα agonist SR9009 (in normal saline containing 0.1% DMSO) was injected into hippocampal CA1 area at 1 h before laparotomy, with 2 μl on each side in group S+ SR9009.Morris water maze test was performed at 1 and 3 days after operation.Rats were sacrificed at 1 h after the end of Morris water maze test on day 3 after surgery, and the hippocampal tissues were obtained for determination of the expression of REV-ERBα, Brain and Muscle ARNT-Like 1 (BMAL1) protein, synaptophysin (SYN), postsynaptic density (PSD)-95 protein and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit (GRIN2B) (by Western blot) and microscopic examination of the morphology of hippocampal neurons and Nissl bodies (by Nissl staining), and the viable neurons were counted. Results:Compared with group C, the percentage of time of staying at the target quadrant was significantly decreased, and the number of crossing platform was reduced on days 1 and 3 after exploratory laparotomy, the expression of REV-ERBα, BMAL1, PSD95, SYN and GRIN2B was down-regulated, and the number of viable neurons was decreased in group S and group SD ( P<0.05). Compared with group S and group SD, the percentage of time of staying at the target quadrant and the number of crossing platform were significantly increased on days 1 and 3 after exploratory laparotomy, the expression of REV-ERBα and PSD95 was up-regulated, the number of viable neurons was increased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of BMAL1, SYN and GRIN2B in group SS ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the indexes mentioned above between group S and group SD ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Activation of REV-ERBα can improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and the mechanism may be related to up-regulation of PSD95 expression in hippocampus and reduction of neuronal damage in rats.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hippocampal histone deacetylases (HDACs) in perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) and the relationship with postsynaptic dense protein 95 (PSD95) in rats.Methods:Sixty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 10-14 weeks, weighing 250-280 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), surgery group (group S) and HDAC inhibitor MS-275 group (group MS-275). Exploratory laparotomy was performed under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia in group S. MS-275 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 0.5 h before exploratory laparotomy in group MS-275.Morris water maze tests were performed on 1 day before surgery and 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery.Ten rats were sacrificed on 1 day after surgery, and hippocampal tissues were obtained for determination of the expression of HDAC1-3 and PSD95 protein and mRNA by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.The density of hippocampal neurons was determined by the Nissl staining. Results:Compared with group C, the postoperative escape latency was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform was decreased, the density of hippocampal neurons was decreased, the expression of HDAC2 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, and the expression of PSD95 protein and mRNA was down-regulated in group S ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group S, the postoperative escape latency was significantly shortened, the number of crossing the original platform was increased, the density of hippocampal neurons was increased, the expression of HDAC2 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the expression of PSD95 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in group MS-275 ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of HDAC1 and HDAC3 protein and mRNA among the three groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:HDAC2 is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of PND by down-regulating the expression of PSD95 in rats.

This paper reviewed the studies on the effect of electroacupuncture in improving learning and memory functions in the past 10 years. It showed an overview of the mechanisms that how acupuncture worksed: promoting synaptic plasticity, regulation of microvascular injury and oxidative stress; slowing down the progress of brain cell apoptosis, inhibition of inflammatory response;regulating neurotransmitter release and protecting the ultrastructure of neurons. In addition, this paper puts forth the problems which left in the current studies.

ObjectiveTo discuss the epidemiological characteristic s of road traffic injuries in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and explore effective pre ventive measures against traffic accidents in the plateau as well as correspondi ng emergency treatment methods.MethodsA retrospective statis tical analysis was carried out in 1 894 cases of traffic injuries with detailed data admitted in our hospital from January 1980 to December 2000. Resu ltsMost of the traffic accidents occurred on the Qinghai-Tibet road, accounting for 68.0% (1 288/1 894). Of the patients with serious traffic inju ries, 54.0% (1 022/1 894) were in need of hospitalization. The patients who first entered into the plateau accounted for 61.1% (1 158/ 1 894). Death occurre d in 108 cases accounting for 5.7%. The duration from injury to treatment was ve ry long, average over six hours. Furthermore, the patients received no any manag ement before treatment in the hospital. ConclusionsHypoxia i n the plateau, unclear road sign and fatigue driving are the main factors leadin g to traffic accidents. Lack of health care units, serious hypoxia, long deliver y time and carriers' deficiency in medical knowledge are the main causes for gr eat amount of casualties.