On the Impairment of Stress-Induced Changes in Triglyceride Levels via a Sub-Toxic Dose of Unmethylated Cytidine Phosphate Guanosine Oligodinucleotide (a Toll-Like Receptor 9 Ligand)

Changes in lipid metabolism have been implicated in protection against infectious diseases. In the first experiment of this study, we measured clinical lipid parameters in a murine model where the unmethylated cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) oligodinucleotide (ODN1826), a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist was administered in combination with D-galactosamine (GalN) that caused relatively liver-specific inflammation and toxicity. In the control mice group injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (acute psychological stress model associated with blood sampling), the serum triglyceride (TG) levels showed a rapid decrease followed by a rebound at 24 h as we have recently reported. However, such a TG rebound was impaired in the CpG/GalN- and solely CpG-treated groups of mice despite an absence of liver injury based on serum alanine aminotransferase levels in the latter group. Thus, the stress-associated serum TG rebound was abrogated by the injection of a sub-hepatotoxic CpG dose. In the second experiment, we simply measured the hepatic CD36 and SACRB1 (the gene for scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1)) transcripts after the i.p. administration of PBS, CpG or CpG/GalN. There was a remarkable elevation of hepatic CD36 transcript expression in both the CpG- and CpG/GalN-treated mice at 8 h post-CpG injection whereas the increase in the PBS-treated mice was slower than the former two groups, suggesting that hepatic CD36 transcript expression is more pronounced in the combined stress models than under psychological stress alone. The individual mice data showed that the increase in CD36 expression was accompanied by a reduction in SCARB1 mRNA, showing reciprocal regulation between these two genes. Together with our previously reported findings, these data suggest that, in a murine model combining psychological stress with TLR-triggered hepatic inflammation, the psychological stress facilitates liver uptake of plasma TG (and its components fatty acids), but the subsequent re-esterification and/or release of TG-rich lipoproteins from the liver is impaired due to the concomitant TLR-signaling. We hypothesize that lipid metabolism during acute stress shifts toward an elevated hepatic uptake of lipids due to concomitant TLR signaling, facilitating the clearance of bacterial lipids by the liver.

A spectral study of the interaction between chelerythrine chloride and cytidine

To study the possible anticancer mechanisms of chelerythrine (CHE), and its interactions with cytidine were investigated by UV–vis spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric measurements and by thermodynamic calculations. The binding of CHE to cytidine could be characterized by the hypochromic and bathochromic effects in the absorption bands, and the quenching of fluorescence intensity. The spectral data were fit by linear analysis, yielding a binding constant of 2.49 × 10(4) L mol(?1)at 25 °C of CHE and cytidine, and a van’t Hoff enthalpy of ?20.02 kJ/mol for the exothermic interaction in the standard state. In addition, with and , the interactions should be entropy-driven.

Symptomatic improvement in an acute, non-traumatic spine pain model with a combination of uridine triphosphate, cytidine monophosphate, and hydroxocobalamin

Rationale: In a previously published trial on spinal acute non-traumatic pain, peripheral neuro- regenerative combination of UTP, CMP and hydroxocobalamin presented unexpected analgesicproperties. Objective: To corroborate analgesiceffects of UTP, CMP and hydroxocobalamin combination in a self-paired evolutionary model. Methods: Mean VAS scores from pretreatment, V2 (5th treatment day) and V3 (10th treatment day) were plotted and statistically analyzed (ANOVA) for differences. PFQ scores from pretreatment, V2, and V3 were analyzed using the chisquare test. Results: The difference between V3 and pretreatment mean VAS scores was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The improvement in PFQ scores throughout the study was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The combination of UTP, CMP and hydroxocobalamin seems to have analgesic properties in mediumterm use. The complex peripheral neu-roregenerative pharmacodynamics of this combination provides a plausible basis for this finding. Further randomized studies are needed to explore this combination for the indication of neuropathic pain due to spinal structure involvement.

Enhanced production of cytidine 5'-monophosphate using biocatalysis of di-enzymes immobilized on amino-functionalized sepharose

Cytidine 5'-monophosphate(5'-CMP)is an essential nucleotide for additives.In this study,enhanced production of 5'-CMP was realized by the transformation of cytidine using co-immobilized di-enzymes,uridine-cytidine kinase(UCK)and acetate kinase(AcK).The immobilization yield of the enzyme had a clear correlation with the surface charges as zeta potential(ξ).Among them,ε-polylysinefunctionalized sepharose(SA-EPL,ξ=9.31 m V)showed high immobilization yield(78.8%),which was4.9-fold than that of nitrilotriacetic acid functionalized sepharose(SA-NTA,ξ=-12.6 m V).The residual activity of affinity co-immobilized enzyme(EPL-Ni/EPL@Ac K-UCK)was higher than 70.6%after recycled 10 times.Thus,this study provides an effective approach for the production of 5'-CMP with the advantages of low adenosine 5'-triphosphate(ATP)consumption,reduced side reactions,and improved reusability by co-immobilized UCK and Ac K on the functionalized Sepharose.

X-ray Examination of the Complex Adenosine, Guanosine and Cytidine with UO2^2＋ Ions

Interaction of dioxouranitm （VI） UO2^2＋ ion with Adenosine-5＇-triphosphate, Guanosine-5＇-triphosphate and 3ytidine-5＇-triphosphate were obtained a complexs of Adenosine, Guanosine and Cytidine with uranium UO2^2＋ ions and X-ray nethod to explore these complexes.

Protection of a cytidine deaminase gene gainst toxicity of high dose chemotherapy in mice

Objective： To explore the feasibility of transfecting cytidine deaminase （CD） gene into mouse bone marrow cells in order to observe the drug resistance of high dose Ara-C and improve the tolerance of myelosuppression following combination chemotherapy. Methods： Human cytidine deaminase gene was transfected into mice bone marrow cells by retroviral vector. Resistant colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage （CFU-GM） assay was performed after the transfected mice bone marrow cells treated by the Ara-C. DNA was extracted from mice bone marrow cells. The drug resistant gene in mice bone marrow cells after transfection was detected by PCR. Results： Bone marrow cells of the donor mice cultured with the retroviral producer cells showed the drug resistant colonies and resistance to Ara-C, so did accept mice transplanted with the CD gene （CFU-GM of donor mice was 52%, χ^2 = 124.62, P 〈 0.01; accept mice was 54%, χ^2 = 126.26, P 〈 0.01, both compared with the contrast group）. The animal survival rate was significantly higher in gene transfected group than that of the control （χ^2= 7.42, P 〈 0.01）. CD gene of transfected bone marrow cells was confirmed by PCR. Conclusion： CD gene can be transfected into bone marrow cells of mice efficiently and increase the drug resistance to Ara-C.

Cytidine Mediated AuAg Nanoclusters as Bright Fluorescent Probe for Tumor Imaging in vivo

Noble metal clusters is an emerging class of fluorescent probes, avoiding most of the drawbacks of common fluorescent compounds, and they are simple to prepare and have good water solubility, good biocompatibility and excellent fluorescence properties. In this study, we have explored the synthesis of the cytidine mediated gold-silver nanoclusters （AuAg NCs） and applied it for both in vitro cellular imaging and tumor in vivo detection. Experimental results show that the as-prepared AuAg NCs can be used as a sensitive fluorescent probe for cancer cells/tissue de- tection. Especially, it is evident that under the relevant light irradiation with the wavelength of 488 nm, obviously bright fluorescence signal could be readily detected from focus location of inoculating tumor mouse, implying its possible application for the effective in vivo tumor bioimaging.

Induction of nucleoside phosphorylase in Enterobacter aerogenes and enzymatic synthesis of adenine arabinoside

Nucleoside phosphorylases (NPases) were found to be induced in Enterobacter aerogenes DGO-04, and cytidine and cytidine 5′-monophosphate (CMP) were the best inducers. Five mmol/L to fifteen mmol/L cytidine or CMP could distinctly increase the activities of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase), uridine phosphorylase (UPase) and thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) when they were added into medium from 0 to 8 h. In the process of enzymatic synthesis of adenine arabinoside from adenine and uracil arabinoside with wet cells of Enterobacter aerogenes DGO-04 induced by cytidine or CMP, the reaction time could be shortened from 36 to 6 h. After enzymatic reaction the activity of NPase in the cells induced remained higher than that in the cells uninduced.

Expression of AID, P53, and Mlh1 proteins in endoscopically resected differentiated-type early gastric cancer

AIM: To analyze the expression of the tumor-related proteins in differentiated-type early gastric carcinoma (DEGC) samples. METHODS: Tumor specimens were obtained from 102 patients (75 males and 27 females) who had received an endoscopic tumor resection at Tottori University Hospital between 2007 and 2009. Ninety-one cancer samples corresponded to noninvasive or intramucosal carcinoma according to the Vienna classification system, and 11 samples were submucosal invasive carcinomas. All of the EGCs were histologically differentiated carcinomas. All patients were classified as having Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections by endoscopic atrophic changes or by testing seropositive for H. pylori IgG. All of the samples were histopathologically classified as either tubular or papillary adenocarcinoma according to their structure. The immunohistochemical staining was performed in a blinded manner with respect to the clinical information. Two independent observers evaluated protein expression. All data were statistically analyzed then. RESULTS: The rates of aberrant activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) expression and P53 overexpression were both 34.3% in DEGCs. The expression of Mlh1 was lost in 18.6% of DEGCs. Aberrant AID expression was not significantly associated with P53 overexpression in DEGCs. However, AID expression was associated with the severity of mononuclear cell activity in the non-cancerous mucosa adjacent to the tumor (P = 0.064). The rate of P53 expression was significantly greater in flat or depressed tumors than in elevated tumors. The frequency of Mlh1 loss was significantly increased in distal tumors, elevated gross-type tumors, papillary histological-type tumors, and tumors with a severe degree of endoscopic atrophic gastritis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Aberrant AID expression, P53 overexpression, and the loss of Mlh1 were all associated with clinicopathological features and gastric mucosal alterations in DEGCs. The aberrant expression of AID protein may partly contribute to the induction of nuclear P53 expression.

Early Application of Citicoline in the Treatment of Acute Stroke:A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early application of citicoline in the treatment of patients with acute stroke by meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials published until May 2015 were electronically searched in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, Clinical Trial.gov, and China Biology Medicine disc. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted the data based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included articles was evaluated by using Revman5.0, and meta-analysis was performed. The results showed that 1027 articles were obtained in initial retrieval, and finally 7 articles, involving a total of 4039 cases, were included for analysis. The meta-analysis showed that no significant differences were found in the long-term mortality（OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.09, P=0.30）, the rate of dependency（OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.24, P=0.85）, and the effective rate（OR=0.98, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.14, P=0.82） between citicoline group and control group. The overall rate of adverse events in citicoline group was not significantly different from that in control group（P=0.30）. The quality of included articles reached moderate-low level. In conclusion, citicolne cannot reduce long-term mortality and dependence rate in the treatment of acute stroke, and the effective rate of citivoline may be not better than that of controls but with reliable safety.

Polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and AICDA Genes in Adult Allergic Asthma

The relationship between 3 polymorphisms sites [interleulin-4 (IL-4), IL-4 receptor (IL-4R)α chain and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA)] and adult allergic asthma in China was studied. By using case-control method, DNA and clinical data were obtained from allergic asthmatic patients and compared with those in the control subjects. The subjects were genotyped for the IL-4 C-589T promoter polymorphism, the IL-4Rα chain Q576R and the AICDA C8408T by poly-merase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The results showed that the IL-4 C-589T was not associated with adult allergic asthma in China. However, the IL-4Rα chain 576R/R and AICDA 8408T/T frequency was significantly increased in allergic asthma group as compared with that in the control group [odd ratio (OR) = 3. 797 and 9. 127, respectively; P<0. 01)] and was correlated with the increased plasma total IgE. These data suggested that the IL-4Rα chain 576R/R and AICDA 8408T/T genotypes confer genetic susceptibility to adult allergic asthma in China.

Association of polymorphisms of cytosine arabinoside- metabolizing enzyme gene with therapeutic efficacy for acute myeloid leukemia

Background The cytosine arabinoside （Ara-C）-based chemotherapy is the major remedial measure for acute myeloid leukemia （AML）. Deoxycytidine kinase （DCK） and cytidine deaminase （CDA） are the key enzymes in the metabolism of Ara-C. Many single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） and haplotypes of DCK and CDA, which contribute to susceptibility to Ara-C, have been identified in Africans and Europeans. However, there has been no report about the relation among three SNPs in DCK （rs115543896, rs72552079, and rs111454937） and two SNPs in CDA （rs2072671 and rs60369023）, and their clinical response to Ara-C for a Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether these five SNPs are associated with the therapeutic outcomes of Ara-C-based chemotherapy regimens in patients with AML. Methods A total of 151 Chinese patients with AML were enrolled in our study. SNPs genotyping were performed using the MassARRAY system by means of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） method. Results The results illustrated that DCKrs111454937 AA genotype was more frequent in patients with higher platelet count, and A allele frequency was significantly higher in the group 〈40 years, lower white blood cell （WBC） count patients group and the group with platelet counts 〉60xl0e/L. Meanwhile, both DCKrs72552079 TC （OR=1.225, 95% C1=1.225-9.851, P=0.0192） and CDArs60369023 GA （OR=9.851,95% C1=1.31-77.93, ,~=-0.0263） significantly improved Ara-C-based chemotherapy response. While DCKrs11554389 AA （OR=0.147, 95% CI=0.027-0.801, P=0.0267） was associated with the decrease of Ara-C-based chemotherapy response. Conclusion It is evident that the DCK and CDA polymorphisms might be the important markers for the AML patients＇ therapy outcomes in a Chinese population.

Development of gemcitabine-resistant patient-derived xenograft models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Aim:Gemcitabine is a frontline agent for locally-advanced and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),but neither gemcitabine alone nor in combination produces durable remissions of this tumor type.We developed three PDAC patient-derived xenograft(PDX)models with gemcitabine resistance(gemR)acquired in vivo,with which to identify mechanisms of resistance relevant to drug exposure in vivo and to evaluate novel therapies.Methods:Mice bearing independently-derived PDXs received 100 mg/kg gemcitabine once or twice weekly.Tumors initially responded,but regrew on treatment and were designated gemR.We used immunohistochemistry to compare expression of proteins previously associated with gemcitabine resistance[ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1(RRM1),RRM2,human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1(hCNT1),human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1(hENT1),cytidine deaminase(CDA),and deoxycytidine kinase(dCK)]in gemR and respective gemcitabine-naïve parental tumors.Results:Parental and gemR tumors did not differ in tumor cell morphology,amount of tumor-associated stroma,or expression of stem cell markers.No consistent pattern of expression of the six gemR marker proteins was observed among the models.Increases in RRM1 and CDA were consistent with in vitro-derived gemR models.However,rather than the expected decreases of hCNT1,hENT1,and dCK,gemR tumors expressed no change in or higher levels of these gemR marker proteins than parental tumors.Conclusion:These models are the first PDAC PDX models with gemcitabine resistance acquired in vivo.The data indicate that mechanisms identified in models with resistance acquired in vitro are unlikely to be the predominant mechanisms when resistance is acquired in vivo.Ongoing work focuses on characterizing unidentified mechanisms of gemR and on identifying agents with anti-tumor efficacy in these gemR models。

Attempts to remodel the pathways of gemcitabine metabolism: Recent approaches to overcoming tumours with acquired chemoresistance

Gemcitabine is a cytidine analogue frequently used in the treatment of various cancers.However,the development of chemoresistance limits its effectiveness.Gemcitabine resistance is regulated by various factors,including aberrant genetic and epigenetic controls,metabolism of gemcitabine,the microenvironment,epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,and acquisition of cancer stem cell properties.In many situations,results using cell lines offer valuable lessons leading to the first steps of important findings.In this review,we mainly discuss the factors involved in gemcitabine metabolism in association with chemoresistance,including nucleoside transporters,deoxycytidine kinase,cytidine deaminase,and ATP-binding cassette transporters,and outline new perspectives for enhancing the efficacy of gemcitabine to overcome acquired chemoresistance.

模仿自然界——基于基因高频突变的蛋白质人工进化技术

从上世纪50年代发现DNA双螺旋结构以来,科学家积累了大量的有关生物的生理和病理分子机理的知识。人们期望从生物学的基础研究中衍生出高效、环保的生物相关制造产业,为人类服务。为了发展生物制造产业,生物基础元件蛋白质和基因的制造技术必不可少。最近出现了一种基于基因高频突变的蛋白质人工进化技术。这一技术已成功应用于新抗体的产生,以及抗体和荧光蛋白质的改造。这一技术的进一步发展将成为蛋白质改造、乃至新蛋白质制造的重要工具。

APOBEC deaminases-mutases with defensive roles for immunity

In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in the elucidation of the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of the apolioprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC) family of enzymes. The APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases has important functional roles within the adaptive and innate immune system. Activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) plays a central role in the biochemical steps of somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination during antibody maturation, and the APOBEC 3 enzymes are able to inhibit the mobility of retroelements and the replication of retroviruses and DNA viruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 and hepatitis B virus. Recent advances in structural and functional studies of the APOBEC enzymes provide new biochemical insights for how these enzymes carry out their biological roles. In this review, we provide an overview of these recent advances in the APOBEC field with a special emphasis on AID and APOBEC3G.

CRISPR-Cas nucleases and base editors for plant genome editing

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)—CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)and base editors are fundamental tools in plant genome editing.Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes(SpCas9),recognizing an NGG protospacer adjacent motif(PAM),is a widely used nuclease for genome editing in living cells.Cas12a nucleases,targeting T-rich PAMs,have also been recently demonstrated in several plant species.Furthermore,multiple Cas9 and Cas12a engineered variants and orthologs,with different PAM recognition sites,editing efficiencies and fidelity,have been explored in plants.These RNA-guided sequence-specific nucleases(SSN)generate double-stranded breaks(DSBs)in DNA,which trigger non-homologous end-joining(NHEJ)repair or homology-directed repair(HDR),resulting in insertion and deletion(indel)mutations or precise gene replacement,respectively.Alternatively,genome editing can be achieved by base editors without introducing DSBs.So far,several base editors have been applied in plants to introduce C-to-T or A-to-G transitions,but they are still undergoing improvement in editing window size,targeting scope,off-target effects in DNA and RNA,product purity and overall activity.Here,we summarize recent progress on the application of Cas nucleases,engineered Cas variants and base editors in plants.

A Novel DT40 Antibody Library for the Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies

Early etiological diagnosis is very important for the control of sudden viral infections,and requires antibodies with both high sensitivity and high specificity.Traditional antibody preparation methods have limitations,such as a long and arduous cycle,complicated operation,and high expenses.A chicken lymphoma cell line,DT40,is known to produce IgM-type antibodies and undergo gene conversion and somatic mutation in the variable region of the immunoglobulin gene during culture.Here,the DT40 cell line was developed to produce antibody libraries and prepare antibody rapidly in vitro.Since hypermutation in DT40 cells was regulated by the activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID)gene,AID expression needs to be controlled to either fix the Ig sequence by stopping mutation or improve affinity by resuming mutation after the antibodies have been selected.In this study,we generated a novel AID-inducible DT40 cell line(DT40-H7),in which the endogenous AID gene was knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system,and an inducible AID gene,based on the Tet-Off expression system,was stably transfected.AID expression was controlled in DT40-H7 cells in a simple and efficient manner;gene conversion and point mutations were observed only when AID was expressed.Using the antibody library generated from this cell line,we successfully obtained monoclonal antibodies against the NS1 protein of Zika virus.The DT40-H7 cell line represents a useful tool for the selection and evolution of antibodies and may also be a powerful tool for the rapid selection and generation of diagnostic antibodies for emerging infectious diseases.

Affinity maturation of anti-TNF-alpha scFv with somatic hypermutation in non-B cells

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID)is required for the generation of antibody diversity through initiat-ing both somatic hypermutation(SHM)and class switch recombination.A few research groups have success-fully used the feature of AID for generating mutant li-braries in directed evolution of target proteins in B cells in vitro.B cells,cultured in suspension,are not con-venient for transfection and cloning.In this study,we established an AID-based mutant accumulation and sorting system in adherent human cells.Mouse AID gene was first transfected into the human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells,and a stable cell clone(H1299-AID)was selected.Afterwards,anti-hTNF-αscFv(ATscFv)was transfected into H1299-AID cells and ATscFv was displayed on the surface of H1299-AID cells.By 4-round amplification/flow cytometric sorting for cells with the highest affinities to hTNF-alpha,two ATscFv mutant gene clones were isolated.Compared with the wild type ATscFv,the two mutants were much more efficient in neutralizing cytotoxicity of hTNF-alpha.The results indicate that directed evolution by somatic hypermutation can be carried out in adherent non-B cells,which makes directed evolution in mammalian cells easier and more efficient.