Protective effect of recombinant human IL-1Ra on CCl_4-induced acute liver injury in mice

AIM: To evaluate the effects of positive regulation of recombinant human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1Ra) on hepatic tissue recovery in acute liver injury in mice induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). METHODS: Acute liver damage was induced by injecting 8-wk-old mice with CCl 4 1 mL/kg (1:3 dilution in corn oil) intraperitoneally (ip). Survival after liver failure was assessed by injecting 8-wk-old mice with a lethal dose of CCl 4 2.6 mL/kg (1:1 dilution in corn oil) ip. Mice were subcutaneously injected with 1 mg/kg recombinant human IL-1Ra twice a day after CCl 4 treatment for 5 d. Serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were determined with a commercial assay kit. Serum IL-1β, IL-1Ra levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine liver IL-1β, IL-1Ra and IL-6 expression during CCl 4-induced acute liver injury. Liver sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. A histology-injury grading system was used to evaluate the degree of necrosis after acute liver injury. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was used to evaluate the role of rhIL-1Ra in promoting hepatocyte proliferation. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis showed a higher level of IL-6 mRNA expression and reduced serum AST and ALT levels in the livers of the rhIL-1Ra-treated group at the early phase of CCl 4-induced acute liver injury. Histological examination indicated a decrease in centrilobular necrotic areas in mice treated with rhIL-1Ra, and a novel role of rhIL-1Ra in promoting hepatocyte proliferation was also supported by an increase of PCNA staining. All these results, accompanied by a strong survival benefit in rhIL-1Ra-treated vs PBS-treated groups, demonstrated that rhIL-1Ra administration ameliorated the histological damage and accelerated the regeneration and recovery process of the liver. CONCLUSION: rhIL-1Ra could be further developed as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of acute liver injury because of its ability to reduce hepatocellular damage and facilitate liver regeneration.

Interactions of a Plant Symbiont, Trichoderma Harzianum Strain T22, with Plants and Plant Pathogens

Research in laboratories around the world have demonstrated that Trichoderma harzianum is an opportunistic plant symbionts. One strain of this fungus is extremely proficient in colonizing plant roots and in controlling diseases. It was developed in this lab and is manufactured and sold on a worldwide basis. However, its mechanisms of action are still not fully known. In cooperation with Jie Chen, Jiao Tong University, and Shiping Tian, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as others, we have made substantial progress. Using maize as a model system we have demonstrated that (a) root colonization with T22 increases growth of roots and shoots that leads to a yield increase, (b) that root colonization induces systemic resistance to plant diseases on the leaves, and (c) that seed treatments with T22 increase nitrogen use efficiency. However, there are significant genetic differences with maize to T22 and its ability to induce these responses; each may be independently inherited. The maize response resulting in increased growth appears to be a single gene dominant trait. We are measuring pathogenesis related enzyme activity as a measure of resistance induction. Further, a major effort to understand the response of Mo17, a strongly positive inbred, is being conducted using proteomic approaches.

Insect-resistant transgenic Brassica crops

Although millions of hectares of cotton and corn carrying Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes are now being grown worldwide, questions remain about the most effective way to delay development of resistant insect pests. In a collaborative project with the Shelton lab at Cornell, we have developed a model system for use in empirical studies of various proposed resistance management strategies. The plant components of the model system are broccoli (Brassica oleracea ssp. italica) lines transformed with cry1Ac or cry1C Bt genes under control of constitutive (35S CaMV) or chemically-inducible promoters. The insect components are susceptible, Cry1A-resistant and Cry1C-resistant populations of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). We identified transgenic lines with high (>1 000 ng/mg total soluble protein) constitutive expression of Cry1Ac or Cry1C proteins and used them in sexual crosses to produce plants expressing both Bt genes. The two-gene plants showed Bt gene expression comparable to the parental lines, i.e. no gene silencing occurred. The cry1Ac+ cry1C plants controlled P. xylostella resistant to Cry1Ac or Cry1C proteins. Chemically inducible broccoli lines that provided insect control after treatment with the crop protectant BTH were also developed. These showed rapid high production of Cry1Ab protein and some signal transduction to untreated or newly formed leaves and heads. Older leaves of these plants produced some Bt protein and retarded insect development even when not induced, so this system may not be suitable for resistance management. Our cry1C broccoli, cauliflower, and Chinese cabbage plants also control other lepidopteran insect pests (Trichoplusia ni, Pieris rapae). A further area of work is production of two types of Bt-transgenic trap crops: glossy leaf collards (B. oleracea ssp. acephala) and Indian mustard (B. juncea). These are more attractive for P. xylostella oviposition than cabbage and also kill all larvae hatched from the eggs laid. Bt-trap crops may offer an attractive combination of biotechnology and biological control, especially when transgenic commercial crops are not accepted. A field test of how well plantings of these materials protect cabbage from insect damage will be conducted in the summer of 2005.

丙型肝炎和心脏:二者是否有关?

Background: Many enteroviruses as well as hepatitis C have been increas ingly f ound in association with cardiomyopathies, even though, the evidence has been in conclusive. Methods: From 1998 to 2001, at the liver clinic of our community bas ed hospital, in the cohort of hepatitis C patients, infection evidence by PCR co nfirmation and echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) function were obtained. Results: One hundred-eight patients were identified. Fifty percent o f them have echocardiographic abnormalities. Patients mean age was 55±10 year s; 45%women, 55%men; 32%had LVH, 13.8%had high right ventricular systolic pr essures, and 4%displayed contractility abnormalities. No cases of dilated or hy pertrophic cardiomiopathies were found. Conclusions: Echocardiographic abnormali ties are not uncommon findings associated with hepatitis C infection, however al l these findings can easily be explained by existing co-morbidities. High right ventricular systolic pressure, suggestive of pulmonary hypertension, which may be secondary to portal hypertension, is an independent finding for hepatitis C.

Fas基因启动子-670位单核苷酸腺嘌呤被鸟嘌呤取代的多态性与多胎妊娠中早产胎膜早破的关系

The relationship between a polymorphism at position - 670 in the Fas gene (TNFRSF6) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) in multifetal pregnancies was examined. Buccal swabs from 119 mother- infant sets were analyzed for an adenine (A) to guanine (G) substitution at position - 670 in the TNFRSF6 promoter. Pregnancy outcome data were subsequently obtained. Analysis was by Fisher exact test. Maternal allele G homozygosity (TNFRSF6* G) was observed in 42.4% of 33 PPROM pregnancies as opposed to 19.5% of 77 with no spontaneous preterm birth (P =. 01). Similarly, TNFRSF6* G homozygosity was present in 37.5% of 32 first- born neonates from PPROM pregnancies as opposed to 18.7% of 75 uncomplicated pregnancies (P =. 04). PPROM occurred in 8 of 14 (57.1% ) pregnancies in which mother and all neonates were TNFRSF6* G homozygotes as opposed to 25 of 105 (23.8% )- cases in which uniform TNFRSF6* G homozygosity was not observed (P =. 02). A genetic variant in the Fas gene is associated with an increased rate of PPROM in multifetal pregnancies.

患外阴前庭炎综合征妇女甘露糖结合凝集素等位基因外显子Ⅰ第54位密码子的分布改变

Objectives Mannose -binding lectin(MBL)is active in the innate immune defense against micro organisms.In this study,we determined whether vulvar vestibulitis syn-drome,a disorder of unknown etiolog y,was associated with an altered distribution of MBL alleles.Study design Buccal swabs were obtained from women with v ulvar vestibulitis syndrome in New York(62)and from 2cities in Sweden(60),as well as control women in New York(48)and Sweden(51).DNA was tested for a single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 54in exon I by p olymerase chain reaction,endonuclease digestion,and gel electrophoresis.Blood samples were also obtained fro m the New York women and tested by ELISA for plasma MBL concentra-tions.The relationships between genotype,allele frequen-cies,blood MBL levels,and diagnosiswere analyzed by Fisher exact test and oneway analysis of variance.Results The variant MBL allele,MBLB,was detected in35.5%and 26.7%of vulvar vestibulit is patients from New York and Sweden,respectively.Only 12.5%of New York controls(P =.007)and 9.8%of Swedish controls(P =.01)were MBL2-positive.All women,with one exception,who were positive for MBLB were MBLA /MBLB heterozygotes.Women who carried MBLB had almost a 10-fold reduction in median plasma MBL con-centrations(278ng /mL),as opposed to women who were MBLA homozygotes(1980ng /mL)(P<.0001).Conclusion MBLB carriage and reduced plasma MBL levels are more common in women with v ulvar vestibulitis syndrome than in control patients,a nd may contribute to symptomatology in a subset of patien ts.

慢性高血压患者妊娠期并发先兆子痫的预测模型

Objective Women with chronic hypertension are at increased risk for superimposed preeclampsia. We developed a prediction algorithm for superimposed preeclampsia using clinical and laboratory information that were measured early in pregnancy. Study design A secondary analysis of data that were collected from 110 women with chronic hypertension who were enrolled in a trial of calcium supplementation was performed. Blood pressure, the reninangiotensin system, and calcium metabolism were assessed at 12, 20, 28, and 36 weeks of gestation and 6 weeks after delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop the predictive model. Results Thirtyseven women had superimposed preeclampsia. The final model included systolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, and plasma renin activity, which were all measured at 20 weeks of gestation. Women with high systolic blood pressure (>140 mm Hg), elevated uric acid (>3.6 mg/dL), and low plasma renin activity (< 4 ng/mL/hr) had an 86%probability of having superimposed preeclampsia. Women with 2 risk factors had a 62%probability of superimposed preeclampsia, and women with only 1 risk factor had a 30%to 40%probability of superimposed preeclampsia. Conclusion We developed a prediction algorithm that can be validated in future studies for superimposed preeclampsia for women with chronic hypertension.

Rice St#pe Virus Interferes with S-acylation of Remorin and Induces Its Autophagic Degradation to Facilitate Virus Infection

Remorins are plant-specific membrane-associated proteins and were proposed to play crucial roles in plant-pathogen interactions. However, little is known about how pathogens counter remorin-mediated host responses. In this study, by quantitative whole-proteome analysis we found that the remorin protein （NbREM1） is downregulated early in Rice stripe virus （RSV） infection. We further discovered that the turn- over of NbREM1 is regulated by S-acylation modification and its degradation is mediated mainly through the autophagy pathway. Interestingly, RSV can interfere with the S-acylation of NbREM1, which is required to negatively regulate RSV infection by restricting virus cell-to-cell trafficking. The disruption of NbREM1 S-acylation affects its targeting to the plasma membrane microdomain, and the resulting accumulation of non-targeted NbREM1 is subjected to autophagic degradation, causing downregulation of NbREMI. Moreover, we found that RSV-encoded movement protein, NSvc4, alone can interfere with NbREM1 S-acylation through binding with the C-terminal domain of NbREM1 the S-acylation of OsREM1.4, the homologous remorin of NbREM1, and thus remorin-mediated defense against RSV in rice, the original host of RSV, indicating that downregulation of the remorin protein level by interfering with its S-acylation is a common strategy adopted by RSV to overcome remorin-mediated inhibition of virus movement.

Preface

Professors SHEN JiaCong, SHEN ZhiQuan and ZHUO RenXi are famous chemists and educationists of China, and academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Although born in 1931 and approaching their 80th birthdays, these scientists are still very active in both research and education. Many of their students have become professors and leaders at universities in China, the US, and other countries. The three professors have made significant contributions to the promotion and growth of polymer science in China. To commemorate their 80th birthdays, the editorial board of Science China Chemistry has produced this special issue in Chinese and English Editions.

Extension of the rice DH population genetic map with microsatellite markers

Genetic mapping of microsatellite markers was carried out in a rice DH population derived from a cross between Zaiyeqing 8 (indica) and Jingxi 17 (japonica). A total of 89 microsatellite markers, including 84 (GA)-n, 2(TCT) n, 2(ATT)-n and 1(ATC) n motifs, were integrated relatively evenly into the established genetic map of the DH population. This will facilitate the utilization of microsatillite markers in rice gene mapping and marker aided breeding.

SPECTROSCOPY OF MESONS CONTAINING TWO HEAVY QUARKS

A golden age for heavy quarkonium physics dawned at the turn of this century, initiated by the confluence of exciting advances in quantum chromodynamics （QCD） and an explosion of related experimental activity. The subsequent broad spectrum of breakthroughs, surprises, and continuing puzzles had not been anticipated. In that period, the BESII program concluded only to give birth to BESIII; the B-factories and CLEO-c flourished; quarkonium production and polarization measurements at HERA and the Tevatron matured; and heavyion collisions at RHIC opened a window on the deconfinement regime. Recently also ATLAS, CMS and LHCb started to contribute to the field. For an extensive presentation of the status of heavy quarkonium physics, the reader is referred to several reviews [1-8]. This note focuses on experimental developments in heavy quarkonium spectroscopy with very few theoretical comments. Some other comments on possible theoretical interpretations of the states not predicted by the quark model are presented in the mini-review on non qq-states.