Some Thoughts on Science-based Botanical Garden Establishment

Through analysis of the historical and present development of botanical gardens, both domestic and international, with particular focus on botanical garden practices within the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the authors propose that science-based botanical gardens (which differ from common public gardens), should be founded on plant diversity inventory and ex-situ conservation of wild plant species. Efforts should be directed to rarer species from biodiversity-rich areas and biodiversity hotspots, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to effectively preserve germplasm in living collections. Science-based botanical garden management should be directed by sound scientific evaluation of plant resources and guaranteed by innovative operational mechanisms. Science-based botanical gardens should also emphasize the establishment of identifiable and specialized living collections, research platforms and recruitment of qualified experts. In addition to curating living specimens, science-based botanical gardens should pursue research and development of new plant varieties or patents based on their plant collections, thus providing continual support to bio-industry.

Biodiversity Research in the Chinese Academy of Sciences

The year 2010 has been designated the International Year of Biodiversity by United Nations. The theme for this initiative is 'Biodiversity is life and biodiversity is our life.' A

系统性红斑狼疮中雌激素调控Th17/Treg免疫平衡的研究进展

系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)具有显著的性别差异。除了X染色体失活(XCI)异常等可能是导致SLE患者性别差异的原因外,雌激素在调控SLE患者Th17/Treg免疫平衡中发挥关键作用。雌激素通过作用于B细胞来间接影响Th17和Treg的数量和功能,在此过程中更多的是B细胞与T细胞的相互影响和作用,共同促进疾病发展。最新研究报道肠道微生物群存在性别差异,可能导致以SLE为代表的自身免疫性疾病的性别依赖性遗传易感性和表观遗传变化,SLE中雌激素与肠道微生物相互作用影响Th17/Treg的免疫平衡。本文主要综述雌激素的作用方式,以及调节SLE患者Th17/Treg免疫平衡和调控B细胞与T细胞的相互作用的机制,为选择性雌激素受体调节剂等新的治疗策略提供新靶点。

cGAS-STING信号通路:类风湿关节炎的潜在治疗靶点

环磷酸鸟苷-腺苷酸合成酶-干扰素基因刺激因子(cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon gene,cGAS-STING)信号通路作为固有免疫系统的重要组成部分,是胞质DNA识别的主要途径,cGAS可由多种胞质双链DNA触发,成为连接自身免疫、无菌炎症反应和细胞衰老的重要桥梁。近年来,cGAS-STING通路在自身免疫性疾病中越来越受到关注。在类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)中,中性粒细胞胞外陷阱(neutrophil extracellular traps,NETs)通过cGAS-STING通路引发Ⅰ型干扰素反应、加速抗瓜氨酸化蛋白抗体(anti-citrullinated peptide antibody,ACPA)产生;此外,cGAS-STING通路还通过促进成纤维细胞样滑膜细胞增殖活化、M1型巨噬细胞极化参与滑膜炎及骨破坏,参与RA的发生发展。抑制cGAS-STING通路或其下游信号通路可以减少RA的滑膜炎症,cGAS-STING通路可能是RA的潜在治疗靶点。