The seasonality of the interaction between convection over the western Pacific and general circulation in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) is analyzed in the present paper with singular value decomposition (SVD) and empir...The seasonality of the interaction between convection over the western Pacific and general circulation in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) is analyzed in the present paper with singular value decomposition (SVD) and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis approaches, based on 500 hPa monthly mean geopotential height data and high-cloud amount data. The analyses demonstrate that coupled dominant patterns in the interaction between the convection over the western Pacific and the general circulation in NH are different in various seasons. In spring, the convection over the western Pacific is closely related with the western Atlantic (WA) and North Pacific (NP) like patterns of the general circulation in NH, and some associations between the WA and NP like patterns and the El Ni o /Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle are also existed. The Pacific Japan (PJ) pattern is the dominant pattern in the interaction between the interannual variabilities of the convection over the western Pacific and the general circulation in NH summer. The WA like pattern and 3-4 year period oscillation are also relatively obvious for the summer case. In autumn, the convection over the western Pacific is closely linked with the Eurasian (EU) like pattern and the Atlantic oscillation in the general circulation in NH, it is suggested that in autumn the variation of convective activity over the western Pacific is largely affected by the general circulation anomaly (cold air from high latitudes ) through EU like teleconnection pattern. Abrupt change happened by the end of 1980′s in the autumn interaction. The strong interaction between the western Pacific (WP) and EU like patterns in the general circulation in NH and the convection over the western Pacific and a linear trend of increasing of this interaction are also suggested in winter. It is also demonstrated that the interaction in summer and winter is stronger than in the transition seasons (spring and autumn).展开更多
East Asian summer rainfall is affected by both the continental northern East Asian low (NEAL) and the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in the lower troposphere. This study investigates the joint effe...East Asian summer rainfall is affected by both the continental northern East Asian low (NEAL) and the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in the lower troposphere. This study investigates the joint effect of the two circulation factors on East Asian summer rainfall. It is found that the rainfall in East Asia behaves differently in the years with in-phase and out-of-phase variation between the NEAL and WNPSH. When the NEAL and WNPSH vary in phase, i.e. when they are both stronger, the rainfall anomaly shows a dipole pattern in East Asia and displays opposite changes between north and south of 30°N. When the two circulation factors vary out of phase, the rainfall anomaly is concentrated in the Yangtze River valley.展开更多
Previous studies suggest that spring SST anomalies over the northern tropical Atlantic(NTA) affect the tropical cyclone(TC) activity over the western North Pacific(WNP) in the following summer and fall. The pres...Previous studies suggest that spring SST anomalies over the northern tropical Atlantic(NTA) affect the tropical cyclone(TC) activity over the western North Pacific(WNP) in the following summer and fall. The present study reveals that the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is not stationary. The influence of spring NTA SST on following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is weak and insignificant before, but strong and significant after, the late 1980 s. Before the late 1980 s, the NTA SST anomaly-induced SST anomalies in the tropical central Pacific are weak, and the response of atmospheric circulation over the WNP is not strong. As a result, the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is insignificant in the former period. In contrast,after the late 1980 s, NTA SST anomalies induce pronounced tropical central Pacific SST anomalies through an Atlantic–Pacific teleconnection. Tropical central Pacific SST anomalies further induce favorable conditions for WNP TC genesis,including vertical motion, mid-level relative humidity, and vertical zonal wind shear. Hence, the connection between NTA SST and WNP TC genesis frequency is significant in the recent period. Further analysis shows that the interdecadal change in the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency may be related to the climatological SST change over the NTA region.展开更多
Based on analyzing the surface air temperature series in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere and the tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific Ocean, the relationships between climatic warming and the freq...Based on analyzing the surface air temperature series in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere and the tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific Ocean, the relationships between climatic warming and the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclone are investigated. The results showed that with the climatic warming in both hemispheres, the frequency of the tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific Ocean reduces and its intensity weakens simultaneously. A possible explanation might be that the cold air invasion from the Southern Hemisphere weakens due to global warming.展开更多
Monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) are important tools for the study of proteins′ function and structure. But there has been no report on the preparation of MAbs against human KIAA0100 protein up to date. Here, first, we ge...Monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) are important tools for the study of proteins′ function and structure. But there has been no report on the preparation of MAbs against human KIAA0100 protein up to date. Here, first, we generated the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein using purified recombinant 6×Histidinc(6×His)-tagged human KIAA0100 protein segment(1557–2234) as an antigen; then, the m RNA expression of human KIAA0100 gene was detected in U937 cells using Northern blot analysis. The results showed that the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein could sensitively recognize the human KIAA0100 protein using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry analysis. Besides, Western blot analysis revealed that human KIAA0100 gene possibly encoded two different protein products(254 k Da and < 250 k Da) in U937 cells. Moreover,Northern blot analysis confirmed that human KIAA0100 gene might produced two different m RNA products(6000–10000 bp and 5000–6000 bp) in U937 cells. The results provide a basis for large-scale production of the MAb against human KIAA0100 protein, which will be useful for the study of human KIAA0100 protein′s function/structure and MAb-targeted drugs in the future.展开更多
Four recently developed attenuation models are calibrated by using a very limited amount of strong motion data recorded in China.The research shows that the attenuation characteristics of the earthquake shaking in nor...Four recently developed attenuation models are calibrated by using a very limited amount of strong motion data recorded in China.The research shows that the attenuation characteristics of the earthquake shaking in northern China are similar to those in the western US.The supporting evidence includes Q factors,preliminary results of kappa values,stress drop, shear wave velocity profile in the shallow earth crust,areas enclosed by the isoseismals of Modified Mercalli Intensity V.From these comparison,s of different attenuation models,it is recommended that the Crouse and McGuire spectral attenuation model could possibly be used for northern China.展开更多
East Asian summer climate is strongly affected by extratropical circulation disturbances.In this study,impacts of four atmospheric teleconnections over Eurasia on East Asian summer rainfall are investigated using Nati...East Asian summer climate is strongly affected by extratropical circulation disturbances.In this study,impacts of four atmospheric teleconnections over Eurasia on East Asian summer rainfall are investigated using National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data and Climatic Research Unit (CRU) land precipitation data during 1979-2009.The four teleconnections include the Scandinavian (SCA),the Polar/Eurasian (PEU),the East Atlantic/Western Russian (EAWR),and the circumglobal teleconnection (CGT).Moreover,the related changes of lower-tropospheric circulation are explored,specifically,the low pressure over northern East Asia (NEAL) and the subtropical high over the western North Pacific (WNPSH).The results presented are in the positive phase.The PEU and SCA induce significant negative anomalies in North China rainfall (NCR),while the CGT induces significant positive anomalies.In the past three decades,the PEU and SCA explain more than 20% of the variance in NCR,twice that explained by the CGT,suggesting a more important role of the former two teleconnections in NCR variation than the latter one.Meanwhile,the PEU and SCA reduce rainfall in Northeast China and South Korea,respectively,and the CGT enhances rainfall in Japan.The rainfall responses are attributed to the SCA-induced northward shift of the NEAL,and PEU-induced northward shift and weakening of the NEAL,respectively.For the CGT,the dipole pattern of rainfall anomalies between North China and Japan is affected by both westward extension of the NEAL and northwestward expansion of the WNPSH.In addition,the EAWR leads to an increase of sporadic rainfall in South China as a result of the eastward retreat of the WNPSH.展开更多
AIM: TO inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colon cancer cell line by RNA interference (RNAi).METHODS: Followed the service of E-RNAi, we designed and constructed two kinds of ...AIM: TO inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colon cancer cell line by RNA interference (RNAi).METHODS: Followed the service of E-RNAi, we designed and constructed two kinds of shRNA expression vectors aiming at the VEGF gene, then transfected them into colon cancer HT29 cells by lipofectamineTM 2000. The level of VEGF mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR and Northern blotting. The protein expression of VEGF was observed by immunofluoresence staining and Western blotting.RESULTS: We got two kinds of VEGF specific shRNA expression vectors which could efficiently inhibit the expression of VEGF in HT29 cells. RT-PCR, Northern blotting, immunofluoresence staining and Western blotting showed that inhibition rate for VEGF expression was up to 42%, 89%, 73% and 82%, respectively.CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF can be inhibited by RNA interference in HT29 cells.展开更多
The Purbeck beds in Dorset, the Tuchengzi Formation in western Liaoning Liaoning Province or the Houcheng Formation in northern Hebei Province are non-marine Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) boundary sequences. A Czech-China...The Purbeck beds in Dorset, the Tuchengzi Formation in western Liaoning Liaoning Province or the Houcheng Formation in northern Hebei Province are non-marine Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) boundary sequences. A Czech-China Inter-Governmental S&T Cooperation Project has been carried out to search for the non-marine J/K boundary in northern China and making international correlation with the Purbeck beds in southern England. The combination of palaeomagnetism and biostratigraphy in northern China and southern England localities proves that these distant places had similar climatic conditions and the same fauna during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. A preliminary joint research has shown a fruitful result in searching for the non-marine J/K boundary in northern China.展开更多
It is beheved that the Shujiaba Formation belongs to a series of thick turbidites. 20 ichnogenera have been found in the formation, of which 14 genera were found in the Devonian System of China for the first time The ...It is beheved that the Shujiaba Formation belongs to a series of thick turbidites. 20 ichnogenera have been found in the formation, of which 14 genera were found in the Devonian System of China for the first time The ichnogenera are mostly of typical deep-water ones and belong to the Nereites ichnofacies A detailed study of morphology and behaviour of the trace fossils indicates that the Shujiaba Formation was deposited in a bathyal-abyssal environment.展开更多
Accurately determining the age of the Tuchengzi Formation has direct influence on confirming the boundary between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous systems in northern Hebei-western Liaoning, and on related geological p...Accurately determining the age of the Tuchengzi Formation has direct influence on confirming the boundary between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous systems in northern Hebei-western Liaoning, and on related geological problems in China. However, the Tuchengzi Formation mainly consists of sedi-mentary rocks, with a poor fossil record and especially lack of index fossils. The Tuchengzi Formation is also lack of the type of volcanic rocks that can provide an isotopic age. Therefore, the age of the Tuchengzi Formation has been uncertain. Based on our systematic dating of the tuff interbedded in the Tuchengzi Formation of Chengde and Jinlingsi-Yangshan basins in northern Hebei-western Liaoning, combined with the dating results of previous researchers, here we suggest that the age range of the Tuchengzi Formation in northern Hebei-western Liaoning is from 147 Ma to 136 Ma. It implied that the Tuchengzi Formation was mainly formed in the Early Cretaceous.展开更多
To investigate whether the expression of exogenous heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) could protect the cells from free radical attack and inhibit cell proliferation, we establishe...To investigate whether the expression of exogenous heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) could protect the cells from free radical attack and inhibit cell proliferation, we established an in vitro transfection of human HO-1 gene into rat VSMC mediated by a retroviral vector. The results showed that the profound expression of HO-1 protein as well as HO activity was 1.8- and 2.0-fold increased respectively in the transfected cells compared to the non-transfected ones. The treatment of VSMC with different concentrations of H2O2 led to the remarkable cell damage as indicated by survival rate and LDH leakage. However, the resistance of the HO-1 transfected VSMC against H2O2 was significantly raised. This protective effect was dramatically diminished when the transfected VSMC were pretreated with ZnPP-IX, a specific inhibitor of HO, for 24 h. In addition, we found that the growth potential of the transfected cells was significantly inhibited directly by increased activity of HO-1, and this effect might be related to decreased phosphorylation of MAPK. These results suggest that the overexpression of introduced hHO-1 is potentially able to reduce the risk factors of atherosclerosis, partially due to its cellular protection against oxidative injury and to its inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation.展开更多
文摘The seasonality of the interaction between convection over the western Pacific and general circulation in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) is analyzed in the present paper with singular value decomposition (SVD) and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis approaches, based on 500 hPa monthly mean geopotential height data and high-cloud amount data. The analyses demonstrate that coupled dominant patterns in the interaction between the convection over the western Pacific and the general circulation in NH are different in various seasons. In spring, the convection over the western Pacific is closely related with the western Atlantic (WA) and North Pacific (NP) like patterns of the general circulation in NH, and some associations between the WA and NP like patterns and the El Ni o /Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle are also existed. The Pacific Japan (PJ) pattern is the dominant pattern in the interaction between the interannual variabilities of the convection over the western Pacific and the general circulation in NH summer. The WA like pattern and 3-4 year period oscillation are also relatively obvious for the summer case. In autumn, the convection over the western Pacific is closely linked with the Eurasian (EU) like pattern and the Atlantic oscillation in the general circulation in NH, it is suggested that in autumn the variation of convective activity over the western Pacific is largely affected by the general circulation anomaly (cold air from high latitudes ) through EU like teleconnection pattern. Abrupt change happened by the end of 1980′s in the autumn interaction. The strong interaction between the western Pacific (WP) and EU like patterns in the general circulation in NH and the convection over the western Pacific and a linear trend of increasing of this interaction are also suggested in winter. It is also demonstrated that the interaction in summer and winter is stronger than in the transition seasons (spring and autumn).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 41375086]
文摘East Asian summer rainfall is affected by both the continental northern East Asian low (NEAL) and the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in the lower troposphere. This study investigates the joint effect of the two circulation factors on East Asian summer rainfall. It is found that the rainfall in East Asia behaves differently in the years with in-phase and out-of-phase variation between the NEAL and WNPSH. When the NEAL and WNPSH vary in phase, i.e. when they are both stronger, the rainfall anomaly shows a dipole pattern in East Asia and displays opposite changes between north and south of 30°N. When the two circulation factors vary out of phase, the rainfall anomaly is concentrated in the Yangtze River valley.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41505048,41461164005,41275001,41475074,41505061 and 41475081)the LASW State Key Laboratory Special Fund(Grant No.2015LASW-B04)
文摘Previous studies suggest that spring SST anomalies over the northern tropical Atlantic(NTA) affect the tropical cyclone(TC) activity over the western North Pacific(WNP) in the following summer and fall. The present study reveals that the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is not stationary. The influence of spring NTA SST on following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is weak and insignificant before, but strong and significant after, the late 1980 s. Before the late 1980 s, the NTA SST anomaly-induced SST anomalies in the tropical central Pacific are weak, and the response of atmospheric circulation over the WNP is not strong. As a result, the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency is insignificant in the former period. In contrast,after the late 1980 s, NTA SST anomalies induce pronounced tropical central Pacific SST anomalies through an Atlantic–Pacific teleconnection. Tropical central Pacific SST anomalies further induce favorable conditions for WNP TC genesis,including vertical motion, mid-level relative humidity, and vertical zonal wind shear. Hence, the connection between NTA SST and WNP TC genesis frequency is significant in the recent period. Further analysis shows that the interdecadal change in the connection between spring NTA SST and following summer–fall WNP TC genesis frequency may be related to the climatological SST change over the NTA region.
文摘Based on analyzing the surface air temperature series in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere and the tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific Ocean, the relationships between climatic warming and the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclone are investigated. The results showed that with the climatic warming in both hemispheres, the frequency of the tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific Ocean reduces and its intensity weakens simultaneously. A possible explanation might be that the cold air invasion from the Southern Hemisphere weakens due to global warming.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81270596)
文摘Monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) are important tools for the study of proteins′ function and structure. But there has been no report on the preparation of MAbs against human KIAA0100 protein up to date. Here, first, we generated the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein using purified recombinant 6×Histidinc(6×His)-tagged human KIAA0100 protein segment(1557–2234) as an antigen; then, the m RNA expression of human KIAA0100 gene was detected in U937 cells using Northern blot analysis. The results showed that the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein could sensitively recognize the human KIAA0100 protein using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry analysis. Besides, Western blot analysis revealed that human KIAA0100 gene possibly encoded two different protein products(254 k Da and < 250 k Da) in U937 cells. Moreover,Northern blot analysis confirmed that human KIAA0100 gene might produced two different m RNA products(6000–10000 bp and 5000–6000 bp) in U937 cells. The results provide a basis for large-scale production of the MAb against human KIAA0100 protein, which will be useful for the study of human KIAA0100 protein′s function/structure and MAb-targeted drugs in the future.
基金The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,and partly supported by NSFC (Grant No.59678048)
文摘Four recently developed attenuation models are calibrated by using a very limited amount of strong motion data recorded in China.The research shows that the attenuation characteristics of the earthquake shaking in northern China are similar to those in the western US.The supporting evidence includes Q factors,preliminary results of kappa values,stress drop, shear wave velocity profile in the shallow earth crust,areas enclosed by the isoseismals of Modified Mercalli Intensity V.From these comparison,s of different attenuation models,it is recommended that the Crouse and McGuire spectral attenuation model could possibly be used for northern China.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.41375086 and 41320104007)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No.2010CB950403)
文摘East Asian summer climate is strongly affected by extratropical circulation disturbances.In this study,impacts of four atmospheric teleconnections over Eurasia on East Asian summer rainfall are investigated using National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data and Climatic Research Unit (CRU) land precipitation data during 1979-2009.The four teleconnections include the Scandinavian (SCA),the Polar/Eurasian (PEU),the East Atlantic/Western Russian (EAWR),and the circumglobal teleconnection (CGT).Moreover,the related changes of lower-tropospheric circulation are explored,specifically,the low pressure over northern East Asia (NEAL) and the subtropical high over the western North Pacific (WNPSH).The results presented are in the positive phase.The PEU and SCA induce significant negative anomalies in North China rainfall (NCR),while the CGT induces significant positive anomalies.In the past three decades,the PEU and SCA explain more than 20% of the variance in NCR,twice that explained by the CGT,suggesting a more important role of the former two teleconnections in NCR variation than the latter one.Meanwhile,the PEU and SCA reduce rainfall in Northeast China and South Korea,respectively,and the CGT enhances rainfall in Japan.The rainfall responses are attributed to the SCA-induced northward shift of the NEAL,and PEU-induced northward shift and weakening of the NEAL,respectively.For the CGT,the dipole pattern of rainfall anomalies between North China and Japan is affected by both westward extension of the NEAL and northwestward expansion of the WNPSH.In addition,the EAWR leads to an increase of sporadic rainfall in South China as a result of the eastward retreat of the WNPSH.
基金Supported in part by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30300298the National Natural Science Foundation of China's Joint Research Fund for Overseas Chinese Young Scholars,No.30228026
文摘AIM: TO inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colon cancer cell line by RNA interference (RNAi).METHODS: Followed the service of E-RNAi, we designed and constructed two kinds of shRNA expression vectors aiming at the VEGF gene, then transfected them into colon cancer HT29 cells by lipofectamineTM 2000. The level of VEGF mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR and Northern blotting. The protein expression of VEGF was observed by immunofluoresence staining and Western blotting.RESULTS: We got two kinds of VEGF specific shRNA expression vectors which could efficiently inhibit the expression of VEGF in HT29 cells. RT-PCR, Northern blotting, immunofluoresence staining and Western blotting showed that inhibition rate for VEGF expression was up to 42%, 89%, 73% and 82%, respectively.CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF can be inhibited by RNA interference in HT29 cells.
基金financially supported by Mobility project of Czech Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports and Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China(8H17050)institutional support of Inst.Geol.Czech Acad.Sci.(RVO67985831)+3 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB26000000)China-Czech 42th Inter-Governmental S&T Cooperation Project(42-3)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41572006,41688103,41972007)UNESCO/IUGS/IGCP 679 project.
文摘The Purbeck beds in Dorset, the Tuchengzi Formation in western Liaoning Liaoning Province or the Houcheng Formation in northern Hebei Province are non-marine Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) boundary sequences. A Czech-China Inter-Governmental S&T Cooperation Project has been carried out to search for the non-marine J/K boundary in northern China and making international correlation with the Purbeck beds in southern England. The combination of palaeomagnetism and biostratigraphy in northern China and southern England localities proves that these distant places had similar climatic conditions and the same fauna during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. A preliminary joint research has shown a fruitful result in searching for the non-marine J/K boundary in northern China.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘It is beheved that the Shujiaba Formation belongs to a series of thick turbidites. 20 ichnogenera have been found in the formation, of which 14 genera were found in the Devonian System of China for the first time The ichnogenera are mostly of typical deep-water ones and belong to the Nereites ichnofacies A detailed study of morphology and behaviour of the trace fossils indicates that the Shujiaba Formation was deposited in a bathyal-abyssal environment.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 90714010)
文摘Accurately determining the age of the Tuchengzi Formation has direct influence on confirming the boundary between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous systems in northern Hebei-western Liaoning, and on related geological problems in China. However, the Tuchengzi Formation mainly consists of sedi-mentary rocks, with a poor fossil record and especially lack of index fossils. The Tuchengzi Formation is also lack of the type of volcanic rocks that can provide an isotopic age. Therefore, the age of the Tuchengzi Formation has been uncertain. Based on our systematic dating of the tuff interbedded in the Tuchengzi Formation of Chengde and Jinlingsi-Yangshan basins in northern Hebei-western Liaoning, combined with the dating results of previous researchers, here we suggest that the age range of the Tuchengzi Formation in northern Hebei-western Liaoning is from 147 Ma to 136 Ma. It implied that the Tuchengzi Formation was mainly formed in the Early Cretaceous.
基金This work was kindly supported by Na-tional Natural Science Foundation of China(No.39670308)
文摘To investigate whether the expression of exogenous heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) could protect the cells from free radical attack and inhibit cell proliferation, we established an in vitro transfection of human HO-1 gene into rat VSMC mediated by a retroviral vector. The results showed that the profound expression of HO-1 protein as well as HO activity was 1.8- and 2.0-fold increased respectively in the transfected cells compared to the non-transfected ones. The treatment of VSMC with different concentrations of H2O2 led to the remarkable cell damage as indicated by survival rate and LDH leakage. However, the resistance of the HO-1 transfected VSMC against H2O2 was significantly raised. This protective effect was dramatically diminished when the transfected VSMC were pretreated with ZnPP-IX, a specific inhibitor of HO, for 24 h. In addition, we found that the growth potential of the transfected cells was significantly inhibited directly by increased activity of HO-1, and this effect might be related to decreased phosphorylation of MAPK. These results suggest that the overexpression of introduced hHO-1 is potentially able to reduce the risk factors of atherosclerosis, partially due to its cellular protection against oxidative injury and to its inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation.