The roles of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in retinal diseases

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF),a multifunctional cytokine,is secreted by various cells and participates in inflammatory reactions,including innate and adaptive immunity.There are some evidences that MIF is involved in many vitreoretinal diseases.For example,MIF can exacerbate many types of uveitis;measurements of MIF levels can be used to monitor the effectiveness of uveitis treatment.MIF also alleviates trauma-induced and glaucoma-induced optic nerve damage.Furthermore,MIF is critical for retinal/choroidal neovascularization,especially complex neovascularization.MIF exacerbates retinal degeneration;thus,anti-MIF therapy may help to mitigate retinal degeneration.MIF protects uveal melanoma from attacks by natural killer cells.The mechanism underlying the effects of MIF in these diseases has been demonstrated:it binds to cluster of differentiation 74,inhibits the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway,and triggers mitogen-activated protein kinases,extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2,and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway.MIF also upregulates Toll-like receptor 4 and activates the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway.This review focuses on the structure and function of MIF and its receptors,including the effects of MIF on uveal inflammation,retinal degeneration,optic neuropathy,retinal/choroidal neovascularization,and uveal melanoma.

Exploration of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory peptides from walnut dreg proteins based on in silico and in vitro analysis

Walnut dreg protein hydrolysates(WDPHs)exhibit a variety of biological activities,however,the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)inhibitory peptide of WDPHs remain unclear.The aim of this study was to rapidly screen for such peptides in WDPHs through a combination of in silico and in vitro analysis.In total,1262 peptide sequences were observed by nano liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry(nano LC-MS/MS)and 4 novel COX-2 inhibitory peptides(AGFP,FPGA,LFPD,and VGFP)were identified.Enzyme kinetic data indicated that AGFP,FPGA,and LFPD displayed mixed-type COX-2 inhibition,whereas VGFP was a non-competitive inhibitor.This is mainly because the peptides form hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with residues in the COX-2 active site.These results demonstrate that computer analysis combined with in vitro evaluation allows for rapid screening of COX-2 inhibitory peptides in walnut protein dregs.

藏西北绒山羊子宫内膜容受性相关基因和可变剪接事件的综合分析

背景:藏西北绒山羊子宫内膜容受性是胚胎植入的关键因素,目前对于藏西北绒山羊子宫内膜容受性相关基因表达及可变剪接的认识还未明确。目的:分析并挖掘藏西北绒山羊子宫内膜容受性相关的基因和可变剪接事件。方法:在妊娠第5天和第15天(分别代表容受前子宫内膜组和容受性子宫内膜组),分别随机选取3只藏西北绒山羊,采集子宫内膜组织,苏木精-伊红染色观察组织形态,免疫组织化学检测子宫内膜容受性标志蛋白白血病抑制因子、血管内皮生长因子的表达水平;提取子宫内膜组织总RNA,质量检测合格后进行转录组测序,寻找差异表达的mRNA、长链非编码RNA、环状RNA和miRNA,进行功能预测,并分析与子宫内膜容受性相关的可变剪接mRNA和长链非编码RNA。结果与结论:(1)与容受前子宫内膜组比较,容受性子宫内膜组子宫内膜组织中白血病抑制因子和血管内皮生长因子蛋白的表达水平明显升高;(2)测序结果显示,差异表达基因多为mRNA和长链非编码RNA,包括250个上调的mRNA、193个上调的长链非编码RNA、135个下调的mRNA和123个下调的长链非编码RNA,显著富集于Wnt、Hedgehog和Hippo信号通路;(3)可变剪接事件分析显示有8个差异表达的可变剪接转录本,均为mRNA分子,其中2个下调、6个上调,与血管内皮生长因子受体信号、细胞运动和胚胎发育有关。

Study on the Inhibitory Mechanism of Sophora japonica N-hexane Extract on Microcystis aeruginosa

[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the inhibitory mechanism of Sophora japonica n-hexane extract which significantly inhibited Microcystis aeruginosa in the prior research.[Method] S.japonica n-hexane extract was used to treat M.aeruginosa.By inspecting chlorophyll a content,protein content,cell membrane permeability and superoxide dismutase（SOD） activity,the inhibitory mechanism of S.japonica n-hexane extract on M.aeruginosa was analyzed initially.[Result] S.japonica n-hexane extract destroyed the cell membrane system of M.aeruginosa,and increased the cell membrane permeability.The contents of chlorophyll a and protein respectively declined to 10% and 50% of that in the control group after cultivated for 7 d,which indicated the photosynthetic reaction system of M.aeruginosa was destroyed.In addition,under the effect of S.japonica n-hexane extract,SOD activity of M.aeruginosa increased in the early period and decreased in the latter period.[Conclusion] The possible inhibitory mechanism of S.japonica n-hexane extract on M.aeruginosa was destroying the cell membrane to increase the membrane permeability;destroying the photosynthetic reaction system to decrease the contents of photosynthetic pigment and protein;making SOD activity showing the phased variation.

Inhibitory Effects of Bacillus subtilis on Staphylococcus aureus

[Objective] To produce drug resistance, seek non-toxic environmental so as to change the current biological drugs that did not excessive use of antibiotics. [Methods] A strain of Bacillus was purified and isolated from fresh and healthy in- testines of grass carps. Biochemical identification was carried out by conventional bacterial biochemical test method. Two pairs of primers were designed, 16S rRNA detection and sequencing analysis were carried out. Drug sensitive test was carried out by agar diffusion method. In vitro inhibition test on Staphylococcus aureus was carried out by Oxford cup method. [Results] The isolated bacterium had basically the same biochemical characters as Bacillus subtilis; and the homology reached 100%. Thus, the isolated bacterium was identified to be Bacillus subtilis. It was insensitive to amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G and so on, but sensitive to amikacin, cefalexin, ciprofloxacin and cefradine. The inhibitory effects of Bacillus subtilis on Staphylococ- cus aureus were significant. The minimum inhibitory concentration （MIC） was 2.8×10^8×2^-5/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration （MBC） was 2.8×10^8×2^-2/ml. [Conclusions] The isolated Bacillus subtilis could be used to prevent and control diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and reduce the abuse of antibiotics.

Inhibitory Effects of Original Nano-Cu_2O Drug and Nano-Cu_2O Suspension on Snake Melon Botrytis cinerea

The drug-containing culture medium method for the test of toxicity was adopted to compare inhibitive effects of original nano-Cu2O drug and nano-Cu2O suspension, and nano-Cu2O drug has better inhibitive effects on snake melon Botry- tis cinerea than original nano-Cu2O drug with the same mass concentration, and inhibitory effects are positively correlated with concentration. Correlation coefficients of the toxicity regression equation are 0.892 2 and 0.996 1, effective concentration EC50 of original nano-Cu2O drug and that of nano-Cu2O suspension are 3 948.9 and 167.9 mg/kg. Original nano-Cu2O drug has an inhibitive effect on snake melon Botrytis cinerea, but the inhibition of nano-Cu2O suspension is more obvious.

巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子对人胚胎干细胞存活、增殖和分化的影响

背景:巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子(macrophage migration inhibitory factor,MIF)是一种具有多效性作用的细胞因子,可以在不同类型干细胞中自分泌并且能调控细胞的增殖、分化和迁移。课题组前期研究证实人胚胎干细胞自分泌MIF,且在培养液中浓度基本固定。然而,MIF是否参与了人胚胎干细胞的存活、增殖和分化尚不清楚。目的:探究MIF对人胚胎干细胞存活、增殖和分化的作用。方法:(1)培养人胚胎干细胞H9,CCK-8法检测并绘制细胞生长曲线,采用酶联免疫吸附法定量检测培养基中MIF水平。(2)为了明确外源性MIF对人胚胎干细胞存活、增殖的影响,分为:对照组,细胞在干细胞培养基中正常培养;外源性MIF组,在干细胞培养基中分别添加30,100,300 ng/m L的MIF;MIF抑制剂ISO-1组,在干细胞培养基中分别添加2,7,21μmol/L的ISO-1;MIF+ISO-1组,在不同浓度ISO-1组中分别添加100 ng/m L MIF,采用CCK-8法检测上述各组细胞活力。(3)为进一步阐明MIF基因对人胚胎干细胞存活、增殖的影响,采用CRISPRCas9技术构建MIF敲除的H9细胞系,观察建系情况。(4)为了明确高浓度MIF对人胚胎干细胞初步分化是否有影响,在培养基中分别添加100 ng/m L MIF和100 ng/m L CXCR4中和抗体,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(RT-q PCR)、免疫细胞荧光、蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)检测干细胞自我更新因子(KLF4、c-MYC、NANOG、OCT4、SOX2)及分化转录因子(FOXA2、OTX2)的表达水平。结果与结论:(1)人胚胎干细胞H9的对数生长期为3-6 d,正常生长的情况下自分泌MIF水平约为20 ng/m L,与细胞量无关;(2)与对照组相比,添加不同质量浓度MIF对人胚胎干细胞的增殖无影响(P>0.05);ISO-1明显抑制人胚胎干细胞的增殖,ISO-1浓度越大,抑制越明显(P<0.05);ISO-1中添加MIF可以减少ISO-1的抑制作用(P<0.05);(3)RT-q PCR检测MIF基因敲除约50%后,人胚胎干细胞生长活力显著降低并且无法建系成功;(4)在培养基中添加100 ng/m L外源性MIF,自我更新转录因子KLF4的m RNA、蛋白及荧光表达水平均下降;分化因子FOXA2的m RNA、蛋白及荧光表达水平均上升;(5)在培养基中添加100 ng/m L CXCR4中和抗体,KLF4的m RNA及蛋白表达水平均上升;FOXA2的m RNA及蛋白表达水平均下降,与MIF组表达趋势相反。综上所述,人胚胎干细胞自分泌的MIF是其存活所必需的;培养基中额外添加MIF并不能促进人胚胎干细胞增殖,但可以使自我更新因子KLF4表达下降,转录因子FOXA2表达上升,为下一步探明MIF对人胚胎干细胞分化的影响及机制提供了线索,MIF-CXCR4轴在其中起到一定的调控作用。

Inhibitory Effects of Extracts from Marigold(Tagetes patula) against Tomato Fusarium Wilt

[ Objective ] The study aimed to explore a new way for the control of Tomato Fusarium Wilt. [ Method ] Different solvents were used to prepare the ex-tracts of marigold, and the inhibitory effects of different extraction solvents and different extraction parts of marigold against Tomato Fusar/um Wilt were compared. [ Result ] Among different solvent extracts of marigold, chloroform extracts had the strongest inhibitory effects against the growth of the pathogen; among the chloro- form extracts from different parts of marigold, root extract had the most obvious inhibitory effect against the disease, followed by flower and leaf extracts, and the in- hibitory effect of stem extract was the weakest. [ Conclusion ] The active components of marigold have inhibitory effect against Tomato Fusarium Wilt, and the plant has good development prospects and application value.

不同宿主来源产气荚膜梭菌生物被膜形成前后药物敏感性分析

为了检测5株不同宿主来源产气荚膜梭菌形成生物被膜能力及其对抗菌药物的敏感性差异,首先用纸片扩散法药敏试验测定5株不同来源的产气荚膜梭菌对7种抗菌药物的敏感性;筛选高敏药物测定各菌株的最小抑菌浓度(MIC);利用结晶紫染色法检测不同来源产气荚膜梭菌生物被膜形成能力和高敏药物对生物被膜的抑制和清除能力。药敏结果显示,5株不同宿主来源产气荚膜梭菌均对氨苄西林高度敏感,对其余6种抗菌药物有不同程度耐药;氨苄西林对不同菌株的MIC值在0.031~2.000μg/mL之间;所有菌株均能生成生物被膜,但生物被膜生成能力有差异;不同菌株在各自4、2、1 MIC下生物被膜的生成受到不同程度抑制,而亚抑菌浓度的氨苄西林能刺激生物被膜的生成,氨苄西林对已经生成的生物被膜不能完全清除。结果表明,不同来源产气荚膜梭菌形成生物被膜前后对药物敏感性不同,可为产气荚膜梭菌的临床用药选择及使用剂量提供一定的参考依据。

鳖蛋黄血管紧张素转化酶抑制肽分离纯化及活性分析

为从鳖蛋黄酶解物中筛选具有血管紧张素转化酶(angiotensin converting enzyme,ACE)抑制活性的肽段,以ACE抑制活性为评价指标,采用超滤和凝胶过滤色谱技术进行分离纯化。采用液相色谱-串联质谱技术对活性组分进行肽段鉴定,借助生物信息学工具进行活性评估。优选预测活性较高的肽段进行合成和活性验证,并用分子对接工具分析活性肽与ACE的相互作用。结果表明,鳖蛋黄菠萝蛋白酶酶解物的水解度为(17.70±0.34)%,抑制ACE的半抑制浓度(half maximal inhibitory concentration,IC_(50))值为(0.210±0.019)mg/mL。对酶解产物进行分离纯化,从活性组分F3中鉴定出36条肽段,选择6条活性评分较高的肽段进行合成,其中肽段YNGIWPRD和ASDILPKK的IC_(50)值分别为(0.019 00±0.000 36)、(0.170 0±0.001 3)mg/mL。分子对接结果表明,二者均通过多条氢键与ACE紧密结合。综上,从鳖蛋黄中筛选出2条新的ACE抑制活性肽。

牡丹花中不同形态酚类化合物及其抗氧化和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性

对丹凤和香玉两种牡丹花中的游离酚、酯键合态酚、糖苷键合态酚和不溶性结合态酚进行提取,测定不同形态酚类化合物中总酚、总黄酮含量及其主要化合物组成和含量,并对其抗氧化活性和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性进行研究。结果表明,丹凤和香玉牡丹花的游离酚的总酚和总黄酮含量最高,总酚含量分别为31.45、32.64 mg/g,总黄酮含量分别为41.11、40.67 mg/g,其次是酯键合态酚和糖苷键合态酚,不溶性结合态酚含量较低;两种牡丹花游离酚均含有17种成分,其主要成分是白藜芦醇、1,2,3,4,6-O-五没食子酰葡萄糖和大波斯菊苷;酯键合态酚、糖苷键合态酚中主要成分是山柰酚-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷和大波斯菊苷。不同形态酚类化合物中游离酚的抗氧化活性最强,丹凤、香玉牡丹花游离酚对1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼自由基、2,2′-联氮-二(3-乙基苯并噻唑-6-磺酸)阳离子自由基清除能力和铁离子还原能力分别为855.03、367.10、230.54μmol/g和499.06、290.64、196.39μmol/g;丹凤和香玉牡丹花的游离酚对α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性最强,半抑制浓度分别为12.15、13.87μg/mL。研究结果对丹凤和香玉多酚利用具有一定的参考价值。

Cantharidin and Its Analogues:Anticancer and Ser/Thr Protein Phosphatase Inhibitory Activities

This paper mainly describes the anticancer activities and Ser/Thr protein phosphatase inhibitory activities of cantharidin and its analogues.

Inhibitory effects of saikosaponin-d on CCl_4-induced hepatic fibrogenesis in rats

AIM： To investigate the suppressive effect of saikosaponin-d （SSd） on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCh injections in combination with alcohol and high fat, low protein feeding and its relationship with the expression of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）, tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） and interleukins-6 （IL-6）. METHODS： Hepatic fibrosis models were induced by subcutaneous injection of CCh at a dosage of 3 mL/kg in rats. At the same time, rats in treatment groups were injected intraperitoneally with SSd at different doses （1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg） once daily for 6 wk in combination with CCh, while the control group received olive oil instead of CCh. At the end of the experiment, rats were anesthetized and killed （except for 8 rats which died during the experiment; 2 from the model group, 3 in high-dose group, 1 in medium-dose group and 2 in lowdose group）. Hernatoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Van Gieson staining were used to examine the changes in liver pathology. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, triglyeride （TG）, albumin （ALB）, globulin （GLB）, hyaluronic acid （HA） and larninin （LN） in serum and the content of hydroxyproline （HYP） in liver were measured by biochemical examinations and radioimmuneoassay, respectively. In addition, the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in liver homogenate was evaluated by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and the levels of NF-κBp65 and I-κBa in liver tissue were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS： Both histological examination and Van Gieson staining demonstrated that SSd could attenuate the area and extent of necrosis and reduce the scores of liver fibrosis. Similarly, the levels of ALT, TG, GLB, HA, and LN in serum, and the contents of HYP, TNF-α and IL-6 in liver were all significantly increased in model group in comparison with those in control group. Whereas, the treatment with SScl markedly reduced all the above parameters compared with the model group, especially in the medium group （ALT： 412 ± 94.5 IU/L vs 113.76 ± 14.91 IU/L, TG： 0.95 ± 0.16 mmol/L vs 0.51 ± 0.06 mmol/L, GLB： 35.62 ± 3.28 g/L vs 24.82 ± 2.73 g/L, HA： 42.15 ± 8.25 ng/mL vs 19.83 ± 3.12 ng/mL, LN： 27.56 ± 4.21 ng/mL vs 13.78 ± 2.57 ng/mL, HYP： 27.32 ± 4.32 ug/mg vs 16.20 ± 3.12 ug/mg, TNF-a： 4.38 ± 0.76 ng/L vs 1.94 ± 0.27 ng/L, IL-6：28.24 ± 6.37 pg/g vs 12.72 ± 5.26 pg/g, respectively, P 〈 0.01）. SSd also decreased ALB in serum （28.49 ± 4.93 g/L vs 37.51 ± 3.17 g/L, P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, the expression of NF-KB p65 in the liver of treated groups was lower than that in model groups while the expression of I-κBa was higher in treated group than in model group （P 〈 0.01）. The expression of NF-κBp65 and TNF-a had a positive correlation with the level of HA in serum of rats after treatment with CCh （r = 0.862, P 〈 0.01; r = 0.928, P 〈 0.01, respectively）. CONCLUSION： SSd attenuates CCh-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats, which may be related to its effects of hepato-protective and anti-inflammation properties, the down-regulation of liver TNF-a, IL-6 and NF-κBp65 expression and the increased I-κBa activity in liver.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor mediates macrophage migration inhibitory factor to protect neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)is a chemokine that plays an essential role in immune system function.Previous studies suggested that MIF protects neurons in ischemic conditions.However,few studies are reported on the role of MIF in neurological recovery after ischemic stroke.The purpose of this study is to identify the molecular mechanism of neuroprotection mediated by MIF.Human neuroblastoma cells were incubated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium under oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)for 4 hours and then returned to normal aerobic environment for reperfusion(OGD/R).30 ng/mL MIF recombinant(30 ng/mL)or ISO-1(MIF antagonist;50μM)was administered to human neuroblastoma cells.Then cell cultures were assigned to one of four groups:control,OGD/R,OGD/R with MIF,OGD/R with ISO-1.Cell viability was analyzed using WST-1 assay.Expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),microtubule-associated protein 2(MAP2),Caspase-3,Bcl2,and Bax were detected by western blot assay and immunocytochemistry in each group to measure apoptotic activity.WST-1 assay results revealed that compared to the OGD/R group,cell survival rate was significantly higher in the OGD/R with MIF group and lower in the OGD/R with ISO-1 group.Western blot assay and immunocytochemistry results revealed that expression levels of BDNF,Bcl2,and MAP2 were significantly higher,and expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly lower in the MIF group than in the OGD/R group.Expression levels of BDNF,Bcl2,and MAP2 were significantly lower,and expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher in the ISO-1 group than in the OGD/R group.MIF administration promoted neuronal cell survival and induced high expression levels of BDNF,MAP2,and Bcl2(anti-apoptosis)and low expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax(pro-apoptosis)in an OGD/R model.These results suggest that MIF administration is effective for inducing expression of BDNF and leads to neuroprotection of neuronal cells against hypoxic injury.

Early treadmill exercise increases macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

The neuroprotective function of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) in ischemic stroke was rarely evaluated.This study aimed to investigate the effects of early treadmill exercise on recovery from ischemic stroke and to determine whether these effects are associated with the expression levels of MIF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the ischemic area.A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the ischemia and exercise group [middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)-Ex,n = 10),ischemia and sedentary group(MCAO-St,n = 10),sham-surgery and exercise group(Sham-Ex,n= 10),or sham-surgery and sedentary group(Sham-St,n = 10).The MCAO-Ex and MCAO-St groups were subjected to MCAO for 60 minutes,whereas the Sham-Ex and Sham-St groups were subjected to an identical operation without MCAO.Rats in the MCAO-Ex and Sham-Ex groups then ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes once a day for 5 consecutive days.After reperfusion,the hanging time tested by the wire hang test was longer and the relative fractional anisotropy determined by MRI was higher in the peri-infarct region of the MCAO-Ex group compared with the MCAO-St group.The expression levels of MIF and BDNF in the peri-infarct region were upregulated in the MCAO-Ex group.Increased MIF and BDNF levels were positively correlated with relative fractional anisotropy changes in the peri-infarct region.There was no significant difference in the levels of MIF and BDNF in the peri-infarct region between the Sham-Ex and Sham-St groups.Our study demonstrated that early exercise(initiated 48 hours after the MCAO) could improve motor and neuronal recovery after ischemic stroke.Furthermore,the increased levels of MIF and BDNF in the peri-infarct region(penumbra) may be one of the mechanisms of enhanced neurological function recovery.All experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee in Asan Medical Center in South Korea(2016-12-126).

Serum and ascites levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor, TNF-α and IL-6 in patients with chronic virus hepatitis B and hepatitis cirrhosis

Objective: To study the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of chronic virus hepatitis B (CH) and hepatitis cirrhosis (HC). Methods: The serum concentrations of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 in 18 patients with chronic virus hepatitis B and in 14 patients with hepatitis cirrhosis without as- citic fluid, and the serum and ascites cytokine con- centrations in 22 HC patients with ascitic fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunity sorbed assay. Results: The cytokine concentrations of the patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. The serum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 of the 22 patients with ascitic fluid were higer than those of 14 HC patients without ascites. In the 18 patients with CH, the serum cytokine concentrations were the low- est. The serum cytokine concentrations of the 22 HC patients with ascites were significantly higher than those of the 14 HC patients without ascites (P< 0. 01). Their serum cytokine concentrations were sig- nificantly higher than those in the 18 patients with CH (P<0. 01). The concentration of IL-6 in ascites was the highest among all the groups. The serum le- vels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 are correlated with al- anine aminotransferase (ALT) in the patients with CH, but not in those with HC with or without asci- tes. Conclusions: These results indicated that MIF, TNF- α and IL-6 may participate in the pathological process of CH and cirrhosis, that IL-6 seems to play an important role in ascites formation, and that se- rum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 appear to reflect the severity of tissue injury in HBV disease.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease: An association study in New Zealand Caucasians and meta-analysis

AIM:To investigate the association of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)promoter polymorphisms with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)risk.METHODS:One thousand and six New Zealand Caucasian cases and 540 Caucasian controls were genotyped for the MIF SNP-173G>C(rs755622)and the repeat polymorphism CATT5-8(rs5844572)using a predesigned TaqMan SNP assay and capillary electrophoresis,respectively.Data were analysed for single site and haplotype association with IBD risk and phenotype.Meta-analysis was employed,to assess cumulative evidence of association of MIF-173G>C with IBD.All published genotype data for MIF-173G>C in IBD were identified using PubMed and subsequently searching the references of all PubMed-identified studies.Imputed genotypes for MIF-173G>C were generated from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium(and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).Separate meta-analyses were performed on Caucasian Crohn’s disease(CD)(3863 patients,6031controls),Caucasian ulcerative colitis(UC)(1260 patients,1987 controls),and East Asian UC(416 patients and 789 controls)datasets using the Mantel-Haenszel method.The New Zealand dataset had 93%power,and the meta-analyses had 100%power to detect an effect size of OR=1.40 atα=0.05,respectively.RESULTS:In our New Zealand dataset,single-site analysis found no evidence of association of MIF polymorphisms with overall risk of CD,UC,and IBD or disease phenotype(all P values>0.05).Haplotype analysis found the CATT5/-173C haplotype occurred at a higher frequency in New Zealand controls compared to IBD patients(0.6 vs 0.01;P=0.03,OR=0.22;95%CI:0.05-0.99),but this association did not survive bonferroni correction.Meta-analysis of our New Zealand MIF-173G>C data with data from seven additional Caucasian datasets using a random effects model found no association of MIF polymorphisms with CD,UC,or overall IBD.Similarly,meta-analysis of all published MIF-173G>C data from East Asian datasets(416UC patients,789 controls)found no association of this promoter polymorphism with UC.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor regulates proliferation of gastric cancer cells via the PI3K/Akt pathway

AIM:To investigate the effects of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on proliferation of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells and expression of cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 in them,and further determine whether the effects are related to the PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway. METHODS:Gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were cultured and then treated with 50 μg/L recombinant human MIF (rhMIF) with and without a PI3K inhibitor,LY294002 (25 μmol/L). MTT assay was used to detect the prolifer-ation of MGC-803 cells. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Expression of cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 mRNA was by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt),Akt,cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 was examined by immunocyto-chemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS:rhMIF signifi cantly stimulated the prolifera-tion of MGC-803 cells and cell cycle progression from G1 phase to S phase in a concentration-and time-de-pendent manner. After the MGC-803 cells were treated with rhMIF for 24 h,the expression of cyclin D1 was signifi cantly up-regulated compared with the cells not treated with rhMIF at both mRNA and protein levels(0.97 ± 0.02 vs 0.74 ± 0.01,P = 0.002; 0.98 ± 0.05 vs 0.69 ± 0.04,P = 0.003). The p27Kip1 was down-regulated but only statistically significant at the protein level. rhMIF significantly increased the expression of p-Akt,which reached the peak at 30 min,but did not affect the expression of Akt. However,LY294002 inhibited all the effects of rhMIF.CONCLUSION:Macrophage MIF increases the proliferation of gastric cancer cells,induces the expression of cyclin D1 at the transcriptional level and inhibits the expression of p27Kip1 at the post-transcriptional level via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

MIF May Participate in Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Rats through MAPK Signalling pathway

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model was established in fats and correlation between the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and cytokinesis with the MAPK signalling pathway in the rat ovary was measured. The PCOS model in rats was established by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).Thirty sexually immature female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally assigned to three groups:control group,PCOS group,and PCOS with high-fat diet (HFD) group.Serum hormones were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA).The ovaries'were immunohistochemically stained with MIF,and the expression of MIF,p-JNK and p-p38 was detected by Western blotting in ovaries.The serum testosterone level,LH concentration,LH/FSH ratio,fasting insulin level and HOMA IR index in the PCOS group (6.077±0.478,13.809±1.701,1.820±0.404,10.83±1.123 and 1.8692±0.1096)and PCOS with HFD group (6.075±0.439,14.075±1.927,1.779±0.277,10.20±1.377 and 1.7736±0.6851)were significantly higher than those in the control group (4.949±0.337, 2.458±0.509,1.239±0.038,9.53±0.548 and 1.5329±0.7363),but there was no significant difference between the PCOS group and PCOS with HFD group.The expression levels of MIF,p-JNK,and p-p38 in the PCOS group (0.4048±0.013,0.6233±0.093 and 0.7987±0.061)and PCOS withHFD group (0.1929±0.012,0.3346±0.103 and 0.3468±0.031)were obviously higher than those in control group (0.2492±0.013, 0.3271±0.093 and 0.3393±0.061),but no Significant difference was observed between PCOS group and PCOS with HFD group.It was suggested that MIF may participate in the pathogenesis of PCOS through the MAPK signalling pathway in PCOS rats induced by DHEA.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor as a potential prognostic factor in gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) expression and its clinical relevance in gastric cancer,and effects of MIF knockdown on proliferation of gastric cancer cells. METHODS:Tissue microarray containing 117 samples of gastric cancer and adjacent non-cancer normal tissues was studied for MIF expression by immunohistochemistry(IHC) semiquantitatively,and the association of MIF expression with clinical parameters was analyzed. MIF expression in gastric cancer cell lines was detected by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot. Two pairs of si RNA targeting the MIF gene(MIF si-1 and MIF si-2) and one pair of scrambled si RNA as a negative control(NC) were designed and chemically synthesized. All si RNAs were transiently transfected in AGS cells with OligofectamineTM to knock down the MIF expression,with the NC group and mock group(OligofectamineTM alone) as controls. At 24,48,and 72 h after transfection,MIF m RNA was analyzed by RTPCR,and MIF and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) proteins were detected by Western blot.The proliferative rate of AGS cells was assessed by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay and colony forming assay.RESULTS:The tissue microarray was informative for IHC staining,in which the MIF expression in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent noncancer normal tissues(P < 0.001),and high level of MIF was related to poor tumor differentiation,advanced T stage,advanced tumor stage,lymph node metastasis,and poor patient survival(P < 0.05 for all). After si RNA transfection,MIF m RNA was measured by real-time PCR,and MIF protein and PCNA were assessed by Western blot analysis. We found that compared to the NC group and mock group,MIF expression was knocked down successfully in gastric cancer cells,and PCNA expression was downregulated with MIF knockdown as well. The cell counts and the doubling times were assayed by MTT 4 d after transfection,and colonies formed were assayed by colony forming assay 10 d after transfection; all these showed significant changes in gastric cancer cells transfected with specific si RNA compared with the control si RNA and mock groups(P < 0.001 for all).CONCLUSION:MIF could be of prognostic value in gastric cancer and might be a potential target for small-molecule therapy.