Ethical inspection about laboratory animals

Laboratory animals and animal experiments are foundations and important support conditions for life sciences, especially for medical research. The animal experiments have drawn extensive attention from the society because of the ethical issue. This paper takes Wenzhou Medical University as an example to give a brief introduction to the ethical review about laboratory animals in the university so as to further draw attention and concerns from the public about the ethical issue of laboratory animals. We successively introduce its scientific projects, nurturing environment and ethical review of laboratory animals.

Neurotrophins and neural stem cells in posttraumatic brain injury repair

Traumatic brain injury(TBI)is the main cause of disability,mental health disorder,and even death,with its incidence and social costs rising steadily.Although different treatment strategies have been developed and tested to mitigate neurological decline,a definitive cure for these conditions remains elusive.Studies have revealed that vari-ous neurotrophins represented by the brain-derived neurotrophic factor are the key regulators of neuroinflammation,apoptosis,blood-brain barrier permeability,neurite regeneration,and memory function.These factors are instrumental in alleviating neu-roinflammation and promoting neuroregeneration.In addition,neural stem cells(NSC)contribute to nerve repair through inherent neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties,the release of neurotrophins,the activation of endogenous NSCs,and in-tercellular signaling.Notably,innovative research proposals are emerging to combine BDNF and NSCs,enabling them to synergistically complement and promote each other in facilitating injury repair and improving neuron differentiation after TBI.In this review,we summarize the mechanism of neurotrophins in promoting neurogen-esis and restoring neural function after TBI,comprehensively explore the potential therapeutic effects of various neurotrophins in basic research on TBI,and investigate their interaction with NSCs.This endeavor aims to provide a valuable insight into the clinical treatment and transformation of neurotrophins in TBI,thereby promoting the progress of TBI therapeutics.

On implications of somatostatin in diabetic retinopathy

Somatostatin,a naturally produced neuroprotective peptide,depresses excitatory neurotransmission and exerts anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects on the retina.In this review,we summarize the progress of somatostatin treatment of diabetic retinopathy through analysis of relevant studies published from February 2019 to February 2023 extracted from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases.Insufficient neuroprotection,which occurs as a consequence of declined expression or dysregulation of retinal somatostatin in the very early stages of diabetic retinopathy,triggers retinal neurovascular unit impairment and microvascular damage.Somatostatin replacement is a promising treatment for retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic retinopathy.Numerous pre-clinical and clinical trials of somatostatin analog treatment for early diabetic retinopathy have been initiated.In one such trial(EUROCONDOR),topical administration of somatostatin was found to exert neuroprotective effects in patients with pre-existing retinal neurodysfunction,but had no impact on the onset of diabetic retinopathy.Overall,we concluded that somatostatin restoration may be especially beneficial for the growing population of patients with early-stage retinopathy.In order to achieve early prevention of diabetic retinopathy initiation,and thereby salvage visual function before the appearance of moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy,several issues need to be addressed.These include the needs to:a)update and standardize the retinal screening scheme to incorporate the detection of early neurodegeneration,b)identify patient subgroups who would benefit from somatostatin analog supplementation,c)elucidate the interactions of somatostatin,particularly exogenously-delivered somatostatin analogs,with other retinal peptides in the context of hyperglycemia,and d)design safe,feasible,low cost,and effective administration routes.

A novel live attenuated vaccine candidate protects chickens against subtype B avian metapneumovirus

Avian metapneumovirus(aMPV) is a highly contagious pathogen that causes acute upper respiratory tract diseases in chickens and turkeys, resulting in serious economic losses. Subtype B aMPV has recently become the dominant epidemic strain in China. We developed an attenuated aMPV subtype B strain by serial passaging in Vero cells and evaluated its safety and efficacy as a vaccine candidate. The safety test showed that after the 30th passage, the LN16-A strain was fully attenuated, as clinical signs of infection and histological lesions were absent after inoculation.The LN16-A strain did not revert to a virulent strain after five serial passages in chickens. The genomic sequence of LN16-A differed from that of the parent wild-type LN16(wtLN16) strain and had nine amino acid mutations. In chickens, a single immunization with LN16-A induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses, including the abundant production of neutralizing antibodies, CD4^(+) T lymphocytes, and the Th1(IFN-γ) and Th2(IL-4 and IL-6)cytokines. We also confirmed that LN16-A provided 100% protection against subtype B aMPV and significantly reduced viral shedding and turbinate inflammation. Our findings suggest that the LN16-A strain is a promising live attenuated vaccine candidate that can prevent infection with subtype B aMPV.

Loss of LBP triggers lipid metabolic disorder through H3K27 acetylation-mediated C/EBPβ-SCD activation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is associated with mutations in lipopolysaccharide-binding protein(LBP),but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain understudied.Herein,LBP^(-/-)rats with NAFLD were established and used to conduct integrative targetingactive enhancer histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation(H3K27ac)chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput and transcriptomic sequencing analysis to explore the potential epigenetic pathomechanisms of active enhancers of NAFLD exacerbation upon LBP deficiency.Notably,LBP^(-/-)reduced the inflammatory response but markedly aggravated high-fat diet(HFD)-induced NAFLD in rats,with pronounced alterations in the histone acetylome and regulatory transcriptome.In total,1128 differential enhancer-target genes significantly enriched in cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism were identified between wild-type(WT)and LBP^(-/-)NAFLD rats.Based on integrative analysis,CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteinβ(C/EBPβ)was identified as a pivotal transcription factor(TF)and contributor to dysregulated histone acetylome H3K27ac,and the lipid metabolism gene SCD was identified as a downstream effector exacerbating NAFLD.This study not only broadens our understanding of the essential role of LBP in the pathogenesis of NAFLD from an epigenetics perspective but also identifies key TF C/EBPβand functional gene SCD as potential regulators and therapeutic targets.

Application of alginate in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)represents a chronic inflammatory condition profoundly impacting the gastrointestinal tract.Its prevalence has markedly risen in both developed and developing nations over recent decades.Despite the absence of definitive etiological elucidation,therapeutic strategies predominantly revolve around pharmacological interventions aimed at symptom mitigation.Alginate(AG)is a polysaccharide of marine origin that has garnered significant attention due to its inherent biocompatibility,pH sensitivity,and cross-linking.Its exploration within drug delivery systems for IBD treatment stems from its natural sourcing,non-cytotoxic nature,and economic viability.Notably,AG demonstrates facile interpolymeric cross-linking,facilitating the formation of a cohesive network conducive to sustained drug release kinetics.AG-based carrier systems for sustained drug release,and targeted drug delivery have been widely studied.This article reviews the pathogenesis of IBD and the current drugs,AG-based drug delivery systems and their properties in alleviating IBD.The prospect of further development of AG in the field of biopharmaceutical and drug delivery is prospected.

Progress in building clinically relevant patient-derived tumor xenograft models for cancer research

Patient-derived tumor xenograft(PDX)models,a method involving the surgical extraction of tumor tissues from cancer patients and subsequent transplantation into immunodeficient mice,have emerged as a pivotal approach in translational research,particularly in advancing precision medicine.As the first stage of PDX development,the patient-derived orthotopic xenograft(PDOX)models implant tumor tissue in mice in the corresponding anatomical locations of the patient.The PDOX models have several advantages,including high fidelity to the original tumor,heightened drug sensitivity,and an elevated rate of successful transplantation.However,the PDOX models present significant challenges,requiring advanced surgical techniques and resourceintensive imaging technologies,which limit its application.And then,the humanized mouse models,as well as the zebrafish models,were developed.Humanized mouse models contain a human immune environment resembling the tumor and immune system interplay.The humanized mouse models are a hot topic in PDX model research.Regarding zebrafish patient-derived tumor xenografts(zPDX)and patient-derived organoids(PDO)as promising models for studying cancer and drug discovery,zPDX models are used to transplant tumors into zebrafish as novel personalized medical animal models with the advantage of reducing patient waiting time.PDO models provide a cost-effective approach for drug testing that replicates the in vivo environment and preserves important tumor-related information for patients.The present review highlights the functional characteristics of each new phase of PDX and provides insights into the challenges and prospective developments in this rapidly evolving field.

Curcumin alleviated dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by recovering memory Th/Tfh subset balance

BACKGROUND Restoration of immune homeostasis by targeting the balance between memory T helper(mTh)cells and memory follicular T helper(mTfh)cells is a potential therapeutic strategy against ulcerative colitis(UC).Because of its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties,curcumin(Cur)is a promising drug for UC treatment.However,fewer studies have demonstrated whether Cur can modulate the mTh/mTfh subset balance in mice with colitis.AIM To explore the potential mechanism underlying Cur-mediated alleviation of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)in mice by regulating the mTh and mTfh immune homeostasis.METHODS Balb/c mice were administered 3%and 2%DSS to establish the UC model and treated with Cur(200 mg/kg/d)by gavage on days 11-17.On the 18th d,all mice were anesthetized and euthanized,and the colonic length,colonic weight,and colonic weight index were evaluated.Histomorphological changes in the mouse colon were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining.Levels of Th/mTh and Tfh/mTfh cell subsets in the spleen were detected through flow cytometry.Western blotting was performed to detect SOCS-1,SOCS-3,STAT3,p-STAT3,JAK1,p-JAK1,and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels in colon tissues.RESULTS Cur effectively mitigates DSS-induced colitis,facilitates the restoration of mouse weight and colonic length,and diminishes the colonic weight and colonic weight index.Simultaneously,it hinders ulcer development and inflammatory cell infiltration in the colonic mucous membrane.While the percentage of Th1,mTh1,Th7,mTh7,Th17,mTh17,Tfh1,mTfh1,Tfh7,mTfh7,Tfh17,and mTfh17 cells decreased after Cur treatment of the mice for 7 d,and the frequency of mTh10,Th10,mTfh10,and Tfh10 cells in the mouse spleen increased.Further studies revealed that Cur administration prominently decreased the SOCS-1,SOCS-3,STAT3,p-STAT3,JAK1,p-JAK1,and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels in the colon tissue.CONCLUSION Cur regulated the mTh/mTfh cell homeostasis to reduce DSS-induced colonic pathological damage,potentially by suppressing the JAK1/STAT3/SOCS signaling pathway.

Anti-infection effects of heparin on SARS-CoV-2 in a diabetic mouse model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARSCo V-2)infection can result in more severe syndromes and poorer outcomes in patients with diabetes and obesity.However,the precise mechanisms responsible for the combined impact of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and diabetes have not yet been elucidated,and effective treatment options for SARS-Co V-2-infected diabetic patients remain limited.To investigate the disease pathogenesis,K18-h ACE2 transgenic(h ACE2^(Tg))mice with a leptin receptor deficiency(h ACE2-Lepr^(-/-))and high-fat diet(h ACE2-HFD)background were generated.The two mouse models were intranasally infected with a 5×10^(5) median tissue culture infectious dose(TCID_(50))of SARSCo V-2,with serum and lung tissue samples collected at 3days post-infection.The h ACE2-Lepr^(-/-)mice were then administered a combination of low-molecular-weight heparin(LMWH)(1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg)and insulin via subcutaneous injection prior to intranasal infection with1×10^(4) TCID_(50)of SARS-Co V-2.Daily drug administration continued until the euthanasia of the mice.Analyses of viral RNA loads,histopathological changes in lung tissue,and inflammation factors were conducted.Results demonstrated similar SARS-Co V-2 susceptibility in h ACE2^(Tg)mice under both lean(chow diet)and obese(HFD)conditions.However,compared to the h ACE2-Lepr^(+/+)mice,h ACE2-Lepr^(-/-)mice exhibited more severe lung injury,enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),and increased apoptosis.Moreover,combined LMWH and insulin treatment effectively reduced disease progression and severity,attenuated lung pathological changes,and mitigated inflammatory responses.In conclusion,preexisting diabetes can lead to more severe lung damage upon SARS-Co V-2 infection,and LMWH may be a valuable therapeutic approach for managing COVID-19patients with diabetes.

Whole-genome sequencing study to identify candidate markers indicating susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Bama miniature pigs

Background:Hundreds of single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)sites have been found to be potential genetic markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).However,SNPs related to T2DM in minipigs have been less reported.This study aimed to screen the T2DM-susceptible candidate SNP loci in Bama minipigs so as to improve the success rate of the minipig T2DM model.Methods:The genomic DNAs of three Bama minipigs with T2DM,six sibling lowsusceptibility minipigs with T2DM,and three normal control minipigs were compared by whole-genome sequencing.The T2DM Bama minipig-specific loci were obtained,and their functions were annotated.Meanwhile,the Biomart software was used to perform homology alignment with T2DM-related loci obtained from the human genome-wide association study to screen candidate SNP markers for T2DM in Bama miniature pigs.Results:Whole-genome resequencing detected 6960 specific loci in the minipigs with T2DM,and 13 loci corresponding to 9 diabetes-related genes were selected.Further,a set of 122 specific loci in 69 orthologous genes of human T2DM candidate genes were obtained in the pigs.Collectively,a batch of T2DM-susceptible candidate SNP markers in Bama minipigs,covering 16 genes and 135 loci,was established.Conclusions:Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics analysis of the orthologous genes in pigs that corresponded to the human T2DM-related variant loci successfully screened out T2DM-susceptible candidate markers in Bama miniature pigs.Using these loci to predict the susceptibility of the pigs before constructing an animal model of T2DM may help to establish an ideal animal model.

Establishment of organoid models for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and screening of individualized therapy strategy

Background:Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)who undergo surgical resection and receive effective chemotherapy have the best chance for longterm survival.Unfortunately,because of the heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer,it is difficult to find a personalized treatment strategy for patients.Organoids are ideal preclinical models for personalized medicine.Therefore,we explore the cultivation conditions and construction methods of PDAC organoid models to screen the individualized therapy strategy.Methods:Fresh PDAC tissues from surgical resection were collected and digested with digestive enzymes;then the tumor cells were embedded in Matrigel with a suitable medium to establish the PDAC organoid models.The genetic stability of the organoids was analyzed using whole exon sequencing;hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry of organoids were performed to analyze their consistency with the pathological morphology of the patient's tumor tissue;After 2 days of organoid culture,we selected four commonly used clinical chemotherapy drugs for single or combined treatment to analyze drug sensitivity.Results:Two cases of PDAC organoid models were successfully established,and the results of their pathological characteristics and exome sequencing were consistent with those of the patient's tumor tissue.Both PDAC organoids showed more sensitivity to gemcitabine and cisplatin,and the combined treatment was more effective than monotherapy.Conclusion:Both organoids better retained the pathological characteristics,genomic stability,and heterogeneity with the original tumor.Individual PDAC organoids exhibited different sensitivities to the same drugs.Thus,this study provided ideal experimental models for screening individualized therapy strategy for patients with PDAC.

Morphological comparison and gonadotropins cell localization of mature female turbot and mouse pituitary

Reproduction is subtlety regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad(HPG)axis in vertebrates.Pituitary gland is the center of the HPG axis,while pituitary gonadotropins follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were identified the key elements of the HPG axis in teleost and mammal.Morphology,cell lines,and gonadotropins cell localization of female turbot and mouse pituitary were determined at mature stage to illustrate the anatomical difference and cell characteristics in this study.Results show that turbot pituitary is chicken heart-shaped,dorsoventral,located on the ventral surface of the diencephalon.The mouse pituitary is oval,located in the pituitary fossa of the sella turcica at the skull base.Two well-distinguished areas adenohypophysis(AH)and neurohypophysis(NH)in pituitary were identified in turbot and mouse.Turbot AH comprised the rostral pars distalis(RPD),proximal pars distalis(PPD),and pars intermedia(PI).NH was not pronounced and with finger-like protrusions into PPD.However,mouse AH only comprised the pars distalis(PD)and PI.NH distribution was semicircular.Three main types of cells(acidophilic,basophilic,and chromophobic cells)were distributed in the mouse PD region,whereas appeared in the turbot PPD,RPD,and PI.Moreover,the percentage of mouse chromophobic and basophilic cells was higher and lower than that of turbot,respectively.The diameter of the aforementioned three cells in the mouse was significantly higher than turbot.fshβ-and lhβ-immunoreactive signals were identified in turbot-distinct pituitary cells that primarily occupied the peripheral and central regions of AH.However,mouse fsh-and lh-immunoreactive cells were expressed in the same cells and present in the PD.These results demonstrate the significantly difference of pituitary morphology,cell lines and gonadotropins(fshβand lhβ)location in female turbot and mouse.These differences help for fully understand the evolution and endocrinological functions of pituitary.

PDCD6 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Metastasis through the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin Pathway

Objective Programmed cell death 6(PDCD6), a Ca~(2+)-binding protein, has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in all kinds of tumors. The aim of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of PDCD6 in hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs).Methods The expression levels of PDCD6 in liver cancer patients and HCC cell lines were analyzed using bioinformatics and Western blotting. Cell viability and metastasis were determined by methylthiazol tetrazolium(MTT) and transwell assays, respectively. And Western blotting was used to test related biomarkers and molecular pathway factors in HCC cell lines. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor inhibiting AKT, was used to suppress the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway to help evaluate the role of this pathway in the HCC carcinogenesis associated with PDCD6.Results The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas Database suggested that high PDCD6 expression levels were relevant to liver cancer progression. This was consistent with our finding of higher levels of PDCD6 expression in HCC cell lines than in normal hepatocyte cell lines. The results of MTT, transwell migration, and Western blotting assays revealed that overexpression of PDCD6 positively regulated HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conversely, the upregulation of PDCD6 expression in the presence of an AKT inhibitor inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, PDCD6promoted HCC cell migration and invasion by epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The mechanistic investigation proved that PDCD6 acted as a tumor promoter in HCC through the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway, increasing the expression of transcription factors and cellular proliferation and metastasis.Conclusion PDCD6 has a tumor stimulative role in HCC mediated by AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling and might be a potential target for HCC progression.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal microRNAs target PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to promote the activation of fibroblasts

BACKGROUND Fibroblast plays a major role in tendon-bone healing.Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can activate fibroblasts and promote tendon-bone healing via the contained microRNAs(miRNAs).However,the underlying mechanism is not comprehensively understood.Herein,this study aimed to identify overlapped BMSC-derived exosomal miRNAs in three GSE datasets,and to verify their effects as well as mechanisms on fibroblasts.AIM To identify overlapped BMSC-derived exosomal miRNAs in three GSE datasets and verify their effects as well as mechanisms on fibroblasts.METHODS BMSC-derived exosomal miRNAs data(GSE71241,GSE153752,and GSE85341)were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.The candidate miRNAs were obtained by the intersection of three data sets.TargetScan was used to predict potential target genes for the candidate miRNAs.Functional and pathway analyses were conducted using the Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)databases,respectively,by processing data with the Metascape.Highly interconnected genes in the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network were analyzed using Cytoscape software.Bromodeoxyuridine,wound healing assay,collagen contraction assay and the expression of COL I andα-smooth muscle actin positive were applied to investigate the cell proliferation,migration and collagen synthesis.Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to determine the cell fibroblastic,tenogenic,and chondrogenic potential.RESULTS Bioinformatics analyses found two BMSC-derived exosomal miRNAs,has-miR-144-3p and hasmiR-23b-3p,were overlapped in three GSE datasets.PPI network analysis and functional enrichment analyses in the GO and KEGG databases indicated that both miRNAs regulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN).In vitro experiments confirmed that miR-144-3p and miR-23b-3p stimulated proliferation,migration and collagen synthesis of NIH3T3 fibroblasts.Interfering with PTEN affected the phosphorylation of Akt and thus activated fibroblasts.Inhibition of PTEN also promoted the fibroblastic,tenogenic,and chondrogenic potential of NIH3T3 fibroblasts.CONCLUSION BMSC-derived exosomes promote fibroblast activation possibly through the PTEN and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways,which may serve as potential targets to further promote tendon-bone healing.

In vitro antioxidant and wound healing activity of Sargassum polycystum hydroethanolic extract in fibroblasts and keratinocytes

Objective:To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and wound healing properties of the hydroethanolic extract of Sargassum polycystum,and elucidate the mechanism of its wound healing activity.Methods:Human dermal fibroblast and HaCaT cells were used to evaluate the proliferation by sulforhodamine B and dsDNA assay after treatment with Sargassum polycystum extracts.Scratch wound healing and phalloidin-rhodamine staining were employed to observe migratory activity and filopodia formation,respectively.Western blot and real-time RT-PCR assays were performed to determine the protein and gene expressions related to wound healing activities.Results:The phytochemical analysis found a higher level of flavonoid than phenolic compound in Sargassum polycystum extracts.In human dermal fibroblast cells,Sargassum polycystum extracts at 50 and 100μg/mL significantly increased fibroblast proliferation and the gene expressions of hyaluronic acid synthase 1(HAS1),HAS2,HAS3,collagen type 1 alpha 1 chain(COL1A1),collagen type 3 alpha 1 chain(COL3A1),and elastin.The phosphorylation of Akt,ERK1/2,and p38 MAPK was also significantly upregulated after treatment with Sargassum polycystum extracts.Additionally,50 and 100μg/mL of the extracts prominently enhanced the proliferation,migration,and filopodia formation of HaCaT cells,as well as the protein levels of pFAK/FAK,pSrc/Src,pAkt/Akt,pERK1/2/ERK1/2,Rac1 and Cdc42.Conclusions:Sargassum polycystum extracts show promising wound healing activities in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Protective effect of lycopene on Parkinson's disease cell model based on endoplasmic reticulum stress

Objective:To evaluate the effect of lycopene on Parkinson's disease cell model and its possible mechanism.Methods:The SH-SY5Y cells were treated with 0.5μmol/L rotenone for 24 h to establish Parkinson's disease cell model.The experiments were randomly divided into the control group,the lycopene group,the rotenone group,the pretreatment groups of different concentrations lycopene(low,medium,high concentration).Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay,the morphological changes of cells were observed under an inverted microscope,Hoechst staining was used to observe cell apoptosis,the expression and distribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress marker proteins GRP78 and CHOP in each group were detected by Western blot and cell immunofluorescence.Results:The study found that compared with the control group,the cell viability in the rotenone group was significantly decreased with obvious apoptosis;compared with the rotenone group,the cell viability of the lycopene pretreatment group was improved,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The apoptosis in the lycopene pretreatment group was decreased.The expression of GRP78 and CHOP in the rotenone group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01),while the expression of both in the high concentration lycopene pretreatment group was lower than that in the rotenone group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Lycopene pretreatment had a significant protective effect on rotenone-induced SH-SY5Y cells,which may be related to the fact that lycopene pretreatment can effectively alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress in SH-SY5Y cells damaged by rotenone.

Concise Synthesis and Fertility-Promoting Activity of Thiamidol

In order to make the synthetic route of Thiamidol more efficient and easier to scale up,a new method was developed.The compound 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone was dissolved in ethyl acetate and brominated with cupric bromide.After bromination,the mixture was filtered to remove cuprous bromide.The obtained ethyl acetate solution containing 2-bromo-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone was directly reacted with(2-methylpropanoyl)thiourea to obtain the precipitate of Thiamidol hydrobromide.The precipitate was neutralized by deacidification and recrystallized to afford Thiamidol with high purity.In addition,in the screening of fertility-promoting substances,Thiamidol was found to be effective in protecting human sperm from motility loss in vitro.This suggests that it may have potential application in fertility protection and promotion.

Variant rs8400 enhances ALKBH5 expression through disrupting miR-186 binding and promotes neuroblastoma progression

Objective:AlkB homolog 5(ALKBH5)has been proven to be closely related to tumors.However,the role and molecular mechanism of ALKBH5 in neuroblastomas have rarely been reported.Methods:The potential functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in ALKBH5 were identified by National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI)dbSNP screening and SNPinfo software.TaqMan probes were used for genotyping.A multiple logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effects of different SNP loci on the risk of neuroblastoma.The expression of ALKBH5 in neuroblastoma was evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry(IHC).Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8),plate colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)incorporation assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation.Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to compare cell migration and invasion.Thermodynamic modelling was performed to predict the ability of miRNAs to bind to ALKBH5 with the rs8400 G/A polymorphism.RNA sequencing,N6-methyladenosine(mA)sequencing,mA methylated RNA immunoprecipitation(MeRIP)and a luciferase assay were used to identify the targeting effect of ALKBH5 on SPP1.Results:ALKBH5 was highly expressed in neuroblastoma.Knocking down ALKBH5 inhibited the proliferation,migration and invasion of cancer cells.miR-186-3p negatively regulates the expression of ALKBH5,and this ability is affected by the rs8400 polymorphism.When the G nucleotide was mutated to A,the ability of miR-186-3p to bind to the 3'-UTR of ALKBH5 decreased,resulting in upregulation of ALKBH5.SPPI is the downstream target gene of the ALKBH5 oncogene.Knocking down SPP1 partially restored the inhibitory effect of ALKBH5 downregulation on neuroblastoma.Downregulation of ALKBH5 can improve the therapeutic efficacy of carboplatin and etoposide in neuroblastoma.Conclusions:We first found that the rs8400 G>A polymorphism in the m6A demethylase-encoding gene ALKBH5 increases neuroblastoma susceptibility and determines the related mechanisms.The aberrant regulation of ALKBH5 by miR-186-3p caused by this genetic variation in ALKBH5 promotes the occurrence and development of neuroblastoma through the ALKBH5-SPP1 axis.

广东五种菊头蝠的核型分析

本文用蝙蝠的新鲜肺组织和尾椎进行组织培养,然后在光学显微镜下计数30个染色体分散良好的中期分裂相细胞,并进行摄影、剪贴和测量。分析了广东地区5种菊头蝠的核型,即小菊头蝠的核型为2n =6 2 ,FN =6 0 ;角菊头蝠的核型为2n =6 2 ,FN =6 0 ;中菊头蝠的核型为2n =6 2 ,FN =6 0 ;大耳菊头蝠的核型为2n =6 2 ,FN =6 0 ;中华(栗黄)菊头蝠的核型为2n =36 ,FN =6 0。大耳菊头蝠的核型为首次报道。角菊头蝠和中菊头蝠的核型与前人报道的结果基本相同。中华(栗黄)菊头蝠的核型(2n =36 )与张维道报道的鲁氏菊头蝠相同,而与印度和斯里兰卡产R rouxii的核型2n =5 6迥异。

Acacetin protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the NLRP3 signaling pathway

Acacetin(5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone), a potential neuroprotective agent, has an inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammatory reactions. However, whether acacetin has an effect on inflammatory corpuscle 3(NLRP3) after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been fully determined. This study used an improved suture method to establish a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model in C57BL/6 mice. After ischemia with middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 hour, reperfusion with intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg/kg of acacetin(acacetin group) or an equal volume of saline(0.1 mL/10 g, middle cerebral artery occlusion group) was used to investigate the effect of acacetin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Infarct volume and neurological function scores were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and the Zea-Longa scoring method. Compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group, neurological function scores and cerebral infarction volumes were significantly reduced in the acacetin group. To understand the effect of acacetin on microglia-mediated inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, immunohistochemistry for the microglia marker calcium adapter protein ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1) was examined in the hippocampus of ischemic brain tissue. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 expression in ischemic brain tissue of mice was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of Iba1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 was significantly lower in the acacetin group compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group. Western blot assay results showed that expression of Toll-like receptor 4, nuclear factor kappa B, NLRP3, procaspase-1, caspase-1, pro-interleukin-1β, and interleukin-1β were significantly lower in the acacetin group compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group. Our findings indicate that acacetin has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and its mechanism of action is associated with inhibition of microglia-mediated inflammation and the NLRP3 signaling pathway.