RESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of the obesity-associated gene STEAP4 in obese children. Fifty-three obese children and 33 children with a standard body weight (control) from our hospital were recruited to this study. The expression of STEAP4 mRNA and protein in the adipose tissue were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in order to analyze the relationship between STEAP4 mRNA and protein levels and blood pressure, blood lipid profile, blood glucose levels, and inflammation in obese children. Obese children showed significantly lower levels of STEAP4 mRNA and protein in the adipose tissue compared to the control subjects (P < 0.05). The obese subjects exhibited significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, and a significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, compared to the control subjects (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that STEAP4 expression was negatively correlated with the DBP, SBP, TC, TG, LDL, FPG, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and was positively correlated with the HDL level (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the expression of STEAP4 was significantly downregulated in the adipose tissue of obese children and was closely related to the blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, and inflammation in these patients; therefore, these results could provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of childhood obesity.
Assuntos
Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Obesidade/genética , Oxirredutases/genética , Adipócitos/metabolismo , Adipócitos/patologia , Glicemia/metabolismo , Pressão Sanguínea , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Regulação para Baixo/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Obesidade/sangue , Obesidade/fisiopatologia , Oxirredutases/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
The feather is a valuable by-product with a huge annual yield produced by the poultry industry. Degradation of feathers by microorganisms is a prerequisite to utilize this insoluble protein resource. To improve the degrading efficiency of feathers, mutagenesis of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis S1-4 was performed. By combining ultraviolet irradiation and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment for mutagenesis, a high protease-producing mutant (UMU4) of B. subtilis S1-4 was selected, which exhibited 2.5-fold higher extracellular caseinolytic activity than did the wild-type strain. UMU4 degraded chicken feathers more efficiently, particularly for the release of soluble proteins from the feathers, compared to the wild-type strain. Furthermore, an extracellular protease with a molecular weight of 45 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, was purified from UMU4. Biochemical characterization indicated that the caseinolytic activity of the protease was largely inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, suggesting that the purified enzyme is a serine protease. This protease was highly active over a wide range of pHs (6.0 to 12.0) and temperatures (50° to 75°C) with an optimal pH and temperature of 8.0 and 65°C, respectively. The purified enzyme exhibited good thermostability with a 72.2 min half-life of thermal denaturation at 60°C. In addition, this protease was not sensitive to heavy metal ions, surfactants, or oxidative reagents. In conclusion, strain improvement for protease production can serve as an alternative strategy to promote feather degradation. The UMU4 mutant of B. subtilis and its serine protease could be potentially used in various industries.
Assuntos
Bacillus subtilis/enzimologia , Plumas/microbiologia , Serina Proteases/metabolismo , Animais , Bacillus subtilis/genética , Bacillus subtilis/isolamento & purificação , Bacillus subtilis/efeitos da radiação , Galinhas , Plumas/metabolismo , Mutagênese , Serina Proteases/química , Serina Proteases/genética , Raios UltravioletaRESUMO
The bean flower thrips, Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagrall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important pest of legume crops in South China. Yellow, blue, or white sticky traps are currently recommended for monitoring and controlling thrips, but it is not known whether one is more efficient than the other or if selectivity could be optimized by trap color. We investigated the response of thrips and beneficial insects to different-colored sticky traps on cowpea, Vigna unguiculata. More thrips were caught on blue, light blue, white, and purple traps than on yellow, green, pink, gray, red, or black traps. There was a weak correlation on the number of thrips caught on yellow traps and survey from flowers (r = 0.139), whereas a strong correlation was found for blue traps and thrips' survey on flowers (r = 0.929). On commercially available sticky traps (Jiaduo®), two and five times more thrips were caught on blue traps than on white and yellow traps, respectively. Otherwise, capture of beneficial insects was 1.7 times higher on yellow than on blue traps. The major natural enemies were the predatory ladybird beetles (63%) and pirate bugs Orius spp. (29%), followed by a number of less representative predators and parasitoids (8%). We conclude the blue sticky trap was the best to monitor thrips on cowpea in South China.
Assuntos
Controle de Insetos/instrumentação , Tisanópteros , Vigna , Animais , ChinaRESUMO
To study the role of boswellic acid in reducing asthma phenotype severity and the relationship between the expression of pSTAT6 and GATA3, thirty-six mice were randomly divided into normal control group, asthma group, and boswellic acid group (treatment group). The asthma model was established through an intraperitoneal injection of sensitization liquid (0.15 mL aluminum hydroxide gel at 88.67 mg/mL and 0.05 mg ovalbumin). pSTAT6 and GATA3 expression levels in peripheral blood were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. pSTAT6 and GATA3 gene expressions in the asthmatic group were significantly higher than in the normal control group; they were markedly lower in the treatment group than the asthma group, and there was no significant difference when compared with the normal control group. The pSTAT6 expressions in the asthma, control and treatment groups were 2.256 ± 0.125, 0.524 ± 0.210, and 0.897 ± 0.134 at gray level, respectively. The GATA3 expressions in the asthma, control, and treatment groups were 3.521 ± 0.631, 0.435 ± 0.136, and 0.743 ± 0.149 at gray level, respectively. pSTAT6 and GATA3 expression levels were similar in the treatment and control groups. GATA3 expression had a positive correlation with pSTAT6 expression. Boswellic acid may improve asthma symptoms by inhibiting pSTAT6 expression, which consequently reduces GATA3 expression.
Assuntos
Asma/tratamento farmacológico , Asma/patologia , Regulação para Baixo/efeitos dos fármacos , Fator de Transcrição GATA3/genética , Fator de Transcrição STAT6/antagonistas & inibidores , Triterpenos/uso terapêutico , Animais , Asma/genética , Fator de Transcrição GATA3/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Fenótipo , Fosforilação/efeitos dos fármacos , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Fator de Transcrição STAT6/genética , Fator de Transcrição STAT6/metabolismo , Triterpenos/farmacologiaRESUMO
The cytoskeleton mediates various cellular processes such as differentiation and fusion, including in the filopodia and podosomes. However, apart from cell migration and formation of the sealing zone, little is known regarding the changes and related regulatory mechanisms of the cytoskeleton and additional roles of the filopodia and podosomes during the differentiation and fusion of osteoclasts. The cytomorphology and cytoskeleton of osteoclasts in the differentiation process were evaluated using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and immunofluorescence staining. Moreover, the expression levels of Rho GTPases and enzymes related to osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We detected 3 types of filopodia in osteoclast precursors and only 1 type of filopodia in undifferentiated cells. Mature osteoclasts were completely devoid of filopodia. Interestingly, cell fusion was highly specific, and the fusion initially occurred to the filopodia. Confocal images revealed that F-actin and microtubules significantly differed among fused cells. These results suggest that filopodia and podosomes not only play important roles in cell migration and the formation of sealing zones but also in the pre-fusion selectivity of 2 cells and the movement direction of the cell nucleus and cytoplasm during the fusion process. In addition, cdc42v1, RhoU, and RhoF regulate the formation of 3 types of filopodia during various stages of differentiation, while Rac1, Rac2, and filament A may be associated with cell selectivity during the fusion process.
Assuntos
Citoesqueleto de Actina/metabolismo , Osteoclastos/metabolismo , Pseudópodes/metabolismo , Fosfatase Ácida/genética , Fosfatase Ácida/metabolismo , Citoesqueleto de Actina/ultraestrutura , Actinas/genética , Actinas/metabolismo , Animais , Catepsina K/genética , Catepsina K/metabolismo , Adesão Celular , Diferenciação Celular , Fusão Celular , Linhagem Celular , Movimento Celular , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/ultraestrutura , Citoplasma/metabolismo , Citoplasma/ultraestrutura , Filaminas/genética , Filaminas/metabolismo , Expressão Gênica , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Isoenzimas/genética , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Camundongos , Microtúbulos/metabolismo , Microtúbulos/ultraestrutura , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Osteoclastos/ultraestrutura , Pseudópodes/ultraestrutura , Fosfatase Ácida Resistente a Tartarato , Tubulina (Proteína)/genética , Tubulina (Proteína)/metabolismo , Proteínas rho de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Proteínas rho de Ligação ao GTP/metabolismoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4, CD152) is one of the most fundamental immunosuppressive cytokines that inhibits T-cell activation and terminates the T-cell response by blocking signals stimulated via CD28. A number of studies have assessed the association between CTLA-4 +6230G/A polymorphism and cancer risk. However, the results remain controversial. METHODS: In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed database for relevant articles published (updated to November 21, 2013). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles with 14 studies were selected for this meta-analysis, including 4,489 cases and 4,715 controls. Combined analysis revealed no associations between CTLA-4 +6230G/A polymorphism and cancer risk. However, in stratified analysis by cancer type, we found that CTLA-4 +6230G/A polymorphism was associated with the risk of breast cancer (AA vs. AG + GG: OR = 0.77, 95 % CI 0.60-0.97, P = 0.03; AA vs. GG: OR = 0.66, 95 % CI 0.46-0.95, P = 0.02) and cervical cancer (AA vs. AG + GG: OR = 0.56, 95 % CI 0.42-0.75, P < 0.01). Additionally, in subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, significant association was also found between the CTLA-4 +6230G/A polymorphism and cancer risk in the Asian population (AA vs. AG + GG: OR = 0.71, 95 % CI 0.59-0.84, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that CTLA-4 +6230G/A polymorphism may be associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer in Chinese population.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Antígeno CTLA-4/genética , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/genética , Povo Asiático/genética , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , População Branca/genéticaRESUMO
In prior work, congenic strains carrying the DBA/2Igb (D2) region of chromosome 2 (Chr2) for alcohol preference were bred onto a C57BL/6Ibg (B6) background and as predicted were found to reduce voluntary consumption. Subsequently, interval-specific congenic recombinant strains (ISCRS) were generated and also tested. These ISCRS strains reduced the quantitative trait loci (QTL) interval to a comparatively small 3.4 Mb region. Here, we have exploited an integrative approach using both murine and human populations to critically evaluate candidate genes within this region. First, we used bioinformatics tools to search for genes relevant to alcohol preference within the QTL region. Second, we searched for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within exons of every gene in this region. Third, we conducted follow-up microarray analyses to identify differentially expressed genes between the B6 and ISCRS strains in mice from each group. Fourth, we analyzed correlations between the expression level of candidate genes and phenotypes of alcohol preference in a large family of BXD recombinant inbred strains derived from B6 and D2. Finally, we evaluated SNP segregation in both BXD mouse strains and in humans who were heavy alcohol drinkers or non-drinkers. Among several potential candidate genes in this region, we identified activating transcription factor 2 (Atf2) as the most plausible gene that would influence alcohol preference. However, the candidacy of Atf2 was only weakly supported when we used a genetic network approach and by focused reanalysis of genome-wide association study data from European-American and African-American populations. Thus, we cannot conclude that Atf2 plays a role in the regulation of the QTL of mouse Chr2.
Assuntos
Fator 2 Ativador da Transcrição/genética , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/genética , Alcoolismo/genética , Fator 2 Ativador da Transcrição/metabolismo , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Cromossomos Humanos Par 2 , Estudos de Associação Genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Endogâmicos DBA , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Locos de Características Quantitativas , Análise de Sequência de DNA , TranscriptomaRESUMO
Dendrobium officinale is an endangered orchid from southeast Asia that is known for its medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. We constructed an integrated genetic linkage map of an F(1) population derived from an interspecific cross between D. officinale and D. aduncum (both, 2n = 38), using expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP). A total of 349 polymorphic loci, including 261 SRAP loci and 88 EST-SSR loci, were identified for genetic linkage analysis. The software JoinMap 4.0 was used to construct the genetic maps. A total of 157 loci were arranged into 27 major linkage groups, each containing a minimum of four markers, and a further 23 markers were distributed to five triplets and four doublets, the frame map covered a total distance of 1580.4 cM, with a mean of 11.89 cM between adjacent markers. This primary map of the D. officinale and D. aduncum hybrid provides a basis for genetic studies and should facilitate future studies of medical traits mapping and marker-assisted selection in Dendrobium species breeding programs.
Assuntos
Dendrobium/genética , Etiquetas de Sequências Expressas , Repetições de Microssatélites , China , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Espécies em Perigo de Extinção , Loci Gênicos , Marcadores Genéticos , Genoma de Planta , Escore Lod , Polimorfismo GenéticoRESUMO
We looked for novel genetic variations within the Six6 gene by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and forced RFLP-PCR and estimated their associations with production traits in 2132 goats of eight indigenous Chinese breeds. A novel single nucleotide polymorphism (NM_001104993.1: g.232T>C) within the goat Six6 gene was identified. The frequencies of allele "C" varied from 0.8621 to 1.000, which were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Genotype and allele frequencies were found to be significantly different in the breeds. Association analysis revealed a significant relationship between genotypes and cannon circumference in Hainan black goats (P = 0.047); adult individuals with genotype CT showed higher cannon circumference than those with genotype CC. Another significant association of genotypes with five-year-old fiber length was found in Inner Mongolia white cashmere goats (P = 0.002). In addition, individuals with genotype CT had longer fiber length than those with genotype CC. The data revealed that the Six6 gene positively affects growth traits and cashmere traits. Polymorphism of Six6-PstI could be useful as a DNA marker for goat breeding and genetics via marker-assisted selection.
Assuntos
Cruzamento , Estudos de Associação Genética , Variação Genética , Cabras/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Cabras/genética , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/genética , Característica Quantitativa Herdável , Animais , Sequência de Bases , China , Eletroforese em Gel de Ágar , Feminino , Frequência do Gene/genética , Loci Gênicos/genética , Genótipo , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
The hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy caused by peripartum asphyxia is a serious disease in newborn infants, and effective therapies need to be developed to reduce injury-related disorders. We evaluated the effects of NEP1-40 and fasudil on Nogo-A expression in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) rats. Seven-day-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, HIBD, NEP1-40, and fasudil groups. NEP1-40 and fasudil groups were injected intraperitoneally with these compounds. Rat brains at 6, 24, 72 h, and 7 days after HIBD were collected to determine histopathological damage and the expression levels of Nogo-A. Histopathological damage was reduced in NEP1-40 and fasudil groups compared with the untreated HIBD group. The expression of Nogo-A in the HIBD group was significantly higher than that in control, NEP1-40 and fasudil groups at the same times. Compared with the fasudil group, the expression levels of Nogo-A were significantly reduced in the NEP1-40 group. We conclude that NPE1-40 and fasudil have potential for neuroprotective effects in the neonatal rat HIBD model, mediated by inhibiting Nogo-A/ Rho pathways.