Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in Bagarius yarrelli using RNA-Seq

The yellow sisorid catfish (Bagarius yarrelli) is a vulnerable fish species. In this study, seven polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for yellow sisorid catfish were described, using RNA-Seq methodology. In B. yarrelli (N = 44) from a Hekou wild population, allelic frequency, and observed and expected heterozygosities per locus varied from two to six, 0.0333 to 0.6793, and 0.0333 to 0.6004, respectively. One locus (Baya153) denoted notable separation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, after sequential Bonferroni correction (P < 0.05). The microsatellite markers described here will be useful for investigating population structure and genetic resource of B. yarrelli from different geographical locations.

Polysaccharide-induced apoptosis in H22 cells through G2/M arrest and BCL2/BAX caspase-activated Fas pathway

The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect and the mechanism of growth inhibition on mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma cell of ascitic tumor induced by cartilage polysaccharides (PS). Our results showed that PS prolonged the survival time of the mice and increased the life span. In addition, PS induced the apoptosis of the H22 cells with the typical apoptotic morphological and biochemical changes confirmed by HE staining and TUNEL assay. The subsequent analysis of cell cycle distribution and relevant proteins revealed that decrease of cells in G0/G1phase and a G2/M arrest might due to the down-regulation of Cyclin D1 and AFP and up-regulation of P21 proteins. Moreover, BCL2/BAX caspase-activated Fas pathway was activated in PS-induced H22 apoptosis.

The Relationship between Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Concentrations and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Women

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

Seventy-six women with and without GDM were recruited. Their blood samples were collected to detect RBP4, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (Fins), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

RESULTS

RBP4 (21.42 ± 3.846 vs. 39.08 ± 8.293 μg/ml), FPG, Fins, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HbA1c, and TG levels were higher, while HDL levels were lower in women with GDM (p < 0.01). In healthy controls, RBP4 concentrations were positively correlated with HOMA-IR and TG and inversely correlated with FPG and HDL (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of RBP4 in women with GDM were inversely correlated with TC and positively correlated with maternal weight gain during pregnancy (p < 0.05). The ROC curve was drawn with a correct rate of 93.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Concentrations of serum RBP4 were significantly higher in women with GDM, suggesting that elevated RPB4 level may play a role in the pathogenesis of GDM. Meanwhile, RBP4 might be a good predictor of GDM. RBP4 is correlated with TG and HDL, indicating that RBP4 plays a role in alterations of lipid metabolism in pregnant women. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Genetic variations in microRNA genes and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma

We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to investigate the effect of the miR-146aG>C and miR-499A>G polymorphisms on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a Chinese population. This study was 1:1 matched case-control study consisting of 184 HCC patients and 184 control subjects. miR-146aG>C and miR-499A>G polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariate regression analyses showed that subjects carrying the miR-146a G allele and miR-499 G allele were associated with a non-significant increased risk of HCC compared with subjects with the homozygous allele, with adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 1.38 (0.97-1.84) and 1.40 (0.99-2.08), respectively. Moreover, subjects carrying the miR-499 A allele showed a greatly increased risk of HCC in subjects infected with HBV compared with subjects carrying the miR-499 A allele, with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.53 (1.34-2.41). In conclusion, the miR-146aG>C and miR-499A>G polymorphisms do not have a role in the genetic susceptibility to HCC.

Small intestinal growth measures are correlated with feed efficiency in market weight cattle, despite minimal effects of maternal nutrition during early to midgestation

We hypothesized that gestational nutrition would affect calf feed efficiency and small intestinal biology, which would be correlated with feed efficiency. Multiparous beef cows (n = 36) were individually fed 1 of 3 diets from d 45 to 185 of gestation: native grass hay and supplement to meet NRC recommendations (control [CON]), 70% of CON NEm (nutrient restricted [NR]), or a NR diet with a RUP supplement (NR+RUP) to provide similar essential AA as CON. After d 185 of gestation, cows were managed as a single group, and calf individual feed intake was measured with the GrowSafe System during finishing. At slaughter, the small intestine was dissected and sampled. Data were analyzed with calf sex as a block. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.33) of maternal treatment on residual feed intake, G:F, DMI, ADG, or final BW. Small intestinal mass did not differ (P ≥ 0.38) among treatments, although calf small intestinal length tended (P = 0.07) to be greater for NR than NR+RUP. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.20) in calf small intestinal density or jejunal cellularity, proliferation, or vascularity among treatments. Jejunal soluble guanylate cyclase mRNA was greater (P < 0.03) for NR+RUP than CON and NR. Residual feed intake was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.09) with small intestinal mass and relative mass and jejunal RNA content but was negatively correlated (P ≤ 0.09) with jejunal mucosal density and DNA concentration. Gain:feed was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.09) with jejunal mucosal density, DNA, protein, and total cells and was negatively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with small intestinal relative mass, jejunal RNA, and RNA:DNA. Dry matter intake was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.09) with small intestinal mass, relative mass, length, and density as well as jejunal DNA and protein content, total cells, total vascularity, and kinase insert domain receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 mRNA and was negatively correlated (P = 0.02) with relative small intestinal length. In this study, calf performance and efficiency during finishing as well as most measures of small intestinal growth were not affected by maternal nutrient restriction during early and midgestation. Results indicate that offspring small intestinal gene expression may be affected by gestational nutrition even when apparent tissue growth is unchanged. Furthermore, small intestinal size and growth may explain some variation in efficiency of nutrient utilization in feedlot cattle.

A polymorphism in the DNA repair domain of APEX1 is associated with the radiation-induced pneumonitis risk among lung cancer patients after radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) (rs1130409, rs1760944, rs2307486 and rs3136817) in APEX1 with the risk of severe radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP) after radiotherapy among Han Chinese patients with lung cancer.

METHODS

A total of 168 patients with lung cancer who were receiving radiotherapy were prospectively recruited. RP was evaluated according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. A case-control study was performed. The case group included patients with RP grade of ≥3, while the control group comprised patients with RP grades <3. Four tagSNPs of APEX1 were genotyped in 126 patients with complete follow-up by multi-SNaPshot® (Genesky Biotechnologies Inc., Shanghai, China) genotyping assays. RESULTS were assessed by a logistic regression model for RP risk and Mantal-Cox log-rank test for the cumulative RP probability by the genotypes.

RESULTS

rs1130409 was associated with severe RP. GT genotype of rs1130409 was significantly higher in patients with RP than in those of the control group [68.8% vs 41.8%; p = 0.025; resulting odds ratio (OR), 5.98]. Patients with lung cancer bearing the G allele had a 5.83-fold higher risk of RP than those with the wild TT genotype [OR = 5.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-26.90; p = 0.024], and this was further confirmed by the binary regression adjusted by some confounding factors, including Karnofsky performance scale, concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy and lung volume receiving >30 Gy (OR = 6.96; 95% CI, 1.36-35.77; p = 0.02). rs1130409 was also associated with the time to occurrence of severe RP (p = 0.04). Three-dimensional model APEX1 protein showed that rs1130409 is located in the random coil structure corresponding to the DNA repair function region.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

rs1130409 of APEX1 can be a predictor of RP grades ≥3 among patients with lung cancer.

Cell supermarket: adipose tissue as a source of stem cells

Adipose tissue is derived from numerous sources, and in recent years this tissue has been shown to provide numerous cells from what seemingly was a population of homogeneous adipocytes. Considering the types of cells that adipose tissue-derived cells may form, these cells may be useful in a variety of clinical and scientific applications. The focus of this paper is to reflect on this area of research and to provide a list of potential (future) research areas.

CELL BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Impacts of maternal obesity on placental and gut inflammation and health

Obesity in pregnant women is a growing public health concern that negatively affects fetal development and has long-term impacts on offspring health. The placenta plays an essential role in nutrient transport to the fetus and supports fetal growth and development. Maternal obesity (MO) induces an exacerbated proinflammatory milieu in the placenta providing an inflammatory environment for fetuses. The gut is one of the largest immune organs and mainly develops during the fetal stage. Maternal obesity and the corresponding inflammatory uteroplacental environment affect gut development, incurring inflammatory responses in the fetal intestine that further prime or program the offspring gut to enhance inflammation and impair intestinal barrier integrity. This review summarizes the impact of MO on inflammatory responses in placenta and fetal intestine and the long-term effects on offspring intestinal health. Because "leaky gut" is one of the main etiological factors for a number of common diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, type I diabetes, and related autoimmune diseases, the adverse effect of MO on the overall health of progeny is further discussed.

Effects of modified LDL and HDL on retinal pigment epithelial cells: a role in diabetic retinopathy?

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Blood-retina barrier leakage in diabetes results in extravasation of plasma lipoproteins. Intra-retinal modified LDLs have been implicated in diabetic retinopathy (DR), but their effects on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the added effects of extravasated modified HDLs are unknown.

METHODS

In human retinas from individuals with and without diabetes and DR, immunohistochemistry was used to detect ApoB, ApoA1 and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers. In cell culture, human RPE cells were treated with native LDL (N-LDL) or heavily-oxidised glycated LDL (HOG-LDL) with or without pretreatment with native HDL (N-HDL) or heavily-oxidised glycated HDL (HOG-HDL). Cell viability, oxidative stress, ER stress, apoptosis and autophagy were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, dichlorofluorescein assay, western blotting, immunofluorescence and TUNEL assay. In separate experiments, RPE cells were treated with lipid oxidation products, 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC, 5-40 μmol/l) or 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE, 5-80 μmol/l), with or without pretreatment with N-HDL or HOG-HDL.

RESULTS

ApoB, ApoA1 staining and RPE ER stress were increased in the presence of DR. HOG-LDL but not N-LDL significantly decreased RPE cell viability and increased reactive oxygen species generation, ER stress, apoptosis and autophagy. Similarly, 4-HNE and 7-KC decreased viability and induced ER stress. Pretreatment with N-HDL mitigated these effects, whereas HOG-HDL was less effective by most, but not all, measures.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In DR, extravascular modified LDL may promote RPE injury through oxidative stress, ER stress, autophagy and apoptosis. N-HDL has protective effects, but HOG-HDL is less effective. Extravasation and modification of HDL may modulate the injurious effects of extravasated modified LDL on the retinal pigment epithelium.

Molecular characteristics of the MHC-DRA genes from yak (Bos grunniens) and Chinese yakow (Bos grunniens × Bos taurus)

Two full-length cDNAs (762 bp) of the DRA gene from yak and Chinese yakow were isolated and analysed to identify structural and functional variations. The sequences for DRA in yak (Bogr-DRA) and Chinese yakow (Bogr × BoLA-DRA) were essentially identical to those for cattle (99%) and buffalo (97%). Except for two substitutions in the amino acids comprising the domain for signal peptide (SP) in yak, the additional residues were highly conserved across the species investigated. Peptide-binding site (PBS) of Bogr-DRA and Bogr × BoLA-DRA was highly reserved in the α1 domain among all species investigated. The lack of mutation in Bogr-DRA is consistent with the conception that the gene is highly conserved among all mammalian species. The very high conservation of the DRA gene among ruminants, including yak, may be due to its recent evolutionary detachment.

Effects of pregnancy and feeding level on carcass and meat quality traits of Nellore cows

Carcass and meat quality traits of 16 pregnant and 5 non-pregnant cows fed at 1.2 times maintenance and 16 pregnant and 6 non-pregnant fed ad libitum were evaluated. Pregnancy did not affect final body weight (FBW; P=0.0923), cold carcass yield (CCY; P=0.0513), longissimus muscle area (LMA; P=0.8260), rib fat thickness (RFT; P=0.1873) and shear force (WBSF; P=0.9707). A lower FBW (P=0.0028), LMA (P=0.0048) and RFT (P=0.0001) were observed in feed restricted cows. However, no differences were found for CCY (P=0.7243) and WBSF (P=0.0759) among feeding level groups. These data suggests that carcass and meat quality traits are not affected by pregnancy status in Nellore cows. Moreover, although cows experiencing feed restriction did have reduced deposition of subcutaneous fat and lean tissue, there were no major impacts on meat quality traits.

Mechanisms of modified LDL-induced pericyte loss and retinal injury in diabetic retinopathy

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

In previous studies we have shown that extravasated, modified LDL is associated with pericyte loss, an early feature of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Here we sought to determine detailed mechanisms of this LDL-induced pericyte loss.

METHODS

Human retinal capillary pericytes (HRCP) were exposed to 'highly-oxidised glycated' LDL (HOG-LDL) (a model of extravasated and modified LDL) and to 4-hydroxynonenal or 7-ketocholesterol (components of oxidised LDL), or to native LDL for 1 to 24 h with or without 1 h of pretreatment with inhibitors of the following: (1) the scavenger receptor (polyinosinic acid); (2) oxidative stress (N-acetyl cysteine); (3) endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (4-phenyl butyric acid); and (4) mitochondrial dysfunction (cyclosporin A). Oxidative stress, ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and autophagy were assessed using techniques including western blotting, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. To assess the relevance of the results in vivo, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the ER stress chaperon, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, and the ER sensor, activating transcription factor 6, in retinas from a mouse model of DR that mimics exposure of the retina to elevated glucose and elevated LDL levels, and in retinas from human participants with and without diabetes and DR.

RESULTS

Compared with native LDL, HOG-LDL activated oxidative and ER stress in HRCP, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and autophagy. In a mouse model of diabetes and hyperlipidaemia (vs mouse models of either condition alone), retinal ER stress was enhanced. ER stress was also enhanced in diabetic human retina and correlated with the severity of DR.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Cell culture, animal, and human data suggest that oxidative stress and ER stress are induced by modified LDL, and are implicated in pericyte loss in DR.