Association between DNA hypomethylation at IL13 gene and allergic rhinitis in house dust mite-sensitized subjects

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a complex disease, in which gene-environment interactions contribute to its pathogenesis. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play an important role in the regulation of gene function. As IL13, a pleiotropic cytokine, may be important in conferring susceptibility to AR, the aim of the present work was to assess the relationship between a CpG island methylation status at the upstream of IL13 gene and house dust mite (HDM)-sensitized AR in Han Chinese subjects.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with HDM-sensitized AR and 65 control subjects were enrolled as two independent cohorts from Beijing and Liaoning. MassARRAY EpiTYPER and pyrosequencing was used to systematically screen the status of DNA methylation in peripheral blood leucocytes. IL13 mRNA expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to assess the function of methylation site.

RESULTS

The mean level of methylation was decreased in the AR patient group compared with the control group (P = 0.01). Two of a total of 33 IL13CpG units analysed (CpG units 24 : 25 : 26 and 38 : 39) showed significant differences in methylation status between the AR patient group and the control group, with DNA hypomethylation at CpG38 significantly associated with higher risk of HDM-sensitized AR in both independent cohorts and a combined cohort (Beijing: OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.01-1.52, P = 0.036; Liaoning: OR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.11-2.38, P = 0.013; Combined: OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.10-1.56, P = 0.002). Methylation level of CpG38 correlated negatively with both IL13 mRNA expression and serum total IgE level and affected the binding affinity of SP1.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA hypomethylation of IL13 gene may be associated with increased risk of AR from HDM sensitization.

YUCCA-mediated auxin biogenesis is required for cell fate transition occurring during de novo root organogenesis in Arabidopsis

Many plant organs have the ability to regenerate a new plant after detachment or wounding via de novo organogenesis. During de novo root organogenesis from Arabidopsis thaliana leaf explants, endogenic auxin is essential for the fate transition of regeneration-competent cells to become root founder cells via activation of WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 11 (WOX11). However, the molecular events from leaf explant detachment to auxin-mediated cell fate transition are poorly understood. In this study, we used an assay to determine the concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to provide direct evidence that auxin is produced after leaf explant detachment, a process that involves YUCCA (YUC)-mediated auxin biogenesis. Inhibition of YUC prevents expression of WOX11 and fate transition of competent cells, resulting in the blocking of rooting. Further analysis showed that YUC1 and YUC4 act quickly (within 4 hours) in response to wounding after detachment in both light and dark conditions and promote auxin biogenesis in both mesophyll and competent cells, whereas YUC5, YUC8, and YUC9 primarily respond in dark conditions. In addition, YUC2 and YUC6 contribute to rooting by providing a basal auxin level in the leaf. Overall, our study indicates that YUC genes exhibit a division of labour during de novo root organogenesis from leaf explants in response to multiple signals.

Loss of OLFM4 promotes tumor migration through inducing interleukin-8 expression and predicts lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

Endoscopic surgery is increasingly used for early gastric cancer (EGC) treatment worldwide, and lymph node metastasis remains the most important risk factor for endoscopic surgery in EGC patients. Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) is mainly expressed in the digestive system and upregulated in several types of tumors. However, the role of OLFM4 in EGC has not been explored. We evaluated OLFM4 expression by immunohistochemical staining in 105 patients with EGC who underwent gastrectomy. The clinicopathological factors and OLFM4 expression were co-analyzed to predict lymph node metastasis in EGC. The metastatic mechanism of OLFM4 in gastric cancer was also investigated. We found that OLFM4 was upregulated in EGC tumor sections, and relatively low expression of OLFM4 was observed in patients with lymph node metastasis. OLFM4 expression as well as tumor size and differentiation were identified as independent factors, which could be co-analyzed to generate a better model for predicting lymph node metastasis in EGC patients. In vitro studies revealed that knockdown of OLFM4 promoted the migration of gastric cancer cells through activating the NF-κB/interleukin-8 axis. Negative correlation between OLFM4 and interleukin-8 expression was also observed in EGC tumor samples. Our study implies that OLFM4 expression is a potential predictor of lymph node metastasis in EGC, and combing OLFM4 with tumor size and differentiation could better stratify EGC patients with different risks of lymph node metastasis.

Can betaine pyridinium derivatives be used to control the photoejection of cation?

Using a combination of advanced DFT/TDDFT calculations together with ultrafast and stationary spectroscopies we have investigated the photochemistry and cationic complexation ability of 1-pyridinio-benzimidazolate (PyB) and analogs substituted by 15-aza-5-crown (PyB-Aza) or dimethyl-amino groups (PyB-DiMe). Focusing on PyB-Aza, the first aim was to assess the competitive complexation of the imidazole bridge vs. the macrocycle. In acetonitrile, it was found by absorption and emission that the imidazole moiety binds efficiently through lateral electrostatic interaction of high charge density cations and especially Ca(2+) to form a 1 : 1, metal : ligand (M : L) complex. Modulation of the complexation toward para substitution of the phenyl ring with a donor group is reported with values ranging from log K = 3.4 to 6.8. Complexation values are properly predicted by DFT calculations. From a photochemical point of view, for the same series, the trend is parallel to the rate of the photo-release process, found to be less than 200 femtosecond (fs), the fastest photorelease characteristic time reported so far. Unlike photoinduced charge transfer molecules linked with an aza-crown group, the mechanism appears simpler with no participation of loose complexes due to the macrocavity effect. Relaxation mechanisms after cation ejection are discussed as well. Finally, even if any photoinduced translocation of cation is reported for the PyB-Aza molecule between two complexation sites, a discussion about the use of betaine pyridinium as a molecular tool for the smart manipulation of cation systems is initiated.

[Optimization Design and Implementation of the Human Meridian Positioning System with Voltage Excitation]

This thesis focuses on the optimum design of excitation module, filtering module, detector’s interference suppression and serial synchronization matching communication of terminal in multi-channel impedance detector of visualization system. And the optimized system has been tested, which confirms that the optimized system has improved the measurement accuracy performance. The thesis also briefly introduces whole meridian visualization system.

The evolutionary landscape of PRC1 core components in green lineage

The origin and evolution of plant PRC1 core components. Polycomb repressive complex1 (PRC1) plays critical roles in epigenetic silencing of homeotic genes and determination of cell fate. Animal PRC1 has been well investigated for a long time, whereas plant PRC1 was just confirmed in recent years. It is enigmatic whether PRC1 core components in plants share a common ancestor with those in animals. We evaluated the origin of plant PRC1 RING-finger proteins (RING1 and BMI1) through comparing with the homologs in some representative unikonts and using BMI1- and RING1-like proteins as reciprocal outgroup, finding both PRC1 RING-finger proteins have the earliest origin in mosses, similar to LHP1. Additionally, the gene structure, copy number, and domain organization were analyzed to deeply understand the evolutionary history of plant PRC1 complex. In conclusion, PRC1 RING-finger proteins have independent origins in plants and animals, but convergent evolution might attribute to the conservation of PRC1 complex in plants and animals. Plant LHP1 as the homolog of non-PRC1 protein HP1 was recruited to fulfill the role of Pc counterpart. Gene duplication followed by functional divergence makes a great contribution to evolutionary progress of PRC1 in green plants.

The role of promoter cis-element, mRNA capping, and ROS in the repression and salt-inducible expression of AtSOT12 in Arabidopsis

Inducible gene expression is a gene regulatory mechanism central to plant response to environmental cues. The inducible genes are often repressed under normal growth conditions while their expression levels are significantly elevated by conditions such as abiotic stresses. Induction of gene expression requires both cis-acting DNA elements and trans-acting proteins that are modulated through signal transduction pathways. Here we report several molecular events that affect salt induced expression of the Arabidopsis AtSOT12 gene. Promoter deletion analysis revealed that DNA elements residing in the 5' UTR are required for the salt induced expression of AtSOT12. Cytosine methylation in the promoter was low and salt stress slightly increased the DNA methylation level, suggesting that DNA methylation may not contribute to AtSOT12 gene repression. Co-transcriptional processing of AtSOT12 mRNA including capping and polyadenylation site selection was also affected by salt stress. The percentage of capped mRNA increased by salt treatment, and the polyadenylation sites were significantly different before and after exposure to salt stress. The expression level of AtSOT12 under normal growth conditions was markedly higher in the oxi1 mutant defective of reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling than in the wild type. Moreover, AtSOT12 transcript level was elevated by treatments with DPI and DMTU, two chemicals preventing ROS accumulation. These results suggest that repression of AtSOT12 expression may require physiological level of ROS and ROS signaling.

A7RC peptide modified paclitaxel liposomes dually target breast cancer

A7R peptide (ATWLPPR), a ligand of the NRP-1 receptor, regulates the intracellular signal transduction related to tumor vascularization and tumor growth. Here, we designed A7R-cysteine peptide (A7RC) surface modified paclitaxel liposomes (A7RC-LIPs) to achieve targeting delivery and inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis simultaneously. The cytotoxicity, inhibiting angiogenesis, and internalization of various liposomes by cells were assessed in vitro to confirm the influence of the peptide modification. The accumulations of A7RC-LIPs in various xenografts in mice were tracked to further identify the function of the peptide on the liposomes' surface. The results confirmed that A7RC peptides could enhance the uptake of vesicles by MDA-MB-231 cells, leading to stronger cytotoxicity in vitro and higher accumulation of vesicles in MDA-MB-231 xenografts in vivo. In addition, A7RC peptides enhanced the inhibitory effects of LIPs on the HUVEC tubular formation on Matrigel. The A7RC-LIPs may be promising drug carriers for anticancer therapy.

Detoxification function of the Arabidopsis sulphotransferase AtSOT12 by sulphonation of xenobiotics

Cytosolic sulphotransferases have been implicated in inactivation of endogenous steroid hormones and detoxification of xenobiotics in human and animals. Yet, the function of plant sulphotransferases in xenobiotic sulphonation and detoxification has not been reported. In this study, we show that the Arabidopsis sulphotransferase AtSOT12 could sulphonate the bacterial-produced toxin cycloheximide. Loss-of-function mutant sot12 exhibited hypersensitive phenotype to cycloheximide, and expression of AtSOT12 protein in yeast cells conferred resistance to this toxic compound. AtSOT12 exhibited broad specificity and could sulphonate a variety of xenobiotics including phenolic and polycyclic compounds. Enzyme kinetics analysis indicated that AtSOT12 has different selectivity for simple phenolics with different side chains, and the position of the side chain in the simple phenolic compounds affects substrate binding affinity and catalytic efficiency. We proposed that the broad specificity and induced production of AtSOT12 may have rendered this enzyme to not only modify endogenous molecules such as salicylic acid as we previously reported, but also sulphonate pathogen-produced toxic small molecules to protect them from infection. Sulphonation of small molecules in plants may constitute a rapid way to inactivate or change the physiochemical properties of biologically active molecules that could have profound effects on plant growth, development and defence.

Evolution and conservation of JmjC domain proteins in the green lineage

Histone modification regulates plant development events by epigenetically silencing or activating gene expression, and histone methylation is regulated by histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) and histone lysine demethylases (KDMs). The JmjC domain proteins, an important KDM family, erase methyl marks (CH3-) from histones and play key roles in maintaining homeostasis of histone methylation in vivo. Here, we analyzed 169 JmjC domain proteins from whole genomes of plants ranging from green alga to higher plants together with 36 from two animals (fruit fly and human). The plant JmjC domain proteins were divided into seven groups. Group-I KDM4/JHDM3 and Group-V JMJD6 were found in all the plant species and the other groups were detected mainly in vascular or seed plants. Group-I KDM4/JHDM3 was potentially associated with demethylation of H3K9me2/3, H3K27me2/3, and H3K36me1/2/3, Group-II KDM5A with H3K4me1/2/3, Group-III KDM5B with H3K4me1/2/3 and H3K9me1/2/3, Group-V JMJD6 with H3R2, H4R3, and hydroxylation of H4, and Group-VII KDM3/JHDM2 with H3K9me1/2/3. Group-IV/Group-VI JmjC domain-only A/B proteins were involved in hydroxylation and demethylation of unknown substrate sites. The binding sites for the cofactors Fe(II) and α-ketoglutarate in the JmjC domains also were analyzed. In the α-ketoglutarate binding sites, Thr/Phe/Ser and Lys were conserved and in the Fe(II) binding sites, two His and Glu/Asp were conserved. The results show that JmjC domain proteins are a conserved family in which domain organization and cofactor binding sites have been modified in some species. Our results provide insights into KDM evolution and lay a foundation for functional characterization of KDMs.

Interleukin 8 enhances the immune response of ducks to avian influenza vaccine

Interleukins are reported to be valuable immunostimulants in enhancing the immune efficiency of conventional vaccines. In this study, the effect of expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8) on the immune response of ducks to avian influenza vaccine was investigated. The results showed that the serum antibody titer, lymphocyte transformation efficiency and serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ) level of ducks injected with avian influenza vaccine along with a plasmid expressing duck IL-8 were higher than those of ducks injected with conventional immunostimulant Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) or empty plasmid. Therefore, the duck IL-8 may be used as a good immunostimulant to enhance the immune efficiency of avian influenza vaccine in ducks.

Bacillus crassostreae sp. nov., isolated from an oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis)

A novel Gram-stain-positive, motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic rod, designated strain JSM 100118(T), was isolated from an oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) collected from the tidal flat of Naozhou Island in the South China Sea. Strain JSM 100118(T) was able to grow with 0-13% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-5%), at pH 5.5-10.0 (optimum pH 7.5) and at 5-50 °C (optimum 30-35 °C). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω11c. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unknown glycolipid and an unknown phospholipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 35.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 100118(T) belonged to the genus Bacillus , and was most closely related to Bacillus litoralis SW-211(T) (98.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Bacillus halosaccharovorans E33(T) (98.3%), Bacillus niabensis 4T19(T) (97.8%) and Bacillus herbersteinensis D-1,5a(T) (97.1%). The combination of results from the phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization supported the conclusion that strain JSM 100118(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus crassostreae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 100118(T) ( = CTCC AB 2010452(T) =DSM 24486(T) =JCM 17523(T)).

Associations of urinary phthalates with body mass index, waist circumference and serum lipids among females: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Exposure to environmental chemicals could be one of the contributors to the increasing obesity epidemic. Very little is known about the association of phthalates, ubiquitous chemicals widely used in consumer products, with obesity and lipid metabolism. This study investigated the association of urinary phthalate metabolites and, for the first time, the ratios of the major metabolites of the most common phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and serum lipid levels in the US female population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004 and was restricted to women aged ⩾18 years, who were not pregnant and had no history of diabetes. Using multivariate ordered logistic regression, we examined associations of seven urinary phthalate metabolites and their metabolic ratios with the BMI, waist circumferences, total cholesterol, triglycerides and high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

RESULTS

BMI was positively associated with monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) (odds ratio (OR)=1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.23 and OR=1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23, respectively). Waist circumference was positively associated with MBP (OR=1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.24). A higher ratio of MEHP to mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) was positively associated with both BMI (OR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.09-1.34) and waist circumference (OR=1.20; 95% CI, 1.10-1.31). There were no other significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher metabolic ratio of MEHP to MEHHP, reflective of slower oxidative conversion of MEHP, is associated with greater BMI and waist circumference.

Effect of TNFRSF6B neutralization antibody on cell growth suppression and apoptosis induction in glioma cells

Previously, we have reported that tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family member 6b (TNFRSF6B) is overexpressed in glioma tissues, as well as in the supernatant of cultured glioma cells. However, the function of TNFRSF6B in glioma remains unclarified. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of anti-TNFRSF6B neutralization monoclonal antibody on the malignant phenotype of glioma cells in vitro. Three glioma cell lines U251MG, LN-308 and U87MG were treated with anti-TNFRSF6B antibody. Cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis and relevant downstream signaling were detected further. We found that anti-TNFRSF6B antibody inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in time and dose-dependent manners in the glioma cells tested. Cell cycle was also arrested in G1/S-phase. Furthermore, anti-TNFRSF6B antibody downregulated the level of MMP-2, phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-AKT. In conclusion, anti-TNFRSF6B treatment might be a critical targeted therapy strategy for gliomas due to its contribution to suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis.

Linalool, derived from Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl leaf extracts, possesses molluscicidal activity against Oncomelania hupensis and inhibits infection of Schistosoma japonicum

BACKGROUND

Schistosomiasis japonicum remains a considerable economic and public health concern in China, the Philippines and Indonesia. Currently available measures to control the unique intermediate host Oncomelania hupensis are frequently associated with severe side effects. Previous studies have demonstrated that linalool-rich extracts from various plants exhibited promising biological activities including cytotoxic, anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties.

METHODS

We identified the components of leaf extracts from Cinnamomum camphora by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and investigated molluscicidal and larvicidal effects of linalool against O. hupensis and Schistosoma japonicium. The ultrastructural alterations in gills, salivary gland, stomach and hepatopancreas of snails were observed under the light microscope and transmission electron microscope, and lesions to tegument of cercaria were examined under a light microscope and fluorescence microscope. We then evaluated the effects of linalool on skin penetration and migration of schistosomula and adult survival by measurement of worm burden and egg counts in Balb/C mice infected with linalool-treated cercariae.

RESULTS

In the present work, 44 components were identified from the leaf extracts of C. camphora, of which linalool was the most abundant constituent. Linalool exhibited the striking molluscicidal and larvicidal effects with LC50 = 0.25 mg/L for O. hupensis and LC50 = 0.07 mg/L for cercaria of S. japonicium. After exposure to linalool, damage to the gills and hepatopancreas of the snails, and to the tegument and body-tail joint of cercariae was apparent. In addition, linalool markedly reduced the recovered schistosomulum from mouse skin after challenge infection, and therefore decreased the worm burden in infected animals, but not fecundity of female adults of the parasite.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that linalool might be a novel chemotherapeutic agent against S. japonicium and the snail intermediate host.

Functional conservation and divergence of J-domain-containing ZUO1/ZRF orthologs throughout evolution

Heat shock protein 40s (Hsp40s), also known as J-proteins, are conserved in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor (ZUO1/ZRF) family belongs to a novel Hsp40 clade exclusively found in eukaryotes. Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor proteins are characterized by a large N terminal ZUO1 domain originally identified in the yeast ZUO1 protein. The ZUO1 domain is characterized by a highly conserved J-domain, together with an atypical UBD domain first identified in the human ZRF1 protein. Furthermore, ZUO1/ZRF protein families in animals and plants harbor a pair of C terminal SANT domains, suggesting the divergence of their functions with those in fungi. Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor proteins retain the ancestral function as an Hsp70co-chaperone implicated in protein folding and renaturation after stress; these proteins also perform diverse neofunctions in the cytoplasm and transcriptional and/or epigenetic regulatory functions in the nucleus. Therefore, these proteins are involved in translational fidelity control, ribosomal biogenesis, asymmetric cell division, cell cycle, apoptosis, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. The results of sequence and domain organization analysis of proteins from diverse organisms provided valuable insights into the evolutionary conservation and diversity of ZUO1/ZRF protein family. Further, phylogenetic analysis provides a platform for future functional investigation on the ZUO1/ZRF protein family, particularly in higher plants.

Specific 12α-hydroxylation of grandiflorenic acid by permeabilised fungus Fusarium graminearum

Biotransformation of grandiflorenic acid by permeabilised fungus Fusarium graminearum to yield its hydroxylation derivative, 12α-hydroxygrandiflorenic acid, was studied. The biotransformed product was isolated by column chromatography and its structure was determined by mass spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Grandiflorenic acid was efficiently metabolised by the fungus. After 72 h, the substrate was almost completely converted into the product.

On the encapsulation of hydrocarbon components of natural gas within molecular baskets in water. The role of C–H⋯π interactions and the host's conformational dynamics in the process of encapsulation

Molecular baskets encapsulate hydrocarbon components of natural gas by forming C–H⋯π contacts and adjusting the size of their cup-shaped platform.

Full-polarized tomographic diffraction microscopy achieves a resolution about one-fourth of the wavelength

We present a marker-free microscope that records the phase, amplitude, and polarization state of the field diffracted by the sample for different illumination directions. The data are processed with an appropriate inversion method to yield the sample permittivity map. We observe that the full-polarized information ameliorates significantly the three-dimensional image of weakly scattering subdiffraction objects. A resolution about one-fourth of the illumination wavelength is experimentally demonstrated on complex samples.

An allotetraploid Brassica napus early-flowering mutant has BnaFLC2-regulated flowering

BACKGROUND

Flowering time is an important agronomic trait, and wide variation in flowering time exists among Brassica napus accessions. GX50 early-flowering mutant, induced from Brassica napus by Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS), exhibits a remarkable early transition from vegetative to reproductive growth.

RESULTS

GX50 plants flowered about 60 days earlier than the control wild-type plant B. napus XY15 under greenhouse conditions. Cytological examination revealed that the GX50 plants form inflorescences as early as from 5 weeks old, flower primordium from 6 weeks old, and siliques from 10 weeks old, whereas 10-week-old XY15 plants are still at vegetative growth stage. To unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the GX50 flowering phenotype, we analyzed the expression of several key regulatory genes. Expressions of all five BnaFLCs (BnaFLC1 to BnaFLC5), BnaFT and BnaSOC1 were detected. Interestingly, BnaFLCs expression levels were lower in GX50 than those in XY15. Among the five BnaFLCs, only the expression pattern of BnaFLC2 corresponded to the timing of floral organ differentiation in GX50. In agreement with previous knowledge that BnaFLCs repress expression of BnaFT and BnaSOC1, increased levels of BnaFT and BnaSOC1 were observed in GX50 compared with XY15.

CONCLUSION

BnaFLC2, but not the other BnaFLC genes, plays an important role in B. napus GX50 floral transition.