A model to identify novel targets involved in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human lung epithelial cells by RNA interference

Transcriptomic responses to high water temperature in two species of Pacific salmon

Characterizing the cellular stress response (CSR) of species at ecologically relevant temperatures is useful for determining whether populations and species can successfully respond to current climatic extremes and future warming. In this study, populations of wild-caught adult pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) salmon from the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada, were experimentally treated to ecologically relevant 'cool' or 'warm' water temperatures to uncover common transcriptomic responses to elevated water temperature in non-lethally sampled gill tissue. We detected the differential expression of 49 microarray features (29 unique annotated genes and one gene with unknown function) associated with protein folding, protein synthesis, metabolism, oxidative stress and ion transport that were common between populations and species of Pacific salmon held at 19°C compared with fish held at a cooler temperature (13 or 14°C). There was higher mortality in fish held at 19°C, which suggests a possible relationship between a temperature-induced CSR and mortality in these species. Our results suggest that frequently encountered water temperatures ≥19°C, which are capable of inducing a common CSR across species and populations, may increase risk of upstream spawning migration failure for pink and sockeye salmon.

A protective role of sulforaphane on alveolar epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract

BACKGROUND

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an excellent antioxidant agent, few of the studies focus on the possible protective role of SFN from cigarette smoke-induced injury on alveolar epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVES

the aim of the study is to observe the possible protective role of SFN, as well as the function of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in the process.

METHODS

MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability after cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and/or SFN exposure, cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by staining with fluorescent indicator 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), finally both real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were employed to observe mRNA and protein levels of IGFBP-3.

RESULTS

SFN could restore the viability of A549 cells, attenuate G1 block of the cell cycle, and significantly reduce the proportion of sub-G1 cells; at the same time, CSE-induced accumulation of intracellular ROS was decreased by SFN. Interestingly, high expression of IGFBP-3 was found at both transcriptional and translational levels, however by pre-incubation with SFN, the expression of IGFBP-3 was not stimulated by CSE exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

SFN can antagonize CSE-induced growth arrest of alveolar epithelial cells and IGFBP-3 probably plays an important role in the process.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a master regulator of innate immunity

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) comprise intracellular molecules characterized by the ability to reach the extracellular environment, where they prompt inflammation and tissue repair. The high-mobility box group 1 (HMGB1) protein is a prototypic DAMP and is highly conserved in evolution. HMGB1 is released upon cell and tissue necrosis and is actively produced by immune cells. Evidence suggests that HMGB1 acts as a key molecule of innate immunity, downstream of persistent tissue injury, orchestrating inflammation, stem cell recruitment/activation, and eventual tissue remodeling.