[Role and mechanism of miRNA-181a in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]

Objective: To investigate the role and probable mechanism of miRNA-181a in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitic acid to construct a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cell model, and the expression of miR-181a and lipidosis in the cells were measured. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) was used to examine the effect of miR-181a expression in HepG2 cells. The miR-181a, lipidosis, reduced glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by controlling and regulating the miR-183 expression levels after transfection with miR-181 mimics and inhibitors in HepG2 cells. The miR-181a target genes were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, and verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blotting. The independent sample t-test was used for the comparison between the two independent samples, and the comparison between multiple groups were accorded with the normal distribution, homogeneity of variance, and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Lipidosis was significantly increased after palmitic acid treatment in HepG2 cells, and the expression level of miR-181a was significantly increased than control group. After HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-181a inhibitors, the expression of miR-181a, triglycerides and reactive oxygen species were down-regulated, and reduced glutathione, predicting the mRNA and protein expression of target gene silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1 were up-regulated. However, the results were contrary to the above changes after transfection with miR-181a mimics. Conclusion: miR-181a participates in lipidosis and promotes lipid peroxidation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. miR-181a may affect the pathogenesis and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting the expression of silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Easily Develops into Alzheimer's Disease via Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance

With the acceleration of population aging, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressively increasing due to the age-relatedness of these two diseases. The association between T2DM and AD-like dementia is receiving much attention, and T2DM is reported to be a significant risk factor for AD. The aims of this review were to reveal the brain changes caused by T2DM as well as to explore the roles of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in the development of AD.

Generation of a laminopathies-specific iPSC line EHTJUi005-A-3 with homozygous knockout of the LMNA gene by CRISPR/Cas9 technology

LAMIN A/C, encoded by the LMNA gene, supports the normal structure of the cell nucleus and regulates the connection between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton as a component of the nucleus envelope. The loss of expression and function of the LMNA gene would lead to the occurrence of congenital muscular dystrophy and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy which are collectively named as laminopathies. Here, we report a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (EHTJUi005-A-3) generated from a wild iPSC (EHTJUi005-A) with homozygous knockout of the gene LMNA through CRISPR/Cas9. This iPSC line provides a useful research model for studying laminopathies disease.

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated generation of a iPSC line EHTJUi005-A-1 with homozygous knockout of the SUV39H1 gene

SUV39H1 is a histone methyltransferase involve numerous biological processes, including of aging, embryo development, tumor growth and mitosis via catalysis of dimethylation and trimethylation of lysine 9 of histone H3. Here we report a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (EHTJUi005-A-1) which is generated from a wildtype human iPSC previously established in our laboratory, and this iPSC has a homozygous knockout of 8 bp in Exon 2 of SUV39H1. This iPSC model provides a valuable resource to study epigenetic regulation in extensive biological processes as mentioned above.

An induced pluripotent stem cell line (EHTJUi004-A) generated from a neonate with c.4683_4684delCT:p.Leu1563fs mutation in the gene DSP causing Familial Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD)

Familial Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD) is a primary cardiomyopathy characterized by the abnormality of the right ventricular muscle. ARVD may be life-threatening due to the induction of paroxysmal refractory ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular arrhythmia. A human induced pluripotent stem cell line (EHTJUi004-A) was generated from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCBMCs) of a female neonate with heterozygous mutation of p.Leu1563fs (c.4683_4684delCT) in the DSP gene. This iPS cell line resource provides an ideal in vitro model to study the pathological mechanism of ARVD.

An induced pluripotent stem cell line (EHTJUi003-A) generated from a neonate with c.1377delC mutation in the gene MYBPC3 causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant heart disease. An induced pluripotent stem cell line (EHTJUi003-A) was generated from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCBMCs) of a female neonate with heterozygous mutation of p.L460Wfs (c.1377delC) in the MYBPC3 gene. This iPSC model offers a very valuable resource to study the pathological mechanism of HCM in vitro.

Repeated Restraint Stress Led to Cognitive Dysfunction by NMDA Receptor-Mediated Hippocampal CA3 Dendritic Spine Impairments in Juvenile Sprague-Dawley Rats

Although numerous studies have indicated that chronic stress causes cognitive dysfunction with the impairment of synaptic structures and functions, the relationship between cognitive deficits induced by repeated restraint stress and the level of NMDA receptors in the subregion of the hippocampus has been relatively unknown until now. In this study, 3-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to repeated restraint stress for seven consecutive days, their cognitive functions were evaluated through behavioral tests, and then they were sacrificed for electrophysiological, morphological, and biochemical assays. Chronic repeated restraint stress led to cognitive and electrophysiological impairments, with a reduced density of dendritic spines. We also found that the protein level of NMDA receptors only increased in the hippocampal CA3 region. Nevertheless, repeated restraint stress-induced cognitive and synaptic dysfunction were effectively reversed by Ro25-6981, an inhibitor of the GluN2B receptor. These findings suggest that repeated restraint stress-induced synaptic and cognitive deficits are probably mediated through NMDA receptors.

Cardiac rehabilitation in acute myocardial infarction patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A community-based study

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of death and physical disability worldwide. However, the development of community- based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in AMI patients is hysteretic. Here, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CR applied in the community in AMI patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

A total of 130 ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after PCI were randomly divided into 2 groups in the community, rehabilitation group (n = 65) and control group (n = 65). Cardiac function, a 6-minute walk distance, exercise time and steps, cardiovascular risk factors were monitored respectively and compared before and after the intervention of 2 groups. The software of EpiData 3.1 was used to input research data and SPSS16.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

After a planned rehabilitation intervention, the rehabilitation group showed better results than the control group. The rehabilitation group had a significant improvement in recurrence angina and readmission (P < .01). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of rehabilitation group showed improvement in phase II (t = 4.963, P < .01) and phase III (t = 11.802, P < .01), and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification was recovered within class II. There was a significant difference compared with before (Z = 7.238, P < .01). Six minutes walking distance, aerobic exercise time, and steps all achieved rehabilitation requirements in rehabilitation group in phase II and III, there existed distinct variation between 2 phases. Rehabilitation group had a better result in cardiovascular risk factors than control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Community-based CR after PCI through simple but safe exercise methods can improve the AMI patient's living quality, which includes increasing cardiac ejection fraction, exercise tolerance, and physical status. It must be emphasized that the good result should be established by the foundation of close cooperation between cardiologists and general practitioners, also the importance of cooperation of patients and their families should not be ignored. The rehabilitation program we used is feasible, safe, and effective.

Abnormal expression of WIF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its regulating effect on invasion and metastasis factors of TIMP-3 and caveolin-1 of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the abnormal expression of Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF1) in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its regulating effect on the hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis factors of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) and caveolin-1.

METHODS

RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of WIF1 in six hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines of HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7, PLC/PRF/5, SMMC-7721 and MHCC97 and the immortalized human liver cell line THLE-3. Besides, Lipofectamine 2000 was employed to transfect the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-WIF1 and blank plasmid pcDNA3.1 into hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Transwell assay was used to detect the effect of WIF1 on the invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells; Western blot was used to detect the effect of WIF1 on the expression of TIMP-3 and caveolin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, it also discussed the effect on the expression of β-catenin.

RESULTS

The expression of WIF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines was lower than that in the normal liver cell lines (P < 0.01); while there was basically no expression of WIF1 in the human highly metastatic cell line MHCC-97 and moderate expression in HepG2 and SMMC-7721. Therefore, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were chosen as the further experimental cell lines. After transfecting the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-WIF1 and blank plasmid pcDNA3.1 into hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, compared with the blank plasmid group, the cell viability and invasion ability in the WIF1 group were all reduced (P < 0.01), the expression of TIMP-3, caveolin-1 and mRNA were all down-regulated (P < 0.01), and the expression of β-catenin was decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Because of down-regulation or missing of expression of WIF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, the up-regulation of WIF1 expression can significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, which are related to the up-regulated expression of TIMP-3 and down-regulated expression of caveolin-1 and may be realized through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Correlation between microRNA-21 and expression of Th17 and Treg cells in microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation between miR-21 and Treg/Th17 ratio in the microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Diethylnitrosamine was used to build the hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats; the content of Treg cells and Th17 cells and the expression of miR-21 in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma were detected. The statistical analysis was performed on the correlation between miR-21 expression and Treg/Th17 ratio.

RESULTS

Hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats was successfully constructed. The proportion of Th17 cells among all CD4(+)T cells in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma was 5.319%, which was higher than the control group; while the proportion of Treg cells was 9.472%, which was higher than the control group. Treg/Th17 ratio in the model group was 1.781, compared with 1.478 in the control group. The expression of miR-21 was increased in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma and it showed a positive correlation with the ratio of Treg/Th17.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a positive correlation between the expression level of miR-21 and the ratio of Treg/Th17.

A multiphase mixture model for substrate concentration distribution characteristics and photo-hydrogen production performance of the entrapped-cell photobioreactor

A multiphase mixture model was developed for revealing the interaction mechanism between biochemical reactions and transfer processes in the entrapped-cell photobioreactor packed with gel granules containing Rhodopseudomonas palustris CQK 01. The effects of difference operation parameters, including operation temperature, influent medium pH value and porosity of packed bed, on substrate concentration distribution characteristics and photo-hydrogen production performance were investigated. The results showed that the model predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data reported. Moreover, the operation temperature of 30 °C and the influent medium pH value of 7 were the most suitable conditions for photo-hydrogen production by biodegrading substrate. In addition, the lower porosity of packed bed was beneficial to enhance photo-hydrogen production performance owing to the improvement on the amount of substrate transferred into gel granules caused by the increased specific area for substrate transfer in the elemental volume.

Two-phase mixture model for substrate degradation and photo-hydrogen production in an entrapped-cell photobioreactor under various light intensities

Substrate degradation and photo-hydrogen production under various light intensities was predicted using the developed two-phase mixture model.

Chromatin organisation in duckweed interphase nuclei in relation to the nuclear DNA content

The accessibility of DNA during fundamental processes, such as transcription, replication and DNA repair, is tightly modulated through a dynamic chromatin structure. Differences in large-scale chromatin structure at the microscopic level can be observed as euchromatic and heterochromatic domains in interphase nuclei. Here, key epigenetic marks, including histone H3 methylation and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) as a DNA modification, were studied cytologically to describe the chromatin organisation of representative species of the five duckweed genera in the context of their nuclear DNA content, which ranged from 158 to 1881 Mbp. All studied duckweeds, including Spirodela polyrhiza with a genome size and repeat proportion similar to that of Arabidopsis thaliana, showed dispersed distribution of heterochromatin signatures (5mC, H3K9me2 and H3K27me1). This immunolabelling pattern resembles that of early developmental stages of Arabidopsis nuclei, with less pronounced heterochromatin chromocenters and heterochromatic marks weakly dispersed throughout the nucleus.

Poly[tetra-μ-aqua-hexaaquadi-μ3-malonato-dinitratodibarium(II)nickel(II)]

The title complex, [Ba2Ni(C3H2O4)2(NO3)2(H2O)10]n, has a two-dimensional layer structure. The Ni atom lies on a crystallographic centre of symmetry in an octahedral NiO6 environment, and is coordinated by four malonate O atoms in a planar arrangement and by two water molecules in axial positions. The coordination of the unique Ba atom involves two nitrate O atoms, five water molecules and three malonate O atoms.

[Biocompatibility of JJ magnetic retainer metal materials]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of new JJ-magnetic retainer metal materials.

METHODS

Preliminary biocompatible tests of the metal materials were performed depending on ISO 10.993-12 standard. They were cytotoxicity test, hemolysis test, acute systemic toxicity test, sensitization test and Ames test.

RESULTS

The cytotoxicity of the metal material was grade I. The hemolysis rate was 0.45%. There was no abnormal sensitization and irritation actions in the experimental group. The metal had no action of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION

The JJ-magnetic retainer metal material showed excellent biocompatibility on the preliminary tests. It would be a good material in the way of biological safety.