A Novel Airway-Organoid Model Based on a Nano-Self-Assembling Peptide: Construction and Application in Adenovirus Infection Studies

Purpose

Hydrogels containing the nano-self-assembling peptide RADA16-I (Nanogels) were utilized as scaffolds to establish airway organoids and an adenovirus-infected model. The results support in vitro adenovirus studies, including isolation and culture, pathogenesis research, and antiviral drug screening.

Methods

HSAEC1-KT, HuLEC-5a and HELF cells were cocultured in RADA16-I hydrogel scaffolds to construct an airway organoid model. Adenovirus was used to infect this model for adenovirus-related studies. The morphological characteristics and the proliferation and activity of airway organoids before and after adenovirus infection were evaluated. The expression of the airway organoid marker proteins CC10, KRT8, AQP5, SPC, VIM and CD31 was detected. TEM and qPCR were used to detect adenovirus proliferation in airway organoids.

Results

HSAEC1-KT, HuLEC-5a and HELF cells cocultured at 10:7:2 self-assembled into airway organoids and maintained long-term proliferation in a RADA16-I hydrogel 3D culture system. The organoids stably expressed the lumen-forming protein KRT8 and the terminal airway markers AQP5 and SPC. Adenoviruses maintained long-term proliferation in this model.

Conclusion

An airway-organoid model of adenovirus infection was constructed in vitro from three human lung-derived cell lines on RADA16-I hydrogels. The model has potential as a novel research tool for adenovirus isolation and culture, pathogenesis research, and antiviral drug screening.

A new species of Scolytus Geoffroy (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Yunnan, China

Scolytus unicornis, a new species of Scolytus Geoffroy from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Three DNA barcoding sequences (COI, 28S, CAD) of this species are provided. The new species is distinguished from other Asian Scolytus species by the longitudinal wrinkles on the frons only in the area below the eyes, a large median spine situated in the middle of the ventrite 2 base, and female frons with a slightly raised blunt tubercle above the epistoma.

A new genus of Empoascini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from Papua New Guinea

Ivmaka longicaudatus gen. et sp. nov. is described based on specimens from Papua New Guinea. Habitus photos and illustrations of the male genitalia of this new species are given and differences between the new genus with closely related genera are discussed.

Revision of the genus Homa Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae)

The leafhopper genus Homa Distant is revised. Four new species, H. osificata Xu, Dietrich Qin sp. nov., H. oretinia Xu, Dietrich Qin sp. nov., H. asilata Xu, Dietrich Qin sp. nov., and H. algulata Xu, Dietrich Qin sp. nov., are described from Thailand. H. haematoptilus (Kirkaldy) is redescribed based on specimens from the Oriental Region. All included species are illustrated and a key is provided to separate species for which males are known.

Two new empoascine leafhopper genera, Thaioasca and Mjolnirus, from Thailand (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae), with a checklist of Empoascini in Thailand

Two new microleafhopper genera of Empoascini, Thaioasca Wang, Xu Qin, gen. nov. and Mjolnirus Wang, Xu Qin, gen. nov., based on the type species, Thaioasca contaminata Wang, Xu Qin, sp. nov. and Mjolnirus mediolobus Wang, Xu Qin, sp. nov. are described from Thailand. Male habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of these two new species are given. A checklist of Empoascini from Thailand is also provided.

Review of Chinese species of the leafhopper genus <i>Amrasca</i> Ghauri (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), with description of a new species, species checklist and notes on the identity of the Indian cotton leafhopper

The leafhopper genus Amrasca Ghauri from China is reviewed. Six species are included, of which three are reported for the first time from China. A new species, A. (Amrasca) complana Qin, Wang & Xu, sp. nov. is described based on specimens from south China. A complete checklist of the genus and an identification key to species in the Chinese fauna are provided. Jacobiasca curvata (Ahmed & Samad) comb. nov. is removed from Amrasca and A. (A.) singularis Einyu & Ahmed is treated as a species incertae sedis. Habitus photos of all Chinese Amrasca species and illustrations of male genitalia of the new species are also given. The male holotype specimen of Chlorita bimaculata Matsumura is here designated as the neotype of Empoasca biguttula Ishida to fix the identity of this economically important species and Sundapteryx Dworakowska is reinstated from synonymy as a subgenus of Amrasca. Thus, the correct scientific name of the Indian cotton leafhopper is Amrasca (Sundapteryx) biguttula (Ishida).

Calcium efflux from the endoplasmic reticulum regulates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells

The function of calcium efflux from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in cisplatin-induced apoptosis is not fully understood in cancer cells. The present study used western blot analysis, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay to investigate calcium signaling in human cervical cancer cells exposed to cisplatin. In the present study, treatment with cisplatin increased free Ca²⁺ levels in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of human cervical cancer HeLa cells, which further triggers the mitochondria-mediated and ER stress-associated apoptosis pathways. Notably, blocking calcium signaling using the calcium chelating agent bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid acetoxymethyl ester inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis via downregulation of the calcium-dependent proteases, the calpains, and innate apoptosis proteins, such as caspsae-3, caspase-4 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In addition, use of the inositol triphosphate receptor inhibitor, 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate, to inhibit calcium efflux from the ER resulted in similar effects. This data indicated that calcium efflux from the ER plays a significant role in cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells, which provides further mechanistic insights into the tumor cell-killing effect of cisplatin and potential therapeutic strategies to improve cisplatin chemotherapy.

Suppression of MAL gene expression is associated with colorectal cancer metastasis

Mal, T-cell differentiation protein (MAL) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that functions in membrane trafficking processes in polarized epithelial cells. The aim of the present study was to determine its clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The RNA and protein expression levels of MAL in 30 colorectal specimens were detected by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The RNA level of MAL was significantly downregulated in the CRC tissues compared with the adjacent healthy tissue (P<0.05). MAL was only positively expressed in 20% of the CRC tissues, but in 66.7% of the adjacent tissues, as determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. The expression of the MAL RNA transcript exhibited a positive correlation with protein expression. The expression levels of MAL were significantly associated with different tumor-node-metastasis stages and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with age, gender, tumor site, differentiation status and pathological type (P>0.05). Suppression of MAL expression was significantly correlated with metastasis in CRC. The present study indicated that MAL may function as an anti-metastasis factor and represent a potential biomarker for malignant colorectal tumors.

Combined characterization of composite tabular silver halide microcrystals by cryo-EFTEM/EELS and cryo-STEM/EDX techniques

The combination of cryo-energy filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM)/electron spectroscopic diffraction (ESD)/electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cryo-energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis in the scanning transmission (STEM) and scanning (SEM) modes was applied for the characterization of composite tabular Ag(Br,I) microcrystals. A low-loss fine structure in EEL spectra between 4 and 26 eV was attributed to excitons and plasmons possibly superimposed with interband transitions and many-electron effects. The contrast tuning under the energy-filtering in the low-loss region was used to image the crystal morphology, defect structure (random dislocations and ¿111¿ stacking faults) and bend and edge contours as well as electron excitations in the microcrystals. Sharp extra reflections at commensurate positions in between the main Bragg reflections and diffuse honeycomb contours in ESD patterns of the microcrystals taken near the [111] zone were assigned to the number of defects in the shell region parallel to the grain edges and polyhedral clusters of interstitial silver cations, respectively. The imaginary part of the energy-loss function, Im (-1/epsilon), and the real and imaginary parts, epsilon1 and epsilon2, of the dielectric permittivity were determined by means of a Kramers-Kronig analysis. An assignment of exciton peaks based on calculations of electronic band structure of silver bromide is proposed. Inner-shell excitation bands of silver halide were detected in line with EDX-analyses. The energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) of the AgM4,5-edge governed by spin-orbital splitting between the 3d3/2- and 3d5/2-states has been evaluated. Combined silver and halide distributions were obtained by a three-window method (EFTEM) and by EDX/STEM including area mapping and line profiling of iodide.

Subcapsular intratesticular assay: a preliminary screening method for putative male antifertility drugs

The subcapsular intratesticular assay was developed for the preliminary screening of male antifertility agents. In the assay, small amounts of the test sample are injected twice, 1 week apart just beneath the tunica albuginea of the testes of rats. The rats were killed within 3 weeks of treatment to examine epididymal spermatozoa and the histology of the testis and epididymis. There is an excellent agreement between this method and the modified MB-50 assay developed by the World Health Organization. To date, more than 300 samples have been assayed, of which the results of 10 plant-derived compounds are reported here. Not one active sample has been missed as confirmed by the modified MB-50 method, although one compound which was positive in the subcapsular assay did not show antifertility action in the in-vivo assay. Compared with the latter assay, the advantages of this method are: simplicity, time-saving, rat-saving and the need for far smaller amounts of test sample. The absence of false-negative results makes the subcapsular intratesticular assay applicable as a preliminary screening method to test potential male fertility regulating agents.