Long non-coding RNA LOXL1-AS1: a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in human malignant tumors.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts that contain more than 200 nucleotides. Despite their inability to code proteins, multiple studies have identified their important role in human cancer through different mechanisms. LncRNA lysyl oxidase like 1 antisense RNA 1 (LOXL1-AS1), a newly discovered lncRNA located on human chromosome 15q24.1, has recently been shown to be involved in the occurrence and progression of various malignancies, such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, glioma, thymic carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma. LOXL1-AS1 acts as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and via sponging various miRNAs, including miR-374b-5p, miR-21, miR-423-5p, miR-589-5p, miR-28-5p, miR-324-3p, miR-708-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-18b-5p, miR-761, miR-525-5p, miR-541-3p, miR-let-7a-5p, miR-3128, miR-3614-5p, miR-377-3p and miR-1224-5p to promote tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT). In addition, LOXL1-AS1 is involved in the regulation of P13K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. This article reviews the current understanding of the biological function and clinical significance of LOXL1-AS1 in human cancers. These findings suggest that LOXL1-AS1 may be both a reliable biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for cancers.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and Tau protein in hippocampus of SAMP8 mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) on learning-memory ability, changes of ultrastructure of neurons and expression of CDK5 and Tau proteins in hippocampus of SAMP8 mice，so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of Alzheimer's disease (AD)．. METHODS: A total of 45 male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model, EA and MA groups, with 15 mice in each group. The other 15 SAMR1 mice were used as the normal group. In the EA group, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Shenshu"(BL23) and manual acupuncture was applied to "Baihui"(GV20) for 20 min. In the MA group, MA was applied to GV20 and bilateral BL23 for 20 min. Both group were treated once a day for 31 days, and with an interval of one day between every two 7 days. Morris water maze was performed to assess the animals' learning-memory ability. The morphological changes of hippocampal neurons were observed under transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of CDK5, p25 and Tau-5 proteins in the hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: ①Compared with the normal group, the average escape latency of Morris water maze test was prolonged in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant and the number of original platform crossing were significantly shorter and less respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the average escape latency in the EA group was shortened (P<0.05, P <0.01), the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant and the number of original platform crossing were significantly prolonged and increased (P<0.01); The average escape latency in the MA group was shortened (P<0.05, P <0.01)，and the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant was prolonged (P<0.05). Compared with the EA group, the average escape latency of the MA group was prolonged (P<0.05), the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant was shortened(P<0.05). ②Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area had irregular shape and vague structure, reduction in size and number of mitochondria accompanied with swelling, and malformed changes of mitochondrial crest in the model group, which was relatively milder in both EA and MA groups. ③The expression levels of hippocampal Tau-5, p25 and CDK5 proteins were significantly up-regulated in the model group in contrast to the normal group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and obviously down-regulated in both EA and MA groups relevant to the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the EA group, the expression levels of p25 and CDK5 proteins were significantly increased in the MA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of BL23 can improve the learning-memory ability in SAMP8 mice, which is associated with its effect in down-regulating the expression of hippocampal CDK5, p25 and Tau-5 proteins.

[Characteristics of distribution and chemical forms of Pb in tea plant varieties].

A hydroponics experiment combined with subcellular fractionation and sequential extraction was conducted to study the Pb concentration in different organs of two tea plant varieties (Longjing 43 and Yingshuang) and the Pb subcellular distribution and chemical forms in the roots of the varieties. Under Pb stress, the root system of the two varieties had different features in morphology. With the increasing concentration of Pb in culture solution, the Pb concentration in Longjing 43 young leaves increased, but that in Yingshuang' s had no significant variation. A marked difference was observed in the Pb subcellular distribution and its chemical forms in roots between the two varieties under Pb stress. In Longjing 43 roots, all subcellular fractions except soluble ones had a lower Pb concentration at low Pb stress, and all the subcellular fractions except cell wall ones had a higher Pb concentration at higher Pb stress, compared with those in Yingshuang's. In Longjing 43 roots, the HAc-extractable Pb occupied the greatest proportion, followed by NaCl-extractable Pb, HCl- and H2O- extractable Pb, and ethanol-extractable Pb; while in Yingshuang's, NaCl-extractable Pb had the greatest proportion, followed by HAc-extractable Pb, HCl- and H2O-extractable Pb, and ethanol-extractable Pb. Based on these findings, tea plant variety Yingshuang was likely to possess a higher tolerance to Pb than Longjing 43 did.

[Effects of sulfur on microbial activity and community structure in a lead-polluted paddy soil].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the microbial activity and community structure in a lead-polluted paddy soil under effects of amendment with different concentration sodium thiosulfate. The amendment of the sulfur-containing substrate increased the soil oxidation-reduction potential and respiration rate, promoted the growth of soil sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, and induced some changes in soil microbial community structure. The clone sequencing indicated that the specific bands of soil microbes in sodium thiosulfate treatments had very high similarity to Bateroidetes, Thiobacillus, beta-proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Significant changes were observed in the contents of soil carbonate- and Fe/Mn oxide- bound Pb after the amendment of sodium thiosulfate.