TRIM13 Reduces Damage to Alveolar Epithelial Cells in COPD by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced ER-Phagy.

PURPOSE: Tripartite motif-containing protein 13 (TRIM13) directly or indirectly participates in autophagy and apoptosis. However, it remains unclear whether TRIM13 participates in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms through which TRIM13 regulates alveolar epithelial cell injury in COPD to provide new molecular targets for COPD treatment. METHODS: The TRIM13 expression levels were determined in clinical COPD patients and a rat emphysema model. A cigarette smoke-induced model of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and endoplasmic reticulum autophagy (ER-phagy) was developed using A549 cells, and the effects of TRIM13 gene overexpression/knockdown on ERS, ER-phagy, and cell apoptosis were assessed in these cells. RESULTS: TRIM13 expression was significantly decreased in the lung tissues of COPD patients and rats with emphysema. Moreover, the apoptosis level was significantly increased in the lung tissues of rats with emphysema. TRIM13 gene overexpression reduced the expression levels of ERS-related molecules (GRP78, GRP94, XBP-1, and eIF2a) in the COPD model; it also lowered the ER-phagy level, as evidenced by decreased number of autolysosomes observed by transmission electron microscopy, improved endoplasmic reticulum structure, reduced LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin1 expression levels, and increased expression level of the autophagy inhibitory molecule Bcl-2. TRIM13 gene knockdown, however, led to opposite results. CONCLUSION: TRIM13 expression attenuated alveolar epithelial cell injury in COPD by inhibiting ERS-induced ER-phagy.

LncRNA RP11-521C20.3 Inhibits Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Apoptosis in A549 Cells by Targeting BMF Signaling.

Objective: LncRNAs are closely correlated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the molecular mechanism of lncRNA RP11-521C20.3, which targets the action of the Bcl-2 modifying factor (BMF) signaling pathway in the apoptosis of cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated A549 cells. Methods: Lung tissues derived from cigarette smoke exposed rats (COPD group) and controls were examined using TUNEL assay for apoptotic cells and using immunohistochemistry for BMF expression levels. Overexpression and knockdown of BMF by lentiviral vector transfection were used to explore the role of BMF on the apoptosis of CSE-treated A549 cells. Overexpression and knockdown of RP11-521C20.3 were used to assess the effect of RP11-521C20.3 on the expression levels of BMF and apoptosis in CSE-treated A549 cells. Cell proliferation, mitochondrial morphology, and apoptosis were assessed in A549 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions and Western blotting detected the expression of apoptosis-related molecules. Results: The number of apoptotic cells and the level of BMF protein were significantly increased in lung tissues of the COPD group compared to the control group. Overexpression of BMF or knockdown of RP11-521C20.3 in CSE-treated A549 cells increased apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, and exacerbated mitochondrial damage. There were also increased protein levels of p53, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-7, and decreased protein levels of Bcl-2 and survivin. Knockdown of BMF or overexpression of RP11-521C20.3 in CSE-treated A549 cells attenuated apoptosis, promoted cell proliferation, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. Observed effects also included decreased protein levels of p53, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-7, and increased protein levels of Bcl-2 and survivin. In CSE-treated A549 cells, overexpression of RP11-521C20.3 suppressed the expression of BMF mRNA and protein. Conclusion: In CSE-treated A549 cells, BMF promoted apoptosis and RP11-521C20.3 might target the BMF signaling axis to protect CSE-treated A549 cells from apoptosis.

Voltammetric Determination of Dinonyl Diphenylamine and Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Mineral and Synthetic Oil.

A method is reported for the determination of diphenylamine and butylated hydroxytoluene in mineral and synthetic oil. The procedure used differential pulse voltammetry with a glassy carbon electrode. This method was then used for determining these antioxidants in supporting electrolyte consisting of dilute sulfuric acid and sodium dodecyl sulfonate in ethanol. Anodic peaks were obtained for both analytes. Oxidation peaks at 250 mV were observed from a mixture of butylated hydroxytoluene and dinonyl diphenylamine, allowing their simultaneous determination. This approach was successfully used for the determination of dinonyl diphenylamine and butylated hydroxytoluene in fortified mineral and synthetic oils with good accuracy and precision.

[Eco-toxicological effects of selenium and its critical value on Oryza sativa].

In a pot experiment with brown-yellow soil, this paper studied the effects of different concentration selenium on the growth and activated oxygen- scavenging system of Oryza sativa. The results showed that low concentration Se (< 8 mg x kg(-1)) had a promoting effect on the wheat biomass, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b, and activated oxygen- scavenging system, while high concentration Se (> 16 mg x kg(-1)) was in adverse. Soil Se concentration had a significant correlation with root biomass, shoot biomass, chlorophyll a/b, MDA, SOD, CAT, POD. It was defined by the pot experiment that 10% inhibition rate of root or shoot biomass could be regarded as critical value, and the critical content of soil Se was estimated to be 21 mg x kg(-1).

[Cycling and balance of copper in farmland ecosystem of Jianghan plain in Hubei Province].

The cycling and balance of copper in 8 cropping systems, i.e., wheat-rice, rice-rice, rape-soybean, rape-peanut, wheat-sesame, wheat-cotton, pepper-cabbage and radish-eggplant in Jianghan plain of Hubei Province were studied. The results showed that the main output of copper was crop harvesting, up to 85.9%-95.1% of total output, and the output of copper by field runoff and soil leaching was low. The main inputs of copper were organic fertilizer, rainfall, falldrop, and natural return. The inputs of copper from inorganic fertilizer and seeds (seedlings) were low. The balance analysis pointed out that copper had an accumulative trend in two patterns of rice and commercial vegetable ecosystem, and was in balance in upland field ecosystem.