Atorvastatin causes developmental and behavioral toxicity in yellowstripe goby (Mugilogobius chulae) embryos/larvae via disrupting lipid metabolism and autophagy processes.

Atorvastatin (ATV) is one of the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering drugs detected frequently in the environment due to its high use and low degradation rate. However, the toxic effects of residual ATV in the aquatic environment on non-target organisms and its toxic mechanisms are still largely unknown. In the present study, embryos of a native estuarine benthic fish, Mugilogobius chulae, were employed to investigate the developmental and behavioral toxic effects of ATV including environmentally relevant concentrations. The aim of this study was to provide a scientific basis for ecological risk assessment of ATV in the aquatic environment by investigating the changes of biological endpoints at multiple levels in M. chulae embryos/larvae. The results showed that ATV had significantly lethal and teratogenic effects on M. chulae embryos/larvae and caused abnormal changes in developmental parameters including hatch rate, body length, heart rate, and spontaneous movement. ATV exposure caused oxidative stress in M. chulae embryos/larvae subsequently inhibited autophagy and activated apoptosis, leading to abnormal developmental processes and behavioral changes in M. chulae embryos/larvae. The disruptions of lipid metabolism, autophagy, and apoptosis in M. chulae embryos/larvae caused by ATV exposure may pose a potential ecological risk at the population level.

Response of lipid metabolism, energy supply, and cell fate in yellowstripe goby (Mugilogobius chulae) exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations atorvastatin.

The usage of typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) such as cardiovascular and lipid-modulating drugs in clinical care accounts for the largest share of pharmaceutical consumption in most countries. Atorvastatin (ATV), one of the most commonly used lipid-lowering drugs, is frequently detected with lower concentrations in aquatic environments owing to its wide application, low removal, and degradation rates. However, the adverse effects of ATV on non-target aquatic organisms, especially the molecular mechanisms behind the toxic effects, still remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially toxic effects of ATV exposure (including environmental concentrations) on yellowstripe goby (Mugilogobius chulae) and addressed the multi-dimensional responses. The results showed that ATV caused typical hepatotoxicity to M. chulae. ATV interfered with lipid metabolism by blocking fatty acid ß-oxidation and led to the over-consumption of lipids. Thus, the exposed organism was obliged to alter the energy supply patterns and substrates utilization pathways to keep the normal energy supply. In addition, the higher concentration of ATV exposure caused oxidative stress to the organism. Subsequently, M. chulae triggered the autophagy and apoptosis processes with the help of key stress-related transcriptional regulators FOXOs and Sestrins to degrade the damaged organelles and proteins to maintain intracellular homeostasis.

Aspirin Inhibits Brain Metastasis of Lung Cancer via Upregulation of Tight Junction Protein Expression in Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: The brain is one of the most vulnerable metastasis sites in lung cancer; approximately 40-50% of lung cancer patients develop brain metastasis during the disease course, contributing to the poor prognosis and high mortality of lung cancer patients. Therefore, it is important to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying brain metastasis of lung cancer for improving the overall survival of lung cancer patients. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the development of brain metastasis of lung cancer and explore the effect of aspirin in an in-vitro BBB model. METHODS: An in-vitro BBB model was established. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and occludin in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells was detected using Western blot at different time points following the administration of aspirin. RESULTS: HSP70, ZO-1, and occludin expressions did not show significant changes before aspirin administration, but increased noticeably after aspirin administration. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) could significantly attenuate the increased expression of these proteins induced by aspirin. Additionally, TNF-α also significantly reversed the aspirin-induced decrease of BBB permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin may inhibit brain metastasis of lung cancer in a time-dependent manner via upregulating tight junction proteins to reduce BBB permeability, and this effect can be reversed by TNF-α.

Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers and Their Applications in Several Areas.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have a broad spectrum of applications, including sensor manufacturing, electrochemical catalysis, and energy storage. Among different manufacturing methods, electrospinning, due to its simplicity and efficiency, has emerged as one of the most powerful commercial large-scale production techniques. Numerous researchers have been attracted to improving the performance of CNFs and exploring new potential applications. This paper first discusses the working theory of manufacturing electrospun CNFs. Next, the current efforts in upgrading the properties of CNFs, such as pore architecture, anisotropy, electrochemistry, and hydrophilicity, are discussed. The corresponding applications due to the superior performances of CNFs are subsequently elaborated. Finally, the future development of CNFs is discussed.

Proteomic Response of Rat Pituitary Under Chronic Mild Stress Reveals Insights Into Vulnerability and Resistance to Anxiety or Depression.

Chronic stress as one of the most significant risk factor can trigger overactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression as well as anxiety. Yet, the shared and unique neurobiological underpinnings underlying the pituitary abnormality in these two disorders have not been made clear. We previously have established depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible and insusceptible groups using a valid chronic mild stress (CMS) model. In this work, the possible protein expression changes in the rat pituitary of these three groups were continuously investigated through the use of the comparative quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. The pituitary-proteome analysis identified totally 197 differential proteins as a CMS response. These deregulated proteins were involved in diverse biological functions and significant pathways potentially connected with the three different behavioral phenotypes, likely serving as new investigative protein targets. Afterwards, parallel reaction monitoring-based independent analysis found out that expression alterations in Oxct1, Sec24c, Ppp1cb, Dock1, and Coq3; Lama1, Glb1, Gapdh, Sccpdh, and Renbp; Sephs1, Nup188, Spp1, Prodh1, and Srm were specifically linked to depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible and insusceptible groups, respectively, suggesting that the same CMS had different impacts on the pituitary protein regulatory system. Collectively, the current proteomics research elucidated an important molecular basis and furnished new valuable insights into neurochemical commonalities and specificities of the pituitary dysfunctional mechanisms in HPA axis underlying vulnerability and resistance to stress-induced anxiety or depression.

Proteomic Insights Into Susceptibility and Resistance to Chronic-Stress-Induced Depression or Anxiety in the Rat Striatum.

Chronic stress is a key factor for the onset of anxiety and depression disorders. However, the stress-induced common and unique molecular basis of the two psychiatric disorders is not fully known and still needs to be explored. Previously, we employed a chronic mild stress (CMS) procedure to induce a rat model including depression-susceptible (Dep-Sus), anxiety-susceptible (Anx-Sus), and insusceptible (Insus) cohorts. In this work, we continuously analyze the striatal proteomes of the three stressed cohorts by the use of comparative proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. Through isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based analysis, 386 abnormally expressed proteins in total were identified. These deregulated proteins are involved in various biological functions and significant pathways that are potentially connected with resistance and susceptibility to CMS-caused anxious- or depressive-like behaviors and, hence, could act as suggestive protein targets. A further parallel reaction monitoring-based independent investigation shows that alterations in Pak5, Dgkg, Scn4b, Rb1cc1, and Acin1; Ggps1, Fntb, Nudt19, Ufd1, and Ndufab1; and Dnajb12, Hbb2, Ap2s1, Ip6k1, and Stk4 were specifically connected with Dep-Sus, Anx-Sus, or Insus groups, respectively, potentially indicating that identical CMS treatment results in the different changes in the striatal protein regulations. Overall, our current proteomics study of the striatum provides an important molecular foundation and comprehensive insights into common and specific deregulations correlated with pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie resistance and susceptibility to chronic stress-induced anxiety or depression.

Global effects of RAB3GAP1 dysexpression on the proteome of mouse cortical neurons.

Mounting studies have demonstrated that RAB3GAP1 expression is modified in brain diseases with multiple neurobiological functions and processes and acts as a potentially significant target. However, the cellular and molecular events arising from RAB3GAP1 dysexpression are still incompletely understood. In this work, underexpression and overexpression of RAB3GAP1 were first induced into cultured mouse cortical neurons by transfection with lentivirus plasmids. Then we globally explored the effects of RAB3GAP1 dysexpression on the proteome of the neurons through the use of isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomics with bioinformatics. A total of 364 proteins in the RAB3GAP1-underexpression group and 314 proteins in the RAB3GAP1-overexpression group were identified to be differentially expressed. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis indicated that the proteome functional expression profiles induced by RAB3GAP1 underexpression and overexpression were different, suggesting the potential differences in biological processes and cellular effects. Subsequent intergroup cross-comparison revealed some candidate target proteins regulated directly by RAB3GAP1. Further parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis illustrated that Sub1, Ssrp1, and Top1 proteins might serve as new potentially important linkers in the RAB3GAP1-mediated autophagy pathway in the cortical neurons. Collectively, the current proteomics data furnished new valuable insights to better understand the regulatory molecular mechanism of neuronal RAB3GAP1.

Intersectional analysis of chronic mild stress-induced lncRNA-mRNA interaction networks in rat hippocampus reveals potential anti-depression/anxiety drug targets.

Despite studies providing insight into the neurobiology of chronic stress, depression and anxiety, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-mediated mechanisms underlying the common and distinct pathophysiology of these stress-induced disorders remain nonconclusive. In a previous study, we used the chronic mild stress paradigm to separate depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible and insusceptible rat subpopulations. In the current study, lncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was comparatively profiled in the hippocampus of the three stress groups using microarray technology. Groupwise comparisons identified distinct sets of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with the three different behavioral phenotypes of the stressed rats. To investigate the regulatory roles of the dysregulated lncRNAs upon mRNA expression, correlations between the differential lncRNAs and mRNAs were first analyzed by combined use of weighted gene coexpression network analysis and ceRNA theory-based methods. Subsequent functional analysis of strongly correlated mRNAs indicated that the dysregulated lncRNAs were involved in various biological pathways and processes to specifically induce rat susceptibility or resiliency to depression or anxiety. Further intersectional analysis of phenotype-associated and drug-associated lncRNA-mRNA networks and subnetworks assisted in identifying 16 hub lncRNAs as potential targets of anti-depression/anxiety drugs. Collectively, our study established the molecular basis for understanding the similarities and differences in pathophysiological mechanisms underlying stress-induced depression or anxiety and stress resiliency, revealing several important lncRNAs that represent potentially new therapeutic drug targets for depression and anxiety disorders.

Analysis of Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Hypothalamic Proteome: Identification of Protein Dysregulations Associated With Vulnerability and Resiliency to Depression or Anxiety.

Chronic stress as a known risk factor leads to hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in both depression and anxiety. However, the stress-induced dysfunction of the HPA axis in these disorders especially the common and unique molecular dysregulations have not been well-explored. Previously, we utilized a chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm to segregate and gain depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible, and insusceptible groups. In this study, we continue to examine the possible protein expression alterations of the hypothalamus as the center of the HPA axis in these three groups by using a proteomic approach. Though isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative analysis, a total of 593 dysregulated proteins were identified. These were potentially associated with vulnerability and adaptability of CMS-caused depression or anxiety and therefore might become novel investigative protein targets. Further independent analysis using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) indicated that 5, 7, and 21 dysregulated proteins were specifically associated with depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible, and insusceptible groups, respectively, suggesting that the same CMS differently affected the regulation system of the rat hypothalamic proteome. In summary, the current proteomic research on the hypothalamus provided insights into the specific and common molecular basis for the HPA dysfunction mechanisms that underlie resiliency and vulnerability to stress-induced depression or anxiety.

Mechanism and catalytic performance for direct dimethyl ether synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation over CuZnZr/ferrierite hybrid catalyst.

Direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) by CO2 hydrogenation has been investigated over three hybrid catalysts prepared by different methods: co-precipitation, sol-gel, and solid grinding to produce mixed Cu, ZnO, ZrO2 catalysts that were physically mixed with a commercial ferrierite (FER) zeolite. The catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (CO2-TPD), temperature programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD), and temperature programmed H2 reduction (H2-TPR). The results demonstrate that smaller CuO and Cu crystallite sizes resulting in better dispersion of the active phases, higher surface area, and lower reduction temperature are all favorable for catalytic activity. The reaction mechanism has been studied using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Methanol appears to be formed via the bidentate-formate (b-HCOO) species undergoing stepwise hydrogenation, while DME formation occurs from methanol dehydration and reaction of two surface methoxy groups.

CO2 hydrogenation to high-value products via heterogeneous catalysis.

Recently, carbon dioxide capture and conversion, along with hydrogen from renewable resources, provide an alternative approach to synthesis of useful fuels and chemicals. People are increasingly interested in developing innovative carbon dioxide hydrogenation catalysts, and the pace of progress in this area is accelerating. Accordingly, this perspective presents current state of the art and outlook in synthesis of light olefins, dimethyl ether, liquid fuels, and alcohols through two leading hydrogenation mechanisms: methanol reaction and Fischer-Tropsch based carbon dioxide hydrogenation. The future research directions for developing new heterogeneous catalysts with transformational technologies, including 3D printing and artificial intelligence, are provided.

Overexpression and characterization of a novel (S)-specific extended short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Candida parapsilosis.

The gene encoding a putative protein from Candida parapsilosis CDC317 (CPE) was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was amenable to overexpression in E. coli and constituted 35% of the total cell protein content. The optimal activity was determined at pH 5.5 and 40°C with the substrate 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate ethyl ester (COBE). The optical purity of the product was over 99% enantiomeric excess for the (S)-isomer, and the molar conversion yield of the product was 91.1%. The apparent k(m) value for COBE was 0.19±0.01mM, which is an order of magnitude lower than that of other enzymes in the literature.

Retrieval of glycoside hydrolase family 9 cellulase genes from environmental DNA by metagenomic gene specific multi-primer PCR.

A new method, termed metagenomic gene specific multi-primer PCR (MGSM-PCR), is presented that uses multiple gene specific primers derived from an isolated gene from a constructed metagenomic library rather than degenerate primers designed based on a known enzyme family. The utility of MGSM-PCR was shown by applying it to search for homologues of the glycoside hydrolase family 9 cellulase in metagenomic DNA. The success of the multiplex PCR was verified by visualizing products on an agarose gel following gel electrophoresis. A total of 127 homologous genes were amplified with combinatorial multi-primer reactions from 34 soil DNA samples. Multiple alignments revealed extensive sequence diversity among these captured sequences with sequence identity varying from 26 to 99.7%. These results indicated that significantly diverse homologous genes were indeed readily accessible when using multiple metagenomic gene specific primers.

[Variants and quasispecies of reverse transcriptase region in polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus during lamivudine treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the variants and quasispecies of reverse transcriptase region in polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) during lamivudine treatment and their relationship with genotypes and viral loads. METHODS: HBV DNA of 117 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine were amplified by using PCR. The PCR products including the YMDD motif were sequenced by DNA sequencer, of which, HBV DNA viral loads of 99 patients were determined by real-time PCR and 64 samples were sequenced by Pyrosequencing. RESULTS: In HBV YMDD variant group and no variant group, the HBV genotypes were 79.6% and 86.7% of type C, 18.5% and 12.7% of type B, 1.9% of A/B recombinant type and 2.6% of type D, respectively. The viral loads (log 10) were 6.5699 and 6.6165, respectively. There was no significant difference in HBV genotypes and viral loads between these two groups. The rtL180M variant was found in association with the rtM204I/V variant, HBV variants and wild-type in YMDD motif all existed together in these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: HBV variants (quasispecies) in YMDD motif could be quantified by pyrosequencing, which would be a feasible measure during nucleoside or nucleotide analogue therapy against chronic HBV infection.

[Detection and the production mechanism of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver/kidney microsomal tpe 1 antibodies (anti-LKM1) in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver/ kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (anti-LKM1) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)and to explore the mechanism of production of these autoantibodies. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 360 patients with CHC (case group), 69 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 69 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (control group). Serum ANA and anti-LKM1 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (HF) technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Multi-factor analysis was performed to explore the correlations of the production of autoantibodies with some factors such as age, sex, viral loads, HCV genotype, biochemical parameters and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Fifty-four (15%) of 360 patients infected with HCV were positive in autoantibodies. The prevalence of ANA and anti-LKM1 were 12.5% (45/360) and 2.5% (9/ 360), respectively. The positive rate of autoantibodies in patients with CHC was significantly higher than that in patients with CHB (15% vs 2.9%, P = 0.006), but significantly lower than that in patients with AIH (15% vs 47.9%, P < 0.001). Twenty-one (11.35%) of 185 male patients and 33 (18.86%) of 175 female patients were positive in autoantibodies, the difference in positive rate was significant (P < 0.05). HCV virus loads in the autoantibodies negative group were higher than that in the autoantibodies positive group (7.2 x 10(7) copies/L vs 1.23 x 10(7) copies/L, P < 0.05). There were not significant differences in age and genotype between the autoantibody positive group and the autoantibody negative group. The serum biochemical parameters of the autoantibody positive group were similar to those of the autoantibody negative group. The differences were not significant for the course of disease, clinical symptom, the incidence of cirrhosis between the autoantibody positive group and the autoantibody negative group. The prevalence of autoantibodies was not different for patients with or without interferon treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies related to AIH can be detected in CHC patients; interferon may not induce the production of autoantibodies; it is very likely that HCV infection induces the autoimmune reaction and the production of autoantibodies.

[Establishment and application of a real-time PCR method to detect hepatitis B virus cccDNA quantitatively].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method to detect HBV cccDNA quantitatively and to apply it to detect cccDNA in liver needle biopsy specimens of chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: The sequences of HBV DNA genotypes A through G were analyzed. According to the different sequence structure of cccDNA and rcDNA, primes and probe were designed in highly conservative region outside the nick of cccDNA in order to amplify cccDNA but not rcDNA. The best conditions of this method were found after testing experiments. Also we checked its specificity and sensitivity and reproducibility. The products of PCR were sequenced in order to ascertain if it was the right region expected. To amplify with standard plasmid ranged from 10(2) to 10(10) copies/ml to measure the sensitivity and amplify in parallel with standard plasmid of 10(6) copies/ml for 30 replicates so as to measure its reproducibility. DNA was extracted from 32 needle liver biopsy specimens of chronic hepatitis B patients. The cccDNA was quantitatively detected with this method. The data of cccDNA obtained before and after therapy and their relationship with total HBV DNA were analyzed. RESULTS Results of sequencing showed that the PCR product was from the right region. The sensitivity was 10(3)-10(10) copies/ml. The Ct value was 29.69+/-0.31 and the coefficient of variability was 1.04 percent calculated from the data of 30 PCR reactions with standard plasmid. The percentage of decrease in serum HBV DNA, total HBV DNA in liver and cccDNA in liver were 0.49+/-0.17, 0.22+/-0.18 and 0.16+/-0.28 respectively. There is 47 percent-98 percent cccDNA in total HBV DNA in liver and the mean is 81.5 percent. CONCLUSION: The method is good because of the simple and convenient operation, the high specificity, the wide linear detection range and the fine reproducibility. Therefore it can be used for both scientific research and clinical purpose. Lamividine can significantly inhibit serum HBV DNA by, but its inhibitory effect on cccDNA in liver was rather weak.

[Clinical characteristies and distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype and sub-genotype].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution and virologic characteristics of HBV genotypes, sub-type and possible association with the severity of liver disease. METHODS: 884 patients infected with HBV were enrolled from 8 provinces in China. HBV genotype and sub-type was determined, using PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: The most common HBV genotypes were B (20.77% ) and C (78.22 % ) but only 1 patient showed genotypes D. We found sub-type Ba in patients with genotype B, C1 and C2 sub-type in patients with genotype C. Genotype C (83.62%) and sub-type C2 (90.32%) were predominant in northern China. Patients with genotype B were much younger than those with genotype C. There was no significant difference between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. There was no significant difference in liver function and serum HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C,or between patients with sub type C1 and C2. However, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C. CONCLUSION: There were no significantly differences in liver function and HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C, or between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C. Genotype C/sub-type C2 were preponderance in northern China.

Mutations in surface and polymerase gene of chronic hepatitis B patients with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs.

AIM: To investigate the clinical significance and presence of mutations in the surface (S) and overlapping polymerase gene of hepatitis B patients with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with chronic hepatitis B were studied. Of the 23 patients, 11 were both positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs), 12 were negative for anti-HBs while positive for HBsAg. DNA was extracted from 200 muL serum of the patients. Nucleotide of the surface and overlapping polymerase gene from HBV-infected patients was amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced. RESULTS: Forty-one mutations were found within the surface gene protein of HBV in 15 patients (10 with coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs). Six (14.6%) out of 41 mutations were located at "alpha " determinant region in 5 patients (4 positive for HBsAg and anti-HBs). Eleven mutations (26.8%) occurred in the downstream or upstream of "alpha " determinant region. Lamivudine (LMV)-selected mutations were found in three patients who developed anti-HBs, which occurred in amino acid positions (196, 198, 199) of the surface protein and in YMDD motif (M204I/V) of the polymerase protein simultaneously. Presence of these mutations did not relate to changes in ALT and HBV DNA levels. CONCLUSION: Besides mutations in the "alpha " deter-minant region, mutations at downstream or upstream of the "alpha " determinant region may contribute to the development of anti-HBs. These mutations do not block the replicating competency of HBV in the presence of high titer of anti-HBs.

[Detection of the HBV DNA with Sybr green 1 realtime polymerase chain reaction].

BACKGROUND: To search a novel sensitive, specific and lower cost method applicable for quantitative analysis of the hepatitis B virus DNA extensively. METHODS: Quantitative analysis of the DNA from 100 sera by real-time PCR with Sybr green 1. The results of Sybr's assay were compared with the results obtained with Taqman's fluorescent quantitative assay. RESULTS: Taqman real-time PCR could help evaluate the level of virus reliably. The results of Sybr's assay were in agreement with the Taqman's assay, but detection rate was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Sybr green 1 real-time PCR appeared to be convenient and cheap, but detection rate was lower.