Identification of the metaphyseal skeletal stem cell building trabecular bone.

Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) that are capable of self-renewal and multipotent differentiation contribute to bone development and homeostasis. Several populations of SSCs at different skeletal sites have been reported. Here, we identify a metaphyseal SSC (mpSSC) population whose transcriptional landscape is distinct from other bone mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). These mpSSCs are marked by Sstr2 or Pdgfrb+Kitl-, located just underneath the growth plate, and exclusively derived from hypertrophic chondrocytes (HCs). These HC-derived mpSSCs have properties of self-renewal and multipotency in vitro and in vivo, producing most HC offspring postnatally. HC-specific deletion of Hgs, a component of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport, impairs the HC-to-mpSSC conversion and compromises trabecular bone formation. Thus, mpSSC is the major source of BMSCs and osteoblasts in bone marrow, supporting the postnatal trabecular bone formation.

Natural Product Citronellal can Significantly Disturb Chitin Synthesis and Cell Wall Integrity in Magnaporthe oryzae.

BACKGROUND: Natural products are often favored in the study of crop pests and diseases. Previous studies have shown that citronellal has a strong inhibition effect on Magnaporthe oryzae. The objective of this study was to clarify its mechanism of action against M. oryzae. RESULTS: Firstly, the biological activity of citronellal against M. oryzae was determined by direct and indirect methods, and the results show that citronellal had a strong inhibition effect on M. oryzae with EC50 values of 134.00 mg/L and 70.48 µL/L air, respectively. Additionally, a preliminary study on its mechanism of action was studied. After citronellal treatment, electron microscopy revealed that the mycelium became thin and broken; scanning electron microscopy revealed that the mycelium was wrinkled and distorted; and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the mycelium cell wall was invaginated, the mass wall of mycelium was separated, and the organelles were blurred. The mycelium was further stained with CFW, and the nodes were blurred, while the mycelium was almost non-fluorescent after PI staining, and there was no significant difference in the relative conductivity of mycelium. In addition, chitinase was significantly enhanced, and the expression of chitin synthesis-related genes was 17.47-fold upregulated. Finally, we found that the efficacy of citronellal against the rice blast was as high as 82.14% according to indoor efficacy tests. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that citronellal can affect the synthesis of chitin in M. oryzae and damage its cell wall, thereby inhibiting the growth of mycelium and effectively protecting rice from rice blasts.

[Identification and degradation characteristics of a napropamide-degrading bacterium strain]. / ä¸€æ ªæ•Œè‰èƒºé™è§£èŒçš„åˆ†ç¦»é‰´å®šåŠé™è§£æ€§èƒ½.

In order to investigate the microbial degradation mechanism of amide herbicide napropamide and its degradation bioaugmentation in soil, a bacterial strain LGY06 capable of utilizing napropamide as sole carbon and energy source was isolated from a tobacco-planted soil after successive application of napropamide. LGY06 was identified as Bacillus cereus based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and the 16S rDNA homologue sequence analysis. The degradation of napropamide in pure cultures by LGY06 was fitted to the first-order function. The strain LGY06 could degrade more than 75.7% of 50 mg·L-1 napropamide within 7 d. The optimal temperature and pH for napropamide degradation was 35 ℃ and 8.0, respectively. The pathway of napropamide degradation was elucidated based on metabolites identification by GC-MS. The main degradation products of napropamide by LGY06 were α-naphthol and propylacetanilide. The meta-bolism of napropamide by strain LGY06 involved dealkylation and oxidation (or hydrolyzation). Under the laboratory control conditions, the bacterial strain LGY06 could effectively enhance the degradation of napropamide in soil. Compared with the un-inoculated controls, the half-life of napropamide in sterilized soil, non-rhizosphere soil, and rhizosphere soil inoculated with the strain LGY06 was shorted by 79.5%, 36.6% and 41.1%, respectively.

Naturally produced citral can significantly inhibit normal physiology and induce cytotoxicity on Magnaporthe grisea.

Given the importance of finding alternatives to synthetic fungicides, the antifungal effects of natural product citral on six plant pathogenic fungi (Magnaporthe grisea, Gibberella zeae, Fusarium oxysporum, Valsa mali, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizoctonia solani) were determined. Mycelial growth rate results showed that citral possessed high antifungal activities on those test fungi with EC50 values ranging from 39.52 to 193.00 µg/mL, which had the highest inhibition rates against M. grisea. Further action mechanism of citral on M. grisea was carried out. Citral treatment was found to alter the morphology of M. grisea hyphae by causing a loss of cytoplasm and distortion of mycelia. Moreover, citral was able to induce an increase in chitinase activity in M. grisea, indicating disruption of the cell wall. These results indicate that citral may act by disrupting cell wall integrity and membrane permeability, thus resulting in physiology changes and causing cytotoxicity. Importantly, the inhibitory effect of citral on M. grisea appears to be associated with its effects on mycelia reducing sugar, soluble protein, chitinase activity, pyruvate content, and malondialdehyde content.

The intracellular carboxyl tail of the PAR-2 receptor controls intracellular signaling and cell death.

The protease-activated receptors are a group of unique G protein-coupled receptors, including PAR-1, PAR-2, PAR-3 and PAR-4. PAR-2 is activated by multiple trypsin-like serine proteases, including trypsin, tryptase and coagulation proteases. The clusters of phosphorylation sites in the PAR-2 carboxyl tail are suggested to be important for the binding of adaptor proteins to initiate intracellular signaling to Ca(2+) and mitogen-activated protein kinases. To explore the functional role of PAR-2 carboxyl tail in controlling intracellular Ca(2+), ERK and AKT signaling, a series of truncated mutants containing different clusters of serines/threonines were generated and expressed in HEK293 cells. Firstly, we observed that lack of the complete C-terminus of PAR-2 in a mutated receptor gave a relatively low level of localization on the cell plasma membrane. Secondly, the shortened carboxyl tail containing 13 amino acids was sufficient for receptor internalization. Thirdly, the cells expressing truncation mutants showed deficits in their capacity to couple to intracellular Ca(2+) and ERK and AKT signaling upon trypsin challenge. In addition, HEK293 cells carrying different PAR-2 truncation mutants displayed decreased levels of cell survival after long-lasting trypsin stimulation. In summary, the PAR-2 carboxyl tail was found to control the receptor localization, internalization, intracellular Ca(2+) responses and signaling to ERK and AKT. The latter can be considered to be important for cell death control.

The natural product citral can cause significant damage to the hyphal cell walls of Magnaporthe grisea.

In order to find a natural alternative to the synthetic fungicides currently used against the devastating rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea, this study explored the antifungal potential of citral and its mechanism of action. It was found that citral not only inhibited hyphal growth of M. grisea, but also caused a series of marked hyphal morphological and structural alterations. Specifically, citral was tested for antifungal activity against M. grisea in vitro and was found to significantly inhibit colony development and mycelial growth with IC50 and IC90 values of 40.71 and 203.75 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, citral reduced spore germination and germ tube length in a concentration-dependent manner. Following exposure to citral, the hyphal cell surface became wrinkled with folds and cell breakage that were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There was damage to hyphal cell walls and membrane structures, loss of villous-like material outside of the cell wall, thinning of the cell wall, and discontinuities formed in the cell membrane following treatment based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This increase in chitinase activity both supports the morphological changes seen in the hyphae, and also suggests a mechanism of action. In conclusion, citral has strong antifungal properties, and treatment with this compound is capable of causing significant damage to the hyphal cell walls of M. grisea.

SNP genotyping by multiplex amplification and microarrays assay for forensic application.

OBJECTIVE: Research on the application feasibility of SNP genotyping for forensic identification by microarrays. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays which could detect 34 different SNPs were used. After hybridization and washing, the arrays were scanned and fluorescence intensities analyzed using Microarray software. Population studies on 34 SNP loci were carried out in a sample of 109 unrelated Chinese Han individuals using oligonucleotide microarrays for genotype detection. The method was also applied to cases. RESULTS: According to the results of population studies, no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found. Among the 34 loci, 3 SNPs were low informative, 4 were medium informative and 27 were high informative. The combination discrimination power (CDP) of the 31 optimal polymorphic SNPs was 0.9999999999979. The matching probability was 2.13 x 10(-12). The average exclusion probability in paternity testing for duos was 0.9609. The average exclusion probability in paternity testing for trios was 0.9970. CONCLUSION: The data and case application demonstrated that SNP typing by oligonucleotide probe microarrays was a useful technique for paternity testing and individual identification. Combined with the 28 SNPs loci distributed on HLA-DRB1 and ABO genes, the combination discrimination power (CDP) was 0.9999999999999910. The matching probability was 9.02 x 10(-15). The average exclusion probabilities in duos and in trios were 0.9894 and 0.9992, respectively. It may be concluded that the 59 SNPs loci yield the same power in forensic identification as CODIS STRs currently used.

[Application of oligonucleotide array in single nucleotide polymorphism typing of cytokines and cytokine receptors].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an oligonucleotide array for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-10, tumor growth factor (TGF)-betal, IL-4, and IL-6, and their receptors and evaluate its function by direct sequencing. METHODS: According to relevant literature, SNP database of NCBI and SNP500 Cancer database of NCI, SNP loci and sequences of cytokines of clinical importance, TNF-a, IL-10, TGF-bl, IL-4 and IL-6, and matched cytokine receptors were chosen and 59 synthesized oligonucleotide probes were immobilized on a glass support, then the primer and Cy5-dCTP were used in multi-PCR, thus the products were labeled with Cy5. The labeled PCR products were hybridized with the probes in the array, and the signals were scanned by Scanner and then analyzed by Image software. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 80 healthy donors and 50 patients with uremia to isolate lymphocytes and DNA so as to undergo typing by this array, and the results were validated with direct sequencing. RESULTS: All the samples with PCR products except for 10 from uremia patients had been genotyped by cytokine array successfully. No diversity was found in genotyping for three times. Incorrect locus was not found with direct sequencing. CONCLUSION: With high specificity, sensitivity, repetitiveness, and throughout, and easy to manipulate, oligonucleotide array technique is an ideal molecular method for SNP genotyping of cytokine and cytokine receptor.

[SNP genotyping by multiplex amplification and microarrays assay and forensic application].

OBJECTIVE: Research on the application feasibility of SNP genotyping for forensic identification by microarrays. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays which could detect 31 different SNPs were used. Population studies on 31 SNP loci was carried out in a sample of 109 unrelated Chinese Han individuals using oligonucleotide microarrays for genotype detection. The method was also applied to cases. RESULTS: No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found at the 31 SNP loci 4 loci were medium informative and 27 were high informative. The combination discrimination power (CDP) of the 31 optimal informative SNPs was 0.9999999999979. The matching probability was 2.13 x 10(-12). The average exclusion probability in duos and trios were 0.9609 and 0.9970 respectively. CONCLUSION: The data and case application demonstrated that SNP typing by oligonucleotide probe microarrays was a useful technique for paternity testing and individual identification.

[Impacts of donor and recipient's SNP of cytokine and cytokine receptor on early acute renal allograft rejection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of donor and recipient's SNP of cytokine and cytokine receptor on early acute rejection after renal transplantation. METHODS: (1) 129 cases of cadaveric renal allograft recipients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of acute graft rejection. The distribution of 21 single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokines and cytokine receptors gene were compared between two groups as well as latent factors affecting the development of acute rejection. (2) Based on the result of HLA-DR matching between donor and recipient, the recipients with AR were stratified into two conditions, 0-1 locus mismatched (0-1MM) and completely mismatched (2MM). By aids of SPSS 11.5 software, association analysis was assessed using Kruskal Wallis test, 2 x 2 or 2 x n contingency table, the Chi-square test. RESULTS: (1) Of 129 recipients of renal transplantation, 39 developed acute graft rejection (30.2%). (2) Compared with recipients without acute rejection, the number of HLA-DR mismatching was significantly higher in rejection group. (3) In rejection group and non-rejection group, the gene polymorphism distribution was significantly different. (4) 0-1MM group and 2MM group were various in the gene polymorphism distribution. CONCLUSIONS: In the whole, the susceptibility of acute rejection after renal transplantation may be predicted by the donor and recipient's SNP of cytokine and cytokine receptor.

[Detecting genetic polymorphisms of CYP1 A1 and GSTM1 simultaneously with oligonucleotide microarray].

Cytochrome P4501A1 plays a major role in the bioactivation of a number of tobacco procarcinogens. Glutathione S-transferase( GSTM1), a member of the class of GST gene family, has been shown to be polymorphic because of gene deletion resulting in a failure to express the GSTM1 gene in 50% approximately 60% of individuals. Some CYP1 A1/GSTM1 null genotype combinations seem to predispose the lung, esophagus, and oral cavity of smokers to an even higher risk for cancer or DNA damage, requiring, however, confirmation. An easy and reliable oligonuleotide microarray approach validated through direct sequencing method is developed in order to accurately detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP1 A1 gene and discriminate the presence and absence of GSTM1 gene. The m1 (Msp I) and m2 (Ile462Val) polymorphisms of CYP1 A1 gene and GSTM1 null genotype were also determined in a random population of 84 healthy, unrelated volunteers with developed microarray-based method. Of 84 cases, 47.6% were calssified as GSTM1 null, close to the published data. It's interesting that there lack three genotypes of m1 -m2 locus in the population: TT-AG, TT-GG and TC-GG. However, according to the data of the genotype frequencies independently happened at both m1 and m2 site, the combination frequencies of above three genotypes are 11.4%, 2.6%, and 3.1% respectively. Therefore we assume that the haplotypes of m1 -m2 are only T-A, C-A and C-G, but not T-G, as it were,there is no recombination happened between m1 site and m2 site. The frequencies of three haplotypes of T-A, C-A and C-G, calculated through corresponding genotypes, are 69.6%, 7.7% and 22.6% respectively.

Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ketoprofen beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in animals.

Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) orally effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation but gastrointestinal side effects were observed. Preparation of ketoprofen beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes was to increase the solubility and reduce the irritation. The complexes were prepared and preliminarily confirmed using X-ray diffraction and dissolution test. Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory models were induced by 10% yeast using rabbits, 0.8% acetic acid using mice and 1% carrageenin using rats, respectively. Results showed that the dissolution rate of ketoprofen was significantly improved by complexation. X-Ray diffraction pattern of the complexes exhibited a diffuse pattern that differed from that of physical mixture of ketoprofen and beta-cyclodextrin. Ketoprofen markedly inhibited the fever reactions at a single dose of 2 mg/kg as follows: 64.53% (inhibition rate %) at 1 h for ketoprofen, 73.04% at 1 h for ketoprofen beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, respectively. Alleviating pain reaction rates following a single dose of 8 mg/kg at 20 min were 39.25% for the inclusion complexes and 26.72% for ketoprofen, respectively. Inhibition rates to rat edema following a single dose of 5 mg/kg at 1 h were 39.47% for the inclusion complexes and 23.86% for ketoprofen. Results for antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities showed that the rapid and stronger effects were found in the treatment group of ketoprofen beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in comparison with those of free ketoprofen.

A pegylated liposomal platform: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity in mice using doxorubicin as a model drug.

Aims were to observe pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity for constructing a Sino-pegylated liposomal platform. Human hepatocarcinoma cells (Bel7402) and murine hepatocarcinoma cells (H(22)) were used for the cytotoxicity assay and the in vivo solid xenograft tumor model in mice, respectively. Pharmacokinetic results in mice showed that the pegylated liposomal doxorubicin markedly prolonged the blood circulation of doxorubicin. Elimination half-time (T(1/2,gamma)) of pegylated, regular liposomal doxorubicin and free doxorubicin were 46.09 +/- 14.44, 26.04 +/- 3.34, and 23.72 +/- 5.13 h, respectively. The area under the concentration-time curves (AUC(0- infinity )) (h. microg/g) of the pegylated and regular liposomal doxorubicin were 6.8- and 2.6-fold higher than that of free doxorubicin, respectively. Cytotoxicity and antitumor activity in vivo indicated that activity of the pegylated liposomal doxorubicin was higher than that of the regular or the free one, respectively. After two weeks of tail intravenous injection of the pegylated liposomal doxorubicin at a single dose of 10 mg/kg, no significant damage was observed in gastric, intestinal mucosa, and heart muscle, but pronounced damages were found in the control group after dosing free doxorubicin. The results demonstrate that the pegylated liposomes improve the efficacy of toxics and reduce the toxicity, therefore providing favorable evidence for building a pegylated liposomal platform.

[ABO genotyping by duplex amplification and oligonucleotide arrays assay].

OBJECTIVE: ABO genotyping for forensic identification by oligonucleotide chip. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays which could detect 3 different SNPs in exon 6 and exon 7 for ABO genotyping were used. Population studies on ABO was carried out in a sample of 115 unrelated Chinese Han individuals. The method was also applied to cases. RESULTS: The technique could identify 6 genotypes of ABO system. According to the results of population studies, no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found. The observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.591 and 0.616 respectively. The polymorphic information content was 0.544. The average exclusion probabilities in buos and trios was 0.188 and 0.344 respectively. The discrimination power is 0.777. CONCLUSION: The data and case application demonstrated that ABO typing by oligonucleotide probe arrays was a useful technique for paternity testing and individual identification.