CDK12 Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, and Angiogenesis of Gastric Carcinoma via Activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) has been found to regulate tumor progression. However, its function in gastric carcinoma (GC) remains controversial. This work aimed to explore the exact effect of CDK12 on GC progression. We detected the expression of CDK12 in GC cells and normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Then CDK12 function on GC cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis was researched by colony formation experiment, Transwell experiment, and angiogenesis assay. Moreover, CDK12 effect on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activity was explored by western blot. Further, we used LY294002 (10 µM) to treat GC cells to verify whether CDK12 regulates GC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Additionally, CDK12 effect on the expression of prognostic factors of GC was detected by western blot, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Ki67. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were utilized to evaluate the expression of mRNAs and proteins. As a result, CDK12 was upregulated in GC cells. CDK12 overexpression facilitated the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of GC cells. However, CDK12 silencing showed an opposite result. CDK12 overexpression activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, but CDK12 silencing inactivated it in GC cells. The blockage of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway induced by LY294002 treatment counteracted the promotion of CDK12 on the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of GC. Further, CDK12 silencing suppressed the expression of ALP and Ki67 proteins in GC cells. Taken together, CDK12 promotes the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of GC by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. It may be a novel target for GC treatment.

[Effect of Astaxanthin on Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Suspended Leukocyte-Depleted Red Blood Cells Stored for Transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of astaxanthin (ASTA) on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells stored for transfusion. METHODS: The suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells were randomly divided into group A, B, C and D. The ASTA was added into preservation solution of suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells of group B, C and D with the final concentration 5, 10 and 20 µmol/L, respectively, while DMSO was added into cells of group A in the same volume. After 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of storage, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in red blood cells was detected by fluorescence microplate reader, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was detected by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method, activity of SOD was detected by xanthine oxidase method, the activity of CAT was detected by visible light method, and activity of GSH-Px was detected by colorimetry. RESULTS: After 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of storage, the contents of ROS and MDA in suspended red blood cells of group B, C and D were significantly lower(P<0.05), while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were higher than those of group A(P<0.05); and CAT activity in cells treated by ASTA was significantly higher at 28 and 42 days of storage in comparison with that of group A(P<0.05). There were positive correlations between the ROS, MDA content in suspended red blood cells of group A, B, C, D and storage time(P<0.01), while negative correlation between SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activity and storage time(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ASTA can decrease the oxidative stress level and peroxide damage degree by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities in suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells during storage.

[Effect of astaxanthin on oxidative stress of red blood cells and peroxidation damage of membrane].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of astaxanthin (ASTA) on oxidative stress of intra- and extra- red blood cells during stored period and the protective function for cell membrane. METHODS: The blood of volunteers was collected to prepare suspended red blood cells without leukocytes. Then the red blood cells were randomly divided into group A, group B, group C and group D. The ASTA was added into MAP preservation solution of group B, group C and group D, the final concentration of ASTA was 5, 10 and 20 µmol/L respectively. Group A was used as control group, in which only the dissolved liquid DMSO of ASTA was added. The red blood cells were stored in refrigerator at 2 °C-6 °C. On day 7, 14, 28 and day 42 of storage, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in red blood cells was detected by fluorescence microplate reader. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected with TBA method. The content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) outside cell was detected with spectrophotometric method. The mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was detected with blood cell analyzer. The content of free hemoglobin(FHb) was detected with chemical colorimetry. RESULTS: The ROS, MDA, FHb and H2O2 levels in B, C and D groups were lower than those in control group during the stored period. On day 7 and 14 of storage, among group B, group C, group D and group A, the MCV showed no difference in comparison with control group. On day 28 and 42 of storage, the MCV in B, C and D groups was lower than that in control group. CONCLUSION: The ASTA can reduce the oxidative stress level of stored red blood cells inside and outside, relieve the peroxidation damage of cell membrane.

[Discrimination of the Triticum aestivum-T. timopheevii introgression lines using PCR-based molecular markers].

In order to determine the fragment size of Triticum timopheevii chromosome segments introduced into wheat background and physically map the Pm6 gene, a total of 72 primers (including SSR and STS primers) were used to analyze the eight introduced introgression lines containing Pm6 gene. Referring to the available mapping information of the analyzed markers on chromosome 2B, Pm6 was physically located in distal part of the long arm of chromosome 2B at the region of Bin 2BL-6. The introgressed fragment sizes of the chromosome 2G in different introgression lines was determined to be as follow (from short to long): IGV1-465

[Inheritance analysis and molecular marker selection of genes for wheat spindle streak mosaic disease resistance].

Three wheat spindle streak mosaic viruses (WSSMV) resistant cultivars ('Yining Xiaomai', 'Xu87-633', and 'Xifeng') and one susceptible cultivar ('Zhen9523') were used as parents of 3 crosses in this experiment. WSSMV resistance of the parents, F1, and F2 was evaluated under field condition. Based on the segregation ratios of resistant and susceptible plants in F, and F2 populations, it was deduced that the resistance to WSSMV was dominant and the inheritable factors controlling WSSMV resistance were encoded by the nuclear genome. WSSMV resistances in 'Yining Xiaomai' and 'Xifeng' were controlled by two pairs of alleles, which showed complementary effects. However the resistance in 'Xu-87633' was controlled by a single dominant gene. 266 pairs of SSR primers located on 21 wheat chromosomes were used for polymorphic analysis of the two resistant and the susceptible parents 'Yining Xiaomai' and 'Zhen9523', and 108 of them amplified polymorphic DNA products. By Bulk Segregant Analysis of resistant and susceptible pools, one pair of primer located on chromosome arm 2DS, Xgwm261, were found being linked to WSSMV resistance. The 224 F2 individuals were then amplified with marker Xgwm261. The statistic genetic distance between Xgwm261 and the resistance locus was calculated to be 22.9 cM using the software Mapmaker 3.0.

[Relationship between the increase of hepatic D-bifunctional protein activity and bile acid biosynthesis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the physiological role of D-bifunctional protein (DBP) in bile acid biosynthesis through investigating the effect of increasing activity of DBP on bile acid biosynthesis. METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, hepatic DBP activity, and fecal bile acids were assayed. The mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), DBP, and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with control group, serum triglyceride level was decreased significantly and PPARalphamRNA level was increased significantly in DEHP group (P < 0.01). Together with a sharp induction of DBP mRNA expression and DBP activity in DEHP group (P < 0.01), the levels of CYP7A1 mRNA and fecal bile acids were significantly increased by 1.9 times and 1.6 times respectively compared to control group (P < 0.01). There was a significantly positive correlation between DBP mRNA level or DBP activity and CYP7A1 mRNA level (r = 0.89, P < 0.01; r = 0.95, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of DBP mRNA and activity in liver can result in the increase in CYP7A1 mRNA expression and bile acid biosynthesis, suggesting that DBP may be involved in bile acid biosynthesis together with CYP7A1.

[Structural changes of 4V chromosome of Haynaldia villosa induced by gametocidal chromosome 3C of Aegilops triuncialis].

Chromosome 3C of Aegilops triuncialis was discovered with ability to be transferred preferentially in the case of its monosomic status in wheat background, whereas, those gametes without 3C would result in chromosome structural changes including deletions and translocations. In the present study, Triticum aestivum-Haynaldia villosa substitution line 4V(4D) developed in our laboratory, was crossed to T. aestivum c.v. Norin 26-Aegilops triuncialis 3C addition line, and the hybrids F1 were then backcrossed with common wheat in order to induce structural changes of 4V. Both chromosome C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization was applied to search such chromosome variations. In this case, total genomic DNA of Haynaldia villosa was labelled by Biotin-11-dUTP as probes and total genomic DNA of Chinese Spring as the block. Moreover, several chromosome changes within common wheat such as isochromosome 1BL.1BL(B39-2) and others were also revealed. The result indicated that two translocation lines T4VL.3AS(A47-10-3) and T4VS.4DL(A47-25-4), two telocentric chromosome lines A47-7-2(4VS) and A47-32-2(4VL), and two isochromosomes including 4VS.4VS(A47-23) and 4VL.4VL(A412-5-4) were identified from BC1F2 or BC1F3. This result indicated that gametocidal chromosome 3C of Aegilop triuncialis could effectively induce structural changes of both chromosome 4V of Haynaldia villosa and chromosomes of wheat.

[Homoeologous grouping of R. kamoji chromosomes introduced in wheat using RFLP molecular marks].

Twenty six DNA probes from seven homoeologous groups of triticeae were screened to reveal the RFLP between 45 wheat-R. kamoji derivatives and their parents R. kamoji, Chinese Spring, Yangmai 5. The result showed that the introduced R. kamoji chromosomes in 16 wheat-R. kamoji alien chromosome lines including additions, substitution or putative translocations were grouped into homoeologous group 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7. Alien chromosome pairs could be readily transmitted into the descendants. The added chromosomes in K139, K141, K214, K218, K219 and K224 disomic addition lines were grouped into homoeologous group 1, but the added chromosomes in K214 and K218 were different from K219 and K224 which originated from different genomes of R. kamoji. Ditelosomic addition line K147 might involve a R. kamoji chromosome long arm homoeologous to group 1 of wheat, and the added R. kamoji 1 L chromosomes in K139, K141 and K147 probably derived from different three genomes of R. kamoji. U chromosome of R. kamoji. showed homology to wheat homoeologous group 1. Homoeologous group 1 chromosome of R. kamoji, particularly its long arm is related to genes for scab resistance. Result also demonstrated a possible rearrangement occurred between homoeologous group 1 and group 6 of R. kamoji. Two R. kamoji chromosomes introduced in K203 were grouped to homoeologous group 1 and 6, respectively. In K166, the introgressed R. kamoji chromosome involved the short arm of group 5. Another alien chromosome line K177 was revealed as to be with introduced chromosome involving group 5L, 6S and 7SL of R. kamoji. Results also confirmed the homoeology between S, H and Y genomes of R. kamoji.