Early growth response 1 promoted the invasion of glioblastoma multiforme by elevating HMGB1.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadly glioma subtype. Early growth response 1 (EGR1) participates in the progression of several cancer types, but the expression and function of EGR1 in GBM was rarely investigated. METHODS: The expressions of EGR1 in GBM were detected with qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 12 pairs of fresh GBM tissues and 116 paraffin-embedded specimens. The patients were divided into high and low EGR1 groups according to the IHC score of EGR1, and the prognostic significances of different groups were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. With in-vitro experiments, we assessed the role of EGR1 in the proliferation and invasion of GBM cells. RESULTS: In our study, EGR1 was up-regulated in GBM tissues compared with tumor-adjacent normal tissues. High expression of EGR1 or HMGB1 were unfavorable prognostic biomarkers of GBM. Coexpression of EGR1 and HMGB1 could predict the prognosis of GBM more sensitively. EGR1 facilitated the proliferation and invasion of GBM cells. Moreover, EGR1 promoted the invasion, instead of proliferation, of GBM cells by elevating the expression of HMGB1. CONCLUSIONS: ERG1 was a prognostic biomarker of GBM, and ERG1 and HMGB1 synergistically could predict the GBM prognosis more precisely. ERG1 could promote GBM cell invasion by inducing HMGB1 expression.

In vitro study on the effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Ophiopogonin D is a commonly used herb in cardiology and pediatrics for its variuos pharmacological effects. It is necessary to investigate the effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) to provide more guidance for the clinical application of ophiopogonin D. Eight isoforms of CYP450s, including CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 were incubated with 100 µM ophiopogonin D in pooled human liver microsomes. The inhibition model and corresponding parameters were also investigated. Ophiopogonin D exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 in a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values of 8.08, 12.92, and 22.72 µM, respectively (p < 0.05). The inhibition of CYP3A4 by ophiopogonin D was performed non-competitively and time-dependently with the Ki value of 4.08 µM and the KI/Kinact value of 5.02/0.050 min-1·µM-1. Whereas, ophiopogonin D acts as a competitive inhibitor of CYP2E1 and 2C9 with the Ki value of 6.69 and 11.07 µM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 indicated the potential drug-drug interaction between ophiopogonin D and drugs metabolized by these CYP450s, which needs further in vivo investigation and validation.

Genetic Dissection of Adult Plant Resistance to Sharp Eyespot Using an Updated Genetic Map of Niavt14 × Xuzhou25 Winter Wheat Recombinant Inbred Line Population.

Wheat sharp eyespot, a disease mainly caused by soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis, is a threat to world wheat production. Wheat's genetic resistance to sharp eyespot is a potential approach to reducing the application of fungicides and farming practice inputs. To identify the genetic basis of sharp eyespot resistance in Niavt14, a recombinant inbred line population comprising 215 F8 lines from Niavt14 × Xuzhou25, was developed. An earlier linkage map (148 simple sequence repeat markers) was updated with 5,792 polymorphic Affymetrix Axiom 55K single-nucleotide polymorphisms to a new map of 5,684.2 centimorgans with 1,406 nonredundant markers. The new linkage map covered all 21 chromosomes of common wheat and showed a good collinearity with the IWGSC RefSeq v1.0 genome. We conducted quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for sharp eyespot resistance using the adult plant response data from the field of five consecutive growing seasons and one greenhouse test. Two stable QTL on chromosomes 2B and 7D that were identified in the previous study were confirmed, and three novel, stable QTL, explaining 4.0 to 17.5% phenotypic variation, were mapped on 1D, 6D, and 7A, which were independent of QTL for phenology and plant height. The QTL on 1D, 2B, 6D, and 7A showed low frequencies in 384 landraces (0 to 10%) and 269 elite cultivars (5 to 23%) from the southern winter wheat region and the Yellow and Huai River Valley facultative wheat region in China, respectively. These identified QTL could be used in wheat breeding programs for improving sharp eyespot resistance through marker-assisted selection.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Garrulax perspicillatus (Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

The complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genome from Garrulax perspicillatus was determined by 21 pairs of primers using the polymerase chain reaction method. The genome (17,873 bp in length) contained 37 genes (2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 13 protein-coding genes) 2 control regions (CR) at two different locations of mitogenome. All the protein-coding genes in G. perspicillatus were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Hylarana guentheri (Amphidia, Anura, Ranidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Hylarana guentheri was determined. This mitogenome was 19,053 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region (CR). The following three distinctive features were observed: there was an additional non-coding region of 561 bp between nad5 and nad6; four different tandem repeats were characteristic of the CR region for this species; a pseudogene of tRNA-His (trnH) was found in the CR downstream region.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Microhyla pulchra (Amphidia, Anura, Microhylidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Microhyl pulchra was determined in this work. This mitogenome was 16,744 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region (CR). The following four distinctive features were observed: a protein-coding gene (ND1) began with GTG as start codon; eight protein-coding genes (ND1, COII, ATP6, COIII, ND3, ND4, ND5 and Cytb) ended with incomplete stop codon T; four tRNA genes positions (tRNA-Leu (CUN)/tRNA-Thr/Trna-Pro/tRNA-Phe) located between CR and 12S rRNA genes, which was a novel mtDNA gene rearrangement in amphibians; there was no significant repeat regions in the CR.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Garrulax cineraceus (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA genome from Garrulax cineraceus was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. The genome (17,800 bp in length) contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes) and 2 control regions (D-loop) at two different locations of mitogenome, which is similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates. All the protein-coding genes in G. cineraceus were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Amolops ricketti (Amphidia, Anura, Ranidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome from the South China torrent frog Amolops ricketti was determined. This mitogenome was 17,771 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region (CR). All the protein-coding genes in A. ricketti were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand.

Vicariance and Its Impact on the Molecular Ecology of a Chinese Ranid Frog Species-Complex (Odorrana schmackeri, Ranidae).

Paleogeological events and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations have had profound influences on the genetic patterns and phylogeographic structure of species in southern China. In this study, we investigated the population genetic structure and Phylogeography of the Odorrana schmackeri species complex, mountain stream-dwelling odorous frogs, endemic to southern China. We obtained mitochondrial sequences (1,151bp) of the complete ND2 gene and two flanking tRNAs of 511 individuals from 25 sites for phylogeographic analyses. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed seven divergent evolutionary lineages, with mean pairwise (K2P) sequence distances from 7.8% to 21.1%, except for a closer ND2 distance (3.4%). The complex geological history of southern China drove matrilineal divergence in the O. schmackeri species complex into highly structured geographical units. The first divergence between lineage A+B and other lineages (C-G) had likely been influenced by the uplift of coastal mountains of Southeast China during the Mio-Pliocene period. The subsequent divergences between the lineages C-G may have followed the formation of the Three Gorges and the intensification of the East Asian summer monsoon during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Demographic analyses indicated that major lineages A and C have been experienced recent population expansion (c. 0.045-0.245 Ma) from multiple refugia prior to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Molecular analysis suggest that these seven lineages may represent seven different species, three described species and four cryptic species and should at least be separated into seven management units corresponding to these seven geographic lineages for conservation.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Paradoxornis webbianus (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae).

The complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genome from Paradoxornis webbianus was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. The genome (16,960 bp in length) contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes), a control region (D-loop) and a non-coding region at two different locations of mitogenome, which is similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates. All the protein-coding genes in P. webbianus were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand.

[Cyanidin-3-glucoside attenuates body weight gain, serum lipid concentrations and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese rats].

OBJECTIVE: Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) is the main active ingredient of anthocyanidin. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of C3G on body weight gain, visceral adiposity, lipid profiles and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=8) and a high fat diet group (n=22), and were fed with standard diet or high fat diet. Five weeks later, 17 high-fat diet-induced obese rats were randomly given C3G [100 mg/(kg·d)] or normal saline via intragastric administration for 5 weeks. Five weeks later, body weight, visceral adiposity and food intake were measured. Blood samples were collected for detecting fasting glucose, serum insulin, lipid profiles and adiponectin. Insulin resistance index, atherosclerosis index and average feed efficiency ratio were calculated. RESULTS: C3G supplementation markedly decreased body weight, visceral adiposity, average feed efficiency ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance index and atherosclerosis index in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. C3G supplementation normalized serum adiponectin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. CONCLUSIONS: Cyanidin-3-glucoside can reduce body weight gain, and attenuate obesity-associated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed rats via up-regulating serum adiponectin level.

[Probiotics improve obesity-associated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of probiotics (bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus) on serum lipid, serum insulin and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. METHODS: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a control (n=10) and a high fat diet groups (n=40) and were fed with standard diet and HFD respectively. Four weeks later, thirty-six HFD-induced obese rats were randomly administered with normal saline (NS), bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus daily (n=12 each). Four weeks later, body lengths, body weights and abdomen circumference of rats were measured, blood lipid, glucose and insulin levels were measured, and Lee's index and insulin resistance index were calculated. RESULTS: Body weight, abdomen circumference, Lee's index, fasting glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the NS-treated HFD group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus-treated groups had significantly lower levels of body weight, abdomen circumference, Lee's index, fasting glucose, TC, TG and LDL than the NS-treated HFD group (P<0.05), but the levels of the parameters in the bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus-treated groups were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). High density lipoprotein (HDL) and insulin sensitivity index in the NS-treated HFD group were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). Bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus treatment dramatically increased HDL levels and insulin sensitivity index compared with the NS-treated HFD group (P<0.05), although the levels of the two parameters did not reach to the levels of the control group. There were significant differences in the levels of fasting insulin, insulin resistance index and insulin secretion index between the bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium breve can decrease serum levels of lipid and glucose and improve insulin resistance in obese rats. Bifidobacterium breve seems to be more effective on attenuating insulin resistance than lactobacillus acidophilus.