The SlTCP26 promoting lateral branches development in tomato.

KEY MESSAGE: The SlTCP26 negatively regulated auxin signal to relieve the apical dominance and suppressed abscisic acid signal to remove the lateral bud dormancy, promoting lateral branches development. Lateral branches formation from lateral buds is a complex regulatory process in higher plants, and the interaction between transcription factors and hormones is indispensable during this process. TCP transcription factors have been reported to regulate lateral branches development, while the detailed function, especially interacting with auxin and ABA during this process, was still ambiguous in tomato. In this study, a branch regulatory gene, SlTCP26, was identified in tomato, and its role along with its interaction to hormones during branch development, as investigated. The results indicated that overexpression of SlTCP26 would promote lateral branches development, and could suppress the expressing of the genes associated with IAA signaling, presenting similar effects in decapitated plants. Conversely, the exogenous IAA application could inhibit the expression of SlTCP26. Furthermore, the expressing of the ABA signaling-related genes was inhibited in SlTCP26 overexpressed tomato, similar to that in decapitated tomato. Our findings suggested that SlTCP26 may be a crucial adjuster for synergistic action between ABA and IAA signals during the development of lateral branches, and it could promote the lateral buds grow into lateral shoots, via inhibiting IAA signal to relieve the apical dominance and suppressing ABA signal to remove the lateral bud dormancy. Our study provided some insights for the development of tomato lateral branches to understand the apical dominance regulatory network.

Effects of long-term administration of low-dose FTY720 on survival of murine cardiac allograft.

This study examined the effect of long-term administration of low-dose FTY720 on survival of murine cardiac allograft and the possible mechanism. Murine models of abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation were established. Low-dose FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg) was administrated to the animals 4 days before the transplantation of cardiac allografts until the occurrence of rejection or the observation terminals. The animals without FTY720 treatment and those with syngeneic cardiac grafts transplanted served as controls. The mean survival time (MST) of grafts, and T lymphocyte subsets in grafts, peripheral blood and lymphoid organs were measured by histopathological examination or flow cytometry, and compared among groups. The results showed that the MST of allografts in FTY720-treated mice was more than 40 days, significantly longer than that in the untreated group (MST=8 days, P<0.01). After the long-term administration of FTY720, the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes in peripheral blood was diminished significantly, but the proportion of CD4(+) lymphocytes was increased in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and spleen. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the infiltration of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes in allografts was significantly inhibited after long-term administration of low-dose FTY720. It was concluded that low-dose long-term administration of FTY720 could promote T lymphocytes in lymphatic organs and decrease their infiltration in allografts, resulting in the inhibition of rejection and the long-term survival of allografts.

Effects of concentrated growth factors on the angiogenic properties of dental pulp cells and endothelial cells: an in vitro study.

The aim was to investigate the angiogenic effects of concentrated growth factors on human dental pulp cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Cells were treated with concentrated growth factor extracts. The CCK-8 assay and cell cycle assay were conducted to evaluate cell growth. Cell migration was evaluated by the Transwell migration assay. Angiogenesis-associated mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. A tube formation assay was conducted to evaluate the angiogenic capacity in vitro. The data showed that compared with the control, concentrated growth factor extracts significantly promoted dental pulp cell proliferation and differentiation and endothelial cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Concentrated growth factor extracts also promoted the tube-like structure formation of endothelial cells in vitro. The RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that concentrated growth factor extracts upregulated the expression of angiogenesis-related genes - chemokine receptor-4, platelet-derived growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor - in dental pulp cells. In conclusion, concentrated growth factors showed proangiogenic effects on dental pulp cells and endothelial cells and have good application potential for dental pulp revascularization.

Characterisation of water-soluble proanthocyanidins of Pyracantha fortuneana fruit and their improvement in cell bioavailable antioxidant activity of quercetin.

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) with poor bioavailability were argued for their health benefits. In this study, water-soluble polymeric polyphenolic PCs fractions from Pyracanthafortuneana fruit were used to investigate whether the presence of PCs is correlated with the increased cell antioxidant activities (CAA) of quercetin (Q). The results indicated that the most decrement in the values of EC50, which Q inhibited peroxyl radical-induced DCFH oxidation effective in the HepG2 cells, was observed to be 2.91 (vs. control 5.97) in the present of the fraction with 15.8 of the average degree of polymerisation of PCs (ADP). Also, the order of efficacy was the same with the ADP of PCs. Further, this effect is associated with the improvement of the solubility and stability of Q after the addition of the PCs. Our current study suggests that the additive effects of PCs on small molecular polyphenols may be responsible for their antioxidant benefits in vivo.

Effects of concentrated growth factors on the angiogenic properties of dental pulp cells and endothelial cells: an in vitro study

Abstract The aim was to investigate the angiogenic effects of concentrated growth factors on human dental pulp cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Cells were treated with concentrated growth factor extracts. The CCK-8 assay and cell cycle assay were conducted to evaluate cell growth. Cell migration was evaluated by the Transwell migration assay. Angiogenesis-associated mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. A tube formation assay was conducted to evaluate the angiogenic capacity in vitro. The data showed that compared with the control, concentrated growth factor extracts significantly promoted dental pulp cell proliferation and differentiation and endothelial cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Concentrated growth factor extracts also promoted the tube-like structure formation of endothelial cells in vitro. The RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that concentrated growth factor extracts upregulated the expression of angiogenesis-related genes - chemokine receptor-4, platelet-derived growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor - in dental pulp cells. In conclusion, concentrated growth factors showed proangiogenic effects on dental pulp cells and endothelial cells and have good application potential for dental pulp revascularization.