Comprehensive circRNA expression profile and construction of circRNA-related ceRNA network in cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological condition that contributes to the progression of many cardiac diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as new regulators of cardiac fibrosis. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in cardiac fibrosis remain largely unknown. The present study aims to investigate the circRNA expression profile and identify the roles of circRNAs in cardiac fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) was used to establish an in vitro model of cardiac fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts. CircRNA sequencing revealed that a total of 283 circRNAs were aberrantly expressed in fibrotic cardiac fibroblasts, with 79 upregulated and 204 downregulated. The expression changes of randomly selected circRNAs were validated by real-time PCR. A circRNA-based competing endogenous RNA network 1755 nodes and 30394 edges was established, and module analysis was conducted using the plug-in MCODE. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed for mRNAs involved in the top three enriched modules. The results showed that these mRNAs were enriched in cardiac fibrosis-related signalling pathways, including the 'TGF-beta signaling pathway', 'MAPK signaling pathway', 'AMPK signaling pathway', and 'PI3K-Akt signaling pathway'. The predicted ceRNAs and bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential role of circRNAs in cardiac fibrosis, which would provide useful information for understanding the mechanism and finding effective prevention and treatment targets for cardiac fibrosis.

MicroRNA 182 inhibits CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg differentiation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

MicroRNA 182 has been found to have a distinct contribution in the clonal expansion of activated- and functioning of specialized-helper T cells. In this study we knocked down microRNA 182 in vivo and induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to determine the influences of microRNA 182 in the Treg cells functional specialization through Foxo1 dependent pathway in the peripheral lymphoid organs. Down-regulation of microRNA 182 significantly increased the proportions of Foxp3+ T cells in the peripheral lymph nodes and spleen. In vivo study verified a positive correlation between microRNA 182 levels and symptom severity of EAE, and a negative correlation between microRNA 182 and the transcriptional factor Foxp3. In vitro polarization study also confirmed the contribution of Foxo1 in microRNA 182 mediated down-regulation of Foxp3+ T cells. Together, our results provide evidence that during the development of EAE, microRNA 182 repressed Treg cells differentiation through the Foxo1 dependent pathway.

[Culture of porcine mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and developmental capacity of reconstructed embryos by nuclear transfer].

The developmental potential of reconstructed embryos varied according to the source of donor cells, it was thought that the donor cells capabilities to be reprogrammed were different. We established the method of culturing porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs), identified and observed the growth characteristics of pMSCs, and determined pMSCs reprogramming potential as donor cells for nuclear transfer (SCNT). We found that the method of gradient centrifugation to isolate pMSCs from porcine bone marrow was better than the method of anchoring culture; the number of pMSCs achieved peak at day 6, the adhesive rate of cultured cells was 78.50% at 10h and the division index of cultured cells was 24.00 per thousand at day 4. The developmental competence were compared among three kinds of embryos, reconstructed embryos with PF and pMSCs, Parthenogenetic. The blastocysts rate and total cell number of blastocysts were 15.07%, 14.63% vs 30.91% and 24.1 +/- 6.5, 30.67 +/- 17.7 vs 25.8 +/- 11.4. These results indicated that pMSCs could be high proliferation and stable growth characters in vitro, and were suitable donor cells type for nuclear transfer.

[Production of porcine reconstructed embryos by whole-cell intracytoplasmic microinjection].

Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer has been achieved by both electric fusion and intracytoplasmic nuclear injection (ICNI) methods. However, each of the above methods involves extended complicate manipulation and special equipment. Here we report a whole-cell injection technique without Piezo assistance for nuclear transfer in pigs. The fibroblast cell of pig as the nucleus donor cell, effects of the new method on the efficiency of somatic nuclear transfer in pig were investigated, compared with that of electric fusion method. Results showed that the new method was a little less efficient in producing reconstructed embryos but without significant difference (88.4% vs 78%, P > 0.05). After the embryos were cultured 48h and 7d, the fusion method is more efficient than the new method in the oocyte cleavage rate and the blastocyst development (78% vs 53.2%, P < 0.05; 27.2% vs 13.8%, P < 0.01). The results indicate that both methods make no difference in the quality of the blastula, but the electric fusion method is more efficient. Therefore, the applicability of producing normal,cloned piglets by the simple and less labor-intensive whole-cell intracytoplasmic injection needs further improvement.