The distribution of sialic acid receptors of avian influenza virus in the reproductive tract of laying hens.

The susceptibility of the host to influenza virus is determined by the distribution of the sialic acid (SA) receptors on host cell membrane. Avian influenza virus (AIV) preferentially binds to SA α-2,3-galactose (SA α2,3-gal) linked receptors, while human strains bind to sialic acid α2,6-galactose (SA α2,6-gal) linked receptors. Here, we describe the SA patterns and distributions in the reproductive tract of hens by employing two specific lectins, Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAA) for SA α2,3-gal and sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) for SA α 2,6-gal receptors. Our results revealed that both SA α2,3-gal and SA α2,6-gal receptors exist in the reproductive tract of hens, including magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina except for infundibulum. The distribution of SAα-2,3-gal receptor was more abundantly in the columnar epithelium cells of magnum, isthmus and uterus. Only minimal positive results for SA α-2,6-gal receptors were detected in the columnar epithelium cells of magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina. Furthermore, AIV in tissues of the reproductive tract tissues of laying hens were detected by SYBR green-based reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results showed that both viral loads and pathological changes in different parts of the reproductive tract were positively correlated with the expression of both receptors. Our results revealed that the reproductive tract of hens may provide an environment for the replication of both avian and human influenza viruses.

The expression of beclin-1, an autophagic gene, in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with clinical pathological and prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: A role for autophagy, a conserved cellular response to stress, has recently been demonstrated in human cancers. Aberrant expression of Beclin-1, an important autophagic gene, has been reported in various human cancers. In the present study, we investigated the significance and relationship between Beclin-1 expression and cell proliferation, apoptosis, microvessel density (MVD) and clinical pathological changes or prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 103 primary HCC patients were involved in the study. Expression of Beclin-1, PCNA, NET-1, Bcl-2, Bax, Survivin in cancer cells and CD34 in stromal microvessels were evaluated immunohistochemically in tissue microarrays comprising 103 cases of HCC and 57 matched adjacent nontumor liver tissues. Correlations between clinicopathological characteristics and survival of HCC patients were explored. RESULTS: The positive rate of Beclin-1 was significantly lower in HCC tissues than adjacent tissues (72.8 vs. 89.5%, χ2 = 6.085, P = 0.015). In HCC, Beclin-1 expression was negatively correlated with cirrhosis background (r = -0.216, P = 0.029), Edmondson grade (r = -0.249, P = 0.011), vascular invasion (r = -0.246, P = 0.012), PCNA (r = -0.242, P = 0.014), NET-1 (r = -0.245, P = 0.013), anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 (r = -0.245, P = 0.013) and MVD (r = -0.292, P = 0.003), and positively correlated with pro-apoptosis protein Bax (r = 0.242, P = 0.014).Significant differences in the 5-year survival rates were seen among patients with Beclin-1 strong positive (++) (59.1%, 13/22), moderate positive (+) (28.3%, 15/53) and weak negative expression (-) (14.6%, 7/28) (P = 0.043). Significant differences were detected between Beclin-1 (++) and either Beclin-1 (+) (P = 0.036) or Beclin-1 (-) groups (P = 0.008), but no significant difference between Beclin-1 (+) and Beclin-1 (-) groups (P = 0.281) was observed.Survival rates were positively related to high Beclin-1 co-expressed with low PCNA, NET-1, or Bcl-2, lower MVD, and high Bax. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that Beclin-1 expression was an independent indicator for overall survival in HCC patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis and progression of HCC are associated with reduced autophagy. The expression of Beclin-1 and Bax in HCC tissues may provide a synergistic effect towards inhibiting HCC proliferation, infiltration, metastasis and angiogenesis. Beclin-1 expression may be a valuable prognostic marker of HCC.

[The effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on interstitial pneumonitis in MRL/lpr mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSCs) transplantation on interstitial pneumonitis in MRL/lpr mice. METHODS: Twenty four 18-week-old MRL/lpr female mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: the single dose group received a single dose of UC-MSCs (1 x 10(6)) transfusion intravenously, the 3 dose group received 3 injections of UC-MSCs (1 x 10(6)) weekly for 3 weeks, and the control mice were treated with saline. Both the control and the treated mice were sacrificed at 29 weeks. The histopathology of the lungs were assessed by HE staining. RESULTS: In comparison to the control mice, UC-MSCs transplantation significantly attenuated interstitial pneumonitis in the MRL/lpr mice. The peribronchiolar lesion indices of the single dose treatment group (1.40 +/- 0.24) and the 3 dose treatment group (1.02 +/- 0.29) were significantly decreased as compared to the control group (1.95 +/- 0.35), q = 0.551, 0.937, all P < 0.01. The perivascular lesion index of the single dose treatment group (1.20 +/- 0.18) and the 3 dose treatment group (1.08 +/- 0.16) were also significantly reduced as compared to the control group (1.56 +/- 0.32), q = 0.360, 0.479, P < 0.05, P < 0.01. The inflammatory cell infiltration index of the control group (1.72 +/- 0.34) was significantly increased compared to the single dose treatment group (1.30 +/- 0.21) and the 3 dose treatment group (1.05 +/- 0.15), q = 0.417, 0.673, P < 0.05, P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that UC-MSCs have a pleiotropic therapeutic effect on pneumonitis in MRL/lpr mice.

Transcriptome analysis of Phelipanche aegyptiaca seed germination mechanisms stimulated by fluridone, TIS108, and GR24.

P. aegyptiaca is one of the most destructive root parasitic plants worldwide, causing serious damage to many crop species. Under natural conditions P. aegyptiaca seeds must be conditioned and then stimulated by host root exudates before germinating. However, preliminary experiments indicated that TIS108 (a triazole-type inhibitor of strigolactone) and fluridone (FL, an inhibitor of carotenoid-biosynthesis) both stimulated the germination of P. aegyptiaca seeds without a water preconditioning step (i.e. unconditioned seeds). The objective of this study was to use deep RNA sequencing to learn more about the mechanisms by which TIS108 and FL stimulate the germination of unconditioned P. aegyptiaca seeds. Deep RNA sequencing was performed to compare the mechanisms of germination in the following treatments: (i) unconditioned P. aegyptiaca seeds with no other treatment, (ii) unconditioned seeds treated with 100 mg/L TIS108, (iii) unconditioned seeds treated with 100 mg/L FL + 100 mg/L GA3, (iv) conditioned seeds treated with sterile water, and (v) conditioned seeds treated with 0.03 mg/L GR24. The de novo assembled transcriptome was used to analyze transcriptional dynamics during seed germination. The key gene categories involved in germination were also identified. The results showed that only 119 differentially expressed genes were identified in the conditioned treatment vs TIS108 treatment. This indicated that the vast majority of conditions for germination were met during the conditioning stage. Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) played important roles during P. aegyptiaca germination. The common pathway of TIS108, FL+GA3, and GR24 in stimulating P. aegyptiaca germination was the simultaneous reduction in ABA concentrations and increase GA concentrations. These results could potentially aid the identification of more compounds that are capable of stimulating P. aegyptiaca germination. Some potential target sites of TIS108 were also identified in our transcriptome data. The results of this experiment suggest that TIS108 and FL+GA3 could be used to control P. aegyptiaca through suicidal germination.