Tailored Catalytic Nanoframes from Metal-Organic Frameworks by Anisotropic Surface Modification and Etching for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

A facile anisotropic surface modification and etching strategy is presented for the synthesis of hollow structured ZIF-67 nanoframes. The strategy uses structural and compositional distinctions between each crystallographic facet of truncated rhombic dodecahedrons ZIF-67 (tZIF-67 RDs) and the moderate coordinating and etching effects of cyanuric acid (CA). The CA can anisotropically modify and protect the {110} facets from etching, causing the six {100} facets be selectively etched via an inside-out manner, and finally forming the hollow nanoframes. The surface-modified hollow tZIF-67 RDs can be facet-selectively etched by metal salts in an outside-in manner to give metal-doped tZIF-67 nanoframes. After calcination, the metal-tZIF-67 hybrids are converted into metal-Co alloy/C composite catalysts with hollow nanoframed structures. The PtCo/C catalyst with only 5.9 wt % Pt exhibits high catalytic activities and stabilities in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic solutions.

Dehydroepiandrosterone induces ovarian and uterine hyperfibrosis in female rats.

STUDY QUESTION: Do dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-treated rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) demonstrate a high level of fibrosis in ovarian and uterine tissues? SUMMARY ANSWER: DHEA induces ovarian and uterine hyperfibrosis in rats, probably involving a transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)-dependent mechanism. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Chronic inflammation is the typical cause of fibrosis and is involved in the pathophysiological process of PCOS. Patients with PCOS are reported to have a higher serum level of TGF-ß, a well-characterized key pro-fibrotic factor. Fibrillin-3, a protein capable of interacting with TGF-ß, has been reported to be partially responsible for the fetal origin of PCOS. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a vehicle control or DHEA for 35 days, with subsequent analyses of changes in morphology and gene expression in ovarian and uterine tissues. Rescue groups treated with metformin or simvastatin and their corresponding controls were also analyzed. A total of 80 rats were included. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The PCOS model was induced by daily administration of DHEA s.c. to 3-week-old female rats, and the rescue groups were injected daily with either metformin or simvastatin in addition to DHEA. Serum steroid hormone levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological morphology, and Sirius Red and immunohistochemistry for revealing collagens. The expression of fibrosis-related genes was analyzed both at mRNA (real-time RT-PCR) and protein (western blot) levels. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: DHEA-induced rats with PCOS exhibited significantly higher levels of fibrosis (collagen IV) in both ovarian and uterine tissues. In ovarian tissue, the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) increased following DHEA treatment at both mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 versus controls, respectively). Similar results versus controls were obtained at a protein level for TGF-ß (P < 0.01) and mRNA level for fibronectin (P < 0.05) and angiotensin-II (P < 0.05). Likewise, in uterine tissue, the protein levels of both CTGF and TGF-ß were higher than controls following DHEA treatment (P < 0.05). Treatment with either metformin or simvastatin attenuated the fibrosis progression induced by DHEA exposure, as evidenced by a reduction of TGF-ß, plus CTGF or not, in both ovarian and uterine tissues. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The particular mechanism involved in the DHEA-induced fibrosis was not fully revealed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Ovarian and uterine hyperfibrosis may occur in patients with PCOS and result in anovulation or other PCOS-related phenotypes. Anti-fibrotic therapy, for example metformin treatment, may be beneficial for patients with PCOS. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81170541) and the Natural Basic Research Program of China (973 program 2010CB945103). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Microsatellite polymorphism in the fibrillin 3 gene and susceptibility to PCOS: a case-control study and meta-analysis.

The D19S884 marker at the fibrillin 3 gene has been analysed as a candidate location for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mainly in Caucasian descendants. A case-control study was performed with 272 PCOS women and 271 controls to test the hypothesis that variants in the D19S884 marker increase susceptibility to PCOS in Chinese women and a meta-analysis was undertaken to clarify whether there is an allele consistently contributing to the susceptibility. The association analysis showed that PCOS women were significantly different from controls in the distribution of D19S884 allele frequencies. Instead of the well-known A8 allele, the most common allele in Chinese population was proved to be A7, and the allele frequencies of A7 were statistically different between cases and controls (P=0.037). The meta-analysis of A8 and A7 only identified A8 as a significant allelic association at the D19S884 marker in all combined samples (A8: OR 1.391, 95% CI 1.169-1.654; A7: OR 1.154, 95% CI 0.894-1.490). In conclusion, the association study showed a potential association of the D19S884 marker with PCOS in Chinese Han women and the meta-analysis identified that A8 may increase susceptibility to PCOS. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, and it affects an estimated 15% of women worldwide based on the Rotterdam criteria. Many studies in Caucasian descendants suggested that variants of the D19S884 marker at the fibrillin 3 gene are associated with the risk of this syndrome. Here we performed a case-control study with 272 PCOS women and 271 controls to investigate whether variants in the D19S884 marker increase susceptibility to PCOS in Chinese women. We also carried out a meta-analysis of some relevant studies to find a more reliable result. Our association analysis showed that PCOS women were significantly different from controls in the distribution of D19S884 allele frequencies, and instead of the well-known A8 (the letter 'A' represents 'allele'), the most common allele in Chinese population was proved to be A7, whose allele frequencies were statistically different between cases and controls. The meta-analysis of A8 and A7 only identified A8 as a significant allelic association at the D19S884 marker in all combined samples. In conclusion, our association study showed a potential association of the D19S884 marker with PCOS in Chinese Han women and the meta-analysis identified that A8 may increase susceptibility to PCOS.

S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A8 Functions as a Tumor-Promoting Factor in Renal Cell Carcinoma via Activating NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), arising from the renal tubular epithelium, is one of the most common types of genitourinary malignancies. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE100666), S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) was highly expressed in RCC tissues. S100A8, an inflammatory regulatory factor, has emerged as an important mediator associated with the occurrence and development of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to identify the key genes and investigate the main signaling pathways in RCC. Human RCC samples and corresponding adjacent normal tissues were collected in our hospital. The expression of S100A8 in human RCC samples was detected using western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. S100A8 overexpression or knockdown was mediated by using Lipofectamine 3000 in human renal cell carcinoma cell line 786-O and ACHN cells. Basic experiments, including MTT and cell apoptosis assays, were utilized for investigating the function of S100A8 in RCC. Furthermore, the levels of inflammation were also evaluated in 786-O and ACHN cells. RESULTS: In the current study, we found that downregulation of S100A8 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in 786-O and ACHN RCC cells. Of note, S100A8 silencing downregulated the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, thereby decreasing the levels of TNF-α, cleaved caspase1, and MMP9. By contrast, S100A8 upregulation could increase these expressions. CONCLUSION: Overall, S100A8 knockdown restrained RCC malignant biological properties, which was associated with the deactivation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. This present study demonstrates new insights that S100A8 may be a potential therapeutic target in RCC.

Association between polymorphisms of the CYP11A1 gene and polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women.

The cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) gene plays an important part in the synthesis of sex hormones and has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. A case-control study including 314 PCOS patients and 314 controls was conducted to assess the association of the SNPs rs4077582 and rs11632698 in CYP11A1 with PCOS using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Thereafter, 100 DNA samples were re-genotyped by direct sequencing for confirmation. The genotypic distribution of rs4077582 in women with PCOS differed from that in controls (P = 0.002). No such distributional difference was found in rs11632698 (P = 0.912). Data from our previous study of these two SNPs in another population including 290 PCOS patients and 344 controls was combined with the current data. Combined analysis (a total of 1262 participants, including 604 PCOS patients and 658 control women) showed a much more significant difference in the genotypic distribution of rs4077582 between PCOS and controls (P < 0.001). The T allele was more prevalent in PCOS patients (Odds ratio = 1.314; 95 % CI 1.122-1.540). The testosterone levels among the three genotypes for rs4077582 were different in the control group, as were the LH levels and the LH/FSH ratio. Therefore, SNP rs4077582 in CYP11A1 is strongly associated with susceptibility to PCOS and may alter the testosterone levels by the regulation of LH in different genotypes. No association was observed in rs11632698.

SNP rs2470152 in CYP19 is correlated to aromatase activity in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

CYP19 encodes aromatase, a key enzyme essential for estrogen biosynthesis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2470152 in CYP19 is associated with serum estradiol (E2) level and the E2/T (estradiol/testosterone) ratio. A case­control study including 661 individuals [364 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and 297 controls] was conducted to assess the association of SNP rs2470152 with PCOS. The subjects were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Hormone levels were analyzed among various genotypes. The genotypic distributions of rs2470152 did not differ in PCOS patients when compared to the controls. However, differences in the E2/T ratio were detected, exhibiting a lower ratio in the heterozygous TC genotype in PCOS patients (p=0.01036) and controls (p=0.000). Testosterone levels also differed between the three genotypes of PCOS patients (p=0.00625), with a higher level in the TC genotype. Therefore, rs2470152 in CYP19 was not a major etiological factor for PCOS; however, the heterozygous TC genotype may inhibit aromatase activity, resulting in hyperandrogenism, particularly in PCOS patients.