Genome-wide analysis of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in Penaeus vannamei and identification of two ABC genes involved in immune defense against Vibrio parahaemolyticus by affecting NF-κB signaling pathway.

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters have crucial roles in various biological processes such as growth, development and immune defense in eukaryotes. However, the roles of ABC transporters in the immune system of crustaceans remain elusive. In this study, 38 ABC genes were systematically identified and characterized in Penaeus vannamei. Bioinformation analysis revealed that PvABC genes were categorized into ABC A-H eight subfamilies with 17 full-transporters, 11 half transporters and 10 soluble proteins, and multiple immunity-related cis-elements were found in gene promoter regions. Expression analysis showed that most PvABC genes were widely and highly expressed in immune-related tissues and responded to the stimulation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. To investigate whether PvABC genes mediated innate immunity, PvABCC5, PvABCF1 and PvABCB4 were selected for dsRNA interference experiment. Knockdown of PvABCF1 and PvABCC5 not PvABCB4 increased the cumulative mortality of P. vannamei and bacterial loads in hepatopancreas after infection with V. parahaemolyticus. Further analysis showed that the PvABCF1 and PvABCC5 knockdown decreased expression levels of NF-κB pathway genes and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Collectively, these findings indicated that PvABCF1 and PvABCC5 might restrict V. parahaemolyticus challenge by positively regulating NF-κB pathway and then promoting the expression of AMPs, which would contribute to overall understand the function of ABC genes in innate immunity of invertebrates.

Association between Th17-related cytokines and risk of non-small cell lung cancer among patients with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: CD4 (+) T helper 17 (Th17) cells play critical roles in inflammation and tumor development. The involvement of Th17 cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-type inflammation-associated lung cancer has also been confirmed in animal models. However, to the authors' knowledge, it is unknown whether the role of Th17 cells is different in patients with lung cancer complicated with COPD compared with those without COPD. In the current study, the authors attempted to determine the association between the circulating levels of Th17-related cytokines and the clinical characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with or without COPD. METHODS: The authors designed a matched case-control study that included 70 patients with NSCLC with COPD, 148 patients with NSCLC without COPD, and 148 healthy controls. The data regarding the clinicopathological features of these participants were collected. Circulating levels of Th17-related cytokines, including interleukin (IL) 23 (IL-23), IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were measured. RESULTS: The circulating levels of IL-23, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and tumor necrosis factor-α were found to be significantly higher in the patients with NSCLC compared with the healthy controls (P<.05). The elevated levels were found to be significantly associated with lung cancer risk (P<.05). However, no significant differences were found between patients with NSCLC with COPD and patients without COPD. It is interesting to note that, among patients with NSCLC without COPD, the levels of these cytokines were consistently higher among patients with stage I to stage IIIA disease compared with those with stage IIIB to stage IV disease (P<.05). In addition, the 5 Th17-related cytokines demonstrated pairwise correlations, with Spearman rank correlation coefficients of 0.646 to 0.888 (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study indicate a clear association between the Th17-related cytokine profile and the risk of NSCLC complicated by the presence or absence of COPD.

Diaqua-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ol)nickel(II) dinitrate.

In the mononuclear title complex, [Ni(C(12)H(8)N(2)O)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2), the Ni(II) ion is coordinated in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The dihedral angle between the two mean planes defined by the phenanthroline ligands is 88.26 (6)°. Intra- and intermolecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the cation and the anions lead to the formation of a layered arrangement parallel to (010).

[Research on effect of total saponins of yinfenglun on uterine].

OBJECTIVE: To research the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun on uterine. METHOD: Models of uterine inflammation were established to observe the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun. Uterine contractive effects were studied on rats in vitro and on rabbit in vivo. Weight of uterus and levels of estrogen and progestogen were determined. RESULT: Total Saponins of Yinfenglun had the ameliorated tendency to metritis of model rats, and increased the contractive range and motorricity of uterine of rats in vitro and of rabbit in vivo. The effect to uterus in vivo maintained longer. Total saponins of Yinfenglun could increase the weight of uterus and have an increased tendency on the content of estrogen, but not the level of progestogen. CONCLUSION: There are obvious effects on uterine of total saponins of Yinfenglun, which are related to its clinical use.