BaP/BPDE suppresses homologous recombination repair in human trophoblast cells to induce miscarriage: The roles of lnc-HZ08.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) or benzo (a) pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) exposure causes trophoblast cell dysfunctions and induces miscarriage, which is generally epigenetically regulated. Homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double strand break (DSB) plays a crucial role in maintenance of genetic stability and cell normal functions. However, whether BaP/BPDE might suppress HR repair in human trophoblast cells to induce miscarriage, as well as its epigenetic regulatory mechanism, is largely unclear. In this study, we find that BaP/BPDE suppresses HR repair of DSB in trophoblast cells and eventually induces miscarriage by up-regulating lnc-HZ08. In mechanism, lnc-HZ08 (1) down-regulates the expression levels of FOXA1 (forkhead box A1) and thus suppresses FOXA1-mediated mRNA transcription of BRCA1 (Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1) and CtIP (CtBP-interacting protein), (2) impairs BRCA1 and CtIP protein interactions by competitive binding with CtIP through lnc-HZ08-1 fragment, and also (3) suppresses BRCA1-mediated CtIP ubiquitination without affecting CtIP stability, three of which eventually suppress HR repair in human trophoblast cells. Supplement with murine Ctip could efficiently restore (i.e. increase) HR repair and alleviate miscarriage in BaP-exposed mouse model. Collectively, this study not only reveals the association and causality among BaP/BPDE exposure, the defective HR repair, and miscarriage, but also discovers novel mechanism in lnc-HZ08-regulated BRCA1/CtIP-mediated HR repair, bridging epigenetic regulation and genetic instability and also providing an efficient approach for treatment against BaP/BPDE-induced unexplained miscarriage.

Potential anti-liver cancer targets and mechanisms of kaempferitrin based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification.

AIM: Kaempferitrin is an active component in Chenopodium ambrosioides, showing medicinal functions against liver cancer. This study aimed to identify the potential targets and pathways of kaempferitrin against liver cancer using network pharmacology and molecular docking, and verify the essential hub targets and pathway in mice model of SMMC-7721 cells xenografted tumors and SMMC-7721 cells. METHODS: Kaempferitrin therapeutical targets were obtained by searching SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper, STITCH, DrugBank, and TTD databases. Liver cancer specific genes were obtained by searching GeneCards, DrugBank, TTD, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. PPI network of "kaempferitrin-targets-liver cancer" was constructed to screen the hub targets. GO, KEGG pathway and MCODE clustering analyses were performed to identify possible enrichment of genes with specific biological subjects. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were employed to determine the docking pose, potential and stability of kaempferitrin with hub targets. The potential anti-liver cancer mechanisms of kaempferitrin, as predicted by network pharmacology analyses, were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: 228 kaempferitrin targets and 2186 liver cancer specific targets were identified, of which 50 targets were overlapped. 8 hub targets were identified through network topology analysis, and only SIRT1 and TP53 had a potent binding activity with kaempferitrin as indicated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. MCODE clustering analysis revealed the most significant functional module of PPI network including SIRT1 and TP53 was mainly related to cell apoptosis. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that kaempferitrin exerted therapeutic effects on liver cancer possibly by promoting apoptosis via p21/Bcl-2/Caspase 3 signaling pathway, which were confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments, such as HE staining of tumor tissues, CCK-8, qRT-PCR and Western blot. CONCLUSION: This study provided not only insight into how kaempferitrin could act against liver cancer by identifying hub targets and their associated signaling pathways, but also experimental evidence for the clinical use of kaempferitrin in liver cancer treatment.

High throughput screening of pure silica zeolites for CF4 capture from electronics industry gas.

The capture and separation of CF4 from CF4/N2 mixture gas is a crucial issue in the electronics industry, as CF4 is a commonly used etching gas and the ratio of CF4 to N2 directly affects process efficiency. Utilizing high-throughput computational screening techniques and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, we comprehensively screened and assessed 247 types of pure silicon zeolite materials to determine their adsorption and separation performance for CF4/N2 mixtures. Based on screening, the relationships between the structural parameters and adsorption and separation properties were meticulously investigated. Four indicators including adsorption selectivity, working capacity, adsorbent performance score (APS), and regenerability (R%) were used to evaluate the performance of adsorbents. Based on the evaluation, we selected the top three best-performing zeolite structures for vacuum swing adsorption (LEV, AWW and ESV) and pressure swing adsorption (AVL, ZON, and ERI) processes respectively. Also, we studied the preferable adsorption sites of CF4 and N2 in the selected zeolite structures through centroid density distributions at the molecule level. We expect the study may provide some valuable guidance for subsequent experimental investigations on adsorption and separation of CF4/N2.

Exposure to high dose of polystyrene nanoplastics causes trophoblast cell apoptosis and induces miscarriage.

BACKGROUND: With rapid increase in the global use of various plastics, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) pollution and their adverse health effects have attracted global attention. MPs have been detected out in human body and both MPs and NPs showed female reproductive toxicological effects in animal models. Miscarriage (abnormal early embryo loss), accounting for 15-25% pregnant women worldwide, greatly harms human reproduction. However, the adverse effects of NPs on miscarriage have never been explored. RESULTS: In this study, we identified that polystyrene (PS) plastics particles were present in women villous tissues. Their levels were higher in villous tissues of unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) patients vs. healthy control (HC) group. Furthermore, mouse assays further confirmed that exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50 nm in diameter, 50 or 100 mg/kg) indeed induced miscarriage. In mechanism, PS-NPs exposure (50, 100, 150, or 200 µg/mL) increased oxidative stress, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased apoptosis in human trophoblast cells by activating Bcl-2/Cleaved-caspase-2/Cleaved-caspase-3 signaling through mitochondrial pathway. The alteration in this signaling was consistent in placental tissues of PS-NPs-exposed mouse model and in villous tissues of unexplained RM patients. Supplement with Bcl-2 could efficiently suppress apoptosis in PS-NPs-exposed trophoblast cells and reduce apoptosis and alleviate miscarriage in PS-NPs-exposed pregnant mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to PS-NPs activated Bcl-2/Cleaved-caspase-2/Cleaved-caspase-3, leading to excessive apoptosis in human trophoblast cells and in mice placental tissues, further inducing miscarriage.

Galactinol synthase 2 influences the metabolism of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and ethylene in tomato fruits.

Galactinol synthase (GolS), which catalyses the synthesis of galactinol, is the first critical enzyme in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) and contributes to plant growth and development, and resistance mechanisms. However, its role in fruit development remains largely unknown. In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to create the gols2 mutant showing uniformly green fruits without dark-green shoulders, and promoting fruit ripening. Analysis indicated that galactinol was undetectable in the ovaries and fruits of the mutant, and the accumulation of chlorophyll and chloroplast development was suppressed in the fruits. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that genes related to chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast development were down-regulated, including PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE OXIDOREDUCTASE, GOLDEN 2-LIKE 2, and CHLOROPHYLL A/B-BINDING PROTEINS. In addition, early color transformation and ethylene release was prompted in the gols2 lines by regulation of the expression of genes involved in carotenoid and ethylene metabolism (e.g. PHYTOENE SYNTHASE 1, CAROTENE CIS-TRANS ISOMERASE, and 1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLIC ACID SYNTHASE2/4) and fruit ripening (e.g. RIPENING INHIBITOR, NON-RIPENING, and APETALA2a). Our results provide evidence for the involvement of GolS2 in pigment and ethylene metabolism of tomato fruits.

Defective Homologous Recombination Repair By Up-Regulating Lnc-HZ10/Ahr Loop in Human Trophoblast Cells Induced Miscarriage.

Human trophoblast cells are crucial for healthy pregnancy. However, whether the defective homologous recombination (HR) repair of dsDNA break (DSB) in trophoblast cells may induce miscarriage is completely unknown. Moreover, the abundance of BRCA1 (a crucial protein for HR repair), its recruitment to DSB foci, and its epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, are also fully unexplored. In this work, it is identified that a novel lnc-HZ10, which is highly experssed in villous tissues of recurrent miscarriage (RM) vs their healthy control group, suppresses HR repair of DSB in trophoblast cell. Lnc-HZ10 and AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) form a positive feedback loop. AhR acts as a transcription factor to promote lnc-HZ10 transcription. Meanwhile, lnc-HZ10 also increases AhR levels by suppressing its CUL4B-mediated ubiquitination degradation. Subsequently, AhR suppresses BRCA1 transcription; and lnc-HZ10 (mainly 1-447 nt) interacts with γ-H2AX; and thus, impairs its interactions with BRCA1. BPDE exposure may trigger this loop to suppress HR repair in trophoblast cells, possibly inducing miscarriage. Knockdown of murine Ahr efficiently recovers HR repair in placental tissues and alleviates miscarriage in a mouse miscarriage model. Therefore, it is suggested that AhR/lnc-HZ10/BRCA1 axis may be a promising target for alleviation of unexplained miscarriage.

Galactinol Regulates JA Biosynthesis to Enhance Tomato Cold Tolerance.

Low temperatures can inhibit plant growth and development and reduce fruit yield. This study demonstrated that the expression of AnGolS1 from Ammopiptanthus nanus (A. nanus) encoding a galactinol synthase enhanced tomato cold tolerance. In AnGolS1-overexpressing plants, the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis substrates 13-hydroperoxylinolenicacid and 12,13-epoxylinolenicacid were significantly accumulated, and the expression levels of the ethylene response factor (SlERF4-7) and serine protease inhibitor (SlSPI5) were increased. We speculated that there may be correlations among galactinol, ethylene signaling, the protease inhibitor, protease, and JA levels. The expression levels of SlERF4-7 and SlSPI5 as well as the JA content were significantly increased under exogenous galactinol treatment. Additionally, the expression of SlSPI5 was reduced in SlERF4-7-silenced plants, and SlERF4-7 was confirmed to bind to the dehydration-responsive element (DRE) of the SlSPI5 promoter. These results suggest that SlSPI5 is a target gene of the SlERF4-7 transcription factor. In addition, SlSPI5 interacted with cysteine protease (SlCPase), while SlCPase interacted with lipoxygenase (SlLOX5) and allene oxide synthase (SlAOS2). When SlCPase was silenced, JA levels increased and plant cold tolerance was enhanced. Therefore, galactinol regulates JA biosynthesis to enhance tomato cold tolerance through the SlERF4-7-SlSPI5-SlCPase-SlLOX5/SlAOS2 model. Overall, our study provides new perspectives on the role of galactinol in the JA regulatory network in plant adaptation to low-temperature stress.

Dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid as disinfection by-products in drinking water are endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) are two typical non-volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs) found in drinking water. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that they show reproductive toxicity. However, whether they might have endocrine disrupting properties remains largely unknown. To discover this, we treated male mice or pregnant mice with 0, 1-, 102-, 103-, 104-, or 5 × 104-fold maximal concentration level (MCL) of DCAA or TCAA in drinking water. In male mice, the levels of testosterone in serum and androgen receptor (AR) in testis were declined with ≥ 103-fold MCL of DCAA (26.4 mg/kg/d) or TCAA (52.7 mg/kg/d). In pregnant mice, miscarriage rates were increased with ≥ 104-fold MCL of DCAA (264 mg/kg/d) or ≥ 103-fold MCL of TCAA. The levels of FSH in serum were increased and those of estradiol and progesterone were reduced with ≥ 103-fold MCL of DCAA or TCAA. The protein levels of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERß) in ovary were reduced with ≥ 102-fold MCL of DCAA (2.64 mg/kg/d) or TCAA (5.27 mg/kg/d). Exposure to some certain fold MCL of DCAA or TCAA also altered the protein levels of ERα and ERß in uterus and placenta. Exposure to 5 × 104-fold MCL of both DCAA and TCAA showed the combined effects. Therefore, both DCAA and TCAA could be considered as novel reproductive endocrine disrupting chemicals, which might be helpful for further assessment of the toxicological effects of DCAA and TCAA and the awareness of reproductive endocrine disrupting properties caused by DCAA and TCAA in drinking water.

Environmental BPDE induced human trophoblast cell apoptosis by up-regulating lnc-HZ01/p53 positive feedback loop.

Human trophoblast cell apoptosis may induce miscarriage. Trophoblast cells are sensitive to environmental BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE). However, how BPDE induces human trophoblast cell apoptosis is still largely elusive. In this work, we used BPDE-treated human trophoblast cells and villous tissues collected from recurrent miscarriage and health control groups to explore the underlying mechanism of BPDE-induced human trophoblast cell apoptosis. Continued with our recent work, we found that lncRNA HZ01 (lnc-HZ01) could induce human trophoblast cell apoptosis. In mechanism, lnc-HZ01 up-regulated p53 expression level by suppressing its MDM2-mediated proteasomal degradation. Meanwhile, we found that p53 acted as lnc-HZ01 transcription factor and promoted lnc-HZ01 transcription. Thus, lnc-HZ01 and p53 composed a positive feedback loop in human trophoblast cells. In normal trophoblast cells, relatively low levels of lnc-HZ01 and p53 suppressed p53/caspase-3 apoptosis pathway, giving normal pregnancy. Upon BPDE exposure, BPDE up-regulated the expression levels of lnc-HZ01 and p53, triggered this positive feedback loop, activated the p53/caspase-3 apoptosis pathway, and then induced miscarriage. Collectively, we discovered new mechanism by which lnc-HZ01 regulated BPDE-induced human trophoblast cell apoptosis, providing scientific basis for the diagnosis and treatment of unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

Structure and mutation analysis of the hexameric P4 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage phiYY.

phiYY is a foremost member of Cystoviridae isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its P4 protein with NTPase activity is a molecular motor for their genome packing during viral particle assembly. Previously studies on the P4 from four Pseudomonas phages phi6, phi8, phi12 and phi13 reveal that despite of belonging to the same protein family, they are unique in sequence, structure and biochemical properties. To better understand the structure and function of phiYY P4, four crystal structures of phiYY P4 in apo-form or combined with different ligands were solved at the resolution between 1.85 Å and 2.43 Å, which showed drastic conformation change of the H1 motif in ligand-bound forms compared with in apo-form, a four residue-mutation at the ligand binding pocket abolished its ATPase activity. Furthermore, the truncation mutation of the 50 residues at the C-terminal did not impair the hexamerization and ATP hydrolysis.

Lnc-HZ08 regulates BPDE-induced trophoblast cell dysfunctions by promoting PI3K ubiquitin degradation and is associated with miscarriage.

Increasing evidences have shown that pregnant women might miscarry after exposure with environmental BaP (benzo(a)pyrene). Additionally, BPDE (benzo(a)pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide), the ultimate metabolite of BaP, could induce dysfunctions of human trophoblast cells. However, it is rarely correlated between miscarriage and trophoblast dysfunctions. Moreover, their underlying mechanisms are still largely unidentified. In this study, a novel lncRNA (long non-coding RNA), lnc-HZ08, was identified to be highly expressed in human recurrent miscarriage (RM) tissues and in BPDE-treated human trophoblast cells. Lnc-HZ08 acts as a RNA scaffold to interact with both PI3K and its ubiquitin ligase CBL (Cbl proto-oncogene), enhances their protein interactions, and promotes PI3K ubiquitin degradation. In RM tissues and BPDE-treated trophoblast cells, DNA methylation level in lnc-HZ08 promoter region was reduced, which promotes estrogen receptor 1 (ER)-mediated lnc-HZ08 transcription. Subsequently, this upregulated lnc-HZ08 downregulated PI3K level, suppressed PI3K/p-AKT/p-P21/CDK2 pathway, and thus weakened proliferation, migration, and invasion of human trophoblast cells, which further induces miscarriage. These results may provide novel scientific and clinical insights in the occurrence of unexplained miscarriage. A novel lncRNA (lnc-HZ08) regulates the functions of human trophoblast cells and affects miscarriage. Lnc-HZ08 promotes PI3K ubiquitin degradation by enhancing CBL and PI3K interactions, downregulates PI3K/p-AKT/p-P21/CDK2 pathway, and weakens proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells. BPDE exposure reduces the DNA methylation level in lnc-HZ08 promoter region and promotes estrogen receptor 1 (ER)-mediated lnc-HZ08 transcription. The suppressed PI3K/p-AKT/p-P21/CDK2 pathway regulated by increased lnc-HZ08 is associated with miscarriage. These results provide novel insights in the occurrence of unexplained miscarriage. Graphical Headlights • Lnc-HZ08 downregulates PI3K/p-AKT/p-P21/CDK2 pathway to suppress proliferation, migration, and invasion of human trophoblast cells, and affects miscarriage. • Lnc-HZ08 acts as a RNA scaffold to enhance the protein interaction of PI3K and its ubiquitin ligase CBL, which increases PI3K ubiquitination and degradation. • Lnc-HZ08 transcription is associated with DNA methylation on its promoter region and transcription factor ER.

Environmental Pollutant Benzo[a]pyrene Upregulated Long Non-coding RNA HZ07 Inhibits Trophoblast Cell Migration by Inactivating PI3K/AKT/MMP2 Signaling Pathway in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical that is known to have toxic effects on reproduction. However, the underlying mechanisms describing how BaP and its metabolite benzo[a]pyrene-7, 8-diol-9, 10-epoxide (BPDE) induce recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are still largely unclear. In this study, we identified a novel long non-coding RNA (lnc-HZ07, NCBI MT936329) that was upregulated in trophoblast cells after exposure to BPDE, and lnc-HZ07 expression was significantly higher in RPL villous tissues than that in control villous tissues. Knockdown of lnc-HZ07 promoted trophoblast cell migration, whereas overexpression of lnc-HZ07 inhibited trophoblast cell migration. Further study showed that lnc-HZ07 inhibited trophoblast migration by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) expression via dephosphorylation of AKT. These results demonstrated a novel regulatory pathway in which BaP downregulated AKT phosphorylation and inhibited MMP2 expression by upregulating lnc-HZ07, suggesting that lnc-HZ07 could be considered as a potential pathological marker of BaP-induced RPL and therapeutic target for this disease.

Upregulated lnc-HZ02 and miR-hz02 inhibited migration and invasion by downregulating the FAK/SRC/PI3K/AKT pathway in BPDE-treated trophoblast cells.

BPDE (benzo(a)pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide), a metabolite of environmental carcinogenic BaP, weakens the migration and invasion of human villous trophoblast cells and may further induce miscarriage. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified that in trophoblast Swan 71 and HTR-8/SVneo cells, miR-hz02 upregulates the level of lnc-HZ02, which inhibits the expression of an RNA-binding protein HuR. HuR could interact with FAK mRNA and promote its mRNA stability, thus upregulating the FAK level and the FAK/SRC/PI3K/AKT pathway, and finally maintaining the normal migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. If trophoblast cells are exposed to BPDE, both miR-hz02 and lnc-HZ02 are upregulated, which reduce the level of HuR, weaken the interactions of HuR with FAK mRNA, downregulate FAK level and the FAK/SRC/PI3K/AKT pathway, and finally inhibit cell migration and invasion. This study provides a novel scientific understanding of the dysfunctions of human trophoblast cells.

Novel lnc-HZ03 and miR-hz03 promote BPDE-induced human trophoblastic cell apoptosis and induce miscarriage by upregulating p53/SAT1 pathway.

Normal pregnancy is essential for human reproduction. However, environmental BaP (benzo(a)pyrene) and its metabolite BPDE (benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide) induce dysfunctions of human trophoblastic cells, which could further result in miscarriage. Yet, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, a novel lnc-HZ03 and a novel miR-hz03 were identified. Both lnc-HZ03 and miR-hz03 were highly expressed in human recurrent miscarriage villous tissues and in BPDE-exposed trophoblastic cells. Lnc-HZ03 and miR-hz03 upregulated each other, forming a positive feedback loop. MiR-hz03 could also upregulate p53 level by enhancing its mRNA stability. Both lnc-HZ03 and p53 mRNA contained the target site for miR-hz03 and could directly interact with miR-hz03. It was this target site instead of its mutant on lnc-HZ03 that regulated p53 expression. Subsequently, the upregulated p53 facilitated SAT1 transcription and enhanced SAT1-catalyzed spermine metabolism, which further resulted in trophoblastic cell apoptosis and induced miscarriage. All together, the p53/SAT1 pathway upregulated by lnc-HZ03 and miR-hz03 could promote BPDE-induced human trophoblastic cell apoptosis and the occurrence of miscarriage, shedding novel light on the causes of miscarriage. Graphical abstract Lnc-HZ03 and miR-hz03 regulate the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage (RM). In human trophoblastic cells, lnc-HZ03 upregulates miR-hz03 level. MiR-hz03 increases the RNA stability of lnc-HZ03 and p53 mRNA. P53 promotes SAT1 transcription and reduces its cellular spermine content, resulting in cell apoptosis. Under normal conditions, lnc-HZ03/miR-hz03 and p53/SAT1 pathways are downregulated, maintaining normal pregnancy. After exposure to BPDE, lnc-HZ03/miR-hz03 and p53/SAT1 pathways are upregulated and finally induce miscarriage.

Introduction to Environmental Harmful Factors.

In this Chapter, we systematically and comprehensively described various environmental harmful factors. They were classified into four aspects: physical factors, chemical factors, biological factors, and physiological and psychological stress factors. Their classification, modes of presence, toxicity and carcinogenicity, routes of exposure to human and toxic effects on the female reproductive health were introduced. It is expected that the exposure routes could be controlled and eliminated, and the pathogenic mechanism of environmental harmful factors should be investigated and explained to protect female reproductive health.

Toxicological Effects of BPDE on Dysfunctions of Female Trophoblast Cells.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely spread persistent environmental toxicants. Its typical representative benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a human carcinogen. BaP can pass through the placental barrier and is finally metabolized into benzo[a]pyren-7, 8-dihydrodiol-9, 10-epoxide (BPDE). BPDE can form DNA adducts, which directly affect the female reproductive health. Based on the special physiological functions of trophoblast cells and its important effect on normal pregnancy, this chapter describes the toxicity and molecular mechanism of BPDE-induced dysfunctions of trophoblast cells. By affecting the invasion, migration, apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, and hormone secretion of trophoblast cells, BPDE causes diseases such as choriocarcinoma, intrauterine growth restriction, eclampsia, and abortion. In the end, it is expected to provide a scientific basis and prevention approach for women's reproductive health and decision-making basis for the formulation of environmental health standards.

Environmental Pollutant Benzo[a]pyrene Induces Recurrent Pregnancy Loss through Promoting Apoptosis and Suppressing Migration of Extravillous Trophoblast.

METHODS: The implantation sites, fetus resorption, and abnormal fetuses were studied in pregnant mice treated with different doses of BaP by oral gavage from day 1 to day 10 of gestation. Additionally, apoptosis and related signaling pathway, and the migration and invasion of trophoblasts, were assessed before and after exposure of BPDE in Swan 71 trophoblast cell. Besides, the migration and invasion, and its related signaling pathway, were assessed in villi obtained from women. RESULTS: We observed a concentration-dependent incidence of abnormal murine fetuses, beginning with 0.1 mg/kg BaP; with a BaP concentration of 2 mg/kg, no fetuses developed. Correspondingly, a BPDE concentration-dependent apoptosis of human trophoblasts. Beginning with 0.5 µM BPDE exposure, Bax/Caspase-3 were increased and Bcl-2 decreased. Furthermore, BPDE also inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the migration of villous explants from elective abortion women, consistent with the reduced migration of villous explants from women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and reduced the cell immigration in Swan 71 trophoblasts, in a dose-dependent manner measured by transwell assays. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results provide mechanistic insight to the effect of BPDE on trophoblast dysfunction through enhanced cell apoptosis and inhibited migration, providing further experimental evidence to the causative links between BaP exposure and PRL.

[Application of impulse-radio ultra-wideband radar as a non-contact portable monitoring device for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea].

Objective:To compare the effect of impulse-radio ultrawideband（IR-UWB） radar technology and polysomnography（PSG） in sleep assessment. Method:A total of 79 OSA patients were randomly divided into two groups: 40 patients in group A received PSG and IR-UWB, and 39 patients in group B received micromovement sensitive mattress（MSM） and IR-UWB. Pearson correlation and ROC curve were used for statistics. Result:AHI PSG and AHI MSM were significantly correlated with AHI IR-UWB（r=0.91, P＝0.00; r=0.92, P＝0.00）. Bland-Altman analysis showed that AHI IR-UWB value was highly consistent with AHI PSG value（95.00%）, and AHI IR-UWB value（97.44%）. The sensitivity and specificity of AHI IR-UWB compared with PSG were 70.40% and 89.90%, respectively. The area under ROC curve was 0.915. Conclusion:IR-UWB has a high diagnostic value for adult OSA in terms of minimum blood oxygen saturation, average blood oxygen saturation, average number of central sleep apnea, average number of complex sleep apnea, average heart rate, sleep efficiency, REM sleep duration, average AHI, etc. It is an economic and practical sleep evaluation tool.

Ribonucleoside triphosphates promote T7 DNA replication and the lysis of T7-Infected Escherichia coli.

rNTPs are structurally similar to dNTPs, but their concentrations are much higher than those of dNTPs in cells. rNTPs in solutions or rNMP at the primer terminus or embedded in template always inhibit or block DNA replication, due to the reduced Mg2+ apparent concentration, competition of rNTPs with dNTPs, and the extra repulsive interaction of rNTP or rNMP with polymerase active site. In this work, unexpectedly, we found rNTPs can promote T7 DNA replication with the maximal promotion at rNTPs/dNTPs concentration ratio of 20. This promotion was not due to the optimized Mg2+ apparent concentration or the direct incorporation of extra rNMPs into DNA. This promotion was dependent on the concentrations and types of rNTPs. Kinetic analysis showed that this promotion was originated from the increased fraction of polymerase-DNA productive complex and the accelerated DNA polymerization. Further evidence showed that more polymerase-DNA complex was formed and their binding affinity was also enhanced in the presence of extra rNTPs. Moreover, this promotion in T7 DNA replication also accelerated the lysis of T7-infected host Escherichia coli. This work discovered that rNTPs could promote DNA replication, completely different from the traditional concept that rNTPs always inhibit DNA replication.

Benzo[a]Pyrene-7, 8-Diol-9, 10-Epoxide Suppresses the Migration and Invasion of Human Extravillous Trophoblast Swan 71 Cells Due to the Inhibited Filopodia Formation and Down-Regulated PI3K/AKT/CDC42/PAK1 Pathway Mediated by the Increased miR-194-3p.

Proper migration and invasion of trophoblast cells into endometrium is vital for successful embryo implantation during early pregnancy. Benzo[a]pyrene-7, 8-diol-9, 10-epoxide (BPDE) is an ultimate carcinogenic product of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), which causes multiple trophoblast-related diseases. However, the mechanism of BPDE-inhibited migration/invasion of trophoblast cells is still unclear. In this work, we found that BPDE significantly inhibited the filopodia formation and migration/invasion of human trophoblast Swan 71 cells. BPDE up-regulated the level of miR-194-3p, which further inhibited the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/ cell division cycle 42/ p21 (RAC1) activated kinase 1 signaling pathway and depressed the filophdia formation of Swan71 cells. Addition of 740 Y-P, the activator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, could stimulate cell migration/invasion, confirming the involvement of this pathway. Knock-down of miR-194-3p up-regulated this pathway and promoted filopodia formation and migration/invasion. Conversely, overexpression of miR-194-3p down-regulated this pathway and inhibited cell migration/invasion. Therefore, miR-194-3p takes important roles in the BPDE-inhibited filopodia formation and cell migration/invasion, providing valuable information in the BPDE-induced dysfunctions of human extravillous trophoblast cells.