Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of carotenoid cleavage oxygenase genes in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.).

BACKGROUND: Carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (CCOs) include the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid (NCED), which can catalize carotenoid to form various apocarotenoids and their derivatives, has been found that play important role in the plant world. But little information of CCO gene family has been reported in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) till date. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 15 LcCCO genes in litchi were identified based on genome wide lever. Phylogeny analysis showed that LcCCO genes could be classified into six subfamilies (CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8, CCD-like, and NCED), which gene structure, domain and motifs exhibited similar distribution patterns in the same subfamilies. MiRNA target site prediction found that there were 32 miRNA target sites in 13 (86.7%) LcCCO genes. Cis-elements analysis showed that the largest groups of elements were light response related, following was plant hormones, stress and plant development related. Expression pattern analysis revealed that LcCCD4, LcNCED1, and LcNCED2 might be involving with peel coloration, LcCCDlike-b might be an important factor deciding fruit flavor, LcNCED2 and LcNCED3 might be related to flower control, LcNCED1 and LcNCED2 might function in fruitlet abscission, LcCCD4a1, LcCCD4a2, LcCCD1, LcCCD4, LcNCED1, and LcNCED2 might participate in postharvest storage of litchi. CONCLUSION: Herein, Genome-wide analysis of the LcCCO genes was conducted in litchi to investigate their structure features and potential functions. These valuable and expectable information of LcCCO genes supplying in this study will offer further more possibility to promote quality improvement and breeding of litchi and further function investigation of this gene family in plant.

[Mechanism of oxymatrine in treatment of collagen-induced arthritis in mice].

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, the root of Sophora flavescens Ait., has been widely applied in the medical field due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, bacteriostatic, antiviral, antitumor, and other pharmacological effects. The present study investigated the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect of oxymatrine(OMT), the active component of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix by observing its effect on the function of B lymphocytes in collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) mice through the Toll-like receptor 9(TLR9)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) pathway. The CIA model in DBA/1 J mice was induced by bovine type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). Fifteen days after the primary immunization, mice were treated with OMT for 30 days by intraperitoneal injection. Paw swelling and arthritis index(AI) score were evaluated every 3 days. Joint histopathologic changes were observed by HE staining. Magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS) was used to isolate B lymphocytes from the spleen of CIA mice spleen. The serum expression level of interleukin(IL)-21 was examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of TLR9, STAT3, p-STAT3, and IL-21 in B lymphocytes was detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression of TLR9, STAT3, and IL-21 in B lymphocytes was detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR). The results showed that OMT could significantly alleviate the paw swelling, decrease the AI score, relieve synovial inflammatory cell infiltration and hyperplasia, reduce the level of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit the expression of TLR9, STAT3, p-STAT3, and IL-21 of B lymphocytes in CIA mice. Therefore, OMT may alleviate rheumatoid arthritis by regulating TLR9/MyD88/STAT3 pathway in B lymphocytes, providing a valuable reference for the application of OMT in the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Analysis and Identification of Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Acute Lung Injury.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in the evolution of acute lung injury (ALI), a serious respiratory pathological process leading to death. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in ALI remain largely unknown. The current study analyzed and identified a ferroptosis-related gene signature for ALI. METHODS: Key genes associated with ferroptosis in ALI were identified by bioinformatics analysis. GSE104214, GSE18341, and GSE17355 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The signature genes were screened by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and the key genes of ALI were screened by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), followed by immune infiltration analysis and functional enrichment analysis. In addition, mRNA expression of key genes in the lungs of mice with hemorrhagic shock and sepsis was verified. RESULTS: A total of 2132 differential genes were identified by various analyses, and nine characteristic genes were detected using Lasso regression. We intersected nine signature genes with WGCNA module genes and finally determined four key genes (PROK2, IL6, TNF, SLC7A11). All four key genes were closely correlated with immune cells and regulatory genes of ALI, and the expression of the four genes was significantly different in the lung tissues of hemorrhagic shock and sepsis models. Besides, the ferroptosis related molecules GPX4 and ACSL4 showed remarkable difference in these models. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that PROK2, IL6, TNF, SLC7A11 may be key regulatory targets of ferroptosis during ALI. This study proved that ferroptosis is a common pathophysiological process in three ALI models.