RESUMO
SUMMARY: Pretrained large language models (LLMs) have significantly improved code generation. As these models scale up, there is an increasing need for the output to handle more intricate tasks and to be appropriately specialized to particular domains. Here, we target bioinformatics due to the amount of domain knowledge, algorithms, and data operations this discipline requires. We present BioCoder, a benchmark developed to evaluate LLMs in generating bioinformatics-specific code. BioCoder spans much of the field, covering cross-file dependencies, class declarations, and global variables. It incorporates 1026 Python functions and 1243 Java methods extracted from GitHub, along with 253 examples from the Rosalind Project, all pertaining to bioinformatics. Using topic modeling, we show that the overall coverage of the included code is representative of the full spectrum of bioinformatics calculations. BioCoder incorporates a fuzz-testing framework for evaluation. We have applied it to evaluate various models including InCoder, CodeGen, CodeGen2, SantaCoder, StarCoder, StarCoder+, InstructCodeT5+, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4. Furthermore, we fine-tuned one model (StarCoder), demonstrating that our training dataset can enhance the performance on our testing benchmark (by >15% in terms of Pass@K under certain prompt configurations and always >3%). The results highlight two key aspects of successful models: (i) Successful models accommodate a long prompt (>2600 tokens) with full context, including functional dependencies. (ii) They contain domain-specific knowledge of bioinformatics, beyond just general coding capability. This is evident from the performance gain of GPT-3.5/4 compared to the smaller models on our benchmark (50% versus up to 25%). AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: All datasets, benchmark, Docker images, and scripts required for testing are available at: https://github.com/gersteinlab/biocoder and https://biocoder-benchmark.github.io/.
Assuntos
Algoritmos , Benchmarking , Biologia Computacional , Linguagens de Programação , Software , Biologia Computacional/métodos , Benchmarking/métodosRESUMO
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common disease, but lacking effective drug treatments. Chromodomain Y-like (CDYL) is a kind of chromodomain protein that has been implicated in transcription regulation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one derivative (compound D03) is the first potent and selective small-molecule inhibitor of CDYL (KD = 0.5 µM). In this study, we investigated the expression of CDYL in three different models of cisplatin (Cis)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced AKI mice. By conducting RNA sequencing and difference analysis of kidney samples, we found that tubular CDYL was abnormally and highly expressed in injured kidneys of AKI patients and mice. Overexpression of CDYL in cisplatin-induced AKI mice aggravated tubular injury and pyroptosis via regulating fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4)-mediated reactive oxygen species production. Treatment of cisplatin-induced AKI mice with compound D03 (2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.p.) effectively attenuated the kidney dysfunction, pathological damages and tubular pyroptosis without side effects on liver or kidney function and other tissue injuries. Collectively, this study has, for the first time, explored a novel aspect of CDYL for tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis in kidney injury, and confirmed that inhibition of CDYL might be a promising therapeutic strategy against AKI.
RESUMO
The changes of biomechanical properties, especially the elasticity of the ocular tissues, are closely related to some ophthalmic diseases. Currently, the ophthalmic optical coherence elastography (OCE) systems are dedicated either to the anterior segment or to the retina. The elasticity measurements of the whole eye remain challenging. Here we demonstrated an acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography (ARF-OCE) method to quantify the elasticity of the cornea and the retina. The experiment results show that the Young's moduli of the cornea and the retina were 16.66 ± 6.51 kPa and 207.96 ± 4.75 kPa, respectively. Our method can measure the elasticity of the anterior segment and the posterior segment, and provides a powerful tool to enhance ophthalmology research.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade , Elasticidade , Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade/métodos , Imagens de Fantasmas , Retina , Tomografia de Coerência Óptica/métodosRESUMO
Personalized medicine has gained much attention in the past decades, and identifying the effects of factors is essential for personalized preventions and treatments. Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is influenced by complex factors. In order to decrease the incidence of hypertension effectively, the subjects should be divided into subgroups according to their characteristics. In this study, we proposed to use a heterogeneous logistic regression combined with a concave fusion penalty to analyze the population-based survey data, including common influencing factors of hypertension. The analytic steps include: (1) identifying the most important predictor; (2) estimating subgroup-based heterogeneous effects. In the present context of primary hypertension data, the modeling results showed that the calculated prediction accuracy under our method was greater than 99%, while zero under the classical logistic regression. The findings could provide a practical guide for further individualized measures implementation.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares , Hipertensão , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that estrogens may protect mice from AKI. Estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1, or EST) plays an important role in estrogen homeostasis by sulfonating and deactivating estrogens, but studies on the role of SULT1E1 in AKI are lacking. METHODS: We used the renal ischemia-reperfusion model to investigate the role of SULT1E1 in AKI. We subjected wild-type mice, Sult1e1 knockout mice, and Sult1e1 knockout mice with liver-specific reconstitution of SULT1E1 expression to bilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion or sham surgery, either in the absence or presence of gonadectomy. We assessed relevant biochemical, histologic, and gene expression markers of kidney injury. We also used wild-type mice treated with the SULT1E1 inhibitor triclosan to determine the effect of pharmacologic inhibition of SULT1E1 on AKI. RESULTS: AKI induced the expression of Sult1e1 in a tissue-specific and sex-specific manner. It induced expression of Sult1e1 in the liver in both male and female mice, but Sult1e1 induction in the kidney occurred only in male mice. Genetic knockout or pharmacologic inhibition of Sult1e1 protected mice of both sexes from AKI, independent of the presence of sex hormones. Instead, a gene profiling analysis indicated that the renoprotective effect was associated with increased vitamin D receptor signaling. Liver-specific transgenic reconstitution of SULT1E1 in Sult1e1 knockout mice abolished the protection in male mice but not in female mice, indicating that Sult1e1's effect on AKI was also tissue-specific and sex-specific. CONCLUSIONS: SULT1E1 appears to have a novel function in the pathogenesis of AKI. Our findings suggest that inhibitors of SULT1E1 might have therapeutic utility in the clinical management of AKI.
Assuntos
Injúria Renal Aguda/metabolismo , Injúria Renal Aguda/prevenção & controle , Fígado/metabolismo , Sulfotransferases/genética , Sulfotransferases/metabolismo , Injúria Renal Aguda/etiologia , Animais , Calcitriol/farmacologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Inflamação/metabolismo , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Rim/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Orquiectomia , Ovariectomia , Receptores de Calcitriol/genética , Receptores de Calcitriol/metabolismo , Traumatismo por Reperfusão/complicações , Fatores Sexuais , Transdução de Sinais , Sulfotransferases/antagonistas & inibidores , Triclosan/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Extensive research into psychoneuroimmunology has led to substantial advances in our understanding of the reciprocal interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system in neuropsychiatric disorders. To date, inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety. The immunomodulating effects of antidepressants on depression have been reported, however, there is no evidence of the similar effects of antidepressants on anxiety. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on peripheral inflammatory cytokines in patients with first episode generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). METHODS: A prospective cohort design was employed: 42 patients with first episode GAD were treated with either escitalopram or sertraline for 12â¯weeks. Anxiety was measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and CRP determined by an immunoturbidimetric method before and after SSRIs treatment RESULTS: Baseline levels of anxiety and pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN-γ, and CRP were significantly reduced after treatment of SSRIs (pâ¯<â¯0.05 in all cases). In addition, the change of anxiety measures co-vary with the change of peripheral cytokine levels (pâ¯<â¯0.05 in all cases). The regression model revealed that log transformed baseline levels of CRP and IL-6 predicted treatment response (pâ¯<â¯0.05 in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to investigate the effects of SSRIs on pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with first episode GAD. The findings indicate moderate acute anti-inflammatory effects of SSRIs in GAD, and suggest that these anti-inflammatory effects may underlie anxiolytic effects of SSRIs. The study also indicates that serum levels of CRP and IL-6 may predict treatment response. However, data from randomized controlled trials is warranted to confirm these findings.
Assuntos
Transtornos de Ansiedade/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos de Ansiedade/imunologia , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Ansiolíticos , Antidepressivos/uso terapêutico , Ansiedade/sangue , Ansiedade/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos de Ansiedade/sangue , Proteína C-Reativa/análise , Citalopram/uso terapêutico , Estudos de Coortes , Citocinas/efeitos dos fármacos , Depressão/tratamento farmacológico , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Humanos , Interleucina-12/análise , Interleucina-12/sangue , Interleucina-6/análise , Interleucina-6/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Sertralina/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), a novel inflammatory biomarker, has been used to predict the prognosis of patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between NPAR and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between NPAR and CKD. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included participants with complete information on NPAR, serum creatinine (Scr), or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) from the 2009-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). CKD was defined as the presence of either low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or albuminuria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression were used to assess the linear and nonlinear associations between NPAR and renal function. Subgroup and interactive analyses were performed to explore potential interactive effects of covariates. Missing values were imputed using random forest. RESULTS: A total of 25,236 participants were enrolled in the study, of whom 4518 (17.9%) were diagnosed with CKD. After adjustment for covariates, the odds ratios (ORs) for prevalent CKD were 1.19 (95% CI = 1.07-1.31, p <0.05) for the Q2 group, 1.53 (95% CI = 1.39-1.69, p < 0.001) for the Q3 group, and 2.78 (95% CI = 2.53-3.05, p < 0.001) for the Q4 group. There was a significant interaction between age and diabetes mellitus on the association between NPAR and CKD (both p for interaction < 0.05). And there was a non-linear association between NPAR levels and CKD in the whole population (p for non-linear < 0.001). All sensitivity analyses supported the positive association between NPAR and CKD. CONCLUSIONS: NPAR was positively correlated with increased risk of CKD. The NPAR may serve as an available and cost-effective tool for identifying and intervening the individuals at risk of CKD.
Assuntos
Taxa de Filtração Glomerular , Neutrófilos , Inquéritos Nutricionais , Insuficiência Renal Crônica , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Insuficiência Renal Crônica/sangue , Insuficiência Renal Crônica/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Transversais , Adulto , Idoso , Albuminúria/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Creatinina/sangue , Creatinina/urina , Albuminas/metabolismo , Albuminas/análiseRESUMO
Cyanobacteria bloom and the secondary metabolites released by the microorganism are extremely harmful to aquatic animals, yet study on their adverse effects in zoobenthos is rare. Corbicula fluminea widely distributed in freshwater environment with algal blooms. It is a typical filter feeding zoobenthos that may be affected by the secondary metabolites of cyanobacteria due to its high filtering rate. In this study, C. fluminea was exposed to Microcystis aeruginosa exudates (MaE) for 96 h, which was obtained from 5 × 105 cells/mL and 2.5 × 106 cells/mL exponential stage M. aeruginosa culture solution that represented cyanobacteria cell density needs environmental risk precaution control and emergent control, respectively. The responses of C. fluminea critical organs to MaE were analyzed and evaluated based on histopathological sections, antitoxicity biomarkers, and organ function biomarkers. The results showed that all the organs underwent structural disorders, cell vacuolization, apoptosis, and necrosis, and the damage levels increased as MaE concentration increased. The detoxification and antioxidant defense systems biomarkers in each organ response to MaE exposure differently and the level of reaction improved when MaE concentration increased. The siphon rate and acetylcholinesterase activity showed that the filtration function decreased significantly as the MaE concentration increased. Increased activity of glutathione S-transferase and amylase in the digestive gland indicate that it is the major detoxification organ of C. fluminea. Increased vitellogenin concentration and enlarged oocytes in the gonad indicate that MaE may have an estrogenic effect on C. fluminea. This study demonstrates that cyanobacteria threat benthic bivalves by inducing oxidative stress, inhibiting filtering feeding system, and disturbing digestion system and reproduction potential of C. fluminea.
Assuntos
Corbicula , Microcystis , Reprodução , Animais , Microcystis/metabolismo , Corbicula/metabolismo , Corbicula/microbiologia , Filtração , Biomarcadores/metabolismoRESUMO
The fundamental binding of single-stranded (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with graphene oxide-Ag nanocomposites (GO-AgNCPs) has been systematically investigated by multi spectroscopic methods, i.e. ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism (CD). The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that both ssDNA and dsDNA can be adsorbed onto the GO-AgNCPs surface. All of the evidence indicated that there were relatively strong binding of ssDNA/dsDNA with GO-AgNCPs. The article compares the differences in binding between the two types of DNA and the nanomaterials using spectroscopic and thermodynamic data. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy experiments indicate that the characteristic absorbance intensity of both ss DNA and ds DNA increases, but the rate of change in absorbance is different. The fluorescence results revealed that ss/dsDNA could interact with the GO-AgNCPs surface, in spite of the different binding affinities. The Ka value of ssDNA binding with GO-AgNCPs is greater than that of dsDNA at each constant temperature, indicating that the affinity of dsDNA toward GO-AgNCPs is comparatively weak. Molecular docking studies have corroborated the mentioned experimental results. The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the binding process was thermodynamically spontaneous, van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding played predominant roles in the binding process. The mechanism of ss/ds DNA binding with GO-AgNCPs was also investigated, and the results indicated that GO-AgNCPs directly binds to the minor groove of ss/ds DNA by replacing minor groove binders.
Assuntos
DNA de Cadeia Simples , DNA , Grafite , Nanocompostos , Prata , Termodinâmica , Grafite/química , Prata/química , Nanocompostos/química , DNA de Cadeia Simples/química , DNA de Cadeia Simples/metabolismo , DNA/química , DNA/metabolismo , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Análise Espectral , Dicroísmo CircularRESUMO
In the realm of forest resource inventory and monitoring, stand-level biomass carbon models are especially crucial. In China, their importance is underscored as they form the bedrock for estimating national and international forest carbon storage. This study, based on the data from 52,700 permanent plots in the 9th National Forest Inventory (NFI) of China, was directed towards developing these models. After computing biomass and carbon storage per hectare using specific tree models for 34 species groups, we devised robust volume-derived biomass and carbon storage models for 20 forest types. The application of these models and historical data reveals notably a decline in China's forest carbon storage to 4.90Pg by the late 1970s due to aggressive forest exploitation. However, subsequent conservation and afforestation campaigns have affected a recovery, culminating in a storage of 8.69Pg by the 9th NFI. Over the past 40 years, China's forest carbon storage has surged by 3.79Pg, split between natural forests (2.25Pg) and planted forests (1.54Pg). In benchmarking against three pre-existing models, we discerned discernible biases, underscoring the need for larger modeling sample sizes. Overall, our models stand as a monumental stride in accurately gauging forest carbon storage fluctuations in China, both regionally and nationally.
Assuntos
Carbono , Florestas , Carbono/análise , China , Biomassa , Sequestro de CarbonoRESUMO
As machine learning systems grow in scale, so do their training data requirements, forcing practitioners to automate and outsource the curation of training data in order to achieve state-of-the-art performance. The absence of trustworthy human supervision over the data collection process exposes organizations to security vulnerabilities; training data can be manipulated to control and degrade the downstream behaviors of learned models. The goal of this work is to systematically categorize and discuss a wide range of dataset vulnerabilities and exploits, approaches for defending against these threats, and an array of open problems in this space.
RESUMO
Programming is a powerful and ubiquitous problem-solving tool. Systems that can assist programmers or even generate programs themselves could make programming more productive and accessible. Recent transformer-based neural network models show impressive code generation abilities yet still perform poorly on more complex tasks requiring problem-solving skills, such as competitive programming problems. Here, we introduce AlphaCode, a system for code generation that achieved an average ranking in the top 54.3% in simulated evaluations on recent programming competitions on the Codeforces platform. AlphaCode solves problems by generating millions of diverse programs using specially trained transformer-based networks and then filtering and clustering those programs to a maximum of just 10 submissions. This result marks the first time an artificial intelligence system has performed competitively in programming competitions.
RESUMO
Considerable evidence has proved that disturbed cholesterol metabolism played a crucial role in diabetic kidney disease. Besides, massive cholesterol depositions were found in intrinsic renal cells of diabetic kidney disease patients and animal models, causing cytotoxicity and affecting renal function. Statins could alleviate cholesterol depositions, podocyte injury, and microalbuminuria of diabetic kidney disease. In this review, we summarized the process of disturbed cholesterol metabolism and discussed how it induced kidney dysfunction in diabetic kidney disease.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus , Nefropatias Diabéticas , Podócitos , Animais , Colesterol , Nefropatias Diabéticas/tratamento farmacológico , Homeostase , Humanos , Metabolismo dos LipídeosRESUMO
RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have a broad biological and physiological function and are critical in regulating pre-mRNA posttranscriptional processing, intracellular migration, and mRNA stability. QKI, also known as Quaking, is a member of the signal transduction and activation of RNA (STAR) family, which also belongs to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K- (hnRNP K-) homology domain protein family. There are three major alternatively spliced isoforms, QKI-5, QKI-6, and QKI-7, differing in carboxy-terminal domains. They share a common RNA binding property, but each isoform can regulate pre-mRNA splicing, transportation or stability differently in a unique cell type-specific manner. Previously, QKI has been known for its important role in contributing to neurological disorders. A series of recent work has further demonstrated that QKI has important roles in much broader biological systems, such as cardiovascular development, monocyte to macrophage differentiation, bone metabolism, and cancer progression. In this mini-review, we will focus on discussing the emerging roles of QKI in regulating cardiac and vascular development and function and its potential link to cardiovascular pathophysiology.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Human sinoatrial cardiomyocytes are essential building blocks for cell therapies of conduction system disorders. However, current differentiation protocols for deriving nodal cardiomyocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are very inefficient. METHODS: By employing the hPSCs to cardiomyocyte (CM) in vitro differentiation system and generating E2A-knockout hESCs using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, we analyze the functions of E2A in CM differentiation. FINDINGS: We found that knockout of the transcription factor E2A substantially increased the proportion of nodal-like cells in hESC-derived CMs. The E2A ablated CMs displayed smaller cell size, increased beating rates, weaker contractile force, and other functional characteristics similar to sinoatrial node (SAN) cells. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that ion channel-encoding genes were up-regulated in E2A ablated CMs. E2A directly bounded to the promoters of genes key to SAN development via conserved E-box motif, and promoted their expression. Unexpect enhanced activity of NOTCH pathway after E2A ablation could also facilate to induct ventricle workingtype CMs reprogramming into SAN-like cells. INTERPRETATION: Our study revealed a new role for E2A during directed cardiac differentiation of hESCs and may provide new clues for enhancing induction efficiency of SAN-like cardiomyocytes from hPSCs in the future. FUNDING: This work was supported by the NSFC (No.82070391, N.S.; No.81870175 and 81922006, P.L.), the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC2000202, N.S.; 2017YFA0103700, P.L.), the Haiju program of National Children's Medical Center EK1125180102, and Innovative research team of high-level local universities in Shanghai and a key laboratory program of the Education Commission of Shanghai Municipality (ZDSYS14005).
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Diferenciação Celular , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Humanas/citologia , Miócitos Cardíacos/citologia , Potenciais de Ação , Animais , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Células Cultivadas , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Humanas/metabolismo , Humanos , Canais Iônicos/genética , Canais Iônicos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos SCID , Miócitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miócitos Cardíacos/fisiologia , Receptores Notch/genética , Receptores Notch/metabolismo , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
The RNA-binding protein QKI belongs to the hnRNP K-homology domain protein family, a well-known regulator of pre-mRNA alternative splicing and is associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders. Qki is found highly expressed in developing and adult hearts. By employing the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) to cardiomyocyte differentiation system and generating QKI-deficient hESCs (hESCs-QKIdel) using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, we analyze the physiological role of QKI in cardiomyocyte differentiation, maturation, and contractile function. hESCs-QKIdel largely maintain normal pluripotency and normal differentiation potential for the generation of early cardiogenic progenitors, but they fail to transition into functional cardiomyocytes. In this work, by using a series of transcriptomic, cell and biochemical analyses, and the Qki-deficient mouse model, we demonstrate that QKI is indispensable to cardiac sarcomerogenesis and cardiac function through its regulation of alternative splicing in genes involved in Z-disc formation and contractile physiology, suggesting that QKI is associated with the pathogenesis of certain forms of cardiomyopathies.
Assuntos
Processamento Alternativo/genética , Desenvolvimento Muscular/genética , Contração Miocárdica/genética , Precursores de RNA/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/metabolismo , Actinina/genética , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Embrião de Mamíferos/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Humanas/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Miócitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miócitos Cardíacos/patologia , Miócitos Cardíacos/ultraestrutura , Precursores de RNA/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/genética , Transcriptoma/genéticaRESUMO
R-loops, three-stranded DNA-DNA:RNA hybrid structures, are best known for their deleterious effects on genome stability. The regulatory factors of this fundamental genetic structure remain unclear. Here, we reveal an epigenetic factor that controls R-loop stability. METTL8, a member of the methyltransferase-like protein family that methylates 3-methylcytidine (m3C), is a key factor in the R-loop regulating methyltransferase complex. Biochemical studies show that METTL8 forms a large SUMOylated nuclear RNA-binding protein complex (â¼0.8 mega daltons) that contains well-reported R-loop related factors. Genetic ablation of METTL8 results in an overall reduction of R-loops in cells. Interaction assays indicated METTL8 binds to RNAs and is responsible for R-loop stability on selected gene regions. Our results demonstrate that the SUMOylated METTL8 promotes tumorigenesis by affecting genetic organization primarily in, or in close proximity to, the nucleolus and impacts the formation of regulatory R-loops through its methyltransferase activity on m3C.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) on differentiation of induced rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) in vitro with 5-azacytidine (5-aza) for the purpose of elucidation of the cellular biological mechanisms. METHODS: BMMSCs isolated from femur of rats were divided into four groups: untreated group as control (group A); 0.1 nmol/L CT-1 added to medium (Group B); induced with 10 micromol/L 5-aza only (Group C); induced with 10 micromol/L 5-aza combined with 0.1 nmol/L CT-1 added to medium (Group D). After 4 weeks of induced culturing, the differentiation of induced myocyte like cells were estimated, levels of cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) by immunohistochemical staining and ultrastructure of induce-cultured BMMSCs were determined and mRNA expression of alpha-actin, beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC), Nkx2.5, GATA4 were analyzed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: After 4 weeks of induced culturing, morphological characteristics of myocyte like cells with the expression of cTnT were observed in group C and D cells. Higher level expression of GATA4, Nkx2.5, alpha- actin and beta-MHC mRNA in group D was observed by comparing with those of group C and the differentiated BMMSCs with formations of myofilaments distinctly were also existed in 5-aza combined with CT-1 treatment group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that induced culturing of BMMSCs in the presence of 5-aza combined with CT-1 can enhance cardiomyocytic characteristics. CT-1 upregulates the expression of GATA4, Nkx2.5, alpha-actin and beta-MHC mRNA, and rapidly promotes the differentiation and maturation of cardiomyocyte-like cells differentiated from BMMSCs induced with 5-aza.
Assuntos
Células da Medula Óssea/citologia , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Citocinas/farmacologia , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/citologia , Miócitos Cardíacos/citologia , Animais , Azacitidina/farmacologia , Células Cultivadas , Meios de Cultura , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-DawleyRESUMO
The micro-expression (ME) processing characteristics of patients with depression has been studied but has not been investigated in people with subthreshold depression. Based on this, by adopting the ecological MEs recognition paradigm, this study aimed to explore ME recognition in people with subthreshold depression. A 4 (background expression: happy, neutral, sad and fearful) × 4 (ME: happy, neutral, sad, and fearful) study was designed; two groups of participants (experimental group with subthreshold depression vs. healthy control group, 32 participants in each group) were asked to complete the ecological ME recognition task, and the corresponding accuracy (ACC) and reaction time (RT) were analyzed. Results: (1) Under different background conditions, recognizing happy MEs had the highest ACC and shortest RT. (2) There was no significant difference in the ACC and RT between experimental and control groups. (3)In different contexts, individuals with subthreshold depression tended to misjudge neutral, sad, and fearful MEs as happy, while neutral MEs were misjudged as sad and fearful. (4) The performance of individuals with subthreshold depression in the ecological ME recognition task were influenced by the type of ME; they showed highest ACC and shortest RT when recognizing happy MEs (vs. the other MEs). Conclusions: (1) The performance of individuals' ecological ME recognition were influenced by the background expression, and this embodied the need for ecological ME recognition. (2) Individuals with subthreshold depression showed normal ecological ME recognition ability. (3) In terms of misjudgment, individuals with subthreshold depression showed both positive and negative bias, when completing the ecological ME recognition task. (4) Compared with the other MEs, happy MEs showed an advantage recognition effect for individuals with subthreshold depression who completed the ecological ME recognition task.