Genome-wide analysis of circRNA regulation during spleen development of Chinese indigenous breed Meishan pigs.

BACKGROUND: Numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently identified in porcine tissues and cell types. Nevertheless, their significance in porcine spleen development is yet unelucidated. Herein, we reported an extensive overlook of circRNA expression profile during spleen development in Meishan pigs. RESULTS: Overall, 39,641 circRNAs were identified from 6,914 host genes. Among them, many circRNAs are up- or down-regulated at different time points of pig spleen development. Using WGCNA analysis, we revealed two essential modules for protein-coding genes and circRNAs. Subsequent correlation analysis revealed 67 circRNAs/co-expressed genes that participated in immnue-associated networks. Furthermore, a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis of circRNAs revealed that 12 circRNAs modulated CD226, MBD2, SAMD3, SIT1, SRP14, SYTL3 gene expressions via acting as miRNA sponges. Moreover, the circRNA_21767/miR-202-3p axis regulated SIT1 expression in a ceRNA manner, which is critical for the immune-based regulation of spleen development in Meishan pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results demonstrated that the circRNAs were differentially expressed during different stages of porcine spleen development, meanwhile the circRNAs interacted with immune-related genes in a ceRNA-based fashion. Moreover, we presented biomedical researchers with RNAseqTools, a user-friendly and powerful software for the visualization of transcriptome profile data.

Follicular development and ovary aging: single-cell studies.

Follicular development is a critical process in reproductive biology that determines the number of oocytes and interacts with various cells within the follicle (such as oocytes, granulosa cells, cumulus cells and theca cells, etc.), and plays a vital role in fertility and reproductive health due to the dogma of a limited number of oogonia. Dysregulation of follicular development can lead to infertility problems and other reproductive disorders. To explore the physiological and pathological mechanisms of follicular development, immunology-based methods, microarrays, and next-generation sequencing have traditionally been used for characterization at the tissue level. However, with the proliferation of single-cell sequencing techniques, research has uncovered unique molecular mechanisms in individual cells that have been masked by previous holistic analyses. In this review, we briefly summarize the achievements and limitations of traditional methods in the study of follicular development. Simultaneously, we focus on how to understand the physiological process of follicular development at the single-cell level and reveal the relevant mechanisms leading to the pathology of follicular development and intervention targets. Moreover, we also summarize the limitations and application prospects of single cell sequencing in follicular development research.

Global biodiversity conservation requires traditional Chinese medicine trade to be sustainable and well regulated.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is highlighted by conservation practitioners as an ongoing threat to many overharvested plant and animal species, including several charismatic threatened vertebrates. However, studies that provide evidence-based and practical recommendations on how to better regulate the TCM trade for sustainability and biodiversity conservation remain limited. China is the biggest promotor of and market for TCM and understanding the TCM trade in China is important for global biodiversity conservation. In particular, conservation researchers need to better understand how the TCM trade and its regulations interact with China's development needs and should collaborate with TCM communities to propose locally adapted suggestions to decision makers. However, progress in these areas has been restricted by language, cultural, and knowledge barriers. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current status of TCM-related regulations in China, identify weaknesses in regulation frameworks, and highlight issues that currently limit our understanding of the magnitude, dynamics, and impact of the trade. We propose changes in trade regulations, actions to enhance law enforcement, and future research directions to encourage a more sustainable TCM trade that benefits both global biodiversity conservation and TCM development.

Predicting the distribution of poorly-documented species, Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and Black purse-web spider (Sphodros niger), using museum specimens and citizen science data.

Predicting species distributions requires substantial numbers of georeferenced occurrences and access to remotely sensed climate and land cover data. Reliable estimates of the distribution of most species are unavailable, either because digitized georeferenced distributional data are rare or not digitized. The emergence of online biodiversity information databases and citizen science platforms dramatically improves the amount of information available to establish current and historical distribution of lesser-documented species. We demonstrate how the combination of museum and online citizen science databases can be used to build reliable distribution maps for poorly documented species. To do so, we investigated the distribution and the potential range expansions of two north-eastern North American spider species (Arachnida: Araneae), the Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and the Black purse-web spider (Sphodros niger). Our results provide the first predictions of distribution for these two species. We also found that the Northern black widow has expanded north of its previously known range providing valuable information for public health education. For the Black purse-web spider, we identify potential habitats outside of its currently known range, thus providing a better understanding of the ecology of this poorly-documented species. We demonstrate that increasingly available online biodiversity databases are rapidly expanding biogeography research for conservation, ecology, and in specific cases, epidemiology, of lesser known taxa.

[Study on display of acupuncture meridian based on electric signal transfer characteristics].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the real-time effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation by means of multiport network theory and measurement of the electric signals transfer coefficient, so as to explore a way for determining the running course of acupuncture meridian and for characterizing its physiological activities in the living body. METHODS: The body was modeled as a complex inhomogeneous 3-dimensions multi-port network, and the meridians were assumed to be "the most smoothly channels for signal transmission". Experiments were performed in 12 beheaded toads whose forelimbs and hindlimbs were divided into proportional coordinates. A concentric electrode with a conical tip was inserted into the toad leg for electrical stimulation of the local muscle, and another electrode alike was inserted into different spots of the limbs to detect the spreading signals in a 3-dimensional scanning mode. Following detecting the response electric voltage values of various spots and calculating their transfer coefficients, the spots which acquired a maximum signal value were considered to be the "acupoints". The imaginary connective lines passing the "acupoints" were regarded as the running courses of acupuncture meridians. RESULTS: A total of twelve 3-dimensional curves were detected based on the connected lines of electric signal transfer function extremum spots 2 mm beneath the skin of the ipsilateral fore- and hind-limbs of 12 spinal toads. CONCLUSION: The present study initially validates the feasibility of electric signal transfer coefficient measurement for displaying the running course of acupuncture meridian in the toad fore- and hindlimbs.

Triptolide suppresses CD80 and CD86 expressions and IL-12 production in THP-1 cells.

AIM: To investigate the effects of triptolide, a diterpenoid triepoxide from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), on the co-stimulatory molecule expression and interleukin-12 (IL-12) production from THP-1 cells. METHODS: THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophage-like cells by Me2SO, and then cultured with IFN-gamma (500 kU/L) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 mg/L) with or without triptolide. The surface molecule expressions were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer. IL-12p40, IL-12p70 were assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: Triptolide suppressed CD80 and CD86 expressions on IFN-gamma (500 kU/L) and LPS (1 mg/L) activated THP-1 cells at nontoxic dosages of 2.5-0.625 microg/L. Furthermore, the production of IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 were also significantly reduced in THP-1 cells exposed to triptolide. CONCLUSION: Triptolide impairs the antigen-presenting function by inhibiting CD80 and CD86 expressions and decreased IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 (bioactive form) productions from the activated THP-1 cells.