PCR array analysis identified hyperproliferation but not autophagy or apoptosis in fibrous epulis.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of fibrous epulis is still quite unclear. Our recent genome-wide RNA sequencing analysis revealed that in fibrous epulis, RAS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB pathway regulates the expression of Bcl-2 family and IAP family genes, leading to increased proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway can promote autophagy in human gingival fibroblasts; therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify whether autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of fibrous epulis. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between fibrous epulis lesions and normal gingival tissues were identified using the PCR array. The expression levels of eighteen autophagy-related (ATG) family genes, twelve B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family genes, and eleven cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed protease (caspase) family genes were validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Autophagy induction was determined by measuring microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) conversion (LC3-I to LC3-II) by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: The PCR array identified six upregulated genes, whereas no genes were expressed at significantly lower levels. The upregulated genes were BCL2, BCL2L1, CXCR4, HSP90AA1, HSPA8, and IGF1, which all belong to the "regulation of autophagy" group but not the "autophagy machinery components" group. qRT-PCR verified that the expression levels of BCL2, BCL2L1 (also known as BCL-XL), and BCL2L2 (also known as BCL-W) were significantly increased in fibrous epulis. No LC3-I to LC3-II conversion was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that in fibrous epulis, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL coordinately mediate gingival cell escape from apoptosis, leading to uncontrolled proliferation. Moreover, ATG family genes are not activated, and autophagy is not involved in this process.

The RAS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB pathway transcriptionally regulates the expression of BCL2 family and IAP family genes and inhibits apoptosis in fibrous epulis.

BACKGROUND: Epulis has a tumor-like appearance but is considered to be a massive reactive lesion rather than a true neoplasia. Limited information about the pathogenesis of epulis is available. The purpose of our study was to identify potential signaling pathways in fibrous epulis through transcriptome profiling. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between fibrous epulis lesions and normal gingival tissues were detected using RNA sequencing (RNAseq). The expression levels of eighteen genes were validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: RNAseq identified 533 upregulated genes and 732 downregulated genes. The top 10 upregulated genes were IL11, OSM, MMP3, KRT75, MMP1, IL6, IL1B, IL24, SP7, and ADGRG3. The top 10 downregulated genes were BCHE, TYR, DCT, KRT222, RP11-507K12.1, COL6A5, PMP2, GFRA1, SCN7A, and CDH19. KEGG pathway analysis further indicated that the DEGs were enriched in "Pathways in cancer" and the "Ras signaling pathway". quantitative real-time PCR verified that the expression levels of SOS1, HRAS, PIK3CA, AKT3, IKBKA, IKBKB, NFKB1, BCL2, BCL2L1, XIAP, BIRC2, and BIRC3 were increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The current transcriptomic profiling study reveals that in fibrous epulis, RAS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB pathway transcriptionally regulates the expression of BCL2 family and IAP family genes, leading to increased proliferation and apoptosis inhibition.

[Characteristic expression of apoptotic genes in epulis].

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristic expression of apoptotic genes in epulis. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with epulis were recruited in this study, and related tumor and normal gingival tissues were collected. Six pairs of samples were used for PCR array analysis of apoptosis, and the other thirty pairs of samples were used for qRT-PCR replication. The expression levels of related genes were calculated with internal reference gene delta ΔΔCt. The data were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with the normal gingival tissues, the expression levels of AIFM1, BCL2, BCL2L1, BCL2L2, BFAR, BIRC2, BIRC3, BIRC6, BNIP2, BNIP3, CD40LG, and XIAP were significantly increased in the gingival tissues, while the expression level of TNFRSF25 was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Over-expression of anti-apoptotic genes in Bcl-2 family and IAP family inhibits apoptosis of gingival tissues, which eventually causes epulis.

Lentiviral­mediated Shh reverses the adverse effects of high glucose on osteoblast function and promotes bone formation via Sonic hedgehog signaling.

Patients with diabetes tend to have an increased incidence of osteoporosis, which may be associated with hyperglycemia; however, the pathogenic mechanisms governing this interaction remain unknown. The present study sought to investigate whether elevated extracellular glucose levels of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could influence osteoblastic differentiation and whether the intracellular Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway could adjust the effects. Furthermore, to verify the results in vivo, a rat tooth extraction model was constructed. BMSCs were incubated in eight types of culture medium, including low glucose (LG), LG + lentivirus (Lenti), LG + Lenti­small interfering RNA (Lenti­siRNA), LG + Lenti­Shh, high glucose (HG), HG + Lenti, HG + Lenti­siRNA and HG + Lenti­Shh. The lentiviral transfection efficiency was observed using a fluorescence microscope; protein and mRNA expression was detected by western blotting and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR). The matrix mineralization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of BMSCs were examined by Alizarin red staining and ALP activity assays, respectively. The expression of osteogenesis­related genes in BMSCs were quantified by RT­qPCR. The alveolar ridge reduction was measured and histological sections were used to evaluate new bone formation in the tooth socket. With high concentrations of glucose, Shh expression, matrix mineralization nodules formation, ALP activity and the levels of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) expression were greatly reduced compared with LG and corresponding control groups. Whereas activated Shh signaling via Lenti­Shh could increase the number of matrix mineralization nodules, ALP activity, and the expression levels of BMP4, BSP and OPN in BMSCs. Additionally, in vivo assays demonstrated that Lenti­Shh induced additional bone formation. Collectively, the results of the present study indicated that HG inhibited the Shh pathway in osteoblasts and resulted in patterning defects during osteoblastic differentiation and bone formation, while the activation of Shh signaling could suppress these deleterious effects.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of penicillin for 6-APA production in three-liquid-phase system.

A dodecane/thermosensitive polymer/water three-liquid-phase system was introduced for enzymatic hydrolysis of penicillin G (Pen G) for 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). The enzyme was covalently attached to the terminal of PEO-PPO-PEO polymer (L63), which would be transferred into a polymer coacervate phase at high temperature above its "cloud point". 6-APA was primarily resided in the aqueous phase due to its zwitterionic nature. More than 70% phenylacetic acid (PAA) was transferred into the organic phase using trioctylmethylammonium hydroxide and trihexyl-(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate ionic liquids (Cyphos IL-104) mixture at pH 5.5, while most of Pen G resided in water. As a result, high operational pH was permitted in three-liquid-phase system, which leads to higher enzymatic activity (120 IU at 40 degrees C) and stability (enzymatic half-time up to 55 h at 60 degrees C) in comparison with the value in butyl acetate/water two-phase system. On the other hand, two products in three-liquid-phase system might be automatically separated from the enzyme sphere into different phases at the same time, which facilitated the reaction equilibrium towards the product's side with 6-APA productivity of 80% at 42 degrees C, pH 5.5.

Synthesis and characterization of magnesium phytic acid/apatite composite coating on AZ31 Mg alloy by microwave assisted treatment.

To improve the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of AZ31 magnesium alloy, a crack-free magnesium phytic acid/apatite composite coating was synthesized on AZ31 substrate via chemical conversion deposition and followed a rapid microwave assisted treatment. The influences of pH values of the microwave solution on the morphology, composition and corrosion resistance properties of the composite coating were investigated. An apatite coating with bilayer structure was completely covered the magnesium phytic acid conversion coating after microwave radiation in the solution of pH 6.5, which reached the thickness of ~7.0 µm. During the electrochemical and immersion tests in simulated body fluid (SBF), the samples with composite coating exhibited a remarkably improved corrosion resistance, slower degradation rate and rapid inducing of Ca-P apatite deposition, suggesting that the composite coating could provide a long-time protection for substrates and promote the bioactivity of AZ31 magnesium alloys. Moreover, after 5 days of incubation, the composite coating showed non-cytotoxicity, good osteoblast adhesion and proliferation.

Effect of ionic liquids on the aggregation behavior of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers in aqueous solution.

Effect of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bromide (BmimBr) on the aggregation behavior of PEO-PPO-PEO Pluronic P104 aqueous solution was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and NMR spectroscopy. When the BmimBr concentration was below 1.232 mol/L, the critical micelle temperature (CMT) of Pluronic P104 remained constant, while the size of micelles increased with increasing the BmimBr concentration; above this concentration, the CMT of Pluronic P104 decreased abruptly, and bigger clusters of BmimBr were formed. The selective nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectrum indicates that the PO block of the P104 interacts with the butyl group of the Bmim+ cation by hydrophobic interaction. It suggests that when the concentration of BmimBr is below 1.232 mol/L, there are P104 micelles in the aqueous solution with BmimBr embedding to the micellar core, while above this concentration, P104 micelles and BmimBr clusters coexist in the system.