A Systematic Investigation of Lipid Transfer Proteins Involved in Male Fertility and Other Biological Processes in Maize.

Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) play essential roles in various biological processes, including anther and pollen development, vegetative organ development, seed development and germination, and stress response, but the research progress varies greatly among Arabidopsis, rice and maize. Here, we presented a preliminary introduction and characterization of the whole 65 LTP genes in maize, and performed a phylogenetic tree and gene ontology analysis of the LTP family members in maize. We compared the research progresses of the reported LTP genes involved in male fertility and other biological processes in Arabidopsis and rice, and thus provided some implications for their maize orthologs, which will provide useful clues for the investigation of LTP transporters in maize. We predicted the functions of LTP genes based on bioinformatic analyses of their spatiotemporal expression patterns by using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR assays. Finally, we discussed the advances and challenges in substrate identification of plant LTPs, and presented the future research directions of LTPs in plants. This study provides a basic framework for functional research and the potential application of LTPs in multiple plants, especially for male sterility research and application in maize.

ATP-Binding Cassette G Transporters and Their Multiple Roles Especially for Male Fertility in Arabidopsis, Rice and Maize.

ATP-binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG) transporters are extensive in plants and play essential roles in various processes influencing plant fitness, but the research progress varies greatly among Arabidopsis, rice and maize. In this review, we present a consolidated nomenclature and characterization of the whole 51 ABCG transporters in maize, perform a phylogenetic analysis and classification of the ABCG subfamily members in maize, and summarize the latest research advances in ABCG transporters for these three plant species. ABCG transporters are involved in diverse processes in Arabidopsis and rice, such as anther and pollen development, vegetative and female organ development, abiotic and biotic stress response, and phytohormone transport, which provide useful clues for the functional investigation of ABCG transporters in maize. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives for the identification and mechanism analysis of substrates for plant ABCG transporters. This review provides a basic framework for functional research and the potential application of ABCG transporters in multiple plants, including maize.

Expression of Multidrug Resistance Genes in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Refractory Epilepsy and the Reverse Effect of Oxcarbazepine on Its Expression.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the expression levels of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy. METHODS: Patients with epilepsy (n=24) and those with refractory epilepsy (n=24) were selected, and 30 normal volunteers were enrolled as control. The expression level of MDR1 genes was detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of P-gp and MRP1 were detected via Western blotting. The above-mentioned patients with refractory epilepsy were randomly divided into the oxcarbazepine group (OB group) and placebo group (OZ group). After consecutive 8-week oral administration of drugs, the curative effect and adverse reactions of patients with refractory epilepsy were observed, and the life quality of patients was evaluated. RESULTS: The expression levels of MDR1 genes, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy were significantly increased compared with those of patients with epilepsy, (P<0.05). At 8 weeks after the drug therapy, the effective rate and life quality of patients in OB group were significantly higher than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions during the treatment between the two groups. After treatment, the expression levels of MDR1, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients in OB group were significantly lower than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Oxacillipine could effectively improve the effective treatment rate of patients with refractory epilepsy. The mechanism may be related to MDR1, MRP1 and Pgp expression.

Effects of donepezil on cognitive functions and the expression level of ß-amyloid in peripheral blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system for which donepezil is usually prescribed. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of donepezil on the cognitive functions and expression levels of ß-amyloid (Aß) in the peripheral blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease. In total, 76 patients with cognitive impairment, who visited the Department of Neurology of Binzhou City Center Hospital from June 2015 to September 2016, had memory decline for more than three consecutive months and underwent mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score screening, were selected for the study. All 76 patients were divided into the experimental (n=38) and control (n=38) groups by random number table. Patients in the control group were treated using conventional drugs combined with Nimotop, and patients in the experimental group received conventional drug therapy combined with donepezil, and the treatment outcomes in the two groups were compared. The MMSE scores and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores after treatment in the two groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The activities of daily living scale (ADL) was decreased significantly (P<0.05). By comparing with the control group, the MMSE and MoCA scores in the experimental group were higher (P<0.05) while the ADL score was lower (P<0.05), and the adverse reaction rate during the treatment was lower (P<0.05). The Aß levels in serum after medical treatment were obviously decreased in the two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum Aß level in the experimental group after treatment was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Drug therapy combined with donepezil has a certain degree of influence on the MMSE, ADL and MoCA scores of patients with Alzheimer's disease, which can decrease the Aß level in peripheral blood and improve the cognitive functions of patients, thus having important clinical significance.