RESUMO
Despite the ubiquity and prevalence of lead (Pb) in the environment and industry, the mechanism of lead-induced neurotoxicity in the brain remains unclear, let alone its prevention and treatment. In this study, we hypothesized that exogenous cholesterol supplementation acts as an effective remedy for lead-induced neurodevelopmental impairments caused by lead. Forty 21-day-old male rats were randomly divided into four groups and administered 0.1 % lead water and/or 2 % cholesterol-containing feed for 30 d. Ultimately, rats in the lead group lost weight, accompanied by spatial learning and memory impairments as verified by the Morris water maze test, in which the escape latency of rats was prolonged, and the number of crossings in the target platform and the residence time in the target quadrant were significantly diminished compared to the control group. Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining and Nissl staining illustrated that typical pathological morphology occurred in the brain tissue of the lead group, where the tissue structure was loose, the number of hippocampal neurons and granulosa cells decreased significantly and were arranged loosely, along with enlarged intercellular space, light matrix staining, and decline in Nissl bodies. In addition, inflammatory response and oxidative stress were significantly induced by lead. Immunofluorescence experiments showed apparent activation of astrocytes and microglia, followed by the enhancement of TNF-α and IL-ß levels. Moreover, the MDA content in the lead group was elevated dramatically, whereas the activities of SOD and GSH were significantly inhibited. As for the mechanism, western blot and qRT-PCR experiments were performed, where lead could significantly inhibit the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway, lowering the protein expression of BDNF and TrkB. Cholesterol metabolism was also affected by lead exposure, in which cholesterol metabolism-related protein expression and gene transcription, including SREBP2, HMGCR, and LDLR, were downregulated. However, cholesterol supplementation efficiently detoxified the negative effects of lead-induced neurotoxicity, reversing the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, inactivation of the BDNF signaling pathway, and imbalance of cholesterol metabolism, thus improving the learning and memory ability of rats. In brief, our study demonstrated that cholesterol supplementation could ameliorate the deficiency of learning and memory induced by lead, which is closely associated with the initiation of the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway and regulation of cholesterol metabolism.
Assuntos
Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo , Chumbo , Feminino , Ratos , Animais , Masculino , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/genética , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Chumbo/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Suplementos Nutricionais , Aprendizagem em LabirintoRESUMO
The extent to which neurodevelopment is affected by prenatal lead exposure has not been conclusive. In addition, studies on the effects of sex on these relationships are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cord blood lead on neurodevelopment in children within sex subgroups. A total of 275 mother-child pairs from the Shanghai mother-child cohort were included. Umbilical cord blood lead was measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Bayley Scales for Infant Development-III (BSID-III) was used to measure the neurodevelopment of infants at the age of 18 ± 1.5 months. The median and interquartile range of cord blood lead levels in the total participants, male, and female children were 44.0 (24.5) µg/L, 44.0 (24.3) µg/L, and 46.0 (24.0) µg/L, respectively. According to multiple linear regression, cord blood lead concentrations showed a negative association with fine motor scores in all models associated with female children (ß = -1.5; 95%confidence interval: -2.6, -0.4). However, prenatal lead levels were not associated with any of the BSID-III scores in male children. In addition, cord serum DHA was found positively related to fine motor scores in male children. Our findings suggest that prenatal lead exposure could lead to decreased motor function, although this phenomenon was only observed in female children. And DHA may be a protective factor against lead exposure in boys. Thus, further studies are needed to investigate the associations between prenatal lead exposure and neurobehavioral development, as well as the mechanism of sex differences.
Assuntos
Chumbo , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Lactente , Gravidez , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Chumbo/toxicidade , Sangue Fetal , China , Relações Mãe-FilhoRESUMO
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a very common preclinical condition during pregnancy. The adverse effect of maternal clinical hypothyroidism (CH) on the nervous system development of offspring is beyond doubt, but it is still controversial in SCH. The aim of this study was to investigate whether spatial learning and memory ability of offspring is inhibited in SCH rat model and its possible mechanism. 45 Wistar female rats were randomly divided into SCH, CH and control (CON) groups, which were induced by semi-thyroid electrocauterization, total thyroidectomy and sham operation, respectively. Rat pups were sacrificed at embryonic day 14 (E14), E18, postnatal day 1 (P1), P3, and P10, and pups' cerebellar tissues were collected. The proliferation, differentiation and migration of cerebellar cells were observed, and RNA level of the thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα) and TRß in the cerebellum was detected by real-time PCR, respectively. Morris Water Maze (MWM) test was performed to detect the spatial learning and memory ability of pups at P40. Our data indicated that maternal SCH will significantly extend the offspring's escape latency time, and pups perform worse in the spatial probe test compared with the CON group. Except for E14, the proliferation of pups' cerebellar granule cells (GCs), and the migration of pups' Purkinje cells (PCs) in the SCH group was significantly inhibited compared with that in the CON group at other time points (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the differentiation of cerebellar astrocytes (As) in SCH group was higher than that in CON group at P3 and P10. Except for E14, the expression of TRα mRNA in SCH group was significantly lower than that in CON group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). And the difference of the differentiation of As and the spatial learning and memory between SCH and CH groups was not statistically significant. Our findings suggested that SCH during pregnancy nuisances the offspring's spatial learning and memory. It may be related to the decrease of the expression of TRα in cerebellum, which may further inhibit the proliferation of GCs and the migration of PCs, and increase the differentiation of As.
Assuntos
Hipotireoidismo , Aprendizagem Espacial , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Feminino , Hipotireoidismo/metabolismo , Aprendizagem em Labirinto , Gravidez , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Short-term temperature variability (TV) is associated with the exacerbation of asthma, but little is known about the relative effects of intra- and inter-day TV. We aimed to assess the relative impacts of intra- and inter-day TV on childhood asthma and to explore the modification effects by season. METHODS: A quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was adopted to evaluate the nonlinear and lagged effects of TV on childhood asthma in Shanghai from 2009 to 2017. Intra- and inter-day TV was measured with diurnal temperature range (DTR) and temperature changes between neighboring days (TCN), respectively. RESULTS: Increased DTR was associated with the elevated relative risk (RR) of daily outpatient visits for childhood asthma (DOVCA) in both the whole year (RRlag0-14 for the 99th percentile: 1.264, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.052, 1.518) and cold season (RRlag0-12 for the 99th percentile: 1.411, 95% CI: 1.053, 1.889). Higher TCN in the warm season was associated with the increased RR of DOVCA (RRlag0-14 for the 99th percentile: 2.964, 95% CI: 1.636, 5.373). The number and fraction of DOVCA attributed to an interquartile range (IQR) increase of TCN were higher than those attributed to DTR in both the whole year period and warm season. However, the number and fraction of DOVCA attributed to an IQR increase of DTR were greater than those attributed to TCN in the cold season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide novel evidence that both intra- and inter-day TV might be a trigger of childhood asthma. Higher DTR appeared to have greater impacts on childhood asthma in the cold season while an increase in TCN seemed to have bigger effects in the warm season.
Assuntos
Asma , Asma/induzido quimicamente , Asma/epidemiologia , China/epidemiologia , Temperatura Baixa , Feminino , Humanos , Gravidez , Estações do Ano , TemperaturaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease which sometimes predisposes to allergies. Environmental factors (low humidity, irritants, etc.) are prominent causative triggers of AD. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the effects of both meteorological factors and air pollutants on childhood AD, and the modification effects by season in Shanghai, China. METHODS: Quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model, combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to examine the nonlinear and lagged effects of environmental factors on childhood AD from 2009 to 2017 in Shanghai. We also performed a season-stratified analysis to determine the modification effects of environmental exposure by season on childhood AD. RESULTS: There were 1,043,240 outpatient visits for childhood AD in total, at 3 major pediatric hospitals. Low temperature and relative humidity (RH), and high daily temperature difference (DTD) and air pollutants (i.e., NO2) increased the relative risks (RRs) of outpatient visits for childhood AD in the whole year. In the cold season, an increased risk of outpatient visits for childhood AD was associated with low RH (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.69-3.02) and high NO2 (1.11, 95% CI 1.06-1.17). In the warm season, outpatient visits for childhood AD were associated with low temperature (3.49, 95% CI 3.22-3.77), low RH (1.89, 95% CI 1.74-2.06), high DTD (1.41, 95% CI 1.31-1.53), and high NO2 (1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that environmental exposure may be a key trigger for outpatient visits for childhood AD with apparent seasonal effects. Tailored preventive strategies to avoid environmental triggers of childhood AD should be developed.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Dermatite Atópica/epidemiologia , Exposição Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricos , Conceitos Meteorológicos , Fatores de Tempo , Adolescente , Poluentes Atmosféricos/efeitos adversos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , China/epidemiologia , Dermatite Atópica/etiologia , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Hospitais Pediátricos , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Pacientes Ambulatoriais/estatística & dados numéricos , Estações do AnoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma and allergic diseases are a significant global problem. There are inconsistent findings on the associations of delivery mode, the number of children in the household and breastfeeding with childhood asthma and allergic diseases. We assessed these associations and examined whether breastfeeding modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 17 primary schools were randomly selected from 13 districts of Shanghai in this study. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to assess the childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between neonatal and familial factors and childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and to examine the modification effects of breastfeeding on the associations assessed. RESULTS: Of 10,464 primary school children aged 6-11 years, the overall prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, food allergy and drug allergy was 13.9, 22.7, 15.3, 8.1 and 4.6%, respectively. Male sex, high socioeconomic status, cesarean section delivery, only one child in the household and having family history of allergy were associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of childhood asthma and allergic diseases while longer breastfeeding duration (> 6 months) was inversely associated with these diseases. Longer breastfeeding duration also attenuated the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. For instance, the adjusted OR of childhood asthma in the group of vaginal delivery and breastfeeding duration > 6 months was lowest (0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Longer breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and also reduced the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on these diseases. Giving the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases is rapidly rising across the globe, these findings may have important clinical and public health implications.
Assuntos
Asma/genética , Asma/prevenção & controle , Aleitamento Materno/tendências , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Vigilância da População , Asma/epidemiologia , Criança , China/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença/epidemiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Viviparous fish, including white-edged rockfish (Sebastes taczanowskii), accumulate substantial yolk mass in the oocytes; however, the details of the molecular mechanisms underlying yolk formation are not yet fully understood, especially concerning multiplicity in the yolk precursor vitellogenin (Vtg). The present study aimed to reveal the hepatic transcriptional profiles of multiple vtg gene transcripts (vtgAa, vtgAb, vtgC) during the reproductive cycle in captive female white-edged rockfish reared in an aquarium under natural photo-thermal conditions. The serum estradiol-17ß concentration and the hepatic transcript levels of all vtg subtypes increased with the progress of vitellogenesis; both levels decreased at the beginning of oocyte maturation and remained low during the gestation period. Considering the similarity in the transcriptional profiles of vtg subtypes between Sebastes and Oncorhynchus, along with the differences between Sebastes and Morone, it is suggested that the transcription patterns of multiple vtg genes relate to neither their reproductive modes (viviparity versus oviparity) nor to teleost phylogeny.
Assuntos
Fígado/metabolismo , Perciformes/fisiologia , Vitelogeninas/metabolismo , Animais , Estradiol/sangue , Feminino , Ovário/fisiologia , Transcriptoma , Vitelogênese , Vitelogeninas/genéticaRESUMO
As common environmental pollutants, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are widely applied in industry and agriculture have adverse effects on neurodevelopment. However, evidence on the neurotoxicity of POPs in neural development of offspring is limited. This study explored the relationship between prenatal exposure to POPs and neurodevelopment of 18-month-old toddlers in a mother-child cohort in Shanghai, China. In this study, we determined exposure levels of 37 POPs in cord blood serum collected at the time of delivery. The detection rate of pollutants HCB, ß-HCH, and p,p'-DDE was higher than 60%, so these will be discussed in the following analysis. From birth to approximately 18 months, we followed up infants to longitudinally explore whether POPs influenced their language, motor, and cognitive development according to a Bayley-â ¢ assessment . Based on multivariable regression analyses, the ß-HCH concentration in cord serum was negatively related to motor development scores in children at 18 months by adjusting for the covariates, but there was no change in language and cognition. Further piecewise linear regression analysis showed that a cord serum ß-HCH concentration greater than 0.2 µg/L had a significantly negative correlation with the motor development scores. p,p'-DDE was positively associated with language development at 18 months before and after adjusting for covariates. But prenatal HCB levels were not associated with any of the Bayley-â ¢ subscales at 18 months. We concluded that prenatal exposure to ß-HCH might have adverse effects on infants' motor development. The minimum harmful concentration of ß-HCH was estimated at 0.2 µg/L in cord serum. The unexpected positive association between p,p'-DDT and language development could be due to live birth bias.
Assuntos
Desenvolvimento Infantil/efeitos dos fármacos , Exposição Materna/estatística & dados numéricos , Poluentes Orgânicos Persistentes/toxicidade , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/epidemiologia , Pré-Escolar , China/epidemiologia , Estudos de Coortes , DDT , Diclorodifenil Dicloroetileno , Poluentes Ambientais/toxicidade , Feminino , Sangue Fetal , Hexaclorocicloexano , Humanos , Hidrocarbonetos Clorados/toxicidade , Lactente , Masculino , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Mães , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/induzido quimicamenteRESUMO
Cervical cancer (CC) is known as one of the most common gynecological tumors. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of regulators that have been widely reported in human malignant tumors including CC. On the basis of the data of The Cancer Genome Atlas, lncRNA DDN and PRKAG1 antisense RNA 1 ( DDN-AS1) that is overexpressed in CC tissues predicted poor prognosis for patients with CC. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis further identified the upregulation of DDN-AS1 in CC tissues and cell lines. Loss-of-function assays revealed that knockdown of DDN-AS1 suppressed CC progression by efficiently inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanism investigations revealed that DDN-AS1 was upregulated by its upstream transcription activator transcription factor 3 ( TCF3). Moreover, DDN-AS1 increased the expression of TCF3 by competitively binding miR-15a and miR-16. In conclusion, DDN-AS1-miR-15a/16-TCF3 feedback loop contributes to cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in CC.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , MicroRNAs/genética , RNA Longo não Codificante/genética , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/genética , Sequência de Bases , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/genética , Proliferação de Células/genética , Progressão da Doença , Retroalimentação Fisiológica , Feminino , Células HeLa , Humanos , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/patologiaRESUMO
KEY MESSAGE: ZmPIF3 plays an important role in ABA-mediated regulation of stomatal closure in the control of water loss, and can improve both drought tolerance and did not affect the grain yield in the transgenic rice. Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) are a subfamily of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and play important roles in regulating plant growth and development. In our previous study, overexpression of a maize PIFs family gene, ZmPIF3, improved drought tolerance in transgenic rice. In this study, measurement of water loss rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, guard cell aperture, density and length of ZmPIF3 transgenic plants showed that ZmPIF3 can enhance water-saving and drought-resistance by decreasing stomatal aperture and reducing transpiration in both transgenic rice and transgenic Arabidopsis. Scrutiny of sensitivity to ABA showed that ZmPIF3 transgenic rice was hypersensitive to ABA, while the endogenous ABA level was not significantly changed. These results indicate that ZmPIF3 plays a major role in the ABA signaling pathway. In addition, DGE results further suggest that ZmPIF3 participates in the ABA signaling pathway and regulates stomatal aperture in rice. Comparison analysis of the phenotype, physiology, and transcriptome of ZmPIF3 transgenic rice compared to control plants further suggests that ZmPIF3 is a positive regulator of ABA signaling and enhances water-saving and drought-resistance traits by reducing stomatal openings to control water loss. Moreover, investigation of the agronomic traits of ZmPIF3 transgenic rice from four cultivating seasons showed that ZmPIF3 expression increased the tiller and panicle number and did not affect the grain yield in the transgenic rice. These results demonstrate that ZmPIF3 is a promising candidate gene in the transgenic breeding of water-saving and drought-resistant rice plants and crop improvement.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Oryza/fisiologia , Estresse Fisiológico , Zea mays/genética , Ácido Abscísico/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Secas , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Oryza/genética , Oryza/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fenótipo , Fitocromo/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Estômatos de Plantas/genética , Estômatos de Plantas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estômatos de Plantas/fisiologia , Transpiração Vegetal , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas , Água/metabolismoRESUMO
Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) play major roles in regulating plant growth and development, but their roles in drought stress remain elusive. Here, we cloned and characterized a maize (Zea mays) PIF transcription factor, ZmPIF1. The expression level of ZmPIF1 was significantly induced by independent drought and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. The ZmPIF1 transgenic rice and Arabidopsis displayed water saving and drought resistance, which were associated with reduced a stomatal aperture and transpiration rate. Moreover, the ZmPIF1 transgenic rice were hypersensitive to exogenous ABA, while the endogenous ABA level was not significantly changed, suggesting that ZmPIF1 was a positive regulator of the ABA signalling pathway. Digital gene expression (DGE) results further indicated that ZmPIF1 participated in ABA signalling pathway and regulated the stomatal aperture in rice. In addition, grain yield and agronomic traits analysis over 4 years showed that ZmPIF1 was able to increase the grain yield through an increase in tiller and panicle numbers in transgenic rice. Overall, ZmPIF1 plays an important role in the ABA-mediated regulation of stomatal closure to control water loss. ZmPIF1 can enhance water saving and drought resistance and improve the crop yield in rice, illustrating the capacity of ZmPIF1 for crop improvement.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Grão Comestível/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Oryza/fisiologia , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Estômatos de Plantas/fisiologia , Zea mays/genética , Ácido Abscísico/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/fisiologia , Clonagem Molecular , Desidratação , Oryza/genética , Oryza/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Proteínas de Plantas/fisiologia , Transpiração Vegetal/genética , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas , Transdução de Sinais , Zea mays/fisiologiaRESUMO
A modification of the two-flux model of Kubelka-Munk was proposed for the description of light propagating through a fiber-air mixture medium, which simplified fibers' internal reflection as a part of the scattering on the total fiber path length. A series of systematical experiments demonstrated a higher consistency with the reference quantity distribution than the common Lambert law on the fibrogram used in the textile industry did. Its application in the fibrogram for measuring the cotton fiber's length was demonstrated to be good, extending its applicability to the wool fiber, the length of which is harder to measure than that of the cotton fiber.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Young children are highly vulnerable to elemental mercury toxicity, and elementary mercury exposure in young children in China unfortunately occurs regularly because of the wide use of fluorescent lamps, glass thermometers, and other mercury-contained items. This study aimed to summarize such recent cases in a referral clinic and to make recommendations for postexposure treatment and prevention of future exposure. METHODS: Patients were evaluated between January 2007 and December 2009 in environmental health facilities throughout China and were referred to our clinic. A total of 6 children younger than 4 years with significant elemental mercury exposure were included in this case series analysis. The total mercury content in blood and hair (fetal hair if necessary) and average 24-hour urine mercury concentrations were analyzed. Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid or surgery was prescribed for the patient if necessary. RESULTS: Young children were found to be exposed in 3 ways as follows: prenatal exposure through maternal occupational contact in compact fluorescent-lamp factories (2 cases), broken thermometers (3 cases), and other causes of accidental inhalation of mercury vapor during the embryonic and lactation periods (1 case). For 3 cases caused by broken thermometers, x-ray images helped to identify the position of mercury residues. Local excision was used to remove mercury from the floor of the mouth in 1 case. One child was prescribed oral meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, and a good response was received. CONCLUSIONS: Substitution of mercury-in-glass thermometers and vigilance to prevent women of childbearing age from occupational mercury exposure were suggested. Treatment selection should vary according to patient situations.
Assuntos
Exposição Materna , Intoxicação por Mercúrio/terapia , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/terapia , Succímero/uso terapêutico , Antídotos/uso terapêutico , Pré-Escolar , China , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Intoxicação por Mercúrio/sangue , Intoxicação por Mercúrio/prevenção & controle , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/sangue , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/prevenção & controle , Termômetros/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Phytochrome-interacting factor 3 (PIF3) activates light-responsive transcriptional network genes in coordination with the circadian clock and plant hormones to modulate plant growth and development. However, little is known of the roles PIF3 plays in the responses to abiotic stresses. In this study, the cloning and functional characterization of the ZmPIF3 gene encoding a maize PIF3 protein is reported. Subcellular localization revealed the presence of ZmPIF3 in the cell nucleus. Expression patterns revealed that ZmPIF3 is expressed strongly in leaves. This expression responds to polyethylene glycol, NaCl stress, and abscisic acid application, but not to cold stress. ZmPIF3 under the control of the ubiquitin promoter was introduced into rice. No difference in growth and development between ZmPIF3 transgenic and wild-type plants was observed under normal growth conditions. However, ZmPIF3 transgenic plants were more tolerant to dehydration and salt stresses. ZmPIF3 transgenic plants had increased relative water content, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as significantly enhanced cell membrane stability under stress conditions. The over-expression of ZmPIF3 increased the expression of stress-responsive genes, such as Rab16D, DREB2A, OSE2, PP2C, Rab21, BZ8 and P5CS, as detected by real-time PCR analysis. Taken together, these results improve our understanding of the role ZmPIF3 plays in abiotic stresses signaling pathways; our findings also indicate that ZmPIF3 regulates the plant response to drought and salt stresses.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Secas , Oryza/efeitos dos fármacos , Oryza/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/efeitos dos fármacos , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/metabolismo , Sais/farmacologia , Zea mays/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Oryza/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genética , Zea mays/genéticaRESUMO
Fish egg yolk is largely derived from vitellogenins, which are synthesized in the liver, taken up from the maternal circulation by growing oocytes via receptor-mediated endocytosis and enzymatically processed into yolk proteins that are stored in the ooplasm. Lipid droplets are another major component of fish egg yolk, and these are mainly composed of neutral lipids that may originate from maternal plasma lipoproteins. This review aims to briefly summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying yolk formation in fishes. A hypothetical model of oocyte growth is proposed based on recent advances in our knowledge of fish yolk formation.
Assuntos
Proteínas do Ovo/metabolismo , Gema de Ovo/metabolismo , Peixes/metabolismo , Gotículas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Ovário/metabolismo , Vitelogeninas/metabolismo , Animais , FemininoRESUMO
The gene, vitellogenin (vtg) was cloned and characterized in the dojo loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), an indigenous freshwater species in East Asia, in order to develop tools for detecting the effects of estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDCs). Full-length cDNAs encoding seven distinct vtg transcripts (vtg1-7) were obtained. The corresponding deduced amino acid sequences (Vtg1-7) were divided into two types; type I (Vtg1-6; 89-99% identical), which contained both lipovitellin (Lv) and phosvitin (Pv), and type II (Vtg7), which contained Lv alone. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the type I and type II Vtgs in the loach could be classified as VtgAo1 and VtgC types, respectively. Immuno-biochemical analyses using type-specific Vtg antisera revealed that VtgAo1 proteins appeared to be the major Vtg type in this species. Males were administered (aqueous exposure) either 17ß-estradiol (E2) or 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), the results from which were used to determine that hepatic vtgAo1 expression was estrogen-sensitive. The precise classification of the loach vtg/Vtg products, as well as their induction profiles following the estrogenic stimulation, provide a basis for their use as sensitive biomarkers when EEDC activities are evaluated in the freshwater environments in East Asia.
Assuntos
Clonagem Molecular , Cipriniformes/metabolismo , Estradiol/farmacologia , Etinilestradiol/farmacologia , Transcriptoma , Vitelogeninas/metabolismo , Animais , Cipriniformes/genética , DNA Complementar , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Filogenia , Vitelogeninas/genéticaRESUMO
Introduction: Thyroid function during pregnancy fluctuates with gestational weeks, seasons and other factors. However, it is currently unknown whether there is a fetal sex-specific thyroid function in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fetal sex differences of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in pregnant women. Methods: This single-center retrospective real-world study was performed by reviewing the medical records of pregnant women who received regular antenatal health care and delivered liveborn infants in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital (Pudong branch), from Aug. 18, 2013 to Jul. 18, 2020. Quantile regression was used to evaluate the relationship between various variables and TSH and FT4 concentrations. The quantile regression also evaluated the sex impact of different gestational weeks on the median of TSH and FT4. Results: A total of 69,243 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.36 years were included. 36197 (52.28%) deliveries were boys. In the three different trimesters, the median levels (interquartile range) of TSH were 1.18 (0.66, 1.82) mIU/L and 1.39 (0.85, 2.05) mIU/L, 1.70 (1.19, 2.40) mIU/L; and the median levels (interquartile range) of FT4 were 16.63 (15.16, 18.31) pmol/L, 14.09 (12.30, 16.20) pmol/L and 13.40 (11.52, 14.71) pmol/L, respectively. The maternal TSH upper limit of reference ranges was decreased more in mothers with female fetuses during gestational weeks 7 to 12, while their FT4 upper limit of the reference ranges was increased more than those with male fetuses. After model adjustment, the median TSH level was 0.11 mIU/L lower (P <0.001), and FT4 level was 0.14 pmol/L higher (P <0.001) for mothers with female fetuses than those with male fetuses during gestational weeks 9 to 12. Discussion: We identified sexual dimorphism in maternal thyroid function parameters, especially during 9-12 weeks of pregnancy. Based on previous research, we speculated that it may be related to the higher HCG levels of mothers who were pregnant with girls during this period. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine if fetal sex differences impact the maternal thyroid function across pregnancy.
Assuntos
Caracteres Sexuais , Testes de Função Tireóidea , Glândula Tireoide , Tireotropina , Tiroxina , Humanos , Feminino , Gravidez , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto , Masculino , Tireotropina/sangue , Tiroxina/sangue , Glândula Tireoide/fisiologia , Feto/fisiologia , Idade Gestacional , ChinaRESUMO
Hydrogels with excellent high-water uptake and flexibility have great potential for wound dressing. However, pure hydrogels without fiber skeleton faced poor water retention, weak fatigue resistance, and mechanical strength to hinder the development of the dressing as next-generation functional dressings. We prepared an ultrafast gelation (6 s) Fe3+/TA-CNC hydrogel (CTFG hydrogel) based on a self-catalytic system and bilayer self-assembled composites. The CTFG hydrogel has excellent flexibility (800% of strain), fatigue resistance (support 60% compression cycles), antibacterial, and self-adhesive properties (no residue or allergy after peeling off the skin). CTFG@S bilayer composites were formed after electrospun silk fibroin (SF) membranes were prepared and adhesive with CTFG hydrogels. The CTFG@S bilayer composites had significant UV-shielding (99.95%), tensile strain (210.9 KPa), and sensitive humidity-sensing properties. Moreover, the integrated structure improved the mechanical properties of electrospun SF membranes. This study would provide a promising strategy for rapidly preparing multifunctional hydrogels for wound dressing.
Assuntos
Celulose , Fibroínas , Polifenóis , Cimentos de Resina , Bandagens , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Hidrogéis , ÁguaRESUMO
Shanghai's extensive coastline and offshore marine areas feature diverse ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the current status, spatial distribution, and total capacity of marine carbon storage in Shanghai. Surveys were conducted on oyster reefs, phytoplankton, and fish populations from August to November 2022, with samples collected to quantify biomass and carbon content. The carbon storage of oyster reefs, phytoplankton, and fish was found to be 2.045 × 105 tC, 5113.19 kgC, and 56.6014 tC, respectively. The spatial distributions exhibited significant heterogeneity, influenced by substrate type, nutrient concentrations, and fishing activities. The total marine carbon storage capacity in Shanghai's offshore waters was estimated at 2.045 × 105 tC, highlighting a pathway for achieving regional carbon neutrality goals. This study enriches baseline data, elucidates carbon sequestration functions and spatial patterns, and provides scientific support for marine ecological protection and blue carbon resource utilization. Future research should investigate spatiotemporal variation mechanisms and potential regulation pathways.