Adenosine A2A receptor neurons in the olfactory bulb mediate odor-guided behaviors in mice.

Depression, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, and altered olfaction are often present in Parkinson's disease. Our previous studies demonstrated the role of the olfactory bulb (OB) in causing REM sleep disturbances in depression. Furthermore, adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) which are richly expressed in the OB, play an important role in the regulation of REM sleep. Caffeine, an adenosine A1 receptors and A2AR antagonist, and other A2AR antagonists were reported to improve olfactory function and restore age-related olfactory deficits. Therefore, we hypothesized that the A2AR neurons in the OB may regulate olfaction or odor-guided behaviors in mice. In the present study, we employed chemogenetics to specifically activate or inhibit neuronal activity. Then, buried food test and olfactory habituation/dishabituation test were performed to measure the changes in the mice's olfactory ability. We demonstrated that activation of OB neurons or OB A2AR neurons shortened the latency of buried food test and enhanced olfactory habituation to the same odors and dishabituation to different odors; inhibition of these neurons showed the opposite effects. Photostimulation of ChR2-expressing OB A2AR neuron terminals evoked inward current in the olfactory tubercle (OT) and the piriform cortex (Pir), which was blocked by glutamate receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and 6-cyano-7nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione. Collectively, these results suggest that the OB mediates olfaction via A2AR neurons in mice. Moreover, the excitatory glutamatergic release from OB neurons to the OT and the Pir were found responsible for the olfaction-mediated effects of OB A2AR neurons.

NVD-BM-mediated genetic biosensor triggers accumulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol and inhibits melanoma via Akt1/NF-ĸB signaling.

Aberrant activation of the cholesterol biosynthesis supports tumor cell growth. In recent years, significant progress has been made by targeting rate-limiting enzymes in cholesterol biosynthesis pathways to prevent carcinogenesis. However, precise mechanisms behind cholesterol degradation in cancer cells have not been comprehensively investigated. Here, we report that codon optimization of the orthologous cholesterol 7-desaturase, NVD-BM from Bombyx mori, significantly slowed melanoma cell proliferation and migration, and inhibited cancer cell engraftment in nude mice, by converting cholesterol to toxic 7-dehydrocholesterol. Based on these observations, we established a synthetic genetic circuit to induce melanoma cell regression by sensing tumor specific signals in melanoma cells. The dual-input signals, RELA proto-oncogene (RELA) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), activated NVD-BM expression and repressed melanoma cell proliferation and migration. Mechanically, we observed that NVD-BM decreased Akt1-ser473 phosphorylation and inhibited cytoplasmic RELA translocation. Taken together, NVD-BM was identified as a tumor suppressor in malignant melanoma, and we established a dual-input biosensor to promote cancer cell regression, via Akt1/NF-κB signaling. Our results demonstrate the potential therapeutic effects of cholesterol 7-desaturase in melanoma metabolism, and provides insights for genetic circuits targeting 7-dehydrocholesterol accumulation in tumors.

Impacts of dimethyl phthalate on the bacterial community and functions in black soils.

Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), a known endocrine disruptor and one of the phthalate esters (PAEs), is a ubiquitous pollutant. Its impacts on living organisms have aroused great concern. In this study, the impacts of DMP contamination on bacterial communities and functions were tested by using microcosm model in black soils. The results showed that the operational taxonomic unit (OTUs) richness and bacterial diversity were reduced by DMP contamination. The relative percentages of some genera associated with nitrogen metabolism were increased by DMP contamination, while the relative percentages of some other genera that were extremely beneficial to soil health were decreased by DMP contamination. Further, the relative percentages of some genera that possessed the capability to degrade DMP were increased by the DMP treatment at low concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg), but were decreased by the high concentration DMP treatment (40 mg/kg). Clearly, DMP contamination changed the bacterial community structure and disturbed the metabolic activity and functional diversity of the microbes in black soils. Our results suggest that DMP pollution can alter the metabolism and biodiversity of black soil microorganisms, thereby directly impact fertility and ecosystem functions.

Biofeedback-guided pelvic floor exercise therapy for obstructive defecation: an effective alternative.

AIM: To compare biofeedback-guided pelvic floor exercise therapy (BFT) with the use of oral polyethylene glycol (PEG) for the treatment of obstructive defecation. METHODS: A total of 88 subjects were assigned to treatment with either BFT (n = 44) or oral PEG (n = 44). Constipation symptoms (including difficult evacuation, hard stool, digitation necessity, incomplete emptying sensation, laxative dependence, perianal pain at defecation, and constipation satisfaction), Wexner Scores, and quality of life scores were assessed after 1, 3, and 6 mo. RESULTS: At the 6 mo follow-up, the symptoms of the BFT group patients showed significantly greater improvements compared with the PEG group regarding difficult evacuation, hard stools, digitation necessity, laxative dependence, perianal pain at defecation, constipation satisfaction, Wexner Constipation Score, and quality of life score (P < 0.05). The quality of life score of the BFT group at the final follow-up time (6 mo) was 80 ± 2.2. After a complete course of training, improvements in the clinical symptoms of the BFT group were markedly improved (P < 0.05), and the Wexner Constipation Scores were greatly decreased compared with the oral PEG group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that manometric biofeedback-guided pelvic floor exercise training is superior to oral polyethylene glycol therapy for obstructive defecation.

[AntiEGFRnano inhibites proliferation and migration of estrogen-dependent Ishikawa cells of human endometrial cancer cell line].

Nanobody is a kind of antibody from camel, which misses light chain. Nanobody has the same antigen binding specificity and affinity as mAb. Moreover, because of its small molecular weight, high stability and easy preparation, nanobody has great value of biomedical applications. In this study, we successfully prepared highly pure antiEGFR nanobody in E.coli using genetic engineering techniques. Cell proliferation assay (CCK-8 assay) and migration experiments (cell scratch test and Transwell assay) indicated that the recombinant antiEGFRnano can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells. These results provide a new way of thinking and methods for EGFR-targeted therapy of endometrial cancer.

Molecular structure and characterization of the cytokine TWEAK and its receptor Fn14 in bovine.

Full-length cDNA encoding TWEAK and Fn14 from bovine was isolated. We used bioinformatics to analyze the gene structure, function, evolutionary relationships, and predicted three-dimensional structure of proteins and binding sites. Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) analysis revealed that both TWEAK and Fn14 are constitutively expressed in various tissues in bovine. Bovine TWEAK and Fn14 interaction analysis by yeast two-hybrid. Our results suggest that the TWEAK-Fn14 pathway is evolutionarily highly conserved. It will be helpful for investigation on the biological role of the TWEAK/Fn14 system in this important animal model. Furthermore, it provides insight into the molecular evolution of the emerging TWEAK and Fn14 families.

Efficient Expression of Bioactive Human Leptin in Escherichia coli in Soluble Fusion Form.

Leptin, a 16 kDa nonglycosylated hormone, is produced by mature adipocytes and functions primarily in the hypothalamus to reduce food intake and body weight. To explore a new approach for high-level expression of human Leptin in Escherichia coli, the human Leptin gene, synthesized according to the published sequence, was cloned into the vector pET32a to construct a fusion expression plasmid: Trx-Leptin/pET32a. Our data showed that more than 40% of the fusion protein Trx-Leptin was expressed in soluble form. After purified by Ni-IDA affinity chromatography, cleaved by enterokinase and applied Ni-IDA affinity chromatography again, purified Leptin with homogeneity over 96% was achieved. The bio-functional experiments of purified Leptin showed a significant reduction in food intake and body weight of female mice treated with Leptin by comparing with control mice, and it indicated that the purified Leptin has full biological activity. In addition, our expression system was a very low-cost and efficient prokaryotic expression system. So taken together, our results demonstrated that our expression system of bio-active Leptin provided a new method for producing Leptin in big scale and would be widely applied in commercial Leptin producing industries.