Efflux transport proteins of Tetrahymena thermophila play important roles in resistance to perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure.

The biotoxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been a concern. However, the effects of PFOS on Tetrahymena thermophila, a unicellular model organism, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity and detoxification mechanism of PFOS in this protozoan. PFOS did not show prominent toxic effects on T. thermophila. Cell viability of T. thermophila can be concentration-dependently increased by PFOS. PFOS also increased the stability of cell membranes and the activity of lysosomes. However, PFOS inhibited efflux transporter activities. Most of the PFOS amount remained in the culture medium during the culture periods. Only a low amount of PFOS was absorbed by cells, where PFOS molecules were mainly combined with membrane proteins. The expressions of four membrane protein genes involved in transporting xenobiotics were analyzed by real time-PCR. The gene abcg25 was significantly up-regulated. The growth of abcg25 gene knockout protozoans under PFOS treatment was slightly inhibited. However, the amount of PFOS adsorbed by the knockout protozoans showed no significant difference from the Wild-type protozoans. We concluded that the ABCG25 protein might play a key role in preventing PFOS from entering the cell or being exported from the cells to protect T. thermophila against PFOS. However, ABCG25 was not the only membrane protein able to bind with PFOS.

A novel anoikis-related gene signature predicts prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and reveals immune infiltration.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis for advanced tumors. Anoikis play a key role in cancer metastasis, facilitating the detachment and survival of cancer cells from the primary tumor site. However, few studies have focused on the role of anoikis in HNSC, especially on the prognosis. Methods: Anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) integrated from Genecards and Harmonizome portals were used to identify HNSCC subtypes and to construct a prognostic model for HNSCC patients. Also, we explored the immune microenvironment and enrichment pathways between different subtypes. Finally, we provide clinical experts with a novel nomogram based on ANRGs, with DCA curves indicating the potential clinical benefit of the model for clinical strategies. Results: We identified 69 survival-related HNSCC anoikis-related DEGs, from which 7 genes were selected to construct prognostic models. The prognostic risk score was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Functional analysis showed that these high and low risk groups had different immune status and drug sensitivity. Next risk scores were combined with HNSCC clinicopathological features together to construct a nomogram, and DCA analysis showed that the model could benefit patients from clinical treatment strategies. Conclusion: The predictive seven-gene signature and nomogram established in this study can assist clinicians in selecting personalized treatment for patients with HNSCC.

[Effects of artificial tending on Pinus tabulaeformis forest growth and its structural characteristics].

The investigation on the growth status, community composition, and structural characteristics of Pinus tabulaeformis forest artificially tended for six years showed that there were significant differences in the average DBH, height, and crown size of the forest among the treatments DA (trimming without intermediate cutting), FA (trimming and intermediate cutting) and CK (without trending). Treatment FA had the highest values of average DBH (7.8 +/- 0.29 cm), height (5.5 +/- 0.09 m) and crown size (249 +/- 7.24 cm), while the CK had the lowest ones. The average biomass of new leaf (1-year-old), old leaf (2 or more-year-old), and branch per tree increased significantly (P<0.01) with enhancing tending treatments. The aboveground biomass of treatment FA was the biggest (44.0 t x hm(-2)), and that of CK was the smallest (14.9 t x hm(-2)). The leaf length and SLA at the early and terminal stages of development (May, June and September) had significant difference among the treatments, and the amount of community composition and the cover degree of undergrowth plants increased evidently under artificial tending treatments.