QTL-seq and transcriptomic integrative analyses reveal two positively regulated genes that control the low-temperature germination ability of MTP-maize introgression lines.

KEY MESSAGE: Two candidate genes (ZmbZIP113 and ZmTSAH1) controlling low-temperature germination ability were identified by QTL-seq and integrative transcriptomic analyses. The functional verification results showed that two candidate genes positively regulated the low-temperature germination ability of IB030. Low-temperature conditions cause slow maize (Zea mays L.) seed metabolism, resulting in slow seedling emergence and irregular seedling emergence, which can cause serious yield loss. Thus, improving a maize cultivar's low-temperature germination ability (LTGA) is vital for increasing yield production. Wild relatives of maize, such as Z. perennis and Tripsacum dactyloides, are strongly tolerant of cold stress and can thus be used to improve the LTGA of maize. In a previous study, the genetic bridge MTP was constructed (from maize, T. dactyloides, and Z. perennis) and used to obtain a highly LTGA maize introgression line (IB030) by backcross breeding. In this study, IB030 (Strong-LTGA) and Mo17 (Weak-LTGA) were selected as parents to construct an F2 offspring. Additionally, two major QTLs (qCS1-1 and qCS10-1) were mapped. Then, RNA-seq was performed using seeds of IB030 and the recurrent parent B73 treated at 10 °C for 27 days and 25 °C for 7 days, respectively, and two candidate genes (ZmbZIP113 and ZmTSAH1) controlling LTGA were located using QTL-seq and integrative transcriptomic analyses. The functional verification results showed that the two candidate genes positively regulated LTGA of IB030. Notably, homologous cloning showed that the source of variation in both candidate genes was the stable inheritance of introgressed alleles from Z. perennis. This study was thus able to analyze the LTGA mechanism of IB030 and identify resistance genes for genetic improvement in maize, and it proved that using MTP genetic bridge confers desirable traits or phenotypes of Z. perennis and tripsacum essential to maize breeding systems.

Serum containing Gengnianchun formula suppresses amyloid ß­induced inflammatory cytokines in BV­2 microglial cells by inhibiting the NF­κB and JNK signaling pathways.

As the resident macrophages of the brain's innate immune system, microglial cells are key modulators in the neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, the activation and accumulation of microglial cells around amyloid plaques is considered to result in chronic neuroinflammation. Although the pathologic mechanism remains to be fully elucidated, inflammation has been shown to be critical in the pathogenesis of AD. The Gengnianchun (GNC) formula has long been used to treat perimenopausal syndrome clinically, and is particularly effective in improving learning ability and memory. Our previous study demonstrated that GNC formula had an anti­inflammatory effect and offered neuroprotection in animal experiments. In the present study, the anti­inflammatory properties of GNC and its underlying mechanism of action were examined in BV­2 microglial cells. Amyloid­ß peptide (Aß)­stimulated microglial cells were examined for the production of proinflammatory cytokines and the underlying signaling pathways. Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression levels of IL­1ß and TNF­α were significantly increased following treatment with Aß (P<0.01), but medicated rat serum containing GNC formula (MRS) could significantly attenuated the Aß­induced secretion of these pro­inflammatory cytokines. It was identified by CCK­8 assay that the viability of the BV­2 cells was not reduced following treatment with various concentrations of MRS. The phosphorylation of factor­κB (NF­κB) and c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK) was markedly increased following treatment with Aß, compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). However, treatment with MRS resulted in a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of NF­κB (P<0.05). These results suggested that MRS suppressed the Aß­induced inflammatory response of microglial cells by inhibiting the NF­κB and JNK signaling pathways. These novel findings provide insights into the development of GNC formula as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

TMPYP4 exerted antitumor effects in human cervical cancer cells through activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP4) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms by which TMPyP4 exerted its actions. RESULTS: After human cervical cancer cells were treated with different doses of TMPyP4, cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, the apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), capase-3, MAPKAPK2 (MK-2) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) was measured by Western blot analysis. The analysis revealed that TMPyP4 potently suppressed cell viability and induced the apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the up-regulation of p-p38 MAPK expression levels was detected in TMPyP4-treated human cervical cancer cells. However, followed by the block of p38 MAPK signaling pathway using the inhibitor SB203580, the effects of TMPyP4 on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells were significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: It was indicated that TMPyP4-inhibited proliferation and -induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells was accompanied by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Taken together, our study demonstrates that TMPyP4 may represent a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.

Elevated expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 in dorsal root ganglia of rats with endometriosis.

Pain is the most pronounced complaint of women with endometriosis, however the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. In the present study, the authors evaluate the effect of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) on endometriosis-associated pain. A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n=9) and a Model group (n=27), accepted auto­transplanted pieces of fat or uterus to the pelvic cavity. At 4 weeks, the Model group was randomly subdivided into the following groups: ENDO group (no treatment, n=9), BCTC group (Model + BCTC, an antagonist of TRPV1, n=9), Vehicle group (Model + cyclodextrin, the vehicle of BCTC, n=9). Tail­flick test was performed prior to surgery, 1 h prior to and following treatment of BCTC or cyclodextrin. The expression of TRPV1, substance P (SP), calcitonin gene­related peptide (CGRP) in L1­L6 DRG was measured via immunohistochemistry, western blotting and RT­qPCR. The results indicated that the Model group exhibited a significant decrease in tail flick latency compared to pre­surgical baseline, and the expression of TRPV1, SP, CGRP protein and mRNA in L1­L6 DRG significantly increased compared to the sham group. BCTC significantly improved tail flick latency, and downregulated the expression of TRPV1, SP and CGRP protein and mRNA levels in L1­L6 DRG compared to ENDO group. However, there were no significant differences of those in Vehicle group compared with the ENDO group. Taken together, the current study provides evidence that TRPV1 expressed in DRG may serve an important role in endometriosis-associated pain.

TMPYP4 exerted antitumor effects in human cervical cancer cells through activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP4) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms by which TMPyP4 exerted its actions. RESULTS: After human cervical cancer cells were treated with different doses of TMPyP4, cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, the apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), capase-3, MAPKAPK2 (MK-2) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) was measured by Western blot analysis. The analysis revealed that TMPyP4 potently suppressed cell viability and induced the apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the up-regulation of p-p38 MAPK expression levels was detected in TMPyP4-treated human cervical cancer cells. However, followed by the block of p38 MAPK signaling pathway using the inhibitor SB203580, the effects of TMPyP4 on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells were significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: It was indicated that TMPyP4-inhibited proliferation and -induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells was accompanied by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Taken together, our study demonstrates that TMPyP4 may represent a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.

Dysregulated cell mechanical properties of endometrial stromal cells from endometriosis patients.

Endometriosis, diagnosed with ectopically implanted endometrial stromal cells (ESC) and epithelial cells to a location outside the uterine cavity, seriously threaten the quality of life and reproductive ability of women, yet the mechanisms and the pathophysiology of the disease remain unclear. Specially, the functional changes of ESC during endometriosis progression need in-depth investigation. In this study, we characterized mechanical properties of normal ESC (NESC) from healthy women and eutopic ESC (EuESC) and ectopic ESC (EcESC) from endometriosis patients. We found the collagen lattice contractile ability of EuESC was significantly stronger than that of NESC, and the cell mobility of EuESC and EcESC was significantly greater than that of NESC. Furthermore, the expression of F-actin and vinculin in NESC, EuESC and EcESC cells progressively increased, and the Rho GTPase activity, of which RhoA exhibited the highest activity, in the three cells gradually increased. Collectively, these results suggest that the mechanical characteristics of NESC, EuESC and EcESC cells exhibited progressive abnormalities. Therefore, the biomechanics of endometrial stromal cells may be a potent target for intervention in patients with endometriosis.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C and anti-angiogenesis therapy in endometriosis.

Angiogenesis is an important pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is one of the most important factor in the regulation of both normal and abnormal angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic treatment of endometriosis is still in the exploratory stage. In this study, we investigate the relationship between VEGF-C and endometriosis, the therapeutic effects of Endostar in the rat endometriosis model. We then demonstrated that Immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-C was higher in endometriotic tissues than in control normal ovary tissues (P < 0.01) and higher in the endomertriosis grade III-IV than in endomertriosis grade I-II (P=0.013). In rat endometriosis model, we observed a significant reduction in the mean volume and weight of the endometriotic implants per rat in the treatment group as compared with the control group. By immunohistochemical evaluation, there was a significant reduction in VEGF-C expression after treatment in all areas examined. VEGF-C may be involved in the pathogenesis of endomertriosis by regulating the angiogenesis. Endostar has therapeutic effects of endometriosis lesions in the rat endometriosis model.

A study in vitro on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into endometrial epithelial cells in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differentiation conditions of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into endometrial epithelial cells and to confirm the effect of 17ß-estradiol in this process. STUDY DESIGN: BMSCs were cultured alone or co-cultured with endometrial stromal cells (EStCs) in control/differentiation medium (17ß-estradiol, growth factors) and were co-cultured with EStCs in different concentrations of 17ß-estradiol. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to identify the isolated cells. Real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were used to test the expression of epithelial cell markers. RESULTS: The epithelial markers cytokeratin-7, cytokeratin-18, cytokeratin-19, and epithelial membrane antigen were elevated in real-time RT-PCR (P<0.05), and cytokeratin was strongly positive in immunofluorescence analysis in the differentiated BMSCs. Cytokeratin-7 and cytokeratin-19 expression levels were highest in the 1 × 10⁻8 mol/L 17ß-estradiol group, as shown in real-time RT-PCR (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: BMSCs could be differentiated in the direction of endometrial epithelial cells in appropriate conditions in vitro: 17ß-estradiol may play a key role in stimulating BMSCs' epithelial differentiation in the process of endometriosis. CONDENSATION: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate in the direction of endometrial epithelial cells in a certain microenvironment and appropriate concentration of 17ß-E2 can facilitate this differentiation.

Secretion of oestrogen from murine-induced pluripotent stem cells co-cultured with ovarian granulosa cells in vitro.

POF (premature ovarian failure) is a distressing condition that is a common cause of infertility. No effective treatment is available to overcome the loss of fertility. A method to derive oestrogen from miPSCs (mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells) was explored as a potential treatment for POF. In this study, C57BL/6 female mice were injected with PMSG (pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin) to obtain ovarian GCs (granulosa cells) and then co-cultured with miPSCs. The morphological changes in the miPSCs co-cultured with GCs were observed by light microscopy. The expression of FSHR (follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) was detected by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Radioimmunoassay was used to analyse the level of E2 (oestradiol) in culture supernatants. The results showed that the proportion of GCs expressing FSHR in GCs was over 90%. The E2 concentration of the culture supernatant of the GC group was 62.4 pg/ml on day 1 and decreased in a time-dependent manner. The opposite situation was observed in the miPSCs-GC co-cultured group with an E2 concentration of 87.9 pg/ml on day 1 that increased in a time-dependent manner to reach a concentration of 328.4 pg/ml on day 7. The data indicate that GC-like cells were effectively induced from miPSCs through indirect cell-to-cell contact. Our method provides a novel in vitro system to study miPSC differentiation, particularly the interactions between miPSCs and GCs. The ultimate goal of this approach would be to provide a treatment for POF in the future.

[Lung metastasis of human choriocarcinoma in mice: establishment of experimental metastatic model and its biological characteristics].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a satisfactory lung metastasis model of human choriocarcinoma using severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and explore the appropriate cell concentration for the model. METHODS: Forty SCID mice aged between 5 - 6 weeks were randomly divided into four groups. 1 × 10(7) cells/ml × 0.1 ml, 5 × 10(6) cells/ml × 0.2 ml and 1 × 10(6) cells/ml × 0.1 ml of human choriocarcinoma cells JEG-3 were respectively injected in SCID mice of experimental groups by lateral tail vein, the remain group was assigned to the control group. The status and weight of mice were observed every three days. When these mice were being dying, the size and the number of the lesions of lung metastasis in every mouse were inspected with Micro CT. After Micro CT inspection, the SCID mice were executed dissected to note whether there were tumors on all organ surfaces with naked eyes, then made pathological sections from the metastatic foci of fresh lung tissues, and cultured primarily cells and purified cells and passaged cells isolated from the same metastastic foci. The pathological sections were observed under the microscope. The special antigen human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (ß-hCG) of the choriocarcinoma cells was immunohistochemically detected in the pathological sections and the cells out of cultured primarily cells. The chromosomes of the cells out of cultured primarily cells were analysed. RESULTS: Of the group inoculated 1 × 10(7) cells/ml × 0.1 ml, all mice died when inoculating. In the group of 5 × 10(6) cells/ml × 0.2 ml, when inoculating, 3 mice died; the remain 7 mice were being dying on (18.0 ± 2.0) days after injection. 5 of them, there were 1 - 3 lesions of lung metastasis after Micro CT inspection in each mice, and the diameter of the tumors lesions reached 1.5 - 3.5 mm, which was choriocarcinoma confirmed by pathological sections. The special antigen ß-hCG was detected by immunohistochemical method in the pathological sections of pulmonary tissue with tumor and in the cells, which were purified and passaged from being cultured primarily cells isolated from metastastic foci of fresh lung tissues from the SCID mice. The chromosome numbers of these cells out of cultured primarily cells were variety from 19 to 128, and modal numbers were variety from 70 to 79. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully established the lung metastatic model of human choriocarcinoma in SCID mice by injecting JEG-3 cells into lateral tail vein, of which 5 × 10(6) cells/ml × 0.2 ml is the suitable concentration and volume for the model.

[Long-term and stable expression of transgene mediated by piggyBac transposon in gynecological malignant tumor cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of exogenous gene transferred by piggyBac (PB) transposon in various gynecological malignant cell lines and reveal its potential application of gene therapy in gynecological cancer. METHODS: Amplified herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene coding region by PCR and integrated it into PB expression vector, PB[Act-RFP]DS, for reconstructing PB[Act-RFP, HSV-tk]DS (pPB/TK). By using different transfection reagents: FuGENE HD, jetPEI, lipofectamine 2000, pPB/TK together with helper plasmid Act-PBase were cotransfected into four mostly common gynecological malignant tumor cell lines HeLa, JEG-3, SKOV3 and HEC-1B. The mRFP1 report gene expressions was observed and detected by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry to analyze transfection efficiency. The expressions of HSV-tk and mRFP1 gene were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The cytotoxic effect of various concentration of pro-drug ganciclovir (GCV) for transfected cells was detected by methyl thiazole tetrazolium assay. The transfected cells were positive sorted by flow cytometry and limiting diluted to obtain the stable transfected cell line. The insertion sites of foreign gene transferred by PB transposon in genome were analyzed by inverse PCR. RESULTS: (1) Double digests analysis and sequences test demonstrated that pPB/TK vector was reconstructed successfully. (2) Using three different transfective reagents, PB transposon transferred HSV-tk gene and mRFP1 gene into HeLa, HEC-1B, SKOV3 and JEG-3 cell efficiently, and the transfection efficiency of pPB/TK for the same cell was different by using different transfective reagents; in Hela cell, the transfection efficiency of FuGENE HD [(78.7+/-9.2)%] was higher than that of lipofectamine 2000 [(54.1+/-11.4)%] and jetPEI [(46.5+/-7.4)%, all P<0.05]; using the same transfective reagent, the transfection efficiency of pPB/TK was also different on various cell lines, using FuGENE HD, the transfection efficiency of pPB/TK on HeLa, JEG-3 and SKOV3 cell was (78.7+/-9.2)%, (74.4+/-8.9)% and (83.2+/-9.7)% respectively, which all were higher than that on HEC-1B [(39.5+/-8.7)%, P<0.05]. (3) RT-PCR showed that there were the mRNA expression of HSV-tk and mRFP1 in all cell lines. (4) 50% inhibitory concentration of GCV for transfected cells, HeLa, JEG-3, SKOV3 and HEC-1B, was 1.29, 3.35, 0.09 and 13.28 microg/ml respectively. Inhibitory effect of GCV (10 microg/ml) on SKOV3 transfected with pPB/TK was (86+/-9)%, which was superior to that transfected with pORF-HSVtk alone [(52+/-12)%, P<0.05]. (5) The insertion sites of PB transposon in the target cells genome were located at TTAA sites. mRFP1 expression still could be detected in three months after transfected. CONCLUSIONS: PB transposon could transfer exogenous gene into various gynecological malignant cells, which could integrated into genome and obtain a long-term and stable expression. It is expected that PB transposon may supply a more efficient and safer transgene technology platform for gene therapy in gynecological cancer.

Follicle-stimulating hormone peptide can facilitate paclitaxel nanoparticles to target ovarian carcinoma in vivo.

Chemotherapy is an important treatment for ovarian cancer. However, conventional chemotherapy has inevitable drawbacks due to side effects from nonspecific biodistribution of the chemotherapeutic drugs. To solve such problem, targeted delivery approaches were developed. The targeted delivery approaches combine drug carriers with the targeting system and can preferentially bring drugs to the targeted sites. Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is an ovarian cancer-specific receptor. By using a peptide derived from FSH (amino acids 33-53 of the FSH beta chain, named as FSH33), we developed a conjugated nanoparticle, FSH33-NP, to target FSHR in ovarian cancer. FSH33-NP was tested for recognition specificity and uptake efficiency on FSHR-expressing cells. Then, the antitumor efficiency of paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded FSH33-NP (FSH33-NP-PTX) was determined. FSH33-NP-PTX displayed stronger antiproliferation and antitumor effects compared with free PTX or naked PTX-loaded nanoparticles (NP-PTX) both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, this novel FSH33-NP delivery system showed very high selectivity and efficacy for FSHR-expressing tumor tissues. Therefore, it has good potential to become a new therapeutic approach for patients with ovarian cancer.