LINC00518: a key player in tumor progression and clinical outcomes.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), defined as RNA molecules exceeding 200 nucleotides in length, have been implicated in the regulation of various biological processes and the progression of tumors. Among them, LINC00518, a recently identified lncRNA encoded by a gene located on chromosome 6p24.3, consists of three exons and is predicted to positively regulate the expression of specific genes. LINC00518 has emerged as a key oncogenic lncRNA in multiple cancer types. It exerts its tumor-promoting effects by modulating the expression of several target genes, primarily through acting as a sponge for microRNAs (miRNAs). Additionally, LINC00518 influences critical signaling pathways, including the Wnt/ß-catenin, JAK/STAT, and integrin ß3/FAK pathways. Elevated levels of LINC00518 in tumor tissues are associated with increased tumor size, advanced clinical stage, metastasis, and poor survival prognosis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the genetic characteristics, expression patterns, biological functions, and underlying mechanisms of LINC00518 in human diseases.

Association of physical activity and sitting time with femoral bone health among older cancer survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Our primary goal was to investigate the independent and combined associations of physical activity (PA) and sitting time (ST) with femoral bone health among cancer survivors aged 60 or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1159 cancer survivors aged 60 years or older who underwent femur dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination from continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data sets. PA and ST were assessed by self-report, and bone health included bone mineral density (BMD) at all femoral sub-regions, osteopenia/osteoporosis of femoral neck, and total fracture. The independent and combined associations of PA and ST with femoral bone health were determined using multivariable linear or logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: More than 40% cancer survivors reported engaging in PA < 150 min/week with ST ≥ 6 h/d. PA solely showed no association with bone health at femur sites. Prolonged ST was associated with lower femur's BMD, higher prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis, and total fracture. Specifically, the negative association of prolonged ST and femur's BMD was shown in PA ≥ 150 min/week group, but not in PA < 150 min/week group. In combined analysis, prolonged ST with PA ≥ 150 min/week showed the strongest negative associations with femur's BMD. CONCLUSION: PA appears not to be directly associated with femoral bone health. Higher ST is associated with lower BMD and a higher incidence of total fractures, regardless of PA level, among cancer survivors aged 60 or older.

Alveolar hypoxia induces organ-specific inflammasome-related inflammation in male mouse lungs.

Inflammation through activation of caspase-1, seems to play a role in pulmonary hypertension induced by alveolar hypoxia. Whether alveolar hypoxia induces caspase-1-mediated inflammation and influx of leukocytes in other organs than the lungs, is not known. Our aim was to explore sites of caspase-1-related inflammation in alveolar hypoxia. Wild type (WT) mice were exposed to environmental hypoxia or room-air, and organs were analyzed. Right heart catheterization was performed after 14 days of alveolar hypoxia in WT mice and mice transplanted with WT or caspase-1-/- bone marrow. Hypoxia induced leukocyte accumulation and increased caspase-1 protein in the lungs, not in other organs. WT mice transplanted with WT or caspase-1-/- bone marrow showed no difference in pulmonary leukocyte accumulation or development of pulmonary hypertension after alveolar hypoxia. Caspase-1 and IL-18 were detected in bronchial epithelium in WT mice, and hypoxia induced IL-18 secretion from bronchial epithelial cells. IL-18 stimulation generated IL-6 mRNA in monocytes. Phosphorylated STAT3 was increased in hypoxic lungs, not in other organs. Alveolar hypoxia induces caspase-1 activation and leukocyte accumulation specific to the lungs, not in other organs. Caspase-1 activation and IL-18 secretion from bronchial epithelial cells might initiate hypoxia-induced inflammation, leading to pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic HIV Infection Increases Monocyte NLRP3 Inflammasome-Dependent IL-1α and IL-1ß Release.

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has converted HIV from a lethal disease to a chronic condition, yet co-morbidities persist. Incomplete immune recovery and chronic immune activation, especially in the gut mucosa, contribute to these complications. Inflammasomes, multi-protein complexes activated by innate immune receptors, appear to play a role in these inflammatory responses. In particular, preliminary data indicate the involvement of IFI16 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in chronic HIV infection. This study explores inflammasome function in monocytes from people with HIV (PWH); 22 ART-treated with suppressed viremia and 17 untreated PWH were compared to 33 HIV-negative donors. Monocytes were primed with LPS and inflammasomes activated with ATP in vitro. IFI16 and NLRP3 mRNA expression were examined in a subset of donors. IFI16 and NLRP3 expression in unstimulated monocytes correlated negatively with CD4 T cell counts in untreated PWH. For IFI16, there was also a positive correlation with viral load. Monocytes from untreated PWH exhibit increased release of IL-1α, IL-1ß, and TNF compared to treated PWH and HIV-negative donors. However, circulating monocytes in PWH are not pre-primed for inflammasome activation in vivo. The findings suggest a link between IFI16, NLRP3, and HIV progression, emphasizing their potential role in comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease. The study provides insights into inflammasome regulation in HIV pathogenesis and its implications for therapeutic interventions.

Self-healing and injectable chitosan/konjac glucomannan hydrogel with pH response for controlled protein release.

Dynamic hydrogels with the features of injection, self-healing, and remodeling at the target site have been developed as smart multifunctional biomaterials for drug delivery. However, most self-healing injectable hydrogels are difficult to control protein release after implantation, owing to the deficiency of pH responsiveness, which reduces the bioavailability of proteins. Herein, we propose a facile strategy to endow pH responsiveness into a dynamic hydrogel with both self-healing and injectable capabilities, by crosslinking biomacromolecular backbones via dual pH sensitive dynamic covalent bond. Particularly, oxidized konjac glucomannan (OKGM) can be crosslinked with poly (aspartic hydrazide) (PAHy) and N-carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) to form dynamic acylhydrazone bonds and imide bonds, respectively, endowing the hydrogel with pH responsiveness and dynamic behaviors. Specifically, PAHy facilitates the formation of acylhydrazone bonds, improving the mechanical properties and pH sensitivity while reducing the degradation behavior of the hydrogels under physiological conditions. Kinetics indicate that the release of bovine serum albumin follows Fick diffusion under different pH conditions. The pH responsive hydrogel with self-healing injectable capabilities has the potential to be used as a controllable and sustain release carrier for protein drugs.

A novel red fluorescent and dynamic nanocomposite hydrogel based on chitosan and alginate doped with inclusion complex of carbon dots.

Red fluorescent hydrogels possessing injectable and self-healing properties have widespread potential in biomedical field. It is still a challenge to achieve a biomacromolecules based dynamic hydrogels simultaneously combining with excellent red fluorescence, good mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Here we first explore hydrophilic inclusion complex of (R-CDs@α-CD) derived from hydrophobic red fluorescent carbon dots (R-CDs) and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), and then achieved a red fluorescent and dynamic polysaccharide R-CDs@α-CD/CEC-l-OSA hydrogel. The nanocomposite hydrogel can be fabricated through controlled doping of red fluorescent R-CDs@α-CD into dynamic polymer networks, taking reversibly crosslinked N-carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) as an example. The versatile red fluorescent hydrogel simultaneously combines the features of injection, biocompatibility, and augmented mechanical properties and self-healing behavior, especially in rapid self-recovery even after integration. The R-CDs@α-CD uniformly dispersed into dynamic hydrogel played the role of killing two birds with one stone, that is, endowing red emission of a hydrophilic fluorescent substance, and improving mechanical and self-healing properties as a dynamic nano-crosslinker, via forming hydrogen bonds as reversible crosslinkings. The novel red fluorescent and dynamic hydrogel based on polysaccharides is promising for using as biomaterials in biomedical field.

Polydopamine-modified konjac glucomannan scaffold with sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor to promote angiogenesis.

The fabrication of scaffolds capable of the sustained release of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to promote angiogenesis for a long time remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Here, we report a facile approach for effectively fabricating a bioactive scaffold that gradually releases VEGF to promote angiogenesis. The scaffold was fabricated by coating polydopamine (PDA) on a konjac glucomannan (KGM) scaffold, followed by the surface immobilization of VEGF with PDA. The resulting VEGF-PDA/KGM scaffold, with a porous and interconnected microstructure (392 µm pore size with 84.80 porosity), combined the features of long-term biodegradability (10 weeks with 51 % degradation rate), excellent biocompatibility, and sustained VEGF release for up to 21 days. The bioactive VEGF-PDA/KGM scaffold exhibited multiple angiogenic activities over time, as confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments. For example, the scaffold significantly promoted the attachment and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the formation of vascular tubes in vitro. Moreover, the in vivo results demonstrated the formation and maturation of blood vessels after subcutaneous implantation in rats for four weeks. This promising strategy is a feasible approach for producing bioactive materials that can induce angiogenesis in vivo. These findings provide a new avenue for designing and fabricating biocompatible and long-term biodegradable scaffolds for sustained VEGF release to facilitate angiogenesis.

Genetic and phenotypic profiling of single living circulating tumor cells from patients with microfluidics.

Accurate prediction of the efficacy of immunotherapy for cancer patients through the characterization of both genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in individual patient cells holds great promise in informing targeted treatments, and ultimately in improving care pathways and clinical outcomes. Here, we describe the nanoplatform for interrogating living cell host-gene and (micro-)environment (NICHE) relationships, that integrates micro- and nanofluidics to enable highly efficient capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples. The platform uses a unique nanopore-enhanced electrodelivery system that efficiently and rapidly integrates stable multichannel fluorescence probes into living CTCs for in situ quantification of target gene expression, while on-chip coculturing of CTCs with immune cells allows for the real-time correlative quantification of their phenotypic heterogeneities in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The NICHE microfluidic device provides a unique ability to perform both gene expression and phenotypic analysis on the same single cells in situ, allowing us to generate a predictive index for screening patients who could benefit from ICI. This index, which simultaneously integrates the heterogeneity of single cellular responses for both gene expression and phenotype, was validated by clinically tracing 80 non-small cell lung cancer patients, demonstrating significantly higher AUC (area under the curve) (0.906) than current clinical reference for immunotherapy prediction.

DNA methylation clocks for estimating biological age in Chinese cohorts.

Epigenetic clocks are accurate predictors of human chronological age based on the analysis of DNA methylation (DNAm) at specific CpG sites. However, a systematic comparison between DNA methylation data and other omics datasets has not yet been performed. Moreover, available DNAm age predictors are based on datasets with limited ethnic representation. To address these knowledge gaps, we generated and analyzed DNA methylation datasets from two independent Chinese cohorts, revealing age-related DNAm changes. Additionally, a DNA methylation aging clock (iCAS-DNAmAge) and a group of DNAm-based multi-modal clocks for Chinese individuals were developed, with most of them demonstrating strong predictive capabilities for chronological age. The clocks were further employed to predict factors influencing aging rates. The DNAm aging clock, derived from multi-modal aging features (compositeAge-DNAmAge), exhibited a close association with multi-omics changes, lifestyles, and disease status, underscoring its robust potential for precise biological age assessment. Our findings offer novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of age-related DNAm changes and extend the application of the DNAm clock for measuring biological age and aging pace, providing the basis for evaluating aging intervention strategies.

T cells with increased responsiveness cause obesity in mice without diet intervention.

Obesity is a complex multicausal disease that can cause morbidity and mortality, and there is need for improved knowledge on the underlying mechanisms. Using a mouse model of increased T cell responsiveness, we show that development of obesity can be driven by immune cells. This was confirmed with bone marrow transplantation and adoptive T cell transfer to several recipient mouse models. Single-cell RNA sequencing and CyTOF analysis showed that the mice display altered composition of circulating T cells and increased T cell activation in visceral adipose tissue, suggesting activated T cells as critical players in the increased fat mass. In this study, we provide evidence that obesity can be driven by immune cell activity and in particular by T cells, which could have broad implications for prevention and treatment of this condition.

Acoustic Imaging Method for Gas Leak Detection and Localization Using Virtual Ultrasonic Sensor Array.

An acoustic imaging method for detecting and locating gas leaks based on a virtual ultrasonic sensor array is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. A scanning sensor array of only two sensors is used to collect the acoustic signals generated by the leakage hole. The matrix of the leakage signal is processed by the cross-power spectrum method to achieve time consistency, afterward, the location of the leakage source can be calculated by the virtual beamforming method. The influence of the number of sensors and the distance between adjacent sensors on the effect of the proposed method are compared and discussed. To verify the effectiveness and operability of the detection and localization method, several experiments were carried out. Furthermore, a series of experiments were conducted to assess the accuracy and stability of this method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method based on a virtual sensor array can achieve highly accurate localization of gas leaks and performs well regarding stability.

Combined Amniotic Membrane and Self-Powered Electrical Stimulator Bioelectronic Dress Promotes Wound Healing.

Human amniotic membranes (hAMs) are widely used as wound management biomaterials, especially as grafts for corneal reconstruction due to the structure of the extracellular matrix and excellent biological properties. However, their fragile nature and rapid degradation rate hinder widespread clinical use. In this work, we engineered a novel self-powered electronic dress (E-dress), combining the beneficial properties of an amniotic membrane and a flexible electrical electrode to enhance wound healing. The E-dress displayed a sustained discharge capacity, leading to increased epidermal growth factor (EGF) release from amniotic mesenchymal interstitial stem cells. Live/dead staining, CCK-8, and scratch-wound-closure assays were performed in vitro. Compared with amniotic membrane treatment alone, the E-dress promoted cell proliferation and migration of mouse fibroblast cells and lower cytotoxicity. In a mouse full-skin defect model, the E-dress achieved significantly accelerated wound closure. Histological analysis revealed that E-dress treatment promoted epithelialization and neovascularization in mouse skin. The E-dress exhibited a desirable flexibility that aligned with tissue organization and displayed maximum bioactivity within a short period to overcome rapid degradation, implying great potential for clinical applications.

Long non-coding RNA LncTUG1 regulates favourable compression force-induced cementocytes mineralization via PU.1/TLR4/SphK1 signalling.

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a highly coordinated biomechanical response to orthodontic forces with active remodelling of alveolar bone but minor root resorption. Such antiresorptive properties of root relate to cementocyte mineralization, the mechanisms of which remain largely unknown. This study used the microarray analysis to explore long non-coding ribonucleic acids involved in stress-induced cementocyte mineralization. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments, including Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red S staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses of mineralization-associated factors, were conducted to verify long non-coding ribonucleic acids taurine-upregulated gene 1 (LncTUG1) regulation in stress-induced cementocyte mineralization, via targeting the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/SphK1 axis. The luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, and co-localization assays were performed to elucidate the interactions between LncTUG1, PU.1, and TLR4. Our findings indicated that LncTUG1 overexpression attenuated stress-induced cementocyte mineralization, while blocking the TLR4/SphK1 axis reversed the inhibitory effect of LncTUG1 on stress-induced cementocyte mineralization. The in vivo findings also confirmed the involvement of TLR4/SphK1 signalling in cementocyte mineralization during OTM. Mechanistically, LncTUG1 bound with PU.1 subsequently enhanced TLR4 promotor activity and thus transcriptionally elevated the expression of TLR4. In conclusion, our data revealed a critical role of LncTUG1 in regulating stress-induced cementocyte mineralization via PU.1/TLR4/SphK1 signalling, which might provide further insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies that could protect roots from resorption during OTM.

Nicotine destructs dental stem cell-based periodontal tissue regeneration.

Background/purpose: Nicotine is a widely known addictive and toxic substance in cigarette that exacerbates periodontitis. However, its deleterious effects on dental stem cells and subsequent implications in tissue regeneration remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of nicotine on the regenerative capacity of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) based on transcriptomics and proteomics, and determined possible targeted genes associated with smoking-related periodontitis. Materials and methods: hPDLSCs were treated with different concentrations of nicotine ranging from 10-3 to 10-8 M. Transcriptomics and proteomics were performed and confirmed employing Western blot, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. A ligature-induced periodontitis mouse model was established and administrated with nicotine (16.2 µg/10 µL) via gingival sulcus. The bone resorption was assessed by micro-computed tomography and histological staining. Key genes were identified using multi-omics analysis with verifications in hPDLSCs and human periodontal tissues. Results: Based on enrichments analysis, nicotine-treated hPDLSCs exhibited decreased proliferation and differentiation abilities. Local administration of nicotine in mouse model significantly aggravated bone resorption and undermined periodontal tissue regeneration by inhibiting the endogenous dental stem cells regenerative ability. HMGCS1, GPNMB, and CHRNA7 were hub-genes according to the network analysis and corelated with proliferation and differentiation capabilities, which were also verified in both cells and tissues. Conclusion: Our study investigated the destructive effects of nicotine on the regeneration of periodontal tissues from aspects of in vitro and in vivo with the supporting information from both transcriptome and proteome, providing novel targets into the molecular mechanisms of smoking-related periodontitis.

Discovery of plant chemical defence mediated by a two-component system involving ß-glucosidase in Panax species.

Plants usually produce defence metabolites in non-active forms to minimize the risk of harm to themselves and spatiotemporally activate these defence metabolites upon pathogen attack. This so-called two-component system plays a decisive role in the chemical defence of various plants. Here, we discovered that Panax notoginseng, a valuable medicinal plant, has evolved a two-component chemical defence system composed of a chloroplast-localized ß-glucosidase, denominated PnGH1, and its substrates 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides. The ß-glucosidase and its substrates are spatially separated in cells under physiological conditions, and ginsenoside hydrolysis is therefore activated only upon chloroplast disruption, which is caused by the induced exoenzymes of pathogenic fungi upon exposure to plant leaves. This activation of PnGH1-mediated hydrolysis results in the production of a series of less-polar ginsenosides by selective hydrolysis of an outer glucose at the C-3 site, with a broader spectrum and more potent antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo than the precursor molecules. Furthermore, such ß-glucosidase-mediated hydrolysis upon fungal infection was also found in the congeneric species P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng. Our findings reveal a two-component chemical defence system in Panax species and offer insights for developing botanical pesticides for disease management in Panax species.

An Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) Method for Qualifying DAPB in Rat Plasma and Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies.

DAPB, a new molecule including danshensu, borneol, and a mother nucleus of ACEI (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), is being developed as an antihypertensive candidate compound. A rapid, accurate, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established and validated for the determination of DAPB in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent SB-C18 column after protein precipitation by acetonitrile with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and deionized water with 0.02% formic acid and 5 mM NH4F (v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Quantification was performed using electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was linear over the range of 2-1000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision was within 12%, with accuracies less than 7%. Stability was within the acceptable limits under various storage and processing conditions. No apparent matrix effect was detected. The validated method was applied to the pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study of DAPB after oral administration of 30 mg/kg and intravenous administration of 6 mg/kg in rats.

CRL2APPBP2-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts human mesenchymal stem cell senescence.

Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs), the largest family of multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotic cells, represent core cellular machinery for executing protein degradation and maintaining proteostasis. Here, we asked what roles Cullin proteins play in human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) homeostasis and senescence. To this end, we conducted a comparative aging phenotype analysis by individually knocking down Cullin members in three senescence models: replicative senescent hMSCs, Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome hMSCs, and Werner syndrome hMSCs. Among all family members, we found that CUL2 deficiency rendered hMSCs the most susceptible to senescence. To investigate CUL2-specific underlying mechanisms, we then applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology to generate CUL2-deficient human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). When we differentiated these into hMSCs, we found that CUL2 deletion markedly accelerates hMSC senescence. Importantly, we identified that CUL2 targets and promotes ubiquitin proteasome-mediated degradation of TSPYL2 (a known negative regulator of proliferation) through the substrate receptor protein APPBP2, which in turn down-regulates one of the canonical aging marker-P21waf1/cip1, and thereby delays senescence. Our work provides important insights into how CRL2APPBP2-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts hMSC senescence, providing a molecular basis for directing intervention strategies against aging and aging-related diseases.

HALL: a comprehensive database for human aging and longevity studies.

Diverse individuals age at different rates and display variable susceptibilities to tissue aging, functional decline and aging-related diseases. Centenarians, exemplifying extreme longevity, serve as models for healthy aging. The field of human aging and longevity research is rapidly advancing, garnering significant attention and accumulating substantial data in recent years. Omics technologies, encompassing phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics, have provided multidimensional insights and revolutionized cohort-based investigations into human aging and longevity. Accumulated data, covering diverse cells, tissues and cohorts across the lifespan necessitates the establishment of an open and integrated database. Addressing this, we established the Human Aging and Longevity Landscape (HALL), a comprehensive multi-omics repository encompassing a diverse spectrum of human cohorts, spanning from young adults to centenarians. The core objective of HALL is to foster healthy aging by offering an extensive repository of information on biomarkers that gauge the trajectory of human aging. Moreover, the database facilitates the development of diagnostic tools for aging-related conditions and empowers targeted interventions to enhance longevity. HALL is publicly available at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/hall/index.

SIRT2 counteracts primate cardiac aging via deacetylation of STAT3 that silences CDKN2B.

Aging is a major risk factor contributing to pathophysiological changes in the heart, yet its intrinsic mechanisms have been largely unexplored in primates. In this study, we investigated the hypertrophic and senescence phenotypes in the hearts of aged cynomolgus monkeys as well as the transcriptomic and proteomic landscapes of young and aged primate hearts. SIRT2 was identified as a key protein decreased in aged monkey hearts, and engineered SIRT2 deficiency in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes recapitulated key senescence features of primate heart aging. Further investigations revealed that loss of SIRT2 in human cardiomyocytes led to the hyperacetylation of STAT3, which transcriptionally activated CDKN2B and, in turn, triggered cardiomyocyte degeneration. Intra-myocardial injection of lentiviruses expressing SIRT2 ameliorated age-related cardiac dysfunction in mice. Taken together, our study provides valuable resources for decoding primate cardiac aging and identifies the SIRT2-STAT3-CDKN2B regulatory axis as a potential therapeutic target against human cardiac aging and aging-related cardiovascular diseases.

Development of Simple Sequence Repeat Markers and Genetic Diversity Evaluation of Mycocentrospora acerina in Yunnan Province, China.

Round spot is a destructive disease that limits of Panax notoginseng production in China. However, the genetic diversity of its etiological agent Mycocentrospora acerina has yet to be studied. In this work, firstly, we developed 32 M. acerina polymorphic microsatellite markers using MISA and CERVUS 3.0 and selected 14 for further analysis. Then, we studied the genetic diversity of 187 isolates collected from P. notoginseng round spot using simple sequence repeat markers and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genetic diversity ranged from 0.813 to 0.946, with 264 alleles detected at the 14 microsatellite loci. The expected average heterozygosity was 0.897.