Comparison of gut microbial diversity in Beijing oil and Arbor Acres chickens

The Beijing oil (BJO) chicken is an autochthona Chinese breed which shows outstanding meat quality characteristics compared with fast-growing imported chickens such as Arbor Acres (AA) chickens. Gut microbial diversity has been shown to influence host factors such as energy and nutrient metabolism, immune response and fertility. Consequently, it is hoped that analyses into host microbial populations will ultimately help to improve the quality of associated meat products. Two distinct chicken breeds, Arbor Acres (AA) and Beijing oil (BJO), were selected to analyze the composition of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V5 hypervariable regions using high-throughput sequencing technology. Upon elucidation of gut-colonizing bacteria, the Firmicutes were observed to encompass the dominant phylum. The abundance of Firmicutes in the BJO chickens (84.9%) was lower than in the AA chickens (89.9%). Conversely, the prevalence of Proteobacteria was 4.8% in BJO chickens, with a significantly lower abundance observed in AA chickens (1.3%). In the cecum, the Firmicutes were once more the dominant phylum in BJO chickens (60.2%) and AA chickens (63.7%). The abundance of bacteroidetes was 37.7% in BJO chickens and 34.9% in AA chickens, respectively. These discoveries provide a perception into the composition of the gut microbiotain both breeds. The study also provides a foundation for future research relating to gut bacterial factors that may influence the development and progression of gastrointestinal disease in chickens and other animals.

Comparison of gut microbial diversity in Beijing oil and Arbor Acres chickens

The Beijing oil (BJO) chicken is an autochthona Chinese breed which shows outstanding meat quality characteristics compared with fast-growing imported chickens such as Arbor Acres (AA) chickens. Gut microbial diversity has been shown to influence host factors such as energy and nutrient metabolism, immune response and fertility. Consequently, it is hoped that analyses into host microbial populations will ultimately help to improve the quality of associated meat products. Two distinct chicken breeds, Arbor Acres (AA) and Beijing oil (BJO), were selected to analyze the composition of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V5 hypervariable regions using high-throughput sequencing technology. Upon elucidation of gut-colonizing bacteria, the Firmicutes were observed to encompass the dominant phylum. The abundance of Firmicutes in the BJO chickens (84.9%) was lower than in the AA chickens (89.9%). Conversely, the prevalence of Proteobacteria was 4.8% in BJO chickens, with a significantly lower abundance observed in AA chickens (1.3%). In the cecum, the Firmicutes were once more the dominant phylum in BJO chickens (60.2%) and AA chickens (63.7%). The abundance of bacteroidetes was 37.7% in BJO chickens and 34.9% in AA chickens, respectively. These discoveries provide a perception into the composition of the gut microbiotain both breeds. The study also provides a foundation for future research relating to gut bacterial factors that may influence the development and progression of gastrointestinal disease in chickens and other animals.(AU)

Effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in experimental biliary atresia mouse models.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive bile duct disease occurring in newborn children within a few weeks after birth. In this study, the effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in experimental BA was explored by constructing BA mouse models via Rhesus rotavirus vaccine infection. miR-29c and miR-129-5p expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. EMT was established by induction with transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1. miR-29c and miR-129-5p were overexpressed and inhibited, respectively, by Lipofectamine transfection. EMT-related protein (formin-like 2, FMNL2; E-cadherin; vimentin; and cytokeratin-19, CK-19) expression was analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescent assay. The results indicated that miR-29c and miR-129-5p were downregulated and upregulated in BA mice. TGF-ß1 induction caused a time-dependent decrease and increase in miR-29c and miR-129-5p, respectively. Additionally, TGF-ß1 induced an increase in FMNL2 and vimentin expression and a decrease in E-cadherin and CK-19 expression (P < 0.05). Overexpression or suppression of miRNA-29c or miR-129-5p, respectively, induced the inhibition of FMNL2 and vimentin, and promotion of E-cadherin and CK-19 expression, in the test groups compared to the non-intervention group (P < 0.05). However, the FMNL2, vimentin, E-cadherin, and CK- 19 expression did not differ between the control and non-intervention groups (P > 0.05). Thus, miR-29c upregulation or miR-129-5p downregulation effectively prevented EMT in BA by regulating the expression of EMT pathway-related proteins. Therefore, miR-29c and miR-129-5p could be utilized as therapeutic targets for BA in the future.

Increased survivin expression and its association with clinical parameters of congenital choledochal cysts.

The aim of the current study was to investigate survivin expression in congenital choledochal cysts (CCCs), and its associations with clinical parameters of CCCs. In total, 121 children with CCCs were included in this study as the case group, and their cysts were staged according to the Todani classification system. Additionally, 49 normal gallbladder specimens from healthy children were included as the control group. Survivin detection was conducted using immunohistochemical staining. Associations between positive survivin expression and clinical parameters of CCCs were then analyzed. Positive survivin expression was observed in the cytoplasm, and was seen as granular with yellow or dark brown staining. In the case group, positive survivin expression was detected in most tissues. Specifically, compared to that of normal tissues, the cystic-shaped and fusiform-shaped CCC tissues had significantly higher positive survivin expression rates (all P < 0.05). Importantly, positive survivin expression was also shown to be significantly associated with gender and histological type (both P < 0.05). In conclusion, increased survivin expression was observed in CCC tissues, and was correlated with certain clinical parameters of CCCs, suggesting a possible prognostic value of survivin for CCC progression.

Downregulation of MACC1 expression enhances cisplatin sensitivity in SKOV-3/DDP cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between MACC1 expression and resistance to cisplatin (DDP) in DDP-resistant human epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells (SKOV-3/DDP). MACC1 mRNA and protein expression levels in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The SKOV-3/DDP cells were divided into 5 groups: control, shVect (transfected with p-super-EGFP-1 plasmid), pshMACC1 (transfected with psuper-EGFP-shMACC1 plasmid), PD (pretreated with 20 µM PD98059), and combined (transfected with psuper-EGFP-shMACC1 plasmid and pretreated with 20 µM PD98059) groups. Cisplatin sensitivity and cell apoptosis in SKOV-3/DDP cells were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry. ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 expression was determined by western blot. MACC1 mRNA and protein expression levels in SKOV-3/DDP cells were 2.66 ± 0.54 and 1.95 ± 0.45 times those seen in SKOV-3 cells (P < 0.05). Cisplatin sensitivity of pshMACC1 group was much higher than that in the control and shVect groups. Cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis rates increased significantly in the pshMACC1, PD, and combined groups, compared to the control and shVect groups. Moreover, the apoptosis rate was the highest in the combined group among the 5 groups (IC50 = 20.836 ± 0.629 µM). p-ERK1/2 expression decreased significantly in the pshMACC1, PD, and combined groups (this decrease was the most obvious in the combined group). In conclusion, downregulation of MACC1 expression could enhance cisplatin sensitivity and decrease drug resistance in SKOV- 3/DDP cells.