Endothelial injury and inflammation in patients with hyperuricemic nephropathy at chronic kidney disease stages 1-2 and 3-4.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial injury and inflammation are the main pathological changes in hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN); however, they have not been assessed in patients in the early, middle, and late phases of HN. AIM: To investigate endothelial injury and inflammatory conditions between patients with HN at chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-4 and CKD 1-2. METHODS: This study enrolled 80 patients (49 and 31 with HN at CKD stage 1-2 and 3-4, respectively) from the Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between July 2021 and January 2022. Plasma levels of heparan sulfate, endocan, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM1), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 and urine levels of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), IL-1ß, and IL-6 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay. RESULTS: Comparison between patients with HN at CKD 1-2 and those with HN at CKD 3-4 showed that age and disease course were significant factors (P < 0.001 and P < 0.010, respectively). There were no statistical differences in sex, heart rate, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The incidence of hypertension was also significant (P = 0.03). Plasma levels of heparin sulfate (P < 0.001), endocan (P = 0.034), E-selectin (P < 0.001), slCAM1 (P < 0.001), IL-1ß (P = 0.006), and IL-6 (P = 0.004) and the urine levels of L-PGDS (P < 0.001), IL-1ß (P = 0.003), and IL-6 (P < 0.001) were high in patients with HN at CKD 3-4 than in those with HN at CKD 1-2. The difference in plasma Ox-LDL levels was not significant (P = 0.078). CONCLUSION: Vascular endothelial injury and inflammation were higher in patients with HN at CKD3-4 than at CKD 1-2. Plasma heparin sulfate and slCAM1 levels are synergistic factors for CKD staging in HN.

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Lytic Halotolerant Phage from Yuncheng Saline Lake.

Halophilic phage are a type of virus that exist in salty environments within halophilic archaeal or bacterial hosts. However, relatively few reports on halophilic bacteriophages exist, and our overall understanding of halophilic bacteriophages is quite limited. We used SYBR Green I fluorescent staining to detect the abundance of viruses in Yuncheng Saline Lake, China. Using the double-layer plate method, a lytic phage that could infect halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. YM-43 was isolated and named YXM43. We studied host range, optimal host, morphological characteristics, nucleic acid type, protein composition, and other biological characteristics of the virus. Results reveal a high abundance of this halophilic virus in Yuncheng Saline Lake. The newly isolated bacteriophage YXM43 has a narrow host range, with the most suitable host being Virgibacillus sp. SK39. After purification and enrichment, YXM43 is observed as a spherical particle with a diameter of approximately 30 nm, with no tail. No lipid envelope can be seen in YXM43. The capsid protein of the virus can be separated into seven proteins with molecular weights ranging from 62.0 to 13.0 kDa. YXM43 is a DNA virus with a genome approximately 23 kb. The virus is tolerant of low salinity, and its activity is highest at a temperature of 60 °C and a pH of 10. YXM43 is temperature and pH tolerant, and can adapt to environmental change, even withstanding chloroform treatment. The results indicate that bacteriophage YXM43 is a novel halophilic bacteriophage with broad tolerance to environmental change.

JMT-1: a novel, spherical lytic halotolerant phage isolated from Yuncheng saline lake.

This work described a novel halotolerant phage, JMT-1, with a spherical morphology. JMT-1, which was isolated from a hypersaline lake, could produce clear plaques on Chromohalobacter sp. LY7-3. The purified virions are spherical, have no visible tail, and are about 30-50nm in diameter. JMT-1 has a wide host range, and this study showed that the phage can infect at least five halophilic bacteria. The proteins of JMT-1 were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and six proteins were detected. Results show that JMT-1 is a bacteriophage with a linear double-stranded DNA. Meanwhile, the genome is approximately 23kb in length and is sensitive to the restriction endonucleases Bam I, EcoR I, Hind III and Kpa I. JMT-1 has a high titer, approaching 1.5×109pfu/mL after dilution to 10-6pfu/mL. The phage is also sensitive to chloroform but not to temperature, pH, and lowered salt concentration. JMT-1 is a spherical lytic halotolerant phage with a wide host range and has the tolerance to specific extreme environments. These data could provide references for studying phage resources in extreme environments and would also provide the useful methods for isolation and identification of other valuable phage in the salt lake environment.

JMT-1: a novel, spherical lytic halotolerant phage isolated from Yuncheng saline lake

ABSTRACT This work described a novel halotolerant phage, JMT-1, with a spherical morphology. JMT-1, which was isolated from a hypersaline lake, could produce clear plaques on Chromohalobacter sp. LY7-3. The purified virions are spherical, have no visible tail, and are about 30-50 nm in diameter. JMT-1 has a wide host range, and this study showed that the phage can infect at least five halophilic bacteria. The proteins of JMT-1 were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and six proteins were detected. Results show that JMT-1 is a bacteriophage with a linear double-stranded DNA. Meanwhile, the genome is approximately 23 kb in length and is sensitive to the restriction endonucleases Bam I, EcoR I, Hind III and Kpa I. JMT-1 has a high titer, approaching 1.5 × 109 pfu/mL after dilution to 10−6 pfu/mL. The phage is also sensitive to chloroform but not to temperature, pH, and lowered salt concentration. JMT-1 is a spherical lytic halotolerant phage with a wide host range and has the tolerance to specific extreme environments. These data could provide references for studying phage resources in extreme environments and would also provide the useful methods for isolation and identification of other valuable phage in the salt lake environment.

JMT-1: a novel, spherical lytic halotolerant phage isolated from Yuncheng saline lake

ABSTRACT This work described a novel halotolerant phage, JMT-1, with a spherical morphology. JMT-1, which was isolated from a hypersaline lake, could produce clear plaques on Chromohalobacter sp. LY7-3. The purified virions are spherical, have no visible tail, and are about 3050 nm in diameter. JMT-1 has a wide host range, and this study showed that the phage can infect at least five halophilic bacteria. The proteins of JMT-1 were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and six proteins were detected. Results show that JMT-1 is a bacteriophage with a linear double-stranded DNA. Meanwhile, the genome is approximately 23 kb in length and is sensitive to the restriction endonucleases Bam I, EcoR I, Hind III and Kpa I. JMT-1 has a high titer, approaching 1.5 × 109 pfu/mL after dilution to 106 pfu/mL. The phage is also sensitive to chloroform but not to temperature, pH, and lowered salt concentration. JMT-1 is a spherical lytic halotolerant phage with a wide host range and has the tolerance to specific extreme environments. These data could provide references for studying phage resources in extreme environments and would also provide the useful methods for isolation and identification of other valuable phage in the salt lake environment.

Leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LepROT) gene participates in insulin pathway through FoxO.

Leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LepROT) is co-transcribed with the leptin receptor (LepR). However, the function and mechanism of LepROT in insulin pathway is unclear. In this study, we report the function of LepROT in maintaining consistent FoxO transcription. LepROT is constitutively expressed during larval development. 20-Hydroxyecdysone, methoprene, and insulin have no effect on the transcription of LepROT. However, the knockdown of LepROT by dsRNA injection in larvae causes delay of the development of Helicoverpa armigera. Knockdown of LepROT results in the upregulation of FoxO and downregulation of PI3K. The knockdown of LepROT also results in the subcellular translocation of FoxO from cytoplasm to nuclei. By contrast, overexpression of LepROT in the HaEpi cell line inhibits FoxO expression. Results suggest that LepROT participates in insulin signaling.

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone upregulated the protein phosphatase 6 for the programmed cell death in the insect midgut.

Programmed cell death (PCD) plays an important role in insect midgut remodeling during metamorphosis. Insect midgut PCD is triggered by the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and it is mediated by a series of genes. However, the mechanism by which 20E triggers midgut PCD is still unclear. Here, we report a protein phosphatase 6 (PP6) from Helicoverpa armigera playing roles in midgut PCD. PP6 was expressed in the midgut during larval growth and it is significantly increased during metamorphosis. The increase was proven to be regulated by 20E. The juvenile hormone analog methoprene has no effect on PP6 expression. RNA interference analysis suggests that 20E upregulated the PP6 transcript levels through the ecdysone receptor EcRB1. PP6 knockdown by larval feeding or PP6 dsRNA injection resulted in the repression of the midgut PCD during the metamorphic stage. The mechanism was demonstrated to be through the suppression of genes such as Broad (Br), E74a, E75b, HR3, E93, rpr, and caspase, which are involved in 20E signaling pathway or midgut PCD. These findings suggest that PP6 is involved in the 20E signal transduction pathway and participates in the PCD in midgut.