Acid phosphatase involved in phosphate homeostasis in Brassica napus and the functional analysis of BnaPAP10s.

Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) are involved in activating the rhizosphere's organic phosphorus (P) and promoting P recycling during plant development, especially under the long-term P deficiency conditions in acid soil. However, the function of BnaPAPs in response to P deficiency stress in Brassica napus has rarely been explored. In this study, we found that the acid phosphatase activities (APA) of rapeseed shoot and root increased under P deficienct conditions. Genome-wide identification found that 82 PAP genes were unevenly distributed on 19 chromosomes in B. napus, which could be divided into eight subfamilies. The segmental duplication events were the main driving force for expansion during evolution, and the gene structures and conserved motifs of most members within the same subfamily were highly conservative. Moreover, the expression levels of 37 and 23 different expressed genes were induced by low P in leaf and root, respectively. BnaA09.PAP10a and BnaC09.PAP10a were identified as candidate genes via interaction networks. Significantly, both BnaPAP10a overexpression lines significantly increased root-related APA and total phosphate concentration under P deficiency and ATP supply conditions, thereby improving plant growth and root length. In summary, our results provided a valuable foundation for further study of BnaPAP functions.

Isocorydine Exerts Anticancer Activity by Disrupting the Energy Metabolism and Filamentous Actin Structures of Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells.

Isocorydine (ICD) exhibits strong antitumor effects on numerous human cell lines. However, the anticancer activity of ICD against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been reported. The anticancer activity, migration and invasion ability, and changes in the cytoskeleton morphology and mechanical properties of ICD in OSCC were determined. Changes in the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex enzymes Ⅰ-Ⅳ in cancer cells were studied. ICD significantly inhibited the proliferation of oral tongue squamous cells (Cal-27), with an IC50 of 0.61 mM after 24 h of treatment. The invasion, migration, and adhesion of cancer cells were decreased, and cytoskeletal actin was deformed and depolymerized. In comparison to an untreated group, the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex enzymes I-IV were significantly decreased by 50.72%, 27.39%, 77.27%, and 73.89%, respectively. The ROS production increased, the MMP decreased by 43.65%, and the ATP content decreased to 17.1 ± 0.001 (mmol/mL); ultimately, the apoptosis rate of cancer cells increased up to 10.57% after 24 h of action. These findings suggest that ICD exerted an obvious anticancer activity against OSCC and may inhibit Cal-27 proliferation and growth by causing mitochondrial dysfunction and interrupting cellular energy.

Swim Training Attenuates Inflammation and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Mice Fed with a High-Fat Diet.

Exercise could afford multiple beneficial effects on obesity-related metabolic disorders. To address this issue, C57BL/6J mice were used to investigate the effects of 13 weeks of swim training on HFD-induced obesity and related insulin resistance and inflammation. Our results show that swim training can significantly prevent HFD-induced weight gain and increase resting energy expenditure without affecting food intake. The insulin sensitivity was enhanced in the HFD + swim group than in the HFD + sedentary group. Moreover, swim training considerably decreased serum LPS content and downregulates epididymis white adipose tissue (eWAT) expression of the inflammatory mediator Tnf-α, Il-6, and Mcp-1. In summary, 13 weeks of swim training could reverse HFD-induced metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and inflammation.

Prognostic value of human papillomavirus infection and p53, p16, epidermal growth factor receptor and p34cdc2 expression in patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between HPV infection, p53, p16, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p34cdc2 protein expression and prognosis in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland. Totally 78 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland specimens were selected from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2013 in Tangshan Union Hospital. PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization was used to detect infection of human papilloma virus (HPV), and SP immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of p53, p16, EGFR and p34cdc2 protein in the carcinoma tissues. Clinical data were collected and the patients were followed up. Results showed that the infection rate of HPV in adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues was 0% (0/78). The expression rate of p53, p16, EGFR and p34cdc2 protein in carcinoma tissues were 75.6% (59/78), 57.7% (45/78), 60.1% (47/78) and 64.1% (50/78), respectively. Expression of p53, p16, EGFR and p34cdc2 proteins was not significantly correlated with patients' age, gender, disease location, TNM classification and histological type (P > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that EGFR-positive patients had a lower median overall survival than EGFR-negative ones (58 months vs. 75 months, respectively. P = 0.001). The result of median progression-free survival was virtually the same for both EGFR-positive and EGFR-negative patients (43 months vs. 49 months, respectively. P = 0.002). p34cdc2-positive patients had a lower median overall survival than p34cdc2-negative ones (61 months vs. 71 months, respectively. P = 0.027). Median progression-free survival was also almost the same for both p34cdc2-positive and p34cdc2-negative patients (44 months vs. 51 months, respectively. P = 0.011). Cox regression analysis showed that expression of EGFR and p34cdc2 was independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland (relative risk = 13.199, 11.466, P < 0.001). In conclusion, HPV infection is not detected in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. p53, p16, EGFR and p34cdc2 protein are positively expressed in most salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. p16 is unsuitable as a surrogate for HPV infection status in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland. Expression of EGFR and p34cdc2 is independent risk factors in the prognosis of patients with salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Patients with EGFR or p34cdc2 positive expression should be followed up closely.