Human ß-defensin-1 affects the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and autophagy in colon cancer cells through long non-coding RNA TCONS_00014506.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer has a low 5-year survival rate and high mortality. Human ß-defensin-1 (hBD-1) may play an integral function in the innate immune system, contributing to the recognition and destruction of cancer cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the process of cell differentiation and growth. AIM: To investigate the effect of hBD-1 on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and autophagy in human colon cancer SW620 cells. METHODS: CCK8 assay was utilized for the detection of cell proliferation and determination of the optimal drug concentration. Colony formation assay was employed to assess the effect of hBD-1 on SW620 cell proliferation. Bioinformatics was used to screen potentially biologically significant lncRNAs related to the mTOR pathway. Additionally, p-mTOR (Ser2448), Beclin1, and LC3II/I expression levels in SW620 cells were assessed through Western blot analysis. RESULTS: hBD-1 inhibited the proliferative ability of SW620 cells, as evidenced by the reduction in the colony formation capacity of SW620 cells upon exposure to hBD-1. hBD-1 decreased the expression of p-mTOR (Ser2448) protein and increased the expression of Beclin1 and LC3II/I protein. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis identified seven lncRNAs (2 upregulated and 5 downregulated) related to the mTOR pathway. The lncRNA TCONS_00014506 was ultimately selected. Following the inhibition of the lncRNA TCONS_00014506, exposure to hBD-1 inhibited p-mTOR (Ser2448) and promoted Beclin1 and LC3II/I protein expression. CONCLUSION: hBD-1 inhibits the mTOR pathway and promotes autophagy by upregulating the expression of the lncRNA TCONS_00014506 in SW620 cells.

Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly for Clubrush (Bolboschoenus planiculmis) Indicates a Karyotype with High Chromosome Number and Heterogeneous Centromere Distribution.

Bolboschoenus planiculmis (F.Schmidt) T.V.Egorova is a typical wetland plant in the species-rich Cyperaceae family. This species contributes prominently to carbon dynamics and trophic integration in wetland ecosystems. Previous studies have reported that the chromosomes of B. planiculmis are holocentric; i.e. they have kinetic activity along their entire length and carry multiple centromeres. This feature was suggested to lead to a rapid genome evolution through chromosomal fissions and fusions and participate to the diversification and ecological success of the Bolboschoenus genus. However, the specific mechanism remains uncertain, partly due to the scarcity of genetic information on Bolboschoenus. We present here the first chromosome-level genome assembly for B. planiculmis. Through the integration of high-quality long-read and short-read data, together with chromatin conformation using Hi-C technology, the ultimate genome assembly was 238.01 Mb with a contig N50 value of 3.61 Mb. Repetitive elements constituted 37.04% of the genome, and 18,760 protein-coding genes were predicted. The low proportion of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (∼9.62%) was similar to that reported for other Cyperaceae species. The Ks (synonymous substitutions per synonymous site) distribution suggested no recent large-scale genome duplication in this genome. The haploid assembly contained a large number of 54 pseudochromosomes with a small mean size of 4.10 Mb, covering most of the karyotype. The results of centromere detection support that not all the chromosomes in B. planiculmis have multiple centromeres, indicating more efforts are needed to fully reveal the specific style of holocentricity in cyperids and its evolutionary significance.

Positive psychological capital, post-traumatic growth, social support, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between positive psychological capital, post-traumatic growth, social support, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from October 2022 to May 2023. A sample of 330 hospitalized SLE patients was selected for this study. The collected data included demographic information, the SLE disease activity index, the Positive Mental Capital Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Post-Traumatic Growth Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Chinese version of the Lupus Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: The QOL score among the 330 SLE patients was measured as M(P25, P75) of 105 (83.00,124.00). Positive psychological capital, post-traumatic growth, and social support demonstrated significant positive correlations with the QOL in SLE patients (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that literacy, disease level, disease duration, occupation, marital status, psychological capital, social support, and post-traumatic growth were influential factors associated with the QOL in SLE patients. CONCLUSION: Medical professionals should be attentive to the psychological well-being of SLE patients and should consider implementing early psychological interventions. These interventions are crucial for enhancing the QOL for individuals diagnosed with SLE.

Selection and validation of optimal reference genes for RT-qPCR analyses in Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae).

Aphidoletes aphidimyza is a predator that is an important biological agent used to control agricultural and forestry aphids. Although many studies have investigated its biological and ecological characteristics, few molecular studies have been reported. The current study was performed to identify suitable reference genes to facilitate future gene expression and function analyses via quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Eight reference genes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), RPS13, RPL8, RPS3, α-Tub, ß-actin, RPL32, and elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) were selected. Their expression levels were determined under four different experimental conditions (developmental stages, adult tissues, sugar treatment, and starvation treatment) using qRT-PCR technology. The stability was evaluated with five methods (Ct value, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). The results showed that GAPDH, RPL32, and EF1-α were ranked as the best reference gene combinations for measuring gene expression levels among different developing stages and in various starvation treatments. RPL8 and RPS3 were recommended to normalize the gene expression levels among different adult tissues. RPL32, ß-actin, and EF1-α were recommended sugar-feeding conditions. To validate the utility of the selected reference pair, RPL8, and RPS3, we estimated the tissue-biased expression level of a chemosensory protein gene (AaphCSP1). As expected, AaphCSP1 is highly expressed in the antennae and lowly expressed in the abdomen. These findings will lay the foundation for future research on the molecular physiology and biochemistry of A. aphidimyza.

Revisiting the type species of the genus Homidia (Collembola, Entomobryidae).

Homidiacingula Börner, 1906, the type species of the genus Homidia Börner, 1906, is widespread from India to Southeast Asia, but its detailed morphological characteristics have not yet been described. We examined the morphology of specimens of H.cingula from Indonesia and southwestern China and confirmed their conspecific status by comparing their DNA barcoding sequences. We also compared the morphology of H.cingula with other two closely related species, confirming the valid species status of H.subcingula Denis, 1948. Our study provides new taxonomic and molecular data for the genus Homidia.

[Effects of Biochar Application on Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Communities of Microplastic-contaminated Calcareous Soil].

Microplastics are widely distributed in the soil environment, threatening the soil ecological environment system and changing soil physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics. Biochar is often used as a soil amendment to improve soil quality due to its special pore structure and good soil nutrient retention ability. However, the understanding of the effects and mechanisms of biochar application on the physicochemical properties and bacterial communities of microplastic-contaminated soils is still very limited. Therefore, a 21-day micro-soil culture experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of biochar application on physicochemical properties and bacterial community changes in soil contaminated with different concentrations of microplastics using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. The results revealed that the application of biochar slowed down the decrease in nitrate nitrogen and Olsen-P contents in microplastic-contaminated soil and increased the total phosphorus content. Biochar addition increased the relative abundance of tolerant phylum such as Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota in microplastic-contaminated calcareous soil. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota were the dominant bacteria of the soil bacterial community in each treatment on day 7 and day 21. Compared with that on day 7, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes significantly decreased, and the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, and Myxococcota increased on day 21. Biochar application also increased the relative abundance of Lysobacter in microplastic-contaminated soils. This study demonstrated that the application of biochar increased microplastic-resistant bacteria, enhanced the stability of microplastic-contaminated soil, and slowed down the pollution of microplastics to the soil. Moreover, biochar had great potential to improve the quality of microplastic-contaminated calcareous soil.

Limonoids from the roots of Melia azedarach and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Twelve undescribed limonoids, meliazedarines J-U (1-12), along with a known one, were isolated from the roots of Melia azedarach. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic investigations, X-ray diffraction analyses, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1-8 were identified as ring intact limonoids, while compounds 9-12 were established as ring C-seco ones. The anti-inflammatory potential of compounds 1-4, 6, 8, 9, and 11-13 was evaluated on macrophages. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9 significantly suppressed nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, among them compound 3 showed the best inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 7.07 ± 0.48 µΜ. Furthermore, compound 3 effectively reduced interleukin-1ß secretion in LPS plus nigericin-induced THP-1 macrophages by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The results strongly suggested that limonoids from the roots of M. azedarach might be candidates for treating inflammation-related diseases.

N6-methyladenosine-modified circIRF2, identified by YTHDF2, suppresses liver fibrosis via facilitating FOXO3 nuclear translocation.

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been implicated in liver fibrosis and modulated by multiple elusive molecular mechanisms, while the effects of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on circRNA are still elusive. Herein, we identify circIRF2 from our circRNA sequencing data, which decreased in liver fibrogenesis stage and restored in resolution stage, indicating that dysregulated circIRF2 may be closely associated with liver fibrosis. Gain/loss-of-function analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of circIRF2 on liver fibrosis at both the fibrogenesis and resolution in vivo. Ectopic expression of circIRF2 attenuated liver fibrogenesis and HSCs activation at the fibrogenesis stage, whereas downregulation of circIRF2 impaired mouse liver injury repair and inflammation resolution. Mechanistically, YTHDF2 recognized m6A-modified circIRF2 and diminished circIRF2 stability, partly accounting for the decreased circIRF2 in liver fibrosis. Microarray was applied to investigate miRNAs regulated by circIRF2, our data elucidate cytoplasmic circIRF2 may directly harbor miR-29b-1-5p and competitively relieve its inhibitory effect on FOXO3, inducing FOXO3 nuclear translocation and accumulation. Clinically, circIRF2 downregulation was prevalent in liver fibrosis patients compared with healthy individuals. In summary, our findings offer a novel insight into m6A modification-mediated regulation of circRNA and suggest that circIRF2 may be an exploitable prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.

The pharmacology and mechanisms of platycodin D, an active triterpenoid saponin from Platycodon grandiflorus.

Chinese doctors widely prescribed Platycodon grandiflorus A. DC. (PG) to treat lung carbuncles in ancient China. Modern clinical experiences have demonstrated that PG plays a crucial role in treating chronic pharyngitis, plum pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, acute and chronic laryngitis, and so forth. Additionally, PG is a food with a long history in China, Japan, and Korea. Furthermore, Platycodin D (PLD), an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin, is one of the active substances in PG. PLD has been revealed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-oxidation, anti-obesity, anticoagulant, spermicidal, anti-tumor etc., activities. And the mechanism of the effects draws lots of attention, with various signaling pathways involved in these processes. Additionally, research on PLD's pharmacokinetics and extraction processes is under study. The bioavailability of PLD could be improved by being prescribed with Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. or by creating a new dosage form. PLD has been recently considered to have the potential to be a solubilizer or an immunologic adjuvant. Meanwhile, PLD was discovered to have hemolytic activity correlated. PLD has broad application prospects and reveals practical pharmacological activities in pre-clinical research. The authors believe that these activities of PLD contribute to the efficacy of PG. What is apparent is that the clinical translation of PLD still has a long way to go. With the help of modern technology, the scope of clinical applications of PLD is probable to be expanded from traditional applications to new fields.

Unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations causing seizures localize to one common brain network.

Seizures are a frequent symptom of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs). However, the brain regions responsible for these seizures remain unclear. To identify the brain regions causally involved in bAVM-related seizures, we retrospectively reviewed 220 patients with unruptured bAVMs. Using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) analyses, we tested whether individual brain regions were associated with unruptured bAVM-related seizures. The result revealed that unruptured bAVMs causing seizures are anatomically heterogeneous at the voxel level. Subsequently, lesion network mapping (LNM) analyses was performed to determine whether bAVMs causing seizures belonged to a distributed brain network. LNM analyses indicated that these lesions were located in a functional network characterized by connectivity to the left caudate and precuneus. Moreover, the discrimination performance of the identified seizure network was evaluated in discovery set by calculating the individualized network damage score and was tested in validation set. Based on the calculated network damage scores, patients were divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. The prevalence of seizures significantly differed among the three risk categories in both discovery (p = .003) and validation set (p = .004). Finally, we calculated the percentage of voxels in the canonical resting-state networks that overlapped with the seizure-susceptible brain regions to investigate the involvement of resting-state networks. With an involvement percentage over 50%, the frontoparietal control (82.9%), limbic function (76.7%), and default mode network (69.3%) were considered to be impacted in bAVM-related seizures. Our study identified the seizure-susceptible brain regions for unruptured bAVMs, which could be a plausible neuroimaging biomarker in predicting possible seizures.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Bolboschoenus planiculmis (Cyperaceae).

Bolboschoenus planiculmis is a typical wetland sedge with both ecological and agricultural value. We report the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of this species. The total genome size is 186,539 bp, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 104,654 bp, a small single copy region (SSC) of 9,659 bp and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 36,113 bp by each. The GC content is 33.59%. The genome encodes 105 unique genes, including 71 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis shows this species has a strong sister relationship with Cyperus. Our work could be helpful in understanding the evolution of Cyperaceae.

Effects of exogenous Ca2+ on stomatal traits, photosynthesis, and biomass of maize seedings under salt stress.

Understanding the responses of stomatal structure, photosynthesis and biomass of maize to exogenous Ca2+ addition under NaCl stress has important significance for further uncovering the alleviative mechanism of exogenous Ca2+ on maize under salt stress. We examined the effects of exogenous Ca2+(0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 mmol·L-1) on the stomatal structure, photosynthesis and biomass of maize (Zea mays L. cv. Jingke 665) seedlings under NaCl stress (100 mmol·L-1). Our results showed that exogenous Ca2+ addition had limited effect on stomatal density, but significantly decreased stomatal shape index, stomatal area, stomatal length, stomatal width, and stomatal cir-cumference. Meanwhile, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) initially increased and then decreased with the increases of exogenous Ca2+ concentration, whereas both the stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were decreased, suggesting that the decrease of Pn was mainly due to stomatal limitation under high Ca2+ concentration. The biomass of maize seedlings was increased and the root/shoot ratio was decreased with the increases of exogenous Ca2+ concentration, suggested that the alleviated effect of exogenous Ca2+ on aboveground biomass was higher than that on belowground biomass of maize under salt stress.

ß-Arrestin 2 Promotes Hepatocyte Apoptosis by Inhibiting Akt Pathway in Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a complex process that includes a wide range of hepatic lesions, from steatosis to cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Accumulating evidence shows that the cytotoxic effects of ethanol metabolism lead to cell apoptosis and necrosis in ALD. Recently, several studies revealed that multifunctional protein ß-arrestin 2 (Arrb2) modulated cell apoptosis in liver fibrosis and HCC, but its role in ALD has not been fully understood. The aim of this study is to explore the function and underlying mechanism of Arrb2 in hepatocyte survival and apoptosis in ALD. In our study, the primary hepatocytes were isolated from the livers of C57BL/6 mice fed EtOH-containing diet, it showed an increased level of Arrb2. EtOH also significantly up-regulated Arrb2 production in AML-12 cells in vitro. Furthermore, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) and FCM results demonstrated that knockdown of Arrb2 could inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis induced by EtOH in vivo and vitro while over-expression of Arrb2 induced apoptosis in ALD. In addition, western blot results revealed that Arrb2 remarkably suppressed the Akt signaling. Taken together, our data suggested that Arrb2 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for ALD by promoting hepatocyte apoptosis via Akt suppression.

MicroRNA-200a induces apoptosis by targeting ZEB2 in alcoholic liver disease.

ABSTRAT Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its complication continued to be a major health problem throughout the world. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNA (miRNA) that regulate apoptosis, inflammation and lipid metabolism are affected by alcohol in ALD. MiR-200a has emerged as a major regulator in several liver diseases, but its role in ALD has not been elucidated. The aim of this study is to figure out the biological function of miR-200a in ALD and to explore its underlying mechanism. The expression pattern of miR-200a were analyzed in vitro and in vivo, we showed that miR-200a was up-regulated in ALD in AML-12 and primary hepatocyte. We then examined it's effect on cell apoptosis and identified zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2; also known as SIP1) as a direct target gene of miR-200a. Furthermore, reintroduction of ZEB2 could reverse the pro-apoptosis of miR-200a on AML-12. Taken together, our study demonstrated that miR-200a regulates the apoptosis of hepatocyte in ALD by directly target ZEB2, both of which could serve as new therapeutic targets for ALD.

Building and verifying a severity prediction model of acute pancreatitis (AP) based on BISAP, MEWS and routine test indexes.

PURPOSE: To discuss the value of the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP), Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), serum Ca2+, similarly hereinafter, and red cell distribution width (RDW) for predicting the severity grade of acute pancreatitis and to develop and verify a more accurate scoring system to predict the severity of AP. METHODS: In 302 patients with AP, we calculated BISAP and MEWS scores and conducted regression analyses on the relationships of BISAP scoring, RDW, MEWS, and serum Ca2+ with the severity of AP using single-factor logistics. The variables with statistical significance in the single-factor logistic regression were used in a multi-factor logistic regression model; forward stepwise regression was used to screen variables and build a multi-factor prediction model. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was constructed, and the significance of multi- and single-factor prediction models in predicting the severity of AP using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was evaluated. The internal validity of the model was verified through bootstrapping. RESULTS: Among 302 patients with AP, 209 had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 93 had severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). According to single-factor logistic regression analysis, we found that BISAP, MEWS and serum Ca2+ are prediction indexes of the severity of AP (P-value<0.001), whereas RDW is not a prediction index of AP severity (P-value>0.05). The multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed that BISAP and serum Ca2+ are independent prediction indexes of AP severity (P-value<0.001), and MEWS is not an independent prediction index of AP severity (P-value>0.05); BISAP is negatively related to serum Ca2+ (r=-0.330, P-value<0.001). The constructed model is as follows: ln()=7.306+1.151*BISAP-4.516*serum Ca2+. The predictive ability of each model for SAP follows the order of the combined BISAP and serum Ca2+ prediction model>Ca2+>BISAP. There is no statistical significance for the predictive ability of BISAP and serum Ca2+ (P-value>0.05); however, there is remarkable statistical significance for the predictive ability using the newly built prediction model as well as BISAP and serum Ca2+ individually (P-value<0.01). Verification of the internal validity of the models by bootstrapping is favorable. CONCLUSION: BISAP and serum Ca2+ have high predictive value for the severity of AP. However, the model built by combining BISAP and serum Ca2+ is remarkably superior to those of BISAP and serum Ca2+ individually. Furthermore, this model is simple, practical and appropriate for clinical use.

[Suggestions on improving administration of local crude drug quality standards].

To improve the administration of local crude drug quality standard, the administration history, and current administration situation of local crude drugs were reviewed, the legal orientation and positive effect of local crude drugs were analyzed, and the existing problems were summarized. It was found that many problems existed in the administration of local crude drug quality standards, especially the phenomenon of homonym and synonym on their names. The suggestions on improving the administration of local crude drug quality standards were proposed. First of all, the construction of legal system should be strengthened to improve the administration methods. Secondly, the coordination mechanism should be developed to solve the outstanding problems. Thirdly, the basic research should be enhanced to resolve the general technical problems. Lastly, the channels to transfer the local crude drugs into pharmacopeia standards should be developed to achieve dynamic administration.

EZH2-mediated repression of Dkk1 promotes hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis.

EZH2, a histone H3 lysine-27-specific methyltransferase, is involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes including cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the role of EZH2 in liver fibrosis is largely unknown. In this study, it was identified that EZH2 promoted Wnt pathway-stimulated fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo by repressing Dkk-1, which is a Wnt pathway antagonist. The expression of EZH2 was increased in CCl4 -induced rat liver and primary HSCs as well as TGF-ß1-treated HSC-T6, whereas the expression of Dkk1 was reduced. Silencing of EZH2 prevented TGF-ß1-induced proliferation of HSC-T6 cells and the expression of α-SMA. In addition, knockdown of Dkk1 promoted TGF-ß1-induced activation of HSCs. Moreover, silencing of EZH2 could restore the repression of Dkk-1 through trimethylation of H3K27me3 in TGF-ß1-treated HSC-T6 cells. Interestingly, inhibition of EZH2 had almost no effect on the activation of HSC when Dkk1 was silenced. Collectively, EZH2-mediated repression of Dkk1 promotes the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, which is an essential event for HSC activation.

Correlations Between Hector Battifora Mesothelial-1 (HBME-1) Expression and Clinical Pathological Characteristics and Prognosis of Osteosarcoma Patients.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between Hector Battifora mesothelial-1 (HBME-1) expression and the clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of osteosarcoma (OS). MATERIAL AND METHODS HBME-1 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry in OS tissues (n=152), osteochondroma tissues (n=91), and normal bone tissues (n=74). We carried out a follow-up lasting 8-60 months to investigate HBME-1 expression and its correlations with the clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of OS. RESULTS HBME-1 was highly expressed in OS tissues compared with osteochondroma tissues and normal bone tissues, and was highly expressed in osteochondroma tissues compared with normal bone tissues (all P<0.05). HBME-1 expression was correlated with clinical stages, postoperative recurrence, metastasis, and 5-year survival (all P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of HBME-1 expression was 0.864, with sensitivity of 80.92%, specificity of 91.89%, and accuracy of 84.51%. The survival rate was lower in the HBME-1 positive expression group than the HBME-1 negative expression group (P<0.05). Clinical stages, metastasis, and HBME-1 expression were independent risk factors for the survival of patients with OS (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HBME-1 expression was correlated with the occurrence and development of OS. HBME-1 positive expression was a risk factor for the prognosis of OS.

Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi is a member of genus Hymenolepis based on phylogenetic analysis using ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi is one of the important zoonotic cestodes causing economic significance and public health concern. In the present study, the phylogenetic position of P. crawfordi isolated from pigs was re-inferred using molecular markers of internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) and partial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (pnad1) mitochondrial DNA. The lengths of ITS1, ITS2 rDNA and pnad1 were 757 bp, 628 bp and 458 bp, respectively. Sequence differences in the ITS1, ITS2 rDNA and pnad1 between P. crawfordi and Hymenolepis species were smaller than that between cestodes within genus Hymenolepis. Phylogenetic analyses based on three gene fragments showed that P. crawfordi was grouped into cluster of Hymenolepis species. These results suggested that P. crawfordi would be one member of genus Hymenolepis but not in a new genus Pseudanoplocephala.

Up-regulation of HDAC9 promotes cell proliferation through suppressing p53 transcription in osteosarcoma.

Increasing studies have demonstrated that altered expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) plays a critical role in the tumorigenesis through up-regulation or down-regulation of key genes involved in cell proliferation, cell-cycle regulation and apoptosis. In the present study, the expression and function of HDAC9 were investigated in osteosarcoma. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis found that HDAC9 was up-regulated in osteosarcoma tissues, when compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. In vitro studies further demonstrated that overexpression of HDAC9 in U2OS and MG63 cells promoted cell proliferation and invasion. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, we found that HDAC9 epigenetically repressed p53 transcription through binding to its proximal promoter region. Therefore, our data suggest an important role for HDAC9/p53 regulatory pathway in the osteosarcoma progression.