[Recent advances in the study of Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases].

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an ubiquitous and important transcription factor. It regulates antioxidant response elements (AREs)-mediated expression of antioxidant enzyme and cytoprotective proteins. A large body of research showed that Nrf2-Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Keap 1)-ARE signaling pathway is involved in the endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 increases the expression of a number of cytoprotective genes, protects cells and tissues from the injury of a variety of toxicants and carcinogens. As a result, Nrf2 enhances the expression of glutathione and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, and subsequently scavenging free radicals. Air pollution especially from PM2.5 particles, is associated with an increasing morbidity of inflammatory pulmonary diseases and their deterioration. More and more studies demonstrated that Nrf2 was a novel signaling molecule in the modulation of inflammatory responses in these inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. Therefore, Nrf2 targeting might be a therapeutic target, which will provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. This review focused on the relationship between Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases and oxidative stress.

[Effect of WS070117M1 on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice and the underling mechanisms of anti-inflammation].

The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the adenosine derivative N6-(3-hydroxylaniline) adenosine (WS070117M1) on cigarette smoke plus LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice and its mechanism. COPD model was established by exposing male BALB/c mice to cigarette smoke and challenged with LPS inhalation. Supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested and IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-ß1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay). The number of total white blood cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was counted separately. Lung tissue was stained with Mayer 's hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic examination. pAMPKa protein expression and distribution of lung tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemistry method. In vitro, levels of AMPKα phosphorylation in phorbol-12- myristate-13-acetate (PMA) differentiated THP-1 cells was detected by immunohistochemistry, IL-8 level in supernatants of cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells was measured by ELISA. The results showed that WS070117M1 treatment significantly activated AMPKa in the lung tissue. It also resulted in down regulation of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-ß1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and IL-8 level in cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells. In addition, WS070117M1 could inhibit the recruitment of total white blood cells and neutrophils. These results suggest that WS070117M1 may alleviate the airway inflammation by activating AMPK in the lung tissue.

Sequencing and characterization of mitochondrial genome of Idaea effusaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

The Idaea effusaria belongs to Geometridae in Lepidoptera. The complete mitogenome of I. effusaria was described in this study, which is typically circular duplex molecules and 16,161 bp in length, containing the standard metazoan set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The gene order is same with other lepidopterans. Except for cox1 started with CGA, all other PCGs started with the standard ATN codons. Most of the PCGs terminated with the stop codon TAA, whereas cox2 has the stop codon CAT. The phylogenetic tree showed that Larentiinae is close to Sterrhinae. The species of Ennominae form a monophyly.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Colossoma macropomum (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae).

Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1816) is the largest characin of South America. This species and its congeners mainly feed on zooplankton, insects, snails and decaying plants. In this paper, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitogenome of C. macropomum. The total length is 16,703 bp, and it typically consist of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNAs, 22 tRNA, a light-strand replication origin (OL) and a large control region (D-loop). The overall base composition is 29.9%, 24.6%, 29.5% and 15.9% for A, T, C and G, respectively, with a slight bias on AT content (54.6%). All protein-coding genes share the start codon ATG, except for COI, which begins with GTG. Most of them have TAA or TAG as the stop codon, except COII, ND4 use AGA and COI, Cytb use an incomplete stop codon T. This information could provide useful molecular data and contribute to further phylogenetic studies of Characiformes and Serrasalmidae.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Hemibagrus nemurus (Siluriformes: Bagridae).

Hemibagrus nemurus (Valenciennes, 1840) is a kind of tropical freshwater catfish which is native to Asian waters. It is economically valued for its importance in fisheries and aquaculture. At present, there exist some confusion in species identification in Bagridae. In this paper, we sequenced and characterize the complete mitogenome of H. nemurus. The genome was 16,526 bp in length, and typically consists of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNA, 1 origin of replication on the light-strand (OL) and a single large control region (CR). The gene organization is identical to that of a typical bony fish. The overall base composition was 31.5%, 26.6%, 26.7%, and 15.2% for A, T, C, and G, respectively, with a slight bias on AT content (58.1%). This result is expected to provide useful molecular data and contribute to further taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Hemibagrus and Bagridae.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Carposina sasakii (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae).

The peach fruit moth, Carposina sasakii belongs to Carposinidae in Lepidoptera. In this paper, we described the complete mitogenome of C. sasakii. It is 15,611 bp in length, including 13 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs and a major noncoding A + T-rich region, which revealed the typical gene content found in other metazoan mitogenomes. The overall base composition is 42.0% A, 39.5% T, 7.75% G and 10.75% C. The A + T-rich region is located between rrnS and trnM. There is a motif ATAGA in downstream of rrnS followed by a 19 bp Poly-T stretch. The Poly-A is not found in upstream of trnM, and the position of Poly-A is replaced by a stem-loop structure. There are eight mononucleotide repeat sequences (Tn/An) with the length of 7 bp-19bp, three dinucleotide repeat sequences (TA)n/(AT)n, and a longer repeat sequence (AATATATA)5 in A + T-rich region. The mononucleotide repeat sequences occur repeatedly in A + T-rich reigion of C. sasakii, which is special in insects sequenced of Lepidoptera.