Unraveling inflammatory responses using systems genetics and gene-environment interactions in macrophages.

Many common diseases have an important inflammatory component mediated in part by macrophages. Here we used a systems genetics strategy to examine the role of common genetic variation in macrophage responses to inflammatory stimuli. We examined genome-wide transcript levels in macrophages from 92 strains of the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel.

Extraction, partial characterization and bioactivity of polysaccharides from boat-fruited sterculia seeds.

Three polysaccharides (water-soluble (WSP), alkali-soluble (ASP) and insoluble (IMP)) from boat-fruited sterculia seeds were obtained using different extraction methods. Moisture, ash, protein and total carbohydrate content of WSP, ASP and IMP were analyzed. WSP was rich in glucose, rhamnose, arabinose and galactose while small amount of xylose was also detected.

Rapid determination of thiamine, riboflavin, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid and ascorbic acid in Vitamins with Minerals Tablets by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector.

A simple, isocratic, and stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the rapid determination of thiamine (VB(1)), niacinamide (VB(3)), pyridoxine (VB(6)), ascorbic acid (VC), pantothenic acid (VB(5)), riboflavin (VB(2)) and folic acid (VB(9)) in Vitamins with Minerals Tablets (VMT). An Alltima C(18) column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.

Hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry formation via VE-cadherin regulation by Bcl-2.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique ability of highly aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenic networks. Hypoxia plays a pivotal role in the formation of VM. Hypoxia-induced Bcl-2 overexpression is observed in many types of tumors including melanoma, in which it is associated with tumorigenicity and angiogenesis.

Coexpression of Bcl-2 with epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulators is a prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The anti-apoptosis factor Bcl-2 is known to contribute to tumorigenesis and metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may also participate in tumor invasion and metastasis. This study investigated the relationship between coexpression profiles of Bcl-2 and EMT regulators in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor samples and clinical outcome.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells suppress B-cell proliferation and differentiation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be obtained from umbilical cord as an abundant and noninvasive source. However, the immunomodulatory properties of umbilical cord-MSCs (UC-MSCs) were poorly studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of UC-MSCs on B-cell proliferation and differentiation.

Allogeneic transplantation of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (UC-MSCT) has been proved to be effective in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), based on animal experiments and clinical trials. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare complication of SLE with a high mortality usually over 50%. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of UC-MSCT in the treatment of SLE-associated DAH.

Epidemiological aspects of human brucellosis and leptospirosis outbreaks in Korea.

Unlabelled: In order to compare the epidemiological aspects of human brucellosis (HB) and human leptospirosis (HL) outbreaks in Korea, we have analyzed the current state both of the disease incidence and related risk factors. A total 651 cases of HB occurred between 2001 and 2010 in Korea, and the average incidence rate per 100,000 populations was 0.15.

Sublytic C5b-9 complexes induce proliferative changes of glomerular mesangial cells in rat Thy-1 nephritis through TRAF6-mediated PI3K-dependent Akt1 activation.

The proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) and secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) in rat Thy-1 nephritis (Thy-1N), resembling human mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), have been studied for many years, but the mechanisms, especially the role of signalling pathway activation and its regulation in GMCs triggered by sublytic C5b-9 complexes in Thy-1N rats remain largely unclear. In the study, the proliferation of GMCs and production of ECM as well as the role of PI3K/Akt and its regulation, both in GMCs induced by sublytic C5b-9 (in vitro) and in the renal tissues of rats with Thy-1N (in vivo), were determined and the results revealed that GMCs proliferation and ECM secretion, both in vitro and in vivo, were notably increased, and that PI3K/Akt1 activation and its regulation, such as TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-mediated Akt1 ubiquitination and PI3K-dependent Akt1 phosphorylation, were involved in the process of Thy-1N induction. On the other hand, silence of the TRAF6, PI3K or Akt1 genes could obviously diminish the proliferative damages and urinary protein secretion of Thy-1N rats.

Promotion of tumor cell metastasis and vasculogenic mimicry by way of transcription coactivation by Bcl-2 and Twist1: a study of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: The antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 plays multiple roles in apoptosis, immunity, and autophagy. Its expression in tumors correlates with tumor grade and malignancy. The recapitulation of the normal developmental process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to tumor cell plasticity.

Network for activation of human endothelial cells by oxidized phospholipids: a critical role of heme oxygenase 1.

Rationale: Oxidized palmitoyl arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine (Ox-PAPC) accumulates in atherosclerotic lesions, is proatherogenic, and influences the expression of more than 1000 genes in endothelial cells.

Objective: To elucidate the major pathways involved in Ox-PAPC action, we conducted a systems analysis of endothelial cell gene expression after exposure to Ox-PAPC.

Methods And Results: We used the variable responses of primary endothelial cells from 149 individuals exposed to Ox-PAPC to construct a network that consisted of 11 groups of genes, or modules.

Changes of color and blood flow of the tongue in the mini-swine of immune hepatic injury.

Objective: To investigate color and microvascular blood flow of the tongue in the mini-swine with immune hepatic injury.

Methods: Six Chinese mini-swine for experimental use, 3 males and 3 females, were randomly divided into two groups, normal group and model group, 3 swine in each group. The swine in the model group was administrated by injection of 5 mg/kg ConA into the vein of auricular back, once every other day, 3 times each week, for 2 weeks in total.

The role of Twist1 in hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis: a clinical study.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulator Twist1 has been implicated in tumor invasion, metastasis, and vasculogenic mimicry formation of human hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the relationship between Twist1 expression and endothelium-dependent angiogenesis is not clear. In this study, to investigate the role of Twist1 in hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis, we measured the microvessel density by CD31 immunohistochemistry stain and explored the microvessel density as an angiogenesis indicator.

NF-E2-related factor 2 promotes atherosclerosis by effects on plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol transport that overshadow antioxidant protection.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression plays an antiatherogenic role by its vascular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Methods And Results: Nrf2 is an important transcription factor that regulates the expression of phase 2 detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant genes. Its expression in vascular cells appears to be an important factor in the protection against vascular oxidative stress and inflammation.

Identification of a novel IRGM promoter single nucleotide polymorphism associated with tuberculosis.

Background: Human immunity-related GTPase M (IRGM) is found to play an important role in defense against intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro by regulating autophagy. To verify whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of IRGM gene are associated with tuberculosis (TB) 1.7 kb IRGM promoter region was sequenced and SNP analysis was conducted in TB patients and healthy controls.

Promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through matrix metalloproteinase activation by epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulator Twist1.

E-cadherin loss is a key biological mechanism in tumour invasion. As a main regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism-mediated invasion and metastasis, Twist1 plays an important role through its regulation of E-cadherin expression. However, whether or not Twist2 has the same function in tumour metastasis remains unclear.

Expression and functional significance of Twist1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: its role in vasculogenic mimicry.

Unlabelled: The up-regulation and nuclear relocation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulator Twist1 have been implicated in the tumor invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The term vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique capability of aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenic networks. However, the relationship between Twist1 and VM formation is not clear.

Apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells induced by sublytic C5b-9 complexes in rats with Thy-1 nephritis is dependent on Gadd45 gamma upregulation.

The complement C5b-9 complexes can result in cell apoptosis, but the mechanism of sublytic C5b-9-mediated glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) apoptosis in Thy-1 nephritis (Thy-1N) remains largely unclear. The Gadd45 gene is involved in the cellular response to DNA damage and can promote cell apoptosis. In this study, both Gadd45 gamma expression patterns and pathologic changes of renal tissue were examined in rat Thy-1N.

Efficient LEC2 activation of OLEOSIN expression requires two neighboring RY elements on its promoter.

As the main structural protein of oil body, OLEOSIN is highly expressed only during seed development. OLEOSIN promoter is a very useful tool for seed-specific gene engineering and seed bioreactor designing. The B3 domain transcription factor leafy cotyledon2 (LEC2) plays an important role in regulating seed development and seed-specific gene expression.

Copy number variation influences gene expression and metabolic traits in mice.

Copy number variants (CNVs) are genomic segments which are duplicated or deleted among different individuals. CNVs have been implicated in both Mendelian and complex traits, including immune and behavioral disorders, but the study of the mechanisms by which CNVs influence gene expression and clinical phenotypes in humans is complicated by the limited access to tissues and by population heterogeneity. We now report studies of the effect of 19 CNVs on gene expression and metabolic traits in a mouse intercross between strains C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ.

Soluble expression and one-step purification of a neurotoxin Huwentoxin-I in Escherichia coli.

Huwentoxin-I (HWTX-I) is a small 33-amino acid neurotoxin from the venom of the Chinese bird spider Ornithoctonus huwena. HWTX-I selectively blocks N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels (N-VSCCs) and has great potential for clinical application as a novel analgesic without inducing drug tolerance. However, there are still many unsolved issues for this peptide, such as its clinical efficacy in analgesia, anesthesia, and even its potential role in drug rehabilitation.

Muscleblind-like 2 (Mbnl2) -deficient mice as a model for myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM), the most common adult-onset muscular dystrophy, is caused by CTG or CCTG microsatellite repeat expansions. Expanded DM mRNA microsatellite repeats are thought to accumulate in the nucleus, sequester Muscleblind proteins, and interfere with alternative mRNA splicing. Muscleblind2 (Mbnl2) is a member of the family of Muscleblind RNA binding proteins (that also include Mbnl1 and Mbnl3) that are known to bind CTG/CCTG RNA repeats.

Identification of Abcc6 as the major causal gene for dystrophic cardiac calcification in mice through integrative genomics.

The genetic factors contributing to the complex disorder of myocardial calcification are largely unknown. Using a mouse model, we fine-mapped the major locus (Dyscalc1) contributing to the dystrophic cardiac calcification (DCC) to an 840-kb interval containing 38 genes. We then identified the causal gene by using an approach integrating genetic segregation and expression array analyses to identify, on a global scale, cis-acting DNA variations that perturb gene expression.

Myocardin-related transcription factor B is required for normal mouse vascular development and smooth muscle gene expression.

Smooth muscle gene expression is required for the proper development and function of multiple organ systems. Expression of smooth muscle genes is critical for contractile function and tissue architectural integrity. One critical transcription factor for smooth muscle gene expression is the Serum Response Factor (SRF).

Trichomislin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein, induces apoptosis that involves mitochondria and caspase-3.

Trichomislin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein, was cloned from the genome of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. The gene was recombined to prokaryotic expression vector and the protein was purified by cation-exchange chromatography. The secondary structure of trichomislin was measured by circular-dichroism analysis and the ratios of alpha-helices and beta-sheets were calculated.