Myocardin and Stat3 act synergistically to inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and Myocardin regulate cardiomyocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We report a novel aspect of the cellular function of Myocardin and Stat3 in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Myocardin and Stat3 showed anti-apoptotic function by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 while reducing expression of the pro-apoptotic genes Bax, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and caspase-3.

VEGF-A Stimulates STAT3 Activity via Nitrosylation of Myocardin to Regulate the Expression of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation Markers.

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a pivotal player in angiogenesis. It is capable of influencing such cellular processes as tubulogenesis and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, yet very little is known about the actual signaling events that mediate VEGF-A induced VSMC phenotypic switch. In this report, we describe the identification of an intricate VEGF-A-induced signaling cascade that involves VEGFR2, STAT3, and Myocardin.

MiR-93-5p inhibits the EMT of breast cancer cells via targeting MKL-1 and STAT3.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in breast cancer cell metastasis. Both (megakaryoblastic leukemia)/myocardin-like 1 (MKL-1) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) have been implicated in the control of cellular metabolism, survival and growth. Our previous study has shown that cooperativity of MKL-1 and STAT3 promoted breast cancer cell migration.

Myocardin inhibited the gap protein connexin 43 via promoted miR-206 to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch.

Myocardin is regarded as a key mediator for the change of smooth muscle phenotype. The gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) has been shown to be involved in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and the development of atherosclerosis. However, the role of myocardin on gap junction of cell communication and the relation between myocardin and Cx43 in VSMC phenotypic switch has not been investigated.

STAT3 is required for MiR-17-5p-mediated sensitization to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) controls cell survival, growth, migration, and invasion. Here, we observed that STAT3 exerted anti-apoptotic effects in breast cancer cells. On the other hand, miR-17-5p induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells, and overexpression of miR-17-5p sensitized MCF-7 cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis via STAT3.

ERα inhibited myocardin-induced differentiation in uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are a benign tumor of the human uterus and the commonest estrogen-dependent benign tumor found in women. Myocardin is an important transcriptional regulator in smooth and cardiac muscle development. The role of myocardin and its relationship with ERα in uterine fibroids have barely been addressed.

Myocardin inhibits estrogen receptor alpha-mediated proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells via regulating MicroRNA expression.

Myocardin is frequently repressed during human malignant transformation, and restoration of myocardin expression in sarcoma cells contributes to the inhibition of malignant growth. However, its role in breast carcinoma has barely been addressed. Here, we reported that myocardin could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells.

Estimation of the benchmark dose of urinary cadmium as the reference level for renal dysfunction: a large sample study in five cadmium polluted areas in China.

Background: Itai-itai disease primarily results from cadmium (Cd) exposure and is known as one of the four major pollution diseases in Japan. Cd pollution is more serious in several areas of China than in Japan. However, there is still a lack of information regarding the threshold level of Cd exposure for the adverse health effects in the general Chinese population.

Benchmark Dose Estimation for Cadmium-Induced Renal Effects Based on a Large Sample Population from Five Chinese Provinces.

A survey involving 6103 participants from five Chinese provinces was conducted to evaluate the threshold value of urinary cadmium (UCd) for renal dysfunction as benchmark dose low (BMDL). The urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (UNAG) was chosen as an effect biomarker. The UCd BMDLs for UNAG ranged from 2.

Cadmium contamination of rice from various polluted areas of China and its potential risks to human health.

A total of 484 rice samples were collected from five polluted areas in China to investigate the cadmium (Cd) contamination of rice and its potential health risks. The mean Cd contents of analyzed rice samples obtained from different areas ranged from 0.149 to 0.

Body burden of cadmium and its related factors: a large-scale survey in China.

A survey of more than 6000 participants from four distinct non-polluted and polluted regions in China was conducted to evaluate the body burden of cadmium (Cd) on the Chinese populations using urinary Cd (UCd) as a biomarker. The findings revealed that the UCd level was 1.24 μg/g creatinine (μg/g cr) for the sample population from non-polluted Shanghai, and the UCd levels exceeded 5 μg/g cr, which is the health-based exposure limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1.

Coproduction of hydrogen and methane via anaerobic fermentation of cornstalk waste in continuous stirred tank reactor integrated with up-flow anaerobic sludge bed.

A 10 L continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system was developed for a two-stage hydrogen fermentation process with an integrated alkaline treatment. The maximum hydrogen production rate reached 218.5 mL/L h at a cornstalk concentration of 30 g/L, and the total hydrogen yield and volumetric hydrogen production rate reached 58.

Enhanced coproduction of hydrogen and methane from cornstalks by a three-stage anaerobic fermentation process integrated with alkaline hydrolysis.

A three-stage anaerobic fermentation process including H(2) fermentation I, H(2) fermentation II, methane fermentation was developed for the coproduction of hydrogen and methane from cornstalks. Hydrogen production from cornstalks using direct microbial conversion by Clostridium thermocellum 7072 was markedly enhanced in the two-stage thermophilic hydrogen fermentation process integrated with alkaline treatment. The highest total hydrogen yield from cornstalks in the two-stage fermentation process reached 74.

Enhancement of phenylethanoid glycosides biosynthesis in cell cultures of Cistanche deserticola by osmotic stress.

The effect of osmotic stress on cell growth and phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) biosynthesis was investigated in cell suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, a desert medicinal plant grown in west region of China.

Improvement of phenylethanoid glycosides biosynthesis in Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures by chitosan elicitor.

Effect of chitosan elicitor on growth and phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) accumulation in Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures was investigated. PeGs accumulation was dramatically improved by addition of selected chitosan at optimal elicitation conditions. Furthermore, a strategy of repeated addition of the chitosan elicitor for enhancing PeGs accumulation was developed.