[Homocysteine induces glomerular podocyte apoptosis via up-regulation of miR-488-3p expression in MPC-5 mice].

Objective To explore the role of microRNA-488-3p (miR-488-3p) in podocytes apoptosis induced by homocysteine (Hcy). Methods Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the ratio of podocytes apoptosis after treated with 0 μmol/L Hcy (control group) or 80 μmol/L Hcy (Hcy group) for 48 hours. The expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl2-related X protein (BAX), and caspase-3 were measured by Western blot analysis in podocytes, after cells were treated with 80 μmol/L Hcy (Hcy group) for 48 hours, and the expression of miR-488-3p was detected by real-time PCR.

miR-30a-5p promotes glomerular podocyte apoptosis via DNMT1-mediated hypermethylation under hyperhomocysteinemia.

Abnormal elevation of homocysteine (Hcy) level is closely related to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with the molecular mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Given the demonstration that miR-30a-5p is specifically expressed in glomerular podocytes, in the present study we aimed to investigate the role and potential underlying mechanism of miR-30a-5p in glomerular podocyte apoptosis induced by Hcy. We found that elevated Hcy downregulates miR-30a-5p expression in the mice and Hcy-treated podocytes, and miR-30a-5p directly targets the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) and overexpression of miR-30a-5p inhibits FOXA1 expression.

[Overexpression of ephrin-A receptor 2 (EphA2) in invasive breast cancer tissues and its negative correlation with pyroptosis].

Objective To investigate how ephrin-A receptor 2 (EphA2) involves in pyroptosis in invasive breast cancer tissues. Methods The protein expression levels of EphA2, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in cancer tissues, paracancerous tissues, and normal breast tissues of breast cancer patients were detected by Western blot; the expression of EPHA2 in cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues of 45 patients with breast cancer was detected by immunofluorescence assay; and the correlation between protein expression of EphA2 and NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β in patients' cancer tissues was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results The protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and ICAM-1 were significantly decreased and the protein expression of EphA2 was significantly increased in cancer tissues compared with those in normal breast tissues and paracancerous tissues.

Homocysteine induces podocyte apoptosis by regulating miR-1929-5p expression through c-Myc, DNMT1 and EZH2.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and complex disease in kidneys which has been associated with an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels are known to influence the development and progression of CKD by regulating podocyte injury and apoptosis. To investigate the molecular mechanisms triggered in podocytes by Hcy, we used cbs mice and observed that higher Hcy levels increased the apoptosis rate of podocytes with accompanying glomerular damage.

WITHDRAWN: Mechanism of extracellular‑superoxide dismutase DNA methylation in a hyperhomocysteinemia‑induced atherosclerosis in a mouse model.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Geographical variation in the echolocation calls of bent-winged bats, Miniopterus fuliginosus.

Evolutionary biologists had a long-standing interest in the evolutionary forces underlying geographical variation in the acoustic signals of animals. However, the evolutionary forces driving acoustic variation are still unclear. In this study, we quantified the geographical variation in the peak frequencies of echolocation calls in eight Miniopterus fuliginosus bat colonies, and assessed the forces that drive acoustic divergence.

Aberrant promoter methylation of multiple genes in VSMC proliferation induced by Hcy.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is a primary pathological event in atherosclerosis (AS), and homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for AS. However, the underlying mechanisms are still lagging. Studies have used the combination of methylation of promoters of multiple genes to diagnose tumors, thus the aim of the current study was to investigate the role of methylation status of several genes in VSMCs treated with Hcy.

Host persistence or extinction from emerging infectious disease: insights from white-nose syndrome in endemic and invading regions.

Predicting species' fates following the introduction of a novel pathogen is a significant and growing problem in conservation. Comparing disease dynamics between introduced and endemic regions can offer insight into which naive hosts will persist or go extinct, with disease acting as a filter on host communities. We examined four hypothesized mechanisms for host-pathogen persistence by comparing host infection patterns and environmental reservoirs for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (the causative agent of white-nose syndrome) in Asia, an endemic region, and North America, where the pathogen has recently invaded.

Detection and characterization of diverse alpha- and betacoronaviruses from bats in China.

Bats have been implicated as important reservoir hosts of alpha- and betacoronaviruses. In this study, diverse coronaviruses (CoVs) were detected in 50 of 951 (positive rate 5.3%) intestinal specimens of eight bat species collected in four provinces and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China by pan-coronavirus RT-PCR screening.

Mitochondrial genetic differentiation and morphological difference of Miniopterus fuliginosus and Miniopterus magnater in China and Vietnam.

Because of its complicated systematics, the bent-winged bat is one of the most frequently studied bat species groups. In China, two morphologically similar bent-winged bat species, Miniopterus fuliginosus and Miniopterus magnater were identified, but their distribution range and genetic differentiation are largely unexplored. In this study, we applied DNA bar codes and two other mitochondrial DNA genes including morphological parameters to determine the phylogeny, genetic differentiation, spatial distribution, and morphological difference of the M.

[Vimentin gene transfection promotes the invasion of bladder cancer SW780 cells].

Objective: To construct a recombinant pcDNA3.1-vimentin and transfect it into human bladder carcinoma SW780 cells, and investigate the effect of vimentin on the invasion of SW780 cells.

Methods: Human vimentin cDNA was amplified by PCR and inserted into vector pcDNA3.

Phylogeography of the Rickett's big-footed bat, Myotis pilosus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): a novel pattern of genetic structure of bats in China.

Background: China is characterized by complex topographic structure and dramatic palaeoclimatic changes, making species biogeography studies particularly interesting. Previous researchers have also demonstrated multiple species experienced complex population histories, meanwhile multiple shelters existed in Chinese mainland. Despite this, species phylogeography is still largely unexplored.

Variation in the resting frequency of Rhinolophus pusillus in Mainland China: effect of climate and implications for conservation.

This study describes variation patterns in the constant frequency of echolocation calls emitted at rest and when not flying ("resting frequency" RF) of the least horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus pusillus, on a broad geographical scale and in response to local climatic variables. Significant differences in RF were observed among populations throughout the species range in Mainland China, and this variation was positively and significantly related to climate conditions, especially environmental humidity, but the variability was only weakly associated with geographical distance. Sex dimorphism in the RF of R.

Pleistocene glacial cycle effects on the phylogeography of the Chinese endemic bat species, Myotis davidii.

Background: Global climatic oscillations, glaciation cycles and the unique geographic topology of China have profoundly influenced species population distributions. In most species, contemporary distributions of populations cannot be fully understood, except in a historical context. Complex patterns of Pleistocene glaciations, as well as other physiographic changes have influenced the distribution of bat species in China.