Parasitic wasps inject various virulence factors into the host insects while laying eggs, among which the venom proteins, one of the key players in host insect/parasitoid relationships, act in host cellular and humoral immune regulation to ensure successful development of wasp progeny. Although the investigations into actions of venom proteins are relatively ample in larval parasitoids, their regulatory mechanisms have not been thoroughly understood in pupal parasitoids. Here, we identified a venom protein, Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor, in the pupal ectoparasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (PvKazal).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immune interactions occurring between parasitoids and their host insects, especially in Drosophila-wasp models, have long been the research focus of insect immunology and parasitology. Parasitoid infestation in Drosophila is counteracted by its multiple natural immune defense systems, which include cellular and humoral immunity. Occurring in the hemocoel, cellular immune responses involve the proliferation, differentiation, migration and spreading of host hemocytes and parasitoid encapsulation by them.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParasitoid wasps inject venom containing complex bioactive compounds to regulate the immune response and development of host arthropods and sometime paralyze host arthropods. Although extensive studies have been conducted on the identification of venom proteins in larval parasitoids, relatively few studies have examined the pupal parasitoids. In our current study, a combination of transcriptomic and proteomic methods was used to identify 64 putative venom proteins from , an ectoparasitoid of .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the association between the prevalence of varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elder man in China.
Methods: A total of 831 BPH/LUTS outpatients who were 40 years or older were recruited. The patients' age, total prostatic volume (TPV), International Prostate Symptom Score, total prostate-specific antigen, nocturia, and body mass index were recorded.
Cardiac c-kit+ cells isolated from cardiac explant-derived cells modestly improve cardiac functions after myocardial infarction; however, their full potential has not yet been realized. The present study was undertaken to determine the isolation and culture of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells (CSCs), and the roles of myocardial injection of CSCs on the survival of rat cardiac allograft. Recipient Sprague-Dawley rats were transplanted with hearts from Wistar rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It has been reported that rs940494 and rs805296 SNPs of apolipoprotein M (apoM) gene may confer the risk in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Han Chinese. However, a recent study demonstrated that rs805297 polymorphism is significantly associated with reduced total high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients. But the relationship between rs805297 SNP and CAD has not been explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Administration of androgens decreases plasma concentrations of high-density lipid cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the mechanisms by which androgens mediate lipid metabolism remain unknown. This present study used HepG2 cell cultures and ovariectomized C57BL/6 J mice to determine whether apolipoprotein M (ApoM), a constituent of HDL, was affected by dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFXi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi
November 2010
Aim: To prepare the polyclonal antibody against insect antifreeze protein MpAFP149 and use it to identify the expression of the heterologous antifreeze protein in transgenic tobacco.
Methods: Eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-MpAFP149 was constructed as a DNA vaccine by inserting MpAFP149 gene into pcDNA3 vector. The gene fragment encoding MpAFP149 mature peptide was cloned into pGEX-4T-1 vector to yield recombinant pGEX-4T-1- MpsAFP149.
An insect antifreeze protein gene Mpafp698 was cloned by the RT-PCR approach from the desert beetle Microdera punctipennis. The gene was constructed and heterogeneously expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins, His-MpAFP698, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-MpAFP698, and maltose-binding protein (MBP)-MpAFP698. The thermostability and thermal hysteresis activity of these proteins were determined, with the aim of elucidating the biological characteristics of this protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi
October 2008
Objective: To investigate the relationship between the plasma macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), activator protein-1 (AP-1) and MMP-9 concentrations and the severity of coronary artery lesions in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
Methods: Patients were divided into normal controls (n = 35), stable angina pectoris (SAP, n = 32) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n = 75) according to the coronary angiography (CAG), clinical and laboratory examinations. The CAG severity and extent of coronary lesions were analyzed by means of Gensini coronary score system.
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi
July 2008
Objective: To investigate the relation between activator protein-1 (AP-1) and coronary atherosclerotic changes and the potential role of AP-1 in the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Method: 142 patients were included in this study and divided into CHD group (107) and control group (35) according to coronary angiography (CAG). The CHD group was further divided into a stable angina pectoris (SAP) group (32) and an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group (75) according to the clinical manifestations.
Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi
June 2004