Regulators of calcineurin 1 deficiency attenuates tubulointerstitial fibrosis through improving mitochondrial fitness.

Renal fibrosis is the common pathological process of various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Recent studies indicate that mitochondrial fragmentation is closely associated with renal fibrosis in CKD. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to mitochondrial fragmentation remain to be elucidated.

Dual roles of parathyroid hormone related protein in TGF-β1 signaling and fibronectin up-regulation in mesangial cells.

Little is known about the cross-talk between parathyroid hormone (PTH) related protein (PTHrP) and TGF-β1 in mesangial cells (MCs). Our results showed that PTHrP treatment (≤3 h) induced internalization of PTH1R (PTH/PTHrP receptor)-TβRII (TGF-β type 2 receptor) complex and suppressed TGF-β1-mediated Smad2/3 activation and fibronectin (FN) up-regulation. However, prolonged PTHrP treatment (12-48 h) failed to induce PTH1R-TβRII association and internalization.

Effect of cold stress on immunity in rats.

An increase in the morbidity of upper respiratory tract infections and the attack and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases has been observed to occur in the few days following sudden environmental temperature decreases, but the mechanisms for these phenomena are not well understood. To determine the effect of a sudden ambient temperature drop on the levels of stress hormones and T-lymphocyte cytokines in the plasma, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression of immunocompetent cells in rat spleens and the levels of regulatory T (Treg) cells in the peripheral blood, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of different ambient temperatures (20, 4 and -12°C). In each group, there were four observation time-points (1, 12, 24 and 48 h).

[Effects of nitrogen application rates and straw returning on nutrient balance and grain yield of late sowing wheat in rice-wheat rotation].

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of nitrogen application rates and straw returning on grain yield, nutrient accumulation, nutrient release from straw and nutrient balance in late sowing wheat. The results showed that straw returning together with appropriate application of nitrogen fertilizer improved the grain yield. Dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulation increased significantly as the nitrogen application rate increased.

[Effects of nitrogen application rates on apparent soil nitrogen surplus of late sowing wheat with straw returning in rice-wheat rotation].

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of varying rates of nitrogen application on soil mineral nitrogen content, amount of nitrogen released from the straw, and grain yield of late sowing wheat with straw returning. The result showed that a high nitrogen fertilizer application rate enhanced the mineral nitrogen content in the soil layer of 0 to 50 cm, and also in the lower soil layers when using N at 270 and 360 kg · hm(-2) with the advance of growth stages. The amount of nitrogen released form the straw increased as the nitrogen application rate increased; the lowest appeared from overwintering to jointing, and the highest from jointing to maturity.

Cathepsin B contributes to autophagy-related 7 (Atg7)-induced nod-like receptor 3 (NLRP3)-dependent proinflammatory response and aggravates lipotoxicity in rat insulinoma cell line.

Impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion caused by the lipotoxicity of palmitate was found in β-cells. Recent studies have indicated that defects in autophagy contribute to pathogenesis in type 2 diabetes. Here, we report that autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) induced excessive autophagic activation in INS-1(823/13) cells exposed to saturated fatty acids.