Epigallocatechin-3-gallate ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute thymus involution in mice via AMPK/Sirt1 pathway.

The thymus, a site to culture the naïve T lymphocytes, is susceptible to atrophy or involution due to aging, inflammation, and oxidation. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been proven to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activity. Here, we investigate the effects of EGCG on thymic involution induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin derived from Gram-negative bacteria.

Thymic tuft cells: potential "regulators" of non-mucosal tissue development and immune response.

As the leading central immune organ, the thymus is where T cells differentiate and mature, and plays an essential regulatory role in the adaptive immune response. Tuft cells, as chemosensory cells, were first found in rat tracheal epithelial, later gradually confirmed to exist in various mucosal and non-mucosal tissues. Although tuft cells are epithelial-derived, because of their wide heterogeneity, they show functions similar to cholinergic and immune cells in addition to chemosensory ability.

Regeneration and proliferation of cardiomyocytes and its microRNA regulatory mechanisms.

Myocardial regeneration is identified as a concept at histological level. The core content is to increase the number of cardiomyocytes (CMs), so as to maintain the steady state of CMs under pathological or physiological conditions and ensure the normal cardiac function. In this review, we discussed the relevant factors involved in the regeneration of CMs, generalized in mice, large mammals and human.

Metformin ameliorates thymus degeneration of mice by regulating mitochondrial function.

As the main lymphoid organ, the thymus degenerates with age. The loss of thymic epithelial cells is mainly related to thymus degeneration and reduced T cells development. As an insulin sensitizer, metformin is a first-line drug for the treatment of diabetes and has been shown to prolong the lifespan of mice, but the mechanism is still unclear.

Dosage effects of resveratrol on thymus involution in D-galactose-treated mice.

The thymus regulates a specific microenvironment for the growth and maturation of naive T cells. Involution of immune function was an important factor during body aging. Preventing the senescence of immune organs has become a major medical issue.

Resveratrol ameliorates thymus senescence changes in D-galactose induced mice.

The thymic microenvironment plays an important role in the development of T cells. A decrease of thymic epithelial cells is the main cause of age-related thymic atrophy or degeneration. Resveratrol (RSV), a phytoalexin produced from plants, has been shown to inhibit the adverse effects of dietary obesity on the structure and function of the thymus.

Curcumin protects thymus against D-galactose-induced senescence in mice.

Senescence-related decline of thymus affects immune function in the elderly population and contributes to the prevalence of many relevant diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other chronic diseases. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of curcumin, an agent that could counter aging, and explored its optimal intake and the alteration of autoimmune regulator (Aire) after curcumin treatment in the D-galactose (D-gal)-induced accelerated aging mice. ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with D-gal for 8 weeks to establish the accelerated aging model and given curcumin with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight per day by gavage, respectively, for 6 weeks.

Gallic acid attenuates thymic involution in the d-galactose induced accelerated aging mice.

Senescence is an inevitable and complicated phenomenon. Age-associated thymic involution increases the risk of infectious diseases, which results in the immunosenescence and leads to a poor immune function. d-galactose (d-gal) can cause damages that resemble accelerated aging in mice.

Crosstalk among the proteome, lysine phosphorylation, and acetylation in romidepsin-treated colon cancer cells.

Romidepsin (FK228) is one of the most promising histone-deacetylase inhibitors due to its potent antitumor activity, and has been used as a practical option for cancer therapy. However, FK228-induced changes in protein modifications and the crosstalk between different modifications has not been reported. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of FK228-related cancer therapy, we investigated the acetylome, phosphorylation, and crosstalk between modification datasets in colon cancer cells treated with FK228 by using stable-isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture and affinity enrichment, followed by high-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

Serum anti-MDM2 and anti-c-Myc autoantibodies as biomarkers in the early detection of lung cancer.

This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of serum autoantibodies against MDM2 and c-Myc and evaluate their feasibility in the immunodiagnosis of lung cancer. 50 sera samples with 43 available paired lung cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue slides with follow up information and 44 sera from normal human controls (NHC) were used in the research group. Another 62 lung cancer sera and 43 NHC sera were used in the validation group.

A mini review of MAR-binding proteins.

Genomic DNA encompasses several levels of organization, the nuclear matrix mediates the formation of DNA loop domains that are anchored to matrix attachment regions (MARs). By means of specific interaction with MAR binding proteins (MARBPs), MAR plays an important regulation role in enhancing transgene expression, decreasing expression variation among individuals of different transformants and serving as the replication origin. Through these years, some MARBPs have been identified and characterized from humans, plants, animals and algae so far and the list is growing.

Expression of recombinant kringle 1-5 domains of human plasminogen by a prokaryote expression system.

Kringle1-5 (K1-5), a proteolytic fragment containing five kringle domains of human plasminogen generated by plasmin-mediated proteolysis, has been already identified by Cao et al. with relation to anti-angiogenesis and proliferation of endothelial cells. To investigate anti-angiogenesis activity of recombinant human K1-5 (rhK1-5) expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, the cDNA of human K1-5 obtained from cloning vector pUC57-K1-5 by PCR, was inserted into an expression vector pET30(+) to construct a prokaryotic expression vector pET-K1-5.

Nuclear matrices and matrix attachment regions from Green alga: Dunaliella salina.

Nuclear DNA of eukaryotic organism attaches to the proteinaceous nuclear matrices via specific matrix attachment regions (MARs). In order to investigate the interactions between chromosomal DNA and nuclear matrices,we isolated the MARs from unicellular alga Dunaliella salina. As the first step,a random MAR library was set up and then the binding affinity of the selected clones to nuclear matrices was tested in this study.

[Preparation of human recombinant kringle 1-5 and its bioactivity].

To investigate antiangiogenesis activity and effects on endothelial cell proliferation of human recombinant K1-5 expressed in E.coli BL21, the cDNA of human K1-5 obtained from a cloning vector pUC57K1-5 by PCR, was inserted into an expression vector pET30(+) to construct a prokaryotic expression vector pET-K1-5. Recombinant K1-5 efficiently expressed in E.

[Construction of randomly matrix attachment regions library from the green alga: Dunaliella salina].

Matrix attachment region (MAR) is DNA fragment that can bind to the nuclear matrix. In order to isolate the MAR fragment from the halotolerant green alga Dunaliella salina, we created a library of randomly obtained MAR from D. salina.

[Expression of mouse canstatin and its N-domain in E. coli BL21].

The mouse canstatin and its N-domain cDNA were amplified from total RNA of mouse liver by RT- PCR and cloned into vector pMD18-T for sequencing. Prokaryotic expression vectors pET/Can and pET/Can-N were constructed and expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) with induction of IPTG.

Recombinant mouse canstatin inhibits chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis and endothelial cell proliferation.

Human canstatin, a 24 kD fragment of the alpha2 chain of type IV collagen, has been proved to be one of the most effective inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth. To investigate in vivo antiangiogenesis activity and in vitro effects on endothelial cell proliferation of recombinant mouse canstatin, the cDNA of mouse canstatin was introduced into an expression vector pQE40 to construct a prokaryotic expression vector pQE-mCan. The recombinant mouse canstatin efficiently expressed in E.