Active MT1-MMP is tethered to collagen fibers in DDR2-containing remnants.

Type I collagen is a major extracellular matrix (ECM) component in the interstitial stroma of solid tumors, and it represents the first barrier against tumor cell invasion after basement-membrane degradation. The collagen receptors that convey molecular signals into the cells are collagen-binding discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) and integrins. Collagen-activated DDR2 clusters form DDR2-containing remnants in an integrin-dependent manner in three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix.

Xanthohumol suppresses inflammation in chondrocytes and ameliorates osteoarthritis in mice.

Osteoarthritis (OA), manifested as degeneration and damage of the articular cartilage is a progressive disease of joints. Previous studies have shown that extracellular matrix degradation and inflammation have quite a significant performance in the occurrence and development of OA. In various maladies, an anti-inflammatory effect has been demonstrated for Xanthohumol (XN); while OA is an inflammation related disease.

Fibrinogen/Lymphocyte Count Ratio Can Be Used as a New Indicator of Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radical Resection.

Purpose: Preoperative fibrinogen levels are associated with the development, recurrence and metastasis of malignant tumors. This study was designed to investigate the clinical value of preoperative fibrinogen/lymphocyte count ratio (FLR) index in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: The clinical data of 479 patients with HCC who underwent radical resection were retrospectively analyzed.

Cross-Species Suppression of Hepatoma Cell Growth and Migration by a Schistosoma japonicum MicroRNA.

Schistosoma japonicum eggs trapped in host liver secretes microRNA (miRNA)-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be transferred to host cells. Recent studies demonstrated that miRNAs derived from plants can modulate gene expression and phenotype of mammalian cells in a cross-kingdom manner. In this study, we identified a Schistosoma japonicum miRNA (e.

MiRNA-7-5p Inhibits the Growth and Migration of Hepatoma Cells via Cross-Species Regulation of S-Phase Kinase-Associated Protein 2.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in human diseases, such as cancer. Human miRNA-7-5p is a tumor suppressor miRNA that inhibits tumor growth by regulating multiple oncogenic signal pathways. Recently, studies revealed that plant miRNAs could regulate mammalian gene expression in a cross-kingdom manner.

Aqueous semaphorin 3A level correlates with retinal macular oedema and ganglion cell degeneration in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate the semophorin 3A (SEMA3A) level in aqueous humor of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and explore the correlation of SEMA3A with macular oedema and ganglion cell degeneration in RVO.

Methods: This comparative study prospectively included 41 consecutive patients (41 eyes) with RVO who had intravitreal anti-VEGF injections from March 2014 to March 2015 for cystoid macular oedema (CME) or neovascular glaucoma (NVG). The patients were divided into three groups according to the fluorescein angiograghy (FFA): central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) group (n = 15), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) group (n = 15) and NVG group (secondary to CRVO, n = 11).

Effects of Polymorphisms in the SjSP-13 Gene of on Its Diagnostic Efficacy and Immunogenicity.

Schistosomiasis japonica is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in China. The scarcity of effective diagnostic tools is a major factor that contributes to the high prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica. SjSP-13 is a promising serological diagnostic biomarker of the disease.

IFN-γ Induces Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation and Metastasis Through Upregulation of Integrin β3-Mediated NF-κB Signaling.

Interferon γ (IFN-γ), a multifunctional cytokine, was upregulated in the resected gastric cancer tissue. However, whether IFN-γ is involved in the regulation of gastric cancer has not been well elucidated. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of IFN-γ on gastric cancer.

E3 ubiquitin ligase DTX4 is required for adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes cell line.

Deltex4 (DTX4) is a member of the Deltex family of proteins. To date several lines of evidences suggest that Deltex family of proteins is closely linked to cell development and cell differentiation. However, little is known about the role of DTX4 in adipogenic differentiation.

The effects of genetic variation in FTO rs9939609 on obesity and dietary preferences in Chinese Han children and adolescents.

The association of the rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism in FTO gene with obesity has been extensively investigated in studies of populations of European, African, and Asian ancestry. However, inconsistent results have been reported in Asian populations, and the relationship of FTO variation and dietary behaviors has only rarely been examined in Chinese children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the association of rs9939609 with obesity and dietary preferences in childhood in a Chinese population.

The PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways mediate the erythropoietin-modulated calcium influx in kainic acid-induced epilepsy.

Erythropoietin (EPO) suppresses epileptogenesis and limits the neuronal damage associated with recurrent seizures, but the neurocellular mechanism is unclear. Dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis is a key pathogenic event leading to the progression of epileptic activity, suggesting that EPO may suppress seizures by stabilizing intracellular calcium. In this study, we examined the effects of EPO on voltage-gated Ca(2+) influx in cultured rat hippocampal neurons and population spike (PS) amplitude in kainic acid (KA)-induced rats and the mechanisms responsible.

A Nested PCR Assay for Detecting Valsa mali var. mali in Different Tissues of Apple Trees.

A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting Valsa mali var. mali, the causal agent of apple tree Valsa canker, was developed. One pair of genus-specific primers was designed based on the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer conservative sequence of the Valsa genus and one pair of species-specific primers was designed based on the specific sequence of V.

Mechanism of folate deficiency-induced apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells: Cell cycle arrest/apoptosis in G1/G0 mediated by microRNA-302a and tumor suppressor gene Lats2.

Deficiencies in maternal diet, such as inadequate intake of folate, can inhibit normal development and lead to developmental defects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may play a role in mediating the effects of folate deficiency in the growing mammalian embryo, although conclusive evidences to support that possibility are not yet available. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether and how folate deprivation alters the properties of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in culture.

The molecular cloning of glial fibrillary acidic protein in Gekko japonicus and its expression changes after spinal cord transection.

The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an astrocyte-specific member of the class III intermediate filament proteins. It is generally used as a specific marker of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). We isolated a GFAP cDNA from the brain and spinal cord cDNA library of Gekko japonicus, and prepared polyclonal antibodies against gecko GFAP to provide useful tools for further immunochemistry studies.

Excitotoxicity of TNFalpha derived from KA activated microglia on hippocampal neurons in vitro and in vivo.

Highly activated microglia and followed excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines are associated with neuroexcitotoxic injuries. We use electrophysiological techniques, ELISA, western-blot, RT-PCR assay and TUNEL method to explore whether over-produced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) released from activated microglia results in neuronal injuries, and further causes apoptosis through increasing excitotoxicity of hippocampal neurons. Our data showed that kainic acid (KA) activated microglia highly expressed TNFalpha, mRNA and protein.

Kainic acid-activated microglia mediate increased excitability of rat hippocampal neurons in vitro and in vivo: crucial role of interleukin-1beta.

Objective: It is known that highly activated microglia and the consequent production of inflammatory cytokines were associated with neuroexcitotoxic injuries. The present study was carried out to explore whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a proinflammatory cytokine produced in abundance by activated microglia, mediates increased excitability of hippocampal neurons and the related molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Primary cultured microglia were activated by kainic acid (KA), and the KA-treated microglial conditioned medium (KA-MCM) was collected.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated astrocyte conditioned medium regulates the L-type calcium channel activity in rat cortical neurons.

Astrocytes are activated by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in vivo and in vitro, however, the consequences on the L-type calcium channel (LCC) of neurons are still poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study, whole-cell patch clamp, western-blot and RT-PCR assay were performed to evaluate the effects of CNTF-treated astrocyte conditioned medium (CNTF-ACM) on LCC current (I(Ca)-L) and the expression of Cav1.2 and Cav1.

Effects of activated ACM on expression of signal transducers in cerebral cortical neurons of rats.

To explore the roles of astrocytes in the epileptogenesis, astrocytes and neurons were isolated, purified and cultured in vitro from cerebral cortex of rats. The astrocytes were activated by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and astrocytic conditioned medium (ACM) was collected to treat neurons for 4, 8 and 12 h. By using Western blot, the expression of calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and adenylate cyclase (AC) was detected in neurons.

Changes in behavior and amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain of rats with seizure induced by IL-1beta or IL-6.

To explore the mechanism of epilepsy induced by IL-1beta and IL-6, the changes of glutamic acid (Glu) and GABA immunoreaction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats with seizure induced by IL-1beta or IL-6 were studied. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (intracerebroventricular injection (icv) of NS), IL-1beta group (icv injection of IL-1beta) and IL-6 group (i. c.