Lentiviral vector mediated-ASAP1 expression promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and has a high mortality rate due to metastatic progression and tumor recurrence. ASAP1 (ArfGAP with SH3 Domain, Ankyrin Repeat and PH Domain 1) is an ADP-ribosylation factor GTPase-activating protein, which is involved in tumor metastasis. However, the role of ASAP1 in ovarian cancer is completely unknown.

Identification of MHC I class genes in two Platyrrhini species.

The major histocompatibility complex is a diverse gene family that plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune system. In humans, the MHC class I genes consist of the classical loci of HLA-A, -B, and -C, and the nonclassical loci HLA-E, -F, and -G. In Platyrrhini species, few MHC class I genes have been described so far and were classified as MHC-E, MHC-F, and MHC-G, with MHC-G possibly representing a classical MHC class I locus while there were arguments about the existence of the MHC-B locus in Platyrrhini.

High-fat diet from perilla oil induces insulin resistance despite lower serum lipids and increases hepatic fatty acid oxidation in rats.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a high-fat diet from perilla oil on serum lipids, hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed either a control (CT) diet or a diet high in perilla oil (HP). After 16 weeks of feeding, the serum lipids were measured, and the gene expressions involved in hepatic fatty acid oxidation and synthesis were determined.

Mamu-B genes and their allelic repertoires in different populations of Chinese-origin rhesus macaques.

Since rhesus monkeys of Chinese origin have gained greater utilization in recent years, it is urgent to investigate the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) immunogenetics of Chinese rhesus macaques. In this study, we identified 81 Mamu-B sequences using complementary DNA cloning and sequencing on a cohort of 58 rhesus monkeys derived from three local populations of China. Twenty of these Mamu-B alleles are novel and four of them represent new lineages.

Preliminary observations of MHC class I A region polymorphism in three populations of Chinese-origin rhesus macaques.

Rhesus macaques are an animal model for the study of a variety of human diseases. The Chinese rhesus macaques have been widely used in biomedical research in recent years. However, the polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I A region among different local populations of Chinese rhesus macaques has never been investigated.

Microsatellite variation in two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

To estimate the genetic variability of two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis and M. f. aurea) using microsatellite markers, 26 microsatellite markers were selected from previous reports.

Natural infection with canine distemper virus in hand-feeding Rhesus monkeys in China.

An outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) in hand-feeding Rhesus monkeys in China was reported. Twenty Rhesus monkeys presented blood and mucus in feces, respiratory symptoms, anorexia, acute fever, thicken of footpad and red rashes in the faces over 1-month period. CDV infection was identified by characteristic clinical signs, the specific detection of the BIT Rapid color CDV detection kit, electron microscopy and the results of sequence aligning.