Abrupt drought–flood alternation (T1) is a meteorological disaster that frequently occurs during summer in southern China and the Yangtze river basin, often causing a significant loss of rice ...production. In this study, the response mechanism of yield decline under abrupt drought–flood alternation stress at the panicle differentiation stage was analyzed by looking at the metabolome, proteome as well as yield and physiological and biochemical indexes. The results showed that drought and flood stress caused a decrease in the yield of rice at the panicle differentiation stage, and abrupt drought–flood alternation stress created a synergistic effect for the reduction of yield. The main reason for the decrease of yield per plant under abrupt drought–flood alternation was the decrease of seed setting rate. Compared with CK0 (no drought and no flood), the net photosynthetic rate and soluble sugar content of T1 decreased significantly and its hydrogen peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase activity increased significantly. The identified differential metabolites and differentially expressed proteins indicated that photosynthesis metabolism, energy metabolism pathway and reactive oxygen species response have changed strongly under abrupt drought–flood alteration stress, which are factors that leads to the rice grain yield reduction.
Immortalized human hepatocytes (IHH) could provide an unlimited supply of hepatocytes, but insufficient differentiation and phenotypic instability restrict their clinical application. This study ...aimed to determine the role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A) in hepatic differentiation of IHH, and whether encapsulation of IHH overexpressing HNF4A could improve liver function and survival in rats with acute liver failure (ALF). Primary human hepatocytes were transduced with lentivirus-mediated catalytic subunit of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) to establish IHH. Cells were analyzed for telomerase activity, proliferative capacity, hepatocyte markers, and tumorigenicity (c-myc) expression. Hepatocyte markers, hepatocellular functions, and morphology were studied in the HNF4A-overexpressing IHH. Hepatocyte markers and karyotype analysis were completed in the primary hepatocytes using shRNA knockdown of HNF4A. Nuclear translocation of β-catenin was assessed. Rat models of ALF were treated with encapsulated IHH or HNF4A-overexpressing IHH. A HNF4A-positive IHH line was established, which was non-tumorigenic and conserved properties of primary hepatocytes. HNF4A overexpression significantly enhanced mRNA levels of genes related to hepatic differentiation in IHH. Urea levels were increased by the overexpression of HNF4A, as measured 24h after ammonium chloride addition, similar to that of primary hepatocytes. Chromosomal abnormalities were observed in primary hepatocytes transfected with HNF4A shRNA. HNF4α overexpression could significantly promote β-catenin activation. Transplantation of HNF4A overexpressing IHH resulted in better liver function and survival of rats with ALF compared with IHH. HNF4A improved hepatic differentiation of IHH. Transplantation of HNF4A-overexpressing IHH could improve the liver function and survival in a rat model of ALF.
•Immortalized human hepatocytes (IHH) could provide an unlimited supply of hepatocytes.•Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A) plays a role in hepatic differentiation.•HNF4A improved hepatic differentiation of IHH.•Transplantation of HNF4A-overexpressing IHH could improve liver function.
We report here the construction of a new set of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in rice, in which the genome of the elite japonica cultivar C418 has been introgressed into the ...background of the elite indica cultivar 9311. This set was developed by marker aided selection, based on 136 SSR and in/del markers. The introgressed chromosomal segments presented in the 108 CSSLs covered 98.3% of the cultivar C418 genome. The CSSL set was used to genetically analyze variation for 1000-grain weight (TGW) and related traits in two contrasting environments, and led to the identification of 41 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), five of which were expressed in both environments. More detailed mapping of qTGW7 showed that it is co-segregated with RM22034 on the short arm of chromosome 7. The CSSLs varied phenotypically with respect to a number of agronomic traits besides TGW. CSSL populations would be effective in identifying QTLs for these various traits, and could provide germplasm relevant for crop improvement.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise as cellular vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic gene products because they can be isolated, expanded, and genetically modified in vitro and possess ...tumor-oriented homing capacity in vivo.
1
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is a dominant transcriptional regulator of hepatocyte differentiation and hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC).
2,3
We have previously demonstrated that overexpression of HNF4α activates various hepatic-specific genes and enhances MSC differentiation.
4
However, the extent that overexpression of HNF4α in MSCs influences HCC progression has yet to be examined. Here we sought to investigate what effect MSCs overexpressing HNF4α (MSC-HNF4α) have on human hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Conditioned medium collected from in vitro MSC-HNF4α cultures significantly inhibited hepatoma cell growth and metastasis compared with controls. Additionally, nude mice administered MSC-HNF4α exhibited significantly smaller tumors compared with controls in vivo. Immunoblot analysis of HCC cells treated with MSC-HNF4α displayed downregulated β-catenin, cyclinD1, c-Myc, MMP2 and MMP9. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MSC-HNF4α inhibits HCC progression by reducing hepatoma cell growth and metastasis through downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
To investigate the effects of transplantation of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) in the treatment of diabetic rats after 90% pancreatectomy.
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) were ...isolated and induced into IPCs using differentiation medium. Differentiated cells were examined by dithizone (DTZ) staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and real-time RT-PCR. C-peptide release, both spontaneously and after glucose challenge, was measured by ELISA. IPCs were then transplanted into Sprague-Dawley rats after 90% pancreatectomy and blood glucose levels and body weight were measured.
The differentiated cells were positive for DTZ staining and expressed pancreatic β-cell related genes. C-peptide release by the differentiated cells increased after glucose challenge (380.6 ± 15.32 pmol/L vs 272.4 ± 15.32 pmol/L, P < 0.05). Further, in the cell transplantation group, blood sugar levels were significantly lower than in the sham group 2 wk after transplantation (18.7 ± 2.5 mmol/L vs 25.8 ± 1.25 mmol/L, P < 0.05). Glucose tolerance tests showed that 45 min after intraperitoneal glucose injection, blood glucose levels were significantly lower on day 56 after transplantation of IPCs (12.5 ± 4.7 mmol/L vs 42.2 ± 9.3 mmol/L, P < 0.05).
Our results show that UCMSCs can differentiate into islet-like cells in vitro under certain conditions, which can function as IPCs both in vivo and in vitro.
CIP2A has been regarded as a novel potential therapeutic target for multiple cancers. The aim of this study was to detect CIP2A expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and to analyze its ...association with prognosis of PDA patients. The expression of CIP2A and three epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin) was examined in 96 PDA tissue samples by immunohistochemistry. Fifty-four cases (56.3 %) were defined as positive for CIP2A expression. Immunohistochemistry showed that CIP2A expression was correlated with poor tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that patients with CIP2A-positive expression showed lower overall survival rate than those with CIP2A-negative expression. Multivariate analysis showed that CIP2A expression was an independent prognostic factor for PDA patients. Furthermore, positive expression of CIP2A was strongly associated with loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and acquisition of the expression of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin. These findings suggest that CIP2A might promote EMT and progression in PDA, and thus may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with PDA.
Groundwater is often a critical source for industry, agriculture, and many other aspects of life. The Songnen Plain, located in the northeast of China, has been an important base for commodity grain ...and livestock husbandry in the country, with the groundwater of the Songhua River basin in eastern Songnen Plain playing a major role. Studies of hydrochemical spatio-temporal variation characteristics and evolution rules are carried out in the Songhua River basin. Seventy-three observation wells, including Quaternary unconfined wells, Quaternary confined wells, and Cretaceous confined wells, are analyzed using descriptive statistics, ratios of ions, piper diagrams and regional maps. The results of this study show that (1) HCO
3
−
and Ca
2+
are the main anion and cation in the groundwater, respectively, (2) nitrate pollution is relatively serious in unconfined water, (3) variation in chemical composition is greater in confined water than in unconfined water, and (4) the seasonal and regional characteristics of the Songnen groundwater system are controlled by the hydrochemical processes of weathering-dissolution, evaporation, and ion-exchange reactions.
Arsenical water pollution refers to the toxicity of arsenic. The form of trivalent arsenic has been seen as more toxic substances, which will be great improved by the manmade pollution. Compared with ...other technologies, adsorption is the main method of removal of arsenic pollution, for its higher efficiency and lower cost. Based on the adsorption theory and ion exchange method, the layered double hydroxides material containing ferric iron and manganese (Mn-Fe-LDH) was prepared to remove arsenic in this paper. We have designed some experiments for synthesis of this material. The reaction process and elemental compositions has been studied and the adsorption property of arsenic adsorption onto layered double hydroxides was verified through a series of experiments. Study shows that the Mn-Fe-LDH material can be used as a good adsorbent material for its high removal efficiency. The adsorption capacity of the Mn-Fe-LDH material is not affected by the interference of pH and Cl-/SO42- ion strength. It was a broad prospect for the development and application of arsenic removal materials.
Cloning and sequence analysis of southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus from Jiangxi province Sun Xiaotang, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang (China), College of Agronomy; Cui Ruqiang, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang (China), College of Agronomy; Ouyang Linjuan, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang (China), College of Agronomy
Jiangxi nongye daxue xuebao = Acta agriculturae universitatis jiangxiensis,
10/2013, Letnik:
35, Številka:
5
Journal Article
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