Objective: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of Curcumin (Cur) on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, and to explore its ...mechanism of tumor inhibition. Methods: The experimental design encompassed a control group and a CUR group, with HepG2 cells subjected to varying concentrations of CUR solution in vitro culture. Proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay, apoptosis rates, and cell cycle distribution were examined via flow cytometry, and Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 protein levels were analyzed using Western blot. Migration and invasion capabilities were evaluated using scratch and Transwell assays. Results: A concentration-dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell growth by all CUR concentrations compared to the control group. Flow cytometry demonstrated increased apoptosis rates with rising CUR concentrations, while cell cycle analysis indicated S phase arrest across all groups. Scratch and Transwell assays corroborated a decline in migration and invasion with escalating CUR concentrations. Western blot results illustrated a decrease in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax and Caspase-3 expression compared to the control group. Conclusions: Curcumin emerges as a potent inducer of apoptosis and inhibitor of proliferation in HepG2 cells. Its impact on migration, invasion, and cell division, coupled with the modulation of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 proteins, underscores its potential as a therapeutic agent in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Rice (Oryza sativa) grain shape is a key determinant of grain yield and market values. Facilitated by advancements in genomics and various molecular markers, more than 400 quantitative trait loci ...(QTLs) associated with rice grain traits have been identified. In this review, we examine the genetic bases of rice grain shape, focusing on the protein products of 13 genes that have been cloned and the chromosome locations of 15 QTLs that have been fine mapped. Although more genes affecting grain traits are likely to be cloned in the near future, characterizing their functions at the biochemical level and applying these molecular data to rice breeding programs will be a more challenging task.
A strategy to prepare graphene oxide (GO)/carbon nano-tubes (CNTs)/sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN) composite membranes aimed for the proton exchange membrane is presented herein. GO and ...CNTs were incorporated into SPEN to improve the performances of proton exchange membrane. To study the synergistic effect of GO and CNTs, GO/SPEN and CNTs/SPEN membranes were also fabricated. The influences of GO and CNTs upon the microstructures, including thermal and mechanical properties, water uptake, swelling, proton conductivity and methanol permeability of composite membranes were investigated in detail. The membranes combining GO and CNTs could effectively avoid the self-agglomeration of GO or CNTs. In such a way, efficient proton transport channels were constructed by homogeneous dispersion of GO and CNTs within SPEN, leading to enhancement of proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of GO/CNTs/SPEN composite membrane with the ratio of 2:2 achieved the highest value of 0.1197 S/cm at 20 °C. Meanwhile, low methanol permeability (2.015 × 10−7 cm2 s−1) was still maintained. Consequently, the combination of CNTs and GO exhibited a favorable synergistic effect on the selectivity of proton exchange membrane, which is better than pure SPEN, Nafion 117, GO/SPEN, and CNTs/SPEN membranes. This feasibility study could provide an alternative approach to design GO/CNTs-based proton-conducting membranes for DMFC applications.
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•The addition of GO and CNTs can effectively avoid the self-agglomeration of GO or CNTs.•The use of CNTs and GO shows synergistic enhancement in proton conductivity.•The system contained GO and CNTs maintains the low methanol permeability.•The possible proton conducting process of composite membrane is also proposed.
Background
Nutritional visual defects are apparently uncommon nowadays in developed nations. Retinal change‐related visual defects caused by hypovitaminoses may be underdiagnosed.
Aim of the study
To ...investigate the retinal structural and functional changes in a patient with multivitamin deficiency before and during vitamin supplementation.
Methods
A 51‐year‐old female had been on vegetarian diet as a child, and on restrict vegan diet during the last 2 years, developing severe bilateral deterioration of visual function and polyneuropathy. Blood test revealed low levels of vitamin A, B6 and D. The patient underwent examinations with optical coherence tomography (OCT), computerized visual field examination (VF), electroretinography (ERG), visual evoked potentials (VEP) and neurography before and after vitamin supplementation.
Results
Visual acuity (VA) was 20/1000 and VF examination showed central scotoma in both eyes. Color vision was significantly affected. Full‐field ERG showed normal rod and cone function, but a clearly reduced central peak was registered in multifocal ERG (mf‐ERG), indicating impaired fovea function. VEP showed delayed latency and low amplitude of P100 in both eyes. Neurography showed sensory polyneuropathy. OCT showed significant thinning of macular ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) with rapid progression. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was preserved and normal, which is in contrast to neuroinflammatory conditions. After 2.5 years of multivitamin supplementation, the visual functions were improved. GCIPL thickness was stable without further deterioration.
Conclusions
Multivitamin deficiency results in progressive thinning of GCIPL with severe visual deterioration. In contrast to neuroinflammation, RNFL is preserved and normal. Stabilized GCIPL during vitamin supplementation was associated with improved visual function. OCT provides a sensitive and objective measure for differential diagnosis, monitoring retinal change and response to therapy.
Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a malignant fibroblastic/myofibroblastic neoplasm with a prominent myxoid area. It has the clinical features of frequent local recurrence (LR) and occasional distant ...metastasis. Robust epidemiological data on MFS in China are lacking. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine the natural history of MFS, identify prognostic factors for recurrence and describe the real-life outcomes of MFS. We reviewed 52 patients with primary MFS from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University diagnosed between 2016 and 2020. All tumors were subjected to retrospective univariate analysis for prognostic factors of the disease, including tumor size, grade, location and sex; patient age; planned operation; surgical margin; and laboratory results. The significant factors identified by univariate analysis were subsequently analyzed via multivariate analysis. Overall survival (OS), post-treatment LR and metastatic-free survival were assessed as outcomes. The median age was 61 years (range, 13-93). Fourteen (26.92%) patients exhibited low grade disease, and 38 (73.08%) exhibited high grade disease. Among the 29 males, and 23 females, 15 (28.85%) had tumors in the trunk, 37 (71.15%) had tumors in the extremities, 26 had undergone planned surgery, and 26 had unexpected unplanned operation. The margin was negative in 39 (75%) patients and positive in 13 patients (25%). The serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration was high level in 33 (63.46%) patients and low level in 19 (36.54%) patients. The serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were low in 23 (44.23%) patients and high in 29 (55.77%) patients. LR was observed in 25 patients (48.08%), and 4 patients developed metastasis. A worse LR rate was found for patients with a low CK level (84.21%) than for those with a high CK level (27.27%) at 5 years (p < 0.05). The LR rate of patients who underwent planned surgery was lower than that of patients who underwent unplanned surgery (p < 0.05). There were significantly more patients with positive margins than patients with negative margins (92.30%, and 33.33%, respectively; p < 0.05). Moreover, superficial tumors were also associated with greater recurrence rate (2/20 10%) than deep tumors, (23/32 71.86%) p < 0.05. The probability of LR in patients with MFS was significantly greater in association with unplanned operations, positive margins, low serum CK levels or superficial tumor depth. These data could help identify high-risk patients; thus, more careful follow-up should be performed for higher-risk patients. Diagnosis and treatment at qualified regular medical centers can reduce the local recurrence rate of MFS.
Stem cells are highly resistant to viral infection compared to their differentiated progeny; however, the mechanism is mysterious. Here, we analyzed gene expression in mammalian stem cells and cells ...at various stages of differentiation. We find that, conserved across species, stem cells express a subset of genes previously classified as interferon (IFN) stimulated genes (ISGs) but that expression is intrinsic, as stem cells are refractory to interferon. This intrinsic ISG expression varies in a cell-type-specific manner, and many ISGs decrease upon differentiation, at which time cells become IFN responsive, allowing induction of a broad spectrum of ISGs by IFN signaling. Importantly, we show that intrinsically expressed ISGs protect stem cells against viral infection. We demonstrate the in vivo importance of intrinsic ISG expression for protecting stem cells and their differentiation potential during viral infection. These findings have intriguing implications for understanding stem cell biology and the evolution of pathogen resistance.
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•Pluri-/multipotent stem cells exhibit intrinsic expression of ISGs•Different stem cells express cell-type-specific groups of ISGs•Intrinsically expressed ISGs mediate antiviral resistance ex vivo and in vivo•Dynamic expression of ISGs is conserved across species
Intrinsic expression of interferon-stimulated genes makes stem cells resistant to infections, preserving their pool throughout the organism’s lifespan.
The erythroblastic island (EBI), composed of a central macrophage and surrounding erythroid cells, was the first hematopoietic niche discovered. The identity of EBI macrophages has thus far remained ...elusive. Given that Epo is essential for erythropoiesis and that Epor is expressed in numerous nonerythroid cells, we hypothesized that EBI macrophages express Epor so that Epo can act on both erythroid cells and EBI macrophages simultaneously to ensure efficient erythropoiesis. To test this notion, we used Epor-eGFPcre knockin mouse model. We show that in bone marrow (BM) and fetal liver, a subset of macrophages express Epor-eGFP. Imaging flow cytometry analyses revealed that >90% of native EBIs comprised F4/80+Epor-eGFP+ macrophages. Human fetal liver EBIs also comprised EPOR+ macrophages. Gene expression profiles of BM F4/80+Epor-eGFP+ macrophages suggest a specialized function in supporting erythropoiesis. Molecules known to be important for EBI macrophage function such as Vcam1, CD169, Mertk, and Dnase2α were highly expressed in F4/80+Epor-eGFP+ macrophages compared with F4/80+Epor-eGFP− macrophages. Key molecules involved in iron recycling were also highly expressed in BM F4/80+Epor-eGFP+ macrophages, suggesting that EBI macrophages may provide an iron source for erythropoiesis within this niche. Thus, we have characterized EBI macrophages in mouse and man. Our findings provide important resources for future studies of EBI macrophage function during normal as well as disordered erythropoiesis in hematologic diseases such as thalassemia, polycythemia vera, and myelodysplastic syndromes.
•EBI macrophages are characterized by the expression of Epor in mouse and man.•Transcriptomes data provide resource for future studies of EBI macrophage function in normal and disordered erythropoiesis.
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Leaf angle is an important agronomic trait in rice (
Oryza sativa
L.). It affects both the efficiency of sunlight capture and nitrogen reservoirs. The erect leaf phenotype is suited for high-density ...planting and thus increasing crop yields. Many genes regulate leaf angle by affecting leaf structure, such as the lamina joint, mechanical tissues, and the midrib. Signaling of brassinosteroids (BR), auxin (IAA), and gibberellins (GA) plays important roles in the regulation of lamina joint bending in rice. In addition, the biosynthesis and signaling of BR are known to have dominant effects on leaf angle development. In this review, we summarize the factors and genes associated with the development of leaf angle in rice, outline the regulatory mechanisms based on the signaling of BR, IAA, and GA, and discuss the contribution of crosstalk between BR and IAA or GA in the formation of leaf angle. Promising lines of research in the transgenic engineering of rice leaf angle to increase grain yield are proposed.
Grain shape is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). A rice mutant (JF178) with long and large grains has been used in a breeding program for over a decade, but its ...genetic basis has been unclear. Here, a semi-dominant QTL, designated Large Grain Size 1 (LGS1), was cloned and the potential molecular mechanism of LGS1 function was studied. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and a map-based approach were employed to clone the LGS1 locus. LGS1 encodes the OsGRF4 transcription factor and contains a 2 bp missense mutation in the coding region that coincides with the putative pairing site of miRNA396. The LGS1 transcript levels in the mutant line were found to be higher than the lgs1 transcript levels in the control plants, suggesting that the mutation might disrupt the pairing of the LGS1 mRNA with miR396. In addition to producing larger grains, LGS1 also enhanced cold tolerance at the seedling stage and increased the survival rate of seedlings after cold stress treatment. These findings indicate that the mutation in LGS1 appears to disturb the GRF4-miR396 stress response network and results in the development of enlarged grains and enhancement of cold tolerance in rice.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of leaf extract from Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd. on type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the active ingredients of this effect. In ...addition, this study determined, for the first time, the underlying molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of the extracts on hyperglycemia using long-term double high diet-fed and streptozotocin (STZ) induced type II diabetic mice. In the present study, leaf extract, phloridzin and trilobatin were assessed in vivo (gavage) and in vitro (non-invasive micro-test technique, NMT) in experimental T2DM mice. The biochemical parameters were measured including blood glucose and blood lipid level, liver biochemical indexes, and hepatic glycogen. The relative expression of glycometabolism-related genes was detected. The effect of leaf extracts on physiological glucose flux in liver tissue from control and T2DM mice was also investigated. Body weight of experimental T2DM mice increased significantly after the first week, but stabilized over the subsequent three weeks; body weight of all other groups did not change during the four weeks' study. After four weeks, all treatment groups decreased blood glucose, and treatment with leaf extract had numerous positive effects: a) promoted in glucose uptake in liver, b) increased synthesis of liver glycogen, c) reduced oxidative stress, d) up-regulation of glucokinase (GK), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) expression in liver, e) down-regulation of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) expression, and f) ameliorated blood lipid levels. Both treatment with trilobatin or phloridzin accelerated liver glycogen synthesis, decreased oxidative stress and increased expression of GK. IRS and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were both up-regulated after treatment with trilobatin. Expression of GLUT2, PEPCK and G-6-P were also increased in liver tissue after treatment with phloridzin. Our data indicate that leaf extract from L. polystachyus Rehd. has a preferable hypoglycemic effects than trilobatin or phloridzin alone. Leaf extract significantly increased glucose uptake and hepatic glycogen synthesis while also inducing a decline of hepatic gluconeogenesis and oxidative stress in T2DM mice. From this study, we draw conclusions that L. polystachyus promoted glycogen synthesis in T2DM mice, and that the active compounds were not only the trilobatin or phloridzin.
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