Schematic diagram of the signalling pathways regulated by NIPA1-SO. Our study has uncovered an athero-protective role of the lncRNA NIPA1-SO, which, by interacting with a single transcription factor, ...is capable of inhibiting monocyte adhesion and foam cell formation, two fundamental processes in atherosclerosis. The transcription factor FUBP1 negatively regulates NIPA1 expression; this inhibitory effect is increased by the interaction of NIPA1-SO with FUBP1, resulting in lower transcription of NIPA1. A reduction in NIPA1 protein results in increased BMPR2 protein due to a reduction in NIPA1-mediated BMPR2 endocytosis and degradation, leading to higher levels of Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation (pSmad1/5/8), which, through complexation with Smad4, inhibit transcription of the adhesion molecules VCAM1 and ICAM1, reducing monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Further, the pSmad1/5/8:Smad4 complex promotes ABCA1 and ABCG1 transcription, both of which promote cholesterol efflux via high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, thereby inhibiting foam cell formation.
Display omitted
•Human atherosclerotic plaques have reduced expression of the long non-coding RNA NIPA1-SO and increased levels of NIPA1.•NIPA1-SO inhibits monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and decreases cholesterol accumulation.•Increasing the expression of NIPAI-SO or knockout of NIPA1 reduces atherosclerosis in an animal model.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important players in gene regulation and cardiovascular diseases. However, the roles of lncRNAs in atherosclerosis are poorly understood. In the present study, we found that the levels of NIPA1-SO were decreased while those of NIPA1 were increased in human atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, NIPA1-SO negatively regulated NIPA1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Mechanistically, NIPA1-SO interacted with the transcription factor FUBP1 and the NIPA1 gene. The effect of NIPA1-SO on NIPA1 protein levels was reversed by the knockdown of FUBP1. NIPA1-SO overexpression increased, whilst NIPA1-SO knockdown decreased BMPR2 levels; these effects were enhanced by the knockdown of NIPA1. The overexpression of NIPA1-SO reduced while NIPA1-SO knockdown increased monocyte adhesion to HUVECs; these effects were diminished by the knockdown of BMPR2. The lentivirus-mediated-overexpression of NIPA1-SO or gene-targeted knockout of NIPA1 in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice reduced monocyte-endothelium adhesion and atherosclerotic lesion formation. Collectively, these findings revealed a novel anti-atherosclerotic role for the lncRNA NIPA1-SO and highlighted its inhibitory effects on vascular inflammation and intracellular cholesterol accumulation by binding to FUBP1 and consequently repressing NIPA1 expression.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are frequently associated with peripheral neuropathy. Though there are multiple methods for diagnosis and analysis of morphological changes of peripheral nerves and blood ...vessels, three-dimensional high-resolution imaging is necessary to appreciate the pathogenesis with an anatomically recognizable branching morphogenesis and patterning. Here we established a novel technique for whole-mount imaging of adult mouse ear skin to visualize branching morphogenesis and patterning of peripheral nerves and blood vessels. Whole-mount immunostaining of adult mouse ear skin showed that peripheral sensory and sympathetic nerves align with large-diameter blood vessels. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice exhibit defective vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) coverage, while there is no significant change in the amount of peripheral nerves. The leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice, a severe obese and type 2 diabetic mouse model, exhibit defective VSMC coverage and a large increase in the amount of smaller-diameter nerve bundles with myelin sheath and unmyelinated nerve fibers. Interestingly, an increase in the amount of myeloid immune cells was observed in the DIO but not db/db mouse skin. These data suggest that our whole-mount imaging method enables us to investigate the neuro-vascular and neuro-immune phenotypes in the animal models of obesity and diabetes.
A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, designated as 1404
, was isolated from leaves of Chinese red pepper (Huajiao) (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim) collected from Gansu, north-west ...China. Spores were not observed under a range of conditions. Strain 1404
was observed to grow at 15-45 °C and pH 6.0-10.0 and in presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. The cell wall of strain 1404
was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid as well as three unidentified polar lipids. The major fatty acids profile of strain 1404
consisted of iso-C15 : 0 (25.6 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (18.4 %) and iso-C14 : 0 (12.1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 1404
was affiliated to the genus Bacillus and was closely related to Bacillusoryzisoli 1DS3-10
, Bacillusbenzoevorans DSM 5391
and Bacilluscirculans DSM 11
with sequence similarity of 98.3, 98.2 and 96.9 %, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 39.4 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values indicated that relatedness between strain 1404
and the type strains of closely related species of the genus Bacillus was below 41 %. Therefore, on the basis of the data from the polyphasic taxonomic study presented, strain 1404
represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name proposed is Bacillus endozanthoxylicus sp. nov. The type strain is 1404
(=CCTCC AB 2017021
=KCTC 33827
).
Fraxinus mandshurica is a widely used greening and ornamental tree species. However, its genetic transformation system has been hampered by problems such as low transformation efficiency, among ...others, which can hinder research related to molecular breeding and the analysis of functional genes. Thus, in this study, a novel genetic transformation method for efficient transformation of the embryonic callus of Fraxinus mandshurica was investigated. The method was optimized in terms of factors such as antibiotics, infection solution concentrations, co-culture time, and somatic embryo maturation. The results indicated that the optimal antibiotic concentration was 10 mg·L−1 of hygromycin (Hyg). At this point, the callus proliferation multiple was only 0.12. The highest transformation efficiency was found to be 93.93% when the absorbance of the infection solution concentration at OD600 was 0.4. Interestingly, transformation efficiency was found to be highest (77.9%) at 48 h of co-culture, with a GUS staining rate of 88.23%. The medium for somatic embryo maturation of transformed callus was half-strength MS medium (MS 1/2) containing 60 g·L−1 polyethylene glycol, 1 mg·L−1 abscisic acid, 400 mg·L−1 casein enzymatic hydrolysate (CH), 20 g·L−1 sucrose, 1 g·L−1 activated charcoal, and 5 g·L−1 gellan gum. The medium for somatic embryo germination was MS ½, containing 0.2 mg·L−1 of N-(Phenylmethyl)-9H-purin-6-amine(6-BA) and 5.0 mg·L−1 of gibberellin (GA). These results are of significance for the verification of the gene function and future genetic improvement of Fraxinus mandshurica.
Mutations in the transmembrane channel-like gene 1 (TMC1) can cause both DFNA36 and DFNB7/11 hearing loss. More than thirty DFNB7/11 mutations have been reported, but only three DFNA36 mutations were ...reported previously. In this study, we found a large Chinese family with 222 family members showing post-lingual, progressive sensorineural hearing loss which were consistent with DFNA36 hearing loss. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test of the youngest patient showed a special result with nearly normal threshold but prolonged latency, decreased amplitude, and the abnormal waveform morphology. Exome sequencing of the proband found four candidate variants in known hearing loss genes. Sanger sequencing in all family members found a novel variant c.1253T>A (p.M418K) in TMC1 at DFNA36 that co-segregated with the phenotype. This mutation in TMC1 is orthologous to the mutation found in the hearing loss mouse model named Bth ten years ago. In another 51 Chinese autosomal dominant hearing loss families, we screened the segments containing the dominant mutations of TMC1 and no functional variants were found. TMC1 is expressed in the hair cells in inner ear. Given the already known roles of TMC1 in the mechanotransduction in the cochlea and its expression in inner ear, our results may provide an interesting perspective into its function in inner ear.
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
is a Gram-positive bacterium mostly used in the dairy industry for yogurt and cheese. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
on ...serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, and performance by supplementing at a dietary level of 0.1% in diets for weaned piglets. Eighty healthy weaned piglets (initial body weight: 7.56 ± 0.2 kg) were randomly divided into two feeding groups with four replicates in each group (n = 10 animals per replicate); piglets were fed with basal diet (CON) or basal diet containing 0.1%
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
(LAC). The results showed that dietary supplementation of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
improved growth performance and increased serum HDL and insulin levels in piglets on the 28th day of the experimental time (
p
< 0.05). The gut microbe analysis revealed that
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
significantly decreased the relative abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes, but increased the relative abundance of the phyla Firmicutes. The
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
also significantly increased the relative abundance of
Bifidobacterium
and
Lactobacillus
at the genus level of the bacterial community in the ileum, but decreased the relative abundance of unclassified
Clostridiales
. Moreover,
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
improved mucosal morphology by obtaining higher intestinal villus height (
p
< 0.05), significantly increasing the concentrations of butyrate, isobutyric acid, and isovaleric acid in colonic chyme of piglets, but decreasing the intestinal pH at the duodenum and ileum on the 28th day of the experimental time. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
in the diet of weaned piglets can improve intestinal morphology and modulate the microbiota community to promote growth performance.
Insomnia is a global disease with a high incidence and acupuncture therapy is a well appropriate method to treat insomnia. Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are the acupoints most commonly used to ...treat insomnia. Although they can obviously relieve the clinical symptoms of insomnia, it is unclear whether they must be used together, whether the combination of two acupoints may have a synergistic or antagonistic effect, and whether there is a primary or secondary relationship between the two points in the treatment of insomnia. Further studies are needed. Therefore, in this study, we are exploring the acupoint combination effect and biological mechanism of HT 7 and SP 6 in treating insomnia.
This will be a parallel group randomized controlled trial. The study will recruit 120 patients with insomnia randomly assigned to a control group, an electroacupuncture on HT 7 group, an electroacupuncture on SP 6 group, and an electroacupuncture on HT 7 and SP 6 group. The allocation ratio is 1:1:1:1, with 30 subjects in each group. Meanwhile, ten healthy subjects who meet the study criteria will be recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the intervention groups will be given ten rounds of electroacupuncture stimulation on the corresponding acupoints for 2 weeks, five times per week, with 2 days of rest between the two treatment courses. Patients in the control group will also receive the same two courses of ten rounds of compensatory acupuncture therapy after a 2-week waiting period for treatment. The major outcome measures of this study include the Sleep Dysfunction Rating Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, combined with the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile, to evaluate insomnia and the emotional state of patients with insomnia. The secondary outcome measures include sleep composition monitored by polysomnography and measurements of acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, melatonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and metabolic biomarkers in serum.
In this study, we are exploring the acupoint combination effect and biological mechanism of HT 7 and SP 6 in treating insomnia, which may provide evidence for the clinical application of acupuncture and acupoint selection in the treatment of insomnia.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Chi-CTR-1800017483. Registered on 1 August 2018.
Patients are more likely to suffer from central nervous system (CNS) complications after anesthesia and surgery. However, postoperative depression (POD) has not yet received sufficient attentions, ...and its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies remain poorly understood. We here aimed to investigate whether brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling plays an important role in POD. BDNF-TrkB signaling was altered in brain and peripheral tissues, including medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, liver, and muscle, among control, POD susceptible, and resilient groups. Additionally, we demonstrated that 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a TrkB agonist, could exert its pharmacologic property to alleviate POD-like symptoms. More importantly, ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, also has significant antidepressant effects in POD model, associating with the improving effects on levels of BDNF-TrkB signaling in brain and peripheral tissues. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of ketamine on POD-like symptoms are fully attenuated by a TrkB antagonist. These findings suggest that abnormal expressions of BDNF-TrkB signaling in brain and peripheral tissues are implicated in the pathogenesis of POD, and that therapeutic agents targeting BDNF-TrkB, particularly ketamine, could favor the beneficial effects for POD.
We evaluated the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) following childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we included ...10,416 newly diagnosed TBI children (aged ≤12 y) between 2001 and 2002 and 41,664 children without TBI, who were frequency matched by sex, age, and year of the index medical service with each TBI child, as controls. Children who had been diagnosed with ADHD prior to their medical service index were excluded. Each individual was followed for 9 y to identify ADHD diagnosis. We also compared the ADHD risk in children who were treated for fractures but not TBI as sensitivity analysis.
During the 9-y follow-up period, children with TBI had a higher ADHD risk (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19, 1.45) than did those without TBI. Furthermore, children with mild and severe TBI had higher AHRs for ADHD than did those without TBI (AHR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.10, 1.53; and AHR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.22, 1.55). However, no significant association was observed between fractures and ADHD.
TBI in childhood is associated with a greater likelihood of developing ADHD.
Using a newly developed abscisic acid (ABA)-affinity chromatography technique, we showed that the magnesium-chelatase H subunit ABAR/CHLH (for putative abscisic acid receptor/chelatase H subunit) ...specifically binds ABA through the C-terminal half but not the N-terminal half. A set of potential agonists/antagonists to ABA, including 2-trans,4-trans-ABA, gibberellin, cytokinin-like regulator 6-benzylaminopurine, auxin indole-3-acetic acid, auxin-like substance naphthalene acetic acid, and jasmonic acid methyl ester, did not bind ABAR/CHLH. A C-terminal C370 truncated ABAR with 369 amino acid residues (631-999) was shown to bind ABA, which may be a core of the ABA-binding domain in the C-terminal half. Consistently, expression of the ABAR/CHLH C-terminal half truncated proteins fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in wild-type plants conferred ABA hypersensitivity in all major ABA responses, including seed germination, postgermination growth, and stomatal movement, and the expression of the same truncated proteins fused with GFP in an ABA-insensitive cch mutant of the ABAR/CHLH gene restored the ABA sensitivity of the mutant in all of the ABA responses. However, the effect of expression of the ABAR N-terminal half fused with GFP in the wild-type plants was limited to seedling growth, and the restoring effect of the ABA sensitivity of the cch mutant was limited to seed germination. In addition, we identified two new mutant alleles of ABAR/CHLH from the mutant pool in the Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center via Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Targeting-Induced Local Lesions in Genomes. The abar-2 mutant has a point mutation resulting in the N-terminal Leu-348rightward arrowPhe, and the abar-3 mutant has a point mutation resulting in the N-terminal Ser-183rightward arrowPhe. The two mutants show altered ABA-related phenotypes in seed germination and postgermination growth but not in stomatal movement. These findings support the idea that ABAR/CHLH is an ABA receptor and reveal that the C-terminal half of ABAR/CHLH plays a central role in ABA signaling, which is consistent with its ABA-binding ability, but the N-terminal half is also functionally required, likely through a regulatory action on the C-terminal half.
PDF
