Antifibrotic Effect of Curcumin in TGF-β1-Induced Myofibroblasts from Human Oral Mucosa

Zhang, Shan-Shan,Gong, Zhao-Jian,Li, Wen-Hui,Wang, Xiao,Ling, Tian-You Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

Background: Myofibroblasts play an important role in the development of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). In the current study, we investigate the effect of curcumin on growth and apoptosis of myofibroblasts derived from human oral mucosa. Methods: Myofibroblasts were generated by incubating fibroblasts, obtained from human oral mucosa, with transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$). MTT, PI staining, and FACS assays were used to investigate curcumin's effect on proliferation and cell cycle of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Annexin V/PI binding and FACS assays were used to examine apoptosis of myofibroblasts, Western blotting to determine the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was employed to examine the levels of collagen type I and III in the supernatants of myofibroblasts. Results: Curcumin inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts; it also disturbs the cell cycle, induces apoptosis and decreases the generation of collagen type I and III in myofibroblasts, which are more sensitive to its effects than fibroblasts. Curcumin induces apoptosis in myofibroblasts by down-regulating the Bcl-2/ Bax ratio. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the antifibrotic effect of curcumin in vitro. It may therefore be a candidate for the treatment of OSF.

Contact toxicity and transcriptomic analysis of terpinen-4-ol exposure in Tribolium castaneum

Shan-shan Gao,Yong-lei Zhang,Kun-peng Zhang,Wang Xing-yun,Qing-bo Tang,Yuan-chen Zhang 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.3

The terpene, terpinen-4-ol (T4ol), exhibits contact toxicity in Tribolium castaneum. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this toxicity have not been elucidated. This study examined changes in the expression of four classic enzymes after exposure of T. castaneum to T4ol. Acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase activities were markedly inhibited after exposure to T4ol, while that of the detoxifying enzyme cytochrome oxidase P450 increased markedly. Carboxylesterase activity did not show significant changes. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed 260 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the T4ol-treated and control samples, and qRT-PCR was used to validate the RNA-Seq data. The Gene Ontology analysis classified the DEGs into 36 functional groups, including the immune system processes, response to stimulus, and developmental processes. T4ol altered the response to stimulus and the immune system process of beetles by inducing the expression of the genes Stabilin-1, Attacin 1, and Defensin 1. Furthermore, the DEGs receptor tyrosine kinase Torso-like protein (RTKTsl), Frizzled 4 (Fz4), Protein Wnt-5b, Ecdysone-induced protein 78C (E78), Zinc finger protein GLIS1 (ZFPGLIS1) were classified as participating in beetle development, and Fz4 and Protein Wnt-5b also mapped to the Wnt signaling pathway. This indicated that pathways associated with development are inhibited after exposure to T4ol. T4ol also induced CYP9Z6/GSTs7 overexpression, and RNAi targeting these genes significantly increased larvae mortality on T4ol exposure, supporting the participation of CYP9Z6/GSTs7 in the response to T4ol in T. castaneum. The results of this study will facilitate understanding of the toxic mechanisms of T4ol and provide a basis for controlling the pests of stored products.

A sigma class glutathione S-transferase gene regulated by the CncC pathway is required for phytochemical tolerance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Gao Shan-shan,Li Dong-yu,Huo Zhuang-kun,Zhang Yong-lei,Cao Yi-zhuo,Tan Yue-yao,Guo Xin-long,Zhang Jia-hao,Zhang Kun-peng,Li Rui-min 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

Insect glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play a crucial role in the detoxification of exogenous compounds, especially insecticides and plant allelochemicals. A sigma class GST gene, TcGSTS7, mediates the response to eugenol in Tribolium castaneum. However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains largely unknown. In this study, TcGSTS7, which exhibits a structural motif and domain organization characteristic of GSTs, was cloned from the T. castaneum genome. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that TcGSTS7 was most highly expressed at the late larva stage and was mainly expressed in the fat body and epidermis of larvae and adults, suggesting that TcGSTS7 may play a potential role in the protection against toxic xenobiotics in T. castaneum. Furthermore, the expression of TcGSTS7 was significantly induced after exposure to eugenol, while RNA inter ference (RNAi) targeting TcGSTS7 enhanced the sensitivity of the beetle to eugenol, indicating that TcGSTS7 is involved in the tolerance of T. castaneum to this insecticide. Interestingly, the depletion of TcCncC, which encodes a transcription factor of the CncC pathway that has been associated with the regulation of detoxification-related genes in insects, led to a reduction in the TcGSTS7 transcript level following exposure to eugenol, which suggests that TcGSTS7 acts downstream of the CncC pathway. Combined, these results indicated that TcGSTS7 partici pates in the tolerance of T. castaneum to phytochemicals in a CncC pathway-dependent manner. These findings have implications for the development of novel drugs for use in pest control.

Semi-continuous and Continuous Cultivation of Microalgae-sludge for Artificial Digested Food Wastes Leachate Treatment

( Shan Zhang ),( Hyeon Jeong Hwang ),( Sun-jin Hwang ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2015 한국폐기물자원순환학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2015 No.-

This study investigated the semi-continuous and continuous cultivation of microalgae-sludge for artificial digested food wastes leachate treatment, and the effect of hydraulic retention times(HRT) on microalgae growth and nutrient removal. In this study, two reactors were examined the HRTs from 4 to 1 day, the Chlorella vulgaris cell density of semi-continuous and continuous cultivation reached a maximum value at HRT 3 day, then decreasing HRT to 2 day and 1 day the Chlorella vulgaris cell density was decreased. The maximum Chlorella vulgaris cell density in semi-continuous cultivation was 1.4 times higher than continuous cultivation. The maximum NH_4-N, PO_4-P removal efficiency was 100%, 75.7% with HRT of 3 day in semi-continuous cultivation, while 96.5%, 65.7% with HRT of 4 day in continuous cultivation. These results indicate that semi-continuous cultivation is more suitable than continuous cultivation. And the effect of increased light intensity from 100 μmol/m²/s to 400 μmol/m²/s was also evaluated, as the result, increased light intensity improved Chlorella vulgaris cell growth and nutrient removal.

RPSA Gene Mutants Associated with Risk of Colorectal Cancer among the Chinese Population

Zhang, Shan-Chun,Jin, Wen,Liu, Hui,Jin, Ming-Juan,Chen, Ze-Xin,Ding, Zhe-Yuan,Zheng, Shuang-Shuang,Wang, Li-Juan,Yu, Yun-Xian,Chen, Kun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ribosomal protein SA (RPSA) gene with colorectal cancer (CRC). A case-control study including 388 controls and 387 patients with CRC was conducted in a Chinese population. Information about socio-demography and living behavior factors was collected by a structured questionnaire. Three SNPs (rs2133579, rs2269349, rs7641291) in RPSA gene were genotyped by Illumina SnapShot method. Multiple logistic regression models were used for assessing the joint effects between tea consumption and SNPs on CRC. The subjects with rs2269349 CC genotype had a decreased risk for CRC (OR=0.60; 95%CI = 0.37-0.99), compared with TT/CT genotype after adjustment for covariates. A similar association of rs2269349 with rectal cancer was observed (OR=0.49; 95%CI=0.24-1.00). Further analyses indicated that this SNP could modify the protective effect of tea drinking on CRC. Among the subjects with rs2269349 TT/CT or rs2133579 AA/GA, there was a marginal significantly lower risk of CRC (OR and 95%CI: 0.63 and 0.39-1.01 for rs2269349; 0.64 and 0.40-1.02 for rs2133579) in tea-drinking subjects in comparison to non-tea-drinking subjects. Mutants in the RPSA gene might be associated with genetic susceptibility to CRC and influence the protective effect of tea consumption in the Chinese population.

Phase II Study on Voriconazole for Treatment of Chinese Patients with Malignant Hematological Disorders and Invasive Aspergillosis

Zhang, Xue-Zhong,Huang, Xin-En,Xu, Yan-Li,Zhang, Xiu-Qun,Su, Ai-ling,Shen, Zheng-Shan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of voriconazole in treating Chinese patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. Methods: From March 2007 to April 2012, patients with diagnoses confirmed by CT, GM test and/or PCR assays, were recruited into this study. Aspergillosis of all patients were treated with voriconazole 6 mg/kg intravenous infusion (iv) every 12 h for 1 day, followed by 4 mg/kg IV every 12 h for 10-15 days; Then, switch to oral administration that was 200mg every 12h for 4-12 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated according to Practice Guideline of Infectious Diseases Society of America. Results: The overall response rate of 38 patients after voriconazole treatment was 81.6%. The median time to pyretolysis was 4.5 days. Treatment related side effects were mild and found in only 15.8% of cases. No treatment related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Voriconazole can considered to be a safe and effective front-line therapy to treat patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. Alternatively it could be used as a remedial treatment when other antifungal therapies are ineffective.

Equivocal Association of RAD51 Polymorphisms with Risk of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Chinese Population

Zhang, Shu-Xiang,Yang, Shan,Xu, Chang-Qing,Hou, Rui-Ping,Zhang, Chuan-Zhen,Xu, Cui-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Aim: To study the contribution of genetic variation in RAD51 to risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RAD51 (rs1801320, rs4144242 and rs4417527) were genotyped in 316 ESCC patients and 316 healthy controls in Anyang area of China using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism). Demographic variables between cases and controls were statistically compared by T test and Chi-square test. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated by the Chi-square test. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure any association with ESCC. Haplotype frequencies were estimated by Phase 2.1. Result: The genotype frequencies of rs1801320, rs4144242 and rs4417527 in patients with ESCC demonstrated no significant differences from those in control group (P>0.05). When the haplotypes of these three SNPs were constructed and their relationships with ESCC risk investigated, however, CGG was observed to increase the risk (P=0.020, OR=2.289). Conclusions: There was no association between the three SNPs of RAD51 and ESCC susceptibility in our Chinese population. However, the CGG haplotype might be a risk factor.

Identification and Functional Analysis of the Chain Length Determinant Gene ste8 Involved in the Biosynthesis of Ebosin by Streptomyces sp.139

( Zhang Yang ),( Xiao Hua Li ),( Xiao Qaing Qi ),( Jun Jie Shan ),( Rong Jiang ),( Lian Hong Guo ),( Ren Zhang ),( Yuan Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.11

Ebosin, a novel exopolysaccharide produced by Streptomyces sp. 139, has obvious antirheumatic arthritis activity in vivo, and its biosynthesis gene cluster (ste), consisting of 27 open reading frames, has been identified. This paper reports our study of the gene functionality of ste8, the predicted protein product of which is homologous to some bacterial chain length determinant Wzz proteins. For characterization of Ste8, ste8 was cloned and expressed in the mutant strain E. coli 086:H2 (Δwzz). The functional complementation of wzz by ste8 was demonstrated by the restoration of wild-type lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and increased levels of serum resistance of E. coli 086:H2 (Δwzz) (pET30a-ste8). To examine the function of ste8 in ebosin biosynthesis, the gene was knocked out with a double crossover via homologous recombination. The molecular weight of the ebosin derivative EPS-8m produced by the mutant Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste8-) was much lower than that of ebosin, and the binding activity of EPS-8m for IL-1R decreased significantly compared with ebosin. These results demonstrate that ste8 encodes a chain length determinant (Wzz) that functions in ebosin biosynthesis.

Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Silkworm Silk Fibres by Thermally Induced Modification of Crystalline Nanostructure

Shan Du,Weitao Zhou,Xing Jin,Yimin Zhang,Xiangxiang Chen,Jin Zhang,Jingliang Li,Xungai Wang 한국섬유공학회 2021 Fibers and polymers Vol.22 No.2

Antheraea pernyi and Bombyx mori silk fibres, the most important and the subjects of several studies, have attractedwidespread attention due to their exceptional mechanical properties and promising applications. However, the determinantsbehind the variations of mechanical property between these two fibres still remains unknown. In this paper, the nanocrystallinestructures of these two silk fibres were tuned by thermal treatment in order to understand how the structure affects themechanical properties of fibres. It has been found that, along with an increase in temperature for thermal treatment, theincrease in the intramolecular β-sheet leads to progressive increase in longitudinal modulus and radial hardness, whilst thereduction in crystallinity results in great reduction in breaking tensile strength. The yield strength is proportional to theaverage crystallite size which increases along with the annealing temperature. Compared to B. mori, A. pernyi silk fibres havemore obvious temperature-dependant structural changes. These findings explain how size effects can be exploited to createbioinspired materials with tuneable mechanical properties.

Influence of Light Conditions of a Mixture of Red and Blue Light Sources on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal in Advanced Wastewater Treatment Using Scenedesmus dimorphus

Shan Zhang,김태형,Thi Hiep Han,황선진 한국생물공학회 2015 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.20 No.4

The effects of several light conditions (various light/dark cycles, light intensities, and light frequencies) of a mixture of intermittent red and blue light on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater using Scenedesmus dimorphus were evaluated. The nitrogen removal rates were almost the same (~ 10 mg/L/day) during light/dark cycles of 16:8, 20:4, and 24:0, and were two-fold higher than those observed during light/dark cycles of 12:12 and 8:16. The phosphorous removal rate also reached its highest value (~ 1.5 mg/L/day) during the light/dark cycles of 20:4 and 24:0. These results suggest that microalgae should be illuminated for at least 16 and 20 h for the efficient removal of nitrogen and phosphorous, respectively. Moreover, both the nitrogen and phosphorous removal rates were significantly enhanced when the light intensity was raised from 50 to 400 μmol/m2/sec. Increasing the light intensity above 400 μmol/m2/sec caused photo-inhibition, such that microalgae production decreased. Besides the light/dark cycle and light intensity, flashing frequency also controls the growth and nutrient removal rate of Scenedesmus dimorphus. It was found that the most appropriate flashing frequency was 2,500 Hz.