OsMSR15 encoding a rice C2H2-type zinc finger protein confers enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

Xin Zhang,Bin Zhang,Ming Juan Li,Xu Ming Yin,Li Fang Huang,Yan Chun Cui,Man Ling Wang,Xin Jie Xia 한국식물학회 2016 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.59 No.3

Zinc nger proteins (ZFPs) play important roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Through microarray analysis, an Oryza sativa L. multi-stress-responsive gene, OsMSR15, was identied and subsequently cloned from rice Pei’ai 64S (Oryza sativa L.). Expression of OsMSR15 was strongly up-regulated by cold, drought and heat stresses in different tissues at different developmental stages of rice. OsMSR15 contains two C2H2-type zinc nger motifs, a nuclear localization signal (B box), a Leu-rich domain (L-box) and a conserved EAR-motif close to its C-terminus. The OsMSR15-GFP fusion protein was localized to the nucleus. Yeast-one hybrid assay showed that OsMSR15 possesses transcriptional activation ability. Expression of OsMSR15 in Arabidopsis conferred drought tolerance, and transgenic plants showed hypersensitivity to exogenous ABA during the seed germination and post-germination stages. Transgenic plants also showed higher levels of free proline, less electrolyte leakage and increased expressions of a number of stress-responsive genes, including LEA3, RD29A, DREB1A and P5CS1 under drought stress. The obtained results indicate that OsMSR15 is an important regulator involved in plant response to drought stress.

Albumin-to-Fibrinogen Ratio as an Independent Prognostic Parameter in Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Retrospective Study of 191 Cases

Yi-Xin Zou,Jia Qiao,Hua-Yuan Zhu,Rui-Nan Lu,Yi Xia,Lei Cao,Wei Wu,Hui Jin,Wen-Jie Liu,Jin-Hua Liang,Jia-Zhu Wu,Li Wang,Lei Fan,Wei Xu,Jian-Yong Li 대한암학회 2019 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.51 No.2

Purpose Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most frequent type of B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and chronic inflammation takes part in the development of CLL. However, there has been no valid immune biomarker to predict the prognosis of untreated CLL patients. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical correlations and prognostic value of albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) detected at diagnosis in 191 CLL patients. Results The cut-off value of AFR was 9.7 calculated by X-tile. Patients who were more than 65 years old were often accompanied by low level of AFR (p < 0.001). Survival analysis showed that patients with low level of AFR had shorter overall survival (OS) than patients with high level of AFR (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis illustrated that AFR had a negative impact on OS (p=0.003) and was independent of parameters involved in CLL international prognostic index and other prognostic markers such as CD38 and ZAP-70. Conclusion These data provide a comprehensive view of AFR and shows that AFR at diagnosis is an adverse prognostic factor in untreated CLL patients.

Preventive effect of Polysaccharide of Larimichthys Crocea Swimming Bladder on Activated Carbon- Induced Constipation in Mice

Gui-Jie Li,Yu Qian,Peng Sun,Xia Feng,Kai Zhu,Xin Zhao 한국응용생명화학회 2014 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.57 No.2

Effects of polysaccharide of Larimichthys croceaswimming bladder (PLCSB) on activated carbon-induced constipationin ICR mice were investigated. ICR mice were subjected to oraladministration with lactic acid bacteria for 9 days. Body weight,diet and drinking intake, defecation status, gastrointestinal transit,and defecation time, as well as motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas),endothelin (ET), somatostatin (SS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE),substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels inserum were used to evaluate the preventive effects of PLCSB onconstipation. Bisacodyl, a laxative drug, was used as a positivecontrol. The time to the first black stool defecation for normal,control, bisacodyl-treated (100 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg PLCSBtreatedmice were 88, 202, 126, 155, and 135 min, respectively. Following the consumption of oral administration of 50 and 100mg/kg PLCSB or bisacodyl (100 mg/kg), the gastrointestinaltransit was reduced to 62.6, 78.3, and 90.2%, respectively. Theserum levels of MTL, Gas, ET, AChE, SP, and VIP weresignificantly increased, and the serum levels of SS were reducedin the mice treated with PLCSB compared with those in theuntreated control mice (p <0.05). These results demonstrate thatPLCSB has preventive effects on mouse constipation and highconcentration of that demonstrated the better functional activity.

Pemetrexed as a Component of First-, Second- and Third-line Chemotherapy in Treating Patients with Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma

Huang, Xin-En,Tian, Guang-Yu,Cao, Jie,Xu, Xia,Lu, Yan-Yan,Wu, Xue-Yan,Liu, Jin,Shi, Lin,Xiang, Jin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Purpose: The current research was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed given continuously as a basement agent for first-, second- to third line chemotherapy of patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: Patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who were diagnosed in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Insitute, were enrolled. All received pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ (intravenous; on day 1), and another chemotherapieutic agent every 3 weeks until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Then the patients were changed to a second line chemotherapy that was still based on pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another chemotherapeutic agent differing from the first line example, until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. When third line chemotherapy was needed, pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another new chemotherapeutic agent were combined until disease progression. Evaluation of efficacy was conducted after two cycles of chemotherapy using the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicity was recorded according to NCI Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results: From January 2010 to September 2013, 15 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 56 years (range 43 to 77 years). Eight patients were male and 7 female. Five patients (33.3%) achieved PR, while 6 patients (40.0%) remained stable, no CR on first line; and 1 PR (7.7%), 5 stable (38.5%) were recorded when pemetrexed was ordered in second line; 5 patients (41.7%) were stable after pemetrexed was combined in third line; no complete response was observed. Main side effects were grade 1 to 2 neutrophil suppression and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities included elevated transaminase and oral mucositis, but no treatment related death occurred. Conclusions: Pemetrexed continuously as a basement agent from first-, second- to third line chemotherapy is mildly effective in treating patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with tolerable toxicity.

RNAi-induced K-Ras Gene Silencing Suppresses Growth of EC9706 Cells and Enhances Chemotherapy Sensitivity of Esophageal Cancer

Wang, Xin-Jie,Zheng, Yu-Ling,Fan, Qing-Xia,Zhang, Xu-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

To analyze the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness and chemotherapy sensitivity of EC9706 cells after K-Ras gene silencing, an expression carrier pSilencer-siK-Ras was constructed, and the EC9706 cell line was transfected using a liposome technique. Six groups were established: Control, siRNA NC (transfected with empty vector pSilencer2.1); Ras siRNA (transfected with pSilencer-siK-Ras2); Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel + siRNA NC; and Ras siRNA + Paclitaxel. After the treatment, RT-PCR, Western blotting, MTT assay, flow cytometry and the Transwell technique were used to assess expression of K-Ras mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells, as well as cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and invasiveness. The effect of Paclitaxel chemotherapy was also tested. pSilencer-siK-Ras2 effectively down-regulated expression of K-Ras mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells, growth being significantly inhibited. Flow cytometry indicated obvious apoptosis of cells in the experimental group, with arrest in the G1 phase; cell migration ability was also reduced. After pSilencer-siK-Ras2 transfection or the addition of Paclitaxel, EC9706 cells were suppressed to different extents; the suppressive effect was strengthened by combined treatment. The results suggested that RNAi-induced K-Ras gene silencing could enhance chemotherapy sensitivity of esophageal cancer.

Leucogen Tablets at 60 mg Three Times per Day are Safe and Effective to Control Febrile Neutropenia

Huang, Xin-En,Cao, Jie,Qian, Zhi-Ying,Xu, Xia,Shi, Lin,Wu, Xue-Yan,Liu, Jin,Wang, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.19

Purpose: To investigate whether it is safe to use leucogen tablets 60 mg three times per day (180 mg for a day) and whether this regimen could reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia caused by chemotherapy. Methods: This prospectively designed study focused on the safety and effectiveness of leucogen tablets 60mg three times per day for a group of cancer patients during chemotherapy for mainly lung or gastric cancers. The tablets were administered from 5 days before until the termination of chemotherapy. Neutropenia and other healthcare encounters were defined as events and occurrence was estimated for comparison. Results: We identified 39 patients receiving leucogen tablets 60mg three times per day, including 11 with gastric, 12 with lung and 16 with other sites of cancer. The mean age was 65 (29-75) years and there were 27 male and 12 female patients. The mean duration of leucogen tablets intake was 59 days. Eighteen patients were treated with taxane-based, 4 with irinotecan-based and 17 with other chemotherapy. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was 0%. Twelve patients were found severe neutropenia (grade III/IV), and the duration of severe neutropenia (grade III/IV) was 5 days. Treatment-emergent adverse events were attributable to complications of myelosuppressive chemotherapy or the primary disease (i.e., alopecia, nausea, asthenia, neutropenia, and severe hepatic renal dysfunction). No chemotherapy was delayed and no treatment related death was observed. Conclusions: This study suggested that leucogen tablets 60mg three times per day (180mg for a day) are safe and could be effective for preventing febrile neutropenia in patients with chemotherapy.

Effect of Resistant Starch on HCl/ethanol-induced Gastric Injury in Rats

Yu Qian,Xin Zhao,Gui-Jie Li,Kai Zhu,Peng Sun,Xia Feng 한국응용생명화학회 2013 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.56 No.5

Three types of resistant starch (RS) products were purchased for the evaluation of gastric injury preventive effect in Sprague-Dawley rats. We used an animal model to check for gastric injury preventive activities of these RS products in vivo. RS3 reduced the levels of serum proinflammatory cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-α as compared to those of RS2 and RS4. The gastric secretion volumes from high to low order were control rats, RS2-treated rats, RS4-treated rats, RS3-treated rats, and normal rats, whereas pH levels of gastric juice showed the opposite trend. The gastric injury level was significantly decreased by RS, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties, with RS3showing the best anti-inflammatory effect. Gastric tissues of RS3group rats showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammation-related genes of iNOS, COX-2,TNF-α, and IL-1β compared with the control group, as shown by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. These results suggest that RS shows a gastric injury preventive effect, with RS3 showing the best inhibitory effect on gastric injury.

Preventive effect of Polysaccharide of Larimichthys Crocea Swimming Bladder on Activated Carbon-Induced Constipation in Mice

Li, Gui Jie,Qian, Yu,Sun, Peng,Feng, Xia,Zhu, Kai,Zhao, Xin The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistr 2014 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.57 No.2

Effects of polysaccharide of Larimichthys crocea swimming bladder (PLCSB) on activated carbon-induced constipation in ICR mice were investigated. ICR mice were subjected to oral administration with lactic acid bacteria for 9 days. Body weight, diet and drinking intake, defecation status, gastrointestinal transit, and defecation time, as well as motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas), endothelin (ET), somatostatin (SS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in serum were used to evaluate the preventive effects of PLCSB on constipation. Bisacodyl, a laxative drug, was used as a positive control. The time to the first black stool defecation for normal, control, bisacodyl-treated (100 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg PLCSB-treated mice were 88, 202, 126, 155, and 135 min, respectively. Following the consumption of oral administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg PLCSB or bisacodyl (100 mg/kg), the gastrointestinal transit was reduced to 62.6, 78.3, and 90.2%, respectively. The serum levels of MTL, Gas, ET, AChE, SP, and VIP were significantly increased, and the serum levels of SS were reduced in the mice treated with PLCSB compared with those in the untreated control mice (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that PLCSB has preventive effects on mouse constipation and high concentration of that demonstrated the better functional activity.

Selection of Reference Genes for Real-time Quantitative PCR Normalization in the Process of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici Infecting Wheat

Li-hua Xie,Xin Quan,Jie Zhang,Yan-yan Yang,Run-hong Sun,Ming-cong Xia,Bao-guo Xue,Chao Wu,Xiao-yun Han,Ya-nan Xue,Li-rong Yang 한국식물병리학회 2019 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.35 No.1

Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici is a soil borne pathogenic fungus associated with wheat roots. The accurate quantification of gene expression during the process of infection might be helpful to understand the pathogenic molecular mechanism. However, this method requires suitable reference genes for transcript normalization. In this study, nine candidate reference genes were chosen, and the specificity of the primers were investigated by melting curves of PCR products. The expression stability of these nine candidates was determined with three programs-geNorm, Norm Finder, and Best Keeper. TUBβ was identified as the most stable reference gene. Furthermore, the exopolygalacturonase gene (ExoPG) was selected to verify the reliability of TUBβ expression. The expression profile of ExoPG assessed using TUBβ agreed with the results of digital gene expression analysis by RNA-Seq. This study is the first systematic exploration of the optimal reference genes in the infection process of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici.

A Predictive Model for Evaluating Responsiveness to Pemetrexed Treatment in Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Wu, Xue-Yan,Huang, Xin-En,Cao, Jie,Shi, Lin,Xu, Xia,Qian, Zhi-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.14

Purpose: To highlight the potential factors that could predict the response rate of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with pemetrexed combined chemotherapy after first- or second-line chemotherapy using the FOLFOX regimen. Materials and Methods: Between January 2007 and July 2014, 54 patients diagnosed and pathologically-confirmed with advanced colorectal cancer in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, were enrolled. They received pemetrexed at a dose of $500mg/m^2$ by 10 minute infusion on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks. Doses were modified depending on nadir counts of blood cells. Combined chemotherapeutic agents included irinotecan, lobaplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, cis-platinum or bevacizumab. Multiple variables (age, sex, hemoglobin, platinum drugs combined, metastasis sites, LDH, ALP, CEA>40 ug/ml) reported earlier were selected. We used logistic regression analysis to evaluate relationships between these and tumor response. Results: On multivariable analysis, we found that age was significant in predicting the responsiveness to pemetrexed (p<0.05) combined with oxaliplatin. We did not find any other factors which were significantly associated with the response rate to chemotherapy with pemetrexed and irinotecan. Conclusions: By multivariate analysis, we found that age had significant impact on the responsiveness of pemetrexed when combined with oxaliplatin. Additional research based on genomic properties of host and tumors are needed to clarify markers for better selection of patients who could benefit from pemetrexed combined chemotherapy.