Correlation between DNA methylation and Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin expression in asthmatic airway epithelial cells

Yan‑Li Li,Xi‑Qian Xing,Yi Xiao,Yan‑Hong Liu,Yu‑Shan Zhou,Min Zhuang,Chao‑Qian Li 한국유전학회 2020 Genes & Genomics Vol.42 No.12

Background: The overexpression of TSLP and DNA methylation in asthma were both risk factors the relationship was not clear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between methylation status of TSLP promoter and mRNA/protein expression in asthmatic airway epithelial cells. Methods: Human bronchial epithelial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into: Control group, treated with PBS, model group, sensitized with LPS (10 μg/mL) for 12 h (37 °C, 5% CO2). Other groups were cultured with the pCMV3 plasmid (M + NC/pCMV), pGPH1 plasmid (M + NC/pGPH), DNMT1/pCMV3 plasmid (M + DNMT1/pCMV), and DNMT1/pGPH1 plasmid (M + DNMT1/pGPH) for 48 h. The expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and TSLP were measured using real-time PCR and western blotting. Results: Compared with the control group, TSLP mRNA (1.00 ± 0.00 vs. 2.82 ± 0.81 vs. 1, P < 0.001) and protein (1.07 ± 0.04 vs. 1.46 ± 0.11, P < 0.01) were significantly greater, and the methylation of promoter was lower (92.75 ± 1.26 vs. 58.57 ± 3.34, P < 0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, TSLP mRNA (2.82 ± 0.81 vs. 1.17 ± 0.10, P < 0.001) decreased, but TSLP promoter methylation increased (58.57 ± 3.34 vs. 92.58 ± 7.30, P < 0.05) in M + DNMT1/pCMV. TSLP mRNA and protein were higher (2.82 ± 0.81 vs. 5.32 ± 0.21, P < 0.001; 1.46 ± 0.11 vs. 1.94 ± 0.11, respectively, P < 0.01), TSLP promoter methylation was lower (58.57 ± 3.34 vs. 33.57 ± 4.29, P < 0.05) in M + DNMT1/pGPH. Conclusions: Overexpression of TSLP in asthmatic airway epithelial cells may be regulated by DNA demethylation.

Nodule Rich Protein 2 modulates nodule number in Medicago truncatula

Junhui Yan,Xinwei Yang,Yawen Wang,Liangliang Yu,Li Luo 한국식물생명공학회 2021 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.15 No.1

Symbiotic nitrogen fxation is beneft to sustainable agriculture and global nitrogen cycle. Many small peptides were identifed as regulators involving in the interaction between rhizobia and legume. Here we reported Nodule Rich Protein 2 (MtNRP2) encoding a small peptide in Medicago truncatula, belonged to a group of nodule rich protein restricted in legume species. MtNRP2 expressed highly in root nodule and its promoter was active during the initiation and development of root nodule and lateral root. To investigate the function of MtNRP2 in nodulation, we generated MtNRP2-overexpression and MtNRP2- knockdown transgenic Medicago. MtNRP2-overexpression transgenic lines performed normal nodulation phenotype compared with vector control. However, in the MtNRP2-RNAi transgenic plants, the decrease of MtNRP2 expression lead to the increase of infection threads number (7 day post inoculation) and nodules number (3 week post inoculation); meanwhile, the expression of MtRGF3 and MtPUB1 was inhibited. These results suggested that MtNRP2 negatively regulated nodulation in Medicago truncatula.

Extraction of visual texture features of seabed sediments using an SVDD approach

Li, Yan,Liu, Shijie,Zhu, Puqiang,Yu, Jiancheng,Li, Shuo Pergamon Press 2017 Ocean engineering Vol.142 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Perception of the seabed environment is an important capability of autonomous underwater vehicles. This paper focuses on defining and extracting robust texture features from visual images that lead to useful and practical automated identification of the types of seabed sediments. The visual texture features are described by using a gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and fractal dimension, after which an unsupervised learning method, self-organizing map (SOM), is adopted to evaluate the validity of features descriptors on three types of seabed sediments. Subsequently, a kernel-based approach that exhibits robustness versus low numbers of high-dimensional samples, named support vector domain description (SVDD), is applied to classify the types of seabed sediments. In comparison with state-of-the-art classifiers, the experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the SVDD on the classification of seabed sediments.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The visual images of seabed sediments are characterized by the texture features which are extracted based on the GLCM and fractal theory. </LI> <LI> A multi-class classification strategy for seabed sediments is proposed by adding a distance measure after SVDD implementation. </LI> <LI> The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed classification strategy is feasible in recognizing the type of seabed sediments. </LI> </UL> </P>

CdSe@ZnS/ZnS quantum dots loaded in polymeric micelles as a pH-triggerable targeting fluorescence imaging probe for detecting cerebral ischemic area

Yang, Hong Yu,Fu, Yan,Jang, Moon-Sun,Li, Yi,Yin, Wen Ping,Ahn, Tae Kyu,Lee, Jung Hee,Chae, Heeyeop,Lee, Doo Sung Elsevier 2017 Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Vol.155 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>High photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), photostability CdSe@ZnS/ZnS core/multishell quantum dots (CM-QDs) were first applied for bioimaging. The solubility, stability and biocompatible of the fluorescence imaging probes were constructed by self-assembly of CM-QDs and pH-responsive methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(β-amino ester/amidoamine)-dodecylamine (mPEG-PAEA-DDA) multiblock copolymers. The resulting CM-QDs-loaded mPEG-PAEA-DDA micelles (CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA) exhibited lower cell cytotoxicity and higher fluorescence intensity than the core/shell CdSe@ZnS QDs-encapsulated mPEG-PAEA-DDA micelles (CS-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA). Moreover, the in vivo fluorescence imaging ability confirmed that the CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA can be employed as a pH-triggerable targeting imaging probe for detection of a rat bearing cerebral ischemia disease. Therefore, we believed that the CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA may be the next generation of fluorescence imaging probes for targeted diagnosis acidic pathological areas, using pH as a stimulus.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> CdSe@ZnS/ZnS QDs are synthesized and first applied for bioimaging. </LI> <LI> mPEG-PAEA-DDA copolymer showed pH-responsive property and the hydrolysis stability. </LI> <LI> CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA exhibited lower toxicity and higher fluorescent intensity. </LI> <LI> CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA has ability to target image for acidic brain ischemic area. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Colorectal Cancer Concealment Predicts a Poor Survival: A Retrospective Study

Li, Xiao-Pan,Xie, Zhen-Yu,Fu, Yi-Fei,Yang, Chen,Hao, Li-Peng,Yang, Li-Ming,Zhang, Mei-Yu,Li, Xiao-Li,Feng, Li-Li,Yan, Bei,Sun, Qiao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

Objectives: Understanding the situation of cancer awareness which doctors give to patients might lead to prognostic prediction in cases of of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Subsets of 10,779 CRC patients were used to screen the risk factors from the Cancer Registry in Pudong New Area in cancer awareness, age, TNM stage, and gender. Survival of the patients was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and assessed by Cox regression analysis. The views of cancer awareness in doctors and patients were surveyed by telephone or household. Results: After a median observation time of 1,616 days (ranging from 0 to 4,083 days) of 10,779 available patients, 2,596 of the 4,561 patients with cancer awareness survived, whereas 2,258 of the 5,469 patients without cancer awareness and 406 of the 749 patients without information on cancer awareness died of the disease. All-cause and cancer-specific survival were poorer for the patients without cancer awareness than those with (P < 0.001 for each, log-rank test). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that cancer concealment cases had significantly lower cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.299; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.200-1.407)and all-cause survival (HR = 1.324; 95 % CI: 1.227-1.428). Furthermore, attitudes of cancer awareness between doctors and patients were significantly different (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Cancer concealment, not only late-stage tumor and age, is associated with a poor survival of CRC patients.

Knockdown of HMGN5 Expression by RNA Interference Induces Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Lung Cancer Cells

Chen, Peng,Wang, Xiu-Li,Ma, Zhong-Sen,Xu, Zhong,Jia, Bo,Ren, Jin,Hu, Yu-Xin,Zhang, Qing-Hua,Ma, Tian-Gang,Yan, Bing-Di,Yan, Qing-Zhu,Li, Yan-Lei,Li, Zhen,Yu, Jin-Yan,Gao, Rong,Fan, Na,Li, Bo,Yang, Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.7

HMGN5 is a typical member of the HMGN (high mobility group nucleosome-binding protein) family which may function as a nucleosomal binding and transcriptional activating protein. Overexpression of HMGN5 has been observed in several human tumors but its role in tumorigenesis has not been fully clarified. To investigate its significance for human lung cancer progression, we successfully constructed a shRNA expression lentiviral vector in which sense and antisense sequences targeting the human HMGN5 were linked with a 9-nucleotide loop. Inhibitory effects of siRNA on endogenous HMGN5 gene expression and protein synthesis were demonstrated via real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. We found HMGN5 silencing to significantly inhibit A549 and H1299 cell proliferation assessed by MTT, BrdU incorporation and colony formation assays. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that specific knockdown of HMGN5 slowed down the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and decreased the populations of A549 and H1299 cells at the S and G2/M phases. Taken together, these results suggest that HMGN5 is directly involved in regulation cell proliferation in A549 and H1299 cells by influencing signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression. Thus, our finding suggests that targeting HMGN5 may be an effective strategy for human lung cancer treatment.

Disruption of endothelial barrier function is linked with hyposecretion and lymphocytic infiltration in salivary glands of Sjögren's syndrome

Cong, Xin,Zhang, Xue-Ming,Zhang, Yan,Wei, Tai,He, Qi-Hua,Zhang, Li-Wei,Hua, Hong,Lee, Sang-Woo,Park, Kyungpyo,Yu, Guang-Yan,Wu, Li-Ling Elsevier 2018 Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of Vol.1864 No.10

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes hyposecretion in salivary glands. Endothelial tight junctions (TJs) play crucial roles in salivation and barrier function of blood vessels. However, whether the alteration of endothelial TJs were involved in pathogenesis of SS was still unknown. Here, the ultrastructure and function of endothelial TJs in submandibular glands (SMGs) were detected by transmission electron microscopy and in vivo paracellular permeability assay in different aged NOD mouse model for SS. CFSE-labeled lymphocytes were injected into tail vein to trace the infiltration, while claudin-5 expression and distribution were detected by immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Results showed that the stimulated salivary flow rate was gradually decreased and lymphocytic infiltration was found as age increased in 12- and 21-week-old NOD mice, but not 7-week-old NOD mice. Blood vessels were dilated, while endothelial TJ width and paracellular tracer transport were increased in 12-week-old NOD mice. Moreover, the injected CFSE-labeled lymphocytes were observed in SMGs of 12-week-old NOD mice. Claudin-5 level was increased and relocalized from the apical portion of neighboring endothelial cells to lateral membranes and cytoplasm in 12-week-old NOD mice. Additionally, the alteration of claudin-5 expression and distribution was further confirmed in labial salivary glands and bilateral parotid glands from SS patients. In cultured human microvessel endothelial cell line (HMEC-1), IFN-γ stimulation significantly increased claudin-5 expression. Taken together, we identified that the endothelial TJ barrier was disrupted and contributed to the development of salivary hyposecretion and lymphocytic infiltration in SS.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Endothelial tight junction barrier is disrupted in hyposecretory submandibular glands from Sjögren's syndrome mouse model </LI> <LI> The disrupted salivary endothelial barrier is linked with lymphocytic infiltration in Sjögren's syndrome mouse model </LI> <LI> The redistribution of claudin-5 is responsible for disrupted endothelial barrier in salivary glands from Sjögren's syndrome </LI> </UL> </P>

A new method for ship inner shell optimization based on parametric technique

Yan-Yun YU,Yan LIN,Ming Chen,Kai Li 대한조선학회 2015 International Journal of Naval Architecture and Oc Vol.7 No.1

A new method for ship Inner Shell optimization, which is called Parametric Inner Shell Optimization Method (PISOM), is presented in this paper in order to improve both hull performance and design efficiency of transport ship. The foundation of PISOM is the parametric Inner Shell Plate (ISP) model, which is a fully-associative model driven by dimensions. A method to create parametric ISP model is proposed, including geometric primitives, geometric constraints, geometric constraint solving etc. The standard optimization procedure of ship ISP optimization based on parametric ISP model is put forward, and an efficient optimization approach for typical transport ship is developed based on this procedure. This approach takes the section area of ISP and the other dominant parameters as variables, while all the design requirements such as propeller immersion, fore bottom wave slap, bridge visibility, longitudinal strength etc, are made constraints. The optimization objective is maximum volume of cargo oil tanker/cargo hold, and the genetic algorithm is used to solve this optimization model. This method is applied to the optimization of a product oil tanker and a bulk carrier, and it is proved to be effective, highly efficient, and engineering practical.

Association between Pax8-PPARγ1 Rearrangement and Follicular Thyroid Cancer: a Meta-Analysis

Li, Hang-Yu,Xie, Zhi-Hao,Xu, Cong-Hui,Pu, Mei-Ling,Chen, Zi-Yan,Yu, Miao,Wang, Heng-Shu,Zhou, Chen-Ming,Pu, Chao-Yu,Liu, Wei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.9

Background: Pax8 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 1 gene (Pax8-$PPAR{\gamma}1$) are important factors in tumors. Several studies have suggested that follicular thyroid cancer may arise from Pax8- $PPAR{\gamma}1$ rearrangement. In order to have a better understanding of the association between Pax8-$PPAR{\gamma}1$ rearrangement and follicular thyroid cancer, we conducted the presenmt meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: The information was extracted from PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Statistic analysis was performed with Stata12.0 software. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using a fixed-effects model. We also performed heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. Results: Nine studies including 198 follicular thyroid cancer patients and 268 controls were considered eligible. The frequency of Pax8-$PPAR{\gamma}1$ rearrangement was significantly higher in the follicular thyroid cancer group than in the control group, with a pooled OR of 6.63 (95%CI=3.50-12.7). In addition, through subgroup analysis, the OR between Pax8-$PPAR{\gamma}1$ rearrangement and follicular thyroid cancer was 6.04 (95%CI = 3.18-11.5) when using benign tumor tissues as controls. The OR for the method subgroup was 9.99 (95% CI =4.86-20.5) in the RT-PCR. Conclusions: The final results demonstrated that Pax8-$PPAR{\gamma}1$ rearrangement has significant association with follicular thyroid cancer.

Ifosfamide-containing Regimens for Treating Patients with Osteosarcomas

Li, Yan-Yan,Jiang, Xiao-Ming,Dong, Yi-Guo,Xu, Gang,Ma, Yu-Bo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: This systemic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an ifosfamide-containing regimen in treating patients with osteosarcoma. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of Ifosfamide-containing regimen on response and safety for patients with osteosarcoma were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated. Results: When ifosfamide-containing regimens were evaluated, 4 clinical studies which including 134 patients with osteosarcoma were considered eligible for inclusion. Systemic analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 44.8% (60/134) in ifosfamide-containing regimens. Major adverse effects were neutropenia, leukopenia, and fatigue inIfosfamide-containing regimens; No treatment related death occurred in cantharidin combined regimens. Conclusion: This systemic analysis suggests that ifosfamide-containing regimens are associated with good response rate and acceptable toxicity in treating patients with osteosarcoma, but this result should be confirmed by randomized clinical trials.