Heat Stress Causes Aberrant DNA Methylation of H19 and Igf-2r in Mouse Blastocysts

Jia-Qiao Zhu,Jing-He Liu,Xing-Wei Liang,Bao-Zeng Xu,Yi Hou,Xing-Xu Zhao,Qing-Yuan Sun 한국분자세포생물학회 2008 Molecules and cells Vol.25 No.2

To gain a better understanding of the methylation imprinting changes associated with heat stress in early development, we used bisulfite sequencing and bisulfite restriction analysis to examine the DNA methylation status of imprinted genes in early embryos (blastocysts). The paternal imprinted genes, H19 and Igf-2r, had lower methylation levels in heat-stressed embryos than in control embryos, whereas the maternal imprinted genes, Peg3 and Peg1, had similar methylation pattern in heat-stressed embryos and in control embryos. Our results indicate that heat stress may induce aberrant methylation imprinting, which results in developmental failure of mouse embryos, and that the effects of heat shock on methylation imprinting may be gene-specific.

A design of transmission-type multi-target X-ray tube based on electric field modulation

Zhao, Lei,Jia, Wenbao,Jin, Limin,Shan, Qing,Cheng, Can,Zhu, Hongkui,Hei, Daqian Korean Nuclear Society 2021 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.53 No.9

Multi-target X-ray tube is a new type X-ray source, and can be applied in many fields such as sensitive X-ray fluorescence analysis and medical imaging. In this work, we report an electric field modulation multi-target X-ray tube, which contains four targets (Cr, Ni, Au, Mo) coated on a Beryllium (Be) window. A four-valve electric field deflector was developed to deflect the electron beam to bombard the corresponding targets. Particle dynamics analysis software was employed to simulate the particle tracking of electron beam. The results show that the 30 keV electron beam could get a 6.7 mm displacement on the target plane by 10⁵ V/m electric field. The focus areas are about 2 mm × 5 mm and 4 mm × 2.5 mm after deflection in two directions. Thermal behavior calculated by ANSYS shows that the designed target assembly could withstand a 10 W continuous power. The optimum target thicknesses and emission spectra were obtained by Geant4 when the thickness of Be window was 300 mm and the electron beam incident angle was 0.141 rad. The results indicate that this multi-target X-ray tube could provide different X-ray sources effectively.

Expression of Connexin 43 and E-cadherin Protein and mRNA in Non-small Cell Lung Cancers in Chinese Patients

Zhao, Jun-Qiang,Sun, Fang-Jie,Liu, Shan-Shan,Yang, Jun,Wu, Yu-Quan,Li, Gui-Shan,Chen, Qing-Yong,Wang, Jia-Xiang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Aim: Connexin 43 (Cx43) and E-cadherin are important biomarkers related with cancer. Their expression at protein and mRNA levels was here investigated in 50 primary lung carcinoma tissues and 20 samples of adjacent normal tissue of Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Protein and mRNA expression were evaluated by ABC immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results: (1) The positive expression rates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein were higher in the adjacent normal tissues than those in the primary lung carcinoma tissues; (2) the positive expression rates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein decreased with NSCLC progression; (3) the expression of E-cadherin protein was not related with the pathological type of NSCLC; and (4) the relative quantity of the Cx43 or E-cadherin mRNA expression was correlated with the the histological type, clinical stage, cancer cell differentiation and the lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: The data suggested that the Cx43 and E-cadherin are reduced with NSCLC progression, and might be important biomarkers for judging the metastasis and prognosis.

Effects of a Compound Extract from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, Grifola umbellata (pers.) Pilat, and Gambogia on Human Gastric Carcinoma MGC-803 Cells

Li Zhao,Xiao-Nan Zhang,Hong-Yan Gu,Jia Wang,Lei Tao,Rong Mu,Qing-Long Guo 한국식품과학회 2009 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.18 No.1

Three traditional Chinese medicines, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, Grifola umbellata (pers.) Pilat, and Gambogia, are combined to form a compound extract, AGC. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of AGC on human gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells were demonstrated, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are investigated. Our results indicate that AGC inhibited MGC-803 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner as measured by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, with an IC?? of about 6.045±0.69 ㎍/㎖. In vivo, AGC inhibited growth of human gastric carcinoma in xenograft tumors in nude mice, and the inhibitory rate reached 55.2% at 300 ㎎/㎏. The pro-apoptotic activity of AGC was attributed to its ability to decrease the expression of Bcl-2 and Pro-caspase3 and increase the expression of Bax. These results demonstrate that AGC can effectively induce programmed cell death and may be a promising anti-tumor drug in human gastric carcinoma.

Thermo-mechanical stress analysis of feed-water valves in nuclear power plants

Wen-qing Li,Lei Zhao,Yang Yue,Jia-yi Wu,Zhi-jiang Jin,Jin-yuan Qian 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.3

Feed-water valves (FWVs) are used to regulate the flow rate of water entering steam generators, whichare very important devices in nuclear power plants. Due to the working environment of relatively highpressure and temperature, there is strength failure problem of valve body in some cases. Based on thethermo-fluid-solid coupling model, the valve body stress of the feed-water valve in the opening processis investigated. The flow field characteristics inside the valve and temperature change of the valve bodywith time are studied. The stress analysis of the valve body is carried out considering mechanical stressand thermal stress comprehensively. The results show that the area with relatively high-velocity areamoves gradually from the bottom of the cross section to the top of the cross section with the increase ofthe opening degree. The whole valve body reaches the same temperature of 250C at the time of 1894 s. The maximum stress of the valve body meets the design requirements by stress assessment. This workcan be referred for the design of FWVs and other similar valves.

Analysis of the Relationship between MHC-DRB1 Gene Polymorphism and Hydatidosis in Kazakh Sheep

Li, Ren-Yan,Jia, Bin,Zhang, Wen-Ju,Zhao, Zong-Sheng,Shi, Guo-Qing,Shen, Hong,Peng, Qiang,Lv, Li-Min,Zhou, Qi-Wei,Du, Ying-Chun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.9

The objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between ovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DRB1 gene polymorphism and genetic resistance to hydatidosis in Kazakh sheep. The Ovar (ovine MHC) class II DRB1 second exon was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA samples of 702 Kazakh sheep, including 302 sheep with hydatidosis and 400 health controls. PCR products were characterized by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique using five restriction enzymes, i.e., MvaI, HaeIII, SacI, SacII and Hin1I, yielding 14 alleles and 28 genotypes. Comparing the frequency of genotypes in hydatidosis sheep with the control group, it was found that the genotype frequencies of MvaIbc, Hin1Iab, SacIIab, HaeIIIde, HaeIIIdf and HaeIIIdd in control sheep were significantly (p<0.01) higher than in hydatidosis sheep, indicating that a significant correlation existed between these genotypes and resistance to hydatidosis. Genotype frequencies of MvaIbb, SacIIaa, Hin1Ibb and HaeIIIef in sheep with hydatidosis were extremely significantly (p<0.01) higher than in the control group, and the genotype frequency of HaeIIIab was significantly higher (p<0.05), indicating that a marked correlation existed between these genotypes and susceptibility to hydatidosis. By way of analyzing haplotype with these resistant genotypes, the hydatidosis resistant haplotype MvaIbc-SacIIab-Hin1Iab of Kazakh sheep was screened out, and then verified through artificial hydatid infection in sheep. The results indicated that the infection rate of sheep with the resistant haplotype of hydatidosis was significantly lower (p<0.01) than without this resistant haplotype. It showed that the genic haplotype MvaIbc-SacIIab-Hin1Iab of Ovar-DRB1 exon 2 was the resistant haplotype of hydatidosis in Kazakh sheep.

Electronic Structures and Optical Properties of CuSCN with Cu Vacancies

Wei Jin,Guo-Qing Yue,Fu-Shun Ke,Song Wu,Hai-Bin Zhao,Liang-Yao Chen,Song-You Wang,Yu Jia 한국물리학회 2012 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.60 No.8

Based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using the CASTEP code, we calculated the formation energy of a Cu vacancy, as well as the band structure and the optical properties of β-CuSCN with Cu vacancies. Removal a Cu atom from the 32-site and the 72-site supercell results in an enlargement of the band-gap and a slight relaxation in the lattice parameter. An accepter level above the valence band maximum is observed in the 32-site supercell with a Cu vacancy, which results in the onset of a small absorption pre-peak at 0.65 eV.

Three P5CS genes including a novel one from Lilium regale play distinct roles in osmotic, drought and salt stress tolerance

Chi Wei,Qi Cui,Xi-Qing Zhang,Yu-Qian Zhao,Gui-Xia Jia 한국식물학회 2016 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.59 No.5

Proline accumulations in abiotically stressed plants is generally considered to benefit their stress tolerance. The Δ1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) gene family, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in proline biosynthesis pathway, usually contains two duplicated genes in most plants. However, three P5CS genes including LrP5CS1, LrP5CS2 as well as a third one, LrP5CS3, were isolated from Lilium regale. LrP5CS3 is highly identical to LrP5CS1 in amino acid sequences, indicating they could come from a paralogous duplication. The phylogenetic tree suggested that the duplication of LrP5CS occurred independently after the divergence of Liliales and commelinoids. The expression of LrP5CS1 was strongly induced in leaves and roots both under drought and salinity, while that of LrP5CS3 was upregulated more moderately. LrP5CS2 stayed almost constitutive under stress. LrP5CS1 exhibited the highest activity after expressed in E. coli. Overexpression of LrP5CS genes conferred enhanced osmotic, drought and salt tolerance on transgenic Arabidopsis without negative effects in unstressed condition. Under salt stress, lines LrP5CS2 accumulated fewer proline than others, and lines LrP5CS1 grew better in root elongation. The roots of lines LrP5CS3 grew better than all others under unstressed condition and osmotic stress. Our study suggests that the three LrP5CS genes play distinct roles respectively in proline accumulation and abiotic stress tolerance.

Tumor-Derived Transforming Growth Factor-β is Critical for Tumor Progression and Evasion from Immune Surveillance

Li, Zheng,Zhang, Li-Juan,Zhang, Hong-Ru,Tian, Gao-Fei,Tian, Jun,Mao, Xiao-Li,Jia, Zheng-Hu,Meng, Zi-Yu,Zhao, Li-Qing,Yin, Zhi-Nan,Wu, Zhen-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Tumors have evolved numerous mechanisms by which they can escape from immune surveillance. One of these is to produce immunosuppressive cytokines. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$(TGF-${\beta}$) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a crucial function in mediating immune suppression, especially in the tumor microenvironment. TGF-${\beta}$ produced by T cells has been demonstrated as an important factor for suppressing antitumor immune responses, but the role of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ in this process is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ using shRNA resulted in dramatically reduced tumor size, slowing tumor formation, prolonging survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and inhibiting metastasis. We revealed possible underlying mechanisms as reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ Treg cells, and consequently enhanced IFN-${\gamma}$ production by CTLs. Knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ also significantly reduced the conversion of na$\ddot{i}$ve $CD4^+$ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Finally, we found that knockdown of TGF-${\beta}$ suppressed cell migration, but did not change the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. In summary, our study provided evidence that tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ is a critical factor for tumor progression and evasion of immune surveillance, and blocking tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for cancer.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 on the Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

( Da Wei Chen ),( Zhen Quan Yang ),( Xia Chen ),( Yu Jun Huang ),( Bo Xing Yin ),( Fei Xiang Guo ),( Hai Qing Zhao ),( Jia Di Huang ),( Yun Wu ),( Rui Xia Gu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

Accumulating evidence indicates that lactic acid bacteria could improve host physiology and lipid metabolism. To investigate the effect of the gut microbiota on host lipid metabolism, a hyperlipidemic rat model was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet for 28 days, and the gut microbiota of the rats was analyzed using real-time PCR before and after administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 and its fermented milk for 28 days. The findings showed that the Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., and Enterococcus spp. content in the hyperlipidemic rats gut was increased significantly (p < 0.05), while the Clostridium leptum and Enterobacter spp. content was decreased significantly after intervening with L. rhamnosus hrsyfm 1301 and its fermented milk for 28 days (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lipid levels of the serum and the liver were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and the fecal water content was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the hyperlipidemic rats after the intervention, and hepatocyte fatty degeneration of liver tissues was also prevented. A positive correlation was observed between the Clostridium leptum content and the level of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein, and a negative correlation was observed between the Enterobacter spp. content and the Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. content in the hyperlipidemic rats gut. These results suggest that the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism of hyperlipidemic rats could be improved by supplementation with L. rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 and its fermented milk.