Semi-vioxanthin Isolated from Marine-Derived Fungus Regulates Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 80, CD86, and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Expression in RAW264.7 Cells <i>via</i> Nuclear Factor-κB and Mitogen-Activat

Yang, Xin-Ying,Cai, Sheng-Xin,Zhang, Wen-Ji,Tang, Xue-Lian,Shin, Hye-Young,Lee, Joo-Young,Gu, Qian-Qun,Park, Hyun Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 2008 BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN Vol.31 No.12

<P>Semi-vioxanthin isolated from marine-derived fungus was assessed for immunoregulatory activity in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. In the present study, the facilitative effects of semi-vioxanthin on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its mRNA expression and on expression of the co-stimulatory molecules, cluster of differentiation (CD) 80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II), as well as the molecular mechanism underlying the immunologic enhancement properties of semi-vioxanthin were studied. Our results clearly indicated that semi-vioxanthin treatment resulted in the degradation of IκBα, which led to the activation and nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), as determined by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Moreover, TNF-α production was prevented by NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. Inhibition of NF-κB and extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK1/2) activity by specific inhibitors blunted the effect of semi-vioxanthin on the up-regulation of CD80, CD86 and MHCII expression, but neither p38 MAPK nor c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor had this effect. Thus, we demonstrate that semi-vioxanthin regulates TNF-α production through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Activation of NF-κB and ERK1/2 were necessary for CD80, CD86 and MHCII expression induced by semi-vioxanthin. These data suggest that semi-vioxanthin has immunoregulatory effects.</P>

Study on Crystallization Kinetics of Dynamically-Vulcanized PP/EPDM Blends

Bin Yang,Yan-Li Deng,Xia Ru,Ji-Bin Miao,Ming Cao,Jia-Sheng Qian,Li-Fen Su,Peng Chen,Jing-Wang Liu,La-Xia Wu,Tao Pang 한국고분자학회 2016 폴리머 Vol.40 No.4

Two types of β nucleating agents (β-NAs), aryl dicarboxylic acid amide (TMB-5) and diphenyl phthalate diamine (NT-C), were adopted to modify the polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blends, which were prepared by dynamic-vulcanization technology. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the crystallization kinetics of PP. Our results showed that the addition of β-NAs can considerably increase the crystallization temperature, and significantly decrease the spherulite size of β-PP (L300). The Jeziorny analysis showed there were ~82% and ~89% of relative crystallinity generated from the primary crystallization in the composites containing TMB-5 and NT-C, respectively. The crystallization half time (t0.5) showed that NT-C improved the overall crystallization rate more effectively than TMB-5. In addition, the peaks of the relative crystallization rate curves were shifted towards higher temperature by 14 and 9℃ with the addition of TMB-5 and NT-C, respectively.

Patterning-Induced Ferromagnetism of Fe₃GeTe₂ van der Waals Materials beyond Room Temperature

Li, Qian,Yang, Mengmeng,Gong, Cheng,Chopdekar, Rajesh V.,N’Diaye, Alpha T.,Turner, John,Chen, Gong,Scholl, Andreas,Shafer, Padraic,Arenholz, Elke,Schmid, Andreas K.,Wang, Sheng,Liu, Kai,Gao, Nan,Admas American Chemical Society 2018 NANO LETTERS Vol.18 No.9

<P>Magnetic van der Waals (vdW) materials have emerged as promising candidates for spintronics applications, especially after the recent discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in monolayer vdW materials. There has been a critical need for tunable ferromagnetic vdW materials beyond room temperature. Here, we report a real-space imaging study of itinerant ferromagnet Fe<SUB>3</SUB>GeTe<SUB>2</SUB> and the enhancement of its Curie temperature well above ambient temperature. We find that the magnetic long-range order in Fe<SUB>3</SUB>GeTe<SUB>2</SUB> is characterized by an unconventional out-of-plane stripe-domain phase. In Fe<SUB>3</SUB>GeTe<SUB>2</SUB> microstructures patterned by a focused ion beam, the out-of-plane stripe domain phase undergoes a surprising transition at 230 K to an in-plane vortex phase that persists beyond room temperature. The discovery of tunable ferromagnetism in Fe<SUB>3</SUB>GeTe<SUB>2</SUB> materials opens up vast opportunities for utilizing vdW magnets in room-temperature spintronics devices.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Non-isothermal Crystallization Behavior, Rheological and Thermal Conductive Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate/Polyethylene Blends

Bin Yang,Dan Wang,Qin-Ting Chen,Jin Chen,Kang Chen,Ji-Bin Miao,Jia-Sheng Qian,Ru Xia,You Shi 한국고분자학회 2020 폴리머 Vol.44 No.3

In this study, we prepared series of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET)/polyethylene (PE) blends using melt extrusion. The effect of RPET content on crystallization behavior and thermal conductive properties of the resultant blends were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), etc. RPET was found to exert nucleating effect on the melt crystallization of PE. The Agari model presented fairly reasonable prediction of thermal conductivity as a function of RPET loading. The melt cooling process was predicted with an enthalpy transformation method (ETM), which is a well-established mean of evaluating the instantaneous heat conduction of crystalline polymers/composites, and the obtained curves were consistent with our experimental results. Besides, a four-parameter model (FPM) was adopted coupled with an in-situ temperature measurement in order to further disclose the solidification and crystallization kinetics of PE in the presence of RPET in the blends.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate attenuates angiotensin II-induced collagen type I expression in cardiac fibroblasts in vitro

Le Yang,Xiao-Jing Zou,Xiang Gao,Hao Chen,Jin-Long Luo,Zhao-Hua Wang,Qian-Sheng Liang,Guang-Tian Yang 생화학분자생물학회 2009 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.41 No.7

Cardiac fibrosis occurs after pathological stimuli to the cardiovascular system. One of the most important factors that contribute to cardiac fibrosis is angiotensin II (Ang II). Accumulating studies have suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in cardiac fibrosis and sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) possesses antioxidant action. We therefore examined whether STS depresses Ang II-induced collagen type I expression in cardiac fibroblasts. In this study, Ang II significantly enhanced collagen type I expression and collagen synthesis. Meanwhile, Ang II depressed matrix metalloproteinase- 1 (MMP-1) expression and activity. These responses were attenuated by STS. Furthermore, STS depressed the intracellular generation of ROS, NADPH oxidase activity and subunit p47phox expression. In addition, N-acetylcysteine the ROS scavenger, depressed effects of Ang II in a manner similar to STS. In conclusion, the current studies demonstrate that anti-fibrotic effects of STS are mediated by interfering with the modulation of ROS. Cardiac fibrosis occurs after pathological stimuli to the cardiovascular system. One of the most important factors that contribute to cardiac fibrosis is angiotensin II (Ang II). Accumulating studies have suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in cardiac fibrosis and sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) possesses antioxidant action. We therefore examined whether STS depresses Ang II-induced collagen type I expression in cardiac fibroblasts. In this study, Ang II significantly enhanced collagen type I expression and collagen synthesis. Meanwhile, Ang II depressed matrix metalloproteinase- 1 (MMP-1) expression and activity. These responses were attenuated by STS. Furthermore, STS depressed the intracellular generation of ROS, NADPH oxidase activity and subunit p47phox expression. In addition, N-acetylcysteine the ROS scavenger, depressed effects of Ang II in a manner similar to STS. In conclusion, the current studies demonstrate that anti-fibrotic effects of STS are mediated by interfering with the modulation of ROS.

Evaluation of Non-isothermal Melt Crystallization Kinetics of the Poly(lactic acid)/Graphene Composites under Variant Cooling Circumstances via Solidification Analysis Approach

Bin Yang,Peng Zhang,Shu-Chun Zhao,Ru Xia,Li-Fen Su,Ji-Bin Miao,Peng Chen,Jia-Sheng Qian,You Shi 한국고분자학회 2019 폴리머 Vol.43 No.5

The poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/graphene (GN) composites were prepared by solution blending. An in situ measurement technique was adopted to examine the non-isothermal crystallization of PLA/GN composites, which was different from the typical circumstances at constant cooling rate in DSC. The rheological properties of the samples were investigated, and the Carreau-A model was applied to non-linearly fit the rheological data. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and solidification behaviors at variant cooling rates were investigated using a modified version of Avrami equation by Jeziorny coupled with three-parameter model (TPM) and four-parameter model (FPM). Our findings showed that the viscosity of the PLA/GN composites dropped with increasing shear rate or GN content. Crystallization kinetic analysis suggested that GN served as an effective nucleating agent for PLA under non-isothermal melt crystallization conditions with variant cooling rate.

Heteromerization of μ-opioid receptor and cholecystokinin B receptor through the third transmembrane domain of the μ-opioid receptor contributes to the anti-opioid effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide

Yin Yang,Qian Li,Qi-Hua He,Ji-Sheng Han,Li Su,You Wan 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Activation of the cholecystokinin type B receptor (CCKBR) by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) inhibits opioid analgesia. Chronic opiate treatment leads to an increase in the CCK-8 concentration and thus enhances the antagonism of CCK-8 against opioid analgesia; the underlying molecular mechanisms remain of great interest. In the present study, we validated the colocalization of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and CCKBR in pain signal transmissionrelated spinal cord dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and fluorescence lifetime-imaging-microscopy-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) assays showed that MOR heteromerized with CCKBR directly in transfected HEK293 cells. Combined with MOR mutant construction, the third transmembrane domain of MOR (TM3MOR) was demonstrated to participate in heteromerization with CCKBR. Receptor ligand binding, ERK phosphorylation and cAMP assays showed that MOR heteromerization with CCKBR weakened the activity of MOR. A cell-penetrating interfering peptide consisting of TM3MOR and TAT (a transactivator of HIV-1) sequences from the N terminal to the C terminal disrupted the MOR–CCKBR interaction and restored the activity of MOR in transfected HEK293 cells. Furthermore, intrathecal application of the TM3MOR-TAT peptide alleviated CCK-8-injection-induced antagonism to morphine analgesia in rats. These results suggest a new molecular mechanism for CCK-8 antagonism to opioid analgesia in terms of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) interaction through direct heteromerization. Our study may provide a potential strategy for pain management with opioid analgesics.

Formula optimization for melanosis-inhibitors of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by response surface methodology

Yun-Fang Qian,Qing Xiong,Sheng-Ping Yang,Jing Xie 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.6

Melanosis is major problem of crustaceans duringtheir rigor mortis storage. This study for the firsttime was designed to optimize the formula of preservativesto maintain the color feature of Pacific white shrimp usingresponse surface methodology. A three-factors-three-levelsBox-Behnken design was applied to evaluate the effect ofchitosan, citric acid and L-cysteine on color features (L*,a*, b* and DE) of Pacific white shrimp. It was found thatthe increasing rate of DE was retarded by the higher concentrationsof chitosan, citric acid and L-cysteine in acertain range. The optimal formula for inhibiting theincrease of DE was 1.36% chitosan, 0.47% citric acid and0.31% L-cysteine. Under the optimal pretreated conditions,the predicted DE of shrimp after 8 days of storage was14.59, close to the measured values (14.49). These resultsindicated that the optimal combined preservatives couldretard the decrease of lightness and the aggregation of DEand melanosis effectively, and might be a potentialapplication for retarding melanosis and extending shelf lifeof Pacific white shrimp.

Quantitative Assessment the Relationship between p21 rs1059234 Polymorphism and Cancer Risk

Huang, Yong-Sheng,Fan, Qian-Qian,Li, Chuang,Nie, Meng,Quan, Hong-Yang,Wang, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

p21 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, which can arrest cell proliferation and serve as a tumor suppressor. Though many studies were published to assess the relationship between p21 rs1059234 polymorphism and various cancer risks, there was no definite conclusion on this association. To derive a more precise quantitative assessment of the relationship, a large scale meta-analysis of 5,963 cases and 8,405 controls from 16 eligible published case-control studies was performed. Our analysis suggested that rs1059234 was not associated with the integral cancer risk for both dominant model [(T/T+C/T) vs C/C, OR=1.00, 95% CI: 0.84-1.18] and recessive model [T/T vs (C/C+C/T), OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.93-1.15)]. However, further stratified analysis showed rs1059234 was greatly associated with the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). Thus, larger scale primary studies are still required to further evaluate the interaction of p21 rs1059234 polymorphism and cancer risk in specific cancer subtypes.

In situ Copolymerized Toughened Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) with Highly Transparency for Support Film of Polarizers

Yingying Wang,Bin Yang,Liangyong He,Yuqing Yang,Nuo Zhang,Yang Wang,Zhiqiang Shi,Yuchao Ke,Lifen Su,Jia-Sheng Qian,RU XIA,Tao Jiang 한국고분자학회 2022 폴리머 Vol.46 No.5

In this study, a series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymer films were prepared via solutionpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with butyl acrylate (BA) and lauryl methacrylate (LMA) as monomers. Mechanical properties, hydrophobic properties, and optical properties of the films were intensively investigated. The rheological results showed that the fluidity of the copolymer was considerably enhanced. When the monomer ratio ofMMA:BA:LMA was 100:30:10, the copolymer film S4 showed the best overall performance with perfect optical transparency maintained. The results of the dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis suggested that the glass transition temperature (Tg) moved towards lower temperature, with enhanced ductility of the PMMA films. A large number of yieldfolds and crazes appeared on the cross-sectional surface of copolymer films through morphological observations, displaying the obvious characteristics of toughness fracture and obeying the energy dissipation mechanism of cracks shearband. The present study provided a facile way of preparing PMMA films with high toughness and light transmittanceby appropriate selection of the monomers, which will be of practical significance for further studies on the replacementof triacetyl cellulose as a support film of polarizers.