Prediction of LncRNA-Protein Interactions Based on Kernel Combinations and Graph Convolutional Networks

The complexes of long non-coding RNAs bound to proteins can be involved in regulating life activities at various stages of organisms. However, in the face of the growing number of lncRNAs and proteins, verifying LncRNA-Protein Interactions (LPI) based on traditional biological experiments is time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, with the improvement of computing power, predicting LPI has met new development opportunity. In virtue of the state-of-the-art works, a framework called LncRNA-Protein Interactions based on Kernel Combinations and Graph Convolutional Networks (LPI-KCGCN) has been proposed in this article. We first construct kernel matrices by taking advantage of extracting both the lncRNAs and protein concerning the sequence features, sequence similarity features, expression features, and gene ontology. Then reconstruct the existent kernel matrices as the input of the next step. Combined with known LPI interactions, the reconstructed similarity matrices, which can be used as features of the topology map of the LPI network, are exploited in extracting potential representations in the lncRNA and protein space using a two-layer Graph Convolutional Network. The predicted matrix can be finally obtained by training the network to produce scoring matrices w.r.t. lncRNAs and proteins. Different LPI-KCGCN variants are ensemble to derive the final prediction results and testify on balanced and unbalanced datasets. The 5-fold cross-validation shows that the optimal feature information combination on a dataset with 15.5% positive samples has an AUC value of 0.9714 and an AUPR value of 0.9216. On another highly unbalanced dataset with only 5% positive samples, LPI-KCGCN also has outperformed the state-of-the-art works, which achieved an AUC value of 0.9907 and an AUPR value of 0.9267.

Unveiling the Roles of Trace Fe and F Co-doped into High-Ni Li-Rich Layered Oxides in Performance Improvement

High-Ni Li-rich layered oxides (HNLOs) derived from Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides (LRMLOs) can effectively mitigate the voltage decay of LRMLOs but normally suffered from decreased capacity and cycling stability. Herein, an effective, simple, and up-scalable co-doping strategy of trace Fe and F ions via a facile expanded graphite template-sacrificed approach was proposed for improving the performance of HNLOs. The trace Fe and F co-doping can far more effectively improve both its rate capability and cycling stability in a synergistic manner compared to the introduction of individual Fe cations and F anions. The co-doping of Fe and F increased the Li-O bonds by a magnitude far larger than the summation of the increments by their individual doping, quite favorable for the performance. The trace Fe doping can escalate the capacity and enhance the rate capability significantly by increasing the components of lower valence transition metals to activate their redox reactions more effectively and improving both the electronic and ionic conduction. In contrast, trace F can improve the cycling stability remarkably by lowering the O 2p band top to suppress the lattice oxygen escape effectively which were revealed by density functional theory calculations. The co-doped cathode exhibited excellent cycling stability with a superior capacity retention of 90% after 200 cycles at 1 C, much higher than 64% for the pristine sample. This study offers an idea for synergistically improving the performance of Li-rich layered oxides by co-doping trace Fe cations and F anions simultaneously, which play a complementary role in performance improvement.

Clinical analysis of transurethral holmium laser enucleation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with prostatic inflammation: A prospective research study

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with prostatic inflammation (PI).

Methods

We prospectively collected and followed up data on patients with BPH who underwent HoLEP at the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University between July 2021 and July 2022. According to the postoperative pathological results, the patients were divided into two groups: BPH without PI group (BPH group) and BPH with PI group. Statistical analysis was performed on clinical data, including age and body mass index (BMI), prostate volume (PV), postoperative residual urine volume (PVR), preoperative serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), serum-free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA), preoperative and postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before and 3 months after surgery, quality of life index (QoL) before and 3 months after surgery, and postoperative complications.

Results

A total of 41 patients were included in this study, including 16 in the BPH group and 25 in the BPH with PI group. There were no significant differences in preoperative age, BMI, PV, PVR, tPSA, fPSA, and f/tPSA between the BPH and BPH with PI groups (P > 0.05). The preoperative mean Qmax of the BPH and BPH with PI groups were 9.44 ± 2.449 and 7.52 ± 2.946 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] ml/s, mean IPSS were 17.75 ± 5.335 and 24.24 ± 5.861 (mean ± SD), and mean QoL were 4.13 ± 0.806 and 4.48 ± 0.8 (mean ± SD), respectively. The postoperative mean Qmax of the BPH and BPH with PI groups were 20.38 ± 4.787 and 14.32 ± 3.827 (mean ± SD) ml/s, mean IPSS were 2.69 ± 1.25 and 5.84 ± 3.579 (mean ± SD), and mean QoL were 0.13 ± 0.342 and 0.92 ± 0.759 (mean ± SD), respectively. In both groups, Qmax significantly increased (P < 0.05) and IPSS and QoL significantly decreased after HoLEP (P < 0.05). Before and after surgery, the Qmax in the BPH with PI group was lower than that in the BPH group, and the IPSS and QoL levels in the BPH with PI group were higher than those in the BPH group (P < 0.05). Compared with the BPH group, the increase in Qmax in the BPH with PI group was smaller and the decrease in IPSS was larger (P < 0.05), but the variation in QoL was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Improvements in Qmax, IPSS, and QoL in BPH patients with PI after HoLEP surgery were lower than those in BPH patients alone. PI may be a predictor of a worse response to surgical treatment. However, more multicenter randomized controlled trials with larger samples and long-term follow-up are needed to verify this.

Functional, structural, and molecular characterizations of the leukemogenic driver MEF2D-HNRNPUL1 fusion

Recurrent MEF2D fusions with poor prognosis have been identified in B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL). The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic function of MEF2D fusions are poorly understood. Here, we show that MEF2D-HNRNPUL1 (MH) knock-in mice developed a progressive disease from impaired B-cell development at the pre-pro-B stage to pre-leukemia over 10 to 12 months. When cooperating with NRASG12D, MH drove an outbreak of BCP-ALL, with a more aggressive phenotype than the NRASG12D-induced leukemia. RNA-sequencing identified key networks involved in disease mechanisms. In chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing experiments, MH acquired increased chromatin-binding ability, mostly through MEF2D-responsive element (MRE) motifs in target genes, compared with wild-type MEF2D. Using X-ray crystallography, the MEF2D-MRE complex was characterized in atomic resolution, whereas disrupting the MH-DNA interaction alleviated the aberrant target gene expression and the B-cell differentiation arrest. The C-terminal moiety (HNRNPUL1 part) of MH was proven to contribute to the fusion protein's trans-regulatory activity, cofactor recruitment, and homodimerization. Furthermore, targeting MH-driven transactivation of the HDAC family by using the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat in combination with chemotherapy improved the overall survival of MH/NRASG12D BCP-ALL mice. Altogether, these results not only highlight MH as an important driver in leukemogenesis but also provoke targeted intervention against BCP-ALL with MEF2D fusions.

Long-Term Highly Stable High-Voltage LiCoO2 Synthesized via a Solid Sulfur-Assisted One-Pot Approach

Commercialized lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) only shows a relatively low capacity of ≈175 mAh g^-1 despite a high theoretical capacity of ≈274 mAh g^-1 . As an effective and direct strategy, increasing its charge cutoff voltage can, in principle, escalate the capacity, which is however precluded by the irreversible phase transition, oxygen loss, and severe side reactions with electrolytes normally. Herein, an in situ sulfur-assisted solid-state approach is proposed for one-pot synthesis of long-term highly stable high-voltage LCO with a novel compound structure. The coating of coherent spinel Li_x Co₂ O₄ shells on and the gradient doping of SO₄ ^2- polyanions into LCO are in situ realized simultaneously in terms of gas-solid interface reactions between metal oxides and generated SO₂ gas from sulfur during synthesis. At 4.6 V, this LCO shows the discharge capacities of 232.4 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 C (1 C = 280 mA g-¹ ), 215 mAh g^-1 at 1 C and 139 mAh g^-1 even at 20 C and the capacity retentions of 97.4% (89.7%) after 100 (300) cycles at 1 C. This approach is facile, low-cost and up-scalable and may provide a route to improve the performance of LCO and other electrode materials greatly.

Exploring Mechanisms by Which Danggui Buxue Decoction Regulates Inflammation and Improves Renal Anemia Based on Network Pharmacology

Background: Renal anemia occurs frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is related to chronic inflammation. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) can treat anemia and improve the chronic inflammation. However, whether DBD treatment attenuates anemia by regulating inflammation in CKD patients with renal anemia is unknown. Therefore, this study explored inflammation-related network targets of DBD in renal anemia therapy and verified the interaction between DBD active ingredients and inflammatory proteins by molecular docking. Methods: The main effective components and targets of DBD were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. Renal anemia-related biomolecules were searched in the GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, Pharmgkb, and DrugBank databases. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) data were downloaded from the STRING database and core targets were obtained. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses for core targets were performed. Finally, active ingredients and core biomolecules were determined using molecular docking. Results: Twenty-two active components and 158 targets for DBD treatment of renal anemia were screened, and an “ingredient-target” network was constructed. Twenty core target genes were screened from the PPI data. Vascular endothelial growth factor A, Signal Transducer and Activator of transcription 1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8, post-transcriptional gene silencing 2, and interleukin (IL)-1β were identified as inflammatory proteins. GO items related to inflammation and DBD included lipopolysaccharide, cellular response to chemical stress, and oxidative stress-related reactions. KEGG enrichment analyses showed that core inflammatory pathways mainly involved the IL-17 signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway. Molecular docking results indicated that the binding energy of quercetin, an active ingredient of DBD, to the 5 core proteins was less than −6 kcal·mol−1. Conclusion: DBD might have protective effects against renal anemia by improving inflammation. Quercetin might modulate multiple inflammatory proteins and pathways.

Lithium Antievaporation-Loss Engineering via Sodium/Potassium Doping Enables Superior Electrochemical Performance of High-Nickel Li-Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes

Low-cost Mn- and Li-rich layered oxides suffer from rapid voltage decay, which can be improved by increasing the nickel content to derive high nickel Li-rich layered oxides (HNLO) but is normally accompanied by reduced capacity and inferior cycling stability. Herein, Na or K ions are successfully doped into the lattice of high nickel Li-rich Li_1.2-xM_xNi_0.32Mn_0.48O₂ (M = Na, K) layered oxides via a facile expanded graphite template-sacrificed approach. Both Na- and K-doped samples exhibit excellent rate capability and cycling stability compared with the un-doped one. The Na-doped sample shows a capacity retention of 93% after 200 cycles at 1C, which is quite outstanding for HNLO. The greatly improved electrochemical performances are attributed to the increased effective Li content in the lattice via Li antievaporation-loss engineering, the expanded Li slab, the pillaring effect, the increased C2/m component, and the improved electronic conductivity. Different performances by the introduction of sodium and potassium ions may be ascribed to their different ionic radii, which give rise to their different doping behaviors and threshold doping amounts. This work provides a new idea of enhancing electrochemical performance of HNLO by doping proper alien elements to increase the lattice lithium content effectively.

Integrated bioinformatics analysis of the NEDD4 family reveals a prognostic value of NEDD4L in clear-cell renal cell cancer

The members of the Nedd4-like E3 family participate in various biological processes. However, their role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not clear. This study systematically analyzed the Nedd4-like E3 family members in ccRCC data sets from multiple publicly available databases. NEDD4L was identified as the only NEDD4 family member differentially expressed in ccRCC compared with normal samples. Bioinformatics tools were used to characterize the function of NEDD4L in ccRCC. It indicated that NEDD4L might regulate cellular energy metabolism by co-expression analysis, and subsequent gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. A prognostic model developed by the LASSO Cox regression method showed a relatively good predictive value in training and testing data sets. The result revealed that NEDD4L was associated with biosynthesis and metabolism of ccRCC. Since NEDD4L is downregulated and dysregulation of metabolism is involved in tumor progression, NEDD4L might be a potential therapeutic target in ccRCC.

E2F1-induced upregulation of lncRNA HCG18 stimulates proliferation and migration in gastric cancer by binding to miR-197-3p

OBJECTIVE

LncRNA HCG18 is considered to be an oncogene in many types of tumors. The aim of this study was to explore the role of lncRNA HCG18 in gastric cancer (GC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

HCG18 levels in GC tissues were detected. Potential biological influences of HCG18 on GC cell phenotypes were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing and transwell assay. Subsequently, bioinformatics analysis, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Luciferase assay and rescue experiments were conducted to identify the regulatory network of HCG18 in GC.

RESULTS

It was found that HCG18 was upregulated in GC samples, and the knockdown of HCG18 inhibited proliferative and migratory abilities in GC. The transcription factor E2F1 could directly bind to the promoter region of HCG18 and thus activate its transcription. In addition, HCG18 sponged miR-197-3p to stimulate the malignant development of GC.

CONCLUSIONS

HCG18 is upregulated in GC samples by E2F1 induction, which stimulates proliferative and migratory abilities in GC by binding to miR-197-3p.

Patients with chronic kidney disease have higher acute kidney injury morbidity than those without after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background and Objectives:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) increase the risk of serious disease and mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients. This study evaluated the occurrence and outcome of AKI in CKD and non-CKD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Subjects and Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 845 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection regarding the occurrence and outcome of AKI in a coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-designated hospital in Wuhan, China, from December 31, 2019, to March 20, 2020.

Results:

Of the 845 COVID-19 patients, 91 had CKD and 754 had no CKD (non-CKD), of whom 22 and 14 developed AKI, respectively. Finally, 36 patients were included in the analysis. Older patients and those with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases were more likely to develop AKI. More CKD patients progressed to critical illness (72.73%) than non-CKD patients (57.14%), but the degree of AKI in CKD patients was lesser than that in non-CKD patients. Higher urea nitrogen, creatinine, and proteinuria levels were observed in CKD patients. More non-CKD patients were treated with human albumin than CKD patients. The survival probability of CKD patients was lower than that of non-CKD patients, but it was not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

There were significant differences in the incidence rate of AKI after SARS-CoV-2 infection between CKD and non-CKD patients, and the clinical manifestations and treatments of AKI also differed. These results highlight the necessity of variable treatment methods for optimal clinical management.

The effects of exercise on COVID-19 therapeutics: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

At the end of 2019, peoples normal lives were disrupted by a sudden plague (COVID-19), the huge impact of COVID-19 on society has never been appeared. How to effectively prevent and treat COVID-19 is a concern for all health care workers. Exercise as a green and cheap complementary therapy, which has been proven to improve the immune capacity of the body and prevent infection. The main purpose of this study is to provide a reliable methodological guidance and credible evidence for exercise on COVID-19 therapeutic.

METHODS

This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. We will search the following database sources for the Randomized controlled trials: the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Chinese Science and the Wanfang Database. All randomized controlled trials of exercise therapy for COVID-19 in the above database will be considered for inclusion, and high-quality articles will be screened for data extraction and analysis, to summarize the therapeutic effect of exercise on COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS

In this study, we hope to find strong evidence for the treatment of COVID-19 by exercise.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion of our study will provide credible evidence to judge whether exercise is an effective intervention on the COVID-19 patients therapeutic, and guide future researches.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020200883.

Effect of acupuncture on chronic bronchitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Chronic bronchitis (CB) is a clinically common and recurrent respiratory disease. However, many trials have shown that acupuncture can effectively treat CB. There is currently no systematic review of this therapy. The plan is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this treatment in patients with CB.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This systematic evaluation will entail an electronic and manual search of all acupuncture for CB from inception to December 31, 2020, regardless of the publication status or language. Databases include PubMed, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, the Chinese Medicine Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China Science Journal Database, and the Wanfang Database. Other sources of information, including bibliographies and meeting minutes for identified publications, will also be searched. A manual search for grey literature, including unpublished conference articles will be performed. Additionally, any clinical randomized controlled trials related to acupuncture for CB, regardless of the publication status and language limitations, will be included in the study. Study selection, data extraction, and research quality assessments will be conducted independently by 2 researchers. The main result was the Change in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator function as measured by sweat chloride analysis or treatment effect. Secondary outcomes included Quality of life (eg, SF-36), change in Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale score, follow-up relapse rate, and adverse events. The system searches for randomized controlled trials of this therapy for CB. Implement the Cochrane RevMan V5.3 bias assessment tool to assess bias risk, data integration risk, meta-analysis risk, and subgroup analysis risk (if conditions are met). Mean difference, standard mean deviation, and binary data will be used to represent continuous results.

RESULTS

This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence for the treatment of CB using this therapy.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide new evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of acupuncture on CB. Because the data are not personalized, no formal ethical approval is required.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020170287.

Energy metabolism and mitochondrial defects in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMTX6) iPSC-derived motor neurons with the p.R158H PDK3 mutation

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a group of inherited diseases clinically and genetically heterogenous, characterised by length dependent degeneration of axons of the peripheral nervous system. A missense mutation (p.R158H) in the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3 gene (PDK3) has been identified as the genetic cause for an X-linked form of CMT (CMTX6) in two unrelated families. PDK3 is one of four PDK isoenzymes that regulate the activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). The balance between kinases (PDKs) and phosphatases (PDPs) determines the extend of oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to generate acetyl CoA, critically linking glycolysis and the energy producing Krebs cycle. We had shown the p.R158H mutation causes hyperactivity of PDK3 and CMTX6 fibroblasts show hyperphosphorylation of PDC, leading to reduced PDC activity and ATP production. In this manuscript we have generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by re-programming CMTX6 fibroblasts (iPSC^CMTX6). We also have engineered an isogenic control (iPSC^isogenic) and demonstrated that genetic correction of the p.R158H mutation reverses the CMTX6 phenotype. Patient-derived motor neurons (MN^CMTX6) show increased phosphorylation of the PDC, energy metabolism defects and mitochondrial abnormalities, including reduced velocity of trafficking mitochondria in the affected axons. Treatment of the MN^CMTX6 with a PDK inhibitor reverses PDC hyperphosphorylation and the associated functional deficits founds in the patient motor neurons, demonstrating that the MN^CMTX6 and MN^isogenic motor neurons provide an excellent neuronal system for compound screening approaches to identify drugs for the treatment of CMTX6.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Manglietia yuyuanensis (Magnoliaceae)

Manglietia yuyuanensis is an important afforestation and excellent broad-leaved tree species in southern China. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast genome of M. yuyuanensis based on the Illumina sequences, sequence analysis showed the genome was 160,078 bp in length presenting a typical quadripartite structure and contains an inverted repeat region (IR, 26,467 b), a small single-copy (SSC) region, and a large single-copy (LSC) region (18,785 and 88,359 bp, respectively). The overall GC content was 39.27%. The sequence contained 128 unique genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. maudiae was closely related to Manglietia insignis. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. yuyuanensis is closely related to Manglietia glaucifolia, with the genus Manglietia.

Time and laser ranging: a window of opportunity for geodesy, navigation and metrology

Recent progress in the domain of time and frequency (T/F) standards requires important improvements of existing time distribution links. Among these, the accuracy of time transfer is actually an important part of the concerns in order to establish and maintain time & space references from ground and/or space facilities. Several time transfers by laser link projects have been carried out over the past 10 years with numerous scientific and metrological objectives. Satellite Laser ranging (SLR) has proven to be a fundamental tool, offering a straightforward, conceptually simple, highly accurate and unambiguous observable. Depending on the mission, LR is used to transmit time over two-way or one-way distances from 500 to several millions of km. The following missions and their objectives employed this technique: European Laser Timing (ELT) at 450 km, Time Transfer by Laser Link (T2L2) at 1,336 km, Laser Time Transfer (LTT) at 36,000 km, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) at 350,000 km, and MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) at tens of million km. This article describes the synergy between SLR and T/F technologies developed on the ground and in space and as well as the state of the art of their exploitation. The performance and sources of limitation of such space missions are analyzed. It shows that current and future challenges lie in the improvement of the time accuracy and stability of the time for ground geodetic observatories. The role of the next generation of SLR systems is emphasized both in space and at ground level, from the point of view of GGOS and valuable exploitation of the synergy between time synchronization, ranging and data transfer.

Cucurbitacin B inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer by modulating methylation status of BTG3

A previous report has revealed that cucurbitacin B (CuB) inhibits cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through epigenetic modifications of several genes. However, whether CuB regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by altering methylation status of BTG3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. In the present study, the results showed that BTG3 was downregulated in CRC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. CuB significantly increased BTG3 levels, induced promoter demethylation, and decreased the levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b) in both CRC cell lines (SW480 and Caco-2), and the effects of CuB were comparable with those of 5-Aza-dC. We also found that CuB inhibited cell proliferation, accompanied with decreased expression of Ki67. Furthermore, CuB treatment induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in SW480 and Caco-2 cells, as well as decreased levels of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1. Incubation with CuB promoted cell apoptosis in both CRC cell lines in vitro, accompanied with elevation of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. BTG3 knockdown abolished the effects of CuB in CRC cells. In summary, CuB-induced proliferation inhibition and cell apoptosis may be due to the reactivation of BTG3 by promoter demethylation. CuB may be a promising agent for CRC therapy.

B-cell translocation gene 3 overexpression inhibits proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer SW480 cells via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Increasing evidences have shown that B-cell translocation gene 3 (BTG3) inhibits metastasis of multiple cancer cells. However, the role of BTG3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its possible mechanism have not yet been reported. In our study, we evaluated BTG3 expression in several CRC cell lines. Then, pcDNA3.1-BTG3 was transfected into SW480 cells. We found that BTG3 was upregulated in SW480 cells after overexpression plasmid transfection. BTG3 overexpression significantly inhibited cell growth and decreased PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and Ki67 levels. BTG3 overexpression markedly downregulated Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1 levels, whereas elevated p27. Overexpression of BTG3 arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase, which was abrogated by p27 silencing. Furthermore, migration, invasion and EMT of SW480 cells were significantly suppressed by BTG3 overexpression. Further investigations showed the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We then used GSK3β specific inhibitor SB-216763 to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We found that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation reversed the effect of BTG3 overexpression on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion and EMT. In conclusion, BTG3 overexpression inhibited cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest and suppressed the metastasis of SW480 cells via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. BTG3 may be considered as a therapeutic target in CRC treatment.

In-flight characterization of the lunar orbiter laser altimeter instrument pointing and far-field pattern

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has collected nearly seven billion measurements of surface height on the Moon with an absolute accuracy of ∼1  m and a precision of ∼10  cm. Converting time-of-flight laser altimeter measurements to topographic elevations requires accurate knowledge of the laser pointing with respect to the spacecraft body-fixed coordinate system. To that end, we have utilized altimetric crossovers from LOLA, as well as bidirectional observations of the LOLA laser and receiver boresight via an Earth-based laser tracking ground station. Based on a sample of ∼780,000 globally distributed crossovers from the circular-orbit phase of LRO's mission (∼27 months), we derive corrections to the LOLA laser boresight. These corrections improve the cross-track and along-track agreement of the crossovers by 24% and 33%, respectively, yielding RMS residuals of ∼10  m. Since early in the LRO mission, the bidirectional laser tracking experiments have confirmed a pointing anomaly when the LOLA instrument is facing toward deep space or the night side of the Moon and have allowed the reconstruction of the laser far-field pattern and receiver telescope pointing. By conducting such experiments shortly after launch and nearly eight years later, we have directly measured changes in the laser characteristics and obtained critical data to understand the laser behavior and refine the instrument pointing model. The methods and results presented here are also relevant to the design, fabrication, and operation of future planetary laser altimeters and their long-term behavior in the space environment.

[IgG4-related lung disease: analysis of 8 cases and literature review]

Objective: To improve the understanding and treatment of IgG4-related lung disease (IgG4-RLD). Methods: The clinical characteristics, serum IgG4 levels, pathological features, chest CT, therapy and prognosis of 8 patients with IgG4-RLD were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were admitted to the People's Liberation Army General Hospital and the pathological diagnosis was made between December 2005 and March 2016. Relevant literatures were reviewed. Results: The 8 patients with IgG4-RLD included 4 men and 4 women, with an average age of (59±4) years (range, 37-74). The respiratory symptoms included shortness of breath, cough, and expectoration. Extra-pulmonary symptoms included abdominal pain, facial edema, and fever. Extrapulmonary organs were involved in 7 cases. Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 8 cases, with an average concentration of(17±6)g/L. Chest CT showed solid lung nodules in 6, alveolar-interstitial infiltration in 5, bronchovascular lesions in 3 and ground glass shadows in 2 cases. PET/CT was performed in 2 cases and it showed multiple organ involvement with higher radioactivity uptake(SUVmax2.9-4.2). The pathological examination found lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration in 7, fibrous tissue hyperplasia in 5, and occlusive vasculitis in 2 cases. On immunohistochemical staining, the ratio of IgG4-positive plasma cells to IgG-positive plasma cells was higher than 40%in 3 cases. The number of IgG4-positive plasma cells was 10-50/HP in 8 cases. The misdiagnosis rate was 100% before the final diagnosis was made. Three cases received glucocorticoids with immunosuppressant therapy, 2 received surgery combined with glucocorticoid therapy, 2 received glucocorticoid therapy alone, and 1 only received surgery. The follow-up time was 4-132 months, with remission in 7 cases, and disease progression in 1 case, but no death. A total of 195 cases of IgG4-RLD were reviewed from the literature, among whom 111 cases were admitted with respiratory symptoms, 144 with extra-pulmonary involvement. Serum IgG4 levels were detected in 179 cases, with an average concentration of 5.408 g/L. The nodular type was predominant, accounting for 36.9%. Of these cases, 178 received glucocorticoid treatment with disease remission. Conclusions: The major clinical manifestations of IgG4-RLD were shortness of breath, cough and expectoration. Multiple organ lesions were common. The misdiagnosis rate was extremely high. The diagnosis could be made based on pathological features and IgG4 serum levels . Glucocorticoid treatment was effective.

Impact of Food Restriction on the Expression of the Adiponectin System and Genes in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis of Pre-Pubertal Ewes

Adiponectin, a cytokine secreted typically by adipocytes, has been implicated as a molecular switch between female reproduction and energy balance. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression of adiponectin system and patterns of genes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis of food-restricted pre-pubertal ewes. Eighteen 2-month-old female ewes were assigned to 3 groups after a pre-feeding ad libitum for 10 days (six in each group): the control group (C), the low-food-restricted group (LR) and the high-food-restricted group (HR), which were fed with 100%, 70% and 50% of ad libitum food intake, respectively. The hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and serum were collected after food restriction for 2 months. Results by ELISA showed that food restriction increased serum adiponectin concentrations. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the gene transcriptions for adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) were enhanced in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, while KISS-1/GPR-54 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus and luteinizing hormone β-subunit (LHβ) and follicle-stimulating hormone β-subunit (FSHβ) in the pituitary were reduced after food restriction. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that AdipoR1 localized in the oocytes of follicles in the ovary. These results suggest that the alterations in the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in response to food restriction might negatively influence the HPO axis.

Estimating chemical emissions from home and personal care products in China

China's economy has grown significantly and concomitantly so has the demand for home and personal care (HPC) products. The detection of chemicals used in HPC products is increasing in profile as China strives to improve its environmental management. China is developing robust exposure models for use in regulatory risk-based assessments of chemicals, including those chemicals used in HPC products. Accurate estimates of chemical emissions play an important role within this. A methodology is presented to derive spatially refined emissions from demographic and economic indicators with large variations in emissions calculated, showing product usage being higher in East and South China. The less affordable a product, the greater the influence per capita Gross Domestic Product has on the product distribution. Lastly, more spatially resolved input data highlights greater variation of product use. Linking product sales data with population density increased the observed variability in absolute usage distribution of HPC products at the county > province > regional > country scale.

Study of ZnTe:Cu Back Contacts on CdTe/CdS Thin Film Solar Cells

Vacuum-evaporated Cu-doped ZnTe films have been studied as the intermediate layer between CdTe and metal contacts in CdTe/CdS thin-film solar cells for the formation of low resistance back contacts. Different metals (Au, Ni, Co) have been investigated as the contact material to the ZnTe layer. The effects of Cu concentration, ZnTe:Cu layer thickness, and ZnTe post-deposition annealing temperature on the cell performances have been investigated. We found that different metal contacts on the ZnTe layer lead to different doping densities in the CdTe layer and different open-circuit photovoltages of the solar cells. The possible formation of a back contact diode at the CdTe/ZnTe interface was explored, based on capacitance-voltage analysis. The series resistance of the CdTe/CdS cells was reduced significantly by the introduction of the ZnTe layer. Fill factors greater than 0.76 and an energy conversion efficiency of 12.9% have been achieved using ZnTe back contacts on electrodeposited CdTe.

Effect of CdCl2 Treatment of CdS Films on CdTe/CdS Solar Cells

We investigated the effect of CdCl2 treatment of CdS films on the photovoltaic performance of polycrystalline CdTe/CdS solar cells. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the diffusion of S into CdTe is qualitatively the same for CdTe/CdS films fabricated with both as-deposited and CdCl2-treated CdS. A major difference was observed in the extent of Te diffusion into CdS for the two types of CdS films. Full conversion of CdS into CdS1-yTey; was observed for films prepared with asdeposited CdS, while the formation of the ternary phase was below the detection limit for films prepared with CdCl2-treated CdS. Photoluminescence measurements confirmed this result. The difference in interdiffusion leads to differences in optical transmission of CdS films and spectral response of CdTe/CdS solar cells. An increase of 2.7 mA/cm2 in short-circuit current density was observed as a result of improved spectral response in the wavelength range of 500–600 nm for the CdCl2-treated CdS.

Compact all-fiber high-energy fiber laser with sub-300-fs duration

We report a compact all-fiber high-energy fiber laser that consists of a laser oscillator and a compression section. The laser oscillator generates the pulses with high energy and large chirp. The compression section is made of a piece of standard single-mode fiber that dechirps the chirped pulses. The compact all-fiber fiber laser produces pulses with 8 nJ of the pulse energy and 290 fs of the pulse duration.

Purification of lectin from larvae of the fly, Musca domestica, and in vitro anti-tumor activity in MCF-7 cells

A new lectin was purified from larvae of the fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) (MLL-2, 38 kDa) using affinity chromatography and HPLC. Anti-tumor activity of MLL-2 was demonstrated by its inhibition of proliferation of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. The results of acridine orange staining indicated that MLL-2 caused apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells has been detected by TUNEL. Flow cytometric analysis also demonstrated that MLL-2 caused dose-dependent apoptosis of MCF-7 cells through cell arrest at G2/M phase. The MLL-2 induced a sustained increase in concentration of intracellular free calcium. Western blot revealed that MLL-2 induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was associated with typical apoptosis proteins in the mitochondrial pathway. In addition, the caspase-3 activity in MCF-7 cells treated with MLL-2 for 48 hours was significantly increased compared to controls (407.4 ± 3.0 vs. 1749.2 ± 6.0, P <0.01). Since MLL-2 induced apoptosis in MCF-7cells the mitochondrial pathway may be the main pathway of antitumor activity.

IGF regulation of neutral amino acid transport in the BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line (b30 clone): evidence for MAP kinase-dependent and MAP kinase-independent mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptors are major determinants of fetal growth and are expressed primarily on the maternal-facing surface of the syncytiotrophoblast cell membrane in the human placenta. IGF-1 regulates fetal growth, in part, by regulating amino acid transport across the placenta. The objective of these studies was to study the role of IGF-1 and its signaling pathway in regulating neutral amino acid transport in a human trophoblast cell culture model.

DESIGN

The regulation of neutral amino acid transport by IGF-1 was studied in cultured BeWo(b30) choriocarcinoma cells using the non-metabolizing amino acid analog, [(3)H]-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB). Transport in the absence of Na was used to distinguish system L from total AIB transport. Similarly, Na-dependent transport in the presence of excess methyl-AIB (MeAIB) permitted discrimination of systems A (MeAIB-sensitive) and ASC (MeAIB-insensitive). Specific inhibitors of intracellular signaling pathways were then used to determine the signaling pathway utilized by IGFs to regulate each amino acid transport system. Specificity of inhibition was assessed using specific markers of p70 S6 kinase activity and MAP kinase activation.

RESULTS

Maximal stimulating concentrations of IGF-I (100 ng/ml) stimulated AIB transport by 30-40% exclusively through system A. Wortmannin (100 nM), an inhibitor of PI-3-kinase activity, inhibited all IGF-I-stimulated transport. Rapamycin (100 ng/ml), an inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase, and bisindolylmaleimide, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), had no effect. PD-098059 (50 miccroM), an inhibitor of MAP kinase activation, inhibited 20-30% of basal AIB transport but did not inhibit IGF-I-stimulated transport under the conditions studied. IGF-1 did not increase steady state mRNA levels of the system A transporters, SNAT1 and SNAT2, suggesting IGF-1 stimulates transport via post-transcriptional mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that IGF-I stimulates neutral amino acid transport system A by a PI3-kinase dependent, post-transcriptional pathway in the BeWo(b30) cell line. Additionally, system A activity appear to be sensitive to MAP kinase-dependent pathways not regulated by IGFs.

Observation of a narrow charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632)-->D(+)(s)eta and D(0)K(+)

We report the first observation of a charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632) at a mass of 2632.5+/-1.7 MeV/c(2) in data from SELEX, the charm hadro-production experiment E781 at Fermilab. This state is seen in two decay modes, D(+)(s)eta and D0K+. In the D(+)(s)eta decay mode we observe a peak with 101 events over a combinatoric background of 54.9 events at a mass of 2635.4+/-3.3 MeV/c(2). There is a corresponding peak of 21 events over a background of 6.9 at 2631.5+/-2.0 MeV/c(2) in the decay mode D0K+. The decay width of this state is <17 MeV/c(2) at 90% confidence level. The relative branching ratio Gamma(D0K+)/Gamma(D(+)(s)eta) is 0.14+/-0.06. The mechanism that keeps this state narrow is unclear. Its decay pattern is also unusual, being dominated by the D(+)(s)eta decay mode.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci based on growth models

An approach called growth model-based mapping (GMM) of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) is proposed in this paper. The principle of the approach is to fit the growth curve of each individual or line with a theoretical or empirical growth model at first and then map QTLs based on the estimated growth parameters with the method of multiple-trait composite interval mapping. In comparison with previously proposed approaches of QTL mapping based on growth data, GMM has several advantages: (1) it can greatly reduce the amount of phenotypic data for QTL analysis and thus alleviate the burden of computation, particularly when permutation tests or simulation are performed to estimate significance thresholds; (2) it can efficiently analyze unbalanced phenotype data because both balanced and unbalanced data can be used for fitting growth models; and (3) it may potentially help us to better understand the genetic basis of quantitative trait development because the parameters in a theoretical growth model may often have clear biological meanings. A practical example of rice leaf-age development is presented to demonstrate the utility of GMM.

First observation of the doubly charmed baryon Xi(+)(cc)

We observe a signal for the doubly charmed baryon Xi(+)(cc) in the charged decay mode Xi(+)(cc)-->Lambda(+)(c)K-pi(+) in data from SELEX, the charm hadroproduction experiment at Fermilab. We observe an excess of 15.9 events over an expected background of 6.1+/-0.5 events, a statistical significance of 6.3sigma. The observed mass of this state is 3519+/-1 MeV/c(2). The Gaussian mass width of this state is 3 MeV/c(2), consistent with resolution; its lifetime is less than 33 fs at 90% confidence.

The presence of 9-cis-beta-carotene in cytochrome b(6)f complex from spinach

Cytochrome b(6)f complex with stoichiometrically bound beta-carotene molecule was purified from spinach chloroplasts. The configuration of this beta-carotene was studied by reversed-phase HPLC and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Both the absorption spectrum of this beta-carotene in dissociated state and the Raman spectrum in native state can be unambiguously assigned to a 9-cis configuration. This finding is in contrast to the predominantly all-trans isomers commonly found in membranes and protein-pigment complexes of chloroplasts, suggesting that the 9-cis-beta-carotene is an authentic component and may have a unique structural and functional role in cytochrome b(6)f complex.

[Life of Wan Quan and some of his anecdotes]

By investigating the literatures and medical arts written by Wan Quan so as to probing the formation and development of his medical art, this paper deals with the experience in Confucianism, clinical practice, his disciples and childrens. It points out that there are three essential conditions of Wan's academic basis, viz., achievements in Confucianism, family heritage and his own rich clinical experience.

An experimental study on drugs for improving blood circulation and removing blood stasis in treating mild chronic hepatic damage

Large and small doses of drugs for improving blood circulation and removing blood stasis were used in model rats to treat mild chronic hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results show that large dose of Dang Gui ([symbol: see text] Radix Angelicae Sinensis) and Dan Shen ([symbol: see text] Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) (drugs for regulating blood flow) and small dose of Yu Jin ([symbol: see text] Radix Curcumae) and Niu Xi ([symbol: see text] Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) (drugs for activating blood flow) can significantly elevate the activity of SOD (P < 0.05) and/or lower the T/K ratio, markedly reduce the MDA content (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and significantly decrease the activities of ALT and AST (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), demonstrating that these drugs are effective in combating oxygen free radicals (OFR) in chronic liver damage. On the contrary, large dose of Tu Bie Chong ([symbol: see text] Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga) and E Zhu ([symbol: see text] Rhizoma Curcumae) (drugs for removing blood stasis) tend to increase the ALT and AST (P < 0.05) activities. The results suggest that the synergism of elevation of the SOD activity and reduction of T/K ratio contributes to the action of drugs for improving blood circulation and removing blood stasis in combating the liver damage induced by CCl4.

Temperature and pH studies of short tandem repeat systems using capillary electrophoresis at elevated pH

The DNA secondary structure can affect the migration time and precision of DNA separations in the physical gels used in capillary electrophoresis (CE). To counteract these effects, DNA typing is performed using elevated temperatures (60 degrees C) and high concentrations (7 M) of urea. These conditions affect the precision and lifetime of the analysis. To better understand the effects of these conditions on the reproducibility of DNA migration, we examined the effects of temperature and pH on short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using the PE/ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. Separations were performed using the Profiler + multiplex system, a set of coamplified STRs with a 4-base repeat motif, labeled at the 5'-end using fluorescent dyes. The analytical separations were obtained using a commercial buffer at pH 8 and an experimental buffer consisting of 3% hydroxyethylcellulose at pH settings ranging from 8-12. Multichannel laser-induced fluorescence detection was used. Temperatures were examined from 30-70 degrees C. The results demonstrate the fact that highly efficient separations can be carried out at alkaline pH. In addition, improvements in temperature stability were seen when compared to results at lower pH. However, high concentrations of urea were found to be necessary to achieve optimal resolution.

Precision measurements of the lambda(+)(c) and D0 lifetimes

We report new precision measurements of the lifetimes of the Lambda(+)(c) and D0 from SELEX, the charm hadroproduction experiment at Fermilab. Based upon 1630 Lambda(+)(c) and 10 210 D0 decays we observe lifetimes of tau[Lambda(+)(c)] = 198.1+/-7.0+/-5.6 fs and tau[D0] = 407.9+/-6.0+/-4.3 fs.

A combined linear ion trap time-of-flight system with improved performance and MS(n) capabilities

A detailed description of a linear ion trap time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer system, capable of sequential mass spectrometry (MS(n)), is given. Many improvements have been incorporated since the initial description of this system (Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 1998; 12: 1463-1474). The pressure in the trap has been lowered from 7.0 to 1.8 mTorr, resulting in an increase in the mass resolution of ion excitation from 75 to 240. Use of the system for MS(3) is demonstrated. Dipole excitation of the n = 1 harmonic, instead of the n = 0 fundamental frequency of ion motion, is shown to have a higher frequency resolution, f/Deltaf, but lower mass resolution, m/Deltam. Both experiments and modeling demonstrate that at the lower pressure there is less collisional cooling of ions in the axial and radial directions of the trap. The efficiency of trapping is shown to be nearly 100% for periods up to 5 s. The demonstrated mass range for mass analysis has been extended to greater than m/z 16 250. To avoid the formation of adduct ions when trapping protein ions for extended times requires ultra-high vacuum cleanliness conditions, even though the trap operates in the mTorr-pressure range. Upgrading the TOF to a reflectron with higher quality ion optics results in an increase in the mass resolution of the TOF mass spectrometer to about 5000 at m/z 750.

Prevention of T cell-driven complement activation and inflammation by tryptophan catabolism during pregnancy

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) activity during pregnancy protects developing fetuses from maternal immune responses in CBA mice. We show here that fetal allografts were rejected only in mating combinations where paternally inherited tissue antigens elicited potent maternal T cell responses after exposure to IDO inhibitor. IDO inhibitor treatment triggered extensive inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface in susceptible mating combinations, which was characterized by complement deposition and hemorrhagic necrosis. Identical inflammatory responses occurred in B cell-deficient (RAG-I-/-) mothers that carried a monoclonal cohort of CD8+ T cells specific for a single paternally inherited fetal major histocompatibility complex antigen. Thus, fetal allograft rejection was accompanied by a unique form of inflammation that was characterized by T cell-dependent, antibody-independent activation of complement. In contrast, no inflammation, complement deposition or T cell infiltration was elicited when mice carrying syngeneic fetuses were exposed to IDO inhibitor. These data show that IDO activity protects the fetus by suppressing T cell-driven local inflammatory responses to fetal alloantigens.

Effective capillary electrophoresis-based heteroduplex analysis through optimization of surface coating and polymer networks

The efficacy of capillary electrophoresis for detecting DNA mutations via heteroduplex analysis (HDA) is dependent upon both the effective passivition of the capillary surface and the choice of the correct polymer network for sieving. Using HDA with laser-induced fluorescence detection of fluorescently labeled DNA fragments, an effective coating and optimal polymer matrix were sought. Optimized separation conditions were determined through the methodological evaluation of a number of different silanizing reagents, polymeric coatings, and polymer networks for resolving the PCR-amplified DNA fragments associated with five mutations (185delAG, 1294del40, 4446C > G, 5382insC, 5677insA) in the breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1). For capillary coating, allyldimethylchlorosilane, 4-chlorobutyldimethylchlorosilane, (gamma-methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, chlorodimethyloctylsilane (OCT), and 7-octenyltrimethoxysilane were evaluated as silanizing reagents in combination with poly(vinylprrolidone) (PVP) and polyacrylamide (PA) as the polymeric coat. The HDA results were compared with those obtained using a commercial (FC) coated capillary. Of these, the OCT-PVP combination was found to be most effective. Using this modified capillary, HDA with polymer networks that included hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), linear polyacrylamide, and PVP showed that a PVP-, PA-, or FC-coated capillary, in combination with HEC as the sieving polymer, could be used effectively to discriminate the mutations in less than 10 min. However, optimal performance was observed with the OCT-PVP-coated capillary and HEC as the polymer network.

Impaired affinity maturation in Cr2-/- mice is rescued by adjuvants without improvement in germinal center development

Cr2-/- mice have an impairment in humoral immunity, as shown by the decrease in the Ab titers against T cell-dependent Ags and abnormalities in germinal center formation. Germinal centers are present, but they are decreased in size and number, indicating problems in their development. In this study, we investigated whether this abnormality in germinal center development is associated with problems in the establishment of optimal affinity maturation and the generation of memory B cells, processes closely related to the germinal center reaction. We immunized the Cr2-/- animals with different Ags with or without adjuvants. We showed that, when immunized without adjuvants, complement receptors are absolutely required for optimal affinity maturation. Although limited affinity maturation is elicited in the Cr2-/- Ab response, it is decreased as compared with normal animals. Memory B cell generation is also impaired. In the presence of adjuvants, germinal center development in the Cr2-/- mice is still abnormal, as demonstrated by their decreased size and number. Surprisingly, adjuvants establish optimal affinity maturation and partially restore the amount of Ab produced during the primary response and memory B cell generation. However, adjuvants cannot improve the ability of follicular dendritic cells to retain Ags in the form of immune complexes. These observations indicate that immunization with inflammatory Ags offset some of the immunological abnormalities found in the Cr2-/- mice and show that optimal affinity maturation in the Cr2-/- mice can be achieved in the absence of normal germinal centers.

Targeted gene disruption of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (gelatinase B) suppresses development of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysms represent a life-threatening condition characterized by chronic inflammation, destructive remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and increased local expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Both 92-kD gelatinase (MMP-9) and macrophage elastase (MMP-12) have been implicated in this disease, but it is not known if either is necessary in aneurysmal degeneration. We show here that transient elastase perfusion of the mouse aorta results in delayed aneurysm development that is temporally associated with transmural mononuclear inflammation, increased local production of several elastolytic MMPs, and progressive destruction of the elastic lamellae. Elastase-induced aneurysmal degeneration was suppressed by treatment with a nonselective MMP inhibitor (doxycycline) and by targeted gene disruption of MMP-9, but not by isolated deficiency of MMP-12. Bone marrow transplantation from wild-type mice prevented the aneurysm-resistant phenotype in MMP-9-deficient animals, and wild-type mice acquired aneurysm resistance after transplantation from MMP-9-deficient donors. These results demonstrate that inflammatory cell expression of MMP-9 plays a critical role in an experimental model of aortic aneurysm disease, suggesting that therapeutic strategies targeting MMP-9 may limit the growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms.