Early statin exposure influences cardiac and skeletal development with implications for ion channel transcriptomes in zebrafish

Statins, widely prescribed for cholesterol management by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, may also influence vertebrate development. In this study, we investigated the developmental effects of two widely used statins, atorvastatin (ATO) and pravastatin (PRA), on zebrafish offspring. For ATO, we administered doses classified as low (1 μM), medium (5 μM), and high (10 μM), while for PRA, the corresponding concentrations were set at low (18 μM), medium (180 μM), and high (270 μM). Our results showed significant reductions in birth and hatching rates, along with decreased body length in offspring at all ATO concentrations and medium to high PRA concentrations. A notable increase in malformation rates, especially in the spine and heart, was observed across all ATO treatments and in medium and high PRA groups. Additionally, we observed reduced heart contraction rates, decreased heart size, lower bone volumes, and diminished expression of mRNA osteogenic markers. Elevated venous sinus-artery bulb (SV-BA) ratios, increased thoracic area, and abnormal cartilage development were also prominent in all ATO-treated groups. Transcriptome analysis revealed alterations in genes predominantly associated with ion channels. These findings provide insights into the potential impacts of specific concentrations of statins on offspring development and highlight potential gene interactions with statins.

Prenatal Progesterone Treatment Modulates Fetal Brain Transcriptome and Impacts Adult Offspring Behavior in Mice

Maternal exposure to elevated levels of steroid hormones during pregnancy is associated with the development of chronic conditions in offspring that manifest in adulthood. However, the effects of progesterone (P4) administration during early pregnancy on fetal development and subsequent offspring behavior remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of P4 treatment during early pregnancy on the transcript abundance in the fetal brain and assess the behavioral consequences in the offspring during adolescence and adulthood. Using RNA-seq analysis, we examined the impact of P4 treatment on the fetal brain transcriptome in a dosage-dependent manner. Our results revealed differential regulation of genes involved in neurotransmitter transport, synaptic transmission, and transcriptional regulation. Specifically, we observed bidirectional regulation of transcription factors (TFs) by P4 at different doses, highlighting the critical role of these TFs in neurodevelopment. To assess behavioral outcomes, we conducted open field and elevated plus maze tests. Offspring treated with low-dose P4 (LP4) displayed increased exploratory behavior during both adolescence and adulthood. In contrast, the high-dose P4 (HP4) group exhibited impaired exploration and heightened anxiety-like behaviors compared to the control mice. Moreover, in a novel object recognition test, HP4-treated offspring demonstrated impaired object recognition memory during both developmental stages. Additionally, both LP4 and HP4 groups showed reduced social interaction in the three-chamber test. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to P4 exerts a notable influence on the expression of genes associated with neurodevelopment and may induce alterations in behavioral characteristics in progeny, highlighting the need to monitor progesterone levels during pregnancy for long-term impacts on fetal brain development and behavior.

Deficiency of Acetyltransferase nat10 in Zebrafish Causes Developmental Defects in the Visual Function

Purpose

N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is a post-transcriptional RNA modification catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10), a critical factor known to influence mRNA stability. However, the role of ac4C in visual development remains unexplored.

Methods

Analysis of public datasets and immunohistochemical staining were conducted to assess the expression pattern of nat10 in zebrafish. We used CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi technologies to knockout (KO) and knockdown (KD) nat10, the zebrafish ortholog of human NAT10, and evaluated its effects on early development. To assess the impact of nat10 knockdown on visual function, we performed comprehensive histological evaluations and behavioral analyses. Transcriptome profiling and real-time (RT)-PCR were utilized to detect alterations in gene expression resulting from the nat10 knockdown. Dot-blot and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-PCR analyses were conducted to verify changes in ac4C levels in both total RNA and opsin mRNA specifically. Additionally, we used the actinomycin D assay to examine the stability of opsin mRNA following the nat10 KD.

Results

Our study found that the zebrafish NAT10 protein shares similar structural properties with its human counterpart. We observed that the nat10 gene was prominently expressed in the visual system during early zebrafish development. A deficiency of nat10 in zebrafish embryos resulted in increased mortality and developmental abnormalities. Behavioral and histological assessments indicated significant vision impairment in nat10 KD zebrafish. Transcriptomic analysis and RT-PCR identified substantial downregulation of retinal transcripts related to phototransduction, light response, photoreceptors, and visual perception in the nat10 KD group. Dot-blot and RIP-PCR analyses confirmed a pronounced reduction in ac4C levels in both total RNA and specifically in opsin messenger RNA (mRNA). Additionally, by evaluating mRNA decay in zebrafish treated with actinomycin D, we observed a significant decrease in the stability of opsin mRNA in the nat10 KD group.

Conclusions

The ac4C-mediated mRNA modification plays an essential role in maintaining visual development and retinal function. The loss of NAT10-mediated ac4C modification results in significant disruptions to these processes, underlining the importance of this RNA modification in ocular development.

circNFXL1 Modulates the Kv2.1 Channel Function in Hypoxic Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells via Sponging miR-29b-2-5p as a Competitive Endogenous RNA

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling caused by the dysregulation of K + channels in PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). However, how the K + channels are dysregulated is still unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with a closed-loop structure capable of sponging microRNAs (miRs), thus regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Our previous studies have demonstrated the importance of one novel circRNA (hsa_circNFXL1_009, circNFXL1) in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, playing as a critical regulator for K + channel activation in hypoxic human PASMCs (hPASMCs). Here, we explore the mechanisms underlying circNFXL1-regulated K + channel expression and functions in hypoxic hPASMCs. In cultured hPASMCs, the reduction of Kv current induced by hypoxia was significantly recovered by delivering exogenous circNFXL1. Moreover, luciferase, quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and mutagenesis studies confirmed that circNFXL1 reversed hypoxia-induced inhibitory effects on the Kv2.1 channel via sponging hsa-miR-29b-2-5p (miR-29b-2). Furthermore, we found that circNFXL1 reversed the miR-29b-induced Kv2.1 channel dysfunction at the whole-cell and single-channel level in HEK cells using a patch-clamp. Finally, calcium imaging revealed that hypoxia also triggered a substantial rise in the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2 + ]cyt) in hPASMCs, and this hypoxia-induced elevation of [Ca2 + ]cyt was reduced by circNFXL1 through miR-29b-2. These data suggested that circNFXL1-mediated regulation of the Kv2.1 channel activation and the related intracellular calcium concentration may contribute to the effects of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

[Risk factors associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome after flexible ueteroscopic lithotripsy based on enhanced recovery after surgery]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods: The clinical data of 243 kidney stone cases who underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy based on ERAS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from January 2016 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The cases were divided into two groups according to whether they had SIRS after surgery: SIRS group (26 cases) and non-SIRS group (217 cases). The age, gender, laterality of kidney stone, history of previous kidney stone surgery, degree of hydronephrosis, multiple kidney stones, length of operation time, white blood cell count of preoperative urine routine, result of preoperative urine culture, use of preoperative antibiotics, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the groups were collected and analyzed. Results: SIRS occurred in 26 cases in this study, which accounted for 10.7% (26/243). Multivariate analysis found that, moderate and severe hydronephrosis (OR=6.711, P=0.008), stone burden ≥2 cm (OR=10.353, P<0.001), length of operation time ≥ 60 min (OR=5.583, P=0.011), white blood cell count of preoperative urine routine ≥25×10(6)/L (OR=6.195, P=0.005), positive preoperative urine culture (OR=4.216, P=0.011), diabetes and other chronic diseases (OR=4.532, P=0.006) were the independent risk factors for postoperative SIRS (P<0.05). Conclusions: The occurrence of SIRS after flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy based on ERAS is closely correlated with hydronephrosis, stone burden, length of operation time, white blood cell count of preoperative urine routine, positive preoperative urine culture, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Apoptotic DNA fragmentation factor maintains chromosome stability in a P53-independent manner

DNA fragmentation factor (DFF)/caspase-activated DNase (CAD) is responsible for DNA fragmentation, a hallmark event during apoptosis. Although DNA fragmentation is an evolutionarily conserved process across species, its biological function is not clearly understood. In this study, we constructed cell lines expressing a mutant ICAD (inhibitor of CAD) protein that is resistant to caspase cleavage and therefore constantly binds to DFF/CAD and inhibits DNA fragmentation. We found that irradiation of these cells led to increased chromosome aberrations and aneuploidy when compared with their parental controls. The increased chromosome instability is observed irrespective of cellular P53 status, suggesting that the effect of DFF/CAD is independent of P53. Inhibition of apoptotic DNA fragmentation resulted in increased clonogenic survival of irradiated cells and a delay in removal of cells with DNA damages induced by radiation, an effect similar to that in cells with p53 mutations. Consistent with DFF/CAD's effect on clonogenic survival, tumors established from cells deficient in DNA fragmentation showed enhanced growth in nude mice. Therefore, our results suggest that DFF/CAD plays an important and P53-independent role in maintaining chromosome stability and suppressing tumor development.

Assembly, annotation, and integration of UNIGENE clusters into the human genome draft

The recent release of the first draft of the human genome provides an unprecedented opportunity to integrate human genes and their functions in a complete positional context. However, at least three significant technical hurdles remain: first, to assemble a complete and nonredundant human transcript index; second, to accurately place the individual transcript indices on the human genome; and third, to functionally annotate all human genes. Here, we report the extension of the UNIGENE database through the assembly of its sequence clusters into nonredundant sequence contigs. Each resulting consensus was aligned to the human genome draft. A unique location for each transcript within the human genome was determined by the integration of the restriction fingerprint, assembled genomic contig, and radiation hybrid (RH) maps. A total of 59,500 UNIGENE clusters were mapped on the basis of at least three independent criteria as compared with the 30,000 human genes/ESTs currently mapped in Genemap'99. Finally, the extension of the human transcript consensus in this study enabled a greater number of putative functional assignments than the 11,000 annotated entries in UNIGENE. This study reports a draft physical map with annotations for a majority of the human transcripts, called the Human Index of Nonredundant Transcripts (HINT). Such information can be immediately applied to the discovery of new genes and the identification of candidate genes for positional cloning.

Regulation of high-affinity nitrate transporter genes and high-affinity nitrate influx by nitrogen pools in roots of barley

To investigate the regulation of HvNRT2, genes that encode high-affinity NO(3)(-) transporters in barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots, seedlings were treated with 10 mM NO(3)(-) in the presence or absence of amino acids (aspartate, asparagine, glutamate [Glu], and glutamine [Gln]), NH(4)(+), and/or inhibitors of N assimilation. Although all amino acids decreased high-affinity (13)NO(3)(-) influx and HvNRT2 transcript abundance, there was substantial interconversion of administered amino acids, making it impossible to determine which amino acid(s) were responsible for the observed effects. To clarify the role of individual amino acids, plants were separately treated with tungstate, methionine sulfoximine, or azaserine (inhibitors of nitrate reductase, Gln synthetase, and Glu synthase, respectively). Tungstate increased the HvNRT2 transcript by 20% to 30% and decreased NO(3)(-) influx by 50%, indicating that NO(3)(-) itself does not regulate transcript abundance, but may exert post-transcriptional effects. Experiments with methionine sulfoximine suggested that NH(4)(+) may down-regulate HvNRT2 gene expression and high-affinity NO(3)(-) influx by effects operating at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Azaserine decreased HvNRT2 transcript levels and NO(3)(-) influx by 97% and 95%, respectively, while decreasing Glu and increasing Gln levels. This suggests that Gln (and not Glu) is responsible for down-regulating HvNRT2 expression, although it does not preclude a contributory effect of other amino acids.

Isolation and characterization of HvNRT2.3 and HvNRT2.4, cDNAs encoding high-affinity nitrate transporters from roots of barley

Two full-length cDNAs, HvNRT2.3 and HvNRT2.4, were isolated from roots of barley (Hordeum vulgare), using reverse transcriptase-PCR and RACE-PCR. The corresponding polypeptides, consisting of 507 amino acids (molecular masses of 54.6 kD), belong to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), and are closely related (>87% identity) to those encoded by HvNRT2.1 and HvNRT2.2 (formerly BCH1 and BCH2, respectively) from roots of barley. The latter are considered to encode inducible high-affinity NO(3)(-) transporters (Trueman et al., 1996). HvNRT2 transcripts were undetectable in NO(3)(-)-deprived plants. Following exposure to either NO(3)(-) or NO(2)(-), transcript abundance and (13)NO(3)(-) influx increased to a maximum by 6 to 12 h, then declined in HvNRT2.1, HvNRT2.2, and HvNRT2.3. The pattern of HvNRT2.4 transcript abundance was different, remaining high after achieving peak abundance. When external NO(3)(-) concentrations were varied from 0 to 500 microM under steady-state conditions of NO(3)(-) supply, HvNRT2 transcript accumulation and (13)NO(3)(-) influx were highest in 50 microM NO(3)(-) -grown plants. When NH(4)(+) was provided together with NO(3)(-), transcript accumulation during the first 2 h was similar to that due to NO(3)(-) alone, but by 4 h the transcript level was significantly reduced. HvNRT2 transcript was undetectable in leaf tissues.

Community-based rehabilitation in the People's Republic of China

This paper describes the implementation of a pilot community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme in a densely populated urban centre of Guangzhou (Canton) City. The structure of the programme utilizing the existing administrative and government structures of the province (Guandong), the city and the urban centre (Jin Hua Street) and administration of the project are described. Finally, the paper addresses some issues related to research on CBR in the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The S7 ribosomal protein gene is truncated and overlaps a cytochrome c biogenesis gene in pea mitochondria

The pea mitochondrial genome contains a truncated rps7 gene lacking ca. 40 codons at its 5' terminus. This single-copy sequence is immediately downstream of and slightly overlapping an actively transcribed and edited reading frame of 744 bp (designated ccb248) homologous to the bacterial helC gene which encodes a subunit of the ABC-type heme transporter involved in cytochrome c biogenesis. This region of mitochondrial DNA appears recombinogenic, and the carboxy-termini of helC-type proteins are predicted to vary in sequence and length among plants. Sequences corresponding to the 5' coding region of rps7 were not detected elsewhere in the pea mitochondrial genome using wheat rps7 probes, and only a very short internal rps7 segment was observed in soybean mitochondrial DNA. The presence of rps7-homologous sequences in the nuclear genomes of pea and soybean is consistent with the recent transfer of a functional mitochondrial rps7 gene to the nucleus in certain plant lineages.

Regulation of a putative high-affinity nitrate transporter (Nrt2;1At) in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana

Putative high-affinity nitrate (NO3-) transporter genes, designated Nrt2;1At and Nrt2;2At, were isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana by RT-PCR using degenerate primers. The genes shared 86% and 89% identity at the amino acid and nucleotide levels, respectively, while their proteins shared 30-73% identities with other eukaryotic high-affinity NO3- transporters. Both genes were induced by NO3-, but Nrt2;1At gene expression was not apparent in 2- and 5-day-old plants. By 10 days, and thereafter, Nrt2;1At gene expression in roots was substantially higher than for the Nrt2;2At gene. Root Nrt2;1At expression levels were strongly correlated with inducible high-affinity 13NO3- influx into intact roots under several treatment conditions. The use of inhibitors of N assimilation indicated that downregulation of Nrt2;1At expression was mediated by NH4+, gln and other amino acids.

Characterization of the S7 ribosomal protein gene in wheat mitochondria

By screening a wheat mitoplast cDNA bank, we have identified an open reading frame of 444 bp that has a derived amino acid sequence homologous to bacterial-type S7 ribosomal proteins. This gene, designated rps7, is located upstream of one of two 26S rRNA gene copies in the wheat mitochondrial genome and is expressed as an abundant mRNA of approximately 0.7 kb. Its 5' terminus maps to the end of an 80 bp element that is closely related to sequences preceding the wheat coxII, orf25 and atp6 genes. Southern hybridization analysis indicates that rps7-homologous sequences are present in the mitochondria of rice and pea, but not soybean.

A cross-cultural assessment of perceived health problems in the elderly

To study cross-cultural differences in perceived health problems in the elderly the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) developed by Hunt et al. was administered to subjects from the People's Republic of China and Australia. The Australian stratum was further categorized according to cardiovascular status. Analyses of covariance (with age as the covariate) on each of the six subscales of the NHP yielded significant differences for 'Energy', 'Pain', 'Emotional reactions', 'Social isolation' and 'Physical mobility'. No differences were found for the 'Sleep' subscale. Through comparisons between the mean scores for the four strata and from normative data it is concluded that it is likely that the NHP is 'culture free' on the dimensions 'Energy', 'Pain', 'Emotional reactions', 'Social isolation' and 'Physical mobility'.

Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during Tai Chi Chuan exercise

Tai Chi Chuan is a form of traditional Chinese exercise which has been widely practised in China for preventive and therapeutic purposes. The present study was designed to determine the physiological demands of this exercise modality. Eleven healthy males, aged 28.4 years, were studied for oxygen cost and related metabolic variables, heart rate and blood pressure during the performance of the Long-Form Tai Chi Chuan of Yang's style. Data was collected by an automated respiratory gas analyzer (Jeger Ergooxyscreen) and ECG telemetry during a 17-25 minute performance session (X = 22 minutes). The average energy cost for the Long-Form Tai Chi Chuan was 4.1 Mets, corresponding to a mean VO2 value of 1.03 l X min-1 or 14.5 ml X kg-1 X min-1. The mean peak heart rate during the exercises was 134 beats per minute. These values suggest that the Long-Form Tai Chi Chuan may be classed as moderate exercise, and its intensity does not exceed 50% of the individual's maximum oxygen intake.