Inhibition of porcine endogenous retrovirus in PK15 cell line by efficient multitargeting RNA interference

To effectively suppress porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV)s, RNAi technique was utilized. RNAi is the up‐to‐date skill for gene knockdown which simultaneously multitargets both gag and pol genes critical for replication of PERVs. Previously, two of the most effective siRNAs (gag2, pol2) were found to reduce the expression of PERVs. Concurrent treatment of these two siRNAs (gag2+pol2) showed knockdown efficiency of up to 88% compared to negative control. However, despite the high initial knockdown efficiency 48 h after transfection caused by siRNA, it may only be a transient effect of suppressing PERVs. The multitargeting vector was designed, containing both gag and pol genes and making use of POL II miR Expression Vector, which allowed for persistent and multiple targeting. This is the latest shRNA system technique expressing and targeting like miRNA. Through antibiotics resistance characteristics utilizing this vector, miRNA‐transfected PK15 cells (gag2‐pol2) were selected during 10 days. An 88.1% reduction in the level of mRNA expression was found. In addition, we performed RT‐activity analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and it demonstrated the highest knockdown efficiency in multitargeting (gag2+pol2) miRNA group. Therefore, according to the results above, gene knockdown system (siRNA and shRNA) through multitargeting strategy could effectively inhibit PERVs.     

电刺激联合神经营养素3可促进脊髓损伤大鼠内源性神经干细胞的增殖和分化

文题释义： 神经营养素3：是神经生长因子基因家族的成员,可促进多种中枢和外周神经元的存活和分化,调节神经元突触活动,并对神经系统发育和成熟起重要作用。神经营养素3在损伤条件下对神经元具有保护作用,因而在治疗神经系统疾病和神经损伤中有临床应用前景。 内源性神经干细胞：正常机体中,神经干细胞一般处于静息状态,在特定的生理或病理刺激下被激活,其中侧脑室外侧壁的室下带和海马齿状回的颗粒下带是产生神经干细胞最为活跃的区域,神经系统损伤后,在多种细胞因子、调控基因的调节下发生增殖、迁移和分化等。 背景：由于外源性神经干细胞的获取有限,且容易产生免疫排斥以及伦理问题等严重制约其向临床转化,因此如何激活内源性神经干细胞并促进其生长增殖、分化,成为近期科研工作者究的热点。 目的：探讨电刺激联合神经营养素3对大鼠脊髓损伤后内源性神经干细胞增殖及向神经元分化的作用。 方法：将96只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、脊髓损伤组、电刺激组、电刺激+神经营养素3组,每组24只。假手术组仅暴露脊髓,其他3组大鼠应用改良Allen法建立脊髓损伤模型,造模后给予相应措施进行干预。造模后7,14,21,28 d时,以BBB评分评价大鼠后肢运动功能,电生理学检查运动诱发电位潜伏期;造模后28 d取材,进行苏木精-伊红染色观察脊髓病理变化,免疫组化染色观察内源性神经干细胞的增殖和分化情况。实验方案经兰州大学第二医院医学伦理委员会批准。 结果与结论：①与假手术组相比,脊髓损伤组大鼠的BBB评分明显降低(P < 0.01),脊髓组织可见大量炎症细胞浸润,并存在多个空洞;与脊髓损伤组相比,电刺激组、电刺激+神经营养素3组大鼠后肢功能开始逐渐恢复,电刺激+神经营养素3组BBB评分明显高于电刺激组(P < 0.05),上述病理损伤变化明显改善;②脊髓损伤组7,14 d及电刺激组大鼠7 d时双后肢运动诱发电位潜伏期均未测出,电刺激组、电刺激+神经营养素3组21,28 d时运动诱发电位潜伏期较模型组缩短(P < 0.05),电刺激+神经营养素3组潜伏期缩短更显著    (P < 0.05);③BrdU和Nestin阳性细胞数、微管相关蛋白2的表达：电刺激+神经营养素3组>电刺激组>脊髓损伤组;胶质纤维酸性蛋白的表达：脊髓损伤组>电刺激组>电刺激+神经营养素3组。结果表明脊髓损伤大鼠经电刺激及神经营养素3干预后,促进内源性神经干细胞增殖和向神经元分化,病理损伤明显减轻,后肢运动功能显著改善。 ORCID: 0000-0002-6353-8874(张培根) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

新基因HERV-H-X的env区分析及其在结肠癌组织中的表达

背景与目的:我们在结肠癌组织中发现了一个新的基因HERV-H-X.本研究的目的是分析HERV-H-X env区的缺失情况,研究其与其他HERV-H env开放阅读框(open reading frames,ORF)的表达关系以及其在结肠癌与正常组织中的表达差异情况.方法:对HERV-H-X与含完整的env ORF的HERV-H/env62、HERV-H/env60以及HERV-H/env59进行多序列比对,分析HERV-H-Xenv区的缺失情况.对HERV-H-X设计特异的引物,对HERV-H/env62、env60以及env59的env ORF设计共同的引物,分别在8对结肠癌与相应癌旁正常组织中进行RT-PCR,比较它们的表达情况.对HERV-H-X进行实时荧光定量PCR,研究其在17对结肠癌与相应正常组织中的表达水平.结果:HERV-H-X env区缺失的序列正好相应于HERV-H/env62、env60以及env59的env ORF区.RT-PCR结果显示HERV-H-X特异地在结肠的癌组织中表达,而HERV-H env的ORF在结肠的癌组织与正常组织中都有表达.定量PCR结果显示HERV-H-X在结肠癌组织的平均表达水平是相应正常组织的24.9倍,经F检验证实差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论:HERV-H-X的表达与结肠癌特异相关,但由于缺失env的ORF,其在结肠癌的高表达与env基因无关.     

circRNA作用于急性缺血性脑卒中的研究进展

环状RNA(circRNA)介导内源性竞争RNA(ceRNA)调控网络已经被证实在急性缺血性脑卒中（AIS）损伤后的病理和生理过程中发挥关键作用,且分子诊断工具广泛应用后发现circRNA有望成为AIS的生物标志物,对上述研究进行归纳,可拓宽对AIS发生发展机制的研究视野,为其诊断和治疗提供新思路。     

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of functional molecules in colorectal cancer

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death. Numerous studies have found that aberrations in cellular molecules play an important role in the development of tumors. Studying and determining the interactions between these molecules can contribute to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors.MethodsThe {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE151021","term_id":"151021"}}GSE151021, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE156720","term_id":"156720"}}GSE156720, and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE156719","term_id":"156719"}}GSE156719 data sets were analyzed to screen the differentially expressed messenger RNAs (DEmRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs), and microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in CRC. Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins software were used to examine gene enrichment and the hub genes. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) and UALCAN was used to verify the expression of the hub genes. To analyze the overall survival (OS) of the hub genes, Kaplan-Meier plotter (KM plotter) was performed. Finally, the miRCancer database, TargetScan, and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE156719","term_id":"156719"}}GSE156719 were used to identify the targets of the identified miRNAs. To predict the lncRNA-miRNA interactions, we used DIANA-LncBase v2 and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE156720","term_id":"156720"}}GSE156720. Finally, the visualization protein‑protein interaction (PPI), competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed using Cytoscape v3.1.ResultsBy analyzing {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE151021","term_id":"151021"}}GSE151021 and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE156720","term_id":"156720"}}GSE156720, 23 upregulated mRNAs and 10 downregulated mRNAs were identified as sharing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CRC and adjacent tissues. Furthermore, nucleolar protein 14 (NOP14), the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling molecule, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1 (PMAIP1), the BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) were considered hub genes. The constructed lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network revealed 7 intersecting miRNAs (4 upregulated and 3 downregulated), 79 lncRNAs (40 upregulated and 39 downregulated), and 5 mRNAs (3 upregulated and 2 downregulated). Finally, we determined that the dysregulation of lncRNAs, such as HCG16, CASC9, SNHG16, HAND2-AS1, and NR2F1-AS1, secluded altered the expression of several miRNAs, such as hsa-miR-193a-5p, hsa-miR-485-5p, hsa-miR-17-5p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p, and affected the occurrence and development of CRC.ConclusionsWe identified a series of DElncRNAs, DEmRNAs, and DEmiRNAs in CRC that might be considered potential biomarkers in understanding the complex molecular pathways leading to CRC development.     

血红素氧合酶-1/一氧化碳系统的变化对兔动脉粥样硬化进程的影响

目的研究食饵性动脉粥样硬化(AS)形成中,主动脉壁内血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)活性及一氧化碳(CO)生成的变化及对AS进程的影响,以探讨HO-1/CO系统在AS进程中的作用。方法32只新西兰大白兔,随机均分为4组。对照组:喂饲普通饲料;胆固醇组:喂饲含1.5%胆固醇饲料;卟啉锌组及血红素组:在予以高胆固醇饮食的同时,分别经腹腔注射氯化血红素(15mg·kg-1·d-1)或锌原卟啉-9(45μmol·kg-1·d-1),共12周。采血测定血脂、血清总胆红素(TBil)水平;取主动脉,测定CO生成量及HO-1活性,采用油红O染色及图像分析软件检测主动脉斑块面积。结果与对照组比较,胆固醇组主动脉CO生成量及HO-1活性显著增高(P均<0·01),实验结束时主动脉斑块面积达54·00%±4·16%;锌原卟啉-9显著降低了主动脉CO生成量及HO-1活性(P均<0·01),主动脉斑块面积达61·13%±3·50%;与胆固醇组比较,氯化血红素显著增高了血清TBil水平、主动脉CO生成量及HO-1活性(P均<0·01),主动脉斑块面积仅17·88%±3·01%(P<0·05)。结论HO-1/CO系统具有延缓AS的作用,HO-1活性增高可能是HO-1/CO系统发挥抗AS作用的基础。     

Sight-threatening intraocular infection in patients with COVID-19 in India

Purpose:Intraocular infection in patients with COVID-19 could be different in the presence of treatment with systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents. We describe the epidemiology and microbiological profile of intraocular infection in COVID-19 patients after their release from the hospital.Methods:We analyzed the clinical and microbiological data of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients from April 2020 to January 2021 presenting with features of endogenous endophthalmitis within 12 weeks of their discharge from the hospital in two neighboring states in South India. The data included demography, systemic comorbidities, COVID-19 treatment details, time interval to visual symptoms, the microbiology of systemic and ocular findings, ophthalmic management, and outcomes.Results:The mean age of 24 patients (33 eyes) was 53.6 ± 13.5 (range: 5–72) years; 17 (70.83%) patients were male. Twenty-two (91.6%) patients had systemic comorbidities, and the median period of hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment was 14.5 ± 0.7 (range: 7–63) days. Infection was bilateral in nine patients. COVID-19 treatment included broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics (all), antiviral drugs (22, 91.66% of patients), systemic corticosteroid (21, 87.5% of patients), supplemental oxygen (18, 75% of patients), low molecular weight heparin (17, 70.8% of patients), admission in intensive care units (16, 66.6% of patients), and interleukin-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab) (14, 58.3% of patients). Five (20.8%) patients died of COVID-19-related complications during treatment for endophthalmitis; one eye progressed to pan ophthalmitis and orbital cellulitis; eight eyes regained vision >20/400. Fourteen of 19 (73.7%) vitreous biopsies were microbiologically positive (culture, PCR, and microscopy), and the majority (11 patients, 78.5%) were fungi.Conclusion:Intraocular infection in COVID-19 patients is predominantly caused by fungi. We suggest a routine eye examination be included as a standard of care of COVID-19.     

Top‐down versus bottom‐up attention differentially modulate frontal–parietal connectivity

The moment‐to‐moment focus of our mind's eye results from a complex interplay of voluntary and involuntary influences on attention. Previous neuroimaging studies suggest that the brain networks of voluntary versus involuntary attention can be segregated into a frontal‐versus‐parietal or a dorsal‐versus‐ventral partition—although recent work suggests that the dorsal network may be involved in both bottom‐up and top‐down attention. Research with nonhuman primates has provided evidence that a key distinction between top‐down and bottom‐up attention may be the direction of connectivity between frontal and parietal areas. Whereas typical fMRI connectivity analyses cannot disambiguate the direction of connections, dynamic causal modeling (DCM) can model directionality. Using DCM, we provide new evidence that directed connections within the dorsal attention network are differentially modulated for voluntary versus involuntary attention. These results suggest that the intraparietal sulcus exerts a baseline inhibitory effect on the frontal eye fields that is strengthened during exogenous orienting and attenuated during endogenous orienting. Furthermore, the attenuation from endogenous attention occurs even with salient peripheral cues when those cues are known to be counter predictive. Thus, directed connectivity between frontal and parietal regions of the dorsal attention network is highly influenced by the type of attention that is engaged.     

Long Noncoding RNA WEE2-AS1 Plays an Oncogenic Role in Glioblastoma by Functioning as a Molecular Sponge for MicroRNA-520f-3p

The long noncoding RNA WEE2 antisense RNA 1 (WEE2-AS1) plays an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the expression and roles of WEE2-AS1 in glioblastoma (GBM). Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms behind the oncogenic actions of WEE2-AS1 in GBM cells were explored in detail. WEE2-AS1 expression was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The roles of WEE2-AS1 in GBM cells were evaluated by the cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometric analysis, Transwell cell migration and invasion assays, and tumor xenograft experiments. WEE2-AS1 expression was evidently enhanced in GBM tissues and cell lines compared with their normal counterparts. An increased level of WEE2-AS1 was correlated with the average tumor diameter, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and shorter overall survival among GBM patients. Functionally, depleted WEE2-AS1 attenuated GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, promoted cell apoptosis, and impaired tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, WEE2-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge for microRNA- 520f-3p (miR-520f-3p) and consequently increased specificity protein 1 (SP1) expression in GBM cells. A series of recovery experiments revealed that the inhibition of miR-520f-3p and upregulation of SP1 could partially abrogate the influences of WEE2-AS1 downregulation on GBM cells. In conclusion, WEE2-AS1 can adsorb miR-520f-3p to increase endogenous SP1 expression, thereby facilitating the malignancy of GBM. Therefore, targeting the WEE2-AS1–miR-520f-3p–SP1 pathway might be a promising therapy for the management of GBM in the future.