Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki最新文献

Amniote vertebrates share a suite of extra-embryonic membranes that distinguish them from anamniotes. Other than that, however, their reproductive characteristics could not be more different. They differ in basic ectothermic vs endothermic physiology, in that two clades evolved powered flight, and one clade evolved a protective shell. In terms of reproductive strategies, some produce eggs and others give birth to live young, at various degrees of development. Crucially, endotherms provide lengthy parental care, including thermal and food provisioning-whereas ectotherms seldom do. These differences could be expected to manifest themselves in major differences between clades in quantitative reproductive traits. We review the reproductive characteristics, and the distributions of brood sizes, breeding frequencies, offspring sizes and their derivatives (yearly fecundity and biomass production rates) of the four major amniote clades (mammals, birds, turtles and squamates), and several major subclades (birds: Palaeognathae, Galloanserae, Neoaves; mammals: Metatheria and Eutheria). While there are differences between these clades in some of these traits, they generally show similar ranges, distribution shapes and central tendencies across birds, placental mammals and squamates. Marsupials and turtles, however, differ in having smaller offspring, a strategy which subsequently influences other traits.

Background: Circ_0000396 was found to be down-regulated in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and had a high diagnostic value. However, the function and mechanisms underlying circ_0000396 in RA progression remain unclear.

Methods: The expression of circ_0000396, microRNA (miR)-203 and HMG-box transcription factor 1 (HBP1) was detected using qRT-PCR and western blot. The proliferative and apoptotic capabilities of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) were measured by colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry and western blot assays, respectively. The levels of interleukins (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The target correlations between miR-203 and circ_0000396 or HBP1 were validated using pull-down and dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results: Circ_0000396 was decreased in RA synovial tissues and RASFs, and overexpression of circ_0000396 suppressed cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and reduced the release of inflammatory cytokine IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α in RASFs, while circ_0000396 deletion functioned oppositely. MiR-203 was confirmed to be a target of circ_0000396, and miR-203 reversed the protective effects of circ_0000396 on the dysfunction and inflammation of RASFs. HBP1 was a target of miR-203, and silencing miR-203 inhibited RASFs malignant changes by regulating HBP1. In addition, circ_0000396 could regulate HBP1 by sponging miR-203, and HBP1 decrease attenuated the effects of circ_0000396 on RASF growth and inflammation.

Conclusion: Circ_0000396 inhibited the growth and inflammation in RASFs by regulating miR-203/HBP1 axis, providing a potential therapeutic target for RA.

Background: Erythroleukemia is caused by the uncontrolled multiplication of immature erythroid progenitor cells which fail to differentiate into erythrocytes. By directly targeting this class of malignant cells, the induction of terminal erythroid differentiation represents a vital therapeutic strategy for this disease. Erythroid differentiation involves the execution of a well-orchestrated gene expression program in which epigenetic enzymes play critical roles. In order to identify novel epigenetic mediators of differentiation, this study explores the effects of multiple, highly specific, epigenetic enzyme inhibitors, in murine and human erythroleukemia cell lines.

Results: We used a group of compounds designed to uniquely target the following epigenetic enzymes: G9a/GLP, EZH1/2, SMYD2, PRMT3, WDR5, SETD7, SUV420H1 and DOT1L. The majority of the probes had a negative impact on both cell proliferation and differentiation. On the contrary, one of the compounds, A-366, demonstrated the opposite effect by promoting erythroid differentiation of both cell models. A-366 is a selective inhibitor of the G9a methyltransferase and the chromatin reader Spindlin1. Investigation of the molecular mechanism of action revealed that A-366 forced cells to exit from the cell cycle, a fact that favored erythroid differentiation. Further analysis led to the identification of a group of genes that mediate the A-366 effects and include CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6.

Conclusions: A-366, a selective inhibitor of G9a and Spindlin1, demonstrates a compelling role in the erythroid maturation process by promoting differentiation, a fact that is highly beneficial for patients suffering from erythroleukemia. In conclusion, this data calls for further investigation towards the delivery of epigenetic drugs and especially A-366 in hematopoietic disorders.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in men worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, the rate of PC is increasing annually. The sex steroid hormones androgens and their receptors have critical roles in PC development and progression. Additionally, apoptosis-related proteins such as heat-shock proteins are vital molecules in PC development. Steroid hormone-deprivation therapies remain the essential treatment for patients with metastatic PCs; however, acquired resistance to hormone deprivation and the transition to PC androgen independence is a major health obstacle. In this review, we aim to detail the roles of androgens, androgen receptors and sex steroid hormones in inducing apoptosis in PC.

Campbell Biology is divided into eight units and 56 chapters. The organization and size of this book are appropriate and easy for first-year university students and help them to learn and digest the content. Campbell Biology is currently among the best biology books and it is listed with the best shelling textbooks. Campbell Biology is mainly for first-year university students, but it is also an important book for postgraduate medical examinations. Moreover, some high school students may use it as an essential reference book. In its current edition, the latest information in various fields has been added, such as the basal body, which was previously called the 9*3 type microtube arrangement but now has been renamed as the 9 + 0 type in Chapter 6. The updates in molecular biology are closer to the current situation, such as the addition of information on next-generation sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 in Chapter 20. This content can enable readers to acquire the latest knowledge. Reading this book and understanding the information presented in its pages is very helpful for the future life science professionals. Thus, Campbell Biology is very valuable textbook in the field of biology.

Background: Alterations in intercellular and cell-extracellular matrix connections contribute to tumour development. This study investigates the expression of specific cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in salivary gland tumors (SGTs).

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded tissue specimens of different types of 34 benign and 31 malignant SGTs and normal salivary glands were studied using Envision/HRP immunohistochemical technique for Desmoglein-2 (Dsg-2), beta4-integrin, CD44s and ICAM-1. Intensity of staining was evaluated in a semi-quantitative manner. Results were analyzed using Kendall's τ and Spearman's ρ as correlation criteria.

Results: Dsg-2 in intercellular space, beta4-integrin in cell-basal membrane, and CD44s in both types of contacts were strongly expressed in normal acinar and ductal cells, whereas ICAM-1 was expressed only at the endothelium and sparse stromal cells and monocytes. Strong correlation was found between Dsg-2 expression in adenomas and controls and between adenocarcinomas and controls. In adenomas, a distinct cytoplasmic presence of Dsg-2 was observed in addition to the usual membranous expression, with decreased expression in comparison with normal tissue. In malignant SGTs, Dsg-2 expression was absent. In most SGTs, beta4-integrin was expressed also with a distinct pattern, involving the cytoplasm and the unpolarised membrane, while CD44 was found only on the membrane. Strong correlation between beta4-integrin expression in adenomas and controls was noted, while CD44 expression was found to be correlated significantly between adenocarcinomas and controls (p < 0.001). Regarding ICAM-1, its expression was found increased in adenomas, with non-specific distribution in malignant SGTs and strong correlation between the histological subtypes and controls (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The different expression profile of CAMs in SGTs could possibly suggest a role on their pathogenesis, representing a model of how neoplastic cells can take advantage of normal tissue architecture and cell-extracellular matrix interactions.

A novel infectious disease, caused by 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is responsible for the recent outbreak of severe respiratory disease. The 2019-nCoV spread rapidly and reaching epidemic proportions in many countries of the world. ACE2 was identified as a key receptor for 2019-nCoV infections. Excessive form of soluble ACE2 rescues cellular ACE2 activity which has a protective role in acute lung failure and neutralizes the virus. The short half-life of ACE2 is a major limitation to its practical application. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are one of the most widely investigated approaches for developing novel therapies for a variety of diseases. Nevertheless, nanoparticles suffer from the rapid removal from the bloodstream by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). A noncovalent attachment of nanoparticles to RBCs increases their half-life in blood and allows transient accumulation in the lungs, while decreases their uptake by the liver and spleen. Connecting the recombinant ACE2 into the surface of nanoparticles that were attached to RBCs can be a potential therapeutic approach for 2019-nCoV infection through increasing their lung targeting to naturalize the virus and also acting as a bioreactor in the blood circulation to decrease serum level of Angiotensin II and protects lungs from injury/ARDS.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at early stages can be misdiagnosed as an oral ulcer (OU) due to similar symptoms, such as chronic and indurated ulcer. LncRNA NCK1-AS1 has been characterized as a key player in cervical cancer, while its role in OSCC is unknown.

Methods: All participants were selected at Jiangxi Province Tumor Hospital from December 2016 to December 2018. Expression levels of NCK1-AS1 and miR-100 in plasma from both OSCC and OU patients were measured by RT-qPCR. Diagnostic analysis was performed through ROC curve. Potential interactions between NCK1-AS1 and miR-100 were detected by cell transfection experiments. Cell invasion and migration were assessed by Transwell assays.

Results: The expression of NCK1-AS1 was upregulated in early-stage OSCC patients but not in OU patients. Upregulation of NCK1-AS1 distinguished OSCC patients from OU patients. The expression of miR-100 was inversely correlated with the expression of NCK1-AS1. Overexpression of NCK1-AS1 was followed by promoted OSCC cell invasion and migration. Overexpression of miR-100 did not affect the expression of NCK1-AS1 but inhibited the role of NCK1-AS1.

Conclusions: Therefore, NCK1-AS1 may promote the metastasis of OSCC by downregulating miR-100.

Background: The present study aims to investigate, immunohistochemically, the role of the adaptive immune response in cardiac arrest/resuscitation-induced ischemia-reperfusion renal injury (IRI), namely to assess the presence of lymphocytes in renal tissue samples and the connection between the extent of the damage and the concentration of the lymphocytes by comparing the kidneys of non resuscitated swine with the kidneys of resuscitated swine.

Methods: Twenty four swine underwent cardiac arrest (CA) via a pacemaker wire. After 7 min, without any intervention, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR, was commenced. Five min after CPR was commenced advanced life-support, ALS. Animals were divided into resuscitated animals and non resuscitated animals. Tissue samples obtained from the two groups for immunohistological study aiming to detect T-cells, B-cells and plasma cells using CD3 + , CD20 + , and CD138 + antibodies.

Results: There seems to be a strong concentration of T lymphocytes in the kidney tissues after ischemia of both non-resuscitated and resuscitated swine. B lymphocytes, also, appear to have infiltrated the ischemic kidneys of both animal groups; nevertheless, the contribution of T lymphocytes to the induction of injury remains greater. There is no strong evidence of correlation between the plasma cells and the damage.

Conclusion: The adaptive immune response seems to have a strong association with kidney injury and acute tubular necrosis after cardiac arrest/ resuscitation-induced ischemia-reperfusion. However, the extent to which the adaptive immune cells are involved in the induction of renal injury remains uncertain and there are many questions about the mechanism of function of these cells, the answers of which require further studies.

Background: The discovery of neural precursor cells (NPCs) and the concomitant intensive research in the field offer regenerative medicine novel approaches, enabling it to tackle conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Transplantation of NPCs is nowadays considered a cutting-edge treatment for these conditions and many related clinical trials have been already completed or are still ongoing. However, little is known about the antigenicity of NPCs, with most studies addressing the question whether their antigenicity could lead to rejection of the transplanted cells.

Results: In this study we investigated the antigenic potential of syngeneic NPCs emulsion, upon subcutaneous (s.c.) administration to wild type C57BL/6 mice, following a standard immunization protocol. The whole IgG repertoire expressed upon immunization was cloned into a Fab phage display vector. From the created phage display library, Fab expressing clones interacting with NPCs lysate proteins were selected with the biopanning technique. The IgG Fab fragment from clone 65 proved to be reactive against antigens originating from NPCs lysates and/or whole brain lysate in diverse immunological assays.

Conclusions: Using a standard immunization protocol to administer NPCs antigens, and applying the Fab fragment phage display technique, we were able to isolate at least a monoclonal IgG Fab fragment, which interacts with different mouse brain proteins. It is not clear whether such antibodies are produced in the host organisms, following NPCs transplantation.