• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.1144-1154
• /
• 2018

Both the calcium and collagen in bone powder are hard to be absorbed by the body. Although enzymatic hydrolysis by protease increased the bio-availability of bone powder, it was a meaningful try to further increase $Ca^{2+}$ release, oligopeptide formation and antioxidant activity of the sheep bone hydrolysate (SBH) by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. Lactobacillus helveticus was selected as the starter for its highest protease-producing ability among 5 tested LAB strains. The content of liberated $Ca^{2+}$ was measured as the responsive value in the response surface methodology (RSM) for optimizing the fermenting parameters. When SBH (adjusted to pH 6.1) supplemented with 1.0% glucose was inoculated 3.0% L. helveticus and incubated for 29.4 h at $36^{\circ}C$, $Ca^{2+}$ content in the fermented SBH significantly increased (p<0.01), and so did the degree of hydrolysis and the obtaining rate of oligopeptide. The viable counts of L. helveticus reached to $1.1{\times}10^{10}CFU/mL$. Results of Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that LAB viable counts, $Ca^{2+}$ levels, obtaining rates of oligopeptide and the yield of polypeptide were positively correlated with each other (p<0.01). The abilities of SBH to scavenge the free radicals of DPPH, OH and ABTS were also markedly enhanced after fermentation. In conclusion, L. helveticus fermentation can further boost the release of free $Ca^{2+}$ and oligopeptide, enhance the antioxidant ability of SBH. The L. helveticus fermented SBH can be developed as a novel functional dietary supplement product.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.202-207
• /
• 2019

Keloids are the most common pathological form of trauma healing, with features that seriously affect appearance and body function, are difficult to treat and have a high recurrence rate. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are involved in a variety of pathological processes and play an important role in the process of fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the function and regulatory network of miR-152-5p in keloids. The miRNA miR-152-5p is frequently downregulated in keloid tissue and primary cells compared to normal skin tissue and fibroblasts. In addition, the downregulation of miR-152-5p is significantly associated with the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of keloid cells. Overexpression of miR-152-5p significantly inhibits the progression of fibrosis in keloids. Smad3 is a direct target of miR-152-5p, and knockdown of Smad3 also inhibits fibrosis progression, consistent with the overexpression of miR-152-5p. The interaction between miR-152-5p and Smad3 occurs through the Erk1/2 and Akt pathways and regulates collagen3 production. In summary, our study demonstrates that miR-152-5p/Smad3 regulatory pathways involved in fibrotic progression may be a potential therapeutic target of keloids.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.238-248
• /
• 2019

In the high-temperature and high-pressure irradiation environments, the multi-field coupling processes of hydrogen diffusion, hydride precipitation and mechanical deformation in Zircaloy cladding tubes occur. To simulate this hydrogen-induced complex behavior, a multi-field coupling method is developed, with the irradiation hardening effects and hydride-precipitation-induced expansion and hardening effects involved in the mechanical constitutive relation. The out-pile tests for a cracked cladding tube after irradiation are simulated, and the numerical results of the multi-fields at different temperatures are obtained and analyzed. The results indicate that: (1) the hydrostatic stress gradient is the fundamental factor to activate the hydrogen-induced multi-field coupling behavior excluding the temperature gradient; (2) in the local crack-tip region, hydrides will precipitate faster at the considered higher temperatures, which can be fundamentally attributed to the sensitivity of TSSP and hydrogen diffusion coefficient to temperature. The mechanism is partly explained for the enlarged velocity values of delayed hydride cracking (DHC) at high temperatures before crack arrest. This work lays a foundation for the future research on DHC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1254-1262
• /
• 2014

Lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF-1) is a member of the T-cell specific factor (TCF) family, which plays a key role in the development of breast endothelial cells. Moreover, LEF-1 gene has been identified as a candidate gene for teat number trait. In the present study, we detected two novel mutations (NC_010450.3:g. 99514A>G, 119846C>T) by DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in exon 4 and intron 9 of LEF-1 in Guanzhong Black, Hanjiang Black, Bamei and Large White pigs. Furthermore, we analyzed the association between the genetic variations with teat number trait in these breeds. The 99514A>G mutation showed an extremely significant statistical relevance between different genotypes and teat number trait in Guanzhong (p<0.001) and Large White (p = 0.002), and significant relevance in Hanjiang (p = 0.017); the 119846C>T mutation suggested significant association in Guanzhong Black pigs (p = 0.042) and Large White pigs (p = 0.003). The individuals with "AG" or "GG" genotype displayed more teat numbers than those with "AA"; the individuals with "TC" or "CC" genotype showed more teat numbers than those with "TT". Our findings suggested that the 99514A>G and 119846C>T mutations of LEF-1 affected porcine teat number trait and could be used in breeding strategies to accelerate porcine teat number trait improvement of indigenous pigs breeds through molecular marker assisted selection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.188-196
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to characterize the litter sizes in Huanghuai goats with high prolificacy (HP, five or more kids born per litter on at least one occasion), and to compare their peripheral blood concentrations of progesterone and estradiol with those of goats with poor prolificacy (PP, up to three kids born per litter on any occasion). The circulating concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay from daily blood samples taken during natural estrus cycles and at 1-5 days after ovariectomy. Estrus was synchronized using two doses of a prostaglandin analog. Litter size for the HP goats increased up to a parity of five and decreased thereafter. The percentage of goats with litter sizes of $\geq$4 from parities 3 to 6 ranged from 44.5% to 58.3%. Although small differences in litter size were obtained for goats of parities three, four and six relative to five, parity five does had the highest mean litter size. Progesterone concentrations began to rise earlier and were higher in the HP than in the PP goats on most days of the luteal phase, but not during the follicular phase of the cycle or after ovariectomy. There was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05) in the magnitude of the progesterone plateau. Mean estradiol concentrations in the HP group remained significantly higher than in the PP group (p<0.05) during the estrus cycle. There were two estradiol peaks in the HP goats during the early luteal phase, but only one in the PP group. Measurements of individual corpora lutea (CL) in vitro showed that there was a greater prevalence of small CL (<6 mm in diameter) in the HP group than in the PP group (p<0.05). After ovariectomy, the estradiol level on day 1 was significantly higher than at the nadir during the estrus cycle in both the HP (p<0.01) and PP (p<0.05) goats, while levels decreased by 12.3% and 26.2% respectively compared with the mid-luteal period in HP and PP goats (p<0.05). The overall mean estradiol concentrations in HP goats were lower than in the PP group, but no significant differences were found between groups at 1-5 days after ovariectomy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.8
• /
• pp.3613-3618
• /
• 2014

Stathmin, also called oncoprotein 18, is a founding member of the family of microtubule-destabilizing proteins that play a critical role in the regulation of mitosis. At the same time stathmin has been recognized as one of responsible factors in cancer cells. The aim of this study was to assess stathmin status, its correlations with clinicopathological parameters and its role as a progosnostic marker in EC patients. The protein and mRNA levels of stathmin were examined byimmunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization in 100EC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues. mRNA and protein expression of stathmin in three EC cell lines(EC9706, ECa109, EC1 commonly used in research) were also analyzed using immunocytochemistry, western blot and in situ hybridization. The prognostic value of Stathmin expression within the tumor tissues were assessed by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. We showed that stathmin expression was significantly higher in EC tissues than in adjacent noncancerous tissues. High stathmin immunostaining score in the EC was positively correlated with tumor differentiation, Tumor invasion, Lymph node metastases, and TNM stage. In addition, we demonstrated that three EC cell lines examined, were constitutively expressing a high level of stathmin. Of those, EC-1 showed the strongest mRNA and protein expression for the stathmin analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that significantly longer 5-year survival rate was seen in EC patients with high Stathmin expression, compared to those with low expression of Stathmin expression. Furthermore, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses revealed that Stathmin was an independent factors affecting the overall survival probability. In conclusion, our data provide a basis for the concept that stathmin might be associated with EC development and progression. High levels of Stathmin expression in the tumor tissues may be a good prognostic marker for patients with EC.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.78-92
• /
• 2023

Background and Objectives: This study aims to clarify the systems underlying regulation and regulatory roles of hydrogen combined with 5-Aza in the myogenic differentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Methods and Results: In this study, ADSCs acted as an in vitro myogenic differentiating mode. First, the Alamar blue Staining and mitochondrial tracer technique were used to verify whether hydrogen combined with 5-Aza could promote cell proliferation. In addition, this study assessed myogenic differentiating markers (e.g., Myogenin, Mhc and Myod protein expressions) based on the Western blotting assay, analysis on cellular morphological characteristics (e.g., Myotube number, length, diameter and maturation index), RT-PCR (Myod, Myogenin and Mhc mRNA expression) and Immunofluorescence analysis (Desmin, Myosin and 𝛽-actin protein expression). Finally, to verify the mechanism of myogenic differentiation of hydrogen-bound 5-Aza, we performed bioinformatics analysis and Western blot to detect the expression of p-P38 protein. Hydrogen combined with 5-Aza significantly enhanced the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro by increasing the number of single-cell mitochondria and upregulating the expression of myogenic biomarkers such as Myod, Mhc and myotube formation. The expressions of p-P38 was up-regulated by hydrogen combined with 5-Aza. The differentiating ability was suppressed when the cells were cultivated in combination with SB203580 (p38 MAPK signal pathway inhibitor). Conclusions: Hydrogen alleviates the cytotoxicity of 5-Aza and synergistically promotes the myogenic differentiation capacity of adipose stem cells via the p38 MAPK pathway. Thus, the mentioned results present insights into myogenic differentiation and are likely to generate one potential alternative strategy for skeletal muscle related diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3575-3579
• /
• 2013

Background: The 2518 A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene has been extensively studied for association swith cancer; however, results from replication studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this investigation was to determine links with risk of cancer by meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, CNKI, Weipu and Wanfang databases, covering all case-control studies until March, 2013. Statistical analyses were performed using the Revman 5.0 software. Results: A total of 11 case-control studies met our inclusion criteria, including 1,422 cases and 2,237 controls. The results indicated that the MCP-1 2518 gene polymorphism had no association with cancer risk overall (GG vs.GA+ AA: OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.61-1.28, P = 0.52). However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a decrease of cancer risk was found in Asian populations (GG vs.GA+ AA: OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.63-0.99, P = 0.04). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that the 2518A/G polymorphism of MCP-1 gene is associated with risk of cancer among Asian, but not in Caucasian populations.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.158-166
• /
• 2006

In many organisms, trehalose acts as protective metabolite against harsh environmental stresses, such as freezing, drought, nutrient starvation, heat and salt. Herein a cDNA (designated as GbTPS, GenBank Accession Number AY884150) encoding a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase homologue was isolated and characterized from the living fossil plant, Ginkgo biloba, which is highly tolerant to drought and cold. GbTPS encoded an 868-amino-acid polypeptide with a predicted isoelectric point of 5.83 and molecular mass of 97.9 kD. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed that GbTPS shared high identity with class II trehalose-6-phosphate synthase homologues (67% identical to AtTPS7), but had only 17% and 23% of identity with OstA from Escherichia coli and ScTPS1 from S. cerevisiae, respectively. DNA gel blot analysis indicated that GbTPS belonged to a small multi-gene family. The expression analysis by RT-PCR showed that GbTPS expressed in a tissue-specific manner in G biloba and might involve in leaf development. GbTPS was also found to be induced by a variety of stresses including cold, salt, drought and mannitol.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2006

In higher plants, P450s participate in the biosynthesis of many important secondary metabolites. Here we reported for the first time the isolation of a new cytochrome P450 cDNA that expressed in a stem-specific manner from Camptotheca acuminata (designated as CaSS), a native medicinal plant species in China, using RACE-PCR. The full-length cDNA of CaSS was 1735 bp long containing a 1530 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 509 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that CASS contained a heme-binding domain PFGXGRRXCX and showed homology to other plant cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and hydroxylases. Southern blotting analysis revealed that there was only one copy of the CaSS present in the genome of Camptotheca acuminata. Northern blotting analysis revealed that CaSS expressed, in a tissue-specific manner, highly in stem and lowly in root, leaf and flower. Our study suggests that CaSS is likely to be involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway.