Identification and Characterization of Two Novel Compounds: Heterozygous Variants of Lipoprotein Lipase in Two Pedigrees With Type I Hyperlipoproteinemia

BackgroundType I hyperlipoproteinemia, characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia, is caused mainly by loss-of-function mutation of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene. To date, more than 200 mutations in the LPL gene have been reported, while only a limited number of mutations have been evaluated for pathogenesis.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying lipoprotein lipase deficiency in two pedigrees with type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia.MethodsWe conducted a systematic clinical and genetic analysis of two pedigrees with type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia. Postheparin plasma of all the members was used for the LPL activity analysis. In vitro studies were performed in HEK-293T cells that were transiently transfected with wild-type or variant LPL plasmids. Furthermore, the production and activity of LPL were analyzed in cell lysates or culture medium.ResultsProband 1 developed acute pancreatitis in youth, and her serum triglycerides (TGs) continued to be at an ultrahigh level, despite the application of various lipid-lowering drugs. Proband 2 was diagnosed with type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia at 9 months of age, and his serum TG levels were mildly elevated with treatment. Two novel compound heterozygous variants of LPL (c.3G>C, p. M1? and c.835_836delCT, p. L279Vfs*3, c.188C>T, p. Ser63Phe and c.662T>C, p. Ile221Thr) were identified in the two probands. The postheparin LPL activity of probands 1 and 2 showed decreases of 72.22 ± 9.46% (p<0.01) and 54.60 ± 9.03% (p<0.01), respectively, compared with the control. In vitro studies showed a substantial reduction in the expression or enzyme activity of LPL in the LPL variants.ConclusionsTwo novel compound heterozygous variants of LPL induced defects in the expression and function of LPL and caused type I hyperlipoproteinemia. The functional characterization of these variants was in keeping with the postulated LPL mutant activity

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Syndecan-1 suppresses cell growth and migration via blocking JAK1/STAT3 and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways in human colorectal carcinoma cells

Abstract Background Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a crucial membrane proteoglycan, which is confirmed to participate in several tumor cell biological processes. However, the biological significance of SDC-1 in colorectal carcinoma is not yet clear. An objective of this study was to investigate the role of SDC-1 in colorectal carcinoma cells. Methods Expression of SDC-1 in colorectal carcinoma tissues was evaluated by Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot. After transfection with pcDNA3.1 or pc-SDC-1, the transfection efficiency was measured. Next, SW480, SW620 and LOVO cell viability, apoptosis, migration and adhesion were assessed to explore the effects of exogenous overexpressed SDC-1 on colorectal carcinoma. In addition, the influences of aberrant expressed SDC-1 in Janus kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and rat sarcoma virus (Ras)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways were detected by western blot analysis. Results SDC-1 mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated in human colorectal carcinoma tissues. SDC-1 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation via suppressing CyclinD1 and c-Myc expression, meanwhile stimulated cell apoptosis via increasing the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2-associated x (Bax) and Cleaved-Caspase-3. Additionally, SDC-1 overexpression restrained cell migration via inhibiting the protein expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), and elicited cell adhesion through increasing intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Furthermore, SDC-1 overexpression suppressed JAK1/STAT3 and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK-related protein levels. Conclusions In general, the evidence from this study suggested that SDC-1 suppressed cell growth, migration through blocking JAK1/STAT3 and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways in human colorectal carcinoma cells

Data from: Suppression of the invasive plant mile-a-minute (Mikania micrantha) by local crop sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) by means of higher growth rate and competition for soil nutrients

Background: Competitive crops may provide potent management tools against invasive plants. To elucidate the competitive mechanisms between a sweet potato crop (Ipomoea batatas) and an invasive plant mile-a-minute (Mikania micrantha) field experiments were carried out in Longchuan County of Yunnan Province Southwest China utilizing a de Wit replacement series. The trial incorporated seven ratios of sweet potato and mile-a-minute plants in 25 m2 plots. Results: In monoculture the total biomass biomass of adventitious root leafstalk length and leaf area of sweet potato were all higher than those of mile-a-minute and in mixed culture the plant height branch leaf stem node adventitious root flowering and biomass of mile-a-minute were suppressed significantly (P<0.05). The relative yield (RY) of mile-a-minute and sweet potato was less than 1.0 in mixed culture indicating that intraspecific competition was less than interspecific competition. The competitive balance index of sweet potato demonstrated a higher competitive ability than mile-a-minute. Except pH other soil nutrient contents of initial soil (CK) were significantly higher than those of seven treatments. The concentrations of soil organic matter total N total K available N available P available K exchange Ca exchange Mg available Mn and available B were significantly greater (P<0.05) in mile-a-minute monoculture soil than in sweet potato monoculture soil and were reduced by the competition of sweet potato in the mixture. Conclusions: Evidently sweet potato has a competitive advantage in terms of plant growth characteristics and greater absorption of soil nutrients. Thus planting sweet potato is a promising technique for reducing infestations of mile-a-minute providing weed management benefits and economic returns from harvest of sweet potatoes. Nomenclature: sweet potato Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. mile-a-minute Mikania micrantha H.B.K

Agrobiodiversity and in situ conservation in ethnic minority communities of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, Southwest China

Abstract Background Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province, southwest of China belongs to a global biodiversity and cultural hotspot. Agrobiodiversity plays an essential role in local livelihoods and traditional culture in the region. However, preliminary studies suggest that diversity of crop plants and livestock species is declining. We hypothesized that agrobiodiversity and traditional means of preserving agrobiodiversity are threatened because of changes in government policy in favor of commercial plantations, land use change and changes in traditional agricultural practices. We investigated whether or not agrobiodiversity was declining, the specific causes, and signs of active biodiversity conservation practices in ethnic minority communities of Xishuangbanna which could form the basis for extensive in situ conservation programmes. Methods A series of field studies to document trends in agrobiodiversity were conducted in different ethnic minority communities in Menghai County, Mengla County and Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province, southwest of China between July 2015 and February 2016. Data was obtained through the use of semi-structured questionnaires, field observation and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. A total of 360 ethnic households provided information on current status, functions, characteristics, changes, and threatened factors of farming crop and livestock resources. Some measures for in situ conservation of agricultural biological resources were also researched using PRA methods. Results Two hundred twenty-six crop varieties belonging to 31 families, 71 genera and 101 species were identified in Xishuangbanna, which included 83 vegetable crops, 77 food crops, 24 spice crops, 22 fruit crops, 13 cash crops, 6 oil crops, and 1 cloth crop, respectively. There were 15 livestock varieties, belonging to 6 major species: cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, and geese. Different crop and livestock resources had their own characteristics, functions and threatened factors. Since 2002, agroecosystem, crop diversity and livestock diversity have declined greatly over the Xishuangbanna region as a whole under implementation of the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP). Swidden agriculture was completely eliminated under this program and gradually replaced by large land areas devoted to rubber, tea and banana plantations. Villager numbers engaging in farming production and population of crops and livestock were greatly decreased, particularly in terms of production of local traditional varieties. However, some in situ conservation measures such as seeds preservation, planting of traditional crops and raising livestock have played an important role in local agrobiodiversity conservation. Conclusion Abundant agricultural resources and agrobiodiversity are critical to the local livelihood and maintenance of traditional culture in Xishuangbanna. However, agrobiodiversity and related traditional culture have been greatly impacted by implementation of the SLCP since 2002. Therefore, in future conservation of agrobiodiversity, incorporating some sustainable protection measures based in local communities such as convening seed exchange fairs, conserving traditional varieties in permanent plots, making a visual documentary of indigenous cultivation, and providing traditional agricultural products to tourists should be carefully considered and adopted

Allelopathic Potential and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from the Invasive Plant <i>Acmella radicans</i>

Acmella radicans (Jacquin) R.K. Jansen is a new invasive species recorded in Yunnan Province, China, and little is known about its allelopathic potential and allelochemicals. In this study, the allelopathic effects of the essential oil (EO) of A. radicans on seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Lolium multiflorum, were explored. The results showed that the seed germination index, germination rate, root length, stem length, and biomass of B. napus and B. rapa ssp. chinensis were significantly inhibited at all EO concentrations of A. radicans, but there was a ‘low-promotion and high-inhibition effect’ on the root length of D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum at low concentrations of 0.5 μL·mL−1 and 0.5–1.0 μL·mL−1, respectively. With increasing concentrations of EO, the inhibition rates of seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants gradually increased, and D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum were the most inhibited, followed by B. rapa ssp. chinensis, and the least inhibited was B. napus. Thirty-two components were identified using GC–MS, representing 99.07% of the EO in A. radicans. The major components were 2-tridecanone (30.46%), caryophyllene oxide (19.18%), 4,8,11,11-tetramethylbicyclo[7.2.0]undec-3-en-5-ol (7.84%), β-caryophyllene (7.67%), and widdrol (4.7%). Among the compounds we identified, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-tridecanone, γ-cadinene, δ-cadinene, (E)-α-cadinol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and widdrol have been previously reported as having possible allelopathic effects. Our study was the first to show that A. radicans could potentially release allelochemicals to influence neighboring plants during its invasion and expansion

Effect of COVID-19 Response Policy on Air Quality: A Study in South China Context

Mass suspension of anthropogenic activities is extremely rare, the quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a natural experiment to investigate the impact of anthropogenic activities on air quality. The mitigation of air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown has been reported from a global perspective; however, the air pollution levels vary in different regions. This study initiated a novel synthesis of multiple-year satellite observations, national ground measurements towards SO2, NO2 and O3 and meteorological conditions to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Beihai, a specific city in a less developed area in southwest China, to reveal the potential implications of control strategies for air pollution. The levels of the major air pollutants during the COVID-19 lockdown (LP) and during the same period of previous years (SP) were compared and a series of statistical tools were applied to analyze the sources of air pollution in Beihai. The results show that air pollutant levels decreased with substantial diversity during the LP. Satellite-retrieved NO2 and SO2 levels during the LP decreased by 5.26% and 22.06%, while NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10 from ground measurements during the LP were 25.6%, 2.7%, 22.2% and 22.2% lower than during SP, respectively. Ground measured SO2 concentrations during the LP were only 2.7% lower than during the SP, which may be attributed to uninterrupted essential industrial activities, such as power plants. Polar plots analysis shows that NO2 concentrations were strongly associated with local emission sources, such as automobiles and local industry. Additionally, the much lower levels of NO2 concentrations during the LP and the absence of an evening peak may highlight the significant impact of the traffic sector on NO2. The decrease in daily mean O3 concentrations during the LP may be associated with the reduction in NO2 concentrations. Indications in this study could be beneficial for the formulation of atmospheric protection policies