Transforming growth factor-β in graft vessels: histology and immunohistochemistry

OBJECTIVES: The biological functions of transforming growth factor-β signaling that involves Smad proteins have not been previously investigated with respect to coronary artery bypass grafts. The aim of the present study was to observe the immunostaining of proteins that are related to this signaling pathway. METHODS: Fifteen remnants of coronary artery bypass grafts, including nine saphenous veins, three radial arteries and three mammary arteries, were collected from 12 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, Smad2/3, Smad4, and Smad7 were performed. RESULTS: The saphenous veins showed more severe intimal degeneration, more severe smooth muscle cell proliferation and more collagen deposition than the arterial grafts, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings. Immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that the majority of the transforming growth factor-β1 signaling cytokines were primarily localized in the cytoplasm in the medial layers of all three types of grafts, whereas ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the interstices were observed particularly in the saphenous vein and radial arterial grafts. CONCLUSION: Enhanced transforming growth factor-β1 signal transduction with medial smooth muscle cell proliferation and ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, the presence of the type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the extracellular matrix may provide primary evidence for early or late graft failure

Transforming growth factor-β in graft vessels: histology and immunohistochemistry

OBJECTIVES: The biological functions of transforming growth factor-β signaling that involves Smad proteins have not been previously investigated with respect to coronary artery bypass grafts. The aim of the present study was to observe the immunostaining of proteins that are related to this signaling pathway. METHODS: Fifteen remnants of coronary artery bypass grafts, including nine saphenous veins, three radial arteries and three mammary arteries, were collected from 12 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, Smad2/3, Smad4, and Smad7 were performed. RESULTS: The saphenous veins showed more severe intimal degeneration, more severe smooth muscle cell proliferation and more collagen deposition than the arterial grafts, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings. Immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that the majority of the transforming growth factor-β1 signaling cytokines were primarily localized in the cytoplasm in the medial layers of all three types of grafts, whereas ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the interstices were observed particularly in the saphenous vein and radial arterial grafts. CONCLUSION: Enhanced transforming growth factor-β1 signal transduction with medial smooth muscle cell proliferation and ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, the presence of the type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the extracellular matrix may provide primary evidence for early or late graft failure

Quantum Liouville Theory On The Riemann Sphere With n>3n>3 Punctures

We have studied the quantum Liouville theory on the Riemann sphere with n>3 punctures. While considering the theory on the Riemann surfaces with n=4 punctures, the quantum theory near an arbitrary but fixed puncture can be obtained via canonical quantization and an extra symmetry is explored. While considering more than four distinguished punctures, we have found the exchange relations of the monodromy parameters from which we can get a reasonable quantum theory.Comment: 13 page

QCD sum rule studies on the sssˉsˉs s \bar s \bar s tetraquark states with JPC=1+−J^{PC} = 1^{+-}

We apply the method of QCD sum rules to study the structure $X$ newly observed by the BESIII Collaboration in the $\phi \eta^\prime$ mass spectrum in 2.0-2.1 GeV region in the $J/\psi \rightarrow \phi \eta \eta^\prime$ decay. We construct all the $s s \bar s \bar s$ tetraquark currents with $J^{PC} = 1^{+-}$, and use them to perform QCD sum rule analyses. One current leads to reliable QCD sum rule results and the mass is extracted to be $2.00^{+0.10}_{-0.09}$ GeV, suggesting that the structure $X$ can be interpreted as an $s s \bar s \bar s$ tetraquark state with $J^{PC} = 1^{+-}$. The $Y(2175)$ can be interpreted as its $s s \bar s \bar s$ partner having $J^{PC} = 1^{--}$, and we propose to search for the other two partners, the $s s \bar s \bar s$ tetraquark states with $J^{PC} = 1^{++}$ and $1^{-+}$, in the $\eta^\prime f_0(980)$, $\eta^\prime K \bar K$, and $\eta^\prime K \bar K^*$ mass spectra.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, suggestions and comments are welcom

The genetic effects of the dopamine D1 receptor gene on chicken egg production and broodiness traits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The elevation of egg production and the inhibition of incubation behavior are the aims of modern poultry production. Prolactin (<it>PRL</it>) gene is confirmed to be critical for the onset and maintenance of these reproductive behaviors in birds. Through PRL, dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) was also involved in the regulation of chicken reproductive behavior. However, the genetic effects of this gene on chicken egg production and broodiness have not been studied extensively. The objective of this research was to evaluate the genetic effects of the <it>DRD1 </it>gene on chicken egg production and broodiness traits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, the chicken <it>DRD1 </it>gene was screened for the polymorphisms by cloning and sequencing and 29 variations were identified in 3,342 bp length of this gene. Seven single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) among these variations, including a non-synonymous mutation (A+505G, Ser169Gly), were located in the coding region and were chosen to analyze their association with chicken egg production and broodiness traits in 644 Ningdu Sanhuang individuals. Two SNPs, G+123A and C+1107T, were significantly associated with chicken broody frequency (P < 0.05). Significant association was also found between the G+1065A - C+1107T haplotypes and chicken broody frequency (P < 0.05). In addition, the haplotypes of G+123A and T+198C were significantly associated with weight of first egg (EW) (P = 0.03). On the other hand, the distribution of the <it>DRD1 </it>mRNA was observed and the expression difference was compared between broodiness and non-broodiness chickens. The <it>DRD1 </it>mRNA was predominantly expressed in subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat of non-broodiness chicken, and then in heart, kidney, oviduct, glandular stomach, hypothalamus, and pituitary. In subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat, the level of non-broodiness was 26 to 28 times higher than that of broodiness. In pituitary, it was 5-fold higher. In heart, oviduct, and kidney, a 2-3 times decrease from non-broodiness to broodiness was displayed. In glandular stomach and hypothalamus, the level seen in non-broodiness and broodiness was almost the same.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The polymorphisms of the <it>DRD1 </it>gene and their haplotypes were associated with chicken broody frequency and some egg production traits. The mRNA distribution was significant different between broodiness and non-broodiness chickens.</p

Sevoflurane improves gaseous exchange and exerts protective effects in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in mice models

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of sevoflurane against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in amice model.Methods: Seven week-old female BalB/C mice were used. Lung water content and cell count were estimated by standard protocols. Cytokine and chemokine analysis was performed using commercially available kits. Myeloperoxidase activity was evaluated spectrophotometrically while histopathological analysis was carried out by H and E staining.Results: The results revealed that sevoflurane treatment significantly improved gaseous exchange, and reduced lung water content and lung inflammation as evidenced by a decrease in neutrophil migration into BALF (p &lt; 0.01). Sevoflurane also significantly reversed the LPS-triggered suppression of IL-10 in the lung tissues of LPS-treated mice, when compared to saline-treated controls (p &lt; 0.01). It reversed LPS-induced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by increase in total antioxidant capacity (T-AC), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), as well as an increase in reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. In addition, sevoflurane blocked LPS-induced lung tissue injury in ALI mice, and exerted protective effects against acute LPS-induced lung injury.Conclusion: These results suggest that sevoflurane improves gaseous exchange and exerts a protective effect against LPS-triggered lung injury in mice model, most probably due to its antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.Keywords: Lung injury, Sevoflurane, Respiratory distress, Superoxide dismutase, Liposaccharid

Preferential regeneration of photoreceptor from Müller glia after retinal degeneration in adult rat

AbstractTo determine whether photoreceptor degeneration can stimulate Müller glia to transdifferentiate into neurons in adult mammalian retina, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was injected to induce complete loss of photoreceptors. Following MNU administration, Müller glia underwent reactive gliosis characterized by up-regulation of glial fibrillar acidic protein and nestin, and initiated proliferation through the cyclin D1 and D3 related pathways. Some Müller glia-derived cells were induced to express rhodopsin exclusively. These rhodopsin-positive cells exhibited synaptophysin around them, suggesting possible formation of synapses. After transplanted in to damaged retina, Müller glia migrated, grafted in host retina and produced rhodopsin. These results suggest that degeneration may promote preferential differentiation of Müller glia to photoreceptors and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for retinal degenerative diseases

A genome-wide association study identifies a genomic region for the polycerate phenotype in sheep (Ovis aries)

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Insulin regulates glucose consumption and lactate production through reactive oxygen species and pyruvate kinase M2.

Although insulin is known to regulate glucose metabolism and closely associate with liver cancer, the molecular mechanisms still remain to be elucidated. In this study, we attempt to understand the mechanism of insulin in promotion of liver cancer metabolism. We found that insulin increased pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) expression through reactive oxygen species (ROS) for regulating glucose consumption and lactate production, key process of glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and Bel7402 cells. Interestingly, insulin-induced ROS was found responsible for the suppression of miR-145 and miR-128, and forced expression of either miR-145 or miR-128 was sufficient to abolish insulin-induced PKM2 expression. Furthermore, the knockdown of PKM2 expression also inhibited cancer cell growth and insulin-induced glucose consumption and lactate production, suggesting that PKM2 is a functional downstream effecter of insulin. Taken together, this study would provide a new insight into the mechanism of insulin-induced glycolysis