All-trans retinoic acid stimulates the secretion of TGF-β2 via the phospholipase C but not the adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway in retinal pigment epithelium cells

Abstract Background By investigating that (i) all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) affects human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in expressing and secreting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and (ii) U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor) and SQ22536 (adenylyl cyclase inhibitor) regulate the ATRA-induced secretion of TGF-β2 in human RPE, we sought to interpret the signaling pathway of ATRA in promoting the development of myopia. Methods The RPE cell line (D407) was treated with (i) ATRA (10 μM), (ii) U73122 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM), or (iii) SQ22536 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM). The control group was no-treated. After stimulated at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h, The expression and secretion of TGF-β2 was detected. Results TGF-β2 in the cytoplasm was time-dependent increased by ATRA (p  0.05). Conclusions In RPE cells, ATRA stimulates the secretion of TGF-β2 via the phospholipase C signaling pathway but not the adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway. U73122 may inhibit the promotion of ATRA in the development of myopia

All-trans retinoic acid stimulates the secretion of TGF-β2 via the phospholipase C but not the adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway in retinal pigment epithelium cells

Abstract Background By investigating that (i) all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) affects human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in expressing and secreting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and (ii) U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor) and SQ22536 (adenylyl cyclase inhibitor) regulate the ATRA-induced secretion of TGF-β2 in human RPE, we sought to interpret the signaling pathway of ATRA in promoting the development of myopia. Methods The RPE cell line (D407) was treated with (i) ATRA (10 μM), (ii) U73122 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM), or (iii) SQ22536 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM). The control group was no-treated. After stimulated at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h, The expression and secretion of TGF-β2 was detected. Results TGF-β2 in the cytoplasm was time-dependent increased by ATRA (p < 0.001). A time-dependent increase in the TGF-β2 protein of the supernatant was induced by ATRA (p < 0.001). U73122 (in the range of 5 to 40 μM) could suppress the secretion of TGF-β2 induced by ATRA (p < 0.001), and 40 μM U73122 could completely inhibit the up-regulated effect of 10 μM ATRA. However, SQ22536 (in the range of 5 to 40 μM) had no impact on the secretion of TGF-β2 induced by ATRA (p > 0.05). Conclusions In RPE cells, ATRA stimulates the secretion of TGF-β2 via the phospholipase C signaling pathway but not the adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway. U73122 may inhibit the promotion of ATRA in the development of myopia

Effects of Dodonaea viscosa Afforestation on Soil Nutrients and Aggregate Stability in Karst Graben Basin

Dodonaea viscosa is widely cultivated in the karst graben basin and is crucial for recovering land after rocky desertification. However, the effect of long&ndash;time D. viscosa afforestation on changes in the quality of soil remains unclear. Soil nutrients and aggregate composition can be used to evaluate the beneficial effects of afforestation of D. viscosa in improving soil functional stability. In this study, soil nutrients and aggregate stability were investigated using cropland, 10&ndash;year, 20&ndash;year, and 40&ndash;year D. viscosa afforestation and secondary succession shrub. Compared to the cropland, D. viscosa afforestation significantly increased the soil water content (WC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN) contents, with an enhanced effect observed with prolonged afforestation. Soil nutrient contents under D. viscosa afforestation rapidly reached the level of the shrub. Dodonaea viscosa afforestation promoted the formation of &gt;2 mm aggregates and decreased the ratio of 0.053&ndash;0.25 mm aggregates, which varied with afforestation years. Compared to the cropland, the content of &gt;0.25 mm water&ndash;stable aggregates (R&gt;0.25), mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean weight diameter (GMD) of soil increased exponentially. However, soil erodibility factor (K) and unstable aggregates index (EIt) decreased exponentially with prolonged D. viscosa afforestation, and the latter two indicators did not reach the level of the shrub. These results indicated that soil nutrients, aggregate stability, and erosion resistance increased with prolonged D. viscosa afforestation. However, the aggregate stability and erosion resistance exhibited by D. viscosa could not reach the level of secondary shrub for a long time

Modeling aerobic decomposition of rice straw during the off-rice season in an Andisol paddy soil in a cold temperate region of Japan: Effects of soil temperature and moisture

<p>Submerged rice paddies are a major source of methane (CH₄) which is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). Accelerating rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season could help to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in cold temperate regions. For understanding how both temperature and moisture can affect the rate of rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season in the cold temperate region of Tohoku district, Japan, a modeling incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory. Bulk soil and soil mixed with 2% of δ¹³C-labeled rice straw with a full factorial combination of four temperature levels (−5 to 5, 5, 15, 25°C) and two moisture levels (60% and 100% WFPS) were incubated for 24 weeks. The daily change from −5 to 5°C was used to model the freezing–thawing cycles occurring during the winter season. The rates of rice straw decomposition were calculated by (i) CO₂ production; (ii) change in the soil organic carbon (SOC) content; and (iii) change in the δ¹³C value of SOC. The results indicated that both temperature and moisture affected the rate of rice straw decomposition during the 24-week aerobic incubation period. Rates of rice straw decomposition increased not only with high temperature, but also with high moisture conditions. The rates of rice straw decomposition were more accurately calculated by CO₂ production compared to those calculated by the change in the SOC content, or in its δ¹³C value. Under high moisture at 100% WFPS condition, the rates of rice straw decomposition were 14.0, 22.2, 33.5 and 46.2% at −5 to 5, 5, 15 and 25°C temperature treatments, respectively. While under low moisture at 60% WFPS condition, these rates were 12.7, 18.3, 31.2 and 38.4%, respectively. The Q₁₀ of rice straw decomposition was higher between −5 to 5 and 5°C than that between 5 and 15°C and that between 15 and 25°C. Daily freezing–thawing cycles (from −5 to 5°C) did not stimulate rice straw decomposition compared with low temperature at 5°C. This study implies that to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in the cold temperate regions, enhancing rice straw decomposition during the high temperature period is very important.</p

Forage rice varieties Fukuhibiki and Tachisuzuka emit larger CH₄ than edible rice Haenuki

<p>To determine methane (CH₄) emission differences between edible and forage rice cultivars, we conducted a pot experiment in Yamagata, Japan to grow edible rice Haenuki, and forage rice Fukuhibiki (for feed rice) and Tachisuzuka (for whole-crop silage (WCS) rice) under similar soil and meteorological conditions. The total amounts of N, P, and K fertilizers applied for Fukuhibiki and Tachisuzuka were 1.7, 1.3, and 1.3 times, respectively, higher than those of Haenuki. CH₄ fluxes, and rice plant night respirations were measured once weekly or fortnightly. As per the results, for the whole growth period, shoot height, maximum and productive tiller numbers, and plant biomass were significantly different among the three rice varieties. The rice growth period for Haenuki and Fukuhibiki was 107 days after transplanting (DAT), while that for Tachisuzuka was 135 DAT. The highest peak of CH₄ flux occurred around the heading stage for the three varieties. Consistently significant (<i>P </i>< 0.05) or obvious (<i>P </i>< 0.1) positive correlations between CH₄ flux and night respiration among the varieties were observed from 9 weeks after rice transplanting to harvest, indicating that much of the CH₄ flux was from newly produced root exudates and plant debris through plant photosynthesis. The cumulated CH₄ emissions during the same growth period, 106 DAT, from Haenuki, Fukuhibiki, and Tachisuzuka were 55.36, 77.46, and 78.40 g C m⁻², respectively. Additionally, Tachisuzuka emitted 25.11 g C m⁻² more CH₄ between 106–134 DAT. The final cumulated CH₄ emissions from Fukuhibiki and Tachisuzuka were 39.9% and 87.0% higher than that from Haenuki, respectively, throughout their growth period.</p

Functional Silencing of HSD17B2 in Prostate Cancer Promotes Disease Progression

PURPOSE: Steroidogenic enzymes are essential for prostate cancer development. Enzymes inactivating potent androgens were not investigated thoroughly, which leads to limited interference strategies for prostate cancer therapy. Here we characterized the clinical relevance, significance, and regulation mechanism of enzyme HSD17B2 in prostate cancer development. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: HSD17B2 expression was detected with patient specimens and prostate cancer cell lines. Function of HSD17B2 in steroidogenesis, androgen receptor (AR) signaling, and tumor growth was investigated with prostate cancer cell lines and a xenograft model. DNA methylation and mRNA alternative splicing were investigated to unveil the mechanisms of HSD17B2 regulation. RESULTS: HSD17B2 expression was reduced as prostate cancer progressed. 17betaHSD2 decreased potent androgen production by converting testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to each of their upstream precursors. HSD17B2 overexpression suppressed androgen-induced cell proliferation and xenograft growth. Multiple mechanisms were involved in HSD17B2 functional silencing including DNA methylation and mRNA alternative splicing. DNA methylation decreased the HSD17B2 mRNA level. Two new catalytic-deficient isoforms, generated by alternative splicing, bound to wild-type 17betaHSD2 and promoted its degradation. Splicing factors SRSF1 and SRSF5 participated in the generation of new isoforms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence of the clinical relevance, significance, and regulation of HSD17B2 in prostate cancer progression, which might provide new strategies for clinical management by targeting the functional silencing mechanisms of HSD17B2.See related commentary by Mostaghel, p. 1139

Land Use Change from Natural Tropical Forests to Managed Ecosystems Reduces Gross Nitrogen Production Rates and Increases the Soil Microbial Nitrogen Limitation

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of soil microbial nitrogen (N) utilization under land use change is critical to evaluating soil N availability or limitation and its environmental consequences. A combination of soil gross N production and ecoenzymatic stoichiometry provides a promising avenue for nutrient limitation assessment in soil microbial metabolism. Gross N production via 15N tracing and ecoenzymatic stoichiometry through the vector and threshold element ratio (Vector-TER) model were quantified to evaluate the soil microbial N limitation in response to land use changes. We used tropical soil samples from a natural forest ecosystem and three managed ecosystems (paddy, rubber, and eucalyptus sites). Soil extracellular enzyme activities were significantly lower in managed ecosystems than in a natural forest. The Vector-TER model results indicated microbial carbon (C) and N limitations in the natural forest soil, and land use change from the natural forest to managed ecosystems increased the soil microbial N limitation. The soil microbial N limitation was positively related to gross N mineralization (GNM) and nitrification (GN) rates. The decrease in microbial biomass C and N as well as hydrolyzable ammonium N in managed ecosystems led to the decrease in N-acquiring enzymes, inhibiting GNM and GN rates and ultimately increasing the microbial N limitation. Soil GNM was also positively correlated with leucine aminopeptidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase. The results highlight that converting tropical natural forests to managed ecosystems can increase the soil microbial N limitation through reducing the soil microbial biomass and gross N production