Interaction of autophagy with microRNAs and their potential therapeutic implications in human cancers

AbstractAutophagy is a tightly regulated intracellular self-digestive process involving the lysosomal degradation of cytoplasmic organelles and proteins. A number of studies have shown that autophagy is dysregulated in cancer initiation and progression, or cancer cells under various stress conditions. As a catabolic pathway conserved among eukaryotes, autophagy is regulated by the autophagy related genes and pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding endogenous RNAs that may regulate almost every cellular process including autophagy. And autophagy is also involved in the regulation of miRNAs expression and homeostasis. Here we reviewed some literatures on the interaction of miRNAs with autophagy and the application of miRNAs-mediated autophagic networks as a promising target in pre-clinical cancer models. Furthermore, strategies of miRNAs delivery for miRNAs-based anti-cancer therapy will also be summarized and discussed

Effects of Acetylene Addition to the Fuel Stream on Soot Formation and Flame Properties in an Axisymmetric Laminar Coflow Ethylene/Air Diffusion Flame

The effects of adding acetylene to the fuel stream on soot formation and flame properties were investigated numerically in a laminar axisymmetric coflow ethylene/air diffusion flame using the open-source flame code Co-Flame in conjunction with an elementary gas-phase chemistry scheme and detailed transport and thermodynamic database. Radiation heat transfer of the radiating gases (H2O, C2H2, CO, and CO2) and soot was calculated using a statistical narrow-band correlated-k-based wide band model coupled with the discrete-ordinates method. The soot formation was described by the consecutive steps of soot nucleation, surface growth of soot particles via polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-soot condensation or the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism, and soot oxidation. The added acetylene affected the flame structure and soot concentration through not only chemical reactions among different species but also radiation effects. The chemical effect due to the added acetylene had a significant impact on soot formation. Specifically, it was confirmed that the addition of 10% acetylene caused an increase in the peak soot volumetric fraction (SVF) by 14.9% and the peak particle number density by about 21.1% (z = 1.5 cm). Furthermore, increasing acetylene concentration led to higher concentrations of propargyl, benzene, and PAHs and consequently directly enhanced soot nucleation rates. In addition, the increased H mole fractions also accentuated the soot surface growth. In contrast, the radiation effect of the addition of 10% acetylene was much weaker, resulting in slightly lower flame temperature and SVF, which in turn reduced the radiant heat loss

Expression of GSK-3β in renal allograft tissue and its significance in pathogenesis of chronic allograft dysfunction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To explore the expression of Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) in renal allograft tissue and its significance in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft dysfunction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Renal allograft biopsy was performed in all of the renal allograft recipients with proteinuria or increased serum creatinine level who came into our hospital from January 2007 to December 2009. Among them 28 cases was diagnosed as chronic allograft dysfunction based on pahtological observation, including 21 males with a mean age of 45 ± 10 years old and 7 females with a mean age of 42 ± 9 years old. The time from kidney transplantation to biopsy were 1-9 (3.5) years. Their serum creatinine level were 206 ± 122 umol/L. Immunohistochemical assay and computer-assisted genuine color image analysis system (imagepro-plus 6.0) were used to detect the expression of GSK-3β in the renal allografts of 28 cases of recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction. Mean area and mean integrated optical density of GSK-3β expression were calculated. The relationship between expression level of GSK-3β and either the grade of inflammatory cell infiltration or interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy in renal allograft was analyzed. Five specimens of healthy renal tissue were used as controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expression level of the GSK-3β was significantly increased in the renal allograft tissue of recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction, compared to normal renal tissues, and GSK-3β expression became stronger along with the increasing of the grade of either inflammatory cell infiltration or interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy in renal allograft tissue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There might be a positive correlation between either inflammatory cell infiltration or interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy and high GSK-3β expression in renal allograft tissue.</p> <p>Virtual slides</p> <p>The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here:</p> <p><url>http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/9924478946162998</url>.</p

Super-resolution imaging through a multimode fiber: the physical upsampling of speckle-driven

Following recent advancements in multimode fiber (MMF), miniaturization of imaging endoscopes has proven crucial for minimally invasive surgery in vivo. Recent progress enabled by super-resolution imaging methods with a data-driven deep learning (DL) framework has balanced the relationship between the core size and resolution. However, most of the DL approaches lack attention to the physical properties of the speckle, which is crucial for reconciling the relationship between the magnification of super-resolution imaging and the quality of reconstruction quality. In the paper, we find that the interferometric process of speckle formation is an essential basis for creating DL models with super-resolution imaging. It physically realizes the upsampling of low-resolution (LR) images and enhances the perceptual capabilities of the models. The finding experimentally validates the role played by the physical upsampling of speckle-driven, effectively complementing the lack of information in data-driven. Experimentally, we break the restriction of the poor reconstruction quality at great magnification by inputting the same size of the speckle with the size of the high-resolution (HR) image to the model. The guidance of our research for endoscopic imaging may accelerate the further development of minimally invasive surgery

Identification of Cbp1, a c-di-GMP Binding Chemoreceptor in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Involved in Chemotaxis and Nodulation of the Host Plant

Cbp1, a chemoreceptor containing a PilZ domain was identified in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a nitrogen-fixing free-living soil bacterium that induces nodule formation in both the roots and stems of the host legume Sesbania rostrata. Chemoreceptors are responsible for sensing signals in the chemotaxis pathway, which guides motile bacteria to beneficial niches and plays an important role in the establishment of rhizobia-legume symbiosis. PilZ domain proteins are known to bind the second messenger c-di-GMP, an important regulator of motility, biofilm formation and virulence. Cbp1 was shown to bind c-di-GMP through the conserved RxxxR motif of its PilZ domain. A mutant strain carrying a cbp1 deletion was impaired in chemotaxis, a feature that could be restored by genetic complementation. Compared with the wild type strain, the Δcbp1 mutant displayed enhanced aggregation and biofilm formation. The Δcbp1 mutant induced functional nodules when inoculated individually. However, the Δcbp1 mutant was less competitive than the wild type in competitive root colonization and nodulation. These data are in agreement with the hypothesis that the c-di-GMP binding chemoreceptor Cbp1 in A. caulinodans is involved in chemotaxis and nodulation