M2-like macrophages in the fibrotic liver protect mice against lethal insults through conferring apoptosis resistance to hepatocytes.

Acute injury in the setting of liver fibrosis is an interesting and still unsettled issue. Most recently, several prominent studies have indicated the favourable effects of liver fibrosis against acute insults. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms governing this hepatoprotection remain obscure. In the present study, we hypothesized that macrophages and their M1/M2 activation critically involve in the hepatoprotection conferred by liver fibrosis. Our findings demonstrated that liver fibrosis manifested a beneficial role for host survival and apoptosis resistance. Hepatoprotection in the fibrotic liver was tightly related to innate immune tolerance. Macrophages undertook crucial but divergent roles in homeostasis and fibrosis: depleting macrophages in control mice protected from acute insult; conversely, depleting macrophages in fibrotic liver weakened the hepatoprotection and gave rise to exacerbated liver injury upon insult. The contradictory effects of macrophages can be ascribed, to a great extent, to the heterogeneity in macrophage activation. Macrophages in fibrotic mice exhibited M2-preponderant activation, which was not the case in acutely injured liver. Adoptive transfer of M2-like macrophages conferred control mice conspicuous protection against insult. In vitro, M2-polarized macrophages protected hepatocytes against apoptosis. Together, M2-like macrophages in fibrotic liver exert the protective effects against lethal insults through conferring apoptosis resistance to hepatocytes

Lower Paleozoic source rocks and natural gas origins in Ordos Basin, NW China

Based on the geochemical characteristics of Lower Paleozoic gases from 154 most recently drilled wells and their genetic type, in combination with the organic abundance evaluation of 733 core samples from the Lower Paleozoic, the origin of Lower Paleozoic gases in Ordos Basin was discussed. According to the carbon isotope data of paraffin gases in the gas samples and the geological background, the Lower Paleozoic gases are divided into three types and four sub-types: (1) the coal-derived gas generated from the Upper Paleozoic coaly source rock; (2) the oil-associated gas sourced from the Lower Paleozoic source rock, and (3) the mixing gas originated from the Upper Paleozoic coaly source rock and Paleozoic limestone, and the mixing gas can be divided into two sub-types, the mixing gas of positive carbon isotopic series and that of negative carbon isotopic series. From the TOC and organic maceral results of Lower Paleozoic source rock, the samples below salt have an average TOC of 0.3%, with 28.2% of them having TOC>0.4%, the kerogen type being sapropel type, showing great gas generating potential. The Lower Paleozoic gases are primarily coal-derived gas generated from the Upper Paleozoic coal, some oil-associated gas of self-source and self-reservoir can be found in pre-salt reservoirs in the central-eastern basin, where the developed source rock can serve as the source of some Lower Paleozoic gas. Key words: Ordos Basin, Lower Paleozoic, natural gas origin, source roc

Formation Mechanism of Heavy Hydrocarbon Carbon Isotope Anomalies in Natural Gas from Ordovician Marine Carbonate in the Ordos Basin

Interactive depositional systems of marine carbonates and gypsum salt rocks are closely related to natural gas reservoirs. Despite continuous progress in the exploration of new areas of marine carbonate genesis within the Ordos Basin, the source and mechanism of “sub-salt” natural gas genesis remains controversial. In this study, we investigated natural gas genesis through geochemical analysis of Lower Paleozoic natural gas samples from the mid-eastern Ordos Basin, obtaining natural gas composition data and carbon/hydrogen isotope compositions. We found evident differences between the geochemical characteristics of “sub-salt” and “post-salt” natural gas; the methane carbon isotope signature of “sub-salt” natural gas was lighter overall than that of “post-salt” natural gas, while the ethane carbon isotope composition of the former was more widely distributed and partially lighter than that of the latter. Combining these data with the regional geological background and existing geochemical data, it is evident that Ordovician “post-salt” natural gas comprises a composite of Upper Paleozoic coal-type gas and Lower Paleozoic oil-type gas, with the oil-type gas accounting for the largest proportion. In contrast, the “sub-salt” natural gas was formed and preserved within the Ordovician marine carbonates or sourced from deeper and more ancient hydrocarbon source rocks. Geochemical anomalies, including light methane carbon isotopes and ethane carbon isotopes with coal-type gas characteristics, are closely related to the prevalence of thermochemical sulfate reduction during hydrocarbon formation and reservoir formation of natural gas in “sub-salt” strata

Simulation of thermochemical sulfate reduction of gaseous hydrocarbons in Wushenqi area, Ordos Basin, China

Abstract Prediction of the H2S distribution is critical to lower the risks during petroleum exploration and development in the exploration area. Natural gas of two wells produced from the Ordovician Majiagou Formation Ma5-6 section from Wushenqi area show great difference in H2S content. To investigate whether the different thermal maturity of the two wells contributes to the different H2S content, the thermal mature history and transformation ratio of gas hydrocarbons and sulfate into H2S and CO2 through TSR (thermochemical sulfate reduction) were simulated by using Petromod 2016. Simulation result shows that difference of thermal maturity of the two wells is about 0.6%. Propane and butane have all been consumed to generate H2S. The transformation ratio of ethane is higher for the well with higher thermal maturity. The high H2S content in the well with high thermal maturity and no H2S in the well with lower thermal maturity was not caused by the different thermal maturity. Some other geological factors should be considered

Identification of novel miRNAs and miRNA expression profiling in embryogenic tissues of <i>Picea balfouriana</i> treated by 6-benzylaminopurine

<div><p>Here, we compared miRNA expression profiles in embryonic cell cultures of the conifer <i>Picea balfouriana</i> following application of the synthetic cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP). We used next-generation sequencing to analyze three libraries of small RNAs from the treated embryogenic cell cultures and generated 24,000,000 raw reads from each of the libraries. Over 70 differentially regulated micro RNA (miRNA) families (≥2 fold change in expression) were identified between pairs of treatments. A quantitative analysis showed that miR3633 and miR1026 were upregulated in tissues with the highest embryogenic ability. These two miRNAs were predicted to target genes encoding receptor-like protein kinase and GAMYB transcription factors, respectively. In one library, miR1160, miR5638, miR1315, and miR5225 were downregulated. These four miRNAs were predicted to target genes encoding APETALA2, calmodulin-binding protein, and calcium-dependent protein kinase transcription factors. The expression patterns of the miRNAs and their targets were negatively correlated. Approximately 181 potentially novel <i>P</i>. <i>balfouriana</i> miRNAs were predicted from the three libraries, and seven were validated during the quantitative analysis. This study is the first report of differential miRNA regulation in tissues treated with 6-BAP during somatic embryogenesis. The differentially expressed miRNAs will be of value for investigating the mechanisms of embryogenic processes that are responsive to 6-BAP in <i>P</i>. <i>balfouriana</i>.</p></div

Numbers of differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets among the three 6-BAP-treated libraries.

<p>Numbers of differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets among the three 6-BAP-treated libraries.</p

Levels of plant hormones in 6-BAP-treated tissues in proliferation and maturation stages.

<p><b>(a)</b> Levels of 3-acetic acid (IAA). <b>(b)</b> Levels of zeatin-riboside (ZR). <b>(c)</b> Levels of gibberellic acid (GA₃). <b>(d)</b> Levels of abscisic acid (ABA). Tissues in proliferation and maturation stages were collected after being transferred to new media for 7 d. Lowercase letters (a, b, c) indicate significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05).</p

Activities of antioxidant enzymes in 6-BAP-treated tissues in proliferation and maturation stages.

<p><b>(a)</b> Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). <b>(b)</b> Activity of peroxidase (POD). Tissues in proliferation and maturation stages were collected after being transferred to new media for 7 d. Lowercase letters (a, b, c) indicate significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05).</p

Orthologs of putative novel miRNAs conserved in other species.

<p>Orthologs of putative novel miRNAs conserved in other species.</p