ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of RNAs, perform important functions in biological processes. However, the role of circRNAs in the mammary gland remains unknown. The present study is aimed at identifying and characterizing the circRNAs expressed in the mammary gland of lactating rats. METHODS: Deep sequencing of RNase R-enriched rat lactating mammary gland samples was performed and circRNAs were predicted using a previously reported computational pipeline. Gene ontology terms of circRNA-producing genes were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 6,824 and 4,523 circRNAs were identified from rat mammary glands at two different lactation stages. Numerous circRNAs were specifically expressed at different lactation stages, and only 1,314 circRNAs were detected at both lactation stages. The majority of the candidate circRNAs map to noncoding intronic and intergenic regions. The results demonstrate a circular preference or specificity of some genes. DAVID analysis revealed an enrichment of protein kinases and related proteins among the set of genes encoding circRNAs. Interestingly, four protein-coding genes (Rev3l, IGSF11, MAML2, and LPP) that also transcribe high levels of circRNAs have been reported to be involved in cancer. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide the basis for comparison between breast cancer profiles and for selecting representative circRNA candidates for future functional characterization in breast development and breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Rats , Biological Phenomena , Breast , Breast Neoplasms , DNA, Intergenic , Gene Ontology , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Introns , Lactation , Mammary Glands, Human , Phosphotransferases , Protein Kinases , Ribonucleases , RNA , RNA, Untranslated , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Objective To elucidate the antitumor activity of exopolysaccharide from Aphanothece halophytica(EPAH).Methods The in vivo inhibition of EPAH on growth of tumor was performed by inoculation of S_(180) sarcoma cells into ICR mice.While in vitro activity against tumor cells was assayed by the growth inhibition of cell lines of S_(180) sarcoma,Smcc7721,and HeLa.The effects of EPAH on immune function were evaluated by the influence on the thymus,spleen,and the number of lymphocytes in blood stream,the influence on proliferation of lymphocytes,the killing activity of NK cells,and the production of NO,IL-1?,and TNF-?. Results EPAH inhibited in vivo S_(180) sarcoma growth with the highest inhibi-(tory) rate of 66.79% and 47.93% in the test mice of pretreatment and simultaneous treatment,respectively.EPAH also displayed in vitro activity against the test cell lines with the highest inhibitory rate being more than 60% at a concentration of 100 ?g/mL.EPAH was found to affect the immune function in mice including increasing the weight of thymus,spleen,and the number of lymphocytes in the blood stream,accelerating the proliferation of lymphocytes,enhancing the killing activity of NK cells,and stimulating the production of NO,IL-1?,and TNF? by macrophages.Conclusion EPAH is an effective antitumor(agent.) It inhibites the tumor cells directly and hence the growth of tumor.Its antitumor activity is probably realized by increasing the weight of immune organs and the number of immunocytes as well as lymphocyte proliferation,enhancing the killing activity of NK cells,facilitating the production of NO and related(cytokines) in tumor-bearing mice.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To elucidate antiviral fractions from ethanol extract of Euphorbia kansui .Methods: Initial separation of ethanol extract from Euphorbia kansui was performed by column chromatography. The test mice were infected with flu virus mouse pneumonia adaptive strain (FM 1) and then treated with separated fractions intragastrally for determining lung index inhibition rate. The T lymphocyte proliferation enhancement was observed by the dosimetry of 3 H TdR infiltrated into DNA of the cell.Result: Initial separation of the extract afforded to 15 fractions. Fractions 8～15 with the elution volume from 29500 to 95000mL were highly effective to the therapy of the mice pneumonia. The enhancement to the lymphocyte proliferation of the 8 fractions under low concentration were 2～3 times higher than that of the control.Conclusion: Fractions 5 and 8～15 exhibited strong in vivo antiviral activity to the test virus, which might be realized by stimulating lymphocyte proliferation, enhancing the capacity of killing the cells infected by the virus.