Association of serum chemokine ligand 21 levels with asthma control in adults

OBJECTIVES: The chemokine ligand (CCL) 21 regulates the maturation, migration, and function of dendritic cells, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum CCL21 levels and asthma control. METHODS: The serum levels of CCL21 and other inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in patients with asthma (n=44) and healthy controls (n=35) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgE levels and eosinophil counts were determined by turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and fully automatic blood analysis, respectively. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire was used, and spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurements were performed. A multiple unpaired Student's t-test was performed to analyze the differences in CCL21 and interleukin levels between patients with asthma and healthy controls. The correlation of CCL21 levels with disease severity was evaluated using the Pearson's rank correlation test. RESULTS: Serum CCL21 levels were lower in patients with asthma (254.78±95.66 pg/mL) than in healthy controls (382.95±87.77 pg/mL) (p<0.001). Patients with asthma had significantly higher levels of IL-1β (19.74±16.77 vs. 2.63±5.22 pg/mL), IL-6 (7.55±8.65 vs. 2.37±2.47 pg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (12.70±12.03 vs. 4.82±3.97 pg/mL) compared with the controls. CCL21 levels were positively correlated with the ACT score (rs=0.1653, p=0.0062), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (rs=0.3607, p<0.0001), and FEV1 (rs=0.2753, p=0.0003), and negatively correlated with FENO (rs=0.1060, p=0.0310). CCL21 levels were negatively correlated with serum IgE levels (rs=0.1114, p=0.0268) and eosinophil counts (rs=0.3476, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum CCL21 levels may be a new biomarker for assessing asthma control.

Identification and characterization of CircRNAs involved in the regulation of wheat root length

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) may play important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development. Plant roots are the main organs of nutrient and water uptake. However, whether circRNAs involved in the regulation of plant root growth remains to be elucidated. METHODS: LH9, XN979 and YN29 are three Chinese wheat varieties with contrasting root lengths. Here, the root circRNA expression profiles of LH9, XN979 and YN29 were examined by using high-throughput sequencing technology. RESULTS: Thirty-three and twenty-two differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were identified in the YN29-LH9 comparison and YN29-XN979 comparison, respectively. Among them, ten DECs coexisted in both comparisons. As the roots of both LH9 and XN979 were significantly larger and deeper than YN29, the ten DECs coexisting in the two comparisons were highly likely to be involved in the regulation of wheat root length. Moreover, three of the ten DECs have potential miRNA binding sites. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of the potential binding miRNAs exhibited significant differences between the long root plants and the short root plants. CONCLUSIONS: The expression levels of some circRNAs exhibited significant differences in wheat varieties with contrasting root phenotypes. Ten DECs involved in the regulation of wheat root length were successfully identified in which three of them have potential miRNAs binding sites. The expression levels of putative circRNA-binding miRNAs were correlated with their corresponding circRNAs. Our results provide new clues for studying the potential roles of circRNAs in the regulation of wheat root length.

QTLs for seedling traits under salinity stress in hexaploid wheat / Caracterização de QTLs por traços de sementes sob o estresse de salinidade em trigo Hexaploid

ABSTRACT: Soil salinity limits agricultural production and is a major obstacle for increasing crop yield. Common wheat is one of the most important crops with allohexaploid characteristic and a highly complex genome. QTL mapping is a useful way to identify genes for quantitative traits such as salinity tolerance in hexaploid wheat. In the present study, a hydroponic trial was carried out to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salinity tolerance of wheat under 150mM NaCl concentration using a recombinant inbred line population (Xiaoyan 54×Jing 411). Values of wheat seedling traits including maximum root length (MRL), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total dry weight (TDW) and the ratio of TDW of wheat plants between salt stress and control (TDWR) were evaluated or calculated. A total of 19QTLs for five traits were detected through composite interval mapping method by using QTL Cartographer version 2.5 under normal and salt stress conditions. These QTLs distributed on 12 chromosomes explained the percentage of phenotypic variation by individual QTL varying from 7.9% to 19.0%. Among them, 11 and six QTLs were detected under normal and salt stress conditions, respectively and two QTLs were detected for TDWR. Some salt tolerance related loci may be pleiotropic. Chromosome 1A, 3A and 7A may harbor crucial candidate genes associated with wheat salt tolerance. Our results would be helpful for the marker assisted selection to breed wheat varieties with improved salt tolerance.

RESUMO: A salinidade do solo limita a produção agrícola. O trigo mole é uma das culturas mais importantes com característica allohexaploid e genoma altamente complexo. O mapeamento QTL é uma maneira muito útil de identificar genes para traços quantitativos, como a tolerância à salinidade em trigo hexaplóide. No presente estudo realizou-se um ensaio hidropónico para identificar locos de traços quantitativos (QTLs) associados à tolerância à salinidade do trigo sob concentração de NaCl 150 mM, usando uma população de linhagem consanguíneo recombinante (Xiaoyan 54 × Jing 411). Os valores dos traços de mudas de trigo, incluindo comprimento máximo da raiz (MRL), peso seco da raiz (RDW), ponha o peso seco (SDW), peso seco total (TDW) e a proporção das plantas de trigo TDW entre o estresse salgado e o controle (TDWR), foram avaliados ou calculados. Um total de 19QTLs para cinco traços foram detectados através do método de mapeamento de intervalo composto usando a versão 2.5 do cartógrafo QTL sob condições normais e de estresse salino. Estes QTLs distribuídos em 12 cromossomos explicaram a porcentagem de variação fenotípica por QTL individual variando de 7,9% a 19,0%. Entre eles, foram detectados 11 e 6 QTLs em condições de estresse normal e sal, respectivamente, e dois QTLs foram detectados para TDWR. Cromossoma 1A, 3A e 7A podem conter genes que são candidatos cruciais associados à tolerância ao sal de trigo. Nossos resultados seriam úteis para a seleção assistida por marcadores para produzir variedades de trigo com tolerância salina melhorada.

Identification and characterization of circRNAs involved in the regulation of low nitrogen-promoted root growth in hexaploid wheat

BACKGROUND: CircRNAs are widespread in plants and play important roles in response to abiotic stresses. Low nitrogen (LN) promotes the growth of plant root system, allowing it to explore more nitrogen. However, whether circRNAs involved in the response to LN stress and the regulation of LN-promoted root growth in wheat remains unclear. METHODS: Two wheat varieties (LH9 and XN979) with contrasting root phenotypes to LN stress were used as materials to identify circRNAs under control and LN conditions by using high-throughput sequencing technology. RESULTS: Six differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) involved in the common response to LN stress and 23 DECs involved in the regulation of LN-promoted root growth were successfully identified. GO analysis of the DEC-host genes involved in the regulation of LN-promoted root growth showed that GO terms related to biological regulation, responses to stimuli and signalling were significantly enriched. Moreover, seven DECs were predicted to have miRNA binding sites and may serve as miRNA sponges to capture miRNAs from their target genes. CONCLUSIONS: LN stress altered the expression profiles of circRNAs in wheat. This is the first report of LN stress responsive circRNAs in plants. Our results provided new clues for investigating the functions of circRNAs in response to LN stress and in the regulation of LN-promoted wheat root growth.

Prevalence of malocclusion in deciduous teeth among preschool children in Kunming / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#To investigate the prevalence of malocclusion in primary dentition among preschool children in Kunming. To analysze the relationship between malocclusion and oral bad habits, genetic factors and the caries prevalence in preschool children. @*Methods@#According to economic conditions and distribution area of Kunming school, a total of 2 116 preschool children from nine kindergarten in Kunming city were surveyed. Oral examniation of 2 116 preschool children were conducted by trained dentists to investigate the prevalence of malocclusion and the prevalence of dental caries in Kunming. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the oral habits and genetic factors of the children in the study and to analyze the correlation between malocclusion and oral bad habits, genetic factors and caries rate of deciduous teeth.@*Results@# Among the 2 116 preschool children examined, 1 516 were malocclusion, the prevalence of malocclusion was 71.64%, and the rate of dental caries was 63.50%. Bad habits and genetic factors were the risk factors of malocclusion, and there was no statistical difference in the prevalence of malocclusion between the tested children and those with or without caries. @*Conclusion @#The prevalence of malocclusion in the preschool children in Kunming city is high. The dentist is required to do the work of preventing bad habits. Parents need to improve the awareness of oral health care, together to do the early diagnosis of malocclusion, early diagnosis, early treatment.