Role of the novel hydatidiform mole-related gene F10 in the tumorigenicity of choriocarcinoma cell line JAR / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the role of the novel hydatidiform mole-related gene F10 in the tumorigenicity of choriocarcinoma cell line JAR in nude mice. Methods By cell transfection and RNA interference, stable F10 gene over-expression and F10 gene-silenced JAR choriocarcinoma cell line were engendered. Thirty SPF nude mice (aged 4-5 weeks) were randomly assigned into 3 groups (10 each): F10 overexpression group (inoculated with F10 gene-overexpressed JAR cells), control group (inoculated with non-treated JAR cells) and F10 gene-silenced group (inoculated with F10 gene-silenced JAR cells). JAR cell suspension (0.2ml with 5 x 107 cells in each mouse) were injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the back of mice neck. After injection, the conditions of the mice were observed, and they were weighed once every 3-4 days. The tumor formation time was recorded, the tumor growth curve was plotted, and tumor formation rate was calculated. The mice were sacrificed, and the subcutaneous tumor mass was weighed 5 weeks after the JAR cell injection. Results The rate of tumor formation was 100% (10/10). There was no significant difference in tumor formation time (F=0.097, P=0.908) among the groups of F10 overexpression (4.4 ± 1.1d), F10 silenced (4.4 ± 1.1d), and control (4.6 ± 1.3d). The growth rate of subcutaneous tumor in F10 overexpression group was significantly higher compared with groups of control and F10 silenced (P<0.05), and significant difference in tumor growth rate was found between control group and F10 silenced-expression group (P<0.05). The weight of tumor tissue was significantly different (F=14.462, P=0.000) among the groups of F10 overexpression (607.49 ± 216.19mg), F10 silenced (270.73 ± 81.53mg) and control (423.87 ± 74.75mg). Conclusion F10 gene is involved in the proliferation of JAR choriocarcinoma cell line, and it might enhance the tumorigenicity of JAR cell line in nude mice.

Dynamic analysis of Ca2+ level during bovine oocytes maturation and early embryonic development

Mammalian oocyte maturation and early embryo development processes are Ca(2+)-dependent. In this study, we used confocal microscopy to investigate the distribution pattern of Ca2+ and its dynamic changes in the processes of bovine oocytes maturation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryo development. During the germinal vesicle (GV) and GV breakdown stage, Ca2+ was distributed in the cortical ooplasm and throughout the oocytes from the MI to MII stage. In IVF embryos, Ca2+ was distributed in the cortical ooplasm before the formation of the pronucleus. In 4-8 cell embryos and morulas, Ca2+ was present throughout the blastomere. In PA embryos, Ca2+ was distributed throughout the blastomere at 48 h, similar to in the 4-cell and 8-cell phase and the morula. At 6 h after activation, there was almost no distribution of Ca2+ in the SCNT embryos. However, Ca2+ was distributed in the donor nucleus at 10 h and it was distributed throughout the blastomere in the 2-8 cell embryos. In this study, Ca2+ showed significant fluctuations with regularity of IVF and SCNT groups, but PA did not. Systematic investigation of the Ca2+ location and distribution changes during oocyte maturation and early embryo development processes should facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in oocyte maturation, reconstructed embryo activation and development, ultimately improving the reconstructed embryo development rate.

Review of the Ecological Risks of Genetically Modified Trees / 中国生物工程杂志

Delightful achievements have been obtained in forestry genetic breeding since the application of transgenic technology in this field during the past 20 years. Field trials of some genetic modified (GM) trees have been carried out, and some GM trees have been commercialized. Meanwhile, the risks of ecological safety caused by GM trees have raised attention in the public gradually. These issues mainly include the horizontal transfer and vertical flow of foreign genes, and the potential effects on insects, soil ecosystems and virus. The current status of field trials, commercial applications and the potential ecological risks of GM trees were summarized. Then the prospects of GM trees were also presented.

The role of angiotension II receptor and calpain in myocardium remodeling / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the relation among myocardial angiotension II receptor (AT1/AT2) expression, calpain and cardiac function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Message RNA (mRNA) expression of AT1/AT2 receptor in myocardial tissue of 39 patients with CHF due to valvular heart disease and 8 control subjects were analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunoprecipitation was used to assay the protein expression of u-calpain and m-calpain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pathological changes of myocardial tissue in CHF due to valvular heart disease showed typical myocardial remodeling. AT1 receptor mRNA expression was slightly increased in the patients with mild CHF than in the control subjects, but decreased in the moderate and severe CHF patients. No difference was observed in AT2 receptor mRNA expression among all the groups, but the ratio of AT1/AT2 decreased. The protein expression of u-calpain and m-calpain were positively correlated to the levels of cardiac function in patient with CHD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of AT1 receptor is down-regulated in moderate and severe CHF, the dominant receptor subtype is transformed to AT2. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis or death may be induced via AT2 receptor to activate calpain system, leading the deterioration of cardiac function.</p>