ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lignocellulose is considered a renewable organic material, but the industrial production of biofuel from lignocellulose is challenging because of the lack of highly active hydrolytic enzymes. The guts of herbivores contain many symbiotic microorganisms that have evolved to hydrolyze plant lignocellulose. Chinese bamboo rats mainly consume high-fiber foods, indicating that some members of the intestinal tract microbiota digest lignocellulose, providing these rats with the energy required for growth. RESULTS: Here, we used metagenomics to analyze the diversity and functions of the gut microbiota in Chinese bamboo rats. We identified abundant populations of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, whose main functions involved carbohydrate, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolism. We also found 587 carbohydrate-active enzyme genes belonging to different families, including 7 carbohydrate esterase families and 21 glycoside hydrolase families. The glycoside hydrolase 3, glycoside hydrolase 1, glycoside hydrolase 43, carbohydrate esterase 4, carbohydrate esterase 1, and carbohydrate esterase 3 families demonstrated outstanding performance. CONCLUSIONS: The microbes and enzymes identified in our study expand the existing arsenal of proficient degraders and enzymes for lignocellulosic biofuel production. This study also describes a powerful approach for targeting gut microbes and enzymes in numerous industries.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Cecum/enzymology , Enzymes/metabolism , Lignin/metabolism , Cecum/microbiology , Cellulose/metabolism , Bacteroidetes , Biofuels , Metagenomics , Firmicutes , Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeABSTRACT
Neonatal sepsis is an inflammatory system syndrome and a main cause of neonatal mortality. However, there is a lack of ideal biomarkers for early neonatal sepsis diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of miR-141 in sepsis in neonates, and explore the regulatory effects of miR-141 on inflammation in monocytes. This study used qRT-PCR to calculate the expression of miR-141 in the serum of septic neonates. The diagnostic values of procalcitonin (PCT) and serum miR-141 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The relationship between miR-141 and TLR4 was determined using luciferase reporter assay. An inflammation model was established using monocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. ELISA assay was used to analyze the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of miR-141 in neonatal sepsis was significantly lower than healthy controls. ROC curves showed that miR-141 had diagnostic accuracy. LPS stimulation in monocytes led to a decrease in the expression of miR-141. A luciferase reporter assay proved that miR-141 targeted TLR4, and a negative correlation of miR-141 with TLR4 was found in septic neonates. ELISA results demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-141 inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. In conclusion, serum decreased miR-141 expression served as a candidate diagnostic biomarker of neonatal sepsis. TLR4 is a target gene of miR-141, which may mediate the inhibitory effects of miR-141 overexpression on LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. Therefore, miR-141 is expected to be a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in neonatal sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Neonatal sepsis is an inflammatory system syndrome and a main cause of neonatal mortality. However, there is a lack of ideal biomarkers for early neonatal sepsis diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of miR-141 in sepsis in neonates, and explore the regulatory effects of miR-141 on inflammation in monocytes. This study used qRT-PCR to calculate the expression of miR-141 in the serum of septic neonates. The diagnostic values of procalcitonin (PCT) and serum miR-141 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The relationship between miR-141 and TLR4 was determined using luciferase reporter assay. An inflammation model was established using monocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. ELISA assay was used to analyze the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of miR-141 in neonatal sepsis was significantly lower than healthy controls. ROC curves showed that miR-141 had diagnostic accuracy. LPS stimulation in monocytes led to a decrease in the expression of miR-141. A luciferase reporter assay proved that miR-141 targeted TLR4, and a negative correlation of miR-141 with TLR4 was found in septic neonates. ELISA results demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-141 inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. In conclusion, serum decreased miR-141 expression served as a candidate diagnostic biomarker of neonatal sepsis. TLR4 is a target gene of miR-141, which may mediate the inhibitory effects of miR-141 overexpression on LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. Therefore, miR-141 is expected to be a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in neonatal sepsis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Sepsis , MicroRNAs , Neonatal Sepsis , Monocytes , Lipopolysaccharides , Toll-Like Receptor 4ABSTRACT
Objective @# To investigate the effect of mitochondrial fission protein 1 (FIS1) on apoptosis and cisplatin resistance in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells.@*Methods @#The squamous cell carcinoma cell lines SCC9 and CAL27 were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of FIS1 after cisplatin treatment, the knockdown and overexpression of FIS1 of SCC9 and CAL27 with or without cisplatin treatment were accomplished through small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmid, respectively. The mitochondrial division state in cells was detected by mitochondrial staining, and the apoptosis state of cells was detected by TUNEL, flow cytometry and Caspase 3/7.@*Results@#FIS1 protein expression in tongue squamous carcinoma cells treated with cisplatin was increased, but the mRNA level did not change. Silencing of FIS1 expression reduced mitochondrial division and apoptosis in squamous cell carcinoma cells treated with cisplatin, whereas overexpression of FIS1 exhibited the opposite effects. The percentage of dividing mitochondria, the number of apoptotic cells and the activity of Caspase 3/7 in SCC9 and CAL27 cells were significantly different before and after modulation of FIS1 expression (P < 0.05). @*Conclusion@#FIS1 is involved in the regulation of cisplatin chemotherapy sensitivity in tongue squamous cell carcinoma and can be used as a new target for improving the sensitivity of cisplatin chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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Objective @#To investigate the differential expression of mitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiRs) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and to screen out mitomiRs related to chemotherapy resistance. @* Methods @#Mitochondrial, cytoplasmic, and total cellular RNAs were extracted from the squamous cell carcinoma cell line CAL-27 and the cisplatin-resistant cell line CAL-27-re. High-throughput miRNA microarrays were used to screen for differentially expressed mitomiRs between the drug-resistant and parental cells. The upregulated mitomiRs in the CAL-27 and CAL-27-re cells and in samples from chemoresistant and chemosensitive tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients were verified by qRT-PCR.@*Results@#The microarray detected 263 miRNAs in 6 components of the mitochondrial, cytoplasmic and total cellular RNAs from the CAL-27 and CAL-27-re cells, including 57 mitomiRs and 134 cytoplasmic microRNAs (cytomiRs). Compared with the total miRNAs, 35 mitomiRs were upregulated in the CAL-27-re cells, and 31 mitomiRs were upregulated in the CAL-27 cells (≥ 1.5-fold). Further comparative analysis of mitomiRs that were differentially expressed between the parental and drug-resistant cells identified 11 upregulated mitomiRs (miR-2392, miR-4462, miR-1290, miR-4449, miR-1268a, miR-1246, and miR-371a-5p, miR-3934-5p, miR-4271, miR-513p, and miR-664b-3p) and 5 downregulated mitomiRs (miR-188-5p, miR-1973, miR -3653, miR-4499, and miR-5787); the expression levels of the other 41 mitomiRs were almost identical in both cell lines. The qRT-PCR results were consistent with the miRNA microarray results. The 11 upregulated mitomiRs that were validated between the CAL-27 and CAL-27-re cells included miR-1268a, miR-2392, miR-4462, and miR-1290. Additionally, 5 mitomiRs, including miR-4449, were upregulated in the clinical chemotherapy-resistant tongue squamous cell carcinoma samples.@* Conclusion@#Differentially expressed mitomiRs were found between cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells. mitomiRs with high expression levels (miR-2392, miR-4462, miR-1290, miR-4449 and miR-1268a) may play important roles in the drug resistance of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
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Objective @#To analyze the value of virtual surgical planning in the surgical treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and to provide a reference for clinical practice.@*.Methods @#From September 2017 to June 2018, 13 patients with mandibular osteoradionecrosis were evaluated preoperatively using the 3D virtual surgery software CMF Proplan 2.0. The surgical guide was designed and 3D printed. Bone resection, fibula shaping and bone graft localization were completed during the operation. In some cases, implants were implanted at the same time, and denture restoration was completed 3 to 6 months after surgery. Patients’ general information, perioperative data, and efficacy evaluation were analyzed.@*Results@#All patients underwent surgery successfully. The survival rate of the free fibula musculocutaneous flap was 100% (13/13), and one patient had complications (partial necrosis at the edge of the flap). The follow-up period was 7 to 15 months, and the median time was 10 months. All patients achieved a healing effect. The number of cases with an increase in mouth opening ≥ 1 cm, 0.5 cm ≤ mouth opening increase < 1 cm, and mouth opening increase < 0.5 cm were 5, 6, and 2, respectively. An imaging examination showed that 12 patients had good bone healing, and 1 patient did not completely heal 7 months after operation. The denture restoration was 92.3% (12/13), of which 3 cases were implanted and repaired at the same time. The average chewing efficiency was 56.11% ± 7.12% (42.03%-67.83%).@*Conclusion@#Virtual surgical planning is an effective method for the surgical treatment of mandibular osteoradionecrosis, which can reduce the risk of surgery and more effectively perform mandibular shape and function repair.
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Abstract Background: Photodynamic therapy with topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA-PDT) has been suggested to be effective in treatment of acne vulgaris. However, adverse events occur during and after treatment. Objectives: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of optical intra-tissue fiber irradiation (OFI) ALA-PDT versus traditional ALA-PDT in treatment of acne vulgaris in rabbit models. Methods: Twenty-five rabbits of clean grade were used. Twenty rabbits were randomly selected to establish acne model and the other five were used as control. Rabbits in model group (40 ears) were further divided into four groups (10 ears/group): I, OFI-ALA-PDT with the head of optical fiber inserted into the target lesion (intra-tissue); II, traditional ALA-PDT group; III, OFI group; IV, blank control group without any treatment. Uncomfortable symptoms, adverse events, and effectiveness rates were recorded on post-treatment day 14, 30, and 45. Results: On post-treatment day 14, the effectiveness rate in OFI-ALA-PDT group was obviously higher than that of the other three groups (P<0.05). However, no improved effects were observed in OFI-ALA-PDT group on day 30 and 45. During the period of treatment, the frequencies of uncomfortable symptoms in ALA-PDT group were obviously higher than those in the other three groups (P<0.05). The adverse event rate in OFI-ALA-PDT group was obviously lower than that of the ALA-PDT group (P<0.05) Study limitations: The unblindness of the study and temporary animal models of acne induced may hamper the assessment and monitoring of the results, and future studies are still needed to clarify it further. Conclusion: The OFI-ALA-PDT group (intra-tissue irradiation) showed no improved efficacy on treating rabbit ear acne but had higher safety and better tolerability.