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Objective To explore whether pravastatin (Pra) inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway by regulating Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) protein through the comparison of gene and protein expression changes of Rheb in liver and placenta in preeclampsia (PE)-like mouse model treated with Pra. Methods C57BL/6J pregnant mice were randomly divided into two groups. The PE group was established by injecting N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) daily at gestational 7-18 days, saline was injected as contol group (Con);then giving mice Pra (PE+Pra, Con+Pra group, n=8) or normal saline (PE+N, Con+N group, n=8) every day from the 8th gestational day of pregnancy. The maternal liver and placenta tissues were collected on the 18th day of pregnancy. Western blot, real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to compare the levels of Rheb protein and mRNA expression in the liver and placenta. Results (1)The results of western blot:there were no significant differences in Rheb protein expression between PE+N group (liver:0.706±0.123;placenta:0.866±0.128) and Con+N group (liver:0.732 ± 0.123; placenta: 0.909 ± 0.097), and the differences between PE+Pra group (liver: 0.669 ± 0.134;placenta:0.940 ± 0.221) and PE+N group were not significant either in liver or in placenta (all P>0.05). (2) The results of real-time quantitative PCR:when PE+N group (liver:1.026 ± 0.480;placenta:1.102 ± 0.361) compared with Con+N group (liver:1.058±0.389;placenta:1.067±0.400), PE+Pra group (liver:0.735±0.356;placenta:0.822±0.304) compared with PE+N group, there were no significant differences either in liver or in placenta (all P>0.05). (3) The results of immunohistochemistry: Rheb protein expression did not change significantly in maternal liver and placenta, there were no significant differences in protein expression levels between PE+N group and Con+N group, and between PE+Pra group and PE+N group (all P>0.05). Conclusion The inhibition of Pra on mTOR signaling pathway in some PE-like model may be independent of the expression of Rheb gene and protein.
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Objective To investigate the modulation of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD)expression by pravastatin in pre-eclampsia-like mouse model. Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly injected with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) as pre-eclampsia-like model group (PE) or saline as normal pregnancy control group(Con)respectively,from gestational the 7th to 18th day.For each group,pravastatin(PE+Pra,Con+Pra group)or saline(PE+N,Con+N Group)was given from the 8th to 18th day of gestation,respectively.Liver and placenta of pregnant mice were collected on gestational day 18.The LCHAD protein expression and mRNA levels of liver and placenta were detected through western blot, immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. Results (1) The average arterial pressure of pregnant mice increased gradually from the 8th to 18th day in PE+N group,but decreased in PE+Pra group from gestational 10th day, 24 hour urinary protein levels in PE+N group [(1 494 ± 201) μg] were significantly higher than that in Con+N group[(935±128)μg,P<0.01],and also higher than that in PE+Pra group [(981 ± 116) μg, P<0.01].(2) The results of western blot: the expression of LCHAD was significantly lower in PE+N group(liver:0.64±0.11,placenta:0.48±0.06)than that in Con+N group(liver:1.06±0.10, placenta:0.60±0.10),and lower than that in PE+Pra group(liver: 0.99±0.04,placenta:0.60±0.08;all P<0.01).(3)The results of real-time quantitative PCR:the levels of LCHAD mRNA in liver and placenta in PE+N group (liver: 0.621 ± 0.128, placenta: 0.646 ± 0.129) were significantly decreased compared with Con+N group (liver: 1.007 ± 0.130, placenta: 1.004 ± 0.103; all P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between PE+Pra group (liver: 0.693 ± 0.678, placenta: 0.662 ± 0.183;P>0.05). (4) LCHAD protein was expressed widely and evenly in liver.The expression in placental cytotrophoblast and syncytial trophoblast cells located in outer layer of villous in labyrinth layer was the most. The expression of LCHAD was significantly lower in PE+N group(liver: 0.062±0.016,placenta:0.147±0.018)than that in Con+N group (liver: 0.126 ± 0.013, placenta: 0.183 ± 0.024), and lower than that in PE+Pra group (liver: 0.111 ± 0.017, placenta: 0.174 ± 0.027; all P<0.05). Conclusion Pravastatin could upregulate the LCHAD protein expression of liver and placenta in the pre-eclampsia-like mouse,which may be a mechanism to improve the clinical manifestations of pre-eclampsia.
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Objective To compare the perinatal outcomes between singleton and twin pregnancies and the influencing factors in young cases(age < 35)after in vitro fertilization/egg cell sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET). Methods A retrospective study was performed to analysis the perinatal outcomes of the young cases after IVF/ICSI-ET from January 2015 to July 2016.Results The total abortion rate,early abortion rate and the average body weight of the twin group were significantly lower than the singleton group(P < 0.05),the mid-term abortion rate,the preterm delivery rate,cesarean section rate and the low birth weight rate were opposite (P<0.05),while the total pregnancy loss rate and the rate of birth defects were not significantly different between the groups(P>0.05).The frozen-thawed embryo transfer,blastocyst transfer and double-embryo transfer were the risk factors of twin pregnancy. Conclusions Twin pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Selective single blastocyst transfer during frozen-thawed cycle is an effective measure for young cases,in which it can keep a balance between high clinical pregnancy rate and reducing twin pregnancy rate.
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Objective To study the clinical characteristics,muscle pathological features,diagnosis and prognosis of TK2-related mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome(MDS).Methods Clinical and laboratory data of 2 cases of TK2-related myopathic MDS were reported.And data of previously reported 58 TK2-related MDS cases were reviewed.Results Total 60 patients consisted of 35 male and 25 female.The age of onset ranged from the birth to the age of 74 years old,and 54 of the patients were attacked at the age younger than 3 years old.Muscle weakness and hypotonia were detected in all patients,with 40 patients(including the newly diagnosed 2 cases) manifested as pure myopathic form,and 20 patients with other multiple organs involvement.Serum creatine kinase was mildly increased (211-6 500 IU/L) in 53 patients.Elevated serum lactic acid level (2.3-12.0 mmol/L)was observed in 24 patients.Muscle biopsy was available from 55 patients,and ragged red fibers and/or cytochrome C oxidase (COX)-negative fibers were detected in 48 out of them.Nine out of 11 patients received electronic microscope study showed proliferation of abnormal mitochondria.Respiratory chain enzymatic activities in skeletal muscle were reduced in 31 out of 33 patients.Marked mtDNA content reduction was observed in 36 out of 41 patients (4％-25％ of age-and tissue-matched controls).A total of 42 TK2 mutations were found in 60 patients,including 2 novel mutations c.923A ＞ G and c.619-2A ＞ T in this study.Conclusions The most common clinical manifestations of TK2-related MDS are severely,rapidly progressing myopathy with infantile or early childhood onset.As the detection rate of characteristic pathologic features in muscle is high,muscle biopsy is important for the diagnosis of TK2-related MDS.
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Objective By detecting the variation of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) DNA methylation in preeclampsia-like mouse models generated by different ways, to explore the roles of multifactor and multiple pathways in preeclampsia pathogenesis on molecular basis. Methods Established preeclampsia-like mouse models in different ways and divided into groups as follows: (1) Nw-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) group: wild-type pregnant mouse received subcutaneous injection of L-NAME;(2) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group:wild-type pregnant mouse received intraperitoneal injection of LPS; (3) apolipoprotein C-Ⅲ (ApoC3) group: ApoC3 transgenic pregnant mouse with dysregulated lipid metabolism received subcutaneous injection of L-NAME;(4)β2 glycoprotein I (β-2GPI) group:wild-type pregnant mouse received subcutaneous injection ofβ-2GPI. According to the first injection time (on day 3, 11, 16 respectively), the L-NAME, LPS and ApoC3 groups were further subdivided into:pre-implantation (PI) experimental stage, early gestation (EG) experimental stage, and late gestation (LG) experimental stage.β-2GPI group was only injected before implantation. LCHAD gene methylation levels in placental were detected in different experimental stage. Normal saline control groups were set within wild-type and ApoC3 transgenic pregnant mice simultaneously. Results (1) CG sites in LCHAD DNA:45 CG sites were detected in the range of 728 bp before LCHAD gene transcription start site, the 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 43 CG sites were complex sites which contained two or more CG sequences, others were single site which contained one CG sequence. The 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 18, 28 sites in L-NAME, LPS, ApoC3 and β-2GPI groups showed different high levels of methylation; the 16, 25, 31, 42, 44 sites showed different low levels of methylation; other 32 sites were unmethylated. (2) Comparison of LCHAD gene methylation between different groups:the methylation levels of LCAHD gene at 3, 11, 13, 14, 18 sites in L-NAME, LPS, ApoC3 andβ-2GPI groups were significantly higher than those in the normal saline control group (P<0.05); and the methylation levels of 42, 44 sites in these groups were significantly lower than those in the normal saline control group (P<0.05). (3) Methylation of LCHAD gene at the same site between different experimental stages: ① The 3, 11, 18 sites of EG experimental stage was significantly lower than PI and LG experimental stage in L-NAME group (P<0.05);the 3, 11, 18 sites of PI experimental stage was significantly lower than EG and LG experimental stage in LPS group (P<0.05);these sites of PI experimental stage was significantly higher than EG and LG experimental stages in ApoC3 group (P<0.05).②The methylation of site 5 in L-NAME and LPS groups were significantly higher than that of the normal saline control group (P<0.05), and the LG experimental stages were significantly higher than other stages, but in ApoC3 group , only PI and EG stages were significantly higher than the normal saline control group (P<0.05).③At site 6 in L-NAME group which showed high methylation level was significantly higher than the same site in other groups which showed low methylation level (P<0.05).④At 13, 14 sites, earlier preeclampsia onset caused a lower methylation level in L-NAME group, but PI experimental stage was significantly higher than EG and LG experimental stages in LPS group (P<0.05), EG experimental stage was significantly higher than PI and LG experimental stages in ApoC3 group (P<0.05). ⑤ At site 28, earlier preeclampsia onset caused a higher methylation level in L-NAME group, but PI experimental stage was significantly lower than EG and LG experimental stages in LPS group (P<0.05), EG experimental stage was significantly higher than PI and LG experimental stages in ApoC3 group (P<0.05).⑥The 16, 25, 31 sites in ApoC3 group were significantly higher than other groups (P<0.05). ⑦ At site 42 in β-2GPI group was unmethylated, but it in other groups showed low methylation level, the methylation level of site 42 inβ-2GPI group was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05). Conclusions The methylation of 6 and 42 CG sites may be related to LCHAD gene expression in placenta of L-NAME and β-2GPI induced preeclampsia-like models respectively;LCHAD gene expression and DNA methylation may not have obviouscorrelation in LPS and ApoC3 induced preeclampsia-like models. Differences exist in LCHAD DNA methylation in preeclampsia-like models generated by different ways, revealed a molecular basis to expand our understanding of the multi-factorial pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a rapid determination method of pinoresinol diglucoside in Eucommiae unloads by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Forty-one samples of E. unloads were collected from three different producing areas and their main component, namely pinoresinol diglucoside, was determined by HPLC. Corresponding data of samples were collected from 12 000 to 4 000 cm(-1) by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. The spectral pretreatment was optimized by OPUS software and the calibration equations between the content of pinoresinol diglucoside and spectrum data were constructed by partial least squares regression.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Available information could be extracted from spectra in the range from 7 502 to 4 597.6 cm(-1) after corrected by applying second derivative transformation and subtract a linear correction. Cross validation was used to prevent over-fitting. Good correlation existed between pinoresinol diglucoside content and NIR spectra ( R2 = 0.926 4, SEC = 0.029 and SEP = 0.066 2).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NIRS calibration equations developed in this study could be applied to the rapid analysis of the pinoresinol diglucoside content.</p>