ABSTRACT
<p><b>Background</b>Estrogen, as an important hormone in human physiological process, is closely related to bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of estrogen on osteoblasts metabolism in MC3T3-E1 cells.</p><p><b>Methods</b>We treated the MC3T3-E1 cells with different concentrations of β-estradiol (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 nmol/L), observed the morphological changes of the cells, and detected the cell's proliferation and apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells. Two transcriptome libraries were constructed and sequenced. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to confirm the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then treated the MC3T3-E1 cells with estrogen receptor (ER) inhibitors α and β, respectively, and then examined the expression of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes. The promoter of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a gene was analyzed, and the ER response elements were identified. Finally, ChIP was used to verify the binding of ER to Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a promoter.</p><p><b>Results</b>In the high-concentration β-estradiol treatment group (1 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L), there was no significant difference in the morphology of the cells under the microscope, 1 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L treated group appeared statistically significant difference in cell apoptosis and proliferation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). We found 460 DEGs compared with the control group. Among the DEGs, there were 66 upregulated genes and 394 downregulated genes. Gene ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that many bone metabolism-related biological processes and cell signaling pathways were disordered. The qRT-PCR verification showed that the expressions of Tgfbr1- and Bmpr1a-related genes in bone metabolism pathway in the 10 nmol/L treatment group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). ER β was involved in the inhibitory effect of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes. The bioinformatics of the promoter found that there were three ER response elements in the promoter of Tgfbr1, and there were two ER response elements in Bmpr1a promoter regions. ChIP experiments showed that estrogen could enhance the binding of ERs to Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Estrogen can promote the apoptosis and proliferation of osteoblasts simultaneously, and the mechanism may be the joint action of transforming growth factor-beta, Wnt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor-kappaB bone metabolism-related signaling pathway. Estrogen inhibits the expression of Tgfbr1 and Bmpr1a genes through ER β and affects the metabolism of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the application of Geographic Information System(GIS)electronic fence technique in Onco-melania hupensis snail monitoring. Methods The electronic fence was set around the history and existing snail environments in the electronic map,the information about snail monitoring and controlling was linked to the electronic fence,and the snail moni-toring information system was established on these bases. The monitoring information was input through the computer and smart phone. Results The electronic fence around the history and existing snail environments was set in the electronic map(Baidu map),and the snail monitoring information system and smart phone APP were established. The monitoring information was input and upload real-time,and the snail monitoring information was demonstrated in real time on Baidu map. Conclusion By using the electronic fence technology based on GIS,the unique"environment electronic archives"for each snail monitoring environ-ment can be established in the electronic map,and real-time,dynamic monitoring and visual management can be realized.
ABSTRACT
Objective To construct the Oncomelania hupensis snail monitoring system based on the Baidu Map. Methods The environmental basic information about historical snail environment and existing snail environment,etc. was collected with the monitoring data about different kinds of O. hupensis snails,and then the O. hupensis snail monitoring system was built. Geo-graphic Information System(GIS)and the electronic fence technology and Application Program Interface(API)were applied to set up the electronic fence of the snail surveillance environments,and the electronic fence was connected to the database of the snail surveillance. Results The O. hupensis snail monitoring system based on the Baidu Map were built up,including three modules of O. hupensis Snail Monitoring Environmental Database,Dynamic Monitoring Platform and Electronic Map. The infor-mation about monitoring O. hupensis snails could be obtained through the computer and smartphone simultaneously. Conclu-sion The O. hupensis snail monitoring system,which is based on Baidu Map,is a visible platform to follow the process of snail-searching and molluscaciding.
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid on the chloride channels and cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to detect the current, and cell imaging technique was applied to measure cell volume. The properties of the currents induced by ursolic acid were investigated by changing the extracellular osmotic pressure, replacing the extracellular anions and applying chloride channel blockers. The results showed that, under isotonic conditions, the background current was weak and stable. When perfusing the cells with ursolic acid (100 nmol/L), a large current (-59.86 pA/pF ± 4.86 pA/pF at -80 mV, 78.92 pA/pF ± 6.39 pA/pF at +80 mV) was induced. The chloride current showed outward rectification and negligible time- and voltage-dependent inactivation. The reversal potential (-4.83 mV ± 0.30 mV) of the current was close to the calculated equilibrium potential for Cl⁻ (-0.9 mV). The permeabilities of the channel to different anions were ranked in order as follows: Cl⁻ = I⁻ > Br⁻ > gluconate. Hypertonic solutions inhibited the current induced by ursolic acid. The chloride channel blockers, tamoxifen (20 μmol/L) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpro-pylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 μmol/L), suppressed the current. Furthermore, ursolic acid decreased the cell volume by (11.78 ± 1.20)% in 1 h, and the effect was inhibited by NPPB. These results suggest that ursolic acid can activate chloride channels, resulting in outflow of Cl⁻ and decrease of cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.