Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene and Sex-Differential Associations with Lipid Profiles in Chinese Han Adults / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vitamin D receptor gene ( VDR) with circulating lipids considering gender differences.@*METHODS@#Of the Han Chinese adults recruited from a health examination center for inclusion in the study, the circulating lipids, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and other parameters were measured. The VDR SNPs of Cdx2 (rs11568820), Fok1 (rs2228570), Apa1 (rs7975232), and Taq1 (rs731236) were genotyped with a qPCR test using blood DNA samples, and their associations with lipids were analyzed using logistic regression.@*RESULTS@#In the female participants ( n = 236 with dyslipidemia and 888 without dyslipidemia), multiple genotype models of Fok1 indicated a positive correlation of B (not A) alleles with LDLC level ( P < 0.05). In the male participants ( n = 299 with dyslipidemia and 564 without dyslipidemia), the recessive model of Cdx2 and the additive and recessive models of Fok1 differed ( P < 0.05) between the HDLC-classified subgroups, respectively, and Fok1 BB and Cdx2 TT presented interactions with 25OHD in the negative associations with HDLC ( P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#In the Chinese Han adults included in the study, the Fok1 B-allele of VDR was associated with higher LDLC in females, and the Fok1 B-allele and the Cdx2 T-allele of VDR were associated with lower HDLC in males. The interaction of VD and Fok1 BB or Cdx2 TT in males synergistically decreased HDLC levels.

Interaction of olfaction and feeding behavior and its neural mechanism / 生理学报

Olfaction and food intake are interrelated and regulated. In the process of feeding, the metabolic signals in the body and the feeding signals produced by food stimulation are first sensed by the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and the nucleus tractus solitarius of brain stem, and then these neurons project to the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. The paraventricular nucleus transmits the signals to other brain regions related to feeding and regulates feeding behavior. In this process, olfactory signals can be transmitted to hypothalamus through olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex to regulate feeding behavior. At the same time, gastrointestinal hormones (ghrelin, insulin, leptin, etc.) and some neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, endocannabinoid, etc.) produced in the process of feeding act on the olfactory system to regulate olfactory function, which in turn affects the feeding itself. This review summaries the research progress of the interaction between olfaction and food intake and its internal mechanism from the aspects of neuronal and hormonal regulation.

The effect of AHR small interference on hepatoma HCCLM3 cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effect of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) RNA interference on hepatoma HCCLM3 cell proliferation and migration and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods: After HCCLM3 cells transfection with specific AHR-small interference RNA (siRNA), the expression level of AHR mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative-PCR, and the expression levels of AHR, stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and c-Jun phosphorylation were detected by Western blotting. Then the proliferation and migration of HCCLM3 cells after transfection with AHR-siRNA were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assay, respectively. Synthesize AHR gene-specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) to construct recombinant virus vector pMKO.1/puro-shAHR which stable knockdown AHR, and the recombinant vector was infected into HCCLM3 cells and then implanted into nude mice to construct subcutaneous tumor model. The growth of xenografted tumor in nude mice was examined. The expression levels of AHR protein in HCCLM3 cells and xenografted tumor tissues after infection with pMKO.1/puro-shAHR were detected by Western blotting. Results: The expression levels of AHR mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in HCCLM3 cells transfected with AHR-siRNA (P < 0.01), and the proliferation and migration of HCCLM3 cells were inhibited (P < 0.01). The expression levels of SAPK/JNK, ERK 1/2 and c-Jun phosphorylation were depressed (P < 0.01). The volume and weight of HCCLM3 cells xenografted tumor in nude mice after infection with pMKO.1/puro-shAHR were lower than those of the control group (HCCLM3 cells were infected with pMKO.1/puro-shNC) (P < 0.01). The expression levels of AHR protein in HCCLM3 cells and xenografted tissues after infection with pMKO.1/puro-shAHR were decreased (P < 0.01). Conclusion: AHR may promote HCCLM3 cell proliferation and migration in vitro by up-regulating the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK and c-Jun. Copyright © 2014 by TUMOR.