Cloning and Expression of NADPH-cytochrome P450 Reductase Gene in Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir sinensis

Abstract NADPH-cytochromeP450 reductase (CPR) is one of the most important components of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. In this study, a gene encoding CPR (named EsCPR) was isolated from Eriocheir sinensis using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed a cDNA full-length of 3717 bp with an open reading frame of 2046 bp, a 5′-untranslated region of 42 bp, and a long 3′-untryganslated region of 1628bp, which encodes a protein of 681 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 30.7 kDa and an estimated pI of 4.82. The mature peptide shares amino acid of E. sinensis identity 82 % - 89 % to the CPR from Penaeus vannamei and Chionoecetes opilio. Tissues and developmental stage-dependent expression of EsCPR mRNA was investigated by real-time quantitative PCR. EsCPR mRNA was markedly expressed in the hepatopancreas and stomach. These results would provide valuable information for further study on the interactions between CPR and cytochrome P450 enzyme systems.

Association of Connexin Gene Polymorphism with Essential Hypertension in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang, China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Essential hypertension (EH) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors.The polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes is found associated with the development of hypertension.However,the association of the polymorphism of Cxs with EH has not been investigated.This study aimed to investigate the association of the polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes Cx37,Cx40,and Cx43 with EH in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang,China.Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to analyze the polymorphism of Cx genes in Kazak and Han EH patients as well as their normotensive controls.The results showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of different three genotypes (A/A,A/G,and G/G) and A and G alleles of Cx40 rs35594137 and rs11552588 between EH patients and normotensive controis.However,in Kazak EH patients,the frequencies of three genotypes (A/A,A/G;and G/G) of Cx37 rs1630310 were 24.8％,47.2％ and 28.0％,respectively,which were significantly different from those in Han EH patients.In Han EH patients,the frequencies of the three genotypes (C/C,C/G and G/G) of Cx43 rs1925223 were 6.4％,35.6％ and 58.0％,respectively.Frequencies of the other four genotypes had no statistical differences among Kazak and Hart EH patients and their normotensive controls.These results suggest polymorphisms of Cx37 rs 1630310 and Cx43 rs 1925223 genes may be associated with the pathogenesis of EH.Carrying Cx37 rs1630310-A or Cx43 rs1925223-G genotypes may protect against the development of EH.

Taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the taurine transporter/ERK signaling pathway

Taurine has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects of taurine on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of taurine on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The data showed that 1, 5, 10, or 20 mM taurine resulted in 16.7, 34.2, 66.9, or 63.75 percent reduction of MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by the serum deprivation (serum-free α-MEM), respectively. Taurine (1, 5, or 10 mM) also reduced cytochrome c release and inhibited activation of caspase-3 and -9, which were measured using fluorogenic substrates for caspase-3/caspase-9, in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, taurine (10 mM) induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 (10 μM) blocked the activation of ERK induced by taurine (10 mM) and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of taurine (10 mM) in MC3T3-E1 cells. The present results demonstrate for the first time that taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the TAUT/ERK signaling pathway.

Comparative Evaluation of Immune Responses after Laparoscopic and Open Surgery in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The laparoscopic approach is thought to reduce postoperative immunologic and metabolic effects after surgery compared to the open approach. This study was designed to compare the systemic immune and metabolic responses after laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Forty-four patients with colorectal cancer were prospectively assigned to undergo either a laparoscopic (n=22) or open (n=22) approach. The postoperative immune and metabolic responses were assessed by measuring the serum level of the relative proportion of lymphocytes, the T-cell count, the natural killer cell (NK-cell) count, the human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) expression on monocytes, the interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the C-reactive protein (CRP) at specific time intervals. RESULTS: Both approaches resulted in a significant decrease in lymphocyte count, T-cell count, NK-cell count, and HLA-DR expression on monocytes at 2, 24, and 72 hours postoperatively. However, the decrease in HLA-DR expression on monocytes was more significant in open surgery at 2 hour postoperatively (mean level, laparoscopic: 90.9% vs. open: 83.1%, P<0.001). Significant rises in IL-6 and CRP were demonstrated within 72 hour postoperatively in both groups. However, no significant difference between the two groups was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Although both laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with colorectal cancer evoked an alteration of the systemic inflammatory and immune response, our data showed that a HLA-DR expression on monocytes may be less compromised after laparoscopic approach for an immediate postoperative period. However, clearer evidence from large-scaled prospective randomized trials are needed.