Research progress on the immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of trace amine-associated receptor 1 / 生理学报

Trace amines are endogenous molecules distributed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues that resemble common biogenic amines in terms of subcellular localization, chemical structure, and metabolism. Trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) is a kind of evolutionarily conserved G-protein-coupled receptors in vertebrates, in which TAAR1 is a functional regulator of monoamine transmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. TAAR1 is widely considered as a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia, depression and drug addiction. Moreover, TAAR1 is also expressed in peripheral tissues. The homeostasis imbalance of trace aminergic system can induce over-activation of peripheral immune system and central immune inflammatory response. TAAR1 modulators are becoming potential emerging drugs for the treatment of immune-related illnesses, because they may play a major role in the activation or modulation of immune response.

Scopolamine and hyoscyamine synthesis in hair roots culture of Datura metel / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the hair roots culture system of Datura metel and study the hair roots growth and biosynthesis of scopolamine and hyoscyamine in hair roots culturing system.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Direct degermed cotyledon of wild D. metel was infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 to obtain hair roots. Growth curves and scopolamine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis curves were determined. The scopolamine and hyoscyamine from different hair roots lines were examined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Hair roots induction rate reached 70%. After 25 days cultured in 1/2 MS liquid nutrient medium, the hair roots weight, content of scopolamine and hyoscyamine reached maximum, tow high efficient accumulation hyoscyamine and scopolamine hair roots lines M1 and M2 were obtained. The medial accumulation coefficient of hyoscyamine and scopolamine were 2.53 times and 5.37 times compared with the leaves of wild D. metel respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established hair roots induction and culture system of D. metel provided a foundation for further obtaining scopolamine and hyoscyamine.</p>

Role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and oncogenesis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This article aims to review recent studies on the biological characteristics of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), transcription regulation by lncRNAs, and the results of recent studies on the mechanism of action of lncRNAs in tumor development.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>The data cited in this review were mainly obtained from the articles listed in PubMed and HighWire that were published from January 2002 to June 2010. The search terms were "long non-coding RNA", "gene regulation", and "tumor".</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>The mechanism of lncRNAs in gene expression regulation, and tumors concerned with lncRNAs and the role of lncRNAs in oncogenesis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>lncRNAs play an important role in transcription regulation by controlling chromatin remodeling, transcriptional control, and post-transcriptional controlling. lncRNAs are involved in many kinds of tumors and play key roles as both suppressing and promoting factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>lncRNAs could perfectly regulate the balance of gene expression system and play important roles in oncogenic cellular transformation.</p>

Study on the association between severe chronic hepatitis B and HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism and severe chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>26 patients with severe chronic hepatitis B were investigated for HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers technique. The results were compared with those from 45 normal healthy people by use of chi2-test of Microsoft SPSS 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of HLA-DRB1 * 1301/1302 allele in severe chronic hepatitis B group was significantly higher than the frequency in the control group, while the frequencies of HLA-DRB1 * 1201/1202, 1501/1502 allele were not significantly different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HLA-DRB1 * 1301,1302 is closely associated with the suseptibility to severe chronic hepatitis B, While HLA-DRB1 * 1201/1202, 1501/1502 have no association with severe chronic hepatitis B.</p>