ABSTRACT
Amorphallus konjac corms are important agriculture products in Yichang, Hubei Province, China. The Erwinia carotovora infected Amorphallus konjac corms are processed to food as normal corms. The contents of elements and L: -Proline in the normal and infected Amorphallus konjac corms are analyzed for food safety. Even growing in the almost same soil condition, the contents of Pb, Cd, Mn and L: -Proline in infected corms are significantly higher than those of normal corms (show data as suggestion by peers). Our study suggested that the infected corms are not suitable for food purpose.
Subject(s)
Amorphophallus/growth & development , Lead/analysis , Pectobacterium carotovorum/isolation & purification , Plant Diseases/microbiology , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Amorphophallus/chemistry , Amorphophallus/microbiology , China , Crops, Agricultural/chemistry , Crops, Agricultural/microbiology , Crops, Agricultural/standards , Environmental Monitoring , Food Analysis , Proline/metabolism , Seeds/chemistry , Seeds/growth & development , Soil/analysis , Soil/standardsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in chloracne. METHODS: Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and p-MAPK proteins in the epithelium of chloracne group and control group. RESULTS: p-EGFR and p-MAPK was found in all chloracne tissues, whereas no expression of p-EGFR and p-MAPK protein was found in control group. In the skin of chloracne patients, p-EGFR was mainly distributed in the membrane and the cytoplasm, especially in the vicinity of membrane; major positive signal of p-MAPK was in core and serosity. CONCLUSION: EGFR and MAPK phosphorylation is found in chloracne tissues. MAPK signal transduction pathway is one important molecular mechanism of chloracne.
Subject(s)
Chloracne/metabolism , MAP Kinase Signaling System/physiology , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Occupational Diseases/metabolism , Adult , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phosphorylation/physiologyABSTRACT
Occupational exposure to certain polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as dioxins has been suggested to cause chloracne which is a kind of skin disease. The molecular mechanisms of dioxin-mediated chloracne have not been clarified. It is possible that dioxins contribute to the pathogenesis through activation of aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated transcription and downstream genes such as CYP1A1, GSTA1 and TGF-alpha. The study on genes was through chloracne lesional skin, which has rarely been reported on previously. The expression levels of key genes, such as AhR, CYP1A1, GSTA1, c-fos and TGF-alpha in human epidermal tissue of chloracne cases and controls were detected by real-time PCR. Compared with controls, AhR, CYP1A1, GSTA1 and c-fos transactivations were significantly induced in the skins of chloracne patients who had long-term exposure to dioxins and dibenzofuranes. The TGF-alpha mRNA content of epidermal tissue was increased, but not significantly compared with controls. The study demonstrates that constitutive activation of the AhR pathway is probably a prerequisite of chloracne pathogenesis. The changes of genes expression may disturb normal proliferation and differentiation of human epidermis cells, and then lead to chloracne.
