[Role of Th9, Th17, Treg Cells levels and IL-9, IL-17 and TGF-ß Expression in Peripheral Blood of Patients with ITP in Pathogenesis of ITP].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the levels of Treg, Th17, Th9 cells and expression of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in peripheral blood of patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of ITP. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with ITP (ITP group) and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) were selected in our hospital. The of Treg, Th17 and Th9 cells in peripheral blood of 2 groups were measured by flow cytometry, and the expression of cytokines, such as TGF-ß, IL-17 and IL-9 in the peripheral blood of 2 groups were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The level of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of the ITP group was significantly decreased in comparison with the control group, while the levels of Th17 and Th9 cells significantly increased in comparison with the control group (all P<0.01). The expression of cytokine such as TGF-ß in the peripheral blood of the case group significantly decreased in comparison with the control group, while the expression levels of IL-17 and IL-9 significantly increased in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the level of Treg cells and platelet count (PLT) in peripheral blood of the ITP group (r=0.35, P<0.05), and there were negative correlation between the level rate of Th17, Th9 cells and Plt count (r=-0.37, -0.43, P<0.05); there was a positive correlation between the expression of the TGF-ß in the ITP group and Plt count (r=0.46, P<0.05), while the expression of IL-17 and IL-9 showed negative correlation with PLT (r=-0.48, -0.54, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The percentage of Treg, Th17 and Th9 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with ITP is abnormal, and the expression of TGF-ß, IL-17 and IL-9 also is abnormal, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.

The F1Fo-ATP Synthase ß Subunit Is Required for Candida albicans Pathogenicity Due to Its Role in Carbon Flexibility.

Previous work has explored link between mitochondrial biology and fungal pathogenicity in F1Fo-ATP synthase in Candida albicans. In this work we have detailed the more specific roles of the F1Fo-ATP synthase ß subunit, a key protein subunit of F1Fo-ATP synthase. The ability to assimilate alternative carbons in glucose-limited host niches is known to be a critical factor for infection caused by opportunistic pathogens including C. albicans. The function of the F1Fo-ATP synthase ß subunit was characterized through the construction of an ATP2 gene null mutant (atp2Δ/Δ) and the gene-reconstituted strain (atp2Δ/ATP2) in order to understand the link between carbon metabolism and C. albicans pathogenesis. Cell growth, viability, cellular ATP content, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and intracellular ROS were compared between null mutant and control strain. Results showed that growth of the atp2Δ/Δ mutant in synthetic medium was slower than in complex medium. However, the synthetic medium delayed the onset of reduced cell viability and kept cellular ATP content from becoming fully depleted. Consistent with these observations, we identified transcriptional changes in metabolic response that activated other ATP-generating pathways, thereby improving cell viability during the initial phase. Unlike glucose effects, the atp2Δ/Δ mutant exhibited an immediate and sharp reduction in cell viability on non-fermentable carbon sources, consistent with an immediate depletion of cellular ATP content. Along with a reduced viability in non-fermentable carbon sources, the atp2Δ/Δ mutant displayed avirulence in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis as well as lower fungal loads in mouse organs. Regardless of the medium, however, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was found in the atp2Δ/Δ mutant but ROS levels remained in the normal range. These results suggest that the F1Fo-ATP synthase ß subunit is required for C. albicans pathogenicity and operates by affecting metabolic flexibility in carbon consumption.

Mitochondrial Complex V α Subunit Is Critical for Candida albicans Pathogenicity through Modulating Multiple Virulence Properties.

The α subunit (ATP1) is a vital component of mitochondrial complex V which counts for the majority of cellular ATP production in a living organism. Nevertheless, how the α subunit influences other cellular processes such as pathogenicity in Candida albicans remains poorly understood. To address this question, ATP1 mutant (atp1Δ/Δ) and the gene-reconstituted strain (atp1Δ/ATP1) have been constructed in this study and their pathogenicity-related traits are compared to those of wild type (WT). In a murine model of disseminated candidiasis, atp1Δ/Δ infected mice have a significantly higher survival rate and experience a lower fungal burden in tissues. In in vitro studies atp1Δ/Δ lose a capability to damage or destroy macrophages and endothelial cells. Furthermore, atp1Δ/Δ is not able to grow under either glucose-denial conditions or high H2O2 conditions, both of which are associated with the potency of the macrophages to kill C. albicans. Defects in filamentation and biofilm formation may impair the ability of atp1Δ/Δ to penetrate host cells and establish robust colonies in the host tissues. In concert with these pathogenic features, intracellular ATP levels of atp1Δ/Δ can drop to 1/3 of WT level. These results indicate that the α subunit of Complex V play important roles in C. albicans pathogenicity.

[Effects of Different Shading Treatment and Planting Patterns on Several Main Characters and Yield of Elephantopus scaber].

OBJECTIVE: To study the growth and yield of Elephantopus scaber under different light conditions. METHODS: Several main characters and yield performances were studied under six shading treatment as well as two planting patterns. RESULTS: The plant height, leaf number, root length and root-shoot ratio were increased under moderate shading. With the increase of shading ratio, the process of Elephantopus scaber vegetative growth to reproductive growth were shortened, seed yield, dry biomass and root yield decreased as well. Among different shading treatments, dry seed-yield showed 8. 46 ~31. 10 kg/667 m2 dry biomass showed 327. 28 ~ 800. 95 kg/ 667 m2 and dry root yield showed 30. 65 ~ 70. 72 kg/667 m2. CONCLUSION: Elephantopus scaber is a light-demanding but shade-tolerant plant. The patterns of hole seeding were suggested in planting, and not more than 60% shade density may be good under plantations.

[Integrating technologies for urban communities' municipal solid waste minimization].

Municipal solid waste management of urban communities has difficulties of insufficient source separation and food waste's high moisture content, an integrating technology of manual separation, simple compression of food waste, reclaim of food waste and composting leachate was studied. Manual separating rate was 36.8 kg/h, and would increase when the worker became sophisticated. Community separated food waste had high organic matter content of 44.493%, nutrients N, P, K contents of 2.586%, 0.649% and 1.274%, C/N ratio of 17.427, but 0.07-0.82 times lower heavy metals contents compared to centralized separation of mixed municipal solid waste. Moisture content of food waste was still 78.7%, high enough to have negative impacts of composting processes. Composting leachate processing with biological stabilization and dilution showed a fertilizer efficiency, and dry weight of impatiens irrigated with composting leachate was 1.46-2.49 times of tap water irrigation. Integrating technology based on community's manual separation could decrease 52.6% municipal solid waste.