RNA-Seq Reveals the Role of miR-29c in Regulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Healthy mammary gland is essential for milk performance in dairy cows. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the key molecules to regulate the steady state of mammary gland in dairy cows. This study investigated the potential role of miR-29c in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to measure the transcriptome profile of bovine mammary epithelial cells line (MAC-T) transfected with miR-29c inhibitor or negative control (NC) inhibitor, and then differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. The results showed that a total of 42 up-regulated and 27 down-regulated genes were found in the miR-29c inhibitor group compared with the NC inhibitor group. The functional enrichment of the above DEGs indicates that miR-29c is a potential regulator of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in bMECs through multiple genes, such as forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 5 (BoLA-DQA5) in the various biological process and signaling pathways of stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, Epstein-Barr virus infection, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. The results imply that miR-29c plays an important role in a steady state of bMECs or cow mammary gland and may be a potential therapeutic target for mastitis in dairy cows.

Differential Expression Profiles of lncRNA Following LPS-Induced Inflammation in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory response of mammary glands caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). As a key virulence factor of E. coli, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers innate immune responses via activation of the toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. However, the molecular regulatory network of LPS-induced bovine mastitis has yet to be fully mapped. In this study, bovine mammary epithelial cell lines MAC-T were exposed to LPS for 0, 6 and 12 h to assess the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) using RNA-seq. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were filtered out of the raw data for subsequent analyses. A total of 2,257 lncRNAs, including 210 annotated and 2047 novel lncRNAs were detected in all samples. A large proportion of lncRNAs were present in a high abundance, and 112 DElncRNAs were screened out at different time points. Compared with 0 h, there were 22 up- and 25 down-regulated lncRNAs in the 6 h of post-infection (hpi) group, and 27 up- and 22 down-regulated lncRNAs in the 12 hpi group. Compared with the 6 hpi group, 32 lncRNAs were up-regulated and 25 lncRNAs were down-regulated in the 12 hpi group. These DElncRNAs are involved in the regulation of a variety of immune-related processes including inflammatory responses bMECs exposed to LPS. Furthermore, lncRNA TCONS_00039271 and TCONS_00139850 were respectively significance down- and up-regulated, and their target genes involve in regulating inflammation-related signaling pathways (i.e.,Notch, NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K-Akt and mTOR signaling pathway), thereby regulating the occurrence and development of E. coli mastitis. This study provides a resource for lncRNA research on the molecular regulation of bovine mastitis.

[Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Metals in the Dustfall of Quanzhou City].

Concentrations of 23 metal elements in the dustfall collected from different functional areas of Quanzhou City, China, were determined. Several methods were applied to assess the enrichment degree, pollution level and potential ecological risk of the above elements. The sources of the above elements were analyzed based on the multivariate statistical analysis combining Pb and Sr isotopic tracing technology. The results showed that the concentrations of metals in the dustfall presented significant spatial difference. The results of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index indicated that Cd, Hg, Zn, Ca, Pb, Cu, Ni and Sr showed relatively higher enrichment degree and pollution level. The results of ecological risk index showed that the comprehensive ecological risk of heavy metals was very high in the dustfall of all functional areas with the sequence of industrial area>heavy traffic area >commercial area >residential area >scenic area >agricultural area. Cd and Hg showed extremely high potential ecological risk, and they contributed 95.56% to the comprehensive potential ecological risk index. The multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that the elements of V, Fe, Ba, Bi, Ni, Sr, Pb, Cs, Sc, Zn, Cd were mainly from industrial and vehicle emissions; Th, U, Rb, Y, Ti were mainly derived from soil dust; Li, Mn, Cu, Hg, Cr, Co, Ca were mainly from coal combustion. The contribution ranges of parent soil, coal combustion and vehicle emission to the Pb in the dustfall were 29.41%-64.00%, 22.53%-60.48% and 3.13%-13.47%, respectively, as calculated by a ternary hybrid model; The plots of 87Sr/86Sr vs 1/Sr showed that Sr in the dustfall was dominated by coal combustion and vehicle emission.

[Geochemical Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Rare Earth Elements in the Dustfall of Quanzhou City].

Rare earth elements (REE) have certain properties as tracing elements which result in their special geochemical characteristics. In order to study the geochemical characteristics of REE in the dustfall and their sources, 34 dustfall samples were collected in five functional areas and potential source areas of Quanzhou City, then REE compositions, distribution patterns and characteristic parameters were analyzed together with ternary diagrams and characteristic parameter diagrams, for investigating the main provenance. The results showed that ∑REE in the dustfall presented significant spatial difference with the sequence of industrial area>heavy traffic area > commercial area > residential area > agricultural area. The lower coefficient variation of ∑REE in residential, heavy traffic, commercial areas indicated homogeneous sources of REE. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns were all of the rightward inclined type with the enrichment of LREE relative to HREE and showed obvious negative Eu anomalies which indicated that the dustfall in study area had obvious terrigenous property. Some REE characteristic parameters in each functional area were close to the average in potential source areas, failed to reveal the causes for spatial differences. The results of LaCeV diagram demonstrated that REE in the dustfall of residential area, heavy traffic area and commercial area were mainly derived from traffic source and soil dust, followed by coal combustion, δEu vs. ∑REEs diagram and HREEN/MREEN vs. LaN diagram further explained that vehicle emission was the main anthropogenic source of REE in the dustfall of heavy traffic area and commercial area. The REE in the dustfall of Quanzhou City was less affected by steelworks emissions and cement plant dust and there were additional REE sources in the dustfall of industrial and agricultural area different from other functional areas.

[Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and western medicine for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis. METHODS: Eighty cases of chronic atrophic gastritis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion on Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10), Geshu (BL 17); and the control group with oral administration of western medicine, Omeprazole and Amoxicillin, etc. Evaluation of the scores of clinical symptoms, gastroscopic inspection and histopathologic examination of the gastric mucosa were carried out before treatment and after treatment of 4 and 8 weeks in each group to compare the therapeutic effects between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 92.5% in the acupuncture group was better than 75.0% in the con trol group (P < 0.05). For the pathologic changes of gastric mucosa by the gastroscopic inspection, the total effec tive rate of 85.0% in the acupuncture group was superior to 65.0% in the control group (P < 0.05), and for the improvement of histopathologic aspect, the total effective rate of 87.5% in the acupuncture group was better than 65.0% in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy can significantly improve the clinical symptoms, gastroscopic expression and histopathologic situation in the patients of chronic atrophic gastritis, and its therapeutic effect is better than that of the western medicine.