Exosome-mediated transfer of MIF confers temozolomide resistance by regulating TIMP3/PI3K/AKT axis in gliomas.

Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is an important cause of clinical treatment failure and poor prognosis in gliomas. Increasing evidence indicates that cancer-derived exosomes contribute to chemoresistance; however, the specific contribution of glioma-derived exosomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of exosomal macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on TMZ resistance in gliomas. We first demonstrated that MIF was upregulated in the exosomes of TMZ-resistant cells, engendering the transfer of TMZ resistance to sensitive cells. Our results indicated that exosomal MIF conferred TMZ resistance to sensitive cells through the enhancement of cell proliferation and the repression of cell apoptosis upon TMZ exposure. MIF knockdown enhanced TMZ sensitivity in resistant glioma cells by upregulating Metalloproteinase Inhibitor 3 (TIMP3) and subsequently suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, exosomal MIF promoted tumor growth and TMZ resistance of glioma cells in vivo, while IOS-1 (MIF inhibitor) promotes glioma TMZ sensitive in vivo. Taken together, our study demonstrated that exosome-mediated transfer of MIF enhanced TMZ resistance in glioma through downregulating TIMP3 and further activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, highlighting a prognostic biomarker and promising therapeutic target for TMZ treatment in gliomas.

Development of microsatellite markers for Euchresta japonica and E. formosana (Leguminosae).

We isolated 13 microsatellite loci from Euchresta japonica, an endangered shrub species that grows in warm-temperate forests in East Asia. Of these 13 loci, only one was codominant and polymorphic with five alleles. Cross-species amplification in a related species, E. formosana, detected nine of these loci, all of which were codominant and polymorphic with 2 to 9 alleles. These markers will facilitate further studies on the genetic characteristics of these two Euchresta species.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Development of microsatellite markers for two nonviviparous mangrove species, Acanthus ilicifolius and Lumnitzera racemosa.

Eight and nine of microsatellite loci were isolated from two nonviviparous mangrove species, Acanthus ilicifolius and Lumnitzera racemosa, respectively. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to eight in A. ilicifolius and two to nine in L. racemosa. The observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.200 to 0.875 in A. ilicifolius and from 0.025 to 0.350 in L. racemosa. These loci would be effective for analysing genetic diversity and population genetic structure of these two mangrove species.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Development of microsatellite markers in the Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus (Ommastrephidae).

Todarodes pacificus is an important species for commercial fisheries, but its reproductive biology has been little understood. We isolated 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci from this species. These loci provided highly polymorphic microsatellite markers with four to 26 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.150 to 1.000, and from 0.660 to 0.974, respectively. These markers will be useful for research about the mating systems and genetic diversity of T. pacificus.