Inhibition of microRNA-29b suppresses oxidative stress and reduces apoptosis in ischemic stroke.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate protein expression by antagonizing the translation of mRNAs and are effective regulators of normal nervous system development, function, and disease. MicroRNA-29b (miR-29b) plays a broad and critical role in brain homeostasis. In this study, we tested the function of miR-29b in animal and cell models by inhibiting miR-29b expression. Mouse models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were established using the modified Zea-Longa suture method. Prior to modeling, 50 nmol/kg miR-29b antagomir was injected via the tail vein. MiR-29b expression was found to be abnormally increased in ischemic brain tissue. The inhibition of miR-29b expression decreased the neurological function score and reduced the cerebral infarction volume and cell apoptosis. In addition, the inhibition of miR-29b significantly decreased the malondialdehyde level, increased superoxide dismutase activity, and Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited Bax and Caspase3 expression. PC12 cells were treated with glutamate for 12 hours to establish in vitro cell models of ischemic stroke and then treated with the miR-29 antagomir for 48 hours. The results revealed that miR-29b inhibition in PC12 cells increased Bcl-2 expression and inhibited cell apoptosis and oxidative damage. These findings suggest that the inhibition of miR-29b inhibits oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in ischemic stroke, producing therapeutic effects in ischemic stroke. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Care and Use Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (approval No. 201709276S) on September 27, 2017.

Profiling and comparative analysis of glycoproteins in Hs578BST and Hs578T and investigation of prolyl 4-hydroxylase alpha polypeptide II expression and influence in breast cancer cells.

To identify potential cancer related glycoproteins in breast cancer cells, we enriched N-linked glycoproteins by lentil lectin from the human breast cancer cell line Hs578T and the normal breast cell line Hs578BST for proteomic comparison. Glycoproteins were separated and compared by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Twenty-four glycoproteins were identified that expressed remarkably differently, among which nine were involved in the progress of collagen synthesis. Prolyl 4-hydroxylase alpha polypeptide II (P4HA2) expression and influence in breast cancer was further investigated. Immunohistochemistry revealed that P4HA2 was upregulated in breast tumor cells compared with its adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, overexpression and RNA interference of P4HA2 showed that P4HA2 expression suppressed cell proliferation and migration in Hs578T in vitro.

Cell surface glycoprotein profiling of cancer cells based on bioorthogonal chemistry.

Bioorthogonal chemistry refers to chemical reactions that can occur within a living system without altering native biochemical processes. Applications of this concept extend to studies on a group of biomolecules that includes glycans, proteins, and lipids. In this study, a strategy for isolating cell surface glycoproteins and based on bioorthogonal chemistry was employed to identify new cancer-related glycoproteins. A novel alkyne reagent containing one disulfide bond was synthesized for the enrichment of glycoproteins metabolized with peracetylated N-azidoacetylmannosamine, which was applied on three different cancer cell lines, and all isolated proteins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The strategy of purifying cell surface glycoproteins introduced in this article was shown to be reliable, and a total of 56 cell surface glycoproteins were identified. Neuronal cell adhesion molecule was found uniquely expressed in A549 lung adenocarcinoma, and its expression in non-small-cell lung carcinomas was detected by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, a significant increase of neuronal cell adhesion molecule expression was identified in non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues, and could be a novel potential target and marker in cancer treatment and detection.

Preparation of cellulose magnetic microspheres with "the smallest critical size" and their application for microbial immunocapture.

The goal of this paper is to introduce a universal method for quantitative control of the particle size of magnetic cellulose microspheres (MCMS) and to produce an optimal antibody absorption capability as an aid in the research of new applications of MCMS in immunomagnetic capture. In this study, "the smallest critical size theory" (TSCS) was proposed, tested, and confirmed by IgG-carrying capability measurements, magnetic response analysis, immunomagnetic capture, and PCR identification of bacteria. A Gaussian expression was proposed and used to guide the preparation of MCMS of the smallest critical size (SCS). The results showed that the diameter of the SCS of MCMS in this study was 5.82 mum, while the IgG absorption capability of the MCMS with SCS was 186.8 mg/mL. In addition, its high sensitivity and the efficiency of immunomagnetic capture of Salmonella bacteria exhibited another new application for MCMS.

The synergistic anti-asthmatic effects of glycyrrhizin and salbutamol.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of glycyrrhizin (GL) combined with salbutamol (SA) as an anti-asthma therapy. METHODS: Rat lung beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) mRNA level was measured by real-time RT PCR. Intracellular cAMP accumulation was evaluated with a reporter gene assay. An in vitro acetylcholine-induced guinea pig tracheal strip contraction model was used to test the relaxing effects of GL and SA. The anti-inflammatory effects of GL and SA were tested using tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced NF-kappaB transcriptional activation reporter assay, I-kappaB Western blotting and interleukin-8 ELISA. An in vivo guinea pig asthma model was used to prove further the synergistic effect of GL and SA. RESULTS: GL (0.3 micromol/L) increased mRNA levels of beta(2)-AR in vivo and the accumulation of cAMP in vitro. The combination of GL and SA also resulted in significant complementary anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, degradation of I-kappaB and production of interleukin-8. A significant synergistic effect of the combination was detected both in vitro and in vivo in a guinea pig mode. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that GL and SA have synergistic anti-asthmatic effects and offer the possibility of a therapeutic application of GL in combination with beta(2)-AR agonists in the treatment of asthma.

Identification of antiviral mimetic peptides with interferon alpha-2b-like activity from a random peptide library using a novel functional biopanning method.

AIM: To screen for interferon (IFN) alpha-2b mimetic peptides with antiviral activity. METHODS: Selecting IFN receptor-binding peptides from a phage-display heptapeptide library using a novel functional biopanning method. This method was developed to identify peptides with activity against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) inducing cytopathic effects on WISH cells. RESULTS: Sixteen positive clones were obtained after 3 rounds of functional selection. Ten clones were picked from these positive clones according to the results of phage ELISA and were sequenced. The amino acid sequences homologous to IFN alpha-2b were defined by residues AB loop 31-37, BC loop 68-74, C helix 93-99, CD loop 106-112, D helix 115-121, DE loop 132-138, and E helix 143-161. Two of the peptides, designated clones T3 and T9, aligned with the IFNAR2-binding domains (AB loop and E helix), were synthesized and designated as IR-7 and KP-7, respectively. Both KP-7 and IR-7 were found to compete with GFP/IFN alpha-2b for receptor binding and mimicked the antiviral activity of IFN alpha -2b cooperatively. CONCLUSION: Two IFN alpha-2b mimetic peptides with antiviral activity were derived from a phage-display heptapeptide library using a novel functional selection method.