Heat shock protein 70 and AMP-activated protein kinase contribute to 17-DMAG-dependent protection against heat stroke.

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) preconditioning induces thermotolerance, and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a role in the process of autophagy. Here, we investigated whether 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin (17-DMAG) protected against heat stroke (HS) in rats by up-regulation of Hsp70 and phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK). To produce HS, male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a chamber with an ambient temperature of 42°C. Physiological function (mean arterial pressure, heart rate and core temperature), hepatic and intestinal injury, inflammatory mediators and levels of Hsp70, pAMPK and light chain 3 (LC3B) in hepatic tissue were measured in HS rats or/and rats pre-treated with 17-DMAG. 17-DMAG pre-treatment significantly attenuated hypotension and organ dysfunction induced by HS in rats. The survival time during HS was also prolonged by 17-DMAG treatment. Hsp70 expression was increased, whereas pAMPK levels in the liver were significantly decreased in HS rats. Following pre-treatment with 17-DMAG, Hsp70 protein levels increased further, and pAMPK levels were enhanced. Treatment with an AMPK activator significantly increased the LC3BII/LC3BI ratio as a marker of autophagy in HS rats. Treatment with quercetin significantly suppressed Hsp70 and pAMPK levels and reduced the protective effects of 17-DMAG in HS rats. Both of Hsp70 and AMPK are involved in the 17-DMAG-mediated protection against HS. 17-DMAG may be a promising candidate drug in the clinical setting.

DNA profiling of shahtoosh.

The population of the Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) has recently declined dramatically due to the illegal trade in its wool. The animal lives at high altitude and is protected from the extremely cold climate due to a coat of very fine wool. These hairs are highly sought for weaving a shawl called shahtoosh. The large-scale poaching of the antelope has resulted in the species being placed on CITES Appendix I. We report on a method of DNA profiling on a confiscated shahtoosh using the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene to produce a test that will identify unambiguously the presence of P. hodgsonii. Two shahtoosh samples were provided by the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan, and ten shawl samples of sheep wool (Ovis aries), cashmere from the Kashmir goat (Capra hircus), and pashmina from the Himalayan goat (C. hircus) were collected from local stores for comparison. Two primer pairs were used to amplify a 271 bp fragment of cyt b gene which would distinguish these three species. The resulting amplification products were directly sequenced. When the DNA sequences were compared with the sequences registered in GenBank and EMBL databases, the sequences with the highest homology were the cyt b genes of P. hodgsonii, C. hircus, and O. aries. This study demonstrates that there is still sufficient DNA present in the finished wool of a shahtoosh shawl to allow DNA typing and the method established was highly plausible to identify the CITES protected species.