[Effects of allicin on insulin resistance and free fatty acid levels in obese rats with periodontitis].

PURPOSE: To explore the effects of allicin on insulin resistance and free fatty acids (FFAs) levels in obese rats with periodontitis. METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into healthy group, periodontitis group, and low, medium and high dose groups, with 8 rats in each group. The healthy group was healthy rats, and the other groups were induced by sodium glutamate(MSG). After successfully establishing an obesity model, the maxillary molars were ligated and smeared to establish a periodontitis model. Both the periodontitis group and the healthy group were given normal saline, and the allicin low, medium and high dose groups were given allicin 20，40 and 60 mg·kg-1·d-1, mixed with feed for oral administration. After 21 days of treatment, the fasting blood glucose(FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) scores and FFAs levels of the homeostatic model in rats were detected. The protein expression of TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy group, FPG, FINS levels, HOMA-IR, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of the periodontitis group were significantly increased, and the expression of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins was significantly increased(P＜0.05). Compared with the periodontitis group, FPG, FINS levels, HOMA-IR, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of low, medium and high-doses groups were significantly decreased, and the expression of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with the low-dose group, the levels of FPG and FINS, HOMA-IR, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of the middle and high-dose groups were significantly decreased, and the expression of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with the middle-dose group, the levels of FPG and FINS, HOMA-IR, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of the high-dose group were significantly decreased, and the expression of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). After treatment, FFAs of the low, medium and high-dose groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05). Compared with the healthy group, FFAs levels of the periodontitis group, low-dose and medium-dose groups were significantly increased. Compared with the periodontitis group, FFAs levels of the low, medium and high-dose groups were significantly increased. Compared with the low-dose group, FFAs levels of the high-dose group were significantly increased. Compared with the middle-dose group, FFAs levels of the high-dose group were significantly increased (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Allicin can improve insulin resistance and obesity in obese rats with periodontitis, and its mechanism of action is related to the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway.

A lncRNA bra-miR156HG regulates flowering time and leaf morphology as a precursor of miR156 in Brassica campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in plant growth and development. Here the function of a lncRNA fragment was studied, which was predicted as an endogenous target mimic (eTM) of miR156 in Brassica campesrtis. Unexpectedly, the transformation of this lncRNA into Arabidopsis thaliana neither inhibited the expression of miR156a nor resulted in any phenotypes that differed from the control plants (CK). The full-length sequence of the lncRNA (named bra-miR156HG) was then obtained using RACE and transferred into A. thaliana. The transgenic plants displayed a delay in flowering time, an increasing number of rosette leaves, and a changed morphology of cauline leaves, which was similar to the plants that expressed bra-miR156a. In contrast, the overexpression of bra-miR156HG in B. campestris resulted in an increased tip angle of leaves and changed the length-width ratio of leaves at different nodes, suggesting that bra-miR156HG may be involved in regulating the leaf morphology. Collectively, our study showed that bra-miR156HG functions as a precursor of bra-miR156a involved in regulating plant flowering time and leaf development under different biological backgrounds. The secondary structure of lncRNA is essential not only for the normal roles that it plays but also for expanding the functional diversities.

Tomato BZR/BES transcription factor SlBZR1 positively regulates BR signaling and salt stress tolerance in tomato and Arabidopsis.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play critical roles in plant growth and development, as well as in responses to abiotic stresses. The BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) and BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) families of transcription factors have been elucidated largely in Arabidopsis and rice but not in other plant species. Here, we studied the functional characterization of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) BZR homolog gene, SlBZR1, in BR-regulated plant growth and tolerance to salt stress. SlBZR1 was highly expressed in the flowers and developing fruits of tomato. Both SlBZR1 and SlBZR1D (proline to leucine mutation at the 239th amino acid of SlBZR1) were transcriptional repressors and localized in the nucleus. SlBZR1 or SlBZR1D could interact with SlMYB30, SlMYBL2, SlPIF4, SlHAT1, SlIWS1 and SlREF6 in tomato. Overexpression of SlBZR1D enhanced the BR response and improved tolerance to salt stress in Arabidopsis, consistent with the phenotype of the Arabidopsis bes1-D mutant. Moreover, SlBZR1D-overexpressing tomato lines showed a short plant height, smaller and curly leaves, and delayed flowering. Additionally, SlBZR1D positively regulated salt tolerance in tomato and upregulated the expression of multiple stress-related genes. Our study provides new insights for understanding the function and mechanism of BZR transcription factors in BR-regulated plant growth and abiotic stress responses.

[Role of P2X7 receptor in osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells].

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) in osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). METHODS: hPDLSCs were isolated from the premolars collected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and divided into four groups. Group A was cultured in conventional medium, group B was cultured in osteogenic induction medium, group C was cultured in osteogenic induction medium + 100 nmol/L adenosine triphosphate (ATP) solution, and group D was cultured in osteogenic induction medium + 100 nmol/L P2X7 receptor specific antagonist KN-62. After 7 days, alizarin red staining was used to observe the osteogenic effect of hPDLSCs in each group. The mRNA expression of osteocalcin (OCN), RUNX2 and P2X7r in hPDLSCs was detected by real-time PCR reaction (RT-PCR). The data were processed by SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: Alisarin red staining showed that the morphology of hPDLSCs cells in group B and group C was significantly changed. The pale calcified nodules in group C were significantly more than those in group B, while very few calcified nodules were found in group A and group D. The mRNA expression of OCN, RUNX2 and P2X7r in hPDLSCs were the highest in group C, followed by group B(P<0.05), and no difference was found between group A and group D(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: P2X7 receptor can promote osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells after being activated by ATP, which may provide a new direction for clinical treatment of periodontitis.

[Development of Positioning and Navigation System Using for C-arm X-ray Apparatus for Minimally Invasive Surgeries].

On account of the problem that traditional C-arm X-ray apparatus cannot provide precise route guidance for minimally invasive surgeries, we designed and developed a laser positioning and navigation system based on C-arm X-ray apparatus, which can achieve precise positioning function and reduce the exposure of doctors and patients to radiation in minimally invasive surgeries under the linear guidance of a laser beam. Furthermore, this system can enhance the refinement level of surgical operation in minimally invasive surgeries.

Adoptive antitumor immunotherapy in vitro and in vivo using genetically activated erbB2-specific T cells.

The use of human T lymphocytes genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors on their surfaces has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for malignant tumors. We have transfected primary human peripheral T lymphocytes with a recombinant vector carrying DNA fragments encoding anti-erbB2 scFv/Fc/CD28/CD3ζ chimeric antigen receptor using electroporation. Transfected T cells have been demonstrated to express anti-erB2 scFv/Fc on their surface and CD28/CD3ζ intracellularly. These modified T cells were able to specifically bind to erbB2 tumor-associated antigen on target tumor cells. After specific binding, modified T cells were activated to produce high levels of cytokines (not only interferon-γ but also interluekin-2) and mediate lysis of erbB2-positive human tumor cells in an antigen-specific manner. Furthermore, such genetically modified human T cells significantly delayed the growth of subcutaneous erbB2-positive human xenograft tumors after systemic administration. These preclinical studies suggest that human T cells can be modified genetically and redirected to tumors in cancer patients.