MiRNA-451 is a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in mouse uterus

The uterotrophic assay has been commonly used to test environmental estrogens in vivo, however, it is often not sensitive enough sometimes. An alternative way is to evaluate estrogenicity through biomarker genes. MicroRNA （miRNA） is a class of regulatory gene, which has been shown to be a good biomarker for many diseases and toxicological effects in recent years, and some evidences showed that estrogen induced response was partially mediated by miRNAs. In this study, two types of microarrays were used to test the 17[3-estradiol （E2） induced miRNA expression profile at different time points in the immature mouse uterus. Statistical analysis showed the aldehyde slide based array had less variation than the amino slide based array, and 11 dysregulated miRNAs were screened out for significant fold change. Real-time PCR was performed to further confirm that 4 out of 7 selected miRNAs, namely miR-451, miR-155, miR-335- 5p, and miR-365, are E2 regulated miRNAs in the uterus. The function of the predicted targets of these miRNAs is involved in cell grow control, which is consistent with the main E2 function in the uterus. MiR-451 had similar strong responses to E2 in the uterus of both immature and overiectomized mice, and could be a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in the uterus.     

PCBs暴露ApoE-/-小鼠肝脏的microRNA和mRNA调控网络研究

本研究通过microRNA-mRNA相互作用考察PCBs的基因毒性,探讨PCBs致动脉粥样硬化可能的分子机制.研究使用8周龄ApoE-/-小鼠,腹腔注射PCBs混合物Aroclor1254(55 mg·kg-1体重),暴露6周后获取其肝脏,提取总RNA,获取cDNA或对RNA去磷酸化及特征标记.采用Affymetrix GeneChipMouse Genome430 2.0基因芯片和Agilent Mouse microRNA array芯片,分析Aroclor1254暴露前后mRNAs和miRNAs的差异表达情况.随后,结合Affymetrix mRNA芯片平台,使用IPA软件分析差异表达的miRNAs和mRNAs,揭示Aroclor1254暴露对基因调控网络和信号通路的影响.研究结果显示,Aroclor1254暴露后有18个差异表达的miRNAs能够靶向调控110个差异表达的mRNAs,二者可共同影响糖代谢、脂代谢、细胞死亡、分子运输等生物学功能.进一步考察与动脉粥样硬化发生发展密切相关的糖代谢、脂代谢网络调控,发现miRNA-22、let-7family、miRNA-15a/b,以及靶基因PPARα、PPARγ辅助激活因子1α和Foxo1,在PCBs暴露致动脉粥样硬化发生发展的糖脂代谢异常中发挥了重要作用.     

铅暴露U251细胞差异表达基因及相关通路(The Interrelated Pathways in Brain Human U251 Glioma Cells by Lead Exposure)

为探讨铅对体外培养的人神经胶质瘤U251细胞(human U251glioma cells,U251)暴露后基因表达的变化以及相关基因通路,选用乙酸铅暴露U251细胞.细胞在乙酸铅中暴露8h和24h后提取RNA,使用cDNA芯片分析基因表达情况,芯片扫描结果经归一化处理,设定Ratio值<0.5或≥2.0为表达有差异基因.结果表明,铅暴露U251细胞导致2840条基因差异表达,使用KEGG和BioCarta数据库分析代表性基因网络.结果发现,铅暴露U251细胞导致大量基因差异表达,涉及多个代谢及信号通路,与神经组织相关的主要信号通路有Ca2+信号通路、Jak-STAT信号通路、MAPK信号通路、Wnt信号通路等,还涉及配体-受体、细胞因子相互作用等.这些通路相互联结,构成复杂的网络系统,调控细胞的生物学功能.     

二氧化硫胁迫下拟南芥miRNA表达谱分析

以拟南芥为材料,利用高通量测序技术并结合生物信息学分析方法,检测二氧化硫(SO_2)处理后拟南芥植株的小分子RNA表达谱,筛选SO_2胁迫响应microRNAs(miRNAs)分子,研究植物miRNAs对逆境胁迫的应答机制.结果发现,30 mg·m~(-3) SO_2处理72 h后,拟南芥地上组织小分子RNA长度分布发生改变,在对照组和SO_2组中均有大量特有的小分子RNA序列,说明SO_2胁迫可诱导拟南芥小分子RNA的表达改变.SO_2胁迫诱导186个保守miRNA和16个新miRNA分子差异表达,其靶基因主要涉及转录调控、信号转导、代谢、刺激响应等生理过程.差异表达的miR160和miR393可通过生长素信号途径调控植株生长发育,参与植物对SO_2的胁迫响应.本研究揭示了植物中参与SO_2胁迫应答的miRNA种类及作用机制,进一步阐明了miRNAs在植物抗逆应答过程中的作用.     

铅（Pb^2＋）致高血压大鼠胸主动脉病变的相关基因及信号转导途径

采用表达芯片研究铅(Pb2+)致高血压大鼠模型病变主动脉的基因表达谱,以及可能涉及的信号转导途径.结果表明,Pb2+致高血压大鼠和对照组相比,在3463个已知基因和表达序列标签(EST)中,有24个基因和1个EST表达上调幅度≥2倍;有2个基因和1个EST表达下调幅度≥2倍.在差异表达≥2倍的26个基因中,有13个上调的基因与细胞凋亡、局部粘附、细胞生长、增殖、细胞迁移、平滑肌兴奋、胶原重构等生物学过程相关;2个下调基因与能量代谢有关.表达差异基因相对集中的信号途径是与细胞运动、增殖和存活关系密切的局部粘附信号途径.     

Coffee husk composting: An investigation of the process using molecular and non-molecular tools

Various parameters were measured during a 90-day composting process of coffee husk with cow dung (Pile 1), with fruit/vegetable wastes (Pile 2) and coffee husk alone (Pile 3). Samples were collected on days 0, 32 and 90 for chemical and microbiological analyses. C/N ratios of Piles 1 and 2 decreased significantly over the 90 days. The highest bacterial counts at the start of the process and highest actinobacterial counts at the end of the process (Piles 1 and 2) indicated microbial succession with concomitant production of compost relevant enzymes. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of rDNA and COMPOCHIP microarray analysis indicated distinctive community shifts during the composting process, with day 0 samples clustering separately from the 32 and 90-day samples. This study, using a multi-parameter approach, has revealed differences in quality and species diversity of the three composts.     

铅暴露U251细胞差异表达基因分析(Analysis of Differentiation Expressed Genes of Human U251 Glioma Cells Exposed to Lead)

为研究体外培养的人神经胶质瘤U251细胞(human U251glioma cells)铅暴露后基因表达的改变,分析脑中差异表达基因,探讨铅暴露与神经毒性之间的关系,使用浓度为400μg·mL-1乙酸铅暴露U251细胞8h和24h,设置空白对照,提取RNA.应用基因芯片方法寻找差异表达基因,芯片扫描结果经归一化处理,设定Ratio值<0.5或≥2.0为表达有差异基因.结果表明铅暴露U251细胞导致2840条基因差异表达,暴露8h和24h皆上调表达的基因有92条,皆下调表达的基因有85条,其中132条基因在脑中表达;通过与数据库资料比对,109条基因与其在脑表达情况一致,23条基因不一致(15条基因高表达,8条基因低表达).从实验结果可以看出铅暴露能够导致U251细胞基因表达改变,抑制细胞增殖和迁移,促进细胞凋亡,负调控T细胞免疫活性.导致与神经发生、细胞骨架形成相关基因表达下调,神经保护能力下降,铅暴露可能与神经变性疾病及退行性疾病发生有关.