The study of the molecular regulation mechanism of melanin synthesis during animal development has become a new focus recently . The synthesis and production of melanin during animal development are regulated by many genes. This paper summarized the molecular function mechanism of melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) gene and the relationship between the consequences of polymorphic variation of the gene and melanin traits, in addition to summarized the identification and mutation of MC1R gene in birds. Furthermore, the melanin synthesis mechanism in birds is also discussed here.
A rapid method for the detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) was developed by utilizing nano-gold labeled oligonucleotide probes, silver stain enhancement and the microarray technique. The 5'-end -$NH_2$ modified oligonucleotide probes were immobilized on the surface of the chip base as the capture probe. The detection probe was made of the 3'-end -SH modified oligonucleotide probe and nano-gold colloid. The optimal concentrations of these two probes were determined. To test the detection sensitivity and specificity of this technique, a conservative fragment of the virus RNA was amplified by the RT-PCR/PCR one step amplification. The cDNA was hybridized with the capture probes and the detection probes on microarray. The detection signal was amplified by silver stain enhancement and could be identified by naked eyes. 100 fM of amplicon could be detected out on the microarray. As the results, preparation of nano-gold was improved and faster. Development time also was shortened to 2 min. Thus, considering high efficiency, low cost, good specificity and high sensitivity, this technique is alternative for the detection of HEV.
OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of Zusanli(ST36) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) on serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and expression of synovial matrimetalloproteinases (MMPs) and articular morphology in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying relief of arthritis. METHODS Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, CIA model and EA groups (n=10 rats per group). The arthritis model was induced by multi-point intradermal injection of bovine type Ⅱ collagen emulsion. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral ST36 and SP6 for 30 min, once a day for 28 days. The hind-limb paw volume was measured and the arthritis index (AI) score given according to the swelling degree, rigidity and deformity of the ankle joint (0-4 points). After EA intervention, the morphological damage of the affected ankle joints was revealed by H.E. staining, safranin O-fast green staining, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, separately. The levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA, and the expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa B ligand (RANKL) in the synovial tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group, the paw volume, AI score, TRAP-revealed number of osteoclasts, contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13 and RANKL proteins were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Following the intervention, the paw volume, AI score, number of osteoclasts, contents of serum TNF- α, IL-1β and IL-6, and expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13 and RANKL proteins were significantly decreased in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01) in contrast to the model group. H.E. and safranin O-fast green staining showed rough articular cartilage surface with thinned cartilage layer, obvious hyperplasia of the synovial tissue with many inflammatory cells, and serious damage and degradation of the cartilage matrix in the model group, these situations were relatively milder in the EA group. CONCLUSION EA of ST36 and SP6 can reduce the articular damage in collagen-induced arthritis rats, which is associated with its function in reducing inflammatory response and down-regulating the expression of synovial MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13 and RANKL proteins.
MicroRNAs serve as important regulators of the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Among them, miR-183 is well documented as a novel tumor suppressor in previous studies, whereas it exhibits a downregulated expression in cardiac hypertrophy recently. The present study was aimed to examine the effect of miR-183 on cardiomyocytes hypertrophy.Angiotensin II (Ang II) was used for establishment of cardiac hypertrophy model in vitro. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes transfected with miR-183 mimic or negative control were further utilized for the phenotype analysis. Moreover, the bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays were used for exploring the potential target of miR-183 in cardiomyocytes.We observed a significant decreased expression of miR-183 in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of miR-183 significantly attenuated the cardiomyocytes size morphologically and prohypertrophic genes expression. Moreover, we demonstrated that TIAM1 was a direct target gene of miR-183 verified by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays, which showed a decreased mRNA and protein expression in the cardiomyocytes transfected with miR-183 upon Ang II stimulation. Additionally, the downregulated TIAM1 expression was required for the attenuated effect of miR-183 on cardiomyocytes hypertrophy.Taken together, these evidences indicated that miR-183 acted as a cardioprotective regulator for the development of cardiomyocytes hypertrophy via directly regulation of TIAM1.
This study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the different effects of diet supplemented with sheep- or duck-meat on serum cytokines of rats.Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups fed on sheep meat, duck meat, or soybean, respectively. The profiles of amino acids and fatty acids of the three diets were examined, and the levels of serum cytokines in rats, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were detected 30 d after feeding, using radioimmunoassay. The contents of methionine and glycine in the sheep-meat and duck-meat diets were significantly higher than those in the soybean diet. The content of saturated fatty acids in the sheep-meat diet and duck-meat diet was higher than that in soybeans, while the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the duck-meat diet were highest and those in the sheep-meat diet were lowest. Serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the rats of the sheep-meat and duck-meat groups were significantly higher than those in the rats of the soybean group (p<0.05). IL-10 and TNF-α in the rats of the sheep-meat group were higher than those in the duck-meat group. But the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were not significantly different among the three groups. Additionally, there were positive correlations between glycine and IL-1β as well as glycine and IL-2, while negative correlation existed between C18:2 and TNF-α. Methionine, glycine and PUFAs in a diet supplemented with sheep- or duck-meat might influence the levels of serum cytokines in rats, suggesting the potential regulatory mechanism of amino acids and fatty acids from diet in immune responses.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of single and multiple acupoints on sleep and concentrations of interlukin-1 β(IL-1 β), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), prostaglandin D2(PGD2) and melatonin (MLT, sleep-promoting factors) and corticosterone (CORT, awakening-promoting factor) in the serum in insomnia rats, so as to explore its efficacy difference and the mechanism underlying improving sleep.Fifty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, EA-Baihui (GV 20), EA-Shenmen (HT 7), EA-Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and EA-GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6 groups (n＝9 rats in each group). The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 300 mg/kg) once daily for 2 days. In the EA-GV 20, EA-HT 7, EA-SP 6 and EA-GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6 groups, EA stimulation was administrated for 30 min, once a day for 4 days. The sleep onset latency and sleep duration were measured after intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (35 mg/kg). The concentrations of IL-1 β， BDNF, MLT, PGD2and CORT in the serum were detected by ELISA.After EA stimulation of GV 20, HT 7, SP 6 and GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6, the sleep latency was significantly shortened (P<0.05, P<0.01, except SP 6), and the sleep duration was remarkably prolonged in comparison with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the therapeutic effects of EA-GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6 were significantly superior to those of EA-GV 20, EA-HT 7 and EA-SP 6 in shortening the sleep latency and lengthening the sleep duration (P<0.05). Following modeling, the concentrations of IL-1 β， BDNF, PGD2 and MLT were significantly down-regulated, and the CORT level was markedly up-regulated in the model group relevant to the control group (P<0.05). Following EA，modeling induced dramatic decrease of serum IL-1 β， BDNF, PGD2 and MLT was considerably up-regulated, and the increased CORT level markedly down-regulated in the EA-GV 20, EA-HT 7, EA-SP 6 and EA-GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6 groups (P<0.05). The effects of EA-GV 20＋HT 7＋SP 6 were evidently superior to those of EA-GV 20 and EA-SP 6 in up-regulating serum IL-1 β， BDNF and PGD2levels, and to those of HT 7, GV 20 and SP 6 in up-regulating serum MLT level, and significantly superior to those of EA-ST 7 and EA-SP 6 in down-regulating serum CORT (P<0.05).EA stimulation of HT 7, GV 20, SP 6 and GV 20＋HT 7＋ SP 6 can significantly improve the sleep in insomnia rats, which is closely associated with its effects in regulating serum sleep-promoting factors and awakening-promoting factor. Joint administration of EA of GV 20＋HT 7＋ SP 6 has a better effect than the single acupoint mentioned above.
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