521 results on '"Qu, Fei"'
Search Results
502. Combination of Kluyveromyces marxianus and sodium bicarbonate for controlling green mold of citrus fruit.
- Author
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Geng P, Chen S, Hu M, Rizwan-Ul-Haq M, Lai K, Qu F, and Zhang Y
- Subjects
- Fruit microbiology, Imidazoles chemistry, Penicillium growth & development, Spores, Fungal growth & development, Biological Control Agents, Citrus microbiology, Food Preservation methods, Kluyveromyces physiology, Sodium Bicarbonate chemistry
- Abstract
Biocontrol efficacy of an antagonistic yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus was evaluated individually or in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) against green mold of citrus fruit caused by Penicillium digitatum. Their effects on postharvest quality of citrus fruit were also investigated. The results indicated that the antagonistic activity of K. marxianus at 1×10⁸ CFU/mL on green mold of citrus fruit was enhanced by 2% SBC treatment. In artificial inoculation trials, disease control after 3 and 6 days, respectively, with the mixture of K. marxianus and 2% SBC (18.33%, 58.33%) was significantly improved over that obtained with K. marxianus (41.67%, 70.00%) or SBC (43.33%, 81.67%) alone. The combination of K. marxianus with SBC was as effective as the imazalil treatment in natural infection trials, which gave about 90% control of green mold. Addition of 2% SBC significantly stimulated the growth of K. marxianus in citrus fruit wounds after 72 h. Moreover, K. marxianus, SBC and their combination did not impair quality parameters including weight loss, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid at 4 °C for 30 days followed by 20 °C for 15 days. These results suggested that the use of SBC is a useful approach to improve the efficacy of K. marxianus for the postharvest green mold of citrus fruit., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2011
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503. Activation of CFTR trafficking and gating by vasoactive intestinal peptide in human bronchial epithelial cells.
- Author
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Qu F, Liu HJ, Xiang Y, Tan YR, Liu C, Zhu XL, and Qin XQ
- Subjects
- Cell Line, Chlorides metabolism, Colforsin pharmacology, Humans, Ion Channel Gating, Membrane Potentials drug effects, Ozone pharmacology, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Protein Kinase Inhibitors pharmacology, Protein Transport, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide pharmacology, Bronchi cytology, Cell Membrane metabolism, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator metabolism, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide physiology
- Abstract
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an apical membrane chloride channel critical to the regulation of fluid, chloride, and bicarbonate transport in epithelia and other cell types. The most common cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is the abnormal trafficking of CFTR mutants. Therefore, understanding the cellular machineries that transit CFTR from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface is important. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plays an important role in CFTR-dependent chloride transport. The present study was designed to observe the affection of VIP on the trafficking of CFTR, and channel gating in human bronchial epithelium cells (HBEC). Confocal microscopy revealed CFTR immunofluorescence extending from the apical membrane deeply into the cell cytoplasm. After VIP treatment, apical extension of CFTR immunofluorescence into the cell was reduced and the peak intensity of CFTR fluorescence shifted towards the apical membrane. Western blot showed VIP increased cell surface and total CFTR. Compared with the augmented level of total CFTR, the surface CFTR increased more markedly. Immunoprecipitation founded that the mature form of CFTR had a marked increase in HBEC treated with VIP. VIP led to a threefold increase in Cl(-) efflux in HBEC. Glibenclamide-sensitive and DIDS-insensitive CFTR Cl(-) currents were consistently observed after stimulation with VIP (10(-8) mol/L). The augmentation of CFTR Cl(-) currents enhanced by VIP (10(-8) mol/L) was reversed, at least in part, by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7, suggesting PKA and PKC participate in the VIP-promoted CFTR Cl(-) currents., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)
- Published
- 2011
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504. L-arginine promotes DNA repair in cultured bronchial epithelial cells exposed to ozone: involvement of the ATM pathway.
- Author
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Cui Y, Gao CQ, Sun G, Zhou Y, Qu F, Tang C, Yu F, and Guan C
- Subjects
- Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins, Bronchi cytology, Cell Line, Comet Assay, DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded, G1 Phase, Humans, Nitric Oxide metabolism, Nitric Oxide Synthase antagonists & inhibitors, Nitric Oxide Synthase metabolism, Signal Transduction, Time Factors, omega-N-Methylarginine pharmacology, Arginine pharmacology, Cell Cycle Proteins metabolism, DNA Repair, DNA-Binding Proteins metabolism, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Ozone toxicity, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases metabolism, Tumor Suppressor Proteins metabolism
- Abstract
Ozone may lead to DNA breaks in airway epithelial cells. p-ATM (phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated) plays a pivotal role in DNA repair. Derivatives of NO (nitric oxide) are regulators of the phosphorylation, and NO is increased under oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to study the effect of NO donor L-arg (L-arginine) on DNA damage repair in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to ozone and the potential mechanisms involved. HBECs (human bronchial epithelial cells) were cultured with or without ozone (1.5 ppm, 30 min), DNA breaks were measured with a comet assay and agarose gel electrophoresis, cell cycling was determined by flow cytometry and p-ATM was measured by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Data were analysed by ANOVA (analysis of variance). P<0.05 was considered as significant. Ozone induced marked DNA breaks, G1-phase arrest and increased expression of p-ATM in HBECs, while wortmannin reduced the levels of p-ATM induced by ozone; the NO donor, L-arg, minimized the effects of ozone-induced DNA breaks and increased the level of p-ATM, while the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NMMA [N(G)-minomethyl-L-arginine], restrained those effects of L-arg. The effect of L-arg on DNA repair is NO-mediated, and p-ATM is implicated in the processes of DNA repair.
- Published
- 2011
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505. [Dysphagia after stroke treated with acupuncture or electric stimulation: a randomized controlled trial].
- Author
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Huang Z, Huang F, Yan HX, Min Y, Gao Y, Tan BD, and Qu F
- Subjects
- Acupuncture Points, Adult, Aged, Deglutition Disorders etiology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Treatment Outcome, Deglutition Disorders therapy, Electroacupuncture, Stroke complications
- Abstract
Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects between acupuncture and electric stimulation on post-stroke dysphagia on the basis of rehabilitation training., Methods: Ninety-seven patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (group A, n = 32), an electric stimulation group (group B, n = 35) and a rehabilitation training group (group C, n = 30). In group C, the conventional therapy (conventional therapy of neurologic internal medicine and rehabilitation training) was applied. In group A, the combination of conventional therapy and acupuncture was applied. The acupoints of Fengchi (GB 20), Futu (LI 18), three-needles on the forehead, etc. were selected. In group B, the combination of conventional therapy and electric stimulation was adopted. Watian drinking water experiment, stethocatharsis function scoring and video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were used to evaluate swallowing function of patients., Results: After treatment, the total effective rate was 96.95 (31/32) in group A and was 94.3% (33/35) in group B, which was superior to that of 66.7% (20/30) in group C (P < 0.01). After treatment, the swallowing function in group A, group B and group C were all improved significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the effects in group A and B were superior to that in group C (both P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of the combination of either acupuncture or electric stimulation with rehabilitation training is better than that of simple rehabilitation training. The efficacy on dysphagia is equal between acupuncture and electric stimulation.
- Published
- 2010
506. Endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29), a protein related to sperm maturation is involved in sperm-oocyte fusion in mouse.
- Author
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Ying X, Liu Y, Guo Q, Qu F, Guo W, Zhu Y, and Ding Z
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibodies pharmacology, Cell Fusion, Female, Heat-Shock Proteins immunology, Heat-Shock Proteins metabolism, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Pregnancy, Rabbits, Rats, Recombinant Proteins immunology, Recombinant Proteins isolation & purification, Recombinant Proteins metabolism, Recombinant Proteins pharmacology, Sperm Maturation drug effects, Sperm Maturation physiology, Sperm Motility drug effects, Sperm-Ovum Interactions drug effects, Spermatozoa drug effects, Spermatozoa metabolism, Heat-Shock Proteins physiology, Sperm-Ovum Interactions physiology
- Abstract
Background: Sperm-oocyte fusion is a critical step in fertilization, which requires a series of proteins from both spermatozoa and oocyte to mediate membrane adhesion and subsequent fusion. A rat spermatozoa membrane protein is endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29), which significantly increases on the sperm surface as well as in the cytoplasm of epididymal epithelia from caput to cauda as the sperm undergo epididymal maturation. Moreover, ERp29 facilitates viral infection via mediating membrane penetration. We determined if in addition to promoting sperm maturation ERp29 may also play a role in facilitating gamete fusion during the fertilization process., Methods: Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and Western blot analysis were employed to probe for ERp29 protein in BALB/c mouse epididymal and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. We prepared rabbit polyclonal antibodies against mouse recombinant ERp29 (rERp29) to characterize: 1) fertilization rate (FR); 2) fertilization index (FI); 3) sperm motility and 4) acrosome reaction (AR)., Results: Confocal microscopy indicated that ERp29 was partially localized at the sperm head of the epididymal caput as well as over the whole head and part of the principal piece of the tail region from the epididymal cauda. However, when the acrosome reacted, ERp29 remained in the equatorial and post-acrosomal regions of the sperm head, which is the initial site of sperm-oocyte membrane fusion. Such localization changes were confirmed based on the results of Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the antibodies against mouse rERp29 inhibited the spermatozoa from penetrating into the zona pellucida (ZP)-free oocytes. The functional blocking antibodies reduced both mouse sperm-oocyte FR and FI at concentrations of 100 and 200 micro g/ml compared with pre-immunized rabbit IgG or with anti-mouse recombinant bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI, a sperm surface protein unrelated to sperm-oocyte fusion) antibodies (100 micro g/ml), but they had no effect on sperm motility and AR., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ERp29 on mouse spermatozoa membrane changes during epididymal transit and AR. Accordingly, in mice this protein may be one of the important factors involved in sperm fertilization by facilitating sperm-oocyte membrane fusion.
- Published
- 2010
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507. Ozone stress down-regulates the expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in human bronchial epithelial cells.
- Author
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Qu F, Qin XQ, Cui YR, Xiang Y, Tan YR, Liu HJ, Peng LH, Zhou XY, Liu C, and Zhu XL
- Subjects
- Blotting, Western, Cells, Cultured, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Humans, Oxidative Stress drug effects, Phosphorylation drug effects, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, STAT1 Transcription Factor drug effects, STAT1 Transcription Factor metabolism, Signal Transduction drug effects, Tyrphostins pharmacology, Bronchi cytology, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator biosynthesis, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator genetics, Down-Regulation drug effects, Epithelial Cells drug effects, Ozone pharmacology
- Abstract
To investigate abnormalities of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression in chronic inflammatory airway diseases and its regulation mechanisms, the present study was designed to observe the expression of CFTR, CFTR chloride current and the possible relevant signal pathways in in vitro and in vivo bronchial epithelium by using real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, Western blot and whole cell patch-clamp. The results demonstrated that CFTR staining was decreased in rat airway epithelium under ozone stress. Ozone stress also down-regulated CFTR protein and mRNA expression and CFTR chloride current in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). STAT1 signal pathway was checked to investigate the signal mechanism. It was found that pretreatment with STAT1 inhibitor attenuated the down-regulated CFTR expression induced by ozone stress. We also observed that ozone stress accelerated the phosphorylation of STAT1 in HBEC, which could be influenced by some signaling molecules related to the early transduction of cellular stress. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species inhibitors N-acetylcysteine and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine increased the expression of CFTR. Ozone stress could down-regulate the expression of CFTR and decrease CFTR chloride current in HBEC. The signal mechanism which referred to cascade events in cells included early oxidative stress signal transmission molecules, and subsequently transcription modulator STAT1.
- Published
- 2009
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508. Infection with respiratory syncytial virus alters peptidergic innervation in the lower airways of guinea-pigs.
- Author
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Tan Y, Yang T, Liu S, Liu H, Xiang Y, Qu F, Li H, and Qin X
- Subjects
- Airway Resistance, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Guinea Pigs, Lung pathology, Lung virology, Nerve Fibers virology, Neuropeptides genetics, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Respiratory Hypersensitivity metabolism, Respiratory Hypersensitivity virology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections metabolism, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections virology, Time Factors, Ubiquitin Thiolesterase metabolism, Lung innervation, Nerve Fibers metabolism, Neuropeptides metabolism, Respiratory Hypersensitivity physiopathology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections physiopathology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human pathogenicity
- Abstract
To probe the mechanisms by which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in early life forms an important risk factor for the development of chronic asthma, an airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) animal model of guinea-pigs with persistent RSV infection was established by intranasal instillation of 2 x 10(5) plaque-forming units RSV. On days 0, 7, 28, 42 and 60 postinoculation, the RSV copy numbers, airway function and peptidergic innervation were measured in the peripheral airways. The results showed that the virus was persistent in the lungs. During persistent infection (days 42 and 60), the lung resistance and the total cells, neutrophils and eosinophils of infected guinea-pigs increased significantly; the airway showed signs of chronic inflammation; and the substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive fibres increased, but vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive fibres decreased. These results suggest that persistent RSV infection can cause long-term chronic airway inflammation and persistent airway neural network abnormality, which may be related to the occurrence of AHR.
- Published
- 2008
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509. [Fluorescence spectra analysis of the scrophularia soup].
- Author
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Yan LH, Song F, Han J, Su J, Qu FF, Song YZ, Hu BL, and Tian JG
- Subjects
- Cold Temperature, Drugs, Chinese Herbal chemistry, Hot Temperature, Models, Chemical, Solvents chemistry, Surface-Active Agents, Drugs, Chinese Herbal analysis, Scrophularia chemistry, Solvents analysis, Spectrometry, Fluorescence
- Abstract
The cold-water and boiled-water soaked scrophularia soups have been prepared. The emission and excitation spectra of each scrophularia soup under different conditions have been measured at room temperature. The pH values of the different scrophularia soups have been also detected. There are obvious differences between the cold-water soaked scrophularia soup and the boiled-water soaked scrophularia. For both soups the emission wavelength increases with the wavelength of the excitation, but the peaks of the emission spectra for cold-water and boiled-water soaked scrophularia soup are different, which are 441 and 532 nm, respectively. Excitation spectrum has double peaks in the cold-water soaked scrophularia soup while only one peak with longer wavelength in the boiled-water soaked one. The pH value changes from 5.5 to 4.1. According to the organic admixture fluorescence mechanism we analyzed the reasons of the experimental results. Through heating, the interaction in different fluorescence molecular and the energy transfer process in the same fluorescence molecular become more active, and the conjugate structures and the generation of hydrogen bonds, increase. The fluorescence measurement is of value for the scrophularia pharmacology analysis and provides an analytical method for the quality identification of scrophularia soup.
- Published
- 2008
510. Wound repair and proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells regulated by CTNNAL1.
- Author
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Xiang Y, Tan YR, Zhang JS, Qin XQ, Hu BB, Wang Y, Qu F, and Liu HJ
- Subjects
- Airway Resistance genetics, Animals, Asthma chemically induced, Bronchi drug effects, Bronchi metabolism, Cell Adhesion drug effects, Cell Movement drug effects, Cells, Cultured, Disease Models, Animal, Epithelial Cells cytology, Epithelial Cells drug effects, Fibronectins metabolism, Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 metabolism, Gene Expression drug effects, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense pharmacology, RNA, Messenger drug effects, Random Allocation, Signal Transduction, Transcription, Genetic drug effects, alpha Catenin genetics, Bronchi cytology, Cell Adhesion genetics, Cell Movement genetics, Cell Proliferation, Cytoskeletal Proteins metabolism, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Wound Healing genetics, alpha Catenin metabolism
- Abstract
Adhesion molecules play vital roles in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) or airway inflammation. Our previous study indicated that adhesion molecule catenin alpha-like 1 (CTNNAL1) is relevant closely to asthma susceptibility, but its biological function or significance is still unclear. In the present study, we observed the temporal and spatial distribution of CTNNAL1 expression in mouse lung tissue with the OVA-sensitized asthma model and found that the level of CTNNAL1 mRNA showed a prominent negative correlation with pulmonary resistance (R(L)). To study the function of CTNNAL1 in airway, effects of CTNNAL1 on proliferation and wound repair activity of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) was investigated with antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technique. The results showed that: (1) CTNNAL1 ASO could decelerate the repairing velocity and proliferation of HBEC; (2) CTNNAL1 expression was increased on the edge cells of mechanic wounded area in culture; (3) extracellular matrix component fibronectin (Fn) obviously promoted wound repair activity and proliferation of HBEC, which could be blocked by CTNNAL1 ASO; (4) Western blot showed that Fn could promote FAK phosphorylation, which also be inhibited by CTNNAL1 ASO. In conclusion, the level of CTNNAL1 mRNA expression is highly correlated to airway resistance; CTNNAL1 may contribute to the wound repair and proliferation of HBEC. Furthermore, it may serve to Fn mediated cell-extracellular adhesion and its signal transduction., (Copyright 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)
- Published
- 2008
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511. 4-Hydr-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidinium chloride-hydroxonium chloride (3/1).
- Author
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Zhang L, Zhang PW, Wang XH, Chen L, and Shen QF
- Abstract
The crystal structure of the title compound, C(9)H(20)NO(+)·Cl(-)·0.33(H(3)O(+)·Cl(-)), is composed of 4-hydr-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidinium cations, hydroxonium cations and chloride anions, which are connected via O-H⋯O, O-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonding. The 4-hydr-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidinium cation and one of the two crystallographically independent chloride anions are located on a mirror plane. The hydroxonium cation is located on a threefold axis and the second crystallographically independent chloride anion is located on a sixfold rotoinversion axis. Due to symmetry, the hydroxonium cation is disordered over two positions.
- Published
- 2008
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512. Pulmonary peptidergic innervation remodeling and development of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by RSV persistent infection.
- Author
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Tan YR, Yang T, Liu SP, Xiang Y, Qu F, Liu HJ, and Qin XQ
- Subjects
- Animals, Chronic Disease, Cyclophosphamide administration & dosage, Disease Models, Animal, Disease Progression, Guinea Pigs, HeLa Cells, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Immunosuppressive Agents administration & dosage, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Lung immunology, Lung innervation, Lung physiopathology, Neuropeptides genetics, RNA, Messenger genetics, Respiratory Hypersensitivity prevention & control, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections prevention & control, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Ubiquitin Thiolesterase metabolism, Neuropeptides immunology, Respiratory Hypersensitivity immunology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections immunology
- Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection causes bronchiolitis in infants and children, which is an important risk factor for the development of chronic asthma. To probe the underlying mechanisms that RSV infection increases the susceptibility of asthma, this present study was designed to establish a RSV persistent infection animal model by cyclophosphamide (CYP) pretreatment that more closely mimic human RSV infection. CYP is an immunosuppressant, which induced deficiency in cellular and humoral immunity. Pulmonary RSV titers, airway function and peptidergic innervation were measured on 7d, 28 d, 42 d and 60 d postinfection. The results showed that during RSV persistent infection, the lungs of RSV-inoculated animals pretreated with CYP showed higher RSV titers and exhibited obvious chronic inflammation. The results also showed that protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive fibers increased and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-immunoreactive fibers decreased during RSV persistent infection. These results demonstrate that RSV persistent infection induces significant alterations in the peptidergic innervation in the airways, which may be associated with the development of altered airway function.
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- 2008
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513. BRS-3 activation transforms the effect of human bronchial epithelial cells from PGE2 mediated inhibition to TGF-beta1 dependent promotion on proliferation and collagen synthesis of lung fibroblasts.
- Author
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Wang Y, Zhang M, Tan Y, Xiang Y, Liu H, Qu F, Qin L, and Qin X
- Subjects
- Bronchi cytology, Bronchi metabolism, Cell Differentiation, Cell Proliferation, Cells, Cultured, Coculture Techniques, Collagen Type III agonists, Collagen Type III antagonists & inhibitors, Dinoprostone agonists, Dinoprostone antagonists & inhibitors, Gene Expression Regulation genetics, Humans, Lung metabolism, Oligonucleotides, Antisense genetics, Oligonucleotides, Antisense metabolism, Signal Transduction genetics, Transforming Growth Factor beta genetics, Collagen Type III biosynthesis, Dinoprostone biosynthesis, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Fibroblasts cytology, Fibroblasts metabolism, Receptors, Bombesin metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta metabolism
- Abstract
Airway re-modelling in asthma usually results in an irreversible weakness of pulmonary ventilation, however, its initiating or controlling mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesize that signal communication between airway epithelial cells and sub-mucosal fibroblast cells may play an important role in the maintenance of structure homeostasis in a physiologic condition and in initiation of airway remodelling in a stressed condition. To test the hypothesis, a co-cultured system of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) and human lung fibroblasts (HLF) were designed to observe the effects of BEC, in the normal state or in a BRS-3 activated state, on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of HLF. The results showed that the proliferation activities of both BEC and HLF inhibited each other under the normal state. BRS-3-activated BEC can transform the reciprocal inhibition into promoting effects. The secretion of TGF-beta1 increased and the synthesis of PGE2 decreased from BRS-3-activated BEC, which were correlated with the proliferation and collagen synthesis of HLF. The proliferation activities of HLF were weakened by co-culture with TGF-beta1 antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) treated BEC. It was concluded that, in the normal state, BEC inhibits the activities of fibroblasts through release of PGE2 to maintain the airway homeostasis; however when stressed, for example by BRS-3 activation, BEC promote the activities of fibroblasts mediated by TGF-beta1, thereby facilitating the airway re-modelling.
- Published
- 2007
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514. The role of Zn-alpha2 glycoprotein in sperm motility is mediated by changes in cyclic AMP.
- Author
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Qu F, Ying X, Guo W, Guo Q, Chen G, Liu Y, and Ding Z
- Subjects
- Antibodies, Monoclonal pharmacology, Cells, Cultured, Cyclic AMP analysis, Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases analysis, Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases metabolism, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Humans, Male, Microscopy, Confocal, Seminal Plasma Proteins analysis, Seminal Plasma Proteins immunology, Sperm Motility drug effects, Spermatozoa chemistry, Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein, Cyclic AMP metabolism, Seminal Plasma Proteins physiology, Sperm Motility physiology, Spermatozoa physiology
- Abstract
Sperm motility is essential for male reproduction or natural fertilization. The cyclic AMP (cAMP)/cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway is generally recognized as one of the significant signaling pathways in the regulation of mammalian spermatozoan motility. Since Zn-alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG) activity in mammalian adipose tissue is mediated via the beta(3)-adrenoreceptor, with upregulation of the cAMP pathway, we hypothesize that ZAG may play the same role in sperm motility regulation, a new factor of regulation of sperm motility. Therefore, the gene encoding human ZAG was cloned and polyclonal antibodies were generated, and then laser scanning confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were employed to identify this protein in human spermatozoa. The results showed that ZAG protein was mostly localized on the pre-equatorial region covering the acrosome, neck, and middle piece of the flagellum of spermatozoa. Furthermore, using computer-assisted sperm analysis, we found that anti-human ZAG antibodies could significantly reduce the motility of human swim-up spermatozoa after 90- or 120-min incubation (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively), together with the decreasing of intracellular cAMP and PKA levels. In conclusion, these data suggest that ZAG is present in human spermatozoa and may be involved in the regulation of sperm motility via the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.
- Published
- 2007
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515. Identification of sperm forward motility-related proteins in human seminal plasma.
- Author
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Ding Z, Qu F, Guo W, Ying X, Wu M, and Zhang Y
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- Adipokines, Adult, Animals, Blotting, Western, Carrier Proteins chemistry, Cattle, Chemical Fractionation, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional, Glycoproteins chemistry, Humans, Male, Molecular Weight, alpha 1-Antitrypsin chemistry, Carrier Proteins isolation & purification, Glycoproteins isolation & purification, Semen chemistry, Sperm Motility, alpha 1-Antitrypsin isolation & purification
- Abstract
Seminal plasma, an amorphous material that exists in semen, contains proteins related to sperm forward motility. Employing affinity chromatography with ConA beads and protein ultrafiltration, we isolated and concentrated proteins from heated human seminal plasma. Results of computer-assisted semen analyses (CASA) demonstrated that the forward motility index of bovine spermatozoa from the epididymal caput, incubated with proteins and theophylline, was significantly different from that of spermatozoa incubated with theophylline alone (P < 0.01). The electrophoreses revealed that the protein bands with high molecular weights in the gel of PAGE changed into low molecular weights in the gel of SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, proteins from a separated portion of the PAGE gel were still able to stimulate spermatozoa from the epididymal caput to gain forward motility. Two-dimensional (2D)-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry indicated that spots focused on the portion seemed, according to their amino acid sequences, to be like human alpha-1-antitrypsin and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) precursors. Western blot analysis showed the presence of these two proteins in seminal plasma. These proteins, related to the forward motility of spermatozoa in human seminal plasma, may play important roles during maturation of spermatozoa, from the epididymis through fertilization in the female reproductive tract.
- Published
- 2007
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516. The role of bronchial epithelial cells in airway hyperresponsiveness.
- Author
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Qin XQ, Xiang Y, Liu C, Tan YR, Qu F, Peng LH, Zhu XL, and Qin L
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Bronchi cytology, Bronchial Hyperreactivity physiopathology, Epithelial Cells pathology
- Abstract
It is commonly accepted that airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a chronic airway inflammation although the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis is still unclear. In the past ten years, an epithelial defect hypothesis has gradually gained supports from the main stream. Airway epithelium is no longer considered only as a simple mechanic barrier but an active interface between the inner and outer environment. Bronchial epithelial cells play a critical role in maintenance of homeostasis in the airway local microenvironment through a wide range of physiologic functions including anti-oxidation, exocrine/endocrine secretions, mucus production and antigen presentation under health and stressed/inflamed/injured conditions. It is reasonably hypothesized that disruption of these functional processes or defects in airway epithelium integrity may be the initial steps leading to airway hyperresponsiveness such as in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Published
- 2007
517. PPARalpha and AP-2alpha regulate bombesin receptor subtype 3 expression in ozone-stressed bronchial epithelial cells.
- Author
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Tan YR, Qin XQ, Xiang Y, Yang T, Qu F, Wang Y, Liu HJ, and Weber HC
- Subjects
- Animals, Base Sequence, Cells, Cultured, Fibroblasts cytology, Fibroblasts physiology, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutagenesis, Site-Directed, PPAR alpha genetics, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Receptors, Bombesin genetics, Transcription Factor AP-2 genetics, Transcription Factors metabolism, Transcription, Genetic, Bronchi cytology, Epithelial Cells drug effects, Epithelial Cells metabolism, Oxidants, Photochemical pharmacology, Ozone pharmacology, PPAR alpha metabolism, Receptors, Bombesin metabolism, Transcription Factor AP-2 metabolism
- Abstract
Previously, we found that bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) significantly increased in an ozone-stressed airway hyperresponsiveness animal model and resulted in induced wound repair and protection from acute lung injury. In the present study, we determined molecular mechanisms of BRS-3 regulation in human BECs (bronchial epithelial cells) in response to ozone stress. Ten oligonucleotide probes corresponding to various regions of the BRS-3 promoter were used in EMSA (electrophoretic mobilityshift assays). Four were found to have an enhanced mobility shift with extracts from ozone-stressed cells. On the basis of the assay of mutated probes binding with extracts and antibody supershift, they were verified as MTF-1 (metal-regulatory-element-binding transcription factor-1), PPARalpha (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor alpha), AP-2alpha (activator protein 2alpha) and HSF-1 (heat-shock factor 1). Next, ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) assay, site-directed mutagenesis technology and antisense oligonucleotide technology were used to observe these transcription factors associated with the BRS-3 promoter. Only AP-2alpha and PPARalpha increased ozone-inducible DNA binding on the BRS-3 promoter and BRS-3 expression. The time courses of AP-2alpha and PPARalpha activation, followed by BRS-3 expression, were also examined. It was shown that ozone-inducible BRS-3 expression and AP-2alpha- and PPARalpha-binding activity correlated over a 48 h period. The translocation of PPARalpha was observed by immunofluorescence assay, which showed that PPARalpha nuclear translocation increased after ozone exposure. Our data suggest that AP-2alpha and PPARalpha may be especially involved in this ozone-inducible up-regulation mechanism of BRS-3 expression.
- Published
- 2007
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518. Identification and characterization of ERp29 in rat spermatozoa during epididymal transit.
- Author
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Guo W, Qu F, Xia L, Guo Q, Ying X, and Ding Z
- Subjects
- Animals, Blotting, Western methods, Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional, Epididymis, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Heat-Shock Proteins analysis, Isoelectric Focusing, Male, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization, Heat-Shock Proteins isolation & purification, Sperm Transport physiology, Spermatozoa chemistry
- Abstract
The mammalian epididymis is able to create sequential changes in the composition of luminal fluid throughout its length, wherein spermatozoa undergo morphological, biochemical, and physiological modifications. Subsequently, spermatozoa acquire the ability for fertilization upon reaching the epididymal cauda. In this study, protein variations in Sprague-Dawley rat spermatozoa along the caput and caudal regions of epididymis were investigated by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) in combination with mass spectrometry. From total protein spots on the 2DE maps, 43 spots were shown to be significantly modified as sperm traverse the epididymis, and seven unambiguous proteins were identified from them. Finally, using indirect immunofluorescence, we demonstrated that localization of one of these seven proteins, the endoplasmic reticulum protein (ERp29) precursor, which was first reported in mammalian spermatozoa, was apparently up-regulated as the sperm underwent epididymal maturation and expressed mainly on caudal sperm. Western blot analysis also revealed that ERp29 precursor, from both whole spermatozoa and membrane proteins, increased significantly as the sperm underwent epididymal maturation. Furthermore, the results from immunofluorescence-stained epididymal frozen sections demonstrated that ERp29 was localized in cytoplasm of epididymal epithelia, and the fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in the caudal epididymis than in the caput. These clues indicated that the ERp29 precursor, perhaps related to secretory protein synthesis and absorbed by spermatozoa, may play a vital role in sperm maturation during the epididymal transit, particularly, in the sperm/organelle membrane.
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
519. Wound repair and proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells enhanced by bombesin receptor subtype 3 activation.
- Author
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Tan YR, Qi MM, Qin XQ, Xiang Y, Li X, Wang Y, Qu F, Liu HJ, and Zhang JS
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Proliferation, Cells, Cultured, Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II, Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases antagonists & inhibitors, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology, Isoquinolines pharmacology, Mesoderm metabolism, Microscopy, Video, Rabbits, Receptors, Bombesin metabolism, Sulfonamides pharmacology, Wound Healing, Bronchi metabolism, Epithelial Cells cytology, Receptors, Bombesin chemistry
- Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the role of bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) in airway wound repair. The results showed that: (1) There was few expression of BRS-3 mRNA in the control group. In contrast, the expression of BRS-3 mRNA was gradually increased in the early 2 days, and peaked on the fourth day, and then decreased in the ozone-stressed AHR animal. BRS-3 mRNA was distributed in the ciliated columnar epithelium, monolayer columnar epithelium cells, scattered mesenchymal cells and Type II alveolar cells; (2) The wound repair and proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) were accelerated in a concentration-dependent manner by BRS-3 activation with P3513, which could be inhibited by PKA inhibitor H89. The study demostrated that activation of BRS-3 may play an important role in wound repair of AHR.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
520. [Protective effect of bombesin receptor subtype-3 on human brochial epithelial cells against injury].
- Author
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Liu HJ, Wang Y, Qi MM, Qu F, Xiang Y, Tan YR, Zhang CQ, and Qin XQ
- Subjects
- Cadherins metabolism, Catalase metabolism, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation, Humans, Integrin beta1 metabolism, L-Lactate Dehydrogenase metabolism, Protective Agents, Bronchi cytology, Epithelial Cells cytology, Reactive Oxygen Species adverse effects, Receptors, Bombesin physiology
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the role and mechanism of bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) in the proliferation and protection against injury of human brochial epithelial cells (HBECs)., Methods: Effect of P3513 (a specific agonist of BRS-3) on the proliferation of HBECs was observed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method; the release rate of 3H-Udr, and LDH activity, catalase activity, and the expression of cadherin and integrin beta1 were also analyzed under O3 stress with or without P3513 treatment., Results: The proliferation of HBECs was accelerated by P3513 in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-9) approximately 10(-7) mol/L). Ozone stress could promote the release rate of 3H-Udr, and LDH activity, which could be inhibited by P3513. P3513 could promote the activity of catalase. The effect of proliferation and protection against injury caused by P3513 could be inhibited by W7 (calmodulin inhibitor), PD98059 (tyrosin kinase inhibitor) and H89 (PKA inhibitor). P3513 could stimulate the expression of caderin and integrinbeta1 of ozone-stressed HBECs., Conclusion: Activation of BRS-3 caused by P3513 may play an important role in protecting HBECs from oxidant injury, and the signal pathway is possibly relevant to Ca2+, MEK and PKA.
- Published
- 2006
521. [Origin of N2 in the cat electrocochleogram].
- Author
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Wei BL, Kang J, and Qu Fei
- Subjects
- Animals, Cats, Kainic Acid pharmacology, Procaine pharmacology, Audiometry, Evoked Response, Cochlea physiology
- Published
- 1986
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