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Background It was reported that microRNA-21(miR-21) was differentially expressed in the keratinocytes of psoriasis patients, and it may influence the apoptosis and proliferation of cells. The role of lncRNA maternally expressed gene3 (MEG3), a competing endogenous RNAs of miR-21, in the progression of psoriasis remains unclear. We aimed to unfold the influence of MEG3 and miR-21 on the proliferation and apoptosis of psoriasis epidermal cells. Methods 50μg/L TNF-α was used to treat HaCaTs and NHEKs cells for 24 h, and then different experiments were conducted. qRT-PCR were applied for measuring the mRNA level of MEG3, miR-2, and caspase-8, and the protein expression of caspase-8 was measured with western blotting. Flow cytometry was used for assessing apoptosis. Cell proliferation was detected using MTT and colony formation assays. Dual luciferase reporter assay was applied for confirming the binding site between MEG3 and miR-21, miR-21 and Caspase-8. Results A cell model for in vitro studying the role of MEG3 in psoriasis pathophysiology was established using HaCaT and HHEKs. MEG3 was significantly down-regulated in HaCaT, HHEKs, and psoriatic skin samples. MEG3 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of Activated-HaCaT (Act-HaCaT) and Activated-HHEKs (Act- HHEK) by regulating miR-21, and the binding site between MEG3 and miR-21 was identified. We also found that miR-21 could inhibit the level of caspase-8 and identified the binding site between caspase-8 and miR-21. Some down-stream proteins of caspase-8, Cleaved caspase-8, cytc, and apaf-1 were regulated by miR-21 and MEG3. Conclusion MEG3/miR-21 axis may regulate the expression of caspase-8, and further influence the proliferation and apoptosis of psoriasis keratinocyte, Act-HaCaT and Act- HHEK. Therefore, our findings may provide a new thought for the study of pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis.

Background Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that causes patches of thick red skin and silvery scales and affects 1–3% of the population, which reduces patient’s quality of life. Understanding the pathogenesis of psoriasis is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Methods HaCaT and NHEK cells were treated with TNF-α in vitro. A mouse model of psoriasis was established by topical imiquimod application on back skin. LncRNA MEG3 was cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector and transfected in TNF-α-treated HaCaT and NHEK cells to overexpress its expression. Liposome-encapsulated pcDNA3.1-MEG3 was injected into imiquimod-treated mice via tail vein. RT-qPCR and western blot assays were used to examine the expression of lncRNA MEG3, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, IL-1β, LC3, Beclin 1, p62, p-p65, p65, NLRP3, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT, p-mTOR, mTOR respectively. The secretion of IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ and IL-1β was determined using ELISA assay. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry methods were performed for analyzing the expression of LC3 and NLRP3 in cells and skin tissues respectively. LY294002 was used to block the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. MTT assay was applied to test the toxicity of LY294002 to HaCaT and NHEK cells. Results LncRNA MEG3 expression levels were downregulated in TNF-α-treated HaCaT and NHEK cells and skin tissues of psoriatic mice model. TNF-α treatment enhanced inflammation and suppressed autophagy in HaCaT and NHEK cells, which were largely reversed by overexpression of lncRNA MEG3. Autophagy puncta and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly showed the same patterns with the expression of inflammation and autophagy markers in TNF-α-treated HaCaT and NHEK cells with or without lncRNA MEG3 overexpression. TNF-α-induced activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling was abolished by lncRNA MEG3 overexpression in HaCaT and NHEK cells. Blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling inhibited TNF-α-induced inflammation and restored autophagy level in TNF-α-treated HaCaT and NHEK cells. Overexpression of lncRNA MEG3 suppressed inflammation, promoted autophagy and inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling in a mouse model of psoriasis. Conclusion LncRNA MEG3 facilitates autophagy and suppresses inflammation in TNF-α-treated keratinocytes and psoriatic mice, which is dependent on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Our study enhances the understanding of psoriasis and provides potential therapeutic targets for psoriasis.

The Hongge layered intrusion (259.3 ± 1.3 Ma) is one of several mafic–ultramafic intrusions that host giant Fe–Ti–V oxide ore deposits in the ~ 260 Ma Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), SW China. The Hongge intrusion consists of a lower olivine clinopyroxenite zone (LOZ), a middle clinopyroxenite zone (MCZ) and an upper gabbro zone (UGZ). Most of the 14 to 84 m-thick and 300 to 1700 m-long economic Fe–Ti–V oxide ore layers occur within the MCZ. This paper reports the concentrations of PGE in the oxide layers of the Hongge intrusion. Unlike in the economic PGE (platinum-group elements) mineralized (up to 1.2 ppm Pt and 1.8 ppm Pd) coeval Xinjie intrusion (259 ± 3 Ma), the oxide layers in the Hongge intrusion contain very low PGE (total PGE: 0.09–63.5 ppb). Chromite-bearing horizons in the Hongge intrusion are enriched in IPGE (Ir: 0.46–0.65 ppb; Ru: 2.25–3.29 ppb) relative to PPGE (Pt: 0.54–1.28 ppb; Pd: 0.30–0.90 ppb). In contrast, the massive magnetite layers in the Hongge intrusion show no IPGE enrichments relative to PPGE. All our samples from the Hongge intrusion collectively show no correlation between PGE and S contents, and weak positive correlations between IPGE and Cr contents, indicating removal of Ir, Ru from magma with crystallization of chromite. Positive correlations exist between IPGE and PPGE in the samples, indicating that all of the PGE was controlled by sulfide liquid. Most of the samples have mantle-normalized PGE patterns with a slope similar to that of the Emeishan picritic basalts, which are less fractionated than the coeval high-Ti basalts derived from the same Fe-, Ti-, V-rich magma series. The Hongge oxide-rich samples are characterized by Cu/Pd ratios (1.47–202 × 10 4 ) significantly higher than those for primitive mantle and the coeval picrites (0.99 × 10 4 ). The PGE tenors in bulk sulfides (i.e., in recalculated 100% sulfides) in the sulfide-bearing oxide ores of the Hongge intrusion (

The Hongge giant Fe-Ti-V oxide ore deposit is hosted by a layered intrusion located in the central part of the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China. The intrusion is relatively small in comparison with other typical oxide-bearing intrusions worldwide; it consists of a lower olivine clinopyroxenite zone, a middle clinopyroxenite zone, and an upper gabbro zone (herein referred to as the lower, middle, and upper zones). Most of the economic Fe-Ti-V oxide ore layers occur within the middle zone. The Hongge oxide ores are depleted in REE and enriched in Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta as compared to the associated clinopyroxenites. This enrichment of elements that are compatible in titanomagnetite is consistent with the interpretation that the ores formed by accumulation of magnetite and ilmenite. As in the nearby coeval Panzhihua Fe-Ti-V oxide deposit described previously by others, mafic silicates in the Hongge deposit have much higher MgO contents than those in other oxide deposits associated with large layered intrusions in the world. This highlights the importance of relatively primitive parental magma becoming saturated in titanomagnetite at an early stage in the genesis of the giant Fe-Ti-V oxide deposits in the Emeishan large igneous province. Phase equilibrium constraints suggest that the parental magma of the Hongge deposit is similar to that of some of the most primitive high Ti basalts in the Emeishan large igneous province. The ferrobasaltic parental magma and the ferropicritic primary magma of the Hongge intrusion are similar in major and trace element composition to the ferropicritic-ferrobasaltic magma in the Pechenga belt, Kola peninsula, Russia. Depletion of incompatible trace elements in the oxide ores and associated rocks in the Hongge intrusion as compared to the coeval high-Ti basalts suggest that not all the magma involved in the development of the Hongge intrusion has been retained in the intrusion. The occurrence of multiple Fe-Ti oxide layers alternating with Fe-Ti oxide-bearing silicate layers within a single zone and the repetitive appearance of sulfides, olivine, and Cr-rich layers suggest that multiple pulses of magma were involved in the formation of the Hongge intrusion and related Fe-Ti-V oxide deposit. We propose that the middle zone of the Hongge intrusion was a magma stepwise flow-through system and that some of the liquid was lost to the peripheral lavas to form the basalt.

This paper presented the Pb-Zn deposits characteristics in southeast Chongqing. The Pb-Zn deposits occurred in Lower-Middle strata with develop the dolomites, limestones as ore-bearing host-rocks. They are veined, stratifed, stratoid, and lenticular in shape and locally pinch and swell with dominant ore minerals of sphalerite, galena, and pyrite . the Pb-Zn ore deposits grade changed from 0.32% to 7.06% for Pb and 4.21% to 14.29% for Zn. The Gaodongzi orebody has highest concentrations of Pb with 7.06% record and Zn with 14.29% record. The tectonic setting, ore-host rocks, wall-rock alternation, and mineral composition will control the Pb-Zn deposits distribution in Chongqing area.

We present the experimental evidences showing that three different electron injection models play roles in Alq3 based organic light-emitting diodes in sequence when the thickness of LiF interlayer is changed. It is found that the device with a 0.2 nm LiF layer displays the largest current with declined luminescence. However, the one with a 0.6 nm LiF layer displays the second largest current and the highest luminescence of all. Combining with the photoluminescent test results, three models, namely chemical reaction at ternary interface, dipole effect at binary interface and tunneling enhancement effect, are expected to play roles in sequence when the LiF thickness is increased from 0 nm to 4 nm.

A compressed fossil seed, described as Carpolithes sp., is found in the coal-bearing Miocene Shihti Formation from the Lifeng coal mine, Sanshia District of the New Taipei City. The fossil is generally rounded with a diameter of ca. 10 mm in lateral view. The anatomical features of the testa epidermal cells were observed using anatomical analysis. The anatomical features of the megafossil organ from the Formation are reported for the first time.