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Shenkang Injection (SKI) is a traditional Chinese medicine injection commonly used in the clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease. Although it has been confirmed that SKI has anti-kidney fibrosis effects, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To investigate the effects of SKI on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway and explore its potential anti-fibrosis mechanism. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was induced by ligating the left ureter of male SD rats. A total of 24 rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: sham group, model group, SKI group, and benazepril group. The rats in each group were treated for 28 days, and renal function was evaluated by blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). The degree of renal fibrosis was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the expression of genes and proteins in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Further studies were performed in vitro using HK-2 cells treated with TGF-β1. At 28 days postoperation, the levels of BUN and Scr expression were significantly increased in the UUO group. SKI and benazepril reduced the levels of BUN and Scr, which displayed protective renal effects. Pathological staining showed that compared with the sham operation group, the renal parenchymal structure was severely damaged, the number of glomeruli was reduced, and a large amount of collagen was deposited in the kidney tissue of the UUO group. SKI treatment reduced morphological changes. Immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the sham operation group, the content of collagen I and FN in the kidney tissue of the UUO group were significantly increased, whereas the SKI content was decreased. In addition, compared with the UUO group, the levels of Wnt1, active β-catenin, Snail1, and PAI-1 expression were reduced in the SKI group, suggesting that SKI may reduce renal fibrosis by mediating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Further in vitro studies showed that collagen I, FN, and α-SMA levels in HK-2 cells were significantly increased following stimulation with TGF-β1. SKI could significantly reduce the expression of collagen I, FN, and α-SMA. A scratch test showed that SKI could reduce HK-2 migration. In addition, by stimulating TGF-β1, the levels of Wnt1, active β-catenin, snail1, and PAI-1 were significantly upregulated. SKI treatment could inhibit the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in HK-2 cells. SKI improves kidney function by inhibiting renal fibrosis. The anti-fibrotic effects may be mediated by regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and EMT inhibition.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder. Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the severe clinical implications in SLE, and this was relates to fibrosis in the kidney. As an important marker in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) has been given much attention with respect to its role in regulating pro-inflammatory immune response. Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), the sole receptor for TWEAK, has been found expressed in different immune and non-immune cells. TWEAK binds to Fn14, and then regulates inflammatory components production via downstream signaling pathways. To date, dysregulated expression of TWEAK, Fn14 has been reported in SLE, LN patients, and in vivo, in vitro studies have discussed the significant role of TWEAK-Fn14 axis in SLE, LN pathogenesis, partly through mediating the fibrosis process. In this review, we will discuss the association of TWEAK-Fn14 axis in lupus. Understanding the relationship will better realize the potential for making TWEAK-Fn14 as a marker for the diseases, and will help to give many clues for targeting them in treatment of lupus in the future.

AIM Previous studies have discussed association of FcγRIIA-R/H131 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis (LN) risk. However, conclusions were inconsistent. METHODS A meta-analysis was performed in this study with allelic contrast (allele R vs H), additive model (genotype RR vs HH), recessive model (genotype RR vs RH + HH), and dominant model (genotype RR + RH vs HH). RESULTS A total of 33 studies discussed the correlation between FcγRIIA-R/H131 polymorphism and SLE, involving 5652 SLE patients and 6322 controls. Allele R was significantly related to SLE in the overall population (odds ratio [OR] = 1.238, P

Shenkang Injection (SKI) is a traditional Chinese medicine injection commonly used in the clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease. Although it has been confirmed that SKI has anti-kidney fibrosis effects, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To investigate the effects of SKI on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt/

With deep rotary tillage before sowing (DRT) as control, the effects of shallow rotary tillage with simultaneous sowing (SRT) and strip tillage under no tillage conditions along with sowing (NT) on root growth, soil moisture, and soil nitrate content of wheat (Triticum aestivum) after rice (Oryza sativa) were examined from 2016 to 2018. Compared with DRT, NT and SRT resulted in higher soil water content, and lower soil nitrate content in the plow layer before booting. There was no significant difference in root weight density and root surface area density among the treatments at jointing and anthesis stages. No significant difference was found in grain yield and aboveground plant nitrogen uptake among the treatments in the growing season of 2016-2017. In the growing season of 2017-2018, NT and SRT resulted in 10.9% and 10.5% higher grain yield and 17.5% and 12.0% higher aboveground plant nitrogen uptake than DRT, respectively. Compared with DRT and SRT, NT resulted in better work efficiency and lower seedling missing rate. In conclusion, NT could effectively improve sowing quality, enhance soil water storage ability, reduce the risk of soil nitrogen leaching, and ultimately enhance wheat yield and environmental benefits in the growing stage of wheat plantation after rice.2016—2018年,以深旋耕播种模式为对照,研究了浅旋耕播种和免耕带旋播种模式对稻茬小麦根系发育、土壤水分和硝态氮含量的影响。结果表明: 孕穗期以前免耕带旋播种和浅旋耕播种处理耕层土壤含水量高于深旋耕播种处理,而硝态氮含量低于深旋耕播种处理。拔节和开花期根重密度和根表面积密度处理间差异不显著。2016—2017年,3种耕播方式的产量和地上部分氮吸收量无显著差异;2017—2018年,免耕带旋播种和浅旋耕播种处理的产量较深旋耕播种分别增加10.9%和10.5%,地上部分氮吸收量分别增加17.5%和12.0%。与深旋耕播种和浅旋耕播种处理相比,免耕带旋播种处理播种效率高、断垄率低。综上,免耕带旋播种处理可提高稻茬小麦的播种质量,增强土壤保墒能力,降低氮淋溶风险,促进产量和环境效益的协同提升。.

From 2016 to 2018, a field trial on three tillage and sowing practices, deep rotary tillage before sowing (DRT), shallow rotary tillage with simultaneous sowing (SRT), and strip tillage under no tillage conditions along with sowing (NT), was conducted to evaluate shoot growth, soil nutrient uptake, and utilization of wheat (Triticum aestivum) after rice (Oryza sativa) in Guanghan, Sichuan Province, China. Compared with DRT, both SRT and NT improved tillering capacity and fertile shoot rate. In 2016-2017, grain yield did not differ among the treatments, whereas in 2017-2018, NT had significantly higher grain yield (10.9%) than DRT. Furthermore, the diffe-rence in dry matter accumulation among the treatments mainly occurred prior to wheat jointing. Total nitrogen uptake of plants was higher by 9.9% in NT than in DRT, whereas nitrogen harvest index was higher in DRT than in NT. Total phosphorus uptake was not different among the treatments. Total potassium uptake was higher in NT plants than in DRT plants. Overall, the results showed that compared with the traditional tillage practice (i.e., DRT), strip tillage practice along with sowing (i.e., NT) is an effective method for increasing grain yield and soil nutrient uptake for wheat after rice.2016—2018年,在四川省广汉市分析了深旋耕播种(DRT)、浅旋耕播种(SRT)和免耕带旋播种(NT)3种耕播方式对稻茬小麦生长和养分吸收利用的影响。结果表明:与DRT相比,SRT和NT处理提高了小麦分蘖、成穗能力。2016—2017年,处理间产量无显著差异;2017—2018年,NT处理产量显著高于DRT,增幅10.9%。处理间干物质积累的差异主要在苗期。NT处理下植株对氮的吸收量高于DRT,平均增幅9.9%,而氮收获指数DRT高于NT;各处理植株磷吸收量差异不显著;NT处理对钾的吸收量显著高于DRT。与传统的深旋耕播种方式相比,免耕带旋播种技术是提高稻茬小麦产量和养分吸收的有效途径。.

Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) represents a valuable source of new resistances to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population with 127 recombinant inbred lines derived from a SHW-derived variety Chuanmai 42 crossing with a Chinese spring wheat variety Chuannong 16 was used to map QTLs for agronomic traits including grain yield, grains per square meter, thousand-kernel weight, spikes per square meter, grain number per spike, grains weight per spike, and biomass yield. The population was genotyped using 184 simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers and 34 sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. Of 76 QTLs (LOD>2.5) identified, 42 were found to have a positive effect from Chuanmai 42. The QTL QGy.saas-4D.2 associated with grain yield on chromosome 4D was detected in four of the six environments and the combined analysis, and the mean yield, across six environments, of individuals carrying the Chuanmai 42 allele at this locus was 8.9% higher than that of those lines carrying the Chuannong 16 allele. Seven clusters of the yield-coincident QTLs were detected on 1A, 4A, 3B, 5B, 4D, and 7D.

Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW), a carrier of multiple elite genes, is an important genetic resource in improvement of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Chuanmai 42 is a wheat cultivar with high-yield potential and resistance to strip rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), which was developed by crossing and backcrossing Syn769 (an elite synthetic hexaploid wheat) with Sichuan commercial wheat cultivars. For understanding the genetic effects of the introgression loci from SHW in Chuanmai 42, a total of 78 introgression loci of SHW were tested in Chuanmai 42 using 1029 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Using 127 recombinant inbred lines (RILs, F8) in Chuanmai 42 (introgression loci) and Chuannong 16 (Chuannong 16 loci) backgrounds, the genetic effects of the introgression loci were evaluated across 6 environments in Sichuan Province, China from 2006 to 2009. One locus from the SHW parent, Barc1183, was detected in Chuanmai 42. It was located on the long arm of chromosome 4D after idenfication using the 4DS and 4DL telosomic lines of Chinese Spring and the 4D(4A) and 4D(4B) substitution lines of Longdon (T. turgidum subsp. durum). This locus had positive effects on increasing tiller number per plant, number of effective spikes, grains per square meter, harvest index, and grain production rate. The average yield of the 6 growing environments was increased by 8.9% when comparing locus Barc1183 in Chuanmai 42 to that in Chuannong 16. Therefore, Barc1183 from SHW is a candidate locus in high-yield breeding of wheat.

Vernalization, the process of a long exposure to low temperature to induce flowering in plants, is essential for plants to adapt to cold winters. The presence of vernalization genes Vrn-A1 , -B1 , and -D1 in four cornerstone breeding parents of wheat in China (Funo, Mentana, Yanda 1817, and Bima 4) and 322 derivative varieties (mostly winter wheat) from these parents were determined using PCR based molecular method. The frequencies of the VRN−1 genes in these derivative varieties were in order of Vrn-D1 (67.1%) > Vrn-B1 (19.6%) > Vrn-A1 (5.3%), which are similar as the former conclusion that Vrn-D1 is associated with the latest heading time, Vrn-A1 the earliest, and Vrn-B1 intermediate values. The frequencies of Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 loci in the derivative varieties from winter wheat zones were higher than that from spring winter zones. Based on the wheat breeding history in China and the fact of non-random distribution of Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 in the derivative varieties from the four parents, there could be a strong selective effect on VRN−1 genes in different regions where the derivative varieties were cultivated.

Genetic diversity and relationships of wild goat grass ( Aegilops tauschii Cosson) from Iran and Xinjiang, west China, as well as its weedy type from the Yellow River region of Shaanxi and Henan provinces in China were analyzed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) fingerprints. A high level of genetic diversity in Aegilops tauschii accessions from Iran was observed, and the richness of genetic diversity was followed by accessions from Shaanxi, Henan, and Xinjiang. The weedy type of Aegilops tauschii showed a close genetic relationship with the wild type from different regions in Iran. The results indicated that the weedy Aegilops tauschii found in the Yellow River region was most likely introduced from Iran—the diversity center of Aegilops tauschii . The weedy Aegilops tauschii populations found in the Yellow River region may be brought into the central part of China as a weed species together with common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) from the West during various periods of time in history. This finding has provided strong evidence for the introduction of common wheat from the West into China via the Silk Road, and also demonstrated the important role of the Silk Road in the exchange of agriculture and other relevant technologies between China and the West.

Aegilops tauschii possesses many valuable traits or genes. The introgression loci transferred from A. tauschii in populations of 64 lines of BC 1 F 2 and 147 advanced lines of BC 1 F 2 -F 7 derived from the cross of Chinese Spring (CS; Triticum aestivum ) /SQ-214 (A. tauschii) //SW3243 ( T. aestivum ) was characterized using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. 68 polymorphic loci covering the D genome were used to analyze the distribution of A. tauschii SQ-214 introgression loci in the two derived populations. The result shows that 82.35% loci of A. tauschii SQ-214 were detected in BC 1 F 2 population, while the frequency of introgression loci was 51.47% in the advanced lines of BC 1 F 2 -F 7 after artificial selection for stripe rust resistance and agronomic traits. Significant changes of the distribution frequency for the same introgression loci between BC 1 F 2 and BC 1 F 2 -F 7 populations were observed, and seven selective advantage loci from A. tauschii (Xgdm128-3D, Xgdm8-3D, Xgdm72-3D, Xgwm341-3D, Xgdm63-5D, Xgdm132-6D and Xgdm36-6D) were found, which introgression loci distribution frequency increased from 29.69 to 53.91% (BC 1 F 2 ) to 94.22 to 100% (BC 1 F 2 -F 7 ). The selective advantage loci could be used to evaluate the desirable genes or traits derived from A. tauschii SQ-214. Key words: Aegilops tauschii , Triticum aestivum , introgression locus.

Tibetan triple-spikelet wheat is an unique common wheat landrace in Tibet region of China, which has special triple spikelet trait with supernumerary spikelets and florets. Molecular Mapping the control gene locus conferring on triple spikelet trait and mining the closely linked markers would be facilitate high-yield wheat breeding by marker-assisted selection approach. In this study, derived lines TTSW-5 from Tibetan triple spikelet wheat and common-spikelet wheat, Jian 3 and Chuanmai 55, were used to construct the F 2 populations for , phenotypic analysis and SSR genotyping. Genetic analysis of phenotypic traits showed that triple spikelet trait of Tibetan triple spikelet wheat are controlled by two independent recessive gene loci. One QTL linked to the triple spikelet trait was detected on the chromosome 2A by using F 2 population from TTSW-5/Jian 3 combination and SSR markers, the targeted locus was located within SSR markers, Xgwm275 and Xgwm122, the genetic distance between two markers is 6.6CM with LOD value 6.19, which can be explained 33.1% phenotypic variation, The detected locus tentatively named as qTS2A -1 . We speculated that qTS2A -1 locus might be one of dominant loci for controlling the triple spikelet trait , Therefore, SSR markers, Xgwm275 and Xgwm122, might be used as assisted selection markers for triple spikelet trait in high-yield breeding program.

Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) ( Triticum durum × Aegilops tauschii ) holds a large number of unfavorable traits, of which, red grain color was important to limit the wheat breeder using SHWs for common wheat improvement. The objectives of this study were to identify and map the red grain color gene derived from SHW in a Chinese wheat variety Chuanmai 42 by SSR molecular markers. 1015 individuals in F 2 population derived from the cross of Chuanmai 42 with a red grain color and ChuanW565 (CW565) with white grain color were used for tagging the gene of red grain color. A total of 40 SSR markers on the chromosome 3D were employed to detect the polymorphism of between the parents, Chuanmai 42 and CW565. 241 recessive individuals in F 2 population derived from the cross (Chuanmai 42×CW565) were employed for allelic test of the red-grain gene by eight polymorphic markers. The results indicated that the red-grain color gene of Chuanmai 42 derived from the D genome donor of synthetic hexaploid wheat and controlled by a single dominant gene R-D1 on the long arm chromosome 3D within an interval of 4.6 flanked by SSR markers Xgwm3 and Xgwm314, and genetic distance were 2.1 cM, 2.5 cM, respectively. Those two SSR markers can be used in marker-assisted selection for developing new white grain wheat variety based on the progenies of SHWs or Chuanmai 42 crossed with white grain color wheat in wheat breeding program.

Synthetic hexaploid wheat (Triticum turgidumxAegilops tauschii) was created to explore for novel genes from T. turgidum and Ae. tauschii that can be used for common wheat improvement. In the present paper, research advances on the utilization of synthetic hexaploid wheat for wheat genetic improvement in China are reviewed. Over 200 synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) accessions from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) were introduced into China since 1995. Four cultivars derived from these, Chuanmai 38, Chuanmai 42, Chuanmai 43 and Chuanmai 47, have been released in China. Of these, Chuanmai 42, with large kernels and resistance to stripe rust, had the highest average yield (>6 t/ha) among all cultivars over two years in Sichuan provincial yield trials, outyielding the commercial check cultivar Chuanmai 107 by 22.7%. Meanwhile, by either artificial chromosome doubling via colchicine treatment or spontaneous chromosome doubling via a union of unreduced gametes (2n) from T. turgidum-Ae. tauschii hybrids, new SHW lines were produced in China. Mitotic-like meiosis might be the cytological mechanism of spontaneous chromosome doubling. SHW lines with genes for spontaneous chromosome doubling may be useful for producing new SHW-alien amphidiploids and double haploid in wheat genetic improvement.