The Effects of Inorganic Arsenic On Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Hepatic Sellate Cells

Endemic arsenism is a major disease concern in China, with arsenic poisoning and induced potential lesions key issues on a global level. The liver is the main target organ where arsenic is metabolized; chronic exposure to arsenic-induced liver fibrosis is also closely related to autophagy, however, the exact mechanisms are remain unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of NaAsO2 on apoptosis and autophagy in human hepatic stellate cells(HSC). We established a fibrosis model in the HSC line, LX-2 which was exposed to NaAsO2 for 24h, 48h, and 72h. Cells were then transfected using an autophagy double-labeled RFP-GFP-LC3 adenoviral plasmid. Laser confocal microscopy indicated significant infection efficiencies and autophagy in LX-2. Flow cytometry was also used to investigate the effects of different NaAsO2 doses on apoptosis. NaAsO2 treatment upregulated the expression of autophagic markers, including microtubule-associated protein light chain A/B(LC3), ubiquitin binding protein(SQSTM-1/P62), autophagy related genes(ATGs), recombinant human autophagy effector protein (Beclin-1), and B cell lymphoma-2(BCL-2), but downregulated mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR). Also, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) expression was significantly upregulated in all NaAsO2 groups. Furthermore, mTOR silencing via 3-methyladenine(3-MA) altered NaAsO2 induced autophagy, LC3, Beclin-1, and SQSTM-1/P62 expression were all upregulated in both NaAsO2 and 3-MA-iAs groups. Altogether, NaAsO2 induced HSC autophagy via apoptotic pathways. 3-MA inhibited LX-2 activity and reduced NaAsO2-induced autophagy which may inhibit fibrosis progression caused by this toxin.

Intensity distribution segmentation in Ultrafast Doppler and correlative Scanning Laser Confocal Microscopy for assessing vascular changes associated with ageing in murine hippocampi

The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and memory, requiring high-neuronal oxygenation. Understanding the relationship between blood flow and vascular structure – and how it changes with ageing – is physiologically and anatomically relevant. Ultrafast Doppler (µDoppler) and Scanning Laser Confocal Microscopy (SLCM) are powerful imaging modalities that can measure in-vivo Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV) and ex-vivo vascular structure, respectively. Here, we apply both imaging modalities to a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of hippocampi vasculature in wild-type mice brains. We introduce a segmentation of CBV distribution obtained from µDoppler and show that this mice-independent and mesoscopic measurement is correlated with the number of vessels and Vessel Volume Fraction (VVF) distributions obtained from SLCM – e.g., high CBV relates to fewer number of vessels but with large VVF. Moreover, we find significant changes in CBV distribution and vasculature due to ageing (5 vs. 21 month-old mice), highlighting the sensitivity of our approach. Overall, we are able to associate CBV with vascular structure – and track its longitudinal changes – at the artery-vein, venules, arteriole, and capillary levels. We believe that this correlative approach can be a powerful tool for studying other acute (e.g., brain injuries), progressive (e.g., neurodegeneration) or induced pathological changes.

Micropipes in SiC Single Crystal Observed by Molten KOH Etching

Micropipe, a “killer” defect in SiC crystals, severely hampers the outstanding performance of SiC-based devices. In this paper, the etching behavior of micropipes in 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC wafers was studied using the molten KOH etching method. The spectra of 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC crystals containing micropipes were examined using Raman scattering. A new Raman peak accompanying micropipes located near −784 cm−1 was observed, which may have been induced by polymorphic transformation during the etching process in the area of micropipe etch pits. This feature may provide a new way to distinguish micropipes from other defects. In addition, the preferable etching conditions for distinguishing micropipes from threading screw dislocations (TSDs) was determined using laser confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. Meanwhile, the micropipe etching pits were classified into two types based on their morphology and formation mechanism.

On the markers for schizophrenia

Summary. The study of various markers indicating an imbalance in both the neurotransmitter and immune systems observed in patients with schizophrenia is currently of great scientific and practical interest. These studies allow us to deepen knowledge about the etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenic spectrum disorders, to facili-tate the classification and conduct of differential diagnosis in complex diagnostic cases. The article presents the results of laboratory studies of DMT-1, CD4, CD20, CD34 and dopamine in 24 people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and 14 healthy individuals. The aim of the study was to determine DMT-1, CD4, CD20, CD34 and dopamine as possible markers for the diagnosis of schizophrenia using the minimally invasive method.Materials and methods: Buccal epithelium was taken in 2 groups of patients suffering from paranoid schizophrenia receiving and not receiving therapy with psychotropic drugs. The third group consisted of healthy volunteers. The samples were studied by the immunocytochemical method followed by visualization using scanning laser confocal microscopy and morphometric analysis.Results and discussion: : It was revealed that the markers studied were found to be associated with the nature of mental disorder, but not with the influence of psychotropic drugs used in it. Conclusion: The results of this study may indicate the possibility of minimally invasive diagnosis of schizophrenia using this method; however, the authors note that the results of the study should be considered preliminary. It is necessary to expand the number of patients and compare them with groups of patients suffering from other mental disorders, which is certainly important for assessing the adequacy of the proposed method and the possibility of its use in differential diagnosis.

MYOC Promotes the Differentiation of C2C12 Cells by Regulation of the TGF-β Signaling Pathways via CAV1

Myocilin (MYOC) is a glycoprotein encoded by a gene associated with glaucoma pathology. In addition to the eyes, it also expresses at high transcription levels in the heart and skeletal muscle. MYOC affects the formation of the murine gastrocnemius muscle and is associated with the differentiation of mouse osteoblasts, but its role in the differentiation of C2C12 cells has not yet been reported. Here, MYOC expression was found to increase gradually during the differentiation of C2C12 cells. Overexpression of MYOC resulted in enhanced differentiation of C2C12 cells while its inhibition caused reduced differentiation. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation indicated that MYOC binds to Caveolin-1 (CAV1), a protein that influences the TGF-β pathway. Laser confocal microscopy also revealed the common sites of action of the two during the differentiation of C2C12 cells. Additionally, CAV1 was upregulated significantly as C2C12 cells differentiated, with CAV1 able to influence the differentiation of the cells. Furthermore, the Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the expression of MYOC affected the TGF-β pathway. Finally, MYOC was overexpressed while CAV1 was inhibited. The results indicate that reduced CAV1 expression blocked the promotion of C2C12 cell differentiation by MYOC. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that MYOC regulates TGF-β by influencing CAV1 to promote the differentiation of C2C12 cells.

Biopolymer Composites with Ti/Au Nanostructures and Their Antibacterial Properties

In this study, we have aimed at the preparation and characterization of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) composites with antibacterial properties. Thin bilayers of titanium and gold of various thickness ratios were deposited on PLLA by a cathode sputtering method; selected samples were subsequently thermally treated. The surface morphology of the prepared composites was studied by atomic force, scanning electron, and laser confocal microscopy. The chemical properties of the composites were determined by X-ray photoelectron and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in combination with contact angle and zeta potential analyses. The antibacterial properties of selected samples were examined against a Gram-negative bacterial strain of E. coli. We have found that a certain combination of Au and Ti nanolayers in combination with heat treatment leads to the formation of a unique wrinkled pattern. Moreover, we have developed a simple technique by which a large-scale sample modification can be easily produced. The dimensions of wrinkles can be tailored by the sequence and thickness of the deposited metals. A selected combination of gold, titanium, and heat treatment led to the formation of a nanowrinkled pattern with excellent antibacterial properties.

Wheat Varietal Response to Tilletia controversa J. G. Kühn Using qRT-PCR and Laser Confocal Microscopy

Tilletia controversa J. G. Kühn is a causal organism of dwarf bunt in wheat. Understanding the interaction of wheat and T. controversa is of practical and scientific importance for disease control. In this study, the relative expression of TaLHY and TaPR-4 and TaPR-5 genes was higher in a resistant (Yinong 18) and moderately resistant (Pin 9928) cultivars rather than susceptible (Dongxuan 3) cultivar at 72 h post inoculation (hpi) with T. controversa. Similarly, the expression of defensin, TaPR-2 and TaPR-10 genes was observed higher in resistant and moderately resistant cultivars after exogenous application of phytohormones, including methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid. Laser confocal microscopy was used to track the fungal hyphae in the roots, leaves, and tapetum cells, which of susceptible cultivar were infected harshly by T. controversa than moderately resistant and resistant cultivars. There were no fungal hyphae in tapetum cells in susceptible cultivar after methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid and abscisic acid treatments. Moreover, after T. controversa infection, the pollen germination was of 80.06, 58.73, and 0.67% in resistant, moderately resistant and susceptible cultivars, respectively. The above results suggested that the use using of resistant cultivar is a good option against the dwarf bunt disease.