Objective: To identify the relationship between T-2 toxin and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD),the effects of T-2 toxin on aggrecan metabolism in human chondrocytes and cartilage were investigated in vitro. Methods: Chondroc...Objective: To identify the relationship between T-2 toxin and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD),the effects of T-2 toxin on aggrecan metabolism in human chondrocytes and cartilage were investigated in vitro. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from human articular cartilage and cultured in vitro. Hyaluronic acid (HA),soluble CD44 (sCD44),IL-1β and TNF-α levels in super-natants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CD44 content in chondrocyte membrane was deter-mined by flow cytometry (FCM). CD44,hyaluronic acid synthetase-2 (HAS-2) and aggrecanases mRNA levels in chondrocytes were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemical method was used to investigate expressions of BC-13,3-B-3(-) and 2-B-6 epitopes in the cartilage reconstructed in vitro. Results: T-2 toxin inhibited CD44,HAS-2,and aggrecan mRNA expressions,but promoted aggrecanase-2 mRNA expression. Meanwhile,CD44 expression was found to be the lowest in the chondrocytes cultured with T-2 toxin and the highest in control plus selenium group. In addition,ELISA results indicated that there were higher sCD44,IL-1β and TNF-α levels in T-2 toxin group. Similarly,higher HA levels were also observed in T-2 toxin group using radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). Furthermore,using monoclonal antibodies BC-13,3-B-3 and 2-B-6,strong positive immunostaining was found in the reconstructed cartilage cultured with T-2 toxin,whereas no positive staining or very weak staining was observed in the cartilage cultured without T-2 toxin. Selenium could partly inhibit the effects of T-2 toxin above. Conclusion: T-2 toxin could inhibit aggrecan synthesis,promote aggrecanases and pro-inflammatory cytokines production,and consequently induce aggrecan degradation in chondrocytes. These will perturb metabolism balance between aggrecan synthesis and degradation in cartilage,inducing aggrecan loss in the end,which may be the initiation of the cartilage degradation.展开更多
Safeguarding plants as seeds in ex situ collections is a cost effective element in an integrated plant conservation approach. The European Alps are a regional centre of plant diversity. Six institutions have establish...Safeguarding plants as seeds in ex situ collections is a cost effective element in an integrated plant conservation approach. The European Alps are a regional centre of plant diversity. Six institutions have established a regional network covering the European Alps which will conserve at least 500 priority plant species and which will improve the conservation status of plant species in grassland communities in the subalpine, alpine and nival altitudinal belts. Targeted research will expand the knowledge of the ecology of target speeies. Public engagement activities will raise the awareness for the importance of specific conservation actions in the European Alps.展开更多
A wide range of insect pests attacks stored sorghum grains and the significant damage in grain weight loss and negative impact on the nutritional values of sorghum are caused with the activities of these pests. The in...A wide range of insect pests attacks stored sorghum grains and the significant damage in grain weight loss and negative impact on the nutritional values of sorghum are caused with the activities of these pests. The insecticides, especially from organophosphate group （OP）, are still used to prevent damage of sorghum grains during storage period. One of the possible replacements for OP and other synthetic insecticides is a natural and safe diatomaceous earth （DE）. The primary objectives of this study was conducting the laboratory experiments with enhanced DE Protect-lt on Sitophilus oryzae （L.）, Rhyzopertha dominica （Fab.） and Tribolium castaneum （Herbst.） to find out the effective concentrations and to determine the effect of applicable concentration of DE on bulk density （test weight） of sorghum grains. The effect of Protect-it on bulk density was measured at 1,000 ppm. After the exposure of S. oryzae, R. dominica and T castaneum to treated grains during 13 days, lethal dosis that causes 90% mortality （LD90） were 811 ppm, 1,102 ppm and 1,244 ppm, respectively. After exposure of 8 days the concentration of 1,000 ppm generated the mortality ofS. oryzae 100% and for R. dominica and T.castaneum for over 99%. The same concentration had a minimal effect on the reduction of sorghum bulk density （for 1.95% only）.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 30471499 and 30170831)the Ministry of Education of China (No.Key 03152)the Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China (No.2004KW-20)
文摘Objective: To identify the relationship between T-2 toxin and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD),the effects of T-2 toxin on aggrecan metabolism in human chondrocytes and cartilage were investigated in vitro. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from human articular cartilage and cultured in vitro. Hyaluronic acid (HA),soluble CD44 (sCD44),IL-1β and TNF-α levels in super-natants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CD44 content in chondrocyte membrane was deter-mined by flow cytometry (FCM). CD44,hyaluronic acid synthetase-2 (HAS-2) and aggrecanases mRNA levels in chondrocytes were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemical method was used to investigate expressions of BC-13,3-B-3(-) and 2-B-6 epitopes in the cartilage reconstructed in vitro. Results: T-2 toxin inhibited CD44,HAS-2,and aggrecan mRNA expressions,but promoted aggrecanase-2 mRNA expression. Meanwhile,CD44 expression was found to be the lowest in the chondrocytes cultured with T-2 toxin and the highest in control plus selenium group. In addition,ELISA results indicated that there were higher sCD44,IL-1β and TNF-α levels in T-2 toxin group. Similarly,higher HA levels were also observed in T-2 toxin group using radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). Furthermore,using monoclonal antibodies BC-13,3-B-3 and 2-B-6,strong positive immunostaining was found in the reconstructed cartilage cultured with T-2 toxin,whereas no positive staining or very weak staining was observed in the cartilage cultured without T-2 toxin. Selenium could partly inhibit the effects of T-2 toxin above. Conclusion: T-2 toxin could inhibit aggrecan synthesis,promote aggrecanases and pro-inflammatory cytokines production,and consequently induce aggrecan degradation in chondrocytes. These will perturb metabolism balance between aggrecan synthesis and degradation in cartilage,inducing aggrecan loss in the end,which may be the initiation of the cartilage degradation.
基金funding from the David and Claudia Harding Foundation to ensure the survival of endangered plants and habitats in the European Alps
文摘Safeguarding plants as seeds in ex situ collections is a cost effective element in an integrated plant conservation approach. The European Alps are a regional centre of plant diversity. Six institutions have established a regional network covering the European Alps which will conserve at least 500 priority plant species and which will improve the conservation status of plant species in grassland communities in the subalpine, alpine and nival altitudinal belts. Targeted research will expand the knowledge of the ecology of target speeies. Public engagement activities will raise the awareness for the importance of specific conservation actions in the European Alps.
文摘A wide range of insect pests attacks stored sorghum grains and the significant damage in grain weight loss and negative impact on the nutritional values of sorghum are caused with the activities of these pests. The insecticides, especially from organophosphate group （OP）, are still used to prevent damage of sorghum grains during storage period. One of the possible replacements for OP and other synthetic insecticides is a natural and safe diatomaceous earth （DE）. The primary objectives of this study was conducting the laboratory experiments with enhanced DE Protect-lt on Sitophilus oryzae （L.）, Rhyzopertha dominica （Fab.） and Tribolium castaneum （Herbst.） to find out the effective concentrations and to determine the effect of applicable concentration of DE on bulk density （test weight） of sorghum grains. The effect of Protect-it on bulk density was measured at 1,000 ppm. After the exposure of S. oryzae, R. dominica and T castaneum to treated grains during 13 days, lethal dosis that causes 90% mortality （LD90） were 811 ppm, 1,102 ppm and 1,244 ppm, respectively. After exposure of 8 days the concentration of 1,000 ppm generated the mortality ofS. oryzae 100% and for R. dominica and T.castaneum for over 99%. The same concentration had a minimal effect on the reduction of sorghum bulk density （for 1.95% only）.
