2007 Vol. 20, No. 2

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Three-dimensional Expansion: In Suspension Culture of SD Rat's Osteoblasts in a Rotating Wall Vessel Bioreactor
KE-DONG SONG, TIAN-QING LIU, XIANG-QIN LI, ZHAN-FENG CUI, XIANG-YU SUN, XUE-HU MA
2007, 20(2): 91-98.
Objective To study large-scale expansion of SD (Sprague-Dawley) rat's osteoblasts in suspension culture in a rotating wall vessel bioreactor (RWVB). Methods The bioreactor rotation speeds were adjusted in the range of 0 to 20 rpm,which could provide low shear on the microcarriers around 1 dyn/cm2. The cells were isolated via sequential digestions of neonatal (less than 3 days old) SD rat calvaria. After the primary culture and several passages, the cells were seeded onto the microcarriers and cultivated in T-flask, spinner flask and RWVB respectively. During the culture period, the cells were counted and observed under the inverted microscope for morphology every 12 h. After 7 days, the cells were evaluated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) for histological examination of the aggregates. Also, the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining were performed. Moreover, von-Kossa staining and Alizarin Red S staining were carried out for mineralized nodule formation. Results The results showed that in RWVB, the cells could be expanded by more than ten times and they presented better morphology and vitality and stronger ability to form bones. Conclusions The developed RWVB can provide the culture environment with a relatively low shear force and necessary three-dimensional (3D)interactions among cells and is suitable for osteopath expansion in vitro.
Association of β3 Adrenergic Receptor and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma 2 Polymorphisms With Insulin Sensitivity: A Twin Study
TIAN-JIAO CHEN, CHENG-YE JI, XIAO-YING ZHENG, YONG-HUA HU
2007, 20(2): 99-105.
Objective To study the effect of β3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR) Trp64Arg and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2) Pro12Ala polymorphisms on insulin resistance. Methods One hundred and eight dizygotic twin pairs were enrolled in this study. Microsatellite polymorphism was used to diagnose zygosity of twins. Insulin sensitivity was estimated with logarithm transformed homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). PCR-RFLP analysis was performed to detect the variants. As a supplement to the sib-pair method, identity by state (IBS) was used to analyze the association of polymorphisms with insulin sensitivity. Results The genotype frequencies of Trp64Trg, Trp64Arg, and Arg64Arg were 72.3%, 23.8%, and 3.9%, respectively, while the genotype frequencies of Pro12Pro, Pro12Ala, and Ala12Ala were 89.9%, 9.6%,and 0.5%, respectively. For β3AR Trp64Arg the interclass co-twin correlations of Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood glucose (GLU), and insulin (INS), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) of the twin pairs sharing 2alleles of IBS were greater than those sharing 0-1 allele of IBS, and HOMA-IR had statistic significance. For PPARγ2 Pro12Ala most traits of twin pairs sharing 2 alleles of IBS had greater correlations and statistic significance in body mass index (BMI),WHR, percent of body fat (PBF) and GLU, but there were low correlations of either insulin or HOMA-IR of twin pairs sharing 1 or 2 alleles of IBS. The combined effects of the two variations showed less squared significant twin-pair differences of INS and HOMA-IR among twins sharing 4 alleles of IBS. Conclusions β3AR Trp64Arg and PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphisms might be associated with insulin resistance and obesity, and there might be slight synergistic effects between this two gene loci,and further studies are necessary to confirm this finding.
Effects of Copper-phenanthroline on Pentschlorophenol-induced Adaptation and Cell Death of Escherichia coli
XUE-WEN ZHANG, RONG-GUI LI, XIN WANG, SHUAN-HU ZHOU
2007, 20(2): 106-112.
Objective To evaluate the effects of copper-phenanthroline (CuOP) on pentachlorophenol (PCP)-induced adaptation and cell death of Escherichia coli. Methods Bacterial growth and adaptation to PCP were monitored spectrophotometrically at 600 nm. Inactivation of bacterial cells was determined from colony count on agar dishes. Cellular ATP content and accumulation of PCP were assessed by chemiluminescence and HPLC analysis respectively. The formation of PCP-Cu-OP complex was shown by UV-visible spectra. Results Escherichia coli (E. coli) could adapt to PCP, a wood preservative and insecticide used in agriculture. The adaptation of E. coli to PCP prevented its death to the synergistic cytotoxicity of CuOP plus PCP and declined cellular accumulation and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylafion of PCP. Furthermore, CuOP and PCP neither produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) nor had a synergistic effect on uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in E.coli. The synergistic cytotoxicity of CuOP and PCP in E. coli might be due to the formation of lipophillc PCP-Cu-OP complex.Conclsion Our data suggested that adaptation of E. coli to PCP decreased the synergistic effects of CuOP and PCP on prokaryotic cell death due to the formation of lipophilic PCP-Cu-OP complex, but it had no effect on the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and production of reactive oxygen species in E. coli.
Directed Molecular Evolution of Nitrite Oxido-reductase by DNA-shuffling
JUN-WEN LI, JIN-LAI ZHENG, XIN-WEI WANG, MIN JIN, FU-HUAN CHAO
2007, 20(2): 113-118.
Objective To develtop directly molecular evolution of nitrite oxido-reductase using DNA-shuffling technique because nitrobacteria grow extremely slow and are unable to nitrify effectively inorganic nitrogen in wastewater treatment. Methods The norB gene coding the nitrite oxido-reductase in nitrobacteria was cloned and sequenced. Then, directed molecular evolution of nitrite oxido-reductase was developed by DNA-shuffling of 15 norB genes from different nitrobacteria. Results After DNA-shuffling with sexual PCR and staggered extension process PCR, the sequence was different from its parental DNA fragments and the homology ranged from 98% to 99%. The maximum nitrification rate of the modified bacterium of X16 by modified bacterium had the same characteristics of its parental bacteria of E. coli and could grow rapidly in normal cultures.Conclusion DNA-shuffling was successfully used to engineer E. coli, which had norB gene and could degrade inorganic nitrogen effectively.
Simultaneous Control of Microorganisms and Disinfection By-products by Sequential Chlorination
CHAO CHEN, XIAO-JIAN ZHANG, WEN-JIE HE, HONG-DA HAN
2007, 20(2): 119-125.
Objective To introduce a new sequential chlorination disinfection process in which short-term free chlorine and chloramine are sequentially added. Methods Pilot tests of this sequential chlorination were carried out in a drinking water plant. Results The sequential chlorination disinfection process had the same or better efficiency on microbe (including virus)inactivation compared with the free chlorine disinfection process. There seemed to be some synergetic disinfection effect between free chlorine and monochloramine because they attacked different targets. The sequential chlorination disinfection process resulted in 35.7%-77.0% TTHM formation and 36.6%-54.8% THAA5 formation less than the free chlorination process.The poorer the water quality was, the more advantage the sequential chlorination disinfection had over the free chlorination.Conclusion This process takes advantages of free chlorine's quick inactivation of microorganisms and chloramine's low disinfection by-product (DBP) yield and long-term residual effect, allowing simultaneous control of microbes and DBPs in an effective and economic way.
NaFeEDTA Fortified Soy Sauce Showed Higher Iron Absorption Rate in Chinese Females
JUN-SHENG HUO, XIAO-GUANG YANG, JIAN-HUA PIAO, JUN-QUAN GAO, HONG MIAO, Bo YU, CHENG-QIAN LU, JUN-SHI CHEN
2007, 20(2): 126-130.
Objective NaFeEDTA was considered as a promising iron fortificant for controlling iron deficiency anemia. Soy sauce is a suitable food carrier for iron fortification and is a popular condiment in China. Iron absorption rates of NaFeEDTA and FeSO4were observed and compared in adult female subjects. Methods The stable isotope tracer method was used in Chinese females consuming a typical Chinese diet. Ten healthy young Chinese women were selected as subjects in the 15-day study. A plant-based diet was used based on the dietary pattern of adult women in the 1992 National Nutrition Survey. Six milligram of54Fe in 54FeSO4 soy sauce and 3 mg 58Fe in Na58FeEDTA soy sauce were given to the same subjects in two days. Food samples and fecal samples were collected and analyzed. Results Iron absorption rates of NaFeEDTA and FeSO4 were 10.51%±2.83and 4.73%±2.15 respectively. The 58Fe (NaFeEDTA) absorption was significantly higher than that of 54Fe (FeSO4) (P<0.01).The iron absorption rate from NaFeEDTA was 1.2 times higher than that from FeSO4 in Chinese adult women consuming a typical Chinese diet. Conclusion The higher absorption rate of NaFeEDTA suggested that NaFeEDTA would be a better iron fortificant used in soy sauce for the controlling of iron deficiency anemia in China.
Synergistic Effect of Zinc and Vitamin A on T Cell Functions
TING-XIN LI, YUN LI
2007, 20(2): 131-134.
Objective To determine whether supplementation of zinc and vitamin A may improve the function of T cells in human PBMC. Methods T cells were separated and cultured in vitro, supplemented with either Zn or vitamin A alone, or both Zn and vitamin A (10-6 mol/L, 10-5 mol/L, 10-4 mol/L). After harvesting, cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, expression or function of cell-surface molecules, such as CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ were detected. Results Higher proliferation level and lower apoptosis level were observed in cells supplemented with both Zn and vitaminA, showing the strongest effect (P<0.05).Zn-supplement increased the CD4+/CD3+ cell percentage, and simultaneously decreased the CD8+/CD3+ cell population.VA-supplement showed the opposite effect in comparison with Zn-supplement. Conclusion T-cell function can be improved,depending on the zinc and/or vitamin A supplemented.
Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the Full-length cDNA of a Novel yp05 Gene Associated With Citrinin Production in Monascus aurantiacus
YON-GHUA XIONG, YANG XU, WEI-HUA LAI, YAN-PIN LI, HUA WEI
2007, 20(2): 135-140.
Objective To obtain the full-length cDNA of a novel gene (named yp05) associated with citrinin production-related genes in Monascus aurantiacus. Methods Total RNA was extracted from mycelium, 3' and 5' cDNA end of yp05 gene was amplified using smartTM trace cDNA amplification kit, and the full-length cDNA of a novel gene (named yp05) was obtained from the electronic assembly of 3'-RACE and 5'- RACE products. Results This yp05 gene was 787 bp including a 597 bp open reading frame (ORF) and encoded a deduced protein with 199 amino acid residues, and the amino acid sequence of this protein was found similar with the sequences of many fungal manganese-superoxide dismutases in the GenBank with the aid of BLASTp. The transcription of yp05 gene in Monascus strains was analyzed with the aid of Northern blotting. The transcription of yp05 gene was only detected in Monascus strains, provided that citrinin was produced. Conclusion The transcription of yp05 gene belongs to differential expression genes of citrinin yielded from Monascus and has no correlation with the biosynthesis pathway of red pigments.
Biodegradability of Chlorinated Anilines in Waters
CHAO WANG, GUAN-GHUA LU, YAN-JIE ZHOU
2007, 20(2): 141-145.
Objective To identify the bacteria tolerating chlorinated anilines and to study the biodegradability of o-chloroaniline and its coexistent compounds. Methods Microbial community of complex bacteria was identified by plate culture observation techniques and Gram stain method. Bacterial growth inhibition test was used to determine the tolerance of complex bacteria to toxicant. Biodegradability of chlorinated anilines was determined using domesticated complex bacteria as an inoculum by shaking-flask test. Results The complex bacteria were identified, consisting of Xanthomonas, Bacillus alcaligenes,Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Actinomycetaceae nocardia. The obtained complex bacteria were more tolerant to o-chloroaniline than mixture bacteria in natural river waters. The effects of exposure concentration and inoculum size on the biodegradability of o-chloroaniline were analyzed, and the biodegradation characteristics of single o-chloroaniline and 2,4-dichloroaniline were compared with the coexistent compounds. Conclusion The biodegradation rates can be improved by decreasing concentration of compounds and increasing inoculum size of complex bacteria. When o-chloroaniline coexists with aniline, the latter is biodegraded prior to the former, and as a consequence the metabolic efficiency of o-chloroaniline is improved with the increase of aniline concentration. Meanwhile, when o-chloroaniline coexists with 2,4-dichloroaniline, the metabolic efficiency of 2,4-dichloroaniline is markedly improved.
Effects of Cadmium on Hepatocellular DNA Damage, Proto-Oncogene Expression and Apoptosis in Rats
RIAN YU, LIN-GFEI HE, XUE-MIN CHEN
2007, 20(2): 146-153.
Objective To study the effects of cadmium on hepatocellular DNA damage, expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos,and c-jun as well as apoptosis in rats. Methods Cadmium chloride at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 μmol/kg was given to rats by i.p. and there were 5 male SD rats in each group. Hepatocellular DNA damage was measured by single cell gel electrophoresis (or comet assay), while expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun in rat hepatocytes were measured by Northern dot hybridization. C-Myc, c-Fos, and c-Jun were detected with immuno-histochemical method. Hepatocellular apoptosis was determined by TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling) and flow cytometry. Results At the doses of 5, 10, and 20 μmol/kg, cadmium chloride induced DNA damage in rat hepatocytes and the rates of comet cells were 50.20%,88.40%, and 93.80%, respectively. Results also showed an obvious dose-response relationship between the rates of comet cells and the dose of cadmium chloride (r=0.9172, P<0.01). Cadmium chloride at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 μmol/kg induced expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun. The positive brown-yellow signal for c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun was mainly located in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes with immunohistochemical method. TUNEL-positive cells were detected in cadmium-treated rat livers. Apoptotic rates (%) of cadmium-treated liver cells at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 μmol/kg were (17.24±2.98), (20.58±1.35), and (24.06±1.77) respectively, being significantly higher than those in the control. The results also displayed an obvious dose-response relationship between apoptotic rates and the dose of cadmium chloride (r=0.8619, P<0.05).Conclusion Cadmium at 5-20 μmol/kg can induce hepatocellular DNA damage, expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos,and c-jun as well as apoptosis in rats.
Comparative Studies of Different Organs of Nyctanthes arbortristis in Modulation of Cytokines in Murine Model of Arthritis
BRIJESH RATHORE, BHOLANATH PAUL, BHUSAN P CHAUDHURY, ASHOK KUMAR SAXENA, ANAND PRAKASH SAHU, YOGENDRA KUMAR GUPTA
2007, 20(2): 154-159.
Objective To study the modulation effect of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines following long term use of water soluble ethanol extracts from different organs of Nyctanthes arbortristis (NAT) in mouse model of arthritis. Methods Arthritis was induced in mice by two injections of Freund's complete adjuvant on days 0 and 12 in the sub-planter surface of the right hind paw. Results Injection of adjuvant resulted in a maximum primary edema of the footpad with erythema, and edema and distortion of joints of the right hind paw after 24-48 hours. Second injection of FCA led to the formation of secondary swellings persisting more than four weeks that spread onto the other hind limb but to a lesser extent. Histological analysis of the ankle on day 47 showed marked evidence of cartilage destruction in association with pannus formation and moderate bone resorption. Proinflammatory cytokine levels in the inflamed joint homogenate were elevated on days 2, 14, and 47. Oral administration of leaf and fruit extracts in arthritic mice reduced joint homogenate levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 on days 2, 14, and 47 in comparison to untreated arthritic mice. Interleukin-10 level was elevated in the inflamed joint on days 2, 14, and 47 in comparisons to untreated arthritic mice. Conclusion Evidence of lesser inflammation of the footpad and joint and associated histological observation support the therapeutic benefit of leaf and fruit extracts from Nyctanthes arbortristis. This study helps in understanding the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of Nyctanthes arbortristis in the light of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance.
Oxidative Damage to DNA and Its Relationship With Diabetic Complications
HONG-ZHI PAN, DONG CHANG, LEI-GUANG FENG, FENG-JUAN XU, HONG-YU KUANG, MING-JUN LU
2007, 20(2): 160-163.
Objective To detect the oxidative DNA damage in diabetic patients and to investigate the relationship of oxidative DNA damage with diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Methods Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) was used to detect the DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and oxidative DNA damage product and serum 8-OHdG were determined by a competitive ELISA in 47 cases, including 25 patients without diabetic complications, 22 patients with diabetic nephropathy and 25 normal control subjects. Results Diabetic patients showed greater oxidative damage to DNA. The percentage of comet cells and the length of DNA migration (comet tail length) of peripheral blood lymphocytes were significantly increased in patients with diabetes, and significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy than in diabetic patients without vascular complications (P<0.05). There was a significant increase in serum 8-OHdG in diabetic patients compared with normal subjects (P<0.05). Moreover, serum 8-OHdG was much higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy than in diabetic patients without vascular complications (P<0.05). Conclusion There is severe oxidative DNA damage in diabetic patients. Enhanced oxidative stress may be associated with diabetes, especially in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electro-magnetic Fields on Circadian Rhythms and Distribution of Some Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens in Dairy Cows
CALOGERO STELLETTA, PAOLA DE NARDO, FRANCESCO SANTIN, GIUSEPPE BASSO, BARBARA MICHIELOTTO, GIUSEPPE PICCIONE, MASSIMO MORGANTE
2007, 20(2): 164-170.
Objective To investigate the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields (ELFEMFs) emitted from 380 kV transmission lines on some leukocyte differentiation antigens in dairy cows. Methods The study was carried out in 5 cows exposed to 1.98-3.28 μT of ELFEMFs and in 5 control cows exposed to 0.2-0.7 μT of ELFEMFs. Following haematological and immunologic parameters were measured in both groups: WBC, CD45R, CD6, CI4, CD8, CD21, and CD1 1B leukocyte antigen expression. Results Some of the haematological and immunologic parameters under investigation were similar in both groups. However, CD8 (T lymphocyte surface antigen) was higher in the exposed group (1.35 ± 0.120 vs 0.50 ± 0.14 × 103/mL). Furthermore, the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.84 ± 0.05 and 2.19 ± 0.16 for exposed and not exposed cows respectively) and circadian rhythm were different between the two groups. Conclusion Exposure to ELFEMFs is responsible of the abnormal temporal variations and distribution of some haematological and immunological parameters in dairy cows.
Possible Role of DNA Polymerase beta in Protecting Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Against Cytotoxicity of Hydroquinone
DA-LIN HU, HUAN-WEN TANG, HAI-RONG LIANG, DONG-SHENG TANG, YI-MING LIU, WEI-DONG JI, JIAN-HUI YUAN, YUN HE, ZHENG-YU ZHU, JIAN-PING YANG, DAO-KUI FANG, YAN SHA, XIAO-ZHI TU, ZHI-XIONG ZHUANG
2007, 20(2): 171-177.
Objective To explore the toxicological mechanism of hydroquinone in human bronchial epithelial cells and to investigate whether DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone. Methods DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line was established via RNA interference as an experimental group. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells and cells transfected with the empty vector of pEGFP-Cl were used as controls. Cells were treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone (ranged from 10 μmol/L to 120 μmol/L) for 4 hours. MTT assay and Comet assay [single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)] were performed respectively to detect the toxicity of hydroquinone. Results MTT assay showed that DNA polymerase beta knock-down cells treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone had a lower absorbance value at 490 nm than the control cells in a dose-dependant manner. Comet assay revealed that different concentrations of hydroquinone caused more severe DNA damage in DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line than in control cells and there was no significant difference in the two control groups. Conclusions Hydroquinone has significant toxicity to human bronchial epithelial cells and causes DNA damage. DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line appears more sensitive to hydroquinone than the control cells. The results suggest that DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone.
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2007, 20(2): 封3-封4.