Nitric oxide-caused rabbit chondrocyte apoptosis is linked to cytoskeletal protein proteolysis anomaly through intracellular JNK and ERK signal pathways

Chen Qun,Kao Xibin,Gao Yan,Chen Jinghong,Dong Zhaoheng,Chen Chen 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2023 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.19 No.1

Backgrounds Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in the pathological chondrocyte apoptosis of osteoarthritis (OA). Cytoskeletal proteins form cytoskeleton network to maintain normal chondrocyte structure and function. JNK and ERK pathways are the signal pathways involved in the cell apoptosis. The role of cytoskeletal proteins in cytoskeleton perturbation and cell apoptosis was investigated in this study. Objectives In vitro cell apoptosis was induced in rabbit articular chondrocytes by NO donor Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP). The JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 and ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 were employed to clarify the mechanism. The level of apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay and Annexin V flow cytometry. Results SNP induced concentration-dependent apoptosis, which was further enhanced by PD98059 but reduced by SP600125. Furthermore, PD98059 significantly increased caspase-3 expression and activity respectively, whereas SP600125 reduced caspase- 3 expression and activity. SP600125 increased the cytoskeletal protein mRNA and protein expression, while PD98059 decreased them. Conclusion Intracellular JNK/ERK pathways were involved in chondrocyte apoptosis induced by SNP through oppositely regulated effects on cytoskeletal proteins; ERK pathway protected cytoskeletal protein from dissolution via inhibition of caspase-3 activation, while JNK pathway promoted the dissolution via activation of caspase-3 activity.

PERCEIVED RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT QUALITY, PLACE ATTACHMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SATISFACTION: THE COMPETING MODELS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF CHINA

Kangkang Yu,Ning (Chris) Chen,Xinkai Zhu,Jian Gao 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2016 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2016 No.7

Level of urbanization in China has reached 53.73% in 2013, indicating a tremendous progress on the urbanization of China. On the other hand, the number of villages in China reduces by around one million from 3.6 million in 2000 to 2.7 million in 2010 (Zhang, 2014). Issues in both urban and rural areas of China appear, including the imbalance between increased population and limited resources in urban region, and more significantly, the increasing disparity between rural and urban areas. Chinese researchers interpret and analyse these matters from different perspectives. For instance, Zheng (2006) and Ma (2006) suggest the importance of the infrastructure construction and public service. Wu (2006) advises that the government should pay attention to the development of the secondary and tertiary industry. Wen (2005) proposes that the improvement of social institution and the recovery of social cultural environment are required to achieve sustainability in the urbanization process in China. Previous studies in environmental psychology put quality of life, attachment to place, and residence satisfaction at the center to understand the relationship between inhabitants and their neighborhood of residence. However, there are gaps in this research realm in both practice and theories. Firstly, very limited research studies this environmental psychology issue in China (e.g. Mao, Fornara, Manca, Bonnes, & Bonaiuto, 2015). Secondly, there are different opinions on the causal order between quality, attachment, and satisfaction. Research on the relationship between perceived residential environment quality (PREQ), place attachment, and environmental satisfaction has not reached a consensus. The debate on the direction of the causal relationship between perceived quality and satisfaction has been summarized by Bradya and Robertson (2001). They conclude that the quality to satisfaction causal order holds up well across diverse cultures. However, relevant debate is still ongoing. A number of research articles place satisfaction as an antecedent to attachment, e.g. Chen, Dwyer, and Firth (2014); Lee, Kyle, and Scott (2012); Ramkissoon and Mavondo (2015); etc. Some argue that place attachment is an indicator of satisfaction. Kyle et al. (2004) investigate the effect of place attachment on the perceived values of tourists and find that place attachment is an important factor explaining the variance of perceived values. This is supported by research e.g. Hwang, Lee, and Chen (2005); Prayag and Ryan (2012); Yuksel, Yuksel, Biljm (2010); etc. As to the relationship between perceived quality and attachment, the debate has not stopped. Through comparisons, Mesch and Manor (1996) conclude that the residents who give a higher evaluation of the social and natural environment may have greater place attachment. Brown, Perkins, and Brown (2003) also suggest that the residents who agree that the street environment is better would attach to this place. Sam, Bayram, and Bilgel (2012) have certified the relationship between residential environment quality and place attachment. Furthermore, Borrie and Roggenbuck (2001) and Walker and Ryan (2008) find that the connection between human beings and the nature environment would affect their affection toward the environment. It means that the closer the relationship with the nature environment is, the stronger the attachment would be, which in turn, enhances the intentions to protect the environment. This quality to satisfaction relationship is supported by other research such as Bonaiuto, Aiello, Perugini, Bonnes, and Ercolani (1999); Grisaffe and Nguyen (2011); Yu, Chen, and Chen (2015); etc. Nevertheless, a different opinion arguing that attachment to a place may affect one’s perception on the quality related to a place is emerging in tourism research (e.g. Neuvonen, Pouta, & Siev?nen, 2010). This paper takes the credit of quality → attachment → satisfaction causal order as the initial model and proposes three hypotheses as follows. H1a: One’s PREQ has a positive impact on his/her attachment to this place; H2a: One’s attachment to a place has a positive impact on his/her satisfaction to the environmental settings in this place; H3a: Place attachment in addition performs as a mediating role between PREQ and environment satisfaction.To be noted, the initial model has its theoretical basis as discussed above but is not necessarily the absolute optimal model. Relatively, this model provides more theoretical interpretation and practical implications in the specific research context: residential psychology in urban and rural areas of China. On this basis, this article further examines a competing model illustrating an alternative theoretical framework on the relationships between these three constructs (satisfaction → attachment → quality). Relatively, another group of hypotheses in this competing model is listed as follows. H1b: One’s attachment to a place has a positive impact on his/her PREQ; H2b: One’s satisfaction to the environmental settings in this place has a positive impact on his/her attachment to this place; H3b: Place attachment in addition performs as a mediating role between environment satisfaction and PREQ. A survey approach is employed and data are collected from several backgrounds. Dataset A (rural) is collected from three villages from Heilongjiang Province and two villages from Shandong Province in China from July to August 2014. The choices of the provinces, rural areas, and the sampling process are random. 490 valid questionnaires are included in the data analysis. Dataset B (urban) is collected via an online survey portal, which allows a nationwide sampling reach. In total 1368 online survey entries are recorded and 420 valid questionnaires are included, resulting in a valid rate of 30.7%. The measures for each construct are based on an extensive literature review. The measurement of perceived residential environment quality is from Sam, Bayram, & Bilgel’s (2012) development on the perception of residential environment. The measurement of place attachment in this study is adopted from Kyle, Graefe, and Manning’s (2005) and Chen, Dwyer, and Firth’s (2014) evaluation based place attachment dimensionality and scales. As for the scale of environmental satisfaction, Pelletier, Legault, and Tuson’s (1996) measure was applied. All the entire variables adopted multiple-item, 5-point Likert scales were adopted, where “1” indicated “strongly disagree” and “5” indicated “strongly agree”. After pre-testing the preliminary version of the survey instrument, a revised version was developed. This study adopts structural equation modeling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS) modeling given the small sample size and the explorative purpose of this study (Dijkstra & Henseler, 2015a). The software used was Smart PLS 3.0. The reliability and validity of the constructs were assessed. Cronbach’s alpha and the value of CR of each construct were found to exceed the cut-off value of 0.70 (Fornell & Larcker, 1981), except for adequacy of education which is close to 0.70 (only for Cronbach’s alpha but not for CR). Furthermore, the AVE of each construct exceeded the variance attributable to its measurement error cut-off value of 0.50 (Chin, 1998; Fornell & Larcker, 1981). In addition, heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) is recommended as a better method to test discriminant validity (Henseler, Dijkstra, Sarstedt, Ringle, Diamantopoulos, Straub, Ketchen, Hair, Hult, & Calantone, 2014). The result shows that there is neither value of the HTMT higher than the threshold of 0.85 nor confidence interval containing the value one, indicating that all the constructs exhibit satisfactory discriminant validity. The hypothesized effects in the theoretical model were tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The first group of models tested the effect of perceived environmental quality on environmental satisfaction through place attachment i.e. initial model (Model A, Model B, Model C), while the second group of models tested the reverse effect of environmental satisfaction on perceived environmental quality through place attachment (Model D, Model E, Model F). Both the full model and the multi-group model were tested. The value of SRMR of the full model that tests either the effect of perceived environmental quality on environmental satisfaction (SRMR = 0.104, t = 41.826, p < 0.001) or the reversed effect (SRMR = 0.106, t = 37.736, p < 0.001) shows that the models fit the data quite well (Dijkstra & Henseler, 2015b). However, the former is little bit more significant. In this study, PREQI is found different impacts on place attachment and environmental satisfaction. This provides evidence to support a similar mechanism of studying residents’ psychology with SERVEQUAL model. However, the model testing is found significantly different between rural and urban samples, indicating a systematic difference in the psychology of rural and urban populations. Quality ? attachment ? satisfaction causal order is found significant and supported by both samples in this study. However, a reversed causal order model (satisfaction ? attachment ? quality) is also supported by the samples. Although the results may not be able to end the debate on alternative models between PREQ, place attachment, and environmental satisfaction, this paper provides empirical evidence from a specific context (urban and rural China) for further research. Specifically, PREQ has a significant impact on place attachment in both urban and rural areas in China. As for the impact of place attachment on environmental satisfaction as well as the indirect impact of PREQ on environmental satisfaction, the influence is more significant in cities of China compared to rural areas. This suggests in the urban areas in China, affective and emotional responses to their lives play an important role to residents. Local government in cities should balance between improving and maintaining quality of the environment and strengthening local residents’ psychological attachment to the place. Governments in rural areas, on the other hand, should lay great focus on the physical aspects of the environment including nature, health, education, commerce, and venture of the rural areas, to enhance residents’ living experience and satisfaction. Further, there are some limitations. Although this study attempts to clarify the framework of “perception-affection-attitude” in the field of environment management, considering the practical implications, the future study could bring the individuals’ behaviors or intentions into this model such as willingness-to-pay for environment-friendly products. It will also benefit from reviewing more literature on community-based social marketing.

Inhibitory Abilities of Bacillus Isolates and Their Culture Filtrates against the Gray Mold Caused by Botrytis cinerea on Postharvest Fruit

Chen, Xiaomeng,Wang, Yajie,Gao, Yu,Gao, Tongguo,Zhang, Dongdong The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2019 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.35 No.5

Botrytis cinerea, a major phytopathogenic fungus, has been reported to infect more than 200 crop species worldwide, and it causes massive losses in yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory abilities and effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RS-25, Bacillus licheniformis MG-4, Bacillus subtilis Z-14, and Bacillus subtilis Pnf-4 and their culture filtrates and extracts against the gray mold caused by B. cinerea on postharvest tomato, strawberry, and grapefruit. The results revealed that the cells of Z-14, culture filtrate of RS-25, and cells of Z-14 showed the strongest biocontrol activity against the gray mold on the strawberry, grape, and tomato fruit, respectively. All the strains produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the VOCs of Pnf-4 displayed the highest inhibition values. Based on headspace solid-phase microextraction in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, esters accounted for the largest percentage of the VOCs produced by RS-25, MG-4, Z-14, and Pnf-4 (36.80%, 29.58%, 30.78%, and 36.26%, respectively). All the strains showed potent cellulase and protease activities, but no chitinase activity. RS-25, Z-14, and MG-4, but not Pnf-4, grew on chrome azurol S agar, and an orange halo was formed around the colonies. All the strains showed biofilm formation, fruit colonization, and lipopeptide production, which may be the main modes of action of the antagonists against B. cinerea on the fruit. This study provides the basis for developing natural biocontrol agents against the gray mold caused by B. cinerea on postharvest fruit.

Fuzzy adaptive control particle swarm optimization based on T-S fuzzy model of maglev vehicle suspension system

Chen Chen,Junqi Xu,Guobin Lin,Yougang Sun,Dinggang Gao 대한기계학회 2020 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.34 No.1

At present, with the gradual promotion of Maglev vehicles, the stability of the suspension system has gradually become a hotspot. During the operation of Maglev vehicles, vibration may be caused by external disturbances such as track irregularity, non-directional wind load and load variation. When the vibration amplitude is within the controllable range of the current parameters, the restraint effect can be achieved and the stable convergence can be formed. However, when the vibration amplitude exceeds the current controllable range, the maglev vehicle may break the track or even lose stability. In order to solve the possible adverse effects of external disturbances on the stability of the system, a T-S fuzzy model considering both parameter uncertainties and external disturbances is constructed, and a relatively mature fuzzy adaptive control method is used for suspension control. However, considering the tracking performance of the system control parameters and the response speed of the parameter changes when the external disturbance changes, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to optimize the system. The effectiveness of the optimized fuzzy adaptive control law in coordinating the closed-loop stability of the suspension system is proved in terms of response speed and convergence performance. Based on linear matrix inequality (LMI), the control response region satisfying the control performance after optimization is defined, and Lyapunov method is adopted to prove the stability of the optimized algorithm in controlling vehicle fluctuation operation. The simulation and experimental results show that the fuzzy adaptive control algorithm optimized by particle swarm optimization can further improve the speed of parameter optimization and the tracking performance of the system in the face of external disturbances and internal system parameter perturbations within a given range of control parameters. Compared with previous control strategies, the controller can greatly improve the response speed and the closed-loop information updating ability of the system in the face of disturbances, so that the system has stronger robustness and faster dynamic response.

BmNPV Infection Enhances Ubiquitin-conjugating Enzyme E2 Expression in the Midgut of BmNPV Susceptible Silkworm Strain

Gao, Lu,Chen, Keping,Yao, Qin,Chen, Huiqing Korean Society of Sericultural Science 2006 International Journal of Industrial Entomology Vol.13 No.1

The ubiquitin conjugating enzyme 2 (E2) is core component of ubiquitin proteasome pathway (UPP) which represents a selective mechanism for intracellular proteolysis in eukaryotic cells. The E2 has been implicated in the intracellular transfer of ubiquitin to target protein. We show here the involvement of E2 in antiviral immune of Bombyx mori to Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV). In this study, mRNA fluorescent differential display PCR (FDD-PCR) was performed with BmNPV highly resistant silkworm strain NB and susceptible silkworm strain 306. At 24 h post BmNPV infection, FDD-PCR with the arbitrary primer AP34 showed that one cDNA band was down-regulated in the midgut of resistant strain, but highly expressed in susceptible strain. The deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA clone share 99% identity with the recently published B. mori ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 (Genbank NO: DQ311351). Fluorescent quantitative PCR corroborated down regulation of E2 in resistant strain. We there conclude that BmNPV infection evokes strong response of susceptible strain including activation of UPP. BmNPV may evolve escape mechanisms that manipulate the UPP in order to persist in the infected host. In addition, the identification of down-regulation of E2 in resistant strain, as well as structure data, are essential to understanding how UPP operates in silkworm antiviral immune to BmNPV disease.

China Consensus Document on Allergy Diagnostics

Chen Hao,Li Jing,Cheng Lei,Gao Zhongshan,Lin Xiaoping,Zhu Rongfei,Yang Lin,Tao Ailin,Hong Haiyu,Tang Wei,Guo Yinshi,Huang Huaiqiu,Sun Jinlyu,Lai He,Lei Cheng,Liu Guanghui,Xiang Li,Chen Zhuanggui,Ma Ha 대한천식알레르기학회 2021 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.13 No.2

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased dramatically in recent years in China, affecting the quality of life in 40% of the population. The identification of allergens is the key to the diagnosis of allergic diseases. Presently, several methods of allergy diagnostics are available in China, but they have not been standardized. Additionally, cross-sensitization and co-sensitization make allergy diagnostics even more complicated. Based on 4 aspects of allergic disease (mechanism, diagnosis procedures, allergen detection in vivo and in vitro as well as the distribution map of the most important airborne allergens in China) and by referring to the consensus of the European Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the World Allergy Organization, and the important literature on allergy diagnostics in China in recent years, we drafted this consensus of allergy diagnostics with Chinese characteristics. It aims to standardize the diagnostic methods of allergens and provides a reference for health care givers. The current document was prepared by a panel of experts from the main stream of professional allergy associations in China.

Synergistic Increase of Oxidative Stress and Tumor Markers in PAH-Exposed Workers

Gao, Mei-Li,Chen, Lei,Li, Yong-Fei,Xue, Xiao-Chang,Chen, Lan,Wang, Li-Na,Shah, Walayat,Kong, Yu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.17

In this study, we investigated oxidative stress and tumor marker levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 136 coke oven workers and in 60 control subjects, and evaluated the correlation between oxidative stress and tumor marker levels. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were also administered. Significant differences in employment time and percentages of alcohol drinkers were observed between the control and exposed groups. PAH exposure was assessed using urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) levels and was found to be significantly higher in workers than in the controls. Significant differences (P<0.001) of MDA, GST, LDH, NSE, Cyfra21-1, and of SCC and TNF-a (P<0.0001 and P<0.05, P<0.001, respectively) levels were observed among controls and coke-oven workers, except for bottom coke oven workers. Associations between age and risk of increased TNF-a, smoking and increased GST activities, and drinking with increased MDA concentrations, were marginal (P=0.055, P=0.048, P=0.057, respectively). The association between smoking with MDA (P=0.004), NSE (P=0.005), SCC (P=0.004) andTNF-a (P<0.001), and drinking with TNF-a levels was significant (P=0.012). In addition, a significant positive correlation between oxidative stress and tumor markers was found in the present study. These results suggest that a synergistic increase of oxidative stress and tumor markers induced by PAHs may play a role in toxic responses for PAHs in coke oven workers.

Hypoglycemic Properties of Polysaccharides Extracted from Ganoderma lucidum in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Gao, Yihuai,Gao, He,Chan, Eli,Tan, Wenbo,Lan, Jin,Koh, Hwee-Ling,Chen, Guoliang,Zhou, Shufeng The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2004 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.9 No.3

A recent randomized and double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study bas indicated that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) decrease blood glucose in patients with type II diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the GLP extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of GLP at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 4 weeks resulted in a reduction of blood glucose levels by 12.5, 18.7 and 33.7% respectively, while glibenclamide treatment brought the hyperglycemic value down to normal. The hyperglycemic effect was supported by a significant decrease in glycosylated haemoglobin and increased plasma insulin levels (p<0.01) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This study showed that GLP has similar hypoglycemic effects as glibenclamide in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

3,7-Dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenanthrene, A New Phenanthrene from Bulbophyllum Odoratissimum

Chen, Ye-Gao,Xu, Jun-Ju,Yu, Hong,Qing, Chen,Zhang, Yan-Li,Liu, Ying,Wang, Ji-Hua Korean Chemical Society 2007 대한화학회지 Vol.51 No.4

Efficient stereoselective synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated acids, α-Cyanoacrylonitriles and α-Cyanoacrylates has been carried out in the presence of NaHSO4·SiO2 under solvent?free conditions with an E-geometry. A new phenanthrene derivative 3,7-dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenanthrene was isolated from the all plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, and its structure was elucidated by extensive spectral studies and chemical transformation. The compound displayed cytotoxicity against the growth of human leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60, human lung adenocarcinoma A549, human hepatoma BEL-7402 and human stomach cancer cell lines SGC-7901 with IC50 values of 14.23, 10.02, 3.42, 15.36 and 1.13 mg/ml respectively.

SDC4 Gene Silencing Favors Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition via Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Chen, Liang-Liang,Gao, Ge-Xin,Shen, Fei-Xia,Chen, Xiong,Gong, Xiao-Hua,Wu, Wen-Jun Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.9

As the most common type of endocrine malignancy, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for 85-90% of all thyroid cancers. In this study, we presented the hypothesis that SDC4 gene silencing could effectively attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promote cell apoptosis via the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway in human PTC cells. Bioinformatics methods were employed to screen the determined differential expression levels of SDC4 in PTC and adjacent normal samples. PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were prepared and their respective levels of SDC4 protein positive expression, in addition to the mRNA and protein levels of SDC4, $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway, EMT and apoptosis related genes were all detected accordingly. Flow cytometry was applied in order to detect cell cycle entry and apoptosis. Finally, analyses of PTC migration and invasion abilities were assessed by using a Transwell assay and scratch test. In PTC tissues, activated $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway, increased EMT and repressed cell apoptosis were determined. Moreover, the PTC K1 and TPC-1 cell lines exhibiting the highest SDC4 expression were selected for further experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that SDC4 gene silencing could suppress cell migration, invasion and EMT, while acting to promote the apoptosis of PTC cells by inhibiting the activation of the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. Besides, $si-{\beta}-catenin$ was observed to inhibit the promotion of PTC cell migration and invasion caused by SDC4 overexpression. Our study revealed that SDC4 gene silencing represses EMT, and enhances cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway in human PTC.