Abstract Introduction/objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a classic prototype of the multisystem autoimmune disease and follows a relapsing and remitting course. Triptolide is a diterpene triepoxide extracted from Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, with potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. Our previous work observed that triptolide alleviated lupus in MRL/lpr lupus mice with the upregulation of regulatory T cells (Treg) proportion in previous study. In this study, we explored the proportion of follicular T regulatory (Tfr), follicular T helper (Tfh) and germinal center (GC) B cells in lupus mice and evaluated the efficacy of triptolide for lupus treatment in vivo. Methods 20 female MRL/lpr mice were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups and treated orally with vehicle or triptolide. C3H mice were all housed as controlled group and treated orally with vehicle. The percentage of Tfr cells, Tfh cells and GC B cells in spleen of mice were detected by Flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry after 13 weeks of treatment. Results We found that the percentage of Tfr cells decreased in MRL/lpr mice compared with controlled mice. The percentage of Tfh cells in MRL/lpr mice was significantly higher compared with that in controlled mice. The ratio of Tfr/Tfh is also decreased in lupus mice. After treated with triptolide in MRL/Lpr mice in vivo, the percentage of Tfr cells and ratio of Tfr/Tfh increased. The proportion of GC B cells also decreased in mice treated with triptolide by FACS and immunohistochemistry. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the effect of triptolide in alleviating lupus is partly by reversing immune imbalance with increased percentage of Tfr cells and ratio of Tfr/Tfh. Triptolide might also has effect on immune response through inhibiting proliferating GC B cells.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Idesia polycarpa fruit blackening on fruit and seed morphological characteristics, oil content, fatty acid content, seed germination rate and physiological properties. Germination tests were conducted under dry and wet storage at 5 °C for 0 d, 20 d, 40 d, 60 d and 80 d. The fruit mass, the 100-grain weight, the moisture content, the oil content of seeds and oleic acid in unsaturated fatty acids of black fruit are significantly lower than red fruit (P < 0.05). The germination rate of black fruit seeds was higher than red under wet storage and the malondialdehyde content of black fruits decreased with increasing storage time. Our results demonstrated that black fruits of I. polycarpa should not be discarded indiscriminately and that the color of the fruits can be chosen according to the purpose of use. Black fruits are picked for species propagation, while red fruits are mainly harvested for oil extraction.

Resumo: O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar os efeitos do escurecimento dos frutos de Idesia polycarpa nas características morfológicas dos frutos e sementes, teor de óleo, teor de ácidos graxos, taxa de germinação das sementes e propriedades fisiológicas. Os testes de germinação foram realizados sob armazenamento seco e úmido a 5 ° C por 0 d, 20 d, 40 d, 60 d e 80 d. A massa dos frutos, o peso de 100 sementes, o teor de umidade, o teor de óleo das sementes e ácido oleico nos ácidos graxos insaturados dos frutos pretos são significativamente inferiores aos dos frutos vermelhos (P < 0,05). A taxa de germinação das sementes de frutos pretos foi maior que dos frutos vermelhos sob armazenamento úmido e o teor de malonaldeído dos frutos pretos diminuiu com o aumento do tempo de armazenamento. Nossos resultados demonstraram que os frutos pretos de I. polycarpa não devem ser descartados indiscriminadamente e que a cor dos frutos pode ser escolhida de acordo com a finalidade de uso. Os frutos pretos são colhidos para propagação de espécies, enquanto os frutos vermelhos são colhidos principalmente para extração de óleo.

Abstract The function and mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 974 (LINC00974) are rarely reported in ovarian cancer (OC). The study aimed to investigate how LINC00974 affects the progression of OC. The expression levels of LINC00974, microRNA-33a (miR-33a), and high mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), and biotinylated RNA pull-down assays. A series of in vitro experiments were employed to assess the effects of LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis on the proliferation, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of OC cells. Results showed that LINC00974 and HMGB2 mRNA expression were upregulated in OC cells, while miR-33a expression was downregulated. HMGB2 was a direct target gene of miR-33a. LINC00974 act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to directly bind with miR-33a, thereby upregulated HMGB2 expression. Notably, silencing of LINC00974 suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and EMT of OC cells, whereas miR-33a knockdown partially reversed the phenotypes of LINC00974 on OC cells. Overall, our study demonstrated that LINC00974 sponges miR-33a to promote cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT of OC through HMGB2 upregulation. LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis may be an important signaling pathway in the progression of OC.

Abstract Objective Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is an oral cancer, with high malignancy and frequent early migration and invasion. Only a few drugs can treat tongue cancer. Ginsenoside Rd is a ginseng extract with anti-cancer effects. Many noncoding RNAs are abnormally expressed in tongue cancer, thus influencing its occurrence and development. H19 and miR-675-5p can promote cancer cell growth. This study aimed to analyze the regulation effect of ginsenoside Rd on H19 and miR-675-5p in tongue cancer. Methodology We used CCK8 and flow cytometry to study the growth and apoptosis. Transwell assay was used to assess invasion; wound-healing assay to assess migration; and colony formation assays to test the ability of cells to form colonies. H19, miR-675-5p, and CDH1 expressions were analyzed by qPCR. E-cadherin expression was detected using western blot. CRISPR/cas9 system was used for CDH1 knockout. Results Ginsenoside Rd inhibited the growth and increased the apoptosis of SCC9 cells. Ginsenoside Rd also inhibited the migration and invasion of SCC9 cells. H19 and miR-675-5p were highly expressed, while CDH1 and E-cadherin expressions were low. H19 and miR-675-5p promoted SCC9 metastasis. In contrast, CDH1 and E-cadherin inhibited the metastasis of SCC9 cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-675-5p was associated with CDH1. H19 and miR-675-5p expressions decreased after ginsenoside Rd treatment, while CDH1 and E-cadherin expressions increased. Conclusions Ginsenoside Rd inhibits tongue cancer cell migration and invasion via the H19/miR-675-5p/CDH1 axis.