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Rong Zhu

Publications and source records attributed to Rong Zhu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2024

The association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism FokI and type 2 diabetic kidney disease and its molecular mechanism: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The role of the vitamin D receptor single nucleotide polymorphism FOKI (VDR-FOKI) (rs2228570) in genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between VDR-FOKI and T2DKD within the Chinese Plateau Han population and analyzed the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 316 subjects were enrolled, including 44 healthy adults, 114 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and 158 patients with T2DKD. According to the 2023 American Diabetes Association Diabetes Guidelines, patients with T2DKD were categorized into low-medium-risk and high-risk groups based on estimates of glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. The VDR-FokI genotypes of all participants were identified using the Taqman probe and classified as homozygous mutant genotypes (C/C or FF), heterozygous mutant genotypes (C/T or Ff), and homozygous wild genotypes (T/T or ff). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) were assessed in T2DKD patients with FF and ff genotypes. Additionally, the levels of plasma VDR, GPX4, and P53 were determined using ELISA, while the relative expressions of VDR mRNA, GPX4 mRNA, and TP53 mRNA in whole blood were measured by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The T2DM patients with the ff genotype exhibited a 2.93-fold increased likelihood of developing T2DKD compared to those with the FF genotype (ORadjusted = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.142-7.513). Additionally, they were 2.01 times more likely to develop T2DKD than individuals with the FF and Ff genotypes (ORadjusted = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.008-4.006). However, no significant differences in VDR-FokI genotype distribution were observed between the healthy control group and the T2DM group, as well as between the low-medium-risk and high-risk groups of T2DKD. Furthermore, T2DKD patients with the ff genotype had significantly higher plasma levels of MDA compared to those with the FF genotype. In contrast, plasma GSH and SOD content was significantly lower in the ff genotype patients (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Additionally, the GPX4 concentration in ff genotype patients was significantly lower than in FF genotype patients [14.88 (11.32,22.39) vs. 12.76 (8.55,13.75), P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.037]. Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was observed in the expression of VDRmRNA, GPX4mRNA, TP53mRNA, plasma VDR, and plasma P53. CONCLUSIONS: The ff genotype of VDR-FokI is a risk factor for T2DKD, and the potential mechanism may be related to ferroptosis. However, It is not associated with T2DM or the progression of T2DKD.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

The innate immune response to grass carp hemorrhagic virus (GCHV) in cultured Carassius auratus blastulae (CAB) cells.

Virus infection of mammalian cells activates an innate antiviral immune response characterized by production of interferon (IFN) and the subsequent transcriptional upregulation of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Here, we report that a fish cell line, crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) blastulae embryonic (CAB) cells, can produce IFN activity and then form an antiviral state after infection with UV-inactivated grass carp hemorrhagic virus (GCHV), a double-stranded (ds) RNA virus. From UV-inactivated GCHV-infected CAB cells, 15 pivotal genes were cloned and sequenced, and all of them were shown to be involved in IFN antiviral innate immune response. These IFN system genes include the dsRNA signal sensing factor TLR3, IFN, IFN signal transduction factor STAT1, IFN regulatory factor IRF7, putative IFN antiviral effectors Mx1, Mx2, PKR-like, Viperin, IFI56, and other IFN stimulated genes (ISGs) IFI58, ISG15-1, ISG15-2, USP18, Gig1 and Gig2. The identified fish IFN system genes were highly induced by active GCHV, UV-inactivated GCHV, CAB IFN or poly(I).poly(C), and showed similar expression patterns to mammals. The data indicate that an IFN antiviral innate immune response similar to that in mammals exists in the UV-inactivated GCHV-infected CAB cells, and the IFN response contributes to the formation of an antiviral state probably through JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This study provides strong evidence for existence of IFN antiviral innate immune response in fish, and will assist in elucidating the origin and evolution of vertebrate IFN system.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Molecular characterisation and inductive expression of a fish protein arginine methyltransferase 1 gene in response to virus infection.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is currently thought as an effector to regulate interferon (IFN) signalling. Here Paralichthys olivaceus PRMT1 (PoPRMT1) gene was identified as a virally induced gene from UV-inactivated Scophthalmus maximus Rhabdovirus (SMRV)-infected flounder embryonic cells (FEC). PoPMRT1 encodes a 341-amino-acid protein that shares the conserved domains including post-I, motif I, II and III. Homology comparisons show that the putative PoPMRT1 protein is the closest to zebrafish PMRT1 and belongs to type I PRMT family (including PRMT1, PRMT2, PRMT3, PRMT4, PRMT6, PRMT8). Expression analyses revealed an extensive distribution of PoPMRT1 in all tested tissues of flounder. In vitro induction of PoPRMT1 was determined in UV-inactivated SMRV-infected FEC cells, and under the same conditions, flounder Mx was also transcriptionally up-regulated, indicating that an IFN response might be triggered. Additionally, live SMRV infection of flounders induced an increased expression of PoPRMT1 mRNA and protein significantly in spleen, and to a lesser extent in head kidney and intestine. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a major cyptoplasmic distribution of PoPRMT1 in normal FEC but an obvious increase occurred in nucleus in response to UV-inactivated SMRV. This is the first report on in vitro and in vivo expression of fish PRMT1 by virus infection, suggesting that PoPRMT1 might be implicated in flounder antiviral immune response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Molecular cloning and stress-induced expression of paralichthys olivaceus heme-regulated initiation factor 2alpha kinase.

The heme-regulated initiation factor 2alpha kinase (HRI) is acknowledged to play an important role in translational shutoff in reticulocytes in response to various cellular stresses. In this study, we report its homologous cDNA cloning and characterization from cultured flounder embryonic cells (FEC) after treatment with UV-inactivated grass carp haemorrhagic virus (GCHV). The full-length cDNA of Paralichthys olivaceus HRI homologue (PoHRI) has 2391 bp and encodes a protein of 651 amino acids. The putative PoHRI protein exhibits high identity with all members of eIF2alpha kinase family. It contains 12 catalytic subdomains located within the C-terminus of all Ser/Thr protein kinases, a unique kinase insertion of 136 amino acids between subdomains IV and V, and a relatively conserved N-terminal domain (NTD). Upon heat shock, virus infection or Poly I:C treatment, PoHRI mRNA and protein are significantly upregulated in FEC cells but show different expression patterns in response to different stresses. In healthy flounders, PoHRI displays a wide tissue distribution at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results indicate that PoHRI is a ubiquitous eIF2alpha kinase and might play an important role in translational control over nonheme producing FEC cells under different stresses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Regulation of MUC5AC mucin secretion by depletion of AQP5 in SPC-A1 cells.

Airway mucus is regulated by many inflammatory mediators such as ILs, TNF-alpha, EGF, PGF2alpha, LT, and so on. Recently, the relationship between membrane ion channel and mucus production has been under investigation. The present study aimed to examine whether AQP5 was involved in modulation of mucin expression and secretion in airway submucosal gland cells (SPC-A1). A recombinant plasmid (pShAQP5) containing small hairpin RNA expression cassette targeting AQP5 sequence was constructed. In pShAQP5 transiently transfected cells, ELISA showed MUC5AC synthesis and secretion were increased by 57.9% and 85.3%, respectively, on day 5 after pShAQP5 transfection. While in five stably transfected clones (shAQP5-G1, G2, G3, A2, and A5), the upregulated levels of MUC5AC mRNA were 118%, 165%, 65%, 123%, and 38%, respectively. The elevated levels of MUC5AC synthesis and secretion varied from 59-156% and 33-166%, respectively. This is the first reliable investigation of the regulation of MUC5AC mucin secretion by silencing AQP5. Further study of the regulatory mechanism between AQPs and mucins may provide new strategies for development of novel antihypersecretory drugs in airway diseases.

Aquaporin 5↗
PubMed2006

Potential role of short hairpin RNA targeting epidermal growth factor receptor in growth and sensitivity to drugs of human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Upregulation of expression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in the development and progression of a wide range of human cancers. The present study aims at determining gene-silencing effects of vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting EGFR on receptor expression and cell growth and evaluating its modulation of responsiveness to drugs in human lung adenocarcinoma cells (HLAC). A vector-based polymerase 3-promotor system was used to express shRNA targeting EGFR in HLAC lines (A549 and SPC-A1). EGFR was detected by immunofluorescence staining and quantified by Western blot. The effect of shRNA targeting EGFR on tumor cell growth was assessed by colony formation assay, cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry, and the responsiveness of HLAC lines to cytotoxic drugs by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiozol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay. Vectors expressing shRNA against EGFR significantly downregulated receptor expression by 74 and 85% and the colony number by 63 and 69% in A549 and SPC-A1, respectively. Vector-based shRNA against EGFR caused G1 arrest, induced apoptosis, and subsequently increased the sensitivity to cisplatin, doxorubicin and paclitaxel by about four- to seven-fold in both HLAC lines. Our data suggest that vector-based shRNA could be considered as an alternative to effectively inhibit EGFR expression in HLACs, probably with the higher efficacy in combination therapies with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Glass surfaces grafted with high-density poly(ethylene glycol) as substrates for DNA oligonucleotide microarrays.

Surfaces carrying a dense layer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared, characterized, and tested as substrates for DNA oligonucleotide microarrays. PEG bis(amine) with a molecular weight of 2000 was grafted onto silanized glass slides bearing aldehyde groups. After grafting, the terminal amino groups of the PEG layer were derivatized with the heterobifunctional cross-linker succinimidyl 4-[p-maleimidophenyl]butyrate to permit the immobilization of thiol-modified DNA oligonucleotides. The stepwise chemical modification was validated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Goniometry indicated that the PEG grafting procedure reduced surface inhomogeneities present after the silanization step, while atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry confirmed that the PEG layer was dense and monomolecular. Hybridization assays using DNA oligonucleotides and fluorescence imaging showed that PEG grafting improved the yield in hybridization 4-fold compared to non-PEGylated maleimide-derivatized surfaces. In addition, the PEG layer reduced the nonspecific adsorption of DNA by a factor of up to 13, demonstrating that surfaces with a dense PEG layer represent suitable substrates for DNA oligonucleotide microarrays.

Coated Materials, Biocompatible↗
PubMed2006

Prognostic analysis in chronic hepatitis B patients: a retrospective study of 216 cases about Scheuer scores, in situ expression of viral antigens and tissue hepatitis B virus DNA levels.

BACKGROUND: Most of the previous studies of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection concentrated on serum samples. Liver biopsy specimens for HBV have not been systematically analyzed. This study was performed to analyze some histopathological indicators (Scheuer scores, the expression of HBV antigens in situ, HBV DNA quantification) in the biopsy samples and showed the relationship among them and the prognosis of chronic hepatitis. METHODS: A total of 216 consecutive chronic HBV-infected patients were followed up by clinical and laboratory data and classified into two groups at first: carcinogenesis and non-carcinogenesis. The non-carcinogenesis also included two groups: cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis. The non-cirrhosis was still divided into fluctuation and normalization at last. Histological activity index was described by Scheuer scores. Two-step immunohistochemical staining showed the expression of viral antigens in situ. Tissue HBV DNA levels were determined by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the expression of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and grading, as well as between hepatitis Bx (HBx) protein and grading or staging of Scheuer scores. Positive correlations between grading or staging and prognosis were statistically significant. The expressions of HBeAg and HBx protein were higher in patients with cirrhosis than those without cirrhosis. Scheuer score was the most important indicator of prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: HBeAg and HBx protein can be used as indicators of hepatitis activity and their positive expressions increase the risk for cirrhosis remarkably. In addition to be a marker of liver damage, Scheuer score is the most reliable indicator of the prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Overexpression of NDRG1: relationship with proliferative activity and invasiveness of breast cancer cell line and breast cancer metastasis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between NDRG1 and metastasis of breast cancer and the effects of NDRG1 overexpression on the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. METHODS: NDRG1 was detected at its protein level by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and its messenger RNA (mRNA) was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) in clinical breast cancer specimens. Liposome was used to transiently transfer NDRG1 into MDA-MB-231, a highly invasive human breast cancer cell line. The proliferation of MDA-MB-231 was measured by Bromodeoxy Uridine (BrdU) incorporation assay and the transfection effect on cell cycle distribution was determined by fluorescence assisted cell sorting (FACS). The invasive ability of the transfected cells was investigated by reconstituted matrigel invasion and polycarbonate filters migration experiments. RESULTS: NDRG1 expressions at protein and mRNA levels in tumors of patients with lymph node metastases were significantly lower as compared with those with localized breast cancers (P < 0.01). The amount of NDRG1 mRNA in MCF7, a relatively non-invasive breast cancer cell line, was 10.8 times higher than that in MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.01). The BrdU incorporation rate declined significantly (P < 0.05) in NDRG1 overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells. An increase of the cell population at G(0)/G(1) phase was observed 48 hours post-transfection along with a decrease of cell population at S phase. Overexpression of NDRG1 significantly retarded the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells in matrigel-coated invasion chambers (P < 0.05), when compared to cells transfected with control vectors. However, the migration abilities of cells with or without the transfection were virtually identical. CONCLUSIONS: NDRG1 expression reversely correlates with breast cancer metastasis and progression, and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for predicting early metastasis. The inhibition of proliferation and invasion demonstrated by our MDA-MB-231 transfection experiments implies that NDRG1 is a tumor metastasis suppressor gene and may be a new candidate for gene therapy against human breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

[Application of global positioning system and geographic information system in surveillance of schistosomiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To use the snail survey data of Yugan, Jiangxi Province as an example to evaluate the effects and advantages of global positioning system integrated with digital maps and remote sensing data in order to manage and analyze the whole country's surveillance data of schistosomiasis by using geographic information system. METHODS: The data of geographic information and snail information of 20 marshlands in Yugan, Jiangxi Province were collected, and by the correction of remote sensing images based on the digital maps and index extraction, the snail current situation and trend were analyzed and expressed. RESULTS: A series of specific procedure images of these 20 marshlands was established and the effects of Yugan surveillance platform based on geographic information system were validated. CONCLUSION: The whole country's surveillance data of schistosomiasis might be successfully integrated with geographic information system by global positioning system and be managed and expressed, which supplies a successful platform in using the surveillance data effectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Effects of land surface temperature on supervising the existing area of snails].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the land surface temperature's effect on supervising the areas with snails, comparing the land surface temperature (LST) of the areas with snails with the LST of those without snails. METHODS: Choosing the lake areas of farmland in Jiangxi Province and the beach in the bank of Ganjiang, dividing into four areas according to snails. Picking up the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and LST from the remote sensing data to find the difference between the areas with snails and the areas without snails, so as to illuminate the effects of the LST on distinguishing the areas with snails. RESULTS: The NDVI of Dongfeng Wei (an area from farmland to lake) was 0 - 0.20, the NDVI of the areas with snails was 0.20 - 0.40. The NDVI of four areas is different (chi(2) = 104.69, P < 0.01). The LST of Dongfeng wei was 24 - 30 degrees C, Wuzhoutou without snails is 23 - 28 degrees C, Wuzhoutou with snails is 22 - 26 degrees C, Changjiangzhou was 20 - 24 degrees C. The LST of four areas is different (chi(2) = 115.23, P < 0.01). The analysis farther indicates the NDVI of areas without snails was lower than that of areas with snails, but the LST was higher. CONCLUSION: The NDVI and (or) the LST should be significantly different between the areas with snails and the areas without, it might be concluded that the LST should be a indication to some extent on judging whether some areas may be fit for snails.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Downregulation of aquaporin 5 induced by vector-based short hairpin RNA and its effect on MUC5AC gene expression in human airway submucosal gland cells.

The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of homologous water channels expressed in many epithelial and endothelial cells, however no reliable and non-toxic inhibitors of AQPs have been reported yet. Our researchers have analyzed the changes of AQP5 expression induced by vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in the human airway submucosal gland cell line (SPC-A1) and observed its regulation on the expression of MUC5AC gene. Localizations of AQP5 and MUC5AC in SPC-A1cells were detected by Immunofluorescence. AQP5 mRNA was significantly reduced by 75.1% one day after transfection with specific shRNA, named shAQP5. However, the significant suppression of AQP5 protein did not appear until day 5 after transfection. MUC5AC mRNA was remarkably increased by 119.9% On day 3 after shAQP5 transfection, while comparable MUC5AC protein changes were not found in SPC-A1 cells with flow cytometry analysis. These results indicate that vector-based shRNA could be used as a potential tool to inhibit the expression of AQP5. This is the first investigation providing evidence demonstrating the regulation of the mucin gene by AQP5 gene silencing.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Inductive expression and characterization analysis of Paralichthys olivaceus pigment epithelium-derived factor in a virally infected cell line.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is acknowledged to be a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily, with antiangiogenesis, and neuroprotective and immunoregulatory function, mainly in the tissues of nervous system. Here, A PEDF gene homolog, Paralichthys olivaceus PEDF (PoPEDF), was isolated from flounder embryonic cells (FEC) treated with UV-inactivated Grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) and subsequently identified as a differentially expressed gene. The full length of PoPEDF cDNA is 1803bp with an open reading frame of 1212bp encoding a 403-amino-acid protein. This deduced protein contains an N-terminal signal peptide, a glycosylation site, a consensus serpin motif, and a 34-mer and a 44-mer fragment, all of which are very conserved in the PEDF family. PoPEDF gene exhibits a conserved exon-intron arrangement with 8 exons and 7 introns. This conserved evolutionary relationship was further confirmed by a phylogenetic analysis, where fish PEDFs and mammalian members formed a well-supported clade. Constitutive expression of PoPEDF was widely detected in many tissues. In response to UV-inactivated GCHV or poly(I:C), PEDF mRNA was upregulated in FEC cells with time. This is the first report on the transcriptional induction of PEDF in virally infected cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

A geographic information and remote sensing based model for prediction of Oncomelania hupensis habitats in the Poyang Lake area, China.

A model was developed using remote sensing and geographic information system technologies for habitat identification of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host snail of Schistosoma japonicum, in the Poyang Lake area, China. In a first step, two multi-temporal Landsat TM 5 satellite images, one from the wet and the second from the dry season, were visually classified into different land-use types. Next, the normalized difference vegetation index was extracted from the images and the tasseled-cap transformation was employed to derive the wetness feature. Our model predicted an estimated 709 km2 of the marshlands in Poyang Lake as potential habitats for O. hupensis. Near-ground temperature measurements in April and August yielded a range of 22.8-24.2 degrees C, and pH values of 6.0-8.5 were derived from existing records. Both climatic features represent suitable breeding conditions for the snails. Preliminary validation of the model at 10 sites around Poyang Lake revealed an excellent accuracy for predicting the presence of O. hupensis. We used the predicted snail habitats as centroids and established buffer zones around them. Villages with an overall prevalence of S. japonicum below 3% were located more than 1200m away from the centroids. Furthermore, a gradient of high-to-low prevalence was observed with increasing distance from the centroids. In conclusion, the model holds promise for identifying high risk areas of schistosomiasis japonica and may become an important tool for the ongoing national schistosomiasis control programme. The model is of particular relevance for schistosome-affected regions that lack accurate surveillance capabilities and are large enough to be detected at most commercially available remote sensing scales.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The role of 'passive chemotherapy' plus health education for schistosomiasis control in China during maintenance and consolidation phase.

In order to explore the possibility of further optimising schistosomiasis control during the maintenance and consolidation phase in China, two highly endemic villages were selected to compare the strategy of 'passive chemotherapy' plus health education to that of mass chemotherapy singly. Emphasis was placed on treatment coverage with praziquantel among individuals infected with Schistosoma japonicum and costs incurred for treating an infected person. The results show that the former strategy was almost as good as the latter producing treatment coverage rates among egg-positives of 96.2-97.1% during 2 years, while corresponding rates of 100% were achieved in the village where mass chemotherapy was employed. Importantly, the cost of the former strategy was only about half that of mass chemotherapy, i.e. 49.0% in the first year and 54.6% in the following. Moreover, 'passive chemotherapy' together with health education can conveniently be integrated into the primary health care system making it an attractive strategy for schistosomiasis control during the maintenance and consolidation phase.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Structure and distribution of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4Ba toxin in lipid membranes.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry delta-endotoxins cause death of susceptible insect larvae by forming lytic pores in the midgut epithelial cell membranes. The 65 kDa trypsin activated Cry4Ba toxin was previously shown to be capable of permeabilizing liposomes and forming ionic channels in receptor-free planar lipid bilayers. Here, magnetic ACmode (MACmode) atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the lateral distribution and the native molecular structure of the Cry4Ba toxin in the membrane. Liposome fusion and the Langmuir-Blodgett technique were employed for supported lipid bilayer preparations. The toxin preferentially inserted in a self-assembled structure, rather than as a single monomeric molecule. In addition, the spontaneous insertion into receptor-free lipid bilayers lead to formation of characteristic pore-like structures with four-fold symmetry, suggesting that tetramers are the preferred oligomerization state of this toxin.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Generalized Poisson distribution: the property of mixture of Poisson and comparison with negative binomial distribution.

We prove that the generalized Poisson distribution GP(theta, eta) (eta > or = 0) is a mixture of Poisson distributions; this is a new property for a distribution which is the topic of the book by Consul (1989). Because we find that the fits to count data of the generalized Poisson and negative binomial distributions are often similar, to understand their differences, we compare the probability mass functions and skewnesses of the generalized Poisson and negative binomial distributions with the first two moments fixed. They have slight differences in many situations, but their zero-inflated distributions, with masses at zero, means and variances fixed, can differ more. These probabilistic comparisons are helpful in selecting a better fitting distribution for modelling count data with long right tails. Through a real example of count data with large zero fraction, we illustrate how the generalized Poisson and negative binomial distributions as well as their zero-inflated distributions can be discriminated.

Binomial Distribution↗