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Biomedical subjects

Xiaoming Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Xiaoming Liu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Mechanism of the cardioprotection of rhEPO pretreatment on suppressing the inflammatory response in ischemia-reperfusion.

Erythropoietin (EPO), originally known for its role in stimulation of erythropoiesis, has recently been shown to have a dramatic protective effect in animal models of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. However, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. We tried to study the anti-inflammatory properties of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) using an in vivo myocardial I-R rat model, which was established by 30 min ligation of left descending coronary and 3 h reperfusion. rhEPO or saline solution was intraperitoneally injected 24 h before I-R insult. The infarct size was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)-Evans blue technique. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tissue neutrophil infiltration were studied. Ultrastructural organizations were observed and semiquantitatively evaluated. Tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 concentrations of left ventricle were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbance assays; intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction; and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, respectively. We found that a single bolus injection of 5000 units/kg of rhEPO 24 h before insult remarkably reduced infarct size and neutrophil infiltration. It greatly attenuated I-R-induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation with decreased TNF-alpha, IL-6, and ICAM-1 production, but enhanced IL-10 production. In conclusion, the cardioprotection of EPO may be due in part to the suppression of the inflammatory response via down-regulation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 induced by I-R. IL-10 was also suggested to play a protective role through another independent mechanism involved in cardioprotection of rhEPO.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Experimental investigation of an inhomogeneous loss and its influence on multiwavelength fiber lasers.

Inhomogeneous loss generated by multimode laser linewidth broadening in an optical fiber is experimentally studied. With this mechanism, multiwavelength lasing is achieved by use of either fiber Raman gain or erbium-doped fiber gain. Through various pump powers and optical filter bandwidths, the relationship between inhomogeneous loss and the performance of a multiwavelength fiber laser is studied, and a physical explanation is provided.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Raman and IR spectroscopy of chemically processed single-walled carbon nanotubes.

IR and Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the evolution of the vibrational spectrum of bundled single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) during the purification process needed to remove metal catalyst and amorphous carbon present in arc-derived SWNT soot. We have carried out a systematic study to define the different outcomes stemming from the purification protocol (e.g., DO, DO/HCl, DO/HNO(3), H(2)O(2), H(2)O(2)/HCl), where dry oxidation (DO) or refluxing in H(2)O(2) was used in a first purification step to remove amorphous carbon. The second step involves acid reflux (HCl or HNO(3)) to remove the residual growth catalyst (Ni-Y). During strong chemical processing, it appears possible to create additional defects where carbon atoms are eliminated, the ring structure is now open, localized C=C bonds are created, and O-containing groups can be added to this defect to stabilize the structure. Evolution of SWNT skeletal disorder obtained via chemical processing was studied by Raman scattering. Higher intensity ratios of R- and G-band (I(R)/I(G)) are more typically found in SWNT materials with low D-band intensity and narrow G-band components. Using IR transmission through thin films of nanotubes, we can resolve the structure due to functional groups that were present in the starting material or added through chemical processing. After high-temperature vacuum annealing of the purified material at 1100 degrees C, IR spectroscopy shows that most of the added functional groups can be removed and that the structure that remains is assigned to the one- and two-phonon modes of SWNTs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Effect of betamethasone on neuropathic pain and cerebral expression of NF-kappaB and cytokines.

Glucocorticoids have been used to treat neuropathic pain for many years, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Recent studies indicate that pathological pain states may be mediated by cytokines. We, therefore, examined the effect of betamethasone on neuropathic pain and the relationship between pain behavior and the expression of cytokines in the brain. Rats were given epidural injections of betamethasone (Diprospan) after L5 spinal nerve transection. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated on post-operative days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 with von Frey and Hargreaves tests. Cerebral expression of NF-kappaB, TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-10 was quantified using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that spinal nerve injury caused long-lasting mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in the hind paw and stimulated the expression of NF-kappaB, TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-10 in the brain. A single epidural injection of betamethasone at the time of nerve injury partially inhibited the development of neuropathic hyperalgesia and reduced the subsequent elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain, while stimulating the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. These data support our hypothesis that pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain may mediate the hyperalgesic effects of spinal nerve injury and that the long-acting anti-hyperalgesic effects of epidural glucocorticoid treatment are due to an inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and a stimulatory effect on anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Achromatic wave plates for optical pickup units fabricated by use of imprint lithography.

We report achromatic form-birefringence wave plates for optical pickup units. Material dispersion and structure dispersion are balanced in a rigorous multilayer design. A trilayer grating using SiN(x)/SiO(y)N(z)/SiO2 provides easily accessible process control points and relaxed fabrication tolerance. We demonstrate precise patterning by using nanoimprint lithography on UV-curable polymers, alleviating a major fabrication challenge. The achromatic wave plates exhibit 90+/-3 degrees retardance and >95% transmittance as measured by a Mueller matrix method at wavelengths of 640-800 nm.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Species-specific differences in mouse and human airway epithelial biology of recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction.

Differences in airway epithelial biology between mice and humans have presented challenges to evaluating gene therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF) using murine models. In this context, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) type 2 and rAAV5 vectors have very different transduction efficiencies in human air-liquid interface (ALI) airway epithelia (rAAV2 approximately = rAAV5) as compared with mouse lung (rAAV5 >> rAAV2). It is unclear if these differences are due to species-specific airway biology or limitations of ALI cultures to reproduce in vivo airway biology. To this end, we compared rAAV2 and rAAV5 transduction biology in mouse and human ALI cultures, and investigated the utility of murine deltaF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ALI epithelia to study CFTR complementation. Our results demonstrate that mouse ALI epithelia retain in vivo preferences for rAAV serotype transduction from the apical membrane (rAAV5 >> rAAV2) not seen in human epithelia (rAAV2 approximately = rAAV5). Viral binding of rAAV2 and rAAV5 to the apical surface of mouse ALI airway epithelia was not significantly different, and proteasome-modulating agents significantly enhanced rAAV2 transduction to a level equivalent to that of rAAV5 in the presence of these agents, suggesting that the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway represents a more significant intracellular block for rAAV2 transduction of mouse airway epithelia. Interestingly, cAMP-inducible chloride currents were enhanced in deltaF508CFTR mouse ALI cultures, making this model incompatible with CFTR complementation studies. These studies emphasize species-specific differences in airway biology between mice and humans that significantly influence the use of mice as surrogate models for rAAV transduction and gene therapy for CF.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Bending effect on fiber acousto-optic mode coupling.

The acousto-optic effect in a bent fiber is studied experimentally and numerically by using the scalar finite-element method. The resulting transmission spectra show that new mode-coupling peaks appear due to the breaking of the mode spatial symmetry. The strength of new peaks increases as the fiber-bending curvature increases with a redshift or blueshift in wavelength, strongly depending on the orientation of fiber bending with respect to the acoustic-wave vibration direction.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2005

Inhomogeneous loss mechanism in multiwavelength fiber Raman ring lasers.

As one of the mechanisms for stable multiwavelength oscillation in a fiber Raman ring laser, an inhomogeneous loss induced by intraline four-wave mixing in a fiber Raman laser is physically explained and experimentally validated by comparison of laser peak gain and power gain as well as the gain spectra at several pump levels.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

PITX2, beta-catenin and LEF-1 interact to synergistically regulate the LEF-1 promoter.

PITX2, beta-catenin and lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF-1) are required for the inductive formation of several epithelial-derived organs, including teeth. Lef-1 is expressed in the dental epithelium after Pitx2, and both factors have overlapping expression patterns in the tooth bud and cap stages. Our analysis of Pitx2-/- mutant mice showed reduced Lef-1 expression in facial tissues by RT-PCR and quantitative RT-PCR. Consistent with these results we show that the human 2.5 kb LEF-1 promoter is activated by PITX2. Furthermore, the LEF-1 promoter is differentially activated by PITX2 isoforms, which are co-expressed in dental epithelium. The 2.5 kb LEF-1 promoter contains two regions that act to inhibit its transcription in concert with PITX2. The proximal region contains a Wnt-responsive element (WRE) that attenuates PITX2 activation. LEF-1 cannot autoregulate LEF-1 expression; however co-transfection of PITX2 and LEF-1 result in a synergistic activation of the 2.5 kb LEF-1 promoter. LEF-1 specifically interacts with the PITX2 C-terminal tail. Deletion of a distal 800 bp segment of the LEF-1 promoter resulted in enhanced PITX2 activation, and increased synergistic activation in the presence of LEF-1. Furthermore, beta-catenin in combination with PITX2 synergistically activates the LEF-1 promoter and this activation is independent of the Wnt-responsive element. beta-catenin directly interacts with PITX2 to synergistically regulate LEF-1 expression. We show a new mechanism where LEF-1 expression is regulated through PITX2, LEF-1 and beta-catenin direct physical interactions. LEF-1 and beta-catenin interactions with PITX2 provide new mechanisms for the regulation of PITX2 transcriptional activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Synthesis of the H-cluster framework of iron-only hydrogenase.

The metal-sulphur active sites of hydrogenases catalyse hydrogen evolution or uptake at rapid rates. Understanding the structure and function of these active sites--through mechanistic studies of hydrogenases, synthetic assemblies and in silico models--will help guide the design of new materials for hydrogen production or uptake. Here we report the assembly of the iron-sulphur framework of the active site of iron-only hydrogenase (the H-cluster), and show that it functions as an electrocatalyst for proton reduction. Through linking of a di-iron subsite to a {4Fe4S} cluster, we achieve the first synthesis of a metallosulphur cluster core involved in small-molecule catalysis. In addition to advancing our understanding of the natural biological system, the availability of an active, free-standing analogue of the H-cluster may enable us to develop useful electrocatalytic materials for application in, for example, reversible hydrogen fuel cells. (Platinum is currently the preferred electrocatalyst for such applications, but is expensive, limited in availability and, in the long term, unsustainable.).

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2005

Spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing with recombinant adeno-associated virus partially restores cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator function to polarized human cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells.

We previously reported that spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT), using recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs), could partially restore cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel activity to polarized human DeltaF508 CF airway epithelia. Although these studies proved that SMaRT could correct CFTR mRNA defects, recombinant adenoviral infection from the basolateral surface was required because of inefficient infection from the apical membrane. Hence, applications of SMaRT technology for CF gene therapy require further testing with alternative, more clinically viable, vector systems. Furthermore, because recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors have packing limitations with respect to the size of the CFTR transgene insert, SMaRT correction of CFTR has the added attraction of a smaller transgene cassette. In the present study, we investigated whether rAAV vectors could effectively rescue CFTR chloride conductance in polarized human CF airway epithelial cells, using a SMaRT approach. AAV vectors were generated to carry a PTM engineered to bind intron 9 of CFTR pre-mRNA and then trans-splice the normal sequence for human CFTR exons 10-24 into the endogenous pre-mRNA. Human CF polarized airway epithelia were infected from the apical membrane with rAAV2 or rAAV5 CFTR-PTM vectors in the presence of proteasome-modulating agents (doxorubicin and N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinyl-L-norleucinal) to enhance transduction. Epithelia were then evaluated for cAMP-sensitive short-circuit currents 2 weeks postinfection. Levels of CFTR correction seen with rAAV2 (1.07 +/- 0.24 microA) and rAAV5 (0.90 +/- 0.20 microA) CFTR-PTM vectors were similar, representing conductance equivalent to 14.2 and 13.6% of that observed in non-CF human polarized epithelia, respectively. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the existence of wild-type CFTR transcript in CFTR-PTM-corrected epithelia, whereas only DeltaF508 mRNA was detected in polarized cells infected with control rAAV LacZ-PTM vectors. These results provide evidence that rAAV vectors are capable of using SMaRT to correct CFTR function after apical infection of human CF airway epithelia. The ability of CFTR-PTM-mediated correction to maintain endogenous CFTR regulation of the transgene product may further improve the efficacy of gene therapy for CF.

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulato↗
PubMed2004

Electron transfer at a dithiolate-bridged diiron assembly: electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Electrochemical reduction of Fe(2)(mu-pdt)(CO)(6) 1 (pdt = propane-1,3-dithiolate) leads initially to a short-lived species, 1-, then subsequently to two-electron reduced products, including a CO-bridged diiron compound, 1B. The assignment of the redox level of 1- is based on EPR and UV-vis spectra together with the observation that a CO-saturated solution of 1- decays to give 1 and 1B. Hydride reduction of 1 also results in formation of 1B via a relatively long-lived formyl species, 1(formyl). Despite its involvement in hydride transfer reactions, 1B is formulated as [Fe(2)(mu-S(CH(2))(3)SH)(mu-CO)(CO)(6)](-) based on a range of spectroscopic measurements together with the Fe-Fe separation of 2.527 A (EXAFS). Electrocatalytic proton reduction in the presence of 1 in moderately strong acids has been examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques. The acid concentration dependence of the voltammetry is modeled by a mechanism with two electron/proton additions leading to 1H(2), where dissociation of dihydrogen leads to recovery of 1. Further reduction processes are evident at higher acid concentrations. Whereas free CO improves the reversibility of the electrochemistry of 1, CO inhibits electrocatalytic proton reduction, and this occurs through side reactions involving a dimeric species formed from 1-.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

A novel {FeI-FeII-FeII-FeI} iron thiolate carbonyl assembly which electrocatalyses hydrogen evolution.

A novel tetra-iron thiolate carbonyl assembly is described in which two dithiolate tetracarbonyl di-iron centres with a 'butterfly' configuration of the {2Fe3S}-cores are fused by two bridging thiolates which form a central planar 2Fe2S unit and comprise the first example of a chain of four metal-metal bonded iron atoms supported by a bridging sulfur framework; the assembly electrocatalyses hydrogen evolution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Wnt-responsive element controls Lef-1 promoter expression during submucosal gland morphogenesis.

Regulated expression of lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (Lef-1) plays an obligatory role in the transcriptional control of epithelial bud formation during airway submucosal gland and mammary gland development. However, regions of the Lef-1 promoter required for spatial and temporal regulation during glandular development have yet to be defined. We hypothesized that a previously reported 110-bp Wnt-responsive element (WRE) in the Lef-1 promoter, which can be induced by Wnt-3a/beta-catenin signals, may also play a role in regulating Lef-1 expression during airway and mammary gland development. Here we show that the Lef-1 promoter is also responsive to Wnt-1 signals in both airway and mammary epithelial cell lines. To better understand the importance of the WRE in dynamically regulating Lef-1 promoter activation in these two types of epithelia in vivo, we utilized LacZ reporter transgenic mice to evaluate the significance of Wnt-responsive sequences in the Lef-1 promoter during glandular bud formation. A 2.5-kb Lef-1 promoter fragment partially reproduced endogenous Lef-1 expression patterns in a subset of cell types involved in both mammary gland and submucosal glandular bud development. Interestingly, removal of the 110-bp WRE from the Lef-1 promoter ablated expression in nasal and tracheal submucosal glandular buds while having no significant effect on developmental expression in mammary glandular buds. These findings suggest that Wnt regulation of the Lef-1 promoter at the WRE may play an important role during airway submucosal glandular bud formation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Reactions of copper(II) salts with 3[5]-tert-butylpyrazole: double-cubane complexes with bound exogenous anions, and a novel pyrazole coordination mode.

Reaction of CuX(2) (X(-)=Cl(-), Br(-), NO(3) (-)), NaOH, and 3[5]-tert-butylpyrazole (Hpz(tBu)) in a 1:1:2 molar ratio in MeOH at 293 K for three days affords [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(6)(mu(3)-X)(mu(3)-OH)(3)](2)Cu]X(6) (X(-)=Cl(-), 1; X(-)=Br(-), 2; X(-)=NO(3)(-), 3) in moderate yields. These compounds contain a centrosymmetric, vertex-sharing double-cubane [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(6)(mu(3)-X)(mu(3)-OH)(3)](2)Cu](6+) core, surrounded by a belt of six hydrogen-bonded X(-) ions. For 1 and 2, the ring of guest anions has near C(3) symmetry, that is slightly distorted owing to the axis of Jahn-Teller elongation at the central Cu ion. For 3 only, the NO(3)(-) guest ions are crystallographically disordered, reflecting their poor complimentarity with complex host. A similar reaction employing CuF(2) yields [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(4)(mu-pz(tBu))(2)(mu-F)(2)(mu(3)-F)](2)]F(2) (4), whose structure contains a cyclic hexacopper core with approximate C(2v) symmetry. Finally, an analogous reaction using Cu(NCS)(2) gives a mixture of trans-[Cu(NCS)(2)(Hpz(tBu))(2)] (5) and [Cu(2)(NCS)(2)(mu-pz(tBu))(2)(mu-Hpz(tBu))(Hpz(tBu))(2)] (6). The latter compound contains a Hpzt(Bu) ligand bridging the two Cu ions in an unusual kappa(1),mu-coordination mode. The variable temperature magnetic properties of 1-3 show antiferromagnetic behavior, leading to a S=1/2 ground state in which the seven copper(II) ions are associated into three mutually independent distinct spin systems. In confirmation of this interpretation, Q-band EPR spectra of solid 1 and 2 at 5 K also demonstrate a S= 1/2 spin system and exhibit hyperfine coupling to three (63,65)Cu nuclei. Unusually, the coupling is manifest as an eight-line splitting of the parallel feature, rather than the usual 10 lines. This has been rationalized by a spin-projection calculation, and results from the relative magnitudes of coupling to the three Cu nuclei. UV/Vis and mass spectrometric data show that 1-4 decompose to lower nuclearity species in solution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of wood mice (genus Apodemus Kaup, 1829) based on complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, with emphasis on Chinese species.

Phylogenetic relationships among 15 species of wood mice (genus Apodemus) were reconstructed to explore some long-standing taxonomic problems. The results provided support for the monophyly of the genus Apodemus, but could not reject the hypothesis of paraphyly for this genus. Our data divided the 15 species into four major groups: (1) the Sylvaemus group (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. alpicola, and A. uralensis), (2) the Apodemus group (A. peninsulae, A. chevreri, A. agrarius, A. speciosus, A. draco, A. ilex, A. semotus, A. latronum, and A. mystacinus), (3) A. argenteus, and (4) A. gurkha. Our results also suggested that orestes should be a valid subspecies of A. draco rather than an independent species; in contrast, A. ilex from Yunnan may be regarded as a separate species rather than a synonym of orestes or draco. The species level status of A. latronum, tscherga as synonyms of A. uralensis, and A. chevrieri as a valid species and the closest sibling species of A. agrarius were further corroborated by our data. Applying a molecular clock with the divergences of Mus and Rattus set at 12 million years ago (Mya) as a calibration point, it was estimated that five old lineages (A. mystacinus and four major groups above) diverged in the late Miocene (7.82-12.74 Mya). Then the Apodemus group (excluding A. mystacinus) split into two subgroups: agrarius and draco, at about 7.17-9.95 Mya. Four species of the Sylvaemus group were estimated to diverge at about 2.92-5.21 Mya. The Hengduan Mountains Region was hypothesized to have played important roles in Apodemus evolutionary histories since the Pleistocene.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Dual therapeutic utility of proteasome modulating agents for pharmaco-gene therapy of the cystic fibrosis airway.

Pharmacologic- and gene-based therapies have historically been developed as two independent therapeutic platforms for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Inhibition of the dysregulated epithelial Na channel (ENaC) is one pharmacologic approach to enhance airway clearance in CF. We investigated pharmacologic approaches to enhance CFTR gene delivery with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and identified compounds that significantly improved viral transduction while simultaneously inhibiting ENaC activity through an unrelated mechanism. Treatment of human CF airway epithelia with proteasome modulating agents (LLnL and doxorubicin) at the time of rAAV2 or rAAV2/5 infection dramatically enhanced CFTR gene delivery and correction of CFTR-mediated short-circuit currents. Surprisingly, these agents also facilitated long-term (15-day) functional inhibition of ENaC currents independent of CFTR vector administration. Inhibition of ENaC activity was predominantly attributed to a doxorubicin-dependent decrease in gamma-ENaC subunit mRNA expression and an increase in gamma-ENaC promoter methylation. This is the first report to describe the identification of compounds with dual therapeutic action that are able to enhance the efficacy of CFTR gene therapy to the airway while simultaneously ameliorating primary aspects of CF disease pathophysiology. The identification of such compounds mark a new area for drug development, not only for CF, but also for other gene therapy disease targets.

Amiloride↗