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Biomedical subjects

Zheng Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Zheng Sun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prdm15 deficiency perturbs hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homeostasis.

The maintenance of homeostasis in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is essential for the proper development of the entire hematopoietic system. However, the mechanisms underlying this regulatory equilibrium remain elusive. Here, we report that Prdm15 deficiency in HSPCs induces the accumulation of immature hematopoietic stem cells in mice. A series of transplantation assays shows that these cells display impaired reconstitution capacity and competitive fitness, which are associated with abnormal differentiation trajectories and transcriptional alterations identified by single-cell RNA sequencing. Mechanistically, integrated multi-omics analyses including ATAC-seq and CUT&Tag sequencing of HSPCs indicate that Prdm15 deficiency induces significant transcriptional and epigenetic alterations, particularly affecting the methyltransferase KMT2C and altering H3K4me1 and H3K27ac modifications at the promoters of hematopoietic developmental genes. Collectively, our findings establish PRDM15 as a critical epigenetic regulator of HSPCs, offering valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoietic homeostasis.

Cell differentiation↗

Evidence of the formation and conversion of unstable thionyl isocyanate: Gas-phase spectroscopic studies.

Thionyl diisocyanate which is unstable at ambient temperature is generated from a heterogeneous reaction of gaseous thionyl dichloride with silver cyanate and studied for the first time in the gas phase at 298 K. N-isocyanatoformyl sulfinylimide is also observed with photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase for the first time. The conversion of thionyl diisocyanate to N-isocyanatoformyl sulfinylimide via 1,3 shift at different temperatures is studied by using photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy with the help of theoretical computations. On the basis of combined observations and quantum chemical calculations, possible 1,3-isocyanato shifts and dissociation processes for thionyl isocyanate and its cation have been discussed in detail.

Electrons↗

Marked insulin resistance in obese spontaneously hypertensive rat adipocytes is ameliorated by in vivo but not in vitro treatment with moxonidine.

The obese spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHROB) is a model of marked insulin resistance with normoglycemia. We sought to determine whether insulin resistance extends to adipocytes and the impact of an insulin-sensitizing imidazoline, moxonidine (4 mg/kg/days for 21 days). Gonadal adipocytes were isolated from SHROB and lean spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) littermates. In lean SHR adipocytes, Akt activation by 100 nM insulin peaked at 3 min at 25-fold, whereas SHROB adipocytes showed only 4-fold activation. In dose-response experiments, the maximal response (E(max)) was markedly reduced 18.8 +/- 2.3 versus 3.7 +/- 0.8. Insulin sensitivity was also attenuated, with higher concentrations required for responses (EC(50) = 3.5 +/- 0.5 versus 29 +/- 3.8 nM). Glucose uptake as determined with [(3)H]2-deoxyglucose was also less responsive to insulin in SHROB relative to lean SHR. Moxonidine had little or no effect when applied acutely in vitro, but adipocytes isolated from SHROB treated with moxonidine in vivo showed significantly improved responses to insulin, both in terms of Akt activation and facilitation of glucose uptake. Chronic but not acute moxonidine treatment partially restores insulin sensitivity in SHROB adipocytes, suggesting an indirect action of this agent.

Adipocytes↗

Insights into the mechanism of BN generation via boron triazide precursor: theoretical study.

Potential-energy surfaces for unimolecular decomposition of B(N3)(3) have been studied to understand the possible mechanism for BN generation. The decomposition of B(N3)(3) takes place on either the singlet and triplet surface, and both processes are high exothermic and obey sequential mechanisms. For the singlet reaction, the rate-determining step corresponds to cleavage of the first azide bond and linear (1)NBNN instead of (1)BN was suggested as the dominant product at room temperature. For the triplet surface, a fragment process from (3)BN(7) to (3)BN(5) is predicted to be the rate-determining step; once this barrier is counteracted, the subsequent decomposition processes could easily occur to form final product (3)BN. In addition, the possible mechanism for generating BN film via B(N3)(3) was discussed based on MC-SCF calculation results. These findings might be helpful in understanding the controllable decomposition of B(N3)(3) as well as its application in generating BN films.

Journal Article↗

Two new scorpionates vanadium haloperoxidases model complexes: synthesis and structure of VO(O2)(pzH)(HB(pz)3) and VO(O2)(pzH)(B(pz)4) (pzH = pyrazole(C3H4N2)).

Using vanadate, poly(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)borate and pyrazole as starting materials, two new neutral peroxovanadium(V) complexes with poly(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)borate, VO(O(2))(pzH)(HB(pz)(3))(1) and VO(O(2))(pzH)(B(pz)(4))(2), were synthesized successfully. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis and NMR spectra. And the structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction, which is somewhat relevant for haloperoxidase enzymes. Cytotoxic effects also are discussed on 3T3 cell proliferation. In the concentration range (0.1-100mumol), both complexes have an inhibiting cellular proliferation effect. When the cells cultivated with the complexes at high dose, the toxicity effect of both complexes is more and more predominant.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Gas-phase generation and electronic structure investigation of chlorosulfanyl thiocyanate, ClSSCN.

The chlorosulfanyl thiocyanate molecule, ClSSCN, was generated in the gas phase through heterogeneous reaction of SCl2 on the surface of finely powdered AgSCN for the first time. The reaction products were detected and characterized in situ by ultraviolet photoelectron and photoionization mass spectrometry. The molecular geometry and electronic structures of ClSSCN were investigated by a combination of PES experiment and theoretical calculations with the density functional theory and ab initio methods. It was found that the outermost electrons of ClSSCN reside in the Cl-S antibonding pi orbital, predominantly localized on the sulfur atom, and the experimental first vertical ionization potential of ClSSCN is 10.20 eV. The dominant fragment SSCN+ in the mass spectrum indicates that the ClSSCN cation prefers the dissociation of the Cl-S bond.

Journal Article↗

Gas-phase spectroscopy of the unstable sulfur diisocyanate molecule S(NCO)2.

Sulfur diisocyanate is generated from a heterogeneous reaction of gaseous sulfur dichloride with silver cyanate and studied for the first time in the gas phase. Combined with quantum chemical calculations, the electronic structure is characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). Simultaneously, an investigation of the possible ionization and dissociation processes for the molecular cation is presented based on experimental soft ionization mass spectrometry. From the calculated bond-dissociation energies, the dissociation pathway is determined. S(NCO)2+ undergoes 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement with a smaller barrier height (9.9 kcal mol(-1)) than the neutral counterpart. Thus, the 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement is preferred for the molecular cation, and OCNCO+ and NS+ is produced by subsequent dissociation of the rearrangement product. The analysis agrees very well with the experimental mass spectrum.

Journal Article↗

Bis(trifluoroaceto) disulfide (CF3C(O)OSSOC(O)CF3): a HeI photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study.

Bis(trifluoroaceto) disulfide CF(3)C(O)OSSOC(O)CF(3) was prepared and studied by Raman, photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and theoretical calculations. This molecule exhibits gauche conformation with both C=O groups cis to the S-S bond; the structure of the OSSO moiety is characterized by dihedral angle delta(OSSO) = -95.1 degrees due to the sulfur-sulfur lone pair interactions. The contracted S-S bond (1.979 Angstroms) and relatively high rotational barrier (19.29 kcal mol(-1) at the B3LYP/6-31G level) of the delta(OSSO) indicate the partial resonance-induced double bond character in this molecule. After ionization, the ground cationic-radical form of CF(3)C(O)OSSOC(O)CF(3)(*+) adopts a trans planar main-atom structure (delta(OSSO) = 180 degrees and delta(OCOS) = 0 degrees ) with C(2)(h) symmetry. The S-S bond elongates to 2.054 Angstroms, while the S-O bond shortens from 1.755 Angstroms in neutral form to 1.684 Angstroms in its corresponding cationic-radical form. The adiabatic ionization energy of 9.91 eV was obtained accordingly. The first two HOMOs correspond to the electrons mainly localized on the sulfur 3p lone pair MOs: 3ppi {36a (n(A)(S))](-1) and 3ppi [35b (n(B)(S), n(B)(O(C)(=)(O)))](-1), with an experimental energy separation of 0.16 eV. The first vertical ionization energy is determined to be 10.81 eV.

Fluorocarbons↗

Involvement of the 5-lipoxygenase/leukotriene A4 hydrolase pathway in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster cheek pouch, and inhibition of carcinogenesis by its inhibitors.

Previous studies have shown that aberrant arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, especially cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) pathways, are activated during oral carcinogenesis, and can be targeted for cancer prevention. This study was designed to investigate the importance of 5-Lox/leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) pathway of AA metabolism in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster cheek pouch carcinogenesis. In a short-term study, topical application of DMBA for 3 weeks induced severe inflammation and aberrant AA metabolism. Subsequent topical treatment with zileuton, celecoxib, or their combination for 1 week significantly suppressed aberrant AA metabolism and cell proliferation in the oral epithelium. Interestingly, zileuton was effective in inhibiting biosynthesis of multiple AA metabolites, including leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 5-, 12-, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), while celecoxib only suppressed PGE2 biosynthesis significantly at a high dose. In a long-term carcinogenesis study topical application of LTB4 or PGE2 enhanced oral carcinogenesis by increasing the incidence and volume of visible tumors, and the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To further examine the role of LTB4 in oral carcinogenesis, two LTA4H inhibitors, bestatin and SA6541, were evaluated in a long-term chemoprevention experiment. Both agents significantly inhibited SCC, and such an inhibition correlated with reduced levels of LTB4 in hamster cheek pouch. In summary, our studies have demonstrated that 5-Lox/LTA4H pathway is one of the major AA-metabolizing pathways involved in DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamsters, and may be targeted for chemoprevention.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Electronic structures of acyl nitrites and nitrates.

The gas phase electronic structures of CM(3)C(O)ONO and CM(3)C(O)ONO(2) (M=H, Cl, F) are studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) combined with the outer valence Green's function (OVGF) calculations at 6-311+G(d, p) basis sets. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for each compound is the carbonyl oxygen lone pair (n(O)), the ionizations of these orbitals are associated with the vibrational frequency about 1750 and 1820 cm(-1) reflected on the first band, respectively, for acyl nitrites and nitrate. Comparing with the calculated energies, it can be concluded that the syn conformers with Cs overall symmetry, a planar CC(O)ONO skeleton in nitrites, and a planar CC(O)ON skeleton in nitrates, respectively, are the most stable in the gas phase.

Electrons↗

Five-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in carcino-genesis and cancer chemoprevention.

Aberrant arachidonic acid metabolism has recently received intensive attention in the field of cancer research. Recent discoveries regarding the long-term cardiovascular side effects of cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors have cast doubts on their use for cancer chemoprevention. Although such a problem does not undermine the importance of cyclooxygenase 2 as a cancer chemopreventive target, investigation into other AA-metabolizing pathways that are also important in inflammation and inflammation-associated carcinogenesis is necessary. Here, the important role of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in carcinogenesis is reviewed. Inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase pathways clearly has chemopreventive effects on various cancers, and hence further studies on its enzymes, metabolites and receptors for cancer chemoprevention and therapy are warranted.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗

[Three-dimensional moston estimation of coronary artery from single-plane cineangiogram sequences].

This paper presents a method for estimating three-dimensional (3D) motion of coronary arteries from single-plane X-ray angiogram sequences on two views. Firstly, original images are preprocessed and two-dimensional (2D) vessel skeletons are extracted. 2D motion estimation is performed along the skeletons in two images. Then geometrical transformation matrix between views is obtained based on perspective projection model for X-ray angiography system, and 3D coordinate of spatial points are calculated. The 3D motion estimation and reconstruction algorithm is applied along the two image sequences to accomplish 3D reconstruction of vessel skeletons and motion vectors between consecutive time instants. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated on clinical single-plane coronary artery angiograms and potential errors are discussed.

Algorithms↗

[Effects on performance of high-speed dental handpieces subjected to autoclaving].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on performances of high-speed dental handpieces subjected to autoclaving. METHODS: The method of trial used to evaluate the effect of autoclaving included that ten chemical and ten biological indicators were arranged in each trial group being set by one sort of temperature and sterilization time. The range of temperature was from 100 degrees C to 134 degrees C and the sterilization time was from 1 to 45 minutes. The reliability of autoclaving was evaluated by the result of chemical indicator and the endospores of Bacillus stearothermophilus subjected to autoclaving. Ten newly imported and ten new domestic dental handpieces in two different brands were used to carry out this trial. The effects produced by autoclaving on performances of dental handpieces subjected to different type autoclaves were evaluated by some parameters. RESULTS: The eligible outcome in killing test of the 221 sterilized dental handpieces proved that the sterilization effect of autoclaving on dental handpieces was reliable. The chemical indicators showed that under the condition of 121 degrees C it needed 20 minutes to reach sterilization standard in the inner package and only 15 minutes on the outer package, and under the condition of 134 degrees C it took 4 minutes to reach sterilization standard in the inner package while only 2 minutes on the outer package. This outcome proved that material with package was more time-consuming than that without package during autoclaving. Autoclaving has positive effects on the performance of dental handpieces, while the autoclave with less-time full sterilization cycle has less effect on it. The performance of dental handpieces sterilized by the autoclave with 6-minute full sterilization cycle might be restorable within certain times of sterilization cycle. CONCLUSION: The sterilization effect of autoclaving is reliable. In order to reduce the influence on the performance of dental handpieces subjected to autoclaving, it should be reasonable to use the autoclave by which a full sterilization cycle might take less time and no use of package.

Dental High-Speed Equipment↗

Nitrosyl isocyanate (ONNCO): gas-phase generation and a HeI photoelectron spectroscopy study.

The nitrosyl isocyanate (ONNCO) has been generated from a heterogeneous reaction of gaseous nitrosyl chloride with silver isocyanate and studied for the first time in the gas phase. This structurally and energetically novel transient specimen is characterized by HeI photoelectron spectroscopy combined with DFT calculations. Both the calculations and the spectroscopic results suggest that the molecule adopts an open-chain trans structure. The observed decomposition products indicate the formation of ONNCO and further confirm the previously reported decomposition pathway.

Journal Article↗

[Expression of local angiotensinogen mRNA and activation of local nuclear factor-kappaB in vasculopathy of portal hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of local angiotensinogen mRNA and activation of local nuclear factor-kappaB in vasculopathy of portal hypertension and to discuss their role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertensive vasculopathy. METHODS: RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of local angiotensinogen mRNA in 28 specimens of splenic artery and vein obtained during operation of elective separation and amputation on 28 portal hypertension (PH) patients, 20 males and 8 females, aged 51.7 +/- 10 (30 - 65), and in 12 specimens of normal vessel from 12 patients undergoing splenectomy due to traumatic rupture of spleen. Chemiluminescent electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to detect the activation of NF-kappaB in splenic artery and vein. RESULTS: The levels of local angiotensinogen mRNA in the splenic artery and vein of PH group were 0.48 +/- 0.21 and 0.43 +/- 0.16 respectively, both significantly higher than those in the control group (0.23 +/- 0.12 and 0.18 +/- 0.10, both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the splenic artery and vein in the expression of local angiotensinogen mRNA in PH group. The activation levels of NF-kappaB in splenic artery and vein of the PH patients were 1.44 +/- 0.23 and 1.38 +/- 0.18 respectively, both significantly higher than those of the control group (0.19 +/- 0.20 and 0.25 +/- 0.16 respectively, both P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the activation levels of NF-kappaB between the splenic artery and vein in the PH patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Local angiotensinogen and activation of NF-kappaB maybe one of the factors in the pathogenesis of portal hypertensive vasculopathy, which can cause and advance portal hypertensive vasculopathy.

Adult↗

Ubiquitination of Keap1, a BTB-Kelch substrate adaptor protein for Cul3, targets Keap1 for degradation by a proteasome-independent pathway.

Keap1 is a BTB-Kelch protein that functions as a substrate adaptor protein for a Cul3-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Keap1 targets its substrate, the Nrf2 transcription factor, for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the 26 S proteasome. Inhibition of Keap1-dependent ubiquitination of Nrf2 increases steady-state levels of Nrf2 and enables activation of cytoprotective Nrf2-dependent genes. In this report, we demonstrate that Keap1 and three other BTB-Kelch proteins, including GAN1, ENC1, and Sarcosin, are ubiquitinated by a Cul3-dependent complex. Ubiquitination of Keap1 is markedly increased in cells exposed to quinone-induced oxidative stress, occurs in parallel with inhibition of Keap1-dependent ubiquitination of Nrf2, and results in decreased steady-state levels of Keap1, particularly in cells that are unable to synthesize glutathione. Degradation of Keap1 is independent of the 26 S proteasome, because inhibitors of the 26 S proteasome do not prevent loss of Keap1 following exposure of cells to quinone-induced oxidative stress. Our results suggest that a switch from substrate to substrate adaptor ubiquitination is a critical regulatory step that controls steady-state levels of both BTB-Kelch substrate adaptor proteins and their cognate substrates.

Animals↗