The timing and biological events associated with germ cell specification in chickens have not been determined yet. In this study, we report the origin of primordial germ cells (PGCs) and germ plasm dynamics through investigation of the expression of the chicken homolog of deleted in azoospermia-like (cDAZL) gene during germ cell specification. Asymmetric localization of germ plasm in the center of oocytes from preovulatory follicle stages leads to PGCs being formed in the center. During cleavage stages, DAZL expression pattern changes from a subcellular localization to a diffuse form before and after zygotic genome activation. Meanwhile, PGCs exhibit transcriptional active status during their specification. In addition, knockdown studies of cDAZL, which result in reduced proliferation, aberrant gene expression profiles, and PGC apoptosis in vitro, suggest its possible roles for PGC formation in chicken. In conclusion, DAZL expression reveals formation and initial positioning of PGCs in chickens.

Targeted cancer therapy with natural compounds is more effective than nontargeted therapy. Nobiletin is a flavonoid derived from citrus peel that has anticancer activity. Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a member of the class B scavenger receptor family that is involved in importing fatty acids into cells. CD36 plays a role in tumor angiogenesis by binding to its ligand, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and then interacting with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1). CD36 is implicated in tumor metastasis through its roles in fatty acid metabolism. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying nobiletin’s anticancer activity by characterizing its interactions with CD36 as the target molecule. We hypothesize that the anti-angiogenic activity of nobiletin involving its regulation of CD36 via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) rather than through TSP-1. Gene analysis identified a Gamma interferon activation site (GAS) element in the CD36 gene promoter that acts as a STAT3 binding site, an interaction that was confirmed by ChIP assay. STAT3 interacts with nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), suggesting that nobiletin also acts through the CD36/ (STAT3)/NF-κB signaling axis. Nobiletin inhibited CD36-dependent breast cancer cell migration and invasion as well as CD36-mediated tumor sphere formation. Taken together, these results suggest that nobiletin inhibits cancer stem cells in multiple ways.

The major hallmarks of tumor progression are angiogenesis, migration and metastasis. Among the components of Rhodiola rosea, salidroside (p‑hydroxyphenethyl-β‑d-glucoside) is one of the most potent, and is present in all Rhodiola species. Recent data have revealed the anticancer effects of salidroside; however, the mechanism underlying its ability to inhibit tumor angiogenesis remains unknown. The present study aimed to analyze how salidroside affects major factors involved in breast cancer, and to elucidate its ability to inhibit angiogenesis and invasion. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a marker for tumor angiogenesis and migration, which interacts with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Specifically, MMPs act as a downstream target for STAT3. Using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, the present study demonstrated that treatment of MDA‑MB 231 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells with salidroside led to inhibition of invasion and migration markers, and of STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, in vitro angiogenesis analyses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells confirmed the anti-angiogenic activity of salidroside. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay also demonstrated that salidroside may inhibit the DNA-binding activity of STAT3, preventing STAT3 from binding to a novel binding site of the MMP2 gene promoter. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated that salidroside may downregulate the STAT3 signaling pathway, and inhibit cell viability, migration and invasion through MMPs in breast cancer cells.

Currently, transgenic animals have found a wide range of industrial applications and are invaluable in various fields of basic research. Notably, deposition of transgene-encoded proteins in the egg white (EW) of hens affords optimal production of genetically engineered biomaterials. In the present study, we developed a minisynthetic promoter modulating transgene transcription specifically in the hen's oviduct, and assayed the bioactivity of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) driven by that promoter, after partial purification of epidermal growth factor (EGF) from transgenic hen eggs. Our minisynthetic promoter driving expression of chicken codon-optimized human epidermal growth factor (cEGF) features 2 consecutive estrogen response elements of the ovalbumin (OV) promoter, ligated with a 3.0 kb OV promoter region carrying OV regulatory elements, and a 59-UTR. Subsequently, a 39-UTR carrying the poly-A tail sequence of the OV gene was added after incorporation of the cEGF transgene. Finally, we partially purified cEGF from transgenic hen eggs and evaluated the biofunctional activities thereof in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro assay, EW-derived hEGF exhibited a proliferative effect on HeLa cells similar to that of commercial hEGF. In the in vivo assay, compared to the nontreated control, transgenic hen egg-derived EGF afforded slightly higher levels of re-epithelialization (via fibroplasia) and neovascularization of wounded skin of miniature pigs than did the commercial material. In conclusion, transgenic hens may be used to produce genetically engineered bioactive biomaterials driven by an oviduct-specific minisynthetic promoter.-Park, T.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol (NOP) on gas production, rumen fermentation, and animal performances depending on animal type using a meta-analysis approach. A database consisted of data from 14 studies, 18 experiments and 55 treatments. The supplementation of NOP linearly decreased methane (CH 4 ) emissions [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)] regardless of animal type and length of experimental period (beef, p < 0.0001, R 2 = 0.797; dairy, p = 0.0003, R 2 = 0.916; and long term, p < 0.0001, R 2 = 0.910). The total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and the proportion of acetate, based on beef cattle database, were significantly decreased with increasing NOP supplementation (p = 0.0015, R 2 = 0.804 and p = 0.0003, R 2 = 0.918), whereas other individual VFAs was increased. Based on the dairy database, increasing levels of NOP supplementation linearly decreased proportion of acetate (p = 0.0284, R 2 = 0.769) and increased that of valerate (p = 0.0340, R 2 = 0.522), regardless of significant change on other individual VFAs. In animal performances, the DMI, from beef cattle database, tended to decrease when the levels of NOP supplementation increased (p = 0.0574, R 2 = 0.170), whereas there was no significant change on DMI from dairy cattle database. The NOP supplementation tended to decrease milk yield (p = 0.0606, R 2 = 0.381) and increase milk fat and milk protein (p = 0.0861, R 2 = 0.321, p = 0.0838, R 2 = 0.322). NOP is a viable candidate as a feed additive because of its CH 4 mitigation effects, regardless of animal type and experiment period, without adverse effects on animal performances.