BackgroundBorreliosis is highly prevalent in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. However, little is known about the presence of Borrelia pathogens in tick species in this region, in addition Borrelia pathogens have not been isolated from domestic animals.MethodsWe collected adult ticks from domestic animals at 19 sampling sites in 14 counties in northern Xinjiang from 2012 to 2014. Ticks were identified to species by morphology and were molecularly analysed by sequences of mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene; 4–8 ticks of each species at every sampling site were sequenced. 112 live adult ticks were selected for each species in every county, and were used to culture Borrelia pathogens; the genotypes were then determined by sequences of the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and the outer surface protein A (ospA) gene.ResultsA total of 5257 adult ticks, belonging to four genera and seven species, were collected. Compared with three decades ago, the abundance of the five common tick species during the peak ixodid tick season has changed. Certain tick species, such as Rhipicephalus turanicus (Rh. turanicus), was found at Jimusaer, Yining, Fukang, and Chabuchaer Counties for the first time. Additionally, the sequence analyses showed that the Hyalomma asiaticum (Hy. asiaticum), Haemaphysalis punctata (Ha. punctata), and Dermacentor marginatus (D. marginatus) that were collected from different sampling sites (≥3 sites) shared identical 16S rDNA sequences respectively. For the tick species that were collected from the same county, such as Hy. asiaticum from Shihezi County and Rh. turanicus from Yining County, their 16S rDNA sequences showed genetic diversity. In addition, sixteen Borrelia isolates were found in Hy. asiaticum, Ha. punctata, D. marginatus and Rh. turanicus, which infested cattle, sheep, horse and camel in Yining, Chabuchaer, Shihezi and Shawan Counties. All of the isolates were genetically identified as B. Burgdorferi sensu stricto.ConclusionsWarmer and wetter climate may have contributed to the altered distribution and abundance of the five most common ticks in northern Xinjiang. The genetic analyses showed that certain tick species, such as Hy. asiaticum or Rh. turanicus, exhibit genetic commonness or diversity. Additionally, this study is the first to isolate B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in Hy. asiaticum asiaticum, H. punctata, D. nuttalli and D. marginatus ticks from domestic animals. These ticks may transmit borreliosis among livestock.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1021-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cervical radiculopathy represents aberrant mechanical hypersensitivity. Primary sensory neuron’s ability to sense mechanical force forms mechanotransduction. However, whether this property undergoes activity-dependent plastic changes and underlies mechanical hypersensitivity associated with cervical radiculopathic pain (CRP) is not clear. Here we show a new CRP model producing stable mechanical compression of dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which induces dramatic behavioral mechanical hypersensitivity. Amongst nociceptive DRG neurons, a mechanically sensitive neuron, isolectin B4 negative Aδ-type (IB4− Aδ) DRG neuron displays spontaneous activity with hyperexcitability after chronic compression of cervical DRGs. Focal mechanical stimulation on somata of IB4- Aδ neuron induces abnormal hypersensitivity. Upregulated HCN1 and HCN3 channels and increased Ih current on this subset of primary nociceptors underlies the spontaneous activity together with neuronal mechanical hypersensitivity, which further contributes to the behavioral mechanical hypersensitivity associated with CRP. This study sheds new light on the functional plasticity of a specific subset of nociceptive DRG neurons to mechanical stimulation and reveals a novel mechanism that could underlie the mechanical hypersensitivity associated with cervical radiculopathy.

Here, we performed N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA sequencing to determine the circRNA m6A methylation changes in the placentas during the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We verified the expression of the circRNA circPAPPA2 using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. An invasion assay was carried out to identify the role of circPAPPA2 in the development of PE. Mechanistically, we investigated the cause of the altered m6A modification of circPAPPA2 through overexpression and knockdown cell experiments, RNA immunoprecipitation, fluorescence in situ hybridization and RNA stability experiments. We found that increases in m6A-modified circRNAs are prevalent in PE placentas and that the main changes in methylation occur in the 3’UTR and near the start codon, implicating the involvement of these changes in PE development. We also found that the levels of circPAPPA2 are decreased but that m6A modification is augmented. Furthermore, we discovered that methyltransferase‑like 14 (METTL14) increases the level of circPAPPA2 m6A methylation and that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) maintains circPAPPA2 stability. Decreases in IGF2BP3 levels lead to declines in circPAPPA2 levels. In summary, we provide a new vision and strategy for the study of PE pathology and report that placental circRNA m6A modification appears to be an important regulatory mechanism.

No abstract

Background Preeclampsia is a severe disease in pregnant women, which is primarily managed by early screening and prevention. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have increasingly been shown to be important biological regulators involved in numerous diseases. Further, increasing evidence has demonstrated that circRNAs can be used as diagnostic biomarkers. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of circCRAMP1L, previously identified to be downregulated in preeclampsia, as a novel biomarker for predicting the development of preeclampsia. Methods We measured the expression of circCRAMP1L, which is reportedly relevant to trophoblast physiology, in plasma samples from 64 patients with preeclampsia and 64 age-, gestational age-, and body mass index-matched healthy pregnant women by qRT-PCR. MTT proliferation and transwell invasion assays revealed the biological role of circCRAMP1L in preeclampsia pathogenesis. RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays clarified the mechanism underlying the biological function of circCRAMP1L in TEV-1 cells. Results circCRAMP1L circulating levels were significantly lower in patients with preeclampsia (2.66 ± 0.82, △Ct value) than in healthy pregnant women (3.95 ± 0.67, △Ct value, p <  0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for circCRAMP1L was 0.813. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified circCRAMP1L as an independent predictor of preeclampsia. Furthermore, when circCRAMP1L was utilised in combination with its target protein macrophage stimulating protein (MSP), the predictive performance increased, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.928 (95% CI 0.882–0.974), 80.0% sensitivity, and 80.0% specificity. The in vitro results indicated that circCRAMP1L regulates cell proliferation, and invasion via MSP and RON proteins. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of these effects. In vitro, relative to the control group, circCRAMP1L overexpression significantly enhanced cell proliferation; furthermore, trophoblast cell invasion increased proportionally with circCRAMP1L expression. RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter gene illustrated that circCRAMP1L participated in regulation of trophoblast cell by regulating MSP. Conclusion Reduced plasma levels of circCRAMP1L may be associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, and circCRAMP1L may be a novel biomarker of preeclampsia risk.

No abstract

Objective Low back pain is one of the most inextricable problems encountered in clinics. Animal models that imitate symptoms in humans are valuable tools for investigating low back pain mechanisms and the possible therapeutic applications. With the development of genetic technology in pain field, the possibility of mutating specific genes in mice has provided a potent tool for investigating the specific mechanisms of pain. The aim of the present study was to develop a mouse model of chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD), in which gene mutation can be applied to facilitate the studies of chronic pain. Methods Chronic compression of L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia was conducted in mice by inserting fine stainless steel rods into the intervertebral foramina, one at L4 and the other at L5. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were examined with von Frey filaments and radiating heat stimulator, respectively. Results The CCD mice displayed dramatic mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia as well as tactile allodynia in the hindpaw ipsilateral to CCD. In addition, this mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia as well as tactile allodynia was also found to spread to the contralateral hindpaw. Conclusion This model, combined with the possible genetic modification, will strengthen our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of low back pain. It also favors the development of new treatment strategies for pain and hyperalgesia after spinal injury and other disorders which affect the dorsal root ganglion in humans.

The miRNA profiles of a Haemaphysalis longicornis wild-type (HLWS) and of a Haemaphysalis longicornis cultured population (HLCS) were sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 platform combined with bioinformatics analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 15.63 and 15.48 million raw reads were acquired for HLWS and HLCS, respectively. The data identified 1517 and 1327 known conserved miRNAs, respectively, of which 342 were differentially expressed between the two libraries. Thirty-six novel candidate miRNAs were predicted. To explain the functions of these novel miRNAs, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed. Target gene function prediction identified a significant set of genes related to salivary gland development, pathogen-host interaction and regulation of the defence response to pathogens expressed by wild H. longicornis ticks. Cellular component biogenesis, the immune system process, and responses to stimuli were represented at high percentages in the two tick libraries. GO enrichment analysis showed that the percentages of most predicted functions of the target genes of miRNA were similar, as were certain specific categories of functional enhancements, and that these genes had different numbers and specific functions (e.g., auxiliary transport protein and electron carrier functions). This study provides novel findings showing that miRNA regulation affects the expression of immune genes, indicating a considerable influence of environment-induced stressful stimulation on immune homeostasis. Differences in the living environments of ticks can lead to differences in miRNAs between ticks and provide a basis and a convenient means to screen for genes encoding immune factors in ticks.