The Chinese cabbage is a crop belonging to the family Cruciferae; very few studies have focused on the analysis of gene expression in this economically important crop. In this study, we used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to identify the control genes that are the most stably expressed in a given set of tissues and under conditions of drought stress and downy mildew infection. We characterized the transcript stability of nine candidate reference genes, namely, those encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ubiquitin (Ubc), elongation-factor-1-α (EF-1-α), adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Apr), clathrin, cyclophilin (Cyp), tubulin (Tub), Actin, and 18s rRNA, using the geNorm and Normfinder software programs. The results of a geNorm analysis indicated that EF-1-α and Apr were the most suitable reference genes among the given set of tissues and that GAPDH and Ubc were the most stable genes under conditions of drought stress and downy mildew infection. Furthermore, the results of an analysis performed using the Normfinder software program indicated EF-1-α to be the best normalization factor in the given set of tissues and under conditions of downy mildew infection and GAPDH to be the best factor under drought stress conditions. The results of the geNorm analysis also helped determine the minimum number of genes required to calculate a reliable normalization factor. A study on the variability of expression of PSY expression showed that the relative quantification of this gene varied depending on the internal control and the number of internal controls used, thus highlighting the importance of the choice of internal controls in such experiments.

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High altitude hypoxia (HAH) involves the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and gastrointestinal erosions. However, the mechanism of effects of HAH in colitis remains controversial. This study reports the immunomodulation mediated by HAH to enhancing the severity of UC in the mice model. BALB/c mice were used to establish the UC model by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) compared to wild type mice. Mice groups were exposed to hypoxic conditions in a hypobaric chamber with an altitude of 5000 m for 7 days. Then, Spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and colon tissues were collected. The activity of UC, the infiltration of the immune cells, and the released cytokines were investigated. Results showed that the severity of DSS-induced UC significantly increased in mice exposed to HAH. The analysis of pathological changes showed increased weight loss and decreased colon length accompanied by diarrhea and bloody feces in the hypobaric hypoxia group. Interestingly, the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node showed a significant increase within the colon of the hypobaric hypoxia group. The population of Th 1 and Th 17 cells in the spleen was significantly increased in mice exposed to hypobaric hypoxia compared NC group. Suggesting that high altitude hypoxia enhances colitis in mice through activating the increase of inflammatory Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes. In conclusion, this study revealed that hypobaric hypoxia directly increases the severity of UC in the mice model via increasing the activity of inflammatory CD4+ Th1 and Th 17 lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT. Brassica crops infected by Plasmodiophora brassicae can produce root galls (clubroots) and be prevented from growing normally. To understand the series of changes that occur in the host root during root gall production, the resistance character of 21 Chinese cabbage lines were identified and then resistant and susceptible lines were used for infection observation. Hydroponic technology system was used for plants growing, and the infection process of P. brassicae in the roots of resistant and susceptible Chinese cabbage was examined based on morphology and microscopic characteristics using micoscope. In susceptible Chinese cabbage, the root hair infection stage occurred over approximately 7 days after inoculation, the cortical infection happened over approximatly 14 days after inoculation, and clubroots formed in approximately 30 days after inoculation. However, in resistant Chinese cabbage, the pathogen could be prevented and maintained in the root hair infection stage. This research provides a foundation for the subsequent studies of cabbage resistance of P. brassicae.