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A dual approach consisting of cultivation and molecular retrieval of actinobacterial 16S rRNA genes was used to characterize the diversity of actinobacterial community inhabiting interior of rice stems and roots. Streptomyces is the most frequently isolated genus from rice stems and roots. Forty-five clones chosen randomly among 250 clones in the 16S rRNA gene clone library from roots were affiliated with nine genera of actinobacteria and uncultured actinobacteria (Mycobacterium, Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Actinoplanes, Frankia, Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis, Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus, and uncultured actinobacterium). However, 33 clones from stems were affiliated with four genera and uncultured actinobacteria (Streptomyces, Mycobacterium, Nocardiodies, Janibacter, uncultured earthworm cast bacterium, uncultured earthworm intestine bacterium, and uncultured actinobacterium). Species similar to S. cyaneus were isolated from surface-sterilized roots and stems of rice and detected inside rice roots by culture-independent methods. Species similar to S. caviscabies, S. scabies, and S. turgidiscabies were simultaneously detected from the interior of rice stems by the culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. S. galilaeus was detected from the interior of rice stems and roots. These results indicated that some actinobacterial populations in rice stems were correlated with those in roots.

Electrical stimulation (ES) is able to enhance angiogenesis by stimulating fibroblasts. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is an independent angiogenesis inducer. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of ES-induced FGF2 secretion in affecting angiogenesis during wound healing via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. Fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to ES, and the HUVECs were cocultured with ES-treated fibroblast culture solution. ES exposure showed no toxic effects on fibroblasts or HUVECs. ES led to enhanced growth of fibroblasts and HUVECs as well as FGF2 secretion, which is induced through the NOS pathway. ES-induced FGF2 secretion was shown to increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and enhance migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HUVECs. Also, ES-induced FGF2 secretion activated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. However, inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway reversed the positive effects of ES-induced FGF2 secretion. In vitro experiments showed positive effects of ES on wound healing. Taken together, the findings suggested that ES promoted FGF2 secretion and then activated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway by facilitating angiogenesis and promoting wound healing.

BackgroundRecently, it is found that T-helper (Th) 22 cells are involved in different types of autoimmune and tumor diseases. But, till now, no study has been carried out to understand the involvement of these cells in cervical cancer (CC).MethodsFlow cytometry was used to determine the expression of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin-22 (IL-22), IL-17 in the peripheral blood of healthy controls (HC), CIN and cervical cancer patients. From peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), mRNA expression levels of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), RAR-related orphan receptor C (RORC), TNF-α and IL-6 were respectively determined. Using the method of ELISA, plasma concentrations of IL-22, IL-17 and TNF-α were examined.ResultsTh22 and Th17 cells were elevated in CC and CIN patients. Th1 cells and the plasma concentrations of IL-22 in CC patients were significantly increased compared with HC. In CC patients, an increased prevalence of Th22 cells was associated with lymph node metastases. There was a positive correlation between Th22 and Th17 cells, but an approximately negative correlation between Th22 and Th1 cells in CC patients. The mRNA expression of RORC, TNF-α and IL-6 was significantly high in CC patients.ConclusionsOur results indicate that there is a higher circulatory frequency of Th22, Th17 and Th1 cells in CC which may conjointly participate in the pathogenesis and growth of CC.

We report here the isolation and recombinational cloning of a large plasmid, pZL12, from endophytic Streptomyces sp. 9R-2. pZL12 comprises 90,435 bp, encoding 112 genes, 30 of which are organized in a large operon resembling bacteriophage genes. A replication locus (repA) and a conjugal transfer locus (traA-traC) were identified in pZL12. Surprisingly, the supernatant of a 9R-2 liquid culture containing partially purified phage particles infected 9R-2 cured of pZL12 (9R-2X) to form plaques, and a phage particle (ZL12) was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Major structural proteins (capsid, portal, and tail) of ZL12 virions were encoded by pZL12 genes. Like bacteriophage P1, linear ZL12 DNA contained ends from a largely random pZL12 sequence. There was also a hot end sequence in linear ZL12. ZL12 virions efficiently infected only one host, 9R-2X, but failed to infect and form plaques in 18 other Streptomyces strains. Some 9R-2X spores rescued from lysis by infection of ZL12 virions contained a circular pZL12 plasmid, completing a cycle comprising autonomous plasmid pZL12 and lytic phage ZL12. These results confirm pZL12 as the first example of a plasmid-phage in Streptomyces.

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Regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) are highly suppressive and are associated with immune homeostasis in various diseases. However, the role of TNFR2+Treg subset and relevant cytokines in the development of cervical cancer (CC) remained unclear. In this study, 72 patients with CC, 30 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The level of circulating TNFR2+Tregs was investigated through flow cytometry. The plasma concentrations of soluble TNFR1 (s-TNFR1) and soluble TNFR2 (s-TNFR2) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, TNFR1, TNFR2, and Foxp3 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that both peripheral and tumor infiltrating TNFR2+Tregs significantly increased in patients with CIN and CC and levels of circulating s-TNFR1 and s-TNFR2 increased in patients with CC. Moreover, the percentage of peripheral TNFR2+Tregs was inversely correlated with the clinical stages of CC. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, TNFR2, and Foxp3 increased in patients with CIN and CC. Overall, these results indicate that TNFR2+Tregs and relevant cytokines contribute to CC development and are promising targets in future immunotherapeutic approaches.

Acute burn-induced coagulopathy (ABIC) occurs after severe burns. However, the incidence, prognostic value, and clinical significance of ABIC after an extensive severe burn remain inconclusive due to wide variances in burn severity and coagulation profile evaluation timings in previous studies. This retrospective study explored the incidence and clinical and prognostic significance of early phase ABIC in 129 adult patients with extensive burns (>50% total body surface area [TBSA]) admitted to the burn centers of two hospitals within 10 hours postburn injury during 2009–2017. Demographics (age and sex) and clinical data (burn severity, vital signs, prehospital fluid replacement volume, hemodynamic parameters, coagulation profile, blood gas, and blood biochemical indicators) were collected upon admission. The incidence of ABIC in patients with severe burns and its relationship with their survival and clinical significance were analyzed. The average postburn interval was 5.7 ± 2.7 hours, and the incidence of ABIC was 31% (40/129). A logistic regression analysis identified ABIC as an independent predictor of 4-week severe mortality due to severe burn. The incidence of ABIC was significantly associated with the total burn area, lactic acid levels upon admission, and postburn admission interval, but not with the prehospital fluid replacement volume. In conclusion, approximately 30% of patients with severe burns developed ABIC within 10 hours postburn, and this condition strongly predicts 4-week mortality. Although burn severity and tissue ischemia/hypoxia are main risk factors for ABIC, the pathogenesis is not fully understood and should be explored in future studies.