Biology subjects

Tao, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Tao, H..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Effect of Dietary Fat on the Metabolism of Energy and Nitrogen, Serum Parameters, Rumen Fermentation, and Microbiota in twin Hu Male Lambs

BackgroundFat is the main substance that provides energy to animals. However, the use of fat in twin Hu lambs has not been investigated. Thirty pairs of male twin lambs were examined to investigate the effects of dietary fat on the metabolism of energy and nitrogen, ruminal fermentation, and microbial communities. The twins are randomly allotted to two groups (high fat: HF, normal fat: NF). Two diets of equal protein and different fat levels. The metabolism test was made at 50-60 days of age. Nine pairs of twin lambs are slaughtered randomly, and the rumen fluid is collected at 60 days of age.\n\nResultsThe initial body weight (BW) in the HF group did not differ from that of NF group (P > 0.05), but the final BW was tended to higher than that of NF group (0.05 < P < 0.1). The digestive energy (DE), metabolism energy (ME), DE/ME in the HF group tend to be higher than those in the NF group (0.05 < P < 0.1). Ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and the proportion of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) are higher than that in the NF group (P < 0.05). A high throughput sequencing analysis reveals that there were no differences between the two groups in terms of the richness estimates and diversity indices (P > 0.05). The Proteobacteria and Fibrobacteres phyla were higher than that in NF group (P<0.05).\n\nConclusionsThis study demonstrated that high fat diet before weaning can affect the abundance of several groups of rumen bacteria in rumen, such as significantly increasing phyla Proteobacteria and Fibrobacteres, and genera of Succinivibrio, Alloprevotella, and Saccharofermentans, but significantly decreasing genera of Clostridium IV, Dialister, Roseburia, and Butyrivibrio. And high fat diet improved the performance of lambs at weight gain, energy utilization, and had effect on VFA composition but no effects on serum enzymes and serum hormone.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Three-dimensional tissue stiffness mapping in the mouse embryo supports durotaxis during early limb bud morphogenesis

Numerous biophysical hypotheses invoke tissue stiffness as a key parameter for shaping tissue during development and for influencing cell behaviours during disease progression. However, currently available methods are insufficient to test hypotheses that concern the physical properties of bulk tissues. Here we introduce, validate and apply a new 3D magnetic device that generates a uniform magnetic field gradient within a space that is sufficient to accommodate a vertebrate, organ-stage embryo under live conditions. The device allows for rapid, nontoxic measurement of the spatial variation of absolute elastic modulus and viscosity deep within mesenchymal tissues and within epithelia. By applying the device to map the spatiotemporal variation of viscoelastic properties within the early mouse limb bud, we identified an anteriorly biased mesodermal stiffness gradient along which cells move collectively to shape the early bud. Tissue stiffness corresponds to the nascent expression domain of fibronectin that is Wnt5a-dependent. The findings challenge the notion that Wnt5a regulates cell movements by chemotaxis, and raises the possibility that Wnt5a modifies the tissue microenvironment to promote durotaxis in vivo. Importantly, the ability to precisely measure tissue stiffness in 3D has the potential to instigate and refine mechanisms of development and disease progression.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2018

TP promotes malignant progression in hepatocellular carcinoma through pentose Warburg effect

Tumor progression is dependent on metabolic reprogramming. Metastasis and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) are typical tumor progression. The relationship of metastasis, VM and metabolic reprogramming is not clear. In this study, we identified the novel role of Twist1, a VM regulator, in the transcriptional regulation of the expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP). We demonstrated that TP promoted extracellular thymidine metabolization into ATP and amino acids through pentose Warburg effect by coupling the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis. Moreover, Twist1 relied on TP-induced metabolic reprogramming to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis and VM formation mediated by VE-Cad, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 in vitro and in vivo. TP inhibitor tipiracil reduced promotion effect of TP enzyme activity on HCC VM formation and metastasis. Our findings demonstrate that TP, transcriptionally activated by Twist1, promotes HCC VM formation and metastasis through pentose Warburg effect, contributing to tumor progression.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Oscillatory cortical forces promote three dimensional cell intercalations that shape the mandibular arch

Multiple vertebrate embryonic structures such as organ primordia are composed of a volume of confluent cells. Although mechanisms that shape tissue sheets are increasingly understood, those which shape a volume of cells remain obscure. Here we show 3D mesenchymal cell intercalations, rather than cell divisions and biophysical tissue properties, are essential to shape the mandibular arch of the mouse embryo. Using a genetically encoded vinculin tension sensor, we show that cortical force oscillations promote these intercalations. Genetic loss and gain of function approaches show that Wnt5a functions as a spatial cue to coordinate cell polarity with cytoskeletal oscillation. YAP/TAZ and PIEZO1 serve as downstream effectors of Wnt5a-mediated actomyosin bias and cytosolic calcium transients, respectively, to ensure appropriate tissue form during growth. Our data support oriented 3D cell neighbour exchange as a conserved mechanism driving volumetric morphogenesis.

developmental biology↗