Biology subjects

liu, d.

Publications and source records attributed to liu, d..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Effects of different environmental intervention durations on the intestinal mucosal barrier and the brain-gut axis in rats with colorectal cancer

ObjectivesEnriched environment (EE) is a promising strategy to protect the intestinal mucosal barrier and regulate brain-gut peptide expression. However, the optimal enriched environment intervention duration is unknown. Here, different EE intervention durations were applied to assess the optimal intervention duration in rats with colorectal cancer. MethodsWe used a rat model of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer. Rats were housed in an EE for 0, 2, 4 or 8 weeks. The intestinal mucosa and serum TNF-, IL-6, IL-10, DAO, ATP, CRF, and occludin levels and bacterial translocation (BT) were measured, and the intestinal mucosa morphology was evaluated. ResultsEight-week EE intervention was more beneficial to the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier than 2-week or 4-week intervention (P<0.05). There was a significant different between the 4-week and 8-week groups on BT (P=0.049). However, which intervention duration had the greatest advantages in intestinal mucosa and serum inflammatory factor regulation was not determined. There were no significant differences in the effects of different EE intervention durations on BT or brain intestinal peptide levels among the other groups (P>0.05). ConclusionsThe effect of an 8-week environmental intervention duration on the intestinal mucosal barrier was better than that of 2-week and 4-week durations overall, but the effect of different environmental intervention durations on brain-gut peptide levels was not obvious. In the future, we can further explore the molecular biological mechanism of the effect of different EE intervention durations on the intestinal mucosal barrier and analyze the effect of an EE on other brain-gut peptides.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Blood vessels regulate primary motor neuronal pathfinding in zebrafish via exosome contained microRNA-22

A precise neuro-vascular communication is crucial to orchestrate directional migration and patterning of the complex vascular network and neural system. However, how blood vessels are involved in shaping the proper neuronal formation has not been fully understood. So far, limited studies have reported the discovery and functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in guiding vascular and neural pathfinding. Currently, we showed that the deficiency of miRNA-22a, an endothelial-enriched miRNA, caused dramatic pathfinding defects both in intersegmental vessels (ISVs) and primary motor neurons (PMNs) in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, we found the specific inhibition of miR-22a in ECs resulted in the patterning defects of both ISVs and PMNs. However, neuronal block of miR-22a mainly led to the axonal defects of PMN. Then we demonstrated that endothelial miR-22a regulates PMNs axonal navigation via exosome pathway. Sema4c was identified as a potential target of miR-22a through transcriptomic analysis and in silico analysis. Furthermore, luciferase assay and EGFP sensor assay in vivo confirmed the binding of miR-22a with 3-UTR of sema4c. In addition, Down-regulation of sema4c in the miR-22a morphants significantly neutralized the aberrant patterning of vascular and neural networks. Our study revealed that miR-22a acted as a dual guidance cue coordinating vascular and neuronal patterning and expanded the repertoire of guidance molecules, which might be of use therapeutically to guide vessels and nerves in the relevant diseases that affect both systems.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Selective Germline Genome Edited Pig Meninges Grafts for the Abdominal Wall Closure in Damage Control Surgery

Reconstruction of abdominal wall defects is still a big challenge in surgery, especially where there is insufficient fascia muscular or excessive tension of the defects in emergency and life-threatening scenarios. Indeed, the concept of damage control surgery has been advanced in the management of both traumatic and nontraumatic surgical settings. The strategy requires abridged surgery and quick back to intensive care units (ICU) for aggressive resuscitation. In the damage control laparotomy, patients are left with open abdomen or provisional closure of the abdomen with a planned return to the operating room for definitive surgery. So far, various techniques have been utilized to achieve early temporary abdominal closure, but there is no clear consensus on the ideal method or material for abdominal wall reconstruction. We recently successfully created the selective germline genome-edited pig (SGGEP) and here we aimed to explore the feasibility of in vivo reconstruction of the abdominal wall in a rabbit model with SGGEP meninges grafts (SGGEP-MGs). Our result showed that the SGGEP-MGs could restore the integrity of the defect very well. After 7 weeks of engraftment, there was no sign of herniation observed, the grafts were re-vascularized, and the defects were well repaired. Histologically, the boundary between the graft and the host was very well integrated and there was no strong inflammatory response. Therefore, this kind of closure could help restore the fluid and electrolyte balance and to dampen systemic inflammatory response in damge control surgery while ADM graft failed to establish re-vascularization as the same as the SGGEP-MG. It is concluded that the meninges of SGGEP could serve as a high-quality alternative for restoring the integrity of the abdominal wall, especially for damage control surgery.

synthetic biology↗