Microorganisms and eukaryotic human cells coexist in synergistic relationships in nearly every niche of the human body. The female genital tract consisting of the vagina, uterus with its cervix and endometrium, uterine tubes and ovaries – harbors its own typical microbiota, which accounts for 9 % of the total bacterial population in females. To this organ system, we also assigned the microbiome of the placenta, which has not been studied much until now. Among the spectrum of microbial species, the female genital tract is mainly dominated by Lactobacillus species, which are considered to be one of the simplest yet most important microbial communities. However, this relationship between macro- and micro-organisms seems to have a number of physiological functions, e.g., the vaginal and cervical microbiota have unique impact on reproductive health. The aim of this review was to provide current view on female genital tract microbiota and its role in reproductive health. We describe in detail the association of vaginal or tubal epithelium with microbiota or the role of microbiota in normal placental function.
Gastropathy is one of the most common diseases of the human gastrointestinal tract. Apart from its consequences in the stomach, it is also manifested in other parts of the digestive tract, particularly in the duodenum. The aim of this pilot study was to verify on animal model the empirically observed alleviation of gastropathy symptoms in patients who underwent a drinking treatment of Vincentka natural mineral water during their spa treatment. Sixteen male Wistar rats were included in the study. The animals were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (E; n=8) and control group (C; n=8). The experimental protocol consisted of three phases: (1) handling phase (7 days); (2) mineral water (E)/tap water (C) administration (7 days); (3) acute gastritis induction (1 day). Twenty-four hours after the induction of acute gastritis, the animals were sacrificed. The collected tissues (stomach and duodenum) and blood were examined by standard histological microscopy, and by immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. Histopathological analysis revealed significantly reduced damage to the gastric mucosa in the experimental group. Significantly different values of blood plasma antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress parameters and blood plasma biochemical parameters were also found. Based on these results, we conclude that the mineral water Vincentka has a positive impact on development and symptoms of acute gastric ulcers.
The study aimed to recognize whether the activity of a semi-aquatic invasive carnivore – the American mink Neovison vison – is related to the distribution of waterbird colonies. For this reason, we monitored mink occurrence in lake reedbeds and the fate of artificial nests imitating those of the great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus. The location of artificial nests in the grebe colony increased the probability of their survival compared to those placed outside the grebe colony. During the study, mink activity increased over time. In general, it was lower in colonies than outside of them, suggesting that the presence of natural nests does not increase the probability of mink occurrence in lake reedbeds. However, mink activity was negatively correlated with the distance from the lake shoreline and differed spatially according to the presence or absence of natural grebe nests. In grebe colonies, the probability of mink occurrence at greater distances from the lake shoreline was higher than outside, which can be explained by optimizing swimming effort while searching for prey. In conclusion, mink activity in colonies was lower than in areas with no waterbird nests, and nest location in a colony decreased predation risk by mink.
The increased proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is a key process in the formation of airway remodeling in asthma. In this study, we focused on the expression of mircoRNA-18a (miR-18a) in airway remodeling in bronchial asthma and its related mechanisms. ASMCs are induced by platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) for in vitro airway remodeling. The expression of miR-18a in sputum of asthmatic patients and healthy volunteers was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of miR-18a was over-expressed or interfered with in PDGF-BB-treated ASMCs. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were detected by MTT, flow cytometry and Transwell, respectively, the expression of contractile phenotype marker proteins (SM-22α, α-SM-actin, calponin) and key molecules of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway (PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-AKT) in ASMCs were detected by Western blot. The expression of miR-18a was down-regulated in the sputum and PDGF-BB-treated ASMCs of asthma patients. PDGF-BB could promote the proliferation and migration of ASMCs and inhibit their apoptosis, it could also promote the phenotypic transformation of ASMCs and activate the PI3K/AKT pathway. MiR-18a could inhibit the proliferation, migration ability and phenotypic transformation of ASMCs induced by PDGF-BB to a certain extent and alleviate the effect of PDGF-BB in supressing apoptosis, while miR-18a could inhibit the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. MiR-18a inhibits PDGF-BB-induced proliferation, migration and phenotypic conversion of ASMCs by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus attenuating airway remodeling in asthma.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents the acute manifestation of coronary artery disease. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively studied in AMI. This study focused on the role of miR-431-5p in AMI and its effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis after AMI. The expression of miR-431-5p was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). By interfering with miR-431-5p in hypoxiareoxygenation (H/R)-induced HL-1 cardiomyocytes, the effect of miR-431-5p on cardiomyocyte apoptosis after AMI was examined. The interaction between miR-431-5p and selenoprotein T (SELT) mRNA was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry. Cell viability was examined by 3-(4,5)- dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of miR-431-5p in AMI myocardial tissues and H/R-induced HL-1 cardiomyocytes was significantly increased. After interfering with miR-431-5p, the expression of SELT in HL-1 cells was up-regulated, cell apoptosis was decreased, cell viability was increased, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was decreased. The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting relationship between miR-431-5p and SELT1 3’ untranslated region (UTR). In H/R-induced HL-1 cells, the simultaneous silencing of SELT and miR-431-5p resulted in a decrease of Bcl-2 expression, an increase of Bax expression, and an increase of cleaved-caspase 3 expression compared with silencing miR-431-5p alone. Also, cell viability was decreased, while LDH activity was increased by the simultaneous silencing of SELT and miR-431-5p. Interfering miR-431-5p protected cardiomyocytes from AMI injury via restoring the expression of SELT, providing new ideas for the treatment of AMI.
Gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) is a chronic fibrotic disease of gluteal muscles due to multiple etiologies. Emilin 1 plays a determinant role in fibers formation, but its role in the progression of GMC remains unclear. The present study was aimed to search for the predictive role and regulatory mechanism of Emilin 1 on GMC. Here, Protein and mRNA expression of Emilin 1 were decreased in GMC tissues compared to normal muscle tissues. Using the analysis of target prediction, Emilin 1 was observed to be a potential downstream sponge of miR-491-5p. In comparison to Emilin 1, miR-491-5p showed an aberrant elevation in GMC tissues, which was further proven to have a negative correlation with Emilin 1. The direct binding of miR-491-5p to Emilin 1 mRNA was confirmed by luciferase reporter gene assay, and miR-491-5p mimics inhibited, while miR-491-5p inhibitor promoted the protein expression and secretion of Emilin 1 in contraction bands (CB) fibroblasts. Additionally, miR-491-5p mimics promoted the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin D1 and the proliferation of CB fibroblasts, which could be reversed by Emilin 1 overexpression. Mechanistically, miR-491-5p mimics possibly activated transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3 signal cascade via binding to 3’-untranslated region of Emilin 1 mRNA, thereby promoting the progression of fibrosis of CB fibroblasts. Collectively, miR-491-5p inhibited Emilin 1 expression, and subsequently promoted CB fibroblasts proliferation and fibrosis via activating TGF-β1/Smad3 signal axis. MiR-491-5p might be a potentially effective biomarker for predicting GMC, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for GMC.
Chloroplast PSII photochemical efficiency is upregulated more rapidly than CO2 assimilation during photosynthesis induction, suggesting the existence of other electron sinks than that of CO2 assimilation. We hypothesized that the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway could be such a sink. Inhibition of the AOX restricted light activation of the malate-oxaloacetate shuttle and caused an excessive reduction of PSI acceptor side and substantial accumulation of QA-, hindering the photosynthetic linear electron transport rate (ETR) and leading to an imbalance between light energy absorption and exploitation during photosynthetic induction. ETR limitation also restricted the formation of thylakoid pH gradient, evidenced by a decreased de-epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle, thus preventing nonphotochemical quenching. Delayed CO2 assimilation due to thylakoid pH gradient restriction was partially reversed by exogenous ATP application. The AOX pathway acts as a photosynthetic electron sink, protecting the photosynthetic apparatus against photoinhibition and accelerating the induction of CO2 assimilation during photosynthetic induction in Rumex K-1 leaves.
Coatis are traditionally divided into two genera (Nasua and Nasuella). Coatis from the lowlands of the Neotropics are larger (Nasua nasua in South America and Nasua narica in Central America) than those from the highlands in the Andean Cordilleras (Nasuella olivacea and maybe Nasuella meridensis). Some authors have claimed that Nasuella should be included in Nasua but strong data have not been provided to support this statement. We reported an extensive mitochondrial (mt) DNA analysis with 205 specimens with complete mitogenomes. Some N. olivacea were intermixed among haplogroups of N. nasua, some haplotypes of N. narica were intermediate between N. nasua and the most recent haplotypes of the Central American N. narica, and N. narica from southern Central America and northern Colombia were introgressed with mtDNA from N. olivacea. Furthermore, the spatial genetic structure of N. nasua, N. narica, and N. olivacea were practically identical. Additionally, we also show, for first the time, the karyotype of N. olivacea. The chromosome morphology of N. olivacea was un-differentiable from that of N. nasua. These data fail to support the independence of these two genera.