LncRNA Prostate Cancer Gene Expression Marker 1 (PCGEM1) Down-Regulation Inhibits the Development of Osteoarthritis by Modulating miR-152-3p

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and inflammatory disease, leading to pain or even disability in severe cases. LncRNA PCGEM1 (PCGEM1) is reported to be dysregulated, serving as critical regulators in various human diseases, including OA. However, the biological role of PCGEM1 and its underlying mechanisms during OA remained unclear. In the present study, CHON-001 cells were exposed to interleukin (IL)-1β to construct the OA cell model. Expression of PCGEM1 and miR-152-3p in cells was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Corresponding commercial kits were used to measure the expressions of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), inter-leukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Protein levels of apoptosis-related proteins, cleaved-Caspase3 and Caspase3, were detected by Western blotting. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry assays were utilized for the determination of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The association between PCGEN1 and miR-152-3p was confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. From the results, PCGEM1 expression was significantly increased while miR-152-3p was inhibited in CHON-001 cells after IL-1β treatment. In addition, silencing of PCGEM1 could promote proliferation, inhibit the apoptosis, suppress LDH level and alleviate inflammation response caused by IL-1β in CHON-001 cells by sponging miR-152-3p. In a word, PCGEM1 down-regulation suppressed OA progression by the regulation of miR-152-3p expression, functioning as a potential therapeutic target for OA clinical treatment.

Discriminatory Weight of SNPs in Spike SARS-CoV-2 Variants: A Technically Rapid, Unambiguous, and Bioinformatically Validated Laboratory Approach

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has assumed considerable importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its mutation rate is high, involving the spike (S) gene and thus there has been a rapid spread of new variants. Herein, we describe a rapid, easy, adaptable, and affordable workflow to uniquely identify all currently known variants through as few analyses. Our method only requires two conventional PCRs of the S gene and two Sanger sequencing reactions, and possibly another PCR/sequencing assay on a N gene portion to identify the B.1.160 lineage. Methods: We selected an S gene 1312 bp portion containing a set of SNPs useful for discriminating all variants. Mathematical, statistical, and bioinformatic analyses demonstrated that our choice allowed us to identify all variants even without looking for all related mutations, as some of them are shared by different variants (e.g., N501Y is found in the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants) whereas others, that are more informative, are unique (e.g., A57 distinctive to the Alpha variant). Results: A “weight” could be assigned to each mutation that may be present in the selected portion of the S gene. The method’s robustness was confirmed by analyzing 80 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples. Conclusions: Our workflow identified the variants without the need for whole-genome sequencing and with greater reliability than with commercial kits.

Chemical and Physical Characterisation of Macroaggregated Human Serum Albumin: Strength and Specificity of Bonds with 99mTc and 68Ga

Background: Macroaggregated human serum albumin (MAA) properties are widely used in nuclear medicine, labelled with 99mTc. The aim of this study is to improve the knowledge about the morphology, size, dimension and physical–chemical characteristics of MAA and their bond with 99mTc and 68Ga. Methods: Commercial kits of MAA (Pulmocis®) were used. Characterisation through experiments based on SEM, DLS and Stokes’ Law were carried out. In vitro experiments for Langmuir isotherms and pH studies on radiolabelling were performed and the stability of the radiometal complex was verified through competition reactions. Results: The study settles the MAA dimension within the range 43–51 μm. The Langmuir isotherm reveals for [99mTc]MAA: Bmax (46.32), h (2.36); for [68Ga]MAA: Bmax (44.54), h (0.893). Dual labelling reveals that MAA does not discriminate different radioisotopes. Experiments on pH placed the optimal pH for labelling with 99mTc at 6. Conclusion: Radiolabelling of MAA is possible with high efficiency. The nondiscriminatory MAA bonds make this drug suitable for radiolabelling with different radioisotopes or for dual labelling. This finding illustrates the need to continue investigating MAA chemical and physical characteristics to allow for secure labelling with different isotopes.

A Ponceau S Staining-Based Dot Blot Assay for Rapid Protein Quantification of Biological Samples

Despite the availability of a wide range of commercial kits, protein quantification is often unreliable, especially for tissue-derived samples, leading to uneven loading in subsequent experiments. Here we show that the widely used Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assay tends to underestimate protein concentrations of tissue samples. We present a Ponceau S staining-based dot-blot assay as an alternative for protein quantification. This method is simple, rapid, more reliable than the BCA assay, compatible with biological samples lysed in RIPA or 2x SDS gel-loading buffer, and also inexpensive.

Performance Characteristics of Real-time PCRs for African Swine Fever Virus Genome Detection – comparison of Twelve Kits to an OIE Recommended Method

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the major threats to pig production, and real-time PCR (qPCR) protocols are integral part of ASF laboratory diagnosis. With the pandemic spread of ASF, commercial kits have risen on the market. In Germany, the kits have to go through an approval process and thus, general validation can be assumed. However, they were never compared to each other. In this study, 12 commercial PCR kits were compared to an OIE recommended method. Samples representing different matrices, genome loads, and genotypes were included in a panel that was tested under diagnostic conditions. The comparison included user-friendliness, internal controls, and the time required. All qPCRs were able to detect ASFV genome in different matrices across all genotypes and disease courses. With one exception, there were no significant differences when comparing the overall mean. The overall specificity was 100 % [95 % CI 87.66 - 100], and the sensitivity was between 95 % and 100 % [95 % CI 91.11 - 100]. As can be expected, variability concerned samples with low genome load. Concluding, all tests were fit for purpose. The test system can therefore be chosen based on compatibility and prioritization of the internal control system.

Improvement of soil testing techniques for detecting spores of potato wart disease Synchytrium endobioticum using molecular methods

Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Percival. is a pathogen of potato wart disease and has a restricted distribution on the territory of the Russian Federation. Its main pathways are infected potato tubers and different planting material containing soil particles infected with spores of the fungus. One of the main problems is the use of toxic chemicals during detecting the disease in laboratory methods of direct soil testing to identify resting spores. This paper presents the assessment of molecular methods of soil diagnosis for detection of S. endobioticum by direct extraction of fungal DNA from soil samples using the MetaGen reagent kit. Identification was performed using the Fitoskrin. Synchytrium endobioticum-RT kit. The kit was pre-tested using DNA isolated from potato warts by various commercial kits. It was found that the optimal method of DNA isolation from the warts was using the FitoSorb-Avtomat 48 kit at the Tecan robotic station. Studies have shown that the sensitivity of the direct DNA extraction method from soil samples with various infection levels is the same as that of flotation method using carbon tetrachloride. Moreover, this method makes it possible to work with soil samples of different types, including peaty soils.

SIRT1 Contributes as an Invasiveness Marker in Pituitary Adenoma

The aim of the study was to find the association between SIRT1 concentration, SIRT1 rs3758391, rs3818292, rs7895833 polymorphisms and clinical manifestations of pituitary adenoma (PA). The study included 108 patients with PA and 216 healthy individuals. Using commercial kits, DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. To determine the PA and control group subjects' genotypes was used real-time PCR method, for SIRT concentration measurement we used ELISA method. The statistical data analysis was completed using the "IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0" software. Results: We performed statistical analysis of SNPs in the patient and healthy controls and patients' subgroups and found statistically significant differences in rs7895833 genotype (A/A, A/G, G/G) distributions between the active PA and control groups (67.9%, 24.6%, 5.7% vs. 72.2%, 27.3%, 0.5%; p = 0.02) Also, the results showed that the rs7895833 G/G genotype is associated with about 13-fold increased odds of active PA development compared to the A/A (OR = 13.95% CI: 1.314–128.632; p = 0.028) and both A/A and A/G genotypes (OR = 12.9; 95% CI: 1.314–126.624; p = 0.028). There is ample evidence that SIRT1 in the pituitary and other target organs modifies the synthesis, secretion, and activity of hormones to trigger adaptive responses, thus we decided to include this in our study. When determining the serum concentration of SIRT1, we did not find a statistically significant difference between the PA group and the control group. SIRT1 serum level was statistically significantly higher in women with PA than in healthy control women (1.115 (3.748) vs. 136 (0.211); p = 0.008). To conclude - SIRT1 rs7895833 G/G genotype is associated with about 13-fold increased odds of active PA development compared to the A/A and both A/A and A/G genotypes. SIRT1 serum levels are higher in women with PA than in healthy women.

IDENTIFICATION OF CORRELATES OF PROTECTION FROM YERSINIA PESTIS ON A MOUSE MODEL AND ASSESSMENT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THEM AS MARKERS OF VACCINATION EFFICIENCY IN HUMANS

In conditions when the assessment of changes in the incidence rate cannot be used as an indicator of the effectiveness of a live plague vaccine, there is a real need to search for other, in particular, immunological correlates of the vaccine's protection. Modern concepts of the patho- and immunogenesis of plague make it possible to narrow the search for possible correlates of protection, focusing on the assessment of cellular factors of the immune response. The aim of this work is to identify the immunological correlates of protection against plague in mice immunized with Yersinia pestis EV NIIEG, and to assess the dynamics of selected markers of immunological effectiveness of vaccination in people vaccinated against plague. Experimental model - BALB / c mice, 40 individuals in each group were immunized with Y. pestis EV at doses of 2 × 102, 1 × 103, 5 × 103, 2.5 × 104 CFU, and on the 21st day they were infected with Y. pestis 231 at a dose of 400 LD50. Control group - intact animals. Immunogenicity was determined by ImD50 and calculated by the Kerber method. Volunteers - 20 people who were first vaccinated with the live plague vaccine and 20 people who were not vaccinated against the plague (comparison group). The production of cytokines in the blood was determined on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent analyzer "LAZURIT" (Dynex Technologies, USA): in mice before infection with Y. pestis 231 on the 14th and 21st days after vaccination; in humans - before vaccination, 1, 6 and 12 months after vaccination. We used commercial kits in accordance with the instructions for their use. The immunized mice showed a significant increase (2.2 times) in the induced IFN-γ production and a moderate increase in the concentration of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-17A on the 14th day of immunogenesis. A high correlation was found between the survival rate of animals and the level of antigen- / mitogen-induced production of IFN-γ (r = 0.94, p = 0.039), both on the 14th and 21st days, as well as a noticeable relationship with the level of production of IL-10 and IL-17A on the 14th day of immunogenesis. In volunteers one month after inoculation, an increase in the indicators of mitogen-induced production of all detectable cytokines was noted, but the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17A significantly increased by the 6th month of observation (p <0.05), although only for IFN-γ and IL-17A, the induced production of these cytokines remained at a sufficiently high level up to a year after inoculation. Thus, IFN-γ and IL-17A can be considered as possible informative correlates of protection of mice from Y. pestis on days 14 and 21, considering the increase in the induced production of these cytokines as adequate markers of the protective efficacy of immunization, and the assessment of the dynamics of these parameters in volunteers vaccinated with the plague live vaccine, an increase in the levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A can be considered a favorable prognostic marker of the immunological efficacy of the vaccine in the period from the 6th to the 12th month of observation.

EFFICIENT METHOD OF DNA ISOLATION FROM BULKING SAMPLES OF SEEDLINGS

Forage annual and perennial grasses are the difficult subject for molecular and genetic studies because of the problem with obtaining qualitative genomic DNA for PCR, due of high content of proteins, polysaccharides and polyphenols. The known methods of DNA extraction or the numerous commercial kits allow isolating purified nucleic acids from the leaf tissue, but characterized by low efficiency at seedlings using. The modified method of DNA isolation, based on the SDS-extraction buffer (sodium dodecil sulfate), is presented in this study. Significant modifications were introduced in the reagents compound and the steps of procedure accordingly to used type of plant tissue and the result was positive at usage on the bulking samples, as well as on the individual genotypes (the only seedling). Reliability of this method and the functionality of the obtained DNA samples were tested in PCR with different molecular markers (SSR, SRAP and PawS) in researches on revealing of forage legume grasses DNA polymorphism. The general advantages of the proposed method are simplicity and effectiveness, the possibility to isolate qualitative DNA without toxic reagents application, as well as relatively low cost and availability of reagents. This method can be useful for studying the genetic biodiversity and for decision the different tasks, required the rapid analysis of large plant populations.