This study investigated the potential effect of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on inflammation and myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats, together with the underlying protective mechanisms, and screen out most effective ratio of n-6/n-3 within limits. The rats with pre-infarct treatment were distributed among 5 groups according to the n-6/n-3 ratio (36:1; 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 50:1); for the post-infarct treatment, the rats were distributed among 6 groups, including the control group (36:1) which was subjected to a sham procedure; the model group (36:1); and 4 test groups (n-6/n-3 ratio: 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 50:1). All of the rats were fed a purple perilla seed oil and safflower oil-based fatty emulsion. The serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Staining with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, hematoxylin and eosin, or Masson’s trichrome was performed for histological examination. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to examine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and signaling pathway proteins. Our data indicate that in both the pre-infarct treatment and post-infarct treatment, low ratios of n-6/n-3 PUFAs significantly inhibited the levels of serum inflammatory factors, the infarct size of MIRI rats, number of cardiomyocytes undergoing apoptosis, and the expression levels of caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax in the MIRI group. Thus a low ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs ameliorates inflammation and myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury.

The aim of the present study was to construct a mathematical model to predict the changing trends of cardiac hypertrophy at gene level. Microarray data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database (accession, GSE21600), which included 35 samples harvested from the heart of Wistar rats on postoperative days 1 (D1 group), 6 (D6 group) and 42 (D42 group) following aorta ligation and sham operated Wistar rats, respectively. Each group contained six samples, with the exception of the samples harvested from the aorta ligated group after 6 days, where n=5. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using a Limma package in R. Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed on common DEGs in order to construct a linear equation between the D1 and D42 groups, using linear discriminant analysis. Subsequent verification was performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the measurement data at day 42. A total of 319, 44 and 57 DEGs were detected in D1, D6 and D42 sample groups, respectively. AKIP1, ANKRD23, LTBP2, TGF-β2 and TNFRSF12A were identified as common DEGs in all groups. The predicted linear equation between D1 and D42 group was calculated to be y=1.526×-186.671. Assessment of the ROC curve demonstrated that the area under the curve was 0.831, with a specificity and sensitivity of 0.8. As compared with the predictive and measurement data at day 42, the consistency of the two sets of data was 76.5%. In conclusion, the present model may contribute to the early prediction of changing trends in cardiac hypertrophy disease at gene level.

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The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a devastating invasive insect herbivore. Its success on its preferred host plant, maize (Zea mays), is supported by numerous specialized detoxification mechanisms that suppress the defense responses of maize. In this study, we used a resistant Chinese maize cultivar, Xi502, which showed slower growth and lower yield-related phenotypes compare with maize inbred line B73. Comparative transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that B73-fed fall armyworm larvae have a significantly faster transcriptomic re-configuration toward maturation compared to their siblings fed with Xi502 leaves, whereas a number of putative aromatic breakdown -related DEGs were specifically induced when feeding on Xi502. Targeted metabolomic quantification demonstrated that Xi502 contains significantly higher levels of various benzoxazinoid compounds. Artificial feeding with the structural analog of a benzoxazinoid compound preferentially accumulated in Xi502 demonstrated a significant growth inhibition effect on FAW larvae. These results provide important genetic material and preliminary evidence for further dissection of the FAW-resistance mechanism in maize.