Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is an acute and highly contagious enteric disease of swine caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The porcine intestinal epithelial cell is the PEDV target cell. In this study, we established a porcine intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) line which can stably express PEDV N protein. We also investigate the subcellular localization and function of PEDV N protein by examining its effects on cell growth, cycle progression, interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression, and survival. The results show that the PEDV N protein localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), inhibits the IEC growth and prolongs S-phase cell cycle. The S-phase is prolonged which is associated with a decrease of cyclin A transcription level and an increase of cyclin A degradation. The IEC expressing PEDV N protein can express higher levels of IL-8 than control cells. Further studies show that PEDV N protein induces ER stress and activates NF-κB, which is responsible for the up-regulation of IL-8 and Bcl-2 expression. This is the first report to demonstrate that PEDV N protein can induce cell cycle prolongation at the S-phase, ER stress and up-regulation interleukin-8 expression. These findings provide novel information on the function of the PEDV N protein and are likely to be very useful in understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for PEDV pathogenesis.

In a series of studies to more precisely localize the cellular sites of expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) family members in reproductive organs, we observed a striking expression of Cdk5 in atretic follicles in the ovary, particularly in granulosa cells that appeared to be dying. We determined that these granulosa cells were undergoing apoptotic cell death using the in situ DNA fragmentation assay. To extend the generality of the association of Cdk5 with apoptotic cells, we examined its expression as it correlated with the detection of apoptosis in a number of developmental paradigms, including regions of the embryonic nervous system, the developing eye, and the developing limb. Finally, the association of apoptosis and Cdk5 expression and associated kinase activity was examined in the limb and in an induced cell death system, that of androgen withdrawal-induced regression of the prostate gland in male mice. These observations provide new insight into the possible function of this novel Cdk during both differentiation and apoptotic cell death.

Repair of bone defects with irregular shapes or at soft tissue insertion sites faces a huge challenge. Scaffolds capable of adapting to bone cavities, generating stiffness gradients, and inducing osteogenesis are necessary. Herein, a superelastic 3D ceramic fibrous scaffold is developed by assembly of intrinsically rigid, structurally flexible electrospun SiO2 nanofibers with chitosan as bonding sites (SiO2 NF‐CS) via a lyophilization technique. SiO2 NF‐CS scaffolds exhibit excellent elasticity (full recovery from 80% compression), fast recovery rate (>500 mm min−1), and good fatigue resistance (>10 000 cycles of compression) in an aqueous medium. SiO2 NF‐CS scaffolds induce human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) elongation and differentiation into osteoblasts. In vivo self‐fitting capability is demonstrated by implanting compressed SiO2 NF‐CS scaffolds into different shaped mandibular defects in rabbits, with a spontaneous recovery and full filling of defects. Rat calvarial defect repair validates enhanced bone formation and vascularization by cell (hMSC) histomorphology analysis. Further, subchondral bone scaffolds with gradations in SiO2 nanofibers are developed, leading to a stiffness gradient and spatially chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. This work presents a type of 3D ceramic fibrous scaffold, which can closely match bone defects with irregular shapes or at different implant sites, and is promising for clinical translation.

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