Background: Growing studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can act as crucial roles during the progression of various tumors, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We aimed to determine lncRNA endogenous bornavirus-like nucleoprotein (EBLN3P) expression in CRC and examine its influence on tumor behaviors of CRC cells.Materials and Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of EBLN3P and miR-323a-3p in CRC tissues and cell lines. Cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed by Cell Counting Kit 8, colony formation, Transwell assay, wound healing assays, and flow cytometry. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase assays were used to investigate the interaction between EBLN3P and miR-323a-3p, as well as between miR-323a-3p and U2AF homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1). Western blot was applied for detecting the expressions of the related proteins.Results: EBLN3P was highly expressed in CRC, and its high expression was distinctly associated with increased tumor size, histology/differentiation and advanced TNM stage, and poor clinical outcome of CRC patients. EBLN3P silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis and induced the apoptosis of CRC cells. Mechanistically, overexpression of EBLN3P exhibited tumorigenic effects through downregulating the inhibitory effects of miR-323a-3p on UHMK1 expression. The correlation analysis confirmed the positive or negative association among EBLN3P, miR-323a-3p, and UHMK1.Conclusion: EBLN3P promoted the development of CRC via targeting miR-323a-3p/UHMK1, which provided a new idea for treating CRC.

Renal fibrosis is an inevitable outcome of various manifestations of progressive chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The need for efficacious treatment regimen against renal fibrosis can therefore not be overemphasized. Here we show a novel protective role of Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis) in renal fibrosis in mice. We demonstrate decreased abundance of B. fragilis in the feces of CKD patients and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice. Oral administration of live B. fragilis attenuates renal fibrosis in UUO and adenine mice models. Increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels are decreased after B. fragilis administration. Results of metabolomics and proteomics studies show decreased level of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), a substrate of SGLT2, which increases after B. fragilis administration via enhancement of renal SGLT2 expression. 1,5-AG is an agonist of TGR5 that attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation. Madecassoside, a natural product found via in vitro screening promotes B. fragilis growth and remarkably ameliorates renal fibrosis. Our findings reveal the ameliorative role of B. fragilis in renal fibrosis via decreasing LPS and increasing 1,5-AG levels.

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Quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) is more sensitive, specific, rapid and accurate than traditional semi‐quantitative and northern hybridization methods. It can more accurately analyse differences in gene expression and has become the most commonly used method for the determination of gene expression level. Up to now, few studies have focused on the stability of reference genes in Tetraodontidae. The purpose of this study was to use geNorm, BestKeeper and Normfinder software to select appropriate reference genes in the brain, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle and gill tissues of Takifugu rubripes under normal conditions and conditions that stimulated by Cryptocaryon irritans. The research shows that the differences among algorithms may produce inconsistent results. The results of various algorithms showed that the most stable reference gene in normal head kidney and liver wasRPL7, the most stable reference genes in normal spleen and gill were EF1A and B2M, and the optimal reference genes in normal brain and muscle were ACTB and GAPDH respectively. In the infected group, the most stable reference genes for muscle and gill were EF1A and ACTB, respectively, while the most stable reference genes for kidney and liver were RPL7 and B2M. Our verification experiment also proved this. This study provides a basis for identifying the functions of immune‐related genes at the transcriptional level and, at the same time, helps to further analyse the pathogenic mechanism of expression of T. rubripes stimulated by C. irritans. The results also provide appropriate reference genes for the study of T. rubripes.