Optimal different adeno-associated virus capsid/promoter combinations to target specific cell types in the common marmoset cerebral cortex

To achieve cell-type-specific gene expression, using target cell-type-tropic different adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids is advantageous. However, their tropism across brain cell types in nonhuman primates has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the tropism of nine AAV serotype capsids (AAV1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, rh10, and DJ) expressing EGFP by chicken β-actin hybrid (CBh) promoter in marmoset cerebral cortical cells. All nine AAV capsid vectors, especially AAV9 and AAVrh10, caused highly neuron-selective EGFP expression. Some AAV capsids, including AAV5, induced EGFP expression to a lesser extent in oligodendrocytes. Different ubiquitous cytomegalovirus (CMV) and CMV early enhancer/chicken β-actin (CAG) promoters exhibited similar neuron-predominant transgene expression. Conversely, all nine AAV capsid vectors with the astrocyte-specific hGFA(ABC1D) promoter selectively expressed EGFP in astrocytes, except AAV5, which modestly expressed EGFP in oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocyte-specific mouse myelin basic protein (mMBP) promoter in AAV5 vectors expressed EGFP in oligodendrocytes specifically and efficiently. The following are optimal combinations of capsids and promoters for cell-type-specific expression: AAV9 or AAVrh10 and ubiquitous CBh or CMV promoter for neuron-specific transgene expression, AAV2 or AAV7 and hGFA(ABC1D) promoters for astrocyte-specific transgene expression, and AAV5 and mMBP promoters for oligodendrocyte-specific transgene expression.

Simple improvements in vector design afford substantial gains in AAV delivery of aggregation-slowing Aβ variants

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy for neurological disease has gained traction due to stunning advances in capsid evolution for CNS targeting. With AAV brain delivery now in focus, conventional improvements in viral expression vectors offer a complementary route for optimizing gene delivery. We previously introduced a novel AAV gene therapy to slow amyloid aggregation in the brain based on neuronal release of an Aβ sequence variant that inhibited fibrilization of wild-type Aβ. Here we explore three coding elements of the virally delivered DNA plasmid in an effort to maximize the production of therapeutic peptide in the brain. We demonstrate that simply replacing the Gaussia luciferase signal peptide with the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain signal peptide increased release of variant Aβ by ∼5-fold. Sequence modifications within the expressed minigene further increased peptide release by promoting γ-secretase cleavage. Addition of a cytosolic fusion tag compatible with γ-secretase interaction allowed viral transduction to be tracked by immunostaining, independent from the variant Aβ peptide. Collectively these construct modifications increased neuronal production of therapeutic peptide by 10-fold upon intracranial AAV injection of neonatal mice. These findings demonstrate that modest changes in expression vector design can yield substantial gains in AAV efficiency for therapeutic applications.

Optimization of a lentivirus-mediated gene therapy targeting HIV-1 RNA to eliminate HIV-1-infected cells

Persistence of HIV-1 in cellular reservoirs results in lifelong infection, with cure achieved only in rare cases through ablation of marrow-derived cells. We report on optimization of an approach that could potentially be aimed at eliminating these reservoirs, hijacking the HIV-1 alternative splicing process to functionalize the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk)/ganciclovir (GCV) cell suicide system through targeted RNA trans-splicing at the HIV-1 D4 donor site. AUG1-deficient HSVtk therapeutic pre-mRNA was designed to gain an in-frame start codon from HIV-1 tat1. D4-targeting lentiviral vectors were produced and used to transduce HIV-1-expressing cells, where trans-spliced HIV-1 tat/HSVtk mRNA was successfully detected. However, translation of catalytically active HSVtk polypeptides from internal AUGs in HSVtk ΔAUG1 caused GCV-mediated cytotoxicity in uninfected cells. Modifying these sites in the D4 opt 2 lentiviral vector effectively mitigated this major off-target effect. Promoter choice was optimized for increased transgene expression. Affinity for HIV-1 RNA predicted in silico correlated with the propensity of opt 2 payloads to induce HIV-1 RNA trans-splicing and killing of HIV-1-expressing cells with no significant effect on uninfected cells. Following latency reversing agent (LRA) optimization and treatment, 45% of lymphocytes in an HIV-1-infected latency model could be eliminated with D4 opt 2/GCV. Further development would be warranted to exploit this approach.

Alternative splicing dysregulation across tissue and therapeutic approaches in a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the leading cause of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, is caused by a CTG repeat expansion. Expression of the repeat causes widespread alternative splicing (AS) defects and downstream pathogenesis, including significant skeletal muscle impacts. The HSA LR mouse model plays a significant role in therapeutic development. This mouse model features a transgene composed of approximately 220 interrupted CTG repeats, which results in skeletal muscle pathology that mirrors DM1. To better understand this model and the growing number of therapeutic approaches developed with it, we performed a meta-analysis of publicly available RNA sequencing data for AS changes across three widely examined skeletal muscles: quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. Our analysis demonstrated that transgene expression correlated with the extent of splicing dysregulation across these muscles from gastrocnemius (highest), quadriceps (medium), to tibialis anterior (lowest). We identified 95 splicing events consistently dysregulated across all examined datasets. Comparison of splicing rescue across seven therapeutic approaches showed a range of rescue across the 95 splicing events from the three muscle groups. This analysis contributes to our understanding of the HSA LR model and the growing number of therapeutic approaches currently in preclinical development for DM1.

Engineered AAV capsid transport mutants overcome transduction deficiencies in the aged CNS

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy has enjoyed great successes over the past decade, with Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutics and a robust clinical pipeline. Nonetheless, barriers to successful translation remain. For example, advanced age is associated with impaired brain transduction, with the diminution of infectivity depending on anatomical region and capsid. Given that CNS gene transfer is often associated with neurodegenerative diseases where age is the chief risk factor, we sought to better understand the causes of this impediment. We assessed two AAV variants hypothesized to overcome factors negatively impacting transduction in the aged brain; specifically, changes in extracellular and cell-surface glycans, and intracellular transport. We evaluated a heparin sulfate proteoglycan null variant with or without mutations enhancing intracellular transport. Vectors were injected into the striatum of young adult or aged rats to address whether improving extracellular diffusion, removing glycan receptor dependence, or improving intracellular transport are important factors in transducing the aged brain. We found that, regardless of the viral capsid, there was a reduction in many of our metrics of transduction in the aged brain. However, the transport mutant was less sensitive to age, suggesting that changes in the cellular transport of AAV capsids are a key factor in age-related transduction deficiency.

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair for precise gene editing

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) is a versatile platform for creating precise site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and substitutions. These precise edits are made possible through the use of exogenous donor templates that carry the desired sequence. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HDR can be widely used to study protein functions, disease modeling, and gene therapy. However, HDR is limited by its low efficiency, especially in postmitotic cells. Here, we review CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HDR, with a focus on methodologies for boosting HDR efficiency, and applications of precise editing via HDR. First, we describe two common mechanisms of DNA repair, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and HDR, and discuss their impact on CRISPR-Cas9-mediated precise genome editing. Second, we discuss approaches for improving HDR efficiency through inhibition of the NHEJ pathway, activation of the HDR pathway, modification of donor templates, and delivery of Cas9/sgRNA reagents. Third, we summarize the applications of HDR for protein labeling in functional studies, disease modeling, and ex vivo and in vivo gene therapies. Finally, we discuss alternative precise editing platforms and their limitations, and describe potential avenues to improving CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HDR efficiency and fidelity in future research.

Direct delivery of Cas9 or base editor protein and guide RNA complex enables genome editing in the retina

Genome editing by CRISPR-Cas holds promise for the treatment of retinal dystrophies. For therapeutic gene editing, transient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 is preferable to viral delivery which leads to long-term expression with potential adverse consequences. Cas9 protein and its guide RNA, delivered as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, have been successfully delivered into the retinal pigment epithelium in vivo. However, the delivery into photoreceptors, the primary focus in retinal dystrophies, has not been achieved. Here, we investigate the feasibility of direct RNP delivery into photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells. We demonstrate that Cas9 or adenine-base editors complexed with guide RNA, can enter retinal cells without the addition of any carrier compounds. Once in the retinal cells, editing rates vary based on the efficacy of the guide RNA and the specific location edited within the genes. Cas9 RNP delivery at high concentrations, however, leads to outer retinal toxicity. This underscores the importance of improving delivery efficiency for potential therapeutic applications in the future.

Precision and efficacy of RNA-guided DNA integration in high-expressing muscle loci

Gene replacement therapies primarily rely on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for transgene expression. However, episomal expression can decline over time due to vector loss or epigenetic silencing. CRISPR-based integration methods offer promise for long-term transgene insertion. While the development of transgene integration methods has made substantial progress, identifying optimal insertion loci remains challenging. Skeletal muscle is a promising tissue for gene replacement owing to low invasiveness of intramuscular injections, relative proportion of body mass, the multinucleated nature of muscle, and the potential for reduced adverse effects. Leveraging endogenous promoters in skeletal muscle, we evaluated two highly expressing loci using homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) to integrate reporter or therapeutic genes in mouse myoblasts and skeletal muscle tissue. We hijacked the muscle creatine kinase (Ckm) and myoglobin (Mb) promoters by co-delivering CRISPR-Cas9 and a donor plasmid with promoterless constructs encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) or human Factor IX (hFIX). Additionally, we deeply profiled our genome and transcriptome outcomes from targeted integration and evaluated the safety of the proposed sites. This study introduces a proof-of-concept technology for achieving high-level therapeutic gene expression in skeletal muscle, with potential applications in targeted integration-based medicine and synthetic biology.

Interaction of plant phenol vanillin with human hemoglobin: A spectroscopic and molecular docking study

Vanillin is a phenolic aldehyde widely used as a flavouring agent in the food industry. Vanillin has many health benefits and has gained attention in pharmacological industries also, due to its antioxidant properties and non-toxic nature. The interaction of vanillin with human hemoglobin (hHb), an abundant tetrameric heme protein, was investigated by several spectroscopic techniques and molecular modeling methods. UV-visible spectra showed that the binding of vanillin to hHb induces structural changes due to alterations in the micro-environment of hHb. Vanillin quenches the intrinsic fluorescence of hHb by the dynamic mechanism, which was confirmed by both temperature dependent and time resolved fluorescence studies. Vanillin binds spontaneously to hHb at a single site and the binding is stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The circular dichroism spectra showed that the binding of vanillin altered the secondary structure of hHb due to change in its alpha-helical content. Molecular docking identified the amino acids of hHb involved in binding to vanillin and also that the free energy change of the binding reaction is -5.5 kcal/mol. Thus, our results indicate that vanillin binds spontaneously to hHb at a single site and alters its secondary structure. This will help in understanding the potential use of vanillin and related antioxidants as therapeutic agents in various hematological disorders.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of licochalcone B against psoralidin-induced liver injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Herb-induced liver injury (HILI) represents an exacerbated inflammatory response, with Psoraleae fructus (PF) and its preparations recently associated with hepatotoxicity. Licorice, historically recognized as a detoxifying herbal remedy, is considered to possess hepatoprotective properties. Our previous research identified bavachin, bakuchiol, and psoralidin (PSO) as potential toxic constituents in PF, while licochalcone B (LCB) and echinatin were identified as bioactive components in licorice. However, evidence regarding the interactions of active compounds in herbs and their underlying mechanisms remains limited.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to assess the potential mechanisms through which LCB modulates immunological and anti-inflammatory responses to treat PSO-induced liver injury by using human hepatocyte cells (L02) and LPS-primed mice.

METHODS

The ameliorative effects of LCB and echinatin on bavachin, bakuchiol, and PSO-induced liver injury were demonstrated in L02 cells. Subsequently, the efficacy of LCB on PSO-induced idiosyncratic liver injury was further validated in C57BL/6 mice under moderate inflammatory stress induced by LPS priming. The mechanisms were preliminarily explored with an integrated strategy of molecular docking, RT-PCR verification, and untargeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

The study shows that LCB significantly reduced cell injury induced by the three chemicals in PF and provided substantial protection against PSO-induced hepatic damage, as indicated by the levels of ALT, AST, and LDH. LCB normalized liver function and remarkedly alleviated hepatic lesions and inflammation caused by PSO in mice under moderate inflammatory stress. The mRNA profiles of both L02 cells and mice liver tissue revealed that LCB mitigated PSO-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1B and TNF, as well as immunoinflammatory genes PIK3CA, AKT1, NFKB1, and NLRP3. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics of liver tissue indicated that LCB could reverse the abnormal expression of 11 discriminatory metabolites, with the interrelationship between differential metabolites and target genes primarily clustering in glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and phosphatidylinositol signaling system.

CONCLUSION

LCB demonstrated a superior anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect on PSO-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating the inflammatory response and metabolic signaling system. Key interactive targets included phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and subunit isoforms of PI3K.

QBT improved cognitive dysfunction in rats with vascular dementia by regulating the Nrf2/xCT/GPX4 and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathways to inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis of neurons

BACKGROUND

The novel phthalein component QBT, extracted from Ligusticum chuanxiong, shows promising biological activity against cerebrovascular diseases. This study focused on ferroptosis and pyroptosis to explore the effects of QBT on nerve injury, cognitive dysfunction, and related mechanisms in a rat model of vascular dementia (VaD).

METHODS

We established a rat model of VaD and administered QBT as a treatment. Cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats was evaluated using novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. Neuronal damage and loss in the brain tissues of VaD rats were assessed with Nissl staining and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanisms of QBT by modulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/cystine-glutamate antiporter (xCT)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)/cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-1 (Caspase-1)/Gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathways to inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis both in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Our findings indicated that QBT significantly ameliorated neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats. Additionally, QBT reversed abnormal changes associated with ferroptosis and pyroptosis in the brains of VaD rats, concurrently up-regulating the Nrf2/xCT/GPX4 pathway and down-regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway to inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis in neuronal cells, thereby exerting a neuroprotective role.

CONCLUSION

In summary, QBT effectively mitigated neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats, demonstrating a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting ferroptosis and pyroptosis in neuronal cells. This study offers a novel perspective and theoretical foundation for the future development of drugs targeting VaD.

Peptide vaccine design against glioblastoma by applying immunoinformatics approach

Brain tumors are considered to be one of the most fatal forms of cancer owing to their highly aggressive attributes, diverse characteristics, and notably low rate of survival. Among these tumors, glioblastoma stands out as the prevalent and perilous variant Despite the present advancements in surgical procedures, pharmacological treatment, and radiation therapy, the overall prognosis remains notably unfavorable, as merely 4.3 % of individuals manage to attain a five-year survival rate; For this reason, it has emerged as a challenge for cancer researchers. Therefore, among several immunotherapy methods, using peptide-based vaccines for cancer treatment is considered promising due to their ability to generate a focused immune response with minimal damage. This study endeavors to devise a multi-epitope vaccine utilizing an immunoinformatics methodology to address the challenge posed by glioblastoma disease. Through this approach, it is anticipated that the duration and expenses associated with vaccine manufacturing can be diminished, while simultaneously enhancing the characteristics of the vaccine. The target gene in this research is ITGA5, which was achieved through TCGA analysis by targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway as a significant association with patient survival. Subsequently, the suitable epitopes of T and B cells were selected through various immunoinformatics tools by analyzing their sequence. Then, nine epitopes were merged with GM-CSF as an adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity. The outcomes encompass molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, simulation of the immune response, prognosis and confirmation of the secondary and tertiary structure, Chemical and physical characteristics, toxicity, as well as antigenicity and allergenicity of the potential vaccine candidate against glioblastoma.

A refined formula derived from Jiawei-Xiaoyao pill exerts rapid antidepressant-like effects in LPS-induced depression by reducing neuroinflammation and restoring neuroplasticity signaling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jiawei-Xiaoyao Pill (JWX), a classic formula in traditional Chinese medicine, is derived from Xiaoyao Pill by adding significant amounts of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) and Moutan Cortex (MC). It is frequently used for the treatment of depression. JWX has been demonstrated to uniquely elicit rapid antidepressant-like effects within the prescribed dosage range. To date, GF has been shown to have rapid antidepressant-like effects, but a much higher dose is required than its proportion in JWX. It is assumed that the synergism of GF with a minimum number of other herbs in JWX serves as a refined formula that exerts these rapid antidepressant-like effects. Identification of a refined formula is important for prioritizing the herbs and ingredients to optimize the quality control of JWX. However, such a refined formula for JWX has not been identified yet.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here we aimed to identify a refined formula derived from JWX for optimized rapid antidepressant-like effects. Since the neuroinflammation mechanism involving in depression treatment has not been previously investigated for JWX, we tested the mechanism for both JWX and the refined formula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Individual herbs (MC; ASR, Angelica Sinensis Radix; Bupleuri Radix; Paeonia Radix Alba) that show antidepressant-like responses were mixed with GF at the proportional dosage in JWX to identify the refined formula. Rapid antidepressant-like effects were assessed by using NSF (Novelty Suppressed Feeding Test) and other behavioral tests following a single administration. The identified formula was further tested in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive model, and the molecular signaling mechanisms were investigated using Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and pharmacological inhibition of mTOR signaling. Scopolamine (Scop) was used as a positive control for induction of rapid antidepressant effects.

RESULTS

A combination of GF, MC and ASR (GMA) at their dosages proportional to JWX induced behavioral signs of rapid antidepressant-like responses in both normal and LPS-treated mice, with the antidepressant-like effects sustained for 5 d. Similar to JWX or Scop, GMA rapidly reduced the neuroinflammation signaling of Iba-1-NF-кB, enhanced neuroplasticity signaling of CaMKII-mTOR-BDNF, and attenuated the upregulated expressions of the NMDAR sub-units GluN1 and GluN2B in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice. GMA, JWX and Scop rapidly restored the number of BDNF-positive cells reduced by LPS treatment in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Furthermore, rapamycin, a selective inhibitor of mTOR, blunted the rapid antidepressant-like effects and hippocampal BDNF signaling upregulation by GMA.

CONCLUSION

GMA may serve as a refined formula from JWX, capable of inducing rapid antidepressant-like effects. In the LPS-induced depression model, the effects of GMA were mediated via rapidly alleviating neuroinflammation and enhancing neuroplasticity.

Corydaline attenuates osteolysis in rheumatoid arthritis via mitigating reactive oxygen species production and suppressing calcineurin-Nfatc1 signaling

AIM OF THE STUDY

Osteolysis in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is principally provoked by osteoclast hyperactivity. This study aims to employ Corydaline (Cory), a plant extract, as an osteoclast inhibitor in treating RA-inflicted osteolysis while unveiling the corresponding mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Osteoclasts were derived from mouse bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMMs) stimulated with M-CSF and RANKL. Subsequently, utilizing network pharmacology, we performed a thorough analysis of Cory's molecular structure and discerned its preliminary therapeutic potential. Subsequently, LPS was used to simulate and establish an in vitro model of RA, and the biological effect of Cory on osteoclast behaviors was evaluated through various staining methods, RT-qPCR, and Western blot. In addition, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model was developed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Cory in vivo.

RESULTS

The results from network pharmacology indicated a significant correlation between Cory, oxidative stress, and calcium signaling. Subsequent in vitro experiments demonstrated Cory's capacity to inhibit the formation and function of osteoclast under inflammatory stimuli, thereby protecting against abnormal bone resorption. This effect is achieved by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, mitigating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and modulating the calcineurin-Nfatc1 signaling. Furthermore, this therapeutic effect of Cory on RA-associated osteolysis was proved in CIA mice models.

CONCLUSIONS

Cory demonstrates the potential to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway, effectively countering oxidative stress, and simultaneously inhibit the calcineurin-Nfatc1 signaling pathway to regulate the terminals of calcium signaling. These dual effects collectively reduce osteoclast activity, ultimately contributing to a therapeutic role in RA osteolysis. Therefore, our study presents Cory as a novel pharmaceutical candidate for the prevention and treatment of RA.

In silico study suggests potential drugs that target CD151 to treat breast cancer and glioblastoma

Recently tetraspanin CD151 has been identified as an important biological target involved in metastatic processes which include cell adhesion, tumor progression processes, and so forth in different types of cancers, such as breast cancer and glioblastoma. This in Silico study considered 1603 compounds from the Food and Drug Administration database, after performing an ADMET analysis; we selected 853 ligands, which were used for docking analysis. The most promising ligands were selected from docking studies, based on two criteria: (a) showed lowest affinity to the CD151 protein and (b) they interact with the QRD motif, located in the second extracellular loop. Furthermore, we investigate the stability of the protein-ligand complexes through MD simulations as well as free energy MM-PBSA calculations. From these results, loperamide and glipizide were identified as the best evaluated drugs. We suggest an in vitro analysis is needed to confirm our in silico prediction studies.

Gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promoted NAFLD progression by exacerbating intestinal barrier disruption and intrahepatic cellular imbalance

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, with the gut microbiota and its metabolites are important regulators of its progression. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite of the gut microbiota, has been closely associated with various metabolic diseases, but its relationship with NAFLD remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that fecal TMAO levels correlated with NAFLD severity. Moreover, TMAO promoted lipid deposition in HepG2 fatty liver cells and exacerbated hepatic steatosis in NAFLD rats. In the colon, TMAO undermined the structure and function of the intestinal barrier at various levels, further activated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, and inhibited the WNT/β-catenin pathway. In the liver, TMAO induced endothelial dysfunction with capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, while modulating macrophage polarization. In conclusion, our study suggests that gut microbiota metabolite TMAO promotes NAFLD progression by impairing the gut and liver and that targeting TMAO could be an alternative therapeutic strategy for NAFLD.

Formononetin ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis via enhancing antioxidant capacity, promoting tight junction protein expression and reshaping M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex, refractory inflammatory bowel disease characterized impared intestinal mucosal barrier and imbalanced M1/M2 macrophage polarization mediating its progression. Formononetin (FN), a bioactive isoflavone with established anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, shows promise in mitigating UC, yet its therapeutic and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, colitis was induced in mice by administering 2.5% (w/v) dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution for 7 days. Oral (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) FN for 10 days significantly ameliorated colitis symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, by mitigating body weight loss, reducing disease activity index (DAI), colonic weight, and colonic weight index, while enhancing survival rates and colonic length. Histological analysis revealed FN remarkably suppressed inflammatory damage in colonic tissues. Furthermore, FN modulated the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Notably, FN treatment significantly enhanced the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (claudin-1, ZO-1, occludin) at both protein and mRNA levels in the colon tissues, suggesting improved intestinal barrier function. Crucially, FN inhibited macrophage infiltration in colonic tissues and rebalanced M1/M2 macrophage polarization. While, macrophage depletion largely abrogated FN's protective effects against colitis, indicating a crucial role for macrophages in mediating FN's therapeutic response. Overall, FN effectively alleviated colitis primarily via modulating inflammatory cytokine expression, enhancing antioxidant capacity, upregulating TJs proteins expression, and remodeling M1/M2 macrophage polarization equilibrium. These findings suggest that FN could be the next candidate to unlocking UC's treatment challenge.

Luoshi Neiyi Prescription inhibits estradiol synthesis and inflammation in endometriosis through the HIF1A/EZH2/SF-1 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Endometriosis (EMS) is a common gynecological disease that causes dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Luoshi Neiyi Prescription (LSNYP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used to relieve EMS in the clinic.

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the active components of LSNYP and the possible mechanism involved in its treatment of EMS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was used to identify the chemical components of LSNYP. Human primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ecESCs) and eutopic endometrial stromal cells (euESCs) were isolated, and the expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1A (HIF1A), enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were detected by immunofluorescence and qPCR. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was utilized to construct an in vitro hypoxic environment, and lentiviruses were engineered to downregulate HIF1A and EZH2 and upregulate EZH2. Subsequently, the expression levels of HIF1A, EZH2, and SF-1 were measured using qPCR or western blotting. The binding of EZH2 to the SF-1 locus in ESCs was examined via ChIP. Furthermore, the effects of LSNYP on the HIF1A/EZH2/SF-1 pathway were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

A total of 185 components were identified in LSNYP. The protein and gene expression levels of HIF1A and SF-1 were increased, whereas those of EZH2 were decreased in ecESCs. After treating euESCs with 50 μmol L-1 CoCl2 for 24 h, cell viability and estradiol (E2) production were enhanced. Hypoxia decreased EZH2 protein expression, while si-HIF1A increased it. SF-1 was increased when EZH2 was downregulated in normal and hypoxic environments, whereas the overexpression of EZH2 led to a decrease in SF-1 expression. ChIP revealed that hypoxia reduced EZH2 binding to the SF-1 locus in euESCs. In vitro, LSNYP-containing serum decreased E2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and reduced the expression of HIF1A, SF-1, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom). In vivo, LSNYP suppressed inflammation and adhesion and inhibited the HIF1A/EZH2/SF-1 pathway in endometriotic tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

LSNYP may exert pharmacological effects on EMS by inhibiting E2 synthesis and inflammation through regulation of the HIF1A/EZH2/SF-1 pathway. These results suggest that LSNYP may be a promising candidate for the treatment of EMS.

Monotropein alleviates septic acute liver injury by restricting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via the AKT (Ser473)/GSK3β (Ser9)/Fyn/NRF2 pathway

Sepsis-associated acute liver injury (ALI) is a deadly condition resulting from a systemic inflammatory response to liver cell damage and malfunction. Monotropein (MON) belongs to the iris group of compounds extracted from the natural product Mollen dae officinalis radix, which has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism of MON in the treatment of sepsis ALI. In this study, an in vivo caecal ligation puncture (CLP)-induced ALI model and in vitro LPS-stimulated AML12 cells and RAW264.7 cells model were established. Additionally, a variety of experimental techniques, including CCK8, H&E staining, DHE probe labelling, biochemical, QPCR, and Western blotting and blocking tests, were used to explore the role of MON in ALI. The results showed that MON improved liver morphological abnormalities, oedema, histopathological injury, and elevated ALT and AST, providing a protective effect against ALI. MON reduced CYP2E1 expression, alleviated oxidative stress (downregulation of MDA levels and upregulation of GSH, CAT, and T-AOC levels) and ROS accumulation with the involvement of the NRF2-Keap-1 pathway. MON inhibited inflammation via the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. In addition, it activated the Akt (Ser473)/GSK3β (Ser9)/Fyn pathway and accelerated NRF2 nuclear accumulation; MK-2206 blockade reversed the NRF2 nuclear accumulation and anti-inflammatory function of MON. MON also restricted the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, a process specifically blocked by MK-2206. In summary, we concluded that MON alleviated septic ALI by restricting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via the AKT (Ser473)/GSK3β (Ser9)/Fyn/NRF2 pathway.

Computational insights into the underlying mechanism of zinc ion-specificity of the fluorescent probe, BDA-1

Ion specificity is crucial for developing fluorescence probes. Using a recently reported optical sensor (BDA-1) of Zn2+ as a representative, we carried out extensive quantum chemical calculations on its photophysical properties using density function theory. According to the calculated optimized geometries, excitation energies and transition oscillator strengths, the weak fluorescence of BDA-1 observed in experiments is attributed to the suppression of fluorescence emission by efficient internal conversion, rather than the previously proposed photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. With the addition of Zn2+ or Cd2+ ions, the tetradentate chelates [M:BDA-1-H+]+ (M=Zn, Cd) are produced. According to frontier molecular orbital and interfragment charge transfer analyses of these complexes, PET is preferentially confirmed to occur upon photo-excitation. Notably, as one coordination bond in the excited [Cd:BDA-1-H+]+ complex is significantly weakened in comparison to that of [Zn:BDA-1-H+]+, their molecular orbital compositions in the S1 state are completely different. As a result, absorption and radiation transitions of [Zn:BDA-1-H+]+ both have considerable oscillator strength, while fluorescence radiation from the excited [Cd:BDA-1-H+]+ is doubly suppressed. This difference causes that the fluorescence intensity of BDA-1 is sensitive to the addition of metal ions, and exhibits the zinc ion-specificity.

Analysis of spatiotemporal changes mechanism of cell wall biopolymers and monosaccharide components in kiwifruit during Botryosphaeria dothidea infection

To further reveal the interaction mechanism between plants and pathogens, this study used confocal Raman microscopy spectroscopy (CRM) combined with chemometrics to visualize the biopolymers distribution of kiwifruit cell walls at different infection stages at the cellular micro level. Simultaneously, the changes in the content of various monosaccharides in fruit were studied at the molecular level using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). There were significant differences in the composition of various nutrient components in the cell wall structure of kiwifruit at different infection times after infection by Botryosphaeria dothidea. PCA could cluster samples with infection time of 0-9 d into different infection stages, and SVM was used to predict the PCA classification results, the accuracy >96 %. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) helped to identify single substance spectra and concentration signals from mixed spectral signals. The pure substance chemical imaging maps of low methylated pectin (LMP), high methylated pectin (HMP), cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were obtained by analyzing the resolved concentration data. The imaging results showed that the lignin content in the kiwifruit cell wall increased significantly to resist pathogens infection after the infection of B. dothidea. With the development of infection, B. dothidea decomposed various substances in the host cell walls, allowing them to penetrate the interior of fruit cells. This caused significant changes in the form, structure, and distribution of various chemicals on the fruit cell walls in time and space. HPLC showed that glucose was the main carbon source and energy substance obtained by pathogens from kiwifruit during infection. The contents of galactose and arabinose, which maintained the structure and function of the fruit cell walls, decreased significantly and the cell wall structure was destroyed in the late stage of pathogens infection. This study provided a new perspective on the cellular structure changes caused by pathogenic infection of fruit and the defense response process of fruit and provided effective references for further research on the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions in fruit infected by pathogens.

Anti-inflammatory and antiophidic effects of extract of Hymenaea eriogyne benth and structure-activity relationship prediction of the major markers in silico

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hymenaea eriogyne Benth (Fabaceae) is popularly known as "Jatobá". Despite its use in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, there are no descriptions that show its anti-inflammatory potential.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antivenom action of bark and leaves extract of H. eriogyne.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was conducted by carrageenan-induced paw edema and zymosan-induced air pouch models, evaluating the edematogenic effect, leukocyte migration, protein concentration, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The antivenom potential was investigated in vitro on the enzymatic action (proteolytic, phospholipase and hyaluronidase) of Bothrops brazili and B. leucurus venom, as well as in vivo on the paw edema model induced by B. leucurus. Furthermore, the influence of its markers (astilbin and rutin) on MPO activity was investigated in silico. For molecular docking, AutodockVina, Biovia Discovery Studio, and Chimera 1.16 software were used.

RESULTS

The extracts and bark and leaves of H. eriogyne revealed a high anti-inflammatory effect, with a reduction in all inflammatory parameters evaluated. The bark extract showed superior results when compared to the leaf extract, suggesting the influence of the astilbin concentration, higher in the bark, on the anti-inflammatory action. In addition, only the H. eriogyne bark extract was able to reduce MDA, indicating an associated antioxidant effect. Regarding the in vitro antivenom action, the extracts (bark and leaves) revealed the ability to inhibit the proteolytic, phospholipase and hyaluronidase action of both bothropic venom, with a greater effect against B. leucurus venom. In vivo, extracts from the bark and leaves of H. eriogyne (50-200 mg/kg) showed antiedematogenic activity, reducing the release of MPO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating the presence of bioactive components useful in controlling the inflammatory process induced by the venom. In the in silico assays, astilbin and rutin showed reversible interactions of 9 possible positions and orientations towards MPO, with affinities of -9.5 and -10.4 kcal/mol and interactions with Phe407, Gln91, His95 and Arg239, important active pockets of MPO. Rutin demonstrated more effective types of interactions with MPO.

CONCLUSION

This approach reveals for the first time the anti-inflammatory action of H. eriogyne bark and leaf extracts in vivo, as well as its antiophidic potential. Moreover, the distinct effect of pharmacogens as antioxidant agents and distinct effect of astilbin and rutin under MPO sheds light on the different anti-inflammatory mechanisms of bioactive compounds present in H. eriogyne extracts, with high potential for the prospection of new pharmacological agents.

Artemisinin attenuates perinatal inflammation and consequent oxidative stress in oligodendrocyte precursor cells by inhibiting IRAK-4 and IRAK-1

BACKGROUND

The main causes of abnormal white matter development (periventricular leukomalacia) in premature infants are perinatal inflammation and the consequent oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs); however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this work, a rat model of prenatal inflammation was used to examine the mechanism by which artemisinin (ART) protects against white matter dysplasia.

METHODS

We established a primary OPC model and rat model of perinatal inflammation. ART was identified from the FDA-approved medicinal chemical library to be beneficial for treating OPC inflammation in model systems. Based on bioinformatics analysis of protein interactions and molecular docking analysis, we further identified the possible targets of ART and evaluated its specific effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Following inflammatory stimulation, ART strongly promoted the maturation of OPCs and the development of white matter in the brain. A Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) demonstrated that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) may be targets of ART, which was consistent with the findings from molecular modelling with Autodock software. Experiments conducted both in vivo and in vitro demonstrated the activation of the IRAK-4/IRAK-1/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway and the production of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in OPCs were greatly suppressed in the group treated with ART compared to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated group. Moreover, ART dramatically decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in OPCs while increasing nuclear factor e2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that ART can significantly reduce OPC perinatal inflammation and consequent oxidative stress. The targeted inhibition of IRAK-4 and IRAK-1 by ART may be a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating abnormalities in white matter development in premature newborns.

NPSR1 promotes chronic colitis through regulating CD4+ T cell effector function in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) has been implicated in the the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), though its exact mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates the role of NPSR1 in regulating CD4+ T cell effector function in IBD.

METHODS

Peripheral blood and colonic mucosal biopsies from IBD patients, as well as dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis models, were analyzed to assess the effects of NPSR1 on colitis and CD4+ T cell-mediated immune responses. NPSR1 knockdown was conducted both in vitro and in vivo to elucidate underlying mechanisms. Expression of NPSR1 and CD4+ T cell-related factors was measured using quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, cytometric bead array, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. CD4 + T cell effector functions were evaluated through flow cytometry, EdU incorporation assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and transwell assay.

RESULTS

NPSR1 expression was elevated in the intestinal tissues from IBD patients. Its downregulation provided protection in DSS-induced mouse colitis models. NPSR1 correlated positively with CD4 + T cell-mediated inflammation, and its knockdown reduced CD4+ T cell-mediated immune responses and inhibited CD4+ T cell differentiation. Additionally, NPSR1 knockdown decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and enhanced CCL2-induced migration in vitro, while significantly reducing Th1 cell chemotaxis in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that NPSR1 promotes chronic colitis by regulating CD4 + T cell effector functions in IBD, offering potential new therapeutic strategies for IBD treatment.

Antidepressant activity of tricin-7-O-glucoside and anxiolytic-like effect of harmane from Passiflora coriacea Juss. On mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Passiflora coriacea Juss., a medicinal plant in the family Passifloraceae, is widely used to treat anxiety and depression in Mexican folk medicine. However, its chemical profile and biological activity have not been characterized.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to determine the antidepressant activity, anxiolytic effect, and chemical profile of Passiflora coriacea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An organic fraction (PcEA) from a hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of P. coriacea was obtained, followed by a chemical analysis and separation, yielding six fractions (PcEA, T1, T2, T1.1, T2.1, and T2.2). Male ICR mice were used to determine the antidepressant activity of selected treatments (PcEA, T1, T2, and T1.1) based on a forced swim test (FST). The anxiolytic-like effects of various treatments (PcEA, T1, T2, T2.1, and T2.2) were determined using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test.

RESULTS

The organic fraction of P. coriacea decreased anxiety-like behaviors in mice and increased the time of mobility in the FST. After chemical separation, two compounds were isolated from the species with antidepressant activity and anxiolytic-like effects, T1.1 (tricin 7-O-glucoside) and T2.2 (harmane), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Compounds isolated from P. coriacea exerted anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice based on the EPM and FST. The flavonoid tricin-7-O-glucoside and the alkaloid harmane contributed to these biological activities.

In vitro effect of Lenzites betulinus mushroom against therapy-induced DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a group of diseases that are the result of reduced blood flow to the heart. There are natural products, based on mushrooms, used traditionally in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Assessment of the potential protective effect of L. betulinus mushroom against therapy-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes of patients with ACS in relation to the phytochemical properties of the mushroom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 30 ACS patients and 30 healthy controls. The genotoxic potential of acetone and ethanol extract of L. betulinus was evaluated using the comet assay. The contents of minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Determination of sugars and organic acids was performed using a DIONEX ICS 3000 DP liquid chromatography system. Analysis of fatty acids was performed at Focus GC coupled with PolarisQ mass spectrometer. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the mushroom extracts were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The qualitative and quantitative content of polyphenolic compounds was investigated by the UHPLC-DADMS/MS method.

RESULTS

The comet assay showed that both mushroom extracts did not increase the level of DNA damage in the lymphocytes of healthy individuals, while they significantly decreased the %DNA damage and genetic damage index (p < 0.0005) in the therapy-induced lymphocytes of patients. The mushroom was very rich in phytochemical composition. The results showed that the most abundant components in the mushroom were phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur, and calcium among minerals and glucose, fructose, galactose, sorbitol, and turanose among carbohydrates. Among organic acids were present in higher concentrations malic, citric, and maleic acids, while among fatty acids, the most abundant were trans-linoleic, cis-oleic, palmitic, docosahexaenoic and eicosadienoic acids. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenols and flavonoids in the mushroom extracts were obtained in the acetone extract. The most abundant polyphenolic compounds were chlorogenic acid and quercetin in both extracts of mushroom.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that L. betulinus can be considered a mushroom with a high nutritional and functional value. Extracts of the mushroom were not genotoxic in tested concentrations in cultured human lymphocytes of healthy individuals, while in ACS patients they manifested a protective effect against therapy-induced DNA damage. The acetone extract showed a stronger protective effect against therapy-induced DNA damage, which is consistent with its phytochemical composition.

Mammary hydroxylated oestrogen activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in tumor-associated macrophages to promote breast cancer progression and metastasis

Breast cancer remains one of the primary causes of cancer-related death. An imbalance of oestrogen homeostasis and an inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) are vital risk factors for the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Here, we showed that oestrogen homeostasis was disrupted both in breast cancer patients and in a transgenic MMTV-PyMT mouse model of breast cancer, and significant levels of hydroxylated oestrogen accumulated in the mammary tissues of these patients and mice. We also observed that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were the main population of immune cells present in the breast TME. TAM-dependent tumor metastasis could be triggered by hydroxylated oestrogen via NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β production. Mechanistically, TAM-derived inflammatory cytokines induced the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in breast tumor cells, leading to breast tumor invasion and metastasis. Conceptually, our study reveals a previously unknown role of hydroxylated oestrogen in the reprogramming of the TME via NLRP3 inflammasome activation in TAMs, which ultimately facilitates breast cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion.

A cyanine based fluorescent probe for detecting hypochlorite in vitro and in vivo

Hypochlorite (ClO-) is recognized as a bioactive substance that plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes. The increase of ClO- content in cells is a key factor in the early atherosclerosis lesions, which are closely linked to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the development of an efficient and sensitive method for detecting hypochlorite in tap water, serum, and living cells, including animal model in vivo is of paramount importance. In this study, a novel fluorescent probe (Cy-F) based on the cyanine group was designed for the specific detection of ClO-, demonstrating exceptional selectivity, high sensitivity, and rapid response. The probe successfully detected ClO- in tap water and serum with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.93 × 10-7 M, showcasing excellent anti-interference capabilities. Notably, the probe exhibited good biocompatibility, low biological toxicity, and proved effective for detecting and analyzing ClO- in live cells and zebrafish. This newly developed probe offers a promising approach and valuable tool for detecting ClO- with biosafety considerations, paving the way for the design of functional probes tailored for future biomedical applications.

The natural flavonoid pinocembrin shows antithrombotic activity and suppresses septic thrombosis

Sepsis, an extreme host response to systemic infection, remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Platelets, which are integral to both thrombosis and inflammation, play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Excessive platelet activation and aggregation significantly increase the risk of thrombosis, thereby elevating mortality in septic patients. However, the etiology and treatment of this condition have not been comprehensively studied. This study identifies pinocembrin, a natural flavonoid compound derived from propolis, as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating platelet activation and treating sepsis. In vivo, pinocembrin effectively inhibited FeCl3-induced carotid arterial occlusive thrombus formation and collagen/epinephrine-induced pulmonary thromboembolism in mouse models. In vitro, pinocembrin treatment suppressed multiple facets of platelet activation, including aggregation, secretion, and αIIbβ3-mediated signaling events. Mechanistically, pinocembrin repressed platelet functions by inhibiting Src/Syk/PLCγ2/MAPK signaling pathway. Using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model to simulate human sepsis, pinocembrin reduced inflammatory cytokine release and septic thrombosis, thereby improving the survival rate of septic mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced model further substantiated these results. Overall, the inhibition of platelet activity by pinocembrin demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for managing life-threatening septic thrombosis.

Novel non-peptide uracil-derived human gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the main regulator of the reproductive system, acting on gonadotropic cells by binding to the GnRH1 receptor (GnRH1R). Traditionally, therapies targeting this receptor have relied on peptide modulators, which required subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. Due to the limitations of the parenteral administrations, there is a growing interest in developing oral small molecule modulators of GnRH1R as more convenient therapeutic alternatives. In this study, we examined the potential of chemically modifying elagolix, the first approved non-peptide, orally active GnRH1R antagonist, to increase its atropisomeric properties by introducing new moieties. We designed and synthesized the thio-uracil (1) and cytosine (2) derivatives of elagolix, both demonstrating GnRH1R antagonistic activities, with EC50 values of 39 and 110 nM, respectively. The atropisomers of 1 and 2 were efficiently separated using silica gel chromatography, and extensive NMR investigation, supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, allowed us to define their conformations and rotational barriers. Docking and Molecular Dynamics (MD) studies revealed that 1 and 2 bind to GnRH1R with ΔG values comparable to elagolix, but through distinct binding modes. These results highlight the potential of non-peptide modulators to effectively modulate GnRH1R activity and pave the way for developing novel modulators.

Dye-sensitized lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoprobe for enhanced sensitive detection of Fe3+ in human serum and tap water

Iron ion (Fe3+) detection is crucial for human health since it plays a crucial role in many physiological activities. In this work, a novel Schiff-base functionalized cyanine derivative (CyPy) was synthesized, which was successfully assembled on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) through an amphiphilic polymer encapsulation method. In the as-designed nanoprobe, CyPy, a recognizer of Fe3+, is served as energy donor and β-NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles are adopted as energy acceptor. As a result, a 93-fold enhancement of upconversion luminescence is achieved. The efficient energy transfer from CyPy to β-NaYF4:Yb,Er endows the nanoprobe a high sensitivity for Fe3+ in water with a low detection limit of 0.21 μM. Moreover, the nanoprobe has been successfully applied for Fe3+ determination in human serum and tap water samples with recovery ranges of 95 %-105 % and 97 %-106 %, respectively. Moreover, their relative standard deviations are all below 3.72 %. This work provides a sensitive and efficient methodology for Fe3+ detection in clinical and environmental testing.

Ethnopharmacological validation of Karkataka Taila-An edible crab Rasayana in rotenone-induced in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

'Karkataka Taila (KT), an ancient Ayurvedic Rasayana comprising the edible freshwater crab Scylla serrata Forskal flesh, is still used by local traditional practitioners in Kerala state to treat tremors and palsy. In the scientific community, it becomes less exposed due to the lack of adequate scientific validations and brief reports. There has been no published research on the effectiveness of KT in treating Parkinson's disease (PD).

PURPOSE

The purpose of the current research work was to investigate the anti-Parkison's potential of KT against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cell lines and rat model of PD and investigate underlying molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The components of KT have been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The neuroprotective activity of KT was assessed using SH-SY5Y cell lines and rats against rotenone-induced PD. The parameters used for asses the neuroprotection are antioxidant markers (ROS and SOD), anti-inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and nitrite), and dopamine levels. Behavioral evaluation and rat brain histopathology were carried out to further support the neuroprotection.

RESULT

Analysis using GC-MS revealed 36 constituents in KT. In vitro, the KT displayed considerable neuroprotective effects in terms of decreasing oxidative stress (ROS and SOD), neuroinflammation (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and nitrite), and elevating dopamine concentration. In vivo data showing improvements in histopathological and biochemical parameters confirmed the in vitro study findings, and in terms of behavioral assays, KT displayed significant activity.

CONCLUSION

GC-MS profiling was used to identify the bioactive compounds of KT with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. As a result, they may be responsible for the therapeutic effects of KT on PD.

NR1H4 ameliorates Parkinson's disease via inhibiting astrocyte activation and neuroinflammation in a CEBPβ/NF-κB dependent manner

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a degenerative disease driven by neuroinflammation. Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 4 (NR1H4), a nuclear receptor involved in metabolic and inflammatory regulation, is found to be widely expressed in central nervous system. Previous studies suggested the protective role of NR1H4 in various diseases related to inflammation, whether NR1H4 participates in PD progression remains unknown. To investigate the role of NR1H4 in neuroinflammation regulation, especially astrocyte activation during PD, siRNA and adenovirus were used to manipulate Nr1h4 expression. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Chromatin immunoprecipitation and western blotting were performed to further study the underlying mechanisms. We identified that NR1H4 was down-regulated during PD progression. In vitro experiments suggested that Nr1h4 knockdown led to inflammatory response, reactive oxygen species generation and astrocytes activation whereasNr1h4 overexpressionhad the opposite effects. The results of RNA-seq on astrocytes revealed that NR1H4 manipulated neuroinflammation in a CEBPβ/NF-κB dependent manner. Additionally, pharmacological activation of NR1H4 via Obeticholic acid ameliorated neuroinflammation and promoted neuronal survival. Our study first proved the neuroprotective effects of NR1H4against PD via inhibiting astrocyte activation and neuroinflammation in a CEBPβ/NF-κB dependent manner.

Peptides as modulators of FPPS enzyme: A multifaceted evaluation from the design to the mechanism of action

Bone diseases are medical conditions caused by the loss of bone homeostasis consecutive to increased osteoclast activity and diminished osteoblast activity. The mevalonate pathway (MVA) is crucial for maintaining this balance since it drives the post-translational prenylation of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) proteins. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) plays a crucial role in the MVA pathway. Consequently, in the treatment of bone-related diseases, FPPS is the target of FDA-approved nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), which have tropism mainly for bone tissue due to their poor penetration in soft tissues. The development of inhibitors targeting the FPPS enzyme has garnered significant interest in recent decades due to FPPS's role in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and other isoprenoids, which are implicated in cancer, bone diseases, and other conditions. In this study, we describe a multidisciplinary approach to designing novel FPPS inhibitors, combining computational modeling, biochemical assays, and biophysical techniques. A series of peptides and phosphopeptides were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their ability to inhibit FPPS activity. Molecular docking was employed to predict the binding modes of these compounds to FPPS, while Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy experiments - based on Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) and an enzymatic NMR assay - were used to measure their binding affinities and kinetics. The biological activity of the most promising compounds was further assessed in cellular assays using murine colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Additionally, genomics and metabolomics profiling allowed to unravel the possible mechanisms underlying the activity of the peptides, confirming their involvement in the modulation of the MVA pathway. Our findings demonstrate that the designed peptides and phosphopeptides exhibit significant inhibitory activity against FPPS and possess antiproliferative effects on CRC cells, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for cancer.

In silico design of a novel hybrid epitope-based antigen harboring highly exposed immunogenic peptides of BamA, OmpA, and Omp34 against Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii, is among the highest priority bacteria according to the WHO categorization which necessitate the exploration of alternative strategies such as vaccination. OmpA, BamA, and Omp34 are assigned as appropriate antigens to serve in vaccine development against this pathogen. Experimentally validated exposed epitopes of OmpA and Omp34 along with selected exposed epitopes predicted by an integrative in silico approach were represented by the barrel domain of BamA as a scaffold. Among the 8 external loops of BamA, 5 loops were replaced with selected loops of OmpA and Omp34. The designed antigen was analyzed regarding the physicochemical properties, antigenicity, epitope retrieval, topology, structure, and safety. BamA is a two-domain OMP with a 16-stranded barrel in which L4, L6, and L7 were the longest loops of BamA in order. The designed antigen consisted of 478 amino acids with antigen probability of 0.7793. The novel antigen was a 16-stranded barrel. No identical 8-meric peptides were found in the human proteome against the designed antigen sequence. The designed construct was safe regarding the allergenicity, toxicity, and human proteome reactivity. The designed antigen could develop higher protection against A. baumannii in comparison to either OmpA, BamA, or Omp34 alone.

The effect of immunotherapy PD-1 blockade on acute bone cancer pain: Insights from transcriptomic and microbiomic profiling

INTRODUCTION

The skeletal system ranks as the third most common site for cancer metastasis, often leading to pain with nociceptive and neuropathic features. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-targeting therapeutic antibodies offer effective cancer treatment but can cause treatment-related acute pain. Understanding the mechanisms of this pain and identifying potential interventions is still a challenge.

METHODS

A murine model of bone cancer pain was established using Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, followed by intravenous administration of nivolumab, a human anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Pain thresholds were measured, and micro-CT images of the skeletal system were obtained. High-throughput sequencing of the spinal cord/colon transcriptome during the acute phase of bone cancer pain and gut microbiota analysis at the end of the treatment were performed. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot experiments assessed spinal cord microglia activation and acute pain-associated molecules.

RESULTS

PD-1 inhibition with nivolumab protected against bone degradation initiated by LLC cell administration but consistently induced acute pain during nivolumab treatment. Spinal cord and colon transcriptomics revealed an immunopathological pattern during tumor progression and the acute pain phase, with notable changes in interleukin and S100 gene families. Gut microbiota analysis post-immunotherapy showed a decline in beneficial bacteria associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Activation of spinal cord microglia and enhanced glycolytic metabolism were confirmed as key factors in inducing acute pain following immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that nivolumab induces acute pain by activating microglia and enhancing glycolytic metabolism in the treatment of bone cancer and uncovers connections between transcriptomic changes, gut microbiota, and acute pain following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. It offers novel insights into the relationship between immune checkpoint blockade therapies and pain management.

Neutrophil PPIF exacerbates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplantation by promoting calcium overload-induced neutrophil extracellular traps formation

Lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main risk factor for primary graft dysfunction and patient death after lung transplantation (LTx). It is widely accepted that the main pathological mechanism of lung I/R injury are calcium overload, oxygen free radical explosion and neutrophil-mediated damage, which leading to the lack of effective treatment options. The aim of this study was to further explore the mechanisms of lung I/R injury after LTx and to provide potential therapeutic strategies. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation was closely involved in lung I/R injury after LTx, which was accompanied by up-regulation of peptidylprolyl isomerase F (PPIF) and peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4). We further established an orthotopic LTx mouse model to simulate lung I/R injury in vivo, and found that PPIF and PADI4 inhibitors effectively reduced neutrophil infiltration, NETs formation, inflammatory response, and lung I/R injury. In the neutrophil model induced by HL-60 cell line in vitro, we found that PPIF inhibitor cyclosporin A (Cys A) better alleviated calcium overload induced inflammatory response, reactive oxygen species content and NETs formation. Further study demonstrated that interfering with neutrophil PPIF protected mitochondrial function by alleviating store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) during calcium overload and played the above positive role. On this basis, we found that the reduction of calcium content in neutrophils was accompanied by the inhibition of calcineurin (CN) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In conclusion, our findings suggested that neutrophil PPIF could serve as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target of lung I/R injury after LTx, which provided new clues for its treatment by inhibiting calcium overload-induced NETs formation.

Sec23IP recruits VPS13B/COH1 to ER exit site-Golgi interface for tubular ERGIC formation

VPS13B/COH1 is the only known causative factor for Cohen syndrome, an early-onset autosomal recessive developmental disorder with intellectual inability, developmental delay, joint hypermobility, myopia, and facial dysmorphism as common features, but the molecular basis of VPS13B/COH1 in pathogenesis remains largely unclear. Here, we identify Sec23 interacting protein (Sec23IP) at the ER exit site (ERES) as a VPS13B adaptor that recruits VPS13B to ERES-Golgi interfaces. VPS13B interacts directly with Sec23IP via the VPS13 adaptor binding domain (VAB), and the interaction promotes the association between ERES and the Golgi. Disease-associated missense mutations of VPS13B-VAB impair the interaction with Sec23IP. Knockout of VPS13B or Sec23IP blocks the formation of tubular ERGIC, an unconventional cargo carrier that expedites ER-to-Golgi transport. In addition, depletion of VPS13B or Sec23IP delays ER export of procollagen, suggesting a link between procollagen secretion and joint laxity in patients with Cohen disease. Together, our study reveals a crucial role of VPS13B-Sec23IP interaction at the ERES-Golgi interface in the pathogenesis of Cohen syndrome.

The microbial contaminants of plant-based meat analogues from the retail market

The aim of the study was to analyse the key microbial contaminants of plant-based meat analogues (PBMA) from retail. A total of 43 samples of PBMAs (12 frozen/31 chilled) in the "ready-to-cook" category, such as hamburgers, meatballs or breaded imitation steaks were purchased in retail stores in the Czech Republic in summer (n = 21) and autumn 2022 (n = 22). The detected indicator bacteria (total viable count, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, moulds) had relatively low values in the analysed PBMA samples and only rarely reached levels of 7 log CFU/g. E. coli, STEC and coagulase-positive staphylococci were not detected by isolation from plates in any of analysed samples. Mannitol positive Bacillus spp. were isolated from almost half of the analysed samples of the PBMA. B. cereus sensu lato was isolated from 3 samples by isolation from plates, and after enrichment in 35 samples (81 %). Clostridium perfringens could not be detected by isolation from plates, nevertheless after multiplication, it was detected in 21 % of samples. Analyses of PBMA samples revealed considerable variability in microbial quality. The presence of spore-forming bacteria with the potential to cause foodborne diseases is alarming. However, to evaluate the risks, further research focused on the possibilities of growth under different conditions of culinary treatment and preservation is needed.

Claudin 7 suppresses invasion and metastasis through repression of a smooth muscle actin program

Metastasis initiates when cancer cells escape from the primary tumor, which requires changes to intercellular junctions. Claudins are transmembrane proteins that form the tight junction, and their expression is reduced in aggressive breast tumors. However, claudins' roles during breast cancer metastasis remain unclear. We used gain- and loss-of-function genetics in organoids isolated from murine breast cancer models to establish that Cldn7 suppresses invasion and metastasis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Cldn7 knockdown induced smooth muscle actin (SMA)-related genes and a broader mesenchymal phenotype. We validated our results in human cell lines, fresh human tumor tissue, bulk RNA-seq, and public single-cell RNA-seq data. We consistently observed an inverse relationship between Cldn7 expression and expression of SMA-related genes. Furthermore, knockdown and overexpression of SMA-related genes demonstrated that they promote breast cancer invasion. Our data reveal that Cldn7 suppresses breast cancer invasion and metastasis through negative regulation of SMA-related and mesenchymal gene expression.

Forebrain Eml1 depletion reveals early centrosomal dysfunction causing subcortical heterotopia

Subcortical heterotopia is a cortical malformation associated with epilepsy, intellectual disability, and an excessive number of cortical neurons in the white matter. Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 1 (EML1) mutations lead to subcortical heterotopia, associated with abnormal radial glia positioning in the cortical wall, prior to malformation onset. This perturbed distribution of proliferative cells is likely to be a critical event for heterotopia formation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplained. This study aimed to decipher the early cellular alterations leading to abnormal radial glia. In a forebrain conditional Eml1 mutant model and human patient cells, primary cilia and centrosomes are altered. Microtubule dynamics and cell cycle kinetics are also abnormal in mouse mutant radial glia. By rescuing microtubule formation in Eml1 mutant embryonic brains, abnormal radial glia delamination and heterotopia volume were significantly reduced. Thus, our new model of subcortical heterotopia reveals the causal link between Eml1's function in microtubule regulation and cell position, both critical for correct cortical development.

VPS13B is localized at the interface between Golgi cisternae and is a functional partner of FAM177A1

Mutations in VPS13B, a member of a protein family implicated in bulk lipid transport between adjacent membranes, cause Cohen syndrome. VPS13B is known to be concentrated in the Golgi complex, but its precise location within this organelle and thus the site(s) where it achieves lipid transport remains unclear. Here, we show that VPS13B is localized at the interface between proximal and distal Golgi subcompartments and that Golgi complex reformation after Brefeldin A (BFA)-induced disruption is delayed in VPS13B KO cells. This delay is phenocopied by the loss of FAM177A1, a Golgi complex protein of unknown function reported to be a VPS13B interactor and whose mutations also result in a developmental disorder. In zebrafish, the vps13b ortholog, not previously annotated in this organism, genetically interacts with fam177a1. Collectively, these findings raise the possibility that bulk lipid transport by VPS13B may play a role in the dynamics of Golgi membranes and that VPS13B may be assisted in this function by FAM177A1.

Development of poly(lactic acid)-based natural antimicrobial film incorporated with caprylic acid against Salmonella biofilm contamination in the meat industry

Using a solvent-casting method, a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) film incorporated with caprylic acid (CA) was developed as an active packaging against Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium and S. enteritidis to reduce the risk of microbial contamination during distribution and storage of meat. According to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test results of the natural antimicrobial, CA was introduced at 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 % (v/v) into neat PLA. The biofilm inhibitory effect and antimicrobial efficacy of CA-PLA film against both Salmonella strains, as well as the intermolecular interactions and barrier properties of CA-PLA film, were evaluated. Biofilm formation was reduced to below the detection limit (<1.0 log CFU/cm2) for both S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis when co-cultured overnight with 4.8 % CA-PLA film. The 4.8 % CA-PLA film achieved maximum log reductions of 2.58 and 1.65 CFU/g for S. typhimurium and 2.59 and 1.76 CFU/g for S. enteritidis on inoculated chicken breast and beef stored at 25 °C overnight, respectively, without any quality (color and texture) losses. CA maintained its typical chemical structure in the film, as confirmed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra. Furthermore, film surface morphology observations by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that CA-PLA film was smoother than neat PLA film. No significant (P > 0.05) changes were observed for water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability by the addition of CA into PLA film, suggesting that CA-PLA film is a promising strategy for active packaging to control Salmonella contamination in the meat industry.

Discovery and biochemical characterization of thermostable glycerol oxidases

Alditol oxidases are promising tools for the biocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to more valuable chemicals. By integrating in silico bioprospecting with cell-free protein synthesis and activity screening, an effective pipeline was developed to rapidly identify enzymes that are active on glycerol. Three thermostable alditol oxidases from Actinobacteria Bacterium, Streptomyces thermoviolaceus, and Thermostaphylospora chromogena active on glycerol were discovered. The characterization of these three flavoenzymes demonstrated their glycerol oxidation activities, preference for alkaline conditions, and excellent thermostabilities with melting temperatures higher than 75 °C. Structural elucidation of the alditol oxidase from Actinobacteria Bacterium highlighted a constellation of side chains that engage the substrate through several hydrogen bonds, a histidine residue covalently bound to the FAD prosthetic group, and a tunnel leading to the active site. Upon computational simulations of substrate binding, a double mutant targeting a residue pair at the tunnel entrance was created and found to display an improved thermal stability and catalytic efficiency for glycerol oxidation. The hereby described alditol oxidases form a valuable panel of oxidative biocatalysts that can perform regioselective oxidation of glycerol and other polyols. KEY POINTS: • Rapid pipeline designed to identify putative oxidases • Biochemical and structural characterization of alditol oxidases • Glycerol oxidation to more valuable derivatives.

Differential gene expression analysis pipelines and bioinformatic tools for the identification of specific biomarkers: A review

In recent years, the role of bioinformatics and computational biology together with omics techniques and transcriptomics has gained tremendous importance in biomedicine and healthcare, particularly for the identification of biomarkers for precision medicine and drug discovery. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis is one of the most used techniques for RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data analysis. This tool, which is typically used in various RNA-seq data processing applications, allows the identification of differentially expressed genes across two or more sample sets. Functional enrichment analyses can then be performed to annotate and contextualize the resulting gene lists. These studies provide valuable information about disease-causing biological processes and can help in identifying molecular targets for novel therapies. This review focuses on differential gene expression (DGE) analysis pipelines and bioinformatic techniques commonly used to identify specific biomarkers and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.

Role of the CaV1.2 distal carboxy terminus in the regulation of L-type current

L-type calcium channels are essential for the excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle. The CaV1.2 channel is the most predominant isoform in the ventricle which consists of a multi-subunit membrane complex that includes the CaV1.2 pore-forming subunit and auxiliary subunits like CaVα2δ and CaVβ2b. The CaV1.2 channel's C-terminus undergoes proteolytic cleavage, and the distal C-terminal domain (DCtermD) associates with the channel core through two domains known as proximal and distal C-terminal regulatory domain (PCRD and DCRD, respectively). The interaction between the DCtermD and the remaining C-terminus reduces the channel activity and modifies voltage- and calcium-dependent inactivation mechanisms, leading to an autoinhibitory effect. In this study, we investigate how the interaction between DCRD and PCRD affects the inactivation processes and CaV1.2 activity. We expressed a 14-amino acid peptide miming the DCRD-PCRD interaction sequence in both heterologous systems and cardiomyocytes. Our results show that overexpression of this small peptide can displace the DCtermD and replicate the effects of the entire DCtermD on voltage-dependent inactivation and channel inhibition. However, the effect on calcium-dependent inactivation requires the full DCtermD and is prevented by overexpression of calmodulin. In conclusion, our results suggest that the interaction between DCRD and PCRD is sufficient to bring about the current inhibition and alter the voltage-dependent inactivation, possibly in an allosteric manner. Additionally, our data suggest that the DCtermD competitively modifies the calcium-dependent mechanism. The identified peptide sequence provides a valuable tool for further dissecting the molecular mechanisms that regulate L-type calcium channels' basal activity in cardiomyocytes.

Lipid nephrotoxicity mediated by HIF-1α activation accelerates tubular injury in diabetic nephropathy

This study is intended to explore the effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation on lipid accumulation in the diabetic kidney. A type 1 diabetic rat model was established by STZ intraperitoneal injection. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and YC-1 were used as the HIF-1α activator and antagonist, respectively. CoCl2 treatment significantly increased HIF-1α expression, accelerated lipid deposition, and accelerated tubular injury in diabetic kidneys. In vitro, CoCl2 effectively stabilized HIF-1α and increased its transportation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which was accompanied by significantly increased lipid accumulation in HK-2 cells. Furthermore, results obtained in vivo showed that HIF-1α protein expression in the renal tubules of diabetic rats was significantly downregulated by YC-1 treatment. Meanwhile, lipid accumulation in the tubules of the DM + YC-1 group was markedly decreased in comparison to the DM + DMSO group. Accordingly, PAS staining revealed that the pathological injury caused to the tubular epithelial cells was alleviated by YC-1 treatment. Furthermore, the blood glucose level, urine albumin creatinine ratio, and NAG creatinine ratio in the DM + YC-1 group were significantly decreased compared to the DM + DMSO group. Moreover, the protein expression levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in diabetic kidneys were decreased by YC-1 treatment. Our findings demonstrate that the activation of HIF-1α contributed to interstitial injury in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy and that the underlying mechanism involved the induction of lipid accumulation.

Liver bioprinting within a novel support medium with functionalized spheroids, hepatic vein structures, and enhanced post-transplantation vascularization

Cell-laden bioprinting is a promising biofabrication strategy for regenerating bioactive transplants to address organ donor shortages. However, there has been little success in reproducing transplantable artificial organs with multiple distinctive cell types and physiologically relevant architecture. In this study, an omnidirectional printing embedded network (OPEN) is presented as a support medium for embedded 3D printing. The medium is state-of-the-art due to its one-step preparation, fast removal, and versatile ink compatibility. To test the feasibility of OPEN, exceptional primary mouse hepatocytes (PMHs) and endothelial cell line-C166, were used to print hepatospheroid-encapsulated-artificial livers (HEALs) with vein structures following predesigned anatomy-based printing paths in OPEN. PMHs self-organized into hepatocyte spheroids within the ink matrix, whereas the entire cross-linked structure remained intact for a minimum of ten days of cultivation. Cultivated HEALs maintained mature hepatic functions and marker gene expression at a higher level than conventional 2D and 3D conditions in vitro. HEALs with C166-laden vein structures promoted endogenous neovascularization in vivo compared with hepatospheroid-only liver prints within two weeks of transplantation. Collectively, the proposed platform enables the manufacture of bioactive tissues or organs resembling anatomical architecture, and has broad implications for liver function replacement in clinical applications.

Machine learning in infectious diseases: potential applications and limitations

Infectious diseases are a major threat for human and animal health worldwide. Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined algorithms including Machine Learning and Big Data analytics have emerged as a potential solution to analyse diverse datasets and face challenges posed by infectious diseases. In this commentary we explore the potential applications and limitations of ML to management of infectious disease. It explores challenges in key areas such as outbreak prediction, pathogen identification, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. We propose potential solutions to mitigate these hurdles and applications of ML to identify biomolecules for effective treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. In addition to use of ML for management of infectious diseases, potential applications are based on catastrophic evolution events for the identification of biomolecular targets to reduce risks for infectious diseases and vaccinomics for discovery and characterization of vaccine protective antigens using intelligent Big Data analytics techniques. These considerations set a foundation for developing effective strategies for managing infectious diseases in the future.

An investigation of quantum dot theranostic probes for prostate and leukemia cancer cells using a CdZnSeS QD-based nanoformulation

Anticancer theranostic nanocarriers have the potential to enhance the efficacy of pharmaceutical evaluation of drugs. Semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (QDs), are particularly promising components of drug carrier systems due to their small sizes and robust photoluminescence properties. Herein, bright CdZnSeS quantum dots were synthesized in a single step via the hot injection method. The particles have a quasi-core/shell structure as evident from the high quantum yield (85 %), which decreased to 41 % after water solubilization. These water solubilized QDs were encapsulated into gallic acid / alginate (GA-Alg) matrices to fabricate imaging QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg particles with enhanced stability in aqueous media. Cell viability assessments demonstrated that these nanocarriers exhibited viability ranging from 63 % to 83 % across all tested cell lines. Furthermore, the QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg particles were loaded with betulinic acid (BA) and ceranib-2 (C2) for in vitro drug release studies against HL-60 leukemia and PC-3 prostate cancer cells. The BA loaded QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 8.76 μg/mL against HL-60 leukemia cells, which is 3-fold lower than that of free BA (IC50 = 26.55 μg/mL). Similar enhancements were observed with nanocarriers loaded with C2 and simultaneously with both BA and C2. Additionally, BA:C2 loaded QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg nanocarriers displayed a similar enhancement (IC50 = 3.37 μg/mL compared against IC50 = 11.68 μg/mL for free BA:C2). The C2 loaded QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg nanocarriers had an IC50 = 2.24 μg/mL against HL-60 cells. C2 and BA loaded QDs@mod-PAA/GA-Alg NCr had IC50 values of 7.37 μg/mL and 24.55 μg/mL against PC-3 cells, respectively.