Extracellular cAMP: The Past and Visiting the Future in cAMP-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles

Incretin and glucagon receptor polypharmacology in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is a debilitating condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In recent years, the kidney effects of incretin-based therapies, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), have garnered substantial interest in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. This review delves into the intricate interactions between the kidney, GLP-1RAs, and glucagon, shedding light on their mechanisms of action and potential kidney benefits. Both GLP-1 and glucagon, known for their opposing roles in regulating glucose homeostasis, improve systemic risk factors affecting the kidney, including adiposity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function. Additionally, these hormones and their pharmaceutical mimetics may have a direct impact on the kidney. Clinical studies have provided evidence that incretins, including those incorporating glucagon receptor agonism, are likely to exhibit improved kidney outcomes. Although further research is necessary, receptor polypharmacology holds promise for preserving kidney function through eliciting vasodilatory effects, influencing volume and electrolyte handling, and improving systemic risk factors.

New insights into multi-strategies of sludge granulation in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors from community succession and interaction

This study aimed to elucidate the multiple strategies employed by anaerobes during granulation in a laboratory upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, based on microbial succession and interactions. The anaerobic granulation process featured staged dominance of microbial genera, corresponding well with the environmental traits. Across the stages (selection, seeding, expansion, and maturation), chemotaxis attraction of nitrogen and/or carbon sources and flagellar motion were the primary strategy of microbial assembly. The second messengers - cyclic adenosine and guanosine monophosphates - partially regulated the agglomeration of filamentous Euryachaeota and Chloroflexi as the inner cores, while quorum sensing mediated the expansion of granules prior to maturation. Antagonism or competition governed the interactions within the phylogenetic molecular ecological network during sludge granulation, which were largely driven by the low-abundance (<1%) taxa. These new insights suggest that better engineering solutions to enhance chemotaxis attraction and species selection could achieve more efficient anaerobic granular sludge processes.

U-IMPACT: a universal 3D microfluidic cell culture platform

The development of organs-on-a-chip has resulted in advances in the reconstruction of 3D cellular microenvironments. However, there remain limitations regarding applicability and manufacturability. Here, we present an injection-molded plastic array 3D universal culture platform (U-IMPACT) for various biological applications in a single platform, such as cocultures of various cell types, and spheroids (e.g., tumor spheroids, neurospheres) and tissues (e.g., microvessels). The U-IMPACT consists of three channels and a spheroid zone with a 96-well plate form factor. Specifically, organoids or spheroids (~500 μm) can be located in designated areas, while cell suspensions or cell-laden hydrogels can be selectively placed in three channels. For stable multichannel patterning, we developed a new patterning method based on capillary action, utilizing capillary channels and the native contact angle of the materials without any modification. We derived the optimal material hydrophilicity (contact angle of the body, 45-90°; substrate, <30°) for robust patterning through experiments and theoretical calculations. We demonstrated that the U-IMPACT can implement 3D tumor microenvironments for angiogenesis, vascularization, and tumor cell migration. Furthermore, we cultured neurospheres from induced neural stem cells. The U-IMPACT can serve as a multifunctional organ-on-a-chip platform for high-content and high-throughput screening.

Comparative Genomics of Thaumarchaeota From Deep-Sea Sponges Reveal Their Niche Adaptation

Thaumarchaeota account for a large portion of microbial symbionts in deep-sea sponges and are even dominant in some cases. In this study, we investigated three new sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota from the deep West Pacific Ocean. Thaumarchaeota were found to be the most dominant phylum in this sponge by both prokaryotic 16S rRNA amplicons and metagenomic sequencing. Fifty-seven published Thaumarchaeota genomes from sponges and other habitats were included for genomic comparison. Similar to shallow sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota, those Thaumarchaeota in deep-sea sponges have extended genome sizes and lower coding density compared with their free-living lineages. Thaumarchaeota in deep-sea sponges were specifically enriched in genes related to stress adapting, symbiotic adhesion and stability, host–microbe interaction and protein transportation. The genes involved in defense mechanisms, such as the restriction-modification system, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas system, and toxin-antitoxin system were commonly enriched in both shallow and deep sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota. Our study demonstrates the significant effects of both depth and symbiosis on forming genomic characteristics of Thaumarchaeota, and provides novel insights into their niche adaptation in deep-sea sponges.