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Chen P, Song Y, Tang L, Qiu Z, Chen J, Xia S, Iyaswamy A, Cai J, Sun Y, Yang C, Wang J. Integrated RNA sequencing and biochemical studies reveal endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy dysregulation contribute to Tri (2-Ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP)-induced cell injury in Sertoli cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024:124536. [PMID: 39029862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Tri (2-Ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), widely used as a fire retardant and plasticizer, has been commonly found in the environment. Its potential health-related risks, especially reproductive toxicity, have aroused concern. However, the potential cellular mechanisms remain unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying TEHP-caused cell damage in Sertoli cells, which play a crucial role in supporting spermatogenesis. Our findings indicate that TEHP induces apoptosis in 15P-1 mouse Sertoli cells. Subsequently, we conducted RNA sequencing analyses, which suggested that ER stress, autophagy, and MAPK-related pathways may participate in TEHP-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TEHP triggers ER stress, activates p38 MAPK, and inhibits autophagy flux. Then, we showed that the inhibition of ER stress or p38 MAPK activation attenuates TEHP-induced apoptosis, while the inhibition of autophagy flux is responsible for TEHP-induced apoptosis. These results collectively reveal that TEHP induces ER stress, activates p38, and inhibits autophagy flux, ultimately leading to apoptosis in Sertoli cells. These shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying TEHP-associated testicular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchen Chen
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China;; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Yali Song
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Tang
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuolin Qiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junhui Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Siyu Xia
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Ashok Iyaswamy
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biochemistry, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641021, India
| | - Jing Cai
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuanbin Yang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China;; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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2
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Germain L, Winn LM. The flame retardant triphenyl phosphate alters the epigenome of embryonic cells in an aquatic in vitro model. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:965-977. [PMID: 38419361 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) is an organophosphate flame retardant and plasticizer that is added to a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. It is also a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Exposure to TPhP has been shown to alter gene expression in metabolic and estrogenic signaling pathways in in vitro and in vivo models of a variety of species, and as such, is considered to be an endocrine disrupting chemical. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is increasingly being associated with changes to the epigenome, especially during embryonic development. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TPhP exposure in aquatic ecosystems has the ability to alter the epigenome in two immortal cell lines derived from trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This study assessed whether 24 h exposure to TPhP resulted in changes to histone modification and DNA methylation profiles in steelhead trout embryonic cells and rainbow trout gill epithelial cells. Results show that several epigenetic modifications on histone H3 and DNA methylation are altered in the embryonic cells following TPhP exposure, but not in the gill epithelial cells. Specifically, histone H3 acetylation, histone H3 mono-methylation and global DNA methylation were found to be reduced. The alterations of these epigenetic modification profiles in the embryonic cells suggest that exposure to TPhP during fetal development may alter gene expression in the developing embryo, likely in metabolic and estrogenic pathways. The impacts to the epigenome determined in this study may even carry multigenerational detrimental effects on human and ecosystem health, which requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Germain
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Louise M Winn
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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Chen Y, Liu Q, Wang Y, Jiang M, Zhang J, Liu Y, Lu X, Tang H, Liu X. Triphenyl phosphate interferes with the synthesis of steroid hormones through the PPARγ/CD36 pathway in human trophoblast JEG-3 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:3400-3409. [PMID: 38450882 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), a chemical commonly found in human placenta and breast milk, has been shown to disturb the endocrine system. Our previous study confirmed that TPhP could accumulate in the placenta and interference with placental lipid metabolism and steroid hormone synthesis, as well as induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through PPARγ in human placental trophoblast JEG-3 cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this disruption remains unknown. Our study aimed to identify the role of the PPARγ/CD36 pathway in TPhP-induced steroid hormone disruption. We found that TPhP increased lipid accumulation, total cholesterol, low- and high-density protein cholesterol, progesterone, estradiol, glucocorticoid, and aldosterone levels, and genes related to steroid hormones synthesis, including 3βHSD1, 17βHSD1, CYP11A, CYP19, and CYP21. These effects were largely blocked by co-exposure with either a PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or knockdown of CD36 using siRNA (siCD36). Furthermore, an ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA attenuated the effect of TPhP on progesterone and glucocorticoid levels, and siCD36 reduced ER stress-related protein levels induced by TPhP, including BiP, PERK, and CHOP. These findings suggest that ER stress may also play a role in the disruption of steroid hormone synthesis by TPhP. As our study has shed light on the PPARγ/CD36 pathway's involvement in the disturbance of steroid hormone biosynthesis by TPhP in the JEG-3 cells, further investigations of the potential impacts on the placental function and following birth outcome are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Chen
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Dazhou Center Hospital, Dazhou, China
| | - Mengzhu Jiang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Yuguo Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xiaoxun Lu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Huanwen Tang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xiaoshan Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
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Chen C, Cui D, Li J, Ren C, Yang D, Xiang P, Liu J. Organophosphorus Flame Retardant TPP-Induced Human Corneal Epithelial Cell Apoptosis through Caspase-Dependent Mitochondrial Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4155. [PMID: 38673741 PMCID: PMC11050068 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A widely used organophosphate flame retardant (OPFR), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), is frequently detected in various environmental media and humans. However, there is little known on the human corneal epithelium of health risk when exposed to TPP. In this study, human normal corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were used to investigate the cell viability, morphology, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential after they were exposed to TPP, as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that TPP decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 220 μM. Furthermore, TPP significantly induced HCEC apoptosis, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-dependent manner, and changed the mRNA levels of the apoptosis biomarker genes (Cyt c, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax). The results showed that TPP induced cytotoxicity in HCECs, eventually leading to apoptosis and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, the caspase-dependent mitochondrial pathways may be involved in TPP-induced HCEC apoptosis. This study provides a reference for the human corneal toxicity of TPP, indicating that the risks of OPFR to human health cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ping Xiang
- Yunnan Province Innovative Research Team of Environmental Pollution, Food Safety and Human Health, Institute of Environmental Remediation and Human Health, School of Ecology and Environment, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.C.); (D.C.); (J.L.); (C.R.); (D.Y.)
| | - Jianxiang Liu
- Yunnan Province Innovative Research Team of Environmental Pollution, Food Safety and Human Health, Institute of Environmental Remediation and Human Health, School of Ecology and Environment, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.C.); (D.C.); (J.L.); (C.R.); (D.Y.)
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Li J, Dai L, Feng Y, Cao Z, Ding Y, Xu H, Xu A, Du H. Multigenerational effects and mutagenicity of three flame retardants on germ cells in Caenorhabditis elegans. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 269:115815. [PMID: 38091675 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Flame retardants (FRs) have raised public concerns because of their environmental persistence and negative impacts on human health. Recent evidence has revealed that many FRs exhibit reproductive toxicities and transgenerational impacts, whereas the toxic effects of FRs on germ cells remain barely explored. Here we investigated the multigenerational effects of three flame retardants (TBBPA, TCEP and TCPP) on germ cell development in Caenorhabditis elegans, and examined the germ cell mutagenicity of these FRs by using whole genome sequencing. Parental exposure to three FRs markedly increased germ cell apoptosis, and impeded oogenesis in F1-F6 offspring. In addition, the double-increased mutation frequencies observed in progeny genomes uncover the mutagenic actions of FRs on germ cells. Analysis of mutation spectra revealed that these FRs predominantly induced point mutations at A:T base pairs, whereas both small and large indels were almost unaffected. These results revealed the long-term effects of FRs on development and genomic stability of germ cells, which may pose risks to environmental organisms and human reproductive health. Taken together, our findings suggest that germ cell mutagenicity should be carefully examined for the environmental risk assessment of FRs and other emerging pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Li
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Linglong Dai
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Science Island Branch, Graduate School of USTC, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Science Island Branch, Graduate School of USTC, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Zhenxiao Cao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yuting Ding
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, Anhui, China
| | - An Xu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China.
| | - Hua Du
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China.
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6
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Wang M, Xu J, Zhao Z, Gong L, Su Y, Fang Z, Chen P, Liu Y, Zhang L, Xu F. Triphenyl phosphate induced apoptosis of mice testicular Leydig cells and TM3 cells through ROS-mediated mitochondrial fusion inhibition. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 256:114876. [PMID: 37027944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) is a widely used organophosphate flame retardant and has biological toxicity. Previous studies showed TPHP can restrain testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to 0, 5, 50, and 200 mg/kg B.W. of TPHP for 30 d by oral, as well as TM3 cells were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 200 μM of TPHP for 24 h. Results showed that TPHP induced testes damage, including spermatogenesis disorders and testosterone synthesis inhibition. Meanwhile, TPHP can cause apoptosis in testicular Leydig cells and TM3 cells, as evidenced by the increased apoptosis rate and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Moreover, TPHP disrupted mitochondrial ultrastructure of testicular Leydig cells and TM3 cells, reduced healthy mitochondria content and depressed mitochondrial membrane potential of TM3 cells, as well as inhibited mitochondrial fusion proteins mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), and optic atrophy 1 (Opa1) expression, without effect on mitochondrial fission proteins dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and fission 1 (Fis1) in testicular tissue and/or TM3 cells. Then, the mitochondrial fusion promoter M1 was used to pre-treat TPHP-exposed TM3 cells to determine the roles of mitochondrial fusion inhibition in TPHP-induced Leydig cells apoptosis. The results showed M1 pretreatment alleviated the above changes and further mitigated TM3 cells apoptosis and testosterone levels decreased, indicating TPHP induced TM3 cells apoptosis by inhibited mitochondrial fusion. Intriguingly, the intervention experiment of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) showed that TPHP-induced mitochondrial fusion inhibition is ROS dependent, because inhibition of ROS overproduction alleviated mitochondrial fusion inhibition, and subsequently relieved TPHP-induced apoptosis in TM3 cells. In summary, above data revealed that apoptosis is a specific mechanism for TPHP-induced male reproductive toxicity, and that ROS-mediated mitochondrial fusion inhibition is responsible for Leydig cells apoptosis caused by TPHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxin Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; Xu Rongxiang Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jinyu Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; Xu Rongxiang Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Zhengbo Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Lichao Gong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Yu Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Zhichao Fang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Pengfei Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Lianshuang Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; Xu Rongxiang Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Feibo Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; Xu Rongxiang Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
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