Bioactive strontium ions/ginsenoside Rg1-incorporated biodegradable silk fibroin-gelatin scaffold promoted challenging osteoporotic bone regeneration

Comparative transcriptomics revealed neurodevelopmental impairments and ferroptosis induced by extremely small iron oxide nanoparticles

Iron oxide nanoparticles are a type of nanomaterial composed of iron oxide (Fe3O4 or Fe2O3) and have a wide range of applications in magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to iron oxide nanoparticles, extremely small iron oxide nanoparticles (ESIONPs) (∼3 nm in diameter) can improve the imaging performance due to a smaller size. However, there are currently no reports on the potential toxic effects of ESIONPs on the human body. In this study, we applied ESIONPs to a zebrafish model and performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in zebrafish embryos of 48 hpf, 72 hpf, 96 hpf, and 120 hpf using RNA-seq technology. The key hub genes related to neurotoxicity and ferroptosis were identified, and further experiments also demonstrated that ESIONPs impaired the neuronal and muscle development of zebrafish, and induced ferroptosis, leading to oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory response. Here, for the first time, we analyzed the potential toxic effects of ESIONPs through WGCNA. Our studies indicate that ESIONPs might have neurotoxicity and could induce ferroptosis, while abnormal accumulation of iron ions might increase the risk of early degenerative neurological diseases.

Ion incorporation into bone grafting materials

The use of biomaterials in regenerative medicine has expanded to treat various disorders caused by trauma or disease in orthopedics and dentistry. However, the treatment of large and complex bone defects presents a challenge, leading to a pressing need for optimized biomaterials for bone repair. Recent advances in chemical sciences have enabled the incorporation of therapeutic ions into bone grafts to enhance their performance. These ions, such as strontium (for bone regeneration/osteoporosis), copper (for angiogenesis), boron (for bone growth), iron (for chemotaxis), cobalt (for B12 synthesis), lithium (for osteogenesis/cementogenesis), silver (for antibacterial resistance), and magnesium (for bone and cartilage regeneration), among others (e.g., zinc, sodium, and silica), have been studied extensively. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and recent developments in ion incorporation into biomaterials for bone and periodontal tissue repair. It also discusses recently developed biomaterials from a basic design and clinical application perspective. Additionally, the review highlights the importance of precise ion introduction into biomaterials to address existing limitations and challenges in combination therapies. Future prospects and opportunities for the development and optimization of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering are emphasized.

Functional modification of silk fibroin from silkworms and its application to medical biomaterials: A review

Silk fibroin (SF) from the silkworm Bombyx mori is a fibrous protein identified as a widely suitable biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, tunable degradation, and mechanical strength. Various modifications of SF protein can give SF fibers new properties and functions, broadening their applications in textile and biomedical industries. A diverse array of functional modifications on various forms of SF has been reported. In order to provide researchers with a more systematic understanding of the types of functional modifications of SF protein, as well as the corresponding applications, we comprehensively review the different types of functional modifications, including transgenic modification, modifications with chemical groups or biologically active substance, cross-linking and copolymerization without chemical reactions, their specific modification methods and applications. Furthermore, recent applications of SF in various medical biomaterials are briefly discussed.

Leveraging diverse cell-death patterns to predict the clinical outcome of immune checkpoint therapy in lung adenocarcinoma: Based on muti-omics analysis and vitro assay

Advanced LUAD shows limited response to treatment including immune therapy. With the development of sequencing omics, it is urgent to combine high-throughput multi-omics data to identify new immune checkpoint therapeutic response markers. Using GSE72094 (n = 386) and GSE31210 (n = 226) gene expression profile data in the GEO database, we identified genes associated with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) death using tools such as "edgeR" and "maftools" and visualized the characteristics of these genes using the "circlize" R package. We constructed a prognostic model based on death-related genes and optimized the model using LASSO-Cox regression methods. By calculating the cell death index (CDI) of each individual, we divided LUAD patients into high and low CDI groups and examined the relationship between CDI and overall survival time by principal component analysis (PCA) and Kaplan-Meier analysis. We also used the "ConsensusClusterPlus" tool for unsupervised clustering of LUAD subtypes based on model genes. In addition, we collected data on the expression of immunomodulatory genes and model genes for each cohort and performed tumor microenvironment analyses. We also used the TIDE algorithm to predict immunotherapy responses in the CDI cohort. Finally, we studied the effect of PRKCD on the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells through cell culture experiments. The study utilized the TCGA-LUAD cohort (n = 493) and identified 2,901 genes that are differentially expressed in patients with LUAD. Through KEGG and GO enrichment analysis, these genes were found to be involved in a wide range of biological pathways. The study also used univariate Cox regression models and LASSO regression analyses to identify 17 candidate genes that were best associated with mortality prognostic risk scores. By comparing the overall survival (OS) outcomes of patients with different CDI values, it was found that increased CDI levels were significantly associated with lower OS rates. In addition, the study used unsupervised cluster analysis to divide 115 LUAD patients into two distinct clusters with significant differences in OS timing. Finally, a prognostic indicator called CDI was established and its feasibility as an independent prognostic indicator was evaluated by Cox proportional risk regression analysis. The immunotherapy efficacy was more sensitive in the group with high expression of programmed cell death models. Relationship between programmed cell death (PCD) signature models and drug reactivity. After evaluating the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of various drugs in LUAD samples, statistically significant differences in IC50 values were found in cohorts with high and low CDI status. Specifically, Gefitinib and Lapatinib had higher IC50 values in the high-CDI cohort, while Olaparib, Oxaliplatin, SB216763, and Axitinib had lower values. These results suggest that individuals with high CDI levels are sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and may be resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Therefore, this study constructed a gene model that can evaluate patient immunotherapy by using programmed cell death-related genes based on muti-omics. The CDI index composed of these programmed cell death-related genes reveals the heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinoma tumors and serves as a prognostic indicator for patients.

In situ photo-crosslinked hydrogel promotes oral mucosal wound healing through sustained delivery of ginsenoside Rg1

Oral mucosal wounds exhibit an increased susceptibility to inflammation as a consequence of their direct exposure to a diverse range of microorganisms. This causes pain, slow healing, and other complications that interfere with patients' daily activities like eating and speaking. Consequently, patients experience a significant decline in their overall quality of life. Therefore, the pursuit of novel treatment approaches is of great importance. In this study, ginsenoside Rg1, a natural active substance extracted from ginseng root, was chosen as a therapeutic agent. It was encapsulated in a screened photo-crosslinked hydrogel scaffold for the treatment of mucosal defects in the rat palate. The results demonstrated that Rg1-hydrogel possessed excellent physical and chemical properties, and that oral mucosa wounds treated with Rg1-hydrogel exhibited the greatest healing performance, as evidenced by more pronounced wound re-epithelialization, increased collagen deposition, and decreased inflammatory infiltration. Subsequent investigations in molecular biology confirmed that Rg1-hydrogel stimulated the secretion of repair-related factors and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors. This study demonstrated that the hydrogel containing ginsenoside Rg1 significantly promotes oral mucosal tissue healing in vivo. Based on the findings, it can be inferred that the Rg1-hydrogel has promising prospects for the therapeutic management of oral mucosal wounds.

Recent Advance of Strontium Functionalized in Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration

Bone defect disease causes damage to people’s lives and property, and how to effectively promote bone regeneration is still a big clinical challenge. Most of the current repair methods focus on filling the defects, which has a poor effect on bone regeneration. Therefore, how to effectively promote bone regeneration while repairing the defects at the same time has become a challenge for clinicians and researchers. Strontium (Sr) is a trace element required by the human body, which mainly exists in human bones. Due to its unique dual properties of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclast activity, it has attracted extensive research on bone defect repair in recent years. With the deep development of research, the mechanisms of Sr in the process of bone regeneration in the human body have been clarified, and the effects of Sr on osteoblasts, osteoclasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the inflammatory microenvironment in the process of bone regeneration have been widely recognized. Based on the development of technology such as bioengineering, it is possible that Sr can be better loaded onto biomaterials. Even though the clinical application of Sr is currently limited and relevant clinical research still needs to be developed, Sr-composited bone tissue engineering biomaterials have achieved satisfactory results in vitro and in vivo studies. The Sr compound together with biomaterials to promote bone regeneration will be a development direction in the future. This review will present a brief overview of the relevant mechanisms of Sr in the process of bone regeneration and the related latest studies of Sr combined with biomaterials. The aim of this paper is to highlight the potential prospects of Sr functionalized in biomaterials.

Comparative genomics reveals the diversification of triterpenoid biosynthesis and origin of ocotillol-type triterpenes in Panax

Gene duplication is assumed to be the major force driving the evolution of metabolite biosynthesis in plants. Freed from functional burdens, duplicated genes can mutate toward novelties until fixed due to selective fitness. However, the extent to which this mechanism has driven the diversification of metabolite biosynthesis remains to be tested. Here we performed comparative genomics analysis and functional characterization to evaluate the impact of gene duplication on the evolution of triterpenoid biosynthesis using Panax species as models. We found that whole-genome duplications (WGDs) occurred independently in Araliaceae and Apiaceae lineages. Comparative genomics revealed the evolutionary trajectories of triterpenoid biosynthesis in plants, which was mainly promoted by WGDs and tandem duplication. Lanosterol synthase (LAS) was likely derived from a tandem duplicate of cycloartenol synthase that predated the emergence of Nymphaeales. Under episodic diversifying selection, the LAS gene duplicates produced by γ whole-genome triplication have given rise to triterpene biosynthesis in core eudicots through neofunctionalization. Moreover, functional characterization revealed that oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) responsible for synthesizing dammarane-type triterpenes in Panax species were also capable of producing ocotillol-type triterpenes. Genomic and biochemical evidence suggested that Panax genes encoding the above OSCs originated from the specialization of one OSC gene duplicate produced from a recent WGD shared by Araliaceae (Pg-β). Our results reveal the crucial role of gene duplication in diversification of triterpenoid biosynthesis in plants and provide insight into the origin of ocotillol-type triterpenes in Panax species.

The new ceRNA crosstalk between mRNAs and miRNAs in intervertebral disc degeneration

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been linked to lower back pain. To date, pathophysiological mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remain unclear; it is meaningful to find effective diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for IDD. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism of IDD pathogenesis from the multidimensional transcriptomics perspective. Here, we acquired IDD bulk omics datasets (GSE67567 and GSE167199) including mRNA, microRNA expression profiles, and single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE199866) from the public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through principal component analysis and Venn analysis, we found different expression patterns in the IDD transcription level and identified 156 common DEGs in both bulk datasets. GO and KEGG functional analyses showed these dysregulators were mostly enriched in the collagen-containing extracellular matrix, cartilage development, chondrocyte differentiation, and immune response pathways. We also constructed a potentially dysregulated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between mRNAs and miRNAs related to IDD based on microRNA target information and co-expression analysis of RNA profiles and identified 36 ceRNA axes including ZFP36/miR-155-5p/FOS, BTG2/hsa-miR-185-5p/SOCS3, and COL9A2/hsa-miR-664a-5p/IBA57. Finally, in integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptome data analyses, a total of three marker genes, COL2A1, PAX1, and ZFP36L2, were identified. In conclusion, the key genes and the new ceRNA crosstalk we identified in intervertebral disc degeneration may provide new targets for the treatment of IDD.

Transcriptome profiling of abdominal aortic tissues reveals alterations in mRNAs of Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic granulomatous vasculitis involving in the main branches of aorta. Previous studies mainly used peripheral blood and some vascular tissues but seldom studies have sequenced vascular tissues. Here in this study, we aimed to explore the alterations of mRNA in TA by performing bulk RNA sequencing. A total of 14 abdominal aortic tissues including 8 from renal transplantation and 6 from patient with TA undergoing bypass surgeries. Bulk RNA sequencing were performed and after the quality control, a total of 1897 transcripts were observed to be significantly differently (p < 0.05 and Log2FC > 1) expressed between the TA and control group, among which 1,361 transcripts were in TA group and 536 in the Control group. Reactome Pathway Enrichment Comparison analysis revealed interleukin-10 signaling and signaling by interleukins were highly expressed in TA group. Besides, extracellular matrix organization was also observed in this group. WGCNA and PPI obtained 26 core genes which were highly correlated with the clinical phenotype. We then also perform deconvolution of the bulk RNA-seq data by using the scRNA-seq dataset and noticed the high proportion of smooth muscle cells in our dataset. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining confirmed our bioinformatic analysis that TA aortic tissues express high levels of IL-1R1 and IL-1R2. Briefly, this study revealed critical roles of interleukins in TA pathogenesis, and SMCs may also participate in the reconstruction in vessel wall at late stage of TA.

A novel signature based on pyroptosis-related genes for predicting prognosis and treatment response in prostate cancer patients

Background: Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death accompanied by specific inflammatory and immune responses, and it is closely related to the occurrence and progression of various cancers. However, the roles of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in the prognosis, treatment response, and tumor microenvironment (TME) of prostate cancer (PCa) remain to be investigated. Methods: The mRNA expression data and clinical information of PCa patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) and the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics website, and the 52 PRGs were obtained from the published papers. The univariate, multivariate, and LASSO Cox regression algorithms were used to obtain prognostic hub PRGs. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR was used to validate the expression of hub genes between PCa lines and normal prostate epithelial cell lines. We then constructed and validated a risk model associated with the patient's disease-free survival (DFS). Finally, the relationships between risk score and clinicopathological characteristics, tumor immune microenvironment, and drug treatment response of PCa were systematically analyzed. Results: A prognostic risk model was constructed with 6 hub PRGs (CHMP4C, GSDMB, NOD2, PLCG1, CYCS, GPX4), and patients were divided into high and low-risk groups by median risk score. The risk score was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor for PCa in both the training and external validation sets. Patients in the high-risk group had a worse prognosis than those in the low-risk group, and they had more increased somatic mutations, higher immune cell infiltration and higher expression of immune checkpoint-related genes. Moreover, they were more sensitive to cell cycle-related chemotherapeutic drugs and might be more responsive to immunotherapy. Conclusion: In our study, pyroptosis played a significant role in the management of the prognosis and tumor microenvironment of PCa. Meanwhile, the established model might help to develop more effective individual treatment strategies.

Strontium Functionalized in Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Prominent Role in Osteoimmunomodulation

With the development of bone tissue engineering bio-scaffold materials by adding metallic ions to improve bone healing have been extensively explored in the past decades. Strontium a non-radioactive element, as an essential osteophilic trace element for the human body, has received widespread attention in the medical field due to its superior biological properties of inhibiting bone resorption and promoting osteogenesis. As the concept of osteoimmunology developed, the design of orthopedic biomaterials has gradually shifted from “immune-friendly” to “immunomodulatory” with the aim of promoting bone healing by modulating the immune microenvironment through implanted biomaterials. The process of bone healing can be regarded as an immune-induced procedure in which immune cells can target the effector cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, osteocytes, and osteoprogenitor cells through paracrine mechanisms, affecting pathological alveolar bone resorption and physiological bone regeneration. As a kind of crucial immune cell, macrophages play a critical role in the early period of wound repair and host defense after biomaterial implantation. Despite Sr-doped biomaterials being increasingly investigated, how extracellular Sr²⁺ guides the organism toward favorable osteogenesis by modulating macrophages in the bone tissue microenvironment has rarely been studied. This review focuses on recent knowledge that the trace element Sr regulates bone regeneration mechanisms through the regulation of macrophage polarization, which is significant for the future development of Sr-doped bone repair materials. We will also summarize the primary mechanism of Sr²⁺ in bone, including calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and osteogenesis-related signaling pathways.

VEGF-Loaded Heparinised Gelatine-Hydroxyapatite-Tricalcium Phosphate Scaffold Accelerates Bone Regeneration via Enhancing Osteogenesis-Angiogenesis Coupling

Background: Bone tissue defect, one of the common orthopaedicdiseases, is traumatizing and affects patient’s lifestyle. Although autologous and xenograft bone transplantations are performed in bone tissue engineering, clinical development of bone transplantation is limited because ofvarious factors, such as varying degrees of immune rejection, lack of bone sources, and secondary damage to bone harvesting.

Methods: We synthesised a heparinised gelatine-hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HG-HA-TCP) scaffold loaded with sustained-release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) analysed their structure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Additionally, the effects of HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffolds on osteogenic differentiation and vascularisation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) in vitro and bone regeneration in vivo were investigated.

Results: HG-HA-TCP scaffold possessed good pore structure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. HG-HA-TCP scaffold loaded with VEGF could effectively promote SHED proliferation, migration, and adhesion. Moreover, HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffold increased the expression of osteogenesis- and angiogenesis-related genes and promoted osteogenic differentiation and vascularisation in cells. In vivo results demonstrated that VEGF-loaded HG-HA-TCP scaffold improved new bone regeneration and enhanced bone mineral density, revealed byhistological, micro-CT and histochemical straining analyses. Osteogenic and angiogenic abilities of the three biological scaffolds wereranked as follows: HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) > G-HA-TCP (VEGF) > G-HA-TCP.

Conclusion: HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffold with good biocompatibility could create an encouraging osteogenic microenvironment that could accelerate vessel formation and osteogenesis, providing an effective scaffold for bone tissue engineering and developing new clinical treatment strategies for bone tissue defects.

Developing a novel calcium magnesium silicate/graphene oxide incorporated silk fibroin porous scaffold with enhanced osteogenesis, angiogenesis and inhibited osteoclastogenesis

Recently, biofunctional ions (Mg2+, Si4+, etc.) and graphene derivatives are proved to be promising in stimulating bone formation. In this study, a novel inorganic/organic composite porous scaffold based on silk fibroin (SF), graphene oxide (GO), and calcium magnesium silicate (CMS) was developed for bone repair. The porous scaffolds obtained by lyophilization showed a little difference in pore structure while GO and CMS displayed a good interaction with SF matrix. The addition of CMS with good mineralization potential and sustainedly release ability of biofunctional ions (Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si4+) increased the strength of SF scaffolds a little and facilitated the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by upregulating bone formation-related genes (ALP, COL1, OC and Runx2). The further incorporation of GO in SF scaffolds enhanced the compressive strength and water retention, and also remarkably promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Besides, the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was significantly promoted by CMS/GO/SF scaffold extract through the upregulation of angiogenesis genes (eNOs and bFGF). Moreover, the osteoclastic formation ability of RAW264.7 cells was suppressed by the released ions from CMS/GO/SF scaffold through the down-regulation of CAK, MMP9 and TRAP. The promoted osteogenesis, angiogenesis and inhibited osteoclastogenesis functions of CMS/GO/SF composite scaffold may enable it as a novel therapy for bone repair and regeneration.