Deer thymosin beta 10 functions as a novel factor for angiogenesis and chondrogenesis during antler growth and regeneration

Can thymosin beta 10 function both as a non-invasive biomarker and chemotherapeutic target in human colorectal cancer?

Thymosin beta 10 (TMSB10) overexpression is a general characteristic in human carcinogenesis. It is involved in the malignant process of generating multiple cancers. However, there are only a few reports about TMSB10 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the mechanism of its carcinogenetic effect is still poorly understood. The present study intends to clarify the biological roles and carcinogenic mechanism of TMSB10 in CRC and to explore the possibility whether TMSB10 might be useful as a non-invasive serum tumor biomarker in detecting CRC. Immunohistochemical results showed that TMSB10 protein expression in CRC tissues was generally higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the TMSB10 contents in serum of CRC patients was significantly elevated compared to that of healthy controls. Knockdown-TMSB10 increased apoptosis and induced S-cell cycle arrest, and finally inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing and western blotting analysis revealed that knockdown-TMSB10 increased phosphorylation of p38 and activated the p38 pathway that blocked cell cycle and promoted apoptosis. Taken together, our study indicated that TMSB10 could serve as a minimally invasive serum tumor marker in detecting CRC. At the same time it demonstrates an effective regulatory capacity of TMSB10 on cell proliferation of CRC, suggesting that TMSB10 and downstream effector molecules regulated by TMSB10 could further be applied as an appealing target in clinical post-surgery chemotherapy.

Thymosin beta 10 loaded ZIF-8/sericin hydrogel promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis for bone regeneration

Angiogenesis is pivotal for osteogenesis during bone regeneration. A hydrogel that promotes both angiogenesis and osteogenesis is essential in bone tissue engineering. However, creating scaffolds with the ideal balance of biodegradability, osteogenic, and angiogenic properties poses a challenge. Thymosin beta 10 (TMSB10), known for its dual role in angiogenesis and osteogenesis differentiation, faces limitations due to protein activity preservation. To tackle this issue, ZIF-8 was engineered as a carrier for TMSB10 (TMSB10@ZIF-8), and subsequently integrated into the self-assembled sericin hydrogel. The efficacy of the composite hydrogel in bone repair was assessed using a rat cranial defect model. Characterization of the nanocomposites confirmed the successful synthesis of TMSB10@ZIF-8, with a TMSB10 encapsulation efficiency of 88.21 %. The sustained release of TMSB10 from TMSB10@ZIF-8 has significantly enhanced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and promoted angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model in vivo. It has markedly improved the osteogenic differentiation ability of MC 3 T3-E1 cells in vitro. 8 weeks post-implantation, the TMSB10@ZIF-8/ Sericin hydrogel group exhibited significant bone healing (86.77 ± 8.91 %), outperforming controls. Thus, the TMSB10@ZIF-8/Sericin hydrogel, leveraging ZIF-8 for TMSB10 delivery, emerges as a promising bone regeneration scaffold with substantial clinical application potential.

Antler thymosin β10 reduces liver fibrosis via inhibiting TGF-β1/SMAD pathway

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a crucial step in the development of liver fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that antler stem cells (AnSCs) inhibited HSC activation, suggesting that this may be achieved through secreting or releasing peptides. This study aimed to investigate whether AnSC-derived peptides (AnSC-P) could reduce liver fibrosis. The results showed that AnSC-P effectively reduced liver fibrosis in rats. Furthermore, we found that thymosin β10 (Tβ-10) was rich in AnSC-P, which may be the main component of AnSC-P contributing to the reduction in liver fibrosis. A further study showed that Tβ-10 reduced liver fibrosis in rats, with a reduction in HYP and MDA levels in the liver tissues, a decrease in the serum levels of ALP, ALT, AST, and TBIL and an increase in TP and ALB. Moreover, Tβ-10 decreased the expression levels of the genes related to the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway in vivo. In addition, Tβ-10 also inhibited TGF-β1-induced HSC activation and decreased the expression levels of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway-related genes in HSCs in vitro. In conclusion, antler Tβ-10 is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis, the effect of which may be achieved via inhibition of the TGFβ/SMAD signaling pathway.

The Clinical Relevance and Functional Implications of Thymosin Beta-10 in Glioma

Glioma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer characterized by limited treatment options and poor patient prognosis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the oncogenic role of thymosin beta-10 (TMSB10) in glioma through comprehensive analyses of patient data from the TCGA and GTEx databases. Our investigation encompassed several key aspects, including the analysis of patients' clinical characteristics, survival analysis, in vitro and in vivo functional experiments, and the exploration of correlations between TMSB10 expression and immune cell infiltration. Our findings revealed a significant upregulation of TMSB10 expression in glioma tissues compared to normal brain tissues, with higher expression levels observed in tumors of advanced histological grades. Moreover, we observed positive correlations between TMSB10 expression and patient age, while no significant association with gender was detected. Additionally, TMSB10 exhibited marked elevation in gliomas with wild-type IDH and noncodeletion of 1p/19q. Survival analysis indicated that high TMSB10 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival in glioma patients. Functionally, knockdown of TMSB10 in glioma cells resulted in reduced cellular growth rates and impaired tumor growth in xenograft models. Furthermore, our study revealed intriguing correlations between TMSB10 expression and immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, TMSB10 showed negative associations with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and γδ T cells (Tgd), while displaying positive correlations with neutrophils and macrophages. These findings collectively provide valuable insights into the oncogenic properties of TMSB10 in glioma, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target and a biomarker for patient stratification.

The characteristics and medical applications of antler stem cells

Antlers are the only fully regenerable mammalian appendages whose annual renewal is initiated by antler stem cells (ASCs), defined as a specialized type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with embryonic stem cell properties. ASCs possess the same biological features as MSCs, including the capacity for self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation, immunomodulatory functions, and the maintenance of stem cell characteristics after multiple passages. Several preclinical studies have shown that ASCs exhibit promising potential in wound healing, bone repair, osteoarthritis, anti-tissue fibrosis, anti-aging, and hair regeneration. Medical applications based on ASCs and ASC-derived molecules provide a new source of stem cells and therapeutic modalities for regenerative medicine. This review begins with a brief description of antler regeneration and the role of ASCs. Then, the properties and advantages of ASCs are described. Finally, medical research advances regarding ASCs are summarized, and the prospects and challenges of ASCs are highlighted.

Mapping the tumor microenvironment in clear cell renal carcinoma by single-cell transcriptome analysis

Introduction: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. To identify viable therapeutic targets, a comprehensive understanding of intratumoral heterogeneity is crucial. In this study, we conducted bioinformatic analysis to scrutinize single-cell RNA sequencing data of ccRCC tumor and para-tumor samples, aiming to elucidate the intratumoral heterogeneity in the ccRCC tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: A total of 51,780 single cells from seven ccRCC tumors and five para-tumor samples were identified and grouped into 11 cell lineages using bioinformatic analysis. These lineages included tumor cells, myeloid cells, T-cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, indicating a high degree of heterogeneity in the TME. Copy number variation (CNV) analysis was performed to compare CNV frequencies between tumor and normal cells. The myeloid cell population was further re-clustered into three major subgroups: monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Differential expression analysis, gene ontology, and gene set enrichment analysis were employed to assess inter-cluster and intra-cluster functional heterogeneity within the ccRCC TME. Results: Our findings revealed that immune cells in the TME predominantly adopted an inflammatory suppression state, promoting tumor cell growth and immune evasion. Additionally, tumor cells exhibited higher CNV frequencies compared to normal cells. The myeloid cell subgroups demonstrated distinct functional properties, with monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells displaying diverse roles in the TME. Certain immune cells exhibited pro-tumor and immunosuppressive effects, while others demonstrated antitumor and immunostimulatory properties. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of intratumoral heterogeneity in the ccRCC TME and provides potential therapeutic targets for ccRCC treatment. The findings emphasize the importance of considering the diverse functional roles of immune cells in the TME for effective therapeutic interventions.

Tmsb10 triggers fetal Leydig differentiation by suppressing the RAS/ERK pathway

Leydig cells in fetal testes play crucial roles in masculinizing fetuses through androgen production. Gene knockout studies have revealed that growth factors are implicated in fetal Leydig cell (FLC) differentiation, but little is known about the mechanisms regulating this process. We investigate this issue by characterizing FLC progenitor cells using single-cell RNA sequencing. The sequence datasets suggest that thymosin β10 (Tmsb10) is transiently upregulated in the progenitors. While studying the function of Tmsb10, we reveal that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) regulates ciliogenesis through the RAS/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways, and thereby promotes desert hedgehog (DHH)-dependent FLC differentiation. Tmsb10 expressed in the progenitor cells induces their differentiation into FLCs by suppressing the RAS/ERK pathway. Through characterizing the transiently expressed Tmsb10 in the FLC progenitors, this study unveils the molecular process of FLC differentiation and shows that it is cooperatively induced by DHH and PDGF.

Investigation of fetal Leydig progenitors shows that thymosin β10 (Tmsb10) suppresses the RAS/ERK pathway, inducing progenitor differentiation into fetal Leydig cells.

Bioinformatics-Based Analysis: Noncoding RNA-Mediated COL10A1 Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Immune Cell Infiltration in Pancreatic Cancer

Background. Collagen type X alpha 1 (COL10A1) is a structural component of the extracellular matrix that is aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancer tissues. However, its role in pancreatic cancer progression is not well understood. Methods. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Gene Expression Profiling Interaction Analysis (GEPIA) data were employed to explore the expression of COL10A1 in normal and tumor tissues and its prognostic value in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The clinical data of pancreatic cancer in TCGA were used to explore the relationship between COL10A1 and clinical features. Genes coexpressed with COL10A1 were explored using multiple databases and analyzed for functional enrichment. In addition, the lncRNA/miRNA/COL10A1 axis that may be involved in COL10A1 regulation in pancreatic cancer was explored by constructing a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory axis. Finally, COL10A1 was analyzed for correlation with immune cell infiltration and various immune checkpoint molecules in pancreatic cancer. Results. It was found that the expression of COL10A1 was significantly increased in pancreatic cancer tissues. High expression of COL10A1 was related to the clinicopathological characteristics and the worse prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. The TUG1/miR-144-3p/COL10A1 axis was identified as the most likely upstream noncoding RNA pathway for COL10A1 in pancreatic cancer. Besides, in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the expression level of COL10A1 showed a significant positive correlation with tumor immune cell infiltration, biomarkers of immune cells, and expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Conclusion. COL10A1 is an early diagnostic marker, and its high expression correlates with immune infiltration in pancreatic cancer. The TUG1/miR-144-3p/COL10A1 axis was identified as the most likely upstream noncoding RNA pathway for COL10A1 in pancreatic cancer.

Distribution, structure, and mineralization of calcified cartilage remnants in hard antlers

Antlers are paired deciduous bony cranial appendages of deer that undergo a regular cycle of growth, death and casting, and constitute the most rapidly growing bones in mammals. Antler growth occurs in an appositional mode and involves a modified form of endochondral ossification. In endochondral bones, calcified cartilage is typically a transient tissue that is eventually completely replaced by bone tissue. We studied the distribution and characteristics of calcified cartilage in hard antlers from three deer species (Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus, Dama dama), i.e., in antlers from which the skin (velvet) had been shed. Remnants of calcified cartilage were regularly present as part of the trabecular framework in the late formed, distal antler portions in all three species, whereas this tissue was largely or completely missing in the more proximal antler portions. The presence of calcified cartilage remnants in the distal antler portions is attributed to the limited antler lifespan of only a few months, which is also the reason for the virtual lack of bone remodeling in antlers. The calcified cartilage matrix was more highly mineralized than the antler bone matrix. Mineralized deposits were observed in some chondrocyte lacunae and occasionally also in osteocyte lacunae, a phenomenon that has not previously been reported in antlers. Using synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) mapping, we further demonstrated increased zinc concentrations in cement lines, along the inner borders of incompletely formed primary osteons, along the walls of partly or completely mineral-occluded chondrocyte and osteocyte lacunae, and in intralacunar mineralized deposits. The present study demonstrates that antlers are a promising model for studying the mineralization of cartilage and bone matrices and the formation of mineralized deposits in chondrocyte and osteocyte lacunae.

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Remnants of calcified cartilage are regularly present in hard antlers of deer.

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Preservation of calcified cartilage is caused by the short lifespan of antlers.

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Calcified cartilage of antlers is more highly mineralized than antler bone.

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Mineralized deposits were observed in chondrocyte and osteocyte lacunae of antlers.

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SR-XRF showed increased Zn-concentration in cement lines and intralacunar deposits.

The use of a novel deer antler decellularized cartilage-derived matrix scaffold for repair of osteochondral defects

Background

The physiologic regenerative capacity of cartilage is severely limited. Current studies on the repair of osteochondral defects (OCDs) have mainly focused on the regeneration of cartilage tissues. The antler cartilage is a unique regenerative cartilage that has the potential for cartilage repair.

Methods

Antler decellularized cartilage-derived matrix scaffolds (adCDMs) were prepared by combining freezing-thawing and enzymatic degradation. Their DNA, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and collagen content were then detected. Biosafety and biocompatibility were evaluated by pyrogen detection, hemolysis analysis, cytotoxicity evaluation, and subcutaneous implantation experiments. adCDMs were implanted into rabbit articular cartilage defects for 2 months to evaluate their therapeutic effects.

Results

AdCDMs were observed to be rich in collagen and GAGs and devoid of cells. AdCDMs were also determined to have good biosafety and biocompatibility. Both four- and eight-week treatments of OCDs showed a flat and smooth surface of the healing cartilage at the adCDMs filled site. The international cartilage repair society scores (ICRS) of adCDMs were significantly higher than those of controls (porcine dCDMs and normal saline) (p < 0.05). The repaired tissue in the adCDM group was fibrotic with high collagen, specifically, type II collagen.

Conclusions

We concluded that adCDMs could achieve excellent cartilage regeneration repair in a rabbit knee OCDs model. Our study stresses the importance and benefits of adCDMs in bone formation and overall anatomical reconstitution, and it provides a novel source for developing cartilage-regenerating repair materials.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13036-021-00274-5.

Chinese medicine, Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao - related serous retinal detachment 2nd to circumscribed choroidal hemangioma a case report

Purpose

Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma is a rare condition where there is development of benign vascular tumors, and it generally appears in middle-aged adults. Here we report a case of Chinese medicine, Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao – related serous retinal detachment secondary to circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Observations

A 55-year-old female, who had no remarkable ocular or medical history but has been taking a special Chinese compound medicine, Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao, for the past 2 years, presented with progressive blurred vision in the left eye for weeks. After serial ocular examinations, serous retinal detachment 2nd to circumscribed choroidal hemangioma was disclosed. Owing to the close timing association with medication history of Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao, we advised her to discontinue the Chinese medicine first. The serous retinal detachment resolved completely without any other management.

Conclusions and Importance

The content of Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao has been reported to have angiogenesis effect, which possibly change the vascular permeability and induce the serous retinal detachment and therefore blurred vision in our patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on such relationship between Gui Lu Er Xian Jiao and serous retinal detachment 2nd to circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. The case report highlighted the importance of detailed history taking in the management of ocular diseases.

Thymosin β10 promotes tumor-associated macrophages M2 conversion and proliferation via the PI3K/Akt pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Thymosin β10 (TMSB10) has been reported to play a protumorigenic role in a majority of solid cancers. However, the existence of TMSB10 in immune microenvironment may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma has not been previously explored.

Method

TAMs-associated TMSB10 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 184 lung adenocarcinomas. Xenograft mice model was established to investigate the effect of TMSB10 shRNA on TAMs phenotypes. The macrophages phenotype associated cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA after treated with TMSB10 shRNA or scramble. Furthermore, the target proteins were detected by immunoblotting.

Results

We found that high TAMs-associated TMSB10 expression was significantly correlated with the advanced TNM stage and T3/T4 tumor size. And high TAMs-associated TMSB10 expression was significantly correlated with poor overall and progression-free survival of lung adenocarcinoma, acting as an independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, we investigated the biological functions of TMSB10 in macrophages in vivo and in vitro. TMSB10 knockdown dramatically reduced TAMs, THP-1 and RAW264.7 cell proliferation, and promoted macrophages phenotype conversion of M2 to M1, and TMSB10 knockdown reduced the levels of p-Akt (Sec473), p-mTOR (Sec2448) and p-p70S6K (Thr389) without effect on Akt, mTOR and p70S6K expression.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that TAMs-associated TMSB10 promotes tumor growth through increasing TAMs M2 conversion and proliferation via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, providing a promising tumor biomarker for predicting prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.

Prospective isolation of chondroprogenitors from human iPSCs based on cell surface markers identified using a CRISPR-Cas9-generated reporter

Background

Articular cartilage shows little or no capacity for intrinsic repair, generating a critical need of regenerative therapies for joint injuries and diseases such as osteoarthritis. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer a promising cell source for cartilage tissue engineering and in vitro human disease modeling; however, off-target differentiation remains a challenge during hiPSC chondrogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify cell surface markers that define the true chondroprogenitor population and use these markers to purify iPSCs as a means of improving the homogeneity and efficiency of hiPSC chondrogenic differentiation.

Methods

We used a CRISPR-Cas9-edited COL2A1-GFP knock-in reporter hiPSC line, coupled with a surface marker screen, to identify a novel chondroprogenitor population. Single-cell RNA sequencing was then used to analyze the distinct clusters within the population. An unpaired t test with Welch’s correction or an unpaired Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was performed with significance reported at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

Chondroprogenitors expressing CD146, CD166, and PDGFRβ, but not CD45, made up an average of 16.8% of the total population. Under chondrogenic culture conditions, these triple-positive chondroprogenitor cells demonstrated decreased heterogeneity as measured by single-cell RNA sequencing with fewer clusters (9 clusters in unsorted vs. 6 in sorted populations) closer together. Additionally, there was more robust and homogenous matrix production (unsorted: 1.5 ng/ng vs. sorted: 19.9 ng/ng sGAG/DNA; p < 0.001) with significantly higher chondrogenic gene expression (i.e., SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Overall, this study has identified a unique hiPSC-derived subpopulation of chondroprogenitors that are CD146⁺/CD166⁺/PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁻ and exhibit high chondrogenic potential, providing a purified cell source for cartilage tissue engineering or disease modeling studies.

Platelet microvesicles promote the recovery of neurological function in mouse model of cerebral infarction by inducing angiogenesis

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of PMVs on mice with ischemic cerebral infarction and its mechanism. Male C57BL/6 mice were selected, and the right focal cortical infarction model was established via cauterization under a microscope and randomly divided into sham operation (Sham) group, normal saline control (Saline) group and platelet microvesicles intervention (PMVs) group. At 1 h after modeling, 5 μL of PMVs (50 μg/mL) or normal saline was injected into the lateral ventricle. The neurological function of mice in each group was evaluated at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 d after modeling. After 28 d, the cerebral infarction area was detected via 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. At 7 and 28 d after modeling, the blood vessel density, proliferation rate of new vessels and encapsulation rate of pericytes were detected via immunofluorescence staining. Moreover, the changes in cerebral cortical blood flow at the infarction side were detected before modeling and at 7 and 28 d after modeling, respectively. Finally, the expressions of proangiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and N-Cadherin were detected via Western blotting at 3, 7 and 28 d after modeling. PMVs could promote the improvement of neurological function and significantly reduce the cerebral infarction volume in mice with cerebral infarction. PMVs promoted proliferation of new vessels and increased blood vessel density at the infarction edge in mice with cerebral infarction. PMVs could increase the encapsulation rate of pericytes at the infarction edge and improve the permeability of blood-brain barrier in mice with cerebral infarction. PMVs could increase the cerebral cortical blood flow perfusion in mice with cerebral infarction. PMVs could increase proangiogenic factors in brain tissues in mice with cerebral infarction. PMVs could significantly improve the recovery of neurological function in mice with cerebral infarction, which is closely related to the ability of PMVs to promote angiogenesis at the infarction edge. The possible mechanism is that PMVs facilitate angiogenesis after cerebral infarction through promoting the expressions of VEGF, Ang-1 and N-Cadherin. More importantly, the new vessels promoted by PMVs have complete structure and perfect function, and can improve the cerebral blood flow perfusion at the infarction side.