Acute manipulation of Drd1 neurons in the prefrontal cortex bidirectionally regulates anxiety and depression-like behaviors

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in modulating anxiety and depression. Manipulation of Drd1 neurons in the mPFC resulted in variable neuronal activity and, consequently, strikingly different behaviors. The acute regulation of anxiety- and depression-like behaviors by Drd1 neurons, a major neuronal subtype in the mPFC, has not yet been investigated.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether acute manipulation of Drd1 neurons in the mPFC affects anxiety- and depression-like behaviors.

STUDY DESIGN

Male Drd1-Cre mice were injected with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing hM3DGq or hM4DGi. Clozapine-n-oxide (CNO, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected 30 min before the behavioral tests.

METHODS

Male Drd1-Cre mice were injected with AAV-Ef1α-DIO-hM4DGi-mCherry-WPRE-pA, AAV-Ef1α-DIO-hM3DGq-mCherry-WPRE-pA or AAV-Ef1α-DIO-mCherry-WPRE-pA. Three weeks later, whole-cell recordings after CNO (5 μM) were applied to the bath were used to validate the functional expression of hM4DGi and hM3DGq. Four groups of mice underwent all the behavioral tests, and after each of the tests, the mice were allowed to rest for 3-4 days. CNO (1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the behavior test. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT), the elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT). Depression-like behaviors were evaluated by the sucrose preference test (SPT) and force swimming test (FST). For all experiments, coronal sections of the targeted brain area were used to confirm virus expression.

RESULTS

Whole-cell recordings from brain slices demonstrated that infusions of CNO (5 µM) into mPFC slices dramatically increased the firing activity of hM3DGq-mCherry+ neurons and abolished the firing activity of hM4DGi-mCherry+ neurons. Acute chemogenetic activation of Drd1 neurons in the mPFC increased the time spent in the central area in the OFT, increased the time spent in the open arms in the EMPT, decreased the latency to bite the food in the NSFT, increased the sucrose preference in the SPT, and decreased the immobility time in the FST. Acute chemogenetic inhibition of Drd1 neurons in the mPFC decreased the time spent in the central area in the OFT, decreased the time spent in the open arms in the EMPT, increased the latency to bite the food in the NSFT, decreased the sucrose preference in the SPT, and increased the immobility time in the FST.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that acute activation of Drd1 neurons in the mPFC produced rapid anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects, and acute inhibition had the opposite effect, revealing that Drd1 neurons in the mPFC bidirectionally regulate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The findings of the present study regarding the acute effects of stimulating Drd1 neurons in the mPFC on anxiety and depression suggest that Drd1 neurons in the mPFC are a focus for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression.

IFN-λ drives distinct lung immune landscape changes and antiviral responses in human metapneumovirus infection

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a primary cause of acute respiratory infection, yet there are no approved vaccines or antiviral therapies for HMPV. Early host responses to HMPV are poorly characterized, and further understanding could identify important antiviral pathways. Type III interferon (IFN-λ) displays potent antiviral activity against respiratory viruses and is being investigated for therapeutic use. However, its role in HMPV infection remains largely unknown. Here, we show that IFN-λ is highly upregulated during HMPV infection in vitro in human and mouse airway epithelial cells and in vivo in mice. We found through several immunological and molecular assays that type II alveolar cells are the primary producers of IFN-λ. Using mouse models, we show that IFN-λ limits lung HMPV replication and restricts virus spread from upper to lower airways but does not contribute to clinical disease. Moreover, we show that IFN-λ signaling is predominantly mediated by CD45- non-immune cells. Mice lacking IFN-λ signaling showed diminished loss of ciliated epithelial cells and decreased recruitment of lung macrophages in early HMPV infection along with higher inflammatory cytokine and interferon-stimulated gene expression, suggesting that IFN-λ may maintain immunomodulatory responses. Administration of IFN-λ for prophylaxis or post-infection treatment in mice reduced viral load without inflammation-driven weight loss or clinical disease. These data offer clinical promise for IFN-λ in HMPV treatment.

IMPORTANCE

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common respiratory pathogen and often contributes to severe disease, particularly in children, immunocompromised people, and the elderly. There are currently no licensed HMPV antiviral treatments or vaccines. Here, we report novel roles of host factor IFN-λ in HMPV disease that highlight therapeutic potential. We show that IFN-λ promotes lung antiviral responses by restricting lung HMPV replication and spread from upper to lower airways but does so without inducing lung immunopathology. Our data uncover recruitment of lung macrophages, regulation of ciliated epithelial cells, and modulation of inflammatory cytokines and interferon-stimulated genes as likely contributors. Moreover, we found these roles to be distinct and non-redundant, as they are not observed with knockout of, or treatment with, type I IFN. These data elucidate unique antiviral functions of IFN-λ and suggest IFN-λ augmentation as a promising therapeutic for treating HMPV disease and promoting effective vaccine responses.

H2AK119ub1 differentially fine-tunes gene expression by modulating canonical PRC1- and H1-dependent chromatin compaction

Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) is a key transcriptional regulator in development via modulating chromatin structure and catalyzing histone H2A ubiquitination at Lys119 (H2AK119ub1). H2AK119ub1 is one of the most abundant histone modifications in mammalian cells. However, the function of H2AK119ub1 in polycomb-mediated gene silencing remains debated. In this study, we reveal that H2AK119ub1 has two distinct roles in gene expression, through differentially modulating chromatin compaction mediated by canonical PRC1 and the linker histone H1. Interestingly, we find that H2AK119ub1 plays a positive role in transcription through interfering with the binding of canonical PRC1 to nucleosomes and therefore counteracting chromatin condensation. Conversely, we demonstrate that H2AK119ub1 facilitates H1-dependent chromatin condensation and enhances the silencing of developmental genes in mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that H1 may be one of several possible pathways for H2AK119ub1 in repressing transcription. These results provide insights and molecular mechanisms by which H2AK119ub1 differentially fine-tunes developmental gene expression.

Fabrication of Large-Area Silicon Spherical Microlens Arrays by Thermal Reflow and ICP Etching

In this paper, we proposed an efficient and high-precision process for fabricating large-area microlens arrays using thermal reflow combined with ICP etching. When the temperature rises above the glass transition temperature, the polymer cylinder will reflow into a smooth hemisphere due to the surface tension effect. The dimensional differences generated after reflow can be corrected using etching selectivity in the following ICP etching process, which transfers the microstructure on the photoresist to the substrate. The volume variation before and after reflow, as well as the effect of etching selectivity using process parameters, such as RF power and gas flow, were explored. Due to the surface tension effect and the simultaneous molding of all microlens units, machining a 3.84 × 3.84 mm2 silicon microlens array required only 3 min of reflow and 15 min of ICP etching with an extremely low average surface roughness Sa of 1.2 nm.

Targeting pro-inflammatory T cells as a novel therapeutic approach to potentially resolve atherosclerosis in humans

Atherosclerosis (AS), a leading cause of cardio-cerebrovascular disease worldwide, is driven by the accumulation of lipid contents and chronic inflammation. Traditional strategies primarily focus on lipid reduction to control AS progression, leaving residual inflammatory risks for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). While anti-inflammatory therapies targeting innate immunity have reduced MACEs, many patients continue to face significant risks. Another key component in AS progression is adaptive immunity, but its potential role in preventing AS remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on tumor patients with AS plaques. We found that anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) significantly reduces AS plaque size. With multi-omics single-cell analyses, we comprehensively characterized AS plaque-specific PD-1+ T cells, which are activated and pro-inflammatory. We demonstrated that anti-PD-1 mAb, when captured by myeloid-expressed Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs), interacts with PD-1 expressed on T cells. This interaction turns the anti-PD-1 mAb into a substitute PD-1 ligand, suppressing T-cell functions in the PD-1 ligands-deficient context of AS plaques. Further, we conducted a prospective cohort study on tumor patients treated with anti-PD-1 mAb with or without Fc-binding capability. Our analysis shows that anti-PD-1 mAb with Fc-binding capability effectively reduces AS plaque size, while anti-PD-1 mAb without Fc-binding capability does not. Our work suggests that T cell-targeting immunotherapy can be an effective strategy to resolve AS in humans.

The Prognostic Value of the Combination of the Prognostic Nutritional Index and the Lymphocyte:Monocyte Ratio for the Prediction of Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To explore the efficacy of combining the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the lymphocyte:monocyte ratio (LMR) for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

METHODS

Of 172 patients who were diagnosed with MIBC in our hospital, 94 were eligible for the study. The clinical data of the 94 patients with MIBC were collected. The patients were divided according to the optimal cut-off values for the preoperative PNI and LMR into a low-PNI subgroup (PNI <44.15, 52 patients), a high-PNI subgroup (PNI ≥44.15, 42 patients), a low-LMR subgroup (LMR <2.98, 50 patients) and a high-LMR subgroup (LMR ≥2.98, 44 patients). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to analyse the efficacy of the PNI and the LMR in predicting the prognosis of patients with MIBC. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors for patients with MIBC. Kaplan-Meier (K‒M) survival analysis was used for overall survival (OS) analysis to explore the ability of the PNI combined with the LMR to predict the prognosis of patients with MIBC.

RESULTS

The optimal cut-off values for the preoperative PNI and the preoperative LMR were 44.15 and 2.98, respectively, on the basis of ROC curves. ROC curve analysis revealed that the PNI (AUC = 0.720, sensitivity 65.9%, specificity 74.50%, Youden index 0.399) and the LMR (AUC = 0.724, sensitivity 65.9%, specificity 70.0%, Youden index 0.395) both had good prognostic efficacy for patients with MIBC. The results of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that preoperative PNI <44.15 was an independent risk factor for OS in patients with MIBC (p = 0.027). Based on K‒M survival curve analysis, patients with PNI <44.15 and LMR <2.98 had the shortest OS (p = 0.00002).

CONCLUSIONS

Low preoperative PNI and LMR values are indicative of poor prognosis in patients with MIBC. The efficacy of their combination was better than that of the factors independently.

Time-Varying Optimal Formation Control for Second-Order Multiagent Systems Based on Neural Network Observer and Reinforcement Learning

This article addresses a distributed time-varying optimal formation protocol for a class of second-order uncertain nonlinear dynamic multiagent systems (MASs) based on an adaptive neural network (NN) state observer through the backstepping method and simplified reinforcement learning (RL). Each follower agent is subjected to only local information and measurable partial states due to actual sensor limitations. In view of the distributed optimized formation strategic needs, the uncertain nonlinear dynamics and undetectable states may jointly affect the stability of the time-varying cooperative formation control. Furthermore, focusing on Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman optimization, it is almost incapable of directly dealing with unknown equations. Above uncertainty and immeasurability processed by adaptive state observer and NN simplified RL are further designed to achieve desired second-order formation configuration at the least cost. The optimization protocol can not only solve the undetectable states and realize the prescribed time-varying formation performance on the premise that all the errors are SGUUB, but also prove the stability and update the critics and actors easily. Through the above-mentioned approaches offer an optimal control scheme to address time-varying formation control. Finally, the validity of the theoretical method is proven by the Lyapunov stability theory and digital simulation.

Tet-dependent 5-hydroxymethyl-Cytosine modification of mRNA regulates axon guidance genes in Drosophila

Modifications of mRNA, especially methylation of adenosine, have recently drawn much attention. The much rarer modification, 5-hydroxymethylation of cytosine (5hmC), is not well understood and is the subject of this study. Vertebrate Tet proteins are 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylases and catalyze the transition of 5mC to 5hmC in DNA. These enzymes have recently been shown to have the same function in messenger RNAs in both vertebrates and in Drosophila. The Tet gene is essential in Drosophila as Tet knock-out animals do not reach adulthood. We describe the identification of Tet-target genes in the embryo and larval brain by mapping one, Tet DNA-binding sites throughout the genome and two, the Tet-dependent 5hmrC modifications transcriptome-wide. 5hmrC modifications are distributed along the entire transcript, while Tet DNA-binding sites are preferentially located at the promoter where they overlap with histone H3K4me3 peaks. The identified mRNAs are preferentially involved in neuron and axon development and Tet knock-out led to a reduction of 5hmrC marks on specific mRNAs. Among the Tet-target genes were the robo2 receptor and its slit ligand that function in axon guidance in Drosophila and in vertebrates. Tet knock-out embryos show overlapping phenotypes with robo2 and both Robo2 and Slit protein levels were markedly reduced in Tet KO larval brains. Our results establish a role for Tet-dependent 5hmrC in facilitating the translation of modified mRNAs primarily in cells of the nervous system.

Biomechanical behaviour of a novel bone cement screw in the minimally invasive treatment of Kummell's disease: a finite element study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and evaluate the biomechanical behaviour of a novel bone cement screw in the minimally invasive treatment of Kummell's disease (KD) by finite element (FE) analysis.

METHODS

A validated finite element model of healthy adult thoracolumbar vertebrae T12-L2 was given the osteoporotic material properties and the part of the middle bone tissue of the L1 vertebral body was removed to make it wedge-shaped. Based on these, FE model of KD was established. The FE model of KD was repaired and treated with three options: pure percutaneous vertebroplasty (Model A), novel unilateral cement screw placement (Model B), novel bilateral cement screw placement (Model C). Range of motion (ROM), maximum Von-Mises stress of T12 inferior endplate and bone cement, relative displacement of bone cement, and stress distribution of bone cement screws of three postoperative models and intact model in flexion and extension, as well as lateral bending and rotation were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The relative displacements of bone cement of Model B and C were similar in all actions studied, and both were smaller than that of Model A. The minimum value of relative displacement of bone cement is 0.0733 mm in the right axial rotation of Model B. The maximum Von-Mises stress in T12 lower endplate and bone cement was in Model C. The maximum Von-Mises stress of bone cement screws in Model C was less than that in Model B, and it was the most substantial in right axial rotation, which is 34%. There was no substantial difference in ROM of the three models.

CONCLUSION

The novel bone cement screw can effectively reduce the relative displacement of bone cement by improving the stability of local cement. Among them, novel unilateral cement screw placement can obtain better fixation effect, and the impact on the biomechanical environment of vertebral body is less than that of novel bilateral cement screw placement, which provides a reference for minimally invasive treatment of KD in clinical practice.

SRSF2 plays an unexpected role as reader of m5C on mRNA, linking epitranscriptomics to cancer

A common mRNA modification is 5-methylcytosine (m5C), whose role in gene-transcript processing and cancer remains unclear. Here, we identify serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) as a reader of m5C and impaired SRSF2 m5C binding as a potential contributor to leukemogenesis. Structurally, we identify residues involved in m5C recognition and the impact of the prevalent leukemia-associated mutation SRSF2P95H. We show that SRSF2 binding and m5C colocalize within transcripts. Furthermore, knocking down the m5C writer NSUN2 decreases mRNA m5C, reduces SRSF2 binding, and alters RNA splicing. We also show that the SRSF2P95H mutation impairs the ability of the protein to read m5C-marked mRNA, notably reducing its binding to key leukemia-related transcripts in leukemic cells. In leukemia patients, low NSUN2 expression leads to mRNA m5C hypomethylation and, combined with SRSF2P95H, predicts poor outcomes. Altogether, we highlight an unrecognized mechanistic link between epitranscriptomics and a key oncogenesis driver.

Dietary soybean lecithin promoted growth performance and feeding in juvenile Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi) could be by optimizing glucolipid metabolism

To explore the potential benefits of dietary phospholipids (PLs) in fish glucose metabolism and to promote feed culture of Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi), we set up six diets to feed Chinese perch (initial mean body weight 37.01 ± 0.20 g) for 86 days, including: Control diet (CT), 1% (SL1), 2% (SL2), 3% (SL3), 4% (SL4) soybean lecithin (SL) and 2% (KO2) krill oil (KO) supplemental diets (in triplicate, 20 fish each). Our study found that the SL2 significantly improved the weight gain rate and special growth rate, but the KO2 did not. In addition, the SL2 diet significantly improved feed intake, which is consistent with the mRNA levels of appetite-related genes (npy, agrp, leptin A). Additionally, in the CT and SL-added groups, leptin A expression levels were nearly synchronized with serum glucose levels. Besides, the SL2 significantly upregulated expression levels of glut2, gk, cs, fas and downregulated g6pase in the liver, suggesting that it may enhance glucose uptake, aerobic oxidation, and conversion to fatty acids. The SL2 also maintained the hepatic crude lipid content unchanged compared to the CT, possibly by significantly down-regulating the mRNA level of hepatic lipase gene (hl), and by elevating serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level and intraperitoneal fat ratio in significance. Moreover, the serum high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly increased by PL supplementation, and the SL2 further significantly increased serum total cholesterol and LDL levels, suggesting that dietary PLs promote lipid absorption and transport. Furthermore, dietary SL at 1% level could enhance non-specific immune capacity, with serum total protein level being markedly higher than that in the CT group. In conclusion, it is speculated that the promotion of glucose utilization and appetite by 2% dietary SL could be linked. We suggest a 1.91% supplementation of SL in the diet for the best growth performance in juvenile Chinese perch.

A CYP78As-small grain4-coat protein complex Ⅱ pathway promotes grain size in rice

CYP78A, a cytochrome P450 subfamily that includes rice (Oryza sativa L.) BIG GRAIN2 (BG2, CYP78A13) and Arabidopsis thaliana KLUH (KLU, CYP78A5), generate an unknown mobile growth signal (referred to as a CYP78A-derived signal) that increases grain (seed) size. However, the mechanism by which the CYP78A pathway increases grain size remains elusive. Here, we characterized a rice small grain mutant, small grain4 (smg4), with smaller grains than its wild type due to restricted cell expansion and cell proliferation in spikelet hulls. SMG4 encodes a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporter. Loss of function of SMG4 causes smaller grains while overexpressing SMG4 results in larger grains. SMG4 is mainly localized to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites (ERESs) and partially localized to the ER and Golgi. Biochemically, SMG4 interacts with coat protein complex Ⅱ (COPⅡ) components (Sar1, Sec23, and Sec24) and CYP78As (BG2, GRAIN LENGTH 3.2 [GL3.2], and BG2-LIKE 1 [BG2L1]). Genetically, SMG4 acts, at least in part, in a common pathway with Sar1 and CYP78As to regulate grain size. In summary, our findings reveal a CYP78As-SMG4-COPⅡ regulatory pathway for grain size in rice, thus providing new insights into the molecular and genetic regulatory mechanism of grain size.

The treatment of tuberculosis in the upper thoracic spine using the small incision technique through the third rib

Background

The complex anatomical structure of the upper thoracic spine makes it challenging to achieve surgical exposure, resulting in significant surgical risks and difficulties. Posterior surgery alone fails to adequately address and reconstruct upper thoracic lesions due to limited exposure. While the anterior approach offers advantages in fully exposing the anterior thoracic lesions, the surgical procedure itself is highly intricate. Although there exist various anterior approaches for the upper thoracic spine, the incidence of upper thoracic spine lesions is relatively low. Consequently, there are limited reports on the treatment and reconstruction of upper thoracic spine lesions using the third rib small incision approach in the context of upper thoracic tuberculosis.

Methods

We collected data from four patients with upper thoracic tuberculosis who were admitted to our department between July 2017 and November 2022. The treatment for upper thoracic tuberculosis involved utilizing the third rib small incision approach, which included two cases of thoracic 3-4 vertebral tuberculosis, one case of thoracic 4 vertebral tuberculosis, and one case of thoracic 5 vertebral tuberculosis. Among the patients, three were positioned in the left lateral position, while one was positioned in the right lateral position. Prior to admission, all four patients received a two-week course of oral medication, consisting of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. After the surgical procedure, they continued receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment for a duration of 12 months.

Results

The average duration of the surgical procedure was 150 min, with an average blood loss of 500 ml. One patient exhibited symptoms of brachial plexus injury, which gradually improved after careful observation. All patients experienced primary wound healing, and no complications such as pulmonary infection, respiratory failure, or other adverse events were observed. Additionally, one patient showed elevated transaminase levels, leading to a modification in the anti-tuberculosis drug regimen from quadruple therapy to triple therapy.

Conclusion

The treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis through the third rib small incision technique is a very good surgical approach, which has the advantages of safety and effectiveness.

Pure Organic AIE Nanoscintillator for X-ray Mediated Type I and Type II Photodynamic Therapy

X-ray induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) circumvents the poor penetration depth of conventional PDT with minimal radio-resistance generation. However, conventional X-PDT typically requires inorganic scintillators as energy transducers to excite neighboring photosensitizers (PSs) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, a pure organic aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanoscintillator (TBDCR NPs) that can massively generate both type I and type II ROS under direct X-ray irradiation is reported for hypoxia-tolerant X-PDT. Heteroatoms are introduced to enhance X-ray harvesting and ROS generation ability, and AIE-active TBDCR exhibits aggregation-enhanced ROS especially less oxygen-dependent hydroxyl radical (HO•- , type I) generation ability. TBDCR NPs with a distinctive PEG crystalline shell to provide a rigid intraparticle microenvironment show further enhanced ROS generation. Intriguingly, TBDCR NPs show bright near-infrared fluorescence and massive singlet oxygen and HO•- generation under direct X-ray irradiation, which demonstrate excellent antitumor X-PDT performance both in vitro and in vivo. To the best of knowledge, this is the first pure organic PS capable of generating both 1 O2 and radicals (HO•- ) in response to direct X-ray irradiation, which shall provide new insights for designing organic scintillators with excellent X-ray harvesting and predominant free radical generation for efficient X-PDT.

Gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Although previous studies have suggested a close association between gut microbiota (GM) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), the causal relationship between them remains unclear. Hence, we thoroughly investigate their causal relationship by means of a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, aiming to determine the impact of gut microbiota on the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration.

METHODS

Summary data from genome-wide association studies of GM (the MiBioGen) and IVDD (the FinnGen biobank) have been acquired. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary MR analysis approach. Weighted median, MR-Egger regression, weighted mode, and simple mode were used as supplements. The Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) and MR-Egger regression were performed to assess horizontal pleiotropy. Cochran's Q test evaluated heterogeneity. Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was further conducted to determine the reliability of the causal relationship. A reverse MR analysis was conducted to assess potential reverse causation.

RESULTS

We identified nine gut microbial taxa that were causally associated with IVDD (P < 0.05). Following the Benjamini-Hochberg corrected test, the association between the phylum Bacteroidetes and a higher risk of IVDD remained significant (IVW FDR-corrected P = 0.0365). The results of the Cochrane Q test did not indicate heterogeneity (P > 0.05). Additionally, both the MR-Egger intercept test and the MR-PRESSO global test revealed that our results were not influenced by horizontal pleiotropy (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the leave-one-out analysis substantiated the reliability of the causal relationship. In the reverse analysis, no evidence was found to suggest that IVDD has an impact on the gut microbiota.

CONCLUSION

Our results validate the potential causal impact of particular GM taxa on IVDD, thus providing fresh insights into the gut microbiota-mediated mechanism of IVDD and laying the groundwork for further research into targeted preventive measures.

Tet-dependent 5-hydroxymethyl-Cytosine modification of mRNA regulates axon guidance genes in Drosophila

Modifications of mRNA, especially methylation of adenosine, have recently drawn much attention. The much rarer modification, 5-hydroxymethylation of cytosine (5hmC), is not well understood and is the subject of this study. Vertebrate Tet proteins are 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylases and catalyze the transition of 5mC to 5hmC in DNA. These enzymes have recently been shown to have the same function in messenger RNAs in both vertebrates and in Drosophila. The Tet gene is essential in Drosophila as Tet knock-out animals do not reach adulthood. We describe the identification of Tet-target genes in the embryo and larval brain by mapping one, Tet DNA-binding sites throughout the genome and two, the Tet-dependent 5hmrC modifications transcriptome-wide. 5hmrC modifications are distributed along the entire transcript, while Tet DNA-binding sites are preferentially located at the promoter where they overlap with histone H3K4me3 peaks. The identified mRNAs are preferentially involved in neuron and axon development and Tet knock-out led to a reduction of 5hmrC marks on specific mRNAs. Among the Tet-target genes were the robo2 receptor and its slit ligand that function in axon guidance in Drosophila and in vertebrates. Tet knock-out embryos show overlapping phenotypes with robo2 and both Robo2 and Slit protein levels were markedly reduced in Tet KO larval brains. Our results establish a role for Tet-dependent 5hmrC in facilitating the translation of modified mRNAs primarily in cells of the nervous system.

Irisin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by improving AMPK-Nrf2 dependent mitochondrial fusion and strengthening endogenous anti-oxidant defense mechanisms

Irisin, a new exercise-mediated myokine, plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases by regulating cell energy metabolism. The induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are the crucial mechanisms involved in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte damage and cardiac dysfunction, but the mitochondria-dependent protective mechanisms of irisin in DOX-impaired cardiomyocytes are poorly understood. In this study, we exposed mouse-FNDC5 (irisin-precursor)-knockout, FNDC5 transgenic mice and their WT littermates, as well as cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to DOX at a dosage of 4 mg/kg (once a week for 4 weeks) in vivo and 2 μM in vitro, respectively, then investigated how irisin alleviated DOX-induced oxidative stress and myocardial injury. Irisin knockout worsened, while irisin overexpression attenuated DOX-induced mortality, body weight loss, myocardial atrophy, damage and oxidative stress, cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in mice. Exogenous irisin supplementation (20 nM) also relieved these DOX-induced damage in cardiomyocytes. Intriguingly, irisin activated AMPK-Nrf2 signaling axis, and then up-regulated the transcription and protein expression of the downstream target genes of Nrf2, including mitochondrial fusion-related genes (mitofusin 1/2 and Optic Atrophy Type 1) and endogenous anti-oxidant genes, to promote mitochondrial fusion, improve mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial function, and reduced oxidative stress damage in DOX-induced cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that irisin protects the hearts from DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by improving mitochondrial dynamics and strengthening the endogenous anti-oxidant system through an AMPK-Nrf2 axis dependent manner, thus reducing DOX-induced oxidative stress injury in cardiomyocytes.

Activity of the new OSBP inhibitor Y18501 against Pseudoperonospora cubensis and its application for the control of cucumber downy mildew

Y18501 is a new oxysterol-binding protein inhibitor (OSBPI) with a similar structure to oxathiapiprolin. Y18501 showed strong inhibitory activities against Phytophthora spp. and Pseudoperonospora cubensis, with EC50 ranging from 0.0005 to 0.0046 μg/mL. It also had good control efficacy on cucumber downy mildew (CDM) in the green house and in the field, and could effectively inhibit different development stages of P. cubensis, especially for sporangiophore production, sporangial production, mycelium extension, and elongation of germ tube. In addition, Y18501 showed excellent protective and curative activities against P. cubensis. It also had acropetal systemic mobility in the cucumber leaves, and could be taken up and translocated to the upper leaves more effectively from the lower leaves than from the roots. Y18501 had poorer permeability in cucumber leaves compared to oxathiapiprolin. The simultaneous application of Y18501 and chlorothalonil could significantly promote the inhibition of P. cubensis.

Terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells contribute to age-dependent severity of respiratory virus infection

BACKGROUND

Lower respiratory infections are a leading cause of severe morbidity and mortality among older adults. Despite ubiquitous exposure to common respiratory pathogens throughout life and near universal seropositivity, antibodies fail to effectively protect the elderly. Therefore, we hypothesized that severe respiratory illness in the elderly is due to deficient CD8⁺ T cell responses.

RESULTS

Here, we establish an aged mouse model of human metapneumovirus infection (HMPV) wherein aged C57BL/6 mice exhibit worsened weight loss, clinical disease, lung pathology and delayed viral clearance compared to young adult mice. Aged mice generate fewer lung-infiltrating HMPV epitope-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Those that do expand demonstrate higher expression of PD-1 and other inhibitory receptors and are functionally impaired. Transplant of aged T cells into young mice and vice versa, as well as adoptive transfer of young versus aged CD8⁺ T cells into Rag1^-/- recipients, recapitulates the HMPV aged phenotype, suggesting a cell-intrinsic age-associated defect. HMPV-specific aged CD8⁺ T cells exhibit a terminally exhausted TCF1/7^- TOX⁺ EOMES⁺ phenotype. We confirmed similar terminal exhaustion of aged CD8⁺ T cells during influenza viral infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies terminal CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion as a mechanism of severe disease from respiratory viral infections in the elderly.

The contribution of cultural identity to subjective well-being in collectivist countries: a study in the context of contemporary Chinese culture

INTRODUCTION

Though the important effect of cultural identity on subjective well-being is widely acknowledged, the details of how different cultures' unique features influence well-being remain to be revealed. To address this issue in the context of Chinese culture, the present study investigates whether and how the prominent features of Chinese culture-collectivism and red culture-shape Chinese people's subjective well-being.

METHODS

The Red Cultural Identity Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, Collectivism Scale, and Perspective-Taking Scale were used to assess 1,045 Chinese residents.

RESULTS

The results showed that red cultural identity positively predicted participants' subjective well-being through the mediated role of collectivism. Furthermore, perspective-taking was found to moderate the mediating effect of collectivism.

DISCUSSION

These results demonstrate that the way cultural identity predicts subjective well-being is highly correlated to specific cultural features, e.g., the opinion of values, which was significant in practice with a cross-cultural background.

Association of rs35006907 Polymorphism with Risk of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Han Chinese Population

Background

Several investigations have demonstrated the association of MTSS1 with left ventricular (LV) structure and function. A recently published study has even revealed that rs35006907 was associated with both MTSS1 expression and the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Objective

Our study intended to investigate the relationship between rs35006907 and the risk of DCM in the Han Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 529 DCM and 600 healthy controls were recruited. We conducted genotyping for rs35006907 in all participants. Gene association studies were performed to assess the association between rs35006907 and the risk of DCM. A series of functional assays including western blot, realtime PCR and firefly luciferase reporter gene assays were conducted to illuminate the underlying mechanism.

Results

We found that rs35006907-A allele was significantly associated with reduced risk of DCM in additive (p= 0.004; OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.66-0.93) and recessive models (p= 0.0005; OR=0.56; 95%CI=0.41-0.78) when compared with the rs35006907-C allele. There were significant differences in the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between rs35006907-CC/AC and AA genotypes. Furthermore, the variant rs35006907-A allele presented lower reporter gene activity, reduced mRNA and protein expression levels when compared with the C allele.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that rs35006907-C allele increased the risk of DCM in Han Chinese population. Besides, rs35006907-C displayed higher reporter gene activity and increased MTSS1 expression in human samples.

DVDR-SRGAN: Differential Value Dense Residual Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network

In the field of single-image super-resolution reconstruction, GAN can obtain the image texture more in line with the human eye. However, during the reconstruction process, it is easy to generate artifacts, false textures, and large deviations in details between the reconstructed image and the Ground Truth. In order to further improve the visual quality, we study the feature correlation between adjacent layers and propose a differential value dense residual network to solve this problem. We first use the deconvolution layer to enlarge the features, then extract the features through the convolution layer, and finally make a difference between the features before being magnified and the features after being extracted so that the difference can better reflect the areas that need attention. In the process of extracting the differential value, using the dense residual connection method for each layer can make the magnified features more complete, so the differential value obtained is more accurate. Next, the joint loss function is introduced to fuse high-frequency information and low-frequency information, which improves the visual effect of the reconstructed image to a certain extent. The experimental results on Set5, Set14, BSD100, and Urban datasets show that our proposed DVDR-SRGAN model is improved in terms of PSNR, SSIM, and LPIPS compared with the Bicubic, SRGAN, ESRGAN, Beby-GAN, and SPSR models.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Dry Etching of Silicon Deep Trenches with Extremely Vertical Smooth Sidewalls Used in Micro-Optical Gyroscopes

Micro-optical gyroscopes (MOGs) place a range of components of the fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) onto a silicon substrate, enabling miniaturization, low cost, and batch processing. MOGs require high-precision waveguide trenches fabricated on silicon instead of the ultra-long interference ring of conventional F OGs. In our study, the Bosch process, pseudo-Bosch process, and cryogenic etching process were investigated to fabricate silicon deep trenches with vertical and smooth sidewalls. Different process parameters and mask layer materials were explored for their effect on etching. The effect of charges in the Al mask layer was found to cause undercut below the mask, which can be suppressed by selecting proper mask materials such as SiO₂. Finally, ultra-long spiral trenches with a depth of 18.1 μm, a verticality of 89.23°, and an average roughness of trench sidewalls less than 3 nm were obtained using a cryogenic process at -100 °C.

[Mechanism of VPS26 gene promoting implant osseointegration through Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hyperlipidemia rats]

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of VPS26 effect on osteogenesis and adipogenesis differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) in high fat environment, and to explore the effect of VPS26 on implants osseointegration of high fat rats and ectopic osteogenesis in nude mice. Methods: BMSC were cultured under normal osteogenic induction (osteogenic group) and high-fat osteogenic induction (high-fat group).High-fat group was transfected with VPS26 enhancer and inhibitor, and the expression levels of osteogenesis related genes and adipogenesis related genes were examined. Osteogenesis and adipogenesis of BMSC were detected by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and oil red O staining after 7 and 14 days of induction.In osteogenic group,the binding of VPS26 to β-catenin was detected by immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation, and dual luciferase reporter assay (TOP Flash) was used to analyze the TOP/FOP ratio. Eighteen male 12-week hyperlipidemic Wista rats (160-200 g) were implanted with implants, and six in each group were injected with VPS26 overexpression lentivirus (LV-VPS26 group), negative control lentivirus (LV-nc group) and saline (blank control group).Micro-CT analysis , HE and oil red O staining were used to evaluate the osseointegration of the implants and lipid droplets formation of the femur samples. Twenty female 6-week nude mice (30-40 g) were divided into five groups and subcutaneously implanted with osteogenic BMSC non-transfected and transfected LV-VPS26, LV-nc, shVPS26, and shscr lentivirus on the back. Samples were used to observe ectopic osteogenesis. Results: The mRNA expression levels of ALP in the high-fat group BMSC after overexpression of VPS26 (1.56±0.09) were significantly higher than those of the negative control (1.01±0.03) (t=10.09, P<0.001), while those of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) (t=6.44, P<0.001) and fatty acid-binding protein4 (FABP4) (t=10.01, P<0.001) were lower than those of the negative control. Western blotting results showed that compared with the negative control, protein expression of ALP and Runt-related transcription gene 2 was enhanced in the high-fat group BMSC after overexpression of VPS26 while PPAR-γ and FABP4 were inhibited. ALP activity of BMSC in the high-fat group was stronger after overexpression of VPS26, and the formation of lipid droplets was weaker than that in negative control. The results of immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase reporter assays showed co-localization and interaction of VPS26 with β-catenin and a significant 43.10% increase in the TOP/FOP ratio (t=-3.17, P=0.034). VPS26 overexpression enhanced osseointegration and decreased the number of lipid droplets in high-fat rat and enhanced ectopic osteogenesis of nude mice. Conclusions: VPS26 activated osteogenesis differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs through Wnt/β-catenin pathway, promoting osseointegration of high-fat rat implants and ectopic osteogenesis of nude mice.

Young Leaf White Stripe encodes a P-type PPR protein required for chloroplast development

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins function in post-transcriptional regulation of organellar gene expression. Although several PPR proteins are known to function in chloroplast development in rice (Oryza sativa), the detailed molecular functions of many PPR proteins remain unclear. Here, we characterized a rice young leaf white stripe (ylws) mutant, which has defective chloroplast development during early seedling growth. Map-based cloning revealed that YLWS encodes a novel P-type chloroplast-targeted PPR protein with 11 PPR motifs. Further expression analyses showed that many nuclear- and plastid-encoded genes in the ylws mutant were significantly changed at the RNA and protein levels. The ylws mutant was impaired in chloroplast ribosome biogenesis and chloroplast development under low-temperature conditions. The ylws mutation causes defects in the splicing of atpF, ndhA, rpl2, and rps12, and editing of ndhA, ndhB, and rps14 transcripts. YLWS directly binds to specific sites in the atpF, ndhA, and rpl2 pre-mRNAs. Our results suggest that YLWS participates in chloroplast RNA group II intron splicing and plays an important role in chloroplast development during early leaf development.

Iron overload modulates follicular microenvironment via ROS/HIF-1α/FSHR signaling

Iron is essential for the health of reproductive system, and women with iron overload suffer from ovarian dysfunction and lack effective treatment in fertility preservation. However, the underlying mechanism of the detrimental effects of iron overload on ovarian function remains ambiguous. Here, we confirmed the excess iron in the circumjacent follicle near endometriomas, which negatively impacted the oocyte development in the affected ovaries. Further, by integrating cell line and chronic iron overload mice model, we demonstrated that iron overload can function as a ROS inducer to amplify mitochondria damage, which significantly elevated the release of cytochrome C and ultimately induced the apoptosis of granular cells. Besides, for the first time, our findings revealed that disruption of HIF-1α/FSHR/CYP19A1 signaling was critical for decreased estrogen synthesis of granular cells in response to iron overload, which can lead to apparent oocyte maldevelopment and subfertility. Overall. this study uncovered that iron overload modulated the follicular microenvironment and generated a deleterious effect on female infertility via ROS/HIF-1α/FSHR signaling. These results might provide potential implications for future clinical risk management of patients with endometrioma and hemopathy.

Tet-dependent 5-hydroxymethyl-Cytosine modification of mRNA regulates the axon guidance genes robo2 and slit in Drosophila

Modifications of mRNA, especially methylation of adenosine, have recently drawn much attention. The much rarer modification, 5-hydroxymethylation of cytosine (5hmC), is not well understood and is the subject of this study. Vertebrate Tet proteins are 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylases enzymes catalyzing the transition of 5mC to 5hmC in DNA and have recently been shown to have the same function in messenger RNAs in both vertebrates and in Drosophila. The Tet gene is essential in Drosophila because Tet knock-out animals do not reach adulthood. We describe the identification of Tet-target genes in the embryo and larval brain by determining Tet DNA-binding sites throughout the genome and by mapping the Tet-dependent 5hmrC modifications transcriptome-wide. 5hmrC-modified sites can be found along the entire transcript and are preferentially located at the promoter where they overlap with histone H3K4me3 peaks. The identified mRNAs are frequently involved in neuron and axon development and Tet knock-out led to a reduction of 5hmrC marks on specific mRNAs. Among the Tet-target genes were the robo2 receptor and its slit ligand that function in axon guidance in Drosophila and in vertebrates. Tet knock-out embryos show overlapping phenotypes with robo2 and are sensitized to reduced levels of slit. Both Robo2 and Slit protein levels were markedly reduced in Tet KO larval brains. Our results establish a role for Tet-dependent 5hmrC in facilitating the translation of modified mRNAs, primarily in developing nerve cells.

H2B ubiquitination recruits FACT to maintain a stable altered nucleosome state for transcriptional activation

Histone H2B mono-ubiquitination at lysine 120 (ubH2B) has been found to regulate transcriptional elongation by collaborating with the histone chaperone FACT (Facilitates Chromatin Transcription) and plays essential roles in chromatin-based transcriptional processes. However, the mechanism of how ubH2B directly collaborates with FACT at the nucleosome level still remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that ubH2B impairs the mechanical stability of the nucleosome and helps to recruit FACT by enhancing the binding of FACT on the nucleosome. FACT prefers to bind and deposit H2A-ubH2B dimers to form an intact nucleosome. Strikingly, the preferable binding of FACT on ubH2B-nucleosome greatly enhances nucleosome stability and maintains its integrity. The stable altered nucleosome state obtained by ubH2B and FACT provides a key platform for gene transcription, as revealed by genome-wide and time-course ChIP-qPCR analyses. Our findings provide mechanistic insights of how ubH2B directly collaborates with FACT to regulate nucleosome dynamics for gene transcription.

The H2A.Z and NuRD associated protein HMG20A controls early head and heart developmental transcription programs

Specialized chromatin-binding proteins are required for DNA-based processes during development. We recently established PWWP2A as a direct histone variant H2A.Z interactor involved in mitosis and craniofacial development. Here, we identify the H2A.Z/PWWP2A-associated protein HMG20A as part of several chromatin-modifying complexes, including NuRD, and show that it localizes to distinct genomic regulatory regions. Hmg20a depletion causes severe head and heart developmental defects in Xenopus laevis. Our data indicate that craniofacial malformations are caused by defects in neural crest cell (NCC) migration and cartilage formation. These developmental failures are phenocopied in Hmg20a-depleted mESCs, which show inefficient differentiation into NCCs and cardiomyocytes (CM). Consequently, loss of HMG20A, which marks open promoters and enhancers, results in chromatin accessibility changes and a striking deregulation of transcription programs involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and differentiation processes. Collectively, our findings implicate HMG20A as part of the H2A.Z/PWWP2A/NuRD-axis and reveal it as a key modulator of intricate developmental transcription programs that guide the differentiation of NCCs and CMs.

Toosendanin Induces Hepatocyte Damage by Inhibiting Autophagic Flux via TFEB-Mediated Lysosomal Dysfunction

Toosendanin (TSN) is a triterpenoid from the fruit or bark of Melia toosendan Sieb et Zucc, which has clear antitumor and insecticidal activities, but it possesses limiting hepatotoxicity in clinical application. Autophagy is a degradation and recycling mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis, and it also plays an essential role in TSN-induced hepatotoxicity. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism of TSN on autophagy-related hepatotoxicity is still unknown. The hepatotoxicity of TSN in vivo and in vitro was explored in this study. It was found that TSN induced the upregulation of the autophagy-marker microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) and P62, the accumulation of autolysosomes, and the inhibition of autophagic flux. The middle and late stages of autophagy were mainly studied. The data showed that TSN did not affect the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes but significantly inhibited the acidity, the degradation capacity of lysosomes, and the expression of hydrolase cathepsin B (CTSB). The activation of autophagy could alleviate TSN-induced hepatocyte damage. TSN inhibited the expression of transcription factor EB (TFEB), which is a key transcription factor for many genes of autophagy and lysosomes, such as CTSB, and overexpression of TFEB alleviated the autophagic flux blockade caused by TSN. In summary, TSN caused hepatotoxicity by inhibiting TFEB-lysosome-mediated autophagic flux and activating autophagy by rapamycin (Rapa), which could effectively alleviate TSN-induced hepatotoxicity, indicating that targeting autophagy is a new strategy to intervene in the hepatotoxicity of TSN.

Cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 from provirus-activated cells to resting naïve and memory human primary CD4 T cells is highly efficient and requires CD4 and F-actin but not chemokine receptors

Latently infected cells harboring replication-competent proviruses represent a major barrier to HIV-1 cure. One major effort to purge these cells has focused on developing the "shock and kill" approach for forcing provirus reactivation to induce cell killing by viral cytopathic effects, host immune responses, or both. We conducted kinetic and mechanistic studies of HIV-1 protein expression, virion production, and cell-to-cell virus transmission during provirus reactivation. Provirus-activated ACH-2 cells stimulated with romidepsin (RMD) or PMA produced Nef early, and then Env and Gag in parallel with the appearance of virions. Env on the surface of provirus-activated cells and cellular F-actin were critical in the formation of virological synapses to mediate cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 from provirus-activated cells to uninfected cells. This HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission was substantially more efficient than transmission seen via cell-free virus spread and required F-actin remodeling and CD4, but not chemokine receptors. Resting human primary CD4⁺ T cells including naïve and memory subpopulations and, especially the memory CD4⁺ T cells, were highly susceptible to HIV-1 infection via cell-to-cell transmission. Cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 from provirus-activated cells was profoundly decreased by protease inhibitors (PIs) and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that recognize the CD4-binding site (CD4bs) such as VRC01, but not by reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor Emtricitabine (FTC). Therefore, our results suggest that PIs with potent blocking abilities should be used in clinical application of the "shock and kill" approach, most likely in combination with CD4bs nAbs, to prevent new HIV-1 infections.

Prim-O-glucosycimifugin attenuates liver injury in septic mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome/caspase-1 signaling cascades in macrophages

BACKGROUND

Liver dysfunction and liver failure are serious complications of sepsis, directly leading to septic progression and death. Now, there is no specific therapeutics available for sepsis-related liver dysfunction. Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (POG), a chromone richest in the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk, is usually used to treat headache, rheumatoid arthritis and tetanus. While, the underlying mechanisms of POG against sepsis-induced liver damage and dysfunction are still not clear.

PURPOSE

To study the anti-sepsis effect of POG, and its pharmacological mechanism to protect liver injury by weakening the function of macrophages in septic livers through inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway.

METHOD

In vivo experiments, septic mouse model was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and then the mortality was detected, liver inflammatory damages and plasma biomarkers of liver injury were evaluated by histopathological staining and biochemical assays, respectively. In vitro experiments, mouse primary peritoneal macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ATP, and then the activated-inflammasomes, macrophage migration and polarization were detected by ASC immunofluorescence staining, transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. NLRP3 inflammasome components NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 protein expressions were detected using western blot assays, and the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 were measured by ELISA assays.

RESULTS

POG treatment significantly decreased the mortality, liver inflammatory damages, hepatocyte apoptosis and plasma biomarkers of liver injury in CLP-challenged male WT mice, which were comparable to those in ibuprofen (a putative anti-inflammatory drug)-supplemented septic male WT mice and septic NLRP3 deficient-male mice. POG supplementation significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in septic liver tissues and cultured macrophages, by significantly reducing NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 levels, the activated-inflammasome ASC specks, and macrophage infiltration and migration, as well as M1-like polarization, but significantly increasing M2-like polarization. These findings were similar to the pharmacological effects of ibuprofen, NLRP3 deficiency, and a special NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950.

CONCLUSION

POG protected against sepsis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated macrophage activation in septic liver and attenuating liver inflammatory injury, indicating that it may be a potential anti-sepsis drug candidate.

Evolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediment of southern Jiaozhou Bay in northern China after an accident of oil pipeline explosion

The 2013 "Qingdao oil pipeline explosion" contaminated about 2.5 km of shoreline in the Jiaozhou Bay area and aroused widespread concern because of the serious casualties even though it was not the most severe oil-spill contamination in China. To evaluate the long-term impact, we collected thirty-three surface sediment samples after 3 years of the accident, with sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected. Spatial-temporal variation in PAHs revealed that a minimal impact might still be present after 3 years. Source analysis combined with a one-way ANOVA showed that pyrolytic sources were consistently predominant. The environmental impact was already minimal 3 years later and negligible thereafter. Although the cancer risk has decreased over the years, there has always been a potential hazard to human for specific occupation, with all of the risk values exceeded 10^-6. This study offers a reference for assessing the long-term impact of oil spills in similar bay areas.

Freehand Regional Techniques for Subaxial Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement

BACKGROUND

Although various subaxial cervical pedicle screw implantation techniques have been proposed, clinical operators have been unable to exactly determine the entry points and trajectory . The objective of this article is to propose freehand regional techniques (FRT) for subaxial cervical pedicle screw placements and to investigate the clinical effectiveness of FRT.

METHODS

A total of 80 consecutive patients who underwent open subaxial cervical pedicle screw fixation using FRT from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed, and preoperative cervical computed tomography (CT) images were used to observe the entry point and screw trajectory. The horizontal and vertical lines at the center of the cervical lateral mass was marked, and the entry point was chosen at the outer upper quadrant of the lateral mass. Both sagittal and axial trajectories were determined by CT images, generally perpendicular to the cervical laminae. Screw implantation accuracy was assessed using postoperative CT.

RESULTS

After virtually inserting pedicle screws by FRT on preoperative cervical CT images, all of the entry points were located in the outer upper quadrant of the lateral mass and the trajectory perpendicular to the cervical laminae was just parallel to the pedicle's axis. A total of 694 pedicle screws were placed by FRT clinically, with a 96% accuracy rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Pedicle screw implantation by FRT for subaxial cervical spine can be performed with acceptable safety and accuracy.

HIF-1-dependent heme synthesis promotes gemcitabine resistance in human non-small cell lung cancers via enhanced ABCB6 expression

Gemcitabine is commonly used to treat various cancer types, including human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, even cases that initially respond rapidly commonly develop acquired resistance, limiting our ability to effectively treat advanced NSCLC. To gain insight for developing a strategy to overcome gemcitabine resistance, the present study investigated the mechanism of gemcitabine resistance in NSCLC according to the involvement of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 6 (ABCB6) and heme biosynthesis. First, an analysis of ABCB6 expression in human NSCLCs was found to be associated with poor prognosis and gemcitabine resistance in a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1-dependent manner. Further experiments showed that activation of HIF-1α/ABCB6 signaling led to intracellular heme metabolic reprogramming and a corresponding increase in heme biosynthesis to enhance the activation and accumulation of catalase. Increased catalase levels diminished the effective levels of reactive oxygen species, thereby promoting gemcitabine-based resistance. In a mouse NSCLC model, inhibition of HIF-1α or ABCB6, in combination with gemcitabine, strongly restrained tumor proliferation, increased tumor cell apoptosis, and prolonged animal survival. These results suggest that, in combination with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, targeting HIF-1α/ABCB6 signaling could result in enhanced tumor chemosensitivity and, thus, may improve outcomes in NSCLC patients.

Damnacanthal isolated from morinda species inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration through activating autophagy

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is a very common gynecological malignant tumor. Natural products are important sources of chemotherapy drugs for ovarian cancer. Damnacanthal is an anthraquinone derivative with anti-cancer pharmacological properties.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying damnacanthal's effects against ovarian cancer.

METHODS

In vitro experiments, CCK8, colony formation and flow cytometry assays were used to evaluate the anti-ovarian cancer effect of damnacanthal on SKVO3 and A2780 cells. The wound healing tests and the transwell invasion assays were used to detect the migration and infiltration of ovarian cancer cells. Western Blot assays and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure autophagy levels. In vivo experiments, the anti-ovarian cancer effect of damnacanthal was further evaluated in a xenograft nude mouse model of SKVO3 cells.

RESULTS

Damnacanthal induced significant cell death and apoptosis, as well as significant inhibition in migration and invasion, in SKVO3 and A2780 cells, Furthermore, damnacanthal induced cell cycle arrest by increasing the protein levels of p27Kip1 and decreasing cyclin D1 levels. In addition, damnacanthal induced a significant accumulation of autophagosomes, accompanied with an increase in LC3II protein levels, and a decrease in p62 protein levels. 3-methyladenine, an autophagy formation inhibitor, significantly mitigated the damnacanthal-induced apoptosis and migration hindrance, as well as the decline in cell viability. Furthermore, the inactivation of ERK and its downstream effector mTOR signaling pathways, rather than Akt or P38 pathway, were involved in damnacanthal's activation in autophagy. In addition, TBHQ, an ERK activator, significantly inhibited damnacanthal-boosted LC3 II levels and autophagosome accumulation, and reversed damnacanthal-induced cell death, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and migration hindrance. Finally, the anti-ovarian cancer effect of damnacanthal was confirmed in the orthotopic xenograft model of SKVO3 cells in nude mice, with tumor growth being significantly inhibited comparably to the efficacy of cisplatin. Damnacanthal was also synergistic with cisplatin and showed inhibition in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Damnacanthal inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer via the ERK/mTOR/autophagy signaling cascade, indicating that it may be a potential anti-ovarian cancer drug candidate.

Claudin-12 deficiency inhibits tumor growth by impairing transendothelial migration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Migration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) out of the circulation, across vascular walls, and into tumor is crucial for their immunosuppressive activity. A deeper understanding of critical junctional molecules and the regulatory mechanisms that mediate the extravasation of MDSCs could identify approaches to overcome cancer immunosuppression. In this study we used mice deficient in tight-junction protein Claudin-12 (Cldn12) compared to wild-type mice and found that loss of host Cldn12 inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors, reduced intratumoral accumulation of MDSCs, increased anti-tumor immune responses, and decreased tumor vescular density. Further studies revealed that Cldn12 expression on the cell surface of both MDSCs and endothelial cells is required for MDSCs transit across tumor vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Importantly, expression of Cldn12 in MDSCs was modulated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in an AKT-dependent manner. Therefore, our results indicate that Cldn12 could serve as a promising target for restoring the anti-tumor response by interfering with MDSCs transendothelial migration.

CD8+ T cell impairment drives severe human metapneumovirus respiratory disease in aged mice

Objective

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory disease in children &lt;5, adults &gt;65, and the immunocompromised. CD8+ T lymphocytes are the primary cell responsible for clearing HMPV infection in the lung. We tested the hypothesis that CD8+ T cell impairment in the aged host drives severe respiratory infection and delayed viral clearance.

Methods

B6 aged 72–73wk mice and young 6–7wk mice were infected with 2×106 PFU HMPV. Seven days post infection, mice were euthanized and lung, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), spleen, and draining lymph nodes were collected for flow cytometry. Lung and BAL supernatant was collected for viral titer, histology, and cytokine measurement.

Results

Aged mice lost more weight, had delayed viral clearance, and increased clinical scores and lung histopathology. Aged mice produced fewer HMPV-tetramer+ cells in lung and BAL. Aged CD8+ T lymphocytes in BAL co-expressed inhibitory receptors PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3, and 2B4. Aged CD8+ T lymphocytes also upregulated senescence markers, T-bet and EOMES. Upon ex vivo peptide stimulation, aged CD8+ T cells produced significantly less granzyme B compared to young CD8+ T cells. Adoptive transfer of young T cells into aged mice rescued this severe disease phenotype. Young CD8+ cells in the aged host produced more tetramer+ cells and granzyme B and had less senescent marker expression.

Conclusion

Aged mice exhibit more severe respiratory disease when infected with HMPV. Aged CD8+ T cells appear to be impaired and upregulate senescence markers that contribute to severe HMPV infection in the aged host.

Supported by: NIH/NIAID 5R01 AI085062-09, John V. Williams, MD  NIH T32GM008208 Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine  

Identification and Characteristics of HLA-restricted HMPV-specific CD8+ T cells

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a leading cause of respiratory tract infection in pediatric, elderly, and immunocompromised populations. All individuals have been exposed to HMPV by the age of 5, but humoral immunity does not fully protect against reinfection of adults. Despite the clinical burden, there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics for HMPV. T cell responses are important for protection and viral clearance. The aim of this study was to better understand the human T cell response to HMPV and guide vaccine development. To accomplish these goals, we sought to identify HLA class I-restricted viral epitopes. In this study, 5 transgenic mouse strains that express human HLA-A*01:03, HLA-A*24:01, HLA-B*35:01, HLA-B*15:02, or HLA-Cw*07:01 were used to map HMPV-specific epitopes and characterize HMPV-specific CD8+ T cells. We used ELISpot screening of overlapping peptides and predictopes to discover several epitopes and generate MHC-I tetramers for each genetic background. We found that human CD8+ T cells of subjects expressing the same HLA types could recognize viral epitopes by ELISpot and tetramer staining. Our results suggest that the transgenic mouse is a useful model to identify HLA-restricted viral-specific epitopes and novel targets for vaccination against HMPV.

Supported by grants from NIH (R01 AI085062)

Mogrol suppresses lung cancer cell growth by activating AMPK-dependent autophagic death and inducing p53-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of lung cancer treatment. Unfortunately, most types of cancer will develop resistance to chemotherapies over the time. One of the efforts to prevent the chemotherapy resistance is to find alternative chemotherapy drugs. Mogrol has been found to have antitumor activity. However, little is known about the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the suppression of mogrol on lung cancers. In this study, we observed that mogrol exposure significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight in tumor-bearing nude mice without obvious effect on body weight and cardiac function. Mogrol also significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells, including non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells, A549, H1299, H1975 and SK-MES-1 cells, with no obvious effect on control human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE). Further studies revealed that mogrol stirred excessive autophagy and autophagic flux, and finally, autophagic cell death, in lung cancer cells, which could be attenuated by autophagy inhibitors, 3-MA and chloroquine. Furthermore, mogrol significantly activated AMPK to induce autophagy and autophagic cell death, which could be abrogated by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In addition, mogrol induced a significant increase in p53 activity in lung cancer cells, accompanied with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which could be weakened by p53 silence. Our results indicated that mogrol effectively suppressed lung cancer cells in vivo and in vitro by inducing the excessive autophagy and autophagic cell death via activating AMPK signaling pathway, as well as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via activating p53 pathway.

Spotlight on histone H2A variants: From B to X to Z

Chromatin, the functional organization of DNA with histone proteins in eukaryotic nuclei, is the tightly-regulated template for several biological processes, such as transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, chromosome stability and sister chromatid segregation. In order to achieve a reversible control of local chromatin structure and DNA accessibility, various interconnected mechanisms have evolved. One of such processes includes the deposition of functionally-diverse variants of histone proteins into nucleosomes, the building blocks of chromatin. Among core histones, the family of H2A histone variants exhibits the largest number of members and highest sequence-divergence. In this short review, we report and discuss recent discoveries concerning the biological functions of the animal histone variants H2A.B, H2A.X and H2A.Z and how dysregulation or mutation of the latter impacts the development of disease.

Protective effects of tanshinone Ⅰ against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice

Objective(s):

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent, but its clinical application has been limited by nephrotoxicity. Tanshinone Ⅰ (T-I), a phenanthrenequinone compound extracted from the Chinese herb Danshen, has been used to improve circulation and treat cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of T-I on CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.

Materials and Methods:

The BALB/c mouse models of nephrotoxicity were established by a single intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg CDDP on the first day of the experiment. Three hours prior to CDDP administration, the mice were dosed with 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg T-I for 3 consecutive days intraperitoneally to explore nephroprotection of T-I.

Results:

Treatment with T-I significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in serum observed in CDDP-administered mice, especially at a dose of 30 mg/kg. T-I at 30 mg/kg significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione levels and the enzymatic activity of catalase in kidney tissue compared to CDDP. Additionally, T-I (30 mg/kg) significantly reversed the CDDP-decreased expression level of superoxide dismutase 2 protein in renal tissue. Histopathological evaluation of the kidneys further confirmed the protective effect of T-I.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study demonstrate that T-I can protect against CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity through suppression of oxidative stress.

Dietary bile acids reduce liver lipid deposition via activating farnesoid X receptor, and improve gut health by regulating gut microbiota in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi)

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) supplementation on lipid metabolism and gut health of Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi), and its possible mechanisms. Two isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to supplement different levels of BAs (0 and 900 mg BAs kg^-1 diet, respectively). All fish (Initial mean body weight: 171.29 ± 0.77g) were randomly divided into 2 groups (triplicate, 54 fish/group) and were fed with different experimental diets for 56 days, respectively. Dietary exogenous BAs supplementation at the concentration of 900 mg kg^-1 significantly increased weight gain and survival rate, and decreased feed conversion ratio. BAs could inhibit lipid synthesis and promote lipid oxidation to reduce lipid deposition by activating farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Dietary BAs supplementation increased the abundance of Lactobacilli in Firmicutes, and the increase of Lactobacillus caused the increase of lactic acid level and the decrease of pH, which might be the reason for the gut villus length and gut wall high in this study. Dietary BAs supplementation increased the levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase and decreased the level of malondialdehyde in the gut and plasma, which might be contributed to the regulating the antioxidant stress phenotype of gut microbiota by the increased abundance of Firmicutes. Then it caused the increase of the globulin level in the plasma, meaning the enhancement of immune state. The increased immunity might also be thought to be responsible for increased survival rate. These results suggest dietary BAs reduce liver lipid deposition via activating FXR, and improve gut health by regulating gut microbiota in Chinese perch.

CRISPR screens uncover protective effect of PSTK as a regulator of chemotherapy-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most common forms of cancer and is associated with poor patient outcomes. The emergence of therapeutic resistance has hampered the efficacy of targeted treatments employed to treat HCC patients to date. In this study, we conducted a series of CRISPR/Cas9 screens to identify genes associated with synthetic lethality capable of improving HCC patient clinical responses.

METHODS

CRISPR-based loss-of-function genetic screens were used to target 18,053 protein-coding genes in HCC cells to identify chemotherapy-related synthetic lethal genes in these cells. Synergistic effects were analyzed through in vitro and in vivo analyses, while related mechanisms were explored through RNA-seq and metabolomics analyses. Potential inhibitors of identified genetic targets were selected through high-throughput virtual screening.

RESULTS

The inhibition of phosphoseryl-tRNA kinase (PSTK) was found to increase HCC cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic treatment. PSTK was associated with the suppression of chemotherapy-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells, and the depletion of PSTK resulted in the inactivation of glutathione peroxidative 4 (GPX4) and the disruption of glutathione (GSH) metabolism owing to the inhibition of selenocysteine and cysteine synthesis, thus enhancing the induction of ferroptosis upon targeted chemotherapeutic treatment. Punicalin, an agent used to treat hepatitis B virus (HBV), was identified as a possible PSTK inhibitor that exhibited synergistic efficacy when applied together with Sorafenib to treat HCC in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight a key role for PSTK as a mediator of resistance to targeted therapeutic treatment in HCC cells that functions by suppressing ferroptotic induction. PSTK inhibitors may thus represent ideal candidates for overcoming drug resistance in HCC.