Acylglycerol kinase promotes tumour growth and metastasis via activating the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signalling pathway in renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Clinically, the median survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was only 6-12 months and a 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. Therefore, an in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms involved in RCC is of great significance for improving the survival of patients with advanced RCC. Acylglycerol kinase (AGK) is a newly discovered lipid kinase that has been reported to be a potent oncogene that may be involved in the regulation of malignant progression in a variety of tumours. However, the expression and biological characteristics of the AGK gene in RCC remain unclear.

METHODS

AGK expression was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in RCC cell lines and paired patient tissues. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the prognostic value of AGK in human RCC tissue samples. Chi-squared test was performed to analyse the correlation between AGK expression and the clinicopathological features. Stable overexpression and knockdown of AGK in RCC cells was constructed with lentivirus. The oncogenic effects of AGK in human RCC progression were investigated using assays of colony formation, anchorage-independent growth, EdU assay, cell cycle analysis, wound-healing, trans-well analysis and xenograft tumour model. GSEA and KEGG analysis were conducted to detect the potential pathway of AGK involved in RCC. These results were further confirmed using the luciferase reporter assays, immunofluorescence and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

AGK expression is significantly elevated in RCC and closely related to the malignant development and poor prognosis in RCC patients. By in vitro and in vivo experiments, AGK was shown to enhance the proliferation of RCC cells by promoting the transition from the G1 phase to the S phase in the cell cycle and to enhance the migration and invasion by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. By activating the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signalling pathway in RCC, AGK can increase nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, which further upregulated TCF/LEF transcription factor activity.

CONCLUSIONS

AGK promotes the progression of RCC via activating the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signalling pathway and might be a potential target for the further research of RCC.

KARRIKIN UPREGULATED F-BOX 1 negatively regulates drought tolerance in Arabidopsis

The karrikin (KAR) receptor and several related signaling components have been identified by forward genetic screening, but only a few studies have reported on upstream and downstream KAR signaling components and their roles in drought tolerance. Here, we characterized the functions of KAR UPREGULATED F-BOX 1 (KUF1) in drought tolerance using a reverse genetics approach in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We observed that kuf1 mutant plants were more tolerant to drought stress than wild-type (WT) plants. To clarify the mechanisms by which KUF1 negatively regulates drought tolerance, we performed physiological, transcriptome, and morphological analyses. We found that kuf1 plants limited leaf water loss by reducing stomatal aperture and cuticular permeability. In addition, kuf1 plants showed increased sensitivity of stomatal closure, seed germination, primary root growth, and leaf senescence to abscisic acid (ABA). Genome-wide transcriptome comparisons of kuf1 and WT rosette leaves before and after dehydration showed that the differences in various drought tolerance-related traits were accompanied by differences in the expression of genes associated with stomatal closure (e.g. OPEN STOMATA 1), lipid and fatty acid metabolism (e.g. WAX ESTER SYNTHASE), and ABA responsiveness (e.g. ABA-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT 3). The kuf1 mutant plants had higher root/shoot ratios and root hair densities than WT plants, suggesting that they could absorb more water than WT plants. Together, these results demonstrate that KUF1 negatively regulates drought tolerance by modulating various physiological traits, morphological adjustments, and ABA responses and that the genetic manipulation of KUF1 in crops is a potential means of enhancing their drought tolerance.

Strigolactones positively regulate Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton via crosstalk with other hormones

Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a serious vascular disease in cotton (Gossypium spp.). V. dahliae induces the expression of the CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 7 (GauCCD7) gene involved in strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis in Gossypium australe, suggesting a role for SLs in Verticillium wilt resistance. We found that the SL analog rac-GR24 enhanced while the SL biosynthesis inhibitor TIS108 decreased cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. Knock-down of GbCCD7 and GbCCD8b genes in island cotton (Gossypium barbadense) decreased resistance, whereas overexpression of GbCCD8b in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) increased resistance to Verticillium wilt. Additionally, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SL mutants defective in CCD7 and CCD8 putative orthologs were susceptible, whereas both Arabidopsis GbCCD7- and GbCCD8b-overexpressing plants were more resistant to Verticillium wilt than wild-type (WT) plants. Transcriptome analyses showed that several genes related to the jasmonic acid (JA)- and abscisic acid (ABA)-signaling pathways, such as MYELOCYTOMATOSIS 2 (GbMYC2) and ABA-INSENSITIVE 5, respectively, were upregulated in the roots of WT cotton plants in responses to rac-GR24 and V. dahliae infection but downregulated in the roots of both GbCCD7- and GbCCD8b-silenced cotton plants. Furthermore, GbMYC2 suppressed the expression of GbCCD7 and GbCCD8b by binding to their promoters, which might regulate the homeostasis of SLs in cotton through a negative feedback loop. We also found that GbCCD7- and GbCCD8b-silenced cotton plants were impaired in V. dahliae-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Taken together, our results suggest that SLs positively regulate cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt through crosstalk with the JA- and ABA-signaling pathways and by inducing ROS accumulation.

Promotion of Mental Health Rehabilitation in China: Community-Based Mental-Health Services

Community-based mental health services are important for the treatment and recovery of patients with mental health disorders. The Chinese government has made the establishment of a highly efficient community-based health service an enduring priority. Since the 1960s, community-based mental health services have been developed in many Chinese cities and provinces. National policies, including mental health regulations and five-year national mental health working plans, have been issued to support the development of quality of mental health services. The accessibility and efficiency of community-based mental health services are now highly promoted to community residents. According to the National Standards for Primary Public Health Services, community-based mental health services are one of the most important components of primary public health services. They are mainly provided via Community Health Service Centres (CHCs), by a combination of general practitioners, public health physicians, nurses and social workers. Patients receive individualized and continuous health services according to their rehabilitation status. These services include regular physical examination, health education, rehabilitation guidance, social function rehabilitation training, vocational training and referral services; family members also receive care and psychological support. Future work will focus on expanding mental health service coverage and usage, increasing awareness of mental health and decreasing stigma, and strengthening service capability to establish an integrated model to enhance the overall efficiency of mental health services.

Needs and views on healthy lifestyles for the prevention of dementia and the potential role for mobile health (mHealth) interventions in China: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Over the coming decades, China is expected to face the largest worldwide increase in dementia incidence. Mobile health (mHealth) may improve the accessibility of dementia prevention strategies, targeting lifestyle-related risk factors. Our aim is to explore the needs and views of Chinese older adults regarding healthy lifestyles to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia through mHealth, supporting the Prevention of Dementia using Mobile Phone Applications (PRODEMOS) study.

DESIGN

Qualitative semi-structured interview study, using thematic analysis.

SETTING

Primary and secondary care in Beijing and Tai'an, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults aged 55 and over without dementia with an increased dementia risk, possessing a smartphone. Participants were recruited through seven hospitals participating in the PRODEMOS study, purposively sampled on age, sex, living area and history of CVD and diabetes.

RESULTS

We performed 26 interviews with participants aged 55-86 years. Three main themes were identified: valuing a healthy lifestyle, sociocultural expectations and need for guidance. First, following a healthy lifestyle was generally deemed important. In addition to generic healthy behaviours, participants regarded certain specific Chinese lifestyle practices as important to prevent disease. Second, the sociocultural context played a crucial role, as an important motive to avoid disease was to limit the care burden put on family members. However, time-consuming family obligations and other social values could also impede healthy behaviours such as regular physical activity. Finally, there seemed to be a need for reliable and personalised lifestyle advice and for guidance from a health professional.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese older adults included in this study highly value a healthy lifestyle. They express a need for personalised lifestyle support in order to adopt healthy behaviours. Potentially, the PRODEMOS mHealth intervention can meet these needs through blended lifestyle support to improve risk factors for dementia and CVD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN15986016; Pre-results.

Genome insights from the identification of a novel Pandoraea sputorum isolate and its characteristics

In this study, we sequenced a bacteria isolate Pandoraea sp. 892iso isolated from a Phytophthora rubi strain which is an important plant pathogenic oomycete, identified through genome and combined the data with existing genomic data from other 28 the genus of Pandoraea species. Next, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis of the genome structure, evolutionary relationships, and pathogenic characteristics of Pandoraea species. Our results identified Pandoraea sp. 892iso as Pandoraea sputorum at both the genome and gene levels. At the genome level, we carried out phylogenetic analysis of single-copy, gene co-linearity, ANI (average nucleotide identity) and AAI (average amino acid identity) indices, rpoB similarity, MLSA phylogenetic analysis, and genome-to-genome distance calculator calculations to identify the relationship between Pandoraea sp. 892iso and P. sputorum. At the gene level, the quorum sensing genes ppnI and ppnR and the OXA-159 gene were assessed. It is speculated that Pandoraea sp. 892iso is the endosymbiont of the Oomycetes strain of Phytophthora rubi.

The olfactory working memory capacity paradigm: A more sensitive and robust method of assessing cognitive function in male 5XFAD mice

The olfactory working memory capacity (OWMC) paradigm is able to detect cognitive deficits in 5XFAD mice (an animal model of Alzheimer's disease [TG]) as early as 3 months of age, while other behavioral paradigms detect cognitive deficits only at 4-5 months of age. Therefore, we aimed to demonstrate that the OWMC paradigm is more sensitive and consistent in the early detection of declines in cognitive function than other commonly used behavioral paradigms. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), retrosplenial cortex (RSC), subiculum (SUB), and amygdala (AMY) of 5XFAD mice were harvested and subjected to immunostaining to detect the expression of β-amyloid (Aβ). Additionally, we compared the performance of 3-month-old male 5XFAD mice on common behavioral paradigms for assessing cognitive function (i.e., the open field [OF] test, novel object recognition [NOR] test, novel object location [NOL] test, Y-maze, and Morris water maze [MWM]) with that on the OWMC task. In the testing phase of the OWMC task, we varied the delay periods to evaluate the working memory capacity (WMC) of wild-type (WT) mice. Significant amyloid plaque deposition was observed in the PFC, RSC, SUB, and AMY of 3-month-old male 5XFAD mice. However, aside from the OWMC task, the other behavioral tests failed to detect cognitive deficits in 5XFAD mice. Additionally, to demonstrate the efficacy of the OWMC task in assessing WMC, we varied the retention delay periods; we found that the WMC of WT mice decreased with longer delay periods. The OWMC task is a sensitive and robust behavioral assay for detecting changes in cognitive function.

Identifying High-Risk Populations for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cluster Analysis

Background

This study aimed to identify subpopulations of Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) with distinct sexual behavioral patterns and explore their correlations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Methods

We recruited 892 eligible MSM in Xi'an, China, collecting sociodemographic, sexual behavior, and STI data. Cluster analysis identified distinct sexual behavioral patterns, allowing us to examine STI differences across clusters.

Results

Among the 892 MSM analyzed, 3 clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 157) exhibited high-risk sexual behavioral patterns, including the highest median number of sexual partners (5 vs 1 in cluster 2 vs 3 in cluster 3, P < .001), lowest consistent condom use for insertive anal sex (0% vs 64.12% vs 99.76%, P = .004) and receptive anal sex (9.22% vs 67.71% vs 98.91%, P = .006), highest uncertainty of partners' STIs (77.07% vs 57.89% vs 64.5%, P < .001), all recent partners being casual, longest length of sequential sexual acts (6 vs 5 vs 5, P = .045), and highest rates of gonorrhea (20.38% vs 10.09% vs 14.99%, P = .019) and chlamydia (16.56% vs 8.33% vs 13.21%, P = .045). Cluster 2 (n = 228) showed the lowest engagement in high-risk behaviors and STIs, characterized by the fewest sexual partners, highest certainty of partner's STIs, and all recent partners being regular. Cluster 3 (n = 507) showed moderate levels of high-risk behaviors and STIs, with the highest consistent condom use during anal sex.

Conclusions

This study identified 3 subpopulations of Chinese MSM with distinct sexual behavioral patterns. Targeted public health interventions to the most at-risk subpopulations of MSM are essential for STI prevention.