CR Dhan 310(CRD310),a biofortified rice variety,contains a significantly higher level of grain protein compared with its recurrent parent Naveen(NV),as well as most adapted high-yielding rice varieties in India.Althou...CR Dhan 310(CRD310),a biofortified rice variety,contains a significantly higher level of grain protein compared with its recurrent parent Naveen(NV),as well as most adapted high-yielding rice varieties in India.Although a limited investigation depicted that CRD310 contained higher levels of glutelin and some essential amino acids,detailed biochemical,molecular,and cellular mechanisms remain to be studied.As one of the means to identify the proteins and understand the underlying mechanism of higher proteins accumulation in grains of CRD310,the comparative proteomics was undertaken on grains of CRD310 and NV at the yellow ripening stage.展开更多
Novel insights into complex biological processes very often critically depend on the establishment of new potent read-out tools and improved protocols.A lot has been learned over the past four decades on physiological...Novel insights into complex biological processes very often critically depend on the establishment of new potent read-out tools and improved protocols.A lot has been learned over the past four decades on physiological functions and,importantly,disease-related roles of the prion protein(PrP),a relatively broadly expressed membrane-anchored glycoprotein with high levels in several cell types of the nervous and immune system and with well-established key roles in different progressive and fatal neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases(proteopathies).展开更多
Neuronal cell death is a common outcome of multiple pathophysiological processes and a key factor in neurological dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Neuronal ferroptosis in particular plays an important role in...Neuronal cell death is a common outcome of multiple pathophysiological processes and a key factor in neurological dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Neuronal ferroptosis in particular plays an important role in early brain injury.Bromodomain-containing protein 4,a member of the bromo and extraterminal domain family of proteins,participated in multiple cell death pathways,but the mechanisms by which it regulates ferroptosis remain unclear.The primary aim of this study was to investigate how bromodomain-containing protein 4 affects neuronal ferroptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage in vivo and in vitro.Our findings revealed that endogenous bromodomain-containing protein 4 co-localized with neurons,and its expression was decreased 48 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage of the cerebral cortex in vivo.In addition,ferroptosis-related pathways were activated in vivo and in vitro after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 in neurons increased lipid peroxidation and intracellular ferrous iron accumulation via ferritinophagy and ultimately led to neuronal ferroptosis.Using cleavage under targets and tagmentation analysis,we found that bromodomain-containing protein 4 enrichment in the Raf-1 promoter region decreased following oxyhemoglobin stimulation in vitro.Furthermore,treating bromodomain-containing protein 4-knockdown HT-22 cell lines with GW5074,a Raf-1 inhibitor,exacerbated neuronal ferroptosis by suppressing the Raf-1/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.Moreover,targeted inhibition of neuronal bromodomain-containing protein 4 exacerbated early and long-term neurological function deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Our findings suggest that bromodomain-containing protein 4 may have neuroprotective effects after subarachnoid hemorrhage,and that inhibiting ferroptosis could help treat subarachnoid hemorrhage.展开更多
Dysregulated inflammation and multi-organ failure are hallmarks of sepsis,a potentially fatal illness for which there are currently no effective treatments.Fatty acid-binding protein(A-FABP)has been identified in rece...Dysregulated inflammation and multi-organ failure are hallmarks of sepsis,a potentially fatal illness for which there are currently no effective treatments.Fatty acid-binding protein(A-FABP)has been identified in recent research as a crucial mediator of the inflammatory pathways underlying sepsis.In this study,we used a murine model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced endotoxemia to assess the therapeutic potential of 6H2,a monoclonal antibody that targets A-FABP.In comparison to untreated septic mice,6H2 treatment significantly increased survival rates,decreased histopathological damage in the liver,lungs,kidneys,and heart,and reduced systemic inflammation.According to biochemical analyses,6H2 treatment decreased circulating levels of A-FABP,and this was associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers.These results indicate that A-FABP inhibition is a potentially effective treatment approach for sepsis,with 6H2 demonstrating strong therapeutic efficacy.展开更多
Spinal cord injury is a severe neurological condition with limited neuronal regeneration and functional recovery.Currently,no effective treatments exist to improve spinal cord injury prognosis.Neuronal guidance protei...Spinal cord injury is a severe neurological condition with limited neuronal regeneration and functional recovery.Currently,no effective treatments exist to improve spinal cord injury prognosis.Neuronal guidance proteins are a diverse group of molecules that play crucial roles in axon and dendrite growth during nervous system development.Increasing evidence highlights their regulatory functions in spinal cord injury.This review provides a brief overview of the modulation patterns of key neuronal guidance proteins in neuronal axon growth during nervous system formation and subsequently focuses on their roles in neuronal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury.Neuronal guidance proteins include,but are not limited to,semaphorins and their receptors,plexins;netrins and their receptors,deleted in colorectal cancer and UNC5;Eph receptors and their ligands,ephrins;Slit and its receptor,Robo;repulsive guidance molecules and their receptor,neogenin;Wnt proteins and their receptor,Frizzled;and protocadherins.Localized Netrin-1 at the injury site inhibits motor axon regeneration after adult spinal cord injury while promoting oligodendrocyte growth.Slit2 enhances synapse formation in the injured spinal cord of rats.EphA7 regulates acute apoptosis in the early pathophysiological stages of spinal cord injury,while ephrinA1 plays a role in the nervous system’s injury response,with its reduced expression leading to impaired motor function in rats.EphA3 is upregulated following spinal cord injury,promoting an inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration.After spinal cord injury,bidirectional activation of ephrinB2 and EphB2 in astrocytes and fibroblasts results in the formation of a dense astrocyte-meningeal fibroblast scar.EphB1/ephrinB1 signaling mediates pain processing in spinal cord injury by regulating calpain-1 and caspase-3 in neurons.EphB3 expression increases in white matter after spinal cord injury,further inhibiting axon regeneration.Sema3A,expressed by neurons and fibroblasts in the scar surrounding the injury,inhibits motor neuron and sensory nerve growth after spinal cord injury.Sema4D suppresses neuronal axon myelination and axon regeneration,while its inhibition significantly enhances axon regeneration and motor recovery.Sema7A is involved in glial scar formation and may influence serotonin channel remodeling,thereby affecting motor coordination.Given these findings,the local or systemic application of neuronal guidance proteins represents a promising avenue for spinal cord injury treatment.展开更多
α-Synuclein accumulation and transmission are vital to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease,although the mechanisms underlying misfoldedα-synuclein accumulation and propagation have not been conclusively dete...α-Synuclein accumulation and transmission are vital to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease,although the mechanisms underlying misfoldedα-synuclein accumulation and propagation have not been conclusively determined.The expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1,which is abundantly expressed in neurons and considered to be a multifunctional endocytic receptor,is elevated in the neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease.However,whether there is a direct link between low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 andα-synuclein aggregation and propagation in Parkinson's disease remains unclear.Here,we established animal models of Parkinson's disease by inoculating monkeys and mice withα-synuclein pre-formed fibrils and observed elevated low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 levels in the striatum and substantia nigra,accompanied by dopaminergic neuron loss and increasedα-synuclein levels.However,low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 knockdown efficiently rescued dopaminergic neurodegeneration and inhibited the increase inα-synuclein levels in the nigrostriatal system.In HEK293A cells overexpressingα-synuclein fragments,low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 levels were upregulated only when the N-terminus ofα-synuclein was present,whereas anα-synuclein fragment lacking the N-terminus did not lead to low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 upregulation.Furthermore,the N-terminus ofα-synuclein was found to be rich in lysine residues,and blocking lysine residues in PC12 cells treated withα-synuclein pre-formed fibrils effectively reduced the elevated low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 andα-synuclein levels.These findings indicate that low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 regulates pathological transmission ofα-synuclein from the striatum to the substantia nigra in the nigrostriatal system via lysine residues in theα-synuclein N-terminus.展开更多
Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immun...Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immune tolerance of cancer cells.The classical theory holds that prostate apoptosis response-4(PAR-4)is a tumor suppressor protein.However,our recent research has found that PAR-4 has a biological function of promoting cancer in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and our analysis shows that PAR-4 can be modified of lactic acid.These research evidences suggest that PAR-4 lactylation modification may drive immune tolerance in HCC.Therefore,inhibiting PAR-4 lactylation modification is very likely to increase the sensitivity of HCC to immunotherapy.展开更多
Ma et al recently reported in the World Journal of Diabetes that ferroptosis occurs in osteoblasts under high glucose conditions,reflecting diabetes pathology.This condition could be protected by the upregulation of t...Ma et al recently reported in the World Journal of Diabetes that ferroptosis occurs in osteoblasts under high glucose conditions,reflecting diabetes pathology.This condition could be protected by the upregulation of the gene encoding polycytosine RNA-binding protein 1(PCBP1).Additionally,Ma et al used a lentivirus infection system to express PCBP1.As the authors’method of administration can be improved in terms of stability and cost,we propose delivering PCBP1 to treat type 2 diabetic osteoporosis by encapsulating it in protein nanoparticles.First,PCBP1 is small and druggable.Second,intravenous injection can help deliver PCBP1 across the mucosa while avoiding acid and enzyme-catalyzed degradation.Furthermore,incorporating PCBP1 into nanoparticles prevents its interaction with water or oxygen and protects PCBP1’s structure and activity.Notably,the safety of the protein materials and the industrialization techniques for large-scale production of protein nanoparticles must be comprehensively investigated before clinical application.展开更多
The E3 ubiquitin ligase,carboxyl terminus of heat shock protein 70(Hsp70)interacting protein(CHIP),also functions as a co-chaperone and plays a crucial role in the protein quality control system.In this study,we aimed...The E3 ubiquitin ligase,carboxyl terminus of heat shock protein 70(Hsp70)interacting protein(CHIP),also functions as a co-chaperone and plays a crucial role in the protein quality control system.In this study,we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of overexpressed CHIP on Alzheimer’s disease.We used an adeno-associated virus vector that can cross the blood-brain barrier to mediate CHIP overexpression in APP/PS1 mouse brain.CHIP overexpression significantly ameliorated the performance of APP/PS1 mice in the Morris water maze and nest building tests,reduced amyloid-βplaques,and decreased the expression of both amyloid-βand phosphorylated tau.CHIP also alleviated the concentration of microglia and astrocytes around plaques.In APP/PS1 mice of a younger age,CHIP overexpression promoted an increase in ADAM10 expression and inhibitedβ-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,insulin degrading enzyme,and neprilysin expression.Levels of HSP70 and HSP40,which have functional relevance to CHIP,were also increased.Single nuclei transcriptome sequencing in the hippocampus of CHIP overexpressed mice showed that the lysosomal pathway and oligodendrocyte-related biological processes were up-regulated,which may also reflect a potential mechanism for the neuroprotective effect of CHIP.Our research shows that CHIP effectively reduces the behavior and pathological manifestations of APP/PS1 mice.Indeed,overexpression of CHIP could be a beneficial approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restric...Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restrict maize plant growth and development,leading to great yield losses.Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases(LRR-RLKs)function in biotic and abiotic stress responses in the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana),but their roles in abiotic stress responses in maize are not entirely understood.In this study,we determine that the LRR-RLK ZmMIK2,a homolog of the Arabidopsis LRR-RK MALE DISCOVERER 1(MDIS1)-INTERACTING RECEPTOR LIKE KINASE 2(MIK2),functions in resistance to both drought and salt stress in maize.Zmmik2 plants exhibit enhanced resistance to both stresses,whereas overexpressing ZmMIK2 confers the opposite phenotypes.Furthermore,we identify C2-DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 1(ZmC2DP1),which interacts with the intracellular region of ZmMIK2.Notably,that region of ZmMIK2 mediates the phosphorylation of ZmC2DP1,likely by increasing its stability.Both ZmMIK2 and ZmC2DP1 are mainly expressed in roots.As with ZmMIK2,knockout of ZmC2DP1 enhances resistance to both drought and salt stress.We conclude that ZmMIK2-ZmC2DP1 acts as a negative regulatory module in maize drought-and salt-stress responses.展开更多
Hippocampal neuronal loss causes cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is reduced in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Exercise stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rode...Hippocampal neuronal loss causes cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is reduced in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Exercise stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents and improves memory and slows cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,the molecular pathways for exercise-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and improved cognition in Alzheimer’s disease are poorly understood.Recently,regulator of G protein signaling 6(RGS6)was identified as the mediator of voluntary running-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.Here,we generated novel RGS6fl/fl;APP_(SWE) mice and used retroviral approaches to examine the impact of RGS6 deletion from dentate gyrus neuronal progenitor cells on voluntary running-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in an amyloid-based Alzheimer’s disease mouse model.We found that voluntary running in APP_(SWE) mice restored their hippocampal cognitive impairments to that of control mice.This cognitive rescue was abolished by RGS6 deletion in dentate gyrus neuronal progenitor cells,which also abolished running-mediated increases in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was reduced in sedentary APP_(SWE) mice versus control mice,with basal adult hippocampal neurogenesis reduced by RGS6 deletion in dentate gyrus neural precursor cells.RGS6 was expressed in neurons within the dentate gyrus of patients with Alzheimer’s disease with significant loss of these RGS6-expressing neurons.Thus,RGS6 mediated voluntary running-induced rescue of impaired cognition and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in APP_(SWE) mice,identifying RGS6 in dentate gyrus neural precursor cells as a possible therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most prevalent and aggressive forms of liver cancer,with high morbidity and poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options.Despite advances in ...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most prevalent and aggressive forms of liver cancer,with high morbidity and poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options.Despite advances in understanding its molecular mechanisms,effective biomarkers for early detection and targeted therapy remain scarce.Zinc finger protein 71(ZNF71),a zinc-finger protein,has been implicated in various cancers,yet its role in HCC remains largely unexplored.This gap in knowledge underscores the need for further investigation into the ZNF71 of potential as a diagnostic or therapeutic target in HCC.AIM To explore the expression levels,clinical relevance,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF71 in the progression of HCC.METHODS The study evaluated ZNF71 expression in 235 HCC specimens and 13 noncancerous liver tissue samples using immunohistochemistry.High-throughput datasets were employed to assess the differential expression of ZNF71 in HCC and its association with clinical and pathological features.The impact of ZNF71 on HCC cell line growth was examined through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat knockout screens.Co-expressed genes were identified and analyzed for enrichment using LinkedOmics and Sangerbox 3.0,focusing on significant correlations(P<0.01,correlation coefficient≥0.3).Furthermore,the relationship between ZNF71 expression and immune cell infiltration was quantified using TIMER2.0.RESULTS ZNF71 showed higher expression in HCC tissues vs non-tumorous tissues,with a significant statistical difference(P<0.05).Data from the UALCAN platform indicated increased ZNF71 levels across early to mid-stage HCC,correlating with disease severity(P<0.05).High-throughput analysis presented a standardized mean difference in ZNF71 expression of 0.55(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.34-0.75).The efficiency of ZNF71 mRNA was evaluated,yielding an area under the curve of 0.78(95%CI:0.75-0.82),a sensitivity of 0.63(95%CI:0.53-0.72),and a specificity of 0.82(95%CI:0.73-0.89).Diagnostic likelihood ratios were positive at 3.61(95%CI:2.41-5.41)and negative at 0.45(95%CI:0.36-0.56).LinkedOmics analysis identified strong positive correlations of ZNF71 with genes such as ZNF470,ZNF256,and ZNF285.Pathway enrichment analyses highlighted associations with herpes simplex virus type 1 infection,the cell cycle,and DNA replication.Negative correlations involved metabolic pathways,peroxisomes,and fatty acid degradation.TIMER2.0 analysis demonstrated positive correlations of high ZNF71 expression with various immune cell types,including CD4^(+)T cells,B cells,regulatory T cells,monocytes,macrophages,and myeloid dendritic cells.CONCLUSION ZNF71 is significantly upregulated in HCC,correlating with the disease’s clinical and pathological stages.It appears to promote HCC progression through mechanisms involving the cell cycle and metabolism and is associated with immune cell infiltration.These findings suggest that ZNF71 could be a novel target for diagnosing and treating HCC.展开更多
Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in s...Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in stabilizing proteins under freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.Materials and methods:Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase(G6PD)was used as the model protein.G6PD solutions with or without sugar alcohols and or sugars were subjected to freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.The recovery of G6PD activity was measured to evaluate the protective efficacy of these compounds.Results:Without stabilizers,freezing G6PD at-20℃ or-80℃ reduced enzyme activity by around 24%,while freeze-drying or air-drying reduced activity by 90%-95%.Among the five sugar alcohols tested,pinitol,quebrachitol and sorbitol stabilized G6PD,whereas mannitol and myo-inositol destabilized it.Among 14 soluble sugars,trehalose and raffinose showed slightly lower enzyme recovery after repeated freeze-thaw cycles at-20℃.Most soluble sugars(except arabinose and xylose)protected G6PD during freeze-drying,with di-,tri-,and oligosaccharides generally outperforming monosaccharides.During air-drying,lactose was ineffective,while arabinose,galactose,and xylose were detrimental.Conclusion:The study highlights the diverse mechanisms of sugar alcohols and sugars in protein stabilization under stress,offering insights for formulating stable protein-and cell-based drugs.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the most common malignancy of the digestive system and surgical resection is the primary treatment.Advances in surgical technology have reduced the risk of complications after radical gast...BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the most common malignancy of the digestive system and surgical resection is the primary treatment.Advances in surgical technology have reduced the risk of complications after radical gastrectomy;however,post-surgical pancreatic fistula remain a serious issue.These fistulas can lead to abdominal infections,anastomotic leakage,increased costs,and pain;thus,early diagnosis and prevention are crucial for a better prognosis.Currently,C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),and total bilirubin(TBil)levels are used to predict post-operative infections and anastomotic leakage.However,their predictive value for pancreatic fistula after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer remains unclear.The present study was conducted to determine their predictive value.AIM To determine the predictive value of CRP,PCT,and TBil levels for pancreatic fistula after gastric cancer surgery.METHODS In total,158 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at our hospital between January 2019 and January 2023 were included.The patients were assigned to a pancreatic fistula group or a non-pancreatic fistula group.Multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to assess the factors influencing development of a fistula.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to determine the predictive value of serum CRP,PCT,and TBil levels on day 1 postsurgery.RESULTS On day 1 post-surgery,the CRP,PCT,and TBil levels were significantly higher in the pancreatic fistula group than in the non-pancreatic fistula group(P<0.05).A higher fistula grade was associated with higher levels of the indices.Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in the presence of diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pancreatic injury,splenectomy,and the biomarker levels(P<0.05).Logistic multivariate analysis identified diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pancreatic injury,CRP level,and PCT level as independent risk factors.ROC curves yielded predictive values for CRP,PCT,and TBil levels,with the PCT level having the highest area under the curve(AUC)of 0.80[95%confidence interval(CI):0.72-0.90].Combined indicators improved the predictive value,with an AUC of 0.86(95%CI:0.78-0.93).CONCLUSION Elevated CRP,PCT,and TBil levels predict risk of pancreatic fistula post-gastrectomy for gastric cancer.展开更多
Background:The outcomes of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)remain far less than favorable.While apigenin is an anti-cancer agent,studies on the mechanism by which it regulates ALL cell cycle p...Background:The outcomes of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)remain far less than favorable.While apigenin is an anti-cancer agent,studies on the mechanism by which it regulates ALL cell cycle progression are inadequate.Ferroptosis and AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)signaling are important processes for ALL patients.However,it remains unclear whether apigenin works by affecting AMPK and apoptosis.Materials and Methods:SUP-B15 and T-cell Jurkat ALL cells were treated with apigenin,and cell viability and apoptosis were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assays,respectively.The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS)assay was used to evaluate lipid peroxidation.Intracellular Fe2+levels were measured using a commercial kit.Corresponding proteins were detected by western blotting.Results:Results showed that apigenin reduced cell viability and the levels of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)expression in a concentration-dependent manner in both types of ALL cells.Apigenin also exerted anti-apoptotic effects on SUP-B15 and Jurkat cells.Apigenin activated AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)signaling and induced ferroptosis,and those effects were attenuated by inhibition of AMPK.Eventually,the reduced cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis caused by apigenin in ALL cells were partly abolished by AMPK inhibition.Conclusion:In summary,apigenin exerted anti-leukemia activity in ALL cells,and that effect was partially achieved by activation of AMPK signaling.Our findings suggest apigenin as a potential drug for treatment of ALL.展开更多
BACKGROUND Rotavirus(RV),a primary cause of diarrhea-related mortality in 2021,has been shown to damage intestinal epithelial cells while upregulating intestinal stem cells(ISCs)activities.ISCs within the crypt niche ...BACKGROUND Rotavirus(RV),a primary cause of diarrhea-related mortality in 2021,has been shown to damage intestinal epithelial cells while upregulating intestinal stem cells(ISCs)activities.ISCs within the crypt niche drive the continuous self-renewal of intestinal epithelium,preserving its barrier functions.Paneth cells secrete antimicrobial peptide and signaling molecules within the intestine crypt,thereby playing a crucial role in intestinal immune defense and providing ISCs functional support.However,the regulatory function of Paneth cells under pathological conditions,such as RV infection,remains unclear.AIM To determine the impact of RV infection on Paneth cells and how Paneth cells regulate ISCs during intestinal injury repair.METHODS We constructed a reference genome for the RV enteric cytopathogenic human orphan virus strain and reanalyzed published single-cell RNA sequencing data to investigate Paneth cell responses to RV-induced intestinal injury.We derived Paneth-ISC communication networks using CellChat,tracked ISC differentiation with pseudotime analysis,and validated our findings in leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-enhanced green fluorescent protein-internal ribosomal entry site-Cre recombinase estrogen receptor variant 2 mice and organoids via immunofluorescence,flow cytometry,and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS We found that RV directly infects Paneth cells,leading to a reduction in mature Paneth cells and an increase in kallikrein 1-high immature Paneth cells.Paneth-ISC communication was significantly enhanced.In particular,the bone morphogenic protein 7(BMP7)-activin A receptor type 2B/BMP receptor type 1A-Smad pathway was upregulated post-infection,suggesting that Paneth cells suppress excessive ISC proliferation.Functional validation confirmed activation of this pathway.CONCLUSION Paneth cells regulate ISC proliferation during RV infection by activating BMP7 signaling,limiting excessive stem cell expansion and preserving crypt homeostasis for effective epithelial repair.展开更多
Arsenic-related oxidative stress and resultant diseases have attracted global concern,while longitudinal studies are scarce.To assess the relationship between arsenic exposure and systemic oxidative damage,we performe...Arsenic-related oxidative stress and resultant diseases have attracted global concern,while longitudinal studies are scarce.To assess the relationship between arsenic exposure and systemic oxidative damage,we performed two repeatedmeasures among 5236 observations(4067 participants)in theWuhan-Zhuhai cohort at the baseline and follow-up after 3 years.Urinary total arsenic,biomarkers of DNA oxidative damage(8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG)),lipid peroxidation(8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha(8-isoPGF2α)),and protein oxidative damage(protein carbonyls(PCO))were detected for all observations.Here we used linearmixed models to estimate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between arsenic exposure and oxidative damage.Exposure-response curves were constructed by utilizing the generalized additive mixed models with thin plate regressions.After adjusting for potential confounders,arsenic level was significantly and positively related to the levels of global oxidative damage and their annual increased rates in dose-response manners.In cross-sectional analyses,each 1%increase in arsenic levelwas associated with a 0.406%(95%confidence interval(CI):0.379%to 0.433%),0.360%(0.301%to 0.420%),and 0.079%(0.055%to 0.103%)increase in 8-isoPGF2α,8-OHdG,and PCO,respectively.More importantly,arsenic was further found to be associated with increased annual change rates of 8-isoPGF2α(β:0.147;95%CI:0.130 to 0.164),8-OHdG(0.155;0.118 to 0.192),and PCO(0.050;0.035 to 0.064)in the longitudinal analyses.Our study suggested that arsenic exposurewas not only positively related with global oxidative damage to lipid,DNA,and protein in cross-sectional analyses,but also associated with annual increased rates of these biomarkers in dose-dependent manners.展开更多
Objective:Cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs)play a crucial role in the therapeutic approach to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent research has indicated that junctional adhesion molecule-like protein(JAML)enhances the an...Objective:Cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs)play a crucial role in the therapeutic approach to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent research has indicated that junctional adhesion molecule-like protein(JAML)enhances the antitumor activity of CD8+T cells.Our study investigates the role of JAML+CD8+T cells in HCC.Methods:We utilized time-of-flight mass cytometry and an orthotopic mouse model of HCC to examine histone modifications in tumor-infiltrating immune cells undergoing immunotherapy.Flow cytometry was used to assess CD4+T cells differentiation and JAML expression in CD8+T cells infiltrating HCC.Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between lactate dehydrogenase A+(LDHA+)CD4+T cells and JAML+CD8+T cells.Subsequently,we evaluated the therapeutic effects of an agonistic anti-JAML antibody,both alone and combined with immunotherapy.Finally,RNA sequencing was conducted to identify potential regulatory mechanisms.Results:Immunotherapy significantly increased the percentage of CD8+T cells infiltrating HCC and induced histone modifications,such as H3K18 lactylation(H3K18la)in CD4+T cells.Flow cytometry analysis revealed that lactate promotes the differentiation of CD4+T cells into Th1 cells.LDHA,an enzyme that converts pyruvate to lactate,plays a key role in this process.Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between LDHA+CD4+T cells and JAML+CD8+T cells in patients who responded to immunotherapy.Moreover,high JAML expression in CD8+T cells was associated with a more favorable prognosis.In vivo experiments demonstrated that agonistic anti-JAML antibody therapy reduced tumor volume and significantly prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice,independent of the effects of anti-programmed cell death protein ligand-1 antibody(αPD-L1)-mediated immunotherapy.Pathway enrichment analysis further revealed that JAML enhances CTL responses through the oxidative phosphorylation pathway.Conclusions:Activation of JAML enhances CTL responses in HCC treatment,independent ofαPD-L1-mediated immunotherapy,providing a promising strategy for advanced HCC.展开更多
Lactylation is one of the post-translational modifications of proteins,a process in which lactyl residues bind to the lysine residues of proteins.This modification can alter the structure,stability,and function of pro...Lactylation is one of the post-translational modifications of proteins,a process in which lactyl residues bind to the lysine residues of proteins.This modification can alter the structure,stability,and function of proteins,which in turn regulates cellular metabolism,aging,and the onset of disease.This review classifies proteins with lactylation effects into histones and non-histone proteins and analyzes their functional roles when lactylation occurs.The in-depth exploration of lactylation is still in its infancy,and many aspects of its regulation,functional significance and therapeutic potential need to be further explored.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted alkaline extraction(UAE)(at 20 kHz and different powers of 0,200,300,400,500 and 600 W for 10 min)on the yield,structure and emulsifying properties of ...This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted alkaline extraction(UAE)(at 20 kHz and different powers of 0,200,300,400,500 and 600 W for 10 min)on the yield,structure and emulsifying properties of chickpea protein isolate(CPI).Compared with the non-ultrasound group,ultrasound treatment at 400 W resulted in the largest increase in CPI yield,and both the particle size and turbidity decreased with increasing ultrasound power from 0 to 400 W.The scanning electron microscope results showed a uniform structural distribution of CPI.Moreover,itsα-helix content increased,β-sheet content decreased,and total sulfhydryl group content and endogenous fluorescence intensity rose,illustrating that UAE changed the secondary and tertiary structure of CPI.At 400 W,the solubility of the emulsion increased to 63.18%,and the best emulsifying properties were obtained;the emulsifying activity index(EAI)and emulsifying stability index(ESI)increased by 85.42%and 46.78%,respectively.Furthermore,the emulsion droplets formed were smaller and more uniform.In conclusion,proper UAE power conditions increased the extraction yield and protein content of CPI,and effectively improved its structure and emulsifying characteristics.展开更多
基金supported by the director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research and International Rice Research Institute(ICAR-CRRI),Cuttack,India and the coordinator of the ICAR-sponsored project‘C-reactive protein(CRP)in Biofortification in Selected Crops’,India.
文摘CR Dhan 310(CRD310),a biofortified rice variety,contains a significantly higher level of grain protein compared with its recurrent parent Naveen(NV),as well as most adapted high-yielding rice varieties in India.Although a limited investigation depicted that CRD310 contained higher levels of glutelin and some essential amino acids,detailed biochemical,molecular,and cellular mechanisms remain to be studied.As one of the means to identify the proteins and understand the underlying mechanism of higher proteins accumulation in grains of CRD310,the comparative proteomics was undertaken on grains of CRD310 and NV at the yellow ripening stage.
基金supported by the CJD Foundation,USA,the Alzheimer Forschung Initiative(AFI)e.V.,Germany,and Werner-Otto-Stiftung,Germany(all to HCA),ChinaScholarship Council(grant#202108080249 to FS)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG)CRC877“Proteolysis as a regulatory event in pathophysiology”(project A12 to MG),Slovene Research and InnovationAgency(grant number P4-0176 to VCS).
文摘Novel insights into complex biological processes very often critically depend on the establishment of new potent read-out tools and improved protocols.A lot has been learned over the past four decades on physiological functions and,importantly,disease-related roles of the prion protein(PrP),a relatively broadly expressed membrane-anchored glycoprotein with high levels in several cell types of the nervous and immune system and with well-established key roles in different progressive and fatal neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases(proteopathies).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82371310(to YJ),82271306(to JP)the Sichuan Science and Technology Support Program,Nos.2023YFH0069(to JP),2023NSFSC0028(to YJ),2023NSFSC1559(to YJ),2022YFS0615(to JP),2022NSFSC1421(to JP)+1 种基金Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission,No.23LCYJ040(to YJ)Youth Foundation of Southwestern Medical University and Southwest Medical University Project,Nos.2020ZRQNA038(to JP),2021ZKZD013(to JP),2021LZXNYD-P01(to YJ),2023QN014(to JP).
文摘Neuronal cell death is a common outcome of multiple pathophysiological processes and a key factor in neurological dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Neuronal ferroptosis in particular plays an important role in early brain injury.Bromodomain-containing protein 4,a member of the bromo and extraterminal domain family of proteins,participated in multiple cell death pathways,but the mechanisms by which it regulates ferroptosis remain unclear.The primary aim of this study was to investigate how bromodomain-containing protein 4 affects neuronal ferroptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage in vivo and in vitro.Our findings revealed that endogenous bromodomain-containing protein 4 co-localized with neurons,and its expression was decreased 48 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage of the cerebral cortex in vivo.In addition,ferroptosis-related pathways were activated in vivo and in vitro after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 in neurons increased lipid peroxidation and intracellular ferrous iron accumulation via ferritinophagy and ultimately led to neuronal ferroptosis.Using cleavage under targets and tagmentation analysis,we found that bromodomain-containing protein 4 enrichment in the Raf-1 promoter region decreased following oxyhemoglobin stimulation in vitro.Furthermore,treating bromodomain-containing protein 4-knockdown HT-22 cell lines with GW5074,a Raf-1 inhibitor,exacerbated neuronal ferroptosis by suppressing the Raf-1/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.Moreover,targeted inhibition of neuronal bromodomain-containing protein 4 exacerbated early and long-term neurological function deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Our findings suggest that bromodomain-containing protein 4 may have neuroprotective effects after subarachnoid hemorrhage,and that inhibiting ferroptosis could help treat subarachnoid hemorrhage.
文摘Dysregulated inflammation and multi-organ failure are hallmarks of sepsis,a potentially fatal illness for which there are currently no effective treatments.Fatty acid-binding protein(A-FABP)has been identified in recent research as a crucial mediator of the inflammatory pathways underlying sepsis.In this study,we used a murine model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced endotoxemia to assess the therapeutic potential of 6H2,a monoclonal antibody that targets A-FABP.In comparison to untreated septic mice,6H2 treatment significantly increased survival rates,decreased histopathological damage in the liver,lungs,kidneys,and heart,and reduced systemic inflammation.According to biochemical analyses,6H2 treatment decreased circulating levels of A-FABP,and this was associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers.These results indicate that A-FABP inhibition is a potentially effective treatment approach for sepsis,with 6H2 demonstrating strong therapeutic efficacy.
基金supported by Shenzhen University General Hospital Scientific Research Project,No.SUGH2019QD002Shenzhen Science and Technology Development Foundation,No.20220810173216001(both to ZS).
文摘Spinal cord injury is a severe neurological condition with limited neuronal regeneration and functional recovery.Currently,no effective treatments exist to improve spinal cord injury prognosis.Neuronal guidance proteins are a diverse group of molecules that play crucial roles in axon and dendrite growth during nervous system development.Increasing evidence highlights their regulatory functions in spinal cord injury.This review provides a brief overview of the modulation patterns of key neuronal guidance proteins in neuronal axon growth during nervous system formation and subsequently focuses on their roles in neuronal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury.Neuronal guidance proteins include,but are not limited to,semaphorins and their receptors,plexins;netrins and their receptors,deleted in colorectal cancer and UNC5;Eph receptors and their ligands,ephrins;Slit and its receptor,Robo;repulsive guidance molecules and their receptor,neogenin;Wnt proteins and their receptor,Frizzled;and protocadherins.Localized Netrin-1 at the injury site inhibits motor axon regeneration after adult spinal cord injury while promoting oligodendrocyte growth.Slit2 enhances synapse formation in the injured spinal cord of rats.EphA7 regulates acute apoptosis in the early pathophysiological stages of spinal cord injury,while ephrinA1 plays a role in the nervous system’s injury response,with its reduced expression leading to impaired motor function in rats.EphA3 is upregulated following spinal cord injury,promoting an inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration.After spinal cord injury,bidirectional activation of ephrinB2 and EphB2 in astrocytes and fibroblasts results in the formation of a dense astrocyte-meningeal fibroblast scar.EphB1/ephrinB1 signaling mediates pain processing in spinal cord injury by regulating calpain-1 and caspase-3 in neurons.EphB3 expression increases in white matter after spinal cord injury,further inhibiting axon regeneration.Sema3A,expressed by neurons and fibroblasts in the scar surrounding the injury,inhibits motor neuron and sensory nerve growth after spinal cord injury.Sema4D suppresses neuronal axon myelination and axon regeneration,while its inhibition significantly enhances axon regeneration and motor recovery.Sema7A is involved in glial scar formation and may influence serotonin channel remodeling,thereby affecting motor coordination.Given these findings,the local or systemic application of neuronal guidance proteins represents a promising avenue for spinal cord injury treatment.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Automomous Region,Nos.2019GXNSFDA245015(to MC),2022GXNSFBA035654(to HL)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82360241(to MC),82304876(to HL)+1 种基金Scientific Research and Technology Development Project of Guilin City,Nos.20220139-3(to MC),20210218-5(to HL)Guangxi Medical and Health Key Discipline Construction Project(to QL)。
文摘α-Synuclein accumulation and transmission are vital to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease,although the mechanisms underlying misfoldedα-synuclein accumulation and propagation have not been conclusively determined.The expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1,which is abundantly expressed in neurons and considered to be a multifunctional endocytic receptor,is elevated in the neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease.However,whether there is a direct link between low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 andα-synuclein aggregation and propagation in Parkinson's disease remains unclear.Here,we established animal models of Parkinson's disease by inoculating monkeys and mice withα-synuclein pre-formed fibrils and observed elevated low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 levels in the striatum and substantia nigra,accompanied by dopaminergic neuron loss and increasedα-synuclein levels.However,low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 knockdown efficiently rescued dopaminergic neurodegeneration and inhibited the increase inα-synuclein levels in the nigrostriatal system.In HEK293A cells overexpressingα-synuclein fragments,low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 levels were upregulated only when the N-terminus ofα-synuclein was present,whereas anα-synuclein fragment lacking the N-terminus did not lead to low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 upregulation.Furthermore,the N-terminus ofα-synuclein was found to be rich in lysine residues,and blocking lysine residues in PC12 cells treated withα-synuclein pre-formed fibrils effectively reduced the elevated low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 andα-synuclein levels.These findings indicate that low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 regulates pathological transmission ofα-synuclein from the striatum to the substantia nigra in the nigrostriatal system via lysine residues in theα-synuclein N-terminus.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82573045,82460602,82560459)the Hainan Provincial Graduate Student Innovative Research Project(No.Qhys2024-440).
文摘Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immune tolerance of cancer cells.The classical theory holds that prostate apoptosis response-4(PAR-4)is a tumor suppressor protein.However,our recent research has found that PAR-4 has a biological function of promoting cancer in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and our analysis shows that PAR-4 can be modified of lactic acid.These research evidences suggest that PAR-4 lactylation modification may drive immune tolerance in HCC.Therefore,inhibiting PAR-4 lactylation modification is very likely to increase the sensitivity of HCC to immunotherapy.
文摘Ma et al recently reported in the World Journal of Diabetes that ferroptosis occurs in osteoblasts under high glucose conditions,reflecting diabetes pathology.This condition could be protected by the upregulation of the gene encoding polycytosine RNA-binding protein 1(PCBP1).Additionally,Ma et al used a lentivirus infection system to express PCBP1.As the authors’method of administration can be improved in terms of stability and cost,we propose delivering PCBP1 to treat type 2 diabetic osteoporosis by encapsulating it in protein nanoparticles.First,PCBP1 is small and druggable.Second,intravenous injection can help deliver PCBP1 across the mucosa while avoiding acid and enzyme-catalyzed degradation.Furthermore,incorporating PCBP1 into nanoparticles prevents its interaction with water or oxygen and protects PCBP1’s structure and activity.Notably,the safety of the protein materials and the industrialization techniques for large-scale production of protein nanoparticles must be comprehensively investigated before clinical application.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.91849115 and U1904207(to YX),81974211 and 82171247(to CS)Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,No.2020-PT310-01(to YX).
文摘The E3 ubiquitin ligase,carboxyl terminus of heat shock protein 70(Hsp70)interacting protein(CHIP),also functions as a co-chaperone and plays a crucial role in the protein quality control system.In this study,we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of overexpressed CHIP on Alzheimer’s disease.We used an adeno-associated virus vector that can cross the blood-brain barrier to mediate CHIP overexpression in APP/PS1 mouse brain.CHIP overexpression significantly ameliorated the performance of APP/PS1 mice in the Morris water maze and nest building tests,reduced amyloid-βplaques,and decreased the expression of both amyloid-βand phosphorylated tau.CHIP also alleviated the concentration of microglia and astrocytes around plaques.In APP/PS1 mice of a younger age,CHIP overexpression promoted an increase in ADAM10 expression and inhibitedβ-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,insulin degrading enzyme,and neprilysin expression.Levels of HSP70 and HSP40,which have functional relevance to CHIP,were also increased.Single nuclei transcriptome sequencing in the hippocampus of CHIP overexpressed mice showed that the lysosomal pathway and oligodendrocyte-related biological processes were up-regulated,which may also reflect a potential mechanism for the neuroprotective effect of CHIP.Our research shows that CHIP effectively reduces the behavior and pathological manifestations of APP/PS1 mice.Indeed,overexpression of CHIP could be a beneficial approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1200703 and 2022YFF1001602)the National Science Foundation of China(32272024 and 32171940)+2 种基金the Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2023B01001)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(2022TC142)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University。
文摘Maize(Zea mays),which is a vital source of food,feed,and energy feedstock globally,has significant potential for higher yields.However,environmental stress conditions,including drought and salt stress,severely restrict maize plant growth and development,leading to great yield losses.Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases(LRR-RLKs)function in biotic and abiotic stress responses in the model plant Arabidopsis(Arabidopsis thaliana),but their roles in abiotic stress responses in maize are not entirely understood.In this study,we determine that the LRR-RLK ZmMIK2,a homolog of the Arabidopsis LRR-RK MALE DISCOVERER 1(MDIS1)-INTERACTING RECEPTOR LIKE KINASE 2(MIK2),functions in resistance to both drought and salt stress in maize.Zmmik2 plants exhibit enhanced resistance to both stresses,whereas overexpressing ZmMIK2 confers the opposite phenotypes.Furthermore,we identify C2-DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 1(ZmC2DP1),which interacts with the intracellular region of ZmMIK2.Notably,that region of ZmMIK2 mediates the phosphorylation of ZmC2DP1,likely by increasing its stability.Both ZmMIK2 and ZmC2DP1 are mainly expressed in roots.As with ZmMIK2,knockout of ZmC2DP1 enhances resistance to both drought and salt stress.We conclude that ZmMIK2-ZmC2DP1 acts as a negative regulatory module in maize drought-and salt-stress responses.
基金supported by the National Institutes of Health,Nos.AA025919,AA025919-03S1,and AA025919-05S1(all to RAF).
文摘Hippocampal neuronal loss causes cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is reduced in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Exercise stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents and improves memory and slows cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,the molecular pathways for exercise-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and improved cognition in Alzheimer’s disease are poorly understood.Recently,regulator of G protein signaling 6(RGS6)was identified as the mediator of voluntary running-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.Here,we generated novel RGS6fl/fl;APP_(SWE) mice and used retroviral approaches to examine the impact of RGS6 deletion from dentate gyrus neuronal progenitor cells on voluntary running-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in an amyloid-based Alzheimer’s disease mouse model.We found that voluntary running in APP_(SWE) mice restored their hippocampal cognitive impairments to that of control mice.This cognitive rescue was abolished by RGS6 deletion in dentate gyrus neuronal progenitor cells,which also abolished running-mediated increases in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was reduced in sedentary APP_(SWE) mice versus control mice,with basal adult hippocampal neurogenesis reduced by RGS6 deletion in dentate gyrus neural precursor cells.RGS6 was expressed in neurons within the dentate gyrus of patients with Alzheimer’s disease with significant loss of these RGS6-expressing neurons.Thus,RGS6 mediated voluntary running-induced rescue of impaired cognition and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in APP_(SWE) mice,identifying RGS6 in dentate gyrus neural precursor cells as a possible therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease.
基金Supported by Joint Project on Regional High Incidence Diseases Research of Guangxi Natural Science Foundation,No.2024GXNSFAA010057 and No.2024GXNSFAA010085Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi,China,No.2022GXNSFBA035657+2 种基金Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission Self-Financed Scientific Research Project,No.Z20210764Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Project,No.GXZYA20230270 and No.GXZYA20240305Advanced Innovation Teams and Xinghu Scholars Program of Guangxi Medical University(2022).
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most prevalent and aggressive forms of liver cancer,with high morbidity and poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options.Despite advances in understanding its molecular mechanisms,effective biomarkers for early detection and targeted therapy remain scarce.Zinc finger protein 71(ZNF71),a zinc-finger protein,has been implicated in various cancers,yet its role in HCC remains largely unexplored.This gap in knowledge underscores the need for further investigation into the ZNF71 of potential as a diagnostic or therapeutic target in HCC.AIM To explore the expression levels,clinical relevance,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF71 in the progression of HCC.METHODS The study evaluated ZNF71 expression in 235 HCC specimens and 13 noncancerous liver tissue samples using immunohistochemistry.High-throughput datasets were employed to assess the differential expression of ZNF71 in HCC and its association with clinical and pathological features.The impact of ZNF71 on HCC cell line growth was examined through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat knockout screens.Co-expressed genes were identified and analyzed for enrichment using LinkedOmics and Sangerbox 3.0,focusing on significant correlations(P<0.01,correlation coefficient≥0.3).Furthermore,the relationship between ZNF71 expression and immune cell infiltration was quantified using TIMER2.0.RESULTS ZNF71 showed higher expression in HCC tissues vs non-tumorous tissues,with a significant statistical difference(P<0.05).Data from the UALCAN platform indicated increased ZNF71 levels across early to mid-stage HCC,correlating with disease severity(P<0.05).High-throughput analysis presented a standardized mean difference in ZNF71 expression of 0.55(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.34-0.75).The efficiency of ZNF71 mRNA was evaluated,yielding an area under the curve of 0.78(95%CI:0.75-0.82),a sensitivity of 0.63(95%CI:0.53-0.72),and a specificity of 0.82(95%CI:0.73-0.89).Diagnostic likelihood ratios were positive at 3.61(95%CI:2.41-5.41)and negative at 0.45(95%CI:0.36-0.56).LinkedOmics analysis identified strong positive correlations of ZNF71 with genes such as ZNF470,ZNF256,and ZNF285.Pathway enrichment analyses highlighted associations with herpes simplex virus type 1 infection,the cell cycle,and DNA replication.Negative correlations involved metabolic pathways,peroxisomes,and fatty acid degradation.TIMER2.0 analysis demonstrated positive correlations of high ZNF71 expression with various immune cell types,including CD4^(+)T cells,B cells,regulatory T cells,monocytes,macrophages,and myeloid dendritic cells.CONCLUSION ZNF71 is significantly upregulated in HCC,correlating with the disease’s clinical and pathological stages.It appears to promote HCC progression through mechanisms involving the cell cycle and metabolism and is associated with immune cell infiltration.These findings suggest that ZNF71 could be a novel target for diagnosing and treating HCC.
基金supported by a research grant from the National University of Singapore to WQS(RP-3960366)a collaborative research grant from Sichuan Zhongke Organ Co.Ltd(Chengdu,China).
文摘Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in stabilizing proteins under freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.Materials and methods:Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase(G6PD)was used as the model protein.G6PD solutions with or without sugar alcohols and or sugars were subjected to freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.The recovery of G6PD activity was measured to evaluate the protective efficacy of these compounds.Results:Without stabilizers,freezing G6PD at-20℃ or-80℃ reduced enzyme activity by around 24%,while freeze-drying or air-drying reduced activity by 90%-95%.Among the five sugar alcohols tested,pinitol,quebrachitol and sorbitol stabilized G6PD,whereas mannitol and myo-inositol destabilized it.Among 14 soluble sugars,trehalose and raffinose showed slightly lower enzyme recovery after repeated freeze-thaw cycles at-20℃.Most soluble sugars(except arabinose and xylose)protected G6PD during freeze-drying,with di-,tri-,and oligosaccharides generally outperforming monosaccharides.During air-drying,lactose was ineffective,while arabinose,galactose,and xylose were detrimental.Conclusion:The study highlights the diverse mechanisms of sugar alcohols and sugars in protein stabilization under stress,offering insights for formulating stable protein-and cell-based drugs.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the most common malignancy of the digestive system and surgical resection is the primary treatment.Advances in surgical technology have reduced the risk of complications after radical gastrectomy;however,post-surgical pancreatic fistula remain a serious issue.These fistulas can lead to abdominal infections,anastomotic leakage,increased costs,and pain;thus,early diagnosis and prevention are crucial for a better prognosis.Currently,C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),and total bilirubin(TBil)levels are used to predict post-operative infections and anastomotic leakage.However,their predictive value for pancreatic fistula after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer remains unclear.The present study was conducted to determine their predictive value.AIM To determine the predictive value of CRP,PCT,and TBil levels for pancreatic fistula after gastric cancer surgery.METHODS In total,158 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at our hospital between January 2019 and January 2023 were included.The patients were assigned to a pancreatic fistula group or a non-pancreatic fistula group.Multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to assess the factors influencing development of a fistula.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to determine the predictive value of serum CRP,PCT,and TBil levels on day 1 postsurgery.RESULTS On day 1 post-surgery,the CRP,PCT,and TBil levels were significantly higher in the pancreatic fistula group than in the non-pancreatic fistula group(P<0.05).A higher fistula grade was associated with higher levels of the indices.Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in the presence of diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pancreatic injury,splenectomy,and the biomarker levels(P<0.05).Logistic multivariate analysis identified diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pancreatic injury,CRP level,and PCT level as independent risk factors.ROC curves yielded predictive values for CRP,PCT,and TBil levels,with the PCT level having the highest area under the curve(AUC)of 0.80[95%confidence interval(CI):0.72-0.90].Combined indicators improved the predictive value,with an AUC of 0.86(95%CI:0.78-0.93).CONCLUSION Elevated CRP,PCT,and TBil levels predict risk of pancreatic fistula post-gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
基金supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31902283)Research Foundation for Master students at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College(No.22-2018).
文摘Background:The outcomes of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)remain far less than favorable.While apigenin is an anti-cancer agent,studies on the mechanism by which it regulates ALL cell cycle progression are inadequate.Ferroptosis and AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)signaling are important processes for ALL patients.However,it remains unclear whether apigenin works by affecting AMPK and apoptosis.Materials and Methods:SUP-B15 and T-cell Jurkat ALL cells were treated with apigenin,and cell viability and apoptosis were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assays,respectively.The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS)assay was used to evaluate lipid peroxidation.Intracellular Fe2+levels were measured using a commercial kit.Corresponding proteins were detected by western blotting.Results:Results showed that apigenin reduced cell viability and the levels of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)expression in a concentration-dependent manner in both types of ALL cells.Apigenin also exerted anti-apoptotic effects on SUP-B15 and Jurkat cells.Apigenin activated AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)signaling and induced ferroptosis,and those effects were attenuated by inhibition of AMPK.Eventually,the reduced cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis caused by apigenin in ALL cells were partly abolished by AMPK inhibition.Conclusion:In summary,apigenin exerted anti-leukemia activity in ALL cells,and that effect was partially achieved by activation of AMPK signaling.Our findings suggest apigenin as a potential drug for treatment of ALL.
文摘BACKGROUND Rotavirus(RV),a primary cause of diarrhea-related mortality in 2021,has been shown to damage intestinal epithelial cells while upregulating intestinal stem cells(ISCs)activities.ISCs within the crypt niche drive the continuous self-renewal of intestinal epithelium,preserving its barrier functions.Paneth cells secrete antimicrobial peptide and signaling molecules within the intestine crypt,thereby playing a crucial role in intestinal immune defense and providing ISCs functional support.However,the regulatory function of Paneth cells under pathological conditions,such as RV infection,remains unclear.AIM To determine the impact of RV infection on Paneth cells and how Paneth cells regulate ISCs during intestinal injury repair.METHODS We constructed a reference genome for the RV enteric cytopathogenic human orphan virus strain and reanalyzed published single-cell RNA sequencing data to investigate Paneth cell responses to RV-induced intestinal injury.We derived Paneth-ISC communication networks using CellChat,tracked ISC differentiation with pseudotime analysis,and validated our findings in leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-enhanced green fluorescent protein-internal ribosomal entry site-Cre recombinase estrogen receptor variant 2 mice and organoids via immunofluorescence,flow cytometry,and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS We found that RV directly infects Paneth cells,leading to a reduction in mature Paneth cells and an increase in kallikrein 1-high immature Paneth cells.Paneth-ISC communication was significantly enhanced.In particular,the bone morphogenic protein 7(BMP7)-activin A receptor type 2B/BMP receptor type 1A-Smad pathway was upregulated post-infection,suggesting that Paneth cells suppress excessive ISC proliferation.Functional validation confirmed activation of this pathway.CONCLUSION Paneth cells regulate ISC proliferation during RV infection by activating BMP7 signaling,limiting excessive stem cell expansion and preserving crypt homeostasis for effective epithelial repair.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82241088 and 82203996)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Nos.2022T150230 and 2021M691131).
文摘Arsenic-related oxidative stress and resultant diseases have attracted global concern,while longitudinal studies are scarce.To assess the relationship between arsenic exposure and systemic oxidative damage,we performed two repeatedmeasures among 5236 observations(4067 participants)in theWuhan-Zhuhai cohort at the baseline and follow-up after 3 years.Urinary total arsenic,biomarkers of DNA oxidative damage(8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG)),lipid peroxidation(8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha(8-isoPGF2α)),and protein oxidative damage(protein carbonyls(PCO))were detected for all observations.Here we used linearmixed models to estimate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between arsenic exposure and oxidative damage.Exposure-response curves were constructed by utilizing the generalized additive mixed models with thin plate regressions.After adjusting for potential confounders,arsenic level was significantly and positively related to the levels of global oxidative damage and their annual increased rates in dose-response manners.In cross-sectional analyses,each 1%increase in arsenic levelwas associated with a 0.406%(95%confidence interval(CI):0.379%to 0.433%),0.360%(0.301%to 0.420%),and 0.079%(0.055%to 0.103%)increase in 8-isoPGF2α,8-OHdG,and PCO,respectively.More importantly,arsenic was further found to be associated with increased annual change rates of 8-isoPGF2α(β:0.147;95%CI:0.130 to 0.164),8-OHdG(0.155;0.118 to 0.192),and PCO(0.050;0.035 to 0.064)in the longitudinal analyses.Our study suggested that arsenic exposurewas not only positively related with global oxidative damage to lipid,DNA,and protein in cross-sectional analyses,but also associated with annual increased rates of these biomarkers in dose-dependent manners.
基金funded by the Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.92159202)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFA1100500)+1 种基金the Leading Innovation Team Project of Hangzhou Medical College(No.CXLJ202401)the Key Research and Development Plan of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology(No.2024C03051)。
文摘Objective:Cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs)play a crucial role in the therapeutic approach to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent research has indicated that junctional adhesion molecule-like protein(JAML)enhances the antitumor activity of CD8+T cells.Our study investigates the role of JAML+CD8+T cells in HCC.Methods:We utilized time-of-flight mass cytometry and an orthotopic mouse model of HCC to examine histone modifications in tumor-infiltrating immune cells undergoing immunotherapy.Flow cytometry was used to assess CD4+T cells differentiation and JAML expression in CD8+T cells infiltrating HCC.Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between lactate dehydrogenase A+(LDHA+)CD4+T cells and JAML+CD8+T cells.Subsequently,we evaluated the therapeutic effects of an agonistic anti-JAML antibody,both alone and combined with immunotherapy.Finally,RNA sequencing was conducted to identify potential regulatory mechanisms.Results:Immunotherapy significantly increased the percentage of CD8+T cells infiltrating HCC and induced histone modifications,such as H3K18 lactylation(H3K18la)in CD4+T cells.Flow cytometry analysis revealed that lactate promotes the differentiation of CD4+T cells into Th1 cells.LDHA,an enzyme that converts pyruvate to lactate,plays a key role in this process.Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between LDHA+CD4+T cells and JAML+CD8+T cells in patients who responded to immunotherapy.Moreover,high JAML expression in CD8+T cells was associated with a more favorable prognosis.In vivo experiments demonstrated that agonistic anti-JAML antibody therapy reduced tumor volume and significantly prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice,independent of the effects of anti-programmed cell death protein ligand-1 antibody(αPD-L1)-mediated immunotherapy.Pathway enrichment analysis further revealed that JAML enhances CTL responses through the oxidative phosphorylation pathway.Conclusions:Activation of JAML enhances CTL responses in HCC treatment,independent ofαPD-L1-mediated immunotherapy,providing a promising strategy for advanced HCC.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2024A1515010605,2022A1515140034)Discipline Construction Project of Guangdong Medical University(No.4SG24007G,4SG22302P)+1 种基金Medical Scientific Research Fund of Guangdong Province(No.B2024193)Dongguan Social Development and Scientific Technology Project,China(No.20231800936562).
文摘Lactylation is one of the post-translational modifications of proteins,a process in which lactyl residues bind to the lysine residues of proteins.This modification can alter the structure,stability,and function of proteins,which in turn regulates cellular metabolism,aging,and the onset of disease.This review classifies proteins with lactylation effects into histones and non-histone proteins and analyzes their functional roles when lactylation occurs.The in-depth exploration of lactylation is still in its infancy,and many aspects of its regulation,functional significance and therapeutic potential need to be further explored.
文摘This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted alkaline extraction(UAE)(at 20 kHz and different powers of 0,200,300,400,500 and 600 W for 10 min)on the yield,structure and emulsifying properties of chickpea protein isolate(CPI).Compared with the non-ultrasound group,ultrasound treatment at 400 W resulted in the largest increase in CPI yield,and both the particle size and turbidity decreased with increasing ultrasound power from 0 to 400 W.The scanning electron microscope results showed a uniform structural distribution of CPI.Moreover,itsα-helix content increased,β-sheet content decreased,and total sulfhydryl group content and endogenous fluorescence intensity rose,illustrating that UAE changed the secondary and tertiary structure of CPI.At 400 W,the solubility of the emulsion increased to 63.18%,and the best emulsifying properties were obtained;the emulsifying activity index(EAI)and emulsifying stability index(ESI)increased by 85.42%and 46.78%,respectively.Furthermore,the emulsion droplets formed were smaller and more uniform.In conclusion,proper UAE power conditions increased the extraction yield and protein content of CPI,and effectively improved its structure and emulsifying characteristics.
