Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus(OHFV) is a tick-borne flavivirus classified as a biosafety level-4(BSL4) pathogen. Studies of OHFV are restricted to be conducted within BSL4 laboratories. Currently, no commercial vaccine...Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus(OHFV) is a tick-borne flavivirus classified as a biosafety level-4(BSL4) pathogen. Studies of OHFV are restricted to be conducted within BSL4 laboratories. Currently, no commercial vaccines or antiviral drugs are available against OHFV infection. In this study, we recovered a replication-deficient OHFV with an NS1 deletion(OHFVDNS1) and reporter virus replacing NS1 with the Gaussia luciferase(Gluc)(OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc). Both the defective OHFVDNS1 and OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus could only replicate efficiently in the BHK21 cell line expressing NS1(BHK21NS1) but not in na?ve BHK21 cells. The Gluc reporter gene of OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus was maintained stably after serial passaging of BHK21NS1 cells and was used to surrogate the replication of OHFV. Using NITD008, OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus was validated for antiviral screening, and high-throughput screening parameters were optimized in a 96-well plate format with a calculated Z0 value above 0.5. The OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc reporter virus is a powerful tool for antiviral screening as well as viral replication and pathogenesis studies in BSL2 laboratories.展开更多
Interspecies chimera through blastocyst complementation could be an alternative approach to create human organs in animals by using human pluripotent stem cells.A mismatch of the major histocompatibility complex of va...Interspecies chimera through blastocyst complementation could be an alternative approach to create human organs in animals by using human pluripotent stem cells.A mismatch of the major histocompatibility complex of vascular endothelial cells between the human and host animal will cause graft rejection in the transplanted organs.Therefore,to achieve a transplantable organ in animals without rejection,creation of vascular endothelial cells derived from humans within the organ is necessary.In this study,to explore whether donor xeno-pluripotent stem cells can compensate for blood vasculature in host animals,we generated rat-mouse chimeras by injection of rat embryonic stem cells(rESCs)into mouse blastocysts with deficiency of Flk-1 protein,which is associated with endothelial and hematopoietic cell development.We found that rESCs could differentiate into vascular endothelial and hematopoietic cells in the rat-mouse chimeras.The whole yolk sac(YS)of Flk-1^EGFP/ECFP rat-mouse chimera was full of rat blood vasculature.Rat genes related to vascular endothelial cells,arteries,and veins,blood vessels formation process,as well as hematopoietic cells,were highly expressed in the YS.Our results suggested that rat vascular endothelial cells could undergo proliferation,migration,and self-assembly to form blood vasculature and that hematopoietic cells could differentiate into B cells,T cells,and myeloid cells in rat-mouse chimeras,which was able to rescue early embryonic lethality caused by Flk-1 deficiency in mouse.展开更多
To optimize peaking operation when high proportion new energy accesses to power grid,evaluation indexes are proposed which simultaneously consider wind-solar complementation and source-load coupling.A typical wind-sol...To optimize peaking operation when high proportion new energy accesses to power grid,evaluation indexes are proposed which simultaneously consider wind-solar complementation and source-load coupling.A typical wind-solar power output scene model based on peaking demand is established which has anti-peaking characteristic.This model uses balancing scenes and key scenes with probability distribution based on improved Latin hypercube sampling(LHS)algorithm and scene reduction technology to illustrate the influence of wind-solar on peaking demand.Based on this,a peak shaving operation optimization model of high proportion new energy power generation is established.The various operating indexes after optimization in multi-scene peaking are calculated,and the ability of power grid peaking operation is compared whth that considering wind-solar complementation and source-load coupling.Finally,a case of high proportion new energy verifies the feasibility and validity of the proposed operation strategy.展开更多
The rapid development of information technology and accelerated digitalization have led to an explosive growth of data across various fields.As a key technology for knowledge representation and sharing,knowledge graph...The rapid development of information technology and accelerated digitalization have led to an explosive growth of data across various fields.As a key technology for knowledge representation and sharing,knowledge graphs play a crucial role by constructing structured networks of relationships among entities.However,data sparsity and numerous unexplored implicit relations result in the widespread incompleteness of knowledge graphs.In static knowledge graph completion,most existing methods rely on linear operations or simple interaction mechanisms for triple encoding,making it difficult to fully capture the deep semantic associations between entities and relations.Moreover,many methods focus only on the local information of individual triples,ignoring the rich semantic dependencies embedded in the neighboring nodes of entities within the graph structure,which leads to incomplete embedding representations.To address these challenges,we propose Two-Stage Mixer Embedding(TSMixerE),a static knowledge graph completion method based on entity context.In the unit semantic extraction stage,TSMixerE leveragesmulti-scale circular convolution to capture local features atmultiple granularities,enhancing the flexibility and robustness of feature interactions.A channel attention mechanism amplifies key channel responses to suppress noise and irrelevant information,thereby improving the discriminative power and semantic depth of feature representations.For contextual information fusion,a multi-layer self-attentionmechanism enables deep interactions among contextual cues,effectively integrating local details with global context.Simultaneously,type embeddings clarify the semantic identities and roles of each component,enhancing the model’s sensitivity and fusion capabilities for diverse information sources.Furthermore,TSMixerE constructs contextual unit sequences for entities,fully exploring neighborhood information within the graph structure to model complex semantic dependencies,thus improving the completeness and generalization of embedding representations.展开更多
Background Several studies have evaluated the association between polymorphisms of encoding excision repair cross complementation group 1 （ERCC1） enzyme and lung cancer risk in diverse populations but with conflicti...Background Several studies have evaluated the association between polymorphisms of encoding excision repair cross complementation group 1 （ERCC1） enzyme and lung cancer risk in diverse populations but with conflicting results.By pooling the relatively small samples in each study, it is possible to perform a meta-analysis of the evidence by rigorous methods.Methods Embase, Ovid, Medline and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched. Additional studies were identified from references in original studies or review articles. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed systematically, and the reported data were aggregated using the statistical techniques of meta-analysis.Results We found 3810 cases with lung cancer and 4332 controls from seven eligible studies. T19007C polymorphism showed no significant effect on lung cancer risk （C allele vs. T allele： odds ratio （OR）=0.91, 95% confidence interval （CI）=0.80-1.04; CC vs. TT： OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.56-1.02; CC vs. （CT＋TT）： OR=0.96, 95% CI=-0.84-1.10）. Similarly,there was no significant main effects for T19007C polymorphism on lung cancer risk when stratified analyses by ethnicity （Chinese or Caucasian）. No significant association was found between C8092A polymorphism （3060 patients and 2729 controls） and the risk of lung cancer （A allele vs. C allele： OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.95-1.11; AA vs. CC： OR=1.08, 95% CI=-0.88-1.33; AA vs. （AC＋CC）： OR=1.08, 95% CI=-0.88-1.31）.Conclusion We found little evidence of an association between the T1900C or C8092A polymorphisms of ERCC 1 and the risk of lung cancer in Caucasian or Han Chinese people.展开更多
Mammalian and plant Rabl and Rab2 are small GTPases that regulate vesicle trafficking in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to Golgi compartments. Little is known about their functional diversification or potential inte...Mammalian and plant Rabl and Rab2 are small GTPases that regulate vesicle trafficking in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to Golgi compartments. Little is known about their functional diversification or potential interaction. We cloned sugarcane （Saccharum officinarum L.） Rab1A and Rab2A genes and studied their functional differences by expression and complementation experiments. We found differential expression of the two genes during sugarcane leaf development： SoRab2A expression declined from the dividing base to the maturing tip of the growing leaves, whereas SoRab1A was constitutively expressed, suggesting that SoRab2A is required for cell division and expansion and SoRablA is required for cells at all developmental stages. We used a yeast temperature sensitive ypt1-A 136D mutant strain to further investigate these shared and unique functions. Yptl is a small GTPase that regulates vesicle transport in the same cellular location as Rabl and Rab2. Neither SoRab1A nor SoRab2A alone could restore the growth of the mutant at restrictive temperatures when SoRab1A and SoRab2A were transformed separately. However, SoRab1A transformants maintained normal morphology and viability at non-permissive temperature, and resumed growth when returned to permissive temperature, whereas SoRab2A transformants died at non-permissive temperature, suggesting that SoRablA function is required for a cell＇s viability. Mutant growth was fully restored when SoRab1A and SoRab2A were co-transformed, indicating that SoRablA and SoRab2A complement each other and they both are needed to restore the function of ypt1-A136D. These results demonstrate that SoRab1A and SoRab2A serve distinct but overlapping functions, mostly by regulating the transportation of different sets of proteins.展开更多
Farnesyl dlphosphate synthase （FPS; EC 2.5.1.10） catalyzes the production of 15-carbon farnesyl dlphosphate which Is a branch-point Intermediate for many terpenoids. This reaction Is considered to be a ratelimiting ...Farnesyl dlphosphate synthase （FPS; EC 2.5.1.10） catalyzes the production of 15-carbon farnesyl dlphosphate which Is a branch-point Intermediate for many terpenoids. This reaction Is considered to be a ratelimiting step In terpenold biosynthesis. Here we report for the first time the cloning of a new full-length cDNA encoding farnesyl dlphosphate synthase from a gymnosperm plant species, Taxus media Rehder, designated as TmFPS1. The full-length cDNA of TmFPS1 （GenBank accession number： AY461811） was 1 464 bp with a 1 056-bp open reading frame encoding a 351-amino acid polypeptlde with a calculated molecular weight of 40.3 kDa and a theoretical pl of 5.07. Biolnformatlc analysis revealed that TmFPS1 contained all five conserved domains of prenyltransferases, and showed homology to other FPSs of plant origin. Phylogenetlc analysis showed that farnesyl dlphosphate synthases can be divided Into two groups： one of prokaryotic origin and the other of eukaryotic origin. TmFPS1 was grouped with FPSs of plant origin. Homologybased structural modeling showed that TmFPS1 had the typical spatial structure of FPS, whose most prominent structural feature Is the arrangement of 13 core helices around a large central cavity In which the catalytic reaction takes place. Our blolnformatic analysis strongly suggests that TmFPS1 is a functional gene. Southern blot analysis revealed that TmFPS1 belongs to a small FPSgene family in T. media. Northern blot analysis indicated that TmFPS1 is expressed in all tested tissues, Including the needles, stems and roots of T. media. Subsequently, functional complementatlon with TmFPS1 in a FPS-deflclent mutant yeast demonstrated that TmFPS1 did encode farnesyl dlphosphate synthase, which rescued the yeast mutant. This study will be helpful In future Investigations aiming at understanding the detailed role of FPS In terpenold biosynthesis flux control at the molecular genetic level.展开更多
One major strategy to generate genetically modified mouse models is gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells,which is used to produce gene-targeted mice for wide applications in biomedicine.However,a major bott...One major strategy to generate genetically modified mouse models is gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells,which is used to produce gene-targeted mice for wide applications in biomedicine.However,a major bottleneck in this approach is that the robustness of germiine transmission of gene-targeted ES cells can be significantly reduced by their genetic and epigenetic instability after long-term culturing,which impairs the efficiency and robustness of mouse model generation.Recently,we have established a new type of pluripotent cells termed extended pluripotent stem(EPS)cells,which have superior developmental potency and robust germline competence compared to conventional mouse ES cells.In this study,we demonstrate that mouse EPS cells well maintain developmental potency and genetic stability after long-term passage.Based on gene targeting in mouse EPS cells,we established a new approach to directly and rapidly generate gene-targeted mouse models through tetraploid complementation,Haibo Li and Chaoran Zhao contributed equally to this work.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article(https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-018-0556-1)contains supplementary material,which is available to authorized users.which could be accomplished in approximately 2 months.Importantly,using this approach,we successfully constructed mouse models in which the human interleukin 3(IL3)or interleukin 6(IL6)gene was knocked into its corresponding locus in the mouse genome.Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using mouse EPS cells to rapidly generate mouse models by gene targeting,which have great application potential in biomedical research.展开更多
In order to study the feasibility of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as an expression vector, the full-length cDNA of RNA 3 from strain SD was cloned and the sequence around the start codon of the coat protein (CP) gene w...In order to study the feasibility of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as an expression vector, the full-length cDNA of RNA 3 from strain SD was cloned and the sequence around the start codon of the coat protein (CP) gene was modified to create an Nsi I site for insertion of foreign genes. The CP gene was replaced by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. The cDNAs of Fny RNAs 1 and 2 and the chimeric SD RNA 3 were cloned between the modified 35S promoter and terminator. Tobacco protoplasts were transfected with a mixture of the viral cDNAs containing 35S promoter and terminator as a replacement vector and expressed GFP. A complementation system was established when the replacement vector was inoculated onto the transgenic tobacco plants expressing SD-CMV CP. GFP was detected in the inoculated leaves in 5 of 18 tested plants and in the first upper systemic leaf of one of the 5 plants ten days after inoculation. However, no GFP could be detected in all the plants one month after inoculation. Recombination between the CMV vector and the CP transgene was proved by retro-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and verified by DNA sequencing. Our results argue against the feasibility of the CMV-based replacement vector trans-complemented by the CP transgene, and at the same time, enlighten ways to improve the CMV-based expression vector and the biosafety of CMV CP-mediated virus resistant transgenic plants.展开更多
Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global health threat,necessitating the development of innovative vector control strategies.In this study,we investigated the potential of harnessing host immunity against mos...Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global health threat,necessitating the development of innovative vector control strategies.In this study,we investigated the potential of harnessing host immunity against mosquitoes through vaccination.Using Culex pipiens(C.pipiens)as a model,we demonstrated that polyclonal antibodies against C.pipiens abdominal protein extracts significantly impaired oviposition and increased mosquito mortality,primarily through the classical complement activation pathways.However,repeated exposure led to resistance,indicating potential adaptation.Proteomic analysis identified metabolic proteins as key targets,with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses highlighting their roles in carboxylic acid metabolism,tyrosine degradation,and the proteasome pathways.Notably,cross-species reactivity was revealed by Western blotting,showing strong binding of Culex-specific antibodies to Anopheles and Aedes abdominal proteins.This study provides mechanistic insights into antibody-based mosquito suppression,highlighting its potential as an innovative vector control strategy while underscoring the need for further research on resistance management and ecological impacts.展开更多
The accessory proteins(3a, 3b, 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b and ORF14), predicted unknown proteins(PUPs) encoded by the genes, are considered to be unique to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-Co V) genom...The accessory proteins(3a, 3b, 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b and ORF14), predicted unknown proteins(PUPs) encoded by the genes, are considered to be unique to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-Co V) genome. These proteins play important roles in various biological processes mediated by interactions with their partners. However, very little is known about the interactions among these accessory proteins. Here, a EYFP(enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) bimolecular fluorescence complementation(BiFC) assay was used to detect the interactions among accessory proteins. 33 out of 81 interactions were identified by BiFC, much more than that identified by the yeast two-hybrid(Y2H)system. This is the first report describing direct visualization of interactions among accessory proteins of SARS-CoV. These findings attest to the general applicability of the BiFC system for the verification of protein-protein interactions.展开更多
Background Heat stress(HS)is posing as a tremendous threat to the swine industry,due to the thermos-sensitive gonads of boars.Testes are immune-privileged organs in which spermatogenesis needs to remain undisturbed,wh...Background Heat stress(HS)is posing as a tremendous threat to the swine industry,due to the thermos-sensitive gonads of boars.Testes are immune-privileged organs in which spermatogenesis needs to remain undisturbed,whereas immune cells are thermo-sensitive,especially macrophages,which are the most abundant testicular immune cells.Our study aimed to unveil the underlying immune responses and assess their consequences on the semen quality of boars under HS.The results will aid in addressing environmental temperature-related seasonal infertility and in selecting the best boar for use in artificial insemination.Methods The 3-week experiment assigned 268-week-old Rongchang male pigs into thermal neutral pair-feed(TN-PF)and HS groups.During the last 2 weeks,which served as the HS period,the HS group was subjected to 14-day 35±1℃,while the TN-PF group was kept at 26±1℃.Pig gonad tissues were sampled at the end of HS period for assessments and measurements.Results Our findings confirmed HS-related reactions such as elevated respiration rate(P<0.05)and elevated heat shock protein 60(HSP60;P<0.05)and heat shock protein 90(HSP90;P<0.05)expression levels.Sperm motility(P=0.06)and progressive sperms(P=0.08)were decreased under HS as was a significant reduction in average straight-line velocity(VSL;P<0.05).Additionally,total abnormality levels increased(P<0.05).Fibrosis,caspase-3 expression,and accumulations of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α;P<0.05)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β;P<0.05),along with an elevated macrophage composition(P<0.05)characterized the orchitis under HS.Single cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)revealed fluctuations in engulfing and inflammatory signals in testicular macrophages(TMs).In particular,the complement cascade was promoted by CD163+macrophages,resulting in membrane attack complex(C5b-9)assembly(P<0.05).Linear regressions further revealed a negative correlation between C5b-9 and sperm motility(P<0.05),as well as near-negative correlations between the C5b-9 and both progressive motility(P=0.08)and VSL(P=0.06).Conclusions Our findings highlighted the relationship between HS,the onset of orchitis,and the activation of the complement system,all of which decreased the boar semen quality.展开更多
Synaptic pruning is a crucial process in synaptic refinement,eliminating unstable synaptic connections in neural circuits.This process is triggered and regulated primarily by spontaneous neural activity and experience...Synaptic pruning is a crucial process in synaptic refinement,eliminating unstable synaptic connections in neural circuits.This process is triggered and regulated primarily by spontaneous neural activity and experience-dependent mechanisms.The pruning process involves multiple molecular signals and a series of regulatory activities governing the“eat me”and“don't eat me”states.Under physiological conditions,the interaction between glial cells and neurons results in the clearance of unnecessary synapses,maintaining normal neural circuit functionality via synaptic pruning.Alterations in genetic and environmental factors can lead to imbalanced synaptic pruning,thus promoting the occurrence and development of autism spectrum disorder,schizophrenia,Alzheimer's disease,and other neurological disorders.In this review,we investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for synaptic pruning during neural development.We focus on how synaptic pruning can regulate neural circuits and its association with neurological disorders.Furthermore,we discuss the application of emerging optical and imaging technologies to observe synaptic structure and function,as well as their potential for clinical translation.Our aim was to enhance our understanding of synaptic pruning during neural development,including the molecular basis underlying the regulation of synaptic function and the dynamic changes in synaptic density,and to investigate the potential role of these mechanisms in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases,thus providing a theoretical foundation for the treatment of neurological disorders.展开更多
Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonst...Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonstrated that supernatant(SPX)improved kidney function in adriamycin(ADR)-induced nephropathy mice model.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SPX inhibited complement activation by targeting the MASP1-C3/C3a receptor(C3aR)pathway.Peptidomic analysis identified 304 peptides from SPX,with 49 peptides selected for evaluation using prediction tools and molecular docking with complement core protein C3.Three peptides(PMGFPFDR,FNDPK,AAQFFNR)exhibiting docking scores below-8.0 were synthesized to verify complement inhibition and anti-fibrotic activities.The synthetic peptide AAQFFNR demonstrated complement inhibitory activity,with an inhibitory complement hemolytic 50%(ICH_(50))value of 24.54μmol·L^(-1),and exhibited superior protective effects in ADR-induced HK-2 cells.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)assay revealed direct interaction between AAQFFNR and complement C3 with K_(d)value of 16.8μmol·L^(-1).The reno-protective effect of AAQFFNR was subsequently verified in ADR-induced mice.This research provides initial evidence that complement C3-inhibiting peptides from insects demonstrate potential in preventing nephropathy through in silico and in vivo validation approaches.展开更多
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction leading to fluctuating skeletal muscle fatigability. The majority of myasthenia gravis patients have detectable antibodies in ...Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction leading to fluctuating skeletal muscle fatigability. The majority of myasthenia gravis patients have detectable antibodies in their serum, targeting acetylcholine receptor, muscle-specific kinase, or related proteins. Current treatment for myasthenia gravis involves symptomatic therapy, immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil, and thymectomy, which is primarily indicated in patients with thymoma or thymic hyperplasia. However, this condition continues to pose significant challenges including an unpredictable and variable disease progression, differing response to individual therapies, and substantial longterm side effects associated with standard treatments(including an increased risk of infections, osteoporosis, and diabetes), underscoring the necessity for a more personalized approach to treatment. Furthermore, about fifteen percent of patients, called “refractory myasthenia gravis patients”, do not respond adequately to standard therapies. In this context, the introduction of molecular therapies has marked a significant advance in myasthenia gravis management. Advances in understanding myasthenia gravis pathogenesis, especially the role of pathogenic antibodies, have driven the development of these biological drugs, which offer more selective, rapid, and safer alternatives to traditional immunosuppressants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging therapeutic strategies targeting specific immune pathways in myasthenia gravis, with a particular focus on preclinical evidence, therapeutic rationale, and clinical translation of B-cell depletion therapies, neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors, and complement inhibitors.展开更多
BACKGROUND Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy(TMA)is a rare endothelial injury syndrome caused by dysregulated activation of the alternative complement pathway,often linked to genetic abnormalities in comp...BACKGROUND Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy(TMA)is a rare endothelial injury syndrome caused by dysregulated activation of the alternative complement pathway,often linked to genetic abnormalities in complement factor H(CFH),complement factor I,or complement factor H-related(CFHR)proteins.Both renal transplantation and pregnancy are independent triggers for recurrence.This case highlights a genetically high-risk patient who achieved a successful term pregnancy after renal transplantation without complement inhibition,emphasizing individualized risk stratification,close surveillance,and multidisciplinary management for favourable maternal and graft outcomes.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease secondary to genetically confirmed complement-mediated TMA—homozygous CFH exon 17 deletion and CFHR3-CFHR1 duplication—was maintained on dialysis for 2.5 years before undergoing a successful live-donor kidney transplant from her mother.Post-transplant immunosuppression included tacrolimus,mycophenolate mofetil,and prednisolone,later modified to azathioprine during pregnancy planning.One-year post-transplant,she conceived spontaneously.Pregnancy was complicated by transient gestational hypertension,controlled with nifedipine,labetalol,and amlodipine.Proteinuria remained<150 mg/day;white blood cell counts 5.8-7.2×109/L without cytopenia.Serum creatinine ranged 0.9-1.1 mg/dL,and tacrolimus trough levels 5-7 ng/mL.At 36 weeks,she delivered a healthy 3 kg infant by elective caesarean section.Postpartum follow-up at three months confirmed stable maternal and graft function.CONCLUSION High-risk complement-mediated TMA patients can achieve successful pregnancy post-transplant through individualized care without mandatory complement blockade.展开更多
Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive as...Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive astrocytes,inhibits NSC proliferation by suppressing protein aggregate clearance through the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1(UCHL1)-proteasome system post-SCI.However,the potential molecular mechanism by which C3a modulates NSC activation via this pathway remains unclear.Here,we revealed that C3a/C3a receptor(C3aR)signaling activated NF-κB p65,which in turn inhibited Nrf2 activity and UCHL1 expression,resulting in diminished proteasome activity and the accumulation of protein aggregates,and ultimately impaired NSC activation.Both knockdown of NF-κB p65 and Nrf2 upregulation restored UCHL1 expression and proteasome activity in vitro,promoting NSC activation by enhancing protein aggregate clearance.Mechanistically,we found that NF-κB p65 regulated Nrf2 activity through a dual mechanism:(1)promoting Keap1-dependent ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of Nrf2;(2)inhibiting protein kinase C-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.Using the dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)analysis,we further identified UCHL1 as a direct transcriptional target of Nrf2.Importantly,in vivo experiments using SCI mice confirmed that either C3aR blockade,NF-κB p65 knockdown,or Nrf2 overexpression could rescue SCI-induced UCHL1 downregulation.Together,this study uncovers the C3a-NF-κB p65-Nrf2-UCHL1-proteasome axis as a critical regulator of NSC activation after SCI.This may provide novel molecular targets and intervention strategies for SCI repair.展开更多
Repetitive traumatic brain injury impacts adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus,leading to long-term cognitive impairment.However,the mechanism underlying this neurogenesis impairment remains unknown.In ...Repetitive traumatic brain injury impacts adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus,leading to long-term cognitive impairment.However,the mechanism underlying this neurogenesis impairment remains unknown.In this study,we established a male mouse model of repetitive traumatic brain injury and performed long-term evaluation of neurogenesis of the hippocampal dentate gyrus after repetitive traumatic brain injury.Our results showed that repetitive traumatic brain injury inhibited neural stem cell proliferation and development,delayed neuronal maturation,and reduced the complexity of neuronal dendrites and spines.Mice with repetitive traumatic brain injuryalso showed deficits in spatial memory retrieval.Moreover,following repetitive traumatic brain injury,neuroinflammation was enhanced in the neurogenesis microenvironment where C1q levels were increased,C1q binding protein levels were decreased,and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling was downregulated.An inhibitor of C1 reversed the long-term impairment of neurogenesis induced by repetitive traumatic brain injury and improved neurological function.These findings suggest that repetitive traumatic brain injury–induced C1-related inflammation impairs long-term neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and contributes to spatial memory retrieval dysfunction.展开更多
Complement C3 plays a critical role in periodontitis.However,its source,role and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In our study,by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from mouse model of periodontitis,we identifi...Complement C3 plays a critical role in periodontitis.However,its source,role and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In our study,by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from mouse model of periodontitis,we identified that C3 is primarily derived from periodontal fibroblasts.Subsequently,we demonstrated that C3a has a detrimental effect in ligature-induced periodontitis.C3ar−/−mice exhibited significantly less destruction of periodontal support tissues compared to wild-type mice,characterized by mild gingival tissue damage and reduced alveolar bone loss.This reduction was associated with decreased production of proinflammatory mediators and reduced osteoclast infiltration in the periodontal tissues.Mechanistic studies suggested that C3a could promote macrophage polarization and osteoclast differentiation.Finally,by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from the periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis,we found that the results observed in mice were consistent with human data.Therefore,our findings clearly demonstrate the destructive role of fibroblast-derived C3 in ligature-induced periodontitis,driven by macrophage M1 polarization and osteoclast differentiation.These data strongly support the feasibility of C3a-targeted interventions for the treatment of human periodontitis.展开更多
基金supported by National Science and Technology Major Project on Important Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control (2018ZX10734404-010)National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFA0507201)
文摘Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus(OHFV) is a tick-borne flavivirus classified as a biosafety level-4(BSL4) pathogen. Studies of OHFV are restricted to be conducted within BSL4 laboratories. Currently, no commercial vaccines or antiviral drugs are available against OHFV infection. In this study, we recovered a replication-deficient OHFV with an NS1 deletion(OHFVDNS1) and reporter virus replacing NS1 with the Gaussia luciferase(Gluc)(OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc). Both the defective OHFVDNS1 and OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus could only replicate efficiently in the BHK21 cell line expressing NS1(BHK21NS1) but not in na?ve BHK21 cells. The Gluc reporter gene of OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus was maintained stably after serial passaging of BHK21NS1 cells and was used to surrogate the replication of OHFV. Using NITD008, OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc virus was validated for antiviral screening, and high-throughput screening parameters were optimized in a 96-well plate format with a calculated Z0 value above 0.5. The OHFV-ΔNS1-Gluc reporter virus is a powerful tool for antiviral screening as well as viral replication and pathogenesis studies in BSL2 laboratories.
基金financially supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA16030503)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFA0105103)+5 种基金Key Research&Development Program of Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory(2018GZR110104004)Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(2014A030312001,2017B020231001,2017A050501059,2017B030314056)Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou,China(201704030034)Research Unit of Generation of Large Animal Disease Models,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(2019-I2M-5-025)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Jiangmen(2017TD02)the Young People Fund of Wuyi University(2019TD05)。
文摘Interspecies chimera through blastocyst complementation could be an alternative approach to create human organs in animals by using human pluripotent stem cells.A mismatch of the major histocompatibility complex of vascular endothelial cells between the human and host animal will cause graft rejection in the transplanted organs.Therefore,to achieve a transplantable organ in animals without rejection,creation of vascular endothelial cells derived from humans within the organ is necessary.In this study,to explore whether donor xeno-pluripotent stem cells can compensate for blood vasculature in host animals,we generated rat-mouse chimeras by injection of rat embryonic stem cells(rESCs)into mouse blastocysts with deficiency of Flk-1 protein,which is associated with endothelial and hematopoietic cell development.We found that rESCs could differentiate into vascular endothelial and hematopoietic cells in the rat-mouse chimeras.The whole yolk sac(YS)of Flk-1^EGFP/ECFP rat-mouse chimera was full of rat blood vasculature.Rat genes related to vascular endothelial cells,arteries,and veins,blood vessels formation process,as well as hematopoietic cells,were highly expressed in the YS.Our results suggested that rat vascular endothelial cells could undergo proliferation,migration,and self-assembly to form blood vasculature and that hematopoietic cells could differentiate into B cells,T cells,and myeloid cells in rat-mouse chimeras,which was able to rescue early embryonic lethality caused by Flk-1 deficiency in mouse.
基金Youth Science and Technology Fund Project of Gansu Province(No.18JR3RA011)Major Projects in Gansu Province(No.17ZD2GA010)+1 种基金Science and Technology Projects Funding of State Grid Corporation(No.522727160001)Science and Technology Projects of State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company(No.52272716000K)
文摘To optimize peaking operation when high proportion new energy accesses to power grid,evaluation indexes are proposed which simultaneously consider wind-solar complementation and source-load coupling.A typical wind-solar power output scene model based on peaking demand is established which has anti-peaking characteristic.This model uses balancing scenes and key scenes with probability distribution based on improved Latin hypercube sampling(LHS)algorithm and scene reduction technology to illustrate the influence of wind-solar on peaking demand.Based on this,a peak shaving operation optimization model of high proportion new energy power generation is established.The various operating indexes after optimization in multi-scene peaking are calculated,and the ability of power grid peaking operation is compared whth that considering wind-solar complementation and source-load coupling.Finally,a case of high proportion new energy verifies the feasibility and validity of the proposed operation strategy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62267005)the Chinese Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(No.2023GXNSFAA026493)+1 种基金Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center ofMulti-Source Information Integration and Intelligent ProcessingGuangxi Academy of Artificial Intelligence.
文摘The rapid development of information technology and accelerated digitalization have led to an explosive growth of data across various fields.As a key technology for knowledge representation and sharing,knowledge graphs play a crucial role by constructing structured networks of relationships among entities.However,data sparsity and numerous unexplored implicit relations result in the widespread incompleteness of knowledge graphs.In static knowledge graph completion,most existing methods rely on linear operations or simple interaction mechanisms for triple encoding,making it difficult to fully capture the deep semantic associations between entities and relations.Moreover,many methods focus only on the local information of individual triples,ignoring the rich semantic dependencies embedded in the neighboring nodes of entities within the graph structure,which leads to incomplete embedding representations.To address these challenges,we propose Two-Stage Mixer Embedding(TSMixerE),a static knowledge graph completion method based on entity context.In the unit semantic extraction stage,TSMixerE leveragesmulti-scale circular convolution to capture local features atmultiple granularities,enhancing the flexibility and robustness of feature interactions.A channel attention mechanism amplifies key channel responses to suppress noise and irrelevant information,thereby improving the discriminative power and semantic depth of feature representations.For contextual information fusion,a multi-layer self-attentionmechanism enables deep interactions among contextual cues,effectively integrating local details with global context.Simultaneously,type embeddings clarify the semantic identities and roles of each component,enhancing the model’s sensitivity and fusion capabilities for diverse information sources.Furthermore,TSMixerE constructs contextual unit sequences for entities,fully exploring neighborhood information within the graph structure to model complex semantic dependencies,thus improving the completeness and generalization of embedding representations.
文摘Background Several studies have evaluated the association between polymorphisms of encoding excision repair cross complementation group 1 （ERCC1） enzyme and lung cancer risk in diverse populations but with conflicting results.By pooling the relatively small samples in each study, it is possible to perform a meta-analysis of the evidence by rigorous methods.Methods Embase, Ovid, Medline and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched. Additional studies were identified from references in original studies or review articles. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed systematically, and the reported data were aggregated using the statistical techniques of meta-analysis.Results We found 3810 cases with lung cancer and 4332 controls from seven eligible studies. T19007C polymorphism showed no significant effect on lung cancer risk （C allele vs. T allele： odds ratio （OR）=0.91, 95% confidence interval （CI）=0.80-1.04; CC vs. TT： OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.56-1.02; CC vs. （CT＋TT）： OR=0.96, 95% CI=-0.84-1.10）. Similarly,there was no significant main effects for T19007C polymorphism on lung cancer risk when stratified analyses by ethnicity （Chinese or Caucasian）. No significant association was found between C8092A polymorphism （3060 patients and 2729 controls） and the risk of lung cancer （A allele vs. C allele： OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.95-1.11; AA vs. CC： OR=1.08, 95% CI=-0.88-1.33; AA vs. （AC＋CC）： OR=1.08, 95% CI=-0.88-1.31）.Conclusion We found little evidence of an association between the T1900C or C8092A polymorphisms of ERCC 1 and the risk of lung cancer in Caucasian or Han Chinese people.
文摘Mammalian and plant Rabl and Rab2 are small GTPases that regulate vesicle trafficking in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to Golgi compartments. Little is known about their functional diversification or potential interaction. We cloned sugarcane （Saccharum officinarum L.） Rab1A and Rab2A genes and studied their functional differences by expression and complementation experiments. We found differential expression of the two genes during sugarcane leaf development： SoRab2A expression declined from the dividing base to the maturing tip of the growing leaves, whereas SoRab1A was constitutively expressed, suggesting that SoRab2A is required for cell division and expansion and SoRablA is required for cells at all developmental stages. We used a yeast temperature sensitive ypt1-A 136D mutant strain to further investigate these shared and unique functions. Yptl is a small GTPase that regulates vesicle transport in the same cellular location as Rabl and Rab2. Neither SoRab1A nor SoRab2A alone could restore the growth of the mutant at restrictive temperatures when SoRab1A and SoRab2A were transformed separately. However, SoRab1A transformants maintained normal morphology and viability at non-permissive temperature, and resumed growth when returned to permissive temperature, whereas SoRab2A transformants died at non-permissive temperature, suggesting that SoRablA function is required for a cell＇s viability. Mutant growth was fully restored when SoRab1A and SoRab2A were co-transformed, indicating that SoRablA and SoRab2A complement each other and they both are needed to restore the function of ypt1-A136D. These results demonstrate that SoRab1A and SoRab2A serve distinct but overlapping functions, mostly by regulating the transportation of different sets of proteins.
基金Supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development(863) Program of China,and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30500303)
文摘Farnesyl dlphosphate synthase （FPS; EC 2.5.1.10） catalyzes the production of 15-carbon farnesyl dlphosphate which Is a branch-point Intermediate for many terpenoids. This reaction Is considered to be a ratelimiting step In terpenold biosynthesis. Here we report for the first time the cloning of a new full-length cDNA encoding farnesyl dlphosphate synthase from a gymnosperm plant species, Taxus media Rehder, designated as TmFPS1. The full-length cDNA of TmFPS1 （GenBank accession number： AY461811） was 1 464 bp with a 1 056-bp open reading frame encoding a 351-amino acid polypeptlde with a calculated molecular weight of 40.3 kDa and a theoretical pl of 5.07. Biolnformatlc analysis revealed that TmFPS1 contained all five conserved domains of prenyltransferases, and showed homology to other FPSs of plant origin. Phylogenetlc analysis showed that farnesyl dlphosphate synthases can be divided Into two groups： one of prokaryotic origin and the other of eukaryotic origin. TmFPS1 was grouped with FPSs of plant origin. Homologybased structural modeling showed that TmFPS1 had the typical spatial structure of FPS, whose most prominent structural feature Is the arrangement of 13 core helices around a large central cavity In which the catalytic reaction takes place. Our blolnformatic analysis strongly suggests that TmFPS1 is a functional gene. Southern blot analysis revealed that TmFPS1 belongs to a small FPSgene family in T. media. Northern blot analysis indicated that TmFPS1 is expressed in all tested tissues, Including the needles, stems and roots of T. media. Subsequently, functional complementatlon with TmFPS1 in a FPS-deflclent mutant yeast demonstrated that TmFPS1 did encode farnesyl dlphosphate synthase, which rescued the yeast mutant. This study will be helpful In future Investigations aiming at understanding the detailed role of FPS In terpenold biosynthesis flux control at the molecular genetic level.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA01001002017YFA0103000)+4 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31730059 and 31521004)the Guangdong Innovative and En trepreneurial Research Team Program(2014ZT05S216)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(2014B020226001 and 2016B030232001)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou,China(201508020001)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31571052).
文摘One major strategy to generate genetically modified mouse models is gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells,which is used to produce gene-targeted mice for wide applications in biomedicine.However,a major bottleneck in this approach is that the robustness of germiine transmission of gene-targeted ES cells can be significantly reduced by their genetic and epigenetic instability after long-term culturing,which impairs the efficiency and robustness of mouse model generation.Recently,we have established a new type of pluripotent cells termed extended pluripotent stem(EPS)cells,which have superior developmental potency and robust germline competence compared to conventional mouse ES cells.In this study,we demonstrate that mouse EPS cells well maintain developmental potency and genetic stability after long-term passage.Based on gene targeting in mouse EPS cells,we established a new approach to directly and rapidly generate gene-targeted mouse models through tetraploid complementation,Haibo Li and Chaoran Zhao contributed equally to this work.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article(https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-018-0556-1)contains supplementary material,which is available to authorized users.which could be accomplished in approximately 2 months.Importantly,using this approach,we successfully constructed mouse models in which the human interleukin 3(IL3)or interleukin 6(IL6)gene was knocked into its corresponding locus in the mouse genome.Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using mouse EPS cells to rapidly generate mouse models by gene targeting,which have great application potential in biomedical research.
基金the 863 Hi-Tech Program. We thank Prof. Yu Jalin of China Agriculture University for providing plasmids Fny 109 and Fny 209.
文摘In order to study the feasibility of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as an expression vector, the full-length cDNA of RNA 3 from strain SD was cloned and the sequence around the start codon of the coat protein (CP) gene was modified to create an Nsi I site for insertion of foreign genes. The CP gene was replaced by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. The cDNAs of Fny RNAs 1 and 2 and the chimeric SD RNA 3 were cloned between the modified 35S promoter and terminator. Tobacco protoplasts were transfected with a mixture of the viral cDNAs containing 35S promoter and terminator as a replacement vector and expressed GFP. A complementation system was established when the replacement vector was inoculated onto the transgenic tobacco plants expressing SD-CMV CP. GFP was detected in the inoculated leaves in 5 of 18 tested plants and in the first upper systemic leaf of one of the 5 plants ten days after inoculation. However, no GFP could be detected in all the plants one month after inoculation. Recombination between the CMV vector and the CP transgene was proved by retro-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and verified by DNA sequencing. Our results argue against the feasibility of the CMV-based replacement vector trans-complemented by the CP transgene, and at the same time, enlighten ways to improve the CMV-based expression vector and the biosafety of CMV CP-mediated virus resistant transgenic plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82472312).
文摘Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global health threat,necessitating the development of innovative vector control strategies.In this study,we investigated the potential of harnessing host immunity against mosquitoes through vaccination.Using Culex pipiens(C.pipiens)as a model,we demonstrated that polyclonal antibodies against C.pipiens abdominal protein extracts significantly impaired oviposition and increased mosquito mortality,primarily through the classical complement activation pathways.However,repeated exposure led to resistance,indicating potential adaptation.Proteomic analysis identified metabolic proteins as key targets,with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses highlighting their roles in carboxylic acid metabolism,tyrosine degradation,and the proteasome pathways.Notably,cross-species reactivity was revealed by Western blotting,showing strong binding of Culex-specific antibodies to Anopheles and Aedes abdominal proteins.This study provides mechanistic insights into antibody-based mosquito suppression,highlighting its potential as an innovative vector control strategy while underscoring the need for further research on resistance management and ecological impacts.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81072673)
文摘The accessory proteins(3a, 3b, 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b and ORF14), predicted unknown proteins(PUPs) encoded by the genes, are considered to be unique to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-Co V) genome. These proteins play important roles in various biological processes mediated by interactions with their partners. However, very little is known about the interactions among these accessory proteins. Here, a EYFP(enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) bimolecular fluorescence complementation(BiFC) assay was used to detect the interactions among accessory proteins. 33 out of 81 interactions were identified by BiFC, much more than that identified by the yeast two-hybrid(Y2H)system. This is the first report describing direct visualization of interactions among accessory proteins of SARS-CoV. These findings attest to the general applicability of the BiFC system for the verification of protein-protein interactions.
基金supported by the Projects of The National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20255)Strategic Priority Research Program of the National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs(NCTIPXD/B04)+3 种基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(32573270)The National Natural Science Foundation of China(3227291)National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Sichuan Pig innovation team(SCSZTD-2024-08)the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFD1300804)。
文摘Background Heat stress(HS)is posing as a tremendous threat to the swine industry,due to the thermos-sensitive gonads of boars.Testes are immune-privileged organs in which spermatogenesis needs to remain undisturbed,whereas immune cells are thermo-sensitive,especially macrophages,which are the most abundant testicular immune cells.Our study aimed to unveil the underlying immune responses and assess their consequences on the semen quality of boars under HS.The results will aid in addressing environmental temperature-related seasonal infertility and in selecting the best boar for use in artificial insemination.Methods The 3-week experiment assigned 268-week-old Rongchang male pigs into thermal neutral pair-feed(TN-PF)and HS groups.During the last 2 weeks,which served as the HS period,the HS group was subjected to 14-day 35±1℃,while the TN-PF group was kept at 26±1℃.Pig gonad tissues were sampled at the end of HS period for assessments and measurements.Results Our findings confirmed HS-related reactions such as elevated respiration rate(P<0.05)and elevated heat shock protein 60(HSP60;P<0.05)and heat shock protein 90(HSP90;P<0.05)expression levels.Sperm motility(P=0.06)and progressive sperms(P=0.08)were decreased under HS as was a significant reduction in average straight-line velocity(VSL;P<0.05).Additionally,total abnormality levels increased(P<0.05).Fibrosis,caspase-3 expression,and accumulations of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α;P<0.05)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β;P<0.05),along with an elevated macrophage composition(P<0.05)characterized the orchitis under HS.Single cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)revealed fluctuations in engulfing and inflammatory signals in testicular macrophages(TMs).In particular,the complement cascade was promoted by CD163+macrophages,resulting in membrane attack complex(C5b-9)assembly(P<0.05).Linear regressions further revealed a negative correlation between C5b-9 and sperm motility(P<0.05),as well as near-negative correlations between the C5b-9 and both progressive motility(P=0.08)and VSL(P=0.06).Conclusions Our findings highlighted the relationship between HS,the onset of orchitis,and the activation of the complement system,all of which decreased the boar semen quality.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31760290,82160688the Key Development Areas Project of Ganzhou Science and Technology,No.2022B-SF9554(all to XL)。
文摘Synaptic pruning is a crucial process in synaptic refinement,eliminating unstable synaptic connections in neural circuits.This process is triggered and regulated primarily by spontaneous neural activity and experience-dependent mechanisms.The pruning process involves multiple molecular signals and a series of regulatory activities governing the“eat me”and“don't eat me”states.Under physiological conditions,the interaction between glial cells and neurons results in the clearance of unnecessary synapses,maintaining normal neural circuit functionality via synaptic pruning.Alterations in genetic and environmental factors can lead to imbalanced synaptic pruning,thus promoting the occurrence and development of autism spectrum disorder,schizophrenia,Alzheimer's disease,and other neurological disorders.In this review,we investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for synaptic pruning during neural development.We focus on how synaptic pruning can regulate neural circuits and its association with neurological disorders.Furthermore,we discuss the application of emerging optical and imaging technologies to observe synaptic structure and function,as well as their potential for clinical translation.Our aim was to enhance our understanding of synaptic pruning during neural development,including the molecular basis underlying the regulation of synaptic function and the dynamic changes in synaptic density,and to investigate the potential role of these mechanisms in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases,thus providing a theoretical foundation for the treatment of neurological disorders.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82104353)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project(No.2022M711680).
文摘Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonstrated that supernatant(SPX)improved kidney function in adriamycin(ADR)-induced nephropathy mice model.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SPX inhibited complement activation by targeting the MASP1-C3/C3a receptor(C3aR)pathway.Peptidomic analysis identified 304 peptides from SPX,with 49 peptides selected for evaluation using prediction tools and molecular docking with complement core protein C3.Three peptides(PMGFPFDR,FNDPK,AAQFFNR)exhibiting docking scores below-8.0 were synthesized to verify complement inhibition and anti-fibrotic activities.The synthetic peptide AAQFFNR demonstrated complement inhibitory activity,with an inhibitory complement hemolytic 50%(ICH_(50))value of 24.54μmol·L^(-1),and exhibited superior protective effects in ADR-induced HK-2 cells.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)assay revealed direct interaction between AAQFFNR and complement C3 with K_(d)value of 16.8μmol·L^(-1).The reno-protective effect of AAQFFNR was subsequently verified in ADR-induced mice.This research provides initial evidence that complement C3-inhibiting peptides from insects demonstrate potential in preventing nephropathy through in silico and in vivo validation approaches.
文摘Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction leading to fluctuating skeletal muscle fatigability. The majority of myasthenia gravis patients have detectable antibodies in their serum, targeting acetylcholine receptor, muscle-specific kinase, or related proteins. Current treatment for myasthenia gravis involves symptomatic therapy, immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil, and thymectomy, which is primarily indicated in patients with thymoma or thymic hyperplasia. However, this condition continues to pose significant challenges including an unpredictable and variable disease progression, differing response to individual therapies, and substantial longterm side effects associated with standard treatments(including an increased risk of infections, osteoporosis, and diabetes), underscoring the necessity for a more personalized approach to treatment. Furthermore, about fifteen percent of patients, called “refractory myasthenia gravis patients”, do not respond adequately to standard therapies. In this context, the introduction of molecular therapies has marked a significant advance in myasthenia gravis management. Advances in understanding myasthenia gravis pathogenesis, especially the role of pathogenic antibodies, have driven the development of these biological drugs, which offer more selective, rapid, and safer alternatives to traditional immunosuppressants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging therapeutic strategies targeting specific immune pathways in myasthenia gravis, with a particular focus on preclinical evidence, therapeutic rationale, and clinical translation of B-cell depletion therapies, neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors, and complement inhibitors.
文摘BACKGROUND Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy(TMA)is a rare endothelial injury syndrome caused by dysregulated activation of the alternative complement pathway,often linked to genetic abnormalities in complement factor H(CFH),complement factor I,or complement factor H-related(CFHR)proteins.Both renal transplantation and pregnancy are independent triggers for recurrence.This case highlights a genetically high-risk patient who achieved a successful term pregnancy after renal transplantation without complement inhibition,emphasizing individualized risk stratification,close surveillance,and multidisciplinary management for favourable maternal and graft outcomes.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease secondary to genetically confirmed complement-mediated TMA—homozygous CFH exon 17 deletion and CFHR3-CFHR1 duplication—was maintained on dialysis for 2.5 years before undergoing a successful live-donor kidney transplant from her mother.Post-transplant immunosuppression included tacrolimus,mycophenolate mofetil,and prednisolone,later modified to azathioprine during pregnancy planning.One-year post-transplant,she conceived spontaneously.Pregnancy was complicated by transient gestational hypertension,controlled with nifedipine,labetalol,and amlodipine.Proteinuria remained<150 mg/day;white blood cell counts 5.8-7.2×109/L without cytopenia.Serum creatinine ranged 0.9-1.1 mg/dL,and tacrolimus trough levels 5-7 ng/mL.At 36 weeks,she delivered a healthy 3 kg infant by elective caesarean section.Postpartum follow-up at three months confirmed stable maternal and graft function.CONCLUSION High-risk complement-mediated TMA patients can achieve successful pregnancy post-transplant through individualized care without mandatory complement blockade.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82071362 and 82270669)Key Project of the Regional Joint Fund of Guangdong Province(2023B1515120077)+3 种基金Basic Research Program of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission(JCYJ20210324123001003 and JCYJ20220530144801003)Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Bone Tissue Repair and Translational Research(ZDSYS20230626091402006)the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students,Sun Yat-sen University(20242150)the Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team Program of Zhejiang Province,China(2023R01005).
文摘Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive astrocytes,inhibits NSC proliferation by suppressing protein aggregate clearance through the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1(UCHL1)-proteasome system post-SCI.However,the potential molecular mechanism by which C3a modulates NSC activation via this pathway remains unclear.Here,we revealed that C3a/C3a receptor(C3aR)signaling activated NF-κB p65,which in turn inhibited Nrf2 activity and UCHL1 expression,resulting in diminished proteasome activity and the accumulation of protein aggregates,and ultimately impaired NSC activation.Both knockdown of NF-κB p65 and Nrf2 upregulation restored UCHL1 expression and proteasome activity in vitro,promoting NSC activation by enhancing protein aggregate clearance.Mechanistically,we found that NF-κB p65 regulated Nrf2 activity through a dual mechanism:(1)promoting Keap1-dependent ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of Nrf2;(2)inhibiting protein kinase C-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.Using the dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)analysis,we further identified UCHL1 as a direct transcriptional target of Nrf2.Importantly,in vivo experiments using SCI mice confirmed that either C3aR blockade,NF-κB p65 knockdown,or Nrf2 overexpression could rescue SCI-induced UCHL1 downregulation.Together,this study uncovers the C3a-NF-κB p65-Nrf2-UCHL1-proteasome axis as a critical regulator of NSC activation after SCI.This may provide novel molecular targets and intervention strategies for SCI repair.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province of China,No.20210302124277the Science Foundation of Shanxi Bethune Hospital,No.2021YJ13(both to JW)。
文摘Repetitive traumatic brain injury impacts adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus,leading to long-term cognitive impairment.However,the mechanism underlying this neurogenesis impairment remains unknown.In this study,we established a male mouse model of repetitive traumatic brain injury and performed long-term evaluation of neurogenesis of the hippocampal dentate gyrus after repetitive traumatic brain injury.Our results showed that repetitive traumatic brain injury inhibited neural stem cell proliferation and development,delayed neuronal maturation,and reduced the complexity of neuronal dendrites and spines.Mice with repetitive traumatic brain injuryalso showed deficits in spatial memory retrieval.Moreover,following repetitive traumatic brain injury,neuroinflammation was enhanced in the neurogenesis microenvironment where C1q levels were increased,C1q binding protein levels were decreased,and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling was downregulated.An inhibitor of C1 reversed the long-term impairment of neurogenesis induced by repetitive traumatic brain injury and improved neurological function.These findings suggest that repetitive traumatic brain injury–induced C1-related inflammation impairs long-term neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and contributes to spatial memory retrieval dysfunction.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFC2504200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82370936,81920108012,82471032).
文摘Complement C3 plays a critical role in periodontitis.However,its source,role and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In our study,by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from mouse model of periodontitis,we identified that C3 is primarily derived from periodontal fibroblasts.Subsequently,we demonstrated that C3a has a detrimental effect in ligature-induced periodontitis.C3ar−/−mice exhibited significantly less destruction of periodontal support tissues compared to wild-type mice,characterized by mild gingival tissue damage and reduced alveolar bone loss.This reduction was associated with decreased production of proinflammatory mediators and reduced osteoclast infiltration in the periodontal tissues.Mechanistic studies suggested that C3a could promote macrophage polarization and osteoclast differentiation.Finally,by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from the periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis,we found that the results observed in mice were consistent with human data.Therefore,our findings clearly demonstrate the destructive role of fibroblast-derived C3 in ligature-induced periodontitis,driven by macrophage M1 polarization and osteoclast differentiation.These data strongly support the feasibility of C3a-targeted interventions for the treatment of human periodontitis.
