The TIR-NBS 2 (TN2) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), which encodes a TIR (the Toll and Interleukin-1 Receptor)-type of nucleotide binding site (NBS) receptor protein (TIR-NBS) that can cause cell death in...The TIR-NBS 2 (TN2) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), which encodes a TIR (the Toll and Interleukin-1 Receptor)-type of nucleotide binding site (NBS) receptor protein (TIR-NBS) that can cause cell death in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana). Nevertheless, the mechanism of TN2 signal initiation is still unclear. This research performed yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BIFC) assays to investigate interactions between proteins of TN2, and analyzed the influences of these interactors on TN2 function using N. benthamiana. EXO70B1, SOC3 and CPK5-VK were identified as interacting proteins of TN2 based on yeast two-hybrid and BIFC methods. Functional annotations of these interacting proteins indicate their involvement in multiple pathways, including exocytosis, positive regulation of abscisic acid-activated signaling pathway, regulation of stomatal closure, response to water deprivation, defense response, signal transduction and intracellular signal transduction. The transient assay results proclaimed that EXO70B1 can suppress cell death triggered by TN2 and TN2-TIR. These outcomes suggest that TN2 receptor may be participated in various pathways, and the protein level and activity are strictly controlled at multiple aspects, providing novel clues for elucidating the molecular mechanism of TN2 immune receptor in Arabidopsis resistance.展开更多
Scar formation resulting from burns or severe trauma can significantly compromise the structural integrity of skin and lead to permanent loss of skin appendages,ultimately impairing its normal physiological function.A...Scar formation resulting from burns or severe trauma can significantly compromise the structural integrity of skin and lead to permanent loss of skin appendages,ultimately impairing its normal physiological function.Accumulating evidence underscores the potential of targeted modulation of mechanical cues to enhance skin regeneration,promoting scarless repair by influencing the extracellular microenvironment and driving the phenotypic transitions.The field of skin repair and skin appendage regeneration has witnessed remarkable advancements in the utilization of biomaterials with distinct physical properties.However,a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains somewhat elusive,limiting the broader application of these innovations.In this review,we present two promising biomaterial-based mechanical approaches aimed at bolstering the regenerative capacity of compromised skin.The first approach involves leveraging biomaterials with specific biophysical properties to create an optimal scarless environment that supports cellular activities essential for regeneration.The second approach centers on harnessing mechanical forces exerted by biomaterials to enhance cellular plasticity,facilitating efficient cellular reprogramming and,consequently,promoting the regeneration of skin appendages.In summary,the manipulation of mechanical cues using biomaterial-based strategies holds significant promise as a supplementary approach for achieving scarless wound healing,coupled with the restoration of multiple skin appendage functions.展开更多
To tackle the challenges of intractable parameter tun-ing,significant computational expenditure and imprecise model-driven sparse-based direction of arrival(DOA)estimation with array error(AE),this paper proposes a de...To tackle the challenges of intractable parameter tun-ing,significant computational expenditure and imprecise model-driven sparse-based direction of arrival(DOA)estimation with array error(AE),this paper proposes a deep unfolded amplitude-phase error self-calibration network.Firstly,a sparse-based DOA model with an array convex error restriction is established,which gets resolved via an alternating iterative minimization(AIM)algo-rithm.The algorithm is then unrolled to a deep network known as AE-AIM Network(AE-AIM-Net),where all parameters are opti-mized through multi-task learning using the constructed com-plete dataset.The results of the simulation and theoretical analy-sis suggest that the proposed unfolded network achieves lower computational costs compared to typical sparse recovery meth-ods.Furthermore,it maintains excellent estimation performance even in the presence of array magnitude-phase errors.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the global trends in and explore hotspots of high myopia(HM)research.METHODS:This bibliometric analysis was used to reveal the publication trends in HM research field based on the Web of Science Core C...AIM:To evaluate the global trends in and explore hotspots of high myopia(HM)research.METHODS:This bibliometric analysis was used to reveal the publication trends in HM research field based on the Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC).VOSviewer version 1.6.13 software was used to analyze the data and construct a knowledge map including the yearly publication number,journals,countries,international collaborations,authors,research hotspots,and intellectual base in HM.RESULTS:The search engine found 3544 peer-reviewed publications on HM between 2010 and 2019,and the yearly research output substantially elevated over the past decade.China is the top publishing country,and Sun Yatsen University was the most active academic institution.Jonas JB is the top publishing scientist,and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science(IOVS)was the most productive journal.The highest cited references mainly focused on epidemiology and management.The keywords formed 6 clusters:1)refractive surgery;2)etiology and clinical characteristics;3)the mechanism of eye growth;4)management for myopic maculopathy;5)vitrectomy surgical treatment;6)myopia-associated glaucoma-like optic neuropathy.CONCLUSION:The evaluation of development trends based on the data extracted from WoSCC can provide valuable information and guidance for ophthalmologists and public health researchers to improve management procedures in HM field.展开更多
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pat...Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,a traditional experimental model of multiple sclerosis.This study investigated the effect of Fasudil on macrophages and examined the therapeutic potential of Fasudil-modified macrophages in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.We found that Fasudil induced the conversion of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 type to the anti-inflammatory M2 type,as shown by reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide,interleukin-12,and CD16/32 and increased expression of arginase-1,interleukin-10,CD14,and CD206,which was linked to inhibition of Rho kinase activity,decreased expression of toll-like receptors,nuclear factor-κB,and components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.Crucially,Fasudil-modified macrophages effectively decreased the impact of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,resulting in later onset of disease,lower symptom scores,less weight loss,and reduced demyelination compared with unmodified macrophages.In addition,Fasudil-modified macrophages decreased interleukin-17 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and CD16/32,inducible nitric oxide synthase,and interleukin-12 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,as well as increasing interleukin-10 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and arginase-1,CD206,and interleukin-10 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,which improved immune regulation and reduced inflammation.These findings suggest that Fasudil-modified macrophages may help treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing M2 macrophage polarization and inhibiting the inflammatory response,thereby providing new insight into cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis.展开更多
Dear Editor,In this letter,a novel hierarchical fusion framework is proposed to address the imperfect data property in complex medical image analysis(MIA)scenes.In particular,by combining the strengths of convolutiona...Dear Editor,In this letter,a novel hierarchical fusion framework is proposed to address the imperfect data property in complex medical image analysis(MIA)scenes.In particular,by combining the strengths of convolutional neural networks(CNNs)and transformers,the enhanced feature extraction,spatial modeling,and sequential context learning are realized to provide comprehensive insights on the complex data patterns.Integration of information in different level is enabled via a multi-attention fusion mechanism,and the tensor decomposition methods are adopted so that compact and distinctive representation of the underlying and high-dimensional medical image features can be accomplished[1].It is shown from the evaluation results that the proposed framework is competitive and superior as compared with some other advanced algorithms,which effectively handles the imperfect property of inter-class similarity and intra-class differences in diseases,and meanwhile,the model complexity is reduced within an acceptable level,which benefits the deployment in clinic practice.MIA has assumed a pivotal role in numerous critical clinical scenarios,where sophisticated image analysis techniques have proven instrumental in augmenting medical decision-making,facilitating individualized therapeutic interventions,and enhancing patient prognostication[2]−[4].展开更多
Foxtail millet(Setaria italica)growth was inhibited because of waterlogging stress,which has caused yield reduc-tion.ERF family plays an important role to plant adversity tolerance.In our study,we obtained 19,819 diff...Foxtail millet(Setaria italica)growth was inhibited because of waterlogging stress,which has caused yield reduc-tion.ERF family plays an important role to plant adversity tolerance.In our study,we obtained 19,819 differential expressed genes(DEGs)between the two treatments based on the RNA-seq sequencing of foxtail millet of water-logging stress.Furthermore,a total of 28 ERF family members were obtained,which have a complete open read-ing frame.We studied the evolution and function of SiERF family and how they affected the waterlogging tolerance.It was found that SiERF1A/B/C(GenBank ID:OR775217,OR775219,OR775218)and SiRAP2-12(GenBank ID:OR775216)have similar functions to the known waterlogging tolerance genes of other plants.Among them,the SiRAP2-12 expression was obviously significantly up-regulated in foxtail millet after 5d water-logging stress.After SiRAP2-12 was silenced,the activity of defense enzymes in millet decreased significantly.In details,superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and peroxidase(POD),the osmotic regulator proline(Pro),and the activity of the anaerobic respiratory enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH)content were decreased by 78.61%,29.52%,79.95%,19.41%and 54.77%,respectively.In contrast,the relative electrical conductivity contents(REC),malondialdehyde(MDA),and hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))of the foxtail millet subjected to virus-induced gene silencing clearly increased by 1.03-fold,36.09%,and 15.21%,respectively.The content of sodium(Na^(+))in the SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet also increased,but that of potassium(K^(+))decreased.Interestingly,we found that ethylene content was significantly reduced.Further,the SiAOC1 expression,an essential gene for ethylene synthesis,was inhibited in SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet after waterlogging stress.Taken together,we hypothesized that SiRAP2-12 might be a positive regulator of millet tolerance to waterlogging stress.展开更多
Rural vitality is the life force expressed by a combination of endogenous dynamics and external influences. Exploring the complex relationship between rural functions, elements and flows could achieve sustainable rura...Rural vitality is the life force expressed by a combination of endogenous dynamics and external influences. Exploring the complex relationship between rural functions, elements and flows could achieve sustainable rural development. This study constructed a theoretical framework guided by the four functions of production, living, ecology and culture with the support of mobile big data. Furthermore, the network centrality of villages was estimated to reflect the intensity of urban-rural social mobility ties. The results indicated marked spatial disparities in rural vitality, and the coupling of ecological-cultural vitality has a high degree of coherence. Four rural vitality grades were identified: high level(38, 14.08%), medium-high level(66, 24.44%), medium-low level(110, 40.74%) and low level(56, 20.74%), covering 270 administrative village units. The flow intensity of social linkage elements is consistent with rural vitality and the socioeconomic spillover effect of urban centers on neighboring villages was noticeable. Topographic complexity negatively affected the living function, mainly in the T1 and T2 terrain gradients;the rural ecological function was not fully correlated with urban adjacency, and proximity could lead to adverse effects such as urban sprawl and resource destruction. The application of this study is to explore the importance of “flow” by utilizing mobile big data to refine the evaluation unit to the village scale. Accelerating the construction of network coverage and information interconnection and promoting the elemental flow of people, transportation and information between urban and rural areas are important ways to enhance rural vitality.展开更多
E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that m...E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination of BOS1 (Botrytis susceptible1), a transcription factor involved in stress and pathogen responses. Although BOI is an E3 ligase, there are reports to show that BOI interacts with target proteins such as DELLAs or CONSTANS to repress gibberellin responses and flowering without the degradation of the target proteins. In this article, we utilize diversified methods to comprehensively analyze the expression pattern, interaction network and function of BOI gene. Firstly, 1800 bp upstream region of BOI gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) genome was isolated, and fused GUS reporter gene. The resulting expression cassette was introduced into wild-type Arabidopsis through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The result demonstrated that BOI gene was expressed predominantly in leaves, siliques, young roots, and flowering tissues, indicating that BOI gene may be involved in multiple processes in plant growth and development in Arabidopsis. Besides, eight candidate interacting proteins were obtained from the Arabidopsis cDNA library via yeast two-hybrid technology, including EXO70E2 (AT5G61010), WRKY7 (AT4G24240), WRKY11 (AT4G31550), WRKY17 (AT2G24570), UBP20 (AT4G17895), L5 (AT1G12290), SAUR9 (AT4G36110) and TCP21 (AT5G08330). Functional analysis of these candidate interacting proteins manifested that they related to multiple pathways, including biological and abiotic stress, programmed cell death, protein degradation, material metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In addition, the results of the transient assay proclaimed that BOI protein affects the protein stability of EXO70E2 and L5 through its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our results provide novel clues for a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying BOI-mediated regulations.展开更多
Dear Editor,The large defects of the skin caused by burns or trauma can result in disruption of the structure and function of the skin,as well as irreversible loss of skin appendages,such as sweat glands(SG).As the im...Dear Editor,The large defects of the skin caused by burns or trauma can result in disruption of the structure and function of the skin,as well as irreversible loss of skin appendages,such as sweat glands(SG).As the important modulator of temperature homeostasis,SG damage triggers heat intolerance and thermoregulatory dysfunction,which poses a considerable threat to health and quality of life[1-3].The promotion of wound healing with SG restoration remains a challenging issue.It has been reported that there are urinary epithelial cells(UECs)in human urine samples,and they may most likely originate from renal proximal tubules[4].UECs are easy to obtain from urine samples at any age,sex,or ethnic origin except for renal failure,with a cost-effective,non-invasive and simple isolation method[4].More importantly,the extensive source of clinical urine sample makes it easy for urinary cell autogenous transplantation and individualized treatment.Therefore,it is of great significance to convert UECs into urinary epithelial stem cells(UESCs)with repair ability.In this context,we design a strategy for the pharmacological conversion of UECs into UESCs,and the repair ability of UESCs in functional skin wound healing is explored.展开更多
NBS-LRR (nucleotide binding sites and leucine rich repeat) protein plays a crucial role as sentries and as defense activators in plants. The structure and function of NBS-LRR proteins are closely related. Previous art...NBS-LRR (nucleotide binding sites and leucine rich repeat) protein plays a crucial role as sentries and as defense activators in plants. The structure and function of NBS-LRR proteins are closely related. Previous articles have announced that the activated ZAR1 (HopZ-Activated Resistance 1) forms a pentamer in the plasma membrane, which is a calcium permeable channel that can trigger plant immune signaling and cell death. However, the structure of galore NBS-LRRs in Arabidopsis is not yet clear. The functional sites of distinct NBS-LRR in cells may vary. In addition, identifying pathogens and activating defense regions may occur in different subcellular compartments. Therefore, dissecting the specific structure and positioning of NBS-LRRs is an indispensable step in understanding their functions. In this article, we exploit AlphaFold to predict the structure of some designed NBS-LRRs, and utilize Agroinfiltration transient expression system, combined with biochemical fractionation, to dissect the localization of these NBS-LRR receptors from Arabidopsis. Structural data indicates that the identified NBS-LRRs share analogous conformation. Membrane fractionation assay demonstrates these NBS-LRRs are mainly associated with the membrane. These data show that the Ca2+-permeable channel activity may be evolutionarily conserved in NBS-LRR of Arabidopsis, and this study provides some reference clues for analyzing the structure and localization patterns of other plant immune receptors.展开更多
Skin wound healing is a complex event, and interrupted wound healing process could lead to scar formation. The aim of this study was to examine the morphological changes of scar tissue. Pathological staining（HE stain...Skin wound healing is a complex event, and interrupted wound healing process could lead to scar formation. The aim of this study was to examine the morphological changes of scar tissue. Pathological staining（HE staining, Masson＇s trichrome staining, methenamine silver staining） was used to evaluate the morphological changes of regenerating epidermis in normal skin and scar tissue, and immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression of collagen Ⅳ, a component of basement membrane（BM）, and the expression of integrinβ4, a receptor for BM laminins. Additionally, the expression of CK14, CK5, and CK10 was measured to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes in normal skin and scar tissue. The results showed that the structure of the skin was histologically changed in scar tissue. Collagen Ⅳ, expressed under the epidermis of normal skin, was reduced distinctly in scar tissue. Integrinβ4, expressed in the basal layer of normal skin, was found absent in the basal layer of scar tissue. Additionally, it was found that keratinocytes in scarring epidermis were more proliferative than in normal skin. These results indicate that during the skin wound healing, altered formation of BM may affect the proliferation of keratinocytes, reepithelial and tissue remodeling, and then result in scar formation. Thus, remodeling BM structure during wound repair may be beneficial for improving healing in cutaneous wounds during clinical practice.展开更多
AIM: To investigate whether dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) inhibits gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction following zymosan-induced systemic inflammatoryresponse syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.METHODS: ...AIM: To investigate whether dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) inhibits gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction following zymosan-induced systemic inflammatoryresponse syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham with administration of normal saline(SS group); sham with administration of DMSO(SD group); zymosan with administration of normal saline(ZS group); and zymosan with administration of DMSO(ZD group). Each group contained three subgroups according to 4 h,8 h,and 24 h after surgery. At 4 h,8 h,and 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of zymosan(750 mg/kg),the levels of intestinal inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL)-10] and oxides(myeloperoxidase,malonaldehyde,and superoxide dismutase) were examined. The levels of diamine oxidase(DAO) in plasma and intestinal mucosal blood flow(IMBF) were determined. Intestinal injury was also evaluated using an intestinal histological score and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells was determined by deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay. The intestinal epithelial tight junction protein,ZO-1,was observed by immunofluorescence.RESULTS: DMSO decreased TNF-α and increased IL-10 levels in the intestine compared with the ZS group at the corresponding time points. The activity of intestinal myeloperoxidase in the ZS group was higher than that in the ZD group 24 h after zymosan administration(P < 0.05). DMSO decreased the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) and increased the activity of superoxide dehydrogenase(SOD) 24 h after zymosan administration. The IMBF was lowest at 24 h and was 49.34% and 58.26% in the ZS group and ZD group,respectively(P < 0.05). DMSO alleviated injury in intestinal villi,and the gut injury score was significantly lower than the ZS group(3.6 ± 0.2 vs 4.2 ± 0.3,P < 0.05). DMSO decreased the level of DAO in plasma compared with the ZS group(65.1 ± 4.7 U/L vs 81.1 ± 5.0 U/L,P < 0.05). DMSO significantly preserved ZO-1 protein expression and localization 24 h after zymosan administration. The TUNEL analysis indicated that the number of apoptotic intestinal cells in the ZS group was much higher than the ZD group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: DMSO inhibited intestinal cytokines and protected against zymosan-induced gut barrier dysfunction.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia of the extract from Tianma(Rhizoma Gastrodiae) and the possible mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: Ce...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia of the extract from Tianma(Rhizoma Gastrodiae) and the possible mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced through middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operated,ischemia-reperfusion model, 102.6 mg/kg extract treated and 11.4 mg/kg extract treated groups. The extract was prepared from gastrodia elata with ethyl acetate. The effect of the extract tested on rat neurological de fi cits and Cerebral index, cerebral infarct volume, brain injury, terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) positive cells.RESULTS: The extract was able to reduce neurological scores, cerebral index and cerebral infarction rate. The brain injury was also relieved by the extract. The results of immunofluorescence staining analysis indicated that the extract increased the expression of Bcl-2 and reduced TUNEL-positive cells significantly in the extract treated groups.CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the extract relieved ischemic injury induced by transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats, and this neuroprotective effect might be partially due to the attenuated apoptosis pathway.展开更多
Astrocytes play multifaceted and vital roles in maintaining neurophysiological function of the central nervous system by regulating homeostasis, increasing synaptic plasticity, and sustaining neuroprotective effects. ...Astrocytes play multifaceted and vital roles in maintaining neurophysiological function of the central nervous system by regulating homeostasis, increasing synaptic plasticity, and sustaining neuroprotective effects. Astrocytes become activated as a result of inflammatory responses during the progression of pathological changes associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Reactive astrocytes(neurotoxic A1 and neuroprotective A2) are triggered during disease progression and pathogenesis due to neuroinflammation and ischemia. However, only a limited body of literature describes morphological and functional changes of astrocytes during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review investigated the detrimental and beneficial roles of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases reported in recent studies, as these cells have promising therapeutic potential and offer new approaches for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.展开更多
Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phen...Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phenotypic changes;these events have become a significant and promising area of research. In this review, we summarize the effects of microglial polarization and crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Our literature search found that phenotypic changes occur continuously in Alzheimer’s disease and that microglia exhibit extensive crosstalk with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and penetrated peripheral innate immune cells via specific signaling pathways and cytokines. Collectively, unlike previous efforts to modulate microglial phenotypes at a single level, targeting the phenotypes of microglia and the crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system may be more effective in reducing inflammation in the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease. This would establish a theoretical basis for reducing neuronal death from central nervous system inflammation and provide an appropriate environment to promote neuronal regeneration in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
Ras homolog(Rho)-associated kinases(ROCKs)belong to the serine-threonine kinase family,which plays a pivotal role in regulating the damage,survival,axon guidance,and regeneration of neurons.ROCKs are also involved in ...Ras homolog(Rho)-associated kinases(ROCKs)belong to the serine-threonine kinase family,which plays a pivotal role in regulating the damage,survival,axon guidance,and regeneration of neurons.ROCKs are also involved in the biological effects of immune cells and glial cells,as well as the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,and multiple sclerosis.Previous studies by us and others confirmed that ROCKs inhibitors attenuated the symptoms and progression of experimental models of the abovementioned neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting neuroinflammation,regulating immune imbalance,repairing the blood-brain barrier,and promoting nerve repair and myelin regeneration.Fasudil,the first ROCKs inhibitor to be used clinically,has a good therapeutic effect on neurodegenerative diseases.Fasudil increases the activity of neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells,thus optimizing cell therapy.This review will systematically describe,for the first time,the effects of abnormal activation of ROCKs on T cells,B cells,microglia,astrocytes,oligodendrocytes,and pericytes in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system,summarize the therapeutic potential of fasudil in several experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases,and clarify the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of ROCKs inhibition.This review also proposes that fasudil is a novel potential treatment,especially in combination with cell-based therapy.Findings from this review add support for further investigation of ROCKs and its inhibitor fasudil for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.展开更多
AIM： To explore the molecular mechanisms in lens development and the pathogenesis of Peters anomaly in Smad4 defective mice. METHODS： Le-Cre transgenic mouse line was employed to inactivate Smad4 in the surface ect...AIM： To explore the molecular mechanisms in lens development and the pathogenesis of Peters anomaly in Smad4 defective mice. METHODS： Le-Cre transgenic mouse line was employed to inactivate Smad4 in the surface ectoderm selectively. Pathological techniques were used to reveal the morphological changes of the anterior segment in Smad4 defective eye. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to observe the expression of E-cadherin, N- cadherin and α-SMA in anterior segment of Smad4 defective mice and control mice at embryonic （E） day 16.5. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was performed to detect the expression of Snail, Zebl, Zeb2 and Twist2 in lens of Smad4 defective mice and control mice at E16.5. RESULTS： Conditional deletion of Smad4 on eye surface ectoderm resulted in corneal dysplasia, iridocorneal angle closure, corneolenticular adhesions and cataract resembling Peters anomaly. Loss of Smad4 function inhibited E-cadherin expression in the lens epithelium cells and corneal epithelium cells in Smad4 defective eye. Expression of N-cadherin was upregulated in corneal epithelium and corneal stroma. Both E-cadherin and N-cadherin were down-regulated at the future trabecular meshwork region in mutant eye. The qPCR results showed that the expression of Twist2 was increased significantly in the mutant lens （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION： Smad4 is essential to eye development and likely a candidate pathogenic gene to Peters anomaly by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Twist2 can be regulated by Smad4 and plays an essential role in lens development.展开更多
An antifungal lipopeptide iturin A with strong activity against Fusarium oxysporum was produced by honey isolated strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BH072. For large-scale biocontrol application, the antifungal effect ...An antifungal lipopeptide iturin A with strong activity against Fusarium oxysporum was produced by honey isolated strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BH072. For large-scale biocontrol application, the antifungal effect was deeply demonstrated by structure and mode of action. Cyclic structure and second structure were determined based on situ acid hydrolysis and Fourier Transformed-Infra Red (FT-IR) Spectra analysis. Structure of α-helix was predicted which might be associated with activity. Afterwards, antifungal mechanism of iturin A on F. oxysporum were investigated from fungal cell wall to the plasma membrane and finally to intracellular proteins by morphological, activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), conductivity, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and SDS-PAGE detection. Antifungal damage appears on not only the spore germination and mycelium growth of F. oxysporum, but also the leakage of cellular proteins. Moreover, growth of F. oxysporum could be inhibited in the presence of iturin A at a MIC of 2.5 mg/mL. Considered with its high production in previous work, B. amyloliquefaciens strain BH072 and iturin A might be a promising candidate for biocontrol.展开更多
文摘The TIR-NBS 2 (TN2) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), which encodes a TIR (the Toll and Interleukin-1 Receptor)-type of nucleotide binding site (NBS) receptor protein (TIR-NBS) that can cause cell death in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana). Nevertheless, the mechanism of TN2 signal initiation is still unclear. This research performed yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BIFC) assays to investigate interactions between proteins of TN2, and analyzed the influences of these interactors on TN2 function using N. benthamiana. EXO70B1, SOC3 and CPK5-VK were identified as interacting proteins of TN2 based on yeast two-hybrid and BIFC methods. Functional annotations of these interacting proteins indicate their involvement in multiple pathways, including exocytosis, positive regulation of abscisic acid-activated signaling pathway, regulation of stomatal closure, response to water deprivation, defense response, signal transduction and intracellular signal transduction. The transient assay results proclaimed that EXO70B1 can suppress cell death triggered by TN2 and TN2-TIR. These outcomes suggest that TN2 receptor may be participated in various pathways, and the protein level and activity are strictly controlled at multiple aspects, providing novel clues for elucidating the molecular mechanism of TN2 immune receptor in Arabidopsis resistance.
基金supported in part by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(92268206,81830064)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS,2019-I2M-5-059)+4 种基金the Military Medical Research Projects(145AKJ260015000X,2022-JCJQ-ZB-09600)the Military Key Basic Research of Foundational Strengthening Program(2020-JCJQ-ZD-256-021)the Science Foundation of National Defense Science and Technology for Excellent Young(2022-JCJQ-ZQ-017)the Military Medical Research and Development Projects(AWS17J005,2019-126)the Specific Research Fund of The Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province(YSPTZX202317).
文摘Scar formation resulting from burns or severe trauma can significantly compromise the structural integrity of skin and lead to permanent loss of skin appendages,ultimately impairing its normal physiological function.Accumulating evidence underscores the potential of targeted modulation of mechanical cues to enhance skin regeneration,promoting scarless repair by influencing the extracellular microenvironment and driving the phenotypic transitions.The field of skin repair and skin appendage regeneration has witnessed remarkable advancements in the utilization of biomaterials with distinct physical properties.However,a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains somewhat elusive,limiting the broader application of these innovations.In this review,we present two promising biomaterial-based mechanical approaches aimed at bolstering the regenerative capacity of compromised skin.The first approach involves leveraging biomaterials with specific biophysical properties to create an optimal scarless environment that supports cellular activities essential for regeneration.The second approach centers on harnessing mechanical forces exerted by biomaterials to enhance cellular plasticity,facilitating efficient cellular reprogramming and,consequently,promoting the regeneration of skin appendages.In summary,the manipulation of mechanical cues using biomaterial-based strategies holds significant promise as a supplementary approach for achieving scarless wound healing,coupled with the restoration of multiple skin appendage functions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62301598).
文摘To tackle the challenges of intractable parameter tun-ing,significant computational expenditure and imprecise model-driven sparse-based direction of arrival(DOA)estimation with array error(AE),this paper proposes a deep unfolded amplitude-phase error self-calibration network.Firstly,a sparse-based DOA model with an array convex error restriction is established,which gets resolved via an alternating iterative minimization(AIM)algo-rithm.The algorithm is then unrolled to a deep network known as AE-AIM Network(AE-AIM-Net),where all parameters are opti-mized through multi-task learning using the constructed com-plete dataset.The results of the simulation and theoretical analy-sis suggest that the proposed unfolded network achieves lower computational costs compared to typical sparse recovery meth-ods.Furthermore,it maintains excellent estimation performance even in the presence of array magnitude-phase errors.
基金Supported by Natural Science Key Research Project of the Education Department of Liaoning Province(No.ZD2020003)Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(No.2019-MS-376)。
文摘AIM:To evaluate the global trends in and explore hotspots of high myopia(HM)research.METHODS:This bibliometric analysis was used to reveal the publication trends in HM research field based on the Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC).VOSviewer version 1.6.13 software was used to analyze the data and construct a knowledge map including the yearly publication number,journals,countries,international collaborations,authors,research hotspots,and intellectual base in HM.RESULTS:The search engine found 3544 peer-reviewed publications on HM between 2010 and 2019,and the yearly research output substantially elevated over the past decade.China is the top publishing country,and Sun Yatsen University was the most active academic institution.Jonas JB is the top publishing scientist,and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science(IOVS)was the most productive journal.The highest cited references mainly focused on epidemiology and management.The keywords formed 6 clusters:1)refractive surgery;2)etiology and clinical characteristics;3)the mechanism of eye growth;4)management for myopic maculopathy;5)vitrectomy surgical treatment;6)myopia-associated glaucoma-like optic neuropathy.CONCLUSION:The evaluation of development trends based on the data extracted from WoSCC can provide valuable information and guidance for ophthalmologists and public health researchers to improve management procedures in HM field.
基金supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology of Shanxi Province,China,No.20210302123477(to CL)Datong Bureau of Science and Technology of China,No.2020152(to CL)the Opening Foundation of Key Research Laboratory of Benefiting Qi for Acting Blood Circulation Method to Treat Multiple Sclerosis of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.2022-KF-03(to CL).
文摘Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,a traditional experimental model of multiple sclerosis.This study investigated the effect of Fasudil on macrophages and examined the therapeutic potential of Fasudil-modified macrophages in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.We found that Fasudil induced the conversion of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 type to the anti-inflammatory M2 type,as shown by reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide,interleukin-12,and CD16/32 and increased expression of arginase-1,interleukin-10,CD14,and CD206,which was linked to inhibition of Rho kinase activity,decreased expression of toll-like receptors,nuclear factor-κB,and components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.Crucially,Fasudil-modified macrophages effectively decreased the impact of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,resulting in later onset of disease,lower symptom scores,less weight loss,and reduced demyelination compared with unmodified macrophages.In addition,Fasudil-modified macrophages decreased interleukin-17 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and CD16/32,inducible nitric oxide synthase,and interleukin-12 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,as well as increasing interleukin-10 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and arginase-1,CD206,and interleukin-10 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,which improved immune regulation and reduced inflammation.These findings suggest that Fasudil-modified macrophages may help treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing M2 macrophage polarization and inhibiting the inflammatory response,thereby providing new insight into cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62073271)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(20720220076)the Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of the Fujian Province of China(2023 J06010).
文摘Dear Editor,In this letter,a novel hierarchical fusion framework is proposed to address the imperfect data property in complex medical image analysis(MIA)scenes.In particular,by combining the strengths of convolutional neural networks(CNNs)and transformers,the enhanced feature extraction,spatial modeling,and sequential context learning are realized to provide comprehensive insights on the complex data patterns.Integration of information in different level is enabled via a multi-attention fusion mechanism,and the tensor decomposition methods are adopted so that compact and distinctive representation of the underlying and high-dimensional medical image features can be accomplished[1].It is shown from the evaluation results that the proposed framework is competitive and superior as compared with some other advanced algorithms,which effectively handles the imperfect property of inter-class similarity and intra-class differences in diseases,and meanwhile,the model complexity is reduced within an acceptable level,which benefits the deployment in clinic practice.MIA has assumed a pivotal role in numerous critical clinical scenarios,where sophisticated image analysis techniques have proven instrumental in augmenting medical decision-making,facilitating individualized therapeutic interventions,and enhancing patient prognostication[2]−[4].
基金This research was supported by the China Agricultural Research System(CARS-06-14.5-A23)HAAFS Basic Science and Technology Contract Project(Grant No.HBNKY-BGZ-02)Technical System of Foxtail Millet Industry in Hebei Province.
文摘Foxtail millet(Setaria italica)growth was inhibited because of waterlogging stress,which has caused yield reduc-tion.ERF family plays an important role to plant adversity tolerance.In our study,we obtained 19,819 differential expressed genes(DEGs)between the two treatments based on the RNA-seq sequencing of foxtail millet of water-logging stress.Furthermore,a total of 28 ERF family members were obtained,which have a complete open read-ing frame.We studied the evolution and function of SiERF family and how they affected the waterlogging tolerance.It was found that SiERF1A/B/C(GenBank ID:OR775217,OR775219,OR775218)and SiRAP2-12(GenBank ID:OR775216)have similar functions to the known waterlogging tolerance genes of other plants.Among them,the SiRAP2-12 expression was obviously significantly up-regulated in foxtail millet after 5d water-logging stress.After SiRAP2-12 was silenced,the activity of defense enzymes in millet decreased significantly.In details,superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and peroxidase(POD),the osmotic regulator proline(Pro),and the activity of the anaerobic respiratory enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH)content were decreased by 78.61%,29.52%,79.95%,19.41%and 54.77%,respectively.In contrast,the relative electrical conductivity contents(REC),malondialdehyde(MDA),and hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))of the foxtail millet subjected to virus-induced gene silencing clearly increased by 1.03-fold,36.09%,and 15.21%,respectively.The content of sodium(Na^(+))in the SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet also increased,but that of potassium(K^(+))decreased.Interestingly,we found that ethylene content was significantly reduced.Further,the SiAOC1 expression,an essential gene for ethylene synthesis,was inhibited in SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet after waterlogging stress.Taken together,we hypothesized that SiRAP2-12 might be a positive regulator of millet tolerance to waterlogging stress.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41971236。
文摘Rural vitality is the life force expressed by a combination of endogenous dynamics and external influences. Exploring the complex relationship between rural functions, elements and flows could achieve sustainable rural development. This study constructed a theoretical framework guided by the four functions of production, living, ecology and culture with the support of mobile big data. Furthermore, the network centrality of villages was estimated to reflect the intensity of urban-rural social mobility ties. The results indicated marked spatial disparities in rural vitality, and the coupling of ecological-cultural vitality has a high degree of coherence. Four rural vitality grades were identified: high level(38, 14.08%), medium-high level(66, 24.44%), medium-low level(110, 40.74%) and low level(56, 20.74%), covering 270 administrative village units. The flow intensity of social linkage elements is consistent with rural vitality and the socioeconomic spillover effect of urban centers on neighboring villages was noticeable. Topographic complexity negatively affected the living function, mainly in the T1 and T2 terrain gradients;the rural ecological function was not fully correlated with urban adjacency, and proximity could lead to adverse effects such as urban sprawl and resource destruction. The application of this study is to explore the importance of “flow” by utilizing mobile big data to refine the evaluation unit to the village scale. Accelerating the construction of network coverage and information interconnection and promoting the elemental flow of people, transportation and information between urban and rural areas are important ways to enhance rural vitality.
文摘E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination of BOS1 (Botrytis susceptible1), a transcription factor involved in stress and pathogen responses. Although BOI is an E3 ligase, there are reports to show that BOI interacts with target proteins such as DELLAs or CONSTANS to repress gibberellin responses and flowering without the degradation of the target proteins. In this article, we utilize diversified methods to comprehensively analyze the expression pattern, interaction network and function of BOI gene. Firstly, 1800 bp upstream region of BOI gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) genome was isolated, and fused GUS reporter gene. The resulting expression cassette was introduced into wild-type Arabidopsis through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The result demonstrated that BOI gene was expressed predominantly in leaves, siliques, young roots, and flowering tissues, indicating that BOI gene may be involved in multiple processes in plant growth and development in Arabidopsis. Besides, eight candidate interacting proteins were obtained from the Arabidopsis cDNA library via yeast two-hybrid technology, including EXO70E2 (AT5G61010), WRKY7 (AT4G24240), WRKY11 (AT4G31550), WRKY17 (AT2G24570), UBP20 (AT4G17895), L5 (AT1G12290), SAUR9 (AT4G36110) and TCP21 (AT5G08330). Functional analysis of these candidate interacting proteins manifested that they related to multiple pathways, including biological and abiotic stress, programmed cell death, protein degradation, material metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In addition, the results of the transient assay proclaimed that BOI protein affects the protein stability of EXO70E2 and L5 through its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our results provide novel clues for a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying BOI-mediated regulations.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(92268206,81830064)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS,2019-I2M-5-059)+2 种基金the Military Medical Research Projects(145AKJ260015000X,2022-JCJQ-ZB-09600,2020-JCJQ-ZD-256-021)the Military Medical Research and Development Projects(AWS17J005,2019-126)the Specific Research Fund of the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province(YSPTZX202317).
文摘Dear Editor,The large defects of the skin caused by burns or trauma can result in disruption of the structure and function of the skin,as well as irreversible loss of skin appendages,such as sweat glands(SG).As the important modulator of temperature homeostasis,SG damage triggers heat intolerance and thermoregulatory dysfunction,which poses a considerable threat to health and quality of life[1-3].The promotion of wound healing with SG restoration remains a challenging issue.It has been reported that there are urinary epithelial cells(UECs)in human urine samples,and they may most likely originate from renal proximal tubules[4].UECs are easy to obtain from urine samples at any age,sex,or ethnic origin except for renal failure,with a cost-effective,non-invasive and simple isolation method[4].More importantly,the extensive source of clinical urine sample makes it easy for urinary cell autogenous transplantation and individualized treatment.Therefore,it is of great significance to convert UECs into urinary epithelial stem cells(UESCs)with repair ability.In this context,we design a strategy for the pharmacological conversion of UECs into UESCs,and the repair ability of UESCs in functional skin wound healing is explored.
文摘NBS-LRR (nucleotide binding sites and leucine rich repeat) protein plays a crucial role as sentries and as defense activators in plants. The structure and function of NBS-LRR proteins are closely related. Previous articles have announced that the activated ZAR1 (HopZ-Activated Resistance 1) forms a pentamer in the plasma membrane, which is a calcium permeable channel that can trigger plant immune signaling and cell death. However, the structure of galore NBS-LRRs in Arabidopsis is not yet clear. The functional sites of distinct NBS-LRR in cells may vary. In addition, identifying pathogens and activating defense regions may occur in different subcellular compartments. Therefore, dissecting the specific structure and positioning of NBS-LRRs is an indispensable step in understanding their functions. In this article, we exploit AlphaFold to predict the structure of some designed NBS-LRRs, and utilize Agroinfiltration transient expression system, combined with biochemical fractionation, to dissect the localization of these NBS-LRR receptors from Arabidopsis. Structural data indicates that the identified NBS-LRRs share analogous conformation. Membrane fractionation assay demonstrates these NBS-LRRs are mainly associated with the membrane. These data show that the Ca2+-permeable channel activity may be evolutionarily conserved in NBS-LRR of Arabidopsis, and this study provides some reference clues for analyzing the structure and localization patterns of other plant immune receptors.
基金supported in part by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.81372067)the National Basic Science and Development Program of China(973 Program,No.2012CB518105)
文摘Skin wound healing is a complex event, and interrupted wound healing process could lead to scar formation. The aim of this study was to examine the morphological changes of scar tissue. Pathological staining（HE staining, Masson＇s trichrome staining, methenamine silver staining） was used to evaluate the morphological changes of regenerating epidermis in normal skin and scar tissue, and immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression of collagen Ⅳ, a component of basement membrane（BM）, and the expression of integrinβ4, a receptor for BM laminins. Additionally, the expression of CK14, CK5, and CK10 was measured to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes in normal skin and scar tissue. The results showed that the structure of the skin was histologically changed in scar tissue. Collagen Ⅳ, expressed under the epidermis of normal skin, was reduced distinctly in scar tissue. Integrinβ4, expressed in the basal layer of normal skin, was found absent in the basal layer of scar tissue. Additionally, it was found that keratinocytes in scarring epidermis were more proliferative than in normal skin. These results indicate that during the skin wound healing, altered formation of BM may affect the proliferation of keratinocytes, reepithelial and tissue remodeling, and then result in scar formation. Thus, remodeling BM structure during wound repair may be beneficial for improving healing in cutaneous wounds during clinical practice.
基金Supported by National 11th Five-Year Plan of China for Military Medical Projects,No.06Z055the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81301607
文摘AIM: To investigate whether dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) inhibits gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction following zymosan-induced systemic inflammatoryresponse syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham with administration of normal saline(SS group); sham with administration of DMSO(SD group); zymosan with administration of normal saline(ZS group); and zymosan with administration of DMSO(ZD group). Each group contained three subgroups according to 4 h,8 h,and 24 h after surgery. At 4 h,8 h,and 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of zymosan(750 mg/kg),the levels of intestinal inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL)-10] and oxides(myeloperoxidase,malonaldehyde,and superoxide dismutase) were examined. The levels of diamine oxidase(DAO) in plasma and intestinal mucosal blood flow(IMBF) were determined. Intestinal injury was also evaluated using an intestinal histological score and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells was determined by deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay. The intestinal epithelial tight junction protein,ZO-1,was observed by immunofluorescence.RESULTS: DMSO decreased TNF-α and increased IL-10 levels in the intestine compared with the ZS group at the corresponding time points. The activity of intestinal myeloperoxidase in the ZS group was higher than that in the ZD group 24 h after zymosan administration(P < 0.05). DMSO decreased the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) and increased the activity of superoxide dehydrogenase(SOD) 24 h after zymosan administration. The IMBF was lowest at 24 h and was 49.34% and 58.26% in the ZS group and ZD group,respectively(P < 0.05). DMSO alleviated injury in intestinal villi,and the gut injury score was significantly lower than the ZS group(3.6 ± 0.2 vs 4.2 ± 0.3,P < 0.05). DMSO decreased the level of DAO in plasma compared with the ZS group(65.1 ± 4.7 U/L vs 81.1 ± 5.0 U/L,P < 0.05). DMSO significantly preserved ZO-1 protein expression and localization 24 h after zymosan administration. The TUNEL analysis indicated that the number of apoptotic intestinal cells in the ZS group was much higher than the ZD group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: DMSO inhibited intestinal cytokines and protected against zymosan-induced gut barrier dysfunction.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Anti-ischemic Brain Injury and Neuroprotection Mechanisms of Phenolic Compounds Distributed in Brain from Gastrodia,No.81160514)Yunnan Applied Basic Research Projects (Protective Effect and Mechanisms of 4-Methoxybenzyl from Gastrodia Elata on the Neurovascular Unit,No.2014FB153)Traditional Chinese Medicine Education Innovation Fund of Yunnan Baiyao-Yunnan University of TCM (The Regulation Role of Ethyl Acetate Extract from Gastrodia Elata on NO Pathway,No.YB2014J04)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia of the extract from Tianma(Rhizoma Gastrodiae) and the possible mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced through middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operated,ischemia-reperfusion model, 102.6 mg/kg extract treated and 11.4 mg/kg extract treated groups. The extract was prepared from gastrodia elata with ethyl acetate. The effect of the extract tested on rat neurological de fi cits and Cerebral index, cerebral infarct volume, brain injury, terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) positive cells.RESULTS: The extract was able to reduce neurological scores, cerebral index and cerebral infarction rate. The brain injury was also relieved by the extract. The results of immunofluorescence staining analysis indicated that the extract increased the expression of Bcl-2 and reduced TUNEL-positive cells significantly in the extract treated groups.CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the extract relieved ischemic injury induced by transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats, and this neuroprotective effect might be partially due to the attenuated apoptosis pathway.
基金supported partially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81473577(to CGM)a grant from the Department of Science and Technology of Shanxi Province,China,No.201803D421073(to YQY)and No.201805D111009(to CGM)+2 种基金a grant from Shanxi Applied Basic Research Project,No.201901D211538(to LJS)Datong Bureau of Science and Technology of China,No.2019198(to CGM)Research Project Funds from Shanxi Scholarship Council of China,No.2014-7(to CGM)。
文摘Astrocytes play multifaceted and vital roles in maintaining neurophysiological function of the central nervous system by regulating homeostasis, increasing synaptic plasticity, and sustaining neuroprotective effects. Astrocytes become activated as a result of inflammatory responses during the progression of pathological changes associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Reactive astrocytes(neurotoxic A1 and neuroprotective A2) are triggered during disease progression and pathogenesis due to neuroinflammation and ischemia. However, only a limited body of literature describes morphological and functional changes of astrocytes during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review investigated the detrimental and beneficial roles of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases reported in recent studies, as these cells have promising therapeutic potential and offer new approaches for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos. 82004028 (to LJS) and 81473577 (to CGM)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No. 2020M680912 (to LJS)+4 种基金Shanxi Applied Basic Research Project,No. 201901D211538 (to LJS)Leading Team of Medical Science and Technology of Shanxi Province,No. 2020TD05 (to CGM)Funds for Construction of Key Disciplines from Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine,Young Scientists Cultivation Project of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine No. 2021PYQN-09 (to LJS)Basic Research Project of the Cultivation Plan of Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine,No. 2020PY-JC-02 (to LJS)Cardiovascular Special Fund Project of National Regional Traditional Chinese Medicine Medical Center of Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine in 2021, No. XGZX202115 (to LJS)。
文摘Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phenotypic changes;these events have become a significant and promising area of research. In this review, we summarize the effects of microglial polarization and crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Our literature search found that phenotypic changes occur continuously in Alzheimer’s disease and that microglia exhibit extensive crosstalk with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and penetrated peripheral innate immune cells via specific signaling pathways and cytokines. Collectively, unlike previous efforts to modulate microglial phenotypes at a single level, targeting the phenotypes of microglia and the crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system may be more effective in reducing inflammation in the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease. This would establish a theoretical basis for reducing neuronal death from central nervous system inflammation and provide an appropriate environment to promote neuronal regeneration in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos.81473577 (to CGM), 81903596 (to QW), 82004028 (to LJS)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No.2020M680912 (to LJS)+2 种基金Open Project of The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Ministry of Education of China,No.2019004 (to CGM)Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shanxi Colleges of China, Nos.2019L0728 (to QW)Cultivation Project of Shanxi Universtity of Chinese Medicine of China, No.2019PY130 (to QW)
文摘Ras homolog(Rho)-associated kinases(ROCKs)belong to the serine-threonine kinase family,which plays a pivotal role in regulating the damage,survival,axon guidance,and regeneration of neurons.ROCKs are also involved in the biological effects of immune cells and glial cells,as well as the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,and multiple sclerosis.Previous studies by us and others confirmed that ROCKs inhibitors attenuated the symptoms and progression of experimental models of the abovementioned neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting neuroinflammation,regulating immune imbalance,repairing the blood-brain barrier,and promoting nerve repair and myelin regeneration.Fasudil,the first ROCKs inhibitor to be used clinically,has a good therapeutic effect on neurodegenerative diseases.Fasudil increases the activity of neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells,thus optimizing cell therapy.This review will systematically describe,for the first time,the effects of abnormal activation of ROCKs on T cells,B cells,microglia,astrocytes,oligodendrocytes,and pericytes in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system,summarize the therapeutic potential of fasudil in several experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases,and clarify the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of ROCKs inhibition.This review also proposes that fasudil is a novel potential treatment,especially in combination with cell-based therapy.Findings from this review add support for further investigation of ROCKs and its inhibitor fasudil for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81470617No.81371003)Colleges and Universities Scientific Research Project of Liaoning Province,China(No.L2014305)
文摘AIM： To explore the molecular mechanisms in lens development and the pathogenesis of Peters anomaly in Smad4 defective mice. METHODS： Le-Cre transgenic mouse line was employed to inactivate Smad4 in the surface ectoderm selectively. Pathological techniques were used to reveal the morphological changes of the anterior segment in Smad4 defective eye. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to observe the expression of E-cadherin, N- cadherin and α-SMA in anterior segment of Smad4 defective mice and control mice at embryonic （E） day 16.5. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was performed to detect the expression of Snail, Zebl, Zeb2 and Twist2 in lens of Smad4 defective mice and control mice at E16.5. RESULTS： Conditional deletion of Smad4 on eye surface ectoderm resulted in corneal dysplasia, iridocorneal angle closure, corneolenticular adhesions and cataract resembling Peters anomaly. Loss of Smad4 function inhibited E-cadherin expression in the lens epithelium cells and corneal epithelium cells in Smad4 defective eye. Expression of N-cadherin was upregulated in corneal epithelium and corneal stroma. Both E-cadherin and N-cadherin were down-regulated at the future trabecular meshwork region in mutant eye. The qPCR results showed that the expression of Twist2 was increased significantly in the mutant lens （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION： Smad4 is essential to eye development and likely a candidate pathogenic gene to Peters anomaly by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Twist2 can be regulated by Smad4 and plays an essential role in lens development.
文摘An antifungal lipopeptide iturin A with strong activity against Fusarium oxysporum was produced by honey isolated strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BH072. For large-scale biocontrol application, the antifungal effect was deeply demonstrated by structure and mode of action. Cyclic structure and second structure were determined based on situ acid hydrolysis and Fourier Transformed-Infra Red (FT-IR) Spectra analysis. Structure of α-helix was predicted which might be associated with activity. Afterwards, antifungal mechanism of iturin A on F. oxysporum were investigated from fungal cell wall to the plasma membrane and finally to intracellular proteins by morphological, activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), conductivity, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and SDS-PAGE detection. Antifungal damage appears on not only the spore germination and mycelium growth of F. oxysporum, but also the leakage of cellular proteins. Moreover, growth of F. oxysporum could be inhibited in the presence of iturin A at a MIC of 2.5 mg/mL. Considered with its high production in previous work, B. amyloliquefaciens strain BH072 and iturin A might be a promising candidate for biocontrol.
