Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Influence Microbial Community Composition and Metabolic Function to Enhance the Efficiency of Hybrid pennisetum Remediation in Cadmium-Contaminated Soil.

The green and efficient remediation of soil cadmium (Cd) is an urgent task, and plant-microbial joint remediation has become a research hotspot due to its advantages. High-throughput sequencing and metabolomics have technical advantages in analyzing the microbiological mechanism of plant growth-promoting bacteria in improving phytoremediation of soil heavy metal pollution. In this experiment, a pot trial was conducted to investigate the effects of inoculating the plant growth-promoting bacterium Enterobacter sp. VY on the growth and Cd remediation efficiency of the energy plant Hybrid pennisetum. The test strain VY-1 was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics to assess its effects on microbial community composition and metabolic function. The results demonstrated that Enterobacter sp. VY-1 effectively mitigated Cd stress on Hybrid pennisetum, resulting in increased plant biomass, Cd accumulation, and translocation factor, thereby enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. Analysis of soil physical-chemical properties revealed that strain VY-1 could increase soil total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and available potassium content. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated that strain VY-1 significantly influenced bacterial community composition, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, among others, being the main differential taxa. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that available phosphorus, available potassium, and pH were the primary factors affecting bacterial communities. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) demonstrated that strain VY-1 modulated the metabolite profile of Hybrid pennisetum rhizosphere soil, with 27 differential metabolites showing significant differences, including 19 up-regulated and eight down-regulated expressions. These differentially expressed metabolites were primarily involved in metabolism and environmental information processing, encompassing pathways such as glutamine and glutamate metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and purine metabolism. This study utilized 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics technology to investigate the impact of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Enterobacter sp. VY-1 on the growth and Cd enrichment of Hybrid pennisetum, providing insights into the regulatory role of plant growth-promoting bacteria in microbial community structure and metabolic function, thereby improving the microbiological mechanisms of phytoremediation.

The Efficacy of REG Proteins as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer: a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Regenerating gene (REG) family proteins play a pivotal role in cell proliferation, tissue regeneration, and tumor metastasis. Recent studies have concentrated on the role of REG proteins in pancreatic cancer, but the results remain controversial. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the precise diagnostic value of REG proteins in pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and WANFANG Data up to May 5, 2021. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The statistical analysis of the diagnostic tests was conducted using RevMan5 and Meta-Disc 1.4. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated from each eligible study. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 15 articles containing 796 patients and 584 controls. The pooled sensitivity was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.67 - 0.74), the pooled specificity was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.70 - 0.76), and the pooled DOR was 11.35 (95% CI: 5.92 - 21.77), respectively. The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.84. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.34 (p = 0.221). For the subgroup analysis, the REG4 protein showed higher diagnostic accuracy compared with the other REG proteins. CONCLUSIONS: REG proteins have moderate diagnostic accuracy in pancreatic cancer. Further well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and clinical application are needed to validate the results of this meta-analysis.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomal miR-301a-3p Regulates Airway Smooth Muscle Cells During Asthma by Targeting STAT3.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease featured by inflammation and remodeling of airway. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSCs)-derived exosomal miRNAs have been suggested as promising therapeutic manners for diseases. METHODS: ADSCs and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were isolated from SD rats. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect the surface biomarkers of isolated cells. Exosomes were extracted by sequentially centrifuge method and identified by Western blotting and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Uptake of exosomes by ASMCs was detected by confocal assay. ASMCs were treated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to mimic cell remodeling and inflammation. Cell counting 8 (CCK-8), Transwell, and flow cytometry were performed to determine the viability, migration, and apoptosis of ASMCs. Release of inflammatory factors was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of RNAs and proteins were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Interaction between miR-301a-3p and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was determined by luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of Exosomal miR-301a-3p was analyzed in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. RESULTS: ADSCs-derived exosomes could be effectively internalized by ASMCs. Exosomal miR-301a-3p notably suppressed the PDGF-BB-stimulated proliferation and migration of ASMCs, and enhanced apoptosis, as well as decreased the secretion of inflammatory factors. MiR-301a-3p directly targeted the 3'UTR region of STAT3. STAT3 overexpression reversed the suppressive effects of exosomal miR-301a-3p on ASMCs under PDGF-BB stimulation. The expression of miR-301a-3p and STAT3 was negative correlation in specimen from patients with asthma. Exosomal miR-301a-3p inhibited OVA-induced lung injury by targeting STAT3 in mice. CONCLUSION: This study exposed that exosomal miR-301a-3p from ADSCs could effectively alleviate PDGF-BB-stimulated remodeling and inflammation of ASMCs via targeting STAT3, presented ADSCs-derived exosomal miR-301a-3p as a promising therapeutic approach for asthma.

HDAC8-inhibitor PCI-34051-induced exosomes inhibit human bronchial smooth muscle cell proliferation via miR-381-3p mediated TGFB3.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of PCI-34051-induced human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs)-derived exosomes (PCI-Exo) on human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) and the key exosomal miRNAs involved in this process. Blank exosomes (Exo) and PCI-Exo were extracted from HBECs treated with PBS and PCI-34051, respectively. RNA-sequencing was performed to uncover the miRNA expression profile affected by PCI-Exo. The MTT, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were performed to reveal the effect of PCI-34051 and PCI-Exo on the proliferation and apoptosis of HBSMCs. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used for detecting protein and mRNA expression. A total of 25 exosomal miRNAs consisted of 17 down-regulated and eight up-regulated miRNAs were differentially expressed among PCI-Exo and Exo. Target genes of the exosomal miRNAs were mainly associated with signal transduction, cell adhesion, microRNAs in cancer, and ECM receptor interaction. miR-381-3p was identified as the most significant upregulated differential miRNA in PCI-Exo after qRT-PCR validation and could be transferred to HBSMCs by PCI-Exo. PCI-Exo treatment inhibited the proliferation but induced the apoptosis of HBSMCs. TGFß3 was identified as a target gene of miR-381-3p which could directly bind to the 3'UTR of TGFß3 mRNA. After transfecting the miR-381-3p mimic into HBSMCs, the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis rate of HBSMCs was significantly increased, and siTGFß3 transfection showed similar effects. Moreover, miR-381-3p overexpression could not only decrease the expression of α-SMA, FN1 and collagen I but also increase that of E-cadherin in HBSMCs. Our findings suggested that PCI-Exo could hinder the proliferation and obviously induce the apoptosis of HBSMCs, and its mechanisms might partly be attributable to the reduction of TGFß3 level by up-regulating exosomal miR-381-3p expression. These results may be vital for the treatment of lung related-diseases, especially asthma.

Flexible electrical stimulation device with Chitosan-Vaseline® dressing accelerates wound healing in diabetes.

The healing process of diabetic wounds is typically disordered and prolonged and requires both angiogenesis and epithelialization. Disruptions of the endogenous electric fields (EFs) may lead to disordered cell migration. Electrical stimulation (ES) that mimics endogenous EFs is a promising method in treating diabetic wounds; however, a microenvironment that facilitates cell migration and a convenient means that can be used to apply ES are also required. Chitosan-Vaseline® gauze (CVG) has been identified to facilitate wound healing; it also promotes moisture retention and immune regulation and has antibacterial activity. For this study, we created a wound dressing using CVG together with a flexible ES device and further evaluated its potential as a treatment for diabetic wounds. We found that high voltage monophasic pulsed current (HVMPC) promoted healing of diabetic wounds in vivo. In studies carried out in vitro, we found that HVMPC promoted the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by activating PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling. Overall, we determined that the flexible ES-chitosan dressing may promoted healing of diabetic wounds by accelerating angiogenesis, enhancing epithelialization, and inhibiting scar formation. These findings provide support for the ongoing development of this multidisciplinary product for the care and treatment of diabetic wounds.

Materials perspective on new lithium chlorides and bromides: insights into thermo-physical properties.

Recently, a new class of lithium chlorides and bromides (e.g., Li3YCl6 and Li3YBr6) were reported to be promising solid-state electrolytes with high ionic conductivity in all-solid-state battery cells. However, their response under mechanical loading is not known which is critical as mechanical properties can play a pivotal role in reducing interfacing resistance between electrolytes and electrodes. To address this issue, herein, we report the thermo-physical properties of these lithium chlorides and bromides using density functional theory calculations. It was found that the new structures possess relatively larger shear moduli than those of thio-phosphate-type solid-state electrolytes and smaller Young's moduli than those of Garnet-type solid-state electrolytes. This suggests that the new halide materials can be more effective in suppressing the formation of lithium dendrites, accommodating volumetric changes of electrode materials and preventing their own degradation. Meanwhile, Poisson's ratio and Pugh's indicator calculations showed that Li3YCl6 and Li3ScCl6 possess improved ductility than other halide candidates, and thus hold promise as solid-state electrolytes. On the other hand, owing to their relatively high thermal conductivities, lithium bromides were found to be more advantageous in conducting heat which is important to ensure safety. These results provide fundamental insights into the mechanical properties of lithium chlorides and bromides and contribute to the rational mechanical design of solid-state electrolytes and the development advanced all-solid-state batteries.

Proteomics profiling asthma induced-lysine acetylation.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been extensively studied for many years. However, finding a complete cure remains a significant challenge. Protein acetylation, especially histone acetylation, plays a significant role in the anti-asthma process. Histone deacetylation inhibitors (HDACi) have been shown to have a curative effect on asthma in clinical practice. An asthmatic mouse model was created by ovalbumin induction. Proteome and acetylproteome analysis were performed on lung tissues. HDACi were tested in the asthmatic mice. A total of 5346 proteins and 581 acetylation sites were identified, among which 154 proteins and 68 acetylation peptides were significantly altered by asthma. Many activated and deactivated processes, pathways, and protein groups were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Sequence motif preference analysis gave rise to a novel Kac-related core histone region, -KAXXK-, which was postulated as a key regulatory unit of histone acetylation. Asthma involves a variety of proteome dynamics and is controlled by protein lysine acetylation through the core motif -KAXXK-. These findings provide novel avenues to target and treat asthma.

HDAC8 inhibitor attenuates airway responses to antigen stimulus through synchronously suppressing galectin-3 expression and reducing macrophage-2 polarization.

BACKGROUND: This study was to investigate of the mechanism by which histone deacetylase (HDAC) 8 inhibitor ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and allergic airway inflammation. METHODS: Mice were sensitized and then treated with budesonide (BUD) or PCI-34051 (PCI) prior to exposing to normal saline (NS) or ovalbumin (OVA). The raw264.7 cells were treated with interleukin (IL)-4 and PCI or shRNA alone. Repetitive measurements of enhanced pause (Penh) were executed by increasing concentrations of acetyl-ß-methacholine chloride (0 - 50 mg/ml). Cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and pathological changes of lungs were examined, respectively. The expression levels of HDAC8, Galecitn (Gal)-3, CD68, CD86, CD163, Arg1 and NOS2 in lungs were measured. Co-regulation of HDAC8 and Gal-3 proteins was observed by immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation assay (Co-IP). RESULTS: Significant increases in Penh and IL-4 level were detected with a large inflammatory infiltrate, comprised predominantly of macrophages and eosinophils, into the BALF in OVA-exposed lungs. HDAC8, Gal-3, CD68, CD86, CD163, Arg1 and NOS2 proteins were over-expressed with the significant changes in the Arg1 and NOS2 mRNA levels in the lungs and the IL-4-treated cells. PCI intervention obviously reduced the counts of CD163+ cells. Furthermore, Gal-3 knockdown suppressed Arg1 expression in the cells. Immunofluorescence staining displayed simultaneous changes in HDAC8 and Gal-3 expression in the investigated samples. Treatment with PCI resulted in synchronous reduction of HDAC8 and Gal-3 expression in the Co-IP complexes. CONCLUSIONS: The HDAC8 inhibitor ameliorates AHR and airway inflammation in animal model of allergic asthma through reducing HDAC8-Gal-3 interaction and M2 macrophage polarization.

[Sources, Distribution, and Fluxes of Major and Trace Elements in the Yangtze River].

Surface water samples were collected from 20 sampling sites in the main stream and its major tributaries of the Yangtze River from April to May 2017. The concentrations of dissolved trace and major elements were analyzed to determine the spatial variation, source identification, and riverine fluxes using various multivariate statistical techniques, including correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA) with the goal of determining the influence of natural factors and human activities, including the operation of the Three Gorges Dam on the distribution and loading of major and trace elements in the Yangtze River water environment. Spatial distribution results showed that Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As were the major elements affected by human activities in the Yangtze River, and their concentrations downstream were significantly higher than those in the middle and upper reaches (P<0.05). All elements had fairly high concentration values in both channels of the Yangtze River mainstream in Chongqing city and Hanjiang River in Wuhan city, which were mainly related to the enhanced human activities. However, the low concentrations of multi-elements in the reach of the Yangtze River in Yichang were largely caused by the retention effect of Three Gorges Project on element transport, which decreased the riverine loadings of multi-elements. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo, Cr, and V were mainly associated with the weathering and erosion of various rocks and minerals in the river basin. And Cu, Zn, and Pb were mainly affected by enhanced human activities, such as industrial wastewater, metal smelting, and mineral mining, whereas Cd and As were mainly related to agricultural activities. The spatial distribution of trace and major elements showed that concentrations of some elements in the Yangtze River channels were enhanced by human activities. Generally, the heavy metal pollution in the Yangtze River Basin was lower than that in other rivers of the world. However, the annual fluxes of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As could have far-reaching ecological effects on the Yangtze River estuary and offshore ecological environment.