HuR promotes triglyceride synthesis and intestinal fat absorption.

Triacylglyceride (TAG) synthesis in the small intestine determines the absorption of dietary fat, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be further studied. Here, we report that the RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) promotes TAG synthesis in the small intestine. HuR associates with the 3' UTR of Dgat2 mRNA and intron 1 of Mgat2 pre-mRNA. Association of HuR with Dgat2 3' UTR stabilizes Dgat2 mRNA, while association of HuR with intron 1 of Mgat2 pre-mRNA promotes the processing of Mgat2 pre-mRNA. Intestinal epithelium-specific HuR knockout reduces the expression of DGAT2 and MGAT2, thereby reducing the dietary fat absorption through TAG synthesis and mitigating high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. Our findings highlight a critical role of HuR in promoting dietary fat absorption.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy-assisted biliary polypectomy for local palliative treatment of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a premalignant biliary-type epithelial neoplasm with intraductal papillary or villous growth. Currently reported local palliative therapeutic modalities, including endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, stenting and biliary curettage, endoscopic biliary polypectomy, percutaneous biliary drainage, laser ablation, argon plasma coagulation, photodynamic therapy, and radiofrequency ablation to relieve mechanical obstruction are limited with weaknesses and disadvantages. We have applied percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS)-assisted biliary polypectomy (PTCS-BP) technique for the management of IPNB including mucin-hypersecreting cast-like and polypoid type tumors since 2010. AIM: To assess the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of PTCS-BP for local palliative treatment of IPNB. METHODS: Patients with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like or polypoid type IPNB and receiving PTCS-BP between September 2010 and December 2019 were included. PTCS-BP was performed by using a half-moon type snare with a soft stainless-steel wire, and the tumor was snared and resected with electrocautery. The primary outcome was its feasibility, indicated by technical success. The secondary outcomes were efficacy, including therapeutic success, curative resection, and clinical success, and safety. RESULTS: Five patients (four with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type and one with polypoid type IPNB) were included. Low- and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) and recurrent IPNB with invasive carcinoma were observed in one, two, and two patients, respectively. Repeated cholangitis and/or obstructive jaundice were presented in all four patients with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type IPNB. All five patients achieved technical success of PTCS-BP. Four patients (three with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type and one with polypoid type IPNB) obtained therapeutic success; one with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type tumors in the intrahepatic small bile duct and HGIN had residual tumors. All four patients with mucin-hypersecreting IPNB achieved clinical success. The patient with polypoid type IPNB achieved curative resection. There were no PTCS-BP-related serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: PTCS-BP appears to be feasible, efficacious, and safe for local palliative treatment of both mucin-hypersecreting cast-like and polypoid type IPNB.

Taurine-mediated gene transcription and cell membrane permeability reinforced co-production of bioethanol and Monascus azaphilone pigments for a newly isolated Monascus purpureus.

BACKGROUND: Taurine, a semi-essential micronutrient, could be utilized as a sulfur source for some bacteria; however, little is known about its effect on the accumulation of fermentation products. Here, it investigated the effect of taurine on co-production of bioethanol and Monascus azaphilone pigments (MonAzPs) for a fungus. RESULTS: A newly isolated fungus of 98.92% identity with Monascus purpureus co-produced 23.43 g/L bioethanol and 66.12, 78.01 and 62.37 U/mL red, yellow and orange MonAzPs for 3 d in synthetic medium (SM). Taurine enhanced bioethanol titer, ethanol productivity and ethanol yield at the maximum by 1.56, 1.58 and 1.60 times than those of the control in corn stover hydrolysates (CSH), and red, yellow and orange MonAzPs were raised by 1.24, 1.26 and 1.29 times, respectively. Taurine was consumed extremely small quantities for M. purpureus and its promotional effect was not universal for the other two biorefinery fermenting strains. Taurine intensified the gene transcription of glycolysis (glucokinase, phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase and alcohol dehydrogenase) and MonAzPs biosynthesis (serine hydrolases, C-11-ketoreductase, FAD-dependent monooxygenase, 4-O-acyltransferase, deacetylase, NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoredutase, FAD-dependent oxidoredutase, enoyl reductase and fatty acid synthase) through de novo RNA-Seq assays. Furthermore, taurine improved cell membrane permeability through changing cell membrane structure by microscopic imaging assays. CONCLUSIONS: Taurine reinforced co-production of bioethanol and MonAzPs by increasing gene transcription level and cell membrane permeability for M. purpureus. This work would offer an innovative, efficient and taurine-based co-production system for mass accumulation of the value-added biofuels and biochemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.

Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrizing 1,7-Enyne Cycloisomerization of Alkyne-Tethered Cyclopentenes.

An enantioselective Pd-catalyzed intramolecular desymmetrizing cycloisomerization of N-(cyclopent-3-en-1-yl)propiolamides has been developed by employing a new chiral phosphoramidite ligand. A series of structurally unique bridged azabicycles are achieved in moderate to excellent yields with good E/Z selectivity and high enantioselectivity. Synthetic transformations are conducted to demonstrate the practical utility of this reaction.

Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Dearomatizing Reductive Heck Reaction of Indoles.

An enantioselective Pd-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative reductive Heck reaction of N-(o-bromoaryl) indole-3-carboxamide is developed. By employing Pd(dba)2/SPINOL-based phosphoramidite as the chiral catalyst and HCO2Na as the hydride source, a series of enantioenriched spiro indolines bearing vicinal stereocenters were afforded in moderate to good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The reductive Heck reaction of formal tetrasubstituted alkene bearing ß-hydrogens is therefore realized by inhibiting ß-H elimination.

Immunization with a peptide mimicking lipoteichoic acid induces memory B cells in BALB/c mice.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent clinical need for developing novel immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy strategies against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In our previous work, immunization with a tetra-branched multiple antigenic peptide, named MAP2-3 that mimics lipoteichoic acid, a cell wall component of S. aureus, successfully induced a humoral immune response and protected BALB/c mice against S. aureus systemic infection. In this study, we further investigated whether vaccination with MAP2-3 can elicit immunologic memory. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with MAP2-3 five times. After one month of the last vaccination, mice were challenged with heat-killed S. aureus via intraperitoneal injection. After a 7-day inoculation, the percentage of plasma cells, memory B cells, effector memory T cells, and follicular helper T cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-6, IL-21, IL-2, and IFN-γ were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA. Flow cytometry results were compared by using one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney test, real-time PCR results were compared by using one-way ANOVA, and ELISA results were compared by using one-way ANOVA or student's t-test. RESULTS: The percentage of plasma cells and memory B cells in the spleen and bone marrow from the MAP2-3 immunized mice was significantly higher than that from the control mice. The percentage of effector memory T cells in spleens and lymphoid nodes as well as follicular helper T cells in spleens from the MAP2-3 immunized mice were also higher. Moreover, the levels of IL-6 and IL-21, two critical cytokines for the development of memory B cells, were significantly higher in the isolated splenocytes from immunized mice after lipoteichoic acid stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization with MAP2-3 can efficiently induce memory B cells and memory T cells.

Palladium-Catalyzed Dearomative Heck/Suzuki Coupling of C2-Deuterated or C2-Nonsubstituted Indoles.

A palladium-catalyzed dearomative diarylation of C2-deuterated or C2-nonsubstituted indoles through domino Heck/Suzuki coupling is established. Relying on electron-deficient phosphite ligand, side reactions including intermolecular Suzuki coupling and intramolecular C-D/H arylation are inhibited and a wide range of 2,3-diarylated indolines bearing vicinal tertiary stereocenters including deuterated ones are afforded in moderate to excellent yields (up to 94%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1). The catalyst loading can be lowered to 0.02 mol % at elevated temperature.

Copper-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative aza-Wacker reaction of indole.

Herein, we describe a copper-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative amination of indoles via a formal aza-Wacker reaction. This protocol provides an efficient method to access aza-polycyclic indoline molecules bearing exocyclic CC bonds in moderate to excellent yields in the presence of molecular oxygen as an oxidant. It is worth noting that indolin-3-ones are achieved when employing C3-non-substituted indoles as substrates.

Phenolic and flavonoid compounds from the fruit shell of Camellia oleifera.

A new phenolic compound oleiphenol (1), and a new dihydrochalcone oleifechalcone (2) along with seven known compounds (3-9) were isolated from the fruit shell of Camellia oleifera Abel. The planar structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, UV, NMR, and HR-ESI-MS) and comparison with literature data. The absolute configurations of the new structures were determined by ECD calculations and chemical methods. In addition, compounds 1-9 underwent a series of pharmacological activity tests, including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-RSV and antioxidant activities.

Association between gingival bleeding and hematuria as biomarkers of periodontitis and renal disease: a review.

Gingival bleeding is a common complaint and symptom in patients with periodontitis. In clinics, gingival bleeding is regarded as an important sign of gingival inflammation, which is also of great significance in predicting the activity of periodontitis. Existing research has indicated that periodontitis has an impact on distant sites, such as the kidney. Hematuria is the principal feature of glomerular disease, which can reflect the degree and condition of glomerular inflammation. Previous studies have revealed an association between periodontal diseases with renal diseases, so a study is necessary to discuss their representative signs of them. For the moment, there are no reports that are concerned about the correlation between gingival bleeding with hematuria. The main point of this text is to review the potential association between gingival bleeding with hematuria, reveal their underlying mechanisms, and provide instructions for the therapy of periodontitis and glomerular diseases.

Zn-coordination polymers for fluorescence sensing various contaminants in water.

Luminescent coordination polymers (LCPs) have garnered significant attention from researchers as promising materials for detecting contaminants. In this paper, three new LCPs ([Zn(tib)(opda)]n⋅H2O (1), [Zn3(tib)2(mpda)3]n⋅5H2O (2), [Zn (tib)(ppda)]n⋅H2O (3)) with different structures (LCP 1-3: 1D, 2D, 1D) using phenylenediacetic acid isomers and 1,3,5-tris (1-imidazolyl) benzene (tib) are synthesized. The specific surface areas (BET) of LCP 1-3 are 4 m2/g, 19 m2/g, and 13 m2/g respectively. LCP 1-3 exhibit excellent fluorescence properties and can serve as fluorescent probe for the detection of inorganic contaminants and organic contaminants. Due to the large BET of LCP 2, the detection limits for trace analytes surpass those of LCP 1 and 3. The detection limits of LCP 2 for Fe3+, nitrobenzene (NB), chloramphenicol (CAP), and pyrimethanil (PTH) are 8.3 nM, 0.016 µM, 0.19 µM, and 0.032 µM, respectively, and the fluorescence quenching rates are 98.6 %, 98.8 %, 92.3 %, and 98.8 %, respectively. These values outperform most reported in the literature. The quantum yields of LCP 1-3 are 11.84 %, 25.22 %, 22.00 % respectively. Real sample testing of LCP 1-3 reveals favorable performance, where spiked recoveries of LCP 2 for the detection of pyrimethanil in grape skins ranged from 99.62 % to 119.3 % with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.627 % to 4.56 % (n = 3). The fluorescence quenching mechanism was attributed to a combination of photoelectron transfer (PET), resonance energy transfer (RET), and competitive absorption (CA). This study advances the application of LCPs in luminescence sensing and contributes to the expansion of novel materials for detecting environmental pollutants.

Pd-Catalyzed Intramolecular Dearomative [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of Naphthalenes with Arylalkynes.

A Pd-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of naphthalenes with arylalkynes is developed. The protocol provides a straightforward method to access a range of polycyclic dihydronaphthalenes containing two vicinal all-carbon stereocenters in moderate yields under mild conditions in an air atmosphere. The deuterium labeling experiment suggests a pathway involving electrophilic dearomatization followed by Friedel-Crafts cyclization. Several synthetic transformations of the product were conducted to demonstrate the utility of this reaction.

TC2N Promotes Cell Proliferation and Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting the Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide, has an exceedingly poor prognosis. Tandem C2 domain nuclear protein (TC2N) has been implicated in tumorigenesis and serves as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in different types of cancer. Here, we explore the possible regulatory activities and molecular mechanisms of TC2N in HCC progression. However, TC2N expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and hepatoma cell lines, and this upregulation was positively correlated with tumor progression in HCC patients. The ectopic overexpression of TC2N accelerated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, whereas its knockdown showed the opposite effects. Bioinformatics analysis showed that TC2N participates in the regulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Mechanistically, TC2N activated the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway by regulating the expression levels of ß-catenin and its downstream targets CyclinD1, MMP7, c-Myc, c-Jun, AXIN2, and glutamine synthase. Furthermore, the deletion of ß-catenin effectively neutralized the regulation of TC2N in HCC proliferation and metastasis. Overall, this study showed that TC2N promotes HCC proliferation and metastasis by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, indicating that TC2N might be a potential molecular target for the treatment of HCC.

DNMT1 determines osteosarcoma cell resistance to apoptosis by associatively modulating DNA and mRNA cytosine-5 methylation.

Cellular apoptosis is a central mechanism leveraged by chemotherapy to treat human cancers. 5-Methylcytosine (m5C) modifications installed on both DNA and mRNA are documented to regulate apoptosis independently. However, the interplay or crosstalk between them in cellular apoptosis has not yet been explored. Here, we reported that promoter methylation by DNMT1 coordinated with mRNA methylation by NSun2 to regulate osteosarcoma cell apoptosis. DNMT1 was induced during osteosarcoma cell apoptosis triggered by chemotherapeutic drugs, whereas NSun2 expression was suppressed. DNMT1 was found to repress NSun2 expression by methylating the NSun2 promoter. Moreover, DNMT1 and NSun2 regulate the anti-apoptotic genes AXL, NOTCH2, and YAP1 through DNA and mRNA methylation, respectively. Upon exposure to cisplatin or doxorubicin, DNMT1 elevation drastically reduced the expression of these anti-apoptotic genes via enhanced promoter methylation coupled with NSun2 ablation-mediated attenuation of mRNA methylation, thus rendering osteosarcoma cells to apoptosis. Collectively, our findings establish crosstalk of importance between DNA and RNA cytosine methylations in determining osteosarcoma resistance to apoptosis during chemotherapy, shedding new light on future treatment of osteosarcoma, and adding additional layers to the control of gene expression at different epigenetic levels.

Highly reproducible and cost-effective one-pot organoid differentiation using a novel platform based on PF-127 triggered spheroid assembly.

Organoid technology offers sophisticatedin vitrohuman models for basic research and drug development. However, low batch-to-batch reproducibility and high cost due to laborious procedures and materials prevent organoid culture standardization for automation and high-throughput applications. Here, using a novel platform based on the findings that Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) could trigger highly uniform spheroid assembly through a mechanism different from plate coating, we develop a one-pot organoid differentiation strategy. Using our strategy, we successfully generate cortical, nephron, hepatic, and lung organoids with improved reproducibility compared to previous methods while reducing the original costs by 80%-95%. In addition, we adapt our platform to microfluidic chips allowing automated culture. We showcase that our platform can be applied to tissue-specific screening, such as drug toxicity and transfection reagents testing. Finally, we generateNEAT1knockout tissue-specific organoids and showNEAT1modulates multiple signaling pathways fine-tuning the differentiation of nephron and hepatic organoids and suppresses immune responses in cortical organoids. In summary, our strategy provides a powerful platform for advancing organoid research and studying human development and diseases.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Dearomative Heck-Reductive Allylic Defluorination Reaction of Indoles.

Herein, we describe a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric dearomative aryl-difluoroallylation reaction of indoles with α-trifluoromethyl alkenes as an electrophilic coupling partner. The reaction proceeds via a cascade sequence involving dearomative Heck cyclization and reductive allylic defluorination. A series of gem-difluoroallyl substituted indolines are obtained in moderate to good yields (36-77% yield) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). The reaction features broad functional group tolerance, scaled-up synthesis, and late-stage diversification.

Cold plasma pretreatment reinforces the lignocellulose-derived aldehyde inhibitors tolerance and bioethanol fermentability for Zymomonas mobilis.

BACKGROUND: Lignocellulose-derived aldehyde inhibitors seriously blocked the biorefinery of biofuels and biochemicals. To date, the economic production of lignocellulose-based products heavily relied on high productivities of fermenting strains. However, it was expensive and time-consuming for the achievable rational modification to strengthen stress tolerance robustness of aldehyde inhibitors. Here, it aimed to improve aldehyde inhibitors tolerance and cellulosic bioethanol fermentability for the chassis Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 pretreated using energy-efficient and eco-friendly cold plasma. RESULTS: It was found that bioethanol fermentability was weaker in CSH (corn stover hydrolysates) than that in synthetic medium for Z. mobilis, and thus was attributed to the inhibition of the lignocellulose-derived aldehyde inhibitors in CSH. Convincingly, it further confirmed that the mixed aldehydes severely decreased bioethanol accumulation through additional aldehydes supplementary assays in synthetic medium. After assayed under different processing time (10-30 s), discharge power (80-160 W), and working pressure (120-180 Pa) using cold atmosphere plasma (CAP), it achieved the increased bioethanol fermentability for Z. mobilis after pretreated at the optimized parameters (20 s, 140 W and 165 Pa). It showed that cold plasma brought about three mutation sites including ZMO0694 (E220V), ZMO0843 (L471L) and ZMO0843 (P505H) via Genome resequencing-based SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). A serial of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were further identified as the potential contributors for stress tolerance via RNA-Seq sequencing, including ZMO0253 and ZMO_RS09265 (type I secretion outer membrane protein), ZMO1941 (Type IV secretory pathway protease TraF-like protein), ZMOr003 and ZMOr006 (16S ribosomal RNA), ZMO0375 and ZMO0374 (levansucrase) and ZMO1705 (thioredoxins). It enriched cellular process, followed by metabolic process and single-organism process for biological process. For KEGG analysis, the mutant was also referred to starch and sucrose metabolism, galactose metabolism and two-component system. Finally, but interestingly, it simultaneously achieved the enhanced stress tolerance capacity of aldehyde inhibitors and bioethanol fermentability in CSH for the mutant Z. mobilis. CONCLUSIONS: Of several candidate genetic changes, the mutant Z. mobilis treated with cold plasma was conferred upon the facilitated aldehyde inhibitors tolerance and bioethanol production. This work would provide a strain biocatalyst for the efficient production of lignocellulosic biofuels and biochemicals.

Cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective desymmetrizing reductive cyclization of alkynyl cyclodiketones.

A highly enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed desymmetrizing reductive cyclization of alkynyl cyclodiketones has been developed. Under mild reaction conditions by employing HBpin as a reducing agent and ferrocene-based PHOX as a chiral ligand, a series of polycyclic tertiary allylic alcohols bearing contiguous quaternary stereocenters are achieved in moderate to excellent yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%). Broad substrate scope and high functional group compatibility are observed in this reaction. A CoH-catalyzed pathway involving alkyne hydrocobaltation followed by nucleophilic addition to the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond is proposed. Synthetic transformations of the product are conducted to demonstrate the practical utilities of this reaction.

Tenofovir alters the immune microenvironment of pregnant women with hepatitis B virus infection: Evidence from single-cell RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Mother-to-child is the main route of the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Tenofovir fumarate (TDF) antiviral treatment has become the most extensive choice worldwide. However, the effects of TDF treatment on the immune function of pregnant women remains unclear. Here we investigate the effect of TDF treatment on the immune microenvironment of pregnant women with HBV infection using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). METHODS: Three HBV-infected pregnant women were treated with TDF and six samples were collected before and after the treatment. In total, 68,200 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted for 10 × scRNA-seq. The cells were clustered using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and unbiased computational informatics analysis. RESULTS: The analysis identified four-cell subtypes, including T cells, monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and B cells, and unraveled the developmental trajectory and maturation of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell subtypes. The cellular state and molecular features of the effector/memory T cells revealed a significant increase in the inflammatory state of CD4+ T cells and the cytotoxic characteristics of CD8+ T cells. Additionally, after TDF treatment, the monocytes showed a tendency for M1 polarization, and the cytotoxicity of NK cells was enhanced. Furthermore, the analysis of intercellular communication revealed the interaction of various subtypes of cells and the heterogeneous expression of key signal pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study reveal significant differences in cellular subtypes and molecular characteristics of PBMCs of pregnant women with HBV infection before and after TDF treatment and demonstrate the recovery of immune response after treatment. These findings could help develop immune intervention measures to control HBV during pregnancy and the puerperium period.

Chinese JSL/JFL learners' online perception of Japanese verb conjugations: Evidence from a behavioral study.

Verb conjugation is essential in learning Japanese as a second or foreign language (JSL/JFL). Previous studies showed that Chinese JSL/JFL beginners behaved differently in acquiring Japanese verb conjugations, but the results were obtained from offline tests (e.g., writing examination without time limitation), hard to reflect the real perception. On this background, the current study adopted a time-controlled lexical decision task (real-time automatic processing) to explore how Chinese intermediate JSL/JFL learners processed four types of verb conjugations (i.e., masu/tai form, te/ta form, nai form and yoo form). Based on the error rates and RTs collected form 27 Chinese intermediate JSL/JFL learners, the results showed that the JSL/JFL learners processed better in masu/tai form and te/ta form, followed by nai form and yoo form. The discrepant processing of the four types of Japanese verb conjugations suggests that the JSL/JFL learners do have difficulties in Japanese acquisition. Finally, a general discussion is offered from the perspective of verb conjugations' frequency, JSL/JFL learners' learning strategy and Japanese teaching method.