Androgen synthesis cell-specific CREBZF deficiency alters adrenal cortex steroid secretion and develops behavioral abnormalities in adult male mice.

The global challenge of male infertility is escalating, notably due to the decreased testosterone (T) synthesis in testicular Leydig cells under stress, underscoring the critical need for a more profound understanding of its regulatory mechanisms. CREBZF, a novel basic region-leucine zipper transcription factor, regulates testosterone synthesis in mouse Leydig cells in vitro; however, further validation through in vivo experiments is essential. Our study utilized Cyp17a1-Cre to knock out CREBZF in androgen-synthesis cells and explored the physiological roles of CREBZF in fertility, steroid hormone synthesis, and behaviors in adult male mice. Conditional knockout (cKO) CREBZF did not affect fertility and serum testosterone level in male mice. Primary Leydig cells isolated from CREBZF-cKO mice showed impaired testosterone secretion and decreased mRNA levels of Star, Cyp17a1, and Hsd3b1. Loss of CREBZF resulted in thickening of the adrenal cortex, especially X-zone, with elevated serum corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels and decreased serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. Immunohistochemical staining revealed increased expression of StAR, Cyp11a1, and 17ß-Hsd3 in the adrenal cortex of CREBZF-cKO mice, while the expression of AR was significantly reduced. Along with the histological changes and abnormal steroid levels in the adrenal gland, CREBZF-cKO mice showed higher anxiety-like behavior and impaired memory in the elevated plus maze and Barnes maze, respectively. In summary, CREBZF is dispensable for fertility, and CREBZF deficiency in Leydig cells promotes adrenal function in adult male mice. These results shed light on the requirement of CREBZF for fertility, adrenal steroid synthesis, and stress response in adult male mice, and contribute to understanding the crosstalk between testes and adrenal glands.

Multiomics analysis of platelet-rich plasma promoting biological performance of mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells are ideal seed cells for tissue repair and cell therapy and have promising applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Using Platelet-Rich Plasma as an adjuvant to create and improve the microenvironment for Mesenchymal Stem Cells growth can enhance the biological properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and improve the efficacy of cell therapy. However, the mechanism by which Platelet-Rich Plasma improves the biological performance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells is still unknown. In this study, by examining the effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the biological performance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, combined with multiomics analysis (Transcriptomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics) and related tests, we analyzed the specific pathways, related mechanisms and metabolic pathways of Platelet-Rich Plasma to improve the biological performance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. In an in vitro cell culture system, the biological performance of Mesenchymal Stem Cells was significantly improved after replacing Foetal Bovine Serum with Platelet-Rich Plasma, and the genes (ESM1, PDGFB, CLEC7A, CCR1 and ITGA6 et al.) related to cell proliferation, adhesion, growth, migration and signal transduction were significantly upregulated. Platelet-Rich Plasma can enhance the secretion function of MSC exosomes, significantly upregulate many proteins related to tissue repair, immune regulation and anti-infection, and enhance the repair effect of exosomes on skin injury. After replacing Foetal Bovine Serum with Platelet-Rich Plasma, Mesenchymal Stem Cells underwent metabolic reprogramming, the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids and various signaling pathways were changed, the anabolic pathways of various proteins were enhanced. These results provide a theoretical and technical reference for optimizing the Mesenchymal Stem Cells culture system, improving the biological characteristics and clinical application effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Identification of BMAL1-Regulated circadian genes in mouse liver and their potential association with hepatocellular carcinoma: Gys2 and Upp2 as promising candidates.

Identification and functional analysis of key genes regulated by the circadian clock system will provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which circadian clock disruption impairs the health of living organisms. The initial phase involved bioinformatics analysis, drawing insights from three RNA-seq datasets (GSE184303, GSE114400, and GSE199061) derived from wild-type mouse liver tissues, which encompassed six distinct time points across a day. As expected, 536 overlapping genes exhibiting rhythmic expression patterns were identified. By intersecting these genes with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) originating from liver RNA-seq data at two representative time points (circadian time, CT: CT2 and CT14) in global Bmal1 knockout mice (Bmal1-/-), hepatocyte-specific Bmal1 knockout mice (L-Bmal1-/-), and their corresponding control groups, 80 genes potentially regulated by BMAL1 (referred to as BMAL1-regulated genes, BRGs) were identified. These genes were significantly enriched in glycolipid metabolism, immune response, and tumorigenesis pathways. Eight BRGs (Nr1d1, Cry1, Gys2, Homer2, Serpina6, Slc2a2, Nmrk1, and Upp2) were selected to validate their expression patterns in both control and L-Bmal1-/- mice livers over 24 h. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated a comprehensive loss of rhythmic expression patterns in the eight selected BRGs in L-Bmal1-/- mice, in contrast to the discernible rhythmic patterns observed in the livers of control mice. Additionally, significant reductions in the expression levels of these selected BRGs, excluding Cry1, were also observed in L-Bmal1-/- mice livers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq (GSE13505 and GSE39860) and JASPAR analyses validated the rhythmic binding of BMAL1 to the promoter and intron regions of these genes. Moreover, the progression of conditions, from basic steatosis to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and eventual malignancy, demonstrated a continuous gradual decline in Bmal1 transcripts in the human liver. Combining the aforementioned BRGs with DEGs derived from human liver cancer datasets identified Gys2 and Upp2 as potential node genes bridging the circadian clock system and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, CCK8 and wound healing assays demonstrated that the overexpression of human GYS2 and UPP2 proteins inhibited the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells, accompanied by elevated expression of p53, a tumor suppressor protein. In summary, this study systematically identified rhythmic genes in the mouse liver, and a subset of circadian genes potentially regulated by BMAL1. Two circadian genes, Gys2 and Upp2, have been proposed and validated as potential candidates for advancing the prevention and treatment of HCC.

Protective Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Active Factor Combined with Alhagi maurorum Extract on Ulcerative Colitis and the Underlying Mechanism.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing and reoccurring inflammatory bowel disease. The treatment effect of Alhagi maurorum and stem cell extracts on UC remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective role of Alhagi maurorum combined with stem cell extract on the intestinal mucosal barrier in an intestinal inflammation mouse model. Sixty mice were randomly divided into a control group, model group, Alhagi group, MSC group, and MSC/Alhagi group. MSC and Alhagi extract were found to reduce the disease activity index (DAI) scores in mice with colitis, alleviate weight loss, improve intestinal inflammation in mice (p < 0.05), preserve the integrity of the ileal wall and increase the number of goblet cells and mucin in colon tissues. Little inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the Alhagi, MSC, or MSC/Alhagi groups, and the degree of inflammation was significantly alleviated compared with that in the model group. The distribution of PCNA and TNF-alpha in the colonic tissues of the model group was more disperse than that in the normal group (p < 0.05), and the fluorescence intensity was lower. After MSC/Alhagi intervention, PCNA and TNF-alpha were distributed along the cellular membrane in the MSC/Alhagi group (p < 0.05). Compared with that in the normal control group, the intensity was slightly reduced, but it was still stronger than that in the model group. In conclusion, MSC/Alhagi can alleviate inflammatory reactions in mouse colonic tissue, possibly by strengthening the protective effect of the intestinal mucosal barrier.

Hypoxia activation attenuates progesterone synthesis in goat trophoblast cells via NR1D1 inhibition of StAR expression†.

Trophoblast plays a crucial role in gestation maintenance and embryo implantation, partly due to the synthesis of progesterone. It has been demonstrated that hypoxia regulates invasion, proliferation, and differentiation of trophoblast cells. Additionally, human trophoblasts display rhythmic expression of circadian clock genes. However, it remains unclear if the circadian clock system is present in goat trophoblast cells (GTCs), and its involvement in hypoxia regulation of steroid hormone synthesis remains elusive. In this study, immunofluorescence staining revealed that both BMAL1 and NR1D1 (two circadian clock components) were highly expressed in GTCs. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that several circadian clock genes were rhythmically expressed in forskolin-synchronized GTCs. To mimic hypoxia, GTCs were treated with hypoxia-inducing reagents (CoCl2 or DMOG). Quantitative real-time PCR results demonstrated that hypoxia perturbed the mRNA expression of circadian clock genes and StAR. Notably, the increased expression of NR1D1 and the reduction of StAR expression in hypoxic GTCs were also detected by western blotting. In addition, progesterone secretion exhibited a notable decline in hypoxic GTCs. SR9009, an NR1D1 agonist, significantly decreased StAR expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and markedly inhibited progesterone secretion in GTCs. Moreover, SR8278, an NR1D1 antagonist, partially reversed the inhibitory effect of CoCl2 on mRNA and protein expression levels of StAR and progesterone synthesis in GTCs. Our results demonstrate that hypoxia reduces StAR expression via the activation of NR1D1 signaling in GTCs, thus inhibiting progesterone synthesis. These findings provide new insights into the NR1D1 regulation of progesterone synthesis in GTCs under hypoxic conditions.

(P)ppGpp synthetase Rsh participates in rifampicin tolerance of persister cells in Brucella abortus in vitro.

Brucella abortus is facultative intracellular pathogen that causes chronic persistent infections and results in abortion and infertility in food animals. Recurrent infections can be one of the results of persister cells formation that transiently displays phenotypic tolerance to high dose of antibiotics treatment. We examined persister cells formation of B. abortus strain A19 in stationary phase and investigated a potential role for the (p)ppGpp synthetase Rsh in this process. We found that B. abortus stationary phase cells can produce higher levels of multi-drugs tolerant persister cells in vitro under high dose of antibiotics (20 × MIC) exposure than do exponential phase cells. Persister cell formation was also induced with environmental stressors pH 4.5, 0.01 M PBS (pH7.0), 2% NaCl and 25 °C, upon exposure to ampicillin, enrofloxacin and rifampicin. Persister cells were not formed following exposure to 1 mM H2O2. The numbers of persister cells were significantly increased following uptake of B. abortus stationary phase cells by RAW264.7 macrophages in contrast with cultures in TSB liquid medium. Environmental stressors to B. abortus significantly increased expression of rsh mRNA level. The rsh null mutant (Δrsh) formed significantly fewer persister cells than the complemented (CΔrsh) and wildtype (WT) strains under high dose of rifampicin in vitro. These data for the first time demonstrate that B. abortus can produce multi-drug tolerant persister cells in stationary phase. The (p)ppGpp synthetase Rsh is necessary for persister cell formation in B. abortus in the presence of rifampicin. On this basis, a new understanding of the recurrent infections of Brucella was advanced, thus provided a new basis for revelation of pathogenic mechanism of the chronic persistent infection in Brucella.

Factors ameliorate pro-inflammatory microglia polarization through inhibition of reactive astrocytes induced by 2-chloroethanol.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the crosstalk between astrocytes and microglia may trigger and amplify the neuroinflammatory response and, in turn, cause brain edema in 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE)-intoxicated mice. Moreover, findings from our in vitro studies showed that astrocytes are more sensitive to 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), an intermediate metabolite of 1,2-DCE, than microglia, and 2-CE-induced reactive astrocytes (RAs) can promote microglia polarization through releasing the pro-inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it is essential to explore therapeutic agents that may ameliorate microglia polarization through inhibition of 2-CE-induced RAs, which remains unclear till now. Results of this study revealed that exposure to 2-CE could induce RAs with pro-inflammatory effects, and fluorocitrate (FC), GIBH-130 (GI) and diacerein (Dia) pretreatment could all abolish the pro-inflammatory effects of 2-CE-induced RAs. FC and GI pretreatment might suppress 2-CE-induced RAs through inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathways, but Dia pretreatment might only inhibit p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. FC, GI, and Dia pretreatment could all suppress the pro-inflammatory microglia polarization through inhibition of 2-CE-induced RAs. Meanwhile, GI and Dia pretreatment could also restored the anti-inflammatory microglia polarization via inhibition of 2-CE-induced RAs. However, FC pretreatment could not affect the anti-inflammatory polarization of microglia through inhibition of 2-CE-induced RAs. Taken together, findings from the present study demonstrated that FC, GI, and Dia might be the potential candidates with different characteristic for therapeutic use in 1,2-DCE poisoning.

MSX1 Regulates Goat Endometrial Function by Altering the Plasma Membrane Transformation of Endometrial Epithelium Cells during Early Pregnancy.

MSX1 is an important member of the muscle segment homeobox gene (Msh) family and acts as a transcription factor to regulate tissue plasticity, yet its role in goat endometrium remodeling remains elusive. In this study, an immunohistochemical analysis showed that MSX1 was mainly expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelium of goat uterus, and the MSX1 expression was upregulated in pregnancy at days 15 and 18 compared with pregnancy at day 5. In order to explore its function, goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs) were treated with 17 ß-estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), and/or interferon-tau (IFNτ), which were used to mimic the physiological environment of early pregnancy. The results showed that MSX1 was significantly upregulated with E2- and P4-alone treatment, or their combined treatment, and IFNτ further enhanced its expression. The spheroid attachment and PGE2/PGF2α ratio were downregulated by the suppression of MSX1. The combination of E2, P4, and IFNτ treatment induced the plasma membrane transformation (PMT) of gEECs, which mainly showed the upregulation of N-cadherin (CDH2) and concomitant downregulation of the polarity-related genes (ZO-1, α-PKC, Par3, Lgl2, and SCRIB). The knockdown of MSX1 partly hindered the PMT induced by E2, P4, and IFNτ treatment, while the upregulation of CDH2 and the downregulation of the partly polarity-related genes were significantly enhanced when MSX1 was overexpressed. Moreover, MSX1 regulated the CDH2 expression by activating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that MSX1 was involved in the PMT of the gEECs through the ER stress-mediated UPR pathway, which affects endometrial adhesion and secretion function.

Transcription Factor Nrf2 Modulates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Injury in Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells.

Endometritis in high-yield dairy cows adversely affects lactation length, milk quality, and the economics of dairy products. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs) occurs as a consequence of diverse post-natal stressors, and plays a key role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Nuclear-factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important protective regulatory factor in numerous inflammatory responses. However, the mechanism by which Nrf2 modulates inflammation by participating in ERS remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to explore the role of Nrf2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury to BEECs and to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms of this injury. The expression of Nrf2- and ERS-related genes increased significantly in bovine uteri with endometritis. Isolated BEECs were treated with LPS to stimulate the inflammatory response. The expression of Nrf2 was significantly higher in cells exposed to LPS, which also induced ERS in BEECs. Activation of Nrf2 led to enhanced expression of the genes for the inflammation markers TNF-α, p65, IL-6, and IL-8 in BEECs. Moreover, stimulation of Nrf2 was accompanied by activation of ERS. In contrast, Nrf2 knockdown reduced the expression of TNF-α, p65, IL-6, and IL-8. Additionally, Nrf2 knockdown decreased expression of ERS-related genes for the GRP78, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, and CHOP proteins. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Nrf2 and ERS are activated during inflammation in BEECs. Furthermore, Nrf2 promotes the inflammatory response by activating the PERK pathway in ERS and inducing apoptosis in BEECs.

Uterine Flushing Fluid-Derived Let-7b Targets CXCL10 to Regulate Uterine Receptivity in Goats during Embryo Implantation.

Exosomes have the ability to carry a wide range of chemicals, convey them to target cells or target regions, and act as "messengers." For the purpose of investigating embryo attachment, it is helpful to comprehend the range of exosomal mRNAs and miRNAs derived from the uterine flushing fluid before and after embryo attachment. In this study, we recovered exosomes from goat uterine rinsing fluid at 5, 15, and 18 days of gestation and used RNA-Seq to identify the mRNA and miRNA profiles of exosomes obtained from uterine rinsing fluid before and after embryo implantation. In total, 91 differently expressed miRNAs and 27,487 differentially expressed mRNAs were found. The target genes predicted by the differentially expressed miRNAs and the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly membrane-related organelles with catalytic activity, binding activity, transcriptional regulation activity, and involved in metabolism, biological regulation, development, and other processes. This was revealed by GO analysis. Furthermore, KEGG analysis revealed that they were abundant in signaling pathways associated with embryo implantation, including the "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway," "Toll-like receptor signaling pathway," "TGF-beta signaling route," "Notch signaling pathway," and others. Moreover, our research has demonstrated, for the first time, that chi-let-7b-5p specifically targets the 3'UTR of CXCL10. Our research offers a fresh viewpoint on the mechanics of embryo attachment.

A Comparative Proteomic Analysis to Explore the Influencing Factors on Endometritis Using LC-MS/MS.

The inflammatory system activated by uterine infection is associated with decreased fertility. Diseases can be detected in advance by identifying biomarkers of several uterine diseases. Escherichia coli is one of the most frequent bacteria that is involved in pathogenic processes in dairy goats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of endotoxin on protein expression in goat endometrial epithelial cells. In this study, the LC-MS/MS approach was employed to investigate the proteome profile of goat endometrial epithelial cells. A total of 1180 proteins were identified in the goat Endometrial Epithelial Cells and LPS-treated goat Endometrial Epithelial Cell groups, of which, 313 differentially expressed proteins were accurately screened. The proteomic results were independently verified by WB, TEM and IF techniques, and the same conclusion was obtained. To conclude, this model is suitable for the further study of infertility caused by endometrial damage caused by endotoxin. These findings may provide useful information for the prevention and treatment of endometritis.

Alr Gene in Brucella suis S2: Its Role in Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis and Bacterial Virulence in RAW264.7.

Brucella suis, the causative agent of brucellosis, poses a significant public health and animal husbandry threat. However, the role of the alanine racemase (alr) gene, which encodes alanine racemase in Brucella, remains unclear. Here, we analyzed an alr deletion mutant and a complemented strain of Brucella suis S2. The knockout strain displayed an unaltered, smooth phenotype in acriflavine agglutination tests but lacked the core polysaccharide portion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Genes involved in the LPS synthesis were significantly upregulated in the deletion mutant. The alr deletion strain exhibited reduced intracellular viability in the macrophages, increased macrophage-mediated killing, and upregulation of the apoptosis markers. Bcl2, an anti-apoptotic protein, was downregulated, while the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, were upregulated in the macrophages infected with the deletion strain. The infected macrophages showed increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, Cytochrome C release, and reactive oxygen species, activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These findings revealed that alanine racemase was dispensable in B. suis S2 but influenced the strain's rough features and triggered the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway during macrophage invasion. The deletion of the alr gene reduced the intracellular survival and virulence. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying Brucella's survival and virulence and, specifically, how alr gene affects host immune evasion by regulating bacterial LPS biosynthesis.

Regulation of the Gene for Alanine Racemase Modulates Amino Acid Metabolism with Consequent Alterations in Cell Wall Properties and Adhesive Capability in Brucella spp.

Brucella, a zoonotic facultative intracellular pathogenic bacterium, poses a significant threat both to human health and to the development of the livestock industry. Alanine racemase (Alr), the enzyme responsible for alanine racemization, plays a pivotal role in regulating virulence in this bacterium. Moreover, Brucella mutants with alr gene deletions (Δalr) exhibit potential as vaccine candidates. However, the mechanisms that underlie the detrimental effects of alr knockouts on Brucella pathogenicity remain elusive. Here, initially, we conducted a bioinformatics analysis of Alr, which demonstrated a high degree of conservation of the protein within Brucella spp. Subsequent metabolomics studies unveiled alterations in amino acid pathways following deletion of the alr gene. Furthermore, alr deletion in Brucella suis S2 induced decreased resistance to stress, antibiotics, and other factors. Transmission electron microscopy of simulated macrophage intracellular infection revealed damage to the cell wall in the Δalr strain, whereas propidium iodide staining and alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase assays demonstrated alterations in cell membrane permeability. Changes in cell wall properties were revealed by measurements of cell surface hydrophobicity and zeta potential. Finally, the diminished adhesion capacity of the Δalr strain was shown by immunofluorescence and bacterial enumeration assays. In summary, our findings indicate that the alr gene that regulates amino acid metabolism in Brucella influences the properties of the cell wall, which modulates bacterial adherence capability. This study is the first demonstration that Alr impacts virulence by modulating bacterial metabolism, thereby providing novel insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of Brucella spp.

Circadian clock regulates granulosa cell autophagy through NR1D1-mediated inhibition of ATG5.

Autophagy of granulosa cells (GCs) is involved in follicular atresia, which occurs repeatedly during the ovarian development cycle. Several circadian clock genes are rhythmically expressed in both rodent ovarian tissues and GCs. Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1), an important component of the circadian clock system, is involved in the autophagy process through the regulation of autophagy-related genes. However, there are no reports illustrating the role of the circadian clock system in mouse GC autophagy. In the present study, we found that core circadian clock genes (Bmal1, Per2, Nr1d1, and Dbp) and an autophagy-related gene (Atg5) exhibited rhythmic expression patterns across 24 h in mouse ovaries and primary GCs. Treatment with SR9009, an agonist of NR1D1, significantly reduced the expression of Bmal1, Per2, and Dbp in mouse GCs. ATG5 expression was significantly attenuated by SR9009 treatment in mouse GCs. Conversely, Nr1d1 knockdown increased ATG5 expression in mouse GCs. Decreased NR1D1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels was detected in the ovaries of Bmal1-/- mice, along with elevated expression of ATG5. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that NR1D1 inhibited Atg5 transcription by binding to two putative retinoic acid-related orphan receptor response elements within the promoter. In addition, rapamycin-induced autophagy and ATG5 expression were partially reversed by SR9009 treatment in mouse GCs. Taken together, our current data demonstrated that the circadian clock regulates GC autophagy through NR1D1-mediated inhibition of ATG5 expression, and thus, plays a role in maintaining autophagy homeostasis in GCs.

FLCN regulates transferrin receptor 1 transport and iron homeostasis.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is a multiorgan disorder caused by inactivation of the folliculin (FLCN) protein. Previously, we identified FLCN as a binding protein of Rab11A, a key regulator of the endocytic recycling pathway. This finding implies that the abnormal localization of specific proteins whose transport requires the FLCN-Rab11A complex may contribute to BHD. Here, we used human kidney-derived HEK293 cells as a model, and we report that FLCN promotes the binding of Rab11A with transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), which is required for iron uptake through continuous trafficking between the cell surface and the cytoplasm. Loss of FLCN attenuated the Rab11A-TfR1 interaction, resulting in delayed recycling transport of TfR1. This delay caused an iron deficiency condition that induced hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activity, which was reversed by iron supplementation. In a Drosophila model of BHD syndrome, we further demonstrated that the phenotype of BHD mutant larvae was substantially rescued by an iron-rich diet. These findings reveal a conserved function of FLCN in iron metabolism and may help to elucidate the mechanisms driving BHD syndrome.

BtpB inhibits innate inflammatory responses in goat alveolar macrophages through the TLR/NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome during Brucella infection.

Brucella species are infectious facultative intracellular pathogens. They have evolved multiple strategies to thwart immune responses and replicate in macrophages for chronic persistence in the host. As a Brucella effector, BtpB is transferred into target cells through the type IV secretion system. BtpB, a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing protein, blocks host innate immune responses by interfering with Toll-like receptor signaling. However, the intracellular targets and their activated downstream pathways remain unclear. In this study, we constructed a strain of Brucella suis S2 with a deletion in the gene for BtpB, ΔbtpB, and the complemented strain, C-ΔbtpB with a restored copy of the btpB gene. The bacterial growth curves and stress resistance results showed that BtpB did not affect B. suis S2 growth. Infection of alveolar macrophages with WT and ΔbtpB strains showed that BtpB inhibited TLR2 and TLR4 expression and attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. BtpB also attenuated secretion of the Brucella-induced proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, in alveolar macrophages while up-regulating IL-10 expression. In general, the results confirmed that BtpB specifically inhibits TLR2/TLR4 and disrupts NLRP3 signaling pathways to inhibit host immune responses in early Brucella infections.

Resveratrol and lycium barbarum polysaccharide improve Qinling giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca Qinlingensis) sperm quality during cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: Semen cryopreservation has become an essential tool for conservation efforts of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); however, it is severely detrimental to sperm quality. Evidence has shown that antioxidants have the potential to reverse cryopreservation-induced damage in sperm. The purpose of this study was to screen effective antioxidants that could retain sperm quality during cryopreservation and to determine the optimal dose. Seven antioxidant groups, including resveratrol (RSV = 50 µM, RSV = 100 µM, RSV = 150 µM), lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP = 2 mg/mL, LBP = 4 mg/mL), laminaria japonica polysaccharides (LJP = 1 mg/mL) or combination (LBP = 2 mg/mL, LJP = 1 mg/mL and RSV = 100 µM) were assessed. RESULTS: RSV, LBP, LJP, or a combination of RSV, LBP, and LJP added to the freezing medium significantly improved sperm progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial activity during the cryopreservation process. Furthermore, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were also improved. The levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde in semen were notably reduced. Hyaluronidase activity and acrosin activity were significantly increased in LBP-treated sperm. However, sperm total motility and DNA integrity were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: RSV (50 µM) or LBP (2 mg/mL) are the best candidate antioxidants for inclusion in the freezing medium to improve the quality of giant panda spermatozoa during semen cryopreservation.

Differences in Practice Patterns and Payments for Female and Male Dermatologists: A Canadian Population-Based Study Over 3 Decades.

BACKGROUND: Canada's fee-for-service physician reimbursement system, where a set rate is provided for each service, suggests that a physician sex pay gap should not exist. However, recent evidence has questioned this presumption. OBJECTIVES: To characterize trends in demographics and billing, overall and by sex, for dermatologists compared to other medical and surgical specialty groups in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: Using population-based data, analysis of physician billing and clinical activity from Ontario, Canada, over 27 years (1992-2018) was performed. Multilevel regression models were used to examine unadjusted and adjusted differences in payments between females and males over time, while controlling for age, distinct patients seen, patient visits, and full-time equivalent. RESULTS: A total of 22 389 physicians were included in the analyses, including 381 dermatologists. The proportion of female dermatologists increased from 32% in 1992 to 46% in 2018. Dermatologists' median Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) payments were $415 340 (IQR: 285 630-566 580) in 1992 compared to $296 750 (IQR: 164 480-493 180) in 2018. Male dermatologists' OHIP payments were 20% more than their female counterparts across the entire study period. After adjusting for practice volumes, there was no significant pay gap amongst female and male dermatologists (P = .42); however, the sex pay gap remained significant for the other specialty groups (P < .001). From 1992 to 2018, dermatologists on average saw 19% fewer distinct patients per year and 15% fewer visits per patient. CONCLUSIONS: The overall sex pay gap within medical dermatology can be attributed to differences in practice patterns, whereas the sex pay gap remained significant in the other specialty groups.

Zearalenone Induces MLKL-Dependent Necroptosis in Goat Endometrial Stromal Cells via the Calcium Overload/ROS Pathway.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a fungal mycotoxin known to exert strong reproductive toxicity in animals. As a newly identified type of programmed cell death, necroptosis is regulated by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL). However, the role and mechanism of necroptosis in ZEA toxicity remain unclear. In this study, we confirmed the involvement of necroptosis in ZEA-induced cell death in goat endometrial stromal cells (gESCs). The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the production of PI-positive cells markedly increased. At the same time, the expression of RIPK1 and RIPK3 mRNAs and P-RIPK3 and P-MLKL proteins were significantly upregulated in ZEA-treated gESCs. Importantly, the MLKL inhibitor necrosulfonamide (NSA) dramatically attenuated gESCs necroptosis and powerfully blocked ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial dysfunction. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibited ZEA-induced cell death. In addition, the inhibition of MLKL alleviated the intracellular Ca2+ overload caused by ZEA. The calcium chelator BAPTA-AM markedly suppressed ROS production and mitochondrial damage, thus inhibiting ZEA-induced necroptosis. Therefore, our results revealed the mechanism by which ZEA triggers gESCs necroptosis, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for ZEA poisoning.

Autophagy Mediates Escherichia Coli-Induced Cellular Inflammatory Injury by Regulating Calcium Mobilization, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Bovine endometritis is a reproductive disorder that is induced by mucus or purulent inflammation of the uterine mucosa. However, the intracellular control chain during inflammatory injury remains unclear. In the present study, we found that E. coli activated the inflammatory response through the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome and activation of the NF-κB p65 subunit in primary bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEECs). Infection with E. coli also led to an abnormal increase in cytoplasmic calcium and mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, live-cell imaging of calcium reporters indicated that the increase in cytosolic calcium mainly was caused by the release of Ca2+ ions stored in the ER and mitochondria, which was independent of extracellular calcium. Cytoplasmic calcium regulates mitochondrial respiratory chain transmission, DNA replication, and biogenesis. Pretreatment with NAC, BAPTA-AM, or 2-APB reduced the expression of IL-1ß and IL-18. Moreover, ERS was involved in the regulation of bovine endometritis and cytosolic calcium was an important factor for regulating ERS in E. coli-induced inflammation. Finally, activation of autophagy inhibited the release of IL-1ß and IL-18, cytochrome c, ATP, ERS-related proteins, and cytoplasmic calcium. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that autophagy mediated E. coli-induced cellular inflammatory injury by regulating cytoplasmic calcium, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ERS.