Comprehensive maturity of nuclear pore complexes regulates zygotic genome activation.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are channels for nucleocytoplasmic transport of proteins and RNAs. However, it remains unclear whether composition, structure, and permeability of NPCs dynamically change during the cleavage period of vertebrate embryos and affect embryonic development. Here, we report that the comprehensive NPC maturity (CNM) controls the onset of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) during zebrafish early embryogenesis. We show that more nucleoporin proteins are recruited to and assembled into NPCs with development, resulting in progressive increase of NPCs in size and complexity. Maternal transcription factors (TFs) transport into nuclei more efficiently with increasing CNM. Deficiency or dysfunction of Nup133 or Ahctf1/Elys impairs NPC assembly, maternal TFs nuclear transport, and ZGA onset, while nup133 overexpression promotes these processes. Therefore, CNM may act as a molecular timer for ZGA by controlling nuclear transport of maternal TFs that reach nuclear concentration thresholds at a given time to initiate ZGA.

A non-canonical role of the inner kinetochore in regulating sister-chromatid cohesion at centromeres.

The 16-subunit Constitutive Centromere-associated Network (CCAN)-based inner kinetochore is well-known for connecting centromeric chromatin to the spindle-binding outer kinetochore. Here, we report a non-canonical role for the inner kinetochore in directly regulating sister-chromatid cohesion at centromeres. We provide biochemical, X-ray crystal structure, and intracellular ectopic localization evidence that the inner kinetochore directly binds cohesin, a ring-shaped multi-subunit complex that holds sister chromatids together from S-phase until anaphase onset. This interaction is mediated by binding of the 5-subunit CENP-OPQUR sub-complex of CCAN to the Scc1-SA2 sub-complex of cohesin. Mutation in the CENP-U subunit of the CENP-OPQUR complex that abolishes its binding to the composite interface between Scc1 and SA2 weakens centromeric cohesion, leading to premature separation of sister chromatids during delayed metaphase. We further show that CENP-U competes with the cohesin release factor Wapl for binding the interface of Scc1-SA2, and that the cohesion-protecting role for CENP-U can be bypassed by depleting Wapl. Taken together, this study reveals an inner kinetochore-bound pool of cohesin, which strengthens centromeric sister-chromatid cohesion to resist metaphase spindle pulling forces.

BCAS2 regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I by participating in mRNA alternative splicing.

Oocyte meiotic prophase I (MI) is an important event in female reproduction. Breast cancer amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) is a component of the spliceosome. Previous reports have shown that BCAS2 is critical in male germ cell meiosis, oocyte development, and early embryo genome integrity. However, the role of BCAS2 in oocyte meiosis has not been reported. We used Stra8-GFPCre mice to knock out Bcas2 in oocytes during the pachytene phase. The results of fertility tests showed that Bcas2 conditional knockout (cKO) in oocytes results in infertility in female mice. Morphological analysis showed that the number of primordial follicles in the ovaries of 2-month-old (M) mice was significantly reduced and that follicle development was blocked. Further analysis showed that the number of primordial follicles decreased and that follicle development was slowed in 7-day postpartum (dpp) ovaries. Moreover, primordial follicles undergo apoptosis, and DNA damage cannot be repaired in primary follicle oocytes. Meiosis was abnormal; some oocytes could not reach the diplotene stage, and more oocytes could not develop to the dictyotene stage. Alternative splicing (AS) analysis revealed abnormal AS of deleted in azoospermia like (Dazl) and diaphanous related formin 2 (Diaph2) oogenesis-related genes in cKO mouse ovaries, and the process of AS was involved by CDC5L and PRP19.

Chronic Neuronal Inactivity Utilizes the mTOR-TFEB Pathway to Drive Transcription-Dependent Autophagy for Homeostatic Up-Scaling.

Activity-dependent changes in protein expression are critical for neuronal plasticity, a fundamental process for the processing and storage of information in the brain. Among the various forms of plasticity, homeostatic synaptic up-scaling is unique in that it is induced primarily by neuronal inactivity. However, precisely how the turnover of synaptic proteins occurs in this homeostatic process remains unclear. Here, we report that chronically inhibiting neuronal activity in primary cortical neurons prepared from embryonic day (E)18 Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) induces autophagy, thereby regulating key synaptic proteins for up-scaling. Mechanistically, chronic neuronal inactivity causes dephosphorylation of ERK and mTOR, which induces transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated cytonuclear signaling and drives transcription-dependent autophagy to regulate αCaMKII and PSD95 during synaptic up-scaling. Together, these findings suggest that mTOR-dependent autophagy, which is often triggered by metabolic stressors such as starvation, is recruited and sustained during neuronal inactivity to maintain synaptic homeostasis, a process that ensures proper brain function and if impaired can cause neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the mammalian brain, protein turnover is tightly controlled by neuronal activation to ensure key neuronal functions during long-lasting synaptic plasticity. However, a long-standing question is how this process occurs during synaptic up-scaling, a process that requires protein turnover but is induced by neuronal inactivation. Here, we report that mTOR-dependent signaling, which is often triggered by metabolic stressors such as starvation, is "hijacked" by chronic neuronal inactivation, which then serves as a nucleation point for transcription factor EB (TFEB) cytonuclear signaling that drives transcription-dependent autophagy for up-scaling. These results provide the first evidence of a physiological role of mTOR-dependent autophagy in enduing neuronal plasticity, thereby connecting major themes in cell biology and neuroscience via a servo loop that mediates autoregulation in the brain.

Soil-root interface hydraulic conductance determines responses of photosynthesis to drought in rice and wheat.

Rice (Oryza sativa) production consumes a huge amount of fresh water, and improvement of drought tolerance in rice is important to conserve water resources and minimize yield loss under drought. However, processes to improve drought tolerance in rice have not been fully explored, and a comparative study between rice and wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an effective method to understand the mechanisms determining drought tolerance capacity. In the present study, we applied short-term drought stress to Shanyou 63 rice and Yannong 19 wheat to create a range of water potentials and investigated the responses of gas exchange, plant hydraulic conductance, and root morphological and anatomical traits to soil drought. We found that photosynthesis in rice was more sensitive to drought stress than that in wheat, which was related to differences in the decline of stomatal conductance and plant hydraulic conductance (Kplant). The decline of Kplant under drought was mainly driven by the decrease of soil-root interface hydraulic conductance (Ki) because Ki was more sensitive to drought than root and shoot hydraulic conductance and the soil-root interface contributed to >40% of whole-plant hydraulic resistance in both crops. Root shrinkage in response to drought was more severe in rice than that in wheat, which explains the larger depression of Ki and Kplant under drought stress in rice. We concluded that the decline of Ki drives the depression of Kplant and photosynthesis in both crops, and the plasticity of root morphology and anatomy is important in determining drought tolerance capacity.

Bifurcation of bound states in the continuum in periodic structures.

In lossless dielectric structures with a single periodic direction, a bound state in the continuum (BIC) is a special resonant mode with an infinite quality factor (Q factor). The Q factor of a resonant mode near a typical BIC satisfies Q∼1/(ß-ß ∗)2, where ß and ß ∗ are the Bloch wavenumbers of the resonant mode and the BIC, respectively. However, for some special BICs with ß ∗=0 (referred to as super-BICs by some authors), the Q factor satisfies Q ∼ 1/ß6. Although super-BICs are usually obtained by merging a few BICs through tuning a structural parameter, they can be precisely characterized by a mathematical condition. In this Letter, we consider arbitrary perturbations to structures supporting a super-BIC. The perturbation is given by δF(r), where δ is the amplitude and F(r) is the perturbation profile. We show that for a typical F(r), the BICs in the perturbed structure exhibit a pitchfork bifurcation around the super-BIC. The number of BICs changes from one to three as δ passes through zero. However, for some special profiles F(r), there is no bifurcation, i.e., there is only a single BIC for δ around zero. In that case, the super-BIC is not associated with a merging process for which δ is the parameter.

SRSF2 in Sertoli cells is essential for testicular development and spermatogenesis in mice.

Sertoli cells are essential for testis development and normal spermatogenesis by providing support and nutrients. Pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) processing is the basic mechanism required for gene expression, and members of the serine/arginine-rich protein (SR) family are key components of the machines that perform these basic processing events. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) is an important member of the SR family; however, the physiological functions of SRSF2 in Sertoli cells are still unclear. Here, we found that SRSF2 was localized in the nuclei of Sertoli and germ cells in male mice at all stages by breeding Amh-Cre mice obtained with Srsf2-specific knockout in Sertoli cells to define the function of SRSF2 in Sertoli cells. The experimental results showed that specific deletion of SRSF2 impaired fetal Sertoli cell proliferation and induced abnormal apoptosis and severe DNA damage in seminiferous tubules, resulting in severe testicular dysplasia, seminiferous tubule atrophy, and almost no normal seminiferous tubules at postnatal day 14. Eventually, these changes resulted in failure to produce normal sperm and infertility. Further RNA-seq results showed that many key genes related to proliferation and apoptosis were downregulated; Racgap1 mRNA undergoes exon skipping. Thus, SRSF2-dependent Sertoli cells are essential for testicular development and male reproduction.

Geniposide alleviates heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in mice by regulating cardiac oxidative stress via MMP2/SIRT1/GSK3ß pathway.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex clinical syndrome with cardiac dysfunction, fluid retention and reduced exercise tolerance as the main manifestations. Current treatment of HFpEF is using combined medications of related comorbidities, there is an urgent need for a modest drug to treat HFpEF. Geniposide (GE), an iridoid glycoside extracted from Gardenia Jasminoides, has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of cardiovascular, digestive and central nervous system disorders. In this study we investigated the therapeutic effects of GE on HFpEF experimental models in vivo and in vitro. HFpEF was induced in mice by feeding with HFD and L-NAME (0.5 g/L) in drinking water for 8 weeks, meanwhile the mice were treated with GE (25, 50 mg/kg) every other day. Cardiac echocardiography and exhaustive exercise were performed, blood pressure was measured at the end of treatment, and heart tissue specimens were collected after the mice were euthanized. We showed that GE administration significantly ameliorated cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis and metabolic disturbances in the hearts of HFpEF mice. We demonstrated that GE promoted the transcriptional activation of Nrf2 by targeting MMP2 to affect upstream SIRT1 and downstream GSK3ß, which in turn alleviated the oxidative stress in the hearts of HFpEF mice. In H9c2 cells and HL-1 cells, we showed that treatment with GE (1 µM) significantly alleviated H2O2-induced oxidative stress through the MMP2/SIRT1/GSK3ß pathway. In summary, GE regulates cardiac oxidative stress via MMP2/SIRT1/GSK3ß pathway and reduces cardiac inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis and metabolic disorders as well as cardiac dysfunction in HFpEF. GE exerts anti-oxidative stress properties by binding to MMP2, inhibiting ROS generation in HFpEF through the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. In addition, GE can also affect the inhibition of the downstream MMP2 target GSK3ß, thereby suppressing the inflammatory and apoptotic responses in HFpEF. Taken together, GE alleviates oxidative stress/apoptosis/fibrosis and metabolic disorders as well as HFpEF through the MMP2/SIRT1/GSK3ß signaling pathway.

SRSF1 is essential for primary follicle development by regulating granulosa cell survival via mRNA alternative splicing.

Granulosa cell abnormalities are characteristics of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Abnormal expression of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) can cause various diseases, but the role of SRSF1 in mouse granulosa cells remains largely unclear. In this study, we found that SRSF1 was expressed in the nuclei of both mouse oocytes and granulosa cells. The specific knockout of Srsf1 in granulosa cells led to follicular development inhibition, decreased granulosa cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of RNA-seq results revealed abnormal expression of genes involved in DNA repair, cell killing and other signalling pathways. Alternative splicing (AS) analysis showed that SRSF1 affected DNA damage in granulosa cells by regulating genes related to DNA repair. In summary, SRSF1 in granulosa cells controls follicular development by regulating AS of genes associated with DNA repair, thereby affecting female reproduction.

SRSF1 regulates primordial follicle formation and number determination during meiotic prophase I.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian folliculogenesis is a tightly regulated process leading to the formation of functional oocytes and involving successive quality control mechanisms that monitor chromosomal DNA integrity and meiotic recombination. A number of factors and mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in folliculogenesis and associated with premature ovarian insufficiency, including abnormal alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1; previously SF2/ASF) is a pivotal posttranscriptional regulator of gene expression in various biological processes. However, the physiological roles and mechanism of SRSF1 action in mouse early-stage oocytes remain elusive. Here, we show that SRSF1 is essential for primordial follicle formation and number determination during meiotic prophase I. RESULTS: The conditional knockout (cKO) of Srsf1 in mouse oocytes impairs primordial follicle formation and leads to primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Oocyte-specific genes that regulate primordial follicle formation (e.g., Lhx8, Nobox, Sohlh1, Sohlh2, Figla, Kit, Jag1, and Rac1) are suppressed in newborn Stra8-GFPCre Srsf1Fl/Fl mouse ovaries. However, meiotic defects are the leading cause of abnormal primordial follicle formation. Immunofluorescence analyses suggest that failed synapsis and an inability to undergo recombination result in fewer homologous DNA crossovers (COs) in the Srsf1 cKO mouse ovaries. Moreover, SRSF1 directly binds and regulates the expression of the POI-related genes Six6os1 and Msh5 via AS to implement the meiotic prophase I program. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our data reveal the critical role of an SRSF1-mediated posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism in the mouse oocyte meiotic prophase I program, providing a framework to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the posttranscriptional network underlying primordial follicle formation.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides regulate the gut microbiota to modulate metabolites in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides (LBP) can benefit lipid parameters such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels and upregulate the level of Firmicutes, increase the diversity of gut microbiota and reduce metabolic disorders, finally relieving weight gain of obese rats. But it cannot reverse the outcome of obesity. Over 30 differential metabolites and four pathways are altered by LBP.

Human muscle production in vitro from pluripotent stem cells: Basic and clinical applications.

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types, offer tremendous therapeutic potential and invaluable flexibility as research tools. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in directing myogenic differentiation of human PSCs. The differentiation strategies, which were inspired by our knowledge of myogenesis in vivo, have provided an important platform for the study of human muscle development and modeling of muscular diseases, as well as a promising source of cells for cell therapy to treat muscular dystrophies. In this review, we summarize the current state of skeletal muscle generation from human PSCs, including transgene-based and transgene-free differentiation protocols, and 3D muscle tissue production through bioengineering approaches. We also highlight their basic and clinical applications, which facilitate the study of human muscle biology and deliver new hope for muscular disease treatment.

Identification of 2-Sulfonyl/Sulfonamide Pyrimidines as Covalent Inhibitors of WRN Using a Multiplexed High-Throughput Screening Assay.

Werner syndrome protein (WRN) is a multifunctional enzyme with helicase, ATPase, and exonuclease activities that are necessary for numerous DNA-related transactions in the human cell. Recent studies identified WRN as a synthetic lethal target in cancers characterized by genomic microsatellite instability resulting from defects in DNA mismatch repair pathways. WRN's helicase activity is essential for the viability of these high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) cancers and thus presents a therapeutic opportunity. To this end, we developed a multiplexed high-throughput screening assay that monitors exonuclease, ATPase, and helicase activities of full-length WRN. This screening campaign led to the discovery of 2-sulfonyl/sulfonamide pyrimidine derivatives as novel covalent inhibitors of WRN helicase activity. The compounds are specific for WRN versus other human RecQ family members and show competitive behavior with ATP. Examination of these novel chemical probes established the sulfonamide NH group as a key driver of compound potency. One of the leading compounds, H3B-960, showed consistent activities in a range of assays (IC50 = 22 nM, KD = 40 nM, KI = 32 nM), and the most potent compound identified, H3B-968, has inhibitory activity IC50 ∼ 10 nM. These kinetic properties trend toward other known covalent druglike molecules. Our work provides a new avenue for screening WRN for inhibitors that may be adaptable to different therapeutic modalities such as targeted protein degradation, as well as a proof of concept for the inhibition of WRN helicase activity by covalent molecules.

Evolution-guided multiomics provide insights into the strengthening of bioactive flavone biosynthesis in medicinal pummelo.

Pummelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis) is a basic species and an important type for breeding in Citrus. Pummelo is used not only for fresh consumption but also for medicinal purposes. However, the molecular basis of medicinal traits is unclear. Here, compared with wild citrus species/Citrus-related genera, the content of 43 bioactive metabolites and their derivatives increased in the pummelo. Furthermore, we assembled the genome sequence of a variety for medicinal purposes with a long history, Citrus maxima 'Huazhouyou-tomentosa' (HZY-T), at the chromosome level with a genome size of 349.07 Mb. Comparative genomics showed that the expanded gene family in the pummelo genome was enriched in flavonoids-, terpenoid-, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Using the metabolome and transcriptome of six developmental stages of HZY-T and Citrus maxima 'Huazhouyou-smooth' (HZY-S) fruit peel, we generated the regulatory networks of bioactive metabolites and their derivatives. We identified a novel MYB transcription factor, CmtMYB108, as an important regulator of flavone pathways. Both mutations and expression of CmtMYB108, which targets the genes PAL (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) and FNS (flavone synthase), displayed differential expression between Citrus-related genera, wild citrus species and pummelo species. This study provides insights into the evolution-associated changes in bioactive metabolism during the origin process of pummelo.

A bimetallic metal-organic framework with high enzyme-mimicking activity for an integrated electrochemical immunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show excellent catalytic activity and have been widely applied in diagnosis of diseases and tumors. However, current assay methods usually involve cumbersome configurations and complicated procedures, which inhibit their practical applications. Hence, a Cu-Ni MOF/carbon printed electrode (CPE)-based integrated electrochemical immunosensor was constructed for highly sensitive and efficient determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). First, highly conductive carbon ink was screen-printed onto a polyethylene terephthalate substrate to manufacture a CPE. Afterward, an aminated Cu-Ni MOF was prepared by a typical solvothermal strategy and modified on the CPE. Owing to its excellent peroxidase activity, the Cu-Ni MOF can catalytically oxidize hydroquinone using hydrogen peroxide, which greatly amplifies the peak current signal. Then the formation of an immune complex inhibited the catalytic activity of the MOF, thus enabling the quantitative determination of CEA content with a wide linear range of 0.5 pg mL-1-500 ng mL-1 and a low detection limit of 0.16 pg mL-1. Furthermore, the Cu-Ni MOF/CPE-based integrated portable electrochemical immunosensor also showed satisfactory performance in the detection of CEA in clinical serum samples with excellent accuracy, showing great potential for application in point-of-care disease diagnosis.

Are New Phthalate Ester Substitutes Safer than Traditional DBP and DiBP? Comparative Endocrine-Disrupting Analyses on Zebrafish Using In Vivo, Transcriptome, and In Silico Approaches.

Although previous studies have confirmed the association between phthalate esters (PAEs) exposure and endocrine disorders in humans, few studies to date have systematically assessed the threats of new PAE alternatives to endocrine disruptions. Herein, zebrafish embryos were continuously exposed to two PAEs [di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP)], two structurally related alternatives [diiononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisononyl hexahydrophthalate (DINCH)], and two non-PAE substitutes [dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DGD) and glyceryl triacetate (GTA)], and the endocrine-disrupting effects were investigated during the early stages (8-48 hpf). For five endogenous hormones, including progesterone, testosterone, 17ß-estradiol, triiodothyronine (T3), and cortisol, the tested chemicals disturbed the contents of at least one hormone at environmentally relevant concentrations (≤3.9 µM), except DINCH and GTA. Then, the concentration-dependent reduced zebrafish transcriptome analysis was performed. Thyroid hormone (TH)- and androgen/estrogen-regulated adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) were the two types of biological pathways most sensitive to PAE exposure. Notably, six compounds disrupted four TH-mediated AOPs, from the inhibition of deiodinases (molecular initiating event, MIE), a decrease in T3 levels (key event, KE), to mortality (adverse outcome, AO) with the quantitatively linear relationships between MIE-KE (|r| = 0.96, p = 0.002), KE-AO (|r| = 0.88, p = 0.02), and MIE-AO (|r| = 0.89, p = 0.02). Multiple structural analyses showed that benzoic acid is the critical toxicogenic fragment. Our data will facilitate the screening and development of green alternatives.

The Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan Compared to Olmesartan on the Blood Pressure and Glucolipid Metabolism in DM Patients with Primary Hypertension.

PURPOSE: Given the beneficial effects of sacubitril/valsartan on blood pressure generally, this study investigates its antihypertension effects in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with primary hypertension specifically, and the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on glycolipid metabolism. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, open-label, active-controlled study to compare the antihypertension effects of sacubitril/valsartan in DM individuals with primary hypertension. The primary end point was reduction in mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline with sacubitril/valsartan vs. olmesartan at week 8. The secondary endpoints included the changes in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), daytime SBP/DBP, nighttime SBP/DBP, BP achievement (office sitting BP < 130/80 mmHg), and lipid profile. The trial was registered with chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2200066428) on Dec 22, 2022. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were included in the final analysis. SBP decreased to a greater extent in the sacubitril/valsartan group from baseline to 8 weeks [between-treatment difference: 3.51 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.41 to 6.62 mm Hg, P = 0.03]. Furthermore, more patients achieved the blood pressure goal with sacubitril/valasartan (74.60% vs. 54.70%, P = 0.03). Multiple logistical regression analysis showed that sacubitril/valsartan was associated with BP achievement [odds ratio (OR) 0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.73, P = 0.007], but the difference in SBP, DBP, day time SBP/DBP, and night time SBP/DBP reduction did not approach statistical significance. HbA1C1, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were lower than baseline in both groups (P < 0.05); however, there was no difference in the effects on glucose and lipid metabolism from sacubitril/valsartan compared to olmesartan. CONCLUSIONS: Sacubitril/valsartan not only provided superior BP reduction compared to olmesartan, it did so without adverse effects on glycemic control and lipid parameters in DM patients with primary hypertension.

The potential of cystatin C as a predictive biomarker in pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Cystatin C is a novel biomarker to identify renal dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cystatin C in non-invasive risk prediction in a large cohort of patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed pre-capillary PH patients with available cystatin C and hemodynamic data derived from right heart catheterization. RESULTS: A total of 398 consecutive patients with confirmed pre-capillary PH were recruited from Fuwai Hospital between November 2020 and November 2021. Over a median duration of 282 days, 72 (18.1%) of these patients experienced clinical worsening. Cystatin C levels significantly correlated with cardiac index (r = -0.286, P < 0.001), mixed venous oxygen saturation (r = -0.216, P < 0.001), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (r = -0.236, P < 0.001), and high cystatin C levels independently predicted a poor prognosis after adjusting potential confounders in different models (all P < 0.05). A three-group non-invasive risk model was constructed based on the combined assessment of the cystatin C and WHO-FC using dichotomous cut-off value. Those patients with higher cystatin C (≥ 1.0 mg/L) and a worse WHO-FC experienced the highest risk of endpoint occurrence. The predictive capacity of this model was comparable to that of an existing invasive risk stratification model (area under curve: 0.657 vs 0.643, P = 0.619). CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C levels were associated with disease severity and prognosis in patients with pre-capillary PH. A combination of high cystatin C and advanced WHO-FC identifies patients at particularly high risk of clinical deterioration.

Contribution of m5C RNA Modification-Related Genes to Prognosis and Immunotherapy Prediction in Patients with Ovarian Cancer.

Background: 5-Methylcytosine (m5C) RNA modification is closely implicated in the occurrence of a variety of cancers. Here, we established a novel prognostic signature for ovarian cancer (OC) patients based on m5C RNA modification-related genes and explored the correlation between these genes with the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: Methylated-RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing helped us to identify candidate genes related to m5C RNA modification at first. Based on TCGA database, we screened the differentially expressed candidate genes related to the prognosis and constructed a prognostic model using LASSO Cox regression analyses. Notably, the accuracy of the model was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operator characteristic curves. Independent prognostic risk factors were investigated by Cox proportional hazard model. Furthermore, we also analyzed the biological functions and pathways involved in the signature. Finally, the immune response of the model was visualized in great detail. Results: Totally, 2,493 candidate genes proved to be involved in m5C modification of RNA for OC. We developed a signature with prognostic value consisting of six m5C RNA modification-related genes. Specially, samples have been split into two cohorts with low- and high-risk scores according to the model, in which the low-risk OC patients exhibited dramatically better overall survival time than those with high-risk scores. Besides, not only was this model a prognostic factor independent of other clinical characteristics but it predicted the intensity of the immune response in OC. Significantly, the accuracy and availability of the signature were verified by ICGC database. Conclusions: Our study bridged the gap between m5C RNA modification and the prognosis of OC and was expected to provide an effective breakthrough for immunotherapy in OC patients.

Sesquiterpenoids from the leaves of Chimonanthus nitens.

Two new sesquiterpenoids (1 and 3), one new natural product (2), and two known compounds (4 and 5) were isolated from the leaves of Chimonanthus nitens. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configuration of compound 3 was determined by the X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-5 was evaluated at three concentrations on two human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231) by MTT assay. As a result, we found that the cytotoxicity was weak even with a concentration of these compounds up to 100 µM.