[Mechanisms of Extracellular Vesicles Involved in Multiple Myeloma --Review].

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic tumor characterized by malignant proliferation of clonal plasma cells, the exact pathogenesis of which is not yet fully understood. The extracellular vesicles (EV) are structures released by cells into their surroundings that do not have a functional nucleus and can communicate between cells or deliver biologically active proteins and nucleic acids to target cells. EV play an important role in the interaction between myeloma cells and the bone marrow microenvironment, and they can promote MM progression. In this paper, we summarize the recent research progress in the mechanism of action of EV on MM in order to provide inspiration for exploring new strategies for MM treatment and prognostic stratification.

Streptomyces liangshanensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from rhizosphere soil of Fagopyrum tataricum.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated strain QMT-12T, was isolated from the rhizospheric soils of Fagopyrum tataricum and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Strain QMT-12T was found to have morphological features typical of the genus Streptomyces. The predominant fatty acids included C18:1 cis9 (35.9%), Summed feature 6 (C18:2 cis9, 12/C18:0 a or C18:0 anteiso/C18:2 c) (30.6%) and C16:0 (16.3%). The whole-cell sugars were arabinose and glucose. The whole-cell-wall amino acids included alanine, aspartate, glutamic acid, glycine and LL-diaminopimelic acid. The menaquinones were MK-9, MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The diagnostic phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl methyl ethanolamine, phospholipids, phosphotidyl inositol, phosphotidylinositol mannosides, and phospholipids of unknown structure containing glucosamine. The full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain QMT-12T belonged to the genus Streptomyces and had 98.2, 98.1, 98.1 and ≤ 98.0% similarities to Streptomyces camponoticapitis 2H-TWYE14T, Streptomyces scopuliridis NRRL B-24574T, Streptomyces inhibens NEAU-D10T and other Streptomyces species with validly published and correct names, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain QMT-12T was closely related to Streptomyces inhibens NEAU-D10T. However, the average nucleotide identity value and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain QMT-12T and S. inhibens NEAU-D10T were 85.0 and 22.3%, respectively, well below 95-96% and 70% cut-off point recommended for delineating species. Based on its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain QMT-12T (= CICC 11056T = JCM 33963T) represents the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces liangshanensis sp. nov. is proposed.

Renewable lignin-based surfactant modified layered double hydroxide and its application in polypropylene as flame retardant and smoke suppression.

A novel and environmentally friendly lignin-based surfactant sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) modified layered double hydroxide (LDH) flame retardant (LDH-LS) was fabricated via co-precipitation method, and subsequently incorporated into polypropylene (PP) matrix to obtain the PP and LDH-LS composites (PP/LDH-LS) by melt blending method. The XRD, FT-IR and XPS results indicated that SLS had successfully modified LDH by adsorbing on the surface of the LDH nanosheet. The WCA and SEM results revealed that the hydrophobic property of LDH-LS had been evidently improved, and it displayed a more homogeneous dispersion than virgin LDH in the PP matrix. Furthermore, cone calorimetry tests (CCT) illustrated that the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), and total smoke release (TSR) of PP/LDH-LS composites exhibited declines of 62.9%, 25.1%, and 43.3% compared with those of Neat PP, respectively. Besides, the PP/LDH-LS achieved a LOI value of 29.4% and a UL-94 V-0 rating, whereas the PP/LDH showed only a LOI value of 25.2% and a UL-94 V-2 rating at 20 wt% loading. These improvements of flame retardant properties can be attributed to that the well-dispersed LDH-LS and synergistic flame retardancy between LDH and SLS.

The concurrent treatment of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin but also attenuates chemotherapy-induced cachexia and acute kidney injury.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cisplatin is an important chemotherapy to lung cancer, but it usually induces severe cachexia and acute kidney injury in patients. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SB), commonly known as a skullcap, is a popular Chinese herbal medicine mainly used to treat inflammation, infection, and malignancy. In this study, we report the synergic effect of SB and cisplatin to Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, and the ameliorative effect of SB to cisplatin-induced cachexia and acute kidney injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract of SB was applied by water boiling and lyophilization. The MTS assay was used to exam the in-vitro effects of SB and cisplatin on the LLC viability. In the animal experiment, male C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with LLC cells, and then treated by cisplatin intraperitoneally and the SB extract orally. Tumor volume, weights of tumor, murine body, white adipose tissue and gastrocnemius muscle, as well as serum levels of BUN and creatinine were measured during the experiment. Murine kidney sample was observed after the H&E and annexin V staining. RESULTS: SB provided an enhancement of cisplatin action to inhibit tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. In the animal experiment, SB improved the loss of murine body weight and gastrocnemius muscle, the elevating BUN level, and the apoptosis of renal tubular cells in mice receiving cisplatin therapy. Meanwhile, the current treatment of SB did not further interfere with the blood cell counts of mice receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: SB can enhance the anti-cancer effect of cisplatin. It also attenuates cisplatin-induced cachexia and acute kidney injury.