KLF3 promotes colorectal cancer growth by activating WNT1.

OBJECTIVE: The function of Kruppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) remains largely unexplored in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: KLF3 expression in CRC was assessed through qPCR, western blotting, immunohistochemical assays, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The tumor-promoting capacity of KLF3 was explored by performing in vitro functional experiments using CRC cells. A subcutaneous nude mouse tumor assay was employed to evaluate tumor growth. To further elucidate the interaction between KLF3 and other factors, luciferase reporter assay, agarose gel electrophoresis, and ChIP analysis were performed. RESULTS: KLF3 was downregulated in CRC tissue and cells. Silencing of KLF3 increased the potential of CRC cells for proliferation, migration, and invasion, while its activation decreased these processes. Downregulated KLF3 was associated with accelerated tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, KLF3 was discovered to target the promoter sequence of WNT1. Consequently, the diminished expression of KLF3 led to the buildup of WNT1 and the WNT/ß-catenin pathway activation, consequently stimulating the progression of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation suggests that the involvement of KLF3/WNT1 regulatory pathway contributes to the progression of CRC, thereby emphasizing its promise as an important focus for future therapies aimed at treating CRC.

Coupling biostimulation and phytoremediation for the restoration of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) continue to be among the most common pollutants in soil worldwide. Bioremediation and phytoremediation have become sustainable ways of dealing with TPH contamination and biostimulation-assisted phytoremediation is considered as a potential approach for the treatment of pollutants. In this study, the response surface was used to optimize the single-factor biological stimulation experiment of moisture content, leavening agent content and compound fertilizer content and got the best experimental plan of biological stimulation. It was found that TPH degradation rate was 28.6% by biostimulation after 70 days. Further, from 20 kinds of plant seeds, 5 kinds of suitable or growth and high germination rate were selected for petroleum hydrocarbon degradation experiment. In the phytoremediation, peanut was selected as the best plant species by measuring the TPH degradation rate, bacteria count, growth of test plants, germination rate and amount of catalase in the soil and it could achieved 31.1% degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons after 70 days. Finally, the artificial biostimulation and phytoremediation combined degradation experiment of petroleum hydrocarbons-contaminated soil was designed and it achieved 38.9% TPH degradation rate after 70 days.

In petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, single remediation methods are often limited and may be disturbed by environmental conditions. In the actual research process of coupling biostimulation and phytoremediation, it is necessary to play the role of microorganisms on the premise of ensuring plant growth. This may further present challenges for combined bioremediation attempts. In this work, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the single-factor biological stimulation experiment of moisture content, leavening agent content and compound fertilizer content. As a result, the best biological stimulation experimental scheme can be obtained to repair oil contaminated soil. Then, biostimulation-assisted phytoremediation degradation experiment of petroleum hydrocarbons-contaminated soil was designed and an effective degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil was obtained. HIGHLIGHTSBiostimulation combined with phytoremediation improved the degradation rate of soil petroleum hydrocarbons in 70 days.After 70 days of combine remediation, the microorganisms biomass almost recovered before being contaminated.

An air-stable and waterproof lithium metal anode enabled by wax composite packaging.

The reviving use of lithium metal anode (LMA) is one of the most promising ways to upgrade the energy density of lithium ion batteries. In the roadmap towards the real use, besides the formation of the dendrite, various adverse reactions due to the high activity of LMA when exposed to air or the electrolyte limit its practical applications. Learning from the packaging technology in electronic industry, we propose a wax-based coating compositing with the ion conducting poly (ethylene oxide) by a simple dip-coating technology and the prepared LMA is featured with an air-stable and waterproof surface. The LMA thus remains stable for 24 h in ambient air even with the relative humidity of 70% while retaining about 85% its electrochemical capacity. More importantly, the LMA is accessible to water and when dipping in water, no obvious adverse reactions or capacity decay is observed. With the composite coating, a steady cycling performance for 500 h in symmetrical cells and a low capacity decay rate of 0.075% per cycle after 300 cycles in lithium-sulfur batteries assembled with the packaged anode have been achieved. This work demonstrates a very simple and effective LMA package technology which is easily scalable and is very promising for speeding up the industrialization of lithium-sulfur batteries and shows potentials for the large-scale production of air-sensitive electrode materials not limited to LMAs.