Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Ameliorate Aging-Induced BTB Impairment in Porcine Testes by Activating Autophagy and Inhibiting ROS/NLRP3 Inflammasomes via the AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

As a pivotal player in spermatogenesis, the blood-testis barrier (BTB) made from junction apparatus coexisting in Sertoli cells (SCs) is impaired with an increase in age and ultimately induces spermatogenic dysfunction or even infertility. It has been corroborated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation can efficiently repair and regenerate the testicular function. As vital mediators of cell-to-cell communication, MSC-derived exosomes (Exos) can directly serve as therapeutic agents for tissue repair and regeneration. However, the therapeutic value of BMSC-Exos in aging-induced BTB damage remains to be confirmed. In this study, we explored that the old porcine testes had defective autophagy, which aggravated BTB disruption in SCs. BMSC-Exos could decrease ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation but enhanced autophagy and tight junction (TJ) function in D-gal-triggered aging porcine SCs and mouse model testes, according to in vitro and in vivo experiments. Furthermore, rapamycin, NAC, MCC950, and IL-1Ra restored the TJ function in D-gal-stimulated aging porcine SCs, while BMSC-Exos' stimulatory effect on TJ function was inhibited by chloroquine. Moreover, the treatment with BMSC-Exos enhanced autophagy in D-gal-induced aging porcine SCs by means of the AMPK/mTOR signal transduction pathway. These findings uncovered through the present study that BMSC-Exos can enhance the BTB function in aging testes by improving autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby suppressing ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Three new species of Scalida (Blattodea: Blattellidae) from Yunnan, China.

Three new Scalida species from Yunnan are reported: Scalida hamata Qiao & Che sp. nov., Scalida spinosa Qiao & Che sp. nov., Scalida ramiformis Qiao & Che sp. nov.. Morphological descriptions of the new species, including the male genitalia, are provided along with detailed photographs. A list and a key to species of Scalida in the world are provided.

GPER mediates the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway involved in VEGF expression in swine ovary GCs.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis in ovaries, particularly during follicular development and ovulation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the major pro-inflammatory factors that are involved in the angiogenesis process physiologically and pathologically. Previous studies have shown that 17ß-estradiol (E2) stimulates VEGF expression by upregulating hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in many cell types, and the high level of E2 causes an inflammatory-like microenvironment before ovulation. However, whether IL-6 signaling is involved in E2-regulating VEGF expression in swine granulosa cells (GCs) is still unknown. In this study, we found the estrogen membrane receptor, G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER), was expressed in swine GCs, and the expression level of GPER, HIF-1α, and VEGF increased with follicular development. In vitro study showed that E2, ICI182780, and GPER agonist (G1) promoted the expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in swine GCs, while GPER antagonist (G15) inhibited the stimulating effect of E2 and G1. Meanwhile, G15 inhibited the stimulating effect of E2 and G1 on IL-6 mRNA expression and secretion. Furthermore, IL-6 antibody and AG490 (JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor) attenuated G1-induced HIF-1α and VEGF expression. In conclusion, this study revealed how estrogen-induced HIF-1α and VEGF expressions in swine GCs are mediated through GPER-derived IL-6 secretion leading to JAK2/STAT3 activation.

Genetic polymorphisms of BDNF on cognitive functions in drug-naive first episode patients with schizophrenia.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reported to be involved in cognitive decline in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). Previous studies have found that cognitive deficits remain stable during the chronic disease phase in SZ, but the findings were inconsistent. The role of BDNF in cognitive deficits at different stage of illness remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of BDNF polymorphisms on cognitive deficits in drug-naïve first-episode (DNFE) patients and chronic patients with SZ. 262 DNFE patients, 844 chronic patients, and 1043 healthy controls were recruited to compare 4 polymorphisms in BDNF gene and cognitive function. We found that there was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between SZ patients and controls. However, they were closely related to cognitive functioning. BDNF rs2030324 polymorphism played a strong role in language performance only in DNFE patients with SZ. The language index of DNFE patients with rs2030324 TT and TC genotypes was worse than that of chronic patients, but there was no significant difference in CC genotypes between DNFE and chronic patients. Rs6265 had no significant effect on cognitive functioning in patients and controls. Our result suggests BDNF gene polymorphisms were related to different domains of cognitive function at the different stage of SZ, especially language in DNFE patients.

[Effect of different choices and treatments with donor cells on reprogramming].

The donor nucleus must experienced the epigenetic modification of the process reprogramming and went back to the initial state after the donor cell was injected into the oocytes. If the reprogramming is not completed, the efficiency of cloning will be reduced. However, reprogramming of nucleus muct was not only embodied in its ability after it was transferred into the oocytes. It was different in the potential if the cell type was not identical. In addition, different treatment to the donor cells resulted in different ability and the level of reprogramming. This paper described different effects of the type, algebra, cycles, age, and species of the donor cells after nuclear transplantation on the reprogramming. An overview of the exposition and analysis through the donor cell cryopreservation, serum starvation, and different reagent treatments were discussed.