Raspberry Ketone Attenuates Hepatic Fibrogenesis and Inflammation via Regulating the Crosstalk of FXR and PGC-1α Signaling.

Hepatic fibrosis is a compensatory response to chronic liver injury and inflammation, and dietary intervention is recommended as one of the fundamental prevention strategies. Raspberry ketone (RK) is an aromatic compound first isolated from raspberry and widely used to prepare food flavors. The current study investigated the hepatoprotection and potential mechanism of RK against hepatic fibrosis. In vitro, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation was stimulated with TGF-ß and cultured with RK, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) agonist or inhibitor, respectively. In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with thioacetamide (TAA) at 100/200 mg/kg from the first to the fifth week. Mice were intragastrically administrated with RK or Cur once a day from the second to the fifth week. In activated HSCs, RK inhibited extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, inflammation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. RK both activated FXR/PGC-1α and regulated their crosstalk, which were verified by their inhibitors and agonists. Deficiency of FXR or PGC-1α also attenuated the effect of RK on the reverse of activated HSCs. RK also decreased serum ALT/AST levels, liver histopathological change, ECM accumulation, inflammation, and EMT in mice caused by TAA. Double activation of FXR/PGC-1α might be the key targets for RK against hepatic fibrosis. Above all, these discoveries supported the potential of RK as a novel candidate for the dietary intervention of hepatic fibrosis.

Development of binderless fiberboard from poplar wood residue with Trametes hirsuta.

The utilization of agricultural and forestry residues for the development and preparation of green binderless fiberboard (BF) is an effective way to realize high-value utilization of lignocellulose biomass resources. This study focuses on the fabrication of BF with excellent mechanical and waterproof properties, utilizing poplar wood residue (PWR) as raw material and Trametes hirsuta as a pretreatment method. During the fermentation process, lignin-degrading enzymes and biological factors, such as sugars, were produced by T. hirsuta, which activated lignin by depolymerizing lignin bonds and modifying structural functional groups, and forming new covalent bonds between poplar fibers, ultimately enhancing adhesion. Additionally, the activated lignin molecules and sugar molecules coalesce under high temperatures and pressures, forming a dense carbonization layer that bolsters the mechanical properties of the fiberboard and effectively shields it from rapid water infiltration. The bio-pretreated BF for 10 days shows a MOR and MOE of up to 36.1 Mpa and 3704.3 Mpa, respectively, which is 261% and 247.8% higher than that of the bio-untreated fiberboard, and the water swelling ratio (WSR) rate is only 5.6%. Chemical composition analysis revealed that repolymerization occurred among lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, especially the molecular weight of lignin changed significantly, with the Mw of lignin increasing from 312066 g/mol to 892362 g/mol, and then decreasing to 825021 g/mol. Mn increased from 277790 g/mol to 316987.5 g/mol and then decreased to 283299.5 g/mol at 21 days. Compared to other artificial fiberboards prepared through microbial pretreatment, the BF prepared by microorganisms in this study exhibited the highest mechanical properties among the poplar wood biobased panels.

Diallyl disulfide, the bioactive component of Allium species, ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by mediating the crosstalk of farnesoid X receptor and yes-associated protein 1 signaling pathway.

Environmental pollution, virus infection, allergens, and other factors may cause respiratory disease, which could be improved by dietary therapy. Allium species are common daily food seasoning and have high nutritional and medical value. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is the major volatile oil compound of Allium species. The present study aims to explore the preventive effect and potential mechanism of DADS on pulmonary fibrosis. C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally injected with bleomycin (BLM) to establish pulmonary fibrosis and then administrated with DADS. Primary lung fibroblasts or A549 were stimulated with BLM, followed by DADS, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist (GW4064), yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) inhibitor (verteporfin), or silencing of FXR and YAP1. In BLM-stimulated mice, DADS significantly ameliorated histopathological changes and interleukin-1ß levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. DADS decreased fibrosis markers, HIF-1α, inflammatory cytokines, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary mice and activated fibroblasts. DADS significantly enhanced FXR expression and inhibited YAP1 activation, which functions as GW4064 and verteporfin. A deficiency of FXR or YAP1 could result in the increase of these two protein expressions, respectively. DADS ameliorated extracellular matrix deposition, hypoxia, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and inflammation in FXR or YAP1 knockdown A549. Taken together, targeting the crosstalk of FXR and YAP1 might be the potential mechanism for DADS against pulmonary fibrosis. DADS can serve as a potential candidate or dietary nutraceutical supplement for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Quantitative SERS sensor for mycotoxins with extraction and identification function.

The development of new sensors for on-site food toxin monitoring that combine extraction, analytes distinction and detection is important in resource-limited environments. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based signal readout features fast response and high sensitivity, making it a powerful method for detecting mycotoxins. In this work, a SERS-based assay for the detection of multiple mycotoxins is presented that combines extraction and subsequent detection, achieving an analytically relevant detection limit (∼ 1 ng/mL), which is also tested in corn samples. This sensor consists of a magnetic-core and mycotoxin-absorbing polydopamine-shell, with SERS-active Au nanoparticles on the outer surface. The assay can concentrate multiple mycotoxins, which are identified through multiclass partite least squares analysis based on their SERS spectra. We developed a strategy for the analysis of multiple mycotoxins with minimal sample pretreatment, enabling in situ analytical extraction and subsequent detection, displaying the potential to rapidly identify lethal mycotoxin contamination on site.

Screening structure and predicting toxicity of pesticide adjuvants using molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning for minimizing environmental impacts.

Surfactants as synergistic agents are necessary to improve the stability and utilization of pesticides, while their use is often accompanied by unexpected release into the environment. However, there are no efficient strategies available for screening low-toxicity surfactants, and traditional toxicity studies rely on extensive experimentation which are not predictive. Herein, a commonly used agricultural adjuvant Triton X (TX) series was selected to study the function of amphipathic structure to their toxicity in zebrafish. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, transcriptomics, metabolomics and machine learning (ML) were used to study the toxic effects and predict the toxicity of various TX. The results showed that TX with a relatively short hydrophilic chain was highly toxic to zebrafish with LC50 of 1.526 mg/L. However, TX with a longer hydrophilic chain was more likely to damage the heart, liver and gonads of zebrafish through the arachidonic acid metabolic network, suggesting that the effect of surfactants on membrane permeability is the key to determine toxic results. Moreover, biomarkers were screened through machine learning, and other hydrophilic chain lengths were predicted to affect zebrafish heart health potentially. Our study provides an advanced adjuvants screening method to improve the bioavailability of pesticides while reducing environmental impacts.

NETs contribute to psoriasiform skin inflammation: A novel therapeutic approach targeting IL-36 cytokines by a small molecule tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated skin disease with pathological features such as aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes, dermal-epidermal inflammation, and angiogenesis. 2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxy stilbene 2-Ο-ß-d-glucoside (2354Glu) is a natural small molecule polyhydrostilbenes isolated from Polygonum multiglorum Thunb. The regulation of IL-36 subfamily has led to new pharmacologic strategies to reverse psoriasiform dermatitis. PURPOSE: Here we investigated the therapeutic potential of 2354Glu and elucidated the underlying mechanism in psoriasis. METHODS: The effects of 2354Glu on IL-36 signaling were assessed by psoriasiform in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo model. The in vivo mice model of psoriasis-like skin inflammation was established by applying imiquimod (IMQ), and the in vitro and ex vitro models were established by stimulating mouse primary keratinocyte, human keratinocytes cells (HaCaT) and ex vivo skin tissue isolated from the mice back with Polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)), IMQ, IL-36γ and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) respectively. Moreover, NETs formation was inhibited by Cl-amidine to evaluate the effect of NETs in psoriatic mouse model. The effects of 2354Glu on skin inflammation were assessed by western blot, H&E, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In Poly(I:C)-stimulated keratinocytes, the secretion of IL-36 was inhibited after treatment with 2354Glu, similar to the effects of TLR3, P2X7R and caspase-1 inhibitors. In aldara (imiquimod)-induced mice, 2354Glu (100 and 25 mg/kg) improved immune cell infiltration and hyperkeratosis in psoriasis by directly targeting IL-36 in keratinocytes through P2X7R-caspase-1. When treatment with 2354Glu (25 mg/kg) was insufficient to inhibit IL-36γ, NETs reduced pathological features and IL-36 signaling by interacting with keratinocytes to combat psoriasis like inflammation. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that NETs had a beneficial effect on psoriasiform dermatitis. 2354Glu alleviates psoriasis by directly targeting IL-36/P2X7R axis and NET formation, providing a potential candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.

Half-life extension of single-domain antibody-drug conjugates by albumin binding moiety enhances antitumor efficacy.

Single-domain antibody-drug conjugates (sdADCs) have been proven to have deeper solid tumor penetration and intratumor accumulation capabilities due to their smaller size compared with traditional IgG format ADCs. However, one of the key challenges for improving clinical outcomes of sdADCs is their abbreviated in vivo half-life. In this study, we innovatively fused an antihuman serum albumin (αHSA) nanobody to a sdADCs targeting oncofetal antigen 5T4, conferring serum albumin binding to enhance the pharmacokinetic profiles of sdADCs. The fusion protein was conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) at s224c site mutation. The conjugate exhibited potent cytotoxicity against various tumor cells. Compared with the nonalbumin-binding counterparts, the conjugate exhibited a 10-fold extended half-life in wild-type mice and fivefold prolonged serum half-life in BxPC-3 xenograft tumor models as well as enhanced tumor accumulation and retention in mice. Consequently, n501-αHSA-MMAE showed potent antitumor effects, which were comparable to n501-MMAE in pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 xenograft tumor models; however, in human ovarian teratoma PA-1 xenograft tumor models, n501-αHSA-MMAE significantly improved antitumor efficacy. Moreover, the conjugate showed mitigated hepatotoxicity. In summary, our results suggested that fusion to albumin-binding moiety as a viable strategy can enhance the therapeutic potential of sdADCs through optimized pharmacokinetics.

Machine-Learning-Assisted Rational Design of Si─Rhodamine as Cathepsin-pH-Activated Probe for Accurate Fluorescence Navigation.

High-performance fluorescent probes stand as indispensable tools in fluorescence-guided imaging, and are crucial for precise delineation of focal tissue while minimizing unnecessary removal of healthy tissue. Herein, machine-learning-assisted strategy to investigate the current available xanthene dyes is first proposed, and a quantitative prediction model to guide the rational synthesis of novel fluorescent molecules with the desired pH responsivity is constructed. Two novel Si─rhodamine derivatives are successfully achieved and the cathepsin/pH sequentially activated probe Si─rhodamine─cathepsin-pH (SiR─CTS-pH) is constructed. The results reveal that SiR─CTS-pH exhibits higher signal-to-noise ratio of fluorescence imaging, compared to single pH or cathepsin-activated probe. Moreover, SiR─CTS-pH shows strong differentiation abilities for tumor cells and tissues and accurately discriminates the complex hepatocellular carcinoma tissues from normal ones, indicating its significant application potential in clinical practice. Therefore, the continuous development of xanthene dyes and the rational design of superior fluorescent molecules through machine-learning-assisted model broaden the path and provide more advanced methods to researchers.

P4HA2 contributes to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression and EMT through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can be defined as a deadly illness with a dismal prognosis in advanced stages. Therefore, we seek to examine P4HA2 expression and effect in HNSCC, along with the underlying mechanisms. This study utilized integrated bioinformatics analyses to evaluate the P4HA2 expression pattern, prognostic implication, and probable function in HNSCC. The study conducted various in vitro experiments, including colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays, on the human HNSCC cell line CAL-27 to examine the involvement of P4HA2 in HNSCC progression. Moreover, western blotting was used to investigate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and PI3K/AKT pathway markers to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. P4HA2 expression was significantly enhanced in HNSCC, and its overexpression was correlated to tumor aggressiveness and a poor prognosis in patients. Based on in vitro experiments, the overexpressed P4HA2 enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as EMT while reducing apoptosis, whereas P4HA2 silencing exhibited the reverse effect. P4HA2 overexpression enhanced PI3K/AKT phosphorylation in HNSCC cells. Moreover, LY294002 was observed to counteract the effects of upregulated P4HA2 on proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in HNSCC. Collectively, we indicated that P4HA2 promoted HNSCC progression and EMT via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Synthesis of amide derivatives containing the imidazole moiety and evaluation of their anti-cardiac fibrosis activity.

Three series of N-{[4-([1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]pyridin-6-yl)-5-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]methyl}acetamides (14a-d, 15a-n, and 16a-f) were synthesized and evaluated for activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) inhibitory activities in an enzymatic assay. The target compounds showed high ALK5 inhibitory activity and selectivity. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for phosphorylation of ALK5 of 16f (9.1 nM), the most potent compound, was 2.7 times that of the clinical candidate EW-7197 (vactosertib) and 14 times that of the clinical candidate LY-2157299. The selectivity index of 16f against p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase was >109, which was much higher than that of positive controls (EW-7197: >41, and LY-2157299: 4). Furthermore, a molecular docking study provided the interaction modes between the target compounds and ALK5. Compounds 14c, 14d, and 16f effectively inhibited the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1)/matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in transforming growth factor-ß-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Compounds 14c and 16f showed especially high activity at low concentrations, which suggests that these compounds could inhibit myocardial cell fibrosis. Compounds 14c, 14d, and 16f are potential preclinical candidates for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Identification and validation of anti-protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) antibody as a novel biomarker for systemic sclerosis (SSc).

OBJECTIVES: In the complex panorama of autoimmune diseases, the characterisation of pivotal contributing autoantibodies that are involved in disease progression remains challenging. This study aimed to employ a global antibody profiling strategy to identify novel antibodies and investigate their association with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: We implemented this strategy by conducting immunoprecipitation (IP) following on-bead digestion with the sera of patients with SSc or healthy donors, using antigen pools derived from cell lysates. The enriched antigen-antibody complex was proceeded with mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics and over-represented by bioinformatics analysis. The candidate antibodies were then orthogonally validated in two independent groups of patients with SSc. Mice were immunised with the target antigen, which was subsequently evaluated by histological examination and RNA sequencing. RESULTS: The IP-MS analysis, followed by validation in patients with SSc, revealed a significant elevation in anti-PRMT5 antibodies among patients with SSc. These antibodies exhibited robust diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing SSc from healthy controls and other autoimmune conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome, with an area under the curve ranging from 0.900 to 0.988. The elevation of anti-PRMT5 antibodies was verified in a subsequent independent group with SSc using an additional method, microarray. Notably, 31.11% of patients with SSc exhibited seropositivity for anti-PRMT5 antibodies. Furthermore, the titres of anti-PRMT5 antibodies demonstrated a correlation with the progression or regression trajectory in SSc. PRMT5 immunisation displayed significant inflammation and fibrosis in both the skin and lungs of mice. This was concomitant with the upregulation of multiple proinflammatory and profibrotic pathways, thereby underscoring a potentially pivotal role of anti-PRMT5 antibodies in SSc. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified anti-PRMT5 antibodies as a novel biomarker for SSc.

Reforming solid tumor treatment: the emerging potential of smaller format antibody-drug conjugate.

In recent years, substantial therapeutic efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has been validated through approvals of 16 ADCs for the treatment of malignant tumors. However, realization of the maximum clinical use of ADCs requires surmounting extant challenges, mainly the limitations in tumor penetration capabilities when targeting solid tumors. To resolve the hurdle of suboptimal tumor penetration, miniaturized antibody fragments with engineered formats have been harnessed for ADC assembly. By virtue of their reduced molecular sizes, antibody fragment-drug conjugates hold considerable promise for efficacious delivery of cytotoxic agents, thus conferring superior therapeutic outcomes. This review will focus on current advancements in novel ADC development utilizing smaller antibody formats from ~6 to 80 kDa, with particular emphasis on single-domain antibodies, which have been widely applied in novel ADC design. Additionally, strategies to optimize clinical translation are discussed, including half-life extension, acceleration of internalization, and reduction of immunogenic potential.

Salinity-Driven Interface Self-Assembly of a Biological Amphiphilic Emulsifier to Form Stable Janus Core-Shell Emulsion for Enhancing Agrichemical Delivery.

Agrichemical losses are a severe threat to the ecological environment. Additionally, some agrichemical compounds contain abundant salt, which increases the instability of formulations, leading to a lower agrichemical utilization and soil hardening. Fortunately, the biological amphiphilic emulsifier sodium deoxycholate alleviates these problems by forming stable Janus core-shell emulsions through salinity-driven interfacial self-assembly. According to the interfacial behavior, dilational rheology, and molecular dynamics simulations, Janus-emulsion molecules are more closely arranged than traditional-emulsion molecules and generate an oil-water interfacial film that transforms into a gel film. In addition, at the same spray volume, the deposition area of the Janus emulsion increased by 37.70% compared with that of the traditional emulsion. Owing to the topology effect and deformation, the Janus emulsion adheres to rice micropapillae, achieving better flush resistance. Meanwhile, based on response of the Janus emulsion to stimulation by carbon dioxide (CO2), the emulsion lost to the soil can form a rigid shell for inhibiting the release of pesticides and metal ions from harming the soil. The pyraclostrobin release rate decreased by 50.89% at 4 h after the Janus emulsion was exposed to CO2. The Chao1 index of the Janus emulsion was increased by 12.49% as compared to coconut oil delivery in soil microbial community. The Janus emulsion ingested by harmful organisms can be effectively absorbed in the intestine to achieve better control effects. This study provides a simple and effective strategy, which turns waste into treasure, by combining metal ions in agrichemicals with natural amphiphilic molecules to prepare stable emulsions for enhancing agrichemical rainfastness and weakening environmental risk.

Progress in novel delivery technologies to improve efficacy of therapeutic antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics have achieved remarkable success in treating a wide range of human diseases. However, conventional systemic delivery methods have limitations in insufficient target tissue permeability, high costs, repeated administrations, etc. Novel technologies have been developed to address these limitations and further enhance antibody therapy. Local antibody delivery via respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eye and blood-brain barrier have shown promising results in increasing local concentrations and overcoming barriers. Nucleic acid-encoded antibodies expressed from plasmid DNA, viral vectors or mRNA delivery platforms also offer advantages over recombinant proteins such as sustained expression, rapid onset, and lower costs. This review summarizes recent advances in antibody delivery methods and highlights innovative technologies that have potential to expand therapeutic applications of antibodies.

Long-term variations in surface ozone at the Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station in Northeast China and related influencing factors.

Surface ozone (O3) is a crucial air pollutant that affects air quality, human health, agricultural production, and climate change. Studies on long-term O3 variations and their influencing factors are essential for understanding O3 pollution and its impact. Here, we conducted an analysis of long-term variations in O3 during 2006-2022 at the Longfengshan Regional Atmosphere Background Station (LFS; 44.44°N, 127.36°E, 330.5 m a.s.l.) situated on the northeastern edge of the Northeast China Plains. The maximum daily 8-h average (MDA8) O3 fluctuated substantially, with the annual MDA8 decreasing significantly during 2006-2015 (-0.62 ppb yr-1, p < 0.05), jumping during 2015-2016 and increasing clearly during 2020-2022. Step multiple linear regression models for MDA8 were obtained using meteorological variables, to decompose anthropogenic and meteorological contributions to O3 variations. Anthropogenic activities acted as the primary drivers of the long-term trends of MDA8 O3, contributing 73% of annual MDA8 O3 variability, whereas meteorology played less important roles (27%). Elevated O3 at LFS were primarily associated with airflows originating from the North China Plain, Northeast China Plain, and coastal areas of North China, primarily occurring during the warm months (May-October). Based on satellite products of NO2 and HCHO columns, the O3 photochemical regimes over LFS revealed NOx-limited throughout the period. NO2 increased first, reaching peak in 2011, followed by substantial decrease; while HCHO exhibited significant increase, contributing to decreasing trend in MDA8 O3 during 2006-2015. The plateauing NO2 and decreasing HCHO may contribute to the increase in MDA8 O3 in 2016. Subsequently, both NO2 and HCHO exhibited notable fluctuations, leading to significant changes in O3. The study results fill the gap in the understanding of long-term O3 trends in high-latitude areas in the Northeast China Plain and offer valuable insights for assessing the impact of O3 on crop yields, forest productivity, and climate change.

A therapeutic strategy of parthenolide in improving imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation targeting IL-36/NETs through skin transdermal therapeutic system.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that occurs repeatedly over time. The natural product of sesquiterpene lactones, Parthenolide (Par), is isolated from Tanacetum parthenium L. (feverfew) which has significant effects on anti-inflammatory. The therapeutic effect of the medication itself is crucial, but different routes of administration of the same drug can also produce different effects. PURPOSE: The aim of our research sought to investigate the ameliorating effects of Par in psoriasis-like skin inflammation and its related mechanism of action. RESULTS: In the IMQ-induced model, intragastric administration of Par reduced the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, improved skin erythema, scaling, and other symptoms. And Par decreased the expression of Ki67, keratin14, keratin16 and keratin17, and increased the expression of keratin1. Par could reduce IL-36 protein expressions, meanwhile the expression of Il1b, Cxcl1 and Cxcl2 mRNA were also decreased. Par regulated the expression levels of F4/80, MPO and NE. However, skin transdermal administration of Par was more effective. Similarly, Par attenuated IL-36γ, IL-1ß and caspase-1 activated by Poly(I:C) in in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, Par also reduced NE, PR3, and Cathepsin G levels in explant skin tissues. CONCLUSION: Par ameliorated psoriasis-like skin inflammation in both in vivo and in vitro, especially after treatment with transdermal drug delivery, possibly by inhibiting neutrophil extracellular traps and thus by interfering IL-36 signaling pathway. It indicated that Par provides a new research strategy for the treatment of psoriasis-like skin inflammation and is expected to be a promising drug.

Protective effect of crocin on peroxidation-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells.

The antioxidant properties of crocin are attracting interest, yet the underlying mechanisms by which crocin mitigates oxidative stress-induced intestinal damage have not been determined. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of crocin on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and intestinal epithelial injury in intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). Using an H2O2-induced oxidative stress model in IPEC-J2 cells, crocin was added to assess its effects. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assays and flow cytometry. Additionally, oxidative stress markers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), were quantified. We investigated, in which cell oxidation and apoptosis were measured at the gene and protein levels and employed transcriptome analysis to probe the mechanism of action and validate relevant pathways. The results showed that crocin ameliorates H2O2-induced oxidative stress by reducing ROS and MDA levels and by countering the reductions in CAT, total antioxidant capacity, and SOD. Crocin also attenuates the upregulation of key targets in the Nrf2 pathway. Furthermore, it effectively mitigated IPEC-J2 cell apoptosis caused by oxidative stress, as evidenced by changes in cell cycle factor expression, apoptosis rate, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis pathway activity. In addition, crocin preserves the integrity of the intestinal barrier by protecting tight junction proteins against oxidative stress. Transcriptome sequencing analysis suggested that the mitochondrial pathway may be a crucial mechanism through which crocin exerts its protective effects. In summary, crocin decreases oxidative stress molecule formation, inhibits Nrf2 pathway activity, prevents apoptosis-induced damage, enhances oxidative stress resistance in IPEC-J2 cells, and maintains redox balance in the pig intestine.

Antibody Nanotweezer Constructing Bivalent Transistor-Biomolecule Interface with Spatial Tolerance.

Establishing a multivalent interface between the biointerface of a living system and electronic device is vital to building intelligent bioelectronic systems. How to achieve multivalent binding with spatial tolerance at the nanoscale remains challenging. Here, we report an antibody nanotweezer that is a self-adaptive bivalent nanobody enabling strong and resilient binding between transistor and envelope proteins at biointerfaces. The antibody nanotweezer is constructed by a DNA framework, where the nanoscale patterning of nanobodies along with their local spatial adaptivity enables simultaneous recognition of target epitopes without binding stress. As such, effective binding affinity increases by 1 order of magnitude compared with monovalent antibody. The antibody nanotweezer operating on transistor offers enhanced signal transduction, which is implemented to detect clinical pathogens, showing ∼100% overall agreement with PCR results. This work provides a perspective of engineering multivalent interfaces between biosystems with solid-state devices, holding great potential for organoid intelligence on a chip.

Small molecule and PROTAC molecule experiments in vitro and in vivo, focusing on mouse PD-L1 and human PD-L1 differences as targets.

In recent years, several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting PD-L1 have been licensed by the FDA for use in the treatment of cancer, demonstrating the effectiveness of blocking immune checkpoints, particularly the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Although mAb-based therapies have made great strides, they still have their limitations, and new small-molecule or PROTAC-molecule inhibitors that can block the PD-1/PD-L1 axis are desperately needed. Therefore, it is crucial to translate initial in vitro discoveries into appropriate in vivo animal models when creating PD-L1-blocking therapies. Due to their widespread availability and low experimental expenses, classical immunocompetent mice are appealing for research purposes. However, it is yet unclear whether the mouse (m) PD-L1 interaction with human (h) PD-1 in vivo would produce a functional immunological checkpoint. In this review, we summarize the in vitro and in vivo experimental studies of small molecules and PROTAC molecules, particularly the distinctions between mPD-L1 as a target and hPD-L1 as a target.

Angelica dahurica extract and its effective component bergapten alleviated hepatic fibrosis by activating FXR signaling pathway.

Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of A. dahurica extract (AD) and its effective component bergapten (BG) on hepatic fibrosis and potential mechanisms. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 1 week, and mice were administrated with AD or BG by gavage for 1 week before CCl4 injection. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were stimulated by transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and cultured with AD, BG, GW4064 (FXR agonist) or Guggulsterone (FXR inhibitor). In CCl4-induced mice, AD significantly decreased serum aminotransferase, reduced excess accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), inhibited caspase-1 and IL-1ß, and increased FXR expressions. In activated HSCs, AD suppressed the expressions of α-SMA, collagen I, and TIMP-1/MMP-13 ratio and inflammatory factors, functioning as FXR agonist. In CCl4-induced mice, BG significantly improved serum transaminase and histopathological changes, reduced ECM excessive deposition, inflammatory response, and activated FXR expression. BG increased FXR expression and inhibited α-SMA and IL-1ß expressions in activated HSCs, functioning as GW4064. FXR deficiency significantly attenuated the decreasing effect of BG on α-SMA and IL-1ß expressions in LX-2 cells. In conclusion, AD could regulate hepatic fibrosis by regulating ECM excessive deposition and inflammation. Activating FXR signaling by BG might be the potential mechanism of AD against hepatic fibrosis.