Different Biocompatibility and Radioprotective Activity of Squid Melanin Nanoparticles on Human Stromal Cells.

Squid ink melanin nanoparticles (NPs) have recently been demonstrated to have a number of bioactivities; however, their biocompatibility has been poorly investigated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of this NP on stromal cells, including human fibroblasts (hFBs), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs), and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs), and on the development of zebrafish embryos under normal X-ray irradiation conditions. The NPs showed high biocompatibility with low cytotoxicity, no cell senescence induction, and no effect on cell migration in hFBs or cell differentiation in UCMSCs. Nonetheless, this compound prevented cell movement in UCMSCs and significantly suppressed tube formation in hUVECs at a dose of 25 µg/mL. The NPs successfully penetrated the hUVECs but not the other two stromal cell types. The expression levels of functional genes involved in angiogenesis, apoptosis, antioxidant activity, and radiation sensitivity were altered in NPs subjected to hUVECs but were not affected in hFBs and UCMSCs. Melanin NPs significantly rescued cell viability and gene expression in irradiated hFBs and UCMSCs but not in hUVECs. In vivo treatments of zebrafish embryos showed that melanin NPs were nontoxic whether alone or under X-ray irradiation. These findings suggested that nanosized squid ink melanin had biocompatibility with selective stromal cells and was safe for early development.

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome and Phylogenetic Analyses of To Chicken in Vietnam.

Indigenous chicken breeds have both cultural significance and economic value since they possess unique genetic characteristics that enable them to adapt to the local environment and contribute to biodiversity, food security, and sustainable agriculture in Vietnam. To (Tò in Vietnamese) chicken, a Vietnamese indigenous chicken breed, is popularly raised in Thai Binh province; however, little known is about the genetic diversity of this breed. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of To chicken for a better understanding of the diversity and origin of the breed. The results of sequencing showed that the mitochondrial genome of To chicken spans a total length of 16,784 base pairs and comprises one non-coding control region (known as the displacement-loop (D-loop) region), two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The phylogenetic tree analyses and estimated genetic distances based on 31 complete mitochondrial genome sequences indicated that To chicken has a close genetic distance with the Laotian native chicken breed, Lv'erwu breed in China, and Nicobari black and Kadaknath breeds in India. The result of the current study might be important for conservation, breeding, and further genetic studies of To chicken.

X-ray-irradiated K562 feeder cells for expansion of functional CAR-T cells.

Immunotherapy, particularly CAR-T therapy has recently emerged as an innovator for cancer treatment. Gamma-irradiated K562 cells is a common and effective method to stimulated CAR-T cells prior to treatment. However, high cost and limited equipment of gamma-irradiation is drawback of this method. This requires the establishment of CAR-T-expanding alternatives, such as X-ray-irradiated K562 cells. X-ray irradiation was used to deactivate K562 cells. The post-irradiative cell survival was investigated by counting of the number of cells, staining with Trypan Blue and PI. FACS analysis was applied to detect the expression of cell surface markers. The production of CD19-CAR-T cells were executed from fresh blood donor by CD19-CAR-plasmid transfection, followed by the stimulation with X-ray-irradiated K562 feeder cells. The function of produced CAR-T cells was checked by their ability to kill Daudi cells. X-ray-irradiation inhibited the propagation and viability of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, CAR-T-stimulating effectors were remained on the surface of X-ray-irradiated K562 cells. CD-19-CAR-T cells were produced successfully, suggested by number of CAR-positive cells in transfected and stimulated population, compared to un-transfected group. Lastly, our data showed that engineered CAR-T cells effectively killed Daudi cells. Our data demonstrated the efficacy of X-ray on deactivation K562 feeder cells which subsequently stimulated and expanded functional CAR-T cells. Thus, X-ray can be used as an alternative to inactivate K562 cells prior to using as a feeder of CAR-T cells.

Whole Genome Sequencing of a Vietnamese Family from a Dioxin Contamination Hotspot Reveals Novel Variants in the Son with Undiagnosed Intellectual Disability.

Although it has been a half-century since dioxin-contaminated herbicides were used to defoliate the landscape during the Vietnam War, dioxin contamination "hotspots" still remain in Vietnam. Environmental and health impacts of these hotspots need to be evaluated. Intellectual disability (ID) is one of the diseases found in the children of people exposed to the herbicides. This study aims to identify genetic alterations of a patient whose family lived in a dioxin hotspot. The patient's father had a highly elevated dioxin concentration. He was affected with undiagnosed moderate ID. To analyze de novo mutations and genetic variations, and to identify causal gene(s) for ID, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the proband and his parents. Two de novo missense mutations were detected, each one in ETS2 and ZNF408 genes, respectively. Compound heterozygosity was identified in CENPF and TTN genes. Existing knowledge on the genes and bioinformatics analyses suggest that EST2, ZNF408, and CENPF might be promising candidates for ID causative genes.