Pathways for macrophage uptake of cell-free circular RNAs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable RNAs present in cell-free RNA, which may comprise cellular debris and pathogen genomes. Here, we investigate the phenomenon and mechanism of cellular uptake and intracellular fate of exogenous circRNAs. Human myeloid cells and B cells selectively internalize extracellular circRNAs. Macrophage uptake of circRNA is rapid, energy dependent, and saturable. CircRNA uptake can lead to translation of encoded sequences and antigen presentation. The route of internalization influences immune activation after circRNA uptake, with distinct gene expression programs depending on the route of RNA delivery. Genome-scale CRISPR screens and chemical inhibitor studies nominate macrophage scavenger receptor MSR1, Toll-like receptors, and mTOR signaling as key regulators of receptor-mediated phagocytosis of circRNAs, a dominant pathway to internalize circRNAs in parallel to macropinocytosis. These results suggest that cell-free circRNA serves as an "eat me" signal and danger-associated molecular pattern, indicating orderly pathways of recognition and disposal.

Cucumber STACHYOSE SYNTHASE is regulated by its cis-antisense RNA asCsSTS to balance source-sink carbon partitioning.

Photosynthate partitioning between source and sink is a key determinant of crop yield. In contrast to sucrose-transporting plants, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants mainly transport stachyose and stachyose synthase (CsSTS) synthesizes stachyose in the vasculature for loading. Therefore, CsSTS is considered a key regulator of carbon partitioning. We found that CsSTS expression and CsSTS enzyme activity were upregulated in the vasculature and downregulated in mesophyll tissues at fruiting. In situ hybridization and tissue enrichment experiments revealed that a cis-natural antisense noncoding transcript of CsSTS, named asCsSTS, is mainly expressed in mesophyll tissues. In vitro overexpression (OE), RNA interference (RNAi), and dual luciferase reporter experiments indicated that CsSTSs are negatively regulated by asCsSTS. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that asCsSTS transcript localized in leaf cytoplasm, indicating that the regulation of CsSTS by asCsSTS is a posttranscriptional process. Further investigation revealed that this regulation occurred by reducing CsSTS transcript stability through a DICER-like protein-mediated pathway. Chemically induced OE and RNAi of asCsSTS led to promotion or inhibition, respectively, of assimilate export from leaves and altered fruit growth rates. Our results suggest that the regulation of CsSTSs between the mesophyll and vasculature reduces sugar storage in mesophyll tissue and promotes assimilate export from the leaf when the plant carries fruit.

Multiple E3 ligases act as antiviral factors against SARS-CoV-2 via inducing the ubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) open reading frame 9b (ORF9b) antagonizes the antiviral type I and III interferon (IFN) responses and is ubiquitinated and degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. However, E3 ubiquitin ligases that mediate the polyubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b remain unknown. In this study, we identified 14 E3 ligases that specifically bind to SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b. Specifically, three E3 ligases, HECT, UBA, and WWE domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HUWE1), ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n-recognin 4 (UBR4), and UBR5, induced K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b, thereby attenuating ORF9b-mediated inhibition of the IFN response and SARS-CoV-2 replication. Moreover, each E3 ligase performed this function independent of the other two E3 ligases. Therefore, the three E3 ligases identified in this study as anti-SARS-CoV-2 host factors provide novel molecular insight into the virus-host interaction.IMPORTANCEUbiquitination is an important post-translational modification that regulates multiple biological processes, including viral replication. Identification of E3 ubiquitin ligases that target viral proteins for degradation can provide novel targets for antagonizing viral infections. Here, we identified multiple E3 ligases, including HECT, UBA, and WWE domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HUWE1), ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n-recognin 4 (UBR4), and UBR5, that ubiquitinated and induced the degradation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) open reading frame 9b (ORF9b), an interferon (IFN) antagonist, thereby enhancing IFN production and attenuating SARS-CoV-2 replication. Our study provides new possibilities for drug development targeting the interaction between E3 ligases and ORF9b.

Deubiquitinase USP1 regulates sarbecovirus ORF6 protein function.

SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the subgenus Sarbecovirus, which universally encodes the accessory protein ORF6. SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 is an antagonist of the interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral response and plays an important role in viral infections. However, the mechanism by which the host counteracts the function of ORF6 to restrict viral replication remains unclear. In this study, we found that most ORF6 proteins encoded by sarbecoviruses could be ubiquitinated and subsequently degraded via the proteasome pathway. Through extensive screening, we identified that the deubiquitinase USP1, which effectively and broadly deubiquitinates sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins, stabilizes ORF6 proteins, resulting in enhanced viral replication. Therefore, ubiquitination and deubiquitination of ORF6 are important for antagonizing IFN-mediated antiviral signaling and influencing the virulence of SARS-CoV-2. These findings highlight an essential molecular mechanism and may provide a novel target for therapeutic interventions against viral infections.IMPORTANCEThe ORF6 proteins encoded by sarbecoviruses are essential for effective viral replication and infection and are important targets for developing effective intervention strategies. In this study, we confirmed that sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins are important antagonists of the host immune response and identified the regulatory mechanisms of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of most sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins. Moreover, we revealed that DUB USP1 prevents the proteasomal degradation of all ORF6 proteins, thereby promoting the virulence of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, impeding ORF6 function is helpful for attenuating the virulence of sarbecoviruses. Therefore, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sarbecovirus infections and offer potential new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of these infections.

Chirality enhances oxygen reduction.

Controlled reduction of oxygen is important for developing clean energy technologies, such as fuel cells, and is vital to the existence of aerobic organisms. The process starts with oxygen in a triplet ground state and ends with products that are all in singlet states. Hence, spin constraints in the oxygen reduction must be considered. Here, we show that the electron transfer efficiency from chiral electrodes to oxygen (oxygen reduction reaction) is enhanced over that from achiral electrodes. We demonstrate lower overpotentials and higher current densities for chiral catalysts versus achiral ones. This finding holds even for electrodes composed of heavy metals with large spin-orbit coupling. The effect results from the spin selectivity conferred on the electron current by the chiral assemblies, the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect.

Auxin homeostasis is maintained by sly-miR167-SlARF8A/B-SlGH3.4 feedback module in the development of locular and placental tissues of tomato fruits.

The locular gel, produced by the placenta, is important for fruit flavor and seed development in tomato. However, the mechanism underlying locule and placenta development is not fully understood yet. Here, we show that two SlARF transcription factors, SlARF8B and SlARF8A (SlARF8A/B), promote the development of locular and placenta tissues. The expression of both SlARF8A and SlARF8B is repressed by sly-microRNA167 (sly-miR167), allowing for the activation of auxin downstream genes. In slarf8a, slarf8b, and slarf8a/b mutants, the auxin (IAA) levels are decreased, whereas the levels of inactive IAA conjugates including IAA-Ala, IAA-Asp, and IAA-Glu are increased. We further find that SlARF8B directly inhibits the expression of SlGH3.4, an acyl acid amino synthetase that conjugates the amino acids to IAA. Disruption of such auxin balance by the increased expression of SlGH3.4 or SlGH3.2 results in defective locular and placental tissues. Taken together, our findings reveal an important regulatory module constituted by sly-miR167-SlARF8A/B-SlGH3.4 during the development of locular and placenta tissues of tomato fruits.

Effects of sustained viral response on lipid in Hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs) influence serum lipids of patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This paper presents an analysis of the relevant literature to investigate the effects of DAAs in treating hepatitis C to achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) on lipid parameters. METHODS: PubMed,Web of science, Embase and Central databases were searched, with a deadline of September 2023. Studies on the effects of sustained viral response on lipid parameters after DAAs treatment for hepatitis C were selected. The required information was extracted from the included studies, and then the Stata 12.0 was used to analyze the data quantitatively. RESULTS: Of 32 studies, the results showed that total cholesterol (TC) levels increased from the end of treatment (WMD = 20.144, 95%CI = 3.404, 36.884,P = 0.018) to one year after treatment (WMD = 24.900, 95%CI = 13.669, 36.131, P < 0.001). From the end of treatment (WMD = 17.728, 95%CI = 4.375, 31.082, P = 0.009) to one year after treatment (WMD = 18.528, 95%CI = 7.622, 29.433, P < 0.001), the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also increased. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were elevated from 4 weeks after treatment (WMD = 6.665, 95%CI = 3.906, 9.424, P < 0.001) to 24 weeks after treatment (WMD = 3.159,95% CI = 0.176, 6.142, P = 0.038). Triglyceride (TG) levels showed no significant change after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C patients who achieved SVR on DAAs showed the increase of lipid levels and the improvement of hepatic inflammation indicators AST and ALT. This may provide evidence-based medical evidence for the follow-up and monitoring of blood lipids and hyperlipidemia treatment. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020180793.

Physician Versus Large Language Model Chatbot Responses to Web-Based Questions From Autistic Patients in Chinese: Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of feasibility assessments regarding using large language models (LLMs) for responding to inquiries from autistic patients within a Chinese-language context. Despite Chinese being one of the most widely spoken languages globally, the predominant research focus on applying these models in the medical field has been on English-speaking populations. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of LLM chatbots, specifically ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI) and ERNIE Bot (version 2.2.3; Baidu, Inc), one of the most advanced LLMs in China, in addressing inquiries from autistic individuals in a Chinese setting. METHODS: For this study, we gathered data from DXY-a widely acknowledged, web-based, medical consultation platform in China with a user base of over 100 million individuals. A total of 100 patient consultation samples were rigorously selected from January 2018 to August 2023, amounting to 239 questions extracted from publicly available autism-related documents on the platform. To maintain objectivity, both the original questions and responses were anonymized and randomized. An evaluation team of 3 chief physicians assessed the responses across 4 dimensions: relevance, accuracy, usefulness, and empathy. The team completed 717 evaluations. The team initially identified the best response and then used a Likert scale with 5 response categories to gauge the responses, each representing a distinct level of quality. Finally, we compared the responses collected from different sources. RESULTS: Among the 717 evaluations conducted, 46.86% (95% CI 43.21%-50.51%) of assessors displayed varying preferences for responses from physicians, with 34.87% (95% CI 31.38%-38.36%) of assessors favoring ChatGPT and 18.27% (95% CI 15.44%-21.10%) of assessors favoring ERNIE Bot. The average relevance scores for physicians, ChatGPT, and ERNIE Bot were 3.75 (95% CI 3.69-3.82), 3.69 (95% CI 3.63-3.74), and 3.41 (95% CI 3.35-3.46), respectively. Physicians (3.66, 95% CI 3.60-3.73) and ChatGPT (3.73, 95% CI 3.69-3.77) demonstrated higher accuracy ratings compared to ERNIE Bot (3.52, 95% CI 3.47-3.57). In terms of usefulness scores, physicians (3.54, 95% CI 3.47-3.62) received higher ratings than ChatGPT (3.40, 95% CI 3.34-3.47) and ERNIE Bot (3.05, 95% CI 2.99-3.12). Finally, concerning the empathy dimension, ChatGPT (3.64, 95% CI 3.57-3.71) outperformed physicians (3.13, 95% CI 3.04-3.21) and ERNIE Bot (3.11, 95% CI 3.04-3.18). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study, physicians' responses exhibited superiority in the present Chinese-language context. Nonetheless, LLMs can provide valuable medical guidance to autistic patients and may even surpass physicians in demonstrating empathy. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that further optimization and research are imperative prerequisites before the effective integration of LLMs in clinical settings across diverse linguistic environments can be realized. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300074655; https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=199432.

Influence of the Injection Bias on the Capacitive Sensing of the Test Mass Motion of Satellite Gravity Gradiometers.

The performance of the capacitive gap-sensing system plays a critical role in a satellite-based gravity gradiometer that is developed using an electrostatic accelerometer. The capacitive sensing gain mainly depends on the stabilized injection bias amplitude, the gain of the transformer bridge, and the trans-impedance amplifier. Previous studies have indicated that amplitude noise is the main factor influencing the noise of capacitive displacement detection. Analyzing the capacitive gap-sensing system indicates that the amplitude, frequency, phase, and broadband noises of the stabilized injection bias have varying levels of influence on the performance of the detection system. This paper establishes a model to clarify the mentioned effects. The validation of the sub-tests demonstrates that the analysis and evaluation results of various noise coefficients are highly consistent with the model's predicted outcomes.

Psychometric Properties of the MOVES Scale for Tourette Syndrome and Comorbidities in a Chinese Cultural Context.

The Motor tic, Obsessions and Compulsions, Vocal tic Evaluation Survey (MOVES) is a widely used screening tool for Tourette syndrome (TS) and associated comorbidities. This study evaluated its applicability for children in China using 7,125 participants from the National Center for Children's Health (Beijing). Psychometric evaluations included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, yielding a 16-item, four-factor model that explained 55.11% of the variance and demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.86). The scale showed strong convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity and was significantly correlated with other established TS scales. The results affirm the reliability and validity of the MOVES for screening TS in Asian contexts, addressing a crucial gap in the region's TS assessment tools.

Scalable Synthesis of Robust MOF for Challenging Ethylene Purification and Propylene Recovery with Record Productivity.

Ethylene (C2H4) purification and propylene (C3H6) recovery are highly relevant in polymer synthesis, yet developing physisorbents for these industrial separation faces the challenges of merging easy scalability, economic feasibility, high moisture stability with great separation efficiency. Herein, we reported a robust and scalable MOF (MAC-4) for simultaneous recovery of C3H6 and C2H4. Through creating nonpolar pores decorated by accessible N/O sites, MAC-4 displays top-tier uptakes and selectivities for C2H6 and C3H6 over C2H4 at ambient conditions. Molecular modelling combined with infrared spectroscopy revealed that C2H6 and C3H6 molecules were trapped in the framework with stronger contacts relative to C2H4. Breakthrough experiments demonstrated exceptional separation performance for binary C2H6/C2H4 and C3H6/C2H4 as well as ternary C3H6/C2H6/C2H4 mixtures, simultaneously affording record productivities of 27.4 and 36.2 L kg-1 for high-purity C2H4 (≥99.9 %) and C3H6 (≥99.5 %). MAC-4 was facilely prepared at deckgram-scale under reflux condition within 3 hours, making it as a smart MOF to address challenging gas separations.

Chemokine PF4 Inhibits EV71 and CA16 Infections at the Entry Stage.

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) or the CXC chemokine CXCL4 is the most abundant protein within the α-granules of platelets. Previous studies found that PF4 regulates infections of several viruses, including HIV-1, H1N1, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and dengue virus. Here, we show that PF4 is an inhibitor of enterovirus A71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) infections. The secreted form of PF4 from transfected cells or soluble purified PF4 from Escherichia coli, even lacking signal peptide affected secretion, obviously inhibited the propagation of EV71 and CA16. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that PF4 blocked the entry of the virus into the host cells by interactions with VP3 proteins of EV71/CA16 and the interaction with SCARB2 receptor-mediated EV71 and CA16 endocytosis. As expected, the incubation of anti-PF4 antibody with PF4 blocked PF4 inhibition on EV71 and CA16 infections further supported the above conclusion. Importantly, pretreatment of EV71 viruses with PF4 significantly protected the neonatal mice from EV71 lethal challenge and promoted the survival rate of infected mice. PF4 derived from natural platelets by EV71/CA16 activation also presented strong inhibition on EV71 and CA16. In summary, our study identified a new host factor against EV71 and CA16 infections, providing a novel strategy for EV71 and CA16 treatment. IMPORTANCE The virus's life cycle starts with binding to cell surface receptors, resulting in receptor-mediated endocytosis. Targeting the entry of the virus into target cells is an effective strategy to develop a novel drug. EV71 and CA16 are the major pathogens that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks worldwide since 2008. However, the treatment of EV71 and CA16 infections is mainly symptomatic because there is no approved drug. Therefore, the underlying pathogenesis of EV71/CA16 and the interaction between host-EV71/CA16 need to be further investigated to develop an inhibitor. Here, we identified PF4 as a potent entry inhibitor of EV71 and CA16 via binding to VP3 proteins of EV71 and CA16 or binding to receptor SCARB2. In the EV71 infection model, PF4 protected mice from EV71 lethal challenge and promoted the survival rate of EV71-infected mice. Our study suggests that PF4 represents a potential candidate host factor for anti-EV71 and CA16 infections.

Host Restriction Factor A3G Inhibits the Replication of Enterovirus D68 by Competitively Binding the 5' Untranslated Region with PCBP1.

The host restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) inhibits an extensive variety of viruses, including retroviruses, DNA viruses, and RNA viruses. Our study shows that A3G inhibits enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) via competitively binding the 5' untranslated region (UTR) with the host protein poly(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1), which is required for the replication of multiple EVs. However, whether A3G inhibits other EVs in addition to EV71 and CA16 has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that A3G could inhibit the replication of EVD68, which requires PCBP1 for its replication, but not CA6, which does not require PCBP1 for replication. Further investigation revealed that the nucleic-acid-binding activity of A3G is required for EVD68 restriction, similar to the mechanism presented for EV71 restriction. Mechanistically, A3G competitively binds to the cloverleaf (1 to 123 nucleotides [nt]) and the stem-loop IV (234 to 446 nt) domains of the EVD68 5' UTR with PCBP1, thereby inhibiting the 5' UTR activity of EVD68; by contrast, A3G does not interact with CA6 5' UTR, resulting in no effect on CA6 replication. Moreover, the nonstructural protein 2C, encoded by EVD68, overcomes A3G suppression by inducing A3G degradation via the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Our findings revealed that A3G might have broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple EVs through this general mechanism, and they might provide important information for the development of an anti-EV strategy. IMPORTANCE As the two major pathogens causing hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) attract a lot of attention for the study of their pathogenesis, their involvement with cellular proteins, and so on. However, other EVs such as CA6 and EVD68 constantly occur sporadically or have spread worldwide in recent years. Therefore, more information related to these EVs is needed in order to develop a broad-spectrum anti-EV inhibitor. In this study, we first reveal that the protein poly(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1), involved in PV- and EV71 virus replication, is also required for the replication of EVD68, but not for the replication of CA6. Next, we found that the host-restriction factor A3G specifically inhibits the replication of EVD68, but not the replication of CA6, by competitively binding to the 5' UTR of EVD68 along with PCBP1. Our findings broaden knowledge related to EV replication and the interplay between EVs and host factors.

Characterization and analysis of linear epitopes corresponding to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Jilin Province, China.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and shown serious social influence worldwide. Jilin Province, China, experienced the first wave of the outbreak from December 2020 to February 2021. Here, we analyzed the genomic characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Jilin province using a phylogeographic tree and found that clinical isolates belonged to the B.1 lineage, which was considered to be the ancestral lineage. Several dominant SARS-CoV-2 specific linear B cell epitopes that reacted with the convalescent sera were also analysed and identified using a peptide microarray composed of S, M, and E proteins. Moreover, the serum of convalescent patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed neutralizing activity against four widely spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants; however, significant differences were observed in neutralizing activities against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. These data provide important information on genomic characteristics, linear epitopes, and neutralizing activity of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Jilin Province, China, which may aid in understanding disease patterns and regional aspects of the pandemic.

A chromosome-level Populus qiongdaoensis genome assembly provides insights into tropical adaptation and a cryptic turnover of sex determination.

Populus species have long been used as model organisms to study the adaptability of trees and the evolution of sex chromosomes. As a species belonging to the section Populus and limited to tropical areas, the P. qiongdaoensis genome contains important information for tropical poplar studies and protection. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of a female P. qiongdaoensis. Gene family clustering, positive selection detection and historical reconstruction of population dynamics revealed the tropical adaptation of P. qiongdaoensis, and showed convergent evolution with another tropical poplar, P. ilicifolia, at the molecular level, especially on some functional genes (e.g., PIF3 and PIL1). In addition, we also identified a ZW sex determination system on chromosome 19 of P. qiongdaoensis, and inferred that it seems to have a similar sex determination mechanism to other poplars, controlled by a type-A cytokinin response regulator (RR) gene. However, comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the sex determination regions confirmed a cryptic sex turnover event in the section Populus, which may be caused by the translocation and duplication of the RR gene driven by Helitron-like transposable elements. Our study provides new insights into the environmental adaptation and sex chromosome evolution of poplars, and emphasizes the importance of using long read sequencing in ecological and evolutionary inferences of plants.

Uniformity improvement of a mini-LED backlight by a quantum-dot color conversion film with nonuniform thickness.

Mini-LED backlights energized by quantum-dot color conversion (QDCC) hold great potential for technological breakthroughs of liquid crystal displays. However, luminance uniformity issues should still be urgently solved owing to the large interval of direct-lit mini-LEDs, especially when covering with a QDCC film (QDCCF) with uniform thickness. Herein, we propose a uniformity improvement approach of mini-LED backlights by employing a QDCCF with nonuniform thickness based on the Lambertian distribution of mini-LEDs, which is demonstrated by screen-printing preparation and ray-tracing simulation. Experimental results show that the luminance uniformity of the nonuniform QDCCF can reach 89.91%, which is 24.92% higher than the uniform one. Ray-tracing simulation further elaborates the mechanism of this significant improvement. Finally, by employing this nonuniform QDCCF, a mini-LED backlight prototype is assembled and achieves high uniformity of 92.15%, good white balance with color coordinates of (0.3482, 0.3137), and high color gamut of 109% NTSC. This work should shed some new light on mini-LED-based display technology.

Computational Studies on the Reactivity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely present in the environment as toxic pollutants. In this study, quantum chemistry methods are used to study reactions of PAHs in both particle and gas phases. Seven theoretical methods are exploited to predict the reactive sites of 15 PAHs in the particle phase. Among these methods, the performance of the condensed Fukui function (CFF) is optimum. The gas-phase reactions of eight PAHs are also investigated. Except for fluorene, CFF predicts correctly the gas-phase mono-nitro products for seven systems. The products of fluorene predicted by CFF are 1-nitrofluorene and 3-nitrofluorene, which is however inconsistent with the experimental results. Transition state theory is then used to investigate the reaction mechanism of fluorene. Calculated rate constants for 3-nitrofluorene and 2-nitrofluorene formation are much bigger than that for 1-nitrofluorene formation, which is in agreement with the experimental results.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with hepatosplenic involvement: a retrospective study of a consecutive 14-year case series.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) with hepatosplenic involvement is rare, accounting for approximately 0.2% of ENKTL cases. The clinicopathologic features of ENKTL with hepatosplenic involvement are still poorly understood. Seven cases of ENKTL with hepatosplenic involvement were investigated retrospectively by clinical features, pathology, immunophenotype, genotype, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status, and survival analysis. The median age was 36 years; three patients (3/7) had a history of primary nasal ENKTL. Six cases (6/7) presented liver or spleen structures that were replaced by neoplasms, and the neoplastic cells displayed diffuse infiltration; one case (1/7) displayed neoplastic cells scattered in hepatic sinuses and portal areas. The cellular morphology and immunohistochemical features were similar to those of ENKTL involving other sites. Follow-up data were available in five of the seven patients. All five patients received first-line chemotherapy based on L-asparaginase. Three patients died, and two were still alive by the last follow-up. The median overall survival (OS) was 21 months. ENKTL with hepatosplenic involvement is rare, regardless of whether it is initial or secondary. There are two histopathologic patterns of ENKTL with hepatosplenic involvement, and L-asparaginase-based chemotherapy combined with AHSCT might yield good efficacy. Morphological features of ENKTL in the spleen and liver A The architecture of the spleen was affected, and dense infiltration of the neoplastic cells was observed in the left part; B Focal infiltration of the neoplastic cells was located in the red pulp; C Dense infiltration of the neoplastic cells in the liver, accompanied by fatty change of hepatocytes and congestion; D More neoplastic cells accumulated in sinusoidal region.

Visible Light-Accelerated Palladium-Catalyzed Thiocarbonylation Using Oxalic Acid Monothioester with Aryl/Alkenyl Sulfonium Salts.

Herein, we present a decarboxylative thiocarbonylation of aryl and alkenyl sulfonium salts with oxalic acid monothioethers (OAMs), which can be achieved by visible light-accelerated palladium catalysis. Sulfonium salts are widely available, and OAM is an easily accessible and stored reagent; this mild reaction method can also be used for the synthesis of different types of thioester compounds. The reaction represents a new application of visible light-accelerated palladium catalysis in catalytic decarboxylative cross-couplings.

Prohibitin mediates the cellular invasion of spring viremia of the carp virus.

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is strongly contagious and pathogenic to common carp and cyprinoid species. However, knowledge of how SVCV enters host cells is still inadequate. In this study, mass spectrometry (MS) was incorporated with tandem affinity purification (TAP) to identify host proteins that interact with SVCV glycoprotein, the main attachment protein of SVCV. Specifically, prohibitin (PHB) received the utmost attention from all the candidate proteins, and its interaction with the SVCV-G protein was confirmed by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. Treatment with PHB-specific inhibitors or knockdown of the expression of PHB by siRNAs resulted in a marked reduction in binding and entry of SVCV on host cells, while overexpression of PHB increased SVCV attachment and invasion. Furthermore, binding of SVCV to ZF4 and FHM cells was inhibited by pre-incubating the virus with recombinant PHB protein (rPHB) or blocking the cell surface PHB with its polyclonal antibodies. In addition, overexpression of PHB on SVCV-nonpermissive Grouper spleen cells (GSs) conferred susceptibility to SVCV infection. In vivo, treatment of rPHB could significantly inhibit SVCV propagation within zebrafish and benefit the survival rate of SVCV-infected zebrafish. These results demonstrate that PHB plays a crucial role in both the attachment and entry stages of SVCV infection.