Time-restricted feeding regulates lipid metabolism under metabolic challenges.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is a commonly observed feature associated with metabolic syndrome and leads to the development of negative health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or atherosclerosis. Time-restricted feeding/eating (TRF/TRE), an emerging dietary intervention, has been shown to promote pleiotropic health benefits including the alteration of diurnal expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism, as well as levels of lipid species. Although TRF likely induces a response in multiple organs leading to the modulation of lipid metabolism, a majority of the studies related to TRF effects on lipids have focused only on individual tissues, and furthermore there is a lack of insight into potential underlying mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the current insights regarding TRF effects on lipid metabolism and the potential mechanisms in adipose tissue, liver, skeletal muscle, and heart, and conclude by outlining possible avenues for future exploration.

"AquaF" Building Blocks for Water-Compatible SN2 18F-Fluorination of Small-Molecule Radiotracers.

Despite the widespread use of hydrophilic building blocks to incorporate 18F and improve tracer pharmacokinetics, achieving effective leaving group-mediated nucleophilic 18F-fluorination in water (excluding 18F/19F-exchange) remains a formidable challenge. Here, we present a water-compatible SN2 leaving group-mediated 18F-fluorination method employing preconjugated "AquaF" (phosphonamidic fluorides) building blocks. Among 19 compact tetracoordinated pentavalent P(V)-F candidates, the "AquaF" building blocks exhibit superior water solubility, sufficient capacity for 18F-fluorination in water, and excellent in vivo metabolic properties. Two nitropyridinol leaving groups, identified from a pool of leaving group candidates that further enhance the precursor water solubility, enable 18F-fluorination in water with a 10-2 M-1 s-1 level reaction rate constant (surpassing the 18F/19F-exchange) at room temperature. With the exergonic concerted SN2 18F-fluorination mechanism confirmed, this 18F-fluorination method achieves ∼90% radiochemical conversions and reaches a molar activity of 175 ± 40 GBq/µmol (using 12.2 GBq initial activity) in saline for 12 "AquaF"-modified proof-of-concept functional substrates and small-molecule 18F-tracers. [18F]AquaF-Flurpiridaz demonstrates significantly improved radiochemical yield and molar activity compared to 18F-Flurpiridaz, alongside enhanced cardiac uptake and heart/liver ratio in targeted myocardial perfusion imaging, providing a comprehensive illustration of "AquaF" building blocks-assisted water-compatible SN2 18F-fluorination of small-molecule radiotracers.

Genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of the NRAMP gene family in the AC genomes of Brassica species.

BACKGROUND: Brassica napus, a hybrid resulting from the crossing of Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, is one of the most important oil crops. Despite its significance, B. napus productivity faces substantial challenges due to heavy metal stress, especially in response to cadmium (Cd), which poses a significant threat among heavy metals. Natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs) play pivotal roles in Cd uptake and transport within plants. However, our understanding of the role of BnNRAMPs in B. napus is limited. Thus, this study aimed to conduct genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of three Brassica species: B. napus, B. rapa, and B. oleracea. RESULTS: A total of 37 NRAMPs were identified across the three Brassica species and classified into two distinct subfamilies based on evolutionary relationships. Conservative motif analysis revealed that motif 6 and motif 8 might significantly contribute to the differentiation between subfamily I and subfamily II within Brassica species. Evolutionary analyses and chromosome mapping revealed a reduction in the NRAMP gene family during B. napus evolutionary history, resulting in the loss of an orthologous gene derived from BoNRAMP3.2. Cis-acting element analysis suggested potential regulation of the NRAMP gene family by specific plant hormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). However, gene expression pattern analyses under hormonal or stress treatments indicated limited responsiveness of the NRAMP gene family to these treatments, warranting further experimental validation. Under Cd stress in B. napus, expression pattern analysis of the NRAMP gene family revealed a decrease in the expression levels of most BnNRAMP genes with increasing Cd concentrations. Notably, BnNRAMP5.1/5.2 exhibited a unique response pattern, being stimulated at low Cd concentrations and inhibited at high Cd concentrations, suggesting potential response mechanisms distinct from those of other NRAMP genes. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study indicates complex molecular dynamics within the NRAMP gene family under Cd stress, suggesting potential applications in enhancing plant resilience, particularly against Cd. The findings also offer valuable insights for further understanding the functionality and regulatory mechanisms of the NRAMP gene family.

Biosynthesis of Halogenated Tryptophans for Protein Engineering using Genetic Code Expansion.

Genetic Code Expansion technology offers significant potential in incorporating noncanonical amino acids into proteins at precise locations, allowing for the modulation of protein structures and functions. However, this technology is often limited by the need for costly and challenging-to-synthesize external noncanonical amino acid sources. In this study, we address this limitation by developing autonomous cells capable of biosynthesizing halogenated tryptophan derivatives and introducing them into proteins using Genetic Code Expansion technology. By utilizing inexpensive halide salts and different halogenases, we successfully achieve the selective biosynthesis of 6-chloro-tryptophan, 7-chloro-tryptophan, 6-bromo-tryptophan, and 7-bromo-tryptophan. These derivatives are introduced at specific positions with corresponding bioorthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs in response to the amber codon. Following optimization, we demonstrate the robust expression of proteins containing halogenated tryptophan residues in cells with the ability to biosynthesize these tryptophan derivatives. This study establishes a versatile platform for engineering proteins with various halogenated tryptophans.

Regulating the Interfacial Charge Density by Constructing a Novel Zn Anode-Electrolyte Interface for Highly Reversible Zn Anode.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted considerable attention. However, due to the uneven distribution of charge density at Zn anode-electrolyte interface, severe dendrites and corrosion are generated during cycling. In this work, a facile and scalable strategy to address the above-mentioned issues has been proposed through regulating the charge density at Zn anode-electrolyte interface. As a proof of concept, amidinothiourea (ATU) with abundant lone-pair electrons is employed as an interfacial charge modifier for Zn anode-electrolyte interface. The uniform and increased interfacial charge distribution on Zn anode-electrolyte interface has been obtained. Moreover, the unique Zn-bond constructed between N atoms and Zn2+ as well as the hydrogen bonds are formed among ATU and Ac- anion/active H2 O, which promote the migration and desolvation behavior of Zn2+ at anode-electrolyte interface. Accordingly, at a trace concentration of 0.01 mg mL-1 ATU, these features endow Zn anode with a long cycling life (more than 800 h), and a high average Columbic efficiency (99.52 %) for Zn||Cu batteries. When pairing with I2 cathode, the improved cycling ability (5000 cycles) with capacity retention of 77.9 % is achieved. The fundamental understanding on the regulation of charge density at anode-electrolyte interface can facilitate the development of AZIBs.

The role of NLRP6 in the development and progression of neurological diseases.

The nervous system possesses the remarkable ability to undergo changes in order to store information; however, it is also susceptible to damage caused by invading pathogens or neurodegenerative processes. As a member of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family, the NLRP6 inflammasome serves as a cytoplasmic innate immune sensor responsible for detecting microbe-associated molecular patterns. Upon activation, NLRP6 can recruit the adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and the inflammatory factors caspase-1 or caspase-11. Consequently, inflammasomes are formed, facilitating the maturation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as inflammatory factors-18 (IL-18) and inflammatory factors-1ß (IL-1ß). Precise regulation of NLRP6 is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis, as dysregulated inflammasome activation can contribute to the development of various diseases. Furthermore, NLRP6 may also play a role in the regulation of extraintestinal diseases. In cells of the brain, such as astrocytes and neurons, NLRP6 inflammasome are also present. Here, the assembly and subsequent activation of caspase-1 mediated by NLRP6 contribute to disease progression. This review aims to discuss the structure and function of NLRP6, explain clearly the mechanisms that induce and activate NLRP6, and explore its role within the central and peripheral nervous system.

Tea polyphenol-engineered hybrid cellular nanovesicles for cancer immunotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a crucial and effective strategy for prostate cancer, while systemic administration may cause profound side effects on normal tissues. More importantly, the ADT can easily lead to resistance by involving the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and high infiltration of M2 macrophages in tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we developed a biomimetic nanotherapeutic platform by deriving cell membrane nanovesicles from cancer cells and probiotics to yield the hybrid cellular nanovesicles (hNVs), loading flutamide (Flu) into the resulting hNVs, and finally modifying the hNVs@Flu with Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). In this nanotherapeutic platform, the hNVs significantly improved the accumulation of hNVs@Flu-EGCG in tumor sites and reprogramed immunosuppressive M2 macrophages into antitumorigenic M1 macrophages, the Flu acted on androgen receptors and inhibited tumor proliferation, and the EGCG promoted apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, thus synergistically stimulating the antitumor immunity and reducing the side effects and resistance of ADT. In a prostate cancer mouse model, the hNVs@Flu-EGCG significantly extended the lifespan of mice with tumors and led to an 81.78% reduction in tumor growth compared with the untreated group. Overall, the hNVs@Flu-EGCG are safe, modifiable, and effective, thus offering a promising platform for effective therapeutics of prostate cancer.

Comparative efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a burgeoning approach with the potential to significantly enhance cognition and functional abilities in individuals who have undergone a stroke. However, the current evidence lacks robust comparisons and rankings of various NIBS methods concerning the specific stimulation sites and parameters used. To address this knowledge gap, this systematic review and meta-analysis seek to offer conclusive evidence on the efficacy and safety of NIBS in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized control trials (RCT) was performed using Bayesian network meta-analysis. We searched RCT in the following databases until June 2022: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PUBMED, and EMBASE. We compared any active NIBS to control in terms of improving cognition function and activities of daily living (ADL) capacity following stroke. RESULTS: After reviewing 1577 retrieved citations, a total of 26 RCTs were included. High-frequency (HF)-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) (mean difference 2.25 [95% credible interval 0.77, 3.66]) was identified as a recommended approach for alleviating the global severity of cognition. Dual-rTMS (27.61 [25.66, 29.57]) emerged as a favorable technique for enhancing ADL function. In terms of stimulation targets, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex exhibited a higher ranking in relation to the global severity of cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Among various NIBS techniques, HF-rTMS stands out as the most promising intervention for enhancing cognitive function. Meanwhile, Dual-rTMS is highly recommended for improving ADL capacity.

Study on the correlation between serum indole-3-propionic acid levels and the progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the correlation between the serum level of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) and the progression and prognosis of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). METHODS: This study enrolled 197 patients with ACI, and 53 participants from a community-based stroke screening program during the same period were included as the control group. The patients with ACI were divided into quartiles of serum IPA. A logistic regression model was used for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive value of the IPA. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the ACI group had lower serum IPA (P < 0.05). The serum IPA was an independent factor for acute ischemic stroke (OR=0.992, 95% CI: 0.984-0.999, P=0.035). The serum IPA was lower in patients with progressive stroke or poor prognosis than in patients with stable stroke or good prognosis (P < 0.05). Patients with ACI with low serum IPA are prone to progression and poor prognosis. The best cutoff value for predicting progression was 193.62 pg/mL (sensitivity, 67.5%; specificity 83.7%), and that for poor prognosis was 193.77 pg/mL (sensitivity, 71.1%; specificity, 72.5%). CONCLUSION: The serum level of IPA was an independent predictor of ACI and had certain clinical value for predicting stroke progression and prognosis in patients with ACI.

Effect of data spatial vertical resolution on the estimation of vertical profiles of the refractive index structure constant.

The vertical profile of optical turbulence is a key factor in the performance design of astronomical telescopes and adaptive optics instruments. As site-testing campaigns are extremely expensive, the selection of appropriate spatial resolution data and estimation methods is extremely important. This study investigated the effect of using different methods (Dewan, HMNSP99, Thorpe method) to estimate the refractive index structure constant (C n2) using different resolution data (5 m, 25 m, ERA5 data) in Huaihua, Hunan. Compared with Dewan, HMNSP99 for estimating C n2 using 5 m and 25 m resolution data, the Thorpe method almost always shows the best performance, with RXY above 0.75 and lower RMSE and MRE between estimated and measured C n2. The results of C n2 estimation using HMNSP99 at different resolution data varied widely, indicating that HMNSP99 is more sensitive to the data resolution and the temperature gradient is more sensitive to the resolution. Using ERA5 data, the two methods of estimating C n2 using Dewan and HMNSP99 have close results. It indicates that the wind shear is the main factor when the spatial resolution of the data is reduced to a certain degree, and the contribution of temperature gradient is small in the high altitude turbulence.

Single-cell multi-omics sequencing reveals chromosome copy number inconsistency between trophectoderm and inner cell mass in human reconstituted embryos after spindle transfer.

STUDY QUESTION: Is the chromosome copy number of the trophectoderm (TE) of a human reconstituted embryos after spindle transfer (ST) representative of the inner cell mass (ICM)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Single-cell multi-omics sequencing revealed that ST blastocysts have a higher proportion of cell lineages exhibiting intermediate mosaicism than conventional ICSI blastocysts, and that the TE of ST blastocysts does not represent the chromosome copy number of ICM. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) assumes that TE biopsies are representative of the ICM, but the TE and ICM originate from different cell lineages, and concordance between TE and ICM is not well-studied, especially in ST embryos. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We recruited 30 infertile women who received treatment at our clinic and obtained 45 usable blastocysts (22 from conventional ICSI and 23 reconstituted embryos after ST). We performed single-cell multi-omics sequencing on all blastocysts to predict and verify copy number variations (CNVs) in each cell. We determined the chromosome copy number of each embryo by analysing the proportion of abnormal cells in each blastocyst. We used the Bland-Altman concordance and the Kappa test to evaluate the concordance between TE and ICM in the both groups. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The study was conducted at a public tertiary hospital in China, where all the embryo operations, including oocytes retrieval, ST, and ICSI, were performed in the embryo laboratory. We utilized single-cell multi-omics sequencing technology at the Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, to analyse the blastocysts. Transcriptome sequencing was used to predict the CNV of each cell through bioinformatics analysis, and the results were validated using the DNA methylation library of each cell to confirm chromosomal normalcy. We conducted statistical analysis and graphical plotting using R 4.2.1, SPSS 27, and GraphPad Prism 9.3. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Mean age of the volunteers, the blastocyst morphology, and the developmental ratewere similar in ST and ICSI groups. The blastocysts in the ST group had some additional chromosomal types that were prone to variations beyond those enriched in the blastocysts of the ICSI group. Finally, both Bland-Altman concordance test and kappa concordancetest showed good chromosomal concordance between TE and ICM in the ICSI blastocysts (kappa = 0.659, P < 0.05), but not in ST blastocysts (P = 1.000), suggesting that the TE in reconstituted embryos is not representative of ICM. Gene functional annotation (GO and KEGG analyses) suggests that there may be new or additional pathways for CNV generation in ST embryos compared to ICSI embryos. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study was mainly limited by the small sample size and the limitations of single-cell multi-omics sequencing technology. To select eligible single cells, some cells of the embryos were eliminated or not labelled, resulting in a loss of information about them. The findings of this study are innovative and exploratory. A larger sample size of human embryos (especially ST embryos) and more accurate molecular genetics techniques for detecting CNV in single cells are needed to validate our results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our study justifies the routine clinical use of PGT-A in ICSI blastocysts, as we found that the TE is a good substitute for ICM in predicting chromosomal abnormalities. While PGT-A is not entirely accurate, our data demonstrate good clinical feasibility. This trial was able to provide correct genetic counselling to patients regarding the reliability of PGT-A. Regarding ST blastocysts, the increased mosaicism rate and the inability of the TE to represent the chromosomal copy number of the ICM are both biological characteristics that differentiate them from ICSI blastocysts. Currently, ST is not used clinically on a large scale to produce blastocysts. However, if ST becomes more widely used in the future, our study will be the first to demonstrate that the use of PGT-A in ST blastocysts may not be as accurate as PGT-A for ICSI blastocysts. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFA0107601) and the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC1003003). The authors declare no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Comprehensive analysis of hub biomarkers associated with immune and oxidative stress in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a type of autoimmune disorder with a complex interplay between immune disorder and oxidative stress (OS). This research aimed to discover biomarkers and potential treatment targets associated with immune and OS dysregulation in HT through integrated bioinformatics analysis and clinical validations. Differential gene expression analysis of GSE138198 dataset from the GEO database identified 1490 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HT, including 883 upregulated and 607 downregulated genes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis explored module genes associated with HT. Overlapping the differentially expressed module genes with immune-related and OS-related genes identified eight differentially expressed module genes associated with immune and OS (DEIOGs) in HT. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified five hub genes (TNFAIP3, FOS, PTK2B, STAT1, and MMP9). We confirmed four hub genes (TNFAIP3, PTK2B, STAT1 and MMP9) in GSE29315 dataset and clinical thyroid samples, which showed high diagnostic accuracy (AUC >0.7) for HT. The expression of these four genes was positively correlated with serum thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroglobulin antibody levels, and inflammatory infiltration scores in clinical thyroid samples. Immune profiling revealed distinct profiles in HT, such as B cells memory, monocytes and macrophages. Additionally, all hub genes were inversely associated with monocytes. Further, miRNA-mRNA network analysis was conducted, and a regulatory network comprising four hub genes, 238 miRNAs and 32 TFs was established. These findings suggest that immune cells play a crucial role in the development of HT, and the hub genes TNFAIP3, PTK2B, STAT1, and MMP9 may be key players in HT through immune- and OS-related signaling pathways. Our results may provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutic monitoring of HT.

BnaC01.BIN2, a GSK3-like kinase, modulates plant height and yield potential in Brassica napus.

KEY MESSAGE: Using map-based cloning and transgenic transformation, we revealed that glycogen kinase synthase 3-like kinase, BnaC01.BIN2, modulates plant height and yield in rapeseed. The modification of plant height is one of the most important goals in rapeseed breeding. Although several genes that regulate rapeseed plant height have been identified, the genetics mechanisms underlying rapeseed plant height regulation remain poorly understood, and desirable genetic resources for rapeseed ideotype breeding are scarce. Here, we map-based cloned and functionally verified that the rapeseed semi-dominant gene, BnDF4, greatly affects rapeseed plant height. Specifically, BnDF4 encodes brassinosteroid (BR)-insensitive 2, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 primarily expressed in the lower internodes to modulate rapeseed plant height by blocking basal internode-cell elongation. Transcriptome data showed that several cell expansion-related genes involving auxin and BRs pathways were significantly downregulated in the semi-dwarf mutant. Heterozygosity in the BnDF4 allele results in small stature with no marked differences in other agronomic traits. Using BnDF4 in the heterozygous condition, the hybrid displayed strong yield heterosis through optimum intermediate plant height. Our results provide a desirable genetic resource for breeding semi-dwarf rapeseed phenotypes and support an effective strategy for breeding rapeseed hybrid varieties with strong yield heterosis.

Photosynthetic characteristics and genetic mapping of a new yellow leaf mutant crm1 in Brassica napus.

Chlorophyll is one of the key factors for photosynthesis and plays an important role in plant growth and development. We previously isolated an EMS mutagenized rapeseed chlorophyll-reduced mutant (crm1), which had yellow leaf, reduced chlorophyll content and fewer thylakoid stacks. Here, we found that crm1 showed attenuated utilization efficiency of both light energy and CO2 but enhanced heat dissipation efficiency and greater tolerance to high-light intensity. BSA-Seq analysis identified a single nucleotide change (C to T) and (G to A) in the third exon of the BnaA01G0094500ZS and BnaC01G0116100ZS, respectively. These two genes encode the magnesium chelatase subunit I 1 (CHLI1) that catalyzes the insertion of magnesium into protoporphyrin IX, a pivotal step in chlorophyll synthesis. The mutation sites resulted in an amino acid substitution P144S and G128E within the AAA+ domain of the CHLI1 protein. Two KASP markers were developed and co-segregated with the yellow leaf phenotype in segregating F2 population. Loss of BnaA01.CHLI1 and BnaC01.CHLI1 by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing recapitulated the mutant phenotype. BnaA01.CHLI1 and BnaC01.CHLI1 were located in chloroplast and highly expressed in the leaves. Furthermore, RNA-seq analyses revealed the expression of chlorophyll synthesis-related genes were upregulated in the crm1 mutant. These findings provide a new insight into the regulatory mechanism of chlorophyll synthesis in rapeseed and suggest a novel target for improving the photosynthetic efficiency and tolerance to high-light intensity in crops. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01429-6.

Estimation and characterization of atmospheric turbulence in the free atmosphere above the Tibetan Plateau using the Thorpe method.

Understanding turbulence in the free atmosphere is important for analyzing atmospheric pollution, forecasting weather, and light transmission. In this paper, we have tried to estimate the atmospheric refractive index structure constant C n2, the turbulent dissipation rate ε, and the turbulent diffusion coefficient K simultaneously during the experiment time over Lhasa, using the sounding data coupled with the Thorpe method. The result shows that the C n2 estimation gives a better performance with the correlation coefficients and the average relative error when compared with C n2 estimated by Dewan and HMNSP99. Besides this, the measured and estimated C n2, estimated ε, and K all show larger values in the troposphere, especially near the tropopause. It is worth noting that C n2 and ε are similar in terms of height distribution. These attempts at estimation all suggest that the Thorpe method can be used to estimate the intensity of turbulence in the free atmosphere over Lhasa.

Fine mapping of qDB.A03, a QTL for rapeseed branching, and identification of the candidate gene.

Increasing the yield of rapeseed is required to meet the rapidly expanding demand for both edible vegetable oil and biofuel. Branching, an important determinant of yield potential in rapeseed, is controlled by a series of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). To explore the genetic mechanism regulating the natural variation of branching, a BC1F1 population derived from a cross between dense branching 2 (dense branching line) and L72 (normal branching line) was used to map QTL conferring branching in rapeseed. A major QTL, qDB.A03, for branching-related traits was identified by the BeadChip Array assisted bulked segregation analysis method, which was subsequently validated by the classical QTL mapping approach, and fine mapped to the 256 kb region. This interval contains 56 annotated or predicted genes, 8 of which are candidates for controlling the branching trait. Comparative and expression analysis revealed four promising candidate genes for qDB.A03. Fine mapping and identification of the candidate genes for qDB.A03 represents the first step toward unraveling the genetical and molecular mechanisms controlling branching in rapeseed.

CLEC3B is a novel causative gene for macular-retinal dystrophy.

PURPOSE: Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. In this study, we aimed to define a new subtype of macular-retinal dystrophy and its genetic predisposition in 5 families. METHODS: Exome sequencing was performed to determine the putative disease-causing genes in patients with inherited macular disorders confirmed through comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. To validate its functional consequence, adeno-associated virus-mediated mutant gene was delivered into the murine retina, and both structural and functional tests were performed to investigate its pathological effects in vivo. RESULTS: In total, 5 multigenerational families diagnosed with autosomal dominant maculoretinopathy were found to carry a pathogenic variant in a new gene, CLEC3B, which encodes tetranectin, a plasminogen kringle-4 binding protein. Consistent with the disease phenotypes of patients, mice that received subretinal injections with the CLEC3B variant displayed multiple subretinal hyperreflective deposits, reduced retinal thickness, and decreased electroretinographic responses. Moreover, the optokinetic tracking response indicated that spatial frequency was significantly lower (P < .05), implying impaired visual function in these mice. CONCLUSION: We have presented a new subtype of macular-retinal dystrophy in 5 families as well as a new pathogenic gene, CLEC3B, providing new insights into maculoretinopathy etiology.

Efficient marker-assisted breeding for clubroot resistance in elite Pol-CMS rapeseed varieties by updating the PbBa8.1 locus.

Clubroot disease poses a severe threat to rapeseed (Brassica napus) production worldwide and has recently been spreading across China at an unprecedented pace. Breeding and cultivation of resistant varieties constitute a promising and environment-friendly approach to mitigating this threat. In this study, the clubroot resistance locus PbBa8.1 was successfully transferred into SC4, a shared paternal line of three elite varieties in five generations by marker-assisted backcross breeding. Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers of clubroot resistance gene PbBa8.1 and its linked high erucic acid gene (FAE1) were designed and applied for foreground selection, and 1,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and used for the background selection. This breeding strategy produced recombinants with the highest recovery ratio of the recurrent parent genome (> 95%) at BC2F2 while breaking the linkage with FAE1 during the selection. An updated version of the paternal line (SC4R) was generated at BC2F3, showing significantly improved clubroot resistance at the seedling stage via artificial inoculation, and was comparable to that of the donor parent. Field trials of the three elite varieties and their updated versions in five environments indicated similar agronomic appearance and final yield. The introduced breeding strategy precisely pyramids the PbBa8.1 and FAE1 loci with the assistance of technical markers in a shorter period and could be applied to other desirable traits for directional improvement in the future. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-022-01305-9.

The significance of serum S100 calcium-binding protein A4 in silicosis.

BACKGROUND: Silicosis is a chronic occupational pulmonary disease characterized by persistent inflammation and irreversible fibrosis. Considerable evidences now indicate that S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) has been associated with fibrotic diseases. However, the role of S100A4 in silicosis is still unclear. METHODS: In this study, serum levels of S100A4, transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with silicosis (n = 42) and control group (CG, n = 12) were measured by ELISA. S100A4 expression in lung tissues and primary alveolar macrophages (AMs) of mice with and without silicosis was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC)/real-time PCR. The correlations between S100A4 and cytokines or lung function were assessed by Spearman's rank correlation analyses. RESULTS: Compared with CG, the levels of S100A4 were significantly increased in silicosis patients (70.84 (46.22, 102.46) ng/ml vs (49.84 (42.86, 60.02) ng/ml). The secretions of TGF-ß1, CTGF, IL-6 and TNF-α in silicosis group were significantly higher than that in control group (p < 0.05). Serum S100A4 levels were positively correlated with TGF-ß1 and IL-6, while were negatively correlated with lung function parameters including percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%pre), maximum vital capacity (Vcmax), deep inspiratory capacity (IC) and peak expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity (PEF75). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, S100A4 > 61.7 ng/ml had 63.4% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity for silicosis, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.707. Furthermore, immunostaining of lung tissues showed the accumulation of S100A4-positive cells in the areas of nodules of silicotic mice. The mRNA expression of S100A4 in the lung tissues and AMs of silicotic mice were significantly higher than controls. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that increased S100A4 might contribute to the pathogenesis of silicosis.

Antibacterial Effect of Chrysanthemum Buds' Crude Extract Against Salmonella Typhimurium and Potential Application in Cooked Chicken.

The objective of this study was to clarify the antibacterial activity and mechanism of Chrysanthemum buds' crude extract (CBCE) against Salmonella Typhimurium, and explore the potential application in cooked chicken. The zone of inhibition (ZI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to assess the in vitro antibacterial activity of CBCE against Salmonella Typhimurium. The antibacterial mechanism was elucidated by revealing the changes in intracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration, membrane potential, content of biomacromolecule, and cell morphology. Furthermore, the effect of CBCE on the counts of Salmonella Typhimurium and color of cooked chicken during storage was studied. The results showed that the ZI, MIC, and MBC of CBCE against Salmonella Typhimurium were 12.9 ± 0.53-13.6 ± 0.14 mm, 40, and 80 mg/mL, respectively. In the process of inhibiting Salmonella Typhimurium by CBCE, the reduction of intracellular ATP concentration, cell membrane depolarization, leakage of protein and nucleic acid, and destruction of cell morphology were observed. Moreover, after treatments with CBCE, the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in cooked chicken was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) values of cooked chicken were found between untreated and treated samples, as well as the color of cooked chicken treated with CBCE did not change significantly (p > 0.05) during the six days of storage. Overall, our findings suggested that CBCE exhibited the antibacterial effect against Salmonella Typhimurium, and had the potential to be used as a natural food preservative for the control of Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken products.