Plant Thermosensors.

Plants are exposed to temperature conditions that fluctuate over different time scales, including those inherent to global warming. In the face of these variations, plants sense temperature to adjust their functions and minimize the negative consequences. Transcriptome responses underlie changes in growth, development, and biochemistry (thermomorphogenesis and acclimation to extreme temperatures). We are only beginning to understand temperature sensation by plants. Multiple thermosensors convey complementary temperature information to a given signaling network to control gene expression. Temperature-induced changes in protein or transcript structure and/or in the dynamics of biomolecular condensates are the core sensing mechanisms of known thermosensors, but temperature impinges on their activities via additional indirect pathways. The diversity of plant responses to temperature anticipates that many new thermosensors and eventually novel sensing mechanisms will be uncovered soon.

Inhibitory interneuron deficit links altered network activity and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) results in cognitive decline and altered network activity, but the mechanisms are unknown. We studied human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) transgenic mice, which simulate key aspects of AD. Electroencephalographic recordings in hAPP mice revealed spontaneous epileptiform discharges, indicating network hypersynchrony, primarily during reduced gamma oscillatory activity. Because this oscillatory rhythm is generated by inhibitory parvalbumin (PV) cells, network dysfunction in hAPP mice might arise from impaired PV cells. Supporting this hypothesis, hAPP mice and AD patients had decreased levels of the interneuron-specific and PV cell-predominant voltage-gated sodium channel subunit Nav1.1. Restoring Nav1.1 levels in hAPP mice by Nav1.1-BAC expression increased inhibitory synaptic activity and gamma oscillations and reduced hypersynchrony, memory deficits, and premature mortality. We conclude that reduced Nav1.1 levels and PV cell dysfunction critically contribute to abnormalities in oscillatory rhythms, network synchrony, and memory in hAPP mice and possibly in AD.

How I use genomics and BTK inhibitors in the treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in MYD88 (95%-97%) and CXCR4 (30%-40%) are common in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). TP53 is altered in 20% to 30% of patients with WM, particularly those previously treated. Mutated MYD88 activates hematopoietic cell kinase that drives Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) prosurvival signaling. Both nonsense and frameshift CXCR4 mutations occur in WM. Nonsense variants show greater resistance to BTK inhibitors. Covalent BTK inhibitors (cBTKi) produce major responses in 70% to 80% of patients with WM. MYD88 and CXCR4 mutation status can affect time to major response, depth of response, and/or progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with WM treated with cBTKi. The cBTKi zanubrutinib shows greater response activity and/or improved PFS in patients with WM with wild-type MYD88, mutated CXCR4, or altered TP53. Risks for adverse events, including atrial fibrillation, bleeding diathesis, and neutropenia can differ based on which BTKi is used in WM. Intolerance is also common with cBTKi, and dose reduction or switchover to another cBTKi can be considered. For patients with acquired resistance to cBTKis, newer options include pirtobrutinib or venetoclax. Combinations of BTKis with chemoimmunotherapy, CXCR4, and BCL2 antagonists are discussed. Algorithms for positioning BTKis in treatment naïve or previously treated patients with WM, based on genomics, disease characteristics, and comorbidities, are presented.

Ibrutinib and venetoclax as primary therapy in symptomatic, treatment-naïve Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

ABSTRACT: Concurrent Bruton tyrosine kinase and BCL2 inhibition has not yet been investigated in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). We performed an investigator-initiated trial of ibrutinib and venetoclax in symptomatic treatment-naïve patients with MYD88-mutated WM. Patients received ibrutinib 420 mg once daily (cycle 1), followed by a ramp-up of venetoclax to 400 mg daily (cycle 2). The combination was then administered for 22 additional 4-week cycles. The attainment of very good partial response (VGPR) was the primary end point. Forty-five patients were enrolled in this study. The median baseline characteristics were as follows: age 67 years, serum IgM 43 g/L, and hemoglobin 102 g/L. Seventeen patients (38%) carried CXCR4 mutations. Nineteen patients (42%) achieved VGPR. Grade 3 or higher adverse events included neutropenia (38%), mucositis (9%), and tumor lysis syndrome (7%). Atrial fibrillation occurred in 3 (9%), and ventricular arrhythmia in 4 (9%) patients that included 2 grade 5 events. With a median follow-up of 24.4 months, the 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 76% and 96%, respectively, and were not impacted by CXCR4 mutations. The median time on therapy was 10.2 months, and the median time after the end of therapy (EOT) was 13.3 months. Eleven of the 12 progression events occurred after EOT, and the 12-month PFS rates after EOT were 79%; 93% if VGPR was attained, and 69% for other patients (P = .12). Ibrutinib and venetoclax induced high VGPR rates and durable responses after EOT, although they were associated with a higher-than-expected rate of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with WM, leading to early study treatment termination. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04273139.

High efficacy of CD19 CAR T cells in patients with transformed Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

ABSTRACT: Histologic transformation of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (HT-WM) carries a poor prognosis with standard treatments. Here, we report the first series of HT-WM treated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells showing a high efficacy and no unexpected toxicity.

Eco-physiology of maize crops under combined stresses.

The yield of maize (Zea mays L.) crops depends on their ability to intercept sunlight throughout the growing cycle, transform this energy into biomass and allocate it to the kernels. Abiotic stresses affect these eco-physiological determinants, reducing crop grain yield below the potential of each environment. Here we analyse the impact of combined abiotic stresses, such as water restriction and nitrogen deficiency or water restriction and elevated temperatures. Crop yield depends on the product of kernel yield per plant and the number of plants per unit soil area, but increasing plant population density imposes a crowding stress that reduces yield per plant, even within the range that maximises crop yield per unit soil area. Therefore, we also analyse the impact of abiotic stresses under different plant densities. We show that the magnitude of the detrimental effects of two combined stresses on field-grown plants can be lower, similar or higher than the sum of the individual stresses. These patterns depend on the timing and intensity of each one of the combined stresses and on the effects of one of the stresses on the status of the resource whose limitation causes the other. The analysis of the eco-physiological determinants of crop yield is useful to guide and prioritise the rapidly progressing studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to combined stresses.

Hysteresis in PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 and EARLY-FLOWERING 3 dynamics dominates warm daytime memory in Arabidopsis.

Despite the identification of temperature sensors and downstream components involved in promoting stem growth by warm temperatures, when and how previous temperatures affect current plant growth remain unclear. Here we show that hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis thaliana during the night responds not only to the current temperature but also to preceding daytime temperatures, revealing a short-term memory of previous conditions. Daytime temperature affected the levels of PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) and LONG HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) in the nucleus during the next night. These factors jointly accounted for the observed growth kinetics, whereas nighttime memory of prior daytime temperature was impaired in pif4 and hy5 mutants. PIF4 promoter activity largely accounted for the temperature-dependent changes in PIF4 protein levels. Notably, the decrease in PIF4 promoter activity triggered by cooling required a stronger temperature shift than the increase caused by warming, representing a typical hysteretic effect; this hysteretic pattern required EARLY-FLOWERING 3 (ELF3). Warm temperatures promoted the formation of nuclear condensates of ELF3 in hypocotyl cells during the afternoon but not in the morning. These nuclear speckles showed poor sensitivity to subsequent cooling. We conclude that ELF3 achieves hysteresis and drives the PIF4 promoter into the same behavior, enabling a short-term memory of daytime temperature conditions.

Human neutrophil peptides 1-3 protect the murine urinary tract from uropathogenic Escherichia coli challenge.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are critical to the protection of the urinary tract of humans and other animals from pathogenic microbial invasion. AMPs rapidly destroy pathogens by disrupting microbial membranes and/or augmenting or inhibiting the host immune system through a variety of signaling pathways. We have previously demonstrated that alpha-defensins 1-3 (DEFA1A3) are AMPs expressed in the epithelial cells of the human kidney collecting duct in response to uropathogens. We also demonstrated that DNA copy number variations in the DEFA1A3 locus are associated with UTI and pyelonephritis risk. Because DEFA1A3 is not expressed in mice, we utilized human DEFA1A3 gene transgenic mice (DEFA4/4) to further elucidate the biological relevance of this locus in the murine urinary tract. We demonstrate that the kidney transcriptional and translational expression pattern is similar in humans and the human gene transgenic mouse upon uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) stimulus in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate transgenic human DEFA4/4 gene mice are protected from UTI and pyelonephritis under various UPEC challenges. This study serves as the foundation to start the exploration of manipulating the DEFA1A3 locus and alpha-defensins 1-3 expression as a potential therapeutic target for UTIs and other infectious diseases.

Dispersal history of SARS-CoV-2 in Galicia, Spain.

The dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission are influenced by a variety of factors, including social restrictions and the emergence of distinct variants. In this study, we delve into the origins and dissemination of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron-BA.1 variants of concern in Galicia, northwest Spain. For this, we leveraged genomic data collected by the EPICOVIGAL Consortium and from the GISAID database, along with mobility information from other Spanish regions and foreign countries. Our analysis indicates that initial introductions during the Alpha phase were predominantly from other Spanish regions and France. However, as the pandemic progressed, introductions from Portugal and the United States became increasingly significant. The number of detected introductions varied from 96 and 101 for Alpha and Delta to 39 for Omicron-BA.1. Most of these introductions left a low number of descendants (<10), suggesting a limited impact on the evolution of the pandemic in Galicia. Notably, Galicia's major coastal cities emerged as critical hubs for viral transmission, highlighting their role in sustaining and spreading the virus. This research emphasizes the critical role of regional connectivity in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and offers essential insights for enhancing public health strategies and surveillance measures.

Shade avoidance in the context of climate change.

When exposed to changes in the light environment caused by neighboring vegetation, shade-avoiding plants modify their growth and/or developmental patterns to access more sunlight. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), neighbor cues reduce the activity of the photosensory receptors phytochrome B (phyB) and cryptochrome 1, releasing photoreceptor repression imposed on PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) and leading to transcriptional reprogramming. The phyB-PIF hub is at the core of all shade-avoidance responses, whilst other photosensory receptors and transcription factors contribute in a context-specific manner. CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 is a master regulator of this hub, indirectly stabilizing PIFs and targeting negative regulators of shade avoidance for degradation. Warm temperatures reduce the activity of phyB, which operates as a temperature sensor and further increases the activities of PIF4 and PIF7 by independent temperature sensing mechanisms. The signaling network controlling shade avoidance is not buffered against climate change; rather, it integrates information about shade, temperature, salinity, drought, and likely flooding. We, therefore, predict that climate change will exacerbate shade-induced growth responses in some regions of the planet while limiting the growth potential in others.

Prevalence and Incidence of Parkinson's Disease in Latin America: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a rapidly growing neurodegenerative disorder, but up-to-date epidemiological data are lacking in Latin America. We sought to estimate the prevalence and incidence of PD and parkinsonism in Latin America. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde or the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature databases for epidemiological studies reporting the prevalence or incidence of PD or parkinsonism in Latin America from their inception to 2022. Quality of studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Data were pooled via random-effects meta-analysis and analyzed by data source (cohort studies or administrative databases), sex, and age group. Significant differences between groups were determined by meta-regression. RESULTS: Eighteen studies from 13 Latin American countries were included in the review. Meta-analyses of 17 studies (nearly 4 million participants) found a prevalence of 472 (95% CI, 271-820) per 100,000 and three studies an incidence of 31 (95% CI, 23-40) per 100,000 person-years for PD; and seven studies found a prevalence of 4300 (95% CI, 1863-9613) per 100,000 for parkinsonism. The prevalence of PD differed by data source (cohort studies, 733 [95% CI, 427-1255] vs. administrative databases. 114 [95% CI, 63-209] per 100,000, P < 0.01), age group (P < 0.01), but not sex (P = 0.73). PD prevalence in ≥60 years also differed significantly by data source (cohort studies. 1229 [95% CI, 741-2032] vs. administrative databases, 593 [95% CI, 480-733] per 100,000, P < 0.01). Similar patterns were observed for parkinsonism. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence and incidence of PD in Latin America were estimated. PD prevalence differed significantly by the data source and age, but not sex. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Optimizing BTK Inhibition in Waldenström Macroglobulinemia.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have become a standard of care in the treatment of patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) and are the only medications approved by the FDA to treat these patients. As more patients with WM are treated with BTK inhibitors in the United States and worldwide, it is essential to optimize this therapy by selecting the patients who are more likely to benefit from it, and by managing the unique adverse effects associated with these agents. Herein, we propose a genomic-driven approach to selecting patients with WM who are more likely to experience fast, deep, and durable responses to BTK inhibitors, and provide practical strategies for managing adverse effects, including BTK inhibitor dose reductions, switching to other BTK inhibitors, and abandoning BTK inhibitor therapy. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating covalent and noncovalent BTK inhibitors alone and in combination, as well as BTK degraders, with exciting results, making the horizon for BTK-targeting therapies in WM bright and hopeful.

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

The treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (WM/LPL) has evolved to include several new options. The NCCN Guidelines for WM/LPL provide a framework on which to base decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment, assessment of response to treatment, and follow-up of both newly diagnosed and previously treated WM/LPL.

EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: 2024 update on the diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management.

DISEASE OVERVIEW: Epstein Barr virus-positive (EBV+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma associated with EBV infection included in the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms since 2016. Although historically associated to poor prognosis, outcomes seem to have improved in the era of chemoimmunotherapy. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis is established through meticulous pathological evaluation. Detection of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) is the standard diagnostic method. The ICC 2022 specifies EBV+ DLBCL, NOS as occurring when >80% of malignant cells express EBER, whereas the WHO-HAEM5 emphasizes that the majority of tumor cells should be EBER positive without setting a defined threshold. The differential diagnosis includes plasmablastic lymphoma, DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation, primary effusion lymphoma, among others. RISK-STRATIFICATION: The International Prognostic Index (IPI) and the Oyama score can be used for risk-stratification. The Oyama score includes age >70 years and presence of B symptoms. The expression of CD30 and PD-1/PD-L1 are emerging as potential adverse but targetable biomarkers. MANAGEMENT: Patients with EBV+ DLBCL, NOS, should be staged and managed following similar guidelines than patients with EBV-negative DLBCL. EBV+ DLBCL, NOS, however, might have a worse prognosis than EBV-negative DLBCL in the era of chemoimmunotherapy. Therefore, inclusion of patients in clinical trials when available is recommended. There is an opportunity to study and develop targeted therapy in the management of patients with EBV+ DLBCL, NOS.

Plasmablastic lymphoma: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.

DISEASE OVERVIEW: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare CD20-negative aggressive lymphoma with a poor prognosis under standard treatment options. Though PBL is associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and other immunosuppressed states, it can also affect immunocompetent individuals. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis requires a high clinical suspicion and pathological confirmation. EBER expression and MYC gene rearrangements are frequently detected. The differential diagnosis includes EBV+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, extracavitary primary effusion lymphoma, ALK+ DLBCL, and HHV8+ large B-cell lymphoma, among others. RISK STRATIFICATION: Age ≥60 years, advanced clinical stage, and high intermediate and high International Prognostic Index scores are associated with worse survival. MANAGEMENT: Combination chemotherapy regimens, such as EPOCH, are recommended. The addition of bortezomib, lenalidomide, or daratumumab might improve outcomes. Including PBL patients and their participation in prospective clinical trials is warranted.

Cortical origin of theta error signals.

A multi-scale approach elucidated the origin of the error-related-negativity (ERN), with its associated theta-rhythm, and the post-error-positivity (Pe) in macaque supplementary eye field (SEF). Using biophysical modeling, synaptic inputs to a subpopulation of layer-3 (L3) and layer-5 (L5) pyramidal cells (PCs) were optimized to reproduce error-related spiking modulation and inter-spike intervals. The intrinsic dynamics of dendrites in L5 but not L3 error PCs generate theta rhythmicity with random phases. Saccades synchronized the phases of the theta-rhythm, which was magnified on errors. Contributions from error PCs to the laminar current source density (CSD) observed in SEF were negligible and could not explain the observed association between error-related spiking modulation in L3 PCs and scalp-EEG. CSD from recorded laminar field potentials in SEF was comprised of multipolar components, with monopoles indicating strong electro-diffusion, dendritic/axonal electrotonic current leakage outside SEF, or violations of the model assumptions. Our results also demonstrate the involvement of secondary cortical regions, in addition to SEF, particularly for the later Pe component. The dipolar component from the observed CSD paralleled the ERN dynamics, while the quadrupolar component paralleled the Pe. These results provide the most advanced explanation to date of the cellular mechanisms generating the ERN.

Depletion forces in dense mixtures of spheres and rods.

We evaluate depletion forces in molecular dynamics simulation of a binary mixture of spheres (depleted particles) and rods (depletant particles) for a wide range of densities for both species. This evaluation was carried out using a recently proposed least squares fitting algorithm. We found that the restriction of the rods' rotational degrees of freedom, when the distance between two spheres is less than the rods length, creates a shallow, and apparently linear, attractive force ramp. For intersphere distances smaller than the rods' diameter, a much stronger attractive force is found, and a large repulsive barrier appears between these aforementioned regimes, roughly at the distance of the rods' thickness. The evaluated forces are validated via a comparison of the pairwise correlation functions obtained from molecular dynamics simulation of a mono-disperse sphere fluid, using the evaluated effective forces, against the original (full system) pairwise correlation functions. Agreement is excellent. We also record the angular pairwise correlation function, using the P2(x) Legendre polynomial, and find that for high densities of both species, a local nematic ordering starts to appear. This nematic order may be a factor in the small differences found between original and effective pairwise correlation functions at high densities of rods.

Social determinants of health but not global genetic ancestry predict dementia prevalence in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Leveraging the nonmonolithic structure of Latin America, which represents a large variability in social determinants of health (SDoH) and high levels of genetic admixture, we aim to evaluate the relative contributions of SDoH and genetic ancestry in predicting dementia prevalence in Latin American populations. METHODS: Community-dwelling participants aged 65 and older (N = 3808) from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru completed the 10/66 protocol assessments. Dementia was diagnosed using the cross-culturally validated 10/66 algorithm. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for SDoH were used in the main analysis. This study used cross-sectional data from the 1066 population-based study. RESULTS: Individuals with higher proportions of Native American (>70%) and African American (>70%) ancestry were more likely to exhibit factors contributing to worse SDoH, such as lower educational levels (p < 0.001), lower socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), and higher frequency of vascular risk factors (p < 0.001). After adjusting for measures of SDoH, there was no association between ancestry proportion and dementia probability, and ancestry proportions no longer significantly accounted for the variance in cognitive performance (African predominant p = 0.31 [-0.19, 0.59] and Native predominant p = 0.74 [-0.24, 0.33]). DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that social and environmental factors play a more crucial role than genetic ancestry in predicting dementia prevalence in Latin American populations. This underscores the need for public health strategies and policies that address these social determinants to effectively reduce dementia risk in these communities. HIGHLIGHTS: Countries in Latin America express a large variability in social determinants of health and levels of admixture. After adjustment for downstream societal factors linked to SDoH, genetic ancestry shows no link to dementia. Population ancestry profiles alone do not influence cognitive performance. SDoH are key drivers of racial disparities in dementia and cognitive performance.

Examining amyloid reduction as a surrogate endpoint through latent class analysis using clinical trial data for dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence suggests that amyloid reduction could serve as a plausible surrogate endpoint for clinical and cognitive efficacy. The double-blind phase 3 DIAN-TU-001 trial tested clinical and cognitive declines with increasing doses of solanezumab or gantenerumab. METHODS: We used latent class (LC) analysis on data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit 001 trial to test amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) reduction as a potential surrogate biomarker. RESULTS: LC analysis categorized participants into three classes: amyloid no change, amyloid reduction, and amyloid growth, based on longitudinal amyloid Pittsburgh compound B PET standardized uptake value ratio data. The amyloid-no-change class was at an earlier disease stage for amyloid amounts and dementia. Despite similar baseline characteristics, the amyloid-reduction class exhibited reductions in the annual decline rates compared to the amyloid-growth class across multiple biomarker, clinical, and cognitive outcomes. DISCUSSION: LC analysis indicates that amyloid reduction is associated with improved clinical outcomes and supports its use as a surrogate biomarker in clinical trials. HIGHLIGHTS: We used latent class (LC) analysis to test amyloid reduction as a surrogate biomarker. Despite similar baseline characteristics, the amyloid-reduction class exhibited remarkably better outcomes compared to the amyloid-growth class across multiple measures. LC analysis proves valuable in testing amyloid reduction as a surrogate biomarker in clinical trials lacking significant treatment effects.

Investigation of sex differences in mutation carriers of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network.

INTRODUCTION: Studies suggest distinct differences in the development, presentation, progression, and response to treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) between females and males. We investigated sex differences in cognition, neuroimaging, and fluid biomarkers in dominantly inherited AD (DIAD). METHODS: Three hundred twenty-five mutation carriers (55% female) and one hundred eighty-six non-carriers (58% female) of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Observational Study were analyzed. Linear mixed models and Spearman's correlation explored cross-sectional sex differences in cognition, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (11 C-PiB PET) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Female carriers performed better than males on delayed recall and processing speed despite similar hippocampal volumes. As the disease progressed, symptomatic females revealed higher increases in MRI markers of neurodegeneration and memory impairment. PiB PET and established CSF AD markers revealed no sex differences. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest an initial cognitive reserve in female carriers followed by a pronounced increase in neurodegeneration coupled with worse performance on delayed recall at later stages of DIAD.