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1.
Macromol Rapid Commun ; 45(13): e2300737, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38521991

ABSTRACT

Near-infrared (NIR)-triggered shape memory hydrogels with promising mechanical strength hold immense potential in the field of biomedical applications and soft actuators. However, the optical and mechanical properties of currently reported hydrogels usually suffer from limited solubility and dispersion of commonly used photothermal additives in hydrogels, thus restricting their practical implementations. Here,, a set of NIR-responsive shape memory hydrogels synthesized by polyaddition of diisocyanate-terminated poly(ethylene glycol), imidazolidinyl urea (IU), and p-benzoquinone dioxime (BQDO) is reported. The introduction of IU, a hydrogen bond reinforcing factor, significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the hydrogels, allowing for their tunable ranges of the ultimate tensile strength (0.4-2.5 MPa), elongation at break (210-450%), and Young's modulus (190-850 kPa). The unique hydrogels exhibit an intrinsic photothermal effect because of the covalently incorporated photothermal moiety (BQDO), and the photothermal supramolecular hydrogel shows controllable shape memory capabilities characterized by rapid recovery speed and high recovery ratio (>90%). This design provides new possibilities for applying shape memory hydrogels in the field of soft actuators.


Subject(s)
Hydrogels , Infrared Rays , Hydrogels/chemistry , Hydrogels/chemical synthesis , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Tensile Strength , Urea/chemistry , Macromolecular Substances/chemistry , Macromolecular Substances/chemical synthesis , Smart Materials/chemistry
2.
J Transl Med ; 21(1): 840, 2023 11 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37993879

ABSTRACT

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is a core component of the FGFs/FGFR pathway that activates multiple signalling pathways, including ERK1/2, PI3K/AKT, PLCγ, and NF-κB. Aberrant expression of FGFR1 due to gene amplification, chromosome rearrangement, point mutation, and epigenetic deregulations, have been reported in various cancers. FGFR1 overexpression has also been reported in prostate cancer (PCa), but the underlining mechanisms are not clear. Here we report a novel circular RNA, circFGFR1int2, derived from intron 2 of FGFR1 gene, which is overexpressed in PCa and associated with tumor progression. Importantly, we show that circFGFR1int2 facilitates FGFR1 transcription by recruiting transcription activators P65/FUS and by interacting with FGFR1 promoter. Moreover, we show that circFGFR1int2 suppresses post-transcriptional inhibitory effects of miR-4687-5p on FGFR1 mRNA. These mechanisms synergistically promote PCa cell growth, migration, and invasion. Overexpression of circFGFR1int2 is significantly correlated with higher tumor grade, Gleason score, and PSA level, and is a significant unfavorable prognosticator for CRPC-free survival (CFS) (RR = 3.277, 95% confidence interval: 1.192-9.009; P = 0.021). These findings unravelled novel mechanisms controlling FGFR1 gene expression by intronic circRNA and its potential clinicopathological utility as a diagnostic or therapeutic target.


Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Humans , Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/genetics , Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism , RNA, Circular/genetics , Introns/genetics , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Proliferation/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , RNA-Binding Protein FUS/genetics , RNA-Binding Protein FUS/metabolism
3.
Mol Cancer ; 21(1): 111, 2022 05 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35538475

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sunitinib resistance can be classified into primary and secondary resistance. While accumulating research has indicated several underlying factors contributing to sunitinib resistance, the precise mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma are still unclear. METHODS: RNA sequencing and m6A sequencing were used to screen for functional genes involved in sunitinib resistance. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out and patient samples and clinical information were obtained for clinical analysis. RESULTS: We identified a tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor, TRAF1, that was significantly increased in sunitinib-resistant cells, resistant cell-derived xenograft (CDX-R) models and clinical patients with sunitinib resistance. Silencing TRAF1 increased sunitinib-induced apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects. Mechanistically, the upregulated level of TRAF1 in sunitinib-resistant cells was derived from increased TRAF1 RNA stability, which was caused by an increased level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in a METTL14-dependent manner. Moreover, in vivo adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) -mediated transduction of TRAF1 suppressed the sunitinib-induced apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects in the CDX models, whereas knockdown of TRAF1 effectively resensitized the sunitinib-resistant CDXs to sunitinib treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of TRAF1 promotes sunitinib resistance by modulating apoptotic and angiogenic pathways in a METTL14-dependent manner. Targeting TRAF1 and its pathways may be a novel pharmaceutical intervention for sunitinib-treated patients.


Subject(s)
Adenosine , Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Methyltransferases , Sunitinib , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1 , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/blood supply , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Female , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/blood supply , Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy , Kidney Neoplasms/genetics , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Methyltransferases/metabolism , Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy , Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics , Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism , Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology , Sunitinib/pharmacology , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1/genetics , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1/metabolism
4.
Small ; 18(22): e2201820, 2022 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35502139

ABSTRACT

The organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell (PerSC) is the state-of-the-art emerging photovoltaic technology. However, the environmental water/moisture and temperature-induced intrinsic degradation and phase transition of perovskite greatly retard the commercialization process. Herein, a dual-functional organic ligand, 4,7-bis((4-vinylbenzyl)oxy)-1,10-phenanthroline (namely, C1), with crosslinkable styrene side-chains and chelatable phenanthroline backbone, synthesized via a cost-effective Williamson reaction, is introduced for collaborative electrode interface and perovskite grain boundaries (GBs) engineering. C1 can chemically chelate with Sn4+ in the SnO2 electron transport layer and Pb2+ in the perovskite layer via coordination bonds, suppressing nonradiative recombination caused by traps/defects existing at the interface and GBs. Meanwhile, C1 enables in situ crosslinking via thermal-initiated polymerization to form a hydrophobic and stable polymer network, freezing perovskite morphology, and resisting moisture degradation. Consequently, through collaborative interface-grain engineering, the resulting PerSCs demonstrate high power conversion efficiency of 24.31% with excellent water/moisture and thermal stability. The findings provide new insights of collaborative interface-grain engineering via a crosslinkable and chelatable organic ligand for achieving efficient and stable PerSCs.

5.
J Org Chem ; 87(11): 7446-7455, 2022 06 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35608344

ABSTRACT

The emerging field of photopharmacology has offered a promising alternative to guard against the bacterial resistance by effectively avoiding antibiotic accumulation in the body or environment. However, the degradation, toxicity, and thermal reversibility have always been an ongoing concern for potential applications of azobenzene-based photopharmacology. Developing novel photopharmacological agents based on a more matched switch is highly in demand and remains a major challenge. Herein, two novel dithienylethene-bridged dual-fluoroquinolone derivatives have been developed by introducing two fluoroquinolone drugs into both ends of the dithienylethene (DTE) switch, in which the fluoroquinolone acts as a fluorophore except for the pharmacodynamic component. For comparison, two monofluoroquinolone-DTE hybrids were also prepared by a similar strategy. As expected, these resultant DTE-based antibacterial agents displayed efficient photochromism and fluorescence switching behavior in dimethyl sulfoxide. Moreover, improved antibacterial activities compared to those of monofluoroquinolone derivatives and a maximum fourfold active difference against Escherichia coli (E. coli) for open and closed isomers and photoswitchable bacterial imaging for Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli were observed. The molecular docking to DNA gyrase gave a rationale for the discrepancies in antibacterial activity for both isomers. Therefore, these fluoroquinolone derivatives can act as interesting imaging-guided photopharmacological agents for further in vivo studies.


Subject(s)
Escherichia coli , Fluoroquinolones , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , DNA Gyrase/metabolism , DNA Gyrase/pharmacology , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Molecular Docking Simulation
6.
Sheng Li Xue Bao ; 73(1): 10-16, 2021 Feb 25.
Article in Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33665655

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to observe the activation of microglia in the prefrontal cortex of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) mice, and the expression of the marker genes of the disease-associated microglia (DAM) associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Sixty healthy adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, normal control (CON) group and T1DM group. Streptozocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally to induce T1DM mice. The spatial learning and memory function of mice was detected by Morris water maze at the 8th week after the successful model establishment. The number and activation of microglia in the prefrontal cortex of mice were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Changes in the mRNA level of several DAM molecular markers were detected by RT-FQ-PCR. The results showed that, compared with CON mice, the fasting blood glucose of T1DM mice increased significantly, while the body weight of T1DM mice decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). The escape latency of water maze in T1DM mice was longer than that in CON mice (P < 0.05). Compared with CON group, the Iba1 protein expression and the number of microglia in prefrontal cortex of T1DM group increased significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of several DAM markers in prefrontal cortex of T1DM group were increased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the microglia are activated and transformed to DAM type in the prefrontal cortex of T1DM mice.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 , Animals , Hippocampus , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Microglia , Prefrontal Cortex
7.
J Cell Biochem ; 120(6): 10697-10706, 2019 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30652346

ABSTRACT

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant neoplasia in bone, characterized with main occurrence in teenagers. Calycosin (CC), a bioactive compound, is found to play potent pharmacological effects against cancer. Our previous study indicates CC-exerted benefits for anti-OS effect. However, further molecular mechanism behind this action needs to be investigated. In this study, human OS samples and clinical data were collected and used for further test and analysis. In addition, human osteosarcoma cell line (143B) and tumor-xenograft nude mice were used to evaluate antineoplastic activities of CC through a series of biochemical methods and immunoassays, respectively. Compared with non-OS controls, human OS samples showed increased levels of neoplastic microRNA-223 (miR-223), and elevated expressions of NF-κBp65, IκBα proteins in tumor cells. In cell culture study, CC-treated 143B cells showed reduced cell growth, increased lactic dehydrogenase (LD) content, and downregulated cellular miR-223 level. Immunolabeled cells of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in CC treatments were decreased dose-dependently, while caspase-3 positive cells were elevated. Further, protein expressions of NF-κBp65, IκBα in CC-treated cells were downregulated. In addition, tumor-xenograft nude mice followed by CC treatments exhibited reductions of tumor mass, miR-223 levels, and Bcl-2, PARP-positive cells, as well as downregulations of NF-κBp65, IκBα protein expressions in OS samples. Taken together, these experimental findings reveal that CC exhibits potential pharmacological activities against OS through inducing apoptosis and inhibiting miR-223-IκBα signaling pathway in neoplastic cells.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Isoflavones/pharmacology , MicroRNAs/genetics , Osteosarcoma/drug therapy , Transcription Factor RelA/genetics , Adolescent , Animals , Bone Neoplasms/genetics , Bone Neoplasms/pathology , Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Child , Female , Humans , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Nude , MicroRNAs/metabolism , NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/genetics , NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism , Osteosarcoma/genetics , Osteosarcoma/pathology , Osteosarcoma/surgery , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/genetics , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
8.
Org Biomol Chem ; 18(1): 76-80, 2019 12 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31773124

ABSTRACT

Eupulcherol A (1), a novel triterpenoid with an unprecedented carbon skeleton, was isolated from Euphorbia pulcherrima. Its structure was determined by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data, including HRESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR, and the absolute configuration was defined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Biological studies showed that compound 1 possessed anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) bioactivity, which could delay paralysis of transgenic AD Caenorhabditis elegans. A plausible biogenetic pathway for eupulcherol A (1) was also proposed.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology , Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects , Euphorbia/chemistry , Triterpenes/pharmacology , Alzheimer Disease/parasitology , Animals , Antiprotozoal Agents/chemistry , Antiprotozoal Agents/isolation & purification , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Molecular Structure , Parasitic Sensitivity Tests , Structure-Activity Relationship , Triterpenes/chemistry , Triterpenes/isolation & purification
9.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue ; 25(7): 655-659, 2019 Jul.
Article in Zh | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32223110

ABSTRACT

Serum PSA is a most widely used biomarker for prostate cancer, which can help effectively screen out the high-risk population of prostate cancer and monitor the changes of the disease. However, the specificity of serum total PSA (tPSA) is poor and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In recent years, a series of PSA derivative indicators have been developed, which can be used in combination with other diagnostic methods, such as MRI, ultrasonography, digital rectal examination, and other tumor markers, to improve the accuracy of early diagnosis, assess the malignancy, invasiveness and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, and make prostatic biopsy decisions. This review summarizes the advances in the application of PSA derivative indicators on the diagnosis of prostate cancer.


Subject(s)
Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Biopsy , Digital Rectal Examination , Humans , Male
10.
Biotechnol Lett ; 39(11): 1733-1740, 2017 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28836020

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To optimize the production of active inclusion bodies (IBs) containing human D-amino acid oxidase (hDAAO) in Escherichia coli. RESULTS: The optimized initial codon region combined with the coexpressed rare tRNAs, fusion of each of the N-terminal partners including cellulose-binding module, thioredoxin, glutathione S-transferase and expressivity tag, deletion of the incorporated linker, and improvement of tRNA abundance affected the production and activity for oxidizing D-alanine of the hDAAO in IBs. Compared with the optimized fusion constructs and expression host, IBs yields and activity were increased to 2.6- and 2.8-fold respectively by changing the N-terminal codon bias of the hDAAO. The insoluble hDAAO codon variant displayed the same substrate specificity as the soluble one for oxidizing D-alanine, D-serine and D-aspartic acid. The freshly prepared hDAAO codon variant was used for analyzing the L-serine racemization activity of the bacterially expressed maize serine racemase. CONCLUSIONS: Optimization of the N-terminal codon bias combined with the coexpression of rare tRNAs is a novel and efficient approach to produce active IBs of the hDAAO.


Subject(s)
D-Amino-Acid Oxidase/genetics , Inclusion Bodies/enzymology , RNA, Transfer/genetics , Codon , D-Amino-Acid Oxidase/metabolism , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli/growth & development , Humans , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
11.
Bioprocess Biosyst Eng ; 40(7): 1101-1110, 2017 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28439671

ABSTRACT

In this study, four fusion proteins were designed, in which the N-terminal cellulose-binding module as the affinity tag was immobilized on the regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC), and the release of the C-terminal colored proteins was detected easily and rapidly after on-resin cleavage using the free tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) variant, or the immobilized cognate protease with a binding capacity of up to 220 mg protein per gram of RAC. The enhanced stability and repetitive use of the immobilized TEVp compensated slight loss of the catalytic efficiency toward the soluble protein substrate. On-resin cleavage and purity of the released target proteins are related to the context of the fusion tag, the incorporated linker composition, and the colored protein. Owing to low cost and high binding capacity of the RAC, the TEVp immobilized on the resin is an ideal alternative for removing fusion tag. The colored proteins are easily monitored in the on-resin process of fusion proteins, and rapid separation from RAC.


Subject(s)
Endopeptidases/metabolism , Potyvirus/enzymology , Cellulose , Protein Binding , Recombinant Fusion Proteins
12.
Materials (Basel) ; 17(11)2024 May 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38893896

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the relationship between volume energy density and the microstructure, density, and mechanical properties of the Ti-5Al-5Mo-3V-1Cr-1Fe alloy fabricated via the SLM process. The results indicate that an increase in volume energy density can promote a transition from a columnar to an equiaxed grain structure and suppress the anisotropy of mechanical properties. Specifically, at a volume energy density of 83.33 J/mm3, the average aspect ratio of ß grains reached 0.77, accompanied by the formation of numerous nano-precipitated phases. Furthermore, the relative density of the alloy initially increased and then decreased as the volume energy density increased. At a volume energy density of 83.33 J/mm3, the relative density reached 99.6%. It is noteworthy that an increase in volume energy density increases the ß grain size. Consequently, with a volume energy density of 83.33 J/mm3, the alloy exhibited an average grain size of 63.92 µm, demonstrating optimal performance with a yield strength of 1003.06 MPa and an elongation of 18.16%. This is mainly attributable to the fact that an increase in volume energy density enhances thermal convection within the molten pool, leading to alterations in molten pool morphology and a reduction in temperature gradients within the alloy. The reduction in temperature gradients promotes equiaxed grain transformation and grain refinement by increasing constitutive supercooling at the leading edge of the solid-liquid interface. The evolution of molten pool morphology mainly inhibits columnar grain growth and refines grain by changing the grain growth direction. This study provided a straightforward method for inhibiting anisotropy and enhancing mechanical properties.

13.
Adv Mater ; 36(1): e2310203, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37967552

ABSTRACT

Synergistic morphology and defects management at the buried perovskite interface are challenging but crucial for the further improvement of inverted perovskite solar cells (PerSCs). Herein, an amphoteric organic salt, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethylammonium-4-methyl benzenesulfonate (4FPEAPSA), is designed to optimize the film morphology and energy level alignment at the perovskite buried interface. 4FPEAPSA treatment promotes the growth of a void-free, coarse-grained, and hydrophobic film by inducing the crystal orientation. Besides, the dual-functional 4FPEAPSA can chemically interact with the perovskite film, and passivate the defects of iodine and formamidine vacancies, tending to revert the fermi level of perovskite to its defect-free state. Meanwhile, the formation of a p-type doping buried interface can facilitate the interfacial charge extraction and transport of PerSCs for reduced carrier recombination loss. Consequently, 4FPEAPSA treatment improves the efficiency of the perovskite devices to 25.03% with better storage, heat, and humidity stability. This work contributes to strengthening the systematic understanding of the perovskite buried interface, providing a synergetic approach to realize precise morphology control, effective defect suppression, and energy level alignment for efficient PerSCs.

14.
Adv Mater ; 36(26): e2312704, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38615260

ABSTRACT

Sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) fulfills the requirements of top transparent electrodes (TTEs) in semitransparent perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and stacked tandem solar cells (TSCs), as well as of the recombination layers in monolithic TSCs. However, the high-energy ITO particles will cause damage to the devices. Herein, the interface reactive sputtering strategy is proposed to construct cost-effective TTEs with high transmittance and excellent carrier transporting ability. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is chosen as the interface reactant that can react with sputtered ITO nanoparticles, so that, coordination compounds can be formed during the deposition process, facilitating the carrier transport at the interface of C60/PEI/ITO. Besides, the impact force of energetic ITO particles is greatly alleviated, and the intactness of the underlying C60 layer and perovskite layer is guaranteed. Thus, the prepared semitransparent subcells achieve a significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.17%, surpassing those based on C60/ITO (11.64%). Moreover, the PEI-based devices demonstrate excellent storage stability, which maintains 98% of their original PCEs after 2000 h. On the strength of the interface reactive sputtering ITO electrode, a stacked all-perovskite TSC with a PCE of 26.89% and a monolithic perovskite-organic TSC with a PCE of 24.33% are successfully fabricated.

15.
Aging (Albany NY) ; 16(9): 7774-7798, 2024 05 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38696324

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the immune system and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) contribute to immune therapy resistance and cancer progression in urothelial carcinoma (UC). This study aims to identify immune-related molecules, that are m6A-modified, and that are associated with tumor progression, poor prognosis, and immunotherapy response. METHODS: We identified prognostic immune genes (PIGs) using Cox analysis and random survival forest variable hunting algorithm (RSF-VH) on immune genes retrieved from the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal database (ImmPort). The RM2Target database and MeRIP-seq analysis, combined with a hypergeometric test, assessed m6A methylation in these PIGs. We analyzed the correlation between the immune pattern and prognosis, as well as their association with clinical factors in multiple datasets. Moreover, we explored the interplay between immune patterns, tumor immune cell infiltration, and m6A regulators. RESULTS: 28 PIGs were identified, of which the 10 most significant were termed methylated prognostic immune genes (MPIGs). These MPIGs were used to create an immune pattern score. Kaplan-Meier and Cox analyses indicated this pattern as an independent risk factor for UC. We observed significant associations between the immune pattern, tumor progression, and immune cell infiltration. Differential expression analysis showed correlations with m6A regulators expression. This immune pattern proved effective in predicting immunotherapy response in UC in real-world settings. CONCLUSION: The study identified a m6A-modified immune pattern in UC, offering prognostic and therapeutic response predictions. This emphasizes that immune genes may influence tumor immune status and progression through m6A modifications.


Subject(s)
Adenosine , Immunotherapy , Humans , Adenosine/analogs & derivatives , Prognosis , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/immunology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/genetics , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/drug therapy , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/mortality , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/therapy , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/immunology , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/therapy
16.
Mini Rev Med Chem ; 2024 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38752645

ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a multi-target disease, is becoming a global epidemic. Although several anti-NASH drug candidates are being evaluated in late-stage clinical trials, none have been approved by the FDA to date. Given the global prevalence of the disease, the lack of effective drugs, and the very limited therapeutic efficacy of most of the existing synthetic drugs focusing on a single target, there is an urgent need to continue to develop new therapeutic agents. In contrast, many natural products, including pure compounds and crude extracts, possess hepatoprotective activities. Usually, these natural components are characterized by multi-targeting and low side effects. Therefore, natural products are important resources for the development of new anti- NASH drugs. In this paper, we focus on reviewing the anti-NASH potential, structure, and some of the side effects of natural products based on structural classification. We hope this mini-review will help researchers design and develop new anti-NASH drugs, especially based on the structure of natural products.

17.
Med ; 5(5): 401-413.e4, 2024 May 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38574739

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The recently circulating Omicron variants BA.2.86 and JN.1 were identified with more than 30 amino acid changes on the spike protein compared to BA.2 or XBB.1.5. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the immune escape potential of BA.2.86, JN.1, EG.5, and EG.5.1. METHODS: We collected human and murine sera to evaluate serological neutralization activities. The participants received three doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines or a booster dose of the ZF2022-A vaccine (Delta-BA.5 receptor-binding domain [RBD]-heterodimer immunogen) or experienced a breakthrough infection (BTI). The ZF2202-A vaccine is under clinical trial study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05850507). BALB/c mice were vaccinated with a panel of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RBD-dimer proteins. The antibody evasion properties of these variants were analyzed with 41 representative human monoclonal antibodies targeting the eight RBD epitopes. FINDINGS: We found that BA.2.86 had less neutralization evasion than EG.5 and EG.5.1 in humans. The ZF2202-A booster induced significantly higher neutralizing titers than BTI. Furthermore, BA.2.86 and JN.1 exhibited stronger antibody evasion than EG.5 and EG.5.1 on RBD-4 and RBD-5 epitopes. Compared to BA.2.86, JN.1 further lost the ability to bind to several RBD-1 monoclonal antibodies and displayed further immune escape. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the currently dominating sub-variant, JN.1, showed increased immune evasion compared to BA.2.86 and EG.5.1, which is highly concerning. This study provides a timely risk assessment of the interested sub-variants and the basis for updating COVID-19 vaccines. FUNDING: This work was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Life Science Academy, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (CPSF).


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal , Antibodies, Neutralizing , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Mice, Inbred BALB C , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Vaccines, Subunit , Humans , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Mice , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Vaccines, Subunit/immunology , Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage , Female , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Betacoronavirus/immunology , Male , Immune Sera/immunology , Adult , Immune Evasion , Neutralization Tests , Epitopes/immunology
18.
Eur J Med Res ; 29(1): 151, 2024 Mar 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38429762

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urosepsis is a life-threatening organ disease in which pathogenic microorganisms in the urine enter the blood through the vessels, causing an imbalance in the immune response to infection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of testicular orphan receptor 4 (TR4) in urosepsis. METHODS: The role of TR4 in the progression and prognosis of urosepsis was confirmed by analyzing data from online databases and clinical human samples. To mimic urosepsis, we injected E. coli bacteria into the renal pelvis of mice to create a urosepsis model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe histopathological changes in urosepsis. The effects of the upregulation or downregulation of TR4 on macrophage pyroptosis were verified in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was used to verify the effect of TR4 on Gasdermin D (GSDMD) transcription. RESULTS: TR4 was more highly expressed in the nonsurviving group than in the surviving group. Furthermore, overexpressing TR4 promoted inflammatory cytokine expression, and knocking down TR4 attenuated inflammatory cytokine expression. Mechanistically, TR4 promoted pyroptosis by regulating the expression of GSDMD in urosepsis. Furthermore, we also found that TR4 knockdown protected mice from urosepsis induced by the E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: TR4 functions as a key regulator of urosepsis by mediating pyroptosis, which regulates GSDMD expression. Targeting TR4 may be a potential strategy for urosepsis treatment.


Subject(s)
Body Fluids , Sepsis , Animals , Humans , Mice , Cytokines , Eosine Yellowish-(YS) , Escherichia coli , Gasdermins , Phosphate-Binding Proteins/genetics , Sepsis/complications , Sepsis/genetics
19.
Adv Mater ; 35(48): e2307502, 2023 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37755234

ABSTRACT

Rational selection and design of recombination electrodes (RCEs) are crucial to enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of monolithic tandem solar cells (TSCs). Sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) with high conductivity and excellent transmittance is introduced as RCE in perovskite/organic TSCs. To prevent high-energy ITO particles destroy the underlying material during sputtering, dual-functional transport and protective layer (C1) is employed. The styryl group in C1 can be thermally crosslinked to serve as a sputtering protective layer. Meanwhile, the conjugated phenanthroline skeleton in C1 shows high electron mobility and hole blocking capability to promote the electron transport process at the interfaces and effectively reduce charge accumulation. Monolithic perovskite/organic TSC with high PCE of 24.07% and excellent stability is demonstrated by stacking a 1.77 eV bandgap perovskite layer and a 1.35 eV bandgap organic active layer. This strategy provides new insights for overcoming the fundamental efficiency limits of single-junction devices and promotes the further development of TSC devices.

20.
Cell Signal ; 102: 110557, 2023 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36503162

ABSTRACT

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as important regulators in tumorigenesis. However, the specific role of circRNAs in prostate cancer is still largely unknown. Here, we identified that circPHF16 was downregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues compared with normal tissues. Functionally, circPHF16 restrained prostate cancer metastasis both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, circPHF16 directly interacted with miR-581, leading to the downregulation of ring finger protein 128 (RNF128) and inhibiting the metastatic ability of PCa. Furthermore, circPHF16-dependent upregulation of RNF128 inactivated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. In total, our findings revealed that circPHF16 suppressed prostate cancer metastasis through the circPHF16/miR-581/Wnt/ß-catenin pathways.


Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Humans , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , RNA, Circular/genetics , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Cell Proliferation , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism
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