Controlled Growth of Metal Atom Arrays on Graphdiyne for Seawater Oxidation.

Advanced atomic-level heterointerface engineering provides a promising method for the preparation of next-generation catalysts. Traditional carbon-based heterointerface catalytic performance rely heavily on the undetermined defects in complex and demanding preparation processes, rendering it impossible to control the catalytic performance. Here, we present a general method for the controlled growth of metal atom arrays on graphdiyne (GDY/IrCuOx), and we are surprised to find strong heterointerface strains during the growth. We successfully controlled the thickness of GDY to regulate the heterointerface metal atoms and achieved compressive strain at the interface. Experimental and density functional theory calculation results show that the unique incomplete charge transfer between GDY and metal atoms leads to the formation of strong interactions and significant heterointerface compressive strain between GDY and IrCuOx, which results in high oxidation performances with 1000 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 283 mV and long-term stability at large current densities in alkaline simulated seawater. We anticipate that this finding will contribute to construction of high-performance heterogeneous interface structures, leading to the development of new generation of GDY-based heterojunction catalysts in the field of catalysis for future promising performance.

A Multi-Interface Structure of Graphdiyne/Cobalt Oxides for Chlorine Production.

A challenge facing the chlor-alkali process is the lack of electrocatalyst with high activity and selectivity for the efficient industrial production of chlorine. Herein the authors report a new electrocatalyst that can generate multi-interface structure by in situ growth of graphdiyne on the surface of cobalt oxides (GDY/Co3O4), which shows great potential in highly selective and efficient chlorine production. This result is due to the strong electron transfer and high density charge transport between GDY and Co3O4 and the interconversion of the mixed valence states of the Co atoms itself. These intrinsic characteristics efficiently enhance the conductivity of the catalyst, facilitate the reaction kinetics, and improve the overall catalytic selectivity and activity. Besides, the protective effect of the formed GDY layer is remarkable endowing the catalyst with excellent stability. The catalyst can selectively produce chlorine in low-concentration of NaCl aqueous solution at room temperature and pressure with the highest Faraday efficiency of 80.67% and an active chlorine yield rate of 184.40 mg h-1 cm-2, as well as superior long-term stability.

Ferroptosis in organ ischemia-reperfusion injuries: recent advancements and strategies.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of regulated cell death participated in multiple diseases. Different from other classical cell death programs such as necrosis and apoptosis, ferroptosis involving iron-catalyzed lipid peroxidation is characterized by Fe2+ accumulation and mitochondria alterations. The phenomenon of oxidative stress following organ ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) has recently garnered attention for its connection to the onset of ferroptosis and subsequent reperfusion injuries. This article provides a comprehensive overview underlying the mechanisms of ferroptosis, with a further focus on the latest research progress regarding interference with ferroptotic pathways in organ I/R injuries, such as intestine, lung, heart, kidney, liver, and brain. Understanding the links between ferroptosis and I/R injury may inform potential therapeutic strategies and targeted agents.

Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in China Over the Past Half-Century: Stocks, Flows, Fates, and Ecological Risks.

China is a significant producer and consumer of various brominated flame retardants (BFRs), raising environmental concerns due to their widespread presence and potential threats to ecosystems and organisms. This study adopts a life cycle perspective, combining material flow analysis, multimedia environmental modeling, and ecological risk assessment to systematically analyze the substance metabolism and ecological risks of six BFR types in China from 1970 to 2021. The findings reveal that China's cumulative BFR consumption reached 3.3 Mt, with the electronics sector being the predominant contributor at 52.1%. Consequently, 1.5 kt of BFRs were released into the environment, with 24.9%, 31.5%, and 43.6% being discharged into the air, water, and soil, respectively. Notably, the proportion of novel BFRs in emissions has steadily increased over the years, exemplified by the increase in decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) from 21.3% in 2010 to 30.1% in 2021. Geographically, BFR concentrations are higher in the eastern and southwestern regions compared to those in the northwest. Presently, certain BFRs like tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and DBDPE exhibit moderate to high ecological risks, primarily concentrated in the Shandong and Sichuan provinces. A combination of efficient recycling, emission control, and substitution with novel flame-retardant can minimize the exposure of BFRs to the environment and organisms.

Step by Step Induced Growth of Zinc-Metal Interface on Graphdiyne for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) promise high energy density, low redox potential, low cost and safety; however, their cycle performances are seriously insufficient to restrict the progress in this field. We propose a new concept of atomic electrode formed on the graphdiyne (GDY). This new idea electrode was synthesized by selectively, uniformly, and stably anchoring Zn atoms on GDY at the beginning of plating. The Zn atoms are induced to grow into larger size Zn clusters, which continue to grow into nanoflat. Finally, a new heterojunction interface is formed on GDY without any Zn dendrites and side reactions, even at high current densities. Such stepwise induction of growth greatly suppresses the formation of Zn dendrites, resulting in high electroplating/stripping reversibility and lifespan of AZIBs.

Production, Use, and Fate of Phthalic Acid Esters for Polyvinyl Chloride Products in China.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are the most common plasticizers, approximately 90% of which are used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, but they are also endocrine disruptors that have attracted considerable attention. The metabolism of PAEs in PVC products in China from 1958 to 2019 was studied using dynamic material flow analysis. The results showed that the total consumption of PAEs was 29.2 Mt in the past 60 years. By 2019, the in-use stocks of PAEs were 5.0 Mt. Construction materials were always in the leading position with respect to the consumption and in-use stocks of PAEs. A total PAE loss of 22.7 Mt was generated, of which 68.0% remained in waste distributed in landfills (50.1%), storage sites (5.5%), the environment (44.4%), 12.4% was eliminated during waste incineration and open burning, and 19.6% was emitted into the environment. From 1958 to 2019, 496.4, 55.6, and 3905.0 kt of PAEs were emitted into water, air, and soil, respectively. The use and waste treatment stages contributed 79.3 and 19.9% of the emissions of PAEs in the life cycle, respectively. This study systematically analyzed the metabolism of PAEs at the national level over a long-time span, providing useful information on the life cycle management of PAEs.

Biosorption capacity of Mucor circinelloides bioaugmented with Solanum nigrum L. for the cleanup of lead, cadmium and arsenic.

The biosorption and bioaugmentation performances of Mucor circinelloides were investigated under different contact time, initial metal(loid) concentration and species. The microbe-plant interaction appeared synergistic with enhancing plant growth and alleviating oxidative damages induced by lead, cadmium and arsenic. The bioaugmentation with M. circinelloides led to significant immobilization on lead, cadmium and arsenic as indicated by the decreases of metal(loid) transfer and bioavailability in plant-microbe aqueous system. Lead, cadmium and arsenic were mainly allocated on cell wall and a few parts entered into intercellular system, suggesting cell wall adsorption and intracellular bioaccumulation served as the main mechanisms of M. circinelloides. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms on lead, cadmium and arsenic were fitted well with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, with the maximum adsorption capacities of 500, 15.4 and 29.4 mg·g-1 fungal biomass at pH 6.0 and 25 â„ƒ. The optimum initial concentration and contact time were 300-10-20 mg·L-1 and 2 h. This study provides a basis for M. circinelloides as a promising adsorbent and bioaugmented agent for the cleanup of soil/aqueous environment contaminated with lead, cadmium and arsenic.

Fabrication of concave microlens arrays by local fictive temperature modification of fused silica.

A simple and convenient means of fabricating concave microlens arrays direct on silica glass by using the local fictive temperature modification of fused silica is presented. This method is based on the fact that an increased fictive temperature results in a much higher HF acid etching rate of fused silica. Combining the abrupt local fictive temperature enhancement by the CO2 laser pulse and the subsequent etching by the HF acid solution, concave microlens arrays with high fill factors, excellent smoothness, and optical performance are generated on fused silica.

Ionic Self-Assembly of a Giant Vesicle as a Smart Microcarrier and Microreactor.

Giant vesicles (1-10 µm) were constructed via a facile ionic self-assembly (ISA) strategy using an anionic dye Acid Orange II (AO) and an oppositely charged ionic-liquid-type cationic surfactant 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C14mimBr). This is the first report about preparing giant vesicles through ISA strategy. Interestingly, the giant vesicle could keep the original morphology during the evaporation of solvent and displayed solid-like properties at low concentration. Moreover, giant vesicles with large internal capacity volume and good stability in solution could also be achieved by increasing the concentrations of AO and C14mimBr which contributed to the increase of the other noncovalent cooperative interactions. In order to facilitate comparison, a series of parallel experiments with similar materials were carried out to investigate and verify the driving forces for the formation of these kinds of giant vesicles by changing the hydrophobic moieties or the head groups of the surfactants. It is concluded that the electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic effect and π-π stacking interaction play key roles in this self-assembly process. Importantly, the giant vesicles can act as a smart microcarrier to load and release carbon quantum dot (CQD) under control. Besides, the giant vesicles could also be applied as a microrector to synthesize monodispersed Ag nanoparticles with diameter of about 5-10 nm which exhibited the ability to catalyze reduction of 4-nitroaniline. Therefore, it is indicated that our AO/C14mimBr assemblies hold promising applications in the areas of microencapsulation, catalyst support, and lightweight composites owing to their huge sizes and large microcavities.

Growing highly ordered Pt and Mn bimetallic single atomic layers over graphdiyne.

Controlling the precise growth of atoms is necessary to achieve manipulation of atomic composition and atomic position, regulation of electronic structure, and an understanding of reactions at the atomic level. Herein, we report a facile method for ordered anchoring of zero-valent platinum and manganese atoms with single-atom thickness on graphdiyne under mild conditions. Due to strong and incomplete charge transfer between graphdiyne and metal atoms, the formation of metal clusters and nanoparticles can be inhibited. The size, composition and structure of the bimetallic nanoplates are precisely controlled by the natural structure-limiting effect of graphdiyne. Experimental characterization clearly demonstrates such a fine control process. Electrochemical measurements show that the active site of platinum-manganese interface on graphdiyne guarantees the high catalytic activity and selectivity (~100%) for alkene-to-diol conversion. This work lays a solid foundation for obtaining high-performance nanomaterials by the atomic engineering of active site.

The effect of previously acquired languages on third language acquisition.

Our study explores how previously acquired languages affect third language (L3) acquisition. The learning and control groups composed adpositional phrases and relative clauses, and then judged sentences with strict/sloppy readings presented in their L3. The results showed that native Japanese learners of Chinese were more influenced by the second language (English) for adpositional phrases and relative clauses than were native Chinese learners of Japanese, although both were influenced more by their native than second language (English) in strict/sloppy interpretation. This indicates that L3 acquisition can be influenced by all previously acquired languages and that the interrelationship between the positions of subgrammars in a sentence structure may influence learners' assessment of the structural similarity of the selected subgrammars, making it an important trigger for non-facilitative transfer. Overall, structural similarities played a stronger role than did typological proximity. This study differs from traditional models of L3 acquisition that focus on wholesale or property transfer by beginning with an investigation of the conditions under which non-facilitative transfers occur. These two perspectives are integrated in terms of cognitive economy, pointing to a more promising direction for L3 acquisition research in the future.

Extracellular vesicles containing GAS6 protect the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury by enhancing macrophage efferocytosis via MerTK-ERK-COX2 signaling.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a significant issue during liver transplantation and surgery, contributing to the liver failure or even mortality. Although extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-EVs) have shown substantial potentials in cell replacement therapy of various organ ischemia reperfusion injuries (IRIs), the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that systemic MSC-EVs administration is predominantly absorbed by macrophages, and verified that it could significantly reduce the liver injury and inflammatory response in mice suffering from HIRI. Furthermore, treatment with MSC-EVs induces macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Mechanistically, proteomic profiling reveals an enrichment of growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) in MSC-EVs, significantly promoting the activation of myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinases/cyclooxygenase 2 (MerTK/ERK/COX2) signaling pathway in macrophages and further enhancing their efferocytosis efficiency. Knockdown of GAS6 via lentiviral transfection or inhibition of MerTK using UNC2025 (a MerTK small molecule inhibitor) partially eliminates the protective effects of MSC-EVs on macrophage efferocytosis and liver injury. Overall, our findings support that MSC-EVs enriched GAS6 execute an anti-inflammation effect, highlighting that treatment based on the modulation of macrophage function by MSC-EVs as a promising approach in IRI. HIRI is a thorny problem after liver surgery such as liver transplantation. In a murine model of HIRI, MSC-EVs enriched GAS6 effectively enhance macrophage efferocytosis both in vivo and in vitro through the GAS6/MerTK/ERK/COX2 signaling pathway and significantly mitigate liver injury. This image was drawn by the authors.

NLRP3 deficiency protects against acetaminophen­induced liver injury by inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the primary cause of drug­induced acute liver failure in numerous Western countries. NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation serves a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of various forms of acute liver injury. However, the cellular source for NLRP3 induction and its involvement during APAP­induced hepatotoxicity have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to assess histopathological changes of liver tissue. Immunohistochemistry staining(NLRP3, Caspase­1, IL­1ß, GSDMD and Caspase­3), western blotting (NLRP3, Caspase­1, IL­1ß, GSDMD and Caspase­3) and RT­qPCR (NLRP3, Caspase­1 and IL­1ß) were performed to assess the expression of NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway. TUNEL staining was performed to assess apoptosis of liver tissue. The serum expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL­6, IL­18, IL­1ß and TNF­α) were assessed using ELISA and inflammation of liver tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (Ly6G and CD68) and RT­qPCR (TNF­α, Il­6, Mcp­1, Cxcl­1, Cxcl­2). A Cell Counting Kit­8 was performed to assess cell viability and apoptosis. Protein and gene expression were analyzed by western blotting (PCNA, CCND1) and RT­qPCR (CyclinA2, CyclinD1 and CyclinE1). Through investigation of an APAP­induced acute liver injury model (AILI), the present study demonstrated that APAP overdose induced activation of NLRP3 and cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in hepatocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, mice with hepatocyte­specific knockout of Nlrp3 exhibited reduced liver injury and lower mortality following APAP intervention, accompanied by decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells and attenuated inflammatory response. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of NLRP3/GSDMD signaling using MCC950 or disulfiram significantly ameliorated liver injury and reduced hepatocyte death. Notably, hepatocyte Nlrp3 deficiency promoted liver recovery by enhancing hepatocyte proliferation. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome protects against APAP­induced acute liver injury by reducing hepatocyte pyroptosis and suggests that targeting NLRP3 may hold therapeutic potential for treating AILI.

Ir0/graphdiyne atomic interface for selective epoxidation.

The development of catalysts that can selectively and efficiently promote the alkene epoxidation at ambient temperatures and pressures is an important promising path to renewable synthesis of various chemical products. Here we report a new type of zerovalent atom catalysts comprised of zerovalent Ir atoms highly dispersed and anchored on graphdiyne (Ir0/GDY) wherein the Ir0 is stabilized by the incomplete charge transfer effect and the confined effect of GDY natural cavity. The Ir0/GDY can selectively and efficiently produce styrene oxides (SO) by electro-oxidizing styrene (ST) in aqueous solutions at ambient temperatures and pressures with high conversion efficiency of ∼100%, high SO selectivity of 85.5%, and high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 55%. Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results show that the intrinsic activity and stability due to the incomplete charge transfer between Ir0 and GDY effectively promoted the electron exchange between the catalyst and reactant molecule, and realized the selective epoxidation of ST to SO. Studies of the reaction mechanism demonstrate that Ir0/GDY proceeds a distinctive pathway for highly selective and active alkene-to-epoxide conversion from the traditional processes. This work presents a new example of constructing zerovalent metal atoms within the GDY matrix toward selective electrocatalytic epoxidation.

In situ growth of a GDY-MnOx heterointerface for selective and efficient ammonia production.

The development of new catalysts with high selectivity and efficiency for the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NtRR) to produce ammonia (NH3) at room temperature and ambient pressure is still a challenge. Herein, we report a simple in situ growth method for the controlled synthesis of a GDY-MnOx heterointerface by selectively anchoring and growing MnOx on GDY surfaces. Experimental results show that the incomplete charge-transfer between GDY and Mn atoms at the interface structures largely increases the number of active sites, improves the electrical conductivity, and therefore results in excellent electrocatalytic performance for NH3 synthesis with a maximum FE of 95.4%, an NH3 yield rate of 463.4 µmol h-1 cm-2 and high long-term stability in 0.1 M KOH + 0.1 M NO3- aqueous electrolytes at room temperature and ambient pressure.

Graphdiyne-Based Multiscale Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis.

Graphdiyne, a sp/sp2 -cohybridized two-dimensional all- carbon material, has many unique and fascinating properties of alkyne-rich structures, large π conjugated system, uniform pores, specific unevenly-distributed surface charge, and incomplete charge transfer properties provide promising potential in practical applications including catalysis, energy conversion and storage, intelligent devices, life science, photoelectric, etc. These superior advantages have made graphdiyne one of the hottest research frontiers of chemistry and materials science and produced a series of original and innovative research results in the fundamental and applied research of carbon materials. In recent years, considerable advances have been made toward the development of graphdiyne-based multiscale catalysts for nitrogen fixation and ammonia synthesis at room temperatures and ambient pressures. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update in regard to the synthesis of graphdiyne-based multiscale catalysts and their applications in the synthesis of ammonia. The unique features of graphdiyne are highlighted throughout the review. Finally, it concludes with the discussion of challenges and future perspectives relating to graphdiyne.

TNF-α/IL-1ß-licensed hADSCs alleviate cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis in mice via COX-2/PGE2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation has been shown to be effective for the management of severe liver disorders. Preactivation of ADSCs enhanced their therapeutic efficacy. However, these effects have not yet been examined in relation to cholestatic liver injury. METHODS: In the present study, a cholestatic liver injury model was established by bile duct ligation (BDL) in male C57BL/6 mice. Human ADSCs (hADSCs) with or without tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) pretreatment were administrated into the mice via tail vein injections. The efficacy of hADSCs on BDL-induced liver injury was assessed by histological staining, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blot, and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro, the effects of hADSC conditioned medium on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were investigated. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in hADSCs. RESULTS: TNF-α/IL-1ß preconditioning could downregulate immunogenic gene expression and enhance the engraftment efficiency of hADSCs. Compared to control hADSCs (C-hADSCs), TNF-α/IL-1ß-pretreated hADSCs (P-hADSCs) significantly alleviated BDL-induced liver injury, as demonstrated by reduced hepatic cell death, attenuated infiltration of Ly6G + neutrophils, and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2). Moreover, P-hADSCs significantly delayed the development of BDL-induced liver fibrosis. In vitro, conditioned medium from P-hADSCs significantly inhibited HSC activation compared to that from C-hADSCs. Mechanistically, TNF-α/IL-1ß upregulated COX-2 expression and increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion. The blockage of COX-2 by siRNA transfection reversed the benefits of P-hADSCs for PGE2 production, HSC activation, and liver fibrosis progression. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that TNF-α/IL-1ß pretreatment enhances the efficacy of hADSCs in mice with cholestatic liver injury, partially through the COX-2/PGE2 pathway.

The toxic mechanism of tetracycline on root tips in hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum).

Tetracycline (TC) is a commonly used antibiotic that affects various physiological processes in plants. However, its negative effects on plants remain poorly understood at the molecular level. To ascertain the TC toxicity in the roots, transcriptomic, cytological, and physiological analyses were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of TC influencing the growth of hulless barley root. At a low concentration (1 mg/L), TC promoted root growth by upregulating the genes related to the flavonoid pathway. At high concentrations (10, 100, and 200 mg/L), TC downregulated genes related to homologous recombination in the root meristem zone and inhibited the mitosis index by 16.4%. Disruption of the DNA repair process can lead to chromosomal aberrations, resulting in a 6.8% C-mitosis rate in the most severe cases. Finally, root growth was inhibited by TC, as evidenced by a reduction in root viability, an increase in reactive oxygen species content, and an inhibition of root length. Cross-comparison of physiological and cytological characterizations and transcriptomic information revealed changes in genetic processes under TC stress. Overall, we present an early genetic strategy to study the significant influence of TC stress on roots.

Collagen­binding vascular endothelial growth factor (CBD­VEGF) promotes liver regeneration in murine partial hepatectomy.

Liver regeneration is a complex process that needs orchestration of multiple nonparenchymal cells including sinusoid endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serves a crucial role in angiogenesis and liver regeneration. However, the lack of an high­efficiency delivery system target to the injured site reduces the local therapeutic efficacy of VEGF. In our previous study, collagen binding VEGF (CBD­VEGF) was established by fusing collagen binding domain (CBD) into the N­terminal of native VEGF and improved cardiac function after myocardial infraction. The present study investigated the therapeutic effect of CBD­VEGF on liver regeneration by a mouse model of partial hepatectomy. After injection through portal vein following 2/3 hepatectomy, CBD­VEGF was largely retained in the hepatic extracellular matrix for 48 h. Furthermore, CBD­VEGF application significantly promoted sinusoidal regeneration and remodeling in remanent liver tissue 48 h after hepatectomy. In addition, CBD­VEGF treatment significantly enhanced the proliferation of hepatocytes at 2 and 3 days post­surgery compared with native VEGF, concomitant with attenuated liver injury. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that CBD­VEGF could be a promising therapeutic strategy for liver regeneration.

The NLRP3 Activation in Infiltrating Macrophages Contributes to Corneal Fibrosis by Inducing TGF-ß1 Expression in the Corneal Epithelium.

Purpose: To explore the effect and mechanism of NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes on corneal fibrosis. Methods: The wild-type, NLRP3 knockout (KO), and myeloid cell-specific NLRP3 KO (NLRP3 Lyz-KO) C57 mice were used to establish a corneal scarring model. NLRP3 inhibitor, IL-1ß neutralizing antibody, and an IL-1R antagonist were used to investigate the role of NLRP3 and IL-1ß in corneal fibrosis. The expression of the NLRP3 signaling pathway related proteins, alpha-smooth muscle actin, TGF-ß was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect the infiltration of macrophages during corneal fibrosis. Results: The components of the NLRP3 inflammasomes were elevated and activated during corneal scarring. Additionally, genetic or chemical-mediated blocking of NLRP3 as well as IL-1ß significantly alleviated corneal fibrosis. Moreover, neutrophil (CD45+Ly6G+) and macrophage (CD45+ F4/80+) accumulation increased in the cornea during the progression of corneal fibrosis. Intriguingly, the increased concentrations of NLRP3 and IL-1ß were prominently colocalized with the infiltrating F4/80+ macrophages. Expectedly, NLRP3 Lyz-KO mice exhibited a marked decrease in their corneal fibrosis symptoms. Mechanistically, the activation of IL-1ß or macrophage NLRP3 stimulated the expression of TGF-ß1 in the corneal epithelial cells, whereas an NLRP3 deficiency decreased its expression in the corneal epithelium. Conclusions: These observations revealed that the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in infiltrating macrophages contributes to corneal fibrosis by regulating corneal epithelial TGF-ß1 expression. Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome might be a promising strategy for the treatment of corneal scarring.