Enhancing Lithium Conductivity Using High-Valence Cations in Cubic Spinel Halide Solid Electrolytes.

Halide solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries have recently emerged as competitors to oxide and sulfide solid electrolytes due to their excellent electrochemical properties. This ab initio study unveils the dynamic nature of Li2Sc2/3Cl4, a rare superionic conductor among cubic spinel halide materials. Li ions in Li2Sc2/3Cl4 prefer to occupy some of the tetrahedral 8a, octahedral 16c, and octahedral 16d sites, leading to disordered Li distribution. Li ions in Li2Sc2/3Cl4 diffuse through the single-ion diffusion mechanism rather than the concerted diffusion mechanism, providing a high conductivity of 1.36 mS cm-1. Li ions at the 16d site diffuse as actively as those at the 8a/16c site, an unexpected result that runs counter to the conventional view. In Li2MgCl4, the same cubic spinel as Li2Sc2/3Cl4, Li ions at the 8a/16c site diffuse actively, but those at the 16d site are almost immobile, resulting in a very low conductivity of 5.3 × 10-4 mS cm-1. The extremely higher conductivity in Li2Sc2/3Cl4 than in Li2MgCl4 is because the concentration of Sc3+/Mg2+ cations blocking the movement of Li ions at the 16d site is lower in Li2Sc2/3Cl4 than in Li2MgCl4. Designing cubic spinel materials containing high-valence cations is proposed as a way to increase conductivity by reducing the concentration of multivalent cations that impede Li diffusion. This study sheds new light on how to control conductivity using site-dependent Li mobility in solid electrolytes.

Far-infrared irradiation increases the uptake of LDL cholesterol by downregulating PCSK9 through the activation of TRPV4 calcium channels in HepG2 cells.

This study investigated the effects of far-infrared (FIR) irradiation on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) uptake by human hepatocellular carcinoma G2 (HepG2) cells via the regulation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). FIR irradiation for 30 min significantly decreased PCSK9 expression (p < 0.01) in HepG2 cells. FIR irradiation substantially increased the low-density lipoprotein receptor (p < 0.0001) and LDL-C uptake (p < 0.01). Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels mimicked the effects of FIR irradiation, significantly decreasing the protein expression of PCSK9 (p < 0.05). Conversely, inhibition of TRP channels using ruthenium red reversed the reduction in PCSK9 protein expression following FIR irradiation (p < 0.01). The specific activation of TRPV4 using 4α-PDD mimicked the effect of FIR irradiation (p < 0.01), whereas PCSK9 reduction by FIR irradiation was significantly reversed by the inhibition of TRPV4 using RN1734 (p < 0.05). These findings implied that FIR irradiation emitted from a ceramic lamp specifically increased TRPV4 activity. These findings provide insights into a novel therapeutic approach using FIR irradiation for LDL-C regulation and its implications for cardiovascular health.

Therapeutic Effect of Schwann Cell-Like Cells Differentiated from Human Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Diabetic Neuropathy in db/db Mice.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is the most common complication of diabetes, and approximately 50% of patients with this disease suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Nerve fiber loss in DN occurs due to myelin defects and is characterized by symptoms of impaired nerve function. Schwann cells (SCs) are the main support cells of the peripheral nervous system and play important roles in several pathways contributing to the pathogenesis and development of DN. We previously reported that human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into SCs (TMSC-SCs), named neuronal regeneration-promoting cells (NRPCs), which cells promoted nerve regeneration in animal models with peripheral nerve injury or hereditary peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: In this study, NRPCs were injected into the thigh muscles of BKS-db/db mice, a commonly used type 2 diabetes model, and monitored for 26 weeks. Von Frey test, sensory nerve conduction study, and staining of sural nerve, hind foot pad, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were performed after NRPCs treatment. RESULTS: Von Frey test results showed that the NRPC treatment group (NRPC group) showed faster responses to less force than the vehicle group. Additionally, remyelination of sural nerve fibers also increased in the NRPC group. After NRPCs treatment, an improvement in response to external stimuli and pain sensation was expected through increased expression of PGP9.5 in the sole and TRPV1 in the DRG. CONCLUSION: The NRPCs treatment may alleviate DN through the remyelination and the recovery of sensory neurons, could provide a better life for patients suffering from complications of this disease.

Preclinical Efficacy of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Schwann Cell-like Cells Differentiated from Human Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in C22 Mice.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary disease with heterogeneous phenotypes and genetic causes. CMT type 1A (CMT1A) is a type of disease affecting the peripheral nerves and is caused by the duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene. Human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) are useful for stem cell therapy in various diseases and can be differentiated into Schwann cell-like cells (TMSC-SCs). We investigated the potential of TMSC-SCs called neuronal regeneration-promoting cells (NRPCs) for peripheral nerve and muscle regeneration in C22 mice, a model for CMT1A. We transplanted NRPCs manufactured in a good manufacturing practice facility into the bilateral thigh muscles of C22 mice and performed behavior and nerve conduction tests and histological and ultrastructural analyses. Significantly, the motor function was much improved, the ratio of myelinated axons was increased, and the G-ratio was reduced by the transplantation of NRPCs. The sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle regeneration of C22 mice following the transplantation of NRPCs downregulated PMP22 overexpression, which was observed in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that NRPCs are feasible for clinical research for the treatment of CMT1A patients. Research applying NRPCs to other peripheral nerve diseases is also needed.

Biochemical and functional characterization of skeletal muscle cells differentiated from tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Human tonsils are a readily accessible source of stem cells for the potential treatment of skeletal muscle disorders. We reported previously that tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) can differentiate into skeletal muscle cells (SKMCs), which renders TMSCs promising candidates for cell therapy for skeletal muscle disorders. However, the functional properties of the myocytes differentiated from mesenchymal stem cells have not been clearly evaluated. In this study we investigated whether myocytes differentiated from TMSCs (skeletal muscle cells derived from tonsil mesenchymal stem cells [TMSC-SKMCs]) exhibit the functional characteristics of SKMCs. METHODS: To test the insulin reactivity of TMSC-SKMCs, the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt was analyzed after the cells were treated for 30 minutes with 100 nmol/L insulin in normal or high-glucose medium. We also examined whether these cells formed a neuromuscular junction (NMJ) when cocultured with motor neurons, and whether they were stimulated by electrical signals using whole-cell patch clamping. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle cells derived from tonsil mesenchymal stem cells expressed SKMC markers, such as MYOD, MYH3, MYH8, TNNI1, and TTN, at high levels, and exhibited a multinucleated cell morphology and a myotube-like shape. The expression of the acetylcholine receptor and GLUT4 was confirmed in TMSC-SKMCs. In addition, these cells exhibited insulin-mediated glucose uptake, NMJ formation, and transient changes in cell membrane action potential, all of which are representative functions of human SKMCs. DISCUSSION: Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells can be functionally differentiated into SKMCs and may have potential for clinical application for the treatment of skeletal muscle disorders.

New Sources, Differentiation, and Therapeutic Uses of Mesenchymal Stem Cells 2.0.

For the clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the optimization of biological products (e [...].

Band Alignment Enabling Effective Charge Transfer for the Highly Enhanced Raman Scattering and Fluorescence of Metal-Nanoparticle-Decorated Conjugated Polymer Nanowires.

The charge transfer (CT) process has attracted much attention due to its contribution to the improvement of spectroscopic phenomena such as Raman scattering and fluorescence. A current challenge is understanding what factors can influence CT. Here, it is demonstrated that the enhancement factor (EF) of CT (∼2000) can reach the level of electromagnetic enhancement (∼1680) when resonant CT is carried out by (Fermi level energy) band alignment between a metal nanoparticle (NP) and conjugated polymer (polypyrrole (PPy)) nanowire (NW). This band alignment results in an on- or off-resonant CT. As a proof of concept for CT based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) template, the Ag NPs-decorated PPy NW is utilized to effectively enhance the Raman signal of rhodamine 6G (EF of 5.7 × 105). Hence, by means of our demonstration, it is proposed that controlling the band alignment should be considered an important parameter for obtaining a large EF of spectroscopic phenomena.

A first-principles study on atomic-scale pore design of microporous carbon electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Porous carbon materials are considered attractive lithium storage media because their large specific surface areas and pore volumes provide high adsorption capacity. This first-principles study elucidates the atomic-scale mechanisms of lithium storage and diffusion in microporous carbon. Microporous carbon structures with initial densities of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 g cm-3 store up to 7.5-8.2 Li ions per C6 corresponding to the capacities of 2783-3032 mA h g-1, which are 7-8 times higher than that for graphite. Fully lithiated microporous carbon has about 62% of Li ions inside the pore cavity and on the pore surface, responsible for reversible capacity, and about 38% of Li ions inside the pore wall, responsible for irreversible capacity. As lithiation proceeds, microporous carbon structures with different total pore volumes evolve to have similar total pore volumes but different average pore volumes. The average pore volume has a great influence on Li ion conductivity, as evidenced by the highest conductivity of 103.5 mS cm-1 for the largest average pore diameter of 9.3 Å. Inside large pore cavities, Li ions diffuse rapidly without encountering carbon atoms that impede Li diffusion, suggesting that a high Li-to-C ratio around Li causes fast Li ion motion. This study offers not only a comprehensive understanding of the lithiation of microporous carbon but also design directions for developing efficient microporous carbon electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Transplantation of Differentiated Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorates Murine Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy via Autophagy Activation.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscles play many important roles in the human body and any malfunction or disorder of the skeletal muscles can lead to a reduced quality of life. Some skeletal dysfunctions are acquired, such as sarcopenia but others are congenital. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common forms of hereditary muscular dystrophy and is caused by a deficiency of the protein, Dystrophin. Currently, there is no clear treatment for DMD, there are only methods that can alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells, including tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) have been shown to differentiate into skeletal muscle cells (TMSC-myocyte) and can be one of the resources for the treatment of DMD. Skeletal muscle cell characteristics of TMSC-myocytes have been confirmed through changes in morphology and expression of skeletal muscle markers such as Myogenin, Myf6, and MYH families after differentiation. MEOTHDS: Based on these characteristics, TMSC-myocytes have been transplanted into mdx mice, a mouse model of DMD, to investigate whether they can help improve the symptoms of DMD. The red fluorescent protein gene was transduced into TMSC (TMSC-R) for tracking transplanted cells. RESULTS: Prior to transplantation (TP), it was confirmed whether TMSC-R-myocytes had the same differentiation potential as TMSC-myocytes. Increased expression of dystrophin and autophagy markers in the TP group compared with the sham group was confirmed in the gastrocnemius muscle 12 weeks after TP. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate muscle regeneration and functional recovery of mdx via autophagy activation following TMSC-myocyte TP.

Density-Dependent Differentiation of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Parathyroid-Hormone-Releasing Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into endoderm lineages, especially parathyroid-hormone (PTH)-releasing cells. We have previously reported that tonsil-derived MSC (T-MSC) can differentiate into PTH-releasing cells (T-MSC-PTHCs), which restored the parathyroid functions in parathyroidectomy (PTX) rats. In this study, we demonstrate quality optimization by standardizing the differentiation rate for a better clinical application of T-MSC-PTHCs to overcome donor-dependent variation of T-MSCs. Quantitation results of PTH mRNA copy number in the differentiated cells and the PTH concentration in the conditioned medium confirmed that the differentiation efficiency largely varied depending on the cells from each donor. In addition, the differentiation rate of the cells from all the donors greatly improved when differentiation was started at a high cell density (100% confluence). The large-scale expression profiling of T-MSC-PTHCs by RNA sequencing indicated that those genes involved in exiting the differentiation and the cell cycle were the major pathways for the differentiation of T-MSC-PTHCs. Furthermore, the implantation of the T-MSC-PTHCs, which were differentiated at a high cell density embedded in hyaluronic acid, resulted in a higher serum PTH in the PTX model. This standardized efficiency of differentiation into PTHC was achieved by initiating differentiation at a high cell density. Our findings provide a potential solution to overcome the limitations due to donor-dependent variation by establishing a standardized differentiation protocol for the clinical application of T-MSC therapy in treating hypoparathyroidism.

Correlation between Gut Microbiota and Six Facets of Neuroticism in Korean Adults.

A person high in neuroticism is more likely to experience anxiety, stress, worry, fear, anger, and depression. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiota can influence personality and mental disorders, including stress, anxiety, and depression, through the gut-brain axis. Here, we investigated the correlations between the sub-facet of neuroticism and gut microbiota using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing data 784 adults. We found that the high anxiety and vulnerability group showed significantly lower richness in microbial diversity than a group with low anxiety and vulnerability. In beta diversity, there was a significant difference between the low and high groups of anxiety, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, and vulnerability. In taxonomic compositions, Haemophilus belonging to Gammaproteobacteria was correlated with the Neuroticism domain as well as N1 anxiety and N6 vulnerability facets. The high N1 anxiety and N6 vulnerability group was correlated with a low abundance of Christensenellaceae belonging to Firmicutes Clostridia. High N4 self-consciousness was correlated with a low abundance of Alistipes and Sudoligranulum. N5 impulsiveness was correlated with a low abundance of Oscillospirales. Our findings will contribute to uncovering the potential link between the gut microbiota and neuroticism, and the elucidation of the correlations of the microbiome-gut-brain axis with behavioral changes and psychiatric cases in the general population.

New Sources, Differentiation, and Therapeutic Uses of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells derived from various tissues including bone marrow and adipose tissues [...].

Fabry disease exacerbates renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction via impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked genetic lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding alpha-galactosidase A. Despite some data showing that profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress could be involved in Fabry disease-related renal injury, the pathogenic link between metabolic derangement within cells and renal injury remains unclear. METHODS: Renal fibrosis was triggered by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice with Fabry disease to investigate the pathogenic mechanism leading to fibrosis in diseased kidneys. RESULTS: Compared to kidneys of wild-type mice, lamellar inclusion bodies were recognized in proximal tubules of mice with Fabry disease. Sirius red and trichrome staining revealed significantly increased fibrosis in all UUO kidneys, though it was more prominent in obstructed Fabry kidneys. Renal messenger RNA levels of inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors were increased in all UUO kidneys compared to sham-operated kidneys but were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry mice. Protein levels of Nox2, Nox4, NQO1, catalase, SOD1, SOD2, and Nrf2 were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry kidneys, while the protein contents of LC3-II and LC3-I and expression of Beclin1 were significantly decreased in UUO kidneys of Fabry disease mouse models compared with wild-type mice. Notably, TUNEL-positive cells were elevated in obstructed kidneys of Fabry disease mice compared to wild-type control and UUO mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis are probable mechanisms involved in enhanced renal fibrosis under the stimulus of UUO in Fabry disease.

A Novel Method to Differentiate Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro into Estrogen-Secreting Cells.

BACKGROUND: The advantages of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) over other mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) include higher proliferation rates, various differentiation potentials, efficient immune-modulating capacity, and ease of obtainment. Specifically, TMSCs have been shown to differentiate into the endodermal lineage. Estrogen deficiency is a major cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis and is associated with higher incidences of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular attacks during the postmenopausal period. Therefore, stem cell-derived, estrogen-secreting cells might be used for estrogen deficiency. METHODS: Here, we developed a novel method that utilizes retinoic acid, insulin-like growth factor-1, basic fibroblast growth factor, and dexamethasone to evaluate the differentiating potential of TMSCs into estrogen-secreting cells. The efficacy of the novel differentiating method for generation of estrogen-secreting cells was also evaluated with bone marrow- and adipose tissue-derived MSCs. RESULTS: Incubating TMSCs in differentiating media induced the gene expression of cytochrome P450 19A1 (CYP19A1), which plays a key role in estrogen biosynthesis, and increased 17ß-estradiol secretion upon testosterone addition. Furthermore, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 gene expression levels were significantly increased in TMSCs. In bone marrow-derived and adipose tissue-derived MSCs, this differentiation method also induced the gene expression of CYP19A1, but not CYP17A1, suggesting TMSCs are a superior source for estrogen secretion. CONCLUSION: These results imply that TMSCs can differentiate into functional estrogen-secreting cells, thus providing a novel, alternative cell therapy for estrogen deficiency.

Silicon as the Anode Material for Multivalent-Ion Batteries: A First-Principles Dynamics Study.

Due to its huge capacity, Si is a promising anode material for practical applications in lithium-ion batteries. Here, using first-principles calculations, we study the applicability of the amorphous Si anode in multivalent-ion batteries, which are of great interest as candidates for post-lithium-ion batteries. Of the multivalent Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, and Al3+ ions, only Mg2+ and Ca2+ are able to form Mg2.3Si and Ca2.5Si by alloying with Si, delivering very high capacities of 4390 and 4771 mA h g-1, respectively. Mg2.3Si has an 8% smaller capacity than Ca2.5Si, but its volume expansion ratio and ion diffusivity are ∼200% smaller and 3 orders of magnitude higher than those of Ca2.5Si, respectively. The capacity, volume expansion, and ion diffusion of Mg2.3Si are excellently high, moderately small, and fairly fast, respectively, when compared to those of Li3.7Si, Na0.75Si, and K1.1Si. The high performance of Mg2.3Si can be understood in terms of the coordination numbers of Si and the atomic size of Mg. This work suggests that, as a carrier ion for the amorphous Si anode, Mg2+ is the most competitive among the multivalent ions and is at least as good as monovalent ions.

Fe2CS2 MXene: a promising electrode for Al-ion batteries.

Aluminum-ion batteries are one of the most promising candidates for next-generation rechargeable batteries. However, the strong electrostatic interactions between highly ionic Al3+ and the electrode hinder the reversible intercalation and fast transport of Al ions. This study suggests a design strategy for a MXene electrode for realizing high-performance Al-ion batteries. Instead of early transition metals and oxygen, the metal M and surface termination T of general MXene (Mn+1XnTx), the use of late transition metals and sulfur can dramatically improve the capacity and rate capability, respectively. The capacity increases 2.2-fold, from 288 mA h g-1 (Ti2CO2) to 642 mA h g-1 (Fe2CS2), and the Al-ion diffusivity increases 104-fold, from 2.8 × 10-16 cm2 s-1 (Ti2CO2) to 6.0 × 10-12 cm2 s-1 (Fe2CS2). This remarkable performance enhancement is due to the charge redistribution in the M and T layers by the late transition metals and the shallowing of the potential energy surface for Al-ion intercalation by sulfur.

A novel histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor improves myelination of Schwann cells in a model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy. CMT type 1A (CMT1A) accounts for approximately 50% of CMT patients and is linked to PMP22 gene duplication. Histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6) has pleiotropic effects, such as regulating lipid homeostasis and cellular stress. Although HDAC6 has been regarded as a promising drug target for neurodegenerative diseases, its inhibition has not yet been tested in CMT1A. Here we have tested the therapeutic potential of CKD-504, a clinical stage HDAC6 inhibitor, in a mouse model of CMT1A EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The potency and selectivity of CKD-504 was evaluated, using a HDAC enzyme panel assay and western blots. The therapeutic potential of CKD-504 was evaluated using behavioural testing and electrophysiological assessments in the C22 mouse model of CMT1A. PMP22 protein expression and aggregation were analysed in mesenchymal stem cell-derived Schwann cells from CMT1A patients and sciatic nerves from C22 mice. KEY RESULTS: The HDAC6 inhibitor, CKD-504, modulated molecular chaperon proteins such as HSP90 and HSP70, which are involved in the folding/refolding of proteins such as PMP22. CKD-504 treatment restored myelination in both mesenchymal stem cell-derived Schwann cells from CMT1A patients and sciatic nerves of C22 mice and improved the axonal integrity of the sciatic nerve, leading to behavioural, electrophysiological, and histological improvements in C22 mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: A novel HDAC6 inhibitor, CKD-504, has potent therapeutic efficacy for CMT1A.

Application of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration: Concise Review.

Since the discovery of stem cells and multipotency characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), there has been tremendous development in regenerative medicine. MSCs derived from bone marrow have been widely used in various research applications, yet there are limitations such as invasiveness of obtaining samples, low yield and proliferation rate, and questions regarding their practicality in clinical applications. Some have suggested that MSCs from other sources, specifically those derived from palatine tonsil tissues, that is, tonsil-derived MSCs (TMSCs), could be considered as a new potential therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine due to their superior proliferation rate and differentiation capabilities with low immunogenicity and ease of obtaining. Several studies have determined that TMSCs have differentiation potential not only into the mesodermal lineage but also into the endodermal as well as ectodermal lineages, expanding their potential usage and placing them as an appealing option to consider for future studies in regenerative medicine. In this review, the differentiation capacities of TMSCs and their therapeutic competencies from past studies are addressed. Stem Cells 2019;37:1252-1260.