Correlation between the dynamic changes of γδT cells, Th17 cells, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and pharmacological interventions against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis progression in mice.

The involvement of γδT cells, Th17 cells, and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) is crucial in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), particularly in maintaining immune tolerance and homeostasis. However, the dynamics of these cells in relation to PF progression, especially under pharmacological interventions, remains poorly understood. This study aims to unravel the interplay between the dynamic changes of these cells and the effect of pharmacological agents in a mouse model of PF induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. We analyzed changes in lung histology, lung index, hydroxyproline levels, and the proportions of γδT cells, Th17 cells, and Tregs on the 3rd, 14th, and 28th days following treatment with Neferine, Isoliensinine, Pirfenidone, and Prednisolone. Our results demonstrate that these drugs can partially or dynamically reverse weight loss, decrease lung index and hydroxyproline levels, and ameliorate lung histopathological damage. Additionally, they significantly modulated the abnormal changes in γδT, Th17, and Treg cell proportions. Notably, on day 3, the proportion of γδT cells increased in the Neferine and Prednisolone groups but decreased in the Isoliensinine and Pirfenidone groups, while the proportion of Th17 cells decreased across all treated groups. On day 14, the Neferine group showed an increase in all three cell types, whereas the Pirfenidone group exhibited a decrease. In the Isoliensinine group, γδT and Th17 cells increased, and in the Prednisolone group, only Tregs increased. By day 28, an increase in Th17 cell proportion was observed in all treatment groups, with a decrease in γδT cells noted in the Neferine group. These shifts in cell proportions are consistent with the pathogenesis changes induced by these anti-PF drugs, suggesting a correlation between cellular dynamics and pharmacological interventions in PF progression. Our findings imply potential strategies for assessing the efficacy and timing of anti-PF treatments based on these cellular changes.

Comparative analysis of the genetic diversity of the neutral microsatellite loci and second exon of the goat MHC-DQB1 gene.

This study compared and analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of exon 2 of the DQB1 gene and 13 autosomal neutral microsatellite markers from 14 Chinese goat breeds to explore the potential evolutionary mechanism of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). A total of 287 haplotypes were constructed from MHC-DQB1 exon 2 from 14 populations, and 82 nucleotide polymorphic sites (SNPs, 31.78%) and 172 heterozygous individuals (79.12%) were identified. The FST values of the microsatellites and MHC-DQB ranged between 0.01831-0.26907 and 0.00892-0.38871, respectively. Furthermore, 14 goat populations showed rich genetic diversity in the microsatellite loci and MHC-DQB1 exon 2. However, the population structure and phylogenetic relationship represented by the two markers were different. Positive selection and Tajima's D test results showed the occurrence of a diversified selection mechanism, which was primarily based on a positive and balancing selection in goat DQB. This study also found that the DQB sequences of bovines exhibited trans-species polymorphism (TSP) among species and families. In brief, this study indicated that positive and balancing selection played a major role in maintaining the genetic diversity of DQB, and TSP of MHC in bovines was common, which enhanced the understanding of the MHC evolution.

[Influence of umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping on the early prognosis of preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks: a Meta analysis]. / 脐带挤压与延迟断脐对胎龄<34周早产儿早期预后影响的Meta分析.

OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping on the early prognosis of preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Weipu Database, and SinoMed were searched for randomized controlled trials on umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks published up to November 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction. Review Manger 5.4 was used for Meta analysis. RESULTS: A total of 11 articles were included in the analysis, with 1 621 preterm infants in total, among whom there were 809 infants in the umbilical cord milking group and 812 in the delayed cord clamping group. The Meta analysis showed that compared with delayed cord clamping, umbilical cord milking increased the mean blood pressure after birth (weighted mean difference=3.61, 95%CI: 0.73-6.50, P=0.01), but it also increased the incidence rate of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (RR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.08-3.09, P=0.02). There were no significant differences between the two groups in hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood transfusion rate, proportion of infants undergoing phototherapy, bilirubin peak, and incidence rates of complications such as periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with delayed cord clamping, umbilical cord milking may increase the risk of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks; however, more high-quality large-sample randomized controlled trials are needed for further confirmation.

CD4+CD25+ Tregs as dependent factor in the course of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

The immune system is felt to play an essential role in pulmonary fibrosis (PF). CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial in maintaining immune tolerance and immune homeostasis, but their role in the pathogenesis of PF is controversial and still unclear. We here explored the relationship between peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Tregs and the course of bleomycin-induced PF in mice. Mouse PF models were established by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Lung histology, hydroxyproline, Th1/Th2 balanc, CD4+CD25+ Tregse were analyzed at the 3rd，7th，14th，21st and 28th days after instillation. CD4+CD25+ Tregs were also transferred into mice with or without PF by tail vein injection. The trend of CD4+CD25+ Tregs changes was increased firstly, decreased, increased again from 7th to 28th days after bleomycin instillation, which had great relevance with alveolitis and fibrosis scores. There also were high Th1 polarization index from 3rd to 14th days and high Th2 polarization index at 21st and 28th days after bleomycin treatment. CD4+CD25+ Tregs could promote the secretion of Th2 cytokines and inhibit the secretion of Th1 cytokines, allow the Th1/Th2 balance to Th2 direction in PF. Moreover, preventive adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ Tregs may ameliorate the process of PF, while acute adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ Tregs may aggravate the process of PF. These findings suggested that the dynamic changes of CD4+CD25+ Tregs as dependent factor might designate a different course of PF induced by bleomycin in mice, and might be a selected drug use indicator for therapy of PF.

Identification, characterization, and immunological analysis of complement component 4 from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Complement component 4 (C4) has critical immunological functions in vertebrates. In the current study, a C4 homolog (gcC4) was identified in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The full-length 5458 bp gcC4 cDNA contained a 5148 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 1715 amino acids with a signal peptide and eight conservative domains. The gcC4 protein has a high level of identity with other fish C4 counterparts and is phylogenetically clustered with cyprinid fish C4. The gcC4 transcript shows wide tissue distribution and is inducible by Aeromonas hydrophila in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, its expression also fluctuates upon lipopolysaccharide or flagellin stimulation in vitro. During infection, the gcC4 protein level decreases or increases to varying degrees, and the intrahepatic C4 expression location changes. With gcC4 overexpression, interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon transcripts are all upregulated by A. hydrophila infection. Meanwhile, overexpression of gcC4 reduces bacterial invasion or proliferation. Moreover, gcC4 may activate the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the vital role of gcC4 in the innate immunity of grass carp.

Enhanced core-shell CeO2:Er,Yb@W18O49 heterojunction H2 generation by multiband emissions of Er ions.

The core-shell CeO2:Er,Yb@W18O49 heterojunction is successfully synthesized via the facile solvothermal method. The octahedral CeO2:Er,Yb nanocrystal's core exhibits green (2H11/2, 4S3/2 â†’ 4I15/2), red (4F9/2 â†’ 4I15/2) and NIR (4I11/2 â†’ 4I15/2 and 4I13/2 â†’ 4I15/2) emission under 980 nm laser diode excitation, and the multiband emissions are absorbed by the W18O49 nanowire's shell, re-exciting its higher energy localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR). With the excitation of 980 nm, the photocatalytic property of CeO2:Er,Yb@W18O49 for hydrogen (H2) evolution from ammonia borane (BH3NH3), a three-fold increase compared to W18O49, is researched. The application of natural sunlight for the production of H2 is studied, and an obvious H2 production enhancement compared to the use of W18O49 (two-fold) is also observed. This remarkable enhancement in the catalytic activity of CeO2:Er,Yb@W18O49 heterostructures is ascribed to the re-excitation of LSPR by multiband emissions of CeO2:Er,Yb.

TRPC3 overexpression and intervention in airway smooth muscle of ovalbumin-induced hyperresponsiveness and remodeling.

Transient receptor potential canonical channel 3 (TRPC3) proteins function as non-voltage-gated Ca2+ -permeable channels and play divergent roles in many processes of pathophysiology. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between TRPC3 expression and airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic Kunming mice. Mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin to establish asthmatic model. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, hydroxyproline assay, and isometric tracheal ring force measurement were used to evaluate airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of TRPC3 proteins. MTT assay was used to measure the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. TRPC3 protein expression increased in airway smooth muscle of asthmatic mice. GdCl3 , a nonspecific TRPC blocker, attenuated the contractile force of airway smooth muscle. Fetal bovine serum stimulated airway smooth muscle cells proliferation and augmented TRPC3 protein expression. Both TRPC3 blockade by GdCl3 or specific TRPC3 antibodies and gene silencing by siRNA inhibited the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. In contrast, the current drugs treatment for asthma such as Dexamethasone and Aminophylline had no effects on TRPC3 protein overexpression. Therefore, TRPC3 protein overexpression may be involved in airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness and remodeling in asthmatic mice, providing evidence for a new direction of asthma pathogenesis research and a new target for drug intervention.

Deregulated expression of Cdc6 as BCR/ABL-dependent survival factor in chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by the presence of the reciprocal translocation t(9;22) and the BCR/ABL oncogene. The BCR/ABL oncogene activates multiple signaling pathways and involves the dysregulation of oncogenes during the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia. The cell division cycle protein 6, an essential regulator of DNA replication, is elevated in some human cancer cells. However, the expression of cell division cycle protein 6 in chronic myeloid leukemia and the underlying regulatory mechanism remain to be elucidated. In this study, our data showed that cell division cycle protein 6 expression was significantly upregulated in primary chronic myeloid leukemia cells and the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 cells, as compared to the normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. BCR/ABL kinase inhibitor STI571 or BCR/ABL small interfering RNA could significantly downregulate cell division cycle protein 6 messenger RNA expression in K562 cells. Moreover, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway inhibitor LY294002 and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway inhibitor AG490 could downregulate cell division cycle protein 6 expression in K562 cells, but not RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitor PD98059 had such effect. Cell division cycle protein 6 gene silencing by small interfering RNA effectively resulted in decrease of proliferation, increase of apoptosis, and arrest of cell cycle in K562 cells. These findings have demonstrated that cell division cycle protein 6 overexpression may contribute to the high proliferation and low apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells and can be regulated by BCR/ABL signal transduction through downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways, suggesting cell division cycle protein 6 as a potential therapeutic target in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of FAS ligand in cultured immature boar sertoli cells through the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and miR-187.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces germ cell apoptosis, but its mechanism of action is not clear. One possibility is that LPS regulates the expression of FAS ligand (FASLG) in Sertoli cells, which will then influence germ cell apoptosis. In this study, LPS reduced the viability of cultured, immature boar Sertoli cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner; enhanced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α (TNFA), interleukin-1ß (IL1B), nitric oxide (NO), and transforming growth factor-ß (TGFB); and increased the expression of FASLG in a dose-dependent manner. While 10 µg/ml LPS enhanced the expression of FASLG, reduced cell cycle progression, and impaired the ultrastructure of Sertoli cells, this dose did not induce apoptosis. LPS also had no effect on the activity or expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 or 9 (MMP2 or MMP9). In contrast, the expression of ssc-miR-187 increased following LPS challenge, and inhibition of ssc-miR-187 blocked LPS-induced expression of FASLG. Our results therefore suggest that LPS reduces the viability of and enhances FASLG expression in cultured, immature boar Sertoli cells through elevated secretion of TNFA, IL1B, NO, and TGFB as well as through the regulation of ssc-miR-187 potency.

mTOR is involved in 17ß-estradiol-induced, cultured immature boar Sertoli cell proliferation via regulating the expression of SKP2, CCND1, and CCNE1.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to be involved in mammalian cell proliferation, while S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) plays a vital role in the cell cycle. Within the testis, estrogen also plays an important role in Sertoli cell proliferation, although it is not clear how. The present study asked if mTOR is involved in 17ß-estradiol-dependent Sertoli cell proliferation. We specifically assessed if extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and/or phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) exert convergent effects toward the activation of mTOR signaling, and if this signaling regulates the expression of SKP2 through retinoblastoma (RB) and early mitotic inhibitor 1 (EMI1) protein and on CCNE1 and CCND1 mRNA levels. Treatment with 17ß-estradiol for 15-90 min activated mTOR, with mTOR phosphorylation peaking after 30 min. U0126 (5 µM), a specific inhibitor of (MEK1/2), and 10-DEBC (2 µM), a selective inhibitor of AKT, both significantly reduced 17ß-estradiol-induced phosphorylation of mTOR. Rapamycin suppressed 17ß-estradiol-induced Sertoli cell proliferation, appearing to act by reducing the abundance of SKP2, CCND1, and CCNE1 mRNA as well as RB and EMI1 protein. These data indicated that 17ß-estradiol enhances Sertoli cell proliferation via mTOR activation, which involves both ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT signaling. Activated mTOR subsequently increases SKP2 mRNA and protein expression by enhancing the expression of CCND1 and CCNE1, and inhibits SKP2 protein degradation by increasing EMI1 abundance.

[Effect of PbO on emission properties of YAG:Ce3+ phosphor].

Doubly doped YAG:Ce3+, Pb2+ phosphor was obtained by doping YAG:Ce3+ phosphor with PbO. Compared with the emission spectra of YAG:Ce3+ phosphor without PbO, the Ce3+ emission band of YAG:Ce3+, Pb2+ shifts to longet wave, which can enhance the red component of spectrum. Meanwhile, the intensity of Ce3+ emission is increased by 10% when the concentration of PbO is 5%, SEM image indicates that PbO may act as a flux. Temperature-dependent emission spectra of YAG: Ce3+, Pb2+ phosphor show a better thermal quenching characteristics than YAG:Ce3+ phosphor.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids inhibit lung fibroblast activation mainly via inhibiting TGF-ß1/Smads and ERK1/2 pathway proteins.

Backgrounds: Liensinine (Lien), Neferine (Nef), Isoliensinine (Iso) and Tetrandrine (Tet), benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), have been shown inhibitory effects on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative activities, inhibition of cytokines and NF-κB. Effects of other similar BIAs, Dauricine (Dau), Papaverine (Pap) and lotusine (Lot), on PF remain unclear. Here, we explored the effects of five bisbenzylisoquinoline (Lien, Nef, Iso, Tet and Dau) and two monobenzylisoquinoline (Pap, Lot) alkaloids on normal and PF fibroblasts. Methods: Primary normal and PF lung fibroblasts were cultured and treated with these alkaloids. Proliferation, activation, migration and apoptosis changes were detected by MTT, wound healing assay, flow cytometry. Protein level was analyzed by Western blot. Results: All BIAs inhibited proliferation of normal and PF lung fibroblasts induced by TGF-ß. α-SMA protein level in normal and PF lung fibroblasts decreased after Lien, Nef, Iso, Tet and Dau treatment. Pap and Lot had no influence on α-SMA expression. Dau showed the strongest inhibitory effects on proliferation and activation among alkaloids. The migration rates of normal and PF lung fibroblasts were inhibited by Lien, Nef, Iso, and Dau. Lien, Nef, Iso and Dau significantly promoted apoptosis, while Tet had no effect on apoptosis. Pap and Lot had no influence on activation, migration and apoptosis. Dau significantly inhibited Smad3/4 and p-ERK1/2 protein overexpression induced by TGF-ß1. Conclusions: Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids had stronger effects on inhibiting lung fibroblasts than monobenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Dau expressed the strongest inhibitory effects, which may be related to its inhibition of TGF-ß1/Smad3/4 and p-ERK1/2 pathway proteins.

[Inversion of winter wheat water content with the relationship between canopy parameters and spectra based on different irrigations].

In order to monitor the canopy water content of winter wheat, canopy spectrums of winter wheat with narrow-band were resampled to broad-band according to relative spectral response (RSR) function of TM5. And then, normalized different water index (NDWI) and simple water index (WI) were calculated with broad-band reflectance. Fuel moisture content (FMC) and equivalent water thickness for canopy (EWTc) were got using dry weight, fresh weight and leaf area (index). The results show that b7 of TM5 is better than b5 in inversing canopy water content of winter wheat. Meanwhile, NDWI is more suitable than WI. Suitable fitting equations are built with NDWI (b4, b7) for FMC and EWTc, whose R2 reaches to 0.576 9 and 0.695 6, respectively. Finally, the spatial mapping of canopy water content is done with fitting equations. The results demonstrate that canopy water content of winter wheat is high in west and low in east in the studied area, and it's high in booting stage and low in milk stage.

[Progress in leaf area index retrieval based on hyperspectral remote sensing and retrieval models].

The leaf area index (LAI) is a very important parameter affecting land-atmosphere exchanges in land-surface processes; LAI is one of the basic feature parameters of canopy structure, and one of the most important biophysical parameters for modeling ecosystem processes such as carbon and water fluxes. Remote sensing provides the only feasible option for mapping LAI continuously over landscapes, but existing methodologies have significant limitations. To detect LAI accurately and quickly is one of tasks in the ecological and agricultural crop yield estimation study, etc. Emerging hyperspectral remote sensing sensor and techniques can complement existing ground-based measurement of LAI. Spatially explicit measurements of LAI extracted from hyperspectral remotely sensed data are component necessary for simulation of ecological variables and processes. This paper firstly summarized LAI retrieval method based on different level hyperspectral remote sensing platform (i. e., airborne, satelliteborne and ground-based); and secondly different kinds of retrieval model were summed up both at home and abroad in recent years by using hyperspectral remote sensing data; and finally the direction of future development of LAI remote sensing inversion was analyzed.

Integrative Analysis of Elicitor-Induced Camptothecin Biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata Plantlets Through a Combined Omics Approach.

Treatments with abiotic elicitors can efficiently induce the accumulation of specialized metabolites in plants. We used a combined omics approach to analyze the elicitation effects of MeJa, AgNO3, and PEG on camptothecin (CPT) biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata plantlets. Untargeted analyses revealed that treatments with MeJa, AgNO3, and PEG significantly inhibited the photosynthetic pathway and promoted carbon metabolism and secondary metabolic pathways. The CPT levels increased by 78.6, 73.3, and 50.0% in the MeJa, AgNO3, and PEG treatment groups, respectively. Using C. acuminata plantlets after elicitation treatment, we mined and characterized 15 new alkaloids, 25 known CPT analogs and precursors, 9 iridoid biosynthetic precursors, and 15 tryptamine biosynthetic precursors based on their MS/MS fragmentation spectra. Using 32 characterized genes involved in CPT biosynthesis as bait, we mined 12 prioritized CYP450 genes from the 416 CYP450 candidates that had been identified based on co-expression analysis, conserved domain analysis, and their elicitation-associated upregulation patterns. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on CPT biosynthesis in C. acuminata plantlets after abiotic elicitation. The findings enable us to elucidate the previously unexplored CYP450-mediated oxidation steps for CPT biosynthesis.

[Variation of plasma INH B, ACT A and FSH concentrations during an estrus cycle in Dazu black goat and Sannen dairy goat].

To study the relationship between the concentrations of INH B (Inhibin B), ACT A (Activin A), and FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) in blood plasma and fecundity, Dazu black goat with high productivity and Sannen dairy goat with low productivity were used as experiment objects in this research. The concentrations of INH B, ACT A, and FSH in blood plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in order to study the secretion rule of INH B, ACT A, and FSH during an estrus cycle of two goat breeds. The results indicated that the secretion of FSH showed a positive correlation with ACT A and a negative correlation with INH B. The mean concentration of FSH in Dazu black goat was higher than that in Sanen dairy goat during a estrous cycle. However, during the time from obviously estrus to ovulation, the mean concentration of FSH in Dazu black goat was significantly higher than that in Sannen dairy goat (0.01

Spectral reflectance characteristics of different snow and snow-covered land surface objects and mixed spectrum fitting.

The field spectroradiometer was used to measure spectra of different snow and snow-covered land surface objects in Beijing area. The result showed that for a pure snow spectrum, the snow reflectance peaks appeared from visible to 800 nm band locations; there was an obvious absorption valley of snow spectrum near 1 030 nm wavelength. Compared with fresh snow, the reflection peaks of the old snow and melting snow showed different degrees of decline in the ranges of 300-1 300, 1 700-1 800 and 2 200-2 300 nm, the lowest was from the compacted snow and frozen ice. For the vegetation and snow mixed spectral characteristics, it was indicated that the spectral reflectance increased for the snow-covered land types (including pine leaf with snow and pine leaf on snow background), due to the influence of snow background in the range of 350-1 300 nm. However, the spectrum reflectance of mixed pixel remained a vegetation spectral characteristic. In the end, based on the spectrum analysis of snow, vegetation, and mixed snow/vegetation pixels, the mixed spectral fitting equations were established, and the results showed that there was good correlation between spectral curves by simulation fitting and observed ones (correlation coefficient R2 = 0.950 9).

SLC13A4 Might Serve as a Prognostic Biomarker and be Correlated with Immune Infiltration into Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

SLC13A4 is a sodium sulfate co-transporter, which is expressed in brains, placentas, thymes and other tissues, plays an essential role in maintaining the metabolic balance of sulfate in vivo. The TCGA database shows that it is differentially expressed in a variety of tumors, but its prognostic value in tumors has not been clarified. TCGA, Oncomine and Timer databases were used to analyze SLC13A4 mRNA expression in cancer tissues and normal tissues, and its correlation with clinical prognosis in head and neck tumor. The CIBERSORT database was used to analyze the correlation between SLC13A4 expression and the infiltration of immune cells. SLC13A4 enrichment analysis was carried out by GSEA. SLC13A4 mRNA levels were significantly lower in head and neck tumors than in paracancer tissues. SLC13A4 expression in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was closely related to tumor pathological grade and clinical stage. Decreased SLC13A4 expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), disease specific survival (DSS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) in HNSCC patients. The expression of SLC13A4 was negatively correlated with Monocytes, M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages, resting CD4+ memory T cells, resting NK cells and activated NK cells, but positively correlated with neutrophils, plasma cells, T follicular helper cells, gamma delta T cells, regulatory T cells and naive B cells. In addition, the genes in SLC13A4 low-expression group were mainly concentrated in immunity-related activities, viral diseases, typical tumor pathways and metabolism. The SLC13A4 high expression group was mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. These suggest that SLC13A4 may be a potential prognostic biomarker in HNSC and correlated with immune infiltrates.

Characterization of the intestinal digesta and mucosal microbiome of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The intestinal microbiome plays a pivotal role in the nutritional digestion and metabolism of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Here, we characterized the digesta and mucosal microbiome of the anterior, middle, and posterior intestine of the grass carp, using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing. Based on 16S rRNA amplicon data, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroides were the dominant phyla in the intestine of grass carp. Our results also showed that microbial communities of the middle intestine exhibited higher alpha diversity indices compared with the anterior and posterior intestine. The clustering of microbial communities that had either colonized in the digesta or were attached to the mucosa, were significantly tighter in the posterior intestine, based on average unweighted Unifrac distances (P < 0.05). The digesta or mucosa of the anterior and middle intestines were similar in microbial composition, but were significantly different to the posterior intestine (P < 0.05). In digesta and mucosa samples from the posterior intestine, we observed a significantly increased abundance of cellulose-degrading microbiomes, such as Bacteroides, Clostridiales and Spirochaetia (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that the microbiomes of the posterior intestine, either attached to the mucosa or colonized in the digesta, were distinct from the microbiomes of the anterior and middle intestine in grass carp.

RNA-Seq Transcriptome Analysis of the Liver and Brain of the Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) During Fasting.

The black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) is an important carnivorous freshwater-cultured species. To understand the molecular basis underlying the response of black carp to fasting, we used RNA-Seq to analyze the liver and brain transcriptome of fasting fish. Annotation to the NCBI database identified 66,609 unigenes, of which 22,841 were classified into the Gene Ontology database and 15,925 were identified in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Comparative analysis of the expression profile between fasting and normal feeding fish revealed 13,737 differentially expressed genes (P < 0.05), of which 12,480 were found in liver tissue and 1257 were found in brain tissue. The KEGG pathway analysis showed significant differences in expression of genes involved in metabolic and immune pathways, such as the insulin signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, endocytosis, and apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis confirmed that expression of the genes encoding the factors involved in those pathways differed between fasting and feeding fish. These results provide valuable information about the molecular response mechanism of black carp under fasting conditions.