In Situ Charge Modification within Prussian Blue Analogue Nanocubes by Plasma for Oxygen Evolution Catalysis.

A targeted defect-induced strategy of metal sites in a porous framework is an efficient avenue to improve the performance of a catalyst. However, achieving such an activation without destroying the ordered framework is a major challenge. Herein, a dielectric barrier discharge plasma can etch the Fe(CN)6 group of the NiFe Prussian blue analogue framework in situ through reactive oxygen species generated in the air. Density functional theory calculations prove that the changed local electronic structure and coordination environment of Fe sites can significantly improve oxygen evolution reaction catalytic properties. The modified NiFe Prussian blue analogue is featured for only 316 mV at a high current density (100 mA cm-2), which is comparable to that of commercial alkaline catalysts. In a solar cell-driven alkaline electrolyzer, the overall electrolysis efficiency is up to 64% under real operation conditions. Over 80 h long-time continuous test under 100 mA cm-2 highlights superior durability. The density functional theory calculations confirm that the formation of OOH* is the rate-determining step over Fe sites, and Fe(CN)6 vacancy and extra oxygen atoms can introduce charge redistribution to the catalyst surface, which finally enhances the oxygen evolution reaction catalytic properties by reducing the overpotential by 0.10 V. Both experimental and theoretical results suggest that plasma treatment strategy is useful for modifying the skeletal material nondestructively at room temperature, which opens up a broad prospect in the field of catalyst production.

Extracellular matrix stiffness controls VEGF165 secretion and neuroblastoma angiogenesis via the YAP/RUNX2/SRSF1 axis.

Aberrant variations in angiogenesis have been observed in tumor tissues with abnormal stiffness of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, it remains largely unclear how ECM stiffness influences tumor angiogenesis. Numerous studies have reported that vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) released from tumor cells plays crucial roles in angiogenesis. Hence, we demonstrated the role of ECM stiffness in VEGF-A release from neuroblastoma (NB) cells and the underlying mechanisms. Based on 17 NB clinical samples, a negative correlation was observed between the length of blood vessels and stiffness of NB tissues. In vitro, an ECM stiffness of 30 kPa repressed the secretion of VEGF165 from NB cells which subsequently inhibited the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Knocked down VEGF165 in NB cells or blocked VEGF165 with neutralizing antibodies both repressed the tube formation of HUVECs. Specifically, 30 kPa ECM stiffness repressed the expression and nuclear accumulation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) to regulate the expression of Serine/Arginine Splicing Factor 1 (SRSF1) via Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), which may then subsequently induce the expression and secretion of VEGF165 in NB tumor cells. Through implantation of 3D col-Tgels with different stiffness into nude mice, the inhibitory effect of 30 kPa on NB angiogenesis was confirmed in vivo. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect of 30 kPa stiffness on NB angiogenesis was reversed by YAP overexpression, suggesting the important role of YAP in NB angiogenesis regulated by ECM stiffness. Overall, our work not only showed a regulatory effect of ECM stiffness on NB angiogenesis, but also revealed a new signaling axis, YAP-RUNX2-SRSF1, that mediates angiogenesis by regulating the expression and secretion of VEGF165 from NB cells. ECM stiffness and the potential molecules revealed in the present study may be new therapeutic targets for NB angiogenesis.

Cachexia Versus Sarcopenia in Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Value After Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Large-Scale Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia and cachexia are two predictors of adverse clinical outcomes, but they are partly overlapping. We aimed to compare the characteristics and prognostic value of cachexia and sarcopenia in patients after gastrectomy. METHODS: From 2014 to 2019, a total of 1215 gastric cancer patients were enrolled. Cachexia and sarcopenia were diagnosed according to the most recent consensus definitions. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Risk factors of survival were evaluated by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of all patients, 26.5% were diagnosed with cachexia and 19.8% were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was more prevalent in elderly patients, while cachexia was prone to occur in patients with TMN stage III. Survival curves showed that sarcopenia had adverse effects in patients with TMN stage I and II-III, while cachexia was only associated with poor survival at stages II-III. For the entire cohort, both cachexia and sarcopenia were adverse factors for prognosis. However, for stage I patients, sarcopenia was an independent predictor for overall survival (OS) (HR = 4.939, P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 4.256, P < 0.001), but not cachexia; for stage II-III patients, cachexia was an independent predictor for OS (HR = 1.538, P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.473, P = 0.001), but not sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia and cachexia have different clinical characteristics and prognostic values. For patients with early stage gastric cancer, detection for sarcopenia was more meaningful than cachexia. However, the prognostic significance of cachexia exceeded sarcopenia in advanced cancer.

Recombinant expression and immunogenicity evaluation of a TonB-dependent receptor of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

This study constructed the recombinant plasmid of a TonB-dependent receptor from V. parahaemolyticus and evaluated the immunogenicity of the recombinant protein in mice. The TonB-dependent receptor gene (GI: 28901321) was obtained by PCR amplification and cloned into plasmid pET-32a (+). The recombinant plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli BL21, and the protein expression was induced by isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The 6 × His-tagged TonB-dependent receptor inclusion bodies were purified by Ni-NTA Agarose column and renatured by gradient urea dialysis. The soluble and inclusion bodies of the TonB-dependent receptor were emulsified with Freund's adjuvant and subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice. The serum titers with seven V. parahaemolyticus strains, eight Vibrio species, and nine other bacteria were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. The results showed that the serum homogenously bound the target protein in the V. parahaemolyticus cell lysates. The titers against the immunized protein were above 89K, while the titer against whole cells of seven V. parahaemolyticus strains ranged from 4.12K to 12.5K. However, the titers were higher for the soluble TonB-dependent receptor. The serums reacted with E. coli strains but did not cross-react with eight Vibrio species and Photobacterium damselae. These results showed that the TonB-dependent receptor proteins in this study were immunogenic, and the serums showed adequate specificity for V. parahaemolyticus. However, the availability of the TonB-dependent receptor on V. parahaemolyticus cells is probably limited.

Supplementing conjugated linoleic acid in breeder hens diet increased conjugated linoleic acid incorporation in liver and alters hepatic lipid metabolism in chick offspring.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of supplementing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in breeder hens diet on development and hepatic lipid metabolism of chick offspring. Hy-Line Brown breeder hens were allocated into two groups, supplemented with 0 (control (CT)) or 0·5 % CLA for 8 weeks. Offspring chicks were grouped according to the mother generation and fed for 7 d. CLA treatment had no significant influence on development, egg quality and fertility of breeder hens but darkened the egg yolks in shade and increased yolk sac mass compared with the CT group. Addition of CLA resulted in increased body mass and liver mass and decreased deposition of subcutaneous adipose tissue in chick offspring. The serum TAG and total cholesterol levels of chick offspring were decreased in CLA group. CLA treatment increased the incorporation of both CLA isomers (c9t11 and t10c12) in the liver of chick offspring, accompanied by the decreased hepatic TAG levels, related to the significant reduction of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme activities and the increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) enzyme activity. Meanwhile, CLA treatment reduced the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS, ACC and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c) and induced the expression of genes related to ß-oxidative (CPT1, AMP-activated protein kinase and PPARα) in chick offspring liver. In summary, the addition of CLA in breeder hens diet significantly increased the incorporation of CLA in the liver of chick offspring, which further regulate hepatic lipid metabolism.

Effect of GLIM-defined malnutrition on postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is common in colorectal cancer patients. Malnutrition is recognized as a risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes, yet there are no consistent diagnostic criteria for it. Thus, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition published new universal criteria. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition with the application of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria, and explore the correlations between Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition-defined malnutrition and postoperative clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: We included a cohort of 918 patients who underwent radical resection surgery for colorectal cancer from July 2014 to October 2019. Malnutrition was diagnosed based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. The associations between nutritional status and postoperative clinical outcomes were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, logistic and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Among the included patients, 23.6% were diagnosed as malnutrition based on Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition-defined malnutrition was associated with total postoperative complications [odds ratio: 1.497 (1.042-2.152), P = 0.029]. Further, Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition-diagnosed malnutrition was an independent risk factor for overall survival [hazard ratio: 1.647 (1.048-2.587), P = 0.030] and disease-free survival [hazard ratio: 1.690 (1.169-2.441), P = 0.005]. CONCLUSIONS: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria is effective to assess malnutrition. Preoperative malnutrition is associated with postoperative complications, overall survival and disease-free survival in colorectal cancer patients after radical resection surgery.

[Expression of glucocorticoid receptor in prostate cancer and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the PCa tissue and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of PCa. METHODS: Using immunohistochemical staining, we determined the expression of GR in the PCa tissue and analyzed its correlation with the clininicopathological features and prognosis of the malignancy. RESULTS: The positive expression of GR in the PCa tissue was 64%, of which the strongly positive rate was 34.7%. The GR expression was positively correlated with preoperative androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) (χ2 = 22.307, P < 0.01), Gleason grades (χ2 = 16.534, P = 0.002) and clinical stages of the tumor (χ2 = 9.969, P = 0.041). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the GR expression was correlated not with the overall survival (P = 0.156), but with the PSA progression-free survival rate of the PCa patients (P = 0.042), with a shorter PSA progression-free survival time in those with a higher GR expression. Multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that the expression of GR was not an independent prognostic factor for PSA progression-free survival of the PCa patients. CONCLUSION: The expression of GR is related with preoperative ADT, and closely with the biological behavior of the malignancy and treatment resistance of the patients. GR is expected to be a new effective therapeutic target and a prognostic biomarker for PCa.

The effect of gemcitabine combined with AMD3100 applying to cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell lines to CXCR4/CXCL12 axis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of AMD3100 treatment to cholangiocarcinoma by analyzing the relationship between them, and provide experimental evidence for whether AMD3100 can become a clinical treatment drug for cholangiocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell lines were used in this study. MTT cell proliferation test was used for evaluating the effect of gemcitabine and AMD3100 to cell. CXCR4, N-cadherin, VEGF-C and MMP-9 were detect by RT-PCR and western. Transwell was used for evaluating the invasion effect. RESULTS: We demonstrated that as the concentration of gemcitabine increasing from 0.33, 3.33 to 33.33 uM, the cell survival rate was 76.65%, 71.40%, 52.25%, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blot that gemcitabine could affect the expression of CXCR4 protein and the level of mRNA transcription in a dose-dependent manner. N-cadherin VEGF-C, MMP-9 mRNA transcription level showed a significant upward trend in gemcitabine group. In Transwell test, the number of cells in the gemcitabine group was significantly higher than that in the no-medication group (p < .05), the AMD3100 group and the combination group of gemcitabine and AMD3100, the difference between the no-medication group and the AMD3100 monotherapy group was not significant, and the combination group was between them. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that gemcitabine significantly inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells in a dose-dependent manner, and gemcitabine can affect the expression of CXCR4, N-cadherin, VEGF-C, MMP-9 protein and mRNA. Cell invasion and metastasis-related factors decreased after AMD3100 combined with gemcitabine.

Endothelial microvesicles induced by physiological cyclic stretch inhibit ICAM1-Dependent leukocyte adhesion.

Physiological cyclic stretch (CS), caused by artery deformation following blood pressure, plays important roles in the homeostasis of endothelial cells (ECs). Here, we detected the effect of physiological CS on endothelial microvesicles (EMVs) and their roles in leukocyte recruitment to ECs, which is a crucial event in EC inflammation. The results showed compared with the static treatment, pretreatment of 5%-CS-derived EMVs with ECs significantly decreased the adherence level of leukocytes. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed 373 proteins differentially expressed between static-derived and 5%-CS-derived EMVs, in which 314 proteins were uniquely identified in static-derived EMVs, 34 proteins uniquely in 5%-CS-derived EMVs, and 25 proteins showed obvious differences. Based on the proteomic data, Ingenuity Pathways Analysis predicted intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) in EMVs might be the potential molecule involved in EC-leukocyte adhesion. Western blot and flow cytometry analyses confirmed the significant decrease of ICAM1 in 5%-CS-derived EMVs, which subsequently inhibited the phosphorylation of VE-cadherin at Tyr731 in target ECs. Moreover, leukocyte adhesion was obviously decreased after pretreatment with ICAM1 neutralizing antibody. Our present research suggested that physiological stretch changes the components of EMVs, which in turn inhibits leukocyte adhesion. ICAM1 expressed on CS-induced EMVs may play an important role in maintaining EC homeostasis.

TGR5 promotes cholangiocarcinoma by interacting with mortalin.

Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 (TGR5) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activated by bile acids, and mortalin is a multipotent chaperone of the HSP70 family. In the present study, TGR5 was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) specimens, and TGR5 expression in ECC tissues and adjacent tissues was compared. In vitro TGR5 was overexpressed and knocked down in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) cell line RBE and human extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) cell line QBC-939 to observe its effects on the biological behavior of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) cells, including proliferation, apoptosis and migration. In vivo xenograft model was constructed to explore the role of TGR5 in CC growth. Proteins that interacted with TGR5 were screened using an immunoprecipitation spectrometry approach, and the identified protein was down-regulated to investigate its contribution to CC growth. The present study demonstrated that TGR5 is highly expressed in CC tissues, and strong TGR5 expression may indicate high malignancy in CC. Furthermore, TGR5 promotes CC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis resistance. TGR5 boosts CC growth in vivo. In addition, TGR5 combines with mortalin and regulates mortalin expression in the CC cell line. Mortalin participates in the TGR5-induced increase in CC cell proliferation. In conclusion, TGR5 is of clinical significance based on its implications for the degree of malignancy in patients with CC. Mortalin may be a downstream component regulated by TGR5, and TGR5 promotes cholangiocarcinoma at least partially by interacting with mortalin and upregulating its expression. Both TGR5 and mortalin are positive regulators, and may serve as potential therapeutic targets for CC.

CTGF regulates cyclic stretch-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via microRNA-19b-3p.

Cyclic stretch regulates proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during hypertension-induced vascular remodeling, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be studied. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been reported associated with several cellular function such as proliferation，migration and adhesion. Herein, the role of CTGF in VSMCs was investigated in response to mechanical cyclic stretch. Here we show that CTGF is up-regulated both in vivo and in vitro during hypertension. Overexpression of CTGF markedly promoted VSMC proliferation, whereas CTGF knockdown attenuated cyclic stretch-induced proliferation. Furthermore, 3'UTR reporter assays revealed that microRNA-19b-3p (miR-19b-3p) directly regulates CTGF expression. Under pathological condition (e.g. 15% cyclic stretch), miR-19b-3p expression was significantly down-regulated; conversely miR-19b-3p overexpression blocked VSMC proliferation. Taken together, these findings indicate that pathological cyclic stretch induces vascular remodeling by promoting VSMC proliferation via miR-19b-3p/CTGF pathway, and point to CTGF as a potential therapeutic target for hypertension.

MicroRNA-129-1-3p regulates cyclic stretch-induced endothelial progenitor cell differentiation by targeting Runx2.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are vital to the recovery of endothelial function and maintenance of vascular homeostasis. EPCs mobilize to sites of vessel injury and differentiate into mature endothelial cells (ECs). Locally mobilized EPCs are exposed to cyclic stretch caused by blood flow, which is important for EPC differentiation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of several cellular processes. However, the role of miRNAs in cyclic stretch-induced EPC differentiation remains unclear. Here, we investigate the effects of microRNA-129-1-3p (miR-129-1-3p) and its novel target Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) on EPC differentiation induced by cyclic stretch. Bone marrow-derived EPCs were exposed to cyclic stretch with a magnitude of 5% (which mimics physiological mechanical stress) at a constant frequency of 1.25 Hz for 24 hours. The results from a miRNA array revealed that cyclic stretch significantly decreased miR-129-1-3p expression. Furthermore, we found that downregulation of miR-129-1-3p during cyclic stretch-induced EPC differentiation toward ECs. Meanwhile, expression of Runx2, a putative target gene of miR-129-1-3p, was increased as a result of cyclic stretch. A 3'UTR reporter assay validated Runx2 as a direct target of miR-129-1-3p. Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of Runx2 inhibited EPC differentiation into ECs and attenuated EPC tube formation via modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from EPCs in vitro. Our findings demonstrated that cyclic stretch suppresses miR-129-1-3p expression, which in turn activates Runx2 and VEGF to promote endothelial differentiation of EPCs and angiogenesis. Therefore, targeting miR-129-1-3p and Runx2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating vessel injury.

LncRNA WTAPP1 Promotes Migration and Angiogenesis of Endothelial Progenitor Cells via MMP1 Through MicroRNA 3120 and Akt/PI3K/Autophagy Pathways.

Efficient recruitment and angiogenesis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critical during a thrombus event. However, the details of EPC recruitment and the regulation of angiogenesis have not been fully determined. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the long noncoding (lnc)RNA Wilms tumor 1 associated protein pseudogene 1 (WTAPP1) in regulation of the migration and angiogenesis of EPCs. EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and characterized by flow cytometry, after which lentivirus-mediated lncRNA WTAPP1 overexpression and knockdown were performed. Scratch assay, Transwell assay, and in vitro and in vivo tube formation assays were performed to measure cell migration, invasion, and angiogenic abilities, respectively. Moreover, a microarray screen, bioinformatic prediction, and quantitative PCR and Western blot of miRNAs interacting with lncRNA WTAPP1 were conducted. Western blot was carried out to elucidate the relationship among WTAPP1, miR-3120-5P, and MMP-1 in the autophagy pathway. WTAPP1 positively regulated migration, invasion, and in vitro and in vivo tube formation in EPCs by increasing MMP-1 expression and activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. Furthermore, WTAPP1 contains a putative miR-3120-5P binding site. Suppression of WTAPP1 by miR-3120-5P decreased the level of MMP-1. In addition, we demonstrated that suppression of the autophagy pathway is involved in the effects of WTAPP1 on EPC migration and angiogenesis. The lncRNA WTAPP1, a molecular decoy for miR-3120-5p, regulates MMP-1 expression via the PI3K/Akt and autophagy pathways, thereby mediating cell migration and angiogenesis in EPCs. Acting as a potential therapeutic target, the lncRNA WTAPP1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DVT. Stem Cells 2018;36:1863-12.

A Well-Established POM-based Single-Crystal Proton-Conducting Model Incorporating Multiple Weak Interactions.

Three new proton conductors with simple structures based on isolated olyoxometalate anions as well as protonated imidazole and benzimidazole, namely, NNU-6-8, have been successfully prepared by hydrothermal reaction. We could control the number of proton sources by selecting different types and changing the charges of POM anions. The single crystal sample of NNU-6 along a-axis shows a highest proton conductivity of 1.91×10-2  S cm-1 , which is two and three orders of magnitude higher than that of 2.42×10-4 and 8.90×10-5  S cm-1 along b- and c-axes, respectively, due to the more unobstructed H-bonding network and stronger π-π stacking between benzimidazole rings as proton-transferring pathway along a-axis than that along b and c axes. It is a straightforward model to understand the metaphysical proton-conducting process, and this is the first time to put forward the idea that π-π stacking could assist proton transfer and be in favor of proton conduction, which has been demonstrated by calculating potential energy surfaces of proton transfer between benzimidazole molecules.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of bisabolangelone oxime derivatives as potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs).

With the aim of searching novel P-CABs, seven bisabolangelone oxime derivatives were designed, synthesized, characterized and evaluated the H(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activities guided by computer aided drug design methods. The binding free energy calculations were in good agreement with the experiment results with the correlation coefficient R of -0.9104 between ΔGbind and pIC50 of ligands. Compound 5 exhibited the best inhibitory activity (pIC50=6.36) and most favorable binding free energy (ΔGbind=-47.67 kcal/mol) than other derivatives. The binding sites of these compounds were found to be the hydrophobic substituted groups with the Cys813 residue by the decomposed binding free energy analysis.

Molecular identification and functional characterisation of the interferon regulatory factor 1 in the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala).

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play a key role in mediating the host response against pathogen infection and other important biological processes. This is the first report of an IRF family member in blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala. The complete cDNA of M. amblycephala (Ma) IRF1 gene has 1422 nucleotides (nt.), with an open reading frame of 858 nt, encoding a polypeptide of 285 amino acids. The putative MaIRF1 polypeptide shared significant structural homology with known IRF1 homologs: a conserved IRF domain was found at the N-terminal and an IRF association domain 2 at the C-terminal. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MaIRF1 amino acid sequence clustered with other teleost IRF1s, with a grass carp ortholog exhibiting the highest similarity. MaIRF1 mRNA expression patterns were studied using quantitative real-time PCR in healthy fish tissues and after a challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila bacterium. It was constitutively expressed in all examined tissues: the highest in blood, the lowest in muscle. The expression after A. hydrophila challenge was up-regulated in liver, spleen and kidney, but down-regulated in intestine and gills. At the protein level, similar expression patterns were observed in liver and gills. Patterns differed in intestine (up-regulation), spleen (down-regulation) and kidney (expression mostly unchanged). This study indicates that MaIRF1 gene plays an important role in the blunt snout bream immune system, hence providing an important base for further studies.

METTL5 promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by up-regulating Toll-like receptor 8 expression in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification represents the predominant alteration found in eukaryotic messenger RNA and plays a crucial role in the progression of various tumors. However, despite its significance, the comprehensive investigation of METTL5, a key m6A methyltransferase, in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains limited. AIM: To investigate the role of METTL5 in CRC. METHODS: We assessed METTL5 expression levels in clinical samples obtained from CRC patients as well as in CRC cell lines. To elucidate the downstream targets of METTL5, we performed RNA-sequencing analysis coupled with correlation analysis, leading us to identify Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) as a potential downstream target. In vitro functional assessments of METTL5 and TLR8 were conducted using CCK-8 assays, scratch assays, as well as assays measuring cell migration and invasion. RESULTS: Our findings reveal a pronounced upregulation of METTL5 expression in both CRC cells and tissues, which correlated significantly with an unfavorable prognosis. In vitro experiments unequivocally demonstrated the oncogenic role of METTL5, as evidenced by its promotion of CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Notably, we identified TLR8 as a downstream target of METTL5, and subsequent down-regulation of TLR8 led to a significant inhibition of CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth. CONCLUSION: The heightened expression of METTL5 in CRC is strongly associated with clinicopathological features and a poor prognosis, thereby underscoring its potential utility as a critical marker for facilitating early diagnosis and prognostication in CRC.

[Effects of Experimental Nitrogen Deposition and Litter Manipulation on Soil Organic Components and Enzyme Activity of Latosol in Tropical Rubber Plantations].

It is of great scientific significance in regulating plantation ecosystem restoration to investigate the effects of the nitrogen (N) deposition and litter manipulation on soil organic carbon components and enzyme activities. A micro-plot experiment was conducted with four nitrogen additions[CK (0 kg·hm-2·a-1, calculated by N), LN (50 kg·hm-2·a-1), MN (100 kg·hm-2·a-1), and HN (200 kg·hm-2·a-1)] and two litter treatments[LR (litter removal) and L (litter retained)] for tropical rubber plantations in western Hainan Island. The soil physico-chemical properties, soil organic carbon components, and enzyme activities in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths were analyzed. The results showed that soil pH significantly decreased with elevated N addition and litter removal. The contents of NO3--N and NH4+-N significantly increased with elevated N addition. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between N addition and litter treatment on the contents of NO3--N and NH4+-N (P < 0.05). Compared to that with L, LR reduced SOC and its component contents; particularly, the largest decrease was in LFOC by 29.0%-81.4% in the 0-10 cm depth and 23.5%-58.4% in 10-20 cm, respectively. The contents of SOC and its components presented a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with elevated N addition irrespective of litter treatment, and those contents were significantly higher at LN than those at HN. There was a significant interaction between N addition and litter treatment on SOC, LFOC (0-10 cm), and HFOC contents. Compared with that under L, PPO activity was significantly reduced at LR under CK and LN but was significantly increased at LR under MN and HN, respectively. Variance analysis showed significant interactive effects between N addition and litter treatment on PPO and CBH (0-10 cm) activities, and the soil enzyme activity (BG, PPO, and CBH) responding to N addition was greater than that to the litter treatment. Pearson correlation analysis showed that SOC content was extremely positively correlated with MBC, POC, LFOC, and HFOC contents. To summarize, litter retained combined with low N deposition played an important synergistic role of improving SOC pool and soil enzyme activities for tropical rubber plantation systems.

Gold/Chiral Amine Relay Catalysis Enables Asymmetric Synthesis of C2-Quaternary Indolin-3-ones.

A mild and effective strategy for the asymmetric synthesis of C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones from 2-alkynyl arylazides and ketones by gold/chiral amine relay catalysis is described. In this reaction, 2-alkynyl arylazides undergo gold-catalyzed cyclization, nucleophilic attack, and oxidation to form intermediate 2-phenyl-3H-indol-3-ones, followed by an l-proline-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction with ketones, to afford corresponding products in satisfactory yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities.

Effective DNA epitope chimeric vaccines for Alzheimer's disease using a toxin-derived carrier protein as a molecular adjuvant.

Active amyloid-beta (Aß) immunotherapy is under investigation to prevent or treat Alzheimer disease (AD). We describe here the immunological characterization and protective effect of DNA epitope chimeric vaccines using 6 copies of Aß1-15 fused with PADRE or toxin-derived carriers. These naked 6Aß15-T-Hc chimeric DNA vaccines were demonstrated to induce robust anti-Aß antibodies that could recognize Aß oligomers and inhibit Aß oligomer-mediated neurotoxicity, result in the reduction of cerebral Aß load and Aß oligomers, and improve cognitive function in AD mice, but did not stimulate Aß-specific T cell responses. Notably, toxin-derived carriers as molecular adjuvants were able to substantially promote immune responses, overcome Aß-associated hypo-responsiveness, and elicit long-term Aß-specific antibody response in 6Aß15-T-Hc-immunized AD mice. These findings suggest that our 6Aß15-T-Hc DNA chimeric vaccines can be used as a safe and effective strategy for AD immunotherapy, and toxin-derived carrier proteins are effective molecular adjuvants of DNA epitope vaccines for Alzheimer's disease.