Protein-DNA binding sites prediction based on pre-trained protein language model and contrastive learning.

Protein-DNA interaction is critical for life activities such as replication, transcription and splicing. Identifying protein-DNA binding residues is essential for modeling their interaction and downstream studies. However, developing accurate and efficient computational methods for this task remains challenging. Improvements in this area have the potential to drive novel applications in biotechnology and drug design. In this study, we propose a novel approach called Contrastive Learning And Pre-trained Encoder (CLAPE), which combines a pre-trained protein language model and the contrastive learning method to predict DNA binding residues. We trained the CLAPE-DB model on the protein-DNA binding sites dataset and evaluated the model performance and generalization ability through various experiments. The results showed that the area under ROC curve values of the CLAPE-DB model on the two benchmark datasets reached 0.871 and 0.881, respectively, indicating superior performance compared to other existing models. CLAPE-DB showed better generalization ability and was specific to DNA-binding sites. In addition, we trained CLAPE on different protein-ligand binding sites datasets, demonstrating that CLAPE is a general framework for binding sites prediction. To facilitate the scientific community, the benchmark datasets and codes are freely available at https://github.com/YAndrewL/clape.

Functional variants of the pentraxin 3 gene are associated with the metastasis and progression of prostate cancer.

Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern-recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer-associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa. Genotypes of four common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 gene, including rs1840680, rs2305619, rs3816527 and rs2120243, were profiled among 705 PCa patients and 705 ethnicity-matched controls. In this study, we found that patients who carry at least one minor allele (C) of rs3816527 (AC and CC) tended to develop advanced forms of diseases (clinical large T stage, OR, 1.593, p = 0.032; pathologically-confirmed nodal spread, OR, 1.987, p = 0.011; metastatic tumour, OR, 3.896, p = 0.032) as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analysis showed that such association of rs3816527 with lymphatic and distal metastasis of PCa was accentuated in the younger age group (≤65 at diagnosis) but not seen in the older age group (>65 at diagnosis), suggesting an age-specific effect of PTX3 variants. Prediction of PTX3 protein structure implied that polymorphism may alter the quaternary organization and oligomerization of PTX3 protein. Moreover, our gene silencing experiments and survey of public datasets revealed that elevation of PTX3 levels in PCa was required for cell migration and associated with tumour metastasis. Our results highlight an association of PTX3 rs3816527 with the progression of PCa.

Detoxifying bacterial genes for deoxynivalenol epimerization confer durable resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the presence of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) pose serious threats to wheat production and food safety worldwide. DON, as a virulence factor, is crucial for the spread of FHB pathogens on plants. However, germplasm resources that are naturally resistant to DON and DON-producing FHB pathogens are inadequate in plants. Here, detoxifying bacteria genes responsible for DON epimerization were used to enhance the resistance of wheat to mycotoxin DON and FHB pathogens. We characterized the complete pathway and molecular basis leading to the thorough detoxification of DON via epimerization through two sequential reactions in the detoxifying bacterium Devosia sp. D6-9. Epimerization efficiently eliminates the phytotoxicity of DON and neutralizes the effects of DON as a virulence factor. Notably, co-expressing of the genes encoding quinoprotein dehydrogenase (QDDH) for DON oxidation in the first reaction step, and aldo-keto reductase AKR13B2 for 3-keto-DON reduction in the second reaction step significantly reduced the accumulation of DON as virulence factor in wheat after the infection of pathogenic Fusarium, and accordingly conferred increased disease resistance to FHB by restricting the spread of pathogenic Fusarium in the transgenic plants. Stable and improved resistance was observed in greenhouse and field conditions over multiple generations. This successful approach presents a promising avenue for enhancing FHB resistance in crops and reducing mycotoxin contents in grains through detoxification of the virulence factor DON by exogenous resistance genes from microbes.

Electroacupuncture attenuates neuropathic pain via suppressing BIP-IRE-1α-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is involved in neurological dysfunction and that electroacupuncture (EA) attenuates neuropathic pain (NP) via undefined pathways. However, the role of ERS in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in NP and the effect of EA on ERS in the ACC have not yet been investigated. In this study, an NP model was established by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the left sciatic nerve in rats, and mechanical and cold tests were used to evaluate behavioral hyperalgesia. The protein expression and distribution were evaluated using western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results showed that glucose-regulated protein 78 (BIP) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE-1α) were co-localized in neurons in the ACC. After CCI, BIP, IRE-1α, and phosphorylation of IRE-1α were upregulated in the ACC. Intra-ACC administration of 4-PBA and Kira-6 attenuated pain hypersensitivity and downregulated phosphorylation of IRE-1α, while intraperitoneal injection of 4-PBA attenuated hyperalgesia and inhibited the activation of P38 and JNK in ACC. In contrast, ERS activation by intraperitoneal injection of tunicamycin induced behavioral hyperalgesia in naive rats. Furthermore, EA attenuated pain hypersensitivity and inhibited the CCI-induced overexpression of BIP and pIRE-1α. Taken together, these results demonstrate that EA attenuates NP by suppressing BIP- and IRE-1α-mediated ERS in the ACC. Our study presents novel evidence that ERS in the ACC is implicated in the development of NP and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the analgesic effect of EA.

Multiplexed transcriptional profiling of Dermatophagoides house dust mites allergens in human epithelium cells.

Allergic asthma, a chronic disease characterized by airway inflammation, poses a significant public health concern. It is well-established that house dust mites (HDMs) are common inducers of allergic responses in individuals, particularly children. In central Taiwan, our research team observed that over 80% of allergic children exhibited sensitization to various HDMs species. This investigation aims to bridge the gap between these observations and a better understanding of the early fundamental mechanisms for preventing allergic diseases. Specifically, our study delves into the impact of crude extracts of HDMs on human epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Our findings, based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, shed light on how three major Dermatophagoides HDMs allergens activate a common Toll-like receptor signaling pathway in human epithelial cells within a 4-h treatment. During this process, the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB translocated into the cell nucleus within 30 min of allergen stimulation, triggering the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as IL-6 and IL-8 over 4 h. Additionally, when the cells were treated with specific Dermatophagoides microceras (Der m) allergens, it resulted in the upregulation of genes that regulate type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) signaling pathways. This led to the mediation of IL-12A inflammation. Furthermore, there was an increase in gene sets associated with cilia function and the microtubule cytoskeleton in human epithelial cells after treatment with a combination of Der m allergens and Dexamethasone. Additionally, OMICs analysis was conducted to examine the effects of HDMs allergenic stimulation on human epidermal cells. We aimed to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms within cells and identify potential targets and natural products in the treatment of asthma caused by HDMs allergens.

A novel multi-omics data analysis of dose-dependent and temporal changes in regulatory pathways due to chemical perturbation: a case study on caffeine.

Comprehensive analysis of multi-omics data can reveal alterations in regulatory pathways induced by cellular exposure to chemicals by characterizing biological processes at the molecular level. Data-driven omics analysis, conducted in a dose-dependent or dynamic manner, can facilitate comprehending toxicity mechanisms. This study introduces a novel multi-omics data analysis designed to concurrently examine dose-dependent and temporal patterns of cellular responses to chemical perturbations. This analysis, encompassing preliminary exploration, pattern deconstruction, and network reconstruction of multi-omics data, provides a comprehensive perspective on the dynamic behaviors of cells exposed to varying levels of chemical stimuli. Importantly, this analysis is adaptable to any number of omics layers, including site-specific phosphoproteomics. We implemented this analysis on multi-omics data obtained from HepG2 cells exposed to a range of caffeine doses over varying durations and identified six response patterns, along with their associated biomolecules and pathways. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed multi-omics data analysis in capturing multidimensional patterns of cellular response to chemical perturbation, enhancing understanding of pathway regulation for chemical risk assessment.

Pre- and postnatal particulate matter exposure and blood pressure in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early life is a susceptible period of air pollution-related adverse health effects. Hypertension in children might be life-threatening without prevention or treatment. Nevertheless, the causative association between environmental factors and childhood hypertension was limited. In the light of particulate matter (PM) as an environmental risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, this study investigated the association of pre- and postnatal PM exposure with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension among children and adolescents. METHOD: Four electronic databases were searched for related epidemiological studies published up to September 13, 2022. Stata 14.0 was applied to examine the heterogeneity among the studies and evaluate the combined effect sizes per 10 µg/m3 increase of PM by selecting the corresponding models. Besides, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias test were also conducted. RESULTS: Prenatal PM2.5 exposure was correlated with increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in offspring [1.14 mmHg (95% CI: 0.12, 2.17)]. For short-term postnatal exposure effects, PM2.5 (7-day average) was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) [0.20 mmHg (95% CI: 0.16, 0.23)] and DBP [0.49 mmHg (95% CI: 0.45, 0.53)]; and also, PM10 (7-day average) was significantly associated with SBP [0.14 mmHg (95% CI: 0.12, 0.16)]. For long-term postnatal exposure effects, positive associations were manifested in SBP with PM2.5 [ß = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.48] and PM10 [ß = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.51]; DBP with PM1 [ß = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.49], PM2.5 [ß = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.35] and PM10 [ß = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.45]; and hypertension with PM1 [OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.40, 1.46], PM2.5 [OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.11] and PM10 [OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.45]. CONCLUSION: Both prenatal and postnatal exposure to PM can increase BP, contributing to a higher prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents.

Spectrin-based membrane skeleton supports ciliogenesis.

Cilia are remarkable cellular devices that power cell motility and transduce extracellular signals. To assemble a cilium, a cylindrical array of 9 doublet microtubules push out an extension of the plasma membrane. Membrane tension regulates cilium formation; however, molecular pathways that link mechanical stimuli to ciliogenesis are unclear. Using genome editing, we introduced hereditary elliptocytosis (HE)- and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)-associated mutations into the Caenorhabditis elegans membrane skeletal protein spectrin. We show that these mutations impair mechanical support for the plasma membrane and change cell shape. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of spectrin-mutant animals uncovered a global down-regulation of ciliary gene expression, prompting us to investigate whether spectrin participates in ciliogenesis. Spectrin mutations affect intraflagellar transport (IFT), disrupt axonemal microtubules, and inhibit cilium formation, and the endogenous spectrin periodically distributes along cilia. Mammalian spectrin also localizes in cilia and regulates ciliogenesis. These results define a previously unrecognized yet conserved role of spectrin-based mechanical support for cilium biogenesis.

Integrated OMICs Approach for the Group 1 Protease Mite-Allergen of House Dust Mite Dermatophagoides microceras.

House dust mites (HDMs) are one of the most important allergy-causing agents of asthma. In central Taiwan, the prevalence of sensitization to Dermatophagoides microceras (Der m), a particular mite species of HDMs, is approximately 80% and is related to the IgE crossing reactivity of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). Integrated OMICs examination was used to identify and characterize the specific group 1 mite-allergic component (Der m 1). De novo draft genomic assembly and comparative genome analysis predicted that the full-length Der m 1 allergen gene is 321 amino acids in silico. Proteomics verified this result, and its recombinant protein production implicated the cysteine protease and α chain of fibrinogen proteolytic activity. In the sensitized mice, pathophysiological features and increased neutrophils accumulation were evident in the lung tissues and BALF with the combination of Der m 1 and 2 inhalation, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) of mice cytokines revealed that the cytokine profiles of the allergen-sensitized mice model with combined Der m 1 and 2 were similar to those with Der m 2 alone but differed from those with Der m 1 alone. Regarding the possible sensitizing roles of Der m 1 in the cells, the fibrinogen cleavage products (FCPs) derived from combined Der m 1 and Der m 2 induced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in human bronchial epithelium cells. Der m 1 biologically functions as a cysteine protease and contributes to the α chain of fibrinogen digestion in vitro. The combination of Der m 1 and 2 could induce similar cytokines expression patterns to Der m 2 in mice, and the FCPs derived from Der m 1 has a synergistic effect with Der m 2 to induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human bronchial epithelium cells.

Inhibitory Effects of Ursolic Acid on the Stemness and Progression of Human Breast Cancer Cells by Modulating Argonaute-2.

The stemness and metastasis of cancer cells are crucial features in determining cancer progression. Argonaute-2 (AGO2) overexpression was reported to be associated with microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, supporting the self-renewal and differentiation characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpene compound, has multiple biological functions, including anticancer activity. In this study, we find that UA inhibits the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines using the CCK-8 assay. UA induced a significant decrease in the fraction of CSC in which it was examined by changes in the expression of stemness biomarkers, including the Nanog and Oct4 genes. UA altered invasion and migration capacities by significant decreases in the levels of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins of slug and vimentin. Furthermore, the co-reduction in oncogenic miRNA levels (miR-9 and miR-221) was a result of the down-modulation in AGO2 in breast cancer cells in vitro. Mechanically, UA increases PTEN expression to inactivate the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and the decreased level of c-Myc in quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot imaging analyses. Our current understanding of the anticancer potential of UA in interrupting between EMT programming and the state of CSC suggests that UA can contribute to improvements in the clinical practice of breast cancer.

Retracted: Effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Yang, T, Li, W, Kan, Z, Liu, Y, Peng, M, Shi, H, Effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Int J Clin Pract. 2021; 00:e14213. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.14213. The above article from the International Journal of Clinical Practice, published online on 5 April 2021 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted at the request of the authors, and by agreement of the journal Editor in Chief, Charles Young, and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following an author review of the research which led to the removal of some studies which did not meet the inclusion criteria. Following the removal of these studies the overall sample size was too small and the studies still included too heterogenuous for the results and conclusions to be reliable.

Midazolam's Effects on Delayed-Rectifier K+ Current and Intermediate-Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel in Jurkat T-lymphocytes.

Midazolam (MDZ) could affect lymphocyte immune functions. However, the influence of MDZ on cell's K+ currents has never been investigated. Thus, in the present study, the effects of MDZ on Jurkat T lymphocytes were studied using the patch-clamp technique. Results showed that MDZ suppressed the amplitude of delayed-rectifier K+ current (IK(DR)) in concentration-, time-, and state-dependent manners. The IC50 for MDZ-mediated reduction of IK(DR) density was 5.87 µM. Increasing MDZ concentration raised the rate of current-density inactivation and its inhibitory action on IK(DR) density was estimated with a dissociation constant of 5.14 µM. In addition, the inactivation curve of IK(DR) associated with MDZ was shifted to a hyperpolarized potential with no change on the slope factor. MDZ-induced inhibition of IK(DR) was not reversed by flumazenil. In addition, the activity of intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (IKCa) channels was suppressed by MDZ. Furthermore, inhibition by MDZ on both IK(DR) and IKCa-channel activity appeared to be independent from GABAA receptors and affected immune-regulating cytokine expression in LPS/PMA-treated human T lymphocytes. In conclusion, MDZ suppressed current density of IK(DR) in concentration-, time-, and state-dependent manners in Jurkat T-lymphocytes and affected immune-regulating cytokine expression in LPS/PMA-treated human T lymphocytes.

Guanylate-binding protein-2 inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth and increases the sensitivity to paclitaxel of paclitaxel-resistant colorectal cancer cells by interfering Wnt signaling.

Among the GTPase family members, guanylate-binding protein-1 (GBP-1) is the most thoroughly studied member in a plethora of human cancers. GBP-2, on the other hand, remains limitedly studied. We wonder how GBP-2 participates in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) as well as the paclitaxel (PTX)-resistance of CRC. In this study, the authors are determined to dig into the role that GBP-2 plays in the sensitivity of CRC to PTX, therefore, possibly indicating a promising gene therapy target for CRC. Forced expression of GBP-2 gene was done by plasmid transfection. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot were conducted to detect the expression of GBP-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein, respectively. Colony foci formation assay, transwell invasion assay, and flow cytofluorometry were done to determine the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of PTX-resistant and PTX-sensitive CRC cell lines, respectively. The level of GBP-2 mRNA and protein in PTX-resistant CRC cell lines was significantly lower than in nonresistant cell lines. Forced exogenous expression of GBP-2 in PTX-resistant CRC cell lines resulted in more sensitivity to PTX because of the demonstration of less cell proliferation, invasion, and more apoptosis. Wnt signaling was suppressed when GBP-2 was upregulated by transfection of GBP-2 overexpression plasmids, and Wnt signaling did not affect GBP-2 expression. GBP-2 upregulation could enhance the killing effect of PTX in both PTX-sensitive CRC cells and PTX-resistant CRC cells by suppressing Wnt signaling.

Chronic acrylamide exposure induced glia cell activation, NLRP3 infl-ammasome upregulation and cognitive impairment.

Acrylamide (ACR), a potential neurotoxin, is present in diet and drinking water. Dietary exposure contributes to cognitive impairment, but relevant mechanism information is limited. Neuroinflammation plays important roles in neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to explore whether chronic acrylamide exposure induced neuronal lesions, microglial activation, NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. For this purpose, 36 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12/group) and maintained on treated drinking water providing dosages of 0, 0.5, or 5 mg/kg/day ACR for 12 months. Chronic exposure to ACR caused gait abnormality and cognitive dysfunction, which was associated with neuronal lesions, decrease in synapse associated proteins including synapsin I (SYN1), synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), neurogenesis suppression as shown by reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. ACR stimulated glial proliferation and microglial activation by increasing GFAP+, Iba-1+, Iba-1+CD68+ positive cells. ACR markedly upregulated the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome constituents NLRP3, caspase-1 and increased pro-IL-1ß and IL-1ß. ACR elevated the protein P62 to suppress NLPR3 inflammasome cleavage. Inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and Cox-2 were also significantly increased after NF-κB pathway activation, which aggravated neuronal lesions and caused memory deficits. This work helped to propose the possible mechanism of chronic exposure of ACR-induced neurotoxicity.

Melatonin-triggered post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications of ADAMTS1 coordinately retard tumorigenesis and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) family are widely implicated in tissue remodeling events manifested in cancer development. ADAMTS1, the most fully characterized ADAMTS, plays conflicting roles in different cancer types; however, the role of ADAMTS1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Herein, we found that ADAMTS1 is highly expressed in RCC tissues compared to normal renal tissues, and its expression was correlated with an advanced stage and a poor prognosis of RCC patients. In vitro, we observed higher expression of ADAMTS1 in metastatic (m)RCC cells compared to primary cells, and manipulation of ADAMTS1 expression affected cell invasion and clonogenicity. Results from protease array showed that ADAMTS1 is modulated by melatonin through mechanisms independent of the MT1 receptor in mRCC cells, and overexpression of ADAMTS1 relieved the invasion/clonogenicity and growth/metastasis inhibition imposed by melatonin treatment in vitro and in an orthotopic xenograft model. The human microRNA (miR) OneArray showed that miR-181d and miR-let-7f were induced by melatonin and, respectively, targeted the 3'-UTR and non-3'-UTR of ADAMTS1 to suppress its expression and mRCC invasive ability. Clinically, RCC patients with high levels of miR-181d or miR-let-7f and a low level of ADAMTS1 had the most favorable prognoses. In addition, ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation of ADAMTS1 can also be triggered by melatonin. Together, our study indicates that ADAMTS1 may be a useful biomarker for predicting RCC progression. The novel convergence between melatonin and ADAMTS1 post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation provides new insights into the role of melatonin-induced molecular regulation in suppressing RCC progression.

Astrocytic glycogen-derived lactate fuels the brain during exhaustive exercise to maintain endurance capacity.

Brain glycogen stored in astrocytes provides lactate as an energy source to neurons through monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) to maintain neuronal functions such as hippocampus-regulated memory formation. Although prolonged exhaustive exercise decreases brain glycogen, the role of this decrease and lactate transport in the exercising brain remains less clear. Because muscle glycogen fuels exercising muscles, we hypothesized that astrocytic glycogen plays an energetic role in the prolonged-exercising brain to maintain endurance capacity through lactate transport. To test this hypothesis, we used a rat model of exhaustive exercise and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to observe comprehensive energetics of the brain (cortex and hippocampus) and muscle (plantaris). At exhaustion, muscle glycogen was depleted but brain glycogen was only decreased. The levels of MCT2, which takes up lactate in neurons, increased in the brain, as did muscle MCTs. Metabolomics revealed that brain, but not muscle, ATP was maintained with lactate and other glycogenolytic/glycolytic sources. Intracerebroventricular injection of the glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-arabinitol did not affect peripheral glycemic conditions but suppressed brain lactate production and decreased hippocampal ATP levels at exhaustion. An MCT2 inhibitor, α-cyano-4-hydroxy-cinnamate, triggered a similar response that resulted in lower endurance capacity. These findings provide direct evidence for the energetic role of astrocytic glycogen-derived lactate in the exhaustive-exercising brain, implicating the significance of brain glycogen level in endurance capacity. Glycogen-maintained ATP in the brain is a possible defense mechanism for neurons in the exhausted brain.

An approach for mechanical property optimization of cell-laden alginate-gelatin composite bioink with bioactive glass nanoparticles.

Alginate-gelatin (Alg-Gel) composite hydrogel is extensively used in extrusion-based bioprinting. Although Alg-Gel blends possess excellent biocompatibility and printability, poor mechanical properties have hindered its further clinical applications. In this study, a series of design by incorporating bioactive glass nanoparticles (BG) (particle size of 12 and 25 nm) into Alg-Gel hydrogel have been considered for optimizing the mechanical and biological properties. The composite Alg-Gel-BG bioink was biophysically characterized by mechanical tests and bioprinting practice. Biocompatibility of Alg-Gel-BG bioink was then investigated by bioprinting mouse dermal fibroblasts. Mechanical tests showed enhanced stiffness with increasing concentration of incorporated BG. But the maximum concentration of BG was determined 1.0 wt% before blends became too viscous to print. Meanwhile, the incorporation of BG did not affect the highly porous structure and biodegradation of Alg-Gel hydrogel, while the mechanical strength and printability were enhanced. In addition, the cellular proliferation and adhesion in the bioprinted constructs were significantly enhanced by BG (12 nm), while extension was not affected. Therefore, our strategy of incorporating BG in Alg-Gel composite hydrogel represents an easy-to-use approach to the mechanical reinforcement of cell-laden bioink, thus demonstrating their suitability for future applications in extrusion-based bioprinting.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of carbonic anhydrase 9 can predict invasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix.

This study aimed to explore the involvement of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the development of invasive cancer of uterine cervix for Taiwanese women. Ninety-seven patients with cervical invasive squamous cell carcinoma and 88 with preinvasive squamous cell lesions as well as 324 control women were recruited. Two CA9 SNPs in exons, including rs2071676 (+201, G/A) in exon 1 and rs3829078 (+1081, A/G) in exon 7, rs1048638 (+1584, C/A) in 3'-untranslated region of exon 11, as well as an 18-base pair deletion/insertion (376deltion393) in exon 1 were selected and their genotypic distributions were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Haplotype was then constructed with rs2071676, 376del393, rs3829078 and rs1048638 in order. The results revealed that Taiwanese women with genotypes CA or CA/AA in CA9 SNP rs1048638 displayed a more risk in developing cervical invasive cancer, assigning wild genotype CC as a reference. AA in SNP rs2071676 tended to increase the risk of developing cervical invasive cancer, using GG/GA as a reference. When women had the diplotypes, carrying at least one haplotype A1AA (one mutant allele A in rs2071676, no deletion in 376del393, no mutant allele A in rs3829078 and one mutant allele A in rs1048638), they were significantly susceptible to cervical invasive cancer. In conclusion, CA9 SNP rs1048638 and haplotype A1AA are associated with the susceptibility of cervical invasive squamous cell carcinoma for Taiwanese women.

WxcX is involved in bacterial attachment and virulence in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is the causative agent of black rot in crucifers. Here, one EZ-Tn5 transposon mutant of Xcc, altered in bacterial attachment, was isolated. Further analysis revealed that the transposon was inserted in the wxcX gene (encodes a hypothetical protein) of the transposon mutant. Sequence analysis revealed that WxcX is highly conserved in Xanthomonas, but none has been characterized. In this study, it was indicated that mutation of wxcX resulted in enhanced bacterial attachment, reduced virulence on the host cabbage, and increased sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate. The affected phenotypes of the wxcX mutant could be complemented to wild-type levels by the intact wxcX gene. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that E408 and E411 are critical amino acid residues for WxcX function in bacterial attachment. Taken together, our results demonstrate the roles of wxcX in attachment, virulence, and tolerance to sodium dodecyl sulfate in Xanthomonas for the first time.

Moderate exercise ameliorates dysregulated hippocampal glycometabolism and memory function in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 2 diabetes is likely to be an independent risk factor for hippocampal-based memory dysfunction, although this complication has yet to be investigated in detail. As dysregulated glycometabolism in peripheral tissues is a key symptom of type 2 diabetes, it is hypothesised that diabetes-mediated memory dysfunction is also caused by hippocampal glycometabolic dysfunction. If so, such dysfunction should also be ameliorated with moderate exercise by normalising hippocampal glycometabolism, since 4 weeks of moderate exercise enhances memory function and local hippocampal glycogen levels in normal animals. METHODS: The hippocampal glycometabolism in OLETF rats (model of human type 2 diabetes) was assessed and, subsequently, the effects of exercise on memory function and hippocampal glycometabolism were investigated. RESULTS: OLETF rats, which have memory dysfunction, exhibited higher levels of glycogen in the hippocampus than did control rats, and breakdown of hippocampal glycogen with a single bout of exercise remained unimpaired. However, OLETF rats expressed lower levels of hippocampal monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2, a transporter for lactate to neurons). Four weeks of moderate exercise improved spatial memory accompanied by further increase in hippocampal glycogen levels and restoration of MCT2 expression independent of neurotrophic factor and clinical symptoms in OLETF rats. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our findings are the first to describe detailed profiles of glycometabolism in the type 2 diabetic hippocampus and to show that 4 weeks of moderate exercise improves memory dysfunction in type 2 diabetes via amelioration of dysregulated hippocampal glycometabolism. Dysregulated hippocampal lactate-transport-related glycometabolism is a possible aetiology of type-2-diabetes-mediated memory dysfunction.