IL-1ß-associated NNT acetylation orchestrates iron-sulfur cluster maintenance and cancer immunotherapy resistance.

Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) is a key protein in inflammation and contributes to tumor progression. However, the role of IL-1ß in cancer is ambiguous or even contradictory. Here, we found that upon IL-1ß stimulation, nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) in cancer cells is acetylated at lysine (K) 1042 (NNT K1042ac) and thereby induces the mitochondrial translocation of p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF). This acetylation enhances NNT activity by increasing the binding affinity of NNT for NADP+ and therefore boosts NADPH production, which subsequently sustains sufficient iron-sulfur cluster maintenance and protects tumor cells from ferroptosis. Abrogating NNT K1042ac dramatically attenuates IL-1ß-promoted tumor immune evasion and synergizes with PD-1 blockade. In addition, NNT K1042ac is associated with IL-1ß expression and the prognosis of human gastric cancer. Our findings demonstrate a mechanism of IL-1ß-promoted tumor immune evasion, implicating the therapeutic potential of disrupting the link between IL-1ß and tumor cells by inhibiting NNT acetylation.

Pparα activation stimulates autophagic flux through lipid catabolism-independent route.

Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes to degrade damaged proteins or organelles. Triglycerides are hydrolyzed by autophagy, releasing fatty acids for energy through mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Inhibited mitochondrial FAO induces autophagy, establishing a crosstalk between lipid catabolism and autophagy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a transcription factor, stimulates lipid catabolism genes, including fatty acid transport and mitochondrial FAO, while also inducing autophagy through transcriptional regulation of transcription factor EB (TFEB). Therefore, the study explores whether PPARα regulates autophagy through TFEB transcriptional control or mitochondrial FAO. In aquaculture, addressing liver lipid accumulation in fish is crucial. Investigating the link between lipid catabolism and autophagy is significant for devising lipid-lowering strategies and maintaining fish health. The present study investigated the impact of dietary fenofibrate and L-carnitine on autophagy by activating Pparα and enhancing FAO in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), respectively. The dietary fenofibrate and L-carnitine reduced liver lipid content and enhanced ATP production, particularly fenofibrate. FAO enhancement by L-carnitine showed no changes in autophagic protein levels and autophagic flux. Moreover, fenofibrate-activated Pparα promoted the expression and nuclear translocation of Tfeb, upregulating autophagic initiation and lysosomal biogenesis genes. Pparα activation exhibited an increasing trend of LC3II protein at the basal autophagy and cumulative p62 protein trends after autophagy inhibition in zebrafish liver cells. These data show that Pparα activation-induced autophagic flux should be independent of lipid catabolism.

RIS-aided dynamically adaptive wide field-of-view receiver for visible light communication in industrial internet of things.

In the current visible light communication (VLC) system, a condenser lens is generally used in the front of receiver to achieve a higher data rate, making an extremely narrow field-of-view for the receiver. With the spread of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the communication between mobile terminals is urgently required. A wide-range detecting method for VLC system in IIoT scenario is asked. In this paper, a novel self-adaptive wide-FoV receiver involving reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) is proposed. The effective detecting range of the receiver can be expanded by dynamically adjusting the incident light directions with the assistance of RIS. Based on the maximum arrived flux criterion, the mathematical model is established and the optimized RIS parameter tuning algorithm is presented. The feasibility and validity of the method are verified by simulation. The results show that the tolerable transceiver offset can be increased to 2∼4 times as the conventional receiver.

(9S,13R)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid attenuates inflammation by inhibiting mPGES-1 and modulating macrophage polarization via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve inflammation by suppressing prostaglandin E2/cyclooxygenase 2 (PGE2/COX-2) with cardiovascular and gastrointestinal bleeding risk. Theoretically, suppressing PGE2 through inhibiting the terminal synthase microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) instead of upstream COX-2 is ideal for inflammation. Here, (9S,13R)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (AA-24) extracted from Artemisia anomala was first screened as an anti-inflammatory candidate and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), mPGES-1, and PGE2 without affecting COX-1/2, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2). Besides, AA-24 suppressed the differentiation of M0 macrophages to M1 phenotype but enhanced it to M2 phenotype, blocked the activation of NF-κB pathway, and increased the activation of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Moreover, AA-24 selectively inhibited mPGES-1 and reduced inflamed paw edema in carrageenan-induced mice. In conclusion, AA-24 attenuates inflammation by inhibiting mPGES-1 and modulating macrophage polarization via the NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways and could be a promising candidate for developing anti-inflammatory drugs.

Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 and its inhibitors: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic significance.

Inflammation is closely linked to the abnormal phospholipid metabolism chain of cyclooxygenase-2/microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1/prostaglandin E2 (COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE2). In clinical practice, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as upstream COX-2 enzyme activity inhibitors are widely used to block COX-2 cascade to relieve inflammatory response. However, NSAIDs could also cause cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects due to its inhibition on other prostaglandins generation. To avoid this, targeting downstream mPGES-1 instead of upstream COX is preferable to selectively block overexpressed PGE2 in inflammatory diseases. Some mPGES-1 inhibitor candidates including synthetic compounds, natural products and existing anti-inflammatory drugs have been proved to be effective in in vitro experiments. After 20 years of in-depth research on mPGES-1 and its inhibitors, ISC 27864 have completed phase II clinical trial. In this review, we intend to summarize mPGES-1 inhibitors focused on their inhibitory specificity with perspectives for future drug development.

The Adaptive Characteristics of Cholesterol and Bile Acid Metabolism in Nile Tilapia Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Since high-fat diet (HFD) intake elevates liver cholesterol and enhanced cholesterol-bile acid flux alleviates its lipid deposition, we assumed that the promoted cholesterol-bile acid flux is an adaptive metabolism in fish when fed an HFD. The present study investigated the characteristic of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after feeding an HFD (13% lipid level) for four and eight weeks. Visually healthy Nile tilapia fingerlings (average weight 3.50 ± 0.05 g) were randomly distributed into four treatments (4-week control diet or HFD and 8-week control diet or HFD). The liver lipid deposition and health statue, cholesterol/bile acid, and fatty acid metabolism were analyzed in fish after short-term and long-term HFD intake. The results showed that 4-week HFD feeding did not change serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transferase (AST) enzyme activities, along with comparable liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content. But higher serum ALT and AST enzyme activities and liver MDA content were observed in fish fed 8-week HFD. Intriguingly, remarkably accumulated total cholesterol (mainly cholesterol ester, CE) was observed in the liver of fish fed 4-week HFD, along with slightly elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) and comparable TG contents. Further molecular analysis in the liver showed that obvious accumulation of CE and total bile acids (TBAs) in fish fed 4-week HFD was mainly attributed to the enhancement of cholesterol synthesis, esterification, and bile acid synthesis. Furthermore, the increased protein expressions of acyl-CoA oxidase 1/2 (Acox1 and Acox2), which serve as peroxisomal fatty acid ß-oxidation (FAO) rate-limiting enzymes and play key roles in the transformation of cholesterol into bile acids, were found in fish after 4-week HFD intake. Notably, 8-week HFD intake remarkably elevated FFA content (about 1.7-fold increase), and unaltered TBAs were found in fish liver, accompanied by suppressed Acox2 protein level and cholesterol/bile acid synthesis. Therefore, the robust cholesterol-bile acid flux serves as an adaptive metabolism in Nile tilapia when fed a short-term HFD and is possibly via stimulating peroxisomal FAO. This finding enlightens our understanding on the adaptive characteristics of cholesterol metabolism in fish fed an HFD and provides a new possible treatment strategy against metabolic disease induced by HFD in aquatic animals.

Mildronate triggers growth suppression and lipid accumulation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) through disturbing lipid metabolism.

Many metabolic diseases in fish are often associated with lowered mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation (FAO). However, the physiological role of mitochondrial FAO in lipid metabolism has not been verified in many carnivorous fish species, for example in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmonids). In the present study, a specific mitochondrial FAO inhibitor, mildronate (MD), was used to investigate the effects of impaired mitochondrial FAO on growth performance, health status, and lipid metabolism of largemouth bass. The results showed that the dietary MD treatment significantly suppressed growth performance and caused heavy lipid accumulation, especially neutral lipid, in the liver. The MD-treated fish exhibited lower monounsaturated fatty acid and higher long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle. The MD treatment downregulated the gene expressions in lipolysis and lipogenesis, as well as the expressions of the genes and some key proteins in FAO without enhancing peroxisomal FAO. Additionally, the MD-treated fish had lower serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and lower pro-inflammation- and apoptosis-related genes in the liver. Taken together, MD treatment markedly induced lipid accumulation via depressing lipid catabolism. Our findings reveal the pivotal roles of mitochondrial FAO in maintaining health and lipid homeostasis in largemouth bass and could be hopeful in understanding metabolic diseases in farmed carnivorous fish.

Adaptive spatial-layout selection for massive multi-color visible light communications.

Massive multi-color visible light communications (mMC-VLC) sufficiently utilizing space and color domain resources is proposed to satisfy high-spectral-efficiency, high-speed, and high-density-coverage requirements of next-generation indoor data connections. However, the gap between the number of LEDs and photodiodes (PDs) and the high correlation among different channels limit the multiplexing of mMC-VLC. Also, the mobility of the receiver is the bottleneck of mMC-VLC. So, adaptive spatial-layout selection (ASLS) is proposed to settle the above problems, which selects $ N $N sets $ n $n-color LEDs from the transmitter to form an approximate optimal closed-circle layout adapting to the receiver position. First, the optimal parameter problems to minimize the ill condition of the activated system under layout constraints of the closed circle and linear types are formulated for a fixed receiver position. Second, to achieve adaptivity, the fitting curves of the optimal layout parameter and $ {D_v} $Dv under both constraints are researched; $ {D_v} $Dv is the vertical distance between the transmitter and receiver planes. Finally, the closest layout-selected principle (CLSP) is proposed to solve the problem of the LEDs perhaps not perfectly forming the optimal parameter layout for mMC-VLC. The bit-error ratio (BER) performances and application scopes of ASLS under both layout constraints are compared to determine that the constraint layout is a closed circle; meanwhile the available maximal $ N $N corresponding to the receiver position is obtained. The optimal parameter of ASLS is linearly related to the receiver position and not related to $ N $N. The ASLS always achieves better BER performance than optical multi-stream spatial modulation.

Fast-adaptive color-collaborative constellation designs for multicolor multiple-input multiple-output visible light communications systems.

A fast-adaptive color-collaborative signal constellation (CCSC) is proposed for chromaticity-changeable multicolor multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) visible light communications (VLC) systems. The design of CCSC aims at developing the constellation to minimize the average optical power with shaping-based lattice code. For multicolor VLC signals, we arrive at the fact that the optimum shape of the constellation bounding region is an inequilateral N-D simplex. With the densest lattice-packing structure, detailed design steps of CCSC are fully elaborated by lattice construction, effective point selection, and chromaticity adjustment. As CCSC has a low complexity, its constellation structure can adapt quickly to changeable chromaticity demands. Simulation results show that the performance of CCSC is better than enhanced standard color shift keying (CSK) and is close to iterative CSK modulation based on numerical search.

[Neural mechanisms of visual feature binding].

Integrating different visual features into a coherent object is a central challenge for the visual system, which is referred as the binding problem. Firstly, this review introduces the conception of the binding problem and the theoretical and empirical controversies regarding whether and how the binding processes are implemented in visual system. Although many neurons throughout the visual hierarchy are known to code multiple features, feature binding is recruited by visual system. Feature misbinding (or illusory conjunction) is probably the most striking evidence for the existence of the binding mechanism. Next, this review summarizes some critical issues in feature binding literature, including early binding theories, late binding theories, neural synchrony theory, the feature integration theory and re-entry processing theory. Feature binding is not a fully automatic or bottom-up processing. Reentrant connection from higher visual areas to early visual cortex (top-down processes) plays a critical role in feature binding, especially in active feature binding (i.e. feature misbinding). In addition, with electrophysiology, electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and transcranial electric stimulation (tEs) approaches, recent studies explored both correlational and causal relations between brain oscillations and feature binding, suggesting that brain oscillations are of great importance for feature binding. Finally, this review discusses some potential problems and open questions associated with visual feature binding mechanisms which need to be addressed in future studies.

Symbol-by-symbol exp-log transceiver design for SIMO FSO communication systems in correlated lognormal channels.

In this paper, assuming only channel statistics information available at the receivers, we propose a transceiver design for single-input multiple-output (SIMO) free-space optical (FSO) systems over weak atmospheric turbulence, which is described by spatially correlated lognormal fading channels. To mitigate turbulence-induced spatially correlated lognormal fading, we investigate the symbol-by-symbol decision criterion and develop a low-complexity, energy-efficient transceiver by exploiting the joint spatial distribution of log irradiance. Different from existing symbol-by-symbol detection schemes, the proposed transceiver has a simple structure with asymptotical performance compared to maximum-likelihood (ML) detection and flexible modulation schemes. Computer simulations demonstrate the validity of proposed transceivers under various conditions.

Energy-efficient multidimensional Hellinger modulation for SPAD-based optical wireless communications.

Recently, the single photon avalanche diode optical wireless communication (SPAD OWC) has attracted much attention due to its potential underwater applications. For such system, the channel noise is additive Poisson noise (APN) rather than the commonly encountered additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and the corresponding maximum likelihood (ML) detection is hard to provide a useful insight into energy-efficient signal design. By using the previously proposed Hellinger distance design criterion, we design an energy-efficient multi-dimensional constellation within the nonnegative integer set by minimizing the average optical power for a fixed minimum Hellinger distance. Comprehensive simulations indicate that our designed constellation can substantially outperform the currently available pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and squared PAM for SPAD OWC systems.

Diversity-optimal power loading for intensity modulated MIMO optical wireless communications.

In this paper, we consider the design of space code for an intensity modulated direct detection multi-input-multi-output optical wireless communication (IM/DD MIMO-OWC) system, in which channel coefficients are independent and non-identically log-normal distributed, with variances and means known at the transmitter and channel state information available at the receiver. Utilizing the existing space code design criterion for IM/DD MIMO-OWC with a maximum likelihood (ML) detector, we design a diversity-optimal space code (DOSC) that maximizes both large-scale diversity and small-scale diversity gains and prove that the spatial repetition code (RC) with a diversity-optimized power allocation is diversity-optimal among all the high dimensional nonnegative space code schemes under a commonly used optical power constraint. In addition, we show that one of significant advantages of the DOSC is to allow low-complexity ML detection. Simulation results indicate that in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes, our proposed DOSC significantly outperforms RC, which is the best space code currently available for such system.

Energy-efficient space-time modulation for indoor MISO visible light communications.

We consider an indoor multi-input single-output (MISO) visible light communication (VLC) system without channel state information at the transmitter. For such a system, an energy-efficient time-collaborative modulation (TCM) constellation is first designed by minimizing a total optical power subject to a fixed minimum Euclidean distance. Then, a new space-time transmission scheme is proposed. Comprehensive computer simulations indicate that our proposed design always has better average error performance within illumination coverage area than the currently available schemes for this application.

[Association between endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway mediated by inositol-requiring kinase 1 and AECII apoptosis in preterm rats induced by hyperoxia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) pathway mediated by inositol-requiring kinase 1 (IRE1) and the apoptosis of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECIIs) exposed to hyperoxia. METHODS: The primarily cultured AECIIs from preterm rats were devided into an air group and a hyperoxia group. The model of hyperoxia-induced cell injury was established. The cells were harvested at 24, 48, and 72 hours after hyperoxia exposure. An inverted phase-contrast microscope was used to observe morphological changes of the cells. Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry was performed to measure cell apoptosis. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), IRE1, X-box binding protein-1 (XBP-1), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). An immunofluorescence assay was performed to measure the expression of CHOP. RESULTS: Over the time of hyperoxia exposure, the hyperoxia group showed irregular spreading and vacuolization of AECIIs. Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group showed a significantly increased apoptosis rate of AECIIs and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of GRP78, IRE1, XBP1, and CHOP compared at all time points (P<0.05). The hyperoxia group had significantly greater fluorescence intensity of CHOP than the air group at all time points. In the hyperoxia group, the protein expression of CHOP was positively correlated with the apoptosis rate of AECIIs and the protein expression of IRE1 and XBP1 (r=0.97, 0.85, and 0.88 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperoxia induces apoptosis of AECIIs possibly through activating the IRE1-XBP1-CHOP pathway.

Tumor iron homeostasis and immune regulation.

Abnormal iron metabolism has long been regarded as a key metabolic hallmark of cancer. As a critical cofactor, iron contributes to tumor progression by participating in various processes such as mitochondrial electron transport, gene regulation, and DNA synthesis or repair. Although the role of iron in tumor cells has been widely studied, recent studies have uncovered the interplay of iron metabolism between tumor cells and immune cells, which may affect both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the regulatory networks of iron metabolism between cancer cells and immune cells and how they contribute to antitumor immunity, and we analyze potential therapeutics targeting iron metabolism. Also, we highlight several key challenges and describe potential therapeutic approaches for future investigations.

Inhibiting mitochondrial citrate shuttling induces hepatic triglyceride deposition in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through lipid anabolic remodeling.

The solute carrier family 25 member 1 (Slc25a1)-dependent mitochondrial citrate shuttle is responsible for exporting citrate from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm for supporting lipid biosynthesis and protein acetylation. Previous studies on Slc25a1 concentrated on pathological models. However, the importance of Slc25a1 in maintaining metabolic homeostasis under normal nutritional conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the mechanism of mitochondrial citrate shuttle in maintaining lipid metabolism homeostasis in male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). To achieve the objective, we blocked the mitochondrial citrate shuttle by inhibiting Slc25a1 under normal nutritional conditions. Slc25a1 inhibition was established by feeding Nile tilapia with 250 mg/kg 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid hydrate for 6 weeks or intraperitoneal injecting them with dsRNA to knockdown slc25a1b for 7 days. The Nile tilapia with Slc25a1 inhibition exhibited an obesity-like phenotype accompanied by fat deposition, liver damage and hyperglycemia. Moreover, Slc25a1 inhibition decreased hepatic citrate-derived acetyl-CoA, but increased hepatic triglyceride levels. Furthermore, Slc25a1 inhibition replenished cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA through enhanced acetate pathway, which led to hepatic triglycerides accumulation. However, acetate-derived acetyl-CoA caused by hepatic Slc25a1 inhibition did not activate de novo lipogenesis, but rather modified protein acetylation. In addition, hepatic Slc25a1 inhibition enhanced fatty acids esterification through acetate-derived acetyl-CoA, which increased Lipin1 acetylation and its protein stability. Collectively, our results illustrate that inhibiting mitochondrial citrate shuttle triggers lipid anabolic remodeling and results in lipid accumulation, indicating the importance of mitochondrial citrate shuttle in maintaining lipid metabolism homeostasis.

Syringic acid attenuates acute lung injury by modulating macrophage polarization in LPS-induced mice.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a continuum of lung changes caused by multiple lung injuries, characterized by a syndrome of uncontrolled systemic inflammation that often leads to significant morbidity and death. Anti-inflammatory is one of its treatment methods, but there is no safe and available drug therapy. Syringic acid (SA) is a natural organic compound commonly found in a variety of plants, especially in certain woody plants and fruits. In modern pharmacological studies, SA has anti-inflammatory effects and therefore may be a potentially safe and available compound for the treatment of acute lung injury. PURPOSE: This study attempts to reveal the protective mechanism of SA against ALI by affecting the polarization of macrophages and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Trying to find a safer and more effective drug therapy for clinical use. METHODS: We constructed the ALI model using C57BL/6 mice by intratracheal instillation of LPS (10 mg/kg). Histological analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The wet-dry ratio of the whole lung was measured to evaluate pulmonary edema. The effect of SA on macrophage M1-type was detected by flow cytometry. BCA protein quantification method was used to determine the total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The levels of Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in BALF were determined by the ELISA kits, and RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1ß and TNF-α mRNA of lung tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 and the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα in the NF-κB pathway in lung tissue. In vitro experiments were conducted with RAW267.4 cell inflammation model induced by 100 ng/ml LPS and A549 cell inflammation model induced by 10 µg/ml LPS. The effects of SA on M1-type and M2-type macrophages of RAW267.4 macrophages induced by LPS were detected by flow cytometry. The toxicity of compound SA to A549 cells was detected by MTT method which to determine the safe dose of SA. The expressions of COX-2 and the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα protein in NF-κB pathway were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: We found that the pre-treatment of SA significantly reduced the degree of lung injury, and the infiltration of neutrophils in the lung interstitium and alveolar space of the lung. The formation of transparent membrane in lung tissue and thickening of alveolar septum were significantly reduced compared with the model group, and the wet-dry ratio of the lung was also reduced. ELISA and RT-qPCR results showed that SA could significantly inhibit the production of IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α. At the same time, SA could significantly inhibit the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins, and could inhibit the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα proteins. in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro experiments, we found that flow cytometry showed that SA could significantly inhibit the polarization of macrophages from M0 type macrophages to M1-type macrophages, while SA could promote the polarization of M1-type macrophages to M2-type macrophages. The results of MTT assay showed that SA had no obvious cytotoxicity to A549 cells when the concentration was not higher than 80 µM, while LPS could promote the proliferation of A549 cells. In the study of anti-inflammatory effect, SA can significantly inhibit the expression of COX-2 and the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα proteins in LPS-induced A549 cells. CONCLUSION: SA has possessed a crucial anti-ALI role in LPS-induced mice. The mechanism was elucidated, suggesting that the inhibition of macrophage polarization to M1-type and the promotion of macrophage polarization to M2-type, as well as the inhibition of NF-κB pathway by SA may be the reasons for its anti-ALI. This finding provides important molecular evidence for the further application of SA in the clinical treatment of ALI.

A novel exposure mode based on UVA-LEDs for bacterial inactivation.

As an emerging UV source, ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) are increasingly being used for disinfection purposes. UVA-LEDs have a higher output power, lower cost, and stronger penetration and cause less harm than UVC-LEDs. In this study, a novel exposure mode based on UVA was proposed and well demonstrated by various experiments using S. aureus as an indicator. Compared with single-dose exposure, fractionated exposure with a 15 min interval between treatments resulted in increased S. aureus inactivation. A longer interval or lower first irradiation dose was unfavorable for inactivation. Fractionated exposure changed the inactivation rate constant and eliminated the shoulder in the fluence-response curves. This resulted in changing the sensitivity of bacteria to UVA and improving bacterial inactivation. Moreover, the fractioned exposure mode has universality for various bacteria (including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria). S. aureus was not reactivated by photoreactivation or dark repair after UVA treatment. As expected, the cells were damaged more seriously after fractionated exposure, further suggesting the advantages of this new exposure mode. In addition, the mechanism by which bacteria were inactivated after fractionated exposure was investigated, and it was found that •OH played an important role. A longer interval between treatments showed an adverse effect on inactivation, mainly due to the reduction of •OH and recovery of intracellular GSH. In summary, the current work provides novel ideas for the application of UVA-LEDs, which will give more choices for disinfection treatment.

Effect of Guizhi Fuling Capsule on Apoptosis of Myeloma Cells Through Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Guizhi Fuling Capsule (GZFLC) on myeloma cells and explore the mechanisms. METHODS: MM1S and RPMI 8226 cells were co-cultured with different concentrations of serum and the cell experiments were divided into negative (10%, 20% and 40%) groups, GZFLC (10%, 20%, and 40%) groups and a control group. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry were used to detect the viability and apoptosis levels of myeloma cells. The effects on mitochondria were examined by reactive oxygen specie (ROS) and tetrechloro-tetraethylbenzimidazol carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) assays. Western blot was used to detect the expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, -9, cytochrome C (Cytc) and apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). RPMI 8226 cells (2 × 107) were subcutaneously inoculated into 48 nude mice to study the in vivo antitumor effects of GZFLC. The mice were randomly divided into four groups using a completely randomized design, the high-, medium-, or low-dose GZFLC (840, 420, or 210 mg/kg per day, respectively) or an equal volume of distilled water, administered daily for 15 days. The tumor volume changes in and survival times of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups and a control group were observed. Cytc and Apaf-1 expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: GZFLC drug serum decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis of myeloam cells (P<0.05). In addition, this drug increased the ROS levels and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.01). Western blot showed that the Bcl-2/Bax ratios were decreased in the GZFLC drug serum-treated groups, whereas the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, -9, Cytc and Apaf-1 were increased (all P<0.01). Over time, the myeloma tumor volumes of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups decreased, and survival time of the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups were longer than that of the mice in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues from the mice in the GZFLC-administered groups revealed that the Cytc and Apaf-1 expression levels were increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: GZFLC promoted apoptosis of myeloma cells through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and significantly reduced the tumor volumes in mice with myeloma, which prolonged the survival times of the mice.