METTL3 aggravates cell damage induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae via the NEAT1/CTCF/MUC19 axis.

Disruption of the alveolar barrier can trigger acute lung injury. This study elucidated the association of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) with Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP)-induced apoptosis and inflammatory injury of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs). AECs were cultured and then infected with SP. Furthermore, the expression of METTL3, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), long noncoding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), mucin 19 (MUC19), N6-methyladenosine (m6A), and NEAT1 after m6A modification were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent, m6A quantification, and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR analyses, respectively. Moreover, the subcellular localization of NEAT1 was analyzed by nuclear/cytosol fractionation assay, and the binding between NEAT1 and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) was also analyzed. The results of this investigation revealed that SP-induced apoptosis and inflammatory injury in AECs and upregulated METTL3 expression. In addition, the downregulation of METTL3 alleviated apoptosis and inflammatory injury in AECs. METTL3-mediated m6A modification increased NEAT1 and promoted its binding with CTCF to facilitate MUC19 transcription. NEAT1 or MUC19 overexpression disrupted their protective role of silencing METTL3 in AECs, thereby increasing apoptosis and inflammatory injury. In conclusion, this is the first study to suggest that METTL3 aggravates SP-induced cell damage via the NEAT1/CTCF/MUC19 axis.

The gain effect of microbial consortia induced by adaptive domestication for efficient conversion of Chinese cabbage waste by anaerobic fermentation.

The resource-based treatment of Chinese cabbage waste by anaerobic fermentation can effectively mitigate air, soil, and groundwater pollution. However, the compatibility between fermentative microorganisms and the environment might be a crucial limiting factor for the resource recycling of Chinese cabbage waste. Therefore, the gain effect of microbial consortia (JMRS, JMRST, JMRSZ, JCCW, JCCWT and JCCWZ) induced by adaptive domestication for efficient conversion of Chinese cabbage waste by anaerobic fermentation were explored in this study. A total of 42 single subsamples with same weights were randomly divided into seven treatments: sterile deionized water (Control); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JMRS (MRS); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JMRST (MRST); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JMRSZ (MRSZ); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JCCW (CCW); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JCCWT (CCWT); anaerobic fermentation inoculated with JCCWZ (CCWZ) and samples were taken on days 30 and 60 after anaerobic fermentation. The results exhibited that all the treatments contributed to high levels of lactic acid (178.77-201.79 g/kg dry matter) and low levels of ammonia-N (12.99-21.03 g/kg total nitrogen). Meanwhile, MRSZ enhanced (p < 0.05) acetic acid levels (1.53 g/kg dry matter) and resulted in the lowest yeast counts. Microbiologically, the addition of microbial consortia decreased the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) scores of Massilia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Moreover, MRSZ enriched (p < 0.05) Lactobacillus hilgardii, and decreased (p < 0.05) the abundance of bacteria containing mobile elements and potentially pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, JMRSZ improved the efficient conversion of Chinese cabbage waste for resource utilization.

The responses of organic acid production and microbial community to different carbon source additions during the anaerobic fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste.

The effects of glucose, fructose, sucrose and molasses on organic acid levels, protein degradation, nutrient preservation and bacteriome were studied during the anaerobic fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste. The results showed that fructose and molasses additions caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in lactic acid production (82.16-89.79 %), acetic acid production (175.41-196.93 %), ammonia nitrogen formation (15.93-37.43 %) and reduction of neutral detergent fiber level (8.17-15.87 %). However, few positive effects of glucose and sucrose additions were found on organic acid production. Furthermore, carbon source additions enriched (p < 0.05) the acid-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus paralimentarius and Lactobacillus heilongjiangensis, upregulated (p < 0.05) the pathways of carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms and reduced (p < 0.05) the abundances of Lactobacillus buchneri and Escherichia coli and bacteria that were mobile elements-contained and stress-tolerant. Collectively, fructose and molasses additions enhanced the recycling of Chinese cabbage waste by anaerobic fermentation, in which the desired products are organic acids.

Effects of citric acid and heterofermentative inoculants on anaerobic co-fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste and wheat bran.

The effects of Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus hilgardii and citric acid on organic acid production, substrate consumption, protein degradation and microbial community were investigated in this study. The results indicated that combined inoculants induced a significant increase in levels of lactic acid (43 g/kg dry matter), acetic acid (14 g/kg dry matter), butyric acid (5 g/kg dry matter), total organic acid (60 g/kg dry matter) and ammonia nitrogen (20 g/kg total nitrogen). Furthermore, citric acid addition into the combined inoculants caused a significant increase in levels of acetic acid (12 g/kg dry matter), water-soluble carbohydrate (12 g/kg dry matter) and a reduction in ammonia nitrogen formation (22 g/kg total nitrogen). Microbiologically, combining inoculants and citric acid enriched Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus hilgardii and upregulated the functional pathways related to acid production and resistance. Collectively, combining citric acid and heterofermentative inoculants was beneficial to recycle Chinese cabbage waste in producing organic acids.

Hsp70 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Echovirus 9 Infection.

Echovirus is an important cause of viral pneumonia and encephalitis in infants, neonates, and young children worldwide. However, the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis is still not well understood. Here, we established an echovirus type 9 infection mice model, and performed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based comparative proteomics analysis to investigate the differentially expressed host proteins in mice brain. A total of 21 differentially expressed proteins were identified by MS/MS. The annotation of the differentially expressed proteins by function using the UniProt and GO databases identified one viral protein (5%), seven cytoskeletal proteins (33%), six macromolecular biosynthesis and metabolism proteins (28%), two stress response and chaperone binding proteins (9%), and five other cellular proteins (25%). The subcellular locations of these proteins were mainly found in the cytoskeleton, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, and Golgi apparatus. The protein expression profiles and the results of quantitative RT-PCR in the detection of gene transcripts were found to complement each other. The differential protein interaction network was predicted using the STRING database. Of the identified proteins, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), showing consistent results in the proteomics and transcriptomic analyses, was analyzed through Western blotting to verify the reliability of differential protein expression data in this study. Further, evaluation of the function of Hsp70 using siRNA and quercetin, an inhibitor of Hsp70, showed that Hsp70 was necessary for the infection of echovirus type 9. This study revealed that echovirus infection could cause the differential expression of a series of host proteins, which is helpful to reveal the pathogenesis of viral infection and identify therapeutic drug targets. Additionally, our results suggest that Hsp70 could be a useful therapeutic host protein target for echovirus infection.

Relationship of p73 gene polymorphism and additional gene-smoking and gene-obesity interaction with non-small cell lung cancer risk.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism within P73 gene and additional interactions with current smoking and obesity on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk in a Chinese population. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between genotypes of the AT allele in G4C14-to-A4T14 and decreased NSCLC risk. NSCLC risk was significantly lower in carriers of the G4C14-to-A4T14- AT allele than those with GC/GC genotype (AT/AT + GC/AT versus GC/GC), adjusted OR (95%CI) = 0.68 (0.55-0.93). We also found that the OR (95%CI) was 1.88 (1.32-2.47) for current smokers compared with never smokers and 0.69 (0.40-0.95) for obese subjects compared to participants with normal BMI. Never smokers with AT/AT or GC/AT of the G4C14-to-A4T14 genotype have the lowest NSCLC risk compared with smokers with the GC/GC genotype after covariates adjustment, OR (95%CI) = 0.52 (0.26-0.87). Obese participants with G4C14-to-A4T14- AT/AT or GC/AT genotype have the lowest NSCLC risk compared with non- obese subjects with the GC/GC genotype after adjusting for covariates, OR (95% CI) = 0.56 (0.33-0.85). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A logistic regression model was used to examine the association between G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism and NSCLC, and its interaction with current smoking and obesity. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confident intervals (95%CI) were calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support an important association between the G4C14-to-A4T14 and decreased NSCLC risk and additional impact of an interaction between G4C14-to-A4T14 and smoking or obesity on NSCLC risk.

Periostin mediates cigarette smoke extract-induced proliferation and migration in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of PAH-associated arterial remodeling. This study was done to explore the expression and biological roles of periostin in PASMCs following exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). PASMCs were exposed to different concentrations of CSE and tested for gene expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. PASMCs were incubated with recombinant periostin protein or transfected with small interfering RNA targeting periostin before CSE exposure and then examined for cell proliferation and migration. Compared to control cells, exposure to CSE led to a significant upregulation of periostin. Pretreatment with 5mM N-acetyl-l-cysteine (an inhibitor of ROS formation) or 10µM U0126 (an inhibitor of ERK1/2) significantly prevented the induction of periostin in CSE-treated PASMCs. The addition of recombinant periostin protein significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. In contrast, knockdown of endogenous periostin counteracted the proliferation and migration of PASMCs induced by CSE treatment. In conclusion, CSE induces the expression of periostin in PASMCs via promotion of ROS and activation of ERK1/2. Periostin mediates the effects of CSE on PASMC proliferation and migration. These findings warrant further exploration of the roles of periostin in cigarette smoking-associated pulmonary arterial remodeling.

Erythromycin enhances the anti-inflammatory activity of budesonide in COPD rat model.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely applied to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But the effect of GCs was not ideal. This study was to observe whether erythromycin could enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of budesonide in COPD model rats and to explore the mechanism involved. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: healthy control group (H group), COPD model group (C group), erythromycin group (E group), budesonide group (B group) and erythromycin + budesonide group (E+B group). The rats in groups of C, E, B and E+B were developed into COPD models. Different groups were given different drug interventions. The levels of 8-iso-PGF2α, IL-8, and TNF-α in BALF and serum were measured with ELISA. The protein expression levels of HDAC2, PI3K, and p-AKT in lung tissue were measured with Western-blot and immunohistochemistry. The levels of 8-iso-PGF2α, IL-8, and TNF-α in BALF and serum were lower in E+B group than those in B group and C group (all P<0.001).The protein expression level of HDAC2 was higher and PI3K and p-AKT were lower in E+B group than those in B group and C group (all P<0.001). Moreover, the expression levels of HDAC2 were negatively correlated with the levels of 8-iso-PGF2α, IL-8 and TNF-α both in serum and BALF and the expression levels of PI3K and p-AKT among the five groups, with all P<0.001. We conclude that erythromycin can enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of budesonide in COPD model rats, possibly through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway and enhancing the activity of HDAC2.