Fruquintinib in metastatic colorectal cancer: a multicenter real-world analysis on efficacy, safety, and predictive and prognostic factors.

Background: Randomized trials have shown a survival benefit for fruquintinib over placebo in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that progressed after standard therapies, but real-world prognostic analyses have been seldom reported. We evaluated survival, safety outcomes, and predictive and prognostic factors in patients treated with fruquintinib in a real-life setting. Methods: We conducted a multi-center study by collecting relevant data on patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) who received fruquintinib, focusing on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and L3 skeletal muscle index (SMI), including safety follow-up. Results: From January 2020 to January 2022, a total of 140 patients were selected and included in this study. The cut-off date was 30 July 2022. The median follow-up time was 18.3 months (range, 6-29.3 months) and the median age of included cases was 63 years (range, 32-81 years). The median PFS and OS for the 140 patients was 6.3 and 12.6 months, respectively. The median PFS and OS for the 76 patients who were included in SMI analysis was 6.0 and 12.0 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis suggested brain metastasis {hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 2.779 (1.162-6.646), P=0.02}, decrease in SMI of >5% [HR (95% CI): 9.732 (2.201-43.028), P=0.003], and baseline carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level [HR (95% CI): 4.061 (1.391-11.858), P=0.01] as independent predictors of OS. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were hypertension (24, 17.1%), fatigue (21, 15%), and hand-foot syndrome (20, 14.3%); 9 (13.6%) and 15 (10.7%) patients had dose reduction and treatment discontinuation due to TRAEs respectively. Conclusions: The real-world efficacy and safety of fruquintinib in advanced CRC patients are numerically superior to that in the previous phase III studies. SMI, brain metastasis and CEA could serve as potential markers for patient selection.

Identification of mitochondrial ATP synthase as the cellular target of Ru-polypyridyl-ß-carboline complexes by affinity-based protein profiling.

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are promising anticancer candidates, while their cellular targets have rarely been identified, which limits their clinical application. Herein, we design a series of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes containing bioactive ß-carboline derivatives as ligands for anticancer evaluation, among which Ru5 shows suitable lipophilicity, high aqueous solubility, relatively high anticancer activity and cancer cell selectivity. The subsequent utilization of a photo-clickable probe, Ru5a, serves to validate the significance of ATP synthase as a crucial target for Ru5 through photoaffinity-based protein profiling. Ru5 accumulates in mitochondria, impairs mitochondrial functions and induces mitophagy and ferroptosis. Combined analysis of mitochondrial proteomics and RNA-sequencing shows that Ru5 significantly downregulates the expression of the chloride channel protein, and influences genes related to ferroptosis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Finally, we prove that Ru5 exhibits higher anticancer efficacy than cisplatin in vivo. We firstly identify the molecular targets of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes using a photo-click proteomic method coupled with a multiomics approach, which provides an innovative strategy to elucidate the anticancer mechanisms of metallo-anticancer candidates.

Development of non-closed silver clusters by transition-metal-coordination-cluster substituted polyoxometalate templates.

Nature seems to favor the formation of closed anion-templated silver clusters. How precisely to create non-closed sliver clusters remains an interesting challenge. In this work, we propose that the use of transition-metal-coordination-cluster substituted polyoxometalates (TMCC-substituted POMs) as templates is an effective synthetic strategy for creating the non-closed silver clusters, as demonstrated by the obtainment of four types of rare non-closed silver cluster species of Ag38-TM (TM = Co, Ni or Zn), Ag37-Zn, {Ag37-Zn}∞ and Ag36-TM (TM = Co, Ni). The idea of the strategy is to employ the TMCC-substituted POMs containing cluster modules with different bond interactions with Ag+ ions as templates to guide the formation of the non-closed silver clusters. For example, TMCC-substituted POM clusters are used as templates in this work, which contain POM modules that can coordinate with the Ag+ ions and TMCC moieties that are difficult to coordinate with the Ag+ ions, leading to the Ag+ ions being unable to form closed clusters around TMCC-substituted POM templates. The work demonstrates a promising approach to developing intriguing and unexplored non-closed silver clusters.

Icariside II protects from marrow adipose tissue (MAT) expansion in estrogen-deficient mice by targeting S100A16.

Icariside II, a flavonoid glycoside, is the main component found invivo after the administration of Herba epimedii and has shown some pharmacological effects, such as prevention of osteoporosis and enhancement of immunity. Increased levels of marrow adipose tissue are associated with osteoporosis. S100 calcium-binding protein A16 (S100A16) promotes the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into adipocytes. This study aimed to confirm the anti-lipidogenesis effect of Icariside II in the bone marrow by inhibiting S100A16 expression. We used ovariectomy (OVX) and BMSC models. The results showed that Icariside II reduced bone marrow fat content and inhibited BMSCs adipogenic differentiation and S100A16 expression, which correlated with lipogenesis. Overexpression of S100A16 eliminated the inhibitory effect of Icariside II on lipid formation. ß-catenin participated in the regulation adipogenesis mediated by Icariside II/S100A16 in the bone. In conclusion, Icariside II protects against OVX-induced bone marrow adipogenesis by downregulating S100A16, in which ß-catenin might also be involved.

Correction: Self-assembled methodologies for the construction of DNA nanostructures and biological applications.

Correction for 'Self-assembled methodologies for the construction of DNA nanostructures and biological applications' by Rui Ye et al., Biomater. Sci., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4bm00584h.

Effects of PEGylation on Imaging Contrast of 68Ga-Labeled Bicyclic Peptide PET Probes Targeting Nectin-4.

Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (Nectin-4) is overexpressed in various malignant tumors and has emerged as a promising target for tumor imaging. Bicyclic peptides, known for their conformational rigidity, metabolic stability, and membrane permeability, are ideal tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of visualizing Nectin-4-positive tumors using radiolabeled bicyclic peptide derivatives and optimized the pharmacokinetics of radiotracers by introducing PEG chains of different lengths. Five PEGylated radiotracers radiolabeled with 68Ga3+ exhibited high radiochemical purity and stability. As the chain length increased, the Log D values decreased from -2.32 ± 0.13 to -2.50 ± 0.16, indicating a gradual increase in the hydrophilicity of the radiotracers. In vitro cell-binding assay results showed that the PEGylated bicyclic peptide exhibits nanomolar affinity, and blocking experiments confirmed the specific binding of the tracers to the Nectin-4 receptor. In vivo PET imaging and biodistribution studies in SW780 and 5637 xenograft mice showed that [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG12-BP demonstrated optimal pharmacokinetics, characterized by rapid and good tumor uptake, faster background clearance, and improved tumor-to-tissue contrast. Finally, compared with 18F-FDG, PET imaging, in vivo blocking assays of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG12-BP and histological staining confirmed that specific tumor uptake was mediated by Nectin-4 receptors. The results indicated that [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG12-BP was a promising PET radiotracer for Nectin-4 targeting, with applications for clinical translation.

Self-assembly of a ruthenium-based cGAS-STING photoactivator for carrier-free cancer immunotherapy.

The cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase)-STING (stimulator of interferon genes) pathway promotes antitumor immune responses by sensing cytosolic DNA fragments leaked from nucleus and mitochondria. Herein, we designed a highly charged ruthenium photosensitizer (Ru1) with a ß-carboline alkaloid derivative as the ligand for photo-activating of the cGAS-STING pathway. Due to the formation of multiple non-covalent intermolecular interactions, Ru1 can self-assemble into carrier-free nanoparticles (NPs). By incorporating the triphenylphosphine substituents, Ru1 can target and photo-damage mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to cause the cytoplasmic DNA leakage to activate the cGAS-STING pathway. Finally, Ru1 NPs show potent antitumor effects and elicit intense immune responses in vivo. In conclusion, we report the first self-assembling mtDNA-targeted photosensitizer, which can effectively activate the cGAS-STING pathway, thus providing innovations for the design of new photo-immunotherapeutic agents.

Neutrophil extracellular traps-inspired DNA hydrogel for wound hemostatic adjuvant.

Severe traumatic bleeding may lead to extremely high mortality rates, and early intervention to stop bleeding plays as a critical role in saving lives. However, rapid hemostasis in deep non-compressible trauma using a highly water-absorbent hydrogel, combined with strong tissue adhesion and bionic procoagulant mechanism, remains a challenge. In this study, a DNA hydrogel (DNAgel) network composed of natural nucleic acids with rapid water absorption, high swelling and instant tissue adhesion is reported, like a band-aid to physically stop bleeding. The excellent swelling behavior and robust mechanical performance, meanwhile, enable the DNAgel band-aid to fill the defect cavity and exert pressure on the bleeding vessels, thereby achieving compression hemostasis for deep tissue bleeding sites. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-inspired DNAgel network also acts as an artificial DNA scaffold for erythrocytes to adhere and aggregate, and activates platelets, promoting coagulation cascade in a bionic way. The DNAgel achieves lower blood loss than commercial gelatin sponge (GS) in male rat trauma models. In vivo evaluation in a full-thickness skin incision model also demonstrates the ability of DNAgel for promoting wound healing. Overall, the DNAgel band-aid with great hemostatic capacity is a promising candidate for rapid hemostasis and wound healing.

Self-assembled methodologies for the construction of DNA nanostructures and biological applications.

Over the past decades, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as a versatile building block, has been widely employed to construct functionalized nanostructures. Among the diverse types of materials, DNA related nanostructures have gained growing attention due to their intrinsic programmability, favorable biocompatibility, and strong molecular recognition capability. The conventional construction strategy for building DNA structures is based on Watson-Crick base-pairing rules, which are mainly driven by the hydrogen bonding of bases. However, hydrogen bonding-based DNA nanostructures cannot meet the requirements of specific morphology and multifunctionality. Currently, various functional elements have been introduced to expand the synthetic methodologies for constructing the DNA hybrid nanostructures, including small molecules, peptide polymers, organic ligands and transition metal ions. Besides, the potential applications for these DNA hybrid nanostructures have also been explored. It has been demonstrated that DNA hybrid structures with various properties can be extensively applied in the fields of magnetic resonance, luminescence imaging, biomedical detection, and drug delivery systems. In this review, we highlight the pioneering contributions to the methodologies of DNA-based nanostructure assembly. Furthermore, the recent advances in drug delivery systems and biomedical diagnosis based on DNA hybrid nanostructures are briefly summarized.

Activation of NOTCH signaling impedes cell proliferation and survival in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.

The genetic lesions that drive acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) have not been fully elucidated. To search for genetic alterations in AMKL, we performed targeted deep sequencing in 34 AMKL patient samples and 8 AMKL cell lines and detected frequent genetic mutations in the NOTCH pathway in addition to previously reported alterations in GATA-1 and the JAK-STAT pathway. Pharmacological and genetic NOTCH activation, but not inhibition, significantly suppressed AMKL cell proliferation in both in vitro and in vivo assays employing a patient-derived xenograft model. These results suggest that NOTCH inactivation underlies AMKL leukemogenesis. and NOTCH activation holds the potential for therapeutic application in AMKL.

Innovative Delivery System Combining CRISPR-Cas12f for Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global challenge, demanding innovative approaches, such as the CRISPR-Cas-mediated resistance plasmid or gene-curing system, to effectively combat this urgent crisis. To enable successful curing of antimicrobial genes or plasmids through CRISPR-Cas technology, the development of an efficient broad-host-range delivery system is paramount. In this study, we have successfully designed and constructed a novel functional gene delivery plasmid, pQ-mini, utilizing the backbone of a broad-host-range Inc.Q plasmid. Moreover, we have integrated the CRISPR-Cas12f system into the pQ-mini plasmid to enable gene-curing in broad-host of bacteria. Our findings demonstrate that pQ-mini facilitates the highly efficient transfer of genetic elements to diverse bacteria, particularly in various species in the order of Enterobacterales, exhibiting a broader host range and superior conjugation efficiency compared to the commonly used pMB1-like plasmid. Notably, pQ-mini effectively delivers the CRISPR-Cas12f system to antimicrobial-resistant strains, resulting in remarkable curing efficiencies for plasmid-borne mcr-1 or blaKPC genes that are comparable to those achieved by the previously reported pCasCure system. In conclusion, our study successfully establishes and optimizes pQ-mini as a broad-host-range functional gene delivery vector. Furthermore, in combination with the CRISPR-Cas system, pQ-mini demonstrates its potential for broad-host delivery, highlighting its promising role as a novel antimicrobial tool against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Nicotinate-curcumin improves NASH by inhibiting the AKR1B10/ACCα-mediated triglyceride synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prevalent chronic liver condition. However, the potential therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanism of nicotinate-curcumin (NC) in the treatment of NASH remain uncertain. METHODS: A rat model of NASH induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet was treated with nicotinate-curcumin (NC, 20, 40 mg·kg- 1), curcumin (Cur, 40 mg·kg- 1) and metformin (Met, 50 mg·kg- 1) for a duration of 4 weeks. The interaction between NASH, Cur and Aldo-Keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) was filter and analyzed using network pharmacology. The interaction of Cur, NC and AKR1B10 was analyzed using molecular docking techniques, and the binding energy of Cur and NC with AKR1B10 was compared. HepG2 cells were induced by Ox-LDL (25 µg·ml- 1, 24 h) in high glucose medium. NC (20µM, 40µM), Cur (40µM) Met (150µM) and epalrestat (Epa, 75µM) were administered individually. The activities of ALT, AST, ALP and the levels of LDL, HDL, TG, TC and FFA in serum were quantified using a chemiluminescence assay. Based on the changes in the above indicators, score according to NAS standards. The activities of Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA were measured using an ELISA assay. And the expression and cellular localization of AKR1B10 and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCα) in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The results of the animal experiments demonstrated that NASH rat model induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet exhibited pronounced dysfunction in liver function and lipid metabolism. Additionally, there was a significant increase in serum levels of FFA and TG, as well as elevated expression of AKR1B10 and ACCα, and heightened activity of Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA in liver tissue. The administration of NC showed to enhance liver function in rats with NASH, leading to reductions in ALT, AST and ALP levels, and decrease in blood lipid and significant inhibition of FFA and TG synthesis in the liver. Network pharmacological analysis identified AKR1B10 and ACCα as potential targets for NASH treatment. Molecular docking studies revealed that both Cur and NC are capable of binding to AKR1B10, with NC exhibiting a stronger binding energy to AKR1B10. Western blot analysis demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of AKR1B10 and ACCα in the liver tissue of NASH rats, accompanied by elevated Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA activity, and increased levels of FFA and TG. The results of the HepG2 cell experiments induced by Ox-LDL suggest that NC significantly inhibited the expression and co-localization of AKR1B10 and ACCα, while also reduced levels of TC and LDL-C and increased level of HDL-C. These effects are accompanied by a decrease in the activities of ACCα and Malonyl-CoA, and levels of FFA and TG. Furthermore, the impact of NC appears to be more pronounced compared to Cur. CONCLUSION: NC could effectively treat NASH and improve liver function and lipid metabolism disorder. The mechanism of NC is related to the inhibition of AKR1B10/ACCα pathway and FFA/TG synthesis of liver.

GM1 Ameliorates Neuronal Injury in Rats after Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion: Potential Contribution of Effects on SPTBN1-mediated Signaling.

Monosialoganglioside GM1 (GM1) has long been used as a therapeutic agent for neurological diseases in the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective function of GM1 is still obscure until now. In this study, we investigated the effects of GM1 in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) brain injury models. Middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats were treated with GM1 (60 mg·kg-1·d-1, tail vein injection) for 2 weeks. The results showed that GM1 substantially attenuated the MCAO/R-induced neurological dysfunction and inhibited the inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis in ischemic parietal cortex. We further revealed that GM1 inhibited the activation of NFκB/MAPK signaling pathway induced by MCAO/R injury. To explore its underlying mechanism of the neuroprotective effect, transcriptome sequencing was introduced to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By function enrichment and PPI network analyses, Sptbn1 was identified as a node gene in the network regulated by GM1 treatment. In the MCAO/R model of rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) model of primary culture of rat cortical neurons, we first found that SPTBN1 was involved in the attenuation of I/R induced neuronal injury after GM1 administration. In SPTBN1-knockdown SH-SY5Y cells, the treatment with GM1 (20 µM) significantly increased SPTBN1 level. Moreover, OGD/R decreased SPTBN1 level in SPTBN1-overexpressed SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicated that GM1 might achieve its potent neuroprotective effects by regulating inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, and cytomembrane and cytoskeleton signals through SPTBN1. Therefore, SPTBN1 may be a potential target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Characterization of Salmonella Phage P1-CTX and the Potential Mechanism Underlying the Acquisition of the blaCTX-M-27 Gene.

The P1 phage has garnered attention as a carrier of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Enterobacteriaceae. However, the transferability of ARGs by P1-like phages carrying ARGs, in addition to the mechanism underlying ARG acquisition, remain largely unknown. In this study, we elucidated the biological characteristics, the induction and transmission abilities, and the acquisition mechanism of the blaCTX-M-27 gene in the P1 phage. The P1-CTX phage exhibited distinct lytic plaques and possessed a complete head and tail structure. Additionally, the P1-CTX phage was induced successfully under various conditions, including UV exposure, heat treatment at 42 °C, and subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics. Moreover, the P1-CTX phage could mobilize the blaCTX-M-27 gene into three strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the following seven different serotypes of Salmonella: Rissen, Derby, Kentucky, Typhimurium, Cerro, Senftenberg, and Muenster. The mechanism underlying ARG acquisition by the P1-CTX phage involved Tn1721 transposition-mediated movement of blaCTX-M-27 into the ref and mat genes within its genome. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the dynamic processes of ARG acquisition by a phage. Furthermore, this study enriches the research on the mechanism underlying the phage acquisition of drug resistance genes and provides a basis for determining the risk of drug resistance during phage transmission.

VGluT2 neuron subtypes in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus regulate depression in paraquat-induced Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease and approximately one third of patients with PD are estimated to experience depression. Paraquat (PQ) is the most widely used herbicide worldwide and PQ exposure is reported to induce PD with depression. However, the specific brain region and neural networks underlying the etiology of depression in PD, especially in the PQ-induced model, have not yet been elucidated. Here, we report that the VGluT2-positive glutamatergic neurons in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) promote depression in the PQ-induced PD mouse model. Our results show that PVTVGluT2 neurons are activated by PQ and their activation increases the susceptibility to depression in PD mice. Conversely, inhibition of PVTVGluT2 neurons reversed the depressive-behavioral changes induced by PQ. Similar to the effects of intervention the soma of PVTVGluT2 neurons, stimulation of their projections into the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) also strongly influenced depression in PD mice. PQ induced malfunctioning of the glutamate system and changes in the dendritic and synaptic morphology in the CeA through its role on PVTVGluT2 neuronal activation. In summary, our results demonstrate that PVTVGluT2 neurons are key neuronal subtypes for depression in PQ-induced PD and promote depression processes through the PVTVGluT2-CeA pathway.

An Organodiphosphate-Containing Polyoxoniobate Ring and Its Assembly into a Three-Dimensional Framework through Hydrogen Bonding.

In this work, a novel organodiphosphate-containing inorganic-organic hybrid polyoxoniobate (PONb) ring {(PO3CH2CH2PO3H)4Nb8O16}4- (Nb8P8) has been achieved by a one-pot hydrothermal method. The ring is constructed from a tetragonal {Nb8O36} motif and four {PO3CH2CH2PO3H} ligands. Interestingly, Nb8P8 can be joined together via K-H2O clusters {K2(H2O)4(OH)2} to form one-dimensional chains {[K2(H2O)4(OH)2]Nb8P8}n and further linked by {Cu(en)2}2+ (en = ethylenediamine) complexes, resulting in a three-dimensional supramolecular framework {[Cu(en)2]2[K2(H2O)4(OH)2]Nb8P8}·3en·H2O (1). 1 exhibits good chemical and thermal stability and has a high water vapor adsorption capacity of ≤224 cm3 g-1 (22.71 mol·mol-1) at 298 K, outperforming most of the known polyoxometalate-based materials. Impedance measurements prove that 1 can transfer protons with moderate conductivity. This study not only contributes to the structural diversity of organodiphosphate-containing PONbs and PONb rings but also provides a reference for the development of PONb-based materials with unique performance.

A novel radiomics-based technique for identifying vulnerable coronary plaques: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports have suggested that coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based radiomics analysis is a potentially helpful tool for assessing vulnerable plaques. We aimed to investigate whether coronary radiomic analysis of CCTA images could identify vulnerable plaques in patients with stable angina pectoris. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients initially diagnosed with stable angina pectoris. Patients were randomly divided into either the training or test dataset at an 8 : 2 ratio. Radiomics features were extracted from CCTA images. Radiomics models for predicting vulnerable plaques were developed using the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. The model performance was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC); the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to compare the diagnostic performance using the two cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients were included in the analysis. The SVM radiomics model performed well in predicting vulnerable plaques, with AUC values of 0.977 and 0.875 for the training and test cohorts, respectively. With optimal cutoff values, the radiomics model showed accuracies of 0.91 and 0.882 in the training and test cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although further larger population studies are necessary, this novel CCTA radiomics model may identify vulnerable plaques in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Development of Stable Water-Soluble Supratomic Silver Clusters Utilizing A Polyoxoniobate-Protected Strategy: Giant Core-Shell-Type Ag8@Nb162 Fluorescent Nanocluster.

Atomically precise low-nuclearity (n<10) silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have garnered significant interest due to their size-dependent optical properties and diverse applications. However, their synthesis has remained challenging, primarily due to their inherent instability. The present study introduces a new feasible approach for clustering silver ions utilizing highly negative and redox-inert polyoxoniobates (PONbs) as all-inorganic ligands. This strategy not only enables the creation of novel Ag-PONb composite nanoclusters but also facilitates the synthesis of stable low-nuclearity AgNCs. Using this method, we have successfully synthesized a small octanuclear rhombic [Ag8]6+ AgNC stabilized by six highly negative [LiNb27O75]14- polyoxoanions. This marks the first PONb-protected superatomic AgNC, designated as {Ag8@(LiNb27O75)6} (Ag8@Nb162), with an aesthetically spherical core-shell structure. The crystalline Ag8@Nb162 is stable under ambient conditions, What's more, it is water-soluble and able to maintain its molecular cluster structure intact in water. Further, the stable small [Ag8]6+ AgNC has interesting temperature- and pH-dependent reversible fluorescence response, based on which a multiple optical encryption mode for anti-counterfeit technology was demonstrated. This work offers a promising avenue for the synthesis of fascinating and stable PONb-protected AgNCs and sheds light on the development of new-type optical functional materials.

Microglial exosomes in paraquat-induced Parkinson's disease: Neuroprotection and biomarker clues.

The exact mechanisms underlying the initiation and exacerbation of Parkinson's disease (PD) by paraquat remain unclear. We have revealed that exosomes mediate neurotoxicity induced by low dose paraquat exposure by transmitting intercellular signaling. Exposure to 40 µM paraquat promoted exosome release from mouse microglia cells (BV2) in vitro. Paraquat exposure at 100 µM caused degeneration of mouse dopaminergic MN9D cells and inhibited microglia exosome uptake by fluorescently labeling exosomes. We established an incubation model for exosomes and dopaminergic neuron cells under PQ treatment. The results indicated that microglial exosomes alleviated degeneration, increasing proliferation and PD-related protein expression of dopaminergic neurons; however, paraquat reversed this effect. Then, through exosome high-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR experiments, miR-92a-3p and miR-24-3p were observed to transfer from exosomes to dopaminergic neurons, inhibited by paraquat. The specificity of miR-92a-3p and miR-24-3p was verified in PD patients exosomes, indicating the potential diagnostic value of the exosomal miRNAs in paraquat-induced PD. These results suggest glia-neuron communication in paraquat-induced neurodegeneration and may identify stable paraquat-mediated PD biomarkers, offering clues for early recognition and prevention of pesticide-induced degenerative diseases.