Frequency of lymph node metastases at different neck levels in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, neck dissection is a standard treatment for the majority of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. However, the procedure can lead to a series of complications, significantly reducing patient quality of life and even affecting the antitumor immune response in patients undergoing immunotherapy. Therefore, in the era of precision surgery, gaining a deeper understanding of the patterns of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in OSCC is crucial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, WANFANGDATA and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (inception to April 10, 2024). In addition, a manual searching was conducted in Scopus, Google Scholar, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). We included observational studies that evaluated the frequency of LNM in OSCC patients. Systematic review and a random effects model meta-analysis were performed. RESULTS: The search identified 4694 articles, of which 17 studies included in our study. We calculated the frequency of LNM according to the data reported in the articles. Frequency of LNM=number of patients with positive lymph node / number of patients with OSCC. The frequency of LNM was 12% in level I (95%CI: 0.11 to 0.15, I2=38.01%), 20% in level II (95%CI: 0.17 to 0.22, I2=47.71%), 10% in level III (95%CI: 0.08 to 0.12, I2=49.10%), 2% in level VI (95%CI: 0.01 to 0.03, I2=27.58%), 1% in level V (95%CI: 0.00 to 0.01, I2=11.37%). CONCLUSION: The frequency of LNM is consistent with the "cascade theory" and appears to be no significant difference from different primary sites. The frequency of LNM were low in levels I-III and were very low in level IV-V which implicated that more conservative treatments may be considered for OSCC in the future. This study will help clinicians better determine the extent of surgery and preserve lymph nodes during neck dissection.

Erratum: Exosomal miR-125b-5p deriving from mesenchymal stem cells promotes tubular repair by suppression of p53 in ischemic acute kidney injury: Erratum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7150/thno.54550.].

CD8 T cells induce the peritubular capillary rarefaction during AKI to CKD transition.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) transformed to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical clinical issue characterized by tubulointerstitial inflammation (TII) and fibrosis. However, the exact mechanism remains largely unclear. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to obtain a high-resolution profile of T cells in AKI to CKD transition with a mice model of unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (uIRI). We found that T cells accumulated increasingly with the progression of AKI to CKD, which was categorized into 9 clusters. A notably increased proportion of CD8 T cells via self-proliferation occurred in the early stage of AKI was identified. Further study revealed that the CD8 T cells were recruited through CXCL16-CXCR6 pathway mediated by macrophages. Notably, CD8 T cells induced endothelial cell apoptosis via Fas ligand-Fas signaling. Consistently, increased CD8 T cell infiltration accompanied with peritubular capillaries (PTCs) rarefaction was observed in uIRI mice. More impressively, the loss of PTCs and renal fibrosis was remarkably ameliorated after the elimination of CD8 T cells. In summary, our study provides a novel insight into the role of CD8 T cells in the transition from AKI to CKD via induction of PTCs rarefaction, which could suggest a promising therapeutic target for AKI.

Adjuvants for cancer mRNA vaccines in the era of nanotechnology: strategies, applications, and future directions.

Research into mRNA vaccines is advancing rapidly, with proven efficacy against coronavirus disease 2019 and promising therapeutic potential against a variety of solid tumors. Adjuvants, critical components of mRNA vaccines, significantly enhance vaccine effectiveness and are integral to numerous mRNA vaccine formulations. However, the development and selection of adjuvant platforms are still in their nascent stages, and the mechanisms of many adjuvants remain poorly understood. Additionally, the immunostimulatory capabilities of certain novel drug delivery systems (DDS) challenge the traditional definition of adjuvants, suggesting that a revision of this concept is necessary. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of the mechanisms and applications of adjuvants and self-adjuvant DDS. It thoroughly addresses existing issues mentioned above and details three main challenges of immune-related adverse event, unclear mechanisms, and unsatisfactory outcomes in old age group in the design and practical application of cancer mRNA vaccine adjuvants. Ultimately, this review proposes three optimization strategies which consists of exploring the mechanisms of adjuvant, optimizing DDS, and improving route of administration to improve effectiveness and application of adjuvants and self-adjuvant DDS.

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.

Short-term responses of soil enzyme activities and stoichiometry to litter input in Castanopsis carlesii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations.

Litter input triggers the secretion of soil extracellular enzymes and facilitates the release of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from decomposing litter. However, how soil extracellular enzyme activities were controlled by litter input with various substrates is not fully understood. We examined the activities and stoichiometry of five enzymes including ß-1,4-glucosidase, ß-D-cellobiosidase, ß-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase and acidic phosphatase (AP) with and without litter input in 10-year-old Castanopsis carlesii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations monthly during April to August, in October, and in December 2021 by using an in situ microcosm experiment. The results showed that: 1) There was no significant effect of short-term litter input on soil enzyme activity, stoichiometry, and vector properties in C. carlesii plantation. In contrast, short-term litter input significantly increased the AP activity by 1.7% in May and decreased the enzymatic C/N ratio by 3.8% in August, and decreased enzymatic C/P and N/P ratios by 11.7% and 10.3%, respectively, in October in C. lanceolata plantation. Meanwhile, litter input increased the soil enzymatic vector angle to 53.8° in October in C. lanceolata plantations, suggesting a significant P limitation for soil microorganisms. 2) Results from partial least squares regression analyses showed that soil dissolved organic matter and microbial biomass C and N were the primary factors in explaining the responses of soil enzymatic activity to short-term litter input in both plantations. Overall, input of low-quality (high C/N) litter stimulates the secretion of soil extracellular enzymes and accelerates litter decomposition. There is a P limitation for soil microorganisms in the study area.

Distinctive Craniofacial and Oral Anomalies in MN1 C-terminal Truncation Syndrome.

MN1 C-terminal truncation (MCTT) syndrome was first reported in 2020 and only 28 patients have been recorded to date. Since MCTT syndrome is a newly defined and rare syndrome with many clinical features, the present study reviewed the manifestations and management of oral and dental anomalies. Gene variants of MCTT syndrome and their positive phenotypes were summarised. The phenotypes of variants in two exons differed from each other mainly in the craniomaxillofacial region, including brain MRI abnormalities and palatal morphology. Pathogenic mechanisms, especially in craniofacial and oral anomalies, were discussed. Appropriate treatments in the stomatology and respiratory departments could improve the symptoms of MCTT syndrome. The different sites of MN1 gene variants may influence the clinical symptoms and there may be racial differences in MCTT syndrome. We recommend oral and pulmonary evaluations for the multidisciplinary treatment of MCTT syndrome.

Pulse pressure variation guided goal-direct fluid therapy decreases postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The use of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) has been shown to reduce complications and improve prognosis in high-risk abdominal surgery patients. However, the utilization of pulse pressure variation (PPV) guided GDFT in laparoscopic surgery remains a subject of debate. We hypothesized that utilizing PPV guidance for GDFT would optimize short-term prognosis in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer compared to conventional fluid therapy. METHODS: Elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer were randomized to receive either PPV guided GDFT or conventional fluid therapy and explore whether PPV guided GDFT can optimize the short-term prognosis of elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer compared with conventional fluid therapy. RESULTS: The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the PPV group compared to the control group (32.8% vs. 57.1%, P = .009). Additionally, the PPV group had a lower occurrence of gastrointestinal dysfunction (19.0% vs. 39.3%, P = .017) and postoperative pneumonia (8.6% vs. 23.2%, P = .033) than the control group. CONCLUSION: Utilizing PPV as a monitoring index for GDFT can improve short-term prognosis in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300067361; date of registration: January 5, 2023.

Mitochondrial fumarate promotes ischemia/reperfusion-induced tubular injury.

AIM: Mitochondrial dysfunction, a characteristic pathological feature of renal Ischemic/reperfusion injury (I/RI), predisposes tubular epithelial cells to maintain an inflammatory microenvironment, however, the exact mechanisms through which mitochondrial dysfunction modulates the induction of tubular injury remains incompletely understood. METHODS: ESI-QTRAP-MS/MS approach was used to characterize the targeted metabolic profiling of kidney with I/RI. Tubule injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, and fumarate level were evaluated using qPCR, transmission electron microscopy, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We demonstrated that tubule injury occurred at the phase of reperfusion in murine model of I/RI. Meanwhile, enhanced glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction were found to be associated with tubule injury. Further, we found that tubular fumarate, which resulted from fumarate hydratase deficiency and released from dysfunctional mitochondria, promoted tubular injury. Mechanistically, fumarate induced tubular injury by causing disturbance of glutathione (GSH) hemostasis. Suppression of GSH with buthionine sulphoximine administration could deteriorate the fumarate inhibition-mediated tubule injury recovery. Reactive oxygen species/NF-κB signaling activation played a vital role in fumarate-mediated tubule injury. CONCLUSION: Our studies demonstrated that the mitochondrial-derived fumarate promotes tubular epithelial cell injury in renal I/RI. Blockade of fumarate-mediated ROS/NF-κB signaling activation may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to ameliorate hypoxic tubule injury.

Revelation of the discrepancy of volatile compounds in fig (Ficus carica) via gas chromatography ion-mobility spectrometry.

The volatile compounds of fig (Ficus carica) are influenced by various factors. To explore the composition and difference of volatile compounds among figs, gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to study the volatiles of figs from various regions, diverse cultivars, and after treatment with different drying methods. Aldehydes were the main volatile compounds in Bojihong from Shandong, while esters, ketones, and alcohols were the main volatile compounds in Bojihong from Sichuan and Guangdong. The volatiles of Branswick and Banane were similar, but differed significantly from those of Bojihong. Drying had the most significant effect on fig volatiles, which greatly reduced the content of benzaldehyde, (E)-2-hexenal, 2-methylbutanal aldehydes, lost the content of esters such as isoamyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and generated some ketones and ethers. The results showed that Bojihong from Shandong was more suitable for the processing of subsequent fig drying products.

Derivation of human primordial germ cell-like cells in an embryonic-like culture.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of sperm and eggs. They transmit genetic and epigenetic information across generations. Given the prominent role of germline defects in diseases such as infertility, detailed understanding of human PGC (hPGC) development has important implications in reproductive medicine and studying human evolution. Yet, hPGC specification remains an elusive process. Here, we report the induction of hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) in a bioengineered human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture that mimics peri-implantation human development. In this culture, amniotic ectoderm-like cells (AMLCs), derived from hPSCs, induce hPGCLC specification from hPSCs through paracrine signaling downstream of ISL1. Our data further show functional roles of NODAL, WNT, and BMP signaling in hPGCLC induction. hPGCLCs are successfully derived from eight non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) participant-derived hPSC lines using this biomimetic platform, demonstrating its promise for screening applications.

[Using Biochar and Iron-calcium Material to Remediate Paddy Soil Contaminated by Cadmium and Arsenic].

In this study, iron-calcium material (FC) and hickory-cattail biochar (BC) were applied to prepare composite material (BF), which was used to repair the combined pollution of cadmium and arsenic in paddy soil to reduce the content of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in rice grain. Soil pore water, rhizosphere soil, bulk soil, rice plants, and root iron plaque samples were collected during the growth period of rice in a pot experiment to explore the effects and mechanism of FC, BC, and BF on the bioavailability of Cd and As in paddy soil and their contents in plants. The results showed that biochar could significantly (P < 0.05) increase the pH value of bulk soil (0.55-0.66 units) and rhizosphere soil (0.28-0.36 units) and elevate the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. FC material could significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the pH of bulk soil (0.14-0.27 units) and rhizosphere soil (0.38-0.41 units), as well as the soil DOC content. Iron-calcium materials and composite could simultaneously reduce the contents of available Cd and As in soil pore water, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil, whereas biochar could reduce the content of Cd but increase the content of As. Among them, a 1% addition of composite had the best effect. The available Cd and As in soil decreased by 41.8%-48.2% and 6.1%-10.1%, respectively. Biochar, iron-calcium materials, and composites improved plant biomass (dry weight of root, stem, leaf, and grain). For example, the dry weights of rice grains under these treatments were higher (48.5%-184.0%) than that of CK, as was the root iron plaque content (7.5%-13.6%). Compared with that in the CK, biochar could effectively reduce the Cd content in rice grain by 21.0%-26.1%. Iron-calcium material and composite could simultaneously reduce the Cd and As contents in rice grain. Among them, the BF treatment had the best effect on the reduction of Cd and As in rice grain, with a decrease of 36.9%-42.0% and 40.4%-44.4%, respectively. The Cd and As contents in rice grain were lower than the national standard values (GB 2762-2017).

Electroacupuncture alleviates ciliary muscle cell apoptosis in lens-induced myopic guinea pigs through inhibiting the mitochondrial signaling pathway.

AIM: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway in the ciliary muscle of guinea pigs with negative lens-induced myopia (LIM). METHODS: Guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, LIM group, LIM+SHAM acupoint (LIM+SHAM) group, and LIM+EA group. Animals in the NC group received no intervention, while those in other three groups were covered with -6.0 diopter (D) lenses on right eyes. Meanwhile, animals in the LIM+EA group received EA at Hegu (LI4) combined with Taiyang (EX-HN5) acupoints, while those in the LIM+SHAM group were treated at sham points. After treatments for 1, 2, and 4wk, morphological changes in ciliary muscles were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the expression of the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway-related molecules in ciliary muscles was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot. Additionally, the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents were also determined in ciliary muscles. RESULTS: Axial length increased significantly in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups and decreased in the LIM+EA group. The ciliary muscle fibers were broken and destroyed in both LIM and LIM+SHAM groups, whereas those in the LIM+EA group improved significantly. TUNEL assay showed the number of apoptotic cells increased in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups, whereas reduced in the LIM+EA group. ATP contents showed a significant decrease in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups, whereas increased after EA treatment. Compared with the NC group, the dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), Caspase3, and apoptotic protease activator 1 (APAF1) levels were significantly increased in the LIM group and decreased in the LIM+EA group. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence of EA inhibiting the development of myopia by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway.

Effect of glutamine on the systemic innate immune response in broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella pullorum.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of glutamine on the growth performance and systemic innate immune response in broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella pullorum. A total of 600 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were assigned randomly to 6 dietary treatments with 10 replicates for a 21-day feeding experiment. The experimental treatments were as follows: the control treatment (birds fed the basal diet), the Gln1 treatment, and the Gln 2 treatment (birds fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, and 1.0% Glutamine, respectively). At 3 d of age, half of the birds from each treatment were challenged oral gavage with 2.0 × 104 CFU/mL of S. pullorum suspension (1.0 mL per bird) or an equivalent amount of sterile saline alone, which served as a control. RESULTS: The results showed that S. pullorum infection had adverse effects on the average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens compared with those of the CON treatment on d 7, decreased the spleen and bursa of fabricius relative weights (except on d 21), serum immunoglobulin A (IgA),immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations, and spleen melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and laboratory of genetics and physiology gene 2 (LGP2) mRNA expression levels, and increased the mRNA expression levels of spleen Nodinitib-1 (NOD1), Toll-like receptors 2,4 (TLR2, TLR4), DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI), mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), P50, P65, and RelB on d 4, 7, 14, and 21. Supplementation with Gln improved the relative weights of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius (except on d 21), increased the serum IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations and the mRNA expression levels of spleen MDA5 and LGP2, and decreased the mRNA expression levels of spleen NOD1, TLR2, TLR4, DAI, MAVS, P50, P65, and RelB of S. pullorum-challenged broiler chickens. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Gln might stimulate the systemic innate immune responses of the spleen in broiler chickens challenged with S. pullorum.

Real-world tobacco cessation practice in China: findings from the prospective, nationwide multicenter China National Tobacco Cessation Cohort Study (CNTCCS).

Background: Tobacco cessation is proven to be the most effective and cost-effective strategy for smokers to reduce their risk of smoking-related disease and premature death. Providing effective, efficient, safe, and patient-centred tobacco cessation treatment to reach those who need them is a significant challenge. To date, only a few nationwide studies in China have assessed the overall clinical care practice and treatment outcome of tobacco cessation. Methods: This a prospective, nationwide, multicenter, cohort study covering all Eastern China, Northwest China, Central China, North China, Southwest China, Northeast China, and South China. Participants who were current smokers aged 18-85 years attending clinic for smoking cessation were included. All the participants were treated with 3-month cessation treatment and followed up for 3 months. Data were collected prospectively using online system. The primary outcome was 7-day point abstinence rate at 24 weeks, validated biochemically by an expired carbon monoxide level of less than 10 ppm. The participants lost to follow-up or not providing validation were included as non-abstainers. Findings: A representative sample of 3557 participants were recruited and 2943 participants were included into this analysis. These participants had mean age of 53.05 years, and 94.8% were males, with 75.8% showing symptoms of tobacco dependence. A total of 965 (32.8%) participants were treated with Bupropion + behavioural counselling, followed by 935 (31.8%) with behavioural counselling, 778 (26.4%) with Varenicline + behavioural counselling, 135 (4.6%) with alternative treatments + behavioural counselling, and 130 (4.4%) with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) + behavioural counselling. After 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up, 21.74% of the participants quit smoking at 24 weeks. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, quitting smoking was significantly associated with female, higher socioeconomic status, poor health condition, different treatment received, and less smoking intensity. The tobacco cessation treatment varied widely across different areas of China. In particular, the areas with higher usage of cessation medication were associated with better cessation treatment outcome. Interpretation: The CNTCCS is the first large-scale nationwide cohort study of smoking cessation in China. Rich data collected from this prospective cohort study provided the opportunity to evaluate the clinical practice of tobacco cessation treatment in China. Funding: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS 2021-I2M-1-010), Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Key Program (2022ZXJ03C02), and National Key R&D Program of China (grant no. 2017YFC1309400).

Study on the Dynamic Changes in Non-Volatile Metabolites of Rizhao Green Tea Based on Metabolomics.

The processing of tea leaves plays a crucial role in the formation of the taste of the resulting tea. In order to study the compositions of and changes in taste-related substances during the processing of Rizhao green tea, non-targeted metabolomics was used, based on UHPLC-Q Exactive MS. Totals of 529, 349, and 206 non-volatile metabolites were identified using three different detection modes, of which 112 secondary metabolites were significantly changed. Significant variations in secondary metabolites were observed during processing, especially during the drying stage, and the conversion intensity levels of non-volatile metabolites were consistent with the law of "Drying > Fixation > Rolling". The DOT method was used to screen tea-quality-related compounds that contributed significantly to the taste of Rizhao green tea, including (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, gallic acid, L-theanine, and L-leucine, which make important contributions to taste profiles, such as umami and bitterness. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism perform key roles in the processing of Rizhao green tea in different processing stages. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for tea processing and practical advice for the food industry.

Nanotheranostics in cancer lymph node metastasis: The long road ahead.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly impacts the prognosis of cancer patients. Despite significant advancements in diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities, clinical challenges continue to persist in the realm of LNM. These include difficulties in early diagnosis, limited treatment efficacy, and potential side effects and injuries associated with treatment. Nanotheranostics, a field within nanotechnology, seamlessly integrates diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities. Its primary goal is to provide precise and effective disease diagnosis and treatment simultaneously. The development of nanotheranostics for LNM offers a promising solution for the stratified management of patients with LNM and promotes the advancement of personalized medicine. This review introduces the mechanisms of LNM and challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, it demonstrates the advantages and development potential of nanotheranostics, focuses on the challenges nanotheranostics face in its application, and provides an outlook on future trends. We consider nanotheranostics a promising strategy to improve clinical effectiveness and efficiency as well as the prognosis of cancer patients with LNM.

Potential regulatory role of the Nrf2/HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that involves multiple organ systems. One of its major complications, lupus nephritis (LN), is associated with a high mortality rate, and children-onset LN have a more severe course and worse prognosis than adults. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are involved in LN development and pathogenesis. Thus, this study aimed to explore the role of signaling regulation of the Nrf2/HMGB1/TLR/NF-κB pathway in LN pathogenesis and unravel the expression of TLR4+CXCR4+ plasma cells subset (PCs) in LN. METHODS: C57BL/6 and MRL/lpr mice were divided into four groups: control, model, vector control, and Nrf2 overexpression groups. The vector control and Nrf2 overexpression groups were injected with adenoviral vectors into the kidney in situ. Pathological changes in kidney tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of Nrf2, HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB, and downstream inflammatory factors in kidney samples was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ratios of TLR4+CXCR4+ PC subsets in the blood and kidneys of mice were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In MRL/lpr mice, Nrf2 was downregulated while HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway proteins were upregulated. Nrf2 overexpression decreased the expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB, and its downstream inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and TNFα). These cytokines were negatively correlated with an increase in Nrf2 content. PC and TLR4 + CXCR4 + PCs in the blood and kidney samples were significantly increased in MRL/lpr mice; however, they were decreased upon Nrf2 overexpression. CONCLUSION: This study showed severe kidney injury in an LN mouse model and an increased ratio of TLR4 + CXCR4 + PCs. Furthermore, we observed that Nrf2 regulates LN immune response through the Nrf2/HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which can be considered an important target for LN treatment. The clinical value of the findings of our study requires further investigation.

Real-Time Imaging of Single Viral mRNA Translation in Live Cells Using CRISPR/dCas13.

Translation is one of the many critical cellular activities regulated by viruses following host-cell invasion, and studies of viral mRNA translation kinetics and subcellular localization require techniques for the dynamic, real-time visualization of translation. However, conventional tools for imaging mRNA translation often require coding region modifications that may affect native translation. Here, we achieve dynamic imaging of translation with a tool that labels target mRNAs with unmodified coding regions using a CRISPR/dCas13 system with specific complementary paired guide RNAs. This system enables a real-time dynamic visualization of the translation process and is a promising tool for further investigations of the mechanisms of translation.