ABSTRACT
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.983410.].
ABSTRACT
Soil visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy is an effective tool for the rapid estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC). The development of spectroscopic technology has increased the application of spectral libraries for SOC research. However, the direct application of spectral libraries for SOC prediction remains challenging due to the high variability in soil types and soil-forming factors. This study aims to address this challenge by improving SOC prediction accuracy through spectral classification. We utilized the European Land Use and Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) large-scale spectral library and employed a geographically weighted principal component analysis (GWPCA) combined with a fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm to classify the spectra. Subsequently, we used partial least squares regression (PLSR) and the Cubist model for SOC prediction. Additionally, we classified the soil data by land cover types and compared the classification prediction results with those obtained from spectral classification. The results showed that (1) the GWPCA-FCM-Cubist model yielded the best predictions, with an average accuracy of R2 = 0.83 and RPIQ = 2.95, representing improvements of 10.33% and 18.00% in R2 and RPIQ, respectively, compared to unclassified full sample modeling. (2) The accuracy of spectral classification modeling based on GWPCA-FCM was significantly superior to that of land cover type classification modeling. Specifically, there was a 7.64% and 14.22% improvement in R2 and RPIQ, respectively, under PLSR, and a 13.36% and 29.10% improvement in R2 and RPIQ, respectively, under Cubist. (3) Overall, the prediction accuracy of Cubist models was better than that of PLSR models. These findings indicate that the application of GWPCA and FCM clustering in conjunction with the Cubist modeling technique can significantly enhance the prediction accuracy of SOC from large-scale spectral libraries.
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Mitochondrial dysfunction and Müller cells gliosis are significant pathological characteristics of retinal degeneration (RD) and causing blinding. Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for RD, the recently accepted therapeutic mechanism is cell fusion induced materials transfer. However, whether materials including mitochondrial transfer between grafted stem cells and recipient's cells contribute to suppressing gliosis and mechanism are unclear. In present study, we demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transferred mitochondria to Müller cells by cell fusion and tunneling nanotubes. BMSCs-derived mitochondria (BMSCs-mito) were integrated into mitochondrial network of Müller cells, improving mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress and gliosis, which protected visual function partially in the degenerative rat retina. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that BMSCs-mito increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and facilitated mitochondrial fusion in damaged Müller cells. It suggests that mitochondrial transfer from BMSCs remodels Müller cells metabolism and suppresses gliosis; thus, delaying the degenerative progression of RD.
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Germ granules are biomolecular condensates present in most animal germ cells. One function of germ granules is to help maintain germ cell totipotency by organizing mRNA regulatory machinery, including small RNA-based gene regulatory pathways. The C. elegans germ granule is compartmentalized into multiple subcompartments whose biological functions are largely unknown. Here, we identify an uncharted subcompartment of the C. elegans germ granule, which we term the E granule. The E granule is nonrandomly positioned within the germ granule. We identify five proteins that localize to the E granule, including the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) EGO-1, the Dicer-related helicase DRH-3, the Tudor domain-containing protein EKL-1, and two intrinsically disordered proteins, EGC-1 and ELLI-1. Localization of EGO-1 to the E granule enables synthesis of a specialized class of 22G RNAs, which derive exclusively from 5' regions of a subset of germline-expressed mRNAs. Defects in E granule assembly elicit disordered production of endogenous siRNAs, which disturbs fertility and the RNAi response. Our results define a distinct subcompartment of the C. elegans germ granule and suggest that one function of germ granule compartmentalization is to facilitate the localized production of specialized classes of small regulatory RNAs.
Subject(s)
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins , Caenorhabditis elegans , Cytoplasmic Granules , Germ Cells , Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism , Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics , Animals , Germ Cells/metabolism , Cytoplasmic Granules/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/genetics , DEAD-box RNA Helicases/metabolism , DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics , RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/metabolism , RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics , Intrinsically Disordered Proteins/metabolism , Intrinsically Disordered Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to ascertain the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among Chinese pregnant women. A total of 722 articles on maternal anemia during pregnancy published between January 2010 and December 2020 were compiled, and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on 57 eligible studies including 1,376,204 pregnant women to ascertain the prevalence of anemia and the prevalence in different subgroups. The results showed that the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among pregnant women in China were 30.7% (95% CI: 26.6%, 34.7%), 45.6% (95% CI: 37.0%, 54.2%), and 17.3% (95% CI: 13.9%, 20.7%), respectively. All prevalence increased with the progression of the pregnancy. There were sizable regional variations in the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA. Generally, lower prevalence was observed in the economically more advanced eastern region of the country, while the prevalence of ID was higher in the eastern region than that in the western region. The prevalence of anemia and IDA in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, but ID prevalence was higher in urban areas. In conclusion, the regional differences and urban-rural disparities in the prevalence of anemia indicate the need for more context-specific interventions to prevent and treat anemia. It was found that dietary factors were one of the major causes of anemia, and iron-containing supplements and nutrition counseling could be effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among Chinese pregnant women.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency , Anemia , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , China/epidemiology , Prevalence , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/epidemiology , Anemia/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic/epidemiology , Adult , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Urban Population/statistics & numerical data , Pregnant WomenABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Radiation-mediated immune suppression limits efficacy and is a barrier in cancer therapy. Radiation induces negative regulators of tumor immunity including regulatory T cells (Treg). Mechanisms underlying Treg infiltration after radiotherapy (RT) are poorly defined. Given that dendritic cells (cDC) maintain Treg we sought to identify and target cDC signaling to block Treg infiltration after radiation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Transcriptomics and high dimensional flow cytometry revealed changes in murine tumor cDC that not only mediate Treg infiltration after RT, but associate with worse survival in human cancer datasets. Antibodies perturbing a cDC-CCL22-Treg axis were tested in syngeneic murine tumors. A prototype interferon-anti-epidermal growth factor receptor fusion protein (αEGFR-IFNα) was examined to block Treg infiltration and promote a CD8+ T cell response after RT. RESULTS: Radiation expands a population of mature cDC1 enriched in immunoregulatory markers that mediates Treg infiltration via the Treg-recruiting chemokine CCL22. Blocking CCL22 or Treg depletion both enhanced RT efficacy. αEGFR-IFNα blocked cDC1 CCL22 production while simultaneously inducing an antitumor CD8+ T cell response to enhance RT efficacy in multiple EGFR-expressing murine tumor models, including following systemic administration. CONCLUSIONS: We identify a previously unappreciated cDC mechanism mediating Treg tumor infiltration after RT. Our findings suggest blocking the cDC1-CCL22-Treg axis augments RT efficacy. αEGFR-IFNα added to RT provided robust antitumor responses better than systemic free interferon administration, and may overcome clinical limitations to interferon therapy. Our findings highlight the complex behavior of cDC after RT and provide novel therapeutic strategies for overcoming RT-driven immunosuppression to improve RT efficacy.
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Porous polymers have many industrial applications, but their pore structures (open or closed) are usually fixed during polymerization. In this study, polymers with reversible and controllable pore structures, namely, thermosensitive porous hydrogels with regulated volume phase transition temperature, were prepared using a Pickering high-internal-phase emulsion as the template. Upon heating, the hydrogels transformed not only in their wettability (between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity with water contact angles of 21.8 and 100.9°) but also their pore structure (between open through-holes and closed holes with pore throat sizes of 15.58 and 0 µm, respectively) in a short time (<10 s). When the hydrogel was used as a separator in smart supercapacitors (SCs), this behavior effectively limited the path of electrolyte migration, reducing the chance of conflagration accidents. Moreover, by utilizing the highly reversible pore structures and wettability of the porous hydrogel, reversible charging and discharging were restored after the system cooled down. This work not only provides great guidance for preparing porous polymers with reversible pore structures but also paves the way for designing smart SCs with enhanced safety.
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Maternal anaemia is a major public health problem. Developing maternal anaemia prevention and control policies is an important prerequisite for carrying out evidence-based interventions. This article reviews maternal anaemia prevention and control policies in China, identifies gaps, and provides references for other countries. We examined policies concerning maternal nutrition and other related literature in China, identified through key databases and government websites, and conducted a narrative review of the relevant documentations guided by the Smith Policy-Implementing-Process framework. A total of 65 articles and documents were identified for analysis. We found that Chinese government has committed to reducing maternal anaemia at the policy level, with established objectives and a clear time frame. However, most of policies were not accompanied by operational guidelines, standardized interventions, and vigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and 85% of the policies don't have quantifiable objectives on anaemia. Maternal anaemia prevention and control services offered in clinical settings were primarily nutrition education and anaemia screening. Population-based interventions such as iron fortification have yet to be scaled up. Furthermore, medical insurance schemes in some regions do not cover anaemia prevention and treatment, and in other regions that offer coverage, the reimbursement rate is low. The number and capacity of health professionals is also limited. Policy changes should focus on the integration of evidence-based interventions into routine antenatal care services and public health service packages, standardization of dosages and provision of iron supplementation, streamline of reimbursement for outpatient expenses, and capacity building of health professionals.
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Anemia , Health Policy , Humans , Female , China , Pregnancy , Anemia/prevention & control , Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , Prenatal Care , Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Nutrition Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/prevention & control , Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic/prevention & controlABSTRACT
China is home to the second largest population of children and adolescents in the world. Yet demographic shifts mean that the government must manage the challenge of fewer children with the needs of an ageing population, while considering the delicate tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability. We mapped the health problems and risks of contemporary school-aged children and adolescents in China against current national health policies. We involved multidisciplinary experts, including young people, with the aim of identifying actionable strategies and specific recommendations to promote child and adolescent health and wellbeing. Notwithstanding major improvements in their health over the past few decades, contemporary Chinese children and adolescents face distinct social challenges, including high academic pressures and youth unemployment, and new health concerns including obesity, mental health issues, and sexually transmitted infections. Inequality by gender, geography, and ethnicity remains a feature of health risks and outcomes. We identified a mismatch between current health determinants, risks and outcomes, and government policies. To promote the health of children and adolescents in China, we recommend a set of strategies that target government-led initiatives across the health, education, and community sectors, which aim to build supportive and responsive families, safe communities, and engaging and respectful learning environments. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Health Policy , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Adolescent Health , Child Health , China , East Asian People , Health Services Needs and DemandABSTRACT
Mucin 16 (MUC16) participates in the process of embryo implantation, but few studies have examined the association between MUC16 and pregnancy loss. To investigate this association, the expression of MUC16 in serum and decidua was compared between women with pregnancy loss and ongoing pregnancies. In vitro experiments and animal models were used to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of MUC16 in pregnancy loss. In human study, the expression of MUC16 in serum and decidua was both consistently lower in the women with pregnancy loss compared with those in women with ongoing pregnancies. In vitro experiments revealed the interaction of MUC16 with peripheral blood natural killer (pNK) cells. MUC16 changed the phenotype and reduced the pro-inflammation ability of pNK cells. MUC16 also inhibited the cytotoxicity of pNK cells through the Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (SHP-ERK) pathway. Furthermore, MUC16 promoted the migration, invasion and tube formation of trophoblast cells by co-culturing together with pNK cells. In vivo experiments, the mouse model of abortion was used to further confirm that intraperitoneal administration of MUC16 could rescue the pregnancy loss. This study reveals the still-unknown connection between MUC16 and pNK cells and indicates that MUC16 provides a novel method for future prediction and treatment of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Spontaneous , CA-125 Antigen , Killer Cells, Natural , Pregnancy Outcome , Female , Pregnancy , Animals , Humans , Abortion, Spontaneous/metabolism , Mice , CA-125 Antigen/metabolism , Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/administration & dosage , Decidua/metabolism , Adult , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Trophoblasts/metabolismABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Radiotherapy (RT) is a widely employed anticancer treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that RT can elicit both tumor-inhibiting and tumor-promoting immune effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate immune suppressive factors of radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used a heterologous two-tumor model in which adaptive concomitant immunity was eliminated. RESULTS: Through analysis of PD-L1 expression and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) frequencies using patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells and murine two-tumor and metastasis models, we report that local irradiation can induce a systemic increase in MDSC, as well as PD-L1 expression on dendritic cells and myeloid cells, and thereby increase the potential for metastatic dissemination in distal, nonirradiated tissue. In a mouse model using two distinct tumors, we found that PD-L1 induction by ionizing radiation was dependent on elevated chemokine CXCL10 signaling. Inhibiting PD-L1 or MDSC can potentially abrogate RT-induced metastasis and improve clinical outcomes for patients receiving RT. CONCLUSIONS: Blockade of PD-L1/CXCL10 axis or MDSC infiltration during irradiation can enhance abscopal tumor control and reduce metastasis.
Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen , Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells , Animals , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Mice , Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells/immunology , Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells/metabolism , Humans , Neoplasm Metastasis , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Disease Models, Animal , Chemokine CXCL10/metabolismABSTRACT
Rice sheath blight (RSB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a significant disease of rice. The negative effects of chemical fungicides have created an urgent need for low-toxicity botanical fungicides. Our previous research revealed that the ethanol crude extract of Moutan Cortex (MC) exhibited superior antifungal activity against R. solani at 1000â µg/mL, resulting in a 100 % inhibition rate. The antifungal properties were mainly found in the petroleum ether extract. However, the active ingredients of the extract are still unclear. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was utilised for the analysis of its chemical components. The mycelium growth rate method was utilized to detect the antifungal activity. The findings indicated that paeonol constituted the primary active component, with a content of more than 96 %. Meanwhile, paeonol was the most significant antifungal active ingredient, the antifungal activity of paeonol (EC50=44.83â µg/mL) was much higher than that of ß-sitosterol and ethyl propionate against R. solani. Observation under an optical microscope revealed that paeonol resulted in abnormal mycelial morphology. This study provided theoretical support for identifying monomer antifungal compounds and developing biological fungicides for R. solani.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Paeonia , Rhizoctonia , Rhizoctonia/drug effects , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Antifungal Agents/chemistry , Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification , Paeonia/chemistry , Acetophenones/pharmacology , Acetophenones/chemistry , Acetophenones/isolation & purification , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , Dose-Response Relationship, DrugABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unlike in lower vertebrates, Müller glia (MG) in adult mammalian retinas lack the ability to reprogram into neurons after retinal injury or degeneration and exhibit reactive gliosis instead. Whether a transition in MG cell fate from gliosis to reprogramming would help preserve photoreceptors is still under exploration. METHODS: A mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) was established using MG cell lineage tracing mice by intraperitoneal injection of sodium iodate (SI). The critical time point for the fate determination of MG gliosis was determined through immunohistochemical staining methods. Then, bulk-RNA and single-cell RNA seq techniques were used to elucidate the changes in RNA transcription of the retina and MG at that time point, and new genes that may determine the fate transition of MG were screened. Finally, the selected gene was specifically overexpressed in MG cells through adeno-associated viruses (AAV) in the mouse RP model. Bulk-RNA seq technique, immunohistochemical staining methods, and visual function testing were used to elucidate and validate the mechanism of new genes function on MG cell fate transition and retinal function. RESULTS: Here, we found the critical time point for MG gliosis fate determination was 3 days post SI injection. Hmga2 was screened out as a candidate regulator for the cell fate transition of MG. After retinal injury caused by SI, the Hmga2 protein is temporarily and lowly expressed in MG cells. Overexpression of Hmga2 in MG down-regulated glial cell related genes and up-regulated photoreceptor related genes. Besides, overexpressing Hmga2 exclusively to MG reduced MG gliosis, made MG obtain cone's marker, and retained visual function in mice with acute retinal injury. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested the unique reprogramming properties of Hmga2 in regulating the fate transition of MG and neuroprotective effects on the retina with acute injury. This work uncovers the reprogramming ability of epigenetic factors in MG.
Subject(s)
Ependymoglial Cells , Retinitis Pigmentosa , Animals , Mice , Ependymoglial Cells/metabolism , Gliosis/metabolism , HMGA2 Protein/metabolism , Retina/metabolism , Retinitis Pigmentosa/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , RNA/metabolism , Neuroglia/metabolism , MammalsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Inequalities in job opportunities and income prompts many Chinese parents to leave rural regions to work in urban regions. Their children are left behind in rural regions, subjected to worse quality of childcare that jeopardizes their development. This study aimed to examine the association between quality of childcare and delayed child development in under-three years children left behind in China. METHODS: Cross-sectional national survey was conducted in children left behind in rural China in 2017. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop a quality of childcare index. Mutlilevel analyses determined factors associated with quality of childcare and child development on a province and individual level. RESULT: The largest population of at-risk children left behind were found in higher-GDP provinces. Children left behind had the lowest mean quality of childcare score. Multilevel analysis found that province level accounted for a great proportion of variance observed. CONCLUSIONS: While migration to urban regions for work may improve household income, a trade-off in worse quality of childcare and developmental delays exists. With improving household income often being the greatest contributing factor for parental migration, policies to reduce inequalities in job opportunities and wealth between rural and urban regions are required. IMPACT: Previous studies identified higher prevalence of developmental delays in children left behind in China. However, quality of childcare has not been examined. Based on WHO's Nurturing Care Framework, we developed a quality of childcare index to assess its association with child development in children left behind. Greatest proportion of children left behind at-risk of developmental delays resided in higher-GDP states, indicating a trade-off in worse quality of childcare and developmental delays. Since improving household income is the main factor for parental migration, policies to close inequalities in job opportunities and wealth between rural and urban regions are required.
Subject(s)
Child Care , Child Development , Child , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Income , China/epidemiology , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Retinal degeneration (RD), a group of diseases leading to irreversible vision loss, is characterised by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or retinal neuron damage and loss. With fewer risks of immune rejection and tumorigenesis, stem cell-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a new cell-free therapeutic paradigm for RD, which remains to be investigated. Human retinal organoid-derived retinal progenitor cells (hERO-RPCs) are an easily accessible and advanced cell source for RD treatment. However, hERO-RPCs-derived EVs require further characterisation. Here, we compared the characteristics of EVs from hERO-RPCs (hRPC-EVs) with those of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived EVs (hESC-EVs) as controls. Based on in-depth proteomic analysis, we revealed remarkable differences between hRPC-EVs and hESC-EVs. A comparison between EVs and their respective cells of origin demonstrated that the protein loading of hRPC-EVs was more selective than that of hESC-EVs. In particular, hESC-EVs were enriched with proteins related to angiogenesis and cell cycle, whereas hRPC-EVs were enriched with proteins associated with immune modulation and retinal development. More importantly, compared with that of hESC-EVs, hRPC-EVs exhibited a lower correlation with cell proliferation and a unique capacity to regulate lipid metabolism. It was further confirmed that hRPC-EVs potentially eliminated lipid deposits, inhibited lipotoxicity and oxidative stress, and enhanced phagocytosis and survival of oleic acid-treated ARPE-19 cells. Mechanistically, hRPC-EVs are integrated into the mitochondrial network of oleic acid-treated ARPE-19 cells, and increased the level of mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation-related proteins. Thus, organoid-derived hRPC-EVs represent a promising source of cell-free therapy for RD, especially for blinding diseases related to abnormal lipid metabolism in RPE cells.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Vesicles , Human Embryonic Stem Cells , Humans , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism , Proteomics , Oleic Acid/metabolism , Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism , Human Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , Organoids/metabolism , Lipid MetabolismABSTRACT
Activation of TGF-ß signaling serves as an extrinsic resistance mechanism that limits the potential for radiotherapy. Bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) antagonizes TGF-ß signaling and is implicated in cancer progression. However, the molecular mechanisms of BAMBI regulation in immune cells and its impact on antitumor immunity after radiation have not been established. Here, we show that ionizing radiation (IR) specifically reduces BAMBI expression in immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in both murine models and humans. Mechanistically, YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein F2 (YTHDF2) directly binds and degrades Bambi transcripts in an N6-methyladenosine-dependent (m6A-dependent) manner, and this relies on NF-κB signaling. BAMBI suppresses the tumor-infiltrating capacity and suppression function of MDSCs via inhibiting TGF-ß signaling. Adeno-associated viral delivery of Bambi (AAV-Bambi) to the tumor microenvironment boosts the antitumor effects of radiotherapy and radioimmunotherapy combinations. Intriguingly, combination of AAV-Bambi and IR not only improves local tumor control, but also suppresses distant metastasis, further supporting its clinical translation potential. Our findings uncover a surprising role of BAMBI in myeloid cells, unveiling a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming extrinsic radioresistance.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Transforming Growth Factor beta , Animals , Humans , Mice , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/radiotherapy , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
Excessive light exposure can damage photoreceptors and lead to blindness. Oxidative stress serves a key role in photo-induced retinal damage. Free radical scavengers have been proven to protect against photo-damaged retinal degeneration. Fullerol, a potent antioxidant, has the potential to protect against ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced cornea injury by activating the endogenous stem cells. However, its effects on cell fate determination of Müller glia (MG) between gliosis and de-differentiation remain unclear. Therefore, we established a MG lineage-tracing mouse model of light-induced retinal damage to examine the therapeutic effects of fullerol. Fullerol exhibited superior protection against light-induced retinal injury compared to glutathione (GSH) and reduced oxidative stress levels, inhibited gliosis by suppressing the TGF-ß pathway, and enhanced the de-differentiation of MG cells. RNA sequencing revealed that transcription candidate pathways, including Nrf2 and Wnt10a pathways, were involved in fullerol-induced neuroprotection. Fullerol-mediated transcriptional changes were validated by qPCR, Western blotting, and immunostaining using mouse retinas and human-derived Müller cell lines MIO-M1 cells, confirming that fullerol possibly modulated the Nrf2, Wnt10a, and TGF-ß pathways in MG, which suppressed gliosis and promoted the de-differentiation of MG in light-induced retinal degeneration, indicating its potential in treating retinal diseases.
Subject(s)
Ependymoglial Cells , Retinal Degeneration , Animals , Mice , Humans , Ependymoglial Cells/metabolism , Retinal Degeneration/drug therapy , Retinal Degeneration/etiology , Retinal Degeneration/metabolism , Gliosis/drug therapy , Gliosis/metabolism , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism , Retina/metabolism , Neuroglia , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolismABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of Weidiao-3(WD-3)Mixture on the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy for advanced gastric cancer and the intestinal flora.Methods Fifty-one patients with advanced gastric cancer treated in Wuxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were randomized into a WD-3 group(immunotherapy + WD-3 Mixture,one dose per day)(n=25)and a gastric cancer(GC) group(only immunotherapy)(n=26)according to the admission time.Ten healthy volunteers were included as the healthy control group.The Karnofsky score and the Quality of Life Questionnare-Core score were evaluated before and after treatment,and the clinical efficacy was compared after treatment.After treatment,the stool samples were collected for 16SrRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and targeted metabolomics.The α and ß diversity and structure of the intestinal flora and the content of short-chain fatty acids were compared between groups.Results The quality of life in both groups improved after treatment and was better in the WD-3 group than in the GC group(P=0.035).The dry mouth(P=0.038)and altered taste(P=0.008)were mitigated in the WD-3 group after treatment,and the reflux(P=0.001)and dry mouth(P=0.022)were mitigated in the GC group after treatment.After treatment,the WD-3 group outperformed the GC group in terms of dysphagia(P=0.047)and dry mouth(P=0.045).The WD-3 group was superior to the GC group in terms of objective remission rate and disease control rate,with prolonged median progression-free survival and median overall survival(P=0.039,P=0.043).The α and ß diversity indexes of the intestinal flora showed no significant differences between WD-3 and GC groups(all P>0.05).At the phylum level,WD-3 and GC groups had lower relative abundance of Firmicutes(P=0.038,P=0.042)and higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria(P=0.016,P=0.015)than the healthy control group.The relative abundance of Actinomycetes in the GC group was lower than that in the healthy control group(P=0.035)and the WD-3 group(P=0.046).At the genus level,the GC group had lower relative abundance of Bifidobacteria and Coprococcus than the healthy control group and the WD-3 group(all P<0.001).LEfSe revealed the differences in the relative abundance of 6 intestinal bacterial taxa between the WD-3 group and the GC group.At the genus level,Saccharopolyspora had higher relative abundance in the WD-3 group than in the healthy control group and only existed in the WD-3 group.The content of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid in the WD-3 group was higher than that in the healthy control group(P=0.037,P=0.004).Conclusion WD-3 Mixture may increase the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria and Coprococcus and the content of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid to alter the intestinal microecology,thereby improving the efficacy of immunotherapy for gastric cancer.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Stomach Neoplasms , Humans , Isobutyrates , Quality of Life , Stomach Neoplasms/therapy , Immunotherapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Dysregulated biological behaviors of trophoblast cells can result in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA)-whose underlying etiology still remains insufficient. Autophagy, a conserved intracellular physiological process, is precisely monitored throughout whole pregnancy. Although the exact mechanism or role remains elusive, epigenetic modification has emerged as an important process. Herein, we found that a proportion of RSA patients exhibited higher levels of autophagy in villus tissues compared to controls, accompanied with impaired histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression. The purpose of this study is to explore the connection between HDACs and autophagy in the pathological course of RSA. Mechanistically, using human trophoblast cell models, treatment with HDAC inhibitor (HDACI)-trichostatin A (TSA) can induce autophagy by promoting nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of the central autophagic regulator transcription factor EB (TFEB). Specifically, overactivated autophagy is involved in the TSA-driven growth inhibition of trophoblast, which can be partially reversed by the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) or RNA interference of TFEB. In summary, our results reveal that abnormal acetylation and autophagy levels during early gestation may be associated with RSA and suggest the potential novel molecular target TFEB for RSA treatment.