Involvement of cGAS/STING Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Candida albicans Keratitis: Insights From Genetic and Pharmacological Approaches.

Purpose: Fungal keratitis (FK) is an invasive corneal infection associated with significant risk to vision. Although the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway has been recognized for its role in defending against viral infections, its involvement in FK still remains largely unclear. This study sought to elucidate the contribution of the cGAS/STING signaling pathway to the pathogenesis of FK. Methods: The expression of cGAS/STING signaling components was assessed in a murine model of Candida albicans keratitis through RNA sequencing, western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and real-time PCR. Both genetic (utilizing Sting1gt/gt mice) and pharmacological (using C176) interventions were employed to inhibit STING activity, allowing for the evaluation of resultant pathogenic alterations in FK using slit-lamp examination, clinical scoring, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, fungal culture, and RNA sequencing. Subconjunctival administration of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 was performed to evaluate FK manifestations following STING activity blockade. Furthermore, the impact of the STING agonist diABZI on FK progression was investigated. Results: Compared to uninfected corneas, those infected with C. albicans exhibited increased expression of cGAS/STING signaling components, as well as its elevated activity. Inhibiting cGAS/STING signaling exacerbated the advancement of FK, as evidenced by elevated clinical scores, augmented fungal load, and heightened inflammatory response, including NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome effectively mitigated the exacerbated FK by suppressing STING activity. Conversely, pre-activation of STING exacerbated FK progression compared to the PBS control, characterized by increased fungal burden and reinforced inflammatory infiltration. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the essential role of the cGAS/STING signaling pathway in FK pathogenesis and highlights the necessity of its proper activation for the host against FK.

Circ_0027885 sponges miR-203-3p to regulate RUNX2 expression and alleviates osteoporosis progression.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a progressive metabolic disorder that is difficult to cure clinically. The molecular mechanisms of OP urgently need to be further examined. This study was designed to explore the potential function of circ_0027885 during osteogenic differentiation, as well as the systematic interactions among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). METHODS: Relative levels of circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2 were analyzed with RT-qPCR and western blotting. Alizarin red staining was performed to detect the mineralization ability under the control of circ_0027885 and miR-203-3p. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to examine the combination among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2. RESULTS: Our research demonstrated that circ_0027885 was significantly increased during hBMSCs differentiation. Overexpression of circ_0027885 notably facilitated osteogenic differentiation and upregulated RUNX2 expression, while knockdown of circ_0027885 reversed the above results. Through prediction on bioinformatics analysis, miR-203-3p was the target binding circ_0027885, and RUNX2 was the potential target of miR-203-3p. Subsequently, these changes induced by the overexpression of circ_0027885 were reversed upon addition of miR-203-3p mimic. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_0027885 could sponge miR-203-3p to regulate RUNX2 expression and alleviate osteoporosis progression.

Polarity-Reversible Te/WSe2 van der Waals Heterodiode for a Logic Rectifier and Polarized Short-Wave Infrared Photodetector.

As a p-type elemental material with high carrier mobility, superior ambient stability, and anisotropic crystal structure, emerging two-dimensional (2D) tellurium (Te) has been considered a successor to black phosphorus for developing infrared-related optoelectronics. Nevertheless, the lack of a scalable thickness engineering strategy remains an obstacle to unleashing its full potential. Te-based electronics with logic functions are also less explored. Herein, we propose a novel wet-chemical thinning method for 2D Te, with the merits of scalability and site-specific thickness patterning capability. A polarity-switchable van der Waals (vdW) heterodiode with a high rectification ratio of 2.4 × 103 is realized on the basis of Te/WSe2. The electronic application of this unique characteristic is demonstrated by fabricating a logic half-wave rectifier, in which the rectifying states are switchable via electrostatic gating control. Besides, the narrow band gap of Te endows the device with a broad spectral response from visible to short-wave infrared. The room-temperature responsivity reaches 5.2 A W-1 at the telecom wavelength of 1.55 µm, with an external quantum efficiency of 420% and detectivity of 6.8 × 109 Jones. In particular, owing to the intrinsic in-plane anisotropy of Te, the device exhibits a favorable photocurrent anisotropic ratio of ∼3. Our study demonstrates the enormous potential of Te for novel electronics, promoting the development of elemental 2D materials.

Solution-processed thickness engineering of tellurene for field-effect transistors and polarized infrared photodetectors.

Research on elemental 2D materials has been experiencing a renaissance in the past few years. Of particular interest is tellurium (Te), which possesses many exceptional properties for nanoelectronics, photonics, and beyond. Nevertheless, the lack of a scalable approach for the thickness engineering and the local properties modulation remains a major obstacle to unleashing its full device potential. Herein, a solution-processed oxidative etching strategy for post-growth thickness engineering is proposed by leveraging the moderate chemical reactivity of Te. Large-area ultrathin nanosheets with well-preserved morphologies could be readily obtained with appropriate oxidizing agents, such as HNO2, H2O2, and KMnO4. Compared with the conventional physical thinning approaches, this method exhibits critical merits of high efficiency, easy scalability, and the capability of site-specific thickness patterning. The thickness reduction leads to substantially improved gate tunability of field-effect transistors with an enhanced current switching ratio of ∼103, promoting the applications of Te in future logic electronics. The response spectrum of Te phototransistors covers the full range of short-wave infrared wavelength (1-3 µm), and the room-temperature responsivity and detectivity reach 0.96 AW-1 and 2.2 × 109 Jones at the telecom wavelength of 1.55 µm, together with a favorable photocurrent anisotropic ratio of ∼2.9. Our study offers a new approach to tackling the thickness engineering issue for solution-grown Te, which could help realize the full device potential of this emerging p-type 2D material.

The lncRNA Malat1 functions as a ceRNA to contribute to berberine-mediated inhibition of HMGB1 by sponging miR-181c-5p in poststroke inflammation.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as essential mediators in neurological dysfunction. Our previous study shows that berberine (BBR) hampers the nuclear-to-cytosolic translocation of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the process of poststroke inflammation. In this study, we explored the role of lncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (Malat1) in the process of BBR-induced inhibition of HMGB1 in ischemic brain. Before the 60-min MCAO surgery, the mice were pretreated with BBR (50 mg· kg-1 per day, ig) for 14 days or ICV injected with specific lentiviral vector or shRNA. We showed that MCAO caused marked increase in the expression Malat1 and HMGB1 in the ipsilateral cortex, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with BBR. Knockdown of Malat1 attenuated the inflammatory injury after brain ischemia, whereas overexpression of Malat1 exacerbated ischemic brain inflammation. Overexpression of Malat1 also reversed BBR-induced reduction of HMGB1 and proinflammatory cytokines. The above results suggested a potential correlation between Malat1 and stroke inflammation. Based on informatics analysis we predicted that HMGB1 was a direct downstream target of miR-181c-5p, whereas Malat1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-181c-5p targeted the 3'-UTR of HMGB1 to promote inflammation after ischemic stroke. Knockdown of Malat1 significantly decreased HMGB1 level, which could be abrogated by transfection with miR-181c-5p inhibitors. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that Malat1/miR-181c-5p/HMGB1 axis may be a key pathway of BBR-induced antiinflammation effects in stroke, and they may provide a novel avenue for targeted therapy.

Berberine Facilitates Angiogenesis Against Ischemic Stroke Through Modulating Microglial Polarization via AMPK Signaling.

Evidence suggests that microglia/macrophages can change their phenotype to M1 or M2 and participate in tissue damage or repair. Berberine (BBR) has shown promise in experimental stroke models, but its effects on microglial polarization and long-term recovery after stroke are elusive. Here, we investigated the effects of BBR on angiogenesis and microglial polarization through AMPK signaling after stroke. In the present study, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), intragastrically administrated with BBR at 50 mg/kg/day. Neo-angiogenesis was observed by 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD micro-PET/CT and immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescent staining further exhibited an increase of M2 microglia and a reduction of M1 microglia at 14 days after stroke. In vitro studies, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells were used to confirm the AMPK activation effect of BBR. RT-PCR, Flow cytometry, and ELISA all demonstrated that BBR could inhibit M1 polarization and promote M2 polarization. Furthermore, treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with conditioned media collected from BBR-treated BV2 cells promoted angiogenesis. All effects stated above were reversed by AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) and AMPK siRNA. In conclusion, BBR treatment improves functional recovery and promotes angiogenesis following tMCAO via AMPK-dependent microglial M2 polarization.