Serum metabolomic profiles in BALB/c mice induced by Babesia microti infection.

Introduction: The protozoan parasite Babesia microti is the primary cause of human babesiosis. This parasite invades and multiplies inside red blood cells (RBCs), and infections differ significantly based on the age and immune competency of the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of serum metabolic profiling to identify systemic metabolic variations between B. microti-infected mice and noninfected controls. Methods: A serum metabolomics analysis of BALB/c mice that had been intraperitoneally injected with 107 B. microti-infected RBCs was performed. Serum samples from the early infected group (2 days postinfection), the acutely infected group (9 days postinfection), and the noninfected group were collected and evaluated using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) platform. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified metabolomic profiles that differentiated the B. microti-infected and noninfected groups. Results: Our results confirm that the serum metabolome is significantly influenced by acute B. microti infection and show that infection results in dysregulation of metabolic pathways and perturbation of metabolites. Acutely infected mice displayed perturbations in metabolites associated with taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, histidine metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Taurocholic acid, anserine, and arachidonic acid may be potential candidates as serological biomarkers for diagnosing B. microti infection at the acute stage. These metabolites could be further examined for their role in disease complexity. Discussion: Our findings demonstrate that the acute stage of B. microti infection induces abnormalities in the metabolites present in mouse serum and provide new insight into the mechanisms involved in systemic metabolic changes that occur during B. microti infection.

Genipin-crosslinked decellularized scaffold induces regeneration of defective rat kidneys.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to improve the performance of decellularized renal scaffolds by the genipin crosslinking method to facilitate the regeneration of tissues and cells and provide better conditions for the regeneration and repair of defective kidneys. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, uncrosslinked scaffold group and genipin-crosslinked scaffold group. Hematoxylin eosin, Masson and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the histomorphological characteristics of the kidneys in each group. The preservation of the renal vascular structure in the three groups was observed by vascular casting. A collagenase degradation assay was used to detect the antidegradation ability of the kidney in the three groups. CCK8 assays were used to test the in vitro biocompatibility of the scaffolds. The lower 1/3 of the rat left kidney was excised, and the defect was filled with decellularized renal scaffolds to observe the effect of scaffold implantation on the regenerative ability of the defective kidney. Results: Histological images showed that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold did not destroy the structure of the scaffold, and the collagen fibers in the scaffold was more regular, and the outline of the glomerulus was clearer than uncrosslinked scaffold. The results of casting showed that the vascular structure of genipin-crosslinked scaffold was still intact. The anti-degradation ability test showed that the anti-degradation ability of genipin-crosslinked scaffold was significantly higher than that of the uncrosslinked scaffold. Cell culture experiments showed that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold had no cytotoxicity and promoted cell proliferation to some extent. In vivo scaffold transplantation experiments further demonstrated that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold had better anti-degradation and anti-inflammatory ability. Conclusion: Genipin-crosslinked rat kidney scaffold complemented kidney defects in rats can enhance scaffold-induced kidney regeneration and repair.

Research progress in decellularized extracellular matrix-derived hydrogels.

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is widely used in regenerative medicine as a scaffold material due to its unique biological activity and good biocompatibility. Hydrogel is a three-dimensional network structure polymer with high water content and high swelling that can simulate the water environment of human tissues, has good biocompatibility, and can exchange nutrients, oxygen, and waste with cells. At present, hydrogel is the ideal biological material for tissue engineering. In recent years, rapid development of the hydrogel theory and technology and progress in the use of dECM to form hydrogels have attracted considerable attention to dECM hydrogels as an innovative method for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This article introduces the classification of hydrogels, and focuses on the history and formation of dECM hydrogels, the source of dECM, the application of dECM hydrogels in tissue engineering and the commercial application of dECM materials.