[Triterpenoids in Sorbus pohuashanensis suspension cell treated with yeast extract].

This study induced biological stress in Sorbus pohuashanensis suspension cell(SPSC) with yeast extract(YE) as a bio-tic elicitor and isolated and identified secondary metabolites of triterpenoids produced under stress conditions. Twenty-six triterpenoids, including fifteen ursane-type triterpenoids(1-15), two 18,19-seco-ursane-type triterpenoids(16-17), four lupine-type triterpenoids(18-21), two cycloartane-type triterpenoids(22-23), and three squalene-type triterpenoids(24-26), were isolated and purified from the methanol extract of SPSC by chromatography on silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20, and MPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. All triterpenoids were isolated from SPSC for the first time and 22-O-acetyltripterygic acid A(1) was identified as a new compound. Selected compounds were evaluated for antifungal, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities, and compound 1 showed an inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

[Human Platelet-Rich Plasma-Derived Exosomes Promote the Proliferation of Schwann Cells Cultured in Vitro].

Objective To investigate the effect of human platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes(PRP-exos)on the proliferation of Schwann cell(SC)cultured in vitro. Methods PRP-exos were extracted by polymerization-precipitation combined with ultracentrifugation.The morphology of PRP-exos was observed by transmission electron microscopy,and the concentration and particle size distribution of PRP-exos were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of the marker proteins CD63,CD81,and CD9 on exosome surface and the platelet membrane glycoprotein CD41.The SCs of rats were isolated and cultured,and the expression of the SC marker S100ß was detected by immunofluorescence staining.The fluorescently labeled PRP-exos were co-cultured with SCs in vitro for observation of their interaction.EdU assay was employed to detect the effect of PRP-exos on SC proliferation,and CCK-8 assay to detect the effects of PRP-exos at different concentrations(0,10,20,40,80,and 160 µg/ml)on SC proliferation. Results The extracted PRP-exos appeared as uniform saucer-shaped vesicles with the average particle size of(122.8±38.7)nm and the concentration of 3.5×1012 particles/ml.CD63,CD81,CD9,and CD41 were highly expressed on PRP-exos surface(P<0.001,P=0.025,P=0.004,and P=0.032).The isolated SCs expressed S100ß,and PRP-exos could be taken up by SCs.PRP-exos of 40,80,and 160 µg/ml promoted the proliferation of SCs,and that of 40 µg/ml showed the best performance(all P<0.01). Conclusions High concentrations of PRP-exos can be extracted from PRP.PRP-exos can be taken up by SCs and promote the proliferation of SCs cultured in vitro.

Mitochondrial dynamics in neurological diseases: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: The mitochondrion is a crucial organelle for aerobic respiration and energy metabolism. It undergoes dynamic changes, including changes in its shape, function, and distribution through fission, fusion, and movement. Under normal conditions, mitochondrial dynamics are in homeostasis. However, once the balance is upset, the nervous system, which has high metabolic demands, will most likely be affected. Recent studies have shown that the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics is involved in the occurrence and development of various neurological diseases. However, whether the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics can be used to treat neurological diseases is still unclear. We aimed to comprehensively analyze mitochondrial dynamics regulation and its potential role in the treatment of neurological diseases. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was carried out to understand the mechanisms and applications of mitochondrial dynamics in neurological diseases based on the literature available in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Key Content and Findings: This review discusses the molecular mechanisms related to mitochondrial dynamics and expounds upon the role of mitochondrial dynamics in the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, and brain tumors. Several clinically tested drugs with fewer side effects have been shown to improve the mitochondrial dynamics and nervous system function in neurological diseases. Conclusions: Disorders of mitochondrial dynamics can cause various neurological diseases. Elucidation of mechanisms and applications involved in mitochondrial dynamics will inform the development of new therapeutic targets and strategies for neurological diseases. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), as a highly relevant molecular for mitochondrial dynamics, might be a potential target for treating neurological diseases in the future.

Boosting Hydroxyl Radical Yield via Synergistic Activation of Electrogenerated HOCl/H2O2 in Electro-Fenton-like Degradation of Contaminants under Chloride Conditions.

Hydroxyl radical production via catalytic activation of HOCl is a new type of Fenton-like process. However, metal-chlorocomplex formation under high chloride conditions could deactivate the catalyst and reduce the process efficiency. Herein, in situ electrogenerated HOCl was activated to •OH via a metal-free, B/N-codoped carbon nanofiber cathode for the first time to degrade contaminant under high chloride condition. The results show 98% degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) within 120 min (k = 0.036 min-1) under sulfate conditions, while complete degradation (k = 0.188 min-1) was obtained in only 30 min under chloride conditions. An enhanced degradation mechanism consists of an Adsorb & Shuttle process, wherein adsorption concentrates the pollutants at the cathode surface and they are subsequently oxidized by the large amount of •OH produced via activation of HOCl and H2O2 at the cathode. Density functional theory calculations verify the pyridinic N as the active site for the activation of HOCl and H2O2. The process efficiency was also evaluated by treating tetracycline and bisphenol A as well as high chloride-containing real secondary effluents from a pesticide manufacturing plant. High yields of •OH and HOCl allow continuous regeneration of the cathode for several cycles, limiting its fast deactivation, which is promising for real application.

A critical review on graphene oxide membrane for industrial wastewater treatment.

An important way to promote the environmental industry's goal of carbon reduction is to promote the recycling of resources. Membrane separation technology has unique advantages in resource recovery and advanced treatment of industrial wastewater. However, the great promise of traditional organic membrane is hampered by challenges associated with organic solvent tolerance, lack of oxidation resistance, and serious membrane fouling control. Moreover, the high concentrations of organic matter and inorganic salts in the membrane filtration concentrate also hinder the wider application of the membrane separation technology. The emerging cost-effective graphene oxide (GO)-based membrane with excellent resistance to organic solvents and oxidants, more hydrophilicity, lower membrane fouling, better separation performance has been expected to contribute more in industrial wastewater treatment. Herein, we provide comprehensive insights into the preparation and characteristic of GO membranes, as well as current research status and problems related to its future application in industrial wastewater treatment. Finally, concluding remarks and future perspectives have been deduced and recommended for the GO membrane separation technology application for industrial wastewater treatment, which leads to realizing sustainable wastewater recycling and a nearly "zero discharge" water treatment process.

Traceability and identification of fish gelatin from seven cyprinid fishes by high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The broad application prospect of fish gelatin makes the traceability and identification of fish gelatin imminent. High performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to identify fish gelatins in seven commercial cyprinid fishes, namely, black carp, grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, common carp, crucian carp, and Wuchang bream. By comparison with theoretical mammalian collagen (bovine and porcine collagen), the common and unique theoretical peptides were found in the collagen of grass carp, silver carp, and crucian carp, respectively. HPLC-MS/MS results showed that 7 common characteristic peptides were obtained from seven cyprinid fish gelatins. Moreover, 44, 36, and 42 unique characteristic peptides were detected in the gelatins of grass carp, silver carp, and crucian carp, respectively. The combined use of common and unique characteristic peptides could improve the accuracy and authenticity of traceability and identification of fish gelatin in comparison with mammalian gelatin.

A dual-response fluorescent probe for simultaneously monitoring polarity and ATP during autophagy.

Autophagy plays a vital role in maintaining intracellular homeostasis through a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation pathway, which is closely related to the polarity and ATP. Herein, the first example of the dual-response fluorescent probe Lyso-NRB was reported for visualizing the fluctuation of polarity and ATP in lysosomes during autophagy. Probe Lyso-NRB is non-fluorescent. After the decrease of polarity, Lyso-NRB exhibits significant green emission due to the unique intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect. Upon the addition of ATP, the probe can react with ATP to rapidly open the spirocycle of rhodamine and a strong red emission can be observed. Moreover, Lyso-NRB exhibits a high sensitivity and selectivity toward polarity and ATP. Most importantly, the probe possesses a good lysosome-targeting ability and is used for the real-time monitoring of lysosome polarity and ATP fluctuations during H2O2 or starvation induced autophagy in living cells. Interestingly, it is found that that ATP deficiency can induce autophagy to increase lysosome polarity. Furthermore, the probe is applied for imaging the change of polarity and ATP under oxidative stress induced autophagy in zebrafish. Therefore, this work holds great potential for tracking the autophagy procedure by detecting the changes of lysosome polarity and ATP, which makes it a potentially powerful tool for understanding the roles of autophagy in diverse biological processes.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe with Large Stokes Shift for Imaging of Hydrogen Sulfide in Tumor-Bearing Mice.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important endogenous gas signal molecule in living system, which participates in a variety of physiological processes. Very recent evidence has accumulated to show that endogenous H2S is closely associated with various cancers and can be regarded as a biomarker of cancer. Herein, we have constructed a new near-infrared fluorescent probe (DCP-H2S) based on isophorone-xanthene dye for sensing hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The probe shows remarkable NIR turn-on signal at 770 nm with a large Stokes shift of 200 nm, together with high sensitivity (15-fold) and rapid detection ability for H2S (4 min). The probe also possesses excellent selectivity for H2S over various other analytes including biothiols containing sulfhydryl (-SH). Moreover, DCP-H2S has been successfully applied to visualize endogenous and exogenous H2S in living cells (293T, Caco-2 and CT-26 cells). In particular, the excellent ability of DCP-H2S to distinguish normal mice and tumor mice is shown, and it is expected to be a powerful tool for detection of H2S in cancer diagnosis.

A tumor-targeting near-infrared fluorescent probe for real-time imaging ATP in cancer cells and mice.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important biomolecule, which is the primary source of cellular energy. In particular, an abnormal metabolism of ATP level has been took part in many diseases, such as cancer. Thus, developing an effective fluorescent probe for tumor-targeting imaging of ATP is great importance for in-depth understanding the functions of ATP in tumor invasion and matastasis. In this work, we present the design and synthesis of a tumor-targeting near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe named Bio-SiR. Bio-SiR is mainly composed of three parts: si-rhodamine-based fluorophore, diethylenetriamine-based recognition group and biotin-based tumor-targetable group. When Bio-SiR reacts with ATP, a turn-on fluorescence at 675 nm (NIR region) is observed clearly, which is suitable for its application in mice. In addition, due to a concurrent effect from dual recognition sites, the probe Bio-SiR displays excellent selectivity for ATP over other potential biological analytes. Under the guidance of biotin group, Bio-SiR can be successfully used for imaging ATP in cancer cells. Furthermore, live-cell imaging allows us to directly real-time monitor the dynamic change of ATP in cancer cells. In particular, this is the first tumor-targeting NIR small-molecule fluorescent probe for endogenous ATP imaging in tumor-bearing mice. These features demonstrate that this probe is a useful imaging tool for expounding the function of ATP in cancer.

A novel precipitating-fluorochrome-based fluorescent probe for monitoring carbon monoxide during drug-induced liver injury.

Carbon monoxide (CO), as one of significant gas transmitter, is closely associated with a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Although plenty of fluorescent probes have been prepared for detecting CO, most of them suffer from water-soluble fluorophores and short emission wavelength, which tends to diffuse and is limited to apply in vivo. Herein, a novel water-soluble fluorescent probe (HPQ-MQ-CO) is prepared to detect CO by releasing a precipitating fluorochrome (HPQ-MQ-OH), which is developed by introducing the 1-ethyl-2-methylquinoline group into HPQ to obtain long emission wavelength and good diffusion resistant ability. Allyl formate, as the identification unit of CO, has good water solubility and quenches the fluorescence of HPQ-MQ-CO. When the probe reacts with CO and Pd2+, an long-emission and solid-state fluorescence signal at 650 nm can be observed, which is based on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. When the concentration of CO is raised to 100.0 µM, the fluorescence is increased 29 times, indicating the sensitivity of the probe. Moreover, this probe shows prominent selectivity for CO compared with other interfering species. Given these advantages, HPQ-MQ-CO can be used for CO detection in HepG2 cells and zebrafish by in-situ and long-term fluorescence imaging. In addition, this probe can monitor the up-regulation of CO in HepG2 cells and zebrafish during drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

A novel near-infrared theranostic probe for accurate cancer chemotherapy in vivo by a dual activation strategy.

A novel theranostic probe called CX-B-DF is constructed for precise chemotherapy guided by near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging. Moreover, the theranostic probe shows high cytotoxicity to cancer cells under dual activation (H2O2 and TP), which causes the accuracy of drug release to be improved and the toxic side effects to be reduced.

Infestation and Related Ecology of Chigger Mites on the Asian House Rat (Rattus tanezumi) in Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

This paper is to illustrate the infestation and related ecological characteristics of chigger mites on the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi). A total of 17,221 chigger mites were collected from 2,761 R. tanezumi rats, and then identified as 131 species and 19 genera in 2 families. Leptotrombidium deliense, the most powerful vector of scrub typhus in China, was the first major dominant species on R. tanezumi. All the dominant mite species were of an aggregated distribution among different individuals of R. tanezumi. The species composition and infestations of chiggers on R. tanezumi varied along different geographical regions, habitats and altitudes. The species-abundance distribution of the chigger mite community was successfully fitted and the theoretical curve equation was S (R)=37e-(0.28R)2. The total chigger species on R. tanezumi were estimated to be 199 species or 234 species, and this further suggested that R. tanezumi has a great potential to harbor abundant species of chigger mites. The results of the species-plot relationship indicated that the chigger mite community on R. tanezumi in Yunnan was an uneven community with very high heterogeneity. Wide geographical regions with large host samples are recommended in the investigations of chigger mites.

Accurate Fluorescence Diagnosis of Cancer Based on Sequential Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide and pH.

Cancer ranks as a leading cause of death in every country of the world. However, if they are discovered early, a lot of cancers can be prevented or cured. Discovering and monitoring cancer markers are the main methods for early diagnosis of cancer. To date, many fluorescent probes designed and used for early cancer diagnosis can only react with a single marker, which always causes insufficient accuracy in complex systems. Herein, a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (CyO-DNP) for the sequential detection of H2S and H+ is synthesized. In this probe, a heptamethine dye is selected as the fluorophore and a 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) ether is chosen as recognition group. In the presence of H2S, CyO-DNP is transformed into CyO, which exhibits an intense fluorescence at 663 nm. Then, H+ induces the protonation of CyO to obtain CyOH, and the final fluorescence emission at 793 nm significantly enhances. Owing to the low cytotoxicity and the NIR fluorescence emission, CyO-DNP can sequentially monitor endogenous H2S and H+ in cancer cells and image exogenous and endogenous H2S and H+ in mice. It is worth mentioning that CyO-DNP can effectively avoid the false positive signal caused by the liver and kidney and discriminate normal mice and tumor mice accurately. For all we know, CyO-DNP is the first fluorescent probe for early accurate diagnosis of cancer by sequentially detecting H2S and H+.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift for imaging Cys in tumor mice.

Cysteine (Cys), a kind of small molecule biological thiol, not only involves in the regulation of physiological processes, but also is considered a marker of tumor. However, it is challenging to develop suitable probe for detecting Cys in tumors. In this paper, a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe named IX for Cys has been designed and synthesized. The probe shows a NIR emission peak at 770 nm with large Stokes shift (180 nm) upon adding Cys. It displays high sensitivity to Cys with 6-fold increase of fluorescence intensity. Meanwhile, IX has the high selectivity to Cys over other potential interference such as Hcy and GSH, which have similar structure with Cys. In addition, a possible mechanism of fluorescence enhancement is the reaction of IX with Cys to release IX-OH, which is verified by fluorescence spectra, MS and HPLC. Next, IX can selectively image Cys in HCT-116 cells thanks to the low cytotoxicity. Most important of all, the fluorescent probe IX has visualized Cys in HCT116-xenograft tumor mice due to the near-infrared properties with large Stokes shift.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for accurately diagnosing cancer by sequential detection of cysteine and H.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe, CyAc, is synthesized for accurately diagnosing cancer in vivo by sequential detection of Cys and H+. CyAc can not only achieve a good distinction between normal cells and cancer cells, but also distinguish normal mice from tumor mice.

NAD(P)H-triggered probe for dual-modal imaging during energy metabolism and novel strategy of enhanced photothermal therapy in tumor.

The reduced coenzymes (NADH and NADPH) are an important product in energy metabolism and closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer. So it is necessary to use a powerful detection tool to visualize NAD(P)H in energy metabolism of tumor cells and find a new strategy to improve cancer treatment based on NAD(P)H. Herein, a novel multifunctional probe (Cy-N) is synthesized with good near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) response to NAD(P)H and the photoacoustic (PA) and photothermal properties are successfully activated by NAD(P)H. The probe is successfully applied in visualizing NAD(P)H in energy metabolism of tumor cells and imaging NAD(P)H in bacteria. Moreover, the probe can be used to image NAD(P)H in energy metabolism of tumor-bearing mice by dual-modal imaging (NIRF and PA). More importantly, in terms of the role of NAD(P)H in energy metabolism, the photothermal therapy (PTT) is activated by NAD(P)H and a novel strategy of enhanced PTT is proposed by injecting glucose. As far as we know, this is the first probe to detect NAD(P)H in energy metabolism through dual-modal imaging, and also the first probe to activate PTT based on NAD(P)H, which will provide important information of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Monitoring the Fluctuation of Hydrogen Peroxide in Diabetes and Its Complications with a Novel Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe.

Diabetes is one of the metabolic diseases marked by hyperglycemia and is often accompanied by the occurrence of some complications. As a biomarker of oxidative stress, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has close association with the occurrence and development of diabetes and its complications. Unfortunately, there is no fluorescent probe reported for imaging H2O2 in diabetic mice. Here, a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe named QX-B was designed and synthesized to detect H2O2. For the probe, the quinolinium-xanthene dye is used as the fluorophore and borate ester is chosen as the response group. After the addition of H2O2, a strong NIR fluorescence signal at 772 nm is observed. The probe not only shows high sensitivity with 10-fold enhancement but also displays excellent selectivity to H2O2 over other possible interfering species. In the meantime, the possible response mechanism of QX-B toward H2O2 was proposed and verified by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) experiment, mass spectra (MS) experiment, and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Furthermore, based on the low cell cytotoxicity of QX-B, it has been applied in imaging exogenous and endogenous H2O2 in HeLa cells, HCT116 cells, 4T1 cells, and zebrafish successfully. More importantly, inspired by the performance of NIR fluorescence, QX-B has been used in monitoring H2O2 in diabetic mice for the first time. This provides very important information for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Construction of NIR and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Monitoring Carbon Monoxide under Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish.

Carbon monoxide (CO), as a crucial gasotransmitter, is endogenously produced by the degradation of heme and plays a critical role in regulating various physiological and pathophysiological processes such as oxidative stress. Thus, an effective fluorescent probe for investigating the relationships between CO and oxidative stress in vivo is necessary. In this paper, a ratiometric near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (CP-CO) based on a coumarin-benzopyran fluorophore for imaging CO is developed. CP-CO itself displays strong coumarin emission due to its spironolactone structure. After the probe is reacted with CO and PdCl2, a notable enhancement of emission intensity at 690 nm can be found, which results in an obvious red shift of emission (200 nm). Moreover, CP-CO exhibits high sensitivity toward CO and produces a high enhancement ratio (203-fold). In addition, the probe is applied for ratiometric monitoring of exogenous and endogenous CO levels in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging of CP-CO in zebrafish is performed by two-photon excitation along with excellent penetration ability. Most importantly, CP-CO can visualize the upregulation of CO under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in a zebrafish model, which vividly reveals its excellent ability in the elucidation of CO function in related biological events.

The construction of a near-infrared fluorescent probe with dual advantages for imaging carbon monoxide in cells and in vivo.

As a kind of toxic gas, carbon monoxide (CO) can hinder uptake of oxygen in humans. However, more and more studies have shown that CO is an important gaseous messenger in the body and playing an indispensable role in intracellular signaling pathways. So, it is necessary to develop an analytical method to study CO in living organisms. Although there are many CO-responsive probes, most of them have the disadvantages of a small Stokes shift or short emission wavelength. In order to address the above issue, a novel probe (FDX-CO) with a large Stokes shift (190 nm) and long emission wavelength (770 nm) was firstly synthesized to detect CO. The probe shows high sensitivity and superior selectivity toward CO. Moreover, the probe was successfully used for visualizing exogenous and endogenous CO in cells by fluorescence imaging, 3D quantification analysis and flow cytometric analysis. More importantly, FDX-CO could excellently detect CO in mice, which suggests that this probe has the potential ability to image CO in vivo. This probe can be viewed as a useful tool in the research of CO.

Real-time imaging of alkaline phosphatase activity of diabetes in mice via a near-infrared fluorescent probe.

A novel water-soluble near-infrared fluorescent probe named QX-P with simple synthesis is developed. QX-P has high sensitivity and selectivity to ALP. Moreover, the probe can not only visualize ALP activity in four cell lines, but also real-time image ALP activity during the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in mice.