The LysM receptor-like kinase SlLYK10 controls lipochitooligosaccharide signaling in inner cell layers of tomato roots.

Establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) relies on a plant signaling pathway that can be activated by fungal chitinic signals such as short chain chitooligosaccharides (CO) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). The tomato LysM receptor-like kinase (LysM RLK) SlLYK10 has high affinity for LCOs and is involved in root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), however its role in LCO responses has not yet been studied. Here, we show that SlLYK10 proteins produced by the Sllyk10-1 and Sllyk10-2 mutant alleles, which both cause decreases in AMF colonization, and carry mutations in LysM1 and 2 respectively, have similar LCO binding affinities compared to the WT SlLYK10. However, the mutant forms were no longer able to induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana when co-expressed with MtLYK3, a Medicago truncatula LCO co-receptor, while they physically interacted with MtLYK3 in co-purification experiments. This suggests that the LysM mutations affect the ability of SlLYK10 to trigger signaling through a potential co-receptor rather than its ability to bind LCOs. Interestingly, tomato lines that contain a calcium (Ca2+) concentration reporter (Genetically Encoded Ca2+ indicators, GECO), showed Ca2+ spiking in response to LCO applications, but this occurred only in inner cell layers of the roots, while short chain COs also induced Ca2+ spiking in the epidermis. Moreover, LCO-induced Ca2+spiking was decreased in Sllyk10-1*GECO plants, suggesting that the decrease in AMF colonization in Sllyk10-1 is due to abnormal LCO signaling.

Discrimination models with radiomics features derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance images for distinguishing hypertensive heart disease from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Discriminating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertensive heart disease (HHD) is challenging, because both are characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Radiomics might be effective to differentiate HHD from HCM. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate discriminators and build discrimination models between HHD and HCM using multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings and radiomics score (radscore) derived from late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and cine images. Methods: In this single center, retrospective study, 421 HCM patients [median and interquartile range (IQR), 50.0 (38.0-59.0) years; male, 70.5%] from January 2017 to September 2021 and 200 HHD patients [median and IQR, 44.5 (35.0-57.0) years; male, 88.5%] from September 2015 to July 2022 were consecutively included and randomly stratified into a training group and a validation group at a ratio of 6:4. Multiparametric CMR findings were obtained using cvi42 software and radiomics features using Python software. After dimensional reduction, the radscore was calculated by summing the remaining radiomics features weighted by their coefficients. Multiparametric CMR findings and radscore that were statistically significant in univariate logistic regression were used to build combined discrimination models via multivariate logistic regression. Results: After multivariate logistic regression, the maximal left ventricular end diastolic wall thickness (LVEDWT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), presence of LGE, cine radscore and LGE radscore were identified as significant characteristics and used to build a combined discrimination model. This model achieved an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.979 (0.968-0.990) in the training group and 0.981 (0.967-0.995) in the validation group, significantly better than the model using multiparametric CMR findings alone (P<0.001). Conclusions: Radiomics features derived from cardiac cine and LGE images can effectively discriminate HHD from HCM.

LysM receptor-like kinases involved in immunity perceive lipo-chitooligosaccharides in mycotrophic plants.

Symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) produce both conserved microbial molecules that activate plant defense and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) that modulate plant defense. Beside a well-established role of LCOs in the activation of a signaling pathway required for AMF penetration in roots, LCO perception and defense modulation during arbuscular mycorrhiza is not well understood. Here we show that members of the LYRIIIA phylogenetic group from the multigenic Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinase family have a conserved role in dicotyledons as modulators of plant defense and regulate AMF colonization in the Solanaceae species Nicotiana benthamiana. Interestingly, these proteins have a high-affinity for LCOs in plant species able to form a symbiosis with AMF but have lost this property in species that have lost this ability. Our data support the hypothesis that LYRIIIA proteins modulate plant defense upon LCO perception to facilitate AMF colonization in mycotrophic plant species and that only their role in plant defense, but not their ability to be regulated by LCOs, has been conserved in non-mycotrophic plants.

DCE-MRI and DWI can differentiate benign from malignant prostate tumors when serum PSA is ≥10 ng/ml.

Background: This study investigated the diagnostic utility of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters for distinguishing between benign and malignant prostate tumors when serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is ≥10 ng/ml. Methods: Patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with serum PSA ≥10 ng/ml before treatment were recruited. Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy or surgery was performed for tumor classification and patients were stratified accordingly into PCa and BPH groups. Patients underwent DCE-MRI and DWI scanning and the transfer constant (Ktrans), rate constant (Kep), fractional volume of the extravascular extracellular space, plasma volume (Vp), and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2 (PI-RADS v2) score were determined. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated from DWI. The diagnostic performance of these parameters was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and those showing a significant difference between the PCa and BPH groups were combined into a multivariate logistic regression model for PCa diagnosis. Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the relationship between Gleason score and imaging parameters. Results: The study enrolled 65 patients including 32 with PCa and 33 with BPH. Ktrans (P=0.006), Kep (P=0.001), and Vp (P=0.009) from DCE-MRI and ADC (P<0.001) from DWI could distinguish between the 2 groups when PSA was ≥10 ng/ml. PI-RADS score (area under the ROC curve [AUC]=0.705), Ktrans (AUC=0.700), Kep (AUC=0.737), Vp (AUC=0.688), and ADC (AUC=0.999) showed high diagnostic performance for discriminating PCa from BPH. A combined model based on PI-RADS score, Ktrans, Kep, Vp, and ADC had a higher AUC (1.000), with a sensitivity of 0.998 and specificity of 0.999. Imaging markers showed no significant correlation with Gleason score in PCa. Conclusion: DCE-MRI and DWI parameters can distinguish between benign and malignant prostate tumors in patients with serum PSA ≥10 ng/ml.

Mechanism of deglutition stage acupuncture for treating deglutition disorder after stroke.

This research analyzed the efficacy of dysphagia after stroke and evaluated the clinical curative effect after treatment by the staging acupuncture method in comparison with traditional acupuncture method. We tried to study the curative effect of the staging acupuncture treatment after stroke and the possible mechanism of action. Then it could provide the basis of evidence-based medicine and lead for further research. There were 30 patients in the experimental group and the control group, including 15 patients at the middle oral stage and pharynx stage, respectively. The patients were divided into groups who met the standards according to the time sequence of hospitalization using the randomized controlled trial method. Comparing the curative effect between the experimental group control group after 12 days the therapeutic effect evaluation criteria were the water intake test score and the standard swallowing function score (SSA) score and recorded the occurrence of adverse events. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) of oral and pharyngeal period in the baseline data between the two groups in gender, age, course of disease before treatment, and SSA scores before treatment. After treatment, there was statistically significant difference between the two groups. For dysphagia after stroke, the effect of acupuncture in deglutition stage was better than that in routine acupuncture group. Comparison of the efficacy between the oral and pharyngeal phases showed that the staged acupuncture group was superior to the traditional acupuncture group.

LCO Receptors Involved in Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Are Functional for Rhizobia Perception in Legumes.

Bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are key mediators of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS) in legumes. The isolation of LCOs from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi suggested that LCOs are also signaling molecules in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). However, the corresponding plant receptors have remained uncharacterized. Here we show that petunia and tomato mutants in the LysM receptor-like kinases LYK10 are impaired in AM formation. Petunia and tomato LYK10 proteins have a high affinity for LCOs (Kd in the nM range) comparable to that previously reported for a legume LCO receptor essential for the RNS. Interestingly, the tomato and petunia LYK10 promoters, when introduced into a legume, were active in nodules similarly to the promoter of the legume orthologous gene. Moreover, tomato and petunia LYK10 coding sequences restored nodulation in legumes mutated in their orthologs. This combination of genetic and biochemical data clearly pinpoints Solanaceous LYK10 as part of an ancestral LCO perception system involved in AM establishment, which has been directly recruited during evolution of the RNS in legumes.

LysM Receptor-Like Kinase and LysM Receptor-Like Protein Families: An Update on Phylogeny and Functional Characterization.

Members of plant specific families of receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and receptor-like proteins (RLPs), containing 3 extracellular LysMs have been shown to directly bind and/or to be involved in perception of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO), chitooligosaccharides (CO), and peptidoglycan (PGN), three types of GlcNAc-containing molecules produced by microorganisms. These receptors are involved in microorganism perception by plants and can activate different plant responses leading either to symbiosis establishment or to defense responses against pathogens. LysM-RLK/Ps belong to multigenic families. Here, we provide a phylogeny of these families in eight plant species, including dicotyledons and monocotyledons, and we discuss known or putative biological roles of the members in each of the identified phylogenetic groups. We also report and discuss known biochemical properties of the LysM-RLK/Ps.

The LysM receptor-like kinase SlLYK10 regulates the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato.

Most plants have the ability to establish a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which allows better plant nutrition. A plant signaling pathway, called the common symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP), is essential for the establishment of both AM and root nodule symbioses. The CSSP is activated by microbial signals. Plant receptor(s) for AM fungal signals required for the activation of the CSSP and initial fungal penetration are currently unknown. We set up conditions to use virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Solanum lycopersicum to study the genes potentially involved in AM. We show that the lysin motif receptor-like kinase SlLYK10, whose orthologs in legumes are essential for nodulation, but not for AM, and SlCCaMK, a component of the CSSP, are required for penetration of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis into the roots of young tomato plants. Our results support the hypothesis that the SILYK10 ancestral gene originally played a role in AM and underwent duplication and neofunctionalization for a role in nodulation in legumes. Moreover, we conclude that VIGS is an efficient method for fast screening of genes playing major roles in AM.

Comparison of systemic inflammation response and vital organ damage induced by severe burns in different area.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we will establish a stable and optimized rat model that can meet strictly diagnosed criteria and serve as a tool to investigate the potential of novel therapeutics in this preclinical model through comparative analysis of systemic alterations, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and infiltrated numbers of inflammatory cells in distant organ between 30% and 50% TBSA with a full-thickness burn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control group, 30% TBSA with a full-thickness burn group, and 50% TBSA with a full-thickness burn group. The blood and serum samples in the 3 groups were collected and detected by blood routine examination and biochemical detection at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h post burn. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 in serum were detected by ELISA. The sections of lung, renal, liver and heart were analyzed by H&E and immunohistochemical staining detection. RESULTS: Our results showed that temperature in 50% TBSA with a full-thickness burn group was always hypothermia, and lower than 36°C at defined timepoints post burn, that was in 30% TBSA with a full-thickness burn group was lower than 36°C only at 48 h post burn. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 were significantly increased in 30% and 50% groups at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h post burn. The apoptosis in distant organs and the biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, troponin, CK, CK-MB, LDH, urea and creatinine in 30% and 50% groups were also increased at different degrees at defined timepoints after burn, but changes in 50% group were more obvious than that in 30% group. CONCLUSION: We choose 50% TBSA with a full-thickness burn to establish a stable and optimized rat model that can meet strictly diagnosed criteria and serve as a tool to investigate the potential of novel therapeutics in this preclinical model.