Scavenging H2O2 of plant host by saliva catalase of leafhopper vector benefits viral transmission.

Catalase (CAT) is the main reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzyme in plants and insects. However, it remains elusive whether and how insect saliva CAT suppresses ROS-mediated plant defense, thereby promoting initial virus transmission by insect vectors. Here, we investigated how leafhopper Recilia dorsalis catalase (RdCAT) was secreted from insect salivary glands into rice phloem, and how it was perceived by rice chaperone NO CATALASE ACTIVITY1 (OsNCA1) to scavenge excessive H2O2 during insect-to-plant virus transmission. We found that the interaction of OsNCA1 with RdCAT activated its enzymatic activity to decompose H2O2 in rice plants during leafhopper feeding. However, initial insect feeding did not significantly change rice CATs transcripts. Knockout of OsNCA1 in transgenic lines decreased leafhopper feeding-activated CAT activity and caused higher H2O2 accumulation. A devastating rice reovirus activated RdCAT expression and promoted the cosecretion of virions and RdCAT into leafhopper salivary cavities and ultimately into the phloem. Virus-mediated increase of RdCAT secretion suppressed excessive H2O2, thereby promoting host attractiveness to insect vectors and initial virus transmission. Our findings provide insights into how insect saliva CAT is secreted and perceived by plant chaperones to suppress the early H2O2 burst during insect feeding, thereby facilitating viral transmission.

Gossypol improves myocardial dysfunction caused by sepsis by regulating histone acetylation.

Gossypol is a polyphenol from the cotton plant with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation activities and can also function as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Sepsis is an inflammatory disease with high mortality. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and epigenetic factors are involved in sepsis and its complications. The biological activities of gossypol strongly suggest the potential effects of gossypol on sepsis. In the present study, the beneficial effects of gossypol on sepsis were evaluated. We established a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of sepsis and treated CLP mice with gossypol. The survival rate, serum level of myocardial injury markers, and myocardial level of oxidation markers were measured. We also administered gossypol to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated primary cardiomyocytes. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activation of protein kinase B (AKT) and IκB kinase (IKK), acetylation of histone, and expression of HDACs were measured. Gossypol prevented the death of CLP mice and ameliorated myocardial damage in CLP mice. Moreover, gossypol decreased oxidative factors, while promoting antioxidant production in CLP mice. Gossypol prevented LPS and cytosine-phosphate-guanosine-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suppressed LPS-induced activation of AKT and IKK, inhibited histone acetylation, and decreased the expression of HDACs. In conclusion, gossypol ameliorates myocardial dysfunction in mice with sepsis.

Immunological responses of septic rats to combination therapy with thymosin α1 and vitamin C.

This study investigated the effect of combined thymosin α1 and vitamin C (Tα1 + VitC) on the immunological responses of septic rats. Five groups were designed. The septic model was established by the cecal ligation puncture (CLP) method. The sham group did not undergo CLP, the model group was given normal saline solution, the Tα1 group was given Tα1 (200 µg/kg), the VitC group was given VitC (200 mg/kg), and the Tα1 + VitC group was given Tα1 + VitC. Specimens for immunological analyses were collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h posttreatment in each group except for the sham group (only at 48 h). CD4 + CD25 + T cells in the peripheral blood and dendritic cell (DC) proportions in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were measured by ELISA. CD4 + CD25 + T cells and OX62 + DCs levels significantly increased in the model group and decreased in the Tα1 and/or VitC treatment groups. Similarly, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-ß1, and NF-κB significantly increased in the model group and decreased in the Tα1, VitC, and Tα1 + VitC groups, indicating that combined Tα1 and VitC therapy may help regulate the immunological state of patients with sepsis, thereby improving prognosis.

Correlation of HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in sepsis patients.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a common consequence of sepsis due to dysregulated inflammatory responses. Here we aim to investigate high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as serum biomarkers to assess LVDD risk of patients with sepsis. We recruited 120 patients with sepsis, among which 52 had ultrasonically confirmed LVDD and 68 were without LVDD. Blood samples were collected, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyse levels of HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 in serum. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the odds ratio of the serum biomarkers. Spearman's correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the serum biomarkers to B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnl) levels and the ratios of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/e' ratios) in ultrasound. Receiver operating curve was used to measure the sensitivity and specificity of HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 individually and in combination as diagnostic markers. Elevated HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 had significant values in predicting LVDD suggested by high odds ratio (all P < .05). A significant correlation was found between these values and cTnl, the current gold standard for LVDD analysis. HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 also showed a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in ROC analysis. HMGB1, TLR2 and TLR4 are potentially valuable in predicting LVDD risk among patients with sepsis, providing additional tools with the capability of potentially assisting the clinical management of patients with sepsis.

A leafhopper saliva protein mediates horizontal transmission of viral pathogens from insect vectors into rice phloem.

Numerous insects transmit viruses together with saliva to plant phloem, but the roles of saliva components remain elusive. Here, we report that calcium-binding protein (CBP), a universal insect saliva protein, is modified to benefit horizontal transmission of a devastating rice reovirus into plant phloem. CBP effectively competes with virus-induced filaments to target and traverse actin-based apical plasmalemma into saliva-stored cavities in salivary glands of leafhopper vector. Thus, the inhibition of CBP expression by viral infection facilitates filament-mediated viral secretion into salivary cavities and then into plant phloem. Furthermore, virus-mediated reduction of CBP secretion causes an increase of cytosolic Ca2+ levels in rice, triggering substantial callose deposition and H2O2 production. Thus, viruliferous vectors encounter stronger feeding barriers, probe more frequently, and secrete more saliva into plants, ultimately enhancing viral transmission. We thus conclude that the inhibition of CBP secretion facilitates viral secretion and increases host defense response to benefit viral transmission.

Acupuncture for nasal congestion in COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: From the end of 2019 to now, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put enormous strain on the world's health systems, causing significant deaths and economic losses worldwide. Nasal congestion, one of the symptoms of COVID-19, poses considerable problems for patients. In China, acupuncture has been widely used to treat nasal congestion caused by COVID-19, but there is still a lack of evidence-based medical evaluation. METHODS: According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials on the acupuncture for COVID-19 nasal congestion were obtained from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, regardless of publication date, or language. Studies were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) and STATA 14.2 software. Ultimately, the evidentiary grade for the results will be evaluated. RESULTS: The study will provide a high-quality and convincing assessment of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of COVID-19's nasal congestion and will be published in peer-reviewed journals. CONCLUSION: Our findings will provide references for future clinical decision and guidance development. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: NO.CRD42021299482.

Association of polymorphisms in ADAMTS-5 gene with the susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To systematically review literature evidence to discover the association of ADAMTS5 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin-like motifs 5) gene polymorphisms and the risk of developing KOA (knee osteoarthritis). METHODS: We systematically searched the related randomized controlled trials in 4 databases from inception to August 2021, including the Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases. No language and publication status restrictions. Two reviewers will independently screen all included studies, and the meta-analysis will be conducted using the Review Manager (RevMan 5.3, Cochrane Collaboration, Nordic Cochrane Center, Copenhagen, Denmark). RESULTS: The gathered evidence suggests that there may be a close relationship between the SNP in the ADAMTS5 gene and KOA development. This study will provide a high-quality and convincing evaluation of the treatment of KOA from the consideration of ADAMTS5 gene and will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: ADAMTS5 polymorphism is likely an important risk factor for the development of KOA. Our study will provide a more accurate treatment method for the treatment of KOA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021276317.

[Application of carbon nanoparticles in the laparoscopic sentinel lymph node detection in patients with cervical cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of laparoscopic sentinel lymph node(SLN) detection with carbon nanoparticles tracer in cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Totally 21 patients with confirmed early cervical cancer were enrolled in this study.Before laparoscopic extended hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenoetomy(and para-aortic lymphadenoectomy) , they were injected with carbon nanoparticles suspension injection tracer from cervical neck before surgery. The black-staining lymph nodes were cut as SLN under the laparoscope for routine pathological examination. RESULTS: Of these 21 patients, at least one SLN was successfully detected in 20 patients(95.24%) , and a total of 158 SLNs were detected.The conventional pathology results suggested that 5 patients(23.81%) had positive lymph nodes(n=16, including 14 in 4 patients) . The new approach showed a sensitivity of 80.0%(4/5) , accuracy of 100.0%(20/20) , and negative predictive value of 100.0%(16/16) for SLN detection. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic SLN detection with carbon nanoparticles tracer is a relative safe and sensitive method for in cervical carcinoma.