Role of the NF-kB signalling pathway in heterotopic ossification: biological and therapeutic significance.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a pathological process in which ectopic bone develops in soft tissues within the skeletal system. Endochondral ossification can be divided into the following types of acquired and inherited ossification: traumatic HO (tHO) and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling is essential during HO. NF-κB signalling can drive initial inflammation through interactions with the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In the chondrogenesis stage, NF-κB signalling can promote chondrogenesis through interactions with mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT (protein kinase B, PKB) and other molecules, including R-spondin 2 (Rspo2) and SRY-box 9 (Sox9). NF-κB expression can modulate osteoblast differentiation by upregulating secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and interacting with mTOR signalling, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling or integrin-mediated signalling under stretch stimulation in the final osteogenic stage. In FOP, mutated ACVR1-induced NF-κB signalling exacerbates inflammation in macrophages and can promote chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through interactions with smad signalling and mTOR signalling. This review summarizes the molecular mechanism of NF-κB signalling during HO and highlights potential therapeutics for treating HO.

In vivo imaging of mitochondrial DNA mutations using an integrated nano Cas12a sensor.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) play critical roles in many human diseases. In vivo visualization of cells bearing mtDNA mutations is important for resolving the complexity of these diseases, which remains challenging. Here we develop an integrated nano Cas12a sensor (InCasor) and show its utility for efficient imaging of mtDNA mutations in live cells and tumor-bearing mouse models. We co-deliver Cas12a/crRNA, fluorophore-quencher reporters and Mg2+ into mitochondria. This process enables the activation of Cas12a's trans-cleavage by targeting mtDNA, which efficiently cleave reporters to generate fluorescent signals for robustly sensing and reporting single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) in cells. Since engineered crRNA significantly increase Cas12a's sensitivity to mismatches in mtDNA, we can identify tumor tissue and metastases by visualizing cells with mutant mtDNAs in vivo using InCasor. This CRISPR imaging nanoprobe holds potential for applications in mtDNA mutation-related basic research, diagnostics and gene therapies.

Genotype-specific precision tumor therapy using mitochondrial DNA mutation-induced drug release system.

Precise killing of tumor cells without affecting surrounding normal cells is a challenge. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, a common genetic variant in cancer, can directly affect metabolic homeostasis, serving as an ideal regulatory switch for precise tumor therapy. Here, we designed a mutation-induced drug release system (MIDRS), using the single-nucleotide variation (SNV) recognition ability and trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a to convert tumor-specific mtDNA mutations into a regulatory switch for intracellular drug release, realizing precise tumor cell killing. Using Ce6 as a model drug, MIDRS enabled organelle-level photodynamic therapy, triggering innate and adaptive immunity simultaneously. In vivo evaluation showed that MIDRSMT could identify tumor tissue carrying SNVs in mtDNA in unilateral, bilateral, and heterogeneous tumor models, producing an excellent antitumor effect (~82.6%) without affecting normal cells and thus resulting in a stronger systemic antitumor immune response. Additionally, MIDRS was suitable for genotype-specific precision drug release of chemotherapeutic drugs. This strategy holds promise for mutation-specific personalized tumor treatment approaches.

CasSABER for Programmable In Situ Visualization of Low and Nonrepetitive Gene Loci.

Site-specific imaging of target genes using CRISPR probes is essential for understanding the molecular mechanisms of gene function and engineering tools to modulate its downstream pathways. Herein, we develop CRISPR/Cas9-mediated signal amplification by exchange reaction (CasSABER) for programmable in situ imaging of low and nonrepetitive regions of the target gene in the cell nucleus. The presynthesized primer-exchange reaction (PER) probe is able to hybridize multiple fluorophore-bearing imager strands to specifically light up dCas9/sgRNA target-bound gene loci, enabling in situ imaging of fixed cellular gene loci with high specificity and signal-to-noise ratio. In combination with a multiround branching strategy, we successfully detected nonrepetitive gene regions using a single sgRNA. As an intensity-codable and orthogonal probe system, CasSABER enables the adjustable amplification of local signals in fixed cells, resulting in the simultaneous visualization of multicopy and single-copy gene loci with similar fluorescence intensity. Owing to avoiding the complexity of controlling in situ mutistep enzymatic reactions, CasSABER shows good reliability, sensitivity, and ease of implementation, providing a rapid and cost-effective molecular toolkit for studying multigene interaction in fundamental research and gene diagnosis.

Direct visualization of living bacterial genotypes using CRISPR/Cas12a-circular reporter nanoprobes.

Bacterial genotyping is important for understanding the complex microbiota. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has enabled bacterial community identification with high spatial resolution, its unavoidable cell fixation steps and signal generation by multi-probe stacking greatly limit its application in living bacterial genotyping. Here, we designed polyethyleneimine-encapsulated CRISPR/Cas12a-circular reporter nanoprobes (CasCLR) for rapid and sensitive visualization of gene information in living bacteria. We found that, nanoprobe-based sequential delivery of Cas12a/crRNA and circular reporter into bacteria allowed single genomic loci to initiate trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a, thereby cleaving CLR to generate amplified fluorescent signals for imaging of target gene. Using CasCLR, we can sensitively analyze the percentage of target bacteria in co-culture experiments and directly detect pathogenic bacteria in uncultured mouse gut microbe. In addition, CasCLR has the ability to sensitively analyze specific genotype of microbial communities in vivo. This nanobiotechnology-based bacterial gene analysis is expected to advance understanding of in vivo bacterial cytogenetic information.

In Vivo Activation of T-Cell Proliferation by Regulating Cell Surface Receptor Clustering Using a pH-Driven Interlocked DNA Nano-Spring.

Activation of T-cell proliferation specifically in a tumor is crucial for reducing the autoimmune side effects of antitumor immunotherapy. Herein, we developed a pH-driven interlocked DNA nano-spring (iDNS) to stimulate T-cell activation in vivo in response to the low pH value in a tumor microenvironment. The interlocked structure of iDNS provide a more rigid scaffold in comparison to double-stranded DNA for ligand assembly, which can help to control the spatial distribution of ligands with more accuracy. We have demonstrated that the pH-driven reversible reconfiguration of iDNS provides a powerful way to regulate the nanoscale distribution of T-cell receptors (CD3) on the cell surface. The relatively low pH value (pH 6.5) in a solid tumor was able to drive the springlike shrinking of iDNS and induce significant T-cell proliferation, leading to an enhanced antitumor effect, thus providing a tool for specifically inducing an immune response in a tumor for immunotherapy.

[Effects of Tianbingtiaodu capsule on improvement of learning and memory abilities and expression of NMDAR1 of epileptic rats in the hippocampus].

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of Tianbingtiaodu capsule on changement of learning and memory abilities and expression of NMDAR1 in epileptic rats. METHODS: Picrotoxin (1.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitonrally in SD rats for thirty days. After the repeated attacks epilepsy model had been established successfully, model rats were randomly divided into model group, Tianbingtiaodu capsule low dosage (0.4 g/kg) group, Tianbingtiaodu capsules high dosage(0. 8 g/kg) group, Piracetam group and Piracetam and Valproate group. All groups were fed everyday. Sixty days later, the learning and memory abilities were tested with Morris water maze method. Expression of NMDAR1 in hippocampus was observed with western-blot and immunohistochemical method. The expression of NMDAR1 mRNA in hippocampus was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the learning and memory abilities were significantly lower (P < 0.01), immune positive remarks of expression of NMDAR1 in hippocampus AC3 significantly increased in model group (P < 0.05); Compared with model group,the learning and memory abilities and expression of NMDAR1 in hippocampus was improved significantly in Tianbingtiaodu group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tianbingtiaodu capsule could improve the impairment of learning and memory in rats after repeated attacks of epilepsy through adjusting the NMDAR1 expression.