CXCR6 defines therapeutic subtypes of CD4+ cytotoxic T cell lineage for adoptive cell transfer therapy in pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The potential of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and tissue resident memory T cells (Trm) in achieving adult leukemia remission have been highlighted [1,2]. We hypothesized that CXCR6 could serve as a marker for cytotoxic CD4+ Trm cells in the bone marrow (BM) of pediatric B-ALL patients. Flow cytometry (FCM) and published single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets were employed to characterize CXCR6+CD4+ T cells in the BM and peripheral blood (PB) of pediatric B-ALL patients and healthy donors. FCM, scRNA-seq and co-culture were utilized to explore the cytotoxicity of CXCR6+CD4+ T cells in vitro based on in vitro induction of CXCR6+CD4+ T cells using tumor antigens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The ssGSEA based on the cell markers identified according to the in vivo scRNA-seq data, the TARGET-ALL-P2 datasets, and integrated machine learning algorithm were employed to figure out the key cells with prognostic values, followed by simulation of adoptive cell transfer therapy (ACT). Integrated machine learning identified the high-risk cells for disease free survival, and overall survival, while simulation of ACT therapy using CXCR6+CD4+T cells indicated that CXCR6+CD4+ T cells could remodel the bone marrow microenvironments towards anti-tumor. Based on the expression of genes involved in formation of resident memory T cells, CXCR6 is not a marker of resident memory CD4+T cells but defines therapeutic subtypes of CD4+ cytotoxic T cell lineage for pediatric B-ALL.

Elevated enteric putrescine suppresses differentiation of intestinal germinal center B cells.

The dysregulation of B cell maturation and putrescine metabolism has been implicated in various diseases. However, the causal relationship between them and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of exogenous putrescine on B cell differentiation in the intestinal microenvironment. Our results demonstrated that administration of exogenous putrescine significantly impaired the proportion of germinal center B (GC B) cells in Peyer's patches (PPs) and lamina propria. Through integration of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we identified putrescine-mediated changes in gene drivers, including those involved in the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway and fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, putrescine drinking disrupted T-B cell interactions and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in B cells. In vitro activation of B cells confirmed the direct suppression of putrescine on GC B cells differentiation and ROS production. Additionally, we explored the Pearson correlations between putrescine biosynthesis activity and B cell infiltration in pan-cancers, revealing negative correlations in colon adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and lung adenocarcinoma, but positive correlations in liver hepatocellular carcinoma, and breast invasive carcinoma. Our findings provided novel insights into the suppressive effects of elevated enteric putrescine on intestinal B cells differentiation and highlighted the complex and distinctive immunoregulatory role of putrescine in different microenvironments. These findings expand our understanding of the role of polyamines in B cell immunometabolism and related diseases.

Recent Advances in the Genetic and Biochemical Mechanisms of Rice Resistance to Brown Planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens Stål).

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than half of Earth's population. Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) is a host-specific pest of rice responsible for inducing major losses in rice production. Utilizing host resistance to control N. lugens is considered to be the most cost-effective method. Therefore, the exploration of resistance genes and resistance mechanisms has become the focus of breeders' attention. During the long-term co-evolution process, rice has evolved multiple mechanisms to defend against BPH infection, and BPHs have evolved various mechanisms to overcome the defenses of rice plants. More than 49 BPH-resistance genes/QTLs have been reported to date, and the responses of rice to BPH feeding activity involve various processes, including MAPK activation, plant hormone production, Ca2+ flux, etc. Several secretory proteins of BPHs have been identified and are involved in activating or suppressing a series of defense responses in rice. Here, we review some recent advances in our understanding of rice-BPH interactions. We also discuss research progress in controlling methods of brown planthoppers, including cultural management, trap cropping, and biological control. These studies contribute to the establishment of green integrated management systems for brown planthoppers.

Clinical efficacy of transcrestal sinus floor augmentation, in comparison with lateral approach, in sites with residual bone height ≤6 mm: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This paper addressed two focused questions: Focused question 1 (Q1) "what is the clinical efficacy of transcrestal sinus floor augmentation (TSFA), as compared to lateral sinus floor augmentation (LSFA) in sites with residual bone height (RBH) ≤6 mm, in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs)?"; Focused question 2 (Q2) "what is the estimated effectiveness of TSFA for outcomes in Q1, in RCTs, CCTs or cohort studies?" MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search (PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and hand search were conducted from January 1986 until December 2022. All eligible clinical studies expressly reporting TSFA in sites with RBH ≤6 mm were included. The data were extracted, and the risk of bias in individual studies was evaluated. Meta-analysis was performed whenever possible. RESULTS: Seven RCTs were included for Q1 and 25 studies (9 RCTs, 2 CCTs, 14 single arm cohort studies) for Q2. Q1: Meta-analysis did not show significant difference in the implant survival, sinus membrane perforation and marginal bone loss between TSFA and LSFA groups. Q2: Meta-analysis showed TSFA had a high implant survival rate (96.5%, 95% CI: 93.2%-98.9%) at least 1 year after surgery, and limited sinus membrane perforation (5.4%, 95% CI: 2.7%-8.8%). The results also presented higher patient satisfaction for TSFA. CONCLUSION: With the limitations of the present study (high risk of bias in individual studies), it can be concluded that there was no significant difference in implant survival, Schneiderian membrane perforation and MBL between two approaches in sites with RBH ≤6 mm.

Comprehensive identification and characterization of lncRNAs and circRNAs reveal potential brown planthopper-responsive ceRNA networks in rice.

Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) is one of the most destructive pests of rice. Non-coding RNA plays an important regulatory role in various biological processes. However, comprehensive identification and characterization of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in BPH-infested rice have not been performed. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of lncRNAs and circRNAs in BPH6-transgenic (resistant, BPH6G) and Nipponbare (susceptible, NIP) rice plants before and after BPH feeding (early and late stage) via deep RNA-sequencing. A total of 310 lncRNAs and 129 circRNAs were found to be differentially expressed. To reveal the different responses of resistant and susceptible rice to BPH herbivory, the potential functions of these lncRNAs and circRNAs as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) were predicted and investigated using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. Dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR1846c and miR530 were targeted by the lncRNAs XLOC_042442 and XLOC_028297, respectively. In responsive to BPH infestation, 39 lncRNAs and 21 circRNAs were predicted to combine with 133 common miRNAs and compete for miRNA binding sites with 834 mRNAs. These mRNAs predictably participated in cell wall organization or biogenesis, developmental growth, single-organism cellular process, and the response to stress. This study comprehensively identified and characterized lncRNAs and circRNAs, and integrated their potential ceRNA functions, to reveal the rice BPH-resistance network. These results lay a foundation for further study on the functions of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the rice-BPH interaction, and enriched our understanding of the BPH-resistance response in rice.

Single-Cell RNA sequencing of leaf sheath cells reveals the mechanism of rice resistance to brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens).

The brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens) sucks rice sap causing leaves to turn yellow and wither, often leading to reduced or zero yields. Rice co-evolved to resist damage by BPH. However, the molecular mechanisms, including the cells and tissues, involved in the resistance are still rarely reported. Single-cell sequencing technology allows us to analyze different cell types involved in BPH resistance. Here, using single-cell sequencing technology, we compared the response offered by the leaf sheaths of the susceptible (TN1) and resistant (YHY15) rice varieties to BPH (48 hours after infestation). We found that the 14,699 and 16,237 cells (identified via transcriptomics) in TN1 and YHY15 could be annotated using cell-specific marker genes into nine cell-type clusters. The two rice varieties showed significant differences in cell types (such as mestome sheath cells, guard cells, mesophyll cells, xylem cells, bulliform cells, and phloem cells) in the rice resistance mechanism to BPH. Further analysis revealed that although mesophyll, xylem, and phloem cells are involved in the BPH resistance response, the molecular mechanism used by each cell type is different. Mesophyll cell may regulate the expression of genes related to vanillin, capsaicin, and ROS production, phloem cell may regulate the cell wall extension related genes, and xylem cell may be involved in BPH resistance response by controlling the expression of chitin and pectin related genes. Thus, rice resistance to BPH is a complicated process involving multiple insect resistance factors. The results presented here will significantly promote the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance of rice to insects and accelerate the breeding of insect-resistant rice varieties.

Advances of herbivore-secreted elicitors and effectors in plant-insect interactions.

Diverse molecular processes regulate the interactions between insect herbivores and their host plants. When plants are exposed to insects, elicitors induce plant defenses, and complex physiological and biochemical processes are triggered, such as the activation of the jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) pathways, Ca2+ flux, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and other responses. For better adaptation, insects secrete a large number of effectors to interfere with plant defenses on multiple levels. In plants, resistance (R) proteins have evolved to recognize effectors and trigger stronger defense responses. However, only a few effectors recognized by R proteins have been identified until now. Multi-omics approaches for high-throughput elicitor/effector identification and functional characterization have been developed. In this review, we mainly highlight the recent advances in the identification of the elicitors and effectors secreted by insects and their target proteins in plants and discuss their underlying molecular mechanisms, which will provide new inspiration for controlling these insect pests.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis provide insight into the resistance response of rice against brown planthopper.

Introduction: The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) is one of the most economically significant pests of rice. The Bph30 gene has been successfully cloned and conferred rice with broad-spectrum resistance to BPH. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Bph30 enhances resistance to BPH remain poorly understood. Methods: Here, we conducted a transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of Bph30-transgenic (BPH30T) and BPH-susceptible Nipponbare plants to elucidate the response of Bph30 to BPH infestation. Results: Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the pathway of plant hormone signal transduction enriched exclusively in Nipponbare, and the greatest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) signal transduction. Analysis of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) revealed that DAMs involved in the amino acids and derivatives category were down-regulated in BPH30T plants following BPH feeding, and the great majority of DAMs in flavonoids category displayed the trend of increasing in BPH30T plants; the opposite pattern was observed in Nipponbare plants. Combined transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis revealed that the pathways of amino acids biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis were enriched. The content of IAA significantly decreased in BPH30T plants following BPH feeding, and the content of IAA remained unchanged in Nipponbare. The exogenous application of IAA weakened the BPH resistance conferred by Bph30. Discussion: Our results indicated that Bph30 might coordinate the movement of primary and secondary metabolites and hormones in plants via the shikimate pathway to enhance the resistance of rice to BPH. Our results have important reference significance for the resistance mechanisms analysis and the efficient utilization of major BPH-resistance genes.

A tripartite rheostat controls self-regulated host plant resistance to insects.

Plants deploy receptor-like kinases and nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors to confer host plant resistance (HPR) to herbivores1. These gene-for-gene interactions between insects and their hosts have been proposed for more than 50 years2. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie HPR have been elusive, as the identity and sensing mechanisms of insect avirulence effectors have remained unknown. Here we identify an insect salivary protein perceived by a plant immune receptor. The BPH14-interacting salivary protein (BISP) from the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is secreted into rice (Oryza sativa) during feeding. In susceptible plants, BISP targets O. satvia RLCK185 (OsRLCK185; hereafter Os is used to denote O. satvia-related proteins or genes) to suppress basal defences. In resistant plants, the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptor BPH14 directly binds BISP to activate HPR. Constitutive activation of Bph14-mediated immunity is detrimental to plant growth and productivity. The fine-tuning of Bph14-mediated HPR is achieved through direct binding of BISP and BPH14 to the selective autophagy cargo receptor OsNBR1, which delivers BISP to OsATG8 for degradation. Autophagy therefore controls BISP levels. In Bph14 plants, autophagy restores cellular homeostasis by downregulating HPR when feeding by brown planthoppers ceases. We identify an insect saliva protein sensed by a plant immune receptor and discover a three-way interaction system that offers opportunities for developing high-yield, insect-resistant crops.

Splicing Indoles and 4,5-Dihydro-1H-pyrazoline Structure Gave Birth to Novel Antiviral Agents: Design, Synthesis, and Mechanism Study.

The specific conation of our research is to invent a series of indole derivatives containing a 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoline motif with effective antiviral activity. The anti-potato virus Y (PVY) activities of target compounds were systematically investigated. Most target compounds exhibited good PVY activities. Compound D40, which exhibited outstanding anti-PVY activities, was sieved using a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship. Based on the anti-PVY activity assessments, the curative and protective activities of D40 were found to be 64.9 and 60.8%, respectively, which were superior to those of the commercial drug Ningnanmycin (50.2 and 50.7%, respectively). In addition, defensive enzyme activities and proteomics results indicate that D40 can increase the three crucial defense-related enzyme activities and regulate the carbon fixation pathway in photosynthetic organisms to intensify the resistance of plants to PVY. Therefore, our study suggests that compound D40 might be used as a suitable crop protection pesticide.

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Dynamic and Rapid Transcriptional Reprogramming Involved in Cold Stress and Related Core Genes in the Rice Seedling Stage.

Cold damage is one of the most important environmental factors influencing crop growth, development, and production. In this study, we generated a pair of near-isogenic lines (NILs), Towada and ZL31, and Towada showed more cold sensitivity than ZL31 in the rice seedling stage. To explore the transcriptional regulation mechanism and the reason for phenotypic divergence of the two lines in response to cold stress, an in-depth comparative transcriptome study under cold stress was carried out. Our analysis uncovered that rapid and high-amplitude transcriptional reprogramming occurred in the early stage of cold treatment. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that genes of the response to stress, environmental adaptation, signal transduction, metabolism, photosynthesis, and the MAPK signaling pathway might form the main part of the engine for transcriptional reprogramming in response to cold stress. Furthermore, we identified four core genes, OsWRKY24, OsCAT2, OsJAZ9, and OsRR6, that were potential candidates affecting the cold sensitivity of Towada and ZL31. Genome re-sequencing analysis between the two lines revealed that only OsWRKY24 contained sequence variations which may change its transcript abundance. Our study not only provides novel insights into the cold-related transcriptional reprogramming process, but also highlights the potential candidates involved in cold stress.

Putrescine accelerates the differentiation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells via inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT3 at Tyr705.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play pivotal roles in immune responses. The differentiation and function of DCs are regulated by environmental metabolites. Putrescine is ubiquitous in various metabolic microenvironments and its immunoregulation has been of increasing interest. However, the mechanisms associated with its DC-induced immunoregulation remain unclear. In this study, we found putrescine promoted induction of immature bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs), along with the increased phagocytosis and migration, and altered cytokine secretion in immature BMDCs. Transcriptomic profiles indicated significantly impaired inflammatory-related pathways, elevated oxidative phosphorylation, and decreased p-STAT3 (Tyr705) expression. Additionally, putrescine performed minor influence on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced maturation of BMDCs but significantly impaired LPS-induced DC-elicited allogeneic T-cell proliferation as well as the cytokine secretion. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics on the conjugation between putrescine and STAT3 revealed that putrescine could be stably bound to the hydrophilic cavity in STAT3 and performed significant influence on the Tyr705 phosphorylation. CUT&Tag analysis uncovered altered motifs, downregulated IFN-γ response, and upregulated p53 pathway in Putrescine group compared with Control group. In summary, our results demonstrated for the first time that putrescine might accelerate the differentiation of BMDCs by inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT3 at Tyr705. Given that both DCs and putrescine have ubiquitous and distinct roles in various immune responses and pathogeneses, our findings may provide more insights into polyamine immunoregulation on DCs, as well as distinct strategies in the clinical utilization of DCs by targeting polyamines.

3-Hydroxy-2-oxindole Derivatives Containing Sulfonamide Motif: Synthesis, Antiviral Activity, and Modes of Action.

3-Hydroxy-2-oxindole motif constitutes a core structure in numerous natural products and imparts notable biological activities. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of four series of novel 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindole derivatives containing sulfonamide moiety along with their antiviral activities against potato virus Y (PVY). Compound 10b displayed optimal antiviral activity and superior anti-PVY activity compared with the lead compound and commercial Ningnanmycin in terms of curative and protective effects. Additionally, 10b considerably inhibited PVY systemic infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. Physiological and biochemical analyses revealed that the activities of the four crucial defense-related enzymes increased in the tobacco plant following treatment with 10b. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that 10b substantially induced the upregulation of 38 differentially expressed genes, which were enriched in the photosynthesis pathway. These findings suggest that 10b is a promising antiviral agrochemical that can effectively control PVY infection and trigger plant host immunity to develop virus resistance. This study provides novel molecular entities and ideas for developing new pesticides.

Predictors of peri-implant bone remodeling outcomes after the osteotome sinus floor elevation: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic outcomes of implants after osteotome sinus floor elevation (OSFE), and further identify the separate predictors for these radiographic outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 187 implants were inserted into 138 patients using the OSFE technique. Seventy-four patients in the grafted group, and 64 patients in the non-grafted group completed this study. The vertical bone gain (VBG) and marginal bone loss (MBL) at 3 years following surgery were assessed as outcome variables. Based on extensive literature results, variables considered potential predictors of outcome variables included sex, age, tooth position, implant length, implant diameter, with or without grafting materials, residual bone height, sinus width, bone density, and sinus membrane thickness. Subsequently, the binary logistic regression analysis was applied with VBG and MBL as dependent variables, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) with its area under the curve (AUC) was performed to further determine the predictive value of these predictors. RESULTS: One hundred and six implants in grafted group and 81 implants in the non-grafted group were analyzed. The average VBG was 2.12 ± 1.94 mm for the grafted group and 0.44 ± 1.01 mm for the non-grafted group at 3 years (P < 0.05). The mean MBL was 1.54 ± 1.42 mm for the grafted group and 1.13 ± 1.69 mm for the non-grafted group at 3 years (P > 0.05). After the adjustment for confounders, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that implant length, grafting, residual bone height, and sinus membrane thickness were predictors of VBG. The odds ratio for VBG was 3.90, 4.04, 4.13 and 2.62, respectively. Furthermore, grafting exhibited the largest AUC at 0.80. While tooth position and implant length were predictors of MBL, the odds ratio for MBL was 3.27 and 7.85, respectively. Meanwhile, implant length exhibited the largest AUC at 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: OSFE with or without simultaneous grafting materials both showed predictable clinical outcomes. Additionally, the present study is the first quantitative and significant verification that VBG has a significant association with sinus membrane thickness, as well as residual bone height, implant length and grafting. Whereas tooth position and implant length are markedly associated with MBL.

The Proangiogenic Potential of Rat Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells with and without Cell-Sheet Induction: A Comparative Study.

A functional vasculature for survival remains a challenge for tissue regeneration, which is indispensable for oxygen and nutrient supply. Utilizing mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to alleviate tissue ischemia and repair dysfunctional or damaged endothelium is a promising strategy. Compared to other populations of MSCs, adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) possess a more significant proangiogenic potential and are abundantly available. Cell sheet technology has recently been widely utilized in bone engineering. Compared to conventional methods of seeding seed cell suspension onto biological scaffolds, cell sheet technology prevents cell loss and preserves the extracellular matrix (ECM). Nevertheless, the proangiogenic potential of ASC sheets remains unknown. In this study, rat ASC sheets were constructed, and their macro- and microstructures were examined. In addition, we investigated the effects of ASCs and ASC sheets on the biological properties and angiogenic capacity of endothelial cells (ECs). The results demonstrated that the ASC sheets gradually thickened as the number of cells and ECM increased over time and that the cells were in an active state of secretion. Similar to ASC-CM, the conditioned medium (CM) of ASC sheets could significantly enhance the proliferative capacity of ECs. ASC sheet-CM has significant advantages over ASC-CM in promoting the migration and angiogenesis of ECs, where the exosomes secreted by ASC sheets play an essential role. Therefore, using ASC sheets for therapeutic tissue and organ regeneration angiogenesis may be a valuable strategy.

Application of digital positioning guide plates for the surgical extraction of multiple impacted supernumerary teeth: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: An extra tooth in the normal tooth sequence in any region of the dental arch is regarded as a supernumerary tooth (SNT). Due to the large variation in location and morphology, the extraction of impacted SNTs is an extensive and complex procedure with high risks of several complications. This report presents a rare case of seven impacted SNTs in the bilateral upper and lower arch that were successfully extracted with the use of digital positioning guide plates. CASE SUMMARY: In January 2022, a 21-year-old male was referred to our department with a chief complaint of pain in relation to tooth #36. Clinical examination showed a deep carious lesion with pulpal involvement in tooth #36 and lingual swelling of the bilateral mandibular posterior area. Radiographic examination revealed seven deeply impacted SNTs in the bilateral posterior area and bilateral impacted mandibular third molars. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with bilateral, multiple impacted SNTs and tooth #36 chronic pulpitis. A root canal treatment and an all-ceramic crown restoration for tooth #36 were performed. An individualized digital positioning guide plate was designed by computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology and cone-beam computed tomography for extraction of the impacted SNTs. During the operation, the digital positioning guide plate allowed rapid positioning and exposure of the SNTs while avoiding adjacent important anatomical structures. At 3-month follow-up, regeneration of bone and soft tissues was visible. CONCLUSION: The application of digital positioning guide plates is useful for the individualized and minimalized extraction of impacted supernumerary teeth.

Genome-wide identification of long non-coding (lncRNA) in Nilaparvata lugens's adaptability to resistant rice.

Background: The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is a very destructive pest that poses a major threat to rice plants worldwide. BPH and rice have developed complex feeding and defense strategies in the long-term co-evolution. Methods: To explore the molecular mechanism of BPH's adaptation to resistant rice varieties, the lncRNA expression profiles of two virulent BPH populations were analyzed. The RNA-seq method was used to obtain the lncRNA expression data in TN1 and YHY15. Results: In total, 3,112 highly reliable lncRNAs in TN1 and YHY15 were identified. Compared to the expression profiles between TN1 and YHY15, 157 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 675 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified. Further analysis of the possible regulation relationships between differentially expressed lncRNAs and differentially expressed mRNAs, identified three pair antisense targets, nine pair cis-regulation targets, and 3,972 pair co-expressed targets. Function enriched found arginine and proline metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and carbon metabolism categories may significantly affect the adaptability in BPH when it is exposed to susceptible and resistant rice varieties. Altogether, it provided scientific data for the study of lncRNA regulation of brown planthopper resistance to rice. These results are helpful in the development of new control strategies for host defense against BPH and breeding rice for high yield.

Construction and performance of exendin-4-loaded chitosan-PLGA microspheres for enhancing implant osseointegration in type 2 diabetic rats.

The updating and optimization of drug delivery systems is critical for better in vivo behaviors of drugs, as well as for improving impaired implant osseointegration in diabetes. Numerous studies have reported the benefits of exendin-4 on diabetic bone, with the potential to enhance osseointegration in diabetes. To construct an appropriate sustained-release system of exendin-4 targeting implant osseointegration in diabetes, this study fabricated exendin-4-loaded microspheres using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan. The morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release behavior of microspheres were investigated. The bioactivity of drug-loaded microspheres on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of diabetic BMSCs was investigated to examine the pharmacologic action of exendin-4 loaded into chitosan-PLGA microspheres. Further, the influence of microspheres on osseointegration was evaluated using type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat implant model. After 4 weeks, the samples were evaluated by radiological and histological analysis. The results of in vitro experiments showed that the prepared exendin-4-loaded chitosan-PLGA microspheres have good properties as a drug delivery system, and the chitosan could improve the encapsulation efficiency and drug release of PLGA microspheres. In addition, exendin-4-loaded microspheres could enhance the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of diabetic BMSCs. The results of in vivo experiments showed the exendin-4-loaded microspheres significantly improved the impaired osseointegration and bone formation around implants in T2DM rats without affecting blood glucose levels. Thus, the local application of exendin-4-loaded chitosan-PLGA microspheres might be a promising therapeutic strategy for improving the efficacy of dental implants in T2DM individuals.

Necessity of rice resistance to planthoppers for OsEXO70H3 regulating SAMSL excretion and lignin deposition in cell walls.

The planthopper resistance gene Bph6 encodes a protein that interacts with OsEXO70E1. EXO70 forms a family of paralogues in rice. We hypothesized that the EXO70-dependent trafficking pathway affects the excretion of resistance-related proteins, thus impacting plant resistance to planthoppers. Here, we further explored the function of EXO70 members in rice resistance against planthoppers. We used the yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays to identify proteins that play roles in Bph6-mediated planthopper resistance. The functions of the identified proteins were characterized via gene transformation, plant resistance evaluation, insect performance, cell excretion observation and cell wall component analyses. We discovered that another EXO70 member, OsEXO70H3, interacted with BPH6 and functioned in cell excretion and in Bph6-mediated planthopper resistance. We further found that OsEXO70H3 interacted with an S-adenosylmethionine synthetase-like protein (SAMSL) and increased the delivery of SAMSL outside the cells. The functional impairment of OsEXO70H3 and SAMSL reduced the lignin content and the planthopper resistance level of rice plants. Our results suggest that OsEXO70H3 may recruit SAMSL and help its excretion to the apoplast where it may be involved in lignin deposition in cell walls, thus contributing to rice resistance to planthoppers.

Bph30 confers resistance to brown planthopper by fortifying sclerenchyma in rice leaf sheaths.

Phloem-feeding insects cause massive losses in agriculture and horticulture. Host plant resistance to phloem-feeding insects is often mediated by changes in phloem composition, which deter insect settling and feeding and decrease viability. Here, we report that rice plant resistance to the phloem-feeding brown planthopper (BPH) is associated with fortification of the sclerenchyma tissue, which is located just beneath the epidermis and a cell layer or two away from the vascular bundle in the rice leaf sheath. We found that BPHs prefer to feed on the smooth and soft region on the surface of rice leaf sheaths called the long-cell block. We identified Bph30 as a rice BPH resistance gene that prevents BPH stylets from reaching the phloem due to the fortified sclerenchyma. Bph30 is strongly expressed in sclerenchyma cells and enhances cellulose and hemicellulose synthesis, making the cell walls stiffer and sclerenchyma thicker. The structurally fortified sclerenchyma is a formidable barrier preventing BPH stylets from penetrating the leaf sheath tissues and arriving at the phloem to feed. Bph30 belongs to a novel gene family, encoding a protein with two leucine-rich domains. Another member of the family, Bph40, also conferred resistance to BPH. Collectively, the fortified sclerenchyma-mediated resistance mechanism revealed in this study expands our understanding of plant-insect interactions and opens a new path for controlling planthoppers in rice.