SIRT3-mediated OPA1 deacetylation protects against sepsis-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting alveolar macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization.

AIMS: Mitochondrial dynamics in alveolar macrophages (AMs) are associated with sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether changes in mitochondrial dynamics could alter the polarization of AMs in sepsis-induced ALI and to explore the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics by focusing on SIRT3-induced optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) deacetylation. RESULTS: The AMs of sepsis-induced ALI showed imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics and polarization to the M1 macrophage phenotype. In sepsis, SIRT3 overexpression promotes mitochondrial dynamic equilibrium in AMs. However, 3TYP-specific inhibition of SIRT3 increased the mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs and further aggravated sepsis-induced ALI. OPA1 is directly bound to and deacetylated by SIRT3 in AMs. In AMs of sepsis-induced ALI, SIRT3 protein expression was decreased and OPA1 acetylation was increased. OPA1 acetylation at the lysine 792 amino acid residue (OPA1-K792) promotes self-cleavage and is associated with an imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics. However, decreased acetylation of OPA1-K792 reversed the pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs and protected the barrier function of alveolar epithelial cells in sepsis-induced ALI. INNOVATION: Our study revealed for the first time the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and AMs polarization by SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of OPA1 in sepsis-induced ALI, which may serve as an intervention target for precision therapy of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics promote pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs in sepsis-induced ALI, and that deacetylation of OPA1 mediated by SIRT3 improves mitochondrial dynamic equilibrium, thereby ameliorating lung injury.

Magnolia Officinalis Alcohol Extract Alleviates the Intestinal Injury Induced by Polygala Tenuifolia Through Regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Intestinal Flora.

Purpose: Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (PT), a traditional Chinese medicinal plant extensively employed in managing Alzheimer's disease, exhibits notable gastrointestinal side effects as highlighted by prior investigations. In contrast, Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils (MO), a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal ailments, shows promising potential for ameliorating this adverse effect of PT. The objective of this study is to examine the underlying mechanism of MO in alleviating the side effects of PT. Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe the structural damage of zebrafish intestine, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress. The integrity of the intestinal tight junctions was examined using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Moreover, the expression of intestinal barrier genes and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway-related genes was determined through quantitative real-time PCR. The changes in intestinal microbial composition were analyzed using 16S rRNA and metagenomic techniques. Results: MO effectively ameliorated intestinal pathological damage and barrier gene expression, and significantly alleviated intestinal injury by reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, MO could significantly increase the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms (Lactobacillus, Blautia and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and reduce the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Plesiomonas and Aeromonas). Conclusion: MO alleviated PT-induced intestinal injury, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway activation and regulation of intestinal flora.

Impact of PEDV infection on the biological characteristics of porcine intestinal exosomes.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a highly contagious intestinal infection primarily affecting pigs. It is caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). PEDV targets the villus tissue cells in the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes, resulting in shortened intestinal villi and, in extreme cases, causing necrosis of the intestinal lining. Moreover, PEDV infection can disrupt the balance of the intestinal microflora, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli. Exosomes, tiny membrane vesicles ranging from 30 to 150 nm in size, contain a complex mixture of RNA and proteins. MicroRNA (miRNA) regulates various cell signaling, development, and disease progression processes. This study extracted exosomes from both groups and performed high-throughput miRNA sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to investigate differences in miRNA expression within exosomes isolated from PEDV-infected porcine small intestine tissue compared to healthy controls. Notably, two miRNA types displayed upregulation in infected exosomes, while 12 exhibited downregulation. These findings unveil abnormal miRNA regulation patterns in PEDV-infected intestinal exosomes, shedding light on the intricate interplay between PEDV and its host. This will enable further exploration of the relationship between these miRNA changes and signaling pathways, enlightening PEDV pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Mitogenomic phylogeny, biogeography, and cryptic divergence of the genus Silurus (Siluriformes: Siluridae).

The genus Silurus, an important group of catfish, exhibits heterogeneous distribution in Eurasian freshwater systems. This group includes economically important and endangered species, thereby attracting considerable scientific interest. Despite this interest, the lack of a comprehensive phylogenetic framework impedes our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the extensive diversity found within this genus. Herein, we analyzed 89 newly sequenced and 20 previously published mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from 13 morphological species to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships, biogeographic history, and species diversity of Silurus. Our phylogenetic reconstructions identified eight clades, supported by both maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference. Sequence-based species delimitation analyses yielded multiple molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) in several taxa, including the Silurus asotus complex (four MOTUs) and Silurus microdorsalis (two MOTUs), suggesting that species diversity is underestimated in the genus. A reconstructed time-calibrated tree of Silurus species provided an age estimate of the most recent common ancestor of approximately 37.61 million years ago (Ma), with divergences among clades within the genus occurring between 11.56 Ma and 29.44 Ma, and divergences among MOTUs within species occurring between 3.71 Ma and 11.56 Ma. Biogeographic reconstructions suggested that the ancestral area for the genus likely encompassed China and the Korean Peninsula, with multiple inferred dispersal events to Europe and Central and Western Asia between 21.78 Ma and 26.67 Ma and to Japan between 2.51 Ma and 18.42 Ma. Key factors such as the Eocene-Oligocene extinction event, onset and intensification of the monsoon system, and glacial cycles associated with sea-level fluctuations have likely played significant roles in shaping the evolutionary history of the genus Silurus.

Prevalence, characteristics, evaluation, and management of carotid body tumors: Systematic analysis based on available evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Although carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare, they attract particular attention because of their propensity for malignant transformation and the high surgical risk. Because data are scarce and as it is difficult to achieve a large sample size, no study has yet comprehensively analyzed the characteristics, management, or operative complications of CBTs. Therefore, we collected and analyzed all currently available information on CBTs and used the pooled data to derive quantitative information on disease characteristics and management. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science up to December 1, 2022, for studies that investigated the characteristics and management of CBTs. The primary objective was to identify the prevalence of the various characteristics and the incidence of complications. The secondary objective was to compare patients who underwent preoperative embolization (PE) and those who did not (non-PE), as well as to compare patients with different Shamblin grades and those with and without succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) mutations in terms of CBT characteristics and complications. Two reviewers selected studies for inclusion and independently extracted data. All statistical analyses were performed using the standard statistical procedures of Review Manager 5.2 and Stata 12.0. RESULTS: A total of 155 studies with 9291 patients and 9862 tumors were identified. The pooled results indicated that the median age of patients with CBT was 45.72 years, and 65% were female. The proportion of patients with bilateral lesions was 13%. In addition, 16% of patients had relevant family histories, and the proportion of those with SDH gene mutations was 36%. Sixteen percent of patients experienced multiple paragangliomas, and 12% of CBTs had catecholamine function. The incidence of cranial nerve injury (CNI) was 27%, and 14% of patients suffered from permanent CNI. The incidence rates of operative mortality and stroke were both 1%, and 4% of patients developed transient ischemic attacks. Of all CBTs, 6% were malignant or associated with metastases or recurrences. The most common metastatic locations were the lymph nodes (3%) and bone (3%), followed by the lungs (2%). Compared with non-PE, PE reduced the estimated blood loss (standardized mean difference, -0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.70 to -0.20) and the operation time (standardized mean difference, -0.56; 95% CI, -1.03 to -0.09), but it increased the incidence of stroke (odds ratio, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.04-5.73). Higher Shamblin grade tumors were associated with more operative complications. Patients who were SDH gene mutation-positive were more likely to have a relevant family history and had more symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: CBT was most common in middle-aged females, and early surgical resection was feasible; there was a low incidence of serious operative complications. Routine PE is not recommended because this may increase the incidence of stroke, although PE somewhat reduced the estimated blood loss and operation time. Higher Shamblin grade tumors increased the incidence of operative complications. Patients who were SDH gene mutation-positive had the most relevant family histories and symptoms.

Efficacy of cervical perivascular sympathectomy in improving upper limb motor function in children with cerebral palsy and construction of a predictive model.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of cervical perivascular sympathectomy (CPVS) in enhancing upper limb motor function in children with cerebral palsy is unclear, and the factors that influence the effectiveness of the surgery have not been documented. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of CPVS in enhancing upper limb motor function in children with cerebral palsy and develop a predictive chart for potential associated adverse outcomes METHODS: The study included 187 children with cerebral palsy who underwent CPVS at the Cerebral Palsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, between January 2018 and January 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on prognostic outcomes: those with adverse and favorable prognoses. Demographic and laboratory data were collected and analyzed from both groups. To identify independent predictors of poor post-CPVS upper limb motor function outcomes, statistical techniques, including univariate analysis and binary logistic regression, were applied. Subsequently, these predictors were integrated to formulate a comprehensive predictive model. RESULTS: In this cohort of 187 children with cerebral palsy undergoing CPVS, 68 (36.36%) exhibited a favorable prognosis for upper limb motor function and 119 (63.64%) demonstrated an adverse prognosis. Age, motor function, and serum albumin levels were identified as significant prognostic factors via logistic regression analysis. To develop the model, we divided the sample into a training set (70%, n = 131) and a validation set (30%, n = 56). Employing motor function, serum albumin levels, and age as variables, we crafted a predictive model. The model's performance, reflected by the area under the curve was 0.813 (0.732, 0.894) in the training set and 0.770 (0.647, 0.892) in the validation set, demonstrating its robust predictive capability for post-CPVS adverse outcomes. Furthermore, the consistency curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ2 = 8.808, p = 0.359) illustrated a strong concordance between the model's predictions of poor prognosis and the actual incidence rate. CONCLUSION: CPVS has been shown to be effective in improving upper limb motor function in patients with cerebral palsy. Independent prognostic factors identified encompass motor function, age, and serum albumin levels. The composite predictive model shows potential for clinical applications.

Sortilin-Mediated Inhibition of TREK1/2 Channels in Primary Sensory Neurons Promotes Prediabetic Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain can occur during the prediabetic stage, even in the absence of hyperglycemia. The presence of prediabetic neuropathic pain (PDNP) poses challenges to the management of individuals with prediabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying this pain remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism and identify potential therapeutic targets of PDNP. A prediabetic animal model induced by a high-energy diet exhibits both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Furthermore, hyperexcitability and decreased potassium currents are observed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of these rats. TREK1 and TREK2 channels, which belong to the two-pore-domain K+ channel (K2P) family and play an important role in controlling cellular excitability, are downregulated in DRG neurons. Moreover, this alteration is modulated by Sortilin, a molecular partner that modulates the expression of TREK1. The overexpression of Sortilin negatively affects the expression of TREK1 and TREK2, leading to increased neuronal excitability in the DRG and enhanced peripheral pain sensitivity in rats. Moreover, the downregulation of Sortilin or activation of TREK1 and TREK2 channels by genetic or pharmacological approaches can alleviate PDNP. Therefore, targeting the Sortilin-mediated TREK1/2 pathway may provide a therapeutic approach for ameliorating PDNP.

Development and validation of a predictive model for poor prognosis of communication disorders in children with cerebral palsy after cervical perivascular sympathectomy.

Cervical perivascular sympathectomy (CPVS) can improve communication disorders in children with cerebral palsy (CP); however, there are no research reports on the factors affecting surgical efficacy. This study aimed to establish a nomogram for poor prognosis after CPVS. We collected data from 313 CP patients who underwent CPVS at the Neurosurgery Cerebral Palsy Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to January 2023. Among them, 70% (n = 216) formed the training cohort and 30% (n = 97) the validation cohort. The general data and laboratory examination data of both groups were analyzed. In training cohort, 82 (37.96%) showed improved postoperative communication function. Logistic analysis identified motor function, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, and prothrombin activity as the prognostic factors. Using these four factors, a prediction model was constructed with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.807 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.743-0.870), indicating its ability to predict adverse outcomes after CPVS. The validation cohort results showed an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.650-0.869). The consistency curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ2 = 10.988 and p = 0.202, respectively) demonstrated good consistency between the model-predicted incidence and the actual incidence of poor prognosis. Motor function, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, and prothrombin activity are independent risk factors associated with the prognosis of communication disorders after CPVS. The combined prediction model has a good clinical prediction effect and has promising potential to be used for early prediction of prognosis of CPVS.

Disrupted de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.

Despite seizure control by early high-dose pyridoxine (vitamin B6) treatment, at least 75% of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) patients with ALDH7A1 mutation still suffer from intellectual disability. It points to a need for additional therapeutic interventions for PDE beyond pyridoxine treatment, which provokes us to investigate the mechanisms underlying the impairment of brain hemostasis by ALDH7A1 deficiency. In this study, we show that ALDH7A1-deficient mice with seizure control exhibit altered adult hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired cognitive functions. Mechanistically, ALDH7A1 deficiency leads to the accumulation of toxic lysine catabolism intermediates, α-aminoadipic-δ-semialdehyde and its cyclic form, δ-1-piperideine-6-carboxylate, which in turn impair de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis and inhibit NSC proliferation and differentiation. Notably, supplementation of pyrimidines rescues abnormal neurogenesis and cognitive impairment in ALDH7A1-deficient adult mice. Therefore, our findings not only define the important role of ALDH7A1 in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis but also provide a potential therapeutic intervention to ameliorate the defective mental capacities in PDE patients with seizure control.

Molecular Deformation Is a Key Factor in Screening Aggregation Inhibitor for Intrinsically Disordered Protein Tau.

Direct inhibitor of tau aggregation has been extensively studied as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease. However, the natively unfolded structure of tau complicates the structure-based ligand design, and the relatively large surface areas that mediate tau-tau interactions in aggregation limit the potential for identifying high-affinity ligand binding sites. Herein, a group of isatin-pyrrolidinylpyridine derivative isomers (IPP1-IPP4) were designed and synthesized. They are like different forms of molecular "transformers". These isatin isomers exhibit different inhibitory effects on tau self-aggregation or even possess a depolymerizing effect. Our results revealed for the first time that the direct inhibitor of tau protein aggregation is not only determined by the previously reported conjugated structure, substituent, hydrogen bond donor, etc. but also depends more importantly on the molecular shape. In combination with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, a new inhibition mechanism was proposed: like a "molecular clip", IPP1 could noncovalently bind and fix a tau polypeptide chain at a multipoint to prevent the transition from the "natively unfolded conformation" to the "aggregation competent conformation" before nucleation. At the cellular and animal levels, the effectiveness of the inhibitor of the IPP1 has been confirmed, providing an innovative design strategy as well as a lead compound for Alzheimer's disease drug development.

Practice effects of personalized interventions with interdisciplinary teamwork in type 2 diabetes remission: a retrospective study.

Objectives: A retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of personalized interventions for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an interdisciplinary team. Methods: Under the guidance of an interdisciplinary team, 40 patients with T2DM underwent a systematic examination at the beginning of the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, and 3 months of follow-up at the end of the intervention (i.e., at 6 months). Key indicators such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), fasting insulin level (FINS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood lipids, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Results: After the 3-month intervention, participants' BMI, FPG, 2hPG, FINS, and HbA1c improved significantly, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).These metrics remained essentially stable at the 3-month follow-up. Of all the participants, 92.5% (37 cases in total) successfully discontinued their medication after 3 months of intervention, of which 80% (32 cases) remained stable during the 3-month follow-up after discontinuation, fulfilling the criteria for remission of T2DM; 2 cases successfully reduced the dose of their medication, and only 1 case was maintained on the original treatment. Conclusions: Through an interdisciplinary team intervention strategy, we significantly optimized the glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and BMI status of patients with T2DM, making diabetes remission an achievable goal, which provides valuable experience for further optimization of diabetes prevention and control protocols.

Intestinal Epithelial Cell-specific Knockout of METTL3 Aggravates Intestinal Inflammation in CLP Mice by Weakening the Intestinal Barrier.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated that the expression of methyltransferase- like 3 (METTL3) is altered in various inflammatory diseases. Its specific mechanistic role in the intestinal inflammatory response during sepsis remains limited and requires further investigation. OBJECTIVES: Explore the potential mechanism of METTL3 in the intestinal inflammatory response during sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was utilized to detect the expression of METTL3 in the necrotic intestine of patients with intestinal necrosis and the small intestine of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice. Mice were subjected to the CLP and Sham surgeries, intestine tissue was harvested and performed HE staining, and ELISA to examine intestinal inflammatory responses, while TUNEL staining was applied to detect intestinal cell apoptosis. Additionally, ELISA was used to detect diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) levels in intestinal tissue. Immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR were also employed to examine the mRNA and protein expression levels of Zona Occludens 1 (ZO-1) and Claudin-1. Finally, transcriptomic sequencing was performed on the small intestine tissues of METTL3 Knock-out (KO) and Wild-type (WT) mice in response to sepsis. RESULTS: METTL3 exhibited lower expression level in the necrotic intestine of patients and the small intestine of CLP mice. Loss of METTL3 in CLP mice triggered significantly higher expression of TNF-α and IL-18, down-regulated expression of ZO-1 and claudin-1, and decreased expression of DAO and I-FABP in the intestinal tissue. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differential genes were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a novel mechanism responsible for exacerbated intestinal inflammation orchestrated by METTL3. Particularly, METTL3 null mice displayed decreased ZO- 1 and Claudin-1 expression, which largely hampered intestinal epithelial barrier function, resulting in bacterial and toxin translocation and intestinal immune activation and inflammation against sepsis.

Incremental Coding for Real-Time Remote Control over Bandwidth-Limited Channels and Its Applications in Smart Grids.

Remote control over communication networks with bandwidth-constrained channels has attracted considerable recent attention because it holds the promise of enabling a large number of real-time applications, such as autonomous driving, smart grids, and the industrial internet of things (IIoT). However, due to the limited bandwidth, the sub-packets or even bits have to be transmitted successively, thereby experiencing non-negligible latency and inducing serious performance loss in remote control. To overcome this, we introduce an incremental coding method, in which the actuator acts in real time based on a partially received packet instead of waiting until the entire packet is decoded. On this basis, we applied incremental coding to a linear control system to obtain a remote-control scheme. Both its stability conditions and average linear-quadratic-Gaussian-(LQG) cost are presented. Then, we further investigated a multi-user remote-control method, with a particular focus on its applications in the demand response of smart grids over bandwidth-constrained communication networks. The utility loss due to the bandwidth constraint and communication latency are minimized by jointly optimizing the source coding and real-time demand response. The numerical results show that the incremental-coding-aided remote control performed well in both single-user and multi-user scenarios and outperformed the conventional zero-hold control scheme significantly under the LQG metric.

Marine fungus Aspergillus c1. sp metabolite activates the HSF1/PGC-1α axis, inducing a thermogenic program for treating obesity.

Background and aims: Obesity is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide with less ideal approved agents in clinic. Activating the HSF1/PGC-1α axis in adipose tissues has been reported to induce thermogenesis in mice, which presents a promising therapeutic avenue for obesity treatment. The present study aimed to identified novel natural HSF1 activator and evaluated the therapeutic effects of the newly discovered compound on obesity-associated metabolic disorders and the molecular mechanisms of these effects. Methods: Our previous reported HSF1/PGC-1α activator screening system was used to identify novel natural HSF1 activator. The PGC-1α luciferase activity, immunoblot, protein nuclear-translocation, immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to evaluate the activity of compound HN-001 in activating HSF1. The experiments of mitochondrial number measurement, TG assay and imaging, cellular metabolic assay, gene assays, and CRISPR/Cas 9 were applied for investigating the metabolic effect of HN-001 in C3H10-T1/2 adipocytes. The in vivo anti-obesity efficacies and beneficial metabolic effects of HN-001 were evaluated by performing body and fat mass quantification, plasma chemical analysis, GTT, ITT, cold tolerance test, thermogenesis analysis. Results: HN-001 dose- and time-dependently activated HSF1 and induced HSF1 nuclear translocation, resulting in an enhancement in binding with the gene Pgc-1α. This improvement induced activation of adipose thermogenesis and enhancement of mitochondrial oxidation capacity, thus inhibiting adipocyte maturation. Deletion of HSF1 in adipocytes impaired mitochondrial oxidation and abolished the above beneficial metabolic effects of HN-001, including adipocyte browning induction, improvements in mitogenesis and oxidation capacity, and lipid-lowering ability. In mice, HN-001 treatment efficiently alleviated diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders. These changes were associated with increased body temperature in mice and activation of the HSF1/PGC-1α axis in adipose tissues. UCP1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis were increased in both white and brown adipose tissues of HN-001-treated mice. Conclusion: These data indicate that HN-001 may have therapeutic potential for obesity-related metabolic diseases by increasing the capacity of energy expenditure in adipose tissues through a mechanism involving the HSF1/PGC-1α axis, which shed new light on the development of novel anti-obesity agents derived from marine sources.

Corrigendum to "Cilengitide inhibits osteoclast adhesion through blocking the αvß3-mediated FAK/Src signaling pathway" [Heliyon 9(7) (July 2023) e17841].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17841.].

The Biosynthesis of Astaxanthin Esters in Schizochytrium sp. is Mediated by a Bifunctional Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase.

Astaxanthin esters are a major form of astaxanthin found in nature. However, the exact mechanisms of the biosynthesis and storage of astaxanthin esters were previously unknown. We found that Schizochytrium sp. synthesized both astaxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched lipids. The major type of astaxanthin produced was free astaxanthin along with astaxanthin-DHA monoester and other esterified forms. DHA accounted for 41.0% of the total fatty acids from astaxanthin monoesters. These compounds were deposited mainly in lipid droplets. The biosynthesis of the astaxanthin esters was mainly carried out by a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase ScDGAT2-1, while ScDGAT2-2 was involved only in the production of triacylglycerol. We also identified astaxanthin ester synthases from the astaxanthin-producing algae Haematococcus pluvialis and Chromochloris zofingiensis, as well as a thraustochytrid Hondaea fermentalgiana with an unknown carotenoid profile. This investigation enlightens the application of thraustochytrids for the production of both DHA and astaxanthin and provides enzyme resources for the biosynthesis of astaxanthin esters in the engineered microbes.

Dynamically Modulating the Dissymmetry Factor of Circularly Polarized Organic Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Soft Helical Superstructures.

Achieving circularly polarized organic ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (CP-OURTP) with a high luminescent dissymmetry factor (glum ) is crucial for diverse optoelectronic applications. In particular, dynamically controlling the dissymmetry factor of CP-OURTP can profoundly advance these applications, but it is still unprecedented. This study introduces an effective strategy to achieve photoirradiation-driven chirality regulation in a bilayered structure film, which consists of a layer of soft helical superstructure incorporated with a light-driven molecular motor and a layer of room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) polymer. The prepared bilayered film exhibits CP-OURTP with an emission lifetime of 805 ms and a glum value up to 1.38. Remarkably, the glum value of the resulting CP-OURTP film can be reversibly controlled between 0.6 and 1.38 over 20 cycles by light irradiation, representing the first example of dynamically controlling the glum in CP-OURTP.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes dopaminergic neuron senescence.

COVID-19 patients commonly present with signs of central nervous system and/or peripheral nervous system dysfunction. Here, we show that midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are selectively susceptible and permissive to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection of DA neurons triggers an inflammatory and cellular senescence response. High-throughput screening in hPSC-derived DA neurons identified several FDA-approved drugs that can rescue the cellular senescence phenotype by preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also identified the inflammatory and cellular senescence signature and low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transcripts in human substantia nigra tissue of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we observed reduced numbers of neuromelanin+ and tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH)+ DA neurons and fibers in a cohort of severe COVID-19 patients. Our findings demonstrate that hPSC-derived DA neurons are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, identify candidate neuroprotective drugs for COVID-19 patients, and suggest the need for careful, long-term monitoring of neurological problems in COVID-19 patients.

Effects of contextualized emotional conflict control on domain-general conflict control: fMRI evidence of neural network reconfiguration.

Domain-general conflict control refers to the cognitive process in which individuals suppress task-irrelevant information and extract task-relevant information. It supports both effective implementation of cognitive conflict control and emotional conflict control. The present study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging and adopted an emotional valence conflict task and the arrow version of the flanker task to induce contextualized emotional conflicts and cognitive conflicts, respectively. The results from the conjunction analysis showed that the multitasking-related activity in the pre-supplementary motor area, bilateral dorsal premotor cortices, the left posterior intraparietal sulcus (IPS), the left anterior IPS and the right inferior occipital gyrus represents common subprocesses for emotional and cognitive conflict control, either in parallel or in close succession. These brain regions were used as nodes in the domain-general conflict control network. The results from the analyses on the brain network connectivity patterns revealed that emotional conflict control reconfigures the domain-general conflict control network in a connective way as evidenced by different communication and stronger connectivity among the domain-general conflict control network. Together, these findings offer the first empirical-based elaboration on the brain network underpinning emotional conflict control and how it reconfigures the domain-general conflict control network in interactive ways.

Identification of a natural PLA2 inhibitor from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. c1 for MAFLD treatment that suppressed lipotoxicity by inhibiting the IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling.

Lipotoxicity is a pivotal factor that initiates and exacerbates liver injury and is involved in the development of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, there are few reported lipotoxicity inhibitors. Here, we identified a natural anti-lipotoxicity candidate, HN-001, from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. C1. HN-001 dose- and time- dependently reversed palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte death. This protection was associated with IRE-1α-mediated XBP-1 splicing inhibition, which resulted in suppression of XBP-1s nuclear translocation and transcriptional regulation. Knockdown of XBP-1s attenuated lipotoxicity, but no additional ameliorative effect of HN-001 on lipotoxicity was observed in XBP-1s knockdown hepatocytes. Notably, the ER stress and lipotoxicity amelioration was associated with PLA2. Both HN-001 and the PLA2 inhibitor MAFP inhibited PLA2 activity, reduced lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) level, subsequently ameliorated lipotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of PLA2 caused exacerbation of lipotoxicity and weakened the anti-lipotoxic effects of HN-001. Additionally, HN-001 treatment suppressed the downstream pro-apoptotic JNK pathway. In vivo, chronic administration of HN-001 (i.p.) in mice alleviated all manifestations of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis, liver injury, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. These effects were correlated with PLA2/IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling suppression. These data indicate that HN-001 has therapeutic potential for MAFLD because it suppresses lipotoxicity, and provide a natural structural basis for developing anti-MAFLD candidates.