CA1 Modulates the Osteogenic Differentiation of Dental Follicle Stem Cells by Activating the BMP Signaling Pathway In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) has been found to be involved in osteogenesis and osteoclast in various human diseases, but the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, we aim to use siRNA and lentivirus to reduce or increase the expression of CA1 in Dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs), in order to further elucidate the role and mechanism of CA1 in osteogenesis, and provide better osteogenic growth factors and stem cell selection for the application of bone tissue engineering in alveolar bone fracture transplantation. METHODS: The study used RNA interference and lentiviral vectors to manipulate the expression of the CA1 gene in DFSCs during in vitro osteogenic induction. The expression of osteogenic marker genes was evaluated and changes in CA1, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP2) were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB). The osteogenic effect was assessed through Alizarin Red staining. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of CA1, ALP, RUNX2, and BMP2 decreased distinctly in the si-CA1 group than other groups (p < 0.05). In the Lentivirus-CA1 (LV-CA1) group, the mRNA and protein expressions of CA1, ALP, RUNX2, and BMP2 were amplified to varying degrees than other groups (p < 0.05). Apart from CA1, BMP2 (43.01%) and ALP (36.69%) showed significant upregulation (p < 0.05). Alizarin red staining indicated that the LV-CA1 group produced more calcified nodules than other groups, with a higher optical density (p < 0.05), and the osteogenic effect was superior. CONCLUSIONS: CA1 can impact osteogenic differentiation via BMP related signaling pathways, positioning itself upstream in osteogenic signaling pathways, and closely linked to osteoblast calcification and ossification processes.

Prediction and identification of HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes from cancer testis antigen CT23.

Cancer-testis antigen CT23 is a class of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) characterized by restricted expression in male germ cells and a variety of tumor tissues. Numerous studies have shown that CT23 is closely related to tumor cell viability, proliferation, metastasis and invasion. CT23 is immunogenic and can cause specific immune response in tumor patients. Therefore, it is considered to be one of the best target antigens for designing therapeutic tumor vaccines and T-cell-mediated tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we initially obtained seven HLA-A*0201-restricted CT23 epitope candidate peptides through the T cell epitope prediction program. Subsequently, a T2 cell binding assay revealed the potential binding of all candidate peptides with HLA-A2 molecules. Notably, peptide P7 (ALLVLCYSI) exhibited the highest affinity, as evidenced by a fluorescence index (FI) of 2.19. Dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with CT23 candidate peptide can stimulate CD8+T cell activation and proliferation, and compared with other candidate peptides, candidate peptide P7 is superior. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) stimulated by the peptide P7 had killing effect on tumor cells (HLA-A*0201+, CT23+), but no killing effect on tumor cells (HLA-A*0201-, CT23+). The CTLs induced by the peptide P7 also had a specific killing effect on T2 cells bearing the peptide P7. In summary, our findings suggest that the CT23 peptide P7 (ALLVLCYSI) can induce immune responses and holds potential for tumor-specific CTL therapy.

Self-Assembly of Two Tubular Metalloligand-Based Palladium-Organic Cages as Hosts for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Herein we report two tubular metal-organic cages (MOCs), synthesized by the self-assembly of bidentate metalloligands with different lengths and PdII. These two MOCs feature Pd4L8-type square tubular and Pd3L6-type triangular cage structures, respectively. Both MOCs have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculation. Both cages can be employed for encapsulating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and show high binding affinity toward coronene.

Combined treatment with epigenetic agents enhances anti-tumor activity of MAGE-D4 peptide-specific T cells by upregulating the MAGE-D4 expression in glioma.

Objective: The study evaluated the efficacy of combined epigenetic drugs of decitabine (DAC), valproic acid (VPA), and trichostatin A (TSA) on immunotherapy against glioma. Methods: The expression and prognosis of MAGE-D4 in glioma were analyzed online, and the expression of MAGE-D4 and HLA-A2 in glioma induced by epigenetic drugs was detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and flow cytometry. The methylation status of the MAGE-D4 promoter was determined by pyrosequencing. An HLA-A2 restricted MAGE-D4 peptide was predicted and synthesized. An affinity assay and a peptide/HLA complex stability assay were performed to determine the affinity between peptide and HLA. CCK8 assay, CFSE assay, ELISA and ELISPOT were performed to detect the function of MAGE-D4 peptide-specific T cells. Flow cytometry, ELISA, and cytotoxicity assays were used to detect the cytotoxicity effect of MAGE-D4 peptide-specific T cells combined with epigenetic drugs against glioma in vitro. Finally, the glioma-loaded mouse model was applied to test the inhibitory effect of specific T cells on gliomas in vivo. Results: MAGE-D4 was highly expressed in glioma and correlated with poor prognosis. Glioma cells could be induced to express MAGE-D4 and HLA-A2 by epigenetic drugs. MAGE-D4-associated peptides were found that induce DCs to stimulate the highest T-cell activities of proliferation, IL-2 excretion, and IFN-γ secretion. MAGE-D4 peptide-specific T cells treated with TSA only or combining TSA and DAC had the most cytotoxicity effect, and its cytotoxicity effect on glioma cells decreased significantly after HLA blocking. In vivo experiments also confirmed that MAGE-D4-specific T cells inhibit TSA-treated glioma. Conclusion: MAGE-D4 is highly expressed in glioma and correlated with the prognosis of glioma. The novel MAGE-D4 peptide identified was capable of inducing MAGE-D4-specific T cells that can effectively inhibit glioma growth, and the epigenetic drug application can enhance this inhibition.

FMR1NB Involved in Glioma Tumorigenesis Is a Promising Target for Prognosis and Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer/testis antigen FMR1NB is aberrantly expressed in various types of cancer, but not in normal tissues except for testis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and functional role of FMR1NB in glioma. METHODS: The expression of FMR1NB mRNA and protein was determined using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in glioma specimens from 83 patients at follow-up. The effects of siRNA-mediated FMR1NB silencing on malignant biological behaviors were evaluated in glioma cell lines A172 and U251. RESULTS: FMR1NB mRNA and protein expression was detected in 58.8% (77/131) and 46.34% (57/123) of glioma tissues, respectively. FMR1NB protein was positively correlated with World Health Organization grade and found to be an independent prognostic marker for poor outcome. Knockdown of FMR1NB induced apoptosis and suppressed proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion by modulating the expression of cyclin A, CDK2, caspase-3, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in A172 and U251 cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that FMR1NB contributes to the tumorigenesis of glioma cells and may represent a potential prognostic biomarker and an attractive therapeutic target in glioma.

Microrna-1224-5p Is a Potential Prognostic and Therapeutic Biomarker in Glioblastoma: Integrating Bioinformatics and Clinical Analyses.

OBJECTIVE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common, invasive, and malignant primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. It's known that some microRNAs (miRNAs) which are associated with tumorigenesis and progression can be considered as prognostic and therapeutic targets in tumors including GBM. This study aims to highlight the potential role of the core miRNAs in GBM and their potential use as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker. METHODS: Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified in GBM by integrating miRNA-sequencing results and a GBM microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database through bioinformatics tools. The dysregulated miRNAs were identified by survival analysis through Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). Target genes of the dysregulated miRNAs were predicted on MiRWalk and miRTarBase database. TAM2.0 database, Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways analysis were used to analyze the function of the dysregulated miRNAs. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was used to identify the top 20 hub targets of the up-regulated and down-regulated miRNAs, respectively. Then, core miRNAs in GBM were identified by constructing dysregulated miRNA-differentially expressed hub gene networks. Validation of the core miRNAs expression was detected in 41 GBM tissues compared to 8 normal brain tissues. Furthermore, the potential biomarkers were identified by clinical correlation analysis and survival analysis. RESULTS: Totally, 68 intersecting DEmiRNAs were identified, 40 of which were upregulated and the other 28 miRNAs were downregulated. Two upregulated and 4 downregulated miRNAs showed prognostic significance. Most differentially expressed hub genes were regulated by the miR-28-5p and miR-1224-5p, which were respectively upregulated and downregulated in GBM. The correlation between miR-1224-5p level and recurrence was statistically significant (P=0.011). Survival analysis showed that high miR-28-5p level and high miR-1224-5p level were both associated with better prognosis. Moreover, high miR-1224-5p level was an independent prognosis factor for GBM patients according to the cox regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MiRNA-1224-5p could be a potential target for the prognosis and treatment in GBM.

Self-Assembly of a Pd4Cu8L8 Cage for Epoxidation of Styrene and Its Derivatives.

Herein we report a discrete heterometallic Pd4Cu8L8 cage with a tubular structure, which was synthesized by the assembly of copper metalloligands and PdII ions in a stepwise manner. The Pd4Cu8L8 cage has been unequivocally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The cage showed excellent catalytic activity in the epoxidation of styrene and its derivatives under conditions without using additional solvent, providing potential material for catalyzing the oxidation reactions.

Antioxidant capacity, phytochemical profiles, and phenolic metabolomics of selected edible seeds and their sprouts.

Sprouts are recognized as nutritional and functional vegetables. In this study, 17 selected seeds were germinated simultaneously. The antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined for seeds and sprouts of all species. Both seed and sprout of white radish, with the highest antioxidant capacity, and TPC among all the 17 species, were further determined for phenolic metabolomics. Four phenolic classes with 316 phenolic metabolites were identified. 198 significantly different metabolites with 146 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated were confirmed, and high amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoids were found to be accumulated in the sprout. Several metabolism and biosynthesis, including phenylpropanoid, favone and flavonol, phenylalanine, and various secondary metabolites, were significantly activated. Significant correlations were found among FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, TPC, and phenolic profiles. Therefore, white radish sprout could be served as antioxidant and could be a good source of dietary polyphenols.

Dopamine agonist responsive burning mouth syndrome: Report of eight cases.

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by burning sensation of the oral mucosa. There is a lack of effective treatment. In recent years, a special subtype of BMS has been reported, in which oral burning sensation is alleviated after chewing, speaking, or dopaminergic drug delivery. Currently, there are few reports about the subtype of BMS in China. This study was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of BMS patients sensitive to dopamine agonist at our hospital, aiming to improve the recognition on this disease. CASE SUMMARY: Eight patients diagnosed with dopamine agonist responsive BMS at the Liaocheng People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 were recruited. The clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. There were three male and five females in the eight patients. The median age was 56 years (range, 46-65 years). All the eight patients showed burning pain in the mouth. The symptoms were mild in the morning and severe in the evening, and alleviated after chewing, talking, and other oral activities. Four patients were accompanied by restless legs syndrome (RLS). Family history of RLS was positive in two patients. All patients were treated with pramipexol, and symptoms were basically relieved after 2-8 wk. CONCLUSION: Dopamine agonist responsive BMS is a special subtype of BMS, which is alleviated after oral activities. Dopamine receptor agonist is an effective treatment.

Combined treatment with epigenetic agents enhances anti-tumor activity of T cells by upregulating the ACRBP expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of combined epigenetic drugs of decitabine (DAC), valproic acid (VPA) and trichostatin A (TSA) on immunotherapy with a murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Dendritic cells (DCs) transduced with recombinant lentivirus expressing a cancer-testis antigen, acrosin binding protein (ACRBP), are referred to as DC/ACRBP. CD8+ T cells were harvested from spleens of C57BL/6 mice and activated by DC/ACRBP. Cytotoxicity of DC/ACRBP-activated T cells was analyzed by cytotoxicity and murine xenograft assays. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity assay results revealed that DC/ACRBP-activated T cells exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against HCC cells pre-treated with triple drugs (DAC+VPA+TSA) compared with dual drugs (DAC+VPA and DAC+TSA) and single drug (DAC, VPA and TSA) respectively. Analyses of RT-PCR and immunoblotting demonstrated that the highest ACRBP expression of HCC cells was induced by the triple drugs compared with the single and dual drugs. These results indicated that DC/ACRBP-activated T cells might be ACRBP-specific lymphocytes, and the augmented cytotoxicity may be dependent on the upregulation of ACRBP expression. These assumptions were further confirmed by xenograft tumor assay. Tumor cells of mice administrated with the triple drugs exhibited increased ACRBP expression compared with those of mice without administration. As expected, DC/ACRBP-activated T cells adopted by mice injected with the triple drugs, compared with those adopted by mice without injection, remarkably impeded growth and facilitated apoptosis of tumor cells. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that combined treatment with DAC, VPA and TSA may enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of ACRBP-specific T cells by upregulating ACRBP expression in HCC.

A Review of miR-326 and Female Related Diseases.

MicroRNA (miRNA), a non-coding single-stranded RNA molecule with 20-23 nucleotides encoded by endogenous genes, plays an essential role in maintaining normal cell function and regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell metabolism. The imbalance between miRNA and genes can cause a series of diseases, including malignancies. miRNA-326 (miR-326) is extensively known for its core regulation of various biological processes. This review presents an overview of the highlights of miR-326 in female-related diseases. To understand the impact of miR-326 on female disorders, we search all published studies about miR-326 having a high incidence in female conditions, including cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, intrauterine adhesion, and multiple autoimmune diseases. We aim to learn about the mutual regulation mechanism between miR-326 and related genes and signaling pathways, as well as to elaborate on the value of miR-326 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of female diseases. Our results provide reliable evidence and new strategies for treating female tumors and autoimmune diseases.

Possible effects of chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family on antiphospholipid syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disease defined by thrombotic or obstetrical events and persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family (CMTM) is widely expressed in the immune system and may closely related to APS. This review aimed to systematically summarize the possible effects of CMTM on APS. Publications were collected from PubMed and Web of Science databases up to August 2020. CKLF, CKLFSF, CMTM, antiphospholipid syndrome, immune cells, and immune molecules were used as search criteria. Immune cells, including neutrophil, dendritic cells (DCs), T-cells, B-cells, and inflammatory cytokines, play an important role in the development of APS. Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) has a chemotactic effect on many cells and can affect the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules through the nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) pathway or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MARK) pathway. CKLF1 can participate in the maturation of DCs, T lymphocyte activation, and the activation of neutrophils through the MAPK pathway. CMTM1 may act on Annexin A2 by regulating Ca2+ signaling. CMTM2 and CMTM6 are up-regulated in neutrophils of APS patients. Some CMTM family members influence the activation and accumulation of platelets. CMTM3 and CMTM7 are binding partners of B-cell linker protein (BLNK), thereby linking B cell receptor (BCR) and activating BLNK-mediated signal transduction in B cells. Moreover, CMTM3 and CMTM7 can act on DCs and B-1a cell development, respectively. CMTM may have potential effects on the development of APS by acting on immune cells and immune molecules. Thus, CMTM may act as a novel prognostic factor or immunomodulatory treatment option of APS.

Identification of Dysregulated microRNAs in Glioma Using RNA-sequencing.

Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor in central nervous system. Despite advances in the treatment of glioma such as surgery and chemoradiotherapy, most patients are easy to relapse, resulting in adverse clinical outcomes. Hence, effective molecular-targeting treatment may be one of attractive strategies for glioma therapy. The dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs), one of the candidates of therapeutic targets, are believed to play an important role in the progression of glioma. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression profile of miRNAs in glioma and provide a reference for glioma therapy. Firstly, expression profile of miRNAs in 5 normal brain tissues, 5 low-grade glioma (LGG) tissues and 5 glioblastoma (GBM) tissues was detected by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Next, the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were predicted and then GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis performed by bioinformatics. Finally, 10 miRNAs which were significantly up- or down-regulated both in GBM and LGG were validated by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). RNA-seq results indicated a number of DEmiRNAs in glioma. There were 64 up-regulated miRNAs and 17 down-regulated miRNAs in LGG, and 181 up-regulated miRNAs and 124 down-regulated miRNAs in GBM, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the target genes of these DEmiRNAs were enriched in various biological processes and signaling pathways such as cell metabolic and developmental process. Selected DEmiRNAs were further confirmed by qRT-PCR. miRNA-10b-5p, miRNA-92b-3p and miRNA-455-5p were significantly up-regulated in both GBM and LGG; while miRNA-542-3p was significantly up-regulated in LGG; miRNA-184 and miRNA-206 were significantly down-regulated in both GBM and LGG; miRNA-766-5p and miRNA-1-3p were significantly down-regulated in GBM. The subject of our study demonstrated several dysregulated miRNAs may serve as a potential therapeutic target for glioma.

Cancer-testis Antigen OY-TES-1 Expression and Immunogenicity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Cancer testis (CT) antigens have received particular attention in cancer immunotherapy. OY-TES-1 is a member of CT antigens. This study was to evaluate OY-TES-1 expression and immunogenicity in hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC). OY-TES-1 mRNA expression was detected in 56 HCC tissues and 5 normal liver tissues by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Of the 56 cases of HCC tissues tested, 37 cases had tumor and matched adjacent non-cancer tissues and were subjected to both RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. OY-TES-1 protein was subsequently observed on a panel of tissue microarrays. Sera from patients were tested for OY-TES-1 antibody by ELISA. To identify OY-TES-1 capable of inducing cellular immune response, OY-TES-1 protein was used to sensitize dentritic cells and the cytotoxicity effect was measured in vitro. The results showed that OY-TES-1 mRNA was highly expressed in 41 of the 56 (73.21%) HCC tissues, whereas none in 5 normal liver tissues. OY-TES-1 mRNA was frequently expressed not only in HCC tissues (72.97%, 27/37), but also in paired adjacent non-cancer tissues (64.86%, 24/37). But the mean expression level of OY-TES-1 mRNA in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-cancer tissues (0.76854 vs. 0.09834, P=0.021). Immunohistochemistry showed that OY-TES-1 protein expression was detected in 6 of the 49 cases of HCC tissues, and absent in 9 cases of normal liver and 6 cases of cirrhosis tissues. Seropositivity was detected in 10 of the 45 HCC patients, but not detected in 17 cirrhosis patients and 76 healthy donors. The specific cytotoxic T cells elicited by OY-TES-1 could kill HLA-A2+ HCC cell line which expressed OY-TES-1. The target lysis was mainly HLA class I -dependent and could be blocked by antibodies against monomorphic HLA class I but not HLA class II molecule. In summary, OY-TES-1 expression is up-regulated in HCC tissues and can be recognized by humoral and cellular responses, which suggests that OY-TES-1 is an attractive target for tumor immunotherapy in HCC.

Screening and Spontaneous Mutation of Pickle-Derived Lactobacillus plantarum with Overproduction of Riboflavin, Related Mechanism, and Food Application.

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, plays an important role in human cell metabolism and participates in various redox reactions and in energy utilization. In this study, 90 riboflavin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened out from pickle juices. The yields of riboflavin in these LAB were about 0.096-0.700 mg/L, and one strain, Lactobacillus plantarum RYG-YYG-9049, was found to produce the highest riboflavin content. Next, roseoflavin was used to induce the spontaneous mutation of RYG-YYG-9049, and selected roseoflavin-resistant colonies generally produced higher riboflavin contents, ranging from 1.013 to 2.332 mg/L. The No. 10 mutant, L. plantarum RYG-YYG-9049-M10, had the highest riboflavin content. Next, the molecular mechanism of enhancing riboflavin production in RYG-YYG-9049-M10 was explored, leading to the finding that roseoflavin treatment did not change the rib operons including the ribA, ribB, ribC, ribH, and ribG genes. Unexpectedly, however, this mechanism did induce an insertion of a 1059-bp DNA fragment in the upstream regulatory region of the rib operon, as compared to the wild-type RYG-YYG-9049. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that roseoflavin could induce an insertion of DNA fragment in LAB to increase riboflavin content, representing a new mutation type that is induced by roseoflavin. Finally, in order to fortify riboflavin content in soymilk, RYG-YYG-9049 and RYG-YYG-9049-M10 were used to ferment soymilk, and several fermentation parameters were optimized to obtain the fermented soymilk with riboflavin contents of up to 2.920 mg/L. In general, roseoflavin induction is an economical and feasible biotechnological strategy to induce riboflavin-overproducing LAB, and this strategy can be used to develop LAB-fermented functional foods that are rich in riboflavin.

Nanochemoprevention with therapeutic benefits: An updated review focused on epigallocatechin gallate delivery.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a natural phenolic compound found in many plants, especially in green tea, which is a popular and restorative beverage with many claimed health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities. Despite its great curative potential, the poor bioavailability of EGCG restricts its clinical applcation. However, nanoformulations of EGCG are emerging as new alternatives to traditional formulations. This review focuses on the nanochemopreventive applications of various EGCG nanoparticles such as lipid-based, polymer-based, carbohydrate-based, protein-based, and metal-based nanoparticles. EGCG hybridized with these nanocarriers is capable of achieving advanced functions such as targeted release, active targeting, and enhanced penetration, ultimately increasing the bioavailability of EGCG. In addition, this review also summarizes the challenges for the use of EGCG in therapeutic applications, and suggests future directions for progress.

Ultrasonic Treatment Increases Extraction Rate of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Antioxidants.

The feasibility of improving the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants by ultrasonic treatment was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectrum Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) analysis revealed that ultrasonic treatment substantially altered the cellular structure of common bean seed, resulting in increased surface area, eroded cell walls, and greater exposure of cellulose and hemicellulose. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained at optimal extraction conditions (68 min, 55% acetone, 36:1 liquid to solid ratio, 30 ℃, and 480 W) which were optimized by response surface methodology. In terms of the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) exhibits about seven-fold higher extraction efficiency than conventional solvent extraction (CSE). In addition, 10 phenolic compounds in the common bean extracts were detected and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), including protocatechuic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, coumarin, rutin, myricetin, cinnamic acid, and genistein. In summary, ultrasonic treatment is an ideal candidate methodology for improving the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants.

Involvement of X-chromosome Reactivation in Augmenting Cancer Testis Antigens Expression: A Hypothesis.

Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are attractive targets for tumor immunotherapy because of their tumor-specific expression. Since more than half of confirmed CTAs are located on the X-chromosome, we asked whether there is a link between CTA expression and X-chromosomes. Recent reports have shown that reactivation of the inactive X-chromosome, known as X-chromosome reactivation (XCR), a unique phenomenon that exists in many high-risk tumors in women, can transform the expression of many X-linked genes from monoallelic to biallelic. In this review, we discuss the link between CTA and XCR with the hopes of providing some novel insights into tumor biology.

Separation, Identification, and Bioactivities of the Main Gallotannins of Red Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata) Coats.

The red sword bean (Canavalia gladiata) is an underutilized edible bean cultivated in China. It was previously found to have the highest content of antioxidant polyphenols among 42 edible beans, mainly gallic acid, and gallotannins in its red bean coat, an apparently unique characteristic among edible beans. In this study, the main phenolic compounds in red sword bean coats were further separated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and identified by LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the FRAP and ABTS antioxidant activities and antibacterial activity (diameter of inhibition zone, DIZ) of main gallotannin-rich fractions were tested. Our results showed that gallotannins of red sword bean coats were mainly comprised of monogalloyl to hexagalloyl hexosides. Interestingly, tetragalloyl, pentagalloyl, and hexagalloyl hexosides were identified as the possible candidates responsible for the red color of the coats. On the other hand, gallotannin-rich fractions exhibited diverse antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and tetragalloyl hexoside overall had the highest free radical scavenging and antibacterial activities. The degree of galloylation did not completely explain the structure-function relationship of gallotannins isolated from red sword bean coats, as there should exist other factors affecting their bioactivities. In conclusion, red sword bean coats are excellent natural sources of gallotannins, and their gallotannin-rich extracts can be utilized as natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents with potential health benefits as well as application in food industry.

Polyphenols in Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Chemistry, Analysis, and Factors Affecting Composition.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important grain legumes worldwide. Polyphenols are the predominant bioactive components with multifold bioactivities in diverse common bean cultivars. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins are the main polyphenols in common beans, and colorful common beans are overall rich in polyphenols, mainly in their pigmented seed coats. In addition, factors of influence, such as genotype, environmental conditions, storage, and processing methods, play a critical role in the content and composition of common bean polyphenols. Besides, analytical methods, including extraction, separation, and identification, are of importance for precise and comparable evaluation of polyphenols in common beans. Therefore, in order to provide a comprehensive and updated understanding of polyphenols in common beans, this review first summarizes the content and different compositions of polyphenols in common beans, and next discusses the factors affecting these compositions, followed by introducing the analytical methods for common bean polyphenols, and finally highlights the antioxidant activity of polyphenols in common beans. Considering the recent surge in interest in the use of grain legumes, we hope this review will further stimulate work in this field by providing a blueprint for further analytical studies to better utilize common bean polyphenols in food products to improve human nutrition.