Gut microbiota derived from fecal microbiota transplantation enhances body weight of Mimas squabs.

Objective: Compared to Mimas pigeons, Shiqi pigeons exhibit greater tolerance to coarse feeding because of their abundant gut microbiota. Here, to investigate the potential of utilizing intestinal flora derived from Shiqi pigeons, the intestinal flora and body indices of Mimas squabs were evaluated after fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from donors. Methods: A total of 90 one-day-old squabs were randomly divided into the control group (CON), the low-concentration group (LC) and the high-concentration group (HC): gavaged with 200 µL of bacterial solution at concentrations of 0, 0.1 and 0.2 g/15 mL, respectively. Results: The results suggested that FMT improved the body weight of Mimas squabs in the HC and LC groups (p < 0.01), and 0.1 g/15 mL was the optimal dose during FMT. After 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, compared to those in the CON group, the abundance levels of microflora, especially Lactobacillus, Muribaculaceae and Megasphaera (p < 0.05), in the FMT-treated groups were markedly greater. Random forest analysis indicated that the main functions of key microbes involve pathways associated with metabolism, further illustrating their important role in the host body. Conclusion: FMT has been determined to be a viable method for augmenting the weight and intestinal microbiota of squabs, representing a unique avenue for enhancing the economic feasibility of squab breeding.

Against all odds: The road to success in the development of human immune reconstitution mice.

The mouse genome has a high degree of homology with the human genome, and its physiological, biochemical, and developmental regulation mechanisms are similar to those of humans; therefore, mice are widely used as experimental animals. However, it is undeniable that interspecies differences between humans and mice can lead to experimental errors. The differences in the immune system have become an important factor limiting current immunological research. The application of immunodeficient mice provides a possible solution to these problems. By transplanting human immune cells or tissues, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells or hematopoietic stem cells, into immunodeficient mice, a human immune system can be reconstituted in the mouse body, and the engrafted immune cells can elicit human-specific immune responses. Researchers have been actively exploring the development and differentiation conditions of host recipient animals and grafts in order to achieve better immune reconstitution. Through genetic engineering methods, immunodeficient mice can be further modified to provide a favorable developmental and differentiation microenvironment for the grafts. From initially only being able to reconstruct single T lymphocyte lineages, it is now possible to reconstruct lymphoid and myeloid cells, providing important research tools for immunology-related studies. In this review, we compare the differences in immune systems of humans and mice, describe the development history of human immune reconstitution from the perspectives of immunodeficient mice and grafts, and discuss the latest advances in enhancing the efficiency of human immune cell reconstitution, aiming to provide important references for immunological related researches.

Multidisciplinary management of a pregnant woman with hepatic rupture complicated with HELLP syndrome.

A 32-year-old woman with preeclampsia who presented with persistent severe hypertension and epigastric pain underwent an emergency cesarean section for fetal distress and was diagnosed with hepatic rupture and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet) syndrome. After the operation, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for supportive treatment and management of complications. Diagnosis and treatment decisions were made through multidisciplinary management. The patient received plasma exchange and continuous renal replacement therapy. One week after the operation, the patient developed deep vein thrombosis and received anticoagulant therapy, which triggered rebleeding. Conservative treatment was taken, including halving the dosage of anticoagulant medication and performing a blood transfusion, and the patient's condition gradually stabilized. The patient was discharged 44 days after the operation. Early diagnosis, effective treatment, and multidisciplinary management can help patients with this critical presentation achieve good clinical outcomes.

Reciprocal negative feedback between Prrx1 and miR-140-3p regulates rapid chondrogenesis in the regenerating antler.

During growth phase, antlers exhibit a very rapid rate of chondrogenesis. The antler is formed from its growth center reserve mesenchyme (RM) cells, which have been found to be the derivatives of paired related homeobox 1 (Prrx1)-positive periosteal cells. However, the underlying mechanism that drives rapid chondrogenesis is not known. Herein, the miRNA expression profiles and chromatin states of three tissue layers (RM, precartilage, and cartilage) at different stages of differentiation within the antler growth center were analyzed by RNA-sequencing and ATAC-sequencing. We found that miR-140-3p was the miRNA that exhibited the greatest degree of upregulation in the rapidly growing antler, increasing from the RM to the cartilage layer. We also showed that Prrx1 was a key upstream regulator of miR-140-3p, which firmly confirmed by Prrx1 CUT&Tag sequencing of RM cells. Through multiple approaches (three-dimensional chondrogenic culture and xenogeneic antler model), we demonstrated that Prrx1 and miR-140-3p functioned as reciprocal negative feedback in the antler growth center, and downregulating PRRX1/upregulating miR-140-3p promoted rapid chondrogenesis of RM cells and xenogeneic antler. Thus, we conclude that the reciprocal negative feedback between Prrx1 and miR-140-3p is essential for balancing mesenchymal proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation in the regenerating antler. We further propose that the mechanism underlying chondrogenesis in the regenerating antler would provide a reference for helping understand the regulation of human cartilage regeneration and repair.

Electron-Rich Ru Supported on N-Doped Coffee Biochar for Selective Reductive Amination of Furfural to Furfurylamine.

Highly selective synthesis of primary amines from renewable biomass has attracted increasing attention, but it still faces great challenges in chemical industry applications. In this study, an electron-rich Ru catalyst was constructed by doping N into coffee biochar using a one-pot carbonization method (Ru/NCB-600). Ru/NCB-600 showed high catalytic activity and yield for the reductive amination of furfural with green and cheap NH3 and H2. The excellent catalytic performance of Ru/NCB-600 was closely correlated to the formation of electron-rich Ruδ- species (Ruδ--Nxδ+), which endowed Ru/NCB-600 with an enhanced H2 adsorption and activation ability. Ru/NCB-600 showed a high formation rate of 95.6 gfurfurylamine·gRu-1·h-1 and a high yield of furfurylamine (98.6%) at 50 °C. Ru/NCB-600 can also be used for the reductive amination of various carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yield (95.4-99%). This study thus provides a potential pathway for the highly selective reductive amination of carbonyl compounds by regulating the electron density of Ru.

Sex differences in normal fetal regional brain apparent diffusion coefficient changes assessed by in utero DWI.

Objective: There are differences in the vulnerability of male and female fetal brains to adverse intrauterine exposure, preterm birth, and associated perinatal brain injury. The main objective of this study was to identify any statistically significant difference in the change of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the intracranial regions of male and female fetuses in the second and third trimesters. Methods: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed in 200 fetuses between 20 and 37 gestational ages (GA) with normal results or suspicious results on sonography followed by structural MRI. Pairwise ADC values of the regions of interest (ROIs) were manually delineated on either side of the cerebral white matter: frontal white matter (FWM), parietal white matter (PWM), occipital white matter (OWM), temporal white matter (TWM), basal ganglia (BG), thalamus (THA), cerebellar hemisphere (CBM), and a single measurement in the pons. The changes in these values were studied over the gestational range, along with potential sex differences and asymmetries of the cerebral hemispheres. Results: During the third trimester, ADC values in OWM, TWM, and CBM were significantly higher in male fetuses than those in female fetuses (p < 0.05). After the correction of false-discovery rates (FDR), the difference in CBM was the only statistically significant (p = 0.0032). However, the decreased rate of ADC values in male fetuses in CWM (except for FWM), BG, THA, CBM, and pons was higher than that in female fetuses during the second and third trimesters. Conclusions: We have shown some differences in the intracranial regional ADC changes between male and female fetuses using in utero DWI during the second and third trimesters.

Combining systemic inflammatory response index and albumin fibrinogen ratio to predict early serious complications and prognosis after resectable gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer has a high incidence and fatality rate, and surgery is the preferred course of treatment. Nonetheless, patient survival rates are still low, and the incidence of major postoperative complications cannot be disregarded. The systemic inflammatory response, nutritional level, and coagulation status are key factors affecting the postoperative recovery and prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and the albumin fibrinogen ratio (AFR) are two valuable comprehensive indicators of the severity and prognosis of systemic inflammation in various medical conditions. AIM: To assess the clinical importance and prognostic significance of the SIRI scores and the AFR on early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics and relevant laboratory indices of 568 gastric cancer patients from January 2018 to December 2019. We calculated and compared two indicators of inflammation and then examined the diagnostic ability of combined SIRI and AFR values for serious early postoperative complications. We scored the patients and categorized them into three groups based on their SIRI and AFR levels. COX analysis was used to compare the three groups of patients the prognostic value of various preoperative SIRI-AFR scores for 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: SIRI-AFR scores were an independent risk factor for prognosis [OS: P = 0.004; hazards ratio (HR) = 3.134; DFS: P < 0.001; HR = 3.543] and had the highest diagnostic power (area under the curve: 0.779; 95% confidence interval: 0.737-0.820) for early serious complications in patients with gastric cancer. The tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.001), perioperative transfusion (P = 0.044), positive carcinoembryonic antigen (P = 0.014) findings, and major postoperative complications (P = 0.011) were factors associated with prognosis. CONCLUSION: Preoperative SIRI and AFR values were significantly associated with early postoperative survival and the occurrence of severe complications in gastric cancer patients.

Thymosin beta 10 loaded ZIF-8/sericin hydrogel promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis for bone regeneration.

Angiogenesis is pivotal for osteogenesis during bone regeneration. A hydrogel that promotes both angiogenesis and osteogenesis is essential in bone tissue engineering. However, creating scaffolds with the ideal balance of biodegradability, osteogenic, and angiogenic properties poses a challenge. Thymosin beta 10 (TMSB10), known for its dual role in angiogenesis and osteogenesis differentiation, faces limitations due to protein activity preservation. To tackle this issue, ZIF-8 was engineered as a carrier for TMSB10 (TMSB10@ZIF-8), and subsequently integrated into the self-assembled sericin hydrogel. The efficacy of the composite hydrogel in bone repair was assessed using a rat cranial defect model. Characterization of the nanocomposites confirmed the successful synthesis of TMSB10@ZIF-8, with a TMSB10 encapsulation efficiency of 88.21 %. The sustained release of TMSB10 from TMSB10@ZIF-8 has significantly enhanced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and promoted angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model in vivo. It has markedly improved the osteogenic differentiation ability of MC 3 T3-E1 cells in vitro. 8 weeks post-implantation, the TMSB10@ZIF-8/ Sericin hydrogel group exhibited significant bone healing (86.77 ± 8.91 %), outperforming controls. Thus, the TMSB10@ZIF-8/Sericin hydrogel, leveraging ZIF-8 for TMSB10 delivery, emerges as a promising bone regeneration scaffold with substantial clinical application potential.

Characterization and anti-aging activities of polysaccharide from Rana dybowskii Guenther.

Introduction: Rana dybowskii Guenther (RDG), as a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have antioxidant effects. However, studies on the anti-aging effect of RDG are still limited. Methods: In this study, we prepared polysaccharides from the skin of RDG (RDGP) by hot water extraction, alcohol precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. The proteins were removed using the Sevage method in combination with an enzymatic method. The structural features were analyzed using high-performance gel permeation chromatography, ß-elimination reaction and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The anti-aging effect of RDGP was investigated by using D-Gal to establish an aging model in mice, and pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed under a microscope. Results: We obtained the crude polysaccharide DGP from the skin of RDG, with a yield of 61.8%. The free protein was then removed by the Sevage method to obtain DGPI and deproteinated by enzymatic hydrolysis combined with the Sevage method to further remove the bound protein to obtain the high-purity polysaccharide DGPII. Then, DGPIa (1.03 × 105 Da) and DGPIIa (8.42 × 104 Da) were obtained by gel chromatography, monosaccharide composition analysis showed that they were composed of Man, GlcA, GalNAc, Glc, Gal, Fuc with molar ratios of 1: 4.22 : 1.55: 0.18 : 8.05: 0.83 and 0.74 : 1.78: 1: 0.28: 5.37 : 0.36, respectively. The results of the ß-elimination reaction indicated the presence of O-glycopeptide bonds in DGPIa. The Morris water maze test indicated that mice treated with DGPIIa exhibited a significantly shorter escape latency and increased time spent in the target quadrant as well as an increase in the number of times they traversed the platform. Pathologic damage to the hippocampus was alleviated in brain tissue stained with hematoxylin-eosin. In addition, DGPIIa enhanced the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and inhibited the level of MDA in the serum and brain tissues of aging mice. Discussion: These results suggest that RDGP has potential as a natural antioxidant and provide useful scientific information for anti-aging research.

Higher disease burden and lower utilization in mongolian with breast cancer: a 9-year retrospective cohort study of 18.19 million adults in China.

BACKGROUND: Whether health inequalities of disease burden and medical utilization exist by ethnicity in Asian breast cancer (BC) patients remains unclear. We aim to measure ethnic disparities in disease burden and utilization among Mongolian and Han female breast cancer patients in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on data extracted from Inner Mongolia Regional Health Information Platform, a retrospective cohort study was established during 2012-2021. Disease burden including incidence, 5-year prevalence, mortality, survival rate, and medical cost were analyzed and compared between Han and Mongolian patients. RESULTS: A total of 34,878 female patients (mean [SD] age, 52.34 [10.93] years) were included among 18.19 million Chinese, and 4,315 [12.03%] participants were Mongolian. Age-standardized rates of incidence are 32.68 (95% CI: 20.39-44.98) per 100,000. Higher age-specific incidence and 5-year prevalence were observed in Mongolian than in Han. The cost of breast cancer annually per capita was significantly lower for Mongolian than Han in FBC ($1,948.43 [590.11-4 776.42] vs. $2,227.35 [686.65-5,929.59], P<0.001). Mongolian females showed higher all-cause mortality (30.92, [95% CI: 28.15-33.89] vs. 27.78, [95% CI: 26.77-28.83] per 1,000, P=0.036) and breast cancer-specific mortality (18.78, [95% CI: 16.64-21.13] vs. 15.22, [95% CI: 14.47-16.00] per 1,000, P=0.002) than Han females. After adjusting covariates, Mongolian were associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR, 1.21, [95% CI, 1.09-1.34]; P<0.001) and breast cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.31, [95% CI, 1.14-1.49]; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this cohort study highlight a higher level of disease burden with unmet medical demand in Mongolian patients, suggesting that more practical efforts should be made for the minority. Further research is needed to explore the concrete mechanisms of the disparities as well as eliminate health disproportion.

Limits on High-Frequency Gravitational Waves in Planetary Magnetospheres.

High-frequency gravitational waves (HFGWs) carry a wealth of information on the early Universe with a tiny comoving horizon and astronomical objects of small scale but with dense energy. We demonstrate that the nearby planets, such as Earth and Jupiter, can be utilized as a laboratory for detecting the HFGWs. These GWs are then expected to convert to signal photons in the planetary magnetosphere, across the frequency band of astronomical observation. As a proof of concept, we present the first limits from the existing low-Earth-orbit satellite for specific frequency bands and project the sensitivities for the future more-dedicated detections. The first limits from Juno, the latest mission orbiting Jupiter, are also presented. Attributed to the long path of effective GW-photon conversion and the wide angular distribution of signal flux, we find that these limits are highly encouraging, for a broad frequency range including a large portion unexplored before.

Structural and functional properties of whey protein isolate-inulin conjugates prepared with ultrasound or wet heating method.

BACKGROUND: Whey protein isolate (WPI) generally represents poor functional properties such as thermal stability, emulsifying activity and antioxidant activity near its isoelectric point or high temperatures, which limit its application in food industry. The preparation of WPI-polysaccharide covalent conjugates based on Maillard reaction is a promising method to improve the physical and chemical stability and functional properties of WPI. In this research, WPI-inulin conjugates were prepared through wet heating method and ultrasound method and their structural and functional properties were examined. RESULTS: In conjugates, the free amino acid content was reduced, the high molecular bands were emerged at SDS-PAGE, new C-N bonds were formed in FT-IR spectroscopy, and fluorescence intensity was reduced compared with WPI. Furthermore, the result of CD spectrum also showed that the secondary structure of conjugates was changed. Conjugates with ultrasound treatment had better structural properties compared with those prepared by wet heating treatment. The functional properties such as thermal stability, emulsifying activity index (EAI), emulsion stability (ES) and antioxidant activity of conjugates with wet heating treatment were significantly improved compared with WPI. The EAI and ES of conjugates with ultrasound treatment were the highest, but the thermal stability and antioxidant activity were only close to that of the conjugates with wet heating treatment for 2 h. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that WPI-inulin conjugates prepared with ultrasound or wet heating method not only changed the structural characteristics of WPI but also could promote its functional properties including thermal stability, EAI, ES and antioxidant activity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Optimization of synergistic capturing platinum group metals by Fe-Sn and its mechanism.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are strategic metals. Auto-exhaust catalysts are their main application fields. The recovery of PGMs from spent auto-exhaust catalysts has remarkable economic value and strategic significance. Aiming at the problems of ferrosilicon generation for Fe capturing and subsequent oxygen blowing to remove iron with high energy consumption and heat release, a technology of Fe-Sn synergistic capturing PGMs was proposed. Taking full the advantage of the lower melting point of Fe-Sn alloy (<1200 °C) and its unique affinity for PGMs, the PGMs were captured at approximate 1400 °C with Fe-Sn as the collector. In experiment, 500 g of spent auto-exhaust catalysts were employed to minimize error and approximate industrial production. The mechanism of Fe-Sn synergistic capturing PGMs was elucidated. The generation of Fe-Sn-PGMs alloy lowered the activity of [PGMs] in the system, accelerated the reduction of the PGMs oxides and promoted the alloying of [PGMs]. Therefore, Fe-Sn synergistic capturing PGMs was realized. The inability of Si to enter the alloy phase was confirmed by theoretical calculations, avoiding the generation of ferrosilicon. The effects of basicity, CaF2, m(Fe)/m(Sn) and the amount of collector on capturing PGMs were optimized. Under the optimized conditions (basicity R = 1.1, spent auto-exhaust catalysts 70 wt%, CaO 30 wt%, B2O3 10 wt%, CaF2 7 wt%, m(Fe)/m(Sn) = 1/1 and the collector 15 wt%), the content of PGMs in the slag phase was 2.46 g/t. It is feasible to remove Fe and Sn by oxidation to achieve the purpose of PGMs enrichment. This technology offers guidance on the safe, environmentally sound, and efficient disposal of spent auto-exhaust catalysts, promoting the sustainable development of PGMs.

MiRNA-296-5p promotes the sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to cisplatin via targeted inhibition of STAT3/KLF4 signaling axis.

Improving drug sensitivity is an important strategy in chemotherapy of cancer and accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs are involved in the regulation of drug sensitivity, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Our previous study has found that miR-296-5p was significantly downregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we aim to explore whether miR-296-5p is involved in regulating cisplatin sensitivity in NPC by regulating STAT3/KLF4 signaling axis. The cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity of NPC cells were evaluated by CCK8 Assay and plate colony assay, respectively. The Annexin V-FITC staining kit was used to determine and quantify the apoptotic cells using flow cytometry. The drug efflux ability of NPC cells were determined by Rhodamine 123 efflux experiment. The expression of miR-296-5p, apoptosis-related genes and protein in NPC cell lines were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Animal study was used to evaluate the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP treatment in vivo. Our results showed that elevated miR-296-5p expression obviously promoted the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP by inhibiting cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity, and inducing apoptosis. In addition, we found that miR-296-5p inhibited the expression of STAT3 and KLF4 in NPC cells, while overexpression of exogenous STAT3 reversed miR-296-5p-mediated enhancement in cell death of DDP-treated NPC cells. In vivo studies further confirmed that miR-296-5p promotes the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP treatment. miRNA-296-5p enhances the drug sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to cisplatin via STAT3/KLF4 signaling pathway.

Lactate dehydrogenase A is implicated in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma through regulation of the FER signaling pathway.

Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is highly expressed in various tumors. However, the role of LDHA in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma remains unclear. Analysis of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases revealed an elevated LDHA expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBC) tissues compared with normal tissues. Similarly, our results demonstrated a significant increase in LDHA expression in tumor tissues from the patients with B-cell lymphoma compared with those with lymphadenitis. To further elucidate potential roles of LDHA in B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis, we silenced LDHA in the Raji cells (a B-cell lymphoma cell line) using shRNA techniques. Silencing LDHA led to reduced mitochondrial membrane integrity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, glycolytic activity, cell viability and invasion. Notably, LDHA knockdown substantially suppressed in vivo growth of Raji cells and extended survival in mice bearing lymphoma (Raji cells). Moreover, proteomic analysis identified feline sarcoma-related protein (FER) as a differential protein positively associated with LDHA expression. Treatment with E260, a FER inhibitor, significantly reduced the metabolism, proliferation and invasion of Raji cells. In summary, our findings highlight that LDHA plays multiple roles in B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis via FER pathways, establishing LDHA/FER may as a potential therapeutic target.

Cryoprotective effects and mechanisms of soybean oligosaccharides on the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) surimi during frozen storage.

BACKGROUND: Conventional cryoprotectant mixtures (sucrose and sorbitol) impart excessive sweetness and calories to surimi. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative cryoprotectants with low sweetness and low-calorie content. The cryoprotective effects and possible mechanisms of soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS) on the frozen stability of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) surimi were investigated during 120 days of frozen storage in a comparison with commercial cryoprotectants (4% sucrose and 4% sorbitol, w/w). RESULTS: SBOS at 6-8% (w/w) and commercial cryoprotectants could restrain water mobility and reduce thawing loss of frozen surimi by increasing non-freezable water content. SBOS could maintain the structural stability of proteins by preventing sulfhydryl groups from being rapidly oxidized to disulfide bonds, retarding the reduction of the solubility, Ca2+-ATPase activity and α-helix content of myofibrillar proteins (MP), as well as hindering the increasing surface hydrophobicity of MP of surimi during 120 days of frozen storage. The introduction of SBOS increased the gel strength and water-holding capacity of frozen-stored surimi. Compared with commercial cryoprotectants, 8% SBOS was more effective in stabilizing protein structure, whereas it was slightly less effective with respect to ice-forming inhibition. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study suggest that 8% SBOS could be potentially developed as a new cryoprotectant for surimi as a result of its ice-forming inhibition abilities and protein structure stability. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus plantarum T10 is responsible for the probiotic activity in enhancing intestinal barrier function in vitro and in vivo.

Lactobacillus probiotics exert their effects in a strain-specific and metabolite-specific manner. This study aims to identify lactobacilli that can effectively enhance the intestinal barrier function both in vitro and in vivo and to investigate the underlying metabolite and molecular mechanisms involved. Nine Lactobacillus isolates were evaluated for their ability to enhance the IPEC-J2 cellular barrier function and for their anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in IPEC-J2 cells after an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge. Of the nine isolates, L. plantarum T10 demonstrated significant advantages in enhancing the cellular barrier function and displayed anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities in vitro. The bioactivities of L. plantarum T10 were primarily attributed to the production of exopolysaccharides, which exerted their effects through the TLR-mediated p38 MAPK pathway in ETEC-challenged IPEC-J2 cells. Furthermore, the production of EPS by L. plantarum T10 led to the alleviation of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by reducing intestinal damage and enhancing the intestinal barrier function in mice. The EPS is classified as a heteropolysaccharide with an average molecular weight of 23.0 kDa. It is primarily composed of mannose, glucose, and ribose. These findings have practical implications for the targeted screening of lactobacilli used in the production of probiotics and postbiotics with strain-specific features of exopolysaccharides.

Comparison of immune effects of porcine circovirus type 2d (PCV2d) capsid protein expressed by Escherichia coli and baculovirus-insect cells.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an important pathogen harmful to global pig production, which causes immunosuppression and serious economic losses. PCV2 capsid (Cap) protein expressed by E. coli or baculovirus-insect cells are often used in preparation of PCV2 subunit vaccines, but the latter is expensive to produce. It is therefore crucial to comparison of the immune effects of Cap protein expressed by the above two expression systems for reducing the production cost and guaranteeing PCV2 vaccine quality. In this study, the PCV2d-Cap protein lacking nuclear localization signal (NLS), designated as E. coli-Cap and Bac-Cap, was expressed by E. coli and baculovirus-Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 (Bac-Sf9) cells, respectively. The expressed Cap proteins could self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs), but the Bac-Cap-assembled VLPs were more regular. The two system-expressed Cap proteins induced similar specific IgG responses in mice, but the neutralizing antibody levels of Bac-Cap-immunized mice was higher than those of E. coli-Cap. After PCV2 challenge, IL-10 in Bac-Cap immunized mice decreased significantly than that in E. coli-Cap. The lesions and PCV2 antigen positive cells in tissues of mice immunized with E. coli-Cap and Bac-Cap were significantly reduced, and Bac-Cap appeared mild lesions and fewer PCV2 antigen-positive cells compared with E. coli-Cap immunized mice. The study indicated that Cap proteins expressed by E. coli and Bac-Sf9 cells could induce specific protective immunity, but the latter induced more effective immunity, which provides valuable information for the research and development of PCV2 vaccine.

The m6A modification mediated-lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 reprograms fatty acid metabolism and facilitates the growth of colorectal cancer via upregulation of FASN.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in tumorigenesis and tumour progression. However, the biological functions and potential mechanisms of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. METHODS: The novel lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 was identified through bioinformatics analysis, and its expression in CRC patients was verified via qRT-PCR and FISH. In vitro and in vivo experiments, such as BODIPY staining, Oil Red O staining, triglyceride (TAG) assays, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were subsequently performed with CRC specimens and cells to determine the clinical significance, and functional roles of POU6F2-AS1. Biotinylated RNA pull-down, RIP, Me-RIP, ChIP, and patient-derived organoid (PDO) culture assays were performed to confirm the underlying mechanism of POU6F2-AS1. RESULTS: The lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 is markedly upregulated in CRC and associated with adverse clinicopathological features and poor overall survival in CRC patients. Functionally, POU6F2-AS1 promotes the growth and lipogenesis of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL3-induced m6A modification is involved in the upregulation of POU6F2-AS1. Furthermore, upregulated POU6F2-AS1 could tether YBX1 to the FASN promoter to induce transcriptional activation, thus facilitating the growth and lipogenesis of CRC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that the upregulation of POU6F2-AS1 plays a critical role in CRC fatty acid metabolism and might provide a novel promising biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC.

Supplementation of citrus pectin with whole-cell pectinase PG5 on Pichia pastoris promotes recovery of colitis and enhances intestinal barrier function in DSS-treated mice.

A whole-cell biocatalyst was developed by genetically engineering pectinase PG5 onto the cell surface of Pichia pastoris using Gcw12 as the anchoring protein. Whole-cell PG5 eliminated the need for enzyme extraction and purification, while also exhibiting enhanced thermal stability, pH stability, and resistance to proteases in vitro compared to free PG5. Magnetic resonance mass spectrometry analysis revealed that whole-cell PG5 efficiently degraded citrus pectin, resulting in the production of a mixture of pectin oligosaccharides. The primary components of the mixture were trigalacturonic acid, followed by digalacturonic acid and tetragalacturonic acid. Supplementation of citrus pectin with whole-cell PG5 resulted in a more pronounced protective effect compared to free PG5 in alleviating colitis symptoms and promoting the integrity of the colonic epithelial barrier in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Hence, this study demonstrates the potential of utilizing whole-cell pectinase as an effective biocatalyst to promote intestinal homeostasis in vivo.