Camellia sinensis polysaccharide attenuates inflammatory responses via the ROS-mediated pathway by endocytosis.

Polysaccharide CSTPs extracted from Camellia sinensis tea-leaves possessed unique against oxidative damage by scavenging ROS. Herein, acid tea polysaccharide CSTPs-2 with tightly packed molecular structure was isolated, purified and characterized in this research. Furthermore, the effects of CSTPs-2 on ROS-involved inflammatory responses and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results suggest that CSTPs-2 dramatically reduced the inflammatory cytokines overexpression and LPS-stimulated cell damage. CSTPs-2 could trigger the dephosphorylation of downstream AKT/MAPK/NF-κB signaling proteins and inhibit nuclear transfer of p-NF-κB to regulate the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated cells by ROS scavenging. Importantly, the impact of CSTPs-2 in downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and mitigating ROS overproduction is associated with clathrin- or caveolae-mediated endocytosis uptake mechanisms, rather than TLR-4 receptor-mediated endocytosis. This study presents a novel perspective for investigating the cellular uptake mechanism of polysaccharides in the context of anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

DcERF109 regulates shoot branching by participating in strigolactone signal transduction in Dendrobium catenatum.

Shoot branching fundamentally influences plant architecture and agricultural yield. However, research on shoot branching in Dendrobium catenatum, an endangered medicinal plant in China, remains limited. In this study, we identified a transcription factor DcERF109 as a key player in shoot branching by regulating the expression of strigolactone (SL) receptors DWARF 14 (D14)/ DECREASED APICAL DOMINANCE 2 (DAD2). The treatment of D. catenatum seedlings with GR24rac/TIS108 revealed that SL can significantly repress the shoot branching in D. catenatum. The expression of DcERF109 in multi-branched seedlings is significantly higher than that of single-branched seedlings. Ectopic expression in Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that overexpression of DcERF109 resulted in significant shoot branches increasing and dwarfing. Molecular and biochemical assays demonstrated that DcERF109 can directly bind to the promoters of AtD14 and DcDAD2.2 to inhibit their expression, thereby positively regulating shoot branching. Inhibition of DcERF109 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) resulted in decreased shoot branching and improved DcDAD2.2 expression. Moreover, overexpression of DpERF109 in A. thaliana, the homologous gene of DcERF109 in Dendrobium primulinum, showed similar phenotypes to DcERF109 in shoot branch and plant height. Collectively, these findings shed new insights into the regulation of plant shoot branching and provide a theoretical basis for improving the yield of D. catenatum.

Machine learning decision support model for discharge planning in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Efficient discharge for stroke patients is crucial but challenging. The study aimed to develop early predictive models to explore which patient characteristics and variables significantly influence the discharge planning of patients, based on the data available within 24 h of admission. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: A prospective cohort was conducted at a university hospital with 523 patients hospitalised for stroke. We built and trained six different machine learning (ML) models, followed by testing and tuning those models to find the best-suited predictor for discharge disposition, dichotomized into home and non-home. To evaluate the accuracy, reliability and interpretability of the best-performing models, we identified and analysed the features that had the greatest impact on the predictions. RESULTS: In total, 523 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 61 years. Of the patients with stroke, 30.01% had non-home discharge. Our model predicting non-home discharge achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95 and a precision of 0.776. After threshold was moved, the model had a recall of 0.809. Top 10 variables by importance were National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, family income, Barthel index (BI) score, FRAIL score, fall risk, pressure injury risk, feeding method, depression, age and dysphagia. CONCLUSION: The ML model identified higher NIHSS, BI, and FRAIL, family income, higher fall risk, pressure injury risk, older age, tube feeding, depression and dysphagia as the top 10 strongest risk predictors in identifying patients who required non-home discharge to higher levels of care. Modern ML techniques can support timely and appropriate clinical decision-making. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study illustrates the characteristics and risk factors of non-home discharge in patients with stroke, potentially contributing to the improvement of the discharge process. REPORTING METHOD: STROBE guidelines.

Ratio of the Primers Used in Polymerase Chain Reaction-Stop Analysis Impacts the Resultant Banding Pattern.

G-quadruplex (G4), as a dynamic nucleic acid secondary structure, widely exists in organism genomes and plays regulatory roles in a variety of cellular functions. Polymerase chain reaction stop assay (PCR-Stop) is a simple, quick, and low-cost widely used method for detection of the binding between G4 and its binding compounds. Different from the common PCR approach, no double-stranded DNA template is needed in the PCR-Stop assay, in which the forward and reverse primers extend against each other in the presence of DNA polymerase to produce a single DNA product. However, unexpected results, such as two or more PCR products, are often generated, and the mechanism is unclear. We found that the ratio of pair primers significantly impacts the generation and components of PCR-Stop products, which is crucial for the interpretation of the experiment results.

SlERF.H6 mediates the orchestration of ethylene and gibberellin signaling that suppresses bitter-SGA biosynthesis in tomato.

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) constitute a characteristic class of antinutritional metabolites that are found in certain Solanum species. Despite the considerable studies on SGA biosynthesis, the mechanisms of crosstalk between hormone signaling pathways that regulate SGA content still remain to be elucidated. Here, we performed a metabolic genome-wide association study (mGWAS) based on the levels of SGA metabolites and identified SlERF.H6 as a negative regulator of bitter-SGA biosynthesis. SlERF.H6 repressed the expression of SGA biosynthetic glycoalkaloid metabolism (GAME) genes and caused a subsequent decrease in the abundance of bitter SGAs. Furthermore, SlERF.H6 were shown to act downstream of GAME9, a regulator of SGA biosynthesis in tomato. We also uncovered the interplay between ethylene and gibberellin (GA) signaling in regulating SGA biosynthesis. SlERF.H6, acting as a downstream component in ethylene signaling, modulated GA content by inhibiting SlGA2ox12 expression. Increasing levels of endogenous GA12 and GA53 in SlERF.H6-OE could inhibit of GA on SGA biosynthesis. Additionally, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) treatment decreased the stability of SlERF.H6, weakening its inhibition on GAME genes and SlGA2ox12, and caused bitter-SGA accumulation. Our findings reveal a key role of SlERF.H6 in the regulation of SGA biosynthesis through the coordinated ethylene-gibberellin signaling.

Circ_0003356 suppresses gastric cancer growth through targeting the miR-668-3p/SOCS3 axis.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have attracted extensive attention as therapeutic targets in gastric cancer (GC). Circ_0003356 is known to be downregulated in GC tissues, but its cellular function and mechanisms remain undefined. AIM: To investigate the role of circ_0003356 in GC at the molecular and cellular level. METHODS: Circ_0003356, miR-668-3p, and SOCS3 expression were assessed via quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Wound healing, EdU, CCK-8, flow cytometry and transwell assays were used to analyze the migration, proliferation, viability, apoptosis and invasion of GC cells. The subcellular localization of circ_0003356 was monitored using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The interaction of circ_0003356 with miR-668-3p was confirmed using RIP-qRT-PCR, RNA pull-down, and dual luciferase reporter assays. We observed protein levels of genes via western blot. We injected AGS cells into the upper back of mice and performed immunohistochemistry staining for examining E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Ki67, and SOCS3 expressions. TUNEL staining was performed for the assessment of apoptosis in mouse tumor tissues. RESULTS: Circ_0003356 and SOCS3 expression was downregulated in GC cells, whilst miR-668-3p was upregulated. Exogenous circ_0003356 expression and miR-668-3p silencing suppressed the migration, viability, proliferation, epithelial to mesenchy-mal transition (EMT) and invasion of GC cells and enhanced apoptosis. Circ_0003356 overexpression impaired tumor growth in xenograft mice. Targeting of miR-668-3p by circ_0003356 was confirmed through binding assays and SOCS3 was identified as a downstream target of miR-668-3p. The impacts of circ_0003356 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and EMT were reversed by miR-668-3p up-regulation or SOCS3 down-regulation in GC cells. CONCLUSION: Circ_0003356 impaired GC development through its interaction with the miR-668-3p/SOCS3 axis.

AtSIEK, an EXD1-like protein with KH domain, involves in salt stress response by interacting with FRY2/CPL1.

Abiotic stress has great impacts on plant germination, growth and development and crop yield. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanism of plants response to abiotic stress. In this study, we identified a plant specific protein AtSIEK (stress-induced protein with EXD1-like domain and KH domain) response to salt stress. AtSIEK encodes a hnRNP K homology (KH) protein localized in nucleus. Amino acid sequences analysis found that SIEK protein is specific in plants, containing two domains with EXD1-like domain and KH domain, while SIEK homolog in animals only had EXD1-like domain without KH domain. Physiology experiments revealed that AtSIEK was significantly induced under salt stress and the siek mutant shows sensitive to salt stress, indicating that AtSIEK was a positive regulator in stress response. Further, molecular, biochemical, and genetic assays suggested that AtSIEK interacts with FRY2/CPL1, a known regulator in response to abiotic stress, and they function synergistically in response to salt stress. Taken together, these results shed new light on the regulation of plant adaption to abiotic stress, which deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress regulation in plants.

Identification of qnrVF in a Multidrug-Resistant Vibrio furnissii Clinical Strain.

We found a new qnr gene, qnrVF1, carried by a multidrug resistance plasmid in a clinical Vibrio furnissii isolate. QnrVF1 exhibits 44.6% to 72.5% similarity in identity with other Qnr family proteins. QnrVF alleles are mainly encoded by chromosomes of V. furnissii and Vibrio fluvialis. Phylogenic analysis showed that QnrVF1 and QnrVF2 form a distinct clade in Qnr proteins. Thus, qnrVF represents a new qnr family. In addition, the qnrVF1 gene is often flanked by the mobile element ISCR1. Thus, it is likely that qnrVF1 is mobilized by ISCR1 from chromosome to plasmid in V. furnissii. IMPORTANCE Quinolones are widely used drugs. Bacteria contain a quinolone resistance gene, which mediates resistance to quinolones. Currently, seven families of Qnr proteins, QnrVC, QnrA, QnrB, QnrC, QnrD, QnrE, and QnrS, have been identified. However, it is unclear whether there are any other qnr families. In this study, we identified a new qnr family, qnrVF. We found many V. furnissii and V. fluvialis strains that possess chromosomal qnrVF alleles, suggesting that V. furnissii and V. fluvialis are the reservoirs of qnrVF. We also found that QnrVF1 confers low-level resistance to quinolones. ISCR1 may facilitate the spread of qnrVF1. The emergence and spread of qnrVF may pose a considerable threat to public health.

Targeted approaches to improve tomato fruit taste.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most valuable fruit and horticultural crop species worldwide. Compared with the fruits of their progenitors, those of modern tomato cultivars are, however, often described as having unsatisfactory taste or lacking flavor. The flavor of a tomato fruit arises from a complex mix of tastes and volatile metabolites, including sugars, acids, amino acids, and various volatiles. However, considerable differences in fruit flavor occur among tomato varieties, resulting in mixed consumer experiences. While tomato breeding has traditionally been driven by the desire for continual increases in yield and the introduction of traits that provide a long shelf-life, consumers are prepared to pay a reasonable premium for taste. Therefore, it is necessary to characterize preferences of tomato flavor and to define its underlying genetic basis. Here, we review recent conceptual and technological advances that have rendered this more feasible, including multi-omics-based QTL and association analyses, along with the use of trained testing panels, and machine learning approaches. This review proposes how the comprehensive datasets compiled to date could allow a precise rational design of tomato germplasm resources with improved organoleptic quality for the future.

Evidence summary on nutrition management for post-stroke dysphagia.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the relevant evidence on nutrition management of post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) to provide evidence-based basis for clinical staff. METHODS: We searched evidence in BMJ Best Practice, Up To Date, Cochrane Library, PubMed and so on from their inception to May 31, 2021. The quality assessment was conducted by two researchers by using AGREE II for guidelines, JBI evidence-based health care center evaluate standards for systematic review and expert consensus. RESULTS: An initial searching of 445 literatures resulted in 26 literatures that met inclusion criteria. Finally, a total of 38 pieces of evidence were summarized from 5 aspects including nutrition risk screening and assessment, nutrition support principles, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, and hydration management. CONCLUSIONS: This study summarized the evidence of the nutrition management for PSD patients. Since evidences are from different countries, it's better to assess the clinical environment and other related factors before their application.

The downward referral experiences of stroke caregivers in the regional medical alliance in China: A phenomenological study.

The downward referral platform in the regional medical alliance has provided more possibilities to follow-up rehabilitation and transitional care for increasing stroke survivors, which also has the most contributions in the rational use of resources and health promotion of stroke survivors. However the downward referral rate is low compared to upward referral. At present, no scholars have explored the downward referral experiences of medical demanders from the perspective of qualitative study, and these experiences may also most truly reflect the influencing factors of their unwillingness to downward referral. Therefore, this study explored the subjective experiences of stroke caregivers who had experienced the downward referral, because stroke attacks often lead to lack of autonomy of patients themselves, making it difficult to complete interviews with them. A descriptive phenomenological study was adopted. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit 13 stroke caregivers. Interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview-guide encouraging interviewees to reflect on their experiences with downward referral. Coliazzi's data analysis process was applied. The analysis of the data revealed 4 themes: coping challenges; disrupted information; gaps in medical and nursing transition, and potential enabling factors. The results of this study showed that the lack of knowledge of medical alliance, non-sharing of medical information and non-homogeneousness of medical quality were identified to be impeding positive attitude towards downward referral and be factors of bad experiences. Of course, the interviewees had positive experiences such as smooth referral and comfortable environment. These may be potential enabling factors to their attitude towards downward referral. The challenges and needs of medical demanders after downward referral are worthy of attention, and these should be solved by corresponding measures to improve the downward referral rate and referral experiences.

DNA G-quadruplex structure participates in regulation of lipid metabolism through acyl-CoA binding protein.

G-quadruplex structure (G4) is a type of DNA secondary structure that widely exists in the genomes of many organisms. G4s are believed to participate in multiple biological processes. Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, plays important roles in lipid metabolism by transporting and protecting acyl-CoA esters. Here, we report the functional identification of a G4 in the promoter of the ACBP gene in silkworm and human cancer cells. We found that G4 exists as a conserved element in the promoters of ACBP genes in invertebrates and vertebrates. The BmACBP G4 bound with G4-binding protein LARK regulated BmACBP transcription, which was blocked by the G4 stabilizer pyridostatin (PDS) and G4 antisense oligonucleotides. PDS treatment with fifth instar silkworm larvae decreased the BmACBP expression and triacylglycerides (TAG) level, resulting in reductions in fat body mass, body size and weight and growth and metamorphic rates. PDS treatment and knocking out of the HsACBP G4 in human hepatic adenocarcinoma HepG2 cells inhibited the expression of HsACBP and decreased the TAG level and cell proliferation. Altogether, our findings suggest that G4 of the ACBP genes is involved in regulation of lipid metabolism processes in invertebrates and vertebrates.

TCF7L2 promotes ER stress signaling in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common blindness in working-age adults. Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) is a susceptibility gene of DR, however, its roles in the pathogenesis of DR are still largely unknown. In this study, we found that TCF7L2 was mainly located in the cell nucleus of retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL), while it was not expressed in the cell nucleus of retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL). Expression of TCF7L2 was significantly elevated in the retinas of db/db diabetic mice and oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice. Also, in Ad-hTCF7L2 treated hiPSCs-derived retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6)-related endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling was remarkably activated. Moreover, knockdown of TCF7L2 significantly inhibited ATF6-related ER stress signaling. Furthermore, the data of endothelial permeability assay showed that RPCs pretreated with Ad-hTCF7L2 lead to enhanced monolayer permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and knockdown of TCF7L2 or ATF6 in RPCs could alleviate the monolayer permeability of HUVECs. Thus, our results showed that TCF7L2 could trigger ATF6-related ER stress signaling and promote vein endothelial cell permeability, which will provide important insight into the role of TCF7L2 in the pathogenesis of DR and contribute to designing potential therapies.

The effect of different inflating volume on the measurement accuracy of the modified cuff pressure measurement method.

To evaluate the effect of different inflation volume on the measurement accuracy of the modified cuff pressure measurement method in different shapes of cuffs, so as to provide reference for the correct monitoring of cuff pressure in clinic. In vitro study: The traditional cuff pressure measurement method (the cuff pressure gauge before measurement shows 0 cm H2O) and the modified cuff pressure measurement method (the cuff pressure before measurement shows 25 cm H2O, 28 cm H2O, 30 cm H2O or 32 cm H2O) were used to measure cylindrical and tapered cuffs, and the effect of different inflation volume on cuff pressure was analyzed statistically. Clinical study: patients with the artificial airway established by orotracheal intubation or tracheotomy in Neuro-ICU were prospectively selected as subjects, and the measurement procedure was the same as in vitro study. In vitro study showed that the pressure loss values of cylindrical cuff and tapered cuff using the traditional cuff pressure measurement method were (3.75 ± 0.31) cm H2O and (4.92 ± 0.44) cm H2O, respectively, and clinical study showed that the pressure loss values were (5.07 ± 0.83) cm H2O and (5.17 ± 0.93) cm H2O, respectively. The actual measured values measured by the traditional cuff pressure measurement method of the two cuff shapes were compared with the corrected target value of 28 cm H2O, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.000). Both in vitro and clinical study had shown that all differences between the actual measured value and the corrected target value using the modified cuff pressure measurement method (measured with 25 cm H2O, 30 cm H2O, 32 cm H2O) were statistically significant (P < 0.000), and the range of overall differences was (0-1.23 ± 0.25) cm H2O. In vitro study had shown that the pressure variation coefficient (CV) of the tapered cuff was greater than that of the cylindrical cuff, and the difference was statistically significant (3.08 ± 0.25 VS 2.41 ± 0.21, P < 0.000). The traditional cuff pressure measurement method can directly lead to the cuff pressure drop, which is easy to cause the leakage of secretions on the cuffs and the misjudgment of the cuff pressure by medical personnel. However, the modified cuff pressure measurement method can effectively reduce cuff pressure loss, and taking the actual cuff pressure value as the inflation volume is the highest measurement accuracy.The tapered cuff is more susceptible to air volume, so it is necessary to pay attention to its measurement and correction in clinical practice.

Could clinical nursing procedures lead to tracheal cuff pressure drop? A prospective observational study.

AIM: To evaluate the dynamic changes in tracheal cuff pressure before and after four clinical nursing procedures including sputum suction, oral care, atomisation inhalation, and turning over, and thus provide references for the adjustment time of cuff pressure in clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Cuff pressure must be kept within the range of 25-30 cmH2 O to ensure effective ventilation and prevent aspiration, while maintaining tracheal blood flow perfusion. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. METHODS: The cuff pressure of 56 intubated patients was adjusted to 28-30 cmH2 O. A cuff pressure monitor was used to continuously monitor cuff pressure changes before and after four clinical nursing procedures (sputum suction, oral care, atomisation inhalation, and turning over) and the cuff pressures at various time points were compared. The semi-quantitative cough strength score (SCSS) was used to evaluate cough strength during sputum suction and the effect of cough strength on cuff pressure during sputum suction. This study followed the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: The cuff pressures during the four clinical nursing procedures of sputum suction, atomisation inhalation, turning over, and oral care, all temporarily increased (p < 0.001) and decreased to varying degrees 20 min later (p < 0.001). Among them, the cuff pressure rose the highest under a state of moderate or strong coughing during sputum suction (78.38 ± 12.13 cmH2 O) and dropped the most at 20 min after the procedure (21.71 ± 4.80 cmH2 O). CONCLUSIONS: The four clinical nursing procedures of sputum suction, atomisation inhalation, turning over, and oral care can all cause different degrees of cuff pressure drop. The decision on whether the cuff pressure needs to be corrected depends on the specific situation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: During clinical practice, the cuff pressure can be individually corrected according to different clinical nursing procedures, which can increase the qualified rate of cuff pressure and reduce the workload of nurses.

Circular RNA OMA1 regulates the progression of breast cancer via modulation of the miR­1276/SIRT4 axis.

Mounting evidence has indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve essential roles in the tumorigenesis and development of various types of cancer. However, the biological functions and the underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in breast cancer (BC) remain largely elusive. In the present study, the expression pattern of circRNAs in three pairs of BC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was determined using a circRNA microarray. The expression and prognostic value of circOMA1 were evaluated by reverse transcription­quantitative PCR in 64 pairs of BC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan­Meier method, and statistical significance was estimated using the log­rank test. A series of in vitro functional experiments were then performed to investigate the role of circOMA1 in the tumorigenesis of BC. The results revealed that the expression levels of circOMA1 were upregulated in BC tissues, and its expression was markedly associated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the expression of circOMA1 could be used to discriminate between BC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Functionally, overexpression of circOMA1 promoted the viability, migration and invasion of BC cells, whereas circOMA1 knockdown had the opposite effect. Mechanistic investigations showed that circOMA1 promoted the progression of BC by sponging microRNA (miR)­1276 and upregulating sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) expression. In conclusion, circOMA1 may act as an oncogenic circRNA in BC via regulation of the miR­1276/SIRT4 axis.

The Richness and Diversity of Catalases in Bacteria.

Catalases play a key role in the defense against oxidative stress in bacteria by catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2. In addition, catalases are also involved in multiple cellular processes, such as cell development and differentiation, as well as metabolite production. However, little is known about the abundance, diversity, and distribution of catalases in bacteria. In this study, we systematically surveyed and classified the homologs of three catalase families from 2,634 bacterial genomes. It was found that both of the typical catalase and Mn-catalase families could be divided into distinct groups, while the catalase-peroxidase homologs formed a tight family. The typical catalases are rich in all the analyzed bacterial phyla except Chlorobi, in which the catalase-peroxidases are dominant. Catalase-peroxidases are rich in many phyla, but lacking in Deinococcus-Thermus, Spirochetes, and Firmicutes. Mn-catalases are found mainly in Firmicutes and Deinococcus-Thermus, but are rare in many other phyla. Given the fact that catalases were reported to be involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis in several Streptomyces strains, the distribution of catalases in the genus Streptomyces was given more attention herein. On average, there are 2.99 typical catalases and 0.99 catalase-peroxidases in each Streptomyces genome, while no Mn-catalases were identified. To understand detailed properties of catalases in Streptomyces, we characterized all the five typical catalases from S. rimosus ATCC 10970, the oxytetracycline-producing strain. The five catalases showed typical catalase activity, but possessed different catalytic properties. Our findings contribute to the more detailed classification of catalases and facilitate further studies about their physiological roles in secondary metabolite biosynthesis and other cellular processes, which might facilitate the yield improvement of valuable secondary metabolites in engineered bacteria.

A Salt Tolerance Evaluation Method for Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at the Seed Germination Stage.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects plant growth and development and leads to crop yield loss. Many crop species are more sensitive to salinity stress at the seed germination stage than at other developmental stages. Some studies have shown that sunflower is tolerant to salinity to a certain degree. However, no systematic screening data for sunflower germplasms are available for salinity stress. In this study, 552 sunflower germplasms with different genetic backgrounds were evaluated for salt tolerance. Among them, 30 and 53 sunflower germplasms were identified as highly salt-tolerant and salt-tolerant germplasms, respectively, while 80 and 23 were grouped as salt-sensitive and highly salt-sensitive materials, respectively. Of all the traits tested, the germination index and the germination vigor index were the two most reliable traits, showing the highest correlation with salt tolerance during the seed germination stage of sunflower. Thus, a highly efficient and reliable method for evaluating salinity tolerance of sunflower seed germination was established. These results provided a good foundation for studying salt-tolerance mechanisms and breeding highly salt-tolerant sunflower cultivars.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Attenuates Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical disease that is mainly caused by renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, sepsis, and nephrotoxic drugs. The pathologic mechanism of AKI is very complex and may involve oxidative stress, inflammatory response, autophagy, apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is a canonic member of the FGF family that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including organ development, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. However, few studies have reported the potential therapeutic effect of FGF2 in the repair of renal ischemic injury in the past two decades. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of FGF2 on renal I/R injury using Sprague-Dawley and NRK-52E cells. Our results showed that FGF2 significantly attenuates the apoptosis of kidney tissues after I/R injury through the inhibition of excessive ER stress. Moreover, FGF2 also alleviated the excessive ER stress and apoptosis in cultured NRK-52E cells injured by tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Significantly, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-selective inhibitor LY294002 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-selective inhibitor U0126 were utilized in the present study to examine the protective mechanism of FGF2. Our in vitro experimental results confirmed that both LY294002 and U0126 largely abolished the protective effect of FGF2. Taken together, the findings of the present study indicated that FGF2 attenuates I/R-induced renal epithelial apoptosis by suppressing excessive ER stress via the activation of the PI3K/AKT and MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 Attenuates Renal Damage by Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a predominant cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), the pathologic mechanism of which is highly complex involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, inflammatory response, autophagy, apoptosis as well as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), as a multifunctional growth factor, plays crucial roles in embryonic development, adult homeostasis, and regenerative medicine. Herein, we investigated the molecular pathways underlying the protective effect of FGF10 on renal I/R injury using Sprague-Dawley rats. Results showed that administration of FGF10 not only effectively inhibited I/R-induced activation of Caspase-3 and expression of Bax, but also alleviated I/R evoked expression of ER stress-related proteins in the kidney including CHOP, GRP78, XBP-1, and ATF-4 and ATF-6. The protective effect of FGF10 against apoptosis and ER stress was recapitulated by in vitro experiments using oxidative damaged NRK-52E cells induced by tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Significantly, U0126, a selective noncompetitive inhibitor of MAP kinase kinases (MKK), largely abolished the protective role of FGF10. Taken together, both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that FGF10 attenuates I/R-induced renal epithelial apoptosis by suppressing excessive ER stress, which is, at least partially, mediated by the activation of the MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Therefore, our present study revealed the therapeutic potential of FGF10 on renal I/R injury.