DEAD-box helicase 1 inhibited CD8+ T cell antitumor activity by inducing PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not respond well to current treatments, even immune checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1 or CD274 molecule)-mediated immune escape of tumor cells may be a key factor affecting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression and immune escape require further exploration. Here, we observed that DDX1 (DEAD-box helicase 1) was overexpressed in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, DDX1 expression correlated negatively with CD8+ T cell frequency. DDX1 overexpression significantly increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-mediated PD-L1 expression in HCC cell lines. DDX1 overexpression decreased IFN-γ and granzyme B production in CD8+ T cells and inhibited CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, DDX1 plays an essential role in developing the immune escape microenvironment, rendering it a potential predictor of ICI therapy efficacy in HCC.

Comprehensive analysis of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network involved in spontaneous recovery of an H2O2-induced zebrafish cataract model.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the hub miRNAs and mRNAs contributing to the spontaneous recovery of an H2O2-induced zebrafish cataract model. METHODS: Zebrafishes were divided into three groups, i.e., Group A, which included normal control fish (day 0), and Groups B and C, where fish were injected with 2.5% hydrogen peroxide into the anterior chamber and reared for 14 and 30 days, respectively. Fish eyes were examined by stereomicroscope photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RNA profiles of fish lenses were detected by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were identified among three groups. The DEGs and DEmiRs, which changed in opposite positions between "B vs. A" and "C vs. B" were defined as ODGs (opposite positions changed DEGs) and ODmiRs (opposite positions changed DEmiRs). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) analysis were carried out by R language. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using STRING. Potential targets of miRNAs were obtained using miRanda. miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed by Cytoscape. RESULTS: The fish lens opacity formed on day 14 and recovered to transparent on day 30 after injection. Compared to group B, 1366 DEGs and 54 DEmiRs were identified in group C. "C vs. B" DEGs were enriched in gene clusters related to development and oxidative phosphorylation. Target genes of DEmiRs were enriched in clusters such as development and cysteine metabolism. Among three groups, 786 ODGs and 27 ODmiRs were identified, and 480 ODGs were predicted as targets of ODmiRs. Target ODGs were enriched in pathways related to methionine metabolism, ubiquitin, sensory system development, and structural constituents of the eye lens. In addition, we established an ODmiRs-ODGs regulation network. CONCLUSION: We identified several hub mRNAs and altered miRNAs in the formation and reversal of zebrafish cataracts. These hub miRNAs/mRNAs could be potential targets for the non-surgical treatment of ARC.

OCTN2- and ATB0,+-targeted nanoemulsions for improving ocular drug delivery.

Traditional eye drops are administered via topical instillation. However, frequent dosing is needed due to their relatively rapid precorneal removal and low ocular bioavailability. To address these issues, stearoyl L-carnitine-modified nanoemulsions (SC-NEs) were fabricated. The physicochemical properties of SC-NEs in terms of size, morphology, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release behavior were characterized. The cellular uptake and mechanisms of SC-NEs were comprehensively studied in human corneal epithelial cells and the stearoyl L-carnitine ratio in SC-NEs was optimized. The optimized SC-NEs could target the novel organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 (OCTN2) and amino acid transporter B (0 +) (ATB0,+) on the corneal epithelium, which led to superior corneal permeation, ocular surface retention ability, ocular bioavailability. Furthermore, SC-NEs showed excellent in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy in a rabbit model of endotoxin-induced uveitis. The ocular safety test indicated that the SC-NEs were biocompatible. In general, the current study demonstrated that OCTN2 and ATB0,+-targeted nanoemulsions were promising ophthalmologic drug delivery systems that can improve ocular drug bioavailability and boost the therapeutic effects of drugs for eye diseases.

Inherent hepatocytic heterogeneity determines expression and retention of edited F9 alleles post-AAV/CRISPR infusion.

Infusing CRISPR/donor-loaded adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV/CRISPR) could enable in vivo hepatic gene editing to remedy hemophilia B (HB) with inherited deficiency of clotting factor IX (FIX). Yet, current regimens focus on correcting HB with simple mutations in the coding region of the F9, overlooking those carrying complicated mutations involving the regulatory region. Moreover, a possible adverse effect of treatment-related inflammation remains unaddressed. Here we report that a single DNA cutting-mediated long-range replacement restored the FIX-encoding function of a mutant F9 (mF9) carrying both regulatory and coding defects in a severe mouse HB model, wherein incorporation of a synthetic Alb enhancer/promoter-mimic (P2) ensured FIX elevation to clinically meaningful levels. Through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of liver tissues, we revealed that a subclinical hepatic inflammation post-AAV/CRISPR administration regulated the vulnerability of the edited mF9-harboring host cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and the P2 activity in a hepatocytic subset-dependent manner via modulating specific sets of liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs). Collectively, our study establishes an AAV/CRISPR-mediated gene-editing protocol applicable to complicated monogenetic disorders, underscoring the potentiality of improving therapeutic benefits through managing inflammation.

SUMOylation of microtubule-cleaving enzyme KATNA1 promotes microtubule severing and neurite outgrowth.

Katanin p60 ATPase-containing subunit A1 (KATNA1) is a microtubule-cleaving enzyme that regulates the development of neural protrusions through cytoskeletal rearrangements. However, the mechanism underlying the linkage of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein to KATNA1 and how this modification regulates the development of neural protrusions is unclear. Here we discovered, using mass spectrometry analysis, that SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9, an enzyme necessary for the SUMOylation process, was present in the KATNA1 interactome. Moreover, GST-pull down and co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that KATNA1 and SUMO interact. We further demonstrated using immunofluorescence experiments that KATNA1 and the SUMO2 isoform colocalized in hippocampal neurites. We also performed a bioinformatics analysis of KATNA1 protein sequences to identify three potentially conserved SUMOylation sites (K77, K157, and K330) among vertebrates. Mutation of K330, but not K77 or K157, abolished KATNA1-induced microtubule severing and decreased the level of binding observed for KATNA1 and SUMO2. Cotransfection of SUMO2 and wildtype KATNA1 in COS7 cells increased microtubule severing, whereas no effect was observed after cotransfection with the K330R KATNA1 mutant. Furthermore, in cultured hippocampal neurons, overexpression of wildtype KATNA1 significantly promoted neurite outgrowth, whereas the K330R mutant eliminated this effect. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the K330 site in KATNA1 is modified by SUMOylation and SUMOylation of KATNA1 promotes microtubule dynamics and hippocampal neurite outgrowth.

Rab3A interacts with spastin to regulate neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons.

Investigating novel mechanisms of neurite outgrowth via cytoskeleton is critical for developing therapeutic strategies against neural disorders. Rab3A is a vesicle-related protein distributed throughout the nervous system, but the detailed mechanism related to cytoskeleton remains largely unknown. Our previous reports show that spastin serves microtubule to regulate neurite outgrowth. Here, we asked whether Rab3A could function via modulating spastin during neuronal development. The results revealed that Rab3A colocalized with spastin in cultured hippocampal neurons. Immunoprecipitation assays showed that Rab3A physically interacted with spastin in rat brain lysates. Rab3A overexpression significantly induced spastin degradation; this effect was reversed by leupeptin- or MG-132- administration, suggesting the lysosomal and ubiquitin-mediated degradation system. Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed that Rab3A and spastin immune-colocalized with the lysosome marker lysotracker. In COS7 cells, Rab3A overexpression significantly downregulated spastin expression and abolished the spastin-mediated microtubule severing. Furthermore, overexpression inhibited while genetic knockdown of Rab3A promoted neurite outgrowth. However, this inhibitory effect on neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons could be reversed via co-transfection of spastin, indicating that Rab3A functions via its interaction protein spastin. In general, our data identify an interaction between Rab3A and spastin, and this interaction affects the protein stability of spastin and eliminates its microtubule severing function, thereby modulating neurite outgrowth.

ATP-P2X7R-mediated microglia senescence aggravates retinal ganglion cell injury in chronic ocular hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of microglia during aging affects normal neuronal function and results in the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases. Retinal microglial senescence attributes to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma. This study aims to examine the role of ATP-P2X7R in the mediation of microglia senescence and glaucoma progression. METHODS: Forty-eight participants were enrolled, including 24 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-related cataract (ARC) and 24 patients with ARC only. We used ARC as the inclusion criteria because of the availability of aqueous humor (AH) before phacoemulsification. AH was collected and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration was measured by ATP Assay Kit. The chronic ocular hypertension (COH) mouse model was established by microbead occlusion. Microglia were ablated by feeding PLX5622 orally. Mouse bone marrow cells (BMCs) were prepared and infused into mice through the tail vein for the restoration of microglia function. Western blotting, qPCR and ELISA were performed to analyze protein and mRNA expression in the ocular tissue, respectively. Microglial phenotype and RGC survival were assessed by immunofluorescence. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured using a JC-1 assay kit by flow cytometry. RESULTS: ATP concentrations in the AH were increased in older adults and patients with POAG. The expression of P2X7R was upregulated in the retinal tissues of mice with glaucoma, and functional enrichment analysis showed that P2X7R was closely related to cell aging. Through in vivo and in vitro approaches, we showed that pathological activation of ATP-P2X7R induced accelerated microglial senescence through impairing PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)-mediated mitophagy, which led to RGC damage. Additionally, we found that replacement of senescent microglia in COH model of old mice with BMCs from young mice reversed RGC damage. CONCLUSION: ATP-P2X7R induces microglia senescence by inhibiting PINK1-mediated mitophagy pathway. Specific inhibition of ATP-P2X7R may be a fundamental approach for targeted therapy of RGC injury in microglial aging-related glaucoma.

Emergency Treatment and Photoacoustic Assessment of Spinal Cord Injury Using Reversible Dual-Signal Transform-Based Selenium Antioxidant.

Spinal cord injury (SCI), following explosive oxidative stress, causes an abrupt and irreversible pathological deterioration of the central nervous system. Thus, preventing secondary injuries caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as monitoring and assessing the recovery from SCI are critical for the emergency treatment of SCI. Herein, an emergency treatment strategy is developed for SCI based on the selenium (Se) matrix antioxidant system to effectively inhibit oxidative stress-induced damage and simultaneously real-time evaluate the severity of SCI using a reversible dual-photoacoustic signal (680 and 750 nm). Within the emergency treatment and photoacoustic severity assessment (ETPSA) strategy, the designed Se loaded boron dipyrromethene dye with a double hydroxyl group (Se@BDP-DOH) is simultaneously used as a sensitive reporter group and an excellent antioxidant for effectively eliminating explosive oxidative stress. Se@BDP-DOH is found to promote the recovery of both spinal cord tissue and locomotor function in mice with SCI. Furthermore, ETPSA strategy synergistically enhanced ROS consumption via the caveolin 1 (Cav 1)-related pathways, as confirmed upon treatment with Cav 1 siRNA. Therefore, the ETPSA strategy is a potential tool for improving emergency treatment and photoacoustic assessment of SCI.

TERT transcription and translocation into mitochondria regulate benzo[a]pyrene/BPDE-induced senescence and mitochondrial damage in mouse spermatocytes.

Telomere and mitochondria may be the targets of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) -induced male reproductive damage, and further elucidation of the toxic molecular mechanisms is necessary. In this study, we used in vivo and in vitro exposure models to explore the molecular mechanisms of TERT regulation in BaP-induced telomere and mitochondrial damage in spermatocytes. The results showed that the treatment of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), the active metabolite of BaP, caused telomere dysfunction in mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells, resulting in S-phase arrest and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). These effects were significantly alleviated by telomerase agonist (ABG) pretreatment in GC-2 cells. SIRT1, FOXO3a, or c-MYC overexpressing GC-2 cell models were established to demonstrate that BPDE inhibited TERT transcriptional expression through the SIRT1/FOXO3a/c-MYC pathway, leading to telomere dysfunction. We also observed that BPDE induced mitochondrial compromise, including complex I damage, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial TERT expression. Based on this, we constructed wild-type TERT-overexpressing (OE-TERTwt) and mitochondria targeting TERT-overexpressing (OE-TERTmst) GC-2 cell models and found that OE-TERTmst GC-2 cells improved mitochondrial function better than OE-TERTwt GC-2 cells. Finally, ICR mice were given BaP by intragastric administration for 35 days, which verified the results of the in vitro study. The results shown that BaP exposure can lead to spermatogenesis disturbance, which is related to the telomere and mitochondrial damage in spermatocytes. In conclusion, our results suggest that BPDE causes telomere and mitochondrial damage in spermatocytes by inhibiting TERT transcription and mitochondrial TERT expression. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of male reproductive toxicity due to environmental pollutant BaP, and also provides a new perspective for the exploration of interventions and protective measures against male reproductive damage by BaP.

Clinical efficacy and prognosis analysis of treatment regimens for EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to evaluate potential differences among first-line treatment for EGFR mutant (m+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis in China and to identify the factors influencing survival outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 172 EGFRm + patients with advanced NSCLC who received a 1st generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) were divided into 4 groups: A, EGFR-TKI (n = 84); B, EGFR-TKI + pemetrexed + cisplatin/carboplatin chemotherapy (CT) (n = 55); C, EGFR-TKI + bevacizumab (n = 15); and D, EGFR-TKI + pemetrexed + cisplatin/carboplatin CT + bevacizumab (n = 18). Intracranial and extracranial progression-free survival (PFS), the overall survival (OS), objective remission rates (ORRs) and adverse events were analyzed. RESULTS: Intracranial PFS of groups C + D was longer than for groups A + B (18.9 m vs. 11.0 m, P = 0.027). Extracranial PFS were longer in group B in comparison with group A (13.0 m vs. 11.5 m, P = 0.039) and in groups C + D compared to groups A + B (18.9 m vs. 11.9 m, P = 0.008). Median OS in groups A and B were 27.9 m and 24.4 m, respectively, while groups C and D have not yet achieved median OS. Significant difference was found in intracranial ORR between groups A + B vs. C + D (31.0% vs. 65.2%, P = 0.002). Most patients suffered grade 1-2 treatment-related adverse events, which were relieved soon after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: First-generation EGFR-TKI + bevacizumab treatment outperformed other regimens in EGFRm + NSCLC patients with brain metastasis. The therapy improved the control and delayed progression of intracranial lesions and prolonged survival times.

Lens epithelium cell ferroptosis mediated by m6A-lncRNA and GPX4 expression in lens tissue of age-related cataract.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we explored the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and its association with ferroptosis in lens epithelium cells (LECs) of age-related cataract (ARC). METHODS: Through m6A RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (m6A-RIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we identified m6A mediated and differentially expressed lncRNAs (dme-lncRNAs) in ARC patients. Based on bioinformatics analysis, we selected critical dme-lncRNAs and pathways associated with ARC formation to reveal their potential molecular mechanisms. The downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key component of ferroptosis, was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting in age-related cortical cataract (ARCC) samples. Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess the change in mitochondrial in LECs. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a total of 11,193 m6A peaks within lncRNAs, among which 7043 were enriched and 4150 were depleted. Among those, lncRNA ENST00000586817(upstream of the GPX4 gene) was not only significantly upregulated in the LECs of ARCC but also potentially augmented the expression of GPX4 through a cis mechanism. The expression of m6A-modified lncRNA (ENST00000586817) was correlated with that of GPX4 and was downregulated in ARC patients. The TEM results indicated significant mitochondrial changes in ARCC samples. GPX4 downregulation enhanced LEC ferroptosis and decreased viability via RSL3 in SRA01/04 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide insight into the potential function of m6A-modified lncRNAs. M6A-modified lncRNA ENST00000586817 might regulate the expression of GPX4 by a cis mechanism and be implicated in ferroptosis in ARCs.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) Regulates GABAA Receptors in the Dorsomedial Hypothalamus Nucleus (DMH) through Activation of the JAK/STAT Pathway to Affect Heart Rate Variability in Stressed Rats.

The dorsomedial hypothalamus nucleus (DMH) is an important component of the autonomic nervous system and plays a critical role in regulating the sympathetic outputs of the heart. Stress alters the neuronal activity of the DMH, affecting sympathetic outputs and triggering heart rate variability. However, the specific molecular mechanisms behind stress leading to abnormal DMH neuronal activity have still not been fully elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we successfully constructed a stressed rat model and used it to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms by which IL-6 regulates GABAA receptors in the DMH through activation of the JAK/STAT pathway and thus affects heart rate variability in rats. By detecting the c-Fos expression of neurons in the DMH and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in rats, we clarified the relationship between abnormal DMH neuronal activity and heart rate variability in stressed rats. Then, using ELISA, immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and RNAscope, we further explored the correlation between the IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway and GABAA receptors. The data showed that an increase in IL-6 induced by stress inhibited GABAA receptors in DMH neurons by activating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, while specific inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway using AG490 obviously reduced DMH neuronal activity and improved heart rate variability in rats. These findings suggest that IL-6 regulates the expression of GABAA receptors via the activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in the DMH, which may be an important cause of heart rate variability in stressed rats.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and mortality in patients with spinal fractures in ICUs.

BACKGROUND: Spinal fracture is a common traumatic condition in orthopaedics, accounting for 5%-6% of total body fractures, and is a high-risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), which seriously affects patient prognosis. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of VTE prophylaxis on the prognosis of patients with spinal fractures in intensive care units (ICUs) and to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment and nursing. DESIGN: A retrospective study of patients with spinal fractures from the multicenter eICU Collaborative Research Database. METHOD: The outcomes of this study were ICU mortality and in-hospital mortality. Patients were divided into the VTE prophylaxis (VP) and no VTE prophylaxis (NVP) groups according to whether they had undergone VTE prophylaxis during their ICU admission. The association between groups and outcomes were analysed using Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curve, log-rank test and the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. RESULTS: This study included 1146 patients with spinal fractures: 330 in the VP group and 816 in the NVP group. KM survival curves and log-rank tests revealed that both ICU and in-hospital survival probabilities in the VP group were significantly higher than in the NVP group. After the Cox model was adjusted for all covariates, the hazard ratio for ICU mortality in the VP group was 0.38 (0.19-0.75); the corresponding value for in-hospital mortality in the VP group was 0.38 (0.21-0.68). CONCLUSIONS: VTE prophylaxis is associated with reduced ICU and in-hospital mortality in patients with spinal fractures in ICUs. More research is necessary to further define specific strategies and optimal timing for VTE prophylaxis. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides the basis that VTE prophylaxis may be associated with improved prognosis in patients with spinal fractures in ICUs. In clinical practice, an appropriate modality should be selected for VTE prophylaxis in such patients.

miR-125a-3p regulates apoptosis by suppressing TMBIM4 in lens epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To explore the regulatory effect of miR-125a-3p on lens epithelial cells (LECs) under ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) irradiation. METHODS: The expression of miR-125a-3p in age-related cataract (ARC) specimens and cell models was detected by qRT-PCR. UVB was utilized to establish DNA damage model of LECs. Cell count kit-8 was applied in detecting cell viability. Cell apoptosis ratio was analyzed by flow cytometry. Dual luciferase reports were applied to analyze the mechanism between miRNA and target genes. Nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blot were used to identify whether the exosomes were typical exosomes. RESULTS: miR-125a-3p was upregulated in ARC tissues and LECs treated with UVB. Knockdown of miR-125a-3p in LECs significantly decreased apoptosis and increased viability of UVB-irradiated LECs. We predicted that miR-125a-3p could regulate transmembrane Bax inhibitor motif containing 4 (TMBIM4) by the bioinformatics databases TargetScan, miRBase, and miRWalk. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-125a-3p may suppress TMBIM4 protein translation by binding to 3'UTR of TMBIM4 mRNA. Overexpression of miR-125a-3p decreased TMBIM4, which suggested that miR-125a-3p could inhibit TMBIM4. Moreover, knockdown of TMBIM4 decreased cell viability and enhanced cell apoptosis during UVB irradiation. In addition, the exosome secretion of LECs irradiated by UVB was enhanced, and the expression of miR-125a-3p was high. Cell viability was significantly decreased, and cell apoptosis was increased during UVB-exos treatment. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that miR-125a-3p regulated apoptosis by suppressing TMBIM4 in LECs under oxidative damage, providing a new idea for clinical therapeutic target of cataract.

[Biological mechanisms of Oxalis corniculata regulating human prostate cancer PC-3 cells: An investigation based on the NF-κB pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the effect of the Chinese herbal medicine Oxalis corniculata on human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. METHODS: Through in vitro experiment, we treated human prostate cancer PC-3 cells with different concentrations of Oxalis corniculata, assessed the viability of the cells by MTT assay, examined their apoptosis by flow cytometry, evaluated their migration and invasiveness by Transwell assay, and determined the expressions of the proteins p65, p-p65, IκBα and p-IκBα in the NF-κB pathway using protein imprinting technology. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control, Oxalis corniculata significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of the PC-3 cells (P< 0.05), suppressed their migration and invasiveness in a dose-dependent manner (P< 0.05), and upregulated the expression of IκBα and downregulated those of p-p65 and p-IκBα in the NF-κB pathway (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oxalis corniculata can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasiveness and induce the apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC cells, which may be attributed to its abilities of inhibiting the expressions of p-p65 and p-IκBα and regulating the activity of the NF-κB pathway.

[Construction of cell factories for production of patchoulol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

Patchoulol is an important sesquiterpenoid in the volatile oil of Pogostemon cablin, and is also considered to be the main contributing component to the pharmacological efficacy and fragrance of P. cablin oil, which has antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, and other biological activities. Currently, patchoulol and its essential oil blends are in high demand worldwide, but the traditional plant extraction method has many problems such as wasting land and polluting the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new method to produce patchoulol efficiently and at low cost. To broaden the production method of patchouli and achieve the heterologous production of patchoulol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the patchoulol synthase(PS) gene from P. cablin was codon optimized and placed under the inducible strong promoter GAL1 to transfer into the yeast platform strain YTT-T5, thereby obtaining strain PS00 with the production of(4.0±0.3) mg·L~(-1) patchoulol. To improve the conversion rate, this study used protein fusion method to fuse SmFPS gene from Salvia miltiorrhiza with PS gene, leading to increase the yield of patchoulol to(100.9±7.4) mg·L~(-1) by 25-folds. By further optimizing the copy number of the fusion gene, the yield of patchoulol was increased by 90% to(191.1±32.7) mg·L~(-1). By optimizing the fermentation process, the strain was able to achieve a patchouli yield of 2.1 g·L~(-1) in a high-density fermentation system, which was the highest yield so far. This study provides an important basis for the green production of patchoulol.

Associations between isoflavone exposure and reproductive damage in adult males: evidence from human and model system studies†.

It is controversial whether exposure to isoflavones exerts male reproductive toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether isoflavone exposure during adulthood could have deleterious impacts on male reproductive health by the cross-sectional study, animal experiments, and in vitro tests. In the cross-sectional study, we observed that urinary isoflavones were not significantly associated with semen quality including sperm concentrations, sperm count, progressive motility, and total motility, respectively. However, negative associations were found between plasma testosterone and urinary Σisoflavones, genistein, glycitein, and dihydrodaidzein. In the animal experiments, serum and intratesticular testosterone levels were decreased in mice exposed to several dosages of genistein. Genistein administration caused upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha and downregulation of cytochrome P45017A1 protein levels in testes of mice. In vitro tests showed that genistein caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of testosterone production by TM3 Leydig cells. Elevated protein expression of estrogen receptor alpha and decreased messenger RNA/protein level of cytochrome P45017A1 were also observed in genistein-treated cells. Protein level of cytochrome P45017A1 and testosterone concentration were significantly restored in the estrogen receptor alpha small interferring RNA-transfected cells, compared to cells that treated with genistein alone. The results demonstrate that exposure to isoflavones during adulthood may be associated with alterations of reproductive hormones. Particularly, genistein, which inhibits testosterone biosynthesis through upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha in Leydig cells of mice, might induce the disruption of testosterone production in human. The present study provides novel perspective into potential targets for male reproductive compromise induced by isoflavone exposure.

St13 protects against disordered acinar cell arachidonic acid pathway in chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis (CP) are limited. In this study, St13, a co-chaperone protein, was investigated whether it constituted a novel regulatory target in CP. Meanwhile, we evaluated the value of micro-PET/CT in the early diagnosis of CP. METHODS: Data from healthy control individuals and patients with alcoholic CP (ACP) or non-ACP (nACP) were analysed. PRSS1 transgenic mice (PRSS1Tg) were treated with ethanol or caerulein to mimic the development of ACP or nACP, respectively. Pancreatic lipid metabolite profiling was performed in human and PRSS1Tg model mice. The potential functions of St13 were investigated by crossing PRSS1Tg mice with St13-/- mice via immunoprecipitation and lipid metabolomics. Micro-PET/CT was performed to evaluate pancreatic morphology and fibrosis in CP model. RESULTS: The arachidonic acid (AA) pathway ranked the most commonly dysregulated lipid pathway in ACP and nACP in human and mice. Knockout of St13 exacerbated fatty replacement and fibrosis in CP model. Sdf2l1 was identified as a binding partner of St13 as it stabilizes the IRE1α-XBP1s signalling pathway, which regulates COX-2, an important component in AA metabolism. Micro-PET/CT with 68Ga-FAPI-04 was useful for evaluating pancreatic morphology and fibrosis in CP model mice 2 weeks after modelling. CONCLUSION: St13 is functionally activated in acinar cells and protects against the cellular characteristics of CP by binding Sdf2l1, regulating AA pathway. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT may be a very valuable approach for the early diagnosis of CP. These findings thus provide novel insights into both diagnosis and treatment of CP.

Transmittance-invariant phase modulator for chip-based quantum key distribution.

In chip-based quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, the non-ideal quantum state preparation due to the imperfect electro-optic phase modulators (EOPM) decreases the secret key rate and introduces potential vulnerabilities. We propose and implement an on-chip transmittance-invariant phase modulator (TIPM) to solve this problem. Simulated and experimental results show that TIPM can eliminate the correlation between phase, intensity, and polarization of quantum states caused by phase-dependent loss. The design can tolerate a significant fabrication mismatch and is universal to multi-material platforms. Furthermore, TIPM increases the modulation depth achievable by EOPMs in standard process design kit (PDK). The proposal of TIPM can improve the practical security and performance of the chip-based QKD systems.

Microglia-derived TNF-α mediates Müller cell activation by activating the TNFR1-NF-κB pathway.

Microglia and its interaction with Müller cells are responsible to retinal surveillance during retinal neurodegeneration, however, the role and mechanism of microglia-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the activation of retinal Müller cells have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, primary microglia and Müller cells were isolated from newborn Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with purities of 88.2 ± 6.2% and 92.2 ± 2.2%, respectively. By performing immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis, we found that TNF receptor (TNFR)-1 and TNFR2 were expressed in Müller cells. After co-cultured with microglia-conditioned medium (MCM), the elevated mRNA levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1ß, CXCL-1, CSF-1, NOS2, COX2) and decreased CNTF mRNA levels were found in Müller cells. However, pretreatment with R-7050 (a TNF-α receptor inhibitor) or anti-TNFR1 significantly abrogated the changes. Simultaneously, pretreatment with anti-TNFR2 slightly inhibited the expression of GFAP in MCM-incubated Müller cells. Meanwhile, anti-TNFR1 treatment reversed the increased expression of CSF-1 and IL-1ß induced by TNF-α. Compared to the control groups, the phosphorylation of NF-κB P65, MAPK P38 and ERK1/2 in TNF-α-treated Müller cells was significantly increased. Nevertheless, pretreatment with anti-TNFR1 inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB P65 and MAPK p38, especially NF-κB P65. Additionally, pretreatment with Bay117082 (an NF-κB inhibitor) also significantly inhibited NF-κB P65 phosphorylation and GFAP expression. Moreover, anti-TNFR1 and Bay117082 treatment reduced NF-κB P65 phosphorylation of Müller cells induced by MCM. These results suggested that microglia-derived TNF-α served as a vital role in regulating Müller cells activation during retinal neurodegeneration.