Phytochrome interacting factor MdPIF7 modulates anthocyanin biosynthesis and hypocotyl growth in apple.

Light affects many physiological and developmental processes of plants by regulating the expression and activity of light-responsive proteins. Among them, phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs) play pivotal roles in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation and hypocotyl growth. However, the molecular mechanism is not well understood, especially in woody plants, such as apple (Malus × domestica). In this study, we identified a light-responsive PIF protein, MdPIF7, in apple and investigated the molecular mechanism of its regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis and hypocotyl growth. We found that overexpression of MdPIF7 decreased anthocyanin accumulation in transgenic apple materials and promoted hypocotyl elongation in ectopically expressed Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Further investigation showed that MdPIF7 functioned by interacting with B-box 23 (MdBBX23), a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple and hypocotyl growth inhibition in ectopically expressed Arabidopsis, and attenuating the transcriptional activation of MdBBX23 on LONG HYPOCOTYL 5 (MdHY5). In addition, MdPIF7 interacted with basic region leucine zipper 44 (MdbZIP44) and ethylene response factor 38 (MdERF38), two positive regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis, and it negatively regulated MdbZIP44- and MdERF38-promoted anthocyanin accumulation by interfering with the interaction between MdbZIP44/MdERF38 and MdMYB1. Taken together, our results reveal that MdPIF7 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple and hypocotyl growth in ectopically expressed Arabidopsis through MdPIF7-MdBBX23-MdHY5 and MdPIF7-MdbZIP44/MdERF38-MdMYB1 modules. Our findings enrich the functional studies of PIF proteins and provide insights into the molecular mechanism of PIF-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis and hypocotyl growth.

Functional characterization of MdERF113 in apple.

The AP2/ERF family is an important class of transcription factors involved in plant growth and various biological processes. One of the AP2/ERF transcription factors, RAP2.6L, participates in various stresses responses. However, the function of RAP2.6L is largely unknown in apples (Malus domestica). In this study, an apple gene homologous to Arabidopsis AtRAP2.6L, MdERF113, was analyzed by bioinformatic characterization, gene expression analysis and subcellular localization assessment. MdERF113 was highly expressed in the sarcocarp and was responsive to hormonal signals and abiotic stresses. MdERF113-overexpression apple calli were less sensitive to low temperature, drought, salinity, and abscisic acid than wild-type. Subcellular localization revealed that MdERF113 was a nuclear-localized transcription factor, and yeast experiments confirmed that MdERF113 has no autonomous activation activity. Overall, this study indicated that MdERF113 plays a role in regulating plant growth under abiotic conditions.

Identification of immune-related key genes in the peripheral blood of ischaemic stroke patients using a weighted gene coexpression network analysis and machine learning.

BACKGROUND: The immune system plays a vital role in the pathological process of ischaemic stroke. However, the exact immune-related mechanism remains unclear. The current research aimed to identify immune-related key genes associated with ischaemic stroke. METHODS: CIBERSORT was utilized to reveal the immune cell infiltration pattern in ischaemic stroke patients. Meanwhile, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to identify meaningful modules significantly correlated with ischaemic stroke. The characteristic genes correlated with ischaemic stroke were identified by the following two machine learning methods: the support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression. RESULTS: The CIBERSORT results suggested that there was a decreased infiltration of naive CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, resting mast cells and eosinophils and an increased infiltration of neutrophils, M0 macrophages and activated memory CD4 T cells in ischaemic stroke patients. Then, three significant modules (pink, brown and cyan) were identified to be significantly associated with ischaemic stroke. The gene enrichment analysis indicated that 519 genes in the above three modules were mainly involved in several inflammatory or immune-related signalling pathways and biological processes. Eight hub genes (ADM, ANXA3, CARD6, CPQ, SLC22A4, UBE2S, VIM and ZFP36) were revealed to be significantly correlated with ischaemic stroke by the LASSO logistic regression and SVM-RFE algorithm. The external validation combined with a RT‒qPCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of ADM, ANXA3, SLC22A4 and VIM were significantly increased in ischaemic stroke patients and that these key genes were positively associated with neutrophils and M0 macrophages and negatively correlated with CD8 T cells. The mean AUC value of ADM, ANXA3, SLC22A4 and VIM was 0.80, 0.87, 0.91 and 0.88 in the training set, 0.85, 0.77, 0.86 and 0.72 in the testing set and 0.87, 0.83, 0.88 and 0.91 in the validation samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the ADM, ANXA3, SLC22A4 and VIM genes are reliable serum markers for the diagnosis of ischaemic stroke and that immune cell infiltration plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of ischaemic stroke.

Identifying patterns of immune related cells and genes in the peripheral blood of acute myocardial infarction patients using a small cohort.

BACKGROUND: The immune system plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the exact immune related mechanism is still unclear. This research study aimed to identify key immune-related genes involved in AMI. METHODS: CIBERSORT, a deconvolution algorithm, was used to determine the proportions of 22 subsets of immune cells in blood samples. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify key modules that are significantly associated with AMI. Then, CIBERSORT combined with WGCNA were used to identify key immune-modules. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) combined with cytoHubba plugins were used to identify key immune-related genes that may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of AMI. RESULTS: The CIBERSORT results suggested that there was a decrease in the infiltration of CD8 + T cells, gamma delta (γδ) T cells, and resting mast cells, along with an increase in the infiltration of neutrophils and M0 macrophages in AMI patients. Then, two modules (midnightblue and lightyellow) that were significantly correlated with AMI were identified, and the salmon module was found to be significantly associated with memory B cells. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the 1,171 genes included in the salmon module are mainly involved in immune-related biological processes. MCODE analysis was used to identify four different MCODE complexes in the salmon module, while four hub genes (EEF1B2, RAC2, SPI1, and ITGAM) were found to be significantly correlated with AMI. The correlation analysis between the key genes and infiltrating immune cells showed that SPI1 and ITGAM were positively associated with neutrophils and M0 macrophages, while they were negatively associated with CD8 + T cells, γδ T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and resting mast cells. The RT-qPCR validation results found that the expression of the ITGAM and SPI1 genes were significantly elevated in the AMI samples compared with the samples from healthy individuals, and the ROC curve analysis showed that ITGAM and SPI1 had a high diagnostic efficiency for the recognition of AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Immune cell infiltration plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of AMI. ITGAM and SPI1 are key immune-related genes that are potential novel targets for the prevention and treatment of AMI.

Discovery of a pyrano[2,3-b]pyridine derivative YX-2102 as a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist for alleviating lung fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological modulation of cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) is a promising therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Thus, to develop CB2R selective ligands with new chemical space has attracted much research interests. This work aims to discover a novel CB2R agonist from an in-house library, and to evaluate its therapeutic effects on PF model, as well as to disclose the pharmacological mechanism. METHODS: Virtual screening was used to identify the candidate ligand for CB2R from a newly established in-house library. Both in vivo experiments on PF rat model and in vitro experiments on cells were performed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the lead compound and underlying mechanism. RESULTS: A "natural product-like" pyrano[2,3-b]pyridine derivative, YX-2102 was identified that bound to CB2R with high affinity. Intraperitoneal YX-2102 injections significantly ameliorated lung injury, inflammation and fibrosis in a rat model of PF induced by bleomycin (BLM). On one hand, YX-2102 inhibited inflammatory response at least partially through modulating macrophages polarization thereby exerting protective effects. Whereas, on the other hand, YX-2102 significantly upregulated CB2R expression in alveolar epithelial cells in vivo. Its pretreatment inhibited lung alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and PF model induced by transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1) via a CB2 receptor-dependent pathway. Further studies suggested that the Nrf2-Smad7 pathway might be involved in. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that CB2R is a potential target for PF treatment and YX-2102 is a promising CB2R agonist with new chemical space.

Performance of Tönnis triple osteotomy in older children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) assisted by a 3D printing navigation template.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to investigate the preparation of a navigation template via a computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing (3DP) in order to improve the effectiveness of Tönnis triple osteotomy in older children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). METHOD: Thirty-eight older children who received Tönnis triple osteotomy were included in this study. Among them, 20 were categorized as the 3DP navigation template group (3DP group), and the remaining 18 were categorized as the conventional surgery group (CS group). Data, including preoperative and postoperative pelvic sharp angle (SA), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), acetabular roof angle (ARA), acetabular head index (AHI), crossover sign (COS), ischial spine sign (ISS), operation time (OT), intraoperative blood loss (IBL), and number of radiation exposures (NORE) were recorded for both groups. In addition, the therapeutic effect was evaluated at the last follow-up, according to the McKay criteria and Severin's criteria. RESULTS: In the 3DP and CS groups, the mean OT was 126.6 ± 17.6 min and 156.0 ± 18.6 min, respectively; the mean IBL was 115.0 ± 16.9 ml and 135.7 ± 26.5 ml, respectively; the NORE were 3.3 ± 0.8 times and 8.6 ± 1.3 times, respectively. There were significant differences in the OT, IBL, and NORE between the two groups (P = 0.03, 0.05, < 0.001, respectively). At the last follow-up, the 3DP and CS groups displayed SA of 41.8 ± 2.3° and 42.6 ± 3.1°, respectively; LCEA of 35.6 ± 4.2° and 37.1 ± 2.8°, respectively; ARA of 6.9 ± 1.8° and 9.8 ± 2.6°, respectively; and AHI of 86.6 ± 4.1% and 84.3 ± 2.8%, respectively; COS(+) of 5 hips and 4 hips, respectively; ISS(+) of 6 hips and 7 hips. We observed no statistical differences in the SA, LCEA, ARA, AHI, COS and ISS between the two groups (P = 0.918, 0.846, 0.643, 0.891, 0.841, 0.564, respectively). According to the McKay criteria, the 3DP group had 10 excellent, 6 good, and 4 general hips, whereas, the CS group had 12 excellent, 4 good, and 2 general hip. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.698). In 3DP group the postoperative Severin's grading included 13 hips in grade I, 4 in grade II, 3 in grade III. Alternately, in the CS group, the postoperative Severin's grading included 11 hips in grade I, 5 in grade II, 2 in grade III. The Severin 's criteria also showed no statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.945). CONCLUSIONS: Base on our analysis, our CAD-3DP-fabricated navigation template assisted Tönnis triple osteotomy in older DDH children, it reduced operation time and number of radiation exposures. However, no significant differences in radiological assessment and functional outcomes were observed when an experienced surgeon performs the surgery. Therefore, Surgeons who have less experience in triple osteotomy profit more from the application of this technology.

Distribution pattern of floor plate neurons in zebrafish.

The floor plate (FP) is a critical signaling center for the development of neural tube and body axis, and is localized at the ventral midline of the neural tube. Multiple types of neurons are present in the floor plate, while the distribution pattern of these neuronal cells remains unclear. By using transgenic zebrafish lines that specifically label different neuronal cells, we investigated the distribution pattern of these neurons in the floor plate region. Our results showed that foxj1a, sox2, clusterin and gfap genes were expressed in the medial floor plate (MFP), consisting of a single row of cells. The cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons (CSF-cNs), also named as Kolmer-Agduhr interneurons (KA' and KA" neurons), were located on the lateral sides of MFP. The foxj1a and pkd2l1 genes were expressed in the KA" neurons, which were located to the ventral terminal gap of wedge-shaped MFP cells. The neighboring KA" neurons were separated by neurons expressing Gfap, Olig2 or Sox2. In contrast, the KA' neurons were positive for Foxj1a +/Pkd2l1+/Olig2+, and were localized to the dorsal side of KA" neurons. Similarly, the Sox2 or Olig2 expressing neurons were intermingled with KA' neurons along the anterior-posterior axis in these regions. Further pharmaceutical treatment demonstrated that interference of Notch signaling resulted in the abnormal distribution of floor plate neurons together with strong dorsal body curvature at 3 days post fertilization in the zebrafish larvae. Our data showed the gene expression patterns and relative positions of the floor plate neurons; and suggested a potential role of Notch signaling during floor plate development.

Microbial ecology of sulfur cycling near the sulfate-methane transition of deep-sea cold seep sediments.

Microbial sulfate reduction is largely associated with anaerobic methane oxidation and alkane degradation in sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) of deep-sea cold seeps. How the sulfur cycling is mediated by microbes near SMTZ has not been fully understood. In this study, we detected a shallow SMTZ in three of eight sediment cores sampled from two cold seep areas in the South China Sea. One hundred ten genomes representing sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB) strains were identified from three SMTZ-bearing cores. In the layers above SMTZ, SOB were mostly constituted by Campylobacterota, Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria that probably depended on nitrogen oxides and/or oxygen for oxidation of sulfide and thiosulfate in near-surface sediment layers. In the layers below the SMTZ, the deltaproteobacterial SRB genomes and metatranscriptomes revealed CO2 fixation by Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, sulfate reduction and nitrogen fixation for syntrophic or fermentative lifestyle. A total of 68% of the metagenome assembled genomes were not adjacent to known species in a phylogenomic tree, indicating a high diversity of bacteria involved in sulfur cycling. With the large number of genomes for SOB and SRB, our study uncovers the microbial populations that potentially mediate sulfur metabolism and associated carbon and nitrogen cycles, which sheds light on complex biogeochemical processes in deep-sea environments.

Apple MdSAT1 encodes a bHLHm1 transcription factor involved in salinity and drought responses.

MAIN CONCLUSION: This study identified a new bHLHm1 transcription factor MdSAT1 which functioned in mediating tolerance to salt and drought resistance. Changes in the expression of stress-related genes play crucial roles in response to environmental stress. Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are the largest superfamily of transcription factors and a large number of bHLH proteins function in plant responses to abiotic stresses. We identified a new bHLHm1 transcription factor from apple and named it MdSAT1. ß-Glucuronidase (GUS) staining showed that MdSAT1 expressed in various tissues with highly expressed in leaves. Promoter analysis revealed that MdSAT1 contained multiple response elements and its transcription was induced by several environmental cues, particularly salt and drought stresses. Overexpression of MdSAT1 in apple calli and Arabidopsis resulted in a phenotype of increased tolerance to salt and drought. Altering abscisic acid (ABA) treatment increased the sensitivity of MdSAT1-OE Arabidopsis to ABA, and heavy metal stress, osmotic stress, and ethylene did not participate in MdSAT1 mediated plant development. These findings reveal the abiotic stress functions of MdSAT1 and pave the way for further functional investigation.

In vitro and in silico studies of bis (indol-3-yl) methane derivatives as potential α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors.

In this paper, bis (indol-3-yl) methanes (BIMs) were synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. All synthesised compounds showed potential α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities. Compounds 5 g (IC50: 7.54 ± 1.10 µM), 5e (IC50: 9.00 ± 0.97 µM), and 5 h (IC50: 9.57 ± 0.62 µM) presented strongest inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase, that were ∼ 30 times stronger than acarbose. Compounds 5 g (IC50: 32.18 ± 1.66 µM), 5 h (IC50: 31.47 ± 1.42 µM), and 5 s (IC50: 30.91 ± 0.86 µM) showed strongest inhibitory activities towards α-amylase, ∼ 2.5 times stronger than acarbose. The mechanisms and docking simulation of the compounds were also studied. Compounds 5 g and 5 h exhibited bifunctional inhibitory activity against these two enzymes. Furthermore, compounds showed no toxicity against 3T3-L1 cells and HepG2 cells.HighlightsA series of bis (indol-3-yl) methanes (BIMs) were synthesised and evaluated inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and α-amylase.Compound 5g exhibited promising activity (IC50 = 7.54 ± 1.10 µM) against α-glucosidase.Compound 5s exhibited promising activity (IC50 = 30.91 ± 0.86 µM) against α-amylase.In silico studies were performed to confirm the binding interactions of synthetic compounds with the enzyme active site.

SYNE1-QK1 SNPs, G × G and G × E interactions on the risk of hyperlipidaemia.

This study aimed to assess the relationship of 3 spectrin repeat containing nuclear envelope protein 1 (SYNE1) and 4 KH domain containing RNA binding (QK1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), their haplotypes, gene-gene (G × G), gene-environment (G × E) interactions and hypercholesterolaemia (HCH) and hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) in the Chinese Maonan minority. The genetic make-up of the SYNE1-QK1 SNPs in 1932 unrelated subjects (normal, 641; HCH, 649; and HTG, 642) was obtained by next-generation sequencing technologies. The genotypic frequencies of following SNPs were suggestively distinctive between the control and HCH groups (rs2623963, rs7745725, rs9459317, rs16897566), or between the control and HTG groups (rs2623963, rs1358317, rs7745725, rs1923608, rs16897566 SNPs; P < .05, respectively). Multiple-locus linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated that the identified SNPs were not inherited independently. Several haplotypes and gene-gene interaction haplotypes among the detected SNPs may be related with an increased morbidity of HCH (C-G-A, C-G-G and C-G-G-T-C-A-T) and HTG (C-G-G, G-T-G-C, C-G-G-G-T-G-C and C-G-G-T-C-A-T), whereas others may be related with an decreased risk of HCH (G-A-A, G-C-A-T, C-A-A-T-C-A-T and G-A-A-G-C-A-T) and HTG (G-A-A, G-C-A-T, C-A-A-T-C-A-T and G-A-A-G-C-A-T). The association evaluation based on haplotypes and gene-gene interactions could improve the power of detecting the risk of dyslipidaemia than anyone of SNP alone. There was significant three-locus model involving SNP-SNP, haplotype-haplotype/environment and G × G interactions (P < .05-0.001) that were detected by GMDR in HCH and HTG groups. Different interactions between genetic and environmental factors would produce different redundancy or synergy effects on the morbidity of HCH and/or HTG.

The MC4R SNPs, their haplotypes and gene-environment interactions on the risk of obesity.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the correlation between the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of obesity. This research sought to test the MC4R rs17782313, rs476828 and rs12970134 SNPs, their haplotypes and gene-environment interactions on the risk of obesity in the Maonan ethnic group, an isolated minority in China. METHODS: A case-control study comprised of 1836 participants (obesity group, 858; and control group, 978) was conducted. Genotypes of the three SNPs were determined by the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. RESULTS: The genotypic frequencies of the three SNPs were different between the obesity and control groups (P <  0.05 for all). The minor allelic frequency of the MC4R rs17782313C, rs476828C and rs12970134A was higher in obesity than in control groups (13.8% vs. 8.3%, P <  0.001, 17.1% vs. 10.9%, P <  0.001; and 15.5% vs. 11.5%, P <  0.001; respectively). Additionally, the dominant model of rs17782313 and rs476828 SNPs revealed an increased morbidity function on the risk of obesity (P <  0.05). A correlation between SNP-environment and the risk of obesity was also observed. The rs17782313C-rs476828C-rs12970134A haplotype was associated with high risk of obesity (OR = 1.796, 95% CI = 1.447-2.229), whereas the rs17782313T-rs476828T-rs12970134G and rs17782313T-rs476828T-rs12970134A haplotypes were associated with low risk of obesity (OR = 0.699, 95% CI = 0.586-0.834 and OR = 0.620, 95% CI = 0.416-0.925; respectively). The interactions between haplotype and waist circumference on the risk of obesity were also noted. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered that the MC4R rs17782313, rs476828 and rs12970134 SNPs and their haplotypes were associated with the risk of obesity in the Chinese Maonan population.

Genes associated with inflammation may serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The current research aimed to expound the genes and pathways that are involved in coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischaemic stroke (IS) and the related mechanisms. METHODS: Two array CAD datasets of (GSE66360 and GSE97320) and an array IS dataset (GSE22255) were downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package. The online tool Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) (version 6.8; david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov) was used to annotate the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses of the DEGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape software, and then Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) analysis was used to screen for hub genes. The hub genes were also confirmed by RT-qPCR and unconditional logistic regression analysis in our CAD and IS patients. RESULTS: A total of 20 common DEGs (all upregulated) were identified between the CAD/IS and control groups. Eleven molecular functions, 3 cellular components, and 49 biological processes were confirmed by GO enrichment analysis, and the 20 common upregulated DEGs were enriched in 21 KEGG pathways. A PPI network including 24 nodes and 68 edges was constructed with the STRING online tool. After MCODE analysis, the top 5 high degree genes, including Jun proto-oncogene (JUN, degree = 9), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8, degree = 9), tumour necrosis factor (TNF, degree = 9), suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3, degree = 8) and TNF alpha induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3, degree = 8) were noted. RT-qPCR results demonstrated that the expression levels of CXCL8 were increased in IS patients than in normal participants and the expression levels of SOCS3, TNF and TNFAIP were higher in CAD/IS patients than in normal participants. Meanwhile, unconditional logistic regression analysis revealed that the incidence of CAD or IS was positively correlated with the CXCL8, SOCS3, TNF and TNFAIP3. CONCLUSIONS: The CXCL8, TNF, SOCS3 and TNFAIP3 associated with inflammation may serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of CAD or IS. The possible mechanisms may involve the Toll-like receptor, TNF, NF-kappa B, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and the NOD-like receptor signalling pathways.

Identification of Phytochrome-Interacting Factor Family Members and Functional Analysis of MdPIF4 in Malus domestica.

Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs), members of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family that have been extensively investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana, play essential roles in plant growth and development. However, PIF members have not been systematically investigated in apples, a worldwide perennial woody crop of economic importance. Here, seven PIF genes were identified from the Malus × domestica reference genome. Chromosomal locations, gene structures, and phylogenetic relationships of these members were analyzed. Analysis of cis-acting elements in promoter regions of MdPIF genes indicated that various elements were related to light, abiotic stress, and plant hormone responsiveness. Subsequently, subcellular localization and transcriptional activity analysis revealed that MdPIFs were typical nuclear transcription factors with transcriptional activation ability. Expression analysis demonstrated that MdPIF genes had different gene expression patterns for various abiotic factors. Moreover, overexpressed MdPIF4 reduced the sensitivity of apple calluses to abscisic acid (ABA). Our work lays foundations for further investigation of PIF functions in plant growth and development in apples.

Association between the XKR6 rs7819412 SNP and serum lipid levels and the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to expound the association between the XK related 6 gene (XKR6) rs7819412 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid profiles and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke. METHODS: The genetic makeup of the XKR6 rs7819412 SNP in 1783 unrelated participants (controls, 643; CAD, 588 and ischemic stroke, 552) of Han Chinese was obtained by the Snapshot technology. RESULTS: The genotypic frequencies of the SNP were disparate between CAD (GG, 81.0%; GA/AA, 19.0%) or ischemic stroke (GG, 81.2%; GA/AA, 18.8%) patients and healthy controls (GG, 85.7%, GA/AA, 14.3%; P < 0.05 vs. CAD or ischemic stroke; respectively). The A allele frequency was also diverse between CAD (10.1%) or ischemic stroke (10.0%) and control groups (7.5%; P < 0.05 vs. CAD or ischemic stroke; respectively). The GA/AA genotypes and A allele were associated with high risk of CAD and ischemic stroke (CAD: P = 0.026 for GA/AA vs. GG, P = 0.024 for A vs. G; Ischemic stroke: P = 0.029 for GA/AA vs. GG, P = 0.036 for A vs. G). The GA/AA genotypes were also associated with increased serum triglyceride (TG) concentration in CAD and total cholesterol (TC) concentration in ischemic stroke patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data revealed that the XKR6 rs7819412 A allele was related to increased serum TG levels in CAD, TC levels in ischemic stroke patients and high risk of CAD and ischemic stroke.

Potential molecular mechanism of ACE gene at different time points in STEMI patients based on genome-wide microarray dataset.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) co-expression genes and their pathways involved in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at different time points. METHODS: The array data set of GSE59867 was examined for the ACE co-expression genes in peripheral blood samples from 111 patients with STEMI at four time points (admission, discharge, and 1 and 6 months after MI). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and protein-protein interaction (PPI) of the co-expression genes were determined using online analytical tools. The Cytoscape software was used to create modules and hub genes. RESULTS: The number of biological processes (BP), cellular components (CC) and molecular functions (MF) was 43, 22 and 24 at admission; 18, 19 and 11 at discharge; 30, 37 and 21 at 1 month after MI; and 12, 19 and 14 at 6 months after MI; respectively. There were 6 BP, 8 CC and 4 MF enriched at every time point. The co-expression genes were substantially enriched in 12, 5, 6 and 14 KEGG pathways at the four time points, respectively, but no KEGG pathway was found to be common in all time points. We identified 132 intersectional co-expression genes (90 positive and 42 negative) from the four time points and 17 BP, 13 CC, 11 MF and 7 KEGG pathways were enriched. In addition, the PPI network contained 129 nodes and 570 edges, and only 1 module was identified to be significantly enriched in just 1 BP (chromatin-mediated maintenance of transcription). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the ACE co-expression genes and their pathways involved in STEMI were significantly different at four different time points. These findings may be helpful for further understanding the functions and roles of ACE in different stages of STEMI, and providing reference for the treatment of STEMI.

Enantioselective [4 + 1] Annulation Reactions of α-Substituted Ammonium Ylides To Construct Spirocyclic Oxindoles.

Ammonium ylides have a long history in organic synthesis, but their application in asymmetric catalysis is still underdeveloped in regard to both substrate scope and reaction pathways compared with phosphorus and sulfur ylides. Here a previously unreported asymmetric [4 + 1] annulation reaction of 3-bromooxindoles and electron-deficient 1-azadienes has been developed through ammonium ylide catalysis of a newly designed 2'-methyl α-isocupreine (α-MeIC), efficiently delivering spirocyclic oxindole compounds incorporating a dihydropyrrole motif in excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first example of asymmetric catalysis of ammonium ylides bearing α-substitutions, and the catalytic [4 + 1] annulation pathway of ammonium ylides is also unprecedented. Moreover, (1)H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and computational calculation studies were conducted, and the catalytic cycle and a tentative explanation of the enantioselective mechanism have been successfully elucidated.

A meta-analysis of antibiotic residues in the Beibu Gulf.

Antibiotic residue stands as a significant ongoing environmental issue, with aquaculture being a major source of annual antibiotic discharge into the ocean. Nevertheless, there is still an incomplete evaluation of antibiotic residues in the Beibu Gulf, an area encompassed by two prominent aquaculture nations, China and Vietnam. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the presence antibiotic residues in the Beibu Gulf based on published studies. Data were obtained through eight databases up to December 19th, 2023, and were updated on April 15th, 2024. The pooled concentration of antibiotic residues in seawater was 5.90 (ng/L), ranging from 5.73 to 6.06 (ng/L), and was 8.03 (ng/g), ranging from 7.77 to 8.28 (ng/g) in sediments. Fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides were identified as the main antibiotics found in both seawater and sediment samples. The Beibu Gulf showed higher antibiotic levels in its western and northeastern areas. Additionally, the nearshore mangrove areas displayed the highest prevalence of antibiotic residues. It is strongly advised to conduct regular long-term monitoring of antibiotic residues in the Beibu Gulf. Collaborative surveys covering the entire Beibu Gulf involving China and Vietnam are recommended.

Platelet-derived growth factor subunit-B mediating the effect of dickkopf-1 on acute myocardial infarction risk: a two-step Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have indicated a potential connection between plasma levels of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and platelet-derived growth factor subunit-B (PDGF-B) with the development of atherosclerosis. However, the causal relationship between DKK1, PDGF-B, and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is yet to be established. To address this research gap, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) and mediation analyses to investigate the potential mediating role of PDGF-B in the association between DKK1 and AMI risk. Summary statistics for DKK1 (n = 3,301) and PDGF-B (n = 21,758) were obtained from the GWAS meta-analyses conducted by Sun et al. and Folkersen et al., respectively. Data on AMI cases (n = 3,927) and controls (n = 333,272) were retrieved from the UK Biobank study. Our findings revealed that genetic predisposition to DKK1 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.00208; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00056-1.00361; P = 0.0072) and PDGF-B (OR: 1.00358; 95% CI: 1.00136-1.00581; P = 0.0015) was associated with an increased risk of AMI. Additionally, genetic predisposition to DKK1 (OR: 1.38389; 95% CI: 1.07066-1.78875; P = 0.0131) was linked to higher PDGF-B levels. Furthermore, our MR mediation analysis revealed that PDGF-B partially mediated the association between DKK1 and AMI risk, with 55.8% of the effect of genetically predicted DKK1 being mediated through genetically predicted PDGF-B. These findings suggest that genetic predisposition to DKK1 is positively correlated with the risk of AMI, and that PDGF-B partially mediates this association. Therefore, DKK1 and PDGF-B may serve as promising targets for the prevention and treatment of AMI.

Discovery of new tricyclic spiroindole derivatives as potent P-glycoprotein inhibitors for reversing multidrug resistance enabled by a synthetic methodology-based library.

The discovery of novel and highly effective P-gp inhibitors is considered to be an effective strategy for overcoming tumor drug resistance. In this paper, a phenotypic screening via a self-constructed synthetic methodology-based library identified a new class of tricyclic spiroindole derivatives with excellent tumor multidrug resistance reversal activity. A stereospecific compound OY-103-B with the best reversal activity was obtained based on a detailed structure-activity relationship study, metabolic stability optimization and chiral resolution. For the VCR-resistant Eca109 cell line (Eca109/VCR), co-administration of 5.0 µM OY-103-B resulted in a reversal fold of up to 727.2, superior to the typical third-generation P-gp inhibitor tariquidar. Moreover, the compound inhibited the proliferation of Eca109/VCR cells in a concentration-dependent manner in plate cloning and flow cytometry. Furthermore, fluorescence substrate accumulation assay and chemotherapeutic drug reversal activity tests demonstrated that OY-103-B reversed tumor drug resistance via P-gp inhibition. In conclusion, this study provides a novel skeleton that inspires the design of new P-gp inhibitors, laying the foundation for the treatment of drug-resistant tumors.