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Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of leukemias with an overall poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified to play important regulatory roles in AML progression. However, the role and molecular mechanism of circ_0009910 in AML development have not be completely clarified. Methods: The expression levels of circ_0009910, microRNA‐491‐5p (miR‐491‐5p), and β‐1, 4‐galactosyltransferase 5 (B4GALT5) were measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) or Western blot. Cell proliferation and self‐renewal ability were assessed via Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) and sphere formation assay. Cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Caspase‐3 activity was tested by Caspase‐3 Activity Assay Kit. Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of autophagy‐related markers and PI3K/AKT pathway‐related markers. The interaction between miR‐491‐5p and circ_0009910 or B4GALT5 was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, or RNA pull‐down assay. Results: Circ_0009910 was highly expressed in AML tissues and cells. Silenced circ_0009910 could significantly inhibit the proliferation, sphere formation, and autophagy and promoted the apoptosis of AML cells. Circ_0009910 bound to miR‐491‐5p in AML cells, and circ_0009910 promoted AML progression partly through sponging miR‐491‐5p in vitro. B4GALT5 was a target of miR‐491‐5p, and miR‐491‐5p overexpression‐mediated influences in AML cells were effectually overturned by the addition of B4GALT5 overexpression plasmid. Furthermore, circ_0009910 could regulate the expression of B4GALT5 by downregulating miR‐491‐5p in AML cells. Additionally, circ_0009910 could activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by sponging miR‐491‐5p. Conclusion: Circ_0009910 could suppress the proliferation, sphere formation, and autophagy and accelerated apoptosis by modulating B4GALT5 expression and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via sponging miR‐491‐5p in AML cells, suggesting that circ_0009910 might be a potential biomarker for the treatment of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The neuroprotective effect of ceria nanoparticles in the context of brain disorders has been explained by their antioxidant effect. However, the in‐depth mechanism remains unknown. As resident immune cells in the brain, microglia exert a variety of functional reprogramming termed as polarization in response to stress stimuli. Herein, custom‐made ceria nanoparticles were developed and found to scavenge multiple reactive oxygen species with extremely high efficiency. These nanoparticles drove microglial polarization from a pro‐inflammatory phenotype to an anti‐inflammatory phenotype under pathological conditions. Pretreatment of these nanoparticles changed the microglial function from detrimental to protective for the neuronal cells by blocking the pro‐inflammatory signaling. This work not only helps to elucidate the mechanism of ceria‐nanoparticle‐mediated neuroprotection but also provides a new strategy to rebalance the immuno‐environment by switching the equilibrium of the phenotypic activation of microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) has been extensively studied, the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. As a result, the treatment options remain unsatisfactory and nonspecific. With the rapid advancement of diagnostic imaging techniques, imaging modalities such as computed tomography ( CT) and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) are playing a more important role in IBD diagnosis and evaluation. Recent developments in nanotechnology utilize an interdisciplinary approach to specifically target molecular or cellular IBD pathological process thereby generating nanoparticles ( NPs) with high specificity and diagnostic and/or therapeutic efficacy. Nano-based imaging, which incorporates nanotechnology and imaging modalities, may allow for the early detection of IBD, the monitoring of disease activity, and may be used to monitor the therapeutic response at cellular and/or molecular level. In this review, we highlight issues related to nano-based imaging and its application in IBD field. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:300-315. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1357 For further resources related to this article, please visit the . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]