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There is now biochemical and genetic evidence that oxidative cleavage of cis-epoxycarotenoids by 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is the critical step in the regulation of abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis in higher plants. To understand the expression characteristics of NCED during ABA biosynthesis in apple (Malus), two NCED genes cDNA sequence were cloned from Malus prunifolia using RT-PCR techniques, named MpNCED1 and MpNCED2. The two cDNA sequences have full-length open reading frame, encoding a polypeptide of 607 and 614 amino acids, respectively. Sequences analysis showed that the deduced two apple NCED proteins were highly homologous to other NCED proteins from different plant species. Real-time PCR analysis revealed MpNCED2 were expressed continuously during the whole period of apple fruit development with the pattern of "higher-low-highest", while the expression of MpNCED1 clearly declined to a steady low level in the mid-later period of fruit development. Expression of the MpNCED2 increased under the drought stress, high temperature and low temperature strongly and rapidly, whereas expression of the MpNCED1 was detected in response to temperature stress, but did not detected under drought stress. These results revealed that MpNCED1 and MpNCED2 may play different roles in regulation of the ABA biosynthesis in fruit development and various stresses response.

Background: Sanguinarine chloride (S.C) is a benzophenanthrine alkaloid derived from the root of sanguinaria canadensis and other poppy-fumaria species. Studies have reported that S.C exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, and growth inhibitory effects, which contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Recent studies suggested that the antitumor effect of S.C through inducing ferroptosis in some cancers. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism underlying the regulation of ferroptosis by S.C remains poorly understood. Methods: A small molecule library was constructed based on FDA and CFDA approved small molecular drugs. CCK-8 assay was applied to evaluate the effects of the small molecule compound on tumor cell viability. Prostate cancer cells were treated with S.C and then the cell viability and migration ability were assessed using CCK8, colony formation and wound healing assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron accumulation were quantified through flow cytometry analysis. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total glutathione (GSH) were measured using commercially available kits. RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among the treatment groups. Western blotting and qPCR were utilized to investigate the expression of relevant proteins and genes. In vivo experiments employed a xenograft mice model to evaluate the anti-cancer efficacy of S.C. Results: Our study demonstrated that S.C effectively inhibited the viability of various prostate cancer cells. Notably, S.C exhibited the ability to enhance the cytotoxicity of docetaxel in DU145 cells. We found that S.C-induced cell death partially relied on the induction of ferroptosis, which was mediated through up-regulation of HMOX1 protein. Additionally, our investigation revealed that S.C treatment decreased the stability of BACH1 protein, which contributed to HMOX1expression. We further identified that S.C-induced ROS caused BACH1 instability by suppressing USP47expression. Moreover, In DU145 xenograft model, we found S.C significantly inhibited prostate cancer growth, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that S.C could induce regulated cell death (RCD) in prostate cancer cells and effectively inhibit tumor growth via triggering ferroptosis. This study provides evidence that S.C effectively suppresses tumor progression and induces ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells by targeting ROS/USP47/BACH1/HMOX1 axis. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that S.C effectively suppresses tumor progression and induces ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells by targeting the ROS/USP47/BACH1/HMOX1 axis. These findings offer novel insights into the underlying mechanism by which S.C inhibits the progression of prostate cancer. Furthermore, leveraging the potential of S.C in targeting ferroptosis may present a new therapeutic opportunity for prostate cancer. This study found that S.C induces ferroptosis by targeting the ROS/USP47/BACH1/HMOX1 axis in prostate cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.), a key food security crop, is negatively impacted by heat, drought, and salinity stress. The orange‐fleshed sweetpotato cultivar "Beauregard" was exposed to heat, salt, and drought treatments for 24 and 48 h to identify genes responding to each stress condition in leaves. Analysis revealed both common (35 up regulated, 259 down regulated genes in the three stress conditions) and unique sets of up regulated (1337 genes by drought, 516 genes by heat, and 97 genes by salt stress) and down regulated (2445 genes by drought, 678 genes by heat, and 204 genes by salt stress) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) suggesting common, yet stress‐specific transcriptional responses to these three abiotic stressors. Gene Ontology analysis of down regulated DEGs common to both heat and salt stress revealed enrichment of terms associated with "cell population proliferation" suggestive of an impact on the cell cycle by the two stress conditions. To identify shared and unique gene co‐expression networks under multiple abiotic stress conditions, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was performed using gene expression profiles from heat, salt, and drought stress treated 'Beauregard' leaves yielding 18 co‐expression modules. One module was enriched for "response to water deprivation," "response to abscisic acid," and "nitrate transport" indicating synergetic crosstalk between nitrogen, water, and phytohormones with genes encoding osmotin, cell expansion, and cell wall modification proteins present as key hub genes in this drought‐associated module. This research lays the groundwork for exploring to a further degree, mechanisms for abiotic stress tolerance in sweetpotato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of most common cancers worldwide. Several studies have suggested that Rab31 functions as a membrane vesicle transport regulator; however, the mechanism by which RAB31 regulates exosome secretion and promotes metastasis remains to be clarified. Methods: We examined the expression of RAB31 protein and mRNA in GC tissue samples via immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. We elucidated the function of RAB31 in GC cells by constructing a cell model and a pulmonary metastatic model of GC with overexpression of RAB31. Protein mass spectrometry was used to identify the exosomal protein. Results: RAB31 expression increased at both the protein and mRNA levels with the development of GC. Cells overexpressing RAB31 showed an enhanced ability to migrate in both the in vitro cell model and the pulmonary metastatic model of GC. Exosome nanoparticle tracking analysis and electron microscopy revealed that the both the number and size of the exosomes secreted by GC cells were reduced when RAB31 expression was depleted. Injection of exosomes derived from RAB31 overexpressing cells promoted pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Analysis of the exosomal proteins revealed that PSMA1 was overexpressed in GC tissue in accordance with RAB31 expression. PSMA1 overexpression was highly associated with poor prognosis of GC patients. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a key role for RAB31 in GC metastasis through regulation of exosome secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Citrullus genus super-pangenome reveals extensive variations in wild and cultivated watermelons and sheds light on watermelon evolution and domestication However, the lack of genome sequences of these wild watermelon species has limited their utilization in watermelon breeding. Bitter or bland-tasting wild watermelons, such as I C. mucosospermus i , I C. amarus i and I C. colocynthis i , have been used in watermelon breeding to introduce disease resistance to modern cultivars (Levi I et al i ., [2]). Keywords: watermelon; super-pangenome; wild relatives; domestication; disease resistance EN watermelon super-pangenome wild relatives domestication disease resistance 1926 1928 3 09/20/23 20231001 NES 231001 Cultivated watermelon ( I Citrullus lanatus i subsp. I vulgaris i ) has a narrow genetic base due to domestication and breeding focusing primarily on fruit quality traits. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Rab37-mediated exocytosis of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), an inflammatory cytokine, under serum-depleted conditions which leads to suppression of lung cancer cell metastasis has been reported. Starvation is also a stimulus of autophagic activity. Herein, we reveal that starvation activates Rab37 and induces autophagy. Methods: We used an overexpression/knockdown system to determine the relationship between autophagy and Rab37 in vitro and in vivo. The autophagy activity was detected by immunoblotting, transmission electron microscope, autophagosome purification, and immunofluorescence under the confocal microscope. Lung-to-lung metastasis mouse model was used to clarify the role of autophagy and Rab37 in lung cancer. Clinical lung cancer patient specimens and an online big database were analyzed. Results: Initially, we demonstrated that active-form Rab37 increased LC3-II protein level (the marker of autophagosome) and TIMP1 secretion. Accordingly, silencing of Rab37 gene expression alleviated Rab37 and LC3-II levels as well as TIMP1 secretion, and induction of autophagy could not increase TIMP1 exocytosis under such conditions. Moreover, silencing the Atg5 or Atg7 gene of lung cancer cells harboring active-mutant Rab37 (Q89L) led to decreased autophagy activity and TIMP1 secretion. In the lung-to-lung metastasis mouse model, increased TIMP1 expression accompanied by amiodarone-induced autophagy led to decreased tumor nodules and cancer cell metastasis. These phenomena were reversed by silencing the Atg5 or Atg7 gene. Notably, increasing autophagy activity alone showed no effect on TIMP1 secretion under either Rab37 or Sec22b silencing conditions. We further detected colocalization of LC3 with either Rab37 or TIMP1, identified Rab37 and Sec22b proteins in the purified autophagosomes of the lung cancer cells harboring the active-form Rab37 gene, and confirmed that these proteins are involved in the secretion of TIMP1. We reveal that autophagic activity was significantly lower in the tumors compared to the non-tumor parts and was associated with the overall lung cancer patient survival rate. Conclusions: We are the first to report that autophagy plays a promoting role in TIMP1 secretion and metastasis in a Rab37-dependent manner in lung cancer cells and the lung-to-lung mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an important vegetable fruit crop, widely grown in many countries in the tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The narrow genetic base of cultivated watermelon makes it susceptible to many pests and diseases, especially viruses. However, genetic sources of resistance are available in wild relatives that could potentially be used to incorporate the resistance genes into watermelon cultivars. Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are prevalent in many plant species and are known to have an important role in defence against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The objective of this study was to identify RIP-like sequences in the watermelon genome and to conduct comparative measurement of RIP gene expression between the potyvirus-resistant Citrullus amarus 'PI 244019ʹ versus the susceptible watermelon (C. lanatus) 'Charleston Gray' in response to infection by papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). Taking advantage of the recently available genome sequences of 'PI 244019ʹ and 'Charleston Gray', in this study we mined out watermelon RIP genes and conducted comparative sequence and expression analyses of RIP-I and RIP-II between the genotypes. The RIP gene expression analysis revealed elevated RIP gene expression in resistant PI 244019 plants, but not in susceptible 'Charleston Gray' plants, in response to inoculation with PRSV, indicating a potential association of RIP gene expression and resistance to potyviruses in watermelon. This elevated expression of RIP genes in association with potyvirus resistance opens a new avenue to investigate the underlying mechanism of potyvirus resistance in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of interactions among intestinal helminths, gut microbiota and host is still in its infancy in fish. In this study, the effects of Schyzocotyle acheilognathi infection on the intestinal microbiota, growth and immune reactions of grass carp were explored under laboratory conditions. 16S rDNA amplification sequencing results showed that S. acheilognathi infection altered the composition of intestinal microbiota only at the genus level, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of Turicibacter and Ruminococcus (P < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Gordonia, Mycobacterium and Pseudocanthomonas (P < 0.05). Schyzocotyle acheilognathi infection had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the alpha diversity indices (including Chao1, ACE, Shannon, Simpson index) of intestinal microbiota in grass carp, but PERMANOVA analysis showed that microbial structure significantly (P < 0.01) differed between hindgut and foregut. PICRUST prediction showed that some metabolism-related pathways were significantly changed after S. acheilognathi infection. The relative abundance of Turicibacter was positively correlated with the fresh weight of tapeworm (foregut: r = 0.48, P = 0.044; hindgut: r = 0.63, P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the body condition of grass carp between the S. acheilognathi infected group and the uninfected group (P > 0.05). Intestinal tissue section with HE staining showed that S. acheilognathi infection severely damaged the intestinal villi, causing serious degeneration, necrosis and shedding of intestinal epithelial cells. The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR results showed that S. acheilognathi infection upregulated the mRNA expression of the immune-related genes: Gal1-L2, TGF-ß1 and IgM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Glioma is the most common and fatal primary brain tumor that has a high risk of recurrence in adults. Identification of predictive biomarkers is necessary to optimize therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the predictive efficacy of a previously identified radiosensitivity signature as well as Exportin 1 (XPO1) expression levels. Methods: A total of 1,552 patients diagnosed with glioma were analyzed using the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. The radiosensitive and radioresistant groups were identified based on a radiosensitivity signature. Patients were also stratified into XPO1-high and XPO1-low groups based on XPO1 mRNA expression levels. Overall survival rates were compared across patient groups. Differential gene expression was detected and analyzed through pathway enrichment and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). To predict 1-, 3-, and 5-years survival rates for glioma patients, a nomogram was established combining the radiosensitivity gene signature, XPO1 status, and clinical characteristics. An artificial intelligence clustering system and a survival prediction system of glioma were developed to predict individual risk. Results: This proposed classification based on a radiosensitivity gene signature and XPO1 expression levels provides an independent prognostic factor for glioma. The RR-XPO1-high group shows a poor prognosis and may benefit most from radiotherapy-combined anti-XPO1 treatment. The nomogram based on the radiosensitivity gene signature, XPO1 expression, and clinical characteristics performs more optimally compared to the WHO classification and IDH status in predicting survival rates for glioma patients. The online clustering and prediction systems make it accessible to predict risk and optimize treatment for a special patient. The cell cycle, p53, and focal adhesion pathways are associated with more invasive glioma cases. Conclusion: Combining the radiosensitivity signature and XPO1 expression is a favorable approach to predict outcomes as well as determine optimal therapeutic strategies for glioma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a classical hallucinogen, was used as a popular and notorious substance of abuse in various parts of the world. Its abuse could result in long-lasting abnormalities in retina and little is known about the exact mechanism. This study was to investigate the effect of LSD on macrophage activation state at non-toxic concentration and its resultant toxicity to photoreceptor cells. Results showed that cytotoxicity was caused by LSD on 661 W cells after co-culturing with RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with LSD-induced RAW264.7 cells to the M1 phenotype, releasing more pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the M1-related gene expression. Moreover, after co-culturing with RAW264.7 cells, significant oxidative stress in 661 W cells treated with LSD was observed, by increasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreasing the level of glutathione (GSH) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Our study demonstrated that LSD caused photoreceptor cell damage by inducing inflammatory response and resultant oxidative stress, providing the scientific rationale for the toxicity of LSD to retina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fulminant hepatitis is a severe liver disease characterized by massive hepatocyte necrosis and clinical signs of liver failure. This study explores the expression profile of microRNAs, which are regulators of a number of pathophysiological processes, during the early stage of concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis. Methods: Balb/c mice were given ConA injections to induce fulminant hepatitis. miRNA expression profiling in liver tissues was carried out by microarray analysis. The differentially expressed miRNAs were subjected to time sequence profile analysis, gene-miRNA regulatory network analysis, and gene ontology-miRNA regulatory network analysis. Results: Eleven miRNAs among multiClass were found to be significantly differentially expressed between liver tissue in early stage fulminant hepatitis and normal control liver tissue. Mmu-miR-133a was the most differentially expressed with the strongest regulatory ability, regulating 47 mRNAs. Mmu-miR-10a was the most highly expressed in the microRNA-GO-Network and also exerted a strong regulatory ability. The expression profiles of miR-133a and miR-10a were verified by RT-PCR. Conclusions: These results show that, in the early stage, ConA-induced fulminant hepatitis induces a distinct miRNA expression profile. This differential miRNA expression profile may provide pathogenic clues and potential diagnostic and prognostic markers in acute and severe liver disease. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major genes controlling the elongated fruit shape of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is SUN. In this study, we explored the roles of SUN in vegetative and reproductive development using near isogenic lines (NILs) that differ at the sun locus, and SUN overexpressors in both the wild species LA1589 (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and the cultivar Sun1642 background. Our results demonstrate that SUN controls tomato shape through redistribution of mass that is mediated by increased cell division in the longitudinal and decreased cell division in the transverse direction of the fruit. The expression of SUN is positively correlated with slender phenotypes in cotyledon, leaflet, and floral organs, an elongated ovary, and negatively correlated with seed weight. Overexpression of SUN leads to more extreme phenotypes than those shown in the NILs and include thinner leaf rachises and stems, twisted leaf rachises, increased serrations of the leaflets, and dramatically increased elongation at the proximal end of the ovary and fruit. In situ hybridizations of the NILs showed that SUN is expressed throughout the ovary and young fruit, particularly in the vascular tissues and placenta surface, and in the ovules and developing seed. The phenotypic effects resulting from high expression of SUN suggest that the gene is involved in several plant developmental processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although Bombyx mori systematic immunity is extensively studied, little is known about the silkworm''s intestine-specific responses to bacterial infection. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) gene expression analysis of B. mori intestinal tissue to oral infection with the Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and -negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria revealed that there is specificity in the interaction between host immune responses and parasite types. Neither Att1 nor Leb could be stimulated by S. aureus and E. coli. However, CecA1, Glo1, Glo2, Glo3, Glo4 and Lys, could only be trigged by S. aureus. On the contrary, E. coli stimulation caused the decrease in the expression of CecA1, Glo3 and Glo4 in some time points. Interestingly, there is regional specificity in the silkworm local gut immunity. During the immune response, the increase in Def, Hem and LLP3 was only detected in the foregut and midgut. For CecB1, CecD, LLP2 and Mor, after orally administered with E. coli, the up-regulation was only limited in the midgut and hindgut. CecE was the only AMP that positively responses to the both bacteria in all the testing situations. With development, the expression levels of the AMPs were also changed dramatically. That is, at spinning and prepupa stages, a large increase in the expression of CecA1, CecB1, CecD, CecE, Glo1, Glo2, Glo3, Glo4, Leb, Def, Hem, Mor and Lys was detected in the gut. Unexpectedly, in addition to the IMD pathway genes, the Toll and JAK/STAT pathway genes in the silkworm gut can also be activated by microbial oral infection. But in the developmental course, corresponding to the increase in expression of AMPs at spinning and prepupa stages, only the Toll pathway genes in the gut exhibit the similar increasing trend. Our results imply that the immune responses in the silkworm gut are synergistically regulated by the Toll, JAK/STAT and IMD pathways. However, as the time for approaching pupation, the Toll pathway may play a role in the AMPs expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Toll family of transmembrane proteins mediates signaling during the innate immune response in most animals. Toll9 is widespread in insects and has a unique signature, QHR, in its Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain. The introns in the TIR region are highly conserved among insects, suggesting the antiquity of Toll9 genes. Toll9 of Bombyx mori (BmToll9) was analysed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. BmToll9 is constitutively expressed in egg, larval and adult stages prior to microbial challenge. BmToll9 is strongly expressed in the different parts of the gut, but weakly expressed in haemocytes, trachea, fat body, malpighian tubule and epidermis, and scarcely expressed in the silk glands. The injection of sterilized 0.85% NaCl solution inhibited BmToll9 expression in most tissues especially during the early responses. Staphylococcus aureus had no or limited effect on the expression of BmToll9 in the silkworm gut and fat body. But in epidermis, trachea, malpighian tubules and haemocytes, the expression of BmToll9 was significantly increased after S. aureus challenge. Infection of Escherichia coli significantly increased the BmToll9 expression in different parts of the gut as well as in epidermis, malpighian tubule and haemocytes. At 48h after feeding of the fungus, Beauveria bassiana, BmToll9 expression was significantly increased. Tissues responses to the injected and ingested bacteria showed that BmToll9 is probably involved in the local gut immune response in the silkworm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Peak bone mass (PBM) is an important determinant of osteoporosis. Circulating monocytes serve as early progenitors of osteoclasts and produce important molecules for bone metabolism. To search for genes functionally important for PBM variation, we performed a whole genome gene differential expression study of circulating monocytes in human premenopausal subjects with extremely low (N =12) vs. high (N =14) PBM. We used Affymetrix HG-U133 plus2.0 GeneChip® arrays. We identified 70 differential expression probe sets (p <0.01) corresponding to 49 unique genes. After false discovery rate adjustment, three genes [STAT1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; GBP1, guanylate binding protein 1; CXCL10, Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10] expressed significantly differentially (p <0.05). The RT-PCR results independently confirmed the significantly differential expression of GBP1 gene, and the differential expression trend of STAT1. Functional analyses suggested that the three genes are associated with the osteoclastogenic processes of proliferation, migration, differentiation, migration, chemotaxis, adhesion. Therefore, we may tentatively hypothesize that the three genes may potentially contribute to differential osteoclastogenesis, which may in the end lead to differential PBM. Our results indicate that the GBP1, STAT1 and CXCL10 may be novel risk genes for the differentiation of PBM at the monocyte stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. According to both TCM theory and more than a decade of clinical practice, JP has been testified to be effective for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment as an approved hospital prescription in China. To determine the effect of JP on the treatment of SLE by glucocorticoid (GC) and to further examine the molecular mechanisms. We conducted in vivo experiments to estimate the effect of JP on hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice treated with GC. Additionally, isoproterenol (ISO) induced hepatic gluconeogenesis model and GC-treated MRL/lpr mouse hepatocytes were carried out in vitro experiments to verify the effect of JP on gluconeogenesis. The results showed that JP combined with GC could effectively alleviate the lupus symptoms in MRL/lpr mice and improve the pathological changes of the kidney and liver. And the combination of JP reduced the side effects caused by GC, which was related to the inhibition of GC-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice. Specifically, JP up-regulated the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt restrained by GC to reduce the production of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and the gluconeogenic genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). In viv o, the use of JP either alone or with GC could reduce spleen enlargement, high levels of serum antibodies, aggravated urine protein and renal pathological damage in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, the glucose content was reduced in the liver of MRL/lpr mice treated with JP, and the liver damage and steatosis were also alleviated. In vitro , the expressions of PI3K and Akt increased and the expressions of FoxO1, PGC-1α, PEPCK and G6Pase decreased after JP treatment in ISO-treated hepatocytes. Compared with MRL/MP mice, we found that JP could significantly inhibit the expression of gluconeogenesis in the hepatocytes of MRL/lpr mice induced by GC to a greater extent. The therapeutic effect of JP on GC-induced is likely related to hepatic gluconeogenesis, which provides a new perspective to reveal the positive role of JP in SLE. [Display omitted] • JP inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice induced by GC. • JP inhibits ISO-induced gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes. • JP inhibits GC-induced gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes of MRL/lpr mice. • JP reduces the glucose metabolism disorders in GC-treated MRL/lpr mice. • JP regulates the PI3K/Akt/PGC-1α pathway in GC-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One obstacle to effective gene therapies for neurological disorders lies in the cell-type diversity of the nervous system, making it difficult to direct gene delivery vectors to specific types of cells. To meet this challenge, we have developed a recombinant peptide-based gene delivery vector that targets nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors. The peptide comprises a cell-targeting domain derived from the NGF hairpin motif containing loops 1 and 2 linked to a DNA-binding domain composed of SPKR repeats. In PC12 cells, it activated the high-affinity NGF receptor, TrkA, and displayed NGF-like bioactivity by promoting neurite outgrowth and cell survival after serum deprivation. When combined with a low molecular weight of polyethylenimine (PEI), the peptide condensed plasmid DNA into nanoparticles that efficiently transferred exogenous genes into PC12 cells, enhancing reporter gene expression 5600-fold over peptide-free DNA/PEI complexes. Co-incubation with free NGF inhibited this effect. Furthermore, the peptide enhanced gene expression in NGF-receptor-rich rat primary cortex neurons but not glial cells. An in vivo experiment targeting TrkA-expressing dorsal root ganglia demonstrated that the peptide-containing complexes were 9- to 14-fold more efficient in transfection than controls. These properties make the chimeric peptide a promising gene delivery vector for targeting specific subtypes of neurons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia (SCZ) remain unclear, and the effective treatment resources are still limited. The goal of this study is to identify the expression of AQP4 in SCZ patients and explore whether AQP4 inhibition could ameliorate schizophrenia-like behaviors and its mechanisms. Microarray datasets of PFC compared with healthy control were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed with the GEO2R online tool. The Venny online tool and metascape online software were used to identify common abnormally expressed genes and conduct cell type signature enrichment analysis. SCZ mouse models were induced with MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist (intraperitoneal injection, 0.1 mg/kg/day for 7 days), and C6 cell models were treated with 100 μM MK-801. RT-qPCR, Western Blotting, and immunofluorescence were employed to determine the expression of AQP4, proinflammatory cytokines, and GFAP. Open field tests and social interaction tests were performed to evaluate the schizophrenia-like behaviors. Bioinformatics analysis identified upregulation of AQP4 in the PFC of SCZ patients compared with healthy controls. Cell type signature enrichment analysis showed that all three DEGs lists were strongly enriched in the FAN EMBRYONIC CTX ASTROCYTE 2 category. Upregulation of AQP4 was also observed in MK-801-treated C6 cells and the PFC of MK-801-induced SCZ mouse model. Moreover, AQP4 inhibition with TGN-020 (an inhibitor of AQP4) improved anxiety-like behavior and social novelty preference defects in MK-801-treated mice. AQP4 inhibition also reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in MK-801-treated C6 cells and mouse model. AQP4 is upregulated in the PFC of SCZ patients compared with healthy controls. AQP4 inhibition could alleviate the anxiety-like behavior and social novelty defects in MK-801-treated mice, this may be due to the role of AQP4 in the regulation of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: RAS oncoproteins are considered undruggable cancer targets. Nearly 15% of cases of bladder cancer have a mutation of HRAS. The active HRAS contributes to the tumor progression and the risk of recurrence. Using our novel gene expression screening platform, pterostilbene was identified to sensitize cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells with HRAS alterations via RAS-related autophagy and cell senescence pathways, suggesting a potentially chemotherapeutic role of pterostilbene for cisplatin treatment of human bladder cancer with oncogenic HRAS. Pterostilbene is a safe and readily available food ingredient in edible plants worldwide. Exploiting the principle of combination therapy on pterostilbene-enhanced biosensitivity to identify undruggable molecular targets for cancer therapy may have a great possibility to overcome the cisplatin resistance of bladder cancer. Our data make HRAS a good candidate for modulation by pterostilbene for targeted cancer therapy in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin plus gemcitabine. Analysis of various public databases revealed that HRAS gene mutation frequency and mRNA expression are higher in bladder urothelial carcinoma. Further analysis revealed the roles of oncogenic HRAS, autophagy, and cell senescence signaling in bladder cancer cells sensitized to the anticancer drug cisplatin using the phytochemical pterostilbene. A T24 cell line with the oncogenic HRAS was chosen for further experiments. Indeed, coadministration of pterostilbene increased stronger cytotoxicity on T24 cells compared to HRAS wild-type E7 cells, which was paralleled by neither elevated apoptosis nor induced cell cycle arrest, but rather a marked elevation of autophagy and cell senescence in T24 cells. Pterostilbene-induced autophagy in T24 cells was paralleled by inhibition of class I PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K as well as activation of MEK/ERK (a RAS target) and class III PI3K pathways. Pterostilbene-induced cell senescence on T24 cells was paralleled by increased pan-RAS and decreased phospho-RB expression. Coadministration of PI3K class III inhibitor 3-methyladenine or MEK inhibitor U0126 suppressed pterostilbene-induced autophagy and reversed pterostilbene-enhanced cytotoxicity, but did not affect pterostilbene-elevated cell senescence in T24 cells. Animal study data confirmed that pterostilbene enhanced cytotoxicity of cisplatin plus gemcitabine. These results suggest a therapeutic application of pterostilbene in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer with oncogenic HRAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isopoda is a highly diverse order of crustaceans with more than 10,300 species, many of which are parasitic. Taxonomy and phylogeny within the order, especially those of the suborder Cymothoida Wägele, 1989, are still debated. Mitochondrial (mt) genomes are a useful tool for phylogenetic studies, but their availability for isopods is very limited. To explore these phylogenetic controversies on the mt genomic level and study the mt genome evolution in Isopoda, we sequenced mt genomes of two parasitic isopods, Tachaea chinensis Thielemann, 1910 and Ichthyoxenos japonensis Richardson, 1913, belonging to the suborder Cymothoida, and conducted comparative and phylogenetic mt genomic analyses across Isopoda. Results: The complete mt genomes of T. chinensis and I. japonensis were 14,616 bp and 15,440 bp in size, respectively, with the A+T content higher than in other isopods (72.7 and 72.8%, respectively). Both genomes code for 13 protein-coding genes, 21 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and possess a control region (CR). Both are missing a gene from the complete tRNA set: T. chinensis lacks trnS1 and I. japonensis lacks trnI. Both possess unique gene orders among isopods. Within the CR of I. japonensis (284 bp), we identified a repetitive region with four tandem repeats. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated nucleotide sequences of 13 protein-coding genes showed that the two parasitic cymothoids clustered together and formed a basal clade within Isopoda. However, another parasitic cymothoid, Gyge ovalis Shiino, 1939, formed a sister group with the suborder Limnoriidea Brandt & Poore in Poore, 2002, whereas two free-living cymothoid species were located in the derived part of the phylogram: Bathynomus sp. formed a sister group with the suborder Sphaeromatidea Wägele, 1989, and Eurydice pulchra Leach, 1815 with a clade including Bathynomus sp., Sphaeromatidea and Valvifera G. O. Sars, 1883. Conclusions: Our results did not recover the suborders Cymothoida and Oniscidea Latreille, 1802 as monophyletic, with parasitic and free-living cymothoidans forming separate clades. Furthermore, two parasitic cymothoidans formed the sister-clade to all other isopods, separated from Epicaridea Latreille, 1825, which challenges currently prevalent isopod phylogeny. Additional mt genomes of parasitic and free-living isopods might confer a sufficient phylogenetic resolution to enable us to resolve their relationships, and ultimately allow us to better understand the evolutionary history of the entire isopod order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]