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Objective To examine the accuracy of computer-aided intraoperative navigation (Ci-Navi) in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery by comparing preoperative planning and postoperative outcome. Methods The study comprised 45 patients with congenital dentomaxillofacial deformities who were scheduled to undergo bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Virtual bimaxillary orthognathic surgery was simulated using Mimics software. Intraoperatively, a Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla was performed using osteotomy guide plates. After the Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy of the mandible, the mobilized maxilla and the distal mandibular segment were fixed using an occlusal splint, forming the maxillomandibular complex (MMC). Realtime Ci-Navi was used to lead the MMC in the designated direction. Osteoplasty of the inferior border of the mandible was performed using Ci-Navi when facial symmetry and skeletal harmony were of concern. Linear and angular distinctions between preoperative planning and postoperative outcomes were calculated. Results The mean linear difference was 0.79 mm (maxilla: 0.62 mm, mandible: 0.88 mm) and the overall mean angular difference was 1.20°. The observed difference in the upper incisor point to the Frankfort horizontal plane, midfacial sagittal plane, and coronal plane was < 1 mm in 40 cases. Conclusions This study demonstrates the role of Ci-Navi in the accurate positioning of bone segments during bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Ci-Navi was found to be a reliable method for the accurate transfer of the surgical plan during an operation.

Completely digital design/completely digital manufacturing (CDD/CDM) workflows have been widely used in orthodontic and orthognathic treatments. This case report introduces a CDD/CDM workflow consisting of clear aligners and virtual planning for a surgery-first approach (SFA) in a patient with a skeletal Class III malocclusion. Following a shortened treatment time of 5 months, the patient's facial appearance improved significantly, and well-balanced occlusion was obtained. SFAs with clear aligners can enable patients to achieve complete esthetic satisfaction during the therapeutic period. The CDD/CDM workflow provided accurate results, improved the clinical outcome, and reduced treatment time.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dental calcification stage (DCS) of the mandibular teeth and the cervical vertebral maturation stage (CVMS) in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP). One hundred sixty-two UCLP patients (100 males and 62 females) between 8–16 years old were included in this study. The DCS was estimated by the Demirjian method and was converted to the dental age (DA). The CVMS was evaluated by the Baccetti method. The DA of mandibular teeth on two sides of the cleft were analyzed using a t-test. Spearman correlation was used to study the association between CVMS and DCS. The correlation coefficient between the two sides of the cleft was then compared. The total DA was significantly smaller on the cleft side than on the noncleft side in males (p = 0.022). The Spearman rank correlation coefficient revealed a significant correlation between the DCS of each examined tooth and the CVMS (r = 0.627–0.793 in males and r = 0.806–0.899 in females). Additionally, the correlation of the two sides was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The DCS of the first premolar showed the strongest correlation with the CVMS. The results confirm the utility of the DCS on both sides of the mandible in male UCLP patients as a simple first-level diagnostic test to evaluate growth and development. The findings also indicate that both the DCS and the CVMS should be assessed if the maturity stage of a growing UCLP patient is relevant to clinical practice.

The abnormal proliferation and apoptosis of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) serves a crucial role in the development of periodontitis. Oroxylin A has shown protective effects in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of oroxylin A on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated hPDLSCs. In the present study, cells were exposed to different concentrations (10, 20, 40 uM) of oroxylin A for 24 h or 48 h, co-treated with LPS. The cell proliferation capacity was assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The Ki67 expression was measured using immunofluorescence and NO production was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Western blot analyses were used to investigate the level of cell proliferation related proteins (PCNA, CDK2 and p21) as well as NF-κB, I-κBα and downstream molecules iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α. The results demonstrated that oroxylin A increased cell survival of LPS treated hPDLSCs in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In addition, oroxylin A treatment inhibited cell apoptosis in hPDLSCs. Furthermore, the levels of NO, NF-κB, iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced. And the expression of Ki67, I-κBα, PCNA and CDK2 were significantly increased. Taken together, these findings indicate that oroxylin A promote proliferation and suppress apoptosis in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Oroxylin A may affects LPS induced biological activity via inhibiting NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokines expression in hPDLSCs.

The ZRT, IRT-like protein (ZIP) family exists in many species and plays an important role in many biological processes, but little is known about ZIP genes in Aspergillus oryzae. Here, 10 ZIP genes in A. oryzae were identified and these were classified into four groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The structures of these AoZip genes were determined, which indicated a great divergence of AoZip members from different groups. Synteny analysis revealed that AoZip7, AoZip8, and AoZip10 are conserved among Aspergillus species. We also found that the promoter regions of AoZip2, AoZip7, AoZip8, and AoZip10 contain multiple conserved response elements. Expression analysis revealed that AoZips exhibited different expression patterns in response to different metal treatments. Moreover, overexpression and RNA-interference (RNAi) of AoZip2 led to a decrease in mycelium growth diameter and inhibited conidia formation. AoZip2 overexpression and RNAi strains showed distinct sensitivity to severely Zn/Mn-depleted stress. In addition, kojic acid production was markedly lower in AoZip2 overexpression and RNAi strains than in the control strains, and the expression of kojA, kojR, and kojT was down-regulated in AoZip2 overexpression and RNAi strains. This study provides new insights into our understanding of ZIP genes and lays a foundation for further investigation of their roles in Aspergillus oryzae.

Dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs), which are the stem cells present in the dental follicle tissue of the tooth germ and are derived from the neural crest, are direct precursor cells of periodontal tissues and can form the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone proper in the late stage of tooth development. DFSCs have the ability to achieve osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, neural, and cardiomyocytic differentiation in a specific induced environment. Recently, isolated dental follicle epithelial stem cells from DFSCs were also found to have the ability to form salivary gland cells and ductal cells. In recent years, DFSCs have also been reported to play an active role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases in animal models. Therefore, DFSCs could not only be used as a good seed source for tissue regeneration but also provide new treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases. The study of DFSCs in tissue regeneration and immunoregulation has developed from in vitro experiments to animal experiments. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of DFSCs in tissue regeneration and immunomodulation. We expect DFSCs to be considered for stem cell-based therapies in the future.

Salt stress can trigger several physiological responses in microorganisms such as the increasing accumulation of unsaturated fatty acid, which was biosynthesized by delta-9 fatty acid desaturases (D9D) at the first step. In the present study, two D9D genes, designated AoD9D1 and AoD9D2, were isolated from Aspergillus oryzae. The expression analysis showed that AoD9D1 and AoD9D2 were upregulated under salt stress. To investigate the function of AoD9D, transgenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that heterologously expressed AoD9D were exposed to salinity condition. These transgenic strains exhibited greater tolerance to salt stress than wild-type strains, and the heterologous expression of AoD9D increased the content in unsaturated fatty acids as compared to control cells. Moreover, AoD9D1 and AoD9D2 both contained fatty acid desaturase (FAD) and cytochrome b5-like Heme/Steroid-binding domains (Cyt-b5). S. cerevisiae separately transformed with the gene fragments coding for the FAD and Cyt-b5 domains in the AoD9D1 protein grew better and accumulated a higher concentration of unsaturated FAs than the control. Altogether, the heterologous expression of AoD9D enhanced the tolerance of transgenic S. cerevisiae to high salinity stress with increased accumulation of unsaturated fatty acid. The results provide some practical basis for the successful development of salt-tolerant fermentation microorganisms.

Accurate application of the preoperative surgical plan in actual surgical settings is of paramount importance in orthognathic surgery. This randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the accuracy of computer-aided intraoperative navigation (Ci-Navi) compared with that of conventional navigation methods in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Fifty-two patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A (n = 26) patients underwent surgery assisted with Ci-Navi and group B (n = 26) patients underwent surgery assisted with conventional intraoperative navigation methods. During the operation, after LeFort I osteotomy, the mobile maxilla was repositioned to the designated position either using assistance from real-time Ci-Navi (group A) or using an intermediate splint (group B). Intra- and intergroup linear and angular differences between preoperative planning and postoperative outcomes were calculated. In group A, the overall mean linear difference was 0.79 mm (0.62 mm for the maxilla and 0.88 mm for the mandible) and the overall mean angular difference was 1.20°. In 23 cases, the difference from the upper incisor point to the Frankfort horizontal plane, midfacial sagittal plane, and coronal plane was less than 1 mm. In group B, the overall mean linear difference was 1.98 mm (1.76 mm for the maxilla and 2.02 mm for the mandible) and the overall mean angular difference was 2.08°. The difference from the upper incisor point to the Frankfort horizontal plane, midfacial sagittal plane, and coronal plane was less than 1 mm in 15 cases. This study demonstrates the utility of Ci-Navi is superior to the conventional methods in aiding the accurate repositioning of bony segments in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.

Background Tumor metastasis seriously affects the therapeutic effect and prognosis of cancer patients. Here, we studied the role of has_circ_0000378 (circ-LRP6) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis to explore new ideas and schemes for clinical treatment. Methods The expressions of circ-LRP6 in OSCC and normal tissues from matched controls were measured by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factors, P62 and LC3B, were determined by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) assay. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of circ-LRP6 downregulation on migration, invasion, and autophagy using CCK8, transwell assays, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunofluorescence (IF) assay. Results The expression of circ-LRP6 in OSCC tissues was high. Downregulation of circ-LRP6 reduced the EMT process of SCC-15 cells, as evidenced by increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin and Zeb1 levels. Downregulation of circ-LRP6 also decreased autophagy as shown by increased levels of P62 and decreased LC3B in SCC-15 cells. Autophagy revulsant rapamycin (RAPA) rescued the inhibitory effect of circ-LRP6 on LC3B, vimentin, and Zeb1. Conclusions circ-LRP6 promoted EMT and autophagy of OSCC and increased autophagy could rescue EMT in OSCC cells inhibited by circ-LRP6 siRNA.

Additional file 1: Table S1. Sequence IDs of GATA TFs used to construct the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree.

Additional file 3: Table S3. Detailed information regarding the proteins in the PPI network.

Filamentous fungi possess the capacity to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities and structures, such as lovastatin and swainsonine. With the advent of the post-genomic era, increasing amounts of cryptic or uncharacterized secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters are continually being discovered. However, owing to the longstanding lack of versatile, comparatively simple, and highly efficient genetic manipulation techniques, the broader exploration of industrially important secondary metabolites has been hampered thus far. With the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology, this dilemma may be alleviated, as this advanced technique has revolutionized genetic research and enabled the exploitation and discovery of new bioactive compounds from filamentous fungi. In this review, we introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 system in detail and summarize the latest applications of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in filamentous fungi. We also briefly introduce the specific applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and CRISPRa in the improvement of secondary metabolite contents and discovery of novel biologically active compounds in filamentous fungi, with specific examples noted. Additionally, we highlight and discuss some of the challenges and deficiencies of using the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology in research on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites as well as future application of CRISPR/Cas9 strategy in filamentous fungi are highlighted and discussed.

GATA transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of growth processes and various environmental stresses. Although GATA TFs involved in abiotic stress in plants and some fungi have been analyzed, information regarding GATA TFs in Aspergillusoryzae is extremely poor. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized seven GATA proteins from A.oryzae 3.042 genome, including a novel AoSnf5 GATA TF with 20-residue between the Cys-X2-Cys motifs which was found in Aspergillus GATA TFs for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these seven A. oryzae GATA TFs could be classified into six subgroups. Analysis of conserved motifs demonstrated that Aspergillus GATA TFs with similar motif compositions clustered in one subgroup, suggesting that they might possess similar genetic functions, further confirming the accuracy of the phylogenetic relationship. Furthermore, the expression patterns of seven A.oryzae GATA TFs under temperature and salt stresses indicated that A. oryzae GATA TFs were mainly responsive to high temperature and high salt stress. The protein–protein interaction network of A.oryzae GATA TFs revealed certain potentially interacting proteins. The comprehensive analysis of A. oryzae GATA TFs will be beneficial for understanding their biological function and evolutionary features and provide an important starting point to further understand the role of GATA TFs in the regulation of distinct environmental conditions in A.oryzae.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare but serious adverse drug effect. There are multiple hypotheses to explain the development of MRONJ. Reduced bone remodeling and infection or inflammation are considered central to the pathogenesis of MRONJ. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that bisphosphonates (BPs)-mediated immunity dysfunction is associated with the pathophysiology of MRONJ. In a healthy state, mucosal immunity provides the first line of protection against pathogens and oral mucosal immune cells defense against potentially invading pathogens by mediating the generation of protective immunoinflammatory responses. In addition, the immune system takes part in the process of bone remodeling and tissue repair. However, the treatment of BPs disturbs the mucosal and osteo immune homeostasis and thus impairs the body's ability to resist infection and repair from injury, thereby adding to the development of MRONJ. Here, we present the current knowledge about immunity dysfunction to shed light on the role of local immune disorder in the development of MRONJ.

Background GATA transcription factors (TFs) are transcriptional regulatory proteins that contain a characteristic type-IV zinc finger and recognize the conserved GATA motif in the promoter region. Previous studies demonstrate that GATA TFs are involved in the regulation of diverse growth processes and various environmental stimuli stresses. Although the analysis of GATA TFs involved in abiotic stress have been performed in model plants and some fungi, information regarding GATA TFs in A. oryzae is extremely poor. Results Therefore, we identified seven GATA TFs from A. oryzae 3.042 genome, and named AoAreA, AoAreB, AoLreA, AoLreB, AoNsdD, AoSreA in correspondence to fungal orthologs, including a novel AoSnf5 with 20-residue between the Cys-X2-Cys motifs which was found in Aspergillus for the first time. Six known A. oryzae GATA TFs were classified into six subgroups, while the novel AoSnf5 also clustered into NSDD subgroups together with AoNsdD in the NJ_tree of all Aspergillus GATA TFs. Conserved motifs demonstrated that GATA TFs with similar motif compositions clustered into one subgroup, which suggests they might have similar genetic functions and further confirms the accuracy of the phylogenetic relationship of Aspergillus GATA TFs. The expression patterns of seven A. oryzae GATA TFs exhibited diversity under temperature and salt stresses. The expression analyses of AoLreA and AoLreB demonstrates AoLreA mainly played role in salt stress and AoLreB did under temperature stress. AoSreA was shown to positively regulate the expression of AoCreA and might act as a negative regulator in temperature and high salt stress response. In addition, the AoNsdD, AoSnf5, AoAreB, and AoAreA strongly responsed to salt stresses, while AoAreB and AoAreA showed opposite expression trends at high temperature. Overall, the expression patterns of these A. oryzae GATA TFs under distinct environmental conditions provided useful information for the further analysis of GATA TFs in regulation of various abiotic stress in A. oryzae. Conclusion In conclusion, the comprehensive analysis data of A. oryzae GATA TFs will provide insights into the critical role of A. oryzae GATA TFs in resistance to temperature and salt stresses in A. oryzae.

Glycerol dehydrogenase has been identified and characterized functionally in many species. However, little is known about glycerol dehydrogenase genes and their functions in Aspergillus oryzae. Here, a total of 45 glycerol dehydrogenase genes in Aspergillus oryzae were identified and renamed from AoGld1 to AoGld45 according to their chromosome distribution. They were classified into three groups based on phylogenetic analysis. Synteny analysis revealed that thirteen AoGld genes are conserved among Aspergillus species. Promoter analysis displayed that AoGld3 and AoGld13 harbored multiple binding elements of GATA-type transcription factors and zinc-finger protein msnA that were involved in nitrogen and kojic acid metabolism, respectively. Moreover, the AoGld3 deletion strain Δgld3 was generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which had no visible growth defects compared with the control wild-type strain under the control and osmotic stress treatments. However, disruption of AoGld3 led to the inhibition of kojic acid production, and the expression of kojA, kojR was down-regulated in the Δgld3 strain. Furthermore, when kojA or kojR was overexpressed in the Δgld3 strain, the yield of kojic acid was restored, suggesting that AoGld3 is involved in kojic acid production through affecting the expression of kojR and kojA. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into our understanding of glycerol dehydrogenase and establish foundation for further study of their roles in Aspergillus oryzae.

Patients with bimaxillary protrusion may have an unattractive profile with a retruded chin contour. Correction of the severely protrusive anterior alveolar bone and teeth combined with a moderate open bite without orthognathic surgery can be challenging. This case report describes the orthodontic treatment of a woman with severe bimaxillary protrusion and a moderate open bite. Excellent chin morphology and facial appearance were obtained with the extraction of 4 first premolars and 4 third molars, and total distalization of both arches with 4 mini-implants, one in each quadrant between the second premolar and the first molar. The total treatment time was 30 months.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process associated with cancer stem-like or cancer-initiating cell formation, contributes to the invasiveness, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence of the malignant tumors; it remains to be determined whether similar processes contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of ameloblastoma (AM), a benign but locally invasive odontogenic neoplasm. Here, we demonstrated that EMT- and stem cell-related genes were expressed in the epithelial islands of the most common histologic variant subtype, the follicular AM. Our results revealed elevated interleukin (IL)-6 signals that were differentially expressed in the stromal compartment of the follicular AM. To explore the stromal effect on tumor pathogenesis, we isolated and characterized both mesenchymal stromal cells (AM-MSCs) and epithelial cells (AM-EpiCs) from follicular AM and demonstrated that, in in vitro culture, AM-MSCs secreted a significantly higher level of IL-6 as compared to the counterpart AM-EpiCs. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that exogenous and AM-MSC-derived IL-6 induced the expression of EMT- and stem cell-related genes in AM-EpiCs, whereas such effects were significantly abrogated either by a specific inhibitor of STAT3 or ERK1/2, or by knockdown of Slug gene expression. These findings suggest that AM-MSC-derived IL-6 promotes tumor-stem like cell formation by inducing EMT process in AM-EpiCs through STAT3 and ERK1/2-mediated signaling pathways, implying a role in the etiology and progression of the benign but locally invasive neoplasm.

Aims To explore the involvement of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and M1 macrophage in root resorption (RR). Methods A rat RR model was established by excessive orthodontic force. After different force-loading time, the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and distribution of M1 macrophages were analysed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining in vivo. Then, the mechanism of NLRP3 activation was further verified by macrophage and human periodontal ligament cell (hPDLC) co-culture system in vitro. The production levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, and IL-1β in M1 macrophages in the co-culture system were detected by Western blot, and the polarization of CD68+IL-1β+ M1 macrophages was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results In the rat RR model, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and M1 macrophages were expressed in periodontal ligament, mainly concentrated around RR areas. Force-pre-treated hPDLCs promoted M1 macrophage polarization and the production of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β in M1 macrophages in co-culture system. When MCC950, an inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome, was added, NLRP3 activation and M1 macrophage polarization were inhibited. Conclusions In periodontal tissues, hPDLCs stimulated by force promoted M1 macrophage polarization and increased IL-1β production by activating NLRP3 inflammasome in M1 macrophages, thus initiating the occurrence of RR.

Oxidative stress response protects organisms from deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cellular components and cause disturbance of the cellular homeostasis. Although the defensive biochemical mechanisms have been extensively studied in yeast and other filamentous fungi, little information is available about Aspergillus oryzae. We investigated the effect of two oxidant agents (menadione sodium bisulfite, MSB, and hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) on cellular growth and antioxidant enzyme induction in A. oryzae. Results indicated severe inhibition of biomass and conidia production when high concentration of oxidants was used. Transcriptomic analysis showed an up-regulated expression of genes involved in oxidoreduction, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, it was observed that oxidative stress stimuli enhanced the expression of Yap1 and Skn7 transcription factors. Further, metabolomic analysis showed that glutathione content was increased in the oxidative treatments when compared with the control. Moreover, the content of unsaturated fatty acid decreased with oxidative treatment accompanying with the down-regulated expression of genes involved in linoleic acid biosynthesis. This study provided a global transcriptome characterization of oxidative stress response in A. oryzae, and can offer multiple target genes for oxidative tolerance improvement via genetic engineering.

The koji mold Aspergillus oryzae is widely adopted for producing rice wine, wherein koji mold saccharifies rice starch and sake yeast ferments glucose to ethanol. During rice wine brewing, the accumulating ethanol becomes a major source of stress for A. oryzae, and there is a decline in hydrolysis efficiency. However, the protective mechanisms of A. oryzae against ethanol stress are poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that ethanol adversity caused a significant inhibition of mycelium growth and conidia formation in A. oryzae, and this suppressive effect increased with ethanol concentration. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that ethanol uptake triggered internal cellular perturbations, such as irregular nuclei and the aggregation of scattered vacuoles in A. oryzae cells. Metabolic analysis uncovered an increase in fatty acid unsaturation under high ethanol conditions, in which a large proportion of stearic acid was converted into linoleic acid, and the expression of related fatty acid desaturases was activated. Our results therefore improve the understanding of ethanol adaptation mechanisms in A. oryzae and offer target genes for ethanol tolerance enhancement via genetic engineering.

Introduction The purpose of this reseach was to compare the effects of different periodic periodontal scaling protocols on the periodontal health of adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances by assessing the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in gingival crevicular fluid and periodontal clinical indexes in a prospective cohort study. Methods Forty-eight adolescents were divided into 3 groups according to the interval of periodontal scaling (group A: once a month; group B: once every 3 months; group C: once every 6 months). The AST and ALP levels in the gingival crevicular fluid were measured before orthodontic treatment (T0) and at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3), and 9 (T4) months during orthodontic treatment. Periodontal clinical indexes (plaque index [PI], gingival index [GI], and probing depth) were also assessed. Results At T2, significantly lower AST and ALP levels were observed in group A than in groups B and C (P 0.05). At T2, the PI and GI were increased in groups B and C compared with group A, and at T3 and T4, significantly lower PI and GI values were observed in groups A and B than in group C (P Conclusions Periodontal scaling promotes the oral hygiene of adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, and periodontal scaling protocols administered monthly and once every 3 months are better for controlling periodontal health than treatments administered once every 6 months.

Objective Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in the tooth development and tumor invasion. We investigated the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the EMT process in primary-cultured ameloblastoma tumor cells (AM-P) and ameloblastoma immortalized tumor cells (AM-L) and its underlying mechanism. Methods IL-8 levels in ameloblastomas were detected by immunofluorescence staining and ELISA. AM-P cells and AM-L cells were stimulated with IL-8, and EMT transcription factors, total β-catenin and phosphorylated-β-catenin (p-β-catenin) levels were determined by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. β-catenin siRNA was used to knockdown β-catenin expression in AM-P cells and AM-L cells stimulated with IL-8. Results IL-8 was highly expressed in the solid ameloblastomas. IL-8 promoted the EMT process in ameloblastoma tumor cells in vitro, as evidenced by decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin, twist and zeb1 levels. IL-8 also increased total β-catenin and p-β-catenin expression in ameloblastoma tumor cells, and β-catenin knockdown partially inhibited the EMT process in tumor cells, as evidenced by increased E-cadherin, and decreased vimentin and zeb1 levels. Conclusions IL-8 could promote EMT in ameloblastoma tumor cells by activating β-catenin and its downstream transcription factor zeb1.

Aspergillus oryzae has been used for the production of traditional fermentation and has promising potential to produce primary and secondary metabolites. Due to the tough cell walls and high drug resistance of A. oryzae, functional genomic characterization studies are relatively limited. The exploitation of selection markers and genetic transformation methods are critical for improving A. oryzae fermentative strains. In this review, we describe the genome sequencing of various A. oryzae strains. Recently developed selection markers and transformation strategies are also described in detail, and the advantages and disadvantages of transformation methods are presented. Lastly, we introduce the recent progress on highlighted topics in A. oryzae functional genomics including conidiation, protein secretion and expression, and secondary metabolites, which will be beneficial for improving the application of A. oryzae to industrial production.

Circular RNA plays an important role in regulating tumour development and progression and can serve as a biomarker for cancer. This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of hsa_circ_0092125 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The expression of hsa_circ_0092125 in OSCC tissues and cell lines was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. The association between hsa_circ_0092125 expression and clinicopathological data was determined by χ2 test. Overall survival (OS) curves were created using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and the differences were examined by log-rank test. Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were employed to evaluate the risk factors of the OSCC prognosis. The expression of hsa_circ_0092125 was significantly down-regulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. A low expression of hsa_circ_0092125 was associated with clinicopathological factors in OSCC patients, including tumour size, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the OS time was shorter in OSCC patients with a lower hsa_circ_0092125 expression level than in those with a higher expression level. In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis identified lower hsa_circ_0092125 expression, tumour size, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis as independent risk factors for the OSCC prognosis. Thus, down-regulated expression of hsa_circ_0092125 might serve as a biomarker of the OSCC prognosis.

Objective Orthodontic treatment induces dental tissue remodeling; however, dental pulp stem cell (DPSC)-mediated pulp micro-environmental alteration is still largely uncharacterized. In the present study, we identified elevated interleukin-17A (IL17A) in the dental pulp, which induced the osteogenesis of DPSCs after orthodontic force loading. Design Tooth movement animal models were established in Sprague-Dawley rats, and samples were harvested at 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after orthodontic treatment loading. DPSC self-renewal and differentiation at different time points were examined, as well as the alteration of the microenvironment of dental pulp tissue by histological analysis and the systemic serum IL17A expression level by an ELISA assay. In vitro recombinant IL17A treatment was used to confirm the effect of IL17A on the enhancement of DPSC self-renewal and differentiation. Results Orthodontic treatment altered the dental pulp microenvironment by activation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL17A in vivo . Orthodontic loading significantly promoted the self-renewal and differentiation of DPSCs. Inflammation and elevated IL17A secretion occurred in the dental pulp during orthodontic tooth movement. Moreover, in vitro recombinant IL17A treatment mimicked the enhancement of the self-renewal and differentiation of DPSCs. Conclusions Orthodontic treatment enhanced the differentiation and self-renewal of DPSCs, mediated by orthodontic-induced inflammation and subsequent elevation of IL17A level in the dental pulp microenvironment.

Odontogenic tumors are lesions derived from the epithelial and/or mesenchymal elements of the tooth-forming apparatus and are therefore found within the jaw bone or soft tissue overlying teeth. These tooth development-associated tumors are generally benign, but several odontogenic tumors are capable of aggressive growth and locally invasive behavior with a high rate of recurrence. Benign odontogenic tumors can pose diagnostic challenges because of overlapping histology, a lack of distinct phenotypic and molecular features, and an unclear pathogenesis of the tumors. In this article, we will review the possible origins, immunophenotypic features, and genetic alterations of the common benign odontogenic tumors.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy in head and neck cancer and a global cause of cancer‐related death. Due to the poor survival rates associated with OSCC, there is a growing need to develop novel technologies and predictive biomarkers to improve disease diagnosis. The identification of new cellular targets in OSCC tumors will benefit such developments. In this study, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)‐based proteomics analysis combined with 2‐dimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC‐MS/MS) were used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between tumor and normal tissues. Of the DEPs detected, the most significantly downregulated protein in OSCC tissue was prolactin‐inducible protein (PIP). Clonogenic and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) experiments showed that the proliferation capacity of OSCC cells overexpressing PIP decreased due to cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 checkpoint. Wound‐healing and transwell assay further showed that PIP overexpression also reduced the migration and invasion of OSCC cells. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze the expression in OSCC, indicating that PIP may be secreted by glandular cells and have an inhibitory effect on OSCC cells to produce. In western blot analysis, silencing studies confirmed that PIP mediates these effects through the AKT/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling axis in OSCC cells. Taken together, this study reveals PIP as a key mediator of OSCC cell growth, migration, and invasion through its effect on AKT/MAPK signaling.

Background Among various pests, the brown planthopper (BPH) that damages rice is the major destructive pests. Understanding resistance mechanisms is a critical step toward effective control of BPH. This study investigates the proteomics of BPH interactions with three rice cultivars: the first resistant (PR) to BPH, the second susceptible (PS), and the third hybrid (HR) between the two, in order to understand mechanisms of BPH resistance in rice. Results Over 4900 proteins were identified from these three rice cultivars using iTRAQ proteomics study. A total of 414, 425 and 470 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected from PR, PS and HR, respectively, after BPH infestation. Identified DEPs are mainly enriched in categories related with biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, carbon metabolism, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. A two-component response regulator protein (ORR22) may participate in the early signal transduction after BPH infestation. In the case of the resistant rice cultivar (PR), 6 DEPs, i.e. two lipoxygenases (LOXs), a lipase, two dirigent proteins (DIRs) and an Ent-cassa-12,15-diene synthase (OsDTC1) are related to inheritable BPH resistance. A heat shock protein (HSP20) may take part in the physiological response to BPH infestation, making it a potential target for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of rice. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed eight genes encoding various metabolic proteins involved in BPH resistance. During grain development the expressions of these genes varied at the transcriptional and translational levels. Conclusions This study provides comprehensive details of key proteins under compatible and incompatible interactions during BPH infestation, which will be useful for further investigation of the molecular basis of rice resistance to BPH and for breeding BPH-resistant rice cultivars. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-018-1622-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Oryza officinalis Wall ex Watt, a very important and special wild rice species, shows abundant genetic diversity and disease resistance features, especially high resistance to bacterial blight. The molecular mechanisms of bacterial blight resistance in O. officinalis have not yet been elucidated. The WRKY transcription factor family is one of the largest gene families involved in plant growth, development and stress response. However, little is known about the numbers, structure, molecular phylogenetics, and expression of the WRKY genes under Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) stress in O. officinalis due to lacking of O. officinalis genome. Therefore, based on the RNA-sequencing data of O. officinalis, we performed a comprehensive study of WRKY genes in O. officinalis and identified 89 OoWRKY genes. Then 89 OoWRKY genes were classified into three groups based on the WRKY domains and zinc finger motifs. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported that the evolution of OoWRKY genes were consistent with previous studies of WRKYs, and subgroup IIc OoWRKY genes were the original ancestors of some group II and group III OoWRKYs. Among the 89 OoWRKY genes, eight OoWRKYs displayed significantly different expression (>2-fold, p

Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase MVD/Erg19 is required for ergosterol biosynthesis, growth, sporulation, and stress tolerance in Aspergillus oryzae. In this study, RNA-seq was used to analyze the gene transcription profile in AoErg19 overexpression (OE) and RNAi strains. There were 256 and 74 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in AoErg19 OE and RNAi strains, respectively, compared with the control strain (CK). The most common DEGs were transport- and metabolism-related genes. Only 22 DEGs were obtained that were regulated in both OE and RNAi strains. The transcriptomic comparison between CK and AoErg19 overexpression strain (CK vs. OE), and between CK and AoErg19 RNAi strain (CK vs. RNAi) revealed that the greatest difference existed in the number of genes belonging to the cytochrome P450 family, 12 were found in CK vs. OE, whereas 1 was found in CK vs. RNAi. The expression patterns of lipid biosynthesis and metabolism related genes were altered in OE and RNAi strains, either by gene induction or suppression. Moreover, the total fatty acid content in the RNAi strain was 12.1% greater than the control strain, but no difference in total acid content was found between the overexpression strain and the control strain. Therefore, this study highlights the gene expression regulation within mevalonate (MVA), ergosterol biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways.

Aspergillus oryzae has been used for the production of traditional fermentation and has promising potential to produce primary and secondary metabolites. Due to the tough cell walls and high drug resistance of A. oryzae, functional genomic characterization studies are relatively limited. The exploitation of selection markers and genetic transformation methods are critical for improving A. oryzae fermentative strains. In this review, we describe the genome sequencing of various A. oryzae strains. Recently developed selection markers and transformation strategies are also described in detail, and the advantages and disadvantages of transformation methods are presented. Lastly, we introduce the recent progress on highlighted topics in A. oryzae functional genomics including conidiation, protein secretion and expression, and secondary metabolites, which will be beneficial for improving the application of A. oryzae to industrial production.

The presence of an appropriate number of viable cells is prerequisite for successive differentiation during chondrogenesis. Chondrogenic differentiation has been reported to be influenced by mechanical stimuli. This research aimed to study the effects of cyclic compressive stress on cell viability of rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) during chondrogenesis as well as its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that dynamic compression increased cell quantity and viability remarkably in the early stage of chondrogenesis, during which the expression of Ihh, Cyclin D1, CDK4, and Col2α1 were enhanced significantly. Possible signal pathways implicated in the process were explored in our study. MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK were not found to function in this process while BMP signaling seemed to play an important role in the mechanotransduction during chondrogenic proliferation. In conclusion, dynamic compressive stress could enhance cell viability during chondrogenesis, which might be achieved by activating BMP signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1935–1942, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.