Palmitic acid impairs human and mouse placental function by inhibiting trophoblast autophagy through induction of acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP) upregulation.

STUDY QUESTION: Can exposure to palmitic acid (PA), a common saturated fatty acid, modulate autophagy in both human and mouse trophoblast cells through the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP)? SUMMARY ANSWER: PA exposure before and during pregnancy impairs placental development through mechanisms involving placental autophagy and ACBP expression. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: High-fat diets, including PA, have been implicated in adverse effects on human placental and fetal development. Despite this recognition, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell line HTR-8/SVneo and human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC)-derived EVT (hTSCs-EVT) were exposed to PA or vehicle control for 24 h. Female wild-type C57BL/6 mice were divided into PA and control groups (n = 10 per group) and subjected to a 12-week dietary intervention. Afterward, they were mated with male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and euthanized on Day 14 of gestation. Female ACBPflox/flox mice were also randomly assigned to control and PA-exposed groups (each with 10 mice), undergoing the same dietary intervention and mating with ACBPflox/floxELF5-Cre male mice, followed by euthanasia on Day 14 of gestation. The study assessed the effects of PA on mouse embryonic development and placental autophagy. Additionally, the role of ACBP in the pathogenesis of PA-induced placental toxicity was investigated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The findings were validated using real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and shRNA knockdown approaches. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Exposure to PA-upregulated ACBP expression in both human HTR-8/SVneo cells and hTSCs-EVT, as well as in mouse placenta. PA exposure also induced autophagic dysfunction in HTR-8/SVneo cells, hTSCs-EVT, and mouse placenta. Through studies on ACBP placental conditional knockout mice and ACBP knockdown human trophoblast cells, it was revealed that reduced ACBP expression led to trophoblast malfunction and affected the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3B-II and P62, thereby impacting embryonic development. Conversely, ACBP knockdown partially mitigated PA-induced impairment of placental trophoblast autophagy, observed both in vitro in human trophoblast cells and in vivo in mice. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Primary EVT cells from early pregnancy are fragile, limiting research use. Maintaining their viability is tough, affecting data reliability. The study lacks depth to explore PA diet cessation effects after 12 weeks. Without follow-up, understanding postdiet impacts on pregnancy stages is incomplete. Placental abnormalities linked to elevated PA diet in embryos lack confirmation due to absence of control groups. Clarifying if issues stem solely from PA exposure is difficult without proper controls. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Consuming a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy may result in complications or challenges in successfully carrying the pregnancy to term. It suggests that such dietary habits can have detrimental effects on the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82171664, 82301909) and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality of China (CSTB2022NS·CQ-LZX0062, cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0749, and cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0236). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Subacute exposure to DEHP leads to impairing decidualization process and exacerbating the risk of early pregnancy miscar-riage in mice. / 孕早期增塑剂DEHPäºšæ€¥æ€§æš´éœ²å½±å“èœ•è†œååº”å¹¶å¢žåŠ æµäº§é£Žé™©.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of subacute exposure of Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on endometrial decidualization in mice. METHODS: CD1 mice were orally administrated with 300 mg·kg－1·d－1 (low-dose group), 1000 mg·kg－1·d－1 (medium-dose group), or 3000 mg·kg－1·d－1 DEHP (1/10 LD50, high-dose group) for 28 days, respectively. The early natural pregnancy model and artificially induced decidualization model were established, and the uterine tissues were collected on D7 of natural pregnancy and D8 of artificially induced decidualization, respectively. The effects of subacute exposure to DEHP on the decidualization of mice were detected by HE staining, Masson staining, TUNEL staining, and Western blotting, respectively. A model of spontaneous abortion was constructed in mice after subacute exposure to 300 mg·kg-1·d-1 DEHP, and the effect of impaired decidualization on pregnancy was investigated by observing the pregnancy outcome on the 10th day of gestation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the conception rate was significantly lower in the high-dose DEHP subacute exposure group. HE staining showed that, compared with the control group, the decidual stromal cells in the low- and medium-dose exposure groups were disorganized, the nuclei of the cells were irregular, the cytoplasmic staining was uneven, and the number of polymorphonuclear cells was significantly reduced. Masson staining showed that compared with the control group, the collagen fibers in the decidua region of the DEHP low-dose group and the medium-dose group were more distributed, more abundant and more disorderly. TUNEL staining showed increased apoptosis in the decidua area compared to the control group. Western blotting showed that the expression of BMP2, a marker molecule for endometrial decidualization, was significantly reduced. The abortion rate and embryo resorption rate were significantly higher, and the number of embryos, uterine wet weight, uterine area and placenta wet weight were significantly lower in mice exposed to 300 mg·kg－1·d－1 DEHP than in control mice stimulated by mifepristone abortifacient drug. CONCLUSIONS: Subacute exposure to DEHP leads to impaired endometrial decidualization during early pregnancy and exacerbates the risk of adverse pregnant outcomes in mice.

[Role of COX-2/PGE2/EP4 Axis-induced Macrophage Functional Activation 
in NSCLC Development].

BACKGROUND: Tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the important factors in tumorigenesis and progression, in which tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. However, the mechanism of TAMs in NSCLC progression remains unclear, so this study aimed to investigate the role of TAMs in NSCLC progression and to find potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database was used to analyze the expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) mRNA in NSCLC and normal lung tissues; the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), EP4, cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86), CD163 and CD31 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 120 NSCLC tissues and 24 paracancerous tissues specimens. The nude mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 and macrophage RAW264.7 co-transplanted tumor model was established. And the samples were collected by gavage with EP4 inhibitor E7046, and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), IHC, and immunofluorescence (IF), and then detected by Western blot for the epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of the tumor tissues of the nude mice in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of EMT related protiens in each group of nude mice; full-length transcriptome sequencing was used to screen the key genes causing liver metastasis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was performed. RESULTS: EP4 mRNA expression level in NSCLC tissues was generally lower than that in normal lung tissues (P<0.05); COX-2, EP4, CD163, CD31 proteins were differentially expressed in NSCLC tissues and adjacent tissues, and differences were observed in many clinicopathological parameters of NSCLC patients; RAW264.7 shortened the latency period of tumorigenesis of A549 and promoted the proliferation of tumors and liver metastasis of tumors, and E7046 could reduce tumor cell proliferation activity, tumor tissue vascular density and M2-type macrophage infiltration in nude mice; IF staining showed that macrophages were mainly distributed around the metastatic foci of tumors; Western blot results showed that compared with A549 alone transplantation group, the relative expression of E-cadherin protein in tumor tissues of mice in A549 and RAW264.7 co-transplantation group was significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), while the relative expression of N-cadherin protein was up-regulated, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05); the main pathways enriched in the differential genes of the full-length transcriptome were the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: During NSCLC development, the COX-2/PGE2/EP4 axis may promote tumor progression by inducing macrophage functional activation, and EP4 may be a potential new target for tumor immunotherapy. This study provides new perspectives and ideas for in-depth exploration of the mechanisms of NSCLC development, as well as a theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.

Imaging Rovibrational Excitation of Scattered YO Molecules in Inelastic Collisions with Kr and Ne.

Energy transfer between atoms and molecules is fundamental to many physical and chemical processes, and understanding the mechanisms and outcomes of energy transfer is crucial for various applications in physics and chemistry. Here, the rovibrational excitation of YO(X 2Σ+) molecules with the collision of Kr and Ne has been studied in the laser-ablation crossed beam and time-sliced ion velocity map imaging setup in combination with the resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization scheme. Significant changes in the angular distribution for different rovibrational excitations of YO molecules are observed with the collision of Kr. The sharp forward distribution for low rovibrational excitation of YO(v' = 0, 1) molecules suggest that the weak attractive potential between Kr and YO is dominant at large impact parameters. Comparatively, the strong sideway distribution for highly rovibrationally excited YO(v' = 1, 2, 3, and 5) is due to rainbow scattering from the stronger attractive potential of Kr···YO at relatively small impact parameters. The more isotropic angular distribution in the highly rovibrationally excited YO(v' = 11) indicates the formation of a short-lived complex. A change in the angular distribution of scattered YO with different rovibrational excitations was also observed in the collisions of Ne. For YO as a heteronuclear diatomic molecule, collisions of the Y- and the O-end of YO with rare gases would affect the contribution of inelastic processes at different impact parameters.

Structural and functional insights into transcription activation of the essential LysR-type transcriptional regulators.

The enormous LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs), which are diversely distributed amongst prokaryotes, play crucial roles in transcription regulation of genes involved in basic metabolic pathways, virulence and stress resistance. However, the precise transcription activation mechanism of these genes by LTTRs remains to be explored. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structure of a LTTR-dependent transcription activation complex comprising of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP), an essential LTTR protein GcvA and its cognate promoter DNA. Structural analysis shows two N-terminal DNA binding domains of GcvA (GcvA_DBD) dimerize and engage the GcvA activation binding sites, presenting the -35 element for specific recognition with the conserved σ70R4. In particular, the versatile C-terminal domain of α subunit of RNAP directly interconnects with GcvA_DBD, σ70R4 and promoter DNA, providing more interfaces for stabilizing the complex. Moreover, molecular docking supports glycine as one potential inducer of GcvA, and single molecule photobleaching experiments kinetically visualize the occurrence of tetrameric GcvA-engaged transcription activation complex as suggested for the other LTTR homologs. Thus, a general model for tetrameric LTTR-dependent transcription activation is proposed. These findings will provide new structural and functional insights into transcription activation of the essential LTTRs.

Polyacrylonitrile as an Efficient Transfer Medium for Wafer-Scale Transfer of Graphene.

The disparity between growth substrates and application-specific substrates can be mediated by reliable graphene transfer, the lack of which currently strongly hinders the graphene applications. Conventionally, the removal of soft polymers, that support the graphene during the transfer, would contaminate graphene surface, produce cracks, and leave unprotected graphene surface sensitive to airborne contaminations. In this work, it is found that polyacrylonitrile (PAN) can function as polymer medium for transferring wafer-size graphene, and encapsulating layer to deliver high-performance graphene devices. Therefore, PAN, that is compatible with device fabrication, does not need to be removed for subsequent applications. The crack-free transfer of 4 in. graphene onto SiO2/Si wafers, and the wafer-scale fabrication of graphene-based field-effect transistor arrays with no observed clear doping, uniformly high carrier mobility (≈11 000 cm2 V-1 s-1), and long-term stability at room temperature, are achieved. This work presents new concept for designing the transfer process of 2D materials, in which multifunctional polymer can be retained, and offers a reliable method for fabricating wafer-scale devices of 2D materials with outstanding performance.

The 6-kilodalton peptide 1 in plant viruses of the family Potyviridae is a viroporin.

Potyviridae, the largest family of plant RNA viruses, includes many important pathogens that significantly reduce the yields of many crops worldwide. In this study, we report that the 6-kilodalton peptide 1 (6K1), one of the least characterized potyviral proteins, is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein. AI-assisted structure modeling and biochemical assays suggest that 6K1 forms pentamers with a central hydrophobic tunnel, can increase the cell membrane permeability of Escherichia coli and Nicotiana benthamiana, and can conduct potassium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An infectivity assay showed that viral proliferation is inhibited by mutations that affect 6K1 multimerization. Moreover, the 6K1 or its homologous 7K proteins from other viruses of the Potyviridae family also have the ability to increase cell membrane permeability and transmembrane potassium conductance. Taken together, these data reveal that 6K1 and its homologous 7K proteins function as viroporins in viral infected cells.

Dimethyl fumarate alleviates allergic asthma by strengthening the Nrf2 signaling pathway in regulatory T cells.

Allergic asthma is a widely prevalent inflammatory condition affecting people across the globe. T cells and their secretory cytokines are central to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. Here, we have evaluated the anti-inflammatory impact of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in allergic asthma with more focus on determining its effect on T cell responses in allergic asthma. By utilizing the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model, we observed that DMF administration reduced the allergic asthma symptoms and IgE levels in the OVA-induced mice model. Histopathological analysis showed that DMF treatment in an OVA-induced animal model eased the inflammation in the nasal and bronchial tissues, with a particular decrease in the infiltration of immune cells. Additionally, RT-qPCR analysis exhibited that treatment of DMF in an OVA-induced model reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokine (IL4, IL13, and IL17) while augmenting anti-inflammatory IL10 and Foxp3 (forkhead box protein 3). Mechanistically, we found that DMF increased the expression of Foxp3 by exacerbating the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the in-vitro activation of Foxp3+ Tregs leads to an escalated expression of Nrf2. Notably, CD4-specific Nrf2 deletion intensified the allergic asthma symptoms and reduced the in-vitro iTreg differentiation. Meanwhile, DMF failed to exert protective effects on OVA-induced allergic asthma in CD4-specific Nrf2 knock-out mice. Overall, our study illustrates that DMF enhances Nrf2 signaling in T cells to assist the differentiation of Tregs, which could improve the anti-inflammatory immune response in allergic asthma.

Sulfonamide disinfection byproducts exhibited severe toxicity to human commensal bacteria.

Many antibiotic disinfection byproducts have been detected but their toxicity has not been evaluated adequately. In this report, the chlorination reaction kinetics of five common sulfamides (SAs), reaction intermediates and their toxicity were investigated. Chlorination of sulfapyridine (SPD), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfathiazole (STZ), and sulfisoxazole (SIZ) followed the second-order kinetics, and were degraded completely within 10 min. A large number of reaction intermediates were deteced by LC-MS, among which a total of 16 intermediates were detected for the first time. Toxicity of the five SAs chlorination solutions was evaluated separately by examining their effects on the growth rate of S. salivarius K12, a commensal bacterium in the human digestive system. After 30 min chlorination, solutions of SMT, STZ and sulfadiazine (SDZ) each exhibited severe toxicity by inhibiting the bacteria growth completely, whereas the inhibition was only 50 % and 20  % by SIZ and SPD respectively. Based on the comparison between toxicity test results and mass spectra, three SA chlorination intermediates, m/z 187.2 (C10H10N4), m/z 287.2 (C9H7N3O4S2) and m/z 215 (C7H10N4O2S/C12H14N4) were proposed to be the primary toxicants in the chlorination products. Our study demonstrated the power of combined approach of chemical analysis and toxicity testing in identifying toxic disinfection byproducts, and highlighted the ne ed for more research on the toxicity evaluation and risk assessment of antibiotic disinfection byproducts.

Degradation mechanisms and toxicity determination of bisphenol A by FeOx-activated peroxydisulfate under ultraviolet light.

Ultraviolet light (UV)-assisted advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are commonly used to degrade organic contaminants. However, this reaction system's extensive comprehension of the degradation mechanisms and toxicity assessment remains inadequate. This study focuses on investigating the degradation mechanisms and pathways of bisphenol A (BPA), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and toxicity of degradation intermediates in UV/PDS/ferrous composites (FeOx) systems. The degradation rate of BPA gradually increased from the initial 11.92% to 100% within 120 min. Sulfate radicals (SO4.-), hydroxyl radicals (.OH), superoxide anions (O2.-), and singlet oxygen (1O2) were the primary factors in the photocatalytic degradation of BPA in the UV/PDS/FeOx systems. The main reactions of BPA in this system were deduced to be ß-bond cleavage, hydroxyl substitution reaction, hydrogen bond cleavage, and oxidation reaction. A trend of decreasing toxicity for the degradation intermediates of BPA was observed according to the toxicity investigations. The efficient degradation of BPA in UV/PDS/FeOx systems provided theoretical data for AOPs, which will improve the understanding of organic contaminants by FeOx in natural industry wastewater.

Maternal exposure to beta-Cypermethrin disrupts placental development by dysfunction of trophoblast cells from oxidative stress.

As a broad-spectrum and efficient insecticide, beta-Cypermethrin (ß-CYP) poses a health risk to pregnancy. It matters the mechanisms of maternal exposure to ß-CYP for impacting reproductive health. The placenta, a transient organ pivotal for maternal-fetal communication during pregnancy, plays a crucial role in embryonic development. The effect of ß-CYP exposure on the placenta and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ß-CYP exposure on placental development and the function of trophoblast, as well as the underlying mechanisms through CD-1 mouse model (1, 10, 20 mg/kg.bw) and in vitro HTR-8/SVneo cell model (12.5, 25, 50, 100 µM). We found slower weight gain and reduced uterine wet weight in pregnant mice with maternal exposure to ß-CYP during pregnancy, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes such as uterine bleeding and embryo resorption. The abnormal placental development in response to ß-CYP was noticed, including imbalanced placental structure and disrupted labyrinthine vascular development. Trophoblasts, pivotal in placental development and vascular remodeling, displayed abnormal differentiation under ß-CYP exposure. This aberration was characterized by thickened trophoblast layers in the labyrinthine zone, accompanied by mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum swelling within trophoblasts. Further researches on human chorionic trophoblast cell lines revealed that ß-CYP exposure induced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo cells. This induction resulted in a notable decrease in migration and invasion abilities, coupled with oxidative stress and the inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway. N-acetylcysteine (an antioxidant) partially restored the impaired Notch signaling pathway in HTR-8/SVneo cells, and mitigated cellular functional damage attributed to ß-CYP exposure. Collectively, exposure to ß-CYP induced oxidative stress and then led to inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway and dysfunction of trophoblast cells, ultimately resulted in abnormal placenta and pregnancy. These findings indicate Reactive Oxygen Species as potential intervention targets to mitigate ß-CYP toxicity. The comprehensive elucidation contributes to our understanding of ß-CYP biosafety and offers an experimental basis for preventing and managing its reproductive toxicity.

Pathological progression of osteoarthritis: a perspective on subchondral bone.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative bone disease associated with aging. The rising global aging population has led to a surge in OA cases, thereby imposing a significant socioeconomic burden. Researchers have been keenly investigating the mechanisms underlying OA. Previous studies have suggested that the disease starts with synovial inflammation and hyperplasia, advancing toward cartilage degradation. Ultimately, subchondral-bone collapse, sclerosis, and osteophyte formation occur. This progression is deemed as "top to bottom." However, recent research is challenging this perspective by indicating that initial changes occur in subchondral bone, precipitating cartilage breakdown. In this review, we elucidate the epidemiology of OA and present an in-depth overview of the subchondral bone's physiological state, functions, and the varied pathological shifts during OA progression. We also introduce the role of multifunctional signal pathways (including osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), and chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12)/CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)) in the pathology of subchondral bone and their role in the "bottom-up" progression of OA. Using vivid pattern maps and clinical images, this review highlights the crucial role of subchondral bone in driving OA progression, illuminating its interplay with the condition.

B(a)P induces ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis via TRAF2-NFκB-Caspase1 axis during early pregnancy.

Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] is an environmental endocrine disruptor with reproductive toxicity. The corpus luteum (CL) of the ovary plays an important role in embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Our previous studies have shown that B(a)P exposure affects embryo implantation and endometrial decidualization in mouse, but its effects and mechanisms on CL function remain unclear. In this study, we explore the mechanism of ovarian toxicity of B(a)P using a pregnant mouse model and an in vitro model of human ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) KGN. Pregnant mice were gavaged with corn oil or 0.2 mg/kg.bw B(a)P from pregnant day 1 (D1) to D7, while KGN cells were treated with DMSO, 1.0IU/mL hCG, or 1.0IU/mL hCG plus benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), a B(a)P metabolite. Our findings revealed that B(a)P exposure damaged embryo implantation and reduced estrogen and progesterone levels in early pregnant mice. Additionally, in vitro, BPDE impaired luteinization in KGN cells. We observed that B(a)P/BPDE promoted oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation, leading to apoptosis rather than pyroptosis in ovaries and luteinized KGN cells. This apoptotic response was mediated by the activation of inflammatory Caspase1 through the cleavage of BID. Furthermore, B(a)P/BPDE inhibited TRAF2 expression and suppressed NFκB signaling pathway activation. The administration of VX-765 to inhibit the Caspase1 activation, over-expression of TRAF2 using TRAF2-pcDNA3.1 (+) plasmid, and BetA-induced activation of NFκB signaling pathway successfully alleviated BPDE-induced apoptosis and cellular dysfunction in luteinized KGN cells. These findings were further confirmed in the KGN cell treated with H2O2 and NAC. In conclusion, this study elucidated that B(a)P/BPDE induces apoptosis rather than pyroptosis in GCs via TRAF2-NFκB-Caspase1 during early pregnancy, and highlighting OS as the primary contributor to B(a)P/BPDE-induced ovarian toxicity. Our results unveil a novel role of TRAF2-NFκB-Caspase1 in B(a)P-induced apoptosis and broaden the understanding of mechanisms underlying unexplained luteal phase deficiency.

HMGB1 regulates autophagy of placental trophoblast through ERK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in placental development and fetal growth. METHODS: We employed the Cre-loxP recombination system to establish a placenta-specific HMGB1 knockout mouse model. Breeding HMGB1flox/flox mice with Elf5-Cre mice facilitated the knockout, leveraging Elf5 expression in extra-embryonic ectoderm, ectoplacental cone, and trophoblast giant cells at 12.5 days of embryonic development. The primary goal of this model was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of HMGB1 in placental development, assessing parameters such as placental weight, fetal weight, and bone development. Additionally, we utilized lentiviral interference and overexpression of HMGB1 in human trophoblast cells to further investigate HMGB1's functional role. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that HMGB1flox/floxElf5cre/+ mouse display fetal growth restriction (FGR), characterized by decreased placental and fetal weight and impaired bone development. And the absence of HMGB1 inhibits autophagosome formation, impairs lysosomal degradation, and disrupts autophagic flux. Depletion of HMGB1 in human trophoblast cells also suppresses cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion by inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway. Overexpression of HMGB1 observed the opposite phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 participates in the regulation of autophagy through the ERK signaling pathway and affects placental development.

Indole-3-carbinol ameliorates ovarian damage in female old mice through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation.

Ovarian aging leads to infertility and birth defects. We aimed to clarify the role of Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) in resistance to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis in ovarian aging. I3C was administered via intraperitoneal injection for 3 weeks in young or old mice. Immunohistochemistry; Masson, Sirius red, and TUNEL staining; follicle counting; estrous cycle analysis; and Western blotting were used for validating the protective effect of I3C against ovarian senescence. Human granulosa-like tumor cell line and primary granulosa cells were used for in vitro assay. The results indicated that I3C inhibited ovarian fibrosis and apoptosis while increasing the number of primordial follicles. Mechanistic studies have shown that I3C promoted the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Additionally, I3C increased cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and JC-1 levels. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of I3C was found to be dependent on the activation of Nrf2 and HO-1, as demonstrated by the disappearance of the effect upon inhibition of Nrf2 expression. In conclusion, I3C can alleviate the ovarian damage caused by aging and may be a protective agent to delay ovarian aging.

Recent trends in the transfer of graphene films.

Recent years have witnessed advances in chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene films on metal foils with fine scalability and thickness controllability. However, challenges for obtaining wrinkle-free, defect-free and large-area uniformity remain to be tackled. In addition, the real commercial applications of graphene films still require industrially compatible transfer techniques with reliable performance of transferred graphene, excellent production capacity, and suitable cost. Transferred graphene films, particularly with a large area, still suffer from the presence of transfer-related cracks, wrinkles and contaminants, which would strongly deteriorate the quality and uniformity of transferred graphene films. Potential applications of graphene films include moisture barrier films, transparent conductive films, electromagnetic shielding films, and optical communications; such applications call different requirements for the performance of transferred graphene, which, in turn, determine the suitable transfer techniques. Besides the reliable transfer process, automatic machines should be well developed for the future batch transfer of graphene films, ensuring the repeatability and scalability. This mini-review provides a summary of recent advances in the transfer of graphene films and offers a perspective for future directions of transfer techniques that are compatible for industrial batch transfer.

Rubisco small subunit (RbCS) is co-opted by potyvirids as the scaffold protein in assembling a complex for viral intercellular movement.

Plant viruses must move through plasmodesmata (PD) to complete their life cycles. For viruses in the Potyviridae family (potyvirids), three viral factors (P3N-PIPO, CI, and CP) and few host proteins are known to participate in this event. Nevertheless, not all the proteins engaging in the cell-to-cell movement of potyvirids have been discovered. Here, we found that HCPro2 encoded by areca palm necrotic ring spot virus (ANRSV) assists viral intercellular movement, which could be functionally complemented by its counterpart HCPro from a potyvirus. Affinity purification and mass spectrometry identified several viral factors (including CI and CP) and host proteins that are physically associated with HCPro2. We demonstrated that HCPro2 interacts with both CI and CP in planta in forming PD-localized complexes during viral infection. Further, we screened HCPro2-associating host proteins, and identified a common host protein in Nicotiana benthamiana-Rubisco small subunit (NbRbCS) that mediates the interactions of HCPro2 with CI or CP, and CI with CP. Knockdown of NbRbCS impairs these interactions, and significantly attenuates the intercellular and systemic movement of ANRSV and three other potyvirids (turnip mosaic virus, pepper veinal mottle virus, and telosma mosaic virus). This study indicates that a nucleus-encoded chloroplast-targeted protein is hijacked by potyvirids as the scaffold protein to assemble a complex to facilitate viral movement across cells.

Unlocking the health potential of anthocyanins: a structural insight into their varied biological effects.

Anthocyanins have become increasingly important to the food industry due to their colorant features and many health-promoting activities. Numerous studies have linked anthocyanins to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic properties, as well as protection against heart disease, certain types of cancer, and a reduced risk of diabetes and cognitive disorders. Anthocyanins from various foods may exhibit distinct biological and health-promoting activities owing to their structural diversity. In this review, we have collected and tabulated the key information from various recent published studies focusing on investigating the chemical structure effect of anthocyanins on their stability, antioxidant activities, in vivo fate, and changes in the gut microbiome. This information should be valuable in comprehending the connection between the molecular structure and biological function of anthocyanins, with the potential to enhance their application as both colorants and functional compounds in the food industry.

scRNA-Seq and Bulk-Seq Analysis Identifies S100A9 Plasma Cells as a Potentially Effective Immunotherapeutic Agent for Multiple Myeloma.

Purpose: Immunological regimens are an important area of research for treating multiple myeloma (MM). Plasma cells play a crucial role in immunotherapy. Patients and Methods: In our study, we used both single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk sequencing techniques to analyze MM patients. We analyzed each sample using gene set variation analysis (GSVA) based on immune-related gene sets. We also conducted further analyses to compare immune infiltration, clinical characteristics, and expression of immune checkpoint molecules between the H-S100A9 and L-S100A9 groups of MM patients. Results: We identified eight subpopulations of plasma cells, with S100A9 plasma cells being more abundant in patients with 1q21 gain and 1q21 diploid. CellChat analysis revealed that GAS and HGF signaling pathways were prominent in intercellular communication of S100A9 plasma cells. We identified 14 immune-related genes in the S100A9 plasma cell population, which allowed us to classify patients into the H-S100A9 group or the L-S100A9 group. The H-S100A9 group showed higher ESTIMATE, immune and stroma scores, lower tumor purity, and greater immune checkpoint expression. Patients with 1q21 gain and four or more copies had the lowest ESTIMATE score, immune score, stroma score, and highest tumor purity. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated that the H-S100A9 group had lower IC50 values and greater drug sensitivity compared to the L-S100A9 group. Quantitative reverse transcription (RT-q) PCR showed significantly elevated expression of RNASE6, LYZ, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 in MM patients compared to the healthy control group. Conclusion: Our study has identified a correlation between molecular subtypes of S100A9 plasma cells and the response to immunotherapy in MM patients. These findings improve our understanding of tumor immunology and provide guidance for developing effective immunotherapy strategies for this patient population.