Epithelium-derived exosomes promote silica nanoparticles-induced pulmonary fibroblast activation and collagen deposition via modulating fibrotic signaling pathways and their epigenetic regulations.

BACKGROUND: In the context of increasing exposure to silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and ensuing respiratory health risks, emerging evidence has suggested that SiNPs can cause a series of pathological lung injuries, including fibrotic lesions. However, the underlying mediators in the lung fibrogenesis caused by SiNPs have not yet been elucidated. RESULTS: The in vivo investigation verified that long-term inhalation exposure to SiNPs induced fibroblast activation and collagen deposition in the rat lungs. In vitro, the uptake of exosomes derived from SiNPs-stimulated lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) by fibroblasts (MRC-5) enhanced its proliferation, adhesion, and activation. In particular, the mechanistic investigation revealed SiNPs stimulated an increase of epithelium-secreted exosomal miR-494-3p and thereby disrupted the TGF-ß/BMPR2/Smad pathway in fibroblasts via targeting bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2), ultimately resulting in fibroblast activation and collagen deposition. Conversely, the inhibitor of exosomes, GW4869, can abolish the induction of upregulated miR-494-3p and fibroblast activation in MRC-5 cells by the SiNPs-treated supernatants of BEAS-2B. Besides, inhibiting miR-494-3p or overexpression of BMPR2 could ameliorate fibroblast activation by interfering with the TGF-ß/BMPR2/Smad pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested pulmonary epithelium-derived exosomes serve an essential role in fibroblast activation and collagen deposition in the lungs upon SiNPs stimuli, in particular, attributing to exosomal miR-494-3p targeting BMPR2 to modulate TGF-ß/BMPR2/Smad pathway. Hence, strategies targeting exosomes could be a new avenue in developing therapeutics against lung injury elicited by SiNPs.

Genetically predicted lipids mediate the association between intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), the most prevalent liver disorder specific to pregnancy, affects approximately 1.5%-4% of pregnancies. However, the influence of ICP on cardiovascular disease (CVD), including hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery disease (CAD), has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: This study explores the causal relationship between ICP and CVD (HTN, CAD) using Mendelian Randomization (MR). Utilizing summary-level data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), we applied the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by sensitivity and reverse MR analyses, to ascertain robustness. Results: Our findings reveal significant causal links, indicating ICP notably increases the risk of CVD (P = 0.001), hypertension (HTN, P = 0.024), and coronary artery disease (CAD, P = 0.039). A two-step MR analysis highlighted the mediation role of lipid profiles, with LDL, TC, and Apo-B contributing to increased CVD risk by 25.5%, 12.2%, and 21.3%, respectively. Additionally, HTN was identified as a mediator in the ICP-CAD association, accounting for a 14.5% mediation effect. Discussion: The results underscore the genetic predisposition of ICP to elevate CVD risk and the critical mediating role of lipid levels, emphasizing the need for vigilant lipid monitoring and early intervention in individuals with ICP.

Effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during par plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetes retinopathy with mild cataract: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) compared to those of PPV with subsequent cataract surgery. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in three Chinese hospitals on patients with PDR, aged >45y, with mild cataracts. The participants were randomly assigned to the combined (PPV combined with simultaneously cataract surgery, i.e., phacovitrectomy) or subsequent (PPV with subsequent cataract surgery 6mo later) group and followed up for 12mo. The primary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6mo, and the secondary outcomes included complication rates and medical expenses. RESULTS: In total, 129 patients with PDR were recruited and equally randomized (66 and 63 in the combined and subsequent groups respectively). The change in BCVA in the combined group [mean, 36.90 letters; 95% confidence interval (CI), 30.35-43.45] was significantly better (adjusted difference, 16.43; 95%CI, 8.77-24.08; P<0.001) than in the subsequent group (mean, 22.40 letters; 95%CI, 15.55-29.24) 6mo after the PPV, with no significant difference between the two groups at 12mo. The overall surgical risk of two sequential surgeries was significantly higher than that of the combined surgery for neovascular glaucoma (17.65% vs 3.77%, P=0.005). No significant differences were found in the photocoagulation spots, surgical time, and economic expenses between two groups. In the subsequent group, the duration of work incapacity (22.54±9.11d) was significantly longer (P<0.001) than that of the combined group (12.44±6.48d). CONCLUSION: PDR patients aged over 45y with mild cataract can also benefit from early lens extraction during PPV with gratifying effectiveness, safety and convenience, compared to sequential surgeries.

Phylogenetic and taxonomic updates of Agaricales, with an emphasis on Tricholomopsis.

The order Agaricales was divided into eight suborders. However, the phylogenetic relationships among some suborders are largely unresolved, and the phylogenetic positions and delimitations of some taxa, such as Sarcomyxaceae and Tricholomopsis, remain unsettled. In this study, sequence data of 38 genomes were generated through genome skimming on an Illumina sequencing system. To anchor the systematic position of Sarcomyxaceae and Tricholomopsis, a phylogenetic analysis based on 555 single-copy orthologous genes from the aforementioned genomes and 126 publicly accessible genomes was performed. The results fully supported the clustering of Tricholomopsis with Phyllotopsis and Pleurocybella within Phyllotopsidaceae, which formed a divergent monophyletic major lineage together with Pterulaceae, Radulomycetaceae, and Macrotyphula in Agaricales. The analysis also revealed that Sarcomyxaceae formed a unique major clade. Therefore, two new suborders, Phyllotopsidineae and Sarcomyxineae, are proposed for the two major lineages. Analyses of 450 single-copy orthologous genes and four loci suggested that Tricholomopsis consisted of at least four clades. Tricholomopsis is subsequently subdivided into four distinct sections. Seventeen Tricholomopsis species in China, including six new species, are reported. Conoloma is established to accommodate T. mucronata. The substrate preference of Tricholomopsis species and the transitions of the pileate ornamentations among the species within the genus are discussed.

Gender-specific effects of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on triclosan-induced reproductive toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Nanoplastics (NPs) and triclosan (TCS) are ubiquitous emerging environmental contaminants detected in human samples. While the reproductive toxicity of TCS alone has been studied, its combined effects with NPs remain unclear. Herein, we employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering to characterize the coexposure of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50 nm) with TCS. Then, adult zebrafish were exposed to TCS at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.361-48.2 µg/L), with or without PS-NPs (1.0 mg/L) for 21 days. TCS biodistribution in zebrafish tissues was investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Reproductive toxicity was assessed through gonadal histopathology, fertility tests, changes in steroid hormone synthesis and gene expression within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis. Transcriptomics and proteomics were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that PS-NPs could adsorb TCS, thus altering the PS-NPs' physical characteristics. Our observations revealed that coexposure with PS-NPs reduced TCS levels in the ovaries, livers, and brains of female zebrafish. Conversely, in males, coexposure with PS-NPs increased TCS levels in the testes and livers, while decreasing them in the brain. We found that co-exposure mitigated TCS-induced ovary development inhibition while exacerbated TCS-induced spermatogenesis suppression, resulting in increased embryonic mortality and larval malformations. This co-exposure influenced the expression of genes linked to steroid hormone synthesis (cyp11a1, hsd17ß, cyp19a1) and attenuated the TCS-decreased estradiol (E2) in females. Conversely, testosterone levels were suppressed, and E2 levels were elevated due to the upregulation of specific genes (cyp11a1, hsd3ß, cyp19a1) in males. Finally, the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics suggested that the aqp12-dctn2 pathway was involved in PS-NPs' attenuation of TCS-induced reproductive toxicity in females, while the pck2-katnal1 pathway played a role in PS-NPs' exacerbation of TCS-induced reproductive toxicity in males. Collectively, PS-NPs altered TCS-induced reproductive toxicity by disrupting the HPGL axis, with gender-specific effects.

Assessing the Impact of PM2.5-Bound Arsenic on Cardiovascular Risk among Workers in a Non-ferrous Metal Smelting Area: Insights from Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability.

Inhalation of fine particulate matter PM2.5-bound arsenic (PM2.5-As) may cause significant cardiovascular damage, due to its high concentration, long transmission range, and good absorption efficiency in organisms. However, both the contribution and the effect of the arsenic exposure pathway, with PM2.5 as the medium, on cardiovascular system damage in nonferrous smelting sites remain to be studied. In this work, a one-year site sample collection and analysis work showed that the annual concentration of PM2.5-As reached 0.74 µg/m3, which was 120 times the national standard. The predominant species in the PM2.5 samples were As (V) and As (III). A panel study among workers revealed that PM2.5-As exposure dominantly contributed to human absorption of As. After exposure of mice to PM2.5-As for 8 weeks, the accumulation of As in the high exposure group reached equilibrium, and its bioavailability was 24.5%. A series of animal experiments revealed that PM2.5-As exposure induced cardiac injury and dysfunction at the environmental relevant concentration and speciation. By integrating environmental and animal exposure assessments, more accurate health risk assessment models exposed to PM2.5-As were established for metal smelting areas. Therefore, our research provides an important scientific basis for relevant departments to formulate industry supervision, prevention and control policies.

Anti-MRSA mechanism of spirostane saponin in Rohdea pachynema F.T.Wang & tang.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Rohdea pachynema F.T.Wang & Tang (R. pachynema), is a traditional folk medicine used for the treatment of stomach pain, stomach ulcers, bruises, and skin infections in China. Some of the diseases may relate to microbial infections in traditional applications. However few reports on its antimicrobial properties and bioactive components. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify its bioactive constituents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-MRSA ingredient 6α-O-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-quinovopyranosyl]-(25S)-5α-spirostan-3ß-ol (XQS) was obtained from R. pachynema by phytochemical isolation. Subsequently, XQS underwent screening using the broth microdilution method and growth inhibition curves to assess its antibacterial activity. The mechanism of XQS was evaluated by multigeneration induction, biofilm resistance assay, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and metabolomics. Additionally, a mouse skin infection model was established in vivo. RESULTS: 26 compounds were identified from the R. pachynema, in which anti-MRSA spirostane saponin (XQS) was reported for the first time with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 µg/mL. XQS might bind to peptidoglycan (PGN) of the cell wall, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) of the cell membrane, then destroying the cell wall and the cell membrane, resulting in reduced membrane fluidity and membrane depolarization. Furthermore, XQS affected MRSA lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ABC transporters by metabolomics analysis, which targeted cell walls and membranes causing less susceptibility to drug resistance. Furthermore, XQS (8 mg/kg) recovered skin wounds in mice infected by MRSA effectively, superior to vancomycin (8 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: XQS showed anti-MRSA bioactivity in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism association with cell walls and membranes was reported for the first, which supported the traditional uses of R. pachynema and explained its sensitivity to MRSA.

Molecular phylogeny and morphology of Sporodiniella sinensis sp. nov. (Syzygitaceae, Mucorales), an invertebrate-associated species from Yunnan, China.

During investigations of invertebrate-associated fungi in Yunnan Province of China, a new species, Sporodiniella sinensis sp. nov., was collected. Morphologically, S. sinensis is similar to Sporodiniella umbellata; however, it is distinguished from S. umbellata by its greater number of sporangiophore branches, longer sporangiophores, larger sporangiospores, and columellae. The novel species exhibits similarities of 91.62 % for internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 98.66-99.10 % for ribosomal small subunit (nrSSU), and 96.36-98.22 % for ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU) sequences, respectively, compared to S. umbellata. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses based on combined sequences of ITS, nrLSU and nrSSU show that it forms a separate clade in Sporodiniella, and clusters closely with S. umbellata with high statistical support. The phylogenetic and morphological evidence support S. sinensis as a distinct species. Here, it is formally described and illustrated, and compared with other relatives.

Potato miR394 targets StA/N-INVE and StLCR to negatively regulate late blight resistance.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs in eukaryotes. Plant endogenous miRNAs play pivotal roles in regulating plant development and defense responses. MicroRNA394 (miR394) has been reported to regulate plant development, abiotic stresses and defense responses. Previous reports showed that miR394 responded to P. infestans inoculation in potato, indicating that miR394 may be involved in defense responses. In this study, we further investigated its role in potato defense against P. infestans. Stable expression of miR394 in tobacco and potato enhances the susceptibility to P. infestans, which is accompanied with the reduced accumulation of ROS and down-regulation of the PTI (pattern-triggered immunity) marker genes. Besides well-known target StLCR, miR394 also targets StA/N-INVE, which encodes a chloroplast Alkaline/Neutral Invertases (A/N-INVE). Both StLCR and StA/N-INVE positively regulate late blight resistance, while miR394 degrades them. Interestingly, StA/N-INVE is located in the chloroplast, indicating that miR394 may manipulate chloroplast immunity. Degradation of StA/N-INVE may affect the chloroplast function and hence lead to the compromised ROS (reactive oxygen species) burst and reduced retrograde signaling from the chloroplast to the nucleus and cytoplasm. In summary, this study provides new information that miR394 targets and degrades StA/N-INVE and StLCR, which are positive regulators, to enhance potato susceptibility to P. infestans.

Sustained release gel based on CT image inspection for treatment of diabetes fundus macular lesions.

Currently, slow-release gel therapy is considered to be an effective treatment for fundus macular disease, but the lack of effective evaluation methods limits its clinical application. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the application and clinical effect of slow-release gel based on CT image examination in the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images of fundus macular lesions were collected in a group of diabetic patients. Then the professional image processing software is used to process and analyze the image and extract the key parameters. A slow-release gel was designed and prepared, and applied to the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images before and after treatment were compared and analyzed, and the effect of slow-release gel was evaluated. In a certain period of time after treatment, the lesion size and lesion degree of diabetic fundus macular disease were significantly improved by using slow-release gel therapy with CT image examination. No significant adverse reactions or complications were observed during the treatment. This indicates that the slow-release gel based on CT image examination is a safe, effective and feasible treatment method for diabetic fundus macular disease. This method can help improve the vision and quality of life of patients, and provide a new idea and plan for clinical treatment.

Four New Species and One New Record of Thelephora from China.

Species of the genus Thelephora (Thelephorales, Thelephoraceae) are ectomycorrhizal symbionts of coniferous and broad-leaved plants, and some of them are well-known edible mushrooms, making it an exceptionally important group ecologically and economically. However, the diversity of the species from China has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses, along with morphological observations of this genus. Four new species from China are proposed, viz., T. dactyliophora, T. lacunosa, T. petaloides, and T. pinnatifida. In addition, T. sikkimensis originally described from India is reported for the first time from China. Thelephora dactyliophora, T. pinnatifida, and T. sikkimensis are distributed in subtropical forests and mainly associated with plants of the families Fagaceae and Pinaceae. Thelephora lacunosa and T. petaloides are distributed in tropical to subtropical forests. Thelephora lacunosa is mainly associated with plants of the families Fagaceae and Pinaceae, while T. petaloides is mainly associated with plants of the family Fagaceae. Line drawings of microstructures, color pictures of fresh basidiomes, and detailed descriptions of these five species are provided.

Generation of sulfones utilizing ß-sulfinyl esters as masked aryl sulfinates under redox-neutral conditions.

A method for generation of SVI sulfones from ß-sulfinyl esters (SIV) under transition-metal-free non-oxidative mild conditions is presented. Various sulfones have been achieved with moderate to excellent yields. The advantage of using ß-sulfinyl esters as masked aryl sulfinates has also been exemplified using brominated substrates. Oxygen isotope-labeling experiments indicated that the oxygen atoms incorporated into the sulfone product come from the sulfoxide of the ß-sulfinyl ester. Successive ß-elimination/O-addition/sulfinate esterification/ß-elimination processes are proposed for the mechanism of generating SVI from SIV.

Pulvinic Acid Derivative Pigments in Lanmaoa asiatica and L. macrocarpa.

Lanmaoa asiatica G. Wu & Zhu L. Yang and L. macrocarpa N. K. Zeng, H. Chai & S. Jiang are two important gourmet bolete in China, and locally named "Jian Shou Qing" meaning their fruiting bodies turn blue after bruising. The genus represents a distinct lineage in Boletaceae. The pigment(s) associated with the discoloration in Lanmaoa has not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the pigment(s) underpinning the bluing reaction of L. asiatica and L. macrocarpa when bruised. Potential compounds were isolated by HPLC and identified by LC-HRMS and NMR. In total five to six pigments of hydroxylated pulvinic acid derivatives were detected with similar distribution patterns in both L. asiatica and L. macrocarpa, which by abundance were variegatic acid, variegatorubin, xerocomic acid (and/or isoxerocomic acid), xerocomorubin, and atromentic acid. Variegatic acid, the most abundant pigment, was isolated by HPLC, and the structure was further characterized by NMR. The amount of variegatic acid increased after regular cooking, which may suggest its enhanced health benefit as human diet. The types of pigments that cause bluing reactions often differ among families of Boletales. Our results showed that the pigments in Lanmaoa belong to the category of hydroxylated pulvinic acid derivatives, the major bluing compounds in Boletaceae.

Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal two new entomopathogenic species of Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) parasitic on termites from China.

Two new termite-pathogenic species, Ophiocordycepsglobiperitheciata and O.longistipes, are described from Yunnan Province, China. Six-locus (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1 and rpb2) phylogenetic analyses in combination with morphological observations were employed to characterize these two species. Phylogenetically, O.globiperitheciata is most closely related to Hirsutellacryptosclerotium and O.communis, whereas O.longistipes shares a sister relationship with O.fusiformis. However, O.globiperitheciata differs from H.cryptosclerotium by parasitizing Blattodea and producing clavate, unbifurcated stromata. Ophiocordycepsglobiperitheciata is distinguished from O.communis by multiple stromata, shorter asci and ascospores. Ophiocordycepslongistipes differs from O.fusiformis in producing larger stromata, perithecia, asci and ascospores, as well as smaller citriform or oval conidia. Morphological descriptions of the two new species and a dichotomous key to the 19 termite-pathogenic Ophiocordyceps species are presented.

Polymer-DNA assembled nanoflower for targeted delivery of dolastatin-derived microtubule inhibitors.

Dolastatin derivatives possess excellent anticancer activity and have been translated into clinical trials for cancer therapy. Drug delivery systems enable dolastatin derivatives to break the limitation of instability during blood circulation and ineffective cell internalization in the application. Nevertheless, their potential has not been thoroughly established because of the limited loading efficacy and complicated chemical modification. Herein, we rationally propose a rolling circle amplification-based polymer-DNA assembled nanoflower for targeted and efficient delivery of dolastatin-derived drugs to achieve efficient anticancer therapy. The polymer-DNA assembled nanoflower with targeted aptamer conjugate is widely applicable for loading dolastatin-derived drugs with high encapsulation efficiency. The developed monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) loaded PN@M exhibited increased cellular uptake and enhanced inhibitory effect, especially in multidrug-resistant tumor cells. The results of in vivo anticancer effects indicate that nanoflower as a dolastatin derivatives delivery system holds considerable potential for the treatment of malignant cancer.

Phosphocholine-induced energy source shift alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction in lung cells caused by geospecific PM2.5 components.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is globally recognized for its adverse implications on human health. Yet, remain limited the individual contribution of particular PM2.5 components to its toxicity, especially considering regional disparities. Moreover, prevention solutions for PM2.5-associated health effects are scarce. In the present study, we comprehensively characterized and compared the primary PM2.5 constituents and their altered metabolites from two locations: Taiyuan and Guangzhou. Analysis of year-long PM2.5 samples revealed 84 major components, encompassing organic carbon, elemental carbon, ions, metals, and organic chemicals. PM2.5 from Taiyuan exhibited higher contamination, associated health risks, dithiothreitol activity, and cytotoxicities than Guangzhou's counterpart. Applying metabolomics, BEAS-2B lung cells exposed to PM2.5 from both cities were screened for significant alterations. A correlation analysis revealed the metabolites altered by PM2.5 and the critical toxic PM2.5 components in both regions. Among the PM2.5-down-regulated metabolites, phosphocholine emerged as a promising intervention for PM2.5 cytotoxicities. Its supplementation effectively attenuated PM2.5-induced energy metabolism disorder and cell death via activating fatty acid oxidation and inhibiting Phospho1 expression. The highlighted toxic chemicals displayed combined toxicities, potentially counteracted by phosphocholine. Our study offered a promising functional metabolite to alleviate PM2.5-induced cellular disorder and provided insights into the geo-based variability in toxic PM2.5 components.

Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Bimagnolignan: A Natural Anti-Breast Cancer Agent.

A short scalable biomimetic route to bioactive natural product bimagnolignan (1) was accomplished. Compound 1 was successfully prepared through a three-step metal-free synthesis from honokiol (2). Alternatively, 1 was also synthesized by biomimetic transformations that mimic tyrosinase in four steps. The key reactions feature a regioselective acetylation, a highly efficient C(sp2)-H oxidation, a cascade aerobic oxidative cyclization/coupling, and a Cu-catalyzed direct oxidative coupling. In addition, cell-based assays validate that 1 is a promising natural lead for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.

Species pool, local assembly processes: Disentangling the mechanisms determining bacterial α- and ß-diversity during forest secondary succession.

Across ecology, and particularly within microbial ecology, there is limited understanding how the generation and maintenance of diversity. Although recent work has shown that both local assembly processes and species pools are important in structuring microbial communities, the relative contributions of these mechanisms remain an important question. Moreover, the roles of local assembly processes and species pools are drastically different when explicitly considering the potential for saturation or unsaturation, yet this issue is rarely addressed. Thus, we established a conceptual model that incorporated saturation theory into the microbiological domain to advance the understanding of mechanisms controlling soil bacterial diversity during forest secondary succession. Conceptual model hypotheses were tested by coupling soil bacterial diversity, local assembly processes and species pools using six different forest successional chronosequences distributed across multiple climate zones. Consistent with the unsaturated case proposed in our conceptual framework, we found that species pool consistently affected α-diversity, even while local assembly processes on local richness operate. In contrast, the effects of species pool on ß-diversity disappeared once local assembly processes were taken into account, and changes in environmental conditions during secondary succession led to shifts in ß-diversity through mediation of the strength of heterogeneous selection. Overall, this study represents one of the first to demonstrate that most local bacterial communities might be unsaturated, where the effect of species pool on α-diversity is robust to the consideration of multiple environmental influences, but ß-diversity is constrained by environmental selection.

The potential toxicity of microplastics on human health.

Microplastics are plastic particles, films, and fibers with a diameter of < 5 mm. Given their long-standing existence in the environment and terrible increase in annual emissions, concerns were raised about the potential health risk of microplastics on human beings. In particular, the increased consumption of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased human contact with microplastics. To date, the emergence of microplastics in the human body, such as feces, blood, placenta, lower airway, and lungs, has been reported. Related toxicological investigations of microplastics were gradually increased. To comprehensively illuminate the interplay of microplastic exposure and human health, we systematically reviewed the updated toxicological data of microplastics and summarized their mode of action, adverse effects, and toxic mechanisms. The emerging critical issues in the current toxicological investigations were proposed and discussed. Our work would facilitate a better understanding of MPs-induced health hazards for toxicological evaluation and provide helpful information for regulatory decisions.

Integrating multi-level interactive network and in vivo/vitro studies to explore the protective mechanism of Ampelopsis grossedentata in hyperuricemia.

The strategies or drugs for preventing and treating Hyperuricemia (HUA) are still lacking. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a profound history, Ampelopsis grossedentata has been shown to play diverse biological roles. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate hypouricemic effect of A. grossedentata, and investigate its involved material basis and mechanism. A HUA mice model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of A. grossedentata. And then some extracts from A. grossedentata were prepared, isolated and analyzed. Furthermore, network pharmacology, based on the above results, was used to discover potential active ingredients and therapeutic targets, and they were further verified and explored by molecular docking and in vitro experiments. In vivo experiments showed that A. grossedentata exerted hypouricemic effect on mice of HUA. The core active ingredients (quercetin, myricetin and dihydromyricetin etc.) and core targets (PTGS2, XOD and ABCG2 etc.) for A. grossedentata to treat HUA were predicted by network pharmacology. And molecular docking showed that the spontaneous binding activities of above components and targets were marvelous. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that A. grossedentata exerted hypouricemic effect by decreasing the levels of UA, XOD, antioxidant factors, inflammatory factors, GLUT9 and URAT1 in HK-2 cells of HUA. Taken together, this study integrates multi-level interaction network with in vivo/vitro experiments to systematically reveal the material basis and mechanism of A. grossedentata in treating HUA, which provides a scientific basis for further study of A. grossedentata and HUA.