SARS-CoV-2 Nsp8 induces mitophagy by damaging mitochondria.

Autophagy plays an important role in the interaction between viruses and host cells. SARS-CoV-2 infection can disrupt the autophagy process in target cells. However, the precise molecular mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we discovered that the Nsp8 of SARS-CoV-2 could cause an increasing accumulation of autophagosomes by preventing the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. From further investigation, we found that Nsp8 was present on mitochondria and can damage mitochondria to initiate mitophagy. The results of experiments with immunofluorescence revealed that Nsp8 induced incomplete mitophagy. Moreover, both domains of Nsp8 orchestrated their function during Nsp8-induced mitophagy, in which the N-terminal domain colocalized with mitochondria and the C-terminal domain induced auto/mitophagy. This novel finding expands our understanding of the function of Nsp8 in promoting mitochondrial damage and inducing incomplete mitophagy, which helps us to understand the etiology of COVID-19 as well as open up new pathways for creating SARS-CoV-2 treatment methods.

A review on surgical treatment options in gliomas.

Gliomas are one of the most common primary central nervous system tumors, and surgical treatment remains the principal role in the management of any grade of gliomas. In this study, based on the introduction of gliomas, we review the novel surgical techniques and technologies in support of the extent of resection to achieve long-term disease control and summarize the findings on how to keep the balance between cytoreduction and neurological morbidity from a list of literature searched. With modern neurosurgical techniques, gliomas resection can be safely performed with low morbidity and extraordinary long-term functional outcomes.

Two Resveratrol Oligomers Inhibit Cathepsin L Activity to Suppress SARS-CoV-2 Entry.

Cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) depends on specific host cell proteases, which are the key targets for preventing and treating viral infections. Herein, we describe miyabenol C and trans-ε-viniferin, two resveratrol oligomers that specifically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry by targeting host protease cathepsin L. Several cell-based assays were used to demonstrate the effect of resveratrol oligomers, and their target was identified via screening of antiviral targets. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the oligomers could occupy the active cavity of cathepsin L. The surface plasmon resonance assay showed that the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) values of miyabenol C-cathepsin L and trans-ε-viniferin-cathepsin L were 5.54 and 8.54 µM, respectively, indicating their excellent binding ability for cathepsin L. Our study demonstrated the potential application of resveratrol oligomers as lead compounds in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting cathepsin L.

[Spatial-temporal variation of vegetation water use efficiency and its relationship with climate factors over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China]. / é’è—é«˜åŽŸæ¤è¢«æ°´åˆ†åˆ©ç”¨æ•ˆçŽ‡æ—¶ç©ºå˜åŒ–åŠä¸Žæ°”å€™å› å­çš„å ³ç³».

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an effective index to study the coupling of land carbon and water cycle. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the most important ecological security barrier in China. Understanding the characteristics and mechanism of WUE is important for the carbon cycle and water resources rational utilization in the plateau. Based on MODIS data of gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET), we analyzed the spatial-temporal variations of WUE over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the effects of climate factors. The results showed that WUE in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau had an upward trend under the combined action of GPP and ET during 2001-2020. The southeast and northeast of the Plateau had the highest WUE value, while the central part had the lowest WUE value. WUE of grassland, marsh and alpine vegetation showed an increasing trend, while that of shrub land, broadleaved forest and coniferous forest showed a decreasing trend. There was a significant positive correlation between WUE and annual air temperature, and the sensitivity increased with the increases of air temperature. The relationship between WUE and annual precipitation was non-linear. When precipitation was less than 700 mm, the sensitivity of WUE to precipitation decreased with the increases of precipitation. When precipitation was more than 700 mm, the sensitivity of precipitation increased with the increases of precipitation. However, WUE was negatively correlated with precipitation in more than 75% of regions, and was affected by precipitation in a larger area. In the future, warm and humid climate would lead to a decrease in WUE.

[Research advances in shrub dendroecology]. / çŒæœ¨å¹´è½®ç”Ÿæ€å­¦ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

The ecological value of shrub-ring data has received more and more attention. The tree-ring data of shrub species have been increasingly used to reveal growth dynamics of regional shrub vegetation and its sensitivity to climate change. Up to now, nearly 70 species of shrubs have been used in the studies of shrub dendrochronology, which considerably broadened the traditional tree-ring research network, enriched the research scope and object of dendrochronology, and certainly with great significance in revealing the characteristics of regional climate fluctuation and annual dynamics of structure, function and service for shrubland ecosystems. In this study, we systematically collected dendrochronological studies based on shrub species during the 1996-2021, and reviewed research progress in four main subfields (physiology, climatology, ecology and hydrology) in dendrochronology for shrub species. The characteristics of shrub growth and xylem anatomy under different environmental stresses were expounded. The main limiting factors for shrub growth in different climatic conditions and the history of regional climate fluctuations based on shrub-ring data were revealed. The individual growth and population dynamics of shrub species driven by climate and the changes in ecosystems caused by non-climatic factors were assessed, and the reconstructions of regional hydrological histories were compiled using tree-ring data of shrub species. Under the context of global warming, dendrochronological studies of shrub species in China should pay more attention to the responses of shrub species radial growth to drought stress under different moisture conditions in the semi-arid and arid regions and the transforming feature of distribution pattern and climate response sensitivity for shrub species under the background of climate change.

Detection and imaging of Carbon monoxide releasing Molecule-2 in HeLa cells and zebrafish using a Metal-Free Near-Infrared fluorescent off-on probe.

By incorporating 4-nitrobenzene as the recognition unit into a stable hemicyanine skeleton based on IR 780, a designed near-infrared fluorescent off-on probe DNXI shows excellent analytical performance in real-time monitoring of carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) in living HeLa cells and zebrafish without transition metals. The response mechanism of CORM-2 with DNXI may reduce the nitro group to an amino group, followed by 1,6-rearrangement elimination reaction, resulting in the recovery of both color and fluorescence signal. As a result, DNXI shows very low background signal, which is rather desired for achieving sensitive detection of CORM-2. Compared with the existing CORM-2 probes, DNXI shows excellent optical performance in vitro and in vivo, high selectivity and sensitivity to CORM-2, as well as near-infrared fluorescence emission 712 nm, with a low detection limit of 103 nM. More importantly, DNXI is low cytotoxic, cell membrane permeable, and its applicability has been demonstrated for monitoring CORM-2 in living HeLa cells and zebrafish. These superior properties of the probe enable it have great potential to be used in biological systems or in vivo related studies.

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 Activates NF-κB Pathway by Upregulating SUMOylation of MAVS.

The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. A large number of clinical studies found high-level expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, which fuels the rapid development of the disease. However, the specific molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 can induce the expression of cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-2 in Calu-3 and THP1 cells. Further research found that Nsp5 enhances cytokine expression through activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Subsequently, we investigated the upstream effectors of the NF-κB signal pathway on Nsp5 overexpression and discovered that Nsp5 increases the protein level of MAVS. Moreover, Nsp5 can promote the SUMOylation of MAVS to increase its stability and lead to increasing levels of MAVS protein, finally triggering activation of NF-κB signaling. The knockdown of MAVS and the inhibitor of SUMOylation treatment can attenuate Nsp5-mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine induction. We identified a novel role of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 to enhance cytokine production by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

[Response differences of radial growth of Larix gmelinii and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica to climate change in Daxing'an Mountains, Northeast China]. / å¤§å ´å®‰å²­å ´å®‰è½å¶æ¾å’Œæ¨Ÿå­æ¾å¾„å‘ç”Ÿé•¿å¯¹æ°”å€™å˜åŒ–çš„å“åº”å·®å¼‚.

Daxing'an Mountains is one of regions in China with the most significant climate change. Larix gmelinii and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica are the most important species in this area. The study of their radial growth response to climate change would provide a scientific basis for predicting the dynamics of boreal forests under climate change. A total of 451 tree-ring cores of L. gmelinii and P. sylvestris var. mongolica were collected from six sites in the Daxing'an region, and 12 standard chronologies were established. We compared the tree growth trend since 1900, and analyzed their response to the climate factor in each site using Pearson correlation analysis. Effects of temperature and precipitation on the annual radial growth of L. gmelinii and P. sylvestris var. mongolica were investigated by linear mixed models. The time stability of the relationship between two species growth-climate was compared by moving correlation. The results showed that the radial growth of L. gmelinii was negatively correlated with mean temperature in March and positively correlated with precipitation in the previous winter and July of current year. The radial growth of P. sylvestris var. mongolica was positively correlated with temperature in August and precipitation in the growing season (from May to September) of current year. Snow in winter played an important role in promoting the radial growth of L. gmelinii, whereas precipitation in summer limited the radial growth of P. sylvestris var. mongolica. The responses of L. gmelinii and P. sylvestris var. mongolica to climate change were significantly different, which affected tree growth, species composition, and spatial distribution in the boreal forests.

Detection of Tyrosinase in Real Food Samples and Living Cells by a Novel Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probe.

A new near-infrared fluorescence probe was developed and applied to the fluorescence detection of tyrosinase in real food samples and living cells. The probe (E)-2-(2-(6-((3-hydroxybenzyloxy)carbonylamino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-xanthen-4-yl)vinyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-propyl-3H-indolium (1) was designed and synthesized by coupling 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol via carbamate bond with an amino hemicyanine skeleton, based on the high anti-interference ability of 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol to reactive oxygen species and its binding affinity to tyrosinase. Compared with the existing tyrosinase probes, the proposed probe exhibits superior analytical performance, such as high selectivity, high sensitivity, superior spatiotemporal sampling ability, fluorescence signal switching at 706 nm, and low detection limit of 0.36 U mL-1. More importantly, the probe has been successfully used to monitor tyrosinase in the browning of apple slices for the first time, and the results indicated that the strongest fluorescence intensity could be achieved at 2.5 h to realize precise visual recognition of tyrosinase. Notably, the probe determined tyrosinase in real food samples (apple, banana, cheese, and red wine) with a stable average recovery range of 95.7-108.3% and has been successfully used to monitor tyrosinase in the living B16 cells. The superior properties of the probe make it of great potential use in food nutritional value evaluation and clinical diagnosis of melanin-related diseases.

Bi-allelic LoF NRROS Variants Impairing Active TGF-ß1 Delivery Cause a Severe Infantile-Onset Neurodegenerative Condition with Intracranial Calcification.

Negative regulator of reactive oxygen species (NRROS) is a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein that uniquely associates with latent transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF- ß1) and anchors it on the cell surface; this anchoring is required for activation of TGF-ß1 in macrophages and microglia. We report six individuals from four families with bi-allelic variants in NRROS. All affected individuals had neurodegenerative disease with refractory epilepsy, developmental regression, and reduced white matter volume with delayed myelination. The clinical course in affected individuals began with normal development or mild developmental delay, and the onset of seizures occurred within the first year of life, followed by developmental regression. Intracranial calcification was detected in three individuals. The phenotypic features in affected individuals are consistent with those observed in the Nrros knockout mouse, and they overlap with those seen in the human condition associated with TGF-ß1 deficiency. The disease-causing NRROS variants involve two significant functional NRROS domains. These variants result in aberrant NRROS proteins with impaired ability to anchor latent TGF-ß1 on the cell surface. Using confocal microscopy in HEK293T cells, we demonstrate that wild-type and mutant NRROS proteins co-localize with latent TGF-ß1 intracellularly. However, using flow cytometry, we show that our mutant NRROS proteins fail to anchor latent TGF-ß1 at the cell surface in comparison to wild-type NRROS. Moreover, wild-type NRROS rescues the defect of our disease-associated mutants in presenting latent TGF-ß1 to the cell surface. Taken together, our findings suggest that loss of NRROS function causes a severe childhood-onset neurodegenerative condition with features suggestive of a disordered response to inflammation.

Very rapid cloning, expression and identifying specificity of T-cell receptors for T-cell engineering.

Neoantigens can be predicted and in some cases identified using the data obtained from the whole exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of tumor cells. These sequencing data can be coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing for the direct interrogation of the transcriptome, surfaceome, and pairing of αß T-cell receptors (TCRαß) from hundreds of single T cells. Using these 2 large datasets, we established a platform for identifying antigens recognized by TCRαßs obtained from single T cells. Our approach is based on the rapid expression of cloned TCRαß genes as Sleeping Beauty transposons and the determination of the introduced TCRαßs' antigen specificity and avidity using a reporter cell line. The platform enables the very rapid identification of tumor-reactive TCRs for the bioengineering of T cells with redirected specificity.

A comparison of the sealing abilities between Biodentine and MTA as root-end filling materials and their effects on bone healing in dogs after periradicular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the sealing ability and biocompatibility of Biodentine with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) when used as root-end filling materials. METHODOLOGY: The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to compare the cytotoxicity of MTA and Biodentine. Twenty-one extracted teeth with a single canal were immersed in an acidic silver nitrate solution after root-end filling. Then, the volume and depth of silver nitrate that infiltrated the apical portion of the teeth were analyzed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Seventy-two roots from 3 female beagle dogs were randomly distributed into 3 groups and apical surgery was performed. After six months, the volume of the bone defect surrounding these roots was analyzed using micro-CT. RESULTS: Based on the results of the CCK-8 assay, MTA and Biodentine did not show statistically significant differences in cytotoxicity (P>0.05). The volume and the depth of the infiltrated nitrate solution were greater in the MTA group than in the Biodentine group (P<0.05). The volume of the bone defect was larger in the MTA group than in the Biodentine group. However, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The volumes of the bone defects in the MTA and Biodentine groups were smaller than the group without any filling materials (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MTA and Biodentine exhibited comparable cellular biocompatibility. Biodentine showed a superior sealing ability to MTA in root-end filling. Both Biodentine and MTA promoted periradicular bone healing in beagle dog periradicular surgery models.

[Comparing the responses of radial growth between Quercus mongolica and Phellodendron amurense to climate change in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China.] / å°å ´å®‰å²­è’™å¤æ Žå’Œé»„è èå¾„å‘ç”Ÿé•¿å¯¹æ°”å€™å˜åŒ–çš„å“åº”æ¯”è¾ƒ.

Quercus mongolica and Phellodendron amurense are two important broad-leaved species in temperate forests of Northeast China. It is critical to explore their responses to climate change for supporting management, protection, and restoration of the broad-leaved forest in Northeast China under the future climate change scenario. Three sampling sites along a longitude gradient, Heilun, Tieli and Yichun, were set up in the Xiaoxing'an Mountains. Dendrochronological methods were used to establish standard chronologies for Q. mongolica and P. amurense. Correlation analyses were conducted between these chronologies and local climatic factors to establish the spatial and temporal variations in growth-climate relationship of Q. mongolica and P. amurense. The results showed that the radial growth of P. amurense was sensitive to temperature, while that of Q. mongolica was limi-ted by both temperature and precipitation. The temperature sensitivities of these two species were different. High spring temperature inhibited the radial growth of Q. mongolica, but promoted that of P. amurense. The limiting effect of high maximum temperature in summer on radial growth of Q. mongolica was significantly higher than that of P. amurense. With the increases of longitude (water availability), the correlation coefficients between radial growth of Q. mongolica and precipitation gradually weakened, while P. amurense didn't change. The physiological characteristics of those tree species was the key factors affecting their growth-climate relationship. With the significant warming since the 1976, the growth trend of P. amurense increased, whilst that of Q. mongolica decreased. Deteriorated drought stress caused by warming and difference in the species' ability to cope with water deficits might be the main reasons for different responses of two species, and for the divergence phenomenon occurring for Q. mongolica. If warming continues or worsens in the future, the growth of Q. mongolica may decline due to the intensified drought stress, while that of P. amurense may be less affected or be slightly enhanced.

Use of multifunctional composite nanofibers for photothermalchemotherapy to treat cervical cancer in mice.

A locally administered combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy may be suitable for the treatment of cervical cancer. In this study, doxorubicin (DOX) and indocyanine green (ICG) co-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DIMSN) were prepared. Then the nanoparticles were incorporated into chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (CS/PVA) to form multifunctional composite nanofibers (DIMSN/F) via the electrospinning process. Under the mimic erosion of vaginal secretion, DIMSN/F presented site-specific drug release while the local delivery of a thermosensitive DIMSN-loaded gel (DIMSN/gel) failed in doing so. The vaginal implantation of DIMSN/F could achieve maximized drug accumulation in the vagina of mice compared to the systematic injection of DIMSN. Finally, the photothermalchemotherapy (PTCT) effects of DIMSN/F were studied in both subcutaneous and orthotopic cervical cancer models in mice but drug penetration in the hard nodular tumor posed a great challenge. For all this, the tumor inhibition rate (TIR) for orthotopic cervical/vaginal cancer was still as high as 72.5%, presenting its great potential for the treatment of cervical cancer.

E2F7, EREG, miR-451a and miR-106b-5p are associated with the cervical cancer development.

PURPOSE: We aimed to seek the crucial genes or microRNAs (miRNA) correlated with the cervical cancer development. METHODS: The miRNA profiling GSE30656 and gene expression profiling GSE63514 were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMiRs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Then target genes of DEMiRs were obtained and matched with DEGs to obtain interaction pairs between DEMiRs and DEGs. Gene Ontology-biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted for DEGs and DEMiRs in the DEMiRs-DEGs pairs. The DEMiRs-DEGs regulatory network, protein-protein interaction network and transcription factor (TF)-target regulatory network were constructed. Ultimately, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with DEMiRs were obtained, and then lncRNA-miRNA-target ceRNA network was established. RESULTS: Total 18 DEMiRs and 620 DEGs were identified. DEMiRs were enriched in 35 KEGG pathways, such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (involving miR-451a). DEGs were enriched in various functions, such as DNA replication (involving E2F7) and angiogenesis (involving EREG). There were 120 nodes and 216 interaction pairs in the DEMIR-DEG regulatory network, and miR-106b-5p has the greatest degree. EREG and E2F7 were regulated by miR-451a and miR-148a-3p, respectively. Besides, E2F7 was identified in the TF-target regulatory network, regulating CDC6. There were 15 lncRNAs, 11 miRNAs and 90 DEGs in the ceRNA network. Specially, miR-148a-3p was interacted with lncRNA HOTAIR in the ceRNA network. CONCLUSION: E2F7, EREG, miR-451a and miR-106b-5p were likely to be related to the cervical cancer development.

Bcl2-Associated X (BAX) Knockout in Mice Resulted in Persistence of Neonatal Testicular Germ Cells (Gonocytes).

During early testicular development, neonatal gonocytes transform into spermatogonial stem cells (SSC), and any untransformed gonocytes are thought to undergo apoptosis. In human cryptorchidism, persisting gonocytes may lead to seminoma. Using Bcl2-associated X knockout (BAXKO) mice, we investigated apoptosis in gonocyte development during mouse minipuberty. Testes from BAXKO, heterozygous (HET), and wild-type (WT) littermates were collected on postnatal days 1, 3, 6, and 9 (n = 6/group), labelled with antibodies against mouse vasa homologue (MVH, germ cell marker) or promyelocytic leukaemia zinc-factor (PLZF, SSC marker) and imaged for cell counting. Total germ cells/tubule, i.e., the number of germ cells on and off the basement membrane (BM), were counted using Image J followed by 2-way ANOVA analysis with Prism. Total PLZF+ germ cells/tubule, PLZF+ germ cells/tubule off BM, total MVH+ germ cells/tubule, and MVH+ germ cells off BM/tubule were significantly higher at day 9 in BAXKO compared to WT and HET mice (p < 0.01). In conclusion, knockout of BAX in mouse leads to gonocytes persisting at the centre of the tubules after minipuberty, which failed to migrate and transform into SSC, indicating the important role of apoptosis is to eliminate undifferentiated gonocytes during transformation. Failed apoptosis in gonocytes may be the cause of malignancy in humans with cryptorchidism.

A comparison of the sealing abilities between Biodentine and MTA as root-end filling materials and their effects on bone healing in dogs after periradicular surgery

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare the sealing ability and biocompatibility of Biodentine with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) when used as root-end filling materials. Methodology: The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to compare the cytotoxicity of MTA and Biodentine. Twenty-one extracted teeth with a single canal were immersed in an acidic silver nitrate solution after root-end filling. Then, the volume and depth of silver nitrate that infiltrated the apical portion of the teeth were analyzed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Seventy-two roots from 3 female beagle dogs were randomly distributed into 3 groups and apical surgery was performed. After six months, the volume of the bone defect surrounding these roots was analyzed using micro-CT. Results: Based on the results of the CCK-8 assay, MTA and Biodentine did not show statistically significant differences in cytotoxicity (P>0.05). The volume and the depth of the infiltrated nitrate solution were greater in the MTA group than in the Biodentine group (P<0.05). The volume of the bone defect was larger in the MTA group than in the Biodentine group. However, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The volumes of the bone defects in the MTA and Biodentine groups were smaller than the group without any filling materials (P<0.05). Conclusions: MTA and Biodentine exhibited comparable cellular biocompatibility. Biodentine showed a superior sealing ability to MTA in root-end filling. Both Biodentine and MTA promoted periradicular bone healing in beagle dog periradicular surgery models.

Sandwich-Like Fibers/Sponge Composite Combining Chemotherapy and Hemostasis for Efficient Postoperative Prevention of Tumor Recurrence and Metastasis.

Intraoperative bleeding is an essential factor leading to the earliest recurrence and tumor metastasis frequently seen after resection of solid tumors. Local drug delivery implants show the unique advantages on postoperative cancer therapy. Herein, a sandwich-like cisplatin-loaded fibers/sponge composite (CFSC) combining chemotherapy and hemostasis is constructed. The obtained implantable CFSC is able to simultaneously stop bleeding and absorb disseminated tumor cells after tumor resection. More importantly, sustained released cisplatin can kill local residual tumor cells as well as those concentrated in the CFSC, which significantly inhibits local tumor recurrence and distant tumor metastasis on the subcutaneous postoperative recurrence model and metastasis models. This dual functional implant strategy with low toxicity to healthy organs may inspire new aspects for efficient postoperative cancer therapy.

[Ecological and physiological mechanisms of growth decline of Robinia pseudoacacia plantations in the Loess Plateau of China: A review.] / 黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退的生态生理机制.

Robinia pseudoacacia has been widely planted in the Loess Plateau of China for soil and water conservation. The growth decline of R. pseudoacacia plantations has become a recently emerging challenge for the revegetation program and sustainable forest management in this region. As to the scientific definition, identified criteria and quantitative indices have not yet been comprehensively quantified, our current understanding of the ecological and physiological mechanisms for growth decline of R. pseudoacacia plantations is limited. The knowledge could enrich the basic theories of vegetation restoration and benefit the sustainable development of the afforestation project in the Loess Plateau. Through the comprehensive compilation of literatures on forest decline and tree mortality in the Loess Plateau and other regions across the world, this review summarized the mechanisms and recent research progress on growth decline for R. pseudoacacia plantations in the Loess Plateau, primarily demonstrated from ecological (e.g., climatic change, soil desiccation, the imbalance of community structure and the misconduct of forest management) and physiological (e.g., hydraulic failure, carbon starvation, genetic and molecular regulation) perspectives. Finally, we highlighted the research gap with regard to growth decline of R. pseudoacacia plantations in the Loess Plateau.