Histone Acetylation Enhancing Host Melanization in Response to Parasitism by an Endoparasitoid Wasp.

Endoparasitoids are insects that develop within other insects, employing unique strategies to enhance their offspring's survival. They inject polydnavirus and/or venom into their hosts along with eggs, effectively suppressing the host's immune system. Polydnavirus from Braconidae and Ichneumonidae wasps can integrate into the host's genome to express viral genes using the host's transcription systems. However, the ability of parasitoids without polydnavirus to manipulate host gene expression remains unclear. Lysine acetylation (LysAc), a post-translational modification critical for gene regulation, is hypothesized to be used by endoparasitoids lacking polydnavirus. We utilized the Chalcidoidea wasp Tetrastichus brontispae, which lacks polydnavirus, as an idiobiont endoparasitoid model to test this hypothesis, with pupae of the nipa palm hispid beetle Octodonta nipae as the host. Parasitism by T. brontispae resulted in the reduced expression of histone deacetylase Rpd3 and elevated levels of LysAc modification at histones H3.3K9 and H3.3K14 through proteomics and LysAc modification omics. The knockdown of Rpd3 increased the expression level of OnPPAF1 and OnPPO involved in the phenoloxidase cascade, leading to melanization in the host body whereby it resembled a mummified parasitized pupa and ultimately causing pupa death. This study enhances our understanding of how endoparasitoids employ histone acetylation to regulate immunity-related genes, offering valuable insights into their survival strategies.

Calenduloside e modulates macrophage polarization via KLF2-regulated glycolysis, contributing to attenuates atherosclerosis.

Glycolysis-mediated macrophage polarization plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis. Although it is known that calenduloside E (CE) exerts anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects in atherosclerosis, the underlying mechanism of action is not clearly understood. We hypothesized that CE functions by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization via regulation of glycolysis. To verify this hypothesis, we determined the effects of CE in apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice and on macrophage polarization in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and peritoneal macrophages. We also determined whether these effects are linked to regulation of glycolysis both in vivo and in vitro. The plaque size was reduced, and serum cytokine levels were decreased in the ApoE-/- +CE group compared with that in the model group. CE decreased lipid droplet formation, inflammatory factor levels, and mRNA levels of M1 macrophage markers in ox-ldl-induced macrophages. CE suppressed ox-ldl-induced glycolysis, lactate levels, and glucose uptake. The relationship between glycolysis and M1 macrophage polarization was demonstrated using the glycolysis inhibitor 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one. CE substantially upregulated ox-ldl-induced Kruppel-like transcription factor (KLF2) expression, and the effects of CE on ox-ldl-induced glycolysis and inflammatory factor levels disappeared after KLF2 knockdown. Together, our findings suggest that CE alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting glycolysis-mediated M1 macrophage polarization through upregulation of KLF2 expression, providing a new strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing of macrophages in common cardiovascular diseases.

Macrophages are strategically located throughout the body at key sites in the immune system. A key feature in atherosclerosis is the uptake and accumulation of lipoproteins by arterial macrophages, leading to the formation of foam cells. After myocardial infarction, macrophages derived from monocytes infiltrate the infarcted heart. Macrophages are also closely related to adverse remodeling after heart failure. An in-depth understanding of the functions and characteristics of macrophages is required to study heart health and pathophysiological processes; however, the heterogeneity and plasticity explained by the classic M1/M2 macrophage paradigm are too limited. Single-cell sequencing is a high-throughput sequencing technique that enables the sequencing of the genome or transcriptome of a single cell. It effectively complements the heterogeneity of gene expression in a single cell that is ignored by conventional sequencing and can give valuable insights into the development of complex diseases. In the present review, we summarize the available research on the application of single-cell transcriptome sequencing to study the changes in macrophages during common cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. This article also discusses the contribution of this knowledge to understanding the pathogenesis, development, diagnosis, and treatment of heart diseases.

Fabrication of Nanoarchitectonic AgOx/BiPO4 Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Resveratrol.

In the present study, a novel AgOx/BiPO4 sensor was successfully prepared and used for detecting trans-resveratrol. Prepared samples were characterized using methods including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the AgOx/BiPO4 is composed of AgO, Ag2O, and BiPO4. In addition, a cyclic voltammetry method was used to measure resveratrol concentration using the electrochemical sensor based on AgOx/BiPO4. AgOx/BiPO4 presents a well-defined voltammetric peak at approximately +460 mV versus Ag/AgCl in phosphate-buffered saline solution. In addition, the sensor exhibits a detection limit of 1.0×10-7 M, and the wide dynamic concentration ranges from 2.0×10-7 to 12.5×10-6 M. Stability and interference tests were performed for 20 days. A possible mechanism for AgOx/BiPO4 detection of trans-resveratrol detection is proposed.

In situ Immobilization of Copper Nanoparticles on Polydopamine Coated Graphene Oxide for H2O2 Determination.

Nanostructured electrochemical sensors often suffer from irreversible aggregation and poor adhesion to the supporting materials, resulting in reduced sensitivity and selectivity over time. We describe a versatile method for fabrication of a H2O2 sensor by immobilizing copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs; 20 nm) on graphene oxide (GO) sheets via in-situ reduction of copper(II) on a polydopamine (PDA) coating on a glassy carbon electrode. The PDA film with its amino groups and catechol groups acts as both a reductant and an adhesive that warrants tight bonding between the Cu NPs and the support. The modified electrode, best operated at a working voltage of -0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), has a linear response to H2O2 in the 5 µM to 12 mM concentration range, a sensitivity of 141.54 µA∙mM‾1∙cm‾2, a response time of 4 s, and a 1.4 µM detection limit (at an S/N ratio of 3). The sensor is highly reproducible and selective (with minimal interference to ascorbic acid and uric acid). The method was applied to the determination of H2O2 in sterilant by the standard addition method and gave recoveries between 97% and 99%.

Supramolecular Controlled Cargo Release via Near Infrared Tunable Cucurbit[7]uril-Gold Nanostars.

The near infrared (NIR) absorption and average particle size of gold nanostars (GNSs) can be precisely controlled by varying the molar ratios of cucurbit[7]urils (CB[7]) and GNSs in aqueous solution. GNSs modified with CB[7] achieved high cargo loading with thermally activated release upon the NIR laser irradiation.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Urease Inhibition of N'-(2-Bromobenzylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenoxy) acetohydrazide and N'-(4-Nitrobenzylidene) -2-(4-nitrophenoxy)acetohydrazide.

Two new hydrazone compounds, N'-(2-bromobenzylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenoxy)acetohydrazide (1) and N'-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenoxy)acetohydrazide (2), were prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with unit cell dimensions of a = 5.3064(5) Å, b = 18.202(2) Å, c = 15.970(2) Å, ß = 95.866(3)º, V = 1534.4(2) Å(3), Z = 4, R(1) = 0.0457, and wR(2) = 0.0975. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with unit cell dimensions of a = 4.6008(7) Å, b = 14.451(2) Å, c = 23.296(3) Å, ß = 93.620(2)º, V = 1545.8(4) Å(3), Z = 4, R(1) = 0.0441, and wR2 = 0.0985. Structures of the compounds are stabilized by hydrogen bonds and π···π interactions. The urease inhibitory activities of the compounds were studied. Both compounds show strong urease inhibitory activities, with IC(50) values of 8.4 and 20.2 µM, respectively.