Case report: Diagnosis and surgical treatment of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax in a small dog.

An 8-year-old castrated male teddy bear dog presented to our clinic with a persistent cough. The sick dog suffered from vehicular trauma 6 months prior to the visit and had imaging and exploratory laparotomy. Imaging and exploratory laparotomy at the time showed no significant damage. We performed contrast radiography (barium gavage) on the sick dog. Based on the results of a complete contrast radiography (barium gavage), tubular shadows in the thoracic cavity were identified as the small intestine and cecum, and delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax was confirmed with radiographs. Accordingly, the sick dog underwent general anesthesia, manual ventilation and diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy by standard ventral midline abdominal approach. Postoperatively, the dog was given analgesia and antibacterial treatment, and the liver biochemical indexes were monitored to prevent endotoxin. Postoperative radiographs revealed clear contours of thoracic and abdominal organs. The dog moved, ate, and urinated normally within 10 days of the surgery. This case provides a reference for a complete barium meal imaging procedure that clearly shows the position of the organs in the thoracoabdominal cavity after the occurrence of a delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. This paper provides a practical reference for the diagnosis of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax.

High expression of ethylene response factor BcERF98 delays the flowering time of non-heading Chinese cabbage.

MAIN CONCLUSION: BcERF98 is induced by ethylene signaling and inhibits the expression of BcFT by interacting with BcNF-YA2 and BcEIP9, thereby inhibiting plant flowering. Several stresses trigger the accumulation of ethylene, which then transmits the signal to ethylene response factors (ERFs) to participate in the regulation of plant development to adapt to the environment. This study clarifies the function of BcERF98, a homolog of AtERF98, in the regulation of plant flowering time mediated by high concentrations of ethylene. Results indicate that BcERF98 is a nuclear and the cell membrane-localized transcription factor and highly responsive to ethylene signaling. BcERF98 inhibits the expression of BcFT by interacting with BcEIP9 and BcNF-YA2, which are related to flowering time regulation, thereby participating in ethylene-mediated plant late flowering regulation. The results have enriched the theoretical knowledge of flowering regulation in non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC), providing the scientific basis and gene reserves for cultivating new varieties of NHCC with different flowering times.

Behavior of Spoilage Bacterial Communities in Different Cuts of Enshi Black Pork under Refrigerated Storage (4 °C).

The Enshi black pig is a Chinese native breed known for its rich nutrition content and high quality, which has notable traction in the consumer market. In this study, the potential impact of the main commercial cuts from Enshi black pork carcasses (ham, loin, and belly) on the bacteria community of spoiled meat under refrigerated storage (4 °C) was assessed by using a high-throughput sequencing method. Moreover, the spoilage potential of isolated strains from spoiled pork was investigated. The results demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) in bacterial community diversity and composition among spoiled ham, loin, and belly samples. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed a total of 20 significantly different potential bacterial biomarkers, with the dominant genera of Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Shewanella and Carnobacterium. Additionally, C. divergens THT1-5, isolated from spoiled ham samples, displayed cold adaptation and higher spoilage potential in Enshi black pork. These findings are helpful for identifying key factors contributing to spoilage in Enshi black pork and developing strategies to inhibit bacterial growth during preservation.

TFEB safeguards trophoblast syncytialization in humans and mice.

Nutrient sensing and adaptation in the placenta are essential for pregnancy viability and proper fetal growth. Our recent study demonstrated that the placenta adapts to nutrient insufficiency through mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition-mediated trophoblast differentiation toward syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), a highly specialized multinucleated trophoblast subtype mediating extensive maternal-fetal interactions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unravel the indispensable role of the mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor TFEB in STB formation both in vitro and in vivo. TFEB deficiency significantly impaired STB differentiation in human trophoblasts and placenta organoids. Consistently, systemic or trophoblast-specific deletion of Tfeb compromised STB formation and placental vascular construction, leading to severe embryonic lethality. Mechanistically, TFEB conferred direct transcriptional activation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 in human trophoblasts and thereby promoted STB formation, independent of its canonical function as a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that TFEB directed the trophoblast syncytialization response driven by mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. TFEB expression positively correlated with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth-restricted placentas exhibiting suppressed mTORC1 activity. Our findings substantiate that the TFEB-fusogen axis ensures proper STB formation during placenta development and under nutrient stress, shedding light on TFEB as a mechanistic link between nutrient-sensing machinery and trophoblast differentiation.

KAT8-mediated H4K16ac is essential for sustaining trophoblast self-renewal and proliferation via regulating CDX2.

Abnormal trophoblast self-renewal and differentiation during early gestation is the major cause of miscarriage, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that trophoblast specific deletion of Kat8, a MYST family histone acetyltransferase, leads to extraembryonic ectoderm abnormalities and embryonic lethality. Employing RNA-seq and CUT&Tag analyses on trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), we further discover that KAT8 regulates the transcriptional activation of the trophoblast stemness marker, CDX2, via acetylating H4K16. Remarkably, CDX2 overexpression partially rescues the defects arising from Kat8 knockout. Moreover, increasing H4K16ac via using deacetylase SIRT1 inhibitor, EX527, restores CDX2 levels and promoted placental development. Clinical analysis shows reduced KAT8, CDX2 and H4K16ac expression are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Trophoblast organoids derived from these patients exhibit impaired TSC self-renewal and growth, which are significantly ameliorated with EX527 treatment. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of targeting the KAT8-H4K16ac-CDX2 axis for mitigating RPL, shedding light on early gestational abnormalities.

A metric to quantify the time-varying characteristics of underwater acoustic communication channels.

Underwater acoustic communication signals suffer from time dispersion due to time-varying multipath propagation in the ocean. This leads to intersymbol interference, which in turn degrades the performance of the communication system. Typically, the channel correlation functions are employed to describe these characteristics. In this paper, a metric called the channel average correlation coefficient (CACC) is proposed from the correlation function to quantify the time-varying characteristics. It has a theoretical negative relationship with communication performance. Comparative analysis involving simulations and experimental data processing highlights the superior effectiveness of CACC over the traditional metric, the channel coherence time.

Real-world TRAE association between niraparib and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Background: Pre-clinical studies showed the anti-tumor mechanisms of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and platinum have some crossover and overlap in the DNA damage repair pathway, patients who respond to platinum-based chemotherapy are also more likely to be sensitive to PARPi. This real-world study mainly aimed to evaluate whether TRAE (treatment-related adverse event) between platinum based chemotherapy (PBC) and niraparib are also associated. Methods: Patients received niraparib as maintenance treatment or salvage therapy for advanced ovarian cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from January 2020 to August 2023 were included. Survival data of niraparib treatment and adverse events occurred during the last platinum-based chemotherapy cycle before starting niraparib treatment and during niraparib treatment are documented. Fisher's exact test were used for correlation analysis. Results: 1. 40 patients treated with niraparib were included in the analysis, including 31 patients treated with niraparib for 1st-line maintenance therapy, 6 patients for PSR (platinum-sensitive recurrence) maintenance therapy, and 3 patients for salvage therapy. The overall median follow-up time was 15.0 months (ranged from 2.2 months to 32.1 months). 2. Overall grade≥3 TRAE (40% vs 70%, p=0.012) including anemia (20% vs 45%, p=0.041) and neutrophil count decreased (17.5% vs 57.5%, p<0.001) was significantly lower during niraparib treatment compared to during chemotherapy. 3. Any grade TRAE (75% vs 100%, p=0.002) including white blood cell count decreased (47.5% vs 87.5%, p<0.001), red blood cell count decreased (57.5% vs 92.5%, p<0.001), anemia (55% vs 87.5%, p<0.001) and neutrophil count decreased (35% vs 85%, p<0.001) were also significantly lower in niraparib treatment group compared with chemotherapy group. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusion: 1. In this real-world practice, we observed that patients with advanced ovarian cancer who experienced any grade and grade ≥3 TRAE during chemotherapy were well tolerated when treated with niraparib, particularly the incidence of any grade and grade ≥3 anemia, and neutrophil count decreased during niraparib treatment were significantly lower compared with that during chemotherapy. 2. For patients with ovarian cancer who have experienced grade ≥3 hematological adverse reactions during prior platinum-based chemotherapy, greater attention should be paid to the monitoring and management of hematological adverse reactions during subsequent treatment with niraparib.

MitoQ Alleviated PM2.5 Induced Pulmonary Epithelial Cells Injury by Inhibiting Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an important component of ambient air pollution, induces significant adverse health effects. MitoQuinone (MitoQ), a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, has been reported to play a protective role in various diseases. However, the roles of MitoQ in PM2.5 induced pulmonary toxicity remains to be elucidated. Methods: All the experiments were performed at Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Translational Oncology of Fujian Province, Putian City, China in 2023. Pulmonary epithelial cells (A549) were pretreated with 4 µM MitoQ for 2 h and exposed to PM2.5 for 24 h. Cell viability was tested through CCK8 assay. Oxidative stress state and active mitochondria was used to study MitoQ's effect on PM2.5 induced injury, and cell apoptosis was measured using a flow cytometer and analyzed by Bcl-2 family. Results: MitoQ pretreatment significantly relieved a decreased cell viability, subsequently, MitoQ alleviated ROS production and prevented the reduction of T-AOC and GSH and increased the expression of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and p62 in A549 cells exposed to PM2.5. MitoQ restored the decreased mitochondrial dysfunction and dynamics disorder and inhibited activated mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis induced by PM2.5. Furthermore, the decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and expression of Mcl-1 and the enhanced expression of Caspase-3 were reversed by MitoQ pretreatment. Conclusion: MitoQ might be regarded as a potential drug to relieve PM2.5 induced pulmonary epithelial cells damage.

Tandem Mass Tag-based proteomic analysis of protein changes in superchilled crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) presoaked with carrageenan oligosaccharides.

To assess the effectiveness of carrageenan oligosaccharides (COs) in enhancing superchilling storage of crayfish, the physicochemical features of muscle and protein abundance in the refrigerated sample (RS), superchilled sample (SS) and COs soaked superchilled sample (CS) were evaluated. Microstructural and SDS-PAGE analyses suggested that CS exhibited fewer pores, with a microstructure and protein subunits distribution more similar to RS. Tandem Mass Tags quantitative proteomic analysis revealed 66 up-regulated differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the CS vs. SS batch, including myosin light chain 2, neural cadherin, integrin beta, lectin-like protein, toll-1, reticulon-1, and moesin/ezrin/radixin homolog 1, which facilitate cells adhesion and maintain membrane/cytoskeleton integrity. Eukaryotic Clusters of Orthologous Groups results confirmed that COs treatment increased the stability of crayfish myofibrillar proteins by up-regulating DAPs, which were concentrated in functional categories such as "posttranslation modification, protein turnover, chaperones", "signal transduction mechanisms", "energy production and conversion", and "cytoskeleton".

Recruitment and Aggregation Capacity of Tea Trees to Rhizosphere Soil Characteristic Bacteria Affects the Quality of Tea Leaves.

There are obvious differences in quality between different varieties of the same plant, and it is not clear whether they can be effectively distinguished from each other from a bacterial point of view. In this study, 44 tea tree varieties (Camellia sinensis) were used to analyze the rhizosphere soil bacterial community using high-throughput sequencing technology, and five types of machine deep learning were used for modeling to obtain characteristic microorganisms that can effectively differentiate different varieties, and validation was performed. The relationship between characteristic microorganisms, soil nutrient transformation, and tea quality formation was further analyzed. It was found that 44 tea tree varieties were classified into two groups (group A and group B) and the characteristic bacteria that distinguished them came from 23 genera. Secondly, the content of rhizosphere soil available nutrients (available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) and tea quality indexes (tea polyphenols, theanine, and caffeine) was significantly higher in group A than in group B. The classification result based on both was consistent with the above bacteria. This study provides a new insight and research methodology into the main reasons for the formation of quality differences among different varieties of the same plant.

Poly-l-lactic acid microspheres delay aging of epidermal stem cells in rat skin.

Objective: Injectable skin fillers offer a wider range of options for cutaneous anti-aging and facial rejuvenation. PLLA microspheres are increasingly favored as degradable and long-lasting fillers. The present study focused solely on the effect of PLLA on dermal collagen, without investigating its impact on the epidermis. In this study, we investigated the effects of PLLA microspheres on epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs). Methods: Different concentrations of PLLA microspheres on epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) in vitro through culture, and identification of primary rat EpiSCs. CCK-8 detection, apoptosis staining, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, q-PCR analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the effects of PLLA on EpiSCs. Furthermore, we observed the effect on the epidermis by injecting PLLA into the dermis of the rat skin in vivo. Results: PLLA microspheres promote cell proliferation and migration while delaying cell senescence and maintaining its stemness. In vitro, Intradermal injection of PLLA microspheres in the rat back skin resulted in delayed aging, as evidenced by histological and immunohistochemical staining of the skin at 2, 4, and 12 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion: This study showed the positive effects of PLLA on rat epidermis and EpiSCs, while providing novel insights into the anti-aging mechanism of PLLA.

Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon sphere composite Mn3O4 as an advanced host for lithium-sulfur battery.

As the most promising advanced energy storage system, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are highly favored by the researchers because of their advantages of high energy density (2500 W h kg-1), low cost and non-pollution. However, the low conductivity, volume expansion of sulfur, and shuttle effect are still the great hindrance to the practical application of LSBs. Herein, the above problems can be addressed through the following strategies: (1) Hollow carbon microspheres with high specific surface area were constructed as sulfur hosts to increase sulfur loading while also being able to enhance the physical adsorption of polysulfides; (2) the loading of Mn3O4 particles on the basis of hollow carbon microspheres facilitates the capture and adsorption of polysulfides; (3) the hollow carbon sphere structure as a conductive network can provide more pathways for rapid electrical/ionic transport and also accelerate electrolyte wetting. Moreover, the thinner shell of hollow carbon microsphere is conducive to ion diffusion and speed up the reaction rate. Thus, the NHCS/Mn3O4/S composites exhibit a high discharge specific capacity of 1010.3 mAh g-1 at first and still maintained a reversible capacity of 269.2 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles. This work presents a facile sustainable and efficient synergistic strategy for the development of advanced LSBs.

Evaluation of the Reproducibility of Auricular Subunit Markers Based on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: As a facial feature, the auricle plays an important role in the integrity and aesthetics of the whole face. Auricular subunits are associated with patient satisfaction in auricular reconstruction, but there are few studies on auricular subunits. We want to evaluate the reproducibility of auricular subunits by measuring the coordinates of the marker points of auricular subunits, accordingly provide a reference for the improvement of auricular reconstruction and the aesthetics of auricular injection. METHODS: Mimics 19.0 was used to carry out three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the computed tomography (CT) scan data of patients' brains; measure the three-dimensional coordinates of the 13 auricular subunit markers, the morphological auricle length and width, and the physiological auricle length and width; and analyze the reproducibility as well as the differences between group. RESULTS: Reproducibility of auricle subunit markers: There are 1124 (58.82%) high reproducibility, 580 (30.35%) moderate reproducibility, and 207 (10.83%) low reproducibility. The superior tragus notch, tragus, and antitragus had the highest reproducibility. There was no significant difference between the groups in the marking points on the helix, and there were no statistically significant differences in the measurement values of the auricles on the two sides. The physiological ear length and width and the morphological ear length of males were larger than those of females. These showed significant differences between the age groups. CONCLUSION: Most auricular subunit markers have high reproducibility. The subunits with higher reproducibility are the structures that need to be optimized during auricle reconstruction surgery or auricle injection in the future. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PR-SET7 epigenetically restrains uterine interferon response and cell death governing proper postnatal stromal development.

The differentiation of the stroma is a hallmark event during postnatal uterine development. However, the spatiotemporal changes that occur during this process and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we comprehensively delineated the dynamic development of the neonatal uterus at single-cell resolution and characterized two distinct stromal subpopulations, inner and outer stroma. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that uterine ablation of Pr-set7, the sole methyltransferase catalyzing H4K20me1, led to a reduced proportion of the inner stroma due to massive cell death, thus impeding uterine development. By combining RNA sequencing and epigenetic profiling of H4K20me1, we demonstrated that PR-SET7-H4K20me1 either directly repressed the transcription of interferon stimulated genes or indirectly restricted the interferon response via silencing endogenous retroviruses. Declined H4K20me1 level caused viral mimicry responses and ZBP1-mediated apoptosis and necroptosis in stromal cells. Collectively, our study provides insight into the epigenetic machinery governing postnatal uterine stromal development mediated by PR-SET7.

Study on the Mechanism of Xianling Gubao Capsule Regulating Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and Promoting Osteoblast Differentiation by N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Methyltransferase-Like 3 (METTL3).

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in increased bone fragility and a higher risk of fractures. It is a significant public health concern, particularly among postmenopausal women and older adults. The imbalance between bone formation and resorption is the fundamental cause of OP. Current clinical drugs for OP have limited efficacy and can cause side effects. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative treatments and investigate their mechanisms to improve OP management. The Xianling Gubao capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used to treat OP by tonifying the kidney. However, the specific mechanism of action of the Xianling Gubao capsule in improving OP remains unclear, necessitating further research in this area. Methods: The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) content was evaluated by dot blot and m6A ribonucleic acid (RNA) methylation assay kit. The contents of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (BGLAP) were appraised by quantitative Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) method was used to establish an animal model of OP. OP bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (OP-BMSCs) were extracted from mice in the OVX group by the whole bone marrow method. METTL3 overexpression and control vectors were transfected to OP-BMSCs using X-tremeGENE HP DNA Transfection Reagent. The ALP activity in OP-BMSCs was assessed by ALP staining. The calcium nodules in OP-BMSCs were detected by Alizarin Red S (ARS) assay. The Xianling Gubao capsule solution was employed to gavage mice, and the drug-containing serum was used to treat OP-BMSCs. Dot blot allows for the assessment of relative levels of m6A modification. The m6A RNA methylation assay kit is a specialized kit designed to quantitatively measure m6A levels in RNA samples. qRT-PCR allows for the measurement of mRNA levels of target genes. Western blot is used to detect and quantify specific proteins in a sample, and provides information about protein expression levels. OVX mimics the hormonal changes occurring in postmenopausal women and leads to bone loss and osteoporotic conditions in animals. This model allows for the investigation of the effects of the Xianling Gubao capsule on OP in a controlled experimental setting. Results: The m6A modification and METTL3, RUNX2, ALP, and BGLAP levels were reduced in bone samples of patients with OP and OVX mice compared with the corresponding control groups. Upregulated METTL3 enhanced the osteogenic ability of OP-BMSCs. METTL3 overexpression obviously increased m6A modification and METTL3, RUNX2, ALP, and BGLAP levels in OP-BMSCs. Xianling Gubao capsule treatment could weaken the impact of OP in mice by regulating the m6A modification and METTL3, RUNX2, ALP, and BGLAP levels. Serum containing Xianling Gubao capsule could enhance the osteogenic capability of OP-BMSCs and boost METTL3, RUNX2, ALP, and BGLAP levels. Treatment with the Xianling Gubao capsule shows promising effects in attenuating the impact of OP. The capsule is found to regulate m6A modification and increase the levels of METTL3, RUNX2, ALP, and BGLAP in OP-BMSCs. This indicates that the Xianling Gubao capsule may rescue the diminished osteogenic capability of OP-BMSCs by modulating METTL3. These findings suggest that the Xianling Gubao capsule has the potential to be an effective drug for the treatment of OP. Conclusion: Taken together, the m6A modification and contents of osteogenic-related factors were reduced in OP. Upregulated METTL3 improved the osteogenic ability, m6A modification, and osteogenic-related factor abundances in OP-BMSCs. Xianling Gubao capsule rescued the diminished osteogenic capability of OP-BMSCs by modulating METTL3 and might serve as an effective drug for OP. The Xianling Gubao capsule, as a traditional Chinese medicine, could potentially complement existing therapeutic approaches for OP. By targeting the m6A modification pathway and promoting osteogenic differentiation, the capsule may help to expedite bone formation and repair, which are critical for managing OP and reducing the risk of fractures.

Anatomical Study of the Superior Auricular Artery Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography.

BACKGROUND: The superior auricular artery (SAA)-retroauricular flap is commonly used for the repair of defects of the superior auricle. There are few studies about the anatomy of the SAA. OBJECTIVE: This study mainly analyzed the anatomical pattern of SAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 26 cadaver heads infused with lead oxide. The anatomical pattern of the SAA was statistically analyzed by 3-dimensional CT images. RESULTS: The SAA was classified into 3 types according to whether it gave off the helix branch or the auricular dorsal branch. The SAA was located mainly in an area 2 cm above and below the horizontal line at the midpoint of the 2 base points (the otobasion superius and the apex of the external auditory canal). The origin of each branch of the SAA was mainly located in Areas 2, 3, and 4 within a circular area that had the otobasion superius as the center of the circle and a radius of 2 cm. CONCLUSION: In this study, the 3 anatomical types and anatomical patterns of the SAA were identified. These findings can provide a reference for the design of SAA-retroauricular flaps and for surgical planning.

Research Progress of Bioinspired Structural Color in Camouflage.

Bioinspired structural color represents a burgeoning field that draws upon principles, strategies, and concepts derived from biological systems to inspire the design of novel technologies or products featuring reversible color changing mechanisms, with significant potential applications for camouflage, sensors, anticounterfeiting, etc. This mini-review focuses specifically on the research progress of bioinspired structural color in the realm of camouflage. Firstly, it discusses fundamental mechanisms of coloration in biological systems, encompassing pigmentation, structural coloration, fluorescence, and bioluminescence. Subsequently, it delineates three modulation strategies-namely, photonic crystals, film interference, and plasmonic modulation-that contribute to the development of bioinspired structural color materials or devices. Moreover, the review critically assesses the integration of bioinspired structural color materials with environmental contexts, with a particular emphasis on their application in camouflage. Finally, the paper outlines persisting challenges and suggests future development trends in the camouflage field via bioinspired structural color.

Trophoblastic signals facilitate endometrial interferon response and lipid metabolism, ensuring normal decidualization.

The decidua plays a crucial role in providing structural and trophic support to the developing conceptus before placentation. Following embryo attachment, embryonic components intimately interact with the decidual tissue. While evidence indicates the participation of embryo-derived factors in crosstalk with the uterus, the extent of their impact on post-implantation decidual development requires further investigation. Here, we utilize transgenic mouse models to selectively eliminate primary trophoblast giant cells (pTGCs), the embryonic cells that interface with maternal tissue at the forefront. pTGC ablation impairs decidualization and compromises decidual interferon response and lipid metabolism. Mechanistically, pTGCs release factors such as interferon kappa (IFNK) to strengthen the decidual interferon response and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to enhance lipid accumulation within the decidua, thereby promoting decidualization. This study presents genetic and metabolomic evidence reinforcing the proactive role of pTGC-derived factors in mobilizing maternal resources to strengthen decidualization, facilitating the normal progression of early pregnancy.

P62 promotes FSH-induced antral follicle formation by directing degradation of ubiquitinated WT1.

In females, the pathophysiological mechanism of poor ovarian response (POR) is not fully understood. Considering the expression level of p62 was significantly reduced in the granulosa cells (GCs) of POR patients, this study focused on identifying the role of the selective autophagy receptor p62 in conducting the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on antral follicles (AFs) formation in female mice. The results showed that p62 in GCs was FSH responsive and that its level increased to a peak and then decreased time-dependently either in ovaries or in GCs after gonadotropin induction in vivo. GC-specific deletion of p62 resulted in subfertility, a significantly reduced number of AFs and irregular estrous cycles, which were same as pathophysiological symptom of POR. By conducting mass spectrum analysis, we found the ubiquitination of proteins was decreased, and autophagic flux was blocked in GCs. Specifically, the level of nonubiquitinated Wilms tumor 1 homolog (WT1), a transcription factor and negative controller of GC differentiation, increased steadily. Co-IP results showed that p62 deletion increased the level of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 5 (USP5), which blocked the ubiquitination of WT1. Furthermore, a joint analysis of RNA-seq and the spatial transcriptome sequencing data showed the expression of steroid metabolic genes and FSH receptors pivotal for GCs differentiation decreased unanimously. Accordingly, the accumulation of WT1 in GCs deficient of p62 decreased steroid hormone levels and reduced FSH responsiveness, while the availability of p62 in GCs simultaneously ensured the degradation of WT1 through the ubiquitin‒proteasome system and autophagolysosomal system. Therefore, p62 in GCs participates in GC differentiation and AF formation in FSH induction by dynamically controlling the degradation of WT1. The findings of the study contributes to further study the pathology of POR.