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The Knight-Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight-ADRC) at Washington University in St. Louis has pioneered and led worldwide seminal studies that have expanded our clinical, social, pathological, and molecular understanding of Alzheimer Disease. Over more than 40 years, research volunteers have been recruited to participate in cognitive, neuropsychologic, imaging, fluid biomarkers, genomic and multi-omic studies. Tissue and longitudinal data collected to foster, facilitate, and support research on dementia and aging. The Genetics and high throughput -omics core (GHTO) have collected of more than 26,000 biological samples from 6,625 Knight-ADRC participants. Samples available include longitudinal DNA, RNA, non-fasted plasma, cerebrospinal fluid pellets, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The GHTO has performed deep molecular profiling (genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic) from large number of brain (n = 2,117), CSF (n = 2,012) and blood/plasma (n = 8,265) samples with the goal of identifying novel risk and protective variants, identify novel molecular biomarkers and causal and druggable targets. Overall, the resources available at GHTO support the increase of our understanding of Alzheimer Disease.
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Doença de Alzheimer , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Humanos , Genômica , Biomarcadores , Demência/genética , Proteômica , MultiômicaRESUMO
Rationale: To meet the need of long-acting analgesia in postoperative pain management, slow-releasing formulations of local anesthetics (LAs) have been extensively investigated. However, challenges still remain in obtaining such formulations in a facile and cost-effective way, and a mechanism for controlling the release rate to achieve an optimal duration is still missing. Methods: In this study, nanosheets formed by a self-assembling peptide were used to encapsulate ropivacaine in a soft-coating manner. By adjusting the ratio between the peptide and ropivacaine, ropivacaine particles with different size were prepared. Releasing profile of particles with different size were studied in vitro and in vivo. The influence of particle size and ropivacaine concentration on effective duration and toxicity were evaluated in rat models. Results: Our results showed that drug release rate became slower as the particle size increased, with particles of medium size (2.96 ± 0.04 µm) exhibiting a moderate release rate and generating an optimal anesthetic duration. Based on this size, formulations at different ropivacaine concentrations generated anesthetic effect with different durations in rat sciatic nerve block model, with the 6% formulation generated anesthetic duration of over 35 h. Long-acting analgesia up to 48 h of this formulation was also confirmed in a rat total knee arthroplasty model. Conclusion: This study provided a facile strategy to prepare LA particles of different size and revealed the relationship between particle size, release rate and anesthetic duration, which provided both technical and theoretical supports for developing long-acting LA formulations with promising clinical application.
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Anestésicos Locais , Nanopartículas , Tamanho da Partícula , Peptídeos , Ropivacaina , Ropivacaina/administração & dosagem , Ropivacaina/química , Ropivacaina/farmacocinética , Animais , Anestésicos Locais/administração & dosagem , Anestésicos Locais/química , Ratos , Nanopartículas/química , Peptídeos/química , Peptídeos/administração & dosagem , Dor Pós-Operatória/tratamento farmacológico , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Masculino , Analgesia/métodos , Preparações de Ação Retardada/química , Liberação Controlada de Fármacos , Amidas/química , Amidas/administração & dosagem , Nervo Isquiático/efeitos dos fármacos , Modelos Animais de DoençasRESUMO
HIV-associated changes in intestinal microbiota are believed to be important drivers of disease progression. However, the majority of studies have focused on populations in high-income countries rather than in developing regions where HIV burden is greatest. To better understand the impact of HIV on fecal microbiota globally, we compare the fecal microbial community of individuals in the U.S., Uganda, and Botswana. We identify significant bacterial taxa alterations with both treated and untreated HIV infection with a high degree of uniqueness in each cohort. HIV-associated taxa alterations are also significantly different between populations that report men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior and non-MSM populations. Additionally, while we find that HIV infection is consistently associated with higher soluble markers of immune activation, most specific bacterial taxa associated with these markers in each region are not shared and none are shared across all three geographic locations in our study. Our findings demonstrate that HIV-associated changes in fecal microbiota are overall distinct among geographical locations and sexual behavior groups, although a small number of taxa shared between pairs of geographic locations warrant further investigation, highlighting the importance of considering host context to fully assess the impact of the gut microbiome on human health and disease.
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Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Infecções por HIV , Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero , Masculino , Humanos , Homossexualidade Masculina , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/fisiologia , Comportamento Sexual , BactériasRESUMO
MOTIVATION: Our study aimed to identify biologically relevant transcription factors (TFs) that control the expression of a set of co-expressed or co-regulated genes. RESULTS: We developed a fully automated pipeline, Motif Over Representation Analysis (MORA), to detect enrichment of known TF binding motifs in any query sequences. MORA performed better than or comparable to five other TF-prediction tools as evaluated using hundreds of differentially expressed gene sets and ChIP-seq datasets derived from known TFs. Additionally, we developed EnsembleTFpredictor to harness the power of multiple TF-prediction tools to provide a list of functional TFs ranked by prediction confidence. When applied to the test datasets, EnsembleTFpredictor not only identified the target TF but also revealed many TFs known to cooperate with the target TF in the corresponding biological systems. MORA and EnsembleTFpredictor have been used in two publications, demonstrating their power in guiding experimental design and in revealing novel biological insights.
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Biologia Computacional , Fatores de Transcrição , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Ligação Proteica , Sítios de LigaçãoRESUMO
Genome mapping studies have generated a nearly complete collection of genes for the human genome, but we still lack an equivalently vetted inventory of human regulatory sequences. Cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) play important roles in controlling when, where, and how much a gene is expressed. We developed a training data-free CRM-prediction algorithm, the Mammalian Regulatory MOdule Detector (MrMOD) for accurate CRM prediction in mammalian genomes. MrMOD provides genome position-fixed CRM models similar to the fixed gene models for the mouse and human genomes using only genomic sequences as the inputs with one adjustable parameter - the significance p-value. Importantly, MrMOD predicts a comprehensive set of high-resolution CRMs in the mouse and human genomes including all types of regulatory modules not limited to any tissue, cell type, developmental stage, or condition. We computationally validated MrMOD predictions used a compendium of 21 orthogonal experimental data sets including thousands of experimentally defined CRMs and millions of putative regulatory elements derived from hundreds of different tissues, cell types, and stimulus conditions obtained from multiple databases. In ovo transgenic reporter assay demonstrates the power of our prediction in guiding experimental design. We analyzed CRMs located in the chromosome 17 using unsupervised machine learning and identified groups of CRMs with multiple lines of evidence supporting their functionality, linking CRMs with upstream binding transcription factors and downstream target genes. Our work provides a comprehensive base pair resolution annotation of the functional regulatory elements and non-functional regions in the mammalian genomes.
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Although surgical resection provides a straightforward and effective treatment for most malignant solid tumors, tumor recurrence and acute postoperative pain continue to be two big problems associated with this treatment. To resolve these problems, a nanocrystal composite slow-releasing ropivacaine and doxorubicin was fabricated in this study. Briefly, a self-assembling peptide was used to form nanoparticle complexes with the two drugs, based on which homogeneous nanocrystals were obtained by adjusting the pH. In cultured human melanoma cells, the nanocrystals exhibited improved antitumor activity due to a synergistic effect and enhanced cellular uptake of the two drugs. On the other hand, the nanocrystals could slowly release ropivacaine in vitro and in vivo, generating long-acting analgesia on the rat sciatic nerve block model and incisional pain model. On a nude mouse tumor resection model, the nanocrystals simultaneously suppressed the recurrence of solid tumor and relieved postoperative pain, indicating a potential postoperative treatment for tumor resection patients. This nanocrystal system also suggested a promising and facile strategy for developing multifunctional formulations combining different drugs, which could achieve better therapeutic outcomes in a synergistic and sustained manner.
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Nanopartículas , Bloqueio Nervoso , Camundongos , Humanos , Ratos , Animais , Ropivacaina/farmacologia , Ropivacaina/uso terapêutico , Anestésicos Locais , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia , Dor Pós-Operatória/tratamento farmacológico , Nanopartículas/química , Doxorrubicina/farmacologia , Doxorrubicina/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Lichenicolous fungi are parasites of lichens. Many of these fungi are referred to as "black fungi". A diversity of these black fungi include species that are pathogenic to humans and plants. A majority of black fungi reside in the phylum Ascomycota within the sub-classes Chaetothyriomycetidae and Dothideomycetidae. To explore the diversity of lichenicolous "black fungi" associated with lichens in China, we conducted several field surveys in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province between 2019 and 2020. We recovered 1,587 fungal isolates from the lichens collected during these surveys. During the preliminary identification of these isolates using the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), and small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU), we identified 15 fungal isolates from the genus Cladophialophora. However, these isolates had low sequence similarities with all known species from the genus. Therefore, we amplified additional gene regions, such as, translation elongation factor (TEF) and partial ß-tubulin gene (TUB), and constructed a multi-gene phylogeny using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference. In our datasets, we included type sequences where available for all Cladophialophora species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that none of the 15 isolates belonged to any of the previously described species in the genus. Therefore, using both morphological and molecular data, we classified these 15 isolates as nine new species within the genus Cladophialophora: C. flavoparmeliae, C. guttulate, C. heterodermiae, C. holosericea, C. lichenis, C. moniliformis, C. mongoliae, C. olivacea, and C. yunnanensis. The outcome from this study shows that lichens are an important refugia for black lichenicolous fungi, such as those from Chaetothyriales.
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BACKGROUND: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is largely underdiagnosed and undertreated in China where few patients achieved recommended target levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). We conducted the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Chinese patients with HeFH to assess the efficacy and safety of tafolecimab, a novel fully human proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibody. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with HeFH by Simon Broome criteria and on a stable lipid-lowering therapy for at least 4 weeks were randomized 2:2:1:1 to receive subcutaneous tafolecimab 150 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W), tafolecimab 450 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W), placebo Q2W or placebo Q4W in the 12-week double-blind treatment period. After that, participants received open-label tafolecimab 150 mg Q2W or 450 mg Q4W for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percent change from baseline to week 12 in LDL-C levels. Secondary endpoints included proportion of participants achieving ≥50% LDL-C reductions and proportion of participants with LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L at week 12 and 24, the change from baseline to week 12 in non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels, as well as the change from baseline to week 24 in lipid levels. RESULTS: In total, 149 participants were randomized and 148 received at least one dose of the study treatment. At week 12, tafolecimab treatment induced significant reductions in LDL-C levels (treatment difference versus placebo [on-treatment estimand]: -57.4% [97.5% CI, -69.2 to -45.5] for 150 mg Q2W; -61.9% [-73.4 to -50.4] for 450 mg Q4W; both P <0.0001). At both dose regimens, significantly more participants treated with tafolecimab achieved ≥50% LDL-C reductions or LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L at week 12 as compared with corresponding placebo groups (all P <0.0001). Meanwhile, non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels were significantly reduced in the tafolecimab groups at week 12. The lipid-lowering effects of tafolecimab were maintained till week 24. During the double-blind treatment period, the most commonly-reported adverse events in the tafolecimab groups included upper respiratory tract infection, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, increased alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Tafolecimab administered either 150 mg Q2W or 450 mg Q4W yielded significant and persistent reductions in LDL-C levels and showed a favorable safety profile in Chinese patients with HeFH. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04179669.
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Anticorpos Monoclonais , Hipercolesterolemia , Hiperlipoproteinemia Tipo II , Inibidores de PCSK9 , Humanos , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Apolipoproteínas , LDL-Colesterol , População do Leste Asiático , Hiperlipoproteinemia Tipo II/tratamento farmacológico , Lipoproteína(a) , Inibidores de PCSK9/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). While TAMs are known to proliferate in cancer tissues, the impact of this on macrophage phenotype and disease progression is poorly understood. We showed that in PDAC, proliferation of TAMs could be driven by colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF1) produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts. CSF1 induced high levels of p21 in macrophages, which regulated both TAM proliferation and phenotype. TAMs in human and mouse PDACs with high levels of p21 had more inflammatory and immunosuppressive phenotypes. p21 expression in TAMs was induced by both stromal interaction and/or chemotherapy treatment. Finally, by modeling p21 expression levels in TAMs, we found that p21-driven macrophage immunosuppression in vivo drove tumor progression. Serendipitously, the same p21-driven pathways that drive tumor progression also drove response to CD40 agonist. These data suggest that stromal or therapy-induced regulation of cell cycle machinery can regulate both macrophage-mediated immune suppression and susceptibility to innate immunotherapy.
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Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Animais , Camundongos , Humanos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/metabolismo , Imunoterapia , Proliferação de Células , Microambiente Tumoral , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
The commonalities and differences in cell-type-specific pathways that lead to Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) remain unknown. Here, we performed a single-nucleus transcriptome comparison of control, AD and PD striata. We describe three astrocyte subpopulations shared across different brain regions and evolutionarily conserved between humans and mice. We reveal common features between AD and PD astrocytes and regional differences that contribute toward amyloid pathology and neurodegeneration. In contrast, we found that transcriptomic changes in microglia are largely unique to each disorder. Our analysis identified a population of activated microglia that shared molecular signatures with murine disease-associated microglia (DAM) as well as disease-associated and regional differences in microglia transcriptomic changes linking microglia to disease-specific amyloid pathology, tauopathy and neuronal death. Finally, we delineate undescribed subpopulations of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum and provide neuronal transcriptomic profiles suggesting disease-specific changes and selective neuronal vulnerability.
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Doença de Alzheimer , Doença de Parkinson , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Doença de Parkinson/genética , Transcriptoma/genética , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Microglia/metabolismo , Amiloide/metabolismo , Proteínas Amiloidogênicas/metabolismoRESUMO
We found evolutionarily conserved astrocyte and microglia subpopulations shared across multiple brain regions. We reveal similarities and differences between Alzheimer's disease glia and Parkinson's disease glia, as well as regional variance linked to disease pathology and neurodegeneration.
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Doença de Alzheimer , Doenças Neurodegenerativas , Humanos , Doenças Neurodegenerativas/genética , Neuroglia/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Microglia/metabolismo , Expressão Gênica/genéticaRESUMO
Manganese (Mn) oxides in iron/manganese plaques are widely distributed in the rhizosphere of wetland plants and contribute significantly to elemental cycling and pollutant removal. Mn oxides are primarily produced by bacterial processes using Mn oxidases. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of rhizosphere Mn oxides is still largely unknown. This study identified a manganese-oxidizing enzyme, the catalase-peroxidase StKatG, from an endophytic bacterium Salinicola tamaricis from the wetland plant. The gene encoding StKatG was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant StKatG displayed different structure and enzymatic properties from the previously reported Mn oxidases. The enzyme activity of StKatG yielded Mn oxides with the mixed-valent state: Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV). The optimum pH and temperature for StKatG are 7.5 and 50 °C, respectively. Structurally, StKatG is organized into two domains, whereas the reported Mn oxidases are mainly single-domain proteins. Based on the site-directed mutagenesis studies, the presence of aspartic acid (Asp) residues in the loop of StKatG are critical to Mn-oxidizing activity. These findings identified a novel bacterial Mn oxidase and provided insights into the molecular mechanism of Mn oxidation in the plant rhizosphere.
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Manganês , Peroxidase , Manganês/química , Catalase/metabolismo , Peroxidase/metabolismo , Compostos de Manganês/química , Óxidos/química , Oxirredução , Bactérias/metabolismo , Peroxidases/metabolismoRESUMO
As green development has become a mainstream feature of modern development, green technology has become an inevitable trend in the development of mining technology, and related research on the subject continues to accumulate. Based on the bibliometric analysis of the green mining (GM) research from 2001 to 2020, we try to capture GM research and development trends from the perspective of global green development. The results show that the growth rate of GM research is much higher than that of conventional mining research, and the research results are growing rapidly. A visual collaborative network was created to identify the main research countries and author distribution and explore the most contributed journals. The research themes in GM show an evolution from sustainability theory to the application of green technologies in mines to the establishment of long-term mechanisms and policy regulation. The keyword co-occurrence results show that the current GM research covers the whole life cycle of mines. Soil, waste disposal, and recycling are long-standing research hotspots, and the most relevant articles are about resource recycling. Based on the keyword co-occurrence results, the proportion of restoration and management research has rapidly increased from 7.3 to 28.9%. Ecological restoration, reclamation and monitoring, remote sensing, and other technologies are more closely integrated usually accompanied by research related to evaluation and management. With the evolution of the theme, the research on GM is becoming more and more comprehensive. It reflects an extremely strong interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary character.
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Bibliometria , Eliminação de Resíduos , Mineração , Solo , PesquisaRESUMO
Injured sensory neurons activate a transcriptional program necessary for robust axon regeneration and eventual target reinnervation. Understanding the transcriptional regulators that govern this axon regenerative response may guide therapeutic strategies to promote axon regeneration in the injured nervous system. Here, we used cultured dorsal root ganglia neurons to identify pro-regenerative transcription factors. Using RNA sequencing, we first characterized this neuronal culture and determined that embryonic day 13.5 DRG (eDRG) neurons cultured for 7 days are similar to e15.5 DRG neurons in vivo and that all neuronal subtypes are represented. This eDRG neuronal culture does not contain other non-neuronal cell types. Next, we performed RNA sequencing at different time points after in vitro axotomy. Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed upregulation of known regeneration associated transcription factors, including Jun, Atf3 and Rest, paralleling the axon injury response in vivo. Analysis of transcription factor binding sites in differentially expressed genes revealed other known transcription factors promoting axon regeneration, such as Myc, Hif1α, Pparγ, Ascl1a, Srf, and Ctcf, as well as other transcription factors not yet characterized in axon regeneration. We next tested if overexpression of novel candidate transcription factors alone or in combination promotes axon regeneration in vitro. Our results demonstrate that expression of Ctcf with Yy1 or E2f2 enhances in vitro axon regeneration. Our analysis highlights that transcription factor interaction and chromatin architecture play important roles as a regulator of axon regeneration.
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Introduction: Ropivacaine as a conventional local anesthetic has been used more and more frequently in the treatment of postoperative pain, but its analgesic effect can only last for several hours. In order to fulfill the clinic requirement for long-term analgesia, a long-acting ropivacaine nanocrystal formulation was fabricated through the interaction between ropivacaine and a self-assembling peptide. Methods: Transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectrometry were used to examine the structural changes caused by the interaction between ropivacaine and the peptide. Scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy were used to characterize the ropivacaine-peptide nanocrystal. In vitro drug release and pharmacokinetics study were conducted to evaluate the slow-release profile of the nanocrystal formulation. A rodent cutaneous trunci muscle reflex model was used to evaluate the nociceptive blockade effects, and histological analysis was used to evaluate the local toxicity. A rodent plantar incisional pain model was used to evaluate the analgesic effect. Results: Soluble ropivacaine monomers interacted with the Q11 peptide through π-π stacking and remolded its self-assembling structure, leading to the formation of drug/peptide nanoparticles which could be mineralized to form drug/peptide nanocrystals by adjusting the pH. Under physiological condition, the nanocrystals could release free ropivacaine slowly. As evaluated in rodent models, the anesthetic and analgesic effects of this formulation were significantly extended without causing toxicity. Conclusion: Based on the interaction between ropivacaine and Q11, a controllable biomineralization process could be induced to obtain homogeneous nanocrystals, which could be used as an injectable long-acting analgesic formulation. This crystallization strategy utilizing the peptide-drug interaction also provided a promising pathway to fabricate long-acting formulations for many other small molecular drugs.
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Amidas , Analgesia , Anestésicos Locais , Humanos , Dor Pós-Operatória/tratamento farmacológico , Peptídeos/uso terapêutico , Ropivacaina/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Albuminuria is a hallmark of glomerular disease of various etiologies. It is not only a symptom of glomerular disease but also a cause leading to glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and eventually, a decline in kidney function. The molecular mechanism underlying albuminuria-induced kidney injury remains poorly defined. In our genetic model of nephrotic syndrome (NS), we have identified CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein)-TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein) as critical molecular linkers between albuminuria-induced ER dysfunction and mitochondria dyshomeostasis. TXNIP is a ubiquitously expressed redox protein that binds to and inhibits antioxidant enzyme, cytosolic thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), and mitochondrial Trx2. However, very little is known about the regulation and function of TXNIP in NS. By utilizing Chop-/- and Txnip-/- mice as well as 68Ga-Galuminox, our molecular imaging probe for detection of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo, we demonstrate that CHOP up-regulation induced by albuminuria drives TXNIP shuttling from nucleus to mitochondria, where it is required for the induction of mitochondrial ROS. The increased ROS accumulation in mitochondria oxidizes Trx2, thus liberating TXNIP to associate with mitochondrial nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) to activate inflammasome, as well as releasing mitochondrial apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) to induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Importantly, inhibition of TXNIP translocation and mitochondrial ROS overproduction by CHOP deletion suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation and p-ASK1-dependent mitochondria apoptosis in NS. Thus, targeting TXNIP represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NS.
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Albuminúria , Proteínas de Transporte , Rim , Mitocôndrias , Síndrome Nefrótica , Tiorredoxinas , Fator de Transcrição CHOP , Albuminúria/complicações , Albuminúria/genética , Albuminúria/prevenção & controle , Animais , Apoptose , Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Deleção de Genes , Inflamassomos/metabolismo , Rim/metabolismo , Rim/patologia , MAP Quinase Quinase Quinase 5/metabolismo , Camundongos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/metabolismo , Síndrome Nefrótica/complicações , Síndrome Nefrótica/genética , Síndrome Nefrótica/patologia , Síndrome Nefrótica/prevenção & controle , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Tiorredoxinas/metabolismo , Fator de Transcrição CHOP/deficiência , Fator de Transcrição CHOP/genética , Fator de Transcrição CHOP/metabolismoRESUMO
Although local anesthetics (LAs) such as lidocaine have been traditionally used for pain relief, their antitumor activity has attracted more and more attentions in recent years. However, since nearly all LAs used in clinic are in their hydrochloride forms with small molecular weight and high water-solubility, their fast absorption and clearance greatly limit their antitumor activity in vivo. To better exploit the antitumor activity of LAs, lidocaine nanoparticles (LNPs) are prepared by using a self-assembling peptide to encapsulate the hydrophobic base form of lidocaine. In cultured A375 human melanoma cells, the LNPs show much higher cellular uptake level than the clinic formulation of lidocaine hydrochloride, which leads to enhanced efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of the cells, as well as in inducing cell apoptosis. Compared with lidocaine hydrochloride, LNPs can also significantly slow down the release rate of lidocaine. In nude mice, LNPs can effectively inhibit the development of solid tumors from seeded A375 cells and prevent the recurrence of tumors after surgical excision. These results indicate that by using self-assembling peptide to fabricate nanoparticle formulations of local anesthetics, their antitumor activity can be significantly enhanced, suggesting a potential postoperative treatment to prevent tumor recurrence after surgical excision.
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Cellular diversification is critical for specialized functions of the brain including learning and memory1. Single-cell RNA sequencing facilitates transcriptomic profiling of distinct major types of neuron2-4, but the divergence of transcriptomic profiles within a neuronal population and their link to function remain poorly understood. Here we isolate nuclei tagged5 in specific cell types followed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing to profile Purkinje neurons and map their responses to motor activity and learning. We find that two major subpopulations of Purkinje neurons, identified by expression of the genes Aldoc and Plcb4, bear distinct transcriptomic features. Plcb4+, but not Aldoc+, Purkinje neurons exhibit robust plasticity of gene expression in mice subjected to sensorimotor and learning experience. In vivo calcium imaging and optogenetic perturbation reveal that Plcb4+ Purkinje neurons have a crucial role in associative learning. Integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing datasets with weighted gene co-expression network analysis uncovers a learning gene module that includes components of FGFR2 signalling in Plcb4+ Purkinje neurons. Knockout of Fgfr2 in Plcb4+ Purkinje neurons in mice using CRISPR disrupts motor learning. Our findings define how diversification of Purkinje neurons is linked to their responses in motor learning and provide a foundation for understanding their differential vulnerability to neurological disorders.
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Células de Purkinje , Transcriptoma , Animais , Cerebelo , Aprendizagem/fisiologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Plasticidade Neuronal/genética , Neurônios/fisiologia , Células de Purkinje/metabolismo , Transcriptoma/genéticaRESUMO
Fungi of the genus Geosmithia are frequently associated with bark beetles that feed on phloem on various woody hosts. Most studies on Geosmithia were carried out in North and South America and Europe, with only two species being reported from Taiwan, China. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of Geosmithia species in China. Field surveys in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanghai, and Yunnan yielded a total of 178 Geosmithia isolates from 12 beetle species. The isolates were grouped based on morphology. The internal transcribed spacer, ß-tubulin, and elongation factor 1-α gene regions of the representatives of each group were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on those sequences. In total, 12 species were identified, with three previously described species (Geosmithia xerotolerans, G. putterillii, and G. pallida) and nine new species which are described in this paper as G. luteobrunnea, G. radiata, G. brevistipitata, G. bombycina, G. granulata (Geosmithia sp. 20), G. subfulva, G. pulverea (G. sp. 3 and Geosmithia sp. 23), G. fusca, and G. pumila sp. nov. The dominant species obtained in this study were G. luteobrunnea and G. pulverea. This study systematically studied the Geosmithia species in China and made an important contribution to filling in the gaps in our understanding of global Geosmithia species diversity.