The life-history trait trade-offs mediated by reproduction and immunity in the brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens Stål

Reproduction and immune defense are costly functions,and they are expected to tradeoff with each other to drive evolution.The brown planthopper(BPH),Nilaparvata lugens Stål(Hemiptera,Delphacidae),is a global superpest that mostly damages rice crops.Yeast-like symbionts(YLS)exist in the abdominal fat body tissue and are tightly associated with the development,growth,and reproduction of BPH.Our previous research demonstrated that mating behavior promotes the release of YLS from the fat body into the hemolymph in the BPH,thereby triggering an immune response.Additionally,the fitness costs related to life-history traits of BPH(such as survival rate)have a strong dependence on the relative abundance of YLS.However,the possible relationship between reproduction and the immune response in BPH has not been identified.In this study,an omics-based approach was used to analyze the transcriptome of fat body tissues in mated and unmated BPH at 72 h post-eclosion,from which two antimicrobial peptide genes,NlDefensin A(NlDfA)and NlDefensin B(NlDfB),were selected since they were highly expressed in mated BPH.Subsequently,the full-length cDNA sequences of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were cloned and analyzed.qPCR results showed up-regulation of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes in mated BPH when compared to unmated BPH.Spatial-temporal expression analysis indicated that the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were expressed in all tissues and developmental stages,and they were most highly expressed in the fat body at 24 h post-eclosion.Moreover,the symbionts in BPH were significantly inhibited by the in vitro expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB proteins.Furthermore,RNA interference(RNAi)-mediated suppression of NlDfA and NlDfB dramatically increased the relative abundance of YLS in the fat body,while YLS in the hemolymph decreased significantly.These BPHs also displayed some fitness disadvantages in survival,fecundity,hatchability,and possibly the vertical transmission of YLS from hemolymph to egg.Our results indicated that mating could heighten the immunity of BPH by upregulating the expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes,which protect the host from pathogen challenges during reproduction.However,the reduced content of YLS may act as a fitness disadvantage in dictating the life-history traits of BPH.This work has significant theoretical and practical implications for the precise green control technology that involves crucial gene targeting,as well as for the“endosymbionts for pest control”strategy in insects.

Attenuated niacin-induced skin flush response in individuals with clinical high risk for psychosis

Background Im paired sesitwity of he soin Mlush response bo miacin is one of the most rpicated findngs in patents with schizoprenia Howewer.prior studies have usaly focused on postonset psychusis,and ll is knowm about the dinical high-risk(CHR)phase of niacin senstity in psychosis Aims To proftle and compare the miacin flush responsge among CHR individuals(converters and non-coverters)patients with frstepso schinophrenia(FES)and healty controls(HCs).Methods Sensivily 1o ftour concentralions (0.1-0001M)of aqueous methylnicotinate was tested in 105 CHR individuals,57 patients with FES and 52 HCs.CHR individuals were further grouped as converters and non converters according to the 2-year follow-up outcomes.Skin flush response scores were rated on a 4-point scale.Results Of the 105 CHR individuals,21 individuals were lost during the study,leaving 84 CHR individuals;16(19.0%)converted to full psychosis at 2 years of fllow-up.Flush response scores identifed in the CHR samples were characterised as modest degree levels,intermediate between those of HC individuals and patients with FES.The flush responses in the CHR group mimicked the responses observed in the FES group at higher concentrations(0.01 M,0.1 M)and longer time points(15 min,20min);however,these became comparable vith the responses in the HC group at the shorter time points and at lower concentr ations.The converters exhibited lower mean flush response scores than the non-converters.Conclusions Attenuated niacin-induced flushing emerged during the early phase of psychosis.New devices should be developed and verified for objective quantification of skin responses in the CHR population.

Different patterns of association between white matter microstructure and plasma unsaturated fatty acids in those with high risk for psychosis and healthy participants

Background Disrupted white matter(WM)microstructure has been commonly identified in youth at clinical high risk(CHR)for psychosis.Several lines of evidence suggest that fatty acids,especially unsaturated fatty acids(UFAs),might play a crucial role in the WM pathology of early onset psychosis.However,evidence linking UFA and WM microstructure in CHR is quite sparse.Aims We investigated the relationship between the plasma UFA level and WM microstructure in CHR participants and healthy controls(HC).Methods Plasma fatty acids were assessed and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)data were performed with tract-based spatial statistics(TBSS)analysis for 66 individuals at CHR for psychosis and 70 HC.Results Both the global and regional diffusion measures showed significant between-group differences,with decreased fractional anisotropy(FA)but increased mean diffusivity(MD)and radial diffusivity(RD)found in the CHR group compared with the HC group.On top of that,we found that in the HC group,plasma arachidic acid showed obvious trend-level associations with higher global FA,lower global MD and lower global RD,which regionally spread over the corpus callosum,right anterior and superior corona radiata,bilateral anterior and posterior limb of the internal capsule,and bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus.However,there were no associations between global WM measures and any UFA in the CHR group.Conversely,we even found negative associations between arachidic acid levels and regional FA values in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus and right retrolenticular part of the internal capsule in the CHR group.Conclusions Compared with the HC group,CHR subjects exhibited a different pattern of association between WM microstructure and plasma UFA,with a neuroprotective effect found in the HC group but not in the CHR group.Such discrepancy could be due to the excessively upregulated UFAs accumulated in the plasma of the CHR group,highlighting the role of balanced plasma-membrane fatty acids homeostasis in WM development.

HOXC4 up-regulates NF-κB signaling and promotes the cell proliferation to drive development of human hematopoiesis, especially CD43+ cells

The hematopoietic function of HOXC4 has not been extensively investigated.Our research indicated that induction of HOXC4 in co-culture system from D10 significantly promoted productions of most hematopoietic progenitor cells.CD34−CD43+cells could be clearly classified into CD34−CD43^(low) and CD34−CD43^(high) sub-populations at D14.The former cells had greater myelogenic potential,and their production was not significantly influenced by induction of HOXC4.By contrast,the latter cells had greater potential to differentiate into megakaryocytes and erythroid cells,and thus had properties of erythroid–megakaryocyte common progenitors,which abundance was increased by∼2-fold when HOXC4 was induced from D10.For CD34−CD43^(low),CD34+CD43+,and CD34−CD43^(high) sub-populations,CD43 level served as a natural index for the tendency to undergo hematopoiesis.Induction of HOXC4 from D10 caused more CD43+cells sustain in S-phase with up-regulation of NF-κB signaling,which could be counteracted by inhibition of NF-κB signaling.These observations suggested that promotion of hematopoiesis by HOXC4 is closely related to NF-κB signaling and a change in cell-cycle status,which containing potential of clinical applications.

RUNX1-205, a novel splice variant of the human RUNX1 gene, has blockage effect on mesoderm-hemogenesis transition and promotion effect during the late stage of hematopoiesis

Runt-related transcription factor 1(RUNX1)is required for definitive hematopoiesis;however,the functions of most human RUNX1 isoforms are unclear.In particular,the effects of RUNX1-205(a novel splice variant that lacks exon 6 in comparison with RUNX1b)on human hematopoiesis are not clear.In this study,a human embryonic stem cell(hESC)line with inducible RUNX1-205 overexpression was established.Analyses of these cells revealed that induction of RUNX1-205 overexpression at early stage did not influence the induction of mesoderm but blocked the emergence of CD34+cells,and the production of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells was significantly reduced.In addition,the expression of hematopoiesis-related factors was downregulated.However,these effects were abolished when RUNX1-205 overexpression was induced after Day 6 in co-cultures of hESCs and AGM-S3 cells,indicating that the inhibitory effect occurred prior to generation of hemogenic endothelial cells,while the promotive effect could be observed during the late stage of hematopoiesis.This is very similar to that of RUNX1b.Interestingly,the mRNA expression profile of RUNX1-205 during hematopoiesis was distinct from that of RUNX1b,and the protein stability of RUNX1-205 was much higher than that of RUNX1b.Thus,the function of RUNX1-205 in normal and diseased models should be further explored.

Overexpression of HOXA9 upregulates NF-κB signaling to promote human hematopoiesis and alter the hematopoietic differentiation potentials

Background: The HOX genes are master regulators of embryogenesis that are also involved inhematopoiesis. HOXA9 belongs to a cluster of HOX genes that play extensively studied roles inhematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.Methods: We established HOXA9-inducible human embryonic stem cells (HOXA9/hESCs) with normalpluripotency and potential for hematopoiesis, which could be used to analyze gene function with highaccuracy. HOXA9/hESCs co-cultured with aorta–gonad–mesonephros-derived stromal cells (AGM-S3) wereinduced to overexpress HOXA9 with doxycycline (DOX) at various times after hematopoiesis started andthen subjected to flow cytometry.Results: Induction of HOXA9 from Day 4 (D4) or later notably promoted hematopoiesis and also increasedthe production of CD34+ cells and derived populations. The potential for myelogenesis was significantlyelevated while the potential for erythrogenesis was significantly reduced. At D14, a significant promotion ofS phase was observed in green fluorescent protein positive (GFP+) cells overexpressing HOXA9. NF-κBsignaling was also up-regulated at D14 following induction of HOXA9 on D4. All of these effects could becounteracted by addition of an NF-κB inhibitor or siRNA against NFKB1 along with DOX.Conclusions: Overexpression of HOXA9 starting at D4 or later during hematopoiesis significantly promotedhematopoiesis and the production of myeloid progenitors while reduced the production of erythroidprogenitors, indicating that HOXA9 plays a key role in hematopoiesis and differentiation of hematopoieticlineages.