Alleviation of Cadmium Toxicity to Medicago Truncatula by AMF Involves the Changes of Cd Speciation in Rhizosphere Soil and Subcellular Distribution

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)can improve plant tolerance to several abiotic stresses,including heavy metals,drought or salinity exposure.However,the role of AMF in alleviation of soil cadmium(Cd)-induced toxicity to plants is still largely unknown.In this study,Cd speciation in soil and subcellular distribution of Cd were used to characterize the roles of application AM fungi in the alleviation of Cd toxicity in alfalfa plants.Our results showed that the addition of Glomus mosseae in Cd contaminated soil(10 mg/Kg)significantly increased soil pH,cation exchange capacity(CEC)and organic matter in rhizosphere soil with Medicago truncatula L.,and then account for significantly decreased contents of exchangeable and carbonate-bounded Cd speciation in rhizosphere soil,indicating alleviation of plant toxicity by reduction of bioavailable fractions of Cd.Although there is no significant difference found in Cd accumulation by roots and shoots respectively between Cd and AM-Cd treatments,more portion of Cd was recorded compartmentalization in cell wall fraction of both root and shoot in treatment of Cd with AM application,indicating alleviation of Cd toxicity to plant cell.Herein,application of AM fungi in Cd treatments performed to inhibit the appearance of Cd toxicity symptoms,including the improvement of leaf electrolyte leakage,root elongation,seedling growth and biomass.This information provides a clearer understanding of detoxification strategy of AM fungi on Cd behavior with development and stabilization of soil structure and subcellular distribution of plant.

Regulation of the macrophage-related inflammatory microenvironment for atherosclerosis treatment and angiogenesis via anti-cytokine agents

Macrophages-mediated atherosclerosis(AS)is an inflammatory disease and the most common cause of ischemia.With the progress of basic and clinical research,anti-cytokine therapy has garnered considerable attention of the research community for the regulation of the inflammatory microenvironment for AS treatment.Despite of their promising potential,primary clinical trials have revealed that anti-cytokine drugs exhibit poor selectivity and thus affect other parts of the immune system,especially during long-term management.To circumvent these limitations,herein we exploited mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs)with a pore size of 15.5 nm as carriers for the anti-interleukin-1β(anti-IL-1β)delivery to be the anti-cytokine agents.In vitro mechanistic studies indicated that the MSNs@anti-IL-1βcan regulate the macrophage-related inflammatory microenvironment,promote the viability of vascular endothelial cells(vECs),and reduce proliferation and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells(vSMCs).In vivo evaluation further revealed that the MSNs@anti-IL-1βwere preferentially accumulated in macrophages,impeding the AS progress by maintaining the endothelium integrity and inhibiting the vSMCs proliferation.Besides,MSNs@antiIL-1βinduced neovascularization and improved hindlimb ischemia regeneration.Taken together,these MSNs affording the sustained release of anti-cytokine agents may have broad implications for the clinical management of the AS,including the reduction of the AS progression and alleviation of the ischemia.