Rho GTPases are essential regulators of the actin cytoskeleton.They are involved in various physiological and biochemical processes such as the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics,development,proliferation,survival,an...Rho GTPases are essential regulators of the actin cytoskeleton.They are involved in various physiological and biochemical processes such as the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics,development,proliferation,survival,and regeneration.During the development of cochlear hair cells,Rho GTPases are activated by various extracellular signals through membrane receptors to further stimulate multiple downstream effectors.Specifically,RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1,members of the classical subfamily of the Rho GTPase family,regulate the development and maintenance of cilia by inducing the polymerization of actin monomers and stabilizing actin filaments.In addition,they also regulate the normal morphology orientation of ciliary bundles in auditory hair cells,which is an important element of cell polarity regulation.Moreover,the actin-related pathways mediated by RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1 also play a role in the motility of outer hair cells,indicating that the function of Rho GTPases is crucial in the highly polar auditory sensory system.In this review,we focus on the expression of RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1 in cochlear hair cells and how these small molecules participate in ciliary bundle morphogenesis and cochlear hair cell movement.We also discuss the progress of current research investigating the use of these small molecules as drug targets for deafness treatment.展开更多
Invasive inflammation and excessive scar formation are the main reasons for the difficulty in repairing nervous tissue after spinal cord injury.Microglia and astrocytes play key roles in the spinal cord injury micro-e...Invasive inflammation and excessive scar formation are the main reasons for the difficulty in repairing nervous tissue after spinal cord injury.Microglia and astrocytes play key roles in the spinal cord injury micro-environment and share a close interaction.However,the mechanisms involved remain unclear.In this study,we found that after spinal cord injury,resting microglia(M0)were polarized into pro-inflammatory phenotypes(MG1 and MG3),while resting astrocytes were polarized into reactive and scar-forming phenotypes.The expression of growth arrest-specific 6(Gas6)and its receptor Axl were significantly down-regulated in microglia and astrocytes after spinal cord injury.In vitro experiments showed that Gas6 had negative effects on the polarization of reactive astrocytes and pro-inflammatory microglia,and even inhibited the cross-regulation between them.We further demonstrated that Gas6 can inhibit the polarization of reactive astrocytes by suppressing the activation of the Yes-associated protein signaling pathway.This,in turn,inhibited the polarization of pro-inflammatory microglia by suppressing the activation of the nuclear factor-κB/p65 and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathways.In vivo experiments showed that Gas6 inhibited the polarization of pro-inflammatory microglia and reactive astrocytes in the injured spinal cord,thereby promoting tissue repair and motor function recovery.Overall,Gas6 may play a role in the treatment of spinal cord injury.It can inhibit the inflammatory pathway of microglia and polarization of astrocytes,attenuate the interaction between microglia and astrocytes in the inflammatory microenvironment,and thereby alleviate local inflammation and reduce scar formation in the spinal cord.展开更多
Background: VANGL2 plays a variety of roles in various cellular processes, including tissue morphogenesis, asymmetric cell division, and nervous system development. There is currently a lack of systematic organization...Background: VANGL2 plays a variety of roles in various cellular processes, including tissue morphogenesis, asymmetric cell division, and nervous system development. There is currently a lack of systematic organization in the development and disease of the nervous system. Purpose: To explore the role of VANGL2 in the development of the nervous system and related diseases. Methods: Literature review and analysis of the role of VANGL2 in the development and disease of the nervous system. Results: VANGL2 defects lead to the development of the nervous system through the misconfiguration of various cells, which affects the development of the cochlea, the conduction of neural signals, and the development of nervous system-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, GBM, Bohling-Opitz syndrome, and hydrocephalus. Conclusions: The VANGL2 gene is essential for nervous system development and its deficiency is linked to severe congenital conditions and various disorders, highlighting the need for more research on treatments for related gene defects.展开更多
In response to peripheral nerve injury, the inflammatory response is almost entirely comprised of infiltrating macrophages. Macrophages are a highly plastic, heterogenic immune cell, playing an indispensable role in p...In response to peripheral nerve injury, the inflammatory response is almost entirely comprised of infiltrating macrophages. Macrophages are a highly plastic, heterogenic immune cell, playing an indispensable role in peripheral nerve injury, clearing debris and regulating the microenvironment to allow for efficient regeneration. There are several cells within the microenvironment that likely interact with macrophages to support their function – most notably the Schwann cell, the glial cell of the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells express several ligands that are known to interact with receptors expressed by macrophages, yet the effects of Schwann cells in regulating macrophage phenotype remains largely unexplored. This review discusses macrophages in peripheral nerve injury and how Schwann cells may regulate their behavior.展开更多
The partitioning-defective 3 (Par3), a key component in the conserved Par3/Par6/aPKC complex, plays fundamental roles in cell polarity. Herein we report the identification of Ku70 and Ku80 as novel Par3-interacting ...The partitioning-defective 3 (Par3), a key component in the conserved Par3/Par6/aPKC complex, plays fundamental roles in cell polarity. Herein we report the identification of Ku70 and Ku80 as novel Par3-interacting proteins through an in vitro binding assay followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Ku70/Ku80 proteins are two key regulatory subunits of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which plays an essential role in repairing double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). We determined that the nuclear association of Par3 with Ku70/Ku80 was enhanced by γ-irradiation (IR), a potent DSB inducer. Furthermore, DNA-PKcs, the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK, interacted with the Par3/Ku70/Ku80 complex in response to IR. Par3 over-expression or knockdown was capable of up- or downregulating DNA-PK activity, respectively. Moreover, the Par3 knockdown cells were found to be defective in random plasmid integration, defective in DSB repair following IR, and radiosensitive, phenotypes similar to that of Ku70 knockdown cells. These findings identify Par3 as a novel component of the DNA-PK complex and implicate an unexpected link of cell polarity to DSB repair.展开更多
Cell migration is facilitated by the interaction of living cells and their local microenvironment.The local topography is one of the key factors regulating cell migration.Interaction between the surface topography and...Cell migration is facilitated by the interaction of living cells and their local microenvironment.The local topography is one of the key factors regulating cell migration.Interaction between the surface topography and the cell behaviors is critical to understanding tissue development and regeneration.In this study,a dynamic mask photolithography technique has been utilized to fabricate a surface with graded micropillars.It has been demonstrated that the cells have been successfully guided to migrate from the sparse zone to the dense zone.The cell polarization angle has been characterized in both sparse zone and the dense zone.Compared to the dense zone,the cells in the sparse zone are more aligned along the direction of the micropillar spacing gradient,which enables the guided cell migration.Moreover,the effects of the micropillar spacing gradient,micropillar diameter,and micropillar height have been investigated in terms of the cell migration speed and cell spreading area.Finally,two issues significantly affecting the cell migration have been discussed:trapped cells between the micropillars and cell clusters.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate whether ginsenoside Rb1(Rb1) can attenuate lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced chronic neuroinflammation in mice and to explore its relationship with glial cell polarization.Methods:Intraperitoneal i...Objective:To evaluate whether ginsenoside Rb1(Rb1) can attenuate lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced chronic neuroinflammation in mice and to explore its relationship with glial cell polarization.Methods:Intraperitoneal injection with an escalating dose of LPS was used to establish a chronic neuroinflammation model in mice.Once LPS was initiated,10 or 20 mg/kg Rbl,or sterile saline,was administered for 14 consecutive days.Open field test and beam walking test were used to monitor the changes in behavior.The concentration of cytokines in the serum and brain were used to monitor the systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation,respectively.Molecules specific to each glial cell phenotype were used to investigate glial cell polarization.Results:Mice in the LPS group had reduced spontaneous activities and impaired beam walking performance.Rbl obviously eased LPS-induced behavior distu rbances.Regarding the levels of serum cytokines,both tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) were significantly increased,while interleukin-10(IL-10) and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) remarkably decreased after LPS treatment(all P <.001).Rb1 treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced serum cytokine changes(all P <.05).The results of quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α and complement component 3(C3) in the brain were significantly increased after LPS treatment(all P<.01).Rbl treatment significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in the brain(all P <.05).Glial cell polarization analysis showed that M1 and M2 microglia,and A1 astrocytes increased following LPS treatment,while A2 astrocytes decreased.Rb1 treatment reduced M1 and M2 microglia,and A1 astrocytes,and significantly increased A2 astrocytes.Conclusion:Rb1 can attenuate chronic neuroinflammation induced by LPS in mice,which may be partially attributable to its fine tuning of microglia and astrocyte polarization.Rb1 has potential value for treating neurodegenerative diseases.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infects hepatocytes, polarized cells in the liver. Chronic HCV infection often leads to steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it has been identified as the leading cau...Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infects hepatocytes, polarized cells in the liver. Chronic HCV infection often leads to steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it has been identified as the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide. The HCV replication cycle is dependent on lipid metabolism and particularly an accumulation of lipid droplets in host cells. Phosphoinositides(PIs) are minor phospholipids enriched in different membranes and their levels are tightly regulated by specific PI kinases and phosphatases. PIs are implicated in a vast array of cellular responses that are central to morphogenesis, such as cytoskeletal changes, cytokinesis and the recruitment of downstream effectors to govern mechanisms involved in polarization and lumen formation. Important reviews of the literature identified phosphatidylinositol(Ptd Ins) 4-kinases, and their lipid products Ptd Ins(4)P, as critical regulators of the HCV life cycle. SH2-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase(SHIP2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) and their lipid products Ptd Ins(3,4)P2 and Ptd Ins(3,4,5)P3, respectively, play an important role in the cell membrane and are key to the establishment of apicobasal polarity and lumen formation. In this review, we will focus on these new functions of PI3 K and SHIP2, and their deregulation by HCV, causing a disruption of apicobasal polarity, actin organization and extracellular matrix assembly. Finally we will highlight the involvement of this pathway in the event of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease related to HCV infection.展开更多
We have known since 1976 that cancer evolves clonally from one initiated<span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> normal human cell, the </span><i><span>first cell&...We have known since 1976 that cancer evolves clonally from one initiated<span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> normal human cell, the </span><i><span>first cell</span></i><span>. Today we see that this fact has been overshadowed from federal funding choice of the mutation theory (MT), which not yet has shown tumorigenesis-initiation in normal human cells. Our suggested, death signaled, stress model from time delayed S-period (replication slowness), causing repair instability from under-replicated lesions in repetitive DNAs, herein has the objective of revealing, significant literature support from a mini-review. We reasoned that early versus late S-period stress would </span><span>have different outcomes: early the slowness affecting mitotic slippage with</span> <span>diploid re-replication to 4n cells whereas late-S, with milder stress effect,</span><span> pro</span><span>ducing diploid cells. In cancer burden, near-half is diploid, but tetraploid</span><span> solid tumors have the attention. The initial 4n cells were special with orderly genomic reductive division to diploid first cells with measurable fitness-gain from hours-reduced total cell cycle time. Experimental data from Coxsakie-B3 virus infected normal fibroblasts, reiterated 4n cell production from </span><span>death-s</span><span>ignaled recovery-cells with progressive cell-phenotypic changes to polygon</span><span>al </span><span>and roundness cell-shapes, indistinguishable from diagnostic/prognostic </span><span>cancer </span><span>morphology. The 4n cells showed a self-inflicted 90</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span style="color:#4F4F4F;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;"><span style="color:#4F4F4F;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span></span><span> turn of the 4n nucleus</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> <span>before division, affecting a perpendicular orientation of the fitness-gained</span><span> first cells relative to neighboring cells. In an illustrated cell cycle drawing with early and late S-period stress, it became clear that coding genes on borders of repair unstable satellite, repetitive DNA regions, could become mutated. We found these mutations to be tumor SMGs (significantly mutated genes). Evidential material was presented for loss of function genetics driving tumorigenesis to a parasitic lifestyle.</span></span>展开更多
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are reported to act as effective adjuvants to elicit anti-tumor and anti-infection immunity. Here, we report that Hsp70-like protein 1 (Hsp70L1), a novel HSP derived from human dendritic cel...Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are reported to act as effective adjuvants to elicit anti-tumor and anti-infection immunity. Here, we report that Hsp70-like protein 1 (Hsp70L1), a novel HSP derived from human dendritic cells (DCs), has potent adjuvant effects that polarize responses toward Th1. With a calculated molecular weight of 54.8 kDa, Hsp70L1 is smaller in size than Hsp70 but resembles it both structurally and functionally. Hsp70L1 shares common receptors on DCs with Hsp70 and can interact with DCs, promoting DC maturation and stimulating secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70), IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the chemokines IP-10, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). The induction of interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) secretion by Hsp70L1 is not shared by Hsp70, and other functional differences include more potent stimulation of DC IL-12p70, CC-chemokine, and CCR7 and CXCR4 expression by Hsp70L1. Immunization of mice with the hybrid peptide Hsp70L1-ovalbumin(OVA)(257-264) induces an OVA(257-264)-specific Th1 response and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) that results in significant inhibition of E.G7-OVA tumor growth. The ability of Hsp70L1 to activate DCs indicates its potential as a novel adjuvant for use with peptide immunizations; the Hsp70L1 antigen peptide hybrid may serve as a more effective vaccine for the control of cancer and infectious diseases.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the nature of the restoration of cell polarity and bile excretion function in Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes. Methods : Freshly isolated hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultur...Objective: To investigate the nature of the restoration of cell polarity and bile excretion function in Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes. Methods : Freshly isolated hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in a double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration. Morphological changes were observed under a inverted microscope. The domain specific membrane associated protein DPP IV was tested by immunofluorescence, and the bile excretion function was determined by using fluorescein diacetate. Hepatocytes cultured on a single layer of collagen gel were taken as control. Results.. Adult rat hepatocytes cultured in a double layer collagen gel sandwich configuration regained its morphological and functional polarity and maintained polygonal morphology for at least 4 weeks. Immunofluorescence studies using antibodies against DPP IV showed polarity restoration as early as 48 h. After cultured in the double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration for 96 h the hepatocytes began to excrete bile; while hepatocytes cultured on a single layer collagen gel had no bile excretion. Conclusion.. Hepatocytes cultured in a double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration are able to regain their morphological and functional polarity given certain conditions. Hepaotcyte culture is a useful tool for the study of polarity restoration.展开更多
The study explores modes of variability in the Southern Polar Cell and their relationship with known global climate modes and Antarctic sea ice. It is found that Polar Cell is barotropic in nature and 500 hPa geo-pote...The study explores modes of variability in the Southern Polar Cell and their relationship with known global climate modes and Antarctic sea ice. It is found that Polar Cell is barotropic in nature and 500 hPa geo-potential height (Z<sub>500</sub>) field can satisfactorily represent variability in the Polar Cell. First, three leading Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) modes of Z<sub>500</sub> account for nearly 80% of observed variability in the Polar Cell. Dominant mode (PC1<sub>500</sub>) comprises of high pressure divergence zone over Antarctica. Second leading mode (PC2<sub>500</sub>) is low pressure zone covering Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea (ABS) similar to ABS low feature. A new climate mode called Polar Coastal Index (PCI) is defined, which describes more than 15% and close to 30% variability of circumpolar trough and ABS low, respectively. Out of four modes defined in this study, only PCI and PC2<sub>500</sub> show linear trends and clear seasonality. Interestingly, both modes are affected by modulation of ABS low due to tropical ENSO forcing. SAM signature is present in Polar Cell as PC1<sub>500</sub> shares large variance with it. The largest impact on sea ice comes from PC2<sub>500</sub> followed by PC1<sub>500</sub> in the Antarctic Dipole regions. However, this study suggests contemporary sea ice trends cannot be sustained, and can reverse given that trends in PCI and PC2<sub>500</sub> favour a reversal. These results indicate that ENSO-driven Polar Cell variability plays a crucial role influencing Antarctic sea ice as it interacts with other climate modes and leads the combined impact at the interannual time scale.展开更多
The long-standing challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer is to overcome therapeutic resistance during progression to lethal disease.Aberrant transforming-growth factor-b(TGF-b)signaling accelerates prostate tum...The long-standing challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer is to overcome therapeutic resistance during progression to lethal disease.Aberrant transforming-growth factor-b(TGF-b)signaling accelerates prostate tumor progression in a transgenic mouse model via effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),and neuroendocrine differentiation driving tumor progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC).Neuroendocrine prostate cancer(NEPC)is highly aggressive exhibiting reactivation of developmental programs associated with EMT induction and stem cell-like characteristics.The androgen receptor(AR)is a critical driver of tumor progression as well as therapeutic response in patients with metastatic CRPC.The signaling interactions between the TGF-β mechanistic network and AR axis impact the EMT phenotypic conversions,and perturbation of epithelial homeostasis via EMT renders a critical venue for epithelial derived tumors to become invasive,acquire the neuroendocrine phenotype,and rapidly metastasize.Combinations of microtubule targeting taxane chemotherapy and androgen/AR targeting therapies have survival benefits in CRPC patients,but therapeutic resistance invariability develops,leading to mortality.Compelling evidence from our group recently demonstrated that chemotherapy(cabazitaxel,second line taxane chemotherapy),or TGF-β receptor signaling targeted therapy,caused reversion of EMT to mesenchymal-epithelial transition and tumor re-differentiation,in in vitro and in vivo prostate cancer models.In this review,we discuss the functional contribution of EMT dynamic changes to the development of the neuroendocrine phenotypedthe newly characterized pathological feature of prostate tumors in the context of the tumor microenvironment-navigated cell lineage changes and the role of this neuroendocrine phenotype in metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance.展开更多
Background:Cotton is the source of natural fibers globally,fulfilling 90%of the textile industry’s requirements.However,fiber development is a complex biological process comprising four stages.Fiber develops from a s...Background:Cotton is the source of natural fibers globally,fulfilling 90%of the textile industry’s requirements.However,fiber development is a complex biological process comprising four stages.Fiber develops from a single cell,and cell elongation is a vital process in fiber development.Therefore,it is pertinent to understand and exploit mechanisms underlying cell elongation during fiber development.A previous report about cell division control protein 42(CDC-42)with its key role in cell elongation in eukaryotes inspired us to explore its homologs Rho GTPases for understanding of cell elongation during cotton fiber development.Result:We classified 2066 Rho proteins from 8 Gossypium species into 5 and 8 groups within A and D sub-genomes,respectively.Asymmetric evolution of Rho members was observed among five tetraploids.Population fixation statistics between two short and long fiber genotypes identified highly diverged regions encompassing 34 Rho genes in G.hirustum,and 31 of them were retained through further validation by genome wide association analysis(GWAS).Moreover,a weighted gene co-expression network characterized genome-wide expression patteren of Rho genes based on previously published transcriptome data.Twenty Rho genes from five modules were identified as hub genes which were potentially related to fiber development.Interaction networks of 5 Rho genes based on transcriptional abundance and gene ontology(GO)enrichment emphasized the involvement of Rho in cell wall biosynthesis,fatty acid elongation,and other biological processes.Conclusion:Our study characterized the Rho proteins in cotton,provided insights into the cell elongation of cotton fiber and potential application in cotton fiber improvement.展开更多
During mammalian preimplantation development,a totipotent zygote undergoes several cell cleavages and two rounds of cell fate determination,ultimately forming a mature blastocyst.Along with compaction,the establishmen...During mammalian preimplantation development,a totipotent zygote undergoes several cell cleavages and two rounds of cell fate determination,ultimately forming a mature blastocyst.Along with compaction,the establishment of apicobasal cell polarity breaks the symmetry of an embryo and guides subsequent cell fate choice.Although the lineage segregation of the inner cell mass(ICM)and trophectoderm(TE)is the first symbol of cell differentiation,several molecules have been shown to bias the early cell fate through their inter-cellular variations at much earlier stages,including the 2-and 4-cell stages.The underlying mechanisms of early cell fate determination have long been an important research topic.In this review,we summarize the molecular events that occur during early embryogenesis,as well as the current understanding of their regulatory roles in cell fate decisions.Moreover,as powerful tools for early embryogenesis research,single-cell omics techniques have been applied to both mouse and human preimplantation embryos and have contributed to the discovery of cell fate regulators.Here,we summarize their applications in the research of preimplantation embryos,and provide new insights and perspectives on cell fate regulation.展开更多
Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Usin...Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Using a model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, we showed that IL-6 signaling in allergen-specific T cells was required to prevent Th2 cell differentiation and the subsequent IgE response and allergic inflammation. Th2 cell lineage commitment required strong sustained IL-2 signaling. We found that IL-6 turned off IL-2 signaling during early T-cell activation and thus inhibited Th2 priming. Mechanistically, IL-6-driven inhibition of IL-2 signaling in responding T cells was mediated by upregulation of Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3). This mechanism could be mimicked by pharmacological Janus Kinase-1 (JAK1) inhibition. Collectively, our results identify an unrecognized mechanism that prevents the development of unwanted Th2 cell responses and associated diseases and outline potential preventive interventions.展开更多
The phenomenon of planar cell polarity is critically required for a myriad of morphogenetic processes in metazoan and is accurately controlled by several conserved modules.Six“core”proteins,including Friz zled,Flami...The phenomenon of planar cell polarity is critically required for a myriad of morphogenetic processes in metazoan and is accurately controlled by several conserved modules.Six“core”proteins,including Friz zled,Flamingo(Celsr),Van Gogh(Vangl),Dishevelled,Prickle,and Diego(Ankrd6),are major components of the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway.The Fat/Dchs protocadherins and the Scrib polarity complex also function to instruct cellular polarization.In vertebrates,all these pathways are essential for tissue and organ morphogenesis,such as neural tube closure,left-right symmetry breaking,heart and gut morphogenesis,lung and kidney branching,stereociliary bundle orientation,and proximal-distal limb elongation.Mutations in planar polarity genes are closely linked to various congenital diseases.Striking advances have been made in deciphering their contribution to the establishment of spatially oriented pattern in developing or gans and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis.The challenge remains to clarify the complex interplay of different polarity pathways in organogenesis and the link of cell polarity to cell fate specification.Inter disciplinary approaches are also important to understand the roles of mechanical forces in coupling cellular polarization and differentiation.This review outlines current advances on planar polarity regulators in asymmetric organ formation,with the aim to identify questions that deserve further investigation.展开更多
Inorganic-organic metal halide perovskite light harvester-based perovskite solar cells(PSCs)with widely tunable bandgap have achieved rapid growth in power conversion efficiency,which exceeds 25%now.It is deliberated ...Inorganic-organic metal halide perovskite light harvester-based perovskite solar cells(PSCs)with widely tunable bandgap have achieved rapid growth in power conversion efficiency,which exceeds 25%now.It is deliberated that if a semitransparent solar cell made of wider bandgap materials was placed on top of a narrow bandgap materials-based solar cell such as a silicon solar cell,with proper optical and electrical arrangements,the resultant tandem device consisting of two subcells could more effectively utilize the solar spectrum than a single junction solar cell.In a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell(PSTSC),a semitransparent PSC with a wider bandgap is placed on top of a narrow bandgap silicon solar cell.The PSC efficiently harvests the higher energy photons in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the solar spectrum while the silicon solar cell can convert the photons of the infrared region to power.The PSTSC is proposed as a potential candidate to overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction silicon solar cells.Though the theoretical limit of a PSTSC is calculated as~42%,its actual efficiency achieved until now is less than 30%.Therefore,a great scope of research exists in improving the efficiency of PSTSCs.Current issues of stability and upscaling of the device in PSCs are also a matter of concern for PSTSCs.A tandem device consists of multiple parts,and different configurations can be applied,thus tuning the architecture of the device.Altering various parts may result in significant changes in the efficiency of the device.In this review,competing architectures of otherwise comparable devices are compared in terms of photovoltaic properties.Thus,future directions to improve the efficiency of the device based on architecture design are proposed herein.In particular,the influence of the polarity of PSCs and the surface morphology of silicon solar cells(both front and rear)on determining the properties of the PSTSC are discussed.展开更多
As a natural immune cell and antigen presenting cell,macrophages have been studied and engineered to treat human diseases.Macrophages are well-suited for use as drug carriers because of their biological characteristic...As a natural immune cell and antigen presenting cell,macrophages have been studied and engineered to treat human diseases.Macrophages are well-suited for use as drug carriers because of their biological characteristics,such as excellent biocompatibility,long circulation,intrinsic inflammatory homing and phagocytosis.Meanwhile,macrophages’uniquely high plasticity and easy re-education polarization facilitates their use as part of efficacious therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases or tumors.Although recent studies have demonstrated promising advances in macrophage-based drug delivery,several challenges currently hinder further improvement of therapeutic effect and clinical application.This article focuses on the main challenges of utilizing macrophage-based drug delivery,from the selection of macrophage sources,drug loading,and maintenance of macrophage phenotypes,to drug migration and release at target sites.In addition,corresponding strategies and insights related to these challenges are described.Finally,we also provide perspective on shortcomings on the road to clinical translation and production.展开更多
Angiogenesis,a process by which the preexisting blood vasculature gives rise to new capillary vessels,is associated with a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions.However,the molecular mechanism underlying th...Angiogenesis,a process by which the preexisting blood vasculature gives rise to new capillary vessels,is associated with a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions.However,the molecular mechanism underlying this important process remains poorly understood.Here we show that histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6),a microtubule-associated enzyme critical for cell motility,contributes to angiogenesis by regulating the polarization and migration of vascular endothelial cells.Inhibition of HDAC6 activity impairs the formation of new blood vessels in chick embryos and in angioreactors implanted in mice.The requirement for HDAC6 in angiogenesis is corroborated in vitro by analysis of endothelial tube formation and capillary sprouting.Our data further show that HDAC6 stimulates membrane ruffling at the leading edge to promote cell polarization.In addition,microtubule end binding protein 1(EB1)is important for HDAC6 to exert its activity towards the migration of endothelial cells and generation of capillary-like structures.These results thus identify HDAC6 as a novel player in the angiogenic process and offer novel insights into the molecular mechanism governing endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis.展开更多
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.BK20221377(to JG)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China,No.22KJB180023(to JG)。
文摘Rho GTPases are essential regulators of the actin cytoskeleton.They are involved in various physiological and biochemical processes such as the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics,development,proliferation,survival,and regeneration.During the development of cochlear hair cells,Rho GTPases are activated by various extracellular signals through membrane receptors to further stimulate multiple downstream effectors.Specifically,RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1,members of the classical subfamily of the Rho GTPase family,regulate the development and maintenance of cilia by inducing the polymerization of actin monomers and stabilizing actin filaments.In addition,they also regulate the normal morphology orientation of ciliary bundles in auditory hair cells,which is an important element of cell polarity regulation.Moreover,the actin-related pathways mediated by RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1 also play a role in the motility of outer hair cells,indicating that the function of Rho GTPases is crucial in the highly polar auditory sensory system.In this review,we focus on the expression of RhoA,Cdc42,and Rac1 in cochlear hair cells and how these small molecules participate in ciliary bundle morphogenesis and cochlear hair cell movement.We also discuss the progress of current research investigating the use of these small molecules as drug targets for deafness treatment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos.81971151 (to YW), 82102528 (to XL), 82102583 (to LW)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China, Nos.2020A1515010265 (to YW), 2020A1515110679 (to XL), and 2021A1515010358 (to XL)
文摘Invasive inflammation and excessive scar formation are the main reasons for the difficulty in repairing nervous tissue after spinal cord injury.Microglia and astrocytes play key roles in the spinal cord injury micro-environment and share a close interaction.However,the mechanisms involved remain unclear.In this study,we found that after spinal cord injury,resting microglia(M0)were polarized into pro-inflammatory phenotypes(MG1 and MG3),while resting astrocytes were polarized into reactive and scar-forming phenotypes.The expression of growth arrest-specific 6(Gas6)and its receptor Axl were significantly down-regulated in microglia and astrocytes after spinal cord injury.In vitro experiments showed that Gas6 had negative effects on the polarization of reactive astrocytes and pro-inflammatory microglia,and even inhibited the cross-regulation between them.We further demonstrated that Gas6 can inhibit the polarization of reactive astrocytes by suppressing the activation of the Yes-associated protein signaling pathway.This,in turn,inhibited the polarization of pro-inflammatory microglia by suppressing the activation of the nuclear factor-κB/p65 and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathways.In vivo experiments showed that Gas6 inhibited the polarization of pro-inflammatory microglia and reactive astrocytes in the injured spinal cord,thereby promoting tissue repair and motor function recovery.Overall,Gas6 may play a role in the treatment of spinal cord injury.It can inhibit the inflammatory pathway of microglia and polarization of astrocytes,attenuate the interaction between microglia and astrocytes in the inflammatory microenvironment,and thereby alleviate local inflammation and reduce scar formation in the spinal cord.
文摘Background: VANGL2 plays a variety of roles in various cellular processes, including tissue morphogenesis, asymmetric cell division, and nervous system development. There is currently a lack of systematic organization in the development and disease of the nervous system. Purpose: To explore the role of VANGL2 in the development of the nervous system and related diseases. Methods: Literature review and analysis of the role of VANGL2 in the development and disease of the nervous system. Results: VANGL2 defects lead to the development of the nervous system through the misconfiguration of various cells, which affects the development of the cochlea, the conduction of neural signals, and the development of nervous system-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, GBM, Bohling-Opitz syndrome, and hydrocephalus. Conclusions: The VANGL2 gene is essential for nervous system development and its deficiency is linked to severe congenital conditions and various disorders, highlighting the need for more research on treatments for related gene defects.
文摘In response to peripheral nerve injury, the inflammatory response is almost entirely comprised of infiltrating macrophages. Macrophages are a highly plastic, heterogenic immune cell, playing an indispensable role in peripheral nerve injury, clearing debris and regulating the microenvironment to allow for efficient regeneration. There are several cells within the microenvironment that likely interact with macrophages to support their function – most notably the Schwann cell, the glial cell of the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells express several ligands that are known to interact with receptors expressed by macrophages, yet the effects of Schwann cells in regulating macrophage phenotype remains largely unexplored. This review discusses macrophages in peripheral nerve injury and how Schwann cells may regulate their behavior.
基金This work was supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.30170208,30623003 and 30170208)from the Ministry of Science and Technology,China(No.2001AA233031 and No.2001CB510205)from US NIH(CA50519)(to DJ Chen).
文摘The partitioning-defective 3 (Par3), a key component in the conserved Par3/Par6/aPKC complex, plays fundamental roles in cell polarity. Herein we report the identification of Ku70 and Ku80 as novel Par3-interacting proteins through an in vitro binding assay followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Ku70/Ku80 proteins are two key regulatory subunits of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which plays an essential role in repairing double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). We determined that the nuclear association of Par3 with Ku70/Ku80 was enhanced by γ-irradiation (IR), a potent DSB inducer. Furthermore, DNA-PKcs, the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK, interacted with the Par3/Ku70/Ku80 complex in response to IR. Par3 over-expression or knockdown was capable of up- or downregulating DNA-PK activity, respectively. Moreover, the Par3 knockdown cells were found to be defective in random plasmid integration, defective in DSB repair following IR, and radiosensitive, phenotypes similar to that of Ku70 knockdown cells. These findings identify Par3 as a novel component of the DNA-PK complex and implicate an unexpected link of cell polarity to DSB repair.
基金supported by Texas Tech University start-up fund and National Natural Science Foundation of China(51709120).
文摘Cell migration is facilitated by the interaction of living cells and their local microenvironment.The local topography is one of the key factors regulating cell migration.Interaction between the surface topography and the cell behaviors is critical to understanding tissue development and regeneration.In this study,a dynamic mask photolithography technique has been utilized to fabricate a surface with graded micropillars.It has been demonstrated that the cells have been successfully guided to migrate from the sparse zone to the dense zone.The cell polarization angle has been characterized in both sparse zone and the dense zone.Compared to the dense zone,the cells in the sparse zone are more aligned along the direction of the micropillar spacing gradient,which enables the guided cell migration.Moreover,the effects of the micropillar spacing gradient,micropillar diameter,and micropillar height have been investigated in terms of the cell migration speed and cell spreading area.Finally,two issues significantly affecting the cell migration have been discussed:trapped cells between the micropillars and cell clusters.
基金This research was supported by the grant“Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases with Chinese Medicine from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(GZYYGJ2021047)”the“High-end Experts Support Program from the Ministry of Science and Technology(DL 2021110001L)”the“Basic Research Funds from the Ministry of Education 1000061223731)”。
文摘Objective:To evaluate whether ginsenoside Rb1(Rb1) can attenuate lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced chronic neuroinflammation in mice and to explore its relationship with glial cell polarization.Methods:Intraperitoneal injection with an escalating dose of LPS was used to establish a chronic neuroinflammation model in mice.Once LPS was initiated,10 or 20 mg/kg Rbl,or sterile saline,was administered for 14 consecutive days.Open field test and beam walking test were used to monitor the changes in behavior.The concentration of cytokines in the serum and brain were used to monitor the systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation,respectively.Molecules specific to each glial cell phenotype were used to investigate glial cell polarization.Results:Mice in the LPS group had reduced spontaneous activities and impaired beam walking performance.Rbl obviously eased LPS-induced behavior distu rbances.Regarding the levels of serum cytokines,both tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) were significantly increased,while interleukin-10(IL-10) and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) remarkably decreased after LPS treatment(all P <.001).Rb1 treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced serum cytokine changes(all P <.05).The results of quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α and complement component 3(C3) in the brain were significantly increased after LPS treatment(all P<.01).Rbl treatment significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in the brain(all P <.05).Glial cell polarization analysis showed that M1 and M2 microglia,and A1 astrocytes increased following LPS treatment,while A2 astrocytes decreased.Rb1 treatment reduced M1 and M2 microglia,and A1 astrocytes,and significantly increased A2 astrocytes.Conclusion:Rb1 can attenuate chronic neuroinflammation induced by LPS in mice,which may be partially attributable to its fine tuning of microglia and astrocyte polarization.Rb1 has potential value for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
基金Supported by Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida et les hépatites(ANRS,France),Ligue contre le cancer,France
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infects hepatocytes, polarized cells in the liver. Chronic HCV infection often leads to steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it has been identified as the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide. The HCV replication cycle is dependent on lipid metabolism and particularly an accumulation of lipid droplets in host cells. Phosphoinositides(PIs) are minor phospholipids enriched in different membranes and their levels are tightly regulated by specific PI kinases and phosphatases. PIs are implicated in a vast array of cellular responses that are central to morphogenesis, such as cytoskeletal changes, cytokinesis and the recruitment of downstream effectors to govern mechanisms involved in polarization and lumen formation. Important reviews of the literature identified phosphatidylinositol(Ptd Ins) 4-kinases, and their lipid products Ptd Ins(4)P, as critical regulators of the HCV life cycle. SH2-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase(SHIP2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) and their lipid products Ptd Ins(3,4)P2 and Ptd Ins(3,4,5)P3, respectively, play an important role in the cell membrane and are key to the establishment of apicobasal polarity and lumen formation. In this review, we will focus on these new functions of PI3 K and SHIP2, and their deregulation by HCV, causing a disruption of apicobasal polarity, actin organization and extracellular matrix assembly. Finally we will highlight the involvement of this pathway in the event of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease related to HCV infection.
文摘We have known since 1976 that cancer evolves clonally from one initiated<span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> normal human cell, the </span><i><span>first cell</span></i><span>. Today we see that this fact has been overshadowed from federal funding choice of the mutation theory (MT), which not yet has shown tumorigenesis-initiation in normal human cells. Our suggested, death signaled, stress model from time delayed S-period (replication slowness), causing repair instability from under-replicated lesions in repetitive DNAs, herein has the objective of revealing, significant literature support from a mini-review. We reasoned that early versus late S-period stress would </span><span>have different outcomes: early the slowness affecting mitotic slippage with</span> <span>diploid re-replication to 4n cells whereas late-S, with milder stress effect,</span><span> pro</span><span>ducing diploid cells. In cancer burden, near-half is diploid, but tetraploid</span><span> solid tumors have the attention. The initial 4n cells were special with orderly genomic reductive division to diploid first cells with measurable fitness-gain from hours-reduced total cell cycle time. Experimental data from Coxsakie-B3 virus infected normal fibroblasts, reiterated 4n cell production from </span><span>death-s</span><span>ignaled recovery-cells with progressive cell-phenotypic changes to polygon</span><span>al </span><span>and roundness cell-shapes, indistinguishable from diagnostic/prognostic </span><span>cancer </span><span>morphology. The 4n cells showed a self-inflicted 90</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span style="color:#4F4F4F;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;"><span style="color:#4F4F4F;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span></span><span> turn of the 4n nucleus</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> <span>before division, affecting a perpendicular orientation of the fitness-gained</span><span> first cells relative to neighboring cells. In an illustrated cell cycle drawing with early and late S-period stress, it became clear that coding genes on borders of repair unstable satellite, repetitive DNA regions, could become mutated. We found these mutations to be tumor SMGs (significantly mutated genes). Evidential material was presented for loss of function genetics driving tumorigenesis to a parasitic lifestyle.</span></span>
文摘Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are reported to act as effective adjuvants to elicit anti-tumor and anti-infection immunity. Here, we report that Hsp70-like protein 1 (Hsp70L1), a novel HSP derived from human dendritic cells (DCs), has potent adjuvant effects that polarize responses toward Th1. With a calculated molecular weight of 54.8 kDa, Hsp70L1 is smaller in size than Hsp70 but resembles it both structurally and functionally. Hsp70L1 shares common receptors on DCs with Hsp70 and can interact with DCs, promoting DC maturation and stimulating secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70), IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the chemokines IP-10, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). The induction of interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) secretion by Hsp70L1 is not shared by Hsp70, and other functional differences include more potent stimulation of DC IL-12p70, CC-chemokine, and CCR7 and CXCR4 expression by Hsp70L1. Immunization of mice with the hybrid peptide Hsp70L1-ovalbumin(OVA)(257-264) induces an OVA(257-264)-specific Th1 response and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) that results in significant inhibition of E.G7-OVA tumor growth. The ability of Hsp70L1 to activate DCs indicates its potential as a novel adjuvant for use with peptide immunizations; the Hsp70L1 antigen peptide hybrid may serve as a more effective vaccine for the control of cancer and infectious diseases.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30571763)Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (2004B29)
文摘Objective: To investigate the nature of the restoration of cell polarity and bile excretion function in Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes. Methods : Freshly isolated hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in a double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration. Morphological changes were observed under a inverted microscope. The domain specific membrane associated protein DPP IV was tested by immunofluorescence, and the bile excretion function was determined by using fluorescein diacetate. Hepatocytes cultured on a single layer of collagen gel were taken as control. Results.. Adult rat hepatocytes cultured in a double layer collagen gel sandwich configuration regained its morphological and functional polarity and maintained polygonal morphology for at least 4 weeks. Immunofluorescence studies using antibodies against DPP IV showed polarity restoration as early as 48 h. After cultured in the double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration for 96 h the hepatocytes began to excrete bile; while hepatocytes cultured on a single layer collagen gel had no bile excretion. Conclusion.. Hepatocytes cultured in a double layer collagen gel Sandwich configuration are able to regain their morphological and functional polarity given certain conditions. Hepaotcyte culture is a useful tool for the study of polarity restoration.
文摘The study explores modes of variability in the Southern Polar Cell and their relationship with known global climate modes and Antarctic sea ice. It is found that Polar Cell is barotropic in nature and 500 hPa geo-potential height (Z<sub>500</sub>) field can satisfactorily represent variability in the Polar Cell. First, three leading Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) modes of Z<sub>500</sub> account for nearly 80% of observed variability in the Polar Cell. Dominant mode (PC1<sub>500</sub>) comprises of high pressure divergence zone over Antarctica. Second leading mode (PC2<sub>500</sub>) is low pressure zone covering Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea (ABS) similar to ABS low feature. A new climate mode called Polar Coastal Index (PCI) is defined, which describes more than 15% and close to 30% variability of circumpolar trough and ABS low, respectively. Out of four modes defined in this study, only PCI and PC2<sub>500</sub> show linear trends and clear seasonality. Interestingly, both modes are affected by modulation of ABS low due to tropical ENSO forcing. SAM signature is present in Polar Cell as PC1<sub>500</sub> shares large variance with it. The largest impact on sea ice comes from PC2<sub>500</sub> followed by PC1<sub>500</sub> in the Antarctic Dipole regions. However, this study suggests contemporary sea ice trends cannot be sustained, and can reverse given that trends in PCI and PC2<sub>500</sub> favour a reversal. These results indicate that ENSO-driven Polar Cell variability plays a crucial role influencing Antarctic sea ice as it interacts with other climate modes and leads the combined impact at the interannual time scale.
基金This work is supported by a Schwab Foundation Grant and the James F.Hardymon Endowment in Urologic Research at the University of Kentucky(NK,PJH)the University of Kentucky Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Environmental Health Sciences(SURES)program(HD).
文摘The long-standing challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer is to overcome therapeutic resistance during progression to lethal disease.Aberrant transforming-growth factor-b(TGF-b)signaling accelerates prostate tumor progression in a transgenic mouse model via effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),and neuroendocrine differentiation driving tumor progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC).Neuroendocrine prostate cancer(NEPC)is highly aggressive exhibiting reactivation of developmental programs associated with EMT induction and stem cell-like characteristics.The androgen receptor(AR)is a critical driver of tumor progression as well as therapeutic response in patients with metastatic CRPC.The signaling interactions between the TGF-β mechanistic network and AR axis impact the EMT phenotypic conversions,and perturbation of epithelial homeostasis via EMT renders a critical venue for epithelial derived tumors to become invasive,acquire the neuroendocrine phenotype,and rapidly metastasize.Combinations of microtubule targeting taxane chemotherapy and androgen/AR targeting therapies have survival benefits in CRPC patients,but therapeutic resistance invariability develops,leading to mortality.Compelling evidence from our group recently demonstrated that chemotherapy(cabazitaxel,second line taxane chemotherapy),or TGF-β receptor signaling targeted therapy,caused reversion of EMT to mesenchymal-epithelial transition and tumor re-differentiation,in in vitro and in vivo prostate cancer models.In this review,we discuss the functional contribution of EMT dynamic changes to the development of the neuroendocrine phenotypedthe newly characterized pathological feature of prostate tumors in the context of the tumor microenvironment-navigated cell lineage changes and the role of this neuroendocrine phenotype in metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance.
基金supported by Funds of the National Key Research and Development Program(2016YFD0101006,2018YFD0100402)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31621005 and 31901581)Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(1610162021013).
文摘Background:Cotton is the source of natural fibers globally,fulfilling 90%of the textile industry’s requirements.However,fiber development is a complex biological process comprising four stages.Fiber develops from a single cell,and cell elongation is a vital process in fiber development.Therefore,it is pertinent to understand and exploit mechanisms underlying cell elongation during fiber development.A previous report about cell division control protein 42(CDC-42)with its key role in cell elongation in eukaryotes inspired us to explore its homologs Rho GTPases for understanding of cell elongation during cotton fiber development.Result:We classified 2066 Rho proteins from 8 Gossypium species into 5 and 8 groups within A and D sub-genomes,respectively.Asymmetric evolution of Rho members was observed among five tetraploids.Population fixation statistics between two short and long fiber genotypes identified highly diverged regions encompassing 34 Rho genes in G.hirustum,and 31 of them were retained through further validation by genome wide association analysis(GWAS).Moreover,a weighted gene co-expression network characterized genome-wide expression patteren of Rho genes based on previously published transcriptome data.Twenty Rho genes from five modules were identified as hub genes which were potentially related to fiber development.Interaction networks of 5 Rho genes based on transcriptional abundance and gene ontology(GO)enrichment emphasized the involvement of Rho in cell wall biosynthesis,fatty acid elongation,and other biological processes.Conclusion:Our study characterized the Rho proteins in cotton,provided insights into the cell elongation of cotton fiber and potential application in cotton fiber improvement.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32121001 to YunGui Yang,92153303 to Ying Yang)CAS for Young Scientists in Basic Research Project(Grant No.YSBR-073 to Ying Yang)+3 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of CAS(Grant No.XDA16010501 to Yun-Gui Yang)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFA0801200 to Ying Yang)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(Grant No.Y2022040 to Ying Yang)the Beijing Nova Program,China(Grant Nos.Z201100006820104 and 20220484210 to Ying Yang).
文摘During mammalian preimplantation development,a totipotent zygote undergoes several cell cleavages and two rounds of cell fate determination,ultimately forming a mature blastocyst.Along with compaction,the establishment of apicobasal cell polarity breaks the symmetry of an embryo and guides subsequent cell fate choice.Although the lineage segregation of the inner cell mass(ICM)and trophectoderm(TE)is the first symbol of cell differentiation,several molecules have been shown to bias the early cell fate through their inter-cellular variations at much earlier stages,including the 2-and 4-cell stages.The underlying mechanisms of early cell fate determination have long been an important research topic.In this review,we summarize the molecular events that occur during early embryogenesis,as well as the current understanding of their regulatory roles in cell fate decisions.Moreover,as powerful tools for early embryogenesis research,single-cell omics techniques have been applied to both mouse and human preimplantation embryos and have contributed to the discovery of cell fate regulators.Here,we summarize their applications in the research of preimplantation embryos,and provide new insights and perspectives on cell fate regulation.
文摘Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Using a model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, we showed that IL-6 signaling in allergen-specific T cells was required to prevent Th2 cell differentiation and the subsequent IgE response and allergic inflammation. Th2 cell lineage commitment required strong sustained IL-2 signaling. We found that IL-6 turned off IL-2 signaling during early T-cell activation and thus inhibited Th2 priming. Mechanistically, IL-6-driven inhibition of IL-2 signaling in responding T cells was mediated by upregulation of Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3). This mechanism could be mimicked by pharmacological Janus Kinase-1 (JAK1) inhibition. Collectively, our results identify an unrecognized mechanism that prevents the development of unwanted Th2 cell responses and associated diseases and outline potential preventive interventions.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number 32070813)the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM-Telethon grant number 23545)+1 种基金the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifiquethe Sorbonne University
文摘The phenomenon of planar cell polarity is critically required for a myriad of morphogenetic processes in metazoan and is accurately controlled by several conserved modules.Six“core”proteins,including Friz zled,Flamingo(Celsr),Van Gogh(Vangl),Dishevelled,Prickle,and Diego(Ankrd6),are major components of the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway.The Fat/Dchs protocadherins and the Scrib polarity complex also function to instruct cellular polarization.In vertebrates,all these pathways are essential for tissue and organ morphogenesis,such as neural tube closure,left-right symmetry breaking,heart and gut morphogenesis,lung and kidney branching,stereociliary bundle orientation,and proximal-distal limb elongation.Mutations in planar polarity genes are closely linked to various congenital diseases.Striking advances have been made in deciphering their contribution to the establishment of spatially oriented pattern in developing or gans and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis.The challenge remains to clarify the complex interplay of different polarity pathways in organogenesis and the link of cell polarity to cell fate specification.Inter disciplinary approaches are also important to understand the roles of mechanical forces in coupling cellular polarization and differentiation.This review outlines current advances on planar polarity regulators in asymmetric organ formation,with the aim to identify questions that deserve further investigation.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2018YFB1500103)the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U21A2072)+7 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(Grant No.20JCQNJC02070)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2020T130317)the Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation of Higher Education of China(Grant No.B16027)Tianjin Science and Technology Project(Grant No.18ZXJMTG00220)the Key R&D Program of Hebei Province(Grant No.19214301D)the Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformationsthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNankai University。
文摘Inorganic-organic metal halide perovskite light harvester-based perovskite solar cells(PSCs)with widely tunable bandgap have achieved rapid growth in power conversion efficiency,which exceeds 25%now.It is deliberated that if a semitransparent solar cell made of wider bandgap materials was placed on top of a narrow bandgap materials-based solar cell such as a silicon solar cell,with proper optical and electrical arrangements,the resultant tandem device consisting of two subcells could more effectively utilize the solar spectrum than a single junction solar cell.In a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell(PSTSC),a semitransparent PSC with a wider bandgap is placed on top of a narrow bandgap silicon solar cell.The PSC efficiently harvests the higher energy photons in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the solar spectrum while the silicon solar cell can convert the photons of the infrared region to power.The PSTSC is proposed as a potential candidate to overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction silicon solar cells.Though the theoretical limit of a PSTSC is calculated as~42%,its actual efficiency achieved until now is less than 30%.Therefore,a great scope of research exists in improving the efficiency of PSTSCs.Current issues of stability and upscaling of the device in PSCs are also a matter of concern for PSTSCs.A tandem device consists of multiple parts,and different configurations can be applied,thus tuning the architecture of the device.Altering various parts may result in significant changes in the efficiency of the device.In this review,competing architectures of otherwise comparable devices are compared in terms of photovoltaic properties.Thus,future directions to improve the efficiency of the device based on architecture design are proposed herein.In particular,the influence of the polarity of PSCs and the surface morphology of silicon solar cells(both front and rear)on determining the properties of the PSTSC are discussed.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC82003702,NSFC31571195).
文摘As a natural immune cell and antigen presenting cell,macrophages have been studied and engineered to treat human diseases.Macrophages are well-suited for use as drug carriers because of their biological characteristics,such as excellent biocompatibility,long circulation,intrinsic inflammatory homing and phagocytosis.Meanwhile,macrophages’uniquely high plasticity and easy re-education polarization facilitates their use as part of efficacious therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases or tumors.Although recent studies have demonstrated promising advances in macrophage-based drug delivery,several challenges currently hinder further improvement of therapeutic effect and clinical application.This article focuses on the main challenges of utilizing macrophage-based drug delivery,from the selection of macrophage sources,drug loading,and maintenance of macrophage phenotypes,to drug migration and release at target sites.In addition,corresponding strategies and insights related to these challenges are described.Finally,we also provide perspective on shortcomings on the road to clinical translation and production.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.30825022 and 90913021)the Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation(Grant No.111036)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2007CB914802).
文摘Angiogenesis,a process by which the preexisting blood vasculature gives rise to new capillary vessels,is associated with a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions.However,the molecular mechanism underlying this important process remains poorly understood.Here we show that histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6),a microtubule-associated enzyme critical for cell motility,contributes to angiogenesis by regulating the polarization and migration of vascular endothelial cells.Inhibition of HDAC6 activity impairs the formation of new blood vessels in chick embryos and in angioreactors implanted in mice.The requirement for HDAC6 in angiogenesis is corroborated in vitro by analysis of endothelial tube formation and capillary sprouting.Our data further show that HDAC6 stimulates membrane ruffling at the leading edge to promote cell polarization.In addition,microtubule end binding protein 1(EB1)is important for HDAC6 to exert its activity towards the migration of endothelial cells and generation of capillary-like structures.These results thus identify HDAC6 as a novel player in the angiogenic process and offer novel insights into the molecular mechanism governing endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis.