In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the prolifer...In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in response to mitogens.The splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by T-cell mitogens(Con A and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies)released high levels of IL-2 but low levels of IFN-γand IL-17A.The release of IL-4 was unaffected by MRJPs.Additionally,splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by LPS were prevented by MRJPs at the same dose as that required for producing IL-1βand IL-6,two pro-inflammatory cytokines.The production of IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γwas negatively associated with estrogen levels,which were higher in the MRJP-treated animals than in the control group.Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that feeding mice 250 mg/kg of MRJPs maintained the stability of the natural intestinal microflora of mice.Additionally,the LEf Se analysis identified biomarkers in the MRJP-treated mice,including Prevotella,Bacillales,Enterobacteriales,Gammaproteobacteria,Candidatus_Arthromitus,and Shigella.Our results showed that MRJPs are important components of royal jelly that modulate host immunity and hormone levels and help maintain gut microbiota stability.展开更多
Seed plumules comprise multiple developing tissues and are key sites for above-ground plant organ morphogenesis.Here,the spatial expression of genes in developing rice seed plumules was characterized by single-cell tr...Seed plumules comprise multiple developing tissues and are key sites for above-ground plant organ morphogenesis.Here,the spatial expression of genes in developing rice seed plumules was characterized by single-cell transcriptome sequencing in Zhongjiazao 17,a popular Chinese indica rice cultivar.Of 15 cell clusters,13 were assigned to cell types using marker genes and cluster-specific genes.Marker genes of multiple cell types were expressed in several clusters,suggesting a complex developmental system.Some genes for signaling by phytohormones such as abscisic acid were highly expressed in specific clusters.Various cis-elements in the promoters of genes specifically expressed in cell clusters were calculated,and some key hormone-related motifs were frequent in certain clusters.Spatial expression patterns of genes involved in rapid seed germination,seedling growth,and development were identified.These findings enhanced our understanding of cellular diversity and specialization within plumules of rice,a monocotyledonous model crop.展开更多
Background The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process,and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes.However,little is known a...Background The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process,and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging,especially in goats.Therefore,the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.Results For the first time,we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of over 27,000 ovarian cells from newborn,young and aging goats,and identified nine ovarian cell types with distinct gene-expression signatures.Functional enrichment analysis showed that ovarian cell types were involved in their own unique biological processes,such as Wnt beta-catenin signalling was enriched in germ cells,whereas ovarian steroidogenesis was enriched in granulosa cells(GCs).Further analysis showed that ovarian aging was linked to GCs-specific changes in the antioxidant system,oxidative phosphorylation,and apoptosis.Subsequently,we identified a series of dynamic genes,such as AMH,CRABP2,THBS1 and TIMP1,which determined the fate of GCs.Additionally,FOXO1,SOX4,and HIF1A were identified as significant regulons that instructed the differentiation of GCs in a distinct manner during ovarian aging.Conclusions This study revealed a comprehensive aging-associated transcriptomic atlas characterizing the cell typespecific mechanisms during ovarian aging at the single-cell level and offers new diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for age-related goat ovarian diseases.展开更多
Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technolo...Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technologies have significantly evolved, overcoming initial technical challenges in capturing and analyzing individual cells. These high-throughput omics technologies now offer a remarkable opportunity to comprehend the complex spatiotemporal patterns of transcriptional diversity and cell-type characteristics across the entire hypothalamus. Current single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing methods comprehensively quantify gene expression by exploring distinct phenotypes across various subregions of the hypothalamus. However, single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing requires isolating the cell/nuclei from the tissue, potentially resulting in the loss of spatial information concerning neuronal networks. Spatial transcriptomics methods, by bypassing the cell dissociation, can elucidate the intricate spatial organization of neural networks through their imaging and sequencing technologies. In this review, we highlight the applicative value of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in exploring the complex molecular-genetic diversity of hypothalamic cell types, driven by recent high-throughput achievements.展开更多
Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have b...Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have been proposed to identify essential proteins. Unfortunately, most methods based on network topology only consider the interactions between a protein and its neighboring proteins, and not the interactions with its higher-order distance proteins. In this paper, we propose the DSEP algorithm in which we integrated network topology properties and subcellular localization information in protein–protein interaction(PPI) networks based on four-order distances, and then used random walks to identify the essential proteins. We also propose a method to calculate the finite-order distance of the network, which can greatly reduce the time complexity of our algorithm. We conducted a comprehensive comparison of the DSEP algorithm with 11 existing classical algorithms to identify essential proteins with multiple evaluation methods. The results show that DSEP is superior to these 11 methods.展开更多
The gastrointestinal tract is essential for food digestion,nutrient absorption,waste elimination,and microbial defense.Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the intestinal tract has greatly enriched our understanding...The gastrointestinal tract is essential for food digestion,nutrient absorption,waste elimination,and microbial defense.Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the intestinal tract has greatly enriched our understanding of cellular diversity,functional heterogeneity,and their importance in intestinal tract development and disease.Although such profiling has been extensively conducted in humans and mice,the single-cell gene expression landscape of the pig cecum remains unexplored.Here,single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on 45572 cells obtained from seven cecal samples in pigs at four different developmental stages(days(D)30,42,150,and 730).Analysis revealed 12 major cell types and 38 subtypes,as well as their distinctive genes,transcription factors,and regulons,many of which were conserved in humans.An increase in the relative proportions of CD8^(+)T and Granzyme A(low expression)natural killer T cells(GZMA^(low)NKT)cells and a decrease in the relative proportions of epithelial stem cells,Tregs,RHEX^(+)T cells,and plasmacytoid dendritic cells(pDCs)were noted across the developmental stages.Moreover,the post-weaning period exhibited an up-regulation in mitochondrial genes,COX2 and ND2,as well as genes involved in immune activation in multiple cell types.Cell-cell crosstalk analysis indicated that IBP6^(+)fibroblasts were the main signal senders at D30,whereas IBP6^(−)fibroblasts assumed this role at the other stages.NKT cells established interactions with epithelial cells and IBP6^(+)fibroblasts in the D730 cecum through mediation of GZMA-F2RL1/F2RL2 pairs.This study provides valuable insights into cellular heterogeneity and function in the pig cecum at different development stages.展开更多
Spermatogenic cell heterogeneity is determined by the complex process of spermatogenesis differentiation.However,effectively revealing the regulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenic cell development and ...Spermatogenic cell heterogeneity is determined by the complex process of spermatogenesis differentiation.However,effectively revealing the regulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenic cell development and differentiation via traditional methods is difficult.Advances in technology have led to the emergence of many single-cell transcriptome sequencing protocols,which have partially addressed these challenges.In this review,we detail the principles of 10x Genomics technology and summarize the methods for downstream analysis of single-cell transcriptome sequencing data.Furthermore,we explore the role of single-cell transcriptome sequencing in revealing the heterogeneity of testicular ecological niche cells,delineating the establishment and disruption of testicular immune homeostasis during human spermatogenesis,investigating abnormal spermatogenesis in humans,and,ultimately,elucidating the molecular evolution of mammalian spermatogenesis.展开更多
Due to the complex natures of dietary food components,it is difficult to elucidate how the compounds affect host health.Dietary food often selectively presents its mechanism of action on different cell types,and parti...Due to the complex natures of dietary food components,it is difficult to elucidate how the compounds affect host health.Dietary food often selectively presents its mechanism of action on different cell types,and participates in the modulation of targeted cells and their microenvironments within organs.However,the limitations of traditional in vitro assays or in vivo animal experiments cannot comprehensively examine cellular heterogeneity and the tissue-biased influences.Single-cell RNA sequencing(sc RNA-seq)has emerged as an indispensable methodology to decompose tissues into different cell types for the demonstration of transcriptional profiles of individual cells.Sc RNA-seq applications has been summarized on three typical organs(brain,liver,kidney),and two representative immune-and tumor related health problems.The everincreasing role of sc RNA-seq in dietary food research with further improvement can provide sub-cellular information and the coupling between other cellular modalities.In this review,we propose utilizing sc RNAseq to more effectively capture the subtle and complex effects of food chemicals,and how they may lead to health problems at single-cell resolution.This novel technique will be valuable to elucidate the underlying mechanism of both the health benefits of food nutrients and the detrimental consequences food toxicants at the cellular level.展开更多
Diabetes mellitus(DM),an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease,is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia,which leads to long-term health consequences.Although much effort has been put into understanding ...Diabetes mellitus(DM),an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease,is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia,which leads to long-term health consequences.Although much effort has been put into understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNAseq)has revolutionised biological research by enabling the identification of novel cell types,the discovery of cellular markers,the analysis of gene expression patterns and the prediction of develop-mental trajectories.This powerful tool allows for an in-depth exploration of pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels.In this editorial,we focus on progenitor-based repair strategies for diabetic wound healing as revealed by scRNAseq and highlight the biological behaviour of various healing-related cells and the alteration of signalling pathways in the process of diabetic wound healing.ScRNAseq could not only deepen our understanding of the complex biology of diabetic wounds but also identify and validate new targets for inter-vention,offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the management of this challenging complication of DM.展开更多
BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing t...BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing techniques were used to investigate the mechanism of action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in CRC.By revealing the heterogeneity and functional differences of B cells in cancer immunity,we aim to deepen our understanding of immune regulation and provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective cancer treatment strategies.AIM To explore the role of circulating and infiltrating B cell subsets in the immune microenvironment of CRC,explore the potential driving mechanism of B cell development,analyze the interaction between B cells and other immune cells in the immune microenvironment and the functions of communication molecules,and search for possible regulatory pathways to promote the anti-tumor effects of B cells.METHODS A total of 69 paracancer(normal),tumor and peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database(https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).After the immune cells were sorted by multicolor flow cytometry,the single cell transcriptome and B cell receptor group library were sequenced using the 10X Genomics platform,and the data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as Seurat.The differences in the number and function of B cell infiltration between tumor and normal tissue,the interaction between B cell subsets and T cells and myeloid cell subsets,and the transcription factor regulatory network of B cell subsets were explored and analyzed.RESULTS Compared with normal tissue,the infiltrating number of CD20+B cell subsets in tumor tissue increased significantly.Among them,germinal center B cells(GCB)played the most prominent role,with positive clone expansion and heavy chain mutation level increasing,and the trend of differentiation into memory B cells increased.However,the number of plasma cells in the tumor microenvironment decreased significantly,and the plasma cells secreting IgA antibodies decreased most obviously.In addition,compared with the immune microenvironment of normal tissues,GCB cells in tumor tissues became more closely connected with other immune cells such as T cells,and communication molecules that positively regulate immune function were significantly enriched.CONCLUSION The role of GCB in CRC tumor microenvironment is greatly enhanced,and its affinity to tumor antigen is enhanced by its significantly increased heavy chain mutation level.Meanwhile,GCB has enhanced its association with immune cells in the microenvironment,which plays a positive anti-tumor effect.展开更多
Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered ...Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered stomach is crucial for the health and well-being of young ruminants,especially the immune development.However,the dynamics of immune development are poorly understood.Results We investigated the early gene expression patterns across the four-chambered stomach in Hu sheep,at 5,10,15,and 25 days of age.We found that forestomachs share similar gene expression patterns,all four stomachs underwent widespread activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses from d 5 to 25,whereas the metabolic function were significantly downregulated with age.We constructed a cell landscape of the four-chambered stomach using single-cell sequencing.Integrating transcriptomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that the immune-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in T cells,monocytes and macrophages,as well as the defense-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in endothelial cells in the four-stomach tissues.Moreover,the non-immune cells such as epithelial cells play key roles in immune maturation.Cell communication analysis predicted that in addition to immune cells,non-immune cells recruit immune cells through macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling in the forestomachs.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the immune and defense responses of four stomachs are quickly developing with age in lamb's early life.We also identified the gene expression patterns and functional cells associated with immune development.Additionally,we identified some key receptors and signaling involved in immune regulation.These results help to understand the early life immune development at single-cell resolution,which has implications to develop nutritional manipulation and health management strategies based on specific targets including key receptors and signaling pathways.展开更多
High intraocular pressure causes retinal ganglion cell injury in primary and secondary glaucoma diseases,yet the molecular landscape characteristics of retinal cells under high intraocular pressure remain unknown.Rat ...High intraocular pressure causes retinal ganglion cell injury in primary and secondary glaucoma diseases,yet the molecular landscape characteristics of retinal cells under high intraocular pressure remain unknown.Rat models of acute hypertension ocular pressure were established by injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel(Healaflow■).Single-cell RNA sequencing was then used to describe the cellular composition and molecular profile of the retina following high intraocular pressure.Our results identified a total of 12 cell types,namely retinal pigment epithelial cells,rod-photoreceptor cells,bipolar cells,Müller cells,microglia,cone-photoreceptor cells,retinal ganglion cells,endothelial cells,retinal progenitor cells,oligodendrocytes,pericytes,and fibroblasts.The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure revealed obvious changes in the proportions of various retinal cells,with ganglion cells decreased by 23%.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining confirmed the damage to retinal ganglion cells under high intraocular pressure.We extracted data from retinal ganglion cells and analyzed the retinal ganglion cell cluster with the most distinct expression.We found upregulation of the B3gat2 gene,which is associated with neuronal migration and adhesion,and downregulation of the Tsc22d gene,which participates in inhibition of inflammation.This study is the first to reveal molecular changes and intercellular interactions in the retina under high intraocular pressure.These data contribute to understanding of the molecular mechanism of retinal injury induced by high intraocular pressure and will benefit the development of novel therapies.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pyroptosis impacts the development of malignant tumors,yet its role in colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis remains uncertain.AIM To assess the prognostic significance of pyroptosis-related genes and their assoc...BACKGROUND Pyroptosis impacts the development of malignant tumors,yet its role in colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis remains uncertain.AIM To assess the prognostic significance of pyroptosis-related genes and their association with CRC immune infiltration.METHODS Gene expression data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE178341 from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Pyroptosis-related gene expression in cell clusters was analyzed,and enrichment analysis was conducted.A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using the LASSO regression algorithm,with prediction accuracy assessed through K-M and receiver operating characteristic analyses.A nomo-gram predicting survival was created,and the correlation between the risk model and immune infiltration was analyzed using CIBERSORTx calculations.Finally,the differential expression of the 8 prognostic genes between CRC and normal samples was verified by analyzing TCGA-COADREAD data from the UCSC database.RESULTS An effective pyroptosis-related risk model was constructed using 8 genes-CHMP2B,SDHB,BST2,UBE2D2,GJA1,AIM2,PDCD6IP,and SEZ6L2(P<0.05).Seven of these genes exhibited differential expression between CRC and normal samples based on TCGA database analysis(P<0.05).Patients with higher risk scores demonstrated increased death risk and reduced overall survival(P<0.05).Significant differences in immune infiltration were observed between low-and high-risk groups,correlating with pyroptosis-related gene expression.CONCLUSION We developed a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for CRC,affirming its correlation with immune infiltration.This model may prove useful for CRC prognostic evaluation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Heat shock proteins(HSPs)are molecular chaperones that play an important role in cellular protection against stress events and have been reported to be overex-pressed in many cancers.The prognostic signific...BACKGROUND Heat shock proteins(HSPs)are molecular chaperones that play an important role in cellular protection against stress events and have been reported to be overex-pressed in many cancers.The prognostic significance of HSPs and their regulatory factors,such as heat shock factor 1(HSF1)and CHIP,are poorly understood.AIM To investigate the relationship between HSP expression and prognosis in esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.METHODS A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommend-ations(PROSPERO:CRD42022370653),on Embase,PubMed,Cochrane,and LILACS.Cohort,case-control,and cross-sectional studies of patients with eso-phagus or esophagogastric cancer were included.HSP-positive patients were compared with HSP-negative,and the endpoints analyzed were lymph node metastasis,tumor depth,distant metastasis,and overall survival(OS).HSPs were stratified according to the HSP family,and the summary risk difference(RD)was calculated using a random-effect model.RESULTS The final selection comprised 27 studies,including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(21),esophagogastric adenocarcinoma(5),and mixed neoplasms(1).The pooled sample size was 3465 patients.HSP40 and 60 were associated with a higher 3-year OS[HSP40:RD=0.22;95%confidence interval(CI):0.09-0.35;HSP60:RD=0.33;95%CI:0.17-0.50],while HSF1 was associated with a poor 3-year OS(RD=-0.22;95%CI:-0.32 to-0.12).The other HSP families were not associated with long-term survival.HSF1 was associated with a higher probability of lymph node metastasis(RD=-0.16;95%CI:-0.29 to-0.04).HSP40 was associated with a lower probability of lymph node dissemination(RD=0.18;95%CI:0.03-0.33).The expression of other HSP families was not significantly related to tumor depth and lymph node or distant metastasis.CONCLUSION The expression levels of certain families of HSP,such as HSP40 and 60 and HSF1,are associated with long-term survival and lymph node dissemination in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.展开更多
Food allergens are mainly naturally-occurring proteins with immunoglobulin E(IgE)-binding epitopes.Understanding the structural and immunogenic characteristics of allergenic proteins is essential in assessing whether ...Food allergens are mainly naturally-occurring proteins with immunoglobulin E(IgE)-binding epitopes.Understanding the structural and immunogenic characteristics of allergenic proteins is essential in assessing whether and how food processing techniques reduce allergenicity.We here discuss the impacts of food processing technologies on the modification of physicochemical,structural,and immunogenic properties of allergenic proteins.Detection techniques for characterizing changes in these properties of food allergens are summarized.Food processing helps to reduce allergenicity by aggregating or denaturing proteins,which masks,modifies,or destroys antigenic epitopes,whereas,it cannot eliminate allergenicity completely,and sometimes even improves allergenicity by exposing new epitopes.Moreover,most food processing techniques have been tested on purified food allergens rather than food products due to potential interference of other food components.We provide guidance for further development of processing operations that can decrease the allergenicity of allergenic food proteins without negatively impacting the nutritional profile.展开更多
Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with abnormal aggregation and accumulation of neurotoxic proteins,includingα-synuclein,amyloid-β,and tau,in addition to the impaired eli...Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with abnormal aggregation and accumulation of neurotoxic proteins,includingα-synuclein,amyloid-β,and tau,in addition to the impaired elimination of these neurotoxic protein.Atypical parkinsonism,which has the same clinical presentation and neuropathology as Parkinson’s disease,expands the disease landscape within the continuum of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.The glymphatic system is a waste clearance system in the brain,which is responsible for eliminating the neurotoxic proteins from the interstitial fluid.Impairment of the glymphatic system has been proposed as a significant contributor to the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease,as it exacerbates the aggregation of neurotoxic proteins and deteriorates neuronal damage.Therefore,impairment of the glymphatic system could be considered as the final common pathway to neurodegeneration.Previous evidence has provided initial insights into the potential effect of the impaired glymphatic system on Parkinson’s disease and related disorders;however,many unanswered questions remain.This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the growing literature on the glymphatic system in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.The focus of this review is on identifying the manifestations and mechanisms of interplay between the glymphatic system and neurotoxic proteins,including loss of polarization of aquaporin-4 in astrocytic endfeet,sleep and circadian rhythms,neuroinflammation,astrogliosis,and gliosis.This review further delves into the underlying pathophysiology of the glymphatic system in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders,and the potential implications of targeting the glymphatic system as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy.展开更多
CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a powerful genome manipulation tool in insects.However,little is known about whether mRNA and protein of a target gene are completely cleared in homozygous mutants.This study generated homozy...CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a powerful genome manipulation tool in insects.However,little is known about whether mRNA and protein of a target gene are completely cleared in homozygous mutants.This study generated homozygous mutants of the insulin receptor gene 2(NlInR2)in the brown planthopper(Nilaparvata lugens)using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.Both frameshift mutants,E5_D17 and E6_I7,differentiated towards long wings,but there were differences in wing morphology,with E5_D17 showing wing deformities.Subsequent investigations revealed the presence of residual expression of NlInR2 mRNA in both mutants,as well as the occurrence of spliceosomes featuring exon skipping splicing in E5_D17.Additionally,the E5_D17 exhibited the detection of N-terminally truncated NlInR2 protein.RNA interference experiments indicated that the knockdown of NlInR2 expression in the E5_D17 mutant line increased the proportion of wing deformities from 11.1 to 65.6%,suggesting that the residual NlInR2 mRNA of the E5_D17 mutant might have retained some genetic functions.Our results imply that systematic characterization of residual protein expression or function in CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutant lines is necessary for phenotypic interpretation.展开更多
Walnut dreg protein hydrolysates(WDPHs)exhibit a variety of biological activities,however,the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)inhibitory peptide of WDPHs remain unclear.The aim of this study was to rapidly screen for such pept...Walnut dreg protein hydrolysates(WDPHs)exhibit a variety of biological activities,however,the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)inhibitory peptide of WDPHs remain unclear.The aim of this study was to rapidly screen for such peptides in WDPHs through a combination of in silico and in vitro analysis.In total,1262 peptide sequences were observed by nano liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry(nano LC-MS/MS)and 4 novel COX-2 inhibitory peptides(AGFP,FPGA,LFPD,and VGFP)were identified.Enzyme kinetic data indicated that AGFP,FPGA,and LFPD displayed mixed-type COX-2 inhibition,whereas VGFP was a non-competitive inhibitor.This is mainly because the peptides form hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with residues in the COX-2 active site.These results demonstrate that computer analysis combined with in vitro evaluation allows for rapid screening of COX-2 inhibitory peptides in walnut protein dregs.展开更多
Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties ...Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties of NSCLC proteins is a potential alternative for developing treatment strategies. Towards this, 35 downregulated actin cytoskeletal proteins on NSCLC prognosis and treatment were studied by examining their protein-protein interactions, gene ontology enrichment terms, and signaling pathways. Using PubMed, various proteins in NSCLC were identified. The protein-protein interactions and functional associations of these proteins were examined using the STRING database. The focal adhesion signaling pathway was selected from all available KEGG and Wiki pathways because of its role in regulating gene expression, facilitating cell movement and reproduction, and significantly impacting NSCLC. The protein-protein interaction network of the 35 downregulated actin cytoskeleton proteins revealed that ACTG1, ACTR2, ACTR3, ANXA2, ARPC4, FLNA, TLN1, CALD1, MYL6, MYH9, MYH10, TPM1, TPM3, TPM4, PFN1, IQGAP1, MSN, and ZXY exhibited the highest number of interactions. Whereas HSPB1, CTNNA1, KRT17, KRT7, FLNB, SEPT2, and TUBA1B displayed medium interactions, while UTRN, TUBA1B, and DUSP23 had relatively fewer interactions. It was discovered that focal adhesions are critical in connecting membrane receptors with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, protein kinases, phosphatases, and adapter proteins were identified as key signaling molecules in this process, greatly influencing cell shape, motility, and gene expression. Our analysis shows that the focal adhesion pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC and is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.展开更多
Plant antifreeze proteins(AFPs)are special proteins that can protect plant cells from ice crystal damage in low-temperature environments,and they play a crucial role in the process of plants adapting to cold environ-m...Plant antifreeze proteins(AFPs)are special proteins that can protect plant cells from ice crystal damage in low-temperature environments,and they play a crucial role in the process of plants adapting to cold environ-ments.Proteins with these characteristics have been found infish living in cold regions,as well as many plants and insects.Although research on plant AFPs started relatively late,their application prospects are broad,leading to the attention of many researchers to the isolation,cloning,and genetic improvement of plant AFP genes.Studies have found that the distribution of AFPs in different species seems to be the result of independent evolu-tionary events.Unlike the AFPs found infish and insects,plant AFPs have multiple hydrophilic ice-binding domains,and their recrystallization inhibition activity is about 10–100 times that offish and insect AFPs.Although different plant AFPs have the characteristics of low TH and high RI,their DNA and amino acid sequences are completely different,with small homology.With in-depth research and analysis of the character-istics and mechanisms of plant AFPs,not only has our understanding of plant antifreeze mechanisms been enriched,but it can also be used to improve crop varieties and enhance their freezing tolerance,yield,and quality through genetic engineering.In addition,the study of plant AFPs also contributes to our understanding of freezing resistance mechanisms in other organisms and provides new research directions for thefield of biotech-nology.Therefore,based on the analysis of relevant literature,this article will delve into the concepts,character-istics,research methods,and mechanisms of plant AFPs,summarize the latest research progress and application prospects of AFPs in plant,and provide prospects for the future development of AFP gene research.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004104)the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(202300410080)+2 种基金the Key Project of Henan Education Committee(21A310005)the Internal Fund of Hebei University of Economics and Business(2020ZD10)the Postgraduate“Talent Program”of Henan University(SYL20060187 and SYL20060189)。
文摘In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in response to mitogens.The splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by T-cell mitogens(Con A and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies)released high levels of IL-2 but low levels of IFN-γand IL-17A.The release of IL-4 was unaffected by MRJPs.Additionally,splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by LPS were prevented by MRJPs at the same dose as that required for producing IL-1βand IL-6,two pro-inflammatory cytokines.The production of IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γwas negatively associated with estrogen levels,which were higher in the MRJP-treated animals than in the control group.Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that feeding mice 250 mg/kg of MRJPs maintained the stability of the natural intestinal microflora of mice.Additionally,the LEf Se analysis identified biomarkers in the MRJP-treated mice,including Prevotella,Bacillales,Enterobacteriales,Gammaproteobacteria,Candidatus_Arthromitus,and Shigella.Our results showed that MRJPs are important components of royal jelly that modulate host immunity and hormone levels and help maintain gut microbiota stability.
基金financially supported by the“STI2030-Major Project”of China(2023ZD04072)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA1300400)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372099 and 32188102)the Young Science and Technology Talents(He Jian)in Hunan Province(2022RC1015)。
文摘Seed plumules comprise multiple developing tissues and are key sites for above-ground plant organ morphogenesis.Here,the spatial expression of genes in developing rice seed plumules was characterized by single-cell transcriptome sequencing in Zhongjiazao 17,a popular Chinese indica rice cultivar.Of 15 cell clusters,13 were assigned to cell types using marker genes and cluster-specific genes.Marker genes of multiple cell types were expressed in several clusters,suggesting a complex developmental system.Some genes for signaling by phytohormones such as abscisic acid were highly expressed in specific clusters.Various cis-elements in the promoters of genes specifically expressed in cell clusters were calculated,and some key hormone-related motifs were frequent in certain clusters.Spatial expression patterns of genes involved in rapid seed germination,seedling growth,and development were identified.These findings enhanced our understanding of cellular diversity and specialization within plumules of rice,a monocotyledonous model crop.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1300202)the Technology Innovation and Application Development Special Project of Chongqing(cstc2021jscx-gksb X0008)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32102623)the National Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2021jcyj-msxm X0875)the Ph D Train Scientific Research Project of Chongqing(CSTB2022BSXM-JCX0002)。
文摘Background The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process,and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging,especially in goats.Therefore,the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.Results For the first time,we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of over 27,000 ovarian cells from newborn,young and aging goats,and identified nine ovarian cell types with distinct gene-expression signatures.Functional enrichment analysis showed that ovarian cell types were involved in their own unique biological processes,such as Wnt beta-catenin signalling was enriched in germ cells,whereas ovarian steroidogenesis was enriched in granulosa cells(GCs).Further analysis showed that ovarian aging was linked to GCs-specific changes in the antioxidant system,oxidative phosphorylation,and apoptosis.Subsequently,we identified a series of dynamic genes,such as AMH,CRABP2,THBS1 and TIMP1,which determined the fate of GCs.Additionally,FOXO1,SOX4,and HIF1A were identified as significant regulons that instructed the differentiation of GCs in a distinct manner during ovarian aging.Conclusions This study revealed a comprehensive aging-associated transcriptomic atlas characterizing the cell typespecific mechanisms during ovarian aging at the single-cell level and offers new diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for age-related goat ovarian diseases.
基金supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea (HR22C1734)+2 种基金the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (2020R1A6A1A03043539,2020M3A9D8037604,2022R1C1C1004756)(to SBL)the NRF of Korea (2022R1C1C1005741 and RS-2023-00217595)the new faculty research fund of Ajou University School of Medicine (to EJL)。
文摘Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technologies have significantly evolved, overcoming initial technical challenges in capturing and analyzing individual cells. These high-throughput omics technologies now offer a remarkable opportunity to comprehend the complex spatiotemporal patterns of transcriptional diversity and cell-type characteristics across the entire hypothalamus. Current single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing methods comprehensively quantify gene expression by exploring distinct phenotypes across various subregions of the hypothalamus. However, single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing requires isolating the cell/nuclei from the tissue, potentially resulting in the loss of spatial information concerning neuronal networks. Spatial transcriptomics methods, by bypassing the cell dissociation, can elucidate the intricate spatial organization of neural networks through their imaging and sequencing technologies. In this review, we highlight the applicative value of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in exploring the complex molecular-genetic diversity of hypothalamic cell types, driven by recent high-throughput achievements.
基金Project supported by the Gansu Province Industrial Support Plan (Grant No.2023CYZC-25)the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (Grant No.23JRRA770)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.62162040)。
文摘Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have been proposed to identify essential proteins. Unfortunately, most methods based on network topology only consider the interactions between a protein and its neighboring proteins, and not the interactions with its higher-order distance proteins. In this paper, we propose the DSEP algorithm in which we integrated network topology properties and subcellular localization information in protein–protein interaction(PPI) networks based on four-order distances, and then used random walks to identify the essential proteins. We also propose a method to calculate the finite-order distance of the network, which can greatly reduce the time complexity of our algorithm. We conducted a comprehensive comparison of the DSEP algorithm with 11 existing classical algorithms to identify essential proteins with multiple evaluation methods. The results show that DSEP is superior to these 11 methods.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31790410,32160781)。
文摘The gastrointestinal tract is essential for food digestion,nutrient absorption,waste elimination,and microbial defense.Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the intestinal tract has greatly enriched our understanding of cellular diversity,functional heterogeneity,and their importance in intestinal tract development and disease.Although such profiling has been extensively conducted in humans and mice,the single-cell gene expression landscape of the pig cecum remains unexplored.Here,single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on 45572 cells obtained from seven cecal samples in pigs at four different developmental stages(days(D)30,42,150,and 730).Analysis revealed 12 major cell types and 38 subtypes,as well as their distinctive genes,transcription factors,and regulons,many of which were conserved in humans.An increase in the relative proportions of CD8^(+)T and Granzyme A(low expression)natural killer T cells(GZMA^(low)NKT)cells and a decrease in the relative proportions of epithelial stem cells,Tregs,RHEX^(+)T cells,and plasmacytoid dendritic cells(pDCs)were noted across the developmental stages.Moreover,the post-weaning period exhibited an up-regulation in mitochondrial genes,COX2 and ND2,as well as genes involved in immune activation in multiple cell types.Cell-cell crosstalk analysis indicated that IBP6^(+)fibroblasts were the main signal senders at D30,whereas IBP6^(−)fibroblasts assumed this role at the other stages.NKT cells established interactions with epithelial cells and IBP6^(+)fibroblasts in the D730 cecum through mediation of GZMA-F2RL1/F2RL2 pairs.This study provides valuable insights into cellular heterogeneity and function in the pig cecum at different development stages.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1302201,2023YFF1000904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072806,32372970)+2 种基金Key Technologies Demonstration of Animal Husbandry in Shaanxi Province(20221086,20230978)Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Competition Leaders(2022JBGS0025)Xinjian Ugur Autonouous Region Scientific Research and Innovation Platform Construction Project“State Key Laboratory of Genetic Improvement and Germplasm”。
文摘Spermatogenic cell heterogeneity is determined by the complex process of spermatogenesis differentiation.However,effectively revealing the regulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenic cell development and differentiation via traditional methods is difficult.Advances in technology have led to the emergence of many single-cell transcriptome sequencing protocols,which have partially addressed these challenges.In this review,we detail the principles of 10x Genomics technology and summarize the methods for downstream analysis of single-cell transcriptome sequencing data.Furthermore,we explore the role of single-cell transcriptome sequencing in revealing the heterogeneity of testicular ecological niche cells,delineating the establishment and disruption of testicular immune homeostasis during human spermatogenesis,investigating abnormal spermatogenesis in humans,and,ultimately,elucidating the molecular evolution of mammalian spermatogenesis.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170495)the Emergency Project for Risk Assessment of Areca Nut(Key Project of Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hainan Province&Wanning Municipal People’s Government)。
文摘Due to the complex natures of dietary food components,it is difficult to elucidate how the compounds affect host health.Dietary food often selectively presents its mechanism of action on different cell types,and participates in the modulation of targeted cells and their microenvironments within organs.However,the limitations of traditional in vitro assays or in vivo animal experiments cannot comprehensively examine cellular heterogeneity and the tissue-biased influences.Single-cell RNA sequencing(sc RNA-seq)has emerged as an indispensable methodology to decompose tissues into different cell types for the demonstration of transcriptional profiles of individual cells.Sc RNA-seq applications has been summarized on three typical organs(brain,liver,kidney),and two representative immune-and tumor related health problems.The everincreasing role of sc RNA-seq in dietary food research with further improvement can provide sub-cellular information and the coupling between other cellular modalities.In this review,we propose utilizing sc RNAseq to more effectively capture the subtle and complex effects of food chemicals,and how they may lead to health problems at single-cell resolution.This novel technique will be valuable to elucidate the underlying mechanism of both the health benefits of food nutrients and the detrimental consequences food toxicants at the cellular level.
基金Supported by Shenzhen Science and Technology Program,No.GJHZ20210705142543019Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,No.2023A1515220074.
文摘Diabetes mellitus(DM),an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease,is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia,which leads to long-term health consequences.Although much effort has been put into understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNAseq)has revolutionised biological research by enabling the identification of novel cell types,the discovery of cellular markers,the analysis of gene expression patterns and the prediction of develop-mental trajectories.This powerful tool allows for an in-depth exploration of pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels.In this editorial,we focus on progenitor-based repair strategies for diabetic wound healing as revealed by scRNAseq and highlight the biological behaviour of various healing-related cells and the alteration of signalling pathways in the process of diabetic wound healing.ScRNAseq could not only deepen our understanding of the complex biology of diabetic wounds but also identify and validate new targets for inter-vention,offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the management of this challenging complication of DM.
文摘BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing techniques were used to investigate the mechanism of action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in CRC.By revealing the heterogeneity and functional differences of B cells in cancer immunity,we aim to deepen our understanding of immune regulation and provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective cancer treatment strategies.AIM To explore the role of circulating and infiltrating B cell subsets in the immune microenvironment of CRC,explore the potential driving mechanism of B cell development,analyze the interaction between B cells and other immune cells in the immune microenvironment and the functions of communication molecules,and search for possible regulatory pathways to promote the anti-tumor effects of B cells.METHODS A total of 69 paracancer(normal),tumor and peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database(https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).After the immune cells were sorted by multicolor flow cytometry,the single cell transcriptome and B cell receptor group library were sequenced using the 10X Genomics platform,and the data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as Seurat.The differences in the number and function of B cell infiltration between tumor and normal tissue,the interaction between B cell subsets and T cells and myeloid cell subsets,and the transcription factor regulatory network of B cell subsets were explored and analyzed.RESULTS Compared with normal tissue,the infiltrating number of CD20+B cell subsets in tumor tissue increased significantly.Among them,germinal center B cells(GCB)played the most prominent role,with positive clone expansion and heavy chain mutation level increasing,and the trend of differentiation into memory B cells increased.However,the number of plasma cells in the tumor microenvironment decreased significantly,and the plasma cells secreting IgA antibodies decreased most obviously.In addition,compared with the immune microenvironment of normal tissues,GCB cells in tumor tissues became more closely connected with other immune cells such as T cells,and communication molecules that positively regulate immune function were significantly enriched.CONCLUSION The role of GCB in CRC tumor microenvironment is greatly enhanced,and its affinity to tumor antigen is enhanced by its significantly increased heavy chain mutation level.Meanwhile,GCB has enhanced its association with immune cells in the microenvironment,which plays a positive anti-tumor effect.
基金partially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Award number:D21C170001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Award number:31973000)。
文摘Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered stomach is crucial for the health and well-being of young ruminants,especially the immune development.However,the dynamics of immune development are poorly understood.Results We investigated the early gene expression patterns across the four-chambered stomach in Hu sheep,at 5,10,15,and 25 days of age.We found that forestomachs share similar gene expression patterns,all four stomachs underwent widespread activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses from d 5 to 25,whereas the metabolic function were significantly downregulated with age.We constructed a cell landscape of the four-chambered stomach using single-cell sequencing.Integrating transcriptomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that the immune-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in T cells,monocytes and macrophages,as well as the defense-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in endothelial cells in the four-stomach tissues.Moreover,the non-immune cells such as epithelial cells play key roles in immune maturation.Cell communication analysis predicted that in addition to immune cells,non-immune cells recruit immune cells through macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling in the forestomachs.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the immune and defense responses of four stomachs are quickly developing with age in lamb's early life.We also identified the gene expression patterns and functional cells associated with immune development.Additionally,we identified some key receptors and signaling involved in immune regulation.These results help to understand the early life immune development at single-cell resolution,which has implications to develop nutritional manipulation and health management strategies based on specific targets including key receptors and signaling pathways.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82371051(to DW)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7212092(to DW)+1 种基金the Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research,No.2022-2-5041(to DW)the Fund of Science and Technology Development of Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital,Capital Medical University,No.2021R-001(to YL).
文摘High intraocular pressure causes retinal ganglion cell injury in primary and secondary glaucoma diseases,yet the molecular landscape characteristics of retinal cells under high intraocular pressure remain unknown.Rat models of acute hypertension ocular pressure were established by injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel(Healaflow■).Single-cell RNA sequencing was then used to describe the cellular composition and molecular profile of the retina following high intraocular pressure.Our results identified a total of 12 cell types,namely retinal pigment epithelial cells,rod-photoreceptor cells,bipolar cells,Müller cells,microglia,cone-photoreceptor cells,retinal ganglion cells,endothelial cells,retinal progenitor cells,oligodendrocytes,pericytes,and fibroblasts.The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure revealed obvious changes in the proportions of various retinal cells,with ganglion cells decreased by 23%.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining confirmed the damage to retinal ganglion cells under high intraocular pressure.We extracted data from retinal ganglion cells and analyzed the retinal ganglion cell cluster with the most distinct expression.We found upregulation of the B3gat2 gene,which is associated with neuronal migration and adhesion,and downregulation of the Tsc22d gene,which participates in inhibition of inflammation.This study is the first to reveal molecular changes and intercellular interactions in the retina under high intraocular pressure.These data contribute to understanding of the molecular mechanism of retinal injury induced by high intraocular pressure and will benefit the development of novel therapies.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81960100Applied Basic Foundation of Yunnan Province,No.202001AY070001-192+2 种基金Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders Reserve Talents Program in Yunnan Province,No.202305AC160018Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program,No.RLQB20200004 and No.RLMY20220013and Yunnan Health Training Project of High-Level Talents,No.H-2017002。
文摘BACKGROUND Pyroptosis impacts the development of malignant tumors,yet its role in colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis remains uncertain.AIM To assess the prognostic significance of pyroptosis-related genes and their association with CRC immune infiltration.METHODS Gene expression data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE178341 from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Pyroptosis-related gene expression in cell clusters was analyzed,and enrichment analysis was conducted.A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using the LASSO regression algorithm,with prediction accuracy assessed through K-M and receiver operating characteristic analyses.A nomo-gram predicting survival was created,and the correlation between the risk model and immune infiltration was analyzed using CIBERSORTx calculations.Finally,the differential expression of the 8 prognostic genes between CRC and normal samples was verified by analyzing TCGA-COADREAD data from the UCSC database.RESULTS An effective pyroptosis-related risk model was constructed using 8 genes-CHMP2B,SDHB,BST2,UBE2D2,GJA1,AIM2,PDCD6IP,and SEZ6L2(P<0.05).Seven of these genes exhibited differential expression between CRC and normal samples based on TCGA database analysis(P<0.05).Patients with higher risk scores demonstrated increased death risk and reduced overall survival(P<0.05).Significant differences in immune infiltration were observed between low-and high-risk groups,correlating with pyroptosis-related gene expression.CONCLUSION We developed a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for CRC,affirming its correlation with immune infiltration.This model may prove useful for CRC prognostic evaluation.
文摘BACKGROUND Heat shock proteins(HSPs)are molecular chaperones that play an important role in cellular protection against stress events and have been reported to be overex-pressed in many cancers.The prognostic significance of HSPs and their regulatory factors,such as heat shock factor 1(HSF1)and CHIP,are poorly understood.AIM To investigate the relationship between HSP expression and prognosis in esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.METHODS A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommend-ations(PROSPERO:CRD42022370653),on Embase,PubMed,Cochrane,and LILACS.Cohort,case-control,and cross-sectional studies of patients with eso-phagus or esophagogastric cancer were included.HSP-positive patients were compared with HSP-negative,and the endpoints analyzed were lymph node metastasis,tumor depth,distant metastasis,and overall survival(OS).HSPs were stratified according to the HSP family,and the summary risk difference(RD)was calculated using a random-effect model.RESULTS The final selection comprised 27 studies,including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(21),esophagogastric adenocarcinoma(5),and mixed neoplasms(1).The pooled sample size was 3465 patients.HSP40 and 60 were associated with a higher 3-year OS[HSP40:RD=0.22;95%confidence interval(CI):0.09-0.35;HSP60:RD=0.33;95%CI:0.17-0.50],while HSF1 was associated with a poor 3-year OS(RD=-0.22;95%CI:-0.32 to-0.12).The other HSP families were not associated with long-term survival.HSF1 was associated with a higher probability of lymph node metastasis(RD=-0.16;95%CI:-0.29 to-0.04).HSP40 was associated with a lower probability of lymph node dissemination(RD=0.18;95%CI:0.03-0.33).The expression of other HSP families was not significantly related to tumor depth and lymph node or distant metastasis.CONCLUSION The expression levels of certain families of HSP,such as HSP40 and 60 and HSF1,are associated with long-term survival and lymph node dissemination in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32102605)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program under Grant (CAAS-ASTIP-2020IAR)the Earmarked Fund for CARS (CARS-44)。
文摘Food allergens are mainly naturally-occurring proteins with immunoglobulin E(IgE)-binding epitopes.Understanding the structural and immunogenic characteristics of allergenic proteins is essential in assessing whether and how food processing techniques reduce allergenicity.We here discuss the impacts of food processing technologies on the modification of physicochemical,structural,and immunogenic properties of allergenic proteins.Detection techniques for characterizing changes in these properties of food allergens are summarized.Food processing helps to reduce allergenicity by aggregating or denaturing proteins,which masks,modifies,or destroys antigenic epitopes,whereas,it cannot eliminate allergenicity completely,and sometimes even improves allergenicity by exposing new epitopes.Moreover,most food processing techniques have been tested on purified food allergens rather than food products due to potential interference of other food components.We provide guidance for further development of processing operations that can decrease the allergenicity of allergenic food proteins without negatively impacting the nutritional profile.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China,No.2021YFF0702203(to HYL)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82101323(to TS)Preferred Foundation of Zhejiang Postdoctors,No.ZJ2021152(to TS).
文摘Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with abnormal aggregation and accumulation of neurotoxic proteins,includingα-synuclein,amyloid-β,and tau,in addition to the impaired elimination of these neurotoxic protein.Atypical parkinsonism,which has the same clinical presentation and neuropathology as Parkinson’s disease,expands the disease landscape within the continuum of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.The glymphatic system is a waste clearance system in the brain,which is responsible for eliminating the neurotoxic proteins from the interstitial fluid.Impairment of the glymphatic system has been proposed as a significant contributor to the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease,as it exacerbates the aggregation of neurotoxic proteins and deteriorates neuronal damage.Therefore,impairment of the glymphatic system could be considered as the final common pathway to neurodegeneration.Previous evidence has provided initial insights into the potential effect of the impaired glymphatic system on Parkinson’s disease and related disorders;however,many unanswered questions remain.This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the growing literature on the glymphatic system in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.The focus of this review is on identifying the manifestations and mechanisms of interplay between the glymphatic system and neurotoxic proteins,including loss of polarization of aquaporin-4 in astrocytic endfeet,sleep and circadian rhythms,neuroinflammation,astrogliosis,and gliosis.This review further delves into the underlying pathophysiology of the glymphatic system in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders,and the potential implications of targeting the glymphatic system as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31730073).
文摘CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a powerful genome manipulation tool in insects.However,little is known about whether mRNA and protein of a target gene are completely cleared in homozygous mutants.This study generated homozygous mutants of the insulin receptor gene 2(NlInR2)in the brown planthopper(Nilaparvata lugens)using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.Both frameshift mutants,E5_D17 and E6_I7,differentiated towards long wings,but there were differences in wing morphology,with E5_D17 showing wing deformities.Subsequent investigations revealed the presence of residual expression of NlInR2 mRNA in both mutants,as well as the occurrence of spliceosomes featuring exon skipping splicing in E5_D17.Additionally,the E5_D17 exhibited the detection of N-terminally truncated NlInR2 protein.RNA interference experiments indicated that the knockdown of NlInR2 expression in the E5_D17 mutant line increased the proportion of wing deformities from 11.1 to 65.6%,suggesting that the residual NlInR2 mRNA of the E5_D17 mutant might have retained some genetic functions.Our results imply that systematic characterization of residual protein expression or function in CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutant lines is necessary for phenotypic interpretation.
基金supported by the Major Project of Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province (202002AA100005 and 202102AE090027-2)the Project of Yunnan Province Food and Drug Homologous Resources Functional Food Innovation Team (A3032023057)+2 种基金the YEFICRC project of Yunnan provincial key programs (2019ZG009)Yunnan Province Ten Thousand Plan Industrial Technology Talents project (YNWR-CYJS-2020-010)the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Agricultural Joint Special Project (202101BD070001-120)。
文摘Walnut dreg protein hydrolysates(WDPHs)exhibit a variety of biological activities,however,the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)inhibitory peptide of WDPHs remain unclear.The aim of this study was to rapidly screen for such peptides in WDPHs through a combination of in silico and in vitro analysis.In total,1262 peptide sequences were observed by nano liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry(nano LC-MS/MS)and 4 novel COX-2 inhibitory peptides(AGFP,FPGA,LFPD,and VGFP)were identified.Enzyme kinetic data indicated that AGFP,FPGA,and LFPD displayed mixed-type COX-2 inhibition,whereas VGFP was a non-competitive inhibitor.This is mainly because the peptides form hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with residues in the COX-2 active site.These results demonstrate that computer analysis combined with in vitro evaluation allows for rapid screening of COX-2 inhibitory peptides in walnut protein dregs.
文摘Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties of NSCLC proteins is a potential alternative for developing treatment strategies. Towards this, 35 downregulated actin cytoskeletal proteins on NSCLC prognosis and treatment were studied by examining their protein-protein interactions, gene ontology enrichment terms, and signaling pathways. Using PubMed, various proteins in NSCLC were identified. The protein-protein interactions and functional associations of these proteins were examined using the STRING database. The focal adhesion signaling pathway was selected from all available KEGG and Wiki pathways because of its role in regulating gene expression, facilitating cell movement and reproduction, and significantly impacting NSCLC. The protein-protein interaction network of the 35 downregulated actin cytoskeleton proteins revealed that ACTG1, ACTR2, ACTR3, ANXA2, ARPC4, FLNA, TLN1, CALD1, MYL6, MYH9, MYH10, TPM1, TPM3, TPM4, PFN1, IQGAP1, MSN, and ZXY exhibited the highest number of interactions. Whereas HSPB1, CTNNA1, KRT17, KRT7, FLNB, SEPT2, and TUBA1B displayed medium interactions, while UTRN, TUBA1B, and DUSP23 had relatively fewer interactions. It was discovered that focal adhesions are critical in connecting membrane receptors with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, protein kinases, phosphatases, and adapter proteins were identified as key signaling molecules in this process, greatly influencing cell shape, motility, and gene expression. Our analysis shows that the focal adhesion pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC and is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.
基金funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.BFUKF202309Special Scientific Research Fund of Talents Introduced into Hebei Agricultural University under Grant No.YJ2022025+1 种基金Basic Scientific Research Projects of Provincial Universities in Hebei Province under Grant No.KY202203Hebei Agriculture Research System under Grant No.HBCT2024200101,S&T Program of Hebei under Grant No.21326301D.
文摘Plant antifreeze proteins(AFPs)are special proteins that can protect plant cells from ice crystal damage in low-temperature environments,and they play a crucial role in the process of plants adapting to cold environ-ments.Proteins with these characteristics have been found infish living in cold regions,as well as many plants and insects.Although research on plant AFPs started relatively late,their application prospects are broad,leading to the attention of many researchers to the isolation,cloning,and genetic improvement of plant AFP genes.Studies have found that the distribution of AFPs in different species seems to be the result of independent evolu-tionary events.Unlike the AFPs found infish and insects,plant AFPs have multiple hydrophilic ice-binding domains,and their recrystallization inhibition activity is about 10–100 times that offish and insect AFPs.Although different plant AFPs have the characteristics of low TH and high RI,their DNA and amino acid sequences are completely different,with small homology.With in-depth research and analysis of the character-istics and mechanisms of plant AFPs,not only has our understanding of plant antifreeze mechanisms been enriched,but it can also be used to improve crop varieties and enhance their freezing tolerance,yield,and quality through genetic engineering.In addition,the study of plant AFPs also contributes to our understanding of freezing resistance mechanisms in other organisms and provides new research directions for thefield of biotech-nology.Therefore,based on the analysis of relevant literature,this article will delve into the concepts,character-istics,research methods,and mechanisms of plant AFPs,summarize the latest research progress and application prospects of AFPs in plant,and provide prospects for the future development of AFP gene research.