Müller cells are activated in response to retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration in rats subjected to simulated weightlessness conditions

A microgravity environment has been shown to cause ocular damage and affect visual acuity,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Therefore,we established an animal model of weightlessness via tail suspension to examine the pathological changes and molecular mechanisms of retinal damage under microgravity.After 4 weeks of tail suspension,there were no notable alterations in retinal function and morphology,while after 8 weeks of tail suspension,significant reductions in retinal function were observed,and the outer nuclear layer was thinner,with abundant apoptotic cells.To investigate the mechanism underlying the degenerative changes that occurred in the outer nuclear layer of the retina,proteomics was used to analyze differentially expressed proteins in rat retinas after 8 weeks of tail suspension.The results showed that the expression levels of fibroblast growth factor 2(also known as basic fibroblast growth factor)and glial fibrillary acidic protein,which are closely related to Müller cell activation,were significantly upregulated.In addition,Müller cell regeneration and Müller cell gliosis were observed after 4 and 8 weeks,respectively,of simulated weightlessness.These findings indicate that Müller cells play an important regulatory role in retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration during weightlessness.

MSCs-derived apoptotic extracellular vesicles promote muscle regeneration by inducing Pannexin 1 channel-dependent creatine release by myoblasts

Severe muscle injury is hard to heal and always results in a poor prognosis.Recent studies found that extracellular vesicle-based therapy has promising prospects for regeneration medicine,however,whether extracellular vesicles have therapeutic effects on severe muscle injury is still unknown.Herein,we extracted apoptotic extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs-Apo EVs)to treat cardiotoxin induced tibialis anterior(TA)injury and found that MSCs-Apo EVs promoted muscles regeneration and increased the proportion of multinucleated cells.Besides that,we also found that apoptosis was synchronized during myoblasts fusion and MSCs-Apo EVs promoted the apoptosis ratio as well as the fusion index of myoblasts.Furthermore,we revealed that MSCs-Apo EVs increased the relative level of creatine during myoblasts fusion,which was released via activated Pannexin 1 channel.Moreover,we also found that activated Pannexin 1 channel was highly expressed on the membrane of myoblasts-derived Apo EVs(Myo-Apo EVs)instead of apoptotic myoblasts,and creatine was the pivotal metabolite involved in myoblasts fusion.Collectively,our findings firstly revealed that MSCs-Apo EVs can promote muscle regeneration and elucidated that the new function of Apo EVs as passing inter-cell messages through releasing metabolites from activated Pannexin 1 channel,which will provide new evidence for extracellular vesicles-based therapy as well as improving the understanding of new functions of extracellular vesicles.

Hyperoxia accelerates progression of hepatic fibrosis by up-regulation of transforming growth factor-β expression

AIM: To investigate the effect of hypoxia or hyperoxia on the progression of hepatic fibrosis and to examine the role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the livers of rats exposed to hypoxic or hyperoxic conditions.

Effect of tamsulosin on ejaculatory function in BPH/LUTS

This study was undertaken to determine the impact on ejaculatory function of tamsulosin （0.2 mg） given once daily （OD） for 12 weeks and to identify risk factors for ejaculatory dysfunction in patients undergoing this treatment. Males with an International Prostatic Symptom Score （IPSS） ≥ 8 were enrolled in this study. All participants completed questionnaires, including the IPSS and the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire （MSHQ）, and serum prostate-specific antigen, transrectal ultrasound and uroflowmetry with post-void residual were measured. After initiating 0.2 mg OD tamsulosin, patients were re-evaluated on the fourth and twelfth weeks of medication. The chi-squared test, the independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare means. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio for all risk factors. A total of 177 men constituted the study cohort. No significant difference was observed between baseline and follow-up for the erectile function, ejaculatory function, satisfaction, sexual activity and desire domains （EFD, EjFD, SDA and ADD） or for erectile or ejaculatory bother mean scores. After 12 weeks, the overall incidence of ejaculatory dysfunction （EjD） was 13.4%. Incidences of the seven different types of EjD （decreased frequency, delay, dryness, decreased strength/force, decreased volume, decreased pleasure and pain at ejaculation） were 2.4%, 3.1%, 3.9%, 3.9%, 6.3%, 7.1% and 3.1%, respectively. Baseline EjFD scores were higher for I PSS responders than for non-responders （26.09 vs. 24.06, P=0.03）. An EjFD score reduction was more frequent in IPSS responders. The incidence of EjD was small, but not negligible and was more frequent in patients with less lower urinary tract symptoms, a smaller prostate, higher baseline MSHQ totals and higher EjFD scores.

Application and prospects of high-throughput screening for in vitro neurogenesis

Over the past few decades,high-throughput screening(HTS)has made great contributions to new drug discovery.HTS technology is equipped with higher throughput,minimized platforms,more automated and computerized operating systems,more efficient and sensitive detection devices,and rapid data processing systems.At the same time,in vitro neurogenesis is gradually becoming important in establishing models to investigate the mechanisms of neural disease or developmental processes.However,challenges remain in generating more mature and functional neurons with specific subtypes and in establishing robust and standardized three-dimensional(3D)in vitro models with neural cells cultured in 3D matrices or organoids representing specific brain regions.Here,we review the applications of HTS technologies on in vitro neurogenesis,especially aiming at identifying the essential genes,chemical small molecules and adaptive microenvironments that hold great prospects for generating functional neurons or more reproductive and homogeneous 3D organoids.We also discuss the developmental tendency of HTS technology,e.g.,so-called next-generation screening,which utilizes 3D organoid-based screening combined with microfluidic devices to narrow the gap between in vitro models and in vivo situations both physiologically and pathologically.

A Blood Hepatocellular Carcinoma Signature Recognizes Very Small Tumor Nodules with Metastatic Traits

Background and Aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cases with small nodules are commonly treated with radi-ofrequency ablation(RFA),but the recurrence rate remains high.This study aimed to establish a blood signature for identifying HCC with metastatic traits pre-RFA.Methods:Data from HCC patients treated between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively collected.A blood signature for meta-static HCC was established based on blood levels of alpha-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin,cell-free DNA(cfDNA)mutations,and methylation changes in target genes in frozen-stored plasma samples that were collected before RFA performance.The HCC blood signature was validated in patients prospectively enrolled in2021.Results:Of 251 HCC patients in the retrospective study,33.9% experienced recurrence within 1 year post-RFA.The HCC blood signature identified from these patients included des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin≥40mAU/mL with cfDNA mutation score,where cfDNA mutations occurred in the genes of TP53,CTNNB1,and TERT promoter.This signature effectively predicted 1-year post-RFArecurrence of HCC with 92% specificity and 91% sensitivity in the retrospective dataset,and with 87% specificity and 76% sensitivity in the prospective dataset(n=32 patients).Among 14 cases in the prospective study with biopsy tissues available,positivity for the HCC blood signature was associated with a higher HCC tissue score and shorter distance between HCC cells and microvasculature.Conclusions:This study established an HCC blood signature in pre-RFA blood that potentially reflects HCC with metastatic traits and may be valuable for predicting the disease’s early recurrence post-RFA.

Characteristics and Outcome of Exertional Heatstroke Patients Complicated by Acute Hepatic Injury

To the editor,We have read the article titled“Characteristics and Outcome of Exertional Heatstroke Patients Complicated by Acute Hepatic Injury:A Cohort Study”by Ji et al.1 We congratulate the authors for this insightful article.In this letter,we would like to raise several issues about the article to provide constructive criticisms.

The role of the Notch signaling pathway in liver injury and repair

This review aims to compile recent advances regarding the significance of Notch signaling in different types of intrahepatic cells during liver injury and repair.The functions of Notch signaling in regulating cell development,fate decisions,and organ homeostasis have been widely acknowledged.Notch is also expressed and activated in hepatocytes,macrophages,liver sinusoidal endothelial cells,endothelial progenitor cells,and hepatic progenitor cells during the process of development,injury,inflammation,fibrosis,and carcinoma.During acute/chronic liver injury,Notch interacts with many signaling pathways that are involved in liver repair.Recent research,including ours,has confirmed the crucial role of Notch signaling in modulating the function of diverse intrahepatic cells during liver injury and reconstruction.Thus,Notch signaling may serve as a potential therapeutic target for liver diseases.

ING5 inhibits aerobic glycolysis of lung cancer cells by promoting TIE1-mediated phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 at Y163

Aerobic glycolysis is critical for tumor growth and metastasis.Previously,we have found that the overexpression of the inhibitor of growth 5(ING5)inhibits lung cancer aggressiveness and epithelial–mesenchymal transition(EMT).However,whether ING5 regulates lung cancer metabolism reprogramming remains unknown.Here,by quantitative proteomics,we showed that ING5 differentially regulates protein phosphorylation and identified a new site(Y163)of the key glycolytic enzyme PDK1 whose phosphorylation was upregulated 13.847-fold.By clinical study,decreased p-PDK1Y163 was observed in lung cancer tissues and correlated with poor survival.p-PDK1Y163 represents the negative regulatory mechanism of PDK1 by causing PDHA1 dephosphorylation and activation,leading to switching from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation,with increasing oxygen consumption and decreasing lactate production.These effects could be impaired by PDK1Y163F mutation,which also impaired the inhibitory effects of ING5 on cancer cell EMT and invasiveness.Mouse xenograft models confirmed the indispensable role of p-PDK1Y163 in ING5-inhibited tumor growth and metastasis.By siRNA screening,ING5-upregulated TIE1 was identified as the upstream tyrosine protein kinase targeting PDK1Y163.TIE1 knockdown induced the dephosphorylation of PDK1Y163 and increased the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.Collectively,ING5 overexpression—upregulated TIE1 phosphorylates PDK1Y163,which is critical for the inhibition of aerobic glycolysis and invasiveness of lung cancer cells.