Changes in expression and secretion patterns of fibroblast growth factor 8 and Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway molecules during murine neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation in vitro

In the present study, we investigated the dynamic expression of fibroblast growth factor 8 and Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway related factors in the process of in vitro hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation from embryonic Sprague-Dawley rats or embryonic Kunming species mice, using fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and western blot analyses. Results demonstrated that the dynamic expression of fibroblast growth factor 8 was similar to fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 expression but not to other fibroblast growth factor receptors. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 8 and Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway protein factors were secreted by neural cells into the intercellular niche. Our experimental findings indicate that fibroblast growth factor 8 and Sonic Hedgehog expression may be related to the differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells.

Distribution and localization of fibroblast growth factor-8 in rat brain and nerve cells during neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation

The present study explored the distribution and localization of fibroblast growth factor-8 and its potential receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor-3, in adult rat brain in vivo and in nerve cells during differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells in vitro. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the distribution of fibroblast growth factor-8 in adult rat brain in vivo. Localization of fibroblast growth factor-8 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 in cells during neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation in vitro was detected by immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the effect of an anti-fibroblast growth factor-8 antibody on neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation and expansion in vitro. Results from this study confirmed that fibroblast growth factor-8 was mainly distributed in adult midbrain, namely the substantia nigra, compact part, dorsal tier, substantia nigra and reticular part, but was not detected in the forebrain comprising the caudate putamen and striatum. Unusual results were obtained in retrosplenial locations of adult rat brain. We found that fibroblast growth factor-8 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 were distributed on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of nerve cells using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses. We considered that the distribution of fibroblast growth factor-8 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 in neural cells corresponded to the characteristics of fibroblast growth factor-8, a secretory factor. Addition of an anti-fibroblast growth factor-8 antibody to cultures significantly affected the rate of expansion and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells. In contrast, addition of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-8 to differentiation medium promoted neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation and increased the final yields of dopaminergic neurons and total neurons. Our study may help delineate the important roles of fibroblast growth factor-8 in brain activities and neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulates proliferation of stem/progenitor cells: what we need to know to translate basic science research into clinical applications

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a promising therapy that has been increasingly explored in basic research and clinical applications. LIPUS is an appealing therapeutic option as it is a noninvasive treatment that has many advantages, including no risk of infection or tissue damage and no known adverse reactions. LIPUS has been shown to have many benefits including promotion of tissue healing, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration;inhibition of inflammation and pain relief;and stimulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. The biophysical mechanisms of LIPUS remain unclear and the studies are ongoing. In recent years, more and more research has focused on the relationship between LIPUS and stem/progenitor cells. A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Embase databases to July 2020 was performed. LIPUS has many effects on stem cells. Studies show that LIPUS can stimulate stem cells in vitro;promote stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration;maintain stem cell activity;alleviate the problems of insufficient seed cell source, differentiation, and maturation;and circumvent the low efficiency of stem cell transplantation. The mechanisms involved in the effects of LIPUS are not fully understood, but the effects demonstrated in studies thus far have been favorable. Much additional research is needed before LIPUS can progress from basic science research to large-scale clinical dissemination and application.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antitumor Activities of 2-Acyl-β-lactam-2-carboxamides

A series of 2-acyl-β-lactam-2-carboxamides was prepared through a tandem Ugi 4 CC/SN cyclization of bromoacetic acid, primary amine, arylglyoxal, and isocyanide. All of them were characterized by NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Meanwhile, the single crystal of compound 5 a, C_(19)H_(25)ClN_2 O_3, was also obtained and determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: triclinic system, space group P_1, a = 8.1318(15), b = 11.931(2), c = 12.027(2) ?, α = 67.361(3)°, β = 73.009(3)°, γ = 85.663(3)°, V = 1029.1(3) ?3, Z = 2, F(000) = 388, Dc = 1.178 g/cm3, μ = 0.204 mm^(-1), R = 0.0786 and w R = 0.2212 for 3585 independent reflections(Rint = 0.0214) and 2960 observed ones(I > 2σ(I)). Intermolecular N–H···O stacking interactions contributed to the stability of the structure. The antitumor abilities of 5 were analyzed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazo-liumbromide(MTT) standard method; 5 c stood out as the most potent showing an IC_(50) of 1.70 μmol/L against human tumor cell lines(HepG2).

Definition and classification of acute-on-chronic liver diseases

Patients with chronic liver diseases(CLDs)develop acute liver injury and/or acute decompensation under the attack of various precipitants and present with significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase and/or total bilirubin levels,liver failure,or acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis,which is called acute-on-CLD(AoCLD).AoCLD accounts for the majority of patients hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology or Infectious Diseases.AoCLD is complicated by various clinical types,the severity of the disease,and may pose a high risk of death.To date,the definition of AoCLD is still vague,and a consensus concept of the clinical classification is lacking.This review aimed to define the concept and clinical types of AoCLD based on related studies and the literature.

Common mtDNA variations at C5178a and A249d/T6392C/G10310A decrease the risk of severe COVID-19 in a Han Chinese population from Central China

Background:Mitochondria have been shown to play vital roles during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)development.Currently,it is unclear whether mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)variants,which define mtDNA haplogroups and determine oxidative phosphorylation performance and reactive oxygen species production,are associated with COVID-19 risk.Methods:A population-based case-control study was conducted to compare the distribution of mtDNA variations defining mtDNA haplogroups between healthy controls(n=615)and COVID-19 patients(n=536).COVID-19 patients were diagnosed based on molecular diagnostics of the viral genome by qPCR and chest X-ray or computed tomography scanning.The exclusion criteria for the healthy controls were any history of disease in the month preceding the study assessment.MtDNA variants defining mtDNA haplogroups were identified by PCR-RFLPs and HVS-I sequencing and determined based on mtDNA phylogenetic analysis using Mitomap Phylogeny.Student’s t-test was used for continuous variables,and Pearson’s chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables.To assess the independent effect of each mtDNA variant defining mtDNA haplogroups,multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)with adjustments for possible confounding factors of age,sex,smoking and diseases(including cardiopulmonary diseases,diabetes,obesity and hypertension)as determined through clinical and radiographic examinations.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the most common investigated mtDNA variations(>10%in the control population)at C5178 a(in NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene,ND2)and A249 d(in the displacement loop region,D-loop)/T6392 C(in cytochrome c oxidase I gene,CO1)/G10310 A(in ND3)were associated with a reduced risk of severe COVID-19(OR=0.590,95%CI 0.428–0.814,P=0.001;and OR=0.654,95%CI 0.457–0.936,P=0.020,respectively),while A4833 G(ND2),A4715 G(ND2),T3394 C(ND1)and G5417 A(ND2)/C16257 a(D-loop)/C16261 T(D-loop)were related to an increased risk of severe COVID-19(OR=2.336,95%CI 1.179–4.608,P=0.015;OR=2.033,95%CI 1.242–3.322,P=0.005;OR=3.040,95%CI 1.522–6.061,P=0.002;and OR=2.890,95%CI 1.199–6.993,P=0.018,respectively).Conclusions:This is the first study to explore the association of mtDNA variants with individual’s risk of developing severe COVID-19.Based on the case–control study,we concluded that the common mtDNA variants at C5178 a and A249 d/T6392 C/G10310 A might contribute to an individual’s resistance to developing severe COVID-19,whereas A4833 G,A4715 G,T3394 C and G5417 A/C16257 a/C16261 T might increase an individual’s risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Paris saponin Ⅶ,a direct activator of AMPK,induces autophagy and exhibits therapeutic potential in non-small-cell lung cancer

Paris saponinⅦ(PSⅦ),a bioactive constituent extracted from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim.,is cytotoxic to several cancer types.This study was designed to explore whether PSⅦprevents non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)proliferation and to investigate its molecular target.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)has been implicated in the activation of autophagy in distinct tissues.In cultured human NSCLC cell lines,PSⅦinduces autophagy by activating AMPK and inhibiting m TOR signaling.Furthermore,PSⅦ-induced autophagy activation was reversed by the AMPK inhibitor compound C.Computational docking analysis showed that PSⅦdirectly interacted with the allosteric drug and metabolite site of AMPK to stabilize its activation.Microscale thermophoresis assay and drug affinity responsive target stability assay further confirmed the high affinity between PSⅦand AMPK.In summary,PSⅦacts as a direct AMPK activator to induce cell autophagy,which inhibits the growth of NSCLC cells.In the future,PSⅦtherapy should be applied to treat patients with NSCLC.

A Selective TRPC3 Inhibitor Pyr3 Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

An emerging body of evidence indicates that transient receptor potential TRP channels act as important mediators for a wide variety of physiological functions and are potential targets for drug discovery.Our previous study has identified transient receptor potential channel 3(TRPC3)and TRPC6 as cation channels through which most of the damaging calcium enters,aggravates pathological changes in vivo and increases ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)injury in mice.This study aimed to verify the effects of TRPC3 inhibitor Pyr3 on myocardial I/R injury in mice.C57BL/6J wild-type male mice(8 to 12 weeks old)were anesthetized with 3.3%chloral hydrate.A murine I(30 min)/R(24 h)injury model was established by temporary occlusion of the left anterior descending(LAD)coronary artery.Pyr3 was administered at concentrations of 0,2.5,5,or 10 mg/kg via the right jugular vein 5 min before reperfusion.We observed that the selective TRPC3 inhibitor,10 mg/kg Pyr3,significantly decreased the infarct size of left ventricle,and reduced the myocardial cell apoptosis rate and inflammatory response in mice.In a conclusion,TRPC3 can function as a candidate target for I/R injury prevention,and Pyr3 may directly bind to TRPC3 channel protein,inhibit TRPC3 channel activity,and improve TRPC3-related myocardial I/R injury.Pyr3 may be used for clarification of TRPC3 functions and for treatments of TRPC3-mediated diseases.

BARMR1-mediated sorafenib resistance is derived through stem-like property acquisition by activating integrin-FAK signaling pathways

Dear Editor,BARMR1(alternatively named FAM92A1 or FAM92A)gene was first identified in 2002 and is a highly conserved gene and widely expressed in most tissues in mammals.1 We first cloned the complete CDS sequence of BARMR1 in 2007,2 which encodes a protein with a Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs(BAR)domain.BARcontaining proteins are known to bind onto lipid membrane surface and generate membrane curvature and have been demonstrated to play diverse roles in cell growth,inflammation and cell migration.

Jinyinqingre Oral Liquid alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway

Acute lung injury(ALI)is a prevalent and severe clinical condition characterized by inflammatory damage to the lung endothelial and epithelial barriers,resulting in high incidence and mortality rates.Currently,there is a lack of safe and effective drugs for the treatment of ALI.In a previous clinical study,we observed that Jinyinqingre oral liquid(JYQR),a Traditional Chinese Medicine formulation prepared by the Taihe Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine,exhibited notable efficacy in treating inflammation-related hepatitis and cholecystitis in clinical settings.However,the potential role of JYQR in ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)and its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains unexplored.Thus,the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of JYQR in ALI using a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI and an in vitro RAW264.7 cell model.JYQR yielded substantial improvements in LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues.Additionally,JYQR administration led to a noteworthy reduction in total protein levels within the BALF,a decrease in MPAP,and attenuation of pleural thickness.These findings collectively highlight the remarkable efficacy of JYQR in mitigating the deleterious effects of LPS-induced ALI.Mechanistic investigations revealed that JYQR pretreatment significantly inhibited NF-κB activation and downregulated the expressions of the downstream proteins,namely NLRP3 and GSDMD,as well as proinflammatory cytokine levels in mice and RAW2647 cells.Consequently,JYQR alleviated LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway.JYQR exerts a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI in mice,and its mechanism of action involves the downregulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD inflammatory pathway.

Accessible chromatin regions and their functional interrelations with gene transcription and epigenetic modifications in sorghum genome

Accessible chromatin regions(ACRs)provide physical scaffolds to recruit transcriptional co-regulators and displace their nearby nucleosomes in multiple plant species.Characterization of ACRs and investigation of their biological effects in Sorghum bicolor has lagged behind.Regulation of gene expression relies on the transcriptional co-regulators that are recruited to ACRs to affect epigenomic modifications of surrounding nucleosomes.In this study,we employed transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing to identify ACRs and decipher how the presence of ACRs affects gene expression and epigenetic signatures in the Sorghum genome.As a result,21077 ACRs,which are mapped to 22.9%of genes and 2.7%of repeats,were identified.The profiling of ACRs on gene structures reveals a narrow and sharp peak around the transcription start site,with relatively weak and broad signals covering the entire gene body and an explicit but wide peak from the transcription termination site to its downstream regions.We discovered that the correlations between gene expression levels and profiled ACR densities are dependent on the positions of ACRs.The occurrence of genic ACRs cumulatively enhances the transcriptional activity of intergenic ACR-associated genes.In addition,an intricate crosstalk among ACRs,gene expression,and epigenetic marks has been unveiled by integrating multiple-omics analyses of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing,6mA immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing,RNA sequencing,chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing,and DNase I hypersensitive sites sequencing datasets.Our study provides a genome-wide landscape of ACRs in sorghum,decrypts their interrelations with various epigenetic marks,and sheds new light on their roles in transcriptional regulation.