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1.
PTH and the Regulation of Mesenchymal Cells within the Bone Marrow Niche.
Liu, H, Liu, L, Rosen, CJ
Cells. 2024;(5)
Abstract
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a pivotal role in maintaining calcium homeostasis, largely by modulating bone remodeling processes. Its effects on bone are notably dependent on the duration and frequency of exposure. Specifically, PTH can initiate both bone formation and resorption, with the outcome being influenced by the manner of PTH administration: continuous or intermittent. In continuous administration, PTH tends to promote bone resorption, possibly by regulating certain genes within bone cells. Conversely, intermittent exposure generally favors bone formation, possibly through transient gene activation. PTH's role extends to various aspects of bone cell activity. It directly influences skeletal stem cells, osteoblastic lineage cells, osteocytes, and T cells, playing a critical role in bone generation. Simultaneously, it indirectly affects osteoclast precursor cells and osteoclasts, and has a direct impact on T cells, contributing to its role in bone resorption. Despite these insights, the intricate mechanisms through which PTH acts within the bone marrow niche are not entirely understood. This article reviews the dual roles of PTH-catabolic and anabolic-on bone cells, highlighting the cellular and molecular pathways involved in these processes. The complex interplay of these factors in bone remodeling underscores the need for further investigation to fully comprehend PTH's multifaceted influence on bone health.
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2.
A novel OsHB5-OsAPL-OsMADS27/OsWRKY102 regulatory module regulates grain size in rice.
Zhang, H, Liu, M, Yin, K, Liu, H, Liu, J, Yan, Z
Journal of plant physiology. 2024;:154210
Abstract
Grain size, a crucial trait that determines rice yield and quality, is typically regulated by multiple genes. Although numerous genes controlling grain size have been identified, the precise and dynamic regulatory network governing grain size is still not fully understood. In this study, we unveiled a novel regulatory module composed of OsHB5, OsAPL and OsMADS27/OsWRKY102, which plays a crucial role in modulating grain size in rice. As a positive regulator of grain size, OsAPL has been found to interact with OsHB5 both in vitro and in vivo. Through chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing, we successfully mapped two potential targets of OsAPL, namely OsMADS27, a positive regulator in grain size and OsWRKY102, a negative regulator in lignification that is also associated with grain size control. Further evidence from EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR experiments has shown that OsAPL acts as an upstream transcription factor that directly binds to the promoters of OsMADS27 and OsWRKY102. Moreover, EMSA and dual-luciferase reporter assays have indicated that the interaction between OsAPL and OsHB5 enhances the repressive effect of OsAPL on OsMADS27 and OsWRKY102. Collectively, our findings discovered a novel regulatory module, OsHB5-OsAPL-OsMADS27/OsWRKY102, which plays a significant role in controlling grain size in rice. These discoveries provide potential targets for breeding high-yield and high-quality rice varieties.
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3.
Biological roles of soil microbial consortium on promoting safe crop production in heavy metal(loid) contaminated soil: A systematic review.
Wang, N, Wang, X, Chen, L, Liu, H, Wu, Y, Huang, M, Fang, L
The Science of the total environment. 2024;:168994
Abstract
Heavy metal(loid) (HM) pollution of agricultural soils is a growing global environmental concern that affects planetary health. Numerous studies have shown that soil microbial consortia can inhibit the accumulation of HMs in crops. However, our current understanding of the effects and mechanisms of inhibition is fragmented. In this review, we summarise extant studies and knowledge to provide a comprehensive view of HM toxicity on crop growth and development at the biological, cellular and the molecular levels. In a meta-analysis, we find that microbial consortia can improve crop resistance and reduce HM uptake, which in turn promotes healthy crop growth, demonstrating that microbial consortia are more effective than single microorganisms. We then review three main mechanisms by which microbial consortia reduce the toxicity of HMs to crops and inhibit HMs accumulation in crops: 1) reducing the bioavailability of HMs in soil (e.g. biosorption, bioaccumulation and biotransformation); 2) improving crop resistance to HMs (e.g. facilitating the absorption of nutrients); and 3) synergistic effects between microorganisms. Finally, we discuss the prospects of microbial consortium applications in simultaneous crop safety production and soil remediation, indicating that they play a key role in sustainable agricultural development, and conclude by identifying research challenges and future directions for the microbial consortium to promote safe crop production.
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4.
Semaphorin 3 a restores the ability of type 1 regulatory T cells to suppress food allergy.
Gao, P, Song, S, Wang, Y, Liu, H, Wang, X, Shu, Q, Yang, P, Zheng, P
Immunologic research. 2024;(2):320-330
Abstract
Food allergy (FA) is a common immune disorder that involves dysfunctional immune regulation. More remedies for restoring immune regulation are necessary. Semaphorin 3 A (Sema3a) is a secreted protein of the semaphorin family, which plays a role in immune responses at all stages. The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of how Sema3a can restore the immune regulatory abilities of type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells). In this study, blood samples were taken from patients with FA. Tr1 cells were purified from blood samples using flow cytometry cell sorting, using LAG3 and CD49b as surface markers. RNA sequencing was employed to examine the characteristics of Tr1 cells. We observed an exaggerated increase in ER stress in peripheral Tr1 cells of FA patients. Enforced expression of spliced X-box protein-1 (XBP1s, one of the key molecules in ER stress) resulted in suppression of interleukin (IL)-10 expression in CD4+ T cells. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2a (eIF2a) mediated the effects of XBP1 on suppressing IL-10 expression in Tr1 cells. The use of Sema3a resulted in a decrease in ER stress, and an increase in IL-10 expression in Tr1 cells of FA patients. Sema3a administration reduced experimental FA by increasing the number of Tr1 cells. In conclusion, IL-10 expression in Tr1 cells is disturbed by ER stress. Sema3a treatment restores the expression of IL-10 and the immunosuppressive capability of Tr1 cells.
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5.
Advanced postoperative tissue antiadhesive membranes enabled with electrospun nanofibers.
Zhu, Y, Zhang, C, Liang, Y, Shi, J, Yu, Q, Liu, S, Yu, D, Liu, H
Biomaterials science. 2024;(7):1643-1661
Abstract
Tissue adhesion is one of the most common postoperative complications, which is frequently accompanied by inflammation, pain, and even dyskinesia, significantly reducing the quality of life of patients. Thus, to prevent the formation of tissue adhesions, various strategies have been explored. Among these methods, placing anti-adhesion membranes over the injured site to separate the wound from surrounding tissues is a simple and prominently favored method. Recently, electrospun nanofibers have been the most frequently investigated antiadhesive membranes due to their tunable porous structure and high porosities. They not only can act as an essential barrier and functional carrier system but also allow for high permeability and nutrient transport, showing great potential for preventing tissue adhesion. Herein, we provide a short review of the most recent applications of electrospun nanofibrous antiadhesive membranes in tendons, the abdominal cavity, dural sac, pericardium, and meninges. Firstly, each section highlights the most representative examples and they are sorted based on the latest progress of related research. Moreover, the design principles, preparation strategies, overall performances, and existing problems are highlighted and evaluated. Finally, the current challenges and several future ways to develop electrospun nanofibrous antiadhesive membranes are proposed. The systematic discussion and proposed directions can shed light on ideas and guide the reasonable design of electrospun nanofibrous membranes, contributing to the development of exceptional tissue anti-adhesive materials in the foreseeable future.
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6.
Impact of indigenous Oenococcus oeni and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum species co-culture on Cabernet Sauvignon wine malolactic fermentation: Kinetic parameters, color and aroma.
Zhang, B, Liu, D, Liu, H, Shen, J, Zhang, J, He, L, Li, J, Zhou, P, Guan, X, Liu, S, et al
Food chemistry: X. 2024;:101369
Abstract
Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a crucial process to enhance wine quality, and the utilization of indigenous microorganisms has the potential to enhance wine characteristics distinct to a region. Here, the MLF performance of five indigenous Oenococcus oeni strains and six synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), were comparatively evaluated in Cabernet Sauvignon wine. In terms of malate metabolism rate and wine aroma diversity, the strain of O. oeni Oe114-46 demonstrated comparable MLF performance to the commercial strain of O. oeni Oe450 PreAc. Furthermore, the corresponding SynComs (Oe144-46/LpXJ25) exhibited improved fermentation properties, leading to increased viable cell counts of both species, more rapid and thorough MLF, and increased concentrations of important aroma compounds, such as linalool, 4-terpinenol, α-terpineol, diethyl succinate, and ethyl lactate. These findings highlight the remarkable MLF performance of indigenous O. oeni and O. oeni-L. plantarum microbial communities, emphasizing their immense potential in improving MLF efficiency and wine quality.
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7.
Potential immune evasion of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variants.
Chen, L, He, Y, Liu, H, Shang, Y, Guo, G
Frontiers in immunology. 2024;:1339660
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global pandemic. The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first discovered in November 2021 in specimens collected from Botswana, South Africa. Omicron has become the dominant variant worldwide, and several sublineages or subvariants have been identified recently. Compared to those of other mutants, the Omicron variant has the most highly expressed amino acid mutations, with almost 60 mutations throughout the genome, most of which are in the spike (S) protein, especially in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). These mutations increase the binding affinity of Omicron variants for the ACE2 receptor, and Omicron variants may also lead to immune escape. Despite causing milder symptoms, epidemiological evidence suggests that Omicron variants have exceptionally higher transmissibility, higher rates of reinfection and greater spread than the prototype strain as well as other preceding variants. Additionally, overwhelming amounts of data suggest that the levels of specific neutralization antibodies against Omicron variants decrease in most vaccinated populations, although CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses are maintained. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying Omicron variant evasion are still unclear. In this review, we surveyed the current epidemic status and potential immune escape mechanisms of Omicron variants. Especially, we focused on the potential roles of viral epitope mutations, antigenic drift, hybrid immunity, and "original antigenic sin" in mediating immune evasion. These insights might supply more valuable concise information for us to understand the spreading of Omicron variants.
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8.
Inflammatory stress response after transanal vs laparoscopic total mesorectal excision: a cohort study based on the TaLaR trial.
Chen, M, Ye, F, Huang, P, Liang, Z, Liu, H, Zheng, X, Li, W, Luo, S, Kang, L, Huang, L
International journal of surgery (London, England). 2024;(1):151-158
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is a novel approach to radical surgery for low rectal cancer; however, it is not clear whether taTME causes a more severe inflammatory stress response than laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (laTME). Therefore, the authors conducted this study to address this question, with the secondary objective of analyzing the predictive effect of inflammatory indexes on postoperative infective complications between laTME and taTME. METHODS A total of 545 cases of laTME and 544 cases of taTME from the TaLaR randomized controlled trial were included. Inflammatory stress response was assessed via C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, and prognostic nutritional index. Inflammatory indexes were measured and calculated preoperatively (t1) and on postoperative days one (t2) and seven (t3). The accuracy of inflammatory indexes as predictor of infective complications was evaluated by areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS Preoperative blood parameters were comparable between the two surgical methods. There were no significant differences in CRP, white blood cell count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, or prognostic nutritional index between the two surgical methods at any time point ( P >0.05). Among the inflammatory indexes at three time points, CRP on the first postoperative day was the most accurate predictor of infective complications, which is suitable for two surgical methods. The AUC was 0.7671 ( P <0.0001) with a cutoff of 39.84 mg/l, yielding 94% sensitivity and 47% specificity. CONCLUSIONS Compared with laTME, taTME surgery has no obvious disadvantage with respect to the postoperative inflammatory stress response. In addition, inflammatory indexes were favorable in predicting infective complications, with the best results for CRP on the first postoperative day. Defining the specific predictors for laTME and taTME is unnecessary.
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Associations between Life's Essential 8 and abdominal aortic calcification among US Adults: a cross-sectional study.
Liu, Q, Xiang, H, Chen, S, Ouyang, J, Liu, H, Zhang, J, Chai, Y, Gao, P, Zhang, X, Fan, J, et al
BMC public health. 2024;(1):1090
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular health (CVH) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) are closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related mortality. However, the relationship between CVH metrics via Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and AAC remains unexplored. METHODS The study analyzed data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohort, which included adults aged 40 or above. The research used the LE8 algorithm to evaluate CVH. Semi-quantitative AAC-24 scoring techniques were employed to assess AAC, categorized into no calcification, mild to moderate calcification, and severe calcification. RESULTS The primary analysis involved 2,478 participants. Following adjustments for multiple factors, the LE8 score exhibited a significant association with ACC risk (Mild-moderate ACC: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81,0.93; Severe ACC: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.69,0.87, all P < 0.001), indicating an almost linear dose-response relationship. Compared to the low CVH group, the moderate CVH group showed lower odds ratios (OR) for mild-moderate and severe calcification (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61-0.99, P = 0.041; OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-0.99, P = 0.047, respectively). Moreover, the high CVH group demonstrated even lower ORs for mild-moderate and severe calcification (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.69, P < 0.001; OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.59, P = 0.001, respectively). Interactions were found between chronic kidney disease (CKD) condition, history of CVD, marital status and CVH metrics to ACC. Participants without CKD exhibited a more pronounced negative association between the CVH metric and both mild-moderate and severe ACC. Those lacking a history of CVD, and never married/widowed/divorced/separated showed a stronger negative association between the CVH metric and severe ACC. CONCLUSIONS The novel CVH metrics demonstrated an inverse correlation with the risk of AAC. These findings suggest that embracing improved CVH levels may assist in alleviating the burden of ACC.
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10.
Enhancing Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells with Ionic Liquids: A Review.
Liu, Q, Liu, H, Zhang, W, Ma, Q, Xu, Q, Hooshyari, K, Su, H
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany). 2024;(15):e202303525
Abstract
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) represent a promising clean energy solution. However, their widespread adoption faces hurdles related to component optimization. This review explores the pivotal role of ionic liquids (ILs) in enhancing PEMFC performance, focusing on their role in polymer electrolyte membranes, catalyst modification, and other components. By addressing key obstacles, including proton conductivity, catalyst stability, and fuel crossover, ILs provide a pathway towards the widespread commercialization of PEMFCs. In the realm of PEMFC membranes, ILs have shown great potential in improving proton conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. Additionally, the utilization of ILs as catalyst modifiers has shown promise in enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of electrodes by serving as an effective stabilizer to promote the dispersion of metal nanoparticles, and reduce their agglomeration, thereby augmenting catalytic performance. Furthermore, ILs can be tailored to optimize the catalyst-support interaction, ultimately enhancing the overall fuel cell efficiency. Their unique properties, such as high oxygen solubility and low volatility, offer advantages in terms of reducing mass transport and water management issues. This review not only underscores the promising advancements achieved thus far but also outlines the challenges that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of ILs in PEMFC technology, offering a valuable resource for researchers and engineers working toward the realization of efficient and durable PEMFCs.