Expression Of Related Genes Research Articles

SiO2-based inorganic nanofiber aerogel with rapid hemostasis and liver wound healing functions.

Non-compressible hemostasis and promoting tissue healing are important in soft tissue trauma repair. Inorganic aerogels show superior performance in rapid hemostasis or promoting tissue healing, but simultaneously promoting non-compressive hemostasis and soft tissue healing still remains a challenge. Herein, SiO2-based inorganic nanofiber aerogels (M2+@SiO2, M=Ca, Mg, and Sr) were prepared by freeze-drying the mixture of bioactive silicates-deposited SiO2 nanofibers and SiO2 sol. These M2+@SiO2 aerogels have a three-dimensional highly-interconnected porous structure, remarkable flexibility, high absorption, good hydrophilicity, negative zeta potential, and bioactive ions releasing capacity. M2+@SiO2 aerogels not only exhibited satisfactory hemostasis activities in vitro, but also possessed high hemostatic efficacy in compressible rabbit femoral artery injury bleeding model and non-compressible rat liver puncture bleeding model compared to medical gauze and gelatin sponge. M2+@SiO2 aerogel had low blood clotting index of Ca. 10 % and short partial thromboplastin time of ca. 82 s in vitro, and could greatly short bleeding time by >50 % and decrease blood loss by about 80 % compared to medical gauze and gelatin sponge in non-compressible hemostasis. Sr2+@SiO2 aerogel showed optimal bioactivities on promoting cell proliferation, cell migration, and the expression of liver function and angiogenesis related genes and proteins in vitro. Importantly, Sr2+@SiO2 aerogel possessed a noteworthy function to promote liver soft tissue healing in vivo by releasing bioactive ions and providing a highly-interconnected porous structure to support vascular development and tissue regeneration. Overall, Sr2+@SiO2 aerogel has great potential for integrated rapid hemostasis and soft tissue healing, which is promising in soft tissue trauma therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Non-compressible hemorrhage and soft tissue impairment are the main causes of mortality in emergency trauma. Inorganic aerogels with high porosity and outstanding flexibility can rapidly absorb blood to pro-coagulation and fill in irregular trauma without compression, but the low bioactivity limited the ability to promote soft tissue healing. Herein, SiO2-based inorganic nanofiber aerogels (M2+@SiO2, M=Ca, Mg, and Sr) were prepared by freeze-drying the mixture of bioactive silicates-deposited SiO2 nanofibers and SiO2 sol. M2+@SiO2 aerogels possessed high bioactivity and exhibited superior hemostatic performance in compressible and non-compressible bleeding model. Furthermore, Sr2+@SiO2 aerogel showed optimal bioactivities on cell responses and effectively promoted liver healing by releasing bioactive ions and providing highly-interconnected porous support structure for vascular development and tissue regeneration.

Supplementation with Complex Phytonutrients Enhances Rumen Barrier Function and Growth Performance of Lambs by Regulating Rumen Microbiome and Metabolome.

Complex phytonutrients (CPS) have attracted extensive interest due to their anti-inflammatory effects. This investigation focused on the impact of CPS on rumen health in lambs on high-concentrate diets, emphasizing growth performance, ruminal fermentation, epithelial barrier integrity, ruminal metabolism, and microbial communities. A total of 54 lambs, 3 months old and with a 30.42 ± 0.54 kg body weight, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with six replicates per treatment and three lambs per replicate. The lambs received a basal diet (the ratio of concentrate to forage was 75:25) without CPS supplementation (CON) or with the inclusion of 2.5 g/kg (CPS2.5) or 5.0 g/kg CPS (CPS5.0) for a total of 60 days. The CPS groups exhibited increased growth performance and improved rumen fermentation parameters. Mechanistically, CPS enhanced rumen epithelial barrier function, thereby lowering inflammation and inhibiting the overactivation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the effect of CPS5.0 was better than that of CPS2.5. Notably, CPS5.0 could optimize the composition of rumen microbiota and increase the levels of Ursolic acid and other metabolites. The strong associations between rumen bacteria and health-related indicators and differential metabolites were further highlighted. Our findings suggest that adding CPS to lambs' diets has widespread positive impacts, including improved growth performance, reduced inflammation and mRNA relative expression of apoptosis-related genes, enhanced barrier function, and beneficial changes in the rumen microbiome and metabolite profiles.

PpERF17 alleviates peach fruit postharvest chilling injury under elevated CO2 by activating jasmonic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid biosynthesis

Abstract Internal browning (IB) is a common chilling injury (CI) feature in peach fruit after prolonged cold storage. Our previous study demonstrated that low O2 and elevated CO2 (eCO2) condition of modified atmosphere (MA) storage alleviated CI by facilitating the accumulation of jasmonic acids (JAs) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in ‘Zhonghuashoutao’ (‘ZHST’) peach fruit. Here we show that 10 % CO2 alone can improve cold tolerance, with ethylene response factor 17 (PpERF17) identified as a pivotal transcription factor (TF) that promotes biosynthesis of JAs and GABA. Stable transformation of PpERF17 in tobacco resulted in reduced cold damage, attributed to decreased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as enhanced accumulation of JAs and GABA. Moreover, under eCO2, PpMYC2.1, the master regulator of JA signaling, was found to activate transcription of 13S-lipoxygenase (Pp13S-LOX), allene oxide synthase (PpAOS), 12-oxophytodienoate reductase 3 (PpOPR3) and glutamate decarboxylase (PpGAD), while also inducing the expression of the upstream TF PpERF17, thereby establishing positive feedback loops upregulating JA and GABA biosynthesis. Finally, application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to fruit before shelf transfer from cold storage alleviated chilling injury development, due to increased accumulation of JAs and GABA as a result of raised expression of related biosynthetic genes. Collectively, our results suggest that eCO2-induced PpERF17 enhances JAs and GABA accumulation while activating the JA signaling pathway. This contributes to a positive feedback loop mediated by PpMYC2.1, ultimately alleviating CI of peach fruit through the sustained accumulation of JAs and GABA.

Citrus transcription factor CsERF1 is involved in the response to citrus tristeza disease.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a threat to the citrus production and causes severe economic losses to the citrus industry. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) play important roles in plant growth and stress responses. Although ERF genes have been widely studied in model plants, little is known about their role in biological stress responses in fruit trees, such as citrus. CsERF1 belongs to the citrus AP2/ERF transcription factor family. To determine the role of CsERF1 on CTV resistance in citrus and the effects of the exongenous hormone application on CsERF1 in citrus, the expression of related genes was quantitatively analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in this study. The expression profile showed that the expression level of CsERF1 in roots was significantly lower under CTV infection than in healthy plants, while the expression level in stems was significantly increased. CsERF1 responded to exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments. The CTV titer in RNAi-CsERF1 transgenic sweet orange plants significantly increased. Furthermore, CsERF1-overexpressing and RNAi-CsERF1 transgenic sweet orange plants exhibited differential expression of genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) and SA signaling. These results suggest that CsERF1 mediates CTV resistance by regulating the JA and SA signaling pathways. The results of this study provide new clues as to the citrus defence response against CTV. It is of great significance to create citrus germplasm resources resistant to recession disease.

A trend of osteocalcin in diabetes mellitus research: bibliometric and visualization analysis.

Osteocalcin has attracted attention for its potential role in diabetes management. However, there has been no bibliometric assessment of scientific progress in this field. We analysed 1680 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) between 1 January 1986 and 10 May 2024 using various online tools. These papers accumulated 42,714 citations,with an average of 25.43 citations per paper. Publication output increased sharply from 1991 onwards. The United States and China are at the forefront of this research area. The keywords were grouped into four clusters: 'Differential and functional osteocalcin genes', 'Differential expression of osteocalcin genes in relation to diabetes mellitus', 'Role of osteocalcin in the assessment of osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus', and 'Indirect involvement of osteocalcin in metabolic processes'. Analysis using the VoS viewer suggests a shift in research focus towards the correlation between osteocalcin levels and diabetic complications, the clinical efficacy of therapeutic agents or vitamins in the treatment of osteoporosis in diabetic patients, and the mechanisms by which osteocalcin modulates insulin action. The proposed focus areas are "osteocalcin genes", "insulin regulation and osteoporosis ", "different populations", "diabetes-related complications" and "type 2 diabetes mellitus","effect of osteocalcin expression on insulin sensitivity as well as secretion","osteocalcin expression in different populations of diabetic patients and treatment-related studies".

Effects of Dietary Nano-Composite of Copper and Carbon on Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Cecal Microbiota of Weaned Ira White Rabbits.

This experiment investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with nano-composites of copper and carbon (NCCC) on antioxidants, immune functions, and the cecum microbiota of weaned Ira white rabbits. A total of 240 weaned 35-day-old Ira white rabbits were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (n = 6 per treatment, each replicate consisted of eight rabbits) that included the control group (CON) with a basal diet, the SAL group with 60 mg/kg salinomycin (SAL) in addition to the basal diet, and the NCCC I, II, III groups, which were supplemented with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg NCCC, respectively, in addition to the basal diet. The test lasted for 28 d. The results showed that dietary NCCC supplementation increased the liver Cu/Zn-SOD content and up-regulated the gene expression of Cu/Zn-SOD (p < 0.05), while also reducing the content of MDA in the liver and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of Ira white rabbits. Moreover, the NCCC diet supplementation reduced the content of IL-6 and down-regulated the relative expression of IL-6 and IL-1β genes in the jejunum of Ira white rabbits (p < 0.05). In addition, the metagenomic analysis of 16 S rRNA showed significant differences in the cecal microbial structure of weaned Ira white rabbits in the NCCC III group compared with the CON, NCCC I, and NCCC II groups (p < 0.05). Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla of cecal microorganisms in weaned Ira rabbits in the NCCC diet groups. The dominant genera included unidentified Eubacteriaceae, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, and Ruminococcus. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus in the NCCC I and II groups was lower than that in the CON group in the cecum of Ira white rabbits (p < 0.05). In summary, our results showed that diet supplementation with NCCC could enhance the antioxidant capacity in the liver, alleviate intestinal inflammation, and regulate the structure of intestinal flora, improving the health of Ira white rabbits.

Daily Lipolysis Gene Expression in Male Rat Mesenteric Adipose Tissue: Obesity and Melatonin Effects.

Melatonin is involved in various functions such as the timing of circadian rhythms, energy metabolism, and body mass gain in experimental animals. However, its effects on adipose tissue lipid metabolism are still unclear. This study analyzes the effects of melatonin on the relative gene expression of lipolytic proteins in rat mesenteric adipose tissue and free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol plasma levels of male Wistar rats fed a high-fat (HFD) or maintenance diet. Four experimental groups were established: control, obese, and control or obese plus 2.3 mg/kg/day of melatonin in tap water. After 11 weeks, animals were sacrificed at different times throughout a 24 h cycle, and mesenteric adipose tissue and plasma samples were collected and analyzed. Cgi58, Perilipin, and Dgat1 gene expression, as well as FFA and glycerol concentrations, showed rhythm patterns in the control group. HFD disrupted those rhythm patterns and increased FFA and glycerol concentrations during the dark photoperiod. In both melatonin-treated groups, almost all analyzed genes showed circadian patterns. Notably, melatonin significantly prevented the increase in FFA levels during the dark photoperiod in obese rats (obese group: ~1100 mM vs. obese + melatonin group: ~600 μM, similar to control levels). However, the rhythmic pattern observed in control animals was not sustained. According to our results, melatonin could regulate circadian gene transcription of mesenteric adipose tissue lipolysis proteins. The effect of melatonin on preventing elevated FFA plasma levels associated with high-fat diet intake warrants further investigation.

The advancement of targeted regulation of hepatic stellate cells using traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis, which is a precursor to cirrhosis in chronic liver diseases, is driven by various factors. The activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are recognized as a crucial phase in the progression of liver fibrosis. Compared with western drug therapy, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and herbal medicine not only have the advantages of multi-target and multi-pathways in the treatment of liver fibrosis, but also have high safety without toxic side effects. This paper aims to compile and analyze the active ingredients in TCM and their corresponding signaling pathways that target and modulate the phenotype of hepatic stellate cells, offering a potential treatment for hepatic fibrosis. The Literature information was obtained from the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI from January 2010 to June 2020 with the aim of elucidating the intrinsic mechanisms and roles of TCM and natural medicine in the treatment of LF. The search terms included "liver fibrosis" or "hepatic fibrosis", "traditional Chinese medicine" or "Chinese herbal medicine", "medicinal plant", "natural plant", and "herb". We described the antifibrosis activity of TCM and natural medicine in LF based on different signaling pathways. Plant medicine and herbal formulas regulated the related gene and protein expression via pathways such as TGF-β/Smad, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin, which inhibit the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy and activation of HSCs. By reviewing both domestic and international literature on TCM interventions in liver fibrosis, this study presents a thorough evaluation of recent research progress and the challenges faced in the clinical application of TCM for this condition. The goal is to lay a solid foundation for further in-depth studies and to strengthen the theoretical framework in this field. The inhibitory effect of TCM and natural medicine on fibrosis was reflected in multiple levels and multiple pathways, providing reasonable evidence for new drug development. To make TCM and natural medicine widely and flexibly used in clinical practice, the efficacy, safety and mechanism of action need more in-depth experimental research. It also seeks to provide a theoretical foundation for future research on targeted therapies for liver fibrosis and related diseases.

Potenciál využití molekulárních analýz pro genetickou charakterizaci rezistentních jedinců borovice lesní (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most important economic trees with deteriorating health conditions observed in recent years. The work aimed to compare and evaluate the regulation of gene activities involved in defense mechanisms under biotic and abiotic stress conditions in a group of healthy individuals of Scots pine and individuals damaged by the pine beetle (Phaenops cyanea). Determination of the relative gene expression levels of twelve selected genes was carried out by qPCR analysis in samples of Scots pine needles collected at two localities, Stará Boleslav and Podbrahy. At both monitored locations we noted the same trends in the regulation of the relative gene expression profile for seven genes (CHS, CH5B, PR_P2, PO12, PAAL, SUCSYN3 and USP A), including a significant increase in the relative gene expression level of the phenylalanine-ammonia lyase (PAAL) involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and lignin in plants, in the group of damaged individuals compared to the control group at the locality Stará Boleslav. For both groups of samples (healthy and damaged individuals) we noticed considerable variability in the measured data related to many variable factors of the external environment and the genotype of each individual, even when comparing both habitats.

Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of recurrent miscarriage through endoplasmic reticulum stress related gene expression

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a reproductive disorder affecting couples worldwide. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive, even though emerging evidence has implicated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). We investigated RM- and ERS-related genes to develop a diagnostic model that can enhance predictive ability. We utilized the R package GEO query to extract and process Gene Expression Omnibus data, applying batch correction, normalization, and differential gene expression analysis with limma. ERS-related differentially expressed genes (ERSRGs) were identified through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses, and their diagnostic potential was assessed. Diagnostic models were developed using logistic regression, support vector machines, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operators, complemented by immune infiltration analysis and regulatory network construction. Integrated analysis revealed 1395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 626 upregulated and 769 downregulated genes. Seventeen ERSRGs were identified. KEAP1 and YIPF5 displayed high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.9). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses highlighted the role of ESRDEGs in cellular responses to ERS, protein processing, and apoptosis. Diagnostic models demonstrated robust predictive performance (AUC > 0.9). A molecular interaction was found between RM and the ERS response, and the identified ESRDEGs could serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis.

Identification and validation of reference genes for quantitative gene expression analysis under 409 and 415 nm antimicrobial blue light treatment.

Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction Q7 (RT‒qPCR) is a commonly used tool for gene expression quantification. Because the qPCR method depends on several variables that can influence the analysis process, stably expressed genes should be selected for relative gene expression studies. To date, there is insufficient information on the selection of appropriate reference genes for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) and antimicrobial blue light (aBL) treatment. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the most stable reference gene under treatment with aBL under sublethal conditions and to evaluate differences in the expression of the selected gene after aBL treatment in comparison to the nontreated control. Selection of stable reference genes was performed using 4 programs: BestKeeper, geNorm, NormFinder and RefFinder under 409 and 415nm aBL treatment. The results revealed that the gene encoding the integration host factor β subunit (ihfB) in Escherichia coli was the most stably expressed gene after both 409 and 415nm aBL treatment. Three programs, RefFinder, geNorm, and NormFinder, indicated that this gene had the most stable expression in comparison to the other reference gene candidates. The next best candidates were cysG, uidA, and gyrA. NormFinder revealed ihfB as the single gene and cysG - gyrA as the combination of reference genes with the best stability. Universal reference genes are characterized by stable expression that remains consistent across various stress conditions. Consequently, it is essential to evaluate reference genes for each specific stress factor under investigation. In the case of aBL at different wavelengths, we identified genes that maintain stable expression following irradiation.

Traditional pediatric massage enhanced the skeletal muscle mass in OVA-exposed adolescent rats via regulating SCFAs-FFAR2-IGF-1/AKT pathway.

This study aimed to investigate the potential relation between the retarded growth of skeletal muscle (SM) and dysbiosis of gut microbiota (GM) in children with asthma, and to explore the potential action mechanisms of traditional pediatric massage (TPM) from the perspective of regulating GM and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production by using an adolescent rat model of asthma. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3weeks were divided randomly into the 5 groups (n=6~7) of control, ovalbumin (OVA), OVA + TPM, OVA + methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP) and OVA + SCFAs. Pulmonary function (PF) was detected by whole body plethysmograph, including enhanced pause and minute ventilation. Airway allergic inflammation (AAI) status was assessed by concentrations of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E in plasma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid via ELISA assay. SM mass was assessed by using cross-sectional areas of diaphragm muscle and gastrocnemius via hematoxylin and eosin staining. GM and SCFAs production were detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and GC-MS, respectively. The protein and gene expressions of free fatty acid receptor 2 in SM were detected by using immunohistochemical staining and qRT-PCR, respectively. qRT-PCR was used to detect other relative gene expressions that were closely related with SM mass. The activity of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) pathway in SM was detected by western blotting test. OVA exposure caused obvious AAI and poor PF in adolescent rats. OVA-exposed adolescent rats had a retarded growth of SM mass and inhibited activity of IGF-1/AKT pathway, which was related with GM dysbiosis, reduced SCFAs production and FFAR2 expressions in SM. TPM efficiently enhanced the SM mass, along with alleviating AAI and improving PF. TPM activated IGF-1/AKT pathway in SM, which was closely related with correcting GM dysbiosis, enhanced SCFAs production and FFAR2 expressions. The retarded growth of SM mass and inhibition of IGF-1/AKT pathway existed in OVA-exposed adolescent rats, which was related with GM dysbiosis, reduced SCFAs production and FFAR2 expressions in SM. TPM efficiently enhanced the SM mass, at least, partially via regulating GM, enhancing SCFAs production and activating FFAR2-IGF-1/AKT pathway.

Malus xiaojinensis MxbHLH30 Confers Iron Homeostasis Under Iron Deficiency in Arabidopsis.

Iron stress adversely impacts plants' growth and development. Transcription factors (TFs) receive stress signals and modulate plant tolerance by influencing the expression of related functional genes. In the present study, we investigated the role of an apple bHLH transcription factor MxbHLH30 in the tolerance to iron stresses. The expression of MxbHLH30 was induced significantly by low-iron and high-iron treatments and MxbHLH30-overexpressed Arabidopsis plants displayed iron-stress-tolerant phenotypes. A determination of physiological and biochemical indexes associated with abiotic stress responses showed that overexpression of MxbHLH30 increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in Arabidopsis plants treated with iron stress, and decreased the contents of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA), which contribute to reduce cell membrane lipid peroxidation. Meanwhile, the accumulation of proline in transgenic plant cells increased, regulating cell osmotic pressure. Furthermore, quantitative expression analysis indicated that overexpression of MxbHLH30 improved the expression levels of positive functional genes' responses to iron stress, improving plant resistance. Interestingly, MxbHLH30 may have the ability to balance the homeostasis of iron and other metal ions for the iron homeostasis of Arabidopsis cell under low-iron environments. This research demonstrates that MxbHLH30 is a key regulator of cell iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis plants under iron deficiency, providing new knowledge for plant resistance regulation.

Caspase 3/GSDME-Mediated Corneal Epithelial Pyroptosis Promotes Dry Eye Disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular surface inflammatory disease with a complex pathogenesis. Herein, the role and effect of gasdermin E (GSDME) in DED pathogenesis were explored. In vitro, flow cytometry, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were used to determine the effects of hyperosmotic stress on pyroptosis, apoptosis, and cell viability in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot assays were used to detect GSDME expression in HCECs and in those transfected with si-GSDMD. In vivo, GSDMD-knockout (KO) mice were used to study the role of GSDME in DED pathogenesis. The qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used to explore the effects of GSDME on HCEC apoptosis, pyroptosis, and the expression of related genes and proteins in GSDMD-KO mice with scopolamine-induced dry eye. Pyroptosis and cell membrane rupture occurred, and caspase-3 and GSDME protein expression increased after HCECs were treated with 312 to 500 mOsm sodium chloride. GSDME gene and protein expression levels were increased in HCECs from both si-GSDMD- and GSDMD-KO mice. Although caspase-3 expression was increased in the dry eye group of GSDMD-KO mice, HCEC apoptosis and the apoptosis-related factors PARP were not detected. The gene and protein expression levels of the pyroptosis-related factors ASC and IL-1β were greater than those in GSDMD-KO mice without dry eye. GSDME is involved in DED pathogenesis by mediating inflammation via the pyroptosis pathway, GSDME inhibition may be a therapeutic target for DED.

The mechanism of carbon and nitrogen metabolism under low temperature and low light stress after heading in late indica rice.

Double-season late indica rice frequently experiences low temperature accompanying with low light stress during the grain filling stage in southern China, which alters the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the rice grains, thereby impacting both grain yield and quality. However, the physiological mechanism is still unclear. A pot experiment using two late indica rice cultivars (high-quality and common-quality rice cultivars) was conducted under control (CK), low temperature (LT) and low temperature and light (LT+LL) to investigate the grain filling, photosynthetic characteristics, carbon and nitrogen metabolic enzymes and related gene expression. The results indicated that both LT and LT+LL treatments primarily reduced grain weight in the two cultivars compared to CK. This effect was particularly pronounced for LT+LL, which showed a significant difference in both superior and inferior grains of the common-quality rice cultivar. This reduction in grain weight was attributed to an average decrease in the photosynthetic rate of rice leaves by 23.5%, a decrease in Fv/Fm by 6.2%, and a decrease in the original grain filling rate by 10.3%. LT and LT+LL treatments decreased the activities of soluble starch synthase (SSS), granules bound starch synthetase (GBSS) and starch branch enzyme (SBE) in the early grain filling stage, and its related gene expression including OsAGPL2, OsAGPS2b, OsGBSSI and OsSSIIIa, and the influence degree was intensified by LT+LL, compared with LT. For nitrogen metabolism, the activity of glutamic oxalic aminotransferase (GOT) also significantly decreased by LT and LT+LL during grain filling in the cultivars, which was relatively lower under LT+LL, and only decreased the glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the early grain filling stage but increased in the later period. However, the related gene expressions of OsGOT1B and OsGS1;3 were enhanced significantly by LT and LT+LL treatments, and reached the highest level under LT+LL treatment, implying the disordered process of nitrogen metabolism. The results suggest that low temperature decreased photosynthetic traits to hinder grain filling in the cultivars, mainly derived from the worsened carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and LT+LL combined stress aggravated the damage degree.

LncRNA uc003pxg.1 Interacts With miR-339-5p Promote Vascular Endothelial Cell Proliferation, Migration and Angiogenesis.

This study aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNA uc003pxg.1 and miR-339-5p in regulating the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease. First, the expression levels of uc003pxg.1 and miR-339-5p were verified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of clinical samples. Then, the target gene was identified using high-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with si-uc003pxg.1, miR-339-5p mimic and miR-339-5p inhibitor, and the expression of related genes was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. EdU, CCK-8, Cell scratch and Transwell assays were used to analyze the effects of uc003pxg.1 and miR-339-5p on cell proliferation and migration. The expression of uc003pxg.1 and miR-339-5p was negatively correlated in clinical samples and HUVECs. The si-uc003pxg.1 and miR-339-5p mimic decreased the proliferation and migration of HUVECs and decreased the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The protein expression levels of TGF-β1, α-SMA, CD31, collagen I, collagen III and endoglin were decreased, and angiogenesis was weakened. The miR-339-5p inhibitor had the opposite effect. Our study revealed that upregulation of uc003pxg.1 and downregulation of miR-339-5p in vitro promote cell proliferation, cell migration and angiogenesis and upregulate the expression of TGF-β1, α-SMA, CD31, collagen I, collagen III and endoglin, which may lead to the development of vascular atherosclerosis.

Clinical Implications of Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes.

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancers have different genomic architecture and show large-scale gene expression differences consistent with different cellular origins, which is reflected in the luminal (i.e., ER+) versus basal-like (i.e., ER-) molecular class nomenclature. These two major molecular subtypes have distinct epidemiological risk factors and different clinical behaviors. Luminal cancers can be subdivided further based on proliferative activity and ER signaling. Those with a high expression of proliferation-related genes and a low expression of ER-associated genes, called luminal B, have a high risk of early recurrence (i.e., within 5years), derive significant benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, and may benefit from adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy. This subset of luminal cancers is identified as the genomic high-risk ER+ cancers by the MammaPrint, Oncotype DX Recurrence Score, EndoPredict, Prosigna, and several other molecular prognostic assays. Luminal A cancers are characterized by low proliferation and high ER-related gene expression. They tend to have excellent prognosis with adjuvant endocrine therapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy may not improve their outcome further. These cancers correspond to the genomic low-risk categories. However, these cancers remain at risk for distant recurrence for extended periods of time, and over 50% of distant recurrences occur after 5years. Basal-like cancers are uniformly highly proliferative and tend to recur within 3-5years of diagnosis. In the absence of therapy, basal-like breast cancers have the worst survival, but these also include many highly chemotherapy-sensitive cancers. Basal-like cancers are often treated with preoperative chemotherapy combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor which results in 60-65% pathologic complete response rates that herald excellent long-term survival. Patients with residual cancer after neoadjuvant therapy can receive additional postoperative chemotherapy that improves their survival. Currently, there is no clinically actionable molecular subclassification for basal-like cancers, although cancers with high androgen receptor (AR)-related gene expression and those with high levels of immune infiltration have better prognosis, but currently their treatment is not different from basal-like cancers in general. A clinically important, minor subset of breast cancers are characterized by frequent HER2 gene amplification and high expression of a few dozen genes, many residing on the HER2 amplicon. This is an important subset because of the highly effective HER2 targeted therapies which are synergistic with endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. The clinical behavior of HER2-enriched cancers is dominated by the underlying ER subtype. ER+/HER2-enriched cancers tend to have more indolent course and lesser chemotherapy sensitivity than their ER counterparts.

Optimizing storage conditions for 'Harlikar' apples: The role of 1-methylcyclopropene and harvest stage.

The 'Harlikar' apple, known for its larger fruit and rich flavor, faces challenges in post-harvest storage. Our study compared the storage characteristics of 'Harlikar' apples at three different harvest stages and found that stage II showed superior storage characteristics. At stage II, the application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) proved particularly beneficial, resulting in the slowest decline in apple firmness. By the end of cold storage, apples treated with 1-MCP retained a firmness of 56N, which was superior when compared to the other two stages. Moreover, 1-MCP treatment was effective in maintaining the soluble solid content of the apples. 1-MCP treatment at stage II significantly delayed cell wall degradation by reducing protopectin and cellulose content. Additionally, the treatment also decreased softening-related enzyme activities, and related gene expression. 1-MCP also influenced key aroma compounds, 2-hexenal and hexyl acetate. These findings suggest that stage II with 1-MCP is optimal for storage.

Gene expression profiling of oxidative and anti‐oxidative genes in keratoconus patients

Aims/Purpose: Keratoconus (KC) is thinning of corneal stroma &amp; irregular astigmatism, resulting in diminution of vision. Despite its prevalence, the underlying etiology is poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests a dysregulation of oxidative balance and mitochondrial function in KC corneas. Therefore, our study conducted the gene expression profiling of oxidative stress‐based genes in KC patients.Methods: This was a prospective study for a period of two years. Fifty KC patients were recruited in this study. Demographic and clinical details were recorded. RNA was isolated from all the corneal samples and their cDNA was synthesized. mRNA expression levels of oxidative stress‐based genes (PRDX6, SCARA3, FOXC1, HMOX1, SOD2, GPX4, NRF2, NOX4) were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) in corneal tissues of KC patients and healthy controls. The relative gene expression was calculated using the ΔΔCt method.Results: The study included 50 keratoconus patients (mean age: 25.5 ± 12.34 years; 65% male) and 25 control subjects (mean age: 27.2 ± 11.26 years; 55% male). The severity of keratoconus among patients varied from moderate to advanced stages. In our study, qRT‐PCR analysis revealed significant differential expression of the oxidative and antioxidative genes in keratoconus tissues compared to the control samples. SCARA3, FOXC1, HMOX1, SOD2, GPX4, NRF2 were found downregulated, PRDX6 was upregulated in all the cases. NOX4 showed variable expression patterns with upregulation in 40% cases and downregulation in remaining 60% cases.Conclusions: The study included 50 keratoconus patients (mean age: 25.5 ± 12.34 years; 65% male) and 25 control subjects (mean age: 27.2 ± 11.26 years; 55% male). The severity of keratoconus among patients varied from moderate to advanced stages. In our study, qRT‐PCR analysis revealed significant differential expression of the oxidative and antioxidative genes in keratoconus tissues compared to the control samples. SCARA3, FOXC1, HMOX1, SOD2, GPX4, NRF2 were found downregulated, PRDX6 was upregulated in all the cases. NOX4 showed variable expression patterns with upregulation in 40% cases and downregulation in remaining 60% cases.Keywords: Cornea, Keratoconus, Oxidative stress, Real time PCR

COVID-19 related epigenetic changes and atopic dermatitis: An exploratory analysis.

While epidemiological data suggest a connection between atopic dermatitis (AD) and COVID-19, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. To investigate whether COVID-19-related CpGs may contribute to AD development and whether this association is mediated through the regulation of specific genes' expression. We combined Mendelian randomization and transcriptome analysis for data-driven explorations. Among the 172 CpGs -associated with COVID-19 infection, merely 3 of them exhibited significant impacts on the risk of AD, including cg04543273, cg11916609, and cg10636246. In the following analysis of the causal effects of CpGs and their related gene expression, cg04543273 inhibited LMAN2 expression. However, there was not a significant impact of cg11916609 and cg10636246 on the expression of their corresponding genes. Besides, transcriptome analysis suggested that LMAN2 expression was significantly upregulated among the COVID-19-infected population, and LMAN2 expression was obviously correlated with Type 2 helper cells across different post-infection time points. Overall, this study provides new insights of the COVID-19-related onset and exacerbation of AD-COVID-19-related epigenetic changes and their regulatory impact on transcription. A novel role of LMAN2 was proposed in the relationship between viral infection and AD. More studies are warranted to further explore the mechanism of LMAN2-related immunopathology.