Organ Response Research Articles

Unpacking the homeostasis core concept in physiology: an Australian perspective.

Australia-wide consensus was reached on seven core concepts of physiology, which included homeostasis, a fundamental concept for students to understand as they develop their basic knowledge of physiological regulatory mechanisms. The term homeostasis is most commonly used to describe how the internal environment of mammalian systems maintains relative constancy. The descriptor "the internal environment of the organism is actively regulated by the responses of cells, tissues, and organs through feedback systems" was unpacked by a team of three Australian Physiology educators into 5 themes and 18 subthemes arranged in a hierarchy. Using a five-point Likert scale, the unpacked concept was rated by 24 physiology educators from 24 Australian Universities for level of importance and level of difficulty for students. Survey data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA to compare between and within concept themes and subthemes. There were no differences in main themes for level of importance, with all ratings between essential or important. Theme 1: the organism has regulatory mechanisms to maintain a relatively stable internal environment, a process known as homeostasis was almost unanimously rated as essential. Difficulty ratings for unpacked concept themes averaged between slightly difficult and moderately difficult. The Australian team concurred with published literature that there are inconsistencies in the way the critical components of homeostatic systems are represented and interpreted. We aimed to simplify the components of the concept so that undergraduates would be able to easily identify the language used and build on their knowledge.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The homeostasis core concept of physiology was defined and unpacked by an Australian team with the goal of constructing a resource that will improve learning and teaching of this core physiology concept in an Australian Higher Education context.

Biological therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and Sjögren's syndrome: evidence- and practice-based guidance.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are heterogeneous autoimmune diseases. Severe manifestations and refractory/intolerance to conventional immunosuppressants demand other options, namely biological drugs, and small molecules. We aimed to define evidence and practice-based guidance for the off-label use of biologics in SLE, APS, and SS. Recommendations were made by an independent expert panel, following a comprehensive literature review and two consensus rounds. The panel included 17 internal medicine experts with recognized practice in autoimmune disease management. The literature review was systematic from 2014 until 2019 and later updated by cross-reference checking and experts' input until 2021. Preliminary recommendations were drafted by working groups for each disease. A revision meeting with all experts anticipated the consensus meeting held in June 2021. All experts voted (agree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree) during two rounds, and recommendations with at least 75% agreement were approved. A total of 32 final recommendations (20 for SLE treatment, 5 for APS, and 7 for SS) were approved by the experts. These recommendations consider organ involvement, manifestations, severity, and response to previous treatments. In these three autoimmune diseases, most recommendations refer to rituximab, which aligns with the higher number of studies and clinical experience with this biological agent. Belimumab sequential treatment after rituximab may also be used in severe cases of SLE and SS. Second-line therapy with baricitinib, bortezomib, eculizumab, secukinumab, or tocilizumab can be considered in SLE-specific manifestations. These evidence and practice-based recommendations may support treatment decision and, ultimately, improve the outcome of patients living with SLE, APS, or SS.

The Lymphatic System in Kidney Disease.

The high-capacity vessels of the lymphatic system drain extravasated fluid and macromolecules from nearly every part of the body. However, far from merely a passive conduit for fluid removal, the lymphatic system also plays a critical and active role in immune surveillance and immune response modulation through the presentation of fluid, macromolecules, and trafficking immune cells to surveillance cells in regional draining lymph nodes before their return to the systemic circulation. The potential effect of this system in numerous disease states both within and outside of the kidney is increasingly being explored for their therapeutic potential. In the kidneys, the lymphatics play a critical role in both fluid and macromolecule removal to maintain oncotic and hydrostatic pressure gradients for normal kidney function, as well as in shaping kidney immunity, and potentially in balancing physiological pathways that promote healthy organ maintenance and responses to injury. In many states of kidney disease, including AKI, the demand on the preexisting lymphatic network increases for clearance of injury-related tissue edema and inflammatory infiltrates. Lymphangiogenesis, stimulated by macrophages, injured resident cells, and other drivers in kidney tissue, is highly prevalent in settings of AKI, CKD, and transplantation. Accumulating evidence points toward lymphangiogenesis being possibly harmful in AKI and kidney allograft rejection, which would potentially position lymphatics as another target for novel therapies to improve outcomes. However, the extent to which lymphangiogenesis is protective rather than maladaptive in the kidney in various settings remains poorly understood and thus an area of active research.

Role of autotaxin in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of various autoantibodies and deposition of immune complexes. SLE is a heterogenous disease, and the pattern of organ involvement and response to treatment differs significantly among patients. Novel biological markers are necessary to assess the extent of organ involvement and predict treatment response in SLE. Lysophosphatidic acid is a lysophospholipid involved in various biological processes, and autotaxin (ATX), which catalyzes the production of lysophosphatidic acid in the extracellular space, has gained attention in various diseases as a potential biomarker. The concentration of ATX is increased in the serum and urine of patients with SLE and lupus nephritis. Recent evidence suggests that ATX produced by plasmacytoid dendritic cells may play an important role in the immune system and pathogenesis of SLE. Furthermore, the production of ATX is associated with type I interferons, a key cytokine in SLE pathogenesis, and ATX may be a potential biomarker and key molecule in SLE.

5610325 VARIABILITY OF OXYGENSCAN PARAMETERS ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE: PRELIMINARY DATA FROM A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is characterized by significant phenotypic variability even when the same causative mutation is present (1). Validated biomarkers for routine use in SCD, to evaluate phenotypic severity and predict the evolution of organ damage and response to different therapies, are currently lacking. Oxygenscan (function of the instrument Laser-assisted Optical Rotational Red Cell Analyser) is a novel physiological assay of red blood cells’ deformability at different oxygen tensions; it allows the measurement of parameters such as maximum/minimum elongation index e point of sickling (2,3). Aims: This feasibility study aims at preliminarily evaluating the variability of the point of sickling, as a possible biomarker in SCD, with respect to different clinical conditions and types of treatment. Methods: We’ve prospectively gathered peripheral blood samples of pediatric patients with SCD followed in the Veneto Region Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Reference Center of Padua University Hospital. The Oxygenscan test has been repeated twice for each sample. Results: We’ve analysed 67 blood samples of 48 pediatric patients with SCD (36 HbSS, 5 HbSbeta0, 7 HbSC). Patients were not receiving a disease-modifying therapy (n.11) or were on hydroxyurea (HU) (n.32), on HU and chronic transfusion regimen (n.2), HU and crizanlizumab (n.2), or after HSCT (n.2, one of them had been evaluated also before HSCT). Parameters obtained by Oxygenscan seem to vary according to the type of treatment received by patients (Figure 1).Conclusion: A higher number of samples and further analyses will be necessary to investigate a possible relationship between the point of sickling and clinical data such as the evolution of organ damage and response to different types of treatment.

Immunostimulant In Situ Fibrin Gel for Post-operative Glioblastoma Treatment by Macrophage Reprogramming and Photo-Chemo-Immunotherapy.

Tumor recurrence remains the leading cause of treatment failure following surgical resection of glioblastoma (GBM). M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltrating the tumor tissue promote tumor progression and seriously impair the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, designing drugs capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and eliciting the applicable organic response is an ambitious challenge. Here, we propose an injectable nanoparticle-hydrogel system that uses doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles encapsulated in M1 macrophage-derived nanovesicles (M1NVs) as effectors and fibrin hydrogels as in situ delivery vehicles. In vivo fluorescence imaging shows that the hydrogel system triggers photo-chemo-immunotherapy to destroy remaining tumor cells when delivered to the tumor cavity of a model of subtotal GBM resection. Concomitantly, the result of flow cytometry indicated that M1NVs comprehensively improved the immune microenvironment by reprogramming M2-like TAMs to M1-like TAMs. This hydrogel system combined with a near-infrared laser effectively promoted the continuous infiltration of T cells, restored T cell effector function, inhibited the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, and thereby exhibited a strong antitumor immune response and significantly inhibited tumor growth. Hence, MPDA-DOX-NVs@Gel (MD-NVs@Gel) presents a unique clinical strategy for the treatment of GBM recurrence.

Міокіни – один із ключових елементів взаємодії між скелетними м'язами та іншими системами організму людини, необхідних для адаптації до фізичних навантажень

Muscle tissue makes up a significant percentage of body weight, and its metabolism affects almost all body systems. Despite a sufficiently large number of physiological observations that confirmed the need for regular physical activity to maintain health, the molecular mechanisms of such an effect remained unestablished for a long time. Results of recent research confirmed that skeletal muscles are an endocrine organ that produces a wide range of bioregulators, which synthesis and excretion are stimulated during exercise. At present, many of these factors that mediate metabolic and physiological responses in muscles and other organs have been identified and named myokines. To date the most studied myokines are: interleukins (IL-6, LIF, IL-4, IL-7, IL-8, and IL-15), myostatin, myonectin (CTRP15), irisin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), follistatin-like protein-1 (FSTL-1), decorin and SPARC (osteonectin). Most of the myokines exert their effects through paracrine and/or autocrine pathways within muscles, and many of them also act as endocrine agents – via lymph and blood. The biological activity of myokines is realized via modulation of the activity of general global regulatory mechanisms, such as the SMAD signaling cascade, p38/MAPK, Erk1/2 MAPK, PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β, cAMP/Akt, AMPK-dependent regulation, and JNK signaling pathway. At the same time, myokines are involved in the regulation of the activity of the myogenic transcription factors MyoD, myf5, myogenin and a number of proteins involved in the sensing and transport of glucose and fatty acids. Myokines play one of the main roles in the interaction between skeletal muscles, liver, bone and adipose tissues. They increase tissues sensitivity to insulin and are involved in the regulation of important metabolic processes such as carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Myokines play a significant role in the regulation of myogenesis, osteogenesis, thermogenesis, lipolysis, growth and division of muscle and nerve tissue cells, vascularization, etc. Given the fact that the expression of myokines is induced by muscle contraction, their study allows us to reveal the molecular mechanisms realizing the positive effects of physical exertion. Further studies of myokines and their mechanisms of action are necessary for the development of personalized recommendations for the physical activity of people with metabolic diseases in rehabilitation, physical therapy, medical supervision of physical education and sports.

Analysis of durum wheat photosynthetic organs during grain filling reveals the ear as a water stress-tolerant organ and the peduncle as the largest pool of primary metabolites

Main conclusionThe pool of carbon- and nitrogen-rich metabolites is quantitatively relevant in non-foliar photosynthetic organs during grain filling, which have a better response to water limitation than flag leaves.The response of durum wheat to contrasting water regimes has been extensively studied at leaf and agronomic level in previous studies, but the water stress effects on source–sink dynamics, particularly non-foliar photosynthetic organs, is more limited. Our study aims to investigate the response of different photosynthetic organs to water stress and to quantify the pool of carbon and nitrogen metabolites available for grain filling. Five durum wheat varieties were grown in field trials in the Spanish region of Castile and León under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Water stress led to a significant decrease in yield, biomass, and carbon and nitrogen assimilation, improved water use efficiency, and modified grain quality traits in the five varieties. The pool of carbon (glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, fructose, sucrose, starch, and malate) and nitrogen (glutamate, amino acids, proteins and chlorophylls) metabolites in leaf blades and sheaths, peduncles, awns, glumes and lemmas were also analysed. The results showed that the metabolism of the blades and peduncles was the most susceptible to water stress, while ear metabolism showed higher stability, particularly at mid-grain filling. Interestingly, the total metabolite content per organ highlighted that a large source of nutrients, which may be directly involved in grain filling, are found outside the blades, with the peduncles being quantitatively the most relevant. We conclude that yield improvements in our Mediterranean agro-ecosystem are highly linked to the success of shoots in producing ears and a higher number of grains, while grain filling is highly dependent on the capacity of non-foliar organs to fix CO2 and N. The ear organs show higher stress resilience than other organs, which deserves our attention in future breeding programmes.

First report of outcomes in patients with stage IIIb AL amyloidosis treated with Dara–VCD front‐line therapy

Although Dara-VCD (daratumumab-bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone) has revolutionized the treatment of newly diagnosed Amyloid Light chain (AL) amyloidosis, patients with stage IIIb disease were excluded in the pivotal trial. We performed a multicentre retrospective cohort study to investigate the outcomes of 19 consecutive patients treated with Dara-VCD front-line therapy who had stage IIIb AL at diagnosis. More than two thirds presented with New York Heart Association Class III/IV symptoms, and had a median of two organs involved (range, 2-4). The haematologic overall response rate was 100%, with 17/19 patients (89.5%) achieving a very good partial response (VGPR) or better. Haematologic responses were achieved rapidly, as evidenced by 63% of evaluable patients with involved serum free light chains (iFLC) < 2mg/dl and the difference between involved and uninvolved serum free light chains (dFLC)<1mg/dl at three months. Among 18 evaluable patients, 10 (56%) achieved a cardiac organ response and six (33%) cardiac VGPR or better. The median time to first cardiac response was 1.9months (range, 0.4-7.3). At a median follow-up of 12 months for surviving patients, estimated one-year overall survival was 67.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43.8-84.7]. The incidence of grade 3 or higher infections was 21%, with no infection-related mortality thus far. In summary, Dara-VCD has a promising efficacy and safety profile in stage IIIb AL, and should be studied in prospective trials.

Parameters of Metabolic Response to Surgical Trauma Induced via Unilateral Total Mastectomy Associated or Not to Ovariohysterectomy in Dogs.

Surgical excision of solid tumors is required for local control of neoplasms. However, surgical trauma can stimulate the release of proangiogenic growth factors, suppressing cell-mediated immunity and favoring the development of micrometastases and progression of residual disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the intensity of the metabolic response to trauma induced via unilateral mastectomy in bitches with mammary neoplasia, the consequences of its joint performance with ovariohysterectomy, and their respective effects on the organic response. Two groups of animals were evaluated in seven perioperative moments, namely, unilateral mastectomy (G1) and unilateral mastectomy associated with ovariohysterectomy (G2). Thirty-two female dogs were selected, ten clinically healthy, and twenty-two diagnosed with mammary neoplasia. Surgical trauma reduced serum concentrations of albumin and interleukin-2 but increased blood levels of glucose and interleukin-6 in the postoperative of G1 and G2 patients. Moreover, serum cortisol levels increased after unilateral mastectomy associated with ovariohysterectomy. Our findings allowed us to conclude that unilateral mastectomy induces significant metabolic alterations in female dogs with mammary neoplasms and its joint performance with ovariohysterectomy increases the organic response to trauma.

Recent Advances in Monoclonal Antibody-Based Approaches in the Management of Bacterial Sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response to an infectious agent and its antigens. Immune cell activation against the antigens causes severe distress that mediates a strong inflammatory response in vital organs. Sepsis is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutic strategies are now being explored as a viable therapy option for severe sepsis and septic shock. Monoclonal antibodies may provide benefits through two major strategies: (a) monoclonal antibodies targeting the pathogen and its components, and (b) mAbs targeting inflammatory signaling may directly suppress the production of inflammatory mediators. The major focus of mAb therapies has been bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), although other surface antigens are also being investigated for mAb therapy. Several promising candidates for mAbs are undergoing clinical trials at present. Despite several failures and the investigation of novel targets, mAb therapy provides a glimmer of hope for the treatment of severe bacterial sepsis and septic shock. In this review, mAb candidates, their efficacy against controlling infection, with special emphasis on potential roadblocks, and prospects are discussed.

Nonlinear ultrasound imaging of the microcirculation

Blood flow at and near the tissue level is a physiological parameter of significant experimental and clinical importance, as it reflects the adaptive response of organs to their normal biological environment, to disease, trauma, and the malignant progression of cancer. The use of microbubbles gives ultrasound imaging access to microvascular hemodynamics, which are beyond the ability of Doppler ultrasound methods. However, expanded clinical use of microbubbles has been limited due in part to a lack of quantification and providing only relative differences in microvascular flow. Past and more recent approaches to the quantification of microvascular blood flow will be presented. Past approaches included the use of focused nonlinear pulsing sequences to isolate microbubble from tissue signals followed by analysis of bolus kinetics or flash replenishment dynamics. Although successfull to some extent, their clinical limitations prohibited extended use and the overall application of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Newer approaches include higher frame-rate plane wave acquisitions combined with nonlinear pulsing schemes, which enable the tracking of microbubble flow through microvascular networks. Different approaches of these elevated frame-rate acquisitions will be presented, including use of ultrasound localized microscopy.

Hearts are NOT Made to Be Broken: Expert Opinion on Amyloid Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by plasma cell dyscrasia. These plasma cells produce excess Ig light chains, which can misfold, aggregate, and deposit in tissues, resulting in toxicity and organ dysfunction. The heart is among the most commonly affected organs and cardiac involvement is associated with significantly worse outcomes. Despite advances in the treatment of the underlying plasma cell dyscrasia, the survival of patients with advanced heart involvement is extremely poor. The median survival of patients with cardiac AL can be as short as 6 months from diagnosis, depending on severity of cardiac involvement. It is a condition of high unmet medical need. Timely diagnosis is essential, yet detecting the disease is fraught with challenges, not least a lack of recognition among clinicians. In addition, the treatments that are currently available, which include anti-plasma cell dyscrasia chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are far from ideal, offering complete response rates of around 50% and organ response rates of between 40–50%. However, new antibodies with the potential to target the amyloid deposits have demonstrated encouraging results in early phase studies and are now moving into late-stage development. Giovanni Palladini, Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Centre Foundation, San Matteo, Italy, and Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy, explained how these new agents have the potential to change the AL amyloidosis treatment landscape and calls on cardiologists everywhere to consider AL amyloidosis when assessing patients with heart failure (HF).

Daratumumab Plus Bortezomib and Dexamethasone in Newly Diagnosed Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis

Light chain amyloidosis (AL) is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by organ dysfunction, morbidity, and early mortality. Daratumumab in combination with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone is now standard frontline AL therapy; however, not all patients are candidates for this intensive regimen. Given the potency of Daratumumab, we evaluated an alternative frontline regimen: daratumumab, bortezomib, and limited-duration dexamethasone (Dara-Vd). Over a 3 year period, we treated 21 patients with Dara-Vd. At baseline, all patients had cardiac and/or renal dysfunction, including 30% of patients with Mayo stage IIIB cardiac disease. Nineteen of 21 patients (90%) achieved a hematologic response with 38% achieving a complete response. The median time to response was 11 days. Ten of 15 (67%) evaluable patients achieved a cardiac response and 7 of 9 (78%) achieved a renal response. The 1-year overall survival was 76%. In untreated systemic AL amyloidosis, Dara-Vd produces rapid and deep hematologic and organ responses. Dara-Vd was well-tolerated and efficacious, even among patients with extensive cardiac dysfunction.

Physiological and molecular mechanisms of cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans beyond brown adipose tissue.

Exposure to low ambient temperatures has previously been demonstrated to markedly improve glucose homeostasis in both rodents and humans. Although the brown adipose tissue is key in mediating these beneficial effects in rodents, its contribution appears more limited in humans. Hence, the exact tissues and underlying mechanisms that mediate cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans remain to be fully established. In this review, we evaluated the response of the main organs involved in glucose metabolism (i.e. pancreas, liver, (white) adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle) to cold exposure and discuss their potential contribution to cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans. We here show that cold exposure has widespread effects on metabolic organs involved in glucose regulation. Nevertheless, cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis appear primarily mediated via adaptations within the skeletal muscle and (presumably) white adipose tissue. Since the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, future studies should be aimed at pinpointing the exact physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in humans. Nonetheless, cold exposure holds great promise as a novel, additive lifestyle approach to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant individuals. Parts of this graphical abstract were created using (modified) images from Servier Medical Art, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. TG = thermogenesis, TAG = triacylglycerol, FFA = free fatty acid, SLN = sarcolipin, UCP3 = uncoupling protein 3, β2-AR = beta-2 adrenergic receptor, SNS = sympathetic nervous system.

Impact of cytogenetic abnormalities on treatment outcomes in patients with amyloid light-chain amyloidosis: subanalyses from the ANDROMEDA study

Background Cytogenetic abnormalities are common in patients with amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis; some are associated with poorer outcomes. This post hoc analysis of ANDROMEDA evaluated the impact of certain cytogenetic abnormalities on outcomes in this patient population. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis were randomised 1:1 to daratumumab, bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (D-VCd) or VCd. Outcomes were evaluated in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population and in patients with t(11;14), amp1q21, del13q14, and del17p13. Results Overall, 321 patients had cytogenetic testing (D-VCd, n = 155; VCd, n = 166); most common abnormalities were t(11;14) and amp1q21. At a median follow-up of 20.3 months, haematologic complete response rates were higher with D-VCd vs VCd across all cytogenetic subgroups and organ response rates were numerically higher with D-VCd vs VCd across most subgroups. Point estimates for hazard ratio of major organ deterioration-PFS and -EFS favoured D-VCd over VCd for all cytogenetic subgroups. Deep haematologic responses (involved minus uninvolved free light chains [FLC] <10 mg/L or involved FLC ≤20 mg/L) were seen in more patients with D-VCd than VCd in all ITT and t(11;14) cohorts. Conclusions These results support the use of D-VCd as standard of care in patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis regardless of cytogenetic abnormalities.

Isolation of lymph shows dysregulation of STAT3 and CREB pathways in the spleen and liver during leukemia development in a rat model.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignant condition characterized by massive infiltration of poorly differentiated white blood cells in the blood stream, bone marrow, and extramedullary sites. During leukemic development, hepatosplenomegaly is expected to occur because large blood volumes are continuously filtered through these organs. We asked whether infiltration of leukemic blasts initiated a response that could be detected in the interstitial fluid phase of the spleen and liver. We used a rat model known to mimic human AML in growth characteristics and behavior. By cannulating efferent lymphatic vessels from the spleen and liver, we were able to monitor the response of the microenvironment during AML development. Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes showed increased STAT3 and CREB signaling in spleen and depressed signaling in liver, and proteins related to these pathways were identified with a different profile in lymph and plasma in AML compared with control. Additionally, several proteins were differently regulated in the microenvironment of spleen and liver in AML when compared with control. Interstitial fluid, and its surrogate efferent lymph, can be used to provide unique information about responses in AML-infiltered organs and substances released to the general circulation during leukemia development.

Latitudinal and Altitudinal Patterns and Influencing Factors of Soil Humus Carbon in the Low-Latitude Plateau Regions

The composition of forest soil organic matter is an important part of the global carbon cycle, which is effective by temperature and moisture. As we all know, the temperature and moisture in the low-latitude plateau regions are very sensitive to changes in latitude and altitude. However, the composition of soil organic matter response to changes in latitude and altitude in the low-latitude plateau regions is unknown. In this study, the effects of latitude (21–29° N) and altitude (500–4000 m) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic acid carbon (HAC), fulvic acid carbon (FAC), and humin carbon (HMC) in forest surface soil (0–10 cm) were investigated. The results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon and humus increased with the increase in altitude and latitude. The effect of altitude on the composition of organic matter was significant only at 23° N to 25° N. The composition of organic matter is not only regulated by mean annual temperature (MAT) and soil moisture content (SMC) but also affected by soil pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and powder. The soil surface layer (0–10 cm) carbon sequestration capacity in high-latitude and high-altitude areas is stronger than that in low-latitude and low-altitude areas. As a consequence, in today’s response to global climate change, the high carbon sequestration capacity of high latitude and high altitude areas should be given attention and protection.

Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter?

Fibroblasts are known for their ability to make and modify the extracellular matrix. However, there is more to them than meets the eye. It is now clear that they help define tissue microenvironments and support immune responses in organs. As technology advances, we have started to uncover the secrets of fibroblasts. In this Essay, we present fibroblasts as not only the builders and renovators of tissue environments but also the rheostat cells for immune circuits. Although they perform location-specific functions, they do not have badges of fixed identity. Instead, they display a spectrum of functional states and can swing between these states depending on the needs of the organ. As fibroblasts participate in a range of activities both in health and disease, finding the key factors that alter their development and functional states will be an important goal to restore homeostasis in maladapted tissues.

Single High-Dose Vitamin A Supplementation to Neonatal Piglets Results in a Transient Dose Response in Extrahepatic Organs and Sustained Increases in Liver Stores

Single High-Dose Vitamin A Supplementation to Neonatal Piglets Results in a Transient Dose Response in Extrahepatic Organs and Sustained Increases in Liver Stores