Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) refers to abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs or is firstly diagnosed during pregnancy. GDM is related to various adverse pregnancy outcomes, but GDM pathogeny h Show more
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) refers to abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs or is firstly diagnosed during pregnancy. GDM is related to various adverse pregnancy outcomes, but GDM pathogeny has not been fully elucidated. Nevertheless, previous studies have observed that many proteins in the placentas of patients with GDM are dysregulated. The present study aimed to establish a novel differentially expressed protein (DEP) landscape of GDM and normal maternal placentas and to explore the possible connection between DEPs and GDM pathogenesis. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of GDM and should make an important contribution to the development of biomarkers. The morphological characteristics of the placenta were observed on 30 GDM and normal maternal placental tissues stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) was used in the proteomics screening of the DEPs of the normal and GDM maternal placentas. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on the DEPs, and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) was performed to verify the DEPs. Finally, the quantitative analysis of iTRAQ and PRM was verified by immunohistochemical assay. A total of 68 DEPs in the GDM placenta were identified with iTRAQ proteomics experiment, comprising 21 up-regulated and 47 down-regulated DEPs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the regulation of transport, catabolic process of non-coding RNA, cytoskeleton and cell binding were the most abundant Gene Ontology terms, and RNA degradation was an important pathway for significant enrichment. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2/B1 (HNRNPA2B1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A/B (HNRNPAB), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A3 (HNRNPA3) were the cores of the up-regulated proteins. Band 3 anion transport protein (SLC4A1), spectrin beta chain erythrocytic (SPTB), ankyrin-1 (ANK1), spectrin beta chain non-erythrocytic 2 (SPTBN2), D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and exosome complex component RRP42 (EXOSC7) were the cores of the down-regulated proteins. These proteins are involved in the binding, splicing, processing, transport and degradation of RNA and in the formation and maintenance of the cytoskeleton. PRM verification results showed that seven proteins, namely, epiplakin (EPPK1), cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP), HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPAB, HNRNPL, Ras-related protein Rab-21 (RAB21) and Ras-related protein Rab-3B (RAB3B), were up-regulated, whereas SPTB and SLC4A1 were down-regulated. The results of immunohistochemical assay also showed that the expression of five proteins, namely EPPK1, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPAB, CIRBP and RAB21, were significantly higher in GDM placental tissues (P < 0.01). The GDM placentas showed changes in the morphological evaluation, including poor villous maturation, obvious increase in the number of syncytiotrophoblast nodules, thickening of the wall of dry villous arterioles with lumen stenosis, increased fibrinous exudation and excessive filling of villous interstitial vessels. Differentially expressed proteins related to a variety of biological processes in the GDM placenta were found. Fourteen proteins, namely, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPAB, HNRNPL, HNRNPA3, EPPK1, CIRBP, RAB21, RAB3B, SLC4A1, SPTB, ANK1, SPTBN2, PHGDH and EXOSC7, which were differentially expressed in the placenta, may play an important role in regulating the occurrence and development of gestational diabetes through multi-channel and multi-link regulation. Show less
RNA-seq has shown that the DUSP6 and MAPK signaling pathways are associated with the production of high-quality brush hair (type III hair) in Yangtze River Delta white goats. However, there are few re Show more
RNA-seq has shown that the DUSP6 and MAPK signaling pathways are associated with the production of high-quality brush hair (type III hair) in Yangtze River Delta white goats. However, there are few reports on the regulatory effects of DUSP6 expression on hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and cellular processes, as well as the underlying mechanism. Here, we investigated the effect of DUSP6 level in HFSCs and the molecular mechanism underlying the functional regulation of HFSCs by DUSP6. Overexpression of DUSP6 significantly suppressed the proliferation of HFSCs by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and by promoting apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed a total of 217 differentially expressed genes between DUSP6-overexpressing and control HFSCs, of which 33 (15.2%) were upregulated in DUSP6-overexpressing cells. The two pathways with the most significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes were the TNF signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, and the significantly enriched terms in the GO enrichment analysis involved cell attachment and cytokines. These results indicate that DUSP6 can function as an inhibitory factor in HFSCs through the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and can promote apoptosis by mediating crosstalk among several pathways and cytokines.HighlightsWe constructed DUSP6 overexpression vectors to detect mRNA and protein expression levels related to high-quality brush hair in MAPK signaling pathway.We found that high expression level of DUSP6 can inhibit the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and promote cell apoptosis of HFSCs.DUSP6 may be involved in the growth regulation of HFSCs like Other studies in cancer, tumors by regulating the expression of cytokines, changing the transmission of signals between cells, activating or suppressing immune-related pathways. Show less
Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf, as a medicinal and food homologous traditional Chinese medicine, has a clear therapeutic effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet its underlying mechanisms have no Show more
Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf, as a medicinal and food homologous traditional Chinese medicine, has a clear therapeutic effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet its underlying mechanisms have not been totally clarified. The study aimed to explore the mechanism of mulberry leaf in the treatment of T2DM through tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics analysis of skeletal muscle. The anti-diabetic activity of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) was evaluated by using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at a dose of 4.0 g crude drug /kg p.o. daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, food and water intake were monitored at specific intervals, and oral glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were conducted at the 7th and 8th week respectively. At the end of the experiment, levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c, insulin, free fat acid, leptin, adiponectin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were assessed and the pathological changes of rat skeletal muscle were observed by HE staining. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis of skeletal muscle and bioinformatics analysis were performed and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were validated by western blot. The interactions between the components of MLE and DEPs were further assessed using molecular docking. After 8 weeks of MLE intervention, the clinical indications of T2DM such as body weight, food and water intake of rats were improved to a certain extent, while insulin sensitivity was increased and glycemic control was improved. Serum lipid profiles were significantly reduced, and the skeletal muscle fiber gap and atrophy were alleviated. Proteomic analysis of skeletal muscle showed that MLE treatment reversed 19 DEPs in T2DM rats, regulated cholesterol metabolism, fat digestion and absorption, vitamin digestion and absorption and ferroptosis signaling pathways. Key differential proteins Apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA1) and ApoA4 were successfully validated by western blot and exhibited strong binding activity to the MLE's ingredients. This study first provided skeletal muscle proteomic changes in T2DM rats before and after MLE treatment, which may help us understand the molecular mechanisms, and provide a foundation for developing potential therapeutic targets of anti-T2DM of MLE. Show less
Angelicin has been reported to have antitumor effects on many types of cancer. However, few studies on angelicin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been performed. We performed cell cycle and Show more
Angelicin has been reported to have antitumor effects on many types of cancer. However, few studies on angelicin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been performed. We performed cell cycle and apoptosis analyses to assess the effect of angelicin on OSCC cells. We conducted RNA-seq studies to reveal differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) and c-MYC were strongly down-regulated differential genes. Silencing RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown DUSP6. The mouse xenograft model was used to mimic OSCC. Angelicin inhibited OSCC in vitro. We found that DUSP6 interacted with c-MYC. DUSP6 knockdown group and DUSP6 knockdown + angelicin group had similar effects of OSCC cells. Angelicin could reduce tumor formation, DUSP6, and c-MYC expression in vivo. Compared with paclitaxel, the tumor inhibition effect of the two drugs was similar. However, angelicin did not cause weight loss and had lower toxicity. In sum, Angelicin has antitumor effects on OSCC in vitro and vivo by negatively regulating the DUSP6 mediated c-MYC signaling pathway. Show less
Ischemic stroke (IS) is a fatal neurological disease that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted, leading to brain tissue damage and functional impairment. Cellular senescence, a vital c Show more
Ischemic stroke (IS) is a fatal neurological disease that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted, leading to brain tissue damage and functional impairment. Cellular senescence, a vital characteristic of aging, is associated with a poor prognosis for IS. This study explores the potential role of cellular senescence in the pathological process following IS by analyzing transcriptome data from multiple datasets (GSE163654, GSE16561, GSE119121, and GSE174574). By using bioinformatics methods, we identified hub-senescence-related genes such as Show less
Transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, but its role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unknown. The aim of our study Show more
Transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, but its role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unknown. The aim of our study was to determine the role and mechanism of TRPC6 in DR. High glucose was used to construct a DR cell model using rat retinal Müller cells (rMC-1). Intracellular Ca The knockdown of TRPC6 reduced inflammation and cell pyroptosis in HG induced rMC-1 cells, whereas overexpression of TRPC6 had the opposite effects. The inhibition of ROS and NLRP3 reversed TRPC6-mediated cell pyroptosis in the DR cell model. In addition, EP300 increased the expression of H3K27ac and TRPC6 to promote cell pyroptosis, which was suppressed by the knockdown of TRPC6. Our study revealed a novel EP300/H3K27ac/TRPC6 signaling pathway that may contribute to HG induced Müller cell pyroptosis. TRPC6 played a novel role in Müller cell pyroptosis triggered by HG, and may be a potential target for DR treatment in the future. Show less
Jie Li, Lijuan Zhang, Yun Tao+3 more · 2023 · European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious life-threatened tumor with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to study the effects of combination TACE and anti-PD-L1 liposome drug in treating Show more
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious life-threatened tumor with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to study the effects of combination TACE and anti-PD-L1 liposome drug in treating HCC in mice models. We constructed the liposome drug with phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol and mannitol, etc. Besides, the HCC mice model was established through abdominal subcutaneous injection HepG2 cancer cells in mice, then the PE-10 polyethylene catheter was used for TACE therapy. The mice were separately received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment, avelumab liposome drug therapy, and TACE combined with avelumab liposome drug therapy. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis. Western blot, Immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR were performed to detect protein and gene expressions. The liposomes drug was successfully constructed with a diameter of (125.5 ± 15.3) nm. After the mice received TACE and (or) immunotherapy, the combined liposome drug therapy significantly reduced the volume of hepatic carcinoma tissues, besides, the apoptotic rate of hepatic carcinoma cells in the combined liposome drug treatment group was increased obviously compared with other groups. Moreover, the protein TGFβR2 located in the cellular membrane was obviously down-regulated in the combined liposome drug therapy, while the expression of SMAD7 and PTPN14 was up-regulated in the treatment groups compared with the mice without treatment, besides, the protein PTPN14 was mainly located in the nucleus. Additionally, the mRNA expression of genes SNAI1 and Vimentin was significantly down-regulated in the combined liposome drug therapy. Combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and anti-PD-L1 liposome drug therapy significantly suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and metastasis in mice models. Show less
Short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate, have multiple metabolic benefits in individuals who are lean but not in individuals with metabolic syndrome, with the underlying mechanisms still being unc Show more
Short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate, have multiple metabolic benefits in individuals who are lean but not in individuals with metabolic syndrome, with the underlying mechanisms still being unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of gut microbiota in the induction of metabolic benefits of dietary butyrate. We performed antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion of the gut and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a well-established translational model for developing human-like metabolic syndrome, and revealed that dietary butyrate reduced appetite and ameliorated high-fat diet-induced (HFD-induced) weight gain dependent on the presence of gut microbiota. FMT from butyrate-treated lean donor mice, but not butyrate-treated obese donor mice, into gut microbiota-depleted recipient mice reduced food intake, attenuated HFD-induced weight gain, and improved insulin resistance. 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing on cecal bacterial DNA of recipient mice implied that these effects were accompanied by the selective proliferation of Lachnospiraceae bacterium 28-4 in the gut as induced by butyrate. Collectively, our findings reveal a crucial role of gut microbiota in the beneficial metabolic effects of dietary butyrate as strongly associated with the abundance of Lachnospiraceae bacterium 28-4. Show less
Retinal Müller glial dysfunction and intracellular edema are important mechanisms leading to diabetic macular edema (DME). Aquaporin 11 (AQP11) is primarily expressed in Müller glia with unclear funct Show more
Retinal Müller glial dysfunction and intracellular edema are important mechanisms leading to diabetic macular edema (DME). Aquaporin 11 (AQP11) is primarily expressed in Müller glia with unclear functions. This study aims to explore the role of AQP11 in the pathogenesis of intracellular edema of Müller glia in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Here, we found that AQP11 expression, primarily located at the endfeet of Müller glia, was down-regulated with diabetes progression, accompanied by intracellular edema, which was alleviated by intravitreal injection of lentivirus-mediated AQP11 overexpression. Similarly, intracellular edema of hypoxia-treated rat Müller cell line (rMC-1) was aggravated by AQP11 inhibition, while attenuated by AQP11 overexpression, accompanied by enhanced function in glutamate metabolism and reduced cell death. The down-regulation of AQP11 was also verified in the Müller glia from the epiretinal membranes (ERMs) of proliferative DR (PDR) patients. Mechanistically, down-regulation of AQP11 in DR was mediated by the HIF-1α-dependent and independent miRNA-AQP11 axis. Overall, we deciphered the AQP11 down-regulation, mediated by miRNA-AQP11 axis, resulted in Müller drainage dysfunction and subsequent intracellular edema in DR, which was partially reversed by AQP11 overexpression. Our findings propose a novel mechanism for the pathogenesis of DME, thus targeting AQP11 regulation provides a new therapeutic strategy for DME. Show less
Scutellarein hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated as multifunctional therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compounds 11a-i, containing a 2-hydroxymethyl-3,5,6-t Show more
Scutellarein hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated as multifunctional therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compounds 11a-i, containing a 2-hydroxymethyl-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine fragment at the 7-position of scutellarein, were found to have balanced and effective multi-target potencies against AD. Among them, compound 11e exhibited the most potent inhibition of electric eel and human acetylcholinesterase enzymes with IC Show less
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted metabolism-modulating glycoprotein involved in the progression of tumours, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and infectious diseases. In this stud Show more
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted metabolism-modulating glycoprotein involved in the progression of tumours, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and infectious diseases. In this study, more CD8 Show less
Wen Zheng, Wenjun Li, Yini Zeng+7 more · 2023 · Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · added 2026-04-24
Restoration of blood circulation within "time window" is the principal treating goal for treating acute ischemic stroke. Previous studies revealed that delayed recanalization might cause serious ische Show more
Restoration of blood circulation within "time window" is the principal treating goal for treating acute ischemic stroke. Previous studies revealed that delayed recanalization might cause serious ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, plenty of evidences showed delayed recanalization improved neurological outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. This study aims to explore the role of delayed recanalization on blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the penumbra (surrounding ischemic core) and neurological outcomes after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Recanalization was performed on the 3rd day after MCAO. BBB disruption was tested by Western blotting, Evans blue dye, and immunofluorescence staining. Infarct volume and neurological outcomes were evaluated on the 7th day after MCAO. The expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), and serine/threonine kinase (Akt) in the penumbra were observed by immunofluorescence staining and/or Western blotting. The extraversion of Evans blue, IgG, and albumin increased surrounding ischemic core after MCAO, but significantly decreased after recanalization. The expression of Claudin-5, Occludin, and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) decreased surrounding ischemic core after MCAO, but significantly increased after recanalization. Infarct volume reduced and neurological outcomes improved following recanalization (on the 7th day after MCAO). The expressions of Claudin-5, Occludin, and ZO-1 decreased surrounding ischemic core following MCAO, which were up-regulated corresponding to the increases of FGF21, p-FGFR1, PI3K, and p-Akt after recanalization. Intra-cerebroventricular injection of FGFR1 inhibitor SU5402 down-regulated the expression of PI3K, p-Akt, Occludin, Claudin-5, and ZO-1 in the penumbra, which weakened the beneficial effects of recanalization on neurological outcomes after MCAO. Delayed recanalization on the 3rd day after MCAO increases endogenous FGF21 in the penumbra and activates FGFR1/PI3K/Akt pathway, which attenuates BBB disruption in the penumbra and improves neurobehavior in MCAO rats. Show less
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage to the intestinal barrier is a side effect of prolonged hyperoxia therapy in neonates, which impairs growth and development of the intestine and promotes intestina Show more
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage to the intestinal barrier is a side effect of prolonged hyperoxia therapy in neonates, which impairs growth and development of the intestine and promotes intestinal diseases. However, the research on clinical prevention and treatment is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of the neonate intestinal response against hyperoxia-derived ROS to find targets for intestinal barrier damage prevention. Human intestinal epithelial cells were incubated under hyperoxia (85% oxygen) to build an in vitro model. ROS and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway were inhibited to detect the MAPK/ERK pathway, nuclear factor erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (Hif-1α), and interleukin-17D (IL-17D) expression. Nrf2 was inhibited to detect Hif-1α and IL-17D expression. Hif-1α was inhibited to detect Nrf2, IL-17D, and tight junction proteins expression and apoptosis. Cells were treated with human recombinant IL-17D to detect TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and tight junction proteins expression. ROS, Nrf2, Hif-1α, and IL-17D were upregulated and the MAPK/ERK pathway was activated under hyperoxia. But ROS inhibition downregulated the MAPK/ERK pathway, Nrf2, Hif-1α, and IL-17D. MAPK/ERK pathway inhibition downregulated Nrf2, Hif-1α, and IL-17D. Nrf2 inhibition downregulated Hif-1α and IL-17D. Hif-1α inhibition downregulated Nrf2, IL-17D, tight junction proteins, and exacerbated apoptosis. The recombinant IL-17D downregulated TNF-α, IL-1β, but upregulated IL-10 and tight junction proteins. We concluded that Hyperoxia-generated ROS activated the MAPK/ERK pathway to regulate Nrf2, Hif-1α, and IL-17D expression. Nrf2 and Hif-1α were interdependent and promoted IL-17D. Importantly, Hif-1α and IL-17D expression protected the intestinal epithelial barrier. Show less
Zhen Zhang, Yun-Xin Lu, Fangzhou Liu+16 more · 2023 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · National Academy of Sciences · added 2026-04-24
Notch has been implicated in human cancers and is a putative therapeutic target. However, the regulation of Notch activation in the nucleus remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, characterizing t Show more
Notch has been implicated in human cancers and is a putative therapeutic target. However, the regulation of Notch activation in the nucleus remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, characterizing the detailed mechanisms governing Notch degradation will identify attractive strategies for treating Notch-activated cancers. Here, we report that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Show less
Several studies have confirmed that the pathophysiological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely related to changes in the intestinal microbiota; thus, modifying the intestinal microbiota Show more
Several studies have confirmed that the pathophysiological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely related to changes in the intestinal microbiota; thus, modifying the intestinal microbiota has emerged as a new way to treat AD. Effective interventions for gut microbiota include the application of probiotics and other measures such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). However, the application of probiotics ignores that the intestine is a complete microecosystem with competition among microorganisms. FMT also has issues when applied to patient treatment. In a previous study, we found that eight species of bacteria that are isolated with high frequency in the normal intestinal microbiota (i.e., intestinal dominant microbiota) have biological activities consistent with the effects of FMT. In this article, we confirmed that the treatment of intestinal dominant microbiota significantly restored intestinal microbiota abundance and composition to normal levels in APP/PS1 mice; downregulated brain tissue pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-site APP cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression levels; and reduced the area of Aβ plaque deposition in the brain hippocampus. Our study provides a new therapeutic concept for the treatment of AD, adjusting the intestinal microecological balance through dominant intestinal microbiota may be an alternative to FMT. Show less
Background Sarcomere gene mutation and myocardial fibrosis are both associated with poorer clinical outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to determine Show more
Background Sarcomere gene mutation and myocardial fibrosis are both associated with poorer clinical outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sarcomere gene mutation and myocardial fibrosis measured by both histopathology and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods and Results Two hundred twenty-seven patients with HCM who underwent surgical treatment, genetic testing, and CMR were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed basic characteristics, sarcomere gene mutation, and myocardial fibrosis measured by CMR and histopathology. In our study, the mean age was 43 years, and 152 patients (67.0%) were men. A total of 107 patients (47.1%) carried a positive sarcomere gene mutation. The myocardial fibrosis ratio was significantly higher in the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)+ group (LGE+ 14.3±7.5% versus LGE- 9.0±4.3%; Show less
Jun Li, Ying Xia, Shumin Kong+6 more · 2023 · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV · Blackwell Publishing · added 2026-04-24
Actinic keratosis (AK) represents an intraepidermal malignant neoplasm with the proliferation of atypical keratinocytes. AK lesions are regarded as early in situ squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) having Show more
Actinic keratosis (AK) represents an intraepidermal malignant neoplasm with the proliferation of atypical keratinocytes. AK lesions are regarded as early in situ squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) having the potential to progress into invasive SCC (iSCC) and metastasize, causing death. This study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of keratinocytes and how this heterogeneity promoted AK development and progression. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to examine the heterogeneity of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast clusters in AKs and adjacent normal skins. Cell clustering, pseudotime trajectory construction, gene ontology enrichment analysis, transcription factor network analysis, and cell-cell communication were used to investigate the heterogeneity of keratinocytes in AK. The cellular identity and function were verified by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Using scRNA-seq, we revealed 13 keratinocyte subgroups (clusters 0-12) in AK tissues and characterized 2 AK-specific clusters. Cluster 9 displayed high levels of IL1R2 and WFDC2, and cluster 11 showed high levels of FADS2 and FASN. The percentages of cells in these two clusters significantly increased in AK compared with normal tissues. The existence and spatial localization of AK-specific IL1R2+WFDC2+ cluster were verified by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Functional studies indicated that the genes identified in the IL1R2+WFDC2+ cluster were crucial for epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Further immunofluorescent staining revealed the interactions between AK-specific keratinocytes and secretory-papillary fibroblasts mainly through ANGPTL4-ITGA5 signalling pathway rarely seen in normal tissues. The findings of this study might help better understand AK pathogenesis. Show less
BACE1 is the rate-limiting enzyme for β-amyloid (Aβ) production and therefore is considered a prime drug target for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the BACE1 inhibitors failed in clin Show more
BACE1 is the rate-limiting enzyme for β-amyloid (Aβ) production and therefore is considered a prime drug target for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the BACE1 inhibitors failed in clinical trials, even exhibiting cognitive worsening, implying that BACE1 may function in regulating cognition-relevant neural circuits. Here, we found that parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons (PV INs) in hippocampal CA1 express BACE1 at a high level. We designed and developed a mouse strain with conditional knockout of BACE1 in PV neurons. The CA1 fast-spiking PV INs with BACE1 deletion exhibited an enhanced response of postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors to local stimulation on CA1 oriens, with average intrinsic electrical properties and fidelity in synaptic integration. Intriguingly, the BACE1 deletion reorganized the CA1 recurrent inhibitory motif assembled by the heterogeneous pyramidal neurons (PNs) and the adjacent fast-spiking PV INs from the superficial to the deep layer. Moreover, the conditional BACE1 deletion impaired the AMPARs-mediated excitatory transmission of deep CA1 PNs. Further rescue experiments confirmed that these phenotypes require the enzymatic activity of BACE1. Above all, the BACE1 deletion resets the priming of the fear memory extinction. Our findings suggest a neuron-specific working model of BACE1 in regulating learning and memory circuits. The study may provide a potential path of targeting BACE1 and NMDAR together to circumvent cognitive worsening due to a single application of BACE1 inhibitor in AD patients. Show less
Parallel to major changes in fatty acid and glucose metabolism, defect in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism has also been recognized as a metabolic hallmark and potential therapeutic target Show more
Parallel to major changes in fatty acid and glucose metabolism, defect in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism has also been recognized as a metabolic hallmark and potential therapeutic target for heart failure. However, BCAA catabolic enzymes are ubiquitously expressed in all cell types and a systemic BCAA catabolic defect is also manifested in metabolic disorder associated with obesity and diabetes. Therefore, it remains to be determined the cell-autonomous impact of BCAA catabolic defect in cardiomyocytes in intact hearts independent from its potential global effects. In this study, we developed two mouse models. One is cardiomyocyte and temporal-specific inactivation of the E1α subunit (BCKDHA-cKO) of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) complex, which blocks BCAA catabolism. Another model is cardiomyocyte specific inactivation of the BCKDH kinase (BCKDK-cKO), which promotes BCAA catabolism by constitutively activating BCKDH activity in adult cardiomyocytes. Functional and molecular characterizations showed E1α inactivation in cardiomyocytes was sufficient to induce loss of cardiac function, systolic chamber dilation and pathological transcriptome reprogramming. On the other hand, inactivation of BCKDK in intact heart does not have an impact on baseline cardiac function or cardiac dysfunction under pressure overload. Our results for the first time established the cardiomyocyte cell autonomous role of BCAA catabolism in cardiac physiology. These mouse lines will serve as valuable model systems to investigate the underlying mechanisms of BCAA catabolic defect induced heart failure and to provide potential insights for BCAA targeted therapy. Show less
Analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) provides an opportunity to identify and monitor genomic alterations during a patient's treatment course. We Show more
Analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) provides an opportunity to identify and monitor genomic alterations during a patient's treatment course. We evaluated whether the presence of specific gene amplifications (GAs) and plasma copy number (PCN) alterations are associated with disease features. This is a single-institution retrospective study of patients with mPC who underwent ctDNA profiling using Guardant360 The presence of liver and/or lung metastases was associated with GAs of The association of select GAs with survival provides an additional tool for assessing mCRPC prognosis and informing management. Serial monitoring of ctDNA GAs is also useful to guide prognosis and therapeutic response. Show less
The deterioration of brain glucose metabolism predates the clinical onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) positively improve brain glucose Show more
The deterioration of brain glucose metabolism predates the clinical onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) positively improve brain glucose metabolism and decrease the expression of AD-related proteins. However, the effects of the combined intervention are unclear. The present study explored the effects of the supplementation of MCTs combined with DHA in improving brain glucose metabolism and decreasing AD-related protein expression levels in APP/PS1 mice. The mice were assigned into four dietary treatment groups: the control group, MCTs group, DHA group, and MCTs + DHA group. The corresponding diet of the respective groups was fed to mice from the age of 3 to 11 months. The results showed that the supplementation of MCTs combined with DHA could increase serum octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (C10:0), DHA, and β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) levels; improve glucose metabolism; and reduce nerve cell apoptosis in the brain. Moreover, it also aided with decreasing the expression levels of amyloid beta protein (Aβ), amyloid precursor protein (APP), β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), and presenilin-1 (PS1) in the brain. Furthermore, the supplementation of MCTs + DHA was significantly more beneficial than that of MCTs or DHA alone. In conclusion, the supplementation of MCTs combined with DHA could improve energy metabolism in the brain of APP/PS1 mice, thus decreasing nerve cell apoptosis and inhibiting the expression of Aβ. Show less
The melanocortin pathway is well established to be critical for body-weight regulation in both rodents and humans. Despite extensive studies focusing on this pathway, the downstream brain sites that m Show more
The melanocortin pathway is well established to be critical for body-weight regulation in both rodents and humans. Despite extensive studies focusing on this pathway, the downstream brain sites that mediate its action are not clear. Here, we found that, among the known paraventricular hypothalamic (PVH) neuron groups, those expressing melanocortin receptors 4 (PVH Show less
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process during metastasis in various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, the study of its characteristics and related genes is Show more
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process during metastasis in various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, the study of its characteristics and related genes is of great significance for CRC treatment. In this study, 26 EMT-related gene sets were used to score each sample from The Cancer Genome Atlas program (TCGA) colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) database. Based on the 26 EMT enrichment scores for each sample, we performed unsupervised cluster analysis and classified the TCGA-COAD samples into three EMT clusters. Then, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to investigate the gene modules that were significantly associated with these three EMT clusters. Two gene modules that were strongly positively correlated with the EMT cluster 2 (worst prognosis) were subjected to Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Then, a prognosis-related risk model composed of three hub genes Show less
Hematoma-induced neuroinflammation is the cause of poor prognosis in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); therefore, promoting blood clearance and blocking overactivated inflammation are rational approache Show more
Hematoma-induced neuroinflammation is the cause of poor prognosis in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); therefore, promoting blood clearance and blocking overactivated inflammation are rational approaches for ICH treatment. β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) lyase-1 (BACE1) is a key molecule regulating the microglial phenotype transition in neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of BACE1 in microglial phagocytosis and inflammatory features in ICH. Here, we demonstrated the unique advantages of targeting BACE1 in microglia using an autologous blood model and primary microglia hemoglobin stimulation. When BACE1 was inhibited early in ICH, fewer residual hematomas remained, consistent with an increase in genetic features that favor phagocytosis and anti-inflammation. In addition, inhibition of BACE1 enhanced the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and substantially reduced the expression of proinflammatory genes, which was regulated by signal transduction and phosphorylation of activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Further pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation effectively blocked the proinflammatory and weak phagocytic phenotype of microglia due to BACE1 induction. In summary, BACE1 is the critical molecule regulating the inflammatory and phagocytic phenotypes of microglia after ICH, and targeted inhibition of the BACE1/STAT3 pathway is an important strategy for the future treatment of ICH-induced neurological injury. Show less
In this work, a simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor was proposed for the detection of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) activity. Firstly, the BACE1 specific peptide w Show more
In this work, a simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor was proposed for the detection of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) activity. Firstly, the BACE1 specific peptide was modified onto the Au electrode to graft a single-strand DNA with polycytosine DNA sequence (dC Show less