👤 Xiuqin Yang

Previous studies have shown that plasma amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs), the toxic form of amyloid-beta (Aβ), are a critical issue in the development or worsening of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can be regarded as a blood marker for screening in dementia. We examined plasma AβOs with their related biomarkers in a case-control study to clarify these issues. A total of 16 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and 16 cognitively normal controls (NCs) were recruited to compare their plasma biomarkers, AβO, Aβ Show less

Aniridia, driven by PAX6 mutations, causes aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK), a progressive condition linked to limbal stem cell deficiency. A major hurdle to developing targeted therapies for AAK is the incomplete understanding of the molecular abnormalities in affected corneas. To address this, we leveraged Pax6± (Pax6 het) mice, a model of AAK, and applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile the transcriptomic changes at a single-cell resolution. ScRNA-seq of corneal/limbal tissues of wild type (WT) and Pax6 het mice were conducted. Immunostaining was performed to examine the expression of specific markers for stem cells. ScRNA-seq identified a quiescent limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC)-like cell cluster and an early transient amplifying cell (eTAC)-like cluster. An increase in the cell numbers in these two clusters in the Pax6 het mouse corneas was observed. Immunostaining detected a marked increase in markers for these two clusters including Tmem176b, Apoe, and Krt15 in the corneal epithelium of Pax6 het mice, suggesting an increase of these LESC/eTA-like cells into the corneal epithelium. The Pax6 deficiency inhibited the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation in the eTAC-like cluster as well as the expression of genes related to corneal epithelial cell fate and differentiation compared with WT mice. Our single cell transcriptome of the limbus and cornea of Pax6 het mice indicates that AAK may be due to the increase of dysfunctional stem/eTACs with defects in committing to a corneal epithelial cell fate and differentiation. Show less

Longevity and muscle strength are heritable traits, and age-related muscle weakness is a major contributor to disability in older adults. However, the susceptibility genes and shared genetic mechanisms underlying lifespan and sarcopenia remain unclear. This study aimed to identify genes associated with longevity and muscle weakness and to characterize their shared genetic architecture. We integrated the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on longevity (age > 90th: n = 11 262 cases; age > 99th: n = 3484 cases) and muscle weakness (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP): n = 48 596 cases; Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH): n = 20 335 cases) with Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) v8 multi-tissue expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data. Gene-trait associations were evaluated using multi-tissue and single-tissue TWAS, and validated using Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation (MAGMA). Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization were applied to test causality and shared variants. Cross-trait genetic correlation was estimated with LDSC, and pleiotropic loci were identified by pleiotropy analysis under the composite null hypothesis (PLACO) followed by Functional Mapping and Annotation (FUMA)/MAGMA annotation. Across TWAS approaches, APOC1 and TOMM40 were identified as longevity-associated genes, while DYM and TGFA were susceptibility genes for muscle weakness. In MR analysis, higher expression of APOC1 and TOMM40 increased the odds of longevity (OR > 1, p < 0.05), whereas higher expression of DYM and TGFA reduced the risk of muscle weakness (OR < 1, p < 0.05). Colocalization supported shared causal variants for APOC1 (rs429358, PP.H4 = 0.81) and TOMM40 (rs429358, PP.H4 = 0.85) with longevity (age > 90th survival percentile), and for DYM and TGFA with muscle weakness defined by both EWGSOP and FNIH (PP.H4 > 0.80). A significant negative genetic correlation was observed between longevity and muscle weakness (Rg < 0, p < 0.05). Cross-trait pleiotropy analysis identified several pleiotropic genes (PVRL2, PPP1R9A, SLC39A8 and the TOMM40/APOE/APOC1 gene cluster) that influence both longevity and muscle weakness. We identified susceptibility genes for longevity (APOC1, TOMM40) and muscle weakness (DYM, TGFA) and uncovered shared pleiotropic loci linking aging and muscle decline. These findings improve the understanding of the genetic architecture underlying aging-related phenotypes and provide potential molecular targets for promoting healthy aging and reducing late-life disability. Show less

This study utilized a novel Proximity Barcoding Assay to perform high-resolution proteomic profiling of individual plasma extracellular vesicles from 85 patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (OC) and 95 healthy controls (HC). Single-EV analysis identified 119 differentially expressed proteins and 17 distinct EV subpopulations. Cluster 7 (enriched in integrins ITGB3, ITGB1, and ITGA6) was significantly elevated in OC plasma (4.47% in HC vs. 14.79-15.82% in OC). Machine learning (SVM-RFE, LASSO, Random Forest) identified a diagnostic panel (ITGA6, ITGB2, ILK) achieving exceptional accuracy in distinguishing OC from HC (AUC = 0.999 training; 1.000 validation). Furthermore, risk models incorporating specific protein signatures effectively stratified patients by platinum sensitivity/resistance (9-protein panel: ILK, CDCP1, CD86, CLDN4, CLEC1B, CDHR5, CLDN11, JAM2, FOLH1), lymph node metastasis status (7-protein panel: APOE, CD28, CLDN4, FOLH1, ITGAL, JAML, ULBP3), and post-surgical residual disease burden (4-protein panel: CD44, CLMP, ITGA4, AMIGO1), with Cluster 13 (ITGB1-high) also significantly associated with residual disease. This work demonstrates the power of single-EV proteomics combined with machine learning for non-invasive diagnosis and clinical outcome assessment in advanced ovarian cancer, though the absence of early-stage patients limits its applicability for early detection. Show less

Despite therapeutic advances, atherosclerosis remains a major global health challenge. Most current treatments target systemic risk factors rather than the diseased vascular wall. Our previous work identified genistein, a soy isoflavone, as a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) antagonist capable of suppressing CB1-mediated vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability limit clinical application. We aimed to develop water-soluble, orally bioavailable CB1 antagonists for atherosclerosis and to investigate the role of endothelial CB1 in hemodynamic regulation. RNA-sequencing datasets from the NCBI GEO repository were analyzed to assess CB1 expression in atherosclerotic patients. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe We found CB1 was upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions from patients and mice, and in endothelial cells exposed to disturbed flow. Mechanistically, this was driven by ZNF610 and Spi1 binding and KLF4 dissociation at the CB1 promoter. Daidzein, a soy isoflavone structurally similar to genistein, was identified as a novel CB1 antagonist. To enhance solubility and bioavailability, we developed genistein 7-O-phosphate (G7P) and daidzein 7-O-phosphate (D7P). Pharmacological treatment with these isoflavone monophosphates or genetic CB1 ablation reversed disturbed flow-induced endothelial dysfunction and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Oral administration of G7P and D7P significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in mice. This is the first study to identify transcriptional regulators that drive endothelial CB1 upregulation in response to disturbed flow. We further demonstrated that isoflavone monophosphates ameliorate disturbed flow-induced endothelial dysfunction and EndMT via CB1 inhibition, offering promising oral therapeutics for atherosclerosis. Show less

Recently, macrophage senescence has been identified as an important pathological risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS). Oxymatrine (OMT) has demonstrated potential in ameliorating cellular senescence. This study aims to investigate the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of OMT in alleviating AS progression. High-fat diet-fed ApoE Show less

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by pathological angiogenesis and plaque instability. Herein, we investigated the role of macrophage-derived CXCL2 in mediating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) homing during atherosclerosis progression. Using ApoE-/- mice on a high-fat diet and in vitro co-culture models, we found that infused EPCs exacerbated plaque burden, neovascularization, and matrix degradation. Macrophages were essential for EPC recruitment to plaques. Ox-LDL-stimulated macrophages enhanced EPC angiogenic functions, with transcriptome sequencing identifying CXCL2 as a key upregulated mediator. Functional experiments confirmed CXCL2's critical role. In vivo silencing of CXCL2 attenuated EPC homing, reduced plaque size and lipid accumulation, decreased neovascularization, and stabilized the plaque matrix. Our findings demonstrate that macrophages promote pathological angiogenesis and plaque progression via CXCL2, suggesting that targeting this chemokine could be a novel therapeutic strategy for stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. Show less

Atherosclerosis (AS) progression is driven by multiple interconnected pathological mechanisms. Among them, vascular senescence is both a key accelerator and consequence, interacting with other processes to promote AS development. Traditional monotherapies were limited to achieve synergistic therapeutic effects due to low oral bioavailability and insufficient multi-target efficacy. To overcome these limitations, we developed a baicalein-copper network (Cu-MON) for oral delivery of atorvastatin (ATV), forming a synergistic therapeutic system (CMA). Cu-MON significantly prolonged the gastrointestinal residence and increased the oral bioavailability of ATV without requiring additional excipients. Crucially, Cu-MON regulated senescence-associated genes, enhanced DNA repair pathways, and mitigated DNA damage, effectively counteracting vascular aging. The integrated CMA system combined enzymatic and non-enzymatic dual antioxidant systems to scavenge multiple ROS species. Furthermore, CMA reprogrammed macrophages from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes, modulated the PPAR-γ/LXR-α/ABCA-1 pathway to enhance cholesterol efflux, inhibited foam cell formation, and regulated hepatic and systemic cholesterol homeostasis. In ApoE Show less

The clinical interpretation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequently complicated by the prevalence of missense variants designated as being of uncertain significance within associated genes. Conventional computational prediction tools often overlook disease-specific pathophysiological contexts and lack pertinence and interpretability. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a novel, interpretable framework for predicting the pathogenicity of AD missense variants by integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data enrichment patterns with machine learning methods. A cross-sectional variant-level analysis was performed using publicly available databases. Missense variants in APOE, APP, PSEN1, PSEN2, SORL1, and TREM2 reported in AD patients were retrieved from Alzforum and compared with missense variants from individuals without neurological diseases, as cataloged in the gnomAD v2.1.1 non-neuro subset. Variants were annotated with tissue-specific expression, secondary structure, relative solvent accessibility, and other functional features using tools like AlphaFold. Enrichment of specific features was assessed with Fisher's exact tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Given that PSEN1 showed the strongest enrichment signals, six machine-learning algorithms were trained on PSEN1 variants to distinguish AD-associated variants from gnomAD variants, using a 10 × 5 nested cross-validation scheme. External validation was conducted using PSEN1 missense variants from ClinVar annotated as pathogenic/likely pathogenic or benign/likely benign. Model performance was compared with SIFT and PolyPhen-2, and interpretability was evaluated by feature ablation and SHapley Additive exPlanations analyses. AD-associated variants exhibited statistically significant enrichment within some transcriptomic or proteomic features, with PSEN1 contributing significantly to the enrichment observed across these features. Random forest and gradient boosting models achieved high performance in the internal training dataset and maintained high recall in the external validation dataset, outperforming SIFT and approaching the performance of PolyPhen-2. Relative solvent accessibility was the most discriminative individual feature, while regional and topological features provided complementary discriminative power. This integrative, multi-omics framework links disease-specific enrichment patterns with interpretable gene-level machine learning for AD missense variants. The results highlight the importance of expression level, structural context, etc. for PSEN1 variant pathogenicity and may help prioritize variants for functional studies. Further validation in additional genes and independent cohorts is warranted prior to any clinical application. Show less

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a pervasive environmental contaminant, is ubiquitously detected in water, air, soil, and food chains. Emerging evidence has implicated PFOS in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis - the fundamental pathological process underlying diverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. A previous study demonstrated that PFOS exacerbates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE Show less

Impaired synaptic plasticity underlies cognitive impairment as a core pathological substrate. While aerobic exercise represents a significant non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing synaptic plasticity, its precise molecular mechanisms remain incompletely defined. This study investigated whether aerobic exercise ameliorates synaptic plasticity and synaptic loss in Apolipoprotein E homozygous knockout (APOE Show less

Perirenal fat deposition significantly impacts sheep carcass quality and economic efficiency. To elucidate the underlying genetic regulation, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 556 Hu sheep and a comparative transcriptome analysis on 24 Hu sheep (12 with high- and 12 with low-perirenal fat deposition), all with accurate phenotypic records. Furthermore, hub genes and tissue-specific genes (TSGs) were discerned through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and by leveraging RNA-Seq data from 12 tissues, respectively. qRT-PCR is used to validate the accuracy of RNA-Seq data. GWAS identified significant SNPs near genes including SETD4, TIMP2, SOCS3, and DNAH17. Comparative transcriptome analysis of HPF and LPF groups identified 2072 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were significantly associated with lipid storage (LPL), fatty acid homeostasis (APOE, GOT1), and biosynthesis (ACACA). A total of 2333 differential alternative splicing events were identified in 1169 genes, with skipped exons (SE, 30.65 %) being the most common. GO analysis of these SEs showed links to RNA splicing and lipid metabolism, with genes like BSCL2, DGAT1, PLIN5, and PNPLA2 involved in lipid droplet organization and triglyceride storage. WGCNA revealed key modules that were positively and negatively correlated with perirenal fat deposition, emphasizing hub genes (SAR1B, THRSP, ACSS2, KIF5B) associated with lipid droplet organization and metabolism. The integrated analysis of GWAS and RNA-seq identified TIMP2, SOCS3, and DNAH17 as potential key genes involved in regulating perirenal fat deposition in sheep. An association analysis of 372 Hu sheep populations identified significant links (P < 0.05) between perirenal fat deposition traits and mutations in the TIMP2 (g.9759169 G > A) and DNAH17 (g.9494469C > T) genes. Crucially, tissue-specific gene analysis across 12 tissues identified 448 perirenal fat TSGs, of which 75 were also differentially expressed genes (e.g., LPL, THRSP, LEP, ADRB3). In conclusion, our multi-omics study identified key genes influencing perirenal fat deposition in sheep. Notably, mutations in TIMP2 and DNAH17 could serve as candidate markers for enhancing carcass quality through marker-assisted selection. Show less

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Seizures have also emerged as a prevalent clinical feature of AD and are associated with APOE4, the major genetic risk factor of AD. However, the mechanism by which APOE4 induces seizures and neuronal hyperexcitability is incompletely understood. We discovered that human APOE4 targeted replacement mice showed increased seizure severity and seizure-induced death at 5.5-7 but not 2-3 months of age compared to APOE3 mice using the kainic acid model of status epilepticus which preferentially arises from the hippocampus. While Tau burden alone did not alter seizure susceptibility in mice, APOE4 together with Tau burden enhanced seizure severity in female mice. Notably, APOE4 was associated with decreased hippocampal levels of sodium/potassium-ATPase, ATP-generating glycolytic enzymes, including phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and pyruvate kinase M, and ATP. While inhibition of Na Show less

Precise toxicological mechanism of atherosclerosis (AS) induced by environmental hazardous substance nicotine exposure remains unclear, impeding its prevention strategies and antagonist development. Additionally, it is yet unknown whether Dendrobium officinale's active components can antagonize nicotine-induced AS. This study aimed to elucidate nicotine exposure-induced AS toxicological mechanisms and identify Dendrobium officinale's active components-derived antagonists. Firstly, using ApoE Show less

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by lipid accumulation and immune cell infiltration in arterial walls. Macrophages contribute by internalizing oxidized low-density lipoprotein, forming foam cells, and driving inflammation. The ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates immune and inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis. This study investigated the protective role of TRIM31 (tripartite motif-containing 31), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in macrophage lipid metabolism and inflammation through selective regulation of LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1). Transcriptomic profiling, macrophage-specific TRIM31 was selectively upregulated in macrophages under oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulation and in atherosclerosis plaques. Trim31 deficiency exacerbated plaque burden, foam cell formation, and inflammatory signaling (n=8 per group). Single-cell analysis revealed enrichment of lipid transport and inflammatory pathways in Trim31-deficient plaques. LOX-1 was identified as a key TRIM31 substrate. TRIM31 promoted K48-linked ubiquitination of LOX-1 at lysine 12, facilitating its degradation. The atheroprotective effects of Trim31 were abolished in TRIM31, an inducible, macrophage-enriched protective factor in atherosclerosis, restricts foam cell formation and inflammation by targeting LOX-1 for proteasomal degradation. These findings position TRIM31 as a promising therapeutic target for macrophage-driven atherogenesis. Show less

The Tetradium ruticarpum (E)-Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Z) herb pair is a well-known herbal formulation with multiple beneficial cardiovascular pharmacological activities. Therefore, E and Z are potentially natural products for Atherosclerosis (AS). However, it is not clear whether E and Z work synergistically in the treatment of AS and which of their components is responsible. This study was to determine the synergistic effect of E and Z in the treatment of AS, to identify the active ingredient combination (AIC) that exerts the action of the original formula and to determine its molecular mechanism. First, the combined effects of E and Z were assessed in an ApoE Show less

The protein corona formed upon systemic administration critically modulates the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy of the nanomedicines. While emerging evidence links obesity to heightened chemosensitivity, the underlying nanobio-interfacial mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) exhibits significantly enhanced antitumor and antimetastatic efficacy in obese breast tumor-bearing mice compared to normal controls. Mechanistic investigations reveal that obesity confers PLD with prolonged systemic circulation and improved tumor accumulation. Notably, preincubation of PLD with plasma from obese mice reduces macrophage uptake while promoting internalization by breast cancer cells compared to that from normal mice. Genetic ablation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in obese mice abolishes obesity-associated improvements in PLD blood circulation, tumor accumulation, and uptake by cancer cells. Conversely, supplementation with recombinant ApoE restores these effects in ApoE-deficient mice and potentiates PLD's antitumor efficacy. Collectively, our findings demonstrate obesity-induced ApoE as a pivotal regulator of the protein corona that actively enhances tumor-targeted delivery of PLD, which offers a rational strategy for engineering protein-corona-mediated tumor-targeted nanomedicines. Show less

Precise identification of vulnerable plaque (VAP) is essential for the prevention of acute cardiovascular diseases, yet current molecular probes are hampered by poor VAP lesion penetration and high background. Here, the innate tropism of circulating inflammatory monocytes for VAP, and their differentiation-driven expression of legumain (Lgmn) in response to the VAP microenvironment is exploited. A monocyte differentiation-activated fluorescent (MDAF) probe is conceived that hitchhikes monocytes to precisely migrate to VAP and is activated by Lgmn during monocyte differentiation. This activation triggers in situ self-assembly, resulting in spatiotemporally controlled aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence signals, and turning the monocyte itself into an on-site "scout" that reports plaque instability. In Apoe Show less

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-derived foam cell formation is a major contributor to atherosclerosis progression and plaque instability. Meteorin-like protein (METRNL), a secreted organokine with known metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects, has been linked to cardiovascular protection, but its role in atherosclerosis is not well defined. This study investigated the function of METRNL in VSMC-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerosis and explored the underlying signaling mechanisms. ApoE METRNL levels declined during atherosclerosis progression and were restored during regression. METRNL selectively inhibited foam cell formation in VSMCs-but not in macrophages-by downregulating CD36-mediated cholesterol uptake and suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress through KIT signaling. Deletion of KIT specifically in smooth muscle cells abolished these protective effects. The transcription factor SP1 was found to bind directly to the METRNL promoter and enhance its expression. Clinically, lower serum METRNL levels were independently associated with increased risk and severity of acute coronary syndrome. METRNL protects against VSMC foam cell formation and atherosclerosis by enhancing KIT signaling, thereby reducing ER stress and subsequent cholesterol uptake. These findings position METRNL as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Show less

The coordinated development of skeletal muscle and intramuscular adipose tissue in animals essentially determines meat yield and quality, a process co-regulated by multiple genes. Using a co-culture model of bovine skeletal muscle cells (SMCs) and intramuscular adipocytes (IMAs), integrated with transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatic analyses, key candidate genes coregulating muscle development and fat deposition were identified. Three potential coregulators-WNT5A, APOE, and BDKRB2-were selected. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, along with tissue and cellular expression profiling, indicates that WNT5A potentially interacts with key protein markers of adipogenesis and myogenesis. Furthermore, it is highly expressed in both adipose and muscle tissues. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of WNT5A in the Wnt signaling pathway. These findings suggest that WNT5A plays a dual regulatory role in the development of both skeletal muscle and intramuscular fat (IMF). This finding lays a solid theoretical foundation for deciphering the molecular mechanisms of muscle-fat deposition in beef cattle and for improving meat quality. Show less

Atherosclerosis preferentially develops in regions exposed to disturbed flow, where is more susceptible to trans-endothelial retention of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and subsequent vascular inflammation. While 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) is implicated in lipid oxidation, its role in accumulation of oxLDL in disturbed flow areas remains unknown. Human coronary artery endarterectomy specimens and cultured endothelial cells were analyzed for 12/15-LOX expression and localization under disturbed flow. Oxidized phospholipids were quantified via E06 antibody by ELISA, while ROS generation was measured using DCFH-DA. ApoE Disturbed flow upregulated 12/15-LOX expression in endothelial cells. In vitro, disturbed flow increased LDL oxidation and ROS production, both attenuated by 12/15-LOX siRNA or the specific inhibitor baicalein and ML351. Genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of 12/15-LOX reduced oxidized lipid deposition in disturbed flow regions. Mechanistically, 12/15-LOX increased ROS production in disturbed flow conditions in a pathway upstream of NAPDH oxidase 2. However, the 12/15-LOX-mediated LDL oxidation was independent of NOX. We identify 12/15-LOX as a hemodynamic-sensitive enzyme that is upregulated under disturbed flow to promote LDL oxidation, which proposes a promising target to mitigate atherosclerosis especially in disturbed flow areas. Show less

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Rapid, cost-effective, and accurate diagnosis of bTB remains a significant clinical challenge globally. In this study, we performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis to evaluate the discriminatory power of plasma and plasma exosomes for bTB diagnosis. We compared protein expression profiles across three groups: M. bovis-negative controls (bTB_N, n = 10), M. bovis-positive cases (bTB_P, n = 10), and co-infected animals (Other_P, n = 10) with Brucella, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), and bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease virus (BVDV). Quantitative analysis identified 3820 exosomal proteins-2.27-fold more than the 1686 plasma proteins detected. Exosomal proteins exhibited superior sample clustering and discriminative capacity for infected groups. Notably, 227 plasma and 861 exosome-derived proteins were uniquely differentially expressed in bTB (bTB-specific DEPs). Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that exosome-specific DEPs were significantly enriched in TB-related pathways, including neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, endocytosis, and tuberculosis, exhibiting greater biological relevance compared to plasma-specific DEPs. Furthermore, eight candidate proteins (APOE, FBLN5, VDAC1, ABCE1, LMAN1, PLG, SPP1, and SRP9) demonstrated high specificity for bTB discrimination, with two (FBLN5 and SPP1) displaying stage-specific expression patterns during M. bovis infection. This study underscore plasma exosome as a highly promising source of biomarkers for bTB diagnosis, offering enhanced sensitivity and deeper mechanistic insights over conventional plasma proteome. Show less

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is a common malignancy of the female reproductive system. Rab35 is widely recognized as an oncogenic driver and has been implicated in the progression of various malignant tumors. However, its regulatory mechanism and pathobiological roles in EC remain unclear. Rab35 expression in EC was systematically profiled via integrative analysis of clinical endometrial specimens and multi-omics databases (CPTAC and GEO). The association between clinical prognosis and Rab35 expression was examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Mechanistic investigations included transwell assays, western blotting, and immunofluorescence in Rab35-overexpressing and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Rab35-knockout EC cells. A mouse xenograft tumor model was established to confirm the effects of Rab35 in vivo. The Rab35 content increased gradually from normal endometrium to atypical hyperplastic endometrium to EC. Moreover, the findings indicated that elevated Rab35 expression was significantly associated with advanced disease characteristics and poor overall survival in patients with EC. In addition, Rab35 enhanced the migratory and invasive nature of EC cells. The expression of Rab35 was inversely linked to that of the β-catenin destruction complex-related proteins Axin-1 and GSK3β, leading to the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin in EC cells. Animal experiments further verified that Rab35 augmented EC progression by regulating the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. The study revealed that high expression of Rab35 was strongly correlated with EC progression and a poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, Rab35 promoted EC cell metastasis by accelerating the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. These findings suggest that Rab35 serves as a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target for EC. Show less

To investigate the causal relationship between inflammatory proteins and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the mediating role of plasma metabolites therein. Using Mendelian mandomization (MR) methods and publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we selected 91 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were strongly linked to inflammatory proteins without reverse causality with AD as the outcome. A bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was performed. Inflammatory proteins with causal links to AD were identified via inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis. A mediation MR analysis was then performed using 1400 plasma metabolites to assess their mediating role in this causal pathway. The preliminary bidirectional MR analysis identified 3 inflammatory proteins that had a potential positive causal association with AD without reverse causality: Axin-1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11), and interleukin-12β (IL-12β). Elevated levels of Axin-1 were positively causally associated with AD risk (OR=1.082, 95% This study reveals how specific inflammatory proteins influence AD risk via plasma metabolites and provides genetic evidence for inflammatory-metabolic interactions in AD to facilitate the identification of potential biomarkers and targets for early detection and intervention of AD. Show less

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, memory deterioration, and neuronal dysfunction. Its complex pathophysiology involves multiple interlinked processes, including amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and cholinergic deficits. Current FDA-approved therapies provide only symptomatic relief and fail to halt disease progression, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatment strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathological mechanisms underlying AD and the emerging therapeutic targets for the design of tractable anti-AD scaffolds, namely, acetylcholinesterase, beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Emphasis is placed on the paradigm shift from single-target therapies to multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs), which are increasingly recognized as promising tools to tackle AD's multifactorial pathology. We also discuss recent advances in medicinal chemistry and structure-guided drug discovery campaigns aimed at developing pharmacologically optimized, BBB-penetrant MTDLs. By consolidating mechanistic insights with therapeutic innovation, this review aims to facilitate the development of next-generation therapeutics with enhanced efficacy and disease-modifying potential in AD. Show less

Disruption of circadian rhythms is increasingly recognized as a contributor to cognitive dysfunction, but its role in gestation-associated cognitive changes remains unexplored. Here we combine human cognitive screening with a comprehensive longitudinal mouse model to investigate whether gestational cognitive impairment and postpartum recovery are coupled with disruption and restoration of hippocampal circadian rhythms. Cognitive function was assessed in pregnant and postpartum women using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). In mice, four reproductive stages were compared: control, gestation, 1 month postpartum, and 3 months postpartum. Serum gonadotropins and sex hormones levels were quantified using ELISA. Home-cage locomotor activity was recorded over 48 h under a 12 h:12 h light-dark cycle. Hippocampal-dependent memory was evaluated using the novel object recognition test and Barnes maze at Zeitgeber times ZT6 (day) and ZT18 (night). Hippocampal amyloid β (Aβ) deposition was visualized via immunofluorescence; protein expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), and phosphorylated tau was measured by Western blots. Hippocampal clock gene expression was quantified by RT-qPCR at six time points; circadian parameters (mesor, amplitude, acrophase) were derived by cosinor analysis and compared between groups. Human cognitive screening confirmed modest gestational decline with postpartum recovery. In mice, gestation disrupted daily locomotor activity rhythms and reduced nocturnal preference; both partially recovered by 1 month and fully by 3 months postpartum. Behaviourally, pregnancy impaired the normal day-night difference and performance in novel object exploration and Barnes maze, which recovered progressively. At the molecular level, gestation increased hippocampal APP and BACE1 expression, elevated Aβ42 deposition, and induced tau hyperphosphorylation at multiple sites-hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology. These alterations partially reversed by 1 month postpartum and normalized by 3 months. Hippocampal clock genes maintained 24 h rhythmicity, but gestation induced gene-specific phase shifts, amplitude reductions, and mesor alterations. These parameters showed gradual, gene-dependent normalization postpartum. Gestational cognitive impairment and postpartum recovery are associated with reversible disruption and restoration of both hippocampal circadian rhythms and Alzheimer's disease-related molecular pathology. These findings are correlational in nature and provide a foundation for future causal investigations. Show less

Bergamottin is a natural furanocoumarin compound that possesses antioxidative and anticancer properties. However, the effect of bergamottin (BGM) on acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. Human renal tubular HK-2 cells and mice that received cisplatin were pretreated with BGM, after which their cytotoxicity and renal function were evaluated. BGM pretreatment alleviated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity Show less