The association between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) has garnered increasing attention. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and promotes the occurrence of AF throu Show more
The association between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) has garnered increasing attention. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and promotes the occurrence of AF through multiple mechanisms. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms of obesity-induced AF using GLP-1R/GIPR dual-target agonist fusion protein (Fc) loaded into adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) exosome-liposome hybrid nanoparticles (LE@Fc NPs). We successfully constructed and purified the Fc, verifying its purity and functional activity through SDS-PAGE and UV absorption spectroscopy. The fusion protein was then loaded into nanovesicles, and their morphology, size, and stability were assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). In vitro experiments demonstrated that LE@Fc NPs exhibit high fusion efficiency and targeted delivery capability. In vivo experimental results show that LE@Fc NPs significantly inhibit ferroptosis in the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) of obese mice (iron content: 3.69 ± 0.36 vs. 0.88 ± 0.09), by restoring GSH levels (0.45 ± 0.08 vs. 0.87 ± 0.08) and Gpx4 expression (0.32 ± 0.06 vs. 1.01 ± 0.16), and reducing ROS (12.01 ± 0.95 vs. 2.68 ± 0.17), MDA (3.17 ± 0.29 vs. 0.95 ± 0.09), and 4-HNE (3.74 ± 0.51 vs. 0.91 ± 0.09) levels. Furthermore, LE@Fc NPs treatment significantly improved the inflammatory response (IL-1β: 44.08 ± 3.74 vs. 12.07 ± 0.65, IL-6: 515.59 ± 47.70 vs. 288.43 ± 16.81, MCP-1: 1401.04 ± 194.88 vs. 600.28 ± 45.54, TNF-α: 39.96 ± 2.48 vs. 18.01 ± 0.85). LE@Fc NPs also reduced atrial fibrosis, thereby effectively lowering the incidence of AF. Echocardiography and electrocardiogram monitoring revealed that LE@Fc NPs treatment significantly improved atrial remodeling and reduced the occurrence of AF in obese mice. In addition, LE@Fc NPs significantly improved obesity-induced systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders. In conclusion, LE@Fc NPs show great potential for the treatment of obesity-related AF. Show less
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer (BC), characterized by limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. Aberrant FGFR signaling has been implic Show more
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer (BC), characterized by limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. Aberrant FGFR signaling has been implicated in TNBC; however, the therapeutic potential of targeting FGFRs for TNBC treatment remains unclear. This study investigated the anti-cancer activity of the selective pan-FGFR inhibitor Erdafitinib and its underlying mechanisms using both in vitro and in vivo models. The results demonstrated that Erdafitinib suppressed TNBC tumorigenicity by promoting FGFR1/4 degradation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing DNA damage, and ultimately triggering cell death. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Erdafitinib facilitated FGFR1/4 degradation through ubiquitination, enhanced interaction between TRIM25 and FGFR1/4, and subsequent lysosomal degradation. Furthermore, RNA-seq data from the TCGA and GEO databases, along with paired tumor tissues from TNBC patients, indicated that FGFR4 was significantly upregulated in TNBC. Notably, co-knockdown of FGFR1 and FGFR4 induced cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells, highlighting the therapeutic relevance of FGFR1/4 degradation by Erdafitinib in TNBC. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer efficacy of Erdafitinib, supporting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for TNBC. Show less
To explore the risk factors of post pancreatectomy diabetes mellitus (PPTDM)in pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) patients and the value of perioperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) level expression o Show more
To explore the risk factors of post pancreatectomy diabetes mellitus (PPTDM)in pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) patients and the value of perioperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) level expression on the long-term survival after surgery. Between December 2015 and December 2019, a cohort of 509 patients diagnosed with PDAC and undergoing resection at our hospital was analyzed. They were stratified into two groups, Control group (Control) and study group (PPTDM), depending on the onset of postoperative diabetes mellitus. We analyzed the survival rates at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months post-operation in the two groups. We use univariate and logostic multivariate regressions to analyze the risk factors for PPTDM. ROC curve analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic significance of perioperative FBG levels regarding patients' long-term survival rates. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to assess the impact of both preoperative and postoperative FBG levels on the survival rates within 24 months for each patient group. The comparison of general clinical data between the two groups shows marginal differences without statistical significance(P > 0.05); Patients in PPTDM group had significantly higher BMI, preoperative jaundice proportion, larger tumor diameter, higher TNM stage and higher proportion of distal pancreatectomy (DP), with P values of 0.023, 0.010, 0.040, 0.012 and 0.005, respectively. The levels of preoperative FBG and postoperative FBG in PPTDM patients exhibited statistically significant elevation compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in surgery-related indicators between the two groups in operative time, number of dissected positive lymph nodes, total number of dissected lymph nodes, intraoperative blood loss and other related data (P > 0.05). Hospitalization duration of PPTDM patients was longer than control group (P = 0.047). PPTDM group had significantly higher expression concentrations of BUN, Cr, TG, LDL and Apo-B factors (P = 0.023, 0.024, 0.013, 0.045 and 0.017). 17 patients (5.03%) died in the PPTDM group and 4 patients (2.35%) in control group which had significantly difference (P = 0.020). In univariate and logostic multivariate regression analysis indicated tumor size, jaundice, BUN, Cr, TG, LDL, Apo-B concentrations and DP approach were significantly correlated to the risk for PPTDM (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis results showed combining of preoperative and postoperation FBG showed the highest diagnostic efficacy, followed by postoperation FBG and preoperative FBG. The AUC areas of the three groups were 0.745, 0.623 and 0.588, respectively, and the critical values of the three groups were 9.81/9.95 mmol/L, 10.18 mmol/L and 10.23 mmol/L, respectively, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Results were considered statistically significant if the p-value was less than 0.05. PPTDM stands as a significant postoperative complication following pancreatic cancer surgery, characterized by a high incidence and severity. Several risk factors have garnered considerable attention among clinical surgeon. PPTDM may be an influential factor in postoperative prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The expression levels of preoperative and postoperative blood glucose hold diagnostic value for the long-term prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. Early regulation and intervention by surgeons concerning perioperative FBG could potentially mitigate the risk of PPTDM. Show less
To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung cancer exhibiting coexistence of Clinical data, as well as histopathological, immunohistochemical, and Show more
To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung cancer exhibiting coexistence of Clinical data, as well as histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular pathological characteristics, of two patients harboring both Both patients were women aged 57 and 66 years. The two cases were diagnosed as invasive lung adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemical staining showed that all tumor cells expressed CK7, Napsin A, TTF-1, and PD-L1. In Case 1, an Show less
Adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is fundamental to both adipose tissue homeostasis and clinical applications, particularly fat grafting. However, the global and stage-s Show more
Adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is fundamental to both adipose tissue homeostasis and clinical applications, particularly fat grafting. However, the global and stage-specific transcriptional regulatory networks underlying ADSC adipogenesis remain incompletely elucidated. In this study, we integrated bulk and single-cell RNA-seq datasets across multiple time points of ADSC adipogenesis to identify core regulators of differentiation and maturation. A total of 41 genes were consistently upregulated during early differentiation, among which eight hub genes (FABP4, FASN, FABP5, ADIPOQ, PLIN1, LPL, CIDEC, and ACSL1) formed a tightly connected protein-protein interaction (PPI) module associated with lipid metabolism, lipid droplet formation, and adipocyte maturation. Further integration of differentially expressed lncRNAs and miRNAs led to the construction of a ceRNA network involving 7 mRNAs, 9 miRNAs, and 4 lncRNAs, comprising 34 predicted lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes. To identify temporal transcriptional regulators, we defined five genes (TTC14, MBNL2, UBR3, ABCD2, and SORT1) as early-stage inducers of adipogenesis, and four genes (UQCR11, NDUFB4, S100A10, and PRDX3) as late-stage regulators involved in maintaining the mature phenotype. These stage-specific regulators showed distinct temporal expression patterns and were validated by qPCR. GeneMANIA network analysis further revealed that early-stage regulators were enriched in lipid transport and lipase activity regulation, while late-stage regulators were associated with mitochondrial electron transport and energy metabolism. These findings highlight the stage-dependent transcriptional landscape of ADSC adipogenesis and provide candidate regulatory targets for modulating adipocyte differentiation and stability. Show less
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is widely acknowledged as a principal cause of vision loss in the elderly. Currently, the therapeutic interventions available in clinical practice fail to achiev Show more
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is widely acknowledged as a principal cause of vision loss in the elderly. Currently, the therapeutic interventions available in clinical practice fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative that we approach the progress of AMD from novel perspectives in order to explore new therapeutic strategies. We obtained transcriptomic data from the macular and the peripheral retina from patients with AMD and a control group from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were significantly enriched in functions associated with ferroptosis. Subsequent application of machine learning techniques enabled the identification of key hub genes, whose diagnostic potential was further validated. Additionally, the expression of these hub genes was corroborated in both animal and cellular models. Finally, we performed a functional enrichment analysis of these hub genes. In the macula of patients with AMD, 452 DEGs were identified, while in the peripheral retina, 222 DEGs were discovered. Within the macula, 19 genes were associated with ferroptosis, compared to 3 in the peripheral retina. Consequently, the macular was selected as the primary focus of the study. Subsequent screening of these 19 genes using LASSO regression, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest algorithms identified four hub genes: FADS1, TFAP2A, AKR1C3, and TTPA. Consequently, we utilized cigarette smoke extract (CSE) to either stimulate retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro or administer it via intravitreal injection, thereby establishing in vitro and in vivo models of AMD. Results from RT-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed an upregulation of FADS1, AKR1C3, and TTPA, while TFAP2A exhibited decreased expression. Finally, we investigated the infiltration of immune cells within the macular and performed a functional enrichment analysis of the hub genes. We identified four key ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs)-FADS1, AKR1C3, TFAP2A, and TTPA-that possess diagnostic relevance for AMD and correlate with immune cell infiltration. Moreover, significant changes in both mRNA and protein expression levels of these genes have been observed in in vitro experiments and mice models. Show less
Yuanpeng Zhu, Di Liu, Xiangjie Yin+3 more · 2025 · The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Current clinical guidelines lack clear, quantitative recommendations on intensity-specific physical activity (PA) levels for preventing back pain. Moreover, accelerometer-based evidence regarding dose Show more
Current clinical guidelines lack clear, quantitative recommendations on intensity-specific physical activity (PA) levels for preventing back pain. Moreover, accelerometer-based evidence regarding dose-response relationships and interactions between PA and genetic susceptibility remains limited. To determine the relationships between accelerometer-measured total and intensity-specific PA and incident back pain, and to assess potential effect modification by polygenic risk scores (PRS). Prospective, large-scale, population-based study using UK Biobank data. UK Biobank participants who wore wrist accelerometers for 7 days (N=71,601). Incident back pain, defined as the first recorded ICD-10 dorsalgia code (M54). Total PA, light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were derived using validated machine-learning algorithms from raw accelerometer data. Dose-response relationships were modeled using restricted cubic splines within Cox proportional hazards models, with adjustment for and stratification by a polygenic risk score (PRS). Point estimates for the population attributable fraction (PAF) were then calculated. Body mass index (BMI) mediation was assessed. Over a median follow-up of 7.0 years, total PA and MVPA exhibited nonlinear inverse associations with incident back pain, independent of genetic risk, with thresholds at approximately 35 milli-g (total PA) and 60 min/day (MVPA). The adjusted PAF was 15.9% for low MVPA and 9.9% for low total PA. Associations were strongest for MVPA, followed by total PA; no significant association was observed for LPA. Within both PRS strata, risk declined monotonically across PA quartiles, with similar effect sizes and no PA × PRS interaction. Notably, participants with high PRS and high PA had lower risk than those with low PRS and low PA. BMI mediated 26.2% of the total PA association and 15.5% of the MVPA association. Accelerometer-measured MVPA robustly reduces back-pain risk, independent of genetic predisposition. Future guidelines should provide clear, intensity-specific recommendations and account for the observed nonlinear dose-response to optimize prevention. Show less
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a vascular disorder characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation, with pathogenesis closely linked to genetic factors and immune regulatory mechanisms. This stu Show more
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a vascular disorder characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation, with pathogenesis closely linked to genetic factors and immune regulatory mechanisms. This study comprehensively identified ASassociated genes by integrating data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses, complemented by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, followed by experimental validation of their functional roles. Results indicated significant upregulation of CLEC5A and ISG20 in patients with AS, with MR analysis revealing positive causal relationships between both genes and AS risk (CLEC5A: OR = 1.001, P = 0.047; ISG20: OR = 1.001, P = 0.030), while HOXA2 showed a negative causal association. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted CLEC5A and ISG20's involvement in immune responses, inflammatory pathways, and lipid metabolism regulation. Experimental validation in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-stimulated macrophages and apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE This study represents the first to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ISG20 promotes AS progression through macrophage lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses, positioning it as a potential novel therapeutic target for AS. Show less
This study aimed to identify heterogeneous patterns of medical coping modes (MCM) and to examine the moderating role of social support in the relationship between these patterns and social disability Show more
This study aimed to identify heterogeneous patterns of medical coping modes (MCM) and to examine the moderating role of social support in the relationship between these patterns and social disability in young and middle-aged patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 129 post-PCI patients from a single center in China. Participants completed the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and the Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct coping patterns. The moderation effect of social support was tested using the Johnson-Neyman technique. Two distinct coping profiles were identified via LPA: "Adaptive Copers" (55.1%), characterized by higher confrontation and lower avoidance/resignation, and "Maladaptive Copers" (44.9%), showing the opposite pattern. A counterintuitive finding emerged, with the Maladaptive Copers reporting significantly lower social disability scores. Furthermore, beyond this profile differentiation, social support demonstrated a significant U-shaped moderating effect in the coping-disability relationship. Its moderating role was statistically significant only at very low (<39.884) and very high (>52.924) levels of support. This study reveals two key findings: first, post-PCI patients are heterogeneous in coping, comprising adaptive and maladaptive subgroups; second, the impact of these coping styles on social disability is non-linearly moderated by social support. Clinicians should assess both coping profiles and social support levels to tailor interventions effectively. Show less
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, and most CRCs arise from colorectal adenomas. Early detection and removal of precancerous lesions during the adenoma-carci Show more
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, and most CRCs arise from colorectal adenomas. Early detection and removal of precancerous lesions during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence can significantly reduce CRC risk. However, current clinical practice lacks rapid, noninvasive screening tools for reliable adenoma detection. Proteomic analysis was performed on serum samples from patients with inflammatory polyps (non-neoplastic), patients with adenomas, and healthy controls to identify key differentially expressed proteins capable of distinguishing adenoma patients. The alterations in these candidate proteins were further validated by ELISA to evaluate their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal adenoma. In two independent cohorts, we identified two candidate biomarkers, apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) and filamin A (FLNA), through a multi-step selection process involving ANOVA p-value screening, sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA), and LASSO regression analysis. These candidates were subsequently validated in a third cohort using ELISA. The ELISA results for APOA4 were discordant with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) findings. In contrast, FLNA levels measured by ELISA showed a progressive decrease from healthy controls to patients with inflammatory polyps and further to those with adenomas. We propose FLNA as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of colorectal adenomas. The areas under the ROC curves exceeded 0.7 for both key clinical comparisons: 0.810 for adenomas versus healthy controls, and 0.734 for adenomas versus inflammatory polyps. Overall, this study not only enhances our understanding of the serum proteome in colorectal adenoma but also identifies FLNA as a promising biomarker for its clinical diagnosis. Show less
The prognosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with liver metastasis remains poor, and the molecular mechanisms driving CRC liver metastasis are not fully understood. Tumor-derived hypoxia-induced Show more
The prognosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with liver metastasis remains poor, and the molecular mechanisms driving CRC liver metastasis are not fully understood. Tumor-derived hypoxia-induced extracellular vesicles have emerged as key players in inducing angiogenesis by transferring noncoding RNAs. However, the specific role of CRC-derived hypoxic extracellular vesicles (H-EVs) in regulating premetastatic microenvironment (PMN) formation by inducing angiogenesis remains unclear. Our study demonstrates that H-EVs induce angiogenesis and liver metastasis. Through microRNA microarray analysis, we identified a reduction in miR-6084 levels within H-EVs. We found that miR-6084 inhibited angiogenesis by being transferred to endothelial cells via EVs. In endothelial cells, miR-6084 directly targeted angiopoietin like 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA, thereby suppressing angiogenesis through the ANGPTL4-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, we uncovered that specificity protein 1 (SP1) acted as a transcription factor regulating miR-6084 transcription, while hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) decreased miR-6084 expression by promoting SP1 protein dephosphorylation and facilitating ubiquitin-proteasome degradation in SW620 cells. In clinical samples, we observed low expression of miR-6084 in plasma-derived EVs from CRC patients with liver metastasis. In summary, our findings suggest that CRC-derived H-EVs promote angiogenesis and liver metastasis through the HIF1A/SP1/miR-6084/ANGPTL4 axis. Additionally, miR-6084 holds promise as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CRC liver metastasis. Show less
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted glycoprotein that was discovered in 2000 by three independent laboratories. In the ensuing two and a half decades, extensive work has been conducted to dete Show more
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted glycoprotein that was discovered in 2000 by three independent laboratories. In the ensuing two and a half decades, extensive work has been conducted to determine its physiological and pathological functions. ANGPTL4 has been shown to be involved in many biological processes, including glucose and lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, and wound healing, with implications in diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular (e.g., atherosclerosis) and renal diseases, and cancer. For instance, ANGPTL4 is upregulated in several cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Interestingly, ANGPTL4 has been shown to exhibit both pro-tumor-promoting tumor growth, cell survival, angiogenesis and metastasis-as well as anti-tumor activities, underscoring its complex roles in cancer biology. This review examines the comprehensive biological functions of ANGPTL4 and its contributions to disease mechanisms with a specific emphasis on cancer, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target across different types of human cancers. Show less
Lipid metabolism may be linked to chronic gastritis, but its causal role remains unclear. While current research emphasizes inflammation, mucosal changes, immune regulation, genetics, and the gut micr Show more
Lipid metabolism may be linked to chronic gastritis, but its causal role remains unclear. While current research emphasizes inflammation, mucosal changes, immune regulation, genetics, and the gut microbiota, the contribution of lipid metabolism is understudied. This study aims to evaluate the impact of serum lipids and the mechanistic roles of lipid-lowering drug targets in chronic gastritis. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from real world. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between serum lipid profiles and gastritis. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets were performed to detect the causal relationship of serum lipids, plasma lipid species, and lipid-lowering drug targets. Experimental validation was conducted using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and chemically induced CAG rat models. Four thousand sixty one person, including 1,023 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 1,742 with non-atrophic gastritis (NAG), and 1,296 as healthy population were included in the analysis. Through covariates adjustment, TC, ApoA1, and HDL-C showed to be associated with an increased risk of chronic gastritis, whereas TG exhibited a protective effect. MR analysis confirmed a significant inverse causal relationship between TG and gastritis (OR = 0.889, 95% CI: 0.825-0.958). Ten plasma lipid species and lipid-lowering gene targets, including LPL and APOC3, were identified as causally associated with disease risk. Mediation analysis revealed six plasma lipid species as potential intermediaries linking genetic variation to gastritis. In vivo experiments demonstrated progressive hepatic steatosis and mild gastric mucosal changes in HFD-fed mice. Immunohistochemical analysis further revealed a significant reduction in LPL and APOC3 expression in gastric tissue (P < 0.05). In the CAG rat model, histological analysis revealed hepatocyte disarray, edema, and gastric mucosal atrophy. Elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and decreased levels of GAS-17 and PG I/II were also observed (P < 0.05). Western blot analyses further confirmed the downregulation of LPL and APOC3 expression in gastric tissue (P < 0.05). This study provides genetic and experimental evidence, supporting a causal role of lipid metabolism in chronic gastritis. LPL and APOC3 are implicated in its pathogenesis, highlighting potential lipid-targeted strategies for prevention and treatment. Show less
Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are used for glycemic control in diabetes and show potential Show more
Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are used for glycemic control in diabetes and show potential neuroprotective properties, but their effects on AD and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that GLP-1RAs can alleviate AD-related phenotypes by activating 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. We found that plasma GLP-1 levels were decreased in AD model mice and negatively correlated with amyloid-beta (Aβ) load in patients with AD. Enhancing GLP-1 signaling through GLP-1RAs increased CaMKK2-AMPK signaling, which subsequently reduced BACE1-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ generation. GLP-1RAs also increased AMPK activity in microglia, inhibiting neuroinflammation and promoting Aβ phagocytosis. Consequently, GLP-1RAs inhibited plaque formation and improved memory deficits in AD model mice. Our findings indicate that AMPK activation mediates the effects of GLP-1RAs on AD, highlighting the therapeutic potential of GLP-1RAs for the treatment of AD. Show less
Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) ameliorate motor deficits in cerebral palsy (CP), but the effect of injection frequency remains unclear. Moreover, most studies have focu Show more
Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) ameliorate motor deficits in cerebral palsy (CP), but the effect of injection frequency remains unclear. Moreover, most studies have focused on mild CP models (unilateral carotid artery occlusion [UCAO] model). This study explored the effect and mechanism of hUC-MSCs in a rat model of moderate-to-severe CP (bilateral carotid artery occlusion [BCAO] model). On postnatal Day 4 (P4), Wistar rat pups underwent BCAO induction. Subsequently, they received either a single intrathecal injection of hUC-MSCs on P21 or repeated injections on P21, P28, P35, and P42. Motor performance was assessed using the rotarod and front-limb suspension tests, while neuronal regeneration and inflammation were evaluated via biomarkers including neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), myelin basic protein (MBP), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). P18 model screening confirmed that the BCAO model resulted in more severe brain damage and motor impairment than the UCAO model. After injection of lentivirally transfected hUC-MSCs, it was found that hUC-MSCs could nest in the damaged area and survive for at least 3 days. Administration of hUC-MSCs following BCAO modeling led to notable improvements in both behavioral performance and histological outcomes. Furthermore, repeated injections offered greater therapeutic benefits compared to single injection. It indicated that the efficacy of repeated injections of hUC-MSCs in the treatment of moderate-to-severe CP was superior to that of single injection. Its mechanism was related to the improvement of damaged myelin structure, reduced immunoinflammatory responses, and increased neurotrophic support. Show less
The association between obesity and cholelithiasis has been identified. However, the causal relationship between age-specific childhood obesity and adult cholelithiasis remains unclear. In addition, t Show more
The association between obesity and cholelithiasis has been identified. However, the causal relationship between age-specific childhood obesity and adult cholelithiasis remains unclear. In addition, the biological basis for the association between childhood obesity and adult cholelithiasis is poorly understood, which poses a challenge for preventing adult cholelithiasis in specific biological pathways. Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of childhood age-specific body mass index (BMI) at 12 time points and adult cholelithiasis derived from FinnGen were used in this study, with the former covering data from birth to 8 years. Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analyses were used to assess the genetic correlations of age-specific childhood BMI to cholelithiasis. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses were utilized to explore the causal associations. As downstream analyses, summary-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analyses, transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), and Bayesian colocalization were conducted to discover the shared transcriptomic signals. The GWAS summary statistics of cholelithiasis from the UK Biobank were used for sensitivity analyses. LDSC analyses revealed significant genetic correlations between 11 age-specific childhood BMIs and adult cholelithiasis (except for birth BMI). Two-sample MR and MVMR analyses indicated causal relationships between birth BMI and BMI at 8 months, 1.5 years, 7 years, and 8 years after birth and adult cholelithiasis. SMR, TWAS, and colocalization analyses identified MLXIPL as the strongest overlapping signal between age-specific BMI and adult cholelithiasis. This study provides new evidence on the relationships between childhood obesity and adult cholelithiasis, highlighting the role of early intervention for obesity in childhood at key time points. MLXIPL gene expression was identified as a potential biological pathway, suggesting potential therapeutic targets and precise intervention strategies for childhood obesity and adult cholelithiasis. Show less
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiovascular disorder characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death. Cardiac myosin binding protein C ( Show more
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiovascular disorder characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death. Cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) is the most frequently mutated gene leading to HCM. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from an HCM patient harboring a heterozygous MYBPC3 missense mutation (c.3072C > A; p.S1024R) were reprogrammed via Sendai virus vectors to generate a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line. The iPSC line exhibits normal morphology and karyotype, alongside definitive hallmarks of pluripotency, including trilineage differentiation potential. Show less
The melanocortin system centrally regulates energy homeostasis, with key components such as melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and adenylyl cyclase 3 (ADCY3) in neuronal primary cilia. Mutations in
The causal relationships between the gut microbiota and prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia remain uncertain. We intend to identify the causal connections between the gut mi Show more
The causal relationships between the gut microbiota and prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia remain uncertain. We intend to identify the causal connections between the gut microbiota and prostatic diseases and investigate the potential mechanisms involved. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to elucidate the impact of 196 gut microbiota on prostatic diseases risk. Reverse MR, linkage disequilibrium regression score (LDSC), and colocalization analyses were performed to strengthen causal evidence. Phenome-wide MR (Phe-MR) analysis was used to evaluate the potential side effects of targeting the detected gut microbiota. We designed a two-step MR study to assess the mediating effects of sex hormones, blood metabolites, and proteins. According to the MR analyses, 31 bacterial taxa were causally associated with prostatic diseases, of which 23 types were newly identified. In addition, Our study represents the first comprehensive exploration of the causal effects of the gut microbiota on prostatic diseases and reveals the mediating effects of sex hormones and blood metabolites on the "gut-prostate axis." Show less
Dominant follicular development and atresia are governed by the proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs), a process influenced by the delicate balance between apoptosis and autophagy. Oxidative stress, Show more
Dominant follicular development and atresia are governed by the proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs), a process influenced by the delicate balance between apoptosis and autophagy. Oxidative stress, a pivotal catalyst of GCs apoptosis, modulates gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, including chromatin remodeling. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms underpinning GCs functionality in relation to prolificacy remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, we discovered that the chromatin accessibility of nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1) was markedly enhanced in dominant follicular GCs from low-prolificacy sheep, as evidenced by Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq), which correlated with elevated NR1D1 transcript levels. Remarkably, NR1D1 emerged as a novel regulator of follicular development, exhibiting heightened expression in dominant follicles. The overexpression of NR1D1 induced cell cycle arrest, autophagy activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction via the AMPK pathway, while its knockdown fostered GCs survival and functionality. Furthermore, NR1D1 inhibits the transcription of HSD17B12, thereby contributing to oxidative stress (ROS)-induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by CUT&Tag-qPCR and dual luciferase assays. The downregulation of HSD17B12 partially alleviated the effects of NR1D1 knockdown on GCs functionality. These findings indicate that NR1D1 orchestrates GCs proliferation and apoptosis through the suppression of HSD17B12 and the activation of the AMPK pathway, establishing NR1D1 as a novel transcription factor implicated in follicular development and ovarian function, with significant implications for prolificacy. Show less
Atherosclerosis serves as the core pathological basis of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial diseases, posing a serious threat to human health. However, current mainstream treatme Show more
Atherosclerosis serves as the core pathological basis of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial diseases, posing a serious threat to human health. However, current mainstream treatments such as statin drugs and stent implantation are associated with significant side effects or limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), due to their noninvasive nature and anti-inflammatory properties, show potential in the treatment of atherosclerosis. This study utilized ApoE-/- mice, ApoE-/-NLRP3-/- knockout mice, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), and human plasma samples for experiments, revealing significant endothelial cell (EC) inflammation and pyroptosis during the progression of atherosclerosis. PEMFs were found to effectively inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, reduce plaque formation, and delay the progression of atherosclerosis. Proteomic analysis of plasma from atherosclerosis patients further indicated elevated expression levels of proteins related to inflammation and pyroptosis, with particularly notable changes in membrane proteins. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that PEMFs improve mitochondrial dysfunction in ECs by regulating membrane tension and the mechanosensitive tension-mediated transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels, thereby reducing pyroptosis. This discovery not only reveals a novel mechanobiological pathway but also provides a solid theoretical foundation for the development of PEMF-based therapies for atherosclerosis. Schematic diagram of the mechanism by which PEMFs treat atherosclerosis (created in BioRender). Wei, B. (2025) https://BioRender.com/undefined ). Show less
Astrocytes are key regulators of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Electroacupuncture (EA), a safe and cost-effective adjuvant therapy, has shown benefits in neurodegenerative diseases, bu Show more
Astrocytes are key regulators of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Electroacupuncture (EA), a safe and cost-effective adjuvant therapy, has shown benefits in neurodegenerative diseases, but its astrocyte-related mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that EA at ST36 alleviated blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuroinflammation during the peak period of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Additionally, EA at ST36 upregulated the expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and its receptor melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in spinal astrocytes. Pharmacological studies showed that MC4R agonist RO27-3225 mimicked the therapeutic effects of EA, whereas MC4R antagonist TCMCB07 weakened EA-mediated BBB protection and neuroinflammation suppression. Moreover, astrocyte-specific silencing of MC4R via adeno-associated virus (AAV) weakened EA-mediated BBB protection and neuroinflammation suppression. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and western blot (WB) revealed that EA exerts neuroprotective effects by activating MC4R to inhibit MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Moreover, in MC4R-overexpressing astrocytes, α-MSH and RO27-3225 reduced inflammation responses, while TCMCB07 reversed the effects by MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Collectively, our findings identify astrocytic MC4R as a critical mediator of EA-driven neuroprotection by suppressing MAPK/NF-κB signaling, providing mechanistic insight and a promising therapeutic target for EAE and other neuroinflammatory disorders. Show less
Rubia cordifolia L. (RCL) is a widely used medicinal with a long history. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and prevents apoptosis. While there is growing evidence that exhauste Show more
Rubia cordifolia L. (RCL) is a widely used medicinal with a long history. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and prevents apoptosis. While there is growing evidence that exhausted exercise (EE) might cause cardiac damage, RCL has been shown to provide cardioprotective effects. The effects and mechanisms of RCL on exercise-induced myocardial injury remain unclear. In this study, we tested the RCL extract using a rat model of exhausted swimming. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of RCL on exercise-induced myocardial damage using PCR, ELISA, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, DHE staining, and other methods. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to identify the components of the RCL extract and its blood-entry components, and network pharmacology was constructed. LC-MS was utilized to investigate left ventricular metabolomics. These two approaches were combined to predict the possible metabolic pathways regulated by RCL. Finally, the targets of the metabolic pathway were verified using molecular docking and western blot analysis. The findings suggest that rubioncolin B, 4-hydroxy-2-carbexyanthraquinone, and 9-Oxo-9H-xanthene-4-carboxylic acid may be the primary active compounds of RCL. RCL promotes the degradation pathway of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including valine, leucine, and isoleucine, regulates the proteins BCAT2 and BCKDK, reduces pathological injuries, inflammation, oxidative stress, and collagen deposition, and mitigates the effects of exhaustion-induced myocardial injuries by influencing the key target AKR1C1 and the metabolite L-Valine. This study provides a foundation for the development of RCL as a sports supplement to alleviate EE-induced myocardial injury. Show less
While anticounterfeiting systems based on long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials demonstrate a mature trend, the integration of tunable luminescent lifetimes and emission colors in LPL-based ant Show more
While anticounterfeiting systems based on long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials demonstrate a mature trend, the integration of tunable luminescent lifetimes and emission colors in LPL-based anticounterfeiting systems remains a challenge. Herein, we propose a temporal and spatial anticounterfeiting strategy utilizing novel zero dimensional (0D) metal halides, specifically (PBA) Show less
Genomic structural variants (SVs) are a major source of genetic diversity in humans. Here, through long-read sequencing of 945 Han Chinese genomes, we identify 111,288 SVs, including 24.56% unreported Show more
Genomic structural variants (SVs) are a major source of genetic diversity in humans. Here, through long-read sequencing of 945 Han Chinese genomes, we identify 111,288 SVs, including 24.56% unreported variants, many with predicted functional importance. By integrating human population-level phenotypic and multi-omics data as well as two humanized mouse models, we demonstrate the causal roles of two SVs: one SV that emerges at the common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans in GSDMD for bone mineral density and one modern-human-specific SV in WWP2 impacting height, weight, fat, craniofacial phenotypes and immunity. Our results suggest that the GSDMD SV could serve as a rapid and cost-effective biomarker for assessing the risk of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. The functional conservation from human to mouse and widespread signals of positive natural selection suggest that both SVs likely influence local adaptation, phenotypic diversity, and disease susceptibility across diverse human populations. Show less