👤 Wendy Wu

This study aims to construct a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on palmitoylation-related genes and explore its molecular mechanisms through multi-dimensional analyses. The research integrated single-cell transcriptome data (GSE189903) with bulk transcriptome data (TCGA-LIHC, GEO datasets), focusing on palmitoylation-related genes in HCC epithelial cells. The scAB deconvolution algorithm was used to analyze the association between epithelial cell subsets and patient survival, and hdWGCNA was combined to construct a gene co-expression network. Through differential expression analysis, univariate Cox regression, and LASSO penalized regression, 7 key genes (SERPINE1, FMO3, ALDH2, CPS1, SLCO1B1, ACAT1, ACADS) were identified to build a prognostic risk model. Validation results showed that the model could effectively distinguish the survival prognosis of high-risk and low-risk patients (AUC values for 1/3/5 years in the TCGA cohort were 0.676, 0.656, and 0.642, respectively; those in the GSE14520 validation set were 0.702, 0.658, and 0.654, respectively), and the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. Further analyses revealed that the risk score was associated with tumor staging, immune cell infiltration (e.g., T cells, monocytes), response to immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the high-risk group was enriched in cell cycle regulation and oncogenic signaling pathways, while the low-risk group was related to metabolic pathways. This study is the first to analyze the regulatory network of palmitoylation in HCC epithelial cells by combining single-cell and bulk transcriptomes, providing new molecular targets and methodological references for HCC prognosis evaluation and precision therapy. Show less

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent intermittent hypoxia (IH) and has been increasingly associated with lung cancer incidence and mortality. However, how IH-related biological programs relate to immune remodeling, stemness-associated phenotypes, and therapeutic resistance in lung cancer remains incompletely understood. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing data from IH-exposed murine lung tissues (GSE301350) with bulk transcriptomic datasets from TCGA-LUAD and GSE31210 to examine hypoxia-associated cellular and transcriptional patterns. Stemness was quantified using CytoTRACE and transcriptome-based stemness scoring, and its associations with immune infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, TIDE scores, predicted drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy response were evaluated. A stemness-based prognostic model was constructed using LASSO Cox regression and validated in independent cohorts. Single-cell analysis revealed marked immune remodeling under intermittent hypoxia (IH), including expansion of effector T cells, and monocytes/macrophages, populations alongside reduced B cells and dendritic cells. In human LUAD cohorts, stemness-high tumors were associated with mitochondrial and metabolic stress-related transcriptional programs, and increased expression of immune checkpoint genes (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA4, LAG3). Elevated stemness scores correlated with higher TIDE scores, poorer overall survival, and reduced predicted responsiveness to immunotherapy. LASSO modeling identified a six-gene stemness signature (EIF5A, MELTF, SEMA3C, CPS1, TCN1, SELENOK), that consistently stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups across TCGA and GSE31210 cohorts. Multivariate Cox regression confirmed the risk score as an independent prognostic factor. Drug sensitivity analyses further suggested that stemness-high tumors may exhibit increased susceptibility to selected kinase inhibitors (Dasatinib, A-770041) and metabolic modulators (Phenformin, Salubrinal). OSA-associated IH is linked to stemness-associated transcriptional plasticity, immune suppression, and adverse clinical outcomes in lung cancer. The identified stemness-based gene signature provides a robust prognostic biomarker and highlights potential therapeutic vulnerabilities, supporting integrative strategies that combine stemness and immune -targeted approaches with immunotherapy in OSA-associated lung cancer. Show less

High-risk chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG; OLGA/OLGIM Ⅲ-Ⅳ) carries significant gastric cancer (GC) risk yet lacks reliable gastric stem cell (GSC)-based biomarkers. We evaluated GSC markers LGR5 (proliferative) and TFF2 (protective) for risk stratification. TCGA/GEO bioinformatics analysis preceded immunohistochemical validation in 60 clinical samples. Protein co-expression (Wnt/β-catenin, Ki67, Bax) was assessed. Diagnostic/prognostic power was tested via ROC and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Functional networks were deciphered through GO/KEGG enrichment. High-risk CAG and GC tissues showed LGR5 upregulation and TFF2 downregulation (p < 0.001). IHC confirmed these patterns, with concurrent Wnt activation (β-catenin↑, cyclin D1↑) and proliferation-apoptosis imbalance (Ki67↑, Bax↓). TFF2 outperformed LGR5 in diagnosing high-risk CAG (AUC: 0.842 vs. 0.681). Poor GC prognosis correlated with high LGR5/low TFF2 (p < 0.05). Co-expression networks linked LGR5 to metabolic genes (CPS1, ADH6) and TFF2 to mucosal defense (GKN1, PGC). The coordinated assessment of LGR5 and TFF2 offers a promising approach to identifying high-risk CAG. This biomarker pair captures a homeostatic imbalance in GSCs linked to Wnt/β-catenin signaling, establishing a novel molecular framework for early detection and future targeted strategies. Show less

Apoptosis plays a significant role in osteoporosis (OP), yet a causal relationship between apoptosis gene expressions and OP remains unexplored. This study applies an integrated multi-omics analysis to establish causality between them, offering clinical treatment and prediction insights. Apoptosis-related genes are sourced from GeneCards, and 6 transcriptomic datasets from the cells in the circulation are obtained from GEO. Meta-analysis integrated differentially expressed apoptosis-related genes (DEGs) from the above 6 datasets. Causality between gene expressions, epigenetic changes, and OP is examined using OP genome-wide association study (GWAS), plasma expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), and methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) data, while analysis of skeletal muscle eQTL and OP GWAS data is conducted. External validation is performed with the UK Biobank datasets. Meta-analysis of 6 GEO datasets identified 384 DEGs, including 78 apoptosis-related genes. The three-step analysis indicates 8 candidate causal genes in blood, including MAP3K3, DPP8, RPL3, PPP2CA, CD86, LRRFIP1, TRAP1, and DUSP6, with LRRFIP1 influenced by four methylation sites. Analysis of skeletal muscle data reveals 4 causal genes, including SIPA1L3, PDLIM7, CTNNB1, and DPP8. Among apoptosis-related genes causally linked to OP in both circulation and skeletal muscle, LRRFIP1 was validated based on methylation-associated regulation and demonstrated consistent, reproducible expression patterns. This study uses a multi-omics strategy to clarify the roles of apoptosis-related gene expressions and their corresponding methylation in OP, providing targets and a basis for early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and monitoring of OP. Show less

Primary resistance to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies has limited their widespread application. Our prior genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening revealed that the loss of CD58, a crucial intrinsic resistance factor in tumors, resulted in insufficient immune synapse formation and impaired CAR T-cell activation and cytotoxicity. However, the specific signaling pathway and transcriptional changes associated with CAR T-cell dysfunction have not been addressed. Here, we revealed that AP-1-mediated activation was attenuated in CAR T cells impaired by tumor CD58 loss, driving a decrease in mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic kinetic impairment, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and ROS accumulation. Moreover, this AP-1 attenuation triggered death receptor-independent apoptosis through the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. In seeking therapeutic strategies, we pharmacologically and genetically blocked three distinct inhibitory phosphatases positioned upstream of AP-1 signaling. Multifaceted validation has demonstrated that dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) blockade is an effective approach to supplement AP-1 signaling while notably reducing CAR T-apoptosis and enhancing mitochondrial fitness, proliferation and long-term cytotoxicity. The transcriptomic profiles of DUSP6-ablated CAR T cells revealed markedly upregulated T-cell activation signatures and enriched metabolic pathways. Clinically, bulk and single-cell RNA-seq analyses revealed that DUSP6 was downregulated in patients who responded to T-cell-based immunotherapy, implying its relevance to patient outcomes. Our findings repositioned CD58 not merely as an immune synapse component but also a metabolic checkpoint in CAR T-cell biology, the loss of which triggers AP-1-dependent mitochondrial derangement and creates a permissive landscape for intrinsic apoptosis, which can be ameliorated by ablation of the inhibitory phosphatase DUSP6. Crucially, DUSP6 ablation represents a promising engineering target to potentiate CAR T-cell efficacy in broader applications. Show less

DUSP6, a dual-specificity phosphatase, has become a focal point in understanding the pathogenesis of various liver disorders. This study aims to investigate the role of DUSP6 in liver fibrosis and explore the underlying mechanism. Using a CCL4-induced mouse model, the consistent upregulation of DUSP6 expression was observed. Notably, when Dusp6 was knocked down, liver fibrosis showed significant improvement, revealing a protective effect intricately linked to the ERK pathway. This was accompanied by an increase in ferroptosis-related proteins SLC7A11 and GPX4, underscoring the role of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, in this process. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed a crucial downregulation of Cyp2e1 following Dusp6 knockdown. In vitro, DUSP6 knockdown not only promoted ERK phosphorylation but also suppressed CYP2E1 expression, enhancing cell proliferation, bolstering hepatocyte resistance to ferroptosis, and alleviating hepatocyte injury. Importantly, inhibiting CYP2E1 in mouse models of liver fibrosis effectively slowed the progression. These findings illuminate a critical regulatory mechanism that DUSP6 regulates liver fibrosis via targeting ferroptosis, offering new a direction for therapeutic strategies in liver disease. Show less

There is a close connection between aging and osteoarthritis (OA), but the specific mechanisms are still unclear. This study aims to explore the potential connections and molecular mechanisms between OA and aging through multi-omics and genetics methods. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk RNA-seq data, Mendelian randomization (MR), colocalization analysis, and cell function analysis, this study explores the correlation between OA and aging. Furthermore, it investigates the potential causal relationship between key marker genes and OA. Integrating and analyzing scRNA-seq data from OA, aging, and control groups revealed a significant increase in the proportion of the classical monocyte core subgroup. Differential expression analysis yielded 77 marker genes, and further MR analysis identified four key marker genes (DUSP6, CSTA, CD300E, and GPX1) as causally related to OA, which was confirmed in an independent validation cohort. Reverse MR and Steiger filtering indicated no evidence of reverse causality. DUSP6- and CSTA-classical monocytes may interact with other cell subgroups through the MIF-(CD74 + CD44) signaling pathway. This study revealed the heterogeneity of monocyte subgroups in OA and aging patients, identifying key marker genes with a causal relationship to OA through an integrated multi-omics approach, providing potential molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment of OA from an aging perspective. Show less

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has emerged as a significant global public health concern, with membranous Nephropathy (MN) being the most prevalent pathological type of nephrotic syndrome in adults. MN is classified as an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease. There is a growing interest in the research of MN-related antigens. Furthermore, the treatment of MN predominantly relies on the administration of immunosuppressants, with traditional regimens such as corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, which have significant side effects, and rituximab, having a 35-40% failure rate, highlighting the critical need for the development of specific and effective immunotherapy strategies. In this review, we summarized the research progress on newly discovered MN-related antigens, including exostosin 1/exostosin 2(EXT1/EXT2), Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (NCAM-1), Neural Epidermal Growth Factor-like 1 (NELL-1), Contactin 1 (CNTN1), Semaphorin 3B, High-Temperature Recombinant Protein A1 (HTRA1), protocadherin FAT atypical cadherin 1(FAT1) and Protocadherin 7(PCDH7). Among them, NELL-1 and HTRA1 primarily serve as target antigens for primary MN, and their serum antibody titers show a strong correlation with disease activity. While EXT1/EXT2, NCAM1, CNTN-1, and FAT1 mainly act as target antigens for secondary MN. In addition, we evaluated the clinical applications and efficacy of novel immunosuppressants and therapeutic approaches, including new anti-CD20 antibodies, proteasome inhibitors, anti-plasma cell therapies, belimumab, complement inhibitors, and immunoadsorption. The new anti-CD20 agents represented by obalimumab and obinutuzumab, along with anti-plasma cell therapies such as daratumumab, have emerged as ideal alternatives for patients with rituximab resistance. Other therapeutic approaches, including complement inhibitors, immunoadsorption, and belimumab, have also exhibited their unique advantages. Show less

Long-term antigen-specific data in PMN among Chinese populations remain limited. This study evaluated six target antigens and their clinical significance during extended follow-up. We retrospectively analyzed 132 treatment-naïve PMN patients diagnosed by biopsy (2010-2018) and followed for a median of 62.9 months. Renal tissue expression of PLA2R, THSD7A, NELL-1, PCDH7, EXT1, and EXT2 was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and serum anti-PLA2R antibodies were measured by ELISA. Associations between antigen profiles and 5-year outcomes (remission, renal survival, malignancy) were evaluated. PLA2R was the predominant antigen (84.1%), followed by THSD7A (5.3%) and NELL-1 (0.76%); no PCDH7, EXT1, or EXT2 positivity was detected. PLA2R-negative patients were more often female (71.4% vs. 36.0%, This >5-year Chinese PMN cohort provides the first comprehensive analysis of six target antigens. PLA2R remains predominant, while PLA2R-negative patients distinct immunopathologic features yet favorable long-term outcomes. A population-specific anti-PLA2R cutoff showed good diagnostic performance for predicting tissue antigen deposition. Rare antigens were infrequent and their malignancy associations require cautious interpretation. These findings provide long-term antigen-specific data supporting antigen-guided, population-adapted precision management of PMN. Show less

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is one of the most prevalent neurological complications in elderly surgical patients. Dysregulated lipid metabolism is a hallmark of aging and is strongly associated with cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate whether ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism contribute to PND and examined whether fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) represents a key regulatory link between fatty acid metabolism and PND in aged mice. An anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction model was established Anesthesia/surgery significantly upregulated hippocampal FADS1 expression (1.91-fold [0.37] vs. 1.00-fold [0.43]; These findings highlight anesthesia/surgery could disrupt ω-6 PUFA metabolism, notably activating the PGD The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03678-y. Show less

Brain aging is characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. With the growth of the population and advances in medical care, the size of the aging population is increasing. Therefore, the discovery of anti-aging drugs has become a popular topic in recent years. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been reported to inhibit oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and delay senescence. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21) on senescence in the brain in a mouse model of D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging. The behavioral tests revealed that rhFGF21 improved D-gal-induced learning and memory impairment in mice. RhFGF21 improved the morphology of cortical and hippocampal neurons and increased the expression of PSD95 in the model mice. RhFGF21 reduced the number of microglia and astrocytes in the cortex and hippocampus, increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (GSH-PX, CAT, and SOD), and inhibited the expression of p-NFκB and p53 proteins, as well as the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and iNOS). SIRT1 regulates senescence and inflammation, and FGF21 participates in physiological and pathological processes by binding to the FGFR1. Therefore, we measured SIRT1 and activated FGFR1 (p-FGFR1) levels. RhFGF21 administration increased the expression of cortical and hippocampal SIRT1 and p-FGFR1 in D-gal-induced aging mice. These data suggested that rhFGF21 alleviated learning and memory impairment in a mouse model of D-gal-induced aging by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, inhibiting inflammation, and senescence-related gene expression via modulating FGFR1 and SIRT1. Show less

High mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) is a chromatin regulator overexpressed in various cancers, often predicting poor outcomes. However, its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. A hallmark of HNSCC is the rapid growth of its vasculature. Here, we identify an epigenetic mechanism whereby HMGA1 promotes tumor progression and angiogenesis via upregulation of fibroblast growth factor-binding protein 1 (FGFBP1). Show less

Intercellular communication is governed by the spatiotemporal dynamics of protein complexes at the cell-cell interface. However, conventional static interaction models fail to incorporate key physical constraints, such as steric hindrance, spatial compartmentalization, and dimensionality reduction that regulate complex assembly in vivo. To bridge the gap between static network topology and dynamic systems biology, we developed a multi-scale computational framework. We first identified a highly conserved, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1)-centered cell adhesion and signaling motif by analyzing a diverse set of human cell-cell interfaces. We then constructed a multi-layer spatial stochastic simulator to recapitulate and interrogate the dynamic behavior of this network motif at cell-cell interfaces. Atomic-resolution structural models of the protein complexes within the motif were further generated using AlphaFold to define interaction rules for the stochastic simulations by categorizing binding interfaces. Our results show that the structural arrangement of cell-cell adhesion complexes controls how FGFR1 receptors cluster at the cell-cell interface, effectively dividing the membrane into distinct functional microdomains. Competition from decoy receptors further regulates this process by capturing receptors before they can participate in signaling. Even small changes in binding affinity can therefore alter receptor organization and disrupt normal signal transduction, which may contribute to human disease. By integrating macro-scale interactomics, atomic-level structural bioinformatics, and mesoscale stochastic modeling, this study reveals how structural interaction rules, combined with spatial constraints, shape the formation and function of intercellular signaling networks. Show less

Myelin debris accumulation after spinal cord injury (SCI) drives persistent neuroinflammation, lysosomal dysfunction, and lipid overload in macrophages, ultimately impairing tissue repair. Here, we identify fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) as a previously unrecognized regulator of macrophage-mediated myelin debris clearance. Endogenous FGF4 transiently increased in the early phase of SCI but rapidly declined. Using in vitro models, we demonstrate that exogenous FGF4 markedly enhances myelin debris phagocytosis through activation of the FGFR1-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, leading to upregulation of Clec10a, a C-type lectin receptor not previously linked to myelin debris processing. Silencing Clec10a significantly mitigated the phagocytic and neuroprotective benefits of FGF4, supporting Clec10a as an important mediator of this response. D-GalNAc competitive inhibition assays showed that Clec10a does not rely on the conserved carbohydrate-recognition domain to bind to myelin debris. FGF4 enhanced the maturation and degradative efficiency of the endolysosomal system, driving internalized myelin debris through Rab5 The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-026-03743-0. Show less

To characterize whole-brain cortical thickness alteration in Kallmann syndrome (KS), assess its correlation with cognitive impairment, and explore the genetic association and extrapolated transcriptional underpinning. We prospectively recruited 100 patients with KS and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent high-resolution structural MRI and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment targeting global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), executive function and inhibitory control (Stroop Color and Word Test, SCWT), cognitive flexibility (Trail Making Test, TMT), working memory (Digit Span Test, DST), and visuospatial memory (Visual Reproduction task, VR). Cortical thickness and subcortical volumes were quantified using FreeSurfer. In the KS cohort, we examined brain-cognition correlations, performed exploratory genetic association analysis using whole-exome sequencing, and conducted extrapolated neuroimaging-transcription analysis using the Allen Human Brain Atlas (http://human.brain-map.org/) to identify underlying biological pathways. Compared to the healthy controls, patients with KS exhibited significant cognitive deficits, with 36% MoCA scoring below the clinical cutoff for cognitive impairment. Domain-specific analysis revealed impairments in SCWT-C, DST-Backward, TMT-B, and VR (all P-value < .05). Structurally, patients showed bilateral increased cortical thickness predominantly in the fronto-limbic circuit (orbitofrontal and subgenual cingulate cortices) and default mode network (voxel P-value < .001, cluster random field theory corrected P-value < .05), alongside bilateral hippocampal enlargement (P-FDR = .048). Crucially, the cortical thickness in these fronto-limbic regions was negatively correlated with SCWT-C and DST. Exploratory genetic analysis linked variants in genes such as OTUD4 and FGFR1 to cognitive variability (TMT-A and VR). Furthermore, the spatial pattern of cortical thickening was significantly associated with extrapolated gene expression profiles enriched for neurodevelopment, neuronal migration, and synaptic function. This study identified cortical thickening involved in fronto-limbic and default mode network as key neuroanatomical signatures of the patients with KS, which was associated with cognitive impairment. Specific genetic variants may further modulate the structural alterations and cognitive functioning in patients with KS. Show less

Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC; OMIM No. 604169) is anatomically characterized by excess trabeculation and deep intertrabecular recesses. It is the third most prevalent pediatric cardiomyopathy. Despite its clinical significance, the pathogenesis of LVNC remains uncertain. We examined Numb expression in epicardial cells (EpiCs) and epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) using a mCherry::Numb knock-in mouse line; used Numb is enriched in EpiCs and EPDCs. In EDKO hearts, EPDCs displayed abnormal differentiation, and their migration was arrested at the outer compact zone, resulting in the absence of EPDCs in the inner compact zone and trabeculae. The EDKO hearts displayed LVNC, and inducible EpiC-specific Ablation of NFPs (Numb family proteins) in EpiCs disrupted the invasion and differentiation of EPDCs and the communication between cardiomyocytes and other cells, and caused LVNC. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition and compaction defects can be partially rescued by exogenous Fgf2 supplementation. Our findings highlight an essential role for the epicardial NFPs-Fgf/Fgfr axis in regulating ventricular compaction. Show less

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) has gained recognition as a compelling therapeutic target in oncology. We present LHQ766, a novel orally bioavailable FGFR2 inhibitor demonstrating exceptional potency and selectivity, through optimization of our previously reported FGFR2 inhibitor 7. The structures and purity of all target compounds were confirmed by Show less

Molecular genetic testing was performed on a fetus with ectrodactyly of the right foot to clarify the pathogenic cause and provide evidence for prenatal counseling. Trio whole-exome sequencing (trio-WES) was performed on the fetus and his parents to identify the underlying genetic cause. Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing, and their molecular effects were analyzed through minigene assays. Trio-WES identified a novel heterozygous variant (c.1977+1G>C) in FGFR1, which is consistent with FGFR1-related Hartsfield syndrome (HS; OMIM#615465). Sanger sequencing confirmed that this variant was de novo. The minigene assay revealed that all variants (c.1977+1G>C, c.1977+1G>A, and c.1977+1G>T) at the splice site generated two aberrant splicing events: (1) complete retention of intron 14, leading to a frameshift and premature termination codon; and (2) skipping of exon 14, causing an in-frame deletion of 41 amino acids. These events collectively impaired the function of the FGFR1 protein's tyrosine kinase domain. To our knowledge, prenatal reports of FGFR1-related HS remain extremely limited, and this is the first molecularly confirmed prenatal diagnosis of HS in China. The findings not only expand the mutational spectrum of HS but also provide genetic counseling and reproductive guidance for this family. Show less

The yellow oil crab is a highly valuable aquatic species, with the accumulation of nutritional and flavor compounds closely linked to the degree of gonadal degeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms of gonadal degeneration remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the differences in gene expression and metabolite accumulation across three gonadal degeneration stages (QX, GX, and TSX) in yellow oil crab using transcriptome and non-targeted metabolomics approaches, and identified key genes and metabolites involved. A total of 240 differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified, most of which were significantly more highly accumulated in GX and TSX than in QX. K-means clustering analysis of DAMs and gene expression data revealed distinct stage-specific expression patterns from QX to TSX stage. Moreover, the “steroid hormone biosynthesis” pathway was significantly enriched, with 15 highly expressed steroid hormones and their derivatives in GX and TSX. 7 types of key genes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis (such as Therefore, the identified differential steroid hormones and seven key genes were positively associated with gonadal degeneration in yellow oil crab. These results offer a theoretical basis for understanding the formation and aquaculture of the yellow oil crab. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-026-12597-y. Show less

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: standard diet (C, n = 10) and high-fat diet (HFD, n = 30). After 8 weeks of HFD feeding, 24 obese rats were further randomised into three subgroups: HFD (H, n = 8), HFD + moderate-intensity training (HMT, n = 8), and HFD + HIIT (HHT, n = 8). The HMT and HHT groups underwent 8 week training interventions (six sessions/week). The HMT protocol included a 10 min warm-up (treadmill speed: 10 m/min), a 40 min moderate-intensity aerobic phase (60%-70% of maximum speed), and a 10 min recovery (10 m/min). The HHT protocol featured 10 min warm-up and recovery phases (10 m/min), with 40 min of alternating treadmill training: 3 min at 50% maximum speed followed by 3 min at 90% maximum speed. No significant differences in body weight were observed between the HHT and HMT groups. HHT rats displayed significantly lower plasma triglyceride levels than H and HMT rats. Compared with HMT, HHT reduced adipose mass and adipocyte size and increased mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activities in adipose tissue. However, HHT rats displayed lower COX activity in visceral white adipose tissue than HMT rats. Training upregulated browning-related genes and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in adipose tissue, with stronger effects in HHT than in HMT. Plasma and adipose tissue IL-27 levels, as well as p38 MAPK-PGC-1α signalling pathway activation, were significantly elevated in both training groups, with greater increases in HHT. HIIT promotes adipose tissue browning by activating the IL-27 signalling pathway and ameliorates obesity-associated metabolic disorders more effectively than MAIT, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for obesity. Show less

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, considered one of the most plausible pathogenic hypotheses underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD), plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of this devastating condition. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have demonstrated promising neuroprotective effects in both preclinical and clinical studies. Previously, we developed an orally-administered GLP-1RA peptide called OHP2, which is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier for the treatment of AD. OHP2 has been shown to effectively reduce brain inflammation in AD mouse models. In this study, we discovered that OHP2 treatment induced IL-27 secretion from astrocytes and modulated microglial reprogramming from the neurotoxic M1 phenotype to the neuroprotective M2 phenotype through glycolysis/cGAS lactylation clock/mTOR pathway, thereby alleviating excessive neuroinflammation. These findings provide a rationale for further pharmacological investigations into OHP2 and suggest that IL-27 may hold significant implications for AD therapy as a metabolic regulator. [Image: see text] The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03683-1. Show less

Persistent chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The immunosuppressive tissue microenvironment in the liver restricts the immune response, potentially facilitating persistent HBV infection. This study examined the expression of immunity-related factors in the liver in response to HBV. We performed gene expression profiling on mice subjected to HBV DNA hydrodynamic transfection to identify transcriptomic changes. The expression of IL-27 was validated through Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemical staining. Liver macrophages in mice were depleted using clodronate-liposomes to evaluate their role in IL-27 production. IL-27 knockout mice were generated to examine the effects of IL-27 deficiency on CD8 T cell dysfunction and HBV persistence. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that IL-27 is significantly induced in the liver in response to HBV DNA. The elevated levels of IL-27 are strongly correlated with HBV persistence and are linked to CD8 T cell dysfunction, characterized by increased expression of PD-1 and Tim-3, along with reduced IFN-γ production in liver-infiltrating T cells. Furthermore, depleting macrophage-lineage cells using clodronate-liposomes significantly reduces IL-27 production in the liver and promotes viral clearance. Additionally, mice with IL-27 deficiency exhibit enhanced HBV clearance and restored CD8 T cell function. Collectively, IL-27 is significantly induced by HBV in the liver, and its production is strongly associated with HBV persistence and CD8 T cell dysfunction. This highlights the immunosuppressive role of IL-27 in the liver microenvironment and suggests that IL-27 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for HBV infection. Show less