Characterization of a wheat stable QTL for spike length and its genetic effects on yield-related traits

Spike length (SL) is one of the most important agronomic traits affecting yield potential and stability in wheat. In this study, a major stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) for SL, i.e., qSl-2B, was detected in multiple environments in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population, KJ-RILs, derived from a cross between Kenong 9204 (KN9204) and Jing 411 (J411). The qSl-2B QTL was mapped to the 60.06-73.06 Mb region on chromosome 2B and could be identified in multiple mapping populations. An InDel molecular marker in the target region was developed based on a sequence analysis of the two parents. To further clarify the breeding use potential of qSl-2B, we analyzed its genetic effects and breeding selection effect using both the KJ-RIL population and a natural mapping population, which consisted of 316 breeding varieties/advanced lines. The results showed that the qSl-2B alleles from KN9204 showed inconsistent genetic effects on SL in the two mapping populations. Moreover, in the KJ-RILs population, the additive effects analysis of qSl-2B showed that additive effect was higher when both qSl-2D and qSl-5A harbor negative alleles under LN and HN. In China, a moderate selection utilization rate for qSl-2B was found in the Huanghuai winter wheat area and the selective utilization rate for qSl-2B continues to increase. The above findings provided a foundation for the genetic improvement of wheat SL in the future via molecular breeding strategies.

Quantitative trait loci detection for three tiller-related traits and the effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields

KEY MESSAGE

A total of 38 putative additive QTLs and 55 pairwise putative epistatic QTLs for tiller-related traits were reported, and the candidate genes underlying qMtn-KJ-5D, a novel major and stable QTL for maximum tiller number, were characterized. Tiller-related traits play an important role in determining the yield potential of wheat. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the genetic basis for tiller number when attempting to use genetic improvement as a tool for enhancing wheat yields. In this study, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of three tiller-related traits was performed on the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a mapping population, referred to as KJ-RILs, that was derived from a cross between the Kenong 9204 (KN9204) and Jing 411 (J411) lines. A total of 38 putative additive QTLs and 55 pairwise putative epistatic QTLs for spike number per plant (SNPP), maximum tiller number (MTN), and ear-bearing tiller rate (EBTR) were detected in eight different environments. Among these QTLs with additive effects, three major and stable QTLs were first documented herein. Almost all but two pairwise epistatic QTLs showed minor interaction effects accounting for no more than 3.0% of the phenotypic variance. The genetic effects of two colocated major and stable QTLs, i.e., qSnpp-KJ-5D.1 and qMtn-KJ-5D, for yield-related traits were characterized. The breeding selection effect of the beneficial allele for the two QTLs was characterized, and its genetic effects on yield-related traits were evaluated. The candidate genes underlying qMtn-KJ-5D were predicted based on multi-omics data, and TraesKN5D01HG00080 was identified as a likely candidate gene. Overall, our results will help elucidate the genetic architecture of tiller-related traits and can be used to develop novel wheat varieties with high yields.

Fine mapping of a major QTL, qKl-1BL controlling kernel length in common wheat

KEY MESSAGE

A major stable QTL, qKl-1BL, for kernel length of wheat was narrowed down to a 2.04-Mb interval on chromosome 1BL; the candidate genes were predicated and the genetic effects on yield-related traits were characterized. As a key factor influencing kernel weight, wheat kernel shape is closely related to yield formation, and in turn affects both wheat processing quality and market value. Fine mapping of the major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for kernel shape could provide genetic resources and a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of wheat yield-related traits. In this study, a major QTL for kernel length (KL) on 1BL, named qKl-1BL, was identified from the recombinant inbred lines (RIL) in multiple environments based on the genetic map and physical map, with 4.76-21.15% of the phenotypic variation explained. To fine map qKl-1BL, the map-based cloning strategy was used. By using developed InDel markers, the near-isogenic line (NIL) pairs and eight key recombinants were identified from a segregating population containing 3621 individuals derived from residual heterozygous lines (RHLs) self-crossing. In combination with phenotype identification, qKl-1BL was finely positioned into a 2.04-Mb interval, KN1B:698.15-700.19 Mb, with eight differentially expressed genes enriched at the key period of kernel elongation. Based on transcriptome analysis and functional annotation information, two candidate genes for qKl-1BL controlling kernel elongation were identified. Additionally, genetic effect analysis showed that the superior allele of qKl-1BL from Jing411 could increase KL, thousand kernel weight (TKW), and yield per plant (YPP) significantly, as well as kernel bulk density and stability time. Taken together, this study identified a QTL interval for controlling kernel length with two possible candidate genes, which provides an important basis for qKl-1BL cloning, functional analysis, and application in molecular breeding programs.

Synthesize magnetic ZnFe2O4@C/Cd0.9Zn0.1S catalysts with S-scheme heterojunction to achieve extraordinary hydrogen production efficiency

Suppressing the electron-hole recombination rate of catalyst legitimately is one of the effective strategies to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, carbon-coated metal oxide, ZnFe2O4@C (ZFO@C), nanoparticles were synthesized and employed to couple with quadrupedal Cd0.9Zn0.1S (CZS) via an ordinary ultrasonic self-assembly method combined with calcination to form a novel ZFO@C/CZS catalyst with step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was conducted to verify the enhanced photoactivity of ZFO@C/CZS. The optimal ZFO@C/CZS exhibits an extraordinary photocatalytic HER rate of 111.3 ± 0.9 mmol g-1 h-1 under visible-light irradiation, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency as high as (76.2 ± 0.9)% at 450 nm. Additionally, the as-synthesized ZFO@C/CZS composite exhibits high stability and recyclability. The excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance should arise from the formed S-scheme heterojunction and the unique ZFO@C core-shell structure, which inhibit electron hole recombination as well as provide more reactive sites. The pathway of S-scheme charge transfer was validated through density functional theory calculations and electrochemical measurements. This work provides a rational strategy for the synthesis of unique magnetic S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for water splitting under visible light irradiation.

Biomarkers predicting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a transformative approach in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite their success, challenges persist, including concerns about their effectiveness, treatment costs, frequent occurrence of treatment-related adverse events, and tumor hyperprogression. Therefore, it is imperative to identify indicators capable of predicting the efficacy of ICIs treatment, enabling optimal patient selection to maximize clinical benefits while minimizing unnecessary toxic side effects and economic losses. This review paper categorizes prognostic biomarkers of ICIs treatment into the following categories: biochemical and cytological indicators, tumor-related markers, imaging and personal features, etiology, gut microbiome, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). By organizing these indicators systematically, we aim to guide biomarker exploration and inform clinical treatment decisions.

Characterization and fine mapping analysis of a major stable QTL qKnps-4A for kernel number per spike in wheat

KEY MESSAGE

A major stable QTL for kernel number per spike was narrowed down to a 2.19-Mb region containing two potential candidate genes, and its effects on yield-related traits were characterized. Kernel number per spike (KNPS) in wheat is a key yield component. Dissection and characterization of major stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for KNPS would be of considerable value for the genetic improvement of yield potential using molecular breeding technology. We had previously reported a major stable QTL controlling KNPS, qKnps-4A. In the current study, primary fine-mapping analysis, based on the primary mapping population, located qKnps-4A to an interval of approximately 6.8-Mb from 649.0 to 655.8 Mb on chromosome 4A refering to 'Kenong 9204' genome. Further fine-mapping analysis based on a secondary mapping population narrowed qKnps-4A to an approximately 2.19-Mb interval from 653.72 to 655.91 Mb. Transcriptome sequencing, gene function annotation analysis and homologous gene related reports showed that TraesKN4A01HG38570 and TraesKN4A01HG38590 were most likely to be candidate genes of qKnps-4A. Phenotypic analysis based on paired near-isogenic lines in the target region showed that qKnps-4A increased KNPS mainly by increasing the number of central florets per spike. We also evaluated the effects of qKnps-4A on other yield-related traits. Moreover, we dissected the QTL cluster of qKnps-4A and qTkw-4A and proved that the phenotypic effects were probably due to close linkage of two or more genes rather than pleiotropic effects of a single gene. This study provides molecular marker resource for wheat molecular breeding designed to improve yield potential, and lay the foundation for gene functional analysis of qKnps-4A.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone alleviates natural aging-related osteoporosis via a novel MCM3-Keap1-Nrf2 axis-mediated stress response and Fbn1 upregulation

Age-related osteoporosis is associated with increased oxidative stress and cellular senescence. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a water-soluble vitamin-like compound that has strong antioxidant capacity; however, the effect and underlying mechanism of PQQ on aging-related osteoporosis remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary PQQ supplementation can prevent osteoporosis caused by natural aging, and the potential mechanism underlying PQQ antioxidant activity. Here, we found that when 6-month-old or 12-month-old wild-type mice were supplemented with PQQ for 12 months or 6 months, respectively, PQQ could prevent age-related osteoporosis in mice by inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption and stimulating osteoblastic bone formation. Mechanistically, pharmmapper screening and molecular docking studies revealed that PQQ appears to bind to MCM3 and reduces its ubiquitination-mediated degradation; stabilized MCM3 then competes with Nrf2 for binding to Keap1, thus activating Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling. PQQ-induced Nrf2 activation inhibited bone resorption through increasing stress response capacity and transcriptionally upregulating fibrillin-1 (Fbn1), thus reducing Rankl production in osteoblast-lineage cells and decreasing osteoclast activation; as well, bone formation was stimulated by inhibiting osteoblastic DNA damage and osteocyte senescence. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockout significantly blunted the inhibitory effects of PQQ on oxidative stress, on increased osteoclast activity and on the development of aging-related osteoporosis. This study reveals the underlying mechanism of PQQ's strong antioxidant capacity and provides evidence for PQQ as a potential agent for clinical prevention and treatment of natural aging-induced osteoporosis.

Diagnostic Efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Detecting Bone Marrow Infiltration in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Objective

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is often associated with bone marrow infiltration, and 2-deoxy-2-(18F) fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) has potential diagnostic significance for bone marrow infiltration in DLBCL.

Methods

A total of 102 patients diagnosed with DLBCL between September 2019 and August 2022 were included. Bone marrow biopsy and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT examinations were performed at the time of initial diagnosis. Kappa tests were used to evaluate the agreement of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT with the gold standard, and the imaging features of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration on PET/CT were described.

Results

The total detection rate of bone marrow infiltration was not significantly different between PET/CT and primary bone marrow biopsy ( P = 0.302) or between the two bone marrow biopsies ( P = 0.826). The sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index of PET/CT for the diagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration were 0.923 (95% CI, 0.759-0.979), 0.934 (95% CI, 0.855-0.972), and 0.857, respectively.

Conclusion

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT has a comparable efficiency in the diagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration. PET/CT-guided bone marrow biopsy can reduce the misdiagnosis of DLBCL bone marrow infiltration.

Safety and Clinical Response to Combined Immunotherapy with Autologous iNKT Cells and PD-1+CD8+ T Cells in Patients Failing First-line Chemotherapy in Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose

A phase I clinical trial was conducted to assess the safety and feasibility of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells combined with PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and failing the first-line chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Fifteen eligible patients were enrolled, of whom 9 received at least three cycles of treatment each. In total, 59 courses were administered.

Results

Fever was the most common adverse event, peaking at about 2-4 hours after cell infusion and reverting within 24 hours without treatment in all patients. Influenza-like reactions such as headache, myalgia, and arthralgia were also observed in 4, 4, and 3 of the patients, respectively. In addition, vomiting and dizziness were prevalent, while abdominal pain, chest pain, rash, and stuffy nose were rare adverse events, each reported in 1 patient. Side effects above grade 2 were not observed. Two patients achieved partial regression, while 1 patient experienced disease progression assessed 4 weeks after the third course. Three patients are still alive at the time of writing and have progression-free survival longer than 12 months. The overall survival time has been extended to over 12 months in 6 of the 9 patients. No constant changes of CD4⁺ T, B, and NK cells were recorded except for elevated CD8⁺ T cells after the first course.

Conclusions

The combination of autologous iNKT cells and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells was a safe therapeutic strategy against advanced pancreatic cancer. The patients exhibited a potentially promising prolonged survival time. Further study appears warranted to evaluate the efficacy of these combined cell infusions in pancreatic cancer.

Trial registration

This trial was included in the clinical trial which was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID:NCT03093688) on March 15, 2017.

Significance

There is an unmet need for novel, more effective, and tolerable therapies for pancreatic cancer. Here we present a phase I clinical trial employing iNKT cells combined with PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in 9 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and failing the first-line chemotherapy. The combined immunotherapy was shown to be feasible in the enrolled patients with limited side effects and optimistic clinical responses, which could bring opportunity of therapeutic advancement.

17β-estradiol plays the anti-osteoporosis role via a novel ESR1-Keap1-Nrf2 axis-mediated stress response activation and Tmem119 upregulation

Increased oxidative stress and decreased osteoblastic bone formation contribute to estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. However, the role and mechanism of estrogen-deficiency in regulating oxidative stress and osteoblastic activity remain unclear. Here, we showed that estrogen-deficient bone marrow stromal/stem cells (BMSCs) exhibited impaired capacity to combat stress, characterized by increased oxidative stress, shortened cell survival and reduced osteogenic differentiation and bone formation, which were due to a decrease of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 re-activation induced by the pyrazinyl dithiolethione oltipraz significantly rescued the cell phenotype of estrogen-deficient BMSCs in vitro and ex vivo. Mechanistically, we found that 17β-estradiol/ESR1 (Estrogen Receptor 1) facilitated Nrf2 accumulation, and activated its target genes by competing with Nrf2 for binding to Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) via ESR1 containing a highly conserved DLL motif. Of note, oltipraz, an Nrf2 activator, rescued ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis partly by inhibiting oxidative stress and promoting osteoblastic bone formation via Nrf2-induced antioxidant signaling activation and Tmem119 (transmembrane protein 119) upregulation. Conversely, Nrf2 knockout largely blocked the bone anabolic effect of 17β-estradiol in vivo and ex vivo. This study provides insight into the mechanisms whereby estrogen prevents osteoporosis through promoting osteoblastic bone formation via Nrf2-mediated activation of antioxidant signaling and upregulation of Tmem119, and thus provides evidence for Nrf2 as a potential target for clinical prevention and treatment of menopause-related osteoporosis.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Deficiency Accelerates Aging-related Osteoarthritis via Downregulation of Sirt1 in Mice

Emerging observational data suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the relationship between vitamin D level and OA and the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of knee OA are controversial. To address these issues, we analyzed the articular cartilage phenotype of 6- and 12-month-old wild-type and 1α(OH)ase^-/- mice and found that 1,25(OH)₂D deficiency accelerated the development of age-related spontaneous knee OA, including cartilage surface destruction, cartilage erosion, proteoglycan loss and cytopenia, increased OARSI score, collagen X and Mmp13 positive chondrocytes, and increased chondrocyte senescence with senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). 1,25(OH)₂D₃ supplementation rescued all knee OA phenotypes of 1α(OH)ase^-/- mice in vivo, and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ rescued IL-1β-induced chondrocyte OA phenotypes in vitro, including decreased chondrocyte proliferation and cartilage matrix protein synthesis, and increased oxidative stress and cell senescence. We also demonstrated that VDR was expressed in mouse articular chondrocytes, and that VDR knockout mice exhibited knee OA phenotypes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the down-regulation of Sirt1 in articular chondrocytes of 1α(OH)ase^-/- mice was corrected by supplementing 1,25(OH)₂D₃ or overexpression of Sirt1 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ up-regulated Sirt1 through VDR mediated transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that overexpression of Sirt1 in MSCs rescued knee OA phenotypes in 1α(OH)ase^-/- mice. Thus, we conclude that 1,25(OH)₂D_3, via VDR-mediated gene transcription, plays a key role in preventing the onset of aging-related knee OA in mouse models by up-regulating Sirt1, an aging-related gene that promotes articular chondrocyte proliferation and extracellular matrix protein synthesis, and inhibits senescence and SASP.

Improving the ex vivo expansion of human tumor-reactive CD8 + T cells by targeting toll-like receptors

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important pattern recognition receptor(s) known to mediate the sensing of invading pathogens and subsequent immune responses. In this study, we investigate whether TLRs could be explored for the preparation of human CD8+ T cell products used in adoptive cell therapy (ACT). Following characterization of TLRs expression on human CD8+ T cells, we screened TLR-specific agonists for their ability to act in concert with anti-CD3 to stimulate the proliferation of these cells and corroborated the observed co-stimulatory effect by transcriptional profiling analyses. Consequently, we developed an optimal formulation for human CD8+ T cell amplification by combining CD3/CD28 antibody, interleukin 7 (IL-7), interleukin 15 (IL-15), and three agonists respectively targeting TLR1/2, TLR2/6, and TLR5. This new formulation performed better in amplifying PD-1+CD8+ T cells, a potential repertoire of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells, from tumor patients than the conventional formulation. Importantly, the expanded CD8+ T cells showed restored functionality and consequently a robust anti-tumor activity in an in vitro co-culturing system. Together, our study established the utility of TLR agonists in ex vivo expansion of tumor-targeting CD8+ T cells, thus providing a new avenue toward a more effective ACT.

Calcareous Materials Effectively Reduce the Accumulation of Cd in Potatoes in Acidic Cadmium-Contaminated Farmland Soils in Mining Areas

The in situ chemical immobilization method reduces the activity of heavy metals in soil by adding chemical amendments. It is widely used in farmland soil with moderate and mild heavy metal pollution due to its high efficiency and economy. However, the effects of different materials depend heavily on environmental factors such as soil texture, properties, and pollution levels. Under the influence of lead-zinc ore smelting and soil acidification, Cd is enriched and highly activated in the soils of northwestern Guizhou, China. Potato is an important economic crop in this region, and its absorption of Cd depends on the availability of Cd in the soil and the distribution of Cd within the plant. In this study, pot experiments were used to compare the effects of lime (LM), apatite (AP), calcite (CA), sepiolite (SP), bentonite (BN), and biochar (BC) on Cd accumulation in potatoes. The results showed that the application of LM (0.4%), AP (1.4%), and CA (0.4%) had a positive effect on soil pH and cations, and that they effectively reduced the availability of Cd in the soil. In contrast, the application of SP, BN, and BC had no significant effect on the soil properties and Cd availability. LM, AP, and CA treatment strongly reduced Cd accumulation in the potato tubers by controlling the total 'flux' of Cd into the potato plants. In contrast, the application of SP and BN promoted the migration of Cd from the root to the shoot, while the effect of BC varied by potato genotype. Overall, calcareous materials (LM, CA, and AP) were more applicable in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils in the study area.

The brassinosteroid biosynthesis gene TaD11-2A controls grain size and its elite haplotype improves wheat grain yields

TaD11-2A affects grain size and root length and its natural variations are associated with significant differences in yield-related traits in wheat. Brassinosteroids (BRs) control many important agronomic traits and therefore the manipulation of BR components could improve crop productivity and performance. However, the potential effects of BR-related genes on yield-related traits and stress tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) remain poorly understood. Here, we identified TaD11 genes in wheat (rice D11 orthologs) that encoded enzymes involved in BR biosynthesis. TaD11 genes were highly expressed in roots (Zadoks scale: Z11) and grains (Z75), while expression was significantly suppressed by exogenous BR (24-epiBL). Ectopic expression of TaD11-2A rescued the abnormal panicle structure and plant height (PH) of the clustered primary branch 1 (cpb1) mutant, and also increased endogenous BR levels, resulting in improved grain yields and grain quality in rice. The tad11-2a-1 mutant displayed dwarfism, smaller grains, sensitivity to 24-epiBL, and reduced endogenous BR contents. Natural variations in TaD11-2A were associated with significant differences in yield-related traits, including PH, grain width, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant, and its favorable haplotype, TaD11-2A-HapI was subjected to positive selection during wheat breeding. Additionally, TaD11-2A influenced root length and salt tolerance in rice and wheat at seedling stages. These results indicated the important role of BR TaD11 biosynthetic genes in controlling grain size and root length, and also highlighted their potential in the molecular biological analysis of wheat.

Fine mapping of QFlw-5B, a major QTL for flag leaf width in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A major stable QTL for flag leaf width was narrowed down to 2.5 Mb region containing two predicated putative candidate genes, and its effects on yield-related traits was characterized. Flag leaf width (FLW) is important to production in wheat. In a previous study, a major quantitative trait locus for FLW (QFlw-5B) was detected on chromosome 5B, within an interval of 6.5 cM flanked by the markers of XwPt-9103 and Xbarc142, using a mapping population of recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Kenong9204 (KN9204) and Jing411 (J411) (denoted as KJ-RILs). The aim of this study was to fine map QFlw-5B and characterize its genetic effects on yield-related traits. Multiple near-isogenic lines (NILs) were developed using one residual heterozygous line for QFlw-5B. Five recombinants for QFlw-5B were identified, and its location was narrowed to a 2.5 Mb region based on combined phenotypic and genotypic data analysis. This region contained 27 predicted genes, two of which were considered as the most likely candidate genes for QFlw-5B. The FLW of NIL-KN9204 was significantly higher than that of NIL-J411 across all the tested environments. Meanwhile, significant increases in plant height, grain width and 1000-grain weight were observed in NIL-KN9204 compared with that in NIL-J411. These results indicate that QFlw-5B has great potential for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs designed to improve both plant architecture and yield. This study also provides a basis for the map-based cloning of QFlw-5B.

MicroRNA-125b Accelerates and Promotes PML-RARa-driven Murine Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

OBJECTIVE

Most acute promyelocytic leukemia cases are characterized by the PML-RARa fusion oncogene and low white cell counts in peripheral blood.

METHODS

Based on the frequent overexpression of miR-125-family miRNAs in acute promyelocytic leukemia, we examined the consequence of this phenomenon by using an inducible mouse model overexpressing human miR-125b.

RESULTS

MiR-125b expression significantly accelerates PML-RARa-induced leukemogenesis, with the resultant induced leukemia being partially dependent on continued miR-125b overexpression. Interestingly, miR-125b expression led to low peripheral white cell counts to bone marrow blast percentage ratio, confirming the clinical observation in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that dysregulated miR-125b expression is actively involved in disease progression and pathophysiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia, indicating that targeting miR-125b may represent a new therapeutic option for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

[Effect evaluation of "Smoking cessation: Doctor first"program in China]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of "Smoking cessation: Doctor first" program on smoking medical staff. Methods: From December 2016 to September 2019, 1 747 smoking medical staff from 54 units of China Tobacco Cessation Alliance were enrolled into"Smoking cessation: Doctor first"program. Demographic characteristics, smoking characteristics, degree of tobacco dependence, willingness to quit smoking and other related factors were collected during the baseline survey. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of willingness to quit. The subjects were given intensive smoking cessation intervention from October 2017 to September 2019, including education on the hazards of smoking, methods of smoking cessation and giving smoking cessation drugs. After intervention, the subjects were investigated about their smoking cessation progress and the effect of the project was evaluated. Results: The subjects were (41±11) years old, 91.9% (1 609/1 747) were male and 62.2% (1 086/1 747) were daily smokers. The main reasons for smoking included the influence of friends [697 (39.9%)], the need for social entertainment [629 (36.0%)], the relief of mental stress [589 (33.7%)] and the refreshment [459 (26.3%)]. At baseline, 52.9% (885/1 672) and 43.2% (755/1 747) smokers had intention to quit smoking and had planned to quit within one year, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that: low education level [OR (95%CI) of high school and junior high school and below were 2.42 (1.61, 3.63) and 1.57 (1.18, 2.11)], daily smoking [OR (95%CI): 1.38 (1.06, 1.78)], thinking quitting smoking is not important [OR (95%CI): 4.15 (3.33, 5.18)] and having no quitting experience [OR (95%CI): 3.21 (2.53, 4.05)] were associated with no intention to quit smoking. After intensive smoking cessation intervention, 81.0% (1 415/1 747) smokers started to quit and 36.6% (518/1 415) quit smoking with drugs, both higher than the baseline level (all P values<0.001). By the end of the program, 60.2% (852/1 415) of the medical staff had quit smoking successfully. Conclusion: "Smoking cessation: Doctor first"program can improve the willingness to quit and the proportion of using smoking cessation drugs of medical staff.

Pathologically complete remission to combination of invariant NK T cells and anti-CD20 antibody in a refractory HIV+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patient

Although there is a high curability rate with rituximab chemotherapy, approximately 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) develop disease relapse or primary-refractory lymphoma. The prognosis of HIV+ DLBCL patients is even worse with limited therapeutic options. The case is presented of a 28-year-old man who was diagnosed with HIV-DLBCL, refractory to rituximab-based chemo-immunotherapies and radiotherapy before and maintained a pathologically complete regression with the infusion of haplotype-matched invariant NK T cells and anti-CD20 antibody. His abdominal mass kept shrinking during the period of follow-up without relapse to date. A combination of haplotype-matched invariant NK T cells was likely to reinvigorate the efficacy of anti-CD20 antibody and may offer a viable treatment option for refractory DLBCL patients.

Quantitative Assessment of Portal Hypertension by Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in Rat Models of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Comparison With Four Composite Scores

Background

Measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradients is the gold standard for assessing portal hypertension (PH) but is invasive with potential complications. We aimed to assess the performance in liver and spleen stiffness measurement (LSM and SSM, respectively) by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) and composite scores including liver stiffness-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score (LSPS), platelet (PLT) count/spleen diameter ratio (PSR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), and AST-to-PLT ratio index (APRI) for diagnosing PH in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat models.

Methods

Animal models with PH in NAFLD were established in 65 rats, which then underwent 2D-SWE measurements. Morphological and biological parameters were collected for calculation of four composite scores. Correlations of noninvasive methods with portal venous pressure were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the performance of noninvasive methods in predicting PH.

Results

LSM and SSM were significantly associated with portal venous pressure (r = 0.636 and 0.602, respectively; all P < 0.001). The AUCs of LSM and SSM in the diagnosis of PH were 0.906 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.841–0.97) and 0.87 (95% CI:0.776–0.964), respectively, and were significantly higher than those in composite scores. The AUCs for LSPS, PSR, AAR, and APRI were 0.793, 0.52, 0.668, and 0.533, respectively, for diagnosing PH. The AUCs of the combined models of LSM and SSM, LSM and PLT, SSM and PLT, and LSM, SSM and PLT were 0.923, 0.913, 0.872, and 0.923, respectively. The four combined models showed no statistical differences compared to LSM and SSM in evaluating PH (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

LSM and SSM by 2D-SWE can be used as promising noninvasive parameters for diagnosing PH in NAFLD and have higher accuracy than composite scores. The combined models, compared to LSM and SSM, did not significantly improve the performance in diagnosing PH.

Liver stiffness measurement as a quantitative method for liver fibrosis in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis

AIM

This study assessed the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in detecting liver fibrosis in paediatric patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through meta-analysis.

METHODS

Online database searches of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the Web of Science were conducted for studies that evaluated the performance of LSM for diagnosing liver fibrosis in paediatric patients with NAFLD until 1 January 2021. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Three measures were used to assess the performance of LSM for detecting liver fibrosis in paediatric patients with NAFLD, including the summary sensitivities and specificities, the summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curves and the summary diagnostic odds ratios.

RESULTS

Our final data included seven studies with a total of 436 paediatric patients with NAFLD for meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of mild fibrosis, significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis was 66.3, 31.5, 14.9 and 1.2%, respectively. The summary sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic values of LSM were 80, 92 and 0.94 for the prediction of mild fibrosis; 91, 97 and 0.98 for the prediction of significant fibrosis; and 89, 93 and 0.96 for the prediction of advanced fibrosis, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Liver stiffness measurement exhibited good diagnostic performance in predicting liver fibrosis and can be used as a non-invasive tool in the management of paediatric patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Inhibition of Nrf2 degradation alleviates age-related osteoporosis induced by 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D deficiency

Previous studies have shown that 1,25(OH)₂D plays an anti-osteoporosis role by an anti-aging mechanism. Oxidative stress is a key mediator of aging and bone loss; however, whether 1,25(OH)₂D can exert its anti-osteoporosis effect by inhibiting oxidative stress is unclear. In this study, osteoporosis and the bone aging phenotype induced by 1,25(OH)₂D deficiency in male mice were significantly rescued in vivo upon the supplementation of oltipraz, an inhibitor of Nrf2 degradation. Increased oxidative stress, cellular senescence and reduced osteogenesis of BM-MSCs from VDR knockout mice were also significantly rescued when the cells were pre-treated with oltipraz. We found that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ promoted Nrf2 accumulation by inhibiting its ubiquitin-proteasome degradation, thus facilitating Nrf2 activation of its transcriptional targets. Mechanistically, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ enhances VDR-mediated recruitment of Ezh2 and facilitation of H3K27me3 action at the promoter region of Keap1, thus transcriptionally repressing Keap1. To further validate that the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway serves as the key mediator in the anabolic effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on bone, Nrf2^-/- mice, or hBM-MSCs with shRNA-mediated Nrf2-knockdown, were treated with 1,25(OH)₂D₃; we found that Nrf2 knockout largely blocked the bone anabolic effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in vivo and ex vivo, and Nrf2 knockdown in hBM-MSCs markedly blocked the role of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in inhibiting oxidative stress and promoting osteogenic differentiation and bone formation. This study provides insight into the mechanism whereby 1,25(OH)₂D₃ postpones age-related osteoporosis via VDR-mediated activation of Nrf2-antioxidant signaling and inhibition of oxidative stress, and thus provides evidence for oltipraz as a potential reagent for clinical prevention and treatment of age-related osteoporosis.

Functional Analysis of the "Green Revolution" Gene Photoperiod-1 and Its Selection Trends During Bread Wheat Breeding

Flowering is central to the transformation of plants from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The circadian clock system enables plants to sense the changes in the external environment and to modify the growth and development process at an appropriate time. Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1), which is controlled by the output signal of the circadian clock, has played an important role in the wheat "Green Revolution." In the current study, we systematically studied the relationship between Ppd-1 haplotypes and both wheat yield- and quality-related traits, using genome-wide association analysis and transgenic strategies, and found that highly appropriate haplotypes had been selected in the wheat breeding programs. Genome-wide association analysis showed that Ppd-1 is associated with significant differences in yield-related traits in wheat, including spike length (SL), heading date (HD), plant height (PH), and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Ppd-1-Hapl-A1 showed increased SL by 4.72-5.93%, whereas Ppd-1-Hapl-B1 and Ppd-1-Hapl-D1 displayed earlier HD by 0.58-0.75 and 1.24-2.93%, respectively, decreased PH by 5.64-13.08 and 13.62-27.30%, respectively, and increased TGW by 4.89-10.94 and 11.12-21.45%, respectively. Furthermore, the constitutive expression of the Ppd-D1 gene in rice significantly delayed heading date and resulted in reduced plant height, thousand-grain weight, grain width (GW), and total protein content. With reference to 40years of data from Chinese wheat breeding, it was found that the appropriate haplotypes Ppd-1-Hapl-A1, Ppd-1-Hapl-B1, and Ppd-1-Hapl-D1 had all been subjected to directional selection, and that their distribution frequencies had increased from 26.09, 60.00, and 52.00% in landraces to 42.55, 93.62, and 96.23% in wheat cultivars developed in the 2010s. A Ppd-B1 methylation molecular marker was also developed to assist molecular wheat breeding. This research is of significance for fully exploring the function of the Ppd-1 gene and its genetic resource diversity, to effectively use the most appropriate haplotypes and to improve crop yield and sustainability.

Comparison of two-dimensional shear wave elastography, magnetic resonance elastography, and three serum markers for diagnosing fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on 4 factors (FIB-4), and King's score have been proposed for diagnosing fibrosis.

METHODS

Literature databases were searched until October 1st, 2020. The summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), the summary diagnostic odds ratios, and the summary sensitivities and specificities were used to assess the performance of these noninvasive methods for staging fibrosis.

RESULTS

Our final data contained 72 studies. The prevalence of significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis was 58.3%, 36.2%, and 20.5%, respectively, in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). For 2D-SWE and MRE, the summary AUROCs were 0.89 and 0.97, 0.95 and 0.97, and 0.94 and 0.97 for significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. The summary AUROCs using APRI and FIB-4 for detecting significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis were 0.76 and 0.75, 0.74 and 0.77, and 0.77 and 0.82, respectively. The summary AUROCs of King's score for detecting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were 0.77 and 0.83, respectively.

CONCLUSION

MRE and 2D-SWE may show the best diagnostic accuracy for predicting fibrosis in CHB. Among the three serum markers, King's score may be more useful for diagnosing fibrosis.

Assessment of liver fibrosis with liver and spleen stiffness measured by sound touch elastography, serum fibrosis markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the performance of liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) by using the sound touch elastography (STE) technique and compare with those of the splenic index, aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, King's score and combined models for diagnosing and staging fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

One hundred patients with CHB underwent STE and serological tests. LS and SS values were measured with STE technique, and splenic index was calculated. Staging of fibrosis was determined with liver biopsy. Correlations between the individual parameters and the stage of fibrosis were evaluated with the Spearman correlation analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated to analyze the performance of all methods.

RESULTS

Among all individual parameters, LS showed the highest AUROC for diagnosing fibrosis of ≥S2, ≥S3, and S4 stages (AUROC: 0.70, 0.86, and 0.96, respectively; all P < 0.05). The AUROC of combined model 1 (LS and SS) and 2 (LS, SS, APRI, FIB-4 index, King's score) for diagnosing ≥S2, ≥S3, and S4 fibrosis were 0.70, 0.86, 0.97, and 0.70, 0.86, 0.96, respectively, which were higher than those of APRI, FIB-4 index and the King's score (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between two combined models and LS for staging fibrosis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

LS measurement is reliable for diagnosing and staging fibrosis in CHB, with a better performance than SS, splenic index and serum biomarkers. It is also comparable with the performance of combined models.

Classification and QSAR models of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) inhibitors by machine learning methods

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) is an important anti-inflammatory target which can convert leukotriene A4 (LTA4) into pro-inflammatory substance leukotriene B4 (LTB4). In this paper, we built 18 classification models for 463 LTA4H inhibitors by using support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN). The best classification model (Model 2A) was built from RF and MACCS fingerprints. The prediction accuracy of 88.96% and the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.74 had been achieved on the test set. We also divided the 463 LTA4H inhibitors into six subsets using K-Means. We found that the highly active LTA4H inhibitors mostly contained diphenylmethane or diphenyl ether as the scaffold and pyridine or piperidine as the side chain. In addition, six quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for 172 LTA4H inhibitors were built by multiple linear regression (MLR) and SVM. The best QSAR model (Model 6A) was built by using SVM and CORINA Symphony descriptors. The coefficients of determination of the training set and the test set were equal to 0.81 and 0.79, respectively. Classification and QSAR models could be used for subsequent virtual screening, and the obtained fragments that were important for highly active inhibitors would be helpful for designing new LTA4H inhibitors.

The brassinosteroid biosynthesis gene, ZmD11, increases seed size and quality in rice and maize

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of plant steroid hormones that regulate many important agronomic traits. Studies on the functional mechanisms of BR-related genes in crop plants are necessary for the application of BRs in agriculture. In this study, ZmD11, an ortholog of rice DWARF11 (D11), and 42 other BR biosynthesis-related genes were identified in maize (Zea mays). Complementary experiments confirmed that ZmD11 completely rescued the abnormal panicle architecture and plant height of the rice cpb1 mutant. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that ZmD11-like proteins were found in other monocots and dicots, but not in lower plants and that alternative splicing variants of these homologues mainly exist in Triticeae crops. A subcellular localization analysis showed that ZmD11 localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. The ZmD11 gene was predominantly expressed in young ears and seeds from 10 to 16 days after pollination, especially in the scutellar aleurone layer and pericarp. Furthermore, the constitutive expression of the ZmD11 gene significantly increased seed length, seed area, seed weight and both seed starch and protein contents in rice and maize. Our results suggest that ZmD11 is a key gene in the regulation of seed size and quality and that it has a potential application value in the molecular breeding of crops.

Correlation Between Early Plasma Interleukin 37 Responses With Low Inflammatory Cytokine Levels and Benign Clinical Outcomes in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

BACKGROUND

The immune protective mechanisms during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain to be deciphered for the development of an effective intervention approach.

METHODS

We examined early responses of interleukin 37 (IL-37), a powerful anti-inflammatory cytokine, in 254 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients before any clinical intervention and determined its correlation with clinical prognosis.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes elevation of plasma IL-37. Higher early IL-37 responses were correlated with earlier viral RNA negative conversion, chest computed tomographic improvement, and cough relief, consequently resulted in earlier hospital discharge. Further assays showed that higher IL-37 was associated with lower interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 (IL-8) and higher interferon α responses and facilitated biochemical homeostasis. Low IL-37 responses predicted severe clinical prognosis in combination with IL-8 and C-reactive protein. In addition, we observed that IL-37 administration was able to attenuate lung inflammation and alleviate respiratory tissue damage in human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-transgenic mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we found that IL-37 plays a protective role by antagonizing inflammatory responses while retaining type I interferon, thereby maintaining the functionalities of vital organs. IL-37, IL-8, and C-reactive protein might be formulated as a precise prediction model for screening severe clinical cases and have good value in clinical practice.

High-Performance Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells with Excellent Infrared Reflection and See-Through Functions

Clean energy production and saving play vital impacts on the sustainability of the global community. Herein, high-performance semitransparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs) with excellent features of power generation, being see-through, and infrared reflection of heat dissipation, with promising perspectives for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are reported. To simultaneously improve average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), formally in a trade-off relationship, of ST-OSCs, new ternary blends with alloy-like near-infrared (NIR) acceptors are employed, which are effective to improve device efficiency while maintaining visible absorption unchanged, resulting in PCEs of 16.8% for opaque devices and 13.1% for semitransparent OSCs (AVT of 22.4% and infrared photon radiation rejection (IRR) of 77%). Further, multifunctional ST-OSCs are realized via introducing simple, yet effective photonic reflectors, together with optical simulation, leading to not only perfect fitting of the visible transmittance peak (555 nm) to the photopic response of the human eye but also an excellent IRR of 90% (780-2500 nm), along with 23% AVT and over 12% PCE. This is thought to be the best-performing multifunctional ST-OSC with promising prospects as BIPVs in terms of power generation, heat dissipation, and being see-through.

Asymmetric Electron Acceptors for High-Efficiency and Low-Energy-Loss Organic Photovoltaics

Low energy loss and efficient charge separation under small driving forces are the prerequisites for realizing high power conversion efficiency (PCE) in organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Here, a new molecular design of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) is proposed to address above two issues simultaneously by introducing asymmetric terminals. Two NFAs, BTP-S1 and BTP-S2, are constructed by introducing halogenated indandione (A₁ ) and 3-dicyanomethylene-1-indanone (A₂ ) as two different conjugated terminals on the central fused core (D), wherein they share the same backbone as well-known NFA Y6, but at different terminals. Such asymmetric NFAs with A₁ -D-A₂ structure exhibit superior photovoltaic properties when blended with polymer donor PM6. Energy loss analysis reveals that asymmetric molecule BTP-S2 with six chlorine atoms attached at the terminals enables the corresponding devices to give an outstanding electroluminescence quantum efficiency of 2.3 × 10^-2 %, one order of magnitude higher than devices based on symmetric Y6 (4.4 × 10^-3 %), thus significantly lowering the nonradiative loss and energy loss of the corresponding devices. Besides, asymmetric BTP-S1 and BTP-S2 with multiple halogen atoms at the terminals exhibit fast hole transfer to the donor PM6. As a result, OPVs based on the PM6:BTP-S2 blend realize a PCE of 16.37%, higher than that (15.79%) of PM6:Y6-based OPVs. A further optimization of the ternary blend (PM6:Y6:BTP-S2) results in a best PCE of 17.43%, which is among the highest efficiencies for single-junction OPVs. This work provides an effective approach to simultaneously lower the energy loss and promote the charge separation of OPVs by molecular design strategy.

Eliminating senescent chondrogenic progenitor cells enhances chondrogenesis under intermittent hydrostatic pressure for the treatment of OA

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of limb dysfunction, and distraction arthroplasty which generates intermittent hydrostatic pressure (IHP) is an effective approach for OA treatment. However, the result was not always satisfactory and the reasons remained unresolved. Because aging is recognized as an important risk factor for OA and chondrogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) could acquire senescent phenotype, we made a hypothesis that CPCs senescence could have harmful effect on chondrogenesis and the outcome of distraction arthroplasty could be improved by eliminating senescent CPCs pharmacologically.

Methods

The role of senescent CPCs on distraction arthroplasty was first determined by comparing the cartilage samples from the failure and non-failure patients. Next, the biological behaviors of senescent CPCs were observed in the in vitro cell culture and IHP model. Finally, the beneficial effect of senescent CPCs clearance by senolytic dasatinib and quercetin (DQ) on cartilage regeneration was observed in the in vitro and in vivo IHP model.

Results

Larger quantities of senescent CPCs along with increased IL-1 β secretion were demonstrated in the failure patients of distraction arthroplasty. Senescent CPCs revealed impaired proliferation and chondrogenic capability and also had increased IL-1 β synthesis, typical of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). CPCs senescence and SASP formation were mutually dependent in vitro. Greater amounts of senescent CPCs were negatively correlated with IHP-induced chondrogenesis. In contrast, chondrogenesis could be significantly improved by DQ pretreatment which selectively induced senescent CPCs into apoptosis in the in vitro and in vivo IHP model. Mechanistically, senescent CPCs elimination could decrease SASP formation and therefore promote the proliferation and chondrogenic regeneration capacity of the surrounding survived CPCs under IHP stimulation.

Conclusions

Eliminating senescent CPCs by senolytics could decrease SASP formation and improve the result of joint distraction arthroplasty effectively. Our study provided a novel CPCs senescence-based therapeutic target for improving the outcome of OA treatment.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D protects against age-related osteoporosis by a novel VDR-Ezh2-p16 signal axis

To determine whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)₂ D) can exert an anti-osteoporosis role through anti-aging mechanisms, we analyzed the bone phenotype of mice with 1,25(OH)₂ D deficiency due to deletion of the enzyme, 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase, while on a rescue diet. 1,25(OH)₂ D deficiency accelerated age-related bone loss by activating the p16/p19 senescence signaling pathway, inhibiting osteoblastic bone formation, and stimulating osteoclastic bone resorption, osteocyte senescence, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Supplementation of exogenous 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ corrected the osteoporotic phenotype caused by 1,25(OH)₂ D deficiency or natural aging by inhibiting the p16/p19 pathway. The proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and ectopic bone formation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from mice with genetically induced deficiency of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) were significantly reduced by mechanisms including increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cellular senescence. We also demonstrated that p16 deletion largely rescued the osteoporotic phenotype caused by 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ deficiency, whereas 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ could up-regulate the enzyme Ezh2 via VDR-mediated transcription thereby enriching H3K27me3 and repressing p16/p19 transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that treatment with 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ improved the osteogenic defects of human BM-MSCs caused by repeated passages by stimulating their proliferation and inhibiting their senescence via the VDR-Ezh2-p16 axis. The results of this study therefore indicate that 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ plays a role in preventing age-related osteoporosis by up-regulating Ezh2 via VDR-mediated transcription, increasing H3K27me3 and repressing p16 transcription, thus promoting the proliferation and osteogenesis of BM-MSCs and inhibiting their senescence, while also stimulating osteoblastic bone formation, and inhibiting osteocyte senescence, SASP, and osteoclastic bone resorption.

Epigenetics-Based Tumor Cells Pyroptosis for Enhancing the Immunological Effect of Chemotherapeutic Nanocarriers

Pyroptosis is a lytic and inflammatory form of programmed cell death and could be induced by chemotherapy drugs via caspase-3 mediation. However, the key protein gasdermin E (GSDME, translated by the DFNA5 gene) during the caspase-3-mediated pyroptosis process is absent in most tumor cells because of the hypermethylation of DFNA5 (deafness autosomal dominant 5) gene. Here, we develop a strategy of combining decitabine (DAC) with chemotherapy nanodrugs to trigger pyroptosis of tumor cells by epigenetics, further enhancing the immunological effect of chemotherapy. DAC is pre-performed with specific tumor-bearing mice for demethylation of the DFNA5 gene in tumor cells. Subsequently, a commonly used tumor-targeting nanoliposome loaded with cisplatin (LipoDDP) is used to administrate drugs for activating the caspase-3 pathway in tumor cells and trigger pyroptosis. Experiments demonstrate that the reversal of GSDME silencing in tumor cells is achieved and facilitates the occurrence of pyroptosis. According to the anti-tumor activities, anti-metastasis results, and inhibition of recurrence, this pyroptosis-based chemotherapy strategy enhances immunological effects of chemotherapy and also provides an important insight into tumor immunotherapy.

Metabolic intermediate acetyl phosphate modulates bacterial virulence via acetylation

Accumulating evidence indicates that bacterial metabolism plays an important role in virulence. Acetyl phosphate (AcP), the high-energy intermediate of the phosphotransacetylase-acetate kinase pathway, is the major acetyl donor in E. coli. PhoP is an essential transcription factor for bacterial virulence. Here, we show in Salmonella typhimurium that PhoP is non-enzymatically acetylated by AcP, which modifies its transcriptional activity, demonstrating that the acetylation of Lysine 102 (K102) is dependent on the intracellular AcP. The acetylation level of K102 decreases under PhoP-activating conditions including low magnesium, acid stress or following phagocytosis. Notably, in vitro assays show that K102 acetylation affects PhoP phosphorylation and inhibits its transcriptional activity. Both cell and mouse models show that K102 is critical to Salmonella virulence, and suggest acetylation is involved in regulating PhoP activity. Together, the current study highlights the importance of the metabolism in bacterial virulence, and shows AcP might be a key mediator.

Simple non-fused electron acceptors for efficient and stable organic solar cells

The flexibility in structural design of organic semiconductors endows organic solar cells (OSCs) not only great function-tunabilities, but also high potential toward practical application. In this work, simple non-fused-ring electron acceptors are developed through two-step synthesis from single aromatic units for constructing efficient OSCs. With the assistance of non-covalent interactions, these rotatable non-fused acceptors (in solution) allow transiting into planar and stackable conformation in condensed solid, promoting acceptors not only feasible solution-processability, but also excellent film characteristics. As results, decent power conversion efficiencies of 10.27% and 13.97% can be achieved in single and tandem OSCs consisting of simple solution-cast blends, in which the fully unfused acceptors exhibit exceptionally low synthetic complexity index. In addition, the unfused acceptor and its based OSCs exhibit promising stabilities under continuous illumination. Overall, this work reveals valuable insights on the structural design of simple and effective electron acceptors with great practical perspectives.

Transcriptional Profile Corroborates that bml Mutant Plays likely Role in Premature Leaf Senescence of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Leaf senescence is the last period of leaf growth and a dynamic procedure associated with its death. The adaptability of the plants to changing environments occurs thanks to leaf senescence. Hence, transcriptional profiling is important to figure out the exact mechanisms of inducing leaf senescence in a particular crop, such as rice. From this perspective, leaf samples of two different rice genotypes, the brown midrib leaf (bml) mutant and its wild type (WT) were sampled for transcriptional profiling to identify differentially-expressed genes (DEGs). We identified 2670 DEGs, among which 1657 genes were up- and 1013 genes were down-regulated. These DEGs were enriched in binding and catalytic activity, followed by the single organism process and metabolic process through gene ontology (GO), while the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the DEGs were related to the plant hormone signal transduction and photosynthetic pathway enrichment. The expression pattern and the clustering of DEGs revealed that the WRKY and NAC family, as well as zinc finger transcription factors, had greater effects on early-senescence of leaf compared to other transcription factors. These findings will help to elucidate the precise functional role of bml rice mutant in the early-leaf senescence.

A prospective genome-wide study of prostate cancer metastases reveals association of wnt pathway activation and increased cell cycle proliferation with primary resistance to abiraterone acetate-prednisone

Background

Genomic aberrations have been identified in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but molecular predictors of resistance to abiraterone acetate/prednisone (AA/P) treatment are not known.

Patients and methods

In a prospective clinical trial, mCRPC patients underwent whole-exome sequencing (n = 82) and RNA sequencing (n = 75) of metastatic biopsies before initiating AA/P with the objective of identifying genomic alterations associated with resistance to AA/P. Primary resistance was determined at 12 weeks of treatment using criteria for progression that included serum prostate-specific antigen measurement, bone and computerized tomography imaging and symptom assessments. Acquired resistance was determined using the end point of time to treatment change (TTTC), defined as time from enrollment until change in treatment from progressive disease. Associations of genomic and transcriptomic alterations with primary resistance were determined using logistic regression, Fisher's exact test, single and multivariate analyses. Cox regression models were utilized for determining association of genomic and transcriptomic alterations with TTTC.

Results

At 12 weeks, 32 patients in the cohort had progressed (nonresponders). Median study follow-up was 32.1 months by which time 58 patients had switched treatments due to progression. Median TTTC was 10.1 months (interquartile range: 4.4-24.1). Genes in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway were more frequently mutated and negative regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling were more frequently deleted or displayed reduced mRNA expression in nonresponders. Additionally, mRNA expression of cell cycle regulatory genes was increased in nonresponders. In multivariate models, increased cell cycle proliferation scores (≥ 50) were associated with shorter TTTC (hazard ratio = 2.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-3.80; P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and increased cell cycle progression scores can serve as molecular markers for predicting resistance to AA/P therapy.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone prevents knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting oxidative stress and chondrocyte senescence

Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is considered a strong antioxidant. However, it is unclear whether PQQ can prevent the progression of OA by inhibiting oxidative stress. In this study, anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA mice received a diet supplemented with/without PQQ, and were compared with each other and with sham-operated mice. Our results showed that in PQQ-untreated OA mice, articular surfaces collapsed, while the thickness of articular cartilage and the abundance of cartilage matrix protein decreased significantly, whereas PQQ supplementation largely prevented these alterations. We also found that oxidative stress, DNA damage, cellular senescence and the secretion of senescence-associated inflammatory cytokines were increased in PQQ-untreated OA mice compared with sham-operated mice. However, these parameters were obviously rescued in PQQ-treated OA mice. This study demonstrated that PQQ supplementation can prevent ACLT-induced OA by inhibiting oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell senescence and the development of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.

Rice SDSFL1 plays a critical role in the regulation of plant structure through the control of different phytohormones and altered cell structure

Semi-dwarfism is one of the most important agronomic traits for many cereal crops. In the present study, a mutant with semi-dwarf and short flag leaf 1, sdsfl1, was identified and characterized. The sdsfl1 mutant demonstrated some distinguished structural alterations, including shorter plant height and flag leaf length, increased tiller numbers and flag leaf width, and decreased panicle length compared with those of wild type (WT). Genetic analysis suggested that the mutant traits were completely controlled by a single recessive gene. The SDSFL1 gene was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 3 within a region of 44.6 kb between InDel markers A3P8.3 and A3P8.4. The DNA sequence analysis revealed that there was only a T to C substitution in the coding region of LOC_Os03g63970, resulting in the substitution of Tryptophan (Try) to Arginine (Arg) and encoding a GA 20 oxidase 1 protein of 372 amino acid residues. Photosynthesis analysis showed that the photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) were significantly increased in sdsfl1. Chlorophyll a (Chl a), total Chl, and carotenoid contents were significantly increased in sdsfl1 compared with those in WT. sdsfl1 carried a reduced level of GA₃ but reacted to exogenously applied gibberellins (GA). Moreover, the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), indole 3-acetic acid (IAA), and salicylic acid (SA) were notably improved in sdsfl1, whereas there was no noteworthy change in jasmonic acid (JA). The results thus offer a visible foundation for the molecular and physiological analysis of the SDSFL1 gene, which might participate in various functional pathways for controlling plant height and leaf length in rice breeding.

[HER2 status in gastric adenocarcinoma of Chinese: a multicenter study of 40 842 patients]

Objective: To investigation HER2 status in gastric adenocarcinoma of Chinese and contributing factors to the HER2 expression. Methods: HER2 status of 40 842 gastric adenocarcinomas and clinical data were retrospectively collected from 23 hospitals dated from 2013 to 2016. The association between HER2 positivity and clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Results: Of the 40 842 patients the median age was 62 years, the male female ratio was 2.6∶1.0. The rate of HER2 positivity was 8.8% (3 577/40 842). HER2 expression was related to the tissue type, tumor location, Lauren classification and tumor differentiation (P values: 0.009, 0.001, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively). Different HER2 expression status was observed between primary and recurrent tumors in 7.6% (48/635) cases. The rates of HER2 positivity ranged from 2% to 10% among different institutions. The rates of HER2 FISH amplification were dramatically different among the 23 hospitals (0-100%) with an average rate of 10% (810/8 156) in patients with HER2 IHC 2+ . Conclusions: HER2 expression is associated with clinicopathologic characteristics. HER2 re-assessment of tumor tissue and use of in situ hybridization techniques increase HER2 positivity. The current retrospective study should reflect the HER2 status in gastric adenocarcinoma of Chinese patients.

[The influence of chemotherapy-induced leucopenia on the disease-free survival of gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy]

Objective: To investigate the association between chemotherapy-induced leucopenia and patients' disease-free survival in gastric cancer patients who received radical gastrectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 273 gastric cancer patients who received radical gastrectomy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy between January, 2010 and December, 2015 in PLA 309(th) hospital was reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 195 (71.4%) patients experienced at least one time of leucopenia, while it was absent in the other 78 (28.6%) patients. The median disease-free survival of patients with or without leucopenia was 49.7 and 44.0 months respectively (P=0.009), leucopenia was an independent factor influencing patients' disease-free survival (HR=2.758, P=0.022), but there was no statistical difference between the disease-free survival of patients with different degrees and frequency of leucopenia (P=0.446, 0.123). Conclusion: Chemotherapy-induced leucopenia is a predictor of good prognosis for gastric cancer patients who receive radical gastrectomy.

LTBSG1, a New Allele of BRD2, Regulates Panicle and Grain Development in Rice by Brassinosteroid Biosynthetic Pathway

Panicle architecture and grain size are two important agronomic traits which determine grain yield directly in rice. In the present study, a mutant named ltbsg1 (longer top branch and shorter grain 1) was isolated from the cultivar “Zhenong 34” (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. The target gene was studied through phenotype observation, genetic analysis, map-based cloning and functional analysis. The histocytological analysis indicated that the elongated top branch and shorter grain of mutant ltbsg1 were caused from the defects of cell elongation. The ltbsg1 gene in mutant revealed a single nucleotide substitution (G-A) in the exon 2 of LOC_Os10g25780, causing an amino acid variation (Glycine-Arginine) in the FAD (Flavin-adenine dinucleotide)-binding domain of delta (24)-sterol reductase, which was involved in the brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis. LTBSG1 was constitutively expressed and the protein was widely localized in chloroplast, nucleus and cytomembrane. The ltbsg1 seedlings had a lower endogenous BR level and could be restored to the phenotype of wild type by exogenous BR. The LTBSG1 knock-out lines showed similar phenotype defects as mutant ltbsg1, which confirmed that LTBSG1 was responsible for top branch elongation and grain size reduction. Furthermore, LTBSG1 along with other BR-related genes were feedback-regulated due to their obvious altered expression in mutant ltbsg1. This study demonstrated that LTBSG1 could play a new role in regulating panicle and grain development by BR biosynthetic pathway.

A guanine insert in OsBBS1 leads to early leaf senescence and salt stress sensitivity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A rice receptor-like kinase gene OSBBS1/OsRLCK109 was identified; this gene played vital roles in leaf senescence and the salt stress response. Early leaf senescence can cause negative effects on rice yield, but the underlying molecular regulation is not fully understood. bilateral blade senescence 1 (bbs1), an early leaf senescence mutant with a premature senescence phenotype that occurs mainly performing at the leaf margins, was isolated from a rice mutant population generated by ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) treatment. The mutant showed premature leaf senescence beginning at the tillering stage and exhibited severe symptoms at the late grain-filling stage. bbs1 showed accelerated dark-induced leaf senescence. The OsBBS1 gene was cloned by a map-based cloning strategy, and a guanine (G) insertion was found in the first exon of LOC_Os03g24930. This gene encodes a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase and was named OsRLCK109 in a previous study. Transgenic LOC_Os03g24930 knockout plants generated by a CRISPR/Cas9 strategy exhibited similar early leaf senescence phenotypes as did the bbs1 mutant, which confirmed that LOC_Os03g24930 was the OsBBS1 gene. OsBBS1/OsRLCK109 was expressed in all detected tissues and was predominantly expressed in the main vein region of mature leaves. The expression of OsBBS1 could be greatly induced by salt stress, and the bbs1 mutant exhibited hypersensitivity to salt stress. In conclusion, this is the first identification of OsRLCKs participating in leaf senescence and playing critical roles in the salt stress response in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The Brown Midrib Leaf (bml) Mutation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Causes Premature Leaf Senescence and the Induction of Defense Responses

Isolating and characterizing mutants with altered senescence phenotypes is one of the ways to understand the molecular basis of leaf aging. Using ethyl methane sulfonate mutagenesis, a new rice (Oryza sativa) mutant, brown midrib leaf (bml), was isolated from the indica cultivar ‘Zhenong34’. The bml mutants had brown midribs in their leaves and initiated senescence prematurely, at the onset of heading. The mutants had abnormal cells with degraded chloroplasts and contained less chlorophyll compared to the wild type (WT). The bml mutant showed excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde, upregulation of senescence-induced STAY-GREEN genes and senescence-related transcription factors, and down regulation of photosynthesis-related genes. The levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) were increased in bml with the upregulation of some ABA and JA biosynthetic genes. In pathogen response, bml demonstrated higher resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and upregulation of four pathogenesis-related genes compared to the WT. A genetic study confirmed that the bml trait was caused by a single recessive nuclear gene (BML). A map-based cloning using insertion/deletion markers confirmed that BML was located in the 57.32kb interval between the L5IS7 and L5IS11 markers on the short arm of chromosome 5. A sequence analysis of the candidate region identified a 1 bp substitution (G to A) in the 5′-UTR (+98) of bml. BML is a candidate gene associated with leaf senescence, ROS regulation, and disease response, also involved in hormone signaling in rice. Therefore, this gene might be useful in marker-assisted backcrossing/gene editing to improve rice cultivars.