Allergen specific immunotherapy regulates macrophage property in the airways

BACKGROUND

Allergen specific immunotherapy (AIT) has been widely used in allergy clinics. The therapeutic effects of it are to be improved. Macrophages occupy the largest proportion of airway immune cells. The aim of this study is to measure the effects of nasal instillation AIT (nAIT) on airway allergy by regulating macrophage functions.

METHODS

An airway allergy mouse model was established with the ovalbumin-alum protocol. nAIT was conducted for mice with airway allergy through nasal instillation. The effects of nAIT were compared with subcutaneous injection AIT (SCIT) and sublingual AIT (SLIT).

RESULTS

Mice with airway allergy showed the airway allergic response, including lung inflammation, airway hyper responsiveness, serum specific IgE, increase in the amounts of eosinophil peroxidase, mouse mast cell protease-1, and Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. nAIT had a much better therapeutic effect on the airway allergic response than SCIT and SLIT. Mechanistically, we observed better absorption of allergen in macrophages, better production of IL-10 by macrophages, and better immune suppressive functions in macrophages in mice received nAIT than SCIT and SLIT.

CONCLUSIONS

The nAIT has a much better therapeutic effect on suppressing the airway allergic response, in which macrophages play a critical role.

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) restores immune regulatory functions of airway macrophages of patients with asthma

Allergic asthma is characterized by the polarization of Th2 cells and impaired immune regulation. Macrophages occupy the largest proportion of airway immune cells. This study aims to discover the mechanism that hinders the immune regulatory functions of airway macrophages. In this study, macrophages were isolated from cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) collected from asthma patients and normal control (NC) subjects. The results indicated that macrophages occupied the largest portion of the cellular components in BALF. The frequency of IL-10+ macrophage was significantly lower in asthma patients than in NC subjects. The expression of IL-10 in macrophages of BALF was associated with the levels of asthma-related parameters. The immune-suppressive functions of BALF M0 cells were defective in asthma patients. The inducibility of IL-10 expression was impaired in BALF macrophages of asthma patients, which could be restored by exposing to CpG. In conclusion, the induction of IL-10 in macrophages of BALF in asthma patients was impaired, and it could be restored by exposure to CpG.

Endometrial microbiota alteration in female patients with endometrial polyps based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis

Introduction

The potential role of the endometrial microbiota in the pathogenesis of endometrial polyps (EPs) warrants further investigation, given the current landscape of limited and inconclusive research findings. We aimed to explore the microecological characteristics of the uterine cavity in patients with EPs and investigate the potential of endometrial microbiota species as novel biomarkers for identifying EPs.

Methods

Endometrial samples were collected from 225 patients who underwent hysteroscopies, of whom 167 had EPs, whereas 58 had non- hyperproliferative endometrium status. The endometrial microbiota was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We characterized the endometrial microbiota and identified microbial biomarkers for predicting EPs.

Results

The endometrial microbial diversity and composition were significantly different between the EP and control groups. Predictive functional analyses of the endometrial microbiota demonstrated significant alterations in pathways involved in sphingolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and apoptosis between the two groups. Moreover, a classification model based on endometrial microbial ASV-based biomarkers along with the presence of abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms achieved powerful classification potential in identifying EPs in both the discovery and validation cohorts.

Conclusion

Our study indicates a potential association between altered endometrial microbiota and EPs. Endometrial microbiota-based biomarkers may prove valuable for the diagnosis of EPs.

Clinical trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052746).

Evaluation of Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies for Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Immunization

The circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant presents an ongoing challenge for surveillance and detection. It is important to establish an assay for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccinated individuals. Numerous studies have demonstrated that binding antibodies (such as S-IgG and N-IgG) and neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) can be detected in vaccinated individuals. However, it is still unclear how to evaluate the consistency and correlation between binding antibodies and Nabs induced by inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. In this study, serum samples from humans, rhesus macaques, and hamsters immunized with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were analyzed for S-IgG, N-IgG, and Nabs. The results showed that the titer and seroconversion rate of S-IgG were significantly higher than those of N-IgG. The correlation between S-IgG and Nabs was higher compared to that of N-IgG. Based on this analysis, we further investigated the titer thresholds of S-IgG and N-IgG in predicting the seroconversion of Nabs. According to the threshold, we can quickly determine the positive and negative effects of the SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralizing antibody in individuals. These findings suggest that the S-IgG antibody is a better supplement to and confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunization.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress drives macrophages to produce IL-33 to favor Th2 polarization in the airways

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a key driver of T helper 2 (Th2) cell polarization. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a role in the skewed T cell activation. The objective of this project is to elucidate the role of IL-33 derived from macrophages in inducing Th2 polarization in the airways. In this study, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) were collected from patients with asthma and healthy control subjects. Macrophages were isolated from the BALF by flow cytometry cell sorting. An asthmatic mouse model was established using the ovalbumin/alum protocol. The results showed that increased IL33 gene activity and ER stress-related molecules in BALF-derived M2a macrophages was observed in asthmatic patients. Levels of IL33 gene activity in M2a cells were positively correlated with levels of asthma response in asthma patients. Sensitization exacerbated the ER stress in the airway macrophages, which increased the expression of IL-33 in macrophages of airway in sensitized mice. Conditional ablation of Il33 or Perk or Atf4 genes in macrophages prevented induction of airway allergy in mice. In conclusion, asthma airway macrophages express high levels of IL-33 and at high ER stress status. Inhibition of IL-33 or ER stress in macrophages can effectively alleviate experimental asthma.

Asymmetric Ion-Pairing Photoredox Catalysis for Stereoselective Cationic Polymerization under Light Control

By virtue of noninvasive regulations by light, photocontrolled polymerizations have attracted considerable attention for the precision synthesis of macromolecules. However, a cationic polymerization with simultaneous photocontrol and tacticity-regulation remains elusive so far. Herein, we introduce an asymmetric ion-pairing photoredox catalysis strategy that allows for the development of a stereoselective cationic polymerization with concurrent light regulation for the first time. By employing an ion pair catalyst (PC+/*A-) consisting of a photoredox active cation (PC+) and a sterically confined chiral anion (*A-) to deliver the stereochemical control, the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers can be achieved with photocontrol and high isotactic selectivity (up to 91% m) at a remarkable low catalyst loading (50 ppm).

Visible Light-Regulated Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones by Employing Indigo as a Photoacid Catalyst

The development of visible light-regulated polymerizations for precision synthesis of polymers has drawn considerable attention in the past years. In this study, an ancient dye, indigo, is successfully identified as a new and efficient photoacid catalyst, which can readily promote the ring-opening polymerization of lactones under visible light irradiation in a well-controlled manner, affording the desired polyester products with predictable molecular weights and narrow dispersity. The enhanced acidity of indigos by excitation is crucial to the H-bonding activation of the lactone monomers. Chain extension and block copolymer synthesis are also demonstrated with this method.

The efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with demethylating agents in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents in elderly with acute myeloid leukemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search identified related studies from PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Overall complete remission (CR) and overall response rate (ORR) were applied to evaluate the efficacy of venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents in elderly with acute myeloid leukemia, and incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events were used to evaluate the safety.

RESULTS

10 studies, including a total of 930 patients, were identified in our study and analyzed using the random-effects model. Meta-analysis showed the pooled overall CR rate of 70% (95% CI: 63-77%), the pooled ORR rate of 53% (95% CI: 39-67%), and the median overall survival ranged from 7.7 to 16.9 months. A total of 6 studies reported related adverse events, mainly including thrombocytopenia, febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, and pneumonia. The pooled incidence of overall adverse events was 30% (95% CI: 22-38%), and all adverse events were tolerable and resolved with treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of venetoclax and demethylating drugs has a good therapeutic effect on elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia, but it also induces some adverse events. Although this therapy has a small impact on the quality of life, further attention is still needed to reduce the occurrence of such adverse events.

Psychological stress to ovalbumin peptide-specific T-cell receptor transgenic mice impairs the suppressive ability of type 1 regulatory T cell

Numerous diseases of the immune system can be traced back to the malfunctioning of the regulatory T cells. The aetiology is unclear. Psychological stress can cause disruption to the immune regulation. The synergistic effects of psychological stress and immune response on immune regulation have yet to be fully understood. The intention of this study is to analyse the interaction between psychological stress and immune responses and how it affects the functional status of type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells. In this study, ovalbumin peptide T-cell receptor transgenic mice were utilised. Mice were subjected to restraint stress to induce psychological stress. An airway allergy murine model was established, in which a mouse strain with RING finger protein 20 (Rnf20)-deficient CD4+ T cells were used. The results showed that concomitant exposure to restraint stress and immune response could exacerbate endoplasmic reticulum stress in Tr1 cells. Corticosterone was responsible for the elevated expression of X-box protein-1 (XBP1) in mouse Tr1 cells after exposure to both restraint stress and immune response. XBP1 mediated the effects of corticosterone on inducing Rnf20 in Tr1 cells. The reduction of the interleukin-10 expression in Tr1 cells was facilitated by Rnf20. Inhibition of Rnf20 alleviated experimental airway allergy by restoring the immune regulatory ability of Tr1 cells. In conclusion, the functions of Tr1 cells are negatively impacted by simultaneous exposure to psychological stress and immune response. Tr1 cells' immune suppressive functions can be restored by inhibiting Rnf20, which has the translational potential for the treatment of diseases of the immune system.

Heterologous Booster Immunization Based on Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Enhances Humoral Immunity and Promotes BCR Repertoire Development

Recent studies have indicated that sequentially administering SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can result in increased antibody and cellular immune responses. In this study, we compared homologous and heterologous immunization strategies following two doses of inactivated vaccines in a mouse model. Our research demonstrates that heterologous sequential immunization resulted in more immune responses displayed in the lymph node germinal center, which induced a greater number of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), resulting in enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses and increased cross-protection against five variant strains. In further single B-cell analysis, the above findings were supported by the presence of unique B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoires and diversity in CDR3 sequence profiles elicited by a heterologous booster immunization strategy.

Undersized telomeres in regulatory T cells link to the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis

Telomeres are an important biomarker in the cell destiny. The relationship between telomeres and regulatory T cells (Tregs) has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the link between Tregs' telomere length and allergic rhinitis (AR)'s pathogenesis. Here, we report that low telomerase activity and high endoplasmic reticulum stress status were observed in Tregs from AR patients, as shown in the results. Immune regulatory molecules levels were correlated with the length of Tregs' telomeres. The immune-suppressive functions of Tregs were associated with the telomere length/Telomerase reverse transcriptase/Telomerase protein component 1 status in Tregs. The levels of telomere length/telomerase in airway Tregs were reduced by sensitization. Endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway of proline-rich receptor-like protein kinase-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A (eIF2a) was associated with the regulation of telomerase. Inhibiting eIF2a had an effect on upregulating telomerase activity in Tregs and mitigating experimental AR.

Targeting NEDD8 suppresses surgical stress-facilitated metastasis of colon cancer via restraining regulatory T cells

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a key determinant for the immunosuppressive and premetastatic niche for cancer progression after surgery resection. However, the precise mechanisms regulating Tregs function during surgical stress-facilitated cancer metastasis remain unknown. This study aims to unravel the mechanisms and explore potential strategies for preventing surgical stress-induced metastasis by targeting NEDD8. Using a surgical stress mouse model, we found that surgical stress results in the increased expression of NEDD8 in Tregs. NEDD8 depletion abrogates postoperative lung metastasis of colon cancer cells by inhibiting Treg immunosuppression and thereby partially recovering CD8+T cell and NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, Treg mitophagy and mitochondrial respiration exacerbated in surgically stressed mice were attenuated by NEDD8 depletion. Our observations suggest that cancer progression may result from surgery-induced enhancement of NEDD8 expression and the subsequent immunosuppressive function of Tregs. More importantly, depleting or inhibiting NEDD8 can be an efficient strategy to reduce cancer metastasis after surgery resection by regulating the function of Tregs.

Population genetics of Aedes albopictus in the port cities of Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula, China

BACKGROUND

Aedes albopictus is an important vector of arboviral diseases, transmitting yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika. Monitoring its population genetic diversity and genetic differentiation has become essential for the control of infectious disease epidemics, especially in the functional areas of ports of entry. Population genetic monitoring of Ae. albopictus in the port area can help in the monitoring of port mosquito invasions and establishing port sanitary and quarantine measures to prevent the introduction and transmission of vector-borne diseases.

METHODS

Seventeen populations of Ae. albopictus were collected from five port cities on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula, 8 populations were collected from port areas, 4 from urban areas and 5 from rural areas. Nine microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial COI gene were used to study the population genetic diversity, population genetic structure and interpopulation gene flow of Ae. albopictus.

RESULTS

The nine microsatellite loci used were highly polymorphic, with an average PIC value of 0.768. The UPGMA genetic tree, STRUCTURE barplot and PCoA analyses showed that the 17 Ae. albopictus populations could be divided into three genetic groups. All 17 populations showed high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.8069-0.9678) and formed 133 distinct haplotypes. These haplotypes can be divided into four genetic clades, but they are not associated with the geographical distribution of Ae. albopictus. Fst and Nm showed strong gene flow and little differentiation among populations.

CONCLUSION

Ae. albopictus in port areas are not significantly different from urban and rural populations due to strong gene flow, which prevents differentiation and increases the genetic diversity of the populations. High genetic diversity facilitates mosquito adaptation to complex environmental changes, which is a challenge for vector-borne disease control in port areas.

Pyroptosis in septic lung injury: Interactions with other types of cell death

Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the host imbalanced response to infection. Lung injury is the most common complication of sepsis and one of the leading causes of patient death. Pyroptosis is a specific programmed cell death characterized by the release of inflammatory cytokines. Appropriate pyroptosis can reduce tissue damage and exert a protective effect against infection during sepsis. However, overactivated pyroptosis results in massive cell death, leading to septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and even an increased risk of secondary infection. Recent studies suggest that pyroptosis can interact with and cross-regulate other types of cell death programs to establish a complex network of cell death, which participates in the occurrence and development of septic lung injury. This review will focus on the interactions between pyroptosis and other types of cell death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, PANoptosis, NETosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis, to summarize the role of pyroptosis in sepsis-induced lung injury, and will discuss the potential therapeutic strategies of targeting pyroptosis during sepsis treatment.

Preclinical safety evaluation of a bivalent inactivated EV71-CA16 vaccine in mice immunized intradermally

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common acute viral infectious disease that poses a serious threat to the life and health of young children. With the development of an effective inactivated EV71 vaccine, CA16 has become the main pathogen causing HFMD. Effective and safe vaccines against this disease are urgently needed. In our previous study, a bivalent inactivated vaccine was shown to have good immunogenicity and to induce neutralizing antibodies in mice and monkeys. Repeated administration toxicity is a critical safety test in the preclinical evaluation of vaccines. In this study, BALB/c mice were used to evaluate the toxicity of the bivalent vaccine after multiple intradermal administrations. Clinical observation was performed daily, and body weight, food intake, hematological characteristics, serum biochemical parameters, antinuclear antibodies, CD4⁺/CD8a⁺ T-cell proportions, bone marrow smear results and pathology results were recorded. The results showed that there was no significant change at the injection site and no adverse reactions related to the vaccine. The bivalent inactivated EV71-CA16 vaccine exhibits good safety in mice, and these results provide a sufficient basis for further clinical trials.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and faecal microbiota transplantation can improve colitis in mice by affecting gut microbiota and metabolomics

Gut microbiota may have therapeutic effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Regulating intestinal microbiota through Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel approach to treating IBD. This study aimed to explore the effect of L. plantarum and FMT pretreatment in alleviating colitis in mice. Five groups of mice (n = 6 per group) were included: CON group, DSS group (dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis mice), LP-DSS pretreatment group (colitis mice were given strain L. plantarum and 5% DSS), DSS-FMT group (mice pretreated with faecal microbiota transplantation were given 5% DSS), and LP-FMT pretreatment group (mice pretreated with faecal microbiota transplantation and L. plantarum were given 5% DSS). Serum metabolites and intestinal microbiota were analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results demonstrated that L. plantarum and FMT improved gut microbiota in mice by increasing Firmicutes and decreasing the Bacteroidetes. In the serum metabolomics analysis, there were 11 differential metabolites in the DSS-FMT and LP-FMT pretreatment groups, and these differential metabolites were mainly glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids. It is worth noting that Lachnospira and Lactobacillus were positively associated with 8 differential metabolites. These results suggest that L. plantarum and FMT can regulate intestinal microorganisms and serum metabolomics to alleviate inflammation.

Cortisol synergizing with endoplasmic reticulum stress induces regulatory T-cell dysfunction

The dysfunction of regulatory T cell (Treg) is associated with the pathogenesis of many immune diseases. The regiments used to re-establish Treg's function are currently unsatisfactory and need to be improved. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the synergistic effects of cortisol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on impairing regulatory T cell functions. In this study, blood samples were collected from patients with food allergy (FA). Immune cells were purified from blood specimens by flow cytometry. A mouse model of FA was established with ovalbumin as a specific antigen. We observed that serum cortisol levels of FA patients were negatively correlated with peripheral Treg counts. Overwhelmed ER stress status was detected in Tregs of FA patients. The antigen-specific immune response induced ER stress in Tregs, which was exacerbated by concurrent cortisol exposure. ER stress mediated the effects of cortisol on impairing the immune suppressive ability of Tregs. The expression of Rnf20 was observed in Tregs upon exposure to cortisol. Rnf20 reduced the expression of Foxp3 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in Tregs. Rnf20 inhibition re-established the immunosuppressive functions of Tregs obtained in patients with FA. The experimental FA in mice was attenuated by inhibition of Rnf20 in Tregs. In summary, specific immune response in synergy with cortisol to induce the expression of Rnf20 in Tregs. Rnf20 reduces the levels of Foxp3 and TGF-β to impair the immune suppressive function. Inhibition of Rnf20 can restore the immune suppressive ability of Tregs obtained from FA patients.

Evolution of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula, China

Background

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors of human arboviruses, transmitting arboviral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These two mosquitoes coexist on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula in China. Over the past 40 years, the distribution of Ae. albopictus has gradually expanded in these areas, while the distribution of Ae. aegypti has declined dramatically mainly due to the ecological changes and some other factors such as heavy use of insecticide indoor based on endophagic bloodfeeding of the species.

Methods

This study focused on the knockdown resistance (kdr) genes of both mosquitoes, investigated their mutations, and analyzed their haplotype and evolutionary diversity combined with population genetic features based on the ND4/ND5 genes to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of insecticide resistance in both mosquitoes.

Results

Three mutations, S989P, V1016G and F1534C, were found to be present in Ae. aegypti populations, and the three mutations occurred synergistically. Multiple mutation types (F1534C/S/L/W) of the F1534 locus are found in Ae. albopictus populations, with the three common mutations F1534C, F1534S and F1534L all having multiple independent origins. The F1534W (TTC/TGG) mutation is thought to have evolved from the F1534L (TTC/TTG) mutation. The F1534S (TTC/TCG) mutation has evolved from the F1534S (TTC/TCC) mutation. The most common form of mutation at the F1534 locus found in this study was S1534C, accounting for 20.97%, which may have evolved from the F1534C mutation. In addition, a new non-synonymous mutation M1524I and 28 synonymous mutations were identified in Ae. albopictus populations. Correlation analysis showed that the genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus populations did not correlate with their kdr haplotype diversity (P>0.05), but strong gene flow between populations may have contributed to the evolution of the kdr gene.

Conclusion

The study of kdr gene evolution in the two mosquito species may help to identify the evolutionary trend of insecticide resistance at an early stage and provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of biological vector control and subsequent research into new insecticides.

Vigour testing for the rice seed with computer vision-based techniques

Rice is the staple food for approximately half of the world's population. Seed vigour has a crucial impact on the yield, which can be evaluated by germination rate, vigor index and etc. Existing seed vigour testing methods heavily rely on manual inspections that are destructive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. To address the drawbacks of existing rice seed vigour testing, we proposed a multispectral image-based non-destructive seed germination testing approach. Specifically, we collected multispectral data in 19 wavebands for six rice varieties. Furthermore, we designed an end-to-end pipeline, denoted as MsiFormer (MisFormer cod3e will be available at https://github.com/LiaoYun0x0/MisFormer) by integrating a Yolo-based object detector (trained Yolo v5) and a vision transformer-based vigour testing model, which effectively improved the automation and efficiency of existing techniques. In order to objectively evaluate the performance of the proposed method in this paper, we conduct a comparison between MisFormer and other 3 deep learning methods. The results showed that, MisFormer performed much better with the accuracy of 94.17%, which was 2.5%-18.34% higher than the other 3 deep learning methods. Besides MsiFormer, possibilities of CIELab mediated image analysis of TTC (tetrazolium chloride) staining in rice seed viability and nCDA (normalized canonical discriminant analysis) in rice seed vigour were also discussed, where CIELab L* of TTC staining were negatively correlated with vigor index and germination rate, with Pearson's correlation coefficient of -0.9874, -0.9802 respectively, and CIELab A* of TTC staining were and positively correlated with vigor index and germination rate, with Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.9624, 0.9544 respectively, and CIELab A* of nCDA had Pearson's correlation coefficient of -0.8866 and -0.9340 with vigor index and germination rate, respectively. Besides testing methods, vigour results within and among variety(ies) showed that, there were great variations among the 6 rice varieties, and mean coefficient of variation (CV) of vigor index of individual seed within a variety reached 64.87%, revealing the high risk of conventional methods in random sampling. Vigour variations had close relationship with wavelengths of 780 nm-970 nm, indicating their value in future research.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia arising from malignant tumors]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, cytogenetics, molecular biology, treatment, and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML) secondary to malignancies. Methods: The clinical data of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2010 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics, primary tumor types, and tumor-related therapies were analyzed. Results: The study enrolled a total of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML, including 67 patients with t-AML, including 1 patient with M(0), 6 with M(1), 27 with M(2), 9 with M(3), 12 with M(4), 10 with M(5), 1 with M(6), and 1 with M(7). Sixty-two patients could be genetically stratified, with a median overall survival (OS) of 36 (95% CI 22-52) months for 20 (29.9%) patients in the low-risk group and 6 (95% CI 3-9) months for 10 (14.9%) in the intermediate-risk group. The median OS time was 8 (95% CI 1-15) months in 32 (47.8%) patients in the high-risk group. For patients with non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and AML, the median OS of the low-risk group was 27 (95% CI 18-36) months, which was significantly longer than that of the non-low-risk group (χ(2)=5.534, P=0.019). All 9 APL cases were treated according to the initial treatment, and the median OS was not reached, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 100.0%, (75.0±6.2) %, and (75.0±6.2) % respectively. Of the 58 patients with non-APL t-AML (89.7%), 52 received chemotherapy, and 16 achieved complete remission (30.8%) after the first induction chemotherapy. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of the non-APL t-AML group were (42.0 ± 6.6) %, (22.9±5.7) %, and (13.4±4.7) %, respectively. The median OS of patients who achieved remission was 24 (95% CI 18-30) months, and the median OS of those who did not achieve remission was 6 (95% CI 3-9) months (χ(2)=10.170, P=0.001). Bone marrow CR was achieved in 7 (53.8%) of 13 patients treated with vineclar-containing chemotherapy, with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 9-15) months, which was not significantly different from that of vineclar-containing chemotherapy (χ(2)=0.600, P=0.437). In 19 patients with t-MDS, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were (46.8±11.6) %, (17.5±9.1) %, and (11.7±9.1) % with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 7-17) months, which was not significantly different from that in t-AML (χ(2)=0.232, P=0.630) . Conclusions: Breast cancer, bowel cancer, and other primary tumors are common in patients with t-MDS/AML, which have a higher risk of adverse genetics. Patients with APL had a high induction remission rate and a good long-term prognosis, whereas patients without APL had a low remission rate and a poor long-term prognosis.

Genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from cohabiting fields in Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula, China

BACKGROUND

Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are important human arbovirus vectors that can spread arboviral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These two mosquito species coexist on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula in China. Over the past 40 years, the distribution of Ae. albopictus in these areas has gradually expanded, while Ae. aegypti has declined sharply. Monitoring their genetic diversity and diffusion could help to explain the genetic influence behind this phenomenon and became key to controlling the epidemic of arboviruses.

METHODS

To better understand the genetic diversity and differentiation of these two mosquitoes, the possible cohabiting areas on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula were searched between July and October 2021, and five populations were collected. Respectively nine and 11 microsatellite loci were used for population genetic analysis of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In addition, the mitochondrial coxI gene was also selected for analysis of both mosquito species.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean diversity index (PIC and SI values) of Ae. albopictus (mean PIC = 0.754 and SI = 1.698) was higher than that of Ae. aegypti (mean PIC = 0.624 and SI = 1.264). The same results were also observed for the coxI gene: the genetic diversity of all populations of Ae. albopictus was higher than that of Ae. aegypti (total H = 45 and Hd = 0.89958 vs. total H = 23 and Hd = 0.76495, respectively). UPGMA dendrogram, DAPC and STRUCTURE analyses showed that Ae. aegypti populations were divided into three clusters and Ae. albopictus populations into two. The Mantel test indicated a significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance for the Ae. aegypti populations (R2 = 0.0611, P = 0.001), but the correlation was not significant for Ae. albopictus populations (R2 = 0.0011, P = 0.250).

CONCLUSIONS

The population genetic diversity of Ae. albopictus in Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula was higher than that of Ae. aegypti. In terms of future vector control, the most important and effective measure was to control the spread of Ae. albopictus and monitor the population genetic dynamics of Ae. aegypti on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula, which could theoretically support the further elimination of Ae. aegypti in China.

Identification of potential new COVID-19 treatments via RWD-driven drug repurposing

By utilizing Optum Life Sciences Claims Data, we constructed Real World Data (RWD) cohorts comprising over 3 million patients and simulated a clinical trial observational study design to evaluate over 200 FDA-approved drugs with COVID-19 repurposing potential, and identified a dozen candidates exhibiting significant reduction in the odds of severe COVID-19 outcomes such as death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospitalization and pneumonia. Notably, certain drug combinations demonstrated effects comparable to those of COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, our study revealed a novel finding: a quantitative linear relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and overall patient health risks. This discovery enabled a more precise estimation of drug efficacy using the risk adjustment. The top performing drugs identified include emtricitabine, tenofovir, folic acid, progesterone, estradiol, epinephrine, disulfiram, nitazoxanide and some drug combinations including aspirin-celecoxib.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal mood disorder: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 95 qualified Chinese participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 31 in the acupuncture combined with CHM group (combined group), 32 in the acupuncture combined with CHM placebo group (acupuncture group) and 32 in the CHM combined with sham acupuncture group (CHM group). The patients were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 4 weeks. The data were collected using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and safety index.

RESULTS

The three groups each showed significant decreases in the GCS, SDS and SAS after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect on the GCS total score and the anxiety domain lasted until the follow-up period in the combined group (p < 0.05). Within the three groups, there was no difference in GCS and SAS between the three groups after treatment (p > 0.05). However, the combined group showed significant improvement in the SDS, compared with both the acupuncture group and the CHM group at 8 weeks and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). No obvious abnormal cases were found in any of the safety indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that either acupuncture, or CHM or combined therapy offer safe improvement of mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women. However, the combination therapy was associated with more stable effects in the follow-up period and a superior effect on improving depression symptoms.

Müllerian Duct Anomalies and Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Significant associations between the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and uterine anomalies have been reported. It is unclear whether high anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels coexist with the development of uterine malformations in women with PCOS. This study sought to investigate the association between Müllerian duct anomalies and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in women with PCOS.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the records of 1,391 women with PCOS were analyzed. The cohort was divided into a low-AMH group (n = 700) and a high-AMH group (n = 691), based on an AMH cutoff value of 8.45 ng/ml. Müllerian duct anomalies were classified into four subtypes based on three-dimensional ultrasonography: septate uterus, bicornuate uterus, uterus didelphys, unicornuate uterus, and arcuate uterus. The primary outcome was the overall incidence of Müllerian duct anomalies. The secondary outcome was the prevalence of the abovementioned specific types of Müllerian duct anomalies. The prevalence of Müllerian duct anomalies was analyzed using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Among the patients with PCOS, the prevalence of unicornuate uterus anomalies was higher in the high-AMH group than in the low-AMH group (1.0% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.04). No statistically significant difference in the overall incidence of uterine malformations was found between the two AMH groups (4.3% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed a higher prevalence of unicornuate uterus in PCOS women with high AMH levels. Clinicians might decide to investigate the possibility of a unicornuate uterus in PCOS women with high AMH levels.

5-HT modulates the properties of dendritic cells to interfere with the development of type 1 regulating T cells

BACKGROUND

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) is a major mediator in allergic reactions. The number of tolerogenic dendritic cell (tolDC) and regulatory T cell is reduced in allergic disorders. The mechanism is unclear. The objective of this study is to elucidate the role of 5-HT in interfering with tolDC generation and regulatory Type 1 T cell (Tr1 cell).

METHODS

BALB/c mice were treated with 5-HT-containing nasal instillations. The frequency of tolDC and Tr1 cell was evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Following treatment with 5-HT nasal instillations for one week, the frequency of tolDC and Tr1 cell was significantly reduced in the respiratory tissues. Higher levels of SOS1 were detected in DCs isolated from the airway tissues of mice treated with 5-HT. A complex of SOS1 and c-Maf was detected in DCs in response to 5-HT stimulation. The expression of IL-10 was suppressed by the presence of 5-HT. The induction of Tr1 cell by DC was substantially compromised by 5-HT.

CONCLUSIONS

5-HT inhibits the expression of IL-10 in DCs. DCs primed with 5-HT lose the ability to induce Tr1 cells.

B-Cell-Activating Factor Contributes to Elevation of the Content of Regulatory B Cells in Neonatal Sepsis

We studied the role of B cell-activating factor (BAFF) in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in promoting proliferation and maintaining survival of regulatory B lymphocytes (Breg) in newborns with sepsis. The peripheral blood samples were collected from preterm neonates (n=40) diagnosed with sepsis on the day of diagnosis and on days 7, 14, and 21 after diagnosis, as well as from the matched preterm neonates without sepsis (n=40; control group). The peripheral blood mononuclear cells and B cells were isolated, cultured, and stimulated with LPS and immunostimulant CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN). Proliferation and differentiation of B-cells into CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi Breg cells and the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in these processes were studied by flow cytometry, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting. BAFF levels in the peripheral blood of neonates with sepsis were significantly increased at one week after diagnosis in parallel with increasing trend of expression of BAFF receptor. When applied with LPS and CpG-ODN, BAFF promoted differentiation of B cells into CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi Breg cells. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 factor and 70S6K kinase located downstream in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was significantly up-regulated when stimulated with BAFF in combination with LPS and CpG-ODN. Thus, increased level of BAFF activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and induces in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood B cells into CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi Breg cells.

[Synchronization isolation method for multiple types of cells from mouse liver]

Objective: To explore a simple and feasible method for the isolation and purification of hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and lymphocytes from mice. Methods: The cell suspension was obtained from male C57bl/6 mice by hepatic perfusion through the portal vein digestion method and then isolated and purified by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation. Trypan blue exclusion was used to determine cell viability. Glycogen staining, cytokeratin 18, and transmission electron microscopy were used to identify hepatic cells. Immunofluorescence was used to detect α-smooth muscle actin combined with desmin in HSCs. Flow cytometry was used to analyze lymphocyte subsets in the liver. Results: After isolation and purification, about 2.7×10(7) hepatocytes, 5.7×10(5) HSCS, and 4.6×106 hepatic mononuclear cells were obtained from the liver of mice with a body weight of about 22g. The cell survival rate in each group was > 95%. Hepatocytes were apparent in glycogen deposited purple-red granules and cytokeratin 18. Electron microscopy showed that there were abundant organelles in hepatocytes and tight junctions between cells. HSC had expressed α-smooth muscle actin and desmin. Flow cytometry showed hepatic mononuclear cells, including lymphocyte subsets such as CD4, CD8, NKs, and NKTs. Conclusion: The hepatic perfusion through the portal vein digestion method can isolate multiple primary cells from the liver of mice at once and has the features of simplicity and efficiency.

Long-Term Cross Immune Response in Mice following Heterologous Prime-Boost COVID-19 Vaccination with Full-Length Spike mRNA and Recombinant S1 Protein

(1) Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth year, it continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although various vaccines have been approved and the use of homologous or heterologous boost doses is widely promoted, the impact of vaccine antigen basis, forms, dosages, and administration routes on the duration and spectrum of vaccine-induced immunity against variants remains incompletely understood. (2) Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of combining a full-length spike mRNA vaccine with a recombinant S1 protein vaccine, using intradermal/intramuscular, homologous/heterologous, and high/low dosage immunization strategies. (3) Results: Over a period of seven months, vaccination with a mutant recombinant S1 protein vaccine based on the full-length spike mRNA vaccine maintained a broadly stable humoral immunity against the wild-type strain, a partially attenuated but broader-spectrum immunity against variant strains, and a comparable level of cellular immunity across all tested strains. Furthermore, intradermal vaccination enhanced the heterologous boosting of the protein vaccine based on the mRNA vaccine. (4) Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into optimizing vaccination strategies to address the ongoing challenges posed by emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Targeting the RhoA-GEF-H1 pathway of mast cells attenuates experimental airway allergy

Mast cells are the major effector cells in allergic diseases. RhoA and its downstream pathway is associated with the pathogenesis of airway allergy. The objective of this study is to test a hypothesis that modulating the RhoA-GEF-H1 axis in mast cells can attenuate airway allergy. An airway allergic disorder (AAD) mouse model was employed. Mast cells were isolated from AAD mouse airway tissues to be analyzed by RNA sequencing. We observed that mast cells isolated from the respiratory tract of AAD mice were resistant to apoptosis. Mast cell mediator levels in nasal lavage fluid were correlated with apoptosis resistance in AAD mice. Activation of RhoA in AAD mast cells was related to resistance to apoptosis. Mast cells isolated from the airway tissues in AAD mouse exhibited strong RhoA-GEF-H1 expression. The RhoA-GEF-H1 axis was associated with the lower FasL expression in AAD mast cells. Activation of the RhoA-GEF-H1 axis promoted the production of mediators in mast cells. Inhibition of GEF-H1 facilitated the SIT-induced mast cell apoptosis and enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of AAD. In conclusion, RhoA-GEF-H1 activities are associated with resistance to apoptosis in mast cells isolated from sites of allergic lesions. The state of apoptosis resistance in mast cells is associated with the state of AAD disease. Inhibition of GEF-H1 restores the sensitivity of mast cells to apoptosis inducers, and alleviates experimental AAD in mice.

Preclinical safety evaluation of intradermal SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (Vero cells) administration in macaques

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute and highly pathogenic infectious disease in humans caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Six months after immunization with the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, however, antibodies are almost depleted. Intradermal immunization could be a new way to solve the problem of nondurable antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 or the poor immune protection against variant strains. We evaluated the preclinical safety of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for intradermal immunization in rhesus monkeys. The results showed that there were no obvious abnormalities in the general clinical condition, food intake, body weight or ophthalmologic examination except for a reaction at the local vaccination site. In the hematology examination, bone marrow imaging, serum biochemistry, and routine urine testing, the related indexes of each group fluctuated to different degrees after administration, but there was no dose-response or time-response correlation. The neutralization antibody and ELISpot results also showed that strong humoral and cellular immunity could be induced after vaccination, and the levels of neutralizing antibodies increased with certain dose- and time-response trends. The results of a repeated-administration toxicity test in rhesus monkeys intradermally inoculated with a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine showed good safety and immunogenicity.

Puerarin@Chitosan composite for infected bone repair through mimicking the bio-functions of antimicrobial peptides

It is important to eliminate lipopolysaccharide (LPS) along with killing bacteria in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) therapy for promoting bone repair due to its effect to regulate macrophages response. Although natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a good solution, the unknown toxicity, high cost and exogenetic immune response hamper their applications in clinic. In this work, we fabricated a nanowire-like composite material, named P@C, by combining chitosan and puerarin via solid-phase reaction, which can finely mimic the bio-functions of AMPs. Chitosan, serving as the bacteria membrane puncture agent, and puerarin, serving as the LPS target agent, synergistically destroy the bacterial membrane structure and inhibit its recovery, thus endowing P@C with good antibacterial property. In addition, P@C possesses good osteoimmunomodulation due to its ability of LPS elimination and macrophage differentiation modulation. The in vivo results show that P@C can inhibit the LPS induced bone destruction in the Escherichia coli infected rat. P@C exhibits superior bone regeneration in Escherichia coli infected rat due to the comprehensive functions of its superior antibacterial property, and its ability of LPS elimination and immunomodulation. P@C can well mimic the functions of AMPs, which provides a novel and effective method for treating the PJI in clinic.

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P@C was fabricated through solid reaction with chitosan and puerarin.

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P@C punctures bacteria membrane and eliminates LPS, thus sterilizes bacteria.

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P@C improves bone formation of PEEK under infection via polarizing macrophage to M2.

On-Off Phagocytosis and Switchable Macrophage Activation Stimulated with NIR for Infected Percutaneous Tissue Repair of Polypyrrole-Coated Sulfonated PEEK

Intelligent control of the immune response is essential for obtaining percutaneous implants with good sterilization and tissue repair abilities. In this study, polypyrrole (Ppy) nanoparticles enveloping a 3D frame of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SP) surface are constructed, which enhance the surface modulus and hardness of the sulfonated layer by forming a cooperative structure of simulated reinforced concrete and exhibit a superior photothermal effect. Ppy-coated SP could quickly accumulate heat on the surface by responding to 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light, thereby killing bacteria, and destroying biofilms. Under NIR stimulation, the phagocytosis and M1 activation of macrophages cultured on Ppy-coated SP are enhanced by activating complement 3 and its receptor, CD11b. Phagocytosis and M1 activation are impaired along with abolishment of NIR stimulation in the Ppy-coated SP group, which is favorable for tissue repair. Ppy-coated SP promotes Collagen-I, vascular endothelial growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, and α-actin (Acta2) expression by inducing M2 polarization owing to its higher surface modulus. Overall, Ppy-coated SP with enhanced mechanical properties could be a good candidate for clinical percutaneous implants through on-off phagocytosis and switchable macrophage activation stimulated with NIR.

Uranium capture by a layered 2D/2D niobium phosphate/holey graphene architecture via an electro-adsorption and electrocatalytic reduction coupling process

As an energy-efficient and eco-friendly technique, capacitive deionization (CDI) has shown great potential for uranium (U(VI)) capture recently. However, extracting U(VI) with high kinetics, capacity and selectivity remains a major challenge due to the current surface active sites-based material and co-existing ions in aqueous solution. Here we rationally designed a layered 2D/2D niobium phosphate/holey graphene (HGNbP) electrode material, and originally demonstrated its efficient U(VI) capture ability via an electro-adsorption and electrocatalytic reduction coupling process. The less-accumulative loose layered architecture, open polycrystalline construction of niobium phosphate with active phosphate sites, and rich in-plane nano-pores on conductive graphene nanosheets endowed HGNbP with fast charge/ion transport, high electroconductivity and superior pseudocapacitance, which enabled U(VI) ions first to be electro-adsorbed, then physico-chemical adsorbed, and finally electrocatalysis reduced/deposited onto electrode surface without the limitation of active sites under a low potential of 1.2 V. Based on these virtues, the HGNbP exhibited a fast adsorption kinetics, with a high removal rate of 99.9% within 30 min in 50 mg L^-1 U(VI) solution, and a high adsorption capacity up to 1340 mg g^-1 in 1000 mg L^-1 U(VI) solution. Furthermore, the good recyclability and selectivity towards U(VI) were also realized.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of NAC family genes in Ginkgo biloba L

NAC (NAM, ATAF, CUC2) transcription factors constitute one of the largest families of plant-specific transcription factors with important roles in plant growth and development and in biotic and abiotic stresses. The physicochemical properties, gene structure, cis-acting elements and expression patterns of NAC transcription factors in Ginkgo biloba were analysed using bioinformatics, and expression of this gene family was analysed via quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The family of G. biloba NAC transcription factors had 50 members, distributed on 12 chromosomes and divided into 11 groups. Members in the same group share a similar gene structure and motif distribution. Transcriptome data analysis of G. biloba showed that 35 genes were expressed in eight tissues. Correlation analysis suggested that GbNAC007 and GNAC008 might be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Expression levels of 12 GbNACs under cold, het, and salt stresses were analysed. Results indicate that NAC transcription factors play an important role in response to abiotic stresses. This study provides a reference for the functional analysis of the G. biloba family of NAC transcription factors, as well as a resource for studies on the involvement of this family in responses to abiotic stresses and flavonoid biosynthesis.

Chitosan@Puerarin hydrogel for accelerated wound healing in diabetic subjects by miR-29ab1 mediated inflammatory axis suppression

Wound healing is one of the major global health concerns in patients with diabetes. Overactivation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages is associated with delayed wound healing in diabetes. miR-29ab1 plays a critical role in diabetes-related macrophage inflammation. Hence, inhibition of inflammation and regulation of miR-29 expression have been implicated as new points for skin wound healing. In this study, the traditional Chinese medicine, puerarin, was introduced to construct an injectable and self-healing chitosan@puerarin (C@P) hydrogel. The C@P hydrogel promoted diabetic wound healing and accelerated angiogenesis, which were related to the inhibition of the miR-29 mediated inflammation response. Compared to healthy subjects, miR-29a and miR-29b1 were ectopically increased in the skin wound of the diabetic model, accompanied by upregulated M1-polarization, and elevated levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. Further evaluations by miR-29ab1 knockout mice exhibited superior wound healing and attenuated inflammation. The present results suggested that miR-29ab1 is essential for diabetic wound healing by regulating the inflammatory response. Suppression of miR-29ab1 by the C@P hydrogel has the potential for improving medical approaches for wound repair.

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A chitosan based hydrogel containing puerarin was constructed for promoting diabetic wound healing.

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Chitosan@Puerarin hydrogel accelerated skin repair through inhibiting M1-polarization and reducing IL-1β and TNF-α.

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miR-29 a/b1 was found to be ectopic increased in the skin-wound of diabetic model.

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miR-29 a/b1 was inhibited by Chitosan@Puerarin in diabetic wound healing.

Metabolic Reprogramming of Microglia in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy: Insights from Neuroinflammation

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a diffuse brain dysfunction caused by sepsis that manifests as a range of brain dysfunctions from delirium to coma. It is a relatively common complication of sepsis associated with poor patient prognosis and mortality. The pathogenesis of SAE involves neuroinflammatory responses, neurotransmitter dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, abnormal blood flow regulation, etc. Neuroinflammation caused by hyperactivation of microglia is considered to be a key factor in disease development, which can cause a series of chain reactions, including BBB disruption and oxidative stress. Metabolic reprogramming has been found to play a central role in microglial activation and executive functions. In this review, we describe the pivotal role of energy metabolism in microglial activation and functional execution and demonstrate that the regulation of microglial metabolic reprogramming might be crucial in the development of clinical therapeutics for neuroinflammatory diseases like SAE.

Evaluation of Immunogenicity and Clinical Protection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 and N Antigens in Syrian Golden Hamster

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic continues to be a global public crisis affecting human health. Many research groups are developing different types of vaccines to suppress the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and some vaccines have entered phase III clinical trials and have been rapidly implemented. Whether multiple antigen matches are necessary to induce a better immune response remains unclear. To address this question, this study tested the immunogenicity and protective effects of a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant S and N peptide vaccine in the Syrian golden hamster model. This experiment was based on two immunization methods: intradermal and intramuscular administration. Immunized hamsters were challenged with live SARS-CoV-2 14 days after booster immunization. Clinical symptoms were observed daily, and the antibody titer and viral load in each tissue were detected. The results showed that immunization of golden hamsters with the SARS-CoV-2 structural protein S alone or in combination with the N protein through different routes induced antibody responses, whereas immunization with the N protein alone did not. However, although the immunized hamsters exhibited partial alleviation of clinical symptoms when challenged with the virus, neither vaccine effectively inhibited the proliferation and replication of the challenging virus. In addition, the pathological damage in the immunized hamsters was similar to that in the control hamsters. Interestingly, the neutralizing antibody levels of all groups including immunized and nonimmunized animals increased significantly after viral challenge. In conclusion, the immune response induced by the experimental S and N polypeptide vaccines had no significant ability to prevent viral infection and pathogenicity in golden hamsters.

The Ras GTPase-activating-like protein IQGAP1 bridges Gasdermin D to the ESCRT system to promote IL-1β release via exosomes

IL-1β can exit the cytosol as an exosomal cargo following inflammasome activation in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in a Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-dependent manner. The mechanistic connection linking inflammasome activation and the biogenesis of exosomes has so far remained largely elusive. Here, we report the Ras GTPase-activating-like protein IQGAP1 functions as an adaptor, bridging GSDMD to the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery to promote the biogenesis of pro-IL-1β-containing exosomes in response to NLPR3 inflammasome activation. We identified IQGAP1 as a GSDMD-interacting protein through a non-biased proteomic analysis. Functional investigation indicated the IQGAP1-GSDMD interaction is required for LPS and ATP-induced exosome release. Further analysis revealed that IQGAP1 serves as an adaptor which bridges GSDMD and associated IL-1β complex to Tsg101, a component of the ESCRT complex, and enables the packaging of GSDMD and IL-1β into exosomes. Importantly, this process is dependent on an LPS-induced increase in GTP-bound CDC42, a small GTPase known to activate IQGAP1. Taken together, this study reveals IQGAP1 as a link between inflammasome activation and GSDMD-dependent, ESCRT-mediated exosomal release of IL-1β.

[Efficacy and safety of daratumumab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Methods: Fifty-two RRMM patients treated with daratumumab from September 2019 to November 2021 in West China Hospital were retrospectively enrolled, including 31 males and 21 females. The mean age of these patients at the first diagnosis of multiple myeloma was (58±10) years. According to the dosage of daratumumab, patients were divided into low dosage group (n=10) and high dosage group (n=42). Overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse event rates were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential factors were conducted. Results: Of the 52 patients, 8 received daratumumab monotherapy, 27 received daratumumab plus immuno-modulatory drug (IMiD) treatment, 4 received daratumumab plus proteosome inhibitor (PI) treatment, and 11 received daratumumab plus dexamethasone treatment. The diagnosis age of high dosage group patients was (57±9) years, which was significantly younger than that of low dosage group [(66±10) years] (P=0.009). The baseline creatinine level of high dosage group patients [M (Q₁, Q₃)] was 91 (68, 196) μmol/L, which was significantly higher than that of low dosage group [66 (51, 76) μmol/L] (P=0.021). There was no significant difference in other baseline clinical characteristics, previous treatment regimens, previous lines of treatment, and regimen and cycles of daratumumab between the high dosage group and low dosage group (all P>0.05). The ORR for the 52 patients was 71.2% (37/52). The ORR for daratumumab plus IMiD group was 81.5% (22/27), which was significantly higher than that in monotherapy or dexamethasone group [ORR: 52.6% (10/19), P=0.036). With a median follow-up [M (Q₁, Q₃)] of 7 (5, 26) months, the median PFS for overall cohort was 17 (95%CI: 9.6-24.4) months. The median PFS for daratumumab plus IMiD group was 26 (95%CI: 6.0-46.0) months, which was significantly better than that in monotherapy or dexamethasone group [12 (95%CI: 3.5-20.5) months] (HR=0.231, 95%CI: 0.075-0.715, P=0.011). Higher diagnosis age was the risk factor of progression (HR=1.085, 95%CI: 1.016-1.158, P=0.014), while more cycles of daratumumab treatment was the protective factor of progression (HR=0.669, 95%CI: 0.495-0.904, P=0.009). There was no significant influence of daratumumab dosage on progression (high dosage vs low dosage, HR=1.016, 95%CI: 0.221-4.668, P=0.984). The median OS for overall cohort was 26 (95%CI: 13.1-38.9) months. Higher serum calcium was the independent risk factor of death (HR=12.190, 95%CI: 1.170-127.048, P=0.037). There was no significant influence of daratumumab dosage on death (high dosage vs low dosage, HR=0.818, 95%CI: 0.171-3.917, P=0.802). Adverse events included infections (43.2%, 16/37), infusion-associated reactions (29.7%, 11/37), and thrombocytopenia (27.0%, 10/37). Conclusions: Daratumumab is effective to treat RRMM. The dosage of daratumumab has no significant influence on prognosis when used in combined treatment. The incidence of adverse events is relatively low, with a favorable safety profile.

TAFA4-IL-10 axis potentiate immunotherapy for airway allergy by induction of specific regulatory T cells

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the main treatment for allergic diseases. The therapeutic efficacy of AIT has to be improved. Neuropeptides, such as TAFA4, have immune-regulating features. The objective of this study is to promote the efficacy of AIT in experimental allergic rhinitis (AR) by the concurrent use of TAFA chemokine as a family member 4 (TAFA4). In this study, an AR mouse model was developed using ovalbumin (OVA) as the specific antigen. The AR response was assessed in mice after treatment with AIT or/and TAFA4. We found that exposure to TAFA4 activated dendritic cells (DCs) in the airway tissues. Activation of DC by TAFA4 resulted in the expression of IL-10. TAFA4 also promoted the activities of c-Maf inducing protein. The FPR1-MyD88-AKT signal pathway was associated with the TAFA4-induced Il10 expression in the DCs. Co-administration of AIT/TAFA4 attenuated the AR response in mice by inducing antigen-specific Tr1 cells. In conclusion, TAFA4 induces the expression of IL-10 in DCs. Acting as an adjuvant, TAFA4 significantly improves AIT’s therapeutic efficacy against AR by inducing antigen-specific Tr1 cells.

Absence of active systemic anaphylaxis in guinea pigs upon intramuscular injection of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cells)

Background: The safety of novel vaccines against COVID-19 is currently a major focus of preclinical research. As a part of the safety evaluation testing package, 24 healthy guinea pigs were used to determine whether repeated administration of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could induce active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA), and to evaluate its degree of severity.Method: According to sex and body weight, the animals were randomly divided into three experimental groups (eight animals per group). The negative control group received 0.9% sodium chloride (priming dose: 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 1 mL/animal); the positive control group received 10% ovalbumin (priming dose: 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 1 mL/animal); and the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine group received inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (priming dose: 100 U in 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 200 U in 1 mL/animal). Priming dose administration was conducted by multi-point injection into the muscles of the hind limbs, three times, once every other day. On days 14 and 21 after the final priming injection, a challenge test was conducted. Half of the animals in each group were injected intravenously with twice the dose and volume of the tested substance used for immunization. During the experimental course, the injection site, general clinical symptoms, body weight, and systemic allergic reaction symptoms were monitored.Result: After intramuscular injection of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, there were no abnormal reactions at the injection site, clinical symptoms, or deaths. There was no difference in body weight between the groups, and there were no allergic reactions. Conclusion: Thus, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine injected intramuscularly in guinea pigs did not produce ASA and had a good safety profile, which can provide actual data on vaccine risks and important reference data for clinical research on this vaccine.

Advances in physiological mechanisms of selenium to improve heavy metal stress tolerance in plants

Selenium (Se) is a metalloid mineral nutrient for human and animal health. Plants are the main foodstuff source of the Se intake of humans. For plants, the addition of an appropriate amount of Se could promotes growth and development, and improves the tolerance to environmental stress, especially stress from some of heavy metals (HM) stress, such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg). This paper mainly reviews and summarizes the physiological mechanism of Se in enhancing HM stress tolerance in plants. The antagonistic effect of Se on HM is a comprehensive effect that includes many physiological mechanisms. Se can promote the removal of excessive reactive oxygen species and reduce the oxidative damage of plant cells under HM elements stress. Se participates in the regulation of the transportation and distribution of HM ions in plants, and alleviates the damage caused by of HM stress. Moreover, Se combine with HM elements to form Se-HM complexes and promote the production of phytochelatins (PCs), thereby reducing the accumulation of HM ions in plants. Overall, Se plays an important role in plant response to HM stress, but current studies mainly focus on physiological mechanism, and further in-depth study on the molecular mechanism is essential to confirm the participation of Se in plant response to environmental stress. This review helps to comprehensively understand the physiological mechanism of Se in plant tolerance against to HM stress of plants, and provides important theoretical support for the practical application of Se in environmental remediation and agricultural development.