LPS binding caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs) are bipartite lipid binding modules.

Caspase-11 is an innate immune pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that detects cytosolic bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) through its caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD), triggering inflammatory cell death known as pyroptosis. Caspase-11 also detects eukaryotic ( self) lipids. This observation raises the question of whether common or distinct mechanisms govern the interactions with self and nonself lipids.

Correction of age-associated defects in dendritic cells enables CD4 T cells to eradicate tumors.

Defective host defenses later in life are associated with changes in immune cell activities, suggesting that age-specific considerations are needed in immunotherapy approaches. In this study, we found that PD-1 and CTLA4-based cancer immunotherapies are unable to eradicate tumors in elderly mice. This defect in anti-tumor activity correlated with two known age-associated immune defects: diminished abundance of systemic naive CD8 T cells and weak migratory activities of dendritic cells (DCs).

Nanostructuring silica-iron core-shell particles in a one-step aerosol process.

Silica-coated iron (Fe@SiO) particles have attracted considerable interest as a potential powder core material due to their distinctive advantages, including higher magnetic saturation and enhanced electrical resistance. In this study, the submicron-sized core-shell Fe@SiO particles were successfully synthesized in a single step an aerosol process using a spray pyrolysis method assisted by a swirler connector for the first time. Changing the reducing agent concentration (supplied H) and tuning the number of core (Fe) particles were investigated to achieve the desired Fe@SiO particles.

Rifamycin-Related Polyketides from a Marine-Derived Bacterium and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Eight rifamycin-related polyketides were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived bacterium , including five known (- and ) and three new derivatives (, , and ). The structures of the new compounds were determined by means of spectroscopic methods (HRESIMS and 1D, 2D NMR) and a comparison of their experimental data with those previously reported in the literature. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against one normal, six solid, and seven blood cancer cell lines and showed moderate activity against all the tested cell lines with GI values ranging from 2.

Sesquiterpenes from and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Nine sesquiterpenes, including eight pentalenenes (-) and one bolinane derivative (), were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived actinobacterium 213DD-006. Among them, , , , and were new compounds. Their planar structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (HRMS, 1D, and 2D NMR), and the absolute configuration was established by biosynthesis consideration and electronic-circular-dichroism (ECD) calculations.

Pyrrole-Containing Alkaloids from a Marine-Derived Actinobacterium and Their Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities.

Two new alkaloids, streptopyrroles B and C ( and ), were discovered through a chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract from a marine-derived actinomycete, , along with four known analogs (-). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis (HR-ESIMS, 1D, and 2D NMR) and a comparison of their experimental data with literature values. The new compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity by standard broth dilution assay, and the tested compounds showed significant activity against Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.

Crosstalk between cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and stressed cardiomyocytes triggers development of interstitial cardiac fibrosis in hypertensive mouse hearts.

Aims: Cardiac fibrosis is central to heart failure (HF), especially HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), often caused by hypertension. Despite fibrosis causing diastolic dysfunction and impaired electrical conduction, responsible for arrhythmia-induced sudden cardiac death, the mechanisms are poorly defined and effective therapies are lacking. Here we show that crosstalk between cardiac cytotoxic memory CD8+ T cells and overly stressed cardiomyocytes is essential for development of non-ischemic hypertensive cardiac fibrosis.

New Angucycline Glycosides from a Marine-Derived Bacterium .

Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract from the culture broth of the marine-derived actinobacterium 156VN-095 led to the isolation of three hitherto undescribed angucycline glycosides, including urdamycins W and X ( and ) and grincamycin U (), as well as their seven known congeners. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods (HRESIMS, 1D and 2 D NMR) and comparison of their experimental data with literature values. Compounds - and were evaluated for their anti-Gram-positive bacterial effect and cytotoxicity against six cancer cell lines.

A critical review on the synthesis of NH-MIL-53(Al) based materials for detection and removal of hazardous pollutants.

Nowadays, emerging hazardous pollutants have caused many harmful effects on the environment and human health, calling for the state of the art methods for detection, qualification, and treatment. Metal-organic frameworks are porous, flexible, and versatile materials with unique structural properties, which can solve such problems. In this work, we reviewed the synthesis, activation, and characterization, and potential applications of NH-MIL-53(Al).

New Glycosylated Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Bacteria.

Three new glycosylated secondary metabolites, including a new indole alkaloid, pityriacitrin D (), and two new trehalose lipids ( and ), together with three known compounds (-) were isolated from two marine-derived bacterial strains, 168CLC-66.1 and IV19-045. The structures of - were determined by extensive analysis and comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature values.

Synthesis of wool roll-like silver nanoflowers in an ethanol/water mixture and their application to detect traces of the fungicide carbendazim by SERS technique.

The Raman signal enhancement ability of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique is largely determined by the SERS substrate, which is usually a collection of precious metal (such as silver or gold) nanoparticles. For use in the SERS substrate, anisotropic metal nanoparticles, flower-like, will be preferred over the isotropic ones since they will give higher Raman enhancement. The problem is that it is very difficult to fabricate anisotropic metal nanoparticles as small as the isotropic ones that are best suited for use as SERS substrates.

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell infusion for liver cirrhosis after the Kasai operation in children with biliary atresia.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and early outcomes of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) infusion for liver cirrhosis due to biliary atresia (BA) after Kasai operation.

Methods: An open-label clinical trial was performed from January 2017 to December 2019. Nineteen children with liver cirrhosis due to BA after Kasai operation were included.

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Phenolic Polyketides from Two Marine-Derived Fungal Strains of .

A chemical investigation on the EtOAc extracts from two marine-derived fungal strains of resulted in the isolation of three previously undescribed phenolic polyketides including unguidepside C (), aspersidone B (), and agonodepside C (), and their 14 known congeners. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on detailed analysis and comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature values, as well as Snatzke's method. The new compounds (, , and ) displayed a significant anti-Gram-positive bacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 5.

Gasdermin Pore Forming Activities that Promote Inflammation from Living and Dead Cells.

Gasdermins are proteins that can self-assemble into membrane channels (also known as pores). These pores can serve as conduits for the secretion of cytosolic molecules, with the most commonly studied being members of the interleukin-1 family of cytokines. However, gasdermin pore forming activities must be tightly regulated, as the channels that they form can lead to a lytic form of cell death known as pyroptosis.

Evolution-inspired redesign of the LPS receptor caspase-4 into an interleukin-1β converting enzyme.

Innate immune signaling pathways comprise multiple proteins that promote inflammation. This multistep means of information transfer suggests that complexity is a prerequisite for pathway design. Herein, we test this hypothesis by studying caspases that regulate inflammasome-dependent inflammation.

Polyketides and Meroterpenes from the Marine-Derived Fungi 158SC-067 and 01NT-1.1.5 and Their Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities.

Ten secondary metabolites, including a new grifolin analog, grifolin B (); a new homovalencic acid derivative, 12-hydroxyhomovalencic acid (); and a compound isolated from a natural source for the first time (), along with seven known compounds, grifolin (), averantin (), 7-chloroaverantin (), 1'--methylaverantin (), 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-pentylchromone (), homovalencic acid (), and bekeleylactone E (), were isolated from two fungal strains. The structures of - were identified by detailed analysis and comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature values. Compounds and showed moderate cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines (PC-3, HCT-15, MDA-MB-231, ACHN, NCI-H23, NUGC-3), with the GI values ranging from 1.

New Polyenes from the Marine-Derived Fungus with Anti-Neuroinflammatory and Cytotoxic Activities.

Three new polyene compounds, talacyanols A-C (-), along with two known compounds, ramulosin () and eurothiocin A (), were isolated from the marine fungus derived from a seaweed sp. Structures of - were established by one-dimensional and two-dimensional (1D/2D) NMR, HR-ESIMS, and the modified Mosher's methods, as well as comparison with previously reported literature data. All the compounds (-) were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic and anti-neuroinflammatory activities.

Alarmin-activated B cells accelerate murine atherosclerosis after myocardial infarction via plasma cell-immunoglobulin-dependent mechanisms.

Aims: Myocardial infarction (MI) accelerates atherosclerosis and greatly increases the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events for many years, in particular, strokes and MIs. Because B cell-derived autoantibodies produced in response to MI also persist for years, we investigated the role of B cells in adaptive immune responses to MI.

Methods And Results: We used an apolipoprotein-E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mouse model of MI-accelerated atherosclerosis to assess the importance of B cells.

Comparative Effectiveness of Mild or Conventional GnRH-Antagonist Protocols for Ovarian Stimulation in Poor Responders (Poseidon Group 4).

A panel of experts (the Poseidon Group) introduced a new and more detailed stratification for poor ovarian responders in order to predict the prognosis of IVF outcome according to the sensitivity to FSH. However, various arguments about the management strategy of these patients still remain, including the convenience and the cost. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the efficacy of mild and conventional GnRH antagonist ovarian stimulation prescribed in patients classified in Poseidon Group 4.

Polybenzimidazole-Benzophenone Composite Nanofiber Window Air Filter with Superb UV Resistance and High Chemical and Thermal Durability.

There is a growing interest in window air filters to protect indoor air quality from ultrafine particulate matter (PM) in outdoor air. The filters for this purpose must achieve high filtering efficiency without compromising the original functions of the window, such as high air permeability and visibility. Several filters meeting these requirements have been developed and demonstrate a high PM filtering efficiency.

A Two-Cell Model for IL-1β Release Mediated by Death-Receptor Signaling.

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a key orchestrator of anti-microbial immunity whose secretion is typically dependent on activation of inflammasomes. However, many pathogens have evolved strategies to evade inflammasome activation. Here we describe an alternative, two-cell model for IL-1β release where invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells use the death receptor pathway to instruct antigen-presenting cells to secrete IL-1β.

Dorsal vagal complex and hypothalamic glia differentially respond to leptin and energy balance dysregulation.

Previous studies identify a role for hypothalamic glia in energy balance regulation; however, a narrow hypothalamic focus provides an incomplete understanding of how glia throughout the brain respond to and regulate energy homeostasis. We examined the responses of glia in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) to the adipokine leptin and high fat diet-induced obesity. DVC astrocytes functionally express the leptin receptor; in vivo pharmacological studies suggest that DVC astrocytes partly mediate the anorectic effects of leptin in lean but not diet-induced obese rats.

B Cell and CD4 T Cell Interactions Promote Development of Atherosclerosis.

Interaction between B and CD4 T cells is crucial for their optimal responses in adaptive immunity. Immune responses augmented by their partnership promote chronic inflammation. Here we report that interaction between B and CD4 T cells augments their atherogenicity to promote lipid-induced atherosclerosis.