Photosynthetic efficiency of three C species is maintained under low light and high vapour pressure deficit.

The photosynthetic efficiency of C plants could be impaired in environments with low light and high vapour pressure deficit (VPD). However, the interactive effect of low light and high VPD on C photosynthetic efficiency remains unexplored. We grew three C species, Setaria viridis L.

Photosynthetic resource-use efficiency trade-offs triggered by vapour pressure deficit and nitrogen supply in a C species.

Trade-offs in resource-use efficiency (including water-, nitrogen-, and light-use efficiency, i.e., WUE, NUE, and LUE) are an important acclimation strategy of plants to environmental stresses.

Self-Assembled Plasmid Delivery System for PPM1D Knockout to Reverse Tumor Malignancy.

Gene delivery vectors possess critical roles in effective genome editing. In this study, a multiple functional vector for encapsulating CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid was designed to knock out PPM1D gene and prevent cancer malignancy. The plasmid was complexed with a KALA peptide with the capability of endosomal escape and histones for nuclear transportation and then decorated by hyaluronic acid (HA) and AS1411-incorporated hyaluronic acid (AHA) targeting CD44 and nucleolin overexpressed in cancer cells to form AHA/HA/KALA/histone/plasmid nanoparticles.

Aptamer/Peptide-Functionalized Genome-Editing System for Effective Immune Restoration through Reversal of PD-L1-Mediated Cancer Immunosuppression.

Effective reversal of tumor immunosuppression is of critical importance in cancer therapy. A multifunctional delivery vector that can effectively deliver CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid for β-catenin knockout to reverse tumor immunosuppression is constructed. The multi-functionalized delivery vector is decorated with aptamer-conjugated hyaluronic acid and peptide-conjugated hyaluronic acid to combine the tumor cell/nuclear targeting function of AS1411 with the cell penetrating/nuclear translocation function of TAT-NLS.

Facile Strategy To Enhance Specificity and Sensitivity of Molecular Beacons by an Aptamer-Functionalized Delivery Vector.

To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of molecular beacons (MBs) in detecting mRNA in living tumor cells, we introduced an aptamer (AS1411) to the delivery system of MBs to form an aptamer-decorated nanoprobe (ANP), which was prepared through self-assembly between AS1411-conjugated carboxymethyl chitosan (ACMC) with protamine sulfate (PS)/CaCO/MB cores. Owing to the specific binding of AS1411 to nucleolin, which is overexpressed in tumor cell membranes and nuclei, an AS1411-decorated MB-delivery system leads to dramatically increased cell uptake of MBs for probing survivin mRNA and thus induces strong intracellular fluorescence emission in targeted tumorous cells and cell nuclei. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ANP can efficiently detect survivin mRNA in mitochondria.

Peptide and Aptamer Decorated Delivery System for Targeting Delivery of Cas9/sgRNA Plasmid To Mediate Antitumor Genome Editing.

A multiple-functionalized targeting delivery system was prepared by self-assembly for efficient delivery of Cas9/sgRNA plasmids to targeted tumor cell nuclei. The Cas9/sgRNA plasmids were compacted by protamine in the presence of calcium ions to form nanosized cores, which were further decorated by peptide and aptamer conjugated alginate derivatives. With the help of the nuclear location signal peptide and AS1411 aptamer with specific affinity for nucleolin in the tumor cell membrane and nuclei, the delivery vector can specifically deliver the plasmid to the nuclei of tumorous cells for knocking out the protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) gene to down-regulate focal adhesion kinase (FAK).

Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure suppresses the TLR4-mediated innate immune response in the hippocampus of young rats.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) could lead to developmental disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and mental retardation. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 plays an important role in PAE-induced neurodevelopmental defects. However, how PAE affects TLR4 response in the brain remains controversial.

Multifunctional Vector for Delivery of Genome Editing Plasmid Targeting β-Catenin to Remodulate Cancer Cell Properties.

Accurate and efficient delivery of genome editing plasmids to targeted cells is of critical importance in genome editing. Herein, we prepared a multifunctional delivery vector with a combination of ligand-mediated selectivity and peptide-mediated transmembrane function to effectively deliver plasmids to targeted cancerous cells. In the delivery system, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR-Cas9) plasmid is combined with protamine with membrane and nuclear translocating activities and co-precipitated with CaCO, which is further decorated by AS1411-functionalized carboxymethyl chitosan and cell penetrating peptide (TAT)-functionalized carboxymethyl chitosan.

Reversal of tumor malignization and modulation of cell behaviors through genome editing mediated by a multi-functional nanovector.

To effectively reverse tumor malignization by genome editing, a multi-functional self-assembled nanovector for the delivery of a genome editing plasmid specifically to tumor cells was developed. The nanovector core consisting of protamine and calcium carbonate entrapping the CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid is decorated by aptamer incorporated heparin. Owing to a high affinity between a MUC1 specific aptamer and mucin 1 (MUC1) overexpressed in tumor cells as well as the interaction between AS1411 and nucleolin on the tumor cell surface and cell nuclei, the nanovector can target the nuclei of tumorous cells for the knockout of focal adhesion kinase (FAK).

Tumor targeted genome editing mediated by a multi-functional gene vector for regulating cell behaviors.

For effective regulation of cell behaviors and prevention of tumor development by genome editing, we constructed multi-functional self-assembled nanoparticles based on natural polymers to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid to tumorous cells. The CRISPR based gene editing plasmid to knockout CDK11 gene was complexed with protamine sulfate, and then the complex was decorated by a multi-functional outer layer composed of an endosomolytic peptide (KALA) and aptamer AS1411 incorporated carboxymethyl chitosan. The resultant multi-functional nanoparticles, which exhibit significantly enhanced delivery efficiency, can specifically deliver the plasmid into tumor cell nuclei owing to the favorable effects of KALA in cellular uptake and endosomal escape, together with the cancer cell and cell nucleus targeting capability of AS1411 ligands.

A multi-functional macrophage and tumor targeting gene delivery system for the regulation of macrophage polarity and reversal of cancer immunoresistance.

To achieve effective tumor eradication using anti-tumor immunotherapies, a fusion peptide functionalized gene delivery system for macrophage and tumor targeting delivery of the plasmid DNA encoding the IL-12 gene (pDNA IL-12) was prepared for macrophage re-polarization as well as reversal of cancer immunosuppression. A fusion peptide containing the tuftsin sequence that can interact with Fc receptors and neuropilin-1, and hyaluronic acid (HA) that can interact with CD44 were introduced into the delivery system by self-assembly to form peptide/hyaluronic acid/protamine/CaCO3/DNA nanoparticles (PHNP) with both macrophage targeting and tumor targeting capabilities. PHNP provides an efficient immunoregulation on J774A.

Aptamer-functionalized albumin-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery.

Proteins have been extensively explored as versatile nanocarriers for drug delivery due to their complete biocompatibility, ease of surface modification, and lack of toxicity and immunogenicity. In this study, a facile strategy was used to construct aptamer-functionalized albumin-based nanoparticles for effective drug delivery and targeted cancer therapy. A hydrophobic drug, doxorubicin (DOX) was employed to trigger the self-assembly of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to from stable nanoparticles via hydrophobic interaction, and then a tumor targeting aptamer AS1411 was incorporated to the surface of DOX loaded BSA.

A Dual-Targeting Delivery System for Effective Genome Editing and In Situ Detecting Related Protein Expression in Edited Cells.

One of critical steps in genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 is to deliver the CRISPR-Cas9 system into targeted cells. In this study, we developed a dual-targeting delivery system based on polymer/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles to realize highly efficient genome editing in targeted tumor cells as well as in situ detection on the related protein expression in edited cells. The CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid for CDK11 knockout was encapsulated in the core of the delivery system composed of protamine sulfate, calcium carbonate, and calcium phosphate by coprecipitation, and functional derivatives of carboxymethyl chitosan (biotinylated carboxymethyl chitosan with biotin ligands and aptamer-incorporated carboxymethyl chitosan with AS1411 ligands) were decorated on the nanovector surface by electrostatic interactions to form the dual-targeting delivery system.

A Dual Macrophage Targeting Nanovector for Delivery of Oligodeoxynucleotides To Overcome Cancer-Associated Immunosuppression.

To overcome cancer-associated immunosuppression, we prepared a dual-targeting vector to deliver CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to macrophages. The dual-targeting system composed of mannosylated carboxymethyl chitosan (MCMC)/hyaluronan (HA) for macrophage targeting and protamine sulfate for ODN complexation was prepared by self-assembly. The effects of ODN delivery on immune cells was studied in J774A.

Fusion peptide functionalized hybrid nanoparticles for synergistic drug delivery to reverse cancer drug resistance.

A facile self-assembly strategy was developed to decorate polymer/inorganic hybrid nano-sized drug delivery systems with functional peptides. To enhance drug delivery efficacy and overcome tumor drug resistance, a functional fusion peptide containing an RGD sequence for tumor targeting and an R sequence for cell penetration was introduced onto the surface of biotinylated carboxymethyl chitosan/CaCO (BCMC/CaCO) hybrid nanoparticles through biotin-avidin interaction to obtain peptide functionalized nanoparticles (PNP). The peptide functionalization results in improved delivery efficiency and effective inhibition for drug resistant tumor cells.

Co-delivery of multiple drug resistance inhibitors by polymer/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles to effectively reverse cancer drug resistance.

To effectively reverse multiple drug resistance (MDR) in tumor treatments, a functional nano-sized drug delivery system with active targeting function and pH sensitivity was prepared for the co-delivery of multiple drug resistance inhibitors. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) to inhibit GSH synthesis and celecoxib (CXB) to down-regulate P-gp expression were co-loaded in polymer/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles to form buthionine sulfoximine/celecoxib@biotin-heparin/heparin/calcium carbonate/calcium phosphate nanoparticles (BSO/CXB@BNP). To investigate the reversal of MDR, the drug resistant cells (MCF-7/ADR) were pretreated by the dual-inhibitor loaded nanoparticles (BSO/CXB@BNP) followed by the treatment of doxorubicin (DOX) loaded nanoparticles (DOX@BNP).

High ABCG4 Expression Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are associated with poor response to chemotherapy, and confer a poor prognosis in various malignancies. However, the association between the expression of the ABC sub-family G member 4 (ABCG4) and prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. NSCLC tissue samples (n = 140) and normal lung tissue samples (n = 90) were resected from patients with stage II to IV NSCLC between May 2004 and May 2009.

Shikonin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Background: Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone pigment extracted from the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has shown a variety of pharmacologic properties including anti-inflammatory effect. In the present study, we analyzed the role of shikonin in acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

Materials And Methods: Sixty male BALB/C mice were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10, each): control group, shikonin group (50 mg/kg), LPS group, and three different doses (12.