A comprehensive immune repertoire signature distinguishes pulmonary infiltration in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has been the most severe public health emergency since 2019. Currently, the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been the most dominant. The most prominent symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection is respiratory.

A visually-induced optogenetically-engineered system enables autonomous glucose homeostasis in mice.

With the global population increasing and the demographic shifting toward an aging society, the number of patients diagnosed with conditions such as peripheral neuropathies resulting from diabetes is expected to rise significantly. This growing health burden has emphasized the need for innovative solutions, such as brain-computer interfaces. brain-computer interfaces, a multidisciplinary field that integrates neuroscience, engineering, and computer science, enable direct communication between the human brain and external devices.

Identification and validation of a novel angiogenesis-related gene signature for predicting prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Angiogenesis is a major promotor of tumor progression and metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma (STAD). We aimed to develop a novel lncRNA gene signature by identifying angiogenesis-related genes to better predict prognosis in STAD patients.

Methods: The expression profiles of angiogenesis-related mRNA and lncRNA genes were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

NAD supplement potentiates tumor-killing function by rescuing defective TUB-mediated NAMPT transcription in tumor-infiltrated T cells.

Although tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) maintain their ability to proliferate, persist, and eradicate tumors, they are frequently dysfunctional in situ. By performing both whole-genome CRISPR and metabolic inhibitor screens, we identify that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is required for T cell activation. NAMPT is low in TILs, and its expression is controlled by the transcriptional factor Tubby (TUB), whose activity depends on the T cell receptor-phospholipase C gamma (TCR-PLCγ) signaling axis.

GPR126 regulates colorectal cancer cell proliferation by mediating HDAC2 and GLI2 expression.

The G-protein-coupled receptor 126 (GPR126) may play an important role in tumor development, although its role remains poorly understood. We found that GPR126 had higher expression in most colorectal cancer cell lines than in normal colon epithelial cell lines, and higher expression levels in colorectal cancer tissues than in normal adjacent colon tissues. GPR126 knockdown induced by shRNA inhibited cell viability and colony formation in HT-29, HCT116, and LoVo cells, decreased BrdU incorporation into newly synthesized proliferating HT-29 cells, led to an arrest of cell cycle progression at the G1 phase in HCT-116 and HT-29 cells, and suppressed tumorigenesis of HT-29, HCT116, and LoVo cells in nude mouse xenograft models.

Erk and MAPK signaling is essential for intestinal development through Wnt pathway modulation.

Homeostasis of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) is maintained by the orchestration of niche factors and intrinsic signaling networks. Here, we have found that deletion of Erk1 and Erk2 (Erk1/2) in intestinal epithelial cells at embryonic stages resulted in an unexpected increase in cell proliferation and migration, expansion of ISCs, and formation of polyp-like structures, leading to postnatal death. Deficiency of epithelial Erk1/2 results in defects in secretory cell differentiation as well as impaired mesenchymal cell proliferation and maturation.

Epithelial Wntless is dispensable for intestinal tumorigenesis in mouse models.

Wnt signaling is essential for the maintenance of adult stem cells and its aberrant activation is a stimulator of carcinogenesis. The transmembrane protein, Wntless, is an essential Wnt signaling component through regulating the secretion of Wnt ligands. Here, we generated a mouse model with specific Wntless knockout in intestinal epithelium to study its function in the intestinal epithelium.

MiR-539 functions as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer by targeting TWIST1.

The dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression has been highlighted in a variety of human malignant conditions with reports implicating a critical role in the process of tumor growth. The role of miR-539 in pancreatic cancer (PC) is yet to be fully elucidated, hence the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of miR-539 expression in relation to a cohort of 52 PC specimens. The application of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed a significantly down-regulated miR-539 level, which was accompanied by an increased TWIST1 expression in PC when compared with the controls.

Two approaches reveal a new paradigm of 'switchable or genetics-influenced allele-specific DNA methylation' with potential in human disease.

Imprinted genes are vulnerable to environmental influences during early embryonic development, thereby contributing to the onset of disease in adulthood. Monoallelic methylation at several germline imprints has been reported as DNMT1-dependent. However, which of these two epigenetic attributes, DNMT1-dependence or allelic methylation, renders imprinted genes susceptible to environmental stressors has not been determined.

Elevation of GPRC5A expression in colorectal cancer promotes tumor progression through VNN-1 induced oxidative stress.

The clearance of oxidative stress compounds is critical for the protection of the organism from malignancy, but how this key physiological process is regulated is not fully understood. Here, we found that the expression of GPRC5A, a well-characterized tumor suppressor in lung cancer, was elevated in colorectal cancer tissues in patients. In both cancer cell lines and a colitis-associated cancer model in mice, we found that GPRC5A deficiency reduced cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis as well as inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo.

Repression of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Inhibits Intestinal Regeneration in Acute Inflammatory Bowel Disease Models.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway integrates environmental cues to regulate cell growth and survival through various mechanisms. However, how mTORC1 responds to acute inflammatory signals to regulate bowel regeneration is still obscure. In this study, we investigated the role of mTORC1 in acute inflammatory bowel disease.

A preliminary study of side population cells in human gastric cancer cell line HGC-27.

Background: Cancer stem cell-like side population (SP) cells, which may be responsible for recurrence, tumor metastasis, and resistance to cancer therapy, have been identified and characterized in several types of cell lines from gastric cancer. However, there is no report on isolation of SP cells from human gastric cancer cell line HGC-27. This study aims to analyze the proportion of SP cells in HGC-27 cell line, differentiate SP from non-side population (NSP) cells, and determine whether the SP cells have certain biological properties of stem cells.

Cellulase-assisted extraction, characterization, and bioactivity of polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum.

Cellulase-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum (CPP) was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and the extracted CPP's preliminary chemical characteristics, as well as antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities were also investigated. The optimal extraction parameters comprised an extraction temperature of 58.21 °C, an extraction time of 3.

SGT1 regulates Akt signaling by promoting beta-TrCP-dependent PHLPP1 degradation in gastric cancer cells.

SGT1 (suppressor of G2 allele of Skp1) plays a role in various cellular processes including kinetochore assembly and protein ubiquitination by interacting with Skp1, a component of SCF E3 ligase complex. However, the function of SGT1 in cancer is largely unknown. Here, we showed that SGT1 was over-expressed in gastric cancer tissues and silencing of SGT1 by siRNAs significantly inhibited the growth and colony formation of gastric cancer cells.

The association of polymorphisms on TGFBR1 and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Epidemiological studies found inconsistent results on the association of two variants on TGFBR1 (TGFBR1*6A and Int7G24A) with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. The present study was aimed to evaluate the association of these two variants with CRC susceptibility via the meta-analysis methods. For variant TGFBR1*6A, nine reports including 6,765 CRC patients and 8,496 unrelated controls were identified.

Effects of Roux-en-Y operations on glucose homeostasis in obese GK rats.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effects of different styles of gastric bypass surgery on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) GK rats.

Methods: Twenty 6-8-week-old male GK rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A was operated by Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy with duodenum exclusion and stomach capacity maintenance, group B was operated by loop-type gastrojejunostomy with duodenum exclusion and stomach capacity maintenance, group C was operated by Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy with partial gastrectomy, and group D was operated by loop-type gastrojejunostomy with partial gastrectomy. Changes of fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and insulin tolerance test (ITT) in different operations were detected.

A new hepoprotective saponin from Semen Celosia cristatae.

A new triterpenoid saponin, named semenoside A (1), was isolated from Semen Celosia cristatae. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, HR-FAB-MS and ESI-MS techniques, and physicochemical properties. The hepatoprotective activity of semenoside A with an oral dose of 1.

A new neuroprotective bakkenolide from the rhizome of Peatasites tatewakianus.

Constituents of the fruits of Peatasites tatewakianus were investigated. A new compound, namely bakkenolide-VI (1), was isolated. The structures was elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, TOF-MS and ESI-MS techniques, and physicochemical properties.