Therapeutic potential of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide-induced tolerogenic bone marrow-derived dendritic cells via regulation of CD4 T cell differentiation in a colitis mouse model.

Over-proliferation, activation, or aberrant CD4 T cell differentiation causes various immune-related diseases. DCs are significant professional APCs that regulate the differentiation of CD4 T cells to participate in an inflammatory response. IOP is an edible fungal polysaccharide with immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory bioactivities, however, the cellular mechanisms by which they regulate the immune system to exert their anti-inflammatory effects remain unclear.

Dihydroartemisinin Alleviates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Skin Lesion in Mice Involving Modulation of IL-23/Th17 Axis.

Psoriasis is a T help 17 (Th17) cell-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease. Recent studies have shown that dihydroartemisinin (DHA) can significantly reduce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and rheumatoid arthritis by regulating Th17 cells. To verify whether DHA can improve the symptoms of psoriasis and to further explore the possible mechanism.

The Pharus latifolius genome bridges the gap of early grass evolution.

The grass family (Poaceae) includes all commercial cereal crops and is a major contributor to biomass in various terrestrial ecosystems. The ancestry of all grass genomes includes a shared whole-genome duplication (WGD), named rho (ρ) WGD, but the evolutionary significance of ρ-WGD remains elusive. We sequenced the genome of Pharus latifolius, a grass species (producing a true spikelet) in the subfamily Pharoideae, a sister lineage to the core Poaceae including the (Panicoideae, Arundinoideae, Chloridoideae, Micrairoideae, Aristidoideae, and Danthonioideae (PACMAD) and Bambusoideae, Oryzoideae, and Pooideae (BOP) clades.

Preference and performance of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on strawberry cultivars.

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most serious pests of strawberry worldwide. Understanding the preference of TSSM for particular cultivars of strawberry and performance on them helps identify host-plant resistance to this pest mite. In this study, we tested preference, developmental duration, fecundity and population levels of TSSM on 14 strawberry cultivars.

Field-evolved resistance to insecticides in the invasive western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in China.

Background: To understand the current status of insecticide resistance of the invasive western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in China, the responses of six field populations to six commonly used insecticides, i.e. spinosad, spinetoram, cyantraniliprole, imidacloprid, acetamiprid and pyriproxyfen, were evaluated in comparison with a susceptible laboratory strain.

The mitochondrial genome of the garden pea leafminer Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau, 1851) (Diptera: Agromyzidae).

Here we report the mitochondrial genome sequence of the garden pea leafminer Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau, 1851) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) (GenBank accession no. KR047789). This is the first species with sequenced mitochondrial genome from the genus Chromatomyia.

Chloroplast capture and intra- and inter-continental biogeographic diversification in the Asian - New World disjunct plant genus Osmorhiza (Apiaceae).

Osmorhiza Raf. (Apiaceae) contains about 12 species disjunctly distributed in temperate Asia, and North, Central to South America. Phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses were carried out applying sequences of two nuclear and nine plastid loci from eleven recognized Osmorhiza species.

Serum anti-osteopontin autoantibody as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphorylated and glycosylated protein, which plays an important role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), OPN is being investigated either as a therapeutic target gene or as a biomarker for diagnosis. Yet, the role of the anti-OPN autoantibody in HCC remains unclear.

Expression and clinical significance of YAP, TAZ, and AREG in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Yes-associated protein (YAP) and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are two important effectors of Hippo pathway controlling the balance of organ size and carcinogenesis. Amphiregulin (AREG) is a member of the epidermal growth factor family, a direct target gene of YAP and TAZ. The role of these proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear.

Correlation between pesticide resistance and enzyme activity in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is one of the most important pests that has developed high pesticide resistance. The resistances of five Chinese populations of this moth, four resistant strains (from Beijing, Henan, Fujian, and Guangdong) and one susceptible strain, to five pesticides were determined, and the activities of carboxylesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and acetylcholine esterase were tested in all five populations.

The role of RCAS1 as a biomarker in diagnosing CRC and monitoring tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1) plays an important role in tumor progression by helping tumor cell to escape from host immunological surveillance or modifying the characteristics of connective tissue around. RCAS1 may appropriately reflect the development and prognosis of tumor. In the study, we sought to identify the clinical significance of RCAS1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and tumor recurrence monitoring.

Serum peptidome patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma based on magnetic bead separation and mass spectrometry analysis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world,and the identification of biomarkers for the early detection is a relevant target. The purpose of the study is to discover specific low molecular weight (LMW) serum peptidome biomarkers and establish a diagnostic pattern for HCC.

Methods: We undertook this pilot study using a combined application of magnetic beads with Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique and ClinPro Tools v2.

Genetic structure and demographic history reveal migration of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) from the southern to northern regions of China.

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is one of the most destructive insect pests of cruciferous plants worldwide. Biological, ecological and genetic studies have indicated that this moth is migratory in many regions around the world. Although outbreaks of this pest occur annually in China and cause heavy damage, little is known concerning its migration.

Combination treatment with IL-2 and anti-IL-2 mAbs reduces tumor metastasis via NK cell activation.

Combination treatment consisting of IL-2 together with anti-IL-2 mAbs results in markedly larger increases in the numbers of CD8(+) T cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and NK cells in vivo compared with the results observed with injections of IL-2 or the antibodies alone. We previously showed that this combination treatment overcomes the problems associated with the short half-life of IL-2 in vivo. Importantly, the combination treatment but not IL-2 or the anti-IL-2 mAbs alone protected the mice against tumor metastases in the lungs.

Autoimmune arthritis associated with mutated interleukin (IL)-6 receptor gp130 is driven by STAT3/IL-7-dependent homeostatic proliferation of CD4+ T cells.

Mice homozygous for the F759 mutation in the gp130 interleukin (IL)-6 receptor subunit have enhanced gp130-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 activation and spontaneously developed a lymphocyte-mediated rheumatoid arthritis-like joint disease. Here, we show that the development of the disease is dependent on both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II-restricted CD4+ T cells and IL-6 family cytokines. In spite of the necessity for CD4+ T cells, the gp130 mutation was only required in nonhemtopoietic cells for the disease.

Evidence of a novel IL-2/15R beta-targeted cytokine involved in homeostatic proliferation of memory CD8+ T cells.

The homeostasis of memory CD8+ T cells is regulated by cytokines. IL-15 is shown to promote the proliferation of memory CD8+ T cells, while IL-2 suppresses their division in vivo. This inhibitory effect of IL-2 appears to occur indirectly, through other cell populations including CD25+CD4+ T cells; however, the details of this mechanism remain unclear.