Blocking the MIR155HG/miR-155 axis reduces CTGF-induced inflammatory cytokine production and α-SMA expression via upregulating AZGP1 in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a pathological condition characterized by excessive fibrosis and inflammation, resulting in excessive extracellular matrix formation in the skin. MIR155HG, a long non-coding RNA, is abnormally upregulated in fibrotic tissues; however, its underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Using single-cell sequencing data, we analyzed connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in various cell types in HS and normal skin tissues and MIR155HG expression in clinical samples.

ELONGATED HYPOTCOTYL5 and SPINE BASE SIZE1 together mediate light-regulated spine expansion in cucumber.

Plant trichome development is influenced by diverse developmental and environmental signals, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood in most plant species. Fruit spines (trichomes) are an important trait in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), as they affect both fruit smoothness and commercial quality.

Genome-wide identification of the melon (Cucumis melo L.) response regulator gene family and functional analysis of CmRR6 and CmPRR3 in response to cold stress.

The response regulator (RR) gene family play crucial roles in cytokinin signal transduction, plant development, and resistance to abiotic stress. However, there are no reports on the identification and functional characterization of RR genes in melon. In this study, a total of 18 CmRRs were identified and classified into type A, type B, and clock PRRs, based on phylogenetic analysis.

RICH2 decreases the mitochondrial number and affects mitochondrial localization in diffuse low-grade glioma-related epilepsy.

Epilepsy, a common complication of diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs; diffuse oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma collectively), severely compromises the quality of life of patients. DLGG epileptogenicity may primarily be generated by interactions between the tumor and the neocortex. Neuronal uptake of dysfunctional mitochondria from the extracellular environment can lead to abnormal neuronal discharge.

Construction and application of a new watermelon germplasm with the phenotype of dwarf and branchless.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a widely cultivated cucurbitaceae crop appreciated by consumers worldwide. However, the long vine and abundant lateral branches of currently cultivated watermelon varieties hinder light simplification and mechanized cultivation, affecting plant spacing and row spacing requirements. To address this, the development of watermelon with dwarf and branchless traits has become a crucial direction for the industry.

Natural allelic variation in the EamA-like transporter, CmSN, is associated with fruit skin netting in melon.

A SNP mutation in CmSN, encoding an EamA-like transporter, is responsible for fruit skin netting in melon. In maturing melon (Cucumis melo L.), the rind becomes reticulated or netted, a unique characteristic that dramatically changes the appearance of the fruit.

Melon yellow-green plant (Cmygp) encodes a Golden2-like transcription factor regulating chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast development.

A SNP mutation in CmYGP gene encoding Golden2-like transcription factor is responsible for melon yellow-green plant trait. Chlorophylls are essential and beneficial substances for both plant and human health. Identifying the regulatory network of chlorophyll is necessary to improve the nutritional quality of fruits.

LINC00589-dominated ceRNA networks regulate multiple chemoresistance and cancer stem cell-like properties in HER2 breast cancer.

Resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy (trastuzumab), cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties and multiple chemoresistance often concur and intersect in breast cancer, but molecular links that may serve as effective therapeutic targets remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the long noncoding RNA, LINC00589 as a key regulatory node for concurrent intervention of these processes in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that the expression of LINC00589 is clinically valuable as an independent prognostic factor for discriminating trastuzumab responders.

A novel HD-Zip I/C2H2-ZFP/WD-repeat complex regulates the size of spine base in cucumber.

Fruit spine is an important trait in cucumber, affecting not only commercial quality, but also fruit smoothness, transportation and storage. Spine size is determined by a multi-cellular base. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of cucumber spine base remains largely unknown.

Overexpression of miR-101 suppresses collagen synthesis by targeting EZH2 in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

Background: MicroRNA-101 (miR-101) is a tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA) and its loss is associated with the occurrence and progression of various diseases. However, the biological function and target of miR-101 in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars (HS) remains unknown.

Methods: We harvested HS and paired normal skin (NS) tissue samples from patients and cultured their fibroblasts (HSF and NSF, respectively).

A Novel 3D Culture Model of Human ASCs Reduces Cell Death in Spheroid Cores and Maintains Inner Cell Proliferation Compared With a Nonadherent 3D Culture.

3D cell culture technologies have recently shown very valuable promise for applications in regenerative medicine, but the most common 3D culture methods for mesenchymal stem cells still have limitations for clinical application, mainly due to the slowdown of inner cell proliferation and increase in cell death rate. We previously developed a new 3D culture of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) based on its self-feeder layer, which solves the two issues of ASC 3D cell culture on ultra-low attachment (ULA) surface. In this study, we compared the 3D spheroids formed on the self-feeder layer (SLF-3D ASCs) with the spheroids formed by using ULA plates (ULA-3D ASCs).

The branchless gene Clbl in watermelon encoding a TERMINAL FLOWER 1 protein regulates the number of lateral branches.

A SNP mutation in Clbl gene encoding TERMINAL FLOWER 1 protein is responsible for watermelon branchless. Lateral branching is one of the most important traits, which directly determines plant architecture and crop productivity. Commercial watermelon has the characteristics of multiple lateral branches, and it is time-consuming and labor-costing to manually remove the lateral branches in traditional watermelon cultivation.

Glucocorticoid counteracts cellular mechanoresponses by LINC01569-dependent glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mRNA decay.

Mechanical stimuli on cells and mechanotransduction are essential in many biological and pathological processes. Glucocorticoid is an important hormone, roles, and mechanisms of which in cellular mechanotransduction remain unknown. Here, we report that glucocorticoid counteracted cellular mechanoresponses dependently on a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), Further, mediated glucocorticoid effects on mechanotransduction by destabilizing messenger RNA (mRNA) of mechanosensors including early growth response protein 1 (), Cbp/P300-interacting transactivator 2 (), and bone morphogenic protein 7 () in glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mRNA decay (GMD) manner.

Melon short internode (CmSi) encodes an ERECTA-like receptor kinase regulating stem elongation through auxin signaling.

Plant height is one of the most important agronomic traits that directly determines plant architecture, and compact or dwarf plants can allow for increased planting density and land utilization as well as increased lodging resistance and economic yield. At least four dwarf/semidwarf genes have been identified in different melon varieties, but none of them have been cloned, and little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying internode elongation in melon. Here, we report map-based cloning and functional characterization of the first semidwarf gene short internode (Cmsi) in melon, which encodes an ERECTA-like receptor kinase regulating internode elongation.

Photooxidation of atrazine and its influence on disinfection byproducts formation during post-chlorination: effect of solution pH and mechanism.

Partial photooxidation of micropollutants may lead to various degradation intermediates, obviously affecting disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation during the post-chlorination process. The photooxidation of atrazine (ATZ) in aqueous solutions with low-pressure mercury UV lamps in UV, UV/HO and UV/TiO treatment system and the formation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during subsequent chlorination processes including dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), 1,1,1-trichloro-2-propanone (TCP), trichloromethane (TCM) and chloropicrin (CHP) were investigated in this study. The effect of solution pH on the oxidation pathway of ATZ in three UV photooxidation treatment process and the impact of photooxidation on the DBPs formations were assessed.

The MIXTA-LIKE transcription factor CsMYB6 regulates fruit spine and tubercule formation in cucumber.

Cucumber fruit wart composed of tubercule and spine (trichome on fruit) is not only an important fruit quality trait in cucumber production, but also a well-studied model for plant cell-fate determination. The development of spine is closely related to the initiation and formation of tubercule. The spine differentiation regulator CsGL1 has been proved to be epistatic to the tubercule initiation factor CsTu, which is the only connection to be identified between spine and tubercule formations.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights Into Yellow Rind Formation and Preliminary Mapping of the () Gene in Watermelon.

As an important appearance trait, the rind color of watermelon fruit affects the commodity value and further determines consumption choices. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted to elucidate the genes and pathways involved in the formation of yellow rind fruit in watermelon using a yellow rind inbred line WT4 and a green rind inbred line WM102. A total of 2,362 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between WT4 and WM102 at three different stages (0, 7, and 14 DAP) were identified and 9,770 DEGs were obtained by comparing the expression level at 7 DAP and 14 DAP with the former stages of WT4.

A Single Nucleotide Deletion in an ABC Transporter Gene Leads to a Dwarf Phenotype in Watermelon.

Dwarf habit is one of the most important traits in crop plant architecture, as it can increase plant density and improved land utilization, especially for protected cultivation, as well as increasing lodging resistance and economic yield. At least four dwarf genes have been identified in watermelon, but none of them has been cloned. In the current study, the gene was primary-mapped onto watermelon chromosome 9 by next-generation sequencing-aided bulked-segregant analysis (BSA-seq) of F plants derived from a cross between a normal-height line, WT4, and a dwarf line, WM102, in watermelon.

Wnt4 negatively regulates the TGF-β1-induced human dermal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition via targeting Smad3 and ERK.

Abnormal activation of Wnt signaling has been demonstrated in the wound healing process and the pathogenesis of fibrotic disorders, with Wnt4 specifically identified as having a key role in the pathogenesis of renal, pulmonary and liver fibrosis. Wnt4 also was found to be upregulated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in fetal and postnatal murine fibroblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal cells, suggesting an underlying cooperation between Wnt4 and TGF-β1 in fibrosis. However, the specific roles of Wnt4 in TGF-β1-induced skin myofibroblast transition and hypertrophic scar formation remain unclear.

Influence of solution pH on degradation of atrazine during UV and UV/HO oxidation: kinetics, mechanism, and degradation pathways.

The kinetics, degradation mechanism and degradation pathways of atrazine (ATZ) during sole-UV and UV/HO processes under various pH conditions were investigated; the effects of UV irradiation time and HO dose were also evaluated. A higher reaction rate was observed under neutral pH conditions in the UV only process. For the UV/HO process, a higher reaction rate was observed in acidic solution and the degradation rate of ATZ firstly increased with the increase of concentration of HO and then decreased when HO concentration exceeded 5 mg L.

Microsatellite Markers Reveal Genetic Diversity and Relationships within a Melon Collection Mainly Comprising Asian Cultivated and Wild Germplasms.

Melon, L., is an important horticultural crop with abundant morphological variability, but the genetic diversity and relationships within wild and cultivated melons remain unclear to date. In this study, thick-skinned (TC) (cultivated subspecies ), thin-skinned (TN) (cultivated subspecies ), and wild accessions were analyzed for genetic diversity and relationships using 36 microsatellite markers.

miR-96 promotes collagen deposition in keloids by targeting Smad7.

The abnormal upregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling has been demonstrated to initiate keloid formation and progression. Keloid is a type of benign skin tumor that may occur following sustaining skin injury. microRNA-96 (miR-96) serves an important role in the progression of various malignant diseases.

Dissecting the Genetic Architecture of Melon Chilling Tolerance at the Seedling Stage by Association Mapping and Identification of the Elite Alleles.

Low temperature is an important abiotic stress that negatively affects morphological growth and fruit development in melon ( L.). Chilling stress at the seedling stage causes seedling injury and poor stand establishment, prolonging vegetative growth and delaying fruit harvest.

Acute pancreatic beta cell apoptosis by IL-1β is responsible for postburn hyperglycemia: Evidence from humans and mice.

Background: Acute hyperglycemia is regarded as a risk factor for critically ill patients; however, insufficient understanding of its nature and underlying mechanisms hinders widespread adoption of glycemic control in critical care units.

Methods: A single center, prospective cohort study recruiting 107 burn patients and 62 controls was conducted to characterize the early phase of acute hyperglycemia in burn patients. A total of 1643 blood samples were collected and analyzed over the entire postburn 200 h.