E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1 affects the mTORC1 pathway through p62 and participates in regulating the differentiation of follicular helper T cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The abnormal expansion of Tfh cells plays a key role in chronic inflammation of RA joint. We speculated that STUB1 is an important regulatory factor in promoting the differentiation of Tfh cells in RA.

Content And Methods: The proportion of Tfh cells and the level of STUB1 in Tfh cells was measured.

gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from phycosphere.

A novel strain of a member of the family was isolated from the phycosphere of a diatom and designated as LMIT007. LMIT007 could form milk-white, opaque, circular and smooth colonies on 2216E marine agar. LMIT007 cells were around 1.

Tree Visualization By One Table (tvBOT): a web application for visualizing, modifying and annotating phylogenetic trees.

tvBOT is a user-friendly and efficient web application for visualizing, modifying, and annotating phylogenetic trees. It is highly efficient in data preparation without requiring redundant style and syntax data. Tree annotations are powered by a data-driven engine that only requires practical data organized in uniform formats and saved as one table file.

E3 ubiquitin ligases STUB1/CHIP contributes to the Th17/Treg imbalance via the ubiquitination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in rheumatoid arthritis.

STIP1-homologous U-Box containing protein 1 (STUB1) is involved in the development of immune pathologies and the regulation of T cell. However, the potential role of STUB1 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in the regulation of T cells, remains elusive. Here we show that STUB1 promotes the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells through non-degradative ubiquitination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

Identification of antibacterial metabolites produced by a marine bacterium Halobacillus marinus HMALI004.

Aims: This study examined and characterized the extract for metabolites of Halobacillus marinus HMALI004 to understand their antibacterial activities against opportunistic marine pathogens, that is, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae.

Methods And Results: The bacterial strain HMALI004 was characterized as H. marinus, and an antibacterial spectral test revealed its inhibition against two opportunistic marine pathogens (V.

Serum Uric Acid as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Previous studies have suggested a correlation between uric acid (UA) and lung lesion in some diseases. However, it remains unknown whether UA contributes to the lung injury in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our study aimed to investigate the clinical value of the UA level in the severity of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Composition and functional profiles of microbial communities in two geochemically and mineralogically different caves.

Microbial communities in cave ecosystems have specific survival strategies, which is far from being well explicated. Here, we reported the genetic and functional diversity of bacteria and archaea in typical limestone (Kashmir Cave) and silicate-containing (Tiser Cave) caves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analyses revealed the different geochemical and mineral compositions of the two caves.

gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium of the family isolated from a shrimp pond.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium (designated as LMIT005) was isolated from shrimp ponds in Shantou, China. The new isolate was characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain LMIT005 was found to be affiliated with the family of the order while appearing as a distinct lineage.

Semaphorin 4D Induces an Imbalance of Th17/Treg Cells by Activating the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objectives: Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is constitutively expressed on T cells and osteoclasts, and regulates T cell proliferation and bone remodeling. In addition, several studies have shown that Sema4D is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. We undertook this study to investigate the mechanism by which Sema4D affects the pathogenic progress of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Semaphorin 7A as a potential immune regulator and promising therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A) is expressed by several different classes of lymphoid and myeloid cells and is a potent immunomodulator. We examined the role of Sema7A in modulating cellular immune responses and to provide experimental data validating the therapeutic potential of Sema7A in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Soluble Sema7A (sSema7A) levels in the serum and synovial fluid from patients with RA or osteoarthritis, as well as cytokine secretions, were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Correlation between sclerostin level and radiographic changes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To explore the serum level of sclerostin in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and evaluate its diagnostic value and the relationship of sclerostin with inflammation and ossification process in AS.

Methods: A total of 75 AS patients and 45 healthy controls were enrolled into this randomized controlled study. The clinical indices (age, gender, course of disease and disease activity), changes in radiographic studies and indices of bone metabolism or inflammation, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated or measured.

Identification of C-terminal Hsp70-interacting protein as a mediator of tumour necrosis factor action in osteoblast differentiation by targeting osterix for degradation.

In patients with inflammatory arthritis, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α are overproduced in inflamed joints. This leads to local erosion of cartilage and bone, periarticular osteopenia, as well as osteoporosis. But less is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that mediate the effect of TNF-α on osteoblast function.

[Association of C677T gene polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and plasma homocysteine level with hyperlipidemia].

Objective: To study the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels with hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 1591 adults for detecting MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), plasma Hcy levels with enzymatic cycling method, and blood lipid levels as well. The patients were divided according to the lipid levels into hyperlipidemia group (n=694) and healthy control group (n=897) and the differences in MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms and plasma Hcy levels were compared.

A knockdown of Maml1 that results in melanoma cell senescence promotes an innate and adaptive immune response.

Maml1 is emerging as a coactivator of many signaling pathways, including the Notch and Wnt pathways. Targeting Maml1 in melanoma cells efficiently knocks down the downstream transcriptional repressors Hey1 and Hes1, resulting in melanoma cell senescence, cellular differentiation, and increased melanin production. Significantly, higher IFNβ and chemokine gene transcripts have been observed, together with increased STAT1 and decreased STAT3 and NF-κB signaling activities.

Targeted knock down of CCL22 and CCL17 by siRNA during DC differentiation and maturation affects the recruitment of T subsets.

Chemokines secreted by DC are instrumental for DC to regulate their own migratory capacities and to recruit T lymphocytes during local tumour immune response. Using the recently developed chemokine protein arrays, we analyzed 38 chemokines associated with monocyte-derived DC (MoDC), including the CC family (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL17, CCL18, CCL22, CCL23, CCL24, CCL27) and the CXC family (CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL7, CXCL8, CXCL16) chemokines. Our results indicate that MoDC largely inherit the chemokines constitutively expressed by monocytes, with a significant induction of CCL17, CCL22 and CCL23.

Prophylactic anti-inflammation inhibits cigarette smoke-induced emphysema in guinea pigs.

In this study, the effect of prophylactic anti-inflammation on the development of smoke-induced emphysema was investigated. Young male guinea-pigs aged 1.5-2 months (weighing 198.

[Clinical significance and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum of patients with acute leukemia].

Objective: To determine the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with acute leukemia and to elucidate the relation of its level with the carcinogenesis or relapse of acute leukemia and its clinical significance.

Methods: The VEGF levels in the serum and leukemic cell cultured supernatants were measured by sandwich ELISA in 88 acute leukemia patients and 30 healthy individuals.

Results: The pre-chemotherapeutic serum and supernatant VEGF level in newly diagnosed or relapsed patients with acute leukemia were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.