Embryoid body-based differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells into cells with a corneal stromal keratocyte phenotype.

Objective: The transparency of the cornea is determined by the extracellular matrix, which is secreted by corneal stromal keratocytes (CSKs). Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived keratocytes (hiPSC-CSKs) can be used in cell-based therapy for treating corneal blindness. Our goal was to develop an effective small molecule-based technique for differentiating hiPSCs into keratocytes.

MoS Nanosheets at Low Doses Induced Cardiotoxicity in Developing Zebrafish via Ferroptosis: Influence of Lateral Size and Surface Modification.

The widespread applications of molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets inevitably result in their release into aquatic environments, necessitating an exploration of their potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms. This study analyzes the cardiac responses of zebrafish larvae exposed to MoS, with a focus on the influence of size and surface modifications. At higher concentrations (1 and 5 mg/L), MoS nanosheets hampered larval growth without influencing cardiomyogenesis.

Generation of self-renewing neuromesodermal progenitors with neuronal and skeletal muscle bipotential from human embryonic stem cells.

Progress has been made in generating spinal cord and trunk derivatives from neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs). However, maintaining the self-renewal of NMPs in vitro remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a cocktail of small molecules and growth factors that induces human embryonic stem cells to produce self-renewing NMPs (srNMPs) under chemically defined conditions.

Knockdown of HSPA13 Inhibits TGFβ1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of RPE by Suppressing the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the impact of HSPA13 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) development, along with its associated molecular mechanisms.

Methods: HSPA13 expression was evaluated in epiretinal membranes (ERMs) from patients with PVR using immunohistochemistry. The effects of HSPA13 knockdown on TGFβ1-induced EMT in hESC-RPE cells were studied through quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blot, and wound healing assays.

Ubiquitous nanocolloids suppress the conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance in aqueous environment.

Nanocolloids (Nc) are widespread in natural water environment, whereas the potential effects of Nc on dissemination of antibiotic resistance remain largely unknown. In this study, Nc collected from the Yellow River in Henan province was tested for its ability to influence the conjugative transfer of resistant plasmid in aqueous environment. The results revealed that the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid between Escherichia coli was down-regulated by 52%-91% upon exposure to 1-10 mg/L Nc and the reduction became constant when the dose became higher (20-200 mg/L).

miR-153 promotes neural differentiation by activating the cell adhesion/Ca signaling pathway and targeting ion channel activity in HT-22 cells by bioinformatic analysis.

MicroRNAs have been studied extensively in neurodegenerative diseases. In a previous study, miR-153 promoted neural differentiation and projection formation in mouse hippocampal HT-22 cells. However, the pathways and molecular mechanism underlying miR-153induced neural differentiation remain unclear.

SUMOylation of GMFB regulates its stability and function in retinal pigment epithelial cells under hyperglycemia.

Background: Glia maturation factor beta (GMFB) is a growth and differentiation factor that acts as an intracellular regulator of signal transduction pathways. The small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) modification, SUMOylation, is a posttranslational modification (PTM) that plays a key role in protein subcellular localization, stability, transcription, and enzymatic activity. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of SUMOylation in the inflammation and progression of numerous diseases.

The identification of a novel shared therapeutic target and drug across all insulin-sensitive tissues under insulin resistance.

Background: To identify key and shared insulin resistance (IR) molecular signatures across all insulin-sensitive tissues (ISTs), and their potential targeted drugs.

Methods: Three datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were acquired, in which the ISTs (fat, muscle, and liver) were from the same individual with obese mice. Integrated bioinformatics analysis was performed to obtain the differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Interactions of monolayer molybdenum disulfide sheets with metalloid antimony in aquatic environment: Adsorption, transformation, and joint toxicity.

The tremendous application potentiality of transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets, will unavoidably lead to increasing release into the environment, which could influence the fate and toxicity of co-existed contaminants. The present study discovered that 59.8 % of trivalent antimony [Sb(III)] was transformed by MoS to pentavalent Sb [Sb(V)] in aqueous solutions under light illumination, which was due to hole oxidation on the nanosheet surfaces.

A comprehensive stem cell laboratory module with blended learning for medical students at Tongji University.

The laboratory practice "Primary culture and directional differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)" is part of a required course for sophomore medical students at Tongji university, which has been conducted since 2012. Blended learning has been widely applied in medical courses. Based on a student-centered teaching philosophy, we reconstructed a comprehensive stem cell laboratory module with blended learning in 2021, aiming to facilitate students in enhancing their understanding of the multi-lineage differentiation potential of stem cells and improve their experimental skills, self-directed learning ability, and innovative thinking.

Toxicity of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets to freshwater algae: Phospholipid membrane damage and carbon assimilation inhibition.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials have attracted numerous attentions for application in various fields, including environmental governance. Understanding the environmental implications of h-BN is a prerequisite for its safe and sustainable use; nevertheless, information on the negative effect of h-BN on aquatic organisms and the underlying toxicity mechanisms is scarce. The present study found that low exposure doses (0.

GMFB/AKT/TGF-β3 in Müller cells mediated early retinal degeneration in a streptozotocin-induced rat diabetes model.

Retinal degeneration, characterized by Müller cell gliosis and photoreceptor apoptosis, is considered an early event in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Our previous study proposed that GMFB may mediate diabetic retinal degeneration. This study identified GMFB as a sensitive and functional gliosis marker for DR.

Subconjunctival injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviates experimental allergic conjunctivitis via regulating T cell response.

Background: T helper 2 (Th2) cells are thought to play critical roles in allergic conjunctivitis (AC). They release inflammatory cytokines to promote an allergic response in AC. Due to individual heterogeneity and long-term chronic management, current therapies do not always effectively control AC.

Glia maturation factor beta deficiency protects against diabetic osteoporosis by suppressing osteoclast hyperactivity.

Excessive osteoclast activation, which depends on dramatic changes in actin dynamics, causes osteoporosis (OP). The molecular mechanism of osteoclast activation in OP related to type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear. Glia maturation factor beta (GMFB) is considered a growth and differentiation factor for both glia and neurons.

Promotion effects and mechanisms of molybdenum disulfide on the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes in soil.

The rapid development of nanotechnology has aroused considerable attentions toward understanding the effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is an extensively used ENM and poses potential risks associated with environmental exposure; nevertheless, the role of MoS toward antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transfer remains largely unknown. Herein, it was discovered that MoS nanosheets accelerated the horizontal transfer of RP4 plasmid across Escherichia coli in a dose-dependent manner (0.

ROCK inhibition enhanced hepatocyte liver engraftment by retaining membrane CD59 and attenuating complement activation.

Hepatocyte transplantation can be an effective treatment for patients with certain liver-based metabolic disorders and liver injuries. Hepatocytes are usually infused into the portal vein, from which hepatocytes migrate into the liver and integrate into the liver parenchyma. However, early cell loss and poor liver engraftment represent major hurdles to sustaining the recovery of diseased livers after transplantation.

Systematic stress persistence and recovery patterns of rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots in response to molybdenum disulfide nanosheets.

The increasing application of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) unavoidably leads to environmental release and biological exposure. Understanding the potential hazards of ENMs on crops is essential for appropriate utilization and management. Herein, rice seedlings were hydroponically exposed to molybdenum sulfide (MoS, a typical ENM) nanosheets at 5-20 mg/L for 7 days and then depurated for another 7 days in a fresh culture medium.

Induced retinal pigment epithelial cells with anti-epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition ability delay retinal degeneration.

The hostile microenvironment of the retina in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may trigger epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of grafted retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, thus attenuating the therapeutic outcome. Here, we transformed human dedifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC-RPE) cells into induced RPE (iRPE) cells using a cocktail of four transcription factors (TFs)-CRX, MITF-A, NR2E1, and C-MYC. These critical TFs maintained the epithelial property of iRPE cells by regulating the expression of , forkhead box f2, , and , and conferred resistance to TGF-β-induced EMT in iRPE cells by targeting .

Direct conversion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells for treatment of retinal degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major vision-threatening disease. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit beneficial neural protective effects, their limited differentiation capacity in vivo attenuates their therapeutic function. Therefore, the differentiation of MSCs into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro and their subsequent transplantation into the subretinal space is expected to improve the outcome of cell therapy.

Human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles provide an extracellular matrix-based microenvironment for corneal injury repair.

To study the biological functions and applications of human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles (hAEC-EVs), the cargos of hAEC-EVs were analyzed using miRNA sequencing and proteomics analysis. The hAECs and hAEC-EVs in this study had specific characteristics. Multi-omics analyses showed that extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization, inhibition of excessive myofibroblasts, and promotion of target cell adhesion to the ECM were their primary functions.

Elimination of senescent cells inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common leading causes of irreversible blindness, and there is no effective treatment for it. It has been reported that aging is the greatest risk factor for AMD, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD. To clarify the relationship between senescence and EMT in RPE cells, we used the replicative senescence model, HO- and/or Nutlin3a-induced senescence model, and low-density and/or TGF-β-induced EMT model to detect the expression of senescence-, RPE- and EMT-related genes, and assessed the motility of cells by using a scratch wound migration assay.

Glia Maturation Factor β as a Novel Independent Prognostic Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target of Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma.

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) has the highest mortality rate and potential for invasion among renal cancers. The diagnosis and treatment of KIRC are becoming challenging because of its diverse pathogenic mechanisms. Glia (GMFB) is a highly conserved growth and differentiation factor for glia cells and neurons, and it is closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Aging relieves the promotion effects of polyamide microplastics on parental transfer and developmental toxicity of TDCIPP to zebrafish offspring.

Understanding the role of microplastics (MPs) in the biological fate and toxicity of organic pollutants in food webs is vital for its risk assessment. However, contradictory results and the neglect of MP aging as a factor have led to a research gap, which needs to be filled. Our study discovered that polyamide (PA, a ubiquitous MP in water) MPs clearly facilitated bioaccumulation of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) in the F0 zebrafish gonads and parental transfer of TDCIPP to the F1 offspring.

Mitigation Effects and Associated Mechanisms of Environmentally Relevant Thiols on the Phytotoxicity of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets.

Thorough investigations of the environmental fate and risks are necessary for the safe application of engineered nanomaterials. Nevertheless, the current understanding of potential transformations of MoS (an intensively studied two-dimensional nanosheet) upon interactions with ubiquitous environmentally relevant thiols (ERTs) in water is limited. This study revealed that two ERTs, l-cysteine and mercaptoacetic acid, could modify MoS by covalently grafting thiol groups on S atoms of 1T phases, improving the colloidal persistence and chemical stability of MoS.