The patch clamp technique is a fundamental tool for investigating ion channel dynamics and electrophysiological properties. This study proposes the first artificial intelligence framework for characterizing multiple ion channel kinetics of whole-cell recordings. The framework integrates machine learning for anomaly detection and deep learning for multi-class classification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe efficacy of dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines is critically determined by the functionalities of in vitro maturated DCs. The maturation of DCs typically relies on chemicals that are cytotoxic or hinder the ability of DCs to efficiently activate the antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) against tumors. Herein, the maturation chemicals are replaced with extracellular silica nanomatrices, fabricated by glancing angle deposition, to promote in vitro maturation of murine bone marrow-derived DCs (mBMDCs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFine particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Mitochondria are sensitive targets of PM, and mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to the occurrence of CVD. The epigenetic mechanism of PM-triggered mitochondrial injury of cardiomyocytes is unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe NLRP3 inflammasome is a supramolecular complex that is linked to sterile and pathogen-dependent inflammation, and its excessive activation underlies many diseases. Ion flux disturbance and cell volume regulation are both reported to mediate NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but the underlying orchestrating signaling remains not fully elucidated. The volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), formed by LRRC8 proteins, is an important constituent that controls cell volume by permeating chloride and organic osmolytes in response to cell swelling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with disordered lipid and iron metabolism. Our previous study has substantiated the pivotal role of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in protecting hepatocytes and mediating iron metabolism in the liver. This study aimed to explore the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of iron metabolism by Cav-1 in NAFLD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer worldwide. The impact of fine particulate matter (PM) on many diseases is a global concern, yet its association with CRC is unclear. This study aimed to assess the effect of PM exposure on CRC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) are crucial for the growth and metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most tumor angiogenesis inhibitors mainly target endothelial cell-mediated angiogenesis, ignoring tumor-cell-mediated VM and frequently leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Thus, development of bioactive molecules interfering with both tumor angiogenesis and VM is necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJapanese is widely used as a hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent in China. However, the active ingredients in Japanese and their potential mechanisms of action in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are unknown. The pharmacodynamic substance and mechanism of action of Japanese in the treatment of AIH were investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology in this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report herein a novel mechanism, unraveled by proteomics and validated by in vitro and in vivo studies, of the aberrant aging-associated upregulation of ovarian transferrin and ferritin in rat ovaries. The ovarian mass and serum estradiol titer plummeted while the ovarian labile ferrous iron and total iron levels escalated with age in rats. Oxidative stress markers, such as nitrite/nitrate, 3-nitrotyrosine, and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, accumulated in the aging ovaries due to an aberrant upregulation of the ovarian transferrin, ferritin light/heavy chains, and iron regulatory protein 2(IRP2)-mediated transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolyphyllin II (PPII) is a natural steroidal saponin occurring in . It has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-cancer activity against a variety of cancer cells. However, the anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects and mechanism of action of PPII are rarely reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeural progenitor cells (NPCs) therapy, a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases, has a huge challenge to ensure high survival rate and neuronal differentiation rate. Cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles exhibit multienzyme mimetic activities and have shown the capability of regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is a pivotal mediator for intracellular redox homeostasis in NPCs, regulating biological processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. In the present study, the role of facet-dependent CeO-mediated redox homeostasis in regulating self-renewal and differentiation of NPCs is reported for the first time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe complex and uncertain causes of sick building syndrome (SBS) have become one of the most challenging and hot issues worldwide. Studies on the correlation between indoor environment and SBS based on local characteristics are relatively limited in China. We studied typical SBS risk factors related to the indoor environment and lifestyle in two northern Chinese cities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in over 313,000,000 confirmed cases of infection and over 5,500,000 deaths, substantial research work has been conducted to discover agents/ vaccines against COVID-19. Undesired adverse effects were observed in clinical practice and common vaccines do not protect the nasal tissue. An increasing volume of direct evidence based on clinical studies of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in the treatment of COVID-19 has been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFine particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased risks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the toxicological mechanisms of PM promoting AD remain unclear. In this study, wild-type and APP/PS1 transgenic mice (AD mice) were exposed to either filtered air (FA) or PM for eight weeks with a real-world exposure system in Taiyuan, China (mean PM concentration in the cage was 61 µg/m). We found that PM exposure could remarkably aggravate AD mice's ethological and brain ultrastructural damage, along with the elevation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), Aβ-42 and AChE levels and the decline of ChAT levels in the brains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is an aggressive cancer. Isoalantolactone (IATL) has been reported to exert cytotoxicity against various cancer cells, but not CRC. In this study, we explored the anti-CRC effects and mechanism of action of IATL and .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this research is to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of bacteriological quality in raw oysters sampled from different aquacultural farms located in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, Carp Gates, Lau Fau Shan, Ma Wan, and Mui Wo in Hong Kong. Magallana hongkongensis and Crassostrea rhizophorae were collected and analyzed for fecal coliforms. Throughout the 13-month monitoring period, all samples had generally high bacterial loads, ranging from 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFine particulate matter (PM) has been demonstrated to threaten public health and increase lung cancer risk. DNA damage is involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. However, the mechanisms of epigenetic modification of lung DNA damage are still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRhamnolipids are predominantly produced from the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which restricts their scaled-up production and biomedical applications. Moreover, the wound healing property of rhamnolipids is mainly focused on either mono- or di-rhamnolipid congeners, which are obtained after extensive and costly purification procedures. Here, crude rhamnolipids from non-pathogenic Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BU-03 have been prepared and characterized and their wound healing potency evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) may contribute to brain injury, however, the molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully described. In this study, the human SH-SY5Y cells were treated with PM with different concentrations (0, 25, 100, and 250 μg/mL) for 24 h to investigate the cell apoptosis mediated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The ratio of apoptosis, Ca level, biomarkers of ER stress and apoptosis were determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome results in uncontrolled inflammation, which participates in various chronic diseases. TWIK2 potassium channel mediates potassium efflux that has been reported to be an essential upstream mechanism for ATP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Thus, TWIK2 potassium channel could be a potential drug target for NLRP3-related inflammatory diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF() a famous formula in traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used for centuries for treating cerebral diseases, but the protective effects of pre-treatment with on cerebral ischemia have not yet been reported. The present study aimed to test such protective effects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms on cerebral ischemia in rats by phenotypic approaches (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlutamate excitotoxicity is caused by dysfunctional glutamate transporters and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of glutamate transporters in PD are still not fully elucidated. MicroRNAs(miRNA), which are abundant in astrocytes and neurons, have been reported to play key roles in regulating the translation of glutamate-transporter mRNA. In this study, we hypothesized that the miR-30a-5p contributes to the pathogenesis of PD by regulating the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmbient air fine particulate matter (PM) may increase cardiovascular disease risks. In this study, we investigated the miR-208/GATA4/myosin heavy chain (MHC) regulation mechanisms on cardiac injury in rats after PM exposure via an animal inhalation device. The results showed that PM exposure for 2 months caused pathological heart injury, reduced nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, and increased the levels of CK-MB and cTnI, showing cardiac hypertrophy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFα-Synuclein (α-syn), a small highly conserved presynaptic protein containing 140 amino acids, is thought to be the main pathological hallmark in related neurodegenerative disorders. Although the normal function of α-syn is closely involved in the regulation of vesicular neurotransmission in these diseases, the underlying mechanisms of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of α-syn in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) have not been fully characterized. The pathological accumulation of misfolded α-syn has a critical role in PD pathogenesis.
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