Serum level of IFN-λ is elevated in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Background: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune disorders with uncertain pathogenesis. Interferon (IFN)-λ has recently been described as an important mediator of immune responses. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether IFN-λ is involved in IIM.

Repurposing Niclosamide to Modulate Renal RNA-Binding Protein HuR for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice.

Hu antigen R (HuR) plays a key role in regulating genes critical to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of niclosamide (NCS) as an HuR inhibitor in DN. Uninephrectomized mice were assigned to four groups: normal control; untreated db/db mice terminated at 14 and 22 weeks, respectively; and db/db mice treated with NCS (20 mg/kg daily via i.

Suppression of FOXC1 induces pyroptosis of the coronary artery through activation of JAK2.

Background And Aims: Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) triggers endothelial pyroptosis and is associated with a multitude of pathological cardiovascular manifestations, including atherosclerosis. However, the associated transcriptional regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated a novel transcriptional regulator upstream of JAK2.

Propylparaben exposure impairs G2/M and metaphase-anaphase transition during mouse oocyte maturation.

Propylparaben (PrPB) is a known endocrine disrupting chemicals that is widely applied as preservative in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. PrPB has been detected in human urine samples and human serum and has been proven to cause functional decline in reproduction. However, the direct effects of PrPB on mammalian oocyte are still unknown.

ETS1 and RBPJ transcriptionally regulate METTL14 to suppress TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of bronchial epithelial cells is considered to be a crucial player in asthma. Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), an RNA methyltransferase, is implicated in multiple pathological processes, including EMT, cell proliferation and migration.

Switchable Site-Selective Benzanilide C(sp)-H Bromination via Promoter Regulation.

Regioselective benzanilide bromination that generates either regioisomer from the same starting material is desirable. Herein, we develop switchable site-selective C(sp)-H bromination by promoter regulation. This protocol leads to regiodivergent brominated benzanilide starting from the single substrate via selection of promoters.

Transcriptome-Based Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals the Photosynthesis Pathway and Hub Genes Involved in Promoting Tiller Growth under Repeated Drought-Rewatering Cycles in Perennial Ryegrass.

Drought stress, which often occurs repeatedly across the world, can cause multiple and long-term effects on plant growth. However, the repeated drought-rewatering effects on plant growth remain uncertain. This study was conducted to determine the effects of drought-rewatering cycles on aboveground growth and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Ascertaining sensitive exposure biomarkers of various metal(loid)s to embryo implantation.

Close relationships exist between metal(loid)s exposure and embryo implantation failure (EIF) from animal and epidemiological studies. However, there are still inconsistent results and lacking of sensitive metal(loid) exposure biomarkers associated with EIF risk. We aimed to ascertain sensitive metal(loid) biomarkers to EIF and provide potential biological explanations.

EGR1 transcriptionally regulates SVEP1 to promote proliferation and migration in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells.

A low-frequency variant of sushi, von Willebrand factor type A, EGF, and pentraxin domain-containing protein 1 (SVEP1) is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease, as determined by a genome-wide association study. SVEP1 induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and an inflammatory phenotype to promote atherosclerosis. In the present study, qRT‒PCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of SVEP1 was significantly increased in atherosclerotic plaques compared to normal tissues.

Resveratrol protects against high glucose-induced steroidogenesis and apoptosis in murine granulosa cells.

Resveratrol (Res) is a polyphenolic compound that exhibits a diverse array of biological effects. Herein, we detected the ability of Res on murine granulosa cells (GCs) against impaired steroidogenesis and apoptotic death in response to high glucose levels. Ovarian GCs were harvested from C57BL/6 mice and cultured in steroidogenic media supplemented with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 30 ng/mL), Res (50 μmol/L), and low or high glucose concentrations (5 mM or 30 mM).

Murine trophoblast organoids as a model for trophoblast development and CRISPR-Cas9 screening.

The placenta becomes one of the most diversified organs during placental mammal radiation. The main in vitro model for studying mouse trophoblast development is the 2D differentiation model of trophoblast stem cells, which is highly skewed to certain lineages and thus hampers systematic screens. Here, we established culture conditions for the establishment, maintenance, and differentiation of murine trophoblast organoids.

A cluster randomized trial of a comprehensive intervention nesting family and clinic into school centered implementation to reduce myopia and obesity among children and adolescents in Beijing, China: study protocol.

Background: Myopia and obesity in children and adolescents have become serious public health problems that endanger public health, especially in China. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are environmental drivers of both myopia and obesity. This protocol describes a study to evaluate the effectiveness of "22510SS", that is 2 h of daytime outdoor activities ('2'); Limit screen time to no more than 2 h per day ('2'); Consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily ('5'); Attain 1 h of physical activity daily ('1'); Consume 0 sugar-sweetened beverages ('0'); Reasonable sleep duration ('S'); Regular supervision ('S').

Discovery of Thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR) kinase.

The ataxia telangiectasia mutated and rad3-related (ATR) kinase regulates the DNA damage response (DDR), which plays a critical role in the ATR-Chk1 signaling pathway. ATR inhibition can induce synthetic lethality (SL) with several DDR deficiencies, making it an attractive drug target for cancers with DDR defects. In this study, we developed a series of selective and potent ATR inhibitors with a thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine scaffold using a hybrid design.

Sperm-borne microRNA-34c regulates maternal mRNA degradation and preimplantation embryonic development in mice.

Background: Studies have shown that sperm-borne microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in mammalian preimplantation embryonic development. In humans, spermatozoan miR-34c levels are correlated with in vitro fertilization outcomes, such as embryo quality and the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. In rabbits and cows, miR-34c improves the developmental competence of embryos generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel ATR inhibitors.

Targeting ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase is being pursued as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of advanced solid tumor with specific DNA damage response deficiency. Herein, we report a series of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives with potent ATR inhibitory activity through structure-based drug design. Among them, the representative compound 10q exhibited excellent potency against ATR in both biochemical and cellular assays.

Engineered Bone Marrow Stem Cell-Sheets Alleviate Renal Damage in a Rat Chronic Glomerulonephritis Model.

Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based regenerative therapy is being developed for the treatment of kidney diseases, cell delivery and engraftment still need to be improved. Cell sheet technology has been developed as a new cell delivery method, to recover cells as a sheet form retaining intrinsic cell adhesion proteins, which promotes its transplantation efficiency to the target tissue. We thus hypothesized that MSC sheets would therapeutically reduce kidney disease with high transplantation efficiency.

Identification of expansin genes as promoting or repressing factors for leaf elongation in tall fescue.

Expansins are cell-wall loosening proteins involved in plant cell expansion and elongation. Objectives of this study were to identify expansins related to leaf elongation in a perennial grass species and determine the relationship between the expression of expansin genes and leaf elongation. A total of 20 expansin genes were identified in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), out of which nine genes belonged to the EXPA- and 11 to the EXPB subfamily.

Impacts of delta and omicron variants on inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced T cell responses in patients with autoimmune diseases and healthy controls.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is still devastating economies and communities globally. The increasing infections of variants of concern (VOCs) in vaccinated population have raised concerns about the effectiveness of current vaccines. Patients with autoimmune diseases (PAD) under immunosuppressant treatments are facing higher risk of infection and potentially lower immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Inhibition of IGF2BP1 attenuates renal injury and inflammation by alleviating m6A modifications and E2F1/MIF pathway.

Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by inflammation. Pyroptosis often occurs during AKI and is associated with the development of septic AKI. This study found that induction of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) to a higher level can induce pyroptosis in renal tubular cells.

Inhibitors of cell cycle checkpoint target Wee1 kinase - a patent review (2003-2022).

Introduction: DNA damage repair in most malignancies with mutation of p53 is more dependent on the G2/M checkpoint. Wee1 kinase is a key regulator of the G2/M checkpoint. If Wee1 is inhibited, it results in cells with unrepaired DNA damage entering mitosis prematurely, leading to mitotic catastrophe and subsequent cell death via the apoptotic program.

Polydatin protects against gouty nephropathy by inhibiting renal tubular cell pyroptosis.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of polydatin (PD) against gouty nephropathy (GN) in mice.

Methods: Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (no treatment), the GN group (300 mg/kg hypoxanthine + 150 mg/kg potassium oxonate), and the GN + PD group (300 mg/kg hypoxanthine + 150 mg/kg potassium oxonate + 50 mg/kg PD). Histological changes in the kidneys and the levels of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) in the sera were measured.

Genetic control of the lateral petal shape and identity of asymmetric flowers in mungbean ( L.).

Broad diversity of flowers in Fabaceae provides a good system to investigate development and evolution of floral symmetry in higher plants. Many studies have demonstrated a conserved mechanism controlling development of zygomorphic flower during last decades. However, the molecular basis of how asymmetric flower established is largely unknown.

Disulfiram alleviates pristane-induced lupus via inhibiting GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.

Activation of multiple inflammasomes in monocytes/macrophages is associated with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis, a common consequence of multiple activated inflammasomes, is a programmed cell death with strong inflammatory responses. This suggested that targeting monocyte/macrophage pyroptosis might provide an opportunity to cure SLE.