Publications by authors named "Wenqiang Liu"

Asthenozoospermia, a prevalent contributor to male infertility, exhibits a multifaceted pathogenesis. This study identified a significant downregulation in sperm dynein heavy chain 3 (DNAH3) protein levels in individuals with asthenozoospermia. To elucidate the role of DNAH3 in asthenozoospermia, we constructed Dnah3-knockout (KO) mice, which exhibited asthenozoospermia and sterility.

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The activation of acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in response to extracellular acidification leads to an increase in extracellular calcium influx, thereby exacerbating the degeneration of articular chondrocytes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has been suggested that the inhibition of extracellular calcium influx could potentially impede chondrocyte ferroptosis. The cystine transporter, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), is recognized as a key regulator of ferroptosis.

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Background: Tumor-derived exosomes are involved in tumor progression and immune invasion and might function as promising noninvasive approaches for clinical management. However, there are few reports on exosom-based markers for predicting the progression and adjuvant therapy response rate among patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods: The signatures differentially expressed in exosomes from tumor and normal tissues from ccRCC patients were correspondingly deregulated in ccRCC tissues.

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The remyelination process within the diabetes mellitus (DM) brain is inhibited, and dynamic interactions between DNA methylation and transcription factors are critical for this process. Repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) is a major regulator of oligodendrocyte differentiation, and the role of REST on DM remyelination remains to be investigated. Here, we investigated the effects of REST and DNA methylation on DM remyelination and explored the underlying mechanisms.

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Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants, resulting in unavoidable human exposure. This study identified MPs in follicular fluid and investigated the specific MPs and mechanisms that adversely affect oocytes. MPs in the follicular fluid of 44 infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology were measured using Raman microspectroscopy.

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Background: Diabetic encephalopathy (DE) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), and its pathogenesis has not yet been clarified. Th22 cells are a newly discovered class of CD4 T cells that play important roles in inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases. However, it is unclear whether Th22 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of DE.

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Purpose: To determine whether salidroside (SAL) modulates inflammatory cytokines in rat retinal Müller cells (rMC-1) in a hyperglycemic environment by investigating the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of SAL in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: A streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model was established to examine the effects of SAL using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. rMC-1 cells were grown in 50 mM of high-glucose medium.

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  • A previous study linked acidic stimuli and the activation of ASIC1a to chondrocyte damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the specific mechanisms were not fully understood.
  • This current study focused on how succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) contributes to this chondrocyte damage and found that SDH expression significantly increased in both acid-treated chondrocytes and mice with collagen-induced arthritis.
  • The findings suggest that activating ASIC1a under acidic conditions enhances SDH activity and its assembly factor, SDHAF2, leading to increased chondrocyte pyroptosis through a specific signaling pathway involving Ca/CaMKK2/AMPK.
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Introduction: Oxidative stress, resulting from environmental changes, significantly affects female fertility. Developing a mouse model to study oxidative stress lays the groundwork for research into human reproductive health and livestock fertility.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we established and evaluated an oxidative stress model by administering hydrogen peroxide (HO) to mice.

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Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are among the first neurons to undergo apoptosis in diabetic retinopathy (DR), with their relationship to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced apoptosis still unclear. While glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 (GLCCI1) has been shown to inhibit apoptosis, its role in ERS-induced apoptosis and its mechanisms in DR remain unclarified. Our findings indicated that GLCCI1 is predominantly localized in the ganglion cell layer and is downregulated in DR.

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Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), a distinct subset recognized for their stem cell-like abilities, are intimately linked to the resistance to radiotherapy, metastatic behaviors, and self-renewal capacities in tumors. Despite their relevance, the definitive traits and importance of CSCs in the realm of oncology are still not fully comprehended, particularly in the context of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). A comprehensive understanding of these CSCs' properties in relation to stemness, and their impact on the efficacy of treatment and resistance to medication, is of paramount importance.

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Cardiac fibrosis impairs cardiac function, but no effective clinical therapies exist. To address this unmet need, we employed a high-throughput screening for antifibrotic compounds using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Counter-screening of the initial candidates using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and iPSC-derived endothelial cells excluded hits with cardiotoxicity.

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  • The COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns about adverse fetal outcomes during pregnancy, particularly when mothers are infected with certain viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
  • This study investigated placental samples from pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during their first trimester, revealing an increase in hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) levels and changes in immune cell expression.
  • The research indicates that early SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to severe hypoxia and altered cell metabolism at the maternal-fetal interface, effects that seem to lessen as pregnancy continues but may have lasting consequences.
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  • Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is linked to oligodendrocytes and granzyme B (GZMB), which may cause axonal damage; this study investigates GZMB's role in DCD.* -
  • Using a mouse model of diabetes, researchers assessed learning and memory through a water maze, while examining the effects of a GZMB inhibitor (SerpinA3N) on myelin integrity and cellular stress.* -
  • Results indicated that inhibiting GZMB improved cognitive function, reduced stress in oligodendrocytes, enhanced myelin protein expression, and decreased demyelination, suggesting a therapeutic target for DCD.*
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  • Recent studies indicate that a new type of programmed cell death called disulfidptosis plays a role in cancer development and progression, though its biological and clinical implications are still not well understood.
  • Researchers conducted multi-omics analyses on pancancer datasets, focusing on its impact in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), using machine learning to uncover relevant biological insights.
  • Findings revealed that disulfidptosis regulators are often dysregulated in cancer, particularly in a new subtype of ccRCC (DCS3) characterized by low disulfidptosis scores and resistance to immune therapy, highlighting a potential new treatment target.
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  • Equine herpesvirus (EHV), particularly EHV-1 and EHV-4, causes various diseases in donkeys, prompting a study on their prevalence in 27 large-scale farms.
  • Out of 230 donkeys tested, 62.96% of farms had EHV presence, with diverse rates of EHV-1 and EHV-4 positives, notably higher in Dong'e County and among donkeys aged 1-4.
  • The study emphasizes the high prevalence of EHV antibodies in the Liaocheng area, highlighting the need for disease monitoring and prevention in this key donkey trading market.
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Cardiovascular diseases persist as a global health challenge that requires methodological innovation for effective drug development. Conventional pipelines relying on animal models suffer from high failure rates due to significant interspecies variation between humans and animal models. In response, the recently enacted Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.

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  • * Phylogenetic analysis indicates that H11 viruses have complex reassortment patterns and do not have mutations that would allow them to infect mammals, as they primarily bind to avian-type receptors.
  • * Research shows that certain H11 viruses replicate more effectively in ducks than in chickens, with implications for poultry health and the need for ongoing surveillance at the intersection of wild and domestic birds.
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Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is a complication of diabetes that seriously affects quality of life. Glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 (GLCCI1) has been found to be involved in inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy in various diseases. However, the distribution of GLCCI1 in the brain and its role in DCD have not yet been revealed.

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Our starting hypothesis is that Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be utilized to mix with the biopolymers for consolidating fiber-reinforced composites without deteriorating their hygro-mechanical properties. The effect of PEG on the shear strength during pull-out of crystalline cellulose (CC) fiber out of an amorphous cellulose matrix is simulated with molecular dynamics. The interfacial shear stress shows a stick-slip behavior and is weakened with increasing moisture content.

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  • Preeclampsia, particularly early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE), is a serious pregnancy complication potentially linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
  • Researchers studied the role of Siglec-6 in placentas from healthy pregnancies and EO-PE cases, finding that Siglec-6 expression is elevated in EO-PE and that it negatively impacts trophoblast cell migration, invasion, and mitochondrial function.
  • The pathway involving Siglec-6 and GPR20 is crucial for understanding trophoblast mitochondrial function, suggesting that these molecules could be valuable markers and therapeutic targets for EO-PE in clinical settings.
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Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a widely used preservative and biocide to prevent product degradation, yet its potential impact on plant growth remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated MIT's toxic effects on Arabidopsis thaliana root growth. Exposure to MIT significantly inhibited Arabidopsis root growth, associated with reduced root meristem size and root meristem cell numbers.

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  • Chemists typically face challenges in converting native sugars into glycosyl donors due to the need for complex protecting-group strategies.
  • A new photoinduced method allows for selective glycosylation using native sugar building blocks without the need for masking hydroxyl groups.
  • This innovative approach not only simplifies the synthesis of diverse glycosyl compounds but also enables the post-translational glycosylation of proteins, enhancing its practical applications.
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  • Microsatellites, or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are short DNA repeats found in various genomes, particularly in plants, and are important for genetic analysis and breeding.
  • Triticeae, a tribe of grasses that includes key cereal crops like wheat and barley, is essential for global food production.
  • To support genetic research, TriticeaeSSRdb has been created, offering a comprehensive database of over 3.8 million SSRs from 21 species, with tools for searching, primer design, and more to enhance crop breeding and trait analysis.
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