[Expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase modulates macrophage polarization in THP-1 cells].

Objective: To investigate whether indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) has an effect on macrophage polarization of differentiated THP-1 (dTHP-1) cells.

Methods: The macrophage model was established through incubating the human monocyte line (THP-1 cells) with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (10 ng/mL) for 48 hours. To generate M1/M2-polarized macrophages, dTHP-1 cells were cultured with IFN-γ (100 U/mL) and M-CSF (100 ng/mL), respectively.

SIRT1 inhibition during the hypoinflammatory phenotype of sepsis enhances immunity and improves outcome.

Mechanism-based sepsis treatments are unavailable, and their incidence is rising worldwide. Deaths occur during the early acute phase of hyperinflammation or subsequent postacute hypoinflammatory phase with sustained organ failure. The acute sepsis phase shifts rapidly, and multiple attempts to treat early excessive inflammation have uniformly failed.

Evolutionarily conserved transcription factor Apontic controls the G1/S progression by inducing cyclin E during eye development.

During Drosophila eye development, differentiation initiates in the posterior region of the eye disk and progresses anteriorly as a wave marked by the morphogenetic furrow (MF), which demarcates the boundary between anterior undifferentiated cells and posterior differentiated photoreceptors. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of gene expression immediately before the onset of differentiation remains unclear. Here, we show that Apontic (Apt), which is an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor, is expressed in the differentiating cells posterior to the MF.

Clinical and epidemiological analysis of the first case of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in Shenzhen, China.

The novel influenza A (H7N9) virus can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and acute respiratory disorder syndrome (ARDS), with high rates of intensive care unit admission and death. We report the first case of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in Shenzhen, China. The patient was a 38-year-old man.

Therapeutic effects of PADRE-BAFF autovaccine on rat adjuvant arthritis.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine of tumor necrosis factor family mainly produced by monocytes and dendritic cells. BAFF can regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of B lymphocytes by binding with BAFF-R on B cell membrane. Accumulating evidences showed that BAFF played crucial roles and was overexpressed in various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Electrospun nanofibrous chitosan membranes modified with polyethyleneimine for formaldehyde detection.

Here we describe a formaldehyde sensor fabricated by coating polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized chitosan nanofiber-net-binary structured layer on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The chitosan fibrous substrate comprising nanofibers and spider-web-like nano-nets constructed by a facile electro-spinning/netting process provided an ideal structure for the uniform PEI modification and sensing performance enhancement. Benefiting from the fascinating nanostructure, abundant primary amine groups of PEI, and strong adhesive force to the QCM electrode of PEI-chitosan membranes, the developed formaldehyde sensor presented rapid response and low detection limit (5 ppm) at room temperature.

The role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in immune tolerance: focus on macrophage polarization of THP-1 cells.

Macrophages can be divided into two groups as M1 and M2 phenotype. Our results and other groups revealed that IFN-γ can up-regulate the IDO expression and differentiate THP-1 cells to M1 phenotype. Therefore we hypothesized that IDO may play potential roles in macrophage differentiation.

The synthetic progestin megestrol acetate adversely affects zebrafish reproduction.

Synthetic progestins contaminate the aquatic ecosystem, and may cause adverse health effects on aquatic organisms. Megestrol acetate (MTA) is present in the aquatic environment, but its possible effects on fish reproduction are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the endocrine disruption and impact of MTA on fish reproduction.

Epigenetic regulation of macrophage polarization by DNA methyltransferase 3b.

Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) undergo a phenotypic switch from alternatively activated antiinflammatory M2 macrophages in lean individuals to classically activated proinflammatory M1 macrophages in obese subjects. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains unclear. In this study we aim to determine whether DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) regulates macrophage polarization and inflammation.

Bioconcentration and metabolism of BDE-209 in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and impact on the thyroid endocrine system and neuronal development in zebrafish larvae.

Interactions between organic toxicants and nanoparticles (NPs) in the aquatic environment may modify toxicant bioavailability and consequently the toxicant's environmental fate and toxicity. Therefore, we investigated the influence of titanium dioxide NPs (nano-TiO2) on deca-BDE (BDE-209; a polybrominated diphenyl ether congener) bioconcentration, metabolism and its effects on the thyroid endocrine system in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of BDE-209 alone or in combination with nano-TiO2 (0.

Nodal promotes the generation of M2-like macrophages and downregulates the expression of IL-12.

Nodal, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is an embryonic morphogen that is upregulated in different types of tumors. Nodal increases the tumorigenesis by inducing angiogenesis and promoting metastasis. Importantly, Nodal inhibition suppresses the growth and invasion of tumor.

Electro-spinning/netting: A strategy for the fabrication of three-dimensional polymer nano-fiber/nets.

Since 2006, a rapid development has been achieved in a subject area, so called electro-spinning/netting (ESN), which comprises the conventional electrospinning process and a unique electro-netting process. Electro-netting overcomes the bottleneck problem of electrospinning technique and provides a versatile method for generating spider-web-like nano-nets with ultrafine fiber diameter less than 20 nm. Nano-nets, supported by the conventional electrospun nanofibers in the nano-fiber/nets (NFN) membranes, exhibit numerious attractive characteristics such as extremely small diameter, high porosity, and Steiner tree network geometry, which make NFN membranes optimal candidates for many significant applications.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of physical fatigue-attenuating components from Rubus parvifolius L.

Alleviation of fatigue has been emerging as a serious issue that requires urgent attention. Health professionals and sports physiologists have been looking for active natural products and synthetic compounds to overcome fatigue in humans. This study was designed to define the anti-fatigue property of Rubus parvifolius L.

Experimental Study on Cementitious Composites Embedded with Organic Microcapsules.

The recovery behavior for strength and impermeability of cementitious composites embedded with organic microcapsules was investigated in this study. Mortar specimens were formed by mixing the organic microcapsules and a catalyst with cement and sand. The mechanical behaviors of flexural and compression strength were tested.

Amino acid-functionalized ionic liquid solid sorbents for post-combustion carbon capture.

Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) are potential green substitutes of aqueous amine solutions for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture. However, the viscous nature of AAILs greatly hinders their further development in CO2 capture applications. In this contribution, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium lysine ([EMIM][Lys]) was synthesized and immobilized into a porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microsphere support for post-combustion CO2 capture.

Stabilization of Snail through AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway is required for TNF-α-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer PC3 cells.

Metastasis induced by chronic inflammation has been considered as a major challenge during cancer therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis promoted by pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα. However, the mechanisms underlying TNFα-induced EMT in prostate cancer cells is not entirely clear.

Biomimetic electrospun nanofibrous structures for tissue engineering.

Biomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds mimicking important features of the native extracellular matrix provide a promising strategy to restore functions or achieve favorable responses for tissue regeneration. This review provides a brief overview of current state-of-the-art research designing and using biomimetic electrospun nanofibers as scaffolds for tissue engineering. It begins with a brief introduction of electrospinning and nanofibers, with a focus on issues related to the biomimetic design aspects.

Deubiquitinase inhibition of 19S regulatory particles by 4-arylidene curcumin analog AC17 causes NF-κB inhibition and p53 reactivation in human lung cancer cells.

Proteasome inhibitors have been suggested as potential anticancer agents in many clinical trials. Recent evidence indicates that proteasomal deubiquitinase (DUB) inhibitors, bearing a different mechanism from that of traditional proteasome inhibitors, would be appropriate candidates for new anticancer drug development. In the present study, we describe the deubiquitinase inhibition of 19S regulatory particles (19S RP) by AC17, a 4-arylidene curcumin analog synthesized in our laboratory.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TNF-α requires AKT/GSK-3β-mediated stabilization of snail in colorectal cancer.

Chronic inflammation-promoted metastasis has been considered as a major challenge in cancer therapy. Pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα can induce cancer invasion and metastasis associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear.

Novel spider-web-like nanoporous networks based on jute cellulose nanowhiskers.

Cellulose nanowhiskers as a kind of renewable and biocompatible nanomaterials evoke much interest because of its versatility in various applications. Herein, for the first time, a novel controllable fabrication of spider-web-like nanoporous networks based on jute cellulose nanowhiskers (JCNs) deposited on the electrospun (ES) nanofibrous membrane by simple directly immersion-drying method is reported. Jute cellulose nanowhiskers were extracted from jute fibers with a high yield (over 80%) via a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)/NaBr/NaClO system selective oxidization combined with mechanical homogenization.

Climate change patterns in Amazonia and biodiversity.

Precise characterization of hydroclimate variability in Amazonia on various timescales is critical to understanding the link between climate change and biodiversity. Here we present absolute-dated speleothem oxygen isotope records that characterize hydroclimate variation in western and eastern Amazonia over the past 250 and 20 ka, respectively. Although our records demonstrate the coherent millennial-scale precipitation variability across tropical-subtropical South America, the orbital-scale precipitation variability between western and eastern Amazonia exhibits a quasi-dipole pattern.

Tuning hierarchically aligned structures for high-strength PMIA-MWCNT hybrid nanofibers.

Novel hierarchically aligned PMIA-MWCNT hybrid nanofibers with a robust tensile strength of 316.7 MPa were prepared by a facile electrospinning process. The critical roles of humidity and MWCNT contents in tuning hierarchically aligned structures were first proposed, and a two-step break mechanism upon external stress was confirmed.

The full capacity of AICAR to reduce obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance requires myeloid SIRT1.

Chronic Inflammation is a key link between obesity and insulin resistance. We previously showed that two nutrient sensors AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and SIRT1 interact to regulate macrophage inflammation. AMPK is also a molecular target of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), which has been shown to reduce insulin resistance in various animal models.