Publications by authors named "Xiaoyun Ji"

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays a key role in immune regulation, particularly within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), TREM2 TAMs have been shown to modulate the tumor microenvironment, but the role of its soluble form: soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), produced through proteolytic cleavage, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of sTREM2 on TNBC progression.

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Myocardial dysfunction is a decisive factor of death in septic patients. Cyclophilin F (PPIF) is a major component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and acts as a critical mPTP sensitizer triggering mPTP opening. In sepsis, decreased NAD impairs Sirtuin 3 function, which may prevent PPIF de-acetylation.

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DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3) is a well-known transcription factor that regulates the expression of apoptosis-related genes for promoting apoptosis during endoplasmic reticulum stress. Here, we report an unrecognized role of DDIT3 in facilitating necroptosis. DDIT3 directly binds and competitively prevents the p38 MAPK-MK2 interaction and thereby blocking MK2 activation while stimulating p38 MAPK activation.

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Article Synopsis
  • CPVs are viruses that create special structures called viroplasms to avoid being attacked by the host's immune system.
  • The study explores how a protein called NSP9 helps these viroplasms form and how it binds to different types of nucleic acids, like RNA and DNA.
  • Understanding NSP9's role might help scientists find ways to create antiviral drugs to fight against these viruses.
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Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm has a long history of use for anti-aging, although the anti-aging properties of its decoction ingredients have been seldom explored. This study marks the first detailed examination of the in vivo anti-aging activity of A.

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Aloe-emodin (AE) is an anthraquinone derivative and a biologically active component sourced from various plants, including . and . Known chemically as 1,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-anthraquinone, AE has a rich history in traditional medicine and is esteemed for its accessibility, safety, affordability, and effectiveness.

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BACKGROUNDAs Omicron is prompted to replicate in the upper airway, neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) delivered through inhalation might inhibit early-stage infection in the respiratory tract. Thus, elucidating the prophylactic efficacy of NAbs via nasal spray addresses an important clinical need.METHODSThe applicable potential of a nasal spray cocktail containing 2 NAbs was characterized by testing its neutralizing potency, synergetic neutralizing mechanism, emergency protective and therapeutic efficacy in a hamster model, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) in human nasal cavity.

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Article Synopsis
  • The SID-1 transmembrane proteins, SIDT1 and SIDT2, are involved in transporting nucleic acids within cells and play key roles in immunity and tumor growth.
  • Researchers utilized advanced mass spectrometry to identify and analyze the specific N-glycosylation sites on SIDT1 and SIDT2, which had been previously suggested but not clearly defined.
  • The study reveals that N-linked glycans are crucial for regulating various functions of SIDT1, including its presence on the cell surface, interaction with RNA, stability, and overall ability to uptake RNA, highlighting its potential for therapeutic uses.
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Background: Sepsis-caused multi-organ failure remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units with limited therapeutics. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), has been recently reported to be protective in sepsis; however, its therapeutic effects remain to be determined. This study sought to investigate the therapeutic effects of NMN in septic organ failure and its underlying mechanisms.

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The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to over 750 million infections and 6.8 million deaths worldwide since late 2019. Due to the continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2, many significant variants have emerged, creating ongoing challenges to the prevention and treatment of the pandemic.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has many mutations that allow it to evade current vaccines and antibodies, creating an urgent need for new neutralizing therapies.
  • - Researchers have characterized a rabbit monoclonal antibody (RmAb) called 1H1, which can effectively neutralize multiple Omicron sublineages due to its ability to target a conserved region of the virus's spike protein.
  • - The study suggests that 1H1 could serve as a model for developing broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies, potentially leading to improved therapeutic agents and vaccines against future variants of the virus.
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Introduction: Recent studies have provided insights into the important contribution of gut microbiota in the development of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB). As a chronic consumptive infectious disease, PTB involves many pathological characteristics. At present, research on intestinal flora and clinical pathological Index of PTB is still rare.

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Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) has been identified as a nuclear DNA sensor. Upon viral infection, hnRNP A2/B1 recognizes pathogen-derived DNA as a homodimer, which is a prerequisite for its translocation to the cytoplasm to activate the interferon response. However, the DNA binding mechanism inducing hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization is unknown.

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Background: Cardiomyocyte death contributes to cardiac pathology of diabetes. Studies have shown that the RIPK3/MLKL necroptosis signaling is activated in diabetic hearts. Deletion of RIPK3 was reported to attenuate myocardial injury and heart dysfunction in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, suggesting a potential role of necroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

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Calpains have been implicated in heart diseases. While calpain-1 has been detrimental to the heart, the role of calpain-2 in cardiac pathology remains controversial. In this study we investigated whether sustained over-expression of calpain-2 had any adverse effects on the heart and the underlying mechanisms.

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Exoribonucleases are frequently used as nuclei acids detection tools for their sequences, modifications, and structures. Escherichia coli ribonuclease R (EcR) is the prototypical exoribonuclease of the RNase II/RNB family degrading RNA in the 3'-5' direction. Different from RNase II, EcR is capable of degrading structured RNA efficiently, which makes it a potential analysis tool for various RNA species.

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The waning humoral immunity and emerging contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants resulted in the necessity of the booster vaccination of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The inactivated vaccine, CoronaVac, is the most widely supplied COVID-19 vaccine globally. Whether the CoronaVac booster elicited adaptive responses that cross-recognize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) among 77 healthy subjects receiving the third dose of CoronaVac were explored.

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The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is dominant in many countries worldwide. The high number of spike mutations is responsible for the broad immune evasion from existing vaccines and antibody drugs. To understand this, we first present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of ACE2-bound SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike.

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The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a key enzyme, which extensively digests CoV replicase polyproteins essential for viral replication and transcription, making it an attractive target for antiviral drug development. However, the molecular mechanism of how Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 digests replicase polyproteins, releasing the nonstructural proteins (nsps), and its substrate specificity remain largely unknown. Here, we determine the high-resolution structures of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in its resting state, precleavage state, and postcleavage state, constituting a full cycle of substrate cleavage.

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Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) results when Wolbachia bacteria-infected male insects mate with uninfected females, leading to embryonic lethality. "Rescue" of viability occurs if the female harbors the same Wolbachia strain. CI is caused by linked pairs of Wolbachia genes called CI factors (CifA and CifB).

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SHP2 is the first oncogenic tyrosine phosphatase encoded by , which plays a significant regulatory role in cancer and inflammation-related diseases. Although SHP2 allosteric inhibitors have been used in phase I/II clinical trials for solid tumors, whether SHP2 inhibition alleviates psoriasis remains unclear. Here we expressed and purified SHP2 related proteins, and established an enzyme activity screening system for different conformations of SHP2.

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Lipid overload contributes to cardiac complications of diabetes and obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. This study investigates the role of gamma-aminobutyrate transaminase (ABAT), the key enzyme involved in the catabolism of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in lipid overload-induced cardiac injury.

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