Innovative Lipid Nanoparticles Co-Delivering Hydroxychloroquine and siRNA for Enhanced Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and joint damage. Despite advancements in treatment, complete remission remains elusive. In this study, we introduce a novel lipid nanoparticle formulation co-delivering hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and siRNA targeting TNF-α (si) using microfluidic technology, marking the first use of such a combination for RA therapy.

Multifunctional fluorescent mesoporous carbon nanoprobe for MMP-2-activated cancer cell imaging and targeted photothermal therapy.

The integration of cancer imaging with therapy in a simple system is warranted for precise cancer therapy. In this study, carboxyl-functionalized mesoporous carbon nanospheres (MCN) which are efficient photothermal agents and excellent fluorescence quenchers, were used for cancer cell imaging and selective photothermal therapy (PTT) applications. Using MCN, a matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)- responsive theranostic nanoprobe was generated by functionalizing an MMP-2-specific fluorescent-labeled PLGVR sequence on the surface of MCN.

A C-type lectin with antibacterial activity in weather loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus.

C-type lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that play important roles in immunity by serving as pattern recognition receptors. In the present study, a novel nattectin-like C-type lectin was obtained from the weather loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, designated as MaCTL. MaCTL encodes a peptide with 165 amino acids, with a signal peptide and a single C-type lectin domain (CTLD), containing a galactose-specific QPD motif and a conserved Ca -binding site.

A triple WAP domain containing protein acts in antibacterial immunity of weather loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus.

Whey acidic protein domain (WAPD) occurs in a variety of proteins in animals and many of WAPD-containing proteins are involved in immunity. In the present study, a novel protein containing three WAPDs was identified from the weather loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, designated as MaTWD. MaTWD share high identity with TWDs from fish but low identity with TWDs from other animal phyla.

A toll receptor is involved in antibacterial defense in the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the activation of innate immune response in animals. In this study, we identified a TLR from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense (MnToll1) and investigated its functions in immunity. The MnToll1 protein shares similar structural characteristics with other known Toll family proteins.

Characterization of an immune deficiency (IMD) homolog from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense.

The immune deficiency (IMD) signal pathway mediates innate immunity against Gram-negative bacteria in crustaceans. In the present study, an IMD homolog (MnIMD) from the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense was identified. The full-length cDNA of MnIMD was 782bp with an open reading frame of 549 bp that encodes a putative protein of 182 amino acids including a death domain at the C-terminus.

A mannose receptor is involved in the anti-Vibrio defense of red swamp crayfish.

Mannose receptor (MR), a member of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), is the first MR family member to be discovered that plays a critical role in immunity. The function of MRs has been reported in mammals and teleosts while none in invertebrates. In the present study, we identified a MR-like gene (designated as PcMR) from red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii.