Indole-3-acetic acid attenuates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating lung microbiota, inhibiting fibroblast activation, and alleviating alveolar epithelial cell senescence.

Aim: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a relentlessly progressive disorder characterized by high mortality and limited effective therapeutic options. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), originally recognized as a plant hormone, is also identified as a tryptophan-derived metabolite catabolized from microbiota in mammals. IAA has exhibited antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects in various disorders, yet its role in PF remains elusive.

Glucocorticoids induce a maladaptive epithelial stress response to aggravate acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and challenging clinical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality and represents a common complication in critically ill patients with COVID-19. In AKI, renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) are a primary site of damage, and recovery from AKI depends on TEC plasticity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation and maladaptation of TECs in AKI remain largely unclear.

ZmSPL10, ZmSPL14 and ZmSPL26 act together to promote stigmatic papilla formation in maize through regulating auxin signaling and ZmWOX3A expression.

Maize silk is a specialized type of stigma, covered with numerous papillae for pollen grain capture. However, the developmental process of stigmatic papillae and the underlying regulatory mechanisms have remained largely unknown. Here, we combined the cytological, genetic and molecular studies to demonstrate that three homologous genes ZmSPL10, ZmSPL14 and ZmSPL26 play a central role in promoting stigmatic papilla formation in maize.

Amygdalin ameliorates alopecia areata on C3H/HeJ mice by inhibiting inflammation through JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Background: Evidence has demonstrated that Chinese medicine formula Xuefu Zhuyu decoction can markedly promote the formation of new hair in patients and mice with alopecia areata (AA). Amygdalin is one of the active components of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction, but its therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms on AA remains largely unrevealed.

Purpose: Therefore, this study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects and to probe its molecular mechanisms of inflammation and immune regulation on AA model of C3H/HeJ mice.

Identification of a cinnamoyl-CoA reductase from Cinnamomum cassia involved in trans-cinnamaldehyde biosynthesis.

The identification of a functional cinnamoyl-CoA reductase enzyme from Cinnamomum cassia involved in trans-cinnamaldehyde biosynthesis offers the potential for enhancing trans-cinnamaldehyde production through genetic engineering. A significant accumulation of trans-cinnamaldehyde has been found in the bark tissues of C. cassia, used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Polystyrene microplastics induce pulmonary fibrosis by promoting alveolar epithelial cell ferroptosis through cGAS/STING signaling.

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are new types of environmental pollutant that have garnered significant attention in recent years since they were found to cause damage to the human respiratory system when they are inhaled. The pulmonary fibrosis is one of the serious consequences of PS-MPs inhalation. However, the impact and underlying mechanisms of PS-MPs on pulmonary fibrosis are not clear.

2,3-Dimethoxycinnamic Acid from a Marine Actinomycete, a Promising Quorum Sensing Inhibitor in .

An ethyl acetate extract of a marine actinomycete strain, SCSIO 53858, isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample in the South China Sea, exhibited anti-quorum-sensing (QS) activity against CV026. Guided by the anti-QS activity, a novel active compound was isolated and purified from the extract and was identified as 2,3-dimethoxycinnamic acid (2,3-DCA) through spectral data analysis. At a concentration of 150 μg/mL, 2,3-DCA exhibited robust inhibitory effects on three QS-regulated traits of .

Genome-guided discovery of two undescribed 6,6-spiroketal polyketides and stereochemical correction of bafilomycins P and Q from the marine-derived Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 66814.

Bafilomycins are macrocyclic polyketides with intriguing structures and therapeutic value. Genomic analysis of Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 66814 revealed a type I polyketide synthase biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), namely blm, which encoded bafilomycins and featured rich post-modification genes.

A bibliometric analysis on discovering anti-quorum sensing agents against clinically relevant pathogens: current status, development, and future directions.

Background: Quorum sensing is bacteria's ability to communicate and regulate their behavior based on population density. Anti-quorum sensing agents (anti-QSA) is promising strategy to treat resistant infections, as well as reduce selective pressure that leads to antibiotic resistance of clinically relevant pathogens. This study analyzes the output, hotspots, and trends of research in the field of anti-QSA against clinically relevant pathogens.

A comparative analysis of morphology, microstructure, and volatile metabolomics of leaves at varied developmental stages in Ainaxiang ( (Linn.) DC.).

Introduction: Ainaxiang ( (Linn.) DC.) is cultivated for the extraction of (-)-borneol and other pharmaceutical raw materials due to its abundant volatile oil.

Investigation on Metabolites in Structure and Biosynthesis from the Deep-Sea Sediment-Derived Actinomycete sp. SCSIO 52865.

For exploring structurally diverse metabolites and uniquely metabolic mechanisms, we systematically investigated the chemical constituents and putative biosynthesis of sp. SCSIO 52865 derived from the deep-sea sediment based on the OSMAC strategy, molecular networking tool, in combination with bioinformatic analysis. As a result, one new diketopiperazine (), along with seven known cyclodipeptides (-), -cinnamic acid (), -phenethylacetamide () and five fatty acids (-), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of SCSIO 52865.

Comparison of production of bioactive components in Zanthoxylum nitidum taproots from different regions in southern China.

Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC is a traditional Chinese herb from southern China and its 3-4-year old roots are used in medicine. However, there is a scarcity of studies on the differences in the content of different regions of the roots, as well as comprehensive evaluations of Z.

Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell-GelMA microspheres for accelerated wound healing.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an ideal seed cell for tissue engineering and stem cell transplantation. MSCs combined with biological scaffolds play an important role in promoting the repair of cutaneous wound. However, direct administration of MSCs is challenging for MSCs survival and integration into tissues.

Formation of cinnamon essential oil/xanthan gum/chitosan composite microcapsules basing on Pickering emulsions.

Cinnamon essential oil (CNO) is a natural and renewable antibacterial agent. However, CNO is highly volatile and unstable, which limits its practical application as a long-term and wide antibacterial agent. In order to improve the CNO stability, we have microencapsulated CNO into composite microcapsules basing on Pickering emulsion stabilized by silica (SiO) nanoparticles.

Investigation on Metabolites in Structural Diversity from the Deep-Sea Sediment-Derived Bacterium sp. SCSIO 52902 and Their Biosynthesis.

Deep-sea sediment-derived bacterium may make full use of self-genes to produce more bioactive metabolites to adapt to extreme environment, resulting in the discovery of novel metabolites with unique structures and metabolic mechanisms. In the paper, we systematically investigated the metabolites in structurally diversity and their biosynthesis from the deep-sea sediment-derived bacterium sp. SCSIO 52902 based on OSMAC strategy, Molecular Networking tool, in combination with bioinformatic analysis.

Engineering stem cells to produce exosomes with enhanced bone regeneration effects: an alternative strategy for gene therapy.

Background: Exosomes derived from stem cells have been widely studied for promoting regeneration and reconstruction of multiple tissues as "cell-free" therapies. However, the applications of exosomes have been hindered by limited sources and insufficient therapeutic potency.

Results: In this study, a stem cell-mediated gene therapy strategy is developed in which mediator mesenchymal stem cells are genetically engineered by bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene to produce exosomes (MSC-BMP2-Exo) with enhanced bone regeneration potency.

BLISTER promotes seed maturation and fatty acid biosynthesis by interacting with WRINKLED1 to regulate chromatin dynamics in Arabidopsis.

WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is an important transcription factor that regulates seed oil biosynthesis. However, how WRI1 regulates gene expression during this process remains poorly understood. Here, we found that BLISTER (BLI) is expressed in maturing Arabidopsis thaliana seeds and acts as an interacting partner of WRI1.

Smoking cessation rate and factors affecting the success of quitting in a smoking cessation clinic using telephone follow-up.

Introduction: China has the largest number of smokers in the world. The great majority of China's smokers desire to quit smoking (QS); however, the success rate of self-quitting is low. This study investigated the effects of smoking cessation (SC) clinics in a cancer hospital in Hunan province and determined the influencing factors of successful SC.

Structures and antitumor activities of ten new and twenty known surfactins from the deep-sea bacterium Limimaricola sp. SCSIO 53532.

Surfactins are natural biosurfactants with myriad potential applications in the areas of healthcare and environment. However, surfactins were almost exclusively produced by the bacterium Bacillus species in previous reported literatures, together with difficulty in isolating pure monomer, which resulted in making extensive effort to remove duplication and little discovery of new surfactins in recent years. In the present study, the result of Molecular Networking indicated that Limimaricola sp.

The antiinflammatory effects of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on C3H/HeJ mice with alopecia areata.

Background: As a traditional and typical prescription of prominently activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XZD) consists of 15 kinds of herbal medicine. Clinical investigations have showed that XZD could significantly promote the new hair generation of alopecia areata (AA) patients characterized by Qi stagnation and blood stasis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was executed to determine whether the mechanisms by which XZD stimulated newborn hair were related to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Monthly distribution of ammonia-oxidizing microbes in a tropical bay.

Ammonia oxidation, performed by ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), plays a critical role in the cycle of nitrogen in the ocean. For now, environmental variables controlling distribution of ammonia-oxidizing microbes are still largely unknown in oceanic environments. In this study, we used real-time quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing methods to investigate the abundance and diversity of AOA and AOB from sediment and water in Zhanjiang Bay.