A Nucleotide-Binding Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Gene Regulates Plant Growth and Defense Against Chewing Herbivores.

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor genes (NLRs) play an important role in plant defenses against pathogens, pathogenic nematodes, and piercing-sucking herbivores. However, little is known about their functions in plant defenses against chewing herbivores. Here, we identified a plasma membrane-localized coiled-coil-type NLR protein, OsPik-2-like, whose transcript levels were induced by the infestation of rice leaf folder (LF, ) larvae, and by treatment with mechanical wounding.

Discovery of a Highly Potent Oxysterol Receptor GPR183 Antagonist Bearing the Benzo[]thiazole Structural Motif for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated a critical pathological role of oxysterol receptor GPR183 in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the currently reported GPR183 antagonists are very limited and not qualified for studies due to their inferior druglike properties. Herein, we conducted a structural elaboration focusing on improving its PK and safety profile based on a reference antagonist NIBR189.

Selective Electrochemical Halogenation of Functionalized Quinolone.

This work describes an effective C3-H halogenation of quinoline-4(1)-ones under electrochemical conditions, in which potassium halides serve as both halogenating agents and electrolytes. The protocol provides expedient access to different halogenated quinoline-4(1)-ones with unique regioselectivity, broad substrate scope, and gram-scale synthesis employing convenient, environmentally friendly electrolysis, in an undivided cell. Mechanism studies have shown that halogen radicals can promote the activation of N-H bonds in quinolones.

Activation of orphan receptor GPR132 induces cell differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Blocked cellular differentiation is a critical pathologic hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we showed that genetic activation of the orphan GPCR GPR132 significantly induced cell differentiation of AML both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that GPR132 is a potential trigger of myeloid differentiation. To explore the therapeutic potential of GPR132 signaling, we screened and validated a natural product 8-gingerol (8GL) as a GPR132 agonist.

Extracellular vesicle IL-32 promotes the M2 macrophage polarization and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via FAK/STAT3 pathway.

Background: Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in human cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). As a pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-32 was reported to be a poor prognostic factor in many cancers. However, the role of IL-32 in ESCC metastasis remains unknown.

Construction of Homozygous Mutants of Migratory Locust using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology.

The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, is not only one of the worldwide plague locusts that caused huge economic losses to human beings but also an important research model for insect metamorphosis. The CRISPR/Cas9 system can accurately locate at a specific DNA locus and cleave within the target site, efficiently introducing double-strand breaks to induce target gene knockout or integrate new gene fragments into the specific locus. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing is a powerful tool for addressing questions encountered in locust research as well as a promising technology for locust control.

A Novel Small Molecular Prostaglandin Receptor EP4 Antagonist, L001, Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis.

Metastatic pancreatic cancer remains a major clinical challenge, emphasizing the urgent need for the exploitation of novel therapeutic approaches with superior response. In this study, we demonstrate that the aberrant activation of prostaglandin E (PGE) receptor 4 (EP4) is a pro-metastatic signal in pancreatic cancer. To explore the therapeutic role of EP4 signaling, we developed a potent and selective EP4 antagonist L001 with single-nanomolar activity using a panel of cell functional assays.

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase 2 controls M2 macrophages polarization to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression AKT/GSK3/IL-8 signaling pathway.

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygnease 2 (TDO2) is specific for metabolizing tryptophan to kynurenine (KYN), which plays a critical role in mediating immune escape of cancer. Although accumulating evidence demonstrates that TDO2 overexpression is implicated in the development and progression of multiple cancers, its tumor-promoting role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Here, we observed that TDO2 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues and correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, advanced clinical stage, and unfavorable prognosis.

Follow-up study on COVID-19 survivors one year after discharge from hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 survivors one year after recovery, and to identify the risk factors associated with abnormal patterns in chest imaging manifestations or impaired lung function.

Methods: COVID-19 patients were recruited and prospectively followed up with symptoms, health-related quality of life, psychological questionnaires, 6-minute walking test, chest computed tomography (CT), pulmonary function tests, and blood tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the clinical characteristics and chest CT abnormalities or pulmonary function.

Evaluation of the curative effects of Bailing capsules for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The goal of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bailing capsules, which is a traditional Chinese drug that can improve lung functionality when used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods: A comprehensive search will be performed on the following primary electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang database. A search of secondary sources includes reference lists of included studies.

Follow-up study of the pulmonary function and related physiological characteristics of COVID-19 survivors three months after recovery.

Background: The long-term pulmonary function and related physiological characteristics of COVID-19 survivors have not been studied in depth, thus many aspects are not understood.

Methods: COVID-19 survivors were recruited for high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax, lung function and serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody tests 3 months after discharge. The relationship between the clinical characteristics and the pulmonary function or CT scores were investigated.

Characterization of CD103 CD8 tissue-resident T cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: may be tumor reactive and resurrected by anti-PD-1 blockade.

Though therapy that promotes anti-tumor response about CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has shown great potential, clinical responses to CD8 TILs immunotherapy vary considerably, largely because of different subpopulation of CD8 TILs exhibiting different biological characters. To define the relationship between subpopulation of CD8 TILs and the outcome of antitumor reaction, the phenotype and function of CD103 CD8 TILs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were investigated. CD103 CD8 TILs were presented in ESCC, which displayed phenotype of tissue-resident memory T cells and exhibited high expression of immune checkpoints (PD-1, TIM-3).

Serum miR-21 level: a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer.

Because lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among both men and women, focused efforts are necessary to identify and develop biomarkers that aid in the detection and treatment of this serious disease. Recent research has been aimed at understanding the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis and their utility as cancer biomarkers. Here, miR-21 was investigated as a potential serum biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) variant is associated with asthma severity.

Asthma is a complex airways disease resulting from the input of both biological and environmental factors. Previous studies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which produces a protein involved in regulating T cell populations, have presented conflicting results regarding its role in asthma severity. In the current study, individuals with asthma were genotyped for variants of TLR4, and the genotypes were compared with asthma severity and T cell subpopulations.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treatment of emphysemic rats.

Objective: To study the efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation to treat pulmonary emphysema in rats.

Methods: Sixty rats were randomly divided into control, model and transplantation groups. Each group contained 20 rats.

Effects of imidapril treatment on aquaporin-2 expression in the kidneys and excretion in the urine of hypertensive rats.

Renal aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is critical for maintaining water balance and is associated with hypertension. Anti-hypertensive drugs, including imidapril, improve kidney function; however, it remains unclear whether these effects are mediated through the regulation of AQP2. In this study, the effects of imidapril on AQP2 expression in the kidneys and excretion in urine were assessed in hypertensive rats.