Profilin 1 induces drug resistance by downregulating CD138 expression via autophagy in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM), a plasma cell-derived malignant hematological disease, is often treated with bortezomib, a highly effective first-generation proteasome inhibitor. However, resistance to bortezomib is a common occurrence. Profilin 1 (PFN1), a cytoskeleton-related gene known to promote autophagy in MM, induces this resistance to bortezomib, but it is unclear why.

Aerosolized nicotine-free e-liquid base constituents exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction and endothelial glycocalyx shedding via the AKT/GSK3β-mPTP pathway in lung injury models.

Smoking has been recognized as a risk factor of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and nicotine appears to be the responsible component of tobacco smoke that affects lung development. While nicotine-free electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often promoted as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, recent evidence suggests that they might pose significant health risks. This study investigates the effects of nicotine-free e-cigarette vapor (ECV) on lung tissue and endothelial function.

Identification and Construction of a R-loop Mediated Diagnostic Model and Associated Immune Microenvironment of COPD through Machine Learning and Single-Cell Transcriptomics.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory airway disease with high incidence and significant disease burden. R-loops, functional chromatin structure formed during transcription, are closely associated with inflammation due to its aberrant formation. However, the role of R-loop regulators (RLRs) in COPD remains unclear.

CRISPR-Cas9/Cas12a systems for efficient genome editing and large genomic fragment deletions in .

CRISPR technology has revolutionized fungal genetic engineering by accelerating the pace and expanding the feasible scope of experiments in this field. Among various CRISPR-Cas systems, Cas9 and Cas12a are widely used in genetic and metabolic engineering. In filamentous fungi, both Cas9 and Cas12a have been utilized as CRISPR nucleases.

Prognostic significance of a 3-gene ferroptosis-related signature in lung cancer via LASSO analysis and cellular functions of UBE2Z.

Ferroptosis is a newly identified form of non-apoptotic programmed cell death resulting from iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It is controlled by integrated oxidation and antioxidant systems. Ferroptosis exerts a crucial effect on the carcinogenesis of several cancers, including pulmonary cancer.

Progesterone (P4) ameliorates cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Oxidative injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in the airway epithelium are major events in COPD progression.

Methods And Results: The therapeutic effects of Progesterone (P4) were investigated in vivo and in vitro in this study.

Large-scale genetic correlation studies explore the causal relationship and potential mechanism between gut microbiota and COVID-19-associated risks.

Recent observational studies suggest that gut microorganisms are involved in the onset and development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the potential causal relationship behind them remains unclear. Exposure data were derived from the MiBioGen consortium, encompassing 211 gut microbiota (n = 18,340). The outcome data were sourced from the COVID-19 host genetics initiative (round 7), including COVID-19 severity (n = 1,086,211), hospitalization (n = 2,095,324), and susceptibility (n = 2,597,856).

PGRMC1 promotes NSCLC stemness phenotypes by disrupting TRIM56-mediated ubiquitination of AHR.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor chemoresistance, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is indispensable for maintaining CSC characteristics. Here, we aimed to investigate how the interaction between progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and AHR contributes to the maintenance of CSC phenotypes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical data and tissue microarray analyses indicated that patients with elevated PGRMC1 expression had poorer prognoses.

Causal relationship and shared genes between air pollutants and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A large-scale genetic analysis.

Objective: Air pollutants have been reported to have a potential relationship with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The causality and underlying mechanism remained unknown despite several existing observational studies. We aimed to investigate the potential causality between air pollutants (PM2.

Causal association and shared genetics between telomere length and COVID-19 outcomes: New evidence from the latest large-scale summary statistics.

Background: Observational studies suggested that leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is shortened in COVID-19 patients. However, the genetic association and causality remained unknown.

Methods: Based on the genome-wide association of LTL (N = 472,174) and COVID-19 phenotypes (N = 1086,211-2597,856), LDSC and SUPERGNOVA were used to estimate the genetic correlation.

Causal association between circulating blood cell traits and pulmonary embolism: a mendelian randomization study.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening thromboembolic disease for which there is limited evidence for effective prevention and treatment. Our goal was to determine whether genetically predicted circulating blood cell traits could influence the incidence of PE.

Methods: Using single variable Mendelian randomization (SVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses, we identified genetic associations between circulating blood cell counts and lymphocyte subsets and PE.

ZC3H13 promotes ITGA6 mA modification for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease progression.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is potentially fatal, and as society ages, its effects on human health are predicted to deteriorate. The potential function of m6A modifications within COPD has become a hot topic recently. This study was conducted to clarify the function and related mechanisms of the m6A methylation transferase ZC3H13 in COPD.

The causal effect of air pollution on the risk of essential hypertension: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Air pollution poses a major threat to human health by causing various illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases. While plenty of research indicates a correlation between air pollution and hypertension, a definitive answer has yet to be found.

Methods: Our analyses were performed using the Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of exposure to air pollutants from UKB (PM2.

Simple and Effective Squash-PCR for Rapid Genotyping of Industrial Microalgae.

Microalgae are recognized for their versatility in providing renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, attributed to their sustainable, renewable, and cost-effective nature. Genetic engineering has proven highly effective in enhancing microalgae production. PCR-based genotyping is the primary method for screening genetically transformed microalgae cells.

The tertiary lymphoid structure-related signature identified PTGDS in regulating PD-L1 and promoting the proliferation and migration of glioblastoma.

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is a unique organ that carries out tumor cell elimination at tumor sites. It is continuously stimulated by inflammatory tumor signals and has been found to augment immunotherapy response. However, the detailed mechanisms behind it still need to be defined.

Screening of Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes as Diagnostic Indicators in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: It has been observed that local and systemic disorders of lipid metabolism occur during the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but no specific mechanism has yet been identified.

Methods: The mRNA microarray dataset GSE76925 of COPD patients was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) were extracted from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database and Molecular Signature Database.

The regulatory role and clinical application prospects of circRNA in the occurrence and development of CNS tumors.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors originate from the spinal cord or brain. The study showed that even with aggressive treatment, malignant CNS tumors have high mortality rates. However, CNS tumor risk factors and molecular mechanisms have not been verified.

Oxidative stress is involved in immunosuppression and macrophage regulation in glioblastoma.

Oxidative stress dually affected cancer progression, while its effect on glioblastomas remained unclear. Herein, we clustered the multicenter glioblastoma cohorts based on the oxidative-stress-responsive genes (OSS) expression. We found that cluster 2 with high OSS levels suffered a worse prognosis.

A TGF-β signaling-related lncRNA signature for prediction of glioma prognosis, immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy response.

Aims: The dysregulation of TGF-β signaling is a crucial pathophysiological process in tumorigenesis and progression. LncRNAs have diverse biological functions and are significant participants in the regulation of tumor signaling pathways. However, the clinical value of lncRNAs related to TGF-β signaling in glioma is currently unclear.

PD-L1-related IncRNAs are associated with malignant characteristics and immune microenvironment in glioma.

Background: The expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can function as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for tumors. This research explores the role of PD-L1-related lncRNAs in affecting malignant characteristics and the immune microenvironment of glioma.

Methods: Downloading gene expression profiles and clinicopathological information of glioma from TCGA and CGGA databases, 6 PD-L1-related lncRNAs were identified through correlation analysis, Cox and LASSO regression analysis, establishing the risk score model based on them.

Novel genetic tools improve Penicillium expansum patulin synthase production in Aspergillus niger.

Since the first CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) system was developed for creating double-stranded DNA breaks, it has been adapted and improved for different biotechnological applications. In this issue of The FEBS Journal, Arentshorst et al. developed a novel approach to enhance transgene expression of a specific protein, patulin synthase (PatE) from Penicillium expansum, in the important industrial filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger.

Identification of a specific exporter that enables high production of aconitic acid in Aspergillus pseudoterreus.

Aconitic acid is an unsaturated tricarboxylic acid that is attractive for its potential use in manufacturing biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, plasticizers, and surfactants. Previously Aspergillus pseudoterreus was engineered as a platform to produce aconitic acid by deleting the cadA (cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase) gene in the itaconic acid biosynthetic pathway. In this study, the aconitic acid transporter gene (aexA) was identified using comparative global discovery proteomics analysis between the wild-type and cadA deletion strains.

Role of nutrition in patients with coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sarcopenia.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the elderly population and is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction. During COPD progression, a variety of pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications develop, with sarcopenia being one of the most common extrapulmonary complications. Factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of coexisting COPD and sarcopenia include systemic inflammation, hypoxia, hypercapnia, oxidative stress, protein metabolic imbalance, and myocyte mitochondrial dysfunction.

Rapid and robust squashed spore/colony PCR of industrially important fungi.

Background: Fungi have been utilized for centuries in medical, agricultural, and industrial applications. Development of systems biology techniques has enabled the design and metabolic engineering of these fungi to produce novel fuels, chemicals, and enzymes from renewable feedstocks. Many genetic tools have been developed for manipulating the genome and creating mutants rapidly.