Pyrimidinergic P2Y1-Like Nucleotide Receptors Are Functional in Rat Conjunctival Goblet Cells.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of uridine-5'-triphosphate (UTP)-activated P2Y1-like nucleotide receptors (P2Y2R, P2Y4R, and P2Y6R) in conjunctival goblet cells (CGCs) and determine if they increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and induce mucin secretion.

Methods: Adult, male rat conjunctiva was used for culture of CGCs. To investigate the expression of P2YRs, mRNA was extracted from CGCs and used for reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) with commercially obtained primers specific to P2Y2R, P2Y4R, and P2Y6R.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics illuminate bat immunity and barrier tissue evolution.

Bats have adapted to pathogens through diverse mechanisms, including increased resistance - rapid pathogen elimination, and tolerance - limiting tissue damage following infection. In the Egyptian fruit bat (an important model in comparative immunology) several mechanisms conferring disease tolerance were discovered, but mechanisms underpinning resistance remain poorly understood. Previous studies on other species suggested that elevated basal expression of innate immune genes may lead to increased resistance to infection.

Synergistic activity of Pitstop-2 and 1,6-hexanediol in aggressive human lung cancer cells.

Metastatic cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, which involves changes in the metabolic fluxes, including endocytosis, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and mitochondrial metabolism, to satisfy their massive demands for energy, cell division, and proliferation compared to normal cells. We have previously demonstrated the ability of two different types of compounds to interfere with linchpins of metabolic reprogramming, Pitstop-2 and 1,6-hexanediol (1,6-HD). 1,6-HD disrupts glycolysis enzymes and mitochondrial function, enhancing reactive oxygen species production and reducing cellular ATP levels, while Pitstop-2 impedes clathrin-mediated endocytosis and small GTPases activity.

Mitigation of Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rotenone-Induced Parkinson Mouse Model through Liposomal Coenzyme-Q10 Intervention: A Comprehensive In-vivo Study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) stands as the sec most prevalent incapacitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deterioration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has garnered attention as a potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent and enhancer of mitochondrial complex-I activity. This study aimed to examine and compare the effectiveness of liposomal and non-encapsulated CoQ10 in rotenone induced-PD mouse model over a 21-day treatment duration.

Oral supplementation of curcumin-encapsulated chitosan nanoconjugates as an innovative strategy for mitigating nickel-mediated hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

Nickel pollution adversely affects human health and causes various disorders, mainly hepatic and renal dysfunction. The present work focused on a comparative evaluation of the pure form of curcumin (CU) with curcumin-encapsulated chitosan nanoconjugates (CS/CU NCs), on mitigation of the delirious effects of Ni on hepatorenal tissue. Forty-two male rats were allocated into 6 groups (n = 7 for each) as follows: (1) control, (2) CU, (3) CS/CU NCs, (4) Ni, (5) Ni + CU, (6) Ni + CS/CU NCs.

Correlation analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics and functional study of Galactinol synthase gene (VcGolS3) of blueberry under salt stress.

Soil salinity poses a significant environmental challenge for the growth and development of blueberries. However, the specific mechanisms by which blueberries respond to salt stress are still not fully understood. Here, we employed a comprehensive approach integrating physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses to identify key metabolic pathways in blueberries under salt stress.

Double-stranded RNA orbivirus disrupts the DNA-sensing cGAS-sting axis to prevent type I IFN induction.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a DNA sensing cellular receptor that induces IFN-I transcription in response to pathogen and host derived cytosolic DNA and can limit the replication of some RNA viruses. Some viruses have nonetheless evolved mechanisms to antagonize cGAS sensing. In this study, we evaluated the interaction between Bluetongue virus (BTV), the prototypical dsRNA virus of the Orbivirus genus and the Sedoreoviridae family, and cGAS.

Self-sufficient biocatalytic cascade for the continuous synthesis of danshensu in flow.

A new strategy has been developed to successfully produce the active component danshensu ex vivo. For this purpose, phenylalanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus sphaericus was combined with the novel hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase from Mentha x piperita, thereby providing an in situ cofactor regeneration throughout the conversion process. The purified enzymes were co-immobilized and subsequently employed in batch biotransformation, resulting in 60% conversion of 10 mM L-dopa within 24 h, with a catalytic amount of NAD as cofactor.

Non-invasive electron paramagnetic resonance imaging detects tumor redox imbalance induced by ferroptosis.

Targeting ferroptosis, cell death caused by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides, and disruption of the redox balance are promising strategies in cancer therapy owing to the physiological characteristics of cancer cells. However, the detection of ferroptosis using imaging remains challenging. We previously reported that redox maps showing the reduction power per unit time of implanted tumor tissues via non-invasive redox imaging using a novel, compact, and portable electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) device could be compared with tumor tissue sections.

XopAE Effector from pv. Targets HSP20-Like p23 Cochaperone to Suppress Plant Basal Immunity.

Pathogenic bacteria use Type 3 effector proteins to manipulate host defenses and alter metabolism to favor their survival and spread. The non-model bacterial pathogen pv. () causes devastating disease in cassava.

Insight into copper coordination in O reduction by water-soluble cytochrome oxidase models.

Iron-copper complexes have been extensively studied in the search for efficient cytochrome oxidase models. Whereas most dinuclear materials usually focus on fine-tuning the coordination of heme-Fe, this work shows that the coordination of copper in cytochrome oxidase models should be carefully taken into consideration. A β-cyclodextrin dimer was built around a bipyridine linker and combined with Fe-tetraphenylsulfonatoporphyrinate (FeTPPS) to generate a self-assembled hydrosoluble cytochrome oxidase model.

Adenosine diphosphate stimulates VEGF-independent choroidal endothelial cell proliferation: A potential escape from anti-VEGF therapy.

We hypothesized that a strategy employing tissue-specific endothelial cells (EC) might facilitate the identification of tissue- or organ-specific vascular functions of ubiquitous metabolites. An unbiased approach was employed to identify water-soluble small molecules with mitogenic activity on choroidal EC. We identified adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as a candidate, following biochemical purification from mouse EL4 lymphoma extracts.

Association Between SHBG Levels and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) regulates sex hormone availability and is influenced by metabolic factors. Variations in SHBG levels during pregnancy may affect the development of hypertensive disorders such as gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE). This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the potential of SHBG as a biomarker for predicting GH and PE.

FhaA plays a key role in mycobacterial polar elongation and asymmetric growth.

Unlabelled: Mycobacteria, including pathogens like , exhibit unique growth patterns and cell envelope structures that challenge our understanding of bacterial physiology. This study sheds light on FhaA, a conserved protein in , revealing its pivotal role in coordinating cell envelope biogenesis and asymmetric growth. The elucidation of the FhaA interactome in living mycobacterial cells reveals its participation in the protein network orchestrating cell envelope biogenesis and cell elongation/division.

Improvement of ovarian function in a premature ovarian failure mouse model using Vitex agnus-castus extract.

Objective: Premature ovarian failure (POF) leads to infertility. Numerous researchers have endeavored to enhance ovarian function through antioxidant interventions. Extract from Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) has demonstrated a protective effect.

Annexin A8 deficiency delays atherosclerosis progression.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids and leukocytes within the arterial wall. By studying the aortic transcriptome of atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE) mice, we aimed to identify novel players in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Methods: RNA-Seq analysis was performed on aortas from ApoE and wild-type mice.

Recombinant FSH induced progesterone via partially regulating let-7 expression in human and mouse granulosa cells.

Serum progesterone may increase prior to ovulation trigger in in vitro fertilization patients, jeopardizing endometrial receptivity and therefore live birth rate. Recombinant FSH (rFSH) promotes progesterone production from human granulosa cells. Yet, the role of FSH on progesterone production need deeper exploration.

Revealing the Water Structure at Neutral and Charged Graphene/Water Interfaces through Quantum Simulations of Sum Frequency Generation Spectra.

The structure and dynamics of water at charged graphene interfaces fundamentally influence molecular responses to electric fields with implications for applications in energy storage, catalysis, and surface chemistry. Leveraging the realism of the MB-pol data-driven many-body potential and advanced path-integral quantum dynamics, we analyze the vibrational sum frequency generation (vSFG) spectrum of graphene/water interfaces under varying surface charges. Our quantum simulations reveal a distinctive dangling OH peak in the vSFG spectrum at neutral graphene, consistent with recent experimental findings yet markedly different from those of earlier studies.

Spin Chains with Highly Quantum Character through Strong Covalency in CaCrN.

The insulating transition metal nitride CaCrN consists of sheets of triangular [CrN] units with symmetry that are connected via quasi-1D zigzag chains. Due to strong covalency between Cr and N, Cr ions are unusually low-spin, and = 1/2. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal dominant quasi-1D spin correlations with very large nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange = 340 K and yet no sign of magnetic order down to = 0.

Computational Investigation of the Role of Metal Center Identity in Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Model Reactivity.

Mononuclear Fe enzymes such as heme-containing cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze a variety of C-H activation reactions under ambient conditions, and they represent an attractive platform for engineering reactivity through changes to the native enzyme. Using density functional theory, we study both native Fe and non-native group 8 (Ru, Os) and group 9 (Ir) metal centers in an active site model of P450. We quantify how changing the metal changes spin state preferences throughout the catalytic cycle.

Glow Discharge Optical Emission Coded Aperture Spectroscopy.

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) allows fast and simultaneous multielemental analysis directly from solids and depth profiling down to the nanometer scale, which is critical for thin-film (TF) characterization. Nevertheless, operating conditions for the best limits of detection (LODs) are compromised in lieu of the best sputtering crater shapes for depth resolution. In addition, the fast transient signals from ultra-TFs do not permit the optimal sampling statistics of bulk analysis such that LODs are further compromised.

The Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier as a Potential Entry Site for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the lungs and airways, it can also infect other organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the choroid plexus could serve as a potential entry site for SARS-CoV-2 into the brain.

Induction of lysosome biogenesis is a novel function of the CGAS-STING1 pathway.

Induction of macroautophagy/autophagy has been established as an important function elicited by the CGAS-STING1 pathway during pathogen infection. However, it remains unknown whether lysosomal activity within the cell in these settings is concurrently enhanced to cope with the increased autophagic flux. Recently, we discovered that the CGAS-STING1 pathway elevates the degradative capacity of the cell by activating lysosome biogenesis.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of TROP2 Gene Silencing in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen 2 (Trop2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that has been implicated in the progression and metastasis of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Targeting Trop2 expression may represent a promising approach for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Trop2 knockdown using small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of the HepG2 liver cancer cell line.