Comparative analysis of liver transcriptome reveals adaptive responses to hypoxia environmental condition in Tibetan chicken

Objective Tibetan chickens, which have unique adaptations to extreme high-altitude environments, exhibit phenotypic and physiological characteristics that are distinct from those of lowland chickens. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxic adaptation in the liver of chickens remain unknown. Methods RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to assess the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in hypoxia adaptation in highland chickens (native Tibetan chicken [HT]) and lowland chickens (Langshan chicken [LS], Beijing You chicken [BJ], Qingyuan Partridge chicken [QY], and Chahua chicken [CH]). Results A total of 352 co-DEGs were specifically screened between HT and four native lowland chicken breeds. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses indicated that these co-DEGs were widely involved in lipid metabolism processes, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. To further determine the relationship from the 352 co-DEGs, protein-protein interaction network was carried out and identified eight genes (ACSL1, CPT1A, ACOX1, PPARC1A, SCD, ACSBG2, ACACA, and FASN) as the potential regulating genes that are responsible for the altitude difference between the HT and other four lowland chicken breeds. Conclusion This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating hypoxia adaptation via lipid metabolism in Tibetan chickens and other highland animals

A Facile and General Approach to Enhance Water Resistance of Metal-Organic Frameworks by the Post-Modification with Aminopropyltriethoxylsilane

The water sensitivity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a common and crucial issue has greatly hindered their practical applications. Here, we present a facile and general approach to improve the water resistance of a typical MOF, i.e., CuBTC [Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3]n (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) using a post-modification reaction with aminopropyltriethoxylsilane (APTES) at room temperature. The afforded material is denoted as CuBTC@APTES. Various spectroscopic methods reveal that the organosilicon linkers have been successfully grafted onto CuBTC by electrostatic attraction between acid and base groups and without affecting the original coordination mode and basic structure. Compared with CuBTC, the water stability of CuBTC@APTES was significantly improved. The pristine CuBTC almost lost all its crystallinity, morphology and pore structure after 3-day treatment in water, while CuBTC@APTES is able to retain its main crystal structure and basic porosity after the same treatment. This finding can be explained by the successful introduction of the organosilicon molecular overlayer on the periphery of CuBTC to slow down the destruction of weak metal coordination bonds by water molecules, thus improving the water stability of CuBTC. The solution of water sensitivity provides more opportunities for the practical applications of CuBTC, such as aqueous phase catalysis and gas separation in humid environments. This simple approach can certainly be expanded to improve the water resistance of other carboxylate-containing ligand-based MOFs

Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a novel cell-free strategy for the treatment of many diseases including cancer. As a result of their natural properties to mediate cell-to-cell communication and their high physiochemical stability and biocompatibility, EVs are considered as excellent delivery vehicles for a variety of therapeutic agents such as nucleic acids and proteins, drugs, and nanomaterials. Increasing studies have shown that EVs can be modified, engineered, or designed to improve their efficiency, specificity, and safety for cancer therapy. Herein, a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the strategies and methodologies of engineering EVs for scalable production and improved cargo-loading and tumor-targeting is provided. Additionally, the potential applications of engineered EVs in cancer therapy are discussed by presenting prominent examples, and the opportunities and challenges for translating engineered EVs into clinical practice are evaluated.Peer reviewe

Naturally Occurring Stilbenoid TSG Reverses Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases via Gut-Liver Axis.

The gut-liver axis is largely involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) could reverse NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and whether it did so via the gut-liver axis. Results showed that TSG could reduce the accumulation of FFA and it did so by reducing the expression of L-FABP and FATP4. TSG regulated gut microbiota balanced and increased the protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin, which could improve the function of the intestinal mucosal barrier and reduce serum LPS content by about 25%. TSG reduced TL4 levels by 56% and NF-κB expression by 23% relative to the NAFLD model group. This suggests that prevention of NAFLD by TSG in HFD-fed rats is mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota and TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which may alleviate chronic low-grade inflammation by reducing the exogenous antigen load on the host

Indications of tunnel water inrush to the origin of large karst springs in Southwest China and water environmental effects

Objective The Kuncheng Tunnel of the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project crosses the Heilongtan and Bailongtan areas, the major headwater regions in the Chenggong District of Kunming City. Methods Tunnel water inrush may seriously threaten the safety of the urban water supply. In this paper, based on hydrodynamic data and hydrochemical data during tunnel construction, the characteristics of the karst water system, the origin of the springs, and the impact of tunnel construction were analysed. Then, a three-dimensional groundwater flow model for the Heilongtan-Bailongtan Section was developed and calibrated to simulate and predict groundwater level changes during the construction of the Kuncheng Tunnel, and the water environment effect of tunnel construction was evaluated. Results The results show that both the Heilongtan and Bailongtan springs are mainly recharged by the same karst P1q+m aquifer. However, controlled by aquitard P1d and the Hunshuitang fault downstream of the Sanjiacun Depression, the two springs actually belong to two relatively independent karst water systems. In addition, the excavation of the Kuncheng Tunnel has changed the regional groundwater flow field and cut off the flow of Bailongtan, while it has negligible impact on Heilongtan. Conclusion This study discusses the genetic relationship of karst spring, and quantitatively analyzes the impact of tunnel excavation on water environment, which has reference significance for preventing water inrush in tunnel construction

Quantum defects in two-dimensional van der Waals materials

Quantum defects in solid materials, such as nitrogen-vacancy color centers in diamond, have been extensively studied and successfully demonstrated as single photon emitters and potential qubits for quantum computers. However, a major challenge has always been positioning these quantum defects near the sample surface for measuring or sensing purposes. The emergence of quantum defects in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials open up new opportunities for overcoming these limitations. These materials possess unique properties, including vdW interlayer coupling and clean surfaces without unsaturated dangling bonds, which provide greater advantages for manufacturing multi-qubit systems. In this review, we present the research progress on quantum defects in 2D vdW materials, covering quantum guidelines for spin defects in solid state, the latest demonstrations of quantum defects, the unique methods and techniques for generating and modulating defects in 2D vdW materials.</p

Nonvolatile tri-state resistive memory behavior of a stable pyrene-fused N-heteroacene with ten linearly-annulated rings

The diverse functionalities of large N-heteroacenes continue to be developed in terms of their strategic synthesis and application in the organic electronic field. Here, we report a novel large stable pyrene-containing N-heteroacene with ten linearly-annulated rings in one row. Remarkably, it exhibited excellent tri-state resistive memory property, which held great promise to achieve ultrahigh-density data storage. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first demonstration of organic multistate memory device based on large N-heteroacene (n≥10), which provides guidelines for designing more proof-of-concept larger N-heteroacene-based memory electronics

Application of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Intrauterine Adhesions in Rats

Aims: To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on intrauterine adhesions (IUA). Methods: BMSCs were isolated and labeled by green fluorescence protein. IUA model was established by mechanical injury. 48 rats were randomly divided into control, IUA model, BMSCs vein injection and BMSCs intrauterine injection groups (n=12 in each group). The third generation of BMSCs was injected through tail vein or intrauterine. Three rats were killed at time 0 h, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d and bilateral uterus were obtained at each time points for the subseqent experiments. Morphological changes were determined by hematoxylin-eosin staining or Masson staining. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: BMSCs were specifically stained by CD44 and CD90, but not by CD45. Before treatment, the numbers of endometrial glands were significantly decreased, while fibrosis area rate was increased in IUA model group (PConclusion: BMSCs transplantation was effective to repair the damaged endometrium likely through promoting the ER and PR expressions

lncRNA IGHCγ1 Acts as a ceRNA to Regulate Macrophage Inflammation via the miR-6891-3p/TLR4 Axis in Osteoarthritis

Accumulating data have implicated that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in osteoarthritis (OA), which may function as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of microRNAs (miRNAs). lncRNA IGHCγ1 has been demonstrated to regulate inflammation and autoimmunity. Nonetheless, the altering effect of IGHCγ1 in OA remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the mechanism and function of lncRNA IGHCγ1 in OA. CCK-8, EdU, and transwell assays were used to estimate macrophage proliferation and migration. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to estimate the local expression of lncRNA IGHCγ1 in macrophages. Luciferase reporter assay was adopted to validate the ceRNA role of IGHCγ1 as miRNA sponge. lncRNA IGHCγ1 was primarily localized in macrophage cytoplasm and upregulated in OA. miR-6891-3p inhibited macrophage proliferation, migration, and inflammatory response by targeting TLR4, while lncRNA IGHCγ1 promoted TLR4 expression by functioning as a ceRNA for miR-6891-3p through the NF-κB signal in macrophages. This study strongly supports that lncRNA IGHCγ1 regulates inflammatory response via regulating the miR-6891-3p/TLR4/NF-κB axis in macrophages