A replicative recombinant HPV16 E7 expression virus upregulates CD36 in C33A cells

ObjectiveIn past decades, the role of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection in cancer pathogenesis has been extensively studied. The viral E7 protein expressed in pre-malignant cells has been identified as an ideal target for immunological intervention. However, the cultivation of HPV in vitro remains a significant challenge, as well as the lack of methods for expressing the HPV E7 protein and generating replication-competent recombinant viral particles, which posed a major obstacle to further exploration of the function and carcinogenic mechanisms of the E7 oncoprotein. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate novel methodologies to construct replication-competent recombinant viral particles that express the HPV E7 protein to facilitate the study of its function.MethodsWe initiated the construction of recombinant viral particles by utilizing the ccdB-Kan forward/reverse screening system in conjunction with the Red/ExoCET recombinant system. We followed the infection of C33A cells with the obtained recombinant virus to enable the continuous expression of HPV16 E7. Afterwards, the total RNA was extracted and performed transcriptome sequencing using RNA-Seq technology to identify differentially expressed genes associated with HPV-induced oncogenicity.ResultsWe successfully established replicative recombinant viral particles expressing HPV16 E7 stably and continuously. The C33A cells were infected with recombinant viral particles to achieve overexpression of the E7 protein. Subsequently, RNA-Seq analysis was conducted to assess the changes in host cell gene expression. The results revealed an upregulation of the CD36 gene, which is associated with the HPV-induced oncogenic pathways, including PI3K-Akt and p53 signaling pathway. qRT-PCR analysis further identified that the upregulation of the CD36 gene due to the expression of HPV16 E7.ConclusionThe successful expression of HPV16 E7 in cells demonstrates that the replicated recombinant virus retains the replication and infection abilities of Ad4, while also upregulating the CD36 gene involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling and p53 pathways, thereby promoting cell proliferation. The outcome of this study provides a novel perspective and serves as a solid foundation for further exploration of HPV-related carcinogenesis and the development of replicative HPV recombinant vaccines capable of inducing protective immunity against HPV

Quantifying proportions of different material sources to loess based on a grid search and Monte Carlo model: A case study of the Ili Valley, Central Asia

The Ili Valley is among the main distribution areas of loess deposits in Xinjiang Province, Central Asia, while the provenance of Ili loess remains under debate. In this study, samples from near-surface loess, two types of topsoil and modern riverbed sediment were analyzed for their concentrations of major and trace geochemical elements to determine the relative proportions of different provenances of loess deposits in different zones of the Ili Valley. The results obtained by the grid search technology and Monte Carlo model indicated that the proximal material is dominated in the Ili loess. Alluvial-diluvial sediments as the main local material source have significantly influenced loess in the western region of Ili Valley. Moreover, this influence gradually decreases in the eastern region and the Zhaosu Basin. The proportion of modern riverbed sediment in the eastern Ili Valley is significantly lower than that in the Zhaosu Basin and is lowest in the western Ili Valley. However, the proportion of dust and topsoil type-II with the mean value of 11.8% and 7.2%, respectively, is highest in the western Ili Valley and lowest in the Zhaosu Basin. The complex natural background of the Ili Valley can be used to interpret the quantitative results and the geochemical characteristics of Ili loess from different regions. The reliability of the proposed method can be assessed by environmental indicators such as grain size, and geomorphic-hydrological background and other published records

Electron-enriched single-Pd-sites on g-C3N4 nanosheets achieved by in-situ anchoring twinned Pd nanoparticles for efficient CO2 photoreduction

Modulating electronic structures of single-atom metal cocatalysts is vital for highly active photoreduction of CO2, and it's especially challenging to develop a facile method to modify the dispersion of atomical photocatalytic sites. We herein report an ion-loading pyrolysis route to in-situ anchor Pd single atoms as well as twinned Pd nanoparticles on ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (PdTP/PdSA-CN) for high-efficiency photoreduction of CO2. The anchored Pd twinned nanoparticles donate electrons to adjacent single Pd–N4 sites through the carbon nitride networks, and the optimized PdTP/PdSA-CN photocatalyst exhibits a CO evolution rate up to 46.5 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 with nearly 100% selectivity. As revealed by spectroscopic and theoretical analyses, the superior photocatalytic activity is attributed to the lowered desorption barrier of carbonyl species at electron-enriched Pd single atoms, together with the improved efficiencies of light-harvesting and charge separation/transport. This work has demonstrated the engineering of the electron density of single active sites with twinned metal nanoparticles assisted by strong electronic interaction with the support of the atomic metal, and unveiled the underlying mechanism for expedited photocatalytic efficiency

Switching of the Triplet Excited State of Rhodamine/Naphthaleneimide Dyads: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Rhodamine–bromonaphthaleneimide (<b>RB–NI</b>) and rhodamine–bromonaphthalenediimide (<b>RB–NDI</b>) dyads were prepared for switching of the <i>triplet</i> excited states. Bromo-NI or bromo-NDI parts in the dyads are the spin converters, i.e., the triplet state producing modules, whereas the RB unit is the acid-activatable electron donor/energy acceptor. NI and NDI absorb at 359 and 541 nm, and the T₁ state energy levels are 2.25 and 1.64 eV, respectively. RB undertakes the reversible spirolactam (RB-c) ↔ opened amide (RB-o) transformation. RB-c shows no visible light absorption, and the triplet-state energy level is <i>E</i>_T1 = 3.36 eV. Conversely RB-o shows strong absorption at 557 nm, and <i>E</i>_T1 is 1.73 eV. Thus, the acid-activated fluorescence-resonance-energy-transfer (FRET) competes with the ISC of NI or NDI. No triplet state was observed for the dyads with nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. Upon addition of acid, strong fluorescence and long-living triplet excited states were observed. Thus, the producing of triplet state is acid-activatable. The triplet state of <b>RB–NI</b> is <i>localized</i> on RB-o part, whereas in <b>RB–NDI</b> the triplet state is <i>delocalized</i> on both the NDI and RB-o units. The ISC of spin converter was not outcompeted by RET. These studies are useful for switching of triplet excited state

Pulse pressure correlates with coronary artery calcification and risk for coronary heart disease: a study of elderly individuals in the rural region of Southwest China.

AimThis study aimed to define the relationship between pulse pressure (PP) and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a proven surrogate marker for coronary heart disease.Patients and methodsA total of 170 participants 50-70 years of age from 11 villages of Yunnan Province of China were enrolled randomly into this study. They were examined routinely for diastolic and systolic blood pressure, PP, and CAC.ResultsThe average PP in the CAC-positive group was significantly higher than that in the CAC-negative group. In the positive CAC group, there were significantly positive correlations between PP and CAC score, volume, mass, as well as density. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that PP performed well in predicting CAC.ConclusionIn conclusion, among the rural people of southwest of China, PP correlates positively with the coronary calcium Agatston score, volume, mass, and density. PP predicted CAC as well as Framingham Risk Score. The measurement of PP widening may serve as an alternative and convenient method for assessing CAC risk in rural populations with poor accessibility and economic disadvantage over coronary computed tomography scanning

Pulse pressure correlates with coronary artery calcification and risk for coronary heart disease: a study of elderly individuals in the rural region of Southwest China.

AimThis study aimed to define the relationship between pulse pressure (PP) and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a proven surrogate marker for coronary heart disease.Patients and methodsA total of 170 participants 50-70 years of age from 11 villages of Yunnan Province of China were enrolled randomly into this study. They were examined routinely for diastolic and systolic blood pressure, PP, and CAC.ResultsThe average PP in the CAC-positive group was significantly higher than that in the CAC-negative group. In the positive CAC group, there were significantly positive correlations between PP and CAC score, volume, mass, as well as density. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that PP performed well in predicting CAC.ConclusionIn conclusion, among the rural people of southwest of China, PP correlates positively with the coronary calcium Agatston score, volume, mass, and density. PP predicted CAC as well as Framingham Risk Score. The measurement of PP widening may serve as an alternative and convenient method for assessing CAC risk in rural populations with poor accessibility and economic disadvantage over coronary computed tomography scanning