The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of RA, SLE, and SS

Rheumatoid diseases are a group of systemic autoimmune diseases which affect multiple organs with largely unknown etiology. In the past decade, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of biological processes and contribute deeply to immune cell development and immune responses. Substantial evidences have been accumulated showing that LncRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of the rheumatoid diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). In this review, we summarize literature combined with bioinformatics methods to analyze the unique and common lncRNAs patterns in rheumatoid diseases and try to reveal the important function of lncRNAs in RA, SLE and SS

Anti-osteosarcoma trimodal synergistic therapy using NiFe-LDH and MXene nanocomposite for enhanced biocompatibility and efficacy

Osteosarcoma is usually resistant to immunotherapy and, thus primarily relies on surgical resection and high-dosage chemotherapy. Unfortunately, less invasive or toxic therapies such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) generally failed to show satisfactory outcomes. Adequate multimodal therapies with proper safety profiles may provide better solutions for osteosarcoma. Herein, a simple nanocomposite that synergistically combines CDT, PTT, and chemotherapy for osteosarcoma treatment was fabricated. In this composite, small 2D NiFe-LDH flakes were processed into 3D hollow nanospheres via template methods to encapsulate 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) with high loading capacity. The nanospheres were then adsorbed onto larger 2D Ti3C2 MXene monolayers and finally shielded by bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form 5-FU@NiFe-LDH/Ti3C2/BSA nanoplatforms (5NiTiB). Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that the 5-FU induced chemotherapy, NiFe-LDH driven chemodynamic effects, and MXene-based photothermal killing collectively exhibited a synergistic “all-in-one” anti-tumor effect. 5NiTiB improved tumor suppression rate from <5% by 5-FU alone to ∼80.1%. This nanotherapeutic platform achieved higher therapeutic efficacy with a lower agent dose, thereby minimizing side effects. Moreover, the composite is simple to produce, enabling the fine-tuning of dosages to suit different requirements. Thus, the platform is versatile and efficient, with potential for further development

Vertically Aligned Oxygenated-CoS₂–MoS₂ Heteronanosheet Architecture from Polyoxometalate for Efficient and Stable Overall Water Splitting

To achieve efficient conversion of renewable energy sources through water splitting, low-cost, earth-abundant, and robust electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are required. Herein, vertically aligned oxygenated-CoS₂–MoS₂ (O-CoMoS) heteronanosheets grown on flexible carbon fiber cloth as bifunctional electrocatalysts have been produced by use of the Anderson-type (NH₄)₄[Co^IIMo₆O₂₄H₆]·6H₂O polyoxometalate as bimetal precursor. In comparison to different O-FeMoS, O-NiMoS, and MoS₂ nanosheet arrays, the O-CoMoS heteronanosheet array exhibited low overpotentials of 97 and 272 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^–2 in alkaline solution for the HER and OER, respectively. Assembled as an electrolyzer for overall water splitting, O-CoMoS heteronanosheets as both the anode and cathode deliver a current density of 10 mA cm^–2 at a quite low cell voltage of 1.6 V. This O-CoMoS architecture is highly advantageous for a disordered structure, exposure of active heterointerfaces, a “highway” of charge transport on two-dimensional conductive channels, and abundant active catalytic sites from the synergistic effect of the heterostructures, accomplishing a dramatically enhanced performance for the OER, HER, and overall water splitting. This work represents a feasible strategy to explore efficient and stable bifunctional bimetal sulfide electrocatalysts for renewable energy applications

Vertically Aligned Oxygenated-CoS₂–MoS₂ Heteronanosheet Architecture from Polyoxometalate for Efficient and Stable Overall Water Splitting

To achieve efficient conversion of renewable energy sources through water splitting, low-cost, earth-abundant, and robust electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are required. Herein, vertically aligned oxygenated-CoS₂–MoS₂ (O-CoMoS) heteronanosheets grown on flexible carbon fiber cloth as bifunctional electrocatalysts have been produced by use of the Anderson-type (NH₄)₄[Co^IIMo₆O₂₄H₆]·6H₂O polyoxometalate as bimetal precursor. In comparison to different O-FeMoS, O-NiMoS, and MoS₂ nanosheet arrays, the O-CoMoS heteronanosheet array exhibited low overpotentials of 97 and 272 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^–2 in alkaline solution for the HER and OER, respectively. Assembled as an electrolyzer for overall water splitting, O-CoMoS heteronanosheets as both the anode and cathode deliver a current density of 10 mA cm^–2 at a quite low cell voltage of 1.6 V. This O-CoMoS architecture is highly advantageous for a disordered structure, exposure of active heterointerfaces, a “highway” of charge transport on two-dimensional conductive channels, and abundant active catalytic sites from the synergistic effect of the heterostructures, accomplishing a dramatically enhanced performance for the OER, HER, and overall water splitting. This work represents a feasible strategy to explore efficient and stable bifunctional bimetal sulfide electrocatalysts for renewable energy applications

The synchronization and adaptation of Neurospora crassa circadian and conidiation rhythms to short light-dark cycles

These are supplementary materials for the paper submitted to a journal

The Immune Adaptor ADAP Regulates Reciprocal TGF-β1-Integrin Crosstalk to Protect from Influenza Virus Infection

<div><p>Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI, such as H5N1) infection causes severe cytokine storm and fatal respiratory immunopathogenesis in human and animal. Although TGF-β1 and the integrin CD103 in CD8⁺ T cells play protective roles in H5N1 virus infection, it is not fully understood which key signaling proteins control the TGF-β1-integrin crosstalk in CD8⁺ T cells to protect from H5N1 virus infection. This study showed that ADAP (Adhesion and Degranulation-promoting Adapter Protein) formed a complex with TRAF6 and TAK1 in CD8⁺ T cells, and activated SMAD3 to increase autocrine TGF-β1 production. Further, TGF-β1 induced CD103 expression via an ADAP-, TRAF6- and SMAD3-dependent manner. In response to influenza virus infection (i.e. H5N1 or H1N1), lung infiltrating ADAP^-/- CD8⁺ T cells significantly reduced the expression levels of TGF-β1, CD103 and VLA-1. ADAP^-/- mice as well as Rag1^-/- mice receiving ADAP^-/- T cells enhanced mortality with significant higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in lungs. Together, we have demonstrated that ADAP regulates the positive feedback loop of TGF-β1 production and TGF-β1-induced CD103 expression in CD8⁺ T cells via the TβRI-TRAF6-TAK1-SMAD3 pathway and protects from influenza virus infection. It is critical to further explore whether the SNP polymorphisms located in human <i>ADAP</i> gene are associated with disease susceptibility in response to influenza virus infection.</p></div