4 research outputs found
Raphtory: The temporal graph engine for Rust and Python
Raphtory is a platform for building and analysing temporal networks. The
library includes methods for creating networks from a variety of data sources;
algorithms to explore their structure and evolution; and an extensible GraphQL
server for deployment of applications built on top. Raphtory's core engine is
built in Rust, for efficiency, with Python interfaces, for ease of use.
Raphtory is developed by network scientists, with a background in Physics,
Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, for use across academia
and industry
P2X4 receptor modulates gut inflammation and favours microbial homeostasis in colitis
Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a nonâspecific chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine. In addition to genetic susceptibility, environmental factors and dysregulated host immunity, the gut microbiota is implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), the two primary types of IBD. The P2X4 receptor has been demonstrated to have a crucial role in preventing infection, inflammation, and organ damage. However, it remains unclear whether the P2X4 receptor affects IBD and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Colitis was induced in mice administrated with dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota in knockout and wildâtype mice. Clinical and histopathological parameters were monitored throughout the disease progression. Results Gene Expression Omnibus analysis showed the downregulation of P2RX4 (P2rx4) expression in colonic tissues from patients or mice with IBD. However, its expression at the protein levels was upregulated on day 4 or 6 and then downregulated on day 7 in C57BL/6 mice treated with DSS. Gene ablation of P2rx4 aggravated DSSâinduced colitis accompanying gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice. Moreover, P2X4 receptorâpositive modulator ivermectin alleviated colitis and corrected dysregulated microbiota in wildâtype C57BL/6 mice. Further antibioticâtreated gut microbiota depletion, cohousing experiment, and fecal microbiota transplantation proved that gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with the aggravation of colitis in the mouse model initiated by P2rx4. Conclusions Our findings elaborate on an unrevealed etiopathophysiological mechanism by which microbiota dysbiosis induced by the P2X4 receptor influences the development of colitis, indicating that the P2X4 receptor represents a promising target for treating patients with CD and UC