LncRNA DGCR5/miR-204-5p/SRSF7 axis regulates PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells with potential role in asthma

Increased proliferation and migration of abnormal airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are significantly associated with asthma. Recently, the function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ASMCs has been identified. Our research attempted to resolve the function of the lncRNA DGCR5 in ASMCs and focus on its in-depth mechanisms of proliferation and migration. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate the expressions of RNA and proteins, respectively. The CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assays were used to assess migration. Luciferase and RNA pull-down assays were used to verify the targeting between miR-204-5p and lncRNA DGCR5 or SRSF7. LncRNA DGCR5 was upregulated in ASMCs stimulated with PDGF-BB. Knockdown of DGCR5 reversed the effect of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs. The results of this study showed that lncRNA DGCR5 binds to miR-204-5p, and SRSF7 is the target of miR-204-5p. Rescue experiments verified the interaction between miR-204-5p and DGCR5, as well as that between miR-204-5p and SRSF7. Overall, this study revealed that the lncRNA DGCR5/miR-204-5p/SRSF7 signalling axis has key regulatory effects on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs.</p

A Ferrimagnetic Zintl Phase Pr₄MnSb₉: Synthesis, Structure, and Physical Properties

A new valence precise Zintl phase, Pr₄MnSb₉, has been successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction at high temperature. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal its monoclinic symmetry in the space group <i>C</i>2/<i>m</i> (No. 12) with <i>a</i> = 24.12(2) Å, <i>b</i> = 4.203(3) Å, <i>c</i> = 15.67(2) Å, β = 98.05(1)°, and <i>Z</i> = 4. The structure is characterized by the covalent three-dimensional network constructed by two types of five-atom-wide Sb₅^7– ribbons that are joined by 6-fold coordinated Mn³⁺ cations, through which the narrower three-atom-wide Sb₃^5– ribbons are attached as a tag, and interstitial Pr³⁺ cations and single Sb^3– anions locate within the tunnels. Its magnetic susceptibility and isothermal hysteresis suggest ferrimagnetic behavior. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the cold-pressed pellet suggest a semimetal feature that agrees with the spin-polarized calculation results using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method

A Ferrimagnetic Zintl Phase Pr₄MnSb₉: Synthesis, Structure, and Physical Properties

A new valence precise Zintl phase, Pr₄MnSb₉, has been successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction at high temperature. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal its monoclinic symmetry in the space group <i>C</i>2/<i>m</i> (No. 12) with <i>a</i> = 24.12(2) Å, <i>b</i> = 4.203(3) Å, <i>c</i> = 15.67(2) Å, β = 98.05(1)°, and <i>Z</i> = 4. The structure is characterized by the covalent three-dimensional network constructed by two types of five-atom-wide Sb₅^7– ribbons that are joined by 6-fold coordinated Mn³⁺ cations, through which the narrower three-atom-wide Sb₃^5– ribbons are attached as a tag, and interstitial Pr³⁺ cations and single Sb^3– anions locate within the tunnels. Its magnetic susceptibility and isothermal hysteresis suggest ferrimagnetic behavior. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the cold-pressed pellet suggest a semimetal feature that agrees with the spin-polarized calculation results using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method

Activating Transcription Factor 4 Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Invasion and Metastasis in Mice and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Human Patients

<div><p>Background</p><p>Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is a stress response gene that is involved in homeostasis and cellular protection. However, its expression and function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine the clinicopathologic significance of ATF4 in ESCC and its potential role in ESCC invasion and metastasis.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>We demonstrated that ATF4 overexpression is correlated with multiple malignant characteristics and indicates poor prognosis in ESCC patients. ATF4 expression was an independent factor that affected the overall survival of patients with ESCC after surgical resection. ATF4 promoted cell invasion and metastasis by promoting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-7 expression, while its silencing significantly attenuated these activities both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>We report that ATF4 is a potential biomarker for ESCC prognosis and that its dysregulation may play a key role in the regulation of invasion and metastasis in ESCC cells. The targeting of ATF4 may provide a new strategy for blocking ESCC metastasis.</p></div

Control of Crystallinity and Porosity of Covalent Organic Frameworks by Managing Interlayer Interactions Based on Self-Complementary π‑Electronic Force

Crystallinity and porosity are crucial for crystalline porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Here we report synthetic control over the crystallinity and porosity of COFs by managing interlayer interactions based on self-complementary π-electronic forces. Fluoro-substituted and nonsubstituted aromatic units at different molar ratios were integrated into the edge units that stack to trigger self-complementary π-electronic interactions in the COFs. The interactions improve the crystallinity and enhance the porosity by maximizing the total crystal stacking energy and minimizing the unit cell size. Consequently, the COF consisting of equimolar amounts of fluoro-substituted and nonsubstituted units showed the largest effect. These results suggest a new approach to the design of COFs by managing the interlayer interactions

ATF4 does not affect the proliferation or colony formation of ESCC cells.

<p>(A) MTT assay of the proliferation of TE-1LM non-treated control (NC), TE-1LM-vector (Vector), and TE-1LM-ATF4 (ATF4) cells. The data represent the means ± S.D. of three independent experiments. (B) The effects of ATF4 on the proliferation of the cells as described above were also examined using a colony formation assay. The media was changed every 3 d. Cells were plated in triplicate, and the experiment was repeated three times. Representative wells are shown.</p

Representative IHC of ATF4 in matched ESCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues.

<p>ESCC tissues with strong (A), moderate (B), weak (C), and negative (D) ATF4 staining. Adjacent non-cancerous tissues with weak (E) and negative (F) ATF4 staining. Magnification, 200×.</p

Profiles of Patients with ATF4-Positive or ATF4-Negative ESCCs.

<p>Profiles of Patients with ATF4-Positive or ATF4-Negative ESCCs.</p

Comparisons of MMSE among groups.

<p>^a Variables are non-normal distributed. Results are presented as median and interquartile range. P values were analyzed by Kruskal-Walli tests.</p><p>MMSE:Mini Mental State Examination</p><p>Comparisons of MMSE among groups.</p

The correlations between age, education and MoCA-BJ cognitive domains and the correlation between cognitive domains and MoCA-BJ total score.

<p>MoCA-BJ, Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment</p><p>The correlations between age, education and MoCA-BJ cognitive domains and the correlation between cognitive domains and MoCA-BJ total score.</p