DAPI染色液(5μg/ml)

Bioengineered tracheas have shown considerable potential in tracheal injury repair; however, their practical value is limited by challenges in tracheal cartilage regeneration, and postoperative tracheal stenosis remains a common issue. Here, inspired by the 3-layer structure of the trachea and the multi-segmental characteristics of its cartilage, a multilayered bioengineered tracheal scaffold (named Sd@d-ECM/BMSCs/SilMA) with a microgroove structure is designed in this study to repair tracheal defects. In this design, the microgrooved surface of the methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) hydrogel provides spatial guidance for the directional growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and enhances their adhesion and proliferation. The extracellular matrix of the decellularized cartilage scaffold offers the necessary microenvironment and mechanical support for BMSCs to differentiate into cartilage. Under the influence of the dual-layer structure (inner and outer), the middle-layer BMSCs can undergo stable chondrogenic differentiation without any inducing agents. Sd@d-ECM/BMSCs/SilMA effectively promotes tracheal cartilage formation in a rabbit defect model, reduces the incidence of tracheal stenosis, and substantially improves respiratory function. Sd@d-ECM/BMSCs/SilMA not only confirms the successful construction of microgroove structures on the surface of the SilMA hydrogel and the effective loading of BMSCs but also demonstrates significant experimental value in tracheal cartilage repair and regenerative medicine.

Although tea consumption has been suggested to affect kidney stone formation, epidemiological evidence remains inconsistent, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. To assess the association between tea intake and kidney stone risk, we initially conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 481,393 participants from the UK Biobank and a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Our findings revealed that heavy tea drinkers (>5 cups/day) had a significantly reduced risk of kidney stones (hazard ratio: 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72 to 0.86, P < 0.001), and MR analyses confirmed a causal association (inverse variance weighted OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.62, P < 0.001). We next explored the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main bioactive component in tea, on calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone formation. EGCG was found to inhibit the glucose-regulated protein 94/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (GRP94/PI3K/AKT) pathway in human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells, thereby attenuating CaOx crystal-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibiting crystal-cell adhesion. This finding aligned with the observation that the activated GRP94/PI3K/AKT pathway was positively associated with inflammation-related molecules in renal papillary tissues of CaOx stone formers. Moreover, to enhance renal targeting and therapeutic potential, we synthesized cell membrane-coated EGCG-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (TP-EGCG) nanoparticles, which enhanced renal EGCG delivery and substantially reduced CaOx crystal deposition in a mouse model of CaOx nephrolithiasis. In conclusion, tea consumption protects against kidney stone formation, an effect exerted by EGCG through the GRP94/PI3K/AKT axis, and our novel TP-EGCG nanoparticles show strong potential for targeted prevention and treatment.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is a highly promising cancer treatment strategy. However, its clinical application is severely limited due to insufficient H 2 O 2 levels. To overcome this critical issues, based on self-supply H 2 O 2 strategy this study designed a multifunctional nano-reactor hyaluronic acid (HA)-cinnamaldehyde( CA )Schiff base(HA-CA)@hollow CaO 2 (HMCaO 2 )/Copper doped luteolin carbon dots (CuLCDs) (abbreviation:HACOCLC). HACOCLC based on self-supplied H 2 O 2 /O 2 strategy to enhance the anti-tumor effect. HACOCLC preferentially enrich at the tumor site under the tumor targeting effect of HA. pH stimulation triggered the release of HMCaO 2 and CuLCDs from HACOCLC. HMCaO 2 hydrolyzed to produce H 2 O 2 , Ca 2+ and O 2 , H 2 O 2 compensated substrates for CDT, O 2 down-regulates hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1α) and programmed death ligand 1(PD-L1) to consolidate the therapeutic effect, and Ca 2+ entered mitochondria to cause calcium overload and induced cell death. CuLCDs underwent Fenton-like reaction to produce •OH (CDT effect) and O 2 , which further increased the O 2 level. CuLCDs has near-infrared light (808 nm) thermal conversion (conversion efficiency was 40.3 %) for photothermal therapy (PTT), Cu 2+ depletion of glutathione amplified the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improved the therapeutic effect. HACOCLC self-supplied H 2 O 2 and O 2 to enhance CDT, and effectively inhibited tumor growth through the combined action of CDT/PTT/ calcium overload.

Bevacizumab (Bev) resistance limits therapeutic efficacy in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. We identified ESM1 as a key gene in Bev-resistant OC. ESM1 secreted by OC-resistant cell lines activates the ITGB1/FAK axis to induce neovascularization and Bev resistance. Additionally, ESM1 overexpression promoted the growth and Bev resistance of OC, lung, intestinal, and hepatocellular carcinoma tumors. Then, we identified TRIM28 as an upstream regulator that stabilizes ESM1 by promoting SUMOylation, inhibiting its proteasomal degradation. In OC mice, TRIM28 overexpression promotes angiogenesis and Bev resistance via ESM1-mediated ITGB1/FAK activation. This work unveils a new molecular pathway underlying Bev resistance in OC and proposes TRIM28 and ESM1 as potential therapeutic targets.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe condition with a high mortality rate, affecting multiple organs, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide that regulates the microbiota-brain-gut axis, facilitating communication between the GI tract and the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the role of ferulic acid (FA) in regulating Ghrelin to improve TBI and GI disorders (GID) induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI). This study used CCI as the in vivo TBI model and scratch-induced injury of primary astrocytes as the in vitro TBI model. The role and mechanism of FA modulation of Ghrelin in ameliorating TBI and GID were explored using multi-omics and network pharmacology analyses. In vivo, results revealed that FA is the main active component of the Guanxin II compound and mimics its function. Significant improvement in GI hypomotility and brain injury was observed in the FA group compared to the CCI group. Concurrently, FA ameliorated intestinal barrier impairment triggered by CCI-induced reduction in the expression of Ghrelin and reduces the inflammatory response. Furthermore, 16S rRNA results indicated that CCI-induced TBI worsened gut microflora imbalance via the brain-gut axis, while gut dysbiosis aggravated brain injury. FA improved the dysbiosis of Bacteroidetes and Odoribacter mainly by targeting the Ghrelin-mediated inflammatory response. RNA-seq and network pharmacology analyses revealed that FA mainly affects inflammation-mediated pyroptosis pathways in the brain-gut axis. Additionally, experimental evidence demonstrated that FA reversed CCI-induced pyroptosis in rats and scratch injury-induced pyroptosis in astrocytes by promoting the binding of Ghrelin to GHSR, which suppressed the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. Conclusively, FA could alleviate TBI and GID by promoting Ghrelin to regulate the microbiota-brain-gut axis inflammation via the Ghrelin/TLR4/NLRP3 pathway.

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition primarily caused by inhalation of harmful particles such as tobacco smoke. Cellular senescence serves as a key driver in its pathogenesis. Although endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to alleviate COPD by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, the role and mechanisms underlying EPC senescence in this disease remain unclear. Methods A cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed COPD mouse model was established. Lung injury was assessed histologically, with concurrent quantification of neutrophil infiltration and cellular senescence levels in lung tissues. Pearson analysis evaluated the correlation between senescence severity and neutrophil numbers. In vivo neutrophil depletion was achieved using anti-Ly6G antibody, while GW4869 was used to inhibit exosome secretion from COPD-derived neutrophils. Neutrophils were then co-cultured with EPCs to assess their impact on EPC senescence and DNA damage. Proteomic analyses were employed to identify mechanisms of neutrophil-derived exosomes in COPD. Results COPD mice exhibited significant lung tissue damage, accelerated cellular senescence, and increased neutrophil infiltration. Senescence severity positively correlated with neutrophil proportion. Mechanistically, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was highly expressed in COPD-derived neutrophils. Knockdown of neutrophil-derived exosomal TSP-1 alleviated EPC senescence. Furthermore, TSP-1 expression was regulated by transcription factor FOS, whereas TGF-β inhibition attenuated the promoting effects of TSP-1 overexpression on cellular senescence and lung injury in COPD mice. Conclusion This study demonstrates that neutrophil-derived exosomal TSP-1 aggravates EPC senescence and lung injury in COPD, revealing the pathogenic role of TSP-1 in disease progression and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Pancreatic cancer is highly challenging, with most patients developing intrinsic or acquired resistance to first-line chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (GEM). Although Matrix Metalloproteinase 28 (MMP28) is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and predicts a poor prognosis, its role in GEM resistance and molecular mechanism remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of MMP28 in GEM resistance and molecular mechanism. First, differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer were identified through bioinformatics and validated in clinical samples and cells. MMP28 was significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and Capan-1 and PANC-1 cells, correlating with poor prognosis. Then, MMP28 knockdown was performed in Capan-1 and PANC-1 cells, followed by GEM treatment. Furthermore, in vivo experiments evaluated GEM sensitivity after MMP28 knockdown. The results showed that MMP28 knockdown enhanced GEM sensitivity both in vitro , reducing cell proliferation and survival, and in vivo , where tumor growth was significantly suppressed. Additionally, glycolysis-related changes were assessed. We revealed that glycolysis was implicated as a key pathway in this process, with reduced glucose uptake and lactate production observed after MMP28 knockdown. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified Staphylococcal nuclease domain-containing protein 1 (SND1) as a key interactor, and SND1 expression was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues. Moreover, MMP28 interacted with SND1 to regulate SND1′s recruitment of HK2 mRNA to promote glycolysis. However, overexpression of SND1 reversed the effects of MMP28 knockdown, restoring glycolysis and GEM resistance. In conclusion, MMP28 promoted tumor growth and GEM resistance in pancreatic cancer by regulating glycolysis via interaction with SND1.

Carbon dots as drug carriers have received increasing attention in nanotherapy. However, the use of chemical small molecules or polymers as precursors to carbon dots often leads to toxicity, thus limiting their practical application. In contrast, herbs are biocompatible plants with complex active ingredients, making them attractive candidates for carbon dot precursors. In this paper, we prepared antitumor carbon dots (LuCDs) using a hydrothermal method and luteolin extract as a precursor. Furthermore, by modifying copper ions on the surface of LuCDs, we obtained Cu-LuCDs. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis results showed that both LuCDs and Cu-LuCDs effectively inhibited the proliferation of CT26 colon cancer cells. Additionally, these modified carbon dots exhibited photothermal conversion properties not present in the precursor alone. Under 808 nm optical excitation, they achieved photothermal conversion powers of 55 and 56%, respectively. The Cu-LuCDs effectively decompose hydrogen peroxide, generating cytotoxic •OH and oxygen through Fenton-like reactions, thereby alleviating tumor hypoxia and inhibiting the expression of hypoxia-inducing factor HIF-1α. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed that both LuCDs and Cu-LuCDs induced immune cell death and activated systemic immune activity. When combined with the immune adjuvant αPD-L1, Cu-LuCDs successfully ablated primary tumors and significantly inhibited the growth of metastatic tumors (distal tumors). The design and analysis of the antitumor activity of Cu-LuCDs provide important inspiration for the application of herbal carbon dots.

Endometriosis (EMs) is a common inflammatory disorder in women of reproductive age, severely impacting patients' quality of life and fertility. Current hormonal therapies offer limited efficacy, and surgical interventions often fail to prevent recurrence. Recent studies suggest a close association between gut microbiota and the pathophysiology of EMs, though the precise mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate the influence of gut microbiota on EMs, this study established an EMs mouse model and performed faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using samples from healthy donors (AH group) and EMs patients (AE group) into the model mice. Results demonstrated that compared to the model group (M group), FMT from healthy donors (AH group) significantly reduced ectopic lesion volume (658.3 ± 116.1 vs. 167.2 ± 112.8 mm 3 , p < 0.01) and weight (0.7420 ± 0.1233 vs. 0.1885 ± 0.1239 mg, p < 0.01). Conversely, FMT from EMs patients exacerbated disease progression. Mechanistic studies revealed that healthy donor FMT attenuated EMs by remodelling the gut microbial composition (enhancing α-diversity and Lactobacillus abundance while suppressing Bacteroidetes), significantly elevating acetate levels in faeces and ectopic lesions, activating the JAK1/STAT3 signalling pathway within lesions, and thereby driving macrophage polarisation toward the M1 phenotype (by increased iNOS/CD86 expression and decreased Arg1/CD206 expression). Simultaneously, healthy donor FMT enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1/5) and reducing levels of intestinal permeability markers (DAO, IFABP). In contrast, AE group FMT disrupted gut microbial ecology, reduced acetate production, failed to activate the JAK1/STAT3 pathway, promoted M2 macrophage polarisation and impaired intestinal barrier function. Collectively, this study elucidates for the first time that acetate, as a key gut microbiota metabolite, exerts anti-EMs effects by activating the JAK1/STAT3 signalling pathway to drive macrophage reprogramming toward the M1 phenotype, thereby positioning gut microbiota reconstruction as a novel therapeutic strategy for endometriosis. Graphical This study first reveals acetate as a key gut microbiota metabolite to ameliorate endometriosis (EMs) via JAK1/STAT3-mediated M1 macrophage polarisation, confirming healthy donor faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) improves EMs by reshaping microbiota, enhancing acetate, strengthening intestinal barriers and providing a new therapeutic paradigm.

Endometrial fibrosis is the main feature of intrauterine adhesion (IUA). The m6A methylation is involved in the process of fibrosis. However, the regulatory pathways involved in m6A methylation in endometrial fibrosis remain unclear. ALKBH5 is differentially low expressed in the endometrial tissues of IUA. Overexpression of ALKBH5 inhibits TGF-β1-induced fibrosis. In the in vivo experiment, ALKBH5 overexpression reduces the degree of endometrial fibrosis in rats. ALKBH5 regulates the m6A methylation level of FABP4 mRNA. FABP4 expression is inhibited by WT- ALKBH5 , but not by catalytically inactive MUT- ALKBH5 (H204A). The m6A reader IGF2BP2 targets FABP4 and affects FABP4 mRNA stability. Inhibition of FABP4 decreases the expression of fibrosis-related markers (α-SMA, collagen I, collagen III, and Fibronectin). In addition, serum lipid metabolism is disordered in IUA rats, and ALKBH5 overexpression could partially reverse the levels of differential lipid metabolites. In conclusion, ALKBH5 is differentially low expressed in IUA. ALKBH5 signaling regulates endometrial fibrosis through FABP4 mRNA m6A methylation and lipid metabolism. This finding can provide theory support for the potential treatment strategy development of IUA.