The phenomenon of an aging population is advancing at a precipitous rate.Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Parkinson's disease(PD)are two of the most common age-associated neurodegenerative diseases,both of which are...The phenomenon of an aging population is advancing at a precipitous rate.Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Parkinson's disease(PD)are two of the most common age-associated neurodegenerative diseases,both of which are primarily characterized by the accumulation of toxic proteins and the progressive demise of neuronal structures.Recent discoveries about the brain lymphatic drainage system have precipitated a growing body of investigations substantiating its novel roles,including the clearance of macromolecular waste and the trafficking of immune cells.Notably,aquaporin 4-mediated glymphatic transport,crucial for maintaining neural homeostasis,becomes disrupted during the aging process and is further compromised in the pathogenesis of AD and PD.Functional meningeal lymphatic vessels,which facilitate the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid into the deep cervical lymph nodes,are integral in bridging the central nervous system with peripheral immune responses.Dysfunction in these meningeal lymphatic vessels exacerbates pathological trajectory of the age-related neurodegenerative disease.This review explores modulatory influence of the glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vessels on the aging brain and its associated neurodegenerative disorders.It also encapsulates the insights of potential mechanisms and prospects of the targeted non-pharmacological interventions.展开更多
Researchers and clinicians have long been interested in the mechanisms of pain,anesthesia,and addiction.The International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP)defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional expe...Researchers and clinicians have long been interested in the mechanisms of pain,anesthesia,and addiction.The International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP)defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with,or resembling that associated with,actual or potential tissue damage(Raja et al.,2020).Drug addiction refers to a condition of reliance that develops from regular drug consumption,which may lead to withdrawal symptoms when use is halted.Anesthesia involves the complete loss of consciousness induced by an inhaled or intravenous anesthetic(Tosello et al.,2022).In this special collection,Zoological Research presents research findings focused on pain,addiction,and anesthesia.展开更多
AIM:To compare the three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index(CVI)and choroidal thickness between fellow eyes of acute primary angle-closure(F-APAC)and chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma(F-CPACG)and the eyes of...AIM:To compare the three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index(CVI)and choroidal thickness between fellow eyes of acute primary angle-closure(F-APAC)and chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma(F-CPACG)and the eyes of normal controls.METHODS:This study included 37 patients with unilateral APAC,37 with asymmetric CPACG without prior treatment,and 36 healthy participants.Using swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT),the macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness and three-dimensional CVI were measured and compared globally and sectorally.Pearson’s correlation analysis and multivariate regression models were used to evaluate choroidal thickness or CVI with related factors.RESULTS:The mean subfoveal CVIs were 0.35±0.10,0.33±0.09,and 0.29±0.04,and the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness were 315.62±52.92,306.22±59.29,and 262.69±45.55μm in the F-APAC,F-CPACG,and normal groups,respectively.All macular sectors showed significantly higher CVIs and choroidal thickness in the F-APAC and F-CPACG eyes than in the normal eyes(P<0.05),while there were no significant differences between the F-APAC and F-CPACG eyes.In the peripapillary region,the mean overall CVIs were 0.21±0.08,0.20±0.08,and 0.19±0.05,and the mean overall choroidal thickness were 180.45±54.18,174.82±50.67,and 176.18±37.94μm in the F-APAC,F-CPACG,and normal groups,respectively.There were no significant differences between any of the two groups in all peripapillary sectors.Younger age,shorter axial length,and the F-APAC or F-CPACG diagnosis were significantly associated with higher subfoveal CVI and thicker subfoveal choroidal thickness(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The fellow eyes of unilateral APAC or asymmetric CPACG have higher macular CVI and choroidal thickness than those of the normal controls.Neither CVI nor choroidal thickness can distinguish between eyes predisposed to APAC or CPACG.A thicker choroid with a higher vascular volume may play a role in the pathogenesis of primary angle-closure glaucoma.展开更多
Painful stimuli elicit first-line reflexive defensive reactions and,in many cases,also evoke second-line recuperative behaviors,the latter of which reflects the sensing of tissue damage and the alleviation of sufferin...Painful stimuli elicit first-line reflexive defensive reactions and,in many cases,also evoke second-line recuperative behaviors,the latter of which reflects the sensing of tissue damage and the alleviation of suffering.The lateral parabrachial nucleus(lPBN),composed of external-(elPBN),dorsal-(dlPBN),and central/superior-subnuclei(jointly referred to as slPBN),receives sensory inputs from spinal projection neurons and plays important roles in processing affective information from external threats and body integrity disruption.However,the organizational rules of lPBN neurons that provoke diverse behaviors in response to different painful stimuli from cutaneous and deep tissues remain unclear.In this study,we used region-specific neuronal depletion or silencing approaches combined with a battery of behavioral assays to show that slPBN neurons expressing substance P receptor(NK1R)(lPBNNK1R)are crucial for driving pain-associated self-care behaviors evoked by sustained noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli applied to skin or bone/muscle,while elPBN neurons are dispensable for driving such reactions.Notably,lPBNNK1R neurons are specifically required for forming sustained somatic pain-induced negative teaching signals and aversive memory but are not necessary for fear-learning or escape behaviors elicited by external threats.Lastly,both lPBNNK1R and elPBN neurons contribute to chemical irritant-induced nocifensive reactions.Our results reveal the functional organization of parabrachial substrates that drive distinct behavioral outcomes in response to sustained pain versus external danger under physiological conditions.展开更多
The globus pallidus plays a pivotal role in the basal ganglia circuit. Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, which leads to dopamine deficiency i...The globus pallidus plays a pivotal role in the basal ganglia circuit. Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, which leads to dopamine deficiency in the brain that subsequently manifests as various motor and non-motor symptoms. This review aims to summarize the involvement of the globus pallidus in both motor and non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease. The firing activities of parvalbumin neurons in the medial globus pallidus, including both the firing rate and pattern, exhibit strong correlations with the bradykinesia and rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease. Increased beta oscillations, which are highly correlated with bradykinesia and rigidity, are regulated by the lateral globus pallidus. Furthermore,bradykinesia and rigidity are strongly linked to the loss of dopaminergic projections within the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop. Resting tremors are attributed to the transmission of pathological signals from the basal ganglia through the motor cortex to the cerebellum-ventral intermediate nucleus circuit. The cortico–striato–pallidal loop is responsible for mediating pallidi-associated sleep disorders. Medication and deep brain stimulation are the primary therapeutic strategies addressing the globus pallidus in Parkinson's disease. Medication is the primary treatment for motor symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation has been clinically proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease,particularly for the movement disorders caused by levodopa. Deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus internus can improve motor function in patients with tremordominant and non-tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus externus can alter the temporal pattern of neural activity throughout the basal ganglia–thalamus network. Therefore, the composition of the globus pallidus neurons, the neurotransmitters that act on them, their electrical activity,and the neural circuits they form can guide the search for new multi-target drugs to treat Parkinson's disease in clinical practice. Examining the potential intra-nuclear and neural circuit mechanisms of deep brain stimulation associated with the globus pallidus can facilitate the management of both motor and non-motor symptoms while minimizing the side effects caused by deep brain stimulation.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the features of retinal ischemic injuries in a novel mouse model with bilateral carotid artery stenosis(BCAS).METHODS:BCAS was induced with microcoil implantation in 6-8-week-old C57BL6 mice.Cerebra...AIM:To investigate the features of retinal ischemic injuries in a novel mouse model with bilateral carotid artery stenosis(BCAS).METHODS:BCAS was induced with microcoil implantation in 6-8-week-old C57BL6 mice.Cerebral blood flow was monitored at 2,7,and 28d postoperatively.Retinal morphological changes were evaluated by fundus photography and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Fluorescein fundus angiography(FFA)was performed to detect retinal vascular changes and circulation.The levels of apoptosis,activation of neurogliosis,and expression of hypoxiainducible factor(HIF)-1αin the retina were assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining,followed by retinal ganglion cell(RGC)density detection.Additionally,electrophysiological examinations including photopic negative response(PhNR)was also performed.RESULTS:The mice demonstrated an initial rapid decrease in cerebral blood flow,followed by a 4-week recovery period after BCAS.The ratio of retinal artery and vein was decreased under fundus photography and FFA.Compared with the sham mice,BCAS mice showed thinner retinal thickness on day 28.Additionally,apoptosis was increased and RGC density was decreased mainly in peripheral retinal region.Neurogliosis was mainly located in the inner retinal layers,with a stable increase in HIF-1αexpression.The dark-adapted electroretinogram showed a notable reduction in the a-,b-,and oscillatory potential(OP)wave amplitudes between days 2 and 7;this gradually recovered over the following 4wk.However,the b-and OPwave amplitudes were still significantly decreased on PhNR examination on day 28.CONCLUSION:BCAS can result in relatively mild retinal ischemia injuries in mice,mainly in the inner layer and peripheral region.Our study provides a novel animal model for investigating retinal ischemic diseases.展开更多
Background The alexithymia trait is of high clinical interest.The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire(PAQ)was recently developed to enable detailed facet-level and valence-specific assessments of alexithymia.Aims In this ...Background The alexithymia trait is of high clinical interest.The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire(PAQ)was recently developed to enable detailed facet-level and valence-specific assessments of alexithymia.Aims In this paper,we introduce the first Chinese version of the PAQ and examine its psychometric properties and clinical applications.Methods In Study 1,the PAQ was administered to 990 Chinese participants.We examined its factor structure,internal consistency,test-retest reliability,as well as convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,four groups,including a major depressive disorder(MDD)group(n=50),a matched healthy control group for MDD(n=50),a subclinical depression group(n=50)and a matched healthy control group for subclinical depression(n=50),were recruited.Group comparisons were conducted to assess the clinical relevance of the PAQ.Results In Study 1,the intended five-factor structure of the PAQ was found to fit the data well.The PAQ showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability,as well as good convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,the PAQ was able to successfully distinguish the MDD group and the subclinical depression group from their matched healthy controls.Conclusions The Chinese version of the PAQ is a valid and reliable instrument for comprehensively assessing alexithymia in the general population and adults with clinical/subclinical depression.展开更多
The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent year...The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent years,significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies,including the determination of the tree shrew genome,genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells,viral vector-mediated gene delivery,and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas.However,the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field.Additionally,determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty.Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,myopia,and psychosocial stress-induced depression,with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.Despite these efforts,the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research.This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model.We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies.The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models,meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.展开更多
Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phen...Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phenotypic changes;these events have become a significant and promising area of research. In this review, we summarize the effects of microglial polarization and crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Our literature search found that phenotypic changes occur continuously in Alzheimer’s disease and that microglia exhibit extensive crosstalk with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and penetrated peripheral innate immune cells via specific signaling pathways and cytokines. Collectively, unlike previous efforts to modulate microglial phenotypes at a single level, targeting the phenotypes of microglia and the crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system may be more effective in reducing inflammation in the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease. This would establish a theoretical basis for reducing neuronal death from central nervous system inflammation and provide an appropriate environment to promote neuronal regeneration in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
1.The need to develop a holographic digital mannequin Life processes,including high intelligence,self-organization,and homeostasis,are characterized by the biological organism in the form of self-renewal,self-replicat...1.The need to develop a holographic digital mannequin Life processes,including high intelligence,self-organization,and homeostasis,are characterized by the biological organism in the form of self-renewal,self-replication and self-regulation,metabolism,self-repair,and self-reproduction,which are all processes of multisystem coordinated movement[1].Research in the field of life sciences is not limited to the use of advanced observational methods to reveal microscopic structures at the subcellular or molecular level.Discoveries based on these methods alone cannot characterize the dynamic processes of life at the microscopic and molecular level[2].展开更多
Accurately recognizing facial expressions is essential for effective social interactions.Non-human primates(NHPs)are widely used in the study of the neural mechanisms underpinning facial expression processing,yet it r...Accurately recognizing facial expressions is essential for effective social interactions.Non-human primates(NHPs)are widely used in the study of the neural mechanisms underpinning facial expression processing,yet it remains unclear how well monkeys can recognize the facial expressions of other species such as humans.In this study,we systematically investigated how monkeys process the facial expressions of conspecifics and humans using eye-tracking technology and sophisticated behavioral tasks,namely the temporal discrimination task(TDT)and face scan task(FST).We found that monkeys showed prolonged subjective time perception in response to Negative facial expressions in monkeys while showing longer reaction time to Negative facial expressions in humans.Monkey faces also reliably induced divergent pupil contraction in response to different expressions,while human faces and scrambled monkey faces did not.Furthermore,viewing patterns in the FST indicated that monkeys only showed bias toward emotional expressions upon observing monkey faces.Finally,masking the eye region marginally decreased the viewing duration for monkey faces but not for human faces.By probing facial expression processing in monkeys,our study demonstrates that monkeys are more sensitive to the facial expressions of conspecifics than those of humans,thus shedding new light on inter-species communication through facial expressions between NHPs and humans.展开更多
Brain arteriovenous malformations(AVMs)are abnormal vessels that are prone to rupture,ausing life threatening intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Understanding the moleaular basis of pathogenesis,timely diagnosis,and treatm...Brain arteriovenous malformations(AVMs)are abnormal vessels that are prone to rupture,ausing life threatening intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Understanding the moleaular basis of pathogenesis,timely diagnosis,and treatment of brain AVMs are some of the urgent problems in neur osur gery.MiaoRNAs(miRNAs)are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene-epression psttranscriptionally.MiRNAs are involved in almost all biological procsss,induding cell proliferation,apoptosis,and cell differentiation.Recent studies have shown that miRNAs an be involved in brain AVMs formation and rupture.There are also extracellular forms of miRNAs.Circulating miRNAs have been detected in the blood circulation and other body fluids.Owing to their stability and resistance to endogenous RNase activity,circulating miRNAs have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various diseases,such as tumors,cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.In this review,we summarized the role of some miRNAs in brain AVMs pathogenesis and discussed their potential cdinical appliation as non-invasive biomarkers.展开更多
Innate immunity,originally recognized as the primary defense mechanism against pathogenic infections,has also been shown to have an important role in anti-tumor immunity.Host cells recognize cytosolic DNA and RNA,whic...Innate immunity,originally recognized as the primary defense mechanism against pathogenic infections,has also been shown to have an important role in anti-tumor immunity.Host cells recognize cytosolic DNA and RNA,which triggers a cascade of signaling events via nucleic-acid sensing receptors,including endosomal Toll-like receptors(TLRs),cytoplasmic cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)for double-stranded DNA sensing,and cytoplasmic retinoic acid-inducible gene I(RIG-I)for double-stranded RNA detection.展开更多
AIM:To perform a bibliometric analysis in the field of primary angle-closure disease(PACD)research to characterize current global trends and compare contributions from different countries,institutions,journals,and aut...AIM:To perform a bibliometric analysis in the field of primary angle-closure disease(PACD)research to characterize current global trends and compare contributions from different countries,institutions,journals,and authors.METHODS:All PACD-related publications from 1991 to 2022 from the Web of Science Core Collection database were extracted.Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer were used to collect publication data,analyze publication trends,and visualize relevant results.RESULTS:A total of 1721 publications with 34591 citations were identified.China produced the most publications(554)while ranking third in citations(8220 times).The United States contributed the most citations(12315 times)with publications(362)ranking second.The Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science was the most productive journal concerning PACD,and Aung Tin was the author with the highest number of publications in the field.Keywords were classified into three clusters,epidemiology and pathogenesis research,optical coherence tomography(OCT)and other imaging examinations,and glaucoma surgery treatment.Genome-wide association,susceptibility loci,OCT,and combined phacoemulsification have become new hot research topics in recent years since 2015.CONCLUSION:China,the United States,and Singapore make the most outstanding contributions in the field of PACD research.OCT,combined phacoemulsification,and gene mutation-related study,are considered the potential focus for future research.展开更多
Parkinson's disease(PD)is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide.Symptoms of PD typically manifest as movement impairments,including bradykinesia,rigidity,tremors,and...Parkinson's disease(PD)is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide.Symptoms of PD typically manifest as movement impairments,including bradykinesia,rigidity,tremors,and postural instability,as well as non-motor symptoms,such as cognitive decline,pain,and depression(Bloem et al.,2021).展开更多
The solute carrier family 12(SLC12)of cation-chloride cotransporters(CCCs)comprises potassium chloride cotransporters(KCCs,e.g.KCC1,KCC2,KCC3,and KCC4)-mediated Cl^(-)extrusion,and sodium potassium chloride cotranspor...The solute carrier family 12(SLC12)of cation-chloride cotransporters(CCCs)comprises potassium chloride cotransporters(KCCs,e.g.KCC1,KCC2,KCC3,and KCC4)-mediated Cl^(-)extrusion,and sodium potassium chloride cotransporters(N[K]CCs,NKCC1,NKCC2,and NCC)-mediated Cl^(-)loading.The CCCs play vital roles in cell volume regulation and ion homeostasis.Gain-of-function or loss-of-function of these ion transporters can cause diseases in many tissues.In recent years,there have been considerable advances in our understanding of CCCs'control mechanisms in cell volume regulations,with many techniques developed in studying the functions and activities of CCCs.Classic approaches to directly measure CCC activity involve assays that measure the transport of potassium substitutes through the CCCs.These techniques include the ammonium pulse technique,radioactive or nonradioactive rubidium ion uptakeassay,and thallium ion-uptake assay.CCCs'activity can also be indirectly observed by measuring gaminobutyric acid(GABA)activity with patch-clamp electrophysiology and intracellular chloride concentration with sensitive microelectrodes,radiotracer^(36)Cl^(-),and fluorescent dyes.Other techniques include directly looking at kinase regulatory sites phosphorylation,flame photometry,22Nat uptake assay,structural biology,molecular modeling,and high-throughput drug screening.This review summarizes the role of CCCs in genetic disorders and cell volume regulation,current methods applied in studying CCCs biology,and compounds developed that directly or indirectly target the CCCs for disease treatments.展开更多
To the editor:The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in 2020 on mental health was substantialin Chinai2and various other countries.34 Beyond the direct consequences of COVID-19,the pandemic creat...To the editor:The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in 2020 on mental health was substantialin Chinai2and various other countries.34 Beyond the direct consequences of COVID-19,the pandemic created an environment in which many determinants of mental health were affected.Issues associated with the pandemic,such as loss of livelihood,limited access to medical services,reduced social interactions,and economic downturn,could potentially have adverse effects on the population's mental well-being.5 In November 2021,the World Health Organization(WHO)designated the new variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),variant B.1.1.529,as a variant of concern and named it Omicron;its rapid mutation and spread raised a new global health concern.展开更多
Background:Breast cancer is the most common cancer,and abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with cancer.APOD expression is negatively correlated with various cancers related to tumor prognosis.DNA methylation may a...Background:Breast cancer is the most common cancer,and abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with cancer.APOD expression is negatively correlated with various cancers related to tumor prognosis.DNA methylation may affect APOD expression.Therefore,this paper aims to investigate the significance of APOD expression and APOD DNA methylation in breast cancer.Methods:This study utilized comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of APOD using Gene Expression database of Normal and Tumor tissues 2,UCSC Xena,etc.Clinical and survival information obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets were extracted for data mining.Results:The correlation between APOD and breast cancer was examined,along with the connection between APOD DNA methylation and APOD expression.In the The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort,as well as GSE31448 and GSE65194 datasets,APOD expression decreased in breast cancer(P<0.0001).Clinical feature analysis results showed that APOD expression was correlated with the PAM50 subtype,with the lowest expression in the Basal subtype(P<0.0001).High APOD expression is a good prognostic marker for breast cancer(HR=0.71,P=0.037).APOD methylation level was significantly negatively correlated with expression level(R=−0.4770,P<0.001),and cg15231202,cg23720929,and cg05624196 were important regulatory targets.High APOD expression was associated with higher metabolism and extracellular matrix scores.Conclusion:APOD is an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer and is regulated by DNA methylation to modulate mRNA expression.展开更多
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pat...Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,a traditional experimental model of multiple sclerosis.This study investigated the effect of Fasudil on macrophages and examined the therapeutic potential of Fasudil-modified macrophages in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.We found that Fasudil induced the conversion of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 type to the anti-inflammatory M2 type,as shown by reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide,interleukin-12,and CD16/32 and increased expression of arginase-1,interleukin-10,CD14,and CD206,which was linked to inhibition of Rho kinase activity,decreased expression of toll-like receptors,nuclear factor-κB,and components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.Crucially,Fasudil-modified macrophages effectively decreased the impact of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,resulting in later onset of disease,lower symptom scores,less weight loss,and reduced demyelination compared with unmodified macrophages.In addition,Fasudil-modified macrophages decreased interleukin-17 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and CD16/32,inducible nitric oxide synthase,and interleukin-12 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,as well as increasing interleukin-10 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and arginase-1,CD206,and interleukin-10 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,which improved immune regulation and reduced inflammation.These findings suggest that Fasudil-modified macrophages may help treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing M2 macrophage polarization and inhibiting the inflammatory response,thereby providing new insight into cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis.展开更多
Biomimetic materials have emerged as attractive and competitive alternatives for tissue engineering(TE)and regenerative medicine.In contrast to conventional biomaterials or synthetic materials,biomimetic scaffolds bas...Biomimetic materials have emerged as attractive and competitive alternatives for tissue engineering(TE)and regenerative medicine.In contrast to conventional biomaterials or synthetic materials,biomimetic scaffolds based on natural biomaterial can offer cells a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical cues that mimic the in vivo extracellular matrix(ECM).Additionally,such materials have mechanical adaptability,micro-structure interconnectivity,and inherent bioactivity,making them ideal for the design of living implants for specific applications in TE and regenerative medicine.This paper provides an overview for recent progress of biomimetic natural biomaterials(BNBMs),including advances in their preparation,functionality,potential applications and future challenges.We highlight recent advances in the fabrication of BNBMs and outline general strategies for functionalizing and tailoring the BNBMs with various biological and physicochemical characteristics of native ECM.Moreover,we offer an overview of recent key advances in the functionalization and applications of versatile BNBMs for TE applications.Finally,we conclude by offering our perspective on open challenges and future developments in this rapidly-evolving field.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.82071199 and 81871117)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.BK20230057)Shandong Postdoctoral Innovative Talents Program(Grant No.SDBX2023056).
文摘The phenomenon of an aging population is advancing at a precipitous rate.Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Parkinson's disease(PD)are two of the most common age-associated neurodegenerative diseases,both of which are primarily characterized by the accumulation of toxic proteins and the progressive demise of neuronal structures.Recent discoveries about the brain lymphatic drainage system have precipitated a growing body of investigations substantiating its novel roles,including the clearance of macromolecular waste and the trafficking of immune cells.Notably,aquaporin 4-mediated glymphatic transport,crucial for maintaining neural homeostasis,becomes disrupted during the aging process and is further compromised in the pathogenesis of AD and PD.Functional meningeal lymphatic vessels,which facilitate the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid into the deep cervical lymph nodes,are integral in bridging the central nervous system with peripheral immune responses.Dysfunction in these meningeal lymphatic vessels exacerbates pathological trajectory of the age-related neurodegenerative disease.This review explores modulatory influence of the glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vessels on the aging brain and its associated neurodegenerative disorders.It also encapsulates the insights of potential mechanisms and prospects of the targeted non-pharmacological interventions.
文摘Researchers and clinicians have long been interested in the mechanisms of pain,anesthesia,and addiction.The International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP)defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with,or resembling that associated with,actual or potential tissue damage(Raja et al.,2020).Drug addiction refers to a condition of reliance that develops from regular drug consumption,which may lead to withdrawal symptoms when use is halted.Anesthesia involves the complete loss of consciousness induced by an inhaled or intravenous anesthetic(Tosello et al.,2022).In this special collection,Zoological Research presents research findings focused on pain,addiction,and anesthesia.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82101087)Shanghai Clinical Research Key Project(No.SHDC2020CR6029).
文摘AIM:To compare the three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index(CVI)and choroidal thickness between fellow eyes of acute primary angle-closure(F-APAC)and chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma(F-CPACG)and the eyes of normal controls.METHODS:This study included 37 patients with unilateral APAC,37 with asymmetric CPACG without prior treatment,and 36 healthy participants.Using swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT),the macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness and three-dimensional CVI were measured and compared globally and sectorally.Pearson’s correlation analysis and multivariate regression models were used to evaluate choroidal thickness or CVI with related factors.RESULTS:The mean subfoveal CVIs were 0.35±0.10,0.33±0.09,and 0.29±0.04,and the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness were 315.62±52.92,306.22±59.29,and 262.69±45.55μm in the F-APAC,F-CPACG,and normal groups,respectively.All macular sectors showed significantly higher CVIs and choroidal thickness in the F-APAC and F-CPACG eyes than in the normal eyes(P<0.05),while there were no significant differences between the F-APAC and F-CPACG eyes.In the peripapillary region,the mean overall CVIs were 0.21±0.08,0.20±0.08,and 0.19±0.05,and the mean overall choroidal thickness were 180.45±54.18,174.82±50.67,and 176.18±37.94μm in the F-APAC,F-CPACG,and normal groups,respectively.There were no significant differences between any of the two groups in all peripapillary sectors.Younger age,shorter axial length,and the F-APAC or F-CPACG diagnosis were significantly associated with higher subfoveal CVI and thicker subfoveal choroidal thickness(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The fellow eyes of unilateral APAC or asymmetric CPACG have higher macular CVI and choroidal thickness than those of the normal controls.Neither CVI nor choroidal thickness can distinguish between eyes predisposed to APAC or CPACG.A thicker choroid with a higher vascular volume may play a role in the pathogenesis of primary angle-closure glaucoma.
基金supported by the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction (ZDSYS20190902093601675)CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation (2019DP173024)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (82274358)Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain ScienceGuangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2023B1515040009)
文摘Painful stimuli elicit first-line reflexive defensive reactions and,in many cases,also evoke second-line recuperative behaviors,the latter of which reflects the sensing of tissue damage and the alleviation of suffering.The lateral parabrachial nucleus(lPBN),composed of external-(elPBN),dorsal-(dlPBN),and central/superior-subnuclei(jointly referred to as slPBN),receives sensory inputs from spinal projection neurons and plays important roles in processing affective information from external threats and body integrity disruption.However,the organizational rules of lPBN neurons that provoke diverse behaviors in response to different painful stimuli from cutaneous and deep tissues remain unclear.In this study,we used region-specific neuronal depletion or silencing approaches combined with a battery of behavioral assays to show that slPBN neurons expressing substance P receptor(NK1R)(lPBNNK1R)are crucial for driving pain-associated self-care behaviors evoked by sustained noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli applied to skin or bone/muscle,while elPBN neurons are dispensable for driving such reactions.Notably,lPBNNK1R neurons are specifically required for forming sustained somatic pain-induced negative teaching signals and aversive memory but are not necessary for fear-learning or escape behaviors elicited by external threats.Lastly,both lPBNNK1R and elPBN neurons contribute to chemical irritant-induced nocifensive reactions.Our results reveal the functional organization of parabrachial substrates that drive distinct behavioral outcomes in response to sustained pain versus external danger under physiological conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31771143 (to QZ)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project,ZJ Lab+1 种基金Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology,No.2018SHZDZX01 (to LC)Shanghai Zhou Liangfu Medical Development Foundation “Brain Science and Brain Diseases Youth Innovation Program”(to ZQ)。
文摘The globus pallidus plays a pivotal role in the basal ganglia circuit. Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, which leads to dopamine deficiency in the brain that subsequently manifests as various motor and non-motor symptoms. This review aims to summarize the involvement of the globus pallidus in both motor and non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease. The firing activities of parvalbumin neurons in the medial globus pallidus, including both the firing rate and pattern, exhibit strong correlations with the bradykinesia and rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease. Increased beta oscillations, which are highly correlated with bradykinesia and rigidity, are regulated by the lateral globus pallidus. Furthermore,bradykinesia and rigidity are strongly linked to the loss of dopaminergic projections within the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop. Resting tremors are attributed to the transmission of pathological signals from the basal ganglia through the motor cortex to the cerebellum-ventral intermediate nucleus circuit. The cortico–striato–pallidal loop is responsible for mediating pallidi-associated sleep disorders. Medication and deep brain stimulation are the primary therapeutic strategies addressing the globus pallidus in Parkinson's disease. Medication is the primary treatment for motor symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation has been clinically proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease,particularly for the movement disorders caused by levodopa. Deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus internus can improve motor function in patients with tremordominant and non-tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus externus can alter the temporal pattern of neural activity throughout the basal ganglia–thalamus network. Therefore, the composition of the globus pallidus neurons, the neurotransmitters that act on them, their electrical activity,and the neural circuits they form can guide the search for new multi-target drugs to treat Parkinson's disease in clinical practice. Examining the potential intra-nuclear and neural circuit mechanisms of deep brain stimulation associated with the globus pallidus can facilitate the management of both motor and non-motor symptoms while minimizing the side effects caused by deep brain stimulation.
基金Supported by The State Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82030027)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82101123).
文摘AIM:To investigate the features of retinal ischemic injuries in a novel mouse model with bilateral carotid artery stenosis(BCAS).METHODS:BCAS was induced with microcoil implantation in 6-8-week-old C57BL6 mice.Cerebral blood flow was monitored at 2,7,and 28d postoperatively.Retinal morphological changes were evaluated by fundus photography and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Fluorescein fundus angiography(FFA)was performed to detect retinal vascular changes and circulation.The levels of apoptosis,activation of neurogliosis,and expression of hypoxiainducible factor(HIF)-1αin the retina were assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining,followed by retinal ganglion cell(RGC)density detection.Additionally,electrophysiological examinations including photopic negative response(PhNR)was also performed.RESULTS:The mice demonstrated an initial rapid decrease in cerebral blood flow,followed by a 4-week recovery period after BCAS.The ratio of retinal artery and vein was decreased under fundus photography and FFA.Compared with the sham mice,BCAS mice showed thinner retinal thickness on day 28.Additionally,apoptosis was increased and RGC density was decreased mainly in peripheral retinal region.Neurogliosis was mainly located in the inner retinal layers,with a stable increase in HIF-1αexpression.The dark-adapted electroretinogram showed a notable reduction in the a-,b-,and oscillatory potential(OP)wave amplitudes between days 2 and 7;this gradually recovered over the following 4wk.However,the b-and OPwave amplitudes were still significantly decreased on PhNR examination on day 28.CONCLUSION:BCAS can result in relatively mild retinal ischemia injuries in mice,mainly in the inner layer and peripheral region.Our study provides a novel animal model for investigating retinal ischemic diseases.
基金This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32200906)STI 2030-Major Projects(2021ZD0201705)+2 种基金Major Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research of the Ministry of Education of China(22JZD044)Research Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission(20dz2260300)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and Starting Research Fund from Hangzhou Normal University.
文摘Background The alexithymia trait is of high clinical interest.The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire(PAQ)was recently developed to enable detailed facet-level and valence-specific assessments of alexithymia.Aims In this paper,we introduce the first Chinese version of the PAQ and examine its psychometric properties and clinical applications.Methods In Study 1,the PAQ was administered to 990 Chinese participants.We examined its factor structure,internal consistency,test-retest reliability,as well as convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,four groups,including a major depressive disorder(MDD)group(n=50),a matched healthy control group for MDD(n=50),a subclinical depression group(n=50)and a matched healthy control group for subclinical depression(n=50),were recruited.Group comparisons were conducted to assess the clinical relevance of the PAQ.Results In Study 1,the intended five-factor structure of the PAQ was found to fit the data well.The PAQ showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability,as well as good convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,the PAQ was able to successfully distinguish the MDD group and the subclinical depression group from their matched healthy controls.Conclusions The Chinese version of the PAQ is a valid and reliable instrument for comprehensively assessing alexithymia in the general population and adults with clinical/subclinical depression.
基金supported by the STI2030-Major Projects(2021ZD0200900 to Y.G.Y.)"Light of West China" Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(xbzg-zdsys-202302 to Y.G.Y.)
文摘The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent years,significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies,including the determination of the tree shrew genome,genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells,viral vector-mediated gene delivery,and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas.However,the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field.Additionally,determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty.Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,myopia,and psychosocial stress-induced depression,with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.Despite these efforts,the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research.This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model.We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies.The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models,meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos. 82004028 (to LJS) and 81473577 (to CGM)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No. 2020M680912 (to LJS)+4 种基金Shanxi Applied Basic Research Project,No. 201901D211538 (to LJS)Leading Team of Medical Science and Technology of Shanxi Province,No. 2020TD05 (to CGM)Funds for Construction of Key Disciplines from Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine,Young Scientists Cultivation Project of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine No. 2021PYQN-09 (to LJS)Basic Research Project of the Cultivation Plan of Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine,No. 2020PY-JC-02 (to LJS)Cardiovascular Special Fund Project of National Regional Traditional Chinese Medicine Medical Center of Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine in 2021, No. XGZX202115 (to LJS)。
文摘Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. During the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulatory factors continuously act on the microglia causing abnormal activation and unbalanced phenotypic changes;these events have become a significant and promising area of research. In this review, we summarize the effects of microglial polarization and crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Our literature search found that phenotypic changes occur continuously in Alzheimer’s disease and that microglia exhibit extensive crosstalk with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and penetrated peripheral innate immune cells via specific signaling pathways and cytokines. Collectively, unlike previous efforts to modulate microglial phenotypes at a single level, targeting the phenotypes of microglia and the crosstalk with other cells in the central nervous system may be more effective in reducing inflammation in the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease. This would establish a theoretical basis for reducing neuronal death from central nervous system inflammation and provide an appropriate environment to promote neuronal regeneration in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82293651)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-I2M-5-055)the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior(2017B030301017).
文摘1.The need to develop a holographic digital mannequin Life processes,including high intelligence,self-organization,and homeostasis,are characterized by the biological organism in the form of self-renewal,self-replication and self-regulation,metabolism,self-repair,and self-reproduction,which are all processes of multisystem coordinated movement[1].Research in the field of life sciences is not limited to the use of advanced observational methods to reveal microscopic structures at the subcellular or molecular level.Discoveries based on these methods alone cannot characterize the dynamic processes of life at the microscopic and molecular level[2].
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U20A2017)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2022A1515010134,2022A1515110598)+2 种基金Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017120)Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions (NYKFKT2019009)Shenzhen Technological Research Center for Primate Translational Medicine (F-2021-Z99-504979)。
文摘Accurately recognizing facial expressions is essential for effective social interactions.Non-human primates(NHPs)are widely used in the study of the neural mechanisms underpinning facial expression processing,yet it remains unclear how well monkeys can recognize the facial expressions of other species such as humans.In this study,we systematically investigated how monkeys process the facial expressions of conspecifics and humans using eye-tracking technology and sophisticated behavioral tasks,namely the temporal discrimination task(TDT)and face scan task(FST).We found that monkeys showed prolonged subjective time perception in response to Negative facial expressions in monkeys while showing longer reaction time to Negative facial expressions in humans.Monkey faces also reliably induced divergent pupil contraction in response to different expressions,while human faces and scrambled monkey faces did not.Furthermore,viewing patterns in the FST indicated that monkeys only showed bias toward emotional expressions upon observing monkey faces.Finally,masking the eye region marginally decreased the viewing duration for monkey faces but not for human faces.By probing facial expression processing in monkeys,our study demonstrates that monkeys are more sensitive to the facial expressions of conspecifics than those of humans,thus shedding new light on inter-species communication through facial expressions between NHPs and humans.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundations of China(81971135)Natural Science Foundations of Heilongjiang(YQ2020H014)+2 种基金“Chunhui Plan”of Ministry of Education(HLJ2019009)Distinguished Young Foundations of the First Afiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University(HYD2020JQ0014)The reported study was funded by RFBR and NSFC,Project No.21-515-53017.
文摘Brain arteriovenous malformations(AVMs)are abnormal vessels that are prone to rupture,ausing life threatening intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Understanding the moleaular basis of pathogenesis,timely diagnosis,and treatment of brain AVMs are some of the urgent problems in neur osur gery.MiaoRNAs(miRNAs)are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene-epression psttranscriptionally.MiRNAs are involved in almost all biological procsss,induding cell proliferation,apoptosis,and cell differentiation.Recent studies have shown that miRNAs an be involved in brain AVMs formation and rupture.There are also extracellular forms of miRNAs.Circulating miRNAs have been detected in the blood circulation and other body fluids.Owing to their stability and resistance to endogenous RNase activity,circulating miRNAs have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various diseases,such as tumors,cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.In this review,we summarized the role of some miRNAs in brain AVMs pathogenesis and discussed their potential cdinical appliation as non-invasive biomarkers.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos.2023YFC3404800 and 2020YFA0804200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.82073166 and 82273203)。
文摘Innate immunity,originally recognized as the primary defense mechanism against pathogenic infections,has also been shown to have an important role in anti-tumor immunity.Host cells recognize cytosolic DNA and RNA,which triggers a cascade of signaling events via nucleic-acid sensing receptors,including endosomal Toll-like receptors(TLRs),cytoplasmic cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)for double-stranded DNA sensing,and cytoplasmic retinoic acid-inducible gene I(RIG-I)for double-stranded RNA detection.
基金Supported by Shanghai Clinical Research Key Project(No.SHDC2020CR6029)。
文摘AIM:To perform a bibliometric analysis in the field of primary angle-closure disease(PACD)research to characterize current global trends and compare contributions from different countries,institutions,journals,and authors.METHODS:All PACD-related publications from 1991 to 2022 from the Web of Science Core Collection database were extracted.Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer were used to collect publication data,analyze publication trends,and visualize relevant results.RESULTS:A total of 1721 publications with 34591 citations were identified.China produced the most publications(554)while ranking third in citations(8220 times).The United States contributed the most citations(12315 times)with publications(362)ranking second.The Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science was the most productive journal concerning PACD,and Aung Tin was the author with the highest number of publications in the field.Keywords were classified into three clusters,epidemiology and pathogenesis research,optical coherence tomography(OCT)and other imaging examinations,and glaucoma surgery treatment.Genome-wide association,susceptibility loci,OCT,and combined phacoemulsification have become new hot research topics in recent years since 2015.CONCLUSION:China,the United States,and Singapore make the most outstanding contributions in the field of PACD research.OCT,combined phacoemulsification,and gene mutation-related study,are considered the potential focus for future research.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32160204)Major Science and Technology Projects of Hainan Province (ZDKJ2021032)STI 2030—Major Projects (2022ZD0208602)。
文摘Parkinson's disease(PD)is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide.Symptoms of PD typically manifest as movement impairments,including bradykinesia,rigidity,tremors,and postural instability,as well as non-motor symptoms,such as cognitive decline,pain,and depression(Bloem et al.,2021).
基金We are very grateful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.:82170406,81970238,and 32111530119)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project,China(Grant No.:2018SHZDZX01)+1 种基金The Royal Society UK(Grant No.:IEC\NSFC\201094)the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK(Grant No.:NGCA-2020-43).
文摘The solute carrier family 12(SLC12)of cation-chloride cotransporters(CCCs)comprises potassium chloride cotransporters(KCCs,e.g.KCC1,KCC2,KCC3,and KCC4)-mediated Cl^(-)extrusion,and sodium potassium chloride cotransporters(N[K]CCs,NKCC1,NKCC2,and NCC)-mediated Cl^(-)loading.The CCCs play vital roles in cell volume regulation and ion homeostasis.Gain-of-function or loss-of-function of these ion transporters can cause diseases in many tissues.In recent years,there have been considerable advances in our understanding of CCCs'control mechanisms in cell volume regulations,with many techniques developed in studying the functions and activities of CCCs.Classic approaches to directly measure CCC activity involve assays that measure the transport of potassium substitutes through the CCCs.These techniques include the ammonium pulse technique,radioactive or nonradioactive rubidium ion uptakeassay,and thallium ion-uptake assay.CCCs'activity can also be indirectly observed by measuring gaminobutyric acid(GABA)activity with patch-clamp electrophysiology and intracellular chloride concentration with sensitive microelectrodes,radiotracer^(36)Cl^(-),and fluorescent dyes.Other techniques include directly looking at kinase regulatory sites phosphorylation,flame photometry,22Nat uptake assay,structural biology,molecular modeling,and high-throughput drug screening.This review summarizes the role of CCCs in genetic disorders and cell volume regulation,current methods applied in studying CCCs biology,and compounds developed that directly or indirectly target the CCCs for disease treatments.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Programme of China(2020YFC2006000).
文摘To the editor:The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in 2020 on mental health was substantialin Chinai2and various other countries.34 Beyond the direct consequences of COVID-19,the pandemic created an environment in which many determinants of mental health were affected.Issues associated with the pandemic,such as loss of livelihood,limited access to medical services,reduced social interactions,and economic downturn,could potentially have adverse effects on the population's mental well-being.5 In November 2021,the World Health Organization(WHO)designated the new variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),variant B.1.1.529,as a variant of concern and named it Omicron;its rapid mutation and spread raised a new global health concern.
基金The study design,data collection,data analysis,manuscript preparation,and publication decisions of this work were supported by the Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine(2023ZL056,2023ZL409)the Foundation Project of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University(2022JKZKTS26,2022JKJNTZ16,2022JKJNTZ23).
文摘Background:Breast cancer is the most common cancer,and abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with cancer.APOD expression is negatively correlated with various cancers related to tumor prognosis.DNA methylation may affect APOD expression.Therefore,this paper aims to investigate the significance of APOD expression and APOD DNA methylation in breast cancer.Methods:This study utilized comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of APOD using Gene Expression database of Normal and Tumor tissues 2,UCSC Xena,etc.Clinical and survival information obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets were extracted for data mining.Results:The correlation between APOD and breast cancer was examined,along with the connection between APOD DNA methylation and APOD expression.In the The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort,as well as GSE31448 and GSE65194 datasets,APOD expression decreased in breast cancer(P<0.0001).Clinical feature analysis results showed that APOD expression was correlated with the PAM50 subtype,with the lowest expression in the Basal subtype(P<0.0001).High APOD expression is a good prognostic marker for breast cancer(HR=0.71,P=0.037).APOD methylation level was significantly negatively correlated with expression level(R=−0.4770,P<0.001),and cg15231202,cg23720929,and cg05624196 were important regulatory targets.High APOD expression was associated with higher metabolism and extracellular matrix scores.Conclusion:APOD is an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer and is regulated by DNA methylation to modulate mRNA expression.
基金supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology of Shanxi Province,China,No.20210302123477(to CL)Datong Bureau of Science and Technology of China,No.2020152(to CL)the Opening Foundation of Key Research Laboratory of Benefiting Qi for Acting Blood Circulation Method to Treat Multiple Sclerosis of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.2022-KF-03(to CL).
文摘Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss caused by inflammatory cell activation and infiltration into the central nervous system.Macrophage polarization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,a traditional experimental model of multiple sclerosis.This study investigated the effect of Fasudil on macrophages and examined the therapeutic potential of Fasudil-modified macrophages in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.We found that Fasudil induced the conversion of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 type to the anti-inflammatory M2 type,as shown by reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide,interleukin-12,and CD16/32 and increased expression of arginase-1,interleukin-10,CD14,and CD206,which was linked to inhibition of Rho kinase activity,decreased expression of toll-like receptors,nuclear factor-κB,and components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.Crucially,Fasudil-modified macrophages effectively decreased the impact of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,resulting in later onset of disease,lower symptom scores,less weight loss,and reduced demyelination compared with unmodified macrophages.In addition,Fasudil-modified macrophages decreased interleukin-17 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and CD16/32,inducible nitric oxide synthase,and interleukin-12 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,as well as increasing interleukin-10 expression on CD4^(+)T cells and arginase-1,CD206,and interleukin-10 expression on F4/80^(+)macrophages,which improved immune regulation and reduced inflammation.These findings suggest that Fasudil-modified macrophages may help treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing M2 macrophage polarization and inhibiting the inflammatory response,thereby providing new insight into cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52003113,31900950,82102334,82002313,82072444)the National Key Research&Development Program of China(2018YFC2001502,2018YFB1105705)+6 种基金the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021A1515010745,2020A1515110356,2023A1515011986)the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program(JCYJ20190808120405672)the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LZ22C100001)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(20ZR1469800)the Integration Innovation Fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(2021JCPT03),the Science and Technology Projects of Guangzhou City(202102020359)the Zigong Key Science and Technology Plan(2022ZCNKY07).SXC thanks the financial support under the Startup Grant of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(WIUCASQD2021026).HW thanks the Futian Healthcare Research Project(FTWS2022013)the financial support of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021TQ0118).SL thanks the financial support of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M721490).
文摘Biomimetic materials have emerged as attractive and competitive alternatives for tissue engineering(TE)and regenerative medicine.In contrast to conventional biomaterials or synthetic materials,biomimetic scaffolds based on natural biomaterial can offer cells a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical cues that mimic the in vivo extracellular matrix(ECM).Additionally,such materials have mechanical adaptability,micro-structure interconnectivity,and inherent bioactivity,making them ideal for the design of living implants for specific applications in TE and regenerative medicine.This paper provides an overview for recent progress of biomimetic natural biomaterials(BNBMs),including advances in their preparation,functionality,potential applications and future challenges.We highlight recent advances in the fabrication of BNBMs and outline general strategies for functionalizing and tailoring the BNBMs with various biological and physicochemical characteristics of native ECM.Moreover,we offer an overview of recent key advances in the functionalization and applications of versatile BNBMs for TE applications.Finally,we conclude by offering our perspective on open challenges and future developments in this rapidly-evolving field.