Objective
Although accumulating evidence indicates that macrophages are central players in the destructive and reparative phases of periodontal disease, their polarization states at different stages ...of periodontal inflammation remain unclear.
Methods
We collected gingival biopsies from patients with chronic periodontitis (P group), gingivitis (G group), or periodontally healthy individuals (H group). Polarized macrophages were identified through immunofluorescence. M1‐ and M2‐related cytokines were detected by immunohistochemistry.
Results
Compared with the H group, the P group had more M1 cells (higher M1/M2 ratio) and significantly higher TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐6, and IL‐12 levels. Although the G group also exhibited higher TNF‐α and IL‐12 levels than the H group, they had similar M1/M2 ratios. The M1/M2 ratio and IFN‐γ and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in the P than the G group. Among M2‐related cytokines, IL‐4 levels were significantly higher in the G than the H group. The M1/M2 ratio was positively correlated with clinical probing depth (PD), and both were positively correlated with IFN‐γ and IL‐6. PD was negatively correlated with IL‐4.
Conclusion
Macrophage polarization in gingival tissue may be responsible for the development and progression of inflammation‐induced tissue destruction, and modulating macrophage function may be a potential strategy for periodontal disease management.
There is growing evidence that neuroinflammation is closely linked to depression. Honokiol, a biologically active substance extracted from
, which is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, has ...been shown to exert significant anti-inflammatory effects and improve depression-like behavior caused by inflammation. However, the specific mechanism of action of this activity is still unclear. In this study, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mouse model was used to study the effect of honokiol on depression-like behavior induced by LPS in mice and its potential mechanism. A single administration of LPS (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) increased the immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), without affecting autonomous activity. Pretreatment with honokiol (10 mg/kg, oral administration) for 11 consecutive days significantly improved the immobility time of depressed mice in the FST and TST experiments. Moreover, honokiol ameliorated LPS-induced NF-κB activation in the hippocampus and significantly reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines; tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and interferon γ (IFN-γ). In addition, honokiol inhibited LPS-induced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activation and quinolinic acid (a toxic product) increase and reduced the level of free calcium in brain tissue, thereby inhibiting calcium overload. In summary, our results indicate that the anti-depressant-like effects of honokiol are mediated by its anti-inflammatory effects. Honokiol may inhibit the LPS-induced neuroinflammatory response through the NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing the levels of related pro-inflammatory cytokines, and furthermore, this may affect tryptophan metabolism and increase neuroprotective metabolites.
Microbial colonization on material surfaces is ubiquitous. Biofilms derived from surface‐colonized microbes pose serious problems to the society from both an economical perspective and a health ...concern. Incorporation of antimicrobial nanocompounds within or on the surface of materials, or by coatings, to prevent microbial adhesion or kill the microorganisms after their attachment to biofilms, represents an important strategy in an increasingly challenging field. Over the last decade, many studies have been devoted to preparing meta‐based nanomaterials that possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities to combat pathogen‐related diseases. Herein, an overview on the state‐of‐the‐art antimicrobial nanosized metal‐based compounds is provided, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles as well as transition metal nanosheets. The antimicrobial mechanism of these nanostructures and their biomedical applications such as catheters, implants, medical delivery systems, tissue engineering, and dentistry are discussed. Their properties as well as potential caveats such as cytotoxicity, diminishing efficacy, and induction of antimicrobial resistance of materials incorporating these nanostructures are reviewed to provide a backdrop for future research.
Different types of metal‐based nanostructures and their applications in biomedical fields, antimicrobial activity, and their cytotoxicity aspects are described here. In addition, the potential development of nanometals and the problems facing them in the future are comprehensively presented, hoping to trigger exchanges and discussions from all fields of scientists.
•Seed size is coordinately determined by maternal and zygotic tissues.•Several signaling pathways of seed size control have been identified in Arabidopsis and rice.•The molecular mechanisms of ...several newly identified regulators of seed size are revealed.•The functions of several seed size regulators are conserved in Arabidopsis and crops.
Seed size is one of the most important yield traits in plants. In angiosperms, a mature seed consists of the embryo, the endosperm and the seed coat, which develop from the zygote, the fertilized central cell and the maternal integuments, respectively. Seed size is therefore coordinately controlled by the growth of maternal and zygotic tissues. Several signaling pathways that determine seed size by influencing the endosperm and/or maternal tissue growth have been identified, including the IKU pathway, the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, G-protein signaling, the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, phytohormones and transcriptional regulatory factors. The functions of several seed size regulators are conserved in Arabidopsis and rice; therefore it is promising to convert basic research on seed size into practical applications in crops. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on seed size control, with particular emphasis on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of several newly identified regulators of seed size in Arabidopsis and rice.
In response to ever‐increasing application requirements in lighting and displays, a tremendous emphasis is being placed on single‐component white‐light emission. Single‐component inorganic borates ...doped with rare earth metal ions have shown prominent achievements in white‐light emission. The first environmentally friendly defect‐induced white‐light emitting crystalline inorganic borate, Ba2Sn(OH)6B(OH)42, has been prepared. Additionally, it is the first borate‐stannate without a Sn−O−B linkage. Notably, Ba2Sn(OH)6B(OH)42 shows Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of (0.42, 0.38), an ultrahigh color rendering index (CRI) of 94.1, and an appropriate correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3083 K. Such a promising material will provide a new approach in the development of white‐light emitting applications.
The first borate‐stannate, which is also the first environmentally friendly defect‐induced white‐light emitting crystalline inorganic borate, Ba2Sn(OH)6B(OH)42, has been prepared. It shows CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.42, 0.38), an ultrahigh CRI of 94.1, and an appropriate CCT of 3083 K.
Catalytic CO oxidation by molecular O2 is an important model reaction in both the condensed phase and gas‐phase studies. Available gas‐phase studies indicate that noble metal is indispensable in ...catalytic CO oxidation by O2 under thermal collision conditions. Herein, we identified the first example of noble‐metal‐free heteronuclear oxide cluster catalysts, the copper–vanadium bimetallic oxide clusters Cu2VO3–5− for CO oxidation by O2. The reactions were characterized by mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. The dynamic nature of the Cu−Cu unit in terms of the electron storage and release is the driving force to promote CO oxidation and O2 activation during the catalysis.
Noble‐metal‐free heteronuclear oxide cluster catalysts, the copper–vanadium bimetallic oxide clusters Cu2VO3–5− for CO oxidation by O2, have been experimentally identified. The catalysis is driven by the electron cycling on the Cu−Cu unit in Cu2VO3–5− clusters.
The size of seeds affects not only evolutionary fitness but also grain yield of crops. Understanding the mechanisms controlling seed size has become an important research field in plant science. Seed ...size is determined by the integrated signals of maternal and zygotic tissues, which control the coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. Recent advances have identified several signaling pathways that control seed size through maternal tissues, including or involving the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, G-protein signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, phytohormone perception and homeostasis, and some transcriptional regulators. Meanwhile, growth of the zygotic tissues is regulated in part by the HAIKU (IKU) pathway and phytohormones. This review provides a general overview of current findings in seed size control and discusses the emerging molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks found to be involved.
The role played by macrophages in regulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during wound healing and bone regeneration is increasingly being recognized. The present study ...compared the pro-osteogenic effects of three co-culture methods, conditioned medium generated by macrophages (CM), indirect culture (IC) or direct culture (DC) with macrophages, on bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs).
Primary BMMSCs were isolated, characterized and co-cultured with RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Cell morphology and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and flow cytometry, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and assay, Alizarin red staining (ARS) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to evaluate osteogenic differentiation.
Inclusion of macrophages in any of the three co-culture methods resulted in improvement in osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of BMMSCs (DC > IC > CM), as measured by ALP staining and activity, ARS and osteoblastic gene expression (Runx2, Alp, Ocn and Bmp2). The enhanced osteogenesis was reversed with hydrogen peroxide. Macrophages reduced the increased levels of intracellular ROS generated by BMMSCs during osteogenic differentiation in a manner similar to the use of an antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine.
Macrophages exert an osteogenesis-enhancing effect to accelerate BMMSC osteogenesis via ROS downregulation.
The present findings suggest that targeting MSC-macrophage interaction is an effective strategy for regulating stem cell fate and facilitating bone regeneration.
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