With the pandemic of COVID-19, maintenance of oral health has increasingly become the main challenge of global health. Various common oral diseases, such as periodontitis and oral cancer, are closely ...associated with immune disorders in the oral mucosa. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for maintaining self-tolerance and immunosuppression. During the process of periodontitis and apical periodontitis, two typical chronic immune-inflammatory diseases, Treg contributes to maintain host immune homeostasis and minimize tissue damage. In contrast, in the development of oral precancerous lesions and oral cancer, Treg is expected to be depleted or down-regulated to enhance the anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the distribution, function, and regulatory mechanisms of Treg cells may provide a prospect for the immunotherapy of oral diseases. In this review, we summarize the distribution and multiple roles of Treg in different oral diseases and discuss the possible mechanisms involved in Treg cell regulation, hope to provide a reference for future Treg-targeted immunotherapy in the treatment of oral diseases.
By analyzing the corresponding Picard–Fuchs equations, we obtain an upper bound of the number of limit cycles for a class of piecewise smooth Hamiltonian systems when they are perturbed inside ...discontinuous polynomials of degree n. Finally, we present an example to illustrate an application of the theoretical results.
Aim: Previously, we found that diabetes-related liver dysfunction is due to activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) and increased synthesis and degradation of 5-HT. Here, we investigated the role ...of 5-HT in the development of atherosclerosis. Methods: The study was conducted using high-fat diet-fed male ApoE−/− mice, THP-1 cell-derived macrophages, and HUVECs. Protein expression and biochemical indexes were determined by Western blotting and quantitative analysis kit, respectively. The following staining methods were used: oil red O staining (showing atherosclerotic plaques and intracellular lipid droplets), immunohistochemistry (showing the expression of 5-HT2AR, 5-HT synthase, and CD68 in the aortic wall), and fluorescent probe staining (showing intracellular ROS). Results: In addition to improving hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, co-treatment with a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor and a 5-HT2AR antagonist significantly suppressed the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and macrophage infiltration in the aorta of ApoE−/− mice in a synergistic manner. Macrophages and HUVECs exposed to oxLDL or palmitic acid in vitro showed that activated 5-HT2AR regulated TG synthesis and oxLDL uptake by activating PKCε, resulting in formation of lipid droplets and even foam cells; ROS production was due to the increase of both intracellular 5-HT synthesis and mitochondrial MAO-A-catalyzed 5-HT degradation, which leads to the activation of NF-κB and the release of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β from macrophages and HUVECs as well as MCP-1 release from HUVECs. Conclusion: Similar to hepatic steatosis, the pathogenesis of lipid-induced atherosclerosis is associated with activation of intracellular 5-HT2AR, 5-HT synthesis, and 5-HT degradation.
Daily PM2.5 samples were collected during winter 2012 and summer 2013 at an urban site in Lanzhou and were analyzed for chemical compounds including water soluble inorganic ions (WSIN), trace ...elements, water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), carbonaceous species (OC/EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and humic-like substances (HULIS). The seasonal-average reconstructed PM2.5 mass was 120.5μgm−3 in winter and 34.1μgm−3 in summer. The top three groups of species in PM2.5 were OC (35.4±13.9μgm−3), WSIN (34.89±14.21μgm−3), and EC (13.80±5.41μgm−3) in winter and WSIN (11.25±3.25μgm−3), OC (9.74±3.30μgm−3), and EC (4.44±2.00μgm−3) in summer. EC exceeded SO42− on most of the days. Several anthropogenic produced primary pollutants such as PAHs, Cl−, Pb, Cd and OCpri were 4–22 times higher in winter than summer. Carcinogenic substances such as Arsenic, BaP, Pb, and Cd in PM2.5 exceeded the WHO guideline limits by 274%, 153%, 23% and 7%, respectively. Positive Matric Factorization analysis identified seven source factors including steel industry, secondary aerosols, coal combustion, power plants, vehicle emissions, crustal dust, and smelting industry, which contributed 7.1%, 33.0%, 28.7%, 3.12%, 8.8%, 13.3%, and 6.0%, respectively, to PM2.5 in winter, and 6.7%, 14.8%, 3.1%, 3.4%, 25.2%, 11.6% and 35.2% in summer. Smelting industry and steel industry were identified for the first time as sources of PM2.5 in this city, and power plant was distinguished from industrial boiler and residential coal burning.
Display omitted
•Chemical species were significantly higher in winter than in summer.•Seven factors are identified based on inorganic and organic tracers.•The source related to coal combustion was the largest contributor of PM2.5.•Primary pollutants require further control.•The contribution of smelting industry and steel industry were quantified.
Type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C) is a negative regulator of ABA signaling pathway, which plays important roles in stress signal transduction in plants. However, little research on the PP2C genes ...family of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), as an important economic vegetable, has been conducted. This study conducted a genome-wide investigation of the CsPP2C gene family. Through bioinformatics analysis, 56 CsPP2C genes were identified in cucumber. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the PP2C genes of cucumber and Arabidopsis were divided into 13 groups. Gene structure and conserved motif analysis showed that CsPP2C genes in the same group had similar gene structure and conserved domains. Collinearity analysis showed that segmental duplication events played a key role in the expansion of the cucumber PP2C genes family. In addition, the expression of CsPP2Cs under different abiotic treatments was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The results reveal that CsPP2C family genes showed different expression patterns under ABA, drought, salt, and cold treatment, and that CsPP2C3, 11-17, 23, 45, 54 and 55 responded significantly to the four stresses. By predicting the cis-elements in the promoter, we found that all CsPP2C members contained ABA response elements and drought response elements. Additionally, the expression patterns of CsPP2C genes were specific in different tissues. The results of this study provide a reference for the genome-wide identification of the PP2C gene family in other species and provide a basis for future studies on the function of PP2C genes in cucumber.
Treg plasticity and human diseases Zhang, Zheng; Guo, Jihua; Jia, Rong
Inflammation research,
12/2023, Letnik:
72, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Introduction
As a subset of CD4
+
T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) with the characteristic expression of transcription factor FOXP3 play a key role in maintaining self-tolerance and regulating ...immune responses. However, in some inflammatory circumstances, Tregs can express cytokines of other T help (Th) cells by internal reprogramming, which is called Treg plasticity. These reprogrammed Tregs with impaired suppressive ability contribute to the progression of diseases by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such changes in phenotype rarely occur in Tregs, on the contrary, Tregs usually display a stronger suppressive function and inhibit anti-tumor immunity. It is important to understand the mechanisms of Treg plasticity in inflammatory diseases and cancers.
Objectives
In this review, we summarize the characteristics of different Th-like Tregs and discuss the potential mechanisms of these changes in phenotype. Furthermore, we summarize the Treg plasticity in human diseases and discuss the effects of these changes in phenotype on disease progression, as well as the potential application of drugs or reagents that regulate Treg plasticity in human diseases.
Conclusions
Treg plasticity is associated with inflammatory diseases and cancers. Regulating Treg plasticity is a promising direction for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers.
In this study, we analyzed heavy metals in 404 surface sediment samples from the Bohai Sea to measure contamination status and distribution. We found Zn levels to be the highest, whereas Hg ...concentrations were the lowest of measured heavy metals. We found that the samples containing the most heavy metals were those collected from Fuzhou Bay, Jinzhou Bay, central Bohai Sea mud area, and the Yellow River Delta. Further analyses suggest that these heavy metals in surface sediments in the Jinzhou Bay and Fuzhou Bay pose a serious ecological risk, with substantial Cd and Hg accumulation in the Jinzhou Bay and Yellow River Delta regions being indicative of intense human activities.
•Eight heavy metals of 404 surface sediments from the Bohai Sea were analyzed.•The mean heavy metal concentrations detected were, in descending order: Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > As > Cd > Hg.•Samples containing the most heavy metals were those collected from Fuzhou Bay, Jinzhou Bay, central Bohai Sea mud area, and the Yellow River Delta.•Heavy metals in surface sediments in the Jinzhou Bay and Fuzhou Bay pose a serious ecological risk.
In this study, we report an effective approach to tune the crystallization, microstructure and charge transport of solution-processed organic semiconductors by blending with a conjugated polymer ...additive poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). When 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS pentacene) was used as a model semiconductor material to mix with different amount of P3HT, their intermolecular interactions led to distinctive TIPS pentacene film morphologies, including randomly-oriented crystal ribbons, elongated needles with enhanced long-range order, and grass-like curved microwires with interlinkages. Each type of morphology was found to further correlate to considerably different charge transport and device performance. As compared to pristine TIPS pentacene devices, bottom-gate, top-contact OTFTs with 2% in weight P3HT additive showed a 2-fold and 5-fold improvement of average field-effect mobility and performance consistency (defined as the ratio of average mobility to the standard deviation), respectively. The improvement in transistor electrical performance can be attributed to the combined effect of enhanced crystal orientation and uniformity, as well as increased areal coverage. This work can be applied beyond the particular example demonstrated in this study and to tune the charge transport of other small-molecule organic semiconductors in general.
BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT (BZR) is a class of specific transcription factor (TFs) involved in brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction. The regulatory mechanism of target genes mediated by BZR has ...become one of the key research areas in plant BR signaling networks. However, the functions of the BZR gene family in cucumber have not been well characterized.
In this study, six CsBZR gene family members were identified by analyzing the conserved domain of BES1 N in the cucumber genome. The size of CsBZR proteins ranges from 311 to 698 amino acids and are mostly located in the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis divided CsBZR genes into three subgroups. The gene structure and conserved domain showed that the BZR genes domain in the same group was conserved. Cis-acting element analysis showed that cucumber BZR genes were mainly involved in hormone response, stress response and growth regulation. The qRT-PCR results also confirmed CsBZR response to hormones and abiotic stress.
Collectively, the CsBZR gene is involved in regulating cucumber growth and development, particularly in hormone response and response to abiotic stress. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the structure and expression patterns of BZR genes.
The interfacial reaction between solid steel and liquid aluminum has been widely investigated in past decades; however, some issues, such as the solid/liquid interfacial structure, formation ...mechanisms of FeAl
3
and Fe
2
Al
5
, and interaction between the growth and dissolution of intermetallic compounds, are still not fully understood. In this study, a hot-dipping method is designed to investigate the interfacial reaction in the temperature range between 973 K and 1273 K (700 °C 1000 °C) for 10 to 60 seconds. The intensification of the dissolution leads to the transformation of FeAl
3
/liquid aluminum into Fe
2
Al
5
/liquid aluminum in the solid/liquid structure with increasing reaction temperature. The formation of FeAl
3
adhered to the interface depends not only on the reaction mechanism but also on precipitation at relatively low temperatures. In contrast, precipitation is the only formation mechanism for FeAl
3
at relatively high temperatures. Austenitizing results in the complete transformation of the tongue-like Fe
2
Al
5
/Fe interface to a flat shape. The growth of Fe
2
Al
5
with respect to the maximum thickness is governed by the interfacial reaction process, whereas the growth of Fe
2
Al
5
with respect to the average thickness is governed by the diffusion process in the range of 973 K to 1173 K (700 °C to 900 °C) for 10 to 60 seconds. The dissolution of the parent metal is due to the natural dissolution of FeAl
3
at low temperatures and Fe
2
Al
5
at high temperatures.
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