To study the influence factors of calcined layer-like Mg-Al hydrotalcites nanosheets adsorbing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in aqueous solution, Mg-Al hydrotalcite (HMA) nanosheets were prepared by ...one-step hydrothermal synthesis. The effect of calcination temperature on adsorption properties and structure of HMA (CHMA-x, x means different calcination temperature) was investigated. The prepared samples were systematically characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics showed the adsorption equilibrium reached within 2 h, and the factors, such as adsorption dosage, pH, and cycles were investigated. It was found that CHMA with 600 °C displayed a uniformly morphology, higher surface area about 106.3 m
2
/g, and excellent adsorption properties (1969 mg/g). The equilibrium adsorption data perfectly fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (
R
2
= 0.999) and the Freundlich model (
R
2
= 0.994). The main mechanism of CHMA adsorbing PFOA might be the “memory effect.” This study provided a new insight to prepare highly effective adsorbents in water treatment.
Evidence has shown that mesenchymal stem cells’ (MSCs) therapy has potential application in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, MSCs-derived exosomes can improve the renal function ...and prevent the progression of CKD. However, the mechanisms by which MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exo) ameliorate renal fibrosis in CKD remain largely unclear. To mimic an in vitro model of renal fibrosis, rat kidney tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) were stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. In addition, we established an in vivo model of unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis. Meanwhile, we exploited exosomes derived from MSCs for delivering miR-186-5p agomir into NRK52E cells or kidneys in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we found that level of miR-186-5p was significantly downregulated in TGF-β1-stimulated NRK52E cells and the obstructed kidneys of UUO mice. In addition, miR-186-5p can be transferred from MSCs to NRK52E cells via exosomes. MSCs-delivered miR-186-5p markedly reduced the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, and inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and apoptosis in TGF-β1-stimulated NRK52E cells. Moreover, exosomal miR-186-5p from MSCs attenuated kidney injury and fibrosis in a UUO mouse model via inhibition of the ECM protein accumulation and EMT process. Meanwhile, dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-186-5p downregulated Smad5 expression via direct binding with the 3′-UTR of Smad5. Collectively then, these findings indicated that exosomal miR-186-5p derived from MSCs could attenuate renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by downregulation of Smad5. These findings may help to understand the role of MSCs’ exosomes in alleviating renal fibrosis in CKD.
In this study, three types of adsorbents metal-organic frameworks were used to remove fluoride from wastewater. The influences of various parameters, such as initial fluoride concentration, pH, ...adsorption time, co-existing anions, and humic acid were also evaluated. The central composite design was used to optimize fluoride adsorption. Aluminum metal-organic frameworks (MIL-101(Al)), Ce(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)6 metal-organic frameworks(Ce-BTC) and La(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)6 metal-organic frameworks(La-BTC) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) for surface area and total pore volume. The adsorption performance of MIL-101 (Al) was the best, Ce-BTC was the second, and La-BTC was the worst. The adsorption kinetic and isotherms models were studied. The results of the response surface methodology revealed that pH was the largest influencing factor in the removal of fluoride by Ce-BTC. When the initial solution pH is 3, the adsorbent dosage is 0.8 g/L, and the initial fluorine concentration is 40 mg/L, the fluorine removal efficiency is 96.8%, which was the local maximum. The adsorption data of MIL-101(Al), Ce-BTC and La-BTC were in keeping with Langmuir isotherm models and pseudo-second-order. Thermodynamic data showed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous, and the entropy increases during the adsorption of F− on MOFs.
•Review on the classification and synthesis strategies of macroscopic MOFs.•Focus on the application of macroscopic MOFs in water treatment.•The mechanism of pollutants removed by macroscopic MOFs.
...The ultra-high specific surface area and adjustable porosity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have great application potential in removing contaminants in water. However, due to the powdery microcrystalline structure of MOFs, there were many problems in practical applications, such as blockage of pipes, secondary pollution, short service life, etc. Therefore, shaping the MOFs material of the microcrystalline structure into a macroscopic structure to overcome the above problems was an essential step in the application at the industrial level. In this review, the synthesis strategies of various forms macroscopic MOFs, such as beads, fibers, and aerogels, were systematically summarized. Since the process of macroscopic MOF for the practical wastewater treatment applications lags, we reviewed the removal efficiency, eliminate mechanism and possible influencing factors of macroscopic MOFs from four aspects (removal of oils and organic solvents; removal of dyes from contaminated waters; removal of heavy metal ions; Brackish water and seawater desalination). This study was intended to highlight some of the recent trends in industrial scale application of macroscopic MOFs materials.
► A cost-effective, toxic-free calcined layered double hydroxides were synthesized. ► The structures were lost during calcination but were reconstructed to perchlorate. ► Presence of Fe3+ in ...hydrotalcite would increase the attraction of perchlorate. ► Adsorbent could suppress the concentration of dissolved metal especially Al.
The calcination products containing Mg(II), Al(III), and Fe(III) in the brucite-like layers with varying Mg/Al/Fe molar ratios at 550°C were used as the adsorbent to remove perchlorate from aqueous solution, while the Mg/(Al–Fe) hydrotalcite compounds were synthesized by co-precipitation method at a constant pH value. The Mg/(Al–Fe) hydrotalcite compounds (HMAF) were characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TG–DTA. The characteristics showed that the layered double hydroxides structures in the HMAF were lost during calcination at 550°C, but were reconstructed subsequent to adsorption of perchlorate, indicating that the ‘memory effect’ appeared to play an important role in perchlorate adsorption. Batch adsorption studies were conducted under various equilibration conditions, such as molar ratios of Mg/Al/Fe, calcined temperature, different initial solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial perchlorate concentration, and co-existing anions. It was found that the existence of ferric iron in calcined Mg/(Al–Fe) hydrotalcite compound (CHMAF) was favorable to removal of perchlorate from water, and the best ratio of Mg/Al/Fe is 3:0.8:0.2 (CHMAF5%). This study demonstrated that the calcination product of Mg/(Al–Fe) hydrotalcite-like compound was a promising adsorbent for control of the perchlorate pollution in water.
The serine protease PRSS8 has shown important physiological and pathological functions, but its roles in cancer initiation and progression are unclear. We developed and dynamically characterized a ...conditional knockout Prss8
, p-Villin-Cre
mouse model. We found that genetic deficiency of the Prss8 gene caused spontaneous colitis and an inflamed rectum at an early age and caused intestinal tumors at a late age, which were linked to increased intestinal cell proliferation and migration but decreased cell differentiation. Increased PRSS8 expression inhibited cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice and inhibited cancer cell migration, invasion, colony formation and tumor sphere formation in vitro, but decreased PRSS8 expression facilitated malignancies in vivo and in vitro. Gene profiling on manipulated cancer cells and intestinal epithelial cells of Prss8 mouse models, gene set enrichment analysis and mechanistic studies revealed that PRSS8 targeted the Wnt/β-catenin, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and stem cell signaling pathways, which were further supported by the results from the TCGA data mining and validated by immunohistochemical staining on colorectal cancer tissue microarrays. In conclusion, PRSS8 is a novel tumor suppressor that plays critical roles in the suppression of colorectal carcinogenesis and metastasis.
Nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA) and nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA), two highly toxics and carcinogenic disinfection by-products, cannot be efficiently removed by conventional water treatment processes, while ...the ultrasound treatment was developed as a promising alternative. In this work, nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA) and nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) are degraded by ultrasound treatment. Greater than 99% of NDPA and NDBA mixing solution could be decomposed within 60 min at neutral pH under optimal ultrasound power and frequency settings of 100 W and 600 kHz, respectively. Free radical reactions (OH•) played a significant role and the reaction sites were predominately at the bubble interface. The degradation of both NDPA and NDBA exhibited pseudo-first-order degradation kinetics, and the rate constant
k
app
was influenced by a number of factors including ultrasonic frequency, power, initial concentration, initial pH, various anions and cations frequently present in drinking water, hydroxyl radical scavengers, and water matrices, especially the promoting effect of various anions and cations and water matrices. The results of this study suggest the potential for ultrasound treatment as a method for removing NAms from water.
Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a key feature of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by tubular epithelial cell (TEC) hypoxia and peritubular capillary (PTC) rarefaction. ...However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of hypoxic and normoxic HK-2 cells, identifying 572 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequent Gene Ontology (GO), protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network, and hub gene analyses revealed significant enrichment of DEGs in the HIF-1 signaling pathway based on KEGG enrichment analysis. To further explore TEC modulation under hypoxic conditions, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing targeting HIF-1α, identifying 2915 genes potentially regulated by HIF-1α. By comparing RNA sequencing and ChIP sequencing data, we identified 43 overlapping DEGs. By performing GO analysis and peak annotation with IGV, we identified two candidate molecules, VEGFA and BTG1, that are associated with angiogenesis and whose gene sequences were reliably bound by HIF-1α. Our study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying RIF, providing valuable insights for potential therapeutic interventions.
Chloramination of drinking water and wastewater can generate carcinogenic nitrosamines, among which, nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA) with large molecular weight and weak polarity has been commonly found. ...However, knowledge on the formation of NDPA remains highly limited. Laboratory tests were conducted to quantify NDPA formation during chloramination of nitrogenous precursors, including dipropylamine and methyldipropylamine, and pesticides such as trifluralin, oryzalin, and vernolat. Results showed that all precursors exhibited > 10.0% NDPA yields after 24 h. Oryzalin and trifluralin accomplished the highest (13.63%) and lowest (11.31%) yield, respectively. Maximal yields of all precursors were observed at pH 9.0 and temperature 288 K. Maximums of NDPA yield from oryzalin (18.27%) and vernolat (19.54%) were formed at Cl:N of 0.7:1.0, but maximal yields of dipropylamine (18.44%), methyldipropylamine (22.98%), and trifluralin (33.06%) were achieved at Cl:N of 1.2:1.0. Maximal NDPA yields of dipropylamine (37.14%), methyldipropylamine (32.84%), and vernolat (49.02%) were observed at NH
2
Cl
0
:precursor
0
= 500, but highest yields of trifluralin (30.24%) and oryzalin (25.53%) were accomplished at NH
2
Cl
0
:precursor
0
= 50. Bromide and organic contents in tap and raw water reduced NDPA due to competition for NH
2
Cl. Chloramination of water impacted by amines and pesticides should be careful of NDPA formation.
Rab7, an important member of the Rab family, is closely related to autophagy, endocytosis, apoptosis, and tumor suppression but few studies have described its association with renal fibrosis. In the ...early stage, our group studied the effects of Rab7 on production and degradation of extracellular matrix in hypoxic renal tubular epithelial cells. Because cell culture in vitro is different from the environment in vivo, it is urgent to understand the effects in vivo. In our current study, we established a renal fibrosis model in Rab7-knock-in mice (prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 technology) and wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Seven and 14 days after UUO, the expression of the Rab7 protein in WT mice, as well as the autophagic activity, renal function, and the degree of renal fibrosis in WT and Rab7-knock-in mice were examined by blood biochemical assay, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. We found that the Rab7 expression in WT mice increased over time. Furthermore, the autophagic activity constantly increased in both groups, although it was higher in the Rab7-knock-in mice than in the WT mice at the same time point. Seven days after UUO, the degree of renal fibrosis was milder in the Rab7-knock-in mice than in the WT mice, but it became more severe 14 days after surgery. Similar results were found for renal function. Therefore, Rab7 suppressed renal fibrosis in mice initially, but eventually it aggravated fibrosis with the activation of autophagy.
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