Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of posts...Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of postsynaptic dendritic spines,underlie the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders.Protocadherin 17(PCDH17)is associated with major mood disorders,including bipolar disorder and depression.However,the molecular mechanisms by which PCDH17 regulates spine number,morphology,and behavior remain elusive.In this study,we found that PCDH17 functions at postsynaptic sites,restricting the number and size of dendritic spines in excitatory neurons.Selective overexpression of PCDH17 in the ventral hippocampal CA1 results in spine loss and anxiety-and depression-like behaviors in mice.Mechanistically,PCDH17 interacts with actin-relevant proteins and regulates actin filament(F-actin)organization.Specifically,PCDH17 binds to ROCK2,increasing its expression and subsequently enhancing the activity of downstream targets such as LIMK1 and the phosphorylation of cofilin serine-3(Ser3).Inhibition of ROCK2 activity with belumosudil(KD025)ameliorates the defective F-actin organization and spine structure induced by PCDH17 overexpression,suggesting that ROCK2 mediates the effects of PCDH17 on F-actin content and spine development.Hence,these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PCDH17 regulates synapse development and behavior,providing pathological insights into the neurobiological basis of mood disorders.展开更多
Self-assembly of bacteria in electric fields is a promising route to fabricate biomaterials with reversible and specific structures.However,due to relatively less studies,our understanding of the self-assembly of bact...Self-assembly of bacteria in electric fields is a promising route to fabricate biomaterials with reversible and specific structures.However,due to relatively less studies,our understanding of the self-assembly of bacteria in electric fields is still incomplete.Particularly,how different bacterial species behave differently in their fieldmediated self-assembly behavior remains to be disclosed.In this study,we choose four bacterial species,including Shewanella oneidensis,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis as model systems,and investigate their self-assembly behavior in alternating-current(AC)electric fields for both diluted and concentrated suspensions.The phase diagrams in the plane of applied field strength vs frequency are obtained.The results show that in diluted suspensions,a transition sequence of isotropic–paranematic–string–columnar phases is observed in all strains as the field strength increases.Details of the assembled structures are quantitatively differentiated among different strains.In concentrated suspensions,besides the isotropic and paranematic phases,a higher ordered phase with interdigitating rectangular crystal domains(OIR)and an ordered phase with smectic A liquid crystal domains are observed for S.oneidensis and P.aeruginosa,respectively.Our findings shed new light on fabricating potential biomaterials by assembling cells of appropriately chosen bacterial species that have desired surface properties under AC electric fields.展开更多
Approximately 10%-15% of couples are infertile, and a male factor is involved in almost half of these cases. This observation is due in part to defects in spermatogenesis, and the underlying causes, including genetic ...Approximately 10%-15% of couples are infertile, and a male factor is involved in almost half of these cases. This observation is due in part to defects in spermatogenesis, and the underlying causes, including genetic abnormalities, remain largely unknown. Until recently, the only genetic tests used in the diagnosis of male infertility were aimed at detecting the presence of microdeletions of the long arm of the Y chromosome and/or chromosomal abnormalities. Various other single-gene or polygenic defects have been proposed to be involved in male fertility. However, their causative effects often remain unproven. The recent evolution in the development of whole-genome-based techniques and the large-scale analysis of mouse models might help in this process. Through knockout mouse models, at least 388 genes have been shown to be associated with spermatogenesis in mice. However, problems often arise when translating this information from mice to humans.展开更多
Until now, although comprehensive management strategies have improved treatment, there are no treatments to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression[1]. In the past few decades, there has been increasing eviden...Until now, although comprehensive management strategies have improved treatment, there are no treatments to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression[1]. In the past few decades, there has been increasing evidence that inflammation plays a very important role in silicosis. Injury-induced inflammation is an effective strategy to remove harmful stimuli and initiate a healing process. However, it might be harmful to the organism and result in a permanent disease state if the inflammation is prolonged[2].展开更多
Phosphatidylserine(PS)is distributed asymmetrically in the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells.Phosphatidylserine flippase(P4-ATPase)transports PS from the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer to the inner leaflet of th...Phosphatidylserine(PS)is distributed asymmetrically in the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells.Phosphatidylserine flippase(P4-ATPase)transports PS from the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer to the inner leaflet of the membrane to maintain PS asymmetry.TheβsubunitTMEM30 Ais indispensable for transport and proper function of P4-ATPase.Previous studies have shown that the ATP11 A and TMEM30 A complex is the molecular switch for myotube formation.However,the role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration remains elusive.In the current study,Tmem30 a was highly expressed in the tibialis anterior(TA)muscles of dystrophin-null(mdx)mice and BaCl2-induced muscle injury model mice.We generated a satellite cell(SC)-specific Tmem30 a conditional knockout(cKO)mouse model to investigate the role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration.The regenerative ability of cKO mice was evaluated by analyzing the number and diameter of regenerated SCs after the TA muscles were injured by BaCl2-injection.Compared to the control mice,the cKO mice showed decreased Pax7+and MYH3+SCs,indicating diminished SC proliferation,and decreased expression of muscular regulatory factors(MYOD and MYOG),suggesting impaired myoblast proliferation in skeletal muscle regeneration.Taken together,these results demonstrate the essential role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration.展开更多
The PARK2 gene is a common disease gene in Han Chinese patients with Parkinson＇s disease.The detection of mutations in the PARK2 gene remains low.To investigate the role PARK2 gene mutations play in the pathogenesis ...The PARK2 gene is a common disease gene in Han Chinese patients with Parkinson＇s disease.The detection of mutations in the PARK2 gene remains low.To investigate the role PARK2 gene mutations play in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease,30 Han Chinese patients with early-onset Parkinson＇s disease and 38 normal controls were studied to determine the sequence changes of 1,4,6 and 7 exon sections.In the 30 patients with Parkinson＇s disease,a heterozygous intron mutation（nt 119,G→G/A）in exon 1 was detected in one case;a homozygous intron mutation（nt 526500,T→C）between intron 3 and exon 4 in fourteen cases was found;a heterozygous intron mutation（nt 526607,G→G/A）between intron 3 and exon 4 was observed in eight cases;an exon 6missense mutation（nt 754317,C→C/T;codon 193,CGG→CGG/TGG;aa 193,Arg→Arg/Trp）in three cases was seen;and an exon 7 missense mutation（nt 941943,C→A/C;codon 272,CTC→CTC/ATC;aa 272,Leu→Leu/lle）was found in one case.These changes were not found in the normal population.The results indicated that the PARK2 exons 6 and 7 mutations are possibly pathogenic mutations,along with the intron 3-exert 4 and exon 1 mutations.PARK2 gene mutations are possible factors leading to the onset of Parkinson＇s disease.展开更多
Ectopic mineralization- inappropriate biomineralization in soft tissues- is a frequent finding in physiological aging processes and several common disorders, which can be associated with significant morbidity and mort...Ectopic mineralization- inappropriate biomineralization in soft tissues- is a frequent finding in physiological aging processes and several common disorders, which can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Further, pathologic mineralization is seen in several rare genetic disorders, which often present life-threatening phenotypes. These disorders are classified based on the mechanisms through which the mineralization occurs: metastatic or dystrophic calcification or ectopic ossification. Underlying mechanisms have been extensively studied, which resulted in several hypotheses regarding the etiology of mineralization in the extracellular matrix of soft tissue. These hypotheses include intracellular and extracellular mechanisms, such as the formation of matrix vesicles, aberrant osteogenic and chondrogenic signaling, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Though coherence between the different findings is not always clear, current insights have led to improvement of the diagnosis and management of ectopic mineralization patients, thus translating pathogenetic knowledge(variome) to the phenotype(phenome). In this review, we will focus on the clinical presentation, pathogenesis and management of primary genetic soft tissue mineralization disorders. As examples of dystrophic calcification disorders Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Generalized arterial calcification of infancy, Keutel syndrome, Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification and Arterial calcification due to CD73(NT5E) deficiency will be discussed. Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis will be reviewed as an example of mineralization disorders caused by metastatic calcification.展开更多
Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis（XLRS, MIM#312700） belongs to a group of the vitreoretinal dystrophies. We aimed to describe the phenotype-genotype correlation of three XLRS cases in juveniles with different novel mu...Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis（XLRS, MIM#312700） belongs to a group of the vitreoretinal dystrophies. We aimed to describe the phenotype-genotype correlation of three XLRS cases in juveniles with different novel mutations from the Lithuanian population. The patients demonstrated macular retinoschisis and typical cyst-like cavities on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography（SD-OCT） images. The mean central foveal thickness was 569.7 μm. Two patients presented with peripheral retinoschisis. Flash electroretinogram demonstrated a reduced b/a ratio（〈1.0） in all patients. RS1（NM_000330.3） gene coding exons Sanger sequencing was performed. RS1 c.599 G〉T（p.R200 L） mutation was detected in one case, showing to be pathogenic in silico analysis. c.（92_97） ins C（p.W33 fs） mutation was identified for another patient, indicating the variant is possibly damaging in silico analysis. The third case was identified with a pathogenic mutation c.422 C〉G（p.R141 H）, HGMD CM981753. These are the first cases of XLRS in the Lithuanian population confirmed by molecular genotyping. Presented patients had a different genotype but similar phenotypic traits.展开更多
The study of the neuron has always been a fundamental aspect when it came to studying mental illnesses such as autism and depression. The protein protocadherin-9 (PCDH9) is an important transmembrane protein in the de...The study of the neuron has always been a fundamental aspect when it came to studying mental illnesses such as autism and depression. The protein protocadherin-9 (PCDH9) is an important transmembrane protein in the development of the neuron synapse. Hence, research on its protein interactome is key to understanding its functionality and specific properties. A newly discovered biotin ligase, TurboID, is a proximity labeler that is designed to be able to label and observe transmembrane proteins, something that previous methods struggled with. The TurboID method is verified in HEK293T cells and primary cultured mouse cortical neurons. Results have proven the validity of the TurboID method in observing PCDH9-interacting proteins.展开更多
BACKGROUND： ATP7B gene exon 8 Arg778Leu and exon 12 Arg952Lys are gene mutation hot spots in Chinese Han patients with hepatolenticular degeneration, or Wilson＇s disease （WD）. However, the gene fragments are too s...BACKGROUND： ATP7B gene exon 8 Arg778Leu and exon 12 Arg952Lys are gene mutation hot spots in Chinese Han patients with hepatolenticular degeneration, or Wilson＇s disease （WD）. However, the gene fragments are too short for detection and the mutation detection rate remains low. OBJECTIVE： To analyze DNA sequences of ATP7B gene exon 8-exon 9 and exon 10-exon 12 sections. DESIGN, TIME AND SE＇I-rlNG： A concurrent, non-randomized, controlled, genetic polymorphism study was performed at the Anhui Medical Genetics Center, Anhui, China from March to July in 2009. PARTICIPANTS： Fifty patients, who were admitted to the Department of Neurology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Traditional Chinese Medical College between March and July in 2009, were diagnosed with WD. The WD group comprised 32 males and 18 females, with an average age of （18.8 ± 8.3） years. WD was confirmed by clinical observation, as well as physical, imaging, and biochemical examinations, including testing for serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and copper oxidase. The control group comprised 20 normal subjects, who underwent physical examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Traditional Chinese Medical College, and included 13 males and 7 females, with an average age of （27.9 ± 2.4） years. All subjects were Chinese Han population. METHODS： Genomic DNA was extracted from 50 WD patients and 20 normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of ATP7B gene exon 8-exon 9 （about 1 100 bp） and exon 10-exon 12 （about 850 bp） segments was performed. DNA exon-intron amplification products from all subjects were processed through direct bidirectional sequencing, and sequencing results were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Sequence changes of ATPTB gene exon 8-exon 9 and exon 10-exon 12 segments. RESULTS： In the 50 included WD patients, ATP7B gene intron 8 nt53592A → G with nt53671G→ A homozygous mutation was detected between exon 8-exon 9 in seven cases; exon 8 Arg778Leu mutations with Leu770Leu synonymous mutation was detected in four cases; exert 11 Gly790Arg heterozygous missense mutation between exon 10-exon 12 was found in four cases; exon 12 Arg952Lys heterozygous missense mutation was seen in 11 cases; and two additional cases were associated with exon 1211e929Val polymorphism. CONCLUSION： ATP7B gene intron 8 mutation is a possible pathogenic mutation that is associated with WD pathogenesis. The exon 11 mutation rate accounts for 8% of all WD patients, and the very few previously reported cases deserve further study.展开更多
More than 3 years have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19 and yet, the origin of the causal virus SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. We examined the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing non-redundant genome ...More than 3 years have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19 and yet, the origin of the causal virus SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. We examined the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing non-redundant genome sets classified based on six closely linked mutations. The results indicated that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in February 2019 or earlier and evolved into three main haplotypes (GL, DS, and DL) before May 2019, which then continued to evolve in parallel. The dominant haplotype GL had spread worldwide in the summer (May to July) of 2019 and then evolved into virulent strains in December 2019 that triggered the global pandemic, whereas haplotypes DL and DS arrived in China in October 2019 and caused the epidemic in China in December 2019. Therefore, haplotype GL neither originated in China nor from the viral strains that caused the epidemic in China. Accordingly, considering data solely from China would be inadequate to reveal the mysterious origin of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing the necessity of global cooperation.展开更多
Objective To determine if ARHGEF10 has a haploinsufficient effect and provide evidence to evaluate the severity,if any,during prenatal consultation.Methods Zebrafish was used as a model for generating mutant.The patte...Objective To determine if ARHGEF10 has a haploinsufficient effect and provide evidence to evaluate the severity,if any,during prenatal consultation.Methods Zebrafish was used as a model for generating mutant.The pattern of arhgef10 expression in the early stages of zebrafish development was observed using whole-mount in situ hybridization(WISH).CRISPR/Cas9 was applied to generate a zebrafish model with a single-copy or homozygous arhgef10 deletion.Activity and light/dark tests were performed in arhgef10^(−/−),arhgef10^(+/−),and wild-type zebrafish larvae.ARHGEF10 was knocked down using small interferon RNA(siRNA)in the SH-SY5Y cell line,and cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using the CCK-8 assay and Annexin V/PI staining,respectively.Results WISH showed that during zebrafish embryonic development arhgef10 was expressed in the midbrain and hindbrain at 36-72 h post-fertilization(hpf)and in the hemopoietic system at 36-48 hpf.The zebrafish larvae with single-copy and homozygous arhgef10 deletions had lower exercise capacity and poorer responses to environmental changes compared to wild-type zebrafish larvae.Moreover,arhgef10^(−/−) zebrafish had more severe symptoms than arhgef10^(+/-) zebrafish.Knockdown of ARHGEF10 in human neuroblastoma cells led to decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis.Conclusion Based on our findings,ARHGEF10 appeared to have a haploinsufficiency effect.展开更多
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that can be identified as a small envelope with a positive-stranded RNA and an important medical pathogen, which causes deadly human diseases. The virus is carried by Aedes aegypti mo...Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that can be identified as a small envelope with a positive-stranded RNA and an important medical pathogen, which causes deadly human diseases. The virus is carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through a blood meal and it is also spread through body fluids. ZIKV infection may present with symptoms like fever, myalgia, maculopapular rash as well as neurological sequelae, which include, microcephaly, epilepsy, and Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS). This put the virus on a scale of the public health burden of almost 87 countries. The potential threat of ZIKV infection is not completely eradicated in many countries in Africa, America, and the Western Pacific regions. There are no vaccines and treatments available to date. Since ZIKV causes microcephaly in utero by targeting neural progenitor cells, inducing apoptosis, and impairing neurodevelopment, this article hopes to evaluate the neurological disorders associated with the Zika virus infection while elucidating the current trends in the development of vaccines and drugs.展开更多
The endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane protein complex(EMC)is responsible for monitoring the biogenesis and synthetic quality of membrane proteins with tail-anchored or multiple transmembrane domains.The EMC subunit EM...The endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane protein complex(EMC)is responsible for monitoring the biogenesis and synthetic quality of membrane proteins with tail-anchored or multiple transmembrane domains.The EMC subunit EMC6 is one of the core members of EMC and forms an enclosed hydrophilic vestibule in cooperation with EMC3.Despite studies demonstrating that deletion of EMC3 led to rhodopsin mislocalization in rod photoreceptors of mice,the precise mechanism leading to the failure of rhodopsin trafficking remains unclear.Here,we generated the first rod photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6(RKO)and cone photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6(CKO)mouse models.Deficiency of Emc6 in rod photoreceptors led to progressive shortening of outer segments(OS),impaired visual function,mislocalization and reduced expression of rhodopsin,and increased gliosis in rod photoreceptors.In addition,CKO mice displayed the progressive death of cone photoreceptors and abnormal localization of cone opsin protein.Subsequently,proteomics analysis of the RKO mouse retina illustrated that several cilium-related proteins,particularly anoctamin-2(ANO2)and transmembrane protein 67(TMEM67),were significantly down-regulated prior to OS degeneration.Detrimental rod photoreceptor cilia and mislocalized membrane disc proteins were evident in RKO mice.Our data revealed that in addition to monitoring the synthesis of rhodopsin-dominated membrane disc proteins,EMC6 also impacted rod photoreceptors'ciliogenesis by regulating the synthesis of membrane proteins associated with cilia,contributing to the mislocalization of membrane disc proteins.展开更多
High myopia(HM)is the primary cause of blindness,with the microstructural organization and composition of collagenous fibers in the cornea and sclera playing a crucial role in the biomechanical behavior of these tissu...High myopia(HM)is the primary cause of blindness,with the microstructural organization and composition of collagenous fibers in the cornea and sclera playing a crucial role in the biomechanical behavior of these tissues.In a previously reported myopic linkage region,MYP5(17q21-22),a potential candidate gene,LRRC46(c.C235T,p.Q79X),was identified in a large Han Chinese pedigree.LRRC46 is expressed in various eye tissues in humans and mice,including the retina,cornea,and sclera.In subsequent cell experiments,the mutation(c.C235T)decreased the expression of LRRC46 protein in human corneal epithelial cells(HCE-T).Further investigation revealed that Lrrc46^(-/-)mice(KO)exhibited a classical myopia phenotype.The thickness of the cornea and sclera in KO mice became thinner and more pronounced with age,the activity of limbal stem cells decreased,and microstructural changes were observed in the fibroblasts of the sclera and cornea.We performed RNA-seq on scleral and corneal tissues of KO and normal control wild-type(WT)mice,which indicated a significant downregulation of the collagen synthesis-related pathway(extracellular matrix,ECM)in KO mice.Subsequent in vitro studies further indicated that LRRC46,a member of the important LRR protein family,primarily affected the formation of collagens.This study suggested that LRRC46 is a novel candidate gene for HM,influencing collagen protein VⅢ(Col8a1)formation in the eye and gradually altering the biomechanical structure of the cornea and sclera,thereby promoting the occurrence and development of HM.展开更多
Alzheimer's disease(AD),characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates including phosphorylated Tau aggregates,is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic agents.Autophagy plays...Alzheimer's disease(AD),characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates including phosphorylated Tau aggregates,is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic agents.Autophagy plays a critical role in the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates,and transcription factor EB(TFEB)is a master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis.Thus,small-molecule autophagy enhancers targeting TFEB hold promise for AD therapy.Here,we found that celastrol,an active ingredient isolated from the root extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii(Lei Gong Teng in Chinese)enhanced TFEB-mediated autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis in vitro and in mouse brains.Importantly,celastrol reduced phosphorylated Tau aggregates and attenuated memory dysfunction and cognitive deficits in P301S Tau and 3xTg mice,two commonly used AD animal models.Mechanistical studies suggest that TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway is responsible for phosphorylated Tau degradation in response to celastrol.Overall,our findings indicate that Celastrol is a novel TFEB activator that promotes the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates and improves memory in AD animal models.Therefore,Celastrol shows potential as a novel agent for the treatment and/or prevention of AD and other tauopathies.展开更多
This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder(ASD) in Chinese children.We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multis...This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder(ASD) in Chinese children.We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multistage convenient cluster sampling.The Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale was used for the screening process.Of the target population of 142,086 children,88.5%(n=125,806) participated in the study.A total of 363 children were confirmed as having ASD.The observed ASD prevalence rate was 0.29%(95% CI:0.26%-0.32%) for the overall population.After adjustment for response rates,the estimated number of ASD cases was867 in the target population sample,thereby achieving an estimated prevalence of 0.70%(95% CI:0.64%-0.74%).The prevalence was significantly higher in boys than in girls(0.95%;95% CI:0.87%-1.02% versus 0.30%;95%CI:0.26%-0.34%;P <0.001).Of the 363 confirmed ASD cases,43.3% were newly diagnosed,and most of those(90.4%) were attending regular schools,and 68.8% of the children with ASD had at least one neuropsychiatric comorbidity.Our findings provide reliable data on the estimated ASD prevalence and comorbidities in Chinese children.展开更多
Parkinson's disease(PD)is the most common neurodegenerative movement disease.It is featured by abnormal alphα-synuclein(α-syn)aggregation in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.Macroautophagy(autophagy)...Parkinson's disease(PD)is the most common neurodegenerative movement disease.It is featured by abnormal alphα-synuclein(α-syn)aggregation in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.Macroautophagy(autophagy)is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process for degradation of cellular contents,including protein aggregates,to maintain cellular homeostasis.Corynoxine B(Cory B),a natural alkaloid isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla(Miq.)Jacks.,has been reported to promote the clearance ofα-syn in cell models by inducing autophagy.However,the molecular mechanism by which Cory B induces autophagy is not known,and theα-syn-lowering activity of Cory B has not been verified in animal models.Here,we report that Cory B enhanced the activity of Beclin 1/VPS34 complex and increased autophagy by promoting the interaction between Beclin 1 and HMGB1/2.Depletion of HMGB1/2 impaired Cory B-induced autophagy.We showed for the first time that,similar to HMGB1,HMGB2 is also required for autophagy and depletion of HMGB2 decreased autophagy levels and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseⅢactivity both under basal and stimulated conditions.By applying cellular thermal shift assay,surface plasmon resonance,and molecular docking,we confirmed that Cory B directly binds to HMGB1/2 near the C106 site.Furthermore,in vivo studies with a wild-typeα-syn transgenic drosophila model of PD and an A53Tα-syn transgenic mouse model of PD,Cory B enhanced autophagy,promotedα-syn clearance and improved behavioral abnormalities.Taken together,the results of this study reveal that Cory B enhances phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseⅢactivity/autophagy by binding to HMGB1/2 and that this enhancement is neuroprotective against PD.展开更多
Critical coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is associated with high mortality and potential genetic factors have been reported to be involved in the development of critical COVID-19.We performed a genome-wide associati...Critical coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is associated with high mortality and potential genetic factors have been reported to be involved in the development of critical COVID-19.We performed a genome-wide association study to identify the genetic factors responsible for developing critical COVID-19.632 critical patients with COVID-19 and 3021 healthy controls from the Chinese population were recruited.First,we identified a genome-wide significant difference of IL-6 rs2069837(p=9.73×10^(−15),OR=0.41)between 437 critical patients with COVID-19 and 2551 normal controls in the discovery cohort.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82171506 and 31872778)Discipline Innovative Engineering Plan(111 Program)of China(B13036)+3 种基金Key Laboratory Grant from Hunan Province(2016TP1006)Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province(2021DK2001,Innovative Team Program 2019RS1010)Innovation-Driven Team Project from Central South University(2020CX016)Hunan Hundred Talents Program for Young Outstanding Scientists。
文摘Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of postsynaptic dendritic spines,underlie the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders.Protocadherin 17(PCDH17)is associated with major mood disorders,including bipolar disorder and depression.However,the molecular mechanisms by which PCDH17 regulates spine number,morphology,and behavior remain elusive.In this study,we found that PCDH17 functions at postsynaptic sites,restricting the number and size of dendritic spines in excitatory neurons.Selective overexpression of PCDH17 in the ventral hippocampal CA1 results in spine loss and anxiety-and depression-like behaviors in mice.Mechanistically,PCDH17 interacts with actin-relevant proteins and regulates actin filament(F-actin)organization.Specifically,PCDH17 binds to ROCK2,increasing its expression and subsequently enhancing the activity of downstream targets such as LIMK1 and the phosphorylation of cofilin serine-3(Ser3).Inhibition of ROCK2 activity with belumosudil(KD025)ameliorates the defective F-actin organization and spine structure induced by PCDH17 overexpression,suggesting that ROCK2 mediates the effects of PCDH17 on F-actin content and spine development.Hence,these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PCDH17 regulates synapse development and behavior,providing pathological insights into the neurobiological basis of mood disorders.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFC3402401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12374206)。
文摘Self-assembly of bacteria in electric fields is a promising route to fabricate biomaterials with reversible and specific structures.However,due to relatively less studies,our understanding of the self-assembly of bacteria in electric fields is still incomplete.Particularly,how different bacterial species behave differently in their fieldmediated self-assembly behavior remains to be disclosed.In this study,we choose four bacterial species,including Shewanella oneidensis,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis as model systems,and investigate their self-assembly behavior in alternating-current(AC)electric fields for both diluted and concentrated suspensions.The phase diagrams in the plane of applied field strength vs frequency are obtained.The results show that in diluted suspensions,a transition sequence of isotropic–paranematic–string–columnar phases is observed in all strains as the field strength increases.Details of the assembled structures are quantitatively differentiated among different strains.In concentrated suspensions,besides the isotropic and paranematic phases,a higher ordered phase with interdigitating rectangular crystal domains(OIR)and an ordered phase with smectic A liquid crystal domains are observed for S.oneidensis and P.aeruginosa,respectively.Our findings shed new light on fabricating potential biomaterials by assembling cells of appropriately chosen bacterial species that have desired surface properties under AC electric fields.
文摘Approximately 10%-15% of couples are infertile, and a male factor is involved in almost half of these cases. This observation is due in part to defects in spermatogenesis, and the underlying causes, including genetic abnormalities, remain largely unknown. Until recently, the only genetic tests used in the diagnosis of male infertility were aimed at detecting the presence of microdeletions of the long arm of the Y chromosome and/or chromosomal abnormalities. Various other single-gene or polygenic defects have been proposed to be involved in male fertility. However, their causative effects often remain unproven. The recent evolution in the development of whole-genome-based techniques and the large-scale analysis of mouse models might help in this process. Through knockout mouse models, at least 388 genes have been shown to be associated with spermatogenesis in mice. However, problems often arise when translating this information from mice to humans.
文摘Until now, although comprehensive management strategies have improved treatment, there are no treatments to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression[1]. In the past few decades, there has been increasing evidence that inflammation plays a very important role in silicosis. Injury-induced inflammation is an effective strategy to remove harmful stimuli and initiate a healing process. However, it might be harmful to the organism and result in a permanent disease state if the inflammation is prolonged[2].
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81770950,81970841)Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(CAMS)Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-12M-5-032)Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province(21ZDYF4279,2020JDZH0026,2021JDZH0022)。
文摘Phosphatidylserine(PS)is distributed asymmetrically in the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells.Phosphatidylserine flippase(P4-ATPase)transports PS from the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer to the inner leaflet of the membrane to maintain PS asymmetry.TheβsubunitTMEM30 Ais indispensable for transport and proper function of P4-ATPase.Previous studies have shown that the ATP11 A and TMEM30 A complex is the molecular switch for myotube formation.However,the role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration remains elusive.In the current study,Tmem30 a was highly expressed in the tibialis anterior(TA)muscles of dystrophin-null(mdx)mice and BaCl2-induced muscle injury model mice.We generated a satellite cell(SC)-specific Tmem30 a conditional knockout(cKO)mouse model to investigate the role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration.The regenerative ability of cKO mice was evaluated by analyzing the number and diameter of regenerated SCs after the TA muscles were injured by BaCl2-injection.Compared to the control mice,the cKO mice showed decreased Pax7+and MYH3+SCs,indicating diminished SC proliferation,and decreased expression of muscular regulatory factors(MYOD and MYOG),suggesting impaired myoblast proliferation in skeletal muscle regeneration.Taken together,these results demonstrate the essential role of Tmem30 a in skeletal muscle regeneration.
文摘The PARK2 gene is a common disease gene in Han Chinese patients with Parkinson＇s disease.The detection of mutations in the PARK2 gene remains low.To investigate the role PARK2 gene mutations play in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease,30 Han Chinese patients with early-onset Parkinson＇s disease and 38 normal controls were studied to determine the sequence changes of 1,4,6 and 7 exon sections.In the 30 patients with Parkinson＇s disease,a heterozygous intron mutation（nt 119,G→G/A）in exon 1 was detected in one case;a homozygous intron mutation（nt 526500,T→C）between intron 3 and exon 4 in fourteen cases was found;a heterozygous intron mutation（nt 526607,G→G/A）between intron 3 and exon 4 was observed in eight cases;an exon 6missense mutation（nt 754317,C→C/T;codon 193,CGG→CGG/TGG;aa 193,Arg→Arg/Trp）in three cases was seen;and an exon 7 missense mutation（nt 941943,C→A/C;codon 272,CTC→CTC/ATC;aa 272,Leu→Leu/lle）was found in one case.These changes were not found in the normal population.The results indicated that the PARK2 exons 6 and 7 mutations are possibly pathogenic mutations,along with the intron 3-exert 4 and exon 1 mutations.PARK2 gene mutations are possible factors leading to the onset of Parkinson＇s disease.
基金Supported by The Research Foundation Flanders(FWO)(FWO14/ASP/084),Vanakker OM is a senior clinical investigator at the Fund for Scientific Research-FlandersContract grant sponsor:FWO grant No G.0241.11NMethusalem grant No.08/01M01108
文摘Ectopic mineralization- inappropriate biomineralization in soft tissues- is a frequent finding in physiological aging processes and several common disorders, which can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Further, pathologic mineralization is seen in several rare genetic disorders, which often present life-threatening phenotypes. These disorders are classified based on the mechanisms through which the mineralization occurs: metastatic or dystrophic calcification or ectopic ossification. Underlying mechanisms have been extensively studied, which resulted in several hypotheses regarding the etiology of mineralization in the extracellular matrix of soft tissue. These hypotheses include intracellular and extracellular mechanisms, such as the formation of matrix vesicles, aberrant osteogenic and chondrogenic signaling, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Though coherence between the different findings is not always clear, current insights have led to improvement of the diagnosis and management of ectopic mineralization patients, thus translating pathogenetic knowledge(variome) to the phenotype(phenome). In this review, we will focus on the clinical presentation, pathogenesis and management of primary genetic soft tissue mineralization disorders. As examples of dystrophic calcification disorders Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Generalized arterial calcification of infancy, Keutel syndrome, Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification and Arterial calcification due to CD73(NT5E) deficiency will be discussed. Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis will be reviewed as an example of mineralization disorders caused by metastatic calcification.
文摘Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis（XLRS, MIM#312700） belongs to a group of the vitreoretinal dystrophies. We aimed to describe the phenotype-genotype correlation of three XLRS cases in juveniles with different novel mutations from the Lithuanian population. The patients demonstrated macular retinoschisis and typical cyst-like cavities on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography（SD-OCT） images. The mean central foveal thickness was 569.7 μm. Two patients presented with peripheral retinoschisis. Flash electroretinogram demonstrated a reduced b/a ratio（〈1.0） in all patients. RS1（NM_000330.3） gene coding exons Sanger sequencing was performed. RS1 c.599 G〉T（p.R200 L） mutation was detected in one case, showing to be pathogenic in silico analysis. c.（92_97） ins C（p.W33 fs） mutation was identified for another patient, indicating the variant is possibly damaging in silico analysis. The third case was identified with a pathogenic mutation c.422 C〉G（p.R141 H）, HGMD CM981753. These are the first cases of XLRS in the Lithuanian population confirmed by molecular genotyping. Presented patients had a different genotype but similar phenotypic traits.
文摘The study of the neuron has always been a fundamental aspect when it came to studying mental illnesses such as autism and depression. The protein protocadherin-9 (PCDH9) is an important transmembrane protein in the development of the neuron synapse. Hence, research on its protein interactome is key to understanding its functionality and specific properties. A newly discovered biotin ligase, TurboID, is a proximity labeler that is designed to be able to label and observe transmembrane proteins, something that previous methods struggled with. The TurboID method is verified in HEK293T cells and primary cultured mouse cortical neurons. Results have proven the validity of the TurboID method in observing PCDH9-interacting proteins.
文摘BACKGROUND： ATP7B gene exon 8 Arg778Leu and exon 12 Arg952Lys are gene mutation hot spots in Chinese Han patients with hepatolenticular degeneration, or Wilson＇s disease （WD）. However, the gene fragments are too short for detection and the mutation detection rate remains low. OBJECTIVE： To analyze DNA sequences of ATP7B gene exon 8-exon 9 and exon 10-exon 12 sections. DESIGN, TIME AND SE＇I-rlNG： A concurrent, non-randomized, controlled, genetic polymorphism study was performed at the Anhui Medical Genetics Center, Anhui, China from March to July in 2009. PARTICIPANTS： Fifty patients, who were admitted to the Department of Neurology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Traditional Chinese Medical College between March and July in 2009, were diagnosed with WD. The WD group comprised 32 males and 18 females, with an average age of （18.8 ± 8.3） years. WD was confirmed by clinical observation, as well as physical, imaging, and biochemical examinations, including testing for serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and copper oxidase. The control group comprised 20 normal subjects, who underwent physical examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Traditional Chinese Medical College, and included 13 males and 7 females, with an average age of （27.9 ± 2.4） years. All subjects were Chinese Han population. METHODS： Genomic DNA was extracted from 50 WD patients and 20 normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of ATP7B gene exon 8-exon 9 （about 1 100 bp） and exon 10-exon 12 （about 850 bp） segments was performed. DNA exon-intron amplification products from all subjects were processed through direct bidirectional sequencing, and sequencing results were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Sequence changes of ATPTB gene exon 8-exon 9 and exon 10-exon 12 segments. RESULTS： In the 50 included WD patients, ATP7B gene intron 8 nt53592A → G with nt53671G→ A homozygous mutation was detected between exon 8-exon 9 in seven cases; exon 8 Arg778Leu mutations with Leu770Leu synonymous mutation was detected in four cases; exert 11 Gly790Arg heterozygous missense mutation between exon 10-exon 12 was found in four cases; exon 12 Arg952Lys heterozygous missense mutation was seen in 11 cases; and two additional cases were associated with exon 1211e929Val polymorphism. CONCLUSION： ATP7B gene intron 8 mutation is a possible pathogenic mutation that is associated with WD pathogenesis. The exon 11 mutation rate accounts for 8% of all WD patients, and the very few previously reported cases deserve further study.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China and the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund to J.Z.(1630052020022)by the Project of Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Provincial of China to L.Y.(2019JDJQ0035).
文摘More than 3 years have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19 and yet, the origin of the causal virus SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. We examined the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing non-redundant genome sets classified based on six closely linked mutations. The results indicated that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in February 2019 or earlier and evolved into three main haplotypes (GL, DS, and DL) before May 2019, which then continued to evolve in parallel. The dominant haplotype GL had spread worldwide in the summer (May to July) of 2019 and then evolved into virulent strains in December 2019 that triggered the global pandemic, whereas haplotypes DL and DS arrived in China in October 2019 and caused the epidemic in China in December 2019. Therefore, haplotype GL neither originated in China nor from the viral strains that caused the epidemic in China. Accordingly, considering data solely from China would be inadequate to reveal the mysterious origin of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing the necessity of global cooperation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[NSFCno.81741021]the National Key Research and Development Program of China[no.2016YFC1000501,2016YFC1000500]。
文摘Objective To determine if ARHGEF10 has a haploinsufficient effect and provide evidence to evaluate the severity,if any,during prenatal consultation.Methods Zebrafish was used as a model for generating mutant.The pattern of arhgef10 expression in the early stages of zebrafish development was observed using whole-mount in situ hybridization(WISH).CRISPR/Cas9 was applied to generate a zebrafish model with a single-copy or homozygous arhgef10 deletion.Activity and light/dark tests were performed in arhgef10^(−/−),arhgef10^(+/−),and wild-type zebrafish larvae.ARHGEF10 was knocked down using small interferon RNA(siRNA)in the SH-SY5Y cell line,and cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using the CCK-8 assay and Annexin V/PI staining,respectively.Results WISH showed that during zebrafish embryonic development arhgef10 was expressed in the midbrain and hindbrain at 36-72 h post-fertilization(hpf)and in the hemopoietic system at 36-48 hpf.The zebrafish larvae with single-copy and homozygous arhgef10 deletions had lower exercise capacity and poorer responses to environmental changes compared to wild-type zebrafish larvae.Moreover,arhgef10^(−/−) zebrafish had more severe symptoms than arhgef10^(+/-) zebrafish.Knockdown of ARHGEF10 in human neuroblastoma cells led to decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis.Conclusion Based on our findings,ARHGEF10 appeared to have a haploinsufficiency effect.
文摘Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that can be identified as a small envelope with a positive-stranded RNA and an important medical pathogen, which causes deadly human diseases. The virus is carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through a blood meal and it is also spread through body fluids. ZIKV infection may present with symptoms like fever, myalgia, maculopapular rash as well as neurological sequelae, which include, microcephaly, epilepsy, and Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS). This put the virus on a scale of the public health burden of almost 87 countries. The potential threat of ZIKV infection is not completely eradicated in many countries in Africa, America, and the Western Pacific regions. There are no vaccines and treatments available to date. Since ZIKV causes microcephaly in utero by targeting neural progenitor cells, inducing apoptosis, and impairing neurodevelopment, this article hopes to evaluate the neurological disorders associated with the Zika virus infection while elucidating the current trends in the development of vaccines and drugs.
基金supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82121003,81970841,82101160)the program of Science and Technology International Cooperation Project of Qinghai province(China)(No.2022-HZ-814)+2 种基金the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(No.2019-12M-5-032)Sichuan Intellectual Property Office(China)(No.2022-ZS-0070)the Department of Chengdu Science and Technology(Sichuan,China)(No.2021-YF05-01316-SN).
文摘The endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane protein complex(EMC)is responsible for monitoring the biogenesis and synthetic quality of membrane proteins with tail-anchored or multiple transmembrane domains.The EMC subunit EMC6 is one of the core members of EMC and forms an enclosed hydrophilic vestibule in cooperation with EMC3.Despite studies demonstrating that deletion of EMC3 led to rhodopsin mislocalization in rod photoreceptors of mice,the precise mechanism leading to the failure of rhodopsin trafficking remains unclear.Here,we generated the first rod photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6(RKO)and cone photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6(CKO)mouse models.Deficiency of Emc6 in rod photoreceptors led to progressive shortening of outer segments(OS),impaired visual function,mislocalization and reduced expression of rhodopsin,and increased gliosis in rod photoreceptors.In addition,CKO mice displayed the progressive death of cone photoreceptors and abnormal localization of cone opsin protein.Subsequently,proteomics analysis of the RKO mouse retina illustrated that several cilium-related proteins,particularly anoctamin-2(ANO2)and transmembrane protein 67(TMEM67),were significantly down-regulated prior to OS degeneration.Detrimental rod photoreceptor cilia and mislocalized membrane disc proteins were evident in RKO mice.Our data revealed that in addition to monitoring the synthesis of rhodopsin-dominated membrane disc proteins,EMC6 also impacted rod photoreceptors'ciliogenesis by regulating the synthesis of membrane proteins associated with cilia,contributing to the mislocalization of membrane disc proteins.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82330030,82271120,82121003,82201234)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-12 M-5-032,2021LY06)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2021YFS0369,2022ZYD0131,24YSZH0012,23ZYZYTS0271,TB2023093,2023ZY0059)。
文摘High myopia(HM)is the primary cause of blindness,with the microstructural organization and composition of collagenous fibers in the cornea and sclera playing a crucial role in the biomechanical behavior of these tissues.In a previously reported myopic linkage region,MYP5(17q21-22),a potential candidate gene,LRRC46(c.C235T,p.Q79X),was identified in a large Han Chinese pedigree.LRRC46 is expressed in various eye tissues in humans and mice,including the retina,cornea,and sclera.In subsequent cell experiments,the mutation(c.C235T)decreased the expression of LRRC46 protein in human corneal epithelial cells(HCE-T).Further investigation revealed that Lrrc46^(-/-)mice(KO)exhibited a classical myopia phenotype.The thickness of the cornea and sclera in KO mice became thinner and more pronounced with age,the activity of limbal stem cells decreased,and microstructural changes were observed in the fibroblasts of the sclera and cornea.We performed RNA-seq on scleral and corneal tissues of KO and normal control wild-type(WT)mice,which indicated a significant downregulation of the collagen synthesis-related pathway(extracellular matrix,ECM)in KO mice.Subsequent in vitro studies further indicated that LRRC46,a member of the important LRR protein family,primarily affected the formation of collagens.This study suggested that LRRC46 is a novel candidate gene for HM,influencing collagen protein VⅢ(Col8a1)formation in the eye and gradually altering the biomechanical structure of the cornea and sclera,thereby promoting the occurrence and development of HM.
基金This study was supported by the research fund from Hong Kong Baptist University(HKBU/RC-IRCs/17-18/03,China)Hong Kong General Research Fund(GRF/HKBU12101417 and GRF/HKBU12100618,China)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81703487 and 81773926)Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission(JCYJ20180302174028790,JCYJ20180507184656626,and JCYJ20210324114014039,China)the Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund(HMRF17182541 and HMRF17182551,China).
文摘Alzheimer's disease(AD),characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates including phosphorylated Tau aggregates,is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic agents.Autophagy plays a critical role in the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates,and transcription factor EB(TFEB)is a master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis.Thus,small-molecule autophagy enhancers targeting TFEB hold promise for AD therapy.Here,we found that celastrol,an active ingredient isolated from the root extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii(Lei Gong Teng in Chinese)enhanced TFEB-mediated autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis in vitro and in mouse brains.Importantly,celastrol reduced phosphorylated Tau aggregates and attenuated memory dysfunction and cognitive deficits in P301S Tau and 3xTg mice,two commonly used AD animal models.Mechanistical studies suggest that TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway is responsible for phosphorylated Tau degradation in response to celastrol.Overall,our findings indicate that Celastrol is a novel TFEB activator that promotes the degradation of phosphorylated Tau aggregates and improves memory in AD animal models.Therefore,Celastrol shows potential as a novel agent for the treatment and/or prevention of AD and other tauopathies.
基金supported by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (201302002,Clinical Trial NCT02200679)。
文摘This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder(ASD) in Chinese children.We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multistage convenient cluster sampling.The Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale was used for the screening process.Of the target population of 142,086 children,88.5%(n=125,806) participated in the study.A total of 363 children were confirmed as having ASD.The observed ASD prevalence rate was 0.29%(95% CI:0.26%-0.32%) for the overall population.After adjustment for response rates,the estimated number of ASD cases was867 in the target population sample,thereby achieving an estimated prevalence of 0.70%(95% CI:0.64%-0.74%).The prevalence was significantly higher in boys than in girls(0.95%;95% CI:0.87%-1.02% versus 0.30%;95%CI:0.26%-0.34%;P <0.001).Of the 363 confirmed ASD cases,43.3% were newly diagnosed,and most of those(90.4%) were attending regular schools,and 68.8% of the children with ASD had at least one neuropsychiatric comorbidity.Our findings provide reliable data on the estimated ASD prevalence and comorbidities in Chinese children.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82271455)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2022A1515012416,China)+5 种基金the Science and Technology Development Fund,Macao SAR(No.0128/2019/A3,China)the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program(No.SGDX20210823103804030,China)the University of Macao grants(No.MYRG2022-00094-ICMS,China)awarded to Jia-hong Lupartly supported by Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund(HMRF/17182551,HMRF/09203776,China)the Hong Kong General Research Fund(HKBU 12100618,HKBU 12101022,China)from Hong Kong Governmentthe Research Fund from Hong Kong Baptist University(HKBU/RC-IRCs/17-18/03,IRCMS/19-20/H02,China)awarded to Min Li。
文摘Parkinson's disease(PD)is the most common neurodegenerative movement disease.It is featured by abnormal alphα-synuclein(α-syn)aggregation in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.Macroautophagy(autophagy)is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process for degradation of cellular contents,including protein aggregates,to maintain cellular homeostasis.Corynoxine B(Cory B),a natural alkaloid isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla(Miq.)Jacks.,has been reported to promote the clearance ofα-syn in cell models by inducing autophagy.However,the molecular mechanism by which Cory B induces autophagy is not known,and theα-syn-lowering activity of Cory B has not been verified in animal models.Here,we report that Cory B enhanced the activity of Beclin 1/VPS34 complex and increased autophagy by promoting the interaction between Beclin 1 and HMGB1/2.Depletion of HMGB1/2 impaired Cory B-induced autophagy.We showed for the first time that,similar to HMGB1,HMGB2 is also required for autophagy and depletion of HMGB2 decreased autophagy levels and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseⅢactivity both under basal and stimulated conditions.By applying cellular thermal shift assay,surface plasmon resonance,and molecular docking,we confirmed that Cory B directly binds to HMGB1/2 near the C106 site.Furthermore,in vivo studies with a wild-typeα-syn transgenic drosophila model of PD and an A53Tα-syn transgenic mouse model of PD,Cory B enhanced autophagy,promotedα-syn clearance and improved behavioral abnormalities.Taken together,the results of this study reveal that Cory B enhances phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseⅢactivity/autophagy by binding to HMGB1/2 and that this enhancement is neuroprotective against PD.
基金We thank all the patients and their families for participating in this study.This research project was supported by the National Precision Medicine Project(2016YFC0905200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81790643,81970839,81871722,82121003 and 82072373)+2 种基金the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2020YFS0014,2020YFS0558,2020ZYD035,2020ZYD037,2021ZYD0082,2019JDJQ0031,2021YFS0369,2021JDGD0036,2021YFS0033,2021YFS0404,2021YFS0388,2022JDTD0024 and 2020JDTD0028)the Grant from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(No.2019-I2M5-032)Sichuan Provincial Health Commission(20ZDCX002).
文摘Critical coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is associated with high mortality and potential genetic factors have been reported to be involved in the development of critical COVID-19.We performed a genome-wide association study to identify the genetic factors responsible for developing critical COVID-19.632 critical patients with COVID-19 and 3021 healthy controls from the Chinese population were recruited.First,we identified a genome-wide significant difference of IL-6 rs2069837(p=9.73×10^(−15),OR=0.41)between 437 critical patients with COVID-19 and 2551 normal controls in the discovery cohort.
