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PloS One 2024This study investigated the mitigating effects of spermidine on salinity-stressed yarrow plants (Achillea millefolium L.), an economically important medicinal crop....
This study investigated the mitigating effects of spermidine on salinity-stressed yarrow plants (Achillea millefolium L.), an economically important medicinal crop. Plants were treated with four salinity levels (0, 30, 60, 90 mM NaCl) and three spermidine concentrations (0, 1.5, 3 μM). Salinity induced electrolyte leakage in a dose-dependent manner, increasing from 22% at 30 mM to 56% at 90 mM NaCl without spermidine. However, 1.5 μM spermidine significantly reduced leakage across salinities by 1.35-11.2% relative to untreated stressed plants. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids) also exhibited salinity- and spermidine-modulated responses. While salinity decreased chlorophyll a, both spermidine concentrations increased chlorophyll b and carotenoids under most saline conditions. Salinity and spermidine synergistically elevated osmoprotectants proline and total carbohydrates, with 3 μM spermidine augmenting proline and carbohydrates up to 14.4% and 13.1% at 90 mM NaCl, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes CAT, POD and APX displayed complex regulation influenced by treatment factors. Moreover, salinity stress and spermidine also influenced the expression of linalool and pinene synthetase genes, with the highest expression levels observed under 90 mM salt stress and the application of 3 μM spermidine. The findings provide valuable insights into the responses of yarrow plants to salinity stress and highlight the potential of spermidine in mitigating the adverse effects of salinity stress.
Topics: Spermidine; Achillea; Salt Stress; Chlorophyll; Photosynthesis; Carotenoids; Proline; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Salinity; Antioxidants; Sodium Chloride; Chlorophyll A
PubMed: 38923971
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304831 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Cathodes made of LiFePO (LFP) offer numerous benefits including being non-toxic, eco-friendly, and affordable. The distinctive olivine structure of LFP cathodes...
Cathodes made of LiFePO (LFP) offer numerous benefits including being non-toxic, eco-friendly, and affordable. The distinctive olivine structure of LFP cathodes contributes to their electrochemical stability. Nonetheless, this structure is also the cause of their low ionic and electronic conductivity. To enhance these limitations, an uncomplicated approach has been effectively employed. A straightforward solid-state synthesis technique is used to apply a coating of biomass from potato peels to the LFP cathode, boosting its electrochemical capabilities. Potato peels contain pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen, which are conducive to ionic and electronic movement and facilitate pathways for lithium-ion and electron transfer, thus elevating electrochemical performance. When coated with nitrogen-doped carbon derived from potato peel biomass (PPNC@LFP), the LFP cathode demonstrates an improved discharge capacity of 150.39 mAh g at a 0.1 C-rate and 112.83 mAh g at a 1.0 C-rate, in contrast to the uncoated LFP which shows capacities of 141.34 mAh g and 97.72 mAh g at the same rates, respectively.
PubMed: 38921875
DOI: 10.3390/nano14120999 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Contemporary treatment of vitiligo remains a great challenge to practitioners. The vast majority of currently conducted clinical trials of modern therapeutic methods are... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Contemporary treatment of vitiligo remains a great challenge to practitioners. The vast majority of currently conducted clinical trials of modern therapeutic methods are focused on systemic medications, while there is only a very limited number of reports on new topical treatment in vitiligo. With their pleiotropic activities statins turned out to be efficient in the treatment of various autoimmune/autoinflammatory disorders. The randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of topical administration of the active forms of simvastatin and atorvastatin has been designed to evaluate their efficacy in patients with vitiligo. The study was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (registration number NCT03247400, date of registration: 11th August 2017). A total of 24 patients with the active form of non-segmental vitiligo were enrolled in the study. The change of absolute area of skin lesions, body surface area and vitiligo area scoring index were evaluated throughout the 12 week application of ointments containing simvastatin and atorvastatin. Measurements were performed with planimetry and processed using digital software. Use of active forms of simvastatin and atorvastatin did not result in a significant repigmentation of the skin lesions throughout the study period. Within the limbs treated with topical simvastatin, inhibition of disease progression was significantly more frequent than in the case of placebo (p = 0.004), while the difference was not statistically significant for atorvastatin (p = 0.082). Further studies of topical simvastatin in vitiligo patients should be considered.
Topics: Humans; Vitiligo; Atorvastatin; Simvastatin; Male; Female; Double-Blind Method; Adult; Pilot Projects; Middle Aged; Administration, Topical; Young Adult; Treatment Outcome; Adolescent
PubMed: 38918590
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65722-w -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Investigating differences in resistance to alkaline stress among three willow species can provide a theoretical basis for planting willow in saline soils. Therefore we...
Investigating differences in resistance to alkaline stress among three willow species can provide a theoretical basis for planting willow in saline soils. Therefore we tested three willow species (Salix matsudana, Salix gordejevii and Salix linearistipularis), already known for their high stress tolerance, to alkaline stress environment at different pH values under hydroponics. Root and leaf dry weight, root water content, leaf water content, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of three willow cuttings were monitored six times over 15 days under alkaline stress. With the increase in alkaline stress, the water retention capacity of leaves of the three species of willow cuttings was as follows: S. matsudana > S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis and the water retention capacity of the root system was as follows: S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis > S. matsudana. The chlorophyll content was significantly reduced, damage symptoms were apparent. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), rate of transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (Gs) of the leaves showed a general trend of decreasing, and the intercellular CO concentration (Ci) of S. matsudana and S. gordejevii first declined and then tended to level off, while the intercellular CO concentration of S. linearistipularis first declined and then increased. The quantum yield and energy allocation ratio of the leaf photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre changed significantly (φPo, Ψo and φEo were obviously suppressed and φDo was promoted). The photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre quantum performance index and driving force showed a clear downwards trend. Based on the results it can be concluded that alkaline stress tolerance of three willow was as follows: S. matsudana > S. gordejevii > S. linearistipularis. However, since the experiment was done on young seedlings, further study at saplings stage is required to revalidate the results.
Topics: Photosynthesis; Salix; Chlorophyll; Stress, Physiological; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Water; Plant Transpiration
PubMed: 38918471
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65004-5 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2024MYB transcription factor is one of the largest families in plants. There are more and more studies on plants responding to abiotic stress through MYB transcription...
MYB transcription factor is one of the largest families in plants. There are more and more studies on plants responding to abiotic stress through MYB transcription factors, but the mechanism of some family members responding to salt stress is unclear. In this study, physiological and transcriptome techniques were used to analyze the effects of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor on the growth and development, physiological function, and key gene response of . Phenotypic observation showed that the damage of overexpression strain was more serious than that of Col-0 after salt treatment, while the mutant strain showed less salt injury symptoms. Under salt stress, the decrease of chlorophyll content, the degree of photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) and the degree of oxidative damage of overexpressed lines were significantly higher than those of Col-0. Transcriptome data showed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by salt stress in overexpressed lines was significantly higher than that in Col-0. GO enrichment analysis showed that the response of to salt stress was mainly by affecting gene expression in cell wall ectoplast, photosystem I and photosystem II, and other biological processes related to photosynthesis. Compared with Col-0, the overexpression of under salt stress further inhibited the synthesis of chlorophyll a (Chla) and down-regulated most of the genes related to photosynthesis, which made the photosynthetic system more sensitive to salt stress. also caused the outbreak of reactive oxygen species and the accumulation of malondialdehyde under salt stress, which decreased the activity and gene expression of key enzymes in SOD, POD, and AsA-GSH cycle, thus destroying the ability of antioxidant system to maintain redox balance. negatively regulates the accumulation of osmotic regulatory substances such as soluble sugar (SS) and soluble protein (SP) in leaves under salt stress, which enhances the sensitivity of Arabidopsis leaves to salt. To sum up, negatively regulates the salt tolerance of by destroying the light energy capture, electron transport, and antioxidant capacity of Arabidopsis.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Photosynthesis; Plant Leaves; Arabidopsis Proteins; Salt Stress; Oxidative Stress; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Transcription Factors; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Photosystem I Protein Complex; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38916149
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2371694 -
Oncoimmunology 2024Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in mediating immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, Tregs contribute to the lack of efficacy and...
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in mediating immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, Tregs contribute to the lack of efficacy and hyperprogressive disease upon Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade immunotherapy. Thus, Tregs are considered a promising therapeutic target, especially when combined with PD-1 blockade. However, systemic depletion of Tregs causes severe autoimmune adverse events, which poses a serious challenge to Treg-directed therapy. Here, we developed a novel treatment to locally and predominantly damage Tregs by near-infrared duocarmycin photorelease (NIR-DPR). In this technology, we prepared anti-CD25 F(ab') conjugates, which site-specifically uncage duocarmycin in CD25-expressing cells upon exposure to NIR light. , CD25-targeted NIR-DPR significantly increased apoptosis of CD25-expressing HT2-A5E cells. When tumors were irradiated with NIR light , intratumoral CD25 Treg populations decreased and Ki-67 and Interleukin-10 expression was suppressed, indicating impaired functioning of intratumoral CD25 Tregs. CD25-targeted NIR-DPR suppressed tumor growth and improved survival in syngeneic murine tumor models. Of note, CD25-targeted NIR-DPR synergistically enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 blockade, especially in tumors with higher CD8/Treg PD-1 ratios. Furthermore, the combination therapy induced significant anti-cancer immunity including maturation of dendritic cells, extensive intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic CD8 T cells, and increased differentiation into CD8 memory T cells. Altogether, CD25-targeted NIR-DPR locally and predominantly targets Tregs in the tumor microenvironment and synergistically improves the efficacy of PD-1 blockade, suggesting that this combination therapy can be a rational anti-cancer combination immunotherapy.
Topics: Animals; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Mice; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Tumor Microenvironment; Duocarmycins; Immunoconjugates; Humans; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Apoptosis; Infrared Rays
PubMed: 38915782
DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2024.2370544 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Flavonoids are crucial secondary metabolites that possess the ability to mitigate UV damage and withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, it is of immense...
Flavonoids are crucial secondary metabolites that possess the ability to mitigate UV damage and withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, it is of immense significance to investigate the flavonoid content as a pivotal indicator for a comprehensive assessment of chestnut's drought tolerance. This study aimed to determine the flavonoid content and drought tolerance-related physiological and biochemical indices of six chestnut varieties (clones) grafted trees-Qianxi 42 (QX42), Qinglong 45 (QL45), Yanshanzaofeng (YSZF), Yanzi (YZ), Yanqiu (YQ), and Yanlong (YL)-under natural drought stress. The results were used to comprehensively analyze the drought tolerance ability of these varieties. The study revealed that the ranking of drought tolerance indices in terms of their ability to reflect drought tolerance was as follows: superoxide (oxide) dismutase (SOD) activity, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, flavone content, catalase (CAT) activity, proline (PRO) content, soluble sugar content, peroxidase (POD) activity, betaine content, flavonol content, hydrogen peroxide (HO) content, soluble protein content, superoxide ion (OFR) content, superoxide (ion OFR) production rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, chlorophyll content. Through principal component analysis, the contents of flavonoids and flavonols can be used as indicators for comprehensive evaluation of drought tolerance of chestnut. The comprehensive evaluation order of drought tolerance of grafted trees of 6 chestnut varieties (Clones) was: QL45 > QX42 > YQ > YZ > YSZF > YL.
Topics: Flavonoids; Droughts; Stress, Physiological; Malondialdehyde; Superoxide Dismutase; Proline; Chlorophyll; Hydrogen Peroxide; Fagaceae; Adaptation, Physiological; Catalase; Ascorbate Peroxidases; Drought Resistance; East Asian People
PubMed: 38914646
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65479-2 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology Jun 2024Hypoxia-activated prodrug (HAP) is a promising candidate for highly tumor-specific chemotherapy. However, the oxygenation heterogeneity and dense extracellular matrix...
BACKGROUND
Hypoxia-activated prodrug (HAP) is a promising candidate for highly tumor-specific chemotherapy. However, the oxygenation heterogeneity and dense extracellular matrix (ECM) of tumor, as well as the potential resistance to chemotherapy, have severely impeded the resulting overall efficacy of HAP.
RESULTS
A HAP potentiating strategy is proposed based on ultrasound responsive nanodroplets (PTP@PLGA), which is composed of protoporphyrin (PpIX), perfluoropropane (PFP) and a typical HAP, tirapazamine (TPZ). The intense vaporization of PFP upon ultrasound irradiation can magnify the sonomechanical effect, which loosens the ECM to promote the penetration of TPZ into the deep hypoxic region. Meanwhile, the PpIX enabled sonodynamic effect can further reduce the oxygen level, thus activating the TPZ in the relatively normoxic region as well. Surprisingly, abovementioned ultrasound effect also results in the downregulation of the stemness of cancer cells, which is highly associated with drug-refractoriness.
CONCLUSIONS
This work manifests an ideal example of ultrasound-based nanotechnology for potentiating HAP and also reveals the potential acoustic effect of intervening cancer stem-like cells.
Topics: Humans; Tirapazamine; Protoporphyrins; Fluorocarbons; Prodrugs; Cell Line, Tumor; Nanoparticles; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Antineoplastic Agents; Ultrasonic Waves; Animals; Extracellular Matrix; Mice; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38907270
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02623-0 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024Drought stress poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, especially in areas susceptible to water scarcity. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a widely...
Mitigation of drought-induced stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) via foliar application of Jasmonic acid through the augmentation of growth, physiological, and biochemical attributes.
Drought stress poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, especially in areas susceptible to water scarcity. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a widely cultivated oilseed crop with considerable potential globally. Jasmonic acid, a plant growth regulator, plays a crucial role in alleviating the adverse impacts of drought stress on the morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of crops. Experimental detail includes sunflower varieties (Armani Gold, KQS-HSF-1, Parsun, and ESFH-3391), four drought stress levels (0, 25%, 50%, and 75% drought stress), and three levels (0, 40ppm, 80ppm) of jasmonic acid. The 0% drought stress and 0ppm jasmonic acid were considered as control treatments. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with three replicates. Drought stress significantly reduced the growth in all varieties. However, the exogenous application of jasmonic acid at concentrations of 40ppm and 80ppm enhanced growth parameters, shoot and root length (1.93%, 19%), shoot and root fresh weight (18.5%, 25%), chlorophyll content (36%), photosynthetic rate (22%), transpiration rate (40%), WUE (20%), MDA (6.5%), Phenolics (19%), hydrogen peroxide (7%) proline (28%) and glycine betaine (15-30%) under water-stressed conditions, which was closely linked to the increase in stomatal activity stimulated by jasmonic acid. Furthermore, JA 80 ppm was found to be the most appropriate dose to reduce the effect of water stress in all sunflower varieties. It was concluded that the foliar application of JA has the potential to enhance drought tolerance by improving the morphological, biochemical, and physiological of sunflower.
Topics: Oxylipins; Cyclopentanes; Helianthus; Droughts; Plant Growth Regulators; Stress, Physiological; Plant Leaves; Photosynthesis; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38907232
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05273-4 -
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Jun 2024N-(Benzothiazole-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with benzyl or phenethyl substituents attached to position 3 of the benzothiazole ring or to the carboxamide...
Exploring the interaction of N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with the GyrB ATP-binding site lipophilic floor: A medicinal chemistry and QTAIM study.
N-(Benzothiazole-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with benzyl or phenethyl substituents attached to position 3 of the benzothiazole ring or to the carboxamide nitrogen atom were prepared and studied for their inhibition of Escherichia coli DNA gyrase by supercoiling assay. Compared to inhibitors bearing the substituents at position 4 of the benzothiazole ring, the inhibition was attenuated by moving the substituent to position 3 and further to the carboxamide nitrogen atom. A co-crystal structure of (Z)-3-benzyl-2-((4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)imino)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]-thiazole-6-carboxylic acid (I) in complex with E. coli GyrB24 (ATPase subdomain) was solved, revealing the binding mode of this type of inhibitor to the ATP-binding pocket of the E. coli GyrB subunit. The key binding interactions were identified and their contribution to binding was rationalised by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis. Our study shows that the benzyl or phenethyl substituents bound to the benzothiazole core interact with the lipophilic floor of the active site, which consists mainly of residues Gly101, Gly102, Lys103 and Ser108. Compounds with substituents at position 3 of the benzothiazole core were up to two orders of magnitude more effective than compounds with substituents at the carboxamide nitrogen. In addition, the 6-oxalylamino compounds were more potent inhibitors of E. coli DNA gyrase than the corresponding 6-acetamido analogues.
PubMed: 38906068
DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117798