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Nano Letters Jul 2024Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV)-like nanocarriers were designed for gene delivery to plant cells. High aspect ratio TMGMVs were coated with a polycationic...
Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV)-like nanocarriers were designed for gene delivery to plant cells. High aspect ratio TMGMVs were coated with a polycationic biopolymer, poly(allylamine) hydrochloride (PAH), to generate highly charged nanomaterials (TMGMV-PAH; 56.20 ± 4.7 mV) that efficiently load (1:6 TMGMV:DNA mass ratio) and deliver single-stranded and plasmid DNA to plant cells. The TMGMV-PAH were taken up through energy-independent mechanisms in protoplasts. TMGMV-PAH delivered a plasmid DNA encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the protoplast nucleus (70% viability), as evidenced by GFP expression using confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis. TMGMV-PAH were inactivated (iTMGMV-PAH) using UV cross-linking to prevent systemic infection in intact plants. Inactivated iTMGMV-PAH-mediated pDNA delivery and gene expression of GFP was determined using confocal microscopy and RT-qPCR. Virus-like nanocarrier-mediated gene delivery can act as a facile and biocompatible tool for advancing genetic engineering in plants.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Gene Transfer Techniques; Plasmids; Polyamines; Protoplasts; Nanostructures; DNA
PubMed: 38887996
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04735 -
PeerJ 2024Keloid is a chronic proliferative fibrotic disease caused by abnormal fibroblasts proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Numerous fibrotic...
BACKGROUND
Keloid is a chronic proliferative fibrotic disease caused by abnormal fibroblasts proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Numerous fibrotic disorders are significantly influenced by ferroptosis, and targeting ferroptosis can effectively mitigate fibrosis development. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in keloid development.
METHODS
Keloid tissues from keloid patients and normal skin tissues from healthy controls were collected. Iron content, lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, and the mRNA and protein expression of ferroptosis-related genes including solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), transferrin receptor (TFRC), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were determined. Mitochondrial morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Keloid fibroblasts (KFs) were isolated from keloid tissues, and treated with ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (fer-1) or ferroptosis activator erastin. Iron content, ferroptosis-related marker levels, LPO level, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, and mitochondrial morphology in KFs were detected. Furthermore, the protein levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and collagen III were measured to investigate whether ferroptosis affect fibrosis in KFs.
RESULTS
We found that iron content and LPO level were substantially elevated in keloid tissues and KFs. SLC7A11, GPX4, and Nrf2 were downregulated and TFRC was upregulated in keloid tissues and KFs. Mitochondria in keloid tissues and KFs exhibited ferroptosis-related pathology. Fer-1 treatment reduced iron content, restrained ferroptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in KFs, Moreover, ferrostatin-1 restrained the protein expression of α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III in KFs. Whereas erastin treatment showed the opposite results.
CONCLUSION
Ferroptosis exists in keloid. Ferrostatin-1 restrained ECM deposition and fibrosis in keloid through inhibiting ferroptosis, and erastin induced ECM deposition and fibrosis through intensifying ferroptosis.
Topics: Humans; Ferroptosis; Keloid; Fibroblasts; Cyclohexylamines; Fibrosis; Phenylenediamines; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; Male; Lipid Peroxidation; Female; Adult; Iron; Amino Acid Transport System y+; Receptors, Transferrin; Piperazines; Actins; Mitochondria; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 38887622
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17551 -
Analytical Chemistry Jul 2024Ru-based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) coordination polymers are widely employed for bioanalysis and medical diagnosis. However, commonly used Ru-based coordination...
Ru-based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) coordination polymers are widely employed for bioanalysis and medical diagnosis. However, commonly used Ru-based coordination polymers face the limitation of low efficiency due to the long distance between the ECL reagent and the coreactant dispersed in detecting solution. Herein, we report a dual-ligand self-enhanced ECL coordination polymer, composed of tris(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) dichloride (Ru(dcbpy)) as ECL reactant ligand and ethylenediamine (EDA) as corresponding coreactant ligand into Zn metal node, termed Zn-Ru-EDA. Zn-Ru-EDA shows excellent ECL performance which is attributed to the effective intramolecular electron transport between the two ligands. Furthermore, the dual-ligand polymer allows an anodic low excitation potential (+1.09 V) luminescence. The shift in the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) upward after the synthesis of the Zn-Ru-EDA has resulted in a reduced excitation potential. The low excitation potential reduced biomolecular damage and the destruction of the modified electrodes. The ECL biosensor has been constructed using Zn-Ru-EDA with high ECL efficiency for the ultrasensitive detection of a bacterial infection and sepsis biomarker, procalcitonin (PCT), in the range from 1.00 × 10 to 1.00 × 10 ng·mL with outstanding selectivity, and the detection limit was as low as 0.47 fg·mL. Collectively, the dual-ligand-based self-enhanced polymer may provide an ideal strategy for high ECL efficiency improvement as well as designing new self-enhanced multiple-ligand-based coordination in sensitive biomolecular detection for early disease diagnostics.
Topics: Ligands; Polymers; Electrochemical Techniques; Procalcitonin; Luminescent Measurements; Humans; Ruthenium; Coordination Complexes; Limit of Detection; Biosensing Techniques; Ethylenediamines
PubMed: 38886176
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02100 -
Cell Jun 2024The growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights an urgent need to identify bacterial pathogenic functions that may be targets for clinical intervention. Although...
The growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights an urgent need to identify bacterial pathogenic functions that may be targets for clinical intervention. Although severe infections profoundly alter host metabolism, prior studies have largely ignored microbial metabolism in this context. Here, we describe an iterative, comparative metabolomics pipeline to uncover microbial metabolic features in the complex setting of a host and apply it to investigate gram-negative bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients. We find elevated levels of bacterially derived acetylated polyamines during BSI and discover the enzyme responsible for their production (SpeG). Blocking SpeG activity reduces bacterial proliferation and slows pathogenesis. Reduction of SpeG activity also enhances bacterial membrane permeability and increases intracellular antibiotic accumulation, allowing us to overcome AMR in culture and in vivo. This study highlights how tools to study pathogen metabolism in the natural context of infection can reveal and prioritize therapeutic strategies for addressing challenging infections.
PubMed: 38885650
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.035 -
American Journal of Physiology. Cell... Jun 2024Polyamines are molecules with multiple amino groups that are essential for cellular function. The major polyamines are putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and cadaverine.... (Review)
Review
Polyamines are molecules with multiple amino groups that are essential for cellular function. The major polyamines are putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and cadaverine. Polyamines are important for posttranscriptional regulation, autophagy, programmed cell death, proliferation, redox homeostasis, and ion channel function; their levels are tightly controlled. High levels of polyamines are associated with proliferative pathologies such as cancer, while low polyamine levels are observed in aging, and elevated polyamine turnover enhances oxidative stress. Polyamine metabolism is implicated in a variety of pathophysiological processes in the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Currently, manipulating polyamine levels is under investigation as a potential preventive treatment in several pathologies, including aging, ischemia/reperfusion injury, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer. Although polyamines have been implicated in a plethora of intracellular mechanisms, our understanding of these processes remains incomplete and is a topic of ongoing investigations. Here, we discuss the regulation and cellular functions of polyamines, their role in physiology and pathology, and emphasize the current gaps in knowledge and potential future research directions.
PubMed: 38881422
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00074.2024 -
Stem Cell Research & Therapy Jun 2024Stem cell therapy is a promising alternative for inflammatory diseases and tissue injury treatment. Exogenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells is associated with...
BACKGROUND
Stem cell therapy is a promising alternative for inflammatory diseases and tissue injury treatment. Exogenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells is associated with instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions, mechanical stress during administration, and replicative senescence or change in phenotype during long-term culture in vitro. In this study, we aimed to mobilize endogenous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using AMD-3100 and provide local immune suppression using FK506, an immunosuppressive drug, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
METHODS
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres were prepared by emulsification solvent-evaporation method. Thioketal vehicle based FK506 microspheres and AMD3100 were co-administered into male C57BL6/J mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis. The effect of FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres in colitis mice were evaluated using disease severity index, myeloperoxidase activity, histology, flow cytometry, and gene expression by qRT-PCR.
RESULTS
The delivery of AMD-3100 enhanced mobilization of HSCs from the bone marrow into the inflamed colon of mice. Furthermore, targeted oral delivery of FK506 in an inflamed colon inhibited the immune activation in the colon. In the DSS-induced colitis mouse model, the combination of AMD-3100 and FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres ameliorated the disease, decreased immune cell infiltration and activation, and improved body weight, colon length, and epithelial healing process.
CONCLUSION
This study shows that the significant increase in the percentage of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in the combination therapy of AMD and oral FK506 microspheres may contribute to a synergistic therapeutic effect. Thus, low-dose local delivery of FK506 combined with AMD3100 could be a promising alternative treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Topics: Animals; Colitis; Mice; Benzylamines; Male; Cyclams; Dextran Sulfate; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Tacrolimus; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; Heterocyclic Compounds; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Disease Models, Animal; Immunosuppression Therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Microspheres; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 38872206
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03777-2 -
Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England) Jun 2024Oral cancer accounts for 50%-70% of all cancer-related deaths in India and ranks sixth among the most frequent cancers globally. Roughly 90% of oral malignancies are...
Oral cancer accounts for 50%-70% of all cancer-related deaths in India and ranks sixth among the most frequent cancers globally. Roughly 90% of oral malignancies are histologically arise from squamous cells and are therefore called oral squamous cell carcinoma. Organic polycations known as biogenic polyamines, for example, putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), are vital for cell proliferation, including gene expression control, regulation of endonuclease-mediated fragmentation of DNA, and DNA damage inhibition. Higher Spm and Spd levels have been identified as cancer biomarkers for detecting tumour development in various cancers. The current study utilises tannic acid, a polyphenolic compound, as a reducing and capping agent to fabricate AuNPs via a one-step microwave-assisted synthesis. The fabricated TA@AuNPs were utilised as a nanoprobe for colourimetric sensing of polyamines in PBS. When TA@AuNPs are added to the polyamine, the amine groups in polyamines interact with the phenolic groups of TA@AuNPs via hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions. These interactions cause the aggregation of TA@AuNPs, resulting in a red shift of the Surface Plasmon Resonance band of TA@AuNPs from 530 nm to 560 nm. The nanoprobe was found to be highly specific for Spm at low concentrations. TA@AuNPs were able to detect Spm successfully in artificial saliva samples. On recording the RGB values of the sensing process using a smartphone app, it was found that as the nanoparticles aggregated due to the presence of Spm, the intensity of the-value decreased, indicating the aggregation of TA@AuNPs due to interaction with the polyamine.
Topics: Mouth Neoplasms; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; Polyamines; Gold; Spermine; Smartphone; Putrescine; Spermidine; Tannins; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Colorimetry; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
PubMed: 38871001
DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/ad581a -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jun 2024Rapeseed ( L.) is extremely sensitive to excessive NH toxicity. There remains incomplete knowledge of the causal factors behind the growth suppression in NH-nourished...
Rapeseed ( L.) is extremely sensitive to excessive NH toxicity. There remains incomplete knowledge of the causal factors behind the growth suppression in NH-nourished plants, with limited studies conducted specifically on field crop plants. In this study, we found that NH toxicity significantly increased salicylic acid (SA) accumulation by accelerating the conversion of SA precursors. Moreover, exogenous SA application significantly aggravated NH toxicity symptoms in the rapeseed shoots. Genome-wide differential transcriptomic analysis showed that NH toxicity increased the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis, transport, signaling transduction, and conversion of SA. SA treatment significantly increased shoot NH concentrations by reducing the activities of glutamine synthase and glutamate synthase in NH-treated rapeseed plants. The application of an SA biosynthesis inhibitor, ABT, alleviated NH toxicity symptoms. Furthermore, SA induced putrescine (Put) accumulation, resulting in an elevated ratio of Put to [spermidine (Spd) + spermine (Spm)] in the NH-treated plants, while the opposite was true for ABT. The application of exogenous Put and its biosynthesis inhibitor DFMA induced opposite effects on NH toxicity in rapeseed shoots. These results indicated that the increased endogenous SA contributed noticeably to the toxicity caused by the sole NH-N supply in rapeseed shoots. This study provided fresh perspectives on the mechanism underlying excessive NH-induced toxicity and the corresponding alleviating strategies in plants.
Topics: Brassica napus; Salicylic Acid; Ammonium Compounds; Plant Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Putrescine; Plant Shoots
PubMed: 38869198
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00238 -
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology :... Jun 2024Some studies have reported that polyamine levels may influence immune system programming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the polyamine profile during gestation...
BACKGROUND
Some studies have reported that polyamine levels may influence immune system programming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the polyamine profile during gestation and its associations with maternal allergy and cytokine production in cord blood cells in response to different allergenic stimuli.
METHODS
Polyamines were determined in plasma of pregnant women (24 weeks, N = 674) and in umbilical cord samples (N = 353 vein and N = 160 artery) from the Mediterranean NELA birth cohort. Immune cell populations were quantified, and the production of cytokines in response to different allergic and mitogenic stimuli was assessed in cord blood.
RESULTS
Spermidine and spermine were the most prevalent polyamines in maternal, cord venous, and cord arterial plasma. Maternal allergies, especially allergic conjunctivitis, were associated with lower spermine in umbilical cord vein. Higher levels of polyamines were associated with higher lymphocyte number but lower Th2-related cells in cord venous blood. Those subjects with higher levels of circulating polyamines in cord showed lower production of inflammatory cytokines, especially IFN-α, and lower production of Th2-related cytokines, mainly IL-4 and IL-5. The effects of polyamines on Th1-related cytokines production were uncertain.
CONCLUSIONS
Spermidine and spermine are the predominant polyamines in plasma of pregnant women at mid-pregnancy and also in umbilical cord. Maternal allergic diseases like allergic conjunctivitis are related to lower levels of polyamines in cord vein, which could influence the immune response of the newborn. Cord polyamine content is related to a decreased Th2 response and inflammatory cytokines production, which might be important to reduce an allergenic phenotype in the neonate.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Fetal Blood; Cytokines; Polyamines; Hypersensitivity; Adult; Pregnancy Complications; Th2 Cells; Spermidine
PubMed: 38860435
DOI: 10.1111/pai.14167 -
Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry :... Jun 2024Important benefits of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) have emerged as an effective tool for enhancing adaptive potential in different pathological states, among...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Important benefits of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) have emerged as an effective tool for enhancing adaptive potential in different pathological states, among which acute hypoxia dominates. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the mechanisms related to the effects of the nitric oxide system (nitrites, nitrates, carbamide, and total polyamine content) on ADP-stimulated oxygen consumption and oxidative phosphorylation in heart and liver mitochondria and biomarkers of oxidative stress in the blood, heart, and liver of rats exposed to the IHT method and acute hypoxia and treated with the amino acid L-arginine (600 mg/kg, 30 min) or the NO synthase inhibitor L-NNA (35 mg/kg, 30 min) prior to each IHT session.
METHODS
We analysed the modulation of the system of oxygen-dependent processes (mitochondrial respiration with the oxygraphic method, microsomal oxidation, and lipoperoxidation processes using biochemical methods) in tissues during IHT in the formation of short-term and long-term effects (30, 60, and 180 days after the last IHT session) with simultaneous administration of L-arginine. In particular, we investigated how mitochondrial functions are modulated during intermittent hypoxia with the use of oxidation substrates (succinate or α-ketoglutarate) in bioenergetic mechanisms of cellular stability and adaptation.
RESULTS
The IHT method is associated with a significant increase in the production of endogenous nitric oxide measured by the levels of its stable metabolite, nitrite anion, in both plasma (almost 7-fold) and erythrocytes (more than 7-fold) of rats. The intensification of nitric oxide-dependent pathways of metabolic transformations in the energy supply processes in the heart and liver, accompanied by oscillatory mechanisms of adaptation in the interval mode, causes a probable decrease in the production of urea and polyamines in plasma and liver, but not in erythrocytes. The administration of L-arginine prior to the IHT sessions increased the level of the nitrite-reducing component of the nitric oxide cycle, which persisted for up to 180 days of the experiment.
CONCLUSION
Thus, the efficacy of IHT and its nitrite-dependent component shown in this study is associated with the formation of long-term adaptive responses by preventing the intensification of lipoperoxidation processes in tissues due to pronounced changes in the main enzymes of antioxidant defence and stabilisation of erythrocyte membranes, which has a pronounced protective effect on the system of regulation of oxygen-dependent processes as a whole.
Topics: Animals; Male; Hypoxia; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Arginine; Oxygen Consumption; Oxidative Stress; Nitric Oxide; Oxygen; Adaptation, Physiological; Mitochondria, Liver; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Liver; Mitochondria, Heart; Lipid Peroxidation; Nitrites
PubMed: 38857359
DOI: 10.33594/000000705