Science China. Life Sciences

Alveolar bone regeneration has been strongly linked to macrophage polarization. M1 macrophages aggravate alveolar bone loss, whereas M2 macrophages reverse this process. Berberine (BBR), a natural alkaloid isolated and refined from Chinese medicinal plants, has shown therapeutic effects in treating metabolic disorders. In this study, we first discovered that culture supernatant (CS) collected from BBR-treated human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) ameliorated periodontal alveolar bone loss. CS from the BBR-treated HBMSCs contained bioactive materials that suppressed the M1 polarization and induced the M2 polarization of macrophages in vivo and in vitro...

Lariat RNA is concomitantly produced by excised intron during RNA splicing, which is usually debranched by DBR1, an RNA debranching enzyme. However, increasing evidence showed that some lariat RNA could escape debranching. Little is known about how and why these lariat RNAs could be retained. By comparing the atlas of lariat RNAs between the non-dividing cell (mature pollen) and three actively dividing tissues (young shoot apex, young seeds, and young roots), we identified hundreds to thousands of lariat RNA naturally retained in each tissue, and the incidence of lariat RNA retention is much less in shoot apex while much more in pollen...

Various SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses have been increasingly identified in pangolins, showing a potential threat to humans. Here we report the infectivity and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2-related virus, PCoV-GX/P2V, which was isolated from a Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica). PCoV-GX/P2V could grow in human hepatoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and human primary nasal epithelial cells. It replicated more efficiently in cells expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as SARS-CoV-2 did...

RNA N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A), as the most abundant modification of messenger RNA, can modulate insect behaviors, but its specific roles in aggregation behaviors remain unexplored. Here, we conducted a comprehensive molecular and physiological characterization of the individual components of the methyltransferase and demethylase in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Our results demonstrated that METTL3, METTL14 and ALKBH5 were dominantly expressed in the brain and exhibited remarkable responses to crowding or isolation...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The adaptation of insects to environments relies on a sophisticated set of behaviors controlled by molecular and physiological processes. Over the past several decades, accumulating studies have unveiled the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating insect behaviors. ncRNAs assume particularly pivotal roles in the behavioral plasticity of insects by rapidly responding to environmental stimuli. ncRNAs also contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis of insects by fine-tuning the expression of target genes...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Although transvaginal mesh (TVM) repair is no longer used in some countries, long-term outcomes after TVM surgery are of great importance globally. However, reports with follow-up >10 years are limited. Thus, this study aimed to report outcomes in a prospective cohort with at least 10 years of follow-up. Women with stage III-IV symptomatic prolapse were approached consecutively from 2008 to 2013 at one tertiary hospital. The main outcome measure was symptomatic failure. Secondary outcomes included anatomic failure, recurrence, patient satisfaction, complications, and reoperation...

Liver disease, a major health concern worldwide, is a serious and progressive disorder. Herein, we not only established a mouse model of DEN+CCl4 -induced primary liver disease but also collected clinical human samples to investigate longitudinal alterations in the gut mycobiome. As liver disease advanced, gut integrity was disrupted, and the mycobiota was disturbed in the mouse models. The metabolites associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) differed from those associated with the cirrhotic phase as follows: levels of stercobilin and aflatoxin B1 dialcohol were reduced, while levels of triterpenoids, bafilomycin A1, and DHEA were increased in the HCC group...

Insects play important roles in the maintenance of ecosystem functioning and the provision of livelihoods for millions of people. However, compared with terrestrial vertebrates and angiosperms, such as the giant panda, crested ibis, and the metasequoia, insect conservation has not attracted enough attention, and a basic understanding of the geographical biodiversity patterns for major components of insects in China is lacking. Herein, we investigated the geographical distribution of insect biodiversity across multiple dimensions (taxonomic, genetic, and phylogenetic diversity) based on the spatial distribution and molecular DNA sequencing data of insects...

The origin of T cells in the teleost's brain is unclear. While viewing the central nervous system (CNS) as immune privileged has been widely accepted, previous studies suggest that T cells residing in the thymus but not in the spleen of the teleost play an essential role in communicating with the peripheral organs. Here, we identified nine T cell subpopulations in the thymus and spleen of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioices) through single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis. After viral CNS infection with red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), the number of slc43a2+ T cells synchronously increased in the spleen and brain...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Emphysema, myofibroblast accumulation and airway remodeling can occur in the lungs due to exposure to atmospheric pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ), leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Specifically, bronchial epithelium-fibroblast communication participates in airway remodeling, which results in COPD. An increasing number of studies are now being conducted on the role of exosome-mediated cell-cell communication in disease pathogenesis. Here, we investigated whether exosomes generated from bronchial epithelial cells could deliver information to normal stromal fibroblasts and provoke cellular responses, resulting in airway obstruction in COPD...

Cytosine base editing achieves C•G-to-T•A substitutions and can convert four codons (CAA/CAG/CGA/TGG) into STOP-codons (induction of STOP-codons, iSTOP) to knock out genes with reduced mosaicism. iSTOP enables direct phenotyping in founders' somatic cells, but it remains unknown whether this works in founders' germ cells so as to rapidly reveal novel genes for fertility. Here, we initially establish that iSTOP in mouse zygotes enables functional characterization of known genes in founders' germ cells: Cfap43-iSTOP male founders manifest expected sperm features resembling human "multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella" syndrome (i...

Fulminant myocarditis is an acute diffuse inflammatory disease of myocardium. It is characterized by acute onset, rapid progress and high risk of death. Its pathogenesis involves excessive immune activation of the innate immune system and formation of inflammatory storm. According to China's practical experience, the adoption of the "life support-based comprehensive treatment regimen" (with mechanical circulation support and immunomodulation therapy as the core) can significantly improve the survival rate and long-term prognosis...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

A customised synthetic microbial community (SynCom) composed of carefully selected rhizosphere-competent bacterial strains improved rice growth, yield and resistance to soil acidity and Al toxicity.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.