Signal hypothesis

Plant growth occurs via the interconnection of cell growth and proliferation in each organ following specific developmental and environmental cues. Therefore, different photoperiods result in distinct growth patterns due to the integration of light and circadian perception with specific Carbon (C) partitioning strategies. In addition, the TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) kinase pathway is an ancestral signaling pathway that integrates nutrient information with translational control and growth regulation. Recent findings in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) have shown a mutual connection between the TOR pathway and the circadian clock...

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy which is associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in exposed offspring. The pathophysiological mechanisms mediating this relationship are currently unknown, and one potential candidate is the anti-angiogenic factor soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), which is highly elevated in PE. While sFlt-1 can impair angiogenesis via inhibition of VEGFA signalling, it is unclear whether it can directly affect neuronal development independently of its effects on the vasculature...

BACKGROUND: The evolution of central nervous systems (CNSs) is a fascinating and complex topic; further work is needed to understand the genetic and developmental homology between organisms with a CNS. Research into a limited number of species suggests that CNSs may be homologous across Bilateria. This hypothesis is based in part on similar functions of BMP signaling in establishing fates along the dorsal-ventral (D-V) axis, including limiting neural specification to one ectodermal region...

While endophytic fungi offer promising avenues for bolstering plant resilience against abiotic stressors, the molecular mechanisms behind this biofortification remain largely unknown. This study employed a multifaceted approach, combining plant physiology, proteomic, metabolomic, and targeted hormonal analyses to illuminate the early response of Brassica napus to Acremonium alternatum during the nascent stages of their interaction. Notably, under optimal growth conditions, the initial reaction to fungus was relatively subtle, with no visible alterations in plant phenotype and only minor impacts on the proteome and metabolome...

According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, exposure to certain environmental influences during early life may be a key determinant of fetal development and short- and long-term offspring health. Indeed, adverse conditions encountered during the fetal, perinatal, and early childhood stages can alter normal development and growth, as well as put the offspring at elevated risk of developing long-term health conditions in adulthood, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular diseases...

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear afferent synapses connecting inner hair cells to spiral ganglion neurons are susceptible to excitotoxic trauma on exposure to loud sound, resulting in a noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy (NICS). Here we assessed the ability of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling to promote cochlear synapse regeneration, inferred from its ability to promote axon regeneration in axotomized CNS neurons, another system refractory to regeneration. METHODS: We mimicked NICS in vitro by applying a glutamate receptor agonist, kainic acid (KA) to organotypic cochlear explant cultures and experimentally manipulated cAMP signaling to determine whether PKA could promote synapse regeneration...

BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng (PG) is a plant that contains ginsenosides, which are considered adaptogens that confer cellular protection. However, the impact of PG on pituitary-ovarian dysfunction and subsequent infertility is unknown. This study investigated the hypothesis that PG would attenuate pituitary-ovarian dysfunction associated with mobile phone's Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation (RF-EMR) in experimental rat models and the possible involvement of a cAMP Response Element Modulator (CREM)-dependent pathway...

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging has been shown to be a new and innovative way to illustrate the optimal resection margin in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigated its accuracy in resection margin determination by looking into the correlation of ICG intensity gradients with pathological examination results of resected specimens. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, non-randomized controlled study...

Background: Understanding how cells and tissues respond to stress factors and perturbations during disease processes is crucial for developing effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables high-resolution identification of cells and exploration of cell heterogeneity, shedding light on cell differentiation/maturation and functional differences. Recent advancements in multimodal sequencing technologies have focused on improving access to cell-specific subgroups for functional genomics analysis...

Pollen, a significant natural bioaerosol and allergen for sensitized individuals, is expected to increase in prevalence due to climate change. Mitigating allergy symptoms involves avoiding pollen exposure and pre-medication, emphasizing the importance of real-time knowledge of localized ambient air pollen concentrations. Laser diode Optical Particle Counters (OPCs) are commonly used for monitoring particle number concentrations in ambient air. This study explores the hypothesis that OPCs can monitor pollen but may struggle to distinguish them from other particles...

Plant induced responses to environmental stressors are increasingly studied in a behavioral ecology context. This is particularly true for plant induced responses to herbivory that mediate direct and indirect defenses, and tolerance. These seemingly adaptive alterations of plant defense phenotypes in the context of other environmental conditions have led to the discussion of such responses as intelligent behavior. Here we consider the concept of plant intelligence and some of its predictions for chemical information transfer in plant interaction with other organisms...

AIMS: Diabetic heart damage can lead to cardiomyocyte death, which endangers human health. Baicalin (BAI) is a bioactive compound that plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) regulates the de-small ubiquitin-like modifier (deSUMOylation) process of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and plays a crucial role in regulating mitochondrial mass and preventing cell injury. Our hypothesis is that BAI regulates the deSUMOylation level of SIRT3 through SENP1 to enhance mitochondrial quality control and prevent cell death, ultimately improving diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM)...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immunization coverage and dropout rates of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine across Brazilian regions. METHODS: This ecological study employing a space-time approach used data from the National Immunization Program (PNI) and the Live Births Information System (SINASC). We estimated the annual variation (2014 to 2021) in immunization coverage and dropout rate of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in children aged 12 and 15 months in the 5 570 Brazilian municipalities...

Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase J (INPP5J), a 5-phosphatase, has been identified as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer. However, its role in pancreatic cancer (PC) is unknown. We found that the INPP5J expression was markedly lower in PC tissues (n = 50) compared to paired adjacent non-tumor tissues, and the lower INPP5J expression was relevant to a worse prognosis of PC patients. We thus proposed that INPP5J might inhibit PC progression and conducted gain-of- and loss-of-function experiments to test our hypothesis...

Chronic stress is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Increased glucocorticoid levels caused by uncontrolled release through the hypothalamic‒pituitary‒adrenal (HPA) axis can cause changes in the lipid content of the cellular plasma membrane. These changes are suspected to be involved in the development of depressive disorders. St. John's wort extract (SJW) Ze 117 has long been used as an alternative to synthetic antidepressants. Part of its effect may be due to an effect on the cellular lipid composition and thus on the properties of plasma membranes and receptor systems embedded therein...

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) facilitates water transport across astrocytic membranes in the brain, forming highly structured nanometric arrays. AQP4 has a central role in regulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation and facilitating the clearance of solutes from the extracellular space of the brain. Adrenergic signaling has been shown to modulate the volume of the extracellular space of the brain via AQP4 localized at the end-feet of astrocytes, but the mechanisms by which AQP4 regulates CSF inflow and outflow in the brain remain elusive...

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids and sclerostin act as inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway, thereby hindering bone formation. Given the pathway's intricate association with mesenchymal stem cells, the hypothesis suggests that heightened sclerostin levels may be intricately linked to an augmentation in marrow adiposity induced by glucocorticoids. This study endeavored to delve into the nuanced relationship between circulating sclerostin and bone marrow adipose tissue in postmenopausal women grappling with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO)...

BACKGROUND: Regulation of the thermogenic response by brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important component of energy homeostasis with implications for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Our preliminary analyses of RNA-Seq data uncovered many nodes representing epigenetic modifiers that are altered in BAT in response to chronic thermogenic activation. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic thermogenic activation broadly alters epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones in BAT. RESULTS: Motivated to understand how BAT function is regulated epigenetically, we developed a novel method for the first-ever unbiased top-down proteomic quantitation of histone modifications in BAT and validated our results with a multi-omic approach...

One of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, osteoarthritis (OA), causes worldwide disability, morbidity, and poor quality of life by degenerating articular cartilage, modifying subchondral bone, and inflaming synovial membranes. OA pathogenesis pathways must be understood to generate new preventative and disease-modifying therapies. In recent years, it has been acknowledged that gut microbiota (GM) can significantly contribute to the development of OA. Dysbiosis of GM can disrupt the "symphony" between the host and the GM, leading to a host immunological response that activates the "gut-joint" axis, ultimately worsening OA...

Psilocybin has shown promise for alleviating symptoms of depression and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN), a condition that is characterised by persistent cognitive inflexibility. Considering that enhanced cognitive flexibility after psilocybin treatment is reported to occur in individuals with depression, it is plausible that psilocybin could improve symptoms of AN by breaking down cognitive inflexibility. A mechanistic understanding of the actions of psilocybin is required to tailor the clinical application of psilocybin to individuals most likely to respond with positive outcomes...