Search

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a newly discovered noncoding RNA that regulates gene transcription, binds to RNA-related proteins, and encodes protein microRNAs (miRNAs). The development of molecular biomarkers such as circRNAs holds great promise in the diagnosis and prognosis of clinical disorders. Importantly, circRNA-mediated maternal-fetus risk factors including environmental (high altitude), maternal (preeclampsia, smoking, and chorioamnionitis), placental, and fetal (preterm birth and low birth weight) factors are the early origins and likely to contribute to the occurrence and progression of developmental and pediatric cardiopulmonary disorders. Although studies of circRNAs in normal cardiopulmonary development and developmental diseases have just begun, some studies have revealed their expression patterns. Here, we provide an overview of circRNAs' biogenesis and biological functions. Furthermore, this review aims to emphasize the importance of circRNAs in maternal-fetus risk factors. Likewise, the potential biomarker and therapeutic target of circRNAs in developmental and pediatric lung diseases are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most harmful mycotoxins, which can cause multiple toxicological effects, especially nephrotoxicity in animals and humans. Taurine is an essential amino acid with various biological functions such as anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidation. However, the protective effect of taurine on OTA‐induced nephrotoxicity and pyroptosis had not been reported. Our results showed that OTA exposure induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in PK‐15 cells, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, increased mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2), and decreased mRNA levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4). In addition, OTA treatment induced pyroptosis by increasing the expressions of pyroptosis‐related proteins NLRP3, GSDMD, Caspase‐1 P20, ASC, Pro‐caspase‐1, and IL‐1β. Meanwhile, taurine could alleviate OTA‐induced pyroptosis and cytotoxicity, as well as reduce ROS level, COX‐2, and iNOS mRNA levels, and increase the mRNA levels of the antioxidant enzyme in PK‐15 cells. Taken together, taurine alleviated OTA‐induced pyroptosis in PK‐15 cells by inhibiting ROS generation and altering the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby attenuating its nephrotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is universally known to induce nephrotoxicity via inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis, inhibiting protein synthesis and activating autophagy. Our previous studies have proved that OTA induces nephrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo by adjusting the NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and caspase‐1‐dependent pyroptosis. Based on these findings, we further investigated the protective role of selenomethionine (SeMet) on OTA‐caused nephrotoxicity using the Madin‐Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells as an in vitro model, proposing to offer a new way for remedying OTA‐induced nephrotoxicity by nutritional manipulation. We measured the cell vitality, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and the expression of renal fibrotic genes, NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis related genes. MTT and LDH results indicated that SeMet supplementation significantly mitigated 2.0 μg/ml OTA‐induced cytotoxicity in MDCK cells (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, SeMet alleviated OTA induced increase of reactive oxygen species in MDCK cells. Then, the expressions of α‐SMA, Vimentin, and TGF‐β were detected both in mRNA and protein levels. The results indicated 8 μM SeMet supplementation could significantly downregulate the expression of OTA‐induced renal fibrosis‐related genes (p < 0.05). In addition, the upregulation of OTA‐induced NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis downstream genes was also significantly inhibited by 8 μM of SeMet (p < 0.05). In summary, SeMet could alleviate OTA‐induced renal fibrotic genes expression and reduce NLRP3‐caspase‐1‐dependent pyroptosis. Therefore, SeMet supplementation may become an effective approach for preserving animals from renal injury exposed to OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation and purification of biomacromolecules such as nucleic acid is a perpetual topic in separation processes and bioengineering (fine chemicals, biopharmaceutical engineering, diagnostics, and biological characterization). In principle, the solid‐phase extraction for nucleic acid exhibits efficient phase separation, low pollution risk, and small sample demand, compared to the conventional liquid‐phase extraction. Herein, solid‐phase extraction methods are systematically reviewed to outline research progress and explore additional solid‐phase sorbents and devices for novel, flexible, and high‐efficiency nucleic acid separation processes. The functional materials capture nucleic acid, magnetic and magnetic‐free solid‐phase extraction methods, separation device design and optimization, and high‐throughput automatable applications based on high‐performance solid‐phase extraction are summarized. Finally, the current challenges and promising topics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabricating materials with a combination of high toughness, and self-healing, shape memory and reprocessing properties, especially derived from renewable precursors, remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a simple strategy to prepare a multifunctional elastomer based on a semi-interpenetrating dynamic network (semi-IDN) by using sustainable Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) as a raw material. The elastomer possessed high stretchability (∼876%) and high tensile strength (∼12.1 MPa) as well as good self-healing, solid plasticity and shape memory properties. Moreover, it can not only be reprocessed by hot pressing (tensile strength remains 92% after three times of reprocessing), but can also be recycled by dissolving with little effect on the structure and properties. In addition, a flexible electronic device is prepared by spraying hydroxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-OH) on its surface, which exhibited good self-healing of electrical conductivity after damage. The semi-IDN concept provides a new pathway to prepare reprocessed materials, and the as-prepared elastomers have broad application prospects in new generation green rubber and flexible wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the synthesis of body temperature triggering shape memory polymers usually requires elaborate structural design, which limits their wide application. Herein, starting from bio‐based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG), a series of EUG/silica hybrids (ESHs) are prepared through a facile one‐pot process, in which EUG is epoxied and then self‐crosslinked with SiO2 by epoxy ring‐open reaction. Varying the amount of H2O2, the shape memory transition temperature (Ttrans) of ESHs is adjusted to 47.4–36.6 ℃, which is close to human body temperature (37 ℃). Among them, ESH‐17 exhibited the best body temperature triggering shape memory ability (Ttrans = 36.6 ℃), which can restore the permanent shape within 60 s at 37 ℃ with a shape fixity ratio of 99% and shape recovery ratio near 100%. In addition, the shape memory mechanism is discussed and shows some application scenarios of ESHs. The as‐produced materials can be used as smart biomaterials such as self‐tightening sutures, self‐sealing root canal filling materials, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication in preterm infants, leading to chronic respiratory disease. There has been an improvement in perinatal care, but many infants still suffer from impaired branching morphogenesis, alveolarization, and pulmonary capillary formation, causing lung function impairments and BPD. There is an increased risk of respiratory infections, pulmonary hypertension, and neurodevelopmental delays in infants with BPD, all of which can lead to long-term morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, treatment options for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia are limited. A growing body of evidence indicates that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) can treat various lung diseases in regenerative medicine. MSCs are multipotent cells that can differentiate into multiple cell types, including lung cells, and possess immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and regenerative properties. MSCs are regulated by mitochondrial function, as well as oxidant stress responses. Maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis will likely be key for MSCs to stimulate proper lung development and regeneration in Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In recent years, MSCs have demonstrated promising results in treating and preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Studies have shown that MSC therapy can reduce inflammation, mitochondrial impairment, lung injury, and fibrosis. In light of this, MSCs have emerged as a potential therapeutic option for treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The article explores the role of MSCs in lung development and disease, summarizes MSC therapy's effectiveness in treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and delves into the mechanisms behind this treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Mulder, Riddle, Song and Yue.)

Fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) is a fungal metabolite, which has an incremental detection rate in grains and feed worldwide. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a critical element in pyroptosis activation, which participates in regulating enteritis. Meanwhile, autophagy is also engaged in intestinal inflammation. However, the function of pyroptosis and autophagy in FB 1 -mediated enterotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of FB 1 on enteritis and the underlying mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Our data showed that FB 1 exposure damaged the intestinal epithelium and promoted the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, FB 1 exposure significantly upregulated the expression of pyroptosis-related genes. Then, MCC950, an inhibitor of NLRP3, significantly blocked FB 1 -induced pyroptosis in IPEC-J2 cells. In addition, FB 1 treatment elevated the levels of autophagy. Moreover, the phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), an upstream protein of the autophagy pathway, was inhibited by FB 1 exposure. Notably, rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, instead of MHY1485, an agonist of mTOR, could ameliorate FB 1 -induced intestinal inflammatory injury and inhibit the upregulation of pyroptosis-related genes. In summary, we demonstrated that autophagy exhibited a protective effect against NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis on FB 1 -induced enteritis. Our data clarify a favorable protective role for the activation of autophagy in FB 1 poisoning.