Biomedical subjects

Fan Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Fan Zhang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan.

The East Tianshan Mountains occupy a key corridor between Central and East Asia, but their population history remains poorly understood. Here we report genome-wide data from 135 ancient individuals from 11 archaeological sites. We identify a previously unrecognized Bronze Age admixture between populations related to Yellow River millet farmers and steppe pastoralists associated with the Chemurchek culture. In contrast, we find little genetic contribution from contemporaneous middle-to-late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists, despite their eastward expansion across the Eurasian Steppe. By the Iron Age, regional populations had become more heterogeneous, incorporating additional eastern and steppe-related sources while retaining variable contributions from Early Bronze Age groups. These results reveal sustained demographic interactions in eastern Central Asia nearly 1800 years preceding the establishment of the historic Silk Road.

DNA, Ancient↗

PubMed2026

Parenting styles and fertility intention: Mediating effects of childbearing beliefs and psychological resilience.

China's declining fertility rate is partly due to low fertility intention among childbearing population. To understand family influence on young people's fertility intention and its underlying mechanisms, this study examines how parenting styles (authoritarian vs. permissive) affect Chinese college students' fertility intention, with traditional childbearing beliefs and resilience as mediators. Data were collected from 839 participants (Age: M = 21.1, SD = 1.7 years) using structured questionnaires. Logistic regression found that a positive correlation between permissive parenting style and fertility intention, with authoritarian parenting having no impact. Mediation analysis showed the association between permissive parenting style and fertility intention was fully mediated through resilience ( = 0.0, 95%CI = [0.0,0.1]) and greater childbearing beliefs ( = 0.0, 95%CI = [0.0,0.1]). The findings indicate that permissive parenting is related to higher fertility intention in youth via resilience and childbearing beliefs. Promoting positive family environments and permissive parenting may enhance childbearing intention.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genomic signatures of the Arctic-adapted North American gray wolf ecotype.

The Arctic Circle is one of Earth's most extreme environments. It features cold temperatures, resource shortages, and near-complete winter darkness. Here, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of a male wolf from the Arctic Archipelago (Canis lupus arctos). Our assembly and that of the related C. l. orion from Greenland was used to identify candidate genic and regulatory features of Arctic-adapted polar wolves, ranging from selection acting on standing variation and amino acid changes in genes to conserved non-exonic elements (CNEEs) that may regulate gene expression. We identified genes and nearby CNEEs associated with thermoregulation (e.g., APOB), coat color and patterning (e.g., GOLGB1), and DNA damage response (e.g., POLQ). In vitro assays supported changes in polar wolf gene (POLQ and TRPV2 amino acid substitutions) and CNEE function. Our report offers insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying polar wolf adaptations, laying a foundation for future studies on Arctic canines.

Amino acid substitutions↗

PubMed2026

Haplotype-resolved genome of Forsythia suspensa reveals the reticulate evolution in Oleaceae and a novel gene cluster regulating stamen development.

The olive family (Oleaceae) comprises numerous species of economic, horticultural, and medicinal importance. Despite its significance, the evolutionary history of this complex family remains enigmatic. Here, we generated a high-quality haplotype-resolved genome of Forsythia suspensa, a distylous species that occupies a key phylogenetic position in Oleaceae. The 2 haplotypes exhibit significant allelic divergence with potential allele-specific regulation. We reconstructed the polyploidization history of Oleaceae by confirming and precisely dating a shared whole-genome triplication and an independent whole-genome duplication event. We revealed a complex reticulate evolution that gave rise to the tribe Oleeae: an initial hybridization between Forsythieae (♂) and Jasmineae (♀), a subsequent backcrossing event, and a final whole-genome duplication. We identified a novel tandemly duplicated pectin methylesterase inhibitor gene cluster that regulates filament length and pollen size via restricting cell elongation in the long-styled morph. Dosage augmentation via stepwise cluster formation (0.99 to 3.83 Mya) may contribute to maintaining stamen traits of the long-styled morph. These FsPMEIs are co-expressed with many cell wall-related genes, suggesting a functional link in cell wall modification. Our study reveals the reticulate evolution in Oleaceae and a novel gene cluster controlling stamen development in F. suspensa and provides valuable haplotype-resolved genomic resources for heterostylous species, offering novel framework and molecular pathways to understand plant adaptive evolution.

Forsythia↗

PubMed2026

Development and epidemiological investigation of a TaqMan-based multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assay for simultaneous detection of five bovine viruses (BVDV, AKAV, BNoV, BEV, and BCoV).

INRODUCTION: Infectious diseases caused by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Akabane virus (AKAV), bovine norovirus (BNoV), bovine enterovirus (BEV), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) significantly threaten the cattle industry, resulting in substantial economic losses. These pathogens often present similar clinical signs, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and reproductive disorders in pregnant cattle, and frequent covert or mixed infections further complicate accurate diagnosis. Therefore, rapid, sensitive, and field‑deployable diagnostic methods are essential for effective disease surveillance and control in the cattle industry. METHODS: In this study, we report for the first time the establishment of a TaqMan‑based real‑time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay that enables simultaneous detection of these five bovine viruses. Multiple sequence alignment of conserved genomic regions was performed, and virus‑specific primers and probes were designed and optimized using Beacon Designer 7 software. Subsequently, a TaqMan‑based multiplex real‑time qPCR assay was established for simultaneous detection of BVDV, AKAV, BNoV, BEV, and BCoV. The established detection method was applied to 200 clinical samples collected from 10 farms in multiple regions of Jilin Province. RESULTS: The results showed that the detection rates for BVDV, AKAV, BNoV, BEV, and BCoV were 33.50%, 0.50%, 4.50%, 7.50%, and 12.00%, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in 9 samples co‑infected with two of the five pathogens, with an overall mixed infection rate of 4.50%. Compared with conventional PCR, coincidence rates were 100% for BVDV, AKAV, BNoV, BEV, and BCoV. DISCUSSION: These findings indicate that the TaqMan multiplex real‑time qPCR assay developed here demonstrates favorable specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. This assay enables efficient detection and surveillance of bovine viruses, offering a reliable technical tool for the diagnosis and control of corresponding viral diseases in cattle.

Akabane virus (AKAV)↗

PubMed2026

Prognostic significance of DNA damage response-related markers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using machine learning approaches.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) lacks reliable prognostic biomarkers. Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) has been implicated in genomic instability across multiple cancers, but its prognostic significance in ESCC remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate HRD score as a prognostic biomarker and develop a machine learning-based predictive model for ESCC. METHODS: Transcriptomic and clinical data from 78 ESCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and randomly split into training (70%) and test (30%) cohorts. Prognostic models were constructed using 112 machine learning algorithm combinations based on DNA damage response (DDR)-related genes. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), somatic mutation profiling, and immune cell infiltration estimation via CIBERSORT were performed to characterize HRD-associated molecular features. RESULTS: High HRD scores were significantly associated with poorer overall survival (P<0.05). Among 112 algorithm combinations, the survival support vector machine (Survival-SVM) model demonstrated optimal performance [training concordance index (C-index): 0.741; test C-index: 0.708], identifying six hub genes: PARP1, MBD4, TELO2, NSMCE3, SMUG1, and BABAM1. A nomogram incorporating risk score (RS) and clinical variables achieved strong predictive accuracy for 1- to 3-year survival [area under the curve (AUC) >0.7]. High-HRD tumors exhibited distinct mutational patterns (TP53 and TTN) and enriched glutathione metabolism and cytochrome P450 pathways. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significant differences in plasma cell and neutrophil infiltration between risk groups (P<0.05), suggesting HRD-associated immune microenvironment remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a novel HRD-based prognostic model incorporating six DDR-related genes that demonstrates robust predictive performance in ESCC. HRD score is identified as an independent prognostic factor associated with genomic instability, immune microenvironment alterations, and clinical outcomes. These findings provide a theoretical basis for personalized treatment strategies, including potential applications of PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy in ESCC.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)↗

PubMed2026

A study on the mechanism of action of B7H4 in HER2-positive gastric cancer and its sensitivity to trastuzumab therapy.

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by high malignancy and a poor prognosis. Trastuzumab is the first-line targeted therapy for this disease, but the frequent development of primary and acquired resistance severely compromises treatment efficacy and impedes improvements in patient outcomes. B7H4 is a critical negative immune checkpoint molecule that has been demonstrated to contribute to tumor progression and targeted therapy resistance in multiple cancers. However, the specific mechanisms by which B7H4 regulates sensitivity to trastuzumab in HER2-positive GC remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression and biological functions of B7H4 in HER2-positive GC, elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying B7H4-mediated trastuzumab resistance, and thereby provide a theoretical basis for targeted resistance intervention and therapeutic optimization for this malignancy. METHODS: The study began with an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections to assess the expression levels of B7H4 and HER2, as well as the correlation between their expression. Furthermore, the correlation between B7H4 expression and various pathological parameters in patients with HER2-positive GC was analysed. Western blot analysis was used to screen for co-expressing cells, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was employed to knockdown B7H4. The effects of B7H4 knockdown on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HER2-positive GC cells were assessed using colony formation assays, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, cell scratch assays and Transwell assays, respectively. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was utilised to analyse the biological processes and signalling pathways regulated by B7H4 and to detect relevant biomarkers. Colony formation assays and CCK-8 assays were employed to evaluate the therapeutic sensitivity of trastuzumab to HER2-positive GC cells following B7H4 knockdown. RESULTS: Analysis of the TCGA database and immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections revealed that B7H4 and HER2 were co-expressed in GC tissues, and their expression levels were positively correlated. Clinical correlation analysis revealed that B7H4 expression was significantly associated with tumor size, grade, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, vascular invasion and nerve invasion in HER2-positive GC patients. Western blot analysis demonstrated co-expression of B7H4 and HER2 in NCI-N87 cells. Knockdown of B7H4 resulted in varying degrees of inhibition of proliferation, migration and invasion in NCI-N87 cells. RNA-seq results indicated that B7H4 knockdown affected biological processes such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and was significantly associated with the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway. Knockdown of B7H4 significantly enhanced the sensitivity of HER2-positive GC cells to trastuzumab. CONCLUSIONS: B7H4 is highly expressed in HER2-positive GC and is associated with poor prognosis. B7H4 promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion by activating the NF-κB signalling pathway and driving the EMT process. B7H4 expression influences the sensitivity of HER2-positive GC cells to trastuzumab; inhibition of B7H4 significantly enhances the antitumor efficacy of trastuzumab.

B7H4↗

PubMed2026

GFPT1 as a cross-ancestry validated target for degenerative spinal disease: genetic association in a Chinese cohort and functional characterization in zebrafish.

Degenerative spinal disease (DSD), including spinal stenosis and spondylosis, lacks effective pharmacological treatment. To identify druggable targets and assess cross-ancestry applicability, we integrate multi-omics analyses using Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR), colocalization, and two-sample Mendelian randomization with European whole-blood, peripheral-blood, and CSF eQTL/pQTL datasets, followed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) validation in a Chinese cohort. We identify 7 genes/proteins associated with spinal stenosis and 5 with spondylosis, with GFPT1, GPX1, and SERPINA1 shared by both. Two-sample MR further supports the causal associations of these targets with DSD. Phenome-wide MR prioritization selects GFPT1 and GPX1 as favorable candidates with no predicted adverse effects and potential beneficial effects on hypertension. In the Chinese cohort (67 lumbar spinal stenosis patients and 100 controls), WGS identifies 4 GFPT1 cis-eQTL loci (rs13016371, rs35392088, rs12997521, and rs13019789) associated with lumbar spinal stenosis risk; all risk alleles are linked to increased GFPT1 expression, and all 24 variant carriers show L4/L5 stenosis on imaging. Druggability analysis identifies IOX1 as the sole preclinical-stage compound targeting GFPT1, and molecular docking supports robust binding to GFPT1 (- 6.39 kcal/mol). Functional assays show that IOX1 directly inhibits GFPT1 enzymatic activity and induces fructose-6-phosphate accumulation. In zebrafish, IOX1 significantly rescues GFPT1-induced degenerative phenotypes. These findings establish GFPT1 as a cross-ancestry validated therapeutic target for DSD and nominate IOX1 as a promising disease-modifying candidate.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Unraveling 'F' factor: towards a genetic-clinical framework for the musculoskeletal-heart crosstalk in metabolic aging.

BACKGROUND: The rising co-occurrence of cardiometabolic diseases and musculoskeletal degeneration poses a critical challenge to healthy aging, yet the shared biological mechanisms underlying this multimorbidity remain poorly defined. This study aimed to establish an integrative clinical-genetic framework to elucidate the common frailty factor, the 'F' factor, that captures the systemic vulnerability linking cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and musculoskeletal aging. METHODS: Utilizing the prospective China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) cohort, we developed and validated novel Frailty-Integrated Indices for CMM risk prediction, evaluated with machine learning models interpreted via SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Independently, we applied genomic structural equation modeling (Genomic-SEM) to integrate genome-wide association data from six traits-coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, bone mineral density, frailty, and telomere length-to model a shared latent genetic factor ('F' factor). This was followed by multivariate GWAS, fine-mapping, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), gene-based analysis, and functional annotation to prioritize causal genes, pathways, and cell types. RESULTS: Clinically, several Frailty-Integrated Indices significantly improved CMM risk prediction, with the optimal model achieving an AUC of 0.727. Genetically, we modeled a significant shared latent genetic factor ('F' factor), pinpointing novel risk loci and implicating key genes such as APOE and SLC22A3. These genes were enriched in pathways including cellular senescence and cholesterol metabolism and showed specific expression patterns in developmental brain stages and across multi-organ endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide converging evidence for Musculoskeletal‑Heart crosstalk of metabolic aging and inferred the 'F' factor as a genetic correlate of a transdiagnostic state, which links genetic predisposition to metabolic dysregulation, and systemic functional decline. This work provides a multi-level biological characterization of multimorbidity liability, informing early-risk detection and preventive strategies for complex aging-related comorbidities.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

CSNK1E sustains stemlike drug persistence in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease occurs in up to 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) following first-line immunochemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying drug persistence remain incompletely defined. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA and B-cell receptor sequencing on paired diagnostic and R/R samples from 8 patients who were either treatment-refractory or relapsed after remission, and validated our findings in 3 independent patient cohorts. We found that drug-persistent cells exhibited a transcriptional profile indicative of a less-differentiated state and adopted a memory B-cell-like program with enhanced stemlike properties, which correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes across multiple DLBCL cohorts. Functionally, drug-persistent cells showed significantly increased in vitro clonogenicity and in vivo tumor-initiating capacity. Mechanistically, the WNT signaling regulator casein kinase 1ɛ (CSNK1E) was upregulated in these stemlike drug-persistent cells, in part through the activation of the A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL)-TNFRSF13B axis. Notably, CSNK1E inhibition impaired the growth and tumor-initiating capacity of drug-persistent cells and potentiated the efficacy of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone)-based treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. Together, our study reveals the stemlike transcriptional and functional properties of drug-persistent cells, and identifies CSNK1E as a critical mediator and therapeutic vulnerability that may improve the efficacy of standard immunochemotherapy in DLBCL.

Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse↗

PubMed2026

Unveiling Aziridine-Containing Natural Products by Genomic and Spectroscopic Approaches.

Aziridine-containing natural products are prized for their potent bioactivities, yet their scarcity and poorly understood biosynthesis have limited systematic exploration. Here, we address this by integrating genome mining with a 1H-13C coupled HSQC metabolomic approach that exploits the distinctive NMR signatures of aziridines, enabling their direct detection from complex extracts. This strategy unveiled the desertolides, the first macrolides incorporating a rare terminal 2-methyl-aziridine-2-carboxylate moiety. Genetic and isotopic studies identified a dedicated biosynthetic subcluster (desA-desN) that assembles and installs this unit from glutamate, and heterologous expression confirmed the self-sufficiency of this subcluster. Direct MS evidence reveals the aziridine moiety covalently bound to the active-site Cys113 of DesN, establishing this KAS III homolog as the first dedicated aziridine-transferase and a promising tool for polyketide engineering. Bioinformatic analysis uncovered over 50 biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting that this aziridine-associated biosynthetic logic may be more widespread than currently appreciated. This work establishes a tractable platform for the targeted discovery and engineered biosynthesis of aziridine-containing natural products, opening this underexplored pharmacophore to systematic interrogation.

Aziridines↗

PubMed2026

Multimodal Integration of Protein Interactomes With Genomic and Molecular Data Discovers Distinct Rheumatoid Arthritis Endotypes.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by clinical and molecular heterogeneity, notably in the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies. Patients with CCP+ RA exhibit more severe disease progression and distinct treatment responses compared to patients with CCP- RA. Although previous studies have investigated cellular and molecular differences between these subtypes, their genetic differences are understudied. METHODS: We leveraged the Rheumatoid Arthritis Comparative Effectiveness Research cohort, comprising 555 patients with CCP+/rheumatoid factor (RF)+ RA and 384 patients with CCP-/RF+ RA. Using a novel framework, we integrated a network-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) with multiomic data to uncover corresponding genetic and molecular differences. RESULTS: We uncovered a significant heritability difference between these disease groups. Network-based GWAS uncovered 14 putative gene modules, including many genes outside the HLA loci, that explained genetic differences between CCP+/RF+ and CCP-/RF+ RA. Heritability partitioning and multivariate expression analyses validated four modules, highlighting novel genetic loci underlying phenotypic differences. Module functional significance was established using multiple orthogonal cohorts, underscoring their biologic relevance. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the use of network-based approaches in revealing differential genetic risk factors underlying CCP+/RF+ and CCP-/RF+ RA. Disease-associated gene modules detected in synovial tissue were also observed in peripheral blood, indicating joint-specific molecular programs are reflected systemically. This cross-tissue concordance highlights the potential for blood-based assays to capture pathogenic mechanisms active in the joints, enabling practical patient stratification. Our findings highlight why patients with CCP+/RF+ and CCP-/RF+ RA exhibit distinct clinical courses and therapeutic responses, supporting precision-guided treatment strategy development in RA.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

EIF4H and YBX1 are essential host factors for hepatitis E virus replication and pathogenesis.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, responsible for approximately 20 million infections annually. Despite the availability of a vaccine in China, no direct-acting antivirals are approved, and host factors required for HEV replication remain poorly defined. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen in a replicon system, we identified Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4H (EIF4H) and Y-Box Binding Protein 1 (YBX1) as essential host factors for HEV replication and pathogenesis. Knockout of either factor markedly impaired replication of HEV genotypes 1, 3, and 4, as well as HEV infection and production in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells, while leaving SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and Zika virus unaffected, underscoring their HEV-specific roles. Mechanistically, EIF4H interacts with ORF1 via its methyltransferase-Y-papain-like protease region, and EIF4H deficiency alters the composition of the ORF1-associated replication complex. By contrast, YBX1 is dispensable for ORF1 translation and RNA binding but is specifically required for ORF1 proteolytic processing, a prerequisite for assembling a functional replication machinery. EIF4H knockout rats and liver-specific YBX1 knockout rats were largely resistant to rat HEV-C1 infection, showing profound reductions in viral shedding, suppressed hepatic and intestinal viral loads, and protection from liver pathology. Together, our findings establish EIF4H and YBX1 as essential host factors for HEV infection and pathogenesis and reveal potential targets for antiviral intervention.

Virus Replication↗

PubMed2025

A positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus acquired a negative-sense open reading frame through recombination.

Although positive- and negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses are ubiquitous in nature, there is currently no evidence of recombination or reassortment between viruses with these two major forms of genome organization. Here, we describe the discovery of brine shrimp virga-like virus 1 (BSVV1), a novel positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus with a recombinant genome structure derived from two viral phyla with differing genome organizations. The genome of BSVV1 comprises three open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 resembles the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Ips virga-like virus 1 (a positive-sense RNA virus), while ORF2, transcribed in the positive orientation, is related to the glycoprotein of Hubei bunya-like virus 10 and other negative-sense RNA viruses. The predicted ORF3 was unique to BSVV1 without known homologs identified. The presence of the three protein products was verified by mass spectrometry. Notably, our analysis also revealed that BSVV1 is geographically widespread and found in brine shrimp from at least eight countries on four continents. In addition, BSVV1 was successfully cultured and proliferated to high viral loads during brine shrimp development. In sum, we provide compelling evidence of an ancient recombination event between negative- and positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, enriching our understanding of the evolution of genome structures in RNA viruses.

Open Reading Frames↗

PubMed2025

Endogenous Retroelement Activation is Implicated in Interferon-α Production and Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Autoantibody Generation in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Endogenous retroelements (EREs) stimulate type 1 interferon (IFN-I) production but have not been explored as potential interferonogenic triggers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated ERE expression in early RA (eRA), a period in which IFN-I levels are increased. METHODS: ERE expression (long terminal repeat [LTR] 5, long interspersed nuclear element 1 [LINE-1], and short interspersed nuclear element [SINE]) in disease-modifying treatment-naïve eRA whole-blood and bulk synovial tissue samples was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and NanoString alongside IFN-α activity. Circulating lymphocyte subsets, including B cell subsets, from patients with eRA and early psoriatic arthritis (ePsA) were flow cytometrically sorted and similarly examined. Existing established RA and osteoarthritis (OA) synovial single-cell sequencing data were reinterrogated to identify repeat elements, and associations were explored. RESULTS: There was significant coexpression of all ERE classes and IFNA in eRA synovial tissue samples (n = 22, P < 0.0001) and significant positive associations between whole-blood LINE-1 expression (n = 56) and circulating IFN-α protein (P = 0.018) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) titers (P < 0.0001). ERE expression was highest in circulating eRA B cells, particularly naïve B cells compared with ePsA, with possible ERE regulation by SAM and HD Domain Containing Deoxynucleoside Triphosphate Triphosphohydrolase 1 transcription (SAMDH1) implicated and associations with IFNA again observed. Finally, in established RA synovium, LTRs, particularly human endogenous retroviral sequence K (HERVK), were most increased in RA compared with OA, in which, for all synovial subsets (monocytes, B cells, T cells, and fibroblasts), ERE expression associated with increased IFN-I signaling (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Peripheral blood and synovial ERE expression is examined for the first time in eRA, highlighting both a potential causal relationship between ERE and IFN-I production and an intriguing association with anti-CCP autoantibodies. This suggests EREs may contribute to RA pathophysiology with implications for future novel therapeutic strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Multi-Omics insights into OsZFP252-OsGA20ox5 mediated drought tolerance in rice through stomatal and vascular regulation.

Rice growth is highly dependent on water availability, and drought stress significantly impacts its entire life cycle. However, previous studies lack systematic investigations into drought-responsive candidate genes across the full life cycle of rice. This study integrates transcriptomic and phenotypic data from two rice lines, IR64 (drought-sensitive) and DK151 (drought-tolerant), under varied environmental conditions at distinct growth stages. Using k-means clustering, 13 369 genes were categorized into 17 distinct expression patterns, revealing drought-responsive genes specifically upregulated or downregulated under drought stress. Weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further identified four gene modules strongly correlated with drought-related phenotypes, co-localizing 2859 drought-responsive genes through both approaches. Proteomics and metabolomics were supplemented at the booting stage, where phenotypic and transcriptomic differences under drought were most pronounced. Integrated omics results demonstrate gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) pathways play a key role during drought tolerance in rice, and 79 high-confidence drought-resistant candidate genes were prioritized from the 2859 drought-responsive genes. Among these, Gibberellin 20-oxidase 5 (OsGA20ox5) was identified as a key negative regulator of drought tolerance. Furthermore, the transcription factor zinc finger protein 252 (OsZFP252) directly binds to the OsGA20ox5 promoter, repressing its expression and enhancing ABA biosynthesis, thereby improving drought tolerance by increasing stomatal closure and expanding vascular bundle water transport capacity. Notably, the drought-tolerant haplotype 2-4 (Hap2-4) of OsGA20ox5 provides valuable insights for drought-resistant breeding.

Oryza↗

PubMed2024

Phased telomere-to-telomere reference genome and pangenome reveal an expansion of resistance genes during apple domestication.

The cultivated apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is a cross-pollinated perennial fruit tree of great economic importance. Earlier versions of apple reference genomes were unphased, fragmented, and lacked comprehensive insights into the apple's highly heterozygous genome, which impeded advances in genetic studies and breeding programs. In this study, we assembled a haplotype-resolved telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome for the diploid apple cultivar Golden Delicious. Subsequently, we constructed a pangenome based on 12 assemblies from wild and cultivated species to investigate the dynamic changes of functional genes. Our results revealed the gene gain and loss events during apple domestication. Compared with cultivated species, more gene families in wild species were significantly enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, pentose metabolic process, responses to salt, and abscisic acid biosynthesis process. Our analyses also demonstrated a higher prevalence of different types of resistance gene analogs (RGAs) in cultivars than their wild relatives, partially attributed to segmental and tandem duplication events in certain RGAs classes. Structural variations, mainly deletions and insertions, have affected the presence and absence of TIR-NB-ARC-LRR, NB-ARC-LRR, and CC-NB-ARC-LRR genes. Additionally, hybridization/introgression from wild species has also contributed to the expansion of resistance genes in domesticated apples. Our haplotype-resolved T2T genome and pangenome provide important resources for genetic studies of apples, emphasizing the need to study the evolutionary mechanisms of resistance genes in apple breeding.

Malus↗

PubMed2024

Class IIa HDAC4 and HDAC7 cooperatively regulate gene transcription in Th17 cell differentiation.

Class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important in regulation of gene transcription during T cell development. However, our understanding of their cell-specific functions is limited. In this study, we reveal that class IIa Hdac4 and Hdac7 (Hdac4/7) are selectively induced in transcription, guiding the lineage-specific differentiation of mouse T-helper 17 (Th17) cells from naive CD4+ T cells. Importantly, Hdac4/7 are functionally dispensable in other Th subtypes. Mechanistically, Hdac4 interacts with the transcription factor (TF) JunB, facilitating the transcriptional activation of Th17 signature genes such as Il17a/f. Conversely, Hdac7 collaborates with the TF Aiolos and Smrt/Ncor1-Hdac3 corepressors to repress transcription of Th17 negative regulators, including Il2, in Th17 cell differentiation. Inhibiting Hdac4/7 through pharmacological or genetic methods effectively mitigates Th17 cell-mediated intestinal inflammation in a colitis mouse model. Our study uncovers molecular mechanisms where HDAC4 and HDAC7 function distinctively yet cooperatively in regulating ordered gene transcription during Th17 cell differentiation. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy of targeting HDAC4/7 for treating Th17-related inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis.

Animals↗