Biomedical subjects

Jing Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Jing Zhang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

A Molecularly Anchored Spatial Transcriptomic Framework for Precise CA1-Subiculum Parcellation and Region-Resolved Analysis in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The precise molecular delineation of the interface between the Subiculum (Sub) and cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) is a challenge in hippocampal research, as conventional cytoarchitectural boundaries are often ambiguous and limit reproducible regional annotation. Here, we developed a molecularly anchored spatial transcriptomic framework to define CA1-Sub regional identities using high-definition spatial transcriptomics (Stereo-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) references. FINDINGS: Using a human hippocampal Stereo-seq dataset from 12 donors, we established a data-driven parcellation framework that defines reproducible molecular features distinguishing CA1 and Sub while capturing the transition between these regions. FN1 was identified as a Sub-enriched marker in a subset of EX_Sub and, together with ETV1 and additional regional markers, enabled molecular assignment of CA1 and Sub identities across datasets. The Sub association of FN1 and ETV1 was further supported by human 10X Genomics spatial transcriptomics, mouse in situ hybridization data, and a mouse spatial transcriptomic dataset. Applying this framework to Alzheimer's disease (AD) tissues revealed region-specific transcriptional alterations across CA1 and Sub, including enrichment of mitochondrial energy metabolism-related transcripts in the Sub, suggesting exploratory transcriptional associations of altered metabolic function. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a molecularly anchored framework for human CA1-Sub parcellation that complements conventional annotation. By defining regional molecular states while preserving the biological continuum across CA1-Sub interface, this approach enables more consistent regional analysis of human hippocampus tissue across donors, datasets, and disease conditions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

GA4+7 alleviates pear fruit semi-russeting partly by suppressing PRX-mediated lignin deposition.

Pear fruit semi-russeting is a surface disorder that frequently occurs during fruit development and significantly diminishes fruit appearance quality and commercial value. Although Gibberellin 4 + 7 (GA4+7) has been used to reduce fruit surface defects in horticultural crops, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying its inhibitory effect on pear fruit semi-russeting remain poorly understood. In this study, preharvest GA4+7 treatment of 'Cuiguan' pear significantly reduced russet coverage and lignin accumulation in mature fruit skin without adversely affecting fruit size, fruit shape index, or total soluble solids content. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that GA4+7 treatment was associated with the repression of phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis at both metabolic and transcriptional levels. Among the lignin-related differentially expressed genes, two class III peroxidase genes, PpyPRX22 and PpyPRX65, were strongly downregulated by both GA4+7 and bagging treatments. Both proteins localized to the cell wall, and transient expression assays in pear fruit skin supported positive roles for PpyPRX22 and PpyPRX65 in lignin deposition. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assays combined with transient overexpression experiments suggested that several PpyMYB transcription factors may regulate PpyPRX expression and lignin accumulation, with PpyMYB138 and PpyMYB139 significantly activating PpyPRX22 and/or PpyPRX65 promoter activity. Taken together, these results suggest that GA4+7 alleviates pear fruit semi-russeting at least partly by reducing lignin deposition in the fruit skin, with PpyPRX22 and PpyPRX65 potentially contributing to this process.

Class III peroxidase↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Analysis of Volatile Compounds, Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, and Lipidomic Profiles in Thigh Muscles of Commercial Arbor Acres (AA) Broilers and Indigenous Chengkou and Langshan Chickens.

Flavor-related compounds and nutritional components of chicken meat vary among different breeds, but comprehensive comparisons of these characteristics between commercial and indigenous chickens remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, three chicken breeds (Arbor Acres, Chengkou, and Langshan) were slaughtered at their respective market ages, and the volatile flavor compounds, amino acids, fatty acids, and lipidomic profiles of thigh muscle were analyzed to investigate breed-associated differences in flavor-related and nutritional characteristics. Langshan chickens exhibited the highest total volatile compound content and also had the highest total amino acid levels, with significantly higher contents of umami and sweet amino acids. In addition, both indigenous breeds showed higher levels of arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) than Arbor Acres broilers, while Chengkou chickens had the highest content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3). Lipidomic analysis identified 787 lipids, with glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids as the predominant classes. Differential lipid analysis revealed that Langshan chickens had 38 upregulated lipids compared with Arbor Acres chickens, while Chengkou chickens exhibited 258 differential lipids relative to Arbor Acres chickens. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these differential lipids were mainly associated with glycerolipid, sphingolipid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed significant associations between specific lipids and flavor-related compounds, amino acids, and fatty acids, suggesting their potential roles in breed-associated differences. Overall, this study demonstrates that indigenous chicken breeds possess distinct flavor-related and nutritional profiles compared with commercial Arbor Acres broilers and provides valuable insights into breed-associated differences in chicken meat characteristics.

amino acids↗

PubMed2026

Diurnal differences in the effects of heat exposure on renal function: A randomized controlled crossover trial.

High temperature is a major risk factor for kidney injury, and population exposure to nighttime heat is increasing as the climate warms. However, whether renal responses to heat exposure differ between daytime and nighttime remains unclear. Forty-one healthy adults participated in a randomized crossover experiment conducted in a controlled laboratory setting. Participants were exposed to heat (32°C during daytime; 30°C during nighttime) and thermoneutral conditions (26°C) for 8 h. Blood and urine samples were collected before and after each exposure to examine various renal biomarkers reflecting glomerular filtration function, tubular injury, and early kidney stress. Heat exposure affected both blood and urinary biomarkers of kidney function, with notable diurnal differences in renal responses. Daytime heat exposure primarily affected blood markers of glomerular filtration, increasing creatinine by 7.67% (95% CI: 4.73%-10.61%) and cystatin C by 3.05% (95% CI: 0.17%-5.93%), while reducing estimated glomerular filtration rate by 0.05% (95% CI: 0.02%-0.08%). In contrast, nighttime heat exposure predominantly elevated urinary biomarkers of early kidney stress, including insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (58.40%, 95% CI: 27.66%-89.14%), kidney injury molecule-1 (47.25%, 95% CI: 18.91%-75.59%), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (51.88%, 95% CI: 22.26%-81.51%). Moreover, increases in insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 were significantly greater at night than during the day. Sleep-related parameters, including sleep quality, duration, and heart rate variability, partially mediated nighttime heat effects on renal responses. These results indicated that heat exposure induced different diurnal patterns in renal responses.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Locus-specific stratification and prioritization unveil genetic risk mechanism underlying complex diseases.

Although genome-wide association studies have identified thousands of disease-associated loci, the mechanistic understanding and drug target discovery remain challenging, particularly for complex diseases. The multi-signal architecture of complex diseases complicates the interpretation of genetic contributions. To address this challenge, we develop an approach comprising locus-specific stratification (LSS) and gene regulatory prioritization score (GRPS), which uniquely considers multi-signals during fine-mapping and target gene identification. LSS significantly enhances the interpretability of genetic risk associated with complex diseases. For loci associated with serum urate levels, the method identifies candidate causal genes in 34.43% of loci, surpassing the performance of other methods by 5.47% to 25.14%. GRPS considers the regulatory network of LSS-variants comprehensively and successfully nominates under-explored drug targets for hyperuricemia with high confidence such as SLC17A4, which is further validated using epigenetic activation and phenotypic assays. This study introduces an approach to efficiently and comprehensively address the multi-signal challenges in complex diseases.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A Case Report of Infantile Dopa-Responsive Dystonia Onset With Sleep Disorder Complicated With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a rare genetic disorder with complex and diverse clinical manifestations, resulting in a high rate of misdiagnosis. This case report describes an infantile case of DRD complicated by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), initially presenting with a sleep disorder. We aim to summarize its clinical manifestations, diagnostic process, treatment, and follow-up outcomes in order to improve clinical understanding of this disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A retrospective analysis was performed on a male infant who was treated at Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in 2020. The patient presented at one month of age with sleep disturbances, delayed motor development, and intermittent upward deviation of the eyes. Genetic testing identified two heterozygous pathogenic variants in the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene. Among them, the c.738-2A>G variant was not recorded in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC), Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD), or 1000 Genomes Asian population databases. During follow-up, the patient was also found to have comorbid ASD. RESULTS: Genetic testing confirmed biallelic TH mutations, establishing the diagnosis of infantile DRD. The patient exhibited marked clinical response to levodopa/benserazide, though dose titration was required with growth. CONCLUSION: For infants with unexplained sleep disorder accompanied by delayed motor development, genetic testing should be performed as early as possible to facilitate the identification of the root cause and implement timely treatment. In addition, close follow-up should be conducted to detect comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Description of Sulfitobacter gelatinilyticus sp. nov. and Sulfitobacter weihaiensis sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

Two Gram-stain-negative, yellowish-white, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated F26169LT and F26204T, were isolated from coastal sediment of Jingzi Port, Weihai. Based on phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenomic analyses, the two strains were affiliated with the genus Sulfitobacter. They showed obvious differences in phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characteristics compared with closely related taxa in this genus, and the ANI, AAI and dDDH values between them and related species were all lower than the standard thresholds for bacterial species delineation. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of genes encoding a complete sulfur oxidation (SOX) pathway and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyases in both strains. Accordingly, strains F26169LT and F26204T are proposed as two novel species of the genus Sulfitobacter, for which the names Sulfitobacter gelatinilyticus sp. nov. and Sulfitobacter weihaiensis sp. nov., are proposed, respectively. The type strains are F26169LT (= KCTC 92635 T = MCCC 1H01356T) and F26204T (= KCTC 92634 T = MCCC 1H01357T).

Geologic Sediments↗

PubMed2026

Whole-exome sequencing-centered genetic evaluation for early-onset obesity in Chinese children: a retrospective single-center cohort.

BACKGROUND: Genetic causes of early-onset obesity remain undercharacterized in East Asian children. This study evaluated a whole-exome sequencing (WES)-centered diagnostic workflow in Chinese children with obesity onset before 5 years. METHODS: Consecutive children with body mass index above the 95th percentile and obesity onset before 5 years who completed structured inpatient assessment at a single center between February 2022 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Phenotyping included clinical, biochemical, oral glucose tolerance, cortisol rhythm, and liver assessments. Genetic testing combined WES, mitochondrial DNA analysis, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for obesity-related imprinting loci, WES-based copy-number variant and runs-of-homozygosity analyses, and Sanger validation. Variants were interpreted according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) criteria. RESULTS: Among 23 children, clinically relevant genetic findings were identified in 6 (26.1%): melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) c.831T>A (p.C277*), maternal uniparental disomy of 15q11-13, and four phenotype-correlated variants of uncertain significance in UCP3, BBS1, NCOA1, and SH2B1. The definitive/likely diagnostic yield, restricted to pathogenic or confirmed imprinting findings, was 8.7% (2/23). Findings involved leptin-MC4R signaling, BBSome function, fatty-acid oxidation, and chromosomal imprinting. Genetically positive children showed numerically higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but differences were not statistically significant. BBS1 p.T374S was relatively enriched in East Asian reference data. CONCLUSIONS: A WES-centered integrated workflow detected heterogeneous genetic mechanisms in Chinese children with early-onset obesity, but variant of uncertain significance (VUS)-associated findings should be distinguished from confirmed diagnoses. Orthogonal methylation/MLPA and runs of homozygosity (ROH) analyses were necessary for imprinting diagnosis. Larger multicenter studies and functional validation are needed.

Chinese children↗

PubMed2026

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of oral JMKX003002 in Chinese healthy participants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-ascending dose, and food-effect phase I clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharma-codynamics (PD) of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor JMKX003002 in Chinese healthy participants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This phase I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included a single-ascending dose (SAD) study with seven cohorts (1 mg [n = 4] and 5, 20, 50, 75, 100, or 125 mg [n = 8]), a food-effect (FE) study with six sequence groups (25 mg twice daily, n = 4), and a multiple-ascending dose (MAD) study with two cohorts (10 mg or 20 mg twice daily, n = 10). RESULTS: JMKX003002 was well-tolerated, with mostly mild treatment-related adverse events. One Grade 3 diarrhoea occurred in each of the 50 mg and 125 mg groups. No serious adverse events were reported, and no participants discontinued or withdrew due to treatment-emergent adverse events. Most plasma samples were below the limit of quantification (0.2 ng/mL), with only transient detection of low concentrations, indicating low systemic exposure. JMKX003002 was primarily excreted in stool (79.9% recovered) and was undetectable in urine. The PD results consistently showed decreased urinary sodium and phosphorus, along with increased stool sodium and phosphorus, compared to baseline across all three studies. One day after discontinuation, stool sodium and phosphorus remained elevated relative to baseline in the MAD study. Mixed-effects model analysis in the FE study demonstrated significant food effect on stool sodium and phosphorus excretion. CONCLUSION: JMKX003002 exhibited favorable safety and tolerability with minimal systemic exposure. It effectively increased sodium and phosphorus excretion in stool. These promising findings warrant further investigation of JMKX003002 to evaluate its clinical benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300070473). Registered on April 13, 2023; prospectively registered.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Yorkie/Scalloped-OVOL-Rac1 axis controls insect wing development by promoting cell proliferation.

The regulation of organ size is a fundamental question in developmental biology, and insect wings provide a powerful model for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying morphogenesis. Although the conserved Hippo signaling pathway plays a central role in controlling tissue growth, its precise regulatory network during wing development remains incompletely understood. Here, we identify the zinc finger transcription factor OVOL as a critical mediator of Hippo signaling in insect wing development. We indicate that OVOL is essential for normal wing formation in both Locusta migratoria and Drosophila melanogaster, regulating cell proliferation and trichome patterning. Through transcriptomic analysis and functional validation, we further identify the small GTPase Rac1 as a key downstream effector of OVOL that promotes proliferative growth. Moreover, we find that OVOL expression is directly activated by the Yorkie/Scalloped (Yki/Sd) complex, the core transcriptional effector of the Hippo pathway, without forming a feedback loop. This regulation is mediated through a specific Sd-binding motif (GATAA) within the OVOL promoter. Importantly, Yki/Sd-induced Rac1 expression is dependent on OVOL. Collectively, our findings establish the Yorkie/Sd-OVOL-Rac1 pathway that governs insect wing development by promoting cell proliferation, providing mechanistic insights into organ size regulation in animals.

Cell proliferation↗

PubMed2026

Bioinformatic analysis reveals the potential association of ESRP1 with the splicing of cytoskeleton-associated genes in doxorubicin-resistant MCF7 breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies among women, with doxorubicin resistance posing a significant challenge that undermines treatment success and survival outcomes. Aberrant alternative splicing (AS), driven by dysregulation or mutations in splicing factors (SFs), is implicated in cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. This study aims to investigate the association of the epithelial cell-specific splicing factor ESRP1 with doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer, focusing on how ESRP1 deficiency correlates with AS changes that promote chemoresistance. METHODS: We analyzed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from doxorubicin-resistant (MCF7-DR) and parental (MCF7) breast cancer cell lines to identify enhanced alternative splicing events (ASEs) and changes in ESRP1 expression; we further leveraged The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BRCA cohort to construct an SF-RASE correlation network for screening core SFs (including ESRP1). An integrative analysis combining crosslinking immunoprecipitation (CLIP-seq) data and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was performed to validate ESRP1 binding targets and assess the association between ESRP1-related splicing and cytoskeleton organization. RESULTS: We observed extensive AS changes and significantly downregulated ESRP1 expression in MCF7-DR cells. Integrative analysis identified 61 high-confidence ASEs that correlate with ESRP1 expression. Further bioinformatic integration suggests that ESRP1 expression is associated with the splicing patterns of SPTBN1, MAP2K7, FGFR3, and CYB561A3-four genes involved in cytoskeleton organization-though direct experimental verification to confirm a causal regulatory relationship between ESRP1 and the splicing of these genes is still pending. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ESRP1 expression is closely associated with doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer cells, with concomitant alterations in key ASEs linked to cytoskeletal remodeling that correlate with ESRP1. Exploring the ESRP1-related splicing network may offer new strategies to overcome chemoresistance and improve patient outcomes. However, the small cell line sample size (n = 2 per group) constrains the robustness of ASE and SF-ASE correlation findings, and these results should be interpreted with caution and require further validation with larger sample cohorts.

Alternative splicing↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics as a theranostic compass in BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: Integrating biomarker discovery with therapeutic stratification.

Classic BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)-polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia, and primary myelofibrosis-are clonal haematopoietic stem cell disorders with marked heterogeneity in clinical phenotype, disease trajectory, and therapeutic response. Genomic stratification by driver and cooperating mutations only partially accounts for this variability, leaving gaps in predicting thrombotic risk, fibrotic progression, leukaemic transformation, and treatment benefit. Proteomics bridges this gap by providing function-proximal readouts of protein abundance, post-translational modifications, pathway activity, and intercellular signalling that genomics and transcriptomics cannot capture, positioning it as a theranostic platform in which the same molecular readouts simultaneously inform diagnostic stratification and therapeutic decision-making. We propose a five-stage translational framework spanning from discovery-scale mass spectrometry and affinity-based plasma profiling to targeted validation, multicentre standardisation, and machine learning-integrated clinical panels. Proteomic evidence is synthesised across the following four disease axes: clonal fitness in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells; bone marrow microenvironmental remodelling and fibrosis; chronic inflammation and thrombosis; and leukaemic transformation. We further describe how phosphoproteomics reveals resistance mechanisms to JAK inhibitors, including AXL-MAPK bypass and PP2A-autophagy-mediated tolerance, and how protein-level biomarkers (BCL2-BCL-XL, RAS-ERK, CAMK2G, and ROCK1/2) can guide individualised therapeutic selection. Affinity-based platforms (Olink PEA and SomaScan) and spatially resolved technologies (CODEX and single-cell proteomics) complement discovery proteomics. At present, however, this evidence base is constrained by small and heterogeneous cohorts, limited cross-platform reproducibility, and a scarcity of independent external validation for candidate protein panels. Realising this vision will require multicentre standardisation, analytically validated panel assays, and prospective clinical studies that translate molecular findings into decision-grade tools for patients with MPNs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

COMMD9-regulated endothelial cell abnormality-induced hypercoagulability is associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) presents diagnostic and treatment challenges owing to its insidious onset. Genetic variants associated with BCS vary geographically; in Asian populations, the condition is primarily caused by membranous obstruction composed of endothelial cells (ECs). A better understanding of the genetic pathogenesis of membranous BCS may offer new insights into disease mechanisms. METHODS: This study employed whole-exome sequencing to identify candidate genes responsible for EC abnormalities in 485 patients with membranous BCS and 329 patients with vascular malformations (VaMs). Functional investigations were conducted to validate the selected genes in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Whole-exome data revealed that the frequency of variants in the vascular function-related KLHDC2 exceeded that of JAK2 in BCS. Knockdown of KLHDC2 promoted adhesion and suppressed proliferation of ECs. In addition, 92 genes enriched for rare variants overlapped between BCS and VaMs. Systems biology analysis revealed two gene clusters, including COMMD9, enriched in proteins intolerant to loss-of-function mutations. Furthermore, suppression of COMMD9 impaired EC migration and tube formation, inhibited subintestinal angiogenic sprouting in zebrafish, and elevated EC adhesion. Transcriptomic analysis linked COMMD9 to EC abnormalities via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Commd9 knockdown promoted venous hypercoagulability in vivo following drug or ligation-induced stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that multiple rare genetic variants, particularly in COMMD9, are involved in the development of membranous BCS by regulating hypercoagulability induced by EC abnormalities. These findings may help guide future clinical research towards improved understanding and treatment of BCS.

Budd–Chiari syndrome↗

PubMed2026

Enhanced HIF-1α cooperation by a human RORγt mutant potentiates Th17 pathogenicity.

T helper 17 (Th17) cells are pivotal in mucosal defense and autoimmune pathology, with their function governed by the transcription factor retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). Although genome-wide association studies link RORC variants to inflammatory diseases, their functional consequences remain poorly understood. We identify a pathogenic RORγt mutation N277D (mouse homolog N275D) that amplifies Th17 pathogenicity through cooperation with hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α. This mutation enhances IFN-γ and other Th1-type cytokine production by Th17 cells, exacerbating colitis without disrupting T cell development or homeostasis. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveals activation of glycolytic and hypoxia-associated pathways, consistent with increased RORγtN275D recruitment by HIF-1α to the Pdk1 locus. Notably, silencing Pdk1 normalizes the excessive IFN-γ production in RORγtN275D Th17 cells. Together, these findings define a regulatory axis linking RORγt and HIF-1α that coordinates transcriptional and metabolic programs in pathogenic Th17 cells, providing a framework for dissecting the functional impact of autoimmune risk variants.

CP: immunology↗

PubMed2025

Identification of Biomarkers for Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Via Urinary Proteomics and Machine Learning.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is a common complication of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy linked to poor outcomes. However, reliable noninvasive biomarkers for RVD remain lacking. This study aimed to identify urinary proteomic markers using mass spectrometry and machine learning. METHODS: In this prospective cohort, patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were classified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging into groups with RVD (RV ejection fraction <45%) and without RVD groups. Baseline urine samples were profiled by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. Differentially expressed proteins were identified and selected by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to build a diagnostic model, developed in a training set, and validated in a test set. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, heart failure rehospitalization, left ventricular assist device implantation, or heart transplantation. RESULTS: The study enrolled 147 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (64 with RVD, 83 without), with a median follow-up of 19.3 months. Of 3579 quantified urinary proteins, 46 were differentially expressed between groups. A 3-protein panel (RARRES1 [retinoic acid receptor responder protein 1], MVB12B [multivesicular body subunit 12B], GSK3A [glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha]) was identified and showed excellent diagnostic accuracy (training area under the curve 0.946; validation area under the curve0.935), outperforming both NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion. The risk score derived from this panel effectively stratified patients, with the high-risk group exhibiting significantly worse outcomes than the low-risk group (hazard ratio, 3.24 [95% CI, 1.56-6.71], P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The urinary proteomic panel developed in this study demonstrates diagnostic and prognostic potential for identifying RVD in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, providing a promising noninvasive tool for precise detection and clinical risk stratification.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

C6ORF120 regulates hepatic lipid metabolism through PPAR signaling pathway in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background Emerging evidence indicates that C6ORF120 is highly expressed in the liver and may modulate immune responses in various hepatic disorders. However, its role in hepatic lipid metabolism and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the effects and potential mechanisms of C6ORF120 on hepatic lipogenesis. Methods C6ORF120 expression in MASLD was assessed using patient serum and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A high-fat diet-induced MASLD model was established in C6orf120-KO rats. Fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation models were generated in primary hepatocytes, HepG2 and Huh7 cells. These models were employed to investigate the effects of C6ORF120 on hepatic lipogenesis and MASLD progression. Results C6ORF120 expression was significantly upregulated in MASLD patients and obese rat models. Genetic deletion of C6ORF120 markedly alleviated high-fat diet-induced steatosis in the liver of rats. In vitro, C6orf120 gene deficiency attenuated lipid accumulation and suppressed key lipogenic genes (such as fatty acid synthase (Fasn), phospho-acetyl coenzyme carboxylase (p-ACC), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (Srebp1c)) in primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. Conversely, C6ORF120 overexpression increased lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. RNA sequencing analysis showed that lipid metabolism pathway and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway were significantly altered in the liver of C6orf120-KO rats. We demonstrated that C6ORF120 may regulate lipid metabolism through the hepatic PPARα, which is involved in fatty acid production and lipid oxidation. Further, we found that serum C6ORF120 expression was correlated with clinical indicators in patients with MASLD. Conclusion This study preliminarily revealed a novel function for C6ORF120 in hepatic lipid metabolism via affecting the PPAR pathway. The result identifies C6ORF120 as a novel regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism through PPARα-dependent mechanisms, offering potential therapeutic targets for MASLD.

Lipid Metabolism↗

PubMed2025

Dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella spp. from urban aquatic environments: a multi-country genomic perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance, particularly carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), poses significant clinical and environmental threats, especially in urban aquatic ecosystems and hospital wastewaters. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and genomic features of CRKP isolates in urban aquatic environments and evaluate their public health and environmental impacts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Water samples were collected from 113 rivers and 3 hospitals in China, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to isolate carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analyses were performed to characterize resistance phenotypes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and evolutionary trends. Big data analysis further elucidated the genomic characteristics of CRKP in global water sources, and Galleria mellonella larvae were used to assess virulence. Statistical analysis validated the findings. A total of 192 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. isolates were identified from urban aquatic ecosystems in China (n = 60) and Nepal (n = 132), with CRKP (n = 161) being the predominant species. All CRKP isolates exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype, yet significant differences in resistance profiles and associated ARGs were observed between isolates from the two countries. Nine carbapenem resistance genes (CRGs) were detected, with blaNDM-1 being the most prevalent (57.8 %). Correlation analysis revealed a strong association between these CRGs and multiple Inc-type plasmids. Global genomic analysis of CRKP from water sources across eight countries identified ten distinct CRGs across 45 serotypes, with KL64 being the most predominant. Notably, carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in water samples from Nepal. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight significant regional disparities in CRKP prevalence and ARG dissemination across urban aquatic environments, with Nepal showing the highest prevalence, particularly in untreated rivers. China exhibited lower prevalence but distinct resistance gene profiles, while no CRKP was detected in Sri Lanka, underscoring the impact of environmental management and healthcare infrastructure on ARG spread.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Endogenous fine-mapping and prioritization of functional regulatory elements in complex genetic loci.

Most genetic loci linked to polygenic traits are in non-coding regions, with complex regulation and linkage disequilibrium (LD), complicating causal variant and gene prioritization. We used multiplexed single-cell CRISPR interference and activation perturbations to investigate cis-regulatory element (CRE) and gene expression relationships within tight LD in the endogenous chromatin context. We demonstrated the prevalence of multiple causality in perfect LD (pLD) for independent expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and uncovered fine-grained genetic effects on gene expression within pLD, which are difficult to decipher using traditional eQTL fine-mapping or existing computational methods. We found that over one-third of the causal CREs lack classical epigenetic markers prior to perturbation, and we functionally validated one of these hidden regulatory mechanisms. Leveraging Multiome single-cell epigenetic and sequence perturbations, we highlighted the regulatory plasticity of the human genome. Our study will guide the exploration of missing causal mechanisms underlying molecular trait regulation and disease development.

Humans↗