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Xiao Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Xiao Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Single-cell multi-omics dissects transcript isoform and immune repertoire dynamics in human immunosenescence.

Immunosenescence, a major hallmark of systemic aging, refers to the progressive functional decline of the immune system. This decline not only compromises host defense and immunological memory but also fuels chronic inflammation and tissue degeneration (collectively known as inflammaging). While single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revealed transcriptomic alterations associated with immune aging, analyses restricted to transcript abundance fail to capture deeper regulatory layers, such as transcript isoform diversity and the remodeling of immune receptor repertoires. To address this limitation, we present a human peripheral immune single-cell multi-omics atlas that integrates gene expression, transcript isoform diversity, and immune receptor repertoires. By combining single-cell full-length transcriptome sequencing (scCycloneSEQ), short-read scRNA-seq, and single-cell immune receptor sequencing (scTCR/BCR-seq), we systematically profiled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors aged 30-40 and 60-70 years. Our analyses uncovered extensive age-related remodeling of immune cell composition, functional states, and TCR/BCR diversity. Notably, we found that CD4+ effector memory T cells exhibited widespread differential isoform usage (DIU), 3'UTR length variation, and a marked reshaping of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clonotypes-all of which were closely associated with aging-related inflammation and cellular senescence. This multi-omics atlas delineates key molecular features of immunosenescence and provides a high-resolution resource for deciphering the regulatory architecture underlying immune aging.

TCR/BCR↗

Regulation of large-scale chromatin unfolding by Smad4.

The tumor suppressor Smad4 plays a critical role in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta signaling pathway. Smad4 is an essential component of transcriptional complexes mediating the activation of Smad-dependent target genes. However, how Smad4 regulates various chromosomal events remains unknown. Here, we report that Smad4 induces large-scale chromatin unfolding by targeting Smad4 to an amplified, lac operator-containing chromosome region in mammalian cells. This unfolding activity maps to the subdomains within the transactivation domain of Smad4. Both the N-terminal missense and the C-terminal truncated tumor-derived mutations increased the chromatin unfolding activity of Smad4. These data identify a novel function of Smad4 and suggest that regulation of large-scale chromatin unfolding by Smad4 may be responsible for cancer development.

Alleles↗

HBsAg and HBx knocked into the p21 locus causes hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects males in a significantly higher proportion than females and is one of the human cancers etiologically related to viral factors. Many studies provide strong evidence of the direct role that hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays in hepatic carcinogenesis, but the functions of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and X protein (HBx) in hepatocarcinogenesis through direct or indirect mechanisms are still being debated. We generated two HBV gene knock-in transgenic mouse lines by homologous recombination. HBsAg and HBx genes were integrated into the mouse p21 locus. Both male and female p21-HBx transgenic mice developed HCC after the age of 18 months; however, male p21-HBsAg transgenic mice began to develop HCC 3 months earlier. The expression of a number of genes related to metabolism and genomic instability largely resembled the molecular changes during the development of HCC in humans. ER-beta (estrogen receptor-beta) was extremely up-regulated only in tumor tissues of male p21-HBsAg mice, providing genetic evidence that HBsAg might be the major risk factor affecting the gender difference in the causes of HCC. In conclusion, these mice might serve as good models for studying the different roles of HBsAg and HBx in early events of HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Kinetic substrate quantification by fitting the enzyme reaction curve to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation.

The reliability of kinetic substrate quantification by nonlinear fitting of the enzyme reaction curve to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation was investigated by both simulation and preliminary experimentation. For simulation, product absorptivity epsilon was 3.00 mmol(-1) L cm(-1) and K(m) was 0.10 mmol L(-1), and uniform absorbance error sigma was randomly inserted into the error-free reaction curve of product absorbance A(i) versus reaction time t(i) calculated according to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation. The experimental reaction curve of arylesterase acting on phenyl acetate was monitored by phenol absorbance at 270 nm. Maximal product absorbance A(m) was predicted by nonlinear fitting of the reaction curve to Eq. (1) with K(m) as constant. There were unique A(m) for best fitting of both the simulated and experimental reaction curves. Neither the error in reaction origin nor the variation of enzyme activity changed the background-corrected value of A(m). But the range of data under analysis, the background absorbance, and absorbance error sigma had an effect. By simulation, A(m) from 0.150 to 3.600 was predicted with reliability and linear response to substrate concentration when there was 80% consumption of substrate at sigma of 0.001. Restriction of absorbance to 0.700 enabled A(m) up to 1.800 to be predicted at sigma of 0.001. Detection limit reached A(m) of 0.090 at sigma of 0.001. By experimentation, the reproducibility was 4.6% at substrate concentration twice the K(m), and A(m) linearly responded to phenyl acetate with consistent absorptivity for phenol, and upper limit about twice the maximum of experimental absorbance. These results supported the reliability of this new kinetic method for enzymatic analysis with enhanced upper limit and precision.

Algorithms↗

Mutation analysis of the Smad3 gene in human osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide. Recent studies have shown that targeted disruption of Smad3 in mouse results in OA. To reveal the possible association between the Smad3 gene mutation and human OA, we employed polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing to screen mutations in all nine exons of the Smad3 gene in 32 patients with knee OA and 50 patients with only bone fracture. A missense mutation of the Smad3 gene was found in one patient. The single base mutation located in the linker region of the SMAD3 protein was A --> T change in the position 2 of codon 197 and resulted in an asparagine to isoleucine amino-acid substitution. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in sera of the patient carrying the mutation were higher than other OA patients and controls. This is the first report showing that the Smad3 gene mutations could be associated with the pathogenesis of human OA.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Squamous cell carcinoma and mammary abscess formation through squamous metaplasia in Smad4/Dpc4 conditional knockout mice.

Smad4 is a central mediator for TGFbeta signals, which play important functions in many biological processes. To study the role of Smad4 in mammary gland development and neoplasia, we disrupted this gene in mammary epithelium using a Cre-loxP approach. Smad4 is expressed in the mammary gland throughout development; however, its inactivation did not cause abnormal development of the gland during the first three pregnancies. Instead, lack of Smad4 gradually induced cell proliferation, alveolar hyperplasia and transdifferentiation of mammary epithelial cells into squamous epithelial cells. Consequently, all mutant mice developed squamous cell carcinoma and/or mammary abscesses between 5 and 16 months of age. We demonstrated that absence of Smad4 resulted in beta-catenin accumulation at onset and throughout the process of transdifferentiation, implicating beta-catenin, a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway, in the development of squamous metaplasia in Smad4-null mammary glands. We further demonstrated that TGFbeta1 treatment degraded beta-catenin and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in cultured mammary epithelial cells. However, such actions were blocked in the absence of Smad4. These findings indicate that TGFbeta/Smad4 signals play a role in cell fate maintenance during mammary gland development and neoplasia.

Abscess↗

IL-17 induces autoantibody overproduction and peripheral blood mononuclear cell overexpression of IL-6 in lupus nephritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of IL-17 in the overproduction of autoantibodies and IL-6 overexpression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of lupus nephritis (LN) patients. METHODS: Fifteen consecutively hospitalized LN patients were selected as subjects and 15 healthy adults as normal controls. PBMC were obtained by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. IgG, anti-dsDNA antibody and IL-6 protein levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) on the supernatant of cultured PBMC of LN patients or normal controls. IL-6 mRNA levels in PBMC were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In medium culture, IgG, anti-dsDNA and IL-6 protein levels of the supernatant of PBMC from LN patients were significantly higher than those from normal controls (1492.1 +/- 73.2 ng/ml vs 636.7 +/- 51.9 ng/ml for IgG, 306.6 +/- 53.7 IU/ml vs 95.8 +/- 11.6 IU/ml for anti-dsDNA and 50.92 +/- 15.92 ng/ml vs 1.77 +/- 0.73 ng/ml for IL-6, all P < 0.001). In LN patients, IgG, anti-dsDNA and IL-6 protein levels were higher in the supernatants of PBMC in the IL-17-stimulated culture than the medium culture, but in normal controls, only the IL-6 protein levels were significantly higher. The increase in IgG, anti-dsDNA and IL-6 protein levels induced by IL-17 was dose-dependent and could be completely blocked by IL-17 monoclonal antibody mIgG(28) and partially blocked by dexamethasone. Similarly, IL-6 mRNA overexpression of PBMC in LN patients or normal controls induced by IL-17 was both dose- and time-dependent. During medium culture, IL-6 mRNA levels in LN patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls (1.80 +/- 0.11 vs 0.36 +/- 0.07). During stimulation with IL-17, IL-6 mRNA levels in LN patients were higher than those in normal controls (3.21 +/- 0.24 vs 1.30 +/- 0.14, P < 0.05) and also significantly higher when comparing the stimulated culture with the medium culture either in LN patients or normal control. CONCLUSIONS: IL-17 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LN through the induction of IgG, anti-dsDNA overproduction and IL-6 overexpression of PBMC in LN patients.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical features and surgical treatment of A-pattern exotropia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of A-pattern exotropia and to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment for the correction of A-pattern exotropia (A-XT). METHODS: Pre- and post-operative eye position, superior oblique muscle function, clinical features and binocular function were examined and analyzed in 32 patients with A-pattern exotropia. RESULTS: Overaction of the superior oblique (SO) (31/32) and insufficiency of medial rectus muscle (20/32) were commonly seen in the group of patients. The tenectomy of the SO and the resection of the medial rectus muscle were effective in most of A-pattern exotropia. 87.5% (28/35) of A-pattern exotropia in our study were successfully corrected. Four cases got binocular function after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the clinical features and the effects of surgical treatment, we conclude that the superior oblique muscle overaction and medial rectus muscle insufficiency are the primary factors in the etiology of A-pattern exotropia that is the most common form of A-V syndrome. Weakening the overaction of superior oblique muscle combined with the correction of exotropia is an effective way to correct A-pattern exotropia.

Adolescent↗

[Topographical evaluation on decentration of orthokeratology lenses].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree and correlative factors of decentration of orthokeratology lenses and its effect on the visual function. METHODS: Two different kinds of orthokeratology lenses were fitted to 270 eyes of 135 patients [initial mean refractive error: (-3.98 +/- 1.51) D]. Humphery Instruments ATLAS 8.0 was used for the computer-assisted analysis of corneal differential topographical maps. The examination of corneal topography was proceeded on the patients before the fitting of orthokeratology lenses and 6-month later. The distance from center of optic zone to apex of the cornea was measured as the value of decentration of orthokeratology lenses. The factors influenced the value of decentration were analyzed, including the initial refraction error, astigmatism, keratometry values, corneal eccentricity, and the diameter of the lens. The complaints of patients were recorded. Questionnaires, involving the symptoms of monocular diplopia and glare, were used to evaluate the effects of decentration of orthokeratology lenses on the visual function. RESULTS: The mean distance of decentration was (0.49 +/- 0.34) mm after one night fitting, the mean distance of decentration after follow-up for 1 month, 3 months and 6 months was (0.57 +/- 0.41) mm, (0.55 +/- 0.48) mm and (0.59 +/- 0.39) mm, respectively. After one month, the distance of decentration was less than 0.5 mm in 51.1% eyes, 0.5 - 1.0 mm in 35.6% eyes and more than 1.0 mm in 13.3% eyes. The direction of decentration in eyes with more than 0.50 mm decentration was mainly in the temporal side (48.5%). Patients with greater initial astigmatism and smaller diameter of lens showed greater distance of decentration (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the distance of decentration between two groups with different corneal eccentricities and keratometry values (P > 0.05). The distance of decentration was greater in patients with monocular diplopia and glare. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of decentration of orthokeratology depends on the degree of initial refractive error, astigmatism and the design of orthokeratology lenses. The degree of decentration can influence the visual function.

Adolescent↗

[Establishment of keratinocyte-specific Cre recombinase transgenic mice].

A keratinocyte-specific Cre transgenic construct (pK5-Cre) containing the keratin 5 promoter, Cre recombinase gene and polyA of human growth hormone gene was generated. The 4.2 kb DNA fragment of K5-Cre-hGH was introduced into 720 fertilized zygotes by microinjection. 695 injected eggs were implanted into the oviduct of 29 female mice respectively, from which 48 off-spring were obtained. Twelve mice carrying the transgene were identified by genotyping, and the integration efficiency is 25%. The K5-Cre transgenic mice were crossed with Smad4 conditional gene targeting mice to check the tissue-specific expression of the Cre recombinase and the Cre mediated recombination in multiple tissues. The results showed that the Cre recombinase was expressed in skin tissue only and successfully mediated the recombination between the loxP sites in vivo.

Animals↗

Sharp signature of a dx2-y2 quantum critical point in the Hall coefficient of cuprate superconductors.

We study the behavior of the Hall coefficient, R(H), in a system exhibiting dx(2)(-y(2)) density-wave order in a regime in which the carrier concentration, x, is tuned to approach a quantum critical point at which the order is destroyed. At the mean-field level, we find that n(Hall)=1/R(H) evinces a sharp signature of the transition. There is a kink in n(Hall) at the critical value of the carrier concentration, x(c); as the critical point is approached from the ordered side, the slope of n(Hall) diverges. Hall transport experiments in the cuprates, at high magnetic fields sufficient to destroy superconductivity, should reveal this effect.

Journal Article↗

Disruption of Smad5 gene leads to enhanced proliferation of high-proliferative potential precursors during embryonic hematopoiesis.

SMAD proteins are downstream signal transducers of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, which serve as pleiotropic regulators in embryonic and adult hematopoiesis. SMAD5, initially considered to mediate bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) signals, can also transduce the inhibitory signal of TGF-beta1 on proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors derived from human bone marrow. To define its specific role in regulation of primitive multipotential progenitors during early embryonic hematopoiesis, we examined Smad5(-/-) yolk sacs at E9.0 to 9.5 and detected an elevated number of high-proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFCs) with enhanced replating potential. To exclude the possible influence of microenvironmental deficit on embryonic hematopoiesis in vivo, we performed in vitro embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation assay and investigated the HPP-CFCs in particular. Smad5(-/-) embryoid bodies (EBs) contained an elevated number of blast colony-forming cells (BL-CFCs), the in vitro equivalent of hemangioblast, in contrast to reduced proliferation of primitive erythroid precursors (Ery/Ps) within the mutant EBs. More importantly, profoundly increased frequency of HPP-CFCs, featured with a gene-dosage effect, was detected within day 6 Smad5(-/-) EBs compared with the wild type. In addition, Smad5(-/-) HPP-CFCs displayed enhanced self-renewal capacity and decreased sensitivity to TGF-beta1 inhibition, suggesting a critical role of Smad5 in TGF-beta1 regulation of embryonic HPP-CFCs. Consistently, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis detected alterations of the transcription factors including GATA-2 and AML1 as well as cytokine receptors in Smad5(-/-) HPP-CFC colonies. Together, these data define an important function of SMAD5 in negative regulation of high-proliferative potential precursors during embryonic hematopoiesis.

Animals↗

The effect of ligustrazine on peritoneal transport in peritoneal dialysis.

In order to investigate the effect of ligustrazine (Lig) i.p. on peritoneal permeability in peritoneal dialysis and its side effects, creatinine was given intravenously and continuously to maintain the high plasma creatinine level. All the rabbits were divided into three groups: normal control group (group A), group B treated with 0.12% Lig and group C treated with 0.24% Lig. The peritoneal dialysis of all rabbits lasted 2 h. The plasma and dialysate levels of glucose, protein and creatinine were observed immediate, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min, 120 min after dialysis. Creastinine dialysate/plasma ratio (D/P), protein D/P ratio, glucose D/Do at different time points after dialysis and creatinine mass transfer area coefficient (MTAC) at 120 min were calculated. The structures of peritoneum were observed under optical microscope and electron microscope after continuously intraperitoneal injection of Lig for 14 days. The results showed that the 90-min and 120-min creatinine D/P ratios in the group C were higher than in the group A. The 120-min creatinine MATC in the group C was higher than in the group A. The rabbits treated with Lig did not show significant structure changes of peritoneum and signs of peritoneal irritation. It was suggested that Lig could increase mass transfer ability of peritoneum without significant side effects.

Animals↗

Developmental control of histone mRNA and dSLBP synthesis during Drosophila embryogenesis and the role of dSLBP in histone mRNA 3' end processing in vivo.

In metazoans, the 3' end of histone mRNA is not polyadenylated but instead ends with a stem-loop structure that is required for cell cycle-regulated expression. The sequence of the stem-loop in the Drosophila melanogaster histone H2b, H3, and H4 genes is identical to the consensus sequence of other metazoan histone mRNAs, but the sequence of the stem-loop in the D. melanogaster histone H2a and H1 genes is novel. dSLBP binds to these novel stem-loop sequences as well as the canonical stem-loop with similar affinity. Eggs derived from females containing a viable, hypomorphic mutation in dSLBP store greatly reduced amounts of all five histone mRNAs in the egg, indicating that dSLBP is required in the maternal germ line for production of each histone mRNA. Embryos deficient in zygotic dSLBP function accumulate poly(A)(+) versions of all five histone mRNAs as a result of usage of polyadenylation signals located 3' of the stem-loop in each histone gene. Since the 3' ends of adjacent histone genes are close together, these polyadenylation signals may ensure the termination of transcription in order to prevent read-through into the next gene, which could possibly disrupt transcription or produce antisense histone mRNA that might trigger RNA interference. During early wild-type embryogenesis, ubiquitous zygotic histone gene transcription is activated at the end of the syncytial nuclear cycles during S phase of cycle 14, silenced during the subsequent G(2) phase, and then reactivated near the end of that G(2) phase in the well-described mitotic domain pattern. There is little or no dSLBP protein provided maternally in wild-type embryos, and zygotic expression of dSLBP is immediately required to process newly made histone pre-mRNA.

Animals↗

[Generation and characterization of chondrocyte specific Cre transgenic mice].

A chondrocyte specific transgenic construct (pcol2A1-Cre) containing the cartilage specific type II collagen A1 promoter, the Cre recombinase gene and the polyA of human growth factor gene was generated. The 9.3 kb DNA fragments were recovered from Not I digested fragments and microinjected into 323 fertilized eggs. The injected eggs were implanted into the oviduct of 14 female mice. In the 52 offsprings, there were 10 mice carring the transgene identified by PCR, and the efficiency was 19.2%. The col2A1-Cre transgenic mice were crossed with a conditional gene targeting mice to check the Cre mediated recombination in multiple tissues. The results of the PCR analysis suggested that the Cre recombinase was expressed only in cartilaginous tissue and could mediate the recombination between the LoxP sites in vivo. The result was further confirmed by Southern-blot.

Animals↗

[The progress of expressing vector for mammary gland bioreactor].

The mammary gland bioreactor has great commercial value, but the examples for high level expression of foreign gene were so few that the most examples were not suitable for commercial program. The key resolution for improving the expression level of foreign gene is the construction of expression vector for mammary gland bioreactor. Nearly, many new ideas and new methods about the construction of expression vector were presented, the article summarized them.

Animals↗

[Progresses in mouse chromosome engineering].

Mouse chromosome engineering, characterized by deletion and rearrangement of large fragment of chromosome, has been an important method for studying the function of mouse genome on a large scale. The latest progress in mouse chromosome engineering was introduced.

Animals↗