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A Novel piRNA-Mediated Epigenetic Axis: piR-36241 Exacerbates Pulpitis by Silencing the Protective Receptor ADGRG2 in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND: Pulpitis, a prevalent inflammatory dental disease, primarily results from bacterial infection, yet its epigenetic regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs known to maintain genomic stability, have not been investigated in the context of pulpitis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to profile piRNA expression patterns in pulpitis and to elucidate the functional role and underlying mechanism of a specific piRNA, piR-36241 and its target gene ADGRG2 in disease progression. METHODS: piRNA and mRNA sequencing were performed on pulp tissues from patients with irreversible pulpitis and healthy controls. Potential piRNA targets were predicted bioinformatically. The interaction between piR-36241 and the 3'UTR of ADGRG2, an orphan adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), was validated using dual-luciferase reporter assay, quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Western blot (WB), hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Functional analyses were conducted in LPS-stimulated human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) through gain-of-function and rescue experiments. RESULTS: We identified a distinct piRNA expression profile in pulpitis, with 21 piRNAs differentially expressed. piR-36241 was notably upregulated. It directly targeted the 3'UTR of ADGRG2 and suppressed its expression. ADGRG2, hypothesised to exert protective and homeostatic functions, was downregulated in pulpitis tissues and LPS-induced HDPCs. Overexpression of piR-36241 inhibited ADGRG2 expression and promoted the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8). Conversely, knockdown of ADGRG2 similarly enhanced inflammatory responses. Rescue experiments demonstrated that piR-36241 primarily regulates inflammation through ADGRG2 silencing. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a novel pathogenic axis in pulpitis whereby upregulation of piR-36241 exacerbates inflammatory progression by repressing the protective receptor ADGRG2. These findings provide the first evidence of piRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation in pulpitis and highlight the piR-36241/ADGRG2 pathway as a potential therapeutic target for preserving pulp vitality.

Humans

Transcriptome-Proteome Analysis of Human Naive and Memory B Cell Subsets Reveals Isotype and Subclass-Specific Phenotypes.

Antibodies produced by B cells aid in the recognition and clearance of pathogens and are the cornerstone of vaccination strategies. Humans produce nine different antibody isotypes, and their effector functions differ according to the type of antigen and route of exposure. Phenotypic variation between isotype-switched B cell subsets is expected but not studied in detail. To obtain a molecular definition of isotype-defined cell identity, we performed proteomics and transcriptomics on isotype-defined populations of human naive and memory B cells (MBCs): CD27-IgM+IgD+, CD27+CD38lo/-IgM+IgD+, CD27+CD38lo/-IgM+IgD-, and IgA1, IgA2, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 MBCs (CD27+CD38lo/-Ig+). Combined proteome and transcriptome analysis revealed that mRNA and protein expression profiles separate isotype-defined B cell subsets according to their differentiation status. mRNA and protein expression levels correlated reasonably well for many genes. IgG4-switched B cells were most distinct from naive B cells in terms of mRNA as well as protein expression profiles. Besides a distinct expression profile of cytokine and Fc receptors, we identified a high expression of IgE-coding mRNA in IgG4-switched B cells. SDR16C5 was identified as uniquely upregulated in IgG4-switched B cells. Taken together, this study highlights the distinct phenotypic profile of IgG4-switched B cells.

Humans

Similarities and differences between smoking-related gene expression in nasal and bronchial epithelium.

Previous studies have shown that physiological responses to cigarette smoke can be detected via bronchial airway epithelium gene expression profiling and that heterogeneity in this gene expression response to smoking is associated with lung cancer. In this study, we sought to determine the similarity of the effects of tobacco smoke throughout the respiratory tract by determining patterns of smoking-related gene expression in paired nasal and bronchial epithelial brushings collected from 14 healthy nonsmokers and 13 healthy current smokers. Using whole genome expression arrays, we identified 119 genes whose expression was affected by smoking similarly in both bronchial and nasal epithelium, including genes related to detoxification, oxidative stress, and wound healing. While the vast majority of smoking-related gene expression changes occur in both bronchial and nasal epithelium, we also identified 27 genes whose expression was affected by smoking more dramatically in bronchial epithelium than nasal epithelium. Both common and site-specific smoking-related gene expression profiles were validated using independent microarray datasets. Differential expression of select genes was also confirmed by RT-PCR. That smoking induces largely similar gene expression changes in both nasal and bronchial epithelium suggests that the consequences of cigarette smoke exposure can be measured in tissues throughout the respiratory tract. Our findings suggest that nasal epithelial gene expression may serve as a relatively noninvasive surrogate to measure physiological responses to cigarette smoke and/or other inhaled exposures in large-scale epidemiological studies.

Adult

Genomic identification and functional characterization of the nuclear receptor gene family in relation to sex determination and gonad development in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas).

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a large superfamily of transcription factors that control a wide range of physiological processes by modulating the expression of downstream target genes. Numerous studies have confirmed that NR family members play critical and conserved roles in sex determination and gonadal development across metazoans. However, in mollusks, systematic characterization of NRs and their potential functions in gonadal regulation remain largely unexplored. In this study, 46 NR gene family members in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) were identified and assigned to eight subfamilies. All NR family members contain at least one of the two core domains (DNA-binding domain, DBD; ligand-binding domain, LBD), and conserved exon-intron structures were observed within the same subgroup, indicating their evolutionary conservation. Furthermore, expression profiling revealed high expression of CgNR2F, CgNR5A1-1, and CgNR0B1 in undifferentiated gonads, suggesting their potential involvement in sex determination. CgNR1A and CgNR2E5 were specifically expressed in female gonads and exhibited female-biased expression patterns, indicating a putative role in ovarian development. Moreover, CgNR3A and CgNR3B showed high expression levels during the undifferentiated stage and early male development stage, implying their possible participation in male gonadal development and gametogenesis. These results expand the understanding of the NR gene family in C. gigas and help elucidate the potential functions of NR genes in sex determination and gonadal development.

Animals

Genome-Wide Analysis of the PYL Gene Family and Its Expression Dynamics in Response to Abscisic Acid in Tomato.

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role throughout the plant life cycle and in adaptive responses to environmental stresses. The pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYR/PYL/RCAR) proteins act as key regulators in the ABA signal transduction pathway by functioning as direct receptors for ABA. Although PYL genes have been identified in a variety of plant species, their evolutionary and structural characteristics in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) remain elusive. To address this gap, we identified nine SlPYL genes, which were classified into three subfamilies: I (two genes), II (three genes), and III (four genes), and their encoded proteins were predicted to be primarily localized in the cytosol and chloroplast. Structural analysis revealed diverse exon-intron organizations along with five conserved motifs. All identified SlPYLs contained the START domain (PF10604), validating their identity as actual PYL proteins. Prediction of cis-acting regulatory elements in SlPYL's promoter regions was found to be associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, stress responses, and plant growth and development. Prediction of post-translational modification sites indicated that SlPYLs are predominantly phosphorylated and acetylated at serine and lysine residues, respectively. Tertiary structure modeling demonstrated conserved three-dimensional architectures among SlPYL proteins, supporting their functional conservation. Expression profiling revealed that specific SlPYL genes exhibit distinct expression patterns across different tissues (root, leaf, and bud) following ABA treatment, indicating functional diversification. Considering the well-established negative correlation between ABA accumulation and bud outgrowth, the ABA-induced differential expression (3~5-fold) of some SlPYL genes (SlPYL3, SlPYL4, SlPYL7, and SlPYL8), particularly in bud tissues after 24 hpt, suggests a potential role in ABA-mediated suppression of bud outgrowth. However, these functional inferences are primarily based on genome-wide computational analyses and expression profiling and therefore require further experimental validation.

Solanum lycopersicum

TCGA-based identification of prognostic biomarkers and candidate traditional Chinese medicine compounds in papillary thyroid carcinoma: An observational study.

This study aimed to identify prognostic genes associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and explore candidate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds using integrated bioinformatics and molecular docking. In this observational study, PTC gene expression profiles and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed genes were screened using differential-expression sequencing (DESeq2), followed by protein-protein interaction network analysis to identify hub genes. Their expression, diagnostic value, immune relevance, prognostic significance, protein-level validation, and single-cell distribution were assessed using gene expression profiling interactive analysis, receiver operating characteristic analysis, immune infiltration analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the human protein atlas, and single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Candidate TCM compounds were predicted using symptom mapping (SymMap) and the TCM Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and molecular docking was performed to evaluate potential ligand-target interactions. Five hub genes, colony-stimulating factor 2, apolipoprotein E, fibronectin 1 (FN1), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1, were identified and found to be significantly upregulated in PTC tissues, with diagnostic value in receiver operating characteristic analysis. Immune infiltration analysis showed associations with macrophages, dendritic cells, and T helper 1 cells, whereas single-cell analysis demonstrated heterogeneous expression across immune and stromal cell populations, including fibroblasts. Higher FN1 and COL1A1 expression was associated with poorer outcomes. Immunohistochemistry supported the expression patterns, while single-cell analysis provided exploratory cell-type-level context for the cellular distribution of selected genes. Ginseng and Smilax glabra were predicted as common candidate TCMs, and docking suggested favorable binding between their active compounds and selected hub targets. Colony-stimulating factor 2, apolipoprotein E, FN1, COL1A1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 may be biologically relevant hub genes in PTC, while FN1 and COL1A1 may have prognostic value. Predicted TCM compounds provide preliminary computational evidence for possible compound-target interactions, requiring experimental and clinical validation.

Female

Histopathologic Features and Transcriptomic Signatures Do Not Solve the Issue of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Invisible Prostate Cancers: A Matched-Pair Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is pivotal in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, but some clinically significant (cs) PCa remain undetected. This study aims to understand the pathological and molecular basis for csPCa visibility at mpMRI. METHODS: We performed a retrospective matched-pair cohort study, including patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) for csPCa (i.e., ISUP grade group ≥ 2) from 2015 to 2020, in our tertiary-referral center. We screened for inclusion in the "mpMRI-invisible" cohort all consecutive men (N = 45) having a negative preoperative mpMRI. The "mpMRI-visible" cohort was matched based on age, PSA, prostate volume, ISUP grade group. Included patients underwent radiological and pathological open-label revisions and characterization of the tumor mRNA expression profile (analyzing 780 gene transcripts, signaling pathways, and cell-type profiling). We compared the clinical-pathological variables and the gene expression profile between matched pairs. The analysis was stratified according to histological characteristics and lesion diameter. RESULTS: We included 34 patients (17 per cohort); mean age at RP and PSA were 70.5 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.7), 7.1 ng/mL (SD = 3.3), respectively; 65% of men were ISUP 2. Overall, no significant differences in histopathological features, tumor diameter and location, mRNA profile, pathways, and cell-type scores emerged between cohorts. In the stratified analysis, an upregulation of cell adhesion and motility, of extracellular matrix remodeling and of metastatic process pathways was present in specific subgroups of mpMRI-invisible cancers. CONCLUSIONS: No PCa pathological or gene-expression hallmarks explaining mp-MRI invisibility were identified. Aggressive features can be present both in mpMRI-invisible and -visible tumors.

Humans

Construction of cDNA library of Dalbergia odorifera induced by low temperature stress and screening of low temperature tolerant genes.

To systematically analyze the gene function of Dalbergia odorifera, the seedlings of D. odorifera were treated with low-temperature stress for 6 h. Total RNA was extracted from a mixture of seedling roots, stems, and leaves, and a low-temperature-induced D. odorifera yeast cDNA expression library was constructed. The library volume was 1.032 × 108 CFU, and the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) identification of the library bacterial fluid showed that the amplification was around 1000 bp, with a single randomly distributed band, indicating that the library had been recombinantly inserted into the pYES2 vector. The GO (Gene Ontology) analysis showed that the library genes were mainly involved in metabolic and stress signaling pathways. The KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the genes were primarily related to energy and metabolic pathways. Twenty-one genes were screened or obtained at -20°C for low-temperature tolerance. In addition, the organ expression profiles of the candidate genes were analyzed based on RNA-seq data, and the expression profiles of the candidate genes under low-temperature stress were also examined. The construction of the yeast library provides genetic resources for the analysis of the mechanism of low-temperature tolerance of D. odorifera, which is important for comprehending and utilizing the genetic resources of D. odorifera.

Gene Library

A molecular map of mesenchymal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Bone and soft tissue tumors represent a diverse group of neoplasms thought to derive from cells of the mesenchyme or neural crest. Histological diagnosis is challenging due to the poor or heterogenous differentiation of many tumors, resulting in uncertainty over prognosis and appropriate therapy. RESULTS: We have undertaken a broad and comprehensive study of the gene expression profile of 96 tumors with representatives of all mesenchymal tissues, including several problem diagnostic groups. Using machine learning methods adapted to this problem we identify molecular fingerprints for most tumors, which are pathognomonic (decisive) and biologically revealing. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the utility of gene expression profiles and machine learning for a complex clinical problem, and identify putative origins for certain mesenchymal tumors.

Gene Expression Profiling

Clinicopathologic and genomic analyses of SMARCA4-mutated non-small cell lung carcinoma implicate the needs for tailored treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: The clinicopathologic and therapeutic significance of SMARCA4 mutation in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) remains unclear. METHODS: We retrieved 575 NSCLC cases from the clinical target sequencing cohort (N = 2157) to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of groups subclassified based on the presence of truncated or non-truncated SMARCA4 mutations (SMARCA4-truncated, SMARCA4-non-truncated, and SMARCA4-wild type [WT]). The differences in gene expression profiles between these groups were evaluated using the TCGA-LUAD dataset. RESULTS: Fifty (2.3%) SMARCA4-truncated and 63 (2.9%) SMARCA4-non-truncated NSCLCs were identified. The majority of SMARCA4-truncated NSCLCs were present in male smokers (94.0%) and pathologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma (76.0%). The SMARCA4-truncated group showed rare targetable driver alterations with a higher tumor mutation burden than the SMARCA4-WT group. Gene expression profile analysis revealed that cancer/testis antigen (CTA) expression was enriched in the SMARCA4-truncated group, with up to 57% of the cases displaying immunoreactivities for MAGEA4, CT45A, and/or PRAME. The SMARCA4-non-truncated group showed heterogeneous clinicopathologic, genomic, and immunohistochemical features that fell between SMARCA4-truncated and WT groups. Both SMARCA4-truncated and non-truncated groups showed significantly poor prognosis with pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy, yet there was no significant difference in survival following immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. CONCLUSION: SMARCA4-truncated NSCLC represents a variant of driver-negative NSCLC, mainly occurring in male smokers with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma histology. In contrast, SMARCA4-non-truncated NSCLC indicates a heterogeneous subpopulation, exhibiting intermediate characteristics between the SMARCA4-truncated and SMARCA4-WT groups. While showing poor response to pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy, increased CTA expression could be a novel therapeutic target in SMARCA4-mutated NSCLCs.

Humans

Dietary L-Tyrosine Sustains Egg Production and Quality by Modulating Promoter CpG Methylation, Gene Expression, and Hormone Profiles in Reproductive Signalling Pathways of Aged Laying Hens.

Managing prolactin (PRL)-mediated reproductive suppression is critical for maintaining egg production in commercial laying hens. L-tyrosine (TYR), a precursor of dopamine (DA), may counteract age-related reproductive decline by suppressing PRL, thereby sustaining productivity and egg quality in late-phase laying hens. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary L-tyrosine supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, reproductive hormone profiles, gene expression, and promoter CpG methylation in aged laying hens. A total of 180 Atak-S laying hens (71 weeks old) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments, each with six replicates of 10 hens, and were fed a basal diet without L-tyrosine (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.5&#x2009;g/kg (TYR0.5) or 1&#x2009;g/kg (TYR1) L-tyrosine for 12 weeks. Hens in the TYR1 group exhibited higher hen-day egg production, improved feed conversion ratio, and significantly greater eggshell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit, yolk index, and albumen index than the control group (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Dietary L-tyrosine increased plasma DA and serum estradiol while reducing serum PRL (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). L-tyrosine also upregulated the expression of key dopaminergic and reproductive signalling genes, with corresponding promoter hypomethylation (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), whereas PRL mRNA expression tended to decrease with concurrent promoter hypermethylation. A significant negative correlation was observed between target gene expression and promoter CpG methylation levels (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). These findings indicate that dietary L-tyrosine modulates reproductive hormone profiles and molecular responses within reproductive signalling pathways, resulting in improved laying performance and egg quality. Therefore, L-tyrosine may represent a promising nutritional intervention to sustain reproductive function and productivity in late-phase laying hens.

Animals

Exploring prognostic genes in the immune microenvironment of acute myeloid leukemia via weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous blood cancer that arises from transformed myeloid precursor cells in a compromised bone marrow microenvironment. This environment is essential for AML initiation, progression, and relapse. Alongside oncogenic changes in hematopoietic cells, immunological dysregulation also contributes to leukemogenesis. The present study is aimed to identify prognostic genes in stromal and immune cells associated with AML using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). METHODS: Gene expression profiles were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, and immune and stromal cell scores were calculated using the ESTIMATE (Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data) method. These scores helped identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were then used to create gene clusters through WGCNA. To explore the functions of genes linked to AML subtypes, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed. A protein-protein interaction network was developed to identify hub genes. The top 18 hub genes were identified using the cytoHubba plug-in in Cytoscape software, and survival analysis was conducted with the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 online tool. RESULTS: A total of 1097 DEGs were identified, with 601 being upregulated and 496 downregulated. WGCNA analysis indicated that the gray module, comprising 165 genes, had the strongest association with AML subtypes (Cor&#x2005;>&#x2005;0.3; P&#x2005;<&#x2005;.05). Gene Ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that the 18 identified hub genes were predominantly associated with neutrophil activation, immune response, secretory granule membrane, and pattern recognition receptor activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in pathways related to phagosome, lysosome, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the top 18 hub genes indicated that ITGAM, IL10, and CD163 were significantly correlated with survival outcomes in AML. CONCLUSION: Key stromal and immune-related genes influencing AML patient outcomes were identified, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. These discoveries provide deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms driving AML pathogenesis and subtype differentiation.

Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute

Integrative analysis of gene expression and histone modifications for DES, DSP, GJA1 and SMOC2&#xa0;in adipose tissue reveals potential relationship to cardiometabolic health.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue influences cardiometabolic health through its endocrine activity and its role in regulating inflammation, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular function. The expression of cardiac-associated genes within adipose tissue may reflect or contribute to cardiometabolic risk, yet this relationship remains poorly understood. This study investigates the expression profiles of the cardiac function associated genes GJA1, DES, DSP and SMOC2 in human adipose tissue, and analyses their associations with cardiometabolic traits. Additionally, we explore epigenomic mechanisms that may underlie their differential gene expression. METHODS: Expression profiling and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to identify depot-specific cardiac gene expression patterns. Quantitative PCR validated gene expression in paired subcutaneous (SAT) and omental visceral adipose tissue (OVAT) samples from 78 individuals with obesity. Gene expression was further validated in three independent cohorts (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;1,548 total). Associations with clinical traits were assessed using Spearman correlations and multivariate linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Integration with transcriptomic and proteomic datasets publicly available from the Adipose Tissue Knowledge Portal was performed to strengthen clinical relevance. Epigenomic profiling using genome-wide ChIP-seq for histone marks (H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27ac, H3K27me3) was conducted in paired SAT and OVAT samples from five individuals. RESULTS: DES, DSP, GJA1, and SMOC2 were significantly upregulated in OVAT compared to SAT. DES, DSP, and SMOC2 showed consistent expression patterns across all cohorts, while GJA1 exhibited context-dependent regulation. Gene expression in SAT was negatively correlated with cardiometabolic traits, including blood pressure, insulin resistance, and liver function markers. These associations were confirmed by regression analysis and supported by publicly available multi-omics data. Epigenetic analyses revealed OVAT-specific enrichment of active histone marks and reduced repressive marks, supporting higher differential transcriptional activity in OVAT. CONCLUSIONS: Depot-specific gene expression of DES, DSP, and SMOC2 in adipose tissue is robustly linked to cardiometabolic traits and supported by distinct epigenetic landscapes in OVAT vs SAT, highlighting their potential as novel biomarkers for cardiometabolic health.

Humans

Characterization and functional insights of histone deacetylases in bivalves: implications for temperature and immune response in Chlamys nobilis.

Histone deacetylases serve as pivotal epigenetic regulators that modulate chromatin remodeling and gene transcription, playing critical roles in immune defense and environmental stress responses in aquatic organisms. However, the evolutionary characteristics and functional roles of the HDAC family in bivalves remain poorly understood. In this study, genome-wide identification of the HDAC family across 30 bivalve species yielded 558 HDAC genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction categorized these genes into four conserved groups and revealed a unique, bivalve-specific SIRT8 clade. Using the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis as a representative model, expression profiling revealed distinct expression patterns among CnHDAC members. Class I and most Class III members were predominantly expressed in the gonads, while Class II members were enriched in immune-related tissues, implying their potential involvement in bivalve immunity. Upon temperature stress, CnHDAC1/2, CnHDAC11-1, CnHDAC11-2, CnSIRT2-1, CnSIRT4, CnSIRT6, and CnSIRT8-3 were significantly induced, highlighting their critical roles in temperature adaptation. Upon Vibrio exposure, CnHDAC1/2, CnHDAC8, CnSIRT4, and CnSIRT6 were upregulated, while CnHDAC4/5/7/9, CnHDAC6/10, CnSIRT2-2, CnSIRT5, CnSIRT7, and CnSIRT8-3 were downregulated, suggesting a coordinated epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying host immune defense. In conclusion, this study systematically elucidates the evolutionary landscape of the HDAC family and underscores its potential involvement in environmental resilience and host immunity, providing a theoretical basis for the breeding of disease-resistant and stress-tolerant aquaculture bivalves.

Animals

Evolutionary expansion of the NF-Y gene family in bivalves and divergent subunit responses to thermal and pathogenic stress in the noble scallop.

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a conserved eukaryotic transcription factor complex that specifically interacts with the CCAAT motif. Prior research has demonstrated that this gene family participates in various biological processes, encompassing growth, development, and stress responses, across a broad spectrum of organisms. However, research on the role of the NF-Y family in bivalves remains limited. In this study, we comprehensively identified the NF-Y family in 34 bivalve species, and further investigated its expression in the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis. A total of 296 NF-Y genes were identified and classified into three subfamilies, NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that NF-YA and NF-YC have remained relatively conserved, whereas NF-YB has undergone significant expansion. Additionally, while substantial disparities in gene copy numbers exist across species, the motif composition and exon-intron structures within each subfamily demonstrate notable conservation. Tissue expression profiling revealed distinct expression patterns among CnNF-Y genes, with several members exhibiting relatively high transcript abundance in gonadal tissues. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results demonstrated that CnNF-YA2, CnNF-YB6, and CnNF-YC were significantly and continuously upregulated under heat stress. Conversely, several genes, particularly CnNF-YA2, CnNF-YB3, and CnNF-YB4, exhibited dynamic transcriptional responses to Vibrio parahaemolyticus exposure. These findings enhance our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory and functional diversification of the NF-Y gene family in bivalves, laying a theoretical foundation for future research on thermal adaptation, immune regulation, and molecular breeding in scallops.

Animals

Concurrent stimulation of diflufenican biodegradation and changes in the active microbiome in gravel revealed by Total RNA.

The use of slowly degraded pesticides poses a particular problem when these are applied to urban areas such as gravel paths. The urban gravel provides an environment very different from agricultural soils; i.e., it is both lower in carbon and microbial activity. We, therefore, endeavored to stimulate the degradation of the pesticide diflufenican added to urban gravel microcosms amended with dry alfalfa to increase microbial activity. In the present study, alfalfa addition significantly increased the formation of diflufenican's primary metabolite, 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]nicotinic acid (AE-B), indicating stimulated biotransformation. The concurrent changes of the active microbial communities within the gravel were explored using shotgun metatranscriptomic sequencing of ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA. Although bacterial taxa remained dominant (87.0%-98.5% relative abundance), the alfalfa treatment led to a 4-5-fold increase in eukaryotic groups, including fungi and microbial grazers. Several microbial taxa potentially involved in the degradation of complex carbon compounds and aromatic pollutants-including Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Sordariomycetes, Mortierellales, Tremellales, Sphingopyxis, and Phenylobacterium-increased in relative abundance following alfalfa amendment. Functional gene profiling revealed elevated expression of genes related to microbial activity and biomass production. Genes with potential roles in the breakdown of complex carbon structures (e.g., xylanases/chitin deacetylases) and in the transformation of aromatic compounds (e.g., ring-cleaving dioxygenases) were revealed. We conclude that complex carbon amendments can enhance the microbial activity, promoting the biotransformation of diflufenican in urban gravel environments. These findings provide new insights into the interactions between microbial community dynamics, gene expression profiles, and pesticide biotransformation in non-agricultural matrices.IMPORTANCEPesticides used on urban areas, e.g., gravel paths, are likely to have different effects and fates than when these are used on agricultural soils. Hence, studies into the degradation of pesticides applied to urban matrices are needed. We have previously shown that metabolites of the persistent pesticide diflufenican are even more persistent in urban soils, and it has also previously been shown that these metabolites leach from gravel surfaces. The reasons behind this are that the urban gravel provides an environment very different from agricultural soils; i.e., it is both lower in carbon and microbial activity. In the present study, we, therefore, endeavored to stimulate the degradation of the pesticide diflufenican added to urban gravel microcosms amended with dry alfalfa to increase microbial activity, concurrently studying the changes in the active microbiome by Total RNA-metatranscriptomics.

Biodegradation, Environmental

T cell differentiation antigens on lymphocytes in the human intestinal lamina propria.

Recently, T cell subpopulations presumably representing memory T lymphocytes have been described in vitro. Intestinal lamina propria T cells (LP-T) have characteristics resembling those of memory cells. We therefore investigated the expression of surface Ag associated with memory phenotype in vitro on lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) and PBL and on the T cell subpopulations defined by the bright expression of CD45R0 by flow cytometric analysis of isolated cell populations. LPL had significantly increased percentages of CD45R0 and CD58 positive cells compared with PBL. Whereas PBL showed bimodal expression profiles of CD45R0, CD58, and CD2, the vast majority of LPL was bright for these Ag. Expression of CD45RA was significantly reduced in both frequency and intensity in LPL, and LPL had significantly reduced percentages of CD11a/CD18 and CD29 positive cells compared with PBL. The CD45R0 bright T cell subpopulations of both PBL and LPL were characterized by a lack of CD45RA. CD45R0 bright T cells from the peripheral blood (PB-T) were predominantly bright for CD2, CD58, CD29, and CD11a/CD18 whereas CD45R0 dim PB-T had bimodal expression profiles and CD45R0 negative PB-T were dim or even negative for these Ag. CD45R0 bright LP-T were also bright for CD2 and CD58 but had significantly reduced surface densities of CD11a/CD18 and CD29 compared with CD45R0 bright PB-T. The surface density of CD29 on CD45R0 bright LP-T corresponded to that of CD45R0 negative PB-T, and a significant proportion of CD45R0 bright LP-T was even negative for CD11a/CD18 and CD29. Additionally, CD45R0 bright LP-T in contrast to PB-T were characterized by a lack of 1-selectin and the expression of CDw49a and the mucosa-specific T cell Ag HML-1 on high percentages of cells. Our results show that the phenotype of CD45R0 bright T cells from the lamina propria clearly deviates from that of memory T cells in vitro and of CD45R0 bright T cells in the peripheral blood. We conclude that memory T cell populations in vivo undergo specific differentiation depending on their tissue localization, leading to unique phenotypic and presumably functional features.

Adult

Proteomics-based evaluation of AAV dystrophin gene therapy outcomes in mdx skeletal muscle.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal genetic muscle-wasting disease characterized by loss of dystrophin protein. Therapeutic attempts to restore a functional copy of dystrophin to striated muscle are under active development, and many utilize adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. However, the limited cargo capacity of AAVs precludes delivery of full-length dystrophin, a 427 kDa protein, to target tissues. Recently, we developed a method to express large dystrophin constructs using the protein trans-splicing mechanism mediated by split inteins and myotropic AAV vectors. The efficacy of this approach to restore muscle function in mdx4cv mice was previously assessed using histology, dystrophin immunolabeling, and Western blotting. Here, we expand our molecular characterization of dystrophin constructs with variable lengths using a mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach, providing insight into unique protein expression profiles in skeletal muscles of wild-type, dystrophic mdx4cv, and AAV-treated mdx4cv mice. Our data reveal several affected cellular processes in mdx4cv skeletal muscles with changes in the expression profiles of key proteins to muscle homeostasis, whereas successful expression of dystrophin constructs results in an intermediate to complete restoration. This study highlights several biomarkers that could be used in future preclinical or clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies.

Animals