Objective:To provide novel genetic biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis,bioinformatics analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes and identify Hub genes in sepsis.Methods:Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database was used to retrieve gene expression datasets of sepsis and screen for differentially expressed genes(DEGs).Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)analysis,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were used to clarify the molecular mechanism of DEGs,and Hub genes were screened.Results:A total of 361 DEGs were identified,including 163 up-regulated genes and 198 down-regulated genes.Enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were primarily involved in antigen processing and presentation,T cell biology,cell adhesion molecules,and T cell receptor signaling pathways.CD4,TP53,PTPRC,LCK,ITGAM,ZAP70,CD247,CD2,CD3E,and HSP90AB1 were determined as optimal diagnostic biomarkers for sepsis.Conclusions:This study elucidated 10 Hub genes(CD4,TP53,PTPRC,LCK,ITGAM,ZAP70,CD247,CD2,CD3E,and HSP90AB1)as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.However,since the the generalizability of these Hub genes in patients with sepsis remains unvalidated,further experimental verification is still needed in the future.

Objective:To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing Protein 3 (CMTM3) on the proliferation and migration of glioblastoma (GBM) cells.Methods:Using CMTM3 expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, we analyzed the differential expression of CMTM3 in GBM tissues and its impact on the prognosis of GBM patients. Immunohistochemical staining and protein content determination of CMTM3 was performed on GBM and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples from 11 GBM patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University between November 3, 2022 and March 15, 2023. Additionally, the expression of CMTM3 was validated in GBM cell lines U87, U251, LN229, and the human astrocyte (NHA) cell line using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Stable cell lines with silenced and overexpressed CMTM3 (sh-CMTM3 group and OE-CMTM3 group) were constructed using U251 cells. The effect of CMTM3 expression on cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry was employed to examine the impact of CMTM3 expression on the cell cycle. Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the influence of CMTM3 expression on cell migration. Bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, NF-κB activation-nuclear translocation assays, and the NF-κB pathway inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate ammonium (PDTC) were used to validate the effect of CMTM3 on the NF-κB pathway. Finally, a subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice was performed to observe the impact of CMTM3 expression on the in vivo growth of U251 cells. Results:Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CMTM3 is highly expressed in GBM tissues. Patients with a high CMTM3 expression had lower overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates compared with those with a low CMTM3 expression (with P values of 0.010 and 0.032, respectively). Among the 11 GBM pathological specimens, 10 samples exhibited higher CMTM3 protein expression levels in the cancerous tissue compared with the adjacent non-cancerous tissue. The average CMTM3 protein expression in these samples was 0.44±0.09, significantly higher than that in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues (0.12±0.02, P＜0.001). In one sample, the difference in CMTM3 protein expression between the cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissues was not statistically significant ( P=0.750).The RT-qPCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of CMTM3 in NHA cells was 1.0±0.1, whereas in GBM cells U87, LN229, and U251, the levels were 2.1±0.3, 3.4±0.5, and 3.7±0.8, respectively, all significantly higher than that in NHA cells (all P＜0.01). Western blot results demonstrated that the protein expression levels of CMTM3 in GBM cells U87, LN229, and U251 were 1.5±0.2, 1.8±0.2, and 1.9±0.1, respectively, also higher than that in NHA cells (0.7±0.2, all P＜0.01), with the highest level observed in U251 cells. The CCK-8 assay, Flow cytometry, and Transwell migration experiments indicated that cell viability was inhibited in the sh-CMTM3 group, with an increase in the proportion of cells in the G 0/G 1 phase ( P＜0.01) and a decrease in the S phase ( P＜0.01), and the number of migrated cells was 233.6±35.5, lower than that in the sh-NC group ( P＜0.001). Conversely, the OE-CMTM3 group showed enhanced cell viability, a reduction in the proportion of cells in the G 0/G 1 phase ( P＜0.01), and an increase in the S phase ( P＜0.01), and the number of migrated cells was 1212.0±20.8, higher than that in the OE-NC group ( P＜0.001). However, in the OE-CMTM3+PDTC group, cell viability, cell cycle distribution (G 1, S, and G 2 phases), and cell migration numbers showed no significant changes (all P＞0.05). Western blot analysis and NF-κB activation-nuclear translocation assay results indicated that in the sh-CMTM3 group, the p-p65/p65 ratio was 0.51±0.04 and the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio was 0.39±0.03, both lower than those in the sh-NC group (both P＜0.01). The cytoplasmic staining rate was (49.29±1.98)%, higher than that in the sh-NC group ( P＜0.01). In the OE-CMTM3 group, the p-p65/p65 ratio was 2.27±0.10 and the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio was 2.14±0.15, both higher than those in the OE-NC group (both P＜0.01). The cytoplasmic staining rate was (18.96±1.44)%, lower than that in the OE-NC group ( P＜0.01). In the OE-CMTM3+PDTC group, there were no significant differences in the p-p65/p65 ratio, p-IκBα/IκBα ratio, and cytoplasmic staining rate compared with the OE-NC group (all P＞0.05). The subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice showed that the tumor volume in the sh-CMTM3 group was (408.9±96.2) mm3, smaller than that in the sh-NC group ( P=0.003). The tumor volume in the OE-CMTM3 group was (1 514.5±251.5) mm3, larger than that in the OE-NC group ( P=0.005). Conclusions:In GBM, CMTM3 is highly expressed and negatively correlated with both OS and DFS of patients. CMTM3 regulates the proliferation and migration abilities of U251 cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles refer to spherical lipid bilayer vesicles isolated from plants that contain lipids,proteins,RNAs,and various small molecules.These nanovesicles exhibit di-verse biological activities,including anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,antioxidant,and drug delivery prop-erties.However,the functional characteristics of nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati remain un-explored.In this study,exosome-like nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati(referred to as RP-EVs)were successfully isolated using ultracentrifugation and density gradient centrifugation.Their physi-cochemical properties and anti-inflammatory functions were systematically characterized.Our results show that RP-EVs are predominantly negatively charged,with an average particle size of 166.5±3.3 nm,and are spherical lipid vesicles.Cellular uptake assays demonstrated that RP-EVs can be phagocytized by macrophages.qPCR and ELISA experiments revealed that RP-EVs can inhibit the elevation of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1 β(IL-1 β),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)induced by lipopolysac-charide(LPS)stimulation(****P＜0.0001).Additionally,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assays confirmed that RP-EVs exhibit antioxidant proper-ties(*P＜0.05).Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms through immunofluorescence and Western blotting revealed that RP-EVs inhibit the nuclear translocation(**P＜0.01)and phosphoryla-tion(***P＜0.001)of nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65)via the IκBα/NF-κB signaling path-way,thereby regulating the expression of inflammatory mediators.In animal experiments,intraperitoneal injection of RP-EVs into mice for 48 hours showed predominant localization in the liver and spleen.Fi-nally,an acute inflammatory mouse model was established via intraperitoneal injection of LPS.qPCR and ELISA analyses demonstrated that RP-EVs alleviated the expression of inflammatory factors in both the serum and spleen of LPS-treated mice(*P＜0.05).In conclusion,this study isolated RP-EVs and elu-cidated their anti-inflammatory properties and potential mechanisms.These findings provide valuable in-sights into the functional exploration of nanoparticle vesicles derived from traditional Chinese medicine and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To provide novel genetic biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis,bioinformatics analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes and identify Hub genes in sepsis.Methods:Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database was used to retrieve gene expression datasets of sepsis and screen for differentially expressed genes(DEGs).Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)analysis,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were used to clarify the molecular mechanism of DEGs,and Hub genes were screened.Results:A total of 361 DEGs were identified,including 163 up-regulated genes and 198 down-regulated genes.Enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were primarily involved in antigen processing and presentation,T cell biology,cell adhesion molecules,and T cell receptor signaling pathways.CD4,TP53,PTPRC,LCK,ITGAM,ZAP70,CD247,CD2,CD3E,and HSP90AB1 were determined as optimal diagnostic biomarkers for sepsis.Conclusions:This study elucidated 10 Hub genes(CD4,TP53,PTPRC,LCK,ITGAM,ZAP70,CD247,CD2,CD3E,and HSP90AB1)as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.However,since the the generalizability of these Hub genes in patients with sepsis remains unvalidated,further experimental verification is still needed in the future.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles refer to spherical lipid bilayer vesicles isolated from plants that contain lipids,proteins,RNAs,and various small molecules.These nanovesicles exhibit di-verse biological activities,including anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,antioxidant,and drug delivery prop-erties.However,the functional characteristics of nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati remain un-explored.In this study,exosome-like nanovesicles derived from rhizoma polygonati(referred to as RP-EVs)were successfully isolated using ultracentrifugation and density gradient centrifugation.Their physi-cochemical properties and anti-inflammatory functions were systematically characterized.Our results show that RP-EVs are predominantly negatively charged,with an average particle size of 166.5±3.3 nm,and are spherical lipid vesicles.Cellular uptake assays demonstrated that RP-EVs can be phagocytized by macrophages.qPCR and ELISA experiments revealed that RP-EVs can inhibit the elevation of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1 β(IL-1 β),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)induced by lipopolysac-charide(LPS)stimulation(****P＜0.0001).Additionally,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assays confirmed that RP-EVs exhibit antioxidant proper-ties(*P＜0.05).Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms through immunofluorescence and Western blotting revealed that RP-EVs inhibit the nuclear translocation(**P＜0.01)and phosphoryla-tion(***P＜0.001)of nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65)via the IκBα/NF-κB signaling path-way,thereby regulating the expression of inflammatory mediators.In animal experiments,intraperitoneal injection of RP-EVs into mice for 48 hours showed predominant localization in the liver and spleen.Fi-nally,an acute inflammatory mouse model was established via intraperitoneal injection of LPS.qPCR and ELISA analyses demonstrated that RP-EVs alleviated the expression of inflammatory factors in both the serum and spleen of LPS-treated mice(*P＜0.05).In conclusion,this study isolated RP-EVs and elu-cidated their anti-inflammatory properties and potential mechanisms.These findings provide valuable in-sights into the functional exploration of nanoparticle vesicles derived from traditional Chinese medicine and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing Protein 3 (CMTM3) on the proliferation and migration of glioblastoma (GBM) cells.Methods:Using CMTM3 expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, we analyzed the differential expression of CMTM3 in GBM tissues and its impact on the prognosis of GBM patients. Immunohistochemical staining and protein content determination of CMTM3 was performed on GBM and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples from 11 GBM patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University between November 3, 2022 and March 15, 2023. Additionally, the expression of CMTM3 was validated in GBM cell lines U87, U251, LN229, and the human astrocyte (NHA) cell line using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Stable cell lines with silenced and overexpressed CMTM3 (sh-CMTM3 group and OE-CMTM3 group) were constructed using U251 cells. The effect of CMTM3 expression on cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry was employed to examine the impact of CMTM3 expression on the cell cycle. Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the influence of CMTM3 expression on cell migration. Bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, NF-κB activation-nuclear translocation assays, and the NF-κB pathway inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate ammonium (PDTC) were used to validate the effect of CMTM3 on the NF-κB pathway. Finally, a subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice was performed to observe the impact of CMTM3 expression on the in vivo growth of U251 cells. Results:Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CMTM3 is highly expressed in GBM tissues. Patients with a high CMTM3 expression had lower overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates compared with those with a low CMTM3 expression (with P values of 0.010 and 0.032, respectively). Among the 11 GBM pathological specimens, 10 samples exhibited higher CMTM3 protein expression levels in the cancerous tissue compared with the adjacent non-cancerous tissue. The average CMTM3 protein expression in these samples was 0.44±0.09, significantly higher than that in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues (0.12±0.02, P＜0.001). In one sample, the difference in CMTM3 protein expression between the cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissues was not statistically significant ( P=0.750).The RT-qPCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of CMTM3 in NHA cells was 1.0±0.1, whereas in GBM cells U87, LN229, and U251, the levels were 2.1±0.3, 3.4±0.5, and 3.7±0.8, respectively, all significantly higher than that in NHA cells (all P＜0.01). Western blot results demonstrated that the protein expression levels of CMTM3 in GBM cells U87, LN229, and U251 were 1.5±0.2, 1.8±0.2, and 1.9±0.1, respectively, also higher than that in NHA cells (0.7±0.2, all P＜0.01), with the highest level observed in U251 cells. The CCK-8 assay, Flow cytometry, and Transwell migration experiments indicated that cell viability was inhibited in the sh-CMTM3 group, with an increase in the proportion of cells in the G 0/G 1 phase ( P＜0.01) and a decrease in the S phase ( P＜0.01), and the number of migrated cells was 233.6±35.5, lower than that in the sh-NC group ( P＜0.001). Conversely, the OE-CMTM3 group showed enhanced cell viability, a reduction in the proportion of cells in the G 0/G 1 phase ( P＜0.01), and an increase in the S phase ( P＜0.01), and the number of migrated cells was 1212.0±20.8, higher than that in the OE-NC group ( P＜0.001). However, in the OE-CMTM3+PDTC group, cell viability, cell cycle distribution (G 1, S, and G 2 phases), and cell migration numbers showed no significant changes (all P＞0.05). Western blot analysis and NF-κB activation-nuclear translocation assay results indicated that in the sh-CMTM3 group, the p-p65/p65 ratio was 0.51±0.04 and the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio was 0.39±0.03, both lower than those in the sh-NC group (both P＜0.01). The cytoplasmic staining rate was (49.29±1.98)%, higher than that in the sh-NC group ( P＜0.01). In the OE-CMTM3 group, the p-p65/p65 ratio was 2.27±0.10 and the p-IκBα/IκBα ratio was 2.14±0.15, both higher than those in the OE-NC group (both P＜0.01). The cytoplasmic staining rate was (18.96±1.44)%, lower than that in the OE-NC group ( P＜0.01). In the OE-CMTM3+PDTC group, there were no significant differences in the p-p65/p65 ratio, p-IκBα/IκBα ratio, and cytoplasmic staining rate compared with the OE-NC group (all P＞0.05). The subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice showed that the tumor volume in the sh-CMTM3 group was (408.9±96.2) mm3, smaller than that in the sh-NC group ( P=0.003). The tumor volume in the OE-CMTM3 group was (1 514.5±251.5) mm3, larger than that in the OE-NC group ( P=0.005). Conclusions:In GBM, CMTM3 is highly expressed and negatively correlated with both OS and DFS of patients. CMTM3 regulates the proliferation and migration abilities of U251 cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Purpose::Under-foot impact loadings can cause serious lower limb injuries in many activities, such as automobile collisions and underbody explosions to military vehicles. The present study aims to compare the biomechanical responses of the mainstream vehicle occupant dummies with the human body lower limb model and analyze their robustness and applicability for assessing lower limb injury risk in underfoot impact loading environments.Methods::The Hybrid III model, the test device for human occupant restraint (THOR) model, and a hybrid human body model with the human active lower limb model were adopted for under-foot impact analysis regarding different impact velocities and initial lower limb postures.Results::The results show that the 2 dummy models have larger peak tibial axial force and higher sensitivity to the impact velocities and initial postures than the human lower limb model. In particular, the Hybrid III dummy model presented extremely larger peak tibial axial forces than the human lower limb model. In the case of minimal difference in tibial axial force, Hybrid III's tibial axial force (7.5 KN) is still 312.5% that of human active lower limb's (2.4 KN). Even with closer peak tibial axial force values, the biomechanical response curve shapes of the THOR model show significant differences from the human lower limb model.Conclusion::Based on the present results, the Hybrid III dummy cannot be used to evaluate the lower limb injury risk in under-foot loading environments. In contrast, potential improvement in ankle biofidelity and related soft tissues of the THOR dummy can be implemented in the future for better applicability.