Lentiviral vectors(LVs)are key gene delivery tools for integrating target genes into the host genome,but they may also pose risks of insertional mutagenesis.The vector copy number(VCN)in cells is critical for determining the safety of gene modification.However,the reliability and accuracy of its quantification process are influenced by multiple factors.Developing cell reference materials with specific vector copy numbers represents a viable approach to enhance the reliability and consistency of measurement results,enabling quality control of the quantification process and traceability of outcomes.However,the preparation of such reference materials faces challenges in cell sample design,preparation protocols,and advanced quantification techniques.In this study,T lymphocyte cell line Jurkat-based reference materials with LV gene copy numbers of 1 and 2 copy/cell were developed.A high-precision duplex digital polymerase chain reaction(dPCR)method was established to quantify the LV gene and endogenous genes simultaneously.Additionally,the results of dPCR were cross-validated through next-generation sequencing and flow cytometric analysis.Ultimately,confocal microscopy characterization results showed that the developed cell reference materials had intact morphology.The quantification result of VCN-1 was(1.07±0.11)copy/cell,and that of VCN-2 was(2.09±0.21)copy/cell.These cell reference materials demonstrated compliance with stability and homogeneity requirements,and could be applied for quality control throughout the VCN measurement workflow and metrological traceability,improving the accuracy,comparability,and validity of copy number measurements.

BackgroundExecutive function deficits constitute a core problem in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder （ADHD）. Previous assessments of executive function in children with ADHD have predominantly relied on performance-based neuropsychological tests conducted in laboratory settings， though their predictive validity for real-world functional outcomes remains limited. In contrast， ecological executive function emphasizes the evaluation of complex task management in naturalistic contexts， demonstrating a stronger predictive power for functional adaptation in daily living among children with ADHD， such as multitasking performance， social interactions and so on. However， current empirical evidence regarding ecological executive function in this population remains insufficient. ObjectiveTo investigate the executive function characteristics of children with ADHD from an ecological perspective， thereby providing references for developing targeted interventions. MethodsA case control study was conducted， including 277 ADHD children who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） criteria and were selected at the Child Health Care and Mental Health Center of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from June 2017 to December 2020， as well as 98 healthy controls were recruited from primary and secondary schools in Shenzhen. All participants were assessed using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children， fourth edition （WISC-IV） and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function （BRIEF）. Differences in WISC-IV and BRIEF scores were compared between ADHD group and control groups， followed by the comparison of BRIEF scores by gender and ADHD subtypes. ResultsAmong the 277 children with ADHD， 136 cases （49.10%） had predominantly inattentive type （ADHD-I）， 6 cases （2.17%） had predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type （ADHD-HI）， and 135 cases （48.73%） had combined type （ADHD-C）. ADHD group demonstrated significantly lower scores on both the WISC-IV total IQ and four index scores （verbal comprehension， perceptual reasoning， working memory and processing speed） than control group （t=3.698~9.335， P<0.01）. After controlling for WISC-IV total IQ as a covariate， the scores of each factor in the dimensions of behavioral regulation index （inhibition， shifting， emotional control） and metacognition index （task initiation， working memory， planning， monitoring and organization） were all higher in ADHD group than in control group， and the differences were statistically significant （F=46.563~290.475， P<0.01）. In terms of gender， no statistically significant difference was found in BRIEF composite scores （behavioral regulation index or metacognition index） of children with ADHD （t=0.105~1.190， P>0.05）. In terms of ADHD subtypes， children with ADHD-C reported significantly higher scores than those with ADHD-I on the scores of inhibition， emotional control， organization and monitoring in BRIEF （t=2.481~7.343， P<0.05 or 0.01）. ConclusionChildren with ADHD have multidimensional deficits in ecological executive function， which vary across different subtypes. ［Funded by Shenzhen Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Talent Training Project （number， RCYX20221008092849069）； the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen］

Good endometrial receptivity is an essential factor for embryo implantation,and gene expression in endometrial tissue during the window of implantation(WOI)is closely related to receptivity.Transcriptome sequencing technology enables the identification of gene expression profiles of endometrium during different menstrual phases,as well as microRNAs and long-chain non-coding RNA sequences involved in regulating gene expression.Combining this technology with bioinformatics analysis provides a better understanding of specific gene expression during the receptive period and offers technical support for studying its regulatory mechanism.Moreover,gene expression profiles of the endometrium during different menstrual phases hold significant clinical application value for accurately assessing endometrium receptivity in infertility patients and those with repeated implantation failure,thereby guiding individualized embryo transfer strategies.This review summarizes the progress of transcriptome sequencing in evaluating human endometrial receptivity and discusses future research directions.This review aims to understand the complex molecular mechanisms of endometrial receptivity formation and regulation from the transcriptional level,in order to improve the implantation rate of embryos in assisted reproductive technology and reduce the abortion rate.

Obesity has become a major global public health issue,and the situation in China is also becoming increasingly severe.Adipose tissue is categorized into white adipose tissue(WAT)and brown adipose tissue(BAT),which regulates metabolic homeostasis by secreting various adipokines.Mitochondria,as the core organelles of energy metabolism,its dysfunction are closely related to obesity.In the state of obesity,mitochondrial dynamics imbalance,oxidative stress,and metabolic dysfunction can all lead to energy metabolism disorders and adipose tissue dysfunction.Moreover,mitochondrial dysfunction not only affects adipose tissue but also extends to multiple organs such as muscles and livers,thereby exacerbating obesity and related metabolic diseases.In recent years,although numerous therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction have been actively explored,their clinical translation faces challenges.This review explores the association between mitochondrial dysfunction in adipose tissue and obesity,analyses its mechanism and existing treatment strategies,aiming to provide a new perspective for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

The disturbance of the human microbiota influences the occurrence and progression of many diseases. Live therapeutic bacteria, with their genetic manipulability, anaerobic tendencies, and immunomodulatory properties, are emerging as promising therapeutic agents. However, their clinical applications face challenges in maintaining activity and achieving precise spatiotemporal release, particularly in the harsh gastrointestinal environment. This review highlights the innovative bacterial functionalized encapsulation strategies developed through advances in physicochemical and biological techniques. We comprehensively review how bacterial encapsulation strategies can be used to provide physical barriers and enhanced adhesion properties to live microorganisms, while introducing superior material properties to live bacteria. In addition, this review outlines how bacterial surface coating can facilitate targeted delivery and precise spatiotemporal release of live bacteria. Furthermore, it elucidates their potential applications for treating different diseases, along with critical perspectives on challenges in clinical translation. This review comprehensively analyzes the connection between functionalized bacterial encapsulation and innovative biomedical applications, providing a theoretical reference for the development of next-generation bacterial therapies.

OBJECTIVES: To reprogram human placental fibroblasts (HPFs) into chemically induced epithelioid-like cells (ciEP-Ls) using a combination of small-molecule compounds. METHODS: HPFs cultured under normoxic conditions were identified using immunofluorescence assay, PCR and chromosomal karyotyping. Under hypoxic conditions (37 ℃, 5% O₂), HPFs were cultured in a medium containing small-molecule compounds C6TSEDRVAJZ (CHIR99021, 616452, TTNPB, SAG, EPZ5676, DZNep, Ruxolitinib, VTP50469, Afuresertib, JNK-IN-8, and EZM0414), and the cell morphology was observed daily. The expression levels of epithelial cell markers in the induced cells were detected by immunofluorescence, Western blotting and PCR. Chromosomal karyotyping of the induced cells was performed and the induction efficiency was calculated. RESULTS: Before induction, HPFs showed positive expressions of fibroblast surface markers CD34 and vimentin and were negative for epithelial surface markers. PCR results showed high expressions of fibroblast-specific genes S100A4 and COL1A1 in HPFs with a normal human diploid karyotype. After one day of induction, the HPFs underwent morphological changes from a multinodular spindle shape to a round or polygonal shape, which was morphologically characteristic of ciEP-Ls. On day 4 of induction, the cells exhibited high expressions of the epithelial cell markers E-cadherin and Lin28A. RT-qPCR results also showed that the cells expressed the epithelial markers Smad3, GLi3, PAX8, WT1, KRT19, and KRT18 with significantly down-regulated expressions of all the fibroblast surface markers and a normal human diploid karyotype. The reprogramming efficiency of HPFs into ciEP-Ls ranged from (64.53±2.8)% to (68.10±3.6)%. CONCLUSIONS The small-molecule compound combination C6TSEDRVAJZ is capable of inducing HPFs into ciEP-Ls under hypoxic conditions with a high induction efficiency.
Humans ; Fibroblasts/drug effects* ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Pyrimidines/pharmacology* ; Placenta/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Pyridines/pharmacology* ; Pyrazoles/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells/cytology*

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Cleft palate (CP), the most common congenital craniofacial defect, has a multifaceted etiology influenced by complex genetic and environmental risk factors such as maternal bacterial or virus infection. A prior case-control study revealed a surprisingly strong association between maternal periodontal disease and CP in offspring. However, the precise relationship remains unclear. In this study, the relationship between maternal oral pathogen and CP in offspring was studied by sonicated P. gingivalis injected intravenously and orally into pregnant mice. We investigated an obvious increasing CP (12.5%) in sonicated P. gingivalis group which had inhibited osteogenesis in mesenchyme and blocked efferocytosis in epithelium. Then glycolysis and H4K12 lactylation (H4K12la) were detected to elevate in both mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme (MEPM) cells and macrophages under P. gingivalis exposure which further promoted the transcription of metallopeptidase domain17 (ADAM17), subsequently mediated the shedding of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in MEPM cells and mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) in macrophages and resulted in the suppression of efferocytosis and osteogenesis in palate, eventually caused abnormalities in palate fusion and ossification. The abnormal efferocytosis also led to a predominance of M1 macrophages, which indirectly inhibited palatal osteogenesis via extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, pharmacological ADAM17 inhibition could ameliorate the abnormality of P. gingivalis-induced abnormal palate development. Therefore, our study extends the knowledge of how maternal oral pathogen affects fetal palate development and provides a novel perspective to understand the pathogenesis of CP.
Animals ; Female ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Pregnancy ; Mice ; Cleft Palate/etiology* ; Glycolysis