Geminiviruses cause substantial crop yield losses worldwide. The replication initiator protein (Rep) encoded by geminiviruses is indispensable for geminiviral replication. The Rep protein encoded by beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV, genus Curtovirus, family Geminiviridae) induces VARIANT IN METHYLATION 5 (VIM5) expression in Arabidopsis leaves upon BSCTV infection. VIM5 functions as a ubiquitination-related E3 ligase to promote the proteasomal degradation of methyltransferases, resulting in reduction of methylation levels in the BSCTV C2-3 promoter. However, the specific domains of Rep responsible for VIM5 induction remain poorly characterized. Although Rep proteins from several geminiviruses act as viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs), whether BSCTV Rep also possesses VSR activity remains to be illustrated. In this study, we employed a transient expression system in the 16c-GFP transgenic and the wild-type Nicotiana benthamiana plants to analyze the VSR and the VIM5-inducing activities of different truncated Rep proteins haboring distinct domains. We found that the N-terminal domain (amino acids 1-180) of Rep suppressed GFP silencing in 16c-GFP transgenic N. benthamiana leaves. The minimal N-terminal fragment (amino acids 1-104) induced VIM5 expression upon co-infiltration, while C-terminal truncations lacked VIM5-inducing activity. Our results indicate that the N-terminal domain of Rep encoded by BSCTV mediates the suppression of RNA silencing and induces VIM5 expression. Thus, our findings contribute to a better understanding of interactions between geminiviral Rep and plant hosts.
Geminiviridae/genetics* ; Nicotiana/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis/metabolism* ; RNA Interference ; Viral Proteins/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism* ; Protein Domains ; Plant Diseases/virology* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism* ; DNA Helicases/genetics*

Objective:To establish fingerprints of Faeces Bombycis and simultaneously determine the content of four amino acids; To evaluate the quality of Faeces Bombycis from different regions. The fingerprint of Faeces Bombycis was established and the contents of 4 amino acids were determined.Methods:Kromasil 100-5 C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column was used for phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) pre-column derivation-high performance liquid chromatography with acetonitrile-0.1 mol/L sodium acetate solution (pH adjusted to 6.5 with acetic acid) (7:93) mixed solution, and acetonitrile-water (4:1) mixed solution were mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min; the column temperature was 35 ℃; the detection wavelength was 254 nm; the injection amount was 5 μl. The fingerprints of 17 batches of Faeces Bombycis were established, the common peaks were identified by comparison of reference materials, and the similarity evaluation and principal component analysis (PCA) were carried out. The contents of glycine, alanine, proline and phenylalanine were determined simultaneously.Results:A total of 12 common peaks were identified from the fingerprints of Faeces Bombycis, and 12 amino acids were identified. The similarity of 17 batches of samples was greater than 0.95. PCA analysis showed that the regional difference of the quality of Faeces Bombycis was not significant. Faeces Bombycis produced in Qujing city in Yunnan Province had the highest total contents of 4 amino acids.Conclusion:The method has good repeatability and can provide reference for the quality evaluation and standard improvement of Faeces Bombycis.

Objective:To establish a quality control method for Aiye standard decoction.Methods:The ultra performance liquid chromatogrphy (UPLC) column Waters ACQUITY HSS T3 C18 (2.1 mm×150 mm,1.8 μm) was used to gradient elution by acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water. 16 batches of Aiye standard decoction fingerprints were established by UPLC and the common peaks were determined in the fingerprints. The contents of 12 components were determined. The 16 batches of Aiye standard decoction were analyzed by similarity calculation, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) for analysis of differential components of Artemisiae Argyi Folium from different origins.Results:A total of 13 common peaks were marked in the fingerprints of 16 batches of Aiye standard decoction, 12 of which were identified by comparison with reference substance, including chlorogenic acid, sochlorogenic acid A, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid,1,3-O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, schaftoside, isochlorogenic acid B,1,5-O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, isochlorogenic acid C, jaceosidin and eupatilin. Similarity evaluation, PCA and HCA all classified the 16 batches of Aiye standard decoction into 2 categories. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis screened 5 differential biomarkers from 13 common peaks. The content determination results showed that the phenolic compounds and flavonoids in samples from Hubei were significantly higher than that in samples from other areas.Conclusion:This method can effectively analyze the differences in the quality of Aiye standard decoction from different origins, and provide reference for the formulation of quality standards for Aiye standard decoction and related preparations.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw. (L. japonicum, Hai Jin Sha) by comparing its components without stewed (W) and stewed (S) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and chemometric analysis. Additionally, network pharmacology was employed to investigate the possible mechanisms of action of L. japonicum in the urinary calculi (UC) treatment.MethodsA fingerprinting method was established to identify components through UHPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Chemometric techniques were used to compare the L. japonicum extraction methods. Furthermore, various network pharmacological approaches were used to identify and analyze the potential targets of the identified components in relation to UC.ResultsThe W and S extracts were distributed into two distinct clusters. Significant differences in the levels of protocatechuic aldehyde, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid were observed between S and W. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the primary targets of L. japonicum in the UC treatment were serum albumin and epidermal growth factor receptors, with potential active components including protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid.ConclusionThis study comprehensively examined the therapeutic components of L. japonicum before and after boiling, shedding light on its potential mechanisms of action in UC treatment. These findings offer valuable insights into the development and utilization of L. japonicum resources.

Objective:To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction; To determine the three effective components with similar structure by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS); To evaluate the quality of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction.Methods:HPLC was adopted to establish the fingerprints of 15 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction. The Chromatographic column was Waters XBridge Phenyl (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution. Cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted based on the relative peak area of common peaks. The same method as the fingerprint was used to establish QAMS of tubeimoside A, B, C on Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction.Results:There were 14 common peaks in the fingerprint of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction. It was confirmed that the peak 3 was L-tryptophan, the peak 11 was tubeimoside B, the peak 12 was tubeimoside C, and the peak 13 was tubeimoside A. 15 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction from different origins were divided into 3 categories by HCA and PCA. There was no significant difference between QAMS and the external standard method (ESM) through the system suitability inspection. Conclusion:This method is accurate, reliable and has good specificity, which can effectively evaluate the quality of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma standard decoction.

AIM:To investigate the role and molecular mechanisms of SMARCA4(SWI/SNF-related,matrix-associated,actin-dependent regulator of chromatin,subfamily A,member 4)in ferroptosis.METHODS:(1)Human fi-brosarcoma HT1080 cells were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)and different concentrations(31.25,62.5 and 125 nmol/L)of Ras-selective lethal small molecule 3(RSL3;ferroptosis inducer).Each treatment had 3 replicate wells of cells.The protein levels of SMARCA4 were detected by Western blot.(2)Two small interfering RNAs(siSMARCA4-1 and siSMARCA4-2)were constructed according to the SMARCA4 gene sequence.After SMARCA4 knockdown,each treat-ment had 3 replicate wells of cells,and the protein levels of SMARCA4 were determined by Western blot.Effects of DMSO,necrostatin 2 racemate(Nec-1s;necroptosis inhibitor),Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK(Z-VAD,pan-caspase inhibitor/apoptosis inhibitor)and ferrostatin-1(Fer-1,ferroptosis inhibitor)on cell viability were assessed using high-content analy-sis.The levels of ferroptosis indicators,including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)transcription,lipid peroxidation,reactive oxygen species(ROS),labile iron pool(LIP)and glutathione,were determined by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of pivotal iron metabolism genes,ferroptosis-related ROS regulatory genes,and cholesterol synthesis-related genes were measured using RT-qPCR.Impact of cholesterol on the cell viability were as-sessed using high-content analysis.(3)Common differential gene analysis and gene ontology(GO)enrichment analysis were performed on published online data.RESULTS:(1)Treatment with RSL3 significantly reduced the protein level of SMARCA4(P＜0.05).(2)Knockdown of SMARCA4 resulted in ferroptosis.(3)Knockdown of SMARCA4 did not induce ferroptosis by modulating the LIP and the transcription levels of ROS-related genes.(4)Knockdown of SMARCA4 affected the pathways associated with the cell membrane,lipid raft,and cholesterol synthesis.(5)Addition of cholesterol to cell culture medium rescued the ferroptosis induced by SMARCA4 knockdown(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with RSL3 reduces the protein level of SMARCA4 in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells,and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by SMARCA4 knockdown leads to the ferroptosis of HT1080 cells.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in China.Methods:Data of chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2022 from 77 centers, ≥18 years old, and receiving initial imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib-therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China with complete data were retrospectively interrogated. The choice of initial TKI, current TKI medications, treatment switch and reasons, treatment responses and outcomes as well as the variables associated with them were analyzed.Results:6 893 patients in CP ( n=6 453, 93.6%) or AP ( n=440, 6.4%) receiving initial imatinib ( n=4 906, 71.2%), nilotinib ( n=1 157, 16.8%), dasatinib ( n=298, 4.3%) or flumatinib ( n=532, 7.2%) -therapy. With the median follow-up of 43 ( IQR 22-75) months, 1 581 (22.9%) patients switched TKI due to resistance ( n=1 055, 15.3%), intolerance ( n=248, 3.6%), pursuit of better efficacy ( n=168, 2.4%), economic or other reasons ( n=110, 1.6%). The frequency of switching TKI in AP patients was significantly-higher than that in CP patients (44.1% vs 21.5%, P<0.001), and more AP patients switched TKI due to resistance than CP patients (75.3% vs 66.1%, P=0.011). Multi-variable analyses showed that male, lower HGB concentration and ELTS intermediate/high-risk cohort were associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular responses rate and poor outcomes in CP patients; higher WBC count and initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher response rates; Ph + ACA at diagnosis, poor PFS. However, Sokal intermediate/high-risk cohort was only significantly-associated with lower CCyR and MMR rates and the poor PFS. Lower HGB concentration and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with the lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates in AP patients; initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher treatment response rates; lower PLT count, higher blasts and Ph + ACA, poorer TFS; Ph + ACA, poorer OS. Conclusion:At present, the vast majority of newly-diagnosed CML-CP or AP patients could benefit from TKI treatment in the long term with the good treatment responses and survival outcomes.

Objective:To establish the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprint and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) content determination method of Curcumae Radix standard decoction; To predict the quality markers of Curcumae Radix standard decoction combined with network pharmacology.Methods:UPLC method was used to establish the fingerprint of Curcumae Radix standard decoction, and the common peaks were determined. Combined with chemical pattern recognition techniques such as similarity analysis and clustering analysis, Curcumae Radix standard decoction from different producing areas was studied, and curcumol was used as an index to determine the content of 24 batches of Curcumae Radix standard decoction. At the same time, network pharmacology was used to predict potential of curcumol and (1S, 6β)-1β-Methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-7β-(3-oxobutyl) bicyclo [4.1.0] heptan-3-one.Results:A total of 24 batches of Curcumae Radix standard decoction from different habitats were compared and analyzed, and 10 common peaks were calibrated. The similarity of 24 batches of samples ranged from 0.982 to 0.999. Clustering analysis and principal component analysis divided them into three categories. Heat map analysis showed that peak 8 (curcumol) and peak 9 ((1S, 6β)-1β-Methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-7β-(3-oxobutyl) bicyclo [4.1.0] heptan-3-one) were the main components. The content of curcumol in 24 batches of Curcumae Radix standard decoction was 0.69-1.87 mg/g; curcumol and (1S, 6β)-1β-Methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-7β- (3-oxobutyl) bicyclo [4.1.0] heptan-3-one may regulate the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway, calcium signaling, and excitation by regulating neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway, calcium signaling, and excitation. It was preliminarily predicted that curcumol and (1S, 6β)-1β-Methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-7β-(3-oxobutyl) bicyclo [4.1.0] heptan-3-one were potential quality markers of Curcumae Radix.Conclusion:Curcumol and (1S, 6β)-1β-Methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-7β-(3-oxobutyl) bicyclo [4.1.0] heptan-3-one are potential quality markers of Curcumae Radix standard decoction, and the established fingerprint can be used for the quality control of Curcumae Radix standard decoction.

Liver transplantation remains the most effective treatment for end-stage liver disease(ESLD),but it is fraught with challenges such as immunosuppression,high risk and cost,and donor shortage.In recent years,stem cell transplantation has emerged as a promising new strategy for ESLD treatment,with mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)gaining significant attention because of their unique properties.MSCs can regulate signaling pathways,including hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met,Wnt/beta(β)-catenin,Notch,transforming growth factor-β1/Smad,interleukin-6/Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/PDK/Akt,thereby influencing the progression of liver fibrosis and regeneration.As a promising stem cell type,MSCs offer numerous advantages in liver disease treatment,including low immunogenicity;ease of acquisition;unlimited proliferative ability;pluripotent differentiation potential;immunomodulatory function;and anti-inflammatory,antifibrotic,and anti-apoptotic biological characteristics.This review outlines the mechanisms by which MSCs reverse liver fibrosis and promote liver regeneration.MSCs are crucial in reversing liver fibrosis and repairing liver damage through the secretion of growth factors,regulation of signaling pathways,and modulation of immune responses.MSCs have shown good therapeutic effects in preclinical and clinical studies,providing new strategies for liver disease treatment.However,challenges still exist in the clinical application of MSCs,including low differentiation efficiency and limited sources.This review provides a reference for MSC application in liver disease treatment.With the continuous progress in MSC research,MSCs are expected to achieve breakthroughs in liver disease treatment,thereby improving patient treatment outcomes.