A tomato MADS-box protein, SlCMB1, regulates ethylene biosynthesis and carotenoid accumulation during fruit ripening.

The MADS-box transcription factors play essential roles in many physiological and biochemical processes of plants, especially in fruit ripening. Here, a tomato MADS-box gene, SlCMB1, was isolated. SlCMB1 expression declined with the fruit ripening from immature green to B + 7 (7 days after Breaker) fruits in the wild type (WT) and was lower in Nr and rin mutants fruits.

Fabrication of gelatin-micropatterned surface and its effect on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

Studies of the effect of surface chemistries on cell functions on a single surface with different surface chemistry areas have been achieved by micropatterning technology. In this study, a gelatin-micropatterned surface was prepared and used for direct comparison of the effect of different surface chemistries on the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells under the same culture environment. The micropattern was prepared by UV-irradiating photo-reactive azidobenzoyl-derived gelatin-coated surface on a polystyrene plate through a photomask with 200 μm-width stripes.

Silencing SlMED18, tomato Mediator subunit 18 gene, restricts internode elongation and leaf expansion.

Mediator complex, a conserved multi-protein, is necessary for controlling RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription in eukaryotes. Given little is known about them in tomato, a tomato Mediator subunit 18 gene was isolated and named SlMED18. To further explore the function of SlMED18, the transgenic tomato plants targeting SlMED18 by RNAi-mediated gene silencing were generated.

The Jasmonate ZIM-domain protein gene SlJAZ2 regulates plant morphology and accelerates flower initiation in Solanum lycopersicum plants.

JAZ (Jasmonate ZIM-domain) proteins are important repressors in JA signaling pathway. JAZs were proved taking part in various development processes and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in Arabiodopsis. However, in tomato, the functional study of JAZs is rare, especially on plant growth and development.

MiRNA-mRNA crosstalk in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma based on the TCGA database.

Background: The functional characterization of non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) has been shown to be associated with the pathophysiology of the disease, but it is still a challenging task to elucidate the pathogenesis of microRNAs and disease. In addition, the understanding of the role of miRNAs in the development of LSCC still needs further exploration.

Materials And Methods: In this study, to identify miRNAs that play a key role in LSCC, we analyzed miRNA and mRNA sequence data from 162 LSCC samples from the TCGA database, and screened specific miRNAs and mRNAs by differential gene expression analysis.

Preparation of dexamethasone-loaded biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles/collagen porous composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Unlabelled: Although bone is regenerative, its regeneration capacity is limited. For bone defects beyond a critical size, further intervention is required. As an attractive strategy, bone tissue engineering (bone TE) has been widely investigated to repair bone defects.

Silencing of histone deacetylase SlHDT3 delays fruit ripening and suppresses carotenoid accumulation in tomato.

The acetylation levels of histones on lysine residues are regulated by histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases, which play an important but understudied role in the control of gene expression in plants. There is an increasing research focus on histone deacetylation in crops, but to date, there is little information regarding tomato. With the aim of characterizing the tomato HD2 family of histone deacetylases, an RNA interference (RNAi) expression vector of SlHDT3 was constructed and transformed into tomato plants.

Maintenance of Cartilaginous Gene Expression of Serially Subcultured Chondrocytes on Poly(2-Methoxyethyl Acrylate) Analogous Polymers.

Chondrocytes are important for cartilage tissue engineering. However, dedifferentiation during chondrocyte subculture prevents the application of cartilage tissue engineering. Therefore, prevention of this dedifferentiation is required.

Targeting ligand-functionalized photothermal scaffolds for cancer cell capture and in situ ablation.

Scaffolds have been explored as a useful carrier to deliver efficient photothermal conversion agents for localized photothermal therapy applications because they can confine the agents in designated regions. However, cell capture by porous structures cannot discriminate between cancer cells and normal cells. In this study, folic acid (FA) as a typical targeting ligand for cancer cells was introduced into the porous photothermal scaffolds.

TEMPO-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and Regulation of Stem Cell Differentiation.

Controlling the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) shows a great potential in regenerative medicine. Because overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) have an obvious inhibitory effect on the differentiation and functions of hMSCs, it is highly desirable to develop an effective strategy for ROS scavenging and stem cell differentiation controlling. In this study, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with an average size of 40 nm were conjugated with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) to endow them with ROS-scavenging capacity while holding the beneficial effect of Au NPs.

A histone deacetylase gene, SlHDA3, acts as a negative regulator of fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation.

SlHDA3 functions as an inhibitor and regulates tomato fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation. Post-translational modifications, including histones acetylation, play a pivotal role in the changes of chromatin structure dynamic modulation and gene activity. The regulation of histone acetylation is achieved by the action of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, which play crucial roles in the regulation of transcription activation.

Preparation of dexamethasone-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles for the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

As an earliest known and readily available osteogenic inducer for stem cells, dexamethasone (DEX) plays a key role in affecting cell functions and cellular processes, especially for cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the clinical application of DEX has been limited because of its uncontrolled release. An ideal carrier is desired to control the DEX release for the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and bone tissue engineering.

The tomato histone deacetylase SlHDA1 contributes to the repression of fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation.

Histone deacetylation is one of the well characterized post-translational modifications related to transcriptional repression in eukaryotes. The process of histone deacetylation is achieved by histone deacetylases (HDACs). Over the last decade, substantial advances in our understanding of the mechanism of fruit ripening have been achieved, but the role of HDACs in this process has not been elucidated.

Preparation of Cell-Derived Decellularized Matrices Mimicking Native ECM During the Osteogenesis and Adipogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important extracellular microenvironmental factor that regulates stem cell differentiation. The ECM is remodeled according to stem cell differentiation progression to precisely regulate the differentiation. Thus, it is expected that the matrices mimicking native ECM surrounding differentiating cells at each differentiation stage provide a favorable microenvironment to promote stem cell differentiation.

Influence of microporous gelatin hydrogels on chondrocyte functions.

Hydrogels can provide biomimetic three-dimensional microenvironments for transplanted cells and are attractive scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, gelatin hydrogels with microporous structures were prepared and their effects on chondrocyte functions were compared with gelatin hydrogels without microporous structures. Gelatin bulk hydrogels were prepared by photo-initiated crosslinking of gelatin methacrylate macromers.

Fabrication of Highly Crosslinked Gelatin Hydrogel and Its Influence on Chondrocyte Proliferation and Phenotype.

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels have been widely studied for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery, because of their good biocompatibility and injectability. However, the quick degradation and low mechanical property of GelMA hydrogels need to be improved for further applications, especially for long-term implantation. In this study, a sequential double modification of gelatin was used to achieve high density of photocrosslinkable double bonds in gelatin derivatives.

Overexpression of SlPRE2, an atypical bHLH transcription factor, affects plant morphology and fruit pigment accumulation in tomato.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are a large family of transcription factors that control various developmental processes in eukaryotes, but the biological roles of most bHLH proteins are not very clear, especially in tomato. In this study, a PRE-like atypical bHLH gene was isolated and designated as SlPRE2 in tomato. SlPRE2 was highly expressed in immature-green fruits, moderately in young leaves, flowers, and mature-green fruits.

Suppression of the MADS-box gene SlMBP8 accelerates fruit ripening of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

MADS-box genes encode important transcription factors that are involved in many biological processes of plants, including fruit ripening. In our research, a MADS-box gene, SlMBP8, was identified, and its tissue-specific expression profiles were analysed. SlMBP8 was highly expressed in fruits of the B+4 stage, in senescent leaves and in sepals.

microRNA-664 enhances proliferation, migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.

Altered microRNA (miR) expression serves an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer. In the present study, the effect of miR-664 on proliferation, migration and invasion of lung cancer cells was assessed. The proliferation of lung cancer cells with an overexpression of miR-664 was examined via MTT assay.

Induction of Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Biomimetic Gold Nanoparticles with Tunable RGD Density.

Nanostructured materials have drawn a broad attention for their applications in biomedical fields. Ligand-modified nanomaterials can well mimic the dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironments to regulate cell functions and fates. Herein, ECM mimetic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with tunable surface arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) density are designed and synthesized to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).

Biomimetic Assembly of Vascular Endothelial Cells and Muscle Cells in Microgrooved Collagen Porous Scaffolds.

Porous scaffolds can be used to engineer three-dimensional (3D) tissues for tissue repair. Coculture of vascular endothelial cells and the cells of target tissue in porous scaffolds is promising to engineer vascularized tissue. However, it is difficult to induce regeneration of anisotropic tissues such as muscle and nerve that have well-aligned cells, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix (ECM) by using conventional porous scaffolds with homogeneous pore structures.

Nanoencapsulation of individual mammalian cells with cytoprotective polymer shell.

Nanoencapsulation of individual mammalian cells has great potential in biomedical, biotechnological and bioelectronic applications. However, existing techniques for cell nanoencapsulation generally yield short sustaining period and loose structure of encapsulation shell, which fails to meet the long-term cytoprotection and immunosuppression requirements. Here, we report a mild method to realize the nanoencapsulation of individual mammalian cells by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of gelatin inner layer and cross-linking of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) outer layer through thiol-click chemistry.

Silencing SlAGL6, a tomato AGAMOUS-LIKE6 lineage gene, generates fused sepal and green petal.

Silencing SlAGL6 in tomato leads to fused sepal and green petal by influencing the expression of A-, B-class genes. AGAMOUS-LIKE6 (AGL6) lineage is an important clade MADS-box transcription factor and plays essential roles in various developmental programs especially in flower meristem and floral organ development. Here, we isolated a tomato AGL6 lineage gene SlAGL6 and successfully obtained several RNA interference (RNAi) lines.

Feasibility of continuous, catheter-directed thrombolysis using low-dose urokinase in combination with low molecular-weight heparin for acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis in patients at risk of bleeding.

The present study aimed to examine the feasibility of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) using continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase in combination with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis. This retrospective analysis included patients with symptomatic acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis who received CDT using continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase in combination with LMWH within the past four years. Urokinase was administered at 1×10 U/h and 2×10 U/h in patients at high-risk and low-risk of bleeding, respectively.

Inhibition of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase attenuates high glucose‑induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation.

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the main features of atherosclerosis accelerated by hyperglycemia. Our previous studies found that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS, EC 2.5.