Publications by authors named "Xiaochen Cheng"

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a versatile serine/threonine protein kinase that is mainly recognized for its canonical role in antiviral immunity through interferon induction. Here, we report a previously uncharacterized function for TBK1 in antifungal defense. Using proteomic analysis, we identified TBK1 as a phagosome-directed protein after fungal infection, and biochemical analysis revealed that TBK1 is directly recruited to the phagosome by SHP2 in a process driven by SRC-mediated phosphorylation.

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Infectious scald is recognized as a life-threatening concern in clinical due to easy infection and hard recovery. Exosomes possess cell migration, proliferation and angiogenesis under the containing rich growths factors, which may be a possibility for the treatment of scald chronic wounds. However, the instability and release issues of exosomes limits the storage and therapeutic efficacy.

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Sea cucumbers plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance through their unique behaviors and physiological functions. However, the noise from offshore wind turbines disrupts the habitat environment of the sea cucumber, potentially altering their behavior and physiology. Nevertheless, limited research exists on how noise from offshore wind turbines affects the sea cucumbers.

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Article Synopsis
  • Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) causes cell death and fibrosis in lungs, but MSC-derived exosomes can help, although they lack targeting abilities and specific effects.
  • A study engineered these exosomes with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the miRNA miR-486-5p to enhance their therapeutic effects.
  • The modified exosomes promoted lung cell growth and migration, reduced RILI and fibrosis, and inhibited ferroptosis by regulating fibrosis-related genes both in vitro and in vivo.
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Introduction/objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (hUC-MSC-Exo) liquid band-aid on wound healing in mice.

Methods: hUC-MSC-Exos were prepared from the supernatant via ion exchange chromatography. The composition ratio of the chitosan liquid band-aid was optimized to form a film and encapsulate hUC-MSC-Exo.

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Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive in marine ecosystems, exerting detrimental effects on marine life. The concurrent presence and interaction of MPs and heavy metals in aquatic environments could engender more insidious toxicological impacts. This study aimed to elucidate the potential impacts and underlying mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), cadmium (Cd), and their combined stress (MPs-Cd) on sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Combined radiation-trauma skin injury is a serious condition that requires effective treatment, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) might be a promising option due to its roles in cell survival and reducing inflammation.
  • - The study tested a recombinant plasmid encoding human HGF (pHGF) on human keratinocyte cells in vitro and in mice with skin wounds to assess its protective and healing effects.
  • - Results showed that pHGF increased cell viability and reduced harmful inflammatory responses, leading to faster healing in mice, suggesting its potential use as a gene therapy for serious skin injuries.
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Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. A growing number of studies have begun to demonstrate that mitochondria play a key role in tumorigenesis. Our previous study reveals that NDUFS2 (NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S2), a core subunit of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, is upregulated in Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD).

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Background: NUDT21 (Nudix Hydrolase 21) has been shown to play an essential role in multiple biological processes. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. However, the biological function of NUDT21 in PAAD remains rarely understood.

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As an important form of renewable energy, offshore wind power can effectively reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and decrease carbon emissions. However, operation of wind turbines can generate underwater noise that may have negative impacts on marine benthic organisms in the surrounding area. Sea cucumbers are slow-moving invertebrates that inhabit the ocean, relying on their immune system to adapt to their environment.

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STING (stimulator of interferon genes) exerts protective cellular responses to viral infection via induction of interferon production and autophagy. Here, we report the role of STING in modulating the immune responses toward fungal infection. Upon Candida albicans stimulation, STING transited alongside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the phagosomes.

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Background: Most patients who undergo radiotherapy develop radiation skin injury, for which effective treatment is urgently needed. MnSOD defends against reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage and may be valuable for treating radiation-induced injury. Here, we (i) investigated the therapeutic and preventive effects of local multiple-site injections of a plasmid, encoding human MnSOD, on radiation-induced skin injury in rats and (ii) explored the mechanism underlying the protective effects of pMnSOD.

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis, for which effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. The dual-specificity phosphatase PTPMT1 is localized in mitochondria and highly expressed in various cancers. Here, we investigated the function of PTPMT1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

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STING is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein regulating innate immunity. After binding with cyclic guanosine monophosphate-AMP (cGAMP), STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus to stimulate TBK1 and IRF3 activation, leading to expression of type I interferon. However, the exact mechanism concerning STING activation remains largely enigmatic.

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Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and progressive interstitial lung disease. There is no effective treatment for PF. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects but has limited potential owing to its short half-life.

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Purpose: Silicosis is a serious occupational disease that is characterized by pulmonary infiltrates and fibrosis and is often refractory to current treatments. New therapeutic strategies for silicosis are needed. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a latent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic growth factor.

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This phase II clinical trial investigated the efficacy and safety of intramuscular injection of plasmid pUDK-HGF, which encodes the human hepatocyte growth factor gene in patients with critical limb ischemia. Resting pain patients ( = 119) and patients with leg ulcers ( = 121) were enrolled as two cohorts and randomized to receive pUDK-HGF treatment on days 0, 14, and 28. In the resting pain cohort, the proportion of patients with complete pain relief on day 180 after receiving pUDK-HGF injection, as the primary outcome, was significantly higher than that of the placebo group on the same day ( = 0.

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Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a refractory disease in the clinic with a tremendous impact on the quality of life of patients. Gene therapy is a potential strategy for the management of NP. In the present study, we examined the analgesic effect and mechanism of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in vitro and in vivo.

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A novel glucoside bletilloside A (1) was isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata, together with seven known compounds (2-8). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. All compounds were evaluated for the inhibition on NO production effects in RAW 264.

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Hemostat has been a crucial focus since human body is unable to control massive blood loss, and collagen proves to be an effective hemostat in previous studies. In this study, collagen was isolated from the mesoglea of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye and its hemostatic property was studied. The yields of acid-soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin-soluble (PSC) were 0.

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Inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain are major clinical health issues that represent considerable social and economic burden worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the anti-nociceptive efficacy of delivery of human proenkephalin gene by a plasmid DNA vector (pVAX1-PENK) on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammatory pain and spared nerve injury (SNI) induced neuropathic pain in mice. Mice were intramuscularly or intrathecally administered pVAX1 or pVAX1-PENK, respectively.

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We investigated the antinociceptive effect of local intramuscular injection of a plasmid encoding human proenkephalin (pVAX1-hPPE) on postoperative pain in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats with incision-induced pain were intramuscularly injected into injured plantaris muscle with empty vector (pVAX1) or pVAX1-hPPE, respectively. Paw mechanical threshold and thermal latency in the 200μg pVAX1-hPPE treated rats were significantly higher at 6h and on 1day, and lasted until day 7 after intramuscular administration, respectively.

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The demand of a plasmid encoding human hepatocyte growth factor gene (pUDK-HGF) in large quantities at high purity and concentration has increased for gene therapy of critical limb ischemia (CLI) in clinical trials. In this article, we produced pUDK-HGF in compliance with current good manufacturing practices at gram scale. The process included a 50-L batch fermentation, continuous alkaline lysis, and integrated three-step chromatography on Sepharose 6 Fast Flow, PlasmidSelect Xtra, and Source 15Q.

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SiJunZiTang (SJZT), a classic Traditional Chinese Formula (TCMF) consisting of four herbs, Radix Ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, has been demonstrated to show protective effects on intestine and stomach injure. The chromatographic quality control is needed. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS is a rapid and efficient technique for analysis of complex sample in combination with UPLC and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

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A polysaccharide, isolated and purified from the aqueous extract of nettle plant Urtica fissa, was found to consist of D-glucose and D-arabinose. Molecular weight was determined to be Mn 4140. The NMR experiments (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H--¹H COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, NOESY, and HMBC) revealed the structure as the following repeating unit: -->6)-α-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-α-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-β-D-Glcp--(1-->5)-β-D-Araf-(1-->3)-β-D-Glcp-(1-->

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