Biology-Basel最新文献

Hypoxia is a common feature of inflamed and ischemic tissues and represents an important regulatory signal for innate immune cells. The master regulator of this response is hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a transcription factor whose stabilization and activity are tightly regulated by the presence of oxygen, inflammatory signaling, and cellular metabolism. Monocytes, key players in innate immunity, rapidly sense oxygen deprivation and display specific responses during acute hypoxia, primarily aimed at adapting and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Unlike macrophages, in which HIF-1α activity is known, the mechanisms regulating HIF-1α stabilization, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activity in circulating monocytes remain incompletely elucidated. Recent studies indicate that acute hypoxia primarily triggers post-translational stabilization of HIF-1α, calcium- and PKC-dependent signaling, metabolic reprogramming, and early inflammatory responses, while transcriptional activation of HIF-1α may require additional inflammatory or stress-related signals. Furthermore, extensive crosstalk between HIF-1α and NF-κB integrates hypoxic and inflammatory signals, modulating cytokine production, cell migration, and survival. Epigenetic regulators can also modulate these responses and contribute to hypoxia-induced trained immunity. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the mechanisms controlling the stabilization, localization, and function of HIF-1α in human monocytes and monocyte-macrophages during acute hypoxia, highlighting the key differences between these cell types and discussing their implications for inflammation, tissue homeostasis, and disease.

Cleisthenes herzensteini is a commercially important demersal fish in the Northwest Pacific. However, the resource stock of this species has undergone a drastic decline due to overfishing and habitat degradation. As a representative taxon for benthic adaptation in the order Pleuronectiformes, the molecular mechanisms underlying its specialized phenotypic traits remain poorly elucidated. Furthermore, population-level studies focusing on the mitochondrial genome of Cleisthenes herzensteini are currently scarce. Given that the mitochondrial genome serves as an ideal genetic tool for deciphering species evolution and population genetics, sequencing of its mitogenome will help fill critical gaps in genetic resources and provide essential support for species conservation and phylogenetic research. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated its complete mitochondrial genome. The circular mitogenome is 17,171 bp in length and exhibits a typical A + T bias (54.04%). Repeat sequence analysis identified 35 dispersed repeats. Codon usage analysis revealed that leucine was the most frequently encoded amino acid, with CUU being the preferred codon. Several protein-coding genes possessed incomplete stop codons (T--/TA-), and a nucleotide preference for A and C was observed at the third codon position. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on mitogenomes from 23 species supported the monophyly of the order Pleuronectiformes. C. herzensteini showed the closest relationship with Dexistes rikuzenius, forming a distinct clade alongside Hippoglossoides dubius and Limanda aspera. These results provide essential genetic resources for understanding the evolution and population genetics of C. herzensteini and related flatfishes. According to the investigation, this study represents the first report on the sequencing and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Cleisthenes herzensteini. This not only fills the gap in mitochondrial genetic information for this species but also provides a reference for subsequent investigations into the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary processes within the family Pleuronectidae.

Length-based stock assessment methods are widely applied in data-limited fisheries, yet the effects of how length-frequency data are temporally grouped prior to analysis remain poorly examined. Temporal grouping is routinely used to increase sample size and approximate equilibrium conditions, but it may also alter the size structure presented to assessment models and bias inference. In this study, we evaluate how alternative temporal grouping schemes influence stock status inference within a single length-based framework, using the length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR) model as a diagnostic tool. Using a 30-year length-frequency dataset from a tropical purse seine fishery in the Northeast Atlantic as an illustrative case, we applied LBSPR under four practice-relevant temporal grouping schemes: full-period pooling, a broad regime-based scheme, decadal blocks, and five-year blocks. Life history parameters and model settings were held constant across schemes to isolate the effect of temporal grouping. A sensitivity analysis of biological parameters was conducted for the finest temporal scheme to contextualise robustness. Results show that temporal grouping alone can substantially alter the inferred status of the illustrative case. The fully pooled scheme produced an apparently favourable status signal, whereas finer temporal groupings revealed extended periods of inferred reproductive depletion, followed by a more recent recovery. Sensitivity analyses indicate that, while biological parameter uncertainty influences the magnitude of estimates, it does not overturn the dominant effect of temporal grouping on inferred status patterns. This study demonstrates that temporal grouping is not a neutral preprocessing step but a structural decision with the potential to conceal or reveal exploitation signals in length-based assessments. We argue that temporal grouping should be treated as an explicit sensitivity dimension in data-limited assessment workflows. By shifting attention from stock-specific outcomes to data-structuring choices, this work provides practical guidance for improving transparency and robustness in length-based stock status inference.

Brachiaria decumbens is a high-yielding forage grass of major economic value in tropical regions. The root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica is widely recognized for promoting plant growth and stress tolerance, yet its effects on B. decumbens remain poorly characterized. Here, we profiled root responses to P. indica colonization at 10 days after inoculation (dais; early stage) and 20 dais (late stage) during symbiosis establishment. Colonization was confirmed by phenotypic and physiological assessments, with inoculated plants showing enhanced root growth; colonized roots exhibited higher activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD), along with increased indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA), jasmonic acid (JA), and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) were reduced. Transcriptome and metabolomic profiling identified 1884 and 1077 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 2098 and 1509 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) at 10 dais (Pi10d vs. CK10d) and 20 dais (Pi20d vs. CK20d), respectively, and 3355 DEGs and 2314 DAMs between stages (Pi20d vs. Pi10d). Functional enrichment highlighted key pathways related to secondary metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid biosynthesis. Differentially expressed transcription factors spanned multiple families, including MYB, AP2/ERF, MADS-box, and bZIP, consistent with broad transcriptional reprogramming during symbiosis establishment. Integrative multi-omics analysis further highlighted phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and α-linolenic acid metabolism as consistently co-enriched pathways, suggesting coordinated shifts in gene expression and metabolite accumulation across colonization stages. Collectively, these results provide a multi-layered resource and a framework for mechanistic dissection of the P. indica-B. decumbens interaction.

Biological aging disrupts liver-gut intercommunication, resulting in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, coupled with the imbalance of gut microbiome composition known as gut dysbiosis. Fermented red ginseng (FRG) is a renowned functional food substance showing its notable anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects owing to its unique bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides. However, whether FRG could impact biological aging and age-related metabolic dysfunction is still unclear. The current study aimed to determine the health benefits of FRG in improving age-associated impaired insulin homeostasis and gut dysbiosis in 19-month-old male mice. Mice were fed with a normal chow diet (NCD) or NCD with FRG (300 mg/kg) for 14 weeks. FRG supplementation significantly improved insulin homeostasis by activating the hepatic protein kinase B (AKT) and proline-rich AKT substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40). We also observed suppressed mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and diminished inflammatory infiltrates in the liver of FRG-fed mice compared with NCD-only controls. Furthermore, alongside a decreased ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, FRG administration enriched beneficial genera, including Muribaculaceae, Borkfalkiaceae, Parasutterella, and Clostridia vadin BB60 group, whereas FRG reduced the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Dubosiella at the genus level. In summary, we suggest that FRG can be a potential anti-aging dietary supplement to manage age-driven dysregulation of insulin homeostasis and gut microbiota composition.

Dentathalia scutellariae (Hymenoptera: Athaliidae) is a major pest of Scutellaria baicalensis, a plant of significant economic and medicinal value. To date, no genomic resources have been available for this species, limiting research into its biology and control. Here, we reported a genome assembly of D. scutellariae with high accuracy and contiguity, sequenced by PacBio HiFi long-read and MGI-Seq short-read methods. The genome assembly is 157.00 Mb in length with a contig N50 of 4.04 Mb. The complete BUSCO score was 98.8%. The genome contained 14.73 Mb of repetitive elements, representing 9.38% of the total genome size. We predicted 14,904 protein-coding genes, of which 12,327 genes were annotated functionally. Gene family analysis of D. scutellariae revealed 422 expanded and 113 contracted gene families. Notably, genes within expanded families were significantly enriched in retinol metabolism and drug metabolism-cytochrome P450 pathways. We present the first high-quality genome assembly of D. scutellariae, which serves as a foundational genomic resource. This dataset will facilitate future studies on the molecular basis of D. scutellariae's pest status, host adaptation, and the development of targeted control strategies.

Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium widespread in invertebrates that causes various reproductive effects, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing, and the induction of parthenogenesis (PI). PI-Wolbachia wRem converts Telenomus remus, an egg parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, from arrhenotokous reproduction (male-producing) to thelytokous reproduction (female-producing). Long-term symbiosis between egg parasitoids and Wolbachia has been shown to lead to reproductive barriers and "female functional virginity," causing progressive and potentially irreversible sex ratio imbalances. However, whether such reproductive barriers occur in T. remus remains unknown, which has important implications for biological control programs utilizing this parasitoid. To address this question, we cured wRem using tetracycline and conducted crossing experiments with naturally uninfected strains (W-). The results indicated that the cured strain (Wcure) retained normal sexual reproductive capability, with self-crossing fertilization rates comparable to those of W- strains. However, first-generation hybridization between Wcure and W- strains produced strongly male-biased offspring (male proportion: 94.3% and 85.8% for W-♂ × Wcure♀ and Wcure♂ × W-♀, respectively), indicating substantial reproductive incompatibility. Notably, an asymmetric pattern was observed between reciprocal crosses. In second-generation hybridization experiments, hybrid females (W-/Wcure) mated with W- or Wcure males showed markedly recovered sex ratios (male proportion: 14.3% and 15.6%, respectively), although total offspring numbers remained lower than in self-crossing groups. These results suggest that the reproductive incompatibility in T. remus differs from female functional virginity and is more consistent with mitonuclear incompatibility arising from population divergence. The partial recovery in second-generation hybrids indicates that surviving F1 hybrid females likely represent individuals selected for compatibility, rather than exhibiting progressive deterioration of sexual function. These findings offer insights into Wolbachia's impact on parasitoid reproduction and highlight key considerations for biological control applications, underscoring the importance of evaluating reproductive barriers before deploying cured strains and preventing symbiont loss within populations.

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Plant viruses cause substantial yield and quality losses worldwide, and their rapid evolution can erode deployed host resistance. This review synthesizes current knowledge of antiviral resistance and tolerance mechanisms, using barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in cereals as an illustrative case study. We first summarize key layers of plant antiviral immunity, including pre-formed physical and chemical barriers, dominant and recessive resistance genes, RNA silencing, hormone-regulated defense signaling, and degradation pathways such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system and selective autophagy. We then discuss how these mechanisms are exploited in breeding and biotechnology, covering conventional introgression, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping and pyramiding, induced variation (mutation breeding and TILLING/ecoTILLING), transgenic strategies (pathogen-derived resistance and plantibodies), RNA interference-based approaches, and CRISPR-enabled editing of susceptibility factors. Finally, we highlight emerging nano-enabled tools and propose integrated strategies that combine genetic resistance with surveillance and vector management to improve durability under climate change and ongoing viral diversification.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis, a central pathological process leading to heart failure, lacks specific mechanism-based therapies. Although the anti-inflammatory activity of the natural compound protocatechuic acid is recognized, its direct anti-fibrotic mechanism, particularly concerning the critical role of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of protocatechuic acid.

Methods: The study employed both in vivo and in vitro models. For in vivo evaluation, a rat model of myocardial fibrosis was induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO). For in vitro analysis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and subjected to siRNA-mediated histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) knockdown, alongside a co-culture model involving HUVECs and the AC16 human cardiomyocyte cells. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the binding affinity and stability of protocatechuic acid with the target protein, HDAC1.

Results: In vivo, protocatechuic acid significantly improved cardiac function, attenuated pathological injury, and reduced collagen deposition in ISO-induced fibrotic rats. It also potently suppressed inflammatory responses and inhibited the EndMT process. These beneficial effects were associated with decreased HDAC1 and increased GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4) expression in perivascular regions, which suggests the modulation of the HDAC1/GATA4 pathway. In vitro, protocatechuic acid suppressed Ang II-induced endothelial inflammation in HUVECs. This effect was replicated by HDAC1 knockdown, thus confirming that the HDAC1/GATA4 pathway mediates its anti-inflammatory action at the cellular level. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicated that protocatechuic acid stably binds to a key target, HDAC1.

Conclusions: Protocatechuic acid alleviates inflammation and EndMT by inhibiting the HDAC1/GATA4 signaling pathway, thereby preserving cardiac function and retarding the progression of myocardial fibrosis. These findings provide a theoretical and experimental foundation for the potential application of protocatechuic acid in treating cardiovascular diseases.