Article Highlights
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Aug-2025 15:11 ET (21-Aug-2025 19:11 GMT/UTC)
Step-wise organization of genomic nuclear speckle-associated domains during mammalian embryonic development
Higher Education PressThis study reveals the step-wise establishment of nuclear speckle-associated domains (SPADs) during mouse embryogenesis. Using optimized CUT&Tag, researchers found paternal SPADs dominate pre-ZGA stages, coordinating sequential gene expression and 3D genome reorganization. SPADs form two classes (primary and ZGA-dependent secondary), regulated by factors like Nipbl and Gata6, linking chromatin dynamics to developmental programming.
- Journal
- Protein & Cell
- Funder
- Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University
Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila promotes GP2 expression in microfold cells and facilitates Salmonella infection
Higher Education PressThis study reported that pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila (pAKK) promotes the differentiation of intestinal microfold cells (M cells) and increases the expression of the GP2 receptor via the TLR2-MyD88-NF-κB pathway, thereby enhancing the ability of Salmonella Typhimurium (STm) to invade Peyer's patches and leading to aggravated infection in mice. However, pAKK had no significant effect on the extracellular pathogen Citrobacter rodentium (Cr). Experiments showed that pre-treatment with pAKK significantly increased the expression of M cell markers and the number of gut lymphoid tissues, with effects depending on TLR2 signal activation mediated by the Amuc_1100 protein, independent of the canonical RANKL pathway. This study cautions that the application of probiotics should take pathogen specificity into account, as pAKK may increase the risk of infection by pathogens that rely on M cell invasion.
- Journal
- Protein & Cell
- Funder
- National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research, Initiative Scientific Research Program of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology and Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Single-nucleus transcriptomics decodes the link between aging and lumbar disc herniation
Higher Education PressLow back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of musculoskeletal disability worldwide, affecting approximately 70% of the global population (Global Burden of Disease Study 2021). Aging is an independent risk factor for LBP, with nearly 40% of individuals over 65 developing LBP and exhibiting heightened susceptibility to lumbar disc herniation. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing of human lumbar disc specimens, this study systematically compares cellular heterogeneity between aging and herniated discs. We identified senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in aged disc cells and IL-17-mediated immune activation in herniation, revealing distinct therapeutic targets. These findings advance mechanistic understanding of disc degeneration and offer mechanistically-informed strategies, such as SASP inhibition and IL-17 pathway modulation, for precision treatment of age-related LBP in elderly populations.
- Journal
- Protein & Cell
- Funder
- National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Program of the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research, Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Informatization Plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE, Beijing Municipal Public Welfare Development and Reform Pilot Project for Medical Research Institutes, CAS Youth Interdisciplinary Team, Space Medical Experiment Project of CMSP, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease of Zhejiang Province, CAS, Excellent Young Talents Program of Capital Medical University, Excellent Young Talents Training Program for the Construction of Beijing Municipal University Teacher Team, Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST, Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS
Neutrophil extracellular traps license macrophage production of chemokines to facilitate CD8+ T cell infiltration in obstruction-induced renal fibrosis
Higher Education PressThis study reveals that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) drive macrophage-derived chemokine production (CXCL9/10/11) to promote CD8+ T cell infiltration in obstruction-induced renal fibrosis. Using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) models, researchers demonstrated that NET inhibition via PAD4 deletion or DNase treatment attenuated fibrosis, while NET transfer exacerbated it. Mechanistically, NET-macrophage interactions via TLR2/4 signaling license chemokine secretion, fueling CD8+ T cell recruitment and granzyme B-mediated tubular injury. These findings establish NETs as central orchestrators of immune-fibrotic crosstalk, providing therapeutic targets for chronic kidney diseases.
- Journal
- Protein & Cell
- Funder
- Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement, Youth Support Fund of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Innovation Talent Fund of Senior Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Guangxi Natural Science Funding
The hunt for valuable chemicals
Texas A&M UniversityResearchers are exploring how to produce more sustainable chemicals and fuels.
- Journal
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Funder
- Army Research Office
STARD4: A breakthrough in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy
Compuscript LtdHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, is characterized by a high rate of metastasis and recurrence. Although lenvatinib is widely used as a first-line chemotherapy for advanced HCC, its clinical benefit is limited, owing to drug resistance. StAR-related lipid transfer protein 4 (STARD4), a protein regulated by the sterol-responsive element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), plays a crucial role in maintaining intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in HCC progression remain unclear.
- Journal
- Genes & Diseases
- Funder
- Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of China, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of China, Nanfang Hospital Dean's Fund, Wu Jieping Medical Foundation, Hospital Pharmacy Research Foundation of the Guangdong Liver Disease Association of China
Human retinal organoids: A breakthrough in dry age-related macular degeneration therapy
Compuscript LtdAge-related macular degeneration (AMD), classified into dry and wet types, poses a significant threat to the vision of the elderly population globally. Despite its prevalence, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the damage to retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs) and photoreceptor cells (PCs) in dry AMD remain poorly understood. Hence, there is a critical need for the development of human retinal models that can mimic dry AMD.
- Journal
- Genes & Diseases
- Funder
- Beijing Natural Science Foundation, The Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA Research Fund
Can tourist apartments help solve the housing crisis?
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)Some owners of tourist apartments would be willing to offer them as social housing if they continued to generate income
- Journal
- Cities
The world’s largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposit
Higher Education PressThis study deciphers the genesis of the Huoshaoyun deposit, the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb system, through ore characteristics, isotopes, and trace elements, revealing multi-stage mineralization linked to crust-mantle interaction and Jurassic volcanic-hydrothermal processes.
- Journal
- Geoscience Frontiers