In vivo recycling of nitrate (NO 3 − ) and nitrite (NO 2 − ) is an important alternative pathway for the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and maintenance of systemic nitrate–nitrite–NO balance. More than 25% of the circulating NO 3 − is actively removed and secreted by salivary glands. Oral commensal bacteria convert salivary NO 3 − to NO 2 − , which enters circulation and leads to NO generation. The transporters for NO 3 − in salivary glands have not yet been identified. Here we report that sialin ( SLC17A 5 ), mutations in which cause Salla disease and infantile sialic acid storage disorder (ISSD), functions as an electrogenic 2NO 3 − /H + cotransporter in the plasma membrane of salivary gland acinar cells. We have identified an extracellular pH-dependent anion current that is carried by NO 3 − or sialic acid (SA), but not by Br − , and is accompanied by intracellular acidification. Both responses were reduced by knockdown of sialin expression and increased by the plasma membrane-targeted sialin mutant (L22A-L23A). Fibroblasts from patients with ISSD displayed reduced SA- and NO 3 − -induced currents compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, expression of disease-associated sialin mutants in fibroblasts and salivary gland cells suppressed the H + -dependent NO 3 − conductance. Importantly, adenovirus-dependent expression of the sialinH183R mutant in vivo in pig salivary glands decreased NO 3 − secretion in saliva after intake of a NO 3 − -rich diet. Taken together, these data demonstrate that sialin mediates nitrate influx into salivary gland and other cell types. We suggest that the 2NO 3 − /H + transport function of sialin in salivary glands can contribute significantly to clearance of serum nitrate, as well as nitrate recycling and physiological nitrite-NO homeostasis.

As a new group of important effector molecules involved in multiple cancer types, including breast cancer, lung cancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted considerable attention recently. However, the underlying cause that induces the dysregulated lncRNAs in cancer remains poorly understood. In the present study, the regulatory model of the lncRNA placenta-specific protein 2 (PLAC2) upregulation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was investigated and its biological functions in OSCC malignant progression was identified. A reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay identified that PLAC2 is upregulated in OSCC cell lines and primary tissue samples. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis followed by chromatin immunoprecipitation verified an enriched histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27) acetylation (H3K27ac) at the promoter region of the PLAC2 gene. Knockdown of cAMP-response element binding protein-binding protein (CBP) significantly reduced the enrichment level of H3K27ac, and thereby induced a decreased expression of PLAC2. Functionally, overexpression of PLAC2 promotes OSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of PLAC2 exerted an opposite effect. Furthermore, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated by PLAC2 and mediated the PLAC2-induced malignant progress of OSCC. In conclusion, the present results indicated that lncRNA PLAC2 is transcriptionally activated by H3K27ac modification at the promoter region in OSCC, and promotes cell growth and metastasis via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, PLAC2 may serve as a promising biomarker for OSCC prognosis and therapy.

Nanotechnology employs multifunctional engineered materials in the nanoscale range that provides many opportunities for translational stem cell research and therapy. Here, a cell‐penetrating peptide (virus‐1 transactivator of transcription)–conjugated, porous silicon nanoparticle (TPSi NP) loaded with the Wnt3a protein to increase both the cell survival rate and the delivery precision of stem cell transplantation via a combinational theranostic strategy is presented. The TPSi NP with a pore size of 10.7 nm and inorganic framework enables high‐efficiency loading of Wnt3a, prolongs Wnt3a release, and increases antioxidative stress activity in the labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are highly beneficial properties for cell protection in stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction. It is confirmed that the intracellular aggregation of TPSi NPs can highly amplify the acoustic scattering of the labeled MSCs, resulting in a 2.3‐fold increase in the ultrasound (US) signal compared with that of unlabeled MSCs. The translational potential of the designed nanoagent for real‐time US imaging–guided stem cell transplantation is confirmed via intramyocardial injection of labeled MSCs in a nude mouse model. It is proposed that the intracellular aggregation of protein drug–loaded TPSi NPs could be a simple but robust strategy for improving the therapeutic effect of stem cell therapy.