Highlights d 54 antibodies have neutralizing IC 50 values in the range of 3.3-81 ng/mL d Neutralization by 47D1 is achieved without direct blocking of RBD-ACE2 binding d 47D1 binds only to one side of the receptor binding surface on the RBD d Convergent epitope targeting in neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2

In recent times, co-delivery of therapeutics has emerged as a promising strategy for treating dreadful diseases such as cancer.Materials and methodsIn this study, we developed a novel nanocarrier based on bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) that co-loaded with siRNA and doxorubicin (DOX) using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a cross-linker (BMs/DP/siRNA). The delivery efficiency of siRNA as well as the pH-responsive release of DOX, and synergistic efficacy of these therapeutics in vitro were systematically investigated.ResultsThe structure of DOX–PEI (DP) conjugates that synthesized via hydrazone bond formation was confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The in vitro release experiments showed that the DP conjugate (DOX-loading efficiency – 5.77%±0.08%) exhibited the long-term release behavior. Furthermore, the optimal BMs/DP/siRNA particle size of 107.2 nm and the zeta potential value of 31.1±1.0 mV facilitated enhanced cellular internalization efficiency. Moreover, the agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the co-delivery system could protect siRNA from degradation in serum and RNase A. In addition, the cytotoxicity assay showed that BMs/DP/siRNA could achieve an excellent synergistic effect compared to that of siRNA delivery alone. The acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) double staining assay also showed that BMs/DP/siRNA complex could induce cells in a stage of late apoptosis and nanocomplex located in the proximity of the nucleus.ConclusionThe combination of gene and chemotherapeutic drug using BMs is highly efficient, and the BMs/DP/siRNA would be a promising therapeutic strategy for the future therapeutics.

The equivocality of dose-response relationships has, in practice, hampered the application of biomarkers as a means to evaluate environmental risk, yet this important issue has not yet been fully recognized or explored. This paper evaluates the potential of antioxidant enzymes in the ciliated protozoan Euplotes vannus for use as biomarkers. Dose-response dynamics, together with both the enzyme activity and the gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, were investigated when E. vannus were exposed to graded doses of nitrofurazone for several discrete durations. Mathematical models were explored to characterize the dose-response profiles and, specifically, to identify any equivocality in terms of endpoint. Significant differences were found in both enzyme activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the E. vannus treated with nitrofurazone, and the interactions between exposure dosage and duration were significant. Correlations between enzyme activity, mRNA expression, and nitrofurazone dose varied with exposure duration. Particularly, the dose-responses showed different dynamics depending on either endpoint or exposure duration. Our findings suggest that both the enzyme activity and the gene expression of the tested antioxidant enzymes can be used as biomarkers for ecotoxicological assessment on the premise of ascertaining appropriate dosage scope, exposure duration, endpoint, etc., which can be achieved by using dose-response dynamics.

Early-activated CD8 + T cells increase both aerobic glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). However, whether and how the augmentation of OXPHOS regulates differentiation of effector CD8 + T cell remains unclear. Here, we found that C1qbp was intrinsically required for such differentiation in antiviral and antitumor immune responses. Activated C1qbp-deficient CD8 + T cells failed to increase mitochondrial respiratory capacities, resulting in diminished acetyl-coenzyme A as well as elevated fumarate and 2-hydroxyglutarate. Consequently, hypoacetylation of H3K27 and hypermethylation of H3K27 and CpG sites were associated with transcriptional down-regulation of effector signature genes. The effector differentiation of C1qbp-sufficient or C1qbp-deficient CD8 + T cells was reversed by fumarate or a combination of histone deacetylase inhibitor and acetate. Therefore, these findings identify C1qbp as a pivotal positive regulator in the differentiation of effector CD8 + T cells and highlight a metabolic-epigenetic axis in this process.

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Aim: Histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) control the lineage commitments of stem cells. However, the KDMs involved in the determination of the cardiomyogenic lineage are not fully defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of KDMs during the cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Methods: An in vitro cardiac differentiation system of mESCs with Brachyury (a mesodermal specific marker) and Flk-1 + /Cxcr4 + (dual cell surface biomarkers) selection was used. The expression profiles of KDMs during differentiation were analyzed using Q-PCR. To understand the contributions of KDMs to cardiomyogenesis, the mESCs on differentiation d 3.5 were sorted by FACS into Brachyury + cells and Brachyury -cells, and mESCs on d 5.5 were sorted into Flk-1 + /Cxcr4 + and Flk-1 -/Cxcr4 -cells. Results: mESCs were differentiated into spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes that were visible in embryoid bodies (EBs) on d 7. On d 12-14, all EBs developed spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes. Among the 16 KDMs examined, the expression levels of Phf8, Jarid1a, Jhdm1d, Utx, and Jmjd3 were increased by nearly 2-6-fold on d 14 compared with those on d 0. Brachyury + cells showed higher expression levels of Jmjd3, Jmjd2a and Jhdm1d than Brachyury -cells. A higher level of Jmjd3 was detected in Flk-1 + /Cxcr4 + cells, whereas the level of Jmjd2c was lower in both Brachyury + cells and Flk-1 + /Cxcr4 + cells. Conclusion: KDMs may play important roles during cardiomyogenesis of mESCs. Our results provide a clue for further exploring the roles of KDMs in the cardiac lineage commitment of mESCs and the potential interference of cardiomyogenesis.

Histone demethylases have emerged as key regulators of biological processes. The H3K9me2 demethylase plant homeo domain finger protein 8(PHF8), for example, is involved in neuronal differentiation, but its potential function in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to cardiomyocytes is poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of PHF8 during mesodermal and cardiac lineage commitment of mouse ESCs (mESCs). Using a phf8 knockout (ph8 -/Y ) model, we found that deletion of phf8 in ESCs did not affect self-renewal, proliferation or early ectodermal/endodermal differentiation, but it did promote the mesodermal lineage commitment with the enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation. The effects were accompanied by a reduction in apoptosis through a caspase 3-independent pathway during early ESC differentiation, without significant differences between differentiating wide-type (ph8 1/Y ) and ph8 -/Y ESCs in cell cycle progression or proliferation. Functionally, PHF8 promoted the loss of a repressive mark H3K9me2 from the transcription start site of a proapoptotic gene pmaip1 and activated its transcription. Furthermore, knockdown of pmaip1 mimicked the phenotype of ph8 -/Y by showing the decreased apoptosis during early differentiation of ESCs and promoted mesodermal and cardiac commitment, while overexpression of pmaip1 or phf8 rescued the phenotype of ph8 -/Y ESCs by increasing the apoptosis and weakening the mesodermal and cardiac differentiation. These results reveal that the histone demethylase PHF8 regulates mesodermal lineage and cell fate decisions in differentiating mESCs through epigenetic control of the gene critical to programmed cell death pathways. STEM CELLS 2016;34:1527-1540 SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEmbryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the unique ability to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, ESCs provide a unique model for the study of early embryonic development. We report here previously unrecognized effects of histone demethylase plant homeo domain finger protein 8 (PHF8) on mesodermal and early cardiac differentiation. This effect is resulted from the regulation of PHF8 on apoptosis through activating the transcription of pro-apoptotic gene pmaip1. These findings extend the knowledge in understanding of the epigenetic modification in apoptosis during ESC differentiation and of the link between apoptosis and cell lineage decision as well as cardiogenesis.