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PubMed2026

A novel neoadjuvant immunotherapy confers improved overall survival in oral cancer patients with low tumor PD-L1 expression The IT-MATTERS Clinical trial - Prognostic role of tumor PD-L1 expression.

OBJECTIVE: Five-year overall survival (OS) remains < 50% for patients with resectable, locally advanced (LA) primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and soft palate, receiving current standard of care (SOC). The aim of our study was to examine neoadjuvant Leukocyte Interleukin Injection (LI) with CIZ (intravenous low dose cyclophosphamide, indomethacin and zinc multivitamins) effect on OS, in low-risk (LR) OSCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a randomized, controlled Phase 3 trial, treatment-naïve locally advanced patients, with stage III/IVa OSCC and soft-palate cancer, had surgical tumor samples assessed for pre-defined thresholds of PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS). OS was analyzed using proportional hazard models for LI + CIZ + SOC vs SOC, in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. RESULTS: OS was superior in low risk (LR) patients receiving LI + CIZ + SOC compared to SOC; OS advantage hazard ratio (HR) 0.64, p = 0.0569 (without selecting for N0, PD-L1 TPS < 10%), and the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) lifetable achieved significance (log rank p = 0.0340) favoring LI + CIZ + SOC vs SOC. Applying the selection criteria (cN0 and TPS < 10%) to ITT, OS reached HR 0.34p = 0.0012, Kaplan-Meier log rank p = 0.0015. The ITT LR cohort (cN0 and TPS < 10%) achieved a HR 0.26 (p = 0.0023), Kaplan-Meier log rank p = 0.0013, supported by progression free survival (PFS) HR 0.43, p = 0.0178, Kaplan-Meier log rank p = 0.0431, with 32% absolute survival advantage over control at 60 months. CONCLUSIONS: Significant OS prolongation was observed in ITT population for LI + CIZ + SOC vs SOC, in LR and in ITT LR cN0, PD-L1TPS < 10% cohort having locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma tumors in oral cavity/soft-palate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01265849; EudraCT (Identifier: 2010-019952-35).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

An oxidative stress - and immunotherapy-related six-gene signature defines immune subtypes and predicts prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and the tumor immune microenvironment jointly shape hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and response to immunotherapy, yet integrated biomarkers linking these processes are lacking. METHODS: Transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to identify oxidative stress- and immunotherapyrelated differentially expressed genes (OSIRDEGs). Functional enrichment, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and LASSO-Cox regression were used to construct a prognostic signature. Consensus clustering, TIDE, CIBERSORT and ssGSEA characterized immune phenotypes. Somatic mutation, copy-number and drug-response data were integrated to assess genomic alterations and drug sensitivity. Expression of model genes was validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting in HCC cell lines. RESULTS: We identified 24 OSIRDEGs enriched in cell-cycle and mitotic pathways. WGCNA intersection yielded 18 module genes, from which a six-gene signature (BUB1B, CDKN2A, CENPE, HMMR, PTTG1, SPP1) was derived. The signature robustly stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different progression-free and disease-free survival in both TCGA-LIHC and GSE14520. Based on signature expression, two molecular subtypes were defined, exhibiting distinct survival, immune landscapes and predicted immunotherapy responsiveness. Model genes harbored recurrent alterations and showed significant correlations with anticancer agents. All six genes were upregulated at mRNA and protein levels in metastatic HCC cell lines versus normal hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We systematically explored the landscape of OSIRDEGs in HCC, and proposed a validated six-gene signature that refines prognostic stratification, delineates immunerelevant HCC subtypes and highlights candidate biomarkers for therapeutic selection and mechanistic investigation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

MET expression by immunohistochemistry as a biomarker in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

INTRODUCTION: MET (c-MET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in numerous cancers, including pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs), by promoting cell proliferation, survival, invasion and angiogenesis. Recognizing its oncogenic potential, there is significant interest in MET-targeted therapies for malignancies like pNETs, which often develop treatment resistance. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has become a practical method for detecting MET overexpression in cancers. This study evaluates MET expression in pNETs by IHC and assesses its correlation with prognostic variables and survival outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Tissue microarrays containing well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours from the gastrointestinal tract were analysed. The study included 125 pNET cores from 112 patients after application of inclusion criteria. MET expression was determined using the H-score system. Different variables were assessed for H-score distribution and cross-tables. Survival analyses were conducted based on progression-free survival and overall survival. Positive MET expression was found in 83.5% of cases. Higher MET H-scores were seen in patients with lymphovascular invasion (LVI), distant metastases and higher tumour grade (P < 0.05). When assessing different variables for higher MET H-scores, a significant association emerged at the 150-cut-off-point for LVI, perineural invasion, radiological evidence of progression and overall survival. For survival analysis, at a MET H-score threshold of 200, high MET expression was significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival (mean 8.7 versus 13.4 years, P < 0.05) and overall survival (mean 3.6 versus 7.7 years, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated MET expression is linked to adverse histopathological features and worse clinical outcomes in pNET. Standardizing MET IHC evaluation is critical as anti-MET therapies develop, and identifying patients likely to benefit from these treatments remains essential.

MET protein↗

PubMed2026

Glycaemic burden disrupts innate immunity in TB by modulating CD206 expression and macrophage antimicrobial responses.

Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) represent a growing dual global health burden, with chronic hyperglycaemia recognized as a major modifier of host immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Macrophages, central to pathogen recognition, phagocytosis, antigen presentation, and intracellular killing, may be particularly vulnerable to diabetic metabolic dysregulation. This study evaluated phenotypic and functional macrophage alterations in individuals with pulmonary TB, type 2 DM, TB-DM comorbidity, and healthy controls. Surface receptor expression was analysed by multicolour flow cytometry, while phagocytosis and intracellular bacterial clearance were assessed using FITC-labelled Mtb assays and colony-forming unit enumeration. Hyperglycaemia was associated with reduced CD11b, MARCO, and TLR2 expression alongside upregulation of the mannose receptor CD206, which correlated positively with HbA1c levels, indicating a shift toward a permissive M2-like phenotype. Phagocytic uptake of Mtb was significantly impaired and inversely correlated with HbA1c. Antigen-presenting capacity was selectively compromised, with reduced CD80 and CD86 expression in DM and TB-DM groups, while HLA-DR remained unchanged. Intracellular Mtb killing was markedly diminished in diabetic macrophages. These findings demonstrate that chronic hyperglycaemia profoundly disrupts macrophage innate immunity, contributing to increased TB susceptibility and poor infection control in diabetic populations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Identification of CD55 as a downstream factor of EP4 receptor signaling in colorectal cancer cells.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling through the E-type prostanoid 4 (EP4) receptor has been implicated in the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer (CRC). We herein identified decay-accelerating factor, also known as CD55, as a novel CRC-associated downstream factor of the EP4 receptor. The integration of transcriptomic profiling of PGE2-stimulated HCA-7 human colon cancer cells with analyses of cancer genomic databases predicted CD55 as a potential EP4 receptor-regulated target. Inhibitor-based experiments showed the induction of CD55 after a PGE2 stimulation required the EP4 receptor and Gi protein in HCA-7 cells, whereas protein kinase A signaling was dispensable. In combination with a toxicogenomic database analysis, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was identified as the predominant effector connecting the EP4 receptor to CD55 upregulation. A single-cell RNA-seq re-analysis of human CRC tissues revealed CD55 upregulation and p38 MAPK-related gene set enrichment in epithelial cells expressing the EP4 receptor, suggesting that this induction mechanism may operate in a subset of epithelial cells in clinical specimens. Collectively, these results delineate a PGE2/EP4 receptor/Gi protein/p38 MAPK signaling axis that induces CD55 expression in HCA-7 cells and epithelial tumor cells, provide new mechanistic clues for understanding the regulation of complement regulatory molecule CD55 expression by prostaglandin signaling.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Morphological changes and transcriptomic insights into skeletal development of embryos and larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius.

To explore morphological features and molecular dynamics underlying skeletogenesis in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius, we conducted combined morphological observation and comparative transcriptome analyses across representative embryonic and larval developmental stages. Morphological results showed that triradiate spicules first emerged at the gastrula stage. The 8-arm pluteus stage was identified as a key phase for skeletal remodeling, during which new three-radiate crystals transformed into complex stereoscopic ossicles including tube feet, spines and test plates. Transcriptomic data indicated that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were downregulated from the blastula to gastrula. The altered expression of basal metabolic genes and extracellular matrix genes including Colp2α and calm may be correlated with the linear mineralization of early spicules, which potentially reflects an energy adjustment pattern in developing larvae. During the transition from 6-arm to 8-arm pluteus, expression changes of calmodulin-like, Colp2α and SISin18G001660 suggest potential associations with regional calcium deposition and modifications of skeletal matrix properties. This work systematically characterizes morphological traits and transcriptional dynamics of skeletogenesis in S. intermedius. Its early spiculogenesis follows the conserved developmental pattern of echinoderms, while massive formation of stereoscopic ossicles occurs at the 8-arm pluteus stage. Stage-specific transcriptional changes across key larval skeletogenic stages are uncovered, offering transcriptomic resources for functional verification of skeletal regulatory genes.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Translating single-cell RNA sequencing into monocyte direct leukocyte subpopulation-transcript abundance assay ratio-based biomarkers (IFI27/PSAP or IFI27/CTSS) for clinical detection of viral infection.

A rapid method for triaging febrile patients by aetiology (e.g., viral or bacterial infection) using gene expression in peripheral blood (PB) is an intensively researched area. However, gene expression in blood represents a composite sum of gene expression of all the component cell types present in the sample. As a result, numerous genes are measured in most proposed signatures. Herein, we propose a simple ratio-based biomarker (RBB) called direct leukocyte subpopulation-transcript abundance assay (DIRECT LS-TA) that recapitulates gene expressions of a single cell type in PB (i.e., monocytes). Based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data and bulk expression data, IFI27 and SIGLEC1 are found as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) predominantly expressed by monocytes. The DIRECT LS-TA method can use a simple ratio of two genes measured in PB as an RBB to represent the target gene expression in monocytes without the need for monocyte purification. Both scRNAseq and bulk RNA sequencing datasets were used to evaluate the correlation between ISG expression in monocytes and PB, with a particular focus on monocyte expression of IFI27. An iceberg plot of bulk transcriptome data was used to identify genes that were predominantly expressed by monocytes in PB. DIRECT LS-TA RBBs of the three genes (IFI27, IFI44L and SIGLEC1) were evaluated by group-wise comparison, receiver operating characteristic and meta-analysis. In addition, the conventional interferon (IFN) score was evaluated for comparison of diagnostic performance. In viral infection datasets, DIRECT LS-TA of IFI27 (IFI27/PSAP or IFI27/CTSS) was most intensely activated (p value by t test <1e-9) and had the best area under the curve (0.94) among the three potential monocyte ISGs analysed. DIRECT LS-TA SIGLEC1 was also another monocyte biomarker but showed a lower activation (p<9e-5). IFI27/PSAP showed better diagnostic performance than the conventional IFN score. On the other hand, IFI44L was not a predominant monocyte expression gene. DIRECT LS-TA of IFI27 (IFI27/PSAP or IFI27/CTSS) measured in PB was the best biomarker of viral infection and IFN activation among ISGs predominantly expressed by monocytes. It performed even better than the conventional IFN score which required quantification of eight genes. The results suggest that DIRECT LS-TA of IFI27 is a monocyte-informative biomarker which is easy to determine in PB without the need for cell sorting.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive identification and evolutionary analysis of the Wnt gene family in bivalves: Insights into the larval development of the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis.

The Wnt gene family regulates fundamental developmental processes in metazoans, but its evolutionary composition and developmental deployment in bivalves remain largely unresolved. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of Wnt genes in 19 bivalve species and examined developmental expression profiles in the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis, with Crassostrea gigas and Chlamys farreri used for cross-species comparison. A total of 235 Wnt genes were identified and assigned to 12 subfamilies. No reliable Wnt3 ortholog was detected in any analyzed bivalve, supporting the view that Wnt3 loss occurred early during lophotrochozoan evolution rather than representing a lineage-specific absence. Most Wnt proteins retained the conserved WNT domain, indicating strong structural conservation, whereas lineage-specific copy-number variation and gene loss were observed among species. C. farreri and C. gigas each retained 12 Wnt genes and lacked Wnt3, whereas C. nobilis lacked Wnt3, Wnt7, and Wnt16. Developmental transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR revealed clear stage-specific expression patterns. In C. gigas, Wnt2/10/A were highly expressed during earlydevelopment and peaked around the D-shaped larval stage, while Wnt8 and Wnt11 showed distinct stage-specific peaks. By contrast, Wnt1/5/6/9 were more active during later larval development or juvenile formation. These results provide a comparative framework for bivalve Wnt evolution and identify candidate Wnt genes potentially involved in larval development and aquaculture-relevant developmental transitions.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into the molecular mechanism of antifouling agent-induced settlement inhibition in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.

Marine biofouling remains a persistent challenge to maritime industries and marine ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we systematically evaluated the acute toxicity, settlement inhibitory efficacy, and underlying molecular mechanisms of an N-oleyl-1,3-propanediamine-based antifouling agent using pediveliger larvae of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. The 96 h-LC50 of the agent was determined to be 0.81 mg/L, and exposure to 1.68 mg/L achieved complete larval settlement inhibition without inducing significant acute toxicity. Transcriptomic analysis identified 791 differentially expressed genes, dominated by downregulated genes associated with ribosomal function, translation, cell adhesion, and cytoskeletal organization. The agent exerts its inhibitory effect primarily through the global suppression of protein synthesis, disruption of cell-substrate adhesion and cytoskeletal integrity, and induction of proteotoxic stress responses. These findings reveal a multi-pathway molecular mechanism underlying antifouling agent-induced settlement inhibition in oyster larvae and provide key molecular biomarkers to support the development of eco-friendly antifouling technologies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of Mytilus edulis attachment by biofouling control agents.

This study combined acute toxicity assays, phenotypic quantification, and transcriptomic profiling to systematically investigate the inhibitory effects and molecular regulatory mechanisms of a novel alkylamine-based antifouling agent on survival, byssus secretion, and attachment behavior of juvenile Mytilus edulis. The 96 h-LC50 of the agent to juvenile M. edulis was 8.84 mg/L, and 10 mg/L of the agent completely inhibited mussel attachment within 24 h, significantly reducing byssal thread number, length, and diameter while increasing detachment frequency, resulting in irreversible attachment failure. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2746 differentially expressed genes, which were mainly enriched in pathways including signal transduction, immune defense, stress response, cytoskeleton organization, and protein binding. KEGG and GSEA enrichment revealed that the antifouling agent activated the MAPK stress signaling pathway, disturbed transcriptional regulation, and impaired intracellular homeostasis and cytoskeletal stability, thereby synergistically suppressing the expression of key byssal protein genes including mfp-1 and mfp-3 and ultimately blocking byssus synthesis and adhesion. This study clarifies the multi-pathway molecular mechanism underlying antifouling agent-induced attachment inhibition in M. edulis, and provides core molecular targets and theoretical support for developing efficient, specific antifouling activity, and potentially applicable marine antifouling technologies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic responses to developmental temperature in two field-collected Spodoptera exigua populations from Korea.

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is a polyphagous insect whose development and seasonal occurrence are strongly influenced by temperature. However, transcriptomic responses to developmental thermal regimes remain insufficiently characterized in field-collected populations. In this study, we compared two Korean field-collected populations of S. exigua: a Haenam population collected in May and initially maintained at 15 ± 1 °C (HN), and a Jeju population collected in July and initially maintained at 27 ± 1 °C (JJ). F1 larvae from each population were reared under three fluctuating developmental temperature regimes: low (15-21 °C), middle (21-27 °C), and high (27-33 °C), followed by RNA-seq analysis. Differential expression analysis revealed population-associated variation in transcriptomic responses across developmental temperatures. HN exhibited a larger number of differentially expressed genes under the high-temperature regime, suggesting stronger transcriptomic sensitivity to elevated developmental temperature. Functional enrichment analyses identified population-associated differences in pathways related to heat response, oxidative metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, cuticle-associated processes, lipid metabolism, and immune-related functions. In JJ, heat-response and cuticle-related expression patterns were more prominent under warmer developmental conditions, whereas HN showed broader changes in stress- and metabolism-associated pathways under high temperature. Overall, this study provides a comparative transcriptomic analysis of two field-collected S. exigua populations under different developmental temperature regimes and identifies RNA-seq-based molecular response patterns associated with population-specific thermal response profiles.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Insights into the regulation of the HOTAIR proximal promoter.

HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) is a HOXC-cluster long intervening non-coding RNA (lincRNA) whose cancer relevance is tightly coupled to how its transcription is wired into hormone, hypoxia, inflammatory, and developmental signaling. HOTAIR is known to associate with cancer cell proliferation, motility, tumor invasion, and metastasis. The present mini-review focuses on the regulatory architecture and mechanistic complexity of HOTAIR transcriptional regulation, with emphasis on three organizing principles. First, we consider the impact of promoter choice between a canonical proximal promoter (P1), which supports the 2.2-2.4 kb transcript, and an alternative upstream promoter/TSS (P2), which contributes to context-dependent transcription initiation. Second, we examine the long-distance enhancer-promoter communication between HOTAIR distal enhancer and P1/P2. Third, we summarize the recent epigenetic and epi-transcriptomic mechanisms involved in HOTAIR transcript initiation and elongation. A combination of these events determines isoform-specific transcription to govern cell-type-, context-, and cancer specific modulation of HOTAIR expression that promotes tumor formation and cancer progression. Finally, the review proposes how large-scale RNA datasets, long-read sequencing, and isoform-specific studies can refine our understanding of this versatile lincRNA's regulation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Epigenetics and In Silico Transcriptome Analysis of Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy that accounts for about 15%-20% of childhood leukemias. Despite therapeutic advances, relapses remain common, and survival for high-risk patients is below 60%. Unlike adult AML, pediatric AML displays distinct genetic mutations, including FLT3-ITD, NPM1, KMT2A rearrangements, and core-binding factors (CBF) fusions, as well as extensive epigenetic dysregulation. Aberrant DNA methylation, histone modifications, and altered non-coding RNA expressions disrupt hematopoietic differentiation and activate oncogenic transcriptional networks. Recent advances in silico transcriptomic analysis have transformed the study of pediatric AML by integrating gene expression and epigenetic data to identify molecular drivers and regulatory networks. Computational RNA-seq pipelines and pathway analyses have highlighted key epigenetic regulators, including DNMT3A, TET2, and HDACs, as potential therapeutic targets. Multi-omics approaches combining transcriptomic, methylomic, and chromatin accessibility data are increasingly used to define biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular and epigenetic landscape of pediatric AML, emphasizing the power of in silico transcriptome analysis to uncover disease mechanisms, refine patient stratification, and guide the development of precision-based epigenetic therapies aimed at improving long-term outcomes in children with AML.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrated miRNA-mRNA profiling reveals candidate regulatory relationships associated with high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition in black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii).

High-fat diets are increasingly used in aquaculture due to their protein-sparing effects; however, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of fish muscle in response to high-fat diets (HFD) remain unclear. In this study, juvenile black seabream were fed either a normal-fat diet (NFD) or a HFD to investigate the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with diet-induced muscle lipid deposition. Oil Red O staining and biochemical analysis showed that high-fat diet feeding markedly increased lipid droplet accumulation and crude lipid content in muscle, indicating significant induction of muscle lipid deposition. Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling revealed substantial transcriptomic and post-transcriptional responses to high-fat diet challenge. A total of 271 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 120 upregulated and 151 downregulated genes. Through combined target prediction and expression correlation analysis, thirteen candidate inverse miRNA-mRNA relationships were subsequently identified, and RT-qPCR supported the expression patterns of selected miRNAs and mRNAs. These pairs included miR-499-x-dmgdh, miR-499-y-gatm, miR-727-y-ass1, miR-4649-x-foxo4, miR-9129-z-myl7, and several novel miRNA-mediated interactions involving adk, chst11, lypla2, frem2, kcnc4, wars1, bag2, and capn2. Functional analysis suggested that these regulatory pairs were mainly associated with metabolic adaptation, structural remodeling, and cellular stress responses. In particular, gatm, dmgdh, ass1, and adk were associated with energy metabolism-related processes, including pathways previously linked to Ampk regulation, whereas myl7, frem2, and kcnc4 may contribute to muscle structural maintenance and excitability regulation. Overall, this study provides candidate miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships potentially involved in high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition and adaptive remodeling in black seabream, offering a basis for future functional studies on muscle metabolism and quality regulation in marine fish.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Addressing lignin composition and content via Arabidopsis arogenate dehydratase knockout and over-expression genotypes.

Following the down-selection of 14 Arabidopsis thaliana arogenate dehydratase (ADT) knockout and over-expression (OE) genotypes, the most highly contrasting quadruple knockout adt3/4/5/6 and ADT OE genotypes were subjected to proteomics, metabolomics, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses as needed, with results compared to Columbia wild-type (WT). The basal adt3/4/5/6 stem cross-sections, ∼70% lignin content reduced, exhibited buckled vessel cell walls and partially detached xylary fibers, in contrast to WT and ADT4m/5 m OE genotypes that did not. Anatomical defects primarily resulted from guaiacyl lignin level reductions in vessels with concomitant increased stem syringyl:guaiacyl (S/G) ratios. Phenylpropanoid and various upstream shikimate-chorismate pathway enzyme abundances, as well as specific monolignol oxidases (laccases/peroxidases), generally increased in adt3/4/5/6 at different stem and rosette leaf growth/development stages, relative to WT. Opposite effects were largely observed with the ADT5m OE genotype. By contrast, flavonoid and glucosinolate pathway enzyme amounts varied. Such enzyme abundance increases were overall unproductive as adt3/4/5/6 was unable to restore WT, ADT4 OE, ADT5 OE, ADT5m OE, and ADT4m/5 m OE secondary metabolite (lignin, phenylpropanoid, lignan, flavonoid, phenolic acid, and glucosinolate) levels. Conversely, ADT OE genotypes did not significantly increase programmed lignin levels or alter S/G compositions. In sum, proteomics analyses of adt3/4/5/6 and adt5 'perceived' that lignin and low molecular weight secondary metabolite amounts were not at 'programmed' levels as for WT and ADT OE genotypes but observed increases in relevant pathway protein abundances were futile. Notably though, proteomics analyses did not lead to predicting that lignin and associated biochemical pathways would have reduced metabolite levels, relative to WT and ADT OE genotypes. Genotype adt3/4/5/6, possibly the highest lignin level reduced genotype reported, did not utilize other phenolics to compensate. By contrast, the differential temporal and spatial deposition of cell wall oxidases again indicate the exquisite control over lignin deposition, and our lack of knowledge of precise lignin structure and assembly in subcellular regions of the lignified cell walls.

Lignin↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide analysis of the plant-specific PLATZ gene family in Taraxacum kok-saghyz and its roles in response to drought and salt tolerance.

Abiotic stress severely limits plant growth and productivity. Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS), known for its environmental resilience, represents a valuable resource for identifying stress-tolerant genes to improve stress-adaptive crops. Plant AT-rich protein and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) transcription factors serve as core regulators of plant growth, developmental processes, and adaptive responses to various stress conditions; however, they remain uncharacterized in TKS. Here, we identified 10 TksPLATZ genes through a whole-genome analysis. Phylogenetically, these genes were grouped into five distinct evolutionary branches. Promoter sequence analysis revealed multiple types of cis-acting regulatory elements that are connected with hormonal signal responses and environmental stress adaptation. Integrated analysis of transcriptome datasets and RT-qPCR validation demonstrated that TksPLATZ genes display tissue-specific expression profiles and show distinct responsive patterns to drought and salt stress treatments. Among them, TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 were markedly induced under both stressors and were selected for further functional study. We demonstrated that TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 localize to the cell nucleus and act as transcriptional activators and repressors, respectively. Phenotypic data from overexpression experiments in plants confirm that heterologous expression of TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2, and TksPLATZ7 enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis to salt and osmotic stress. These findings provide valuable genetic resources for improving plant tolerance to environmental stresses.

Salt Tolerance↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification of the peanut HD-Zip gene family and AhHDZ15 positively regulating salt and drought stress in heterologously overexpressed Arabidopsis.

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, bioinformatic analyses and functional studies of HD-Zip family in peanut are scarce. In this study, 128 AhHDZ genes were identified and classified into four subfamilies in the phylogenetic analysis. Transcriptomic data and RT-qPCR analysis indicated the expression levels of AhHDZ4 and AhHDZ15 were significantly elevated in response to 12 h of salt stress, while AhHDZ4/15/60/69/126 all showed a progressive increase over time in response to drought stress. AhHDZ15 protein was localized in the nucleus. Under salt and drought stress, the germination rates of AhHDZ15-overexpressing in Arabidopsis were significantly higher than wild-type (WT), and root lengths were also significantly longer than WT. In addition, the SOD, CAT, chlorophyll content, and Relative Leaf Water Content (RLWC) value of leaves in AhHDZ15-overexpressing lines were significantly higher than WT, while the MDA content was significantly lower than WT. The above results indicate that heterologous overexpression of AhHDZ15 enhanced salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, AhHDZ15 could bind to the L1-box element of the AhVNI2 promoter, thereby activating AhVNI2 transcription and enhancing the expression of downstream salt stress-responsive genes. These findings implies a potential function of AhHDZ15 in peanut that requires further validation.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive analysis suggests CRIF1 is a potential target in breast cancer associated with prognosis and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: CRIF1 is a multifunctional factor that regulates cell biological processes such as the cell cycle, cell proliferation, and energy metabolism, and it is a new molecule that contributes to the poor prognosis of many malignancies. However, its involvement in breast cancer development is not fully known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the relationship between CRIF1 expression, prognosis, and clinical characteristics using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-BRCA). The relationship between CRIF1 expression and the immunological microenvironment was investigated using CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE. Breast tissue and CRIF1 expression were validated by IHC. A tiny interfering plasmid was designed to transiently transfect breast cancer cell lines, and proliferation-related functional tests were carried out. The effect of sh CRIF1 on tumor formation was confirmed using a subcutaneous tumor experiment in naked mice. RESULTS: We discovered that CRIF1 was highly elevated in breast cancer tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. CRIF1 stimulates breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Knockdown decreased PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which boosted autophagy activity. Immune infiltration research revealed that patients with high CRIF1 expression had higher CD8+ T cell expression but reduced macrophage M2 expression. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of CRIF1 in breast cancer cells enhances malignant behavior, which may be mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and is linked to cellular autophagy.

Humans↗