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The HOXA gene cluster: a critical regulator in bone-related disorders.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal homeostasis relies on the dynamic balance between bone formation and bone resorption. The disruption of this balance acts as the central pathological mechanism of multiple metabolic bone diseases including osteoporosis, and is closely correlated with the progression of various other bone-related disorders. As pivotal transcription factors regulating embryonic development and cell fate, the homeobox A (HOXA) gene family plays an essential role in skeletal physiological and pathological processes. METHODS: This review systematically summarizes recent research advances of the HOXA gene family in bone-related diseases, concludes the evolutionarily conserved regulatory patterns of HOXA members, and clarifies the molecular mechanisms by which HOXA genes mediate bone metabolic disorders and the occurrence as well as development of bone diseases. RESULTS: Accumulating evidence demonstrates that HOXA family members present complex functions and strong heterogeneity in bone-related diseases. They participate in the pathogenesis of bone diseases via three evolutionarily conserved regulatory manners: determining regional patterning, modulating signaling pathways, and integrating epigenetic and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulatory networks. CONCLUSION: Further exploring the underlying mechanisms of the HOXA family in bone-related diseases provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of bone disorders. Meanwhile, it also supplies solid theoretical basis and potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel HOXA-targeted therapeutic strategies against bone diseases.

Humans

The glucagon and GLP-1 receptor dual agonist DD01 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and steatohepatitis (DD01-DN-02): 12-week results from a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a major public health problem arising in the context of metabolic syndrome and obesity. DD01 is a liver-targeted GLP-1 receptor and glucagon dual agonist being investigated for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and MASH. The DD01-DN-02 trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DD01 in adults with MASLD or MASH; this initial analysis reports prespecified 12-week outcomes to assess early hepatic effects. METHODS: DD01-DN-02 is an ongoing, randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial conducted at 12 outpatient clinical sites in the USA. Adults aged 18-70 years with obesity or who were overweight (BMI &#x2265;25 kg/m2) were included in the study. Patients with MASLD or MASH underwent liver biopsy and MRI-proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and were eligible if liver fat content was 10% or higher with metabolic risk factors, or if the biopsy confirmed MASH with a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score of at least 4. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive once-weekly subcutaneous DD01 40 mg or matched placebo over 48 weeks, dose-escalated over 2 weeks, using a centrally administered interactive response technology system. The randomisation sequence was computer-generated by an independent statistician. Participants, investigators, study staff, outcome assessors, and the sponsor were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants having at least a 30% relative reduction in liver fat by MRI-PDFF at week 12, which was analysed in all randomly assigned participants receiving at least one dose of study drug or placebo. Safety analyses included all participants who received at least one dose of study drug. Missing primary endpoint data were handled using multiple imputation under a missing-at-random assumption. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06410924) and is ongoing but closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between June 13, 2024, and Jan 30, 2025, 67 eligible participants were enrolled, of whom 33 were randomly assigned to DD01 and 34 to placebo. The mean age of participants was 48&#xb7;4 years (SD 10&#xb7;6), 42 (63%) were female, 25 (37%) were male, 57 (85%) were White, and 52 (78%) participants had biopsy-confirmed MASH. At week 12, 25 (76%) of 33 participants receiving DD01 had a 30% or higher reduction in liver fat versus four (12%) of 34 participants receiving placebo (adjusted common odds ratio 28&#xb7;8 [95% CI 7&#xb7;2-115&#xb7;2]; adjusted relative risk 6&#xb7;3 [95% CI 2&#xb7;5-15&#xb7;9]; p<0&#xb7;0001). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 28 (85%) of 33 participants receiving DD01 and 23 (68%) of 34 participants receiving placebo. The most common adverse events were nausea (18 [55%] of 33 participants assigned DD01; six [18%] of 34 participants assigned placebo), diarrhoea (nine [27%] of 33; six [18%] of 34), and vomiting (ten [30%] of 33; four [12%] of 34). Treatment-emergent adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in four (12%) of 33 participants in the DD01 group and one (3%) of 34 participants in the placebo group. Two (6%) treatment-emergent serious adverse events occurred in the DD01 group (abdominal pain and acute cholecystitis) and zero in the placebo group. No deaths occurred. INTERPRETATION: In this prespecified 12-week primary analysis, DD01 produced rapid reductions in liver fat compared with placebo, supporting further evaluation in long-term studies. FUNDING: D&D Pharmatech, Neuraly.

Humans

Bacteroides cellulosilyticus-derived 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid rectifies hepatic lipid homeostasis in MASLD by targeting the PPAR&#x3b3;-CD36 axis.

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but the specific molecular mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. In this study, human cohort studies were performed to identify that the relative abundance of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus (B. cellulosilyticus) was significantly decreased in patients with MASLD. Through the integration of metagenomic and metabolomic analyses, it was confirmed that B. cellulosilyticus and its metabolite 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (2HPAA) are key factors regulating the occurrence and development of MASLD. Single-cell sequencing and lipidomic analyses revealed that 2HPAA can enter the liver through the enterohepatic circulation to exert regulatory effects. Specifically, 2HPAA inhibits the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &#x3b3; (PPAR&#x3b3;) signaling pathway, thereby suppressing the expression of the fatty acid transporter CD36. Meanwhile, 2HPAA regulates lipid metabolism in hepatocytes by significantly enhancing palmitate conversion efficiency and inhibiting CD36 palmitoylation. This dual regulatory effect on CD36 expression and palmitoylation can reduce lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and ultimately alleviate MASLD progression. These findings reveal the mechanism by which B. cellulosilyticus and 2HPAA alleviate MASLD by targeting the PPAR&#x3b3;-CD36 pathway. This work provides a new perspective for the study of gut microbiota-host interactions in regulating liver diseases.

PPAR gamma

Muscular fiber properties and multi-omics investigation of larval and adult locomotor muscle in Microhyla fissipes.

During metamorphosis, Microhyla fissipes undergoes a critical transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle, accompanied by significant remodeling of skeletal muscle. Notably, larval tail muscle degenerates, while adult hindlimb muscle develops. However, the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate these muscle type-specific adaptations to the changing environment remain unclear. In this study, histological observation, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were integrated to compare locomotor muscles from two stages: larval muscle from tail versus adult muscle from hindlimb. Our results revealed that adult muscle fibers exhibited reduced diameter and shorter sarcomere length compared to those of tadpoles. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4103 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 2182 up-regulated and 1921 down-regulated genes. Up-regulated genes were mainly involved in energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis pathways, including PPAR signaling and oxidative phosphorylation, whereas down-regulated genes were associated with carbohydrate metabolism and cell proliferation pathways, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and PI3K-Akt signaling. Metabolic profiling indicated a metabolic shift from anaerobic to aerobic energy production, with 57 differential metabolites identified, mainly involved in protein metabolism and insulin-related pathways. Integrated multi-omics analysis further highlighted the AMPK and FoxO signaling pathways play key roles in this process. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the metabolic and structural differences between larval and adult skeletal muscles are mediated by AMPK- and FoxO-dependent signaling pathways, providing novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive development and locomotor transition in anuran amphibians.

Animals

Evolutionary characterization and expression profiling of ACC and FASN genes in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) are rate-limiting enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, yet their evolutionary relationships, sequence features, and expression profiles remain poorly understood in crustaceans, particularly in the economically important Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Here, we identified and systematically analyzed ACC and FASN genes in E. sinensis using comparative genomic analyses across 43 species. ACC was highly conserved as a single-copy gene in invertebrates, in contrast to the multiple paralogs observed in vertebrates. Similarly, FASN was generally maintained as a single-copy gene across most taxa but exhibited lineage-specific expansion in certain insect groups. Phylogenetic and structural analysis revealed strong conservation of both genes within crustaceans, supported by multiple conserved motifs and canonical functional domains. Expression profiling showed predominant expression in the hepatopancreas and midgut, suggesting their potential involvement in crustacean lipid metabolism. During the molting cycle, ACC and FASN exhibited higher expression levels during stages C and D, suggesting an increased capacity for fatty acid biosynthesis before molting. In addition, dietary lipid levels experiment revealed that ACC and FASN expression responded dynamically to dietary lipid availability, with increased expression at moderate lipid levels but reduced expression under excessive lipid supplementation, indicating a possible adaptive transcriptional response to lipid status. Collectively, this study provides insights into the evolutionary conservation and expression dynamics of ACC and FASN and improves our understanding of lipid metabolic adaptation in crustaceans.

Animals

Association between hepatic steatosis index and female infertility: a cross-sectional study using NHANES 2013-2018.

Female infertility is a major reproductive health concern. Hepatic steatosis index (HSI), a non-invasive marker of liver-related metabolic burden, has not been well studied in relation to infertility across its distribution. We analyzed women aged 20-49 years from three NHANES cycles (2013-2018). HSI was examined as both a continuous variable and in quartiles, and restricted cubic spline models were used to assess potential nonlinearity. Sensitivity analyses using alternative infertility definitions and exploratory interaction analyses were also performed. Among 3,007 women, 416 (13.8%) were classified as having infertility. In the fully adjusted model, women in the highest HSI quartile had higher odds of infertility than those in the lowest quartile (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08-2.57; P = 0.031), with a significant trend across quartiles (P for trend = 0.010). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear association between HSI and infertility (P for overall association = 0.005), which was more evident at higher HSI levels. Higher HSI was associated with greater odds of infertility among reproductive-aged women.

Humans

Strategy for enhanced production of A40926B0 in Nonomuraea gerenzanensis using an efficient CRISPR/AsCas12f1 system.

The global emergence of vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive pathogens underscores the urgent need for efficient production of novel lipoglycopeptide antibiotics. Dalbavancin, a last-resort therapeutic agent, relies on its key biosynthetic precursor A40926B0, whose industrial manufacture is severely limited by the low yield of wild-type Nonomuraea gerenzanensis and inefficient genetic tools for this rare actinomycete. Here, we developed a high-efficiency CRISPR/AsCas12f1 genome editing system and applied systematic metabolic engineering to boost A40926B0 biosynthesis. First, conjugation conditions were optimized to elevate the transfer efficiency in N. gerenzanensis D11. The hypercompact AsCas12f1 nuclease showed markedly lower cytotoxicity than SpCas9 and enabled 100% gene deletion efficiency with preferred PAMs (TTTG, CTTG, GTTG). Second, we strengthened the shikimate pathway via multiple genetic strategies: overexpressing feedback-resistant DAHP synthase (aroG fbr ) and chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydrogenase (tyrA fbr ), as well as knocking out pheA. This manipulation blocks the phenylalanine synthetic branch and redirects metabolic flux toward the l-tyrosine branch. Third, we engineered the branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) pathway via promoter replacement of bkdA2B2C2, LipAB, fabF and deletion of acdH to enhance isododecanoyl side-chain supply. The combinatorial engineering yielded strain B-13, which produced 1740&#x202f;mg/L A40926B0 in shake flasks. Finally, 50-L fed-batch fermentation with continuous maltodextrin feeding further increased the titer to 1817&#x202f;mg/L, the highest reported titer to date. This work establishes a robust CRISPR editing tool for N. gerenzanensis and provides valuable engineering references for precursor-oriented strain improvement targeting lipoglycopeptide antibiotics, offering insights for the industrial scale production of A40926B0.

A40926B0

Molecular mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation of molting in the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis): A transcriptomic analysis based on eyestalk ablation model.

Molting disability severely restricts the sustainable aquaculture of the Chinese mitten crab, yet the neuroendocrine mechanisms coordinating physiological responses remain poorly understood. Using unilateral eyestalk ablation to remove the primary source of molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), we performed time-resolved transcriptomic profiling of the thoracic ganglion at 24&#xa0;h (early premolt) and 48&#xa0;h (ecdysis) post-ablation. We identified 2825 differentially expressed genes and uncovered a biphasic molecular response. At 24&#xa0;h, the thoracic ganglion activates pathways associated with neuromuscular adaptation, oxidative stress, and cardiac muscle contraction. Notably, the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway is selectively rewired: cytochrome P450 &#x3c9;-hydroxylases (CYP2J2, CYP4V2) are upregulated, while competing branches (epoxide hydrolase, cyclooxygenase) are suppressed, promoting local synthesis of the potent vasoconstrictor 20-HETE within the thoracic ganglion. This enzymatic switch provides a mechanistic link between MIH withdrawal and the local generation of elevated hemolymph pressure required for molting. By 48&#xa0;h, the transcriptional program shifts toward chitin-based extracellular matrix remodeling, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and synaptic reorganization. Collectively, our findings redefine the thoracic ganglion as an active neuroendocrine integrator that translates reduced MIH signaling into phased physiological outputs, revealing a "neuro-endocrine-hemolymph pressure" regulatory axis. This study provides novel molecular targets (e.g., CYP2J2, CHS1, UGCG) for mitigating molting disability in E. sinensis aquaculture.

Animals

Extreme Temperature and Incident Diabetes Risk Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: A National Longitudinal Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The metabolic consequences of extreme temperature exposure in nondiabetic populations remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine associations between heatwave and coldwave exposure and incident diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. METHODS: A total of 1803 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study participants aged &#x2265;45 years with normoglycemia at baseline were followed from Wave 1 (2011) to Wave 3 (2015). Eighteen extreme-temperature indicators were derived from city-level fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts atmospheric reanalysis data. Outcomes were classified according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) were pooled across five imputed datasets, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (&#x3b1; = 0.0028) and sensitivity analysis adjusting for individual follow-up duration. RESULTS: All nine heatwave indicators showed odds ratios (ORs) < 1.0 for DM and IGT. HT9 (&#x2265;97.5th percentile, &#x2265;4 consecutive days) was the sole Bonferroni-significant result: OR = 0.845 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.802-0.890). Coldwave indicators showed no consistent associations. Age significantly modified the HT9 effect (P-interaction = 0.004): adults aged 65-84 showed a stronger inverse association (OR = 0.616) than those aged < 65 (OR = 0.921). CONCLUSION: Prolonged heatwave exposure was consistently associated with reduced diabetes risk, with pronounced age heterogeneity. Replication in larger prospective studies is warranted.

Humans

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of HSD3B and SDR42E1 genes in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): potential associations with gonadal development.

Sex steroids are lipid-soluble signaling molecules that regulate sex differentiation, reproductive development and physiological homeostasis in animals. 3&#x3b2;-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/&#x394;5-&#x394;4 isomerase (3&#x3b2;-HSD) is a key steroidogenic enzyme, whereas SDR42E1, an extended short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase, has been implicated in sterol- and steroid-related metabolism. However, the composition, evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the HSD3B- and SDR42E1-related genes in bivalve gonadal development remain poorly characterized. In this study, five PF01073-containing genes, comprising three CgHsd3b and two CgSdr42e1 genes, were identified in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Phylogenetic analysis separated the proteins into HSD3B-related and SDR42E1-related groups, and gene-structure and motif analyses indicated subfamily-level divergence. All five proteins retained the SDR domain but differed in exon-intron structure and motif composition. Each contained the extended-SDR TGxxGxxG motif, whereas exact classical [ST]GxxxGxG and NNAG motifs were absent. Tyr- and Lys-equivalent residues were conserved, while the HSD3B1 Ser-equivalent position contained Thr in two C. gigas proteins and Ser in one. These features support their classification as extended-SDR proteins but do not establish enzymatic activity or substrate specificity. The three CgHsd3b genes were dispersed on one chromosome, whereas CgSdr42e1-1 and CgSdr42e1-2 were adjacent on another chromosome, suggesting a possible local duplication event for the CgSdr42e1 pair. Public RNA-seq data showed distinct tissue- and gonadal-stage expression patterns, with several genes displaying gonad-biased or female-stage-associated expression. Independent RT-qPCR profiling of the representative genes CgHsd3b-3 and CgSdr42e1-1 detected stage-dependent expression, although tissue rankings differed from those in the public RNA-seq datasets. These differences may reflect the use of independent biological samples, tissue composition, normalization procedures, and platform-specific measurements. Because enzymatic assays, metabolite measurements, cellular localization, and functional perturbation were not performed, the results identify candidate genes whose expression is associated with gonadal development rather than demonstrating regulatory roles. This study provides a comparative framework for future functional investigation of sterol- and steroid-related metabolism in bivalves.

Animals

Effects of faba bean-based crisping culture on phenotypic characteristics, muscle quality, and serum metabolome in Nile tilapia: Screening biomarkers to assess the degree of crisping.

Feeding Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) a faba bean-based crisping diet enhances muscle hardness (crispness) and overall flesh quality. However, the underlying mechanisms and reliable biomarkers remain insufficiently defined. This study integrated phenotypic traits, muscle texture, collagen content, serum antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px), MDA levels, and serum metabolomics to understand the determinants of muscle crisping. Fish were assigned to a crisping diet or a control group for 90&#xa0;days. Individuals in the crisping group were implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to enable correlation analyses among phenotypic traits (body weight/length/frame changes), serum indicators (NAM, FAD, and GSH-Px) and muscle hardness. Compared with controls, the crisping diet significantly increased muscle hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, accompanied by elevated collagen content. Antioxidant profiles were altered, with higher activities of serum SOD and CAT, together with elevated MDA levels and reduced GSH-Px activity (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 830 differential metabolites (682 upregulated and 148 downregulated), predominantly comprising carboxylic acids and derivatives, glycerophospholipids, and benzene derivatives. Enrichment analysis indicated significant involvement in general metabolic pathways, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). Notably, acetylpyruvate was upregulated in glutathione metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and galactose metabolism; pantothenic acid was upregulated in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; whereas &#x3b4;-tocotrienol was downregulated. Correlation analysis revealed weak negative associations between muscle hardness and phenotypic traits (body weight/length/frame changes D5-7, D5-10, D7-8) (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). In contrast, serum NAM and FAD were weakly positively correlated with muscle hardness, whereas GSH-Px showed a weak negative correlation (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). Collectively, these findings suggest that body weight, body length, frame measurements (D5-7, D5-10, and D7-8), and serum NAM, FAD, and GSH-Px are associated with the degree of muscle crispness in Nile tilapia fed a faba bean-based crisping diet and may serve as candidate biomarkers under these culture conditions.

Animals

Correlative analysis of endogenous miRNA expression profiles underlying brown planthopper adaptation to resistant rice.

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens St&#xe5;l, BPH) is a major insect pest threatening global rice production. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of BPH populations with different virulence levels to resistant rice cultivars remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators, play critical roles in host adaptation in herbivorous insects. In this study, we analyzed the miRNA expression profiles of a high-virulent population (IR56p) and a low-virulence population (TN1p) after feeding on susceptible (TN1) and resistant (IR56) rice cultivars. Our findings reveal distinct miRNA-mediated regulatory strategies employed by the two populations. The IR56p population showed downregulation of miRNAs including miR-10, miR-124, and miR-316, showing an inverse correlation with increased expression of predicted target genes involved in detoxification (carboxylesterase, UDP-glycosyltransferase) and effector function (calmodulin). In contrast, several miRNAs highly expressed in IR56p, including miR-307, miR-317, and miR-275, were predicted to target rice genes associated with hormone signaling, cell wall biosynthesis, and oxidative homeostasis, suggesting a possible but unproven inter-species regulatory role that requires functional validation. Collectively, these descriptive and correlative findings provide hypothesis generating insights into insect-plant coevolution and identifies candidate molecular targets for future functional validation and RNA interference-based pest management strategies.

Animals

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the gills and hepatopancreas of freshwater-cultured Litopenaeus vannamei under chronic nitrite stress.

To investigate the differences in molecular responses between the gills and hepatopancreas of freshwater-cultured Litopenaeus vannamei under chronic nitrite stress, a 30-day chronic stress experiment was conducted with a control group and a stress group. Transcriptomic analysis of the gills and hepatopancreas was performed using Illumina sequencing; differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and GO, KEGG, GSEA, PPI, and RT-qPCR validation were carried out. The results showed that 196 DEGs (161 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated) were identified in the gills, and 287 DEGs (199 up-regulated and 88 down-regulated) in the hepatopancreas, with only 18 DEGs shared between the two tissues. DEGs in the gills were enriched in oxidoreductase activity, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism; DEGs in the hepatopancreas were enriched in lipid transporter activity, phagosome, ECM-receptor interaction, and riboflavin metabolism. GSEA revealed significant suppression of the mTOR pathway in the gills and the Polycomb complex pathway in the hepatopancreas. PPI network analysis identified hub genes P5CS and eEF2 in the gills, and PER, TUBB1, SHMT, and TUBB4B in the hepatopancreas. RT-qPCR validation was consistent with the RNA-seq results (R2&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.764). This study indicates that, under chronic nitrite stress, the gill response is centered on redox regulation and inhibition of growth metabolism, whereas the hepatopancreas response primarily involves lipid transport, cytoskeletal remodeling, and phagosome activation. The two tissues synergistically adapt through fundamental biosynthetic and motor protein pathways. This research provides molecular evidence for deciphering the nitrite tolerance mechanisms in freshwater-cultured shrimp.

Animals

Sea urchin co-culture boosts abalone growth by reducing environmental stress and remodeling gut microbiota.

Biofouling and microenvironmental deterioration are major bottlenecks restricting the intensive aquaculture of Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). While co-culturing offers an eco-friendly mitigation strategy, the underlying mechanisms promoting abalone growth remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the growth performance of H. d. hannai co-cultured with varying densities of the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius). By employing transcriptome and 16S rRNA sequencing of the abalone gut, we investigated the synergistic responses of host gene expression and gut microbiota. Compared with the monoculture group, the co-culture groups showed significantly less biofouling and greater growth of abalone, with the co-culture (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;15) exhibiting the best outcomes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1444, 760, and 508 DEGs in G5, G10, and G15, respectively, compared with G0. These DEGs were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and sterol metabolism, indicating a shift in intestinal energy metabolism from stress defense toward growth under co-culture conditions. Gut microbiota profiling identified Proteobacteria and Firmicutes as the dominant phyla, with specific functional taxa (e.g., Psychrilyobacter and Akkermansia) enriched in a density-dependent manner. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated that growth traits positively correlated with growth-promoting taxa (e.g., the unclassified AB1 lineage), but negatively correlated with potentially opportunistic taxa (e.g., Tabrizicola). These findings provide insights into a potential synergistic mechanism of "environmental stress alleviation-metabolic reprogramming-microecological remodeling" driving abalone growth, providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing co-culture systems and developing growth-associated biomarkers.

Animals

Unveiling the molecular basis of gonadal development: Multi-omics uncovers sex-related genes and steroid pathways in Sinonovacula constricta.

The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta is an economically important cultured mollusk in China, but the molecular mechanism of its gonadal development and sexual differentiation remains unclear. This study integrated gonadal transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analysis to identify key sex-related molecules. Transcriptome analysis identified 2795 DELs and 6497 DEGs between sexes, including the sex-related genes Fem-1b, Fem-1c, GUCY1B2 and FAT4, as well as a regulatory network of 39 lncRNA-mRNA pairs involving Tektin-4, Ropporin-1, Histone H1, and FoxN4. Proteomic analysis revealed 3217 DEPs: Tektin family members, Ropporin-1 and Tssk proteins were upregulated in the testis, while histone H1 and FAT4 were upregulated in the ovary. Metabolomic analysis detected 409 DEMs, with uridine identified as a potential sex differential marker (upregulated in the ovary), and 23 gonadal development-related DEMs showed sex-specific upregulation. Integrative transcriptome-proteome analysis identified 1543 co-expressed DEGs/DEPs enriched in nucleosome assembly, oxidative phosphorylation, and carbon metabolism, including key sex-related genes AKAP14, Tektin/Tssk families, Histone H1, and FAT4. Transcriptome-metabolome integration identified 32 shared KEGG pathways (e.g., biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, pyrimidine metabolism), while proteome-metabolome integration revealed 5 (positive ion) and 6 (negative ion) co-enriched pathways, with alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation being functionally relevant to gonadal development. Collectively, these results reveal the molecular basis of gonadal development, highlight critical sex-related genes and steroid metabolic pathways, and provide valuable resources for future reproduction and breeding in S. constricta.

Animals

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provide new insights into the response of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) larvae to temperature fluctuations.

Sebastes schlegelii usually encounter elevated and fluctuating water temperatures near its upper thermal limit in summer, yet the hepatic responses of larvae to repeated temperature fluctuation regimes remain unclear. To address this question, S. schlegelii larvae were exposed for 8&#xa0;days to four thermal regimes: constant 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (CT), constant 28&#xa0;&#xb0;C (HT), intermittent cooling from 18 to 8&#xa0;&#xb0;C followed by recovery to 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (FL), and intermittent warming from 18 to 28&#xa0;&#xb0;C followed by recovery to 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (FH). Survival rate was evaluated, and integrated liver transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed. Final survival rates were 96.67% in the CT group, 97.78% in the FL group, and 77.78% in the FH group. Survival rate in the HT group (38.89%) was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). HTvsCT, FLvsCT, FHvsCT, and FHvsHT comparisons identified 2598, 1207, 622, and 2404 differentially expressed genes and 627, 606, 690, and 610 differential metabolites, respectively. KEGG enrichment analyses of DEGs and SDMs in HTvsCT highlighted HSP-mediated proteostasis, endoplasmic-reticulum protein processing, branched-chain and sulfur amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and central carbon metabolism, with upregulated hsp90aa1, bckdha, gclc, and pfkp and reduced levels of branched-chain amino acids and methionine. Compared with HT, FH showed attenuated disturbances in proteostasis, amino acid and redox regulation, and central carbon metabolism, together with recovery-associated glycerophospholipid turnover. FL primarily induced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-related membrane lipid remodeling. These findings indicate that hepatic responses differed between continuous high-temperature exposure and temperature fluctuations and between fluctuation regimes.

Animals

Muscle Massage Adding Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Active or Sham Condition for Post-Exercise Recovery in Athletes: A Crossover Clinical Trial.

The increasing demands of elite sports reduce recovery time, impair performance, and increase injury risk. Efficient lactate transport is essential for postexercise recovery. Capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET) therapy enhances deep tissue heating, induces vasodilation, and promotes circulation. To evaluate whether adding active CRET to a standardized muscle recovery massage, compared with the same massage plus sham CRET, influences indicators of muscle recovery following a maximal anaerobic effort test. A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled, and crossover clinical trial was conducted in 25 athletes. Participants completed four visits and, after the maximal power and anaerobic capacity test (Wingate test), received a standardized muscle recovery massage combined with either active CRET or sham CRET. Blood lactate levels, muscle oxygenation, muscle thickness, echogenicity, knee extension force, and muscle activity were assessed before and after the test, after treatment, and 24&#xa0;hours later. Compared with massage plus sham CRET, massage plus active CRET was associated with lower blood lactate concentration at 60&#xa0;min postexercise (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.029). Ultrasound-derived muscle thickness and echogenicity also differed between conditions at several time points (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in Wingate test performance, force, muscle activity, and oxygenation between conditions. In athletes performing repeated Wingate exercise, adding active CRET to massage was associated with lower blood lactate concentration at 60&#xa0;min postexercise and with differences in ultrasound-derived muscle thickness and echogenicity compared with sham CRET plus massage. However, these between-condition differences were not accompanied by clear short-term functional recovery benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06906146.

Humans

Impact of Albuminuria-Lowering Treatments on Cardiovascular Predictive Ceramides in Diabetes: Post Hoc Analysis of the ROTATE Trials.

AIM: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in individuals with diabetes. Diabetic kidney disease, closely related to CVD risk, is prevalent in up to 40% of this population. Emerging evidence suggests ceramide lipids as accurate biomarkers for CVD. We assessed the effect of four albuminuria-lowering drugs on CVD-related ceramides in diabetes by post hoc analysis of the ROTATE trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six adults with type 1 (T1D) as well as 37 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with a urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) of 30-500&#x2009;mg/g participated in a 4-week 4-time randomized crossover study with periods of telmisartan, empagliflozin, linagliptin and baricitinib treatment, each separated by a 4-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each period and ceramide lipids (Cer16, Cer18, Cer20, Cer22, Cer24 and Cer24:1) were measured. The effect of each treatment was evaluated using linear mixed-effect models. RESULTS: At baseline, individuals with T2D had greater levels of Cer22 and Cer24 compared to the individuals with T1D. Among the treatments, linagliptin was the only drug that demonstrated a reduction of Cer22, Cer24 and Cer24:1 from baseline by 22.6% (95% CI: -33.58; -9.79, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001), 25.7% (95% CI: -38.94; -9.69, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003) and 19.6% (95% CI: -31.34; -5.95, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.007), respectively. No changes in the ceramides were observed for the other drugs. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory findings suggest that certain albuminuria-lowering drugs may affect ceramide levels as a secondary effect. However, further mechanistic investigations are needed.

Humans