Search Results (40)

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.cv. BR-104) is the most widely cultivated legume crop and serves as a major dietary protein source worldwide. However, climate change-induced drought poses a severe threat to its productivity by disrupting key physiological and biochemical processes. Therefore, identifying effective strategies to enhance drought resilience in the common bean is of considerable importance. The present study investigates the regulatory role of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in improving drought tolerance. Polyethylene glycol (15% PEG) induced drought stress markedly reduced phenotypic changes (leaf area (LA), plant dry weight (PDW), root length (RL), and shoot length (SL) by 18.6, 20.5, 30.3 and 17.5% respectively), photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm by 28.4%), and photosynthetic pigment concentrations (chlorophyll and carotenoids by 25.6 and 36%, respectively), while significantly elevating oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂ and TBARS by 137.1% and 169.8%, respectively), leading to impaired stomatal movement and damaged chloroplast structure. Exogenous H₂S application as sodium hydrogen sulfide (200 µM NaHS; H₂S donor) effectively alleviated drought-induced oxidative damage by boosting endogenous H₂S and GSH levels, upregulating activity of antioxidative enzymes, SOD, APX, and GR, thereby promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and minimizing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, H₂S maintained photosynthetic efficiency via improved stomatal openings and chloroplast structure, thus sustaining chlorophyll levels and stabilizing photosystem-II functionality. Enhanced proline accumulation following NaHS application led to improved osmotic adjustment, thereby contributing to overall stress tolerance. The use of a H₂S scavenger at 100 µM HT (Hypotaurine) suppressed the mitigating effects of H₂S, confirming the role of H₂S in enhancing drought tolerance in the common bean. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential effect of H₂S as a regulatory signaling molecule to enhance drought resilience in the common bean under drought stress conditions. Further research should explore integrating H₂S-based treatments with breeding programs and agronomic practices to develop sustainable strategies to improve drought resilience in legumes and other staple crops under changing climatic conditions. Full article

We report the enhancement of organic photodetector (OPD) performance through the incorporation of CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) into P3HT:PCBM devices. The optimized device (HPD_01) exhibits a maximum responsivity of 0.083 A/W and a specific detectivity of ~4.7 × 10¹⁰ Jones, and a minimum NEP of 5.2 × 10⁻¹² W·Hz^−1/2 at the self-powered operating point (V ≈ 0 V), outperforming the nanoparticle-free reference. Frequency- and distance-dependent measurements under visible light communication conditions demonstrate that the optimized device maintains strong signal detection up to 1 MHz and at distances exceeding 15 cm. Notably, the external quantum efficiency spectra reveal an additional contribution in the 450–575 nm range, which is absent in the reference device. This enhancement is consistent with a radiative absorption–reemission energy-transfer mechanism, supported by quantitative spectral overlap analysis showing that 99.5% of the PNC photoluminescence falls within the 450–575 nm EQE enhancement window and that the maximum differential EQE gain occurs at 519 nm—only 2 nm from the PNC emission peak. Our results suggest that controlled PNC incorporation enables efficient optical energy coupling, leading to high-sensitivity, fast-response OPDs suitable for optical communication applications. Full article

All inorganic CsPbBr₃ possesses ideal stability in halide perovskites, but its wide bandgap and relatively poor film quality seriously limit the performance enhancement and possible applications of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, a triple-functional poly(3-Hexylthiophene) (P3HT) modifier was introduced to realize color-tunable semi-transparent CsPbBr₃ PSCs. From the optical perspective, the P3HT acted as the assistant photoactive layer, enhanced the light absorption capacity of the CsPbBr₃ film, and broadened the spectrum response range of devices. In view of the hole transport layer, P3HT modified the energy level matching between the CsPbBr₃/anode interface and facilitated the hole transport. Simultaneously, the S⁻ in P3HT formed a more stable Pb-S bond with the uncoordinated Pb²⁺ on the surface of CsPbBr₃ and played the role of a defect passivator. As the P3HT concentration increased from 0 to 15 mg/mL, the color of CsPbBr₃ devices gradually changed from light yellow to reddish brown. The PSC treated by an optimal P3HT concentration of 10 mg/mL achieved a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.71%, with a V_OC of 1.30 V and a J_SC of 8.54 mA/cm², which are remarkably higher than those of control devices (6.86%, 1.22 V, and 8.21 mA/cm²), as well its non-degrading stability and repeatability. Here, the constructed CsPbBr₃/P3HT heterostructure revealed effective paths for enhancing the photovoltaic performance of CsPbBr₃ PSCs and boosted their semi-transparent applications in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). Full article

Background: Chronic inflammation drives colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, with PAR-2, a G-protein coupled receptor, linking extracellular inflammatory signals to tumor-promoting pathways via ERK1/2 phosphorylation, calcium mobilization, TNF-α upregulation, and apoptosis suppression. While curcumin has notable anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, its effects on PAR-2 signaling in inflammation-driven CRC remain underexplored. Objective: This study investigates how curcumin modulates PAR-2 expression and downstream oncogenic signaling in inflammation-driven CRC cells and explores its potential direct interaction with PAR-2 at the structural level. Methods: HT 29 and Caco-2 CRC cell lines were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory phenotype, followed by treatment with curcumin at 50 µM and 100 µM. PAR-2 and PAR-1 expression, along with downstream markers including ERK1/2, p-ERK, TNF-α, caspase-8, cleaved caspase-8, caspase-3, Bcl 2, and Bax, were analyzed by Western blot and quantitative PCR. Calcium mobilization was assessed using Fluo-4 dye-based fluorescence imaging. Apoptosis was quantified using MTT viability assays, AO/EtBr dual staining, and Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. In parallel, AlphaFold-predicted structural models of PAR-2 were used to perform molecular docking with curcumin using CB-Dock2, to identify potential binding pockets and assess binding energetics. Results: Curcumin selectively downregulated PAR-2—but not PAR-1—at both transcript and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. This downregulation was accompanied by suppression of ERK phosphorylation and calcium signaling, inhibition of TNF-α secretion, and reversal of the anti-apoptotic signaling axis (Bcl 2 downregulation and Bax and caspase-3/-8 upregulation). Functional assays confirmed enhanced apoptosis in curcumin-treated cells. Computational docking revealed a high-affinity binding interaction between curcumin and the transmembrane domain of PAR-2, supporting the hypothesis of direct G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) modulation. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that curcumin targets the PAR-2/ERK/TNF-α axis and reactivates apoptotic pathways in inflammation-driven CRC, establishing it as a potent, mechanistically validated candidate for therapeutic repurposing in CRC. Full article

Accumulation of evidence highlighted the crosstalk between DNA damage repair and the immune system. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the DNA repair capacity of patients’ PBMCs correlates with therapeutic response to immune checkpoint blockade. Following in vitro UVC irradiation, oxidative stress, apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lesions, endogenous/baseline DNA damage, and DNA damage repair efficiency were evaluated in three HNSCC (UM-SCC-11A, Cal-33, BB49) and two normal cell lines (RPMI-1788, 1BR-3h-T), as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 healthy controls (HC) and 49 recurrent/metastatic HNSCC patients at baseline (8 responders, 41 non-responders to subsequent nivolumab therapy). HNSCC cell lines showed lower DNA repair efficiency, increased oxidative stress, and higher AP sites than normal ones (all p < 0.001). Moreover, patients’ PBMCs exhibited increased endogenous/baseline DNA damage, decreased DNA repair capacity, augmented oxidative stress, and higher AP sites than PBMCs from HC (all p < 0.001). Importantly, PBMCs from responders to nivolumab therapy showed lower endogenous/baseline DNA damage, higher DNA repair capacities, decreased oxidative stress, and reduced AP sites than non-responders (all p < 0.05). Together, we demonstrated that oxidative stress status and DNA repair efficiency in PBMCs from HNSCC patients are correlated with the response to immune checkpoint blockade. Full article

This paper presents detailed results regarding the physical behavior of Cs₂SnI_6−xBr_x alloys for their potential use in photovoltaic applications. Numerical computations based on density functional theory (DFT) revealed that Br substitution at I sites significantly influenced the electronic structure of Cs₂SnI₆, resulting in an increase in bandgap values from 1.33 eV to 2.24 eV. Additionally, we analyzed the optical properties, including the absorption coefficient, which exhibited high values in the visible light region, highlighting the material’s excellent light-trapping abilities. Moreover, Cs₂SnI_6−xBr_x compounds were employed as absorber materials in an fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) TiO₂/Cs₂SnI₆/P3HT/Ag perovskite solar cell (PSC) to investigate its performance. The simulation process consisted of two interconnected steps: (i) the DFT calculations to derive the material properties and (ii) the SCAPS–1D (one-dimensional (1D) solar cell capacity simulator) simulation to model device performance. To ensure reliability, the SCAPS–1D simulation was calibrated against experimental data. Following this, Cs₂SnI_6−xBr_x compound with various ratios of Br content, ranging from 0 to 6, was investigated to propose an efficient solar cell design. Furthermore, the cell structure was optimized, resulting in a development in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 0.47% to 3.07%. Full article

Background/Objectives: DNA damage response (DDR) is a network of molecular pathways associated with the pathogenesis and progression of several diseases, as well as the outcome of chemotherapy. Moreover, the intracellular redox status is essential for maintaining cell viability and controlling cellular signaling. Herein, we analyzed DDR signals and redox status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with lung cancer with different response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: Several DDR-associated signals and redox status, expressed as the GSH/GSSG ratio, were measured in two lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1299), two normal fibroblast cell lines (WS1, 1BR3hT), and PBMCs from 20 healthy controls and 32 patients with lung cancer at baseline (17 responders and 15 non-responders to subsequent platinum-based chemotherapy). Results: Higher levels of endogenous/baseline DNA damage, decreased GSH/GSSG ratios, and augmented apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, as well as lower nucleotide excision repair (NER) and increased interstrand cross-links (ICLs) repair efficiencies, were observed in lung cancer cell lines compared with normal ones (all p < 0.05). Moreover, PBMCs from patients with lung cancer showed reduced GSH/GSSG ratios, augmented apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, decreased NER and ICL repair capacities, and lower apoptosis rates, compared with healthy controls (all p < 0.001). Interestingly, PBMCs from patients who are responders are characterized by reduced GSH/GSSG ratios, augmented apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, decreased NER and ICL repair capacities, and higher apoptosis rates compared with patients who are non-responders (all p < 0.01). Conclusions: Together, DDR-associated parameters and redox status measured in PBMCs from patients with lung cancer at baseline are associated with the therapeutic benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy. Full article

Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), exhibits dual agonist or antagonist effects contingent upon its binding to either G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) or estrogen nuclear receptor (ESR). Estrogen signaling plays a pivotal role in initiating epigenetic alterations and regulating estrogen-responsive genes in breast cancer. Employing three distinct breast cancer cell lines—MCF-7 (ESR+; GPER+), MDA-MB-231 (ESR−; GPER−), and SkBr3 (ESR−; GPER+)—this study subjected them to treatment with two tamoxifen derivatives: 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-HT) and endoxifen (Endox). Through 2D high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-MS/MS), varying levels of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) were found, with MCF-7 displaying the highest levels. Furthermore, TET3 mRNA expression levels varied among the cell lines, with MCF-7 exhibiting the lowest expression. Notably, treatment with 4-HT induced significant changes in TET3 expression across all cell lines, with the most pronounced increase seen in MCF-7 and the least in MDA-MB-231. These findings underscore the influence of tamoxifen derivatives on DNA methylation patterns, particularly through modulating TET3 expression, which appears to be contingent on the presence of estrogen receptors. This study highlights the potential of targeting epigenetic modifications for personalized anti-cancer therapy, offering a novel avenue to improve treatment outcomes. Full article

In recent decades, taste sensors have been increasingly utilized to assess the taste of oral medicines, particularly focusing on bitterness, a major obstacle to patient acceptance and adherence. This objective and safe method holds promise for enhancing the development of patient-friendly medicines in pharmaceutical companies. This review article introduces its application in measuring the intensity of bitterness in medicine, confirming the achievement of taste masking, distinguishing taste differences between branded and generic medicines, and identifying substances to suppress bitterness in target medicines. Another application of the sensor is to predict a significant increase in bitterness when medicine is taken with certain foods/beverages or concomitant medication. Additionally, to verify the sensor’s predictability, a significant correlation has been demonstrated between the output of a bitter-sensitive sensor designed for drug bitterness (BT0) and the bitterness responses of the human taste receptor hT2R14 from BitterDB (huji.ac.il). As a recent advancement, a novel taste sensor equipped with lipid/polymer membranes modified by 3-Br-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,6-DHBA), based on the concept of allostery, is introduced. This sensor successfully predicts the bitterness of non-charged pharmaceuticals with xanthine skeletons, such as caffeine or related compounds. Finally, the future prospects of taste sensors are discussed. Full article

Hydrogel-based artificial scaffolds are essential for advancing cell culture models from 2D to 3D, enabling a more realistic representation of physiological conditions. These hydrogels can be customized through crosslinking to mimic the extracellular matrix. While the impact of extracellular matrix scaffolds on cell behavior is widely acknowledged, mechanosensing has become a crucial factor in regulating various cellular functions. cancer cells’ malignant properties depend on mechanical cues from their microenvironment, including factors like stiffness, shear stress, and pressure. Developing hydrogels capable of modulating stiffness holds great promise for better understanding cell behavior under distinct mechanical stress stimuli. In this study, we aim to 3D culture various cancer cell lines, including MCF-7, HT-29, HeLa, A549, BT-474, and SK-BR-3. We utilize a non-degradable hydrogel formed from alpha acrylate-functionalized dendritic polyglycerol (dPG) and thiol-functionalized 4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) via the thiol-Michael click reaction. Due to its high multivalent hydroxy groups and bioinert ether backbone, dPG polymer was an excellent alternative as a crosslinking hub and is highly compatible with living microorganisms. The rheological viscoelasticity of the hydrogels is tailored to achieve a mechanical stiffness of approximately 1 kPa, suitable for cell growth. Cancer cells are in situ encapsulated within these 3D network hydrogels and cultured with cell media. The grown tumor spheroids were characterized by fluorescence and confocal microscopies. The average grown size of all tumoroid types was ca. 150 µm after 25 days of incubation. Besides, the stability of a swollen gel remains constant after 2 months at physiological conditions, highlighting the nondegradable potential. The successful formation of multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs) for all cancer cell types demonstrates the versatility of our hydrogel platform in 3D cell growth. Full article

Due to its emerging resistance to current therapies, colon cancer remains one of the most difficult types of cancer to treat. Silver, a non-invasive metal, is well-known for its antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. Two novel silver(I) phosphine complexes, [silver(I) diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine]Br (1) and [silver(I) is 4-(dimethylamino)phenyldiphenylphosphine]Br (2), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P). To assess the complexes’ potentials as antiproliferative agents, experiments were conducted on human colorectal cancer cells (HT-29) in vitro. The evaluation involved the analysis of morphological changes, the performance of an alamarBlue^® proliferation assay, and the undertaking of flow cytometric analyses to detect mitochondrial alterations. Complex 1 displayed superior selectivity and significant inhibitory effects on malignant HT-29 cells while exhibiting minimal toxicity towards two non-malignant HEK-293 and MRHF cells. Moreover, after 24 h of treatment, complex 1 (IC₅₀, 7.49 µM) demonstrated higher efficacy in inhibiting cell proliferation compared with complex 2 (IC₅₀, 21.75 µM) and CDDP (IC₅₀, 200.96 µM). Flow cytometric studies indicated that complex 1 induced regulated cell death, likely through mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Treatment with complex 1 induced morphological changes indicative of apoptosis, which includes membrane blebbing, PS externalization, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane depolarization (ΔΨm). These observations suggest that complex 1 targets the mitochondria and holds promise as a novel metal-based anti-cancer therapeutic for the selective treatment of colorectal cancer. Full article

The aim of this work was to explore the involvement of 5-HT_1B and 5-HT_2B receptors (5-HT_1BR and 5-HT_2BR) in the regulation of free cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We have shown by quantitative PCR analysis, that 5-HT_1BR and 5-HT_2BR mRNAs levels are almost equal in HUVEC. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated, that 5-HT_1BR and 5-HT_2BR are expressed both in plasma membrane and inside the cells. Intracellular 5-HT_1BR are localized mainly in the nuclear region, whereas 5-HT_2BR receptors are almost evenly distributed in HUVEC. 5-HT, 5-HT_1BR agonist CGS12066B, or 5-HT_2BR agonist BW723C86 added to HUVEC caused a slight increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, which was much lower than that of histamine, ATP, or SFLLRN, an agonist of protease-activated receptors (PAR1). However, activation of 5-HT_1BR with CGS12066B followed by activation of 5-HT_2BR with BW723C86 manifested a synergism of response, since several-fold higher rise in [Ca²⁺]_i occurred. CGS12066B caused more than a 5-fold increase in [Ca²⁺]_i rise in HUVEC in response to 5-HT. This 5-HT induced [Ca²⁺]_i rise was abolished by 5-HT_2BR antagonist RS127445, indicating that extracellular 5-HT acts through 5-HT_2BR. Synergistic [Ca²⁺]_i rise in response to activation of 5-HT1BR and 5-HT_2BR persisted in a calcium-free medium. It was suppressed by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 and was not inhibited by the ryanodine and NAADP receptors antagonists dantrolene and NED-19. [Ca²⁺]_i measurements in single cells demonstrated that activation of 5-HT_2BR alone by BW723C86 caused single asynchronous [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations in 19.8 ± 4.2% (n = 3) of HUVEC that occur with a long delay (66.1 ± 4.3 s, n = 71). On the contrary, histamine causes a simultaneous and almost immediate increase in [Ca²⁺]_i in all the cells. Pre-activation of 5-HT_1BR by CGS12066B led to a 3–4 fold increase in the number of HUVEC responding to BW723C86, to synchronization of their responses with a delay shortening, and to the bursts of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations in addition to single oscillations. In conclusion, to get a full rise of [Ca²⁺]_i in HUVEC in response to 5-HT, simultaneous activation of 5-HT_1BR and 5-HT_2BR is required. 5-HT causes an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i via 5-HT_2BR while 5-HT_1BR could be activated by the membrane-permeable agonist CGS12066B. We hypothesized that CGS12066B acts via intracellular 5-HT_1BR inaccessible to extracellular 5-HT. Intracellular 5-HT_1BR might be activated by 5-HT which could be accumulated in EC under certain pathological conditions. Full article

Silky Oak or Silver Oak (Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R.Br.) is classified as a high-value economic wood in Thailand, it is also considered to be a plant that can grow rapidly, and it has the potential to efficiently reduce greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. This research aimed to study and develop an allometric equation to evaluate the biomass of F1 Silky Oak, which was imported to Thailand from Australia, and grown in Thailand’s economic woods in Silky Oak sites in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The sample group consisted of trees of different ages (i.e., of 2 years, 3–4 years, and 7 years). An allometric equation was used to determine the tree biomass, based on mathematical models that describe the relationship between tree biomass and diameter at breast height (DBH). It was developed in the form of a quadratic equation by multiplying the square DBH by the total height (DBH² × Ht). Subsequently, the equation was separated into different components, which corresponded with different parts of the tree (i.e., stem, branches, leaves, and roots). The following equations were obtained for the stem: Ws = 0.0721 (D²H) 0.8297 R² = 0.998. The following equations were obtained for the branches: Wb = 0.0772 (D²H) 0.7027 R² = 0.977. The following equations were obtained for the leaves, Wl = 0.2085 (D²H) 0.4313 R² = 0.990. The following equations were obtained for the roots: Wr = 0.3337 (D²H) 0.4886 R² = 0.957. The results of a laboratory elemental analysis of the carbon sequestration in the biomass, using a CHN elemental analyzer, showed that the mean percentage of carbon content in the stems, branches, leaves, and roots was 45.805. Applying the developed allometric equation for evaluating carbon sequestration, using the survey data from the sample sites of Silky Oak, it was found that the amount of carbon sequestration for the aboveground biomass in three sites was 130.63 tCO₂eq. When the amount was converted into carbon dioxide, which was absorbed in the three sites, we obtained a value of 478.99 tCO₂eq. The results of the application of the allometric equation showed that there was substantial carbon sequestration potential in the surveyed sites, emphasizing the role of Silky Oak plantations for climate change mitigation and sustainable land management. This study advances our understanding of Silky Oak growth and carbon storage dynamics, offering valuable tools for biomass estimation and promoting environmentally beneficial land use practices. Full article

This paper presents the simulation of the novel prototype of a heterojunction perovskite solar cell (PSC) based on C_SGeI₂Br/C_SGeI₃. The device consists of two absorber layers (C_SGeI₂Br, C_SGeI₃), an electron transport layer (ETL) chosen as TiO₂ and a hole transport layer (HTL) given as poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Within the simulation, the effects of thickness, doping and defect density in each absorber layer and different back contact metal electrodes on electrical parameters (efficiency, short circuit current, open circuit voltage, and fill factor) are evaluated. In addition, the contribution of the HTL (doping density and thickness), temperature, shunt and series resistance were also checked on the same electrical parameters. The simulations are conducted in standard test conditions with the irradiation normalized as 0.1 W/cm² using the SCAPS-1D platform. The maximum efficiency obtained within the simulation of this device was about 31.86%. For this device, the thickness of the CSGeI₃ layer should be around $900 \mathrm{nm},$ while that of the CsGeI₂Br should be around $100 \mathrm{nm}$ to facilitate optimal absorption of the incident photons. The doping density in the absorber layer is such that in CsGeI₃ should be around ${10}^{18}{ \mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$ and around ${10}^{16}{ \mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$ in the CsGeI₂Brlayer. The defects densities in both layers of the perovskite materials should be around ${10}^{14}{ \mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$. Concerning the HTL, the thickness and the doping density of the P3HT should be around $50 \mathrm{nm}$ and ${10}^{18}{ \mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$, respectively. In terms of the back contact electrode, the work function of the metal should be at least equal to 5 eV, corresponding to gold (Au) metal. The series resistance due to the connection of the cell to the external load should be very small, while the shunt resistance due to the leakage current in the solar cell should be high. Furthermore, the operating temperature of the new PSC should be maintained at an ambient level of around 25 °C in order to deliver high efficiency. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social interactions, impaired communication, and stereotyped behavior. The aim of this research is to investigate the changes in serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autism-like offspring induced by maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to establish an autism-like model in their offspring. Offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed autism-like behavior. The serotonin level in the mPFC of 2-week-old offspring was noticeably increased after maternal LPS exposure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to tryptophan metabolism and the serotonin system, as shown in RNA-seq findings. Consistently, tryptophan and serotonin metabolisms were altered in 2-week-old LPS-exposed offspring. The mRNA expression levels of 5-HT catabolic enzymes were remarkably reduced or tended to decrease. Moreover, maternal LPS exposure resulted in a higher serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT_1BR) expression level in the mPFC but no difference in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) or serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). The concentrations of 5-HT in serum and colon were increased in LPS-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in the colon was increased after maternal LPS treatment, whereas SERT was reduced. Furthermore, Golgi-Cox staining showed that neuronal dendritic length and spine density were significantly reduced in the mPFC of LPS-exposed offspring. The current study reveals that maternal LPS treatment resulted in an exaltation of the 5-HT of mPFC in ASD-like young rats, which may partly be caused by the abnormal elevation of 5-HT metabolism in its colon. Full article