Search Results (1,047)

Glioblastoma (GBM) frequently recurs after temozolomide (TMZ) therapy and exhibits substantial redox plasticity. Our previous work showed that the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) vary with its level and between parental and TMZ-resistant GBM cells. Succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD), a membrane-anchoring component of mitochondrial complex II, is positioned at the interface of electron transport and redox homeostasis, but its regulation in GBM remains unclear. We therefore examined whether SDHD expression changes across distinct H₂O₂-responsive contexts involving aquaporins (AQPs) and AKT. TCGA transcriptomic analysis showed higher SDHD mRNA expression in WHO grade IV than in grade II/III gliomas, whereas paired primary/recurrent high-grade glioma samples showed heterogeneous SDHD changes at recurrence. TMZ reduced SDHD, and SDHD knockdown decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species. Combined redox perturbation reduced SDHD, whereas AKT inhibition restored SDHD expression. Under receptor-associated signaling conditions, EGFRvIII expression or CXCL12 stimulation increased measured H₂O₂ together with AQP3, AKT Ser473 phosphorylation, and SDHD. In TMZ-resistant cells, pharmacological perturbation of aquaporin-associated signaling decreased AQP9 together with AKT Ser473 phosphorylation and SDHD. An AQP3-targeting compound further reduced cell density when combined with TMZ. Together, these findings suggest that changes in SDHD expression are consistent with a compensatory redox response in GBM cells and that its regulation varies with the nature of H₂O₂-associated signaling during TMZ-related stress. Full article

Drought is one of the most damaging abiotic stresses affecting global crop productivity, and its frequency and severity are projected to increase under ongoing climate change. Silicon (Si), although not classified as an essential nutrient, is increasingly regarded as a “quasi-essential” beneficial element that improves crop performance under water-limited conditions. This review summarises the physiological mechanisms of Si-induced drought tolerance, based mainly on literature published in the past five years. Rather than presenting these mechanisms as an inventory of separate physiological effects, the review reframes them as a coordinated stress-tolerance network linked by shared transcriptional regulation, and it organises the evaluation around three conceptual tensions that remain unresolved in the literature: the opposite direction of Si’s effect on transpiration, the extent to which Si-accumulating grasses and Si-excluding dicots rely on equivalent mechanisms, and the non-linearity of dose responses. Si uptake and transport via Lsi1, Lsi2, and Lsi6, and the resulting difference between Si-accumulating and Si-excluding species, are discussed together with the enhancement of root growth and aquaporin-mediated hydraulic conductance; stomatal and photosynthetic regulation; osmotic adjustment through compatible solute accumulation; enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence; hormonal signalling involving abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, and auxin; reinforcement of cell walls and vascular tissue; and the transcriptional networks coordinating these responses. Si’s influence on rhizosphere nutrient dynamics and the dependence of its efficacy on genotype, dose, and application method are also considered. A consolidated mechanistic scheme is presented, showing how these pathways converge on a drought-tolerant phenotype characterised by sustained growth, improved water-use efficiency, and faster recovery. Future research priorities, including field validation, standardisation of application protocols, multi-omics integration, and Si–microbiome interactions, are outlined to support the translation of these mechanistic insights into practical drought-management strategies. Full article

Traditional wound therapies continue to be predominantly exogenous and address extracellular causes of the pathology without addressing the impaired function of cellular pathways that are trapped in the state of constant inflammation. The present review explores a novel putative nutriepigenetic framework, discussing how the honey matrix could act as a proposed modulator of the altered epigenetic landscape in non-healing ulcers. Honey contains a complex mixture of bioactive agents (polyphenols, flavonoids, and plant-derived xenomiRs) that are hypothesized to interact with multiple chromatin control points simultaneously. We discuss models wherein honey-induced aquaporin-mediated H₂O₂ influx and intracellular calcium transients may correlate with SIRT1/SIRT6 modulation and CRM1-mediated nuclear export of Class IIa HDACs. This review evaluates whether such multi-target signaling could foster chromatin relaxation to support gene expression required for cell migration and tissue remodeling. Full article

Soilless systems are increasingly important in protected horticulture because they improve water and nutrient-use efficiency, support year-round production, and reduce dependence on field conditions. However, the root zone is still commonly managed as a passive nutrient reservoir using mainly electrical conductivity and pH set points. This review presents the root zone as an actively engineered biological environment in which dissolved oxygen, root-zone temperature, nutrient-solution chemistry and hydraulics, microbiomes and biofilms, and sensor-guided control interact to determine crop performance. These domains converge on root respiration and ATP production, membrane transport, aquaporin activity, hydraulic conductance, calcium delivery, oxidative balance, and microbial or pathogen selection. Their combined effects influence fresh mass, tissue hydration, nutrient uptake, phytochemical composition, tipburn incidence, disease resilience, and overall system stability. Recent evidence indicates that active aeration, targeted root-zone heating or cooling, optimized flow scheduling, and calcium-focused interventions can improve the yield and quality of leafy vegetables, although responses vary with crop species, cultivar, developmental stage, and production-system architecture. Current evidence also indicates important uncertainties, including crop- and cultivar-specific response thresholds, architecture-dependent performance, energy and resource costs, and the still-limited predictability of microbiome manipulation. Emerging sensing, machine learning, digital-twin, and predictive-control approaches could enable a transition from threshold-based correction to physiology-informed root-zone state management. Nevertheless, wider commercial translation is constrained by inconsistent reporting of sensor location, hydraulic conditions, nutrient composition, microbial status, and resource use. We therefore propose a minimum reporting framework and research priorities for developing reproducible, energy-aware, microbiologically robust, and crop-specific root-zone management strategies for closed soilless horticulture. Full article

Megastigmus sabinae Xu et He (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) is an oligophagous seed pest overwintering within Juniperus przewalskii cones in the alpine Qilian Mountains. Understanding its cold adaptation is critical for forest pest management. To investigate its overwintering mechanisms, we monitored field temperatures and larval development. Subsequently, larvae were subjected to a series of low-temperature treatments under laboratory conditions. We then assessed survival rates, supercooling points (SCPs), free water content, and the transcriptomic profiles of water-regulatory genes. Field data revealed that larvae enter a quiescent state when ambient temperatures drop below 5 °C. Laboratory acclimation at 0 °C significantly improved larval survival at −10 °C and markedly depressed the SCP by approximately 6 °C. Notably, free water content remained completely stable across all temperature treatments. Consistent with this dehydration-independent phenotype, transcriptomic analysis showed that the majority of 17 aquaporins (AQPs) and a Capa receptor gene lacked differential expression. However, two specific AQP genes (TIP1-1 and AQPN) were significantly upregulated. Collectively, M. sabinae larvae employ a freeze-avoidance strategy driven by dehydration-independent SCP depression and highly targeted transcriptional adjustments of specific water channels. Full article

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC-K88) is a primary causative agent of post-weaning diarrhea in piglets, yet most in vitro infection models evaluate epithelial injury at a limited number of endpoint time points, failing to capture the temporal dynamics of host–pathogen interactions. Here, we established a time-resolved ETEC-K88 challenge model in IPEC-J2 cells from 0 h to 48 h. The data showed that ETEC-K88 adhesion significantly increased after 4 h and peaked after 24 h, with a critical response transition at 4–8 h characterized by coordinated changes in mRNA expression of tryptophan metabolism, tight junction, aquaporins, and Solute Carrier Transporters (SLC). Additionally, we also evaluated the protective effects of L-tryptophan supplementation in IPEC-J2 with ETEC-K88 infection and found that its addition significantly restored the disrupted gene expression related to tryptophan metabolism, transporter channels, aquaporins, and cell cycle. Finally, two different mouse strains, C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice, were challenged with ETEC-K88 to assess strain- and segment-specific intestinal responses. Although overt diarrhea was not clearly induced in mice, the ETEC-K88 fimbria receptor genes were induced in both mice strains. Additionally, both mice strains exhibited obvious intestinal histomorphological abnormalities and showed the strain- and segment-specific expression of intestinal stem cell marker genes (Lgr5, SOX9), goblet cell marker gene TFF3, and aquaporin genes. In conclusion, we have defined a temporal epithelial response framework for ETEC-K88 infection in IPEC-J2 cells and mice, providing a theoretical basis for developing nutritional strategies against ETEC-associated intestinal dysfunction in pig production. Full article

Hydraulic perturbations are among the earliest plant-wide consequences of drought, salinity and wounding, yet they are often treated as passive outcomes rather than as biologically interpreted inputs. This review distinguishes hydraulic state, hydraulic perturbation and hydraulic signal, and evaluates how organ-scale pressure and water-potential changes are converted into local membrane tension, wall strain, turgor and water-flux cues. We propose, as a testable model rather than an established mechanism, a distributed architecture comprising OSCA/TMEM63 and other mechanosensitive channels, cell-wall integrity pathways, aquaporin-mediated conductance control and vacuolar buffering. Evidence for the individual components is substantial, but evidence that they act together within a single physiological event is still limited. These layers are reciprocally coupled to Ca²⁺, ROS, electrical, hormonal and peptide networks. Hydraulic cues are fast, and they differ in amplitude, direction, rise time, duration, recovery and anatomical route, so they are not informationally inert. Specificity nevertheless appears to emerge from the integration of the hydraulic waveform with tissue state and coincident ionic, electrical and biochemical inputs rather than from any single variable. We compare drought, salinity and wounding; clarify the roles of roots, vasculature, bundle sheath, mesophyll and guard cells; and outline experiments that combine calibrated physical perturbations with live reporters, tissue-specific genetics and hydromechanical modeling. The key frontier is no longer to document that pressure changes occur. It is to identify the variables directly sensed, to separate instructive from permissive roles, and to test whether dynamic decoding traits improve crop resilience at acceptable carbon and growth cost. Full article

Background: The skin barrier plays a fundamental role in preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), regulating immune responses, and protecting against pathogen colonization. Disruption of this barrier underlies xerosis, sensitive skin, and clinical cracking. Heat-treated probiotics (postbiotics) represent a stable and biologically active approach to topical formulation. Objective: To evaluate the safety, molecular mechanisms, and clinical efficacy of heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Skinbac™ SB14 (SB14) in improving skin barrier function, hydration, and the appearance of dry and cracked skin. Methods: In vitro studies assessed cell viability (MTT assay) and cytotoxicity (LDH release assay), Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression, Claudin-1 expression recovery following UV-induced damage (post-damage treatment model), cytokine modulation in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK) and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs), and antipathogen activity against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. A 30-day open-label, placebo-controlled clinical study (n = 20 healthy volunteers, both sexes, age > 18 years) evaluated an emulsion containing 1% SB14 versus placebo using instrumental measurements of superficial hydration (Corneometer^® CM825) and TEWL (Tewameter^® TM300), and clinical scoring of skin hydration (Kligman scale 1–4) and skin cracking (ODS Overall Dry Skin Score 1–5) via C-Cube imaging. Results: In vitro testing confirmed the safety of SB14 (full cell viability by MTT assay; no cytotoxicity by LDH release assay) and demonstrated significant AQP3 upregulation (p < 0.05), partial Claudin-1 recovery in UV-damaged cells following post-damage SB14 application (p < 0.1 vs. UV damage), significant reduction in pro-inflammatory IL-8 and IL-23 in NHEK (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), strong innate immune activation in PBMCs (TNF-α and IL-6, p < 0.001), and 21% inhibition of S. aureus biofilm at 72 h. Clinically, the SB14 formulation significantly increased superficial skin hydration by +46.1% at T14 (p = 0.0451) and +33.6% at T30 (p = 0.0144) versus baseline, while TEWL decreased by −14.5% at T14 (p = 0.0205). Clinical hydration scores improved significantly from a median of 3.0 (moderate dry skin) at baseline to 2.0 (slightly dry skin) at T30 (p = 0.0073). Cracking scores improved significantly from a median of 3.5 at baseline to 2.0 at T30 (p = 0.0037), with 80% of subjects showing improvement at T30. All parameters remained non-significant in the placebo group. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: SB14 is safe, biologically active across multiple barrier-relevant mechanisms, and clinically effective in improving hydration and reducing visible skin cracking in subjects with dry, barrier-compromised skin. Full article

Salt stress severely limits wheat growth and seed yield; however, the mechanisms underlying plant-derived smoke (PDS)-induced salt tolerance remain unclear. The present study performs membrane proteomics to clarify how PDS solution enhances salt tolerance in wheat. Immunoblot analysis of subcellular marker proteins confirms successful enrichment of membrane fractions. Principal component analysis shows that 200 mM NaCl markedly alters membrane-protein composition in wheat roots, whereas 2000 ppm PDS solution largely restores these changes even under salt stress. At the protein level, mitochondrial ascorbate peroxidase increases in roots under salt stress but decreases with PDS-solution treatment, while leaves show the opposite trend. Salt stress reduces ATP content and H⁺-ATPase abundance; PDS-solution treatment restores both to near-control levels. In contrast, aquaporin levels increase under salt stress but decline after PDS-solution application. In addition, the expression of ammonium transporter was downregulated significantly under salt stress but recovered with PDS-solution treatment. These results suggest that PDS solution may confer salt-stress tolerance to wheat by regulating energy metabolism, water permeability, and ammonium absorption in the root membrane. Full article

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a common cause of neonatal respiratory distress, yet the role of aquaporins in its pathophysiology remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate serum aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 levels in neonates with TTN and their association with clinical characteristics and respiratory support parameters. This prospective study included 49 neonates (27 controls, 22 with TTN). Serum aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 levels were measured on the first day of life (T0) in both groups and repeated on day 3 (T3) in the TTN group using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical data and respiratory support requirements were recorded. Group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multivariable regression were performed. Baseline aquaporin-1 levels were lower in the TTN group than in controls (p = 0.024) and decreased further at T3 (p = 0.004). Aquaporin-5 levels were similar at T0 and increased non-significantly at T3. Aquaporin-1 decline was greater in infants requiring prolonged oxygen therapy, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, or higher mean airway pressure, and was inversely correlated with ventilation duration and mean airway pressure at day 3. Aquaporin-5 levels were higher in infants requiring shorter respiratory support. Serum aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 levels show time-dependent changes during the early postnatal period and may be associated with clinical course and respiratory support requirements in TTN. Full article

Transforming traditional membrane bioreactors (MBRs) into forward osmosis membrane bioreactors (OMBRs) is a highly challenging yet promising technological upgrade. Although both combine biological treatment and membrane separation, their core driving forces and operating mechanisms are completely different (an MBR is pressure-driven, while an OMBR is osmosis-driven). In this paper, a novel OMBR with an integrated fixed biofilm (BF-OMBR) was tested for the treatment of synthetic rural wastewater using fertilizer potassium chloride (KCl) as the draw solution (DS) and a commercial aquaporin Inside^TM forward osmosis (FO) membrane. A bench-scale investigation was conducted to compare the BF-OMBR with traditional OMBRs and MBRs. The experimental data suggested that the reactor with aquaporin membranes contributed to a higher water flux than traditional TFC membranes, while immobilized biofilms improved the total nitrogen removal rate compared to normal OMBRs. The integration of these two technologies in the BF-OMBR system appears to leverage these individual benefits. Its TOC and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were also better than those of the other two bioreactors. Meanwhile, the BF-OMBR successfully controlled the salinity build-up to a level not exceeding 2.5 mS/cm over 90 days of operation. This novel osmotic bioreactor may represent a possible alternative approach to overcoming the challenges of low-temperature and low-C/N-ratio rural sewage treatment. Full article

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic metalloid that can be absorbed by plants, inducing stress that disrupts vital physiological processes. In response, plants activate defense mechanisms that allow them to cope with As-induced stress. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolic pathways involved in plant responses to As stress, focusing on the mechanisms of As uptake and transport, metabolic and antioxidant responses, molecular regulation, and mitigation strategies that contribute to plant adaptation and tolerance. As exposure disrupts primary metabolism by impairing photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle, and carbon and energy metabolism, while also altering aquaporin-mediated transport and phosphate homeostasis. In addition, As induces oxidative stress, leading to increased lipid peroxidation and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). It also affects secondary metabolism by modifying the biosynthesis and accumulation of specialized metabolites involved in stress tolerance. Overall, the evidence reviewed indicates that As can induce changes in both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Although primary metabolic alterations are relatively well documented, information regarding changes in secondary metabolites, including phenolics and flavonoids, remains limited. Therefore, future research should integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to elucidate the molecular basis of As tolerance and support modern crop breeding programs aimed at developing arsenic-tolerant cultivars. Moreover, this knowledge is fundamental for mitigating the impact of As on major food crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables, where arsenic contamination can reduce productivity, compromise crop quality, and increase the risk of As entry into the food chain. Furthermore, the mechanistic insights gained from these crops may serve as a basis for developing mitigation strategies applicable to other agriculturally important species. Full article

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy in which antibodies against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel produce a stereotyped group of syndromes determined by the anatomical distribution of AQP4 expression. Six core clinical presentations are recognized: optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, area postrema syndrome, acute brainstem syndrome, diencephalic syndrome, and cerebral syndrome. Because disability in NMOSD almost always accrues at discrete, treatable relapses rather than through insidious progression, early recognition, supported by prompt AQP4-IgG testing and pattern recognition on MRI, is essential to preserving vision, mobility, and independence. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, clinical and radiologic features, diagnostic evaluation, and differential diagnosis of each core syndrome and synthesizes contemporary evidence for relapse prevention. Over the past decade, the therapeutic landscape has been transformed: agents targeting complement (eculizumab, ravulizumab), the interleukin-6 receptor (satralizumab, tocilizumab), and B cells (rituximab, inebilizumab) now have randomized evidence of efficacy in seropositive disease, with complement inhibitors ranking highest across indirect treatment comparisons. Evidence in seronegative disease remains limited, no approved agents have been compared head-to-head, and the optimal role of early plasma exchange is unsettled. Emerging neuroprotective strategies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, both of which remain experimental, may further expand options for refractory disease. Once uniformly disabling, AQP4-IgG NMOSD is now a highly treatable condition in which timely diagnosis and sustained immunotherapy can meaningfully alter long-term outcomes. Full article

Silverleaf sunflower (Helianthus argophyllus Torrey and Gray) is an important salt-tolerant wild species with potential for improving cultivated sunflower, but its tolerance mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we compared the morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic responses of H. annuus and H. argophyllus under salt stress. H. argophyllus showed higher salt tolerance, which was accompanied by reduced membrane damage and better maintenance of photosynthetic performance under salt stress. This enhanced tolerance may be associated with lower stomatal density, dense trichomes, and a thick wax coating. The reference genome of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) provides limited insight into H. argophyllus because of substantial genomic variance between the two genotypes. Therefore, we generated a high-quality reference transcriptome of H. argophyllus using Iso-Seq long-read sequencing, identifying 50,153 unique genes and capturing over 91% of the gene repertoire. In total, 205 H. argophyllus-specific genes and 475 “fusion genes” were identified in the H. argophyllus transcriptome. Transcriptome profiling of leaves and roots under control and salt-stress conditions revealed upregulation of H. argophyllus-specific aquaporin genes. Commonly upregulated genes in both tissues were enriched in salt stress-responsive pathways. Genes upregulated only in the roots were more closely related to primary responses to abiotic stresses, while genes showing opposite regulation between roots and leaves reflected tissue-specific responses to salt stress. This study provides physiological, morphological, and transcriptomic insights into H. argophyllus salt tolerance and offers valuable resources for sunflower research and breeding. Full article

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint that threatens global food security by significantly inhibiting seed germination and early seedling establishment. Salinity disrupts all three phases of seed germination: Phase I (imbibition), where reduced water absorption capacity reduces seed hydration and delays metabolic reactivation; Phase II (lag phase), where ionic toxicity and oxidative stress impair enzyme activity, reserve mobilization, and cellular metabolism; and Phase III (radicle protrusion), where limited cell division and length prevent radicle emergence and seedling establishment. These disturbances reduce germination percentage, germination rate, germination index, germination energy, and plant vigor, while increasing average germination time. At the morpho-physiological level, salinity impairs water absorption, membrane stability, photosynthetic pigment accumulation, and root–shoot development. Biochemically, excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) causes cellular damage and metabolic dysfunction. At the molecular level, salinity alters the expression of the aquaporin gene family (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, and SIPs), suppresses starch mobilization by reducing α-amylase, enhances abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and inhibits gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis, all of which cause inhibition of germination and early growth. As a result, an effective strategy is needed to improve seed germination under saline conditions. Therefore, the second focus of this review is to critically evaluate the potential of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanobiochar (NBC) as emerging tools to mitigate salinity stress during seed germination. Current evidence suggests that NPs and NBC enhance water absorption, maintain membrane strength, improve nutrient availability, promote antioxidant defense systems, and regulate osmotic adjustment in saline environments. Furthermore, these nanomaterials alter key molecular pathways involved in aquaporin expression, hormonal homeostasis, and reserve mobilization, thereby promoting successful germination and seedling establishment. By combining recent advances in physiological, biochemical, and molecular research, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of salinity-induced germination disruption and highlights the potential of NP- and NBC-based approaches to improve crop establishment under saline conditions. Full article