Science China Life Sciences最新文献

{"title":"A new territory for polysaccharides: chromatin regulation through inner nuclear membrane protein glycosylation.","authors":"Min Ouyang, Falong Lu","doi":"10.1007/s11427-026-3475-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-026-3475-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148832061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The cGAS-STING pathway in inflammaging and neuroinflammation.","authors":"Chufan Zhang, Chaxian Liu, Yingbo Zhao, Hanze Wang, Ziyuan Fang, Ziqian He, Ying Mao, Hui Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11427-026-3414-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-026-3414-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytosolic DNA surveillance through the cGAS-STING axis is a central component of innate immune defense, coupling the detection of mislocalized DNA to downstream inflammatory responses. Beyond its established role in antiviral immunity, dysregulated cGAS-STING signaling has emerged as an important driver of cellular senescence, chronic sterile inflammation, and the progression of aging-associated disorders, particularly in the central nervous system. In this review, we integrate recent advances in understanding the multilayered regulation of cGAS-STING signaling, its expanding roles in inflammaging and neuroinflammation, and current therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this pathway to re-establish immune homeostasis in diseases linked to chronic inflammation and neuroimmune dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148831940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PTPσ mediates the integration of grafted neuronal tissueoids with host neural pathways after complete spinal cord injury.","authors":"Rui Mao, Yuan-Huan Ma, Jin-Yuan Xiao, Qing-Shuai Wei, Yin-Chun Zhao, Qi-Xing Hu, Hou-Ge Li, Ke-Jun Zhang, Lai-Jian Wang, Hui-Juan Shi, Li-Zhi Peng, Jun-Hua Wang, Gui-Ling Chen, Ying Liu, Bi-Qin Lai, Ge Li, Ying Ding, Dong Zhou, Lei Yin, Yuan-Shan Zeng, Xiang Zeng","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3327-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3327-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cell transplantation-based regenerative medicine offers a promising strategy for repairing damaged neural pathways following spinal cord injury. Nonetheless, the integration of transplanted cells-particularly neurons-into host tissue remains insufficiently characterized. Notably, the molecular mechanisms underlying graft-host interaction are still poorly defined. In this study, we investigated how directly transplanted mature neurons contribute to the structural repair of fully transected spinal circuits in a rat xenotransplantation model and sought to identify candidate molecules involved in this process. To this end, we engineered human iPSC-derived neuronal tissueoids (Ntoids) in vitro using tissue engineering approaches. These Ntoids primarily consisted of mature, post-mitotic neurons interconnected into functional neural networks. Dependent on excitatory neurotransmission, they displayed electrophysiological signatures characteristic of excitatory neural networks. Importantly, their transplantable properties enabled them to fill tissue defects resulting from complete spinal cord injury. Histological analyses demonstrated that Ntoids survived for at least 8 weeks after spinal cord transplantation, with grafted cells retaining neuronal phenotypic characteristics. Furthermore, Ntoid transplantation significantly promoted reinnervation, synaptogenesis, and motor function recovery at the injury/graft site. Analysis of single-cell sequencing data from the developing rodent spinal cord suggested that the PTPσ-TrkC complex is involved in excitatory synaptogenesis. This was corroborated in human brain-spinal cord assembloid models, where PTPσ⁺ neurites extended from brain organoids into spinal cord regions and established connections with TrkC⁺ spinal neurons. Similarly, co-culture of rat organotypic brain slices with Ntoids showed that PTPσ and TrkC co-localized at developing synaptic junctions. Additionally, transplanted TrkC-expressing Ntoids established synaptic connections with host PTPσ⁺ supraspinal motor fibers (5-HT⁺) and sensory fibers (CGRP⁺). Thus, our findings revealed that the PTPσ-TrkC complex may participate in synaptic integration between transplanted neurons and host circuits, constituting a structural foundation for functional neural relay restoration in spinal cord injury repair.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148831757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nat10-mediated ac⁴C modification sustains macrophage proliferation and mitigates colitis progression via Mcm2 stabilization.","authors":"Jinsong Wang, Tao Liu, Jiachen Zhao, Zhiqing Diao, Fuhong Fan, Demeng Qin, Yu Zhang, Xindi Wang, Ning Jiang, Chenbo Ding, Hua-Bing Li, Yuzhang Wu","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3216-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3216-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>N⁴-acetylcytidine (ac⁴C), a form of RNA acetylation catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10), acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of RNA function. However, their role in immune cell function and ulcerative colitis (UC) remains poorly understood. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed significant downregulation of Nat10 expression in macrophages from patients with UC, which was inversely correlated with disease severity. Conditional Nat10 deletion in murine macrophages impaired their proliferative capacity without affecting apoptosis, thereby exacerbating dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Subsequent transcriptomic analysis revealed widespread dysregulation of cell cycle-related genes, with minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (Mcm2) identified as a direct target of Nat10-mediated ac⁴C modification. Loss of Nat10 accelerated Mcm2 mRNA degradation, resulting in reduced Mcm2 protein levels, whereas overexpression of Mcm2 in Nat10-deficient macrophages restores their proliferative capacity. Moreover, Nat10-deficient macrophages exhibited a diminished ability to support intestinal epithelial cell growth and self-renewal. Collectively, this study provides the first in vivo evidence that Nat10-mediated ac⁴C modification sustains macrophage proliferation and attenuates colitis progression by stabilizing Mcm2 mRNA. This study uncovered a novel Nat10-ac⁴C-Mcm2 axis and highlighted it as a potential pathway for targeted therapeutic intervention in UC.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148831600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of age on safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy: a nationwide cohort study stratified by surgical approach and anastomotic technique with optimal age cut-off analysis.","authors":"Hongwei Huang, Feng Xia, Tianyin Shao, Baiyong Shen, Xinmin Yin, Xiaoqing Jiang, Deyu Li, Jing Li, Sen Qiao, Songqing He, Heshui Wu, Jiayun Ge, Zhenyu Yin, Guanyu Wang, Haoliang Zhao, Hengquan Ran, Jun Zheng, Guangjun Shi, Jiangtao Yu, Jingfeng Liu, Xiaofeng Liao, Bin Jiang, Weidong Jin, Zhiwei Zhang, Qi Cheng, Xiaoping Chen","doi":"10.1007/s11427-026-3402-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-026-3402-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The impact of advanced age on pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains controversial, partly due to inconsistent definitions of \"elderly\". To determine the optimal age cut-off for risk stratification and evaluate the safety of different surgical approaches and anastomotic techniques in elderly patients, this study retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 7,028 patients who underwent PD between 2014 and 2019 at 21 centers. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that advancing age was significantly associated with increased risks of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), bile leakage, pulmonary infection, intra-abdominal infection, and mortality. The optimal age cut-off for predicting CR-POPF was determined as 65 years using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the Youden index. Patients were stratified into younger and elderly groups based on this threshold. Both before and after propensity score matching, the elderly group continued to demonstrate significantly higher rates of CR-POPF (before matching: 9.02% vs. 6.33%, P<0.001; after matching: 9.02% vs. 6.67%, P=0.001), intra-abdominal infection, and mortality (before matching: 1.54% vs. 0.91%, P<0.001; after matching: 1.56% vs. 0.92%, P=0.034). Multivariate analysis identified age >65 years, soft pancreatic texture, and anastomotic technique as independent risk factors for CR-POPF. In elderly patients, minimally invasive PD showed comparable CR-POPF rates to open PD (9.39% vs. 9.12%, P=0.976). Furthermore, Chen's U-suture technique achieved a significantly lower CR-POPF rate in elderly patients compared with both invagination and duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (5.74% vs. 9.61% vs. 9.64%, P=0.045). In conclusion, patients aged >65 years carry increased risks of postoperative complications and mortality following PD. Minimally invasive PD appears equally safe in elderly patients, while Chen's U-suture technique represents the preferred reconstruction method with reduced pancreatic fistula risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148832109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular understanding of plant pollination, fertilization, seed development and protoplast regeneration.","authors":"Jiang-Guo Meng, Pu Liu, Hanxian Xiong, Wei Wang, Gang Xu, Xu Xin, Zijun Lan, Changkai Ma, Na Wang, Xuecheng Zhang, Ce Shi, Shu Chang, Shu-Yan Chen, Peng-Fei Jia, Sheng Zhong, Hong-Ju Li, Yuling Jiao, Xian Sheng Zhang, Zhongnan Yang, Li-Jia Qu, Meng-Xiang Sun, Wei-Cai Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3351-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3351-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual reproduction in plants is a tightly coordinated process that underpins biodiversity, drives speciation, and serves as a foundation for modern crop improvement. Here, we synthesize recent advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing major reproductive events in flowering plants, including male and female gametogenesis, pollen-pistil communication, double fertilization, embryogenesis, and endosperm-mediated seed development. We also discuss the integration of asexual propagation through protoplast regeneration, highlighting its emerging importance in plant biotechnology. Together, these insights deepen our understanding of fundamental reproductive biology and open new opportunities for the rational design of hybrid breeding systems and stress-resilient crops, with broad implications for global food security under changing climatic conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ZO-1-dependent fibrotic scar border formation impedes axon regeneration after spinal cord injury.","authors":"Ziyu Li, Shuisheng Yu, Xu Wang, Xiaoyang Yu, Daobao Tao, Yongqing Ma, Jiaqi Xu, Zhonghan Wu, Zhida Ma, Dasheng Tian, Xin Ding, Meige Zheng, Li Cheng, Yi Li, Juehua Jing","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3360-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3360-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibrotic scarring acutely corrals inflammation but chronically impedes axon regeneration via dense border structures after spinal cord injury (SCI). Although the origin and heterogeneity of fibroblasts have been extensively studied, effective strategies to prevent fibrotic scarring, especially the formation of its border structure, remain elusive. Here, we identified a distinct fibroblast subpopulation with markedly upregulated tight junction protein 1 (ZO-1) expression, which contributes to the formation of fibrotic scar borders after SCI. While ZO-1 has been conventionally considered restricted to epithelial/endothelial cells, our data may indicate a novel role in the formation of fibrotic scar border by platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ)-positive fibroblasts. Genetic ablation of Tjp1 (encoding ZO-1) in fibroblasts disrupted the fibrotic scar border, allowing serotonergic and tyrosine hydroxylase axons to grow into the lesion core after SCI. Disruption of the fibrotic scar border induced by ZO-1 knockout did not exacerbate inflammatory spread or damage residual neurons after SCI. Furthermore, PDGFB/PDGFRβ pathway activation induced ZO-1 expression and scar border formation in the intact spinal cord, whereas its inhibition suppressed ZO-1 upregulation and disrupted the scar border after SCI. Remarkably, combined targeting of PDGFRβ (using SU16f) and ZO-1 function (via LAT-A) synergistically promoted axonal growth across the lesion. Our findings identify ZO-1 as a critical orchestrator of the fibrotic scar border and reveal a combined therapeutic approach for enhancing axon regeneration after SCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148797646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the substrate profile of microbial-host-isozyme reveals the role of BvDPP4 in inflammatory bowel disease.","authors":"Yingying Zhuo, Sen Yan, Zhiwei Zhang, Bangjian Dong, Dandan Yin, Yongping Wen, Yuejian Mao, Zhipeng Zhang, Kai Wang, Changtao Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3377-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3377-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gut microbiota is known to interact with the host to modulate homeostasis and disease. Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota can produce enzymes, such as dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), that perform functions similar to host enzymes, thus acting as \"microbial-host-isozyme\" within the host. However, the strain specificity and substrate adaptability of microbiota-derived DPP4 both remain poorly characterized, and the potential implications of microbiota-derived DPP4 on the host remain unclear. Here, we screened different microbiota-derived DPP4s for their enzymatic activities and substrate adaptability, and characterized a specific regulatory effect of Bacteroides vulgatus-derived DPP4 (BvDPP4) on GLP-2. We found that BvDPP4 could disrupt the intestinal barrier and aggravate colitis by inactivating GLP-2. Moreover, we conducted a screen of natural products and identified theaflavin as an inhibitor of BvDPP4, which also regulates levels of GLP-2. Notably, treatment with theaflavin could ameliorate BvDPP4-induced worsening of colitis in a preclinical model. Taken together, our results demonstrate that gut microbial enzymes are therapeutic targets that can be modulated by treatment with natural products, such as theaflavin, to improve gut health. Moreover, our activity-based screening strategy represents an innovative new approach for characterizing microbial enzymes in host disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148797713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanomaterials as plant delivery carriers: transport mechanisms and design principles.","authors":"Ye Li, Yezhuo Zhang, Zhun Zhang, Xi Zhang, Hongyang Wu, Man Zhang, Zhuo Li, Yinglang Wan, Yujie Fu, Wei Dong, Ruili Li, Jinxing Lin","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3263-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3263-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engineered nanomaterials are frequently utilized as vectors for the targeted delivery of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and protein-nucleic acid complexes in mammalian cells, showing significant potential in medical applications. However, their use in plants remains limited. Little is known about the mechanisms of nanomaterial transport in plant cells and how their properties influence their internalization ability, which restricts their application in plant systems. In this review, we systematically summarize the translocation mechanism of nanomaterials within plant systems, and highlight how the size, shape, stiffness, and surface properties of nanomaterials affect their internalization in plants. Moreover, we discuss the types of cargoes and the transformation strategies employed in nanomaterial-mediated delivery. Finally, we highlight the key challenges and emerging opportunities associated with nanomaterial-based plant delivery systems, aiming to provide critical insights for advancing biomolecule delivery technologies in plant biotechnology.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148702004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stakeholder priorities dominate the evaluation of climate change impacts on ecosystem-service multifunctionality.","authors":"Xin Jing, Hao Wang, Wei Xu, Xiaomin Fan, Lin Jiang, Yu Li, Zhiyuan Ma, Peter Manning, Nathan J Sanders, Bernhard Schmid, Yunfeng Yang, Zhenhua Zhang, Zhibiao Nan, Jin-Sheng He","doi":"10.1007/s11427-025-3254-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-025-3254-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rapid climate change poses risks to vital ecosystem services, thereby threatening human societies that depend on these services. But how are ecosystem services prioritized by various stakeholders, and how might these differential priorities affect the evaluation of climate change impacts on ecosystem-service multifunctionality (ESMF)? To address these questions, we defined ESMF as the joint supply of multiple services relative to stakeholder demand, and conducted a social survey to obtain quantitative measures of ecosystem service prioritization from diverse stakeholders, such as pastoralists and biodiversity conservation agencies. Integrating these stakeholder-specific weightings with biophysical data from a decade-long climate change experiment, we found that stakeholders differed in their priorities, leading to differences in their evaluation of ESMF responses to climate change. Specifically, while warming and altered precipitation led to a decline in ESMF for groups prioritizing biodiversity conservation, multifunctionality was maintained or even increased for pastoralists, whose priorities focused almost entirely on forage provision. Similarly, warming was predicted to negatively impact the ESMF prioritized by environmental protection and biodiversity conservation agencies. These negative impacts were consistently stronger under dry climate conditions than under wet conditions. This work deepens our understanding of how stakeholder priorities shape the evaluation of climate change impacts on ESMF. This knowledge is essential for encouraging the development of appropriate and sustainable management strategies for local ecosystem services under climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":21576,"journal":{"name":"Science China Life Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148702034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}