Increasing Chemical Diversity of B2N2 Anthracene Derivatives by Introducing Continuous Multiple Boron-Nitrogen Units

Increasing the chemical diversity of organic semiconductors is essential to develop efficient electronic devices. In particular, the replacement of carbon-carbon (C−C) bonds with isoelectronic boron-nitrogen (B−N) bonds allows precise modulation of the electronic properties of semiconductors without significant structural changes. Although some researchers have reported the preparation of B₂N₂ anthracene derivatives with two B−N bonds, no compounds with continuous multiple BN units have been prepared yet. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a B₂N₂ anthracene derivative with a BNBN unit formed by converting the BOBN unit at the zigzag edge. Compared to the all-carbon analogue 2-phenylanthracene, BNBN anthracene exhibits significant variations in the C−C bond length and a larger highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gap. The experimentally determined bond lengths and electronic properties of BNBN anthracene are confirmed through theoretical calculations. The BOBN anthracene organic light-emitting diode, used as a blue host, exhibits a low driving voltage. The findings of this study may facilitate the development of larger acenes with multiple BN units and potential applications in organic electronics.     

Development and validation of a sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantitative analysis of bambermycin in livestock and aquatic products: Implications for food safety control and regulatory enforcement

A sensitive and accurate analytical method was developed and validated to detect bambermycin, a commonly used antibiotic in animal feed and livestock. The presence of bambermycin residues in food products can pose health risks to consumers, emphasizing the need for a sensitive and accurate analytical method. A reversed-phase analytical column was utilized with a mobile phase comprising 0.005 mol/L ammonium acetate in 5% acetonitrile (A) and 0.005 mol/L ammonium acetate in 95% acetonitrile (B) to achieve effective chromatographic separation. Quantitative determination of bambermycin in various samples, including beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs, flatfish, eel, and shrimp, was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sample extraction involved a mixture of methanol and a 25% ammonium hydroxide solution, followed by low-temperature purification and phospholipid removal utilizing a Phree cartridge. The method exhibited a satisfactory recovery rate ranging from 69% to 100%. Validation results demonstrated the reliability, robustness, and accuracy of the method, exhibiting good linearity, precision, and recovery. This validated method can be applied for routine analysis of bambermycin residues, assisting in the development of effective monitoring and control measures to ensure the safety of livestock and aquatic products.     

Analyses of the TCR repertoire of MHC class II-restricted innate CD4+ T cells

Analysis of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of innate CD4⁺ T cells selected by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-dependent thymocyte–thymocyte (T-T) interaction (T-T CD4⁺ T cells) is essential for predicting the characteristics of the antigens that bind to these T cells and for distinguishing T-T CD4⁺ T cells from other types of innate T cells. Using the TCR^mini Tg mouse model, we show that the repertoire of TCRα chains in T-T CD4⁺ T cells was extremely diverse, in contrast to the repertoires previously described for other types of innate T cells. The TCRα chain sequences significantly overlapped between T-T CD4⁺ T cells and conventional CD4⁺ T cells in the thymus and spleen. However, the diversity of the TCRα repertoire of T-T CD4⁺ T cells seemed to be restricted compared with that of conventional CD4⁺ T cells. Interestingly, the frequency of the parental OT-II TCRα chains was significantly reduced in the process of T-T interaction. This diverse and shifted repertoire in T-T CD4⁺ T cells has biological relevance in terms of defense against diverse pathogens and a possible regulatory role during peripheral T-T interaction.     

Fetal hematopoietic stem cells express MFG-E8 during mouse embryogenesis

The milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 protein (MFG-E8) has been identified in various tissues, where it has an important role in intercellular interactions, cellular migration, and neovascularization. Previous studies showed that MFG-E8 is expressed in different cell types under normal and pathophysiological conditions, but its expression in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during hematopoiesis has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated MFG-E8 expression in multiple hematopoietic tissues at different stages of mouse embryogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that MFG-E8 was specifically expressed in CD34⁺ HSCs at all hematopoietic sites, including the yolk sac, aorta-gonad-mesonephros region, placenta and fetal liver, during embryogenesis. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that CD34⁺ cells, purified from the fetal liver, expressed additional HSC markers, c-Kit and Sca-1, and that these CD34⁺ cells, but not CD34⁻ cells, highly expressed MFG-E8. We also found that MFG-E8 was not expressed in HSCs in adult mouse bone marrow, and that its expression was confined to F4/80⁺ macrophages. Together, this study demonstrates, for the first time, that MFG-8 is expressed in fetal HSC populations, and that MFG-E8 may have a role in embryonic hematopoiesis.     

Clinicopathological values of NBS1 and DNA damage response genes in epithelial ovarian cancers

Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) are highly lethal gynecological malignancies with a high recurrence rate. Therefore, developing prognostic markers for recurrence after chemotherapy is crucial for the treatment of ovarian cancers. As ovarian cancers frequently respond to DNA-damaging agents, we assessed the clinicopathological significance of key double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, BARD1, ATM, RAD51 and NBS1 in EOC cell lines and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 140 EOC patients treated with cytoreductive surgery, followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. These samples were analyzed for the clinicopathological impact of DSB genes by western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. Of the DSB repair genes, BRCA1, ATM and NBS1, which are involved in the homologous recombination-mediated repair pathway, were related to aggressive parameters in EOC. When survival analysis was performed, NBS1 expression exhibited an association with EOC recurrence. Specifically, increased NBS1 expression was found in 107 out of 140 cases (76.0%) and correlated with advanced stage (P=0.001), high grade (P=0.001) and serous histology (P=0.008). The median recurrence-free survival in patients with positive and negative expression of NBS1 was 30 and 78 months, respectively (P=0.0068). In multivariate analysis, NBS1 was an independent prognostic factor for the recurrence of EOC. Together, these results suggest that NBS1 is a marker of poor prognosis for the recurrence of EOC and is associated with aggressive clinicopathological parameters.     

Scoparone interferes with STAT3-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Scoparone, which is a major constituent of Artemisia capillaries, has been identified as an anticoagulant, hypolipidemic, vasorelaxant, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory drug, and it is used for the traditional treatment of neonatal jaundice. Therefore, we hypothesized that scoparone could suppress the proliferation of VSMCs by interfering with STAT3 signaling. We found that the proliferation of these cells was significantly attenuated by scoparone in a dose-dependent manner. Scoparone markedly reduced the serum-stimulated accumulation of cells in the S phase and concomitantly increased the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase, which was consistent with the reduced expression of cyclin D₁, phosphorylated Rb and survivin in the VSMCs. Cell adhesion markers, such as MCP-1 and ICAM-1, were significantly reduced by scoparone. Interestingly, this compound attenuated the increase in cyclin D promoter activity by inhibiting the activities of both the WT and active forms of STAT3. Similarly, the expression of a cell proliferation marker induced by PDGF was decreased by scoparone with no change in the phosphorylation of JAK2 or Src. On the basis of the immunofluorescence staining results, STAT3 proteins phosphorylated by PDGF were predominantly localized to the nucleus and were markedly reduced in the scoparone-treated cells. In summary, scoparone blocks the accumulation of STAT3 transported from the cytosol to the nucleus, leading to the suppression of VSMC proliferation through G1 phase arrest and the inhibition of Rb phosphorylation. This activity occurs independent of the form of STAT3 and upstream of kinases, such as Jak and Src, which are correlated with abnormal vascular remodeling due to the presence of an excess of growth factors following vascular injury. These data provide convincing evidence that scoparone may be a new preventative agent for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.     

Photochromic Metal–Organic Frameworks: Reversible Control of Singlet Oxygen Generation

The controlled generation of singlet oxygen is of great interest owing to its potential applications including industrial wastewater treatment, photochemistry, and photodynamic therapy. Two photochromic metal–organic frameworks, PC‐PCN and SO‐PCN, have been developed. A photochromic reaction has been successfully realized in PC‐PCN while maintaining its single crystallinity. In particular, as a solid‐state material which inherently integrates the photochromic switch and photosensitizer, SO‐PCN has demonstrated reversible control of ¹O₂ generation. Additionally, SO‐PCN shows catalytic activity towards photooxidation of 1,5‐dihydroxynaphthalene.     

High‐Contrast Red–Green–Blue Tricolor Fluorescence Switching in Bicomponent Molecular Film

Highly efficient red–green–blue (RGB) tricolor luminescence switching was demonstrated in a bicomponent solid film consisting of (2Z,2′Z)‐2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bis(3‐(4‐butoxyphenyl)acrylonitrile) (DBDCS) and (2Z,2′Z)‐3,3′‐(2,5‐bis(6‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene)bis(2‐(3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acrylonitrile) (m‐BHCDCS). Reversible RGB luminescence switching with a high ratiometric color contrast (λ_em=594, 527, 458 nm for red, green, and blue, respectively) was realized by different external stimuli such as heat, solvent vapor exposure, and mechanical force. It was shown that Förster resonance energy transfer in the bicomponent mixture could be efficiently switched on and off through supramolecular control.     

Fused Corrole Dimers Interconvert between Nonaromatic and Aromatic States through Two‐Electron Redox Reactions

A singly linked corrole dimer was synthesized by condensation of a dipyrromethane‐1‐carbinol with 1,1,2,2‐tetrapyrroethane. Oxidation of the dimer gave doubly linked corrole dimers 9 and 10 as the first examples of fused corrole dimers involving a meso–meso linkage. Dimers 9 and 10 exhibit characteristic ¹H NMR spectra, absorption spectra, excited‐state dynamics, and two‐photon absorption (TPA) values, which indicate the nonaromatic nature of 9 and the aromatic nature of 10 . Interestingly, 9 is fairly stable despite its unusual 2H‐corrole structure, which has been ascribed to the presence of two direct connections between the individual corrole units.