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Loquat has both a delicious taste and natural medicinal effects. Fruit yield is the foundation of loquat production. However, as loquat fruits ripen, the time course changes in endogenous hormones and the transcriptome are still unclear, and the mining of loquat fruit development-related genes is still limited. Pulps from four stages of fruit development, including 70 days after full-blooming (DAF) (Z01), 90 DAF (Z02), 110 DAF (Z03), and 130 DAF (Z04), were collected to detect the contents of endogenous hormones and conduct transcriptome analysis. The results revealed that the pulps thickened continuously at a steady speed, whereas the rapid fruit expansion before the Z02 stage could be attributed to a sharp expansion of seeds. In addition, the endogenous hormone levels of the pulps tended to differ among these four stages. A total of 39,051 genes were obtained, and each sample was compared. Z01-VS-Z02, Z01-VS-Z03, and Z01-VS-Z04 presented 2611, 12,594, and 19,214 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. We found that there were 259, 49, 47, 70, 169, 47, 22 and 33 DEGs related to Aux, GA, CTK, ABA, Eth, BR, SA and JA, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the most obviously enriched terms were photosynthesis-antenna proteins, starch and sucrose metabolism, and photosynthesis. Cluster analysis of the expression trends of the DEGs revealed that 25 clusters were obtained, 16 of which were highly correlated with 1 to 5 hormones. A total of 25 and 28 core genes were systematically identified from clusters 21 and 25, respectively. Heterologous expression revealed that EjHsc70 , a selected core gene, promoted Arabidopsis growth and could be involved in the development process of loquat fruit. This study provides new insights into fruit development in  Eriobotrya japonica .

Some members of the Rosaceae family, particularly pear, contain stone cells in their fruits. Although stone cells in pear fruits are well studied, relatively little attention has been given to loquat stone cells. Only a few reports have suggested a relationship between stone cell traits and storage and transport tolerance of loquat fruits. Previously, we generated the variety JT8 from the interspecific hybrid of the loquat cultivar Jiefangzhong (JFZ; Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. cv. Jiefangzhong, female parent) and wild Taiwanese loquat (TL; E. deflexa Nakai, male parent). The JT8 fruits had a granular feel, similar to that of pear fruits, due to the presence of stone cells. In this study, the shape, size, development, and distribution dynamics of stone cells of Eriobotrya plants were thoroughly investigated. The results showed that loquat stone cells are brachysclereids and often contain typical branching pits. Loquat stone cells were distributed as both single stone cells and in stone cell clusters (SCCs), and the density of the stone cells near the core was higher than that near the peel. Stone cell density first increased and then decreased during fruit development. These traits noted in Eriobotrya were very similar to those observed in pear, indicating a close relationship between loquat and pear. Moreover, the contents, density dynamics, and aggregation traits of stone cells of the interspecific hybrid JT8 were derived from the male parent (TL). Transgressive segregation was likely exhibited in the content of stone cells and the size of the SCCs. More specifically, the content of stone cells reached 1.61% (w/w). In extreme cases, SCCs of JT8 exceeded 1,000 μm in length and 500 μm in width. This demonstrated that stone cell traits could be transmitted from parent to progeny through interspecific hybridization. The density dynamics of stone cells in two loquat cultivars with different storage and transport tolerances were also investigated, which indicated that the cultivar with more stone cells was more tolerant to storage and transport. We suggest that wild loquat genetic resources containing stone cells in Eriobotrya plants can be used to gradually improve the storage and transport tolerance of loquat fruits.

C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) is a chemokine that performs many functions. Studies have shown that CXCL12 can aggravate inflammatory symptoms in the central nervous system (CNS). Evidence also indicates that CXCL12 can promote the repair of myelin sheaths in the CNS in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we investigated the function of CXCL12 in CNS inflammation by upregulating CXCL12 in the spinal cord and subsequently inducing EAE. CXCL12 upregulation in the spinal cords of Lewis rats was induced by the injection of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)/eGFP-P2A-CXCL12 after intrathecal catheter implantation. Twenty-one days after AAV injection, EAE was induced and clinical score was collected; Immunofluorescence staining, WB and LFB-PAS staining were used to evaluate the effect of CXCL12 upregulation. In the study, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were harvested, cultured with CXCL12 and AMD3100, and subjected to immunofluorescence staining for functional assessment. CXCL12 was upregulated in the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord by AAV injection. In each stage of EAE, upregulation of CXCL12 significantly alleviated clinical scores by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration and promoting remyelination. In contrast, the addition of AMD3100, which is a CXCR4 antagonist, inhibited the effect of CXCL12. , 10 ng/ml CXCL12 promoted the differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes. AAV-mediated upregulation of CXCL12 in the CNS can alleviate the clinical signs and symptoms of EAE and significantly decrease the infiltration of leukocytes in the peak stage of EAE. CXCL12 can promote the maturation and differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes . These data indicate that CXCL12 effectively promotes remyelination in the spinal cord and decreases the signs and symptoms of EAE.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) can decode upstream Ca 2+ flux changes and then phosphorylate downstream signaling molecules while transducing Ca 2+ signaling, thereby engaging in plant growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. Although the CDPK gene family has been identified and analyzed in various plants, knowledge concerning CDPKs in woodland strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ) and their expression profiles in response to biotic stresses remain very limited. In this study, we identified 19 CDPK genes in F. vesca . Phylogenetic analysis separated the FvCDPK s into 4 subgroups. Gene structure and protein motif analysis for these FvCDPK s illustrated the different evolutionary relationships within subgroups. Collinearity analysis revealed 18 syntenic pairs between AtCDPK s and FvCDPK s and 5 syntenic pairs between OsCDPK s and FvCDPK s. Biotic stress-related cis-acting elements were detected in the promoter regions of FvCDPK s. Expression profiling of FvCDPK s was performed in different tissues under different biotic stresses, including Phytophthora cactorum (PC), Botrytis cinerea (BC) and strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) exposure. The expression pattern of FvCDPK s during pathogen infection demonstrated their distinctive functional responses to biotic stresses. In summary, this study provides new insight into FvCDPK s and their response under biotic stresses.

Objective. This study aims to describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes in a cohort of older Chinese patients. Method. A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 45 years who had a first episode of optic neuritis (ON) between May 2008 and November 2012. Clinical features at onset and last follow-up were analyzed within subgroups (age 45–65 years and age ≥ 65 years). Results. 76 patients (99 eyes) were included, of which 58% were females. The mean age at presentation was 55.53 ± 8.29 years (range: 45–83 years). Vision loss was severe at presentation, with initial best corrected vision activity (BCVA) < 20/200 in 93% and final BCVA < 20/200 in 53% of patients at 5-year follow-up. Final BCVA significantly correlated with the initial BCVA and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer. At last follow-up, 14.5% were diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), 1.3% were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), 5.2% with chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy, 1.3% with infectious ON, and 19.7% with autoimmune ON. None of the elderly group (≥65 years) developed NMOSD or MS. Conclusion. Chinese patients in the age group ≥ 65 years with ON are less likely to develop NMOSD or MS. Notwithstanding, they had more severe visual loss at onset and poor recovery.

Temperature has a vital impact on plant growth and development, and heat stress severely threatens agricultural productivity and food security. High temperatures can cause annual yield reductions and disease in loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.]. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the heat stress response in loquat are not known. In this study, the transcriptome of loquat leaves in response to heat stress was sequenced and assembled de novo, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A total of 16,120 and 11,668 DEGs were identified at 1 and 2 h posttreatment, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the DEGs were located in the membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and were related to signal transduction and protein modification. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the heat‐induced DEGs were mainly related to the activation of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and transcription. Ninety‐six heat shock proteins (HSPs) were also found in the protein processing pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum, and most HSPs were induced by heat stress. Heat shock transcription factors regulating the expression of downstream HSPs were induced by heat together with HSPs. This research provides insights into the mechanism of loquat plant heat stress tolerance and paves the way for heat‐tolerant loquat breeding. Core Ideas The transcriptome of loquat leaves suffering heat stress were sequenced and de novo assembled. Differentially expressed genes response to heat stress was enriched in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. The upregulated heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the pathway were the dominant component of the heat stress response. Heat shock transcription factors regulating the expression of HSPs were induced by heat together with HSPs.

Little work has been performed on the long-term outcome of optic neuritis (ON) according to the status of aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) and long-term prognosis in older patients in China. This study retrospectively analyzed medical records in a cohort of Chinese patients with 5-year follow-up according to AQP4-Ab status and ages from January 2009 to December 2010. The clinical features, laboratory findings and risk factors for prognosis were analyzed. A total of 128 ON patients were included, 66.4 % of whom were female. The median age at onset was 36.8 years (range 18–73). Serum AQP4-Ab was positive in 45 (35.2 %) patients, with greater frequency in the female, bilateral, and recurrent ON groups (48.2, 42.5 and 53.6 %, respectively). Seropositive AQP4-Ab ON patients had worse visual recovery compared to seronegative patients ( p  = 0.033). The average and four quadrants of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were significantly thinner in the seropositive group than in the seronegative group ( p  < 0.05). At 5-year follow-up, the ON recurrence rate was higher in the seropositive AQP4-Ab patients (37/45, 82.3 %) than in the seronegative patients (35/83, 42.2 %, p  < 0.001). Among the seropositive patients, 40 % (18/45) developed neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Only 1.2 % (1/83) of the seronegative patients developed NMO and 4.8 % (4/83) developed to MS. Further, the multivariate analysis in seropositive AQP4-Ab patients showed that two risk factors for transverse myelitis (TM) episode were ocular pain and recurrence within 1 year. The older patients had worse visual outcome after the first episode of ON than the younger patients ( p  = 0.007). However, the two groups did not differ significantly with regard to prevalence of AQP4-Ab, long-term visual recovery and the risk of developing to NMO/MS.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of atypical optic neuritis (ON) with seronegative aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody in Chinese patients.MethodsAll patients with first or relapsing ON were recruited from the Neuro-ophthalmology Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 and assigned to one of three groups based on diagnosis: atypical ON, typical ON and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)-ON.ResultsA total of 173 patients were included in the cohort. Fifty patients (28.9%) were AQP4-Ab-positive and diagnosed with NMOSD-ON. Of 123 patients with seronegative AQP4-Ab, 37 (30.1%) patients had atypical ON, with male predominance (25, 67.6%). The atypical ON group (compared with the typical ON and NMOSD-ON groups) had a significantly lower female:male ratio (1:2.1 vs 1.8:1 and 9:1, respectively, p=0.001 and p<0.001), an older mean age of onset (44.8, 13–71 years vs 36.9, 13–73 years and 36.2, 13–66 years, p=0.003 and p=0.004), a lower rate of good (≥0.5) visual recovery (6.7% vs 79.8% and 30.9%, p<0.001 and p<0.001) and (compared with the NMOSD-ON group) a lower recurrence rate during a 2-year follow-up (29.3% vs 60%, p=0.009). However, none developed to multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica in the atypical ON group.ConclusionsAtypical ON with seronegative AQP4-Ab had unique clinical features in this Chinese cohort, including male predominance, an older age of onset, worse visual acuity recovery and resistance to corticosteroid therapy. This condition may be a distinct nosological entity with an unusual clinical and therapeutic profile.

Cold storage is the primary preservation method of postharvest loquat fruits. However, cold storage also results in many chilling injury physiological disorders called lignification, which decreases the quality and economic value of the fruits. Few studies to date have focused on the transcriptomic responses associated with lignification except lignin synthesis pathways. This study aimed to explore the changes of loquat transcriptome during long-term cold storage. Our results showed that the gene expression patterns were differed among the five stages. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to cold storage were more intense and complex in earlier stage. The membrane-related genes preferentially responded to low temperature and were followed by intracellular-located genes. The cold-induced pathways were mainly concerned with signal transduction and secondary metabolism (i.e., lignin, pectin, cellulose, terpenoid, carotenoid, steroid) in the first three stages and were chiefly related to primary metabolism in the later two stages, especially energy metabolism. Further investigation suggested that 503 protein kinases, 106 protein phosphatases, and 40 Ca2+ signal components were involved in the cold signal transduction of postharvest loquat fruits. We predicted a pathway including 649 encoding genes of 49 enzymes, which displayed the metabolisms of major sugars and polysaccharides in cold-stored loquat fruits. The coordinated expression patterns of these genes might contribute to the changes of saccharides in the pathway. These results provide new insight into the transcriptomic changes of postharvest loquat fruits in response to cold storage environment, which may be helpful for improving the postharvest life of loquat in the future.