Engineering topics

Shi, Ge

Publications and source records attributed to Shi, Ge.

3 records

DOE OSTI2021

Kindlin-2 promoted the progression of keloids through the Smad pathway and Fas/FasL pathway

Keloids are benign skin tumors characterized by aggressive growth. To date, there is no exact treatment because little is known about its pathological mechanism. Therefore, it is important to investigate the mechanism of its occurrence and development to identify therapeutic targets. In this study, the expression of Kindlin-2 was higher in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) than in normal skin fibroblasts (NFs). In vitro experiments showed that knocking down Kindlin-2 in KFs could promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, and contractile capability. Western blot results showed that the phosphorylation of Smad3 in KFs was inhibited after knocking down Kindlin-2, inhibiting the activation of the Smad pathway. Moreover, knocking down Kindlin-2 increased the expression of Fas and FasL in KFs, which demonstrated that knocking down Kindlin-2 promoted the activation of the exogenous apoptotic pathway of KFs and then facilitated apoptosis. The above results revealed that knocking down Kindlin-2 in KFs can inhibit the activation of the Smad pathway and promote the activation of the Fas/FasL exogenous apoptosis pathway, thereby altering the cytological function of KFs. Therefore, Kindlin-2 might play an important role in the occurrence and development of keloids and could become a new target to treat keloids.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Wood Carbon Based Single-Atom Catalyst for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

Low-cost and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) bifunctional electrocatalysts are vital for the applications of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Given the high catalytic activity of single-atom catalysts (SACs), preparing SACs on a large scale for ZABs is desirable but remains challenging. Herein, in situ formation of single-atom Fe-N-C catalysts on plate wood-based porous carbon is achieved via a facile Lewis acid pretreatment and carbonization process. Lewis acid FeCl3 pretreatment on the cell wall of wood not only produces abundant microchannels but also successfully introduces atomically dispersed Fe-N active species into the hierarchical structure. Such uniformly dispersive SACs on the hierarchical structure enhance the ORR/OER performance and durability. A ZAB using the catalyst in the cathode shows a high power density (70.2 mW cm -2 , at quasi solid state) and long-term stability. This work provides a new path for the large-scale preparation of high-performance SACs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Ferredoxin reductase regulates proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle and lipogenesis but not apoptosis in SZ95 sebocytes

Highlights: • FDXR expression is increased in sebaceous cells of acne lesions. • FDXR may enhance sebocyte differentiation and lipogenesis via ROS production. • FDXR might inhibit proliferation through inducing G2/S blockade. • IGF-1 could facilitate sebaceous differentiation and lipogenesis via PI3K/Akt/FDXR pathway. Ferredoxin reductase (FDXR), a mitochondrial membrane-associated flavoprotein, is essential for electron transfer and modulates p53-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells.FDXR may be implicated in epidermal and sebocytic differentiation, but its explicit function in sebocytes remains to be elucidated. In the present study, immunohistochemistry revealed that FDXR expression was increased in sebaceous cells of acne lesions. FDXR, PPARγ, LXRα/β, SREBP1 and Sox9 expression was incremental during sebocyte differentiation. FDXR overexpression induced by Ad-GFP-FDXR infection enhanced differentiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipogenesis and PPARγ expression, and consequnently inhibited proliferation in SZ95 sebocytes. Flow cytometry showed that FDXR overexpression induced significant blockade of G2/M phase but had no effect on sub-G1 (apoptotic) sebocytes. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced FDXR and PPARγ expression and lipogenesis were abolished by pretreatment with PI3K inhibitor LY294002. These results suggest that FDXR overexpression might promote differentiation and lipogenesis via ROS production and suppress proliferation via G2/S blockade in SZ95 sebocytes. IGF-1 could facilitate differentiation and lipogenesis through PI3K/Akt/FDXR pathway. FDXR could serve as a potential marker of advanced sebaceous differentiation, and its overexpression may be involved in the development of acne lesions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗