Background: Endothelial cell (EC)-driven intraneural revascularization (INRV) and Schwann cells-derived exosomes (SCs-Exos) both play crucial roles in peripheral nerve injury (PNI). However, the interplay between them remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of SCs-Exos on INRV following PNI. Results: We found that GW4869 inhibited INRV, as well as that normoxic SCs-Exos (N-SCs-Exos) exhibited significant pro-INRV effects in vivo and in vitro that were potentiated by hypoxic SCs-Exos (H-SCs-Exos). Upregulation of glycolysis emerged as a pivotal factor for INRV after PNI, as evidenced by the observation that 3PO administration, a glycolytic inhibitor, inhibited the INRV process in vivo and in vitro. H-SCs-Exos more significantly enhanced extracellular acidification rate/oxygen consumption rate ratio, lactate production, and glycolytic gene expression while simultaneously suppressing acetyl-CoA production and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (PDH-E1α) expression than N-SCs-Exos both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we determined that H-SCs-Exos were more enriched with miR-21-5p than N-SCs-Exos. Knockdown of miR-21-5p significantly attenuated the pro-glycolysis and pro-INRV effects of H-SCs-Exos. Mechanistically, miR-21-5p orchestrated EC metabolism in favor of glycolysis by targeting von Hippel-Lindau/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and PDH-E1α, thereby enhancing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-mediated glycolysis and inhibiting PDH-E1α-mediated oxidative phosphorylation. Conclusion: This study unveiled a novel intrinsic mechanism of pro-INRV after PNI, providing a promising therapeutic target for post-injury peripheral nerve regeneration and repair. Graphical

With hydroponics culture, we monitored the response of the growth and nutrient accumulation of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) to five ethanol concentrations: 0 mL•L⁻¹ (control), 0.0125 mL•L⁻¹, 0.025 mL•L⁻¹, 0.05 mL•L⁻¹, and 0.25 mL•L⁻¹, respectively. The results showed that a high concentration of exogenous ethanol (0.25 mL•L⁻¹) significantly inhibited oilseed rape growth by 52.28%. However, the biomass of oilseed rape with a low concentration of exogenous ethanol (0.0125–0.05 mL•L⁻¹) manipulation was raised by 16.62–44.08%. A similar result was found on the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of the oilseed rape. Results of micro-element determination showed that iron and zinc accumulation in oilseed rape was unchanged, while manganese and copper accumulation was increased first and then decreased with increasing ethanol concentration. This study provided a possibility for improving plant growth with low concentration ethanol application in oilseed rape planting.

The cellulose synthase gene superfamily is vital for cell wall biogenesis during plant growth, particularly for flax fiber development. This study performed asequencing search of key CESA and CSL genes from several flax stem parts at different fiber development stages by comparing RNA-Seq. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate the expression of these genes. This study revealed that CESA4 genes (Lus10008225.g and Lus10008226.g), CESA6 genes (Lus10006161.g and Lus10041063.g), CESA8 genes (Lus10007296.g and Lus10029245.g), CSLD4 gene (Lus10026568.g), CSLE1 (Lus10016625.g) and CSLG genes (Lus10023056.g and Lus10023057.g) were specifically expressed in stem below the snap point where fibers is increased amounts of secondary cell wall deposition. LusCESA4 genes, LusCESA8, genes and LusCSLD4 gene were specifically expressed in fiber development stage during the fast growth period of flax plants. Based on GO and KEGG analyses, it was found that genes involved in pathways of cellulose microfibril organization, galactosyl transferase activity and galactose metabolism were specifically enriched in the stem tissue of the fiber development stage. Other genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis and cell wall development were also analyzed and discussed. The results will provide an important foundation for understanding fiber cell wall biogenesis, particularly the roles of LusCESAs and LusCSLs in the process of fiber development.

Environmental acclimation ability plays a key role in plant growth, although the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we determined the involvement of Arabidopsis thaliana PLANT DEFENSIN 1 gene AtPDF1.5 in the adaptation to low nitrogen (LN) levels and cadmium (Cd) stress. Histochemical analysis revealed that AtPDF1.5 was mainly expressed in the nodes and carpopodium and was significantly induced in plants exposed to LN conditions and Cd stress. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that AtPDF1.5 was cell wall- and cytoplasm-localized. AtPDF1.5 overexpression significantly enhanced adaptation to LN and Cd stress and enhanced the distribution of metallic elements. The functional disruption of AtPDF1.5 reduced adaptations to LN and Cd stress and impaired metal distribution. Under LN conditions, the nitrate transporter AtNRT1.5 expression was upregulated. Nitrate transporter AtNRT1.8 expression was downregulated when AtPDF1.5 was overexpressed, resulting in enhanced transport of NO₃⁻ to shoots. In response to Cd treatment, AtPDF1.5 regulated the expression of metal transporter genes AtHMP07, AtNRAMP4, AtNRAMP1, and AtHIPP3, resulting in higher Cd accumulation in the shoots. We conclude that AtPDF1.5 is involved in the processing or transmission of signal substances and plays an important role in the remediation of Cd pollution and LN adaptation.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is an economic fiber crop that is specifically produced in southern China and faces heavy metal pollution of arable soil. This study investigated the phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) in seven ramie cultivars, including uptake, translocation, and accumulation differences in organs among cultivars, and assessed the safety of fiber for human health. The obtained results demonstrated that: (1) Zhongzhu No. 3 exhibited the best yield performance, with a fresh bast weight of approximately 343 g in a medium Cd-contaminated paddy field. Leaves accounted for the largest biomass among the parts investigated. (2) Phloem exhibited the highest Cd concentration. Low accumulation and reasonable allocation of Cd enhanced the resistance of ramie to Cd. (3) All varieties exhibited more than 90% Cd removal percentage during the stripping process of fibers. The Cd concentration of the fiber was significantly lower than that of the standard for the fiber industry. Our study provides a new direction for variety breeding in Cd-resistant plants.