Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: USP18 expression is induced by cardiac I/R injury. a Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the RNA-seq data in I/R and control hearts at 24 h postsurgery ( n =3). b Heatmap displaying differentially expressed ubiquitination-associated genes in I/R and control hearts at 24 h postsurgery ( n =3). c Protein levels of USP18 in donor heart tissue and patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) ( n =4). d Immunofluorescence staining of USP18 and α-actin in donor heart tissue and patients with IHD ( n =3). Scale bar=35 μm (left) and 50 μm (right). e Protein levels of USP18 in heart tissue post-IR ( n =4). f Immunofluorescence staining of USP18 and WGA in heart tissue 24 h after I/R injury ( n =5). Scale bar=50 μm. g Protein expression of USP18 in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) after H/R challenge ( n =4). h Immunofluorescence staining of USP18 in cardiomyocytes after H/R challenge. Scale bar=50 μm. ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; WGA. Wheat germ agglutinin; DAPI. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; H/R. Hypoxia/reoxygenation; RNA-seq. RNA sequencing; MAPK. Mitogen-activated protein kinase; GABA. γ-aminobutyric acid.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Expressing, RNA Sequencing, Control, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Immunofluorescence, Staining

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: USP18 deficiency mitigates mitochondrial dysfunction, acute cardiac I/R injury, and cardiac remodeling in vivo. a 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of heart tissue 24 h post-I/R in WT and I/R groups ( n= 5). Scale bar=0.5 cm. ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001. b Mitochondrial DNA ( n =6) and mitochondrial complexes I and II–III activity ( n =5) 24 h post-I/R in each group. ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. c Representative electron micros c opy images of heart sections 24 h post-I/R; quantitative analysis of the mitochondrial volume density and percent of mitochondria with cristae loss in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=10 μm (top) and 6 μm (bottom). Red arrows indicate mitochondria with cristae loss ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001. d Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and quantitative statistical analysis of basal respiration, ATP-related respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in mitochondria in the indicated groups ( n= 4). ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001, ns non-significant. e H&E staining, PSR staining, and quantitative statistical analysis of cell size and left ventricle (LV) fibrotic area in WT mice and USP18-cKO mice at 4 weeks after I/R injury ( n= 5). Scale bar=1 mm (left), 50 μm (middle), and 100 μm (right). ⁎⁎ P <0.01. f Representative B-mode and M-mode echocardiographic images of LV from WT mice or USP18-cKO mice 4 weeks after I/R injury. g Cardiac function of WT mice and USP18-cKO mice after I/R injury at the indicated time points ( n= 6). ⁎ P <0.05, ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001 vs . WT, ns non-significant. USP18 . Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; WT. Wild-type; ATP. Adenosine triphosphate; H&E. Hematoxylin and eosin; PSR. Picrosirius red; FCCP. Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; USP18-cKO. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 conditional knockout; LVIDd. Left ventricle internal diameter at diastole; LVISd. Left ventricle internal diameter at systole; LVEF. Left ventricle ejection fraction; LVFS. Left ventricle fractional shortening.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: In Vivo, Staining, Activity Assay, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Knock-Out

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: Overexpression of USP18 in the heart exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction, acute cardiac injury, and cardiac remodeling following I/R in mice. a TTC staining of heart tissue 24 h post-I/R in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=0.5 cm. ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001. b Mitochondrial DNA levels ( n= 6) and mitochondrial complexes I and II–III activity ( n= 5) 24 h post-I/R in each group. ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. c Representative electron microscopy images of heart sections 24 h post-I/R. Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial volume density and the percent of mitochondria with cristae loss in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=10 μm (top) and 6 μm (bottom). Red arrows indicate mitochondria with cristae loss. ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. d Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and quantitative statistical analysis of basal respiration, ATP-related respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in mitochondria in the indicated groups ( n= 4). ⁎ P <0.05, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. e H&E staining, PSR staining, and quantitative statistical analysis of cell size and left ventricl e (LV) fibrotic area in AAV9-USP18-transfected mice at 4 weeks after I/R injury ( n= 5). Scale bar=1 mm (left), 50 μm (middle), and 100 μm (right). ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. f Representative B-mode and M-mode echocardiographic images of LV from AAV9-USP18-transfected mice 4 weeks after I/R injury. g Cardiac function of AAV9-USP18-transfected mice after I/R injury at the indicated time points ( n= 6). ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001 vs . AAV9-NC, ns non-significant. USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; NC. Negative control; AAV9. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9; AAV9-USP18. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 encoding USP18; TTC. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride; ATP. Adenosine triphosphate; H&E. Hematoxylin and eosin; PSR. picrosirius red; FCCP. Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; LVIDd. Left ventricle internal diameter at diastole; LVISd. Left ventricle internal diameter at systole; LVEF. Left ventricle ejection fraction; LVFS. Left ventricle fractional shortening.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Over Expression, Staining, Activity Assay, Electron Microscopy, Transfection, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Negative Control, Virus

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of USP18 on H/R-induced injury to NRVMs. a-d NRVMs were transfected with USP18 siRNA and exposed to H/R. Scale bar=26 μm (top) and 50 μm (bottom). Representative confocal microscopy images showing mitochondrial morphology probed with MitoTracker Red ( n= 6) and quantification of mitochondrial length, mitochondrial fragmentation, and mitochondrial DNA levels ( n= 6) ( a and b ). Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and quantitative statistical analysis of basal respiration, ATP-related respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in NRVMs in the indicated groups ( n= 4) ( c and d ). e-h NRVMs were infected with Ad-USP18 and exposed to H/R. Scale bar=26 μm (top) and 50 μm (bottom). Representative confocal microscopy images showing mitochondrial morphology probed with MitoTracker Red ( n= 6) and quantification of mitochondrial length, mitochondrial fragmentation, and mitochondrial DNA levels ( n= 6) ( e and f ). Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and quantitative statistical analysis of basal respiration, ATP-related respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in NRVMs in the indicated groups ( n= 4) ( g and h ). ⁎ P <0.05, ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001, ns non-significant. US P 18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; H/R. Hypoxia/reoxygenation; NC. Negative control; FCCP. Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; NRVMs. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes; ATP. Adenosine triphosphate; OCR. Oxygen consumption rate.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Transfection, Confocal Microscopy, Infection, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Negative Control

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: USP18 aggravates cardiac I/R injury through regulation of mitochondria and inhibition of mitophagy. a Electron microscopy image showing mitophagy in USP18-cKO mouse hearts ( n= 5). Scale bar=3 μm. White arrowheads indicate sites of mitophagy. b Protein levels of PINK1, Parkin, ubiquitinated proteins (Ub), P62, and LC3II in mitochondria from heart tissue in USP18-cKO and WT mice 24 h after I/R injury ( n =4). c Electron microscopy image showing mitophagy in USP18-overexpres (OV) mouse hearts ( n =5). Scale bar=3 μm. White arrowheads indicate sites of mitophagy. d Protein levels of PINK1, Parkin, Ub, P62, and LC3II proteins in mitochondria from the heart tissue of USP18-OV mice 24 h after I/R injury ( n =4). Color shift in mitophagy dye (red) and lysosomal dye (green) in NRVMs showing mitophagy in NRVMs with USP18 siRNA transfection ( e ) or Ad-USP18 infection ( f ) and the quantitative mitophagy index in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=9 μm. Protein levels of PINK1, Parkin, Ub, P62, and LC3II in mitochondria from NRVMs transfected with USP18 siRNA ( g ) or infected with Ad-USP18 ( h ). ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001 ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; WT. Wild-type; KO. Knockout; P62. Sequestosome 1; LC3. Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; VDAC. Voltage-dependent anion channel.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Inhibition, Electron Microscopy, Transfection, Infection, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Knock-Out

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: Parkin knockdown counteracts the protection of USP18 deficiency in vivo. USP18-cKO mice were infected with AAV9-shParkin and subjected to I/R surgery. a Parkin protein levels in mouse hearts infected with AAV9-shParkin ( n= 4). b TTC staining of heart tissue 24 h post-I/R in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=0.5 cm. c Serum levels of cTnI, CK-MB, and LDH in AAV9-shParkin-infected mice 4 h after I/R surgery ( n= 5). d DNA fragmentation and cleaved caspase-3 activity in heart tissue from AAV9-shParkin-infected mice 24 h after I/R injury ( n= 6). e Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and quantitative statistical analysis of basal respiration, ATP-related respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in mitochondria in the indicated groups ( n= 4). f Mitochondrial DNA ( n= 6) and complexes I and II–III activity ( n= 5) 24 h post-I/R in each group. g Representative electron microscopy images of heart sections 24 h post-I/R. The mitochondrial volume density and percent of mitochondria with cristae loss were measured in each group ( n= 5). Scale bar=10 μm (top) and 6 μm (bottom). h Protein levels of P62, ubiquitinated proteins (Ub), and LC3II in mitochondria from heart tissue 24 h after I/R injury ( n= 4). i H&E staining and quantitative statistical analysis of cell size ( n= 5) in USP18-cKO mice and AAV9-shParkin-infected mice 4 weeks after I/R injury. Scale bar=1 μm (top) and 50 μm (bottom). j Heart weight-to-tibia length ratio (HW/TL) ( n= 6) in each group. k Representative B-mode and M-mode echocardiographic images of the left ventricle from USP18-cKO mice and AAV9-shParkin-infected mice 4 weeks after I/R injury. l Cardiac function of USP18-cKO mice and AAV9-shParkin-infected mice 4 weeks after I/R injury ( n= 6). ⁎ P <0.05, ⁎⁎ P <0.01, ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001. USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; cTnI. Cardiac Troponin I; CK-MB. Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme; LDH. Lactate dehydrogenase; NC. Negative control; AAV9. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9; AAV9-USP18. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 encoding USP18; TTC. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride; ATP. Adenosine triphosphate; H&E. Hematoxylin and eosin; PSR. Picrosirius red; FCCP. Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; LVIDd. Left ventricle internal diameter at diastole; LVISd. Left ventricle internal diameter at systole; LVEF. Left ventricle ejection fraction; LVFS. Left ventricle fractional shortening; HR. Heart rate.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Knockdown, In Vivo, Infection, Staining, Activity Assay, Electron Microscopy, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Negative Control, Virus

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: USP18 inhibits mitophagy degradation and facilitates cardiac I/R injury through deubiquitinating and upregulating PTEN-L. a The protein levels of PTEN-L and PTEN in USP18-cKO mouse hearts 24 h after I/R injury ( n= 4). ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001, ns non-significant. b The protein levels of PTEN-L and PTEN in AAV9-USP18-infected mouse hearts 24 h after I/R injury ( n= 4). ⁎⁎⁎ P <0.001, ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001, ns non-significant. c Co-IP of USP18 and PTEN-L in NRVMs (left); NRVMs were transfected with HA-PTEN-L and Flag-USP18 (middle); Co-IP of Flag-USP18 and HA-PTEN-L in NRVMs (right). d Endogenous Co-IP of USP18 and PTEN-L in NRVMs subjected to H/R injury. e Endogenous Co-IP of USP18 and PTEN-L in hearts subjected to I/R injury. f PTEN-L ubiquitination (Ub) levels assessed by CO-IP in NRVMs subjected to H/R injury (top) and hearts subjected to I/R injury (bottom). g NRVMs were transfected with Ad-USP18 or USP18 siRNA or HA-PTEN-L and Myc-Ub and treated with MG132. Co-IP of Myc-Ub and HA-PTEN-L. h Schematic representations of t h e domains of PTEN-L involved in binding to USP18. Full-length PTEN-L or truncated PTEN-L was coexpressed with USP18 in HEK293T cells. Cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation with an anti-Myc antibody or an anti-HA antibody, followed by immunoblotting with the indicated antibodies. i Schematic representations of USP18 residues involved in binding to PTEN-L. Full-length USP18 or USP18 truncations were coexpressed with PTEN-L in HEK293T cells. Cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation with an anti-Myc antibody or an anti-HA antibody, followed by immunoblotting with the indicated antibodies. j Ub assay of PTEN-L in HEK293T cells cotransfected with Myc-USP18, Myc-USP18-mut, and Flag-PTEN-L and treated with 10 μmol/L MG132. k, l NRVMs were transfected with scRNA or USP18 siRNA ( k ), infected with Ad-NC or Ad-USP18 ( l ), and then treated with cycloheximide (CHX, 10 μmol/L) for the indicated time periods. Representative immunoblot analysis of PTEN-L protein levels in each group. ⁎⁎⁎⁎ P <0.0001 vs . scRNA or Ad-NC. USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; H/R. Hypoxia-reoxygenation; PTEN. Phosphatase and tensin homolog; PTEN-L. Phosphatase and tensin homolog-long; AAV9. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9; NC. Negative control.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Infection, Co-Immunoprecipitation Assay, Transfection, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Binding Assay, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot, Virus, Negative Control

Journal: Military Medical Research

Article Title: USP18 exacerbates myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting Parkin mitophagy through the deubiquitinase PTEN-L

doi: 10.1016/j.mmr.2026.100004

Figure Lengend Snippet: Summary of the key findings in this paper. Cardiac I/R injury upregulates USP18 in both mouse and human hearts. USP18 interacts with PTEN-L, inhibiting Parkin phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation, thereby suppressing mitophagy and exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial injury. PTEN-L additionally promotes cardiac damage via a paracrine mechanism. Genetic or pharmacological targeting of the USP18-PTEN-L axis restores mitophagy and protects against I/R-induced cardiac injury, representing a potential therapeutic strategy. I/R. Ischemia/reperfusion; PTEN-L. Phosphatase and tensin homolog-long; USP18. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18; Ub. Ubiquitination.

Article Snippet: NRVMs were isolated by enzymatic digestion of 1–3-day-old rat hearts, followed by pre-plating to remove nonmyocytes and collection of the enriched cardiomyocyte population following the method described by Liu et al . . Adenoviral vectors carrying USP18 (Ad-USP18) and PTEN-L (Ad-PTEN-L) were obtained from Vigene Biosciences (Jinan, China).

Techniques: Phospho-proteomics, Translocation Assay, Ubiquitin Proteomics

Journal: Molecular Biomedicine

Article Title: Combination of adenovirus vector and subunit protein elicits a robust immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

doi: 10.1186/s43556-026-00410-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: Adenoviral vector combined with subunit protein vaccines can induce long-lasting immune protection. a Study timeline for long-term evaluation. BALB/c mice received three intramuscular doses of the two-component vaccine (Ad5 XBB.1.5 + RBD XBB.1.5 -HR), with PBS-treated mice serving as controls (n = 6 mice per group). On day 236, blood, bone marrow, spleen and the lymph node were collected. b - c Serum RBD XBB.1.5 -HR-specific IgG levels ( b ) and their neutralizing activity against XBB.1.5, JN.1, EG.5.1, BA.2.86 pseudoviruses ( c ). d Bone marrow and spleen IgG⁺ ASCs specific for RBD XBB.1.5 -HR were assessed by ELISpot. e – g MBCs and LLPCs in the bone marrow ( e ). lymph node ( f ) and spleen ( g ) were assayed with FCM. h , XBB.1.5 spike-specific IFN-γ-producing cells in the spleen were detected with ELISpot. Data are presented as geometric means ± SD in b–c and as mean ± SEM in d–h. Significance was evaluated with unpaired Student’s t-tests. **** P < 0.0001; *** P < 0.001; ** P < 0.01

Article Snippet: The spike gene was inserted into the adenoviral shuttle plasmid pDC316 using Gibson assembly to generate recombinant pDC316-S constructs, which were then used to generate adenoviral vectors in HEK-293 cells with the AdMax system (Microbix).

Techniques: Plasmid Preparation, Vaccines, Activity Assay, Enzyme-linked Immunospot

Journal: Poultry Science

Article Title: CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing of Turkey Cells Using Adenoviral Delivery Running Head: RESEARCH NOTE

doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.106096

Figure Lengend Snippet: Workflow diagram for the genetic modification of poultry cells. Conserved areas of the LEPR gene in turkey and chicken were identified. Guide RNAs were designed and ligated into 7SK vectors which were then used to transfect DF-1 and TEF cells. The best gRNA was selected and ligated into an adenoviral vector which was used to produce adenovirus. The final adenovirus was used to infect DF-1 and TEF cells. PCR and sequencing were used to confirm the editing ability of virus transduction in TEF cells.

Article Snippet: The vector demonstrating the highest efficiency was digested, and the gRNA region was subsequently ligated into the adenoviral shuttle vector (Adeno Cas9; Addgene).

Techniques: Modification, Plasmid Preparation, Sequencing, Virus, Transduction