Aqueous reactions of methylglyoxal (MG) and glyoxal with ammonium sulfate (AS) produce light-absorbing compounds (chromophores) and may serve as a source of atmospheric secondary "brown carbon" (BrC). The molecular composition of these chromophores is ambiguous, and their transformation due to exposure to solar UV radiation is not well understood. We examined the molecular composition, mass absorption coefficients, and fluorescence spectra of BrC samples produced by the evaporation of aqueous MG/AS solutions. Chromatograms of BrC produced by evaporation were different from those of BrC produced by slow MG/AS reaction in water, highlighting the substantial sensitivity of BrC to its formation conditions. The BrC samples were characterized before and after their exposure to broadband (270−390 nm) UV radiation. Irradiation led to rapid photobleaching, a decrease in the characteristic 280 nm absorption band, a complete loss of fluorescence, and a dramatic change in molecular composition. By comparing the composition before and after the irradiation, we identified several structural motifs that may contribute to the light-absorbing properties of MG/AS BrC. For example, a family of oligomers built from an imidazole carbonyl and repetitive MG units was prominent in the initial sample and decreased in abundance after photolysis. More complex oligomers containing both imidazole and pyrrole rings in their structures also appeared to contribute to the pool of BrC chromophores. The selective reduction of carbonyl functional groups by sodium borohydride diminished the absorption but had little effect on the fluorescence of MG/AS BrC samples, suggesting that absorption in this system is dominated by individual chromophores as opposed to supramolecular charge-transfer complexes. Due to the efficient photolysis of the BrC chromophores, this MG/AS BrC system has limited impact on the direct radiative forcing of climate but may have an effect on atmospheric photochemistry in aerosol particles.

Unlike conventional major histocompatibility complex–restricted T cells, Vα14-Jα18 NKT cell lineage precursors engage in cognate interactions with CD1d-expressing bone marrow–derived cells that are both necessary and sufficient for their thymic selection and differentiation, but the nature and sequence of these interactions remain partially understood. After positive selection mediated by CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes, the mature NKT cell lineage undergoes a series of changes suggesting antigen priming by a professional antigen-presenting cell, including extensive cell division, acquisition of a memory phenotype, the ability to produce interleukin-4 and interferon-γ, and the expression of a panoply of NK receptors. By using a combined transgenic and chimeric approach to restrict CD1d expression to cortical thymocytes and to prevent expression on other hematopoietic cell types such as dendritic cells, macrophages, or B cells, we found that, to a large extent, expansion and differentiation events could be imparted by a single-cognate interaction with CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes. These surprising findings suggest that, unlike thymic epithelial cells, cortical thymocytes can provide unexpected, cell type–specific signals leading to lineage expansion and NKT cell differentiation.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), caused by an ABCD1 mutation, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA). Cerebral inflammatory demyelination is the major feature of childhood cerebral ALD (CCALD), the most severe form of ALD, but its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the aberrant production of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) in the cellular context of CCALD based on the analysis of ALD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and ex vivo fibroblasts. Intriguingly, 25-HC, but not VLCFA, promotes robust NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation via potassium efflux-, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and liver X receptor (LXR)-mediated pathways. Furthermore, stereotaxic injection of 25-HC into the corpus callosum of mouse brains induces microglial recruitment, interleukin-1β production, and oligodendrocyte cell death in an NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent manner. Collectively, our results indicate that 25-HC mediates the neuroinflammation of X-ALD via activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary factor in skin photoaging, which is characterized by wrinkle formation, dryness, and thickening. The mechanisms underlying skin photoaging are closely associated with degradation of collagen via upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, which is induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Gallic acid (GA), a phenolic compound, possesses a variety of biological activities including antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. We investigated the protective effects of GA against photoaging caused by UVB irradiation using normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) in vitro and hairless mice in vivo. The production levels of ROS, interlukin-6, and MMP-1 were significantly suppressed, and type I procollagen expression was stimulated in UVB-irradiated and GA-treated NHDFs. GA treatment inhibited the activity of transcription factor activation protein 1. The effects of GA following topical application and dietary administration were examined by measuring wrinkle formation, histological modification, protein expression, and physiological changes such as stratum corneum hydration, transepidermal water loss, and erythema index. We found that GA decreased dryness, skin thickness, and wrinkle formation via negative modulation of MMP-1 secretion and positive regulation of elastin, type I procollagen, and transforming growth factor-β1. Our data indicate that GA is a potential candidate for the prevention of UVB-induced premature skin aging.

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