Integrating cell-signalling pathways with NF-kappaB and IKK function

Therapeutic strategy for oncovirus-mediated oral cancer: A comprehensive review

Oral cancer is a neoplastic disorder of the oral cavities, including the lips, tongue, buccal mucosa, and lower and upper gums. Oral cancer assessment entails a multistep process that requires deep knowledge of the molecular networks involved in its progression and development. Preventive measures including public awareness of risk factors and improving public behaviors are necessary, and screening techniques should be encouraged to enable early detection of malignant lesions. Herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are associated with other premalignant and carcinogenic conditions leading to oral cancer. Oncogenic viruses induce chromosomal rearrangements; activate signal transduction pathways via growth factor receptors, cytoplasmic protein kinases, and DNA binding transcription factors; modulate cell cycle proteins, and inhibit apoptotic pathways. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview on the use of nanomaterials for regulating viral proteins and oral cancer as well as the role of phytocompounds on oral cancer. The targets linking oncoviral proteins and oral carcinogenesis were also discussed.

Familial normal tension glaucoma genetics

Glaucoma is defined by characteristic optic nerve damage and corresponding visual field defects and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a strong risk factor for developing glaucoma. However, glaucoma can occur at any IOP. Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) arises with IOPs that are within what has been defined as a normal range, i.e., 21 mm Hg or less, which may present challenges in its diagnosis and management. Identifying inheritance patterns and genetic mutations in families with NTG has helped elucidate mechanisms of NTG, however the pathophysiology is complex and not fully understood. Approximately 2% of NTG cases are caused primarily by mutations in single genes, optineurin (OPTN), TANK binding kinase 1 (TKB1), or myocilin (MYOC). Herein, we review pedigree studies of NTG and autosomal dominant NTG caused by OPTN, TBK1, and MYOC mutations. We review identified mutations and resulting clinical features of OPTN-associated and TBK1-associated NTG, including long-term follow up of these patients with NTG. In addition, we report a new four-generation pedigree of NTG caused by a Glu50Lys OPTN mutation, including six family members with a mean follow up of 17 years. Common features of OPTN -associated NTG due to Glu50Lys mutation included early onset of disease with an IOP <21 mm Hg, marked optic disc cupping, and progressive visual field loss which appeared to stabilize once an IOP of less than 10 mm Hg was achieved. Lastly, we review risk factor genes which have been identified to contribute to the complex inheritance of NTG.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Flammulina rossica Fermentation Extract on Healthy and Immunosuppressed Mice

Flammulina rossica fermentation extract (FREP) was obtained by ethanol precipitation of the fermentation broth. The molecular weight of FREP is 28.52 kDa, and it mainly contains active ingredients such as polysaccharides, proteins, reducing sugars, and 16 amino acids. Among them, the polysaccharides were mannose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and fucose and possessed β-glycosidic bonds. Furthermore, the immunoregulatory activities of FREP were investigated in vivo. The results demonstrated that FREP could increase the counts of CD4+ T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in a dose-dependent manner in healthy mice. In addition, FREP significantly increased serum cytokines, including IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-6, IL-1β, INF-γ, C-rection protein, and TNF-α, and promoted splenocyte proliferation in healthy mice. Finally, FREP could restore the counts of white blood cells, red blood cells, secretory immunoglobulin A, and antibody-forming cells and significantly promote the serum haemolysin level in mice treated with cyclophosphamide. The findings indicated that FREP possessed immunoregulatory activity in healthy mice and could improve the immune functions in immunosuppressive mice. Therefore, FREP could be exploited as an immunomodulatory agent and potential immunotherapeutic medicine for patients with inadequate immune function.

USP10 regulates macrophage inflammation responses via stabilizing NEMO in LPS-induced sepsis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome characterized by persistent inflammation and immunosuppression, leading to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunctions. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10), a deubiquitinase enzyme, plays a vital role in cancer and arterial restenosis, but its involvement in sepsis is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the significance of USP10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and its biological roles in LPS-induced sepsis.

METHODS

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to establish sepsis models in vivo and in vitro. We use western blot to identify USP10 expression in macrophages. Spautin-1 and USP10-siRNA were utilized for USP10 inhibition. ELISA assays were used to assess for TNF-α and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Nuclear and cytoplasmic protein extraction and Confocal microscopy were applied to verify the translocation of NF-κB. Mechanically, co-immunoprecipitation and rescue experiments were used to validate the regulation of USP10 and NEMO.

RESULTS

In macrophages, we found that LPS induced USP10 upregulation. The inhibition or knockdown of USP10 reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation by regulating the translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, we found that NEMO, the regulatory subunit NF-κB essential modulator, was essential for the regulation of LPS-induced inflammation by USP10 in macrophages. NEMO protein evidently interacted with USP10, whereby USP10 inhibition accelerated the degradation of NEMO. Suppressing USP10 significantly attenuated inflammatory responses and improved the survival rate in LPS-induced sepsis mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, USP10 was shown to regulate inflammatory responses by stabilizing the NEMO protein, which may be a potential therapeutic target for sepsis-induced lung injury.

Repressive Control of Keratinocyte Cytoplasmic Inflammatory Signaling

The overactivity of keratinocyte cytoplasmic signaling contributes to several cutaneous inflammatory and immune pathologies. An important emerging complement to proteins responsible for this overactivity is signal repression brought about by several proteins and protein complexes with the native role of limiting inflammation. The signaling repression by these proteins distinguishes them from transmembrane receptors, kinases, and inflammasomes, which drive inflammation. For these proteins, defects or deficiencies, whether naturally arising or in experimentally engineered skin inflammation models, have clearly linked them to maintaining keratinocytes in a non-activated state or returning cells to a post-inflamed state after a signaling event. Thus, together, these proteins help to resolve acute inflammatory responses or limit the development of chronic cutaneous inflammatory disease. We present here an integrated set of demonstrated or potentially inflammation-repressive proteins or protein complexes (linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex [LUBAC], cylindromatosis lysine 63 deubiquitinase [CYLD], tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3-interacting protein 1 [TNIP1], A20, and OTULIN) for a comprehensive view of cytoplasmic signaling highlighting protein players repressing inflammation as the needed counterpoints to signal activators and amplifiers. Ebb and flow of players on both sides of this inflammation equation would be of physiological advantage to allow acute response to damage or pathogens and yet guard against chronic inflammatory disease. Further investigation of the players responsible for repressing cytoplasmic signaling would be foundational to developing new chemical-entity pharmacologics to stabilize or enhance their function when clinical intervention is needed to restore balance.

The Scap-SREBP1-S1P/S2P lipogenesis signal orchestrates the homeostasis and spatiotemporal activation of NF-κB

The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway plays essential roles in innate and adaptive immunity, but little is known how NF-κB signaling is compartmentalized and spatiotemporally activated in the cytoplasm. Here, we show that the lipogenesis signal cascade Scap-SREBP1-S1P/S2P orchestrates the homeostasis and spatiotemporal activation of NF-κB. SREBP cleavage-activating protein (Scap) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) form a super complex with inhibitors of NF-κB α (IκBα) to associate NF-κB close to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, Scap transports the complex to the Golgi apparatus, where SREBP1 is cleaved by site-1 protease (S1P)/S2P, liberating IκBα for IκB kinase (Ikk)-mediated phosphorylation and subsequent activation of NF-κB. Loss of Scap or inhibition of S1P or S2P diminishes, while SREBP1 deficiency augments, LPS-induced NF-κB activation and subsequent inflammatory responses. Our results reveal the Scap-SREBP1 complex as an additional cytoplasmic checkpoint for NF-κB homeostasis and unveil the Golgi apparatus as the optimal cellular platform for NF-κB activation, providing insights into the crosstalk between lipogenesis signaling and immunity.

The Role of Glutathione in Selected Viral Diseases

During inflammatory processes, immunocompetent cells are exposed to substantial amounts of free radicals and toxic compounds. Glutathione is a cysteine-containing tripeptide that is an important and ubiquitous antioxidant molecule produced in human organs. The intracellular content of GSH regulates the detoxifying capacity of cells, as well as the inflammatory and immune response. GSH is particularly important in the liver, where it serves as the major non-protein thiol involved in cellular antioxidant defense. There are numerous causes of hepatitis. The inflammation of the liver can be caused by a variety of infectious viruses. The relationship between oxidative stress and the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is not fully known. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hepatotropic viruses and glutathione status, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), as well as antioxidant enzymes, e.g., glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver diseases.

Therapeutic strategies to recover ependymal barrier after inflammatory damage: relevance for recovering neurogenesis during development

The epithelium covering the surfaces of the cerebral ventricular system is known as the ependyma, and is essential for maintaining the physical and functional integrity of the central nervous system. Additionally, the ependyma plays an essential role in neurogenesis, neuroinflammatory modulation and neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma barrier is severely affected by perinatal hemorrhages and infections that cross the blood brain barrier. The recovery and regeneration of ependyma after damage are key to stabilizing neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes that are critical during early postnatal ages. Unfortunately, there are no effective therapies to regenerate this tissue in human patients. Here, the roles of the ependymal barrier in the context of neurogenesis and homeostasis are reviewed, and future research lines for development of actual therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Signaling pathways and intervention for therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents one of the fastest growing epidemic metabolic disorders worldwide and is a strong contributor for a broad range of comorbidities, including vascular, visual, neurological, kidney, and liver diseases. Moreover, recent data suggest a mutual interplay between T2DM and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). T2DM is characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and pancreatic β cell dysfunction. Pioneering discoveries throughout the past few decades have established notable links between signaling pathways and T2DM pathogenesis and therapy. Importantly, a number of signaling pathways substantially control the advancement of core pathological changes in T2DM, including IR and β cell dysfunction, as well as additional pathogenic disturbances. Accordingly, an improved understanding of these signaling pathways sheds light on tractable targets and strategies for developing and repurposing critical therapies to treat T2DM and its complications. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the history of T2DM and signaling pathways, and offer a systematic update on the role and mechanism of key signaling pathways underlying the onset, development, and progression of T2DM. In this content, we also summarize current therapeutic drugs/agents associated with signaling pathways for the treatment of T2DM and its complications, and discuss some implications and directions to the future of this field.

MiR-199a-5p-containing macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles inhibit SMARCA4 and alleviate atherosclerosis by reducing endothelial cell pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

Endothelial cell disturbance underpins a role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Notably, accumulating studies indicate the substantial role of microRNAs (miRs) in atherosclerosis, and miR-199a-5p dysregulation has been associated with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders. However, the effect of miR-199a-5p on the phenotypes of endothelial cells and atherosclerosis remains largely unknown.

METHODS

ApoE-/- male mice were fed with high-fat diet for detection of inflammation and aorta plaque area. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were separated from THP-1-derived macrophage (THP-1-DM) that was treated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein, followed by co-culture with human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Ectopic expression and downregulation of miR-199a-5p were done in THP-1-DM-derived EVs to assess pyroptosis and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of HAECs. Binding relationship between miR-199a-5p and SMARCA4 was evaluated by luciferase activity assay.

RESULTS

EVs derived from ox-LDL-induced THP-1-DM expedited inflammation and aorta plaque area in atherosclerotic mice. Besides, miR-199a-5p expression was reduced in EVs from ox-LDL-induced THP-1-DM, and miR-199a-5p inhibition facilitated HAEC pyroptosis and LDH activity. Moreover, miR-199a-5p targeted and restricted SMARCA4, and then SMARCA4 activated the NF-κB pathway by increasing PODXL expression in HAECs.

CONCLUSION

EV-packaged inhibited miR-199a-5p from macrophages expedites endothelial cell pyroptosis and further accelerates atherosclerosis through the SMARCA4/PODXL/NF-κB axis, providing promising targets and strategies for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Epigenomic profiling of isolated blood cell types reveals highly specific B cell smoking signatures and links to disease risk

BACKGROUND

Tobacco smoking alters the DNA methylation profiles of immune cells which may underpin some of the pathogenesis of smoking-associated diseases. To link smoking-driven epigenetic effects in specific immune cell types with disease risk, we isolated six leukocyte subtypes, CD14+ monocytes, CD15+ granulocytes, CD19+ B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD56+ natural killer cells, from whole blood of 67 healthy adult smokers and 74 nonsmokers for epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) using Illumina 450k and EPIC methylation arrays.

RESULTS

Numbers of smoking-associated differentially methylated sites (smCpGs) at genome-wide significance (p < 1.2 × 10-7) varied widely across cell types, from 5 smCpGs in CD8+ T cells to 111 smCpGs in CD19+ B cells. We found unique smoking effects in each cell type, some of which were not apparent in whole blood. Methylation-based deconvolution to estimate B cell subtypes revealed that smokers had 7.2% (p = 0.033) less naïve B cells. Adjusting for naïve and memory B cell proportions in EWAS and RNA-seq allowed the identification of genes enriched for B cell activation-related cytokine signaling pathways, Th1/Th2 responses, and hematopoietic cancers. Integrating with large-scale public datasets, 62 smCpGs were among CpGs associated with health-relevant EWASs. Furthermore, 74 smCpGs had reproducible methylation quantitative trait loci single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were in complete linkage disequilibrium with genome-wide association study SNPs, associating with lung function, disease risks, and other traits.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed blood cell-type-specific smCpGs, a naïve-to-memory shift among B cells, and by integrating genome-wide datasets, we identified their potential links to disease risks and health traits.

Endocannabinoid modulation of allergic responses: Focus on the control of FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation

Allergic reactions are highly prevalent pathologies initiated by the production of IgE antibodies against harmless antigens (allergens) and the activation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) expressed in the surface of basophils and mast cells (MCs). Research on the mechanisms of negative control of those exacerbated inflammatory reactions has been intense in recent years. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) show important regulatory effects on MC-mediated immune responses, mainly inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. However, the description of the molecular mechanisms involved in eCB control of MC activation is far from complete. In this review, we aim to summarize the available information regarding the role of eCBs in the modulation of FcεRI-dependent activation of that cell type, emphasizing the description of the eCB system and the existence of some of its elements in MCs. Unique characteristics of the eCB system and cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) localization and signaling in MCs are mentioned. The described and putative points of cross-talk between CBRs and FcεRI signaling cascades are also presented. Finally, we discuss some important considerations in the study of the effects of eCBs in MCs and the perspectives in the field.

EGCG Attenuates CA1 Neuronal Death by Regulating GPx1, NF-κB S536 Phosphorylation and Mitochondrial Dynamics in the Rat Hippocampus following Status Epilepticus

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is an antioxidant that directly scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibits pro-oxidant enzymes. Although EGCG protects hippocampal neurons from status epilepticus (SE, a prolonged seizure activity), the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. As the preservation of mitochondrial dynamics is essential for cell viability, it is noteworthy to elucidate the effects of EGCG on impaired mitochondrial dynamics and the related signaling pathways in SE-induced CA1 neuronal degeneration, which are yet unclear. In the present study, we found that EGCG attenuated SE-induced CA1 neuronal death, accompanied by glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) induction. EGCG also abrogated mitochondrial hyperfusion in these neurons by the preservation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2)-dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1)-mediated mitochondrial fission, independent of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity. Furthermore, EGCG abolished SE-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) serine (S) 536 phosphorylation in CA1 neurons. ERK1/2 inhibition by U0126 diminished the effect of EGCG on neuroprotection and mitochondrial hyperfusion in response to SE without affecting GPx1 induction and NF-κB S536 phosphorylation, indicating that the restoration of ERK1/2-DRP1-mediated fission may be required for the neuroprotective effects of EGCG against SE. Therefore, our findings suggest that EGCG may protect CA1 neurons from SE insults through GPx1-ERK1/2-DRP1 and GPx1-NF-κB signaling pathways, respectively.

Tumor necrosis factor-α knockout mitigates intestinal inflammation and tumorigenesis in obese Apc1638N mice

Strong evidence from observational studies shows that having body fatness is associated with an individual's risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), but the causality between obesity and CRC remains inadequately elucidated. Our previous studies have shown diet-induced obesity is associated with elevated TNF-α and enhanced activation of Wnt-signaling, yet the causal role of TNF-α on intestinal tumorigenesis has not been precisely studied. The present study aims to examine the functionality of TNF-α in the development of CRC associated with obesity. We first examined the extent to which diet-induced obesity elevates intestinal tumorigenesis by comparing Apc^1638N mice fed a low fat diet (LFD, 10 kcal% fat) with those fed a high fat diet (HFD, 60 kcal% fat), and then investigated the degree that the genetic ablation of TNF-α attenuates the effect by crossing the TNF-α^-/- mice with Apc^1638N mice and feeding them with the same HFD (TNF-α KO HFD). After 16-weeks of feeding, the HFD significantly increased intestinal tumorigenesis, whereas the deletion of TNF-α attenuated the effect (p < 0.05). Accompanying the changes in macroscopic tumorigenesis, HFD significantly elevated intestinal inflammation and pro-carcinogenic Wnt-signaling, whereas abolishment of TNF-α mitigated the magnitude of these elevations (p < 0.05). In summary, our findings demonstrate that the knockout of TNF-α attenuates obesity-associated intestinal tumorigenesis by decreasing intestinal inflammation and thereby the Wnt-signaling, indicating that TNF-α signaling is a potential target that can be utilized to reduce the risk of CRC associated with obesity.

Remote preconditioning combined with nebulized budesonide alleviate lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury via regulating HO-1 and NF-κB in rats

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) may result in severe systemic inflammation and is life-threatening. Remote inflammatory preconditioning (RIPC) has been confirmed to have an endogenous protective effect against ALI. Budesonide (BS) is a potent corticosteroid typically administered through nebulization that reduces inflammation in the lungs. We speculate that the combined use of RIPC and nebulized BS has a stronger protective effect on ALI.

METHODS

48 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used for the experiments. Animals were divided evenly and randomly into three groups, control (NS injection), LPS (LPS injection), and RIPC (LPS injection with RIPC). Each group was then divided into two subgroups with inhalation of nebulized normal saline (NS) or BS. Prior to injection of LPS, RIPC was performed by tying and untying the right hind limb for three cycles of five minutes each. Following LPS injection, animals in each subgroup were placed in a same cage for nebulized inhalation. Animals were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS injection. Histological evaluation of ALI and lung wet-to-dry weight ratio were measured. Serum lactate acid, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress indicators were detected. The expression of HO-1, NF-κB p65 and p-p65 was measured by western blotting.

RESULTS

RIPC combined with nebulized BS significantly attenuated the LPS-induced ALI in rats. Reduction of MDA, increasing of SOD activity were found significantly improved by the joint strategy. TNF- and IL-1β rise brought on by LPS was reduced, but IL-10 production dramatically enhanced when compared to the LPS group. The expression of HO-1 was significantly increased by RIPC combined with nebulized BS while the expression of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 was decreased when compared with the LPS group.

CONCLUSION

RIPC combined with nebulized budesonide is protective for ALI induced by LPS in rats.

Efficient Delivery of Biological Cargos into Primary Cells by Electrodeposited Nanoneedles via Cell-Cycle-Dependent Endocytosis

Nanoneedles are a useful tool for delivering exogenous biomolecules to cells. Although therapeutic applications have been explored, the mechanism regarding how cells interact with nanoneedles remains poorly studied. Here, we present a new approach for the generation of nanoneedles, validated their usefulness in cargo delivery, and studied the underlying genetic modulators during delivery. We fabricated arrays of nanoneedles based on electrodeposition and quantified its efficacy of delivery using fluorescently labeled proteins and siRNAs. Notably, we revealed that our nanoneedles caused the disruption of cell membranes, enhanced the expression of cell-cell junction proteins, and downregulated the expression of transcriptional factors of NFκB pathways. This perturbation trapped most of the cells in G2 phase, in which the cells have the highest endocytosis activities. Taken together, this system provides a new model for the study of interactions between cells and high-aspect-ratio materials.

Transcriptomics Reveal Molecular Differences in Equine Oocytes Vitrified before and after In Vitro Maturation

In the last decade, in vitro embryo production in horses has become an established clinical practice, but blastocyst rates from vitrified equine oocytes remain low. Cryopreservation impairs the oocyte developmental potential, which may be reflected in the messenger RNA (mRNA) profile. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the transcriptome profiles of metaphase II equine oocytes vitrified before and after in vitro maturation. To do so, three groups were analyzed with RNA sequencing: (1) fresh in vitro matured oocytes as a control (FR), (2) oocytes vitrified after in vitro maturation (VMAT), and (3) oocytes vitrified immature, warmed, and in vitro matured (VIM). In comparison with fresh oocytes, VIM resulted in 46 differentially expressed (DE) genes (14 upregulated and 32 downregulated), while VMAT showed 36 DE genes (18 in each category). A comparison of VIM vs. VMAT resulted in 44 DE genes (20 upregulated and 24 downregulated). Pathway analyses highlighted cytoskeleton, spindle formation, and calcium and cation ion transport and homeostasis as the main affected pathways in vitrified oocytes. The vitrification of in vitro matured oocytes presented subtle advantages in terms of the mRNA profile over the vitrification of immature oocytes. Therefore, this study provides a new perspective for understanding the impact of vitrification on equine oocytes and can be the basis for further improvements in the efficiency of equine oocyte vitrification.

The regulatory feedback of inflammatory signaling and telomere/telomerase complex dysfunction in chronic inflammatory diseases

Inflammation is believed to play a role in the progression of numerous human diseases. Research has shown that inflammation and telomeres are involved in a feedback regulatory loop: inflammation increases the rate of telomere attrition, leading to telomere dysfunction, while telomere components also participate in regulating the inflammatory response. However, the specific mechanism behind this feedback loop between inflammatory signaling and telomere/telomerase complex dysfunction has yet to be fully understood. This review presents the latest findings on this topic, with a particular focus on the detailed regulation and molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of aging, various chronic inflammatory diseases, cancers, and different stressors. Several feedback loops between inflammatory signaling and telomere/telomerase complex dysfunction, including NF-κB-TERT feedback, NF-κB-RAP1 feedback, NF-κB-TERC feedback, STAT3-TERT feedback, and p38 MAPK-shelterin complex-related gene feedback, are summarized. Understanding the latest discoveries of this feedback regulatory loop can help identify novel potential drug targets for the suppression of various inflammation-associated diseases.

MiR-155 promotes inflammation and apoptosis via targeting SIRT1 in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is one of the major causes of infant death and long-term neurological disturbances, which puts great pressure on families and society. Previous studies have reported that neuroinflammation regulates the pathogenesis of HIBD. MiR-155 has been reported to participate in many brain injuries; however, its direct implication and related mechanisms are not illuminated in HIBD. Herein, we identified that miR-155 plays a vital role in HIBD both in in vitro and in vivo models. We found that miR-155 promoted inflammation and apoptosis via targeting SIRT1 and negatively regulated its expression levels in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in an in vitro model. Silencing of SIRT1 reversed the effects of miR-155 inhibitor on apoptosis and the NF-κB pathway in OGD/R-treated PC12 cells and microglia (BV2) cells. Moreover, in a neonatal rat HIBD model, miR-155 enhanced apoptosis and inflammation in the brains of rats with HIBD in vivo. Together, our results demonstrated that miR-155 exerted a negative effect in HIBD by targeting SIRT1, which could contribute to the treatment of neonatal patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Biomedical importance of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in diabetes and metabolic transdifferentiation of pancreatic duct epithelial cells into β-cells

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a major pathway for cellular protein degradation. The molecular function of the UPS is the removal of damaged proteins, and this function is applied in many biological processes, including inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Accumulating evidence also suggests that the UPS also has a key role in pancreatic β-cell transdifferentiation in diabetes and can be targeted for treatment of diabetic diseases. In this review, we summarized the mechanistic roles of the UPS in the biochemical activities of pancreatic β-cells, including the role of the UPS in insulin synthesis and secretion, as well as β-cell degradation. Also, we discuss how the UPS mediates the transdifferentiation of pancreatic duct epithelial cells into β-cells as the experimental basis for the development of new strategies for the treatment of diabetes in regenerative medicine.

IKBA phosphorylation governs human sperm motility through ACC-mediated fatty acid beta-oxidation

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway regulates specific immunological responses and controls a wide range of physiological processes. NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IKBA) is an NF-κB inhibitory mediator in the cytoplasm that modulates the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activities of NF-κB proteins. However, whether the upstream cascade of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway has physiological roles independent of IKBA-mediated transcriptional activation remains unclear. Herein we investigated the function of IKBA in mature sperm in which transcriptional and translational events do not occur. IKBA was highly expressed in human sperm. The repression of IKBA phosphorylation by its inhibitor Bay117082 markedly enhanced sperm motility. On the contrary, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IKBA phosphorylation significantly decreased sperm motility. Nevertheless, Bay117082 treatment did not affect the motility of IKBA-knockout sperm. Further, untargeted metabolomic analysis and pharmacological blocking assays revealed that the Bay117082-induced increase in sperm motility was attributable to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) enhancement. In addition, we found that IKBA phosphorylation inhibition resulted in a significant reduction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase levels in the FAO metabolic pathway. Our findings indicate that IKBA-mediated signaling orchestrates sperm motility program and improves our understanding of transcription-independent NF-κB signaling pathway in cells.

Direct Effects of Mifepristone on Mice Embryogenesis: An In Vitro Evaluation by Single-Embryo RNA Sequencing Analysis

The clinical use of mifepristone for medical abortions has been established in 1987 in France and since 2000 in the United States. Mifepristone has a limited medical period that lasts <9 weeks of gestation, and the incidence of mifepristone treatment failure increases with gestation time. Mifepristone functions as an antagonist for progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors. Studies have confirmed that mifepristone treatments can directly contribute to endometrium disability by interfering with the endometrial receptivity of the embryo, thus causing decidual endometrial degeneration. However, whether mifepristone efficacy directly affects embryo survival and growth is still an open question. Some women choose to continue their pregnancy after mifepristone treatment fails, and some women express regret and seek medically unapproved mifepristone antagonization with high doses of progesterone. These unapproved treatments raise the potential risk of embryonic fatality and developmental anomalies. Accordingly, in the present study, we collected mouse blastocysts ex vivo and treated implanted blastocysts with mifepristone for 24 h. The embryos were further cultured to day 8 in vitro to finish their growth in the early somite stage, and the embryos were then collected for RNA sequencing (control n = 3, mifepristone n = 3). When we performed a gene set enrichment analysis, our data indicated that mifepristone treatment considerably altered the cellular pathways of embryos in terms of viability, proliferation, and development. The data indicated that mifepristone was involved in hallmark gene sets of protein secretion, mTORC1, fatty acid metabolism, IL-2-STAT5 signaling, adipogenesis, peroxisome, glycolysis, E2F targets, and heme metabolism. The data further revealed that mifepristone interfered with normal embryonic development. In sum, our data suggest that continuing a pregnancy after mifepristone treatment fails is inappropriate and infeasible. The results of our study reveal a high risk of fetus fatality and developmental problems when pregnancies are continued after mifepristone treatment fails.

Immune cells and immune cell-targeted therapy in chronic pancreatitis

In recent years, studies have attempted to understand the immune cells and mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) by constructing a model of CP. Based on these studies, the innate immune response is a key factor in disease pathogenesis and inflammation severity. Novel mechanisms of crosstalk between immune and non-immune pancreatic cells, such as pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), have also been explored. Immune cells, immune responses, and signaling pathways in CP are important factors in the development and progression of pancreatitis. Based on these mechanisms, targeted therapy may provide a feasible scheme to stop or reverse the progression of the disease in the future and provide a new direction for the treatment of CP. This review summarizes the recent advances in research on immune mechanisms in CP and the new advances in treatment based on these mechanisms.

Identification of novel NFKB1 and ICOS frameshift variants in patients with CVID

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a 'late-onset' primary immunodeficiency characterized by variable manifestations and genetic heterogeneity. A monogenic cause of CVID has been reported in 10% of patients. In this study, we identified two novel pathogenic variants implicated in monogenic CVID by whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis: a heterozygous nuclear factor κB subunit 1 (NFKB1) p.G686fs mutation and a homozygous inducible T-cell co-stimulator (ICOS) p.L96Sfs mutation. The predicted crystal models indicated premature truncation of the two mutated proteins. Both variants were demonstrated as loss-of-function mutations and were associated with overlapped manifestations of respiratory fungal infection and splenomegaly. We further performed a detailed assessment of immunologic phenotypes and impaired lymphocyte functions in patients. Moreover, we discovered an association between monoclonal T-large granular lymphocyte proliferation and ICOS-deficient CVID for the first time. These observations lead to a new perspective on the underlying genetic heterogeneity of CVID.

Inhibition of microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Huperzine A: Computational and experimental approaches

Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4), 752 amino acids long, belonging to the AMPK superfamily, plays a vital role in regulating microtubules due to its potential to phosphorylate microtubule-associated proteins (MAP's) and thus, MARK4 plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. MARK4 is a druggable target for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. In this study, we have evaluated the MARK4 inhibitory potential of Huperzine A (HpA), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), a potential AD drug. Molecular docking revealed the key residues governing the MARK4-HpA complex formation. The structural stability and conformational dynamics of the MARK4-HpA complex was assessed by employing Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results suggested that the binding of HpA with MARK4 leads to minimal structural alterations in the native conformation of MARK4, implying the stability of the MARK4-HpA complex. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies deciphered that HpA binds to MARK4 spontaneously. Moreover, the kinase assay depicted significant inhibition of MARK by HpA (IC₅₀ = 4.91 μM), implying it to be a potent MARK4 inhibitor that can be implicated in the treatment of MARK4-directed diseases.

Sleep and Inflammation

Sleep and inflammatory cytokines have a bidirectional relationship where circadian rhythms influence increase in levels of certain cytokines, and in return, some cytokines induce sleep, as we frequently experience during illnesses. The most commonly studied cytokines, in the context of inflammation and sleep, are interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and (IL-1). In this article, the author follows the effect of circadian rhythms on blood levels of these cytokines and explores the changes in their levels in conditions that affect sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia.

Isoliquiritigenin inhibits microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in models of Parkinson's disease via JNK/AKT/NFκB signaling pathway

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid with numerous pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammation, yet its role in Parkinson's disease (PD) with microglia-mediated neuroinflammation remains unknown. In this study, the effects of ISL on inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in PD were evaluated in the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Our results showed that ISL prevented behavioral deficits and excessive microglial activation in MPTP-treated mice. Moreover, ISL was found to prevent the elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and mitigate the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), protein kinase B (AKT), nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), and inhibitor of NFκB protein ɑ (IκBɑ) in the substantia nigra and striatum of MPTP-treated mice and LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. Meanwhile, in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells, ISL inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In addition, the agonist of JNK partly abolished the inhibitory effects of ISL in LPS-treated BV-2 cells. Our results demonstrated that ISL inhibits microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in PD models probably through deactivating JNK/AKT/NFκB signaling pathways. The novel findings suggest the therapeutic potential of ISL for microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in PD.

TNFα stimulates the proliferation of immature Sertoli cells by attenuating UPS-degradation of cyclin D1 and leads to the delay of BTB maturation in pubertal rats

BACKGROUNDS

The Sertoli cell that plays a vital role during spermatogenesis is a known target of physiological and pathological factors affecting testicular development. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) participates in the blood-testis barrier reconstruction, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory response by recognizing receptors on Sertoli cell. TNFα has also been shown to induce the proliferation of immature Sertoli cell in vitro, yet the mechanism still remains unclarified.

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to investigate the effect of TNFα on blood-testis barrier development during puberty and the underlying mechanisms of TNFα-induced immature Sertoli cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immature male Sprague-Dawley rats of postnatal day 12 were intraperitoneally injected with TNFα. Biotin-labeled method was used to detect permeability of the developing blood-testis barrier after TNFα treatment, and the distribution of occludin and junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) were detected by immunofluorescence. Sertoli cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats of postnatal day 10 were cultured in vitro and treated with TNFα. Cell proliferation rate was reflected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Immunoblot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Fbxo4, and cyclin D1. Immunoprecipitation was used to detect the ubiquitination of cyclin D1 and the interaction between Fbxo4 and cyclin D1. Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) was applied to detect the effect of nuclear factor kappaB (NFκB) activity inhibition on TNFα-induced Sertoli cell proliferation. The adenoviral recombinant plasmid containing rat Fbxo4 gene was constructed to investigate the effect of Fbxo4 overexpression on Sertoli cell proliferation promoted by TNFα.

RESULTS

The in vivo experiment revealed a significant delay of blood-testis barrier maturation in pubertal rats caused by exogenous TNFα. TNFα (10 ng/ml) treatment in vitro was found to promote the proliferation of immature Sertoli cells, accompanied with increased NFκB activity and cyclin D1 protein level. The level of Fbxo4 and ubiquitination of cyclin D1 were decreased after TNFα treatment. Inhibitor of NFκB or overexpression of Fbxo4 could both reverse the TNFα-induced proliferation of immature Sertoli cells, meanwhile restore the ubiquitin-proteasome system-dependent degradation of cyclin D1. Overexpression of Fbxo4 could not affect the activation of NFκB caused by TNFα.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that TNFα inhibits the ubiquitination and degradation of cyclin D1 through the NFκB pathway, thereby promoting the proliferation of immature Sertoli cell in vitro and inducing the delay of blood-testis barrier maturation in pubertal rats.

Dihydroartemisinin-ursodeoxycholic acid conjugate is a potential treatment agent for inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

A novel artemisinin derivative, dihydroartemisinin-ursodeoxycholic acid conjugate (4), was found to exhibit strong immunosuppressive activity. Various methods were used to evaluate the immunosuppressive activity and mechanism of action of the compound to explore its potential applications.

METHODS

T cell proliferation, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and Th1/Th17 differentiation assays were used to evaluate the immunosuppressive activity of the compound. Differentially expressed genes from RNA sequencing were analysed with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, while enriched signalling pathways were further validated by western blotting (WB). In vivo efficacy was validated with delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) mouse models and dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mouse model.

RESULTS

Compound 4 inhibited concanavalin A -induced mouse splenic T cell proliferation (IC₅₀ = 15 nM) and anti-CD3/CD28-induced human primary T cell proliferation (IC₅₀ = 30 nM) while also reducing the secretion of hIFN-γ. Compound 4 exhibited similar inhibitory activity in MLR assay. Compound 4 dose-dependently inhibited human Th1/Th17 differentiation. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the genes related to T cell activation signalling pathways PI3K-AKT, MAPK, and NF-κB were significantly enriched. WB confirmed that compound 4 inhibited the AKT/MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways. Compound 4 dose-dependently inhibited ear and foot pad swelling in DTH mouse models. In the DSS-induced IBD mouse model, compound 4 significantly decreased the disease activity index and colon density, and inhibited splenomegaly of the mice.

CONCLUSION

The in vitro and in vivo results indicated that compound 4 has the potential to be developed into an anti-IBD drug.

NFκB signaling in T cell memory

Memory T cells play an essential role in protecting against infectious diseases and cancer and contribute to autoimmunity and transplant rejection. Understanding how they are generated and maintained in the context of infection or vaccination holds promise to improve current immune-based therapies. At the beginning of any immune response, naïve T cells are activated and differentiate into cells with effector function capabilities. In the context of infection, most of these cells die once the pathogenic antigen has been cleared. Only a few of them persist and differentiate into memory T cells. These memory T cells are essential to host immunity because they are long-lived and can perform effector functions immediately upon re-infection. How a cell becomes a memory T cell and continues being one for months and even years past the initial infection is still not fully understood. Recent reviews have thoroughly discussed the transcriptional, epigenomic, and metabolic mechanisms that govern T cell memory differentiation. Yet much less is known of how signaling pathways that are common circuitries of multiple environmental signals regulate T cell outcome and, precisely, T cell memory. The function of the NFκB signaling system is perhaps best understood in innate cells. Recent findings suggest that NFκB signaling plays an essential and unique role in generating and maintaining CD8 T cell memory. This review aims to summarize these findings and discuss the remaining questions in the field.

NF-κB in monocytes and macrophages - an inflammatory master regulator in multitalented immune cells

Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a dimeric transcription factor constituted by two of five protein family members. It plays an essential role in inflammation and immunity by regulating the expression of numerous chemokines, cytokines, transcription factors, and regulatory proteins. Since NF-κB is expressed in almost all human cells, it is important to understand its cell type-, tissue-, and stimulus-specific roles as well as its temporal dynamics and disease-specific context. Although NF-κB was discovered more than 35 years ago, many questions are still unanswered, and with the availability of novel technologies such as single-cell sequencing and cell fate-mapping, new fascinating questions arose. In this review, we will summarize current findings on the role of NF-κB in monocytes and macrophages. These innate immune cells show high plasticity and dynamically adjust their effector functions against invading pathogens and environmental cues. Their versatile functions can range from antimicrobial defense and antitumor immune responses to foam cell formation and wound healing. NF-κB is crucial for their activation and balances their phenotypes by finely coordinating transcriptional and epigenomic programs. Thereby, NF-κB is critically involved in inflammasome activation, cytokine release, and cell survival. Macrophage-specific NF-κB activation has far-reaching implications in the development and progression of numerous inflammatory diseases. Moreover, recent findings highlighted the temporal dynamics of myeloid NF-κB activation and underlined the complexity of this inflammatory master regulator. This review will provide an overview of the complex roles of NF-κB in macrophage signal transduction, polarization, inflammasome activation, and cell survival.

The hTERT-p50 homodimer inhibits PLEKHA7 expression to promote gastric cancer invasion and metastasis

Although accumulating evidence has highlighted the molecular mechanisms by which hTERT promotes tumour cell invasion and metastasis, the molecular mechanisms of the properties enabling hTERT to contribute to invasion and metastasis have not been clearly illustrated. Here, we report that hTERT promotes gastric cancer invasion and metastasis by recruiting p50 to synergistically inhibit PLEKHA7 expression. We observed that the expression of PLEKHA7 in gastric cancer was significantly negatively associated with the TNM stage and lymphatic metastasis and that decreased PLEKHA7 expression dramatically increased invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer cells. Further mechanistic research showed that hTERT directly regulates PLEKHA7 expression by binding p50 and recruiting the hTERT/p50 complex to the PLEKHA7 promoter. Increased hTERT dramatically decreased PLEKHA7 expression and promoted invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer cells. The hTERT-mediated invasion/metastasis properties at least partially depended on PLEKHA7. Our work uncovers a novel molecular mechanism underlying invasion/metastasis in gastric cancer orchestrated by hTERT and p50.

Isodorsmanin A Prevents Inflammatory Response in LPS-Stimulated Macrophages by Inhibiting the JNK and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Natural and synthetic chalcones exhibit anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antitubercular activities. Isodorsmanin A (IDA), a chalcone, is a well-known constituent of the dried seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC). Although other constituents of PC have been widely investigated, there are no studies on the biological properties of IDA. In this study, we focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of IDA and evaluated its effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The results showed that IDA suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide [NO] and prostaglandin E₂ [PGE₂]) and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]) without cytotoxicity. In addition, it downregulated the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) within the treatment concentrations. In our mechanistic studies, IDA inhibited the phosphorylation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and protected the nuclear factor of the kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in the B-cells' inhibitor, alpha (IκB-α), from degradation, thus preventing the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells' (NF-κB) transcription factor. Our results suggest that IDA is a promising compound for attenuating excessive inflammatory responses.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Immunomodulatory Actions in Periodontal Disease

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are a diverse set of molecules with remarkable contributions to human physiology. They not only serve as sources of fuel but also cellular structural components as well as substrates that provide bioactive metabolites. A growing body of evidence demonstrates their role in inflammation. Inflammation in the presence of a polymicrobial biofilm contributes to the pathology of periodontitis. The role PUFAs in modulating immuno-inflammatory reactions in periodontitis is only beginning to be uncovered as research continues to unravel their far-reaching immunologic implications.

The mechanism and therapy of aortic aneurysms

Aortic aneurysm is a chronic aortic disease affected by many factors. Although it is generally asymptomatic, it poses a significant threat to human life due to a high risk of rupture. Because of its strong concealment, it is difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stage. At present, there are no effective drugs for the treatment of aneurysms. Surgical intervention and endovascular treatment are the only therapies. Although current studies have discovered that inflammatory responses as well as the production and activation of various proteases promote aortic aneurysm, the specific mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers are further exploring the pathogenesis of aneurysms to find new targets for diagnosis and treatment. To better understand aortic aneurysm, this review elaborates on the discovery history of aortic aneurysm, main classification and clinical manifestations, related molecular mechanisms, clinical cohort studies and animal models, with the ultimate goal of providing insights into the treatment of this devastating disease. The underlying problem with aneurysm disease is weakening of the aortic wall, leading to progressive dilation. If not treated in time, the aortic aneurysm eventually ruptures. An aortic aneurysm is a local enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the aortic wall. The disease is usually asymptomatic but leads to high mortality due to the risk of artery rupture.

The store-operated Ca2+ channel Orai1α is required for agonist-evoked NF-κB activation by a mechanism dependent on PKCβ2

Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry is a ubiquitous mechanism for Ca²⁺ influx in mammalian cells that regulates a variety of physiological processes. The identification of two forms of Orai1, the predominant store-operated channel, Orai1α and Orai1β, raises the question whether they differentially regulate cell function. Orai1α is the full-length Orai1, containing 301 amino acids, whereas Orai1β lacks the N-terminal 63 amino acids. Here, using a combination of biochemistry and imaging combined with the use of human embryonic kidney 293 KO cells, missing the native Orai1, transfected with plasmids encoding for either Orai1α or Orai1β, we show that Orai1α plays a relevant role in agonist-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity. In contrast, functional Orai1β is not required for the activation of these transcription factors. The role of Orai1α in the activation of NF-κB is entirely dependent on Ca²⁺ influx and involves PKCβ activation. Our results indicate that Orai1α interacts with PKCβ2 by a mechanism involving the Orai1α exclusive AKAP79 association region, which strongly suggests a role for AKAP79 in this process. These findings provide evidence of the role of Orai1α in agonist-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity and reveal functional differences between Orai1 variants.

Ketamine, benzoate, and sarcosine for treating depression

Studies have demonstrated the beneficial therapeutic effects of sarcosine, benzoate, and ketamine (including esketamine and arketamine) on depression. These drugs mainly act by modulating N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs) and reducing inflammation in the brain. Although ketamine, benzoate, and sarcosine act differently as the antagonists or coagonists of NMDARs, they all have demonstrated efficacy in animal models or human trials. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that sarcosine, benzoate, and ketamine exert their anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting microglial activity. This review summarizes and compares the efficacy of the possible therapeutic mechanisms of sarcosine, benzoate, ketamine, esketamine, and arketamine. These compounds act as both NMDAR modulators and anti-inflammatory drugs and thus can be effective in the treatment of depression.

A four-compound remedy AGILe protected H9c2 cardiomyocytes against oxygen glucose deprivation via targeting the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway: Implications for the therapy of myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a highly prevalent and lethal disease worldwide. Prevention and timely recovery are critical for the control of the recurrence and heart failure in MI survivors. The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective activity of the herbal medicine formula Baoyuan Decoction (BYD) and identify the active compounds and molecular targets. The ethanolic BYD extract (BYDE) was prepared by water extraction and ethanol precipitation of four herbal medicines, Astragali Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Initially, BYDE was validated for the cardioprotective effectiveness in a mouse model of ischemia injury and rat cardiomyocyte H9C2 cells. As results, BYDE effectively reduced infarct size from 56% to 37% and preserved cardiac functions in mouse MI model while protected H9C2 cells against oxygen glucose deprivation. Subsequent network pharmacology analysis revealed that 122 bioactive ingredients, including flavonoids and saponins from the UPLC-MS/MS profile of BYDE, might target 37 MI-related proteins, including inflammatory and apoptotic mediators (e.g., TNF, NFKB1, CASPs, TNFRSF1A, CXCL12, BCL2A1). Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that BYDE might control the cardiac inflammation via targeting the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway while the selected targets were also implicated in IL-17 signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis. Consequently, adenosine, ginsenoside Rh2, isoliquiritigenin, and licochalcone A were selected to generate the four-compound mixture AGILe and validated for the inhibitory effects on the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway. The results of the present study suggested that the mixture AGILe might be a potential cardioprotective remedy against MI.

Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress: Signaling Mechanisms, Redox Basis for Human Diseases, and Cell Cycle Regulation

Free radicals contain one or more unpaired electrons in their valence shell, thus making them unstable, short-lived, and highly reactive species. Excessive generation of these free radicals ultimately leads to oxidative stress causing oxidation and damage to significant macromolecules in the living system and essentially disrupting signal transduction pathways and antioxidants equilibrium. At lower concentrations, ROS serves as "second messengers," influencing many physiological processes in the cell. However, higher concentrations beyond cell capacity cause oxidative stress, contributing to human pathologies such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular diseases, cataract, asthma, hypertension, atherosclerosis, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. Signaling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPKs, PI3K/Akt/ mTOR, and Keap1-Nrf2- ARE modulate the detrimental effects of oxidative stress by increasing the expression of cellular antioxidant defenses, phase II detoxification enzymes, and decreased production of ROS. Free radicals such as H2O2 are indeed needed for the advancement of the cell cycle as these molecules influence DNA, proteins, and enzymes in the cell cycle pathway. In the course of cell cycle progression, the cellular redox environment becomes more oxidized, moving from the G1 phase, becoming higher in G2/M and moderate in the S phase. Signals in the form of an increase in cellular pro-oxidant levels are required, and these signals are often terminated by a rise in the amount of antioxidants and MnSOD with a decrease in the level of cyclin D1 proteins. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of cell cycle redox regulation will help in the therapy of many diseases.

In vitro and in silico perspectives to explain anticancer activity of a novel syringic acid analog ((4-(1H-1, 3-benzodiazol-2-yl)-2, 6-dimethoxy phenol)) through apoptosis activation and NFkB inhibition in K562 leukemia cells

Syringic acid (SA) is an active carcinogenesis inhibitor; however, the low bioavailability and unstable functional groups hinder its activity. Here, a chemically synthesized novel SA analog (SA10) is evaluated for its anticancer activity using in-vitro and in-silico studies. K562 cell line study revealed that SA10 had shown a higher rate of inhibition (IC50 = 50.40 μg/mL) than its parental compound, SA (IC50 = 96.92 μg/mL), at 50 μM concentration. The inhibition ratio was also been evaluated by checking the expression level of NFkB and Bcl-2 and showing that SA10 has two-fold increase in the inhibitory mechanism than SA. This result demonstrates that SA10 acts as an NFkB inhibitor and an apoptosis inducer. Further, molecular docking and simulation have been performed to get insights into the possible inhibitory mechanism of SA and SA10 on NFkB at the atomistic level. The molecular docking results exemplify that both SA and SA10 bind to the active site of NFkB, thereby interfering with the association between DNA and NFkB. SA10 exhibits a more robust binding affinity than SA and is firmly docked well into the interior of the NFkB, as confirmed by MM-PBSA calculations. In a nutshell, the Benzimidazole scaffold containing SA10 has shown more NFkB inhibitory activity in K562 cells than SA, which could be helpful as an ideal therapeutic NFkB inhibitor for treating cancers.

Potential Mechanism of Platelet-rich Plasma Treatment on Testicular Problems Related to Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a condition of continuously increased blood glucose levels that causes hyperglycemia. This condition can result in disorders of various organs including testicular problems. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which is contained in several growth factors shows its potential in overcoming testicular problems. This literature review study was conducted to identify the potential of PRP in overcoming various testicular problems due to diabetic conditions.

Zinc accumulation aggravates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by promoting inflammation

Intracellular zinc accumulation has been shown to be associated with neuronal death after cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanism of zinc accumulation leading to neuronal death in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is still unclear. Intracellular zinc signals are required for the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The present study investigated whether intracellular accumulated zinc aggravates I/R injury through inflammatory response, and inflammation-mediated neuronal apoptosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with vehicle or zinc chelator TPEN 15 mg/kg before a 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The expressions of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB p65, and NF-κB inhibitory protein IκB-α, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were assessed at 6 or 24 h after reperfusion. Our results demonstrated that the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB p65 increased after reperfusion, while the expression of IκB-α and IL-10 decreased, suggesting that cerebral ischemia triggers inflammatory response. Furthermore, TNF-α, NF-κB p65, and IL-10 were all colocalized with the neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), suggesting that the ischemia-induced inflammatory response occurs in neurons. Moreover, TNF-α was also colocalized with the zinc-specific dyes Newport Green (NG), suggesting that intracellular accumulated zinc might be associated with neuronal inflammation following cerebral I/R. Chelating zinc with TPEN reversed the expression of TNF-α, NF-κB p65, IκB-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in ischemic rats. Besides, IL-6-positive cells were colocalized with TUNEL-positive cells in the ischemic penumbra of MCAO rats at 24 h after reperfusion, indicating that zinc accumulation following I/R might induce inflammation and inflammation-associated neuronal apoptosis. Taken together, this study demonstrates that excessive zinc activates inflammation and that the brain injury caused by zinc accumulation is at least partially due to specific neuronal apoptosis induced by inflammation, which may provide an important mechanism of cerebral I/R injury.

Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) up-regulates gelatinase expression in chondrocytes through nuclear factor-κB p65

INTRODUCTION

Gelatinases, namely MMP2 and MMP9, are involved in the natural turnover of articular cartilage, as well as the loss of the cartilage matrix in osteoarthritis (OA). Studies have reported that fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) promoted the degradation of cartilage in OA. In the present study, we predicted that FGF8 promoted chondrocyte expression and secretion of gelatinases by activating NF-κB p65 signaling.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary chondrocytes from C57 mice were cultured with recombinant FGF8. RNA sequencing was employed to explore the gene expression changes of gelatinases. Gelatin zymography was used to determine the activation of gelatinases. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of the gelatinases and NF-κB p65 signaling pathways, and immunofluorescence staining and NF-κB inhibitor assays were performed to confirm the activation of NF-κB p65 signaling.

RESULTS

FGF8 could increase the expression and activity of gelatinases in primary chondrocytes. And FGF8-induced expression of gelatinases was regulated through activation of NF-κB signaling with acetylated p65 accumulating in the cell nucleus. We further found that the NF-κB inhibitor, BAY 11-7082, could suppress up-regulation of gelatinase induced by FGF8.

CONCLUSION

FGF8 enhanced the expression and activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in chondrocytes via NF-κB p65 signaling.

Blocking Cx43 alleviates neuropathic pain in rats with chronic constriction injury via the P2X4 and P38/ERK-P65 pathways

Neuropathic pain is a growing concern in the medical community, and studies on new analgesic targets for neuropathic pain have become a new hot spot. Whether Connexin43 (Cx43) has a key role in neuropathic pain mediated by the purinergic 2X4 (P2X4) receptor in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) was explored in this study. Our experimental results show that blockade of Cx43 could attenuate neuropathic pain in rats suffering from CCI via the P2X4, p38, ERK, and NF-kB signalling pathways. These results suggest that Cx43 may be a promising therapeutic target for the development of novel pharmacological agents in the management of neuropathic pain.

Regulation of cells of the arterial wall by hypoxia and its role in the development of atherosclerosis

The cell's response to hypoxia depends on stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 complex and transactivation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). HIF target gene transcription in cells resident to atherosclerotic lesions adjoins a complex interplay of cytokines and mediators of inflammation affecting cholesterol uptake, migration, and inflammation. Maladaptive activation of the HIF-pathway and transactivation of nuclear factor kappa-B causes monocytes to invade early atherosclerotic lesions, maintaining inflammation and aggravating a low-oxygen environment. Meanwhile HIF-dependent upregulation of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 causes attenuation of cholesterol efflux and ultimately macrophages becoming foam cells. Hypoxia facilitates neovascularization by upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells lining the arterial wall destabilizing the plaque. HIF-knockout animal models and inhibitor studies were able to show beneficial effects on atherogenesis by counteracting the HIF-pathway in the cell wall. In this review the authors elaborate on the up-to-date literature on regulation of cells of the arterial wall through activation of HIF-1α and its effect on atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Relationship between proximity and physiological stress levels in hunter-gatherers: The Hadza

In recent years there has been a great deal of documentation on how social relationships are related to various aspects of human wellbeing. However, until recently most studies investigating the effects of social relationships on wellbeing have applied social network measures to reported social contacts. Recent advances in the application of bio-loggers in biological studies have now made it possible to quantify social relationships based on in-person, rather than self-reported, social interactions. We used GPS-derived in-camp and out-of-camp proximity data to analyse how in-person proximity is related to Hair Cortisol Concentration (HCC) among Hadza hunter-gatherers. Time spent in close proximity to other camp members was associated with higher HCC, especially in women. In contrast, individuals who spent more time in close out-of-camp proximity to their best friend experienced lower HCC. Our study suggests that physiological costs related to group living might be mitigated by in-person interactions with close friends. We also find that the location (i.e., in-camp vs out-of-camp) of proximity to others and self-perceived friends is associated with HCC among the Hadza.

Proficient Novel Biomarkers Guide Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury: A Review

The definition of acute kidney injury (AKI), despite improvements in criteria, continues to be based on the level of serum creatinine and urinary output that do not specifically indicate tubular function or injury, or glomerular function or injury that is not significant enough to warrant acute hospitalization of the patient. Finding novel biomarkers of AKI has become a major focus nowadays in nephrology to overcome the further complications of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Many compounds, such as KIM 1, IL 18, NGAL, uromodulin, calprotectin, vanin 1, galactin 3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), urinary Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), retinol binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C, are released from the renal tubules and thus any alterations in tubular function can be detected by measuring these parameters in urine. Additionally, glomerular injury can be detected by measuring immunoglobulin G, nephrin, podocalyxin, podocin, transferrin, netrin-1, pyruvate kinase M2, etc. in urine. These novel biomarkers will be useful for timing the initial insult and assessing the duration of AKI. According to available research, these biomarkers could be applied to assess the onset of AKI, distinguishing between kidney injury and dysfunction, directing the management of AKI, and enhancing disease diagnosis. Therefore, we intend to present recent developments in our understanding of significant biomarkers implicated in various aspects of renal damage. Numerous biomarkers are implicated in various pathophysiological processes that follow renal injury, and can improve prognosis and risk classification.

Survival motor neuron protein and neurite degeneration are regulated by Gemin3 in spinal muscular atrophy motoneurons

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by reduction of the ubiquitously expressed protein Survival Motor Neuron (SMN). Low levels of SMN impact on spinal cord motoneurons (MNs) causing their degeneration and progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. To study the molecular mechanisms leading to cell loss in SMN-reduced MNs, we analyzed the NF-κB intracellular pathway in SMA models. NF-κB pathway activation is required for survival and regulates SMN levels in cultured MNs. Here we describe that NF-κB members, inhibitor of kappa B kinase beta (IKKβ), and RelA, were reduced in SMA mouse and human MNs. In addition, we observed that Gemin3 protein level was decreased in SMA MNs, but not in non-neuronal SMA cells. Gemin3 is a core member of the SMN complex responsible for small nuclear ribonucleoprotein biogenesis, and it regulates NF-κB activation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase TAK1. Our experiments showed that Gemin3 knockdown reduced SMN, IKKβ, and RelA protein levels, and caused significant neurite degeneration. Overexpression of SMN increased Gemin3 protein in SMA MNs, but did not prevent neurite degeneration in Gemin3 knockdown cells. These data indicated that Gemin3 reduction may contribute to cell degeneration in SMA MNs.

Altered mRNA Expression of NFKB1 and NFKB2 Genes in Penile Lichen Sclerosus, Penile Cancer and Zoon Balanitis

BACKGROUND

The nuclear factor-κB transcription factors 1 and 2 (NFKB1 and NFKB2) are key components of the NF-κB pathway, which responds to inflammatory signals. Since the NFKB1/2 factors are activated via different inflammatory molecules, we aimed to check their expression levels in penile cancer (PC), penile dermatoses: lichen sclerosus (PLS) and zoon balanitis (ZB).

METHODS

Skin biopsies from altered and healthy looking foreskin were obtained from 59 (49 LS; early PLS: 13, moderate PLS: 32, severe PLS: 4; 6 PC; 4 ZB) and unchanged foreskin from 13 healthy control adult males undergoing circumcision. NFKB1/2 mRNA levels were quantified by qPCR.

RESULTS

The highest levels of NFKB1 and NFKB2 were observed in PC, ca. 22 and 3.5 times higher than in control, respectively. NFKB1 expression was correlated with PLS progression (rs = 0.667) and was ca. 20 times higher in advanced PLS than in controls and early PLS. Occurrence of micro-incontinence was associated with elevated NFKB1 levels in PLS.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study regarding gene profiles of NFKB1/2 in PC and penile dermatoses. New drugs targeting modulation of canonical-activated NF-κB pathway should be studied and introduced to the treatment of PLS and PC apart from other treatments.