The effects of fatty acids consumption on OPG/RANKL/RANK system in cardiovascular diseases: Current status and future perspectives for the impact of diet‐gene interaction

The interaction between CRY1 Polymorphism and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women and women with obesity: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

According to some studies, diet can be interaction with CRY1 polymorphism and may be related to obesity and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). So, this study examined the interaction between CRY1 polymorphism and AHEI on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women and women with obesity.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on 377 Iranian women with overweight and obesity aged 18-48(BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Dietary intake was evaluated by the use of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 147 items. The AHEI was calculated based on previous studies. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were assessed and the bioelectrical impedance analysis method was used for body analysis. The rs2287161 was genotyped by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Objects were divided into three groups based on rs2287161 genotypes.

RESULTS

Our findings determined that the prevalence of the C allele was 51.9% and the G allele was 48.0%. The mean age and BMI were 36.6 ± 9.1years and 31 ± 4 kg/m2 respectively. After controlling for confounders (BMI, age, total energy intake, and physical activity), this study demonstrated that there was a significant interaction between CC genotype and adherence to AHEI on odds of hyper LDL (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.24-3.05, P for interaction = 0.004), hypertension (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.11-2.93, P for interaction = 0.01) and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.98-2.47, P for interaction = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that adherence to AHEI can reduce the odds of hyper LDL, hypertension, and hyperglycemia in the CC genotype of rs2287161.

MiR-217 regulates autophagy through OPG/RANKL/RANK in giant cell tumors

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in cancer development and progression. Our previous study showed remarkably lower levels of miR-217 in GCT cells and tissues, and miR-217 re-expression inhibited the occurrence and development of GCT in vitro; however, the associated mechanisms remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the proliferation inhibitory effect of miR-217 in GCT cells.

METHODS

The proliferative potential of the GCT cells was measured with an MTT assay and BrdU straining. Changes in GCT cell migration and invasion was assessed by a transwell assay. Finally, Western blot and RT-PCR assays were employed to evaluate OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathway-related protein expression.

RESULTS

The excessive upregulation of miR-217 markedly suppressed GCT cell proliferation and tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo. miR-217 overexpression could inhibit the OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ALP activity was significantly decreased in GCT cells following miR-217 treatment. Importantly, miR-217 could inhibit autophagy-related protein expression and autophagosome/autolysosome formation in GCT cells and tissues.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that miR-217 upregulation could inhibit the occurrence and development of GCT by blocking autophagy. These findings offer an effective therapeutic target to improve the survival rates of patients with CGT in the future.

Physical activity and Mediterranean diet as potential modulators of osteoprotegerin and soluble RANKL in gBRCA1/2 mutation carriers: results of the lifestyle intervention pilot study LIBRE-1

Purpose

Emerging evidence suggests that the progesterone-mediated receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)/soluble RANK ligand (sRANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) pathway plays an important role in mammary carcinogenesis and is hyperactivated in germline (g)BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. We analyzed the effects of a 3-month intensive lifestyle intervention within the LIBRE-1 study on the serum levels of OPG and sRANKL and hypothesized that the intervention program provides a beneficial impact on the biomarkers by increasing OPG and reducing sRANKL serum concentrations.

Methods

Serum levels of OPG and sRANKL of 49 gBRCA1/2 mutation carriers were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We used previously collected blood samples from participants of the prospective LIBRE-1 study, who were randomized into an intervention group (IG), increasing physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedD) through supervised sessions from study entry to the first study visit after 3 months and a usual-care control group (CG). Differences in biomarker levels before and after the 3-month intervention were tested within and between study groups.

Results

The lifestyle intervention resulted in a significant increase in OPG for participants in both the IG (q = 0.022) and CG (q = 0.002). sRANKL decreased significantly in the IG (q = 0.0464) and seemed to decrease in the CG (q = 0.5584). An increase in the intake of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly associated with an increase in OPG (r = 0.579, q = 0.045). Baseline serum levels of sRANKL were a strong predictor for the change of sRANKL in the course of the intervention (ß-estimate = − 0.70; q = 0.0018). Baseline physical fitness (assessed as VO₂peak) might predict the change of OPG in the course of the intervention program (ß-estimate = 0.133 pg/ml/ml/min/kg; p = 0.0319; q = 0.2871).

Conclusion

Findings from this pilot study seem to confirm our hypothesis by showing an increase in OPG and decrease in sRANKL over a 3-month lifestyle intervention and suggest that increased physical activity and adherence to the MedD are potent modulators of the biomarkers OPG and potentially sRANKL.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-021-06400-7.

Osteoprotegerin promotes intimal hyperplasia and contributes to in-stent restenosis: Role of an αVβ3/FAK dependent YAP pathway

OBJECTIVE

Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are related to in-stent-restenosis (ISR) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has been implicated in various vascular diseases. However, the effects of OPG on ISR and the underlying mechanism remained elusive. We here investigated the association between OPG and ISR, and to demonstrate the role and potential mechanisms of OPG in neointimal hyperplasia.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

From 2962 patients who received coronary angiography and follow-up coronary angiography at approximately one year, 291 patients were diagnosed with ISR, and another 291 gender- and age- matched patients without ISR were selected as controls. Serum OPG levels were significantly increased in patients with ISR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that OPG level was independently associated with the increased risk of ISR. In a mouse femoral artery wire injury model, upregulated OPG was evidenced in vascular tissue after injury. OPG deletion attenuated the vascular injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia and related gene expression in mice. OPG promoted neointimal hyperplasia and human aortic smooth muscle cell (hASMC) proliferation and migration through activation of yes-associated protein (YAP), a major downstream effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, whereas knockdown or inhibition of YAP in hASMCs blunted OPG-induced above effects. Moreover, we found that OPG, as a ligand for integrin αVβ3, mediated phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and actin cytoskeleton reorganization, resulting in YAP dephosphorylation in hASMCs. OPG-dependent YAP and VSMC activation was prevented by treatment with αVβ3-blocking antibodies and inhibitors of FAK and actin stress fibers.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased serum OPG levels are associated with increased risk of ISR following PCI and OPG could promote neointimal hyperplasia in response to injury through integrin αVβ3 mediated FAK and YAP activation, indicating OPG/YAP inhibition might serve as an attractive novel target for the prevention of ISR after PCI.

Zinc supplements and bone health: The role of the RANKL-RANK axis as a therapeutic target

BACKGROUND

To this day, empirical data suggests that zinc has important roles in matrix synthesis, bone turnover, and mineralization and its beneficial effects on bone could be mediated through different mechanisms. The influence of zinc on bone turnover could be facilitated via regulating RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway in bone tissue. Therefore, the aim of the study was to conduct a review to investigate the possible effect of the zinc mediated bone remodeling via RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar to explore the studies investigating the effect of zinc as a bone remodeling factor via RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway regulation. Subsequently, the details of the pathway and the impact of zinc supplements on RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway regulation were discussed.

RESULTS

The pathway could play an important role in bone remodeling and any imbalance between RANKL/RANK/OPG components could lead to extreme bone resorption. Although the outcomes of some studies are equivocal, it is evident that zinc possesses protective properties against bone loss by regulating the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway. There are several experiments where zinc supplementation resulted in upregulation of OPG expression or decreases RANKL level. However, the results of some studies oppose this.

CONCLUSION

It is likely that sufficient zinc intake will elicit positive effects on bone health by RANKL/RANK/OPG regulation. Although the outcomes of a few studies are equivocal, it seems that zinc can exert the protective properties against bone loss by suppressing osteoclastogenesis via downregulation of RANKL/RANK. Additionally, there are several experiments where zinc supplementation resulted in upregulation of OPG expression. However, the results of limited studies oppose this. Therefore, aside from the positive role zinc possesses in preserving bone mass, further effects of zinc in RANKL/RANK/OPG system requires further animal/human studies.