Increased extracellular ubiquitin in surgical wound fluid provides a chemotactic signal for myeloid dendritic cells

Almost 50 Years of Monomeric Extracellular Ubiquitin (eUb)

Monomeric ubiquitin (Ub) is a 76-amino-acid highly conserved protein found in eukaryotes. The biological activity of Ub first described in the 1970s was extracellular, but it quickly gained relevance due to its intracellular role, i.e., post-translational modification of intracellular proteins (ubiquitination) that regulate numerous eukaryotic cellular processes. In the following years, the extracellular role of Ub was relegated to the background, until a correlation between higher survival rate and increased serum Ub concentrations in patients with sepsis and burns was observed. Although the mechanism of action (MoA) of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb) is not yet well understood, further studies have shown that it may ameliorate the inflammatory response in tissue injury and multiple sclerosis diseases. These observations, compounded with the high stability and low immunogenicity of eUb due to its high conservation in eukaryotes, have made this small protein a relevant candidate for biotherapeutic development. Here, we review the in vitro and in vivo effects of eUb on immunologic, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, and discuss the potential MoAs of eUb as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardio- and brain-protective agent.

Electrospun Fibers Loaded with Pirfenidone: An Innovative Approach for Scar Modulation in Complex Wounds

Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) are pathological structures resulting from chronic inflammation during the wound healing process, particularly in complex injuries like burns. The aim of this work is to propose Biofiber PF (biodegradable fiber loaded with Pirfenidone 1.5 w/w), an electrospun advanced dressing, as a solution for HTSs treatment in complex wounds. Biofiber has a 3-day antifibrotic action to modulate the fibrotic process and enhance physiological healing. Its electrospun structure consists of regular well-interconnected Poly-L-lactide-co-poly-ε-caprolactone (PLA-PCL) fibers (size 2.83 ± 0.46 µm) loaded with Pirfenidone (PF, 1.5% w/w), an antifibrotic agent. The textured matrix promotes the exudate balance through mild hydrophobic wettability behavior (109.3 ± 2.3°), and an appropriate equilibrium between the absorbency % (610.2 ± 171.54%) and the moisture vapor transmission rate (0.027 ± 0.036 g/min). Through its finer mechanical properties, Biofiber PF is conformable to the wound area, promoting movement and tissue oxygenation. These features also enhance the excellent elongation (>500%) and tenacity, both in dry and wet conditions. The ancillary antifibrotic action of PF on hypertrophic scar fibroblast (HSF) for 3 days downregulates the cell proliferation over time and modulates the gene expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) at 48-72 h. After 6 days of treatment, a decrement of α-SMA protein levels was detected, proving the potential of biofiber as a valid therapeutic treatment for HTSs in an established wound healing process.

Interferon regulatory factor 1-triggered free ubiquitin protects the intestines against radiation-induced injury via CXCR4/FGF2 signaling

Radiation-induced intestinal injury is a serious concern during abdominal and pelvic cancers radiotherapy. Ubiquitin (Ub) is a highly conserved protein found in all eukaryotic cells. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of free Ub against radiogenic intestinal injury. We found that free Ub levels of irradiated animals and human patients receiving radiotherapy were upregulated. Radiation-induced Ub expression was associated with the activation of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Intraperitoneal injection of free Ub significantly reduced the mortality of mice following 5-9 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) through the Akt pathway. Free Ub facilitates small intestinal regeneration induced by TBI or abdominal irradiation. At the cellular level, free Ub or its mutants significantly alleviated cell death and enhanced the survival of irradiated intestinal epithelial cells. The radioprotective role of free Ub depends on its receptor CXCR4. Mechanistically, free Ub increased fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) secretion and consequently activated FGFR1 signaling following radiation in vivo and in vivo. Thus, free Ub confers protection against radiation-induced intestinal injury through CXCR4/Akt/FGF2 axis, which provides a novel therapeutic option.

Wound fluid sampling methods for proteomic studies: A scoping review

Understanding why some wounds are hard to heal is important for improving care and developing more effective treatments. The method of sample collection used is an integral step in the research process and thus may affect the results obtained. The primary objective of this study was to summarise and map the methods currently used to sample wound fluid for protein profiling and analysis. Eligible studies were those that used a sampling method to collect wound fluid from any human wound for analysis of proteins. A search for eligible studies was performed using MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL Plus in May 2020. All references were screened for eligibility by one reviewer, followed by discussion and consensus with a second reviewer. Quantitative data were mapped and visualised using appropriate software and summarised via a narrative summary. After screening, 280 studies were included in this review. The most commonly used group of wound fluid collection methods were vacuum, drainage or use of other external devices, with surgical wounds being the most common sample source. Other frequently used collection methods were extraction from absorbent materials, collection beneath an occlusive dressing and direct collection of wound fluid. This scoping review highlights the variety of methods used for wound fluid collection. Many studies had small sample sizes and short sample collection periods; these weaknesses have hampered the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers. Future research should aim to assess the reproducibility and feasibility of sampling and analytical methods for use in larger longitudinal studies.

Expression levels of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity

The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and CXC ligand 12 (CXCL12) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the correlation with disease activity. In total, 60 patients with RA were selected as the study group, comprising of 28 patients in active-stage and 32 patients in remission-stage. In addition, 60 patients with osteoarthritis were selected as the control group. Western blotting and ELISA were used to detect the expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12, respectively. The Spearman's correlation test was used to analyze correlations between CXCR4 and CXCL12, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score 28 (DAS28) scores and rheumatoid factor (RF). The present results suggested that CXCR4 and CXCL12 expression levels in the serum and joint synovial fluid of the study group were significantly higher compared with the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, CXCR4 and CXCL12 expression levels in the RA-active group were higher compared with the remission (P<0.05) and control groups (P<0.01). The Pearson test results suggested that the expression levels of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in the serum and joint synovial fluid of patients with RA had a positive correlation with the ESR, CRP, RF and DAS28 scores (P<0.05). CXCL12 and CXCR4 were highly expressed in the serum and joint synovial fluid of patients with RA, and these expression levels were positively correlated with ESR, CRP, RF and DAS28 scores. Therefore, these clinical parameters may be used as indicators to evaluate the disease activity of patients with RA.