|
1
|
Zhang L, Huang T, He H, Xu F, Yang C, Lu L, Tian G, Wang L, Mi J. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of Ace2-mediated post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction through systems genetics approach. Exp Neurol 2024; 381:114921. [PMID: 39142369 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The dysregulation of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in central nervous system is believed associates with COVID-19 induced cognitive dysfunction. However, the detailed mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a comprehensive system genetics analysis on hippocampal ACE2 based on BXD mice panel. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) mapping showed that Ace2 was strongly trans-regulated, and the elevation of Ace2 expression level was significantly correlated with impaired cognitive functions. Further Gene co-expression analysis showed that Ace2 may be correlated with the membrane proteins in Calcium signaling pathway. Further, qRT-PCR confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein upregulated ACE2 expression together with eight membrane proteins in Calcium Signaling pathway. Moreover, such elevation can be attenuated by recombinant ACE2. Collectively, our findings revealed a potential mechanism of Ace2 in cognitive dysfunction, which could be beneficial for COVID-19-induced cognitive dysfunction prevention and potential treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Zhang
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Tingting Huang
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Hongjie He
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Fuyi Xu
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Chunhua Yang
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Lu Lu
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Geng Tian
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China.
| | - Jia Mi
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong, Yantai 264003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Rago V, Bossio S, Lofaro D, Perri A, Di Agostino S. New Insights into the Link between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Renal Cancer. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:52. [PMID: 38255667 PMCID: PMC10817602 DOI: 10.3390/life14010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer has been described as a risk factor for greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, mainly for patients with metastatic disease. Conversely, to that reported for most solid and hematological malignancies, the few available clinical studies reported that the infection did not increase the risk of death in renal cancer patients. The expression on proximal tubular renal cells of the key players in cellular viral uptake, ACE2, TMPRSS2, and NRP1, seems to be the mechanism for the direct kidney injury seen in patients with COVID-19. Interestingly, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and experimental analyses on various renal cancer cell lines demonstrated that the above-reported receptors/cofactors are maintained by renal cancer cells. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 infection directly kills renal cancer cells or generates enhanced immunogenicity is a question worth investigating. In addition, some researchers have further addressed the topic by studying the expression and prognostic significance of gene signatures related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in renal cancer patients. The emerging data highlights the importance of better understanding the existence of a link between renal cancer and COVID-19 since it could lead to the identification of new prognostic factors and the development of new therapeutic targets in the management of renal cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Rago
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Bossio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Danilo Lofaro
- de-Health Lab, Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Anna Perri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Silvia Di Agostino
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Chen CY, Lin MW, Xie XY, Lin CH, Yang CW, Wu PC, Liu DH, Wu CJ, Lin CS. Studying the Roles of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Accelerating the Disease of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in a db/db and ACE2 Double-Gene-Knockout Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:329. [PMID: 38203500 PMCID: PMC10779113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a crucial metabolic health problem. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is well known to play an important role in DN. Abnormal RAS activity can cause the over-accumulation of angiotensin II (Ang II). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) administration has been proposed as a therapy, but previous studies have also indicated that chymase, the enzyme that hydrolyzes angiotensin I to Ang II in an ACE-independent pathway, may play an important role in the progression of DN. Therefore, this study established a model of severe DN progression in a db/db and ACE2 KO mouse model (db and ACE2 double-gene-knockout mice) to explore the roles of RAS factors in DNA and changes in their activity after short-term (only 4 weeks) feeding of a high-fat diet (HFD) to 8-week-old mice. The results indicate that FD-fed db/db and ACE2 KO mice fed an HFD represent a good model for investigating the role of RAS in DN. An HFD promotes the activation of MAPK, including p-JNK and p-p38, as well as the RAS signaling pathway, leading to renal damage in mice. Blocking Ang II/AT1R could alleviate the progression of DN after administration of ACEI or chymase inhibitor (CI). Both ACE and chymase are highly involved in Ang II generation in HFD-induced DN; therefore, ACEI and CI are potential treatments for DN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yi Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan;
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Wei Lin
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (M.-W.L.); (X.-Y.X.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Xing-Yang Xie
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (M.-W.L.); (X.-Y.X.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Cheng-Han Lin
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (M.-W.L.); (X.-Y.X.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Chung-Wei Yang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan;
| | - Pei-Ching Wu
- Doctoral Degree Program of Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (P.-C.W.); (D.-H.L.)
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Dung-Huan Liu
- Doctoral Degree Program of Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (P.-C.W.); (D.-H.L.)
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Jen Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Division of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Sheng Lin
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (M.-W.L.); (X.-Y.X.); (C.-H.L.)
- Doctoral Degree Program of Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; (P.-C.W.); (D.-H.L.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|