Advances in research of biological functions of Isthmin-1

Role of Dardarin and Isthmin-1 in the Protective Effect of Hydroxytyrosol Against Corn Syrup-Induced Liver Damage

INTRODUCTION

In this study, it was investigated whether dardarin (LRRK2) and isthmin-1 (ISM1) play a role in the protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT) used to prevent liver damage caused by corn syrup in rats.

METHODS

Rats were divided into four groups with six in each group: 1) control, 2) HT, 3) corn syrup, and 4) corn syrup + HT. Rats were given water containing 30% corn syrup for six weeks. At the same time, HT-containing liquid was given orally at 4 ml/kg/day, alone and together with corn syrup for six weeks. The weights of the rats were measured every week. LRRK2 and ISM1 molecules in liver tissue were evaluated by histopathological methods. Biochemical parameters were also examined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTS

It was found that weight gain was less in rats receiving HT than in those consuming corn syrup. The increase in cholesterol, triglyceride, and liver enzyme levels because of corn syrup consumption decreased with HT consumption. As a result of histopathological analysis, it was observed that the increase in LRRK2 and ISM1 levels observed in the liver tissue in the corn syrup-administered group decreased when HT was administered together with corn syrup. In addition, it was determined that the increase in sinusoidal expansion and hepatocyte necrosis observed in the liver tissue as a result of corn syrup application decreased as a result of the application of HT together with corn syrup.

CONCLUSION

The protective effect of HT against the damage caused by corn syrup in the liver has been demonstrated once again; however, LRRK2 and ISM1 are thought to contribute to this issue.

Isthmin-1 and spexin as promising novel biomarker candidates for invasive ductal breast carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Research is focusing on biomarkers linked to breast cancer, particularly two novel proteins: isthmin-1 (ISM-1) and spexin (SPX), which require further investigation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 20 healthy controls and 60 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, categorized into three groups: Grade I (n=20), Grade II (n=20), and Grade III (n=20). Levels of ISM-1 and SPX in tissue were analyzed using immunohistochemistry alongside the clinicopathologic data of patients.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in age, menopausal status, ER, PR, and Cerb-B2 values across grades (p>0.05). Tumor diameters showed a significant increase in Grade I compared to Grade II (p<0.05), while no significant difference was noted between Grade II and Grade III, although diameters were larger in Grade III compared to Grade I (p<0.05). Notably, ISM-1 immunoreactivity decreased, and SPX immunoreactivity increased significantly across all grades compared to normal tissue (p<0.05), with no significant differences between tumor grades for these markers (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents new findings on ISM-1 and SPX expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma. The decrease in ISM-1 and increase in SPX suggest a need for further research into the relationship between adipokines and tumor development in breast cancer.

Hallmarks of the metabolic secretome

The identification of novel secreted factors is advancing at an unprecedented pace. However, there is a critical need to consolidate and integrate this knowledge to provide a framework of their diverse mechanisms, functional significance, and inter-relationships. Complicating this effort are challenges related to nonstandardized methods, discrepancies in sample handling, and inconsistencies in the annotation of unknown molecules. This Review aims to synthesize the rapidly expanding field of the metabolic secretome, encompassing the five major types of secreted factors: proteins, peptides, metabolites, lipids, and extracellular vesicles. By systematically defining the functions and detection of the components within the metabolic secretome, this Review provides a primer into the advances of the field, and how integration of the techniques discussed can provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying metabolic homeostasis and its disorders.

Isthmin-1 (ISM1), a novel adipokine that reflects abdominal adipose tissue distribution in individuals with obesity

BACKGROUND

The assessment of obesity-related health risks has traditionally relied on the Body Mass Index and waist circumference, but their limitations have propelled the need for a more comprehensive approach. The differentiation between visceral (VIS) and subcutaneous (SC) fat provides a finer-grained understanding of these risks, yet practical assessment methods are lacking. We hypothesized that combining the SC-VIS fat ratio with non-invasive biomarkers could create a valuable tool for obesity-related risk assessment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A clinical study of 125 individuals with obesity revealed significant differences in abdominal fat distribution measured by CT-scan among genders and distinct models of obesity, including visceral, subcutaneous, and the SC/VIS ratio. Stratification based on these models highlighted various metabolic changes. The SC/VIS ratio emerged as an excellent metric to differentiate metabolic status. Gene expression analysis identified candidate biomarkers, with ISM1 showing promise. Subsequent validation demonstrated a correlation between ISM1 levels in SC and plasma, reinforcing its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for fat distribution. Serum adipokine levels also correlated with the SC/VIS ratio. The Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis revealed ISM1's efficacy in discriminating individuals with favorable metabolic profiles based on adipose tissue distribution. Correlation analysis also suggested that ISM1 was involved in glucose regulation pathways.

CONCLUSION

The study's results support the hypothesis that the SC-VIS fat ratio and its derived non-invasive biomarkers can comprehensively assess obesity-related health risks. ISM1 could predict abdominal fat partitioning and be a potential biomarker for evaluating obesity-related health risks.

Differential DNA Methylation from Autistic Children Enriches Evidence for Genes Associated with ASD and New Candidate Genes

The etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a result of the interaction between genes and the environment. The study of epigenetic factors that affect gene expression, such as DNA methylation, has become an important area of research in ASD. In recent years, there has been an increasing body of evidence pointing to epigenetic mechanisms that influence brain development, as in the case of ASD, when gene methylation dysregulation is present. Our analysis revealed 853 differentially methylated CpG in ASD patients, affecting 509 genes across the genome. Enrichment analysis showed five related diseases, including autistic disorder and mental disorders, which are particularly significant. In this work, we identified 64 genes that were previously reported in the SFARI gene database, classified according to their impact index. Additionally, we identified new genes that have not been previously reported as candidates with differences in the methylation patterns of Mexican children with ASD.