Downregulation of two novel genes in Sl/Sld and W(LacZ)/Wv mouse jejunum

Metabolite, protein, and tissue dysfunction associated with COVID-19 disease severity

Proteins are direct products of the genome and metabolites are functional products of interactions between the host and other factors such as environment, disease state, clinical information, etc. Omics data, including proteins and metabolites, are useful in characterizing biological processes underlying COVID-19 along with patient data and clinical information, yet few methods are available to effectively analyze such diverse and unstructured data. Using an integrated approach that combines proteomics and metabolomics data, we investigated the changes in metabolites and proteins in relation to patient characteristics (e.g., age, gender, and health outcome) and clinical information (e.g., metabolic panel and complete blood count test results). We found significant enrichment of biological indicators of lung, liver, and gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with disease severity using publicly available metabolite and protein profiles. Our analyses specifically identified enriched proteins that play a critical role in responses to injury or infection within these anatomical sites, but may contribute to excessive systemic inflammation within the context of COVID-19. Furthermore, we have used this information in conjunction with machine learning algorithms to predict the health status of patients presenting symptoms of COVID-19. This work provides a roadmap for understanding the biochemical pathways and molecular mechanisms that drive disease severity, progression, and treatment of COVID-19.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Two Differently Extracted Coptis chinensis in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Coptis chinensis (CC) is widely used to treat diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine due to its significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. It was reported that CC powders are more effective than CC decoctions. In this study, a rat model of type 2 diabetes was established and treated with supercritical-extracted CC and gastric juice extracted CC, respectively. Body weight, fasting plasma insulin, insulin resistance index, and lipid profiles were measured along with oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). In addition, the levels of plasma proteins were compared between type 2 diabetic rats and CC-treated rats using an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis. The results showed that the plasma levels of triglyceride (TC), total cholesterol (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in rats of both CC-treated groups were significantly decreased. In addition, the proteomic analysis identified 929 proteins, while 15 proteins were selected from these 929 proteins based on their expression levels and bioinformatic results. Among these 15 proteins, 9 proteins (IGF-1, Igfbp4, Igfbp-6, Igfals, C2, C4, Cfi, Prdx-2, and Prdx-3) were upregulated in the two CC-treated groups, while 6 proteins (Pla2g7, Pcyox1, ApoC-1, ApoC-3, ApoB-100, and ApoE) were downregulated. The functions of these proteins are associated with glucose metabolism, insulin action, immunity, inflammation, lipid metabolism, oxidation, and antioxidation. The two differently extracted CC did not show significant differences in terms of their treatment efficacy. This research expanded our understanding on the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of CC in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Ano1 is a selective marker of interstitial cells of Cajal in the human and mouse gastrointestinal tract

Populations of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are altered in several gastrointestinal neuromuscular disorders. ICC are identified typically by ultrastructure and expression of Kit (CD117), a protein that is also expressed on mast cells. No other molecular marker currently exists to independently identify ICC. The expression of ANO1 (DOG1, TMEM16A), a Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel, in gastrointestinal stromal tumors suggests it may be useful as an ICC marker. The aims of this study were therefore to determine the distribution of Ano1 immunoreactivity compared with Kit and to establish whether Ano1 is a reliable marker for human and mouse ICC. Expression of Ano1 in human and mouse stomach, small intestine, and colon was investigated by immunofluorescence labeling using antibodies to Ano1 alone and in combination with antibodies to Kit. Colocalization of immunoreactivity was demonstrated by epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. In the muscularis propria, Ano1 immunoreactivity was restricted to cells with the morphology and distribution of ICC. All Ano1-positive cells in the muscularis propria were also Kit positive. Kit-expressing mast cells were not Ano1 positive. Some non-ICC in the mucosa and submucosa of human tissues were Ano1 positive but Kit negative. A few (3.2%) Ano1-positive cells in the human gastric muscularis propria were labeled weakly for Kit. Ano1 labels all classes of ICC and represents a highly specific marker for studying the distribution of ICC in mouse and human tissues with an advantage over Kit since it does not label mast cells.