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Dudley-Fraser J, Rittinger K. It's a TRIM-endous view from the top: the varied roles of TRIpartite Motif proteins in brain development and disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1287257. [PMID: 38115822 PMCID: PMC10728303 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1287257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family members have been implicated in a multitude of physiologies and pathologies in different tissues. With diverse functions in cellular processes including regulation of signaling pathways, protein degradation, and transcriptional control, the impact of TRIM dysregulation can be multifaceted and complex. Here, we focus on the cellular and molecular roles of TRIMs identified in the brain in the context of a selection of pathologies including cancer and neurodegeneration. By examining each disease in parallel with described roles in brain development, we aim to highlight fundamental common mechanisms employed by TRIM proteins and identify opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Dudley-Fraser
- Molecular Structure of Cell Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katrin Rittinger
- Molecular Structure of Cell Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Kim S, Sharma C, Jung UJ, Kim SR. Pathophysiological Role of Microglial Activation Induced by Blood-Borne Proteins in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051383. [PMID: 37239054 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts entry of neurotoxic plasma components, blood cells, and pathogens into the brain, leading to proper neuronal functioning. BBB impairment leads to blood-borne protein infiltration such as prothrombin, thrombin, prothrombin kringle-2, fibrinogen, fibrin, and other harmful substances. Thus, microglial activation and release of pro-inflammatory mediators commence, resulting in neuronal damage and leading to impaired cognition via neuroinflammatory responses, which are important features observed in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Moreover, these blood-borne proteins cluster with the amyloid beta plaque in the brain, exacerbating microglial activation, neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, and oxidative stress. These mechanisms work in concert and reinforce each other, contributing to the typical pathological changes in AD in the brain. Therefore, the identification of blood-borne proteins and the mechanisms involved in microglial activation and neuroinflammatory damage can be a promising therapeutic strategy for AD prevention. In this article, we review the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation caused by the influx of blood-borne proteins into the brain via BBB disruption. Subsequently, the mechanisms of drugs that inhibit blood-borne proteins, as a potential therapeutic approach for AD, along with the limitations and potential challenges of these approaches, are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehwan Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanchal Sharma
- School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Un Ju Jung
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Ryong Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
- BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
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Iannucci J, Grammas P. Thrombin, a Key Driver of Pathological Inflammation in the Brain. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091222. [PMID: 37174621 PMCID: PMC10177239 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are major contributors to death and disability worldwide. A multitude of evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is critical in neurodegenerative disease processes. Exploring the key mediators of neuroinflammation in AD, a prototypical neurodegenerative disease, could help identify pathologic inflammatory mediators and mechanisms in other neurodegenerative diseases. Elevated levels of the multifunctional inflammatory protein thrombin are commonly found in conditions that increase AD risk, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Thrombin, a main driver of the coagulation cascade, has been identified as important to pathological events in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that coagulation cascade-associated proteins act as drivers of inflammation in the AD brain, and studies in both human populations and animal models support the view that abnormalities in thrombin generation promote AD pathology. Thrombin drives neuroinflammation through its pro-inflammatory activation of microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. Due to the wide-ranging pro-inflammatory effects of thrombin in the brain, inhibiting thrombin could be an effective strategy for interrupting the inflammatory cascade which contributes to neurodegenerative disease progression and, as such, may be a potential therapeutic target for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Iannucci
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
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Pan M, Li X, Xu G, Tian X, Li Y, Fang W. Tripartite Motif Protein Family in Central Nervous System Diseases. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s10571-023-01337-5. [PMID: 36988770 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01337-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Tripartite motif (TRIM) protein superfamily is a group of E3 ubiquitin ligases characterized by the conserved RING domain, the B-box domain, and the coiled-coil domain (RBCC). It is widely involved in various physiological and pathological processes, such as intracellular signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, oncogenesis, and innate immune response. Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are composed of encephalopathy and spinal cord diseases, which have a high disability and mortality rate. Patients are often unable to take care of themselves and their life quality can be seriously declined. Initially, the function research of TRIM proteins mainly focused on cancer. However, in recent years, accumulating attention is paid to the roles they play in CNS diseases. In this review, we integrate the reported roles of TRIM proteins in the pathological process of CNS diseases and related signaling pathways, hoping to provide theoretical bases for further research in treating CNS diseases targeting TRIM proteins. TRIM proteins participated in CNS diseases. TRIM protein family is characterized by a highly conserved RBCC domain, referring to the RING domain, the B-box domain, and the coiled-coil domain. Recent research has discovered the relations between TRIM proteins and various CNS diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengtian Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangchen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinjuan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunman Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weirong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Mailbox 207, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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TRIM37 overexpression is associated with chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via activating the AKT signaling pathway. Int J Clin Oncol 2021; 26:532-542. [PMID: 33387087 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-020-01832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer in the worldwide. Sorafenib is approved for first-line therapy against advanced HCC, but chemo-resistance is still a leading cause of tumor relapse and treatment failure in HCC. Thus, there is a significant clinical need to identify effective strategies to overcome drug resistance on the disease. METHODS The protein and mRNA expression of TRIM37 in HCC cell lines and patient tissues were determined using Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. HCC tissue samples were analyzed by IHC to investigate the association between TRIM37expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients. Functional assays, such as MTT, FACS, and Tunel assay, are used to determine the oncogenic role of TRIM37 in human HCC progression. Furthermore, western blotting and luciferase assay were used to determine the mechanism of TRIM37promotes chemoresistance in HCC. RESULTS We found that both the mRNA and protein expression of TRIM37 was markedly upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, especially in Sorafenib-resistance HCC tissues. Moreover, high TRIM37 expression was associated with poor prognosis with HCC patients. TRIM37 overexpression confers Sorafenib resistance on HCC cells; however, inhibition of TRIM37 sensitized HCC cell lines to Sorafenib cytotoxicity. Additionally, TRIM37 upregulated the levels of AKT activity and phosphorylated AKT, thereby activating canonical AKT signaling. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that targeting TRIM37 signaling may represent a promising strategy to enhance Sorafenib response in HCC patients with chemoresistant.
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Iannucci J, Renehan W, Grammas P. Thrombin, a Mediator of Coagulation, Inflammation, and Neurotoxicity at the Neurovascular Interface: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:762. [PMID: 32792902 PMCID: PMC7393221 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The societal burden of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is staggering, with current estimates suggesting that 50 million people world-wide have AD. Identification of new therapeutic targets is a critical barrier to the development of disease-modifying therapies. A large body of data implicates vascular pathology and cardiovascular risk factors in the development of AD, indicating that there are likely shared pathological mediators. Inflammation plays a role in both cardiovascular disease and AD, and recent evidence has implicated elements of the coagulation system in the regulation of inflammation. In particular, the multifunctional serine protease thrombin has been found to act as a mediator of vascular dysfunction and inflammation in both the periphery and the central nervous system. In the periphery, thrombin contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and diabetes, by inducing endothelial dysfunction and related inflammation. In the brain, thrombin has been found to act on endothelial cells of the blood brain barrier, microglia, astrocytes, and neurons in a manner that promotes vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Thrombin is elevated in the AD brain, and thrombin signaling has been linked to both tau and amyloid beta, pathological hallmarks of the disease. In AD mouse models, inhibiting thrombin preserves cognition and endothelial function and reduces neuroinflammation. Evidence linking atrial fibrillation with AD and dementia indicates that anticoagulant therapy may reduce the risk of dementia, with targeting thrombin shown to be particularly effective. It is time for “outside-the-box” thinking about how vascular risk factors, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes, as well as the coagulation and inflammatory pathways interact to promote increased AD risk. In this review, we present evidence that thrombin is a convergence point for AD risk factors and as such that thrombin-based therapeutics could target multiple points of AD pathology, including neurodegeneration, vascular activation, and neuroinflammation. The urgent need for disease-modifying drugs in AD demands new thinking about disease pathogenesis and an exploration of novel drug targets, we propose that thrombin inhibition is an innovative tactic in the therapeutic battle against this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Iannucci
- The George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States.,Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - William Renehan
- The George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Paula Grammas
- The George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States.,Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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