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Farhan F, Raghupathy RK, Baran MR, Wong A, Biswas L, Jiang HR, Craft JA, Shu X. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in the liver of Tspo knockout mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1870:159566. [PMID: 39349136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2024.159566] [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: 07/26/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024]
Abstract
The translocator protein, TSPO, has been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes exerted from its position in the outer mitochondrial membrane from where it influences lipid metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative activity. Understanding how this protein regulates a profusion of processes requires further elucidation and to that end we have examined lipid metabolism and used an RNAseq strategy to compare transcript abundance in wildtype and Tspo knockout (KO) mouse liver. The levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid were significantly elevated in the KO mouse liver. The expression of cholesterol homeostasis genes was markedly downregulated. Determination of the differential expression revealed that many genes were either up- or downregulated in the KO animals. However, a striking observation within the results was a decrease of transcripts for protein degradation proteins in KO animals while protease inhibitors were enriched. When the entire abundance data-set was analysed with CEMiTool, and revealed a module of proteins that were under-represented in the KO animals. These could subsequently be formed into a network comprising three interlinked clusters at the centre of which were proteins of cytoplasmic ribosomes with gene ontology terms suggesting impairment to translation. The largest cluster was dominated by proteins of lipid metabolism but also contained disparate systems of iron metabolism and behaviour. The third cluster was dominated by proteins of the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. These findings suggest that TSPO contributes to lipid metabolism, detoxification of active oxygen species and oxidative phosphorylation, and regulates mitochondrial retrograde signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Farhan
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Rakesh Kotapati Raghupathy
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Michal R Baran
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Aileen Wong
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Lincoln Biswas
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom
| | - Hui-Rong Jiang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - John A Craft
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom.
| | - Xinhua Shu
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom; Department of Vision Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom.
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Kouba BR, Altê GA, Rodrigues ALS. Putative Pharmacological Depression and Anxiety-Related Targets of Calcitriol Explored by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:893. [PMID: 39065743 PMCID: PMC11280388 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070893] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression and anxiety disorders, prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions that frequently coexist, limit psychosocial functioning and, consequently, the individual's quality of life. Since the pharmacological treatment of these disorders has several limitations, the search for effective and secure antidepressant and anxiolytic compounds is welcome. Vitamin D has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective, antidepressant, and anxiolytic properties. Therefore, this study aimed to explore new molecular targets of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, through integrated bioinformatic analysis. Calcitriol targets were predicted in SwissTargetPrediction server (2019 version). The disease targets were collected by the GeneCards database searching the keywords "depression" and "anxiety". Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to analyze the intersections of targets. Network analyses were carried out using GeneMania server (2023 version) and Cytoscape (V. 3.9.1.) software. Molecular docking predicted the main targets of the network and Ligplot predicted the main intermolecular interactions. Our study showed that calcitriol may interact with multiple targets. The main targets found are the vitamin D receptor (VDR), histamine H3 receptor (H3R), endocannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), nuclear receptor NR1H3, patched-1 (PTCH1) protein, opioid receptor NOP, and phosphodiesterase enzymes PDE3A and PDE5A. Considering the role of these targets in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety, our findings suggest novel putative mechanisms of action of vitamin D as well as new promising molecular targets whose role in these disorders deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88037-000, SC, Brazil; (B.R.K.); (G.A.A.)
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Yu M, Zhao S. Functional role of translocator protein and its ligands in ocular diseases (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 29:33. [PMID: 38186312 PMCID: PMC10804439 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13157] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is an essential outer mitochondrial membrane protein that is responsible for mitochondrial transport, maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and normal physiological cell function. The role of TSPO in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases is a growing area of interest. More notably, TSPO exerts positive effects in regulating various pathophysiological processes, such as the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, steroid synthesis and modulation of microglial function, in combination with a variety of specific ligands such as 1‑(2‑chlorophenyl‑N‑methylpropyl)‑3‑isoquinolinecarboxamide, 4'‑chlorodiazepam and XBD173. In the present review, the expression of TSPO in ocular tissues and the functional role of TSPO and its ligands in diverse ocular diseases was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyi Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 30384, P.R. China
| | - Shaozhen Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 30384, P.R. China
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Cao Y, Ibrahim KS, Li X, Wong A, Wu Y, Yu XD, Zhou X, Tan Z, He Z, Craft JA, Shu X. Chinese medicine, Qijudihuang pill, mediates cholesterol metabolism and regulates gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice, implications for age-related macular degeneration. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1274401. [PMID: 37901244 PMCID: PMC10602650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1274401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Traditional Chinese Medicines have been used for thousands of years but without any sound empirical basis. One such preparation is the Qijudihuang pill (QP), a mixture of eight herbs, that has been used in China for the treatment of various conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in the aged population. In order to explain the mechanism behind the effect of QP, we used an AMD model of high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice to investigate cholesterol homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation and gut microbiota. Methods Mice were randomly divided into three groups, one group was fed with control diet (CD), the other two groups were fed with high-fat-diet (HFD). One HFD group was treated with QP, both CD and the other HFD groups were treated with vehicles. Tissue samples were collected after the treatment. Cholesterol levels in retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), liver and serum were determined using a commercial kit. The expression of enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress was measured with qRT-PCR. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results In the majority of the lipid determinations, analytes were elevated by HFD but this was reversed by QP. Cholesterol metabolism including the enzymes of bile acid (BA) formation was suppressed by HFD but again this was reversed by QP. BAs play a major role in signaling between host and microbiome and this is disrupted by HFD resulting in major changes in the composition of colonic bacterial communities. Associated with these changes are predictions of the metabolic pathway complexity and abundance of individual pathways. These concerned substrate breakdowns, energy production and the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory factors but were changed back to control characteristics by QP. Conclusion We propose that the ability of QP to reverse these HFD-induced effects is related to mechanisms acting to lower cholesterol level, oxidative stress and inflammation, and to modulate gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqun Cao
- Pu Ai Medical School, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan, China
| | - Khalid S. Ibrahim
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Zakho, Iraq
| | - Xing Li
- Pu Ai Medical School, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan, China
| | - Aileen Wong
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Wu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xu-Dong Yu
- Pu Ai Medical School, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xinzhi Zhou
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Zhoujin Tan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiming He
- Pu Ai Medical School, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan, China
| | - John A. Craft
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Xinhua Shu
- Pu Ai Medical School, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan, China
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Vision Science , Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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5
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Cai C, Cheng W, Shi T, Liao Y, Zhou M, Liao Z. Rutin alleviates colon lesions and regulates gut microbiota in diabetic mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4897. [PMID: 36966186 PMCID: PMC10039872 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31647-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder that has become a major health problem worldwide. In this study, we investigated the role of rutin in attenuating diabetes and preventing diabetes-related colon lesions in mice potentially through regulation of gut microbiota. The rutin from tartary buckwheat as analyzed by HPLC was administered intragastrically to diabetic mice, and then the biochemical parameters, overall community structure and composition of gut microbiota in diabetic mice were assayed. The results showed that rutin lowered serum glucose and improved serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride concentrations, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and serum insulin in diabetic mice. Notably, rutin obviously alleviated colon lesions in diabetic mice. Moreover, rutin also significantly regulated gut microbiota dysbiosis and enriched beneficial microbiota, such as Akkermansia (p < 0.05). Rutin selectively increased short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, such as Alistipes (p < 0.05) and Roseburia (p < 0.05), and decreased the abundance of diabetes-related gut microbiota, such as Escherichia (p < 0.05) and Mucispirillum (p < 0.05). Our data suggested that rutin exerted an antidiabetic effect and alleviated colon lesions in diabetic mice possibly by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis, which might be a potential mechanism through which rutin alleviates diabetes-related symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cifeng Cai
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Cheng
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiantian Shi
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Yueling Liao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiliang Zhou
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyong Liao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China.
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Gromova OA, Torshin IY. [Systematic analysis of the results of fundamental and clinical studies of ethifoxin]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2023; 123:65-73. [PMID: 37315244 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202312305165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The main pharmacological use of etifoxine is the treatment of psychosomatic manifestations of anxiety. The purpose of this work is a systematic analysis of fundamental and clinical studies of etifoxine. In addition to the anxiolytic effect, which partially persists even after discontinuation of therapy, etifoxine is characterized by analgesic, neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties. Such a pharmacological profile of etifoxine is due not only to the activation of GABA receptors, but also to the effect on the levels of neurosteroids in the blood and in the brain. Modulation by etifoxine of neurosteroids' metabolism contributes to the manifestation of anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and other properties of etifoxine.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Gromova
- Federal Research Center «Computer Science and Control», Moscow, Russian
| | - I Yu Torshin
- Federal Research Center «Computer Science and Control», Moscow, Russian
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7
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Jin MK, Zhang Q, Zhao WL, Li ZH, Qian HF, Yang XR, Zhu YG, Liu HJ. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics disturb the defense system, gut microbiome, and antibiotic resistance genes of Enchytraeus crypticus. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127509. [PMID: 34736185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic residues from animal manure cause soil pollution and can pose a threat to soil animals. In this study, the toxicological effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics on Enchytraeus crypticus, including defence response, gut microbiome, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), were studied. The cytochrome P450 enzyme activity and reactive oxygen species levels increased, activating the defense response. The superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activity, and the expression of immune defense molecules such as coelomic cytolytic factor, lysozyme, bactericidal protein fetidins and lysenin changed. Furthermore, the diversity of the gut microbiome decreased, and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased significantly at the phylum level but increased in pathogenic and antibiotic-secreting bacteria (Rhodococcus and Streptomyces) at the genus level. However, the soil microbiome was not significantly different from that of the control group. The relative abundance of ARGs in the gut and soil microbiome significantly increased with enrofloxacin concentration, and the fluoroquinolone ARGs were significantly increased in both the soil (20.85-fold, p < 0.001) and gut (11.72-fold, p < 0.001) microbiomes. Subtypes of ARGs showed a positive correlation with Rhodococcus, which might increase the risk of disease transmission and the probability of drug-resistant pathogens. Furthermore, mobile genetic elements significantly promote the spread of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Kang Jin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xuezheng Road, Hangzhou 310018, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Wen-Lu Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xuezheng Road, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xuezheng Road, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Hai-Feng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Yang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hui-Jun Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xuezheng Road, Hangzhou 310018, China.
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Abstract
Oscillospira is a class of organism that often appears in high-throughput sequencing data but has not been purely cultured and is widely present in the animal and human intestines. There is a strong association between variation in Oscillospira abundance and obesity, leanness, and human health. In addition, a growing body of studies has shown that Oscillospira is also implicated in other diseases, such as gallstones and chronic constipation, and has shown some correlation with the positive or negative changes in its course. Sequencing data combined with metabolic profiling indicate that Oscillospira is likely to be a genus capable of producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which is an important reference indicator for screening "next-generation probiotics ". Considering the positive effects of Oscillospira in some specific diseases, such as obesity-related metabolic diseases, it has already been characterized as one of the next-generation probiotic candidates and therefore has great potential for development and application in the future food, health care, and biopharmaceutical products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpeng Yang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China,CONTACT Jingpeng Yang
| | - Yanan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wen
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenzheng Liu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingtong Meng
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China,He Huang School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
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Farhan F, Almarhoun M, Wong A, Findlay AS, Bartholomew C, Williams MTS, Hurd TW, Shu X. Deletion of TSPO Causes Dysregulation of Cholesterol Metabolism in Mouse Retina. Cells 2021; 10:3066. [PMID: 34831289 PMCID: PMC8621976 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol dysregulation has been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of visual impairment in the elderly. The 18 KDa translocator protein (TSPO) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein responsible for transporting cholesterol from the mitochondrial outer membrane to the inner membrane. TSPO is highly expressed in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and TSPO ligands have shown therapeutic potential for the treatment of AMD. Here, we characterized retinal pathology of Tspo knockout (KO) mice using histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical and molecular biological approaches. We found that Tspo KO mice had normal retinal morphology (by light microscopy) but showed elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids with perturbed cholesterol efflux in the RPE cells of Tspo KO mice. Expression of cholesterol-associated genes (Nr1h3, Abca1, Abcg1, Cyp27a1 and Cyp46a1) was significantly downregulated, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was markedly increased in Tspo KO retinas. Furthermore, microglial activation was also observed in Tspo KO mouse retinas. These findings provide new insights into the function of TSPO in the retina and may aid in the design of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Farhan
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
| | - Mohammad Almarhoun
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
| | - Aileen Wong
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
| | - Amy S. Findlay
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; (A.S.F.); (T.W.H.)
| | - Chris Bartholomew
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
| | - Mark T. S. Williams
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
| | - Toby W. Hurd
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; (A.S.F.); (T.W.H.)
| | - Xinhua Shu
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (F.F.); (M.A.); (A.W.); (C.B.); (M.T.S.W.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang 422000, China
- Department of Vision Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
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10
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Li X, He Z, Shu X. Therapeutic potential of translocator protein ligands for age-related macular degeneration. Neural Regen Res 2021; 17:793-794. [PMID: 34472474 PMCID: PMC8530137 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.322460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhiming He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xinhua Shu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, Hunan Province, China; Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Department of Vision Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
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11
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Wang J, Beecher K. TSPO: an emerging role in appetite for a therapeutically promising biomarker. Open Biol 2021; 11:210173. [PMID: 34343461 PMCID: PMC8331234 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that an obesogenic Western diet causes neuroinflammatory damage to the brain, which then promotes further appetitive behaviour. Neuroinflammation has been extensively studied by analysing the translocator protein of 18 kDa (TSPO), a protein that is upregulated in the inflamed brain following a damaging stimulus. As a result, there is a rich supply of TSPO-specific agonists, antagonists and positron emission tomography ligands. One TSPO ligand, etifoxine, is also currently used clinically for the treatment of anxiety with a minimal side-effect profile. Despite the neuroinflammatory pathogenesis of diet-induced obesity, and the translational potential of targeting TSPO, there is sparse literature characterizing the effect of TSPO on appetite. Therefore, in this review, the influence of TSPO on appetite is discussed. Three putative mechanisms for TSPO's appetite-modulatory effect are then characterized: the TSPO–allopregnanolone–GABAAR signalling axis, glucosensing in tanycytes and association with the synaptic protein RIM-BP1. We highlight that, in addition to its plethora of functions, TSPO is a regulator of appetite. This review ultimately suggests that the appetite-modulating function of TSPO should be further explored due to its potential therapeutic promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Wang
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kate Beecher
- Addiction Neuroscience and Obesity Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Biswas L, Ibrahim KS, Li X, Zhou X, Zeng Z, Craft J, Shu X. Effect of a TSPO ligand on retinal pigment epithelial cholesterol homeostasis in high-fat fed mice, implication for age-related macular degeneration. Exp Eye Res 2021; 208:108625. [PMID: 34022174 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of sight impairment in the elderly with complex aetiology involving genetics and environment and with limited therapeutic options which have limited efficacy. We have previously shown in a mouse-model of the condition, induced by feeding a high fat diet, that adverse effects of the diet can be reversed by co-administration of the TSPO activator, etifoxine. We extend those observations showing improvements in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with decreased lipids and enhanced expression of cholesterol metabolism and transport enzymes. Further, etifoxine decreased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RPE and inflammatory cytokines in RPE and serum. With respect to gut microbiome, we found that organisms abundant in the high fat condition (e.g. in the genus Anaerotruncus and Oscillospira) and implicated in AMD, were much less abundant after etifoxine treatment. The changes in gut flora were associated with the predicted production of metabolites of benefit to the retina including tryptophan and other amino acids and taurine, an essential component of the retina necessary to counteract ROS. These novel observations strengthen earlier conclusions that the mechanisms behind improvements in etifoxine-induced retinal physiology involve an interaction between effects on the host and the gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lincoln Biswas
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
| | - Khalid Subhi Ibrahim
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Xing Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, 422000, China
| | - Xinzhi Zhou
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
| | - Zhihong Zeng
- College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, Hunan, 410022, PR China
| | - John Craft
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
| | - Xinhua Shu
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; Department of Vision Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, 422000, China.
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