Recent advances in the role of interleukin-6 in health and disease

Comparing nanobody and aptamer-based capacitive sensing for detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6) at physiologically relevant levels

A major societal challenge is the development of the necessary tools for early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and sepsis. Consequently, there is a concerted push to develop low-cost and non-invasive methods of analysis with high sensitivity and selectivity. A notable trend is the development of highly sensitive methods that are not only amenable for point-of-care (POC) testing, but also for wearable devices allowing continuous monitoring of biomarkers. In this context, a non-invasive test for the detection of a promising biomarker, the protein Interleukin-6 (IL-6), could represent a significant advance in the clinical management of cancer, in monitoring the chemotherapy response, or for prompt diagnosis of sepsis. This work reports a capacitive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy sensing platform tailored towards POC detection and treatment monitoring in human serum. The specific recognition of IL-6 was achieved employing gold surfaces modified with an anti-IL6 nanobody (anti-IL-6 VHH) or a specific IL-6 aptamer. In the first system, the anti-IL-6 VHH was covalently attached to the gold surface using a binary self-assembled-monolayer (SAM) of 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. In the second system, the aptamer was chemisorbed onto the surface in a mixed SAM layer with MCH. The analytical performance for each label-free sensor was evaluated in buffer and 10% human serum samples and then compared. The results of this work were generated using a low-cost, thin film eight-channel gold sensor array produced on a flexible substrate providing useful information on the future design of POC and wearable impedance biomarker detection platforms.

Exploring traditional Chinese medicine as a potential treatment for sarcopenia: A network pharmacology and data mining analysis of drug selection and efficacy

Sarcopenia, as an increasingly pressing clinical issue, can be ameliorated through employment of traditional Chinese medicines. However, the current lack of specific pharmacological interventions for Sarcopenia necessitates further exploration of novel possibilities in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of this condition, utilizing advanced methodologies such as web pharmacology and data mining. Screening the essential targets of Sarcopenia, conducting matching between target and active molecules, as well as active molecules and herbs. Employing data mining techniques to analyze the screening outcomes, and molecular docking to compare the binding activities of active molecules with target proteins. The approach of using herbs for the treatment of Sarcopenia involves 13 targets, with 414 active compounds and 367 types of herbs. Data mining reveals that the herbs used in treating Sarcopenia are primarily characterized by their bitter taste, exerting their effects through dispelling dampness and promoting blood circulation. Moreover, 2 new formulas are postulated. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis indicates that the main active components of the herbs can be observed to tightly bind with the targets. Through network pharmacology and molecular docking, our findings reveal that herbs contain 15 key active components and 5 key targets, which correspond to 7 major herbs and 2 new formulas. Academically, these findings hold significant reference value for the development of novel drugs targeting Sarcopenia.

Endothelial progenitor cells in the host defense response

Extensive injury of endothelial cells in blood vasculature, especially in the microcirculatory system, frequently occurs in hosts suffering from sepsis and the accompanied systemic inflammation. Pathological factors, including toxic components derived from invading microbes, oxidative stress associated with tissue ischemia/reperfusion, and vessel active mediators generated during the inflammatory response, are known to play important roles in mediating endothelial injury. Collapse of microcirculation and tissue edema developed from the failure of endothelial barrier function in vital organ systems, including the lung, brain, and kidney, are detrimental, which often predict fatal outcomes. The host body possesses a substantial capacity for maintaining vascular homeostasis and repairing endothelial damage. Bone marrow and vascular wall niches house endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In response to septic challenges, EPCs in their niche environment are rapidly activated for proliferation and angiogenic differentiation. In the meantime, release of EPCs from their niches into the blood stream and homing of these vascular precursors to tissue sites of injury are markedly increased. The recruited EPCs actively participate in host defense against endothelial injury and repair of damage in blood vasculature via direct differentiation into endothelial cells for re-endothelialization as well as production of vessel active mediators to exert paracrine and autocrine effects on angiogenesis/vasculogenesis. In recent years, investigations on significance of EPCs in host defense and molecular signaling mechanisms underlying regulation of the EPC response have achieved substantial progress, which promotes exploration of vascular precursor cell-based approaches for effective prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced vascular injury as well as vital organ system failure.

APP Processing: A Biochemical Competition Influenced by Exercise-Induced Signaling Mediators?

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are becoming more common in aging our society. One specific neuropathological hallmark of this disease is excessive accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which can aggregate to form the plaques commonly associated with this disease. These plaques are often observed well before clinical diagnosis of AD. At the cellular level, both production and aggregation of Aβ peptides in the brain is detrimental to neuronal cell production, survival, and function, as well as often resulting in neuronal dysfunction and death. Exercise and physical activity have been shown to improve overall health, including brain health, and in the last several years there has been evidence to support that exercise may be able to regulate Aβ peptide production in the brain. Exercise promotes the release of a wide array of signaling mediators from various metabolically active tissues and organs in the body. These exercise-induced signaling mediators could be the driving force behind some of the beneficial effects observed in brain with exercise. This review will aim to discuss potential exercise-induced signaling mediators with the capacity to influence various proteins involved in the formation of Aβ peptide production in the brain.

The Role of IL-6 Released During Exercise to Insulin Sensitivity and Muscle Hypertrophy

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) influences both inflammatory response and anti-inflammatory processes. This cytokine can be released by the exercising skeletal muscle, which characterizes it as a myokine. Unlike what is observed in inflammation, IL-6 produced by skeletal muscle is not preceded by the release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, but is seems to be dependent on the lactate produced during exercise, thus causing different effects from those of seen in inflammatory state. After binding to its receptor, myokine IL-6 activates the PI3K-Akt pathway. One consequence of this upregulation is the potentiation of insulin signaling, which enhances insulin sensitivity. IL-6 increases GLUT-4 vesicle mobilization to muscle cell periphery, increasing the glucose transport into the cell, and also glycogen synthesis. Muscle glycogen provides energy for the ATP resynthesis, and regulates Ca2+ release by the sarcoplasmic reticulum, influencing muscle contraction, and, hence, muscle function by multiple pathways. Another implication for the upregulation of PI3K-Akt pathway is the activation of mTORC1, which regulates mRNA translational efficiency by regulating translation machinery, and translational capacity by inducing ribosomal biogenesis. Thus, IL-6 may contribute for skeletal muscle hypertrophy and function by increasing contractile protein synthesis.

New Horizon: Exercise and a Focus on Tissue-Brain Crosstalk

The world population is aging, leading to increased rates of neurodegenerative disorders. Exercise has countless health benefits and has consistently been shown to improve brain health and cognitive function. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of exercise-induced adaptations in the brain with a focus on crosstalk between peripheral tissues and the brain. We highlight recent investigations into exercise-induced circulating factors, or exerkines, including irisin, cathepsin B, GPLD1, and ketones and the mechanisms mediating their effects in the brain.

Production of electricity and reduction of high-fat diet-induced IL-6 by glucose fermentation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Electrogenic bacteria can mediate electron transfer to conserve energy and promote growth. To examine bacterial electrogenicity, an L. mesenteroides EH-1 strain was cultured in rich media in the presence and absence of 2% glucose. After 12 h incubation, glucose triggered fermentation of L. mesenteroides EH-1 to produce >10 mmol/l acetate and elicit electricity measured by voltage changes. The electricity production was mediated by glucose fermentation since pre-treatment of L. mesenteroides EH-1 with furfural, a fermentation inhibitor, completely diminished the voltage increases. The deficiency of furfural pre-treated L. mesenteroides EH-1 in electricity production can be restored by the external addition of acetate into the bacterial culture, suggesting the function of acetate as an electron donor. Oral administration of HFD-fed mice with L. mesenteroides EH-1 in the presence or absence of glucose significantly attenuated the high level of pro-inflammatory IL-6 cytokine in blood. Bacterial electricity can be elicited by fermentation. Supplementation of fermenting and electrogenic L. mesenteroides EH-1 may provide a novel approach for the reduction of pro-inflammatory IL-6 cytokine that increased in chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and infections.