KLF13 induces apoptotic cell clearance in Penaeus vannamei as an essential part of shrimp innate immune response to pathogens

Exploration of the common pathogenic link between COVID-19 and diabetic foot ulcers: An in silico approach

Background and Aims

The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is posing an ongoing threat to human health. Patients of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) are susceptible to COVID-19-induced adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, investigations into their mutual molecular mechanisms have been limited to date. In the present work, we tried to uncover the shared pathogenesis and regulatory gene targets of COVID-19 and DFU.

Methods

In this study, we chose GSE161281 as the COVID-19 data set, which contained severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infected human induced embryonic stem cell-derived peripheral neurons (n = 2) with uninfected controls (n = 2). The GSE134431 designated as the DFU data set, comprising full-thickness DFU (n = 13) and diabetic foot skin (n = 8) samples from diabetic patients. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from GSE161281 and GSE134431, and the common DEGs between COVID-19 and DFU were extracted. Multifactor regulatory network and co-expression network of the common DEGs were analyzed, along with candidate drug prediction.

Results

Altogether, six common DEGs (dickkopf-related protein 1 [DKK1], serine proteinase inhibitor A3 [SERPINA3], ras homolog family member D [RHOD], myelin protein zero like 3 [MPZL3], Claudin-11 [CLDN11], and epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8-like 1 [EPS8L1]) were found between COVID-19 and DFU. Functional analyses indicated that pathways of apoptotic and Wnt signaling may contribute to progression of COVID-19. Gene co-expression network implied the shared pathways of immune regulation and cytokine response participated collectively in the development of DFU and COVID-19. A multifactor regulatory network was constructed integrating the corresponding microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors. Additionally, we proposed potential drug objects for the combined therapy.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the shared molecular mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and DFU. The identified pivotal targets and common pathways can provide new perspectives for further research and assist the development of management strategies in patients of DFU complicated with COVID-19.

Kruppel homolog 1 modulates ROS production and antimicrobial peptides expression in shrimp hemocytes during infection by the Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain that causes AHPND

Shrimp aquaculture has been seriously affected by acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), caused by a strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that carries the Pir toxin plasmids (V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND)). In this study, the transcription factor, Kruppel homolog 1-like of Peneaus vannamei (PvKr-h1), was significantly induced in shrimp hemocytes after V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge, suggesting that PvKr-h1 is involved in shrimp immune response. Knockdown of PvKr-h1 followed by V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge increased bacterial abundance in shrimp hemolymph coupled with high shrimp mortality. Moreover, transcriptome and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that PvKr-h1 silencing followed by V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge dysregulated the expression of several antioxidant-related enzyme genes, such as Cu-Zu SOD, GPX, and GST, and antimicrobial peptide genes, i.e., CRUs and PENs, and reduced ROS activity and nuclear translocation of Relish. These data reveal that PvKr-h1 regulates shrimps' immune response to V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) infection by suppressing antioxidant-related enzymes, enhancing ROS production and promoting nuclei import of PvRelish to stimulate antimicrobial peptide genes expression.

The transcription factor CSL homolog in Penaeus vannamei positively regulates the transcription of the hemocyanin small subunit gene

Hemocyanin, a copper-containing respiratory protein, is abundantly present in hemolymph of arthropods and mollusks and performs a variety of immunological functions. However, the regulatory mechanisms of hemocyanin gene transcription remain largely unclear. Our previous work showed that knockdown of the transcription factor CSL, a component of the Notch signaling pathway, downregulated the expression of Penaeus vannamei hemocyanin small subunit gene (PvHMCs), indicating the involvement of CSL in regulating the PvHMCs transcription. In this study, we identified a CSL binding motif ("GAATCCCAGA", +1675/+1684 bp) in the core promoter of PvHMCs (designated as HsP3). Dual luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that the CSL homolog in P. vannamei (PvCSL) could directly bind and activate the HsP3 promoter. Moreover, in vivo silencing of PvCSL significantly attenuated the mRNA and protein expression of PvHMCs. Finally, in response to Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Streptococcus iniae and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge, the transcript of PvCSL and PvHMCs showed a positive correlation, suggesting that PvCSL could also modulate the expression of PvHMCs upon pathogen stimulation. Taken together, our present finding is the first to demonstrate that PvCSL is a crucial factor in transcriptional control of PvHMCs.