KPNA4 is involved in cataract formation via the nuclear import of p53

Elucidation of the mechanism of Zhenbao pills for the treatment of spinal cord injury by network pharmacology and molecular docking: A review

To explore the mechanism of the Zhenbao pill (ZBP) in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). The TCMSP Database, HERB Database and literature search were used to screen the effective ingredients and targets of ZBP; SCI-related genes were searched in GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGkb, TTD and DrugBank databases; the potential targets of ZBP for treating SCI were predicted and Venn diagrams were drawn, and the "herb-ingredient-target" network was constructed by Cytoscape software. The PPI network was constructed by STRING software, and the core targets were screened by cytoNCA plug-in; GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed on the predicted targets using the DAVID Platform, and visualized with the Microbiology Network Platform. The molecular docking between the key ingredients and the core target was carried out by AutoDockVina software. 391 active ingredients and 836 action targets were obtained from ZBP and there are 1557 SCI related genes in 5 disease databases. The top 5 active ingredients were Quercetin, Camptothecin, Kaempferol, Ethyl iso-allocholate, and Ethyl linoleate, and 5 core genes were SRC, CTNNB1, TP53, AKT1, and STAT3. GO enrichment analysis showed that the core targets were involved in 1206 biological processes, 120 cellular components and 160 molecular functions; KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the core targets involved 183 pathways, including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways. Molecular docking indicated that CTNNB1, SRC, TP53, AKT1 and STAT3 showed good binding ability with the active ingredients quercetin, kaempferol and ethyl isobutyric acid. ZBP improves SCI through multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways.

Cataractogenesis and molecular pathways, with reactive free oxygen species as a common pathway

Slowing down or stopping the natural process of cataractogenesis is certainly a challenge for those who today propose an option other than surgery. Addressing the same problem in different ways constitutes a new approach to solving what is today the number one cause of reversible blindness worldwide. The technological revolution, as well as the advances in the biological sciences, allows us to conceive mechanisms never thought of before to stop the process that, as a common pathway, constitutes opacification of the crystalline lens. A new dawn for cataracts is coming through molecular, newly-discovered mechanisms. Cataractogenesis and molecular pathways have reactive free oxygen species as a common pathway. Surgical removal is today's gold standard, but perhaps not for much longer.

Long non-coding RNA UCA1 regulates MPP+-induced neuronal damage through the miR-671-5p/KPNA4 pathway in SK-N-SH cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease. Long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. However, the pathogenesis of PD regulated by UCA1 has not been fully explained. We used 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced SK-N-SH cells for functional analysis. Expression levels of UCA1, microRNA (miR)-671-5p, and KPNA4 (karyopherin subunit alpha 4) mRNA were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed using MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) or flow cytometry assays. Some protein levels were measured by western blotting. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were tested by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The levels of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), MDA (malondialdehyde), and SOD (superoxide dismutase) were measured using corresponding kits. The relationship between UCA1 or KPNA4 and miR-671-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and/or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. MPP⁺ induced UCA1 expression in SK-N-SH cells in a concentration-dependent manner or time-dependent manner. UCA1 knockdown reduced MPP⁺-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in SK-N-SH cells. MiR-671-5p was downregulated while KPNA4 was upregulated in MPP⁺-treated SK-N-SH cells. UCA1 sponged miR-671-5p to regulate KPNA4 expression. MiR-671-5p inhibition counteracted UCA1 knockdown-mediated influence on apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of MPP⁺-induced SK-N-SH cells. KPNA4 overexpression offset the inhibitory influence of miR-671-5p mimic on apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of MPP⁺-treated SK-N-SH cells. UCA1 inhibition reduced MPP⁺-induced neuronal damage through the miR-671-5p/KPNA4 pathway in SK-N-SH cells, providing a novel mechanism to understand the pathogenesis of PD.

Recreational physical activity before and during pregnancy and placental DNA methylation-an epigenome-wide association study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) prior to and during pregnancy may have intergenerational effects on offspring health through placental epigenetic modifications. We are unaware of epidemiologic studies on longitudinal PA and placental DNA methylation.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the association between PA before and during pregnancy and placental DNA methylation.

METHODS

Placental tissues were obtained at delivery and methylation was measured using HumanMethylation450 Beadchips for participants in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons among 298 participants. Using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, women recalled periconception PA (past 12 mo) at 8-13 wk of gestation and PA since last visit at 4 follow-up visits at 16-22, 24-29, 30-33, and 34-37 wk. We conducted linear regression for associations of PA at each visit with methylation controlling for false discovery rate (FDR). Top 100 CpGs were queried for enrichment of functional pathways using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.

RESULTS

Periconception PA was significantly associated with 1 CpG site. PA since last visit for visits 1-4 was associated with 2, 2, 8, and 0 CpGs (log fold changes ranging from -0.0319 to 0.0080, after controlling for FDR). The largest change in methylation occurred at a site in TIMP2 , which is known to encode a protein critical for vasodilation, placentation, and uterine expansion during pregnancy (log fold change: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.06, -0.03 per metabolic equivalent of task-h/wk at 30-33 wk). Most significantly enriched pathways include cardiac hypertrophy signaling, B-cell receptor signaling, and netrin signaling. Significant CpGs and enriched pathways varied by visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Recreational PA in the year prior and during pregnancy was associated with placental DNA methylation. The associated CpG sites varied based on timing of PA. If replicated, the findings may inform the mechanisms underlying the impacts of PA on placenta health. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00912132.

Zebrafish Model in Ophthalmology to Study Disease Mechanism and Drug Discovery

Visual impairment and blindness are common and seriously affect people’s work and quality of life in the world. Therefore, the effective therapies for eye diseases are of high priority. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an alternative vertebrate model as a useful tool for the mechanism elucidation and drug discovery of various eye disorders, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, photoreceptor degeneration, etc. The genetic and embryonic accessibility of zebrafish in combination with a behavioral assessment of visual function has made it a very popular model in ophthalmology. Zebrafish has also been widely used in ocular drug discovery, such as the screening of new anti-angiogenic compounds or neuroprotective drugs, and the oculotoxicity test. In this review, we summarized the applications of zebrafish as the models of eye disorders to study disease mechanism and investigate novel drug treatments.