Network analysis of DUSP12 partners in the nucleus under genotoxic stress

Comparative Analysis of Multiple Neurodegenerative Diseases Based on Advanced Epigenetic Aging Brain

Background: Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDs) are age-dependent and include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and so on. There have been numerous studies showing that accelerated aging is closely related (even the driver of) ND, thus promoting imbalances in cellular homeostasis. However, the mechanisms of how different ND types are related/triggered by advanced aging are still unclear. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the potential markers/mechanisms of different ND types based on aging acceleration at a system level.

Methods: AD, PD, PSP, FTD, and aging markers were identified by supervised machine learning methods. The aging acceleration differential networks were constructed based on the aging score. Both the enrichment analysis and sensitivity analysis were carried out to investigate both common and specific mechanisms among different ND types in the context of aging acceleration.

Results: The extracellular fluid, cellular metabolisms, and inflammatory response were identified as the common driving factors of cellular homeostasis imbalances during the accelerated aging process. In addition, Ca ion imbalance, abnormal protein depositions, DNA damage, and cytoplasmic DNA in macrophages were also revealed to be special mechanisms that further promote AD, PD, PSP, and FTD, respectively.

Conclusion: The accelerated epigenetic aging mechanisms of different ND types were integrated and compared through our computational pipeline.

Expression of DUSP12 Reduces Lung Vascular Endothelial Cell Damage in a Murine Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via the Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1 (ASK1)-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Activation (JNK) Pathway

BACKGROUND Acute lung injury (ALI) results from damage to the alveolar capillary endothelial cells and can result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to investigate murine lung vascular endothelial cells (MLECs) damage in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. MATERIAL AND METHODS Mice were injected with LPS to induce an acute lung injury model. An adenovirus transfection system was used to overexpress or knockdown DUSP12 in mice. MLECs were isolated, cultured and transfected with DUSP12-overexpressing adenovirus or with DUSP12 siRNA to knockdown DUSP12. LPS was used to establish a cell injury model. ELISA and RT-PCR were used to examine cell inflammation. LPS-induced oxidative stress was also evaluated using commercial kits. RESULTS A decreased level of DUSP12 was observed in MLECs treated with LPS. DUSP12 overexpression in mice attenuated LPS-induced lung inflammation and lung injury, as reflected by reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Mice with DUSP12 knockdown exhibited worsened lung inflammation and injury. In vitro, DUSP12 overexpression in endothelial cells ameliorated LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. DUSP12 silencing in endothelial cells aggravated LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, we found that DUSP12 directly bound to apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) to inhibit Jun N-terminal kinase activation (JNK). A JNK1/2 inhibitor and ASK1 siRNA ameliorated the exacerbating effects of DUSP12 knockdown in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrated that DUSP12 suppressed MLEC injury in response to LPS insult by regulating the ASK1/JNK pathway.

DUSP12 protects against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury dependent on ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway in vitro and in vivo

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is an important risk factor resulting in liver failure during liver surgery. However, there is still lack of effective therapeutic methods to treat hepatic I/R injury. DUSP12 is a member of the dual specific phosphatase (DUSP) family. Some DUSPs have been identified as being involved in the regulation of hepatic I/R injury. However, the role of DUSP12 during hepatic I/R injury is still unclear. In the present study, we observed a significant decrease in DUSP12 expression in a hepatic I/R injury mouse model in vivo and in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model in vitro. Using hepatocyte-specific DUSP12 knockout mice and DUSP12 transgenic mice, we demonstrated that DUSP12 apparently relieved I/R-induced liver injury. Moreover, DUSP12 inhibited hepatic inflammatory responses and alleviated apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that JNK and p38 activity, but not ERK1/2, was increased in the DUSP12-deficient mice and decreased in the DUSP12 transgenic mice under I/R condition. ASK1 was required for DUSP12 function in hepatic I/R injury and inhibition of ASK1 prevented inflammation and apoptosis in DUSP12-deficient hepatocytes and mice. In conclusion, DUSP12 protects against hepatic I/R injury and related inflammation and apoptosis. This regulatory role of DUSP12 is primarily through ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway. Taken together, DUSP12 could be a potential therapeutic target for hepatic I/R injury.