Dual roles of demethylation in cancer treatment and cardio-function recovery

Exercise-induced redox modulation as a mediator of DNA methylation in health maintenance and disease prevention

The evidence for physical activity (PA) as a major public health preventive approach and a potent medical therapy has increased exponentially in the last decades. The biomolecular mechanisms supporting the associations between PA and/or structured exercise training with health maintenance and disease prevention are not completely characterized. However, increasing evidence pointed out the role of epigenetic modifications in exercise adaptation and health-enhancing PA throughout life, DNA methylation being the most intensely studied epigenetic modification induced by acute and chronic exercise. The current data on the modulation of DNA methylation determined by physically active behavior or exercise interventions points out genes related to energy regulation, mitochondrial function, and biosynthesis, as well as muscle regeneration, calcium signaling pathways, and brain plasticity, all consistent with the known exercise-induced redox signaling and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) unbalance. Thus, the main focus of this review is to discuss the role of ROS and redox-signaling on DNA methylation profile and its impact on exercise-induced health benefits in humans.

Systematic Characterization of DNA Methyltransferases Family in Tumor Progression and Antitumor Immunity

Objective: DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic marker governed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), which can influence cancer onset and progression. However, few studies have provided an integrated analysis of the relevance of DNMT family genes to cell stemness, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and immunotherapy biomarkers across diverse cancers. Methods: This study investigated the impact of five DNMTs on transcriptional profiles, prognosis, and their association with Ki67 expression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition signatures, stemness scores, the TME, and immunological markers across 31 cancer types from recognized public databases. Results: The results indicated that DNMT1/DNMT3B/DNMT3A expression increased, whereas TRDMT1/DNMT3L expression decreased in most cancer types. DNMT family genes were identified as prognostic risk factors for numerous cancers, as well as being prominently associated with immune, stromal, and ESTIMATE scores, as well as with immune-infiltrating cell levels. Expression of the well-known immune checkpoints, PDCD1 and CILA4, was noticeably related to DNMT1/DNMT3A/DNMT3B expression. Finally, we validated the role of DNMT1 in MCF-7 and HepG2-C3A cell lines through its knockdown, whereafter a decrease in cell proliferation and migration ability in vitro was observed. Conclusion: Our study comprehensively expounded that DNMT family genes not only behave as promising prognostic factors but also have the potential to serve as therapeutic targets in cancer immunotherapy for various types of cancer.

Ginkgolide B Blocks Vascular Remodeling after Vascular Injury via Regulating Tgfβ1/Smad Signaling Pathway

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease worldwide, resulting in myocardial infarction (MI) and even sudden death. Following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), restenosis caused by vascular remodeling is always formed at the stent implantation site. Here, we show that Ginkgolide B (GB), a naturally occurring terpene lactone, effectively suppresses vascular remodeling and subsequent restenosis in wild-type mice following left carotid artery (LCA) injury. Additional experiments reveal that GB exerts a protective effect on vascular remodeling and further restenosis through modulation of the Tgfβ1/Smad signaling pathway in vivo and in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMAs) but not in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Moreover, the beneficial effect of GB is abolished after incubated with pirfenidone (PFD, a drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF), which can inhibit Tgfβ1. In Tgfβ1-/- mice, treatment with pirfenidone capsules and Yinxingneizhi Zhusheye (including Ginkgolide B) fails to improve vascular remodeling and restenosis. In conclusion, our data identify that GB could be a potential novel therapeutic agent to block vessel injury-associated vascular remodeling and further restenosis and show significant repression of Tgfβ1/Smad signaling pathway.

Assessing Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Agent for Preventing and Alleviating Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading neurodegenerative condition causing cognitive and memory decline. With small-molecule drugs targeting Aβ proving ineffective, alternative targets are urgently needed. Neuroinflammation, which is central to AD's pathology, results in synaptic and neuronal damage, highlighting the importance of addressing inflammation and conserving neuronal integrity. Cannabidiol (CBD), derived from cannabis, is noted for its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, having shown efficacy in neuropathic pain management for epilepsy. To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of CBD in AD and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms, we aimed to contribute valuable insights for incorporating AD prevention recommendations into future CBD nutritional guidelines. Aβ1-42 was employed for in vivo or in vitro model establishment, CBD treatment was utilized to assess the therapeutic efficacy of CBD, and RNA-seq analysis was conducted to elucidate the underlying therapeutic mechanism. CBD mitigates Aβ-induced cognitive deficits by modulating microglial activity, promoting neurotrophic factor release, and regulating inflammatory genes. The administration of CBD demonstrated a protective effect against Aβ toxicity both in vitro and in vivo, along with an amelioration of cognitive impairment in mice. These findings support the potential inclusion of CBD in future nutritional guidelines for Alzheimer's disease prevention.

Hydrocortisone Mitigates Alzheimer's-Related Cognitive Decline through Modulating Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation

Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-related degenerative disorder, is characterized by β-amyloid deposition, abnormal phosphorylation of tau proteins, synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Despite extensive research, there are no medications or therapeutic interventions to completely treat and reverse AD. Herein, we explore the potential of hydrocortisone (HC), a natural and endogenous glucocorticoid known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, in an Aβ1-42-induced AD mouse model. Our investigation highlights the beneficial effects of HC administration on cognitive impairment, synaptic function enhancement, and neuronal protection in Aβ1-42-induced AD mice. Notably, HC treatment effectively suppresses the hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes, leading to a reduction in proinflammatory factors and alleviation of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, HC intervention demonstrates the capacity to mitigate the generation of ROS and oxidative stress. These compelling findings underscore the potential therapeutic application of HC in AD and present promising opportunities for its utilization in AD prevention and treatment. The implications drawn from our findings indicate that hydrocortisone holds promise as a viable candidate for adjunctive use with other anti-AD drugs for the clinical management of patients presenting with moderate to severe AD.