The KMT1A/TIMP3/PI3K/AKT circuit regulates tumor growth in cervical cancer

Visfatin impact on the proteome of porcine luteal cells during implantation

Visfatin (VIS) is a hormone belonging to the adipokines' group secreted mainly by the adipose tissue. VIS plays a crucial role in the control of energy homeostasis, inflammation, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. VIS expression was confirmed in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis structures, as well as in the uterus, placenta, and conceptuses. We hypothesised that VIS may affect the abundance of proteins involved in the regulation of key processes occurring in the corpus luteum (CL) during the implantation process in pigs. In the present study, we performed the high-throughput proteomic analysis (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS) to examine the in vitro influence of VIS (100 ng/mL) on differentially regulated proteins (DRPs) in the porcine luteal cells (LCs) on days 15-16 of pregnancy (implantation period). We have identified 511 DRPs, 276 of them were up-regulated, and 235 down-regulated in the presence of VIS. Revealed DRPs were assigned to 162 gene ontology terms. Western blot analysis of five chosen DRPs, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 1 (ADAMTS1), lanosterol 14-α demethylase (CYP51A1), inhibin subunit beta A (INHBA), notch receptor 3 (NOTCH3), and prostaglandin E synthase 2 (mPGES2) confirmed the veracity and accuracy of LC-MS/MS method. We indicated that VIS modulates the expression of proteins connected with the regulation of lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis, and, in consequence, may be involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, as well as prostaglandins' metabolism. Moreover, we revealed that VIS affects the abundance of protein associated with ovarian cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as CL new vessel formation and tissue remodelling. Our results suggest important roles for VIS in the regulation of ovarian functions during the peri-implantation period.

Biomarkers based on multiplatform comprehensive analysis: A systematic analysis of Geng-Nian-Shu in perimenopausal syndrome

Although Geng-Nian-Shu has been shown to be clinically effective in perimenopausal syndrome, its active components and mechanism have not yet been elucidated. To demonstrate the mechanism-based biomarkers of Geng-Nian-Shu in treating perimenopausal syndrome, a total of 135 chemical constituents including 52 prototype blood constituents were identified via high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight/mass spectrometry. Then, network pharmacology showed significant enrichment for the PhosphoInositide-3 Kinase/Akt pathway, suggesting that it may be the main regulatory pathway for the Geng-Nian-Shu treatment of the perimenopausal syndrome. Subsequently, multivariate analysis was performed between the Geng-Nian-Shu sham-treated and Geng-Nian-Shu ovariectomy-treated groups and further screened out 18 prototype blood constituents by correlation analysis with plasma estrogen levels to identify potential biomarkers associated with Geng-Nian-Shu treat the ovariectomy-induced perimenopausal syndrome. Finally, the results of pharmacological experimental verification and Pearson correlation analysis indicated that catalpol, ligustilide, paeoniflorin, and gallic acid were selected as biomarkers of Geng-Nian-Shu which were strongly and positively correlated with PhosphoInositide-3 Kinase/Akt signaling pathway. In this study, based on high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight/mass spectrometry combined with pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology, pharmacology, and other disciplines, we explored the effects and mechanisms of Geng-Nian-Shu in the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome at multiple levels. Using multiplatform technology to investigate the role of Geng-Nian-Shu represents a new strategy for the selection and verification of biomarkers of Geng-Nian-Shu and provides a basis for further development and utilization of Geng-Nian-Shu.

TIMP3 induces gene expression partly through PI3K and their association with vascularization and heart rate

Background

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) was recently demonstrated capable to regulate some gene expression in a myocardial infarction model. Here we aim to explore the gene expression profile in TIMP3-treated cardiomyocytes and related potential cardiovascular functions.

Methods

Total RNA extracted from cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were used for RNA sequencing analysis and real-time PCR. KEGG pathway enrichment assay and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were performed to study the signaling pathways and downstream effects. Western blot was used to detect phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt). A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was employed to evaluate the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Contraction rate of NRVMs was measured with microscopy.

Results

RNA sequencing data showed that expression of 2,526 genes were significantly modulated by recombinant TIMP3 (rTIMP3, 100 ng/ml) in NRVMs. Some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were validated with real-time PCR. Several KEGG pathways including the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway were significantly regulated by rTIMP3. Phosphorylation of Akt was increased by rTIMP3 and a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 suppressed rTIMP3-induced up-regulation of some genes. Some DEGs were predicted by IPA to increase vascularization, and some to decrease heart rate. RTIMP3 could reduce the contraction rate of NRVMs and its conditioned media increased the proliferation of HUVECs.

Conclusion

TIMP3 can regulate expression of multiple genes partly through PI3K. Some DEGs were associated with activation of vascularization and some with heart rate reduction. This study suggests that TIMP3 can potentially modulate cardiovascular functions via DEGs.

Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses of IPEC-J2 cells reveals porcine transcription and chromatin accessibility changes associated with Escherichia coli F18ac inhibited by Lactobacillus reuteri

Escherichia coli is the main cause of postweaning diarrhea in pigs, leading to economic loss. As a probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri has been used to inhibit E. coli in clinical applications; however, its integrative interactions with hosts remain unclear, especially in pigs. Here, we found that L. reuteri effectively inhibited E. coli F18ac adhering to porcine IPEC-J2 cells, and explored the genome-wide transcription and chromatin accessibility landscapes of IPEC-J2 cells by RNA-seq and ATAC-seq. The results showed that some key signal transduction pathways, such as PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways, were enriched in the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between E. coli F18ac treatment with and without L. reuteri groups. However, we found less overlap between RNA-seq and ATAC-seq datasets; we speculated that this might be caused by histones modification through ChIP-qPCR detection. Furthermore, we identified the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton pathway and a number of candidate genes (ARHGEF12, EGFR, and DIAPH3) that might be associated with the inhibition of E. coli F18ac adherence to IPEC-J2 cells by L. reuteri. In conclusion, we provide a valuable dataset that can be used to seek potential porcine molecular markers of E. coli F18ac pathogenesis and L. reuteri antibacterial activity, and to guide the antibacterial application of L. reuteri.