Transmissible gastroenteritis virus ORF3b up-regulates miR-885-3p to counteract TNF-α production via inhibiting NF-κB pathway

Phloretin inhibits transmissible gastroenteritis virus proliferation via multiple mechanisms

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), an enteropathogenic coronavirus, has caused huge economic losses to the pig industry, with 100% mortality in piglets aged 2 weeks and intestinal injury in pigs of other ages. However, there is still a shortage of safe and effective anti-TGEV drugs in clinics. In this study, phloretin, a naturally occurring dihydrochalcone glycoside, was identified as a potent antagonist of TGEV. Specifically, we found phloretin effectively inhibited TGEV proliferation in PK-15 cells, dose-dependently reducing the expression of TGEV N protein, mRNA, and virus titer. The anti-TGEV activity of phloretin was furthermore refined to target the internalization and replication stages. Moreover, we also found that phloretin could decrease the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines induced by TGEV infection. In addition, we expanded the potential key targets associated with the anti-TGEV effect of phloretin to AR, CDK2, INS, ESR1, ESR2, EGFR, PGR, PPARG, PRKACA, and MAPK14 with the help of network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Furthermore, resistant viruses have been selected by culturing TGEV with increasing concentrations of phloretin. Resistance mutations were reproducibly mapped to the residue (S242) of main protease (Mpro). Molecular docking analysis showed that the mutation (S242F) significantly disrupted phloretin binding to Mpro, suggesting Mpro might be a potent target of phloretin. In summary, our findings indicate that phloretin is a promising drug candidate for combating TGEV, which may be helpful for developing pharmacotherapies for TGEV and other coronavirus infections.

Understanding the lncRNA/miRNA-NFκB regulatory network in Diabetes Mellitus: From function to clinical translation

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its significant ramifications make out one of the primary reasons behind morbidity worldwide. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, are involved in regulating manifold biological processes, including diabetes initiation and progression. One of the established pathways attributed to DM development is NF-κB signaling. Neurons, β cells, adipocytes, and hepatocytes are among the metabolic tissues where NF-κB is known to produce a range of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. The direct or indirect role of ncRNAs such as lncRNAs and miRNAs on the NF-κB signaling pathway and DM development has been supported by many studies. As a result, effective diabetes treatment and preventive methods will benefit from a comprehensive examination of the interplay between NF-κB and ncRNAs. Herein, we provide a concise overview of the role of NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways in diabetes mellitus and its consequences. The reciprocal regulation of ncRNAs and the NF-κB signaling pathway in diabetes is then discussed, shedding light on the pathogenesis of the illness and its possible therapeutic interventions.

The placenta epigenome-brain axis: placental epigenomic and transcriptomic responses that preprogram cognitive impairment

Aim: The placenta-brain axis reflects a developmental linkage where disrupted placental function is associated with impaired neurodevelopment later in life. Placental gene expression and the expression of epigenetic modifiers such as miRNAs may be tied to these impairments and are understudied. Materials & methods: The expression levels of mRNAs (n = 37,268) and their targeting miRNAs (n = 2083) were assessed within placentas collected from the ELGAN study cohort (n = 386). The ELGAN adolescents were assessed for neurocognitive function at age 10 and the association with placental mRNA/miRNAs was determined. Results: Placental mRNAs related to inflammatory and apoptotic processes are under miRNA control and associated with cognitive impairment at age 10. Conclusion: Findings highlight key placenta epigenome-brain relationships that support the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis.