Cyclophilin A: a key player for human disease

Airway Spatial Transcriptomics in Smoking

Background

Cigarette smoking has a significant impact on global health. Although cessation has positive health benefits, some molecular changes to intercellular communications may persist in the lung. In this study we created a framework to generate hypotheses by predicting altered cell-cell communication in smoker lungs using single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data.

Methods

We integrated publicly available lung single-cell transcriptomic data with spatial transcriptomic data from never-smoker and current-smoker lung tissue samples to create spatial transcriptomic data at virtual single-cell resolution by mapping individual cells from our lung scRNA-seq atlas to spots in the spatial transcriptomic data. Cell-cell communications altered in smoking were identified using the virtual single-cell transcriptomic data.

Results

We identified pathways altered in the three current-smoker samples compared with the three never-smoker samples, including the up-regulated collagen pathway. We observed increased collagen pathway activity involving the ligands COL1A1 and COL1A2 in adventitial fibroblasts and decreased activity involving COL1A2 and COL6A3 in pericytes and myofibroblasts, respectively. We also identified other pathways with structural (e.g. Fibronectin-1), immune-related (e.g. MHC-II), growth factor (e.g. Pleiotrophin) and immunophilin (e.g. Cyclophilin A) roles.

Conclusions

In this study we inferred spatially proximal cell-cell communication between interacting cell types from spatial transcriptomics at virtual single-cell resolution to identify lung intercellular signaling altered in smoking. Our findings further implicate several pathways previously identified, and provide additional molecular context to inform future functional experiments and therapeutic avenues to mitigate pathogenic effects of smoking.

Optimization of Cyclophilin B-Targeted Tri-vector Inhibitors for Novel MASH Treatments

Cyclophilins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pharmacological inhibition of the cyclophilin B isoform has the potential to attenuate liver fibrosis in MASH, but current cyclophilin inhibitors in clinical trials lack isoform selectivity. We previously reported the novel tri-vector small-molecule inhibitor 1 that exhibited improved subtype selectivity by simultaneously engaging three pockets on the surface of cyclophilins. Here, we present structure-activity relationships that address genotoxicity concerns, enhance subtype selectivity, improve pharmaceutical properties, and demonstrate strong efficacy in a MASH cellular model. Lead compound 11 is a potent cyclophilin B inhibitor with an encouraging pharmacokinetic profile suitable for further development.

14-3-3ζ: an optimal housekeeping protein for western blot analysis in swine rotator cuff tendon studies

Healthy biomechanics of the shoulder involving rotator cuff muscles and rotator cuff tendon (RCT) is pivotal for joint stability, yet co-morbid conditions like hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia can lead to degenerative changes jeopardizing tendon integrity. A change in protein expression, the functional moiety for molecular events, may result in altered healing of RCT and prolonged morbidity. Expression and activity of proteins are critical while investigating the underlying molecular and cellular changes involved in tendinopathy. While investigating the changes in the protein expression of various inflammatory mediators, we observed that the Western Blot bands for commonly used housekeeping genes (GAPDH, β-actin, and α-tubulin) were not uniform in different tendon samples. Therefore, we investigated for an optimal housekeeping gene for Western blot analysis in swine RCT under normal and hyperlipidemic conditions, as this is essential for accurate normalization of protein expression. The study evaluated several housekeeping genes-GAPDH, beta-actin, alpha and beta-tubulin, Ubiquitin C, Cyclophilin A, TATA-box binding protein, and 14-3-3ζ-to ensure robust normalization across experimental setups. The results revealed that the protein expression of 14-3-3ζ was uniform in all samples, thereby validating its suitability as a stable housekeeping protein. The findings are important while studying the RCT pathology in a clinically relevant animal model, like swine, which mimics human RCT and provides translationally significant findings. Thus, the 14-3-3ζ protein will be an ideal housekeeping gene in the design of experiments utilizing musculoskeletal tissues.

Chemical Synthesis, Refolding, and Characterization of Mirror-Image Cyclophilin A

The chemical synthesis of proteins (CSP) has been an essential tool in studying and understanding the role of these biological polymers and in enabling the discovery of novel classes of inhibitors. However, CSP with commercially available synthesizers is typically limited to producing polypeptides of about 50 to 70 amino acids in length. Consequently, a wide range of protein targets have been inaccessible using these technologies, or they require cumbersome synthesis and purification of multiple peptide fragments. In this report, we employed a powerful combination of automated fast-flow peptide synthesis (AFPS), native chemical ligation (NCL), and high-throughput evaluation of refolding conditions to achieve the first chemical synthesis of both the wild-type and mirror-image forms of functional full-length cyclophilin A, which plays a vital role in proline cis-trans isomerization and other important processes. Functional assays confirmed that the chemically synthesized proteins retained their biological properties.

PPIA enhances cell growth and metastasis through CD147 in oral cancer

Oral cancer is a malignant tumor, and the associated death rate has significantly increased over the past few decades. Secreted fractions are involved in various physiological processes, and their analysis has become a promising approach for discovering diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancer detection and monitoring metastasis. Therefore, the discovery of potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for oral cancer metastasis is beneficial for developing effective strategies in oral cancer therapy. In this study, we used secretomic analysis to identify the secreted proteins involved in oral cancer. One of the identified proteins, peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA), was selected for further investigation. We used RNA interference to investigate the effect of PPIA secretion on invasion and migration of OC3-I5 cells. Our results showed that reducing the expression and secretion of PPIA significantly decreased invasion and migration of OC3-I5 cells. Next, we used recombinant PPIA to investigate its direct effect on OC3 cell metastasis. The results revealed that proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC3 cells were significantly increased by treatment with the recombinant PPIA. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed higher PPIA expression in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Concisely, PPIA activated the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways and enhanced cell proliferation and metastasis through CD147. In summary, PPIA may prove to be a novel target for oral cancer therapy as well as a prognostic marker.

Vinpocetine Ameliorates Neuronal Injury After Cold-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as intracranial injury, is a common condition with the highest incidence rate among neurodegenerative disorders and poses a significant public health burden. Various methods are used in the treatment of TBI, but the effects of cold-induced traumatic brain injury have not been thoroughly studied. In this context, vinpocetine (VPN), derived from Vinca minor, exhibits notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. VPN is known for its neuroprotective role and is generally utilized for treating various neurodegenerative disorders. However, the function of VPN after cold-induced TBI needs to be studied in more detail. This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of VPN at varying doses (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) after cold-induced TBI. C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed 2 or 28 days after cold-induced TBI. Results indicate that VPN administration significantly reduces brain infarct volume, brain swelling, blood-brain barrier disruption, and DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, VPN enhances neuronal survival in the ipsilesional cortex. In the long term, VPN treatment (5 mg/kg/day or 10 mg/kg/day, initiated 48 h post-TBI) improved locomotor activity, cell proliferation, neurogenesis, and decreased whole brain atrophy, specifically motor cortex atrophy. We performed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to elucidate the underlying mechanisms to profile proteins and signaling pathways influenced by prolonged VPN treatment post-TBI. Notably, we found that 192 different proteins were significantly altered by VPN treatment, which is a matter of further investigation for the development of therapeutic targets. Our study has shown that VPN may have a neuroprotective role in cold-induced TBI.

Unveiling novel targets in melanoma under melanogenesis stimulation and photodynamic therapy by redox proteomics

Melanogenesis-stimulated B16-F10 cells enter in a quiescent state, present inhibited mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species levels. These alterations suggest that these cells may be under redox signaling, allowing tumor survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate redox-modified proteins in B16-F10 cells after melanogenesis stimulation and rose bengal-photodynamic therapy (RB-PDT). A redox proteomics label-free approach based on the biotin switch assay technique with biotin-HPDP and N-ethylmaleimide was used to assess the thiol-oxidized protein profile. Aconitase was oxidized at Cys-448 and Cys-451, citrate synthase was oxidized at Cys-202 and aspartate aminotransferase (Got2) was oxidized at Cys-272 and Cys-274, exclusively after melanogenesis stimulation. After RB-PDT, only guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-2-like 1 (Gnb2l1) was oxidized (Cys-168). In contrast, melanogenesis stimulation followed by RB-PDT led to the oxidation of different cysteines in Gnb2l1 (Cys-153 and Cys-249). Besides that, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) presented oxidation at Cys-245, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A (Ppia) was oxidized at Cys-161 and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid oxidase (Tyrp1) was oxidized at Cys-65, Cys-30, and Cys-336 after melanogenesis stimulation followed by RB-PDT. The redox alterations observed in murine melanoma cells and identification of possible target proteins are of great importance to further understand tumor resistance mechanisms.

Rencofilstat Treatment Improves Liver Function in MASH With Advanced Fibrosis as Quantified by HepQuant DuO

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Rencofilstat inhibits cyclophilin to reduce hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, which, in turn, could improve liver function and reduce portal-systemic shunting. Since HepQuant quantifies liver function and portal-systemic shunting, it was used to measure the hepatic effects of rencofilstat treatment of MASH with advanced fibrosis.

METHODS

Seventy subjects with suspected ≥ F3 MASH, defined from liver biopsy or AGILE 3+ ≥ 0.53, were randomised to rencofilstat 75 mg/d (n = 24), 150 mg/d (n = 23) or 225 mg/d (n = 23), and tested by HepQuant at baseline, 60 and 120 days. The DuO version included oral dosing of d4-cholate and two blood samples (20 and 60 min). DuO's disease severity index (DSI) and portal-systemic shunting fraction (SHUNT%) were evaluated for changes from baseline at 60 and 120 days of rencofilstat treatment.

RESULTS

Across all subjects, there was a significant decrease in SHUNT% both at Day 60 (-1.67%, p = 0.0156) and Day 120 (-1.55%, p = 0.0441). In the 225 mg rencofilstat arm, 56% of subjects (10/18) were responders by Day 120 (p = 0.0549), and their DSIs improved with a mean change of -1.61 (p = 0.0190). Across all treatment arms, subjects with DSI > 18.3 at baseline had the greatest improvement with treatment (ΔDSI = -2.59, p = 0.0053).

CONCLUSION

Although further studies are warranted, the decreases in DSI and SHUNT% suggest that rencofilstat 225 mg/d improves hepatic function and portal-systemic shunting. HepQuant DuO is simple to administer, well-tolerated and a useful tool for detecting the hepatic effects of treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05461105.

Circulating cyclophilin A levels elevate in animal models and can predict mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is released into the blood following cellular injury and correlates with acute pancreatitis (AP) severity, however, investigations into circulating CypA in experimental AP and hypertriglyceridaemia-associated AP (HTG-AP) prevalent cohorts are lacking.

METHODS

C57Bl/6 mice received 4, 8, and 12 caerulein injections to induce escalating severity of AP models (CER-AP). Mice were sacrificed 1 h after the last injection of caerulein to assess severity of CER-AP through biochemical and histopathological analyses, and serum CypA levels were also measured. Golden Syrian hamsters fed with a high-cholesterol/high-fat diet were given 10 caerulein injections to induce experimental HTG-AP to assess severity and serum CypA. Human blood plasma samples taken within 24 h after admission from a patient cohort with a predominance of HTG-AP cases, stored in a prospectively collected AP Biobank, were assessed for plasma CypA levels and correlated with clinical data.

RESULTS

In mice, CER-AP models showed significantly increased pancreatic histopathological scores and biochemical parameters, with severity highest after 12 caerulein injections. Serum CypA levels were significantly higher in all CER-AP models compared to controls. In hamsters, CypA levels were significantly higher in HTG-AP model than controls. In AP patients, CypA levels in non-haemolytic plasma samples varied by aetiology, with the highest levels in HTG-AP, corresponding to HTG levels and AP severity. ROC analysis revealed CypA ≥9.9 ng/ml as a significant predictor of mortality (AUC = 0.865).

CONCLUSION

Circulating CypA levels are significantly increased in mouse CER-AP and hamster HTG-AP models. We have identified a novel association of raised plasma CypA levels with severity of HTG-AP and confirmed its significant prognostic ability to predict mortality in AP patients.

Macrocyclic peptides as a new class of targeted protein degraders

Targeted protein degraders, in the form of proteolysis targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, leverage the ubiquitin-proteasome system to catalytically degrade specific target proteins of interest. Because such molecules can be extremely potent, they have attracted considerable attention as a therapeutic modality in recent years. However, while targeted degraders have great potential, they are likely to face many of the same challenges as more traditional small molecules when it comes to their development as therapeutics. In particular, existing targeted degrader design is largely only applicable to the same set of protein targets as traditional small molecules (i.e., ∼15% of the human proteome). Here, we consider the potential of macrocyclic peptides to overcome this limitation. Such molecules possess several features that make them well-suited for the role, including the ability to induce the formation of ternary protein complexes that can involve relatively flat surfaces and their structural commonality with E3 ligase-recruiting peptide degrons. For these reasons, macrocyclic peptides provide the opportunity both to broaden the number of targets accessible to degrader activity and to broaden the number of E3 ligases that can be harnessed to mediate that activity.

Elevated levels of cyclophilin A secreted in milk during bovine mastitis

Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory disease that primarily occurs when bacteria invade and proliferate in the mammary gland, although it can also be caused by physical trauma. Mastitis results in a decrease in milk yield and quality, causing huge economic losses. Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a cytosolic protein known as cyclosporine binding protein. Recent studies have shown that CyPA is secreted from cells and has chemotactic activity, recruiting inflammatory cells and inducing multiple cytokines. In this study, we found that CyPA is detected in milk and is abundantly secreted at the onset of mastitis. A significant correlation was found between SCC and the concentrations of CyPA in milk. To elucidate the relationship between mastitis and CyPA, we gave an intramammary infusion of Staphylococcus aureus to cattle and investigated the attendant CyPA secretion. In S. aureus-infused quarters, we observed an increased expression of CyPA on mammary epithelia and secretion into milk. The temporal profiles of CyPA in milk were synchronous with SCC, and there was a significant correlation between the concentration of CyPA in milk and SCC. These results suggest that CyPA is involved in the migration of immune cells during the onset of mastitis and may be used as a marker for the onset of mastitis.

Exploration of the Role of Cyclophilins in Established Hepatitis B and C Infections

Cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitors are of clinical interest in respect to their antiviral activities in the context of many viral infections including chronic hepatitis B and C. Cyps are a group of enzymes with peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity (PPIase), known to be required for replication of diverse viruses including hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV). Amongst the Cyp family, the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiviral effects of CypA have been investigated in detail, but potential roles of other Cyps are less well studied in the context of viral hepatitis. Furthermore, most studies investigating the role of Cyps in viral hepatitis did not investigate the potential therapeutic effects of their inhibition in already-established infections but have rather been performed in the context of neo-infections. Here, we investigated the effects of genetically silencing Cyps on persistent HCV and HBV infections. We confirm antiviral effects of CypA and CypD knock down and demonstrate novel roles for CypG and CypH in HCV replication. We show, furthermore, that CypA silencing has a modest but reproducible impact on persistent HBV infections in cultured human hepatocytes.

Flotillin-2 dampens T cell antigen sensitivity and functionality

T cell receptor (TCR) engagement triggers T cell responses, yet how TCR-mediated activation is regulated at the plasma membrane remains unclear. Here, we report that deleting the membrane scaffolding protein Flotillin-2 (Flot2) increases T cell antigen sensitivity, resulting in enhanced TCR signaling and effector function in response to weak TCR stimulation. T cell-specific Flot2-deficient mice exhibited reduced tumor growth and enhanced immunity to infection. Flot2-null CD4+ T cells exhibited increased Th1 polarization, proliferation, Nur77 induction, and phosphorylation of ZAP70 and ERK1/2 upon weak TCR stimulation, indicating a sensitized TCR-triggering threshold. Single-cell RNA-Seq suggested that Flot2-null CD4+ T cells follow a similar route of activation as WT CD4+ T cells but exhibit higher occupancy of a discrete activation state under weak TCR stimulation. Given prior reports that TCR clustering influences sensitivity of T cells to stimuli, we evaluated TCR distribution with super-resolution microscopy. Flot2 ablation increased the number of surface TCR nanoclusters on naive CD4+ T cells. Collectively, we posit that Flot2 modulates T cell functionality to weak TCR stimulation, at least in part, by regulating surface TCR clustering. Our findings have implications for improving T cell reactivity in diseases with poor antigenicity, such as cancer and chronic infections.

Differential Expression of Neurodegeneration-Related Genes in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells Under the Influence of Cyclophilin A: Could the Enzyme be a Likely Trigger and Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease?

The function and mechanism of Cyclophilin A (CypA) in modulating gene expression associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. This multifunctional protein is found to be elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of individuals at risk for AD. The cytotoxic effects of CypA, including both wild-type and the mutant R55A, were assessed using the MTT assay. Prior to this evaluation, the purified recombinant protein was validated through enzymatic activity assays and western blot analysis. Following treatment with CypA and transient transfection using the CypA construct, real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were conducted to analyze the expression of factors involved in various signaling pathways, with an emphasis on inflammation, cell death, and intercellular communication. The findings indicate that CypA has a significant impact on the gene expression of factors associated with inflammation and the progression of AD in SH-SY5Y cells. It can be concluded that CypA is capable of regulating gene expression in SH-SY5Y cells, either in a manner dependent on or independent of its enzymatic activity. Additionally, the influence of this multifunctional protein on gene expression is contingent upon the specific site of action, as well as the dosage and duration of exposure to the cells.

Cyclophilin A facilitates HIV-1 integration

Cyclophilin A (CypA) binds to the HIV-1 capsid to facilitate reverse transcription and nuclear entry and counter the antiviral activity of TRIM5α. Interestingly, recent studies suggest that the capsid enters the nucleus of an infected cell and uncoats prior to integration. We have previously reported that the capsid protein regulates HIV-1 integration. Therefore, we probed whether CypA-capsid interaction also regulates this post-nuclear entry step. First, we challenged CypA-expressing (CypA+/+) and CypA-depleted (CypA-/-) cells with HIV-1 and quantified the levels of provirus. CypA-depletion significantly reduced integration, an effect that was independent of CypA's effect on reverse transcription, nuclear entry, and the presence or absence of TRIM5α. In addition, cyclosporin A, an inhibitor that disrupts CypA-capsid binding, inhibited proviral integration in CypA+/+ cells but not in CypA-/- cells. HIV-1 capsid mutants (G89V and P90A) deficient in CypA binding were also blocked at the integration step in CypA+/+ cells but not in CypA-/- cells. Then, to understand the mechanism, we assessed the integration activity of the HIV-1 preintegration complexes (PICs) extracted from acutely infected cells. PICs from CypA-/- cells retained lower integration activity in vitro compared to those from CypA+/+ cells. PICs from cells depleted of both CypA and TRIM5α also had lower activity, suggesting that CypA's effect on PIC was independent of TRIM5α. Finally, CypA protein specifically stimulated PIC activity, as this effect was significantly blocked by CsA. Collectively, these results provide strong evidence that CypA directly promotes HIV-1 integration, a previously unknown role of this host factor in the nucleus of an infected cell.

IMPORTANCE

Interaction between the HIV-1 capsid and host cellular factors is essential for infection. However, the molecular details and functional consequences of viral-host factor interactions during HIV-1 infection are not fully understood. Over 30 years ago, Cyclophilin A (CypA) was identified as the first host protein to bind to the HIV-1 capsid. Now it is established that CypA-capsid interaction promotes reverse transcription and nuclear entry of HIV-1. In addition, CypA blocks TRIM5α-mediated restriction of HIV-1. In this report, we show that CypA promotes the post-nuclear entry step of HIV-1 integration by binding to the viral capsid. Notably, we show that CypA stimulates the viral DNA integration activity of the HIV-1 preintegration complex. Collectively, our studies identify a novel role of CypA during the early steps of HIV-1 infection. This new knowledge is important because recent reports suggest that an operationally intact HIV-1 capsid enters the nucleus of an infected cell.

Toward Dual Targeting of Catalytic and Gatekeeper Pockets in Cyclophilins Using a Macrocyclic Scaffold

Cyclophilins, especially cyclophilin A, are involved in a variety of diseases, including the life cycle of many viruses. An advanced macrocyclic inhibitor of cyclophilin was reported to bind the catalytic pocket but not the neighboring gatekeeper pocket. Here we describe macrocyclic cyclophilin inhibitors bearing side chains designed to reach out to the gatekeeper pocket. After establishing a suitable synthesis allowing for late-stage modification of the relevant positions, we explored this exit vector. This culminated in a rigid ornithine-resembling analogue as a versatile building block, which was also incorporated into the macrocyclic scaffold. The use of amines as the gatekeeper-engaging modality was invalidated, but the exit vector was successfully established as a promising position for future modifications. Further work is needed to identify suitable motifs to simultaneously engage the catalytic and gatekeeper pockets in this highly developed macrocyclic scaffold.

CypA/TAF15/STAT5A/miR-514a-3p feedback loop drives ovarian cancer metastasis

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase that participates in multiple cancer events, but the molecular mechanisms of abnormal expression and regulation of CypA in ovarian cancer (OC) have never been considered. This study identifies CypA as a key driver of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovarian cancer and explores the mechanisms that underly this process. We show that CypA is upregulated in tissues and serum of ovarian cancer patients and that CypA overexpression correlates with poor prognosis. CypA facilitates tumor growth and metastasis in vivo in subcutaneous tumor xenograft and abdominal metastatic models, and in vitro studies suggest a mechanism, showing that CypA accelerates ovarian cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating a PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Mechanistic studies showed that STAT5A binds pri-miR-514a-3p and inhibits its activity, whereas miR-514a-3p directly binds to the 3'-UTR of CypA to suppress its expression, resulting in STAT5A promoting the expression of CypA, forming the STAT5A/miR-514a-3p/CypA axis. Furthermore, immunoprecipitates and mass spectrometry analysis identifies a CypA interaction with TAF15 that stabilizes TAF15 by suppressing its proteasome degradation and promotes its entry into the nucleus. While STAT5A is positively regulated by TAF15. Our findings identify a novel feedback loop for CypA that drives EMT and ovarian tumor growth and metastasis via a TAF15/STAT5A/miR-514a-3p pathway in ovarian cancer and facilitates the release of CypA into the extracellular, which provides a promising therapeutic target for OC treatment and a diagnostic biomarker.

Evaluating the potential of non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin analogs for targeting Toxoplasma gondii cyclophilin: Insights from structural studies

Toxoplasmosis persists as a prevalent disease, facing challenges from parasite resistance and treatment side effects. Consequently, identifying new drugs by exploring novel protein targets is essential for effective intervention. Cyclosporin A (CsA) possesses antiparasitic activity against Toxoplasma gondii, with cyclophilins identified as possible targets. However, CsA immunosuppressive nature hinders its use as an antitoxoplasmosis agent. Here, we evaluate the potential of three CsA derivatives devoid of immunosuppressive activity, namely, NIM811, Alisporivir, and dihydrocyclosporin A to target a previously characterized cyclophilin from Toxoplasma gondii (TgCyp23). We determined the X-ray crystal structures of TgCyp23 in complex with the three analogs and elucidated their binding and inhibitory properties. The high resolution of the structures revealed the precise positioning of ligands within the TgCyp23 binding site and the details of protein-ligand interactions. A comparison with the established ternary structure involving calcineurin indicates that substitutions at position 4 in CsA derivatives prevent calcineurin binding. This finding provides a molecular explanation for why CsA analogs can target Toxoplasma cyclophilins without compromising the human immune response.

Structural insights into the diversity and DNA cleavage mechanism of Fanzor

Fanzor (Fz) is an ωRNA-guided endonuclease extensively found throughout the eukaryotic domain with unique gene editing potential. Here, we describe the structures of Fzs from three different organisms. We find that Fzs share a common ωRNA interaction interface, regardless of the length of the ωRNA, which varies considerably across species. The analysis also reveals Fz's mode of DNA recognition and unwinding capabilities as well as the presence of a non-canonical catalytic site. The structures demonstrate how protein conformations of Fz shift to allow the binding of double-stranded DNA to the active site within the R-loop. Mechanistically, examination of structures in different states shows that the conformation of the lid loop on the RuvC domain is controlled by the formation of the guide/DNA heteroduplex, regulating the activation of nuclease and DNA double-stranded displacement at the single cleavage site. Our findings clarify the mechanism of Fz, establishing a foundation for engineering efforts.

The vascular contribution of apolipoprotein E to Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, imposes a substantial societal burden. The persistent inadequacy of disease-modifying drugs targeting amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles suggests the contribution of alternative pathogenic mechanisms. A frequently overlooked aspect is cerebrovascular dysfunction, which may manifest early in the progression of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Mounting evidence underscores the pivotal role of the apolipoprotein E gene, particularly the apolipoprotein ε4 allele as the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, in the cerebrovascular pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we examine the evidence elucidating the cerebrovascular impact of both central and peripheral apolipoprotein E on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. We present a novel three-hit hypothesis, outlining potential mechanisms that shed light on the intricate relationship among different pathogenic events. Finally, we discuss prospective therapeutics targeting the cerebrovascular pathology associated with apolipoprotein E and explore their implications for future research endeavours.

The binding of extracellular cyclophilin A to ACE2 and CD147 triggers psoriasis-like inflammation

Psoriasis is a chronic, proliferative, and inflammatory skin disease closely associated with inflammatory cytokine production. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is an important proinflammatory factor; however, its role in psoriasis remains unclear. The present data indicate that CypA levels are increased in the lesion skin and serum of patients with psoriasis, which is positively correlated with the psoriasis area severity index. Furthermore, extracellular CypA (eCypA) triggered psoriasis-like inflammatory responses in keratinocytes. Moreover, anti-CypA mAb significantly reduced pathological injury, keratinocyte proliferation, cytokine expression in imiquimod-induced mice. Notably, the therapeutic effect of anti-CypA mAb was better than that of the clinically used anti-IL-17A mAb and methotrexate. Mechanistically, eCypA binds to ACE2 and CD147 and is blocked by anti-CypA mAb. eCypA not only induces the dimerization and phosphorylation of ACE2 to trigger the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway for cytokine expression but also interacts with CD147 to promote PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling-mediated keratinocyte proliferation. These findings demonstrate that the binding of eCypA to ACE2 and CD147 cooperatively triggers psoriasis-like inflammation and anti-CypA mAb is a promising candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.

Potential role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity-an update

As a chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin is used to combat cancer. However, cardiotoxicity has limited its use. The existing strategies fail to eliminate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, and an in-depth exploration of its pathogenesis is in urgent need to address the issue. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) occurs when Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) dysfunction results in the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins. Adaptive ERS helps regulate protein synthesis to maintain cellular homeostasis, while prolonged ERS stimulation may induce cell apoptosis, leading to dysfunction and damage to tissue and organs. Numerous studies on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity strongly link excessive activation of the ERS to mechanisms including oxidative stress, calcium imbalance, autophagy, ubiquitination, and apoptosis. The researchers also found several clinical drugs, chemical compounds, phytochemicals, and miRNAs inhibited doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by targeting ERS. The present review aims to outline the interactions between ERS and other mechanisms in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and summarize ERS's role in this type of cardiotoxicity. Additionally, the review enumerates several clinical drugs, phytochemicals, chemical compounds, and miRNAs targeting ERS for considering therapeutic regimens that address doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Help or Hinder: Protein Host Factors That Impact HIV-1 Replication

Interactions between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the host factors or restriction factors of its target cells determine the cell's susceptibility to, and outcome of, infection. Factors intrinsic to the cell are involved at every step of the HIV-1 replication cycle, contributing to productive infection and replication, or severely attenuating the chances of success. Furthermore, factors unique to certain cell types contribute to the differences in infection between these cell types. Understanding the involvement of these factors in HIV-1 infection is a key requirement for the development of anti-HIV-1 therapies. As the list of factors grows, and the dynamic interactions between these factors and the virus are elucidated, comprehensive and up-to-date summaries that recount the knowledge gathered after decades of research are beneficial to the field, displaying what is known so that researchers can build off the groundwork of others to investigate what is unknown. Herein, we aim to provide a review focusing on protein host factors, both well-known and relatively new, that impact HIV-1 replication in a positive or negative manner at each stage of the replication cycle, highlighting factors unique to the various HIV-1 target cell types where appropriate.

The effect of overexpression of CyPA on gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The aim of this study is to screen the differentially expressed genes and genes with alternative splicing in PPIA overexpressing cells by transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and genes with altered alternative splicing in PPIA overexpressing cells and results were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The biological function and pathways of those genes were further explored through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. A total of 157 significantly upregulated genes and 171 significantly downregulated genes were identified in PPIA overexpressing cells, and the splicing pattern of LHPP, APH1A, BRD1, and ORAI3 was found to be altered. GO analyses showed that the most enriched GO terms of the 157 upregulated genes included extracellular region, protein binding, and metal ion, and the most enriched GO terms of the 171 downregulated genes included binding neuron projection, protein binding, and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that the 157 upregulated genes were mainly enriched in gastric acid secretion, Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, etc, and the 171 downregulated genes were mainly enriched in transcriptional misregulation in cancer, Tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, etc. The overexpression of PPIA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells causes changes in the expression of downstream genes and induces alternative splicing in multiple genes. PPIA alters the expression or the alternative splicing pattern of downstream genes, leading to pathogenesis of vascular endothelial injury by high glucose mediated through CyPA.

Cyclophilin inhibition as a strategy for the treatment of human disease

Cyclophilins (Cyps), characterized as peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases), are highly conserved and ubiquitous, playing a crucial role in protein folding and cellular signaling. This review summarizes the biochemical pathways mediated by Cyps, including their involvement in pathological states such as viral replication, inflammation, and cancer progression, to underscore the therapeutic potential of Cyp inhibition. The exploration of Cyp inhibitors (CypI) in this review, particularly non-immunosuppressive cyclosporine A (CsA) derivatives, highlights their significance as therapeutic agents. The structural and functional nuances of CsA derivatives are examined, including their efficacy, mechanism of action, and the balance between therapeutic benefits and off-target effects. The landscape of CypI is evaluated to emphasize the clinical need for targeted approaches to exploit the complex biology of Cyps and to propose future directions for research that may enhance the utility of non-immunosuppressive CsA derivatives in treating diseases where Cyps play a key pathological role.

Cyclophilin A Facilitates HIV-1 DNA Integration

Cyclophilin A (CypA) promotes HIV-1 infection by facilitating reverse transcription, nuclear entry and by countering the antiviral activity of TRIM5α. These multifunctional roles of CypA are driven by its binding to the viral capsid. Interestingly, recent studies suggest that the HIV-1 capsid lattice enters the nucleus of an infected cell and uncoats just before integration. Therefore, we tested whether CypA-capsid interaction regulates post-nuclear entry steps of infection, particularly integration. First, we challenged CypA-expressing (CypA +/+ ) and CypA-depleted (CypA -/- ) cells with HIV-1 particles and quantified the resulting levels of provirus. Surprisingly, CypA-depletion significantly reduced integration, an effect that was independent of CypA's effect on reverse transcription, nuclear entry, and the presence or absence of TRIM5α. Additionally, cyclosporin A, an inhibitor that disrupts CypA-capsid binding, inhibited HIV-1 integration in CypA +/+ cells but not in CypA -/- cells. Accordingly, HIV-1 capsid mutants (G89V and P90A) deficient in CypA binding were also blocked at integration in CypA +/+ cells but not in CypA -/- cells. Then, to understand the mechanism, we assessed the integration activity of HIV-1 preintegration complexes (PICs) extracted from infected cells. The PICs from CypA -/- cells had lower activity in vitro compared to those from CypA +/+ cells. PICs from cells depleted for CypA and TRIM5α also had lower activity, suggesting that CypA's effect on PIC activity is independent of TRIM5α. Finally, addition of CypA protein significantly stimulated the integration activity of PICs extracted from both CypA +/+ and CypA -/- cells. Collectively, these results suggest that CypA promotes HIV-1 integration, a previously unknown role of this host factor.

Importance

HIV-1 capsid interaction with host cellular factors is essential for establishing a productive infection. However, the molecular details of such virus-host interactions are not fully understood. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is the first host protein identified to specifically bind to the HIV-1 capsid. Now it is established that CypA promotes reverse transcription and nuclear entry steps of HIV-1 infection. In this report, we show that CypA promotes HIV-1 integration by binding to the viral capsid. Specifically, our results demonstrate that CypA promotes HIV-1 integration by stimulating the activity of the viral preintegration complex and identifies a novel role of CypA during HIV-1 infection. This new knowledge is important because recent reports suggest that an operationally intact HIV-1 capsid enters the nucleus of an infected cell.

Cyclosporin A-Based PROTACs Can Deplete Abundant Cellular Cyclophilin A without Suppressing T Cell Activation

Cyclophilin A (CypA), the cellular receptor of the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA), is an abundant cytosolic protein and is involved in a variety of diseases. For example, CypA supports cancer proliferation and mediates viral infections, such as the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). Here, we present the design of PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimera) compounds against CypA to induce its intracellular proteolysis and to investigate their effect on immune cells. Interestingly, upon connecting to E3 ligase ligands, both peptide-based low-affinity binders and CsA-based high-affinity binders can degrade CypA at nM concentration in HeLa cells and fibroblast cells. As the immunosuppressive effect of CsA is not directly associated with the binding of CsA to CypA but the inhibition of phosphatase calcineurin by the CypA:CsA complex, we investigated whether a CsA-based PROTAC compound could induce CypA degradation without affecting the activation of immune cells. P3, the most efficient PROTAC compound discovered from this study, could deplete CypA in lymphocytes without affecting cell proliferation and cytokine production. This work demonstrates the feasibility of the PROTAC approach in depleting the abundant cellular protein CypA at low drug dosage without affecting immune cells, allowing us to investigate the potential therapeutic effects associated with the endogenous protein in the future.

In vitro and in vivo validation of the antiviral effect of hCypA against SARS-CoV-2 via binding to the RBD of spike protein

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 has stimulated the rapid development of new biological therapeutics to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, this remains a challenging task. In a previous study using structural analysis, we revealed that human cyclophilin A inhibits the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells by interfering with the interaction of the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the host cell surface, highlighting its potential for antiviral therapy. For a comprehensive experimental validation, in this study, we verified the antiviral effects of human cyclophilin A against SARS-CoV-2, including its variants, using in vitro assays and experiments on an in vivo mouse model. Human cyclophilin A demonstrated a highly effective antiviral effect, with an 85% survival rate upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. It also reduced viral titers, inflammation in the lungs and brain, and cytokine release in the serum, suggesting a controlled immune response and potentially faster recovery. Overall, our study provides insights into the potential of human cyclophilin A as a therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2, which should guide future clinical trials that might provide an additional therapeutic option for patients.

Current Novel Targeted Therapeutic Strategies in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy caused by the clonal expansion of immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells in the bone marrow and/or extramedullary sites. Common manifestations of MM include anemia, renal dysfunction, infection, bone pain, hypercalcemia, and fatigue. Despite numerous recent advancements in the MM treatment paradigm, current therapies demonstrate limited long-term effectiveness and eventual disease relapse remains exceedingly common. Myeloma cells often develop drug resistance through clonal evolution and alterations of cellular signaling pathways. Therefore, continued research of new targets in MM is crucial to circumvent cumulative drug resistance, overcome treatment-limiting toxicities, and improve outcomes in this incurable disease. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the landscape of novel treatments and emerging therapies for MM grouped by molecular target. Molecular targets outlined include BCMA, GPRC5D, FcRH5, CD38, SLAMF7, BCL-2, kinesin spindle protein, protein disulfide isomerase 1, peptidylprolyl isomerase A, Sec61 translocon, and cyclin-dependent kinase 6. Immunomodulatory drugs, NK cell therapy, and proteolysis-targeting chimera are described as well.

PPIA dictates NRF2 stability to promote lung cancer progression

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) hyperactivation has been established as an oncogenic driver in a variety of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, despite massive efforts, no specific therapy is currently available to target NRF2 hyperactivation. Here, we identify peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA) is required for NRF2 protein stability. Ablation of PPIA promotes NRF2 protein degradation and blocks NRF2-driven growth in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, PPIA physically binds to NRF2 and blocks the access of ubiquitin/Kelch Like ECH Associated Protein 1 (KEAP1) to NRF2, thus preventing ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Our X-ray co-crystal structure reveals that PPIA directly interacts with a NRF2 interdomain linker via a trans-proline 174-harboring hydrophobic sequence. We further demonstrate that an FDA-approved drug, cyclosporin A (CsA), impairs the interaction of NRF2 with PPIA, inducing NRF2 ubiquitination and degradation. Interestingly, CsA interrupts glutamine metabolism mediated by the NRF2/KLF5/SLC1A5 pathway, consequently suppressing the growth of NRF2-hyperactivated NSCLC cells. CsA and a glutaminase inhibitor combination therapy significantly retard tumor progression in NSCLC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with NRF2 hyperactivation. Our study demonstrates that targeting NRF2 protein stability is an actionable therapeutic approach to treat NRF2-hyperactivated NSCLC.

Dialysate cyclophilin A as a predictive marker for historical peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Introduction

No markers have been used to diagnose historical peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is associated with glucose toxicity and inflammation. We hypothesize that dialysate CypA can be a marker for historical peritonitis (at least 3 months free from peritonitis).

Method

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure the concentration of dialysate CypA. Clinical and laboratory data were collected to correlate with historical peritonitis. Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate predictive power.

Results

Out of a total of 31 patients who had undergone PD for at least 2 years, 18 had no history of PD-related peritonitis, while 13 had experienced PD-related peritonitis at least once. Overall, the patients in this population were in good health (normal white blood cell count, no anemia, normal electrolyte and serum albumin levels). There were no significant differences between patients with and without a history of peritonitis, except for blood white blood cell count (5650.6 ± 1848.4 vs. 7154.6 ± 2056.8, p = 0.032) and dialysate CypA value (24.27 ± 22.715 vs. 54.41 ± 45.63, p = 0.020). In the univariate analysis, only the dialysate CypA level showed a statistically significant association with historical peritonitis (HR = 1.030, 95 % CI = 1.010-1.062, p = 0.046). The AUC for dialysate CypA (>34.83 ng/mL) was 0.748, with a sensitivity of 0.615 and specificity of 0.833.

Conclusion

PD peritonitis poses a significant threat to the long-term use of peritoneal dialysis. Based on our study, even in the absence of concurrent infection, dialysate CypA can serve as a predictive marker for historical peritonitis, demonstrating high predictive power along with fair sensitivity and good specificity.

SARS-CoV-2, periodontal pathogens, and host factors: The trinity of oral post-acute sequelae of COVID-19

COVID-19 as a pan-epidemic is waning but there it is imperative to understand virus interaction with oral tissues and oral inflammatory diseases. We review periodontal disease (PD), a common inflammatory oral disease, as a driver of COVID-19 and oral post-acute-sequelae conditions (PASC). Oral PASC identifies with PD, loss of teeth, dysgeusia, xerostomia, sialolitis-sialolith, and mucositis. We contend that PD-associated oral microbial dysbiosis involving higher burden of periodontopathic bacteria provide an optimal microenvironment for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. These pathogens interact with oral epithelial cells activate molecular or biochemical pathways that promote viral adherence, entry, and persistence in the oral cavity. A repertoire of diverse molecules identifies this relationship including lipids, carbohydrates and enzymes. The S protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptor and is activated by protease activity of host furin or TRMPSS2 that cleave S protein subunits to promote viral entry. However, PD pathogens provide additional enzymatic assistance mimicking furin and augment SARS-CoV-2 adherence by inducing viral entry receptors ACE2/TRMPSS, which are poorly expressed on oral epithelial cells. We discuss the mechanisms involving periodontopathogens and host factors that facilitate SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune resistance resulting in incomplete clearance and risk for 'long-haul' oral health issues characterising PASC. Finally, we suggest potential diagnostic markers and treatment avenues to mitigate oral PASC.

The role of the master cancer regulator Pin1 in the development and treatment of cancer

This review examines the complex role of Pin1 in the development and treatment of cancer. Pin1 is the only peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) that can recognize and isomerize phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro peptide bonds. Pin1 catalyzes a structural change in phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro motifs that can modulate protein function and thereby impact cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. The molecular mechanisms by which Pin1 contributes to oncogenesis are reviewed, including Pin1 overexpression and its correlation with poor cancer prognosis, and the contribution of Pin1 to aggressive tumor phenotypes involved in therapeutic resistance is discussed, with an emphasis on cancer stem cells, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immunosuppression. The therapeutic potential of Pin1 inhibition in cancer is discussed, along with the promise and the difficulties in identifying potent, drug-like, small-molecule Pin1 inhibitors. The available evidence supports the efficacy of targeting Pin1 as a novel cancer therapeutic by analyzing the role of Pin1 in a complex network of cancer-driving pathways and illustrating the potential of synergistic drug combinations with Pin1 inhibitors for treating aggressive and drug-resistant tumors.

Serum anti-CFL1, anti-EZR, and anti-CYPA autoantibody as diagnostic markers in ovarian cancer

The purpose of this study was to identify novel autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and explore a diagnostic panel for Ovarian cancer (OC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression of five anti-TAA autoantibodies in the discovery (70 OC and 70 normal controls) and validation cohorts (128 OC and 128 normal controls). Machine learning methods were used to construct a diagnostic panel. Serum samples from 81 patients with benign ovarian disease were used to identify the specificity of anti-TAA autoantibodies for OC. In both the discovery and validation cohorts, the expression of anti-CFL1, anti-EZR, anti-CYPA, and anti-PFN1 was higher in patients with OC than that in normal controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the panel containing anti-CFL1, anti-EZR, and anti-CYPA were 0.762, 55.56%, and 81.31%. The panel identified 53.06%, 53.33%, and 51.11% of CA125 negative, HE4 negative and the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm negative OC patients, respectively. The combination of the three anti-TAA autoantibodies can serve as a favorable diagnostic tool for OC and has the potential to be a complementary biomarker for CA125 and HE4 in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Flotillin-2 dampens T cell antigen-sensitivity and functionality

T cell receptor (TCR) engagement triggers T cell responses, yet how TCR-mediated activation is regulated at the plasma membrane remains unclear. Here, we report that deleting the membrane scaffolding protein Flotillin-2 (Flot2) increases T cell antigen sensitivity, resulting in enhanced TCR signaling and effector function to weak TCR stimulation. T cell-specific Flot2-deficient mice exhibited reduced tumor growth and enhanced immunity to infection. Flot2-null CD4 + T cells exhibited increased T helper 1 polarization, proliferation, Nur77 induction, and phosphorylation of ZAP70 and LCK upon weak TCR stimulation, indicating a sensitized TCR-triggering threshold. Single cell-RNA sequencing suggested that Flot2 - null CD4 + T cells follow a similar route of activation as wild-type CD4 + T cells but exhibit higher occupancy of a discrete activation state under weak TCR stimulation. Given prior reports that TCR clustering influences sensitivity of T cells to stimuli, we evaluated TCR distribution with super-resolution microscopy. Flot2 ablation increased the number of surface TCR nanoclusters on naïve CD4 + T cells. Collectively, we posit that Flot2 modulates T cell functionality to weak TCR stimulation, at least in part, by regulating surface TCR clustering. Our findings have implications for improving T cell reactivity in diseases with poor antigenicity, such as cancer and chronic infections.

The molecular mechanisms of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 and its relevance to kidney disease

Pin1 is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase subfamily and is widely expressed in various cell types and tissues. Alterations in Pin1 expression levels play pivotal roles in both physiological processes and multiple pathological conditions, especially in the onset and progression of kidney diseases. Herein, we present an overview of the role of Pin1 in the regulation of fibrosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. It plays a significant role in various kidney diseases including Renal I/R injury, chronic kidney disease with secondary hyperparathyroidism, diabetic nephropathy, renal fibrosis, and renal cell carcinoma. The representative therapeutic agent Juglone has emerged as a potential treatment for inhibiting Pin1 activity and mitigating kidney disease. Understanding the role of Pin1 in kidney diseases is expected to provide new insights into innovative therapeutic interventions and strategies. Consequently, this review delves into the molecular mechanisms of Pin1 and its relevance in kidney disease, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.

Cyclophilin D knockout significantly prevents HCC development in a streptozotocin-induced mouse model of diabetes-linked NASH

A family of Peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases), called Cyclophilins, localize to numerous intracellular and extracellular locations where they contribute to a variety of essential functions. We previously reported that non-immunosuppressive pan-cyclophilin inhibitor drugs like reconfilstat (CRV431) or NV556 decreased multiple aspects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice under two different non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse models. Both CRV431 and NV556 inhibit several cyclophilin isoforms, among which cyclophilin D (CypD) has not been previously investigated in this context. It is unknown whether it is necessary to simultaneously inhibit multiple cyclophilin family members to achieve therapeutic benefits or if loss-of-function of one is sufficient. Furthermore, narrowing down the isoform most responsible for a particular aspect of NAFLD/NASH, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), would allow for more precise future therapies. Features of human diabetes-linked NAFLD/NASH can be reliably replicated in mice by administering a single high dose of streptozotocin to disrupt pancreatic beta cells, in conjunction with a high sugar, high fat, high cholesterol western diet over the course of 30 weeks. Here we show that while both wild-type (WT) and Ppif-/- CypD KO mice develop multipe severe NASH disease features under this model, the formation of HCC nodules was significantly blunted only in the CypD KO mice. Furthermore, of differentially expressed transcripts in a qPCR panel of select HCC-related genes, nearly all were downregulated in the CypD KO background. Cyclophilin inhibition is a promising and novel avenue of treatment for diet-induced NAFLD/NASH. This study highlights the impact of CypD loss-of-function on the development of HCC, one of the most severe disease outcomes.

Cyclophilin A supports translation of intrinsically disordered proteins and affects haematopoietic stem cell ageing

Loss of protein function is a driving force of ageing. We have identified peptidyl-prolyl isomerase A (PPIA or cyclophilin A) as a dominant chaperone in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Depletion of PPIA accelerates stem cell ageing. We found that proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are frequent PPIA substrates. IDRs facilitate interactions with other proteins or nucleic acids and can trigger liquid-liquid phase separation. Over 20% of PPIA substrates are involved in the formation of supramolecular membrane-less organelles. PPIA affects regulators of stress granules (PABPC1), P-bodies (DDX6) and nucleoli (NPM1) to promote phase separation and increase cellular stress resistance. Haematopoietic stem cell ageing is associated with a post-transcriptional decrease in PPIA expression and reduced translation of IDR-rich proteins. Here we link the chaperone PPIA to the synthesis of intrinsically disordered proteins, which indicates that impaired protein interaction networks and macromolecular condensation may be potential determinants of haematopoietic stem cell ageing.

Crystal structure, intermolecular interactions, charge-density distribution and ADME properties of the acridinium 4-nitrobenzoate and 2-amino-3-methylpyridinium 4-nitrobenzoate salts: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Acridines are a class of bioactive agents which exhibit high biological stability and the ability to intercalate with DNA; they have a wide range of applications. Pyridine derivatives have a wide range of biological activities. To enhance the properties of acridine and 2-amino-3-methylpyridine as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), 4-nitrobenzoic acid was chosen as a coformer. In the present study, a mixture of acridine and 4-nitrobenzoic acid forms the salt acridinium 4-nitrobenzoate, C13H10N+·C7H4NO4- (I), whereas a mixture of 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 4-nitrobenzoic acid forms the salt 2-amino-3-methylpyridinium 4-nitrobenzoate, C6H9N2+·C7H4NO4- (II). In both salts, protonation takes place at the ring N atom. The crystal structure of both salts is predominantly governed by hydrogen-bond interactions. In salt I, C-H...O and N-H...O interactions form an infinite chain in the crystal, whereas in salt II, intermolecular N-H...O interactions form an eight-membered R22(8) ring motif. A theoretical charge-density analysis reveals the charge-density distribution of the inter- and intramolecular interactions of both salts. An in-silico ADME analysis predicts the druglikeness properties of both salts and the results confirm that both salts are potential drug candidates with good bioavailability scores and there is no violation of the Lipinski rules, which supports the druglikeness properties of both salts. However, although both salts exhibit drug-like properties, salt I has higher gastrointestinal absorption than salt II and hence it may be considered a potential drug candidate.

Inhibitors of Cyclophilin A: Current and Anticipated Pharmaceutical Agents for Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers

Cyclophilin A, a widely prevalent cellular protein, exhibits peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity. This protein is predominantly located in the cytosol; additionally, it can be secreted by the cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. Cyclophilin A has been identified to be a key player in many of the biological events and is therefore involved in several diseases, including vascular and inflammatory diseases, immune disorders, aging, and cancers. It represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention with small molecule inhibitors such as cyclosporin A. Recently, a number of novel inhibitors of cyclophilin A have emerged. However, it remains elusive whether and how many cyclophilin A inhibitors function in the inflammatory diseases and cancers. In this review, we discuss current available data about cyclophilin A inhibitors, including cyclosporin A and its derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives, and peptide analogues, and outline the most recent advances in clinical trials of these agents. Inhibitors of cyclophilin A are poised to enhance our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that underpin inflammatory diseases and cancers associated with cyclophilin A. This advancement will aid in the development of innovative pharmaceutical treatments in the future.

Mice lacking cyclophilin B, but not cyclophilin A, are protected from the development of NASH in a diet and chemical-induced model

Cyclophilins are a diverse family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases) of importance in a variety of essential cellular functions. We previously reported that the pan-cyclophilin inhibitor drug reconfilstat (CRV431) decreased disease in mice under the western-diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. CRV431 inhibits several cyclophilin isoforms, among which cyclophilin A (CypA) and B (CypB) are the most abundant. It is not known whether simultaneous inhibition of multiple cyclophilin family members is necessary for the observed therapeutic effects or if loss-of-function of one is sufficient. Identifying the responsible isoform(s) would enable future fine-tuning of drug treatments. Features of human liver fibrosis and complete NASH can be reliably replicated in mice by administration of intraperitoneal CCl4 alone or CCl4 in conjunction with high sugar, high cholesterol western diet, respectively. Here we show that while wild-type (WT) and Ppia-/- CypA KO mice develop severe NASH disease features under these models, Ppib-/- CypB KO mice do not, as measured by analysis of picrosirius red and hematoxylin & eosin-stained liver sections and TNFα immuno-stained liver sections. Cyclophilin inhibition is a promising and novel avenue of treatment for diet-induced NASH. In this study, mice without CypB, but not mice without CypA, were significantly protected from the development of the characteristic features of NASH. These data suggest that CypB is necessary for NASH disease progression. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether the specific role of CypB in the endoplasmic reticulum secretory pathway is of significance to its effect on NASH development.

From stability to reliability: Unveiling the un-biased reference genes in porcine ovarian granulosa cells under different conditions

Selection of optimal reference genes (RGs) is fundamental for functional genomics studies and gene expression analysis, which are two main approaches to identify functional genes and their expression patterns. However, no systematic study has identified the suitable RGs in porcine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) which are essential for follicle fate and sow fertility. In this study, the expression profiles of 12 widely-used RGs (GAPDH, RPLP0, ACTB, TUBA1B, EIF3K, PPIA, ATP5F1, B2M, HPRT1, UBC, RPS3, and EEF1A1) in porcine GCs during follicular development and under different abiotic stresses were systematically investigated. Expression stability of the candidate RGs were comprehensively accessed by five statistical algorithms including ΔCt, NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm, and RefFinder, indicating that RPS3 and PPIA are the optimal RGs during follicular development, EEF1A1 and RPLP0 are most stable under oxidative stress and inflammation, while ATP5F1, B2M, and RPS3 have higher stability under starvation and heat stress. Notably, the most commonly used RGs (ACTB, GAPDH, and TUBA1B) exhibited low stability in GCs. Reliability of stable RGs was verified by RT-qPCR and showed that selection of the stable RGs significantly improved the detection accuracy of qPCR, which confirms once again that the stability of RGs should not be taken for granted. Our findings identified optimal RG sets in porcine GCs under different conditions, which is helpful in future studies to accurately identify the key regulators and their expression patterns during follicular development in sows.

Genetic aspects of immunoglobulins and cyclophilin A in milk as potential indicators of mastitis resistance in Holstein cows

Mastitis is one of the most frequent and costly diseases affecting dairy cattle. Natural antibodies (immunoglobulins) and cyclophilin A (CyPA), the most abundant member of the family of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases, in milk may serve as indicators of mastitis resistance in dairy cattle. However, genetic information for CyPA is not available, and knowledge on the genetic and nongenetic relationships between these immune-related traits and somatic cell score (SCS) and milk yield in dairy cattle is sparse. Therefore, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate whether immune-related traits consisting of 5 Ig classes (IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and IgM) and CyPA in the test-day milk of Holstein cows can be used as genetic indicators of mastitis resistance by evaluating the genetic and nongenetic relationships with SCS in milk. The nongenetic factors affecting immune-related traits and the effects of these traits on SCS were evaluated. Furthermore, the genetic parameters of immune-related traits according to health status and genetic relationships under different SCS environments were estimated. All immune-related traits were significantly associated with SCS and directly proportional. Additionally, evaluation using a classification tree revealed that IgA, IgG2, and IgG were associated with SCS levels. Genetic factor analyses indicated that heritability estimates were low for CyPA (0.08) but moderate for IgG (0.37), IgA (0.44), and IgM (0.44), with positive genetic correlations among Ig (0.25-0.96). We also evaluated the differences in milk yield and SCS of cows between the low and high groups according to their sires' estimated breeding value for immune-related traits. In the high group, IgA had a significantly lower SCS in milk at 7 to 30 d compared with that in the low group. Furthermore, the Ig in milk had high positive genetic correlations between healthy and infected conditions (0.82-0.99), suggesting that Ig in milk under healthy conditions could interact with those under infected conditions, owing to the genetic ability based on the level of Ig in milk. Thus, Ig in milk are potential indicators for the genetic selection of mastitis resistance. However, because only the relationship between immune-related traits and SCS was investigated in this study, further study on the relationship between clinical mastitis and Ig in milk is needed before Ig can be used as an indicator of mastitis resistance.

LdCyPA attenuates MAPK pathway to assist Leishmania donovani immune escape in host cells

BACKGROUND

Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Macrophages serve as the primary host cells for L. donovani, the immune response capability of these host cells is crucial for parasites' intracellular survival. L. donovani peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Cyclophilin A (LdCypA) is a key protein for L. donovani intracellular proliferation, while the molecular mechanism conducive to intracellular survival of parasites remains elusive.

METHODS

In this study, we generated a macrophage cell line overexpressing LdCyPA to investigate its role in controlling host immunity and promoting intracellular immune escape of L. donovani.

RESULTS

It was discovered that the overexpression of the LdCyPA cell line regulated the host immune response following infection by downregulating the proportion of M1-type macrophages, promoting the secretion of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-4, and inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors like IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and INOS. Transcriptome sequencing and mechanistic validation, meanwhile, demonstrated that cells overexpressing LdCyPA controlled the immune responses that followed infection by blocking the phosphorylation of P38 and JNK1/2 proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway and simultaneously increasing the phosphorylation of ERK proteins, which helped the L. donovani escape immune recognition.

CONCLUSION

Our findings thus pave the way for the development of host-directed antiparasitic drugs by illuminating the pro-Leishmania survival mechanism of L. donovani cyclophilin A and exposing a novel immune escape strategy for L. donovani that targets host cellular immune regulation.

scRNA-seq revealed high stemness epithelial malignant cell clusters and prognostic models of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the sole causes of death in lung cancer patients. This study combined with single-cell RNA-seq analysis to identify tumor stem-related prognostic models to predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy agents, and immunotherapy efficacy. mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) was determined by One Class Linear Regression (OCLR). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected by limma package. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis in GSE123902 dataset was performed using Seurat package. Weighted Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was built by rms package. Cell differentiation ability was determined by CytoTRACE. Cell communication analysis was performed by CellCall and CellChat package. Prognosis model was constructed by 10 machine learning and 101 combinations. Drug predictive analysis was conducted by pRRophetic package. Immune microenvironment landscape was determined by ESTIMATE, MCP-Counter, ssGSEA analysis. Tumor samples have higher mRNAsi, and the high mRNAsi group presents a worse prognosis. Turquoise module was highly correlated with mRNAsi in TCGA-LUAD dataset. scRNA analysis showed that 22 epithelial cell clusters were obtained, and higher CSCs malignant epithelial cells have more complex cellular communication with other cells and presented dedifferentiation phenomenon. Cellular senescence and Hippo signaling pathway are the major difference pathways between high- and low CSCs malignant epithelial cells. The pseudo-temporal analysis shows that cluster1, 2, high CSC epithelial cells, are concentrated at the end of the differentiation trajectory. Finally, 13 genes were obtained by intersecting genes in turquoise module, Top200 genes in hdWGCNA, DEGs in high- and low- mRNAsi group as well as DEGs in tumor samples vs. normal group. Among 101 prognostic models, average c-index (0.71) was highest in CoxBoost + RSF model. The high-risk group samples had immunosuppressive status, higher tumor malignancy and low benefit from immunotherapy. This work found that malignant tumors and malignant epithelial cells have high CSC characteristics, and identified a model that could predict the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy of LUAD, based on CSC-related genes. These results provided reference value for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

The cross talk between type II diabetic microenvironment and the regenerative capacities of human adipose tissue-derived pericytes: a promising cell therapy

BACKGROUND

Pericytes (PCs) are multipotent contractile cells that wrap around the endothelial cells (ECs) to maintain the blood vessel's functionality and integrity. The hyperglycemia associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was shown to impair the function of PCs and increase the risk of diabetes complications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the deleterious effect of the diabetic microenvironment on the regenerative capacities of human PCs.

METHODS

PCs isolated from human adipose tissue were cultured in the presence or absence of serum collected from diabetic patients. The functionality of PCs was analyzed after 6, 14, and 30 days.

RESULTS

Microscopic examination of PCs cultured in DS (DS-PCs) showed increased aggregate formation and altered surface topography with hyperbolic invaginations. Compared to PCs cultured in normal serum (NS-PCs), DS-PCs showed more fragmented mitochondria and thicker nuclear membrane. DS caused impaired angiogenic differentiation of PCs as confirmed by tube formation, decreased VEGF-A and IGF-1 gene expression, upregulated TSP1, PF4, actin-related protein 2/3 complex, and downregulated COL21A1 protein expression. These cells suffered more pronounced apoptosis and showed higher expression of Clic4, apoptosis facilitator BCl-2-like protein, serine/threonine protein phosphatase, and caspase-7 proteins. DS-PCs showed dysregulated DNA repair genes CDKN1A, SIRT1, XRCC5 TERF2, and upregulation of the pro-inflammatory genes ICAM1, IL-6, and TNF-α. Further, DS-treated cells also showed disruption in the expression of the focal adhesion and binding proteins TSP1, TGF-β, fibronectin, and PCDH7. Interestingly, DS-PCs showed resistance mechanisms upon exposure to diabetic microenvironment by maintaining the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and upregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) organizing proteins as vinculin, IQGAP1, and tubulin beta chain.

CONCLUSION

These data showed that the diabetic microenvironment exert a deleterious effect on the regenerative capacities of human adipose tissue-derived PCs, and may thus have possible implications on the vascular complications of T2DM. Nevertheless, PCs have shown remarkable protective mechanisms when initially exposed to DS and thus they could provide a promising cellular therapy for T2DM.

Regulation of tau by peptidyl-prolyl isomerases

Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein found abundantly in axons, where it binds to microtubules. Since tau is a central player in the dynamic microtubule network, it is highly regulated by post-translational modifications. Abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau characterize a group of diseases called tauopathies. A specific protein family of cis/trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases) can interact with tau to regulate its aggregation and neuronal resilience. Structural interactions between tau and specific PPIases have been determined, establishing possible mechanisms for tau regulation and modification. While there have been numerous in vivo studies evaluating the impact of PPIase expression on tau biology/pathology, the direct roles of PPIases have yet to be fully characterized. Different PPIases correlate to either increased or decreased levels of tau-associated degeneration. Therefore, the ability of PPIases to structurally modify and regulate tau should be further investigated due to its potential therapeutic implications for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.

Chitosan-loaded piperlongumine nanoparticles and kaempferol enhance the anti-cancer action of doxorubicin in targeting of Ehrlich solid adenocarcinoma: in vivo and in silico modeling study

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic drug that generates free radical-induced toxicities. Natural agents are used to potentiate or ameliorate the toxicity of chemotherapy. None of the studies investigating whether antioxidants or prooxidants should be used with chemotherapy have addressed their efficacy in the same study. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential synergy between doxorubicin and two natural rarely in vivo studied anticancer agents; the antioxidant "Kaempferol" and prooxidant "Piperlongumine" in Ehrlich tumor mice model. 77 albino mice were divided into 11 groups; Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells were injected intramuscularly to develop solid tumors. After 14 days, intratumoral injections of single or combinations of free or Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin, Piperlongumine, and Kaempferol were performed. Tumor Characterization of nanoparticles was measured, tumors were histopathologically examined and evaluation of expression for cancer-related genes by real-time PCR. In silico molecular docking was performed to uncover potential novel targets for Piperlongumine and Kaempferol. Despite receiving half of the overall dose compared to the free drugs, the combined doxorubicin/ piperlongumine-chitosan nanoparticles treatment was the most efficient in reducing tumor volume; down-regulating Cyclin D1, and BCL2; as well as the Beclin-1, and Cyclophilin A genes modulating growth, apoptosis, autophagy, and metastasis, respectively; up-regulating the Glutathione peroxidase expression as a defense mechanism protecting from oxidative damage. When combined with doxorubicin, Kaempferol and Piperlongumine were effective against Ehrlich solid tumors. However, the combination with the Piperlongumine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles significantly enhanced its anticancer effect compared to the Kaempferol or the same free compounds.