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Mistry HD, Klossner R, Scaife PJ, Eisele N, Kurlak LO, Kallol S, Albrecht C, Gennari-Moser C, Briggs LV, Broughton Pipkin F, Mohaupt MG. Alterations of Placental Sodium in Preeclampsia: Trophoblast Responses. Hypertension 2024; 81:1924-1934. [PMID: 38966986 PMCID: PMC11319085 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.23001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that increasing salt intake in pregnancy lowers blood pressure, protecting against preeclampsia. We hypothesized that sodium (Na+) evokes beneficial placental signals that are disrupted in preeclampsia. METHODS Blood and urine were collected from nonpregnant women of reproductive age (n=26) and pregnant women with (n=50) and without (n=55) preeclampsia, along with placental biopsies. Human trophoblast cell lines and primary human trophoblasts were cultured with varying Na+ concentrations. RESULTS Women with preeclampsia had reduced placental and urinary Na+ concentrations, yet increased urinary angiotensinogen and reduced active renin, aldosterone concentrations, and osmotic response signal TonEBP (tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein) expression. In trophoblast cell cultures, TonEBP was consistently increased upon augmented Na+ exposure. Mechanistically, inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase or adding mannitol evoked the TonEBP response, whereas inhibition of cytoskeletal signaling abolished it. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced Na+ availability induced osmotic gradient-dependent cytoskeletal signals in trophoblasts, resulting in proangiogenic responses. As placental salt availability is compromised in preeclampsia, adverse systemic responses are thus conceivable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiten D. Mistry
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Health Sciences, King’s College London, United Kingdom (H.D.M.)
| | - Rahel Klossner
- Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, Switzerland (R.K., M.G.M.)
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paula J. Scaife
- Clinical, Metabolic and Molecular Physiology (P.J.S.), University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Eisele
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lesia O. Kurlak
- Stroke Trials Unit (School of Medicine) (L.O.K.), University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sampada Kallol
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland (S.K., C.A.)
| | - Christiane Albrecht
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland (S.K., C.A.)
| | - Carine Gennari-Moser
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Louise V. Briggs
- Advanced Material Research Group, Faculty of Engineering (L.V.B.), University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Markus G. Mohaupt
- Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, Switzerland (R.K., M.G.M.)
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (R.K., N.E., C.G.-M., M.G.M.), University of Bern, Switzerland
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Bai L, Wang Y, Du S, Si Y, Chen L, Li L, Li Y. Lymphangiogenesis: A new strategy for heart disease treatment (Review). Int J Mol Med 2024; 53:35. [PMID: 38391009 PMCID: PMC10903933 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart disease remains a global health challenge, contributing notably to morbidity and mortality. The lymphatic vasculature, an integral component of the cardiovascular system, plays a crucial role in regulating essential physiological processes, including fluid balance, transportation of extravasated proteins and immune cell trafficking, all of which are important for heart function. Through thorough scientometric analysis and extensive research, the present review identified lymphangiogenesis as a hotspot in cardiovascular disease research, and the mechanisms underlying impaired cardiac lymphangiogenesis and inadequate lymph drainage in various cardiovascular diseases are discussed. Furthermore, the way used to improve lymphangiogenesis to effectively regulate a variety of heart diseases and associated signaling pathways was investigated. Notably, the current review also highlights the impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on lymphangiogenesis, aiming to establish a clinical basis for the potential of TCM to improve cardiovascular diseases by promoting lymphangiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liding Bai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Siqi Du
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Yumeng Si
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Lu Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Lin Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, P.R. China
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Li M, Kim YM, Koh JH, Park J, Kwon HM, Park JH, Jin J, Park Y, Kim D, Kim WU. Serum amyloid A expression in liver promotes synovial macrophage activation and chronic arthritis via NFAT5. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e167835. [PMID: 38426494 PMCID: PMC10904059 DOI: 10.1172/jci167835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5), an osmo-sensitive transcription factor, can be activated by isotonic stimuli, such as infection. It remains unclear, however, whether NFAT5 is required for damage-associated molecular pattern-triggered (DAMP-triggered) inflammation and immunity. Here, we found that several DAMPs increased NFAT5 expression in macrophages. In particular, serum amyloid A (SAA), primarily generated by the liver, substantially upregulated NFAT5 expression and activity through TLR2/4-JNK signalling pathway. Moreover, the SAA-TLR2/4-NFAT5 axis promoted migration and chemotaxis of macrophages in an IL-6- and chemokine ligand 2-dependent (CCL2-dependent) manner in vitro. Intraarticular injection of SAA markedly accelerated macrophage infiltration and arthritis progression in mice. By contrast, genetic ablation of NFAT5 or TLR2/4 rescued the pathology induced by SAA, confirming the SAA-TLR2/4-NFAT5 axis in vivo. Myeloid-specific depletion of NFAT5 also attenuated SAA-accelerated arthritis. Of note, inflammatory arthritis in mice strikingly induced SAA overexpression in the liver. Conversely, forced overexpression of the SAA gene in the liver accelerated joint damage, indicating that the liver contributes to bolstering chronic inflammation at remote sites by secreting SAA. Collectively, this study underscores the importance of the SAA-TLR2/4-NFAT5 axis in innate immunity, suggesting that acute phase reactant SAA mediates mutual interactions between liver and joints and ultimately aggravates chronic arthritis by enhancing macrophage activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Li
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, and
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Mi Kim
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, and
| | - Jung Hee Koh
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeoungbu St.Mary’s hospital, the Catholic University of Korea, Uijeoungbu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - H. Moo Kwon
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hwan Park
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jingchun Jin
- Department of Immunology of Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology Department (Jilin Province), Cancer Research Center, Yanji, Jilin Province, China
| | - Youngjae Park
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, and
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghyun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Uk Kim
- Center for Integrative Rheumatoid Transcriptomics and Dynamics
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, and
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Luo Z, Wei Z, Zhang G, Chen H, Li L, Kang X. Achilles' Heel-The Significance of Maintaining Microenvironmental Homeostasis in the Nucleus Pulposus for Intervertebral Discs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16592. [PMID: 38068915 PMCID: PMC10706299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of intracellular and extracellular environments as well as the aberrant expression of ion channels on the cell membrane are intricately linked to a diverse array of degenerative disorders, including intervertebral disc degeneration. This condition is a significant contributor to low back pain, which poses a substantial burden on both personal quality of life and societal economics. Changes in the number and function of ion channels can disrupt the water and ion balance both inside and outside cells, thereby impacting the physiological functions of tissues and organs. Therefore, maintaining ion homeostasis and stable expression of ion channels within the cellular microenvironment may prove beneficial in the treatment of disc degeneration. Aquaporin (AQP), calcium ion channels, and acid-sensitive ion channels (ASIC) play crucial roles in regulating water, calcium ions, and hydrogen ions levels. These channels have significant effects on physiological and pathological processes such as cellular aging, inflammatory response, stromal decomposition, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and accumulation of cell metabolites. Additionally, Piezo 1, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4), tension response enhancer binding protein (TonEBP), potassium ions, zinc ions, and tungsten all play a role in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration. This review endeavors to elucidate alterations in the microenvironment of the nucleus pulposus during intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), with a view to offer novel insights and approaches for exploring therapeutic interventions against disc degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangbin Luo
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Ziyan Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Guangzhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Haiwei Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Xuewen Kang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China; (Z.L.); (Z.W.); (G.Z.); (H.C.); (L.L.)
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Orthopedics Disease of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
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Wang Z, Zhang J, An F, Zhang J, Meng X, Liu S, Xia R, Wang G, Yan C. The mechanism of dendritic cell-T cell crosstalk in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:193. [PMID: 37798668 PMCID: PMC10552435 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03159-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by joint pain and swelling, synovial hyperplasia, cartilage damage, and bone destruction. The mechanisms of dendritic cell (DC) and T cell-mediated crosstalk have gradually become a focus of attention. DCs regulate the proliferation and differentiation of CD4+ T cell subtypes through different cytokines, surface molecules, and antigen presentation. DC-T cell crosstalk also blocks antigen presentation by DCs, ultimately maintaining immune tolerance. DC-T cell crosstalk mainly involves chemokines, surface molecules (TonEBP, NFATc1), the PD-L1/PD-1 signalling axis, and the TGF-β signalling axis. In addition, DC-T cell crosstalk in RA is affected by glycolysis, reactive oxygen species, vitamin D, and other factors. These factors lead to the formation of an extremely complex regulatory network involving various mechanisms. This article reviews the key immune targets of DC-T cell crosstalk and elucidates the mechanism of DC-T cell crosstalk in RA to provide a basis for the treatment of patients with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhandong Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Fangyu An
- Teaching Experiment Training Center, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Xiangrui Meng
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Shiqing Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Ruoliu Xia
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Rheumatism and Orthopaedics Department, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
| | - Chunlu Yan
- School of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
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Yoo EJ, Oh KH, Piao H, Kang HJ, Jeong GW, Park H, Lee CJ, Ryu H, Yang SH, Kim MG, Kim DK, Park SH, Lim BJ, Lee SM, Park CY, Choi SY, Lee-Kwon W, Yang J, Kwon HM. Macrophage transcription factor TonEBP promotes systemic lupus erythematosus and kidney injury via damage-induced signaling pathways. Kidney Int 2023; 104:163-180. [PMID: 37088425 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by autoreactive B cells and dysregulation of many other types of immune cells including myeloid cells. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common target organ manifestations of SLE. Tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP, also known as nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5)), was initially identified as a central regulator of cellular responses to hypertonic stress and is a pleiotropic stress protein involved in a variety of immunometabolic diseases. To explore the role of TonEBP, we examined kidney biopsy samples from patients with LN. Kidney TonEBP expression was found to be elevated in these patients compared to control patients - in both kidney cells and infiltrating immune cells. Kidney TonEBP mRNA was elevated in LN and correlated with mRNAs encoding inflammatory cytokines and the degree of proteinuria. In a pristane-induced SLE model in mice, myeloid TonEBP deficiency blocked the development of SLE and LN. In macrophages, engagement of various toll-like receptors (TLRs) that respond to damage-associated molecular patterns induced TonEBP expression via stimulation of its promoter. Intracellular signaling downstream of the TLRs was dependent on TonEBP. Therefore, TonEBP can act as a transcriptional cofactor for NF-κB, and activated mTOR-IRF3/7 via protein-protein interactions. Additionally, TonEBP-deficient macrophages displayed elevated efferocytosis and animals with myeloid deficiency of TonEBP showed reduced Th1 and Th17 differentiation, consistent with macrophages defective in TLR signaling. Thus, our data show that myeloid TonEBP may be an attractive therapeutic target for SLE and LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jin Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kook-Hwan Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Honglin Piao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Graduate School, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Je Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu Won Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Jun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjin Ryu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hee Yang
- Kidney Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Gyu Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ki Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ho Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom Jin Lim
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Min Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Young Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Youn Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea; Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Whaseon Lee-Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeseok Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyug Moo Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
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Li Z, Ouyang H, Zhu J. Traditional Chinese medicines and natural products targeting immune cells in the treatment of metabolic-related fatty liver disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1195146. [PMID: 37361209 PMCID: PMC10289001 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1195146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
MAFLD stands for metabolic-related fatty liver disease, which is a prevalent liver disease affecting one-third of adults worldwide, and is strongly associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. It encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions ranging from simple liver fat accumulation to advanced stages like chronic inflammation, tissue damage, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. With limited approved drugs for MAFLD, identifying promising drug targets and developing effective treatment strategies is essential. The liver plays a critical role in regulating human immunity, and enriching innate and adaptive immune cells in the liver can significantly improve the pathological state of MAFLD. In the modern era of drug discovery, there is increasing evidence that traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, natural products and herb components can effectively treat MAFLD. Our study aims to review the current evidence supporting the potential benefits of such treatments, specifically targeting immune cells that are responsible for the pathogenesis of MAFLD. By providing new insights into the development of traditional drugs for the treatment of MAFLD, our findings may pave the way for more effective and targeted therapeutic approaches.
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Deng B, Liao F, Liu Y, He P, Wei S, Liu C, Dong W. Comprehensive analysis of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated genes signature of ulcerative colitis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1158648. [PMID: 37287987 PMCID: PMC10243217 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a critical factor in the development of ulcerative colitis (UC); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to identify pivotal molecular mechanisms related to ERS in UC pathogenesis and provide novel therapeutic targets for UC. Methods Colon tissue gene expression profiles and clinical information of UC patients and healthy controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the ERS-related gene set was downloaded from GeneCards for analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis were utilized to identify pivotal modules and genes associated with UC. A consensus clustering algorithm was used to classify UC patients. The CIBERSORT algorithm was employed to evaluate the immune cell infiltration. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to explore potential biological mechanisms. The external sets were used to validate and identify the relationship of ERS-related genes with biologics. Small molecule compounds were predicted using the Connectivity Map (CMap) database. Molecular docking was performed to simulate the binding conformation of small molecule compounds and key targets. Results The study identified 915 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 11 ERS-related genes (ERSRGs) from the colonic mucosa of UC patients and healthy controls, and these genes had good diagnostic value and were highly correlated. Five potential small-molecule drugs sharing tubulin inhibitors were identified, including albendazole, fenbendazole, flubendazole, griseofulvin, and noscapine, among which noscapine exhibited the highest correlation with a high binding affinity to the targets. Active UC and 10 ERSRGs were associated with a large number of immune cells, and ERS was also associated with colon mucosal invasion of active UC. Significant differences in gene expression patterns and immune cell infiltration abundance were observed among ERS-related subtypes. Conclusion The results suggest that ERS plays a vital role in UC pathogenesis, and noscapine may be a promising therapeutic agent for UC by affecting ERS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiying Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yinghui Liu
- Department of Geriatric, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengzhan He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuchun Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiguo Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Shuai Z, Zheng S, Wang K, Wang J, Leung PSC, Xu B. Reestablish immune tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1012868. [PMID: 36248797 PMCID: PMC9561630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1012868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease. Despite the wide use of conventional synthetic, targeted and biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to control its radiological progress, nearly all DMARDs are immunologically non-selective and do not address the underlying immunological mechanisms of RA. Patients with RA often need to take various DMARDs long-term or even lifelong and thus, face increased risks of infection, tumor and other adverse reactions. It is logical to modulate the immune disorders and restore immune balance in patients with RA by restoring immune tolerance. Indeed, approaches based on stem cell transplantation, tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs), and antigen-based tolerogenic vaccination are under active investigation, and some have already transformed from wet bench research to clinical investigation during the last decade. Among them, clinical trials on stem cell therapy, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation are most investigated and followed by tolDCs in RA patients. On the other hand, despite active laboratory investigations on the use of RA-specific peptide-/protein-based tolerogenic vaccines for T cell, clinical studies on RA patients are much limited. Overall, the preliminary results of these clinical studies are promising and encouraging, demonstrating their safety and effectiveness in the rebalancing of T cell subsets; particular, the recovery of RA-specific Treg with increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduced proinflammatory cytokines. Future studies should focus on the optimization of transplanted stem cells, the preparation of tolDCs, and tolerogenic vaccines with RA-specific protein or peptide, including their dosage, course, and route of administration with well-coordinated multi-center randomized clinical control researches. With the progress of experimental and clinical studies, generating and restoring RA-specific immune tolerance may bring revolutionary changes to the clinical management of RA in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Shuai
- Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shuang Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kang Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Xu, ; Patrick S. C. Leung, ; Jian Wang,
| | - Patrick S. C. Leung
- Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Bin Xu, ; Patrick S. C. Leung, ; Jian Wang,
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Xu, ; Patrick S. C. Leung, ; Jian Wang,
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Packialakshmi B, Hira S, Lund K, Zhang AH, Halterman J, Feng Y, Scott DW, Lees JR, Zhou X. NFAT5 contributes to the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and decrease of T regulatory cells in female mice. Cell Immunol 2022; 375:104515. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Su T, Wang H, Yao Y. Novel nucleic acid aptamer gold (Au)-nanoparticles (AuNPs-AptHLA-G5-1 and AuNPs-AptHLA-G5-2) to detect the soluble human leukocyte antigen G5 subtype (HLA-G5) in liquid samples. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1416. [PMID: 34733968 PMCID: PMC8506699 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-3334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background The human leukocyte antigen G5 subtype (HLA-G5) is a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule that is selectively expressed at the maternal-foetal tissue interface and is required for the successful implantation of the in vitro fertilized embryo. It is critical to detect HLA-G5, especially HLA-G5 expression in embryo fluid, during in vitro embryo incubation and culture. However, the specificity and sensitivity of traditional ELISA methods to detect sHLA-G5 are insufficient. This work aimed to explore novel nucleic acid aptamer gold (Au)-nanoparticles to detect soluble HLA-G5 in liquid samples. Methods Soluble HLA-G5 was obtained using a prokaryotic expression system, and two novel aptamers (HLA-G5-Apt1 and HLA-G5-Apt2) detecting HLA-G5 were screened by the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) method. Small (10 nm) gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were incubated with AptHLAs to form two novel nucleic acid aptamers: Au-nanoparticles (AuNPs-AptHLA-G5-1 and AuNPs-AptHLA-G5-2). Results The results showed that AptHLA-G5-1 and AptHLA-G5-2 have a high affinity for HLA-G5 and can detect its presence in liquid samples. Using the colorimetric sensing method, AuNPs-AptHLA-G1 had a detection limit as low as 20 ng/mL (recovery range between 98.7% to 102.0%), while AuNPs-AptHLA-G2 had a detection limit as low as 20 ng/mL (recovery range between 98.9% to 103.6%). Conclusions Our work demonstrates that novel AuNPs are efficient detectors for HLA-G5 and are useful for diagnosis and treatment in the field of obstetrics-gynaecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Su
- Medical School of Chinese PLA & Reproductive Center, the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA & Reproductive Center, the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanqing Yao
- Medical School of Chinese PLA & Reproductive Center, the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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12
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PARP1-mediated PARylation of TonEBP prevents R-loop-associated DNA damage. DNA Repair (Amst) 2021; 104:103132. [PMID: 34049076 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2021.103132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Lack of coordination between the DNA replication and transcription machineries can increase the frequency of transcription-replication conflicts, leading ultimately to DNA damage and genomic instability. A major source of these conflicts is the formation of R-loops, which consist of a transcriptionally generated RNA-DNA hybrid and the displaced single-stranded DNA. R-loops play important physiological roles and have been implicated in human diseases. Although these structures have been extensively studied, many aspects of R-loop biology and R-loop-mediated genome instability remain unclear. We found that in cancer cells, tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP, also called NFAT5) interacted with PARP1 and localized to R-loops in response to DNA-damaging agent camptothecin (CPT), which is associated with R-loop formation. PARP1-mediated PARylation was required for recruitment of TonEBP to the sites of R-loop-associated DNA damage. Loss of TonEBP increased levels of R-loop accumulation and DNA damage, and promoted cell death in response to CPT. These findings suggest that TonEBP mediates resistance to CPT-induced cell death by preventing R-loop accumulation in cancer cells.
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Timucin AC. Structure based peptide design, molecular dynamics and MM-PBSA studies for targeting C terminal dimerization of NFAT5 DNA binding domain. J Mol Graph Model 2020; 103:107804. [PMID: 33248341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
NFAT5 as a transcription factor with an established role in osmotic stress response, has also been revealed to be active under numerous settings, including pathological conditions such as diabetic microvascular complications, chronic arthritis and cancer. Despite these links, current strategies for downregulating NFAT5 activity only relies on indirect modulators, not directly targeting NFAT5, itself. With this study, through using a computational approach, an original peptide was explored to directly target C terminal dimerization of NFAT5 RHR, located in its DNA binding domain. At first, homodimeric NFAT5 RHR bound to its consensus DNA was used for prediction of a preliminary peptide sequence. Possible amino acid replacements for this preliminary peptide were predicted for optimization, which was followed by addition of a cell penetrating peptide sequence. These attempts yielded a small peptide library, which was further investigated for peptide affinities towards C terminal of NFAT5 RHR through molecular docking, 50 ns and 250 ns molecular dynamics simulations, followed by estimation of MM-PBSA based relative binding free energies. Results indicated that after receiving mutations on the preliminary peptide sequence for optimization, a unique peptide could target C terminal dimerization region of NFAT5 RHR through using its cell penetrating peptide sequence. In conclusion, this is the first study presenting computational evidence on identification of a novel peptide capable of directly targeting NFAT5 dimerization. Besides, future implications of these observations were also discussed in terms of methodology and possible applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Can Timucin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Üsküdar University, Turkey; Neuropsychopharmacology Application and Research Center (NPARC), Üsküdar University, Turkey.
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Kang HJ, Yoo EJ, Lee HH, An SM, Park H, Lee-Kwon W, Choi SY, Kwon HM. TonEBP Promotes β-Cell Survival under ER Stress by Enhancing Autophagy. Cells 2020; 9:cells9091928. [PMID: 32825390 PMCID: PMC7563687 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and autophagy are important cellular responses that determine cell fate and whose dysregulation is implicated in the perturbation of homeostasis and diseases. Tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP, also called NFAT5) is a pleiotropic stress protein that mediates both protective and pathological cellular responses. Here, we examined the role of TonEBP in β-cell survival under ER stress. We found that TonEBP increases β-cell survival under ER stress by enhancing autophagy. The level of TonEBP protein increased under ER stress due to a reduction in its degradation via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. In response to ER stress, TonEBP increased autophagosome formations and suppressed the accumulation of protein aggregates and β-cell death. The Rel-homology domain of TonEBP interacted with FIP200, which is essential for the initiation of autophagy, and was required for autophagy and cell survival upon exposure to ER stress. Mice in which TonEBP was specifically deleted in pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells exhibited defective glucose homeostasis and a loss of islet mass. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that TonEBP protects against ER stress-induced β-cell death by enhancing autophagy.
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