STC1 and PTHrP Modify Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Liver of a Teleost Fish

Biosensors Based on Stanniocalcin-1 Protein Antibodies Thin Films for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent tumors in men, accounting for about 7.3% of cancer deaths. Although there are several strategies for diagnosing prostate cancer, these are only accurate when the tumor is already at a very advanced stage, so early diagnosis is essential. Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is a secreted glycoprotein, which has been suggested as a tumor marker as its increased expression is associated with the development and/or progression of different types of malignant tumors. In this work, an electronic tongue (ET) prototype, based on a set of four sensors prepared from thin films that included STC1 antibodies for detecting prostate cancer, was developed. In the preparation of the thin films, polyelectrolytes of polyallylamine hydrochloride, polystyrene sulfonate of sodium and polyethyleneimine, and the biomolecules chitosan, protein A, and STC1 antibody were used. These films were deposited on quartz lamellae and on solid supports using layer-on-layer and self-assembly techniques. The deposition of the films was analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the detection of STC1 in aqueous solutions of PBS was analyzed by impedance spectroscopy. The impedance data were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis. The ETs formed by the four sensors and the three best sensors could detect the antigen at concentrations in the range from 5 × 10-11 to 5 × 10-4 M. They showed a linear dependence with the logarithm of the antigen concentration and a sensitivity of 5371 ± 820 and 4863 ± 634 per decade of concentration, respectively. Finally, the results allow us to conclude that this prototype can advance to the calibration phase with patient samples.

Transgenerational exposure to ocean acidification impacts the hepatic transcriptome of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Physiological effects of ocean acidification associated with elevated CO2 concentrations in seawater is the subject of numerous studies in teleost fish. While the short time within-generation impact of ocean acidification (OA) on acid-base exchange and energy metabolism is relatively well described, the effects associated with transgenerational exposure to OA are much less known. Yet, the impacts of OA can vary in time with the potential for acclimation or adaptation of a species. Previous studies in our lab demonstrated that transgenerational exposure to OA had extensive effects on the transcriptome of the olfactory epithelium of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), especially on genes related to ion balance, energy metabolism, immune system, synaptic plasticity, neuron excitability and wiring. In the present study, we complete the previous work by investigating the effect of transgenerational exposure to OA on the hepatic transcriptome of European sea bass. Differential gene expression analysis was performed by RNAseq technology on RNA extracted from the liver of two groups of 18 months F2 juveniles that had been exposed since spawning to the same AO conditions as their parents (F1) to either actual pH or end-of-century predicted pH levels (IPCC RCP8.5), respectively. Here we show that transgenerational exposure to OA significantly impacts the expression of 236 hepatic transcripts including genes mainly involved in inflammatory/immune responses but also in carbohydrate metabolism and cellular homeostasis. Even if this transcriptomic impact is relatively limited compared to what was shown in the olfactory system, this work confirmed that fish transgenerationally exposed to OA exhibit molecular regulation of processes related to metabolism and inflammation. Also, our data expand the up-regulation of a key gene involved in different physiological pathways including calcium homeostasis (i.e. pthr1), which we already observed in the olfactory epithelium, to the liver. Even if our experimental design does not allow to discriminate direct within F2 generation effects from transgenerational plasticity, these results offer the perspective of more functional analyses to determine the potential physiological impact of OA exposure on fish physiology with ecological relevance.

NF-κB-upregulated miR-155-5p promotes hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction to accelerate the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through downregulation of STC1

Previous studies have highlighted the involvement of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of our investigation is to explore the interaction among NF-κB, microRNA-155-5p (miR-155-5p), and Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1), and its effects on NAFLD by establishing a NAFLD model in Sprague Dawley rats. A highly-expressed miR-155-5p and NF-κB was revealed in the liver tissues of NAFLD rats, and a positive correlation was identified between miR-155-5p and NF-κB. Next, the expression of NF-κB and STC1 was altered in the modeled rats through lentivirus injection, followed by determination on the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, the hepatocyte mitochondria were separated to measure the activities of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, and to observe the number, length and ultrastructural length of mitochondrial cristae. The results demonstrated that NF-κB overexpression induced mitochondrial dysfunction, increased ROS level, decreased ATP and MMP contents, as well as inhibited the number and length of mitochondrial cristae in the hepatocyte mitochondria of NAFLD rats. Besides, miR-155-5p was found to negatively regulate STC1 expression based on dual luciferase reporter gene assay, which exert inhibition on mitochondrial activity of hepatocytes in NAFLD rats. These results uncover the possible involvement of NF-κB/miR-155-5p/STC1 axis in NAFLD progression, that NF-κB could increase miR-155-5p expression to inhibit STC1 expression, thus inducing hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and promoting the occurrence and development of NAFLD.

The Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein/Parathyroid Hormone 1 Receptor Axis in Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue is an organ that shows great plasticity and is able to adapt to the conditions to which the body is subdued. It participates in the regulation of energetic homeostasis and has endocrine functions. Recent studies have shown how the parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)/Parathyroid Hormone Receptor 1 (PTH1R) axis participates in the regulation of adipogenesis, opposing the action of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In addition to this, PTHrP is overexpressed in adipose tissue in situations of wear and tear of the body, favoring browning and lipolysis in this tissue. It is also overexpressed in adipose tissue in stressful situations but in the opposite direction, in obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In conclusion, the PTHrP/PTH1R axis has a main role in adipose tissue, participating in its differentiation and remodeling. PTHrP might be used in obesity treatment and its complications for its ability to reprogram adipogenesis and adipose tissue expansion, WAT browning and for the improvement of the insulin sensitivity. In addition, PTHrP could even be used as a marker of placental status and maternal adaptations to prevent future metabolic problems in mothers and children, as well as in the treatment of bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis.

Responses of Corpuscles of Stannius to intra-peritoneal vitamin-D3 administration in teleost Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) reared in water with two different levels of calcium concentration

This study assessed the responses of vitamin-D3 intraperitoneally injected to Rohu, Labeo rohita @ of 0 IU/kg bw (only solvent), 100 IU/kg bw and 500 IU/kg bw reared in 20 and 40 ppm of calcium (Ca) enriched water. The cellular changes in Corpuscles of Stannius (CS) gland, serum Ca, and inorganic phosphate (Pi) level were analysed up to the 60th day. Rohu administered with 100 IU/kg bw D3 and exposed to 40 ppm Ca-rich water exhibited notable hyperplasia of CS compared with their control groups. Notable changes with high serum Ca level (13.87 ± 0.3 mg/dl) was detected on the 5th day in fish exposed to 40 ppm Ca-rich water, while related values attained (13.74 ± 0.1 mg/dl) only after 7 days in 20 ppm Ca-rich water of 500 IU/kg bw vitamin D3 injection. Similarly, high serum Pi level (7.66 ± 0.2 mg/dl) in 40 ppm Ca injected with D3 at 500 IU/kg bw. The results demonstrated that the Ca homeostasis of Labeo rohita is influenced by intra-peritoneal vitamin D3. Progressive studies should be conducted by increasing the dose of vitamin D3 to investigate optimum dose/supplement in feed for commercially important aquaculture teleost Labeo rohita for maximum and sustainable absorption of Ca from the variable water Calcium levels to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis.

Single and combined effects of the "Deadly trio" hypoxia, hypercapnia and warming on the cellular metabolism of the great scallop Pecten maximus

In the ocean the main climate drivers affecting marine organisms are warming, hypercapnia, and hypoxia. We investigated the acute effects of warming (W), warming plus hypercapnia (WHc, ~1800 μatm CO₂), warming plus hypoxia (WHo, ~12.1 kPa O₂), and a combined exposure of all three drivers (Deadly Trio, DT) on king scallops (Pecten maximus). All exposures started at 14 °C and temperature was increased by 2 °C once every 48 h until the lethal temperature was reached (28 °C). Gill samples were taken at 14 °C, 18 °C, 22 °C, and 26 °C and analyzed for their metabolic response by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Scallops were most tolerant to WHc and most susceptible to oxygen reduction (WHo and DT). In particular under DT, scallops' mitochondrial energy metabolism was affected. Changes became apparent at 22 °C and 26 °C involving significant accumulation of glycogenic amino acids (e.g. glycine and valine) and anaerobic end-products (e.g. acetic acid and succinate). In line with these observations the LT₅₀ was lower under the exposure to DT (22.5 °C) than to W alone (~ 25 °C) indicating a narrowing of the thermal niche due to an imbalance between oxygen demand and supply.