Skin wound closure delay in metabolic syndrome correlates with SCF deficiency in keratinocytes

Peripheral artery disease mediating the effect of metabolic syndrome related diseases on lower limb ulcers: Mendelian randomization analysis

Background

Previous observational studies have demonstrated a correlation between metabolic syndrome related diseases and an elevated susceptibility to ulcers of lower limb. It has been suggested that this causal relationship may be influenced by the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Nevertheless, the precise contribution of these factors as determinants of ulcers of lower limb remains largely unexplored.

Method

This research incorporated information on hypertension, BMI, hyperuricemia, type 2 diabetes, PAD, and ulcers of lower limb sourced from the GWAS database. Univariate Mendelian randomization (SVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) methods were employed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome related diseases, including hypertension, obesity, hyperuricemia, and type 2 diabetes, as well as to investigate whether this association was influenced by PAD.

Results

Univariate Mendelian randomization analysis showed that genetically predicted hypertension, BMI, and type 2 diabetes were associated with an increased risk of PAD and ulcers of lower limb, and PAD was associated with an increased risk of ulcers of lower limb, but there is no causal relationship between hyperuricemia and ulcers of lower limb. The results of multivariate Mendelian randomization showed that PAD mediated the causal relationship between hypertension, obesity and ulcers of lower limb, but the relationship between type 2 diabetes and ulcers of lower limb was not mediated by PAD.

Conclusion

Hypertension, BMI and type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of ulcers of lower limb, and PAD can be used as a mediator of hypertension and obesity leading to ulcers of lower limb, These findings may inform prevention and intervention strategies directed toward metabolic syndrome and ulcers of lower limb.

Smilax china L.: A review of its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, actual and potential applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Smilax china L., an extensively used traditional Chinese medicine, is known as Baqia in China. It has been used to treat various inflammatory disorders, particularly pelvic inflammation.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present paper aims to provide an up-to-date review at the advancements of the investigations on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological effect and actual and potential applications of S. china. Besides, the possible tendency and perspective for future research of this plant are discussed, as well.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article uses "Smilax china L." "S. china" as the keyword and collects relevant information on Smilax china L. plants through electronic searches (Elsevier, PubMed, ACS, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Web of Science), relevant books, and classic literature about Chinese herb.

RESULTS

134 chemical constituents, among which steroid saponins and flavonoids are the predominant groups, have been isolated and identified from S. china. S. china with its active compounds is possessed of wide-reaching biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, detoxify nicotine, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, anti-hyperuricaemia, anti-hypertension, promoting skin wound and barrier repair and anti-bacterial activity. Besides, S. china is also applied to other fields, such as food industry and detection technology.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the review of the existing phytochemical studies on Smilax china L., the structural characterization of Smilax china L. extract can continue to be the focus of future research. Pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated some of the traditional uses of Smilax china L. extract, while other traditional uses still need to be confirmed by research.

An Overview of Growth Factors as the Potential Link between Psoriasis and Metabolic Syndrome

Psoriasis is a chronic, complex, and immunologically mediated systemic disease that not only affects the skin, but also the joints and nails. It may coexist with various other disorders, such as depression, psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. In particular, the potential link between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome is an issue worthy of attention. The dysregulation of growth factors could potentially contribute to the disturbances of keratinocyte proliferation, inflammation, and itch severity. However, the pathophysiology of psoriasis and its comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome, remains incompletely elucidated. Growth factors and their abnormal metabolism may be a potential link connecting these conditions. Overall, the objective of this review is to analyze the role of growth factor disturbances in both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome.

A novel PPARβ/FFA1 dual agonist Y8 promotes diabetic wound healing

BACKGROUND

Diabetes ulcer is one of the leading causes of disability and death in diabetics. Y8 [(2-(2-fluoro-4-((4-methyl-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thiazol-5-yl)methoxy) phenoxy)acetic acid)], a dual agonist of peroxisome proliferation activated receptorβ (PPARβ) and free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1/FFAR1/GPR40), a new compound molecule with the potential for diabetes ulcer treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To research the effect of the dual target agonist Y8 and its mechanism of action in the treatment of diabetic ulcers.

METHODS

We have established a wound model in diabetic mice. After treatment with Y8, wound healing was evaluated by tissue pathology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and gene expression testing. Under high sugar conditions, the mechanism of Y8 affecting fibroblasts' proliferation and keratinocytes' migration is further studied.

RESULTS

We found that Y8 accelerated wound healing and shortened healing time in diabetic mice. Granulation tissue generation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were significantly increased in Y8-treated mice. Mechanistically, Y8 promotes keratinocyte proliferation by activating PPARβ and migration of keratinocytes by triggering FFA1 in vitro. In addition, Y8 also decreased ROS levels in fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo by activating PPARβ, reducing their release of superoxide anions.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PPARβ/FFA1 dual agonist Y8 has the effect of promoting the healing of diabetic ulcer wounds in vivo and in vitro, and its therapeutic effect is better than that of single-target agonists.

A Novel Peptide from Polypedates megacephalus Promotes Wound Healing in Mice

Amphibian skin contains wound-healing peptides, antimicrobial peptides, and insulin-releasing peptides, which give their skin a strong regeneration ability to adapt to a complex and harsh living environment. In the current research, a novel wound-healing promoting peptide, PM-7, was identified from the skin secretions of Polypedates megacephalus, which has an amino acid sequence of FLNWRRILFLKVVR and shares no structural similarity with any peptides described before. It displays the activity of promoting wound healing in mice. Moreover, PM-7 exhibits the function of enhancing proliferation and migration in HUVEC and HSF cells by affecting the MAPK signaling pathway. Considering its favorable traits as a novel peptide that significantly promotes wound healing, PM-7 can be a potential candidate in the development of novel wound-repairing drugs.

Highly conserved shifts in ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) activity drive mitochondrial remodeling during quiescence

Defects in cellular proteostasis and mitochondrial function drive many aspects of infertility, cancer, and other age-related diseases. All of these conditions rely on quiescent cells, such as oocytes and adult stem cells, that reduce their activity and remain dormant as part of their roles in tissue homeostasis, reproduction, and even cancer recurrence. Using a multi-organism approach, we show that dynamic shifts in the ubiquitin proteasome system drive mitochondrial remodeling during cellular quiescence. In contrast to the commonly held view that the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is primarily regulated by substrate ubiquitination, we find that increasing proteasome number and their recruitment to mitochondria support mitochondrial respiratory quiescence (MRQ). GSK3 triggers proteasome recruitment to the mitochondria by phosphorylating outer membrane proteins, such as VDAC, and suppressing mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. This work defines a process that couples dynamic regulation of UPS activity to coordinated shifts in mitochondrial metabolism in fungi, Drosophila, and mammals during quiescence.

Dynamic regulation of cellular proteostasis is linked to the metabolic state of quiescent cells in vivo. Here, the authors show, in multiple organisms, that shifts in the ubiquitin-proteome system are coupled to mitochondrial metabolic changes and subsequent respiratory quiescence.

Histology Scoring System for Murine Cutaneous Wounds

Monitoring wound progression over time is a critical aspect for studies focused on in-depth molecular analysis or on evaluating the efficacy of potential novel therapies. Histopathological analysis of wound biopsies can provide significant insight into healing dynamics, yet there is no standardized and reproducible scoring system currently available. The purpose of this study was to develop and statistically validate a scoring system based on parameters in each phase of healing that can be easily and accurately assessed using either Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) or Masson's Trichrome (MT) staining. These parameters included re-epithelization, epithelial thickness index, keratinization, granulation tissue thickness, remodeling, and the scar elevation index. The initial phase of the study was to (1) optimize and clarify healing parameters to limit investigator bias and variability; (2) compare the consistency of parameters assessed using H&E versus MT staining. During the validation phase of this study, the accuracy and reproducibility of this scoring system was independently iterated upon and validated in four different types of murine skin wound models (Excisional; punch biopsy; pressure ulcers; burn wounds). A total of n = 54 histology sections were randomized, blinded, and assigned to two groups of independent investigators (n = 5 per group) for analysis. The sensitivity of each parameter (ranging between 80% and 95%) is reported with illustrations on the appropriate assessment method using ImageJ software. In the validated scoring system, the lowest score (score:0) is associated with an open/unhealed wound as is evident immediately and within the first day postinjury, whereas the highest score (score:12) is associated with a completely closed and healed wound without excessive scarring. This study defines and describes the minimum recommended criteria for assessing wound healing dynamics using the SPOT skin wound score. The acronym SPOT refers to the academic and scientific institutions that were involved in the development of the scoring system, namely, Stellenbosch University, Polish Academy of Sciences, Obatala Sciences, and the University of Texas Southwestern.