Potential biomarkers: differentially expressed proteins of the extrinsic coagulation pathway in plasma samples from patients with depression

Ganoderic acid A ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in CSDS mice: Insights from proteomic profiling and molecular mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

Ganoderic Acid A (GAA), a primary bioactive component in Ganoderma, has demonstrated ameliorative effects on depressive-like behaviors in a Chronic Social Defeat Stress (CSDS) mouse model. This study aims to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms through proteomic analysis.

METHODS

C57BL/6 J mice were allocated into control (CON), chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), GAA, and imipramine (IMI) groups. Post-depression induction via CSDS, the GAA and IMI groups received respective treatments of GAA (2.5 mg/kg) and imipramine (10 mg/kg) for five days. Behavioral assessments utilized standardized tests. Proteins from the prefrontal cortex were analyzed using LC-MS, with further examination via bioinformatics and PRM for differential expression. Western blot analysis confirmed protein expression levels.

RESULTS

Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) induced depressive-like behaviors in mice, which were significantly alleviated by GAA treatment, comparably to imipramine (IMI). Proteomic analysis identified distinct proteins in control (305), GAA-treated (949), and IMI-treated (289) groups. Enrichment in mitochondrial and synaptic proteins was evident from GO and PPI analyses. PRM analysis revealed significant expression changes in proteins crucial for mitochondrial and synaptic functions (namely, Naa30, Bnip1, Tubgcp4, Atxn3, Carmil1, Nup37, Apoh, Mrpl42, Tprkb, Acbd5, Dcx, Erbb4, Ppp1r2, Fam3c, Rnf112, and Cep41). Western blot validation in the prefrontal cortex showed increased levels of Mrpl42, Dcx, Fam3c, Ppp1r2, Rnf112, and Naa30 following GAA treatment.

CONCLUSION

GAA exhibits potential antidepressant properties, with its action potentially tied to the modulation of synaptic functions and mitochondrial activities.

Depression Exacerbates Hepatic Steatosis in C57BL/6J Mice by Activating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Depression is associated with metabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between them are still poorly known.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, mice on a choline deficiency, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) developing steatosis were challenged with chronic restraint stress (CRS), a protocol widely used to induce depression. The development of depression and steatosis was evaluated using histopathology analysis, ELISA, q-PCR and Western Blot.

RESULTS

The contribution of the activated HPA axis to hepatic steatosis progress was fully established, which was validated using a hepatocyte model. Histopathological and biochemical analysis indicated that steatosis was exacerbated by CRS challenge, and behavioral tests indicated that the mice developed depression. Among the screened endocrinal pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was significantly activated and the synergistic effect of CDAHFD and CRS in activating the HPA axis was observed. In the hypothalamus, expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was increased by 86% and the protein levels of hypothalamic CRH were upregulated by 25% to 33% by CRS treatment. Plasma CRH levels were elevated by 45-56% and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were elevated by 29-58% by CRS treatment. In the liver, target genes of the HPA axis were activated, accompanied by disruption of the lipid metabolism and progression of steatohepatitis. The lipid metabolism in the Hepa1-6 cell line treated with endogenous corticosterone (CORT) was in accordance with the aforementioned in vivo responses.

CONCLUSION

Depression aggravated hepatic steatosis in CDAHFD-fed mice by activating the HPA axis. The risk of NAFLD development should be fully considered in depressive patients and improvement of psychotic disorders could be an etiological treatment strategy for them.

Retrospective studies and quantitative proteomics reveal that abnormal expression of blood pressure, blood lipids, and coagulation related proteins is associated with hypospadias

Hypospadias refers to the abnormal position of the male urethral orifice, which not only leads to urination disorder but also causes sexual dysfunction in adulthood. However, the complex and diverse pathogenic factors of hypospadias are still unclear. To study the pathogenesis and prognosis of hypospadias, we counted the serological indexes of children with hypospadias, and found that sSBP, TC and LDL increased in children with mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. Subsequently, we used quantitative proteomics to find differential proteins in mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. After bioinformatics analysis and biochemical experiments on the screened DEPs, we found that the expression of proteins related to immune inflammation, coagulation, blood pressure and inflammation, and blood lipid were differential expressed in the prepuce tissue of children with hypospadias. We further confirmed that the proteins FGB, FGG, SERPINA1, and AGT involved in the angiotensin system, cholesterol metabolism, and coagulation were significantly up-regulated by biochemical experiments. In particular, the AGT protein of the angiotensin system involved in blood pressure regulation, we have shown that it increases with the severity of hypospadias. This study suggests that children with hypospadias are more likely to suffer from hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our findings provide a theoretical basis for early monitoring of blood lipids and blood pressure to prevent CVD in children with hypospadias.

Bioinformation Analysis of Differential Expression Proteins in Different Processes of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease whose progression has been associated with multiple factors. From SARS-CoV-2 infection to death, biomarkers capable of predicting different disease processes are needed to help us further understand the molecular progression of COVID-19 disease. The aim is to find differentially expressed proteins that are associated with the progression of COVID-19 disease or can be potential biomarkers, and to provide a reference for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 occurrence, progression, and treatment. Data-independent Acquisition (DIA) proteomics to obtain sample protein expression data, using R language screening differentially expressed proteins. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes analysis was performed on differential proteins and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen key proteins. A total of 47 differentially expressed proteins were obtained from COVID-19 incubation patients and healthy population (L/H), mainly enriched in platelet-related functions, and complement and coagulation cascade reaction pathways, such as platelet degranulation and platelet aggregation. A total of 42 differential proteins were obtained in clinical and latent phase patients (C/L), also mainly enriched in platelet-related functions and in complement and coagulation cascade reactions, platelet activation pathways. A total of 10 differential proteins were screened in recovery and clinical phase patients (R/C), mostly immune-related proteins. The differentially expressed proteins in different stages of COVID-19 are mostly closely associated with coagulation, and key differential proteins, such as FGA, FGB, FGG, ACTB, PFN1, VCL, SERPZNCL, APOC3, LTF, and DEFA1, have the potential to be used as early diagnostic markers.

Recurrence of macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion: a proteomic study

BACKGROUND

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common retinal vascular disease leading to severe vision loss and blindness. This study aimed to investigate and reveal the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying macular edema (ME) recurrence in patients with BRVO through a proteomic approach.

METHODS

We detected proteins in the aqueous humor of 14 untreated, four refractory, and four post-operative patients with BRVO-ME and 12 age-matched cataract controls using four-dimensional label-free proteomic and bioinformatics analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 84 proteins exhibited significant differential expression between the BRVO and control samples (fold change [FC] ≥ 1.2 and adjusted p-value < 0.05). Compared to the control group, 43 and 41 proteins were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the BRVO group. These proteins were involved in cell adhesion, visual perception, retina homeostasis, and platelet activation. Several significantly enriched signaling pathways included complement and coagulation cascades and platelet activation. In the protein-protein interaction networks generated using the search tool for retrieval of interacting genes (STRING), the fibrinogen alpha chain and fibrinogen beta chain constituted a tightly connected cluster. Many common protein expression trends, such as the fibrinogen alpha chain and fibrinogen beta chain, were observed in both the recurrent and refractory groups. Differentially expressed proteins in the two groups were involved in complement activation, acute-phase response, platelet activation, and platelet aggregation. Important signaling pathways include the complement and coagulation cascades, and platelet activation. Protein-protein interaction analysis suggested that the fibrinogen alpha chain and fibrinogen beta chain constituted a tightly connected cluster. The expression of some differentially expressed proteins shared by the BRVO and the recurrent and refractory groups was reversed in the post-operative group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to analyze the proteomics of recurrent, refractory, and post-operative groups treated for BRVO-ME, and may potentially provide novel therapeutic interventions for the recurrence of ME.

Risk Factor Analysis and a Predictive Model of Postoperative Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Among the elderly, depression is one of the most common mental disorders, which seriously affects their physical and mental health and quality of life, and their suicide rate is particularly high. Depression in the elderly is strongly associated with surgery. In this study, we aimed to explore the risk factors and establish a predictive model of depressive symptoms 1 month after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in elderly patients. The study participants included 272 elderly patients (age > 65 years) undergoing VATS from April 2020 to May 2021 at 1 of 18 medical centers in China. The patients were divided into a depression group and a nondepression group according to the Chinese version of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The patients' pre- and postoperative characteristics and questionnaires were collected and compared. Then, binary logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors that affect postoperative depressive symptoms, and the predictive model was constructed. The prediction efficiency of the model was evaluated by drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the value of the predictive model. Among all of the included patients, 16.54% (45/272) suffered from depressive symptoms after VATS. The results of the univariate analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), chronic pain, leukocyte count, fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time, ASA physical status, infusion volume, anxiety, sleep quality, and postoperative pain were related to postoperative depressive symptoms (all p < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high fibrinogen level (OR = 2.42), postoperative anxiety (OR = 12.05), poor sleep quality (OR = 0.61), and pain (OR = 2.85) were risk factors of postoperative depressive symptoms. A predictive model was constructed according to the regression coefficient of each variable, the ROC curve was drawn, and the AUC value was calculated to be 0.889. The prediction model may help medical personnel identify older patients at risk of developing depressive disorders associated with VATS and may be useful for clinical purposes.

The role of damage associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) and permeability of the blood-brain barrier in depression and neuroinflammation

Depression is a heterogeneous mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness and loss of interest that render the subject unable to handle basic daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working. Neurobiological traits leading to depression include genetic background, early life abuse, life stressors, and systemic and central inflammatory profiles. Several clinical and preclinical reports documented that depression shows an increase in pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL-)1β, IL-6, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon (IFN)-γ; and a decrease in anti-inflammatory IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β species. Inflammatory activation may trigger and maintain depression. Dynamic crosstalk between the peripheral immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) such as activated endothelial cells, monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells, and microglia has been proposed as a leading cause of neuroinflammation. Notably, pro-inflammatory cytokines disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and serotonergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission. While still under investigation, peripheral cytokines can engage brain pathways and affect the central synthesis of HPA hormones and neurotransmitters through several mechanisms such as activation of the vagus nerve, increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), altered cytokines transport systems, and engaging toll-like receptors (TLRs) by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, physiological mechanisms that favor time-dependent central inflammation before or during illness are not totally understood. This review will provide preclinical and clinical evidence of DAMPs and the BBB permeability as contributors to depression and neuroinflammation. We will also discuss pharmacologic approaches that could potentially modulate DAMPs and BBB permeability for future interventions against major depression.

Data Mining and Meta-Analysis of Psoriasis Based on Association Rules

Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent disease in dermatology, which has a great impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Meta-analysis can evaluate the effectiveness and safety of defubao in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. This article observes psoriasis skin lesions treated with topical defubao and the changes in blood vessels under dermoscopy. Considering that the Apriori algorithm and the existing improved algorithm have the problems of ignoring the weight and repeatedly scanning the database, this paper proposes a matrix association rule method based on random forest weighting. This method uses the random forest algorithm to assign weights to each item in the data set, and introduces matrix theory to convert the transaction data set into a matrix form and store it, thereby improving operating efficiency. This article included 11 studies, of which 7 studies used the indicator "Researcher's Overall Assessment" (IGA) to evaluate the efficacy, 5 studies used the "Patient Overall Assessment" (PGA) as the efficacy evaluation index, and Loss Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used as an observation index to evaluate the efficacy. Seven studies conducted safety comparisons. In this paper, IGA and PGA were used as evaluation indicators. The treatment effect of the defubao group was better than the calcipotriol group and the betamethasone group. The differences were statistically significant. The effect of the Fubao treatment for 8 weeks is significantly better than that of 4 weeks and 2 weeks, and the differences are statistically different. Using PASI as the evaluation index, a descriptive study was carried out, and it was found that after 4 weeks of treatment for psoriasis vulgaris, the average PASI reduction rate of patients was higher than that of the calcipotriol group and the betamethasone group. The safety evaluation found that after 8 weeks of treatment, the incidence of adverse events in the defubao group was significantly lower than that in the calcipotriol group.

Xiaoyao powder alleviates the hippocampal neuron damage in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression model rats in hippocampus via connexin 43Cx43/glucocorticoid receptor/brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway

Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) has been widely applied in China to treat stress-related illnesses, such as migraine, depression, Parkinson’s disease, insomnia, and hypertension. Herein, this study aims to explore the effect of XYP on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression and its underlying mechanisms. CUMS-induced depression rat models were established, they were subsequently randomly divided and treated with various conditions. Results of this study indicated that supplementation of XYP observably abolished CUMS-induced hippocampal damage and serum corticosterone (CORT) elevation. In mechanism, we discovered that CUMS induction could cause a prominent downregulation in glucocorticoid receptor (GR), phosphorylated-GR (p-GR), connexin 43 (Cx43), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a remarkable upregulation in c-Src. While the introduction of XYP could reverse the changes in all of these indicators mediated by CUMS. Furthermore, we proved that Cx43 could interact with GR, and the protective effect of XYP on hippocampal neurons is realized by up-regulating GR. Summarized, this study indicated that XYP could ameliorate hippocampal neuron damage in CUMS-induced depression model rats through acting on Cx43/GR/BDNF axis.

Expression and role of microRNA-212/nuclear factor I-A in depressive mice

Depression is characterized by persistent depressed mood and cognitive dysfunction, severely impacting human health. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role and mechanism of microRNA (miR)-212 in depression in vivo. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice were established, and depression-like behaviors were confirmed using the forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), and the tail suspension test (TST). Next, the expression of miR-212 and its potential target, i.e., nuclear factor I-A (NFIA), was verified using quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR analysis and Western blotting in CUMS mice. The effects of miR-212 and NFIA on depression-like behaviors, inflammatory response, and neuronal apoptosis were examined using FST, TST, SPT, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay, and flow cytometry analysis. Finally, the relationship between miR-212 and NFIA was examined using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Based on our findings, miR-212 was significantly upregulated, while NFIA was downregulated in CUMS mice. miR-212 overexpression could suppress the CUMS-induced weight loss, immobility time in FST and TST, and increased hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. In addition, NFIA upregulation could partially reverse the effects of miR-212 mimic in CUMS mice. Accordingly, miR-212 could ameliorate CUMS-induced depression-like behavior in mice by targeting NFIA, indicating its protective role in depression.