Plastin 1 promotes osteoblast differentiation by regulating intracellular Ca2

Is There a Difference in the Proteomic Profile of Stimulated and Unstimulated Saliva Samples from Pregnant Women with/without Obesity and Periodontitis?

This study aimed to compare the proteomic profile of stimulated and unstimulated saliva samples from pregnant women with/without obesity and periodontitis. Pregnant women were allocated into four groups: with obesity and periodontitis (OP); with obesity but without periodontitis (OWP); with normal BMI but with periodontitis (NP); with normal BMI and without periodontitis (NWP). Stimulated saliva (SS) and unstimulated saliva (US) samples were collected, and salivary proteins were extracted and individually processed by proteomic analysis (nLC-ESI-MS/MS). Proteins involved with the immune response process, antioxidant activity, and retina homeostasis were decreased or absent in SS samples from all groups (i.e., Antileukoproteinase, Lysozyme C, Alpha-2-macroglobulin-like protein 1, Heat shock proteins-70 kDa 1-like, 1A, 1B, 6, Heat shock-related 70 kDa protein 2, Putative Heat shock 70 kDa protein 7, Heat shock cognate 71 kDa). Additionally, proteins related to the carbohydrate metabolic process and glycolytic and glucose metabolic process were absent in SS, mainly from OP and OWP (i.e., Frutose-bisphosphate aldose A, Glusoce-6-phosphate isomerase, Pyruvate kinase). Saliva stimulation decreased important proteins involved with immune response and inflammation process in all groups. Unstimulated salivary samples seem to be the best choice for the proteomic approach in pregnant women.

A novel PLS1 c.981+1G>A variant causes autosomal-dominant hereditary hearing loss in a family

The fimbrin protein family contains a variety of proteins, among which Plastin1 (PLS1) is an important member. According to recent studies, variations in the coding region of the PLS1 gene are associated with the development of deafness. However, the molecular mechanism of deafness caused by PLS1 gene variants remains unknown. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on hearing-impaired family members and hearing family members to identify pathogenic variants, followed by Sanger sequencing. A minigene assay was conducted to investigate the effect of the variant on PLS1 mRNA splicing. The pathogenicity of the variant was further investigated in zebrafish. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to analyze the dysregulation of downstream signaling pathways caused by knockdown of PLS1 expression. We identified a novel variant, PLS1 c.981+1G>A, in a large Chinese family with hearing loss and showed that the variant is responsible for the occurrence of hearing loss by inducing exon 8 skipping. The variant caused abnormal inner ear phenotypes, characterized by decreases in the mean otolith distance, anterior otolith diameter, posterior otolith diameter, cochlear diameter, and swimming speed and distance in zebrafish. Furthermore, silencing PLS1 expression significantly upregulated the expression of genes in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, including Col6a3, Spp1, Itgb3 and hepatocyte growth factor (Hgf). PLS1 c.981+1G>A is a novel pathogenic variant causing hearing loss by inducing exon 8 skipping. Upregulation of the expression of genes in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis caused by variants in the PLS1 gene.

Label-Free Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Inflammatory Pattern Associated with Obesity and Periodontitis in Pregnant Women

Obesity and pregnancy may have synergistic effects on periodontal condition, and proteomics could be an ideal approach to highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with these outcomes. This study analyzed the salivary proteomics related to obesity and periodontitis in women during pregnancy (T1) and after delivery (T2). Initially, 126 women were recruited and forty were allocated into groups: with obesity and periodontitis (OP); with obesity, but without periodontitis (OWP); with normal BMI, but with periodontitis (NP); with normal BMI and without periodontitis (NWP). Whole-mouth saliva was collected in T1 and T2, and proteins were extracted and individually processed by label-free proteomics (nLC-ESI-MS/MS). The up-regulations of Heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A, 1B, and 1-like were related to both obesity and periodontitis, separately. Albumin and Thioredoxin were up-regulated in periodontitis cases, while Cystatins (mainly S, SA, SN) and Lactotransferrin were down-regulated. The high abundances of Submaxillary gland androgen-regulated protein 3B, Protein S100-A8, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Heat shock 70 kDa protein 2 and 6, Putative Heat shock 70 kDa protein 7, Heat shock 71 kDa protein, Haptoglobin and Plastin-1 were significant in the combination of obesity and periodontitis. Obesity and periodontitis remarkably altered the proteome of the saliva during pregnancy with substantial alterations after delivery.

Transcriptional sequencing analysis reveals the potential use of deer antler for “tonifying the kidney and strengthening bone”

Background

It is recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia that deer antlers can be used to tonify the kidney and strengthen bone. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that deer antler has protective effects on the kidney and bone, its molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism underlying its effects on the bone and kidney.

Methods

Water extract of pilose antler was prepared and then filtered through a 0.45 μm Hollow Fiber Cartridge (GE Healthcare, USA). The filtrate was freeze-dried by a Heto PowerDry LL3000 Freeze Dryer (Thermo, USA) and stored at − 80 °C. Rats were treated with deer antler extract (DAE) prepared in advance, and gene regulatory network in the kidney and bone was detected by RNA-Seq technique. Micro-CT was used to detect bone trabecular formation, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV).

Results

The results demonstrate that DAE could jointly heighten renal function by maintaining renal homeostasis, combating renal fibrosis, and reducing renal inflammation by regulating ion transport. Furthermore, DAE can strengthen the bone system by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and regulating bone regeneration and the bone marrow microenvironment. Micro-CT results confirmed that DAE can promote bone trabecular formation and increase BMD and BV/TV. We also identified many genes that can regulate both the kidney and bone simultaneously, which explained the theory of “kidney governing bone” at the molecular level and provided possible strategies for further application of this theory to treat diseases.

Conclusions

DAE enhances renal function, maintains renal homeostasis, positively regulates skeletal system development, and increases bone mineral density. The underlying mechanism involves improving the expression levels of functional genes involved in renal function and regulation and repair, as well as genes that positively regulate skeletal system development.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-03308-w.

Self-activating anti-infection implant

Clinically, it is difficult to endow implants with excellent osteogenic ability and antibacterial activity simultaneously. Herein, the self-activating implants modified with hydroxyapatite (HA)/MoS₂ coating are designed to prevent Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections and accelerate bone regeneration simultaneously. The electron transfer between bacteria and HA/MoS₂ is triggered when bacteria contacted with the material. RNA sequencing data reveals that the expression level of anaerobic respiration-related genes is up-regulated and the expression level of aerobic respiration-related genes is down-regulated when bacteria adhere to the implants. HA/MoS₂ presents a highly effective antibacterial efficacy against both S. aureus and E. coli because of bacterial respiration-activated metabolic pathway changes. Meanwhile, this coating promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by altering the potentials of cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane. The proposed strategy exhibits great potential to endow implants with self-activating anti-infection performance and osteogenic ability simultaneously.

Prediction of a Competing Endogenous RNA Co-expression Network by Comprehensive Methods in Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of multi-organs, and SSc-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. To explore molecular biological mechanisms of SSc-ILD, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for prediction. Expression profiling data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differential expressed mRNAs and miRNAs analysis was further conducted between normal lung tissue and SSc lung tissue. Also, the interactions of miRNA–lncRNA, miRNA–mRNA, and lncRNA–mRNA were predicted by online databases including starBase, LncBase, miRTarBase, and LncACTdb. The ceRNA network containing 11 lncRNAs, 7 miRNAs, and 20 mRNAs were constructed. Based on hub genes and miRNAs identified by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) method, three core sub-networks—SNHG16, LIN01128, RP11-834C11.4(LINC02381)/hsa-let-7f-5p/IL6, LINC01128/has-miR-21-5p/PTX3, and LINC00665/hsa-miR-155-5p/PLS1—were obtained. Combined with previous studies and enrichment analyses, the lncRNA-mediated network affected LPS-induced inflammatory and immune processes, fibrosis development, and tumor microenvironment variations. The ceRNA network, especially three core sub-networks, may be served as early biomarkers and potential targets for SSc, which also provides further insights into the occurrence, progression, and accurate treatment of SSc at the molecular level.