Kinase AKT controls innate immune cell development and function

Drug repositioning for rosacea disease: Biological TARGET identification, molecular docking, pharmacophore mapping, and molecular dynamics analysis

Rosacea is a chronic dermatological condition that currently lacks a clear treatment approach due to an uncomprehensive knowledge of its pathogenesis. The main obstacle lies in understanding its etiology and the mode of action of the different drugs used. This study aims to clarify these aspects by employing drug repositioning. Using an in silico approach, we performed a transcriptomic analysis comparing samples from individuals with diverse types of rosacea to those from healthy controls to identify genes deregulated in this disease. Subsequently, we realized molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies to assess the binding affinity of drugs currently used to treat rosacea and drugs that target proteins interacting with, and thus affecting, proteins deregulated in rosacea. Our findings revealed that the downregulation of SKAP2 and upregulation of S100A7A in rosacea, could be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, considering the drugs currently used for rosacea management, we demonstrated stable interactions between isotretinoin and BFH772 with SKAP2, and permethrin and PAC-14028 with S100A7A. Similarly, considering drugs targeting SKAP2 and S100A7A interactome proteins, we found that pitavastatin and dasatinib exert stable interactions with SKAP2, and lovastatin and tirbanibulin with S100A7A. In addition, we determine that the types of bonds involved in the interactions were different in SKAP2 from S100A7A. The drug-SKAP2 interactions are hydrogen bonds, whereas the drug-S100A7A interactions are of the hydrophobic type. In conclusion, our study provides evidence for the possible contribution of SKAP2 and S100A7A to rosacea pathology. Furthermore, it provides significant information on the molecular interactions between drugs and these proteins, highlighting the importance of considering structural features and binding interactions in the design of targeted therapies for skin disorders such as rosacea.

Computational prediction of crucial genes involved in gonorrhea infection and neoplastic cell transformation: A multiomics approach

Neisseria gonorrheae, the causative agent of genitourinary infections, has been associated with asymptomatic or recurrent infections and has the potential to form biofilms and induce inflammation and cell transformation. Herein, we aimed to use computational analysis to predict novel associations between chronic inflammation caused by gonorrhea infection and neoplastic transformation. Prioritization and gene enrichment strategies based on virulence and resistance genes utilizing essential genes from the DEG and PANTHER databases, respectively, were performed. Using the STRING database, protein‒protein interaction networks were constructed with 55 nodes of bacterial proteins and 72 nodes of proteins involved in the host immune response. MCODE and cytoHubba were used to identify 12 bacterial hub proteins (murA, murB, murC, murD, murE, purN, purL, thyA, uvrB, kdsB, lpxC, and ftsH) and 19 human hub proteins, of which TNF, STAT3 and AKT1 had high significance. The PPI networks are based on the connectivity degree (K), betweenness centrality (BC), and closeness centrality (CC) values. Hub genes are vital for cell survival and growth, and their significance as potential drug targets is discussed. This computational study provides a comprehensive understanding of inflammation and carcinogenesis pathways that are activated during gonorrhea infection.

A spatial proteomic study of platinum refractory HGSOC implicates dual AKT and WNT activity linked to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

Advanced-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains a deadly gynecologic malignancy with high rates of disease recurrence and limited, effective therapeutic options for patients. There is a significant need to better stratify HGSOC patients into platinum refractory (PRF) vs. sensitive (PS) cohorts at baseline to improve therapeutic responses and survival outcomes for PRF HGSOC.

METHODS

We performed NanoString for GeoMx Digital Spatial Profile (G-DSP) multiplex protein analysis on PRF and PS tissue microarrays (TMAs) to study the bidirectional communication of cancer cells with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HGSOC. We demonstrate robust stratification of PRF and PS tumors at baseline using multiplex spatial proteomic biomarkers with implications for tailoring subsequent therapy.

RESULTS

PS patients had elevated apoptotic and anti-tumor immune profiles, while PRF patients had dual AKT1 and WNT signaling with immunosuppressive profiles. We found that dual activity of AKT1 and WNT signaling supported the exclusion of immune cells, specifically tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), from the TME in PRF tumors, and this was not observed in PS tumors. The exclusion of immune cells from the TME of PRF tumors corresponded to abnormal endothelial cell structure in tumors with dual AKT1 and WNT signaling activity.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe our findings provide improved understanding of tumor-immune crosstalk in HGSOC TME highlighting the importance of the relationship between AKT and WNT pathways, immune cell function, and platinum response in HGSOC.

FM19G11-loaded nanoparticles modulate energetic status and production of reactive oxygen species in myoblasts from ALS mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Considerable evidence indicates that early skeletal muscle atrophy plays a crucial role in the disease pathogenesis, leading to an altered muscle-motor neuron crosstalk that, in turn, may contribute to motor neuron degeneration. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ALS, highlighting the need to dig deeper into the pathological mechanisms for developing innovative therapeutic strategies. FM19G11 is a novel drug able to modulate the global cellular metabolism, but its effects on ALS skeletal muscle atrophy and mitochondrial metabolism have never been evaluated, yet. This study investigated whether FM19G11-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) may affect the bioenergetic status in myoblasts isolated from G93A-SOD1 mice at different disease stages. We found that FM19G1-loaded NP treatment was able to increase transcriptional levels of Akt1, Akt3, Mef2a, Mef2c and Ucp2, which are key genes associated with cell proliferation (Akt1, Akt3), muscle differentiation (Mef2c), and mitochondrial activity (Ucp2), in G93A-SOD1 myoblasts. These cells also showed a significant reduction of mitochondrial area and networks, in addition to decreased ROS production after treatment with FM19G11-loaded NPs, suggesting a ROS clearance upon the amelioration of mitochondrial dynamics. Our overall findings demonstrate a significant impact of FM19G11-loaded NPs on muscle cell function and bioenergetic status in G93A-SOD1 myoblasts, thus promising to open new avenues towards possible adoption of FM19G11-based nanotherapies to slow muscle degeneration in the frame of ALS and muscle disorders.

Phosphoinositide Signaling in Immune Cell Migration

In response to different immune challenges, immune cells migrate to specific sites in the body, where they perform their functions such as defense against infection, inflammation regulation, antigen recognition, and immune surveillance. Therefore, the migration ability is a fundamental aspect of immune cell function. Phosphoinositide signaling plays critical roles in modulating immune cell migration by controlling cell polarization, cytoskeletal rearrangement, protrusion formation, and uropod contraction. Upon chemoattractant stimulation, specific phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases control the local phosphoinositide levels to establish polarized phosphoinositide distribution, which recruits phosphoinositide effectors to distinct subcellular locations to facilitate cell migration. In this Special Issue of "Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Cell Adhesion and Migration", we discuss the significance of phosphoinositide production and conversion by phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases in the migration of different types of immune cells.

Clearance phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelial during photoreceptor outer segment renewal: Molecular mechanisms and relation to retinal inflammation

Mammalian photoreceptor outer segment renewal is a highly coordinated process that hinges on timed cell signaling between photoreceptor neurons and the adjacent retinal pigment epithelial (RPE). It is a strictly rhythmic, synchronized process that underlies in part circadian regulation. We highlight findings from recently developed methods that quantify distinct phases of outer segment renewal in retinal tissue. At light onset, outer segments expose the conserved "eat-me" signal phosphatidylserine exclusively at their distal, most aged tip. A coordinated two-receptor efferocytosis process follows, in which ligands bridge outer segment phosphatidylserine with the RPE receptors αvβ5 integrin, inducing cytosolic signaling toward Rac1 and focal adhesion kinase/MERTK, and with MERTK directly, additionally inhibiting RhoA/ROCK and thus enabling F-actin dynamics favoring outer segment fragment engulfment. Photoreceptors and RPE persist for life with each RPE cell in the eye servicing dozens of overlying photoreceptors. Thus, RPE cells phagocytose more often and process more material than any other cell type. Mutant mice with impaired outer segment renewal largely retain functional photoreceptors and retinal integrity. However, when anti-inflammatory signaling in the RPE via MERTK or the related TYRO3 is lacking, catastrophic inflammation leads to immune cell infiltration that swiftly destroys the retina causing blindness.

Acrolein produced by glioma cells under hypoxia inhibits neutrophil AKT activity and suppresses anti-tumoral activities

Acrolein, which is the most reactive aldehyde, is a byproduct of lipid peroxidation in a hypoxic environment. Acrolein has been shown to form acrolein-cysteine bonds, resulting in functional changes in proteins and immune effector cell suppression. Neutrophils are the most abundant immune effector cells in circulation in humans. In the tumor microenvironment, proinflammatory tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), which are termed N1 neutrophils, exert antitumor effects via the secretion of cytokines, while anti-inflammatory neutrophils (N2 neutrophils) support tumor growth. Glioma is characterized by significant tissue hypoxia, immune cell infiltration, and a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment. In glioma, neutrophils exert antitumor effects early in tumor development but gradually shift to a tumor-supporting role as the tumor develops. However, the mechanism of this anti-to protumoral switch in TANs remains unclear. In this study, we found that the production of acrolein in glioma cells under hypoxic conditions inhibited neutrophil activation and induced an anti-inflammatory phenotype by directly reacting with Cys310 of AKT and inhibiting AKT activity. A higher percentage of cells expressing acrolein adducts in tumor tissue are associated with poorer prognosis in glioblastoma patients. Furthermore, high-grade glioma patients have increased serum acrolein levels and impaired neutrophil functions. These results suggest that acrolein suppresses neutrophil function and contributes to the switch in the neutrophil phenotype in glioma.

Enzyme-derived deer velvet extract activate the immune response in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice

Deer velvet (DV) is an oriental traditional medicine used to treat various diseases. The present study examined the effect of flavourzyme-derived DV extract (YC-1101) on macrophages and an immunosuppressed mouse model. YC-1101 induced activation of macrophages as measured by nitric oxide production, cell proliferation, and cytokine release via concentration-dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and AKT, and nuclear translocation of p65 in macrophages. In addition, oral YC-1101 administration significantly increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity in the immunosuppressed mouse model. Moreover, the levels of immune-related cytokines such as tumor necrotic factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-2 were significantly increased by YC-1101 treatment comparable to the control group. Thus, these results suggest that YC-1101 is an efficient natural ingredient that has an immune-enhancing effect, and it might be a potential functional food for improving immunity.

PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling transduction pathway and targeted therapies in cancer

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) signaling pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction network in eukaryotic cells that promotes cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Growth factor signalling to transcription factors in the PAM axis is highly regulated by multiple cross-interactions with several other signaling pathways, and dysregulation of signal transduction can predispose to cancer development. The PAM axis is the most frequently activated signaling pathway in human cancer and is often implicated in resistance to anticancer therapies. Dysfunction of components of this pathway such as hyperactivity of PI3K, loss of function of PTEN, and gain-of-function of AKT, are notorious drivers of treatment resistance and disease progression in cancer. In this review we highlight the major dysregulations in the PAM signaling pathway in cancer, and discuss the results of PI3K, AKT and mTOR inhibitors as monotherapy and in co-administation with other antineoplastic agents in clinical trials as a strategy for overcoming treatment resistance. Finally, the major mechanisms of resistance to PAM signaling targeted therapies, including PAM signaling in immunology and immunotherapies are also discussed.

Cigarette smoking exposure disrupts the regenerative potential of dental pulp stem cells

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is known to alter the regenerative and immunomodulatory properties of many types of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study investigates the impact of cigarette smoke exposure on the regenerative potential of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

METHODS

DPSCs were treated with various doses of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) or nicotine. Cell proliferation and survival were evaluated by a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) and a survival assay. DPSC migration, cytokine expression, mutagenesis, and the signaling pathway were also measured during CSC and nicotine treatment.

RESULTS

Low concentrations of CSC and nicotine did not impair cell proliferation, but higher concentrations reduced cell proliferation. CSC and nicotine could impede DPSC survival and migration in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the cytokine secretion expression profile was altered with CSC or nicotine treatments. In particular, secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 significantly increased, while TGF-β1 levels showed different patterns after exposure to CSC or nicotine, as shown by ELISA and quantitative PCR. Nicotine treatment increased AKT (also known as protein kinase B) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Finally, CSC induced higher levels of mutagenicity than nicotine, as shown by the Ames test.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that cigarette smoke exposure alters the regenerative abilities of DPSCs in various ways. Future studies are warranted to further characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms of smoking-mediated damage to DPSCs, which will guide the personalized stem cell treatment plan for smoking patients.

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis identifies potential therapeutic targets of Naringenin against COVID-19/LUSC

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that has posed a serious threat to people's daily lives and caused an unprecedented challenge to public health and people's health worldwide. Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a common type of lung malignancy with a highly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Patients with LUSC could be at risk for COVID-19, We conducted this study to examine the potential for naringenin to develop into an ideal medicine and investigate the underlying action mechanisms of naringenin in COVID-19 and LUSC due to the anti-viral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities of naringenin.

Methods

LUSC related genes were obtained from TCGA, PharmGKB, TTD,GeneCards and NCBI, and then the transcriptome data for COVID-19 was downloaded from GEO, DisGeNET, CTD, DrugBank, PubChem, TTD, NCBI Gene, OMIM. The drug targets of Naringenin were revealed through CTD, BATMAN, TCMIP, SymMap, Chemical Association Networks, SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper, ECTM, and DGIdb. The genes related to susceptibility to COVID-19 in LUSC patients were obtained through differential analysis. The interaction of COVID-19/LUSC related genes was evaluated and demonstrated using STRING to develop a a COX risk regression model to screen and evaluate the association of genes with clinical characteristics. To investigate the related functional and pathway analysis of the common targets of COVID-19/LUSC and Naringenin, KEGG and GO enrichment analysis were employed to perform the functional analysis of the target genes. Finally, The Hub Gene was screened and visualized using Cytoscape, and molecular docking between the drug and the target was performed using Autodock.

Results

We discovered numerous COVID-19/LUSC target genes and examined their prognostic value in LUSC patients utilizing a variety of bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. Furthermore, a risk score model with strong predictive performance was developed based on these target genes to assess the prognosis of LUSC patients with COVID-19. We intersected the therapeutic target genes of naringenin with the LUSC, COVID-19-related targets, and identified 354 common targets, which could be used as potential target genes for naringenin to treat COVID-19/LUSC. The treatment of COVID-19/LUSC with naringenin may involve oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiviral, apoptosis, immunological, and multiple pathways containing PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and VEGF, according to the results of the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of these 354 common targets. By constructing a PPI network, we ascertained AKT1, TP53, SRC, MAPK1, MAPK3, and HSP90AA1 as possible hub targets of naringenin for the treatment of COVID-19/LUSC. Last but not least, molecular docking investigations showed that naringenin has strong binding activity in COVID-19/LUSC.

Conclusion

We revealed for the first time the pharmacological targets and potential molecular processes of naringenin for the treatment of COVID-19/LUSC. However, these results need to be confirmed by additional research and validation in real LUSC patients with COVID-19.

Insight from sirtuins interactome: topological prominence and multifaceted roles of SIRT1 in modulating immunity, aging and cancer

The mammalian sirtuin family, consisting of SIRT1-SIRT7, plays a vital role in various biological processes, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, cellular metabolism, and cellular homeostasis maintenance. Due to their involvement in these biological processes, modulating sirtuin activity seems promising to impact immune- and aging-related diseases, as well as cancer pathways. However, more understanding is required regarding the safety and efficacy of sirtuin-targeted therapies due to the complex regulatory mechanisms that govern their activity, particularly in the context of multiple targets. In this study, the interaction landscape of the sirtuin family was analyzed using a systems biology approach. A sirtuin protein-protein interaction network was built using the Cytoscape platform and analyzed using the NetworkAnalyzer and stringApp plugins. The result revealed the sirtuin family's association with numerous proteins that play diverse roles, suggesting a complex interplay between sirtuins and other proteins. Based on network topological and functional analysis, SIRT1 was identified as the most prominent among sirtuin family members, demonstrating that 25 of its protein partners are involved in cancer, 22 in innate immune response, and 29 in aging, with some being linked to a combination of two or more pathways. This study lays the foundation for the development of novel therapies that can target sirtuins with precision and efficacy. By illustrating the various interactions among the proteins in the sirtuin family, we have revealed the multifaceted roles of SIRT1 and provided a framework for their possible roles to be precisely understood, manipulated, and translated into therapeutics in the future.

Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites as Potential Biomarkers in Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a pressing medical and socioeconomic issue worldwide. It is debilitating for individual patients and places a major burden on society in the forms of direct medical costs and lost work productivity. Various biochemical pathways have been explored to explain the pathophysiology of chronic pain in order to identify biomarkers that can potentially serve as both evaluators of and guides for therapeutic effectiveness. The kynurenine pathway has recently been a source of interest due to its suspected role in the development and sustainment of chronic pain conditions. The kynurenine pathway is the primary pathway responsible for the metabolization of tryptophan and generates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), in addition to the metabolites kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KA), and quinolinic acid (QA). Dysregulation of this pathway and changes in the ratios of these metabolites have been associated with numerous neurotoxic and inflammatory states, many of which present simultaneously with chronic pain symptoms. While further studies utilizing biomarkers to elucidate the kynurenine pathway's role in chronic pain are needed, the metabolites and receptors involved in its processes nevertheless present researchers with promising sources of novel and personalized disease-modifying treatments.

Deciphering suppressive effects of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule on COVID-19 and synergistic effects of its major botanical drug pairs

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in excess deaths worldwide. Conventional antiviral medicines have been used to relieve the symptoms, with limited therapeutic effect. In contrast, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is reported to exert remarkable anti-COVID-19 effect. The current review aims to: 1) uncover the main pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19; 2) verify the bioactive ingredients and pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule by network analysis; 3) investigate the compatibility effect of major botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule; and 4) clarify the clinical evidence and safety of the combined therapy of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs. Numerous bioactive ingredients in Lianhu Qingwen, such as quercetin, naringenin, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and stigmasterol, were identified to target host cytokines, and to regulate the immune defence in response to COVID-19. Genes including androgen receptor (AR), myeloperoxidase (MPO), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin (INS), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) were found to be significantly involved in the pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule against COVID-19. Four botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule were shown to have synergistic effect for the treatment of COVID-19. Clinical studies demonstrated the medicinal effect of the combined use of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs against COVID-19. In conclusion, the four main pharmacological mechanisms of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19 are revealed. Therapeutic effect has been noted against COVID-19 in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule.

The mechanism study of Miao medicine Tongfengting decoction in the treatment of gout based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

AIM

This study sought to clarify the mechanism of action of Miao medicine Tongfengting decoction in the treatment of gout through network pharmacology and molecular docking by searching for its key targets and related pathways.

METHODS

The active ingredients of Miao medicine Tongfengting Decoction were obtained from the TCMSP data platform, searched the relevant databases for gout-related targets,using String and Cytoscape 3.9 to build a "compound-cross-target-disease" network diagram,performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis in the DAVID database, and performed the docking analysis using PyMoL 2.3.0 and AutoDock.

RESULTS

After screening, 298 main targets of the Miao medicine Tongfengting decoction for gout were identified. The target network is established, and the topology of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network is analyzed. The enrichment analysis of KEGG pathway showed that these targets were related to Pathways in cancer, PI3K Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and other pathways. Molecular docking showed that the target protein had good binding power with the main active components of the compound of Miao medicine Tongfengting Decoction.

CONCLUSION

Miao medicine Tongfengting decoction probably regulates immune mechanism using a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway strategy to reduce inflammatory response and exert its therapeutic effect on gout.

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis on the Potential Biological Mechanisms of Yinzhihuang Oral Liquid in Treating Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Objective

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is caused by the excessive production of bilirubin and decreased excretion ability in the neonatal period. It leads to a concentration of blood bilirubin that exceeds a certain threshold. Yinzhihuang oral liquid (YZH) is a traditional Chinese medicine mixture used in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in China. This article systematically explores the pharmacological mechanisms by which YZH acts in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia through network pharmacology at the molecular level.

Methods

We adopted the method of network pharmacology, which includes active component prescreening, target gene prediction, gene enrichment analysis, and network analysis.

Results

According to the network pharmacological analysis, 8 genes (STAT3, AKT1, MAPK14, JUN, TP53, MAPK3, ESR1, and RELA) may be targets of YZH in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that YZH may regulate antioxidation, modulate lipid metabolism, and have anti-infective properties.

Conclusion

In this study, the pharmacological action and molecular mechanisms of YZH were predicted as a whole. It was found that YZH is a promising drug for treating oxidative stress due to bilirubin, as it reduces immunosuppression and helps to eliminate virus infection.

Akt isoforms in the immune system

Akt is a PI3K-activated serine-threonine kinase that exists in three distinct isoforms. Akt's expression in most immune cells, either at baseline or upon activation, reflects its importance in the immune system. While Akt is most highly expressed in innate immune cells, it plays crucial roles in both innate and adaptive immune cell development and/or effector functions. In this review, we explore what's known about the role of Akt in innate and adaptive immune cells. Wherever possible, we discuss the overlapping and distinct role of the three Akt isoforms, namely Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, in immune cells.

Regulation of signaling pathways in hair follicle stem cells

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) reside in the bulge region of the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. They are considered slow-cycling cells that are endowed with multilineage differentiation potential and superior proliferative capacity. The normal morphology and periodic growth of HFSCs play a significant role in normal skin functions, wound repair and skin regeneration. The HFSCs involved in these pathophysiological processes are regulated by a series of cell signal transduction pathways, such as lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor, Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein, Notch and Hedgehog. The mechanisms of the interactions among these signaling pathways and their regulatory effects on HFSCs have been previously studied, but many mechanisms are still unclear. This article reviews the regulation of hair follicles, HFSCs and related signaling pathways, with the aims of summarizing previous research results, revealing the regulatory mechanisms of HFSC proliferation and differentiation and providing important references and new ideas for treating clinical diseases.

Bracovirus Sneaks Into Apoptotic Bodies Transmitting Immunosuppressive Signaling Driven by Integration-Mediated eIF5A Hypusination

A typical characteristics of polydnavirus (PDV) infection is a persistent immunosuppression, governed by the viral integration and expression of virulence genes. Recently, activation of caspase-3 by Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus (MbBV) to cleave Innexins, gap junction proteins, has been highlighted, further promoting apoptotic cell disassembly and apoptotic body (AB) formation. However, whether ABs play a role in immune suppression remains to be determined. Herein, we show that ABs transmitted immunosuppressive signaling, causing recipient cells to undergo apoptosis and dismigration. Furthermore, the insertion of viral–host integrated motif sites damaged the host genome, stimulating eIF5A nucleocytoplasmic transport and activating the eIF5A-hypusination translation pathway. This pathway specifically translates apoptosis-related host proteins, such as P53, CypA, CypD, and CypJ, to drive cellular apoptosis owing to broken dsDNA. Furthermore, translated viral proteins, such Vank86, 92, and 101, known to complex with transcription factor Dip3, positively regulated DHYS and DOHH transcription maintaining the activation of the eIF5A-hypusination. Mechanistically, MbBV-mediated extracellular vesicles contained inserted viral fragments that re-integrated into recipients, potentially via the homologous recombinant repair system. Meanwhile, this stimulation regulated activated caspase-3 levels via PI3K/AKT 308 and 473 dephosphorylation to promote apoptosis of granulocyte-like recipients Sf9 cell; maintaining PI3K/AKT 473 phosphorylation and 308 dephosphorylation inhibited caspase-3 activation leading to dismigration of plasmatocyte-like recipient High Five cells. Together, our results suggest that integration-mediated eIF5A hypusination drives extracellular vesicles for continuous immunosuppression.

AKT2 reduces IFNβ1 production to modulate antiviral responses and systemic lupus erythematosus

Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)-induced type I interferon (I-IFN) production plays key roles in both antiviral and autoimmune responses. IRF3 phosphorylation, dimerization, and nuclear localization are needed for its activation and function, but the precise regulatory mechanisms remain to be explored. Here, we show that the serine/threonine kinase AKT2 interacts with IRF3 and phosphorylates it on Thr207, thereby attenuating IRF3 nuclear translocation in a 14-3-3ε-dependent manner and reducing I-IFN production. We further find that AKT2 expression is downregulated in viral-infected macrophages or in monocytes and tissue samples from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and mouse models. Akt2-deficient mice exhibit increased I-IFN induction and reduced mortality in response to viral infection, but aggravated severity of SLE. Overexpression of AKT2 kinase-inactive or IRF3-T207A mutants in zebrafish supports that AKT2 negatively regulates I-IFN production and antiviral response in a kinase-dependent manner. This negative role of AKT2 in IRF3-induced I-IFN production suggests that AKT2 may be therapeutically targeted to differentially regulate antiviral infection and SLE.

A Practical Strategy for Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Luteolin Against COVID-19/Asthma Comorbidity: Findings of System Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis

Asthma patients may increase their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the poor prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, anti-COVID-19/asthma comorbidity approaches are restricted on condition. Existing evidence indicates that luteolin has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulation capabilities. We aimed to evaluate the possibility of luteolin evolving into an ideal drug and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of luteolin against COVID-19/asthma comorbidity. We used system pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis to assess the physicochemical properties and biological activities of luteolin and further analyze the binding activities, targets, biological functions, and mechanisms of luteolin against COVID-19/asthma comorbidity. We found that luteolin may exert ideal physicochemical properties and bioactivity, and molecular docking analysis confirmed that luteolin performed effective binding activities in COVID-19/asthma comorbidity. Furthermore, a protein–protein interaction network of 538 common targets between drug and disease was constructed and 264 hub targets were obtained. Then, the top 6 hub targets of luteolin against COVID-19/asthma comorbidity were identified, namely, TP53, AKT1, ALB, IL-6, TNF, and VEGFA. Furthermore, the enrichment analysis suggested that luteolin may exert effects on virus defense, regulation of inflammation, cell growth and cell replication, and immune responses, reducing oxidative stress and regulating blood circulation through the Toll-like receptor; MAPK, TNF, AGE/RAGE, EGFR, ErbB, HIF-1, and PI3K–AKT signaling pathways; PD-L1 expression; and PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer. The possible “dangerous liaison” between COVID-19 and asthma is still a potential threat to world health. This research is the first to explore whether luteolin could evolve into a drug candidate for COVID-19/asthma comorbidity. This study indicated that luteolin with superior drug likeness and bioactivity has great potential to be used for treating COVID-19/asthma comorbidity, but the predicted results still need to be rigorously verified by experiments.

Ouabain inhibits p38 activation in mice neutrophils

Ouabain is a cardiac steroid hormone with immunomodulatory effects. It inhibits neutrophils migration induced by different stimuli, but little is known about the mechanisms involved in this effect. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ouabain effect on chemotactic signaling pathways in neutrophils. For that, mice neutrophils were isolated from bone marrow, treated with ouabain (1, 10, and 100 nM) for 2 h, submitted to transwell chemotaxis assay and flow cytometry analysis of Akt, ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation induced by zymosan. Ouabain treatment (1, 10 and, 100 nM) reduces neutrophil chemotaxis induced by chemotactic peptide fMLP, but this substance did not inhibit Akt, ERK, and JNK activation induced by zymosan. However, ouabain (1 and 10 nM) reduced p38 phosphorylation in zymosan-stimulated neutrophils. These results suggest that ouabain may interfere in neutrophil migration through p38 MAPK inhibition.

Myosin 1f-mediated activation of microglia contributes to the photoreceptor degeneration in a mouse model of retinal detachment

Photoreceptor death and neurodegeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss. The inflammatory response of microglia plays an important role in the process of neurodegeneration. In this study, we chose retinal detachment as the model of photoreceptor degeneration. We found Myosin 1f was upregulated after retinal detachment, and it was specifically expressed in microglia. Deficiency of myosin 1f protected against photoreceptor apoptosis by inhibiting microglia activation. The elimination of microglia can abolish the protective effect of myosin 1f deficiency. After stimulation by LPS, microglia with myosin 1f deficiency showed downregulation of the MAPK and AKT pathways. Our results demonstrated that myosin 1f plays a crucial role in microglia-induced neuroinflammation after retinal injury and photoreceptor degeneration by regulating two classic inflammatory pathways and thereby decreasing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Knockout of myosin 1f reduces the intensity of the immune response and prevents cell death of photoreceptor, suggesting that myosin 1f can be inhibited to prevent a decline in visual acuity after retinal detachment.

Downregulation of HDAC8 expression decreases CD163 levels and promotes the apoptosis of macrophages by activating the ERK signaling pathway in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

Recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM) is a systemic disorder that has been defined as two or more pregnancies lost before the 20th week of gestation. Although the impaired function of macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface has been reported to be associated with RSM, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we revealed that HDAC8 plays a critical role in RSM. Our results show that the mRNA and protein expression of HDAC8 was decreased in decidual macrophages from RSM patients. Moreover, the knockdown of HDAC8 resulted in a significant decrease in CD163 expression and an increase in apoptosis in dTHP-1 macrophages. Mechanistically, the ERK signaling pathway was activated in HDAC8-knockdown macrophages. When HDAC8-knockdown cells were pretreated with the ERK inhibitor U0126, expression levels of CD163, activated caspases 3, 7 and 9, and the apoptosis rate, were rescued. Taken together, our current results suggest that HDAC8 plays an important role in macrophage activation and apoptosis and may contribute to maintaining normal pregnancy by increasing the expression of M2 marker genes and inhibiting the apoptosis of macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface.

Medicinal Plant Leaf Extract From Sage and Lemon Verbena Promotes Intestinal Immunity and Barrier Function in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

The inclusion of a medicinal plant leaf extract (MPLE) from sage (Salvia officinalis) and lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora), rich in verbascoside and triterpenic compounds like ursolic acid, was evaluated in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed a low fishmeal-based diet (48% crude protein, 17% crude fat, 21.7 MJ kg-1, 7% fishmeal, 15% fish oil) for 92 days. In particular, the study focused on the effect of these phytogenic compounds on the gut condition by analyzing the transcriptomic profiling (microarray analysis) and histological structure of the intestinal mucosa, as well as the histochemical properties of mucins stored in goblet cells. A total number of 506 differentially expressed genes (285 up- and 221 down-regulated) were found when comparing the transcriptomic profiling of the intestine from fish fed the control and MPLE diets. The gut transcripteractome revealed an expression profile that favored biological mechanisms associated to the 1) immune system, particularly involving T cell activation and differentiation, 2) gut integrity (i.e., adherens and tight junctions) and cellular proliferation, and 3) cellular proteolytic pathways. The histological analysis showed that the MPLE dietary supplementation promoted an increase in the number of intestinal goblet cells and modified the composition of mucins' glycoproteins stored in goblet cells, with an increase in the staining intensity of neutral mucins, as well as in mucins rich in carboxylated and weakly sulfated glycoconjugates, particularly those rich in sialic acid residues. The integration of transcriptomic and histological results showed that the evaluated MPLE from sage and lemon verbena is responsible for the maintenance of intestinal health, supporting gut homeostasis and increasing the integrity of the intestinal epithelium, which suggests that this phytogenic may be considered as a promising sustainable functional additive for aquafeeds.

Chronic restraint stress promotes the mobilization and recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells through β-adrenergic-activated CXCL5-CXCR2-Erk signaling cascades

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in tumor immune escape. Recent studies have shown that MDSCs contribute to tumor progression under psychological stress, but the underlying mechanism of MDSCs mobilization and recruitment remains largely unknown. In the present study, a chronic restraint stress paradigm was applied to the H22 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) bearing mice to mimic the psychological stress. We observed that chronic restraint stress significantly promoted HCC growth, as well as the mobilization of MDSCs to spleen and tumor sites from bone marrow. Meanwhile, chronic restraint stress enhanced the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and pErk1/2 in bone marrow MDSCs, together with elevated chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 5 (CXCL5) expression in tumor tissues. In vitro, the treatments of MDSCs with epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) but not corticosterone (CORT)-treated H22 conditioned medium obviously inhibited T-cell proliferation, as well as enhanced CXCR2 expression and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) phosphorylation. In vivo, β-adrenergic blockade with propranolol almost completely reversed the accelerated tumor growth induced by chronic restraint stress and inactivated CXCL5-CXCR2-Erk signaling pathway. Our findings support the crucial role of β-adrenergic signaling cascade in the mobilization and recruitment of MDSCs under chronic restraint stress.

Is nuclear sirtuin SIRT6 a master regulator of immune function?

The ability to ward off pathogens with minimal damage to the host determines the immune system's robustness. Multiple factors, including pathogen processing, identification, secretion of mediator and effector molecules, and immune cell proliferation and differentiation into various subsets, constitute the success of mounting an effective immune response. Cellular metabolism controls all of these intricate processes. Cells utilize diverse fuel sources and switch back and forth between different metabolic pathways depending on their energy needs. The three most critical metabolic pathways on which immune cells depend to meet their energy needs are oxidative metabolism, glycolysis, and glutaminolysis. Dynamic switching between these metabolic pathways is needed for optimal function of the immune cells. Moreover, switching between these metabolic pathways needs to be tightly regulated to achieve the best results. Immune cells depend on the Warburg effect for their growth, proliferation, secretory, and effector functions. Here, we hypothesize that the sirtuin, SIRT6, could be a negative regulator of the Warburg effect. We also postulate that SIRT6 could act as a master regulator of immune cell metabolism and function by regulating critical signaling pathways.

Melatonin: Multi-Target Mechanism Against Diminished Ovarian Reserve Based on Network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) significantly increases the risk of female infertility and contributes to reproductive technology failure. Recently, the role of melatonin in improving ovarian reserve (OR) has attracted widespread attention. However, details on the pharmacological targets and mechanisms of melatonin-improved OR remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

A systems pharmacology strategy was proposed to elucidate the potential therapeutic mechanism of melatonin on DOR at the molecular, pathway, and network levels.

METHODS

The systems pharmacological approach consisted of target identification, data integration, network construction, bioinformatics analysis, and molecular docking.

RESULTS

From the molecular perspective, 26 potential therapeutic targets were identified. They participate in biological processes related to DOR development, such as reproductive structure development, epithelial cell proliferation, extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway, PI3K signaling, among others. Eight hub targets (MAPK1, AKT1, EGFR, HRAS, SRC, ESR1, AR, and ALB) were identified. From the pathway level, 17 significant pathways, including the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the estrogen signaling pathway, were identified. In addition, the 17 signaling pathways interacted with the 26 potential therapeutic targets to form 4 functional modules. From the network point of view, by regulating five target subnetworks (aging, cell growth and death, development and regeneration, endocrine and immune systems), melatonin could exhibit anti-aging, anti-apoptosis, endocrine, and immune system regulation effects. The molecular docking results showed that melatonin bound well to all hub targets.

CONCLUSION

This study systematically and intuitively illustrated the possible pharmacological mechanisms of OR improvement by melatonin through anti-aging, anti-apoptosis, endocrine, and immune system regulation effects.

Phagocytosis enhancement, endotoxin tolerance, and signal mechanisms of immunologically active glucuronoxylomannan from Auricularia auricula-judae

Glucuronoxylomannan (AAPS) from the edible wood ear mushroom Auricularia auricula-judae has been demonstrated to exhibit immunostimulatory properties through its binding to TLR4. However, the mechanisms of immune modulation by AAPS in mammalian cells remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that AAPS induced immunostimulatory effects were regulated by reactive oxygen species, mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinase C-α and NF-κB. AAPS remarkably increased the phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of macrophages. In lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages, AAPS induced endotoxin tolerance like effect characterized by the downregulation of nitric oxide, interleukin-6 and TNF-α via the downregulation of NF-κB activation. Our findings provide firm scientific evidences for the immunoenhancing properties of wood ear mushroom, and the potential of AAPS to be strong candidates for the development of new carbohydrate-based nutraceutical supplements in the management of immunity related disorders in the future.

Functional crosstalk between myeloid Foxo1-β-catenin axis and Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling in oxidative stress response

Foxo1 transcription factor is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of cell metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Activation of Hedgehog/Gli signaling is known to regulate cell growth, differentiation, and immune function. However, the molecular mechanisms by which interactive cell signaling networks restrain oxidative stress response and necroptosis are still poorly understood. Here, we report that myeloid-specific Foxo1 knockout (Foxo1^M-KO) mice were resistant to oxidative stress-induced hepatocellular damage with reduced macrophage/neutrophil infiltration, and proinflammatory mediators in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Foxo1^M-KO enhanced β-catenin-mediated Gli1/Snail activity, and reduced receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7)/NLRP3 expression in IR-stressed livers. Disruption of Gli1 in Foxo1^M-KO livers deteriorated liver function, diminished Snail, and augmented RIPK3 and NEK7/NLRP3. Mechanistically, macrophage Foxo1 and β-catenin colocalized in the nucleus, whereby the Foxo1 competed with T-cell factor (TCF) for interaction with β-catenin under inflammatory conditions. Disruption of the Foxo1–β-catenin axis by Foxo1 deletion enhanced β-catenin/TCF binding, activated Gli1/Snail signaling, leading to inhibited RIPK3 and NEK7/NLRP3. Furthermore, macrophage Gli1 or Snail knockout activated RIPK3 and increased hepatocyte necroptosis, while macrophage RIPK3 ablation diminished NEK7/NLRP3-driven inflammatory response. Our findings underscore a novel molecular mechanism of the myeloid Foxo1–β-catenin axis in regulating Hedgehog/Gli1 function that is key in oxidative stress-induced liver inflammation and necroptosis.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses on Lianhua Qingwen capsule indicate Akt1 is a potential target to treat and prevent COVID-19

Objectives

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is rapidly spreading worldwide. Lianhua Qingwen capsule (LQC) has shown therapeutic effects in patients with COVID‐19. This study is aimed to discover its molecular mechanism and provide potential drug targets.

Materials and Methods

An LQC target and COVID‐19–related gene set was established using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and seven disease‐gene databases. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network were performed to discover the potential mechanism. Molecular docking was performed to visualize the patterns of interactions between the effective molecule and targeted protein.

Results

A gene set of 65 genes was generated. We then constructed a compound‐target network that contained 234 nodes of active compounds and 916 edges of compound‐target pairs. The GO and KEGG indicated that LQC can act by regulating immune response, apoptosis and virus infection. PPI network and subnetworks identified nine hub genes. The molecular docking was conducted on the most significant gene Akt1, which is involved in lung injury, lung fibrogenesis and virus infection. Six active compounds of LQC can enter the active pocket of Akt1, namely beta‐carotene, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and wogonin, thereby exerting potential therapeutic effects in COVID‐19.

Conclusions

The network pharmacological strategy integrates molecular docking to unravel the molecular mechanism of LQC. Akt1 is a promising drug target to reduce tissue damage and help eliminate virus infection.

Targeting the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in airway innate immunity

The airway innate immune system maintains the first line of defense against respiratory infections. The airway epithelium and associated immune cells protect the respiratory system from inhaled foreign organisms. These cells sense pathogens via activation of receptors like toll-like receptors and taste family 2 receptors (T2Rs) and respond by producing antimicrobials, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. Coordinated regulation of fluid secretion and ciliary beating facilitates clearance of pathogens via mucociliary transport. Airway cells also secrete antimicrobial peptides and radicals to directly kill microorganisms and inactivate viruses. The phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (Akt) kinase pathway regulates multiple cellular targets that modulate cell survival and proliferation. Akt also regulates proteins involved in innate immune pathways. Akt phosphorylates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzymes expressed in airway epithelial cells. Activation of eNOS can have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral roles. Moreover, Akt can increase the activity of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor-2 that protects cells from oxidative stress and may limit inflammation. In this review, we summarize the recent findings of non-cancerous functions of Akt signaling in airway innate host defense mechanisms, including an overview of several known downstream targets of Akt involved in innate immunity.

Identification of novel molecular markers of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus using gene expression profiling in two consecutive generations of Chinese Holstein dairy cattle

Background

Mastitis in dairy cows caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a major problem hindering economic growth in dairy farms worldwide. It is difficult to prevent or eliminate due to its asymptomatic nature and long persistence of infection. Although transcriptomic responses of bovine mammary gland cells to pathogens that cause mastitis have been studied, the common responses of peripheral blood leukocytes to S. aureus infection across two consecutive generations of dairy cattle have not been investigated.

Methods

In the current study, RNA-Seq was used to profile the transcriptomes of peripheral blood leukocytes sampled from S. aureus-infected mothers and their S. aureus-infected daughters, and also healthy non-infected mothers and their healthy daughters. Differential gene expression was evaluated as follows: 1) S. aureus-infected cows versus healthy non-infected cows (S vs. H, which include all the mothers and daughters), 2) S. aureus-infected mothers versus healthy non-infected mothers (SM vs. HM), and 3) S. aureus-infected daughters versus healthy non-infected daughters (SMD vs. HMD).

Results

Analysis of all identified expressed genes in the four groups (SM, SMD, HM, and HMD) showed that EPOR, IL9, IFNL3, CCL26, IL26 were exclusively expressed in both the HM and HMD groups, and that they were significantly (P <  0.05) enriched for the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. A total of 17, 13 and 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR P_adj. < 0.1 and |FC| > 1.2) were detected in the three comparisons, respectively. DEGs with P <  0.05 and |FC| > 2 were used for functional enrichment analyses. For the S vs. H comparison, DEGs detected included CCL20, IL13 and MMP3, which are associated with the IL-17 signaling pathway. In the SM vs. HM and SMD vs. HMD comparisons, five (BLA-DQB, C1R, C2, FCGR1A, and KRT10) and six (BLA-DQB, C3AR1, CFI, FCAR, FCGR3A, and LOC10498484) genes, respectively, were involved in the S. aureus infection pathway.

Conclusions

Our study provides insights into the transcriptomic responses of bovine peripheral blood leukocytes across two generations of cattle naturally infected with S. aureus. The genes highlighted in this study could serve as expression biomarkers for mastitis and may also contain sequence variation that can be used for genetic improvement of dairy cattle for resilience to mastitis.

Risk stratification for bladder cancer: Biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation

OBJECTIVE

Recent development is reviewed in biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation in risk stratification of bladder cancer (BC).

METHODS

PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Science Direct databases were reviewed in November 2019 for relevant studies limited to those published in English from 2008 to 2019. Articles were included if they contained references to BC, urological cancers, inflammation, immune activation, disease risk, disease progression, genomics, proteomics, and biomarkers.

RESULTS

Inflammatory biomarkers show promise in prognostication in BC, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, selected cytokines and stress proteins. Most of the current evidence, however, stems from retrospective studies. None of these biomarkers are sufficient by themselves to be used for prognostication. Using a panel of different biomarkers, alongside clinical and pathological data, seems to improve risk stratification. More robust data is necessary, however, before these biomarkers will be suitable for use in routine practice.

CONCLUSION

Biomarkers of inflammation and immune system activation can assist in risk stratification of BC. Currently most of these biomarkers lack robust external validity. In the future these biomarkers likely will have an important role in augmenting the conventional clinical and pathological predictors of outcomes in BC.

Molecular mechanisms associated with macrophage activation by Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae polysaccharides

The present study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying macrophage activation by total polysaccharides from Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAMPtp). The results showed that RAMPtp significantly promoted productions of NO, ROS, cytokines and chemokines, enhanced pinocytic and phagocytic activity, and upregulated expressions of accessory and costimulatory molecules. RNA-seq analysis presented 2868 DEGs and 737 GO terms. PPI network analysis in combination with KEGG pathways as well as the western blot and functional verification assays indicated that NF-κB and STATs were the key regulators modulating the expressions of core gene TNF-α and IL-6 individually, and the transposition activation of NF-κB was identified as an early event in macrophage activation induced by RAMPtp. The involvements of MAPKs and PI3K-Akt pathways were also determined. These results indicated that immune response and immune function were regulated in RAMPtp-stimulated macrophages via a complex interaction network, in which NF-κB and Jak-STAT signaling pathways played a pivotal role.

Identification of Candidate Signature Genes and Key Regulators Associated With Trypanotolerance in the Sheko Breed

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused by a protozoan parasite that affects the health of livestock. Livestock production in Ethiopia is severely hampered by AAT and various controlling measures were not successful to eradicate the disease. AAT affects the indigenous breeds in varying degrees. However, the Sheko breed shows better trypanotolerance than other breeds. The tolerance attributes of Sheko are believed to be associated with its taurine genetic background but the genetic controls of these tolerance attributes of Sheko are not well understood. In order to investigate the level of taurine background in the genome, we compare the genome of Sheko with that of 11 other African breeds. We find that Sheko has an admixed genome composed of taurine and indicine ancestries. We apply three methods: (i) The integrated haplotype score (iHS), (ii) the standardized log ratio of integrated site specific extended haplotype homozygosity between populations (Rsb), and (iii) the composite likelihood ratio (CLR) method to discover selective sweeps in the Sheko genome. We identify 99 genomic regions harboring 364 signature genes in Sheko. Out of the signature genes, 15 genes are selected based on their biological importance described in the literature. We also identify 13 overrepresented pathways and 10 master regulators in Sheko using the TRANSPATH database in the geneXplain platform. Most of the pathways are related with oxidative stress responses indicating a possible selection response against the induction of oxidative stress following trypanosomiasis infection in Sheko. Furthermore, we present for the first time the importance of master regulators involved in trypanotolerance not only for the Sheko breed but also in the context of cattle genomics. Our finding shows that the master regulator Caspase is a key protease which plays a major role for the emergence of adaptive immunity in harmony with the other master regulators. These results suggest that designing and implementing genetic intervention strategies is necessary to improve the performance of susceptible animals. Moreover, the master regulatory analysis suggests potential candidate therapeutic targets for the development of new drugs for trypanosomiasis treatment.

Akt inhibitor deguelin aggravates inflammation and fibrosis in myocarditis

OBJECTIVES

Myocarditis is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration in myocardial stroma. Attenuation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β is a reliable mark for improving the prognosis. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays an important role in the development and progression of myocarditis. The specific role of the natural inhibitor of Akt, Deguelin, on myocarditis has not been reported. In this study, we used deguelin to investigate the effects of natural Akt inhibitor on myocarditis in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EAM rat models were made by using Lewis rats and Deguelin was injected intraperitoneally on day 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 after successful modeling. On day 18, rats were sacrificed and the heart weight (HW)/ body weight (BW) ratio were measured. The pathological changes, pathological scores and fibrosis area were evaluated after H.&E. and Masson's trichrome staining. The mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured by RT-qPCR, while the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western bolt. The protein expressions of Akt, Akt1, phosphorylated (p-) Akt and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were detected by Western bolt.

RESULTS

We found that the TNF-α and IL-1β levels, inflammatory scores and fibrosis areas were markedly increased after 18 days deguelin administration.

CONCLUSION

Akt inhibition with deguelin may aggravate myocarditis of EAM rats.

Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) Signals via G-alpha-s and Induces IL-6 and IL-10 Cytokine Secretion in Human Primary Leukocytes

Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB₂) is a promising therapeutic target for immunological modulation. There is, however, a deficit of knowledge regarding CB₂ signaling and function in human primary immunocompetent cells. We applied an experimental paradigm which closely models the in situ state of human primary leukocytes (PBMC; peripheral blood mononuclear cells) to characterize activation of a number of signaling pathways in response to a CB₂-selective ligand (HU308). We observed a "lag" phase of unchanged cAMP concentration prior to development of classically expected Gα_i-mediated inhibition of cAMP synthesis. Application of G protein inhibitors revealed that this apparent lag was a result of counteraction of Gα_i effects by concurrent Gα_s activation. Monitoring downstream signaling events showed that activation of p38 was mediated by Gα_i, whereas ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation were mediated by Gα_i-coupled βγ. Activation of CREB integrated multiple components; Gα_s and βγ mediated ∼85% of the response, while ∼15% was attributed to Gα_i. Responses to HU308 had an important functional outcome-secretion of interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10). IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, MIP-1α, and TNF-α were unaffected. IL-6/IL-10 induction had a similar G protein coupling profile to CREB activation. All response potencies were consistent with that expected for HU308 acting via CB₂. Additionally, signaling and functional effects were completely blocked by a CB₂-selective inverse agonist, giving additional evidence for CB₂ involvement. This work expands the current paradigm regarding cannabinoid immunomodulation and reinforces the potential utility of CB₂ ligands as immunomodulatory therapeutics.

Effect of Mechanical Stretch on the DNCB-induced Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Human Keratinocytes

Skin is exposed to various physico-chemical cues. Keratinocytes, a major component of the skin epidermis, directly interact with the surrounding extracellular matrix, and thus, biochemical and biophysical stimulations from the matrix regulate the function of keratinocytes. Although it was reported that inflammatory responses of skin were altered by an applied mechanical force, understanding how the keratinocytes sense the mechanical stimuli and regulate a cytokine secretion remains unclear. Here, we designed a device that is able to apply chemo-mechanical cues to keratinocytes and assess their proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 production. We showed that when chemical stimuli were applied with mechanical stimuli simultaneously, the IL-6 production markedly increased compared to that observed with a single stimulus. Quantitative structural analysis of cellular components revealed that the applied mechanical stretch transformed the cell morphology into an elongated shape, increased the cell size, and dictated the distribution of focal adhesion complex. Our results suggest that the mechanical cue-mediated modulation of focal adhesion proteins and actin cytoskeleton translates into intracellular signaling associated with the IL-6 production particularly in skin sensitization. Our study can be applied to understand proinflammatory responses of skin under altered biophysical environments of the skin.

Neutrophils Derived from Genetically Modified Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Circulate and Phagocytose Bacteria In Vivo

Bacterial and fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients. Donor‐derived neutrophil transfusions have been used for prophylaxis or treatment for infection in neutropenic patients. However, the short half‐life and the limited availability of large numbers of donor‐derived neutrophils for transfusion remain a significant hurdle in the implementation of neutrophil transfusion therapy. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity of neutrophils generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), a potentially unlimited resource to produce neutrophils for transfusion. Phenotypic analysis of iPSC‐derived neutrophils reveal reactive oxygen species production at similar or slightly higher than normal peripheral blood neutrophils, but have an ∼50%–70% reduced Escherichia coli phagocytosis and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate induced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). Signaling of granulocytic precursors identified impaired AKT activation, but not ERK or STAT3, in agonist‐stimulated iPSC‐derived neutrophils. Expression of a constitutively activated AKT in iPSC‐derived neutrophils restores most phagocytic activity and NET formation. In a model of bacterial induced peritonitis in immunodeficient mice, iPSC‐derived neutrophils, with or without corrected AKT activation, migrate similarly to the peritoneal fluid as peripheral blood neutrophils, whereas the expression of activated AKT significantly improves their phagocytic activity in vivo. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:557–567

Targeting allosteric site of AKT by 5,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthrenequinone suppresses neutrophilic inflammation

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe life-threatening inflammatory disease. Neutrophil activation is a major pathogenic factor in ALI. Protein kinase B (PKB)/AKT regulates diverse cellular responses, but the significance in neutrophilic inflammation and ALI remains unknown.

METHODS

Human neutrophils and neutrophil-like differentiated HL-60 (dHL-60) cells were used to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of 5,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthrenequinone (CLLV-1). The therapeutic potential of CLLV-1 was determined in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI.

FINDINGS

CLLV-1 inhibited respiratory burst, degranulation, adhesion, and chemotaxis in human neutrophils and dHL-60 cells. CLLV-1 inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT (Thr308 and Ser473), but not of ERK, JNK, or p38. Furthermore, CLLV-1 blocked AKT activity and covalently reacted with AKT Cys310 in vitro. The AKT_309-313 peptide-CLLV-1 adducts were determined by NMR or mass spectrometry assay. The alkylation agent-conjugated AKT (reduced form) level was also inhibited by CLLV-1. Significantly, CLLV-1 ameliorated LPS-induced ALI, neutrophil infiltration, and AKT activation in mice.

INTERPRETATION

Our results identify CLLV-1 as a covalent allosteric AKT inhibitor by targeting AKT Cys310. CLLV-1 shows potent anti-inflammatory activity in human neutrophils and LPS-induced mouse ALI. Our findings provide a mechanistic framework for redox modification of AKT that may serve as a novel pharmacological target to alleviate neutrophilic inflammation.

Graphene quantum dots inhibit T cell-mediated neuroinflammation in rats

We investigated the therapeutic capacity of nano-sized graphene sheets, called graphene quantum dots (GQD), in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of immune-mediated central nervous system (CNS) damage. Intraperitoneally administered GQD (10 mg/kg/day) accumulated in the lymph node and CNS cells of Dark Agouti rats in which EAE was induced by immunization with spinal cord homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant. GQD significantly reduced clinical signs of EAE when applied throughout the course of the disease (day 0-32), while the protection was less pronounced if the treatment was limited to the induction (day 0-7 post-immunization) or effector (from day 8 onwards) phase of the disease. GQD treatment diminished immune infiltration, demyelination, axonal damage, and apoptotic death in the CNS of EAE animals. GQD also reduced the numbers of interferon-γ-expressing T helper (Th)1 cells, as well as the expression of Th1 transcription factor T-bet and proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the lymph nodes and CNS immune infitrates. The protective effect of GQD in EAE was associated with the activation of p38 and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and Akt in the lymph nodes and/or CNS. Finally, GQD protected oligodendrocytes and neurons from T cell-mediated damage in the in vitro conditions. Collectively, these data demonstrate the ability of GQD to gain access to both immune and CNS cells during neuroinflammation, and to alleviate immune-mediated CNS damage by modulating MAPK/Akt signaling and encephalitogenic Th1 immune response.

Protective Role of UCP2 in Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis during the Silent Phase of an Experimental Model of Epilepsy Induced by Pilocarpine

Neuroprotection is a desirable process in many neurological disorders, yet complex mechanisms involved in this field are not completely understood. The pilocarpine epilepsy model causes potent, seizure-induced excitotoxicity cell death and mitochondria impairment. The present study is aimed at investigating the role of UCP2, a ROS negative regulator, in the neuroprotection after cholinergic insult. Our data demonstrated that UCP2 expression was augmented in the rat hippocampus 3 days after status epilepticus (SE), reaching a peak on the fifth day, then returning to basal levels. Concomitantly, phospho-AKT expression levels were higher in the hippocampus during the early silent phase (5 days after SE). Additionally, it was demonstrated that the blockade of UCP2 by antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) in SE rats successfully diminished both UCP2 mRNA and protein contents. SE ASO rats presented increased mitochondrial proapoptotic factor expression, caspase-3 activity, inflammatory cytokine expression, and ROS formation. Moreover, ASO treatment diminished p-AKT expression and antioxidant enzyme activities after pilocarpine insult. In conclusion, the present results highlight the neuroprotective actions of UCP2, acting in the inhibition of apoptotic factors and oxidative stress, to increase neuron survival after SE onset.

Interstitial flow promotes macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype

Tumor tissues are characterized by an elevated interstitial fluid flow from the tumor to the surrounding stroma. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment are key contributors to tumor progression. While it is well established that chemical stimuli within the tumor tissues can alter macrophage behaviors, the effects of mechanical stimuli, especially the flow of interstitial fluid in the tumor microenvironment, on macrophage phenotypes have not been explored. Here, we used three-dimensional biomimetic models to reveal that macrophages can sense and respond to pathophysiological levels of interstitial fluid flow reported in tumors (∼3 µm/s). Specifically, interstitial flow (IF) polarizes macrophages toward an M2-like phenotype via integrin/Src-mediated mechanotransduction pathways involving STAT3/6. Consistent with this flow-induced M2 polarization, macrophages treated with IF migrate faster and have an enhanced ability to promote cancer cell migration. Moreover, IF directs macrophages to migrate against the flow. Since IF emanates from the tumor to the surrounding stromal tissues, our results suggest that IF could not only induce M2 polarization of macrophages but also recruit these M2 macrophages toward the tumor masses, contributing to cancer cell invasion and tumor progression. Collectively, our study reveals that IF could be a critical regulator of tumor immune environment.

Blockade of MIF-CD74 Signalling on Macrophages and Dendritic Cells Restores the Antitumour Immune Response Against Metastatic Melanoma

Mounting an effective immune response against cancer requires the activation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Metastatic melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. While immunotherapies have shown a remarkable success in melanoma treatment, patients develop resistance by mechanisms that include the establishment of an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. Thus, understanding how metastatic melanoma cells suppress the immune system is vital to develop effective immunotherapies against this disease. In this study, we find that macrophages (MOs) and dendritic cells (DCs) are suppressed in metastatic melanoma and that the Ig-CDR-based peptide C36L1 is able to restore MOs and DCs' antitumorigenic and immunogenic functions and to inhibit metastatic growth in lungs. Specifically, C36L1 treatment is able to repolarize M2-like immunosuppressive MOs into M1-like antitumorigenic MOs, and increase the number of immunogenic DCs, and activated cytotoxic T cells, while reducing the number of regulatory T cells and monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in metastatic lungs. Mechanistically, we find that C36L1 directly binds to the MIF receptor CD74 which is expressed on MOs and DCs, disturbing CD74 structural dynamics and inhibiting MIF signaling on these cells. Interfering with MIF-CD74 signaling on MOs and DCs leads to a decrease in the expression of immunosuppressive factors from MOs and an increase in the capacity of DCs to activate cytotoxic T cells. Our findings suggest that interfering with MIF-CD74 immunosuppressive signaling in MOs and DCs, using peptide-based immunotherapy can restore the antitumor immune response in metastatic melanoma. Our study provides the rationale for further development of peptide-based therapies to restore the antitumor immune response in metastatic melanoma.

hPMSC transplantation restoring ovarian function in premature ovarian failure mice is associated with change of Th17/Tc17 and Th17/Treg cell ratios through the PI3K/Akt signal pathway

BACKGROUND

Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hPMSC) transplantation has been demonstrated to be an effective way of recovering ovarian function in mice with autoimmune induced premature ovarian failure (POF). But the exact mechanism remains unclear. The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of immune factors (T-helper 17 (Th17), cytotoxic T (Tc17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells) in the recovery of ovarian function and whether the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signal pathway is involved in the regulation.

METHODS

The inhibitor of PI3K/Akt was administered to observe its effect on ovarian function recovery and immune regulation. Serum levels of estradiol (E₂), follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)) and anti-Zona pellucida antibody (AZPAb) were measured by ELISA to evaluate ovarian function. The morphological changes of ovaries were observed by HE staining. Apoptosis of granular cells (GCs) was determined by detecting the expression of capase-3. Expression of p-Akt protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot assay in ovarian tissues. The MTT assay was performed to assess GC proliferation. GC apoptosis was performed using flow cytometry analysis. Percentages of Th17, Tc17 and Treg cells were detected by flow cytometry. Expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in serum was measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

LY294002 administration decreased serum levels of E₂ and AMH, while the levels of FSH, LH and AZPAb in serum were increased compared with mice in the hPMSC transplantation group. The ovarian morphology presented as atrophy and fibrosis, with functional follicles exhausted. The expression of p-Akt in ovarian tissue was significantly decreased. Also, LY294002 administration significantly decreased proliferation and increased cell apoptosis in GCs, and for immune factors the ratios of Th17/Tc17 and Th17/Treg cells were significantly increased, as well as the serum levels of IL-17.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the PI3K/Akt signal pathway is involved in the recovery of ovarian function by changing the ratios of Th17/ Tc17 and Th17/Treg cells in POF mice following hPMSC transplantation.

Molecular biology and functional genomics of immune-endocrine interactions in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

Immune-endocrine interactions are an important pathogen resistance mechanism in fish. We review the immune-endocrine interactions in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, with special reference to high throughput gene sequencing. These data may be relevant to the significant decrease in the eel harvest in recent years and will aid in the selection of appropriate disease-resistant strains for aquaculture. More than 1000 sequences that whose expression in elvers responded to air exposure were identified through comprehensive gene expression analysis using next-generation sequencing. These included transcription factors within the MAPK pathway. Significant changes in expression after air exposure were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in many genes related to disease resistance. These factors include innate immune system factors and cytokines that interact with the endocrine system during the stress response. Other applications of immune-endocrine interactions in eel culture are discussed.