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Zhou H, Lou F, Bai J, Sun Y, Cai W, Sun L, Xu Z, Liu Z, Zhang L, Yin Q, Zhang J, Gao Y, Wang Z, Niu L, Cai X, Deng S, Wang H, Xia L, Ginhoux F, Li Q, Wang H. A peptide encoded by pri-miRNA-31 represses autoimmunity by promoting T reg differentiation. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e53475. [PMID: 35343645 PMCID: PMC9066071 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202153475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has revealed that small polypeptides (containing fewer than 100 amino acids) can be translated from noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are usually defined as RNA molecules that do not encode proteins. However, studies on functional products translated from primary transcripts of microRNA (pri-miRNA) are quite limited. Here, we describe a peptide termed miPEP31 that is encoded by pri-miRNA-31. miPEP31 is highly expressed in Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs ) and significantly promotes the differentiation of Tregs without affecting their inhibitory ability. Our results show that miPEP31 is a cell-penetrating peptide both in vitro and in vivo. miPEP31 downregulates miR-31 expression, enhances peripheral Treg induction, and dramatically suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Mechanistically, we show that miPEP31 acts as a transcriptional repressor inhibiting the expression of miRNA-31, a negative regulator of Tregs . Our results reveal an indispensable role of miPEP31 in maintaining immune homeostasis by promoting Treg differentiation and also present a potential therapeutic peptide for modulating miRNA expression and treating autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhou
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangzhou Lou
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Bai
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Libo Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyao Xu
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Liu
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyun Zhang
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junxun Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhikai Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liman Niu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Cai
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyu Deng
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Xia
- Core Facility of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai, China
| | - Florent Ginhoux
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Qun Li
- The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Honglin Wang
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
AbstractBiophysical studies have a very high impact on the understanding of internalization, molecular mechanisms, interactions, and localization of CPPs and CPP/cargo conjugates in live cells or in vivo. Biophysical studies are often first carried out in test-tube set-ups or in vitro, leading to the complicated in vivo systems. This review describes recent studies of CPP internalization, mechanisms, and localization. The multiple methods in these studies reveal different novel and important aspects and define the rules for CPP mechanisms, hopefully leading to their improved applicability to novel and safe therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaž Zorko
- University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Vrazov trg 2, 1000Ljubljana, Slovenia,
| | - Ülo Langel
- University of Stockholm, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Svante Arrhenius väg 16, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden, , and Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, Tartu, Estonia, 50411
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Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to predict and analyze the structure and function of 2019-novel Coronavirus (nCoV) key proteins. Materials & methods: We obtained the structure and sequence of proteins from related databases and studied them through multiple sequence alignment, homology modeling, sequence analysis, virtual screening, reverse mutation, protein structure overlap and surface property analysis. Results & conclusion: We found no significant changes in envelope protein, membrane protein, nucleocapsid protein and key proteases in open reading frame 1ab, and predicted results of proteins and performed molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the surface properties of spike protein and docking results with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, we believe that the binding ability of spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 may be similar to SARS. These studies will help us in fighting 2019-nCoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihao Li
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Wen Peng
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yu Ou
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
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Thomas A, Thevis M. Identification of metabolites of peptide-derived drugs using an isotope-labeled reporter ion screening strategy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 58:690-700. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2019-1009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundPeptide-derived drugs represent an emerging class of prohibited substances in professional sports and, thus, in modern doping controls. After parental administration (e.g. subcutaneous, intravenous), these drugs undergo various metabolic processes, which degrade them to biologically active or inactive peptides. Knowledge about these metabolic processes and the hereby produced metabolites plays a key role in successful doping controls due to the effective design of analytical assays under consideration of optimal analytical targets. Unfortunately, the complexity of biological matrix (e.g. blood or urine) complicates the immediate identification of relevant metabolites due to the enormous excess of naturally occurring peptides and their degradation products.MethodsIn this study, a strategy employing in-vitro metabolism of stable isotope-labeled peptides producing characteristic reporter ions derived from labeled immonium ions is shown. The in-vitro experiments were performed with human skin tissue microsomes (S9), and model drugs representing prohibited peptide hormones were synacthen, insulin, and corticorelin (respectively, their stable isotope-labeled analogs). After generic sample preparation, the metabolites were identified by means of liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) in an untargeted approach.Results and conclusionsFor all three model peptides, several metabolic products were readily identified. While insulin and corticorelin were found to be comparably stable, synacthen was fully degraded, yielding a plethora of metabolic products. A proof of concept concerning the transferability of the obtained data was accomplished by analyzing plasma samples collected post-administration of recombinant human insulin, corroborating the presence of a skin protease-indicative insulin metabolite in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Thomas
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mario Thevis
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents (EuMoCEDA), Cologne/Bonn, Germany
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