Series introduction: the transcription factor NF-kappaB and human disease

Pseudolaric Acid B Targets CD147 to Selectively Kill Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer. With low survival rates, new drug targets are needed to improve treatment regimens and patient outcomes. Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is a plant-derived bioactive compound predicted to interact with cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147/BSG). CD147 is a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in various malignancies with suggested roles in regulating cancer cell survival, proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. However, the detailed function of PAB in AML remains unknown. In this study, AML cell lines and patient-derived cells were used to show that PAB selectively targeted AML (IC50: 1.59 ± 0.47 µM). Moreover, proliferation assays, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting confirmed that PAB targeting of CD147 resulted in AML cell apoptosis. Indeed, the genetic silencing of CD147 significantly suppressed AML cell growth and attenuated PAB activity. Overall, PAB imparts anti-AML activity through transmembrane glycoprotein CD147.

Global Interactome Mapping Reveals Pro-tumorigenic Interactions of NF-κB in Breast Cancer

NF-κB pathway is involved in inflammation; however, recent data shows its role also in cancer development and progression, including metastasis. To understand the role of NF-κB interactome dynamics in cancer, we study the complexity of breast cancer interactome in luminal A breast cancer model and its rearrangement associated with NF-κB modulation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurement of 160 size-exclusion chromatography fractions identifies 5460 protein groups. Seven thousand five hundred sixty eight interactions among these proteins have been reconstructed by PrInCE algorithm, of which 2564 have been validated in independent datasets. NF-κB modulation leads to rearrangement of protein complexes involved in NF-κB signaling and immune response, cell cycle regulation, and DNA replication. Central NF-κB transcription regulator RELA co-elutes with interactors of NF-κB activator PRMT5, and these complexes are confirmed by AlphaPulldown prediction. A complementary immunoprecipitation experiment recapitulates RELA interactions with other NF-κB factors, associating NF-κB inhibition with lower binding of NF-κB activators to RELA. This study describes a network of pro-tumorigenic protein interactions and their rearrangement upon NF-κB inhibition with potential therapeutic implications in tumors with high NF-κB activity.

Alleviation of adipose-hepatic glycolipid dysregulation by acetate in experimental PCOS model is associated with NF-κB/NLRP3 repression

This study hypothesized that acetate breaks the vicious cycle driving adipose-hepatic metabolic dysregulation in a rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), possibly by suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Female Wistar rats (8-week-old) were randomly allocated into four groups of n =6/group, which received vehicle, sodium acetate (200 mg), letrozole (1 mg/kg), and letrozole plus sodium acetate, respectively. The animals were treated by oral gavage, once daily for a period of 21 days. The PCOS animals were insulin-resistant, hyperandrogenic, and hypoestrogenic with decreased sex-hormone binding globulin. In addition, the hepatic tissue had increased lipid profile and decreased glycogen synthesis, while the adipose tissue showed decreased lipid profile with elevated glycogen synthesis. Besides, the results also showed increased malondialdehyde, γ-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and inflammatory mediators with corresponding decrease in antioxidant defense in the hepatic and adipose tissues. Immunohistochemical evaluation also demonstrated severe expression with Bcl2-associated X protein/NLRP3 antibodies. Nonetheless, concomitant acetate supplementation attenuated these derangements. The present data collectively suggest that acetate ameliorates adipose-hepatic glycolipid dysregulation in experimental PCOS model by attenuating androgen excess and NF-κB/NLRP3 immunoreactivity.

Effect of Usnea longissima ethyl acetate extract on acute oxidative and inflammatory lung damage from Staphylococcus aureus infection in rats

The role of oxidants and proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been demonstrated. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of ethyl acetate extract (EtOAc) obtained from Usnea longissima (UL) against acute oxidative and inflammatory lung damage due to S. aureus infection in rats. Albino Wistar-type male rats were divided into three groups: Healthy (HG), S. aureus inoculated (SaG), and S. aureus inoculated + ULEtOAc administered (SUL). SaG (n = 6) and SUL (n = 6) group rats' left nostrils (excluding HG) were inoculated with 0.1 ml bacterial mixture. After 24 hours, ULEtOAc (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the SUL group, and the same volume of normal saline was administered orally to the HG (n = 6) and SaG groups. This procedure was performed once a day for seven days. Levels of oxidant and antioxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and total glutathione (tGSH), as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine levels such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-one beta (IL-1β), were measured in removed lung tissues. Tissues were also examined histopathologically. Biochemical results showed that ULEtOAc significantly suppressed the increase of MDA, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels and the decrease of tGSH caused by S. aureus in lung tissue. S. aureus inoculation caused severe mononuclear cell infiltration in interstitial areas, severe lymphoid hyperplasia in bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue and severe alveolar edema, histopathologically. Treatment with ULEtOAc had an attenuating effect on these histopathological findings. Experimental results from this study suggest that ULEtOAc may be beneficial in treating S. aureus-induced oxidative and inflammatory lung damage.

Integrative bioinformatics analysis of biomarkers and pathways for exploring the mechanisms and molecular targets associated with pyroptosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction

Research has shown that pyroptosis contributes greatly to the progression of diabetes and its complications. However, the exact relationship between this particular cell death process and the pathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to identify the pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) associated with T2DM and to analyze their roles in the disease pathology.

Methods

Two microarray datasets, GSE7014 and GSE25724, were obtained from the GEO database and assessed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The T2DM-associated DEGs that overlapped with differentially expressed PRGs were noted as T2DM-PRGs. Subsequently, 25 T2DM-PRGs were validated and subjected to functional enrichment analysis through Gene Ontology annotation analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The diagnostic and predictive value of the T2DM-PRGs was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Additionally, a single-sample GSEA algorithm was applied to study immune infiltration in T2DM and assess immune infiltration levels.

Results

We identified 25 T2DM-PRGs that were significantly enriched in the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling and prostate cancer pathways. The top five differentially expressed prognostic T2DM-PRGs targeted by miRNAs were PTEN, BRD4, HSP90AB1, VIM, and PKN2. The top five differentially expressed T2DM-PRGs associated with transcription factors were HSP90AB1, VIM, PLCG1, SCAF11, and PTEN. The genes PLCG1, PTEN, TP63, CHI3L1, SDHB, DPP8, BCL2, SERPINB1, ACE2, DRD2, DDX58, and BTK showed excellent diagnostic performance. The immune infiltration analysis revealed notable differences in immune cells between T2DM and normal tissues in both datasets. These findings suggest that T2DM-PRGs play a crucial role in the development and progression of T2DM and could be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Discussion

Investigating the mechanisms and biomarkers associated with pyroptosis may offer valuable insights into the pathophysiology of T2DM and lead to novel therapeutic approaches to treat the disease.

Nuclear factor kappa B expression in non-small cell lung cancer

In this mini-review, we discuss the role of NF-κB, a proinflammatory transcription factor, in the expression of genes involved in inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis pathways, and link it with prognosis of various human cancers, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We and others have shown that NF-κB activity can be impacted by post-translational S-glutathionylation through reversible formation of a mixed disulfide bond between its cysteine residues and glutathione (GSH). Clinical data analysis showed that high expression of NF-κB correlated with shorter overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients, suggesting a tumor promotion function for NF-κB. Moreover, NF-κB expression was associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and 5-year OS in these patients. NF-κB was over-expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal tissues. S-glutathionylation of NF-κB caused negative regulation by interfering with DNA binding activities of NF-κB subunits. In response to oxidants, S-glutathionylation of NF-κB also correlated with enhanced lung inflammation. Thus, S-glutathionylation is an important contributor to NF-κB regulation and clinical results highlight the importance of NF-κB in NSCLC, where NF-κB levels are associated with unfavorable prognosis.

m6A Regulator-mediated RNA Methylation Modulates Immune Microenvironment of Hepatitis B Virus-related Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare and complicated disease with a high mortality rate. Emergency liver transplantation is the only treatment method that can improve the ALF prognosis. However, its clinical application remains limited owing to the aggressive nature of liver transplantation, limited donors, and high postoperative mortality. The study investigated the effect of m6A on the immune microenvironment of hepatitis B virus-related ALF (HBV-ALF). In this study, the gene expression data of 47 normal people and 42 HBV-ALF patients were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibu (GEO) database. The known 23 m6A regulators which mediated RNA modification patterns were compared and analyzed in these two groups, and the gene diagnosis model of HBV-ALF patients was established based on the analysis results. In addition, we used unsupervised clustering to identify different m6A RNA methylation modification patterns in HBV-ALF based on m6A regulators, and evaluated the immune infiltration and biological differences in these subtypes. In addition, the relationship between m6A genes and immune cell activation in HBV-ACLF patients was explored by immune infiltration analysis. Nineteen m6A regulators mediated RNA methylation (m6A regulators for short) were differentially expressed in HBV-ALF and control groups. m6A regulators could well distinguish control samples from HBV-ALF samples, and m6A regulators might be used as a basis for diagnosing HBV-ALF patients. Immune cells such as activated CD8 T cells, activated B cells, and activated CD4 T cells might play important roles in HBV-ALF, and m6A regulators were closely associated with immune cell infiltration. ALKBH15, CBLL1, IGF2BP2, IGF2BP3, and ZC3H13 were significantly associated with immune cells. Considering 23 m6A regulators, HBV-ALF patients could be classified into two subtypes (cluster 1 and cluster 2) based on different immune cell infiltration. m6A regulators of the IGFBP and YHDF families have extremely different levels in these two subtypes. Differential immune cell infiltration among these subtypes was observed, a total of 913 differentially expressed genes among different m6A modification patterns was identified, and their biological functions were explored. m6A modification might play a crucial role in the diverse and complex immune microenvironment of HBV-ALF patients.

Integrative Analysis of Core Genes and Biological Process Involved in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disordered disease, affecting the function of the ovaries in women of reproductive age. However, there are limited curative therapies for PCOS due to lack of reliable candidates. Hence, this study aimed to identify hub pathogenic genes and potential therapeutic targets for PCOS using bioinformatics tools. We obtained the expression profiles of 29 PCOS samples and 24 normal samples from three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Then, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, which were subjected to functional enrichment analyses. Moreover, we found 30 ferroptosis-related genes out of the 89 DEGs. Among the top 10 significant ferroptosis-related DEGs, 8 genes showed good predictive performance. We constructed interaction network of top three ferroptosis-related DEGs (SLC38A1, ACO1, DDIT3). Finally, real-time PCR was performed to test the relative expression of these genes. In conclusions, we have identified ferroptosis-related DEGs as core genes and potential therapeutic targets of PCOS based on comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. The findings are conducive to understanding of the pathogenesis of PCOS and paving the way towards curative therapies.

RTKN2 Inhibits the Growth, Migration, Invasion and Glycolysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by Inactivating the NF-κB Signalling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a malignant tumour that seriously threatens the life and health of people worldwide. This research was carried out to investigate the role of Rhotekin 2 (RTKN2) in LUAD progression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The GEPIA online database was used to analyse abnormally expressed genes in lung adenocarcinoma and RTKN2 expression in various cancers. Cell proliferation was detected with CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Transwell assays were carried out to assess cell migration and invasion. The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were evaluated by a Seahorse XFe96 analyser. The interaction between RTKN2 and p65 was confirmed using a coimmunoprecipitation assay. RTKN2 expression was detected with qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot assays. The p65 levels in the cytoplasm and nucleus were determined by western blot assays. RTKN2 levels were prominently decreased in LUAD tissues and cell lines. RTKN2 overexpression suppressed LUAD cell growth, invasion, migration, and glycolysis, while RTKN2 knockdown showed the opposite effects. Additionally, p65 could be negatively regulated by RTKN2. RTKN2 overexpression increased p65 levels in the cytoplasm but decreased p65 levels in the nucleus. Furthermore, blocking the NF-κB signalling pathway neutralized the effect of RTKN2 silencing in LUAD cells.

CONCLUSION

RTKN2 inhibited the malignant behaviour and glycolysis of LUAD cells by blocking the NF-κB signalling pathway, implying that RTKN2 could be a cancer suppressor in LUAD progression.

Probing the links: Long non-coding RNAs and NF-κB signalling in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves the accumulation of lipids and immune cells in the arterial wall. NF-kB signaling is a key regulator of inflammation and is known to play a critical role in atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs can regulate NF-kB and contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Preliminary findings reveal significant alterations in the expression of specific lncRNAs in atherosclerotic lesions compared to healthy arterial tissue. Experimental evidence suggests that these dysregulated lncRNAs can influence the NF-kB pathway. By unravelling the crosstalk between lncRNAs and NF-kB signaling, this review aims to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis. Identifying novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers may lead to developing interventions and management strategies for this prevalent cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of lncRNAs in NF-kB signaling in atherosclerosis and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets for this disease.

Development of trisiloxane surfactant vesicles ultrasonic extraction method combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the rapid differentiation of Bupleuri Radix based on metabolomics

INTRODUCTION

Due to the variety, chemical composition and complex structure, the quality control of Bupleuri Radix (BR) is a challenging task. There are still many trace compounds in BR that are difficult to extract and detect.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an innovative method of trisiloxane surfactant vesicles ultrasonic extraction (TSVUE) combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the identification from Bupleurum chinense DC. (BC) to Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd (BS) based on metabolomics.

METHODS

Based on extraction effect for BR, five different types of surfactants vesicles were prepared and compared. Then, a single-factor test and a response surface methodology study were adopted to obtain the optimal conditions for the surfactant vesicles ultrasonic extraction method. Finally, a non-targeted metabolomics method with information dependent acquisition mode was performed to analyse differential metabolites in BC and BS.

RESULTS

Sugar-based surfactant containing trisiloxane [N-3-propyl-methyltrisiloxane-N-glucoheptonamne (Si(3)N-GHA)] displayed higher extraction efficiency compared to other types of surfactants when it comes to being used in pretreatment methods. And a TSVUE method was established and optimised. In total, 131 constituents were identified in two BR herbs, of which 35 were unreported, and 11 were characterised as chemical markers.

CONCLUSIONS

This method provides promising perspectives for rapidly identifying trace compounds in complex systems of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as well as for laying the foundation in the identification of similar herbs from the same species. Meanwhile, these findings serve as a promising application of trisiloxane surfactant vesicles in the extraction field of TCM.

Effects of Flavonoids on Cancer, Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Flavonoids are polyphenolic phytochemical compounds found in many plants, fruits, vegetables, and leaves. They have a multitude of medicinal applications due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic properties. Furthermore, they also have neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. Their biological properties depend on the chemical structure of flavonoids, their mechanism of action, and their bioavailability. The beneficial effects of flavonoids have been proven for a variety of diseases. In the last few years, it is demonstrated that the effects of flavonoids are mediated by inhibiting the NF-κB (Nuclear Factor-κB) pathway. In this review, we have summarized the effects of some flavonoids on the most common diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and human neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we collected all recent studies describing the protective and prevention role of flavonoids derived from plants by specifically focusing their action on the NF-κB signaling pathway.

LCK, FOXC1 and hsa-miR-146a-5p as potential immune effector molecules associated with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of systemic immune disease characterized by chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. However, the aetiology and underlying molecular events of RA are unclear. Here, we applied bioinformatics analysis to identify potential immune effector molecules involved in RA. The three microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We used the R software screen 115 overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network encoded by these DEGs and identified 10 genes closely associated with RA - LCK, GZMA, GZMB, CD2, LAG3, IL-15, TNFRSF4, CD247, CCR5 and CCR7. Furthermore, in the miRNA-hub gene networks, we screened out hsa-miR-146a-5p, which is the miRNA controlling the largest number of hub genes. Finally, we found some transcription factors that closely interact with hub genes, such as FOXC1, GATA2, YY1, RUNX2, SREBF1, CEBPB and NFIC. This study successfully predicted that LCK, FOXC1 and hsa-miR-146a-5p can be used as potential immune effector molecules of RA. Our study may have potential implications for future prediction of disease progression in patients with symptomatic RA, and has important significance for the pathogenesis and targeted therapy of RA.

Effects of acupuncture on the miR-146a-mediated IRAK1/TRAF6/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with sarcopenia induced by D-galactose

Background

Sarcopenia during aging is closely linked to sterile, low-grade, chronic inflammation. However, considering the increasingly aging global population, the effectiveness of existing treatments for sarcopenia is not exact, and acupuncture, as an effective anti-inflammatory therapy, has the potential to treat it.

Methods

Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups, including Control group, D-galactose (D-gal) group, D-gal + acupuncture (DA) group, D-gal + non-acupoint (DN) group and D-gal amino acid mixture (DAA) group. An aging rat was model constructed using D-gal for 12 weeks. Rats in the control group received 0.9% physiological saline daily. Treatment groups were acupunctured or given amino acid mixture interventions daily, and lasted for last 4 consecutive weeks. The effects of acupuncture were evaluated by the hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture was studied by using the expressions of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) mediated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by immunofluorescence, western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Rats injected by D-galactose (D-gal) revealed apparent skeletal muscle atrophy with significantly reduced cross-sectional area and fiber diameter. In contrast, acupuncture treatment alleviated these hallmarks of skeletal muscle atrophy and mitigated the mitochondrial aberrations and skeletal muscle apoptosis in D-gal rats. In addition, acupuncture also downgraded the overexpression of inflammatory factors in skeletal muscle, influenced miR-146a and the target genes level, and inhibited NF-κB nuclear translation in D-gal rats.

Conclusions

Acupuncture may ameliorate skeletal muscle atrophy, and its effects may be associated with the control of mitochondrial function regulation and the suppression of inflammation.

Activating transcription factor 3 inhibits NF‑κB p65 signaling pathway and mediates apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer cells

BACKGROUND

As a novel tumor suppressor mediator, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) has recently aroused an interest in its possible therapeutic applications in various cancers. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ATF3 overexpression on the cellular level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected Ca Ski cells. Further, we examined whether ATF3 could mediate cell cycle arrest and alter the apoptosis level of Ca Ski cells.

METHODS

The biological behavior of Ca Ski cells was evaluated prior and subsequent to the overexpression of ATF3 by MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, cell cycle and annexin V/PI flow cytometric analysis. The effect of ectopic ATF3 expression on the cellular level of NF-κB in HPV-positive cells was evaluated by western blotting assay.

RESULTS

The overexpression of ATF3 in Ca Ski cells led to significant apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Western blotting assay revealed a discernible reduction of NF-κB p65 level in cervical cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

ATF3 acts as a tumor suppressor factor in HPV16-infected Ca Ski cells and exerts anti-cancer effects on HPV16-related cervical cancer cells potentially by hindering cell growth and inducing cell cycle arrest through the down-regulation of NF-κB. Our results suggest that ATF3 induction or NF-κB suppression may be useful targets for HPV16-related cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

Exploring potential shared genetic influences between rheumatoid arthritis and blood lipid levels

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and blood lipid levels has often been described as paradoxical, despite the strong association between RA and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We aimed to clarify the genetic architecture that would explain the relationship between RA and blood-lipid levels, while considering inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP).

METHODS

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics were collected from the CHARGE Consortium and Global Lipids Genetics Consortium. Blood-lipid levels includes HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC). Causality was examined by assessing Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. Pleiotropy, the identification of shared causal variants between traits, was assessed by conducting colocalization analyses.

RESULTS

Using the MR Egger method, RA did not appear to causally predict alterations in lipid factors, rather the MR Egger intercept revealed that the genetic relationship between RA and HDL-C, LDL-C and TC may be explained by horizontal pleiotropy (p=0.003, 0.006, and 0.018, respectively). MR was suggestive of a horizontally pleiotropic relationship between CRP and lipid factors, while a causal relationship could not be ruled out. Recurring genes arising from shared causal genetic variants between RA and varying lipid factors included NAT2/PSD3, FADS2/FADS1, SH2B3, and YDJC.

CONCLUSIONS

Horizontal pleiotropy appears to explain the genetic relationship between RA and blood-lipid levels. In addition, blood-lipid levels appear to suggest a horizontally pleiotropic relationship to CRP, if not mediated through RA as well. Consideration of the pleiotropic genes between RA and blood lipid levels may aid in enhancing diagnostic means to predict CVD.

Effects of the emerging contaminant 1,3,6,8-tetrabromocarbazole on the NF-κB and correlated mechanism in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

1,3,6,8-Tetrabromocarbazole (1368-BCZ) is identified as an emerging contaminant that exerts angiogenic effects. Multiple studies indicated there was a positive correlation between angiogenesis and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. While the role of NF-κB in inflammation and apoptosis has been well known, the potential biological effects of 1368-BCZ on NF-κB signaling and related mechanism remain unclear. We, therefore, explored the possible effects of 1368-BCZ on the NF-κB pathway at the gene and protein levels and confirmed that NF-κB activation by 1368-BCZ exposure caused an augmented phosphorylated protein level, induction of NF-κB response element (κBRE)-driven luciferase activity and upregulation of transcriptional level of downstream responsive genes. Although 1368-BCZ did not produce detectable changes in hepatic fibrosis in vivo, it obviously altered the apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Furthermore, the induction of apoptosis was confirmed by the increased cleaved caspase-3 level. These data revealed the activating effects of 1368-BCZ on NF-κB and its involvement in the underlying mechanisms, providing additional information for toxicology studies of emerging contaminants and introducing a mechanism-based toxicological evaluation of emerging pollutants.

DNA methyltransferase 1 knockdown reverses PTEN and VDR by mediating demethylation of promoter and protects against renal injuries in hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis

Background

Aberrant DNA methylation patterns, including hypermethylation of key genes that inhibit fibrosis and inflammation, have been described in human kidney diseases. However, the role of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN) remains unclear.

Methods

We explored the underlying mechanism by establishing HBV X protein (HBx) overexpressing renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells and human podocytes with DNMT1 knockdown. Using RNA-sequencing to determine the downstream targets of DNMT1 and evaluate its levels of promoter methylation. HBV transgenic mice were used to examine the effects of DNMT1 inhibitor on renal in vivo.

Results

DNMT1 was significantly upregulated in the renal tissue of HBV-GN patients, accompanied by injuries of HK-2 cells and podocytes. HBx markedly upregulated DNMT1 and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammation in HK-2 cells and human podocytes. This increased DNMT1 expression was attenuated after DNMT1 knockdown, accompanied by restored HK-2 cells and podocyte injuries resulting from the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Hypermethylation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) promoter and vitamin D receptor (VDR) was induced in HBx-overexpressing HK-2 cells and podocytes, respectively, whereas DNMT1 knockdown effectively corrected these alterations. Furthermore, PTEN and VDR ablation resulted in marked EMT and inflammation induction in HBx-overexpressing HK-2 cells and human podocytes even with DNMT1 knockdown. Downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related pathway attenuated HBx-induced EMT and inflammation in HK-2 cells. Luciferase reporter assay revealed VDR as a direct target of the Snail family transcriptional repressor 1 (SNAI1) in HBx-overexpressing podocytes. DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine alleviated urinary protein and renal inflammation in HBV transgenic mice via PTEN-PI3K/Akt signaling and VDR signaling axis.

Conclusions

Our study clarifies the potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying HBx-induced renal injuries in HBV-GN and the renoprotective effects of inhibiting DNMT1, which can provide important insights into the development of treatments for HBV-GN.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Immunomodulatory Effect of Spore-Displayed p75 on Human Intestinal Epithelial Caco-2 Cells

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) can promote intestinal health by modulating the immune responses of the gastrointestinal tract. However, knowledge about the immunomodulatory action of LGG-derived soluble factors is limited. In our previous study, we have displayed LGG-derived p75 protein on the spore surface of Bacillus subtilis. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spore-displayed p75 (CotG-p75) on immune system by investigating transcriptional response of Caco-2 cells stimulated by CotG-p75 through RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). RNA-seq results showed that CotG-p75 mainly stimulated genes involved in biological processes, such as response to stimulus, immune regulation, and chemotaxis. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that many genes activated by CotG-p75 were involved in NF-ĸB signaling and chemokine signaling pathways. CotG-p75 increased cytokines and chemokines such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL20, CCL22, and IL1B essential for the immune system. In particular, CotG-p75 increased the expression levels of NF-ĸB-related genes such as NFKBIA, TNFAIP3, BIRC3, NFKB2, and RELB involved in immune and inflammatory responses. This study provides genes and pathways involved in immune responses influenced by CotG-p75. These comprehensive transcriptome profiling could be used to elucidate the immunomodulatory action of CotG-p75.

The involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in anti-inflammatory activity of N-stearoylethanolamine

Background

N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) is a bioactive lipid amine with a wide range of biological activities. Anti-inflammatory properties of NSE were previously confirmed on multiple animal models. However, the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action of NSE remain unclear. In the current study, we examined the involvement of nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in the NF-kB –dependent pathway of anti-inflammatory action of NSE using different methodological approaches.

Methods

Molecular modeling calculated the possibility of NSE binding PPAR. Ex vivo experiment, using selective agonist of PPARα/γ - LY-171883 and antagonist of PPARγ - GW9662, examined the role of PPARα/γ in the NSE’s effect on nuclear NF-kB translocation in LPS-activated rat peritoneal macrophages. Finally, the NSE’s action on mRNA level of PPARγ-dependent genes was studied in the liver of insulin-resistant rats.

Results

The results of molecular docking showed that NSE could bind to PPARγ and compete for the binding site with antagonist GW9662 and agonist LY-171883. These data was supported by in vitro study where pre-treatment with NSE prevented further LPS-induced NF-kB translocation into the nuclei of rat peritoneal macrophages. NSE treatment before GW9662 and LPS addition normalized the level of NF-kB translocation and IL-1β content. This finding confirmed a competitive binding of NSE with GW9662 for the ligand-binding domain of PPARγ. Additional in vivo study showed that NSE administration changed the mRNA expression of several PPARγ target genes, including SLC27A1 encoding fatty acid transport protein-1 and IL1RN - interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in insulin resistant rats.

Conclusion

NSE suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages via PPARγ and changed hepatic mRNA expression of PPARγ target genes (SLC27A1, IL1RN) in insulin resistant rats.

Elevated NF-κB/SHh/GLI1 Signature Denotes a Worse Prognosis and Represent a Novel Potential Therapeutic Target in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer in men worldwide. NF-κB seems to play a key role in cell survival, proliferation and invasion, sustaining the heterogeneous multifocal nature of PCa. In recent years, the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has attracted attention as a therapeutic target due to its implication in tumorigenesis and metastasis in several types of cancer, including PCa. Although it is well-known that Sonic Hedgehog (SHh) is a transcriptional target of NF-κB(p65), and that GLI1 is the effector of this crosstalk, the precise role played by this axis in PCa is still not completely clear. Here, we set out to explore the correlation between NF-κB activation and SHh pathways in PCa, investigating if the interplay between NF-κB(p65) and SHh-GLI1 in advanced PCa could be a prospective therapeutic target. Our findings demonstrate that a NF-κB-SHh-GLI1 gene signature is enriched in PCa patients featuring a higher Gleason score. Moreover, elevated levels of this signature are associated with worse prognosis, thus suggesting that this axis could provide a route to treat aggressive PCa.

CLP1 is a Prognosis-Related Biomarker and Correlates With Immune Infiltrates in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, heterogeneous autoimmune disease with a high disability rate that seriously affects society and individuals. However, there is a lack of effective and reliable diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. In this study, we identified diagnostic markers of RA based on RNA modification and explored its role as well as degree of immune cell infiltration. We used the gene expression profile data of three synovial tissues (GSE55235, GSE55457, GSE77298) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the gene of 5 RNA modification genes (including m6A, m1A, m5C, APA, A-1), combined with cluster analysis, identified four RNA modifiers closely related to RA (YTHDC1, LRPPRC, NOP2, and CLP1) and five immune cells namely T cell CD8, CD4 memory resting, T cells regulatory (Tregs) Macrophages M0, and Neutrophils. Based on the LASSO regression algorithm, hub genes and immune cell prediction models were established respectively in RA and a nomogram based on the immune cell model was built. Around 4 key RNA modification regulator genes, miRNA-mRNA, mRNA-TF networks have been established, and GSEA-GO, KEGG-GSEA enrichment analysis has been carried out. Finally, CLP1 was established as an effective RA diagnostic marker, and was highly positively correlated with T cells follicular helper (Tfh) infiltration. On the other hand, highly negatively correlated with the expression of mast cells. In short, CLP1 may play a non-negligible role in the onset and development of RA by altering immune cell infiltration, and it is predicted to represent a novel target for RA clinical diagnosis and therapy.

Shedding Light on NF-κB Functions in Cellular Organelles

NF-κB is diffusely recognized as a transcriptional factor able to modulate the expression of various genes involved in a broad spectrum of cellular functions, including proliferation, survival and migration. NF-κB is, however, also acting outside the nucleus and beyond its ability to binds to DNA. NF-κB is indeed found to localize inside different cellular organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi and nucleoli, where it acts through different partners in mediating various biological functions. Here, we discuss the relationship linking NF-κB to the cellular organelles, and how this crosstalk between cellular organelles and NF-κB signalling may be evaluated for anticancer therapies.

Recombinant Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 FimA alters immune response and metabolic gene expression in oral squamous carcinoma cells

Objectives

The Gram‐negative anaerobic rod Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is regarded as a keystone pathogen in periodontitis and expresses a multitude of virulence factors iincluding fimbriae that are enabling adherence to and invasion in cells and tissues. The progression of periodontitis is a consequence of the interaction between the host immune response and periodontal pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the genome‐wide impact of recombinant fimbrial protein FimA from P. gingivalis W83 on the gene expression of oral squamous carcinoma cells by transcriptome analysis.

Materials and Methods

Human squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC‐25) were stimulated for 4 and 24 h with recombinant FimA. RNA sequencing was performed and differential gene expression and enrichment were analyzed using gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and REACTOME. The results of transcriptome analysis were validated using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with selected genes.

Results

Differential gene expression after 4 and 24 h revealed upregulation of 464 (4 h) and 179 genes (24 h) and downregulation of 69 (4 h) and 312 (24 h) genes. GO, KEGG, and REACTONE enrichment analysis identified a strong immunologic transcriptomic response signature after 4 h. After 24 h, mainly those genes were regulated, which belonged to cell metabolic pathways and replication. Real‐time PCR of selected genes belonging to immune response and signaling demonstrated strong upregulation of CCL20, TNFAIP6, CXCL8, TNFAIP3, and NFkBIA after both stimulation times.

Conclusions

These data shed light on the RNA transcriptome of human oral squamous carcinoma epithelial cells following stimulation with P. gingivalis FimA and identify a strong immunological gene expression response to this virulence factor. The data provide a base for future studies of molecular and cellular interactions between P. gingivalis and oral epithelium to elucidate basic mechanisms that may provide new prospects for periodontitis therapy and give new insights into the development and possible treatments of cancer.

Combined Transcriptomic and Protein Array Cytokine Profiling of Human Stem Cells from Dental Apical Papilla Modulated by Oral Bacteria

Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP) are a promising resource for use in regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) that may be adversely affected by oral bacteria, which in turn can exert an effect on the success of RET. Our work aims to study the cytokine profile of SCAP upon exposure to oral bacteria and their supernatants—Fusobacterium nucleatum and Enterococcus faecalis—as well as to establish their effect on the osteogenic and immunogenic potentials of SCAP. Further, we target the presence of key proteins of the Wnt/β-Catenin, TGF-β, and NF-κB signaling pathways, which play a crucial role in adult osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, using the Western blot (WB) technique. The membrane-based sandwich immunoassay and transcriptomic analysis showed that, under the influence of F. nucleatum (both bacteria and supernatant), the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 occurred, which was also confirmed at the mRNA level. Conversely, E. faecalis reduced the secretion of the aforementioned cytokines at both mRNA and protein levels. WB analysis showed that SCAP co-cultivation with E. faecalis led to a decrease in the level of the key proteins of the Wnt/β-Catenin and NF-κB signaling pathways: β-Catenin (p = 0.0068 *), LRP-5 (p = 0.0059 **), and LRP-6 (p = 0.0329 *), as well as NF-kB (p = 0.0034 **) and TRAF6 (p = 0.0285 *). These results suggest that oral bacteria can up- and downregulate the immune and inflammatory responses of SCAP, as well as influence the osteogenic potential of SCAP, which may negatively regulate the success of RET.

Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 Membrane Components Induce Distinct Profiles of Metabolic Genes in Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease is caused by a bacterial biofilm, affecting all periodontal tissues and structures. This chronic disease seems to be associated with cancer since, in general, inflammation intensifies the risk for carcinoma development and progression. Interactions between periodontal pathogens and the host immune response induce the onset of periodontitis and are responsible for its progression, among them Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a Gram-negative anaerobic rod, capable of expressing a variety of virulence factors that is considered a keystone pathogen in periodontal biofilms. The aim of this study was to investigate the genome-wide impact of P. gingivalis W83 membranes on RNA expression of oral squamous carcinoma cells by transcriptome analysis. Human squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC-25) were infected for 4 and 24 h with extracts from P. gingivalis W83 membrane, harvested, and RNA was extracted. RNA sequencing was performed, and differential gene expression and enrichment were analyzed using GO, KEGG, and REACTOME. The results of transcriptome analysis were validated using quantitative real-time PCR with selected genes. Differential gene expression analysis resulted in the upregulation of 15 genes and downregulation of 1 gene after 4 h. After 24 h, 61 genes were upregulated and 278 downregulated. GO, KEGG, and REACTONE enrichment analysis revealed a strong metabolic transcriptomic response signature, demonstrating altered gene expressions after 4 h and 24 h that mainly belong to cell metabolic pathways and replication. Real-time PCR of selected genes belonging to immune response, signaling, and metabolism revealed upregulated expression of CCL20, CXCL8, NFkBIA, TNFAIP3, TRAF5, CYP1A1, and NOD2. This work sheds light on the RNA transcriptome of human oral squamous carcinoma cells following stimulation with P. gingivalis membranes and identifies a strong metabolic gene expression response to this periodontal pathogen. The data provide a base for future studies of molecular and cellular interactions between P. gingivalis and oral epithelium to elucidate the basic mechanisms of periodontitis and the development of cancer.

Identification of the Hub Genes and the Signaling Pathways in Human iPSC-Cardiomyocytes Infected by SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus that can lead to respiratory symptoms and damage many organs such as heart, kidney, intestine, brain and liver. It has not been clearly documented whether myocardial injury is caused by direct infection of cardiomyocytes, lung injury, or other unknown mechanisms. The gene expression profile of GSE150392 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The processing of high-throughput sequencing data and the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were implemented by R software. The R software was employed to analyze the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed by the STRING website. The Cytoscape software was applied for the visualization of PPI network and the identification of hub genes. The statistical analysis was performed by the GraphPad Prism software to verify the hub genes. A total of 516 up-regulated genes and 191 down-regulated genes were screened out. The top 1 enrichment items of GO in biological process (BP), Cellular Component (CC), and Molecular Function (MF) were type I interferon signaling pathway, sarcomere, and receptor ligand activity, respectively. The top 10 enrichment pathways, including TNF signaling pathway, were identified by KEGG enrichment analysis. A PPI network was established, consisting of 613 nodes and 3,993 edges. The 12 hub genes were confirmed as statistically significant, which was verified by GSE151879 dataset. In conclusion, the hub genes of human iPSC-cardiomyocytes infected with SARS-CoV-2 were identified through bioinformatics analysis, which may be used as biomarkers for further research.

Synergistic Cytokine Production by ATP and PGE2 via P2X4 and EP3 Receptors in Mouse Bone-Marrow-Derived Mast Cells

ATP is an important intercellular messenger in the extracellular space. In mast cells (MCs), ATP stimulates the ionotropic P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), resulting in enhanced degranulation and exacerbation of acute allergic reactions. In this study, we investigate whether ATP regulates inflammatory cytokine production in MCs. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, and cytokine production was measured using ELISA. The stimulation of mouse bone-marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs) with ATP alone had little effect on cytokine secretion. However, the co-stimulation with prostaglandin (PG) E2 resulted in a marked increase in the secretion of various cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-13, accompanied by an increase in their mRNA levels. The effects of ATP were inhibited by P2X4R antagonists and diminished in BMMCs derived from P2X4R-deficient mice, suggesting that P2X4R mediated the reaction. The effects of PGE2 were mimicked by an EP3 receptor (EP3R) agonist and blocked by an EP3R antagonist. The synergistic cytokine mRNA elevations induced by ATP and PGE2 were blocked by nuclear factor-κB and Ca2+-calcineurin signaling inhibitors. Altogether, these results suggest that combining P2X4R and EP3R signaling enhances acute degranulation and the subsequent cytokine secretion, exacerbating allergic inflammation.

Laser Photobiomodulation 808 nm: Effects on Gene Expression in Inflammatory and Osteogenic Biomarkers in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

The tissue engineering of dental oral tissue is tackling significant advances and the use of stem cells promises to boost the therapeutical approaches of regenerative dentistry. Despite advances in this field, the literature is still scarce regarding the modulatory effect of laser photobiomodulation (PBM) on genes related to inflammation and osteogenesis in Postnatal Human Dental Pulp Stem cells (DPSCs). This study pointedly investigated the effect of PBM treatment in proliferation, growth and differentiation factors, mineralization, and extracellular matrix remodeling genes in DPSCs. Freshly extracted human third molars were used as a source for DPSCs isolation. The isolated DPSCs were stimulated to an inflammatory state, using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model, and then subjected or not to laser PBM. Each experiment was statistically evaluated according to the sample distribution. A total of 85 genes related to inflammation and osteogenesis were evaluated regarding their expression by RT-PCR. Laser PBM therapy has shown to modulate several genes expression in DPSCs. PBM suppressed the expression of inflammatory gene TNF and RANKL and downregulated the gene expression for VDR and proteolytic enzymes cathepsin K, MMP-8 and MMP-9. Modulation of gene expression for proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) following PBM varied among different PARs. As expected, PBM blocked the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs when subjected to LPS model. Conversely, PBM has preserved the odontogenic potential of DPSCs by increasing the expression of TWIST-1/RUNEX-2/ALP signaling axis. PBM therapy notably played a role in the DPSCs genes expression that mediate inflammation process and tissue mineralization. The present data opens a new perspective for PBM therapy in mineralized dental tissue physiology.

Amaral S, Buzalaf MAR. Effect of Physical Exercise and Genetic Background on Glucose Homeostasis and Liver/Muscle Proteomes in Mice

We compared the parameters related to glucose homeostasis, and liver and muscle proteomes in fluorosis-susceptible (A/J; S) and fluorosis-resistant (129P3/J; R) mice in response to fluoride (F) exposure and exercise. Ninety male mice (45 R-mice and 45 S-mice) were randomized into three groups: (SI; RI) No-F, No-Exercise, (SII; RII) 50 ppm F, No-Exercise, (SIII; RIII) 50 ppm F, Exercise. Overall, mean F concentrations in the plasma and femur were significantly higher in R-mice compared with S-mice. In R-mice, exercise resulted in an increase in F accumulation in the femur. In S-mice, the mean plasma glucose level was significantly higher in Group II compared with Groups I and III. There was an increase in liver proteins involved in energy flux and antioxidant enzymes in non-exercise groups (I, II) of S-mice in comparison with the corresponding groups of R-mice. The results also showed a decrease in muscle protein expression in Group I S-mice compared with their R-mice counterparts. In conclusion, the findings suggest an increased state of oxidative stress in fluorosis-susceptible mice that might be exacerbated by the treatment with F. In addition, fluorosis-susceptible mice have plasma glucose levels higher than fluorosis-resistant mice on exposure to F, and this is not affected by exercise.

Increased expression of the TLR7/9 signaling pathways in chronic active EBV infection

We aimed to investigate the immunological mechanisms of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways in different types of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We retrospectively summarized the clinical data, routine laboratory tests and the immunological function of the infectious mononucleosis (IM) and chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) patients. A real-time quantitative PCR array was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of TLR7/TLR9 and myeloid-differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). Flow cytometry was used to detect the protein expression of TLR7/TLR9. The MyD88 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) (p65) protein were detected by western blotting. A cytometric bead array (CBA) assay was used to detect the expression of downstream cytokines. CAEBV patients presented with increased expression of TLR7/TLR9 in monocytes and B lymphocytes. TLR9 expression in the B lymphocytes of IM patients was decreased compared with the CAEBV pateints. Downstream signaling mediators, including MyD88 and NF-κB, were revealed to be increased in EBV-infected patients. Moreover, the expression of MyD88 and NF-κB was higher in CAEBV patients, leading to disrupted balance of downstream cytokines. EBV may activate the immune system via TLR7/TLR9 signaling pathways. Moreover, the overactivated TLR7/TLR9 pathway in CAEBV patients resulted in excessive inflammation, which might be relevant to the poor prognosis.

DNA damage independent inhibition of NF-κB transcription by anthracyclines

Anthracyclines are among the most used and effective anticancer drugs. Their activity has been attributed to DNA double-strand breaks resulting from topoisomerase II poisoning and to eviction of histones from select sites in the genome. Here, we show that the extensively used anthracyclines Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin, and Epirubicin decrease the transcription of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent gene targets, but not interferon-responsive genes in primary mouse (Mus musculus) macrophages. Using an NMR-based structural approach, we demonstrate that anthracyclines disturb the complexes formed between the NF-κB subunit RelA and its DNA-binding sites. The anthracycline variants Aclarubicin, Doxorubicinone, and the newly developed Dimethyl-doxorubicin, which share anticancer properties with the other anthracyclines but do not induce DNA damage, also suppressed inflammation, thus uncoupling DNA damage from the effects on inflammation. These findings have implications for anticancer therapy and for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs with limited side effects for life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.

Effects of Puerarin on the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Puerarin, an isoflavone glycoside derived from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, has been identified as a pharmacologically active component with diverse benefits. A large number of experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that puerarin is widely used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Among them, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the world, and therefore remain one of the most prominent global public health concerns. In this review, we systematically analyze the preclinical investigations of puerarin in CVDs, such as atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, diabetic cardiovascular complications, myocardial infarction, stroke and hypertension. In addition, the potential molecular targets of puerarin are also discussed. Furthermore, we summarize the clinical trails of puerarin in the treatment of CVDs. Finally, the therapeutic effects of puerarin derivatives and its drug delivery systems are overviewed.

Targeting MAPK/NF-κB Pathways in Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Rutaecarpine: Impact on Src/FAK-Mediated Macrophage Migration

Studies have discovered that different extracts of Evodia rutaecarpa and its phytochemicals show a variety of biological activities associated with inflammation. Although rutaecarpine, an alkaloid isolated from the unripe fruit of E. rutaecarpa, has been exposed to have anti-inflammatory properties, the mechanism of action has not been well studied. Thus, this study investigated the molecular mechanisms of rutaecarpine (RUT) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. RUT reserved the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-1β in the LPS-induced macrophages. RUT showed an inhibitory effect on the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and it also inhibited nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) by hindering IκBα and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and p65 nuclear translocation. The phospho-PI3K and Akt was concentration-dependently suppressed by RUT. However, RUT not only suggestively reduced the migratory ability of macrophages and their numbers induced by LPS but also inhibited the phospho-Src, and FAK. Taken together, these results indicate that RUT participates a vital role in the inhibition of LPS-induced inflammatory processes in RAW 264.7 macrophages and that the mechanisms involve PI3K/Akt and MAPK-mediated downregulation of NF-κB signaling pathways. Notably, reducing the migration and number of cells induced by LPS via inhibiting of Src/FAK pathway was also included to the anti-inflammatory mechanism of RUT. Therefore, RUT may have potential benefits as a therapeutic agent against chronic inflammatory diseases.

Engineered synthetic cell penetrating peptide with intracellular anti-inflammatory bioactivity: An in vitro and in vivo study

Various biomaterials have been used for bone and cartilage regeneration, and inflammation associated with biomaterial implantation is also increased. A 15-mer synthetic anti-inflammatory peptide (SAP15) was designed from human β-defensin 3 to penetrate cells and induce intracellular downregulation of inflammation. The downregulation of inflammation was achieved by the binding of SAP15 to intracellular histone deacetylase (HDAC5). SAP15-mediated inhibition of inflammation was examined in vitro and in vivo using murine macrophages, human articular chondrocytes, and a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. Surface plasmon resonance and immunoprecipitation assays indicated that SAP15 binds to HDAC5. SAP15 inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced phosphorylation of intracellular HDAC5 and NF-κB p65 in murine macrophages. SAP15 treatment increased aggrecan and type II collagen expression and decreased osteocalcin expression in LPS-induced chondrocytes. Subcutaneous injection of SAP15-loaded sodium hyaluronic acid (HA) solution significantly decreased hind paw swelling, joint inflammation, and serum cytokine levels in CIA rats compared with the effects of sodium HA solution alone. The SAP15-loaded HA group exhibited preservation of cartilage and bone structure in CIA rat joints. Moreover, a more robust anti-inflammatory effect of the SAP15 loaded HA was observed than that of etanercept (an anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] antibody)-loaded HA. These findings suggest that SAP15 has an anti-inflammatory effect that is not controlled by sodium HA and is mediated by inhibiting HDAC5, unlike the anti-inflammatory mechanism of etanercept. These results demonstrate that SAP15 is useful as an inflammatory regulator of biomaterials and can be developed as a therapeutic for the treatment of inflammation.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Formula Guizhi Li-Zhong Tang as an Alternative to Antibiotic Feed Additives for Preventing Pneumonia in Piglets through Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antiapoptotic Protection

Weanling piglets often develop respiratory diseases such as pneumonia because they encounter substantial environmental stress. This study investigated an alternative herbal feed additive, Guizhi Li-Zhong Tang (GLZ), for preventing pneumonia in weanling piglets. An in vitro experiment demonstrated that GLZ has high antioxidant capacity and low cytotoxicity toward Kupffer cells. In addition, GLZ treatment can alleviate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced damage in Kupffer cells. A total of 94 4-week-old piglets were randomly divided into three groups, which received sham treatment, 0.2% Tilmicosin antibiotic (TAB) treatment, or 0.2% GLZ treatment. Piglets receiving the GLZ treatment had a higher survival rate and higher immunoglobulin G levels but lower allergy-related eosinophil levels and cough incidence than did piglets receiving the sham or 0.2% TAB treatments. Through immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, we discovered that piglets receiving the 0.2% GLZ treatment had significantly higher expression of antioxidant-related SOD2 and lower expression of oxidative-stress-related 3-NT (p < 0.01), inflammation-related TNF-α (p < 0.01) and NF-κB (p < 0.05), and apoptosis-related caspase-3 (p < 0.01) in lung tissue than did piglets receiving the sham or 0.2% TAB treatment. Therefore, GLZ treatment is promising as an alternative to antibiotic medicine for weanling piglets because of its protective antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects in lung tissue.

NF-κB Rel subunit exchange on a physiological timescale

The Rel proteins of the NF-κB complex comprise one of the most investigated transcription factor families, forming a variety of hetero- or homodimers. Nevertheless, very little is known about the fundamental kinetics of NF-κB complex assembly, or the inter-conversion potential of dimerised Rel subunits. Here, we examined an unexplored aspect of NF-κB dynamics, focusing on the dissociation and reassociation of the canonical p50 and p65 Rel subunits and their ability to form new hetero- or homodimers. We employed a soluble expression system to enable the facile production of NF-κB Rel subunits, and verified these proteins display canonical NF-κB nucleic acid binding properties. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, we demonstrated that, at physiological temperatures, homodimeric Rel complexes routinely exchange subunits with a half-life of less than 10 min. In contrast, we found a dramatic preference for the formation of the p50/p65 heterodimer, which demonstrated a kinetic stability of at least an order of magnitude greater than either homodimer. These results suggest that specific DNA targets of either the p50 or p65 homodimers can only be targeted when these subunits are expressed exclusively, or with the intervention of additional post-translational modifications. Together, this work implies a new model of how cells can modulate NF-κB activity by fine-tuning the relative proportions of the p50 and p65 proteins, as well as their time of expression. This work thus provides a new quantitative interpretation of Rel dimer distribution in the cell, particularly for those who are developing mathematical models of NF-κB activity.

Screening and identification of NOTCH1, CDKN2A, and NOS3 as differentially expressed autophagy-related genes in erectile dysfunction

Background

Loss of function of key autophagy genes are associated with a variety of diseases. However specific role of autophagy-related genes in erectile dysfunction ED remains unclear. This study explores the autophagy-related differentially expressed genes (ARGs) profiles and related molecular mechanisms in Corpus Cavernosum endothelial dysfunction, which is a leading cause of ED.

Methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to identify the key genes and pathways. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mined using the limma package in R language. Next, ARGs were obtained by matching DEGs and autophagy-related genes from GeneCard using Venn diagrams. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of ARGs were described using clusterProfiler and org.Hs.eg.db in R. Moreover, hub ARGs were screened out through protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene-microRNAs, and gene-transcription factors (TFs) networks then visualized using Cytoscape. Of note, the rat model of diabetic ED was established to validate some hub ARGs with qRT-PCR and Western blots.

Results

Twenty ARGs were identified from four ED samples and eight non-ED samples. GO analysis revealed that molecular functions (MF) of upregulated ARGs were mainly enriched in nuclear receptor activity. Also, MF of downregulated ARGs were mainly enriched in oxidoreductase activity, acting on NAD(P)H and heme proteins as acceptors. Moreover, six hub ARGs were identified by setting high degrees in the network. Additionally, hsa-mir-24-3p and hsa-mir-335-5p might play a central role in several ARGs regulation, and the transcription factors-hub genes network was centered with 13 ARGs. The experimental results further showed that the expression of Notch1, NOS3, and CDKN2A in the diabetic ED group was downregulated compared to the control.

Conclusions

Our study deepens the autophagy-related mechanistic understanding of endothelial dysfunction of ED. NOTCH1, CDKN2A, and NOS3 are involved in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction and may be potential therapeutic targets for ED by modulating autophagy.

Current Pharmacological Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by the absence of dystrophin protein, which is essential for muscle fiber integrity. Loss of dystrophin protein leads to recurrent myofiber damage, chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, and dysfunction of muscle stem cells. There is still no cure for DMD so far and the standard of care is principally limited to symptom relief through glucocorticoids treatments. Current therapeutic strategies could be divided into two lines. Dystrophin-targeted therapeutic strategies that aim at restoring the expression and/or function of dystrophin, including gene-based, cell-based and protein replacement therapies. The other line of therapeutic strategies aims to improve muscle function and quality by targeting the downstream pathological changes, including inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle atrophy. This review introduces the important developments in these two lines of strategies, especially those that have entered the clinical phase and/or have great potential for clinical translation. The rationale and efficacy of each agent in pre-clinical or clinical studies are presented. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of gene profiling in DMD patients has been performed to understand the molecular mechanisms of DMD.

Randomized, placebo controlled, double blinded pilot superiority phase 2 trial to evaluate the effect of curcumin in moderate to severe asthmatics

Background

Curcumin, a derivative of the spice turmeric, has been adopted by Eastern medicine for centuries as an adjunct to treat several medical conditions (e.g., anorexia and arthritis) because of its well-established anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that the use of curcumin in mice models has led to reduction in several inflammatory markers as well as key inflammatory pathway enzymes. As a result, studies in Western medicine have developed to determine if this recognized benefit can be utilized for patients with inflammatory lung diseases, such as asthma. This study will seek to better understand if curcumin can be used as an adjunctive therapy for improving asthma control of patients with moderate to severe asthma; a finding we hope will allow for a more affordable treatment.

Methods

This study will utilize a randomized, placebo controlled, double blinded pilot superiority phase 2 trial at an outpatient pulmonary clinic in Southern California, USA. Subjects will be receiving Curcumin 1500 mg or matching placebo by mouth twice daily for the study period of 12 weeks. Subjects will be randomized to either a placebo or intervention Curcumin. Subjects will have 6 clinic visits: screening visit, a baseline visit, monthly clinic visits (weeks 4, 8, and 12), at weeks 4, 8, and a follow-up clinic visit or phone-call (week 16). Changes in asthma control test scores, number of days missed from school/work, FEV1 (% predicted), FEV1/FVC ratio, FVC (% predicted), blood eosinophil count, blood total IgE, and FeNO levels will be compared by group over time.

Discussion

The therapeutic effects of curcumin have been studied on a limited basis in asthmatics and has shown mixed results thus far. Our study hopes to further establish the benefits of curcumin, however, there are potential issues that may arise from our study design that we will address within this paper. Moreover, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in safety concerns that have delayed initiation of our study. This study will contribute to existing literature on curcumin’s role in reducing lung inflammation as it presents in asthmatics as well as patients suffering from COVID-19.

Trial registration

This study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Loma Linda University Health, (NCT04353310). IND# 145101 Registered April 20th, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04353310.

Association between the rs3733846 in the flanking region of miR-143/145 and risk of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Aim: To investigate the effect of rs3733846 in the flanking region of miR-143/145 on susceptibility to cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Materials & methods: We collected venous blood samples from 242 CSCC patients and 250 healthy controls. The rs3733846 polymorphism was genotyped by SnaPshot and Sanger sequencing. The expression of miR-143/145 in CSCC tissues was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The rs3733846 AG genotype was associated with a decreased risk of CSCC in genetic model (AGvs.AA: adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.30-0.66; p < 0.001). Patients with the rs3733846 AG/GG genotypes had a reduced risk of developing poorly differential status (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.98; p < 0.04) and lymph node metastasis (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26-0.92; p < 0.03). Conclusion: The rs3733846 in the flanking region of miR-143/145 was related to the susceptibility of CSCC.

Lactucin induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated BCL-2 and CFLARL downregulation in Caki-1 cells

BACKGROUND

Lactucin, a naturally occurring active sesquiterpene lactone, is abundantly found in chicory and romaine lettuce. A recent study reported that lactucin could induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. However, its cytotoxicity and potential molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell death remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the direct effect and underlying mechanism of action of lactucin on renal cancer cells.

METHODS

MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein stability analyses were performed to analyze the effect of lactucin on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and CFLAR (CASP8 and FADD like apoptosis regulator) long isoform (CFLAR_L) in Caki-1 human renal cancer cells. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was evaluated using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Lactucin treatment induced apoptosis in Caki-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner via activation of the caspase pathway. It downregulated BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression levels by suppressing BCL-2 transcription and CFLAR_L protein stability, respectively. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-1-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, attenuated the lactucin-induced apoptosis and restored the BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression to basal levels. Lactucin-facilitated BCL-2 downregulation was regulated at the transcriptional level through the inactivation of the NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to demonstrate that lactucin-induced apoptosis is mediated by ROS production, which in turn activates the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway by inhibiting BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression in Caki-1 cells.

Selonsertib Alleviates the Progression of Rat Osteoarthritis: An in vitro and in vivo Study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease. Its development is highly associated with inflammatory response and apoptosis in chondrocytes. Selonsertib (Ser), the inhibitor of Apoptosis Signal-regulated kinase-1 (ASK1), has exhibited multiple therapeutic effects in several diseases. However, the exact role of Ser in OA remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the anti-arthritic effects as well as the potential mechanism of Ser on rat OA. Our results showed that Ser could markedly prevent the IL-1β-induced inflammatory reaction, cartilage degradation and cell apoptosis in rat chondrocytes. Meanwhile, the ASK1/P38/JNK and NFκB pathways were involved in the protective roles of Ser. Furthermore, intra-articular injection of Ser could significantly alleviate the surgery induced cartilage damage in rat OA model. In conclusion, our work provided insights into the therapeutic potential of Ser in OA, indicating that Ser might serve as a new avenue in OA treatment.

Role of Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: A Review of the Treatment Potential and Development Strategy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is mainly mediated by pathological T-cells. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-known animal model of MS that is used to study the underlying mechanism and offers a theoretical basis for developing a novel therapy for MS. Good therapeutic effects have been observed after the administration of natural compounds and their derivatives as treatments for EAE. However, there has been a severe lag in the research and development of drug mechanisms related to MS. This review examines natural products that have the potential to effectively treat MS. The relevant data were consulted in order to elucidate the regulated mechanisms acting upon EAE by the flavonoids, glycosides, and triterpenoids derived from natural products. In addition, novel technologies such as network pharmacology, molecular docking, and high-throughput screening have been gradually applied in natural product development. The information provided herein can help improve targeting and timeliness for determining the specific mechanisms involved in natural medicine treatment and lay a foundation for further study.

A review on the role of TANK-binding kinase 1 signaling in cancer

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) regulates various biological processes including, NF-κB signaling, immune response, autophagy, cell division, Ras-mediated oncogenesis, and AKT pro-survival signaling. Enhanced TBK1 activity is associated with autoimmune diseases and cancer, suggesting its role in therapeutic targeting of interferonopathies. In addition, dysregulation of TBK1 activity promotes several inflammatory disorders and oncogenesis. Structural and biochemical study reports provide the molecular process of TBK1 activation and recap the substrate selection about TBK1. This review summarizes recent findings on the molecular mechanisms by which TBK1 is involved in cancer signaling. The IKK-ε and TBK1 are together associated with inflammatory diseases by inducing type I IFNs. Furthermore, TBK1 signaling regulates radiation-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition by controlling phosphorylation of GSK-3β and expression of Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1, suggesting, TBK1 could be targeted for radiotherapy-induced metastasis therapy. Despite a considerable increase in the list of TBK1 inhibitors, only a few has potential to control cancer. Among them, a compound BX795 is considered a potent and selective inhibitor of TBK1. We discussed the therapeutic potential of small-molecule inhibitors of TBK1, particularly those with high selectivity, which will enable further exploration in the therapeutic management of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Matrix compliance permits NF-κB activation to drive therapy resistance in breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are associated with poor survival mediated by treatment resistance. TNBCs are fibrotic, yet little is known regarding how the extracellular matrix (ECM) evolves following therapy and whether it impacts treatment response. Analysis revealed that while primary untreated TNBCs are surrounded by a rigid stromal microenvironment, chemotherapy-resistant residual tumors inhabit a softer niche. TNBC organoid cultures and xenograft studies showed that organoids interacting with soft ECM exhibit striking resistance to chemotherapy, ionizing radiation, and death receptor ligand TRAIL. A stiff ECM enhanced proapoptotic JNK activity to sensitize cells to treatment, whereas a soft ECM promoted treatment resistance by elevating NF-κB activity and compromising JNK activity. Treatment-resistant residual TNBCs residing within soft stroma had elevated activated NF-κB levels, and disengaging NF-κB activity sensitized tumors in a soft matrix to therapy. Thus, the biophysical properties of the ECM modify treatment response, and agents that modulate stiffness-dependent NF-κB or JNK activity could enhance therapeutic efficacy in patients with TNBC.

IL-1β promotes cervical cancer through activating NF-κB/CCL-2

Cervical cancer is a malignancy with high morbidity and mortality among women. Interleukin (IL)-1β, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL-2), and activation of NF-κB have been proven to be closely related to the progression of various tumors. However, their role in cervical cancer remains unclear. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected using MTT, wound healing, and transwell assays. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to measure expression of target genes. IL-1β greatly promoted the release of CCL-2 from HeLa cells. Activation of NF-κB and phosphorylated NF-κB (p65) nuclear translocation were accelerated by IL-1β. TPCA-1, a blocker of NF-κB, significantly inhibited the release of CCL-2 from HeLa cells. TPCA-1 markedly reversed the promotional effect of IL-1β on viability of HeLa cells. IL-1β increased the cell migration, proliferation, and invasion of HeLa cells through targeting the NF-κB/CCL-2 pathway. IL-1β/NF-κB/CCL-2 might be a promising treatment target for cervical cancer treatment and prevention.

Rian/miR-210-3p/Nfkb1 Feedback Loop Promotes Hypoxia-Induced Cell Apoptosis in Myocardial Infarction Through Deactivating the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a severe disease that could lead to reversible or irreversible ischemic heart damage. A previous study has revealed that microRNA mmu-miR-210-3p expression is downregulated in fat-1 transgenic mice post-MI. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism of miR-210-3p in MI remains obscure. In this study, we observed that miR-210-3p expression was downregulated in the mice's left ventricle post-MI, and miR-210-3p expression was suppressed while cell apoptosis was promoted in H9c2 cells under hypoxia condition. Besides, miR-210-3p overexpression could enhance cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis in hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. Then, molecular mechanism assays revealed that miR-210-3p overexpression could activate the PI3K/Akt pathway, and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (Nfkb1) was the target of miR-210-3p. In addition, RNA imprinted and accumulated in nucleus (Rian), a long noncoding RNA, could sponge miR-210-3p to upregulate Nfkb1 expression. Besides, Nfkb1 was verified to facilitate the transcription of Rian by binding with a Rian promoter. Furthermore, rescue assays revealed that both Nfkb1 and PI3K/Akt pathway are engaged in the Rian-mediated cell proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. In conclusion, a Rian/miR-210-3p/Nfkb1 feedback loop enhances hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis in MI through deactivating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Immature Sword Bean Pod (Canavalia gladiata) in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW264.7 Cells

Sword bean has been known as a traditional medicinal plant to treat cancer, sinus infection, and suppurative disease. It also possesses hypertension-relieving, antioxidation, and antibacterial effects. However, studies on the efficacy of sword bean are limited to mature beans. Few studies have focused on immature sword bean pod (ISBP). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of ISBP in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were treated with ISBP at concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mg/mL), levels of nitrite oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, protein, and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inflammatory cytokine secretion level, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activity were determined. Under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS, ISBP reduced levels of inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 by 60% and 23%, respectively. It also decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 known to synthesize inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β, levels were decreased, while interferon gamma level was increased by ISBP based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real time-polymerase chain reaction results. Finally, ISBP showed the ability to inhibit NF-κB activity. In conclusion, ISBP can alleviate inflammation by controlling inflammation-related substances, and may have efficacy as a healthful functional food and natural anti-inflammatory drug.