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Wei L, Shi J. Insight Into Rho Kinase Isoforms in Obesity and Energy Homeostasis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:886534. [PMID: 35769086 PMCID: PMC9234286 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.886534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and associated complications increasingly jeopardize global health and contribute to the rapidly rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity-related diseases. Developing novel methods for the prevention and treatment of excess body adipose tissue expansion can make a significant contribution to public health. Rho kinase is a Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (Rho kinase or ROCK). The ROCK family including ROCK1 and ROCK2 has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Up-regulated ROCK activity has been involved in the pathogenesis of all aspects of metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The RhoA/ROCK-mediated actin cytoskeleton dynamics have been implicated in both white and beige adipogenesis. Studies using ROCK pan-inhibitors in animal models of obesity, diabetes, and associated complications have demonstrated beneficial outcomes. Studies via genetically modified animal models further established isoform-specific roles of ROCK in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders including obesity. However, most reported studies have been focused on ROCK1 activity during the past decade. Due to the progress in developing ROCK2-selective inhibitors in recent years, a growing body of evidence indicates more attention should be devoted towards understanding ROCK2 isoform function in metabolism. Hence, studying individual ROCK isoforms to reveal their specific roles and principal mechanisms in white and beige adipogenesis, insulin sensitivity, energy balancing regulation, and obesity development will facilitate significant breakthroughs for systemic treatment with isoform-selective inhibitors. In this review, we give an overview of ROCK functions in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance with a particular focus on the current understanding of ROCK isoform signaling in white and beige adipogenesis, obesity and thermogenesis in adipose tissue and other major metabolic organs involved in energy homeostasis regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wei
- *Correspondence: Lei Wei, ; Jianjian Shi,
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Carvajal JA, Oporto JI. The Myometrium in Pregnant Women with Obesity. Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2021; 19:193-200. [PMID: 32484103 DOI: 10.2174/1570161118666200525133530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a worldwide public health problem, affecting at least one-third of pregnant women. One of the main problems of obesity during pregnancy is the resulting high rate of cesarean section. The leading cause of this higher frequency of cesarean sections in obese women, compared with that in nonobese women, is an altered myometrial function that leads to lower frequency and potency of contractions. In this article, the disruptions of myometrial myocytes were reviewed in obese women during pregnancy that may explain the dysfunctional labor. The myometrium of obese women exhibited lower expression of connexin43, a lower function of the oxytocin receptor, and higher activity of the potassium channels. Adipokines, such as leptin, visfatin, and apelin, whose concentrations are higher in obese women, decreased myometrial contractility, perhaps by inhibiting the myometrial RhoA/ROCK pathway. The characteristically higher cholesterol levels of obese women alter myometrial myocyte cell membranes, especially the caveolae, inhibiting oxytocin receptor function, and increasing the K+ channel activity. All these changes in the myometrial cells or their environment decrease myometrial contractility, at least partially explaining the higher rate of cesarean of sections in obese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Carvajal
- Departamento de Obstetricia, Unidad de Medicina Materno Fetal, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Joaquín I Oporto
- Estudiante de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Zhao S, Cao R, Zhang S, Kang Y. Explore the Protective Role of Obesity in the Progression of Myocardial Infarction. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:629734. [PMID: 33842562 PMCID: PMC8026861 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.629734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity has been shown as a risk factor to increase the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). However, obesity has also been linked to the decreased mortality of acute MI with unknown mechanisms. Here, we firstly used large-scale literature data mining to identify obesity downstream targets and MI upstream regulators with polarity, based on which an obesity-MI regulatory network was constructed. Then, a gene set enrichment analysis was conducted to explore the functional profile of the genes involved in the obesity-MI regulatory networks. After that, a mega-analysis using MI RNA expression datasets was conducted to test the expression of obesity-specific genes in MI patients, followed by a shortest-path analysis to explore any potential gene-MI association. Our results suggested that obesity could inhibit 11 MI promoters, including NPPB, NPPA, IRS1, SMAD3, MIR155, ADRB1, AVP, MAPK14, MC3R, ROCK1, and COL3A1, which were mainly involved in blood pressure-related pathways. Our study suggested that obesity could influence MI progression by driving multiple genes associated with blood pressure regulation. Moreover, PTH could be a novel obesity driven gene associated with the pathogenesis of MI, which needs further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Rongyuan Cao
- Department of Cardiology, Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Shuhua Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Yan Kang
- Human Biochemical Genetics Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Frehner BL, Reichler IM, Kowalewski MP, Gram A, Keller S, Goericke-Pesch S, Balogh O. Implications of the RhoA/Rho associated kinase pathway and leptin in primary uterine inertia in the dog. J Reprod Dev 2021; 67:207-215. [PMID: 33746146 PMCID: PMC8238673 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2020-141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying functional and molecular changes in canine primary uterine inertia (PUI) are still not clarified. Leptin (Lep) and obesity negatively affect
uterine contractility in women, partly mediated by the RhoA/Rho associated kinase pathway, affecting myometrial calcium sensitization. We hypothesized that
increased uterine Lep/Lep receptor (LepR) or decreased RhoA/Rho associated kinase expression contributes to PUI in dogs, independent of obesity. Dogs presented
for dystocia were grouped into PUI (n = 11) or obstructive dystocia (OD, still showing strong labor contractions; n = 7). Interplacental full-thickness uterine
biopsies were collected during Cesarean section for relative gene expression (RGE) of RhoA, its effector kinases (ROCK1,
ROCK2), Lep and LepR by qPCR. Protein and/or mRNA expression and localization was evaluated by immunohistochemistry
and in situ hybridization. RGE was compared between groups by one-way ANOVA using body weight as covariate with statistical significance at P
< 0.05. Uterine ROCK1 and ROCK2 gene expression was significantly higher in PUI than OD, while RhoA and
Lep did not differ. LepR RGE was below the detection limit in five PUI and all OD dogs. Litter size had no influence. Lep,
LepR, RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 protein and/or mRNA were localized in the myometrium and endometrium. Uterine protein expression appeared similar between groups.
LepR mRNA signals appeared stronger in PUI than OD. In conclusion, lasting, strong labor contractions in OD likely resulted in downregulation
of uterine ROCK1 and ROCK2, contrasting the higher expression in PUI dogs with insufficient contractions. The Lep-LepR system
may affect uterine contractility in non-obese PUI dogs in a paracrine-autocrine manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Lourdes Frehner
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iris Margaret Reichler
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Aykut Gram
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Turkey
| | - Stefanie Keller
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Goericke-Pesch
- Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.,Reproductive Unit of the Clinics - Small Animal, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Orsolya Balogh
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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The effect of morbid obesity or advanced maternal age on oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions: an in vitro study. Can J Anaesth 2020; 67:836-846. [PMID: 32189217 DOI: 10.1007/s12630-020-01615-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Prendergast C. Maternal phenotype: how do age, obesity and diabetes affect myometrial function? CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2019.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
The study aimed to measure the presence of rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) mRNA in serum samples collected from glioma and investigate its diagnostic significance in glioma.The presence of ROCK1 mRNA was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between ROCK1 mRNA and clinical characteristics was analyzed via Chi-square test. The criteria of diagnosis evaluation, including sensitivity, specificity, optimal cutoff point, and area under the curve (AUC) were determined through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ROCK1 mRNA was significantly increased in serum samples collected from glioma patients compared to the controls (P <.05). Besides, high ROCK1 mRNA expression was tightly related with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (P = .024) and World Health Organization (WHO) grade (P = .029). However, there was no association between ROCK1 expression and gender, neurological disorders, family history and cigarette smoking (all, P >.05). In addition, the optimal cutoff point was 3.025, with the sensitivity and specificity of 88.89% and 79.25%, respectively. The AUC was 0.881, indicating that ROCK1 was a diagnostic biomarker for glioma patients (P <.0001, 95% CI = 0.829-0.933).Serum ROCK1 mRNA is significantly up-regulated in glioma cases compared to healthy controls. ROCK1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin 4th Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin 4th Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
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Misleading Westerns: Common Quantification Mistakes in Western Blot Densitometry and Proposed Corrective Measures. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:5214821. [PMID: 30800670 PMCID: PMC6360618 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5214821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Densitometry data generated for Western blots are commonly used to compare protein abundance between samples. In the last decade, it has become apparent that assumptions underpinning these comparisons are often violated in studies reporting Western blot data in the literature. These violations can lead to erroneous interpretations of data and may contribute to poor reproducibility of research. We assessed the reliability of Western blot data obtained to study human myometrial tissue proteins. We ran dilution series of protein lysates to explore the linearity of densitometry data. Proteins analysed included αSMA, HSP27, ERK1/2, and GAPDH. While ideal densitometry data are directly proportional to protein abundance, our data confirm that densitometry data often deviate from this ideal, in which case they can fit nonproportional linear or hyperbolic mathematical models and can reach saturation. Nonlinear densitometry data were observed when Western blots were detected using infrared fluorescence or chemiluminescence, and under different SDS-PAGE conditions. We confirm that ghosting artefacts associated with overabundance of proteins of interest in Western blots can skew findings. We also confirm that when data to be normalised are not directly proportional to protein abundance, it is a mistake to use the normalisation technique of dividing densitometry data from the protein-of-interest with densitometry data from loading control protein(s), as this can cause the normalised data to be unusable for making comparisons. Using spiked proteins in a way that allowed us to control the total protein amount per lane, while only changing the amount of spiked proteins, we confirm that nonlinearity and saturation of densitometry data, and errors introduced from normalisation processes, can occur in routine assays that compare equal amounts of lysate. These findings apply to all Western blot studies, and we highlight quality control checks that should be performed to make Western blot data more quantitative.
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Escalante-Gaytán J, Reyes-Lagos JJ, Peña-Castillo MÁ, Echeverría JC, García-González MT, Becerril-Villanueva E, Pavón L, Ledesma-Ramírez CI, Ayala-Yáñez R, González-Camarena R, Pacheco-López G. Associations of Immunological Markers and Anthropometric Measures with Linear and Nonlinear Electrohysterographic Parameters at Term Active Labor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.3233/nib-170127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Escalante-Gaytán
- Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEMex), Faculty of Medicine, Toluca, Mexico
| | | | - Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Iztapalapa, Division of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Echeverría
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Iztapalapa, Division of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María Teresa García-González
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Iztapalapa, Division of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Lenin Pavón
- Department of Psychoimmunology, National Institute of Psychiatry, “Ramón de la Fuente”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Ramón González-Camarena
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Iztapalapa, Division of Biological and Health Sciences, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Pacheco-López
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Campus Lerma, Division of Biological and Health Sciences, Lerma, Mexico
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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El Zowalaty AE, Li R, Zheng Y, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ, Ye X. Deletion of RhoA in Progesterone Receptor-Expressing Cells Leads to Luteal Insufficiency and Infertility in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2017; 158:2168-2178. [PMID: 28498971 PMCID: PMC5505209 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) is widely expressed throughout the female reproductive system. To assess its role in progesterone receptor-expressing cells, we generated RhoA conditional knockout mice RhoAd/d (RhoAf/f-Pgr-Cre+/-). RhoAd/d female mice had comparable mating activity, serum luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and estradiol levels and ovulation with control but were infertile with progesterone insufficiency, indicating impaired steroidogenesis in RhoAd/d corpus luteum (CL). RhoA was highly expressed in wild-type luteal cells and conditionally deleted in RhoAd/d CL. Gestation day 3.5 (D3.5) RhoAd/d ovaries had reduced numbers of CL, less defined corpus luteal cord formation, and disorganized CL collagen IV staining. RhoAd/d CL had lipid droplet and free cholesterol accumulation, indicating the availability of cholesterol for steroidogenesis, but disorganized β-actin and vimentin staining, indicating disrupted cytoskeleton integrity. Cytoskeleton is important for cytoplasmic cholesterol movement to mitochondria and for regulating mitochondria. Dramatically reduced expression of mitochondrial markers heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), voltage-dependent anion channel, and StAR was detected in RhoAd/d CL. StAR carries out the rate-limiting step of steroidogenesis. StAR messenger RNA expression was reduced in RU486-treated D3.5 wild-type CL and tended to be induced in progesterone-treated D3.5 RhoAd/d CL, with parallel changes of HSP60 expression. These data demonstrated the in vivo function of RhoA in CL luteal cell cytoskeleton integrity, cholesterol transport, StAR expression, and progesterone synthesis, and a positive feedback on StAR expression in CL by progesterone signaling. These findings provide insights into mechanisms of progesterone insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed E. El Zowalaty
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory/Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - Xiaoqin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
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