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Ayyadurai VAS, Deonikar P, Fields C. Mechanistic Understanding of D-Glucaric Acid to Support Liver Detoxification Essential to Muscle Health Using a Computational Systems Biology Approach. Nutrients 2023; 15:733. [PMID: 36771439 PMCID: PMC9921405 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver and muscle health are intimately connected. Nutritional strategies that support liver detoxification are beneficial to muscle recovery. Computational-in silico-molecular systems' biology analysis of supplementation of calcium and potassium glucarate salts and their metabolite D-glucaric acid (GA) reveals their positive effect on mitigation of liver detoxification via four specific molecular pathways: (1) ROS production, (2) deconjugation, (3) apoptosis of hepatocytes, and (4) β-glucuronidase synthesis. GA improves liver detoxification by downregulating hepatocyte apoptosis, reducing glucuronide deconjugates levels, reducing ROS production, and inhibiting β-Glucuronidase enzyme that reduces re-absorption of toxins in hepatocytes. Results from this in silico study provide an integrative molecular mechanistic systems explanation for the mitigation of liver toxicity by GA.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai
- Systems Biology Group, CytoSolve Research Division, CytoSolve, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Prabhakar Deonikar
- Systems Biology Group, CytoSolve Research Division, CytoSolve, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Christine Fields
- Applied Food Sciences Inc., 8708 South Congress Suite 290, Austin, TX 78745, USA
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Liu B, Liu Q, Yang L, Palaniappan SK, Bahar I, Thiagarajan PS, Ding JL. Innate immune memory and homeostasis may be conferred through crosstalk between the TLR3 and TLR7 pathways. Sci Signal 2016; 9:ra70. [PMID: 27405980 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aac9340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and stimulate the innate immune response through the production of cytokines. The innate immune response depends on the timing of encountering PAMPs, suggesting a short-term "memory." In particular, activation of TLR3 appears to prime macrophages for the subsequent activation of TLR7, which leads to synergistically increased production of cytokines. By developing a calibrated mathematical model for the kinetics of TLR3 and TLR7 pathway crosstalk and providing experimental validation, we demonstrated the involvement of the Janus-activated kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway in controlling the synergistic production of cytokines. Signaling through this pathway played a dual role: It mediated the synergistic production of cytokines, thus boosting the immune response, and it also maintained homeostasis to avoid an excessive inflammatory response. Thus, we propose that the JAK-STAT pathway provides a cytokine rheostat mechanism, which enables macrophages to fine-tune their responses to multiple, temporally separated infection events involving the TLR3 and TLR7 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Liu
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15220, USA
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | | | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15220, USA
| | - P S Thiagarajan
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jeak Ling Ding
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
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Salim T, Sershen CL, May EE. Investigating the Role of TNF-α and IFN-γ Activation on the Dynamics of iNOS Gene Expression in LPS Stimulated Macrophages. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153289. [PMID: 27276061 PMCID: PMC4898755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophage produced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is known to play a critical role in the proinflammatory response against intracellular pathogens by promoting the generation of bactericidal reactive nitrogen species. Robust and timely production of nitric oxide (NO) by iNOS and analogous production of reactive oxygen species are critical components of an effective immune response. In addition to pathogen associated lipopolysaccharides (LPS), iNOS gene expression is dependent on numerous proinflammatory cytokines in the cellular microenvironment of the macrophage, two of which include interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). To understand the synergistic effect of IFN-γ and TNF-α activation, and LPS stimulation on iNOS expression dynamics and NO production, we developed a systems biology based mathematical model. Using our model, we investigated the impact of pre-infection cytokine exposure, or priming, on the system. We explored the essentiality of IFN-γ priming to the robustness of initial proinflammatory response with respect to the ability of macrophages to produce reactive species needed for pathogen clearance. Results from our theoretical studies indicated that IFN-γ and subsequent activation of IRF1 are essential in consequential production of iNOS upon LPS stimulation. We showed that IFN-γ priming at low concentrations greatly increases the effector response of macrophages against intracellular pathogens. Ultimately the model demonstrated that although TNF-α contributed towards a more rapid response time, measured as time to reach maximum iNOS production, IFN-γ stimulation was significantly more significant in terms of the maximum expression of iNOS and the concentration of NO produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taha Salim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cheryl L. Sershen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Elebeoba E. May
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Liu Q, Ding JL. The molecular mechanisms of TLR-signaling cooperation in cytokine regulation. Immunol Cell Biol 2016; 94:538-42. [PMID: 26860369 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2016.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Innate immune cells recognize pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), and activation of PRRs induces downstream signaling pathways to mount appropriate immune responses. Pathogens usually carry multiple ligands, which can simultaneously activate multiple PRRs. The cooperation of multiple PRRs and consequential crosstalk between their downstream pathways could enhance cytokine expression, which is required for effective immune responses. On the other hand, immune over-activation could also harm the host if immune homeostasis is not restored. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of PRR cooperation during an infection. As the best characterized PRRs, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have an important role in pathogen recognition, and crosstalk among TLRs is common. In this review, we provide an update on the recent findings on the mechanisms of TLR cooperation. We summarize the known mechanisms and provide a future perspective on TLR crosstalk study, with a caution against the use of multiple TLR ligands as adjuvants in therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeak Ling Ding
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Szabo A. Psychedelics and Immunomodulation: Novel Approaches and Therapeutic Opportunities. Front Immunol 2015; 6:358. [PMID: 26236313 PMCID: PMC4500993 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical psychedelics are psychoactive substances, which, besides their psychopharmacological activity, have also been shown to exert significant modulatory effects on immune responses by altering signaling pathways involved in inflammation, cellular proliferation, and cell survival via activating NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Recently, several neurotransmitter receptors involved in the pharmacology of psychedelics, such as serotonin and sigma-1 receptors, have also been shown to play crucial roles in numerous immunological processes. This emerging field also offers promising treatment modalities in the therapy of various diseases including autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions, infections, and cancer. However, the scarcity of available review literature renders the topic unclear and obscure, mostly posing psychedelics as illicit drugs of abuse and not as physiologically relevant molecules or as possible agents of future pharmacotherapies. In this paper, the immunomodulatory potential of classical serotonergic psychedelics, including N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine will be discussed from a perspective of molecular immunology and pharmacology. Special attention will be given to the functional interaction of serotonin and sigma-1 receptors and their cross-talk with toll-like and RIG-I-like pattern-recognition receptor-mediated signaling. Furthermore, novel approaches will be suggested feasible for the treatment of diseases with chronic inflammatory etiology and pathology, such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Szabo
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen , Debrecen , Hungary
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Szabo A, Rajnavolgyi E. Collaboration of Toll-like and RIG-I-like receptors in human dendritic cells: tRIGgering antiviral innate immune responses. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 2:195-207. [PMID: 24179728 PMCID: PMC3808934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) represent a functionally diverse and flexible population of rare cells with the unique capability of binding, internalizing and detecting various microorganisms and their components. However, the response of DCs to innocuous or pathogenic microbes is highly dependent on the type of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that interact with phylogenetically conserved and functionally indispensable microbial targets that involve both self and foreign structures such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. Recently, special attention has been drawn to nucleic acid receptors that are able to evoke robust innate immune responses mediated by type I interferons and inflammatory cytokine production against intracellular pathogens. Both conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (cDCs and pDCs) express specific nucleic acid recognizing receptors, such as members of the membrane Toll-like receptor (TLR) and the cytosolic RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) families. TLR3, TLR7/TLR8 and TLR9 are localized in the endosomal membrane and are specialized for the recognition of viral double-stranded RNA, single-stranded RNA, and nonmethylated DNA, respectively whereas RLRs (RIG-I, MDA5, and LGP2) are cytosolic proteins that sense various viral RNA species. In this review we discuss the significance of detecting the genomic content of viruses by DC subsets capable of linking innate and adaptive immunity, and several viral evasion mechanisms that may allow us to better understand these responses. A particular attention is paid to the possible collaboration of TLR and RLR sensors in anti-viral protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Szabo
- Department of Immunology, University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center Debrecen, Hungary
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St Laurent G, Shtokalo D, Tackett MR, Yang Z, Eremina T, Wahlestedt C, Urcuqui-Inchima S, Seilheimer B, McCaffrey TA, Kapranov P. Intronic RNAs constitute the major fraction of the non-coding RNA in mammalian cells. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:504. [PMID: 23006825 PMCID: PMC3507791 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The function of RNA from the non-coding (the so called "dark matter") regions of the genome has been a subject of considerable recent debate. Perhaps the most controversy is regarding the function of RNAs found in introns of annotated transcripts, where most of the reads that map outside of exons are usually found. However, it has been reported that the levels of RNA in introns are minor relative to those of the corresponding exons, and that changes in the levels of intronic RNAs correlate tightly with that of adjacent exons. This would suggest that RNAs produced from the vast expanse of intronic space are just pieces of pre-mRNAs or excised introns en route to degradation. RESULTS We present data that challenges the notion that intronic RNAs are mere by-standers in the cell. By performing a highly quantitative RNAseq analysis of transcriptome changes during an inflammation time course, we show that intronic RNAs have a number of features that would be expected from functional, standalone RNA species. We show that there are thousands of introns in the mouse genome that generate RNAs whose overall abundance, which changes throughout the inflammation timecourse, and other properties suggest that they function in yet unknown ways. CONCLUSIONS So far, the focus of non-coding RNA discovery has shied away from intronic regions as those were believed to simply encode parts of pre-mRNAs. Results presented here suggest a very different situation--the sequences encoded in the introns appear to harbor a yet unexplored reservoir of novel, functional RNAs. As such, they should not be ignored in surveys of functional transcripts or other genomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges St Laurent
- Immunovirology-Biogenisis Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin A.A. 1226, Colombia.
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