A lifetime of stress: ATF6 in development and homeostasis

CTGF regulated by ATF6 inhibits vascular endothelial inflammation and reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Vascular endothelial inflammation is crucial in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Our previous research has shown that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), secreted by endothelial cells, protects against acute liver injury, but its upstream mechanism is unclear. We aimed to clarify the protective role of CTGF in endothelial cell inflammation during IRI and reveal the regulation between endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and CTGF. Hypoxia/reoxygenation in endothelial cells, hepatic IRI in mice and clinical specimens were used to examine the relationships between CTGF and inflammatory factors and determine how ATF6 regulates CTGF and reduces damage. We found that activating ATF6 promoted CTGF expression and reduced liver damage in hepatic IRI. In vitro, activated ATF6 upregulated CTGF and downregulated inflammation, while ATF6 inhibition had the opposite effect. Dual-luciferase assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that activated ATF6 binds to the CTGF promoter, enhancing its expression. Activated ATF6 increases CTGF and reduces extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, decreasing inflammatory factors. Conversely, inhibiting ATF6 decreases CTGF and increases the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, increasing inflammatory factor levels. ERK1/2 inhibition reverses this effect. Clinical samples have shown that CTGF increases after IRI, inversely correlating with inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, ATF6 activation during liver IRI enhances CTGF expression and reduces endothelial inflammation via ERK1/2 inhibition, providing a novel target for diagnosing and treating liver IRI.

Sestrin2 serves as a scaffold protein to maintain cardiac energy and metabolic homeostasis during pathological stress

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Metabolic imbalances and pathological stress often contribute to increased mortality. Sestrin2 (Sesn2) is a stress-inducible protein crucial in maintaining cardiac energy and metabolic homeostasis under pathological conditions. Sesn2 is upregulated in response to various stressors, including oxidative stress, hypoxia, and energy depletion, and mediates multiple cellular pathways to enhance antioxidant defenses, promote autophagy, and inhibit inflammation. This review explores the mechanisms through which Sesn2 regulates these pathways, focusing on the AMPK-mTORC1, Sesn2-Nrf2, and HIF1α-Sesn2 pathways, among others. We can identify the potential therapeutic targets for treating CVDs and related metabolic disorders by comprehending these complex mechanisms. Sesn2's unique ability to respond thoroughly to metabolic challenges, oxidative stress, and inflammation makes it a promising prospect for enhancing cardiac health and resilience against pathological stress.

Upregulation of GRP78 is accompanied by decreased antioxidant response and mitophagy promotion in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are interconnected processes involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study, we demonstrate a distinct unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways in two mammalian models of DM: β-TC-6 cell line and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model in rats. However, a feature common to both systems was the upregulation of the GRP78 protein. Moreover, in vivo studies showed the disruption of the antioxidant system and an escalation of mitophagy against the background of a depletion of the level of ATP in pancreatic cells. In conclusion, we suggest that glucotoxic conditions induced GRP78 upregulation, and next cause depletion of the antioxidant pool and disruption of the functioning of antioxidant defense enzymes and in consequence promote mitophagy in pancreatic cells. Therefore, GRP78 may be considered as a potential therapeutic factor in patients with diabetes.

Identification of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated genes and subtypes for predicting risk signature and depicting immune features in inflammatory bowel disease

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) becomes a significant factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), like Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Our research was aimed at identifying molecular markers to enhance our understanding of ERS and inflammation in IBD, recognizing risk factors and high-risk groups at the molecular level, and developing a predictive model on the grounds of based on ERS-associated genes. This research adopted the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and logistic regression to build a predictive model, and categorized IBD patients into high- and low-risk groups, and then identified four gene clusters. Our key findings included a significant increase in drug target gene expression in high-risk groups, notable discrepancies in immune levels, and functions between high-risk and low-risk groups. Notably, the TAP1 gene emerged as a strong predictor with the highest diagnostic value (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.941). TAP1 encodes proteins required for antigenic peptide transfer across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, and its potential as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target is reflected by its overexpression in IBD tissues. Our study established a new ERS-associated gene model which could forecast the risk, immunological status, and treatment efficacy of patients with IBD. These findings suggest potential targets for personalized therapy and highlight the significance of ERS in the etiology and therapy of IBD. Future studies should explore the therapeutic potential of targeting TAP1 and other ERS-related genes for IBD management.

The role of interleukin-10 in mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress in aged mice through exercise

Although unfolded protein response (UPR) is essential for cellular protection, its prolonged activation may induce apoptosis, compromising cellular longevity. The aging process increases the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in skeletal muscle. However, whether combined exercise can prevent age-induced ER stress in skeletal muscle remains unknown. Evidence suggests that ER stress may increase inflammation by counteracting the positive effects of interleukin-10 (IL-10), whereas its administration in cells inhibits ER stress and apoptosis. This study verified the effects of aging and combined exercise on physical performance, ER stress markers, and inflammation in the quadriceps of mice. Moreover, we verified the effects of IL-10 on ER stress markers. C57BL/6 mice were distributed into young (Y, 6 mo old), old sedentary (OS, sedentary, 24 mo old), and old trained group (OT, submitted to short-term combined exercise, 24 mo old). To clarify the role of IL-10 in UPR pathways, knockout mice lacking IL-10 were used. The OS mice presented worse physical performance and higher ER stress-related proteins, such as C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and phospho-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (p-eIF2α/eIF2α). The exercise protocol increased muscle strength and IL-10 protein levels in OT while inducing the downregulation of CHOP protein levels compared with OS. Furthermore, mice lacking IL-10 increased BiP, CHOP, and p-eIF2α/eIF2α protein levels, indicating this cytokine can regulate the ER stress response in skeletal muscle. Bioinformatics analysis showed that endurance and resistance training downregulated DNA damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3) and XBP1 gene expression in the vastus lateralis of older people, reinforcing our findings. Thus, combined exercise is a potential therapeutic intervention for promoting adjustments in ER stress markers in aged skeletal muscle.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Aging elevates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in skeletal muscle, potentially heightening inflammation by opposing interleukin-10 (IL-10) effects. This study found that short-term combined exercise boosted strength and IL-10 protein levels while reducing CHOP protein levels in older mice. In addition, IL-10-deficient mice exhibited increased ER stress markers, highlighting IL-10's role in regulating ER stress in skeletal muscle. Consequently, combined exercise emerges as a therapeutic intervention to elevate IL-10 and adjust ER stress markers in aging.

Validation of candidate protein biomarkers previously identified by genetic instruments for prostate cancer risk: A prospective cohort analysis of directly measured protein levels in the ARIC study

BACKGROUND

Multiple novel protein biomarkers have been shown to be associated with prostate cancer risk using genetic instruments. This study aimed to externally validate the associations of 30 genetically predicted candidate proteins with prostate cancer risk using aptamer-based levels in US Black and White men in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Plasma protein levels were previously measured by SomaScan® using the blood collected in 1990-1992.

METHODS

Among 4864 eligible participants, we ascertained 667 first primary prostate cancer cases through 2015. Hazard ratios (HRs) of prostate cancer and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression for tertiles of each protein. We adjusted for age, race, and other risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the 30 proteins and considering a nominal p trend < 0.05, two were positively associated with prostate cancer risk-RF1ML (tertile 3 vs. 1: HR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.02-1.48; p trend = 0.037) and TPST1 (1.28, 95% CI 1.06-1.55; p trend = 0.0087); two were inversely associated-ATF6A (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.65-0.98; p trend = 0.028) and SPINT2 (HR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.90; p trend = 0.0025). One protein, KDEL2, which was nonlinearly associated (test-for-linearity: p < 0.01) showed a statistically significant lower risk in the second tertile (HR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.95). Of these five, four proteins-ATF6A, KDEL2, RF1ML, and TPST1-were consistent in the direction of association with the discovery studies.

CONCLUSION

This study validated some pre-diagnostic protein biomarkers of the risk of prostate cancer.

Transcriptional dynamics orchestrating the development and integration of neurons born in the adult hippocampus

The adult hippocampus generates new granule cells (aGCs) with functional capabilities that convey unique forms of plasticity to the preexisting circuits. While early differentiation of adult radial glia-like cells (RGLs) has been studied extensively, the molecular mechanisms guiding the maturation of postmitotic neurons remain unknown. Here, we used a precise birthdating strategy to study aGC differentiation using single-nuclei RNA sequencing. Transcriptional profiling revealed a continuous trajectory from RGLs to mature aGCs, with multiple immature stages bearing increasing levels of effector genes supporting growth, excitability, and synaptogenesis. Analysis of differential gene expression, pseudo-time trajectory, and transcription factors (TFs) revealed critical transitions defining four cellular states: quiescent RGLs, proliferative progenitors, immature aGCs, and mature aGCs. Becoming mature aGCs involved a transcriptional switch that shuts down pathways promoting cell growth, such SoxC TFs, to activate programs that likely control neuronal homeostasis. aGCs overexpressing Sox4 or Sox11 remained immature. Our results unveil precise molecular mechanisms driving adult RGLs through the pathway of neuronal differentiation.

Identification of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) as a novel prognostic biomarker and potential target in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is originating from oral mucosal epithelial cells. Autophagy plays a crucial role in cancer treatment by promoting cellular self-degradation and eliminating damaged components, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we aim to identify a novel autophagy-related biomarker to improve OSCC therapy.

METHODS

We firstly utilized Cox and Lasso analyses to identify that ATF6 is associated with OSCC prognosis, and validated the results by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. We further identified the downstream pathways and related genes by enrichment analysis and WGCNA analysis. Subsequently, we used short interfering RNA to investigate the effects of ATF6 knockdown on proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy in SCC-9 and SCC-15 cells through cell viability assay, transwell assay, EdU incorporation assay, flow cytometry analysis, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence analysis, etc. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analyses showed that ATF6 overexpression was associated with prognosis and detrimental to survival. In vitro studies verified that ATF6 knockdown reduced OSCC cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, ATF6 knockdown could promote cellular autophagy and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

We propose that ATF6 holds potential as a prognostic biomarker linked to autophagy in OSCC. This study provides valuable clues for further exploration of targeted therapy against OSCC.

Molecular basis of neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Polr3-related disease

Pathogenic variants in subunits of RNA polymerase (Pol) III cause a spectrum of Polr3-related neurodegenerative diseases including 4H leukodystrophy. Disease onset occurs from infancy to early adulthood and is associated with a variable range and severity of neurological and non-neurological features. The molecular basis of Polr3-related disease pathogenesis is unknown. We developed a postnatal whole-body mouse model expressing pathogenic Polr3a mutations to examine the molecular mechanisms by which reduced Pol III transcription results primarily in central nervous system phenotypes. Polr3a mutant mice exhibit behavioral deficits, cerebral pathology and exocrine pancreatic atrophy. Transcriptome and immunohistochemistry analyses of cerebra during disease progression show a reduction in most Pol III transcripts, induction of innate immune and integrated stress responses and cell type-specific gene expression changes reflecting neuron and oligodendrocyte loss and microglial activation. Earlier in the disease when integrated stress and innate immune responses are minimally induced, mature tRNA sequencing revealed a global reduction in tRNA levels and an altered tRNA profile but no changes in other Pol III transcripts. Thus, changes in the size and/or composition of the tRNA pool have a causal role in disease initiation. Our findings reveal different tissue- and brain region-specific sensitivities to a defect in Pol III transcription.

Long non-coding RNA-mediated modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress under pathological conditions

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which ensues from an overwhelming protein folding capacity, activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) in an effort to restore cellular homeostasis. As ER stress is associated with numerous diseases, it is highly important to delineate the molecular mechanisms governing the ER stress to gain insight into the disease pathology. Long non-coding RNAs, transcripts with a length of over 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins, interact with proteins and nucleic acids, fine-tuning the UPR to restore ER homeostasis via various modes of actions. Dysregulation of specific lncRNAs is implicated in the progression of ER stress-related diseases, presenting these molecules as promising therapeutic targets. The comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between lncRNAs and ER stress for insights into disease mechanisms. Overall, this review consolidates current knowledge, identifies research gaps and offers a roadmap for future investigations into the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in ER stress and associated diseases to shed light on their pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of related diseases.

RNASeq highlights ATF6 pathway regulators for CHO cell engineering with different impacts of ATF6β and WFS1 knockdown on fed-batch production of IgG1

Secretion levels required of industrial Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines can challenge endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, and ER stress caused by accumulation of misfolded proteins can be a bottleneck in biomanufacturing. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is initiated to restore homeostasis in response to ER stress, and optimization of the UPR can improve CHO cell production of therapeutic proteins. We compared the fed-batch growth, production characteristics, and transcriptomic response of an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) producer to its parental, non-producing host cell line. We conducted differential gene expression analysis using high throughput RNA sequencing (RNASeq) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to study the ER stress response of each cell line during fed-batch culture. The UPR was activated in the IgG1 producer compared to the host cell line and our analysis of differential expression profiles indicated transient upregulation of ATF6α target mRNAs in the IgG1 producer, suggesting two upstream regulators of the ATF6 arm of the UPR, ATF6β and WFS1, are rational engineering targets. Although both ATF6β and WFS1 have been reported to negatively regulate ATF6α, this study shows knockdown of either target elicits different effects in an IgG1-producing CHO cell line. Stable knockdown of ATF6β decreased cell growth without decreasing titer; however, knockdown of WFS1 decreased titer without affecting growth. Relative expression measured by qPCR indicated no direct relationship between ATF6β and WFS1 expression, but upregulation of WFS1 in one pool was correlated with decreased growth and upregulation of ER chaperone mRNAs. While knockdown of WFS1 had negative impacts on UPR activation and product mRNA expression, knockdown of ATF6β improved the UPR specifically later in fed-batch leading to increased overall productivity.

Crosstalk between protein misfolding and endoplasmic reticulum stress during ageing and their role in age-related disorders

Maintaining the proteome is crucial to retaining cell functionality and response to multiple intrinsic and extrinsic stressors. Protein misfolding increased the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activated the adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore cell homeostasis. Apoptosis occurs when ER stress is prolonged or the adaptive response fails. In healthy young cells, the ratio of protein folding machinery to quantities of misfolded proteins is balanced under normal circumstances. However, the age-related deterioration of the complex systems for handling protein misfolding is accompanied by ageing-related disruption of protein homeostasis, which results in the build-up of misfolded and aggregated proteins. This ultimately results in decreased cell viability and forms the basis of common age-related diseases called protein misfolding diseases. Proteins or protein fragments convert from their ordinarily soluble forms to insoluble fibrils or plaques in many of these disorders, which build up in various organs such as the liver, brain, or spleen. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type II diabetes, and cancer are diseases in this group commonly manifest in later life. Thus, protein misfolding and its prevention by chaperones and different degradation paths are becoming understood from molecular perspectives. Proteodynamics information will likely affect future interventional techniques to combat cellular stress and support healthy ageing by avoiding and treating protein conformational disorders. This review provides an overview of the diverse proteostasis machinery, protein misfolding, and ER stress involvement, which activates the UPR sensors. Here, we will discuss the crosstalk between protein misfolding and ER stress and their role in developing age-related diseases.

Insights into the Activation of Unfolded Protein Response Mechanism during Coronavirus Infection

Coronaviruses represent a significant class of viruses that affect both animals and humans. Their replication cycle is strongly associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which, upon virus invasion, triggers ER stress responses. The activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) within infected cells is performed from three transmembrane receptors, IRE1, PERK, and ATF6, and results in a reduction in protein production, a boost in the ER's ability to fold proteins properly, and the initiation of ER-associated degradation (ERAD) to remove misfolded or unfolded proteins. However, in cases of prolonged and severe ER stress, the UPR can also instigate apoptotic cell death and inflammation. Herein, we discuss the ER-triggered host responses after coronavirus infection, as well as the pharmaceutical targeting of the UPR as a potential antiviral strategy.

Mechanistic insights into the antitumoral potential and in vivo antiproliferative efficacy of a silver-based core@shell nanosystem

This study delves into the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the antitumoral efficacy of a hybrid nanosystem, comprised of a silver core@shell (Ag@MSNs) functionalized with transferrin (Tf). Employing a SILAC proteomics strategy, we identified over 150 de-regulated proteins following exposure to the nanosystem. These proteins play pivotal roles in diverse cellular processes, including mitochondrial fission, calcium homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress response, migration, invasion, protein synthesis, RNA maturation, chemoresistance, and cellular proliferation. Rigorous validation of key findings substantiates that the nanosystem elicits its antitumoral effects by activating mitochondrial fission, leading to disruptions in calcium homeostasis, as corroborated by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry analyses. Additionally, induction of ER stress was validated through western blotting of ER stress markers. The cytotoxic action of the nanosystem was further affirmed through the generation of cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, in vivo experiments using a chicken embryo model not only confirmed the antitumoral capacity of the nanosystem, but also demonstrated its efficacy in reducing cellular proliferation. These comprehensive findings endorse the potential of the designed Ag@MSNs-Tf nanosystem as a groundbreaking chemotherapeutic agent, shedding light on its multifaceted mechanisms and in vivo applicability.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress responses and epigenetic alterations in arsenic carcinogenesis

Arsenic is a well-known human carcinogen whose environmental exposure via drinking water, food, and air impacts millions of people across the globe. Various mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenesis have been identified, ranging from damage caused by excessive production of free radicals and epigenetic alterations to the generation of cancer stem cells. A growing body of evidence supports the critical involvement of the endoplasmic stress-activated unfolded protein response (UPR) in promoting as well as suppressing cancer development/progression. Various in vitro and in vivo models have also demonstrated that arsenic induces the UPR via activation of the PERK, IRE1α, and ATF6 proteins. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of arsenic-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and the role of each UPR pathway in the various cancer types with a focus on the epigenetic regulation and function of the ATF6 protein. The importance of UPR in arsenic carcinogenesis and cancer stem cells is a relatively new area of research that requires additional investigations via various omics-based and computational tools. These approaches will provide interesting insights into the mechanisms of arsenic-induced cancers for prospective target identification and development of novel anti-cancer therapies.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: bridging inflammation and obesity-associated adipose tissue

Obesity presents a significant global health challenge, increasing the susceptibility to chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Within the context of obesity, lipid metabolism, adipose tissue formation, and inflammation are intricately linked to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). ERS modulates metabolism, insulin signaling, inflammation, as well as cell proliferation and death through the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Serving as a crucial nexus, ERS bridges the functionality of adipose tissue and the inflammatory response. In this review, we comprehensively elucidate the mechanisms by which ERS impacts adipose tissue function and inflammation in obesity, aiming to offer insights into targeting ERS for ameliorating metabolic dysregulation in obesity-associated chronic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes.

The unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum protects Caenorhabditis elegans against DNA damage caused by stalled replication forks

All animals must maintain genome and proteome integrity, especially when experiencing endogenous or exogenous stress. To cope, organisms have evolved sophisticated and conserved response systems: unfolded protein responses (UPRs) ensure proteostasis, while DNA damage responses (DDRs) maintain genome integrity. Emerging evidence suggests that UPRs and DDRs crosstalk, but this remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that depletion of the DNA primases pri-1 or pri-2, which synthesize RNA primers at replication forks and whose inactivation causes DNA damage, activates the UPR of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPR-ER) in Caenorhabditis elegans, with especially strong activation in the germline. We observed activation of both the inositol-requiring-enzyme 1 (ire-1) and the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (pek-1) branches of the (UPR-ER). Interestingly, activation of the (UPR-ER) output gene heat shock protein 4 (hsp-4) was partially independent of its canonical activators, ire-1 and X-box binding protein (xbp-1), and instead required the third branch of the (UPR-ER), activating transcription factor 6 (atf-6), suggesting functional redundancy. We further found that primase depletion specifically induces the (UPR-ER), but not the distinct cytosolic or mitochondrial UPRs, suggesting that primase inactivation causes compartment-specific rather than global stress. Functionally, loss of ire-1 or pek-1 sensitizes animals to replication stress caused by hydroxyurea. Finally, transcriptome analysis of pri-1 embryos revealed several deregulated processes that could cause (UPR-ER) activation, including protein glycosylation, calcium signaling, and fatty acid desaturation. Together, our data show that the (UPR-ER), but not other UPRs, responds to replication fork stress and that the (UPR-ER) is required to alleviate this stress.

Molecular mechanism of ATF6 in unfolded protein response and its role in disease

Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), an important signaling molecule in unfolded protein response (UPR), plays a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including diseases such as congenital retinal disease, liver fibrosis and ankylosing spondylitis. After endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), ATF6 is activated after separation from binding immunoglobulin protein (GRP78/BiP) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi apparatus to be hydrolyzed by site 1 and site 2 proteases into ATF6 fragments, which localize to the nucleus and regulate the transcription and expression of ERS-related genes. In these diseases, ERS leads to the activation of UPR, which ultimately lead to the occurrence and development of diseases by regulating the physiological state of cells through the ATF6 signaling pathway. Here, we discuss the evidence for the pathogenic importance of ATF6 signaling in different diseases and discuss preclinical results.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and its role in various neurodegenerative diseases

The Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a critical cellular organelle, maintains cellular homeostasis by regulating calcium levels and orchestrating essential functions such as protein synthesis, folding, and lipid production. A pivotal aspect of ER function is its role in protein quality control. When misfolded proteins accumulate within the ER due to factors like protein folding chaperone dysfunction, toxicity, oxidative stress, or inflammation, it triggers the Unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR involves the activation of chaperones like calnexin, calreticulin, glucose-regulating protein 78 (GRP78), and Glucose-regulating protein 94 (GRP94), along with oxidoreductases like protein disulphide isomerases (PDIs). Cells employ the Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) mechanism to counteract protein misfolding. ERAD disruption causes the detachment of GRP78 from transmembrane proteins, initiating a cascade involving Inositol-requiring kinase/endoribonuclease 1 (IRE1), Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and Protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) pathways. The accumulation and deposition of misfolded proteins within the cell are hallmarks of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. These aberrant proteins disrupt normal neuronal signalling and contribute to impaired cellular homeostasis, including oxidative stress and compromised protein degradation pathways. In essence, ER stress is defined as the cellular response to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, encompassing a series of signalling pathways and molecular events that aim to restore cellular homeostasis. This comprehensive review explores ER stress and its profound implications for the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Unraveling the interplay between vital organelle stress and oxidative stress in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive lung disease characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, leading to irreversible fibrosis. Emerging evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial stress, and oxidative stress pathways play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of IPF. ER stress occurs when the protein folding capacity of the ER is overwhelmed, triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) and contributing to protein misfolding and cellular stress in IPF. Concurrently, mitochondrial dysfunction involving dysregulation of key regulators, including PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis and impairs cellular energy metabolism. This leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, release of pro-fibrotic mediators, and activation of fibrotic pathways, exacerbating IPF progression. The UPR-induced ER stress further disrupts mitochondrial metabolism, resulting in altered mitochondrial mechanisms that increase the generation of ROS, resulting in further ER stress, creating a feedback loop that contributes to the progression of IPF. Oxidative stress also plays a pivotal role in IPF, as ROS-mediated activation of TGF-β, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways promotes inflammation and fibrotic responses. This review mainly focuses on the links between ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and oxidative stress with different signaling pathways involved in IPF. Understanding these mechanisms and targeting key molecules within these pathways may offer promising avenues for intervention.

Emerging mechanisms of the unfolded protein response in therapeutic resistance: from chemotherapy to Immunotherapy

The accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causes ER stress and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). As an adaptive cellular response to hostile microenvironments, such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress, and chemotherapeutic drugs, the UPR is activated in diverse cancer types and functions as a dynamic tumour promoter in cancer development; this role of the UPR indicates that regulation of the UPR can be utilized as a target for tumour treatment. T-cell exhaustion mainly refers to effector T cells losing their effector functions and expressing inhibitory receptors, leading to tumour immune evasion and the loss of tumour control. Emerging evidence suggests that the UPR plays a crucial role in T-cell exhaustion, immune evasion, and resistance to immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the molecular basis of UPR activation, the effect of the UPR on immune evasion, the emerging mechanisms of the UPR in chemotherapy and immunotherapy resistance, and agents that target the UPR for tumour therapeutics. An understanding of the role of the UPR in immune evasion and therapeutic resistance will be helpful to identify new therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment. Video Abstract.

Kisspeptin-10 Improves Testicular Redox Status but Does Not Alter the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) That Is Downregulated by Hypothyroidism in a Rat Model

Hypothyroidism compromises the testicular redox status and is associated with reduced sperm quality and infertility in men. In this regard, studies have demonstrated the antioxidant potential of kisspeptin in reproductive and metabolic diseases. In this study, we evaluate the effects of kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) on the testicular redox, as well as mediators of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in adult rats with hypothyroidism. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly separated into the Control (n = 15), Hypo (n = 13) and Hypo + Kp10 (n = 14) groups, and hypothyroidism was induced with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) for three months. In the last month, half of the hypothyroid animals received Kp10. Testis samples were collected for enzymatic, immunohistochemical and/or gene evaluation of mediators of oxidative stress (TBARs, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), ROS, peroxynitrite, SOD, CAT and GPX), endoplasmic reticulum stress (GRP78, ATF6, PERK, CHOP, HO-1 and sXBP1) and antiapoptocytes (BCL-2). Hypothyroidism increased apoptosis index, TBARS and LOOH concentrations, and reduced testicular gene expression of Sod1, Sod2 and Gpx1, as well as the expression of Grp78, Atf6, Ho1 and Chop. Treatment with Kp10, in turn, reduced testicular apoptosis and the production of peroxynitrite, while increased SOD1 and GPX ½ expression, and enzymatic activity of CAT, but did not affect the lower expression of UPR mediators caused by hypothyroidism. This study demonstrated that hypothyroidism causes oxidative stress and dysregulated the UPR pathway in rat testes and that, although Kp10 does not influence the low expression of UPR mediators, it improves the testicular redox status, configuring it as an important antioxidant factor in situations of thyroid dysfunction.

Transcriptional dynamics orchestrating the development and integration of neurons born in the adult hippocampus

The adult hippocampus generates new granule cells (aGCs) that exhibit distinct functional capabilities along development, conveying a unique form of plasticity to the preexisting circuits. While early differentiation of adult radial glia-like neural stem cells (RGL) has been studied extensively, the molecular mechanisms guiding the maturation of postmitotic neurons remain unknown. Here, we used a precise birthdating strategy to follow newborn aGCs along differentiation using single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). Transcriptional profiling revealed a continuous trajectory from RGLs to mature aGCs, with multiple sequential immature stages bearing increasing levels of effector genes supporting growth, excitability and synaptogenesis. Remarkably, four discrete cellular states were defined by the expression of distinct sets of transcription factors (TFs): quiescent neural stem cells, proliferative progenitors, postmitotic immature aGCs, and mature aGCs. The transition from immature to mature aCGs involved a transcriptional switch that shutdown molecular cascades promoting cell growth, such as the SoxC family of TFs, to activate programs controlling neuronal homeostasis. Indeed, aGCs overexpressing Sox4 or Sox11 remained stalled at the immature state. Our results unveil precise molecular mechanisms driving adult neural stem cells through the pathway of neuronal differentiation.

Immunologic Crosstalk of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Signaling in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system. While current approaches involving adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy have shown significant progress in BC treatment, challenges, such as recurrence and drug resistance, persist, especially in the case of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). It is mainly due to the lack of pre-existing immune response cells in the tumor immune microenvironment. Micro-environmental changes (such as hypoxia and under-nutrition) can cause the aggregation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the lumen, which induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress and its downstream signaling pathways are closely related to immunogenicity and tumor drug resistance. ER stress plays a pivotal role in a spectrum of processes within immune cells and the progression of BC cells, encompassing cell proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and resistance to therapies. Recent studies have increasingly recognized the potential of natural compounds to exhibit anti-BC properties through ER stress induction. Still, the efficacy of these natural compounds remains less than that of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Currently, the ER stress-mediated immunogenic cell death (ICD) pathway is more encouraging, which can enhance ICI responses by mediating immune stemness. This article provides an overview of the recent developments in understanding how ER stress influences tumor immunity and its implications for BC. Targeting this pathway may soon emerge as a compelling therapeutic strategy for BC.

Cellular stress is triggered by tick-borne encephalitis virus and limits the virus replication in PMJ2-R mouse macrophage cell line

Viral infection may represent a stress condition to the host cell. Cells react to it by triggering the defence programme to restore homeostasis and these events may in turn impact the viral replication. The knowledge about tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection-associated stress is limited. Here we investigated the interplay between TBEV infection and stress pathways in PMJ2-R mouse macrophage cell line, as macrophages are the target cells in early phases of TBEV infection. First, to determine how stress influences TBEV replication, the effect of stress inducers H2O2 and tunicamycin (TM) was tested. Viral multiplication was decreased in the presence of both stress inducers suggesting that the stress and cellular stress responses restrict the virus replication. Second, we investigated the induction of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress upon TBEV infection. The level of oxidative stress was interrogated by measuring the reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS were intermittently increased in infected cells at 12 hpi and at 72 hpi. As mitochondrial dysfunction may result in increased ROS level, we evaluated the mitochondrial homeostasis by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and found that TBEV infection induced the hyperpolarization of MMP. Moreover, a transient increase of gene expression of stress-induced antioxidative enzymes, like p62, Gclm and Hmox1, was detected. Next, we evaluated the ER stress upon TBEV infection by analysing unfolded protein responses (UPR). We found that infection induced gene expression of two general sensors BiP and CHOP and activated the IRE1 pathway of UPR. Finally, since the natural transmission route of TBEV from its tick vector to the host is mediated via tick saliva, the impact of tick saliva from Ixodes ricinus on stress pathways in TBEV-infected cells was tested. We observed only marginal potentiation of UPR pathway. In conclusion, we found that TBEV infection of PMJ2-R cells elicits the changes in redox balance and triggers cellular stress defences, including antioxidant responses and the IRE1 pathway of UPR. Importantly, our results revealed the negative effect of stress-evoked events on TBEV replication and only marginal impact of tick saliva on stress cellular pathways.

Transcriptome Profiling after Early Spinal Cord Injury in the Axolotl and Its Comparison with Rodent Animal Models through RNA-Seq Data Analysis

BACKGROUND

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition that affects millions of people around the world. Currently, no clinical treatment can restore spinal cord function. Comparison of molecular responses in regenerating to non-regenerating vertebrates can shed light on neural restoration. The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an amphibian that regenerates regions of the brain or spinal cord after damage.

METHODS

In this study, we compared the transcriptomes after SCI at acute (1-2 days after SCI) and sub-acute (6-7 days post-SCI) periods through the analysis of RNA-seq public datasets from axolotl and non-regenerating rodents.

RESULTS

Genes related to wound healing and immune responses were upregulated in axolotls, rats, and mice after SCI; however, the immune-related processes were more prevalent in rodents. In the acute phase of SCI in the axolotl, the molecular pathways and genes associated with early development were upregulated, while processes related to neuronal function were downregulated. Importantly, the downregulation of processes related to sensorial and motor functions was observed only in rodents. This analysis also revealed that genes related to pluripotency, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and transposable elements (e.g., Sox2, Krt5, and LOC100130764) were among the most upregulated in the axolotl. Finally, gene regulatory networks in axolotls revealed the early activation of genes related to neurogenesis, including Atf3/4 and Foxa2.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune-related processes are upregulated shortly after SCI in axolotls and rodents; however, a strong immune response is more noticeable in rodents. Genes related to early development and neurogenesis are upregulated beginning in the acute stage of SCI in axolotls, while the loss of motor and sensory functions is detected only in rodents during the sub-acute period of SCI. The approach employed in this study might be useful for designing and establishing regenerative therapies after SCI in mammals, including humans.

The activation of spliced X-box binding protein 1 by isorhynchophylline therapy improves diabetic encephalopathy

The primary symptom of diabetic encephalopathy (DE), a kind of central diabetic neuropathy caused by diabetes mellitus (DM), is cognitive impairment. In addition, the tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid isorhynchophylline (IRN) helps lessen cognitive impairment. However, it is still unclear how IRN affects DM and DE and what mechanisms are involved. The effectiveness of IRN on brain insulin resistance was carefully examined in this work, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that IRN accelerates spliced form of X-box binding protein 1 (sXBP1) translocation into the nucleus under high glucose conditions in vitro. IRN also facilitates the nuclear association of pCREB with sXBP1 and the binding of regulatory subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p85α or p85β with XBP1 to restore high glucose impairment. Also, IRN treatment improves high glucose-mediated impairment of insulin signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and pyroptosis/apoptosis by depending on sXBP1 in vitro. In vivo studies suggested that IRN attenuates cognitive impairment, ameliorating peripheral insulin resistance, activating insulin signaling, inactivating activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), and mitigating pyroptosis/apoptosis by stimulation of sXBP1 nuclear translocation in the brain. In summary, these data indicate that IRN contributes to maintaining insulin homeostasis by activating sXBP1 in the brain. Thus, IRN is a potent antidiabetic agent as well as an sXBP1 activator that has promising potential for the prevention or treatment of DE.

Longitudinal dynamics of the tumor hypoxia response: From enzyme activity to biological phenotype

Poor oxygenation (hypoxia) is a common spatially heterogeneous feature of human tumors. Biological responses to tumor hypoxia are orchestrated by the decreased activity of oxygen-dependent enzymes. The affinity of these enzymes for oxygen positions them along a continuum of oxygen sensing that defines their roles in launching reactive and adaptive cellular responses. These responses encompass regulation of all steps in the central dogma, with rapid perturbation of the metabolome and proteome followed by more persistent reprogramming of the transcriptome and epigenome. Core hypoxia response genes and pathways are commonly regulated at multiple inflection points, fine-tuning the dependencies on oxygen concentration and hypoxia duration. Ultimately, shifts in the activity of oxygen-sensing enzymes directly or indirectly endow cells with intrinsic hypoxia tolerance and drive processes that are associated with aggressive phenotypes in cancer including angiogenesis, migration, invasion, immune evasion, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and stemness.

Chinese herbal medicine and active ingredients for diabetic cardiomyopathy: molecular mechanisms regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the serious microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. It is often associated with clinical manifestations such as arrhythmias and heart failure, and significantly reduces the quality of life and years of survival of patients. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is the removal of unfolded and misfolded proteins and is an important mechanism for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. ERS plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DCM by causing cardiomyocyte apoptosis, insulin resistance, calcium imbalance, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. Targeting ERS is a new direction in the treatment of DCM. A large number of studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicine and active ingredients can significantly improve the clinical outcome of DCM patients through intervention in ERS and effects on myocardial structure and function, which has become one of the hot research directions. Purpose: The aim of this review is to elucidate and summarize the roles and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine and active ingredients that have the potential to modulate endoplasmic reticulum stress, thereby contributing to better management of DCM. Methods: Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Internet, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform were used to search, analyze, and collect literature, in order to review the mechanisms by which phytochemicals inhibit the progression of DCM by targeting the ERS and its key signaling pathways. Keywords used included "diabetic cardiomyopathy" and "endoplasmic reticulum stress." Results: This review found that Chinese herbs and their active ingredients can regulate ERS through IRE1, ATF6, and PERK pathways to reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, ameliorate myocardial fibrosis, and attenuate myocardial hypertrophy for the treatment of DCM. Conclusion: A comprehensive source of information on potential ERS inhibitors is provided in this review. The analysis of the literature suggests that Chinese herbal medicine and its active ingredients can be used as potential drug candidates for the treatment of DCM. In short, we cannot ignore the role of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating ERS and treating DCM, and look forward to more research and new drugs to come.

The Dynamic Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major worldwide public health threat, with an estimated prevalence of 1.5 billion individuals with CLD in 2020. Chronic activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related pathways is recognized as substantially contributing to the pathologic progression of CLD. The ER is an intracellular organelle that folds proteins into their correct three-dimensional shapes. ER-associated enzymes and chaperone proteins highly regulate this process. Perturbations in protein folding lead to misfolded or unfolded protein accumulation in the ER lumen, resulting in ER stress and concomitant activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The adaptive UPR is a set of signal transduction pathways evolved in mammalian cells that attempts to reestablish ER protein homeostasis by reducing protein load and increasing ER-associated degradation. However, maladaptive UPR responses in CLD occur due to prolonged UPR activation, leading to concomitant inflammation and cell death. This review assesses the current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate ER stress and the UPR in the progression of various liver diseases and the potential pharmacologic and biological interventions that target the UPR.

Stress and Liver Fibrogenesis: Understanding the Role and Regulation of Stress Response Pathways in Hepatic Stellate Cells

Stress response pathways are crucial for cells to adapt to physiological and pathologic conditions. Increased transcription and translation in response to stimuli place a strain on the cell, necessitating increased amino acid supply, protein production and folding, and disposal of misfolded proteins. Stress response pathways, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the integrated stress response (ISR), allow cells to adapt to stress and restore homeostasis; however, their role and regulation in pathologic conditions, such as hepatic fibrogenesis, are unclear. Liver injury promotes fibrogenesis through activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which produce and secrete fibrogenic proteins to promote tissue repair. This process is exacerbated in chronic liver disease, leading to fibrosis and, if unchecked, cirrhosis. Fibrogenic HSCs exhibit activation of both the UPR and ISR, due in part to increased transcriptional and translational demands, and these stress responses play important roles in fibrogenesis. Targeting these pathways to limit fibrogenesis or promote HSC apoptosis is a potential antifibrotic strategy, but it is limited by our lack of mechanistic understanding of how the UPR and ISR regulate HSC activation and fibrogenesis. This article explores the role of the UPR and ISR in the progression of fibrogenesis, and highlights areas that require further investigation to better understand how the UPR and ISR can be targeted to limit hepatic fibrosis progression.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in Alzheimer's disease: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to memory loss and cognitive impairment over time. It is characterized by protein misfolding as well as prolonged cellular stress, such as perturbing calcium homeostasis and redox management. Numerous investigations have proven that endoplasmic reticulum failure may exhibit exacerbation of AD pathogenesis in AD patients, in-vivo and in-vitro models. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) participates in a variety of biological functions including folding of protein, quality control, cholesterol production, and maintenance of calcium balance. A diverse range of physiological, pathological and pharmacological substances can interfere with ER activity and thus lead to exaggeration of ER stress. The unfolded protein response (UPR), an intracellular signaling network is stimulated due to ER stress. Three stress sensors found in the endoplasmic reticulum, the PERK, ATF6, and IRE1 transducers detect protein misfolding in the ER and trigger UPR, a complex system to maintain homeostasis. ER stress is linked to many of the major pathological processes that are seen in AD, including presenilin1 and 2 (PS1 and PS2) gene mutation, tau phosphorylation and β-amyloid formation. The role of ER stress and UPR in the pathophysiology of AD implies that they can be employed as potent therapeutic target. This study shows the relationship between ER and AD and how the pathogenesis of AD is influenced by the impact of ER stress. An effective method for the prevention or treatment of AD may involve therapeutic strategies that modify ER stress pathways.

CircRNAs: A Promising Star for Treatment and Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

CircRNAs are a class of endogenous long non-coding RNAs with a single-stranded circular structure. Most circRNAs are relatively stable, highly conserved, and specifically expressed in tissue during the cell and developmental stages. Many circRNAs have been discovered in OSCC. OSCC is one of the most severe and frequent forms of head and neck cancer today, with a poor prognosis and low overall survival rate. Due to its prevalence, OSCC is a global health concern, characterized by genetic and epigenomic changes. However, the mechanism remains vague. With the advancement of biotechnology, a large number of circRNAs have been discovered in mammalian cells. CircRNAs are dysregulated in OSCC tissues and thus associated with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of OSCC patients. Research studies have demonstrated that circRNAs can serve as biomarkers for OSCC diagnosis and treatment. Here, we summarized the properties, functions, and biogenesis of circRNAs, focusing on the progress of current research on circRNAs in OSCC.

Small extrachromosomal circular DNAs as biomarkers for multi-cancer diagnosis and monitoring

BACKGROUND

Small extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have the potential to be cancer biomarkers. However, the formation mechanisms and functions of small eccDNAs selected in carcinogenesis are not clear, and whether the small eccDNA profile in the plasma of cancer patients represents that in cancer tissues remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

A novel sequencing workflow based on the nanopore sequencing platform was used to sequence naturally existing full-length small eccDNAs in tissues and plasma collected from 25 cancer patients (including prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer), and from an independent validation cohort (including 7 cancer plasma and 14 healthy plasma).

RESULTS

Compared with those in non-cancer tissues, small eccDNAs detected in cancer tissues had a significantly larger number and size (P = 0.040 and 2.2e-16, respectively), along with more even distribution and different formation mechanisms. Although small eccDNAs had different general characteristics and genomic annotation between cancer tissues and the paired plasma, they had similar formation mechanisms and cancer-related functions. Small eccDNAs originated from some specific genes had great multi-cancer diagnostic value in tissues (AUC ≥ 0.8) and plasma (AUC > 0.9), especially increasing the accuracy of multi-cancer prediction of CEA/CA19-9 levels. The high multi-cancer diagnostic value of small eccDNAs originated from ALK&ETV6 could be extrapolated from tissues (AUC = 0.804) to plasma and showed high positive predictive value (100%) and negative predictive value (82.35%) in a validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

As independent and stable circular DNA molecules, small eccDNAs in both tissues and plasma can be used as ideal biomarkers for cost-effective multi-cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

Heat shock induces alternative polyadenylation through dynamic DNA methylation-regulated chromatin looping

Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) is a gene regulatory mechanism used by cells under stress to upregulate proteostasis-promoting transcripts, but how cells achieve this remains poorly understood. Previously, we elucidated a DNA methylation-regulated APA mechanism, in which gene body DNA methylation enhances distal poly(A) isoform expression by blocking CTCF binding and chromatin loop formation at APA control regions. We hypothesized that DNA methylation-regulated APA is one mechanism cells employ to induce proteostasis-promoting poly(A) isoforms. At the DNAJB6 co-chaperone gene locus, acute heat shock resulted in binding of stress response transcription factors HSF1, ATF6, and YY1 at the APA control region and an increase in the expression of the proximal poly(A) isoform known to prevent protein aggregation. Furthermore, TET1 was recruited to rapidly demethylate DNA, facilitating CTCF binding and chromatin loop formation, thereby reinforcing preferential proximal poly(A) isoform expression. As cells recovered, the transcription factors vacated the APA control region, and DNMT1 was recruited to remethylate the region. This process resolved chromatin looping and reset the poly(A) isoform expression pattern. Our findings unveil an epigenetic mechanism enabling cells to dynamically modulate poly(A) isoforms in response to stress while shedding light on the interplay between DNA methylation, transcription factors, and chromatin looping.

The role of epigenetic changes in the pathology and treatment of inherited retinal diseases

Elucidation of the cellular changes that occur in degenerating photoreceptors of people with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) has been a focus for many research teams, leading to numerous theories on how these changes affect the cell death process. What is clearly emerging from these studies is that there are common denominators across multiple models of IRD, regardless of the underlying genetic mutation. These common markers could open avenues for broad neuroprotective therapeutics to prevent photoreceptor loss and preserve functional vision. In recent years, the role of epigenetic modifications contributing to the pathology of IRDs has been a particular point of interest, due to many studies noting changes in these epigenetic modifications, which coincide with photoreceptor cell death. This review will discuss the two broad categories of epigenetic changes, DNA methylation and histone modifications, that have received particular attention in IRD models. We will review the altered epigenetic regulatory events that are believed to contribute to cell death in IRDs and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these alterations.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: a novel targeted approach to repair bone defects by regulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis

Bone regeneration therapy is clinically important, and targeted regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is important in regenerative medicine. The processing of proteins in the ER controls cell fate. The accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins occurs in pathological states, triggering ER stress. ER stress restores homeostasis through three main mechanisms, including protein kinase-R-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1ɑ (IRE1ɑ) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), collectively known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the UPR has both adaptive and apoptotic effects. Modulation of ER stress has therapeutic potential for numerous diseases. Repair of bone defects involves both angiogenesis and bone regeneration. Here, we review the effects of ER stress on osteogenesis and angiogenesis, with emphasis on ER stress under high glucose (HG) and inflammatory conditions, and the use of ER stress inducers or inhibitors to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition, we highlight the ability for exosomes to regulate ER stress. Recent advances in the regulation of ER stress mediated osteogenesis and angiogenesis suggest novel therapeutic options for bone defects.

The gp130/STAT3-endoplasmic reticulum stress axis regulates hepatocyte necroptosis in acute liver injury

AIM

To investigate the effect of the gp130/STAT3-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress axis on hepatocyte necroptosis during acute liver injury.

METHODS

ER stress and liver injury in LO2 cells were induced with thapsigargin, and in BALB/c mice with tunicamycin and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) expression, the degrees of ER stress, and hepatocyte necroptosis were assessed.

RESULTS

ER stress significantly upregulated gp130 expression in LO2 cells and mouse livers. The silencing of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), but not of ATF4, increased hepatocyte necroptosis and mitigated gp130 expression in LO2 cells and mice. Gp130 silencing reduced the phosphorylation of CCl4-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and aggravated ER stress, necroptosis, and liver injury in mice.

CONCLUSION

ATF6/gp130/STAT3 signaling attenuates necroptosis in hepatocytes through the negative regulation of ER stress during liver injury. Hepatocyte ATF6/gp130/STAT3 signaling may be used as a therapeutic target in acute liver injury.

The gp130/STAT3-endoplasmic reticulum stress axis regulates hepatocyte necroptosis in acute liver injury

AIM

To investigate the effect of the gp130/STAT3-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress axis on hepatocyte necroptosis during acute liver injury.

METHODS

ER stress and liver injury in LO2 cells were induced with thapsigargin, and in BALB/c mice with tunicamycin and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) expression, the degrees of ER stress, and hepatocyte necroptosis were assessed.

RESULTS

ER stress significantly upregulated gp130 expression in LO2 cells and mouse livers. The silencing of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), but not of ATF4, increased hepatocyte necroptosis and mitigated gp130 expression in LO2 cells and mice. Gp130 silencing reduced the phosphorylation of CCl4-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and aggravated ER stress, necroptosis, and liver injury in mice.

CONCLUSION

ATF6/gp130/STAT3 signaling attenuates necroptosis in hepatocytes through the negative regulation of ER stress during liver injury. Hepatocyte ATF6/gp130/STAT3 signaling may be used as a therapeutic target in acute liver injury.

ER Stress, the Unfolded Protein Response and Osteoclastogenesis: A Review

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and its adaptive mechanism, the unfolded protein response (UPR), are triggered by the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins. During osteoclastogenesis, a large number of active proteins are synthesized. When an imbalance in the protein folding process occurs, it causes osteoclasts to trigger the UPR. This close association has led to the role of the UPR in osteoclastogenesis being increasingly explored. In recent years, several studies have reported the role of ER stress and UPR in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Here, we reviewed the relevant literature and discussed the UPR signaling cascade response, osteoclastogenesis-related signaling pathways, and the role of UPR in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in detail. It was found that the UPR signal (PERK, CHOP, and IRE1-XBP1) promoted the expression of the receptor activator of the nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) in osteoblasts and indirectly enhanced osteoclastogenesis. IRE1 promoted osteoclastogenesis via promoting NF-κB, MAPK signaling, or the release of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα). CREBH promoted osteoclast differentiation by promoting NFATc1 expression. The PERK signaling pathway also promoted osteoclastogenesis through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, autophagy, and RANKL secretion from osteoblasts. However, salubrinal (an inhibitor of eIF2α dephosphorylation that upregulated p-eIF2α expression) directly inhibited osteoclastogenesis by suppressing NFATc1 expression and indirectly promoted osteoclastogenesis by promoting RANKL secretion from osteoblasts. Therefore, the specific effects and mechanisms of p-PERK and its downstream signaling on osteoclastogenesis still need further experiments to confirm. In addition, the exact role of ATF6 and BiP in osteoclastogenesis also required further exploration. In conclusion, our detailed and systematic review provides some references for the next step to fully elucidate the relationship between UPR and osteoclastogenesis, intending to provide new insights for the treatment of diseases caused by osteoclast over-differentiation, such as osteoporosis.

Biology of Stress Responses in Aging

On April 28th, 2022, a group of scientific leaders gathered virtually to discuss molecular and cellular mechanisms of responses to stress. Conditions of acute, high-intensity stress are well documented to induce a series of adaptive responses that aim to promote survival until the stress has dissipated and then guide recovery. However, high-intensity or persistent stress that goes beyond the cell's compensatory capacity are countered with resilience strategies that are not completely understood. These adaptative strategies, which are an essential component of the study of aging biology, were the theme of the meeting. Specific topics discussed included mechanisms of proteostasis, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the integrated stress response (ISR), as well as mitochondrial stress and lysosomal stress responses. Attention was also given to regulatory mechanisms and associated biological processes linked to age-related conditions, such as muscle loss and regeneration, cancer, senescence, sleep quality, and degenerative disease, with a general focus on the relevance of stress responses to frailty. We summarize the concepts and potential future directions that emerged from the discussion and highlight their relevance to the study of aging and age-related chronic diseases.

Scalp acupuncture alleviates cerebral ischemic stroke-induced motor dysfunction in rats via regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and ER-phagy

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a high-risk disease and imposes heavy burdens on patients in china. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat motor dysfunction, cognitive disorder and language barrier caused by cerebral ischemic stroke. Acupoint lines, vertex middle line and anterior oblique line of vertex temple, are always employed to treat cerebral ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism of the two acupoint lines in relieving cerebral ischemic stroke needs further exploration. In the present study, scalp acupuncture treatment alleviated the motor dysfunction, brain damage, and cell death induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Proteomics analysis and ultrastructure observation indicated that endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes might involve in the mechanism of the scalp acupuncture treatment in suppressing MCAO-triggered neural deficits. Effect of the scalp acupuncture treatment on ER stress was then investigated and found that the activation of ER stress mediators, including PERK, IRE1, and ATF6, was downregulated after the scalp acupuncture treatment. Co-localisation analysis of KDEL and CD63 showed that the engulfment of ER fragments by lysosomes was accelerated by the scalp acupuncture treatment. Moreover, expression of pro-apoptotic protein CHOP, phosphorylated-JNK, cleaved capases-3 and -9 also decreased after the scalp acupuncture. In conclusion, the present study showed that scalp acupuncture of vertex middle line and anterior oblique line of vertex temple may alleviate cerebral ischemic stroke by inhibiting ER stress-accelerated apoptosis.

LncRNAs and CircRNAs in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress: A Promising Target for Cardiovascular Disease?

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a principal subcellular organelle responsible for protein quality control in the secretory pathway, preventing protein misfolding and aggregation. Failure of protein quality control in the ER triggers several molecular mechanisms such as ER-associated degradation (ERAD), the unfolded protein response (UPR) or reticulophagy, which are activated upon ER stress (ERS) to re-establish protein homeostasis by transcriptionally and translationally regulated complex signalling pathways. However, maintenance over time of ERS leads to apoptosis if such stress cannot be alleviated. The presence of abnormal protein aggregates results in loss of cardiomyocyte protein homeostasis, which in turn results in several cardiovascular diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or myocardial infarction (MI). The influence of a non-coding genome in the maintenance of proper cardiomyocyte homeostasis has been widely proven. To date, the impact of microRNAs in molecular mechanisms orchestrating ER stress response has been widely described. However, the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) is just beginning to be addressed given the potential role of these RNA classes as therapeutic molecules. Here, we provide a current state-of-the-art review of the roles of distinct lncRNAs and circRNAs in the modulation of ERS and UPR and their impact in cardiovascular diseases.

GRP78/BiP alleviates oxLDL-induced hepatotoxicity in familial hypercholesterolemia caused by missense variants of LDLR in a HepG2 cellular model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The accumulation of misfolded proteins, encoded by genetic variants of functional genes leads to Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, which is a critical consequence in human disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular and hepatic diseases. In addition to the identification of ER stress as a contributing factor to pathogenicity, extensive studies on the role of oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (oxLDL) and its ill effects in expediting cardiovascular diseases and other metabolic comorbidities are well documented. However, the current understanding of its role in hepatic insults needs to be revised. This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of oxLDL and ER stress-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2.

METHODS

HepG2 cells stably expressing wild-type Low-Density lipoprotein receptor (WT-LDLR) and missense variants of LDLR that are pathogenically associated with familial hypercholesterolemia were used as the in vitro models. The relative mRNA expression and protein profiles of ER stress sensors, inflammatory and apoptotic markers, together with cytotoxic assays and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential, were carried out in HepG2 cells treated with 100 µg per ml oxLDL for 24 to 48 h. 1-way or 2-way ANOVA was used for statistical analyses of datasets.

RESULTS

ER stress responses are elicited along all three arms of the unfolded protein response (UPR), with adverse cytotoxic and inflammatory responses in oxLDL-treated conditions. Interestingly, oxLDL-treated ER-stressed HepG2 cells manifested intriguingly low expression of BiP- the master regulator of ER stress, as observed earlier by various researchers in liver biopsies of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. This study shows that overexpression of BiP rescues hepatic cells from cytotoxic and inflammatory mechanisms instigated by ER stress in combination with oxLDL, along the ER and mitochondrial membrane and restores cellular homeostasis.

CONCLUSION

The data provide interesting leads that identify patients with familial hypercholesterolemia conditions and potentially other Endoplasmic Reticulum Associated Degradation (ERAD) diseases as highly susceptible to developing hepatic insults with molecular signatures like those manifested in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and NASH.

LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Although the use of HepG2 cells as the model is a major caveat of the study, the findings of this research may be used as the pilot study to expand further investigations in primary hepatocytes or iPSC- derived cellular models.

Myogenesis in C2C12 Cells Requires Phosphorylation of ATF6α by p38 MAPK

Activating transcription factor 6α (ATF6α) is an endoplasmic reticulum protein known to participate in unfolded protein response (UPR) during ER stress in mammals. Herein, we show that in mouse C2C12 myoblasts induced to differentiate, ATF6α is the only pathway of the UPR activated. ATF6α stimulation is p38 MAPK-dependent, as revealed by the use of the inhibitor SB203580, which halts myotube formation and, at the same time, impairs trafficking of ATF6α, which accumulates at the cis-Golgi without being processed in the p50 transcriptional active form. To further evaluate the role of ATF6α, we knocked out the ATF6α gene, thus inhibiting the C2C12 myoblast from undergoing myogenesis, and this occurred independently from p38 MAPK activity. The expression of exogenous ATF6α in knocked-out ATF6α cells recover myogenesis, whereas the expression of an ATF6α mutant in the p38 MAPK phosphorylation site (T166) was not able to regain myogenesis. Genetic ablation of ATF6α also prevents the exit from the cell cycle, which is essential for muscle differentiation. Furthermore, when we inhibited differentiation by the use of dexamethasone in C2C12 cells, we found inactivation of p38 MAPK and, consequently, loss of ATF6α activity. All these findings suggest that the p-p38 MAPK/ATF6α axis, in pathophysiological conditions, regulates myogenesis by promoting the exit from the cell cycle, an essential step to start myoblasts differentiation.

Interplay between calcium and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Cellular homeostasis is crucial for the healthy functioning of the organism. Disruption of cellular homeostasis activates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress coping responses including the unfolded protein response (UPR). There are three ER resident stress sensors responsible for UPR activation - IRE1α, PERK and ATF6. Ca²⁺ signaling plays an important role in stress responses including the UPR and the ER is the main Ca²⁺ storage organelle and a source of Ca²⁺ for cell signaling. The ER contains many proteins involved in Ca²⁺ import/export/ storage, Ca²⁺ movement between different cellular organelles and ER Ca²⁺ stores refilling. Here we focus on selected aspects of ER Ca²⁺ homeostasis and its role in activation of the ER stress coping responses.

Induction of ER stress-mediated apoptosis through SOD1 upregulation by deficiency of CHI3L1 inhibits lung metastasis

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), which is secreted by immune and inflammatory cells, is associated with several inflammatory diseases. However, the basic cellular pathophysiological functions of CHI3L1 are not well characterized. To investigate the novel pathophysiological function of CHI3L1, we performed LC-MS/MS analysis of cells transfected with Myc-vector and Myc-CHI3L1. We analyzed the changes in the protein distribution in Myc-CHI3L1 transfected-cells, and identified 451 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) compared with Myc-vector-transfected-cells. The biological function of the 451 DEPs was analyzed and it was found that the proteins with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated function were much more highly expressed in CHI3L1-overexpressing cells. We then compared and analyzed the effect of CHI3L1 on the ER chaperon levels in normal lung cells and cancer cells. We identified that CHI3L1 is localized in the ER. In normal cells, the depletion of CHI3L1 did not induce ER stress. However, the depletion of CHI3L1 induces ER stress and eventually activates the unfolded protein response, especially the activation of Protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), which regulates protein synthesis in cancer cells. CHI3L1 may not affect ER stress owing to the lack of misfolded proteins in normal cells, but instead activate ER stress as a defense mechanism only in cancer cells. Under ER stress conditions induced by the application of thapsigargin, the depletion of CHI3L1 induces ER stress through the upregulation of PERK and PERK downstream factors (eIF2α and ATF4) in both normal and cancer cells. However, these signaling activations occur more often in cancer cells than in normal cells. The expression of Grp78 and PERK in the tissues of patients with lung cancer was higher compared with healthy tissues. It is well known that ER stress-mediated PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling activation causes apoptotic cell death. ER stress-mediated apoptosis induced by the depletion of CHI3L1 occurs in cancer cells, but rarely occurs in normal cells. Consistent with results from the in vitro model, ER stress-mediated apoptosis was greatly increased during tumor growth and in the lung metastatic tissue of CHI3L1-knockout (KO) mice. The analysis of "big data" identified superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) as a novel target of CHI3L1 and interacted with CHI3L1. The depletion of CHI3L1 increased SOD1 expression, resulting in ER stress. Furthermore, the depletion of SOD1 reduced the expression of ER chaperones and ER-mediated apoptotic marker proteins, as well as apoptotic cell death induced by the depletion of CHI3L1 in in vivo and in vitro models. These results suggest that the depletion of CHI3L1 increases ER stress-mediated apoptotic cell death through SOD1 expression, and subsequently inhibits lung metastasis.

Roflumilast escalates α-synuclein aggregate degradation in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease in rats: Modulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Perturbation of the protein homeostasis circuit is one of the principal attributes associated with many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of roflumilast (ROF), a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, in a rotenone-induced rat model of PD and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. Interestingly, ROF (1 mg/kg, p.o.) attenuated motor impairment, prevented brain lesions, and rescued the dopaminergic neurons in rotenone-treated rats. Furthermore, it reduced misfolded α-synuclein burden. ROF also promoted the midbrain cyclic adenosine monophosphate level, which subsequently enhanced the 26S proteasome activity and the expression of the 20S proteasome. ROF counteracted rotenone-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, which was demonstrated by its impact on activating transcription factor 6, glucose-regulated protein 78, and C/EBP homologous protein levels. Moreover, ROF averted rotenone-induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by its effects on the levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxides with a significant anti-apoptotic activity. Collectively, this study implies repurposing of ROF as a novel neuroprotective drug owning to its ability to restore normal protein homeostasis.

Molecular Mechanism of Tocotrienol-Mediated Anticancer Properties: A Systematic Review of the Involvement of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Unfolded Protein Response

BACKGROUND

Tocotrienol, a type of vitamin E, is well known for its anti-cancer and other biological activities. This systematic review aims to summarize the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and subsequent unfolded protein response (UPR) as the underlying molecular mechanisms for the anticancer properties of tocotrienol.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature search was performed in March 2023 using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. In vitro, in vivo, and human studies were considered.

RESULT

A total of 840 articles were retrieved during the initial search, and 11 articles that fit the selection criteria were included for qualitative analysis. The current mechanistic findings are based solely on in vitro studies. Tocotrienol induces cancer cell growth arrest, autophagy, and cell death primarily through apoptosis but also through paraptosis-like cell death. Tocotrienol-rich fractions, including α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols, induce ERS, as evidenced by upregulation of UPR markers and/or ERS-related apoptosis markers. Early endoplasmic reticulum calcium ion release, increased ceramide level, proteasomal inhibition, and upregulation of microRNA-190b were suggested to be essential in modulating tocotrienol-mediated ERS/UPR transduction. Nevertheless, the upstream molecular mechanism of tocotrienol-induced ERS is largely unknown.

CONCLUSION

ERS and UPR are essential in modulating tocotrienol-mediated anti-cancer effects. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the upstream molecular mechanism of tocotrienol-mediated ERS.