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Higazi AAR, Maraga E, Baraghithy S, Udi S, Azar S, Saada A, Glaser B, Avrahami D, Abdeen S, Hamdan Z, Tam J, Fanne RA. Characterization of metabolic alterations in the lean metabolically unhealthy alpha defensin transgenic mice. iScience 2024; 27:108802. [PMID: 38318380 PMCID: PMC10839648 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is consistently linked to dysmetabolism. In transgenic mice (Def+/+) model the neutrophilic peptide, alpha defensin, proved atherogenic. This phenotype occurred despite favorable cholesterol and glucose levels, and lower body weight and blood pressure. In this study, integration of metabolic&behavioral phenotyping system, endocrine, biochemical and mitochondrial assessment, pathological and immunohistochemical tests, and multiple challenge tests was established to explore the metabolic impact of alpha defensin. Compared to the control group, Def+/+ mice exhibited lower total energy expenditure and carbohydrate utilization, and higher fat oxidation. Their ACTH-cortisol and thyroid profiles were intact. Intriguingly, they had low levels of glucagon, with high ammonia, uric acid, triglyceride, and lactate. Mitochondrial evaluations were normal. Overall, defensin-induced hypoglucagonemia is associated with lipolysis, restricted glucose oxidation, and enhanced wasting. Def+/+ mice may be a useful model for studying the category of lean, apparently metabolically healthy, and atherosclerotic phenotype, with insight into a potential inflammatory-metabolic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abd Al-Roof Higazi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Emad Maraga
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Saja Baraghithy
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Shiran Udi
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Shahar Azar
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Ann Saada
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Isarel
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Isarel
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem, Isarel
| | - Benjamin Glaser
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Dana Avrahami
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Suhair Abdeen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Zenab Hamdan
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Joseph Tam
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Rami Abu Fanne
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
- Department of Cardiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
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Danieli MG, Antonelli E, Piga MA, Claudi I, Palmeri D, Tonacci A, Allegra A, Gangemi S. Alarmins in autoimmune diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103142. [PMID: 35853572 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alarmins are endogenous, constitutively expressed, chemotacting and immune activating proteins or peptides released because of non-programmed cell death (i.e. infections, trauma, etc). They are considered endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), able to induce a sterile inflammation. In the last years, several studies highlighted a possible role of different alarmins in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. We reviewed the relevant literature about this topic, for about 160 articles. Particularly, we focused on systemic autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, ANCA-associated vasculitides, Behçet's disease) and cutaneous organ-specific autoimmune diseases (vitiligo, psoriasis, alopecia, pemphigo). Finally, we discussed about future perspectives and potential therapeutic implications of alarmins in autoimmune diseases. In fact, identification of receptors and downstream signal transducers of alarmins may lead to the identification of antagonistic inhibitors and agonists, with the capacity to modulate alarmins-related pathways and potential therapeutic applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Danieli
- Clinica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Molecolari, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Torrette di Ancona, Italy; Postgraduate School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Antonelli
- PostGraduate School of Internal Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Mario Andrea Piga
- Postgraduate School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Claudi
- Postgraduate School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Davide Palmeri
- Postgraduate School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Tonacci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Haematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
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