Karyopherin alpha2 is essential for rRNA transcription and protein synthesis in proliferative keratinocytes

Targeted siRNA Therapy for Psoriasis: Translating Preclinical Potential into Clinical Treatments

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the excessive proliferation of keratinocytes and heightened immune activation. Targeting pathogenic genes through small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy represents a promising strategy for the treatment of psoriasis. This mini-review provides a comprehensive summary of siRNA research targeting the pathogenesis of psoriasis, covering aspects such as keratinocyte function, inflammatory cell roles, preclinical animal studies, and siRNA delivery mechanisms. It details recent advancements in RNA interference that modulate key factors including keratinocyte proliferation (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2, FGFR2), apoptosis (Interferon Alpha Inducible Protein 6, G1P3), differentiation (Grainyhead Like Transcription Factor 2, GRHL2), and angiogenesis (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, VEGF); immune cell infiltration and inflammation (Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, TNF-α; Interleukin-17, IL-17); and signaling pathways (JAK-STAT, Nuclear Factor Kappa B, NF-κB) that govern immunopathology. Despite significant advances in siRNA-targeted treatments for psoriasis, several challenges persist. Continued scientific developments promise the creation of more effective and safer siRNA medications, potentially enhancing the quality of life for psoriasis patients and revolutionizing treatments for other diseases. This article focuses on the most recent research advancements in targeting the pathogenesis of psoriasis with siRNA and explores its future therapeutic prospects.

Integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveals heterogeneity of fibroblast and pivotal genes in psoriasis

Psoriasis, which is one of the most common skin diseases, involves an array of complex immune constituents including T cells, dendritic cells and monocytes. Particularly, the cytokine IL17A, primarily generated by TH17 cells, assumes a crucial function in the etiology of psoriasis. In this study, a comprehensive investigation utilizing bulk RNA analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics was employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of psoriasis. Our study revealed that there is an overlap between the genes that are differentially expressed in psoriasis patients receiving three anti-IL17A monoclonal antibody drugs and the genes that are differentially expressed in lesion versus non-lesion samples in these patients. Further analysis using single-cell and spatial data from psoriasis samples confirmed the expression of hub genes that had low expressions in psoriasis tissue but were up-regulated after anti-IL17A treatments. These genes were found to be associated with the treatment effects of brodalumab and methotrexate, but not adalimumab, etanercept, and ustekinumab. Additionally, these genes were predominantly expressed in fibroblasts. In our study, fibroblasts were categorized into five clusters. Notably, hub genes exhibited predominant expression in cluster 3 fibroblasts, which were primarily engaged in the regulation of the extracellular matrix and were predominantly located in the reticular dermis. Subsequent analysis unveiled that cluster 3 fibroblasts also established communication with epithelial cells and monocytes via the ANGPTL-SDC4 ligand-receptor configuration, and their regulation was governed by the transcription factor TWIST1. Conversely, cluster 4 fibroblasts, responsible for vascular endothelial regulation, were predominantly distributed in the papillary dermis. Cluster 4 predominantly engaged in interactions with endothelial cells via MDK signals and was governed by the distinctive transcription factor, ERG. By means of an integrated analysis encompassing bulk transcriptomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics, we have discerned genes and clusters of fibroblasts that potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Novel archetype in psoriasis management bridging molecular dynamics in exploring novel therapies

Psoriasis is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory condition of skin affecting 125 million populaces around the globe. It is implicated as a result of multifaceted phenomena involving various cell and subcell activities with the aid of numerous cellular and molecular components including signaling aisle and regulatory proteins owing to the development of such hyperproliferative dermatological conditions. This involves a deeply complex and conflicting pathology owing to genetic and immunological deviations resulting from the unusual presentation of different signaling pathways and regulatory proteins. Explorations of these biomarkers and intervention of molecular and cellular processes in psoriasis are yet to be investigated and could be an exceptional aspect for understanding pathology with successful targeting of disease. In the presented study, we have integrated molecular insights, including signaling molecules, pathways, and proteins implicated in pathogenesis, and we have attempted to link this knowledge to the targeting of these phenomena in order to manage the conditions precisely. Further, therapeutic delivery approaches for targeting distinct layers of skin have also been investigated based on the application of different nanocarriers for successful psoriasis treatment.

Multiple-Molecule Drug Design Based on Systems Biology Approaches and Deep Neural Network to Mitigate Human Skin Aging

Human skin aging is affected by various biological signaling pathways, microenvironment factors and epigenetic regulations. With the increasing demand for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to prevent or reverse skin aging year by year, designing multiple-molecule drugs for mitigating skin aging is indispensable. In this study, we developed strategies for systems medicine design based on systems biology methods and deep neural networks. We constructed the candidate genomewide genetic and epigenetic network (GWGEN) via big database mining. After doing systems modeling and applying system identification, system order detection and principle network projection methods with real time-profile microarray data, we could obtain core signaling pathways and identify essential biomarkers based on the skin aging molecular progression mechanisms. Afterwards, we trained a deep neural network of drug–target interaction in advance and applied it to predict the potential candidate drugs based on our identified biomarkers. To narrow down the candidate drugs, we designed two filters considering drug regulation ability and drug sensitivity. With the proposed systems medicine design procedure, we not only shed the light on the skin aging molecular progression mechanisms but also suggested two multiple-molecule drugs for mitigating human skin aging from young adulthood to middle age and middle age to old age, respectively.

Protein biomarker for psoriasis: A systematic review on their role in the pathomechanism, diagnosis, potential targets and treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is defined as a long-lasting multifactorial inflammatory autoimmune skin condition precisely characterized by delimited, erythematic papules with adherent shiny scales. The conditions are led by hyperproliferative responses of epidermis due to hyperactivation and immature keratinocytes production. The psoriatic skin consists of the thickened epidermal layer, in concurrence with inflammatory exudates in the dermis mainly of dendritic cells, neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages, contributing to the distinct manifestation of psoriatic lesions. It consents to multifaceted and discrete pathology due to the genetic and immunological alteration resulting from abnormal expression of various regulatory and structural proteins. These proteins are associated with various cellular and sub-cellular activities. Therefore, the presence of protein in a pathological cellular environment in the psoriatic lesions as well as in serum could be a great avenue for the insight of pathomechanism, anticipation and diagnosis of psoriasis. Research of protein biomarker in psoriasis is yet a developing realm to be explored by both fundamental and clinical researchers. This review is an attempt to assimilate the current discoveries and revelations of different proteins as a biomarker and their importance in pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and anticipation of both the inflammatory and other dermatological aspects of psoriasis.

Depletion of nuclear import protein karyopherin alpha 7 (KPNA7) induces mitotic defects and deformation of nuclei in cancer cells

Background

Nucleocytoplasmic transport is a tightly regulated process carried out by specific transport machinery, the defects of which may lead to a number of diseases including cancer. Karyopherin alpha 7 (KPNA7), the newest member of the karyopherin alpha nuclear importer family, is expressed at a high level during embryogenesis, reduced to very low or absent levels in most adult tissues but re-expressed in cancer cells.

Methods

We used siRNA-based knock-down of KPNA7 in cancer cell lines, followed by functional assays (proliferation and cell cycle) and immunofluorescent stainings to determine the role of KPNA7 in regulation of cancer cell growth, proper mitosis and nuclear morphology.

Results

In the present study, we show that the silencing of KPNA7 results in a dramatic reduction in pancreatic and breast cancer cell growth, irrespective of the endogenous KPNA7 expression level. This growth inhibition is accompanied by a decrease in the fraction of S-phase cells as well as aberrant number of centrosomes and severe distortion of the mitotic spindles. In addition, KPNA7 depletion leads to reorganization of lamin A/C and B1, the main nuclear lamina proteins, and drastic alterations in nuclear morphology with lobulated and elongated nuclei.

Conclusions

Taken together, our data provide new important evidence on the contribution of KPNA7 to the regulation of cancer cell growth and the maintenance of nuclear envelope environment, and thus deepens our understanding on the impact of nuclear transfer proteins in cancer pathogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4261-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Retinoblastoma-binding Protein 4-regulated Classical Nuclear Transport Is Involved in Cellular Senescence

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking is a fundamental cellular process in eukaryotic cells. Here, we demonstrated that retinoblastoma-binding protein 4 (RBBP4) functions as a novel regulatory factor to increase the efficiency of importin α/β-mediated nuclear import. RBBP4 accelerates the release of importin β1 from importin α via competitive binding to the importin β-binding domain of importin α in the presence of RanGTP. Therefore, it facilitates importin α/β-mediated nuclear import. We showed that the importin α/β pathway is down-regulated in replicative senescent cells, concomitant with a decrease in RBBP4 level. Knockdown of RBBP4 caused both suppression of nuclear transport and induction of cellular senescence. This is the first report to identify a factor that competes with importin β1 to bind to importin α, and it demonstrates that the loss of this factor can trigger cellular senescence.

Proteomic identification of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K as a novel cold-associated autoantigen in patients with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify cold-associated autoantibodies in patients with RP secondary to CTDs.

METHODS

Indirect immunofluorescence staining was performed on non-permeabilized cold-stimulated normal human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (dHMVECs), using patients' sera. Cold-induced alterations in cell surface proteomes were analysed by isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis. Serological proteome analysis (SERPA) was applied to screen cold-associated autoantigens. The prevalence of the candidate autoantibody was determined by ELISA in 290 patients with RP secondary to CTDs (SSc, SLE or MCTD), 10 patients with primary RP and 27 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Enhanced cell surface immunoreactivity was detected in cold-stimulated dHMVECs when incubated with sera from patients with secondary RP. By iTRAQ analysis, many proteins, including heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP-K), were found to be increased on the cell surface of dHMVECs after cold stimulation. By the SERPA approach, hnRNP-K was identified as a candidate autoantigen in patients with secondary RP. Cold-induced translocation of hnRNP-K to the cell surface was confirmed by immunoblotting and flow cytometry. By ELISA analysis, patients with secondary RP show a significantly higher prevalence of anti-hnRNP-K autoantibody (30.0%, 61/203) than patients without RP (9.2%, 8/87, P = 0.0001), patients with primary RP (0%, 0/10, P = 0.0314) or healthy controls (0%, 0/27, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

By comprehensive proteomics, we identified hnRNP-K as a novel cold-associated autoantigen in patients with secondary RP. Anti-hnRNP-K autoantibody may potentially serve as a biomarker for RP secondary to various CTDs.