Targeting disease through novel pathways of apoptosis and autophagy

The protective effect of Macrostemonoside T from Allium macrostemon Bunge against Isoproterenol-Induced myocardial injury via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Myocardial injury (MI) signifies a pathological aspect of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as coronary artery disease, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis. Macrostemonoside T (MST) has been isolated from Allium macrostemon Bunge (AMB), a key traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for treating chest stuffiness and pains. Although MST has demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity in vitro, its protective effect against MI remains unexplored. To investigate MST's effects in both in vivo and in vitro models of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. This study established an ISO-induced MI model in rats and assessed H9c2 cytotoxicity to examine MST's impact on MI. Various assays, including histopathological staining, TUNEL staining, immunohistochemical staining, DCFH-DA staining, JC-1 staining, ELISA technique, and Western blot (WB), were utilized to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of MI protection. In vivo experiments demonstrated that ISO caused myocardial fiber disorders, elevated cardiac enzyme levels, and apoptosis. However, pretreatment with MST significantly mitigated these detrimental changes. In vitro experiments revealed that MST boosted antioxidant enzyme levels and suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) production in H9c2 cells. Concurrently, MST inhibited ISO-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitigated the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby reducing the apoptosis rate. Moreover, pretreatment with MST elevated the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR, indicating activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and consequent protection against MI. MST attenuated ISO-induced MI in rats by impeding apoptosis through activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. This study presents potential avenues for the development of precursor drugs for CVDs.

Investigation of iso-propylchaetominine anticancer activity on apoptosis, cell cycle and Wnt signaling pathway in different cancer models

Dysregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway contributes to the development of many cancer types. Natural compounds produced with biotechnological systems have been the focus of research for being a new drug candidate both with unlimited resources and cost-effective production. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the effects of isopropylchaetominine on cytotoxic, cytostatic, apoptotic and Wnt signaling pathways in brain, pancreatic and prostate cancer. The IC50 values of isopropylchaetominine in U-87 MG, PANC1, PC3 and LNCaP cells were calculated as 91.94 μM, 41.68 μM, 54.54 μM and 7.86 μM in 72nd h, respectively. The metabolite arrests the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase in each cancer cells. Iso-propylchaetominine induced a 4.3-fold and 1.9-fold increase in apoptosis in PC3 and PANC1 cells, respectively. The toxicity of isopropylchaetominine in healthy fibroblast cells was assessed using the annexin V method, and no significant apoptotic activity was observed between the groups treated with the active substance and untreated. In U-87 MG, PANC1, PC3, and LNCaP cells under treatment with isopropylchaetominin, the expression levels of DKK3, TLE1, AES, DKK1, FRZB, DAB2, AXIN1/2, PPARD, SFRP4, APC and SOX17 tumor suppressor genes increased significantly. Decreases in expression of Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt3, Wnt4, Wnt5, Wnt6, Wnt10, Wnt11, FRZ2, FRZ3, FRZ7, TCF7L1, BCL9, PYGO, CCND2, c-MYC, WISP1 and CTNNB1 oncogenic genes were detected. All these result shows that isopropylchaetominine can present promising new treatment strategy in different cancer types.

Cornerstone Cellular Pathways for Metabolic Disorders and Diabetes Mellitus: Non-Coding RNAs, Wnt Signaling, and AMPK

Metabolic disorders and diabetes (DM) impact more than five hundred million individuals throughout the world and are insidious in onset, chronic in nature, and yield significant disability and death. Current therapies that address nutritional status, weight management, and pharmacological options may delay disability but cannot alter disease course or functional organ loss, such as dementia and degeneration of systemic bodily functions. Underlying these challenges are the onset of aging disorders associated with increased lifespan, telomere dysfunction, and oxidative stress generation that lead to multi-system dysfunction. These significant hurdles point to the urgent need to address underlying disease mechanisms with innovative applications. New treatment strategies involve non-coding RNA pathways with microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs), Wnt signaling, and Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) that are dependent upon programmed cell death pathways, cellular metabolic pathways with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and nicotinamide, and growth factor applications. Non-coding RNAs, Wnt signaling, and AMPK are cornerstone mechanisms for overseeing complex metabolic pathways that offer innovative treatment avenues for metabolic disease and DM but will necessitate continued appreciation of the ability of each of these cellular mechanisms to independently and in unison influence clinical outcome.

The impact of aging and oxidative stress in metabolic and nervous system disorders: programmed cell death and molecular signal transduction crosstalk

Life expectancy is increasing throughout the world and coincides with a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially for metabolic disease that includes diabetes mellitus (DM) and neurodegenerative disorders. The debilitating effects of metabolic disorders influence the entire body and significantly affect the nervous system impacting greater than one billion people with disability in the peripheral nervous system as well as with cognitive loss, now the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. Metabolic disorders, such as DM, and neurologic disease remain a significant challenge for the treatment and care of individuals since present therapies may limit symptoms but do not halt overall disease progression. These clinical challenges to address the interplay between metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders warrant innovative strategies that can focus upon the underlying mechanisms of aging-related disorders, oxidative stress, cell senescence, and cell death. Programmed cell death pathways that involve autophagy, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis can play a critical role in metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders and oversee processes that include insulin resistance, β-cell function, mitochondrial integrity, reactive oxygen species release, and inflammatory cell activation. The silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) are novel targets that can oversee programmed cell death pathways tied to β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), nicotinamide, apolipoprotein E (APOE), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) exposure with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and trophic factors, such as erythropoietin (EPO). The pathways of programmed cell death, SIRT1, AMPK, and WISP1 offer exciting prospects for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and nervous system function that can be compromised during aging-related disorders and lead to cognitive impairment, but these pathways have dual roles in determining the ultimate fate of cells and organ systems that warrant thoughtful insight into complex autofeedback mechanisms.

Investigation of time-dependent alterations in adipokine levels and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers in obese patients with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We aimed to investigate the time-dependent alterations of serum, adipose tissue WISP1, Nrg4, asprosin, SPX adipokines and serum ER stress markers GRP78, XBP1, ATF6, CHOP in obese patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Morbidly obese patients (n = 19) and normal-weight individuals (n = 19) were compared. Preoperative (control, obese) and postoperative 1st, 3rd and 6th month (obese) follow-up measurements were obtained. Levels of adipokines, ER stress markers were measured with commercial kits.

RESULTS

Body mass index (BMI), total fat, trunk fat mass, fat percentage of obese patients decreased after LSG. Postoperative serum glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride levels of obese patients decreased, HDL increased. In obese patients, preoperative LDL and total cholesterol, which were not different from control, were higher in the postoperative 6th month measurements. Omentum WISP1, subcutaneous adipose tissue WISP1 and SPX, and serum WISP1, asprosin, CHOP levels were higher, Nrg4 lower in obese patients. Serum Nrg4 was still lower in the postoperative 1st month measurements, while WISP1 was higher in the 3rd and asprosin in the 3rd, 6th months compared to control. 1st and 3rd month ATF6 and 3rd month CHOP concentrations were lower than preoperative values. Serum CHOP measured at the 6th month was significantly higher than control. Negative correlations were observed between serum Nrg4 and fat percentage, TG concentration. CHOP was negatively correlated with fat percentage.

CONCLUSION

The correlations between changes in serum Nrg4, CHOP and fat percentage highlight the roles of Nrg4 and CHOP in the fat loss following LSG.

Innovative therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease

As a significant non-communicable disease, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, comprises almost twenty percent of deaths in most racial and ethnic groups, can affect greater than twenty-five million individuals worldwide over the age of twenty, and impacts global economies with far-reaching financial challenges. Multiple factors can affect the onset of cardiovascular disease that include high serum cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure, tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke exposure, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity, and concurrent diabetes mellitus. Yet, addressing any of these factors cannot completely eliminate the onset or progression of cardiovascular disorders. Novel strategies are necessary to target underlying cardiovascular disease mechanisms. The silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), a histone deacetylase, can limit cardiovascular injury, assist with stem cell development, oversee metabolic homeostasis through nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) pathways, foster trophic factor protection, and control cell senescence through the modulation of telomere function. Intimately tied to SIRT1 pathways are mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs) which can modulate cardiac disease to reduce oxidative stress, repair microcirculation disturbances, and reduce atherogenesis through pathways of autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis. AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) also is critical among these pathways for the oversight of cardiac cellular metabolism, insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and the susceptibility to viral infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus that can impact cardiovascular disease. Yet, the relationship among these pathways is both intricate and complex and requires detailed insight to successfully translate these pathways into clinical care for cardiovascular disorders.

Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Almost three million individuals suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) throughout the world, a demyelinating disease in the nervous system with increased prevalence over the last five decades, and is now being recognized as one significant etiology of cognitive loss and dementia. Presently, disease modifying therapies can limit the rate of relapse and potentially reduce brain volume loss in patients with MS, but unfortunately cannot prevent disease progression or the onset of cognitive disability. Innovative strategies are therefore required to address areas of inflammation, immune cell activation, and cell survival that involve novel pathways of programmed cell death, mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), and associated pathways with the apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) gene and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). These pathways are intertwined at multiple levels and can involve metabolic oversight with cellular metabolism dependent upon nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Insight into the mechanisms of these pathways can provide new avenues of discovery for the therapeutic treatment of dementia and loss in cognition that occurs during MS.

Cellular Metabolism: A Fundamental Component of Degeneration in the Nervous System

It is estimated that, at minimum, 500 million individuals suffer from cellular metabolic dysfunction, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), throughout the world. Even more concerning is the knowledge that metabolic disease is intimately tied to neurodegenerative disorders, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as leading to dementia, the seventh leading cause of death. New and innovative therapeutic strategies that address cellular metabolism, apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), growth factor signaling with erythropoietin (EPO), and risk factors such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) gene and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can offer valuable insights for the clinical care and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders impacted by cellular metabolic disease. Critical insight into and modulation of these complex pathways are required since mTOR signaling pathways, such as AMPK activation, can improve memory retention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and DM, promote healthy aging, facilitate clearance of β-amyloid (Aß) and tau in the brain, and control inflammation, but also may lead to cognitive loss and long-COVID syndrome through mechanisms that can include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytokine release, and APOE-ε4 if pathways such as autophagy and other mechanisms of programmed cell death are left unchecked.

Regulatory mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell death in normal tension glaucoma and potential therapies

Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a multifactorial optic neuropathy characterized by normal intraocular pressure, progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, and glaucomatous visual field loss. Recent studies have described the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of NTG. In addition to controlling intraocular pressure, neuroprotection and reduction of RGC degeneration may be beneficial therapies for NTG. In this review, we summarized the main regulatory mechanisms of RGC death in NTG, including autophagy, glutamate neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, immunity, and vasoconstriction. Autophagy can be induced by retinal hypoxia and axonal damage. In this process, ischemia can cause mutations of optineurin and activate the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. Glutamate neurotoxicity is induced by the over-stimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate membrane receptors by glutamate, which occurs in RGCs and induces progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Oxidative stress also participates in NTG-related glaucomatous optic neuropathy. It impairs the mitochondrial and DNA function of RGCs through the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-JUN N-terminal kinase pathway. Moreover, it increases inflammation and the immune response of RGCs. Endothelin 1 causes endothelial dysfunction and impairment of ocular blood flow, promoting vasospasm and glaucomatous optic neuropathy, as a result of NTG. In conclusion, we discussed research progress on potential options for the protection of RGCs, including TANK binding kinase 1 inhibitors regulating autophagy, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists inhibiting glutamate toxicity, ASK1 inhibitors regulating mitochondrial function, and antioxidants inhibiting oxidative stress. In NTG, RGC death is regulated by a network of mechanisms, while various potential targets protect RGCs. Collectively, these findings provide insight into the pathogenesis of NTG and potential therapeutic strategies.

The Metabolic Basis for Nervous System Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's Disease

Disorders of metabolism affect multiple systems throughout the body but may have the greatest impact on both central and peripheral nervous systems. Currently available treatments and behavior changes for disorders that include diabetes mellitus (DM) and nervous system diseases are limited and cannot reverse the disease burden. Greater access to healthcare and a longer lifespan have led to an increased prevalence of metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. In light of these challenges, innovative studies into the underlying disease pathways offer new treatment perspectives for Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's Disease. Metabolic disorders are intimately tied to neurodegenerative diseases and can lead to debilitating outcomes, such as multi-nervous system disease, susceptibility to viral pathogens, and long-term cognitive disability. Novel strategies that can robustly address metabolic disease and neurodegenerative disorders involve a careful consideration of cellular metabolism, programmed cell death pathways, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its associated pathways of mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), growth factor signaling, and underlying risk factors such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) gene. Yet, these complex pathways necessitate comprehensive understanding to achieve clinical outcomes that target disease susceptibility, onset, and progression.

Chemical signaling in the developing avian retina: Focus on cyclic AMP and AKT-dependent pathways

Communication between developing progenitor cells as well as differentiated neurons and glial cells in the nervous system is made through direct cell contacts and chemical signaling mediated by different molecules. Several of these substances are synthesized and released by developing cells and play roles since early stages of Central Nervous System development. The chicken retina is a very suitable model for neurochemical studies, including the study of regulation of signaling pathways during development. Among advantages of the model are its very well-known histogenesis, the presence of most neurotransmitter systems found in the brain and the possibility to make cultures of neurons and/or glial cells where many neurochemical functions develop in a similar way than in the intact embryonic tissue. In the chicken retina, some neurotransmitters or neuromodulators as dopamine, adenosine, and others are coupled to cyclic AMP production or adenylyl cyclase inhibition since early stages of development. Other substances as vitamin C and nitric oxide are linked to the major neurotransmitter glutamate and AKT metabolism. All these different systems regulate signaling pathways, including PKA, PKG, SRC, AKT and ERK, and the activation of the transcription factor CREB. Dopamine and adenosine stimulate cAMP accumulation in the chick embryo retina through activation of D1 and A2a receptors, respectively, but the onset of dopamine stimulation is much earlier than that of adenosine. However, adenosine can inhibit adenylyl cyclase and modulate dopamine-dependent cAMP increase since early developmental stages through A1 receptors. Dopamine stimulates different PKA as well as EPAC downstream pathways both in intact tissue and in culture as the CSK-SRC pathway modulating glutamate NMDA receptors as well as vitamin C release and CREB phosphorylation. By the other hand, glutamate modulates nitric oxide production and AKT activation in cultured retinal cells and this pathway controls neuronal survival in retina. Glutamate and adenosine stimulate the release of vitamin C and this vitamin regulates the transport of glutamate, activation of NMDA receptors and AKT phosphorylation in cultured retinal cells. In the present review we will focus on these reciprocal interactions between neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and different signaling pathways during retinal development.

A research update on the antitumor effects of active components of Chinese medicine ChanSu

Clinical data show that the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are rising continuously, and cancer has become an ongoing public health challenge worldwide. Excitingly, the extensive clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine may suggest a new direction to combat cancer, and the therapeutic effects of active ingredients from Chinese herbal medicine on cancer are now being widely studied in the medical community. As a traditional anticancer Chinese medicine, ChanSu has been clinically applied since the 1980s and has achieved excellent antitumor efficacy. Meanwhile, the ChanSu active components (e.g., telocinobufagin, bufotalin, bufalin, cinobufotalin, and cinobufagin) exert great antitumor activity in many cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Many pharmaceutical scientists have investigated the anticancer mechanisms of ChanSu or the ChanSu active components and obtained certain research progress. This article reviews the research progress and antitumor mechanisms of ChanSu active components and proposes that multiple active components of ChanSu may be potential anticancer drugs.

High-Throughput mRNA Sequencing Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets of Febuxostat in Secondary Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Febuxostat is a urate-lowering medication for the treatment of patients with gout. This study was performed to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of febuxostat on neuronal injury induced by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in mice. The results showed that the administration of febuxostat improved neurological severity scores and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Moreover, febuxostat attenuated neuronal cell death and cytokine levels compared with the ICH group. Next, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of the neuroprotective effects of febuxostat. The overlapping significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the overlapping significant DEGs were most enriched in five items. The intersecting DEGs of the aforementioned five pathways were Wisp1, Wnt7b, Frzb, and Pitx2. In addition, GO terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways revealed that DEGs were mainly involved in the wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, the expression of Wisp1 and Wnt7b in the perihematomal region at 72 h post-ICH was observed. The results showed that both Wisp1 and Wnt7b were increased in the ICH group and were decreased by the administration of febuxostat. Taken together, the study showed that febuxostat protected against secondary brain injury after ICH and the Wnt7b-Wisp1 pathway was closely related to neuroprotective effects.

Erythropoietin and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination Mitigate 3-Nitropropionic Acid-Induced Huntington-like Disease in Rats by Modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/P70S6K Pathway and Enhancing the Autophagy

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are among the mechanisms expected to explain the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. Erythropoietin (EPO) and the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine have neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative diseases; however, the full mechanisms of their action are currently unclear. Here, for the first time, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of BCG vaccination in Huntington-like disease induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) and its combination with EPO. Male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: saline-treated control; 3-NP group (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 7 days; EPO-treated group (5000 IU/kg/day, i.p.) for 14 days after 3-NP administration; live BCG vaccine prophylactic group (5000 cfu/g, i.p.) 10 days prior to 3-NP administration; and live BCG vaccine (5000 cfu/g, i.p.) 10 days before 3-NP administration, followed by EPO treatment (5000 IU/kg/day, i.p.) for 14 days. In a histopathological examination, striatum neurodegeneration was evidenced in the 3-NP injected rats. Administration of 3-NP elevated the levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-P70S6K, BAX, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and cytochrome oxidase while reduced the levels of BCL-2, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and the autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 in the striatum. EPO and BCG ameliorated the biochemical, histopathological, and behavioral derangements induced by 3-NP, with prominent neuroprotection observed in rats administered the BCG prophylactic combined with EPO treatment. These results highlight the role played by EPO and BCG in the management of 3-NP-induced Huntington-like disease by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/P70S6K pathway and enhancing the autophagy.

The role of non-coding RNAs in ferroptosis regulation

Ferroptosis is a newly recognized form of cell death that is distinct from apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy in morphology, biochemistry, and heredity. The basic process of ferroptosis involves disordered permeability of plasma membrane, which is caused by abnormal accumulation of lipids and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis is important due to its involvement in tumor progression, neurotoxicity, neurodegenerative diseases, acute renal failure, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Recent studies have shown that in ferroptosis metabolism, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can interfere with multiple signaling pathways at both the pre-transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Despite great progress, current research on the mechanism of ncRNAs and ferroptosis remains insufficient. This review provides an overview of the main mechanisms and targets of ferroptosis and focuses on the mechanisms of non-coding RNA regulation. Analyzing the deficiencies in current research may provide ideas for future studies to investigate.

Wnt Signaling Pathways: A Role in Pain Processing

The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays an essential role in embryonic development and nervous system regulation. It is critically involved in multiple types of neuropathic pain (NP), such as HIV-related NP, cancer pain, diabetic neuralgia, multiple sclerosis-related NP, endometriosis pain, and other painful diseases. Wnt signaling is also implicated in the pain induced by sciatic nerve compression injury and selective spinal nerve ligation. Thus, the Wnt signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for NP.

A New Light on Potential Therapeutic Targets for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

The development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) involve changes in genetic and epigenetic levels of oncogenes and/or tumor suppressors. In spite of advances in understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in CRC, the overall survival rate of CRC still remains relatively low. Thus, more research is needed to discover and investigate effective biomarkers and targets for diagnosing and treating CRC. The roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participating in various aspects of cell biology have been investigated and potentially contribute to tumor development. Our recent study also showed that CRNDE was among the top 20 upregulated genes in CRC clinical tissues compared to normal colorectal tissues by analyzing a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE21815). Although CRNDE is widely reported to be associated with different types of cancer, most studies of CRNDE were limited to examining regulation of its transcription levels, and in-depth mechanistic research is lacking. In the present study, CRNDE was found to be significantly upregulated in CRC patients at an advanced TNM stage, and its high expression was correlated with poor outcomes of CRC patients. In addition, we found that knocking down CRNDE could reduce lipid accumulation through the miR-29b-3p/ANGPTL4 axis and consequently induce autophagy of CRC cells.

Neurodegeneration, memory loss, and dementia: the impact of biological clocks and circadian rhythm

Introduction: Dementia and cognitive loss impact a significant proportion of the global population and present almost insurmountable challenges for treatment since they stem from multifactorial etiologies. Innovative avenues for treatment are highly warranted. Methods and results: Novel work with biological clock genes that oversee circadian rhythm may meet this critical need by focusing upon the pathways of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs), the growth factor erythropoietin (EPO), and the wingless Wnt pathway. These pathways are complex in nature, intimately associated with autophagy that can maintain circadian rhythm, and have an intricate relationship that can lead to beneficial outcomes that may offer neuroprotection, metabolic homeostasis, and prevention of cognitive loss. However, biological clocks and alterations in circadian rhythm also have the potential to lead to devastating effects involving tumorigenesis in conjunction with pathways involving Wnt that oversee angiogenesis and stem cell proliferation. Conclusions: Current work with biological clocks and circadian rhythm pathways provide exciting possibilities for the treating dementia and cognitive loss, but also provide powerful arguments to further comprehend the intimate and complex relationship among these pathways to fully potentiate desired clinical outcomes.

Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Gaining Insight through Circadian Clock Gene Pathways

Neurodegenerative disorders affect fifteen percent of the world's population and pose a significant financial burden to all nations. Cognitive impairment is the seventh leading cause of death throughout the globe. Given the enormous challenges to treat cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, and the inability to markedly limit disease progression, circadian clock gene pathways offer an exciting strategy to address cognitive loss. Alterations in circadian clock genes can result in age-related motor deficits, affect treatment regimens with neurodegenerative disorders, and lead to the onset and progression of dementia. Interestingly, circadian pathways hold an intricate relationship with autophagy, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs), and the trophic factor erythropoietin. Autophagy induction is necessary to maintain circadian rhythm homeostasis and limit cortical neurodegenerative disease, but requires a fine balance in biological activity to foster proper circadian clock gene regulation that is intimately dependent upon mTOR, SIRT1, FoxOs, and growth factor expression. Circadian rhythm mechanisms offer innovative prospects for the development of new avenues to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of cognitive loss and forge ahead with new therapeutics for dementia that can offer effective clinical treatments.

Role of Herbal Teas in Regulating Cellular Homeostasis and Autophagy and Their Implications in Regulating Overall Health

Tea is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages worldwide, and possesses numerous potential health benefits. Herbal teas are well-known to contain an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants and other ingredients, thereby implicating protection and treatment against various ailments, and maintaining overall health in humans, although their mechanisms of action have not yet been fully identified. Autophagy is a conserved mechanism present in organisms that maintains basal cellular homeostasis and is essential in mediating the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer, type II diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. The increasing prevalence of these diseases, which could be attributed to the imbalance in the level of autophagy, presents a considerable challenge in the healthcare industry. Natural medicine stands as an effective, safe, and economical alternative in balancing autophagy and maintaining homeostasis. Tea is a part of the diet for many people, and it could mediate autophagy as well. Here, we aim to provide an updated overview of popular herbal teas’ health-promoting and disease healing properties and in-depth information on their relation to autophagy and its related signaling molecules. The present review sheds more light on the significance of herbal teas in regulating autophagy, thereby improving overall health.

Expression of autophagy and apoptosis-related factors in the periodontal tissue of experimental diabetic rats: a histomorphometric, microtomographic and immunohistochemical study

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the expression of autophagy-related factors microtubule-associated protein l light chain 3 (LC3) and the apoptosis-related factors BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the periodontal tissue of experimental diabetic rats. These data were used to explore the potential mechanism in diabetes-induced periodontal tissue lesions.

Methods

A total of 32 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into diabetes (group D, n = 16) and control groups (group N, n = 16). The diabetic group was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 1% streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg) and the control group was injected with citrate buffer (0.1mol/L). Rats were sacrificed after 4 and 8 weeks of feeding and collected as D1, N1 groups and D2, N2 groups, and the maxilla were retained for analysis. The changes in periodontal tissue structure were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression and distribution of LC3, Bax and Bcl-2 in the periodontium of the rats was detected by immunohistochemical (SP) staining.

Results

Diabetic rats showed several changes compared to control animals including sparse alveolar bone trabecular structure, loss of the lamina dura and absorption of the local alveolar bone. The positive expression level of LC3 in the gingival epithelial, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone of group D1 was significantly higher than in the N1, N2 and D2 groups (P < 0.05). The level of Bax expression in the group D2 rats was significantly higher than those in the N1, N2 and D1 groups (P < 0.05), while the positive degree of Bcl-2 was significantly lower than those of other groups (P < 0.001). LC3 was negatively correlated with Bax and was irrelevant with Bcl-2; Bcl-2 was not correlated with Bax.

Conclusions

The expression of LC3, Bax and Bcl-2 changes in the periodontal tissue of diabetic rats may indicate that autophagy and apoptotic are involved in the process of periodontal tissue damage in diabetic rats. These changes may be one of the mechanisms of periodontal tissue lesions.

Dysmetabolic adipose tissue in obesity: morphological and functional characteristics of adipose stem cells and mature adipocytes in healthy and unhealthy obese subjects

The way by which subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) expands and undergoes remodeling by storing excess lipids through expansion of adipocytes (hypertrophy) or recruitment of new precursor cells (hyperplasia) impacts the risk of developing cardiometabolic and respiratory diseases. In unhealthy obese subjects, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnoea are typically associated with pathologic SAT remodeling characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy, as well as chronic inflammation, hypoxia, increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and fatty liver. In contrast, metabolically healthy obese individuals are generally associated with SAT development characterized by the presence of smaller and numerous mature adipocytes, and a lower degree of VAT inflammation and ectopic fat accumulation. The remodeling of SAT and VAT is under genetic regulation and influenced by inherent depot-specific differences of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs have multiple functions such as cell renewal, adipogenic capacity, and angiogenic properties, and secrete a variety of bioactive molecules involved in vascular and extracellular matrix remodeling. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the proliferative and adipogenic capacity of ASCs from SAT and VAT in response to excess calorie intake has become a focus of interest over recent decades. Here, we summarize current knowledge about the biological mechanisms able to foster or impair the recruitment and adipogenic differentiation of ASCs during SAT and VAT development, which regulate body fat distribution and favorable or unfavorable metabolic responses.

Nicotinamide as a Foundation for Treating Neurodegenerative Disease and Metabolic Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders impact more than one billion individuals worldwide and are intimately tied to metabolic disease that can affect another nine hundred individuals throughout the globe. Nicotinamide is a critical agent that may offer fruitful prospects for neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus. Nicotinamide protects against multiple toxic environments that include reactive oxygen species exposure, anoxia, excitotoxicity, ethanolinduced neuronal injury, amyloid (Aß) toxicity, age-related vascular disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, excess lactate production, and loss of glucose homeostasis with pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. However, nicotinamide offers cellular protection in a specific concentration range, with dosing outside of this range leading to detrimental effects. The underlying biological pathways of nicotinamide that involve the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs) may offer insight for the clinical translation of nicotinamide into a safe and efficacious therapy through the modulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. Nicotinamide is a highly promising target for the development of innovative strategies for neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disease, but the benefits of this foundation depend greatly on gaining a further understanding of nicotinamide's complex biology.

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.

The co-treatment of rosuvastatin with dapagliflozin synergistically inhibited apoptosis via activating the PI3K/AKt/mTOR signaling pathway in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury rats

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of co-treatment of rosuvastatin (RSV) and dapagliflozin (DGZ) preconditioning in myocardium ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to further investigate the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 25) were divided into five groups randomly: (1) Sham, (2) I/R, (3) I/R + RSV (10 mg/kg), (4) IR + DGZ (1 mg/kg), and (5) I/R + RSV (10 mg/kg) + DGZ (1 mg/kg). The I/R model was induced with 30 min of left anterior descending occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion.

Results

In vivo pretreatment with RSV and DGZ, respectively, showed a significant reduction of infarction size, a significant increase in the levels of left ventricular systolic pressure, and maximal rate increase in left ventricular pressure (+dp/dt_max), decrease in the levels of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), maximal rate of decrease of left ventricular pressure (−dp/dt_max) and activity of cardiac enzymes of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB isoenzymes (CK-MB), and hyper-tensive cardiac troponin I compared with the I/R group. H9C2 cells were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation to simulate an I/R model. In vitro administration of 25 µM RSV and 50 µM DGZ significantly enhanced cell viability, upregulated the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and Bcl-2, whereas it downregulated cleaved-caspase3, Bax. TUNEL assay indicated that pretreatment with RSV and DGZ decreased the apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

Conclusion

The combination of RSV and DGZ significantly enhances the cardioprotective effects compared with RSV or DGZ alone. RSV and DGZ have the potential cardioprotective effects against I/R injury by activating the PI3K/AKt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Wisp1 is a circulating factor that stimulates proliferation of adult mouse and human beta cells

Expanding the mass of pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells through re-activation of beta cell replication has been proposed as a therapy to prevent or delay the appearance of diabetes. Pancreatic beta cells exhibit an age-dependent decrease in their proliferative activity, partly related to changes in the systemic environment. Here we report the identification of CCN4/Wisp1 as a circulating factor more abundant in pre-weaning than in adult mice. We show that Wisp1 promotes endogenous and transplanted adult beta cell proliferation in vivo. We validate these findings using isolated mouse and human islets and find that the beta cell trophic effect of Wisp1 is dependent on Akt signaling. In summary, our study reveals the role of Wisp1 as an inducer of beta cell replication, supporting the idea that the use of young blood factors may be a useful strategy to expand adult beta cell mass.

The proliferation of pancreatic beta cells decreases with age, partly due to systemic changes. Here the authors identify Wisp1 as a circulating factor enriched in young serum that induces adult beta cell proliferation, supporting the idea that young blood factors may be useful to expand beta cell mass.

Adipokines: New Potential Therapeutic Target for Obesity and Metabolic, Rheumatic, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Besides its role as an energy storage organ, adipose tissue can be viewed as a dynamic and complex endocrine organ, which produces and secretes several adipokines, including hormones, cytokines, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and growth and vasoactive factors. A wide body of evidence showed that adipokines play a critical role in various biological and physiological functions, among which feeding modulation, inflammatory and immune function, glucose and lipid metabolism, and blood pressure control. The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of several adipokines, including leptin, diponectin, resistin, chemerin, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), vaspin, omentin, follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5), C1q/TNF-related proteins (CTRPs), family with sequence similarity to 19 member A5 (FAM19A5), wingless-type inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1), progranulin (PGRN), nesfatin-1 (nesfatin), visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT, apelin, retinol binding protein 4 (RPB4), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the regulation of insulin resistance and vascular function, as well as many aspects of inflammation and immunity and their potential role in managing obesity-associated diseases, including metabolic, osteoarticular, and cardiovascular diseases.

Role of Forkhead Transcription Factors of the O Class (FoxO) in Development and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

In the Central Nervous System (CNS), a specific loss of focal neurons leads to mental and neurological disorders like dementia, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc. AD is a neurological degenerative disorder, which is progressive and irreversible in nature and is the widely recognized reason for dementia in the geriatric populace. It affects 10% of people above the age of 65 and is the fourth driving reason for death in the United States. Numerous evidence suggests that the neuronal compartment is not the only genesis of AD, but transcription factors also hold significant importance in the occurrence and advancement of the disease. It is the need of the time to find the novel molecular targets and new techniques for treating or slowing down the progression of neurological disorders, especially AD. In this article, we summarised a conceivable association between transcriptional factors and their defensive measures against neurodegeneration and AD. The mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the class O (FoxO) illustrate one of the potential objectives for the development of new methodologies against AD and other neurocognitive disorders. The presence of FoxO is easily noticeable in the "cognitive centers" of the brain, specifically in the amygdala, hippocampus, and the nucleus accumbens. FoxO proteins are the prominent and necessary factors in memory formation and cognitive functions. FoxO also assumes a pertinent role in the protection of multiple cells in the brain by controlling the involving mechanism of autophagy and apoptosis and also modulates the process of phosphorylation of the targeted protein, thus FoxO must be a putative target in the mitigation of AD. This review features the role of FoxO as an important biomarker and potential new targets for the treatment of AD.

Dysregulation of metabolic flexibility: The impact of mTOR on autophagy in neurodegenerative disease

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that involve neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disease impact over 400 million individuals globally. Interestingly, metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, are significant risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Given that current therapies for these NCDs address symptomatic care, new avenues of discovery are required to offer treatments that affect disease progression. Innovative strategies that fill this void involve the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its associated pathways of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), trophic factors that include erythropoietin (EPO), and the programmed cell death pathways of autophagy and apoptosis. These pathways are intriguing in their potential to provide effective care for metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, future work is necessary to fully comprehend the entire breadth of the mTOR pathways that can effectively and safely translate treatments to clinical medicine without the development of unexpected clinical disabilities.

Canonical and Noncanonical Autophagy as Potential Targets for COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitates a review of the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular infection by coronaviruses, in order to identify potential therapeutic targets against the associated new disease (COVID-19). Previous studies on its counterparts prove a complex and concomitant interaction between coronaviruses and autophagy. The precise manipulation of this pathway allows these viruses to exploit the autophagy molecular machinery while avoiding its protective apoptotic drift and cellular innate immune responses. In turn, the maneuverability margins of such hijacking appear to be so narrow that the modulation of the autophagy, regardless of whether using inducers or inhibitors (many of which are FDA-approved for the treatment of other diseases), is usually detrimental to viral replication, including SARS-CoV-2. Recent discoveries indicate that these interactions stretch into the still poorly explored noncanonical autophagy pathway, which might play a substantial role in coronavirus replication. Still, some potential therapeutic targets within this pathway, such as RAB9 and its interacting proteins, look promising considering current knowledge. Thus, the combinatory treatment of COVID-19 with drugs affecting both canonical and noncanonical autophagy pathways may be a turning point in the fight against this and other viral infections, which may also imply beneficial prospects of long-term protection.

New Insights for nicotinamide: Metabolic disease, autophagy, and mTOR

Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), are increasingly becoming significant risk factors for the health of the global population and consume substantial portions of the gross domestic product of all nations. Although conventional therapies that include early diagnosis, nutritional modification of diet, and pharmacological treatments may limit disease progression, tight serum glucose control cannot prevent the onset of future disease complications. With these concerns, novel strategies for the treatment of metabolic disorders that involve the vitamin nicotinamide, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and the cellular pathways of autophagy and apoptosis offer exceptional promise to provide new avenues of treatment. Oversight of these pathways can promote cellular energy homeostasis, maintain mitochondrial function, improve glucose utilization, and preserve pancreatic beta-cell function. Yet, the interplay among mTOR, AMPK, and autophagy pathways can be complex and affect desired clinical outcomes, necessitating further investigations to provide efficacious treatment strategies for metabolic dysfunction and DM.

Nuclear Inositides and Inositide-Dependent Signaling Pathways in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematological malignancies characterized by peripheral blood cytopenia and abnormal myeloproliferation, as well as a variable risk of evolution into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The nucleus is a highly organized organelle with several distinct domains where nuclear inositides localize to mediate essential cellular events. Nuclear inositides play a critical role in the modulation of erythropoiesis or myelopoiesis. Here, we briefly review the nuclear structure, the localization of inositides and their metabolic enzymes in subnuclear compartments, and the molecular aspects of nuclear inositides in MDS.

The Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR): Novel Considerations as an Antiviral Treatment

Multiple viral pathogens can pose a significant health risk to individuals. As a recent example, the β-coronavirus family virion, SARS-CoV-2, has quickly evolved as a pandemic leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has been declared by the World Health Organization as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. To date, no definitive treatment or vaccine application exists for COVID-19. Although new investigations seek to repurpose existing antiviral treatments for COVID-19, innovative treatment strategies not normally considered to have antiviral capabilities may be critical to address this global concern. One such avenue that may prove to be exceedingly fruitful and offer exciting potential as new antiviral therapy involves the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its associated pathways of mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2), and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). Recent work has shown that mTOR pathways in conjunction with AMPK may offer valuable targets to control cell injury, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the onset of hyperinflammation, a significant disability associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, pathways that can activate mTOR may be necessary for anti-hepatitis C activity, reduction of influenza A virus replication, and vital for type-1 interferon responses with influenza vaccination. Yet, important considerations for the development of safe and effective antiviral therapy with mTOR pathways exist. Under some conditions, mTOR can act as a double edge sword and participate in virion replication and virion release from cells. Future work with mTOR as a potential antiviral target is highly warranted and with a greater understanding of this novel pathway, new treatments against several viral pathogens may successfully emerge.

Prospects and Perspectives for WISP1 (CCN4) in Diabetes Mellitus

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase throughout the world. In the United States (US) alone, approximately ten percent of the population is diagnosed with DM and another thirty-five percent of the population is considered to have prediabetes. Yet, current treatments for DM are limited and can fail to block the progression of multi-organ failure over time. Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), also known as CCN4, is a matricellular protein that offers exceptional promise to address underlying disease progression and develop innovative therapies for DM. WISP1 holds an intricate relationship with other primary pathways of metabolism that include protein kinase B (Akt), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), and mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs). WISP1 is an exciting prospect to foster vascular as well as neuronal cellular protection and regeneration, control cellular senescence, block oxidative stress injury, and maintain glucose homeostasis. However, under some scenarios WISP1 can promote tumorigenesis, lead to obesity progression with adipocyte hyperplasia, foster fibrotic hepatic disease, and lead to dysregulated inflammation with the progression of DM. Given these considerations, it is imperative to further elucidate the complex relationship WISP1 holds with other vital metabolic pathways to successfully develop WISP1 as a clinically effective target for DM and metabolic disorders.

MiR-128-3p Post-Transcriptionally Inhibits WISP1 to Suppress Apoptosis and Inflammation in Human Articular Chondrocytes via the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

In osteoarthritis (OA), the synthesis and decomposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are imbalanced. High expression levels of Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) promote the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases and induce the degradation of cartilage, which aggravates the OA. The aim of this study was to explore the role of miR-128-3p in the development of OA. In the present study, the expression of WISP1 and miR-128-3p in osteoarthritic tissues and chondrocytes was detected using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Then we predicted that WISP1 might be a potential target gene of miR-128-3p by TargetScan and verified using luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of miR-128-3p or WISP1 on chondrocytes was evaluated by cell proliferation assay, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity assay. To further reveal the molecular mechanisms of miR-128-3p in osteoarthritic development, the degradation of chondrocyte matrix and production of proinflammatory cytokines in osteoarthritic chondrocyte model were detected by ELISA. To mimic the osteoarthritic microenvironment in vitro studies, chondrocytes were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β, and then we found that the expression of miR-128-3p was downregulated. Overexpression of WISP1 inhibited the proliferation of chondrocytes, which induced apoptosis, degradation of chondrocyte matrix, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and activated the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. Then, we identified that miR-128-3p was a negative regulator of WISP1 by directly targeting its 3'-untranslated region (UTR). Moreover, the PI3K allosteric activator 740 Y-P abolished the inhibition of miR-128-3p in apoptosis, degradation of chondrocyte matrix, and inflammation. Our results showed that miR-128-3p targets WISP1 to regulate chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis, degradation of chondrocyte matrix, and production of proinflammatory cytokines via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, which plays a suppressed role in OA.

Nicotinamide: Oversight of Metabolic Dysfunction Through SIRT1, mTOR, and Clock Genes

Metabolic disorders that include diabetes mellitus present significant challenges for maintaining the welfare of the global population. Metabolic diseases impact all systems of the body and despite current therapies that offer some protection through tight serum glucose control, ultimately such treatments cannot block the progression of disability and death realized with metabolic disorders. As a result, novel therapeutic avenues are critical for further development to address these concerns. An innovative strategy involves the vitamin nicotinamide and the pathways associated with the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and clock genes. Nicotinamide maintains an intimate relationship with these pathways to oversee metabolic disease and improve glucose utilization, limit mitochondrial dysfunction, block oxidative stress, potentially function as antiviral therapy, and foster cellular survival through mechanisms involving autophagy. However, the pathways of nicotinamide, SIRT1, mTOR, AMPK, and clock genes are complex and involve feedback pathways as well as trophic factors such as erythropoietin that require a careful balance to ensure metabolic homeostasis. Future work is warranted to gain additional insight into these vital pathways that can oversee both normal metabolic physiology and metabolic disease.

Autophagy and Age-Related Eye Diseases

Background

Autophagy is a catabolic process that depends on the lysosome. It is usually used to maintain cellular homeostasis, survival and development by degrading abnormal substances and dysfunctional organelles, especially when the cell is exposed to starvation or other stresses. Increasing studies have reported that autophagy is associated with various eye diseases, of which aging is one of the important factors.

Objective

To summarize the functional and regulatory role of autophagy in ocular diseases with aging, and discuss the possibility of autophagy-targeted therapy in age-related diseases.

Methods

PubMed searches were performed to identify relevant articles published mostly in the last 5 years. The key words were used to retrieve including “autophagy”, “aging”, “oxidative stress AND autophagy”, “dry eye AND autophagy”, “corneal disease AND autophagy”, “glaucoma AND autophagy”, “cataract AND autophagy”, “AMD AND autophagy”, “cardiovascular diseases AND autophagy”, “diabetes AND autophagy”. After being classified and assessed, the most relevant full texts in English were chosen.

Results

Apart from review articles, more than two research articles for each age-related eye diseases related to autophagy were retrieved. We only included the most relevant and recent studies for summary and discussion.

Conclusion

Autophagy has both protective and detrimental effects on the progress of age-related eye diseases. Different types of studies based on certain situations in vitro showed distinct results, which do not necessarily coincide with the actual situation in human bodies completely. It means the exact role and regulatory function of autophagy in ocular diseases remains largely unknown. Although autophagy as a potential therapeutic target has been proposed, many problems still need to be solved before it applies to clinical practice.

Sick fat: the good and the bad of old and new circulating markers of adipose tissue inflammation

Adipose tissue (AT) is one of the largest endocrine organs contributing to metabolic homeostasis. The functional pleiotropism of AT depends on its ability to secrete a large number of hormones, cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors, all influencing many local and systemic physiological and pathophysiological processes. In condition of chronic positive energy balance, adipocyte expansion, hypoxia, apoptosis and stress all lead to AT inflammation and dysfunction, and it has been demonstrated that this sick fat is a main risk factor for many metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease and cancer. AT dysfunction is tightly associated with aberrant secretion of bioactive peptides, the adipocytokines, and their blood concentrations often reflect the expression in the AT. Despite the existence of an association between AT dysfunction and systemic pro-inflammatory state, most of the circulating molecules detectable in obese and dysmetabolic individuals do not identify specifically the condition of sick fat. Based on this premise, this review provides a concise overview of "classic" and novel promising adipocytokines associated with AT inflammation and discusses possible critical approaches to their interpretation in clinical practice.

WNT1-inducible signaling protein-1 mediates TGF-β1-induced renal fibrosis in tubular epithelial cells and unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse models via autophagy

Renal fibrosis is a common pathway for the progression of all chronic kidney diseases to end-stage kidney disease. Studies show that WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1) is involved in the fibrosis of various organs. The aim of the study was to explore the functional role and potential mechanism of WISP-1 in renal fibrosis. We observed that overexpression of WISP-1 in rat tubular epithelial cells (TECs) enhanced transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced production of fibrotic markers, including collagen I (Col I), fibronectin (FN) and TGF-β1, while inhibition of WISP-1 suppressed such production. In vivo, the messenger RNA and protein levels of Col I, FN, and α-smooth muscle actin were significantly inhibited after anti-WISP-1 antibody treatment for 7 days in unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse models. Moreover, blockade of WISP-1 by anti-WISP-1 antibody significantly reduced autophagy-related markers, including anti-microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3 (LC3) and beclin 1, while increasing sequestosome 1. In addition, overexpression of WISP-1 in TECs increased autophagy as evidenced by greater numbers of GFP-LC3 puncta and increased expression of LC3 and beclin 1 in response to TGF-β1. In contrast, knockdown of WISP-1 by small interfering RNA decreased the number of GFP-LC3 puncta and the expression of LC3 and beclin 1 in TGF-β1-treated TECs. Collectively, these data suggest that WISP-1, as a profibrotic protein, may mediate renal fibrosis by inducing autophagy in both obstructive nephropathy and TGF-β1-treated TECs. WISP-1 may serve as an effective therapeutic target for the treatment of renal fibrosis.

Relationship of serum Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 levels with coronary artery disease and its severity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) concentrations in circulation with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

A total of 120 consecutive participants who underwent coronary angiography between May 2017 and July 2018 at our center were enrolled. Participants were divided into two groups based on the presence of CAD. Serum WISP1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the association between variables and the presence of CAD.

RESULTS

The average age of the study population was 59.8 years, 66.7% were male, and 58.3% were positive for CAD. Serum WISP1 levels were significantly higher in patients with CAD than non-CAD group (339.8 vs. 322.4 pg/ml, P = 0.012). Moreover, a stepwise increase in serum WISP1 levels was observed with the number of diseased vessels (zero-vessel, one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel disease: 322.4, 324.7, 345.4, and 392.1 pg/ml, respectively, P < 0.001) or Gensini score (r = 0.376, P < 0.001). Importantly, serum WISP1 levels were positively associated with the presence of CAD ( β = 1.011, 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.021, P = 0.026). This association persisted after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( β = 1.011, 95% confidence interval: 1.000-1.021, P = 0.047). In addition, serum WISP1 concentrations were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.212, P = 0.020), insulin (r = 0.237, P = 0.009), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (r = 0.223, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated for the first time that serum WISP1 concentration is associated with the presence and severity of CAD.

Acute glucose fluctuation impacts microglial activity, leading to inflammatory activation or self-degradation

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s dementia and cognitive decline. The cause of neurodegeneration in chronic diabetic patients remains unclear. Changes in brain microglial activity due to glycemic fluctuations may be an etiological factor. Here, we examined the impact of acute ambient glucose fluctuations on BV-2 microglial activity. Biochemical parameters were assayed and showed that the shift from normal glucose (NG; 5.5 mM) to high glucose (HG; 25 mM) promoted cell growth and induced oxidative/inflammatory stress and microglial activation, as evidenced by increased MTT reduction, elevated pro-inflammatory factor secretion (i.e., TNF-α and oxygen free radicals), and upregulated expression of stress/inflammatory proteins (i.e., HSP70, HO-1, iNOS, and COX-2). Also, LPS-induced inflammation was enlarged by an NG-to-HG shift. In contrast, the HG-to-NG shift trapped microglia in a state of metabolic stress, which led to apoptosis and autophagy, as evidenced by decreased Bcl-2 and increased cleaved caspase-3, TUNEL staining, and LC3B-II expression. These stress episodes were primarily mediated through MAPKs, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB cascades. Our study demonstrates that acute glucose fluctuation forms the stress that alters microglial activity (e.g., inflammatory activation or self-degradation), representing a novel pathogenic mechanism for the continued deterioration of neurological function in diabetic patients.

Induction of apoptosis by chalepin through phosphatidylserine externalisations and DNA fragmentation in breast cancer cells (MCF7)

AIMS

Chalepin, a naturally occurring compound isolated from Ruta angustifolia have been shown to exert a promising anticancer activity through various mechanisms. Hence, the need to investigate the apoptotic inducing ability of chalepin in MCF7 cells by various detection assays.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxicity screening of chalepin against MCF7 cells was conducted using SRB assay. Apoptosis induction was examined by established morphological and biochemical assays including phase contrast and Hoechst/PI staining fluorescence microscope. Similarly, Annexin-V/FITC and TUNEL assays were conducted using flow cytometry whereas caspase-3 activity was evaluated using microplate reader.

KEY FINDINGS

The result indicates remarkable cytotoxic activity against MCF7 cells, whereas it shows moderate cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB231 cells. Interestingly, chalepin did not present any toxicity against MRC5 normal cell line. Morphological examination using both phase contrast and fluorescence microscope displays typical apoptotic features such as membrane blebbing, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies' formation following chalepin treatment against MCF7 cells at different concentration for 48 h. Apoptosis induction is significantly associated with externalisation of phosphatidylserine, and DNA fragmentation in MCF7 cells chalepin treated cells when compared with control. The protein expressions of caspase-8, 9 and cleaved PARP1 were upregulated which correlated well with increased caspase-3 activity.

SIGNIFICANCE

From our recent findings, chalepin was able to induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells and therefore, could be evaluated further as a potential source of anticancer agent for cancer treatment such as breast cancer.