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Lan XQ, Deng CJ, Wang QQ, Zhao LM, Jiao BW, Xiang Y. The role of TGF-β signaling in muscle atrophy, sarcopenia and cancer cachexia. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 353:114513. [PMID: 38604437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle, comprising a significant proportion (40 to 50 percent) of total body weight in humans, plays a critical role in maintaining normal physiological conditions. Muscle atrophy occurs when the rate of protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis. Sarcopenia refers to age-related muscle atrophy, while cachexia represents a more complex form of muscle wasting associated with various diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and AIDS. Recent research has highlighted the involvement of signaling pathways, including IGF1-Akt-mTOR, MuRF1-MAFbx, and FOXO, in regulating the delicate balance between muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Myostatin, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, negatively regulates muscle growth and promotes muscle atrophy by activating Smad2 and Smad3. It also interacts with other signaling pathways in cachexia and sarcopenia. Inhibition of myostatin has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for sarcopenia and cachexia. Additionally, other TGF-β family members, such as TGF-β1, activin A, and GDF11, have been implicated in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Furthermore, myostatin cooperates with these family members to impair muscle differentiation and contribute to muscle loss. This review provides an overview of the significance of myostatin and other TGF-β signaling pathway members in muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, and cachexia. It also discusses potential novel therapeutic strategies targeting myostatin and TGF-β signaling for the treatment of muscle atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Qiang Lan
- Metabolic Control and Aging Group, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Cheng-Jie Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Qi-Quan Wang
- Metabolic Control and Aging Group, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Li-Min Zhao
- Senescence and Cancer Group, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bao-Wei Jiao
- National Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- Metabolic Control and Aging Group, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China.
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Nieuwenhuizen NE, Nouailles G, Sutherland JS, Zyla J, Pasternack AH, Heyckendorf J, Frye BC, Höhne K, Zedler U, Bandermann S, Abu Abed U, Brinkmann V, Gutbier B, Witzenrath M, Suttorp N, Zissel G, Lange C, Ritvos O, Kaufmann SHE. Activin A levels are raised during human tuberculosis and blockade of the activin signaling axis influences murine responses to M. tuberculosis infection. mBio 2024; 15:e0340823. [PMID: 38376260 PMCID: PMC10936190 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03408-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Activin A strongly influences immune responses; yet, few studies have examined its role in infectious diseases. We measured serum activin A levels in two independent tuberculosis (TB) patient cohorts and in patients with pneumonia and sarcoidosis. Serum activin A levels were increased in TB patients compared to healthy controls, including those with positive tuberculin skin tests, and paralleled severity of disease, assessed by X-ray scores. In pneumonia patients, serum activin A levels were also raised, but in sarcoidosis patients, levels were lower. To determine whether blockade of the activin A signaling axis could play a functional role in TB, we harnessed a soluble activin type IIB receptor fused to human IgG1 Fc, ActRIIB-Fc, as a ligand trap in a murine TB model. The administration of ActRIIB-Fc to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected mice resulted in decreased bacterial loads and increased numbers of CD4 effector T cells and tissue-resident memory T cells in the lung. Increased frequencies of tissue-resident memory T cells corresponded with downregulated T-bet expression in lung CD4 and CD8 T cells. Altogether, the results suggest a disease-exacerbating role of ActRIIB signaling pathways. Serum activin A may be useful as a biomarker for diagnostic triage of active TB or monitoring of anti-tuberculosis therapy. IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death by a bacterial pathogen. The etiologic agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can remain dormant in the infected host for years before causing disease. Significant effort has been made to identify biomarkers that can discriminate between latently infected and actively diseased individuals. We found that serum levels of the cytokine activin A were associated with increased lung pathology and could discriminate between active tuberculosis and tuberculin skin-test-positive healthy controls. Activin A signals through the ActRIIB receptor, which can be blocked by administration of the ligand trap ActRIIB-Fc, a soluble activin type IIB receptor fused to human IgG1 Fc. In a murine model of tuberculosis, we found that ActRIIB-Fc treatment reduced mycobacterial loads. Strikingly, ActRIIB-Fc treatment significantly increased the number of tissue-resident memory T cells. These results suggest a role for ActRIIB signaling pathways in host responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and activin A as a biomarker of ongoing disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie E. Nieuwenhuizen
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Geraldine Nouailles
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jayne S. Sutherland
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Joanna Zyla
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Arja H. Pasternack
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jan Heyckendorf
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Björn C. Frye
- Department of Pneumology, Clinic, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Höhne
- Department of Pneumology, Clinic, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Zedler
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Bandermann
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Abu Abed
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Brinkmann
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgitt Gutbier
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Witzenrath
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- CAPNETZ STIFTUNG, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Suttorp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- CAPNETZ STIFTUNG, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
| | - Gernot Zissel
- Department of Pneumology, Clinic, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Lange
- Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Borstel, Germany
- Respiratory Medicine and International Health, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children´s Hospital, Global TB Program, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Olli Ritvos
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefan H. E. Kaufmann
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Emeritus Group Systems Immunology, Göttingen, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - the CAPNETZ Study group
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Pneumology, Clinic, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- CAPNETZ STIFTUNG, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
- Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Borstel, Germany
- Respiratory Medicine and International Health, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children´s Hospital, Global TB Program, Houston, Texas, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Emeritus Group Systems Immunology, Göttingen, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - the DZIF TB study group
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Pneumology, Clinic, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, Berlin, Germany
- CAPNETZ STIFTUNG, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
- Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Borstel, Germany
- Respiratory Medicine and International Health, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children´s Hospital, Global TB Program, Houston, Texas, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Emeritus Group Systems Immunology, Göttingen, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Tobolski D, Zwierzchowski G, Lukasik K, Skarżyński DJ, Pascottini OB, Opsomer G, Barański W. Progesterone-independent endometrial mRNA expression in dairy cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis. Theriogenology 2024; 216:146-154. [PMID: 38183931 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Up to 50 % of dairy cows fail to resolve uterine involution and develop chronic clinical (CE) or subclinical endometritis (SE) 21 days after calving. Clinical endometritis is associated with purulent discharge, while SE is not associated with overt clinical signs. Along with numerous knowledge gaps related to its pathogenesis, SE does not allow for a straightforward and effective therapy. Therefore, it is crucial to unravel differences in the expression of genes among healthy, CE, and SE cows. This might contribute to the discovery of new drug candidates and, in consequence, a potentially effective treatment. In the present study, cows between 21 and 28 days postpartum (PP) were examined using vaginoscopy for the presence of vaginal discharge and endometrial cytology for the determination of the endometrial polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) percentage. Next, an endometrial biopsy sample was taken to investigate the expression of 13 selected candidate genes by qPCR. Uterine health status was assigned to healthy (absence of abnormal vaginal discharge and ≤5 % PMN, n = 13), SE (absence of abnormal vaginal discharge and >5 % PMN, n = 30), and CE (mucopurulent or purulent vaginal discharge and >5 % PMN, n = 9). At the same time, a blood sample was collected to assess serum progesterone concentration and to categorize cows as low (≤1 ng/mL) or high (>1 ng/mL) in progesterone. High expression of IL1B, IL6, IL17A, CXCL8, PTGES, PTGS1, PTGS2, and INHBA genes and low expression of FST was noted in the endometrium of CE compared to healthy cows. Increased endometrial INHBA expression was observed in both SE and CE compared to healthy cows. Interestingly, greater expression of PTGES and PRXL2B genes and lower expression of PTGS2 were characteristic of SE versus CE or healthy. Among cows with no overt clinical symptoms of uterine disease (healthy and SE), the endometrial expression of IL1 B, CXCL8, and PTGES was greater in cows with high versus low serum progesterone. Several genes were differentially expressed among healthy, SE, and CE cows indicating different pathways for the development of different uterine diseases. In conclusion, we found progesterone-independent SE markers, which suggests that low endometrial PTGS2 expression may be indicative of an inadequate immune response and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of SE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid Tobolski
- Department of Internal Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Oczapowskiego 14, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Zwierzchowski
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury, 1a Oczapowskiego Str., Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Karolina Lukasik
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10 -748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dariusz Jan Skarżyński
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10 -748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Geert Opsomer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wojciech Barański
- Department of Animal Reproduction with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Oczapowskiego 14, Olsztyn, Poland
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Bielka W, Przezak A, Pawlik A. Follistatin and follistatin-like 3 in metabolic disorders. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2023; 169:106785. [PMID: 37739334 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) is a glycoprotein which main role is antagonizing activity of transforming growth factor β superfamily members. Folistatin-related proteins such as follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) also reveal these properties. The exact function of them has still not been established, but it can be bound to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. So far, there were performed a few studies about their role in type 2 diabetes, obesity or gestational diabetes and even less in type 1 diabetes. The outcomes are contradictory and do not allow to draw exact conclusions. In this article we summarize the available information about connections between follistatin, as well as follistatin-like 3, and metabolic disorders. We also emphasize the strong need of performing further research to explain their exact role, especially in the pathogenesis of diabetes and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Bielka
- Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Przezak
- Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pawlik
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
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Jin Y, Cai Q, Wang L, Ji J, Sun Y, Jiang J, Wang C, Wu J, Zhang B, Zhao L, Qi F, Yu B, Zhang J. Paracrine activin B-NF-κB signaling shapes an inflammatory tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer via fibroblast reprogramming. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:269. [PMID: 37858201 PMCID: PMC10585924 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02861-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Important roles of INHBB in various malignancies are increasingly identified. The underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) microenvironment are still greatly unexplored. METHODS The clinical significance of INHBB and the correlation between INHBB and p-p65 in GC were assessed through analyzing publicly available databases and human paraffin embedded GC tissues. The biological crosstalk of INHBB between GC cells and fibroblasts was explored both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analyses were performed to determine the mechanisms which regulating fibroblasts reprogramming. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay were used to verify the binding relationship of p65 and INHBB in GC cells. RESULTS Our study showed that INHBB level was significantly higher in GC, and that increased INHBB was associated with poor survival. INHBB positively regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro. Also, activin B promotes the occurrence of GC by reprogramming fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The high expression of INHBB in GC cells activates the NF-κB pathway of normal gastric fibroblasts by secreting activin B, and promotes fibroblasts proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, activin B activates NF-κB pathway by controlling TRAF6 autoubiquitination to induce TAK1 phosphorylation in fibroblasts. Fibroblasts activated by activin B can induce the activation of p65 phosphorylation of GC cells by releasing pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β. p65 can directly bind to the INHBB promoter and increase the INHBB transcription of GC cells, thus establishing a positive regulatory feedback loop to promote the progression of GC. CONCLUSIONS GC cells p65/INHBB/activin B and fibroblasts p65/IL-1β signal loop led to the formation of a whole tumor-promoting inflammatory microenvironment, which might be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangbing Jin
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Qu Cai
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingquan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinling Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Junwei Wu
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Benyan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Liqin Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Qi
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Beiqin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China.
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Feng X, Deng J, Li X, Zhang H, Wei X, Ma T, Tang S, Zhang J. RNA Sequencing and Related Differential Gene Expression Analysis in a Mouse Model of Emphysema Induced by Tobacco Smoke Combined with Elastin Peptides. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2023; 18:2147-2161. [PMID: 37810372 PMCID: PMC10559798 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s397400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To establish a model of emphysema induced by tobacco smoke combined with elastin peptides (EP), explore the biochemical metabolic processes and signal transduction pathways related to emphysema occurrence and development at the transcriptional level, and identify new targets and signaling pathways for emphysema prevention and treatment. Methods Mice were randomly divided into the air pseudoexposure group (NORMAL group) and the tobacco smoke + EP group (EP group). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung tissue between the two groups were identified by RNA-seq, and functional annotation and Gene Ontology (GO)/ Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed. The differential expression of the selected genes were verified using qRT‒PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results EP group mice showed emphysema-like changes. The expression levels of 1159 genes in the EP group differed significantly (529 up-regulated and 630 down-regulated) from those in the NORMAL group. GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the terms immune system, adaptive immune response, and phosphorylation, while KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched mainly in the pathways cytokine‒cytokine receptor interaction, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, endocytosis, chemokine signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation. The differential expression of the selected DEGs were verified by qRT‒PCR and IHC, and the expression trends of these genes were consistent with those identified by RNA-seq. Conclusion Emphysema may be related to the inflammatory response, immune response, immune regulation, oxidative stress injury, and other biological processes. The Bmp4-Smad-Hoxa5/Acvr2a signaling pathway may be involved in COPD/ emphysema occurrence and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Feng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiehua Deng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuan Wei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingting Ma
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519099, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shudan Tang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianquan Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People’s Republic of China
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Preechanukul A, Yimthin T, Tandhavanant S, Brummaier T, Chomkatekaew C, Das S, Syed Ahamed Kabeer B, Toufiq M, Rinchai D, West TE, Chaussabel D, Chantratita N, Garand M. Abundance of ACVR1B transcript is elevated during septic conditions: Perspectives obtained from a hands-on reductionist investigation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1072732. [PMID: 37020544 PMCID: PMC10067751 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1072732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a complex heterogeneous condition, and the current lack of effective risk and outcome predictors hinders the improvement of its management. Using a reductionist approach leveraging publicly available transcriptomic data, we describe a knowledge gap for the role of ACVR1B (activin A receptor type 1B) in sepsis. ACVR1B, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, was selected based on the following: 1) induction upon in vitro exposure of neutrophils from healthy subjects with the serum of septic patients (GSE49755), and 2) absence or minimal overlap between ACVR1B, sepsis, inflammation, or neutrophil in published literature. Moreover, ACVR1B expression is upregulated in septic melioidosis, a widespread cause of fatal sepsis in the tropics. Key biological concepts extracted from a series of PubMed queries established indirect links between ACVR1B and "cancer", "TGF-beta superfamily", "cell proliferation", "inhibitors of activin", and "apoptosis". We confirmed our observations by measuring ACVR1B transcript abundance in buffy coat samples obtained from healthy individuals (n=3) exposed to septic plasma (n = 26 melioidosis sepsis cases)ex vivo. Based on our re-investigation of publicly available transcriptomic data and newly generated ex vivo data, we provide perspective on the role of ACVR1B during sepsis. Additional experiments for addressing this knowledge gap are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anucha Preechanukul
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thatcha Yimthin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarunporn Tandhavanant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tobias Brummaier
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chalita Chomkatekaew
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sukanta Das
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Mohammed Toufiq
- Systems Biology and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Darawan Rinchai
- Systems Biology and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - T. Eoin West
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Damien Chaussabel
- Systems Biology and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Narisara Chantratita
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mathieu Garand
- Systems Biology and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MI, United States
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8
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Single-cell RNA sequencing in orthopedic research. Bone Res 2023; 11:10. [PMID: 36828839 PMCID: PMC9958119 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-023-00245-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although previous RNA sequencing methods have been widely used in orthopedic research and have provided ideas for therapeutic strategies, the specific mechanisms of some orthopedic disorders, including osteoarthritis, lumbar disc herniation, rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, tendon injuries, spinal cord injury, heterotopic ossification, and osteosarcoma, require further elucidation. The emergence of the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technique has introduced a new era of research on these topics, as this method provides information regarding cellular heterogeneity, new cell subtypes, functions of novel subclusters, potential molecular mechanisms, cell-fate transitions, and cell‒cell interactions that are involved in the development of orthopedic diseases. Here, we summarize the cell subpopulations, genes, and underlying mechanisms involved in the development of orthopedic diseases identified by scRNA-seq, improving our understanding of the pathology of these diseases and providing new insights into therapeutic approaches.
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9
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Inactivating the Uninhibited: The Tale of Activins and Inhibins in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043332. [PMID: 36834742 PMCID: PMC9963072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in technology and biomedical knowledge have led to the effective diagnosis and treatment of an increasing number of rare diseases. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disorder of the pulmonary vasculature that is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Although significant progress has been made in understanding PAH and its diagnosis and treatment, numerous unanswered questions remain regarding pulmonary vascular remodeling, a major factor contributing to the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure. Here, we discuss the role of activins and inhibins, both of which belong to the TGF-β superfamily, in PAH development. We examine how these relate to signaling pathways implicated in PAH pathogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss how activin/inhibin-targeting drugs, particularly sotatercep, affect pathophysiology, as these target the afore-mentioned specific pathway. We highlight activin/inhibin signaling as a critical mediator of PAH development that is to be targeted for therapeutic gain, potentially improving patient outcomes in the future.
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10
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Lakhssassi K, Sarto MP, Lahoz B, Alabart JL, Folch J, Serrano M, Calvo JH. Blood transcriptome of Rasa Aragonesa rams with different sexual behavior phenotype reveals CRYL1 and SORCS2 as genes associated with this trait. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad098. [PMID: 36996265 PMCID: PMC10118393 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive fitness of rams is seasonal, showing the highest libido during short days coinciding with the ovarian cyclicity resumption in the ewe. However, the remarkable variation in sexual behavior between rams impair farm efficiency and profitability. Intending to identify in vivo sexual behavior biomarkers that may aid farmers to select active rams, transcriptome profiling of blood was carried out by analyzing samples from 6 sexually active (A) and 6 nonactive (NA) Rasa Aragonesa rams using RNA-Seq technique. A total of 14,078 genes were expressed in blood but only four genes were differentially expressed (FDR < 0.10) in the A vs. NA rams comparison. The genes, acrosin inhibitor 1 (ENSOARG00020023278) and SORCS2, were upregulated (log2FC > 1) in active rams, whereas the CRYL1 and immunoglobulin lambda-1 light chain isoform X47 (ENSOARG00020025518) genes were downregulated (log2FC < -1) in this same group. Gene set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified 428 signaling pathways, predominantly related to biological processes. The lysosome pathway (GO:0005764) was the most enriched, and may affect fertility and sexual behavior, given the crucial role played by lysosomes in steroidogenesis, being the SORCS2 gene related to this signaling pathway. Furthermore, the enriched positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade (GO:0070374) pathway is associated with reproductive phenotypes such as fertility via modulation of hypothalamic regulation and GnRH-mediated production of pituitary gonadotropins. Furthermore, external side of plasma membrane (GO:0009897), fibrillar center (GO:0001650), focal adhesion (GO:0005925), and lamellipodium (GO:0030027) pathways were also enriched, suggesting that some molecules of these pathways might also be involved in rams' sexual behavior. These results provide new clues for understanding the molecular regulation of sexual behavior in rams. Further investigations will be needed to confirm the functions of SORCS2 and CRYL1 in relation to sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenza Lakhssassi
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
- INRA Instituts, 6356 Rabat, Morocco
| | - María Pilar Sarto
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Belén Lahoz
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Luis Alabart
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Folch
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Malena Serrano
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Hugo Calvo
- Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon-IA2, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
- ARAID, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
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11
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Abdel-Bary A, Tayae E, Magdy B, Hussein T. Serum activin-A as a predictive marker for postacne scarring. JOURNAL OF THE EGYPTIAN WOMEN'S DERMATOLOGIC SOCIETY 2023. [DOI: 10.4103/jewd.jewd_32_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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12
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Tsogtgerel M, Murase H, Moriyama H, Sato F, Nambo Y. Plasma activin A concentrations during late gestation in Thoroughbred mares with abnormal pregnancies. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 120:104184. [PMID: 36470514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Late-term fetal loss in horses is a major problem in the horse-breeding industry globally. Abnormal pregnancies should be diagnosed as early as possible to prevent abortions and other gestational problems. According to our previous longitudinal study in healthy pregnant mares, the plasma activin A concentration increases as pregnancy progresses. The aim of the present study was to compare plasma activin A concentrations in healthy pregnant Thoroughbred mares (n=40) with those in pregnant mares that suffered fetal loss or showed abnormal symptoms (n=30) during late gestation. This field study found that plasma activin A concentrations were higher in the abnormal group (pregnancy loss, red bag delivery, premature udder development, and vaginal discharge) than the normal group (P < 0.001; cutoff value: ≥ 138.2 pg/mL; sensitivity, 74.4%; specificity, 77.5%). More specifically, plasma activin A concentrations in the "symptom" and "abnormal delivery" subgroups were higher than those in gestational-age-matched normal groups (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, the plasma activin A concentration in the "normal delivery" subgroup was not different from that in the "abnormal delivery" subgroup in samples collected within 10 days before delivery. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate a significantly earlier increase in plasma activin A concentration in abnormal pregnancies of Thoroughbred mares during late gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munkhtuul Tsogtgerel
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; School of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 17024, Mongolia
| | - Harutaka Murase
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, 057-0171, Japan
| | | | - Fumio Sato
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan
| | - Yasuo Nambo
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
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13
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Beaven E, Kumar R, Bhatt HN, Esquivel SV, Nurunnabi M. Myofibroblast specific targeting approaches to improve fibrosis treatment. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13556-13571. [PMID: 36445310 PMCID: PMC9946855 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc04825f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis has been shown to develop in individuals with underlying health conditions, especially chronic inflammatory diseases. Fibrosis is often diagnosed in various organs, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, and skin, and has been described as excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix that can affect specific organs in the body or systemically throughout the body. Fibrosis as a chronic condition can result in organ failure and result in death of the individual. Understanding and identification of specific biomarkers associated with fibrosis has emerging potential in the development of diagnosis and targeting treatment modalities. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss multiple signaling pathways such as TGF-β, collagen, angiotensin, and cadherin and outline the chemical nature of the different signaling pathways involved in fibrogenesis as well as the mechanisms. Although it has been well established that TGF-β is the main catalyst initiating and driving multiple pathways for fibrosis, targeting TGF-β can be challenging as this molecule regulates essential functions throughout the body that help to keep the body in homeostasis. We also discuss collagen, angiotensin, and cadherins and their role in fibrosis. We comprehensively discuss the various delivery systems used to target collagen, angiotensin, and cadherins to manage fibrosis. Nevertheless, understanding the steps by which this molecule drives fibrosis development can aid in the development of specific targets of its cascading mechanism. Throughout the review, we will demonstrate the mechanism of fibrosis targeting to improve targeting delivery and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elfa Beaven
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Raj Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Himanshu N Bhatt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Stephanie V Esquivel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
- Aerospace Center (cSETR), The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Md Nurunnabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
- Aerospace Center (cSETR), The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
- Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
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14
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Korzun T, Moses AS, Kim J, Patel S, Schumann C, Levasseur PR, Diba P, Olson B, Rebola KGDO, Norgard M, Park Y, Demessie AA, Eygeris Y, Grigoriev V, Sundaram S, Pejovic T, Brody JR, Taratula OR, Zhu X, Sahay G, Marks DL, Taratula O. Nanoparticle-Based Follistatin Messenger RNA Therapy for Reprogramming Metastatic Ovarian Cancer and Ameliorating Cancer-Associated Cachexia. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204436. [PMID: 36098251 PMCID: PMC9633376 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the first messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy for metastatic ovarian cancer and cachexia-induced muscle wasting based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver follistatin (FST) mRNA predominantly to cancer clusters following intraperitoneal administration. The secreted FST protein, endogenously synthesized from delivered mRNA, efficiently reduces elevated activin A levels associated with aggressive ovarian cancer and associated cachexia. By altering the cancer cell phenotype, mRNA treatment prevents malignant ascites, delays cancer progression, induces the formation of solid tumors, and preserves muscle mass in cancer-bearing mice by inhibiting negative regulators of muscle mass. Finally, mRNA therapy provides synergistic effects in combination with cisplatin, increasing the survival of mice and counteracting muscle atrophy induced by chemotherapy and cancer-associated cachexia. The treated mice develop few nonadherent tumors that are easily resected from the peritoneum. Clinically, this nanomedicine-based mRNA therapy can facilitate complete cytoreduction, target resistance, improve resilience during aggressive chemotherapy, and improve survival in advanced ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetiana Korzun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 SW Bond Avenue, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Abraham S Moses
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Jeonghwan Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Siddharth Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Canan Schumann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Peter R Levasseur
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Parham Diba
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Brennan Olson
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | | | - Mason Norgard
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Youngrong Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Ananiya A Demessie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Yulia Eygeris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Vladislav Grigoriev
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Subisha Sundaram
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Tanja Pejovic
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Jonathan R Brody
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 2720 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Olena R Taratula
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Xinxia Zhu
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Daniel L Marks
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 2720 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
- Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health & Science University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Oleh Taratula
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 SW Bond Avenue, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
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15
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Yu W, He G, Zhang W, Ye Z, Zhong Z, Huang S. INHBB is a novel prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:933862. [PMID: 36118865 PMCID: PMC9478859 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.933862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB) is a potential prognostic biomarker for a variety of cancers. However, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. The differential expression data of INHBB in tumor and normal tissues were extracted from several databases and genetic alterations of INHBB were assessed by cBioPortal. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the survival rate of patients with GC with INHBB and association with clinical features in GC. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the prognostic value of clinical indicators and INHBB in GC, and a nomogram prognostic model was established. In addition, the predictive validity of the nomogram model was assessed by time-depended receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to functionally annotate INHBB. Notably, we found that the quantitative assessment of immune cell subpopulation infiltration correlated with INHBB expression. INHBB expression is upregulated in GC and is correlated with several clinical features including prognostic indicators and a histological type. Genetic alterations were observed in INHBB, its DNA methylation level was negatively correlated with INHBB expression. High INHBB expression is associated with a poor prognosis and is an independent risk factor for prognosis in GC, along with age and residual tumor. The nomogram model showed a good prediction ability and was validated by time-depended ROC and calibration curves. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that INHBB-associated genes were enriched in tumor microenvironment Gene Ontology (GO) terms and were correlated with tumor-associated pathways. INHBB has a regulatory function in immune cell infiltration, especially macrophage infiltration in GC. Specifically, patients with GC with high INHBB expression and high macrophage infiltration have a worse prognosis. INHBB expression was negatively correlated with the expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors and plays a regulatory role in immunoinhibitor/immunostimulator-involved pathways. INHBB is a potential prognostic biomarker for GC and may drive the abnormal activity of critical cancer-associated pathways, potentially contributing to immune cell infiltration to promote GC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Yu
- Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guihua He
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wang Zhang
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenhao Ye
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zishao Zhong
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zishao Zhong, ; Suiping Huang,
| | - Suiping Huang
- Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Gastroenterology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zishao Zhong, ; Suiping Huang,
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16
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Hachana S, Larrivée B. TGF-β Superfamily Signaling in the Eye: Implications for Ocular Pathologies. Cells 2022; 11:2336. [PMID: 35954181 PMCID: PMC9367584 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The TGF-β signaling pathway plays a crucial role in several key aspects of development and tissue homeostasis. TGF-β ligands and their mediators have been shown to be important regulators of ocular physiology and their dysregulation has been described in several eye pathologies. TGF-β signaling participates in regulating several key developmental processes in the eye, including angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Inadequate TGF-β signaling has been associated with defective angiogenesis, vascular barrier function, unfavorable inflammatory responses, and tissue fibrosis. In addition, experimental models of corneal neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, glaucoma, or corneal injury suggest that aberrant TGF-β signaling may contribute to the pathological features of these conditions, showing the potential of modulating TGF-β signaling to treat eye diseases. This review highlights the key roles of TGF-β family members in ocular physiology and in eye diseases, and reviews approaches targeting the TGF-β signaling as potential treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumaya Hachana
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Bruno Larrivée
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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17
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Hwang CD, Pagani CA, Nunez JH, Cherief M, Qin Q, Gomez-Salazar M, Kadaikal B, Kang H, Chowdary AR, Patel N, James AW, Levi B. Contemporary perspectives on heterotopic ossification. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158996. [PMID: 35866484 PMCID: PMC9431693 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of ectopic bone that is primarily genetically driven (fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva [FOP]) or acquired in the setting of trauma (tHO). HO has undergone intense investigation, especially over the last 50 years, as awareness has increased around improving clinical technologies and incidence, such as with ongoing wartime conflicts. Current treatments for tHO and FOP remain prophylactic and include NSAIDs and glucocorticoids, respectively, whereas other proposed therapeutic modalities exhibit prohibitive risk profiles. Contemporary studies have elucidated mechanisms behind tHO and FOP and have described new distinct niches independent of inflammation that regulate ectopic bone formation. These investigations have propagated a paradigm shift in the approach to treatment and management of a historically difficult surgical problem, with ongoing clinical trials and promising new targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles D Hwang
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chase A Pagani
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Johanna H Nunez
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Masnsen Cherief
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Qizhi Qin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Balram Kadaikal
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Heeseog Kang
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ashish R Chowdary
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole Patel
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Aaron W James
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin Levi
- Department of Surgery, Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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18
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Callaghan B, Lester K, Lane B, Fan X, Goljanek-Whysall K, Simpson DA, Sheridan C, Willoughby CE. Genome-wide transcriptome profiling of human trabecular meshwork cells treated with TGF-β2. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9564. [PMID: 35689009 PMCID: PMC9187693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13573-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a complex neurodegenerative disease resulting in progressive optic neuropathy and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the predominant form affecting 65.5 million people globally. Despite the prevalence of POAG and the identification of over 120 glaucoma related genetic loci, the underlaying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling pathway is implicated in the molecular pathology of POAG. To gain a better understanding of the role TGF-β2 plays in the glaucomatous changes to the molecular pathology in the trabecular meshwork, we employed RNA-Seq to delineate the TGF-β2 induced changes in the transcriptome of normal primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTM). We identified a significant number of differentially expressed genes and associated pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of POAG. The differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in ECM regulation, TGF-β signalling, proliferation/apoptosis, inflammation/wound healing, MAPK signalling, oxidative stress and RHO signalling. Canonical pathway analysis confirmed the enrichment of RhoA signalling, inflammatory-related processes, ECM and cytoskeletal organisation in HTM cells in response to TGF-β2. We also identified novel genes and pathways that were affected after TGF-β2 treatment in the HTM, suggesting additional pathways are activated, including Nrf2, PI3K-Akt, MAPK and HIPPO signalling pathways. The identification and characterisation of TGF-β2 dependent differentially expressed genes and pathways in HTM cells is essential to understand the patho-physiology of glaucoma and to develop new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breedge Callaghan
- Genomic Medicine Group, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Karen Lester
- Genomic Medicine Group, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK.,Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - Brian Lane
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.,Translational Radiobiology Group, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK
| | - Xiaochen Fan
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - Katarzyna Goljanek-Whysall
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.,School of Medicine, Physiology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, H91 W5P7, Ireland
| | - David A Simpson
- The Wellcome - Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
| | - Carl Sheridan
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - Colin E Willoughby
- Genomic Medicine Group, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK. .,Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.
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19
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zheng G, Liu Y, Li J, Huang H, Xu C, Zeng Y, Zhang X, Qin J, Dai C, Hambrock HO, Hartmann U, Feng B, Mak KK, Liu Y, Lan HY, Huang Y, Zheng ZH, Xia Y. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) interacts with Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in obstructed kidneys in vivo. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102010. [PMID: 35525270 PMCID: PMC9234244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FS)-like 1 (FSTL1) is a member of the FS-SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) family of secreted and extracellular matrix proteins. The functions of FSTL1 have been studied in heart and lung injury as well as in wound healing; however, the role of FSTL1 in the kidney is largely unknown. Here, we show using single-cell RNA-Seq that Fstl1 was enriched in stromal cells in obstructed mouse kidneys. In addition, immunofluorescence demonstrated that FSTL1 expression was induced in fibroblasts during kidney fibrogenesis in mice and human patients. We demonstrate that FSTL1 overexpression increased renal fibrosis and activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, known to promote kidney fibrosis, but not the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), Notch, Hedgehog, or Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathways in obstructed mouse kidneys, whereas inhibition of FSTL1 lowered Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Importantly, we show that FSTL1 interacted with Wnt ligands and the Frizzled (FZD) receptors but not the coreceptor lipoprotein receptor–related protein 6 (LRP6). Specifically, we found FSTL1 interacted with Wnt3a through its extracellular calcium–binding (EC) domain and von Willebrand factor type C–like (VWC) domain, and with FZD4 through its EC domain. Furthermore, we show that FSTL1 increased the association of Wnt3a with FZD4 and promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling and fibrogenesis. The EC domain interacting with both Wnt3a and FZD4 also enhanced Wnt3a signaling. Therefore, we conclude that FSTL1 is a novel extracellular enhancer of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoxun Zheng
- iHuman Institute, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinhong Li
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huihui Huang
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Chunhua Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yelin Zeng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinzhong Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study of Ministry of Education, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunsun Dai
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Harald O Hambrock
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ursula Hartmann
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kingston Kinglun Mak
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, China
| | - Youhua Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhi-Hua Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yin Xia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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20
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Liu L, Zhao S, Lü Z, Pang Z, Liu B, gong L, Yinghui-Dong. Identification, expression and functional analysis of activin type I receptor in common Chinese Cuttlefish, Sepiella japonica. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 240:106976. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.106976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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21
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Wang H, Zhang P, Chen X, Liu W, Fu Z, Liu M. Activin a inhibits foam cell formation and up-regulates ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression through Alk4-Smad signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Steroids 2021; 174:108887. [PMID: 34237315 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2021.108887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activin A has been reported to play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of activin A on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced foam cell formation and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms in murine macrophage-like cell line RAW 264.7. METHODS The effects of activin A on Dil-labeled ox-LDL uptake were examined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. The mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol receptors were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. To investigate whether activin receptor-like kinase 4 (Alk4) is required for activin A-mediated cellular effects, cells were pre-treated with SB-431542. The involvement of Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 was confirmed by transfection with specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). RESULTS Activin A inhibits ox-ldl-induced foam cell formation and class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) expression, while up-regulates ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ABCG1 expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Pre-treatment with SB-431542 abolished activin A-mediated anti-atherogenic effect. Knockdown of Smad2 reversed activin A-induced inhibition of ox-LDL uptake and SR-A expression. However, knockdown of Smad3 or Smad4 did not have such effect. Meanwhile, knockdown of either Smad2, Smad3 or Smad4 reversed the activin A-induced up-regulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel evidence that activin A may exert anti-atherogenic effects through Alk4-Smad signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China; Division of Cardiology, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiahuan Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Fu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China
| | - Meilin Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Brown ML, Lopez A, Meyer N, Richter A, Thompson TB. FSTL3-Neutralizing Antibodies Enhance Glucose-Responsive Insulin Secretion in Dysfunctional Male Mouse and Human Islets. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6128796. [PMID: 33539535 PMCID: PMC8384134 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production from pancreatic beta cells or insufficient insulin action, leading to an inability to control blood glucose. While a wide range of treatments exist to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, therapies addressing the root cause of diabetes through replacing lost beta cells with functional cells remain an object of active pursuit. We previously demonstrated that genetic deletion of Fstl3, a critical regulator of activin activity, enhanced beta cell number and glucose-responsive insulin production. These observations suggested the hypothesis that FSTL3 neutralization could be used to therapeutically enhance beta cell number and function in humans. To pursue this possibility, we developed an FSTL3-neutralizing antibody, FP-101, and characterized its ability to prevent or disrupt FSTL3 from complexing with activin or related ligands. This antibody was selective for FSTL3 relative to the closely related follistatin, thereby reducing the chance for off-target effects. In vitro assays with FP-101 and activin revealed that FP-101-mediated neutralization of FSTL3 can enhance both insulin secretion and glucose responsiveness to nonfunctional mouse and human islets under conditions that model diabetes. Thus, FSTL3 neutralization may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating diabetes through repairing dysfunctional beta cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Brown
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
- Correspondence: Melissa Brown, PhD, RD, CSSD, LD, University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA. E-mail:
| | - Alexa Lopez
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Nolan Meyer
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Alden Richter
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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23
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Dhakal P, Tsunoda N, Nambo Y, Taniyama H, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G, Taya K. Circulating activin A during equine gestation and immunolocalization of its receptors system in utero-placental tissues and fetal gonads. J Equine Sci 2021; 32:39-48. [PMID: 34220270 PMCID: PMC8240525 DOI: 10.1294/jes.32.39] [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: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although equine gestation is unique from the standpoint of fetal gonadal enlargement and
regression, the activator of this process is still unknown. The present study aimed to
show a possible role of activin during equine gestation. In the first experiment, weekly
plasma samples from six pregnant mares were used to measure activin A. In the second
experiment, eight pregnant mares carrying female (gestational days 110, 140, 180, and 270)
and male fetuses (gestational days 120, 180, 225, and 314) were used for
immunohistochemistry of activin receptors (IA, IB, IIA, IIB), and their intracellular
mediators (Smad2, Smad3, Smad4). Activin A levels in maternal circulation remained low
until fourth weeks of gestation, thereafter, started to increase, and peaked first at 11
weeks of gestation. The second significant peak was observed on the day of parturition.
Activin receptors type IA, IB, IIA, and IIB were immunostained in interstitial and germ
cells of fetal ovaries and testes along with utero-placental tissues. Smad2, Smad3, and
Smad4 were also immunolocalized in all these organs. These results demonstrated the
activin-producing capacity of utero-placental tissues, and also evidenced the existence of
activin receptors and functional signaling molecules in these organs. The first increment
in circulating activin A in maternal circulation coinciding with the timing of initiation
of fetal gonadal enlargement suggests that activin from the utero-placental tissues may
have a stimulatory role in fetal gonad enlargement and utero-placental development in
mares, whereas the second peak could be important to follicular development in the
maternal ovary for foal heat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Dhakal
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.,Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, MO 65211, U.S.A
| | | | - Yasuo Nambo
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Taniyama
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan
| | - Kentaro Nagaoka
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.,United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.,Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences (Doctoral Program), Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Gen Watanabe
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.,United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.,Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences (Doctoral Program), Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Taya
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.,Shadai Corporation, Hokkaido 059-1432, Japan
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24
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Solagna F, Tezze C, Lindenmeyer MT, Lu S, Wu G, Liu S, Zhao Y, Mitchell R, Meyer C, Omairi S, Kilic T, Paolini A, Ritvos O, Pasternack A, Matsakas A, Kylies D, zur Wiesch JS, Turner JE, Wanner N, Nair V, Eichinger F, Menon R, Martin IV, Klinkhammer BM, Hoxha E, Cohen CD, Tharaux PL, Boor P, Ostendorf T, Kretzler M, Sandri M, Kretz O, Puelles VG, Patel K, Huber TB. Pro-cachectic factors link experimental and human chronic kidney disease to skeletal muscle wasting programs. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:135821. [PMID: 34060483 PMCID: PMC8159690 DOI: 10.1172/jci135821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting is commonly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. However, the link between kidney and muscle function remains poorly understood. Here, we took a complementary interorgan approach to investigate skeletal muscle wasting in CKD. We identified increased production and elevated blood levels of soluble pro-cachectic factors, including activin A, directly linking experimental and human CKD to skeletal muscle wasting programs. Single-cell sequencing data identified the expression of activin A in specific kidney cell populations of fibroblasts and cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. We propose that persistent and increased kidney production of pro-cachectic factors, combined with a lack of kidney clearance, facilitates a vicious kidney/muscle signaling cycle, leading to exacerbated blood accumulation and, thereby, skeletal muscle wasting. Systemic pharmacological blockade of activin A using soluble activin receptor type IIB ligand trap as well as muscle-specific adeno-associated virus-mediated downregulation of its receptor ACVR2A/B prevented muscle wasting in different mouse models of experimental CKD, suggesting that activin A is a key factor in CKD-induced cachexia. In summary, we uncovered a crosstalk between kidney and muscle and propose modulation of activin signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy for skeletal muscle wasting in CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Solagna
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Caterina Tezze
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Maja T. Lindenmeyer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Shun Lu
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guochao Wu
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Shuya Liu
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Meyer
- Renal Division, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Centre, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Saleh Omairi
- College of Medicine, University of Wasit, Kut, Iraq
| | - Temel Kilic
- Renal Division, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Centre, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Paolini
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Olli Ritvos
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Arja Pasternack
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antonios Matsakas
- Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Centre for Atherothrombosis and Metabolic Disease, Hull York Medical School, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Dominik Kylies
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Jan-Eric Turner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Wanner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Viji Nair
- Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Ina V. Martin
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology and
| | | | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Clemens D. Cohen
- Nephrological Center, Medical Clinic and Polyclinic IV, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Pierre-Louis Tharaux
- Paris Centre de Recherche Cardiovasculaire, INSERM, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Peter Boor
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology and
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Marco Sandri
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Oliver Kretz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Victor G. Puelles
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ketan Patel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies and Center for Biological System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B. Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies and Center for Biological System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Asiabi P, Dolmans MM, Ambroise J, Camboni A, Amorim CA. In vitro differentiation of theca cells from ovarian cells isolated from postmenopausal women. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:2793-2807. [PMID: 33326997 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can human theca cells (TCs) be differentiated in vitro? SUMMARY ANSWER It is possible to differentiate human TCs in vitro using a medium supplemented with growth factors and hormones. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There are very few studies on the origin of TCs in mammalian ovaries. Precursor TCs have been described in neonatal mice ovaries, which can differentiate into TCs under the influence of factors from oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs). On the other hand, studies in large animal models have reported that stromal cells (SCs) isolated from the cortical ovarian layer can also differentiate into TCs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION After obtaining informed consent, ovarian biopsies were taken from eight menopausal women (53-74 years of age) undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic disease not related to the ovaries. SCs were isolated from the ovarian cortex and in vitro cultured for 8 days in basic medium (BM) (G1), enriched with growth factors, FSH and LH in plastic (G2) or collagen substrate without (G3) or with (G4) a GC line. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS To confirm TC differentiation, relative mRNA levels for LH receptor (Lhr), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (Cyp11a1), cytochrome P450 17A1 (Cyp17a1), hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1 (Hsd3b1) and hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 2 (Hsd3b2) were assessed. Immunohistochemistry was also performed for their protein detection and a specific marker was identified for TCs (aminopeptidase-N, CD13), as were markers for theca and small luteal cells (dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) and Notch homolog 1, translocation-associated (NOTCH1)). Finally, we analyzed cell ultrastructure before (Day 0) and after in vitro culture (Day 8), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone levels in the medium using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ELISA, respectively. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Results obtained from qPCR showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mRNA levels of Lhr in F2 (floating cells in G2) and G4, Cyp17a1 in G1 and F1 (floating cells in G1) and Hsd3b2 in G1, G2, G3 and G4. Immunohistochemistry confirmed expression of each enzyme involved in the steroidogenic pathway at the protein stage. However, apart from G1, all other groups exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) rise in the number of CD13-positive cells. There was also a significant increase (P < 0.05) in NOTCH1-positive cells in G3 and G4. Ultrastructure analyses by TEM showed a distinct difference between groups and also versus Day 0. A linear trend with time revealed a significant gain (q < 0.001) in DHEA concentrations in the medium during the culture period in G1, G2, G3 and G4. It also demonstrated a statistical increase (q < 0.001) in G2, G3 and G4 groups, but G1 remained the same throughout culture in terms of progesterone levels. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Shorter periods of in vitro culture (e.g. 2, 4 and 6 days) could have led to increased concentrations of differentiated TCs in G2, G3 and G4. In addition, a group of cells cultured in BM and accompanied by COV434 cells would be necessary to understand their role in the differentiation process. Finally, while our results demonstrate that TCs can be differentiated in vitro from cells isolated from the cortical layer of postmenopausal ovaries, we do not know if these cells are differentiated from a subpopulation of precursor TCs present in ovarian cortex or ovarian SCs in general. It is therefore necessary to identify specific markers for precursor TCs in human ovaries to understand the origin of these cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This is a promising step toward understanding TC ontogenesis in the human ovary. Moreover, in vitro-generated human TCs can be used for studies on drug screening, as well as to understand TC-associated pathologies, such as androgen-secreting tumors and polycystic ovary syndrome. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (FNRS) (C.A.A. is an FRS-FNRS Research Associate; grant MIS #F4535 16 awarded to C.A.A.; grant 5/4/150/5 awarded to M.M.D.; grant ASP-RE314 awarded to P.A.) and Foundation Against Cancer (grant 2018-042 awarded to A.C.). The authors declare no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Asiabi
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - M M Dolmans
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Gynecology and Andrology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Ambroise
- Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Camboni
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C A Amorim
- Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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El-Deek SEM, Abd-Elghaffar SKH, Hna RS, Mohamed HG, El-Deek HEM. Effect of Hesperidin against Induced Colon Cancer in Rats: Impact of Smad4 and Activin A Signaling Pathway. Nutr Cancer 2021; 74:697-714. [PMID: 33818196 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1907424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE To evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of hesperidin (Hsd) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) and demonstrate its role in mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4(Smad4) and activin A signaling pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS A CRC rat model was established by DMH exposure, and the animals were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, Hsd, DMH, DMH + Hsd, and DMH followed by Hsd. The resected colon was subjected to macroscopic, microscopic, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination. Activin A, Smad4, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in tissues were also measured. The DMH group exhibited a significant increase in the gene and protein expression of activin A as well as MDA and NO levels in tissues. There was a significant reduction in the gene and protein expression of Smad4 as well as GSH and SOD levels in tissues. Administration of Hsd significantly upregulated Smad4 and activin A gene expressions in both the DMH + Hsd and DMH followed by Hsd groups. Moreover, Hsd improved the antioxidant status of the former two groups. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the chemopreventive effect of Hsd against CRC by modulating Smad4 and activin A signaling in vivo. Further studies are needed to demonstrate its clinical value and explore its possible role in advanced malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar E M El-Deek
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Sary K H Abd-Elghaffar
- Pathology and Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Randa S Hna
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Heba G Mohamed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Heba E M El-Deek
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Cloutier JK, McMann CL, Oderberg IM, Reddien PW. activin-2 is required for regeneration of polarity on the planarian anterior-posterior axis. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009466. [PMID: 33780442 PMCID: PMC8057570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Planarians are flatworms and can perform whole-body regeneration. This ability involves a mechanism to distinguish between anterior-facing wounds that require head regeneration and posterior-facing wounds that require tail regeneration. How this head-tail regeneration polarity decision is made is studied to identify principles underlying tissue-identity specification in regeneration. We report that inhibition of activin-2, which encodes an Activin-like signaling ligand, resulted in the regeneration of ectopic posterior-facing heads following amputation. During tissue turnover in uninjured planarians, positional information is constitutively expressed in muscle to maintain proper patterning. Positional information includes Wnts expressed in the posterior and Wnt antagonists expressed in the anterior. Upon amputation, several wound-induced genes promote re-establishment of positional information. The head-versus-tail regeneration decision involves preferential wound induction of the Wnt antagonist notum at anterior-facing over posterior-facing wounds. Asymmetric activation of notum represents the earliest known molecular distinction between head and tail regeneration, yet how it occurs is unknown. activin-2 RNAi animals displayed symmetric wound-induced activation of notum at anterior- and posterior-facing wounds, providing a molecular explanation for their ectopic posterior-head phenotype. activin-2 RNAi animals also displayed anterior-posterior (AP) axis splitting, with two heads appearing in anterior blastemas, and various combinations of heads and tails appearing in posterior blastemas. This was associated with ectopic nucleation of anterior poles, which are head-tip muscle cells that facilitate AP and medial-lateral (ML) pattern at posterior-facing wounds. These findings reveal a role for Activin signaling in determining the outcome of AP-axis-patterning events that are specific to regeneration. A central problem in animal regeneration is how animals determine what body part to regenerate. Planarians are flatworms that can regenerate any missing body region, and are studied to identify mechanisms underlying regeneration. At transverse amputation planes, a poorly understood mechanism specifies regeneration of either a head or a tail. This head-versus-tail regeneration decision-making process is referred to as regeneration polarity and has been studied for over a century to identify mechanisms that specify what to regenerate. The gene notum, which encodes a Wnt antagonist, is induced within hours after injury preferentially at anterior-facing wounds, where it specifies head regeneration. We report that Activin signaling is required for regeneration polarity, and the underlying asymmetric activation of notum at anterior- over posterior-facing wounds. We propose that Activin signaling is involved in regeneration-specific responses broadly in the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K. Cloutier
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States of America
- Harvard/MIT MD-PhD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Conor L. McMann
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States of America
| | - Isaac M. Oderberg
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States of America
| | - Peter W. Reddien
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Li H, Zhu H, Ge T, Wang Z, Zhang C. Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus: Enhancement Strategies and Future Perspectives. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1552-1569. [PMID: 33675006 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, is characterized by the unbridled hyperglycemia resulted from the impaired ability of the body to either produce or respond to insulin. As a cell-based regenerative therapy, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold immense potency for curing DM duo to their easy isolation, multi-differentiation potential, and immunomodulatory property. However, despite the promising efficacy in pre-clinical animal models, naive MSC administration fails to exhibit clinically satisfactory therapeutic outcomes, which varies greatly among individuals with DM. Recently, numbers of innovative strategies have been applied to improve MSC-based therapy. Preconditioning, genetic modification, combination therapy and exosome application are representative strategies to maximize the therapeutic benefits of MSCs. Therefore, in this review, we summarize recent advancements in mechanistic studies of MSCs-based treatment for DM, and mainly focus on the novel approaches aiming to improve the anti-diabetic potentials of naive MSCs. Additionally, the potential directions of MSCs-based therapy for DM are also proposed at a glance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haisen Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China.,Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Sinoneural Cell Engineering Group Holdings Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Hao Zhu
- Sinoneural Cell Engineering Group Holdings Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Ting Ge
- Xinxiang First People's Hospital, Xinxiang 453000, China
| | - Zhifeng Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China. .,Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China. .,Sinoneural Cell Engineering Group Holdings Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China.
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China. .,Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Mundy C, Yao L, Sinha S, Chung J, Rux D, Catheline SE, Koyama E, Qin L, Pacifici M. Activin A promotes the development of acquired heterotopic ossification and is an effective target for disease attenuation in mice. Sci Signal 2021; 14:eabd0536. [PMID: 33563697 PMCID: PMC10508179 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abd0536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common, potentially debilitating pathology that is instigated by inflammation caused by tissue damage or other insults, which is followed by chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and extraskeletal bone accumulation. Current remedies are not very effective and have side effects, including the risk of triggering additional HO. The TGF-β family member activin A is produced by activated macrophages and other inflammatory cells and stimulates the intracellular effectors SMAD2 and SMAD3 (SMAD2/3). Because HO starts with inflammation and because SMAD2/3 activation is chondrogenic, we tested whether activin A stimulated HO development. Using mouse models of acquired intramuscular and subdermal HO, we found that blockage of endogenous activin A by a systemically administered neutralizing antibody reduced HO development and bone accumulation. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis and developmental trajectories showed that the antibody treatment reduced the recruitment of Sox9+ skeletal progenitors, many of which also expressed the gene encoding activin A (Inhba), to HO sites. Gain-of-function assays showed that activin A enhanced the chondrogenic differentiation of progenitor cells through SMAD2/3 signaling, and inclusion of activin A in HO-inducing implants enhanced HO development in vivo. Together, our data reveal that activin A is a critical upstream signaling stimulator of acquired HO in mice and could represent an effective therapeutic target against forms of this pathology in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Mundy
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lutian Yao
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Sayantani Sinha
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Juliet Chung
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Danielle Rux
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sarah E Catheline
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eiki Koyama
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Tumurgan Z, Kanasaki H, Tumurbaatar T, Oride A, Okada H, Hara T, Kyo S. Role of activin, follistatin, and inhibin in the regulation of Kiss-1 gene expression in hypothalamic cell models†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:405-415. [PMID: 31167231 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin (encoded by the Kiss-1 gene) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus governs the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis by regulating pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Meanwhile, kisspeptin in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) region has been implicated in estradiol (E2)-induced GnRH surges. Kiss-1-expressing cell model mHypoA-55 exhibits characteristics of Kiss-1 neurons in the ARC region. On the other hand, Kiss-1 expressing mHypoA-50 cells originate from the AVPV region. In the mHypoA-55 ARC cells, activin significantly increased Kiss-1 gene expression. Follistatin alone reduced Kiss-1 expression within these cells. Interestingly, activin-induced Kiss-1 gene expression was completely abolished by follistatin. Inhibin A, but not inhibin B reduced Kiss-1 expression. Activin-increased Kiss-1 expression was also abolished by inhibin A. Pretreatment of the cells with follistatin or inhibin A significantly inhibited kisspeptin- or GnRH-induced Kiss-1 gene expression in mHypoA-55 cells. In contrast, in the mHypoA-50 AVPV cell model, activin, follistatin, and inhibin A did not modulate Kiss-1 gene expression. The subunits that compose activin and inhibin, as well as follistatin were expressed in both mHypoA-55 and mHypoA-50 cells. Expression of inhibin βA and βB subunits and follistatin was much higher in mHypoA-55 ARC cells. Furthermore, we found that expression of the inhibin α subunit and follistatin genes was modulated in the presence of E2 in mHypoA-55 ARC cells. The results of this study suggest that activin, follistatin, and inhibin A within the ARC region participate in the regulation of the HPG axis under the influence of E2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zolzaya Tumurgan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Kanasaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Tuvshintugs Tumurbaatar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Aki Oride
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Hiroe Okada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Tomomi Hara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
| | - Satoru Kyo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan
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31
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Tubbs JD, Ding J, Baum L, Sham PC. Immune dysregulation in depression: Evidence from genome-wide association. Brain Behav Immun Health 2020; 7:100108. [PMID: 34589869 PMCID: PMC8474691 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A strong body of evidence supports a role for immune dysregulation across many psychiatric disorders including depression, the leading cause of global disability. Recent progress in the search for genetic variants associated with depression provides the opportunity to strengthen our current understanding of etiological factors contributing to depression and generate novel hypotheses. Here, we provide an overview of the literature demonstrating a role for immune dysregulation in depression, followed by a detailed discussion of the immune-related genes identified by the most recent genome-wide meta-analysis of depression. These genes represent strong evidence-based targets for future basic and translational research which aims to understand the role of the immune system in depression pathology and identify novel points for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D. Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jiahong Ding
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Larry Baum
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pak C. Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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32
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Farmer SM, Andl CD. Computational modeling of transforming growth factor β and activin a receptor complex formation in the context of promiscuous signaling regulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:5166-5181. [PMID: 32597324 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1785330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) superfamily is a group of multipotent growth factors that control proliferation, quiescence and differentiation. Aberrant signal transduction and downstream target activation contribute to tumorigenesis and targeted therapy has therefore been considered a promising avenue. Using various modeling pipelines, we analyzed the structure-function relationship between ligand and receptor molecules of the TGFβ family. We further simulated the molecular docking of Galunisertib, a small molecule inhibitor targeting TGFβ signaling in cancer, which is currently undergoing FDA-approved clinical trials. We found that proprotein dimers of Activin isoforms differ at intrachain disulfide bonds, which support prior evidence of varying pro-domain stability and isoform preference. Further, mature proteins possess flexibility around conserved cystine knots to functionally interact with receptors or regulatory molecules in similar but distinct ways to TGFβ. We show that all Activin isoforms are capable of assuming a closed- or open-dimer state, revealing structural promiscuity of their open forms for receptor binding. We propose the first structural landscape for Activin receptor complexes containing a type I receptor (ACVR1B), which shares a pre-helix extension with TGFβ type I receptor (TGFβR1). Here, we artificially demonstrate that Activin can bind TGFβR1 in a TGFβ-like manner and that TGFβ1 can form signaling complexes with ACVR1B. Interestingly, Galunisertib was found to form stable inhibitory structures within the homologous kinase domains of both TGFβR1 and ACVR1B, thus halting receptor-promiscuous signaling. Overall, these observations highlight the challenges of specific TGFβ cascade targeting in the context of cancer therapies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Farmer
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Claudia D Andl
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
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Mundhe D, Waghole R, Pawar S, Mishra R, Shetty A, Gera P, Kannan S, Teni T. Concomitant overexpression of Activin A and p63 is associated with poor outcome in oral cancer patients. J Oral Pathol Med 2020; 49:876-885. [DOI: 10.1111/jop.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dhanashree Mundhe
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute Mumbai India
| | - Rohit Waghole
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
| | - Sagar Pawar
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
| | - Rupa Mishra
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute Mumbai India
| | - Arusha Shetty
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
| | - Poonam Gera
- Biorepository Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
| | - Sadhana Kannan
- Epidemiology and Clinical Trial Unit Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
| | - Tanuja Teni
- Teni Laboratory Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Navi Mumbai India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute Mumbai India
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Soler Palacios B, Nieto C, Fajardo P, González de la Aleja A, Andrés N, Dominguez-Soto Á, Lucas P, Cuenda A, Rodríguez-Frade JM, Martínez-A C, Villares R, Corbí ÁL, Mellado M. Growth Hormone Reprograms Macrophages toward an Anti-Inflammatory and Reparative Profile in an MAFB-Dependent Manner. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:776-788. [PMID: 32591394 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH), a pleiotropic hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, regulates immune and inflammatory responses. In this study, we show that GH regulates the phenotypic and functional plasticity of macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, GH treatment of GM-CSF-primed monocyte-derived macrophages promotes a significant enrichment of anti-inflammatory genes and dampens the proinflammatory cytokine profile through PI3K-mediated downregulation of activin A and upregulation of MAFB, a critical transcription factor for anti-inflammatory polarization of human macrophages. These in vitro data correlate with improved remission of inflammation and mucosal repair during recovery in the acute dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in GH-overexpressing mice. In this model, in addition to the GH-mediated effects on other immune cells, we observed that macrophages from inflamed gut acquire an anti-inflammatory/reparative profile. Overall, these data indicate that GH reprograms inflammatory macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype and improves resolution during pathologic inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Soler Palacios
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Concha Nieto
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Fajardo
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Arturo González de la Aleja
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Andrés
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Ángeles Dominguez-Soto
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Lucas
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Ana Cuenda
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - José Miguel Rodríguez-Frade
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Carlos Martínez-A
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Ricardo Villares
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Ángel L Corbí
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Mellado
- Departamento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain; and
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Bankar A, Gupta V. Investigational non-JAK inhibitors for chronic phase myelofibrosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:461-474. [PMID: 32245330 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1751121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with myelofibrosis (MF) have no effective treatment option after the failure of approved JAK inhibitor (JAKi) therapy. Non-JAK inhibitors (non-JAKi) that target non-canonical molecular pathways are undergoing clinical evaluations to optimize efficacy and/or to reduce hematological toxicity of JAKi. AREA COVERED This article reviews the efficacy data from completed and ongoing early phase clinical trials of non-JAKi agents for chronic phase MF. The article also illuminates some of the challenges of myelofibrosis drug development. EXPERT OPINION Most non-JAKi agents tested so far have shown modest benefit in improving the efficacy of ruxolitinib. Several novel agents such as BET inhibitor- CPI-0610, activin receptor ligand trap- luspatercept, recombinant pentraxin-PRM-151, telomerase inhibitor- imetelstat and bcl-2 inhibitor- navitoclax, have shown promising activity; however, they require vigorous evaluation in randomized controlled trials to understand the clinical benefit. Drugs that target new molecular pathways (MDM2, p-selectin, TIM-3, TGF-β, aurora kinase) and immune-based strategies (CALR vaccine, anti-PD-1, allogeneic cord blood regulatory T cells) are in early phase trials. Further translational studies to target leukemic stem cells, improvement in trial designs by incorporating control arm and survival endpoints, and patient-focused collaborations among all stakeholders could pave a way for future success in MF drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniket Bankar
- Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vikas Gupta
- Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ma J, Sanchez-Duffhues G, Goumans MJ, ten Dijke P. TGF-β-Induced Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Disease and Tissue Engineering. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:260. [PMID: 32373613 PMCID: PMC7187792 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a complex biological process that gives rise to cells with multipotent potential. EndMT is essential for the formation of the cardiovascular system during embryonic development. Emerging results link EndMT to the postnatal onset and progression of fibrotic diseases and cancer. Moreover, recent reports have emphasized the potential for EndMT in tissue engineering and regenerative applications by regulating the differentiation status of cells. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) engages in many important physiological processes and is a potent inducer of EndMT. In this review, we first summarize the mechanisms of the TGF-β signaling pathway as it relates to EndMT. Thereafter, we discuss the pivotal role of TGF-β-induced EndMT in the development of cardiovascular diseases, fibrosis, and cancer, as well as the potential application of TGF-β-induced EndMT in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ma
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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Marceca GP, Londhe P, Calore F. Management of Cancer Cachexia: Attempting to Develop New Pharmacological Agents for New Effective Therapeutic Options. Front Oncol 2020; 10:298. [PMID: 32195193 PMCID: PMC7064558 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by systemic inflammation, uncontrolled weight loss and dramatic metabolic alterations. This includes myofibrillar protein breakdown, increased lipolysis, insulin resistance, elevated energy expediture, and reduced food intake, hence impairing the patient's response to anti-cancer therapies and quality of life. While a decade ago the syndrome was considered incurable, over the most recent years much efforts have been put into the study of such disease, leading to the development of potential therapeutic strategies. Several important improvements have been reached in the management of CC from both the diagnostic-prognostic and the pharmacological viewpoint. However, given the heterogeneity of the disease, it is impossible to rely only on single variables to properly treat patients presenting this metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the cachexia symptoms are strictly dependent on the type of tumor, stage and the specific patient's response to cancer therapy. Thus, the attempt to translate experimentally effective therapies into the clinical practice results in a great challenge. For this reason, it is of crucial importance to further improve our understanding on the interplay of molecular mechanisms implicated in the onset and progression of CC, giving the opportunity to develop new effective, safe pharmacological treatments. In this review we outline the recent knowledge regarding cachexia mediators and pathways involved in skeletal muscle (SM) and adipose tissue (AT) loss, mainly from the experimental cachexia standpoint, then retracing the unimodal treatment options that have been developed to the present day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioacchino P Marceca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Priya Londhe
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Federica Calore
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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barari A, Dehghani pour F, abdi A, farzanegi P. Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Resveratrol Supplementation on Plasma Level and Liver Expression of Activin A and Follistatin in a Rats with Nonalcoholic Fatty liver Disease. MEDICAL LABORATORY JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.29252/mlj.14.2.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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Kim YI, Lee CY, Shin MK. Downregulation of activin-signaling gene expression in passaged normal human dermal fibroblasts. Biomed Rep 2019; 12:17-22. [PMID: 31839945 DOI: 10.3892/br.2019.1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily and play important roles in proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of various target cells. We investigated changes of activin, activin receptor (ActR), and Smad-signaling gene expression with increasing passage number in normal human dermal fibroblasts. The expression of mRNA and protein was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analysis from passage numbers 5 to 15. Activin A and follistatin transcript levels increased with increasing passage number. ActR types IA, IB, IIA and IIB mRNA levels decreased at high passage number. The levels of Smad2, 3 and 4 protein decreased with increasing passage number, which also attenuated phosphorylation of Smad2 and 3 protein expression. Smad7 was enhanced with increasing passage number. These results suggest that expression of activin-signaling in aging normal human dermal fibroblasts increases activin A and follistatin, whereas ActR-Smad signaling is decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Il Kim
- Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan-Yang Lee
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyung Shin
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
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Petrusel L, Rusu I, Leucuta DC, Seicean R, Suharoschi R, Zamfir P, Seicean A. Relationship between cachexia and perineural invasion in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2019; 11:1126-1140. [PMID: 31908718 PMCID: PMC6937437 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v11.i12.1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cachexia is responsible for the low quality of life in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The rapid disease progression and patient deterioration seems related to perineural invasion, but the relationship between cachexia and perineural invasion for the evolution of the disease has been rarely studied. As perineural invasion is difficult to be highlighted, a biomarker such as the neurotrophic factor Midkine (MK) which promotes the neuronal differentiation and the cell migration could be helpful. Also, Activin (ACV) has been described as cachexia related to PDAC. However, their role for assessing and predicting the disease course in daily practice is not known.
AIM To assess the relationship between perineural invasion and cachexia and their biomarkers, MK and ACV, respectively, and their prognostic value.
METHODS This study included prospectively enrolled patients with proven adenocarcinoma and a matched group of controls without any malignancies. Patients with other causes of malnutrition were excluded. The plasma levels of ACV and MK were analyzed using western blotting and were correlated with the clinicopathological features and survival data. These results were validated by immunohistochemical analyses of the pancreatic tumor tissue of the patients included in the study and a supplementary group of surgically resected specimens from patients with a benign disease.
RESULTS The study comprised 114 patients with PDAC, 125 controls and a supplementary group of 14 benign pancreatic tissue samples. ACV and MK were both overexpressed more frequently in the plasma of patients with PDAC than in the controls (63% vs 32% for ACV, P < 0.001; 47% vs 16% for MK, P < 0.001), with similar levels in pancreatic tissue the MK protein expression was closely related to the advanced clinical stage (P = 0.006), the presence of metastasis (P = 0.04), perineural invasion (P = 0.03) and diabetes (P = 0.002), but with no influence on survival. No correlation between clinicopathological factors and ACV expression was noted. Cachexia, present in 19% of patients, was unrelated to ACV or MK level. Higher ACV expression was associated with a shorter survival (P = 0.008).
CONCLUSION The MK was a biomarker of perineural invasion, associated with tumor stage and diabetes, but without prognostic value as ACV. Cachexia was unrelated to perineural invasion, ACV level or survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Petrusel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Ioana Rusu
- Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Daniel Corneliu Leucuta
- Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania
| | - Radu Seicean
- First Surgery Clinic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400006, Romania
| | - Ramona Suharoschi
- Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Paula Zamfir
- Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Andrada Seicean
- Department of Gastroenterology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
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Rassouli H, Sayadmanesh A, Rezaeiani S, Ghezelayagh Z, Gharaati MR, Tahamtani Y. An Easy and Fast Method for Production of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Line Expressing and Secreting Human Recombinant Activin A. CELL JOURNAL 2019; 22:140-148. [PMID: 31721527 PMCID: PMC6874793 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2020.6580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective Growth factors are key elements of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research. Cell line development in eukaryotes
is a time-consuming procedure which usually takes 12-18 months. Here, we report an easy and fast method with which
production of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that express and secrete recombinant Activin A, as a major growth
factor in endo/mesoderm differentiation of embryonic stem cells is achieved within 3-4 weeks.
Materials and Methods In this experimental study, we cloned human Activin A into the pDONR/Zeo gateway entry
vector using the BP reaction. Activin A was subcloned next into the pLIX_403 and pLenti6.3/TO/V5-DEST destination
vectors by the LR reaction. The result was the production of constructs with which 293T cells were finally transfected
for virus production. CHO cells were transduced using viral particles to produce a cell line that secretes the His6- Activin
A fusion protein.
Results We developed a quick protocol which saves up to 3-4 weeks of time for producing recombinant proteins in
CHO cells. The recombinant cell line produced 90 mg/L of functional Activin A measured in human ESC line Royan H5
(RH5), during in vitro differentiation into meso-endoderm and definitive endoderm.
Conclusion Our results showed no significant differences in functionality between commercial Activin A and the one
produced using our novel protocol. This approach can be easily used for producing recombinant proteins in CHO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Rassouli
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Electronic Address: .,Department of Medical Laser, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Sayadmanesh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Electronic Address
| | - Siamak Rezaeiani
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghezelayagh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Gharaati
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yaser Tahamtani
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran. Electronic Address:
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Cachexia Anorexia Syndrome and Associated Metabolic Dysfunction in Peritoneal Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215444. [PMID: 31683709 PMCID: PMC6862625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of gastrointestinal and gynecological origin present with a nutritional deficit characterized by increased resting energy expenditure (REE), loss of muscle mass, and protein catabolism. Progression of peritoneal metastasis, as with other advanced malignancies, is associated with cancer cachexia anorexia syndrome (CAS), involving poor appetite (anorexia), involuntary weight loss, and chronic inflammation. Eventual causes of mortality include dysfunctional metabolism and energy store exhaustion. Etiology of CAS in PM patients is multifactorial including tumor growth, host response, cytokine release, systemic inflammation, proteolysis, lipolysis, malignant small bowel obstruction, ascites, and gastrointestinal side effects of drug therapy (chemotherapy, opioids). Metabolic changes of CAS in PM relate more to a systemic inflammatory response than an adaptation to starvation. Metabolic reprogramming is required for cancer cells shed into the peritoneal cavity to resist anoikis (i.e., programmed cell death). Profound changes in hexokinase metabolism are needed to compensate ineffective oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. During the development of PM, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays a key role in activating both aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, increasing the uptake of glucose, lipid, and glutamine into cancer cells. HIF-1α upregulates hexokinase II, phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), pyruvate kinase muscle isoenzyme 2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose transporters (GLUT) and promotes cytoplasmic glycolysis. HIF-1α also stimulates the utilization of glutamine and fatty acids as alternative energy substrates. Cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity interact with cancer-associated fibroblasts and adipocytes to meet metabolic demands and incorporate autophagy products for growth. Therapy of CAS in PM is challenging. Optimal nutritional intake alone including total parenteral nutrition is unable to reverse CAS. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) stabilized nutritional status in a significant proportion of PM patients. Agents targeting the mechanisms of CAS are under development.
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Takei Y, Takahashi S, Nakasatomi M, Sakairi T, Ikeuchi H, Kaneko Y, Hiromura K, Nojima Y, Maeshima A. Urinary Activin A is a novel biomarker reflecting renal inflammation and tubular damage in ANCA-associated vasculitis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223703. [PMID: 31613925 PMCID: PMC6793943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is a critical modulator of inflammation and plays a key role in controlling the cytokine cascade that drives the inflammatory response. However, the role of activin A in inflammatory kidney diseases remains unknown. To address this issue, we examined here whether activin A can be detected in the kidney and/or urine from patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) -associated vasculitis (AAV). Fifty-one patients who had been diagnosed with AAV and were treated in our department between November 2011 to March 2018 were included in this study. Forty-one patients had renal complications (renal AAV). Serum and urinary activin A levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation of urinary activin A concentration with clinical parameters was analyzed. Urinary activin A was undetectable in healthy volunteers. In contrast, urinary activin A concentration was significantly increased in patients with renal AAV but not in those with non-renal AAV. Urinary activin A concentration decreased rapidly after immunosuppressive treatment. There was a significant correlation of urinary activin A level with urinary protein, L-FABP, and NAG. Histologic evaluation revealed that urinary activin A levels were significantly higher in patients with cellular crescentic glomeruli than in those lacking this damage. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the mRNA encoding the activin A βA subunit was undetectable in normal kidneys but accumulated in the proximal tubules and crescentic glomeruli of the kidneys of patients with renal AAV. Immunostaining showed that activin A protein also was present in the proximal tubules, crescentic glomeruli, and macrophages infiltrating into the interstitium in the kidneys of patients with renal AAV. These data suggested that urinary activin A concentration reflects renal inflammation and tubular damage in AAV and may be a useful biomarker for monitoring renal AAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Takei
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Takahashi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Masao Nakasatomi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Toru Sakairi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Ikeuchi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yoriaki Kaneko
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Keiju Hiromura
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Nojima
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Akito Maeshima
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Yang E, Mundy C, Rappaport EF, Pacifici M, Billings PC. Identification and characterization of a novel heparan sulfate-binding domain in Activin A longest variants and implications for function. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222784. [PMID: 31536599 PMCID: PMC6752817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Activins regulate numerous processes including inflammation and are synthesized as precursors consisting of a long N-terminal pro-region and a mature protein. Genomic human databases currently list three activin A (Act A) variants termed X1, X2 and X3. The X3 variant is the shortest, lacks N-terminal segments present in X1 and X2, and has been the focus of most past literature. Here, we asked whether these variants are expressed by human cells and tissues and what structural features are contained within their pro-regions. Human monocytic-like cells THP1 and U937 expressed X1 and X2 variants after exposure to phorbol ester or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, while X2 transcripts were present in placenta. Expression vectors encoding full length X2 or X3 variants resulted in production and secretion of biologically active Act A from cultured cells. Previous studies reported a putative HS-binding domain (HBD) in the X3 pro-region. Here, we identified a novel HBD with consensus HS-binding motifs near the N-terminal end of X1 and X2 pro-regions. Peptides encompassing this new domain interacted with substrate-bound HS with nanomolar affinity, while peptides from putative X3 HBD did not. In good agreement, full length X2 pro-region interacted with heparin-agarose, while the X3 pro-region did not. In sum, our study reveals that Act A variants are expressed by inflammatory cells and placenta and yield biological activity. The high affinity HBD in X1 and X2 pro-region and its absence in X3 could greatly influence overall Act A distribution, availability and activity in physiological and pathological circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Yang
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Christina Mundy
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Eric F. Rappaport
- Molecular Genetics Core, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Paul C. Billings
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zessner-Spitzenberg J, Thomas AL, Krett NL, Jung B. TGFβ and activin A in the tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer. GENE REPORTS 2019; 17. [PMID: 32154442 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2019.100501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing steadily due to progress in screening, therapeutic options and precise diagnostic tools remain scarce. As the understanding of CRC as a complex and multifactorial condition moves forward, the tumor microenvironment has come into focus as a source of diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets. The role of TGFβ in shifting the epithelial cancer compartment towards invasiveness and a pro-migratory phenotype via stromal signaling has been widely investigated. Accordingly, recent studies have proposed that CRC patients could be stratified into distinct subtypes and have identified one poor prognosis subset of CRC that is characterized by high stromal activity and elevated levels of TGFβ. The TGFβ superfamily member activin A is crucial for the pro-metastatic properties of the TGFβ pathway, yet it has been under-researched in CRC carcinogenesis. In this review, we will elucidate the signaling network and interdependency of both ligands in the context of the tumor microenvironment in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Alexandra L Thomas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Nancy L Krett
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Barbara Jung
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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van Lieshout LCEW, Koek GH, Spaanderman MA, van Runnard Heimel PJ. Placenta derived factors involved in the pathogenesis of the liver in the syndrome of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP): A review. Pregnancy Hypertens 2019; 18:42-48. [PMID: 31494464 DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM With this review we try to unravel if placenta-derived factors are able to initiate liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) decay in HELLP syndrome and eventually cause the development of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). BACKGROUND Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome is a severe complication of pregnancy. It is characterized by elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count and haemolytic anaemia. The risk of developing HELLP syndrome within a pregnancy is 0.1-0.8%. The mortality rate among women with HELLP syndrome is 0-24% and the perinatal death goes up to 37%. The aetiology of HELLP syndrome is not fully understood but the pathogenesis of the liver pathology in the HELLP syndrome resembles that of a SOS with endothelial damage of the LSECs which ultimately leads to liver failure. OBJECTIVES We hypothesize that placenta derived factors cause LSEC damage and thereby liver dysfunction. METHODS We searched in the PubMed database for relevant articles about placenta derived factors involved in endothelial activation especially in the liver. We yielded eventually 55 relevant articles. RESULTS Based on this literature search we associate that in HELLP syndrome there is an increase of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR), soluble endoglin (sEng), galectin-1 (Gal-1), endothelin-1 (ET-1), Angiopoietin 2 (Angs-2), Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), activin B, inhibin A, Fas ligand (FasL) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). CONCLUSION We assume that these eleven increased placenta derived factors are responsible for LSEC damage which eventually leads to liver failure. This concept shows a possible design of the complicated pathophysiology in HELLP syndrome. However further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C E W van Lieshout
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
| | - G H Koek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Klinikum RWTH Aachen, Germany
| | - M A Spaanderman
- Department of Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Netherlands
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Activin-A in the regulation of immunity in health and disease. J Autoimmun 2019; 104:102314. [PMID: 31416681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2019.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The TGF-β superfamily of cytokines plays pivotal roles in the regulation of immune responses protecting against or contributing to diseases, such as, allergy, autoimmunity and cancer. Activin-A, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, was initially identified as an inducer of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion. Extensive research over the past decades illuminated fundamental roles for activin-A in essential biologic processes, including embryonic development, stem cell maintenance and differentiation, haematopoiesis, cell proliferation and tissue fibrosis. Activin-A signals through two type I and two type II receptors which, upon ligand binding, activate their kinase activity, phosphorylate the SMAD2 and 3 intracellular signaling mediators that form a complex with SMAD4, translocate to the nucleus and activate or silence gene expression. Most immune cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells have the capacity to produce and respond to activin-A, although not in a similar manner. In innate immune cells, including macrophages, DCs and neutrophils, activin-A exerts a broad range of pro- or anti-inflammatory functions depending on the cell maturation and activation status and the spatiotemporal context. Activin-A also controls the differentiation and effector functions of Th cell subsets, including Th9 cells, TFH cells, Tr1 Treg cells and Foxp3+ Treg cells. Moreover, activin-A affects B cell responses, enhancing mucosal IgA secretion and inhibiting pathogenic autoantibody production. Interestingly, an array of preclinical and clinical studies has highlighted crucial functions of activin-A in the initiation, propagation and resolution of human diseases, including autoimmune diseases, such as, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, in allergic disorders, including allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis, in cancer and in microbial infections. Here, we provide an overview of the biology of activin-A and its signaling pathways, summarize recent studies pertinent to the role of activin-A in the modulation of inflammation and immunity, and discuss the potential of targeting activin-A as a novel therapeutic approach for the control of inflammatory diseases.
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Activin A: a novel urinary biomarker of renal impairment in multiple myeloma. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190206. [PMID: 31072919 PMCID: PMC6542761 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal impairment (RI) is a common complication of multiple myeloma (MM) that significantly affects treatment efficacy and mortality. However, no useful biomarkers for early detection of renal damage in MM exist. Reports indicate that activin A, a multifunctional cytokine of the TGF-β superfamily, is involved in the development and progression of various kidney diseases. In the present study, we measured urinary activin A levels in patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) (n=41), smoldering MM (SMM) (n=10), and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (n=28), including monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS), and assessed the correlation between urinary activin A and several clinical parameters. Urinary activin A, undetectable in healthy volunteers, was significantly increased in NDMM patients but not in patients with SMM and MGUS (97.3, 25.0, and 6.61 mg/gCr, respectively, P<0.05). In all patients with NDMM, urinary activin A levels were significantly reduced after initial treatment regardless of the therapy regimen. There was a significant correlation of urinary activin A with spot urinary protein level (P<0.001) and serum M-protein (P=0.029) but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine (Cr), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG), and serum activin A level. Histological analysis using renal biopsy samples revealed that activin A, which was absent from normal kidneys, was detected in the renal tubular cells of patients with MGRS. These data suggest that urinary activin A reflects tubular injury in MM and might aid the early detection of RI in plasma cell neoplasms.
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Liu X, Chen Z, Lan T, Liang P, Tao Q. Upregulation of interleukin-8 and activin A induces osteoclastogenesis in ameloblastoma. Int J Mol Med 2019; 43:2329-2340. [PMID: 31017256 PMCID: PMC6488175 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ameloblastoma is a common odontogenic benign tumor located in the jaws and is characterized by severe local bone destruction. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of interactions between tumor cells and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on osteoclast formation in ameloblastoma. The impact of ameloblastoma/BMSC interactions on cytokine production, gene expression and osteoclastogenesis was examined using an immortalized ameloblastoma cell line that the authors' previously established. The results demonstrated that interactions between ameloblastoma cells and BMSCs increased interleukin (IL)‑8 and activin A secretion by BMSCs. IL‑8 expression in BMSCs was modulated by tumor‑derived tumor necrosis factor‑α and IL‑8 contributed to osteoclast formation not only directly but also by stimulating receptor activator of NF‑κB ligand (RANKL) expression in BMSCs. Activin A secretion in BMSCs was stimulated by ameloblastoma cells via cell‑to‑cell‑mediated activation of c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase activation, acting as a cofactor of RANKL to induce osteoclast formation and function. The present study highlights the critical role of communication between BMSCs and ameloblastoma cells in bone resorption in ameloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Tianjun Lan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China
| | - Peisheng Liang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China
| | - Qian Tao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China
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Tsai CN, Tsai CL, Yi JS, Kao HK, Huang Y, Wang CI, Lee YS, Chang KP. Activin A regulates the epidermal growth factor receptor promoter by activating the PI3K/SP1 pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5197. [PMID: 30914776 PMCID: PMC6435638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activin A are both overexpressed in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated their clinical correlation and activin A-mediated EGFR regulation in this study. Overexpression of both transcripts/proteins indicated a poorer prognosis in OSCC patients. Knockdown of endogenous INHBA repressed the expression of EGFR and inhibited activin A-mediated canonical Smads, noncanonical phosphorylation of AKT (ser473) (p-AKT ser473) and SP1. Inhibition of PI3K signaling via its inhibitor attenuated p-AKT ser473 and in turn reduced SP1 and EGFR expression in the presence of recombinant activin A (rActivin A) in OSCC cells, as revealed via a luciferase assay and western blotting. However, canonical Smad signaling repressed the EGFR promoter, as revealed by a luciferase assay. The transcription factor SP1, its coactivator CBP/p300, and Smad proteins were recruited to the EGFR proximal promoter following rActivin A treatment, as revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Smad2/3/4 dramatically outcompeted SP1 binding to the EGFR proximal promoter following mithramycin A treatment. Activin A activates the PI3K and Smad pathways to compete for binding to overlapping SP1 consensus sequences on the EGFR proximal promoter. Nevertheless, canonical p-Smad2 was largely repressed in OSCC tumor tissues, suggesting that the activin A-mediated noncanonical pathway is essential for the carcinogenesis of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Neu Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang-Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lung Tsai
- Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Shan Yi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan.,Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Kai Kao
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yenlin Huang
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chun-I Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shien Lee
- Genomic Medicine Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Ming-Chuan University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33348, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Ping Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan. .,Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan.
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