Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Shape Treg Cells

Emerging role of Jumonji domain-containing protein D3 in inflammatory diseases

Jumonji domain-containing protein D3 (JMJD3) is a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase that specifically removes transcriptional repression marks di- and tri-methylated groups from lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me2/3). The erasure of these marks leads to the activation of some associated genes, thereby influencing various biological processes, such as development, differentiation, and immune response. However, comprehensive descriptions regarding the relationship between JMJD3 and inflammation are lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of JMJD3, including its structure, functions, and involvement in inflammatory pathways. In addition, we summarize the evidence supporting JMJD3's role in several inflammatory diseases, as well as the potential therapeutic applications of JMJD3 inhibitors. Additionally, we also discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with investigating the functions of JMJD3 and developing targeted inhibitors and propose feasible solutions to provide valuable insights into the functional exploration and discovery of potential drugs targeting JMJD3 for inflammatory diseases.

Non-cell-autonomous suppression of tumor growth by RECK in immunocompetent mice

RECK is a candidate tumor suppressor gene isolated as a gene that induces flat reversion in a cell line transformed by the KRAS oncogene. Since RECK knockout mice die in utero, they are not suitable for studying the effects of RECK on tumor formation. In this study, we found an increased incidence of spontaneous pulmonary adenomas in mice with reduced RECK expression (RECK-Hypo mice). To evaluate the effects of RECK expressed by either tumor cells or host cells on tumor growth, we established a tumorigenic cell line (MKER) from the kidney of a C57BL/6 mouse and performed syngeneic transplantation experiments. Our results indicate that when RECK expression is low in host cells, transplanted MKER cells grow faster and kill the animal more rapidly. Since RECK is required for the formation of proper fibrillin fibers that serve as a tissue reservoir for precursors of TGFβ-family cytokines, we assessed the levels of TGFβ1 in the peripheral blood. We found a significant increase in TGFβ1 in RECK-Hypo mice compared to wild-type mice. We also found that the proportion of FOXP3-positive regulatory T (Treg) cells among splenocytes was higher in RECK-Hypo mice compared to the control mice. Furthermore, the number of FOXP3-positive cells in spontaneous hematopoietic neoplasms in the lungs as well as tumors that formed after MKER transplantation was significantly higher in RECK-Hypo mice compared to the control mice. These findings indicate that RECK-mediated tumor suppression involves a non-cell-autonomous mechanism and that possible roles of TGFβ1 and Treg cells in such a mechanism warrant further study.

Reconstruction of the TGF-β signaling pathway of Fasciola gigantica

In the present study, we reconstructed the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway for Fasciola gigantica, which is a neglected tropical pathogen. We defined the components involved in the TGF-β signaling pathway and investigated the transcription profiles of these genes for all developmental stages of F. gigantica. In addition, the presence of these components in excretory and secretory products (FgESP) was predicted via signal peptide annotation. The core components of the TGF-β signaling pathway have been detected in F. gigantica; classical and nonclassical single transduction pathways were constructed. Four ligands have been detected, which may mediate the TGF-β signaling pathway and BMP signaling pathway. Two ligand-binding type II receptors were detected, and inhibitory Smad7 was not detected. TLP, BMP-3, BMP-1, and ActRIb showed higher transcription in 42-day juvenile and 70-day juvenile, while ActRIIa, Smad1, ActRIIb, Smad8, KAT2B, and PP2A showed higher transcription in egg. TLM, Ski, Smad6, BMPRI, p70S6K, Smad2, Smad3, TgfβRI, Smad4, and p300 showed higher transcription in metacercariae. Four ligands, 2 receptors and 3 Smads are predicted to be present in the FgESP, suggesting their potential extrinsic function. This study should help to understand signal transduction in the TGF-β signaling pathway in F. gigantica. In addition, this study helps to illustrate the complex mechanisms involved in developmental processes and F. gigantica - host interaction and paves the way for further characterization of the signaling pathway in trematodes.

The Potential Influence of Uremic Toxins on the Homeostasis of Bones and Muscles in Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often experience a high accumulation of protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs), specifically indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (pCS). In the early stages of CKD, the buildup of PBUTs inhibits bone and muscle function. As CKD progresses, elevated PBUT levels further hinder bone turnover and exacerbate muscle wasting. In the late stage of CKD, hyperparathyroidism worsens PBUT-induced muscle damage but can improve low bone turnover. PBUTs play a significant role in reducing both the quantity and quality of bone by affecting osteoblast and osteoclast lineage. IS, in particular, interferes with osteoblastogenesis by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling, which reduces the expression of Runx2 and impedes osteoblast differentiation. High PBUT levels can also reduce calcitriol production, increase the expression of Wnt antagonists (SOST, DKK1), and decrease klotho expression, all of which contribute to low bone turnover disorders. Furthermore, PBUT accumulation leads to continuous muscle protein breakdown through the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines. Interactions between muscles and bones, mediated by various factors released from individual tissues, play a crucial role in the mutual modulation of bone and muscle in CKD. Exercise and nutritional therapy have the potential to yield favorable outcomes. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of bone and muscle loss in CKD can aid in developing new therapies for musculoskeletal diseases, particularly those related to bone loss and muscle wasting.

RNAseq profiling of blood from patients with coronary artery disease: Signature of a T cell imbalance

Background

Cardiovascular disease had a global prevalence of 523 million cases and 18.6 million deaths in 2019. The current standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) is coronary angiography either by invasive catheterization (ICA) or computed tomography (CTA). Prior studies employed single-molecule, amplification-independent RNA sequencing of whole blood to identify an RNA signature in patients with angiographically confirmed CAD. The present studies employed Illumina RNAseq and network co-expression analysis to identify systematic changes underlying CAD.

Methods

Whole blood RNA was depleted of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and analyzed by Illumina total RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to identify transcripts associated with CAD in 177 patients presenting for elective invasive coronary catheterization. The resulting transcript counts were compared between groups to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to identify patterns of changes through whole genome co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).

Results

The correlation between Illumina amplified RNAseq and the prior SeqLL unamplified RNAseq was quite strong (r = 0.87), but there was only 9 % overlap in the DEGs identified. Consistent with the prior RNAseq, the majority (93 %) of DEGs were down-regulated ~1.7-fold in patients with moderate to severe CAD (>20 % stenosis). DEGs were predominantly related to T cells, consistent with known reductions in Tregs in CAD. Network analysis did not identify pre-existing modules with a strong association with CAD, but patterns of T cell dysregulation were evident. DEGs were enriched for transcripts associated with ciliary and synaptic transcripts, consistent with changes in the immune synapse of developing T cells.

Conclusions

These studies confirm and extend a novel mRNA signature of a Treg-like defect in CAD. The pattern of changes is consistent with stress-related changes in the maturation of T and Treg cells, possibly due to changes in the immune synapse.

Molecular Basic of Pharmacotherapy of Cytokine Imbalance as a Component of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Treatment

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and associated conditions are an important problem in modern medicine. The onset of IDD may be in childhood and adolescence in patients with a genetic predisposition. With age, IDD progresses, leading to spondylosis, spondylarthrosis, herniated disc, spinal canal stenosis. One of the leading mechanisms in the development of IDD and chronic back pain is an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, classical therapeutic strategies for correcting cytokine imbalance in IDD do not give the expected response in more than half of the cases. The purpose of this review is to update knowledge about new and promising therapeutic strategies based on the correction of the molecular mechanisms of cytokine imbalance in patients with IDD. This review demonstrates that knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be a new key to finding more effective drugs for the treatment of IDD in the setting of acute and chronic inflammation.

Analysis of infiltrated immune cells in left atriums from patients with atrial fibrillation and identification of circRNA biomarkers for postoperative atrial fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. Postoperative AF (POAF) increases the risk of mortality after cardiac surgery. This study aims to explore mechanisms underlying AF, analyze infiltration of immune cells in left atrium (LA) from patients with AF, and identify potential circular RNA (circRNA) biomarkers for POAF. Methods: Raw data of GSE797689, GSE115574, and GSE97455 were downloaded and processed. AF-related gene co-expression network was constructed using weighted gene correlation network analysis and enrichment analysis of genes in relevant module was conducted. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were applied to investigate pathways significantly enriched in AF group. Infiltration of immune cells was analyzed using single-sample GSEA. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between patients with or without AF were identified and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks of DEGs were constructed. To screen biomarkers for POAF, differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) between patients with or without POAF were identified. Intersection between DEcircRNAs and circRNAs in ceRNA networks of DEGs were extracted and circRNAs in the intersection were further screened using support vector machine, random forest, and neural network to identify biomarkers for POAF. Results: Three modules were found to be relevant with AF and enrichment analysis indicated that genes in these modules were enriched in synthesis of extracellular matrix and inflammatory response. The results of GSEA and GSVA suggested that inflammatory response-related pathways were significantly enriched in AF group. Immune cells like macrophages, mast cells, and neutrophils were significantly infiltrated in LA tissues from patients with AF. The expression levels of immune genes such as CHGB, HLA-DRA, LYZ, IGKV1-17 and TYROBP were significantly upregulated in patients with AF, which were correlated with infiltration of immune cells. ceRNA networks of DEGs were constructed and has_circ_0006314 and hsa_circ_0055387 were found to have potential predictive values for POAF. Conclusion: Synthesis of extracellular matrix and inflammatory response were main processes involved in development and progression of AF. Infiltration of immune cells was significantly different between patients with or without AF. Has_circ_0006314 and hsa_circ_0055387 were found to have potential predictive values for POAF.