Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Protects Against Sepsis Serum Mediated Leukocyte Adhesion

An overview of matrix metalloproteinase-12 in multiple disease conditions, potential selective inhibitors, and drug designing strategies

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are the proteolytic enzymes accountable for extracellular matrix (ECM) modification through their Zn2+-dependent catalytic activity. Among these, MMP-12 is one of the crucial MMPs that contributes to various disease states including different types of cancers and other major pathophysiological conditions including COPD, asthma, emphysema, skin diseases, arthritis, vascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The majority of the MMP-12 inhibitors should have three constitutional pharmacophoric features (i.e., a hydrophobic group to occupy the S1' pocket, a zinc-binding motif for chelating to the catalytic Zn2+ ion present at the catalytic site, and a flexible and hydrogen bond forming linker region between the S1' pocket substituent and the zinc chelating group for interacting with the catalytic and Ω-loop amino acid residues). This review mainly focuses on the various roles of MMP-12 in different diseases along with the structural comparison with other MMPs as well as promising and MMP-12-selective inhibitors and molecular modeling studies performed on MMP-12 inhibitors. Therefore, this review will provide comprehensive information to the researchers for designing effective and MMP-12-selective inhibitors for therapeutic advancement in the future.

Prediction of Prognosis in Patients with Sepsis Based on Platelet-Related Genes

The study aimed to develop a risk prognostic model using platelet-related genes (PRGs) to predict sepsis patient outcomes. Sepsis patient data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and PRGs from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) were analyzed. Differential analysis identified 1139 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between sepsis and control groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed enrichment in functions related to immune cell regulation and pathways associated with immune response and infectious diseases. A risk prognostic model was established using LASSO and Cox regression analyses, incorporating 10 PRGs selected based on their association with sepsis prognosis. The model demonstrated good stratification and prognostic effects, confirmed by survival and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. It served as an independent prognostic factor in sepsis patients. Further analysis using the CIBERSORT algorithm showed higher infiltration of activated natural killer (NK) cells and lower infiltration of CD8 T cells and CD4 T cells naïve in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. Additionally, expression levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes were significantly lower in the high-risk group. In conclusion, the 10-gene risk model based on PRGs accurately predicted sepsis patient prognosis and immune infiltration levels. This study provides valuable insights into the role of platelets in sepsis prognosis and diagnosis, offering potential implications for personalized treatment strategies.

The Endothelial Glycocalyx and Neonatal Sepsis

Sepsis carries a substantial risk of morbidity and mortality in newborns, especially preterm-born neonates. Endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) is a carbohydrate-rich layer lining the vascular endothelium, with important vascular barrier function and cell adhesion properties, serving also as a mechano-sensor for blood flow. eGC shedding is recognized as a fundamental pathophysiological process generating microvascular dysfunction, which in turn contributes to multiple organ failure and death in sepsis. Although the disruption of eGC and its consequences have been investigated intensively in the adult population, its composition, development, and potential mechanisms of action are still poorly studied during the neonatal period, and more specifically, in neonatal sepsis. Further knowledge on this topic may provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that guide the sepsis pathology during the neonatal period, and would increase the usefulness of endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. We reviewed several components of the eGC that help to deeply understand the mechanisms involved in the eGC disruption during the neonatal period. In addition, we evaluated the potential of eGC components as biomarkers and future targets to develop therapeutic strategies for neonatal sepsis.

Reduning Attenuates LPS-Induced Human Unmilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) Apoptosis Through PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway

The molecular mechanism of Reduning (RDN) in the treatment of sepsis was analyzed based on network pharmacology. The system pharmacology method was administered to search the active ingredients and targets of RDN, identify the sepsis-related genes, and determine the targets of RDN in the treatment of sepsis. Cytoscape was used to build a “drug component-target” network to screen key compounds. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING, and core targets were revealed through topological analysis. 404 shared targets of RDN and sepsis were introduced into DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.8 for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis to predict their possible signaling pathways and explore their molecular mechanisms. GO enrichment analysis highlighted that they were largely related to protein phosphorylation, inflammatory reaction, and positive regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. KEGG enrichment analysis outlined that they were enriched in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, rhoptry-associated protein 1 (Rap1) signaling pathway, and advanced glycation end products and receptors for advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway. Molecular biological validation results exposed that RDN could significantly improve the protein expression of p-AKT and p-PI3K, alleviate apoptosis-related proteins expression level and decrease apoptosis rate in LPS-induced HUVECs. In conclusion, it was illustrated that RDN could considerably constrain LPS-induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which advocated a basis for fundamental mechanism research and clinical application of RDN in the treatment of sepsis.