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Ren Y, Wang J, Guo WW, Chen JW, Xu LZ, Wu ZW, Wang YP. PKM2/Hif-1α signal suppression involved in therapeutics of pulmonary fibrosis with microcystin-RR but not with pirfenidone. Toxicon 2024; 247:107822. [PMID: 38908528 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107822] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
To date there are only pirfenidone (PFD) and nintedanib to be given conditional recommendation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapies with slowing disease progression, but neither has prospectively shown a reduced mortality. It is one of the urgent topics to find effective drugs for pulmonary fibrosis in medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated that microcystin-RR (MC-RR) effectively alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. We further conducted a comparison of therapeutic effect on the model animals of pulmonary fibrosis between MC-RR and PFD with histopathology and the expression of the molecular markers involved in differentiation, proliferation and metabolism of myofibroblasts, a major effector cell of tissue fibrosis. The levels of the enzyme molecules for maintaining the stability of interstitial structure were also evaluated. Our results showed that MC-RR and PFD effectively alleviated pulmonary fibrosis in model mice with a decreased signaling and marker molecules associated with myofibroblast differentiation and lung fibrotic lesion. In the meantime, both MC-RR and PFD treatment are beneficial to restore molecular dynamics of interstitial tissue and maintain the stability of interstitial architecture. Unexpectedly, MC-RR, rather than PFD, showed a significant effect on inhibiting PKM2-HIF-1α signaling and reducing the level of p-STAT3. Additionally, MC-RR showed a better inhibition effect on FGFR1 expression. Given that PKM2-HIF-1α and activated STAT3 molecular present a critical role in promoting the proliferation of myofibroblasts, MC-RR as a new strategy for IPF treatment has potential advantage over PFD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ren
- Department of Medical Genetics, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Wen Guo
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing-Wen Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Li-Zhi Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China; Center for Public Health Research, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Nugumanova G, Ponomarev ED, Askarova S, Fasler-Kan E, Barteneva NS. Freshwater Cyanobacterial Toxins, Cyanopeptides and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030233. [PMID: 36977124 PMCID: PMC10057253 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of structurally diverse cyanotoxins and bioactive cyanopeptides in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. The health significance of these metabolites, which include genotoxic- and neurotoxic agents, is confirmed by continued associations between the occurrence of animal and human acute toxic events and, in the long term, by associations between cyanobacteria and neurodegenerative diseases. Major mechanisms related to the neurotoxicity of cyanobacteria compounds include (1) blocking of key proteins and channels; (2) inhibition of essential enzymes in mammalian cells such as protein phosphatases and phosphoprotein phosphatases as well as new molecular targets such as toll-like receptors 4 and 8. One of the widely discussed implicated mechanisms includes a misincorporation of cyanobacterial non-proteogenic amino acids. Recent research provides evidence that non-proteinogenic amino acid BMAA produced by cyanobacteria have multiple effects on translation process and bypasses the proof-reading ability of the aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase. Aberrant proteins generated by non-canonical translation may be a factor in neuronal death and neurodegeneration. We hypothesize that the production of cyanopeptides and non-canonical amino acids is a more general mechanism, leading to mistranslation, affecting protein homeostasis, and targeting mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. It can be evolutionarily ancient and initially developed to control phytoplankton communities during algal blooms. Outcompeting gut symbiotic microorganisms may lead to dysbiosis, increased gut permeability, a shift in blood-brain-barrier functionality, and eventually, mitochondrial dysfunction in high-energy demanding neurons. A better understanding of the interaction between cyanopeptides metabolism and the nervous system will be crucial to target or to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Nugumanova
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Eugene D Ponomarev
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Sholpan Askarova
- Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Elizaveta Fasler-Kan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, Inselspital Bern, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Natasha S Barteneva
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
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Shi T, Xu LL, Chen L, He J, Wang YK, Chen F, Chen Y, Giesy JP, Wang YT, Wu QH, Xu WL, Chen J, Xie P. Acute exposure to microcystins affects hypothalamic-pituitary axes of male rats. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120843. [PMID: 36509348 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) produced by some cyanobacteria can cause toxicity in animals and humans. In recent years, growing evidence suggests that MCs can act as endocrine disruptors. This research systematically investigated effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on endocrine organs, biosynthesis of hormones and positive/negative feedback of the endocrine system in rats. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were acutely administrated MC-LR by a single intraperitoneal injection at doses of 45, 67.5 or 90 μg MC-LR/kg body mass (bm), and then euthanized 24 h after exposure. In exposed rats, histological damage of hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, testis and thyroid were observed. Serum concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT), expressions of genes and proteins for biosynthesis of hormones were lesser, which indicated an overall suppression of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, lesser concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and testosterone (T), but greater concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were observed. Except for greater transcription of cyp19a1 in testes, transcriptions of genes and proteins for T and E2 biosynthesis along the HPG axis were lesser. As for the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, after MCs treatment, greater concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but lesser concentrations of free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) were observed in serum. Concentrations of free tetra-iodothyronine (fT4) were greater in rats dosed with 45 μg MCs/kg, bm, but lesser in rats dosed with 67.5 or 90 μg MCs/kg, bm. Transcripts of genes for biosynthesis of hormones and receptors along the HPT axis and expressions of proteins for biosynthesis of tetra-iodothyronine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) in thyroid were significantly altered. Cross-talk among the HPA, HPG and HPT axes probably occurred. It was concluded that MCs caused an imbalance of positive and negative feedback of hormonal regulatory axes, blocked biosynthesis of key hormones and exhibited endocrine-disrupting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shi
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lin-Lin Xu
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China; Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jun He
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ye-Ke Wang
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Integrative Biology and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1129 Farm Lane Road, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA
| | - Yu-Ting Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Qian-Hui Wu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Wen-Li Xu
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Ping Xie
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China; Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
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