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Ricci C. Study on Genotypes and Phenotypes of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:786. [PMID: 38927722 PMCID: PMC11202983 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of age-related disorders that are characterised by the gradual degeneration or death of neurons in the central or peripheral nervous system [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ricci
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Williams TL, Nwokoye P, Kuc RE, Smith K, Paterson AL, Allinson K, Maguire JJ, Davenport AP. Expression of the apelin receptor, a novel potential therapeutic target, and its endogenous ligands in diverse stem cell populations in human glioblastoma. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1379658. [PMID: 38803685 PMCID: PMC11128631 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1379658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common and lethal forms of brain cancer, carrying a very poor prognosis (median survival of ~15 months post-diagnosis). Treatment typically involves invasive surgical resection of the tumour mass, followed by radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy using the alkylating agent temozolomide, but over half of patients do not respond to this drug and considerable resistance is observed. Tumour heterogeneity is the main cause of therapeutic failure, where diverse progenitor glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) lineages in the microenvironment drive tumour recurrence and therapeutic resistance. The apelin receptor is a class A GPCR that binds two endogenous peptide ligands, apelin and ELA, and plays a role in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. Here, we used quantitative whole slide immunofluorescent imaging of human GBM samples to characterise expression of the apelin receptor and both its ligands in the distinct GSC lineages, namely neural-progenitor-like cells (NPCs), oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like cells (OPCs), and mesenchymal-like cells (MES), as well as reactive astrocytic cells. The data confirm the presence of the apelin receptor as a tractable drug target that is common across the key cell populations driving tumour growth and maintenance, offering a potential novel therapeutic approach for patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Williams
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Nwokoye
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rhoda E. Kuc
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kieran Smith
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L. Paterson
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kieren Allinson
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Janet J. Maguire
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony P. Davenport
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Monastero R, Magro D, Venezia M, Pisano C, Balistreri CR. A promising therapeutic peptide and preventive/diagnostic biomarker for age-related diseases: The Elabela/Apela/Toddler peptide. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102076. [PMID: 37776977 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Elabela (ELA), Apela or Toddler peptide is a hormone peptide belonging to the adipokine group and a component of apelinergic system, discovered in 2013-2014. Given its high homology with apelin, the first ligand of APJ receptor, ELA likely mediates similar effects. Increasing evidence shows that ELA has a critical function not only in embryonic development, but also in adulthood, contributing to physiological and pathological conditions, such as the onset of age-related diseases (ARD). However, still little is known about the mechanisms and molecular pathways of ELA, as well as its precise functions in ARD pathophysiology. Here, we report the mechanisms by which ELA/APJ signaling acts in a very complex network of pathways for the maintenance of physiological functions of human tissue and organs, as well as in the onset of some ARD, where it appears to play a central role. Therefore, we describe the possibility to use the ELA/APJ pathway, as novel biomarker (predictive and diagnostic) and target for personalized treatments of ARD. Its potentiality as an optimal peptide candidate for therapeutic ARD treatments is largely described, also detailing potential current limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Monastero
- Section of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniele Magro
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marika Venezia
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogera Pisano
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy.
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Xu C. Cardiovascular aspects of ELABELA: A potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 151:107193. [PMID: 37433415 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107193] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
ELABELA, an early endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ (apelin peptide jejunum, apelin receptor), has been known as an important regulator in cardiovascular homeostasis and may be a novel therapeutic target for multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). At the physiological level, ELABELA exhibits angiogenic and vasorelaxant effects and is essential for heart development. At the pathological level, circulating ELABELA levels may be a novel diagnostic biomarker for various CVDs. ELABELA peripherally displays antihypertensive, vascular-protective, and cardioprotective effects, whereas central administration of ELABELA elevated BP and caused cardiovascular remodeling. This review highlights the physiological and pathological roles of ELABELA in the cardiovascular system. Enhancement of the peripheral ELABELA may be a promising pharmacological therapeutic strategy for CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanming Xu
- Translational Medicine Centre, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330002, Jiangxi, China.
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Du Z, Wang Y, Yang L, Zhang T, Jiang Y, Zhang Z. Integrated bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation for exploring the key molecular of brain inflammaging. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1213351. [PMID: 37492566 PMCID: PMC10363601 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1213351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Integrating bioinformatics and experimental validation to explore the mechanisms of inflammaging in the Brain. Method After dividing the GSE11882 dataset into aged and young groups, we identified co-expressed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in different brain regions. Enrichment analysis revealed that the co-expressed DEGs were mainly associated with inflammatory responses. Subsequently, we identified 12 DEGs that were related to the inflammatory response and used the DGIdb website for drug prediction. By using both the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest (RF), four biomarkers were screened and an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed for diagnosis. Subsequently, the biomarkers were validated through animal studies. Then we utilized AgeAnno to investigate the roles of biomarkers at the single cell level. Next, a consensus clustering approach was used to classify the aging samples and perform differential analysis to identify inflammatory response-related genes. After conducting a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified the genes that are correlated with both four brain regions and aging. Wayne diagrams were used to identify seven inflammaging-related genes in different brain regions. Finally, we performed immuno-infiltration analysis and identified macrophage module genes. Key findings Inflammaging may be a major mechanism of brain aging, and the regulation of macrophages by CX3CL1 may play a role in the development of inflammaging. Significance In summary, targeting CX3CL1 can potentially delay inflammaging and immunosenescence in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Du
- School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liping Yang
- School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang Zhang
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
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Mehri K, Hamidian G, Zavvari Oskuye Z, Nayebirad S, Farajdokht F. The role of apelinergic system in metabolism and reproductive system in normal and pathological conditions: an overview. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1193150. [PMID: 37424869 PMCID: PMC10324965 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1193150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lifestyle changes have made metabolic disorders as one of the major threats to life. Growing evidence demonstrates that obesity and diabetes disrupt the reproductive system by affecting the gonads and the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Apelin, an adipocytokine, and its receptor (APJ) are broadly expressed in the hypothalamus nuclei, such as paraventricular and supraoptic, where gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is released, and all three lobes of the pituitary, indicating that apelin is involved in the control of reproductive function. Moreover, apelin affects food intake, insulin sensitivity, fluid homeostasis, and glucose and lipid metabolisms. This review outlined the physiological effects of the apelinergic system, the relationship between apelin and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, as well as the effect of apelin on the reproductive system in both gender. The apelin-APJ system can be considered a potential therapeutic target in the management of obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction and reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyvan Mehri
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hamidian
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Sepehr Nayebirad
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Farajdokht
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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