The Role of ABC Transporters in Lipid Metabolism and the Comorbid Course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Atherosclerosis

Multidrug resistance phenotype and its relation to stem cell characteristics in chronic myeloid leukemia

The present work aimed to evaluate the expression profile of genes related to stem cells (SC) characteristics during the acquisition of the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype in the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). For this, the K562 (non MDR) and FEPS (MDR) cell lines were used. K562 cells had resistance induced by exposure to daunorubicin (DNR), and induction was confirmed by flow cytometry with an increase in ABCB1 expression in K562 cells treated at the highest concentration. Real-time PCR gene expression analysis showed a direct relationship in the expression of OCT4 and ABCB1 genes, with an increase in ABCB1 expression after exposure to DNR, followed by an increase in OCT4 gene expression. This direct relationship was confirmed in the MDR FEPS cells that had the ABCB1 gene silenced. For the ALOX5 gene, we observed an inverse relationship with ABCB1, with a decrease in the expression of ALOX5 in the DNR-transformed K562 cells, and an increase in the expression of this gene when ABCB1 was silenced in the FEPS cells. Thus, during the acquisition of the MDR phenotype by the K562 cells, it was possible to observe that there is an increase in the expression of ABCB1, accompanied by the expression of OCT4, while the expression of ALOX5 is decreased.

Changes in Expression and Function of Placental and Intestinal P-gp and BCRP Transporters during Pregnancy

ABC transporters are ubiquitous in the human body and are responsible for the efflux of drugs. They are present in the placenta, intestine, liver and kidney, which are the major organs that can affect the pharmacokinetic and pharmacologic properties of drugs. P-gp and BCRP transporters are the best-characterized transporters in the ABC superfamily, and they have a pivotal role in the barrier tissues due to their efflux mechanism. Moreover, during pregnancy, drug efflux is even more important because of the developing fetus. Recent studies have shown that placental and intestinal ABC transporters have great importance in drug absorption and distribution. Placental and intestinal P-gp and BCRP show gestational-age-dependent expression changes, which determine the drug concentration both in the mother and the fetus during pregnancy. They may have an impact on the efficacy of antibiotic, antiviral, antihistamine, antiemetic and oral antidiabetic therapies. In this review, we would like to provide an overview of the pharmacokinetically relevant expression alterations of placental and intestinal ABC transporters during pregnancy.

Impact of Lung-Related Polygenic Risk Scores on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risk and Their Interaction with w-3 Fatty Acid Intake in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, progressive respiratory disorder with persistent airflow limitation and tissue destruction. We aimed to explore the genetic impact of COPD and its interaction with nutrient intake in 8840 middle-aged and elderly individuals from the Ansan/Ansung cohorts. Participants were diagnosed with COPD if the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) was less than 0.7 using spirometry, and if they were previously diagnosed with COPD by a physician. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to screen for genetic variants associated with COPD risk. Among them, we selected the genetic variants that exhibited interactions using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) method. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed by summing the number of risk alleles in the SNP-SNP interaction models that adhered to specific rules. Subsequently, participants were categorized into low-PRS, medium-PRS, and high-PRS groups. The participants with COPD exhibited significantly lower FEV1/FVC ratios (0.64) than those without COPD (0.82). It was positively associated with inflammation markers (serum C-reactive protein and white blood cell levels). A higher proportion of COPD participants were smokers and engaged in regular exercise. The 5-SNP model consisted of FAM13A_rs1585258, CAV1_rs1997571, CPD_rs719601, PEPD_rs10405598, and ITGA1_rs889294, and showed a significant association with COPD risk (p < 0.001). Participants in the high-PRS group of this model had a 2.2-fold higher risk of COPD than those in the low-PRS group after adjusting for covariates. The PRS interacted with w-3 fatty acid intake and exercise, thus influencing the risk of COPD. There was an increase in COPD incidence among individuals with a higher PRS, particularly those with low consumption of w-3 fatty acid and engaged in high levels of exercise. In conclusion, adults with a high-PRS are susceptible to COPD risk, and w-3 fatty acid intake and exercise may impact the risk of developing COPD, potentially applying to formulate precision medicines to prevent COPD.

In vivo experimentally study the effect of Nigella Sativa silver nanoparticles for treatment of salmonella species causing diarrhea in ruminants

Salmonellais one of the main etiological agents of infectious diarrhea in large and small ruminants but emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains faster rate than previously, leads to develop of MDR strains among animals needs different alternative therapeutic strategies. Our study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa silver nanoparticles (NS AgNPs) on specific pathogen-free (SPF) Wister rats. Nigella sativa silver nanoparticles were prepared and confirmed their formation by optical observations, UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rats in group G2 were infected experimentally with Salmonella spp and treated with ciprofloxacin orally for duration of 6 days at a dose rat 10 mg/kg. On the other hand, rats in group G1 were infected with salmonella and treated for 20 days with NS AgNPs in oral dose of (10 mg/kg rats), and the results were compared to control groups G3 which received bacterial infection without treatment and G4 control negative. The results of optical observation, UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, and SEM revealed typical characteristics of prepared NS AgNPs. Liver, kidney function biomarkers, hematologic analysis, and histological examination the tissues of liver, kidney, and stomach of rat's model improved that NS AgNPs has antimicrobial effect and has the ability to decrease the inflammatory reaction caused by Salmonella spp infection. The results of our study indicate that NS AgNPs are effective in controlling MDR Salmonella spp in vivo without causing any adverse effects. Moreover, our findings suggest that reducing the use of antimicrobials could be a key factor in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and can provide valuable insights into identifying the most appropriate treatment strategies to tackle this issue effectively in the future.

The Switch and Reciprocating Models for the Function of ABC Multidrug Exporters: Perspectives on Recent Research

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters comprise a large superfamily of primary active transporters, which are integral membrane proteins that couple energy to the uphill vectorial transport of substrates across cellular membranes, with concomitant hydrolysis of ATP. ABC transporters are found in all living organisms, coordinating mostly import in prokaryotes and export in eukaryotes. Unlike the highly conserved nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), sequence conservation in the transmembrane domains (TMDs) is low, with their divergent nature likely reflecting a need to accommodate a wide range of substrate types in terms of mass and polarity. An explosion in high resolution structural analysis over the past decade and a half has produced a wealth of structural information for ABCs. Based on the structures, a general mechanism for ABC transporters has been proposed, known as the Switch or Alternating Access Model, which holds that the NBDs are widely separated, with the TMDs and NBDs together forming an intracellular-facing inverted "V" shape. Binding of two ATPs and the substrate to the inward-facing conformation induces a transition to an outward conformation. Despite this apparent progress, certainty around the transport mechanism for any given ABC remains elusive. How substrate binding and transport is coupled to ATP binding and hydrolysis is not known, and there is a large body of biochemical and biophysical data that is at odds with the widely separated NBDs being a functional physiological state. An alternative Constant Contact model has been proposed in which the two NBSs operate 180 degrees out of phase with respect to ATP hydrolysis, with the NBDs remaining in close proximity throughout the transport cycle and operating in an asymmetric allosteric manner. The two models are discussed in the light of recent nuclear magnetic resonance and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analyses of three ABC exporters.

Clinical Significance of Lipid Transport Function of ABC Transporters in the Innate Immune System

ABC transporters are a large family of proteins that transport a variety of substrates across cell plasma membranes. Because of this, they are involved in many physiological processes. It is of interest to note that many ABC transporters are involved in the transport of various lipids. In addition, this function may be related to the innate immune system. The evidence that ABC transporters are involved in the regulation of the innate immune system through the transport of various substances greatly enhances the understanding of their clinical significance. ABC transporters are involved in the cellular homeostasis of cholesterol as well as in the regulation of its content in lipid rafts. Through these mechanisms, they can regulate the function of membrane proteins, including receptors of the innate immune system. By regulating lipid transport, some members of ABC transporters are involved in phagocytosis. In addition, ABC transporters are involved in the transport of lipopolysaccharide, lipid mediators of inflammation, and perform other functions in the innate immune system.

Ginsenoside Rc ameliorated atherosclerosis via regulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolites

Atherosclerosis (AS) and the accompanied cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were the leading cause of death worldwide. Recently, the association between CVDs, gut microbiota, and metabolites had aroused increasing attention. In the study, we headed our investigation into the underlying mechanism of ginsenoside Rc (GRc), an active ingredient of ginsenosides used for the treatment of CVDs, in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice with high-fat diet (HFD). Seven-week-old male ApoE^−/− mice were randomly divided into four groups: the normal control (NC) group, the HFD group, the GRc group (40 mg/kg/d), and the atorvastatin (Ato) group (10 mg/kg/d). Atherosclerotic injury was evaluated by aortic lesions, serum lipid levels, and inflammatory factors. The composition of gut microbiota and fecal metabolite profile were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequence and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. The results showed that GRc significantly alleviated HFD-induced aortic lesions, reduced serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HFD-C) level, as well as the alteration of gut microbiota composition, function, and metabolite profile. GRc also reversed HFD change of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes at the phylum level, Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, Ileibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Oscillibacter, Blautia, and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group at the genus level, and 23 key metabolites involved in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, primary bile acid biosynthesis, purine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and glucagon signaling pathways. Additionally, eight differential intestinal floras at the genus level were associated with 23 key differential metabolites involving atherosclerotic injury. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that GRc ameliorated atherosclerotic injury, regulated microbial and metabolomic changes in HFD-induced ApoE^−/− mice, and suggested a potential correlation among gut microbiota, metabolites, and atherosclerotic injury regarding the mechanisms of GRc against AS.

High-Density Lipoproteins: A Role in Inflammation in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread disease associated with high rates of disability and mortality. COPD is characterized by chronic inflammation in the bronchi as well as systemic inflammation, which contributes significantly to the clinically heterogeneous course of the disease. Lipid metabolism disorders are common in COPD, being a part of its pathogenesis. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are not only involved in lipid metabolism, but are also part of the organism’s immune and antioxidant defense. In addition, HDL is a versatile transport system for endogenous regulatory agents and is also involved in the removal of exogenous substances such as lipopolysaccharide. These functions, as well as information about lipoprotein metabolism disorders in COPD, allow a broader assessment of their role in the pathogenesis of heterogeneous and comorbid course of the disease.

Molecular Pharmacology of Inflammation Resolution in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is one of the most important problems of modern medicine as it is the leading cause of hospitalizations, disability, and mortality. The key role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis is the imbalance between the activation of inflammation in the vascular wall and the mechanisms of its control. The resolution of inflammation is the most important physiological mechanism that is impaired in atherosclerosis. The resolution of inflammation has complex, not fully known mechanisms, in which lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an important role. Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) represent a group of substances that carry out inflammation resolution and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. SPMs include lipoxins, resolvins, maresins, and protectins, which are formed from PUFAs and regulate many processes related to the active resolution of inflammation. Given the physiological importance of these substances, studies examining the possibility of pharmacological effects on inflammation resolution are of interest.

LKB1 Regulates Vascular Macrophage Functions in Atherosclerosis

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is known to shape the regulation of macrophage function by participating in multiple processes including cell metabolism, growth, and polarization. However, whether LKB1 also affects the functional plasticity of macrophages in atherosclerosis has not attracted much attention. Abnormal macrophage function is a pathophysiological hallmark of atherosclerosis, characterized by the formation of foam cells and the maintenance of vascular inflammation. Mounting evidence supports that LKB1 plays a vital role in the regulation of macrophage function in atherosclerosis, including affecting lipid metabolism reprogramming, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy in macrophages. Thus, decreased expression of LKB1 in atherosclerosis aggravates vascular injury by inducing excessive lipid deposition in macrophages and the formation of foam cells. To systematically understand the role and potential mechanism of LKB1 in regulating macrophage functions in atherosclerosis, this review summarizes the relevant data in this regard, hoping to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Characterization of tick salivary gland and saliva alphagalactome reveals candidate alpha-gal syndrome disease biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that synthesize the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal) associated with the alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) or allergy to mammalian meat consumption.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this study, we used a proteomics approach to characterize tick proteins in salivary glands (sialome SG), secreted saliva (sialome SA) and with α-Gal modification (alphagalactome SG and SA) in model tick species associated with the AGS in the United States (Amblyomma americanum) and Australia (Ixodes holocyclus). Selected proteins reactive to sera (IgE) from patients with AGS were identified to advance in the identification of possible proteins associated with the AGS. For comparative analysis, the α-Gal content was measured in various tick species.

RESULTS

The results confirmed that ticks produce proteins with α-Gal modifications and secreted into saliva during feeding. Proteins identified in tick alphagalactome SA by sera from patients with severe AGS symptomatology may constitute candidate disease biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the presence tick-derived proteins with α-Gal modifications in the saliva with potential implications in AGS and other disorders and protective capacity against tick infestations and pathogen infection. Future research should focus on the characterization of the function of tick glycoproteins with α-Gal in tick biology and AGS.

Analysis of ABC Transporter Gene Expression in Atherosclerosis

ABC transporters are a large family of membrane proteins that transport chemically diverse substrates across the cell membrane. Disruption of transport mechanisms mediated by ABC transporters causes the development of various diseases, including atherosclerosis. Methods: A bioinformatic analysis of a dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was performed. A GEO dataset containing data on gene expression levels in samples of atherosclerotic lesions and control arteries without atherosclerotic lesions from carotid, femoral, and infrapopliteal arteries was used for analysis. To evaluate differentially expressed genes, a bioinformatic analysis was performed in comparison groups using the limma package in R (v. 4.0.2) and the GEO2R and Phantasus tools (v. 1.11.0). Results: The obtained data indicate the differential expression of many ABC transporters belonging to different subfamilies. The differential expressions of ABC transporter genes involved in lipid transport, mechanisms of multidrug resistance, and mechanisms of ion exchange are shown. Differences in the expression of transporters in tissue samples from different arteries are established. Conclusions: The expression of ABC transporter genes demonstrates differences in atherosclerotic samples and normal arteries, which may indicate the involvement of transporters in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Diversity of Lipid Function in Atherogenesis: A Focus on Endothelial Mechanobiology

Atherosclerosis is one of the most important problems in modern medicine. Its high prevalence and social significance determine the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of the disease's development and progression. Lipid metabolism and its disorders are one of the key links in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Lipids are involved in many processes, including those related to the mechanoreception of endothelial cells. The multifaceted role of lipids in endothelial mechanobiology and mechanisms of atherogenesis are discussed in this review. Endothelium is involved in ensuring adequate vascular hemodynamics, and changes in blood flow characteristics are detected by endothelial cells and affect their structure and function.

Bioinformatic Analysis of ABCA1 Gene Expression in Smoking and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Smoking is a key modifiable risk factor for developing the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When smoking, many processes, including the reverse transport of cholesterol mediated by the ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) protein are disrupted in the lungs. Changes in the cholesterol content in the lipid rafts of plasma membranes can modulate the function of transmembrane proteins localized in them. It is believed that this mechanism participates in increasing the inflammation in COPD.

METHODS

Bioinformatic analysis of datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was carried out. Gene expression data from datasets of alveolar macrophages and the epithelium of the respiratory tract in smokers and COPD patients compared with non-smokers were used for the analysis. To evaluate differentially expressed genes, bioinformatic analysis was performed in comparison groups using the limma package in R (v. 4.0.2), and the GEO2R and Phantasus tools (v. 1.11.0).

RESULTS

The conducted bioinformatic analysis showed changes in the expression of the ABCA1 gene associated with smoking. In the alveolar macrophages of smokers, the expression levels of ABCA1 were lower than in non-smokers. At the same time, in most of the airway epithelial datasets, gene expression did not show any difference between the groups of smokers and non-smokers. In addition, it was shown that the expression of ABCA1 in the epithelial cells of the trachea and large bronchi is higher than in small bronchi.

CONCLUSIONS

The conducted bioinformatic analysis showed that smoking can influence the expression of the ABCA1 gene, thereby modulating lipid transport processes in macrophages, which are part of the mechanisms of inflammation development.

Molecular Mechanisms of Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Infectious Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Exacerbations largely determine the character of the progression and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exacerbations are connected with changes in the microbiological landscape in the bronchi due to a violation of their immune homeostasis. Many metabolic and immune processes involved in COPD progression are associated with bacterial colonization of the bronchi. The objective of this review is the analysis of the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism and immune response disorders in the lungs in COPD exacerbations. The complex role of lipid metabolism disorders in the pathogenesis of some infections is only beginning to be understood, however, there are already fewer and fewer doubts even now about its significance both in the pathogenesis of infectious exacerbations of COPD and in general in the progression of the disease. It is shown that the lipid rafts of the plasma membranes of cells are involved in many processes related to the detection of pathogens, signal transduction, the penetration of pathogens into the cell. Smoking disrupts the normally proceeded processes of lipid metabolism in the lungs, which is a part of the COPD pathogenesis.