A novel method to identify differential pathways in uterine leiomyomata based on network strategy

Plasma proteome responses in zebrafish following λ-carrageenan-Induced inflammation are mediated by PMN leukocytes and correlate highly with their human counterparts

Regulation of inflammation is a critical process for maintaining physiological homeostasis. The λ-carrageenan (λ-CGN) is a mucopolysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of red algae (Chondrus crispus) capable of inducing acute intestinal inflammation, which is translated into the production of acute phase reactants secreted into the blood circulation. However, the associated mechanisms in vertebrates are not well understood. Here, we investigated the crucial factors behind the inflammatory milieu of λ-CGN-mediated inflammation administered at 0, 1.75, and 3.5% (v/w) by i.p. injection into the peritoneal cavity of adult zebrafish (ZF) (Danio rerio). We found that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) and lymphocytes infiltrating the ZF peritoneal cavity had short-term persistence. Nevertheless, they generate a strong pattern of inflammation that affects systemically and is enough to produce edema in the cavity. Consistent with these findings, cell infiltration, which causes notable tissue changes, resulted in the overexpression of several acute inflammatory markers at the protein level. Using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography followed by a hybrid linear ion-trap mass spectrometry shotgun proteomic approach, we identified 2938 plasma proteins among the animals injected with PBS and 3.5% λ-CGN. First, the bioinformatic analysis revealed the composition of the plasma proteome. Interestingly, 72 commonly expressed proteins were recorded among the treated and control groups, but, surprisingly, 2830 novel proteins were differentially expressed exclusively in the λ-CGN-induced group. Furthermore, from the commonly expressed proteins, compared to the control group 62 proteins got a significant (p < 0.05) upregulation in the λ-CGN-treated group, while the remaining ten proteins were downregulated. Next, we obtained the major protein-protein interaction networks between hub protein clusters in the blood plasma of the λ-CGN induced group. Moreover, to understand the molecular underpinnings of these effects based on the unveiled protein sets, we performed a bioinformatic structural similarity analysis and generated overlapping 3D reconstructions between ZF and humans during acute inflammation. Biological pathway analysis pointed to the activation and abundance of diverse classical immune and acute phase reactants, several catalytic enzymes, and varied proteins supporting the immune response. Together, this information can be used for testing and finding novel pharmacological targets to treat human intestinal inflammatory diseases.

Postnatal Growth Restriction in Mice Alters Cardiac Protein Composition and Leads to Functional Impairment in Adulthood

Postnatal growth restriction (PGR) increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood, yet there is minimal mechanistic rationale for the observed pathology. The purpose of this study was to identify proteomic differences in hearts of growth-restricted and unrestricted mice, and propose mechanisms related to impairment in adulthood. Friend leukemia virus B (FVB) mouse dams were fed a control (CON: 20% protein), or low-protein (LP: 8% protein) isocaloric diet 2 weeks before mating. LP dams produce 20% less milk, inducing growth restriction. At birth (postnatal; PN1), pups born to dams fed the CON diet were switched to LP dams (PGR group) or a different CON dam. At PN21, a sub-cohort of CON (n = 3 males; n = 3 females) and PGR (n = 3 males; n = 3 females) were euthanized and their proteome analyzed by two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) and mass spectroscopy. Western blotting and silver nitrate staining confirmed 2D DIGE results. Littermates (CON: n = 4 males and n = 4 females; PGR: n = 4 males and n = 4 females) were weaned to the CON diet. At PN77, echocardiography measured cardiac function. At PN80, hearts were removed for western blotting to determine if differences persisted into adulthood. 2D DIGE and western blot confirmation indicated PGR had reductions in p57^kip2, Titin (Ttn), and Collagen (Col). At PN77, PGR had impaired cardiac function as measured by echocardiography. At PN80, western blots of p57^kip2 showed protein abundance recovered from PN21. PN80 silver staining of large molecular weight proteins (Ttn and Col) was reduced in PGR. PGR reduces cell cycle activity at PN21, which is recovered in adulthood. However, collagen fiber networks are altered into adulthood.