Nausea is a discomforting sensation of gut malaise that remains a major clinical challenge. Several visceral poisons induce nausea through the area postrema, a sensory circumventricular organ that det Show more
Nausea is a discomforting sensation of gut malaise that remains a major clinical challenge. Several visceral poisons induce nausea through the area postrema, a sensory circumventricular organ that detects bloodborne factors. Here, we use genetic approaches based on an area postrema cell atlas to reveal inhibitory neurons that counteract nausea-associated poison responses. The gut hormone glucose insulinotropic peptide (GIP) activates area postrema inhibitory neurons that project locally and elicit inhibitory currents in nausea-promoting excitatory neurons through γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Moreover, GIP blocks behavioral responses to poisons in wild-type mice, with protection eliminated by targeted area postrema neuron ablation. These findings provide insights into the basic organization of nausea-associated brainstem circuits and reveal that area postrema inhibitory neurons are an effective pharmacological target for nausea intervention. Show less
mTOR pathway is known to promote cancer malignancy and influence cancer immunity but is unknown for its role in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy. Using Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Show more
mTOR pathway is known to promote cancer malignancy and influence cancer immunity but is unknown for its role in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy. Using Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center dataset (MSKCC), we extracted mTOR pathway gene mutations for stepwise Cox regression in 1661 cancer patients received ICI. We associated the mutation of the gene signature resulted from the stepwise Cox regression with the 1661 patients' survival. Other 553 ICI-treated patients were collected from 6 cohorts for validation. We also performed this survival association in patients without ICI treatment from MSKCC as discovery (n = 2244) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as validation (n = 763). Pathway enrichment analysis were performed using transcriptome profiles from TCGA and IMvigor210 trial to investigate the potential mechanism. We identified 8 genes involved in mTOR pathway, including FGFR2, PIK3C3, FGFR4, FGFR1, FGF3, AKT1, mTOR, and RPTOR, resulted from stepwise Cox regression in discovery (n = 1661). In both discovery (n = 1661) and validation (n = 553), the mutation of the 8-gene signature was associated with better survival of the patients treated with ICI, which was independent of tumor mutation burden (TMB) and mainly attributed to the missense mutations. This survival association was not observed in patients without ICI therapy. Intriguingly, the mutation of the 8-gene signature was associated with increased TMB and PD1/PD-L1 expression. Immunologically, pathways involved in anti-tumor immune response were enriched in presence of this mutational signature in mTOR pathway, leading to increased infiltration of immune effector cells (e.g., CD8 + T cells, NK cells, and M1 macrophages), but decreased infiltration of immune inhibitory M2 macrophages. These results suggested that mTOR pathway gene mutations were predictive of better survival upon ICI treatment in multiple cancers, likely by its association with enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Larger studies are warranted to validate our findings. Show less
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine draws more attention to explore an effective therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Shenqi Yizhi granule (SQYG), a Chinese herbal recipe, has been appli Show more
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine draws more attention to explore an effective therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Shenqi Yizhi granule (SQYG), a Chinese herbal recipe, has been applied to ameliorate cognitive impairment in mild-to-moderate AD patients. However, the overall molecular mechanism of SQYG in treating AD has not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of SQYG on AD using an integration strategy of network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active compounds of SQYG and common targets between SQYG and AD were screened from databases. The herb-compound network, compound-target network, and protein-protein interaction network were constructed. The enrichment analysis of common targets and molecular docking were performed. 816 compounds and 307 common targets between SQYG and AD were screened. KEGG analysis revealed that common targets were mainly enriched in lipid metabolism, metal ion metabolism, IL-17 signaling pathway, GABA receptor signaling, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Molecular docking analysis showed high binding affinity between ginsenoside Rg1 and A The therapeutic mechanisms of SQYG on AD were associated with regulating lipid metabolism, metal ion metabolism, IL-17 signaling pathway, and GABA receptor signaling. Ginsenoside Rg1, tanshinone IIA, baicalin, astragaloside IV, and folic acid may play an important role in AD treatment. Show less
Gliomas, the most prevalent brain tumors, account for nearly one-third of the all brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors diagnosed in the USA. The purpose of this study was to discuss the impor Show more
Gliomas, the most prevalent brain tumors, account for nearly one-third of the all brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors diagnosed in the USA. The purpose of this study was to discuss the important role of A kinase-interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) in glioma and reveal the potential mechanism. After prediction by CCLE, the expression of AKIP1 was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. The impacts of AKIP1 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, and invasion were then measured by MTT, colony formation assay, wound healing, and transwell assays. Western blot was used to assess the protein levels of migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition- (EMT-) related factors. Subsequently, the expression of Disks Large Homolog 2 (DLG2) was predicted by bioinformatics analyses, and the interaction between AKIP1 and DLG2 was confirmed by IP assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Finally, DLG2 was further downregulated in glioma cells to detect the association between AKIP1 and DLG2 in the cellular functions of glioma. It was demonstrated that AKIP1 exhibited a high level in glioma cells, and interference of AKIP1 led to reductions in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of glioma cells. DLG2, which was lowly expressed in glioma cells, demonstrated a negative link to AKIP2. Inhibition of both AKIP2 and DLG2 counteracted the inhibited cellular behaviors on account of AKIP1 interference. To be concluded, this study presented evidence that AKIP1 silencing suppressed the progression of glioma via targeting DLG2, which could provide novel insights to impede the development of glioma. Show less
Accumulated studies have pointed out the striking association between variants in or near This study aims to decipher the complex relevance between gene polymorphisms, clinical parameters, and NAFLD b Show more
Accumulated studies have pointed out the striking association between variants in or near This study aims to decipher the complex relevance between gene polymorphisms, clinical parameters, and NAFLD by association study and mediation analysis. Eight SNPs (rs2854116, rs2854117, rs780093, rs780094, rs1260362, rs738409, rs2294918, and rs2281135) within The genotypic frequencies of rs1260326 and rs780094 were significantly different between NAFLD and control (rs1260326: Our results identified a prominent relationship between Show less
Inhibition of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been considered as a promising way for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for three decades. However, clinical trials of seve Show more
Inhibition of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been considered as a promising way for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for three decades. However, clinical trials of several CETP inhibitors with various potencies have been marginally successful at best, raising doubts on the target drugability of CETP. The in-depth understanding of the glycosylated CETP structure could be beneficial to more definitive descriptions of the CETP function and the underlying mechanism. In this work, large-scale molecular dynamics simulations were performed to thoroughly explore the mechanism of glycans modulating CETP. Here, the extensive simulation results intensely suggest that glycan88 tends to assist CETP in forming a continuous tunnel throughout interacting with the upper-right region of the N-barrel, while it also could prevent the formation of a continuous tunnel by swinging toward the right-rear of the N-barrel. Furthermore, glycan240 formed stable H-bonds with Helix-B and might further stabilize the central cavity of CETP. Furthermore, the nonspecific involvement of the hydroxyl groups from the various glycans with protein core interactions and the similar influence of different glycans trapped at similar regions on the protein structure suggest that physiological glycan may lead to a similar effect. This study would provide valuable insights into devising novel methods for CVD treatment targeting CETP and functional studies about glycosylation for other systems. Show less
Many studies show that genetics play a major contribution to the onset of obesity. Human genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified hundreds of genes that are associated with obesity. How Show more
Many studies show that genetics play a major contribution to the onset of obesity. Human genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified hundreds of genes that are associated with obesity. However, the majority of them have not been functionally validated. Show less
Delta-5 desaturase (D5D), encoded by the fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene, is a rate-limiting enzyme in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthesis that influences the PUFA levels in milk fat. How Show more
Delta-5 desaturase (D5D), encoded by the fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene, is a rate-limiting enzyme in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthesis that influences the PUFA levels in milk fat. However, the function and molecular mechanism of FADS1 in milk fat metabolism remain largely unknown. The Show less
Single nucleotide polymorphisms that affect RNA modification (RNAm-SNPs) may have functional roles in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to identify RNAm-SNPs in CAD susceptibili Show more
Single nucleotide polymorphisms that affect RNA modification (RNAm-SNPs) may have functional roles in coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to identify RNAm-SNPs in CAD susceptibility loci and highlight potential risk factors. CAD-associated RNAm-SNPs were identified in the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D and UK Biobank genome-wide association studies. Gene expression and circulating protein levels affected by the RNAm-SNPs were identified by QTL analyses. Cell experiments and Mendelian randomization (MR) methods were applied to test whether the gene expression levels were associated with CAD. We identified 81 RNAm-SNPs that were associated with CAD or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), including m The present study identified RNAm-SNPs in CAD susceptibility genes, gene expression and circulating proteins as risk factors for CAD and suggested that RNA modification may play a role in the pathogenesis of CAD. Show less
Background Ischemic stroke is likely caused by interactions of multiple genes and environmental determinants. However, large-scale sequencing studies to discern functional genetic variants and their i Show more
Background Ischemic stroke is likely caused by interactions of multiple genes and environmental determinants. However, large-scale sequencing studies to discern functional genetic variants and their interactions with clinical and lifestyle risk factors on ischemic stroke are limited. Methods and Results We sequenced functional regions of 740 previously identified genes associated with atherosclerotic disease among 999 ischemic stroke cases and 1001 controls of Chinese ancestry. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between variants and ischemic stroke and test interactions between variants and clinical and lifestyle risk factors. Functional variants achieving suggestive significance were replicated in an independent sample of 4724 ischemic stroke cases and 5029 controls. Driven by variant main effects, each minor allele of the correlated rs174535, rs174545, and rs3834458 variants at Show less
Yu Zhang, Yuming Zhu, Mo Zhang+9 more · 2022 · European heart journal. Quality of care & clinical outcomes · Oxford University Press · added 2026-04-24
In the clinical practice, the right ventricular (RV) manifestations have received less attention in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This paper aimed to evaluate the risk prediction value and geneti Show more
In the clinical practice, the right ventricular (RV) manifestations have received less attention in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This paper aimed to evaluate the risk prediction value and genetic characteristics of RV involvement in HCM patients. A total of 893 patients with HCM were recruited. RV hypertrophy, RV obstruction, and RV late gadolinium enhancement were evaluated by echocardiography and/or cardiac magnetic resonance. Patients with any of the above structural abnormalities were identified as having RV involvement. All patients were followed with a median follow-up time of 3.0 years. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death; the secondary endpoints were all-cause death and heart failure (HF)-related death. Survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between RV involvement and the endpoints. Genetic testing was performed on 669 patients. RV involvement was recognized in 114 of 893 patients (12.8%). Survival analyses demonstrated that RV involvement was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death (P = 0.002), all-cause death (P = 0.011), and HF-related death (P = 0.004). These outcome results were then confirmed by a sensitivity analysis. Genetic testing revealed a higher frequency of genotype-positive in patients with RV involvement (57.0% vs. 31.0%, P < 0.001), and the P/LP variants of MYBPC3 were more frequently identified in patients with RV involvement (30.4% vs. 12.0%, P < 0.001). Logistic analyses indicated the independent correlation between RV involvement and these genetic factors. RV involvement was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death, all-cause death and HF-related death in HCM patients. Genetic factors might contribute to RV involvement in HCM. Show less
The endothelial glycocalyx regulates vascular permeability, inflammation, and coagulation, and acts as a mechanosensor. The loss of glycocalyx can cause endothelial injury and contribute to several mi Show more
The endothelial glycocalyx regulates vascular permeability, inflammation, and coagulation, and acts as a mechanosensor. The loss of glycocalyx can cause endothelial injury and contribute to several microvascular complications and, therefore, may promote diabetic retinopathy. Studies have shown a partial loss of retinal glycocalyx in diabetes, but with few molecular details of the changes in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of hyperglycemia on GAGs of the retinal endothelial glycocalyx. GAGs were isolated from rat retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RRMECs), media, and retinas, followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assays. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to study mRNA transcripts of the enzymes involved in GAG biosynthesis. Hyperglycemia significantly increased the shedding of heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA). There were no changes to the levels of HS in RRMEC monolayers grown in high-glucose media, but the levels of CS and HA decreased dramatically. Similarly, while HA decreased in the retinas of diabetic rats, the total GAG and CS levels increased. Hyperglycemia in RRMECs caused a significant increase in the mRNA levels of the enzymes involved in GAG biosynthesis (including EXTL-1,2,3, EXT-1,2, ChSY-1,3, and HAS-2,3), with these increases potentially being compensatory responses to overall glycocalyx loss. Both RRMECs and retinas of diabetic rats exhibited glucose-induced alterations in the disaccharide compositions and sulfation of HS and CS, with the changes in sulfation including N,6-O-sulfation on HS and 4-O-sulfation on CS. Show less
The dynamic balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination is a key mechanism that regulates protein degradation and maintains cell protein homeostasis. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 13 (USP13), a Show more
The dynamic balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination is a key mechanism that regulates protein degradation and maintains cell protein homeostasis. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 13 (USP13), a deubiquitinase (DUB), regulates various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. A previous study reported that high USP13 mRNA expression confers poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). However, the biological function of USP13 in GC remains unknown. Here, we revealed that USP13 expression was upregulated in GC tissue samples compared to noncancerous tissues. USP13-positive expression was associated with poor differentiation, high invasiveness, and advanced tumor stage. Notably, upregulated USP13 expression was closely correlated with the reduced survival of GC patients. We also confirmed increased USP13 expression in GC cell lines. USP13 knockdown prominently suppressed MGC-803 cell migration and invasion. Conversely, USP13 overexpression markedly enhanced SGC-7901 cell motility. Furthermore, USP13 positively regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GC cells. Interestingly, USP13 remarkably enhanced Snail protein expression but did not affect its mRNA levels in GC cells. We confirmed a positive correlation between USP13 and Snail expression in GC tissues. Mechanistically, USP13 knockdown promoted Snail degradation, which could be blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. USP13 interacted with Snail to deubiquitinate and stabilize Snail in GC cells. Finally, Snail knockdown significantly blocked USP13-induced SGC-7901 cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, USP13 overexpression was frequently detected in GC and contributed to the EMT and metastasis of GC by stabilizing Snail. Show less
Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a malignant tumor, which is characterized by a higher incidence of distant metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of pr Show more
Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a malignant tumor, which is characterized by a higher incidence of distant metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes the metastasis in SACC. We analyzed the expression of PKD1 in 40 SACC patients and different metastatic potential cell lines. Then, we investigated whether the migration and growth of SACC were regulated by PKD1 using shRNA interference or inhibition of kinase active in vitro cell. Moreover, the mechanism by which PKD1 regulates the stability of Snail protein was determined. Finally, nude mice were used to testify the function of PKD1 via tail vein injection. PKD1 was correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis of SACC patients. PKD1 inhibition attenuated proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of SACC cells. Conversely, kinase active PKD1 could induce EMT and promoted cell migration in human HSG cell. Furthermore, downregulation of PKD1 regulated Snail via phosphorylation at Ser-11 on Snail protein and promotion of proteasome-mediated degradation, and reduced lung metastasis in vivo. Our results suggest that PKD1 induces the EMT and promotes the metastasis, which illustrate that PKD1 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and serve as a potential therapeutic target for SACC patients. Show less
Genetic factors play a critical role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. The imbalance of WNT/β-catenin will cause the occurrence of osteoporosis. LRP5 and AXIN1 play an important role in the classic Show more
Genetic factors play a critical role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. The imbalance of WNT/β-catenin will cause the occurrence of osteoporosis. LRP5 and AXIN1 play an important role in the classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our study was aimed to determine the association between five candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of LRP5 or AXIN1 and osteoporosis susceptibility in Chinese Han population. A total of 599 osteoporosis patients and 599 healthy individuals were recruited for this case-control study. Agena MassARRAY was used to genotype SNPs. The association between SNPs and osteoporosis susceptibility in different genetic models was analyzed by PLINK software. We used false-positive report probability (FPRP) analysis to detect whether the positive results were just chance or noteworthy observations. Multifactor dimension reduction (MDR) was used to analyze the interaction of SNP-SNP in the osteoporosis risk. Finally, haplotype analysis was performed by plink1.07 and Haploview software. We found that LRP5 rs11228240, AXIN1 rs2301522, and rs9921222 were significantly associated with the osteoporosis susceptibility. The results of subgroup analysis showed that LRP5 rs11228240 (protective factor) and AXIN1 rs2301522 (risk factor) were associated with the susceptibility of osteoporosis among participants who were age >60 years, female or BMI ≤ 24; AXIN1 rs9921222 significantly increased the risk of osteoporosis among participants with BMI ≤ 24. The genotype A The LRP5-rs11228240, AXIN1-rs2301522, and AXIN1- rs9921222 were associated with osteoporosis susceptibility in Chinese Han population. Show less
Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholic hepatitis (AH), a worldwide public health issue with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we identified apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4) as a biomarker and potential ther Show more
Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholic hepatitis (AH), a worldwide public health issue with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we identified apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4) as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for AH. APOA4 expression was detected by Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, Immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR in AH. Bioinformatics Methods (protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to show down-stream gene and pathways of APOA4 in AH. AML-12 cells were used to evaluate the biological function of APOA4 using an ELISA kit (AST, ALT, and IL-1β) and flow cytometry (ROS activity). Both in vivo and in vitro, APOA4 expression was significantly elevated in the AH model induced by alcohol (ETOH). AML-12 cell damage was specifically repaired by APOA4 deficiency, while AST, ALT, and IL-1β activity that was increased by ETOH (200 µmol, 12 h) were suppressed. APOA4 inhibition increased intracellular ROS induced by ETOH, which was detected by flow cytometry. Functional and PPI network analyses showed Fcgamma receptor (FCGR) and platelet activation signaling were potential downstream pathways. We identified Show less
Hyperbilirubinemia is a serious hazard to human health due to its neurotoxicity and lethality. So far, successful therapy for hyperbilirubinemia with fewer side effects is still lacking. In this study Show more
Hyperbilirubinemia is a serious hazard to human health due to its neurotoxicity and lethality. So far, successful therapy for hyperbilirubinemia with fewer side effects is still lacking. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of oridonin (Ori), an active diterpenoid extracted from Rabdosia rubescens, on hyperbilirubinemia and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Here, we showed that liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) deletion eliminated the protective effect of Ori on phenylhydrazine hydrochloride-induced hyperbilirubinemia mice, indicating that LXRα acted as a key target for Ori treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. Ori significantly increased the expression of LXRα and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) in the liver of wild-type (WT) mice, which were lost in LXRα Show less
The high heterogeneity of ovarian cancer (OC) brings great difficulties to its early diagnosis and prognostic forecast. There is an urgent need to establish a prognostic model of OC based on clinicopa Show more
The high heterogeneity of ovarian cancer (OC) brings great difficulties to its early diagnosis and prognostic forecast. There is an urgent need to establish a prognostic model of OC based on clinicopathological features and genomics. We identified hypoxia-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OC tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and normal tissues from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). LASSO Cox regression analysis was applied for building a prognostic model in the TCGA-GTEx cohorts, and its predictive value was validated in the GEO-OC cohort. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. By constructing a hypoxia model of the SKOV3 cell line and applying qRT-PCR, we investigated the relationship between hypoxia with two novel genes in the prognostic model (ISG20 and ANGPTL4). Twelve prognostic hypoxia-related DEGs were identified, and nine of them were selected to establish a prognostic model. OC patients were stratified into two risk groups, and the high-risk group showed reduced survival time compared to the low-risk group upon survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the risk score was an independent risk factor for overall survival. The biological function of the identified prognostic hypoxia-related gene signature was involved in immune cell infiltration. Low expression of ISG20 was observed in the CoCl Our findings showed that this hypoxia-related gene signature could serve as a satisfactory prognostic classifier for OC and will be beneficial to the research and development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Show less
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory autoimmune and demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system. Currently, valid biomarkers are unavailable for the diagnosis of GBS. A co Show more
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory autoimmune and demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system. Currently, valid biomarkers are unavailable for the diagnosis of GBS. A comparative proteomics analysis was performed on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 10 patients with GBS and 10 patients with noninflammatory neurological disease (NND) using the tandem mass tags technique. The differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by bioinformatics, and then the candidate proteins were validated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in another cohort containing 160 samples (paired CSF and plasma of 40 patients with GBS, CSF of 40 NND patients and plasma of 40 healthy individuals). In all, 298 proteins were successfully identified in the CSF samples, of which 97 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the GBS and NND groups. Three key molecules were identified as candidate molecules for further validation. The CSF levels of TGOLN2 and NCAM1 decreased in GBS patients compared with NND patients, whereas the CSF levels of APOC3 increased. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results were consistent with our proteomics analysis. Interestingly, in the validation cohort, serum APOC3 levels in the GBS group were consistent with those in the CSF samples and significantly higher than those in the healthy control group. Our preliminary data suggest that the CSF protein expression profile of patients with GBS is different from that of patients with NND. Moreover, alterations of TGOLN2, NCAM1and APOC3 may be used as novel biomarkers for identifying patients with GBS. Show less
Cardiac dysfunction resulting from sepsis causes high morbidity and mortality. Silibinin (SIL) is a secondary metabolite isolated from the seed extract of the milk thistle plant with various propertie Show more
Cardiac dysfunction resulting from sepsis causes high morbidity and mortality. Silibinin (SIL) is a secondary metabolite isolated from the seed extract of the milk thistle plant with various properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-oxidative activities. This study, for the first time, examined the effects and mechanisms of SIL pretreatment, posttreatment and in combination with classical antibiotics in septic myocardial injury. The survival rate, sepsis score, anal temperature, routine blood parameters, blood biochemical parameters, cardiac function indicators, pathological indicators of myocardial injury, NR1H3 signaling pathway, and several sepsis-related signaling pathways were detected 8 h following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Our results showed that SIL pretreatment showed a significant protective effect on sepsis and septic myocardial injury, which was explained by the attenuation of inflammation, inhibition of oxidative stress, improvement of mitochondrial function, regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and activation of the NR1H3 pathway. SIL posttreatment and the combination of SIL and azithromycin (AZI) showed a certain therapeutic effect. RNA-seq detection further clarified the myocardial protective mechanisms of SIL. Taken together, this study provides a theoretical basis for the application strategy and combination of SIL in septic myocardial injury. Show less
This study aims to investigate the pathogenic gene variant in a family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by using whole-exome sequencing and to explore the relationship between the gene variant and cli Show more
This study aims to investigate the pathogenic gene variant in a family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by using whole-exome sequencing and to explore the relationship between the gene variant and clinical phenotype. Peripheral blood was collected from a family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted. The possible pathogenic genes were detected by whole-exome sequencing, and the variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Functional change in the variant was predicted by bioinformatics software. Clinical data of the family members are analysed simultaneously. The proband carries a novel heterozygous nonsense variant of MYBPC3:c.2731G > T (p.E911X). The analysis of amino acid conservation suggests that the variation is highly conserved. The three-dimensional protein structure shows that the variant in MYBPC3 results in the incompleteness of the fibronectintype-III2 (p872-967) domain and deletion of Ig-like C2-type 6 (p971-1065) and fibronectin type-III 3 and Ig-like C2-type 7 (p1181-1274) domains, in which p1253-1268 is predicted to have a transmembrane helix structure. Clinical data indicate that the phenotypes of variant carriers with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are diverse, suggesting the functional damages to the protein of MYBPC3. The phenotypes of variant carriers with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by the novel variant in MYBPC3: c.2731G > T (p.E911X) exhibit variable severity and clinical manifestations. Whole-exome sequencing can be used to comprehensive screen hypertrophic cardiomyopathy genes and provide a strong basis for early screening and accurate diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children. Show less
Two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P) are a large family of "background" channels that allow outward "leak" of potassium ions. The NALCN/UNC80/UNC79 complex is a non-selective channel that allows i Show more
Two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P) are a large family of "background" channels that allow outward "leak" of potassium ions. The NALCN/UNC80/UNC79 complex is a non-selective channel that allows inward flow of sodium and other cations. It is unclear how K2Ps and NALCN differentially modulate animal behavior. Here, we found that loss of function (lf) in the K2P gene twk-40 suppressed the reduced body curvatures of C. elegans NALCN(lf) mutants. twk-40(lf) caused a deep body curvature and extended backward locomotion, and these phenotypes appeared to be associated with neuron-specific expression of twk-40 and distinct twk-40 transcript isoforms. To survey the functions of other less studied K2P channels, we examined loss-of-function mutants of 13 additional twk genes expressed in the motor circuit and detected defective body curvature and/or locomotion in mutants of twk-2, twk-17, twk-30, twk-48, unc-58, and the previously reported twk-7. We generated presumptive gain-of-function (gf) mutations in twk-40, twk-2, twk-7, and unc-58 and found that they caused paralysis. Further analyses detected variable genetic interactions between twk-40 and other twk genes, an interdependence between twk-40 and twk-2, and opposite behavioral effects between NALCN and twk-2, twk-7, or unc-58. Finally, we found that the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity property of TWK-40 residue 159 could affect the channel activity. Together, our study identified twk-40 as a novel modulator of the motor behavior, uncovered potential behavioral effects of five other K2P genes and suggests that NALCN and some K2Ps can oppositely affect C. elegans behavior. Show less
Mounting evidence has linked both obesity and metabolic disorders with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Dietary inulin is conducive to modulating this dysbiosis, and represents a potential means to im Show more
Mounting evidence has linked both obesity and metabolic disorders with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Dietary inulin is conducive to modulating this dysbiosis, and represents a potential means to improve disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying these improvements are largely unclear. Obese ob/ob mice were fed a standard chow, a low fiber diet (LFD) or a high fiber diet (HFD) for 4 weeks, and the body weight, fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) level, and plasma and liver lipid profiles were analyzed. Oral glucose tolerance testing, and gut microbiota sequencing were also conducted. Dietary inulin improved the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, attenuated the decrease in phylum Bacteroidetes, repressed the increase of phylum Firmicutes, and led to an increase in the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. At the family level, inulin promoted the expansion of SCFAs-producing Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae bacteria, which increased the fecal SCFAs concentrations. At the genus level, inulin increased the levels of Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria. Furthermore, our results revealed that there was enhanced expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), which might be induced by the higher production of SCFAs, and this may underlie the improvements in the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism seen in mice with added dietary inulin. In conclusion, inulin may ameliorate metabolic disorders by remodeling the gut microbiota and increasing the production of SCFAs, which might be mediated by the ANGPTL4-related signaling pathway. Interventions targeting the gut microbiota warrant further investigation as a novel therapy for metabolic diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Mounting evidence has linked both obesity and metabolic disorders with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Dietary inulin is conducive to modulating this dysbiosis, and represents a potential means to improve disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying these improvements are largely unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dietary fiber (inulin) on metabolic homeostasis using ob/ob mice. The results of our study demonstrate that inulin-induced remodeling of the gut microbiota resulted in increased production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), leading to the enhanced expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), which improved the glucose and lipid metabolism. Our results suggest that the gut microbiota, SCFAs and ANGPTL4 pathway at least partially mediate the beneficial effects of inulin on metabolic disorders in ob/ob mice. Show less
Ying Wang, Jun Liu, Chizuru Akatsu+18 more · 2022 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · National Academy of Sciences · added 2026-04-24
Elimination of autoreactive developing B cells is an important mechanism to prevent autoantibody production. However, how B cell receptor (BCR) signaling triggers apoptosis of immature B cells remains Show more
Elimination of autoreactive developing B cells is an important mechanism to prevent autoantibody production. However, how B cell receptor (BCR) signaling triggers apoptosis of immature B cells remains poorly understood. We show that BCR stimulation up-regulates the expression of the lysosomal-associated transmembrane protein 5 (LAPTM5), which in turn triggers apoptosis of immature B cells through two pathways. LAPTM5 causes BCR internalization, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of SYK and ERK. In addition, LAPTM5 targets the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 for lysosomal degradation, resulting in the accumulation of its substrate PTEN. Elevated PTEN levels suppress AKT phosphorylation, leading to increased FOXO1 expression and up-regulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 and the proapoptotic molecule BIM. In vivo, LAPTM5 is involved in the elimination of autoreactive B cells and its deficiency exacerbates autoantibody production. Our results reveal a previously unidentified mechanism that contributes to immature B cell apoptosis and B cell tolerance. Show less
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have found that angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is abnormally expressed in many tumors, so it can serve as a Show more
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have found that angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is abnormally expressed in many tumors, so it can serve as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target. However, its prognostic value in LUAD remains unclear. We downloaded RNA sequence data for LUAD from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, methylation data from the University of California Santa Cruz genome database, and clinical information. R software (version 4.1.1) was applied to analyze the ANGPTL4 expression in LUAD and nontumor samples, and the correlation with clinical characteristics to assess its prognostic and diagnostic value. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between the ANGPTL4 expression and methylation levels. Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) tool was taken for immune infiltration analysis, and two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were combined for meta-analysis. Finally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ANGPTL4 were analyzed to clarify its function. As shown in our results, ANGPTL4 was upregulated in LUAD and was an independent risk factor for the diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD. The general methylation level and eight ANGPTL4 methylation sites were significantly negatively correlated with the ANGPTL4 expression. Furthermore, we found that B cell infiltration was negatively correlated with ANGPTL4 expression and was an independent risk factor. Meta-analysis showed that the high expression of ANGPTL4 was closely associated with a poor prognosis. 153 DEGs, including the matrix metalloproteinase family, the chemokines subfamily, and the collagen family, were correlated with ANGPTL4. In this study, we found that ANGPTL4 was significantly elevated in LUAD and was closely associated with the development and poor prognosis of LUAD, suggesting that ANGPTL4 may be a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for LUAD. Show less
Small therapeutic proteins are receiving increased interest as therapeutic drugs; however, their clinical success has been limited due to their rapid elimination. Here, we report a half-life extension Show more
Small therapeutic proteins are receiving increased interest as therapeutic drugs; however, their clinical success has been limited due to their rapid elimination. Here, we report a half-life extension strategy via strategy via red blood cell red blood cell (RBC) hitch-hiking. This manuscript details the development and characterization of novel anti-RBC single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), their genetic fusion to therapeutic antibody fragments (TAF) as bispecific fusion constructs, and their influence on TAF pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Several sdAbs specific to the band 3 antigen were generated via phage-display technology. Binding affinity to RBCs was assessed via flow cytometry. Affinity maturation via random mutagenesis was carried out to improve the binding affinity of the sdAbs. Bi-specific constructs were generated by fusing the anti-RBC sdAbs with anti-tissue necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) TAF via the use of a glycine-serine flexible linker, and assessments for binding were performed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Pharmacokinetics of anti-RBC sdAbs and fusion constructs were evaluated following intravenous bolus dosing in mice at a 1 mg/kg dose. Two RBC-binding sdAbs, RB12 and RE8, were developed. These two clones showed high binding affinity to human RBC with an estimated K Show less
Metabolomics genome wide association study (GWAS) help outline the genetic contribution to human metabolism. However, studies to date have focused on relatively healthy, population-based samples of Wh Show more
Metabolomics genome wide association study (GWAS) help outline the genetic contribution to human metabolism. However, studies to date have focused on relatively healthy, population-based samples of White individuals. Here, we conducted a GWAS of 537 blood metabolites measured in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study, with separate analyses in 822 White and 687 Black study participants. Trans-ethnic meta-analysis was then applied to improve fine-mapping of potential causal variants. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 44.4 and 41.5 mL/min/1.73m Show less
We determined the relationships between DNA sequence variation and DNA methylation using blood samples from 3,799 Europeans and 3,195 South Asians. We identify 11,165,559 SNP-CpG associations (methyla Show more
We determined the relationships between DNA sequence variation and DNA methylation using blood samples from 3,799 Europeans and 3,195 South Asians. We identify 11,165,559 SNP-CpG associations (methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL), P < 10 Show less
Tubby-like protein 3 (TULP3) is a member of the tubby family, has been related to the development of nervous system by gene knockout researches. Nevertheless, the role of TULP3 in the gastric cancer i Show more
Tubby-like protein 3 (TULP3) is a member of the tubby family, has been related to the development of nervous system by gene knockout researches. Nevertheless, the role of TULP3 in the gastric cancer is not clear. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed for the quantitative detection of TULP3 expression in the gastric cancer and consecutive non-cancerous tissues, and gastric cancer cells. The roles of TULP3 in invasion, migration as well as proliferation of the gastric cancer cell in vivo and in vitro through utilizing colony formation, MTT, wound-healing, transwell and mouse xenograft model. Western blotting assay was implemented in order to clarify the potential molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, electron microscopy and western blot were evaluated TULP3 expression in gastric cancer patient extracted serum exosomes. TULP3 expression levels were remarkably upregulated in the gastric cancer tissues and cells. Subsequent functional assays demonstrated that TULP3 downregulation suppressed invasion, migration as well as the proliferation of the gastric cancer cell. Mechanism assays depicted that the PTEN/Akt/Snail signaling pathway can inhibit invasion, migration as well as the proliferation of the gastric cancer cell via TULP3 silencing. Finally, we found that the expression of TULP3 could be determined in the extracted serum exosomes. The expression of TULP3 in gastric cancer group was higher in comparison with normal group. Our results reveal that TULP3 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer. Show less