Wnt signaling is involved in embryo development and cancer. The binding between the DIX domains of Axin1/2, Dishevelled1/2/3, and Coiled-coil-DIX1 is essential for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Structural Show more
Wnt signaling is involved in embryo development and cancer. The binding between the DIX domains of Axin1/2, Dishevelled1/2/3, and Coiled-coil-DIX1 is essential for Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Structural and biological studies have revealed that DIX domains are polymerized through head-to-tail interface interactions, which are indispensable for activating β-catenin Wnt signaling. Although different isoforms of Dvl and Axin proteins display both redundant and specific functions in Wnt signaling, the specificity of DIX-mediated interactions remains unclear due to technical challenges. Using AlphaFold2(AF2), we predict the structures of 6 homodimers and 22 heterodimers of DIX domains without templates and compare them with the reported X-ray complex structures. PRODIGY is used to calculate the binding affinities of these DIX complexes. Our results show that the Axin2 DIX homodimer has a stronger binding affinity than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Among Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins, the binding affinity of the Dvl1 DIX homodimer is stronger than that of Dvl2 and Dvl3. The Coiled-coil-DIX1(Ccd1) DIX homodimer shows weaker binding than the Axin1 DIX homodimer. Generally, heterodimer interactions tend to be stronger than those of homodimers. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathway and highlight the potential of AF2 and PRODIGY for studying protein-protein interactions in signaling pathways. Show less
Widespread metastasis is the primary reason for the high mortality associated with ovarian cancer (OC), and effective targeted therapy for tumor aggressiveness is still insufficient in clinical practi Show more
Widespread metastasis is the primary reason for the high mortality associated with ovarian cancer (OC), and effective targeted therapy for tumor aggressiveness is still insufficient in clinical practice. Therefore, it is urgent to find new targets to improve prognosis of patients. PDE4A is a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase that plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development in various malignancies. Our study firstly reported the function of PDE4A in OC. Expression of PDE4A was validated through bioinformatics analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, its impact on cell growth and motility was assessed via in vitro and in vivo experiments. PDE4A was downregulated in OC tissues compared with normal tissues and low PDE4A expression was correlated with poor clinical outcomes in OC patients. The knockdown of PDE4A significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of OC cells while overexpression of PDE4A resulted in the opposite effect. Furthermore, smaller and fewer tumor metastatic foci were observed in mice bearing PDE4A-overexpressing OVCAR3 cells. Mechanistically, downregulation of PDE4A expression can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and nuclear translocation of Snail, which suggests that PDE4A plays a pivotal role in suppressing OC progression. Notably, Rolipram, the PDE4 inhibitor, mirrored the effects observed with PDE4A deletion. In summary, the downregulation of PDE4A appears to facilitate OC progression by modulating the Snail/EMT pathway, underscoring the potential of PDE4A as a therapeutic target against ovarian cancer metastasis. Show less
One of the pathological characteristics of obesity is fat accumulation of skeletal muscles (SKM) and the myocardium, involving mechanisms of insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism. Apolipopr Show more
One of the pathological characteristics of obesity is fat accumulation of skeletal muscles (SKM) and the myocardium, involving mechanisms of insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism. Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) is an essential gene in both glucose and lipid metabolisms. Using high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese In stable obese animal models, we find ApoA-IV-knockout mice show elevated TG content, enhanced expression of lipogenic enzymes and diminished phosphorylated AKT in SKM and the myocardium, but both stable hepatic expression of AAV- We find that ApoA-IV reduces fat accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis and improves glucose uptake in SKM and the myocardium by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway. Show less
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a major contributor of male infertility. Herein, we used existing datasets to identify novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of NOA, which could have gr Show more
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a major contributor of male infertility. Herein, we used existing datasets to identify novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of NOA, which could have great significance in the field of male infertility. NOA datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. CIBERSORT was utilized to analyze the distributions of 22 immune cell populations. Hub genes were identified by applying weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), machine learning methods, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The expression of hub genes was verified in external datasets and was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to explore the important functions and pathways of hub genes. The mRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-transcription factors (TFs) regulatory network and potential drugs were predicted based on hub genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from the testes of patients with NOA were applied for analyzing the distribution of hub genes in single-cell clusters. Furthermore, testis tissue samples were obtained from patients with NOA and obstructive azoospermia (OA) who underwent testicular biopsy. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to validate hub gene expression. Two immune-related oxidative stress hub genes ( It appears that Show less
Bacterial meningitis remains a leading cause of infection-related mortality worldwide. Although Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common etiology of neonatal meningitis, the underlying mechanisms Show more
Bacterial meningitis remains a leading cause of infection-related mortality worldwide. Although Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common etiology of neonatal meningitis, the underlying mechanisms governing bacterial blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption during infection remain elusive. We observed that infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells with meningitic E. coli triggers the activation of early growth response 1 (Egr-1), a host transcriptional activator. Through integrated chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and transcriptome analysis, we identified Egr-1 as a crucial regulator for maintaining BBB integrity. Mechanistically, Egr-1 induced cytoskeletal changes and downregulated tight junction protein expression by directly targeting VEGFA, PDGFB, and ANGPTL4, resulting in increased BBB permeability. Meanwhile, Egr-1 also served as a master regulator in the initiation of neuroinflammatory response during meningitic E. coli infection. Our findings support an Egr-1-dependent mechanism of BBB disruption by meningitic E. coli, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for bacterial meningitis. Show less
With the rapid progress in deciphering the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), it has been widely accepted that the accumulation of misfolded amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain could cause the neurodeg Show more
With the rapid progress in deciphering the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), it has been widely accepted that the accumulation of misfolded amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain could cause the neurodegeneration in AD. Although much evidence demonstrates the neurotoxicity of Aβ, the role of Aβ in the nervous system are complex. However, more comprehensive studies are needed to understand the physiological effect of Aβ Show less
Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) is synthesized by the small intestine in response to dietary lipids. Chronic exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) desensitizes lipid-induced APOA4 production and attenuates brow Show more
Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) is synthesized by the small intestine in response to dietary lipids. Chronic exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) desensitizes lipid-induced APOA4 production and attenuates brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. We hypothesized that exogenous APOA4 could increase BAT thermogenesis and energy expenditure in HFD-fed mice, resulting in decreased obesity and improved glucose tolerance. BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (IWAT) thermogenesis, body composition, energy intake and expenditure, and locomotor activity were measured using an infrared camera, immunoblots, quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, and a comprehensive lab animal monitoring system. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis were assayed. Mice receiving continuous infusion of APOA4 for the last 4 weeks of 10 weeks of HFD feeding gained no additional body weight and had reduced fat mass but enhanced BAT and IWAT thermogenesis and energy expenditure, despite unaltered food intake and locomotor activity. Additionally, APOA4 infusion elevated fatty acid β oxidation; decreased lipogenesis, lipid accumulation, and steatosis in liver; and improved glucose tolerance. Maintenance of plasma APOA4 via exogenous APOA4 protein parallels elevation of BAT and IWAT thermogenesis, hepatic fatty acid β oxidation, and overall energy expenditure, with subsequent prevention of additional weight gain in HFD-fed obese mice. Show less
Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary- Show more
Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes in regulating poultry sexual maturity. Concurrently, there was evidence suggesting a potential co-regulatory relationship between these 2 axes. However, as of now, no comprehensive exploration of the key pathways and genes responsible for the crosstalk between the HPO and HPT axes in the regulation of AFE has been reported. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of morphological differences and performed transcriptomic analysis on the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma between normal laying group (NG) and abnormal laying group (AG). Morphological results showed that the thyroid index difference (D-) value (thyroid index D-value=right thyroid index-left thyroid index) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NG than in the AG, while the ovarian index was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the NG than in the AG. Furthermore, between NG and AG, we identified 99, 415, 167, and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted that DEGs from 4 tissues were predominantly enriched in the "biological processes" category. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that 16, 14, 3, and 26 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma. The MAPK signaling pathway emerged as the sole enriched pathway across all 4 tissues. Employing an integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and correlation analysis, we found GREB1 emerged as a pivotal component within the HPO axis to regulate estrogen-related signaling in the HPT axis, meanwhile, the HPT axis influenced ovarian development by regulating thyroid hormone-related signaling mainly through OPN5. Then, 10 potential candidate genes were identified, namely IGF1, JUN, ERBB4, KDR, PGF, FGFR1, GREB1, OPN5, DIO3, and THRB. These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the physiological and genetic mechanisms by which the HPO and HPT axes co-regulate goose AFE. Show less
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with significant genetic underpinnings, yet effective treatments remain elusive. To bridge the gap between genetic discoveries and ther Show more
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with significant genetic underpinnings, yet effective treatments remain elusive. To bridge the gap between genetic discoveries and therapeutic development, we conducted a penalized regression based proteome-wide association study (PWAS) in both European and African American populations. Using publicly available GWAS summary statistics and the BLISS model, we identified 37 protein-coding genes significantly associated with AD risk, including APOE and BCAM in both populations. We further applied the GREP model to prioritize repositionable drugs targeting these genes, identifying 30 significant disease-target-drug pairs. Notably, Ramipril and BAY 85-8501 emerged as top candidates for AD treatment in European and African American populations, respectively. These findings highlight ancestry-specific drug targets, demonstrating the importance of diverse genetic studies in AD research and providing novel avenues for therapeutic intervention. Show less
Given the pressing clinical problem of making a decision in diagnosis for subjects with pulmonary nodules, we aimed to discover novel plasma protein biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and benig Show more
Given the pressing clinical problem of making a decision in diagnosis for subjects with pulmonary nodules, we aimed to discover novel plasma protein biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and benign pulmonary nodules (BPNs) and then develop an integrative multianalytical model to guide the clinical management of LUAD and BPN patients. Through label-free quantitative plasma proteomic analysis (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD046731), 12 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in LUAD and BPN were screened. The diagnostic abilities of DEPs were validated in two independent validation cohorts. The results showed that the levels of three candidate proteins (PRDX2, PON1, and APOC3) were lower in the plasma of LUAD than in BPN. The three candidate proteins were combined with three promising computed tomography indicators (spiculation, vascular notch sign, and lobulation) and three traditional markers (CEA, CA125, and CYFRA21-1) to construct an integrative multianalytical model, which was effective in distinguishing LUAD from BPN, with an AUC of 0.904, a sensitivity of 81.44%, and a specificity of 90.14%. Moreover, the model possessed impressive diagnostic performance between early LUADs and BPNs, with the AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 0.868, 65.63%, 90.14%, and 82.52%, respectively. This model may be a useful auxiliary diagnostic tool for LUAD and BPN by achieving a better balance of sensitivity and specificity. Show less
The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is a rare but recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in acute leukemia, with limited clinicopathologic and outcome data available. Herein, we analyzed 156 acute leukemia patients Show more
The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is a rare but recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in acute leukemia, with limited clinicopathologic and outcome data available. Herein, we analyzed 156 acute leukemia patients with PICALM::MLLT10 fusion, including 12 patients from our institutions and 144 patients from the literature. The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion preferentially manifested in pediatric and young adult patients, with a median age of 24 years. T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) constituted 65% of cases, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 27%, and acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage (ALAL) 8%. About half of T-ALL were classified as an early T-precursor (ETP)-ALL. In our institutions' cohort, mediastinum was the most common extramedullary site of involvement. Eight of 12 patients were diagnosed with T-ALL exhibiting a pro-/pre-T stage phenotype (CD4/CD8-double negative, CD7-positive), and frequent CD79a expression. NGS revealed pathogenic mutations in 5 of 6 tested cases, including NOTCH1, and genes in RAS and JAK-STAT pathways and epigenetic modifiers. Of 138 cases with follow-up, pediatric patients (<18 years) had 5-year overall survival (OS) of 71%, significantly better than adults at 33%. The 5-year OS for AML patients was 25%, notably shorter than T-ALL patients at 54%; this distinction was observed in both pediatric and adult populations. Furthermore, adult but not pediatric ETP-ALL patients demonstrated inferior survival compared to non-ETP-ALL patients. Neither karyotype complexity nor transplant status had a discernible impact on OS. In conclusion, PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is most commonly seen in T-ALL patients, particularly those with an ETP phenotype. AML and adult ETP-ALL patients had adverse prognosis. PICALM::MLTT10 fusion testing should be considered in T-ALL, AML, and ALAL patients. Show less
In vitro cell culturing witnessed its applications in scientific research and industrial activities. Attempts to shorten the doubling time of cultured cells have never ceased. In plants, auxin is appl Show more
In vitro cell culturing witnessed its applications in scientific research and industrial activities. Attempts to shorten the doubling time of cultured cells have never ceased. In plants, auxin is applied to promote plant growth, the synthetic derivative 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) is a good example. Despite the auxin's naturally occurring receptors are not present in mammalian cells, studies suggested they may affect cell culturing. Yet the effects and mechanisms are still unclear. Here, an up to 2-fold increase in the yield of in vitro cultured human cells is observed. Different types of human cell lines and primary cells are tested and found that NAA is effective in all the cells tested. The PI staining followed by FACS suggested that NAA do not affect the cell cycling. Apoptosis-specific dye staining analysis implicated that NAA rescued cell death. Further bulk RNA sequencing is done and it is identified that the lipid metabolism-engaging and anti-apoptosis gene, ANGPTL4, is enhanced in expression upon NAA treatment. Studies on ANGPTL4 knockout cells indicated that ANGPTL4 is required for NAA-mediated response. Thus, the data identified a beneficial role of NAA in human cell culturing and highlighted its potency in in vitro cell culturing. Show less
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are congenital diseases that lead to postoperative fecal incontinence, constipation, and soiling, despite improvements in surgery; however, their pathological mechanisms Show more
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are congenital diseases that lead to postoperative fecal incontinence, constipation, and soiling, despite improvements in surgery; however, their pathological mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the role of microRNA-141-3p in maintaining homeostasis between apoptosis and autophagy in the lumbosacral defecation center of fetal rats with ARMs. Elevated microRNA-141-3p expression inhibited YIN-YANG-1 expression by binding its 3' UTR, and repressed autophagy and triggered apoptosis simultaneously. Then, adenylate cyclase 3 was screened to be the downstream target gene of YIN-YANG-1 by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing experiments, and Yin Yang 1 could positively activate the transcription of adenylate cyclase 3 by directly interacting with the motif GAGATGG and ATGG in its promoter. Intraamniotic microinjection of adeno-rno-microRNA-141-3p-sponge-GFP in fetal rats with ARMs on embryonic day 15 restored apoptosis-autophagy homeostasis. These findings reveal that microRNA-141-3p upregulation impaired homeostasis between apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the YIN-YANG-1/adenylate cyclase 3 axis, and that intraamniotic injection of anti-microRNA-141-3p helped maintain homeostasis in the lumbosacral defecation center of ARMs during embryogenesis. Show less
The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of salidroside (SAL) (a major active compound in The expression of HIF-1 SAL enhanced the expression of HIF-1 SAL promotes osteoclast proli Show more
The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of salidroside (SAL) (a major active compound in The expression of HIF-1 SAL enhanced the expression of HIF-1 SAL promotes osteoclast proliferation, differentiation and bone resorption through HIF-1 Show less
Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinical arrhythmia and may be due in part to metabolic stress. Atrial specific deletion of the master metabolic sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ind Show more
Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinical arrhythmia and may be due in part to metabolic stress. Atrial specific deletion of the master metabolic sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), induces atrial remodeling culminating in atrial fibrillation in mice, implicating AMPK signaling in the maintenance of atrial electrical and structural homeostasis. However, atrial substrate preference for mitochondrial oxidation and the role of AMPK in regulating atrial metabolism are unknown. Here, using LC-MS/MS methodology combined with infusions of [ Show less
Adipose tissue mass is maintained by a balance between lipolysis and lipid storage. The contribution of adipose tissue lipogenesis to fat mass, especially in the setting of high-fat feeding, is consid Show more
Adipose tissue mass is maintained by a balance between lipolysis and lipid storage. The contribution of adipose tissue lipogenesis to fat mass, especially in the setting of high-fat feeding, is considered minor. Here we investigated the effect of adipose-specific inactivation of the peroxisomal lipid synthetic protein PexRAP on fatty acid synthase (FASN)-mediated lipogenesis and its impact on adiposity and metabolic homeostasis. To explore the role of PexRAP in adipose tissue, we metabolically phenotyped mice with adipose-specific knockout of PexRAP. Bulk RNA sequencing was used to determine transcriptomic responses to PexRAP deletion and Adipose-specific PexRAP deletion promoted diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance through activation of de novo lipogenesis. Mechanistically, PexRAP inactivation inhibited the flux of carbons to ethanolamine plasmalogens. This increased the nuclear PC/PE ratio and promoted cholesterol mislocalization, resulting in activation of liver X receptor (LXR), a nuclear receptor known to be activated by increased intracellular cholesterol. LXR activation led to increased expression of the phospholipid remodeling enzyme LPCAT3 and induced FASN-mediated lipogenesis, which promoted diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. These studies reveal an unexpected role for peroxisome-derived lipids in regulating LXR-dependent lipogenesis and suggest that activation of lipogenesis, combined with dietary lipid overload, exacerbates obesity and metabolic dysregulation. Show less
This investigation aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in treating moderate to severe metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This prospective, open-label, randomized s Show more
This investigation aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in treating moderate to severe metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This prospective, open-label, randomized study included non-diabetic participants with metabolic syndrome and intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) levels >10 %, as determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( Thirty-two participants completed the study. Rosuvastatin resulted in a significant absolute (△IHCL: 7.61 ± 4.51 vs. 1.54 ± 5.33, p = 0.002) and relative reduction in IHCL (△IHCL%: -42.28 ± 24.90 % vs. -8.91 ± 31.93 %, p = 0.003) compared to the control. Reduction in IHCL correlated significantly with decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (r = 0.574, p < 0.01), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (r = 0.660, p < 0.001), and free fatty acids (FFA) (r = 0.563, p = 0.005). No significant safety differences were observed between groups. Rosuvastatin significantly reduced hepatic steatosis in individuals with moderate to severe MAFLD and metabolic syndrome over 52 weeks, while maintaining a favorable safety profile. Show less
Developing multitargeted ligands as promising therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been considered important. Herein, a novel class of cinnamamide/ester-triazole hybrids with multifaceted eff Show more
Developing multitargeted ligands as promising therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been considered important. Herein, a novel class of cinnamamide/ester-triazole hybrids with multifaceted effects on AD was developed based on the multitarget-directed ligands strategy. Thirty-seven cinnamamide/ester-triazole hybrids were synthesized, with most exhibiting significant inhibitory activity against Aβ-induced toxicity at a single concentration in vitro. The most optimal hybrid compound 4j inhibited copper-induced Aβ toxicity in AD cells. its action was superior to that of donepezil and memantine. It also moderately inhibited intracellular AChE activity and presented favorable bioavailability and blood-brain barrier penetration with low toxicity in vivo. Of note, it ameliorated cognitive impairment, neuronal degeneration, and Aβ deposition in Aβ Show less
Even though the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is applicable for the passive targeting of solid tumors, many nanodrugs have failed to achieve meaningful clinical outcomes due to the Show more
Even though the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is applicable for the passive targeting of solid tumors, many nanodrugs have failed to achieve meaningful clinical outcomes due to the heterogeneity of EPR effect. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of the EPR effect is crucial to overcome the obstacles nanomedicines face in clinical translation. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable method to increase awareness of the critical influencing factors of nanoparticle (NP) transport into tumors based on the EPR effect using a combined radiogenomics and clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique and gene set pathway enrichment analysis. Employing poly(lactic- Show less
Chenchen Yuan, Yao Xu, Guotao Lu+12 more · 2024 · Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
GPIHBP1 plays an important role in the hydrolysis of triglyceride (TG) lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipases (LPLs). However, Gpihbp1 knockout mice did not develop hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) during the Show more
GPIHBP1 plays an important role in the hydrolysis of triglyceride (TG) lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipases (LPLs). However, Gpihbp1 knockout mice did not develop hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) during the suckling period but developed severe HTG after weaning on a chow diet. It has been postulated that LPL expression in the liver of suckling mice may be involved. To determine whether hepatic LPL expression could correct severe HTG in Gpihbp1 deficiency, liver-targeted LPL expression was achieved via intravenous administration of the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-human LPL gene, and the effects of AAV-LPL on HTG and HTG-related acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) were observed. Suckling Gpihbp1 Show less
Lipid metabolism disorders appear to play an important role in the ageing process, thus understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association of ageing with elevated vulnerabi Show more
Lipid metabolism disorders appear to play an important role in the ageing process, thus understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association of ageing with elevated vulnerability to lipid metabolism related diseases is crucial towards promoting quality of life in old age. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators of lipid metabolism, and some miRNAs have key roles in ageing. In this study, we investigated changes in liver lipid metabolism of ageing mice and the mechanisms of the altered expression of miRNAs in the ageing liver which contributes to the age-dependent increase in lipid synthesis. Here we found that miR-743b-3p was higher expressed in the liver tissues of ageing mice through the small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, and its target PPM1K was predicted and confirmed the target relationship of miR-743b-3p with PPM1K in the aged mouse liver tissues and the cultured senescent hepatocytes in vitro. Moreover, using the transfected miR-743b-3p mimics/inhibitors into the senescent hepatocyte AML12. We found that miR-743b-3p inhibition reversed the hepatocyte senescence, and finally decreased the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis(Chrebp, Fabp4, Acly and Pparγ) through increasing the target gene expression of PPM1K which regulated the expression of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) metabolism-related genes (Bckdhα, Bckdk, Bcat2, Dbt). These results identify that age-induced expression of miR-743b-3p inhibits its target PPM1K which induces BCAA metabolic disorder and regulates hepatocyte lipid accumulation during ageing. Show less
Baozhu Guo, Junfen Liu, Xiaoli Han+5 more · 2024 · Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · added 2026-04-24
Adverse cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death in peritoneal dialysis patients. Identifying indicators that can predict adverse cardiovascular events in these patients is crucial for pro Show more
Adverse cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death in peritoneal dialysis patients. Identifying indicators that can predict adverse cardiovascular events in these patients is crucial for prognosis. This study aims to assess the value of dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events after peritoneal dialysis in diabetic nephropathy patients. A total of 124 diabetic nephropathy patients underwent peritoneal dialysis treatment at the Department of Nephrology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from June to September 2022 were selected as study subjects. The levels of DUSP6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined using Western blotting. Patients were categorized into high-level and low-level DUSP6 groups based on the median DUSP6 level. Differences in body mass index, serum albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and dialysis duration were compared between the 2 groups. Pearson, Spearman, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine factors related to DUSP6. Patients were followed up to monitor the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events, and risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events after peritoneal dialysis were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. By the end of the follow-up, 33 (26.61%) patients had experienced at least one adverse cardiovascular event. The high-level DUSP6 group had higher body mass index, longer dialysis duration, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, but lower serum albumin levels compared to the low-level DUSP6 group (all Dialysis duration and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are independently associated with DUSP6 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diabetic nephropathy patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. High DUSP6 levels indicate a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Show less
The mitral valve undergoes structural modifications in response to cardiac functional changes, often predating cardiac decompensation and overt clinical signs. Our study assessed the potential of mitr Show more
The mitral valve undergoes structural modifications in response to cardiac functional changes, often predating cardiac decompensation and overt clinical signs. Our study assessed the potential of mitral valve morphological changes as early indicators for detecting carriers of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)-associated gene mutations. We studied 505 participants: 189 without the pathogenic gene mutations and left ventricular hypertrophy (G-/LVH-), 149 carriers without LV hypertrophy (G+/LVH-), and 167 manifest HCM patients (G+/LVH+). We juxtaposed the mitral valve morphology and associated metrics across these groups, emphasizing those carrying MYH7 and MYBPC3 mutations. We discerned pronounced disparities in the mitral annulus and leaflet structures across the groups. The mitral valve apparatus in mutation carriers exhibited a tendency towards a flattened profile. Detailed analysis spotlighted MYBPC3 mutation carriers, whose mitral valves were notably flatter (with notably lower AHCWR values than non-carriers); this contrast was not evident in MYH7 mutation carriers. This mitral valve flattening, manifest in the mutation carriers, suggests it might be an adaptive response to incipient cardiac dysfunction in HCM's nascent stages. Three-dimensional echocardiography illuminates the initial mitral valve structural changes in HCM patients bearing pathogenic gene mutations. These morphological signatures hold promise as sensitive imaging markers, especially for asymptomatic carriers of the MYBPC3 mutation. Show less
Dysfunction of pancreatic δ cells contributes to the etiology of diabetes. Despite their important role, human δ cells are scarce, limiting physiological studies and drug discovery targeting δ cells. Show more
Dysfunction of pancreatic δ cells contributes to the etiology of diabetes. Despite their important role, human δ cells are scarce, limiting physiological studies and drug discovery targeting δ cells. To date, no directed δ-cell differentiation method has been established. Here, we demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 7 promotes pancreatic endoderm/progenitor differentiation, whereas FGF2 biases cells towards the pancreatic δ-cell lineage via FGF receptor 1. We develop a differentiation method to generate δ cells from human stem cells by combining FGF2 with FGF7, which synergistically directs pancreatic lineage differentiation and modulates the expression of transcription factors and SST activators during endoderm/endocrine precursor induction. These δ cells display mature RNA profiles and fine secretory granules, secrete somatostatin in response to various stimuli, and suppress insulin secretion from in vitro co-cultured β cells and mouse β cells upon transplantation. The generation of human pancreatic δ cells from stem cells in vitro would provide an unprecedented cell source for drug discovery and cell transplantation studies in diabetes. Show less
Poultry is a source of meat that is in great demand in the world. The quality of meat is an imperative point for shoppers. To explore the genes controlling meat quality characteristics, the growth and Show more
Poultry is a source of meat that is in great demand in the world. The quality of meat is an imperative point for shoppers. To explore the genes controlling meat quality characteristics, the growth and meat quality traits and muscle transcriptome of two indigenous Yunnan chicken breeds, Wuding chickens (WDs) and Daweishan mini chickens (MCs), were compared with Cobb broilers (CBs). The growth and meat quality characteristics of these two indigenous breeds were found to differ from CB. In particular, the crude fat (CF), inosine monophosphate content, amino acid (AA), and total fatty acid (TFA) content of WDs were significantly higher than those of CBs and MCs. In addition, it was found that MC pectoralis had 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relative to CBs, and WDs had 217 DEGs relative to CBs. Among them, 105 DEGs were shared. The results of 10 selected genes were also confirmed by qPCR. The differentially expressed genes were six enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) biological pathways including lysosomes, phagosomes, PPAR signaling pathways, cell adhesion molecules, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and phagosome sphingolipid metabolism. Interestingly, four genes ( Show less