The causal relationship between the familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and intestinal vascular diseases was unnoticed. This study aims to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship of FH with risk Show more
The causal relationship between the familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and intestinal vascular diseases was unnoticed. This study aims to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship of FH with risk of intestinal vascular diseases in human. A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed by extracting summary-level datasets for FH or FH concurrently with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and intestinal vascular diseases from the FinnGen study including 329,115, 316,290 and 350,505 individuals. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and the weighted median method were applied to analyze the causal relationships between FH or FH concurrently with IHD and the risk of intestinal vascular diseases. Cochran's Q statistic method and MR-Egger regression were used to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The IVW method demonstrated that FH was significantly associated with higher odds of intestinal vascular diseases [OR (95%CI): 1.22 (1.03, 1.45)] ( In conclusion, FH was causally positive-associated with the increased risk of intestinal vascular diseases, revealing a potential unfortunate outcome for FH. Therefore, patients with FH should pay closely attention to the risk of intestinal vascular diseases. Our study may provide evidence for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in clinical practices. Show less
Tumor fibrosis is recognized as a malignant hallmark in various solid tumors; however, the clinical importance and associated molecular characteristics of tumor fibrosis in liver metastases (LM) from Show more
Tumor fibrosis is recognized as a malignant hallmark in various solid tumors; however, the clinical importance and associated molecular characteristics of tumor fibrosis in liver metastases (LM) from colorectal cancer (CRLM) remain poorly understood. Here we show that patients with CRLM whose liver metastases (LM) exhibited tumor fibrosis (Fibrosis+ LM) had significantly worse progression-free survival (P = 0.025) and overall survival (P = 0.008). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that the tumor microenvironment of the Fibrosis+ LM was characterized by T cells with an exhausted phenotype, macrophages displaying a profibrotic and suppressive phenotype and fibrosis-promoting fibroblasts. Further investigation highlighted the pivotal role of VCAN_eCAF in remodeling the tumor fibrosis in the tumor microenvironment of Fibrosis+ LM, emphasizing potential targetable interactions such as FGF23 or FGF3-FGFR1. Validation through multiplex immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics supported these findings. Here we present a comprehensive single-cell atlas of tumor fibrosis in LM, revealing the intricate multicellular environment and molecular features associated with it. These insights deepen our understanding of tumor fibrosis mechanisms and inform improved clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. Show less
Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) stands as an unavoidable complication arising from kidney surgery, profoundly intertwined with its prognosis. The role of differentially expressed in FDCP 6 ho Show more
Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) stands as an unavoidable complication arising from kidney surgery, profoundly intertwined with its prognosis. The role of differentially expressed in FDCP 6 homolog (DEF6) in RIRI remains elusive, despite its confirmation as a potential therapeutic target for diverse diseases. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which DEF6 regulated RIRI. RNA sequencing data and IP-MS were used to identify the expression and potential targets of DEF6 through bioinformatics analysis. To elucidate the impact of DEF6 on RIRI, both an in vivo model of RIRI in mice and an in vitro model of kidney cell hypoxia/reoxygenation were established. Biochemical and histological analyses were used to investigate the influence of DEF6 on kidney damage mediated by RIRI. We confirmed that DEF6 was upregulated during RIRI and had a close correlation with RIRI-related inflammation and apoptosis. Moreover, inhibition of DEF6 could mitigate RIRI-induced kidney damage, inflammation, and apoptosis. Through our comprehensive mechanistic investigation, we revealed that DEF6 interacts with poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) and suppresses the ubiquitination of PARP1. Inhibition of DEF6 resulted in reduced cleaveage of PARP1, leading to a marked suppression of PARP1-mediated apoptosis activation. The aggravation effect on inflammation and apoptosis achieved through DEF6 was nullified by the inhibition of NF-κB and Bax/Bcl2 signaling activation through PARP1 deletion. The findings from our study indicate that DEF6 suppressed the WWP2 mediated ubiquitination of PARP1 and modulates the activation of NF-κB and Bax/Bcl2 pathway, thus involved in RIRI-induced inflammation and apoptosis. These results suggest that DEF6 holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating RIRI. Show less
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in plants and soil poses significant risks to livestock, particularly sheep. Cd exposure often leads to severe gastrointestinal diseases in sheep that are difficult to treat Show more
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in plants and soil poses significant risks to livestock, particularly sheep. Cd exposure often leads to severe gastrointestinal diseases in sheep that are difficult to treat. Milk-derived exosomes, particularly those from sheep milk (SM-Exo), have shown potential in treating gastrointestinal disorders, though their efficacy in Cd-induced colitis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of SM-Exo in a Cd-induced colitis model. Hu sheep were exposed to Cd, and their fecal microbiota were collected to prepare bacterial solutions for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mice. The changes in gut microbiota and gene expression were analyzed through microbiome and transcriptomics. Our results showed that prior to treatment, harmful bacteria (e.g., Show less
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common solid tumor in children, characterized by high recurrence rates, drug resistance, and significant mortality. In this study, we analyzed the proteomic profiles of Show more
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common solid tumor in children, characterized by high recurrence rates, drug resistance, and significant mortality. In this study, we analyzed the proteomic profiles of NB tissue samples alongside other pathological categories, including ganglioneuroma (GN) and ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB). Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), the core prognostic gene models associated with histopathology of NB were identified. Furthermore, by mapping our core prognostic gene models onto drug-perturbed transcriptome profiles from the L1000FWD and CMap databases, repurposing drug candidates were screened and validated for NB. Our proteomic analysis reveals that pathways associated with the cell cycle and DNA replication are significantly upregulated in NB, while oxidative phosphorylation, pyruvate metabolism, and the TCA cycle are notably downregulated compared to GNB and GN. By applying WGCNA, we identified a core prognostic gene model strongly associated with the unfavorable subtype and high MKI of NB and primarily related to chromatin binding and mRNA metabolic process. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 15 hub genes in this core prognostic module: SMARCA4, SMARCA5, SMARCC2, SMARCC1, PBRM1, BRD3, ARID1A, BRD2, ARID1B, KDM1A, TP53BP1, ALYREF, CBX1, SF3B1, and ADNP, which mainly related to chromatin remodeling. Notably, SMARCA4 and ALYREF are also high-risk genes of mortality and validated as potential prognostic biomarkers for NB. Through repurposing drugs screening, mocetinostat and clofarabine were validated as effective treatments in two NB cell lines. Mocetinostat and clofarabine offer valuable insights for the development of novel targeted therapies in neuroblastoma. Show less
To establish the reference interval for the serum lipid index in pregnant women and to explore the relationship between lipid metabolism levels and pregnancy outcomes. Data were derived from 446 pregn Show more
To establish the reference interval for the serum lipid index in pregnant women and to explore the relationship between lipid metabolism levels and pregnancy outcomes. Data were derived from 446 pregnancy women and 317 healthy non-pregnant women. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured in both groups. The mean and standard deviation of each index were calculated to establish the reference range of normal serum lipid levels in pregnant women in mid-to-late pregnancy. The associations between serum lipid levels and perinatal outcomes were assessed statistically. There were no significant differences in age, pregnancy, or parity between the adverse outcome and normal delivery groups, but the caesarean section rate was significantly higher in the adverse outcome group. The levels of hs-CRP, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and ApoA1 were significantly higher in the adverse outcome group. Elevated hs-CRP, TG, and HDL-C levels were risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal threshold of the combined diagnosis of these three indicators to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes was 0.534, and the area under the curve was 0.822. The establishment of lipid reference intervals in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can effectively evaluate lipid metabolism in pregnant women, and the measurement of lipid metabolism in pregnant women is helpful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. Show less
Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disorder, which promotes the progression of metabolic disorders. MicroRNA (miR)-6838-5p is dysregulated and participates in the progression of several disorder models Show more
Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disorder, which promotes the progression of metabolic disorders. MicroRNA (miR)-6838-5p is dysregulated and participates in the progression of several disorder models. To explore the role and mechanism of miR-6838-5p in insulin resistance. Mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to construct an obesity animal model. The role of miR-6838-5p was evaluated by insulin tolerance test (ITT), glucose tolerance test (GTT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot assays. The potential target of miR-6838-5p was screened through the starBase online website and confirmed by the luciferase assay. HFD supply induced a prominent increase in the body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, the area under the curve (AUC) of GTT and ITT, HOMA-IR, the serum level of insulin and the serum concentrations and relative protein levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) accompanied with reduced levels of IL-10 in mice. The level of miR-6838-5p was reduced in HFD-fed mice. Upregulation of miR-6838-5p partly reversed the above-mentioned indicators. Moreover, miR-6838-5p directly targeted to β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme1 (BACE1) and negatively regulated the BACE1 expression. Downregulation of BACE1 improved insulin sensitivity and inflammatory mediators release involving in AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway in HFD-fed mice. Besides, overexpression of BACE1 counteracted the depressant role of miR-6838-5p overexpression in insulin resistance and inflammatory factors release in HFD-fed mice. MiR-6838-5p/BACE1 axis regulated insulin resistance and inflammatory factors release in HFD-fed mice. Show less
Gallstone disease (GD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a significant genetic component. Despite known risk factors, the genetic basis of GD remains incompletely understood. We aimed to iden Show more
Gallstone disease (GD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a significant genetic component. Despite known risk factors, the genetic basis of GD remains incompletely understood. We aimed to identify novel genetic loci associated with GD, explore their clinical implications and investigate their therapeutic potential. We conducted a genome-wide association study from the UK Biobank followed by a meta-analysis, integrating summary statistics from the FinnGen R11, with further replication from Biobank Japan. Using systematic bioinformatic approaches, we performed gene prioritisation, colocalisation analysis, transcriptome-wide association study, Mendelian randomisations, cross-trait genetic correlations, phenome-wide association study, clinical investigations and gene-environment interactions by leveraging data from the FinnGen, Genotype-Tissue Expression project and Liver Cell Atlas single-cell transcriptomics data set. Our study highlighted novel susceptibility loci near candidate genes (ie, This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of GD and highlights the role of hepatocytes in GD pathogenesis. These findings have implications for the personalised prevention strategies and new therapeutic interventions in individuals predisposed to GD. Show less
Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a neurological disease that primarily affects premature infants and involves infiltration of blood into the brain's ventricles followed by excessive accumulatio Show more
Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a neurological disease that primarily affects premature infants and involves infiltration of blood into the brain's ventricles followed by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), leading to ventricular enlargement and increased intracranial pressure. The precise mechanisms driving PHH development and persistence are incompletely understood and lack disease-modifying treatments. Using a mouse model of PHH, we have identified transcriptomic, proteomic, and cellular features of PHH involving neuroimmune and neurovascular alterations recapitulating those reported in human disease. Improvement upon a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced PHH mouse model was combined with unbiased proteomic and single-nucleus transcriptomics that identified microglial molecular pathways propagating PHH. Pharmacological depletion of microglia in vivo significantly reduced PHH-associated ventriculomegaly. These data identify microglial and neurovascular elements in the development of PHH, implicating them as other potentially tractable therapeutic targets beyond LPA receptors, towards developing medical treatments for PHH. Show less
Angiogenesis, a meticulously regulated process essential for both normal development and pathological conditions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the endothelial mechanisms governing its Show more
Angiogenesis, a meticulously regulated process essential for both normal development and pathological conditions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the endothelial mechanisms governing its progression. Leveraging the zebrafish model and NgAgo knockdown system to identify target genes influencing angiogenesis, our study highlights the significant role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and its receptor (GIPR) in this process. While GIP has been extensively studied for its insulinotropic and glucagonotropic effects, its role in angiogenesis remains unexplored. This study demonstrated that GIPR knockdown induced developmental delays, morphological abnormalities, and pronounced angiogenic impairments in zebrafish embryos. Conversely, exogenous D-Ala2-GIP administration enhanced blood vessel formation in the yolk sac membrane of chick embryos. Consistent with these findings, D-Ala2-GIP treatment promoted microvessel formation in the tube formation assays and rat aortic ring models. Further investigation revealed that D-Ala2-GIP facilitated human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration, a key step in angiogenesis, through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated activation of the Epac/Rap1/Cdc42 signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into the angiogenic functions of GIP and its potential implications for cardiovascular biology. Show less
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, and most CRCs arise from colorectal adenomas. Early detection and removal of precancerous lesions during the adenoma-carci Show more
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, and most CRCs arise from colorectal adenomas. Early detection and removal of precancerous lesions during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence can significantly reduce CRC risk. However, current clinical practice lacks rapid, noninvasive screening tools for reliable adenoma detection. Proteomic analysis was performed on serum samples from patients with inflammatory polyps (non-neoplastic), patients with adenomas, and healthy controls to identify key differentially expressed proteins capable of distinguishing adenoma patients. The alterations in these candidate proteins were further validated by ELISA to evaluate their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal adenoma. In two independent cohorts, we identified two candidate biomarkers, apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) and filamin A (FLNA), through a multi-step selection process involving ANOVA p-value screening, sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA), and LASSO regression analysis. These candidates were subsequently validated in a third cohort using ELISA. The ELISA results for APOA4 were discordant with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) findings. In contrast, FLNA levels measured by ELISA showed a progressive decrease from healthy controls to patients with inflammatory polyps and further to those with adenomas. We propose FLNA as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of colorectal adenomas. The areas under the ROC curves exceeded 0.7 for both key clinical comparisons: 0.810 for adenomas versus healthy controls, and 0.734 for adenomas versus inflammatory polyps. Overall, this study not only enhances our understanding of the serum proteome in colorectal adenoma but also identifies FLNA as a promising biomarker for its clinical diagnosis. Show less
Altered levels of human plasma metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BD). However, the causality between metabolites and the disease was not well described. We performe Show more
Altered levels of human plasma metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BD). However, the causality between metabolites and the disease was not well described. We performed a bidirectional metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the potential causal relationships between 871 plasma metabolites and BD. We used DrugBank and ChEMBL to evaluate whether related metabolites are potential therapeutic targets. Finally, Bayesian colocalization analysis was performed to identify shared genomic loci BD and identified metabolites. Our MR results showed that six metabolites were significantly associated with a reduced risk of BD, including arachidonate (20:4n6) (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84-0.95) and sphingomyelin (d18:2/24:1, d18:1/24:2) (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.96), while five metabolites were significantly associated with an increased risk of BD, including 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-GPE (16:0/18:2) (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.13). However, our reverse MR analysis showed that BD was not associated with the levels of any metabolite. Additionally, the leave-one-out analysis revealed SNPs within chromosome 11 loci harboring MYRF, FADS1, and FADS2 as ones with the potential to influence partial causal effects. Druggability evaluation showed that 10 of the BD-related metabolites, such as sphingomyelin and cytidine, have been targeted by pharmacologic intervention. Colocalization analysis highlighted one colocalized region (chromosome 11q12) shared by 11 metabolites and BD and pointed to some genes as possible players, including FADS1, FADS2, FADS3, and SYT7. Our study supported a causal role of plasma metabolites in the susceptibility to BD, and the identified metabolites may provide a new avenue for the prevention and treatment of BD. Show less
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a prospective treatment for psychiatric disorders; for example, DBS targeting the nucleus accumbens (NAc) abolishes addictive behaviors. However, neither th Show more
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a prospective treatment for psychiatric disorders; for example, DBS targeting the nucleus accumbens (NAc) abolishes addictive behaviors. However, neither the core pathway nor the cellular mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects are known. Here, morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice as an addiction model and NAc-DBS combined with adeno-associated virus gene delivery for activity-dependent tagging, transgenic and chemogenetic manipulation of recruited neuronal networks are used. It is reported that a cortical-accumbal pathway and local fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are critical for NAc-DBS to be effective in altering morphine CPP. It is shown that NAc-DBS retrogradely activates mPFC neurons projecting to the NAc, and chemogenetic activation/inhibition of these DBS-activated neuron ensembles in the mPFC reproduces the NAc-DBS effects on CPP. Sustained therapeutic effects accompany reductions in local FGF1 binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) in these neurons. Additionally, overexpressing FGF1 in the mPFC-NAc pathway abolishes the therapeutic effects of NAc-DBS. These results demonstrate that the mPFC-NAc pathway forms a top-down motif to regulate the therapeutic effects of subcortical DBS on addiction. These results support the potential for addiction treatments involving FGF1 signaling and highlight the mPFC as a target for noninvasive brain stimulation. Show less
Cardiac hypertrophy as one of the major predisposing factors for chronic heart failure lacks effective interventions. It has been shown that protein ubiquitination plays an important role in cardiac h Show more
Cardiac hypertrophy as one of the major predisposing factors for chronic heart failure lacks effective interventions. It has been shown that protein ubiquitination plays an important role in cardiac hypertrophy. SMURF2 (SMAD-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase 2) is an important member of NEDD4 (neuronal precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4) family of HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases. In this study we investigated the regulatory role of SMURF2 in cardiac hypertrophy. Experiment models were established in mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in vivo, as well as in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) by treatment with angiotensin II (Ang II, 1 μM) in vitro. We showed that the expression levels of SMURF2 were significantly elevated in cardiac tissues from patients with cardiac hypertrophy and the two experiment models. In NRCMs, SMURF2 knockdown or treatment with a specific SMURF2 inhibitor heclin (8 μM) significantly inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, evidenced by reduced mRNA levels of Anp, Bnp and β-Mhc as well as cell surface. Prophylactic or therapeutic administration of heclin (10 mg·kg Show less
Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common benign vascular tumor in infants, often requiring intervention due to potential functional impairment and cosmetic concerns. Propranolol, a nonselective β-adrener Show more
Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common benign vascular tumor in infants, often requiring intervention due to potential functional impairment and cosmetic concerns. Propranolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor blocker, is the first-line therapy for IH, yet its mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. This prospective study investigated the systemic angiogenic protein profile changes in response to propranolol in 14 treatment-naïve IH infants compared to 14 healthy controls using antibody array analysis. We identified twenty-six angiogenic proteins significantly downregulated in pretreatment IH patients compared to healthy controls. After 3 months of propranolol treatment, six proteins including HB-EGF, TGFα, ANGPTL4, Follistatin, Tie-1 and PLGF were significantly upregulated. Bioinformatic enrichment analysis revealed that these proteins are involved in key biological processes and signaling pathways, including epithelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis regulation, VEGF signaling, ERBB-EGFR axis, Ras-MAPK, and PI3K-Akt pathways. These results suggest that propranolol treatment is associated with a rebalancing of dysregulated angiogenic proteins in IH, through modulating both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors to rebalance vascular homeostasis. Our study provides novel insights into the systems-level pharmacological actions of propranolol and proposes potential biomarkers for treatment response evaluation. Show less
Women diagnosed with PCOS exhibit a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aims to assess risk factors of OSA among patients with PCOS. This retrospective study included 126 pati Show more
Women diagnosed with PCOS exhibit a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aims to assess risk factors of OSA among patients with PCOS. This retrospective study included 126 patients with PCOS who were categorized into an OSA group (n = 30) and a non-OSA group (n = 96) according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). A control group comprised 72 patients without PCOS who presented during the same period for infertility due to fallopian tube, pelvic, or male factors. Patients with PCOS A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze independent risk factors for OSA in the PCOS group. Patients with PCOS had significantly higher AHI values and elevated values for various physical indicators, including body mass index (BMI) and neck, waist, and hip circumferences; prolactin (PRL); fasting plasma glucose (FPG); insulin (FINS); triglycerides (TG); homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); 2-hour postprandial glucose (2-hPG) and insulin (2-hINS); AHI; and oxygen desaturation index (ODI). Conversely, levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO OSA in PCOS patients is linked to metabolic indicators. High neck circumference and BMI levels were independent risk factors, highlighting the need for OSA in routine PCOS screening, particularly in the context of metabolic dysregulation. Show less
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative non-invasive therapy for human cancer treatment. The significance of apoptosis-related genes (ARGs) in the prognosis of bladder cancer (BLCA) has gradually Show more
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative non-invasive therapy for human cancer treatment. The significance of apoptosis-related genes (ARGs) in the prognosis of bladder cancer (BLCA) has gradually emerged. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prognostic significance and pathogenesis of PDT related genes (PDTRGs)-ARGs in BLCA cases. Based on the BLCA data in TCGA, PDTRGs-ARGs with prognostic value in BLCA patients were screened. Subsequently, the prognostic value and diagnostic performance of all candidate genes were evaluated by univariate Cox regression analysis and ROC curves. Then, GSEA, GSVA and immune microenvironment analysis were conducted based on candidate genes. Finally, the molecular mechanisms of key candidate genes in BLCA patients were initially explored by qRT-PCR, CCK-8 analysis, Transwell Assay and Western Blotting. A total of 5 ARGs-PDTRGs (EMP1, FGFR1, PLPPR4, JUN, TNFRSF25) were screened as prognostic biomarkers for BLCA. Survival analysis revealed significant differences in overall survival of the five prognostic biomarkers in the high/low expression groups. ROC curve analysis revealed that the five prognostic biomarkers had strong prognostic predictive ability. QRT-PCR proved that the expression of EMP1, FGFR1, PLPPR4 and JUN was obviously reduced, while TNFRSF25 was markedly increased in BLCA tissue samples and cell lines. The following research confirmed that FGFR1 inhibited the biological process of T24 cells by activating cGMP-PKG pathway. Five ARGs-PDTRGs (EMP1, FGFR1, PLPPR4, JUN, TNFRSF25) were screened as prognostic biomarkers for BLCA. Among them, FGFR1 inhibits the biological process of T24 cells via activating cGMP-PKG pathway. Show less
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) exhibit the highest degree of heritability among all human tumors, yet the genetics of urinary bladder paragangliomas (UBPGLs) remains poorly understood. T Show more
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) exhibit the highest degree of heritability among all human tumors, yet the genetics of urinary bladder paragangliomas (UBPGLs) remains poorly understood. The present study aims to examine the characteristics of a cohort of Chinese patients with UBPGLs, focusing particularly on genetics. The study included 70 Chinese patients with UBPGLs from 15 centers in China, 240 patients with non-head and neck PGLs (non-HNPGLs) outside the urine bladder, and 16 Caucasian patients with UBPGLs. Tumor DNA samples were sequenced by next generation sequencing. All identified pathogenic variants (PVs) were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Among the 70 Chinese patients, PVs were identified in 38 cases: 23 in cluster 1 A (13 SDHB, 1 SDHD, 1 SDHA, 4 IDH1, 2 SLC25A11, and 2 FH), 4 in cluster 1B (3 EPAS1 and 1 EGLN1), and 11 in cluster 2 genes (7 HRAS, 1 FGFR1, 2 NF1, and 1 H3F3A). Compared with other non-HNPGLs, UBPGLs had more PVs in cluster 1 A genes (32.9% vs. 14.2%, p < 0.001), but fewer in cluster 1B (5.7% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.002) and cluster 2 genes (15.7% vs. 42.5%, p < 0.001). PVs in SDHB (18.6%) was the most common in Chinese patients with UBPGLs, followed by HRAS (10.0%). No PVs was found in 45.7% of all UBPGLs. PVs in HRAS, SLC25A11, EPAS1, and FH were also identified in Caucasians with UBPGLs. Chinese patients with UBPGLs have a diverse genetic profile. PVs in cluster 1 A genes underlie nearly 1/3 of patients, highlighting the importance of genetic testing. Diverse germline and somatic PVs are also present in Caucasian patients with UBPGLs. Show less
Despite the high morbidity and mortality, the effective therapies for heart failure with preserved fraction (HFpEF) are limited as the poor understand of its pathophysiological basis. This study was a Show more
Despite the high morbidity and mortality, the effective therapies for heart failure with preserved fraction (HFpEF) are limited as the poor understand of its pathophysiological basis. This study was aimed to characterize the cellular heterogeneity and potential mechanisms of HFpEF at single-cell resolution. An HFpEF mouse model was induced by a high-fat diet with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Cells from the hearts were subjected to single-cell sequencing. The key protein expression was measured with Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. In HFpEF hearts, myocardial fibroblasts exhibited higher levels of fibrosis. Furthermore, an increased number of fibroblasts differentiated into high-metabolism and high-fibrosis phenotypes. The expression levels of genes encoding certain pro-angiogenic secreted proteins were decreased in the HFpEF group, as confirmed by bulk RNA sequencing. Additionally, the proportion of the endothelial cell (EC) lineages in the HFpEF group was significantly downregulated, with low angiogenesis and high apoptosis phenotypes observed in these EC lineages. Interestingly, the fibroblasts in the HFpEF heart might cross-link with the EC lineages via over-secretion of ANGPTL4, thus displaying an anti-angiogenic function. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining then revealed the downregulation of vascular density and upregulation of ANGPTL4 expression in HFpEF hearts. Finally, we predicted ANGPTL4as a potential druggable target using DrugnomeAI. In conclusion, this study comprehensively characterized the angiogenesis impairment in HFpEF hearts at single-cell resolution and proposed that ANGPTL4 secretion by fibroblasts may be a potential mechanism underlying this angiogenic abnormality. Show less
Inhibition of branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BDK or BCKDK), a negative regulator of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, is hypothesized to treat cardio-metabolic diseases. From Show more
Inhibition of branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BDK or BCKDK), a negative regulator of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, is hypothesized to treat cardio-metabolic diseases. From a starting point with potential idiosyncratic toxicity risk, modification to a benzothiophene core and discovery of a cryptic pocket allowed for improved potency with 3-aryl substitution to arrive at PF-07328948, which was largely devoid of protein covalent binding liability. This BDK inhibitor was shown also to be a BDK degrader in cells and in vivo rodent studies. Plasma biomarkers, including BCAAs and branched-chain ketoacids (BCKAs), were lowered in vivo with enhanced pharmacodynamic effect upon chronic dosing due to BDK degradation. This molecule improves metabolic and heart failure end points in rodent models. PF-07328948 is the first known selective BDK inhibitor candidate to be examined in clinical studies, with Phase 1 single ascending dose data showing good tolerability and a pharmacokinetic profile commensurate with once-daily dosing. Show less
Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) infection is a major cause of coccidiosis in chickens, leading to significant economic losses in the poultry industry due to its impact on the cecum. This study presents a Show more
Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) infection is a major cause of coccidiosis in chickens, leading to significant economic losses in the poultry industry due to its impact on the cecum. This study presents a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the chicken cecal epithelium by generating 7,394 cells using 10X Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We identified 13 distinct cell types, including key immune and epithelial populations, and characterized their gene expression profiles and cell-cell communication networks. Integration of this single-cell data with bulk RNA-seq data from E. tenella-infected chickens revealed significant alterations in cell type composition and state, particularly a marked decrease in APOB Show less
To evaluate potential genetic causal relationships between chronic pain subtypes like migraine and multi-site chronic pain (MCP) and their impact on breast cancer occurrence and survival rates. The as Show more
To evaluate potential genetic causal relationships between chronic pain subtypes like migraine and multi-site chronic pain (MCP) and their impact on breast cancer occurrence and survival rates. The association between chronic pain and breast cancer was reported before, yet the causal nature between them remained uncertain. Data on chronic pain and breast cancer were sourced from publicly available European genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. Genetic association between chronic pain and breast cancer phenotypes was assessed using linkage disequilibrium genetic correlation (LDSC). Colocalization analysis further identified potential shared causal variation. Based on Inverse variance weighted method, 2-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) was conducted to investigate causal associations between migraine, MCP, and breast cancer or breast cancer survival. Sensitive analysis was conducted to ensure the absence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. LDSC demonstrated significant genetic correlations between migraine and both estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) and overall breast cancer, while also revealing a notable genetic association between MCP and ER- and ER+ breast cancer, as well as overall breast cancer. Through colocalization analysis, potential involvement of rs2183271, located in MLLT10 gene, in regulating MCP and ER+ breast cancer was identified. MR analysis revealed the association between migraine and elevated risk of ER- breast cancer (IVW, P = 4.95 × 10 Our results provided new insights into the role of migraine and MCP in breast cancer, paving the way for targeted preventive strategies and future investigations. Show less
The precise involvement of Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 3-Like Protein (GNL3L) in lung cancer progression and invasion remains unclear. In this study, we explored the impact and underlying Show more
The precise involvement of Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 3-Like Protein (GNL3L) in lung cancer progression and invasion remains unclear. In this study, we explored the impact and underlying mechanisms of GNL3L on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting GNL3L. Inhibition of GNL3L expression led to a notable decrease in the in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Meanwhile, GNL3L silencing could significantly reduce the tumor volume of the nude mice and improve the outcomes of tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Additionally, inhibition of GNL3L expression dramatically suppressed NF-κB activation and Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression. Overexpression of Slug or treatment of the GNL3L-deficient cells with NF-κB activator can partially restore the growth suppressed by GNL3L deficiency, and combined treatment with Slug overexpression and NF-κB activator could totally restore the suppressed cell growth caused by GNL3L deficiency. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP2 or MMP9 could partially enhance the reduced migration and invasion caused by GNL3L deficiency, and this GNL3L-deficiency-caused suppression of migration and invasion can be totally restored by the overexpression of MMP2 and MMP9 together. These results strongly indicated that GNL3L has the capability to activate the NF-κB and increase Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression, which in turn could stimulate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. NF-κB activation and Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression enhanced by GNL3L, leading to the promotion of proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells, indicating the therapeutic implications and potential significance of these pathways in the progression and invasion of NSCLCs that overexpress GNL3L protein. Show less
Oxymatrine is an alkaloid with the property of immunomodulation. Recent studies have demonstrated that oxymatrine inhibits experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple Show more
Oxymatrine is an alkaloid with the property of immunomodulation. Recent studies have demonstrated that oxymatrine inhibits experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), by promoting the production of interferon-β (IFN-β). However, the mechanism through which oxymatrine regulates the production of IFN-β remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects and related molecular mechanisms of oxymatrine in the treatment of EAE through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Oxymatrine alleviated neurological dysfunction, demyelination, and inflammation in EAE mice. It reduced microglia/macrophage infiltration and polarization, lowered pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (iNOS, TNF-α), and enhanced the expression of IL-10 and IL-27. Additionally, oxymatrine upregulated the STING/TBK1/IRF3 signaling pathway in EAE mice, promoting IFN-β production by microglia. Similarly, in LPS-induced BV2 cells, oxymatrine suppressed inflammatory factors and activated the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway to enhance IFN-β production. Notably, treatment with the STING inhibitor, C176, reversed these effects in both EAE mice and LPS-induced BV2 cells, confirming the pathway's critical role in the mechanism of oxymatrine therapy. Oxymatrine promotes IFN-β production in microglia by upregulating the STING/TBK1/IRF3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating the neurological dysfunction of EAE and reducing pathological and inflammatory events. This study identifies a novel anti-EAE mechanism of oxymatrine: promoting IFN-β production in microglia by activating the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway. However, it lacks clinical sample verification. If validated later, oxymatrine may provide a more economical, convenient endogenous IFN-β induction regimen for MS patients. Show less
Hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by increased triglyceride (TG) concentrations, is considered the most important risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic c Show more
Hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by increased triglyceride (TG) concentrations, is considered the most important risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recently, the angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL) family, which comprises ANGPTL1 to ANGPTL8, was confirmed to play an important role in modulating lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. However, understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains limited. Importantly, emerging evidence has linked several transcriptional and post-transcriptional factors to the potential alteration of TG metabolism via ANGPTL proteins. This review focused on the similarities and differences in the expression, structural features, and modulatory profile of three ANGPTLs: ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and ANGPTL8. In addition, the regulatory functions of those three ANGPTLs in modulating LPL were summarized to provide potential therapeutic and clinical strategies for hypertriglyceridemia and its related cardiometabolic disorders. Show less
Social interaction with others is essential to life. Although social isolation and loneliness have been implicated as increased risks of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases and all-cause morta Show more
Social interaction with others is essential to life. Although social isolation and loneliness have been implicated as increased risks of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which social connection maintains cardiometabolic and cardiovascular health remain largely unresolved. To investigate how social connection protects against cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis-prone, high-fat diet-fed These results identify a novel brain-liver axis that links sociality to hepatic lipid metabolism, thus proposing a potential therapeutic strategy for loneliness-associated atherosclerosis progression. Show less