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Tick infestation is one of the main challenges in tropical beef cattle production, leading to significant economic losses. Knowledge of the molecular factors underlying natural tick resistance in cattle contributes to genetic selection through the identification of biomarkers that can be used to accurately identify animals resistant to ticks. Although several genes associated with resistance to ticks have been identified, the molecular mechanisms underlying tick resistance are yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the biological processes, pathways, and key proteins involved in the resistance to the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in a tropically adapted beef cattle breed. Tick resistance was evaluated in 162 Caracu cows. Blood samples were collected from a subset of 16 extreme animals, including eight with a high tick load (SUS) and eight with a low tick load (RES), for proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS. A total of 172 and 34 proteins were exclusively identified in plasma samples from the SUS and RES groups, respectively. In addition, 14,034 proteins were detected in the blood plasma of both groups, of which 51 and 101 proteins were significantly increased in plasma samples of the SUS and RES groups, respectively. Among the top 20 proteins with the highest absolute log-fold change values, those encoded by the RNASE1, TNS2, NOXO1, ZNRF3, APOA4, KMT2B, RPS6KA5, PON1, C4BPA, SETD2, HP, TMEM63A, MAST2, and SETD1B genes were highlighted based on their functions that may contribute to a response to tick infestation. Functional enrichment analysis revealed 36 biological processes, 35 molecular functions, and 16 pathways to be significant (P < 0.05), highlighting those related to hemostasis, vesicular transport, cell proliferation and migration, calcium, actin, lipids, scavenger receptors, hydrogen peroxide, tyrosine, and insulin-like growth factor, which may contribute to tick resistance. In addition, PPI network analysis revealed several proteins involved in complement and coagulation systems, hematopoiesis, and immune response as important nodes, based on their centrality and edges. The identification of differentially abundant proteins between RES and SUS animals, as well as their relationships and roles in key biological processes and molecular pathways detected, contribute to improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying tick resistance in naturally adapted cattle breeds. Furthermore, the differentially abundant proteins detected in this study are potential biomarkers for the response to R. microplus infestation. Show less

The escalating prevalence of diabetes-depression comorbidity (DDC) necessitates novel therapies targeting shared pathophysiological pathways, which needs to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms. This study elucidates the therapeutic potential of chrysophanol, a natural anthraquinone, in streptozotocin (STZ) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced DDC rat model. Behavioral assessments, biochemical profiling, and integrated multi-omics analyses (RNA-seq and proteomics) were employed to decipher underlying mechanisms. Successful model establishment was confirmed by prolonged immobility time in the tail suspension test (p < 0.01) and reduced general health scores. Chrysophanol treatment restored serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels (p < 0.01) and ameliorated dyslipidemia (total cholesterol: p < 0.05). RNA-seq results revealed that chrysophanol regulated expression of hundreds of genes, which were enriched in synaptic vesicle cycling (downregulation of Sh3gl2, Camk5), CNS myelination, and axonal ensheathment pathways. Proteomic profile demonstrated the suppression of neurodegenerative markers and activation of axonal regeneration pathways. Notably, chrysophanol downregulated synaptic proteins associated with leukocyte chemotaxis (Pla2g7, Mdk) and glutamatergic synapses (Itpr2, Slc1a1) while upregulated axonal development, regeneration, and PPARγ signaling proteins (Apoa4, Apoa1, Apod), suggesting anti-inflammatory effects and disease-modifying potential through synaptic/axonal regulation. Integrated multi-omics identified overlapping targets linked to neuronal repair (Ankrd27) and iron metabolism (Fth1). These findings suggest chrysophanol as a multitarget agent alleviating DDC via synergistic restoration of neuroplasticity, suppression of neuroinflammation, and rebalancing of metabolic homeostasis, implying a mechanistic foundation for developing chrysophanol-based therapies of diabetes-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Show less

Obesity-driven inflammation disrupts gut barrier integrity and promotes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Emerging evidence highlights gut hormones-including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4)-as key regulators of metabolism and mucosal immunity. This review outlines known mechanisms and explores therapeutic prospects in IBD. GLP-1 improves glycemic control, induces weight loss, and preserves intestinal barrier function, while GLP-2 enhances epithelial repair and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in animal models of colitis. GIP facilitates lipid clearance, enhances insulin sensitivity, and limits systemic inflammation. PYY and CCK slow gastric emptying, suppress appetite, and attenuate colonic inflammation via neural pathways. APOA4 regulates lipid transport, increases energy expenditure, and exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that alleviate experimental colitis. Synergistic interactions-such as GLP-1/PYY co-administration, PYY-stimulated APOA4 production, and APOA4-enhanced CCK activity-suggest that multi-hormone combinations may offer amplified therapeutic benefits. While preclinical data are promising, clinical evidence supporting gut hormone therapies in IBD remains limited. Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists improve metabolic and inflammatory parameters, but in clinical use, they are associated with gastrointestinal side effects that warrant further investigation. Future research should evaluate combination therapies in preclinical IBD models, elucidate shared neural and receptor-mediated pathways, and define optimal strategies for applying gut hormone synergy in human IBD. These efforts may uncover safer, metabolically tailored treatments for IBD, particularly in patients with coexisting obesity or metabolic dysfunction. Show less

Canine chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CCIE) is a group of intestinal inflammatory conditions causing chronic or relapsing gastrointestinal symptoms. Accurate diagnosis, treatment and monitoring remain challenging, necessitating novel diagnostic tools. This study aims to investigate the plasma proteome of ten dogs with histologically confirmed CCIE during active disease and clinical remission compared to ten healthy controls. We utilized surplus lithium-heparin plasma and performed label-free quantification mass spectrometry. A significant upregulation of complement factor properdin (CFP) during disease was noted, pointing toward microbial-driven intestinal inflammation. During remission, CFP levels remained elevated compared to controls, indicating persistent subclinical inflammation. We report hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFAC) as a novel canine plasma protein associated with decreased risk for CCIE and as a potential therapeutic target, similarly, as reported in humans. Linear regression analysis revealed that disease severity was negatively correlated to transcortin/SERPINA6, as negative acute phase protein. Proteins involved in inflammation and tissue repair, such as inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4, (ITIH4), and anti-inflammatory molecules like apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4), were significantly upregulated in remission. Conversely, proteins related to DNA remodeling and methylation, including histone H2B and carboxypeptidase N subunit 2 (CPN2), were downregulated during remission. Gene ontology analysis revealed altered pathways linked to immune response and coagulation. In CCIE patients we identified for the first time markers such as properdin for intestinal inflammation, while transcortin and HGFAC may serve as markers for remission. Future studies with larger cohorts are needed to validate the use of these proteins for monitoring disease progression and remission and refine their clinical applicability. Show less

The dysregulation of hepatic lipid metabolism is closely associated with dyslipidemia. Previous research suggested that Hepatic Data regarding circulating lipid traits and hepatic Hepatic This study identifies 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-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

Genome-wide association studies have linked millions of genetic variants to biomedical phenotypes, but their utility has been limited by lack of mechanistic understanding and widespread epistatic interactions. Recently, Transformer models have emerged as a powerful machine learning architecture with potential to address these and other challenges. Accordingly, here we introduce the Genotype-to-Phenotype Transformer (G2PT), a framework for modeling hierarchical information flow among variants, genes, multigenic systems, and phenotypes. As proof-of-concept, we use G2PT to model the genetics of TG/HDL (triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), an indicator of metabolic health. G2PT predicts this trait via attention to 1,395 variants underlying at least 20 systems, including immune response and cholesterol transport, with accuracy exceeding state-of-the-art. It implicates 40 epistatic interactions, including epistasis between Show less

Global warming exacerbates heatstroke, increasing its severity and associated health risks, including fatal kidney damage. Predicting post-heatstroke organ injury remains difficult, delaying timely medical intervention. This study aims to identify potential blood biomarkers that reflect organ stress and recovery status following heatstroke. Plasma samples (n = 12) from clinically diagnosed classical (non-exertional) heatstroke patients were collected at diagnosis and recovery. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to analyze protein expression, identifying 359 protein spots. Selected proteins showing differential expression were validated by Western blotting. Here, five proteins-alpha-1 antitrypsin, alpha-1 microglobulin/bikunin precursor, apolipoprotein A-IV, clusterin, and complement component 2-show significant changes between the two timepoints. These proteins are linked to inflammatory, coagulation, and lipid metabolism pathways. Alpha-1 antitrypsin, alpha-1 microglobulin, and complement component 2 may reflect the resolution of inflammation, while apolipoprotein A-IV and clusterin indicate renal stress. The alpha-1 microglobulin-IgA complex may exert anti-inflammatory effects. Complement component 2, an initiator of the complement cascade, has not been previously reported to be associated with heat stress. The findings suggest that these proteins may serve as blood biomarkers to assess heatstroke severity and monitor recovery. Their clinical application could improve early detection of organ damage and guide intervention strategies. Show less

Pork serves as a significant meat commodity, with intramuscular fat (IMF) content being a critical determinant of its quality. However, the epigenetic mechanism of porcine IMF deposition is still unclear. This study integrated proteomics and lactylation profiles from the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscles of pigs with extremely high (IMF_H) and extremely low (IMF_L) IMF content to clarify the association between lactylation and porcine fat deposition. Furthermore, an intramuscular preadipocyte induction and differentiation model was conducted to elucidate the changes in lactylation during adipocyte differentiation. Finally, the regulatory role of lactylation in adipocyte differentiation was explored by modulating lactate production during the induction and differentiation of preadipocytes. Proteomic analysis revealed significantly increased expression of key lipid metabolism related proteins (FASN, APOA4, FABP4, ACLY, PLIN1) in IMF_H pig muscle tissues compared with IMF_L tissues, along with substantial activation of lipid metabolism pathways. Lactylation profiling identified 95 differential lysine sites across 56 proteins, with most showing lower lactylation levels in the IMF_H group. The integrative omics analysis revealed differences in lactylation profiles in porcine LT tissues with varying efficiencies of IMF deposition, highlighted PGK1, PKM, and PYGM as central lactylation-modified proteins in porcine fat deposition regulation. Further in vitro study proved that lactate-mediated lactylation inhibited adipogenic differentiation of porcine intramuscular preadipocytes through PPARγ signaling pathway. This study clarified the changes in the lactylation profile in porcine LT tissues with varying efficiencies of IMF deposition, and demonstrated that lactate-mediated lactylation inhibits the PPARγ signaling pathway and the adipogenic differentiation of porcine intramuscular preadipocyte. This study provided a new insight to understanding the epigenetic regulation mechanisms of lipid deposition in pigs. Show less

Early recognition of a risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a global challenge, and blood proteomic markers are of particular interest for wide-scale diagnostic use. Quantitative multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach demonstrates good reproducibility in the characteristic changes in the levels of reported candidate biomarkers (CBs) in different cohorts in AD. Following up on our previous study, we performed a joint analysis of 331 blood plasma samples from two different clinical cohorts of participants, comprising a total of 95 samples from patients with AD, 136 samples from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 100 samples from controls. The obtained results confirm the significance of 37 CBs. A logistic regression-based algorithm was used to build protein classifiers, and a total of 21 important proteins were selected, 13 of which (ORM1, APOA4, LBP, HP, FN1, BCHE, APOE, PZP, A1BG, TF, SERPINA7, TTR, and F12) formed a universal panel that demonstrated strong classification performance in distinguishing AD patients from controls (ROC-AUC = 0.90) and in separating stable and progressing patients with MCI (ROC-AUC = 0.81). Overall, the analysis confirms the high potential of the MRM method for validating CBs in independent cohorts. Show less

Obesity-induced metabolic inflammation is a key driver of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with immune dysregulation, particularly among lymphocytes, contributing to early disease pathology. To explore the role of apolipoprotein A4 (Apoa4) in regulating immune cell metabolism and function, we establish high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) models using wild-type and Show less

The seven-transmembrane (7TM) receptors are the largest superfamily of cell-surface receptors and are involved in various physiological processes of vertebrate species. In our previous study, a new chicken 7TM receptor (Ch-7TM) was discovered in mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) derived from chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To explore the functions of Ch-7TM, RNA interference (RNAi) was used to silence the Ch-7TM messenger RNA (mRNA) of MNPs, using small interfering RNA (siRNA) designed with BLOCK-iT™ RNAi Designer. Herein we demonstrated that silencing of the Ch-7TM mRNA induced apoptosis of MNPs, suggesting that Ch-7TM contributed to the survival of MNPs. Moreover, chicken sera could inhibit the Ch-7TM-silencing-induced apoptosis in MNPs. The survival factor presented in fraction 16 (F16) of chicken sera was highly protective against the Ch-7TM-silencing-induced apoptosis in MNPs. The proteins from F16 were identified as vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV), which might be potential candidates for survival factors. The protective effect of vitamin D and ApoA-IV indicated that Ch-7TM might involve the intracellular oxidation-reduction balance, although more evidence is needed to confirm this function. The siRNA screening serves as an excellent model for studying the functions of chicken MNPs receptors. Show less

Despite the known impacts of weaning on animal health, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, particularly how psychological and nutritional stress differentially affect gut health and immune function over time. This study hypothesized that early weaning exerts distinct short- and long-term effects on lamb stress physiology, immunity, and gut health, mediated by specific molecular pathways. Twelve pairs of full-sibling male Hu sheep lambs were assigned to control (CON) or early-weaned (EW) groups. Plasma stress/immune markers were dynamically monitored, and intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, apoptosis, and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed at 5 and 28 days post-weaning. Early weaning triggered transient psychological stress, elevating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones (cortisol, catecholamines) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) within 1 day ( Show less

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of APOA4, CEACAM1, CD147, DJ-1/PARK7, Gamma-synuclein, S100A1, and Stathmin-1 in urothelial carcinoma and establish optimal immunohistochemical cutoffs for their use as diagnostic markers. This cross-sectional study included 141 histologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma cases and controls. Immunohistochemical staining was optimized for each biomarker, and semiquantitative scoring was applied. Diagnostic validity was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, comparing sensitivity and specificity across several cutoffs and biomarker panels. Among seven biomarkers, APOA4, DJ-1/PARK7, Gamma-synuclein, and Stathmin-1 demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (≥80% sensitivity and specificity). Using an Allred score ≤2 as a cutoff, the sensitivity/specificity were as follows: APOA4, 96%/100%; DJ-1/PARK7, 97%/94%; Gamma-synuclein, 98%/84%; and Stathmin-1, 98%/90%. A combined panel of these four biomarkers achieved near-perfect diagnostic performance, reaching almost 100% sensitivity and specificity. A biomarker panel comprising Stathmin-1, DJ-1/PARK7, Gamma-synuclein, and APOA4 reliably distinguished urothelial carcinoma from benign urothelium. These markers, when integrated with cytology, could enhance the diagnostic precision and reduce dependence on invasive cystoscopy. The proposed cutoffs (10%-20% positive cells or Allred score ≤2) offer clinically actionable threshold for histopathological practice. Show less

This study evaluated the protective effects of naringin (NG) against intestinal injury in 7-day-old piglets infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Eighteen piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large, body weight = 2.58 ± 0.05 kg) were divided into three treatment groups based on similar body weights and equal numbers of males and females: the blank control group (CON group), the PEDV infection group (PEDV group), and the NG intervention + PEDV infection group (NG + PEDV group) ( Show less

The PromarkerD test accurately predicts diabetic kidney disease. We aimed to determine whether PromarkerD and/or its constituent biomarkers would also identify an increased risk of distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSPN) complicating type 2 diabetes (T2D). We selected 160 community-based adults without baseline DSPN (mean age 69 years, 56% males), 80 of whom were free of DSPN after four years and 80 who developed DSN based on the vibration perception threshold. Baseline plasma apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA4), CD5 antigen-like protein (CD5L) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IBP3) concentrations were measured and PromarkerD risk scores were generated. Logistic regression modelling assessed associations between PromarkerD risk and its component proteins and incident DSPN. At Year 4, 77 of 151 with valid data (51%) had developed DSPN. The PromarkerD area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.53 (95% CI 0.43-0.62). The odds ratio for the PromarkerD score for identifying incident DSPN was 0.97 (95% CI 0.82-1.16, P = 0.76), with similar non-significant results for plasma ApoA4, CD5L, and IBP3. PromarkerD and its constituent protein concentrations, each with some preclinical or epidemiological evidence of an association with DSPN, did not predict incident DSPN over 4 years of follow-up. These data support microangiopathy-specific pathophysiological mechanisms in T2D. Show less

Variants linked to the risk of ischemic stroke have been discovered through genome-wide association studies (GWASs). These variations frequently have little consequences that lack apparent biological significance. Hence, these findings demonstrate that exome sequencing can be highly relevant to stroke, even though stroke is a complex phenotype with various diseases and risk factors. In this case-control investigation, we used ARMS genotyping to investigate the distribution of polymorphic variations in genes associated with stroke susceptibility. In addition to examine the novel gene variations associated with ischemic stroke we utilized the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Results identified 11 novel gene variants in the GSTT4 gene by targeted whole-exome sequencing, including one deletion GSTT4p.Asn232LysfsTer6, one insertion c.688₆₈₉insCG, and 9 SNVs c.699 T > C, c.701C > G, c.708G > T, c.710 T > G, c.712A > G, c.712A > G, c.718A > T, c.719G > A, c.721A > T, c.722G > T in the ischemic stroke patients. We also identified several rare, intermediate, and most common gene variants in cholesterol associated genes LDLR, LDLRAD2, LDLRAD3, APOA2, APOA3, APOA4, APOA5, and PCSK9. Also, several common gene variants were reported in MTHFR, KLF14, eNOS3, and ACE by whole-exome sequencing. Furthermore, the eNOS3-GG and eNOS3-GT genotypes were associated with susceptibility to ischemic stroke (OR = 1.95, This case-control study identified 11 novel GSTT4 variants and several known polymorphisms associated with ischemic stroke risk in Saudi patients. These findings highlight population-specific genetic factors that warrant further functional and large-scale validation. Show less

Insulin resistance (IR) contributes to atherogenic dyslipidemia and elevated ASCVD risk. Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1)-associated lipoproteins have diverse anti-atherogenic functions, but it is unclear whether IR drives adverse changes in their proteomic composition. We hypothesized that IR is associated with an atherogenic ApoA1 proteome and that insulin-sensitizing interventions would improve its composition. We studied 861 participants without diabetes (age 47 ± 12 years, 65.5% female). IR was directly measured using the steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration via the insulin suppression test. ApoA1-associated proteins were quantified by mass spectrometry. A subset underwent interventions for 3 months (N total 108): pioglitazone, PIO Show less

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram-negative bacteria initially induces the pro-inflammatory cytokines storm and causes inflammatory cascade responses. However, the LPS with higher dosage induced duodenal, cecal, hepatic, and cardiac inflammation remains elusive. Specific pathogen-free chicken embryos (n = 72) were allocated to the control, LPS groups (10 μg, 24 μg, 50 μg, 100 μg, 170 μg/egg, respectively). Fifteen day old embryonated eggs were injected abovementioned solutions via the allantoic cavity by disposable syringes. On embryonic day 19, the tissues of the embryos were collected for histopathology, RNA extraction, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry investigation. The results demonstrated that there was inflammatory responses (heterophils infiltration or macrophages accumulation) presented in the duodena, ceca, livers, and hearts after LPS induction. The duodenal mRNA expressions of inflammatory-associated mediators (TLR4, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP9, MMP3, p38, or NF-κB1) were significantly upregulated after LPS induction (10 μg, 24 μg, 50 μg, 100 μg, or 170 μg /egg) when compared with the control group, respectively. Duodenal immunopositivity of TLR4, MMP9, and MMP3 significantly increased following LPS induction (24 μg or 50 μg) compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the hepatic mRNA expressions of inflammatory-associated factors (IFNγ, MMP3, IL-1β, IL-10, TNFα, IL-8, or NF-κB1) significantly increased after LPS induction (10 μg, 24 μg, 50 μg, 100 μg, or 170 μg /egg) when compared with the control group, respectively. Additionally, cardiac mRNA expression of TLR4, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, MMP3, MMP9, and TNFα was significantly increased in all five LPS groups compared to the control group. Cardiac protein expressions of TLR4 or IFNγ significantly increased when compared 100 μg LPS group with the control group. Duodenal and cecal mRNA expressions of programmed cell death-related factors presented irregular. The mRNA expression of hepatic pyroptosis-associated gene AMPKα2, Beclin-1, Bcl-2, CASP1, or CASP12 after LPS induction (10 μg, 24 μg, or 50 μg/egg) increased when compared with the control group. Furthermore, the cardiac mRNA expressions of pyroptosis-related gene CASP1 and CASP12 in five LPS groups increased when compared with the control group. Cardiac autophagy-related gene Bcl-2, ATG5, or LC3B enhanced in LPS groups (10 μg, 50 μg, or 100 μg/egg) when compared with the control group, whereas LC3A, CASP1, or Drp1 mRNA expression in five LPS groups reduced when compared with the control group, respectively. The mRNA expressions of duodenal mucosal barrier function-associated mediators Claudin 1 and PEPT1 were upregulated after LPS induction (10 μg or 50 μg/egg) when compared five LPS groups with the control group, respectively; nevertheless, duodenal Mucin 2 and SGLT1 mRNA expression reduced in four groups (24 μg, 50 μg, 100 μg, or 170μg /egg) when compared with the control group, as well as cecal mRNA expressions of Mucin 2, occludin, SGLT1.The mRNA expressions of liver permeability-related gene (claudin 1 and occludin) increased in the five groups when compared with the control group, as well as cardiac permeability and energy metabolism-related gene (AMPKα2, APOA4, PPARα, SGLT, and claudin1). In conclusion, LPS can induce duodenal, hepatic and cardiac inflammation, initiate energy deficiency, autophagy, programmed cell death, enhanced intestinal mucous barrier function, tight junction, and permeability in chicken embryos. Show less

The aim of the study was to identify proteomic signatures from the serum of horses affected by simple obstructive intestinal colic to characterize the pathological process and to assess potential biomarkers for early diagnosis. Seven horses with obstructive colic received venous blood samples for determination of standard hematobiochemical, inflammatory, and lipid profiles at the time of initial clinical examination and after conservative therapy upon recovery. Proteomic profiling was also performed on all samples by means of a within-group analysis (sick horses at discharge vs. sick horses at admission). A validation of expression levels was performed by the Multiple Reaction Monitoring approach. In the within-group comparison, 70 proteins showed a significant difference; The proteins involved in the immune response (C2, FC 2.41; CFB, FC 3.41; HPX, FC 7.36; LTF, FC -0.55; PSMA7, FC-0.55), blood coagulation (VWF, FC -0.54; F13A1, FC-0.54; F13B, FC-0.57; PRDX2, FC-0.41; FBLN1, FC-0.62; KNG1, FC-3.86) and lipid homeostasis (APOA4, FC -0.66; APOA5, FC -0.13; APOE, FC-0.56; LCAT FC-0.58) have changed. The study suggested the coexistence of inflammatory status, the presence of intestinal bacteria that may have triggered the immune response, and hyperlipidemia in horses with obstructive colic. Show less

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) occurs when misfolded proteins deposit as fibrils in the extracellular space of the heart. The fibrillogenic properties of apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoAIV) have been histologically observed and associated with CA pathogenesis. We report the structure of an ApoAIV amyloid from a patient's heart, which coexist amongst transthyretin (TTR) amyloids. These cases of undetected mixed CA highlight the importance of developing broad-spectrum anti-amyloid treatments to improve outcomes in patients. Show less

The potential impact of lifestyle changes such as prolonged fasting on brain health still remains unclear. Neurodegenerative diseases often exhibit two key hallmarks: accumulation of misfolded proteins such as amyloid beta oligomers (AβO) and intracellular cholesterol accumulation. In this study, we investigate how a 36-h fast affects the capacity of isolated high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) to modulate the effects of AβO and excess cholesterol in microglia. HDL from 36-h fasted individuals were significantly more effective in effluxing cholesteryl esters from treated microglia, showing a remarkable 10-fold improvement compared to HDL from the postprandial state. Furthermore, the ability of 36-h fasted HDL to mitigate the reduction of apolipoprotein E secretion in AβO- and cholesterol-loaded microglia surpassed that of postprandial HDL. In exploring differences among HDL parameters from postprandial, overnight fasted, and 36-h fasted individuals, we observed that plasma HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I concentrations remained unchanged. However, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis revealed reduced total HDL particle count, a decrease in the smallest HDL particles (HDL1, 7.4 nm diameter), and an increase in the largest HDL particles (HDL7, 12 nm) after the 36-h fast. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis further found an increase in even larger HDL particles (12-14 nm) in 36-h fasted individuals. Targeted mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and glycoproteomics unveiled a reduction in HDL-associated apolipoprotein A-IV and disialylated apolipoprotein C-III content following the 36-h fast. These findings collectively suggest that prolonged fasting induces structural, compositional, and functional alterations in HDL particles, and influences their capacity to attenuate the effects of excess cholesterol and AβO in microglia. Show less

Diabetes-related chronic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), requiring costly dialysis or kidney transplantation. Existing standard- of-care tests for DKD have several limitations, and an alternative is Promarker®D, a validated plasma biomarker test system that predicts DKD in adults with diabetes up to 4 years before symptoms develop. To enable high-throughput application of PromarkerD, a novel CaptSureTM immunoassay version of the test was developed targeting plasma biomarkers Apolipoprotein A4 (ApoA4) and CD5 antigen-like (CD5L). The analytical performance of the assay was assessed, and clinical samples from 2 independent clinical cohorts (>1700 adults with type 2 diabetes [T2D]) were used for the development and external validation of the DKD predictive test. The PromarkerD test system combined ApoA4 and CD5L concentrations with clinical factors age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to calculate risk scores (0% to 100%) and classify study participants as either at low, moderate, or high risk for future kidney decline. PromarkerD demonstrated reliable analytical performance and provided a high discriminative capability in adults with T2D (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [ROC-AUC]: 0.78 to 0.88) to predict 4-year kidney decline, defined as incident DKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR decline ≥40%, with sensitivity of 75.8% to 85.1% at the moderate-risk cutoff and specificity of >92% at the high-risk cutoff across the two cohorts. The next-generation PromarkerD test system offers a convenient yet highly effective tool for DKD risk assessment. By introducing PromarkerD to standard diabetes care, preventative treatment strategies may be implemented early before permanent kidney function loss occurs. Show less

The treatment and prognosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) depend heavily on the accurate identification of amyloid protein types. Histopathological methods are the most commonly used approach, but often produce inconclusive results. The application of mass spectrometry with laser microdissection mass spectrometry based on non-targeted proteomics in CA diagnosis is gradually being recognized, but it is expensive, time-consuming, and still in the early stages of scientific research applications. This study aims to establish a novel typing method based on targeted semi-quantitative proteomics to address the shortcomings of existing methods. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) myocardial tissue samples from 52 CA and 52 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients were analyzed. A semi-quantitative typing method was developed using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, with laser microdissection mass spectrometry (LMD-MS) serving as the reference standard. A total of 52 peptides were analyzed. Key amyloid-associated proteins (AAPs) -apolipoprotein A-IV (apo A-IV), apolipoprotein E (apo E), and serum amyloid P component (SAP) - showed high diagnostic accuracy, with AUC values of 0.964, 0.999, and 0.923, respectively. Transthyretin (TTR), immunoglobulin light chains- κ (IGL - κ), and IGL-λ were semi-quantified using normalized scores (NS) adjusted for microdissection and peptide peak areas. An NS This targeted semi-quantitative mass spectrometry method has high consistency with non-targeted LMD-MS typing, with an accuracy higher than IHC (100 % vs. 30.8 %), while compensating for the shortcomings of non-targeted proteomics. It provides a practical method for CA typing in routine clinical laboratories and may help identify rare subtypes of amyloidosis in the future. Show less

Cardiometabolic risks affect cognition during aging, yet genetic basis for both remain understudied in Indians. This study constructs an ancestry-matched Indian haplotype reference panel for genotype imputation of 5111 rural Indians. Single-locus, gene-based, conditional genome-wide association analyses are performed on 20 cognitive and 10 cardiometabolic traits, with subsequent follow-up of identified associations through multimodal functional annotation. Furthermore, causal interrelationships between cardiometabolic and cognitive phenotypes by Mendelian randomization are investigated. One novel memory-associated and 17 novel cardiometabolic phenotypes-associated (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], TG:HDL, and visceral adiposity index [VAI]) genome-wide significant loci, and multiple genes are identified. AMIGO1 (delayed-recall) and ZPR1-APOA5 (metabolic syndrome) exhibit distinct haplotype structure compared to other populations. Causal roles of cardiometabolic traits on various cognitive domains are identified via genetic instruments in APOC3-APOA4-APOA5-ZPR1-BUD13 among others. These findings illustrate the impact of cardiometabolic factors on cognition in a rural socioeconomically disadvantaged population, advancing efforts to address health disparities. Our newly constructed ancestry-matched haplotype reference panel gives better genotype imputation accuracy for the Indian population. One and 17 novel genome-wide significant single-loci were identified to be associated with cognitive and cardiometabolic traits, respectively. Several subgenome-wide hits for all phenotypes were identified. Collapsing protein truncating variants (PTVs), there were two genes identified to be associated with cardiometabolic traits at a genome-wide level of significance, correcting for multiple phenotypes tested. Haplotypic differences were identified compared to 1000 Genomes superpopulations for genes influencing delayed recall and metabolic syndrome. Adverse causal roles of cardiometabolic traits on cognition were uncovered via genetic instruments in APOC3-APOA4-APOA5-ZPR1-BUD13, among others, through Mendelian randomization. Show less

Gluconeogenesis is a critical metabolic pathway for maintaining glucose homeostasis, and its dysregulation can lead to glycometabolic disorders. This study aimed to identify hub biomarkers of these disorders to provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. Gene expression profiles from liver tissues of three well-characterized gluconeogenesis mouse models were analyzed to identify commonly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), machine learning techniques, and diagnostic tests on transcriptome data from publicly available datasets of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were employed to assess the clinical relevance of these DEGs. Subsequently, we identified hub biomarkers associated with gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders, investigated potential correlations with immune cell types, and validated expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the mouse models. Only a few common DEGs were observed in gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders across different contributing factors. However, these DEGs were consistently associated with cytokine regulation and oxidative stress (OS). Enrichment analysis highlighted significant alterations in terms related to cytokines and OS. Importantly, osteomodulin ( OMD ), apolipoprotein A4 ( APOA4 ), and insulin like growth factor binding protein 6 ( IGFBP6 ) were identified with potential clinical significance in T2DM patients. These genes demonstrated robust diagnostic performance in T2DM cohorts and were positively correlated with resting dendritic cells. Gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders exhibit considerable heterogeneity, yet changes in cytokine regulation and OS are universally present. OMD , APOA4 , and IGFBP6  may serve as hub biomarkers for gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders. Show less