Valproate use associated with frontal and cerebellar gray matter volume reductions: A voxel-based morphometry study.

Recent morphometric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggested the possibility that valproate (VPA) use is associated with parieto-occipital cortical thinning in patients with heterogeneous epilepsy syndromes. In this study, we examined the effect of VPA on the brain volume using a large number of homogenous patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare regional gray matter (GM) volume between 112 patients currently taking VPA (VPA+ group), 81 patients not currently taking VPA (VPA- group), and 120 healthy subjects (control group). The VPA+ group showed a significant GM volume reduction in the bilateral cerebellum, hippocampus, insula, caudate nucleus, medial frontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex, primary motor/premotor cortex, medial occipital cortex, and anteromedial thalamus, as compared to the control group. The VPA- group showed a significant GM volume reduction in the anteromedial thalamus and right hippocampus/temporal cortex, as compared to the control group. Compared to the VPA- group, the VPA+ group had a significant GM volume reduction in the bilateral cerebellum, primary motor/premotor cortex, and medial frontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex. We have provided evidence that VPA use could result in GM volume reductions in the frontal cortex and cerebellum. Our findings should be acknowledged as a potential confounding factor in morphometric MRI studies that include subjects taking VPA.

SPARC Is Highly Expressed in Young Skin and Promotes Extracellular Matrix Integrity in Fibroblasts via the TGF-ß Signaling Pathway.

The matricellular secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC; also known as osteonectin), is involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, cell-ECM interactions, and bone mineralization. We found decreased SPARC expression in aged skin. Incubating foreskin fibroblasts with recombinant human SPARC led to increased type I collagen production and decreased matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion at the protein and mRNA levels. In a three-dimensional culture of foreskin fibroblasts mimicking the dermis, SPARC significantly increased the synthesis of type I collagen and decreased its degradation. In addition, SPARC also induced receptor-regulated SMAD (R-SMAD) phosphorylation. An inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) receptor type 1 reversed the SPARC-induced increase in type I collagen and decrease in MMP-1, and decreased SPARC-induced R-SMAD phosphorylation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that SPARC modulated expression of genes involved in ECM synthesis and regulation in fibroblasts. RT-qPCR confirmed that a subset of differentially expressed genes is induced by SPARC. These results indicated that SPARC enhanced ECM integrity by activating the TGF-ß signaling pathway in fibroblasts. We inferred that the decline in SPARC expression in aged skin contributes to process of skin aging by negatively affecting ECM integrity in fibroblasts.

LRG1 Promotes ECM Integrity by Activating the TGF-ß Signaling Pathway in Fibroblasts.

Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) mediates skin repair and fibrosis by stimulating the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) signaling pathway. In the present study, we investigated the effect of LRG1 on extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity in fibroblasts, as well as on skin aging. The treatment of dermal fibroblasts with purified recombinant human LRG1 increased type I collagen secretion and decreased matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion. Additionally, LRG1 promoted SMAD2/SMAD3 phosphorylation in a pattern similar to that of TGF-ß1 treatment. An inhibitor of TGF-ß receptor 1 abolished LRG1-induced SMAD2 phosphorylation. RNA sequencing identified "extracellular region", "extracellular space", and "extracellular matrix" as the main Gene Ontology terms in the differentially expressed genes of fibroblasts treated with or without LRG1. LRG1 increased TGF-ß1 mRNA levels, suggesting that LRG1 partially transactivates the expression of TGF-ß1. Furthermore, an increased expression of type I collagen was also observed in fibroblasts grown in three-dimensional cultures on a collagen gel mimicking the dermis. LRG1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in elderly human skin tissues with weakened ECM integrity compared to in young human skin tissues. Taken together, our results suggest that LRG1 could retard skin aging by activating the TGF-ß signaling pathway, increasing ECM deposition while decreasing its degradation.

Mechanism mediated by a noncoding RNA, nc886, in the cytotoxicity of a DNA-reactive compound.

DNA-reactive compounds are harnessed for cancer chemotherapy. Their genotoxic effects are considered to be the main mechanism for the cytotoxicity to date. Because this mechanism preferentially affects actively proliferating cells, it is postulated that the cytotoxicity is specific to cancer cells. Nonetheless, they do harm normal quiescent cells, suggesting that there are other cytotoxic mechanisms to be uncovered. By employing doxorubicin as a representative DNA-reactive compound, we have discovered a cytotoxic mechanism that involves a cellular noncoding RNA (ncRNA) nc886 and protein kinase R (PKR) that is a proapoptotic protein. nc886 is transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol III), binds to PKR, and prevents it from aberrant activation in most normal cells. We have shown here that doxorubicin evicts Pol III from DNA and, thereby, shuts down nc886 transcription. Consequently, the instantaneous depletion of nc886 provokes PKR and leads to apoptosis. In a short-pulse treatment of doxorubicin, these events are the main cause of cytotoxicity preceding the DNA damage response in a 3D culture system as well as the monolayer cultures. By identifying nc886 as a molecular signal for PKR to sense doxorubicin, we have provided an explanation for the conundrum why DNA-damaging drugs can be cytotoxic to quiescent cells that have the competent nc886/PKR pathway.

Effects of Tenascin C on the Integrity of Extracellular Matrix and Skin Aging.

Tenascin C (TNC) is an element of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various tissues, including the skin, and is involved in modulating ECM integrity and cell physiology. Although skin aging is apparently associated with changes in the ECM, little is known about the role of TNC in skin aging. In this study, we found that the Tnc mRNA level was significantly reduced in the skin tissues of aged mice compared with young mice, consistent with reduced TNC protein expression in aged human skin. TNC-large (TNC-L; 330-kDa) and -small (TNC-S; 240-kDa) polypeptides were observed in conditional media from primary dermal fibroblasts. Both recombinant TNC polypeptides, corresponding to TNC-L and TNC-S, increased the expression of type I collagen and reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in fibroblasts. Treatment of fibroblasts with a recombinant TNC polypeptide, corresponding to TNC-L, induced phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3. TNC increased the level of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) mRNA and upregulated the expression of type I collagen by activating the TGF-ß signaling pathway. In addition, TNC also promoted the expression of type I collagen in fibroblasts embedded in a three-dimensional collagen matrix. Our findings suggest that TNC contributes to the integrity of ECM in young skin and to prevention of skin aging.

Dynamic Long-Range Chromatin Interaction Controls Expression of IL-21 in CD4+ T Cells.

IL-21, a pleiotropic cytokine strongly linked with autoimmunity and inflammation, regulates diverse immune responses. IL-21 can be potently induced in CD4(+) T cells by IL-6; however, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of the Il21 gene at the chromatin level. In this study, we demonstrated that a conserved noncoding sequence located 49 kb upstream of the Il21 gene contains an enhancer element that can upregulate Il21 gene expression in a STAT3- and NFAT-dependent manner. Additionally, we identified enhancer-blocking insulator elements in the Il21 locus, which constitutively bind CTCF and cohesin. In naive CD4(+) T cells, these upstream and downstream CTCF binding sites interact with each other to make a DNA loop; however, the Il21 promoter does not interact with any cis-elements in the Il21 locus. In contrast, stimulation of CD4(+) T cells with IL-6 leads to recruitment of STAT3 to the promoter and novel distal enhancer region. This induces dynamic changes in chromatin configuration, bringing the promoter and the regulatory elements in close spatial proximity. The long-range interaction between the promoter and distal enhancer region was dependent on IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway but was disrupted in regulatory T cells, where IL-21 expression was repressed. Thus, our work uncovers a novel topological chromatin framework underlying proper transcriptional regulation of the Il21 gene.

CCCTC-binding factor controls the homeostatic maintenance and migration of Langerhans cells.

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cells (LCs) are skin-resident dendritic cells (DCs) that orchestrate skin immunity. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved DNA-binding protein that regulates higher-order chromatin organization and is involved in various gene regulation processes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to clarify a possible role for CTCF in LC homeostasis and function in vivo. METHODS: We used a conditional gene deletion mouse system to generate DC- and LC-specific CTCF-ablated mice. Short hairpin RNA-mediated RNA interference was used to silence CTCF expression in human monocyte-derived Langerhans cells. DC populations were assessed by using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Gene expression arrays were performed to identify genes regulated by CTCF in LCs. Contact hypersensitivity and epicutaneous sensitization responses were measured to examine the functional significance of CTCF ablation. RESULTS: DC-specific CTCF deletion led to a reduced pool of systemic DCs, with LCs most severely affected. Decreases in epidermal LC numbers were specifically associated with self-turnover defects. Interestingly, CTCF-deficient LCs demonstrated impaired migration out of the epidermis. Whole-transcriptome analyses revealed that genes that promoted cell adhesion were highly expressed, but CCR7 was downregulated in CTCF-depleted LCs. Hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity responses were more sustained in LC-specific CTCF-deficient mice, whereas epicutaneous sensitization to protein antigen was attenuated, indicating that CTCF-dependent LC homeostasis is required for optimal immune function of LCs in a context-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our results show that CTCF positively regulates the homeostatic pool and the efficient emigration of LCs, which are required for modulating the functional immune network of the skin.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor, CG200745, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA-induced hypertensive rats.

CG200745 is a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs), initially developed for treatment of various hematological and solid cancers. Because it is water-soluble, it can be administered orally. We hypothesized that the HDAC inhibitor, CG200745, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-induced hypertensive rats. For establishment of hypertension, 40 mg/kg of DOCA was subcutaneously injected four times weekly into Sprague-Dawley rats. All the rats used in this study including those in the sham group had been unilaterally nephrectomized and allowed free access to drinking water containing 1% NaCl. Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Blood chemistry including sodium, potassium, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels was analyzed. Sections of the heart were visualized after trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin stain. The expression of hypertrophic genes such as atrial natriuretic peptide A (Nppa) and atrial natriuretic peptide B (Nppb) in addition to fibrotic genes such as Collagen-1, Collagen-3, connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), and Fibronectin were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Injection of DOCA increased systolic blood pressure, heart weight, and cardiac fibrosis, which was attenuated by CG200745. Neither DOCA nor CG200745 affected body weight, vascular contraction and relaxation responses, and blood chemistry. Injection of DOCA increased expression of both hypertrophic and fibrotic genes, which was abrogated by CG200745. These results indicate that CG200745 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA-induced hypertensive rats.

Histone deacetylase inhibition attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis through acetylation of mineralocorticoid receptor in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) by valproic acid (VPA) attenuates inflammatory, hypertrophic, and fibrotic responses in the hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs); however, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. We hypothesized that HDAC inhibition (HDACi) attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis through acetylation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in SHRs. Seven-week-old SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats were treated with an HDAC class I inhibitor (0.71% w/v in drinking water; VPA) for 11 weeks. Sections of heart were visualized after trichrome stain as well as H&E stain. Histone modifications, such as acetylation (H3Ac [acetylated histone 3]) and fourth lysine trimethylation (H3K4me3) of histone 3, and recruitment of MR and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) into promoters of target genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction after chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. MR acetylation was determined by Western blot with anti-acetyl-lysine antibody after immunoprecipitation with anti-MR antibody. Treatment with VPA attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Although treatment with VPA increased H3Ac and H3K4me3 on promoter regions of MR target genes, expression of MR target genes as well as recruitment of MR and Pol II on promoters of target genes were decreased. Although HDACi did not affect MR expression, it increased MR acetylation. These results indicate that HDACi attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis through acetylation of MR in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Luteolin supplementation modulates mammary tumor growth in C3H mice fed diet with high- and low-fat content.

In this study we investigated the effects of luteolin supplementation (0.05% w/w) on mammary tumor growth in C3H mice, a strain of mouse mammary tumor virus negative, fed either high-fat (45% fat of energy) or low-fat diet (15% fat of energy). Animals (n = 12/group) were allocated into 4 experimental groups (low-fat diet, low-fat diet + luteolin supplementation, high-fat diet, high-fat diet + luteolin supplementation). Experimental diet were fed for 13 wk and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was administered once a week for 6 wk starting at Week 1 to induce mammary tumors. Study results showed that animals on low-fat diet supplemented with luteolin exhibited longer tumor latency and lower tumor weights and sizes compared to the other groups. Animals fed high-fat diet showed increased serum IGF-1 levels and the elevated mammary tissue expression of Ki-67, IRS-1, pp38, Cdk4, and Cdk6. Luteolin inhibited IRS-1, Cdk4, and Cdk6 expression in high-fat fed animals. The expression of pp38, cyclinD1, and Bcl-xL was suppressed by luteolin supplementation both in the low-fat and high-fat diet groups. These results suggest that excess energy supply increases the risk of mammary tumor formation and luteolin suppresses tumor formation regardless of dietary fat content through its cell cycle regulatory and proapoptotic activity.

Expression of EGFR, PD-L1, and the mismatch repair proteins before and following therapy in malignant serous effusions with metastatic high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma.

AIM: To compare the immunochemical expression of EGFR, PD-L1, and the mismatch repair (MMR) proteins MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6 between matched malignant effusions obtained before and following the administration of chemotherapy in patients with high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). METHODS: In the enrolled HGSCs, matched formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cell blocks (CBs) from effusions sampled before (treatment-naïve patients) and during recurrence (following chemotherapy administration), in addition to their matched HGSC tissues obtained from the ovaries at initial diagnosis (treatment-naïve patients), were subjected to EGFR, PD-L1, and MMR immunochemical analysis. RESULTS: EGFR was more often overexpressed in effusions obtained after chemotherapy administration compared to both effusions (100% vs. 57.1%) and their matched tubo-ovarian tumors (100% vs. 7.1%) from treatment-naïve patients, respectively. EGFR immunochemistry was concordant in just 9.1% of the effusions sampled during recurrence and their paired ovarian samples before recurrence. Whereas all HGSC treatment-naïve samples (ovarian lesions and effusions) were PD-L1 negative, 3/11 (27.3%) malignant effusions obtained during recurrence showed PD-L1 overexpression. Lastly, none of the tested HGSC samples exhibited MMR deficiency. CONCLUSION: Measuring biomarkers using CBs from malignant effusions may provide clinicians with significant information related to HGSC prognosis and therapy selection, especially in patients with resistance to chemotherapy.

Acute Effect of Positive Airway Pressure on Heart Rate Variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Autonomic dysregulation is associated with cardiovascular consequences in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on autonomic activity and to identify factors contributing to heart rate variability (HRV) changes in OSA. Frequency domain HRV parameters were calculated and compared between the baseline polysomnography and during the CPAP titration in 402 patients with moderate to severe OSA. There were significant reductions in total power, very low-frequency band power, low-frequency band power, and high-frequency band power during the CPAP titration as compared to the baseline polysomnography. This tendency was pronounced in male patients with severe OSA. Multivariate analysis found that changes in the apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen saturation were significantly associated with changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, respectively. This study demonstrated that HRV parameters significantly changed during the CPAP titration, indicating a beneficial effect of CPAP in the restoration of sympathetic and parasympathetic hyperactivity in OSA. Prospective longitudinal studies should determine whether long-term CPAP treatment aids in maintaining the long-lasting improvement of the autonomic functions, thereby contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in patients with OSA.

Carnitine acetyltransferase deficiency mediates mitochondrial dysfunction-induced cellular senescence in dermal fibroblasts.

Aging is accompanied by impaired mitochondrial function and accumulation of senescent cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to senescence by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species and compromising energy metabolism. Senescent cells secrete a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and stimulate chronic low-grade inflammation, ultimately inducing inflammaging. Mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence are two closely related hallmarks of aging; however, the key driver genes that link mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence remain unclear. Here, we aimed to elucidate a novel role of carnitine acetyltransferase (CRAT) in the development of mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence in dermal fibroblasts. Transcriptomic analysis of skin tissues from young and aged participants showed significantly decreased CRAT expression in intrinsically aged skin. CRAT downregulation in human dermal fibroblasts recapitulated mitochondrial changes in senescent cells and induced SASP secretion. Specifically, CRAT knockdown caused mitochondrial dysfunction, as indicated by increased oxidative stress, disruption of mitochondrial morphology, and a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. Mitochondrial damage induced the release of mitochondrial DNA into the cytosol, which activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and NF-ĸB pathways to induce SASPs. Consistently, fibroblast-specific CRAT-knockout mice showed increased skin aging phenotypes in vivo, including decreased cell proliferation, increased SASP expression, increased inflammation, and decreased collagen density. Our results suggest that CRAT deficiency contributes to aging by mediating mitochondrial dysfunction-induced senescence.

Interleukin-24 suppresses the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibiting H(2)O(2)-induced reactive oxygen species production.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The abnormal growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered a major pathogenic process in vascular diseases. Interleukin (IL)-24 specifically inhibits cancer cell growth through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the role of IL-24 in ROS-induced VSMC growth has not yet been investigated. METHODS: An MTT assay, gene expression analysis, flow cytometry and a scratch wound healing assay were performed to determine the anti-growth effects of IL-24 in H(2)O(2)-treated mouse vascular aortic smooth muscle (MOVAS) cells. To elucidate the effect of IL-24 on ROS-induced signaling, Western blot analysis was employed. RESULTS: IL-24 inhibited the growth of normal MOVAS cells treated with H(2)O(2) by inducing a cell cycle arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase through the regulation of p21 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, IL-24 suppressed mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor and subsequently decreased the level of cell migration in response to H(2)O(2). Interestingly, IL-24 attenuated the H(2)O(2)-induced ROS production by reducing the mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production and enhancing the expression of antioxidant enzymes. We also showed that the ability of H(2)O(2) to induce the PI3K/Akt and Erk signaling pathways was blocked by IL-24. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a novel mechanism in which IL-24 suppresses the growth of normal VSMCs by inhibiting H(2)O(2)-induced ROS production through the regulation of mitochondrial ROS production and expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Biomarkers expression among paired serous ovarian cancer primary lesions and their peritoneal cavity metastases in treatment-naïve patients: A single-center study.

BACKGROUND: High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), the most common histologic subtype of ovarian epithelial cancer, is associated with treatment resistance, enhanced recurrence rates, and poor prognosis. HGSOCs often metastasize to the peritoneal cavity, while fluid cytology examination could identify such metastases. This retrospective study aimed to identify potential biomarker discrepancies between paired HGSOC primary tissues and metastatic peritoneal fluid cytology samples, processed as cell blocks (CBs). METHODS: Twenty-four pairs of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary tissues and metastatic CBs from an equal number of treatment-naïve patients were used, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and CD147 was applied. RESULTS: 13/24 pairs showed discordant EGFR IHC results; in all these 13 patients, EGFR was positive (≥1+ membranous staining intensity found in at least 10% of the cancer cells) in the peritoneal, yet negative in the primary tissue samples. Notably, EGFR IHC was positive in 15/24 of the metastatic, whereas in just 2/24 of the primary HGSOC samples (p < 0.001). Although most PD-L1 results were concordant, 5/24 and 6/24 pairs exhibited discordant results when stained with the E1L3N and 22C3 clones, respectively. Lastly, CD147 overexpression was found more often in the metastatic rather than the matched primary HGSOCs stained with CD147, though the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Cytology from effusions could be considered for biomarker testing when present, even when tissue from the primary cancer is also available and adequately cellular, as it could provide additional information of potential clinical significance.

SOD3 Suppresses the Expression of MMP-1 and Increases the Integrity of Extracellular Matrix in Fibroblasts.

The superoxide dismutase (SOD) family functions as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging system by converting superoxide anions into hydrogen peroxide in the cytosol (SOD1), mitochondria (SOD2), and extracellular matrix (SOD3). In this study, we examined the potential roles of SOD family members in skin aging. We found that SOD3 expression levels were significantly more reduced in the skin tissues of old mice and humans than in young counterparts, but SOD1 and SOD2 expression levels remained unchanged with aging. Accordingly, we analyzed the effects of SOD3 on intracellular ROS levels and the integrity of the extracellular matrix in fibroblasts. The treatment of foreskin fibroblasts with recombinant SOD3 reduced the intracellular ROS levels and secretion of MMP-1 while increasing the secretion of type I collagen. The effects of SOD3 were greater in fibroblasts treated with the TNF-α. SOD3 treatment also decreased the mRNA levels and promoter activity of MMP-1 while increasing the mRNA levels and promoter activities of COL1A1 and COL1A2. SOD3 treatment reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK, which are essential for MMP-1 transactivation. In a three-dimensional culture of fibroblasts, SOD3 decreased the amount of type I collagen fragments produced by MMP-1 and increased the amount of nascent type I procollagen. These results demonstrate that SOD3 reduces intracellular ROS levels, suppresses MMP-1 expression, and induces type I collagen expression in fibroblasts. Therefore, SOD3 may play a role in delaying or preventing skin aging.

Histone deacetylase 4 reverses cellular senescence via DDIT4 in dermal fibroblasts.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl groups from lysine chains on histones and other proteins and play a crucial role in epigenetic regulation and aging. Previously, we demonstrated that HDAC4 is consistently downregulated in aged and ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated human skin in vivo. Cellular senescence is a permanent cell cycle arrest induced by various stressors. To elucidate the potential role of HDAC4 in the regulation of cellular senescence and skin aging, we established oxidative stress- and UV-induced cellular senescence models using primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). RNA sequencing after overexpression or knockdown of HDAC4 in primary HDFs identified candidate molecular targets of HDAC4. Integrative analyses of our current and public mRNA expression profiles identified DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) as a critical senescence-associated factor regulated by HDAC4. Indeed, DDIT4 and HDAC4 expressions were downregulated during oxidative stress- and UV-induced senescence. HDAC4 overexpression rescued the senescence-induced decrease in DDIT4 and senescence phenotype, which were prevented by DDIT4 knockdown. In addition, DDIT4 overexpression reversed changes in senescence-associated secretory phenotypes and aging-related genes, suggesting that DDIT4 mediates the reversal of cellular senescence via HDAC4. Collectively, our results identify DDIT4 as a promising target regulated by HDAC4 associated with cellular senescence and epigenetic skin aging.

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase expression by selective clearing of senescent dermal fibroblasts attenuates ultraviolet-induced photoaging.

Photoaging mainly occurs due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and is accompanied by increased secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and degradation of collagen. UV radiation induces cell senescence in the skin; however, the role of senescent cells in photoaging remains unclear. Therefore, to elucidate the role of senescent cells in photoaging, we evaluated the effect of senolytics in a photoaging mouse model and investigated the underlying mechanism of their antiaging effect. Both UV-induced senescent human dermal fibroblasts and a photoaging mouse model, ABT-263 and ABT-737, demonstrated senolytic effects on senescent fibroblasts. Moreover, we found that several senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors, such as IL-6, CCL5, CCL7, CXCL12, and SCF, induced MMP-1 expression in dermal fibroblasts, which decreased after treatment with ABT-263 and ABT-737 in vivo and in vitro. Both senolytic drugs attenuated the induction of MMPs and decreased collagen density in the photoaging mouse model. Our data suggest that senolytic agents reduce UV-induced photoaging, making strategies for targeting senescent dermal fibroblasts promising options for the treatment of photoaging.

Proteomic-Based Machine Learning Analysis Reveals PYGB as a Novel Immunohistochemical Biomarker to Distinguish Inverted Urothelial Papilloma From Low-Grade Papillary Urothelial Carcinoma With Inverted Growth.

Background: The molecular biology of inverted urothelial papilloma (IUP) as a precursor disease of urothelial carcinoma is poorly understood. Furthermore, the overlapping histology between IUP and papillary urothelial carcinoma (PUC) with inverted growth is a diagnostic pitfall leading to frequent misdiagnoses. Methods: To identify the oncologic significance of IUP and discover a novel biomarker for its diagnosis, we employed mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of IUP, PUC, and normal urothelium (NU). Machine learning analysis shortlisted candidate proteins, while subsequent immunohistochemical validation was performed in an independent sample cohort. Results: From the overall proteomic landscape, we found divergent 'NU-like' (low-risk) and 'PUC-like' (high-risk) signatures in IUP. The latter were characterized by altered metabolism, biosynthesis, and cell-cell interaction functions, indicating oncologic significance. Further machine learning-based analysis revealed SERPINH1, PKP2, and PYGB as potential diagnostic biomarkers discriminating IUP from PUC. The immunohistochemical validation confirmed PYGB as a specific biomarker to distinguish between IUP and PUC with inverted growth. Conclusion: In conclusion, we suggest PYGB as a promising immunohistochemical marker for IUP diagnosis in routine practice.

Insight into the Fecal Microbiota Signature Associated with Growth Specificity in Korean Jindo Dogs Using 16S rRNA Sequencing.

Gut microbiomes are well recognized to serve a variety of roles in health and disease, even though their functions are not yet completely understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that the microbiomes of juvenile and adult dogs have significantly different compositions and characteristics. However, there is still a scarcity of basic microbiome research in dogs. In this study, we aimed to advance our understanding by confirming the difference in fecal microbiome between young and adult dogs by analyzing the feces of 4-month and 16-month-old Jindo dogs, a domestic Korean breed. Microbiome data were generated and examined for the two age groups using 16S rRNA analysis. Comparison results revealed that the 16-month-old group presented a relatively high distribution of Bacteroides, whereas the 4-month-old group presented a comparatively high distribution of the Lactobacillus genus. Microbial function prediction analyses confirmed the relative abundance of lipid metabolism in 4-month-old dogs. In 16-month-old dogs, glucose metabolism was determined using microbial function prediction analyses. This implies that the functional microbiome changes similarly to the latter in adults compared with childhood. Overall, we discovered compositional and functional variations between genes of the gut microbial population in juveniles and adults. These microbial community profiles can be used as references for future research on the microbiome associated with health and development in the canine population.