Inhibition of ferroptosis reverses heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in mice.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for approximately 50% of heart failure cases. The molecular mechanisms by which HFpEF leads to impaired diastolic function of the heart have not been clarified, nor have the drugs that target the clinical symptoms of HFpEF patients. METHODS: HFpEF chip data (GSE180065) was downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered by the limma package in R and processed for GO and KEGG pathway analyses. Then, ferroptosis-related genes in HFpEF were identified by taking the intersection between DEGs and ferroptosis-related genes. CytoHubba and MCODE were used to screen ferroptosis-related hub DEGs in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Establishment of a mouse HFpEF model to validate the transcript levels of ferroptosis-related hub DEGs and ferroptosis-related phenotypes. Transcript levels of ferroptosis-related hub DEGs and HFpEF phenotypic changes in the hearts of HFpEF mice were further examined after the use of ferroptosis inhibitors. RESULTS: GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that the DEGs in HFpEF were significantly enriched in ferroptosis-related pathways. A total of 24 ferroptosis-related DEGs were identified between the ferroptosis gene dataset and the DEGs. The established PPI network was further analyzed by CytoHubba and MCODE modules, and 11 ferroptosis-related hub DEGs in HFpEF were obtained. In animal experiments, HFpEF mice showed significant abnormal activation of ferroptosis. The expression trends of the 11 hub DEGs associated with ferroptosis, except for Cdh1, were consistent with the results of the bioinformatics analysis. Inhibition of ferroptosis alters the transcript levels of 11 ferroptosis-related hub DEGs and ameliorates HFpEF phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study contributes to a deeper understanding of the specific mechanisms by which ferroptosis is involved in the development of HFpEF and suggests that inhibition of ferroptosis may mitigate the progression of HFpEF. In addition, eleven hub genes were recognized as potential drug binding targets.

Identification of C1q/TNF-related protein 4 as a novel appetite-regulating peptide that reduces food intake in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii).

Emerging findings point to a role for C1q/TNF-related protein 4 (CTRP4) in feeding in mammals. However, it remains unknown whether CTRP4 regulates feeding in fish. This study aimed to determine the feeding regulation function of CTRP4 in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). In this study, the Siberian sturgeon ctrp4 (Abctrp4) gene was cloned, and Abctrp4 mRNA was shown to be highly expressed in the hypothalamus. In the hypothalamus, Abctrp4 mRNA decreased during fasting and reversed after refeeding. Subsequently, we obtained the AbCTRP4 recombinant protein by prokaryotic expression and optimized the expression and purification conditions. Siberian sturgeon (81.28 ± 14.75 g) were injected intraperitoneally using 30, 100, and 300 ng/g Body weight (BW) AbCTRP4 to investigate its effect on feeding. The results showed that 30, 100, and 300 ng/g BW of the AbCTRP4 significantly reduced the cumulative food intake of Siberian sturgeon at 1, 3, and 6 h. Finally, to investigate the potential mechanism of CTRP4 feeding inhibition, 300 ng/g BW AbCTRP4 was injected intraperitoneally. The findings demonstrated that AbCTRP4 treatment for 1 h significantly promoted the mRNA levels of anorexigenic peptides (pomc, cart, and leptin) while suppressing the mRNA abundances of orexigenic peptides (npy and agrp).In addition, the jak2/stat3 pathway in the hypothalamus was significantly activated after 1 h of AbCTRP4 treatment. In conclusion., this study confirms the anorexigenic effect of CTRP4 in Siberian sturgeon.

Neglected function of gastrin to reduce feeding in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) via cholecystokinin receptor B.

Gastrin is an important intragastrointestinal hormone, but reports on its regulation of feeding behavior in fish are still scarce. This study aimed to determine the feeding regulatory function of gastrin in sturgeon. In this study, a gastrin/cholecystokinin-like peptide was identified in the genomes of sturgeon and proved to be gastrin by evolutionary tree analysis. Tissue distribution of gastrin and its receptor, cholecystokinin receptor B (CCKRB), showed that both had high mRNA abundance in the hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract. In the duodenum, gastrin and CCKRB mRNAs were reduced at 1 h of fasting, and both were also observed in the stomach and hypothalamus in response to changes in feeding status. Sulfated gastrin 17 is the major form of gastrin in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the effect of sulfated gastrin 17 on feeding by intraperitoneal injection into Siberian sturgeon using sulfated gastrin 17. The results showed that gastrin 17 significantly reduced the cumulative feeding of Siberian sturgeon in the short term (1, 3 and 6 h) and long term (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 days). Finally, we explored the potential mechanism of feeding inhibition after intraperitoneal injection of gastrin 17 for 7 consecutive days. The results showed that gastrin 17 treatment significantly increased the mRNA levels of anorexigenic peptides (cart, cck and pyy), while it had no significant effect on the mRNA abundance of orexigenic peptides (npy and agrp). In addition, gastrin 17 treatment significantly affected the expression of appetite signaling pathways in the hypothalamus, such that the mRNA expression of ampkα1 was significantly reduced, whereas the mRNA abundance of stat3, mtor and s6k was significantly increased. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the anorectic effect of gastrin on Siberian sturgeon.

The urinary metabolites of volatile organic compounds and asthma in young children: NHANES 2011-2018.

The vast majority of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of biological origin and do not affect human health, while some VOCs or their oxidation products can damage the respiratory system, nervous system, digestive system and blood system after long-term inhalation by humans. There is limited evidence regarding the association of VOCs exposure with childhood asthma. In this study, we examined the associations between metabolites of VOCs (mVOCs) in urine and childhood asthma. We included a total of 1542 children aged 3-12 years who had information on urinary mVOCs, asthma and essential covariates in the current analyses. After controlling for covariates, we used logistic regression to assess the association between urinary mVOCs and childhood asthma. Then, we examined effect measure modification by child age, gender, race/ethnicity and serum cotinine. 2-Methylhippuric acid (xylene metabolites) (OR: 1.14; 95 % CI: 0.87, 1.59), N-acetyl-S-(benzyl)-l-cysteine (toluene metabolites) (OR: 1.15 95 % CI: 0.76, 1.71), N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)-l-cysteine (acrolein metabolites) (OR: 1.09; 95 % CI: 0.61, 1.75), N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-l-cysteine (acrolein metabolites) (OR: 1.10; 95 % CI: 0.66, 1.80), and N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl-1-methyl)-l-cysteine (crotonaldehyde metabolites) (OR: 1.18; 95 % CI: 0.68, 2.01) were weakly associated with the prevalence of asthma in children. Among female children, 2MHA (2-methylhippuric acid) in urine was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma (OR: 1.81 95 % CI: 1.07, 3.05). At the same time, BMA (N-acetyl-S-(benzyl)-l-cysteine) was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma in non-Hispanic White (OR:2.09 95 % CI: 0.91, 4.66) and Black (OR:1.90 95 % CI: 0.96, 3.71) children. We found that gender modified the associations between urinary 2MHA and the odds of asthma (interaction term p value = 0.03). Therefore, exposure to VOCs and the development of childhood asthma remains controversial, and the interpretation of these results needs to be treated with caution and should be confirmed in future studies.Therefore, exposure to VOCs and the development of childhood asthma remains controversial, and the interpretation of these results needs to be treated with caution and should be confirmed in future studies.

Quantifying Dynamic Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Resistant Escherichia coli under Translation-Inhibiting Antibiotics.

Understanding the phenotypic heterogeneity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria following treatment and the transitions between different phenotypes is crucial for developing effective infection control strategies. The study expands upon previous work by explicating chloramphenicol-induced phenotypic heterogeneities in growth rate, gene expression, and morphology of resistant Escherichia coli using time-lapse microscopy. Correlating the bacterial growth rate and cspC expression, four interchangeable phenotypic subpopulations across varying antibiotic concentrations are identified, surpassing the previously described growth rate bistability. Notably, bacterial cells exhibiting either fast or slow growth rates can concurrently harbor subpopulations characterized by high and low gene expression levels, respectively. To elucidate the mechanisms behind this enhanced heterogeneity, a concise gene expression network model is proposed and the biological significance of the four phenotypes is further explored. Additionally, by employing Hidden Markov Model fitting and integrating the non-equilibrium landscape and flux theory, the real-time data encompassing diverse bacterial traits are analyzed. This approach reveals dynamic changes and switching kinetics in different cell fates, facilitating the quantification of observable behaviors and the non-equilibrium dynamics and thermodynamics at play. The results highlight the multi-dimensional heterogeneous behaviors of antibiotic-resistant bacteria under antibiotic stress, providing new insights into the compromised antibiotic efficacy, microbial response, and associated evolution processes.

Molecular and therapeutic landscape of ferroptosis in skin diseases.

ABSTRACT: Regulated cell death (RCD) is a critical physiological process essential in maintaining skin homeostasis. Among the various forms of RCD, ferroptosis stands out due to its distinct features of iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and involvement of various inhibitory antioxidant systems. In recent years, an expanding body of research has solidly linked ferroptosis to the emergence of skin disorders. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in skin diseases is crucial for advancing therapy and prevention strategies. This review commences with a succinct elucidation of the mechanisms that underpin ferroptosis, embarks on a thorough exploration of ferroptosis's role across a spectrum of skin conditions, encompassing melanoma, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vitiligo, and dermatological ailments precipitated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and scrutinizes the potential therapeutic benefits of pharmacological interventions aimed at modulating ferroptosis for the amelioration of skin diseases.