MALT1 promotes necroptosis in stroke rat brain via targeting the A20/RIPK3 pathway.

Necroptosis has been demonstrated to contribute to brain injury in ischemic stroke, whereas A20 can exert anti-necroptosis effect via deubiquitinating receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK3) at k63 and it can be cleaved by MALT1. This study aims to explore whether MALT1 is upregulated in the brain during ischemic stroke and promotes brain cell necroptosis through enhancing the degradation of A20. Ischemic stroke model was established in Sprague Dawley rats by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 2 h, followed by 24 h reperfusion, which showed brain injury (increase in neurological deficit score and infarct volume) concomitant with an upregulation of MALT1, a decrease in A20 level, and increases in necroptosis-associated protein levels [RIPK3, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and p-MLKL] and k63-ubiquitination of RIPK3 in brain tissues. Administration of MALT1 inhibitor (Ml-2) at 8 or 15 mg/kg (i.p.) at 1 h after ischemia significantly improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume together with a downregulation of MALT1, an increase in A20 level and decreases in necroptosis-associated protein levels and k63-ubiquitination of RIPK3. Similarly, knockdown of MALT1 could also reduce oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury in the cultured HT22 cells coincident with an increase in A20 level and decreases in necroptosis-associated protein levels and k63-ubiquitination of RIPK3. Based on these observations, we conclude that MALT1 promotes necroptosis in stroke rat brain via enhancing the degradation of A20, which leads to a decrease in the capability of A20 to deubiquitinate RIPK3 at k63 and a subsequent compromise in counteraction against the brain cell necroptosis.

Caspofungin Suppresses Brain Cell Necroptosis in Ischemic Stroke Rats via Up-Regulation of Pellino3.

PURPOSE: Pellino3, an ubiquitin E3 ligase, prevents the formation of the death-induced signaling complex in response to TNF-α by targeting receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), and bioinformatics analysis predicted an interaction between Pellino3 and caspofungin, a common antifungal drug used in clinics. This study aimed to explore the effect of caspofungin on brain injury in ischemic stroke and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Ischemic stroke injury was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 2 h, followed by 24 h reperfusion. PC12 cells were deprived of both oxygen and glucose for 8 h and then were cultured for 24 h with oxygen and glucose to mimic an ischemic stroke in vitro. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed brain injury (increase in neurological deficit score and infarct volume) concomitant with a downregulation of Pellino3, a decreased ubiquitination of RIPK1, and an up-regulation of necroptosis-associated proteins [RIPK1, RIPK3, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), p-RIPK1, p-RIPK3, and p-MLKL]. Administration of caspofungin (6 mg/kg, i.m.) at 1 h and 6 h after ischemia significantly improved neurological function, reduced infarct volume, up-regulated Pellino3 levels, increased RIPK1 ubiquitination, and down-regulated protein levels of RIPK1, p-RIPK1, p-RIPK3, and p-MLKL. PC12 cells deprived of oxygen/glucose developed signs of cellular injury (LDH release and necroptosis) concomitant with downregulation of Pellino3, decreased ubiquitination of RIPK1, and elevated necroptosis-associated proteins. These changes were reversed by overexpression of Pellino3. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Pellino3 has an important role in counteracting necroptosis via ubiquitination of RIPK1 and caspofungin can suppress the brain cell necroptosis in ischemic stroke through upregulation of Pellino3.

COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms: focus on the role of metal ions.

Neurological symptoms are prevalent in both the acute and post-acute phases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and they are becoming a major concern for the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Accumulation evidence has suggested that metal ion disorders occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of COVID-19 patients. Metal ions participate in the development, metabolism, redox and neurotransmitter transmission in the CNS and are tightly regulated by metal ion channels. COVID-19 infection causes neurological metal disorders and metal ion channels abnormal switching, subsequently resulting in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, neuronal cell death, and eventually eliciting a series of COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. Therefore, metal homeostasis-related signaling pathways are emerging as promising therapeutic targets for mitigating COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. This review provides a summary for the latest advances in research related to the physiological and pathophysiological functions of metal ions and metal ion channels, as well as their role in COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. In addition, currently available modulators of metal ions and their channels are also discussed. Collectively, the current work offers a few recommendations according to published reports and in-depth reflections to ameliorate COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. Further studies need to focus on the crosstalk and interactions between different metal ions and their channels. Simultaneous pharmacological intervention of two or more metal signaling pathway disorders may provide clinical advantages in treating COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms.

VPO1/HOCl/ERK pathway mediates the right ventricular remodeling in rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

Right ventricular (RV) remodeling is a major feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Vascular peroxidase 1 (VPO1) is reported to participate in the process of PAH. This study aims to explore whether VPO1 contributes to hypoxia-induced cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying mechanisms. SD rats were exposure to continuous hypoxia (10% O2) for 3 weeks, which showed RV hypertrophy (increases in the ratio of RV weight to tibia length, cardiac cell size and hypertrophic markers), concomitant with upregulation of VPO1, elevation in hypochlorous acid (HOCl) production and ERK phosphorylation. In hypoxia (3% O2)-induced hypertrophic H9c2 cells, similar characteristics of cardiac hypertrophy to that of hypoxia-treated rats were observed. Administration of VPO1 siRNA or NaHS (the HOCl inhibitor) suppressed HOCl production, ERK phosphorylation, and cardiac hypertrophy. Replacement of hypoxia with NaClO (exogenous HOCl) could also induce cardiac cell hypertrophy and activate ERK signaling pathway. In addition, hypoxia-induced cardiac hypertrophy could be blocked by PD98059 (the ERK-specific inhibitor). Based on these observations, we conclude that VPO1 promotes RV remodeling in PAH rats through catalyzing HOCl production, leading to the activation of ERK signaling. Thus, VPO1 may have the potential as a therapeutic target for PAH.

Targeting the pathways of regulated necrosis: a potential strategy for alleviation of cardio-cerebrovascular injury.

Apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy-dependent cell death are the three major types of cell death. Traditionally, necrosis is thought as a passive and unregulated form of cell death. However, certain necrosis can also occur in a highly regulated manner, referring to regulated necrosis. Depending on the signaling pathways, regulated necrosis can be further classified as necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, parthanatos and CypD-mediated necrosis. Numerous studies have reported that regulated necrosis contributes to the progression of multiple injury-relevant diseases. For example, necroptosis contributes to the development of myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, heart failure and stroke; pyroptosis is involved in the progression of myocardial or cerebral infarction, atherosclerosis and diabetic cardiomyopathy; while ferroptosis, parthanatos and CypD-mediated necrosis participate in the pathological process of myocardial and/or cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Thereby, targeting the pathways of regulated necrosis pharmacologically or genetically could be an efficient strategy for reducing cardio-cerebrovascular injury. Further study needs to focus on the crosstalk and interplay among different types of regulated necrosis. Pharmacological intervention of two or more types of regulated necrosis simultaneously may have advantages in clinic to treat injury-relevant diseases.

Involvement of regulated necrosis in blinding diseases: Focus on necroptosis and ferroptosis.

Besides apoptosis, necrosis can also occur in a highly regulated and genetically controlled manner, defined as regulated necrosis, which is characterized by a loss of cell membrane integrity and release of cytoplasmic content. Depending on the involvement of its signal pathway, regulated necrosis can be further classified as necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and parthanatos. Numerous studies have demonstrated that regulated necrosis is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases covering almost all organs including the brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, blood vessel, eye and skin, particularly myocardial infarction and stroke. Most recently, growing evidence suggests that multiple types of regulated necrosis contribute to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells or photoreceptor cells, which are the main pathologic features for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa, respectively. This review focuses on the involvement of necroptosis and ferroptosis in these blinding diseases.

Upregulation of mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase 1 in rat heart contributes to ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Mitochondrial dysfunctions are responsible for myocardial injury upon ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase 1 (Mul1) plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial functions. This study aims to explore the function of Mul1 in myocardial I/R injury and the underlying mechanisms. The Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were subjected to 1 h of ischemia plus 3 h of reperfusion, which showed the I/R injury (increase in infarct size and creatine kinase release) and the elevated total and mitochondrial protein levels of Mul1 and p53 accompanied by the enhanced interactions between Mul1 and p53 as well as p53 and small a ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO1). Consistently, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treated cardiac (H9c2) cells displayed cellular injury (apoptosis and necrosis), upregulation of total and mitochondrial protein levels of Mul1 and p53, and enhanced interactions between p53 and SUMO1 concomitant with mitochondrial dysfunctions (an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species production with a decrease in ATP production); these phenomena were attenuated by knockdown of Mul1 expression. Based on these observations, we conclude that a novel role of Mul1 has been identified in the myocardial mitochondria, where Mul1 stabilizes and activates p53 through its function of SUMOylation following I/R, leading to p53-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.

Inhibition of Phosphoglycerate Mutase 5 Reduces Necroptosis in Rat Hearts Following Ischemia/Reperfusion Through Suppression of Dynamin-Related Protein 1.

PURPOSE: Necroptosis is an important form of cell death following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) functions as the convergent point for multiple necrosis pathways. This study aims to investigate whether inhibition of PGAM5 could reduce I/R-induced myocardial necroptosis and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The SD rat hearts (or H9c2 cells) were subjected to 1-h ischemia (or 10-h hypoxia) plus 3-h reperfusion (or 4-h reoxygenation) to establish the I/R (or H/R) injury model. The myocardial injury was assessed by the methods of biochemistry, H&E (hematoxylin and eosin), and PI/DAPI (propidium iodide/4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining, respectively. Drug interventions or gene knockdown was used to verify the role of PGAM5 in I/R (or H/R)-induced myocardial necroptosis and possible mechanisms. RESULTS: The I/R-treated heart showed the injuries (increase in infarct size and creatine kinase release), upregulation of PGAM5, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), p-Drp1-S616, and necroptosis-relevant proteins (RIPK1/RIPK3, receptor-interacting protein kinase 1/3; MLKL, mixed lineage kinase domain-like); these phenomena were attenuated by inhibition of PGAM5 or RIPK1. In H9c2 cells, H/R treatment elevated the levels of PGAM5, RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, Drp1, and p-Drp1-S616 and induced mitochondrial dysfunctions (elevation in mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS level) and cellular necrosis (increase in LDH release and the ratio of PI+/DAPI+ cells); these effects were blocked by inhibition or knockdown of PGAM5. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of PGAM5 can reduce necroptosis in I/R-treated rat hearts through suppression of Drp1; there is a positive feedback between RIPK1 and PGAM5, and PGAM5 might serve as a novel therapeutic target for prevention of myocardial I/R injury.

Magnesium Lithospermate B Derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza Ameliorates Right Ventricle Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertensive Rats via Inhibition of NOX/VPO1 Pathway.

Right ventricle (RV) remodeling is a major pathological feature in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is a compound isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza and it possesses multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation and antioxidation. This study aims to investigate whether MLB is able to prevent RV remodeling in PAH and the underlying mechanisms. In vivo, SD rats were exposed to 10% O2 for 21 d to induce RV remodeling, which showed hypertrophic features (increases in the ratio of RV weight to tibia length, cellular size, and hypertrophic marker expression), accompanied by upregulation in expression of NADPH oxidases (NOX2 and NOX4) and vascular peroxidase 1 (VPO1), increases in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) production and elevation in phosphorylation levels of ERK; these changes were attenuated by treating rats with MLB. In vitro, the cultured H9c2 cells were exposed to 3% O2 for 24 h to induce hypertrophy, which showed hypertrophic features (increases in cellular size and hypertrophic marker expression). Administration of MLB or VAS2870 (a positive control for NOX inhibitor) could prevent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy concomitant with decreases in NOX (NOX2 and NOX4) and VPO1 expression, H2O2 and HOCl production, and ERK phosphorylation. Based on these observations, we conclude that MLB is able to prevent RV remodeling in hypoxic PAH rats through a mechanism involving a suppression of NOX/VPO1 pathway as well as ERK signaling pathway. MLB may possess the potential clinical value for PAH therapy.

Suppression of NADPH oxidase attenuates hypoxia-induced dysfunctions of endothelial progenitor cells.

NADPH oxidases (NOX) - derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to oxidative injury in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension. This study aims to evaluate the status of NOX in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) under hypoxic condition and to determine whether NOX inhibitors could attenuate hypoxia-induced dysfunctions of EPCs. EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood of SD rats and subjected to hypoxia (O2/N2/CO2, 1/94/5) for 24 h. The cells were collected for ß-galactosidase or Hoechst staining, or for functional analysis (migration, adhesion and tube formation). The NOX expression, activity and H2O2 content in EPCs were measured. The results showed that hypoxia treatment promoted EPC senescence and apoptosis, accompanied by the deteriorated functions of EPCs (the reduced abilities in adhesion, migration and tube formation), as well as an increase in NOX2 and NOX4 expression, NOX activity and H2O2 production, these phenomena were attenuated by NOX inhibitors. Furthermore, administration of catalase could also improve the functions of hypoxia-treated EPCs. Based on these observations, we conclude that NOX-derived ROS contributes to the dysfunctions of EPCs under hypoxic condition. Thus, suppression of NOX may provide a novel strategy to improve endothelial functions in hypoxia-relevant diseases.

Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells in hyperlipidemic rats involves the increase of NADPH oxidase derived reactive oxygen species production.

NADPH oxidase (NOX) is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body and it plays a key role in mediation of oxidative injury in the cardiovascular system. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the status of NOX in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of hyperlipidemic rats and to determine whether NOX-derived ROS promotes the dysfunction of EPCs. The rats were fed on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish a hyperlipidemic rat model, which showed the increased plasma lipids and the impaired functions of circulating EPCs (including the reduced abilities in migration and adhesion) accompanied by an increase in NOX activity and ROS production. Next, EPCs were isolated from normal rats and they were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (100 µg/mL) for 24 h to induce a dysfunctional model in vitro. In agreement with our findings in vivo, ox-LDL treatment increased the dysfunctions of EPCs concomitant with an increase in NOX activity and ROS production; these phenomena were reversed by the NOX inhibitor. Based on these observations, we conclude that NOX-derived ROS involved in the dysfunctions of circulating EPCs in hyperlipidemic rats and inhibition of NOX might provide a novel strategy to improve EPC functions in hyperlipidemia.

Myeloperoxidase-derived hypochlorous acid promotes ox-LDL-induced senescence of endothelial cells through a mechanism involving ß-catenin signaling in hyperlipidemia.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-derived product hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is able to induce cellular senescence and MPO is also expressed in endothelial cells besides the well-recognized immune cells. This study aims to clarify the association of endothelium-derived MPO with endothelial senescence in hyperlipidemia. The rats were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish a hyperlipidemic model, which showed an increase in plasma lipids, endothelium-derived MPO expression, endothelial senescence and endothelial dysfunction concomitant with a reduction in glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3ß) activity and phosphorylated ß-catenin (p-ß-catenin) level as well as an increase in ß-catenin and p53 levels within the endothelium. Next, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL, 100 µg/ml) for 24 h to establish a senescent cell model in vitro. Consistent with the finding in vivo, ox-LDL-induced MPO expression and HUVECs senescence, accompanied by a decrease in GSK-3ß activity and p-ß-catenin level as well as an increase in HOCl content, ß-catenin and p53 levels; these phenomena were attenuated by MPO inhibitor. Replacement of ox-LDL with HOCl could also induce HUVECs senescence and activate the ß-catenin/p53 pathway. Based on these observations, we conclude that endothelium-derived MPO is upregulated in hyperlipidemic rats, which may contribute to the accelerated vascular endothelial senescence through a mechanism involving the ß-catenin/p53 pathway.

Nuclear cardiac myosin light chain 2 modulates NADPH oxidase 2 expression in myocardium: a novel function beyond muscle contraction.

Recent studies demonstrated that NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression in myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) is significantly upregulated. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aims to determine if nuclear cardiac myosin light chain 2 (MYL2), a well-known regulatory subunit of myosin, functions as a transcription factor to promote NOX2 expression following myocardial IR in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. We examined the phosphorylation status of nuclear MYL2 (p-MYL2) in a rat model of myocardial IR (left main coronary artery subjected to 1 h ligation and 3 h reperfusion) injury, which showed IR injury and upregulated NOX2 expression as expected, accompanied by elevated H2O2 and nuclear p-MYL2 levels; these effects were attenuated by inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). Next, we explored the functional relationship of nuclear p-MYL2 with NOX2 expression in H9c2 cell model of hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury. In agreement with our in vivo findings, HR treatment increased apoptosis, NOX2 expression, nuclear p-MYL2 and H2O2 levels, and the increases were ameliorated by inhibition of MLCK or knockdown of MYL2. Finally, molecular biology techniques including co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), DNA pull-down and luciferase reporter gene assay were utilized to decipher the molecular mechanisms. We found that nuclear p-MYL2 binds to the consensus sequence AGCTCC in NOX2 gene promoter, interacts with RNA polymerase II and transcription factor IIB to form a transcription preinitiation complex, and thus activates NOX2 gene transcription. Our results demonstrate that nuclear MYL2 plays an important role in IR injury by transcriptionally upregulating NOX2 expression to enhance oxidative stress in a phosphorylation-dependent manner.

Dysfunctional endothelial progenitor cells in cardiovascular diseases: role of NADPH oxidase.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in maintenance of the endothelial integrity and vascular homeostasis, as well as in neovascularization. Dysfunctional EPCs are believed to contribute to the endothelial dysfunction and are closely related to the development of various cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms of EPC dysfunction are complicated and remain largely elusive. Recent studies have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key factors that involve in modulation of stem and progenitor cell function under various physiologic and pathologic conditions. It has been shown that NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived ROS are the major sources of ROS in cardiovascular system. Accumulating evidence suggests that NOX-mediated oxidative stress can modulate EPC bioactivities, such as mobilization, migration, and neovascularization, and that inhibition of NOX has been shown to improve EPC functions. This review summarized recent progress in the studies on the correlation between NOX-mediated EPC dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.

Salviaolate Protects Rat Brain from Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase.

Salviaolate is a group of depside salts isolated from Danshen (a traditional Chinese herbal medicine), with ≥ 85 % of magnesium lithospermate B. This study aims to investigate whether salviaolate is able to protect the rat brain from ischemia/reperfusion injury and the underlying mechanisms. Rats were subjected to 2 h of cerebral ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion to establish an ischemia/reperfusion injury model. The neuroprotective effects of salviaolate at different dosages were evaluated. A dosage (25 mg/kg) was chosen to explore the neuroprotective mechanisms of salviaolate. Neurological function, infarct volume, cellular apoptosis, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity, and H2O2 content were measured. In a nerve cell model of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, magnesium lithospermate B was applied. Cellular apoptosis, lactate dehydrogenase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity, and H2O2 content were examined. Ischemia/reperfusion treatment significantly increased the neurological deficit score, infarct volume, and cellular apoptosis accompanied by the elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity and H2O2 content in the rat brains. Administration of salviaolate reduced ischemia/reperfusion-induced cerebral injury in a dose-dependent manner concomitant with a decrease in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity and H2O2 production. Magnesium lithospermate B (20 mg/kg) and edaravone (6 mg/kg, the positive control) achieved the same beneficial effects as salviaolate did. In the cell experiments, the injury (indicated by apoptosis ratio and lactate dehydrogenase release), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity and H2O2 content were dramatically increased following hypoxia/reoxygenation, which were attenuated in the presence of magnesium lithospermate B (10(-5) M), VAS2870 (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase inhibitor), or edaravone (10(-5) M). The results suggest that salviaolate is able to protect the brain from ischemia/reperfusion oxidative injury, which is related to the inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase and a reduction of reactive oxygen species production.

Up-regulation of brain-enriched miR-107 promotes excitatory neurotoxicity through down-regulation of glutamate transporter-1 expression following ischaemic stroke.

Recent studies have uncovered that accumulation of glutamate after ischaemic stroke is closely associated with the down-regulation of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression, suggesting that GLT-1 expression critically controls glutamate accumulation and the abnormal glutamate transport-elicited neuronal cell excitotoxicity in patients with ischaemic stroke. However, it remains unknown how GLT-1 expression is regulated under ischaemic stroke conditions. In the present study, we screened the expression of nine brain-specific or brain-enriched miRNAs in a focal cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury rat model, which showed glutamate accumulation and down-regulated GLT-1 expression as expected, and revealed that the miR-107 level was elevated in both brain tissue and plasma in the model. Next, we examined the functional relationship of miR-107 with GLT-1 expression in a nerve cell hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury model. H/R treatment increased apoptosis of the nerve cells concomitant with glutamate accumulation, miR-107 elevation and suppressed GLT-1 expression, mimicking our in vivo findings in the cerebral I/R injury rat model in vitro. Co-treating the cells with an miR-107 inhibitor blocked all of the effects, demonstrating that miR-107 functions to inhibit GLT-1 expression and elevate glutamate accumulation. To extend these animal and cell-based studies to clinical patients, we measured the plasma levels of miR-107 and glutamate, and observed that both miR-107 and glutamate were elevated in patients with ischaemic stroke. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that elevated miR-107 expression after ischaemic stroke accounts, at least partially, for glutamate accumulation through suppression of GLT-1 expression. Our findings also highlight that the plasma level of miR-107 may serve as a novel biomarker for monitoring excitotoxicity in patients with ischaemic stroke.

Inhibition of NOX/VPO1 pathway and inflammatory reaction by trimethoxystilbene in prevention of cardiovascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats.

Recent studies show that resveratrol exerts beneficial effects on prevention of pulmonary hypertension. This study is performed to explore the effects of trimethoxystilbene, a novel resveratrol analog, on rat pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a chamber and exposed to 10% O(2) continuously for 4 weeks to induce PAH. The effects of trimethoxystilbene (5 or 10 mg/kg per day, intragastric [i.g.]) and resveratrol (as a positive control, 25 mg/kg per day, i.g.) on hypoxia-induced PAH vascular remodeling and right ventricle hypertrophy were evaluated. At the end of experiments, the index for pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricle hypertrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, the plasma levels and lung tissue contents of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), the mRNA and protein levels for NADPH oxidases (NOX2, NOX4) and vascular peroxidase 1 (VPO1) in pulmonary artery or right ventricle were measured. The results showed that trimethoxystilbene treatment significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling (such as decrease in the ratio of wall thickness to vessel external diameter) and right ventricle hypertrophy (such as decrease in the ratio of right ventricle weight to the length of the tibia), accompanied by downregulation of NOX2, NOX4, and VPO1 expression in pulmonary artery or right ventricle, decrease in H(2)O(2) production and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. Trimethoxystilbene is able to prevent pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricle hypertrophy in hypoxia-induced rat model of PAH, which is related to inhibition of the NOX/VPO1 pathway-mediated oxidative stress and the inflammatory reaction.

A review for the correlation between optic atrophy 1-dependent mitochondrial fusion and cardiovascular disorders.

Mitochondrial dynamics homeostasis is sustained by continuous and balanced fission and fusion, which are determinants of morphology, abundance, biogenesis and mitophagy of mitochondria. Optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), as the only inner mitochondrial membrane fusion protein, plays a key role in stabilizing mitochondrial dynamics. The disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics contributes to the pathophysiological progress of cardiovascular disorders, which are the main cause of death worldwide in recent decades and result in tremendous social burden. In this review, we describe the latest findings regarding OPA1 and its role in mitochondrial fusion. We summarize the post-translational modifications (PTMs) for OPA1 and its regulatory role in mitochondrial dynamics. Then the diverse cell fates caused by OPA1 expression during cardiovascular disorders are discussed. Moreover, cardiovascular disorders (such as heart failure, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathy and cardiac hypertrophy) relevant to OPA1-dependent mitochondrial dynamics imbalance have been detailed. Finally, we highlight the potential that targeting OPA1 to impact mitochondrial fusion may be used as a novel strategy against cardiovascular disorders.

Micafungin exerts antitumor effect on breast cancer and osteosarcoma through preventing EMT in tumor cells in an USP7/AKT/GSK-3ß pathway-dependent manner.

Breast cancer and osteosarcoma are common cancers in women and children, respectively, but ideal drugs for treating patients with breast cancer or osteosarcoma remain to be found. Micafungin is an antifungal drug with antitumor activity on leukemia. Based on the notion of drug repurposing, this study aims to evaluate the antitumor effects of micafungin on breast cancer and osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Five breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, BT-549, SK-BR-3, MCF-7, and 4T1) and one osteosarcoma cell line (143B) were chosen for the in vitro studies. Micafungin exerted an inhibitory effect on the viability of all cell lines, and MCF-7 cells were most sensitive to micafungin among the breast cancer cell lines. In addition, micafungin showed an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, clone formation, and migration in MCF7 and 143B cells. The inhibitory effect of micafungin on the growth of breast cancer and osteosarcoma was further confirmed with xenograft tumor mouse models. To explore the underlying mechanisms, the effect of micafungin on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined. As expected, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and vimentin in MCF-7 and 143B cells were notably reduced in the presence of micafungin, concomitant with the decreased levels of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), p-AKT, and p-GSK-3ß. Based on these observations, we conclude that micafungin exerts antitumor effect on breast cancer and osteosarcoma through preventing EMT in an USP7/AKT/GSK-3ß pathway-dependent manner.

CARD11-BCL10-MALT1 complex-dependent MALT1 activation facilitates myocardial oxidative stress in doxorubicin-treated mice via enhancing k48-linked ubiquitination of Nrf2.

AIMS: Down-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) contributes to doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial oxidative stress, and inhibition of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) increased Nrf2 protein level in rat heart suffered ischemia/reperfusion, indicating a connection between MALT1 and Nrf2. This study aims to explore the role of MALT1 in DOX-induced myocardial oxidative stress and the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: The mice received a single injection of DOX (15 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce myocardial oxidative stress, evidenced by increases in the levels of reactive oxidative species while decreases in the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, concomitant with a down-regulation of Nrf2; these phenomena were reversed by MALT1 inhibitor. Similar phenomena were observed in DOX-induced oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, knockdown or inhibition of MALT1 notably attenuated the interaction between Nrf2 and MALT1, and decreased the k48-linked ubiquitination of Nrf2. Furthermore, inhibition or knockdown of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII-δ) reduced the phosphorylation of caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 11 (CARD11), and subsequently disrupted the assembly of CARD11, B-cell lymphoma 10 (BCL10) and MALT1 (CBM) complex, and reduced the MALT1-dependent k48-linked ubiquitination of Nrf2 in DOX-treated mice or cardiomyocytes. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION: The E3 ubiquitin ligase function of MALT1 accounts for the down-regulation of Nrf2 and aggravation of myocardial oxidative stress in DOX-treated mice, and CaMKII-δ-dependent phosphorylation of CARD11 triggered the assembly of CBM complex and subsequent activation of MALT1.