Effects of PPARG on the proliferation, apoptosis, and estrogen secretion in goat granulosa cells.

As a member of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family, PPARG has been reported to be involved in glucolipid metabolism in various species. However, the function of PPARG in estradiol (E2) synthesis, apoptosis, and proliferation in goat ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) is unclear. In this study, we found that goat PPARG was expressed in GCs of all grades of follicles, and localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of GCs. Transfection of small interfering RNA-PPARG2 (si-PPARG2) decreased E2 synthesis and the abundances of HSD3B and CYP19A1 mRNA and protein. It also promoted cell apoptosis with significant increases in the ratio of BAX/BCL-2 and Caspase3 mRNA and protein. Meanwhile, cell cycle was inhibited by si-PPARG2 transfection, accompanied by decreased mRNA levels of CDK4, CKD6, MYC, CCND1, CCND2, PCNA, and CCNB, increased mRNA level of P53, and decreased protein levels of CDK4, MYC, and CCND1. Furthermore, PPARG interference affected the mRNA and protein abundances of CREB as well as the phosphorylation of CREB but not PKA. In conclusion, our data suggest that PPARG plays an important role in regulating E2 synthesis, cell apoptosis, and proliferation of goat GCs, including the CREB expression and phosphorylation. These results provide evidences for the in-depth study of PPARG in the regulation of goat GCs function.

Exploring the therapeutic targets of stevioside in management of type 2 diabetes by network pharmacology and in-silico approach.

AIMS: The main objective of the current study is to investigate the pathways and therapeutic targets linked to stevioside in the management of T2D using computational approaches. METHODS: We collected RNA-seq datasets from NCBI, then employed GREIN to retrieve differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Computer-assisted techniques DAVID, STRING and NetworkAnalyst were used to explore common significant pathways and therapeutic targets associated with T2D and stevioside. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were conducted to validate the interaction between stevioside and therapeutic targets. RESULTS: Gene ontology and KEGG analysis revealed that prostaglandin synthesis, IL-17 signaling, inflammatory response, and interleukin signaling were potential pathways targeted by stevioside in T2D. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) analysis identified six common hub proteins (PPARG, PTGS2, CXCL8, CCL2, PTPRC, and EDN1). Molecular docking results showed best binding of stevioside to PPARG (-8 kcal/mol) and PTGS2 (-10.1 kcal/mol). Finally, 100 ns molecular dynamics demonstrated that the binding stability between stevioside and target protein (PPARG and PTGS2) falls within the acceptable range. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that stevioside exhibits significant potential in controlling T2D by targeting key pathways and stably binding to PPARG and PTGS2. Further research is necessary to confirm and expand upon these significant computational results.

Piperine's potential in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome explored through in-silico docking.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted metabolic and hormonal condition that impacts women in their procreative ages, identified by ovarian dysfunction, hyperandrogenaemia overweight and insulin insensitivity. The piperine, an important alkaloid compound of black pepper has shown promise in modulating various physiological processes. In this work, employed computational docking studies to explore the potential of piperine as a treatment for PCOS. Utilizing computational methods, we analyzed the binding interactions between piperine and key molecular targets implicated in PCOS pathogenesis, including hyperandrogenism, and "oligomenorrhea. The network pharmacology analysis report found 988 PCOS-related genes, 108 hyperandrogenism-related genes, and 377 oligomenorrhea-related genes, and we finally shortlisted 5 common genes in PCOS, hyperandrogenism, and "oligomenorrhea": NR3C1, PPARG, FOS, CYP17A1, and H6PD. Our results reveal favorable binding affinities with PPARG (-8.34 Kcal/mol) and H6PD (-8.70 Kcal/mol) and interaction patterns, suggesting the potential of piperine to modulate these targets. Moreover, the reliability of the piperine-target interactions was revealed by molecular simulations studies. These findings support further experimental investigations to validate the therapeutic efficacy of piperine in PCOS management. The integration of computational approaches with experimental studies has the potential to lay the groundwork for the creation of new therapies specifically targeting PCOS and related endocrine disorders.

A Method for Predicting Allelic Variants of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

INTRODUCTION: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are pivotal in clinical genetics, serving to link genotypes with disease susceptibility and response to environmental factors, including pharmacogenetics. They also play a crucial role in population genetics for mapping the human genome and localizing genes. Despite their utility, challenges arise when molecular genetic studies yield insufficient or uninformative data, particularly for socially significant diseases. This study aims to address these gaps by proposing a method to predict allelic variants of SNPs. METHOD: Using quantitative PCR and analyzing body composition data from 150 patients with their voluntary informed consent, we employed IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0 for data analysis. Our prototype formula, exemplified by allelic variant ADRB2 (rs1042713) = 0.257 + 0.639 * allelic variant ADRB2 (rs1042714) - 0.314 * allelic variant ADRB3 (rs4994) + 0.191 * allelic variant PPARA (rs4253778) - 0.218 * allelic variant PPARD (rs2016520) + 0.027 * body weight + 0.00001 * body weight², demonstrates the feasibility of predicting SNP allelic variants. RESULTS: This method holds promise for diverse diseases, including those of significant social impact, due to its potential to streamline and economize molecular genetic research. Its ability to stratify disease risk in the absence of complete SNP data makes it particularly compelling for clinical and laboratory geneticists. CONCLUSION: However, its translation into clinical practice necessitates the establishment of a comprehensive SNP database, especially for frequently analyzed SNPs within the implementing institution.

Contractile regulation of the glucocorticoid-sensitive transcriptome in young and aged skeletal muscle.

Elevated glucocorticoids alter the skeletal muscle transcriptome to induce a myopathy characterized by muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, and decreased metabolic function. These effects are more likely to occur and be more severe in aged muscles. Resistance exercise can blunt the development of glucocorticoid myopathy in young muscle, but the potential to oppose the signals initiating myopathy in aged muscle is unknown. To answer this, young (4-mo-old) and aged (24-to 25-mo-old) male C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive either an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of dexamethasone (DEX; 2 mg/kg) or saline as a control. Two hours postinjections, the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of mice were subjected to unilateral high-force contractions. Muscles were harvested 4 h later. The glucocorticoid- and contraction-sensitive genes were determined by RNA sequencing. The number of glucocorticoid-sensitive genes was similar between young and aged muscle. Contractions opposed changes to more glucocorticoid-sensitive genes in aged muscle, with this outcome primarily occurring when hormone levels were elevated. Glucocorticoid-sensitive gene programs opposed by contractions were primarily related to metabolism in young mice and muscle size regulation and inflammation in aged mice. In silico analysis implied peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-1 (PPARG) contributed to the contraction-induced opposition of glucocorticoid-sensitive genes in aged muscle. Increasing PPARG expression in the TA of aged mice using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 partially counteracted the glucocorticoid-induced reduction in runt-related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) mRNA content, recapitulating the effects observed by contractions. Overall, these data contribute to our understanding of the contractile regulation of the glucocorticoid transcriptome in aged skeletal muscle.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We establish the extent to which muscle contractions oppose changes to the glucocorticoid-sensitive transcriptome in both young and aged muscle. We also identify peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) as a transcription factor likely contributing to contraction-induced opposition to the glucocorticoid transcriptome in aged muscle. Overall, these data contribute to our understanding of the contractile regulation of the glucocorticoid transcriptome.

Thyroiditis and Thyroid Cancer: Bioinformatics Analysis of Gene Expression Data.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) association with thyroid lymphoma is well established; however, the association with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is still unclear. Thyroid cancer incidence has shown an increasing trend in recent years. It is characterized by slow growth, making it generally amenable to successful treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We aimed to identify genes considered as promising biomarkers of the progression from thyroiditis to thyroid cancer in public gene expression datasets. RESULTS: We identified 70 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and used them to prioritize biological risk genes for thyroiditis and thyroid cancer. Statistics and a scoring system based on six functional annotations of significant biological impact identified four genes of interest: CXCR4, IL6ST, PPARG and TP53. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to assess the expression levels related to overall survival. Furthermore, a manual bibliographic search was carried out for each gene, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built to verify their known associations. CONCLUSION: The results showed that all four genes (CXCR4, IL6ST, PPARG, TP53) were highly relevant to thyroiditis and thyroid cancer, thus making them worthy of further investigation to understand their relationship with these two diseases.

A cohort analysis of familial partial lipodystrophy from two Mediterranean countries.

AIM: To assess the disease burden of familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) caused by LMNA (FPLD2) and PPARG (FPLD3) variants to augment the knowledge of these rare disorders characterized by selective fat loss and metabolic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational longitudinal study, including 157 patients (FPLD2: 139 patients, mean age 46 ± 17 years, 70% women; FPLD3: 18 patients, mean age: 44 ± 17 years, 78% women) from 66 independent families in two countries (83 from Turkey and 74 from Spain), was conducted. RESULTS: Patients were diagnosed at a mean age of 39 ± 19 years, 20 ± 16 years after the first clinical signs appeared. Men reported symptoms later than women. Symptom onset was earlier in FPLD2. Fat loss was less prominent in FPLD3. In total, 92 subjects (59%) had diabetes (age at diagnosis: 34 ± 1 years). Retinopathy was more commonly detected in FPLD3 (P < .05). Severe hypertriglyceridaemia was more frequent among patients with FPLD3 (44% vs. 17%, P = .01). Hepatic steatosis was detected in 100 subjects (66%) (age at diagnosis: 36 ± 2 years). Coronary artery disease developed in 26 patients (17%) and 17 (11%) suffered from a myocardial infarction. Turkish patients had a lower body mass index, a higher prevalence of hepatic steatosis, greater triglyceride levels and a tendency towards a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease. A total of 17 patients died, with a mean time to death of 75 ± 3 years, which was shorter in the Turkish cohort (68 ± 2 vs. 83 ± 4 years, P = .01). Cardiovascular events were a major cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis highlights severe organ complications in patients with FPLD, showing differences between genotypes and Mediterranean countries. FPLD3 presents a milder phenotype than FPLD2, but with comparable or even greater severity of metabolic disturbances.

PPARG in osteocytes controls cell bioenergetics and systemic energy metabolism independently of sclerostin levels in circulation.

OBJECTIVE: The skeleton is one of the largest organs in the body, wherein metabolism is integrated with systemic energy metabolism. However, the bioenergetic programming of osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells coordinating bone metabolism, is not well defined. Here, using a mouse model with partial penetration of an osteocyte-specific PPARG deletion, we demonstrate that PPARG controls osteocyte bioenergetics and their contribution to systemic energy metabolism independently of circulating sclerostin levels, which were previously correlated with metabolic status of extramedullary fat depots. METHODS: In vivo and in vitro models of osteocyte-specific PPARG deletion, i.e. Dmp1CrePparγflfl male and female mice (γOTKO) and MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cells with either siRNA-silenced or CRISPR/Cas9-edited Pparγ. As applicable, the models were analyzed for levels of energy metabolism, glucose metabolism, and metabolic profile of extramedullary adipose tissue, as well as the osteocyte transcriptome, mitochondrial function, bioenergetics, insulin signaling, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Circulating sclerostin levels of γOTKO male and female mice were not different from control mice. Male γOTKO mice exhibited a high energy phenotype characterized by increased respiration, heat production, locomotion and food intake. This high energy phenotype in males did not correlate with "beiging" of peripheral adipose depots. However, both sexes showed a trend for reduced fat mass and apparent insulin resistance without changes in glucose tolerance, which correlated with decreased osteocytic responsiveness to insulin measured by AKT activation. The transcriptome of osteocytes isolated from γOTKO males suggested profound changes in cellular metabolism, fuel transport, mitochondria dysfunction, insulin signaling and increased oxidative stress. In MLO-Y4 osteocytes, PPARG deficiency correlated with highly active mitochondria, increased ATP production, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). CONCLUSIONS: PPARG in male osteocytes acts as a molecular break on mitochondrial function, and protection against oxidative stress and ROS accumulation. It also regulates osteocyte insulin signaling and fuel usage to produce energy. These data provide insight into the connection between osteocyte bioenergetics and their sex-specific contribution to the balance of systemic energy metabolism. These findings support the concept that the skeleton controls systemic energy expenditure via osteocyte metabolism.

Circulating exosomal circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in a familial partial lipodystrophy type 3 family with a novel PPARG frameshift mutation c.418dup.

Familial partial lipodystrophy 3 (FPLD3) is a rare genetic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the PPARG gene, characterized by a selective absence of subcutaneous fat and associated metabolic complications. However, the molecular mechanisms of FPLD3 remain unclear. In this study, we recruited a 17-yr-old Chinese female with FPLD3 and her family, identifying a novel PPARG frameshift mutation (exon 4: c.418dup: p.R140Kfs*7) that truncates the PPARγ protein at the seventh amino acid, significantly expanding the genetic landscape of FPLD3. By performing next-generation sequencing of circular RNAs (circRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in plasma exosomes, we discovered 59 circRNAs, 57 miRNAs, and 299 mRNAs were significantly altered in the mutation carriers compared with the healthy controls. Integration analysis highlighted that the circ_0001597-miR-671-5p pair and 18 mRNAs might be incorporated into the metabolic regulatory networks of the FPLD3 induced by the novel PPARG mutation. Functional annotation suggested that these genes were significantly enriched in glucose- and lipid metabolism-related pathways. Among the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, we identified two critical regulators, early growth response-1 (EGR1), a key transcription factor known for its role in insulin signaling pathways and lipid metabolism, and 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3), which gets involved in the biosynthesis of triglycerides and lipolysis. Circ_0001597 regulates the expression of these genes through miR-671-5p, potentially contributing to the pathophysiology of FPLD3. Overall, this study clarified a circulating exosomal circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in a FPLD3 family with a novel PPARG mutation, providing evidence for exploring promising biomarkers and developing novel therapeutic strategies for this rare genetic disorder.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Through the establishment of a ceRNA regulatory networks in a novel PPARG frameshift mutation c.418dup-induced FPLD3 pedigree, this study reveals that circ_0001597 may contribute to the pathophysiology of FPLD3 by sequestering miR-671-5p to regulate the expression of EGR1 and AGPAT3, pivotal genes situated in the triglyceride (TG) synthesis and lipolysis pathways. Current findings expand our molecular understanding of adipose tissue dysfunction, providing potential blood biomarkers and therapeutic avenues for lipodystrophy and associated metabolic complications.

Association between genetically proxied PPARG activation and psoriasis vulgaris: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common autoimmune disease in clinical practice, and previous observational studies have suggested that PPARG agonists such as Pioglitazone may be potential therapeutic agents. However, due to interference from various confounding factors, different observational studies have not reached a unified conclusion. We aim to evaluate the potential use of PPARG agonists for treating psoriasis from a new perspective through drug-targeted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes data on 8,876 individuals for acute myocardial infarction from GWAS, and LDL cholesterol data from 343,621 Europeans. FinnGen contributed psoriasis vulgaris data for 403,972 individuals. The DrugBank10 databases function to identify genes encoding protein products targeted by active constituents of lipid-modifying targets. A two-sample MR analysis and summary-data-based MR (SMR) analysis estimated the associations between expressions of drug target genes and symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris. A multivariable MR study was further conducted to examine if the observed association was direct association. RESULTS: SMR analysis revealed that enhanced PPARG gene expression in the blood (equivalent to a one standard deviation increase) was a protective factor for psoriasis vulgaris (beta = -0.2017, se = 0.0723, p = 0.0053). Besides, there exists an MR association between LDL mediated by PPARG and psoriasis vulgaris outcomes (beta = -3.9169, se = 0.5676, p = 5.17E-12). These results indicate that PPARG is a therapeutic target for psoriasis, suggesting that psoriasis may be a potential indication for PPARG agonists. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that therapeutic activation of PPARG helps suppress the development of psoriasis. Psoriasis may be a new indication for PPARG agonists, such as Pioglitazone. In the future, new anti-psoriatic drugs could be developed targeting PPARG.

The Analysis of ECE1 and PPARG Variants in the Development of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women.

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial systemic skeletal disease that is characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD) and the microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility. The search for new genes that may play an important role in the regulation of bone mass and the development of osteoporosis is ongoing. Recently, it was found that altering the activity of the endothelin-1-converting enzyme encoded by the ECE1 gene may affect bone mineral density (BMD). Another gene involved in the process of osteoblast differentiation and maturation is believed to be PPARG (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma). This participates in regulating the transformation of stem cells and affects the process of bone formation and resorption. Therefore, we analyzed the association of the ECE1 and PPARG variants with osteopenia and osteoporosis risk in the Polish population. This study included a group (n = 608) of unrelated Polish women (245 individuals with osteoporosis (aged: 57 ± 9), 109 individuals with osteopenia (aged: 53 ± 8) and 254 healthy controls (aged: 54 ± 8)). The real-time PCR technique was used to determine the genetic variants for rs213045 (-338G>T) and rs213046 (-839A>C) of the ECE1 gene and rs1801282 (Pro12Ala, C>G) of the PPARG gene. Analysis of the PPARG rs1801282 variants did not show any association with the risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia. However, in the densitometric results, lower median Z-score values were observed for the T allele compared to the G allele for the rs213045 variant of the ECE1 gene (-1.11 ± 1.07 vs. -0.78 ± 1.21, p = 0.021). Moreover, the TT genotype for the rs213045 variant was more common in women with osteopenia (13.8%, OR = 2.82, p < 0.05) and osteoporosis (7.8%, OR = 1.38, p > 0.05) compared to the control group (5.5%). Additionally, our results suggested that the T allele of rs213045 was more common in women with osteopenia compared to the controls. We further observed that the haplotype containing two major GA alleles of ECE1 (rs213045, rs213046) could reduce the risk of osteopenia in our population. Finally, we found that women with osteoporosis had statistically significantly lower body mass and BMI values compared to the control group. Our results suggest that the ECE1 rs213045 variant may increase the risk of osteopenia. However, the data obtained require confirmation in further studies.

PPARG is dispensable for bovine embryo development up to tubular stages†.

Following blastocyst hatching, ungulate embryos undergo a prolonged preimplantation period termed conceptus elongation. Conceptus elongation constitutes a highly susceptible period for embryonic loss, and the embryonic requirements during this process are largely unknown, but multiple lipid compounds have been identified in the fluid nourishing the elongating conceptuses. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors mediate the signaling actions of prostaglandins and other lipids, and, between them, PPARG has been pointed out to play a relevant role in conceptus elongation by a functional study that depleted PPARG in both uterus and conceptus. The objective of this study has been to determine if embryonic PPARG is required for bovine embryo development. To that aim, we have generated bovine PPARG knock-out embryos in vitro using two independent gene ablation strategies and assessed their developmental ability. In vitro development to Day 8 blastocyst was unaffected by PPARG ablation, as total, inner cell mass, and trophectoderm cell numbers were similar between wild-type and knock-out D8 embryos. In vitro post-hatching development to D12 was also comparable between different genotypes, as embryo diameter, epiblast cell number, embryonic disk formation, and hypoblast migration rates were unaffected by the ablation. The development of tubular stages equivalent to E14 was assessed in vivo, following a heterologous embryo transfer experiment, observing that the development of extra-embryonic membranes and of the embryonic disk was not altered by PPARG ablation. In conclusion, PPARG ablation did not impaired bovine embryo development up to tubular stages.

Identification and experimental validation of immune-related gene PPARG is involved in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) is believed to be heavily influenced by immunology, which presents challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. The main aims of this study are to deepen our understanding of the immunological characteristics associated with the disease and to identify valuable biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: The UC datasets were sourced from the GEO database and were analyzed using unsupervised clustering to identify different subtypes of UC. Twelve machine learning algorithms and Deep learning model DNN were developed to identify potential UC biomarkers, with the LIME and SHAP methods used to explain the models' findings. PPI network is used to verify the identified key biomarkers, and then a network connecting super enhancers, transcription factors and genes is constructed. Single-cell sequencing technology was utilized to investigate the role of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARG) in UC and its correlation with macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, alterations in PPARG expression were validated through Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULT: By utilizing bioinformatics techniques, we were able to pinpoint PPARG as a key biomarker for UC. The expression of PPARG was significantly reduced in cell models, UC animal models, and colitis models induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Interestingly, overexpression of PPARG was able to restore intestinal barrier function in H2O2-induced IEC-6 cells. Additionally, immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) allowed for efficient classification of UC samples into neutrophil and mitochondrial metabolic subtypes. A diagnostic model incorporating the three disease-specific genes PPARG, PLA2G2A, and IDO1 demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing between the UC group and the control group. Furthermore, single-cell analysis revealed that decreased PPARG expression in colon tissue may contribute to the polarization of M1 macrophages through activation of inflammatory pathways. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PPARG, a gene related to immunity, has been established as a reliable potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of UC. The immune response it controls plays a key role in the progression and development of UC by enabling interaction between characteristic biomarkers and immune infiltrating cells.

HER2 overexpression in urothelial carcinoma with GATA3 and PPARG copy number gains.

HER2, encoded by the ERBB2 gene, is an important druggable driver of human cancer gaining increasing importance as a therapeutic target in urothelial carcinoma (UC). The genomic underpinnings of HER2 overexpression in ERBB2 nonamplified UC are poorly defined. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated 172 UC tumors from patients treated at the University of California San Francisco, using immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing. We found that GATA3 and PPARG copy number gains individually predicted HER2 protein expression independently of ERBB2 amplification. To validate these findings, we interrogated the Memorial Sloan Kettering/The Cancer Genome Atlas (MSK/TCGA) dataset and found that GATA3 and PPARG copy number gains individually predicted ERBB2 mRNA expression independently of ERBB2 amplification. Our findings reveal a potential link between the luminal marker HER2 and the key transcription factors GATA3 and PPARG in UC and highlight the utility of examining GATA3 and PPARG copy number states to identify UC tumors that overexpress HER2 in the absence of ERBB2 amplification. In summary, we found that an increase in copy number of GATA3 and PPARG was independently associated with higher ERBB2 expression in patient samples of UC. This finding provides a potential explanation for HER2 overexpression in UC tumors without ERBB2 amplification and a way to identify these tumors for HER2-targeted therapies.

A Characterization and Functional Analysis of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Splicing Variants in the Buffalo Mammary Gland.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG) has various splicing variants and plays essential roles in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. However, little is known about the expression pattern and effect of the PPARG on milk fat synthesis in the buffalo mammary gland. In this study, we found that only PPARG-X17 and PPARG-X21 of the splicing variant were expressed in the buffalo mammary gland. Amino acid sequence characterization showed that the proteins encoded by PPARG-X17 and PPARG-X21 are endonuclear non-secreted hydrophilic proteins. Protein domain prediction found that only the PPARG-X21-encoded protein had PPAR ligand-binding domains (NR_LBD_PPAR), which may lead to functional differences between the two splices. RNA interference (RNAi) and the overexpression of PPARG-X17 and PPARG-X21 in buffalo mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were performed. Results showed that the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes (ACACA, CD36, ACSL1, GPAT, AGPAT6, DGAT1) was significantly modified (p < 0.05) by the RNAi and overexpression of PPARG-X17 and PPARG-X21. All kinds of FAs detected in this study were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after RNAi of PPARG-X17 or PPARG-X21. Overexpression of PPARG-X17 or PPARG-X21 significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the SFA content, while significantly increased (p < 0.05) the UFA, especially the MUFA in the BMECs. In conclusion, there are two PPARG splicing variants expressed in the BMECs that can regulate FA synthesis by altering the expression of diverse fatty acid synthesis-related genes. This study revealed the expression characteristics and functions of the PPARG gene in buffalo mammary glands and provided a reference for further understanding of fat synthesis in buffalo milk.

Specific differences and novel key regulatory genes of sex in influencing exceptional longevity phenotypes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although the life expectancy of women systematically and robustly exceeds that of men, specific differences and molecular mechanisms of sex in influencing longevity phenotypes remain largely unknown. Therefore, we performed transcriptome sequencing of peripheral blood samples to explore regulatory mechanisms of healthy longevity by incorporating sex data. METHODS: We selected 34 exceptional longevity (age: 98.26 ± 2.45 years) and 16 controls (age: 52.81 ± 9.78) without advanced outcomes from 1363 longevity and 692 controls recruited from Nanning of Guangxi for RNA sequencing 1. The transcriptome sequencing 1 data of 50 samples were compared by longevity and sex to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, 121 aging samples (40-110 years old) without advanced outcomes from 355 longevity and 294 controls recruited from Dongxing of Guangxi were selected for RNA sequencing 2. The genes associated with aging from the transcriptome sequencing 2 of 121 aging samples were filtered out. Finally, the gender-related longevity candidate genes and their possible metabolic pathways were verified by cell model of aging and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Metabolism differs between male and female and plays a key role in longevity. Moreover, the principal findings of this study revealed a novel key gene, UGT2B11, that plays an important role in regulating lipid metabolism through the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG) signalling pathway and ultimately improving lifespan, particularly in females. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest specific differences in metabolism affecting exceptional longevity phenotypes between the sexes and offer novel therapeutic targets to extend lifespan by regulating lipid homeostasis.

PPARG-mediated autophagy activation alleviates inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and bone damage, that not only restricts patient activity but also tends to be accompanied by a series of complications, seriously affecting patient prognosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), a receptor that controls cellular metabolism, regulates the function of immune cells and stromal cells. Previous studies have shown that PPARG is closely related to the regulation of inflammation. However, the role of PPARG in regulating the pathological processes of RA is poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PPARG expression was examined in the synovial tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients and the paw of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model rats. Molecular biology experiments were designed to examine the effect of PPARG and cannabidiol (CBD) on RAW264.7 cells and CIA rats. RESULTS: The results reveal that PPARG accelerates reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance by promoting autophagy, thereby inhibiting ROS-mediated macrophage polarization and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, CBD may be a promising candidate for understanding the mechanism by which PPARG regulates autophagy-mediated inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings indicate that PPARG may have a role for distinguishing between RA patients and healthy control, and for distinguishing RA activity; moreover, PPARG could be a novel pharmacological target for alleviating RA through the mediation of autophagy. CBD can act as a PPARG agonist that alleviates the inflammatory progression of RA.

The cooperative regulatory effect of the miRNA-130 family on milk fat metabolism in dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: There is a strong relationship between the content of beneficial fatty acids in milk and milk fat metabolic activity in the mammary gland. To improve milk quality, it is therefore necessary to study fatty acid metabolism in bovine mammary gland tissue. In adipose tissue, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), the core transcription factor, regulates the fatty acid metabolism gene network and determines fatty acid deposition. However, its regulatory effects on mammary gland fatty acid metabolism during lactation have rarely been reported. METHODS: Transcriptome sequencing was performed during the prelactation period and the peak lactation period to examine mRNA expression. The significant upregulation of PPARG drew our attention and led us to conduct further research. RESULTS: According to bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter system detection, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, miR-130a and miR-130b could directly target PPARG and inhibit its expression. Furthermore, triglyceride and oil red O staining proved that miR-130a and miR-130b inhibited milk fat metabolism in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs), while PPARG promoted this metabolism. In addition, we also found that the coexpression of miR-130a and miR-130b significantly enhanced their ability to regulate milk fat metabolism. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings indicated that miR-130a and miR-130b could target and repress PPARG and that they also have a functional superposition effect. miR-130a and miR-130b seem to synergistically regulate lipid catabolism via the control of PPARG in BMECs. In the long-term, these findings might be helpful in developing practical means to improve high-quality milk.

Nobiletin alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting lipid uptake via the PPARG/CD36 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a persistent inflammatory condition triggered and exacerbated by several factors including lipid accumulation, endothelial dysfunction and macrophages infiltration. Nobiletin (NOB) has been reported to alleviate atherosclerosis; however, the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. METHODS: This study involved comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, including multidatabase target prediction; GO and KEGG enrichment analyses for function and pathway exploration; DeepSite and AutoDock for drug binding site prediction; and CIBERSORT for immune cell involvement. In addition, target intervention was verified via cell scratch assays, oil red O staining, ELISA, flow cytometry, qRT‒PCR and Western blotting. In addition, by establishing a mouse model of AS, it was demonstrated that NOB attenuated lipid accumulation and the extent of atherosclerotic lesions. RESULTS: (1) Altogether, 141 potentially targetable genes were identified through which NOB could intervene in atherosclerosis. (2) Lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis may be the dominant pathways and potential mechanisms. (3) ALB, AKT1, CASP3 and 7 other genes were identified as the top 10 target genes. (4) Six genes, including PPARG, MMP9, SRC and 3 other genes, were related to the M0 fraction. (5) CD36 and PPARG were upregulated in atherosclerosis samples compared to the normal control. (6) By inhibiting lipid uptake in RAW264.7 cells, NOB prevents the formation of foam cell. (7) In RAW264.7 cells, the inhibitory effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein on foam cells formation and lipid accumulation was closely associated with the PPARG signaling pathway. (8) In vivo validation showed that NOB significantly attenuated intra-arterial lipid accumulation and macrophage infiltration and reduced CD36 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Nobiletin alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting lipid uptake via the PPARG/CD36 pathway.

Association of Polymorphic Variants of TCF7L2 and PPARG Genes with Metabolic Markers in Patients with Early Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolism.

We performed complex analysis of the association of polymorphic variants rs7903146 of the TCF7L2 gene and rs1801282 of the PPARG gene with metabolic parameters, insulin resistance, and ß-cell function in a group of patients with early signs of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in a sample of Tyumen citizens. The study group consisted of 64 people (39 women, 25 men) aged 40-70 years. The distribution of frequencies of alleles and genotypes of the polymorphic markers rs7903146 and rs1801282 was analyzed and associations of carriage of major homozygous polymorphisms with various phenotypic traits were identified. Genotyping for polymorphic variants of TCF7L2 and PPARG genes was performed using allele-specific PCR with primers provided by Synthol company. Carriers of homozygotes for allele C of the polymorphic marker rs7903146 significantly differed from other respondents by a higher level of C-peptide, as well as by the presence of associations with waist circumference, elevated level of glycated hemoglobin, and arterial hypertension. Carriers of homozygotes for the allele C of the rs1801282 polymorphism of the PPARG gene differed from the group of carriers of homozygotes for the allele G and the group of heterozygote carriers by higher levels of triglycerides, as well as the presence of associations with waist circumference and the level of glycated hemoglobin.