Importance of endothelial Hey1 expression for thoracic great vessel development and its distal enhancer for Notch-dependent endothelial transcription.

Thoracic great vessels such as the aorta and subclavian arteries are formed through dynamic remodeling of embryonic pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs). Previous work has shown that loss of a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hey1 in mice causes abnormal fourth PAA development and lethal great vessel anomalies resembling congenital malformations in humans. However, how Hey1 mediates vascular formation remains unclear. In this study, we revealed that Hey1 in vascular endothelial cells, but not in smooth muscle cells, played essential roles for PAA development and great vessel morphogenesis in mouse embryos. Tek-Cre-mediated Hey1 deletion in endothelial cells affected endothelial tube formation and smooth muscle differentiation in embryonic fourth PAAs and resulted in interruption of the aortic arch and other great vessel malformations. Cell specificity and signal responsiveness of Hey1 expression were controlled through multiple cis-regulatory regions. We found two distal genomic regions that had enhancer activity in endothelial cells and in the pharyngeal epithelium and somites, respectively. The novel endothelial enhancer was conserved across species and was specific to large-caliber arteries. Its transcriptional activity was regulated by Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo, but not by ALK1 signaling and other transcription factors implicated in endothelial cell specificity. The distal endothelial enhancer was not essential for basal Hey1 expression in mouse embryos but may likely serve for Notch-dependent transcriptional control in endothelial cells together with the proximal regulatory region. These findings help in understanding the significance and regulation of endothelial Hey1 as a mediator of multiple signaling pathways in embryonic vascular formation.

Diverse effects of G-protein-coupled free fatty acid receptors on the regulation of cellular functions in lung cancer cells.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are dietary nutrients which mediate a variety of biological effects through binding to G-protein-coupled FFA receptors (FFARs). G-protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) and GPR40 are identified as FFARs for long- and medium-chain fatty acids. Here we investigated whether GPR120 and GPR40 are involved in the acquisition of malignant properties in lung cancer cells. Three lung cancer RLCNR, LL/2 and A549 cells used in this study expressed GPR120 and GPR40 genes. The cell motile activities of all cells were significantly suppressed by a GPR40 antagonist GW1100. In addition, GPR40 knockdown inhibited the cell motile activity of A549 cells. In gelatin zymography, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity in GPR40 knockdown was significantly lower than that in control cells. Next, to evaluate effects of GPR120 and GPR40 on cellular functions induced by anti-cancer drug, the long-term cisplatin (CDDP) treated (A549-CDDP) cells were generated. The expression levels of GPR120 and GPR40 were significantly decreased in A549-CDDP cells. While A549-CDDP cells showed the high cell motile activity, GW1100 suppressed the cell motile activity of A549-CDDP cells. These results demonstrate that GPR120 negatively and GPR40 positively regulate cellular functions during tumor progression in lung cancer cells.

Correction: Improvement of loperamide-induced slow transit constipation by Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 is mediated by the correction of butyrate production and neurotransmitter profile due to improvement in dysbiosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248584.].

Improvement of loperamide-induced slow transit constipation by Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 is mediated by the correction of butyrate production and neurotransmitter profile due to improvement in dysbiosis.

A treatment option for constipation that improves the quality of life is needed since available laxatives do not effectively improve the quality of life in patients with constipation. A significant association between gut dysbiosis and constipation is recognized, suggesting that probiotics may be an important option for management of constipation. The underlying mechanism by which probiotics improve constipation remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1) on loperamide-induced delayed colonic transit constipation and to elucidate its mechanism of action. First, the effect of BBG9-1 was evaluated in a rat model of constipation induced by subcutaneous administration of loperamide. BBG9-1 improved constipation parameters (number of feces, fecal water content, and fecal hardness) in constipated rats. Next, the relationship of organic acids and neurotransmitters to gut microbiota was investigated. BBG9-1 improved dysbiosis and prevented a decrease in butyric acid concentration in the gut, increased serum serotonin, and suppressed an increase in dopamine and a decrease in acetylcholine in serum. Further, an increase in the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1, a 5-HT-synthetizing enzyme, was observed. These results suggest that BBG9-1 improves dysbiosis, which results in an increase in organic acids and improvement of neurotransmission. These actions may increase intestinal mobility, finally leading to alleviating constipation. The probiotic BBG9-1 may, therefore, be a potential option for the treatment of constipation.