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1.
Cell ; 179(6): 1409-1423.e17, 2019 11 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31778655

ABSTRACT

The evolution of flight in feathered dinosaurs and early birds over millions of years required flight feathers whose architecture features hierarchical branches. While barb-based feather forms were investigated, feather shafts and vanes are understudied. Here, we take a multi-disciplinary approach to study their molecular control and bio-architectural organizations. In rachidial ridges, epidermal progenitors generate cortex and medullary keratinocytes, guided by Bmp and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) signaling that convert rachides into adaptable bilayer composite beams. In barb ridges, epidermal progenitors generate cylindrical, plate-, or hooklet-shaped barbule cells that form fluffy branches or pennaceous vanes, mediated by asymmetric cell junction and keratin expression. Transcriptome analyses and functional studies show anterior-posterior Wnt2b signaling within the dermal papilla controls barbule cell fates with spatiotemporal collinearity. Quantitative bio-physical analyses of feathers from birds with different flight characteristics and feathers in Burmese amber reveal how multi-dimensional functionality can be achieved and may inspire future composite material designs. VIDEO ABSTRACT.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological , Feathers/anatomy & histology , Feathers/physiology , Flight, Animal/physiology , Animals , Biological Evolution , Birds/anatomy & histology , Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism , Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Dermis/anatomy & histology , Stem Cells/cytology , Time Factors , Transcriptome/genetics , Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics
2.
Immunity ; 56(12): 2773-2789.e8, 2023 Dec 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37992711

ABSTRACT

Although the gut microbiota can influence central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases, the contribution of the intestinal epithelium to CNS autoimmunity is less clear. Here, we showed that intestinal epithelial dopamine D2 receptors (IEC DRD2) promoted sex-specific disease progression in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Female mice lacking Drd2 selectively in intestinal epithelial cells showed a blunted inflammatory response in the CNS and reduced disease progression. In contrast, overexpression or activation of IEC DRD2 by phenylethylamine administration exacerbated disease severity. This was accompanied by altered lysozyme expression and gut microbiota composition, including reduced abundance of Lactobacillus species. Furthermore, treatment with N2-acetyl-L-lysine, a metabolite derived from Lactobacillus, suppressed microglial activation and neurodegeneration. Taken together, our study indicates that IEC DRD2 hyperactivity impacts gut microbial abundances and increases susceptibility to CNS autoimmune diseases in a female-biased manner, opening up future avenues for sex-specific interventions of CNS autoimmune diseases.


Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System , Multiple Sclerosis , Male , Female , Mice , Animals , Multiple Sclerosis/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Signal Transduction , Disease Progression , Receptors, Dopamine
3.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(44): e2408354121, 2024 Oct 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39446384

ABSTRACT

Aerobic glycolysis and immune evasion are two key hallmarks of cancer. However, how these two features are mechanistically linked to promote tumor growth is not well understood. Here, we show that the glycolytic enzyme enolase-1 (ENO1) is dynamically modified with an O-linked ß-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcylation), and simultaneously regulates aerobic glycolysis and immune evasion via differential glycosylation. Glycosylation of threonine 19 (T19) on ENO1 promotes its glycolytic activity via the formation of active dimers. On the other hand, glycosylation of serine 249 (S249) on ENO1 inhibits its interaction with PD-L1, decreases association of PD-L1 with the E3 ligase STUB1, resulting in stabilization of PD-L1. Consequently, blockade of T19 glycosylation on ENO1 inhibits glycolysis, and decreases cell proliferation and tumor growth. Blockade of S249 glycosylation on ENO1 reduces PD-L1 expression and enhances T cell-mediated immunity against tumor cells. Notably, elimination of glycosylation at both sites synergizes with PD-L1 monoclonal antibody therapy to promote antitumor immune response. Clinically, ENO1 glycosylation levels are up-regulated and show a positive correlation with PD-L1 levels in human colorectal cancers. Thus, our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of how O-GlcNAcylation bridges aerobic glycolysis and immune evasion to promote tumor growth, suggesting effective therapeutic opportunities.


Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen , Colorectal Neoplasms , DNA-Binding Proteins , Glycolysis , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase , Tumor Suppressor Proteins , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/metabolism , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/immunology , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/genetics , Humans , Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , Glycosylation , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Mice , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Animals , Immune Evasion , Cell Line, Tumor , Acetylglucosamine/metabolism , Cell Proliferation , Aerobiosis , Tumor Escape , Biomarkers, Tumor
4.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(45): e2408345121, 2024 Nov 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39475642

ABSTRACT

CRISPR-Cas13 nucleases are programmable RNA-targeting effectors that can silence gene expression in a transient manner. Recent iterations of Cas13 nucleases are compact for adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery to achieve strong and persistent expression of various organs in a safe manner. Here, we report significant transcriptomic signatures of Cas13bt3 expression in retinal cells and show all-in-one AAV gene therapy with Cas13bt3 can effectively silence VEGFA mRNA in human retinal organoids and humanized VEGF transgenic mouse (trVEGF029, Kimba) models. Specifically, human embryonic stem cells (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells show high expression of Cas13bt3 from virus delivery corresponding to a significant reduction of VEGFA mRNA. We further show that intravitreal delivery of Cas13bt3 by AAV2.7m8 can efficiently transduce mouse retinal cells for specific knockdown of human VEGFA in the Kimba mouse. Our results reveal important considerations for assessing Cas13 activity, and establish the Cas13bt3 RNA editing system as a potential anti-VEGF agent that can achieve significant control of VEGFA for the treatment of retinal neovascularization.


Subject(s)
CRISPR-Cas Systems , Dependovirus , Genetic Therapy , RNA Editing , Retina , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A , Animals , Humans , Mice , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Genetic Therapy/methods , RNA Editing/genetics , Retina/metabolism , Dependovirus/genetics , Mice, Transgenic , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism
5.
PLoS Pathog ; 20(5): e1012279, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38814988

ABSTRACT

The influenza A virus (IAV) consists of 8 single-stranded, negative-sense viral RNA (vRNA) segments. After infection, vRNA is transcribed, replicated, and wrapped by viral nucleoprotein (NP) to form viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP). The transcription, replication, and nuclear export of the viral genome are regulated by the IAV protein, NS2, which is translated from spliced mRNA transcribed from viral NS vRNA. This splicing is inefficient, explaining why NS2 is present in low abundance after IAV infection. The levels of NS2 and its subsequent accumulation are thought to influence viral RNA replication and vRNP nuclear export. Here we show that NS2 is ubiquitinated at the K64 and K88 residues by K48-linked and K63-linked polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains, leading to the degradation of NS2 by the proteasome. Additionally, we show that a host deubiquitinase, OTUB1, can remove polyUb chains conjugated to NS2, thereby stabilizing NS2. Accordingly, knock down of OTUB1 by siRNA reduces the nuclear export of vRNP, and reduces the overall production of IAV. These results collectively demonstrate that the levels of NS2 in IAV-infected cells are regulated by a ubiquitination-deubiquitination system involving OTUB1 that is necessary for optimal IAV replication.


Subject(s)
Cysteine Endopeptidases , Influenza A virus , Viral Nonstructural Proteins , Virus Replication , Animals , Dogs , Humans , Cysteine Endopeptidases/metabolism , Cysteine Endopeptidases/genetics , Deubiquitinating Enzymes/metabolism , HEK293 Cells , Influenza A virus/metabolism , Influenza, Human/metabolism , Influenza, Human/virology , RNA, Viral/metabolism , RNA, Viral/genetics , Ubiquitination , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , Virus Replication/physiology , Cell Line , Vero Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops
6.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(13): e2216796120, 2023 03 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36943877

ABSTRACT

Programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and its receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) mediate T cell-dependent immunity against tumors. The abundance of cell surface PD-L1 is a key determinant of the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy targeting PD-L1. However, the regulation of cell surface PD-L1 is still poorly understood. Here, we show that lysosomal degradation of PD-L1 is regulated by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) during the intracellular trafficking pathway. O-GlcNAc modifies the hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HGS), a key component of the endosomal sorting machinery, and subsequently inhibits its interaction with intracellular PD-L1, leading to impaired lysosomal degradation of PD-L1. O-GlcNAc inhibition activates T cell-mediated antitumor immunity in vitro and in immune-competent mice in a manner dependent on HGS glycosylation. Combination of O-GlcNAc inhibition with PD-L1 antibody synergistically promotes antitumor immune response. We also designed a competitive peptide inhibitor of HGS glycosylation that decreases PD-L1 expression and enhances T cell-mediated immunity against tumor cells. Collectively, our study reveals a link between O-GlcNAc and tumor immune evasion, and suggests strategies for improving PD-L1-mediated immune checkpoint blockade therapy.


Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen , Tumor Escape , Animals , Mice , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/metabolism , Lysosomes/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor
7.
Exp Cell Res ; 438(2): 114061, 2024 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38692345

ABSTRACT

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that has been linked to various pathological conditions. However, its exact contribution to the onset and progression of heart injury in AMI has not yet fully elucidated. Herein, we established mouse AMI model by ligating the left anterior descending artery and performed transcriptome analysis during the early phase of AMI. Mouse HL-1 and human AC-16 cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia to simulate ischemic injury in vitro. Our results revealed a significant activation of the inflammatory response at 3 h post-ligation, as confirmed by RNA sequencing. We identified the occurrence of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in the cardiac tissues of human cases with AMI, as well as in mouse models of AMI and hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes, using immunohistochemistry staining and Western blotting assays. Concurrently, pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis with MCC950 and VX-765 effectively decreased hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes injury, while mitigating myocardial oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation caused by hypoxia. Moreover, the circulating levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD), the pyroptosis executor, were remarkably elevated in the plasma of mice with early AMI and in the supernatant of hypoxia-exposed cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner using ELISA and Western blotting. Furthermore, the change in circulating GSDMD positively correlated with Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) in the plasma of early-stage AMI mouse. In summary, these findings indicated a critical role for NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in the progression of AMI, the administration of MCC950 and VX-765 may be attractive candidate therapeutic approaches for cardiac injury caused by acute hypoxia or even AMI. Additionally, the circulating GSDMD exhibits potential as a newly diagnostic biomarker for AMI.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Furans , Inflammation , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Myocardial Infarction , Myocytes, Cardiac , Oxidative Stress , Pyroptosis , Sulfonamides , Pyroptosis/drug effects , Animals , Mice , Apoptosis/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Sulfonamides/pharmacology , Humans , Inflammation/metabolism , Inflammation/pathology , Inflammation/drug therapy , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects , Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology , Male , Furans/pharmacology , Myocardial Infarction/metabolism , Myocardial Infarction/pathology , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Indenes/pharmacology , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , para-Aminobenzoates/pharmacology , Inflammasomes/metabolism , Inflammasomes/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Myocardium/metabolism , Myocardium/pathology , Hypoxia/metabolism , Hypoxia/complications , Dipeptides
8.
Exp Cell Res ; 441(2): 114172, 2024 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39053869

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the impact of age-related diseases on human health has become increasingly severe, and developing effective drugs to deal with these diseases has become an urgent task. Considering the essential regulatory role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in these diseases, it is regarded as a promising target for treatment. H2S is a novel gaseous transmitter involved in many critical physiological activities, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and angiogenesis. H2S also regulates cell activities such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy. These regulatory effects of H2S contribute to relieving and treating age-related diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on the pathogenesis and treatment prospects of H2S in regulating age-related diseases.


Subject(s)
Aging , Hydrogen Sulfide , Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism , Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology , Humans , Aging/metabolism , Animals , Autophagy/drug effects , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects
9.
Exp Cell Res ; 442(2): 114233, 2024 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39216662

ABSTRACT

Gasotransmitters are endogenous gaseous signaling molecules that can freely pass through cell membranes and transmit signals between cells, playing multiple roles in cell signal transduction. Due to extensive and ongoing research in this field, we have successfully identified many gasotransmitters so far, among which nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide are best studied. Gasotransmitters are implicated in various diseases related to necroptosis, such as cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion, infectious diseases, and neurological diseases. However, the mechanisms of their effects on necroptosis are not fully understood. This review focuses on endogenous gasotransmitter synthesis and metabolism and discusses their roles in necroptosis, aiming to offer new insights for the therapeutic approaches to necroptosis-associated diseases.


Subject(s)
Gasotransmitters , Necroptosis , Nitric Oxide , Humans , Gasotransmitters/metabolism , Animals , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism , Carbon Monoxide/metabolism
10.
Mol Cell Proteomics ; 22(8): 100605, 2023 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37353005

ABSTRACT

Proteomic studies in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) could offer new insight into disease mechanisms underpinned by post-transcriptional processes. We used stable isotope (deuterium oxide; D2O) labeling and peptide mass spectrometry to investigate the abundance and turnover rates of proteins in cultured muscle cells from two individuals affected by FSHD and their unaffected siblings (UASb). We measured the abundance of 4420 proteins and the turnover rate of 2324 proteins in each (n = 4) myoblast sample. FSHD myoblasts exhibited a greater abundance but slower turnover rate of subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, which may indicate an accumulation of "older" less viable mitochondrial proteins in myoblasts from individuals affected by FSHD. Treatment with a 2'-O-methoxyethyl modified antisense oligonucleotide targeting exon 3 of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) transcript tended to reverse mitochondrial protein dysregulation in FSHD myoblasts, indicating the effect on mitochondrial proteins may be a DUX4-dependent mechanism. Our results highlight the importance of post-transcriptional processes and protein turnover in FSHD pathology and provide a resource for the FSHD research community to explore this burgeoning aspect of FSHD.


Subject(s)
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral , Humans , Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/genetics , Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/metabolism , Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/pathology , Proteome/metabolism , Proteomics , Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism , Myoblasts/metabolism , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
11.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 119(10): e2107453119, 2022 03 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35239437

ABSTRACT

SignificanceEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most important membrane receptors that transduce growth signals into cells to sustain cell growth, proliferation, and survival. EGFR signal termination is initiated by EGFR internalization, followed by trafficking through endosomes, and degradation in lysosomes. How this process is regulated is still poorly understood. Here, we show that hepatocyte growth factor regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HGS), a key protein in the EGFR trafficking pathway, is dynamically modified by a single sugar N-acetylglucosamine. This modification inhibits EGFR trafficking from endosomes to lysosomes, leading to the accumulation of EGFR and prolonged signaling. This study provides an important insight into diseases with aberrant growth factor signaling, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes.


Subject(s)
Endosomes/metabolism , Lysosomes/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Acylation/genetics , Endosomes/genetics , ErbB Receptors/genetics , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Hep G2 Cells , Humans , Lysosomes/genetics , Protein Transport/genetics
12.
BMC Biol ; 22(1): 70, 2024 Mar 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38519936

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Eriophyoid mites (Eriophyoidea) are among the largest groups in the Acariformes; they are strictly phytophagous. The higher-level phylogeny of eriophyoid mites, however, remains unresolved due to the limited number of available morphological characters-some of them are homoplastic. Nevertheless, the eriophyoid mites sequenced to date showed highly variable mitochondrial (mt) gene orders, which could potentially be useful for resolving the higher-level phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS: Here, we sequenced and compared the complete mt genomes of 153 eriophyoid mite species, which showed 54 patterns of rearranged mt gene orders relative to that of the hypothetical ancestor of arthropods. The shared derived mt gene clusters support the monophyly of eriophyoid mites (Eriophyoidea) as a whole and the monophylies of six clades within Eriophyoidea. These monophyletic groups and their relationships were largely supported in the phylogenetic trees inferred from mt genome sequences as well. Our molecular dating results showed that Eriophyoidea originated in the Triassic and diversified in the Cretaceous, coinciding with the diversification of angiosperms. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals multiple molecular synapomorphies (i.e. shared derived mt gene clusters) at different levels (i.e. family, subfamily or tribe level) from the complete mt genomes of 153 eriophyoid mite species. We demonstrated the use of derived mt gene clusters in unveiling the higher-level phylogeny of eriophyoid mites, and underlines the origin of these mites and their co-diversification with angiosperms.


Subject(s)
Genome, Mitochondrial , Magnoliopsida , Mites , Animals , Phylogeny , Mites/genetics , Genes, Mitochondrial , Multigene Family , Magnoliopsida/genetics
13.
Nano Lett ; 24(11): 3448-3455, 2024 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38452056

ABSTRACT

Unlike graphene derived from graphite, borophenes represent a distinct class of synthetic two-dimensional materials devoid of analogous bulk-layered allotropes, leading to covalent bonding within borophenes instead of van der Waals (vdW) stacking. Our investigation focuses on 665 vdW-stacking boron bilayers to uncover potential bulk-layered boron allotropes through vdW stacking. Systematic high-throughput screening and stability analysis reveal a prevailing inclination toward covalently bonded layers in the majority of boron bilayers. However, an intriguing outlier emerges in δ5 borophene, demonstrating potential as a vdW-stacking candidate. We delve into electronic and topological structural similarities between δ5 borophene and graphene, shedding light on the structural integrity and stability of vdW-stacked boron structures across bilayers, multilayers, and bulk-layered allotropes. The δ5 borophene analogues exhibit metallic properties and characteristics of phonon-mediated superconductors, boasting a critical temperature near 22 K. This study paves the way for the concept of "borophite", a long-awaited boron analogue of graphite.

14.
J Neurosci ; 43(25): 4559-4579, 2023 06 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37225434

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown the essential roles of O-GlcNAc transferase (Ogt) and O-GlcNAcylation in neuronal development, function and neurologic diseases. However, the function of Ogt and O-GlcNAcylation in the adult cerebellum has not been well elucidated. Here, we have found that cerebellum has the highest level of O-GlcNAcylation relative to cortex and hippocampus of adult male mice. Specific deletion of Ogt in granule neuron precursors (GNPs) induces abnormal morphology and decreased size of the cerebellum in adult male Ogt deficient [conditional knock-out (cKO)] mice. Adult male cKO mice show the reduced density and aberrant distribution of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs), the disrupted arrangement of Bergman glia (BG) and Purkinje cells. In addition, adult male cKO mice exhibit aberrant synaptic connection, impaired motor coordination, and learning and memory abilities. Mechanistically, we have identified G-protein subunit α12 (Gα12) is modified by Ogt-mediated O-GlcNAcylation. O-GlcNAcylation of Gα12 facilitates its binding to Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 12 (Arhgef12) and consequently activates RhoA/ROCK signaling. RhoA/ROCK pathway activator LPA can rescue the developmental deficits of Ogt deficient CGCs. Therefore, our study has revealed the critical function and related mechanisms of Ogt and O-GlcNAcylation in the cerebellum of adult male mice.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cerebellar function are regulated by diverse mechanisms. To unveil novel mechanisms is critical for understanding the cerebellar function and the clinical therapy of cerebellum-related diseases. In the present study, we have shown that O-GlcNAc transferase gene (Ogt) deletion induces abnormal cerebellar morphology, synaptic connection, and behavioral deficits of adult male mice. Mechanistically, Ogt catalyzes O-GlcNAcylation of Gα12, which promotes the binding to Arhgef12, and regulates RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Our study has uncovered the important roles of Ogt and O-GlcNAcylation in regulating cerebellar function and cerebellum-related behavior. Our results suggest that Ogt and O-GlcNAcylation could be potential targets for some cerebellum-related diseases.


Subject(s)
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13 , Signal Transduction , Mice , Male , Animals , GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13/metabolism , N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics , Mice, Knockout
15.
J Lipid Res ; 65(9): 100626, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39173829

ABSTRACT

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is closely correlated with elevated low density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In feeding state, glucose and insulin activate mammalian target of rapamycin 1 that phosphorylates the deubiquitylase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 20 (USP20). USP20 then stabilizes HMG-CoA reductase, thereby increasing lipid biosynthesis. In this study, we applied clinically approved lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate the siRNA targeting Usp20. We demonstrated that silencing of hepatic Usp20 by siRNA decreased body weight, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased energy expenditure through elevating UCP1. In Ldlr-/- mice, silencing Usp20 by siRNA decreased lipid levels and prevented atherosclerosis. This study suggests that the RNAi-based therapy targeting hepatic Usp20 has a translational potential to treat metabolic disease.


Subject(s)
Metabolic Syndrome , Nanoparticles , RNA, Small Interfering , Ubiquitin Thiolesterase , Animals , Mice , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/metabolism , Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism , Metabolic Syndrome/drug therapy , Male , Receptors, LDL/metabolism , Receptors, LDL/genetics , Mice, Knockout , Lipids/blood , Lipids/chemistry , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Liver/metabolism , Liver/drug effects , Insulin Resistance , Atherosclerosis/metabolism , Atherosclerosis/drug therapy , Atherosclerosis/prevention & control , Lipid Metabolism/drug effects , Uncoupling Protein 1
16.
J Cell Mol Med ; 28(18): e70112, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39320020

ABSTRACT

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition in the oral cavity, which is closely related to the myofibroblast conversion of buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs) after chronic consumption of areca nut. Emerging evidence suggests pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death that is mediated by inflammasome, is implicated in persistent myofibroblast activation and fibrosis. Besides, numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of non-coding RNAs on pyroptosis and myofibroblast activities. Herein, we aimed to target key long non-coding RNA PVT1 with natural compound, carvacrol, to alleviate pyroptosis and myofibroblast activation in OSF. We first identified PVT1 was downregulated in the carvacrol-treated fBMFs and then demonstrated that myofibroblast features and expression of pyroptosis makers were all reduced in response to carvacrol treatment. Subsequently, we analysed the expression of PVT1 and found that PVT1 was aberrantly upregulated in OSF specimens and positively correlated with several fibrosis markers. After revealing the suppressive effects of carvacrol on myofibroblast characterisitcs and pyroptosis were mediated by repression of PVT1, we then explored the potential mechanisms. Our data showed that PVT1 may serve as a sponge of microRNA(miR)-20a to mitigate the myofibroblast activation and pyroptosis. Altogether, these findings indicated that the anti-fibrosis effects of carvacrol merit consideration and may be due to the attenuation of pyroptosis and myofibroblast activation by targeting the PVT1/miR-20a axis.


Subject(s)
Cymenes , MicroRNAs , Myofibroblasts , Oral Submucous Fibrosis , Pyroptosis , RNA, Long Noncoding , Oral Submucous Fibrosis/pathology , Oral Submucous Fibrosis/genetics , Oral Submucous Fibrosis/metabolism , Oral Submucous Fibrosis/drug therapy , Pyroptosis/drug effects , Pyroptosis/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Humans , Cymenes/pharmacology , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism , Myofibroblasts/metabolism , Myofibroblasts/drug effects , Myofibroblasts/pathology , Disease Progression , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Fibroblasts/drug effects
17.
Glia ; 72(9): 1646-1662, 2024 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38801194

ABSTRACT

The adult brain retains a high repopulation capacity of astrocytes after deletion, and both mature astrocytes in the neocortex and neural stem cells in neurogenic regions possess the potential to generate astrocytes. However, the origin and the repopulation dynamics of the repopulating astrocytes after deletion remain largely unclear. The number of astrocytes is reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of patients with depression, and selective elimination of mPFC astrocytes is sufficient to induce depression-like behaviors in rodents. However, whether astrocyte repopulation capacity is impaired in depression is unknown. In this study, we used different transgenic mouse lines to genetically label different cell types and demonstrated that in the mPFC of normal adult mice of both sexes, mature astrocytes were a major source of the repopulating astrocytes after acute deletion induced by an astrocyte-specific toxin, L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA), and astrocyte regeneration was accomplished within two weeks accompanied by reversal of depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, re-ablation of mPFC astrocytes post repopulation led to reappearance of depression-like behaviors. In adult male mice subjected to 14-day chronic restraint stress, a well-validated mouse model of depression, the number of mPFC astrocytes was reduced; however, the ability of mPFC astrocytes to repopulate after L-AAA-induced deletion was largely unaltered. Our study highlights a potentially beneficial role for repopulating astrocytes in depression and provides novel therapeutic insights into enhancing local mature astrocyte generation in depression.


Subject(s)
Astrocytes , Depression , Mice, Transgenic , Prefrontal Cortex , Animals , Astrocytes/metabolism , Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism , Male , Depression/genetics , Depression/pathology , Female , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice , Disease Models, Animal , Restraint, Physical , 2-Aminoadipic Acid , Stress, Psychological/pathology , Stress, Psychological/metabolism
18.
BMC Genomics ; 25(1): 138, 2024 Feb 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38310206

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation cells for continual spermatogenesis and germline regeneration in mammals. SSC activities reside in the undifferentiated spermatogonial population, and currently, the molecular identities of SSCs and their committed progenitors remain unclear. RESULTS: We performed single-cell transcriptome analysis on isolated undifferentiated spermatogonia from mice to decipher the molecular signatures of SSC fate transitions. Through comprehensive analysis, we delineated the developmental trajectory and identified candidate transcription factors (TFs) involved in the fate transitions of SSCs and their progenitors in distinct states. Specifically, we characterized the Asingle spermatogonial subtype marked by the expression of Eomes. Eomes+ cells contained enriched transplantable SSCs, and more than 90% of the cells remained in the quiescent state. Conditional deletion of Eomes in the germline did not impact steady-state spermatogenesis but enhanced SSC regeneration. Forced expression of Eomes in spermatogenic cells disrupted spermatogenesis mainly by affecting the cell cycle progression of undifferentiated spermatogonia. After injury, Eomes+ cells re-enter the cell cycle and divide to expand the SSC pool. Eomes+ cells consisted of 7 different subsets of cells at single-cell resolution, and genes enriched in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the PI3/Akt signaling pathway participated in the SSC regeneration process. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we explored the molecular characteristics and critical regulators of subpopulations of undifferentiated spermatogonia. The findings of the present study described a quiescent SSC subpopulation, Eomes+ spermatogonia, and provided a dynamic transcriptional map of SSC fate determination.


Subject(s)
Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis , Testis , Male , Animals , Mice , Testis/metabolism , Spermatogonia , Spermatogenesis/genetics , Stem Cells , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Mammals/genetics
19.
J Am Chem Soc ; 146(38): 26408-26415, 2024 Sep 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39279393

ABSTRACT

Core fucosylation, the attachment of an α-1,6-linked-fucose to the N-glycan core pentasaccharide, is an abundant protein modification that plays critical roles in various biological processes such as cell signaling, B cell development, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and oncogenesis. However, the tools currently used to detect core fucosylation suffer from poor specificity, exhibiting cross-reactivity against all types of fucosylation. Herein we report the development of a new chemoenzymatic strategy for the rapid and selective detection of core fucosylated glycans. This approach employs a galactosyltransferase enzyme identified fromCaenorhabditis elegansthat specifically transfers an azido-appended galactose residue onto core fucose via a ß-1,4 glycosidic linkage. We demonstrate that the approach exhibits superior specificity toward core fucose on a variety of complex N-glycans. The method enables detection of core fucosylated glycoproteins from complex cell lysates, as well as on live cell surfaces, and it can be integrated into a diagnostic platform to profile protein-specific core fucosylation levels. This chemoenzymatic labeling approach offers a new strategy for the identification of disease biomarkers and will allow researchers to further characterize the fundamental role of this important glycan in normal and disease physiology.


Subject(s)
Fucose , Polysaccharides , Fucose/metabolism , Fucose/chemistry , Humans , Polysaccharides/metabolism , Polysaccharides/chemistry , Polysaccharides/analysis , Galactosyltransferases/metabolism , Glycosylation , Glycoproteins/metabolism , Glycoproteins/analysis , Glycoproteins/chemistry
20.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 30(9): 1922-1925, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39174030

ABSTRACT

We investigated a fatal case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis from an indoor surfing center in Taiwan. The case was detected through encephalitis syndromic surveillance. Of 56 environmental specimens, 1 was positive for Naegleria fowleri ameba. This report emphasizes the risk for N. fowleri infection from inadequately disinfected recreational waters, even indoors.


Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections , Naegleria fowleri , Humans , Naegleria fowleri/isolation & purification , Naegleria fowleri/genetics , Taiwan/epidemiology , Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections/parasitology , Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections/epidemiology , Fatal Outcome , Male , Meningoencephalitis/parasitology , Meningoencephalitis/diagnosis , Amebiasis/diagnosis , Amebiasis/parasitology , Adult
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