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Glutaraldehyde (GA) is a protein crosslinker widely used in biochemical and pharmaceutical research because it can rapidly stabilize and immobilize substrates via amine group interactions. However, controlling GA crosslinking is challenging owing to its swift reactivity and the influence of various solution conditions, such as pH and concentrations of the substrate and crosslinker. Although extensive research has focused on GA cross-linking mechanisms, studies on quenching, which is critical for preventing non-specific aggregation during prolonged storage, remain sparse. This study examines the quenching efficiency of a combined amino acid mixture of glycine, histidine, and lysine, which are commonly used as individual quenchers. Our findings, confirmed using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, demonstrate that this amino acid blend offers superior quenching compared to single amino acids, enhancing quenching activity across a wide pH spectrum. These results provide a novel approach for mitigating the high reactivity of GA with implications for improving sample preservation and stabilization in a range of biochemical applications, including microscopy and cell fixation.
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Histidina , Lisina , Glutaral/química , Glutaral/farmacología , Reactivos de Enlaces Cruzados/química , GlicinaRESUMEN
Stress granule (SG) is a temporary cellular structure that plays a crucial role in the regulation of mRNA and protein sequestration during various cellular stress conditions. SG enables cells to cope with stress more effectively, conserving vital energy and resources. Focusing on the NTF2-like domain of G3BP1, a key protein in SG dynamics, we explore to identify and characterize novel small molecules involved in SG modulation without external stressors. Through in silico molecular docking approach to simulate the interaction between various compounds and the NTF2-like domain of G3BP1, we identified three compounds as potential candidates that could bind to the NTF2-like domain of G3BP1. Subsequent immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated that these compounds induce the formation of SG-like, G3BP1-positive granules. Importantly, the granule formation by these compounds occurs independent from the phosphorylation of eIF2α, a common mechanism in SG formation, suggesting that it might offer a new strategy for influencing SG dynamics implicated in various diseases.
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ADN Helicasas , ARN Helicasas , ADN Helicasas/metabolismo , ARN Helicasas/metabolismo , Proteínas con Motivos de Reconocimiento de ARN/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión a Poli-ADP-Ribosa/metabolismo , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Gránulos Citoplasmáticos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Background CT performed for various clinical indications has the potential to predict cardiometabolic diseases. However, the predictive ability of individual CT parameters remains underexplored. Purpose To evaluate the ability of automated CT-derived markers to predict diabetes and associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included Korean adults (age ≥ 25 years) who underwent health screening with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT between January 2012 and December 2015. Fully automated CT markers included visceral and subcutaneous fat, muscle, bone density, liver fat, all normalized to height (in meters squared), and aortic calcification. Predictive performance was assessed with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Harrell C-index in the cross-sectional and survival analyses, respectively. Results The cross-sectional and cohort analyses included 32166 (mean age, 45 years ± 6 [SD], 28833 men) and 27 298 adults (mean age, 44 years ± 5 [SD], 24 820 men), respectively. Diabetes prevalence and incidence was 6% at baseline and 9% during the 7.3-year median follow-up, respectively. Visceral fat index showed the highest predictive performance for prevalent and incident diabetes, yielding AUC of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.71) for men and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.85) for women and C-index of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.69) for men and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.86) for women, respectively. Combining visceral fat, muscle area, liver fat fraction, and aortic calcification improved predictive performance, yielding C-indexes of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.71) for men and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.87) for women. The AUC for visceral fat index in identifying metabolic syndrome was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.81) for men and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.91) for women. CT-derived markers also identified US-diagnosed fatty liver, coronary artery calcium scores greater than 100, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis, with AUCs ranging from 0.80 to 0.95. Conclusion Automated multiorgan CT analysis identified individuals at high risk of diabetes and other cardiometabolic comorbidities. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Pickhardt in this issue.
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Diabetes Mellitus , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adulto , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiología , Diabetes Mellitus/diagnóstico por imagen , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodos , Estudios Transversales , República de Corea/epidemiología , Tomografía Computarizada por Tomografía de Emisión de Positrones/métodos , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
Myosin, a superfamily of motor proteins, obtain the energy they require for movement from ATP hydrolysis to perform various functions by binding to actin filaments. Extensive studies have clarified the diverse functions performed by the different isoforms of myosin. However, the unavailability of resolved structures has made it difficult to understand the way in which their mechanochemical cycle and structural diversity give rise to distinct functional properties. With this study, we seek to further our understanding of the structural organization of the myosin 7A motor domain by modeling the tertiary structure of myosin 7A based on its primary sequence. Multiple sequence alignment and a comparison of the models of different myosin isoforms and myosin 7A not only enabled us to identify highly conserved nucleotide binding sites but also to predict actin binding sites. In addition, the actomyosin-7A complex was predicted from the protein-protein interaction model, from which the core interface sites of actin and the myosin 7A motor domain were defined. Finally, sequence alignment and the comparison of models were used to suggest the possibility of a pliant region existing between the converter domain and lever arm of myosin 7A. The results of this study provide insights into the structure of myosin 7A that could serve as a framework for higher resolution studies in future.
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Actinas , Miosinas , Actinas/metabolismo , Alineación de Secuencia , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Miosinas/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismoRESUMEN
Actin, which plays a crucial role in cellular structure and function, interacts with various binding proteins, notably myosin. In mammals, actin is composed of six isoforms that exhibit high levels of sequence conservation and structural similarity overall. As a result, the selection of actin isoforms was considered unimportant in structural studies of their binding with myosin. However, recent high-resolution structural research discovered subtle structural differences in the N-terminus of actin isoforms, suggesting the possibility that each actin isoform may engage in specific interactions with myosin isoforms. In this study, we aimed to explore this possibility, particularly by understanding the influence of different actin isoforms on the interaction with myosin 7A. First, we compared the reported actomyosin structures utilizing the same type of actin isoforms as the high-resolution filamentous skeletal α-actin (3.5 Å) structure elucidated using cryo-EM. Through this comparison, we confirmed that the diversity of myosin isoforms leads to differences in interaction with the actin N-terminus, and that loop 2 of the myosin actin-binding sites directly interacts with the actin N-terminus. Subsequently, with the aid of multiple sequence alignment, we observed significant variations in the length of loop 2 across different myosin isoforms. We predicted that these length differences in loop 2 would likely result in structural variations that would affect the interaction with the actin N-terminus. For myosin 7A, loop 2 was found to be very short, and protein complex predictions using skeletal α-actin confirmed an interaction between loop 2 and the actin N-terminus. The prediction indicated that the positively charged residues present in loop 2 electrostatically interact with the acidic patch residues D24 and D25 of actin subdomain 1, whereas interaction with the actin N-terminus beyond this was not observed. Additionally, analyses of the actomyosin-7A prediction models generated using various actin isoforms consistently yielded the same results regardless of the type of actin isoform employed. The results of this study suggest that the subtle structural differences in the N-terminus of actin isoforms are unlikely to influence the binding structure with short loop 2 myosin 7A. Our findings are expected to provide a deeper understanding for future high-resolution structural binding studies of actin and myosin.
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Actinas , Miosinas , Unión Proteica , Isoformas de Proteínas , Actinas/química , Actinas/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Miosinas/química , Miosinas/metabolismo , Sitios de Unión , Animales , Modelos Moleculares , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , HumanosRESUMEN
DEAD box helicase proteins are a family of RNA helicases that participate in various RNA metabolisms such as RNA unwinding, RNA processing, and RNPase activities. A particular DEAD box protein, the DDX53 protein, is primarily expressed in cancer cells and plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Numerous studies have revealed that DDX53 interacts with various microRNA and Histone deacetylases. However, its molecular structure and the detailed binding interaction between DDX53 and microRNA or HDAC is still unclear. In this study, we used X-ray crystallography to investigate the 3D structure of the hlicase C-terminal domain of DDX53, and successfully determined its crystal structure at a resolution of 1.97 Å. Subsequently, a functional analysis of RNA was conducted by examining the binding properties thereof with DDX53 by transmission electron microscopy and computing-based molecular docking simulation. The defined 3D model of DDX53 not only provides a structural basis for the fundamental understanding of DDX53 but is also expected to contribute to the field of anti-cancer drug discovery such as structure-based drug discovery and computer-aided drug design.
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ADN Helicasas , MicroARNs , Humanos , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , ARN Helicasas , Carcinogénesis , ARN Helicasas DEAD-boxRESUMEN
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Microscopic hematuria is an uncertain risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the association between persistent or single episodes of microscopic hematuria and the development of incident CKD, overall and separately among men and women. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A total of 232,220 Korean adults without CKD at baseline who underwent repeated regular health examinations at Kangbuk Samsung Health Study formed the study cohort. EXPOSURE: Microscopic hematuria was defined by≥5 red blood cells per high-power field. Participants were categorized into 1 of 4 groups according to the presence of hematuria at 2 consecutive examinations: (1) no hematuria at both examinations (reference group); (2) hematuria followed by no hematuria (regressed hematuria group); (3) no hematuria followed by hematuria (developed hematuria group); and (4) hematuria at both examinations (persistent hematuria group). OUTCOME: CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate<60mL/min/1.73m2 or proteinuria (1+or more on dipstick examination). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Semiparametric proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios. RESULTS: During a 4.8-year median follow-up period, 2,392 participants developed CKD. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for incident CKD, comparing the regressed, developed, and persistent hematuria groups to the no-hematuria group were 1.85 (95% CI, 1.35-2.53), 3.18 (95% CI, 2.54-3.98), and 5.23 (95% CI, 4.15-6.59), respectively. The association between persistent hematuria and incident CKD was stronger in men than women (P for interaction<0.001), although a statistically significant association was observed in both sexes. LIMITATIONS: Lack of albuminuria and inability to consider specific glomerular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with microscopic hematuria, especially persistent hematuria, may be at increased risk of CKD.
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Insuficiencia Renal Crónica , Masculino , Adulto , Humanos , Femenino , Estudios de Cohortes , Estudios Retrospectivos , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/epidemiología , Tasa de Filtración Glomerular , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Given that the majority of colorectal cancers (CRCs) develop from high-risk adenomas, identifying risk factors for high-risk adenomas is important. The relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the risk of colorectal adenoma in young adults remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate this relationship in adults <50 (younger) and ≥50 (older) years of age. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 184 792 Korean adults (80% <50 years of age) who all underwent liver ultrasound and colonoscopy. Participants were grouped into those with and without MAFLD and classified by adenoma presence into no adenoma, low-risk adenoma, or high-risk adenoma (defined as ≥3 adenomas, any ≥10 mm, or adenoma with high-grade dysplasia/villous features). RESULTS: The prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas among young and older adults was 9.6% and 0.8% and 22.3% and 4.8%, respectively. MAFLD was associated with an increased prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas in young and older adults. Young adults with MAFLD had a 1.30 (95% CIs 1.26-1.35) and 1.40 (1.23-1.59) times higher prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas, respectively, compared to those without MAFLD. These associations were consistent even in lean adults (BMI < 23 kg/m2 ) and those without a family history of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: MAFLD is associated with an increased prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas in Korean adults, regardless of age or obesity status. Whether reducing metabolic risk factors, such as MAFLD, reduces the risk of precancerous lesions and ultimately reduces the risk of early-onset CRC requires further investigation.
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Adenoma , Neoplasias Colorrectales , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Adulto Joven , Humanos , Anciano , Estudios Transversales , Neoplasias Colorrectales/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Adenoma/diagnóstico por imagen , Adenoma/epidemiología , Adenoma/etiología , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/complicaciones , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/epidemiología , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Liposomes have been extensively adopted in drug delivery systems with clinically approved formulations. However, hurdles remain in terms of loading multiple components and precisely controlling their release. Herein, we report a vesosomal carrier composed of liposomes encapsulated inside the core of another liposome for the controlled and sustained release of multiple contents. The inner liposomes are made of lipids with different compositions and are co-encapsulated with a photosensitizer. Upon induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the contents of the liposomes are released, with each type of liposome displaying distinct kinetics due to the variance in lipid peroxidation for differential structural deformation. In vitro experiments demonstrated immediate content release from ROS-vulnerable liposomes, followed by sustained release from ROS-nonvulnerable liposomes. Moreover, the release trigger was validated at the organismal level using Caenorhabditis elegans. This study demonstrates a promising platform for more precisely controlling the release of multiple components.
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Portadores de Fármacos , Liposomas , Liposomas/química , Preparaciones de Acción Retardada/farmacología , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno , Sistemas de Liberación de MedicamentosRESUMEN
AIM: To investigate the associations between prediabetes defined by different diagnostic criteria and coronary artery calcification (CAC) and its progression over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 146 436 Korean adults without diabetes who underwent CAC estimation computed tomography (CT) during health examinations from 2011 to 2019. We used multinomial logistic regression models. The longitudinal study comprised 41 100 participants with at least one follow-up cardiac CT and annual CAC progression rates and ratios were estimated. Prediabetes was categorized into three groups: isolated glucose prediabetes (fasting blood glucose [FBG] 100-125 mg/dl, HbA1c < 5.7%), isolated HbA1c prediabetes (FBG < 100 mg/dl, HbA1c 5.7%-6.4%) and prediabetes meeting both FBG and HbA1c criteria (FBG 100-125 mg/dl, HbA1c 5.7%-6.4%). RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, the prevalence ratios (95% CI) for CAC scores of more than 100 comparing isolated glucose prediabetes, isolated HbA1c prediabetes and prediabetes fulfilling both criteria with those of normoglycaemia were 1.12 (0.99-1.26), 1.24 (1.11-1.39) and 1.31 (1.18-1.45), respectively. The multivariable-adjusted ratio (CIs) of annual CAC progression rates comparing the corresponding groups with the normoglycaemia group were 1.031 (1.023-1.039), 1.025 (1.019-1.032) and 1.054 (1.047-1.062), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CAC risk and CAC progression were consistently highest in individuals meeting both glucose and HbA1c criteria, while all three prediabetes types showed a significantly increased risk of CAC progression. Atherosclerosis risk reduction management is necessary for prediabetes, especially in patients meeting both criteria.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria , Estado Prediabético , Calcificación Vascular , Adulto , Glucemia , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Hemoglobina Glucada/análisis , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Estado Prediabético/diagnóstico , Estado Prediabético/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Calcificación Vascular/diagnóstico por imagen , Calcificación Vascular/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
With rapid progress in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) to reach 25%, metal halide perovskite-based solar cells became a game-changer in a photovoltaic performance race. Triggered by the development of the solid-state perovskite solar cell in 2012, intense follow-up research works on structure design, materials chemistry, process engineering, and device physics have contributed to the revolutionary evolution of the solid-state perovskite solar cell to be a strong candidate for a next-generation solar energy harvester. The high efficiency in combination with the low cost of materials and processes are the selling points of this cell over commercial silicon or other organic and inorganic solar cells. The characteristic features of perovskite materials may enable further advancement of the PCE beyond those afforded by the silicon solar cells, toward the Shockley-Queisser limit. This review summarizes the fundamentals behind the optoelectronic properties of perovskite materials, as well as the important approaches to fabricating high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. Furthermore, possible next-generation strategies for enhancing the PCE over the Shockley-Queisser limit are discussed.
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BACKGROUND: The rapid urease test (RUT) is a major diagnostic tool for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to establish an objective method for measuring the color changes in the RUT kit to improve the test's diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: A UV-visible spectrophotometer was selected as the colorimeter; experiments were conducted in three stages to objectively identify the color changes in the RUT kit. RESULTS: First, the urea broth solution showed an identifiable color change from yellow to red as the pH increased by 0.2. The largest transmittance difference detected using the UV-visible spectrophotometer was observed at a 590-nm wavelength. Second, the commercialized RUT kit also showed a gradual color change according to the pH change detected using the UV-visible spectrophotometer. Third, 13 cases of negative RUT results with a biopsy specimen and 16 of positive RUT results were collected. The transmittance detected using the UV-visible spectrophotometer showed a clear division between the positive and negative RUT groups; the largest difference was observed at a 559-nm wavelength. The lowest transmittance in the negative RUT group was 64, while the highest in the positive RUT group was 56, at the 559-nm wavelength. The UV-visible spectrophotometry reading showed a consistency of 92.7% compared with that of manual reading. CONCLUSION: A transmittance of 60 at a 559-nm wavelength detected using UV-visible spectrophotometer can be used as a cutoff value for interpreting RUT results; this will help develop an automatic RUT kit reader with a high accuracy.
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Infecciones por Helicobacter , Helicobacter pylori , Biopsia , Colorimetría , Infecciones por Helicobacter/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Helicobacter/patología , Humanos , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , UreasaRESUMEN
Growth and maintenance of skeletal muscle is essential for athletic performance and a healthy life. Stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells may help prevent loss of muscle mass. To discover effective natural substances enabling to mitigate muscle loss without side effects, we evaluated muscle growth with several compounds extracted from Catalpa bignonioides Walt. Among these compounds, pinoresinol and vanillic acid increased C2C12, a mouse myoblast cell line, proliferation being the most without cytotoxicity. These substances activated the Akt/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which positively regulates the proliferation of muscle cells. In addition, the results of in silico molecular docking study showed that they may bind to the active site of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), which is an upstream of the Akt/mTOR pathway, indicating that both pinoresinol and vanillic acid stimulate myoblast proliferation through direct interaction with IGF-1R. These results suggest that pinoresinol and vanillic acid may be a natural supplement to improve the proliferation of skeletal muscle via IGF-1R/Akt/mTOR signaling and thus strengthen muscles.
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Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt , Ácido Vanílico , Animales , Proliferación Celular , Furanos , Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/metabolismo , Lignanos , Mamíferos/metabolismo , Ratones , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Mioblastos/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/metabolismo , Ácido Vanílico/metabolismo , Ácido Vanílico/farmacologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: While increased breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer, the effect of fatty liver disease on breast density is unknown. We investigated whether fatty liver is a risk factor for changes in breast density over ~ 4 years of follow-up in pre- and postmenopausal women. METHODS: This study included 74,781 middle-aged Korean women with mammographically determined dense breasts at baseline. Changes in dense breasts were identified by more screening mammograms during follow-up. Hepatic steatosis (HS) was measured using ultrasonography. Flexible parametric proportional hazards models were used to determine the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and a Weibull accelerated failure time model (AFT) was used to determine the time ratios (TRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 4022 women experienced resolution of the dense breasts. The association between HS and dense breast resolution differed by the menopause status (P for interaction < 0.001). After adjusting for body mass index and other covariates, the aHRs (95% CI) for dense breast resolution comparing HS to non-HS were 0.81 (0.70-0.93) in postmenopausal women, while the association was converse in premenopausal women with the corresponding HRs of 1.30 (1.18-1.43). As an alternative approach, the multivariable-adjusted TR (95% CI) for dense breast survival comparing HS to non-HS were 0.81 (0.75-0.87) and 1.19 (1.06-1.33) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The association between HS and changes in dense breasts differed with the menopause status. HS increased persistent dense breast survival in postmenopausal women but decreased it in premenopausal women.
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Neoplasias de la Mama , Hepatopatías , Densidad de la Mama , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Mamografía , Persona de Mediana Edad , Posmenopausia , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The effects of low-level alcohol consumption on fatty liver disease and the potential for effect modification by obesity is uncertain. We investigated associations among low-level alcohol consumption, obesity status, and the development of incident hepatic steatosis (HS), either with or without an increase in noninvasive liver fibrosis score category (from low to intermediate or high category). APPROACH AND RESULTS: A total of 190,048 adults without HS and a low probability of fibrosis with alcohol consumption less than 30 g/day (men) and less than 20 g/day (women) were followed for up to 15.7 years. Alcohol categories of no, light, and moderate consumption were defined as 0, 1-9.9, and 10-29.9 g/day (10-19.9 g/day for women), respectively. HS was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and the probability of fibrosis was estimated using the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4). Parametric proportional hazards models were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 43,466 participants developed HS, 2,983 of whom developed HS with an increase in FIB-4 index (to intermediate or high scores). Comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) for incident HS were 0.93 (0.90-0.95) and 0.90 (0.87-0.92), respectively. In contrast, comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) for developing HS plus intermediate/high FIB-4 were 1.15 (1.04-1.27) and 1.49 (1.33-1.66), respectively. The association between alcohol consumption categories and incident HS plus intermediate/high FIB-4 was observed in both nonobese and obese individuals, although the association was stronger in nonobese individuals (P for interaction by obesity = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Light/moderate alcohol consumption has differential effects on the development of different stages of fatty liver disease, which is modified by the presence of obesity.
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Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/efectos adversos , Hígado Graso/etiología , Cirrosis Hepática/etiología , Obesidad/complicaciones , Adulto , Estudios de Cohortes , Hígado Graso/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
Protein cage nanoparticles have a unique spherical hollow structure that provides a modifiable interior space and an exterior surface. For full application, it is desirable to utilize both the interior space and the exterior surface simultaneously with two different functionalities in a well-combined way. Here, we genetically engineered encapsulin protein cage nanoparticles (Encap) as modular nanoplatforms by introducing a split-C-intein (IntC) fragment and SpyTag into the interior and exterior surfaces, respectively. A complementary split-N-intein (IntN) was fused to various protein cargoes, such as NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc), enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), and Nluc-miniSOG, individually, which led to their successful encapsulation into Encaps to form Cargo@Encap through split intein-mediated protein ligation during protein coexpression and cage assembly in bacteria. Conversely, the SpyCatcher protein was fused to various protein ligands, such as a glutathione binder (GST-SC), dimerizing ligands (FKBP12-SC and FRB-SC), and a cancer-targeting affibody (SC-EGFRAfb); subsequently, they were displayed on Cargo@Encaps through SpyTag/SpyCatcher ligation to form Cargo@Encap/Ligands in a mix-and-match manner. Nluc@Encap/glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was effectively immobilized on glutathione (GSH)-coated solid supports exhibiting repetitive and long-term usage of the encapsulated luciferases. We also established luciferase-embedded layer-by-layer (LbL) nanostructures by alternately depositing Nluc@Encap/FKBP12 and Nluc@Encap/FRB in the presence of rapamycin and applied enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)@Encap/EGFRAfb as a target-specific fluorescent imaging probe to visualize specific cancer cells selectively. Modular functionalization of the interior space and the exterior surface of a protein cage nanoparticle may offer the opportunity to develop new protein-based nanostructured devices and nanomedical tools.
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Nanopartículas , Neoplasias , Colorantes Fluorescentes , Humanos , Inteínas , LigandosRESUMEN
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The effect of glycemic status on nephrolithiasis risk remains controversial. This study sought to examine the association of glycemic status and insulin resistance with incident nephrolithiasis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 278,628 Korean adults without nephrolithiasis who underwent a comprehensive health examination between 2011 and 2017. EXPOSURES: Glucose level, glycated hemoglobin level, and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). OUTCOME: Nephrolithiasis ascertained using abdominal ultrasound. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: A parametric proportional hazard model was used to estimate adjusted HRs and 95% CIs. We explored prespecified potential sex differences in the association of glycemic status and incident nephrolithiasis. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 6,904 participants developed nephrolithiasis. Associations between levels of glycemic status and incident nephrolithiasis were examined separately in men and women (P for interaction = 0.003). Among men, multivariable-adjusted HRs for incident nephrolithiasis comparing glucose levels of 90-99, 100-125, and ≥ 126 mg/dL were 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.19), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21), and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.10-1.46), respectively, while HRs for incident nephrolithiasis comparing glycated hemoglobin levels of 5.7%-5.9%, 6.0%-6.4%, and 6.5%-<5.7% were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.96-1.10), 1.18 (95% CI, 1.07-1.31), and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.06-1.37), respectively. The HR for incident nephrolithiasis comparing the highest HOMA-IR quintile to the lowest quintile was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.06-1.31). Among women, no apparent association was found between glycemic status and nephrolithiasis risk. LIMITATIONS: Glucose tolerance testing and computed tomography assessment for nephrolithiasis were not available. CONCLUSIONS: Higher glycemic values, even within the normoglycemic range, and HOMA-IR were positively associated with increased risk for nephrolithiasis, associations that were only observed among men. Insulin resistance and hyperglycemia may contribute to the development of nephrolithiasis, particularly among men.
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Glucemia/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicaciones , Resistencia a la Insulina/fisiología , Cálculos Renales/etiología , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Adulto , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangre , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Incidencia , Cálculos Renales/sangre , Cálculos Renales/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , República de Corea/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
The effect of modest alcohol consumption on fibrosis progression in the general population with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. We examined the association of nonheavy alcohol consumption with worsening of noninvasive fibrosis indices in a large-scale, low-risk population with NAFLD. A cohort study was performed in 58,927 Korean adults with NAFLD and low fibrosis scores who were followed for a median of 4.9 years. Non-, light, and moderate drinkers were defined as 0 g/day, 1-9.9 g/day, and 10-29.9 g/day (10-19.9 g/day for women), respectively. Progression from low to intermediate or high probability of advanced fibrosis was assessed using noninvasive indices including NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4). A parametric proportional hazards model was used to estimate the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During 347,925.4 person-years of follow-up, 5,630 subjects with low FIB-4 progressed to intermediate or high FIB-4. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) for worsening of FIB-4 comparing light and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers were 1.06 (0.98-1.16) and 1.29 (1.18-1.40), respectively. Similarly, using NFS, corresponding HRs (95% CI) comparing light and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers were 1.09 (1.02-1.16) and 1.31 (1.23-1.40), respectively. Furthermore, the association of moderate drinkers with worsening of either FIB-4 or NFS remained significant after introducing alcohol use and confounders treated as time-varying covariates. Conclusion: In this large-scale cohort of young and middle-aged individuals with NAFLD, nonheavy alcohol consumption, especially moderate alcohol consumption, was significantly and independently associated with worsening of noninvasive markers of fibrosis, indicating that even moderate alcohol consumption might be harmful.
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Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/efectos adversos , Cirrosis Hepática/inducido químicamente , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/complicaciones , Brote de los Síntomas , Adulto , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
The emerging field of regenerative medicine has revealed that the exosome contributes to many aspects of development and disease through intercellular communication between donor and recipient cells. However, the biological functions of exosomes secreted from cells have remained largely unexplored. Here, we report that the human hepatic progenitor cells (CdHs)-derived exosome (EXOhCdHs ) plays a crucial role in maintaining cell viability. The inhibition of exosome secretion treatment with GW4869 results in the acceleration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, thereby causing a decrease of cell viability. This event provokes inhibition of caspase dependent cell death signaling, leading to a ROS-dependent cell damage response and thus induces promotion of antioxidant gene expression or repair of cell death of hypoxia-exposed cells. Together, these findings show the effect of exosomes in regeneration of liver cells, and offer valuable new insights into liver regeneration.
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Antioxidantes , Exosomas , Hepatocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Células Madre/efectos de los fármacos , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Niño , Exosomas/química , Exosomas/metabolismo , Femenino , Hepatocitos/metabolismo , Humanos , Células Madre/metabolismoRESUMEN
Objective- We examined the association of cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics with the development and progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) among apparently healthy adults. Approach and Results- This cohort study included 65 494 men and women 30 years of age and older free of cardiovascular disease at baseline who underwent a comprehensive exam including CAC scoring. CVH metrics were defined according to the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 metrics based on smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting glucose. CVH scores range from 0 (all metrics considered unhealthy) to 7 (all metrics considered healthy). Participants were followed-up for a maximum of 6.6 years. Compared with participants with ideal CVH scores 0-1, the multivariable-adjusted difference in the change in geometric means of CAC scores over 5 years of follow-up were -0.40 (-0.62 to -0.19), -0.83 (-1.03 to -0.63), -1.06 (-1.25 to -0.86), -1.22 (-1.42 to -1.03), and -1.05 (-1.42 to -0.69) in participants with ideal CVH scores 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-7, respectively. The inverse association between CVH scores and progression of CAC was observed both in participants with no CAC and in those with CAC detectable at baseline. Conclusions- A higher ideal CVH metrics score was strongly associated with a lower prevalence of CAC and with lower progression of CAC in males and females in a large cohort of healthy adults. Our findings suggest that maintaining a healthy life habits could help reduce the development and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis and ultimately prevent clinically cardiovascular event.