SGLT2 inhibitor improves kidney function and morphology by regulating renal metabolism in mice with diabetic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a secondary complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease. AIM: To investigate the impact of long-term canagliflozin treatment on DKD and elucidate its underlying mechanism. METHODS: DKD model was established using high-fat diet and streptozotocin in male C57BL/6J mice (n = 30). Mice were divided into five groups and treated for 12 weeks. 1) normal control mice, 2) DKD model, 3) mice treated low-dose of canagliflozin, 4) high-dose of canagliflozin and 5) ß-hydroxybutyrate. Mice kidney morphology and function were evaluated, and a metabolomics analysis was performed. RESULTS: Canagliflozin treatment reduced blood creatinine and urine nitrogen levels and improved systemic insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. Additionally, a decrease in histological lesions including collagen and lipid deposition in the kidneys was observed. ß-hydroxybutyrate treatment did not yield a comparable outcome. The metabolomics analysis revealed that canagliflozin induced alterations in amino acid metabolism profiles in the renal tissue of diabetic mice. CONCLUSION: Canagliflozin protects the kidneys of diabetic mice by increasing the levels of essential amino acids, promoting mitochondrial homeostasis, mitigating oxidative stress, and stimulating the amino acid-dependent tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Combination of Pioglitazone and Metformin Actions on Liver Lipid Metabolism in Obese Mice.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, efficient pharmacotherapeutic regimens against NAFLD still need to be explored. Previous studies found that pioglitazone and metformin therapy could partly ameliorate NAFLD, but their combination therapy effects have not been researched. In the present study, we assessed the protective effects of metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy on liver lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and investigated the molecular mechanism. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: normal control; HFD control; metformin monotherapy; pioglitazone monotherapy and combined therapy. After 8 weeks of pharmacological intervention, glucose and lipid metabolism characteristics, hepatic histology, lipidomics profiling and RNA-seq analysis were performed. RESULTS: The combination of pioglitazone and metformin significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disturbance and the hepatic oil red O area. A lipidomics analysis showed that combined therapy could significantly reduce the high levels of free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerol and triglycerides, while a set of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids were increased in the combined therapy group. Consistently, an RNA-seq analysis also showed a remarkable reduction in genes associated with FFA uptake and de novo lipogenesis, including Cd36, Fads1, Fads2, Fasn, Scd1, Elovl5 and Pklr in the combined therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone and metformin might have a synergistic protective effect on NAFLD by improving hepatic lipid profiles in HFD-induced mice. Further studies are needed to verify the clinical effects.

The Clinical Characteristics and Potential Molecular Mechanism of LMNA Mutation-Related Lipodystrophy.

This study aimed to enhance understanding of LMNA mutation-related lipodystrophy by elucidating genotype-phenotype correlations and potential molecular mechanisms. Clinical data from six patients with LMNA mutation-related lipodystrophy are analyzed, and four distinct LMNA mutations are identified. Associations between mutations and lipodystrophy phenotypes are assessed. Three LMNA mutation plasmids are constructed and transfected into HEK293 cells. Protein stability, degradation pathways, and binding proteins of mutant Lamin A/C are examined using Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry. Confocal microscopy is employed to observe nuclear structure. Four different LMNA mutations are identified in the six patients, all exhibiting lipodystrophy and metabolic disorders. Cardiac dysfunction is observed in two out of six patients. Metformin and pioglitazone are the primary treatments for glucose control. Confocal microscopy revealed nuclear blebbing and irregular cell membranes. Mutant Lamin A/C stability is significantly decreased, and degradation occurred primarily via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Potential binding ubiquitination-related proteins of mutant Lamin A/C are identified. This study investigated LMNA mutation-related lipodystrophy, identifying four unique mutations and their connections to specific phenotypes. It is found to decreased mutant Lamin A/C stability and degradation primarily through the UPS, offering new insights into molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Identification of polyunsaturated fatty acids related key modules and genes in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease using WGCNA analysis.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important roles in the aetiology and pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not understood. We analysed a public GEO dataset, GSE89632, to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MAFLD. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to reveal the core gene regulation network and to explore the PUFA-related hub genes in MAFLD. We experimentally verified these genes by quantitative reverse transcription PCR in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. A total of 286 common DEGs (89 upregulated; 197 downregulated), mostly related to inflammatory and immune responses, were identified. Six modules were constructed using WGCNA, and 2 modules showed significant correlations with PUFAs. After combining these 2 modules with DEGs, the top 10 hub genes were identified. We further established a MAFLD mouse model with liver steatosis, as proved by HE and Oil Red O staining. Of the hub genes, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 1 (adamts1) (p = 0.005) and transforming growth factor ß3 (tgfß3) (p < 0.001) showed significantly lower mRNA expression in MAFLD in vivo. adamts1 and tgfß3 bridged PUFAs and MAFLD, which might be potential causative genes and therapeutic targets of MAFLD.

Advances in lipodystrophy syndrome caused by LMNA gene mutation.

Lipodystrophy syndrome caused by LMNA gene mutation is a group of autosomal dominant monogenic diseases, characterized by selective fat loss and metabolic abnormalities with insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize the clinical manifestations caused by multiple pathogenic LMNA mutations reported so far, including metabolic complications, cardiovascular abnormalities, gonadal axis disorders, myopathy, and renal abnormalities. Meanwhile, we also clarify the possible pathogenic mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment, in order to improve the understanding of the disease and to provide a reference for basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

CR108, a novel vitamin K3 derivative induces apoptosis and breast tumor inhibition by reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Vitamin K3 derivatives have been shown to exert anticancer activities. Here we show a novel vitamin K3 derivative (S)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbutylthio)naphthalene-1,4-dione, which is named as CR108 that induces apoptosis and tumor inhibition through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction in human breast cancer. CR108 is more effective on the breast cancer cell death than other vitamin K3 derivatives. Moreover, CR108 induced apoptosis in both the non-HER-2-overexpressed MCF-7 and HER-2-overexpressed BT-474 breast cancer cells. CR108 caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c released from mitochondria to cytosol, and cleaved PARP proteins for apoptosis induction. CR108 markedly increased ROS levels in breast cancer cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a general ROS scavenger, completely blocked the CR108-induced ROS levels, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Interestingly, CR108 increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase but conversely inhibited the survivin protein expression. NAC treatment prevented the activation of p38 MAP kinase and rescued the survivin protein levels. SB202190, a specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, recovered the survivin protein levels and attenuated the cytotoxicity of CR108-treated cells. Furthermore, CR108 inhibited the xenografted human breast tumor growth in nude mice. Together, we demonstrate that CR108 is a novel vitamin K3 derivative that induces apoptosis and tumor inhibition by ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction and associates with the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and the inhibition of survivin in the human breast cancer.

Calcium release and development of heat-shocked porcine oocytes after nucleus-ooplasm reconstruction.

We determined the effect of heat shock (HS) on the alterations of development and calcium releasing capacity of nuclear-ooplasmic reconstructed porcine oocytes stimulated by thimerosal. The non-HS (39 degrees C) and the HS2h (41.5 degrees C for 2 h) matured oocytes were enucleated and their spindles/chromosomes were exchanged between these two groups followed by parthenogenetic activation. In the Control group (Csp-Coop), the non-HS spindle (Csp) was transferred to the non-HS ooplasm (Coop). Blastocyst and cleavage rates were higher in both Csp-HSoop (non-HS spindle transferred to the HS ooplasm) and HSsp-Coop (HS spindle transferred to non-HS ooplasm) reconstructed oocytes, but no difference was detected in the average cell number per blastocyst. However, intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) generally declined (p < 0.05) in the reconstructed HS oocytes, with a greater blastocyst rate after parthenogenetic activation. In the present study, time for the completion of spindle transfer in these oocytes was 1-2 h, during which some physiological remodeling or adaptation might have been occurred in the oocytes. Therefore, changes in heat-shock protein70 (HSP70) expression and developmental competence of the HS2h oocytes with 1 or 2 h of recovery time under normal culture temperature (39 degrees C) were examined. The results showed that the expression of HSP70 in the HS2h oocytes was higher (p < 0.05) than those had recovery incubation for 1 h (HC1h) after HS, but the cleavage and blastocyst rates were greater (p < 0.05) in the HC1h group. We demonstrated that a recovery period prior to activation of porcine oocytes and reconstructed oocytes is beneficial to further development. Heat shock to either the karyoplast or the ooplasm enhances embryonic development but reduces intracellular calcium release in the cloned porcine oocytes.