The Neuroanatomical Basis of the 5-HT Syndrome and Harmalineinduced Tremor.

The 5-HT syndrome in rats is composed of head weaving, body shaking, forepaw treading, flat body posture, hindlimb abduction, and Straub tail. The importance of the brainstem and spinal cord for the syndrome is underlined by findings of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT)-induced denervation supersensitivity in response to 5-HT-stimulant drugs. For head weaving and Straub tail, supersensitivity occurred when the neurotoxin was injected into the cisterna magna or spinal cord, for forepaw treading in cisterna magna, and for hindlimb abduction in the spinal cord. Although 5,7- DHT-related body shaking increased in the spinal cord, the sign decreased when injected into the striatum, indicating the modulatory influence of the basal ganglia. Further details on body shaking are provided by its reduced response to harmaline after 5-HT depletion caused by intraventricular 5,7-DHT, electrolytic lesions of the medial or dorsal raphe, and lesions of the inferior olive caused by systemic injection of 3-acetylpyridine along with those found in Agtpbp1pcd or nr cerebellar mouse mutants. Yet the influence of the climbing fiber pathway on other signs of the 5-HT syndrome remains to be determined.

Regulator of G protein signaling protein 6 alleviates acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammation and promoting cell self-renewal in mice.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a disease with high mortality and morbidity. Regulator of G protein signaling protein 6 (RGS6), identified as a tumor suppressor gene, has received increasing attention owing to its close relationship with oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the association between ARDS and RGS6 has not been reported. METHODS: Congruously regulated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-related genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in an acute lung injury (ALI) model were identified, and functional enrichment analysis was conducted. In an in vivo study, the effects of RGS6 knockout were studied in a mouse model of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). HE staining, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate pathological changes and the degree of inflammation. In vitro, qRT‒PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting were used to determine the dynamic changes in RGS6 expression in cells. The RGS6 overexpression plasmid was constructed for transfection. qRT‒PCR was used to assess proinflammatory factors transcription. Western blotting and flow cytometry were used to evaluate apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Organoid culture was used to assess the stemness and self-renewal capacity of alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC2s). RESULTS: A total of 110 congruously regulated genes (61 congruously upregulated and 49 congruously downregulated genes) were identified among GPCR-related genes and DEGs in the ALI model. RGS6 was downregulated in vivo and in vitro in the ALI model. RGS6 was expressed in the cytoplasm and accumulated in the nucleus after LPS stimulation. Compared with the control group, we found higher mortality, more pronounced body weight changes, more serious pulmonary edema and pathological damage, and more neutrophil infiltration in the RGS6 knockout group upon LPS stimulation in vivo. Moreover, AEC2s loss was significantly increased upon RGS6 knockout. Organoid culture assays showed slower alveolar organoid formation, fewer alveolar organoids, and impaired development of new structures after passaging upon RGS6 knockout. In addition, RGS6 overexpression decreased ROS production as well as proinflammatory factor transcription in macrophages and decreased apoptosis in epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: RGS6 plays a protective role in ALI not only in early inflammatory responses but also in endogenous lung stem cell regeneration.

Role of phospholipase C in catecholamine-induced increase in myocardial protein synthesis.

The activation of the α1-adrenoceptor-(α1-AR) by norepinephrine results in the G-protein (Gqα) mediated increase in the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) activity. The byproducts of PLC hydrolytic activity, namely, 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, are important downstream signal transducers for increased protein synthesis in the cardiomyocyte and the subsequent hypertrophic response. In this article, evidence was outlined to demonstrate the role of cardiomyocyte PLC isozymes in the catecholamine-induced increase in protein synthesis by using a blocker of α1-AR and an inhibitor of PLC. The discussion was focused on the α1-AR-Gqα-PLC-mediated hypertrophic signalling pathway from the viewpoint that it may compliment the other ß1-AR-Gs protein-adenylyl cyclase signal transduction mechanisms in the early stages of cardiac hypertrophy development, but may become more relevant at the late stage of cardiac hypertrophy. From the information provided here, it is suggested that some specific PLC isozymes may potentially serve as important targets for the attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy in the vulnerable patient population at-risk for heart failure.

Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 5 Protein Deficiency Differentially Influences Blood Pressure, Vascular and Behavioral Effects in Aged Male Mice.

ABSTRACT: Aging and elevated activity of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) are associated with hypertension, vascular and emotional behavioral abnormalities, like anxiety and depression. Many actions of the main effector hormone of the RAS, angiotensin II (Ang II), are mediated by Ang II type 1 receptor whose activity is modulated by the regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) protein. We assessed the role of RGS5 on blood pressure, vascular and emotional behavioral outcomes in aged male mice in the presence and absence of chronically elevated Ang II levels. We used aged (∼21-month old) male RGS5-deficient (RGS5 -/- ) and wild-type (RGS5 +/+ ) mice treated with vehicle (saline) or Ang II (1 mg/kg/d for 21 days). RGS5 deficiency increased baseline and cerebral vascular superoxide levels in the presence of chronically elevated Ang II levels, suggesting that RGS5 deficiency leads to elevated blood pressure and deleterious cerebral vascular outcomes in aged mice. RGS5 deletion had no effect on Ang II-induced increases in systolic blood pressure. Chronically elevated Ang II levels increased spontaneous locomotor activity in RGS5 +/+ but not RGS5 -/- mice. RGS5 deficiency and Ang II treatment had no effect on anxiety- and depression-like behavior. This is the first study to assess the effects of deficiency of an RGS protein in the vasculature or on emotional behavioral outcomes in aged mice. We report that RGS5 has protective effects on blood pressure and the cerebral vasculature in aged mice. Clinically, these data suggest that RAS blockers may significantly reduce cerebrovascular disease risk in aged males lacking RGS5.

Transglutaminase 2: an enigmatic enzyme with diverse functions.

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is an inducible transamidating acyltransferase that catalyzes Ca(2+)-dependent protein modifications. It acts as a G protein in transmembrane signalling and as a cell surface adhesion mediator, this distinguishes it from other members of the transglutaminase family. The sequence motifs and domains revealed in the recent TG2 structure, can each be assigned distinct cellular functions, including the regulation of cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and cell death. Ablation of TG2 in mice results in impaired wound healing, autoimmunity and diabetes, reflecting the number and variety of TG2 functions. An important role for the enzyme in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease, fibrosis and neurodegenerative disorders has also been demonstrated, making TG2 an important therapeutic target.