Dual-specificity phosphatase 26 protects against kidney injury caused by ischaemia-reperfusion through restraint of TAK1-JNK/p38-mediated apoptosis and inflammation of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Dual-specificity phosphatase 26 (DUSP26) acts as a pivotal player in the transduction of signalling cascades with its dephosphorylating activity. Currently, DUSP26 attracts extensive attention due to its particular function in several pathological conditions. However, whether DUSP26 plays a role in kidney ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is unknown. Aims of the current work were to explore the relevance of DUSP26 in kidney IR damage. DUSP26 levels were found to be decreased in renal tubular epithelial cells following hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) and kidney samples subjected to IR treatments. DUSP26-overexpressed renal tubular epithelial cells exhibited protection against HR-caused apoptosis and inflammation, while DUSP26-depleted renal tubular epithelial cells were more sensitive to HR damage. Upregulation of DUSP26 in rat kidneys by infecting adenovirus expressing DUSP26 markedly ameliorated kidney injury caused by IR, while also effectively reducing apoptosis and inflammation. The mechanistic studies showed that the activation of transforming growth factor-ß-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-JNK/p38 MAPK, contributing to kidney injury under HR or IR conditions, was restrained by increasing DUSP26 expression. Pharmacological restraint of TAK1 markedly diminished DUSP26-depletion-exacebated effects on JNK/p38 activation and HR injury of renal tubular cells. The work reported a renal-protective function of DUSP26, which protects against IR-related kidney damage via the intervention effects on the TAK1-JNK/p38 axis. The findings laid a foundation for understanding the molecular pathogenesis of kidney IR injury and provide a prospective target for treating this condition.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas expressing CD30 and CD15 expand the spectrum of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are morphologically and biologically heterogeneous and a subset expresses CD30, including anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) and a minority of PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS). ALCL with ALK translocations (ALCL, ALK+) are readily identified by routine diagnostic methods, but differentiating ALCL without ALK translocation (ALCL, ALK-) and PTCL, NOS expressing CD30 (PTCL CD30+) can be challenging. Furthermore, rare PTCL co-express CD30 and CD15 (PTCL CD30+CD15+); some resemble ALCL, ALK- while others resemble classic Hodgkin lymphoma. To explore the relationship between PTCL CD30+CD15+ and ALCL, ALK-, we analysed 19 cases of PTCL with CD30 expression, previously diagnosed as ALCL, ALK- (nine cases) and PTCL CD30+CD15+ (10 cases) for DUSP22/IRF4 rearrangements, coding RNA expression and selected transcriptome analysis using the NanoString nCounter gene expression analysis platform. Unsupervised clustering showed no clear segregation between ALCL, ALK- and PTCL CD30+CD15+. Three cases previously classified as PTCL CD30+CD15+ showed DUSP22/IRF4 rearrangements, favouring a diagnosis of ALCL, ALK-. Our results suggest that cases previously designated PTCL CD30+CD15+, likely fall within the spectrum of ALCL, ALK-; additionally, a subset of ALCL, ALK- with DUSP22/IRF4 rearrangement expresses CD15, consistent with previous reports and expands the immunophenotypic spectrum of this lymphoma subgroup.

DUSP22 Ameliorates Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in HUVECs through Smad2/3 and MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is the process by which endothelial cells lose their endothelial properties and acquire mesenchymal characteristics. Dual-specific protein phosphatase 22 (DUSP22) inactivates various protein kinases and transcription factors by dephosphorylating serine/threonine residues: hence, it plays a key role in many diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the functional role of DUSP22 in EndMT. In the transforming growth factor-ß-induced EndMT model in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we observed a downregulation of DUSP22 expression. This DUSP22 deficiency could aggravate EndMT. Conversely, the overexpression of DUSP22 could ameliorate EndMT. We used signaling pathway inhibitors to verify our results and found that DUSP22 could regulate EndMT through the smad2/3 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In summary, DUSP22 ameliorates EndMT in HUVECs in vitro through the smad2/3 and MAPK signaling pathways.

Gene expression profile of mitogen-activated kinases and microRNAs controlling their expression in HaCaT cell culture treated with lipopolysaccharide A and cyclosporine A.

Studies indicate that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are activated and overexpressed in psoriatic lesions. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the expression pattern of genes encoding MAPKs and microRNA (miRNA) molecules potentially regulating their expression in human adult low-calcium high-temperature (HaCaT) keratinocytes exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide A (LPS) and cyclosporine A (CsA). HaCaT cells were treated with 1 µg/mL LPS for 8 h, followed by treatment with 100 ng/mL cyclosporine A for 2, 8, or 24 h. Untreated cells served as controls. The molecular analysis consists of microarray, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses. The statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed using Transcriptome Analysis Console and STATISTICA 13.5 PL with the statistical significance threshold of p < 0.05. Changes in the expression profile of six mRNAs: dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), dual-specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MAP2K2), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MAP2K7), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9) in cell culture exposed to LPS or LPS and the drug compared to the control. We observed that under the LPS and cyclosporine treatment, the expression o/ miR-34a, miR-1275, miR-3188, and miR-382 changed significantly (p < 0.05). We demonstrated a potential relationship between DUSP1 and miR-34a; DUSP4 and miR-34a, miR-382, and miR-3188; MAPK9 and miR-1275, MAP2K7 and mir-200-5p; MAP3K2 and mir-200-5p, which may be the subject of further research in the context of psoriasis.

The glucocorticoid dexamethasone alleviates allergic inflammation through a mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1-dependent mechanism in mice.

Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Glucocorticoids have a widespread action on gene expression resulting in their pharmacological actions and also an array of adverse effects which limit their clinical use. It remains, however, to be studied which target gene effects are essential for the anti-allergic activity of glucocorticoids. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) inhibits proinflammatory signalling by suppressing the activity of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathways. MKP-1 is one of the anti-inflammatory genes whose expression is enhanced by glucocorticoids. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of MKP-1 in the therapeutic effects of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone in acute allergic reaction. The effects of dexamethasone were studied in wild-type and MKP-1 deficient mice. The mice were first sensitized to ovalbumin, and the allergic reaction was then induced by a subcutaneous ovalbumin injection in the hind paw. Inflammatory edema was quantified with plethysmometer and expression of inflammatory factors was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Dexamethasone reduced the ovalbumin-induced paw edema at 1.5, 3 and 6 h time points in wild-type mice by 70%, 95% and 89%, respectively. The effect was largely abolished in MKP-1 deficient mice. Furthermore, dexamethasone significantly attenuated the expression of ovalbumin-induced inflammatory factors cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2); inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); interleukins (IL) 1ß, 6 and 13; C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL-11); tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in wild-type mice by more than 40%. In contrast, in MKP-1 deficient mice dexamethasone had no effect or even enhanced the expression of these inflammatory factors. The results suggest that dexamethasone alleviates allergic inflammation through an MKP-1-dependent mechanism. The results also demonstrate MKP-1 as an important conveyor of the favourable glucocorticoid effects in ovalbumin-induced type I allergic reaction. Together with previous findings, the present study supports the concept of MKP-1 enhancing compounds as potential novel anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs.

CRISPR-targeted mutagenesis of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 improves both immunity and yield in wheat.

Plants have evolved a sophisticated immunity system for specific detection of pathogens and rapid induction of measured defences. Over- or constitutive activation of defences would negatively affect plant growth and development. Hence, the plant immune system is under tight positive and negative regulation. MAP kinase phosphatase1 (MKP1) has been identified as a negative regulator of plant immunity in model plant Arabidopsis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MKP1 regulates immune signalling in wheat (Triticum aestivum) are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of TaMKP1 in wheat defence against two devastating fungal pathogens and determined its subcellular localization. We demonstrated that knock-down of TaMKP1 by CRISPR/Cas9 in wheat resulted in enhanced resistance to rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) and powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), indicating that TaMKP1 negatively regulates disease resistance in wheat. Unexpectedly, while Tamkp1 mutant plants showed increased resistance to the two tested fungal pathogens they also had higher yield compared with wild-type control plants without infection. Our results suggested that TaMKP1 interacts directly with dephosphorylated and activated TaMPK3/4/6, and TaMPK4 interacts directly with TaPAL. Taken together, we demonstrated TaMKP1 exert negative modulating roles in the activation of TaMPK3/4/6, which are required for MAPK-mediated defence signalling. This facilitates our understanding of the important roles of MAP kinase phosphatases and MAPK cascades in plant immunity and production, and provides germplasm resources for breeding for high resistance and high yield.

Transcriptomic analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis-infected head and neck cancer cells: Identification of PLAU as a candidate prognostic biomarker.

Periodontal disease is a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, has been identified as a specific and potentially independent microbial factor that increases the risk of cancer mortality. Gene expression in HNSCC due to P. gingivalis infection and how changes in gene expression affect the prognosis of HNSCC patients are not clarified. When P. gingivalis was cultured with HNSCC cells, it efficiently adhered to these cells and enhanced their invasive ability. A transcriptome analysis of P. gingivalis -infected HNSCC cells showed that genes related to migration, including CCL20, CITED2, CTGF, C8orf44-SGK3, DUSP10, EGR3, FUZ, HBEGF, IL1B, IL24, JUN, PLAU, PTGS2, P2RY1, SEMA7A, SGK1 and SIX2, were highly up- or down-regulated. The expression of up-regulated genes was examined using the expression data of HNSCC patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the expression of 5 genes, including PLAU, was found to be higher in cancer tissue than in solid normal tissue. An analysis of protein-protein interactions revealed that these 5 genes formed a dense network. A Cox regression analysis showed that high PLAU expression levels were associated with a poor prognosis in patients with TCGA-HNSCC. Furthermore, the prognostic impact correlated with tumour size and the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. Collectively, these results suggest the potential of PLAU as a molecular prognostic marker in HNSCC patients. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to verify the findings of this study.

Hepatocyte-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 in sexual dimorphism and susceptibility to alcohol induced liver injury.

Background: It is well established that females are more susceptible to the toxic effects of alcohol, although the exact mechanisms are still poorly understood. Previous studies noted that alcohol reduces the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP1), a negative regulator of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in the liver. However, the role of hepatocyte- specific MKP1 in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) remains uncharacterized. This study aimed to evaluate the role of hepatocyte-specific MKP1 in the susceptibility and sexual dimorphism in alcohol-induced liver injury. Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were used in an intragastric ethanol feeding model of alcohol-associated steatohepatitis (ASH). Hepatocyte-specific Mkp1-/- knockout and (Mkp1+/+ "f/f" male and female mice were subjected to the NIAAA chronic plus binge model. Primary mouse hepatocytes were used for in vitro studies. Liver RNA sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq 500. Liver injury was evaluated by plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), hepatic ER stress and inflammation markers. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA and the unpaired Student's t-test. Results: ASH was associated with the severe injury accompanied by increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and significant downregulation of Dusp1 mRNA expression. In vitro, ethanol treatment resulted in a time-dependent decrease in Dusp1 mRNA and protein expression in primary hepatocytes in both males and females; however, this effect was significantly more pronounced in hepatocytes from females. In vivo, female mice developed more liver injury in a chronic plus binge model which was accompanied by a significant decrease in liver Dusp1 mRNA expression. In comparison, liver Dusp1 was not changed in male mice, while they developed milder injury to alcohol. Mkp1 deletion in hepatocytes led to increased alcohol induced liver injury, ER stress and inflammation in both sexes. Conclusion: Hepatocyte Mkp1 plays a significant role in alcohol induced liver injury. Alcohol downregulates Mkp1 expression in hepatocytes in a sex dependent manner and could play a role in sexual dimorphism in increased female susceptibility to alcohol.

The phosphatase DUSP22 inhibits UBR2-mediated K63-ubiquitination and activation of Lck downstream of TCR signalling.

DUSP22 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that inhibits T cell activation by inactivating the kinase Lck. Here we show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR2 is a positive upstream regulator of Lck during T-cell activation. DUSP22 dephosphorylates UBR2 at specific Serine residues, leading to ubiquitin-mediated UBR2 degradation. UBR2 is also modified by the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex via Lys48-linked ubiquitination at multiple Lysine residues. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and UBR2 loss of function experiments showed that UBR2 is a positive regulator of proinflammatory cytokine expression. Mechanistically, UBR2 induces Lys63-linked ubiquitination of Lck at Lys99 and Lys276 residues, followed by Lck Tyr394 phosphorylation and activation as part of TCR signalling. Inflammatory phenotypes induced by TCR-triggered Lck activation or knocking out DUSP22, are attenuated by genomic deletion of UBR2. UBR2-Lck interaction and Lck Lys63-linked ubiquitination are induced in the peripheral blood T cells of human SLE patients, which demonstrate the relevance of the UBR2-mediated regulation of inflammation to human pathology. In summary, we show here an important regulatory mechanism of T cell activation, which finetunes the balance between T cell response and aggravated inflammation.

Proteomic Signaling of Dual-Specificity Phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) in Alzheimer's Disease.

DUSP4 is a member of the DUSP (dual-specificity phosphatase) subfamily that is selective to the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and has been implicated in a range of biological processes and functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we utilized the stereotactic delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-DUSP4 to overexpress DUSP4 in the dorsal hippocampus of 5xFAD and wildtype (WT) mice, then used mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics along with the label-free quantification to profile the proteome and phosphoproteome in the hippocampus. We identified protein expression and phosphorylation patterns modulated in 5xFAD mice and examined the sex-specific impact of DUSP4 overexpression on the 5xFAD proteome/phosphoproteome. In 5xFAD mice, a substantial number of proteins were up- or down-regulated in both male and female mice in comparison to age and sex-matched WT mice, many of which are involved in AD-related biological processes, such as activated immune response or suppressed synaptic activities. Many proteins in pathways, such as immune response were found to be suppressed in response to DUSP4 overexpression in male 5xFAD mice. In contrast, such a shift was absent in female mice. For the phosphoproteome, we detected an array of phosphorylation sites regulated in 5xFAD compared to WT and modulated via DUSP4 overexpression in each sex. Interestingly, 5xFAD- and DUSP4-associated phosphorylation changes occurred in opposite directions. Strikingly, both the 5xFAD- and DUSP4-associated phosphorylation changes were found to be mostly in neurons and play key roles in neuronal processes and synaptic functions. Site-centric pathway analysis revealed that both the 5xFAD- and DUSP4-associated phosphorylation sites were enriched for a number of kinase sets in females but only a limited number of sets of kinases in male mice. Taken together, our results suggest that male and female 5xFAD mice responded to DUSP4 overexpression via shared and sex-specific molecular mechanisms, which might underly similar reductions in amyloid pathology in both sexes while learning deficits were reduced in only females with DUSP4 overexpression. Finally, we validated our findings with the sex-specific AD-associated proteomes in human cohorts and further developed DUSP4-centric proteomic network models and signaling maps for each sex.

DUSP22 suppresses tumor progression by directly dephosphorylating AKT in non-small cell lung cancer.

Protein kinase B (AKT) plays a pivotal in regulating cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and survival, making it a prominent target for anticancer therapy. While the kinase activity of AKT has been extensively explored, its dephosphorylation have largely remained uncharted. Herein, we aimed to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing AKT dephosphorylation, with a specific emphasis on dual-specificity phosphatases DUSP22. Our investigation sought to shed light on the potential of DUSP22 as a potential therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To determine the expression level of DUSP22 in NSCLC cell lines, the gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) and Oncomine database were searched. Additionally, the effect of DUSP22 on patient survival was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier database. Antitumor effects of DUSP22 were tested in A549 and H1299 cell lines. Experiments are based on: (1) cell viability determined by the cell counting kit-8 assay and colony-formation assay; (2) cell migratory ability assessed through the scratch assay and the transwell migration assay; (3) the mechanism behind the antitumor effects of DUSP22 dissected with co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and in vitro kinase assays. Our study revealed a significant downregulation of DUSP22 in both NSCLC cell lines and tissues. Meanwhile, survival rate analysis results demonstrated that reduced DUSP22 expression was correlated with poorer overall survival in lung cancer patients. Moreover, DUSP22 exhibited an inhibitory effect on the cell viability and migratory capacity of A549 and H1299 cells. This inhibition was accompanied by the decrease in the phosphorylation of AKT and p38. Mechanistically, the phosphatase domain of DUSP22 interacted with AKT, resulting in the inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. This inhibitory effect was contingent upon the phosphatase activity of DUSP22. These findings provide compelling evidence that DUSP22 directly interacted with AKT, leading to the dephosphorylation of AKT at S473 and T308 residues, ultimately curbing the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells. Additionally, our results also highlight a preclinical rationale for utilizing DUSP22 as a prognostic marker in NSCLC.

Identification of telomere-associated gene signatures to predict prognosis and drug sensitivity in glioma.

OBJECTIVE: Gliomas are a heterogeneous group of brain tumors with distinct biological and clinical properties, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. Emerging evidence shows telomere maintenance has implicated in glioma susceptibility and prognosis. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed gene signatures related to telomere maintenance in glioma and their predictive values for predicting the prognosis and drug sensitivity in glioma. METHODS: We initially identified telomere-related genes differentially expressed between low-grade glioma (LGG) and glioblastoma (GBM) and accordingly developed a risk model by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis to assess the expressions of telomere-related genes across the risk groups. Finally, to assess these genes in immune function the anti-tumor medications often used in the clinical treatment of glioma, we computed immune cell infiltration analysis and drug sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The consensus clustering analysis identified 20 telomere-related genes which split LGG patients into two distinct subtypes. The patient survival, the expressions of key telomere-related DEGs, and immune cell infiltration significantly differed between Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. The LASSO risk model [riskScore=(0.086)*HOXA7+(0.242)*WEE1+(0.247)*IGF2BP3+(0.052)*DUSP10] showed significant differences regarding the 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity between high- and low-risk groups. The predictive nomogram constructed to quantify the survival probability of each sample at 1, 3, and 5 years was consistent with the actual patient survival. CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive characterization of telomere-associated gene signatures in glioma reveals their possible roles in the development, tumor microenvironment, and prognosis. The study provides some suggestive relationships between four telomere-related genes (HOXA7, WEE1, IGF2BP3, and DUSP10) and glioma prognosis.

DOCK1 insufficiency disrupts trophoblast function and pregnancy outcomes via DUSP4-ERK pathway.

Abnormal trophoblast function is associated with diseases such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, and preterm birth, and endangers maternal and fetal health. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found DOCK1 expression is decreased in the placental villi of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, and that its expression determined the invasive properties of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), highlighting a previously unknown role of DOCK1 in regulating EVT function. Furthermore, DOCK1 deficiency disturbed the ubiquitinated degradation of DUSP4, leading to its accumulation. This caused inactivation of the ERK signaling pathway, resulting in inadequate EVT migration and invasion. DOCK1 was implicated in regulating the ubiquitin levels of DUSP4, possibly by modulating the E3 ligase enzyme HUWE1. The results of our in vivo experiments confirmed that the DOCK1 inhibitor TBOPP caused miscarriage in mice by inactivating the DUSP4/ERK pathway. Collectively, our results revealed the crucial role of DOCK1 in the regulation of EVT function via the DUSP4-ERK pathway and a basis for the development of novel treatments for adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by trophoblast dysfunction.

ARID1A loss activates MAPK signaling via DUSP4 downregulation.

BACKGROUND: ARID1A, a tumor suppressor gene encoding BAF250, a protein participating in chromatin remodeling, is frequently mutated in endometrium-related malignancies, including ovarian or uterine clear cell carcinoma (CCC) and endometrioid carcinoma (EMCA). However, how ARID1A mutations alter downstream signaling to promote tumor development is yet to be established. METHODS: We used RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore transcriptomic changes in isogenic human endometrial epithelial cells after deleting ARID1A. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) was employed to assess the active or repressive histone marks on DUSP4 promoter and regulatory regions. We validated our findings using genetically engineered murine endometroid carcinoma models, human endometroid carcinoma tissues, and in silico approaches. RESULTS: RNA-seq revealed the downregulation of the MAPK phosphatase dual-specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) in ARID1A-deficient cells. ChIP-seq demonstrated decreased histone acetylation marks (H3K27Ac, H3K9Ac) on DUSP4 regulatory regions as one of the causes for DUSP4 downregulation in ARID1A-deficient cells. Ectopic DUSP4 expression decreased cell proliferation, and pharmacologically inhibiting the MAPK pathway significantly mitigated tumor formation in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ARID1A protein transcriptionally modulates DUSP4 expression by remodeling chromatin, subsequently inactivating the MAPK pathway, leading to tumor suppression. The ARID1A-DUSP4-MAPK axis may be further considered for developing targeted therapies against ARID1A-mutated cancers.

Placenta microRNA profile of patient with Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

The onset of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) occurs when antiphospholipid antibodies act upon the placenta. During pregnancy, APS exhibits traits such as vascular thrombosis, inflammation, and hindered trophoblast implantation. The involvement of microRNA expression has been proposed as a genetic factor contributing to the syndrome's development. MicroRNAs play a role in regulating gene expression in various cellular processes, including the formation of placental tissue. Therefore, additional research is needed to explore the control of placental miRNA in APS. In this study, we aimed to profile miRNA expressions from placenta tissue of patients with APS. Differentially expressed miRNAs were determined for its targeted genes and pathways. Agilent microarray platform was used to measure placental microRNA expressions between normal placental tissue and those obtained from patients with APS. Differentially expressed miRNAs were detected using GeneSpring GX software 14.2 and sequences were mapped using TargetScan software to generate the predicted target genes. Pathway analysis for the genes was then performed on PANTHER and REACTOME software. Selected miRNAs and their associated genes of interest were validated using qPCR. Microarray findings revealed, 9 downregulated and 21 upregulated miRNAs expressed in placenta of patients with APS. Quantitative expressions of 3 selected miRNAs were in agreement with the microarray findings, however only miR-525-5p expression was statistically significant. Pathway analysis revealed that the targeted genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in several hypothesised signalling pathways such as the vascular endothelial (VE) growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory pathways. VE-cadherin, ras homolog member A (RHOA) and tyrosine kinase receptor (KIT) showed significant downregulation while Retinoblastoma gene (RET), Dual specificity protein phosphatase 10 (DUSP10) and B-lymphocyte kinase (BLK) genes were significantly upregulated. These preliminary findings suggest the involvement of miRNAs and identified novel associated genes involvement in the mechanism of obstetric APS, particularly through the alteration of vascular-associated regulators and the inflammatory signalling cascade.

Acute Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Suppresses Hepatic Gluconeogenesis by Stimulating MAPK Phosphatase 3 Degradation.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a widespread and harmful disease, and is closely linked to acute endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Previous reports have shown that acute ER stress can suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis and even leads to hypoglycemia. However, the mechanism is still unclear. MAPK phosphatase 3 (MKP-3) is a positive regulator for gluconeogenesis. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the role of MKP-3 in the suppression of gluconeogenesis by acute ER stress, as well as the regulatory role of acute ER stress on the expression of MKP-3. Results showed that acute ER stress induced by tunicamycin significantly suppressed gluconeogenesis in both hepatocytes and mouse liver, reduced glucose production level in hepatocytes, and decreased fasting blood glucose level in mice. Additionally, the protein level of MKP-3 was reduced by acute ER stress in both hepatocytes and mouse liver. Mkp-3 deficiency eliminated the inhibitory effect of acute ER stress on gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes. Moreover, the reduction effect of acute ER stress on blood glucose level and hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pc) expression was not observed in the liver-specific Mkp-3 knockout mice. Furthermore, activation of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) decreased the MKP-3 protein level, while inactivation of PERK abolished the reduction effect of acute ER stress on the MKP-3 protein level in hepatocytes. Taken together, our study suggested that acute ER stress could suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis by stimulating MKP-3 degradation via PERK, at least partially. Thus, MKP-3 might be a therapeutic target for DILI-related hypoglycemia.

ADSC secretome constrains NK cell activity by attenuating IL-2-mediated JAK-STAT and AKT signaling pathway via upregulation of CIS and DUSP4.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases through their secreted factors, referred to as the secretome. However, the specific key factors of the MSC secretome and their mechanisms of action in immune cells have not been fully determined. Most in vitro experiments are being performed using immune cells, but experiments using natural killer (NK) cells have been neglected, and a few studies using NK cells have shown discrepancies in results. NK cells are crucial elements of the immune system, and adjustment of their activity is essential for controlling various pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ADSC) secretome on NK cell activity. METHODS: To obtain the ADSC secretome, we cultured ADSCs in medium and concentrated the culture medium using tangential flow filtration (TFF) capsules. We assessed NK cell viability and proliferation using CCK-8 and CFSE assays, respectively. We analyzed the effects of the ADSC secretome on NK cell activity and pathway-related proteins using a combination of flow cytometry, ELISA, cytotoxicity assay, CD107a assay, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR. To identify the composition of the ADSC secretome, we performed LC-MS/MS profiling and bioinformatics analysis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, we used mRNA sequencing to profile the transcriptional expression of human blood NK cells. RESULTS: The ADSC secretome was found to restrict IL-2-mediated effector function of NK cells while maintaining proliferative potency. This effect was achieved through the upregulation of the inhibitory receptor CD96, as well as downregulation of activating receptors and IL-2 receptor subunits IL-2Rα and IL-2Rγ. These changes were associated with attenuated JAK-STAT and AKT pathways in NK cells, which were achieved through the upregulation of cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS, encoded by Cish) and dual specificity protein phosphatase 4 (DUSP4). Furthermore, proteomic analysis revealed twelve novel candidates associated with the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a detailed cellular outcome and regulatory mechanism of NK cell activity by the ADSC secretome and suggest a therapeutic tool for treating NK-mediated inflammatory and autoimmune diseases using the MSC secretome.

Primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders with DUSP22 translocation.

Primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) encompass a broad category of clonal T cell proliferations with varied clinical presentations. Classically, lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) have been recognized as distinct clinicopathological entities according to their differing clinical features. Recently, a subset of LyP and both cutaneous and systemic ALCL have been shown to carry a DUSP22 translocation [1-3], a defining molecular feature for the novel entity "LyP with DUSP22t" [1]. In cutaneous biopsies, both primary cutaneous DUSP22-translocated ALCL and LyP with DUSP22 rearrangements are characterized by a biphasic pattern with significant small cell epidermotropism. A distinct protein expression profile with preserved T Cell Receptor (TCR) expression, positivity for CD30, LEF1, HLA, and CD58, and negativity for cytotoxic marker expression as well as phospho-STAT3 protein is consistently found in these cases.

Anaplastic large cell lymphomas with equivocal DUSP22 FISH results: recommendations for clinical reporting and diagnostic evaluation.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), one of the most common T-cell lymphomas, shows unifying pathological features but is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. One genetic subgroup, characterized by recurrent DUSP22 rearrangements (R), has distinct morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features and can be identified in routine pathology practice using a breakapart (BAP) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe. However, some cases show equivocal BAP-FISH findings (BAP-FISHEQ) and the features of these cases are poorly understood. Here, we sought to characterize DUSP22 BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs further. First, we applied an immunohistochemistry (IHC) algorithm using TIA1, pSTAT3Y705, and LEF1, which can predict DUSP22-R with high accuracy. Among 37 BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs, 18 (49%) were IHC-algorithm positive (IHCPOS), 8 (21%) were IHC-algorithm negative (IHCNEG), and 11 (30%) were IHCEQ. In 32 BAP-FISHEQ cases, we also applied a dual-color, dual-fusion (D-FISH) probe for t(6;7)(p25.3;q32.3), which accounts for 45% of DUSP22-R ALCLs. Among BAP-FISHEQ cases, D-FISH was positive in 10/18 IHCPOS cases (56%), 0/9 IHCEQ cases (0%), and 0/5 IHCNEG cases (0%). Median survival in BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs was 105 months, intermediate between BAP-FISHPOS ALCLs (median survival not reached) and BAP-FISHNEG ALCLs (19 months). Thus, DUSP22 BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs are clinicopathologically heterogeneous, likely due to an admixture of cases with an unbalanced DUSP22-R and cases with focal deletions without rearrangement. For clinical reporting, we recommend that DUSP22 BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs be reported as equivocal, and not be grouped with BAP-FISHPOS ALCLs. Clinical adoption of an IHC algorithm, possibly supplemented by t(6; 7) D-FISH, could facilitate genetic subtyping in about two-thirds of BAP-FISHEQ ALCLs.