New insights into the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: HKDC1 promotes the growth of ovarian granulocyte cells by regulating mitochondrial function and glycolysis.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease, and its pathogenesis and treatment are still unclear. Hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) participates in regulating mitochondrial function and glycolysis. However, its role in PCOS development remains unrevealed. Here, female C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; 60 mg/kg body weight) to establish an in vivo model of PCOS. In vitro, KGN cells, a human ovarian granular cell line, were used to explore the potential mechanisms. DHEA-treated mice exhibited a disrupted estrus cycle, abnormal hormone levels, and insulin resistance. Dysfunction in mitochondria and glycolysis is the main reason for PCOS-related growth inhibition of ovarian granular cells. Here, we found that the structure of mitochondria was impaired, less ATP was generated and more mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species were produced in HKDC1-silenced KGN cells. Moreover, HKDC1 knockdown inhibited glucose consumption and decreased the production of glucose-6-phosphate and lactic acid. Conclusively, HKDC1 protects ovarian granulocyte cells from DHEA-related damage at least partly by preserving mitochondrial function and maintaining glycolysis.

High-Throughput Sequencing Reveals the Differential MicroRNA Expression Profiles of Human Gastric Cancer SGC7901 Cell Xenograft Nude Mouse Models Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine Si Jun Zi Tang Decoction.

Objective. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism underlying the antitumor effect of Si Jun Zi Tang (SJZT) decoction on gastric cancer. Methods. Twelve human gastric cancer SGC7901 cell xenograft nude mouse models were established. The mice were randomly divided into the Model group and SJZT group. SJZT exerted significant antitumor effects after 21 days of decoction administration. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of tumor tissues. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to provide further information regarding the differentially expressed miRNAs. Five representative differentially expressed miRNAs and four predicted target genes were further validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Results. We identified 33 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the SJZT group compared with the Model group. Among them, 32 miRNAs were upregulated and 1 miRNA was downregulated. Bioinformatic analysis showed that most of miRNAs acted as tumor suppressors and their target genes participated in multiple signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, microRNAs in cancer, and Wnt signaling pathway. The qRT-PCR result confirmed that miR-223-3p, miR-205-5p, miR-147b-3p, and miR-223-5p were overexpressed and their respective paired target genes FUT9, POU2F1, MUC4, and RAB14 mRNA were obviously downregulated in the SJZT group compared with those in the Model group. Network analysis revealed that miR-223-3p and miR-205-5p shared two targets POU2F1 (encoding POU class 2 homeobox 1) and FUT9 (encoding fucosyltransferase 9), suggesting they have a common role in certain pathways. Conclusion. This study provided novel insights into the anticancer mechanism of SJZT against gastric cancer, which might be partly related to the modulation of miRNA expression and their target pathways in tumors.

[Mechanism of puerarin reversing SH-SY5Y cell injury induced by Aß_(1-42) based on proteomics].

Puerarin has the anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity,which can reverse nerve injury induced by Aßand inhibit neuronal apoptosis.However,its potential pharmacodynamic mechanism still needs to be further researched.The occurrence and development of AD is due to the change of multiple metabolic links in the body,which leads to the destruction of balance.Puerarin may act on multiple targets and multiple metabolic processes to achieve therapeutic purposes.Quantitative proteomic analysis provides a new choice to understand the mechanism as completely as possible.This research adopted SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aß_(1-42)to establish AD cell model,and Aßimmunofluorescence detection showed that Aßdecreased significantly after puerarin intervention.The mechanism of puerarin reversing SH-SY5Y cell injured by Aß_(1-42)was further explored by using label-free non-labeled quantitative technology and Western blot detection based on bioinformatics analysis result.The results showed that most of the differential proteins were related to biological processes such as cellular component organization or biogenesis,cellular component organization and cellular component biogenesis,and they mainly participated in the top ten pathways of P value such as pathogenic Escherichia coli infection,m TOR signaling pathway,regulation of autophagy,regulation of actin cytoskeleton,spliceosome,hepatocellular carcinoma,tight junction,non-small cell lung cancer,apoptosis and gap junction.Annexin V/PI flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to detect apoptosis,and the results showed that Aßdecreased significantly and the rate of apoptosis decreased significantly after puerarin intervention.Western blot analysis found that the protein expression level of autophagy related protein LC3Ⅱwas up-regulated after Aßinduction,and the degree of this up-regulation was further enhanced in puerarin intervention group.The trend of the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰamong groups was the same as the protein expression level of LC3Ⅱ，the protein expression level of p62 in the control group,AD model group and puerarin intervention group decreased successively.Protein interaction network analysis showed that CAP1 was correlated with TUBA1B,HSP90AB2P,DNM1L,TUBA1A and ERK1/2,and the correlation between CAP1 and ERK1/2 was the highest among them.Western blot showed that the expressions of p-ERK1/2,Bax and CAP1 were significantly down-regulated and the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly up-regulated after puerarin intervention.Therefore,puerarin might improve the SH-SY5Y cells injured by Aß_(1-42)through the interaction of multiple biological processes and pathways in cells multiple locations,and CAP1 might play an important role among them.

The Regulation of Exosome-Derived miRNA on Heterogeneity of Macrophages in Atherosclerotic Plaques.

Exosomes are nanosized vesicles secreted by most cells, which can deliver a variety of functional lipids, proteins, and RNAs into the target cells to participate in complex intercellular communications. Cells respond to certain physical, chemical, and biological stimuli by releasing exosomes. Exosomes are rich in small molecules of RNA, including miRNAs and mRNAs, which have been demonstrated to have certain functions in recipient cells. Recent studies on single-cell RNA sequences have revealed the transcription and the heterogeneity of macrophages in Ldlr-/-mice fed with a high-fat diet. Five macrophage populations were found in the atherosclerotic plaques. It is worth noting that these subset populations of macrophages seem to be endowed with different functions in lipid metabolism and catabolism. A total of 100 differentially expressed mRNAs were selected for these subset populations. Importantly, these macrophage populations were also present in human advanced atherosclerosis. To clarify the specific functions and the regulatory mechanism of these macrophage populations, we extracted exosome RNAs from the plasma of patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and performed RNA sequencing analysis. Compared with the healthy control, a total of 14 miRNAs were significantly expressed in these patients. A total of 5,248 potential mRNAs were predicted by the bioinformatics platform. Next, we determined the outcome of the intersection of these predicted mRNAs with 100 mRNAs expressed in the above-mentioned five macrophage populations. Based on the screening of miRNA-mRNA pairs, a co-expression network was drawn to find out the key RNAs. Three down-regulated miRNAs and five up-regulated mRNAs were selected for validation by real-time RT-PCR. The results showed that the expression of miR-4498 in plasma exosomes was lower than that in the healthy control, and the expressions of Ctss, Ccr2 and Trem2 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from CAD patients were higher. In order to clarify the regulatory mechanism, we established a co-culture system in vitro. Studies have shown that the uptake of exosomes from CAD patients can up-regulate the expression of Ctss, Trem2, and Ccr2 mRNA in THP-1 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide. Our findings revealed a unique relationship between the transcriptional signature and the phenotypic heterogeneity of macrophage in the atherosclerotic microenvironment.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6) on Expression of Myocardial Chloride Channel-related Genes, PKC and PKG Proteins in Myocardial Ischemia Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6), etc. on expression levels of myocardial chloride (CL-) channel-related genes and intracellular protein kinase C (PKC) protein in myocardial ischemia (M) rats. METHODS: Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10), model group (n = 15) , Neiguan (PC 6) group (n = 15), Lieque (LU 7) group (n = 15) and non-acupoint group (n = 15). The MI model was established by i. p. of isoproterenol (ISO, a sympathomimetic beta adrenergic agonist). Electroacupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Lieque" (LU 7), or non-acupoint [the mid-point between "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shenque" (CV 8)] for 15 min, once a day for 7 days. Quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression levels of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR, a CL-channel) mRNA and chloride channel calcium-activated 1 (CLCa 1, a member of the family of calcium-activated chloride channels, CLCa) mRNA in the left cardiac ventricle tissue, and Western blot was used to detect the expression level of myocardial PKC protein of the left ventricle. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression levels of myocardial PKC protein, and CLCa 1 and CFTR genes were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, the expression levels of myocardial PKC protein, and CFTR mRNA and CLCa 1 mRNA in the Neiguan group, and PKC protein and CLCa 1 mRNA in the Lieque and non-acupoint groups, as well as CFTR mRNA in the Lieque group were notably down-regulated (P<0.05). No significant change was found in the expression of CFTR mRNA in the non-acupoint group (P>0.05), and no significant differences were found between Neiguan and Lieque groups in the expression levels of PKC protein (P>0.05). The effects of "Neiguan" (PC 6) were obviously superior to those of non-acupoint in down-regulating myocardial PKC protein, CLCa 1 mRNA and CFTR mRNA (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6) can down-regulate the expression of myocardial PKC protein, CFTR and CLCa 1 genes in Ml rats, which may contribute to its effect in protecting rnyocardium from ischemic injury.