TRPV4 promotes HBV replication and capsid assembly via methylation modification of H3K4 and HBc ubiquitin.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant burden on global public health. Unfortunately, current treatments cannot fully alleviate this burden as they have limited effect on the transcriptional activity of the tenacious covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) responsible for viral persistence. Consequently, the HBV life cycle should be further investigated to develop new anti-HBV pharmaceutical targets. Our previous study discovered that the host gene TMEM203 hinders HBV replication by participating in calcium ion regulation. The involvement of intracellular calcium in HBV replication has also been confirmed. In this study, we found that transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) notably enhances HBV reproduction by investigating the effects of several calcium ion-related molecules on HBV replication. The in-depth study showed that TRPV4 promotes hepatitis B core/capsid protein (HBc) protein stability through the ubiquitination pathway and then promotes the nucleocapsid assembly. HBc binds to cccDNA and reduces the nucleosome spacing of the cccDNA-histones complex, which may regulate HBV transcription by altering the nucleosome arrangement of the HBV genome. Moreover, our results showed that TRPV4 promotes cccDNA-dependent transcription by accelerating the methylation modification of H3K4. In conclusion, TRPV4 could interact with HBV core protein and regulate HBV during transcription and replication. These data suggest that TRPV4 exerts multifaceted HBV-related synergistic factors and may serve as a therapeutic target for CHB.

HCBP6-induced activation of brown adipose tissue and upregulated of BAT cytokines genes.

Brown adipose tissue is a thermogenic organ, which consumes chemical energy as heat to protect animals from low temperature and metabolic diseases. However, the role and mechanism of the new factor that up-regulates the heat-generating capacity of brown adipose tissue is still unclear. Here, we found that hepatitis C virus core binding protein 6 (HCBP6), as a key regulator gene in the homeostasis of liver lipid metabolism, is an important enhancer for activating brown fat to ensure thermogenesis. HCBP6 upregulates the expression of UCP1 and increases the number of mitochondria in brown adipocytes. In the BAT of HCBP6-knockout mice induced by a high-fat diet, UCP1 and BAT activity-related genes Pgc1α, Cidea and oxidation phosphorylation-related genes (OXPHOS) were significantly reduced. In addition, the transcriptomics results show that the loss of HCBP6 caused disorder of the metabolic pathway, the expression of brown adipocyte development genes was significantly reduced, and the expression of most BAT cytokine genes was reduced. In conclusion, HCBP6 increased ucp1-dependent thermogenesis in BAT and improved liver lipid metabolism, possibly by enhancing the activity of brown fat and changing the expression of BAT cytokine genes.

Structural Visualization of Septum Formation in Staphylococcus warneri Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

Cell division of Staphylococcus adopts a "popping" mechanism that mediates extremely rapid separation of the septum. Elucidating the structure of the septum is crucial for understanding this exceptional bacterial cell division mechanism. Here, the septum structure of Staphylococcus warneri was extensively characterized using high-speed time-lapse confocal microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electron microscopy. The cells of S. warneri divide in a fast popping manner on a millisecond timescale. Our results show that the septum is composed of two separable layers, providing a structural basis for the ultrafast daughter cell separation. The septum is formed progressively toward the center with nonuniform thickness of the septal disk in radial directions. The peptidoglycan on the inner surface of double-layered septa is organized into concentric rings, which are generated along with septum formation. Moreover, this study signifies the importance of new septum formation in initiating new cell cycles. This work unravels the structural basis underlying the popping mechanism that drives S. warneri cell division and reveals a generic structure of the bacterial cell.IMPORTANCE This work shows that the septum of Staphylococcus warneri is composed of two layers and that the peptidoglycan on the inner surface of the double-layered septum is organized into concentric rings. Moreover, new cell cycles of S. warneri can be initiated before the previous cell cycle is complete. This work advances our knowledge about a basic structure of bacterial cell and provides information on the double-layered structure of the septum for bacteria that divide with the "popping" mechanism.

P7TP3 inhibits tumor development, migration, invasion and adhesion of liver cancer through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

The effect of hepatitis C virus p7 trans-regulated protein 3 (P7TP3) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of P7TP3 in HCC. P7TP3 was significantly decreased in HCC tissues when compared with corresponding liver tissues immediately around the tumor (LAT) from seven HCC patients. Fewer and smaller colonies originated from HepG2-P7TP3 cells when compared to HepG2-NC cells. Overexpression of P7TP3 in HepG2 cells significantly repressed the growth of HCC xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, wound-healing tests, Transwell assays, Matrigel Transwell assays, adhesion assays, CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry and western blotting analysis showed that P7TP3 protein expression inhibited migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation and cell cycle progression in HCC cell lines. Moreover, P7TP3 suppressed the activity of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and was restored by Wnt3a, which is an activator of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Consistently, ß-catenin was highly expressed by P7TP3 silencing, and restored by XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Finally, microRNA (miR)-182-5p suppressed the expression of target gene P7TP3 by directly interacting with the 3'-UTR region. Taken together, P7TP3, the direct target gene of miR-182-5p, inhibited HCC by regulating migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation and cell cycle progression of liver cancer cell through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. These findings provide strong evidence that P7TP3 functions as a new promising tumor suppressor in HCC.

XTP8 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by forming a positive feedback loop with FOXM1 oncogene.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancer in the world and the main cause of cancer death. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of HCC. HBx, as a transactivator, plays an important role in the occurrence and development process of HCC leading by HBV infection. XTP8, related to HBx, however, there are no studies on the function of XTP8 in HCC. In our research, we demonstrated that XTP8 was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues compared with non-cancerous tissues in Oncomine, TCGA and GEO database. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier Plotter analysis indicated that patients with higher XTP8 expression had significantly lower overall survival. Our immunohistochemical results suggested that XTP8 protein expression in HCC tissues was dramatically higher compared with control normal tissues. In vivo xenograft experiments on nude mice, the overexpression of XTP8 promoted the tumorigenic ability of HepG2 cells. In HepG2 and Huh7 cells, XTP8 upregulated FOXM1 expression to promote cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. FOXM1 knockdown reduced promoter activity of XTP8 to downregulate XTP8 expression. Thiostrepton, an inhibitor of FOXM1, decreased XTP8 expression. Therefore, our study demonstrates that XTP8 is a valuable prognostic predictor for HCC and there is a novel positive regulatory feedback loop between XTP8 and FOXM1 promoting the development of HCC.

Poseidonibacter antarcticus sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediment.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, flagellated and coccoid-shaped bacterial strain, designated SM1702T, was isolated from Antarctic intertidal sediment collected off Ardely Island, West Antarctica. The strain grew at 0-30 °C and with 0.5-5.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and single-copy orthologous clusters both showed that strain SM1702T, together with Poseidonibacter lekithochrous, occupied an independent phylogenetic branch, sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with type strain of the latter (95.6 %). The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0, and summed feature 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso-C16 : 1 I). Polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1702T was 27.1 mol%. Based on the results of the polyphasic characterisation for strain SM1702T, it is identified as the representative of a novel species of Poseidonibacter, for which the name Poseidonibacter antarcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Poseidonibacter antarcticus is SM1702T (=MCCC 1K03471T=KCTC 62796T).

Muricauda nanhaiensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater of the South China Sea.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-flagellated, non-gliding, yellow-pigmented, and rod-shaped bacterium with appendages, designated strain SM1704T, was isolated from surface seawater collected from the South China Sea. The strain grew at 15-42 °C and with 1-10 % NaCl. It hydrolysed aesculin, but did not hydrolyse gelatin and Tween 80 nor reduce nitrate to nitrite. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SM1704T was affiliated with the genus Muricauda, sharing 94.1-95.9 % sequence similarities with type strains of recognized Muricauda species. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and the main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids and three unidentified aminolipids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1704T was 40.7 mol%. On the basis of results from polyphasic analysis of strain SM1704T, it is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricaudananhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1704T (=KCTC 62797T=MCCC 1K03557T).

Chachezhania antarctica gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family 'Rhodobacteraceae' isolated from Antarctic seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1703T, was isolated from Antarctic seawater collected near the Chinese Antarctic Great Wall Station, King George Island, West Antarctica. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1703T formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the family 'Rhodobacteraceae', sharing high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Marivita litorea (95.5%). The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and with 0.5-13% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3-5%). The major cellular fatty acids were C19:0 cyclo ω8c, C18:1ω7c, C18:1 2-OH and C16:0 2-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1703T was 64.6 mol%. Based on the results of the polyphasic characterization for strain SM1703T, it is classified as the representative of a novel species in a new genus of the family 'Rhodobacteraceae', for which the name Chachezhania antarctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Chachezhania antarctica is SM1703T (= MCCC 1K03470T = KCTC 62794T = CCTCC AB 2018351T).

Brown adipose tissue transplantation ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, is a complex endocrinopathy. Because the cause of PCOS at the molecular level is largely unknown, there is no cure or specific treatment for PCOS. Here, we show that transplantation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) reversed anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries in a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS rat. BAT transplantation into a PCOS rat significantly stabilized menstrual irregularity and improved systemic insulin sensitivity up to a normal level, which was not shown in a sham-operated or muscle-transplanted PCOS rat. Moreover, BAT transplantation, not sham operation or muscle transplantation, surprisingly improved fertility in PCOS rats. Interestingly, BAT transplantation activated endogenous BAT and thereby increased the circulating level of adiponectin, which plays a prominent role in whole-body energy metabolism and ovarian physiology. Consistent with BAT transplantation, administration of adiponectin protein dramatically rescued DHEA-induced PCOS phenotypes. These results highlight that endogenous BAT activity is closely related to the development of PCOS phenotypes and that BAT activation might be a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of PCOS.

Role of IL-6-mediated expression of NS5ATP9 in autophagy of liver cancer cells.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and NS5ATP9 in autophagy of liver cancer cells. Autophagy is one of the important regulators of the replication of hepatitis C virus and the survival of tumors. IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an important role in autophagy and development of many kinds of tumors. However, the role of IL-6 in autophagy has not been fully explored. A previous study had shown that a novel gene, NS5ATP9, could modulate autophagy. The present study demonstrated that human IL-6 recombinant protein induced autophagy of HepG2 cells. Conversely, autophagy decreased after IL-6 was silenced or neutralized with monoclonal antibody against human IL-6. In addition, NS5ATP9 was upregulated by IL-6 via nuclear factor-kappaB activation, as detected by Western blot. Further studies indicated that the induction of autophagy by IL-6 could be attenuated by silencing NS5ATP9. Interestingly, the expression of NS5ATP9, in turn, resulted in the upregulation of IL-6. In conclusion, IL-6 could induce autophagy by expressing NS5ATP9, while NS5ATP9 upregulated IL-6 levels in turn, which further induced autophagy.

Rutin ameliorates obesity through brown fat activation.

Increasing energy expenditure through activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a critical approach to treating obesity and diabetes. In this study, rutin, a natural compound extracted from mulberry and a drug used as a capillary stabilizer clinically for many years without any side effects, regulated whole-body energy metabolism by enhancing BAT activity. Rutin treatment significantly reduced adiposity, increased energy expenditure, and improved glucose homeostasis in both genetically obese (Db/Db) and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. Rutin also induced brown-like adipocyte (beige) formation in subcutaneous adipose tissue in both obesity mouse models. Mechanistically, we found that rutin directly bound to and stabilized SIRT1, leading to hypoacetylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α protein, which stimulated Tfam transactivation and eventually augmented the number of mitochondria and UCP1 activity in BAT. These findings reveal that rutin is a novel small molecule that activates BAT and may provide a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of metabolic disorders.-Yuan, X., Wei, G., You, Y., Huang, Y., Lee, H. J., Dong, M., Lin, J., Hu, T., Zhang, H., Zhang, C., Zhou, H., Ye, R., Qi, X., Zhai, B., Huang, W., Liu, S., Xie, W., Liu, Q., Liu, X., Cui, C., Li, D., Zhan, J., Cheng, J., Yuan, Z., Jin, W. Rutin ameliorates obesity through brown fat activation.

Myricetin-induced brown adipose tissue activation prevents obesity and insulin resistance in db/db mice.

PURPOSE: Myricetin, a dietary flavonoid, is effective in the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance by increasing glucose transport and lipogenesis in adipocyte and diminishing systemic inflammation in obesity. However, it has not been revealed yet whether myricetin is associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation that tightly mediates systemic energy metabolism. Therefore, this study assessed whether myricetin activated brown adipose tissue in db/db mouse. METHODS: Myricetin (400 mg/kg) in distilled water was fed daily by oral gavage to leptin receptor-deficient db/db male mice at 4 weeks of age for 14 weeks. Body weight change, glucose intolerance test, blood lipid profile and BAT activation using PET-CT were assessed. RESULTS: After myricetin treatment for 14 weeks, systemic insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis were significantly improved in db/db mice with body weight reduction and myricetin led to decreased adipocity, improved plasma lipid profiles and increased energy expenditure. Myricetin activated BAT by upregulating thermogenic protein expression and activating mitochondrial biogenesis, eventually increasing heat dissipation in skin after cold exposure. In iWAT, myricetin induced beige formation, increased thermogenic protein expression and activated mitochondrial biogenesis. Consistently, thermogenic gene expression was upregulated when myricetin was introduced in C3H10T1/2 cells during brown adipocytes differentiation. Moreover, the expression level of adiponectin was significantly increased in C3H10T1/2 cells, adipose tissues and plasma after myricetin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight that myricetin prevents obesity and systemic insulin resistance by activating BAT and increasing adiponectin expression in BAT.

Novel CsxWO3/TiO2 Microspheres as Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalysts for Dye Pollutant Treatments.

CsxWO3/TiO2 composites with different contents of CsxWO3 were successfully synthesized in this study by a facile hydrothermal process. CsxWO3/TiO2 composites were characterized by XRD, Raman, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and SEM. TiO2 nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the surface of the CsxWO3 microsphere in the prepared CsxWO3/TiO2 composites, and they formed heterojunctions with CsxWO3. The effect of CsxWO3 on the photoactivities of composites was investigated via DRS and PL. All CsxWO3/TiO2 catalysts showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The 50% CsxWO3/TiO2 sample showed the best photocatalytic activity and its kinetic constant was 20 times larger than that of TiO2. The possible photocatalytic mechanism is also discussed from the trapping experiments of active species. The improved photocatalytic activity for the CsxWO3/TiO2 catalyst may be attributed to the synergetic effect between CsxWO3 microspheres and TiO2 nanoparticles. This novel photocatalyst can be used to degrade environmental pollutants in the future.

Combined impact of alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome on liver dysfunction in an elderly Chinese population.

Alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome(MetS), both prevalent in the general population, frequently co-occur. They are recognized as significant contributors to liver dysfunction, yet their combined effect is often challenging to delineate. This study delves into the compounding influence of alcohol consumption and metabolic disorder on liver dysfunction within an elderly demographic in Zhejiang Province, China. Our findings spotlight a heightened risk of liver dysfunction among females, younger individuals, rural dwellers, those with minimal educational attainment, single individuals, and those diagnosed with MetS. We also discerned a positive correlation correlation between the number of MetS components and the propensity for liver dysfunction. Furthermore, the risk of liver dysfunction escalated in tandem with the frequency of alcohol consumption. Interestingly, a prolonged abstinence period (≥ 5 years) seemed to mitigate this risk. Our research underscores the significance of refraining from excessive alcohol consumption, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and managing MetS components-especially triglyceride levels-for effective prevention of liver dysfunction.

PreS1BP mediates inhibition of Hepatitis B virus replication by promoting HBx protein degradation.

BACKGROUND: PreS1-binding protein (PreS1BP), recognized as a nucleolar protein and tumor suppressor, influences the replication of various viruses, including vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Its role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and the underlying mechanisms, however, remain elusive. METHODS: We investigated PreS1BP expression levels in an HBV-replicating cell and animal model and analyzed the impact of its overexpression on viral replication metrics. HBV DNA, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), and HBV RNA levels were assessed in HBV-expressing stable cell lines under varying PreS1BP conditions. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays were used to detect PreS1BP- hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) interactions and HBx stability modulated by PreS1BP. RESULTS: Our study revealed a marked decrease in PreS1BP expression in the presence of active HBV replication. Functional assays showed that PreS1BP overexpression significantly inhibited HBV replication and transcription, evidenced by the reduction in HBV DNA, cccDNA, HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBV RNA levels. At the molecular level, PreS1BP facilitated the degradation of HBx in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of PreS1BP led to an increase in HBx levels. Subsequent investigations uncovered that PreS1BP accelerated HBx protein degradation via K63-linked ubiquitination in a ubiquitin-proteasome system-dependent manner. Co-immunoprecipitation assays further established that PreS1BP enhances the recruitment of the proteasome 20S subunit alpha 3 (PSMA3) for interaction with HBx, thereby fostering its degradation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings unveil a previously unidentified mechanism wherein PreS1BP mediates HBx protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, consequentially inhibiting HBV replication. This insight positions PreS1BP as a promising therapeutic target for future HBV interventions. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical applicability of modulating PreS1BP in HBV therapy.

Multispectral detection of dietary fiber content in Chinese cabbage leaves across different growth periods.

Multispectral imaging, combined with stoichiometric values, was used to construct a prediction model to measure changes in dietary fiber (DF) content in Chinese cabbage leaves across different growth periods. Based on all the spectral bands (365-970 nm) and characteristic spectral bands (430, 880, 590, 490, 690 nm), eight quantitative prediction models were established using four machine learning algorithms, namely random forest (RF), backpropagation neural network, radial basis function, and multiple linear regression. Finally, a quantitative prediction model of RF learning algorithm is constructed based on all spectral bands, which has good prediction accuracy and model robustness, prediction performance with R2 of 0.9023, root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.7182 g/100 g, residual predictive deviation (RPD) of 3.1220 > 3.0. In summary, this model efficiently detects changes in DF content across different growth periods of Chinese cabbage, which offers technical support for vegetable sorting and grading in the field.

Has-miR-300-GADD45B promotes melanoma growth via cell cycle.

Response to oncogenic factors like UV, GADD45 family in skin participates in scavenging ROS, DNA repair and cell cycle control. Because of this, the previous study of the chronic UVB injury model has found that hsa-miR-300 can conduct intercellular transport by exosomes and target regulation of GADD45B. Whether the hsa-miR-300-GADD45B still regulates tumor development by cell cycle pathway is unclear. Through transcriptomic analysis of primary (n=39) and metastatic (n=102) melanoma, it was confirmed that in metastatic samples, some of the 97 down-regulated genes participate in maintaining skin homeostasis while 42 up-regulated genes were enriched in cancer-related functions. Furthermore, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, CXCR4 and RAD51 in the melanoma pathway, were also differentially expressed between normal skin and melanoma. CDKN1A and CDKN2A were also found to be involved in TP53-dependent cell cycle regulation. In conclusion, it was speculated that CDKN1A, CDKN2A, TP53, GADD45B and hsa-miR-300 may have regulatory relationships. It was demonstrated that there is a bidirectional regulation between hsa-miR-300 and TP53. In addition, miR-300 can regulate CDKN1A by GADD45B/TP53 and promote melanoma growth by accelerating the cell cycle transition from G1/S to G2 phase.

Difference and clinical value of metabolites in plasma and feces of patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in plasma and intestinal metabolites contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis (ALC). AIM: To explore the common and different metabolites in the plasma and feces of patients with ALC and evaluate their clinical implications. METHODS: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 27 patients with ALC and 24 healthy controls (HCs) were selected, and plasma and feces samples were collected. Liver function, blood routine, and other indicators were detected with automatic biochemical and blood routine analyzers. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect the plasma and feces metabolites of the two groups and the metabolomics of plasma and feces. Also, the correlation between metabolites and clinical features was analyzed. RESULTS: More than 300 common metabolites were identified in the plasma and feces of patients with ALC. Pathway analysis showed that these metabolites are enriched in bile acid and amino acid metabolic pathways. Compared to HCs, patients with ALC had a higher level of glycocholic acid (GCA) and taurocholic acid (TCA) in plasma and a lower level of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the feces, while L-threonine, L-phenylalanine, and L-tyrosine increased simultaneously in plasma and feces. GCA, TCA, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, and L-tyrosine in plasma were positively correlated with total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT), and maddrey discriminant function score (MDF) and negatively correlated with cholinesterase (CHE) and albumin (ALB). The DCA in feces was negatively correlated with TBil, MDF, and PT and positively correlated with CHE and ALB. Moreover, we established a P/S BA ratio of plasma primary bile acid (GCA and TCA) to fecal secondary bile acid (DCA), which was relevant to TBil, PT, and MDF score. CONCLUSION: The enrichment of GCA, TCA, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-methionine in the plasma of patients with ALC and the reduction of DCA in feces were related to the severity of ALC. These metabolites may be used as indicators to evaluate the progression of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis.

Calcitriol attenuates liver fibrosis through hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3-transactivated protein 1-mediated TGF ß1/Smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic fibrosis is a serious condition, and the development of hepatic fibrosis can lead to a series of complications. However, the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis remains unclear, and effective therapy options are still lacking. Our group identified hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3-transactivated protein 1 (NS3TP1) by suppressive subtractive hybridization and bioinformatics analysis, but its role in diseases including hepatic fibrosis remains undefined. Therefore, additional studies on the function of NS3TP1 in hepatic fibrosis are urgently needed to provide new targets for treatment. AIM: To elucidate the mechanism of NS3TP1 in hepatic fibrosis and the regulatory effects of calcitriol on NS3TP1. METHODS: Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomized and separated into three groups, comprising the normal, fibrosis, and calcitriol treatment groups, and liver fibrosis was modeled by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). To evaluate the level of hepatic fibrosis in every group, serological and pathological examinations of the liver were conducted. TGF-ß1 was administered to boost the in vitro cultivation of LX-2 cells. NS3TP1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and collagen III in every group were examined using a Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The activity of the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1)/Smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in each group of cells transfected with pcDNA-NS3TP1 or siRNA-NS3TP1 was detected. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using the Student's t test. RESULTS: NS3TP1 promoted the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and enhanced hepatic fibrosis via the TGFß1/Smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways, as evidenced by the presence of α-SMA, collagen I, collagen III, p-smad3, and p-p65 in LX-2 cells, which were upregulated after NS3TP1 overexpression and downregulated after NS3TP1 interference. The proliferation of HSCs was lowered after NS3TP1 interference and elevated after NS3TP1 overexpression, as shown by the luciferase assay. NS3TP1 inhibited the apoptosis of HSCs. Moreover, both Smad3 and p65 could bind to NS3TP1, and p65 increased the promoter activity of NS3TP1, while NS3TP1 increased the promoter activity of TGFß1 receptor I, as indicated by coimmunoprecipitation and luciferase assay results. Both in vivo and in vitro, treatment with calcitriol dramatically reduced the expression of NS3TP1. Calcitriol therapy-controlled HSCs activation, proliferation, and differentiation and substantially suppressed CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. Furthermore, calcitriol modulated the activities of the above signaling pathways via downregulation of NS3TP1. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that calcitriol may be employed as an adjuvant therapy for hepatic fibrosis and that NS3TP1 is a unique, prospective therapeutic target in hepatic fibrosis.

Chemerin regulates proliferation and differentiation of myoblast cells via ERK1/2 and mTOR signaling pathways.

Obesity in human is an alarming major public health crisis worldwide and insulin resistance is a hallmark of it. The negative cross-talk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue through adipokines is now accepted as one of the leading cause of insulin resistance. Chemerin is a novel adipokine previously reported to induce insulin resistance in primary human skeletal muscle cells. To investigate the role of chemerin in myogenesis, C2C12 cells were used and treated with chemerin in proliferation and differentiation stages. Our results showed that chemerin promoted proliferation and suppressed differentiation of C2C12 cells through extracellular-signal regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, and these two pathways were interacted with each other in C2C12 cells treated with chemerin. It is concluded from this in vitro study that chemerin which expression is increased during myoblast differentiation appears to be able, likely in an autocrine/paracrine manner, to increase myoblast proliferation and decrease myoblast differentiation.