Presence of dysfunctional soluble guanylate cyclase in mesenteric resistance arteries from rats with mild ligature-induced periodontitis

Periodontitis is notable for its high prevalence in the oral cavity and its association with systemic diseases. Functional alterations in vasomotor activity occur in the arteries of rats with mild periodontitis, primarily due to decreased soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) enzyme activity. This study aims to investigate the functional response of mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) obtained from rats with mild periodontitis. Vascular reactivity of MRAs from rats in the ligature (L) or sham (S) groups was assessed using a wire myograph. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme activity, the presence of nitrated proteins, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy were analyzed. The MRAs from the L group showed lower pD2 values in response to sodium nitroprusside or sildenafil and decreased Emax to the sGC stimulator Bay 41-2271 compared to the S group. However, no differences were observed between the groups with respect to the sGC activator Bay 60-2770. The L group exhibited increased nitrotyrosine protein expression, enhanced catalase activity, and reduced superoxide dismutase activity, along with decreased cGMP content after SNP stimulation. The EPR spectrum of the L group showed a weak peak at g 6.00, compared to the S group, confirming the oxidation of sGC heme-iron (Fe+2) to heme-Fe+3. In the early phase of bilateral ligature-induced periodontitis in rats, functional changes in the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway occur in the MRA due to reduced sGC activity and excessive production of iNOS-derived NO, superoxide anion, or a combination of both.

Adenosine 2B Receptor Signaling Impairs Vaccine-Mediated Protection Against Pneumococcal Infection in Young Hosts by Blunting Neutrophil Killing of Antibody-Opsonized Bacteria

Background/Objective: Neutrophils are essential for vaccine-mediated protection against pneumococcal infection and impairment in their antibacterial function contributes to reduced vaccine efficacy during aging. However, the signaling pathways that control the neutrophil responses in vaccinated hosts are not fully understood. The extracellular adenosine pathway is a known regulator of neutrophils in naïve hosts. The aim of this study was to test the role of this pathway in the function of neutrophils and their protection against infection upon vaccination as a function of the host's age. Methods: To test the role of adenosine in the antimicrobial activity of neutrophils against antibody-opsonized pneumococci, we used bone marrow-derived neutrophils isolated from wild-type or specific-adenosine-receptors knock-out mice. To measure the effect of adenosine receptor signaling in vivo, we treated vaccinated mice with agonists or antagonists that were specific to the different adenosine receptors prior to pulmonary challenge with pneumococci and assessed the bacterial burden and clinical score post-infection. Results: We found that signaling via the adenosine 2B (A2BR) receptor but not the A2A or A1 receptors diminished the intracellular pneumococcal killing following antibody-mediated uptake in young hosts. In vivo, the agonism of the A2BR receptor significantly worsened the pneumococcal infection outcomes in young, vaccinated mice. In contrast, A2BR signaling had no effect on the intracellular bacterial killing by neutrophils from aged mice. Further, in vivo A2BR inhibition had no effect on the pneumococcal disease progression in aged, vaccinated mice. Conclusions: A2BR signaling reduced pneumococcal vaccine-mediated protection by impairing the antimicrobial activity of neutrophils against antibody-opsonized bacteria in young hosts. However, inhibiting this pathway was not sufficient to boost responses in aged hosts.

Antioxidants: a comprehensive review

Antioxidants had a growing interest owing to their protective roles in food and pharmaceutical products against oxidative deterioration and in the body and against oxidative stress-mediated pathological processes. Screening of antioxidant properties of plants and plant derived compounds requires appropriate methods, which address the mechanism of antioxidant activity and focus on the kinetics of the reactions including the antioxidants. Many studies have been conducted with evaluating antioxidant activity of various samples of research interest using by different methods in food and human health. These methods were classified methods described and discussed in this review. Methods based on inhibited autoxidation are the most suited for termination-enhancing antioxidants and, for chain-breaking antioxidants while different specific studies are needed for preventive antioxidants. For this purpose, the most commonly methods used in vitro determination of antioxidant capacity of food and pharmaceutical constituents are examined and also a selection of chemical testing methods is critically reviewed and highlighting. In addition, their advantages, disadvantages, limitations and usefulness were discussed and investigated for pure molecules and raw plant extracts. The effect and influence of the reaction medium on performance of antioxidants is also addressed. Hence, this overview provides a basis and rationale for developing standardized antioxidant capacity methods for the food, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplement industries. Also, the most important advantages and shortcomings of each method were detected and highlighted. The underlying chemical principles of these methods have been explained and thoroughly analyzed. The chemical principles of methods of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical (ABTS·+) scavenging, ferric ions (Fe3+) reducing assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, cupric ions (Cu2+) reducing power assay (Cuprac), Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity (FCR assay), superoxide radical anion (O2·-), hydroxyl radical (OH·) scavenging, peroxyl radical (ROO·) removing, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposing, singlet oxygen (1O2) quenching assay, nitric oxide radical (NO·) scavenging assay and chemiluminescence assay are overviewed and critically discussed. Also, the general antioxidant aspects of the main food and pharmaceutical components were discussed through several methods currently used for detecting antioxidant properties of these components. This review consists of two main sections. The first section is devoted to the main components in food and their pharmaceutical applications. The second general section includes definitions of the main antioxidant methods commonly used for determining the antioxidant activity of components. In addition, some chemical, mechanistic, and kinetic properties, as well as technical details of the above mentioned methods, are provided. The general antioxidant aspects of main food components have been discussed through various methods currently used to detect the antioxidant properties of these components.

Immunocytes in the tumor microenvironment: recent updates and interconnections

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex, dynamic ecosystem where tumor cells interact with diverse immune and stromal cell types. This review provides an overview of the TME's evolving composition, emphasizing its transition from an early pro-inflammatory, immune-promoting state to a later immunosuppressive milieu characterized by metabolic reprogramming and hypoxia. It highlights the dual roles of key immunocytes-including T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells-which can either inhibit or support tumor progression based on their phenotypic polarization and local metabolic conditions. The article further elucidates mechanisms of immune cell plasticity, such as the M1/M2 macrophage switch and the balance between effector T cells and regulatory T cells, underscoring their impact on tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, emerging therapeutic strategies, including checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T and NK cell therapies, as well as approaches targeting metabolic pathways, are discussed as promising avenues to reinvigorate antitumor immunity. By integrating recent molecular insights and clinical advancements, the review underscores the importance of deciphering the interplay between immunocytes and the TME to develop more effective cancer immunotherapies.

Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study of Oral Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol for Essential Tremor

Background

Essential tremor (ET) is characterized by often disabling action tremors. No pharmacological agent has been developed specifically for symptomatic treatment. Anecdotal reports describe tremor improvement with cannabis, but no evidence exists to support these claims. We conducted a phase Ib/II double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial in participants with ET to investigate tolerability, safety, and efficacy of Tilray TN-CT120 LM, an oral pharmaceutical-grade formulation containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 5 mg and cannabidiol (CBD) 100 mg. Our objectives were to determine if short-term THC/CBD exposure improved tremor amplitude and was tolerated.

Methods

Participants with ET were randomized (1:1) to receive either TN-CT120 LM or placebo. Dose titration, driven by tolerability, was attempted every 2-3 days to three capsules daily maximum. Participants remained on the highest tolerated dose for two weeks before returning to complete assessments. After completing the first arm, participants titrated off the agent, underwent a three-week washout, and then returned for the same procedures with the alternate compound. The primary endpoint was tremor amplitude change from baseline using digital spiral assessment. Secondary endpoints explored safety and tolerability.

Results

Among thirteen participants screened, seven were eligible and enrolled. Five completed all visits; one withdrew following a serious adverse event, and another did not tolerate the lowest dose. Intent-to-treat analyses performed for six participants did not reveal significant effects on primary or secondary endpoints.

Conclusions

This pilot trial did not detect any signals of efficacy of THC/CBD in ET. Although preliminary due to the small sample size, our data do not support anecdotal reports of cannabinoid effectiveness for ET.

Highlights

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled efficacy and tolerability pilot trial did not detect any signals of efficacy of oral cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in reducing essential tremor amplitude using either digital outcome measures or clinical rating scales. The oral cannabinoids were well-tolerated by most (five out of seven) participants.

Probing Native CB2 Receptor Mobility in Plasma Membranes of Living Cells by Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching

In this study, we employed a novel fluorescent probe, RO7304924 - which selectively targets cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) - to assess the lateral mobility of CB2R within the plasma membrane of Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing a functional, untagged receptor variant. Utilizing confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we quantified the diffusion coefficient and mobile fraction of CB2R, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of RO7304924 as an innovative tool for elucidating the dynamics of this major endocannabinoid-binding G protein-coupled receptor. Our present findings highlight the potential of combining advanced ligand-based fluorescent probes with FRAP for future investigations into the biochemical details of CB2R mobility in living cells, and its impact on receptor-dependent cellular processes.

Extracellular vesicle-derived miRNA-mediated cell-cell communication inference for single-cell transcriptomic data with miRTalk

MicroRNAs are released from cells in extracellular vesicles (EVs), representing an essential mode of cell-cell communication (CCC) via a regulatory effect on gene expression. Single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies have ushered in an era of elucidating CCC at single-cell resolution. Herein, we present miRTalk, a pioneering approach for inferring CCC mediated by EV-derived miRNA-target interactions (MiTIs). The benchmarking against simulated and real-world datasets demonstrates the superior performance of miRTalk, and the application to four disease scenarios reveals the in-depth MiTI-mediated CCC mechanisms. Collectively, miRTalk can infer EV-derived MiTI-mediated CCC with scRNA-seq data, providing new insights into the intercellular dynamics of biological processes.

Intestinal bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: From mechanisms to therapeutics

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive disease that affects the health of approximately one-third of the world's population. It is the primary cause of end-stage liver disease, liver malignancy, and liver transplantation, resulting in a great medical burden. No medications have yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating MASLD without liver inflammation or scarring. Therefore, the development of specific drugs to treat MASLD remains a key task in the ongoing research objective. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in the communication between organs, tissues, and cells. Recent studies have found that intestinal microbiota are closely related to the pathogenesis and progression of MASLD. EVs produced by bacteria (BEVs) play an indispensable role in this process. Thus, this study provides a new direction for MASLD treatment. However, the mechanism by which BEVs affect MASLD remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the influence and function of intestinal microbiota in MASLD. Additionally, we focus on the research progress of BEVs in recent years and explain the relationship between BEVs and MASLD from the perspectives of glucose and lipid metabolism, immune responses, and intestinal homeostasis. Finally, we summarized the potential therapeutic value of BEVs and EVs from other sources, such as adipocytes, immunocytes, stem cells, and plants.

Electrocardiographic changes associated with SSRI use: Insights from a cross-sectional study in Fasa Adults Cohort Study (FACS)

BACKGROUND

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly prescribed for psychiatric disorders, have raised concerns about potential cardiovascular effects. Investigating their influence on specific electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters is crucial for a detailed clinical understanding.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study, that utilizes data from the Fasa Adult Cohort Study in Iran, examined 133 individuals on SSRIs. We focused on participants without existing heart conditions, collecting drug details and daily doses through an online survey. ECG recordings that were analyzed by Cardiax® 28 provided insights into various parameters. Statistical analyses, including Mann-Whitney U and linear regression, assessed connections between SSRIs and ECG changes. Ethical approval was obtained for study validity.

RESULTS

Among 133 participants, including citalopram (n = 38), fluoxetine (n = 63), and sertraline (n = 32) groups, this study revealed distinctive electrocardiogram (ECG) changes linked to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) usage. Significant correlations between SSRIs, and various ECG parameters, with the exception of P duration, were discernible. SSRIs suggested negative correlations with HR, PR, QTC, QRS-axis, RdV5, Sd v2, and reductions in STJ V2, STJ V5, STM V2, STM V5, STE V2, and STE V5 (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed for QRS, QT, P-axis, and P a2 (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), highlighting the complicated impact of SSRIs on cardiac electrophysiology.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, careful monitoring of ECG parameters during SSRIs treatment is essential, especially in patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions. The observed associations highlight the need for personalized medical guidance when prescribing SSRIs. These findings provide valuable insights into the current medical knowledge, highlighting the need for additional research to completely understand the intricate link between SSRIs and cardiovascular health and to ensure the best possible patient safety. The limitations of this study included the possibility of errors in completing the questionnaires and their incompleteness, lake of baseline ECG which resulted in a decreased number of available cases.

Acute cannabis intoxication among the paediatric population

This narrative review synthesizes the toxicological, clinical and medico-legal aspects of paediatric cannabis intoxication. By providing a comprehensive overview, it aims to inform future research, guide policymaking, and enhance clinical and toxicological practice in addressing this growing public health concern. The pharmacokinetics of cannabinoid ingestion in children are significantly influenced by the immaturity of their gastrointestinal tract and metabolic enzyme systems, resulting in altered oral bioavailability. Clinical data indicate that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-related effects in paediatricpaediatric patients typically emerge within 2 hours of ingestion, with more severe symptoms developing within 4 hours. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) undergoes significant developmental changes, with marked differences in cannabinoid receptor expression and distribution across fetal, neonatal, and adult brains. During neurodevelopment, CB1 receptors exhibit unique expression patterns, including transient localization in brainstem regions critical for neurovegetative functions. These developmental dynamics likely explain children's heightened sensitivity to THC's neurological and neurovegetative effects, often resulting in more severe outcomes compared to adults. The reliable detection of cannabinoids involves integrating screening methods with confirmatory analytical techniques. Urine immunoassay testing is widely considered an helpful toolto assess a previous exposure, becoming positive within 3-4 h of ingestion. However, this method is prone to false positives. Plasma THC concentration, when measured close to the event, offers valuable insights into the quantity ingested and the correlation between exposure and clinical outcomes in the impairment window. Hair analysis, while useful for distinguishing between acute and chronic use, is susceptible to various biases. The rising incidence of acute cannabis intoxication in children underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and stricter regulatory frameworks. Preventive measures such as child-resistant packaging, public education campaigns, and cannabis use screening during pregnancy are essential to mitigate risks. Clinicians should consider THC exposure in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with unexplained neurological, immune, or metabolic symptoms.

Maternal Obesity and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Influence Endocannabinoid Levels in Human Milk Across Breastfeeding: Potential Implications for Offspring Development

Background/Objectives: Endocannabinoids are endogenous bioactive lipids that promote neurodevelopment and positive energy balance. Increased levels of endocannabinoids are associated with obesity, but the effect of maternal obesity on breast milk endocannabinoids across lactation is mostly unknown. Methods: Women from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (n = 92) were followed from the third trimester of pregnancy to 119 days postpartum, and milk samples were analyzed in the postpartum days 2-8 (T1), 28-47 (T2), and 88-119 (T3). We assessed the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, leptin and insulin by immunoassay, and macronutrients by colorimetric assays in milk samples. Results: Milk AEA concentration was higher in T2 compared with T1 or T3, while 2-AG levels were higher in T2 and T3 compared with T1. Milk endocannabinoids were directly correlated with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and milk triglycerides. Triglyceride and leptin levels were higher in mature milk (T2 and T3) of women with BMI > 25 or excessive GWG. Adjusted linear regression models showed a positive association between excessive GWG and milk 2-AG (β = 1629; 95% CI: 467-2792; p = 0.008). Conclusions: The endocannabinoid levels are higher in mature milk from women with obesity or excessive GWG, which may impact offspring development and metabolism.

Colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis is promoted by tissue-specific fibroblasts that can arise in response to various local disorders

Peritoneal membrane injury induces the activation of local fibroblasts and tissue remodelling, which ultimately can progress to fibrosis. Metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) to the abdominal cavity results in such peritoneal damage. Patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis (CPM) have a particularly poor prognosis, and CPM tumours are characterised by a high infiltration of fibroblasts. Here, we characterised the molecular and functional features of these fibroblasts, and investigated their interaction with other cells in the peritoneal microenvironment. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from 89 patients with different malignant and benign disorders of the peritoneum. We performed comprehensive analyses of single-cell and transcriptome profiling, secretome characterization, and functional enzymatic activity. We were able to identify a peritoneum-specific fibroblast population that increases in response to different types of damage-inducing peritoneal pathologies, including metastasis. These fibroblasts are characterised by the IGFBP2-dependent expression of CD38, which mediates extracellular non-canonical adenosinergic activity and contributes to the suppression of macrophages and T cells. Importantly, peritoneal fibroblasts promoted the growth and invasiveness of tumour cells in a xenograft mouse model of peritoneal metastasis, highlighting their pro-tumorigenic role. Their specific gene signature was associated with poor prognosis in a dataset of 51 patients suffering from colorectal peritoneal metastasis. This study revealed that the CPM is infiltrated by a peritoneal fibroblast subtype, which is absent in healthy tissue, but also observed in benign peritoneal diseases. Given the limited therapeutic options for these patients, these pro-tumorigenic peritoneal fibroblasts could represent an attractive target for inhibiting the peritoneal spread of tumour cells.

Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate pathophysiology of hepatic cells during liver injury

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like, bactericidal structures produced by neutrophils and are composed principally of extracellular DNA, histones, elastase, and myeloperoxidase, among other components. NET formation is an innate immune response that is beneficial for pathogen killing and clearance. However, excessive NET formation and clearance defects can lead to inflammation and induce damage to host organs. NETs are also implicated in the development of noninfectious inflammatory disorders, such as liver injury in chronic liver diseases. The liver parenchyma contains hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells. Each of these cells possesses unique structures and functions, and their interactions with NETs result in pathophysiological changes contributing to liver injury. This review updates the findings related to the modes of action and molecular mechanisms by which NETs modulate the pathophysiology of various hepatic cells and potentiate liver injury. The article also reviews the roles of NETs in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury, hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Last, we examine data to determine whether NETs induce crosstalk among various hepatic cells during liver injury and to identify future research directions.

The effect of caffeine in a model of schizophrenia-like behavior induced by MK-801 in mice

OBJECTIVE

The blockade of NMDA receptors during early developmental stages is accepted as a model for schizophrenia-like behavior. This study aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine on adult behaviors in mice subjected to tests of schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg, twice daily, 0.1 ml/10 g body weight, intraperitoneally) was administered to Balb/c mice during PND 7-10 to establish a schizophrenia-like behavior model. In one group, caffeine (10 mg/kg, twice daily, 0.1 ml/10 g body weight, intraperitoneally) was given 30 min after MK-801 administration. In another group, MK-801 was administered 30 min after caffeine injection. At 8-10 weeks of age, behavioral tests were performed sequentially: open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPM), Morris water maze test (MWM), and social interaction test.

RESULTS

MK-801 administration significantly increased anxiety-like behaviors and decreased exploratory behavior in the OFT by reducing the time spent in the center, the frequency of center entries, and rearing frequency, while increasing the latency to the first center entry. In the EPM, MK-801 significantly decreased the time spent in the open arms, the frequency of open arm entries, and the head-dipping behavior of the open arm while increasing the time spent in the closed arms and the latency to the first open arm entry. In the MWM, MK-801 impaired learning and memory performance. MK-801 reduced social interaction. Caffeine reversed the anxiety, social interaction, learning, and memory impairments caused by MK-801.

CONCLUSION

MK-801 administration during the neonatal period induces schizophrenia-like behaviors in adulthood, whereas low-dose caffeine can mitigate these effects.

Sotorasib-impaired degradation of NEU1 contributes to cardiac injury by inhibiting AKT signaling

Sotorasib, the inaugural targeted inhibitor sanctioned for the management of patients afflicted with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer presenting the KRAS G12C mutation, has encountered clinical application constraints due to its potential for cardiac injury as evidenced by safety trials. This investigation has elucidated that the heightened expression of neuraminidase-1 (NEU1) constitutes the principal etiology of cardiac damage induced by sotorasib. Mechanistically, sotorasib treatment inhibited the ubiquitinated degradation of NEU1, leading to its elevated expression, which induced downstream AKT signaling pathway inhibition and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Meanwhile, in vivo and in vitro studies showed that D-pantothenic acid (D-PAC) alleviated sotorasib-induced cardiac damage by promoting NEU1 degradation. In conclusion, this study revealed that NEU1 is a key protein in sotorasib cardiotoxicity and that reducing the level of this protein is a critical strategy for the clinical treatment of sotorasib-induced cardiac injury. Schematic representation of a mechanism.

Cannabinoids as Multitarget Drugs for the Treatment of Autoimmunity in Glaucoma

Diseases of multifactorial origin like neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases require a multitargeted approach. The discovery of the role of autoimmunity in glaucoma and retinal ganglionic cell (RGC) death has led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the etiopathology of glaucoma. Glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss that affects up to an estimated 3% of the population over 40 years of age. The current pharmacotherapy primarily aims to manage only intraocular pressure (IOP), a modifiable risk factor in the glaucomatous neurodegeneration of RGCs. However, neurodegeneration continues to happen in normotensive patients (where the IOP is below a reference value), and the silent nature of the disease can cause significant visual impairment and take a massive toll on the healthcare system. Cannabinoids, although known to reduce IOP since the 1970s, have received renewed interest due to their neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive effects on autoimmunity. Additionally, the role of the gut-retina axis and abnormal Wnt signaling in glaucoma makes cannabinoids even more relevant because of their action on multiple targets, all converging in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Cannabinoids also cause epigenetic changes in immune cells associated with autoimmunity. In this Review, we are proposing the use of cannabinoids as a multitargeted approach for treating autoimmunity associated with glaucomatous neurodegeneration, especially for the silent nature of glaucomatous neurodegeneration in normotensive patients.

MMP12 deficiency attenuates menthol e-cigarette plus house dust-mite effects on pulmonary iron homeostasis and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the pulmonary effects induced by the inhalation of menthol-flavored e-cigarette aerosols on asthma exacerbation, despite the popularity of these devices and flavors among youth and young adults. In the lungs, matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) expressed and secreted by both alveolar macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells plays an essential role in airway remodeling, a key feature of severe asthma. In this study, we investigated the role of MMP12 in menthol-flavored e-cigarette aerosol exposures plus house-dust mite (HDM)-induced asthmatic responses.

METHODS

We exposed wild-type (WT) and MMP12 knockout (KO) juvenile female mice to well-characterized menthol-flavored e-cigarette aerosols followed by either PBS or HDM treatment, and evaluated pulmonary outcomes in terms of iron metabolism, oxidative stress responses and pulmonary inflammation.

RESULTS

We found high levels of iron in the menthol-flavored e-cigarette aerosol. This correlated with e-cigarette + HDM WT mice exhibiting disruption of pulmonary iron metabolism, suggesting a defense mechanism against iron-mediated toxicity. This was evidenced by altered lung protein concentrations of ferroportin, ferritin, lactoferrin, and transferrin, activation of the antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway and up-regulated expression of NQO1 in e-cigarette + HDM WT mice. Further, despite decreased neutrophilic inflammation, MUC5AC, an oxidative stress inducible mucin, was increased in the e-cigarette + HDM WT mice. In contrast, MMP12 KO mice were protected against iron-induced oxidative stress responses, highlighting a crucial role of MMP12 in this model.

CONCLUSION

These findings revealed in vivo evidence supporting a crucial role for iron metabolism in nicotine salt iron-rich ENDS aerosol toxicity.

The function of necroptosis in liver cancer

Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, and apoptosis resistance is a major obstacle contributing to chemotherapy failure in liver cancer treatment. Inducing cancer cell death by bypassing the apoptotic pathway is considered a promising approach to overcome this problem. Necroptosis is a non-caspase-dependent regulated mode of cell death mainly mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein, and the utilization of necroptosis for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) also offers a new hope for addressing liver cancer in the clinic. In this paper, the role of necroptosis in HCC as well as the effect on differentiation of liver cancer are reviewed. We also comparatively analyze the relationship among necroptosis, apoptosis, and necrosis, as well as summarize the characteristics and functions of key proteins involved in this pathway. The bidirectional regulation of necroptosis and the mitochondrial machinery within this pathway deserve attention.

Multiparametric MRI Including T1ρ Mapping for Hepatic Fibrosis Assessment in Preclinical Models of Steatotic Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

The diagnostic value of hepatic native T1, extracellular volume fraction (ECV), and T2 mapping for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis is limited in the complex spectrum of steatotic liver disease due to confounding factors, including hepatic fat and inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to histologically validate T1ρ mapping and compare it with conventional mapping parameters for assessing hepatic fibrosis across different animal models of steatotic liver disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In male Sprague-Dawley rats, different models of steatotic liver disease were induced using a high-fat diet (HFD) and carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) inhalation: (1) 12-week HFD group resulting in steatosis/steatohepatitis without fibrosis; (2) 6-week HFD + CCl4 group resulting in steatohepatitis with fibrosis; (3) 12-week HFD + CCl4 resulting in steatohepatitis-associated cirrhosis. Hepatic T1, ECV, T2, and T1ρ were assessed by quantitative MRI. Portal pressure was invasively measured. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed using Sirius red, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining, and measurement of hydroxyproline content. Hepatic fat content was estimated in Oil red staining and triglyceride content.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven animals were analyzed (12-week HFD, n = 15; 6-week HFD + CCl4, n = 14; 12-week HFD + CCl4; n = 16; controls, n = 12). T1ρ values were higher in the fibrosis groups, for example, 12-week HFD + CCl4 versus HFD group (71 msec ±5 vs 60 msec ±3, P < 0.001). T1ρ values correlated with fibrosis markers (Sirius red r = 0.41; α-SMA: r = 0.67; hydroxyproline: r = 0.76; each P < 0.001) and portal pressure (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). T1ρ had the highest diagnostic performance for the detection of histologically defined fibrosis and invasively measured portal hypertension (eg, for fibrosis, T1ρ: AUC 0.96, P < 0.001; T1: AUC 0.74, P = 0.017; ECV: AUC 0.79, P = 0.043; T2: AUC 0.51, P < 0.001). T1ρ was an independent marker for the detection of histologically defined fibrosis (odds ratio: 3.81, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In preclinical models of steatotic liver disease, T1ρ mapping could most reliably detect hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension across different mapping parameters.

Impact of cannabis consumption on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: a nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

There is paucity of high-quality data on the effect of cannabis consumption on perioperative outcomes after hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HPB) surgery.

METHODS

Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2016-2020) were used. In-hospital complications, length-of-stay and hospitalisation charges were compared among patients undergoing HPB surgery.

RESULTS

We identified 191,315 patients, of which 1705 (0.89 %) were cannabis consumers. Cannabis consumers were more likely to be male (67.5 % vs 50.2 %), younger, and Black (22.6 % vs 11.0); p < 0.001 for all. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significantly lower risk of pneumonia (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.29-0.99) among cannabis consumers. There was no significant difference in risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.64, 95 % CI 0.31-1.30), acute kidney injury, hemodialysis, blood transfusion, vasopressor use, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, venous thromboembolism, portal vein thrombosis, intraabdominal abscess, peritonitis, surgical site infection, post-procedure haemorrhage/hematoma, wound dehiscence, liver failure, or sudden cardiac arrest. There was no significant difference in length-of-stay (mean 10.99 vs 9.69 days; p = 0.348) or hospitalisation costs ($49,444 vs $43,661; p = 0.109).

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in major perioperative complications after HPB surgery among patients with cannabis use disorder. Further, there is no significant difference in health services utilisation among consumers versus non-consumers.

What is the best sampling region for endocrine hair analysis? A comparison between the posterior vertex and occipital region and recommendation for standardization

BACKGROUND

Hair analysis is increasingly used to index long-term cumulative hormone levels. However, it remains unclear from which scalp region hair should be sampled to yield best results. Here, we conduct an in-depth, systematic investigation into this question, comparing quality characteristics between the two most promising sampling areas, the posterior vertex and the occipital region. To advance standardization in future research, we specify anatomical landmarks to clearly define sampling regions.

METHODS

Participants (N = 53) provided a total of twelve hair samples across two time points, three months apart. At each time point, six hair samples (three from each region) were analyzed for concentrations of cortisol, cortisone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and endocannabinoids (AEA, 1/2-AG, OEA, SEA, PEA) via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Patterns of intra-region variability, mean differences, test-retest correlations and associations with external criteria (anthropometrics and perceived stress) were compared between regions.

RESULTS

Overall, no consistent differences were found between the posterior vertex and occipital region with regard to intra-region variability, test-retest correlations and external associations. However, significant mean differences in analyte concentrations were observed: hair cortisol and cortisone were higher in the occipital region, while OEA, SEA and PEA were higher at the posterior vertex.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of sampling from a defined scalp region for endocrine hair analyses. While neither scalp region was unequivocally superior, differences in mean concentrations call for increased standardization of methodological practice in future research. We propose anatomical landmarks for precise region localization and offer practical recommendations concerning the choice of sampling region.

Mitochondria as therapeutic targets for Natural Products in the treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Natural products represent a unique medical approach to treating disease and have been used in clinical practice for thousands of years in cardiovascular disease (CVDs). In recent years, natural products have received increasing attention for their high efficiency, safety, and low toxicity, and their targeted regulation of mitochondria offers promising strategies for the treatment of CVDs. However, the potential mechanisms by which natural products target mitochondria for cardiovascular treatment have not been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Literature from the past decade is reviewed to emphasize the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanisms of natural products targeting mitochondria in the treatment of CVDs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the NCBI PubMed database, relevant literature was searched using 'natural products', 'mitochondria' and 'cardiovascular disease' as search terms, and review papers were excluded. The remaining articles were screened for relevance. Priority was given to articles using rat models, in vivo, ex vivo or in vitro assays. The resulting articles were categorized into natural product categories, including saponins, alkaloids, plant extracts and preparations. This article reviews the research progress on mitochondria as potential therapeutic targets for CVDs and summarizes the application of mitochondria-targeted natural products in the treatment of CVDs.

RESULTS

Mitochondrial damage may be attributed to impairment of biogenesis (mitochondrial number and mitochondrial DNA damage), dynamics disruption (mitophagy inhibition and overpromotion, fusion and fission),disruption of optimal function including Adenosine triphosphate generation, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, fatty acid β oxidation, mitochondrial membrane permeability, calcium homeostasis imbalance, and membrane potential depolarization. Mitochondrial dysfunction or damage leads to cardiomyocyte dysfunction, ion disorders, cell death, and ultimately CVDs, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia reperfusion, and diabetic heart disease. Natural products, which include flavonoids, saponins, phenolic acids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, extracts, and formulations, are seen to have significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of CVDs. Mechanistically, natural products regulate mitophagy, mitochondrial fusion and fission, while improving mitochondrial respiratory function, reducing ROS production, and inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, thereby protecting myocardial cells and heart function.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper reviews the potential and mechanism of natural products to regulate mitochondria for the treatment of CVDs, creating more opportunities for understanding their therapeutic targets and derivatization of lead compounds, and providing a scientific basis for advancing CVDs drug research.

The Gut-Heart Axis and Its Role in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Narrative Review

Doxorubicin is a widely used chemotherapy for the treatment of several types of cancer. However, its application is restricted due to adverse effects, particularly cardiotoxicity, which can progress to heart failure-a chronic and debilitating condition. Several mechanisms have been identified in the pathophysiology of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and disruption of collagen homeostasis. More recently, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in the development and perpetuation of cardiac injury. Studies have reported alterations in the composition and abundance of the microbiota during doxorubicin treatment. Therefore, as of recent, there is a new field of research in order to develop strategies involving the gut microbiota to prevent or attenuate cardiotoxicity since there is no effective therapy at the moment. This narrative review aims to provide an update on the role of gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, and more specifically doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Additionally, it seeks to establish a foundation for future research targeting gut microbiota to alleviate cardiotoxicity.

A universal cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor TR-FRET kinetic ligand-binding assay

Introduction

The kinetics of ligand binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is an important optimization parameter in drug discovery. Traditional radioligand assays are labor-intensive, preventing their application at the early stages of drug discovery. Fluorescence-based assays offer several advantages, including a possibility to develop a homogeneous format, continuous data collection, and higher throughput. This study sought to develop a fluorescence-based binding assay to investigate ligand-binding kinetics at human cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors (CB1R and CB2R).

Methods

We synthesized D77, a novel tracer derived from the non-selective cannabinoid Δ8-THC. Using time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), we developed an assay to study ligand-binding kinetics at physiological temperatures. For CB1R, we truncated the first 90 amino acids of its flexible N-terminal domain to reduce the FRET distance between the terbium cryptate (donor) and the fluorescent ligand (acceptor). The full-length CB2R construct was functional without modification due to its shorter N-terminus. The Motulsky-Mahan competition binding model was used to analyze the binding kinetics of the endocannabinoids and several other non-fluorescent ligands.

Results

The D77 tracer showed nanomolar-range affinity for truncated CB1R (CB1R91-472) and full-length CB2R (CB2R1-360), displaying competitive binding with orthosteric ligands. D77 exhibited rapid dissociation kinetics from both CB1R and CB2R, which were similar to the fastest dissociating reference compounds. This was critical for accurately determining the on- and off-rates of the fastest dissociating compounds. Using D77, we measured the kinetic binding properties of various CB1R and CB2R agonists and antagonists at physiological temperature and sodium ion concentration.

Discussion

The k on values for molecules binding to CB1R varied by three orders of magnitude, from the slowest (HU308) to the fastest (rimonabant). A strong correlation between k on and affinity was observed for compounds binding to CB1R, indicating that the association rate primarily determines their affinity for CB1R. Unlike CB1R, a stronger correlation was found between the dissociation rate constant k off and the affinity for CB2R, suggesting that both k on and k off dictate the overall affinity for CB2R. Exploring the kinetic parameters of cannabinoid drug candidates could help drug development programs targeting these receptors.

CD73low B-cell phenotypes and distinct cytokine profiles in patients with active anti-Jo-1 antibody positive idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

OBJECTIVES

We performed multiparameter phenotyping of peripheral B cells in anti-Jo-1 antibody positive idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) to delineate disease-associated immunological profiles and the influence of B cells on disease activity.

METHODS

Purified B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with anti-Jo-1 antibody positive IIM (7 with untreated active IIM, 4 with active and treated IIM and 5 with inactive IIM) were analysed by multiparameter spectral flow cytometry. Dimensionality reduction and clustering analysis were applied to pre-gated CD19+B cells. Serum levels of 21 cytokines and anti-Jo-1 IgG autoantibodies were determined. All patients with IIM in this study were positive for anti-Jo-1 antibody.

RESULTS

Anti-Jo-1 antibody levels correlated positively to disease activity. Flow cytometry demonstrated B-cell dysregulation with significantly lower CD73 expression on naïve, switched memory and double negative B cells in patients with active IIM. Clustering analysis further revealed expansions of CD73- IgM+naïve B cells and CD73- CD95+ switched memory B cells in active IIM. In unswitched memory B cells, CD73+CD21+ cells were decreased in active IIM. Patients with active IIM had significantly higher serum levels of B-cell activating factor, inducible protein-10, interleukin-6 and sCD40L which correlated with changes in B-cell populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Since CD73 has an immunoregulatory function by modulating the ATP/adenosine pathway, which is also targeted by methotrexate, the low CD73 B-cell expression in anti-Jo-1 antibody-positive IIM may lead to B-cell hyperactivation. These novel findings further highlight B cells as central in the pathogenesis of IIM and important therapeutic targets.

Pharmacovigilance study of adverse reactions of anti-HER-2 drugs for the treatment of HER-2-positive breast cancer based on the FAERS database

OBJECTIVE

There are three categories of drugs that treat human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) positive breast cancer: monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the adverse reactions of three classes of anti-HER-2 drugs to various body systems in patients based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

METHODS

All data reports were extracted from the FAERS between 2004 and 2024. Data mining of adverse events associated with anti-HER-2 drugs was carried out using disproportionality analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the risk factors associated with AEs leading to hospitalization.

RESULTS

A total of 47,799 patients were screened for the three classes of drugs, among which ADC drugs caused the largest proportion of deaths. MAb has the strongest ADR signals associated with "cardiac disorders". Moreover, trastuzumab was associated with a greater risk of cardiotoxicity. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the treatment with mAbs should be wary of serious adverse reactions in "infections and infestations" and "metabolism and nutrition disorders". Moreover, "endocrine disorders" were the factor associated with the highest risk of prolonged hospitalization due to trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd). The safety of tucatinib among TKI drugs is greater than that of other drugs.

CONCLUSION

In general, from the perspective of the effects of the three classes of drugs on the various body systems of patients, we should focus on mAb-associated "cardiac disorders", ADC-associated "hepatobiliary disorders", "respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders", and TKI-associated "gastrointestinal disorders.

The Burning Pain Transcriptome in the Mouse Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Our previous research has demonstrated that the spinal cord undergoes epigenetic and molecular alterations following non-severe burn injury (BI). However, the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), crucial for pain perception, remains unexplored in this context. Here, we investigated transcriptomic alterations in the S1 cortex of mice subjected to BI or formalin application (FA) to the hind paw, utilizing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) one hour after injury. RNA-seq identified 1116 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BI and 136 DEGs in formalin-induced inflammatory pain. Notably, 82.4% of DEGs in BI and 32.4% in FA were downregulated. A total of 42 upregulated and 17 downregulated overlapping DEGs were identified, indicating significant differences in the cortical processing of pain based on its origins. Gene Ontology analysis reveals that BI upregulated mitochondrial functions and ribosome synthesis, whereas axon guidance, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmission-related processes were downregulated. By contrast, formalin treatment mainly impacted metabolic processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis highlights the significance of retrograde endocannabinoid signaling (REC) in the response to burn injury. These findings demonstrate that transcriptomic remodeling in the S1 cortex is dependent on the sensory modality and suggest that the REC network is activated during acute pain responses following BI.

Role of adenosine A3 receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research is to access the expression of adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3) and nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) genes and serum levels of ADORA3 and NOS3 in patients with multiple trauma with hemorrhagic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed at Erciyes University between November 2022 and March 2024, in a prospective and controlled manner. Patients diagnosed with traumatic hemorrhagic shock and requiring transfusion in the emergency department were selected as the patients group. Gene expressions were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR analysis in total RNA samples and serum levels of NOS3 and ADORA3 were detected using ELISA measurements.

RESULTS

In patients with multiple trauma, adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3) gene expression showed a significant increase at discharge when compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). However, serum levels of ADORA3 showed significant decreases at all stages (i.e. at admission, at 24 h, and at discharge) of patients. Although no significant changes were detected in NOS3 gene expression, marked decreases in serum NOS3 levels were observed at admission and at 24 h in multiple trauma patients (P < 0.05). ADORA3 and NOS3 gene expressions were found to be significantly diminished in nonsurvivors.

CONCLUSION

The study emphasizes the importance of ADORA3 and NOS3 gene expressions in influencing shock progression in multiple trauma patients. The increase in ADORA3 gene expression may play a role in restoring vascular reactivity after traumatic shock. Decreased serum NOS3 and ADORA3 levels can contribute to the shock progression in the pathophysiology of multiple trauma.

NAD + Sensing by PARP7 Regulates the C/EBPβ-Dependent Transcription Program in Adipose Tissue In Vivo

We have identified PARP7, an NAD + -dependent mono(ADP-ribosyl) transferase, as a key regulator of the C/EBPβ-dependent proadipogenic transcription program. Moreover, PARP7 is required for efficient adipogenesis and downstream biological functions, including involution of the lactating mammary gland. PARP7 serves as a coregulator of C/EBPβ, and depletion of PARP7 causes a dramatic reduction in C/EBPβ binding across the genome. PARP7 functions as a sensor of nuclear NAD + levels to control gene expression. At the relatively high nuclear NAD + concentrations in undifferentiated preadipocytes, PARP7 is catalytically active for auto- mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (autoMARylation). As nuclear NAD + concentrations decline post- differentiation, autoMARylation decreases dramatically. AutoMARylation promotes instability of PARP7 through an E3 ligase-ubiquitin-proteasome pathway mediated by the ADP-ribose (ADPR)-binding ubiquitin E3 ligases DTX2 and RNF114. Genetic depletion of PARP7 in mice promotes a dramatic reduction in a wide array of lipids in the mammary gland fat pads and milk from lactating females, as well as a significant decrease in nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key nutrient in mother's milk. The latter is due to reduced expression of Nampt , the gene encoding NAMPT, the enzyme that produces NMN, which is a direct transcriptional target of PARP7 and C/EBPβ. Collectively, our results extend the biology of PARP7 to adipogenesis and perinatal health. Moreover, our results describe the molecular events that regulate these downstream biological functions.

Understanding chronic inflammation: couplings between cytokines, ROS, NO, Cai 2+, HIF-1α, Nrf2 and autophagy

Chronic inflammation is an important component of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases, intracellular infections, dysbiosis and degenerative diseases. An important element of this state is the mainly positive feedback between inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), increased intracellular calcium, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) stabilisation and mitochondrial oxidative stress, which, under normal conditions, enhance the response against pathogens. Autophagy and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant response are mainly negatively coupled with the above-mentioned elements to maintain the defence response at a level appropriate to the severity of the infection. The current review is the first attempt to build a multidimensional model of cellular self-regulation of chronic inflammation. It describes the feedbacks involved in the inflammatory response and explains the possible pathways by which inflammation becomes chronic. The multiplicity of positive feedbacks suggests that symptomatic treatment of chronic inflammation should focus on inhibiting multiple positive feedbacks to effectively suppress all dysregulated elements including inflammation, oxidative stress, calcium stress, mito-stress and other metabolic disturbances.

Opposite regulation of intestinal and intrahepatic CD8+ T cells controls alcohol-associated liver disease progression

BACKGROUND

Gut-liver crosstalk plays an important role in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) pathogenesis; but underlying mechanisms remain obscure.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the regulation of intestinal and intrahepatic CD8+ T lymphocytes and their contribution to ALD.

DESIGN

ALD patients were recruited for evaluation of intestinal and liver T cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) was performed to analyse intrahepatic and peripheral T cells in ALD. Wildtype, CD8-specific Bcl2 transgenic (Cd8 Bcl-2), and Cd8 -/- mice were subjected to chronic-plus-binge ethanol feeding.

RESULTS

In ALD patients, duodenal CD8+ T cells were selectively reduced and negatively correlated with liver injury and bacterial translocation markers, while intrahepatic CD8+ T cells were markedly increased. ScRNA seq analysis of ALD patient livers revealed several populations of CD8+ T cells expressing activation and survival genes (eg, Bcl2). Transcriptomics and functional studies revealed a key role of prosurvival BCL2 in this opposite regulation of CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, chronic-plus-binge ethanol feeding reduced CD8+ T cells specifically in the duodenum where ethanol levels are high. Inducing BCL2 in CD8+ T cells reversed ethanol-induced loss of duodenal CD8+ T cells, improved gut barrier function and ameliorated ALD, while CD8 deficiency was linked to enhanced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration in the liver, exacerbating ALD in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

ALD is associated with loss of duodenal CD8+ T cells but elevation of intrahepatic CD8+ T cells, which aggravates and ameliorates ALD, respectively. Restoration of survival and functions of intestinal and intrahepatic CD8+ T cells may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for ALD patients.

Regulation and function of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 cytoophidia during mouse and human decidualization

Decidualization is essential for establishing pregnancy in both mice and humans. Cellular stresses, including nucleolar stress and DNA damage, are involved in this process. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo guanosine triphosphate (GTP) synthesis, forms membrane-free macromolecular structures called "cytoophidia" under specific conditions. However, whether IMPDH cytoophidia are present during decidualization remains unknown. In this study, we found that IMPDH2 cytoophidia are primarily detected in mouse decidual cells during early pregnancy. On day 5 of pregnancy, more IMPDH2 cytoophidia are observed at implantation sites than at inter-implantation sites. Physiologically, uteri activated by estrogen exhibit more IMPDH2 cytoophidia than those maintained in a delayed state by progesterone. Although GTP is required for in vitro decidualization in mice, elevated GTP level impairs this process. Furthermore, IMPDH2 cytoophidia can induce nucleolar stress and DNA damage in mice. In the human endometrium, IMPDH2 cytoophidia are observed during the menstrual cycle, particularly enriched in the secretory phase. They promote human decidualization and naturally enhance cellular senescence. Our findings highlight the physiological relevance of IMPDH2 cytoophidia during early pregnancy in mice and humans.

An Off-On Fluorescent Probe Reveals Spatiotemporal Signaling of Opioid Receptors In Vivo for Pain Control

Interrogation of the function of neuronal receptors and how they are involved in disease intervention requires spatiotemporally precise imaging in live animal brains. Most activatable fluorescent probes can realize imaging of enzyme biomarkers but face challenges in generating an amplified fluorescence signal on GPCRs. Here, we present the visualization of μ opioid receptor (μOR) activity in zebrafish larvae using P5N3, an antagonist-conjugated pyridinium dye that enables a 25-fold fluorescence increase upon binding in the orthosteric pocket of μOR. This turn-on fluorescence is attributed to the synergistic effects of restricted movement of the pyridinium moiety and its hydrogen bond interactions with amino acid residues in the receptor binding domain, as elucidated by DFT calculations. We observed behaviorally correlated μOR activity in whole-brain recordings of wild-type zebrafish during acetic-acid-induced nociception and identified sinomenine-mediated attenuation with both spatiotemporal and pharmacological precision, highlighting the involvement of the optic tectum region. We propose that leveraging spatiotemporal mapping of μOR binding patterns using the turn-on molecular probe in freely behaving larval zebrafish holds significant promise as an in vivo tool for advancing translational pain research and accelerating the discovery of analgesic drugs.

Distinct yet Overlapping Functions of VMP1 and TMEM41B in Modulating Hepatic Lipoprotein Secretion and Autophagy in MASH

Background

Transmembrane protein 41B (TMEM41B) and vacuolar membrane protein 1 (VMP1) are endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane scramblase proteins that have been recently identified to have important roles in autophagy and hepatic lipoprotein secretion. While TMEM41B and VMP1 are structurally and functionally similar, the nature of their interactions and how they coordinately regulate hepatic lipoprotein secretion and autophagy in metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) remains unclear.

Methods

Liver-specific and hepatocyte-specific Tmem41b knockout (KO) mice as well as Tmem41b knock-in (KI) mice were generated from Tmem41b flox or Tmem41b KI mice by crossing with albumin-Cre mice or by injecting AAV8-TBG-cre, respectively. Lipid metabolism in these mice was characterized by lipidomic analyses. Mice with hepatic overexpression of TMEM41B that were fed a MASH diet were also characterized. To explore the relationship between TMEM41B and VMP1, Tmem41b/Vmp1 double KO (DKO), Tmem41b KO/ Vmp1 KI, and Vmp1 KO/ Tmem41b KI mice were generated, and steatosis and autophagy were characterized.

Results

The loss of hepatic Tmem41b severely impaired very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion, resulting in significant microsteatosis, increased hepatic triglycerides, inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately the MASH development. TMEM41B protein was decreased in human MASLD livers. Overexpression of TMEM41B mitigated the effects of diet-induced MASLD. Mice lacking both Vmp1 and Tmem41b (DKO) showed further impairment in VLDL secretion compared to single Tmem41b KO, but were similar that of Vmp1 KO mice. Lipidomic analysis of liver tissues revealed decreased levels of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, along with increased neutral lipids. Cellular fractionation studies indicated that VMP1 and TMEM41B localize at the mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM). Electron microscopy analysis showed reduced contact between mitochondria and the ER in hepatocytes deficient in either VMP1 or TMEM41B. The loss of hepatic VMP1 or TMEM41B led to markedly increased levels of LC3B-II and p62/SQSTM1, which were not further affected by double deletion of VMP1 and TMEM41B. Restoring VMP1 in Tmem41b KO mice partially improved defective VLDL secretion, though autophagy was only partially corrected by overexpression of VMP1 at a low but not high level. In contrast, restoring TMEM41B in Vmp1 KO mice dose-dependently improved both defective VLDL secretion and autophagy.

Conclusion

Loss of hepatic VMP1 or TMEM41B decreases MAM and phospholipid content and reduces VLDL secretion, resulting in the development of MASH. TMEM41B and VMP1 may have overlapping but distinct mechanisms in regulating lipoprotein secretion and autophagy.

Inflammatory markers as predictors of liver fibrosis in type 2 diabetes patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

Objective

This study investigates the link between inflammatory markers and liver fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Methods

From Oct 2020 to Oct 2024, 769 hospitalized T2DM patients were studied. They were split into Control (n=389) and Experimental groups (T2DM with MAFLD, n=380). The Experimental group was further divided based on FIB-4 scores into non-fibrosis (FIB-4< 1.3, n=267), suspected fibrosis (1.3 ≤ FIB-4 ≤ 2.67, n=99), and advanced fibrosis (FIB-4 > 2.67, n=14). Logistic regression identified factors affecting liver fibrosis, while ROC analysis assessed the predictive value of NLR, SIRI, PLR, and PHR for liver fibrosis in T2DM-MAFLD patients.

Results

The Experimental group showed higher BMI, FPG, TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST, ALB, GGT, and SUA, but lower age, diabetes duration, MPV, and HDL-C (P< 0.05). Compared to non-fibrosis, suspected fibrosis had higher age, diabetes duration, MPV, AST, and NLR, and lower LY, PLR, PHR. Advanced fibrosis featured higher age, AST, NLR, FPG, HbA1c, SIRI, and lower LY, RBC, LDL-C, PLR, PHR, Hb, PLT, and ALB (P< 0.05). Logistic regression identified NLR, SIRI, PLR, and PHR as significant factors for liver fibrosis. ROC analysis showed AUCs of 0.712 (NLR), 0.757 (SIRI), 0.703 (PLR), and 0.806 (PHR) with sensitivities and specificities varying among markers. Optimal cut-offs were 1.573 (NLR), 1.465 (SIRI), 110.819 (PLR), and 185.379 (PHR).

Conclusions

NLR, SIRI, PLR, and PHR significantly influence liver fibrosis in T2DM patients with MAFLD, aiding in its diagnosis and management.

Reactive cholangiocyte-derived ORM2 drives a pathogenic modulation of the injured biliary niche through macrophage reprogramming

BACKGROUND

Injured or reactive biliary epithelial cells participate in most chronic liver injuries in a process referred to as ductular reaction, which involves multicellular interactions with marked local infiltration of macrophages and fibrogenic cell activation. The direct roles of biliary epithelial cells in shaping their cellular niche remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at investigating the effects of biliary epithelial cell-derived acute phase response protein orosomucoid 2 (ORM2) in shaping monocyte/macrophage response to liver injury.

DESIGN

Transcriptome data sets from human and mouse livers were used, results were confirmed with multiplex immunofluorescence. A multicellular biliary-niche-on-a-chip derived from primary liver and blood cells (wild-type, Mdr2 -/- mice) was established to model ductular reaction. Human blood cells collected from healthy donors and intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids derived from normal and cirrhotic liver patients were used.

RESULTS

Our transcriptome data set and multiplex immunofluorescence analyses indicated a previously unrecognised involvement of the acute phase response protein ORM2 in ductular reactions in both human and mouse livers. ORM2 gene expression was increased in biliatresone-challenged, bile acid-challenged and acetaminophen-challenged cholangiocytes. Cholangiocyte-derived ORM2 induced unique transcriptome changes and functional adaptation of liver macrophages. ORM2-activated macrophages exacerbated cholangiocyte cell stress and Orm2 expression, but also tended to promote fibrogenic activation of hepatic stellate cells. Mechanistically, ORM2 effects were mediated by an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2-dependent calcium pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals a paracrine communication circuit during ductular reaction, in which reactive cholangiocyte-derived ORM2 reprogrammes liver macrophages, participating in a pathogenic remodelling of the immune biliary niche.

Phenyl Radical-Mediated Fluorogenic Cyclization for Specific Detection of Peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a biological oxidizing and nitrating species responsible for post-translational modification of cellular proteins, has been implicated in numerous pathologies carrying an inflammatory component. Specific detection of ONOO- in biological systems remains a challenge, and boronates are regarded as the most promising class of probes for the detection and quantitation of ONOO-. Oxidation of boronate probes by ONOO- results in the formation of minor ONOO--specific products via a pathway involving a phenyl radical-type intermediate, in addition to the major phenolic product. Here, we report fluorogenic cyclization of the phenyl-type radical formed during oxidation of a boronate probe by ONOO-, with the production of a fluorescent product, and we propose a new approach for the specific detection of ONOO- based on this observation. We characterized the kinetics and stoichiometry of the reaction of benzophenone-2-boronic acid with ONOO- and identified 2-hydroxybenzophenone as the major product and fluorenone (FLN) and 2-nitrobenzophenone as the minor ONOO--specific products. Hydrogen peroxide neither alone nor in the presence of myeloperoxidase and nitrite produces FLN or 2-nitrobenzophenone. FLN can be selectively detected using fluorescence spectroscopy, providing a chemical principle for the development of next-generation probes for ONOO-, with noninvasive, fluorescence-based detection of ONOO--specific products. Fluorescence-based monitoring of FLN was successfully applied for the detection of ONOO- generated in situ from the decomposition of SIN-1, a thermal source of the superoxide radical anion and nitric oxide.

Advances and future outlook in clinical trials for treating systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease

INTRODUCTION

Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is a common complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc), contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. We aim to bridge knowledge gaps, inform clinical practice, and identify future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding and emerging advances in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of SSc-ILD. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) remain cornerstones of diagnosis, but limitations in sensitivity underscore the need for biomarkers such as Chemokine (C-C motif) Ligand 18 (CCL18), Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) to enhance prognostic precision and treatment personalization. Therapeutic strategies emphasize immunosuppressants alongside antifibrotic agents. Emerging combination therapies and advanced modalities, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, show promise in refractory cases. Ongoing clinical trials exploring innovative targets highlight the evolving therapeutic landscape. The review emphasizes challenges in clinical trial design, advocating for adaptive and platform trial methodologies to address disease heterogeneity and enhance treatment sensitivity.

EXPERT OPINION

Advances in biomarkers, composite indices, and personalized therapeutic approaches are key to overcoming existing limitations and improving outcomes for patients with SSc-ILD.

Endothelial IGF- 1R deficiency disrupts microvascular homeostasis, impairing skeletal muscle perfusion and endurance: implications for age-related sarcopenia

Aging is associated with a progressive decline in circulating insulin-like growth factor- 1 (IGF- 1) levels in humans, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. IGF- 1 is an anabolic hormone that plays a dual role in maintaining skeletal muscle health, acting both directly on muscle fibers to promote growth and indirectly by supporting the vascular network that sustains muscle perfusion. However, the microvascular consequences of IGF- 1 deficiency in aging muscle remain poorly understood. To elucidate how impaired IGF- 1 input affects skeletal muscle vasculature, we examined the effects of endothelial-specific IGF- 1 receptor (IGF- 1R) deficiency using a mouse model of endothelial IGF- 1R knockdown (VE-Cadherin-CreERT2/Igf1rf/f mice). These mice exhibited significantly reduced skeletal muscle endurance and attenuated hyperemic response to acetylcholine, an endothelium-dependent vasodilator. Additionally, they displayed microvascular rarefaction and impaired nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation, indicating a significant decline in microvascular health in skeletal muscle. These findings suggest that endothelial IGF- 1R signaling is critical for maintaining microvascular integrity, muscle perfusion, and function. Impaired IGF- 1 input to the microvascular endothelium may contribute to reduced muscle blood flow and exacerbate age-related sarcopenia. Enhancing vascular health by modulating IGF- 1 signaling could represent a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract age-related muscle decline.

SAM transmethylation pathway and adenosine recycling to ATP are essential for systemic regulation and immune response

During parasitoid wasp infection, activated immune cells of Drosophila melanogaster larvae release adenosine to conserve nutrients for immune response. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is a methyl group donor for most methylations in the cell and is synthesized from methionine and ATP. After methylation, SAM is converted to S-adenosylhomocysteine, which is further metabolized to adenosine and homocysteine. Here, we show that the SAM transmethylation pathway is up-regulated during immune cell activation and that the adenosine produced by this pathway in immune cells acts as a systemic signal to delay Drosophila larval development and ensure sufficient nutrient supply to the immune system. We further show that the up-regulation of the SAM transmethylation pathway and the efficiency of the immune response also depend on the recycling of adenosine back to ATP by adenosine kinase and adenylate kinase. We therefore hypothesize that adenosine may act as a sensitive sensor of the balance between cell activity, represented by the sum of methylation events in the cell, and nutrient supply. If the supply of nutrients is insufficient for a given activity, adenosine may not be effectively recycled back into ATP and may be pushed out of the cell to serve as a signal to demand more nutrients.

CAR-NK cell therapy: promise and challenges in solid tumors

Over the past few years, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for certain hematologic cancers, with various CAR-T therapies now widely used in clinical settings. However, challenges related to the production of autologous cell products and the management of CAR-T cell toxicity highlight the need for new cell therapy options that are universal, safe, and effective. Natural killer (NK) cells, which are part of the innate immune system, offer unique advantages, including the potential for off-the-shelf therapy. A recent first-in-human trial of CD19-CAR-NK infusion in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies demonstrated safety and promising clinical activity. Building on these positive clinical outcomes, current research focuses on enhancing CAR-NK cell potency by increasing their in vivo persistence and addressing functional exhaustion. There is also growing interest in applying the successes seen in hematologic malignancies to solid tumors. This review discusses current trends and emerging concepts in the engineering of next-generation CAR- NK therapies. It will cover the process of constructing CAR-NK cells, potential targets for their manufacturing, and their role in various solid tumors. Additionally, it will examine the mechanisms of action and the research status of CAR-NK therapies in the treatment of solid tumors, along with their advantages, limitations, and future challenges. The insights provided may guide future investigations aimed at optimizing CAR-NK therapy for a broader range of malignancies.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and their use in a cardiac organ-on-a-chip to assay electrophysiology, calcium and contractility

Cardiac organs-on-a-chip (OoCs) or microphysiological systems have the potential to predict cardiac effects of new drug candidates, including unanticipated cardiac outcomes, which are among the main causes for drug attrition. This protocol describes how to prepare and use a cardiac OoC containing cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS cells). The use of cells derived from hiPS cells as reliable sources of human cells from diverse genetic backgrounds also holds great potential, especially when cultured in OoCs that are physiologically relevant culture platforms. To promote the broad adoption of hiPS cell-derived cardiac OoCs in the drug development field, there is a need to first ensure reproducibility in their preparation and use. This protocol aims to provide key information on how to reduce sources of variability during hiPS cell maintenance, differentiation, loading and maturation in OoCs. Variability in these procedures can lead to inconsistent purity after differentiation and variable function between batches of microtissues formed in OoCs. This protocol also focuses on describing the handling and functional assessment of cardiac microtissues using live-cell microscopy approaches to quantify parameters of cellular electrophysiology, calcium transients and contractility. The protocol consists of five stages: (1) thaw and maintain hiPS cells, (2) differentiate hiPS cell cardiomyocytes, (3) load differentiated cells into OoCs, (4) maintain and characterize loaded cells, and (5) evaluate and utilize cardiac OoCs. Execution of the entire protocol takes ~40 days. The required skills to carry out the protocol are experience with sterile techniques, mammalian cell culture and maintaining hiPS cells in a pluripotent state.

Real-time fear emotion recognition in mice based on multimodal data fusion

A multimodal emotion recognition method that utilizes facial expressions, body postures, and movement trajectories to detect fear in mice is proposed in this study. By integrating and analyzing these distinct data sources through feature encoders and attention classifiers, we developed a robust emotion classification model. The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing it with single-modal methods, and the results showed significant accuracy improvements. Our findings indicate that the multimodal fusion emotion recognition model enhanced the precision of emotion detection, achieving a fear recognition accuracy of 86.7%. Additionally, the impacts of different monitoring durations and frame sampling rates on the achieved recognition accuracy were investigated in this study. The proposed method provides an efficient and simple solution for conducting real-time, comprehensive emotion monitoring in animal research, with potential applications in neuroscience and psychiatric studies.

Pathophysiology of Doxorubicin-Mediated Cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used for the treatment of various malignancies, including leukemias, lymphomas, sarcomas, and bladder, breast, and gynecological cancers in adults, adolescents, and children. However, DOX causes severe side effects in patients, such as cardiotoxicity, which encompasses heart failure, arrhythmia, and myocardial infarction. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is based on the combination of nuclear-mediated cardiomyocyte death and mitochondrial-mediated death. Oxidative stress, altered autophagy, inflammation, and apoptosis/ferroptosis represent the main pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for DIC. In addition, in vitro and in vivo models of DIC sirtuins (SIRT), and especially, SIRT 1 are reduced, and this event contributes to cardiac damage. In fact, SIRT 1 inhibits reactive oxygen species and NF-kB activation, thus improving myocardial oxidative stress and cardiac remodeling. Therefore, the recovery of SIRT 1 during DIC may represent a therapeutic strategy to limit DIC progression. Natural products, i.e., polyphenols, as well as nano formulations of DOX and iron chelators, are other potential compounds experimented with in models of DIC. At present, few clinical trials are available to confirm the efficacy of these products in DIC. The aim of this review is the description of the pathophysiology of DIC as well as potential drug targets to alleviate DIC.

The diabetes medication Canagliflozin attenuates alcoholic liver disease by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation via SIRT1-AMPK-mTORC1 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic consumption of large amounts of alcohol can lead to hepatic lipid accumulation and mitochondrial oxidative stress, resulting in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Canagliflozin (Cana), an oral antidiabetic drug, regulates blood glucose by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 in renal tubulars, which also improves lipid metabolism and alleviates oxidative stress in hepatocyte. This study aims to determine the therapeutic effects of Cana on alcoholic liver injury and to explore the mechanistic pathways involved.

METHODS

C57BL/6J male mice at 8 weeks were used to construct a model of alcoholic fatty liver disease using the chronic-plus-binge alcohol feeding model. Primary hepatocytes and AML12 cell lines were used as in vitro models. The effects and mechanisms of Cana on alcoholic liver injury were investigated by using immunofluorescence, ELISA, H&E and Oil Red O staining, RT-PCR, and western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

Cana treatment reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, decreased glutathione and TNF-α levels, alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation. Mechanistic studies revealed that Cana reduced FAS expression in the liver, decreasing hepatic fatty acid synthesis, and increased PPARα expression, promoting fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, Cana increased mitochondrial content and promoted mitophagy. These effects were mediated by the SIRT1-AMPK-mTORC1 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Cana activates the SIRT1-AMPK-mTORC1 signaling pathway, inhibiting alcohol-induced fatty acid synthesis, promoting fatty acid degradation, thereby alleviating alcoholic liver injury.

Reprogramming of Glucose Metabolism by Nanocarriers to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy: Recent Advances and Applications

Although immunotherapy has made significant progress in cancer treatment, its limited responsiveness has greatly hindered widespread clinical application. The Warburg effect in tumor cells creates a tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by hypoxia, low glucose levels, and high lactate levels, which severely inhibits the antitumor immune response. Consequently, targeting glucose metabolism to reprogram the TME is considered an effective strategy for reversing immunosuppression and immune evasion. Numerous studies have been conducted on enhancing cancer immunotherapy efficacy through the delivery of glucose metabolism modulators via nanocarriers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the glucose metabolic characteristics of tumors and their impacts on the immune system, as well as nanodelivery strategies targeting glucose metabolism to enhance immunotherapy. These strategies include inhibiting key glycolytic enzymes, blocking glucose and lactate transporters, and utilizing glucose oxidase and lactate oxidase. Furthermore, this article reviews recent advancements in synergistic antitumor therapy involving glucose metabolism-targeted therapy combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), phototherapy, and immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the limitations and future prospects of nanotechnology targeting glucose metabolism therapy, hoping to provide new directions and ideas to improve cancer immunotherapy.

FAAH Modulators from Natural Sources: A Collection of New Potential Drugs

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating immune response, energy metabolism, cognitive functions, and neuronal activity. It consists of endocannabinoids (eCBs), cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), and enzymes involved in eCB biosynthesis and degradation. Increasing evidence highlights the involvement of the ECS under several pathological conditions, making it a promising therapeutic target. Recent research efforts have focused on modulating endogenous eCB levels, particularly through the inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the main catabolic enzyme of the major eCB anandamide. Natural substances, including plant extracts and purified compounds, can inhibit FAAH and represent a promising area of pharmacological research. Natural FAAH inhibitors are particularly attractive due to their potentially lower toxicity compared to synthetic compounds, making them safer candidates for therapeutic applications. Phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and flavolignans have been shown to efficiently inhibit FAAH. The structural diversity and bioactivity of these natural substances provide a valuable alternative to synthetic inhibitors, and may open new avenues for developing innovative pharmacological tools.

Mice lacking the endocannabinoid-synthesizing enzyme NAPE-PLD exhibit sex-dependent dysregulations in responsiveness to oxycodone and a natural reward

The endogenous opioid and endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) systems are highly interconnected in the context of drug reward. Bioactive lipids known as N -acylethanolamines (NAEs), and, specifically, anandamide (AEA), influence several unwanted side effects of opioids, including dependence and tolerance. AEA undergoes degradation by the enzyme fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), whereas the biosynthesis of AEA in vivo is catalyzed by the enzyme N -acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase-D (NAPE-PLD). AEA and FAAH are implicated in opioid reward, but the impact of genetic deletion of NAPE-PLD on responsiveness to opioids remains unknown. Here we explored the role of NAPE-PLD in behavioral sensitivity to the opioid analgesic oxycodone. We evaluated NAPE-PLD knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice of both sexes in preclinical assays that assess either opioid-induced psychomotor responses or voluntary oral consumption of oxycodone. In our studies, genetic deletion of NAPE-PLD produced a shift in sexually dimorphic responses to oxycodone. Psychomotor response to oxycodone was reduced in female NAPE-PLD KO mice but not in males. Female NAPE-PLD KO mice consumed more oral oxycodone that female WT mice, while no genotypic differences in consumption were observed in males. Oxycodone consumption also increased the number of striatal ΔFosB positive cells in female WT mice, but not in male WT mice or NAPE-PLD KO mice of either sex. Additionally, NAPE-PLD KO mice of both sexes consumed more sucrose than WT mice. Together, these findings suggest that NAPE-PLD may regulate responses to opioids in a sexually dimorphic manner as the impact of genetic deletion of NAPE-PLD was greater in females than males.

Allopurinol attenuates development of Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced cardiomyopathy in mice

Oxidative stress is involved in the progression of periodontitis, independently of confounding factors such as smoking, and numerous studies suggest that periodontitis is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, therefore, we examined the effects of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol on cardiac dysfunction in mice treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PG-LPS) at a dose (0.8 mg/kg/day) equivalent to the circulating level in patients with periodontal disease. Mice were divided into four groups: 1) control, 2) PG-LPS, 3) allopurinol, and 4) PG-LPS +  allopurinol. After1 week, we evaluated cardiac function by echocardiography. The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased in PG-LPS-treated mice compared to the control (from 68 ±  1.3 to 60 ±  2.7%), while allopurinol ameliorated the dysfunction (67 ±  1.1%). The area of cardiac fibrosis was significantly increased (approximately 3.6-fold) and the number of apoptotic myocytes was significantly increased (approximately 7.7-fold) in the heart of the PG-LPS-treated group versus the control, and these changes were suppressed by allopurinol. The impairment of cardiac function in PG-LPS-treated mice was associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species by xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase 4, leading to calmodulin kinase II activation with increased ryanodine receptor 2 phosphorylation. These changes were also suppressed by allopurinol. Our results suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in the PG-LPS-promoted development of cardiac diseases, and further indicate that allopurinol ameliorates Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction.