1
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Bowhay CR, Hanington PC. Animal granulins: In the GRN scheme of things. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 152:105115. [PMID: 38101714 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.105115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Granulins are conserved in nearly all metazoans, with an intriguing loss in insects. These pleiotropic peptides are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes yet have been overwhelmingly examined in mammalian systems. While work in other animal models has been informative, a richer understanding of the proteins should be obtained by integrating knowledge from all available contexts. The main bodies of work described here include 1) the structure-function relationships of progranulin and its cleavage products, 2) the role of expanded granulin gene families and different isoforms in fish immunology, 3) the release of granulin peptides to promote host angiogenesis by parasitic worms, 4) a diversity of molluscan uses for granulins, including immune activation in intermediate hosts to trematodes, 5) knowledge gained on lysosomal functions from C. elegans and the stress-related activities of granulins. We provide an overview of functional reports across the Metazoa to inform much-needed future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina R Bowhay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Patrick C Hanington
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
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2
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Liu Z, Zhao F, Huang Z, Hu Q, Meng R, Lin Y, Qi J, Lin G. Revisiting the Asian Buffalo Leech ( Hirudinaria manillensis) Genome: Focus on Antithrombotic Genes and Their Corresponding Proteins. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2068. [PMID: 38003011 PMCID: PMC10671345 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Leeches are well-known annelids due to their obligate blood-feeding habits. Some leech species secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical value in antithrombotic treatments. In this study, we provided a high-quality genome of the Asian buffalo leech (Hirudinaria manillensis), based on which we performed a systematic identification of potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. Combining automatic and manual prediction, we identified 21 antithrombotic gene families including fourteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. A total of 72 antithrombotic genes, including two pseudogenes, were identified, including most of their corresponding proteins forming three or more disulfide bonds. Three protein families (LDTI, antistasin, and granulin) had internal tandem repeats containing 6, 10, and 12 conserved cysteines, respectively. We also measured the anticoagulant activities of the five identified hirudins (hirudin_Hman1 ~ hirudin_Hman5). The results showed that three (hirudin_Hman1, hirudin_Hman2, and hirudin_Hman5), but not the remaining two, exhibited anticoagulant activities. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a leech to date. These results will greatly facilitate the research and application of leech derivatives for medical and pharmaceutical purposes in the treatment of thrombotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichao Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (Q.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Fang Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zuhao Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Qingmei Hu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (Q.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Renyuan Meng
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (Q.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Yiquan Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jianxia Qi
- Nujiang Management Bureau of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Nujiang 673199, China;
| | - Gonghua Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
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3
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Balakrishnan N, Katkar R, Pham PV, Downey T, Kashyap P, Anastasiu DC, Ramasubramanian AK. Prospection of Peptide Inhibitors of Thrombin from Diverse Origins Using a Machine Learning Pipeline. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1300. [PMID: 38002424 PMCID: PMC10669389 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10111300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombin is a key enzyme involved in the development and progression of many cardiovascular diseases. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), with their minimum off-target effects and immediacy of action, have greatly improved the treatment of these diseases. However, the risk of bleeding, pharmacokinetic issues, and thrombotic complications remain major concerns. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of the DTI discovery pipeline, we developed a two-stage machine learning pipeline to identify and rank peptide sequences based on their effective thrombin inhibitory potential. The positive dataset for our model consisted of thrombin inhibitor peptides and their binding affinities (KI) curated from published literature, and the negative dataset consisted of peptides with no known thrombin inhibitory or related activity. The first stage of the model identified thrombin inhibitory sequences with Matthew's Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 83.6%. The second stage of the model, which covers an eight-order of magnitude range in KI values, predicted the binding affinity of new sequences with a log room mean square error (RMSE) of 1.114. These models also revealed physicochemical and structural characteristics that are hidden but unique to thrombin inhibitor peptides. Using the model, we classified more than 10 million peptides from diverse sources and identified unique short peptide sequences (<15 aa) of interest, based on their predicted KI. Based on the binding energies of the interaction of the peptide with thrombin, we identified a promising set of putative DTI candidates. The prediction pipeline is available on a web server.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivedha Balakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Rahul Katkar
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Peter V. Pham
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Taylor Downey
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA (D.C.A.)
| | - Prarthna Kashyap
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - David C. Anastasiu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA (D.C.A.)
| | - Anand K. Ramasubramanian
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
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4
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Inhibitors of blood coagulation factor XIII. Anal Biochem 2020; 605:113708. [PMID: 32335064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) plays an essential role in the stabilization of fibrin clots. This factor, belonging to the class of transglutaminases, catalyzes the final step of secondary hemostasis, i.e. the crosslinking of fibrin polymers. These crosslinks protect the clots against premature fibrinolysis. Consequently, FXIII is an interesting target for the therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this context, inhibitors can influence FXIII in the activation process of the enzyme itself or in its catalytic activity. To date, there is no FXIII inhibitor in medical application, but several studies have been conducted in the past. These studies provided a better understanding of FXIII and identified new lead structures for FXIII inhibitors. Next to small molecule inhibitors, the most promising candidates for the development of clinically applicable FXIII inhibitors are the peptide inhibitors tridegin and transglutaminase-inhibiting Michael acceptors (TIMAs) due to their selectivity towards activated FXIII (FXIIIa). In this review, select FXIII inhibitors and their pharmacological potential are discussed.
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5
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Cheng B, Liu F, Guo Q, Lu Y, Shi H, Ding A, Xu C. Identification and characterization of hirudin-HN, a new thrombin inhibitor, from the salivary glands of Hirudo nipponia. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7716. [PMID: 31592161 PMCID: PMC6776071 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome sequencing data (6.5 Gb) of the salivary glands of the haematophagous leech Hirudo nipponia was obtained by using the BGIseq-500 platform. After identification and analysis, one transcript (Unigene5370) was annotated to hirudin HV3 from Hirudo medicinalis with an e-value of 1e-29 and was named hirudin-HN. This transcript was a new thrombin inhibitor gene belonging to the proteinase inhibitor I14 (hirudin) family. Hirudin-HN, with a 270-bp cDNA, encodes an 89-aa protein containing a 20-aa signal peptide. The mature hirudin-HN protein contains the typical structural characteristics of hirudin, e.g., three conserved disulfide bonds and the PKP and DFxxIP motifs. Proteins (Hir and M-Hir) were obtained via prokaryotic expression, and the mature hirudin-HN protein was shown to have anticoagulant activity and thrombin affinity by using the chromogenic substrate S2238 and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) interaction analysis, respectively. The N-terminal structure of the mature hirudin-HN protein was shown to be important for anticoagulant activity by comparing the activity and thrombin affinity of Hir and M-Hir. The abundances of Hirudin-HN mRNA and protein were higher in the salivary glands of starving animals than in those of feeding or fed leeches. These results provided a foundation for further study on the structure-function relationship of hirudin-HN with thrombin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxing Cheng
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,School of Biological Sciences, Guizhou Education University, Gui Yang, China
| | - Fei Liu
- School of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yan Cheng, China
| | - Qiaosheng Guo
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxi Lu
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongzhuan Shi
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Andong Ding
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengfeng Xu
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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6
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Khan MS, Guan D, Kvist S, Ma L, Xie J, Xu S. Transcriptomics and differential gene expression in Whitmania pigra (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinida: Hirudinidae): Contrasting feeding and fasting modes. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4706-4719. [PMID: 31031937 PMCID: PMC6476756 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The medicinal utility of leeches has been demonstrated through decades of use in modern hospital settings, mainly as relievers of venous congestion following flap or digit replantation surgery. In the present study, we sequence and annotate (through BLAST- and Gene Ontology-based approaches) the salivary transcriptome of the nonblood feeding hirudinid Whitmania pigra and assess the differential gene expression of anticoagulation factors (through both quantitative real-time PCR [qRT-PCR] and in silico-based methods) during feeding and fasting conditions. This was done in order to evince the diversity of putative anticoagulation factors, as well as estimate the levels of upregulation of genes immediately after feeding. In total, we found sequences with demonstrated orthology (via both phylogenetic analyses and BLAST-based approaches) to seven different proteins that have previously been linked to anticoagulatory capabilities-eglin C, bdellin, granulin, guamerin, hyaluronidase, destabilase I, and lipocalin. All of these were recovered from leeches both in the fasting and in the feeding conditions, but all show signs of upregulation in the feeding leeches. Interestingly, our RNA-seq effort, coupled with a hypergeometric test, indicated that the differentially expressed genes were disproportionately involved in three main immunological pathways (endocytosis, peroxisome regulation, and lysosome regulation). The results and implications of the finding of anticoagulants in this nonblood feeding leech and the putative upregulation of anticoagulation factors after feeding are briefly discussed in an evolutionary context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - De‐Long Guan
- College of Life SciencesShaanxi Normal UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Sebastian Kvist
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Natural HistoryRoyal Ontario MuseumTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Li‐Bin Ma
- College of Life SciencesShaanxi Normal UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Juan‐Ying Xie
- School of Computer ScienceShaanxi Normal UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Sheng‐Quan Xu
- College of Life SciencesShaanxi Normal UniversityXi'anChina
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7
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Cheng RM, Tang XP, Long AL, Mwangi J, Lai R, Sun RP, Long CB, Zhang ZQ. Purification and characterization of a novel anti-coagulant from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Zool Res 2019; 40:205-210. [PMID: 31011131 PMCID: PMC6591161 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Protease inhibitors have been reported rarely from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis. In this study, we purified a novel protease inhibitor (bdellin-HM-2) with anticoagulant properties from H. manillensis. With a molecular weight of 1.4x104, bdellin-HM-2 was also characterized with three intra-molecular disulfide bridges at the N-terminus and multiple HHXDD and HXDD motifs at the C-terminus. cDNA cloning revealed that the putative nucleotide-encoding protein of bdellin-HM-2 contained 132 amino acids and was encoded by a 399 bp open reading frame (ORF). Sequence alignment showed that bdellin-HM-2 shared similarity with the “non-classical” Kazal-type serine protease inhibitors, but had no inhibitory effect on trypsin, elastase, chymotrypsin, kallikrein, factor XIIa (FXIIa), factor XIa (FXIa), factor Xa (FXa), thrombin, or plasmin. Bdellin-HM-2 showed anticoagulant effects by prolonging the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), indicating a role in enabling H. manillensis to obtain a blood meal from its host. Our results suggest that bdellin-HM-2 may play a crucial role in blood-sucking in this leech species and may be a potential candidate for the development of clinical anti-thrombotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Mei Cheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ai-Lin Long
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China
| | - James Mwangi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Rui-Pu Sun
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Cheng-Bo Long
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zhen-Qing Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou Jiangsu 215123, China
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8
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Tummamunkong P, Jaree P, Tassanakajon A, Somboonwiwat K. WSSV-responsive gene expression under the influence of PmVRP15 suppression. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 72:86-94. [PMID: 29017938 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The viral responsive protein 15 from black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (PmVRP15), is highly up-regulated and produced in the hemocytes of shrimp with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. To investigate the differential expression of genes from P. monodon hemocytes that are involved in WSSV infection under the influence of PmVRP15 expression, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) of PmVRP15-silenced shrimp infected with WSSV was performed. The 189 cDNA clones of the forward library were generated by subtracting the cDNAs from WSSV-infected and PmVRP15 knockdown shrimp with cDNAs from WSSV-infected and GFP knockdown shrimp. For the opposite subtraction, the 176 cDNA clones in the reverse library was an alternative set of genes in WSSV-infected shrimp hemocytes in the presence of PmVRP15 expression. The abundant genes in forward SSH library had a defense/homeostasis of 26%, energy/metabolism of 23% and in the reverse SSH library a hypothetical protein with unknown function was found (30%). The differential expressed immune-related genes from each library were selected for expression analysis using qRT-PCR. All selected genes from the forward library showed high up-regulation in the WSSV-challenged PmVRP15 knockdown group as expected. Interestingly, PmHHAP, a hemocyte homeostasis associated protein, and granulin-like protein, a conserved growth factor, are extremely up-regulated in the absence of PmVRP15 expression in WSSV-infected shrimp. Only transcript level of transglutaminase II, that functions in regulating hematopoietic tissue differentiation and inhibits mature hemocyte production in shrimp, was obviously down-regulated as observed from SSH results. Taken together, our results suggest that PmVRP15 might have a function relevant to hemocyte homeostasis during WSSV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phawida Tummamunkong
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Phattarunda Jaree
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Anchalee Tassanakajon
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kunlaya Somboonwiwat
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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9
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Wang X, Xu H, Chen X, Tian Y, Wang F, Lin X. Cloning, expression and cytotoxicity of granulin A, a novel polypeptide contained in human progranulin. Biosci Trends 2016; 10:181-7. [DOI: 10.5582/bst.2016.01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University
- SDU-ZB Biomedical R&D Institute
| | - Huanli Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Capital Medical University
| | | | - Ye Tian
- Department of Pharmacology, Capital Medical University
| | - Fengshan Wang
- Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University
- SDU-ZB Biomedical R&D Institute
| | - Xiukun Lin
- SDU-ZB Biomedical R&D Institute
- Department of Pharmacology, Capital Medical University
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10
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Zhao M, He M, Huang X, Wang Q, Shi Y. Functional characterization and molecular mechanism exploration of three granulin epithelin precursor splice variants in biomineralization of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. Mol Genet Genomics 2015; 291:399-409. [PMID: 26388260 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-015-1118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The granulin/epithelin precursor (GEP) encodes a glycoprotein precursor which exhibits pleiotropic tissue growth factor activity with multiple functions. Here, GEP was isolated and its role in the shell biomineralization process of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata was investigated. Three forms of GEP mRNA were isolated from the pearl oyster (designated PfGEP-1, PfGEP-2 and PfGEP-3). Genomic DNA flanking the splicing region of the PfGEP variants was sequenced and it was found that PfGEP-2 splices out Exon 4, whereas PfGEP-3 splices out Exon 3 compared to PfGEP-1. PfGEP-1 (1505 amino acids) consists of 18 granulin domains, whereas PfGEP-2 (1459 amino acids) and PfGEP-3 (1471 amino acids) consist of 17.5 granulin domains, respectively. Analyses of PfGEP-1 and PfGEP-3 mRNA showed differential patterns in the tissues and developmental stages. Western blotting results showed that the three splice variants can translate to proteins in HEK293T cells. A knockdown experiment using PfGEP dsRNA showed decreased PfGEP-1/PfGEP-3 and PfMSX mRNA, and irregular crystallization of the nacreous layer using scanning electron microscopy. In luciferase assays, co-transfection of PfGEP-1 could activate as well as repress luciferase expression of the reporter plasmid driven by the PfMSX promoter, whereas PfGEP-3 stimulated the expression, elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the correlation between PfGEP and PfMSX. These results suggested that GEP variants might function differently during the biomineralization process, which provides new knowledge on the mechanism regulating nacre formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Maoxian He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
| | - Xiande Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Qi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
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11
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Popesku JT, Martyniuk CJ, Trudeau VL. Meta-type analysis of dopaminergic effects on gene expression in the neuroendocrine brain of female goldfish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2012; 3:130. [PMID: 23130016 PMCID: PMC3487223 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2012.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is a major neurotransmitter important for neuroendocrine control and recent studies have described genomic signaling pathways activated and inhibited by DA agonists and antagonists in the goldfish brain. Here we perform a meta-type analysis using microarray datasets from experiments conducted with female goldfish to characterize the gene expression responses that underlie dopaminergic signaling. Sexually mature, pre-spawning [gonadosomatic index (GSI) = 4.5 ± 1.3%] or sexually regressing (GSI = 3 ± 0.4%) female goldfish (15-40 g) injected intraperitoneally with either SKF 38393, LY 171555, SCH 23390, sulpiride, or a combination of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and α-methyl-p-tyrosine. Microarray meta-type analysis identified 268 genes in the telencephalon and hypothalamus as having reciprocal (i.e., opposite between agonism and antagonism/depletion) fold change responses, suggesting that these transcripts are likely targets for DA-mediated regulation. Noteworthy genes included ependymin, vimentin, and aromatase, genes that support the significance of DA in neuronal plasticity and tissue remodeling. Sub-network enrichment analysis (SNEA) was used to identify common gene regulators and binding proteins associated with the differentially expressed genes mediated by DA. SNEA analysis identified gene expression targets that were related to three major categories that included cell signaling (STAT3, SP1, SMAD, Jun/Fos), immune response (IL-6, IL-1β, TNFs, cytokine, NF-κB), and cell proliferation and growth (IGF1, TGFβ1). These gene networks are also known to be associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons' disease, well-known to be associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons. This study identifies genes and networks that underlie DA signaling in the vertebrate CNS and provides targets that may be key neuroendocrine regulators. The results provide a foundation for future work on dopaminergic regulation of gene expression in fish model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T. Popesku
- Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jason T. Popesku, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5. e-mail: ; Vance L. Trudeau, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Room 160, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5. e-mail:
| | - Christopher J. Martyniuk
- Canadian Rivers Institute and Department of Biology, University of New BrunswickSaint John, NB, Canada
| | - Vance L. Trudeau
- Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jason T. Popesku, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5. e-mail: ; Vance L. Trudeau, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Room 160, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5. e-mail:
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12
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Smout MJ, Sripa B, Laha T, Mulvenna J, Gasser RB, Young ND, Bethony JM, Brindley PJ, Loukas A. Infection with the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2011; 7:1367-75. [PMID: 21311794 PMCID: PMC3739706 DOI: 10.1039/c0mb00295j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Throughout Southeast Asia there is a strikingly high incidence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA--hepatic cancer of the bile duct epithelium), particularly in people from rural settings in Laos and Northeast Thailand who are infected with the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, one of only three carcinogenic eukaryotic pathogens. More ubiquitous carcinogenic microbes, such as Helicobacter pylori, induce cancer in less than 1% of infected people, while as many as one-sixth of people with opisthorchiasis will develop CCA. The mechanisms by which O. viverrini causes cancer are multi-factorial, involving mechanical irritation from the activities and movements of the flukes, immunopathology, dietary nitrosamines and the secretion of parasite proteins that promote a tumourigenic environment. Genomic and proteomic studies of the liver fluke secretome have accelerated the discovery of parasite proteins with known/potential roles in pathogenesis and tumourigenesis, establishing a framework towards understanding, and ultimately preventing, the morbidity and mortality attributed to this highly carcinogenic parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Smout
- Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
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Guo F, Lai Y, Tian Q, Lin EA, Kong L, Liu C. Granulin-epithelin precursor binds directly to ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 and inhibits their degradation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 62:2023-36. [PMID: 20506400 DOI: 10.1002/art.27491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine 1) whether a protein interaction network exists between granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP), ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP); 2) whether GEP interferes with the interactions between ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 metalloproteinases and COMP substrate, including the cleavage of COMP; 3) whether GEP affects tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-mediated induction of ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 expression and COMP degradation; and 4) whether GEP levels are altered during the progression of arthritis. METHODS Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro glutathione S-transferase pull-down, and coimmunoprecipitation assays were used to 1) examine the interactions between GEP, ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12, and COMP, and 2) map the binding sites required for the interactions between GEP and ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12. Immunofluorescence cell staining was performed to visualize the subcellular localization of GEP and ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12. An in vitro digestion assay was employed to determine whether GEP inhibits ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12-mediated digestion of COMP. The role of GEP in inhibiting TNFalpha-induced ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 expression and COMP degradation in cartilage explants was also analyzed. RESULTS GEP bound directly to ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 in vitro and in chondrocytes, and the 4 C-terminal thrombospondin motifs of ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 and each granulin unit of GEP mediated their interactions. Additionally, GEP colocalized with ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 on the cell surface of chondrocytes. More importantly, GEP inhibited COMP degradation by ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 in a dose-dependent manner through 1) competitive inhibition through direct protein-protein interactions with ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 and COMP, and 2) inhibition of TNFalpha-induced ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12 expression. Furthermore, GEP levels were significantly elevated in patients with either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION Our observations demonstrate a novel protein-protein interaction network between GEP, ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12, and COMP. Furthermore, GEP is a novel specific inhibitor of ADAMTS-7/ADAMTS-12-mediated COMP degradation and may play a significant role in preventing the destruction of joint cartilage in arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjin Guo
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10003, USA
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Lin EA, Liu CJ. The role of ADAMTSs in arthritis. Protein Cell 2010; 1:33-47. [PMID: 21203996 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-010-0002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2009] [Accepted: 10/21/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) family consists of 19 proteases. These enzymes are known to play important roles in development, angiogenesis and coagulation; dysregulation and mutation of these enzymes have been implicated in many disease processes, such as inflammation, cancer, arthritis and atherosclerosis. This review briefly summarizes the structural organization and functional roles of ADAMTSs in normal and pathological conditions, focusing on members that are known to be involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix and loss of cartilage in arthritis, including the aggrecanases (ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5), ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12, the latter two are associated with cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a component of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). We will discuss the expression pattern and the regulation of these metalloproteinases at multiple levels, including their interaction with substrates, induction by pro-inflammatory cytokines, protein processing, inhibition (e.g., TIMP-3, alpha-2-macroglobulin, GEP), and activation (e.g., syndecan-4, PACE-4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Lin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA
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Smout MJ, Laha T, Mulvenna J, Sripa B, Suttiprapa S, Jones A, Brindley PJ, Loukas A. A granulin-like growth factor secreted by the carcinogenic liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, promotes proliferation of host cells. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000611. [PMID: 19816559 PMCID: PMC2749447 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/10/2009] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, infects millions of people throughout south-east Asia and is a major cause of cholangiocarcinoma, or cancer of the bile ducts. The mechanisms by which chronic infection with O. viverrini results in cholangiocarcinogenesis are multi-factorial, but one such mechanism is the secretion of parasite proteins with mitogenic properties into the bile ducts, driving cell proliferation and creating a tumorigenic environment. Using a proteomic approach, we identified a homologue of human granulin, a potent growth factor involved in cell proliferation and wound healing, in the excretory/secretory (ES) products of the parasite. O. viverrini granulin, termed Ov-GRN-1, was expressed in most parasite tissues, particularly the gut and tegument. Furthermore, Ov-GRN-1 was detected in situ on the surface of biliary epithelial cells of hamsters experimentally infected with O. viverrini. Recombinant Ov-GRN-1 was expressed in E. coli and refolded from inclusion bodies. Refolded protein stimulated proliferation of murine fibroblasts at nanomolar concentrations, and proliferation was inhibited by the MAPK kinase inhibitor, U0126. Antibodies raised to recombinant Ov-GRN-1 inhibited the ability of O. viverrini ES products to induce proliferation of murine fibroblasts and a human cholangiocarcinoma cell line in vitro, indicating that Ov-GRN-1 is the major growth factor present in O. viverrini ES products. This is the first report of a secreted growth factor from a parasitic worm that induces proliferation of host cells, and supports a role for this fluke protein in establishment of a tumorigenic environment that may ultimately manifest as cholangiocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Smout
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia, and School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thewarach Laha
- Department of Parasitology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Jason Mulvenna
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia, and School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Banchob Sripa
- Department of Pathology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Sutas Suttiprapa
- Department of Pathology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul J. Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, D. C., United States of America
| | - Alex Loukas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Queensland, Australia, and School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
The a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) comprise a family of secreted zinc metalloproteinases with a precisely ordered modular organization. These enzymes play an important role in the turnover of extracellular matrix proteins in various tissues and their dysregulation has been implicated in disease-related processes such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, and inflammation. ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 share a similar domain organization to each other and form a subgroup within the ADAMTS family. Emerging evidence suggests that ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 may play an important role in the development and pathogenesis of various kinds of diseases. In this review, we summarize what is currently known about the roles of these two metalloproteinases, with a special focus on their involvement in chondrogenesis, endochondral ossification, and the pathogenesis of arthritis, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The future study of ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12, as well as the molecules with which they interact, will help us to better understand a variety of human diseases from both a biological and therapeutic standpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chuan-Ju Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Liu CJ. The role of ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 in the pathogenesis of arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 5:38-45. [PMID: 19098927 DOI: 10.1038/ncprheum0961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2008] [Accepted: 10/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Loss of articular cartilage caused by extracellular matrix breakdown is the hallmark of arthritis. Degradative fragments of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) have been observed in arthritic patients. ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12, two members of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) family, have been associated with COMP degradation in vitro, and are significantly overexpressed in the cartilage and synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of COMP degradation by ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12. Specifically, the size of COMP fragments generated by ADAMTS-7 or ADAMTS-12 is similar to that of COMP-degradative fragments seen in arthritic patients. In addition, antibodies against ADAMTS-7 or ADAMTS-12 dramatically inhibit tumor necrosis factor-induced and interleukin-1beta-induced COMP degradation in cartilage explants. Furthermore, suppression of ADAMTS-7 or ADAMTS-12 expression using the small interfering RNA silencing approach in human chondrocytes markedly prevents COMP degradation. COMP degradation mediated by ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 is inhibited by alpha(2)-macroglobulin. More significantly, granulin-epithelin precursor, a newly characterized chondrogenic growth factor, disturbs the interaction between COMP and ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12, preventing COMP degradation by these enzymes. This Review summarizes the evidence demonstrating that ADAMTS-7 and ADAMTS-12 are newly identified enzymes responsible for COMP degradation in arthritis, and that alpha(2)-macroglobulin and granulin-epithelin precursor represent their endogenous inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Ju Liu
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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Hanington PC, Brennan LJ, Belosevic M, Andrew Keddie B. Molecular and functional characterization of granulin-like molecules of insects. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 38:596-603. [PMID: 18405836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2007] [Revised: 02/06/2008] [Accepted: 02/12/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Granulins are a group of highly conserved growth factors that have been described from a variety of organisms spanning the metazoa. Here, we report on the identification of two partial transcripts encoding granulin-like molecules from Aa23 embryonic cells of Aedes albopictus and primary haemocytes from Manduca sexta. Both these partial transcripts had the characteristic 12-cysteine motif that is a hallmark of the granulin family and they represent the first granulin mRNA transcripts identified from insects. Moreover, we demonstrate that the recombinant granulin molecule that we originally cloned in the goldfish, induced proliferation of both Aa23 embryonic cells and primary haemocytes. Interestingly, this proliferative effect was upregulated in the presence of the intracellular symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. Thus, granulin appears to be a highly conserved growth factor not only in lower vertebrates but also invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Hanington
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6E2E9
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Larade K, Storey KB. Identification of a granulin-like transcript expressed during anoxic exposure and translated during aerobic recovery in a marine gastropod. Gene 2008; 410:37-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2007] [Revised: 10/16/2007] [Accepted: 11/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Nara K, Matsue H, Naraoka T. Granulin-like peptide in the mid-gut gland of the bivalve mollusk, Patinopecten yessoensis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2005; 1675:147-54. [PMID: 15535978 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2004.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2004] [Revised: 08/24/2004] [Accepted: 08/31/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A cysteine-rich polypeptide, termed CRP1, with a molecular mass of 5829 Da was found to occur in the mid-gut gland of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. CRP1 was purified by reverse phase and cation-exchange chromatographies. The amino acid sequence of CRP1 was deduced from its N-terminal amino acid sequence, amino acid composition and the sequence of a partial cDNA, indicating that CRP1 is a 57-amino-acid polypeptide containing 12 cysteine residues with a calculated molecular mass of 5841 Da (5829 Da when oxidized to form six disulfide bridges). A homology search of databases revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of CRP1 displays significant similarity to those of granulin/epithelins, a family of growth-modulating factors; all cysteine residues in CRP1 are located at the same positions as those conserved characteristically in other known granulin/epithelins. Purified CRP1 inhibited the proliferation of mouse embryo cells. The results suggest that CRP1 functions as a growth-modulating factor in the scallop, and that granulin/epithelin family polypeptides and their precursors play physiologically important roles in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Nara
- Division of Environmental Technology, Aomori Industrial Research Center, 4-11-6 Daini ton-yamachi, Aomori 030-0113, Japan
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He Z, Bateman A. Progranulin (granulin-epithelin precursor, PC-cell-derived growth factor, acrogranin) mediates tissue repair and tumorigenesis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2003; 81:600-12. [PMID: 12928786 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-003-0474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 376] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2003] [Accepted: 07/10/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (Pgrn) is a pluripotent secreted growth factor that mediates cell cycle progression and cell motility. It activates the extracellular regulated kinases and phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase signal cascades, among others, and increases expression of cyclins D and B. Structurally, it belongs to none of the well-established growth factor families. It regulates developmental events as diverse as the onset of cavitation in the preimplantation embryo and male-specific brain differentiation. During wound repair it promotes granulation and neovascularization. It regulates inflammation through a tripartite loop with secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) which protects pgrn from proteolysis, and elastase, which digests it to smaller peptides. Intact pgrn is anti-inflammatory through the inhibition of some of the actions of tumor necrosis factor, while the proteolytic peptides may stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 8. Pgrn is highly expressed in aggressive cancer cell lines and clinical specimens including breast, ovarian, and renal cancers as well as gliomas. In experimental systems it confers an aggressive phenotype on poorly tumorigenic epithelial cancer cells. The malignancy of highly tumorigenic progranulin-expressing cell lines depends on the expression level of the pgrn gene since attenuating pgrn mRNA levels in pgrn-responsive cells greatly inhibits tumor progression. Given its actions in wound repair and tumorigenesis pgrn may prove a useful clinical target, both for prognosis and for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng He
- Vascular Cell Biology and Complications, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Zhu J, Nathan C, Jin W, Sim D, Ashcroft GS, Wahl SM, Lacomis L, Erdjument-Bromage H, Tempst P, Wright CD, Ding A. Conversion of proepithelin to epithelins: roles of SLPI and elastase in host defense and wound repair. Cell 2002; 111:867-78. [PMID: 12526812 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)01141-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 495] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Increased leukocyte elastase activity in mice lacking secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) leads to impaired wound healing due to enhanced activity of TGFbeta and perhaps additional mechanisms. Proepithelin (PEPI), an epithelial growth factor, can be converted to epithelins (EPIs) in vivo by unknown mechanisms with unknown consequences. We found that PEPI and EPIs exert opposing activities. EPIs inhibit the growth of epithelial cells but induce them to secrete the neutrophil attractant IL-8, while PEPI blocks neutrophil activation by tumor necrosis factor, preventing release of oxidants and proteases. SLPI and PEPI form complexes, preventing elastase from converting PEPI to EPIs. Supplying PEPI corrects the wound-healing defect in SLPI null mice. Thus, SLPI/elastase act via PEPI/EPIs to operate a switch at the interface between innate immunity and wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Abstract
Increased life expectancy is associated with aging populations in the developed countries, and we can expect an increased incidence of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and cancers. A priority for medical research is to reduce such morbidity. Leeches have been demonstrated to be a useful source of drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases, as they have evolved highly specific mechanisms to feed on their hosts by blocking blood coagulation. Powerful molecules acting at different points in the coagulation cascade or in the inhibition of platelet aggregation have been purified from these animals. Moreover, clinical trials confirm their potential to treat cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Salzet
- Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie et Immunité des Annélides, UPRESA CNRS 8017, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, SN3, F-59655 Cedex, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
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