The one thousand and one chaperones of the NF-κB pathway

Baicalein Ameliorates Experimental Ulcerative Colitis Recurrency by Downregulating Neonatal Fc Receptor via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic autoimmune disease (AID) that causes mild to moderate unpredictable symptoms, including diarrhea and abdominal pain. Against neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) has been proven to be a unique AID treatment strategy by decreasing the effects of pathogenic autoantibody. Our previous study revealed that FcRn inhibition is beneficial in UC treatment through reducing colonic neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation via accelerating serum antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) clearance. In this study, we initially confirmed the specific impact of downregulating FcRn in preventing UC relapse by injecting rAAV, which is carrying Fcgrt-shRNA, in mice. Next, we investigated the inhibition effects and regulation mechanisms of baicalein (BCL) on FcRn and assessed its capacity to withstand UC recurrence using NCM460 cells and dextran sodium sulfate-induced mice models by determining the expression of FcRn and its related transcription factors. We also measured colonic NET-associated protein (NAP) expression and serum concentrations of IgG, ANCA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and c-reactive protein (CRP). UC inflammation severity was determined by using the disease activity index (DAI) and histopathological score (HS). BCL treatment remarkably decreased the mRNA and protein contents of FcRn, p50, and p65 but did not impact STAT1 expression or the phosphorylation of IκB and STAT1. Long-term BCL administration inhibited colonic FcRn expression and reduced serum ANCA levels, colonic NAP expression, serum inflammation-related indexes (including TNF-α, IL-1β, and CRP), and DAI and HS scores in UC mice during inflammation relapse better than salazosulfapyridine. Our study indicates that BCL ameliorates UC recurrency by inhibiting FcRn expression via p50/p65 heterodimer-mediated NF-κB signaling.

Anticancer activity of Weizmannia coagulans MZY531on H22 tumor-bearing mice by regulating inflammation, autophagy-dependent apoptosis, and gut microbiota

Increasing studies have shown that the efficacy of Weizmannia coagulans in treating various cancers. We recently identified W. coagulans MZY531 with potent cell anti-proliferation and exhibiting apoptosis induction activities against the mouse H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.However, the anti-cancer effect of W. coagulans MZY531 against liver cancer in vivo has not been verified. The objective of this study was to assess the anti-hepatoma effect of W. coagulans MZY531 on H22 tumor-bearing mice and the underlying mechanism. The results demonstrated that W. coagulans MZY531 reduced the weight and size of the tumor in comparison to the model group. The levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-2 and TNF-α were suppressed by W. coagulans MZY531 administration. Immunofluorescence and TUNEL analyses demonstrated that W. coagulans MZY531 significantly increased the number of cleaved caspase-3 cells and induced apoptosis in tumor tissues. Importantly, W. coagulans MZY531 activated the AMPK/mTOR autophagy-dependent apoptosis pathway, and regulated the TLR4/MyD88/TRAF-6/NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathways through mechanisms. Additionally, Fecal analysis demonstrated the capacity of W. coagulans MZY531 to remodel the gut microbiota of hepatocellular carcinoma-infected mice. Collectively, this experimental finding suggested that W. coagulans MZY531 exhibited prominent anticancer activities in vivo at least partly via reducing inflammation, inducing autophagy-dependent apoptosis, and regulating gut microbiota in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Discovery of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives targeting TLR4-TLR4∗ homodimerization via AI-powered next-generation screening

TLR4 signaling is instrumental in orchestrating multiple aspects of innate immunity. Developing small molecule inhibitors targeting the TLR4 pathway holds potential therapeutic promise for TLR4-related disorders. Herein, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered next-generation screening approach, employing HelixVS and HelixDock, was utilized to focus on the TLR4-TLR4∗ (a second copy of TLR4) homodimerization surface, leading to the identification of a potent pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivative, designated as compound 1. An extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) exploration culminated in the discovery of the lead compound TH023, which effectively blocked the LPS-stimulated NF-κB activation and nitric oxide overproduction in HEK-Blue hTLR4 and RAW264.7 cells, with IC50 values of 0.354 and 1.61 μM, respectively. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations indicated that TH023 stabilized TLR4-MD-2 and disrupted its association with TLR4∗. Moreover, TH023 alleviated the lung injury and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in LPS-induced septic mice. These findings not only illuminated the strategic advantage of HelixDock in advancing the frontiers of AI-driven drug discovery, but also provided valuable structural insights for the rational design of TLR4-TLR4∗ protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors based on the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffold. Overall, this study validated a new strategy for TLR4 signaling regulation by targeting its dimerization, thereby underscoring the therapeutic promise of TH023 in treating TLR4-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Development of Hsp90 inhibitor to regulate cytokine storms in excessive delayed- and acute inflammation

BACKGROUND

The surplus cytokines remaining after use in the early stages of the inflammatory response stimulate immune cells even after the response is over, causing a secondary inflammatory response and ultimately damaging the host, which is called a cytokine storm. Inhibiting heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), which has recently been shown to play an important role in regulating inflammation in various cell types, may help control excessive inflammatory responses and cytokine storms.

METHODS

We discovered an anti-inflammatory compound by measuring the inhibitory effect of CD86 expression on spleen DCs (sDCs) using the chemical compounds library of Hsp90 inhibitors. Subsequently, to select the hit compound, the production of cytokines and expression of surface molecules were measured on the bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) and peritoneal macrophages. Then, we analyzed the response of antigen-specific Th1 cells. Finally, we confirmed the effect of the compound using acute lung injury (ALI) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) models.

RESULTS

We identified Be01 as the hit compound, which reduced CD86 expression the most in sDCs. Treatment with Be01 decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in BMDC and peritoneal macrophages stimulated by LPS. Under the DTH model, Be01 treatment reduced ear swelling and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spleen. Similarly, Be01 treatment in the ALI model decreased neutrophil infiltration and lower levels of secreted cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction of CD80 and CD86 expression on DCs by Be01 indicates reduced secondary inflammatory response by Th1 cells, and reduced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by peritoneal macrophages may initially control the cytokine storm.

The Combined Use of Cinnamaldehyde and Vitamin C Is Beneficial for Better Carcass Character and Intestinal Health of Broilers

The use of cinnamaldehyde and Vitamin C can improve immunity and intestinal health. A two-way factorial design was employed to investigate the main and interactive effects of cinnamaldehyde and vitamin C on the growth, carcass, and intestinal health of broiler chickens. A total of 288 one-day-old female Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed among four treatment groups, consisting of six replicate cages with 12 birds each. Four treatments were basal diet or control (CON), supplemental cinnamaldehyde (CA) 300 g/ton (g/t), vitamin C (VC) 300 g/t, and cinnamaldehyde 300 g/t, and vitamin C 300 g/t (CA + VC), respectively. The results showed that supplemental CA did not affect the growth performance or slaughter performance of broilers at 21 days (d), 42 days (d), and 1-42 days (d); however, it could improve intestinal barrier function at 42 d of age and reduce the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in the intestine at 21 d and 42 d of age. Supplemental VC showed a trend towards increasing body weight gain (BWG) at 21 d (p = 0.094), increased breast muscle rate (at 21-d 5.33%, p < 0.05 and at 42-d 7.09%, p = 0.097), and decreased the abdominal fat (23.43%, p < 0.05) and drip loss (20.68%, p < 0.05) at 42-d. Moreover, VC improves intestinal morphology and intestinal barrier function and maintains a balanced immune response. The blend of CA and VC significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD-88) in the intestine at 21 d of age, the mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), Occludin, Claudin-1, Mucin-2, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in the intestine at 42 d of age (p < 0.01), and downregulated the mRNA expression of interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the intestine at 21-d and 42-d of age, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) mRNA in intestine at 42 d of age (p < 0.01). This study suggested that the combination of CA and VC had the potential to regulate intestinal health and result in better carcass character of broilers.

miR-15a targets the HSP90 co-chaperone Morgana in chronic myeloid leukemia

Morgana is a ubiquitous HSP90 co-chaperone protein coded by the CHORDC1 gene. Morgana heterozygous mice develop with age a myeloid malignancy resembling human atypical myeloid leukemia (aCML), now renamed MDS/MPN with neutrophilia. Patients affected by this pathology exhibit low Morgana levels in the bone marrow (BM), suggesting that Morgana downregulation plays a causative role in the human malignancy. A decrease in Morgana expression levels is also evident in the BM of a subgroup of Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients showing resistance or an incomplete response to imatinib. Despite the relevance of these data, the mechanism through which Morgana expression is downregulated in patients' bone marrow remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the possibility that Morgana expression is regulated by miRNAs and we demonstrated that Morgana is under the control of four miRNAs (miR-15a/b and miR-26a/b) and that miR-15a may account for Morgana downregulation in CML patients.

Limonoids from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) are potential anticancer drug candidates

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), a versatile evergreen tree recognized for its ethnopharmacological value, is a rich source of limonoids of the triterpenoid class, endowed with potent medicinal properties. Extracts of neem have been documented to display anticancer effects in diverse malignant cell lines as well as in preclinical animal models that has largely been attributed to the constituent limonoids. Of late, neem limonoids have become the cynosure of research attention as potential candidate agents for cancer prevention and therapy. Among the various limonoids found in neem, azadirachtin, epoxyazadiradione, gedunin, and nimbolide, have been extensively investigated for anticancer activity. Azadirachtin, a potent biodegradable pesticide, exhibits profound antiproliferative effects by preventing mitotic spindle formation and cell division. The antiproliferative activity of gedunin has been demonstrated to be mediated primarily via inhibition of heat shock protein90 and its client proteins. Epoxyazadiradione inhibits pro-inflammatory and kinase-driven signaling pathways to block tumorigenesis. Nimbolide, the most potent cytotoxic neem limonoid, inhibits the growth of cancer cells by regulating the phosphorylation of keystone kinases that drive oncogenic signaling besides modulating the epigenome. There is overwhelming evidence to indicate that neem limonoids exert anticancer effects by preventing the acquisition of hallmark traits of cancer, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis evasion, inflammation, invasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Neem limonoids are value additions to the armamentarium of natural compounds that target aberrant oncogenic signaling to inhibit cancer development and progression.

The Response of Macrophages in Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SAKI) is common in critically ill patients and often leads to poor prognosis. At present, the pathogenesis of SAKI has not been fully clarified, and there is no effective treatment. Macrophages are immune cells that play an important role in the pathogenesis of SAKI. The phenotype and role of macrophages can vary from early to later stages of SAKI. Elucidating the role of macrophages in SAKI will be beneficial to its diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews past studies describing the role of macrophages in SAKI, with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets.

The RING finger protein family in health and disease

Ubiquitination is a highly conserved and fundamental posttranslational modification (PTM) in all eukaryotes regulating thousands of proteins. The RING (really interesting new gene) finger (RNF) protein, containing the RING domain, exerts E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates the covalent attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to target proteins. Multiple reviews have summarized the critical roles of the tripartite-motif (TRIM) protein family, a subgroup of RNF proteins, in various diseases, including cancer, inflammatory, infectious, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Except for TRIMs, since numerous studies over the past decades have delineated that other RNF proteins also exert widespread involvement in several diseases, their importance should not be underestimated. This review summarizes the potential contribution of dysregulated RNF proteins, except for TRIMs, to the pathogenesis of some diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorder. Since viral infection is broadly involved in the induction and development of those diseases, this manuscript also highlights the regulatory roles of RNF proteins, excluding TRIMs, in the antiviral immune responses. In addition, we further discuss the potential intervention strategies targeting other RNF proteins for the prevention and therapeutics of those human diseases.

Neurotransmitters and molecular chaperones interactions in cerebral malaria: Is there a missing link?

Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most severe and deadliest human malaria infection. The most serious complication of this infection is cerebral malaria. Among the proposed hypotheses that seek to explain the manifestation of the neurological syndrome in cerebral malaria is the vascular occlusion/sequestration/mechanic hypothesis, the cytokine storm or inflammatory theory, or a combination of both. Unfortunately, despite the increasing volume of scientific information on cerebral malaria, our understanding of its pathophysiologic mechanism(s) is still very limited. In a bid to maintain its survival and development, P. falciparum exports a large number of proteins into the cytosol of the infected host red blood cell. Prominent among these are the P. falciparum erythrocytes membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), P. falciparum histidine-rich protein II (PfHRP2), and P. falciparum heat shock proteins 70-x (PfHsp70-x). Functional activities and interaction of these proteins with one another and with recruited host resident proteins are critical factors in the pathology of malaria in general and cerebral malaria in particular. Furthermore, several neurological impairments, including cognitive, behavioral, and motor dysfunctions, are known to be associated with cerebral malaria. Also, the available evidence has implicated glutamate and glutamatergic pathways, coupled with a resultant alteration in serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine production. While seeking to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of cerebral malaria, this article seeks to explore the possible links between host/parasite chaperones, and neurotransmitters, in relation to other molecular players in the pathology of cerebral malaria, to explore such links in antimalarial drug discovery.

Highly Expressed lncRNA GAS5 in the Serum of Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia and Its Effect on LAMPs-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammation

The aim of the study was to explore the serum expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and its effect on lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs)-induced apoptosis and inflammation. Totally, 56 children with MPP (MPP group) and 56 healthy children (NC group) were enrolled. lncRNA GAS5 expression was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected using ELISA, and the high mobility family protein B1 (HMGBl) was detected by qRT-PCR. The methylated binding protein 2 (MECP2) was inhibited by gene silencing, and the expression of MECP2, TNF-α, IL-6, HMGBl, p-p65, and p-IκBα was measured. lncRNA GAS5 and TNF-α, IL-6, and HMGBl in the peripheral blood of the MPP group were positively correlated (P < 0.05). The expression of TNF-α, IL-6, HMGBl, and lncRNA GAS5 showed a positive correlation with that of LAMPs. The GAS5-siRNA group showed an increased cell survival rate compared with the scrambled-RNAi group (P < 0.05) while showing decreased apoptosis and cell death rates (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, HMGBl, p-p65, and p-IκBα was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). lncRNA GAS5 is highly expressed in the serum of children with MPP and inhibits LAMPs-induced apoptosis and alveolar macrophage inflammation.

Macrophages in Renal Injury, Repair, Fibrosis Following Acute Kidney Injury and Targeted Therapy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a renal disease with a high incidence and mortality. Currently, there are no targeted therapeutics for preventing and treating AKI. Macrophages, important players in mammalian immune response, are involved in the multiple pathological processes of AKI. They are dynamically activated and exhibit a diverse spectrum of functional phenotypes in the kidney after AKI. Targeting the mechanisms of macrophage activation significantly improves the outcomes of AKI in preclinical studies. In this review, we summarize the role of macrophages and the underlying mechanisms of macrophage activation during kidney injury, repair, regeneration, and fibrosis and provide strategies for macrophage-targeted therapies.

Effects of naturally oxidized corn oil on inflammatory reaction and intestinal health of broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of naturally oxidized corn oil on the inflammatory reaction and intestinal health of broilers. Total 450, one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 6 replicate cages (15 birds in each replicate cage). The dietary treatment array consisted of the varying ratio of nonoxidized corn oil to naturally oxidized corn oil from 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, respectively. The experimental period was 42 d. Serum, jejunum, and contents of cecum samples were taken at the age of 42 d of broilers. The results showed no significant difference in the body weight gain (BWG) with a different proportion of oxidized corn oil compared with the 0% oxidized oil group on d 42. The feed intake (FI), the concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin-10 (IL10) in serum showed a significant quadratic response with the increase of oxidized oil concentration on d 42. The serum's concentration of IgG, IFN-γ, and IL-10 reached the highest value at 75% oxidized corn oil. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IFN-γ, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and myeloid differentiation factor-88 (MyD88) in the jejunum were significantly affected by different proportions of oxidized corn oil, and the gene expression levels were highest at 75% oxidized corn oil on d 42. The mRNA expression of Bcl2-associated X (Bax) in the jejunum showed a significantly quadratic curve with the increase of oxidized oil concentration, and its gene expression was the highest after adding 50% oxidized corn oil according to the regression equation on d 42. The villus height/crypt depth and goblet cells of jejunum decreased linearly with the increasing proportion of oxidized corn oil and reached the lowest point after adding 100% oxidized corn oil on d 42. The β diversity showed the remarkable differentiation of microbial communities among 5 groups, and the microbial community of the 0% oxidized oil group was significantly separated from that of 75 and 100% oxidized oil groups in the cecum. Taken together, these results showed that a low dose of naturally oxidized corn oil is not harmful to the growth of broilers, while a high dose of oxidized corn oil will trigger the inflammatory response and adversely affect the gut health of broilers.

Nuclear Mechanisms Involved in Endocrine Resistance

Endocrine therapy is a standard treatment offered to patients with ERα (estrogen receptor α)-positive breast cancer. In endocrine therapy, ERα is either directly targeted by anti-estrogens or indirectly by aromatase inhibitors which cause estrogen deficiency. Resistance to these drugs (endocrine resistance) compromises the efficiency of this treatment and requires additional measures. Endocrine resistance is often caused by deregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and/or cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 activities allowing inhibitors of these factors to be used clinically to counteract endocrine resistance. The nuclear mechanisms involved in endocrine resistance are beginning to emerge. Exploring these mechanisms may reveal additional druggable targets, which could help to further improve patients' outcome in an endocrine resistance setting. This review intends to summarize our current knowledge on the nuclear mechanisms linked to endocrine resistance.

Per- and post-remote ischemic conditioning attenuates ischemic brain injury via inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in aged rats

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), as an emerging protective method, might be used clinically to prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in ischemic stroke. In this study, we aim to investigate whether RIC performed either during brain ischemia or after reperfusion has a protective effect and further explore the mechanistic basis for the protective effects of RIC against IRI in an aged rat model. We investigated brain IRI in 16-18 months old SD rats. Animals underwent: (i) sham laparotomy, (ii) brain IRI, (iii) brain IRI  +  RIC during ischemia (IRI  +  RIperC), or (iv) brain IRI  +  RIC after reperfusion (IRI  +  RIpostC). RIC consists of three cycles of 10 min of hind limb ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion. After 24 h of reperfusion, the infarct size, neurological deficit scores and brain oedema were assessed in all groups. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α were measured by ELISA. The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6 and NF-κB were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. Both RIperC and RIpostC treatment attenuated the IRI-induced neuronal injury, reflected by reductions in the infarct size, neurological deficit scores and brain oedema. RIperC and RIpostC also can decrease the concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in IRI. From the results of RT-PCR and western blot, we found that RIC decreased the mRNA and protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6 and NF-κB compared to that in the IRI group. The present study suggested that RIC protected aged rats against IRI, and this protective effect might be mediated by inhibiting the TLR-4/MyD88/TRAF-6/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Nimbolide, a Neem Limonoid, Is a Promising Candidate for the Anticancer Drug Arsenal

Nimbolide, a major limonoid constituent of Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, has attracted increasing research attention owing to its wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, predominantly anticancer activity. Nimbolide is reported to exert potent antiproliferative effects on a myriad cancer cell lines and chemotherapeutic efficacy in preclinical animal tumor models. The potentiality of nimbolide to circumvent multidrug resistance and aid in targeted protein degradation broaden its utility in enhancing therapeutic modalities and outcome. Accumulating evidence indicates that nimbolide prevents the acquisition of cancer hallmarks such as sustained proliferation, apoptosis evasion, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation by modulating kinase-driven oncogenic signaling networks. Nimbolide has been demonstrated to abrogate aberrant activation of cellular signaling by influencing the subcellular localization of transcription factors and phosphorylation of kinases in addition to influencing the epigenome. Nimbolide, with its ever-expanding repertoire of molecular targets, is a valuable addition to the anticancer drug arsenal.

Redox Homeostasis in Poultry: Regulatory Roles of NF-κB

Redox biology is a very quickly developing area of modern biological sciences, and roles of redox homeostasis in health and disease have recently received tremendous attention. There are a range of redox pairs in the cells/tissues responsible for redox homeostasis maintenance/regulation. In general, all redox elements are interconnected and regulated by various means, including antioxidant and vitagene networks. The redox status is responsible for maintenance of cell signaling and cell stress adaptation. Physiological roles of redox homeostasis maintenance in avian species, including poultry, have received limited attention and are poorly characterized. However, for the last 5 years, this topic attracted much attention, and a range of publications covered some related aspects. In fact, transcription factor Nrf2 was shown to be a master regulator of antioxidant defenses via activation of various vitagenes and other protective molecules to maintain redox homeostasis in cells/tissues. It was shown that Nrf2 is closely related to another transcription factor, namely, NF-κB, responsible for control of inflammation; however, its roles in poultry have not yet been characterized. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe a current view on NF-κB functioning in poultry with a specific emphasis to its nutritional modulation under various stress conditions. In particular, on the one hand, it has been shown that, in many stress conditions in poultry, NF-κB activation can lead to increased synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines leading to systemic inflammation. On the other hand, there are a range of nutrients/supplements that can downregulate NF-κB and decrease the negative consequences of stress-related disturbances in redox homeostasis. In general, vitagene-NF-κB interactions in relation to redox balance homeostasis, immunity, and gut health in poultry production await further research.

Master Regulators of Muscle Atrophy: Role of Costamere Components

The loss of muscle mass and force characterizes muscle atrophy in several different conditions, which share the expression of atrogenes and the activation of their transcriptional regulators. However, attempts to antagonize muscle atrophy development in different experimental contexts by targeting contributors to the atrogene pathway showed partial effects in most cases. Other master regulators might independently contribute to muscle atrophy, as suggested by our recent evidence about the co-requirement of the muscle-specific chaperone protein melusin to inhibit unloading muscle atrophy development. Furthermore, melusin and other muscle mass regulators, such as nNOS, belong to costameres, the macromolecular complexes that connect sarcolemma to myofibrils and to the extracellular matrix, in correspondence with specific sarcomeric sites. Costameres sense a mechanical load and transduce it both as lateral force and biochemical signals. Recent evidence further broadens this classic view, by revealing the crucial participation of costameres in a sarcolemmal “signaling hub” integrating mechanical and humoral stimuli, where mechanical signals are coupled with insulin and/or insulin-like growth factor stimulation to regulate muscle mass. Therefore, this review aims to enucleate available evidence concerning the early involvement of costamere components and additional putative master regulators in the development of major types of muscle atrophy.

Fucoxanthin attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury via inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88 signaling axis

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical clinical condition with a high mortality rate. It is believed that the inflammatory storm is a critical contributor to the occurrence of ALI. Fucoxanthin is a natural extract from marine seaweed with remarkable biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-obesity. However, the anti-inflammatory activity of Fucoxanthin has not been extensively studied. The current study aimed to elucidate the effects and the molecular mechanism of Fucoxanthin on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. In this study, Fucoxanthin efficiently reduced the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors, including IL-10, IL-6, iNOS, and Cox-2, and down-regulated the NF-κB signaling pathway in Raw264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, based on the network pharmacological analysis, our results showed that anti-inflammation signaling pathways were screened as fundamental action mechanisms of Fucoxanthin on ALI. Fucoxanthin also significantly ameliorated the inflammatory responses in LPS-induced ALI mice. Interestingly, our results revealed that Fucoxanthin prevented the expression of TLR4/MyD88 in Raw264.7 macrophages. We further validated Fucoxanthin binds to the TLR4 pocket using molecular docking simulations. Altogether, these results suggest that Fucoxanthin suppresses the TLR4/MyD88 signaling axis by targeting TLR4, which inhibits LPS-induced ALI, and fucoxanthin inhibition may provide a novel strategy for controlling the initiation and progression of ALI.

Caspase Recruitment Domain-Containing Protein 9 Expression is a Novel Prognostic Factor for Lung Adenocarcinoma

Purpose

Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9) is expressed at high levels in bone marrow cells and has a crucial role in innate immunity. Current studies indicate that CARD9 also plays a key role in tumor progression, but there are few reports on the role of CARD9 in lung cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of CARD9 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Patients and Methods

Lung adenocarcinoma tumor samples from 74 patients who underwent complete resection at Kobe University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2014 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The role of CARD9 in cancer cells was analyzed using lung cancer cell lines treated with CARD9 siRNA.

Results

High expression of CARD9 was observed in 32.4% of tumors, and compared to low expression of CARD9, high expression was associated with poorer overall survival (P = 0.0365). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that high expression of CARD9 was an independent prognostic factor. Knockdown of CARD9 in lung adenocarcinoma cells inhibited proliferation but did not increase apoptosis. In addition, CARD9 activated the NF-κB pathway in a lung adenocarcinoma cell line.

Conclusion

CARD9 was shown to be an independent prognostic factor of poor outcome for lung cancer and may represent a molecular target for treatment.

Ginsenoside Rg3 Alleviates ox-LDL Induced Endothelial Dysfunction and Prevents Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice by Regulating PPARγ/FAK Signaling Pathway

The initiation of atherosclerosis (AS) induced by dyslipidemia is accompanied by endothelial dysfunction, including decreased healing ability and increased recruitment of monocytes. Studies showed ginsenoside Rg3 has potential to treat diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction which can protects against antineoplastic drugs induced cardiotoxicity by repairing endothelial function, while the effect and mechanism of Rg3 on dyslipidemia induced endothelial dysfunction and AS are not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of Rg3 on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dysfunction and high-fat diets (HFD) induced atherosclerosis in ApoE^−/− mice, as well as the mechanism. For in vitro assay, Rg3 enhanced healing of HUVECs and inhibited human monocytes (THP-1) adhesion to HUVECs disturbed by ox-LDL, down-regulated focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mediated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1); restrained the FAK-mediated non-adherent dependent pathway containing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 expression, activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), high mRNA levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), besides Rg3 up-regulated peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs. GW9662, the PPARγ-specific inhibitor, can repressed the effects of Rg3 on ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs. For in vivo assay, Rg3 significantly reduced atherosclerotic pathological changes in ApoE^−/− mice fed with HFD, up-regulated PPARγ, and inhibited activation FAK in aorta, thus inhibited expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 in intima. We conclude that Rg3 may protect endothelial cells and inhibit atherosclerosis by up-regulating PPARγ via repressing FAK-mediated pathways, indicating that Rg3 have good potential in preventing dyslipidemia induced atherosclerosis.