TRIM52 positively mediates NF-κB to promote the growth of human benign prostatic hyperplasia cells through affecting TRAF2 ubiquitination

Identification of TRIM52 as a potential biomarker in mortality risk assessment in patients with sepsis

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis is one of the most common causes of death among hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is particularly difficult to diagnose in this setting because of the multiple comorbidities and underlying diseases that these patients present. In the clinical diagnosis, the current recommendation for identifying both sepsis and septic shock is the use of the SOFA score (sequential organ failure assessment score). SOFA is a system, which uses accessible parameters in daily clinical practice to identify dysfunction or failure of the key organs as a result of sepsis. This tools cannot be used alone, more abundant clinical assessment data should be complemented. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical value of tripartite motif protein 52 (TRIM52) as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of death in septic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control study was conducted on sepsis patients and healthy volunteers admitted to the First affiliated hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Sepsis patients that met the Sepsis-3 diagnostic criteria were included in the septic patient group. The levels of TRIM52 in the samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of TRIM52, SOFA score, APACHEII score, PCT, CRP, WBC and Creatinine for 28-day survival was used to evaluate the ability of TRIM52 in predicting the mortality of sepsis.

RESULTS

The level of TRIM52 in patients with sepsis was significantly higher than that in healthy group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, TRIM52 levels in non-surviving septic patients was higher than that in survivors (p < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis indicated that TRIM52 showed a better prediction of 28-day mortality risk in ICU sepsis patients compared to other indicators such as SOFA score, APACHEII score, PCT, CRP, and WBC, with AUC values, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TRIM52 level in septic patients has an important value in predicting the 28-day mortality risk of septic patients, and may be a novel potential early clinical detecting indicator.

CXCL13/CXCR5 promote chronic postsurgical pain and astrocyte activation in rats by targeting NLRP3

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) with high incidence negatively impacts the quality of life. X-C motif chemokine 13 (CXCL13) has been associated with postsurgery inflammation and exacerbates neuropathic pain in patients with CPSP. This study was aimed to illustrate the relationship between CXCL13 and nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3), which is also involved in CPSP. A CPSP model was constructed by skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) in right medial thigh, and the rats were divided into three groups: Sham, SMIR, and SMIR + anti-CXCL13 (intrathecally injected with anti-CXCL13 antibody). Then, the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) score of rats was recorded. Primary rat astrocytes were isolated and treated with recombinant protein CXCL13 with or without NLRP3 inhibitor INF39. The expressions of CXCL13, CXCR5, IL-1β, IL-18, GFAP, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 p20 were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, western blot, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses. The anti-CXCL13 antibody alleviated SMIR-induced decreased PWT and increased expression of GFAP, CXCL13, CXCR5, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 p20 in spinal cord tissues. The production of IL-1β, IL-18, and expression of CXCL13, CXCR5, GFAP, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 p20 were increased in recombinant protein CXCL13-treated primary rat astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with NLRP3 inhibitor INF39 inhibited the function of recombinant protein CXCL13 in primary rat astrocytes. The CXCL13/CXCR5 signaling could promote neuropathic pain, astrocytes activation, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in CPSP model rats by targeting NLRP3. NLRP3 may be a potential target for the management of CPSP.

TRIM52 knockdown inhibits proliferation, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in IL-1β-induced synovial fibroblasts to alleviate temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis

To explore the mechanism of tripartite motif 52 (TRIM52) in the progression of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Gene and protein expression were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress factors were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and biochemical kit, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were carried out to assess cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CD68 and Vimentin in primary synovial fibroblasts (SFs). Haematoxylin and eosin staining and Safranin O/Fast green were used to evaluate the pathological damage of synovial and cartilage tissue in rats. TRIM52 was upregulated in the synovial tissue and SFs in patients with TMJOA. Interleukin (IL)-1β treatment upregulated TRIM52 expression in TMJOA SFs and normal SF (NSF), promoting cell proliferation, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in NSF, SFs. Silence of TRIM52 relieved the cell proliferation, inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by IL-1β in SFs, while overexpression of TRIM52 enhanced IL-1β induction. Meanwhile, IL-1β induction activated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, which was augmented by upregulation of TRIM52 in NSF, and was attenuated by TRIM52 knockdown in SFs. Besides, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamic acid ameliorated IL-1β-induced proliferation and inflammatory response by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signalling. Meanwhile, TRIM52 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in IL-1β-induced SFs through downregulation of TLR4. TRIM52 promoted cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in IL-1β-induced SFs. The above functions were mediated by the activation of TLR4/NF- κB signal pathway.

TRIM52 aggravated inflammation and pyroptosis in dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease through activation of the TLR4/NF-κBs pathway

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which mainly leads to diarrhea, fatigue, stool blood, abdominal pain, and cramping, is threatening public health. Tripartite motif-containing 52 (TRIM52) has been reported to play an important role in inflammatory responses via activating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. However, the causes of IBD need to be elucidated, and the function of TRIM52 in IBD remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that TRIM52 aggravated inflammation and pyroptosis in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD by activating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway.

METHODS

The colitis model was established on mice through DSS induction. For the TRIM52 knockdown, the mice were infected with a recombinant adenoviral vector expressing sgRNAs targeting TRIM52. RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify TRIM52 expression in DSS-induced IBD. The body weight, disease activity index, colon length, and H&E staining were used to assess the IBD symptoms in mice with TRIM52 knockdown. The inflammatory responses were examined by RT-qPCR and ELISA measuring tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inter-leukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Furthermore, the pyroptosis in colon tissue was detected by western blot. Finally, the TLR4/NF-κBs pathway activity was also examined by western blot.

RESULTS

TRIM52 expression was up-regulated in DSS-induced IBD, and knockdown of TRIM52 could alleviate the symptoms of IBD. TRIM52 knockdown retarded DSS-induced inflammatory response and inhibited DSS-induced pyroptosis in colon tissue. In addition, TRIM52 played a role in activating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of TRIM52 alleviated inflammation and pyroptosis in IBD by regulating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway. TRIM52 is expected to be a novel diagnostic indicator for IBD and a target of therapeutic treatment.

Breast cancer exosomes contribute to pre-metastatic niche formation and promote bone metastasis of tumor cells

Rationale: Breast cancer preferentially develops osteolytic bone metastasis, which makes patients suffer from pain, fractures and spinal cord compression. Accumulating evidences have shown that exosomes play an irreplaceable role in pre-metastatic niche formation as a communication messenger. However, the function of exosomes secreted by breast cancer cells remains incompletely understood in bone metastasis of breast cancer. Methods: Mouse xenograft models and intravenous injection of exosomes were applied for analyzing the role of breast cancer cell-derived exosomes in vivo. Effects of exosomes secreted by the mildly metastatic MDA231 and its subline SCP28 with highly metastatic ability on osteoclasts formation were confirmed by TRAP staining, ELISA, microcomputed tomography, histomorphometric analyses, and pit formation assay. The candidate exosomal miRNAs for promoting osteoclastogenesis were globally screened by RNA-seq. qRT-PCR, western blot, confocal microscopy, and RNA interfering were performed to validate the function of exosomal miRNA. Results: Implantation of SCP28 tumor cells in situ leads to increased osteoclast activity and reduced bone density, which contributes to the formation of pre-metastatic niche for tumor cells. We found SCP28 cells-secreted exosomes are critical factors in promoting osteoclast differentiation and activation, which consequently accelerates bone lesion to reconstruct microenvironment for bone metastasis. Mechanistically, exosomal miR-21 derived from SCP28 cells facilitates osteoclastogenesis through regulating PDCD4 protein levels. Moreover, miR-21 level in serum exosomes of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis is significantly higher than that in other subpopulations. Conclusion: Our results indicate that breast cancer cell-derived exosomes play an important role in promoting breast cancer bone metastasis, which is associated with the formation of pre-metastatic niche via transferring miR-21 to osteoclasts. The data from patient samples further reflect the significance of miR-21 as a potential target for clinical diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer bone metastasis.