Cellular battle against endoplasmic reticulum stress and its adverse effect on health

Spatial transcriptomics delineates potential differences in intestinal phenotypes of cardiac and classical necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating neonatal gastrointestinal disease, often resulting in multi-organ failure and death. While classical NEC is strictly associated with prematurity, cardiac NEC is a subset of the disease occurring in infants with comorbid congenital heart disease. Despite similar symptomatology, the NEC subtypes vary slightly in presentation and may represent etiologically distinct diseases. We compared ileal spatial transcriptomes of patients with cardiac and classical NEC. Epithelial and immune cells cluster well by cell-type segment and NEC subtype. Differences in metabolism and immune cell activation functionally differentiate the cell-type makeup of the NEC subtypes. The classical NEC phenotype is defined by dysbiosis-induced inflammatory signaling and metabolic acidosis, while that of cardiac NEC involves reduced angiogenesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. Despite subtype-associated clinical and demographic variability, spatial transcriptomics has substantiated pathway and network differences within immune and epithelial segments between cardiac and classical NEC.

A review on gut microbiota and miRNA crosstalk: implications for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and progressive neuronal damage. Recent research has highlighted the significant roles of the gut microbiota and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of AD. This review explores the intricate interaction between gut microbiota and miRNAs, emphasizing their combined impact on Alzheimer's progression. First, we discuss the bidirectional communication within the gut-brain axis and how gut dysbiosis contributes to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in AD. Changes in gut microbiota composition in Alzheimer's patients have been linked to inflammation, which exacerbates disease progression. Next, we delve into the biology of miRNAs, focusing on their roles in gene regulation, neurodevelopment, and neurodegeneration. Dysregulated miRNAs are implicated in AD pathogenesis, influencing key processes like inflammation, tau pathology, and amyloid deposition. We then examine how the gut microbiota modulates miRNA expression, particularly in the brain, potentially altering neuroinflammatory responses and synaptic plasticity. The interplay between gut microbiota and miRNAs also affects blood-brain barrier integrity, further contributing to Alzheimer's pathology. Lastly, we explore therapeutic strategies targeting this gut microbiota-miRNA axis, including probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions, aiming to modulate miRNA expression and improve AD outcomes. While promising, challenges remain in fully elucidating these interactions and translating them into effective therapies. This review highlights the importance of understanding the gut microbiota-miRNA relationship in AD, offering potential pathways for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating the disease's progression.

Bibliometric analysis of endoplasmic reticulum stress in hepatocellular carcinoma: trends and future directions

BACKGROUND

Over the past three decades, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has gained considerable attention in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an increasing number of publications. It is crucial to reveal the global status, research hotspots and future research trends of ER stress in HCC. The aim of this study is to analyze the publications related to ER stress in HCC through bibliometric analysis in order to better understand the current status of ER stress research in HCC and to identify potential new research directions.

METHODS

In this study, articles and reviews on ER stress in HCC up to December 31, 2023 were searched and downloaded from the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Pubmed, Scopus and Embase databases. Using CiteSpace 6.2.R6, VOSviewer 1.6.19, Scimago Graphica and Microsoft Office Excel 2019, the knowledge networks of a variety of countries, regions, authors, references, keywords and journals were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1239 publications were retrieved, including 843 articles and 396 review articles. The number of global publications is increasing every year, with the majority of publications coming from China and the USA. Ih-Jen Su, Wenya Huang and Wei Wei are the top 3 prolific authors. "Progression", "inflammation", "cell cycle arrest", "metabolism", "snsignaling pathways", "pathogenesis" and "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" have emerged as research hotspots in recent years. The journal with the greatest co-citation is Hepatology.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on current global trends, the total number of publications on ER stress in HCC research will continue to increase, but there is a need for more cooperation between authors and countries/regions. ER stress in HCC will continue to be a research priority.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on current global trends, the total number of publications on ER stress in HCC research will continue to increase, but there is a need for more cooperation between authors and countries/regions. ER stress in HCC will continue to be a research priority.

The potential protective role of carotenoids from saffron: A focus on endoplasmic reticulum stress-related organ damage

The anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of carotenoids from saffron or apocarotenoids (e.g., crocin, safranal, crocetin, and picrocrocin) have prompted research into their benefits. Apocarotenoids seem to be effective compound for the treatment of chronic diseases, such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory, and metabolic disorders. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells that participates in the biosynthesis of proteins, lipids, and steroid hormones. Given the role of the ER in the regulation of several fundamental biological processes, including metabolic pathways and immune responses, aberrant ER function can have a significant influence on these vital processes and result in serious pathological consequences. Exposure of cell to adverse environmental challenges, such as toxic agents, ischemia, and so on, causes accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, also called ER stress. There is a growing evidence to suggest that ER disturbance in the form of oxidative/nitrosative stress and subsequent apoptotic cell death plays major roles in the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, and liver diseases. Apocarotenoids with their unique properties can modulate ER stress through PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP (protein kinase R (PKR)-like ER kinase/eukaryotic initiation factor 2α/activating transcription factor 4/C/EBP /homologous protein) and X-Box Binding Protein 1/activating transcription factor 6 (XBP1/ATF6) pathways. In addition, they suppress apoptosis through inhibition of endoplasmic and mitochondrial-dependent caspase cascade and can stimulate SIRT1 (silent information regulator 1) and Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) expression, thereby leading to protection against oxidative stress. This review summarizes the potential benefits of apocarotenoids in various ER-stress-related disorders.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): disease pathophysiology, targets, and potential therapeutic interventions

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, degenerative pulmonary condition. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are the major modulators of IPF that mediate myofibroblast differentiation and promote fibrotic remodeling of the lung. Cigarette smoke, asbestos fiber, drugs, and radiation are known to favor fibrotic remodeling of the lungs. Oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) also leads to protein misfolding and promotes ER stress, which is predominant in IPF. This phenomenon further results in excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) aggregation, increasing oxidative stress. During protein folding in the ER, thiol groups on the cysteine residue are oxidized and disulfide bonds are formed, which leads to the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a by-product. With the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER, multiple signaling cascades are initiated by the cell, collectively termed as the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR also induces ROS production within the ER and mitochondria and promotes both pro-apoptotic and pro-survival pathways. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF) is 44.9%, along with an alarming increase in "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) comorbidities. Fibrotic airway remodeling and declined lung function are the common endpoints of SARS-CoV-2 infection and IPF. Flavonoids are available in our dietary supplements and exhibit medicinal properties. Apigenin is a flavonoid found in plants, including chamomile, thyme, parsley, garlic, guava, and broccoli, and regulates several cellular functions, such as oxidative stress, ER stress, and fibrotic responses. In this study, we focus on the IPF and COVID-19 pathogenesis and the potential role of Apigenin in addressing disease progression.

The multifaceted role of intracellular glycosylation in cytoprotection and heart disease

The modification of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins by O-linked β-N-actylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an essential posttranslational modification that is common in metozoans. O-GlcNAc is cycled on and off proteins in response to environmental and physiological stimuli impacting protein function, which, in turn, tunes pathways that include transcription, translation, proteostasis, signal transduction, and metabolism. One class of stimulus that induces rapid and dynamic changes to O-GlcNAc is cellular injury, resulting from environmental stress (for instance, heat shock), hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, ischemia reperfusion injury (heart attack, stroke, trauma hemorrhage), and sepsis. Acute elevation of O-GlcNAc before or after injury reduces apoptosis and necrosis, suggesting that injury-induced changes in O-GlcNAcylation regulate cell fate decisions. However, prolonged elevation or reduction in O-GlcNAc leads to a maladaptive response and is associated with pathologies such as hypertrophy and heart failure. In this review, we discuss the impact of O-GlcNAc in both acute and prolonged models of injury with a focus on the heart and biological mechanisms that underpin cell survival.

Norflurazon causes cell death and inhibits implantation-related genes in porcine trophectoderm and uterine luminal epithelial cells

Norflurazon, an inhibitor of carotenoid synthesis, is a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents growth of weeds. The norflurazon is known to hamper embryo development in non-mammals. However, specific toxic effects of norflurazon on mammalian maternal and fetal cells have not been elucidated. Thus, the hypothesis of this study is that norflurazon may influence the toxic effects between maternal and fetal cells during early pregnancy in pigs. We aimed to examine the toxic effects of norflurazon in porcine trophectoderm (Tr) and uterine luminal epithelium (LE) cells. Norflurazon, administered at 0, 20, 50 or 100 μM for 48 h was used to determine its effects on cell proliferation and cell-cycle arrest. For both uterine LE and Tr cell lines, norflurazone caused mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration and ATP production, and down-regulated expression of mRNAs of mitochondrial complex genes. Norflurazon increased cell death by increasing intracellular calcium and regulating PI3K and MAPK cell signaling pathways, as well as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, ER-mitochondrial contact, and autophagy-related target proteins. Norflurazone also inhibited expression of genes required for implantation of blastocysts, including SMAD2, SMAD4, and SPP1. These findings indicate that norflurazon may induce implantation failure in pigs and other mammals through adverse effects on both Tr and uterine LE cells.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapeutics via Triggering Unfolded Protein Response and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by 2-Arylbenzofuran

Gastrointestinal cancers are a major global health challenge, with high mortality rates. This study investigated the anti-cancer activities of 30 monomers extracted from Morus alba L. (mulberry) against gastrointestinal cancers. Toxicological assessments revealed that most of the compounds, particularly immunotoxicity, exhibit some level of toxicity, but it is generally not life-threatening under normal conditions. Among these components, Sanggenol L, Sanggenon C, Kuwanon H, 3'-Geranyl-3-prenyl-5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone, Morusinol, Mulberrin, Moracin P, Kuwanon E, and Kuwanon A demonstrate significant anti-cancer properties against various gastrointestinal cancers, including colon, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. The anti-cancer mechanism of these chemical components was explored in gastric cancer cells, revealing that they inhibit cell cycle and DNA replication-related gene expression, leading to the effective suppression of tumor cell growth. Additionally, they induced unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, potentially resulting in DNA damage, autophagy, and cell death. Moracin P, an active monomer characterized as a 2-arylbenzofuran, was found to induce ER stress and promote apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, confirming its potential to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Morus alba L. monomers in gastrointestinal cancers, especially focusing on Moracin P as a potent inducer of ER stress and apoptosis.

N-acetylcysteine Pharmacology and Applications in Rare Diseases-Repurposing an Old Antioxidant

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of cysteine and, thereby, glutathione (GSH), acts as an antioxidant through a variety of mechanisms, including oxidant scavenging, GSH replenishment, antioxidant signaling, etc. Owing to the variety of proposed targets, NAC has a long history of use as a prescription product and in wide-ranging applications that are off-label as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. Despite its discovery in the early 1960s and its development for various indications, systematic clinical pharmacology explorations of NAC pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamic targets, drug interactions, and dose-ranging are sorely limited. Although there are anecdotal instances of NAC benefits in a variety of diseases, a comprehensive review of the use of NAC in rare diseases does not exist. In this review, we attempt to summarize the existing literature focused on NAC explorations in rare diseases targeting mitochondrial dysfunction along with the history of NAC usage, approved indications, mechanisms of action, safety, and PK characterization. Further, we introduce the research currently underway on other structural derivatives of NAC and acknowledge the continuum of efforts through pre-clinical and clinical research to facilitate further therapeutic development of NAC or its derivatives for rare diseases.